Trista Herring Baughman's Blog, page 2

The Itsy Bitsy Fairy

“The Itsy Bitsy Fairy” by Trista Herring Baughman

If I were into betting, I would have bet that I had already posted about my newest book, “The Itsy Bitsy Fairy.” But, I think I might have lost that bet. I don’t see the post. Did I forget to do a book launch and introduce my book?

It’s possible.

Might I have just overlooked the post just now as I searched for it?

Also possilbe.

I’m so busy lately, I don’t know if I’m coming or going. Don’t even ask me what day it is. I have no clue.

But anyways, let me tell y’all about my book. It is a story that I started writing years ago, when I was a little girl. My sister would usually tell me a bedtime story before bed, but I decided it was my turn to tell a story.

“Once upon a time, there was an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, tiny-whiney…” I kept it going a ridiculously long time telling of how little the thing was. I nver actually got to what the story was about and my sister was probably about ready to clobber me. Needless to say I never finished it. But the idea stayed with me over the years and I’d giggle about it to myself. Yeah, I’m such a weirdo sometimes. Ha.

So, I was driving one day and talking with my kids. I told them about the story and then we started to think about what could it have been. Later that day I finished “The Itsy Bitsy Fairy.”

It’s about a fairy named Inika (Inn-icka) and the big trouble she finds herslef in. You’ll have to read it to find out more.

I had fun writing it and it’s a good, positive story for kids.

I decided to publish it right away as an ebook and sign it up for KU. With KU, subscribers can read the book for free and I earn a few cents per pages read. So far it’s sold 31 copies.

It’s gotten four 5-star ratings/reviews.

I’m equally excited and discouraged.  Five reviews out of a possible thirty-one isn’t much. Some of the sales were during a free promotion.

But my book is getting out there. It’s helped draw readers to my other books as well.

I have four children’s books published, 12-ish prayer journals designed and up for sale, and about 19 works in progress.

I’m still learning. And I’ll keep learning. I’m going to learn the best way to launch my books, the best way to market them, and I’m going to keep writing them, one at a time. (That’s difficult when there are so many great ideas lining up to be written!)

We are finally done transporting our belongings from one state to another, but there’s still a lot to be done before we’re settled. Writing won’t be easy, but I will make the time.

I’m getting back in my blog-writing groove, too. There will be new Mississippi Folklore posts coming your way from me and the team.

The next few days will be filled with mundane things like unpacking and going through things (keep, trash, donate, sell), and planning this coming homeschool year.

I love the planning part! I’ll probably write a post about my process soon, so if you’re a homeschooler or thinking about it, check back soon.

If you’re a writer, I have some writerly posts planned for Books by Trista and you should definitely check out Pikes Peak Writers’ Writing from the Peak!

I hope you’ll check my books out and if you do, please leave a review! Happy reading, happy writing, and keep lookin’ up!

God Bless,

T

Live in the Moment ♥️

I’m in the process of reading “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.” (I need to apply the book’s principles to my current reading list. )

We’re in the middle of a big move. Once we get settled-ish, I’m going to focus a lot on downsizing. I’ve worked on it a bit here and there —with things and with time.

I’ve donated and sold things. I’ve cut back on obligations.

I’ve been trying to focus on essential things—the most important things. Even doing so, there’s a lot. Finding the right balance is going to be key and I will find it.

I wanted to encourage you, dear readers, to do the same, if you haven’t already.

So, here’s a reminder:

Make time for yourself: your faith, your health, your hobby. Even a few minutes here and there will make a difference.

Make time for your family. Learn from them. Enjoy them. Let them know how much you love them.

Work hard and smart at your job. Doesn’t matter if you’re a stay-at-home mama, a CEO, a trash collector—your job matters and you matter.

Leave your work and work.

Be present and live in the moment. Let go of worries and the past.

The past is gone. The future isn’t here yet. Today is what counts. Take it moment by moment.

I’m rooting for you.

Love & prayers,

T

Standardized Testing for Homeschoolers

There are mixed emotions about standardized testing, especially among homeschoolers. In our current state, there are two options for homeschoolers: seeking state approval and not seeking state approval. We opt for the latter, so my kids aren’t required to report to anyone other than me or to take standardized tests.

As a student, I dreaded standardized tests in public school, although I tested well. My husband, on the other hand, took them as a challenge.

I don’t believe they give a completely accurate assessment for every student. Some simply don’t do well under that kind of pressure, and there are many other factors to consider, such as learning disability, stress of home life, etc.

On the other hand, some do exceptionally well.

As a teacher, standardized tests give me an idea of where my students may be excelling or may need extra practice. This is why I choose to administer standardized testing in our homeschool (and also it makes my husband feel better.)

I order the not-timed option, but that may change as they move into highschool. If you’d like to do them in your homeschool, a simple google search will bring up lots of options. We use the CAT.

We don’t make a big deal out of the tests. We take the practice test the week before and review any mistakes. I make sure the kids get a good night’s sleep, hearty breakfast, and time to stretch and relax before we begin.

They have a lot of wiggle breaks and (gasp!) snacks. We couldn’t even chew gum when I took them.

My husband and I reward the boys when they’ve completed the test (that’s an accomplishment in itself!) and when they do exceptionally well, we do something big to celebrate.

There hasn’t been an occasion thus far where they haven’t done well, but I don’t put unrealistic expectations on them. It’s ok if they don’t test well and we will cross that bridge if we get there.

They took their tests last week and did well again this year. This year has been interesting with the move. It’s good to know that we’re still sort of on track.

We took them to the local trampoline park and then the game store as a reward. They had a great time and it was well deserved. They’ve worked hard and had fun learning this year. I can’t believe they’ll soon be 9th and 5th graders!

We will likely use June for a review and an opportunity to go over things that were on the test that we hadn’t covered yet. And then again, we may not. This move has been a doozy. I guess we’ll see how it goes. Wish us luck.

As always, God bless y’all. Keep lookin’ up.

~T

National Reading Month!

I can’t believe it’s March already. Wasn’t it just New Year’s? March is a great month, though, and I’m looking forward to all the fun things that it brings.

Did you know that March is National Reading Month, Small Press Month, and Read an e-Book Month? There are also tons of writing/reading holidays in March. I found the following list at The Retired School Librarian: (Be sure to check the site out for more fun holidays each month to celebrate with your kids, your class, your readers, or all of the above. )

01 – International Hug a Librarian Day (You may want to ask first. )02 – Read Across America Day; Dr. Seuss’s Bithday04 – National Grammar Day03-09 – Read an E-book Week; Return Borrowed Books Week16 – National Freedom of Information Day19–International Read to Me Day17-23–World Folktales and Fables Week20 – World Storytelling Day; Bibliomania Day21 – World Poetry Day30 – National Pencil Day

I’m a few books ahead of schedule for my reading goal. There’s so much to read and I’ve made it a priority to rate and review each book I complete this year.

Also, don’t forget the 17th is St. Patrick’s Day! We always have so much fun learning about our Irish heritage. We’ve traced all the way back to my 15th great-grandfather on one side and he was born in Ireland. Years later, my 11th great-grandfather came to America.

We read lots of Irish books, take virtual field trips, and set leprechaun traps. I’m sure we’ll catch him this year.

This is a homeschool thing for us, but also a fun family thing.

I will try and post some of the shenanigans here later this month, so check back for ideas of fun things to do with the littles.

If you follow me on social media, you’ll know I’ve taken a step back from it for a while. Our family has a lot going on, so I’m focusing on some things that need my immediate attention. I am still managing and posting to my blogs, though. Be sure to stop by and say hello once in a while!

You can find lots of great articles from my colleagues and me on Mississippi Folklore and Pikes Peak Writers’ Writing from the Peak. I hope you’ll give us a follow.

I’ll be announcing a new blog soon. Stay tuned!

Hang in there and keep lookin’ up.

God Bless,

~T

Down on the Farm

When I was a little girl, my daddy would sing Charley Pride’s “Down on the Farm” to get me to sleep at night.

I don’t know if that’s when it started, but I’ve always loved farming and the idea of it. I’d lay awake at night planning what my life would be like as an adult, and although those plans changed over the years, they always involved growing my own foods, writing, and being a mama.

I don’t remember a time when we didn’t have some kind of garden growing up. My sister and I would help our parents and grandparents with planting and harvesting. We learned a lot.

I remember shelling peas and shuckin’, silkin’, and canning corn til we were plum slap tired of it. We grew tomatoes, beans, okra, greens, onions, and peppers, among other things. We also had all kinds of animals (chickens, goats, cows, horses, dogs, etc.) that my sister and I helped care for. And looking back, I’m so grateful for those moments working together as a family.

When I finally did grow up, I married my high school sweetheart. He joined the military right out of high school.

Being a military spouse often means moving a lot and renting houses. We couldn’t always have a big garden, but we did a container garden in most places and we’d still help out back home if we had the chance.

Flash forward to now. My husband has 20 years of service behind him. We have had a garden for a few years now in the backyard of the house we own. Our kids help out with it and we let them pick and plan a lot of the things we plant. We’ve been trying different things to see what works and what we like or don’t like. We’re preparing to move soon and start our own little farm. A real one.

I don’t know when, but sometime over the past few years my husband and I have both felt drawn to organic farming. He’s read tons of books and watched countless hours of YouTube farming videos. I’m not as tolerant of YouTube, though I do watch some of the videos with him. I’ve been reading farming books as well.

My current read.

I remember when I was in high school hearing about “organic” vegetables. I noted that they cost more and I thought that was ridiculous. I thought all vegetables were organic, meaning to me that they were natural and biodegradable. I didn’t even consider all of the chemicals and pesticides used by most farms.

And my mindset at that time wasn’t uncommon for folks in rural farming communities. A lot of them scoff even now when someone mentions organic farming. Add no-till into that and they look at you like you’ve got three heads.

Sadly, I was probably in my twenties before it clicked and I realized the impact of these things and what true organic farming meant; farming without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and the like.

We’re about to embark on a new journey together. We have our work cut out for us, but I’m looking forward to it. I like knowing where our food comes from. I like knowing what’s in it and what’s not.

Growing our own food and providing healthy alternatives for our community will be a rewarding endeavor. We have a lot of plans. I can’t pretend to know what the future holds, but good Lord willin’ we will do our best to see those plans to fruition.

It will be interesting while we adjust to balancing our new lifestyle with homeschooling and my writing and everyday meal planning and tasks.

I hope y’all will follow along on our journey. We’re setting up social media accounts and a YouTube channel of our own. I’ll keep you updated!

I hope y’all have a wonderfully blessed day.

God bless,

T

Declutter Like a Southern Mother

If you’ve read my posts til now, you’ll know I am a fan of Allie Casazza’s Declutter Like a Mother.

I started a few years ago with her DLAM challenge. I did a couple of those and later I got her Your Uncluttered Home and Unburdened programs (and a few others). I was off to a decent start and then life happened.

I haven’t completed either program (yet), but the huge thing for me was the mindset takeaway.

The Backstory

My great-grandparents and grandparents lived through The Great Depression. They learned to hang on to things, to reuse and repurpose. They passed these habits on to their kids. They passed it on to me. Not only the habits but much of the actual things were passed to me later in my adulthood.

My parents worked hard for all we had. There were many times when they struggled financially. Layoffs and injuries aren’t your friend when you have a mortgage and two children. But they always found a way to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads.

My sister and I always understood and appreciated their hard work and sacrifice.

When my parents were able, they doted on us, as did our grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

While none of these things are bad, they have contributed to my present situation of too many things.

When you see how hard someone works for something and you see the time and consideration put into it, you (I) have a hard time parting with it.

I was feeling sentimental towards some things and feeling guilty even considering getting rid of others, just because of where or who they came from. And I had the “but what if I NEED it later?” mentality about things.

That leads to a lot of clutter. It also lead to anxiety and depression. I was frustrated and tired. When other things happened—illness, visitors, minor in-home disasters, etc—I was so incredibly stressed.

While I wasn’t at hoarder level and I did donate or sell some things, it just wasn’t enough. No sooner had I gotten rid of things than more came in.

Things take up your precious time and joy when you spend most of your time cleaning them up or moving them around and “organizing” them.

What Helped

In Allie’s programs she teaches that if everything is special, nothing is special. She puts things into perspective. While it’s true that my husband and I and our family before us have worked hard for the things we have, when we’re done using those things, when they no longer serve us or bring us joy, it’s ok to pass those things on. It’s more than ok. It’s necessary.

When I internalized that and let go of the guilt, I began to let so many things go that I never would have before and it’s been liberating.

Decluttering like a Southern Mother

What do u mean by “like a Southern mother?” you might ask.

I’m not only dealing with my things. We have two kids and we have things from each of our childhoods, and all of my grandparents’ and some of my husband’s grandparents’ things. Years of things. And it was feeling heavy.

If you were raised in a Southern family you probably know that we take things that were passed down seriously. If you’re the kid that got Aunt Sally’s sewing machine or Mamaw Mary’s pans, you better take care of them and keep them. Forever. But also Uncle John’s tools and Uncle Jerry’s lawn gnomes…

I don’t actually have any of these family members. Those are all fictional scenarios, but you get the idea. It can be a lot.

And if you happen not to need some of these things anymore (after all you have other things they’ve given you that perhaps mean more), save yourself a heap of trouble and ask family members if they want them before you sell or donate. That’s the “like a Southern Mother” part. Otherwise, you may cause a family feud that could 100 percent have been avoided.

Our little family will probably never be true minimalists. I’m ok with keeping family “heirlooms.” I like the momentos and reminders from the past.

But we don’t have to keep everything that each of family member ever had. And I need to remind myself of that.

We will become more minimal. Things we have outgrown, things that are broken, and things that aren’t used are going to be trashed, donated, or sold. Or given to relatives.

So that’s where I’m at. We’re going through things to go and I have my truck loaded with about 5 large trash bags full of things to donate. This is the third load this year (so this month!)

Some things will move with us and then be rehomed once we’re settled and we get a feel for what we need. I think I have the hardest time with paper clutter, but I’m working through that as well.

Looking at the mess, it’s easy to get discouraged, but cleaning/decluttering one small space at a time adds up. Sometimes a break or small reward for effort goes a long way. Sometimes just going into an already clean and tidy area of the house calms me and motivates me.

I can’t wait to get there. This process has already had a positive effect on me, our homeschool, my writing, etc. I know my husband and kids will benefit and enjoy being clutter-free as much as I will. So I’ll keep working at it and Good Lord willing we will get there.

If you can’t relate and already have your ish together, that’s great.

If you’re in the same situation, hang in there. You can do it. You might want to check out Allie’s book.

I wish you the best of luck. Xoxo

Keep lookin’ up.

God bless,

T

Happy 2024!

Hello, readers!

We’re one week and two days into the new year. I hope it’s treating you well.

I have a lot going on. My house is like Sarah’s fake bedroom in Labyrinth when she realizes it’s not her room and everything crashes down. We’re moving a little at a time and we did not have a plan like I usually do, so everything is a mess.

In the midst of it, we still have homeschooling, chores, meal prep/cooking, critters, company, etc. I just finished the homeschool eval to see where we are and how the kids are doing. We’re not far off schedule, which is pretty awesome I think.

I’m participating in an author interview. That’s new. I’m always the interviewer, so it will be fun to answer questions for a change. I’ll share once it’s up.

I’m finishing up Julia Donaldson’s Writing Children’s Picture Books BBC Maestro Course and a Hillsdale online course on A Christmas Carol. It always helps me focus when I take a writing course or two. I take what we’re discussing and apply it. Most things covered are things I already know on some level at least, but revisiting it and seeing or hearing it from another perspective can make a world of difference. Sometimes things will just click and I’m like Oh, so that’s what my story is missing.

I’m reading a lot of books, writing a few, and managing my blogs and WftP.

Stephen King’s On Writing and R.L. Stine’s There’s Something Strange About My Brain are on the reading list among many others.

I’m hoping to complete my Christmas story, pirate chapter book, guided prayer journal, and Mississippi Folklore book for kids this year. Fingers crossed!

I have paintings I started and haven’t gotten back around to.

My hubby and I are planning our next adventure.

I’ve signed up for a few things and forgotten about them. Sigh. I still ain’t finished that time management book.

But I am looking forward to continuing and finishing every bit of this crazy, chaotic to-do list I’ve accumulated. I’ll get it done, Good Lord willing. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to try. (I may have to prioritize and cut back a few things, but it will be ok. ) Yall wish me luck.

Stay tuned for book releases, updates, book reviews, homeschool stuff, and author interviews.

Let me know what you’re looking forward to the most this year in the comments.

Keep lookin’ up.

God bless,

T

Christmas-y Homeschool Shennanigans!

We’ve had a crazy year. We’ve been on track with our curricula all year, too, despite that fact.

But this week I plan to get behind just a bit. And that’s ok. Instead of our regular subjects (Language Arts, Math, Sciences, Languages, and History, etc.), we’re taking the week to participate in Nutcracker Art History Week!

Today was Day 1. I didn’t realize there was pre-party work, so we caught up. We learned about musicians and artists, read some of The Nutcracker, and watched “A Very Nutty Christmas” with Melissa Joan Hart. That last part was just something I added in. Ha.

A Van Gogh/ Nightmare Before Christmas/Seussian-inspired tree by me. A mouse. By T-bugChristmas Tree by RPicaso inspired Nutcracker by RNutcracker by T-bug

We might actually get a bit behind all month. My primary focus this month is all things Christmas-y. We’ll be reading some of my favorite books: A Christmas Carol, The Greatest Gift, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, etc.

We’ll watch our favorite Christmas movies and find some new favorites.

We’re also reading a chapter of Luke each day this month.

Credit to whomever it is due.

We’re going to learn to make traditional family recipes and we’re going to bake and decorate cookies.

We’ve already been working on handmade gifts.

The boys painted these. Aint they cute?

The secondary focus this month is Intro to Shakespeare. I’ve meant to do this for a couple years and it kept getting pushed to the side.

We’re learning about his life and reading a few of his plays that have been adapted for children. I have to say, though, I’m consdiering writing my own adaptations. I haven’t read one yet that I’m completely satisfied with.

And speaking of writing, I’ve been working on a Christmas story. My kids (especially T-bug) seem really excited about it. I hope I can make it as awesome as they hope it will be. More on that in a future post. (I know, I know, I have other WIP that need attention…)

Besides writing, I’ve been painting a good bit, packing, cleaning, and catching up with a few of my writerly friends.

Aside from WftP editing duties, I haven’t done much in the way of blogging. I hope to get back to Books by Trista (with more author interviews, etc.) and Mississippi Folklore soon. But for now, family life beckons and I’m looking forward to soaking up all the holiday memories with our little family and all of our folks and friends that I can. If I don’t get back to you this year, good luck with all you do. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God bless you and yours.

Much love,

T

The Rougarou’s Curse – The 13th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest Entry

Hello, Dear Readers!

I’ve been so busy with life and enjoying Spooky Season, that I haven’t even written a blog post this month!

But I couldn’t miss out on the Halloweensie fun, so here we are! A special thank you to SUSANNA LEONARD HILL and everyone involved in making this contest happen. It is always so much fun!!! I adore writing scary stories and I can’t wait to read what everyone comes up with.

In case you aren’t familiar with the Halloweensie Writing Contest, the rules are these (basically):

Write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for ages 12 and under, poetry or proseUse the words fright, superstition, and werewolf (the words change each year)Submit your story in the comments of the official Halloweensie blog post.

Now that you get the gist of the contest, read on for this year’s 13th Annual Halloweensie Contest Entry! (If I come up with more entries, I’ll update and add them below.)

Submitted for the approval for the Hallweensie society, I present you “The Rougarou’s Curse.” Word Count 100.

There are a lot of spooky things in the swamp–things that give even grownups a fright. Granny told me not to go out at night; she’s into all the old superstitions. She said, “Beware the curse of the rougarou”–that’s the cajun word for werewolf.
I never believed her, and one Halloween night, I didn’t listen. I walked among black trees beneath a moonless sky, headed to meet my friends on a dare. But I never made it. At least the old me never did. I heard my friends calling. I watched them for a moment before I howled and attacked.

by Trista Herring Baughman

You can read my entries from previous years in the links here and here. My first ever entry in 2021, “The Halloween Witch”, is included in my book, Halloween Night and Other Poems.

Have you submitted your story yet? Add your link in the comments so I can check it out. Good luck!

Pleasant Surprises & Disappointments (Oh & a Book Release!)

Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

We’ll start with the bad.

Last October I was super excited to have an interview with an author I admire. He’s pretty famous and would have been the perfect addition to my Zombtober posts. But alas, his assistant (who had said he would love to do the interview and to please send it on) informed me that he had an upcoming deadline to meet and asked if they could get the interview answers to me later.

Of course. Not a problem. Then when I followed up, they ghosted me.

I ordered a copy of one of his books so that I could review it in conjunction with the interview.

I reached out another time. Not sure if it was the same assistant, but they asked for details and said they’d get back to me.

So I awaited their response patiently. And all I got was crickets. It was really disappointing.

A simple, “ Sorry, he can’t do it after all,” would have been better than no response.

I won’t mention the author’s name. I just needed to vent.

I had really good questions.

Ok, enough moping.

Now to the good news.

A fellow author messaged me recently to thank me for inspiration! Just out of the blue. It was so nice to hear that I inspired someone to get their books out there. Doesn’t stuff like that just give you the warm fuzzies?

And then, the same author bought two copies of Halloween Night and Other Poems! (One as a gift!) AND shared it on social media!!!

Such a nice surprise and the support is so very appreciated. And I will return it and pay it forward in every way I can.

Hopefully, I can get an interview with her soon. I’ll keep you updated.

My friend across the pond, author Lee Allen, recently hosted a spooky book giveaway and my book is now being read in the UK! That’s exciting. It’s a goal of mine to get my book in as many countries as possible.

More good news: I released my first Amazon eBook, The Itsy Bitsy Fairy. It’s available to read on Kindle Unlimited until December. If you check it out, a review would be greatly appreciated!

I suck at book releases. I need to work on that. Another author friend bought a copy and tweeted a lovely review. If you’re a writer and you’ve gotten unsolicited reviews, you’ll understand how much it means.

This month I’ve sold 8 books for a grand total of $16.55! Doesn’t around like much, but it’s actually the most I’ve made in a month on Amazon so far. Every little bit helps! Don’t be discouraged if your books aren’t instant best-sellers. It takes work. And marketing skills. I will keep at it and I hope you will, too.

I now have my books in a few more libraries and in a gift shop! If you’re near Bossier City, stop by Bossier Arts Council (BAC). They always have neat exhibits and you’ll find my books and paintings for sale in their gift shop.

I also donated books to their annual Zombie Walk for prizes! I LOVE the SBC Zombiewalk. It supports a lot of good causes and is so much fun.

My writing has been on hold, but I’m still sort of working on PiRats, a prayer journal, and another poetry collection. I’m more taking notes and reading up on my craft than writing, but it’s still work, and I look forward to when I can make the time to focus on it a bit more to get actual writing done.

In the meantime, I’ve been getting ready for a move, visiting family, homeschooling (we’re actually on break right now), spending more time outdoors, things like that. I’ve also squeezed in some reading, which you’ll see if you follow me on GoodReads.

I’ve had some family things going on that have affected my blogging across the blogosphere, but I hope to be back on track soon.

Make sure to catch up on Mississippi Folklore and Pikes Peak Writers’ Writing from the Peak and check back often for updates.

I’ll be back here soon, as well, with more author interviews, writing tips, and homeschool related things. TTFN! (yep, I just said that. LOL)

God bless,

~T