Art project for August- Gold Magnetic Letters

DIY Gold Magnetic Letters

Before

After

Week in Review!

Me posing in front of the both the Bay Bridges.
The old bridge is in the process of being torn down.

The walk on the new bay bridge trail was much longer than any of the women on the Meetup group expected. It took us over 4 1/2 hours to complete the walk to the end.
I estimate that it was about 6 1/2 miles out and 6 1/2 miles back. Of course going there was a slight incline. I
The weather was perfect for a walk on the bay as it was very hot on land and so the weather on the bay was perfect. No need for a sweatshirt. I got a little sunburn on my chest and shoulder but my face was protected with sunscreen and my favorite sunhat.

My daughter complained on the way back and still says her knee hurt. I was afraid that I would be very sore today but so far I'm fine.

The path is more of a bike path and there were quite a few bikers. You're in trouble if you get injured as there is only one way in and one way out. No shuttle to bring you back if you get tired.

I loved looking at the old bridge and looking down at the boats on the bay. I'm not sure I would do the walk again. I might do it as a bike ride.

Week in Review!

One job interview for transfer to different position
Took 2 days off from work - Yeah!

Cleaned house. Straightened up walk in closet.

Lay in sun and finished reading. Enjoyed super hot days.

Walked the Bay Bridge trail with Meetup group.

Drank a smoothie at Red Mango at Bay Street after the walk.

Attended bible study

Listed 7 new items on eBay.

Planning for Scrapbook Expo crop in Santa Clara.

My daughter and my niece posing in front of the new suspension bridge across the bay.

The out was long, the walk back was longer.

Next Week Wishlist!

Walk daily

Write daily

Stick on budget.

Pack lunch daily

Week in Review!

Moved to a new office at work. Same department different space. 

Cleared out 4 drawer filing cabinet.

Cried after found out I didn't get selected for the job transfer.

Manicure/Pedicure

Had new hair extensions put in.

Booked and then cancelled cruise for the entire family. (Me, hubby and the kids) to the Bahamas for after Christmas. 3rd one. Not sure how I will pay for it. Waiting on a big lottery win or other financial blessing. 

Won $100 on Wheel of Fortune lottery ticket scratcher.

Sold set of Big Bratz Babyz on eBay. Kinda sad to see them go but I didn't have anywhere to display them in the house and they were taking up a big box in the garage. 

Continued as Captain of the Hearts of Mystery Team on the July Savvy Authors Boot Camp.

Signed up for an event with new MeetUp group.

Signed up for a second event with new MeetUp group. Still looking for a female best friend.

Took daughter to orthodontist appointment and waited while she got her braces adjusted.

Bible Study on Wednesday

One trip to farmers market with daughter

One visit with parents.

One trip to appliance parts store to pick up replacement vent for dryer

Began reading Sunken Treasure one of the new releases for September 2014 Harlequin Love Inspired line.

Watched the movie Her with hubby and son. 

Next Week Wish List!
Write 5000 words.
Buy or pick fresh flowers.
List 5 things on eBay to sell.
Wash and vacuum out car.
Eat low sodium diet. Eat clean.
Two days off from work.
Visit Book Passage book store in Corte Madera
Finish reading Sunken Treasure and one other Love Inspired Suspense novel.

Entertain! Mrs P.A. Moore's 5th of July party

I had a great day hosting my family for the day after the 4th of July. My brother announced it was my turn to host the family as he had held Easter and my sister hosted us for the memorial. I had tickets to the Oakland A's baseball game yesterday, so we decided to host today.

As always I started decorating. I pulled out my Ingrid picnic ball plastic plates and striped napkins. 

I had gone out early looking for some 4th of July themed paper plates but there were non to be found so I utilized some of my picnic/ glamping supplies. Worked out good except I had to wash mid party. Still environmentally healthier. I used some plastic silverware but also some reusable metal utensils I also purchased for glamping. 

 As always I put on an appropriate colored table cloth. Pulled out my red cake plate and put the pound cake on it. Blue glass dish for strawberries and watermelon bowl for fruit. The stars and stripe napkin below are cloth. The serving pieces are appropriately colored red, white (clear) and blue.

I set up a food prep and condiment table outside. That's corn on the cob soaking in water in preparation for being cooked on the grill.

Here are my plastic stemware glasses and more of the Ingrid picnic plates. The smaller sizes are for dessert or side dishes. Outside I covered the tables with my rainbow colored table clothes.

The menu included pulled pork as well as hamburgers and hot dogs. My family brought side dishes and desserts. This pork shoulder was cooked for 4 hours at 375 degrees in a Rachel Ray Bubble and Brown covered dutch oven that I purchased from QVC. I also had another frozen pork shoulder that I cooked in a pressure cooker. I think the one in the dutch oven came out better.

The pork roast was served with fresh salsa, and cole slaw. As appetizers I served raw veggies and peppers.

Here's a photo of my daughter and niece enjoying corn on the cob. Hubby is busy cooking on the grill.

Hubby grilling shrimp on the grill.

Here's a picture of my mom in the hat with the sunflowers, dad, brother in law, sister and son sitting around the table enjoying dinner.

Here's a close up of my husbands grilled shrimp and peppers. I served it in a Temptations by Tara casserole dish in the Provence pattern.

Here is a shot of the pasta salad my sister brought for a side dish.

This is the delicious blueberry pie that my mother made.

Here are two photos of my brother wearing my mother's sunflower hat.

My mother wearing her patriotic American flag jacket while she's talking to my son.

My dad getting ready to leave.

Can't wait to rest tomorrow. 

Monthly Dreams for July 2014!

Celebrated the 4th of July today by going to the Oakland A's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dressed up in my flag print tennis shoes, flag purse and a Quacker Factory patriotic tee shirt with white capri pants. If course I also rocked a straw hat and sunglasses.

Enjoyed the day in the sunshine watching my beloved local team. The stadium is old and raggedy. The customer service is poor. The food it not good but it is a great time. I'll call it my artist date for the month - Tranquility Tool.

Enjoyed time with hubby, middle daughter and niece.

Also this month, I started Savvy BootCamp at www.SavvyAuthors.com in an attempt to write 50,000 words this month. Became the team leader for Hearts of Mystery team.

Goals for July 2014
Finish writing first draft of Treasure Chest or Deadly Treasures or 50,000 words.

Host my family tomorrow - July 5th.

Attend the Mystery Writers Conference at Book Passage in Corte Madera on July 24-27th.

Complete reading two (2) Harlequin Romantic Suspense novels & 2 Love Inspired Suspense novels

Complete reading crime, mystery, suspense short stories by African American authors Eleanor Taylor Bland and others from books checked out from the office.

Sign up for Sister in Crime writers group & Northern California Sisters in Crime Chapter
Sign up for Romance Writers of America, Multi-cultural Inter-racial chapter, & Kiss of Death Romantic Suspense Chapter

Looking Back at June 2014!

Me in Egypt - December 1985

Month in Review

• Attended the Pirates Festival in Vallejo - Took hubby for Father's Day. Inspired to write a pirates book, as if there aren't a million stories already out there but I want to write a good pirate story.

Guy at Vallejo pirates festival that builds these over the wheelchair type scooters

• Visit from Uncle Charles. 

Uncle Charles and the grand nieces and nephews.

• Remembered Auntie Becky.
• Purchased fresh roses for self twice this month. One of my favorite tranquility tools.
• Completed mystery and suspense workshop on SavvyAuthors.com
• Applied for scholarship to book passages mystery writers conference
• Took son to pediatrician for mangled finger, took son for x-rays of mangled finger, made appointment for follow-up with orthopedist for still mangled but not broken finger.
• Cleaned house top to bottom for anticipation of mother in law and sister in law's visit. 
• Finished one Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense novel to find out what they are publishing right now.
• Ordered a number of Eleanor Taylor Bland novels and short story collections from the library to research what she wrote as an African American crime writer. Thinking about applying for the Eleanor Taylor Bland award from Sisters in Crime.
• Ate 2 pizza hut pizzas. Fasted for one week before and after. Walked daily 3+ miles for three weeks.
  Weigh exactly the same as I did when I started.
• Flirted with high school football players at practice until son said leave him and his friends alone.
• Started new book at Wednesday women's bible study group at church.
• Wrote out and studied 20 some bible verses.
• Picked strawberries from garden. The only thing that is growing.
• Asked neighbor to move his cars from the lawn and from the side of the house and park them on the driveway or the street. He did.
• Manicure Pedicure.
• Found old pictures of myself on Egypt trip when I was 21 years old. (See above)
• Found out old boyfriend that I knew when I was 20 and he was 29 years old was dead. Died 4 years ago at the age of 54 years old. Found his obituary online.

Wishlist for July

Complete SavvyAuthors BootCamp - Make some progress on one of 2 mystery novels.

Attend Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference

Host Family for 4th of July BBQ

Attend Oakland A's Baseball game on 4th of July

Week in Review!

• Rejoined Savvy Authors as a premium member.
• Signed up for another mystery writing class. 2nd of 3 to complete writing class goal for 2014
• Dug manuscript up out of the hard drive. Looked at it. Haven't written a word. Waiting for muse to wake up.
• Wrote out 20 bible verses to memorize.
• Attended women's group at church.
• Applied for two positions-in house transfers.
• Walked two days at lunch this week.
• Listed 3 things on ebay including pink cowboy boots and a fur coat.
• Shipped one item that sold on ebay.
• Cleared three shopping bags of clothing from closet. 
• Packed one bag of stuff from daughter's closet with her assistance and consent.
• Joined Book Club on Meetup.com - Meets once a month (I'm excited for another in person women's group)
• Watched 4 episodes of "Say Yes to the Dress" with hubby on Friday evening while eating chicken wings and fish sticks for dinner.
• Watched 2 episodes of "I Found the Gown" instead of writing on Friday evening.
• Completed assignment #1 for writing class. Identify who my ideal reader is. 
• Pulled out pictures of beloved Auntie Becky who passed in 2009.

My ideal reader loves romance with a lot of sexual tension. She's open minded and enjoys stories with multicultural characters who defy stereotypes. I would like a reader who purchases and reads e-books published by small independent publishers as well as major best sellers. 
She reads e-books, paper books, magazines, and internet articles on a variety of subjects. 
My ideal reader would love celebrity gossip but hate watching reality television shows. 
She enjoys eating rich foods, gentle exercise and watching men participate in sports such as boxing, baseball and basketball. 
She wears nice clothes, takes care of her skin and works outside the home. 
She's married with children and dreams of traveling to far away places once her children are grown and independent.

Weekend Wishlist

• Attend one Meetup group event for Natural Hair
• List 5 or more items on eBay for sale.
• Sign up for Publishers event on Savvy Authors if I sell the fur coat on eBay.
• Write 1000 words on novel.
• Get a manicure.
• Prepare memorial collage/scrapbook of photos of Auntie Becky this weekend.