Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Cover Reveal for Romanov by Nadine Brandes!

Hello, my lovely friends! This is going to be a super quick post because it was kind of last minute and I'm busy with life. But I'm excited to be able to share the cover for a new Nadine Brandes book! Eep! I love this author's debut series, a YA dystopian trilogy, and am excited to read her latest release, Fawkes.

And now ... check out the cover for Romanov!

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Info About the Book

- Releases May 7th, 2019
- Historical fantasy Anastasia retelling (YA)
-standalone

Is it not beautiful?? The good news is that you can pre-order now!

Friday, September 7, 2018

A Little Post About Vacation

Oh, but I think a part of me will always long for my childhood home.

A part of my heart belongs there. And it makes me ache to think about it and know that I will never be completely fulfilled ... Yet that reminds me another reason why heaven will be so precious!

Ah. Another trip to the west coast. I adore these trips. And never quite ready to leave!

I saw my older brother! <3 My aunt and uncle and cousins who I lived with once (my second family!!). My grandparents. Some more aunts and uncles and cousins from all over the country (they came for the wedding of my uncle). Dear friends. And countless other relatives. *winks*

I went kayaking. Which was like the best experience ever! Summer at its finest. Floating down the river beneath the towering pine trees. Oh, it was beautiful. And invigorating. And just simply lovely. I couldn't help thinking of the people who must have canoed down that river years ago ... native Americans? Early settlers? I love my "home"!

Right before kayaking, I was swimming with my cousins, sister, and aunt. That was really fun, too! The water was so cold! But once I actually ducked under, I quickly warmed up. We swam out to giant, floating logs and sat on them. I didn't get any pictures of this day, but it was so wonderful.

And the wedding. Simply beautiful. I was so honored and blessed to attend! Such a fun time with family.

Staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
Getting to know my lovely, new aunt. (who's my age)
Helping my cousin set up a blog.
Shopping trips.
Going out to eat.
Reconnecting with my childhood best friend and talking about all manner of things. ^_^
Crazy scavenger hunt on the "last night out".
Sitting in my older brother's room and talking with him and my mom.
Laughing.
Playing games.
Hanging out with fun people.
Riding in my older brother's cool car and listening to cool music. *smiles*
Refreshing walks.
Talking with my aunt (my second mom *winks*)
Picking blackberries and thimble berries.
Hiking.
Swimming.
Kayaking.
Long conversations with LaKaysha.
Birthdays.
Wedding.
Exploring and adventuring with older brother, mom, and the rest of the siblings.
Washing Grandpa and Grandma's white fence with all the cousins.
Hanging out with all the family.
Holding babies.  (My aunt's baby and my friend's baby)
Staying at aunt & uncle's I used to live with. (I felt a little nostalgic)

Oh. All the adventures. Can't wait until the next trip! *winks*

Here are a couple pictures ... (I was so excited to have a decent camera on my phone, finally. But it turns I don't take very many pictures anyway.)


At the airport. I felt so sick on the first flight. 'Twas not fun. Not fun at all.



Costco shopping trip! *grins* We packed the car quite full of groceries!


Because what's better than natural sour gummy worms? *heart eyes*


Staying at Grandma's house


Love waterfalls!




Time to climb this rock. We didn't go up that way. *winks*



Hiking with all the family


I was totally blessed to get together with LaKaysha three or four times! I love hanging out with that girl! We can just talk on for hours and have great conversations! It was good to share from my heart with her. <33 One day we took a nice walk and then went out and got smoothies. Mine was called west coast berry or something.


Going home. :'(

So many people to miss!


So talk to me, y'all!

WHERE DO YOU LOVE TO VACATION?

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THIS SUMMER?

DO YOU GET SICK ON AIRPLANES?

HAVE YOU BEEN TO A WEDDING RECENTLY?

DO YOU LIKE KAYAKING?

SOUR GUMMY WORMS?? *winks*

May God bless your weekend!

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Sunshine Blogger Award

Hi, all! I know I haven't been on here in forever ... blogging has been so sporadic for me and it makes me sad. *unhappy face* But, that's just a season of life I'm in now and I have to let myself be okay with it.

I'm happy to inform you that today is Saturday (the weekend is here, yay!) *winks*, and I am able to steal a few moments on the family computer.


So I'm doing a tag! The lovely Daminika @ Walking in the Sonshine, Dancing in the Rain tagged me for the Sunshine Blogger Award and I'm excited to do it! Thank you, Daminika!

THE RULES:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and link their blog
Answer the questions the blogger who nominated you provided
Nominate new bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer
List the rules and have the Sunshine Blogger logo present in your post

THE QUESTIONS:

1) what was the last movie you watched (and enjoyed)?

Um ... I haven't watched any really amazing movies lately. I think the last (new) movie I watched was Wonder Woman {2017}. It was okay.

The actual last movie I watched was a re-watch. I decided to watch Pride and Prejudice {2005} about a month ago while on a plane ride. Enjoyed that one, as always! Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth! ^_^

2) favorite summer-y food?

*sits back and contemplates* Potato salad? (Although I don't really eat that anymore because I can't have eggs) Different types of salad. Broccoli, bacon salad. Quinoa, grape salad. Taco salad. Yeah. Yum.

3) last adventure you had?

Traveled to the west coast and visited family and friends! Hiked, kayaked, attended weddings ... (I will hopefully write a post about this next!

4) road trip or airplanes?

Road trips. I like airplane rides for the fact that you get there fast ... but I usually tend to get sick from flying and it's just yucky. I don't prefer to be that far up in the air anyway. It can be an adventure if I don't get sick. But road trips are great as long as you stop for the night!
5) what is your dream wedding color(s)?

I think it would be lovely to do pastel colors. Have my bridesmaids wear pastel blue, yellow, pink, green, and purple. I haven't thought it all through, but I love the idea of a soft, colorful, fairy tale-ish feel. ^_^

6) what song have you had on repeat?

"Amen" by For King and Country


"Details" by Sarah Reeves


7)  girly-girl or tomboy?

I could be a tomboy when I was younger. I absolutely delighted in running around with my older brother and boy cousins (actually they're my dad's cousins ... but they were more my age! *winks*) We had all sorts of adventures. I played in the mud, caught salamanders, got chased by cows, made plans to trap a coyote, and loved exploring the forests and creeks.

I also could be really girly though. I did ballet, loved dressing up,  playing with dolls, and feeling pretty.

Today I'm sure I lean more toward girly, but I still love a good, outdoors adventure.

8) first celebrity crush?

Logan Bartholomew from Love's Enduring Promise {2004} or Ben Barnes from Prince Caspian {2008}. *grins*


9) top three favorite blogs?




10) how long ago did you start your blog?

May 2014, I believe. So a little over four years ago.

11) how do you feel you've grown since starting your blog?

I've gotten a little better at writing, perhaps. Formatting, definitely.

I've grown as a person ... learning to find my identity in Christ and being able to accept myself because of that. I'm understanding, a little better, His indescribable love for me. And that is changing me as a person.

I'm learning to pray more. Move out of my comfort zone. Live in freedom. Step out in faith. Walk by the Spirit. Live fully in the moment. Cherish every friendship. Let myself rest, fully beloved in Christ.

I still struggle, but I'm coming to understand TRUTH.

***

Y'all, I'm not going to follow all the rules. I'll tag a couple people and they can answer these questions because I'm too tired to come up with new ones!

Deborah O'Carroll @ The Road of a Writer


Skye @ Ink Castles