Last post of February (MADE IT)

February 28, 2015

It shouldn't be that much of a shock that the month is almost over, but it sure feels like it has been a quick one.

Today will be a gratitude post. It's been a good month, and I haven't taken a lot of time to be happy about it. I also have a March plan for blogging to keep me writing.

Gratitude for February:

 As always, food makes me happy! Homemade meals.

The biggest news this month (and year) is Clint and I have finally finished the house hunt. I haven't said a lot about us looking for a house in my blog because I didn't know when we'd find something, and if it would work out. But it did. After months of looking, we found our dream house. We'll have our own house, and more room. I don't have a picture of the dream house that I'm sharing right now. Possession isn't until April, so I can share then if I feel like it. Just taking another step towards our future is a great feeling.

Big step! We own a house together!

Clint got eye surgery. We are now both 20/20!

We had Valentine's Day in Plenty with my family. It was a romantic weekend of making sausage.

And snowstorms. 

Rolo came to visit as well.

Not even half of it. All our freezers are full.

A year of meat in our freezer.

Gratitude for surviving a Saskatchewan winter (again.)

 Nights out. Delicious supper and drinks.

And delicious nights in.

My Mom's birthday weekend.

 WRITING AND BLOGGING AGAIN. 

My novel has been sent away to be evaluated!

Taking pictures on cold days.

My last day of February has started with a cold. I've been fighting it for months, so hopefully this will be the end of it. (Or, I'll fight it off again.)

March Plans:

March Blog Challenge

I found a new blog challenge on Pinterest, leading to the above link. It was for 2013, but it'll work. If I post about something else on any of those days, I won't worry about the prompt. As long as I'm blogging every day, that's reaching the March goal. Here are the prompts for each day of March:

1. Self Portrait and 5 random facts about yourself.
2. Favourite quotes.
3. What makes you happy?
4. Best Childhood memory.
5. Favourite movies you never get sick of watching.
6. Your last random act of kindness.
7. What's your dream job?
8. Biggest pet peeve.
9. What's on your life/bucket list.
10. Daily routine.
11. The last book you read.
12. Something that you miss.
13. Do you have regrets?
14. What's on your iPod?
15. List 10 things that make you awesome.
16. What's your biggest accomplishment?
17. Why and when did you start blogging?
18. Where are you the happiest?
19. List 5 blogs you read on a regular basis and why?
20. What do you collect?
21. What's your biggest fear?
22. What do you do when you're home alone?
23. Do you have a hobby?
24. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
25. Describe your location.
26. What's your favourite food?
27. List 3 online friends that you've never met in real life, but hope to soon.
28. What's your guilty pleasure?
29. What's your favourite time of the year and why?
30. What's your favourite flavour of ice cream?
31. Self portrait and explain what you liked most about this challenge.

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

Writing and Photography

February 27, 2015

My goal was to blog for the rest of February to make up for fact that I haven't blogged at all this month.

That's basically six days in a row, so while I may meet that goal, I don't consider it an accomplishment. I would like to post everyday in March, just so I can get back into the habit.

Today, I want to talk about two passions I have. Writing (everybody should know that) and photography. It's an update post about both. Writing being the more important one.

Writing:
The last post about my writing was about my rejection letter. Right here. I haven't done any writing this month, blogging or novel writing, or editing. It's been a terrible month of not writing. I don't think it's because of the letter. I think I've just been lazy.

I've been inspired lately. By myself. By Clint's encouragement. I've FINALLY felt the need to keep on writing.

I sent my first novel (thus far, rejected) for a manuscript evaluation. I printed all the many pages, and sent it off yesterday. I won't be touching it until I hear back so I know exactly what I should change in it. Then I'll start sending it away to new publishers.

Clint suggested I continue working on the one I started in November (the Nano-Novel). It feels bad working on the second novel when the first one is just sitting around collecting imaginary dust, but he's right. I have to keep writing. 

This week, I've been starting at the beginning of that novel. (I can't finish writing it until I edit/catch up. It's been too long, and my memory is terrible). 

I am incredibly proud of myself for starting to write again. I knew I would, but I've just been so hard on myself lately, and lazy about continuing to work towards my dream. I'm back at it.

Writing, reading, and blogging are the three things I'm focusing on in the upcoming months. (Plus friend and family time).

I plan to succeed. I don't know how, and I don't know when, but I'm going to continue working towards becoming a published author. I'll keep writing no matter what. 

I'd be so much farther in this career if I had kept on writing after University. I don't know why I stopped, and I don't want to spend a lot of time getting into 'past Erin's' brain. Just as long as I continue writing now. No more 10 year breaks. 

Photography:

I love taking photos. Of everything. Nature, food, people, selfies, drinks. You name it, I'll take it. If it's there, and I like the look of it, I will most likely take a picture. 

I'm sure that is a little bit obvious from all the photos I have on my blogs. 

If I could take photos for a living, I would. I like taking photos, and I like sharing them. It's not something I've ever taken very seriously, but it's something I enjoy. I'm sure I'm not unique in that. 

Yesterday, on my walk to work, I was walking across the bridge to downtown just as the sky was a beautiful pink colour, with a fog off the river. It was cold out. I think it was about -35 with the wind chill, but I saw the moment, and I stopped to take a couple of pictures in the cold before heading to work. 

The pictures, turned out gorgeous. (In my humble opinion). 

So, of course, I had to share on Instagram (which also shares to Facebook).

I also tweeted the picture to CBC Saskatchewan because they had a status asking for the cold winter morning pictures.

From the CBC Twitter feed (with a photo credit) my photo was retweeted 13 times, and favourited 14 times. (That's a lot for me).

On the CBC Facebook page, the same photo was liked 95 times and shared 12 times. (Mostly by people I don't know.)

My friend, also shared it on the Prairie North Magazine Facebook page (with a photo credit). The photo on that page had 285 likes, and was shared 72 times.  http://www.prairiesnorth.com/

Things that I post on public media don't usually get shared like that. My blog and my photos are commented on (sometimes), but rarely shared. I keep my actual page pretty private, but the photo still got shared (with my permission). (Which is fine, it's a good picture.) 

It's actually kind of a cool feeling. I'm not gaining anything from it, but people seem to love a photo I took. I can only hope that someday, people will share my book and love it as well. 

The thing with photos and books is while they are a part of me, I still get to be me (strange 'ol me) while the pictures (and hopefully -someday- fiction novels) get the attention. 

I feel like by writing this, I'm showing off about my accomplishment, but I'm really not. (Maybe a little). I'm happy about it, but is it an accomplishment? I posted a picture I took. I do that frequently. I did feel like it was important to have the photo credit though, but I'm not sure why. I wish I had watermarked it, but I'm still learning how to do that.

I guess it's just nice that something I love is getting notice. The beautiful city I live in, the sky, water, and my photo. I might like it if my novel gets as much (and more) notice when it gets published, but it will be a long road of photo taking until that happens. 

Other blogs I read, don't have people showing off about their accomplishments. Mostly because they are already accomplished. I'm not there yet. I want to share my beautiful photo. 

I've been feeling down on myself because I haven't been blogging or writing, and while my posts are slowly getting more attention, it felt good to have something I've done be noticed. Maybe down the road, when I get published, somebody say, "I recognize that name, she took a cool picture once!" (haha)



Talk to you tomorrow. 
As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

The rest of my Questions and Answers

February 26th

Once again, I'm going to continue from yesterday's post, and answer the last 50 of 100 questions no one ever asks. Full questions and explanation are here:

Right Here

Here's the first one: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2015/02/questions-and-answers.html

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? A portrait? I'm not sure. A few years ago, I had boudoir photos taken. The ones I've picked have been in a drawer ever since. I had little sized ones done that I gave to Clint. Basically, we can never break up now. Obviously, I'm not sharing the whole picture. But here is the cropped picture of just my head. They did my hair and makeup as well.  In all honesty, this is not what I usually look like. This is 'lots of makeup Erin'. Usually I'm 'I didn't get out of bed in time to use makeup, but hey, I brushed my hair Erin'.

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy? Do I think it's cheesy for people to break into song at any moment? No. I'm jealous of them though. I WISH my life was a musical. 

53. Is Christmas stressful? It depends how broke I am, and how many times our Christmas tree has fallen over, but not usually. 

It fell shortly after this photo.

54. Ever eat a pierogi? Okay... I just googled this to make sure they meant Perogies. It says Polish Dumplings, so I'm guessing yes. I've never seen it spelled like that. But yes. I'm from Saskatchewan. Perogies are big here. 

55. Favourite type of fruit pie? Favourite type of fruit pie? Umm, one without bananas. 

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? Writer or actress. Still working towards one of them. Actress is no longer. I wanted to specifically be a FAMOUS actress. It just hasn't happened. 

57. Do you believe in ghosts? Nah, but just in case a ghost is mad that I said this, yes. 

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? 

Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? HAHAHAHAHA. Yes sometimes.

59. Do you take a vitamin daily? Well. I have A LOT of vitamins ready to be taken daily. But no. Once you fall out of a habit, it's hard to get back in.

60. Do you wear slippers? No. I wear fuzzy and warm socks though. And Footsie PJs. Slippers aren't really needed. 

61. Do you wear a bath robe? No. But I have two.

62. What do you wear to bed? Strangely enough, not the above PJs. I get too hot at night. I wear bottoms and a top for the most part. Shorts and tanks. 

63. What was your first concert? I am about to make A LOT of people jealous right now. It was New Kids on the Block. I also think I saw Reba McEntire that year as well.

64. Walmart, Target, or Kmart? Well, we don't have Kmart (do we?), Target was the biggest Canadian Failure ever (in my opinion), and Walmart is always here. So I guess Walmart, but I try to never go there.

65. Nike or Adidas? Is it bad that I could not care less?

66. Cheetos or Fritos? Cheetos I think. But I rarely eat either.

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Peanuts win. Every time. I do like sunflower seeds though.

68. Ever hear of the group Tres Bien? No. And when I googled it, clothing came up, so I couldn't tell you who this group is.

69. Ever take dance lessons? Yes. In school. I imagine I was just wonderful at it.

70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? These questions are getting strange. They're starting to feel more like they're made for teenagers. No. My future spouse has a job, and I'm okay with it. 

71. Can you curl your tongue? No. I can stick it out though. 

72. Ever won a spelling bee? I don't think I've ever been in a spelling bee. Aced spelling tests though!

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy? I cry all the time. So yes.

74. Own any record albums? Nope.

75. Own a record player? Nope.

76. Do you regularly burn incense? Not regularly, no.

77. Ever been in love? Ah shucks... 

78. Who would you like to see in concert? I go to as many concerts as I can, and there are tons I still want to see. I'd say Garth Brooks would be pretty great though.

79. What was the last concert you saw? I think it was the Sheepdogs. Wow. I haven't been to a concert in a while. Before that it was Lady A, and next on the list that I will be going (for the second time) is Eric Church in April). 

Sheepdogs at O'brians. November 2014

80. Hot tea or cold tea? Usually hot tea, but I'm a fan of iced as well.

81. Tea or coffee? Coffee in the morning, tea at night. Starbucks anytime.

82. Sugar cookies or snickerdoodles? Cookies.

83. Can you swim well? I can hold my own.

84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? I liked the first 50 questions better. Yes. I can.

85. Are you patient? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No. Although, once I took a selfie with a goat. What does this have to do with patience? No idea. I just wanted to share the picture. 

86. DJ or band at a wedding? To be honest, I've not been to very many (if any) weddings that had a band. So I'd say DJ. One step further, I'd suggest, Storm Music Services. http://www.stormmusic.ca/Storm_Music_Services/Welcome.html

87. Ever won a contest? Yes, I have. Once, I guessed how many jelly beans were in a jar, and I won a fishing rod. Also, my name was picked for a free Apple TV from a liquor store. A few others, but those are the best ones.

88. Have you ever had plastic surgery? No. And I wouldn't. I like all of me.

89. Which are better: black or green olives? I'm going to go with green, but straight up, I love them both. I feel bad to pick one over the other.

90. Can you knit or crochet?  I used to know how to crochet tuques. I probably could not still. I wouldn't mind learning again.

91. Best room for a fireplace? Living room.

92. Do you want to get married? Yes, I do. 

93. If married, how long have you been married? I'm not married, but I live with Clint. We are life partners (forever according to the picture). We've been living together for two years. 

94. Who was your high school crush? Probably any boy that was nice to me or cute. I was boy crazy. And Rider Strong. 

95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? Cry yes. I don't do it to get my own way though. If I cry or 'throw a fit' it's because I'm frustrated. I'm guessing if I started 'throwing fits' to get my way, Clint would laugh in my face.

96. Do you have kids? I do not have kids.

97. Do you want kids? Ugh. Loaded question. Probably. Maybe. Read and see.

98. What is your favourite colour? Purple. I own and wear a lot of purple. Purple laptop, purple tuque and jacket, purple pants... You name it, I've got it in purple.

99. Do you miss anyone right now? Always.

100. Who are you going to tag to do this video next? First, I didn't do this in video form, second, nobody. Although my friend, Alexis, already did it after my first 50. so... done and done. Anybody looking for something to do on their blog... here you go.

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/

Questions and Answers

February 25th, 2015

If anybody is keeping track, this is the third day in a row I've posted. Also, the third day I've posted in February. So I'll try not to be to proud of myself yet.

To help me get back in the posting habit, I'm taking it easy on myself today. I didn't think my post about babies (to have or not to have) was easy (HERE), and I actually never find it as easy as it may appear to post all about my feelings for loved ones (ROMANCE HERE).

Today on #wwwblog day, I will take a different posting approach. I found something on Pinterest called '100 Questions No One Ever Asks.' I've done a lot of questionnaires that are the same, so I was willing to follow the link to see these questions. The link is below. I'm going to do 50 questions in this post, and 50 tomorrow. 100 seems like a lot.

I'll take a break from my normal posts, and take a quick question and answer period. Maybe I'll find more out about myself... OR maybe you'll find out more information that you ever needed to know! (You ARE welcome!) Not that my blog is as structured as it should be, but I usually skip answering a lot of questions at once. (Even though, I quite enjoy it). 

http://4hatsandfrugal.com/2014/05/100-questions-no-one-ever-asks.html

Here I go:

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed. I never remember to close them until I'm already in bed though. Unless I'm REALLY exhausted and Clint is also already in bed, they are always closed. The monsters can STAY in there. If they want to party during the day, I will leave the doors open for them. 

2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels? Not always. Sometimes if it smells really nice, or if I know I'm going some place that I'll need some. I usually bring my own though.

3. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? They start tucked in, but end up not. More specifically, I make the bed completely right after laundry, and tuck it in, and then don't bother until next laundry day. As long as the sheet is covering me, I'm good.

4. Have you stolen a street sign before? No. I tried to steal the letter "E" from a sign once though. It didn't work. It was a very long time ago.

5. Do you like to use post-it notes? I would love to say yes because they seem pretty useful, but if I need to send myself a note, I email it to myself or use an app on my phone. Or use scrap paper. In other words, I have no post it notes.

6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? Not usually. I don't cut them out at all though.

7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? Neither one, thanks. I saw My Girl. The bees didn't work out for Macaulay Culkin. I also don't think the bear scenario would work out. I'll stay in hotels and steal the shampoo instead. 

8. Do you have freckles? I used to get them in summer. I'm not sure where they went. I love freckles. 

9. Do you always smile for pictures? Sometimes I'm too busy talking. Sometimes I use my 'serious' face.  OR... if you stick a banana near me, I won't smile. Gross.

10. What is your biggest pet peeve? Mean people. It just isn't necessary. 

11. Do you ever count your steps when you walk? No. I walk all the time though. 

12. Have you peed in the woods? I have.

13. Have you ever pooped in the woods? I have not.

14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing? Ummm yes. But with me it doesn't matter. I have no rhythm either way. 

15. Do you chew your pens and pencils? Nope.

16. How many people have you slept with this week? I don't mean to make myself sound like a good girl, but I'm not sure if I've ever slept with more than one person in a week. Unless you're talking just sharing a bed, but still the answer might be the same. This week, it's just been Clint and I. OH! If we had a pet, maybe that would count.

17. What size is your bed? Queen. We don't need anything bigger.

18. What is your song of the week? This is an older song, and I recently downloaded it for free on Google Play, but I really like Pure Heroine by Lorde. I've recently been using Google Play to get more music. I like finding music by accident, but have also bought a few albums. 

19. Is it OK for guys to wear pink? Where what you want.

20. Do you still watch cartoons? Sure.

21. What is your least favourite movie? My least favourite movie? I'm trying to think back to times when I left the theatre angry. There were a few, I'm sure. The middle movie of both Lord of the Rings AND the Hobbit make me mad. I know you're judging me right now, but I won't apologise. Three hours of boredom with no results never make me happy. The dragon was good though. Also, there is a movie on Netflix called Fire with Fire. I hated it. Common sense should be important in a main character.

22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? Cause I'd tell you?

23. What do you drink with dinner? If we are talking dinner as in the last meal of the day: wine or water. If we are talking lunch: coffee or water.

24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in? I'm not a big chicken nugget eater, so whatever dipping sauce is in front of me.

25. What is your favourite food? Wine

26. What movies could you watch over and over again and still love? Reality Bites, Dirty Dancing, Life as a House, Finding Neverland

27. Last person you kissed/kissed you? Clint. This picture wasn't our last kiss though. Neither of us needs glasses now! 

28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout? I was not. But it seems fun.

29. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? Not completely naked, no.

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? December. Love notes. Also I wrote Christmas Update letters.

31. Can you change the oil on a car? I haven't, but I could if I tried hard enough. 

32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket? Nope.

33. Ever ran out of gas? I don't think I have.

34. What’s your favourite kind of sandwich? A BLT or Clubhouse maybe? I don't know.

35. Best thing to eat for breakfast? On weekdays, I have a yogurt or energy/granola bar at around 10. Weekends, if I'm at home, I'll make bacon and eggs with homemade hashbrowns for C and I. If I'm at a restaurant, it's almost guaranteed I'll choose Eggs Benedict. (This picture was actually breakfast for supper).

36. What is your usual bedtime? Between 10 and 11 on week nights. Weekends it just depends what's going on.

37. Are you lazy? Well, kind of. I get work done, but I like to laze around. Lazy is kind of a harsh word. 

38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?First of all, usually a Halloween in Saskatchewan includes snow and cold. Second of all, I can only remember one costume right now, and it was a Care bear. Which is perfect for Saskatchewan Halloweens. The only picture I have is from last Halloween. 

39. What is your Chinese astrological sign? The Monkey: http://www.astrology.com/chinese-astrology

40. How many languages can you speak? English, a little bit of French, and even less Korean. 

41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? No. I move WAY too much to continue updating my address for Magazines. Maybe once we move into our new house. We'll see though. I keep too many things, so it's best for a non cluttered house to NOT have a subscription. 

42. Which are better: legos or lincoln logs? I pick Lego's only because I had to google Lincoln logs. 

43. Are you stubborn? Yes.

44. Who is better: Leno or Letterman? Are either of them on television anymore? I guess I enjoyed Leno more.

45. Ever watch soap operas? Hell, yes. Grew up with Another World, now I stick to General Hospital. I don't always watch it, but I do read recaps. I know about all of them though.  http://soapcentral.com/soapcentral/index.php

46. Are you afraid of heights? I don't think so. Jumping from a large height is a different question, but just being up high isn't a problem for me. I once ran off a cliff with a parachute (and man) strapped to my back. (Para-gliding). I did try bungee jumping as well, and it turns out, my fear sets in when I have to fall straight down, even if attached to a bungee cord. Maybe I could do it with somebody, but not alone. The picture is my feet. Nothing scared me that day.

47. Do you sing in the car? Yes I do.

48. Do you sing in the shower? Not really, no. I'm sure I have, but it's not my prime singing location.

49. Do you dance in the car? Less than I sing, but yes.

50. Ever used a gun? I took firearm safety when I was 12 (I think). I shot a rifle at a clay thing. It kicked back and I cried. I haven't shot one since. Nor do I need to.

As always,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Prompts from: http://erinisawriter.blogspot.ca/2014/12/updated-prompts.html

Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:

http://lifeisgoodandhereisproof.blogspot.ca/

and

http://erinlm.blogspot.ca/