Sometimes, the SQUEE just sneaks up on you...

The one good thing about moving is that it consumes your life to the extent you’re able to forget about a lot of things you’d obsess over otherwise.

Like when contest finalists are announced. ~g~

I was up on a ladder Thursday morning, stripping wallpaper from my kitchen, cursing my fate and the people who hung it on unprimed walls with way too much glue, when the phone rang. I debated climbing down the ladder (as you all know, there’s a good chance I’d fall off the ladder at some point anyway, so climbing up and down would just be tempting Fate a little too much), then decided I needed a break anyway.

I didn’t recognize the number, but I’m glad I answered. It was one of the Coordinators for the National Readers’ Choice Awards , sponsored by the Oklahoma RWA, calling to tell me that The Secret Mistress Arrangement was a finalist for Best First Book!

SQUEE!!!!

Many phone calls and emails had to be made, and I didn’t make my way back up the ladder for a good while. But when I did go back to the wallpaper stripping, my attitude was much improved.
Imagine my shock when several hours later, I got another call from NRCA, telling me that The Secret Mistress Arrangement was a finalist in the Short Contemporary category as well!

SQUEEE!!!

(Note to Lynn and others – no, it never occurred to me that BFB would mean a SC final, too. It was a massive shock.)

This is my first year entering contests with published books instead of manuscripts, so to final – much less double final – is exciting and provides much-needed ego stroking. (Take that, anonymous reviewer who called my book “lame.”)

My Secret Mistress Arrangement is up against some very impressive – and intimidating – competition, including my friend Rhonda Nelson’s Letters From Home. However, it is an honor to final, especially when the competition is so tough.

Winners will be announced at the NRCA reception at the RWA conference in Nashville in July. Very exciting stuff, y’all.

SQUEE!!!

Guest Blogger Vicki Lewis Thompson

The Playground is tickled to welcome back one of our favorite members of the royal family - Queen Vicki Lewis Thompson! Pull up to a swing and join us as we discuss family dynamics complicated by a little magic...

DOES BIRTH ORDER MATTER?

Wheeee! I’m back on The Playground! Thank you so much for inviting me to spend the day with you. In return, I’ll give away books! One commenter will get BLONDE WITH A WAND and one will get CHICK WITH A CHARM. Good luck to everyone during this month of leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, and pots of gold.

These two books, published back-to-back in February and March, feature a pair of witchy sisters. The older one, Anica, gets angry and turns her boyfriend into a cat in the first book. The second book is about the younger one, Lily, who gives a devotion potion to a guy who frequents the bar where she works. In my family, I’m the oldest and I’m fourteen months older than my sister. I can totally see myself getting angry enough to turn a guy into a tomcat. But I would never administer a devotion potion to a guy I had a crush on. That would be just wrong. My sis, on the other hand, would do it in a heartbeat.

I’ve read a little bit about birth order over the years, and I have to admit the description of the oldest sibling sorta fits me. According to what I remember in the pop psychology books, the first-born is usually the responsible one who goes around checking to make sure everyone else is doing what they’re supposed to be doing. We’re the over-achievers. Yep, that would be me. If you happen to be an only child, then you’re supposed to have a double-dose of first-bornitis.

In actuality my sister is a middle, so she should be the peacemaker, but there’s a six-year gap between her and our little sis, so I think with big gaps the whole thing starts over. Feel free to correct me if you’ve heard something else!

I don’t recall my nearest-in-age sister being exactly the peacemaking type. She was more the let’s-see-how-much-trouble-we-can-get-into type. I’m not making this up. Our family actually moved from one state to a neighboring state to get her away from the boyfriend they didn’t like. Sure, there were other reasons for the move, but my mother eventually told me jettisoning the boyfriend was one of the major issues.

Don’t get me wrong. I adore my sister and she adores me. But we’re as different as night and day, as different as Anica and Lily.

So tell me, do you believe that birth order affects your personality? Why or why not? And where do you fall in the order? First-borns and onlies, you can come sit by me. The rest of you had better behave yourselves, or else.

Don't forget to comment today and pick up fab copies of Blonde with a Wand and Chick with a Charm!

One of Those Weeks

This week has been absolutely crazy. It was already shortened by the holiday and as much as I loved having a day off to spend with the girls...sometimes you regret those vacation days. At least I do.

I won't go into details because frankly I don't want to scare anyone. Suffice it to say that the Playfriends have talked me down off several ledges this week. Nothing life threatening or earth shattering just more than I thought I could handle at one time.

However, on the bright side of things, I'm an aunt again. My newest niece was born on Tuesday at 12:55 PM. She's adorable and I can't wait to watch her grow up. Seeing her big sister holding baby for the first time reminded me so much of my own girls. Which reminds me how quickly Sweet Pea and Baby Girl are growing up.

I have not held the baby yet - my children are both sick and I didn't want to risk it - but I have a feeling those nostalgic moments will only get stronger when I do. If I start looking moonily at her will someone remind me that phase in my life is over? I really don't have time for another infant... Nevermind. I just thought of changing diapers and the moment passed.

On another bright note, I got a new release date. My next book - the sequel to Whispers in the Dark - will be coming out January 2011. I'm very excited to see Anne and Blake's story hit the shelves!

To celebrate the happiness this week (and to make me forget the bad stuff) I'm going to give a copy of Afterburn to one commenter today. Tell me if there's anything new and exciting going on in your life. Anything you're anticipating? Was your week a wreck? Heck, even tell me about your vacation plans...and whether or not you'll regret them when you get back to the real world.

Instigator

Website Revamp Contest Winner!!!!

Without further ado, our contest winner of a $50 gift card from Amazon.com is:

Sue Ahn!

Please send your email address to Smarty Pants at webmaster@writingplayground.com . Prizes not claimed within 7 days will be reawarded to another participant.

Many thanks to everyone who participated! We received some awesome feedback about our new website design and found a bunch of those pesky broken links. We encourage everyone to enter our Beach contest for the months of January and February (see sidebar link) for another chance to win some really awesome prizes. Also, signing up for the monthly Playground Newsletter will keep you informed about upcoming contests and prizes.

Thanks!
The Writing Playground

4th Birthday Extravaganza!

Four years ago today, we launched our website and blog, announced it to all our friends, and held our breath. Would people come? Were we wasting our time and money? The answers surprised us and we're tickled to be here today celebrating because yes, people did come and no, we weren't wasting our time and money!

So much has changed since our very first blog post. Of course we shoved Problem Child out front and made her go first in her role as ceremonial canary in the mineshaft. When she didn't croak, we each took our turn. Since that time, with guest bloggers we've posted about 1300 blogs. 1300! We've posted over 150 industry interviews, articles and book recommendations, too. Who knew we had that much to say? Well, we not only had things to say, but we had people to listen, too. A huge Playground thank you to everyone who shows up on the blog and the website, comments, and makes us feel like we're doing something worthwhile. You're really special to us. We (heart) you guys.



Ack. I refuse to get misty! (::world peace, world peace::) One sure cure for the sappiness is cabana boys! Let's get this party started. It wouldn't be a Playground birthday without our favorite drink - the Teeter Totter, petit fours from our local bakery, a chocolate fountain, and of course - our crew of highly...uh, talented... and scantily clad cabana boys here to indulge your every desire. Scratch that... most desires. We're not running that kind of joint.

So, have Raoul bring you a drink, give you a back rub and let's celebrate four great years! Today, please share how long you've been hanging out with us and your favorite part of the Playground. One commenter will receive a fabulous prize featuring an assortment of books, a DVD, tea, Vera Bradley notepads, fuzzy socks and other goodies in a tote bag.

SP

Theme Week Winners!

Thanks for your support during the launch of our new theme week. We got a great response. Although we know you come here daily (although you don't always comment) check back the first full week of every month for our thoughts on beautiful men, tasteful goodies, travel, theater and books!


Our winners are:


Monday - M.V. Freeman (email angel @ writingplayground.com)
Tuesday - Chey (email problemchild @ writingplayground.com)
Wednesday - Kathy B. (email playgroundmonitor @ writingplayground.com)
Thursday - Catslady (email instigator @ writingplayground.com)
Friday - Marcy (email smartypants @ writingplayground.com)

If you're a lucky winner, send your snail mail info to the Playfriend listed. Also, be sure to check back at some of our previous posts to see if you won something. Guest bloggers and other special events almost always have giveaways, but if you don't email us your info, we can't give you your fabulous prizes! I know I personally came home with tons of goodies from Nationals that need to be given away.

Brit Chick Lit Contest

I'm blogging over at the Pink Heart Society today, so you'll need to click over for your Tuesday dose of the Problem Child.

In honour of the Pink Heart Society (because they're mostly from the UK), I'm running a Brit Lit contest here.

Four books and a small jar of real clotted cream is the prize!

Three of the books are true modern Brit Chick Lit -- written and published in the UK (and purchased for me to read on the very long train ride from North Scotland to London, so there might be some minor creasing on the spine).

Valentine by Rebecca Farnworth

This Charming Man by Marian Keyes

50 Ways to Find a Lover by Lucy-Anne Holmes

I'll also include Duchess By Night by Eloisa James -- an American author (who happens to be a Shakespeare scholar), but a lavish English historical.

Leave a comment to enter!

PC


(And speaking of prizes, scroll down for the list of winners from the Keep Marilyn Company week!)

Keep Marilyn Company Winners!

Sorry it has taken us a while to get our winners posted. As you can see from my rambling post below, we're all a little tired at the moment. :) But a big thanks to everyone who posted this past week! I really enjoyed reading the comments, even though I didn't always have a chance to comment myself. Those receiving Disney gifties are:

Monday: Jane, email Angel at angel@writingplayground.com
Tuesday: Gigi, email Problem Child at problemchild@writingplayground.com
Wednesday: Minna, email Playground Monitor at playgroundmonitor@writingplayground.com
Thursday: Virginia, email Instigator at instigator@writingplayground.com
Friday: Laurie, email Smarty Pants at smartypants@writingplayground.com

Please send your snail mail addresses, so we can get your gifties mailed to you. Any prizes not claimed within 7 days will be regifted to someone else, so don't delay!

Angel

We're taking your questions!!!

During the week of RWA National Conference, the Playfriends are taking the time to answer your questions while we're on a learning experience of our own. This is your chance to ask us anything about writing, authors (and their quirks), craft, the business of publishing, our lives, etc.

Remember to send your questions for the Playfriends to Playground Monitor at playgroundmonitor@writingplayground.com. The deadline is this Wednesday, June 24th. Prizes will be awarded for those who participate.

So send those questions in! The best part about this website is sharing our experiences with YOU!

Angel

10 of the Stupidest Things I've Done

Please welcome back to the Playground guest author Christie Craig, a talented author, motivational speaker, and all-around funny lady.


We’ve all done them. Stupid things that we look back upon and think: Was I bat-shit crazy or what? I know, I know, most of us prefer to keep those moments/mistakes to ourselves. But hey, sharing our dim-witted moments with one another may help someone avoid falling into the same trap. Plus, they are really funny, so I’ll go first. However, remember, you need to share yours with me, too. I don’t want to be the only fool here today.

If you’re having a hard time coming up with something, just ask yourself what you did that you will never, ever let your child do. That pretty much will bring up a few memories. Oh, and one lucky person who posts a comment will receive a signed copy of Gotcha! as well as some neat promo items. So with no other delay, here are the top ten stupid things I’ve done, things I’ve lived through, and luckily, learned from.


1) Hang up on Tom Selleck because I needed to go pick up my son from school.

I was interviewing Mr. Selleck for a magazine article and we got to talking about everything from the NRA to his horses and when I realized I’d been talking to him for almost an hour and was late for picking my son, I told him I had to go. (Tom, give me one more shot, the kid was cute then, now he just eats a lot and leaves his dirty socks everywhere!) :)

2) Get on a Sky Lift during a windstorm in China.

Hey, I asked if it wasn’t too windy, and my translator told me the sky lift operators said it was up to me. I got on and then the translator told me the operators also said they wanted to see how smart Americans really were. And when the little tiny gondola was blowing to and fro, and I needed a clean pair of pants, I didn’t feel really smart. But in my defense, in America if there’s any danger, don’t they shut the dang things down and in China they obviously leave it up to the idiots.

3) Go to second base with an elephant.

I’m afraid you pretty much have to read this one to believe it: Elephant Blog

4) Take Your Step-Grandmother to Chippendale’s.

Seriously, I should have known better. I couldn’t get her to stop stuffing the dollar bills into the men’s underwear. And when she went through all of hers, she started going through my purse. And my mother just thought it was funny.

5) Tell a New York Taxi driver to hurry.

It made the gondola ride in China seem tame.

6) Crawl into the cage with three red pandas.

In my defense, the zoo keeper said I could do it. And I got some really good photographs (before they decided to charge me) never mind that I needed to change my shorts when I got out.

7) Allow my husband to go through the drive-through window at Burger King on the way to the hospital to have our son.

You’d know the minute he rolls to the window would be when my water broke, or I should say burst. Then I screamed out like an animal, and ended up with about twelve pimple-faced teens, their faces pressed against the glass window as if I was a show and tell, while my husband special ordered his Whopper.

8) Argue with a French waiter in Paris about the meaning of well done.

What can I say, I’d had two glasses of wine, was starving, and that piece of meat was so rare it not only mooed, it passed gas when I stuck my knife in it.

9) Call a cop a “friggin’ pig” and then break his windshield with a beer bottle.

Yeah, this is another one you might have to read to believe (but I swear it happened) and if you go to the link below for the complete explanation. There is even the bonus lesson of how I got caught by the police with a freezer bag of weed and didn’t get arrested.

Christie’s brush with the law.

10) Get caught by a lot of cops when you’re in a closed Pizza Hut on your knees, during a bad hair day, with thousands of dollars of cash strewn around you.

Yup, it was the beginning of a really bad day. You can read all about it at Dorchester’s website in the special feature section. Dorchester It’s funny and it will give you a clue to why I write humorous romantic suspense and maybe even a little insight into where the whole idea of Gotcha! came into being. Plus, you’ll see the contest where someone will win a whole basket of books and goodies.


Okay, so there you have it. Ten stupid things I’ve done. What about you? Come on, like that Country Western song says, “We all have some junk in the trunk, and it’ll all be fine, if I laugh at yours and you laugh at mine.” Plus, one lucky commenter will win a copy of Gotcha!. Which I’m proud to say, earned me my first Publisher’s Weekly Review, a Booklist Review and a Top Pick 4 ½ stars from Romantic Times. Also, today I’m blogging over at Killer Fiction and giving away a copy of Gotcha! over there. Plus, today I’m guest blogging at Wicked Authors and giving away a copy of Gotcha! there as well. So pop over, take a moment to laugh a little, and maybe you’ll win a copy of GOTCHA!.

Road Trip! Wet Jeans! Cold boobs!

Smarty Pants and I played hookie last week for a road trip to Atlanta, GA, where we saw the group Nickelback in concert at Lakewood Amphitheatre. This is an outdoor arena where we’d purchased lawn tickets at a fraction of the price for the covered seats. Of course, what should have been a fun and relaxing time with Soapbox Queen Jennifer LaBrecque turned into a regular Playground Adventure (those of you who are regulars here know what I mean… need I say Meth Lab?).

Well, this sheltered Angel learned a lot along the way:

1. The odds aren’t ever in our favor. There was a 30% chance of rain during the concert time, so as soon as we arrived, the bottom dropped out – complete with booming thunder and scary lightening. We stood outside the amphitheatre for 45 minutes during this downpour that stopped once they let us inside. Then started again on Nickelback's second song. Hmmm… maybe we should play the lottery?



How is it that SP's hair looks the same and mine is just grossly flat? :(

2. Some people don’t care anything about remembering a concert they paid good money to see. Imagine that.

3. I’m too old to play in the rain. I haven’t been that soaked while still wearing clothes, well, ever. My coat was still dripping the next morning. And in case you didn't know, padded bras don't dry out any quicker than jeans. Did I mention that the temperature also dropped into the 50s? On second thought, those padded bras were probably a good idea.

4. Chad Kroeger, lead singer for Nickelback, is quite fond of the F-bomb. I heard it more in 3 hours than my entire lifetime. :)

5. Even soaked, I love dancing to music so loud it makes your heart pound in your chest. Of course, it is a lot easier to dance when you are dry and not worried about slipping on a wet grass hill.

6. Drunk guys don’t care who their arms hit when they are “getting down.”

7. Pot smells much different than cigarettes. (I did mention I was sheltered, right? I missed getting a drug education in college.)

8. SP and I agree that there were 2 things that made this concert worthwhile:







This was my favorite part! Ryan Peake is one of the guitarists and singers. Yum!




Daniel Adair, drummer. Let’s just say this guy can make you think really naughty thoughts during his drum solo. Wow.

What has been your favorite concert experience? Ever have any trips that just don’t go exactly as you planned?
Angel
P.S. Friday's comment by Gina won a book from Anna Cleary. Please check out Friday's comment tail for instructions on claiming your prize!
P.P.S. Don't forget this is the last week to enter the Good VS. Evil contest. Check out the sidebar for the link.
Coming Soon! Join guest blogger Tawny Weber here on Thursday!

An Amazing Moment

I’ve pre-empted Instigator’s blog today, because I couldn’t wait until Monday to share my good news. Yesterday, I was one of the lucky authors to receive a call telling me my manuscript is a finalist in the Contemporary Series Romance category in the Golden Heart! This contest, held by Romance Writers of America, is the most prestigious unpublished romance author contest and placing in it is the best thing that’s happened in my writing career to this point.

Of course, when I got the call I’d just finished exercising, so it didn’t take much to turn my legs to jelly. Fortunately, Region 6 Director Terry McLaughlin was very understanding of my tears and inability to breathe. Honestly, it felt like being told I’d been nominated for an Academy Award. :) I was completely useless for the rest of the day, spending it in front of the computer answering emails, getting to know other finalists, and on the phone SQUEEing with my people. I even received these lovely flowers from the Playfriends and authors Rhonda Nelson and Lynn Raye Harris. Aren’t they beautiful?



My mind is whirling with ideas, plans, the revisions I need to finish, and anticipation of what will happen when I go to National Conference in July. There is no way I'd miss Nationals as a GH finalist! Luckily, author Lynn Raye Harris, who was a 2008 finalist, can fill me in on what to expect. I like to be prepared, but I don't know if I can prepare for this. :)

So in celebration of my Golden Heart final, we’re gonna have a true party in the Playhouse today! Break out the chocolate martinis and petit fours! PM, snag us some hot cabana boys. In the words of that sexy rocker, Bon Jovi:



Is there anybody out there lookin’ for a party?
Shake your money maker, baby, smoke it if you got it
We just wanna have some fun, if you don’t wanna (kiss this)
Everybody raise your hands, come on, I need a witness

We got it going on

(We Got It Going On by Bon Jovi)

Angel

Contest Reminder!

Just a little reminder that we’re in the middle of a new contest for March/April. My Good VS. Evil contest:



Here’s a look at the prize pack. You can also find out more about entering the contest and the contents of the prize here.



Don’t forget this month we have an interview with editor Lucy Gilmour from the Harlequin Mills and Boon London office. Instigator’s article Characterization Through Motivation and my review of Kresley Cole’s Kiss of a Demon King. Enjoy!

Angel

Oh, goodness...

Oh, wow, it's finally January.

Don't ask me about my resolutions or goals or anything like that. I'm too focused on one thing...

The Secret Mistress Arrangement IS ON THE SHELVES!!!

Squee!!

Alas, my book is only on the shelves in the UK – which is very exciting to think about and contemplate, but lacks the joy of being able to go to the bookstore and see it myself (and I just can't justify a trip over right now, even if my book is on the shelves...).

Still, though, the thought of people wandering into a bookstore and picking up my book sends little giddy shivers down my spine. People are actually reading it! Paying money for it! Possibly recommending it to their friends! Okay, so the reading part does make me worry... what if they hate it?

Nope, not going there. I'm sticking with the SQUEEE-ness of it.

Because I can't be there in person to see my ink-and-paper baby, I need our overseas Honorary Playfriends to help me out. And I'm not above bribing people to do so.

I'm running a Spot the Book contest all through January – just go to your local bookstore, snap a picture of my book on the shelf (you holding my book is optional :-)) and send the photo to me at kimberly@booksbykimberly.com. Be sure you tell me where you found it. On February 2, I'll randomly draw a name from all the photos submitted to receive an Amazon gift certificate. (Check my website for full details/rules.)

I've already received a couple of photos:

Spotted at Eason's bookstore in Ballymena, N. Ireland.

And at WH Smith in Norwich

This is just too cool....

Pardon me while I go squee!

PC

P.S. I'm guest blogging today at The Wedding Belles. Please come by and say hi!

Birthday Winners!

Sorry for the lateness of today's post. Yesterday was so fun, I slept in this morning. :)

I know you are eager to see our winners from this last week. Thank you to everyone for joining us in celebrating our 3rd birthday. We appreciate not only you showing up, but all the wonderful comments and compliments. We are truly grateful, and hope to see much more of you on the Playground.

This week's winners:

Monday: Terry S, email angel@writingplayground.com
Tuesday: Susan, email problemchild@writingplayground.com
Wednesday: Ellen, email playgroundmonitor@writingplayground.com
Thursday: flchen1, email instigator@writingplayground.com
Friday: Caffey, email smartypants@writingplayground.com

Please email with your snail mail address, so we can get your birthday prizes mailed to you. Any prizes not claimed within 7 days will be regifted.

Thank you to all our readers and commenters this week!

Angel

PC's Coolest Thing

Ooh, I love our Birthday week. So much has happened in the last three years, yet it doesn’t seem like all that long ago we were doing our first photo shoot and trying to figure out the workings of Blogger. (Personally, I’m still trying to figure out the workings of Blogger – since it hates me and all.)

What a ride it’s been! Sometimes I’ll randomly click on a month in the archives and see what we were blogging about and it’s like living it all over again. I’m just so glad I had the Playfriends and all of y’all to share it with.

So while there are many, many things that are vying for the coolest thing to happen in the last three years – the first time a stranger came up to me and said, “I read your blog,” is definitely close to the top! – my “Coolest Thing” comes from y’all every single day.

The fact that you even take the time to drop by – and whether or not you comment, we know you were here – makes me happier than you can imagine. You share this journey with us, and you’re an important part of it. You celebrate and commiserate with us. You ask about the kids and the goats and listen to us complain about just about anything (including kids and goats). When I got rejected, you sympathized. You sent emails and cyber hugs; you told me your rejection story in order to make me feel better. You encouraged me to go on. When I sold, you celebrated with me. You told me that my Call encouraged and inspired you to keep writing and dreaming.

We wonder about you. Where you're from. Where you are on your personal journey. If a regular commenter disappears, we worry about you. We're tickled when you come back. We want to celebrate and commiserate with you, too, and we love to hear your news.

We didn’t set out to be role-models or inspirations or even to claim we knew a damn thing about anything. We just wanted to connect, to make some friends out there in cyberspace, and it’s turned out to be more than we ever hoped for.

So the Coolest Thing from the last three years is y’all. No contest.

Thank you for making this so freakin’ cool.

PC

Hmmm, I’m all misty-eyed, but I can see lots of books on my bookshelf that need good homes. Comment to win!

Winners will be selected each day, but we'll do one winners post for the week on Saturday.

Happy Birthday!!!!

This week holds a special place in the Playfriend’s hearts—it marks the 3rd anniversary of our website and blog. That’s right! For 3 years we’ve been sharing our tales of writing, disappointments, celebrations, and our lives. To our amazement, you continue to tune in to talk with us and our special guests.

This week we’ll be celebrating with lots of blog giveaways and a big birthday party on Friday. We enjoy giving back to our readers. We’ll also spend time each day talking about what we’ve learned since we started this endeavor and our most memorable moments along the way.

For me, it has to be the first time someone came up to me and said, “Aren’t you Angel from the Writing Playground?” To be recognized is such an awesome experience. That it happened in front of my sister—priceless! Thank you, Liza.

One beautiful thing that I’ve gained, especially through the blogging, is confidence. Over the past 3 years, I’ve been encouraged (read: pushed) to approach authors and publishing professionals to appear on the website and blog. A few said no, even more said yes. Also, tending to be a shy person, I used to limit myself to sharing only with those closest to me. On the blog, I’ve discussed just about every emotion and experience that’s come my way through this crazy thing called writing, only to find out… I’m not alone. To talk about issues and problems with the Playfriends and our Readers, share ideas, tips, and ogle cute guys… That’s been an eye-opening and endearing experience.

Thank you for that!

What has been the biggest confidence booster in your life?

Angel

P.S. One commenter will be selected for an Angel prize pack! And don’t forget to keep an eye on our NaNo progress meters.

Christie Craig Blog Winner

We've had several folks inquire about the winner of Christie Craig's book from her blog last month.

A winner was selected, contacted via email and has claimed the prize.

Sorry if there was any confusion.

Happy Halloween - UPDATED CONTEST INFO!

I just now realized that I get to blog on Halloween. How fun! I think Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I'm not into the scary, gory stuff, but the more PG rated version of it. The cider, the pumpkin carving, the spooky music and decorations...and of course, Rocky Horror Picture Show and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on television. (And yes, as odd a pairing as that is, I have been known to watch both in one night, along with Garfield's Haunted Halloween. Note to Kathy - its has pirates in it!) Moving to Alabama has made Halloween that much better because here I can go to an actual pumpkin patch and pick one from the field. As if it could get better, I get a hayride and grilled corn, too. If I could bob for apples, I'd be in heaven.

I don't know, really, why I bother picking pumpkins because I only carve the foam ones anymore. I got tired of it rotting and having to make the same designs over and over. I've worn out Scooby Doo. It's still a compulsion. Its part of the whole front door decor. I decorate my front porch in purple and orange lights and tinsel with bats. I carefully set out each pumpkin with their special lights that won't catch them on fire. I put out a couple votive decorations. Nothing too frightening because I don't want to scare the little ones. Then I sit back and pray that mean teenagers don't thrash it. I've always lived in fear of falling prey to a smashing pumpkin raid. (I make sure its all safely in the house by 9.)

I also like picking out candy and handing it out. This year, the kids are getting all the leftover 50's candies. I'm sure none of it ranks high on the kid scale, but its not a toothbrush, so work with me, here. I enjoy seeing all the little kids in their costumes. There is nothing more precious than a wide eyed toddler standing on your porch dressed as a lion or a bumble bee, too freaked out to speak while their parents urge them to say 'trick or treat' from the sidewalk. Too cute. At the same time, I am very anti-teenager trick or treating. I don't like their sense of entitlement. Sometimes they don't even have costumes. I always give them tootsie rolls. So there.

This year, I have also been invited to the big Halloween party downtown. DB and I are considering it. I'm not sure what I'll wear, though. Its on top of a parking garage and I'm sure to freeze to death, so Diner Betty is not an option. How about you? Are you dressing up for Halloween? If so, as what? If not, what has been your favorite Halloween costume that you've worn? All these years later, I'm still pretty partial to the JEM costume I had in 2nd grade. :)

UPDATED: Remember, PC and I are having a costume contest! Since no one will admit to actually HAVING a picture to send, tonight is your chance to remedy this. Get our your cameras and email a Halloween picture to me at smartypants@ writingplayground.com by Sunday afternoon. It could be of you, DH, your kids, your pumpkin, your dog... we've got prizes here, people, so work for it. In fairness, here's one of me from a party in 2006 - I'm Zoot from Castle Anthrax (if she'd had access to platform boots and fishnets in the 11th century...) We'll post a couple of the best pics Sunday night and the winners will receive some spooky prizes!

SP

Not Sew Perfect…

I don’t think anyone here would be surprised to hear that I kinda suck at the more domestic activities. I can cook (but it’s usually under protest), and that’s about it. I don’t do needlepoint of any kind (although I did cross-stitch as a child), I don’t crochet, and my attempt to teach myself to knit ended when I couldn’t figure out how to purl. (But I do have a nice long scarf done in nothing but knit stitches…) Needless to say, I certainly don’t sew.

My mom and my aunt sew, and they both did try to teach me. I still have the apron I made for 4-H one year (won a ribbon for it too. Thanks, Mom.), but that’s the sum total of my time with a sewing machine. Mom’s good at it, though, even if she usually only sews under protest (I come by my unwilling acquiescence naturally, you see), but my aunt is amazing. There’s nothing the woman can’t make. Seriously. She smocks dresses, for goodness’ sake.

But it really was a non-starter for me, even though they tried. But I do have a defense – besides the fact that fabric scissors are sharp and it’s really hard to get blood out of fabric. During my adolescence, I just didn’t have time. After rehearsals, I normally wouldn’t get home until 7.30. I still had to eat dinner, soak my bleeding toes in hot salt water, and tackle my math homework. Sewing anything beyond ribbons onto pointe shoes was out of the question. (And that I normally did in math class, hence the pile of homework and my continuing ignorance of geometry.)

As an adult, my lack of sewing skills hasn’t hindered me all that much. I can sew lost buttons onto DG’s shirts and patches onto AC’s Brownie vest. Anything I can’t convince my mom or my aunt to sew goes to the wonderful tailor down the street. So it’s not a big problem.

Except at Halloween, the one time of the year when sewing skills would come in handy. However, I have learned to compensate.

Exhibit A: Halloween 1993

Much to the utter disbelief of the women at the fabric store, I intended to make my own Pebbles costume without the assistance of a sewing machine. Never underestimate what a determined girl (who decided what she was going to be too late for her mom or aunt to help out) can do with a stapler and a roll of Stitch Witchery.

Not too bad, huh? I actually got two years out of that costume AND took second place in a costume contest. (I wore it when I was working at a bar and that short skirt did bring in some tips!)

Exhibit B: SP’s Mom’s B-day sock hop, 2008

I wanted a poodle skirt and the ones at the costume shop all looked tacky and horrible. The answer? Make one. There are plenty of patterns the ladies at the fabric store were happy to show me. Pfft. Buy a round table cloth and cut a hole in the middle, and voila! A skirt. DG helped design and cut out the poodle (I lack art skills as well, you see), and we stuck it on with Stitch Witchery. (Best. Stuff. Ever.)
I will admit I did sew a drawstring at the waist to help tie it on and that sewing job does look like crap, but the belt covers the crappyness. The poms on the poodle are hot glued on and the pearl leash only took a couple of small stitches to attach. I got a lot of compliments on it at the party, and everyone was so impressed with my creativity.

Um, I wouldn’t call it creativity. It’s more like compensating for any other lacking skill. You figure out how to get around it. I’m certainly not going to take up sewing at this late date. Even AC already knows that if she wants something made, she needs to talk to her Grammy or her auntie. Stitch Witchery does have some limitations, you know.

Playground costume contest time! Send pictures (or links, if the photos are online) of your best/favorite costumes to smartypants@writingplayground.com. Smarty Pants and I will be judging (and I warn you, I will be giving bonus points for unusal base materials combined with professed lack of skill. Super bonus points if you used a stapler at any point.). Winners will be posted on the weekend. I'm giving away paranormal romances in honor of the season!

PC