What’s Up Wednesday

May 1, 2013May 1, 201340 Comments

Today I’m jumping in on “What’s Up Wednesday,” a fun weekly meme started by my friends Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. From Jaime: It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. You’re invited to join us if you’re looking for something to blog about, a way to let your blog friends know what’s been going on with you.

Fantastic, right? So, here’s what’s up with me…

What I’m Reading: I just finished Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Disaster. I’ll share more about my thoughts tomorrow, but I have to say… I was entertained by all the angst. Trav and Abby’s dysfunctional, co-dependent relationship kept me captivated. Yesterday I started Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, which is predictably awesome so far.

What I’m Writing: *sigh* There’s the epic rewrite I’ve mostly sidelined but still think about often, and there’s the SNI WiP (the one that’s inspired by a Tim McGraw song), that I love, LoVe, LOVE, but has also put on the back burner. Mostly, I’m working on a requested revision of Cross My Heart that has mad potential thanks to notes from my amazingly brilliant and insightful agent. Motivation and inspiration and excitement are beautiful things.

What Else I’ve Been Up To: Running. No surprise there. I ended up with 171 total miles for the month of April, putting me at 665 miles for 2013. Not too shabby. We’ve had gorgeous weather lately, so my girlie and I have been spending lots of time at the various parks in our neighborhood. Also, I’ve been watching Game of Thrones obsessively. I love that show SO MUCH. Daenerys is so compassionate, yet such a badass. I’m swooning over the recent romantic developments in Jon Snow’s storyline (though I wholeheartedly agree with Forever YA’s comment about the bath coming first). And King Slayer Jaime Lannister, once one of my most loathed characters, has turned out to be so very complex and fascinating (that final scene with Brienne on Sunday night… Whoa.). If you’re not watching this show, start now!

What Inspires Me Right Now: Last month I flaked on Fat Mum Slim‘s Photo a Day Challenge, but I think I’m going to jump back on the bandwagon this month. I’m finding these prompts quite inspiring…

And, since I’m doing lots of writing and revising these days, I’ve been listening to plenty of emotional country music. I’m particularly loving Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee, and Tim McGraw’s Southern Voice.

In Other, Far Sadder News: Yesterday we had to say goodbye to our sweet dog, Lucy. My husband and I adopted her when she was six weeks old, just after we were married nearly ten years ago. She’s been with us through several military moves, the adoption of an additional dog (Daisy, who is currently very sad), the birth and subsequent growing up of our daughter, and several deployments. Lucy was spunky and sassy and loved peanut butter with unrivaled passion. As much as I’ve complained about her shedding, her sneaky naps on the couch, and her shrill litte bark, I adored her. She was a loyal and wonderful pet. We will miss you very much, Lucy Goose. ♥♥♥

What have you been up to lately?

One Word Wednesday

April 24, 2013April 24, 201320 Comments

Happy
{Beach + Exercise + Sunrise = Katy’s Happy Place. This particular morning was stunning, plus I got to run with my husband. Perfection.}

Trendsetter
{This cutie got a new guitar pick necklace, which she (we) think is pretty cool. She’s shown it off to her teacher at school, as well as her guitar instructor, and the general consensus is that it rocks. Also, the back says “Girls Rock!” which is pretty much icing on the awesome cake.}

Scrumptious
{Blue Germ Pancakes, my very favorite breakfast, at First Awakenings, my very favorite breakfast spot. My parents were in town last week, so of course we had to hit up all the best local eateries. We went to First Awakenings twice. Yum. :)}

Adorable
{This Is What Happy Looks Like… Oh, this book. It’s making me so HAPPY, which is perfect considering its title. Contemporary romance at its best, I think. Jennifer E. Smith is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors.}

Lucky
{As I mentioned, my parents (Nana and Poppy) recently visited. My girlie is so fortunate to have two sets of adoring grandparents (my husband’s parents, Mimi and Baba, visited last month). My daughter loves her grandparents so much (clearly), and she’s always thrilled to see them. Come back soon!}

So… What’s new with you this week?

One Word Wednesday

April 10, 2013April 10, 201326 Comments

Fashionista
{Somebody got a new fedora and it has become an obsessed-over accessory. Every day: “Can I wear my fedora? Can I please wear my fedora?” The thing looks so cute on her, I have a hard time saying no!}

Inspiring
{Part of my April book haul arrived last week and I’ve been so inspired by the contemporaries I’ve read so far. Uses For Boys was gritty and stark and upsetting, while Something Like Normal had me giddy and heartbroken and swooning all at once. I’m working on Love and Other Perishable Items now. It was written by an Aussie author, so of course it’s fAnTaStIc!}

Decadent
{Rocky Road Brownies… So many good things all in one: dark chocolate, nuts, marshmallows, all warm and ooey-gooey. As far as homemade brownies go, these are easy, and totally worth the extra few minutes needed to make them from scratch. Yum! (Just a note – I used mini marshmallows instead of quartering the larger ones, and I used pecans instead of walnuts because I like them better. :))}

Magical
{So, apparently wildflowers are kind of a thing in our neck of the woods — who knew? We went on a hike last weekend and happened upon this stunning, seemingly endless field of blue bonnets. Of course, my girlie was in heaven.}

Love
{Her infectious little smile is my favorite. ♥♥♥}

What have you been up to this week?

One Word Wednesday

March 27, 2013March 26, 201316 Comments

Happy
{That’s the smile of a kid who’s halfway through her second week of spring break. We’ve had all kinds of fun so far – treats and movies and kayaking and the park, plus a week-long visit with her grandparents, Mimi and Baba. Fun!}

Tedious
{Oh, look… I’m rewriting again. A different story now, one that’s full of characters I love and just can’t give up on. This manuscript had a plot that just wasn’t marketable enough, so I’m giving it a big ol’ facelift. I’m “done” rewriting about half the story, but it’s the back half that’s going to be most troublesome. Good thing Costco sells Jelly Bellies in bulk!}

Yum
{My husband and I have been doing the no-carb thing for awhile now, and it’s becoming harder and harder to come up with tasty and unique dinners that don’t include a bunch of bread/rice/pasta/potatoes. The other night I had a moment of inspiration and made what were essentially a crab cakes (sans bread crumbs). I packed the mixture into portobello mushroom caps and baked it all in the oven. Even my girlie was a fan. Win!}

Awesome
{Yesterday we went whale watching, which was the coolest. We saw humpback whales (there’s a tail barely visible in the lower right corner of the above image), grey whales, sea lions, and tons of dolphins. The best part? I doubled up on Dramamine and didn’t feel the slightest bit seasick!}

Love
{We’ve been having a bit of a stay-cation over the last few days thanks to my visiting in-laws. It’s been so fun to hang in our town like tourists, and we’ve had a blast showing Mimi and Baba all the cool things the Monterey Bay area has to offer. Above is evidence of our trip down 17-Mile Drive.}

Tell me: What’s been the best part of your week so far?

One Word Wednesday

March 20, 2013March 19, 201324 Comments

Spring
{We’re seeing signs of spring here in Central California and I couldn’t be happier! Warmer days, blooming flowers… Totally makes me smile.}

Pitiful
{Poor Daisy. She ended up with a aural hematoma (I’ll spare you the gory details of what, exactly, that is) and had to have surgery. Now she gets to wear The Cone of Shame for three weeks and finish a grueling course of antibiotics. I do feel horrible for her, but considering she was a stray we adopted for free, this dog has cost us a small fortune over the last nine years.}

Cheer
{Because she is awesome and amazing and incredibly thoughtful, my longtime friend Kari Bradley surprised me with the most wonderful package. She was lucky enough to attend YA Highway‘s Author Event in Shelton, WA last week, and I was super, super sad that I couldn’t go with her (because before I moved to California, we used to attend bookish events together). Anyway, Kari asked Veronica Roth to sign a copy of Divergent for me and sent it off with cookies and an adorable tea towel… I have the best friends!}

Peaceful
{We hit the bay in our kayaks on Sunday. While it was windy and the water was a little choppy, the view was too lovely not to appreciate. We saw tons of birds, as well as harbor seals and some huge sea lions. I love living on the coast.}

Effortless
{You might remember the video I shared last week on tenacity and my daughter’s trip down the monkey bars. Well, once she got it, she got it. Now she really is a little monkey, dangling and swing on calloused palms, and since it’s spring break, she wants to spend every waking moment at the park. Silly girl!}

Fantastic
{I’m reviewing The List over at YA Confidential today… Check it out!}

What have you been up to lately?

On tenacity…

March 12, 2013March 11, 201342 Comments

My daughter, who inherited her less-than-impressive upper body strength from her mama, has been working for weeks to successfully cross the monkey bars on the playground at her school. You’d think the only thing she does all day at kindergarten is enjoy recess. Every night at dinner my husband and I get a little update on the monkey bar progress, and every night we encourage our girl to keep working at it, to build up her muscles (and callouses!).

Yesterday when I picked her up from school, my girlie was so excited to show me how close she was to making it all the way across: “Just a few bars from the end, Mommy!” I told her we’d film her efforts and send the video off to all her grandparents. Well, it just so happens that THIS was the time she conquered the monkey bars! (Man, am I glad I caught it on film!)

Two things about this video strike a major mommy-emotional chord. First, my daughter’s unrestrained joy and pride at having finally, after weeks and weeks of hard work, met her goal. And second, the way her adorable litte friend cheers her on, and is equally excited about her success. Reminds me of my CPs and betas and writing friends and blog followers, who are always in my corner.

And now I’m inspired to get back to writing so I can finally meet one of my goals.

When was the last time you were unexpectedly inspired?

One Word Wednesday

March 6, 2013March 5, 201319 Comments

Bright
{Since it’s nearly spring, the sun has been coming up earlier and earlier. It’s been light out at the end of my morning run for the last few days, which is fun and exhilarating and inspiring.}

Proud
{My girlie was named Student of the Month, along with one of her little kindergarten BFFs. So happy for her!}

Research
{I’m obviously enjoying Scrivener. I love that I can leave all these fun little notes and musings for myself. I posted this photo on Instagram and a psych nurse who follows me totally jumped in with an answer to those last questions. Win!}

Sweet
{Banana Sheet Cake (I used an extra banana and baked an extra five minutes) with homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting… This was similar in flavor and texture to banana bread, only more decadent. Yum!}

Talent
{I get to teach art to my daughter’s kindergarten class once a week (thanks to budget restraints, there’s no full-time art teacher) and even though it can get a little crazy, it’s really fun. We spent the last two weeks working on self-portraits, and they turned out really cute. These actually look like their creators! (My girlie’s is bottom left. :)}

Check back for a fantastic Bookanistas recommendation tomorrow!

One Word Wednesday

February 20, 2013February 19, 201335 Comments

Today is my birthday!
Let’s celebrate with some pretty pictures, shall we? (Incidentally, if you’re on Instagram and we’re not following each other, lets! You can find me HERE. :))

Sunshine
{We had the most beautiful warm weather this last Friday. Obviously my little twirler enjoyed it! (Also, I don’t usually think my daughter looks like me, but something about this image makes me think of pictures my parents have of me when I was five years old.)}

Vacation
{My husband surprised my girlie and me with a weekend getaway to San Francisco. Though we’ve driven through the city many times, we’ve never taken the time to truly explore it. I’m so thankful we had the opportunity to finally check out the sights… San Francisco is beautiful!}

Smiles
{Hanging out at Coit Tower.}

Delectable
{We ate way too much yummy food, just as you’re supposed to when you’re getting to know a new city.}

Vibrant
{Animators’ paints at the Walt Disney Family Museum, which was amazing. I’m a bit of a Disney fanatic so I was totally in my element, but even my husband and girlie had a good time. Walt Disney and his legacy have always been such an inspiration to me. (Also, if you’re a military family there’s no admission fee… Awesome. Thank you, Walt Disney Family Museum!)}

Sightseers
{We were pretty shameless about flashing our tourist cards throughout the city. Pictures were taken at all the major landmarks. Here, Alcatraz from a distance, as well as The Palace of Fine Arts.}

Reflection
{Family portrait. Sort of. (This was taken at the Baker Street Bistro, which was warm and quaint and presented us with a very tasty lunch.)}

Decadent
{Nothing to do with San Francisco, but when we got home I tried a new recipe: Flourless Chocolate Cake. Oh my goodness… This dessert was fantastic. Moist and rich and so chocolate-y — like the inside of a truffle. Yum!}

So, that’s what I’ve been up to these last few days. Today I’m treating myself to a little vegging… I’m finally going to watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Then, it’s all about reading through an old manuscript and making notes about my vision for revamping it. A little intimidating, but I’m excited to improve upon a story I already love.

What are you working on this week?

One Word Wednesday

February 13, 2013February 12, 201321 Comments

Loveliness
{It’s been a little brisk in our neck of the woods lately (like, a high of 60 degrees with some pretty chilly wind — I know you feel SO bad for me), but still, it’s so nice to look out the window and see sun. This Washington girl did not truly understand the toll 226 cloudy days a year (Seattle’s average) could take on a person’s mental state until she moved to the land of sun. I’m feeling thankful!}

Photo-Bomb
{We went hiking in the Carmel Valley last weekend. It was beautiful and I took this picture of my crew, which I loved… Until I noticed Lucy popping a squat front and center. Aren’t pets fun?}

Peace
{This is so my Happy Place: Cozy socks, comfy couch, good book. Who cares that this was taken on a Saturday night and that Katy of a Decade Ago would totally cringe if she knew how lame Current Katy has become?}

Indulge
{My girlie had Monday off from school so we went out for a long afternoon walk followed by ice cream at the coolest little parlor. The building’s facade looks like it’s straight out of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and the interior is full of mismatched furniture and vintage rock memorabilia. My girl had Midnight Cookies and Cream, and I had Banana Chocolate Chip Carmel… Yum!}

Delish
{Food recommendation: I chopped up mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and added them to a few loaves of Banana Bread. Definitely a fun, easy treat to try. And hey, there are bananas in it, so we’ll just go ahead and pretend it’s healthy.}

Cool
{I ♥ her. That is all.}

Tell me: What have you been up to these days?

Five on Friday

January 4, 2013January 4, 201318 Comments

1. Have you heard about the Jan Plan? It’s my friend Christa Desir‘s idea, and it’s very simple: Finish a project in January. Any project. At your pace, in your time, for your own benefit. Originally, I’d planned to finish the first draft of my NaNo WiP, but I just got at editorial letter from Super Agent Victoria (yay!) and I’ve decided that the project I’ll complete this month will be a revision of Cross My Heart. Nothing too crazy needs to be changed, but Victoria has given me some awesome ideas for upping the tension and tightening the pacing in the first half of the story. I’m all in. I hope to have Cross My Heart submission-ready before February. And when I do, I’ll tackle my NaNo Wip.

2. I’ve read some amazing books lately. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor, which I mentioned during the YA Superlatives Blogfest but never officially reviewed (it’s disturbing and gorgeous and heartbreaking – read it!), and Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley, which is captivating and romantic and gritty, not to mention beautifully written (thanks for the recommendation, Tracey!). Currently, I’m reading Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. While dragons aren’t usually my thing, so far I’m enamored by this book’s unique concept and incredible world building.

3. Speaking of books, I’ve got some highly anticipated novels in my very near future. I’ve preordered Shades of Earth by Beth Revis, Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi, and Just One Day by Gayle Forman (one of my literary heroes!). Plus, I’ve recently been told that The Age of Miracles and The Sweeter Side of Amy’s Bread (a pastry cookbook!) are must reads. Thanks for the recommendations Erin and Jess!

4. I signed up for the Debut Author Challenge! I haven’t signed up in previous years, but I always do my best to support new authors. Often debut releases end up being some of my favorites. 2013 is a huge year for debuts, seeing as how some of my friends have their first books coming out: Erin Bowman, Christa Desir, Ann Rought, Amie Kaufman, and Cristin Terrill, to name a few.