Back from another vacation…sharing pics

So, I’ve been on vacation for the last couple of weeks. It’s been awesome having a break from the real world for a while. But unfortunately, all good things must come to end–tomorrow it’s back to work (ahhhh). It’s always so hard come back home. I love being in the wilderness and the slower pace of life. I love being able to fall asleep at night to the sound of waves crashing against the shore and waking up to that same sound. I love being able to just get up and walk like 50-60 feet to the beach. Eventually, we plan on moving up near where we vacation, but it’ll still be a little while before we do that.

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Home from vacation and back to work…

Okay, so this was my first week back after a loooong vacation (LOL). It was SO hard coming back to the real world after spending almost two weeks in the wilderness. We did a lot of hiking, swimming, kayaking, campfires, and well, just having fun. It was nice to spend actual time with my family. During most of the year between my day job, hubby’s job, and the kids school/sports/music stuff,  we rarely see one another.

Right now, I’m waiting for my 2nd round edits to come through for Legend of Me. This one is supposed to release later fall early winter (so pretty soon). I’ve been making REALLY slow progress on a summer YA contemp. I managed to write a chapter on vacation (long hand, in the woods–LOL), but yeah, since coming home I haven’t had any time to focus on anything other than running for kidlets and day job stuff.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed your summer and continue to enjoy what’s left of it. And now, I leave you with a few pics from my vacation to the UP of Michigan. Lots of beautiful scenery up there…miles of beaches, woodland, and countryside.

Door Under the Cut River Bridge (yes it really says T. Troll). LOL

 

 

Inlaws resting up…

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Vacation Countdown Has Begun

So, two weeks from today is my last day of work until August 19^th (at the day job). I’m SO SO SO stoked and ready to go on vacation (squeee). We’ll be heading north for our annual camping trip in Fayette. Absolutely love it up there. And I’m so ready for the break. The day job has been killer/stressful lately.

On a side note, I’ve started a new YA contemp (woot-woot) tentatively labeling it HTU (yep, more codenames). It’s a summery type YA and I’m really excited to get rolling with it. I’ve written the first 2 chapters and have jotted down lots of notes for other scenes. Hoping to crank this one out pretty quick before I have to write book 2 for The Legend of Me etc.

Life in the Purdy house has been kind of crazy…we’ve been going to the soccer fields every week (well other than this week because of the heat), swimming, having bonfires—the usual summer stuff. But we’ve also had some other things come up. My son started driver’s training last week. He’s been doing really well. He got his temporary permit yesterday so that means he can drive with me and my hubby. Then he’ll have to take a test in the next couple of weeks to get his other permit. And of course, one of my kidlets had their first broken heart here in the last couple of weeks. So it’s been a little rough. Trying to get through the awkward stuff about them wanting to still be friends (as they started off as friends). So hope it works out!!!

Have so much stuff to do around the house/in preparation for our vacation. I’m already making about a million mental lists (LOL). We’re also out on sub right now with one of my other YA contemps (TRC). Needless to say I’m in a constant state of email checking (hehehe). Other than that, things are going good. Hope everyone is enjoying their summers—it’s been going by pretty quick.

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Hard to come back from vacation…

LOL-okay, yeah, as you can see from the header, holy crap was it hard to come back from vacation this week. I kept thinking: ‘Just one more day.’

We had an absolute blast on our annual camping trip to the UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan. We did a lot of hiking, walking, swimming, campfires, driving…And yes, we did bathe in the lake (hehehe). We had awesome weather too. I still haven’t downloaded any pics from my camera yet.

It was nice to be able to step away from the real world for a while and actually hang out with my kids and hubby. We all get so busy with work, school, sports, and music events that it seems like we don’t really get to see each other that much during a regular week/day.

I didn’t do any writing while I was gone–but figure next week I’ll be diving back in full swing. Have to start cranking out book 2 in my Winter People series. Also VERY excited about a YA contemporary story I want to write.

Waiting to hear back on a couple projects right now (so hard to wait–chews off nails).

This weekend we’ll be hanging out at the Danish Festival Parade here in Greenville. My daughter will be marching in the parade for band (woot-woot). Will definitely take some pics and do some cat calls (have to let her know we’re there–LOL).

Oh and while we were gone we also looked at some vacation homes in the UP. I think we have our list narrowed down to like 5-6 now (LOL). Not sure how we’ll decide. But I’m super excited that we might be getting a place up there. We absolutely LOVE it up there.

I hope everyone is enjoying what’s left of their summers. Boy has it flown by (especially my vacation). Hopefully I’ll be able to start posting more frequently now, well, at least until edits for Winter People come my way.

Until then HAPPYFRIDAY and take care.

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Oh Sweet Summer…And another FABBITY FAB review for The Fairy Godmother Files

So the summer is flying by. Okay, so I don’t mind that it’s flying for the simple fact that I want my vacation to hurry up and get here (LOL). But that being said, it can slow down while I’m on vacay. We’re taking our annual trip to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. And this year will be even more special because we’re looking to buy a vacation home up there (woot-woot).  There is some lovely wilderness and beaches up there. Besides, I figure I can also use it as a writing getaway (heheh).

 I’m working on book 2 for The Winter People. Boy is it WAY slow going (groans). The day job has been eating up a lot of my time. But I am making progress. It isn’t due until next year, but I’m trying to get a jump start on it before edits etc come in on Winter People.

I’ve been reading some great books this summer.  I just finished reading The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I absolutely loved that book. There is some great mythology in it and of course some romance (hahaha). The backdrop added so much to the story. I’m currently reading The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead—so can’t put this one down. Love the Sydney and Adrian dynamic.

I’m missing Vampire Diaries, but am excited that Destination Truth is finally back (on SyFy). Seriously awesome show.

Oh and before I let you go, I have to share another lovely review I received for The Fairy Godmother Files from Romancing the Book! I’m so glad that people are enjoying this story. It was such a blast to write.

Well Happy Friday the 13^th…enjoy your weekend.

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Here we are, Monday!

And here it is, Monday. AHHHHH! Is February seriously almost over with? LOL—I haven’t gotten nearly the things I wanted accomplished done this month. I started TP (which is a good thing) and my research for My Dad’s book 2 is underway. Although, I have to admit, the research is only making me want to return to Ireland (sigh).

That being said, my hubby keeps telling me that if I want to buy some vacation property (that we’ve been eyeballing for the last year or so), I’ll have to forego any big trips (sniffle). So we’ll see.

I should be getting galleys for TFGF pretty soon (squeee). So can’t wait. It’s almost go time for The Fairy Godmother Files: Cinderella Complex. Once I get the “approved” blurb, I’ll get it posted. I have a version of it, but I’m not sure if there will be any changes to it.

I signed more bookmarks over the weekend to send down to Spring Fling (in Chicago) along with some book cover trading cards.  So now, I have 2 packages I need to mail. Must. Get. To. Post. Office.

The kidlets have been keeping me busy (ahh). Erin and Barrett are both 1^st chairs for their instruments (woot-woot). And in the next month or so, Chase will be picking out what he wants to play in middle school. So fun! Not to mention, only a couple more weeks before spring soccer gets underway, which reminds me, my son needs new cleats.

And as always, still waiting to hear back on some things (see, and here you thought you’d get out of hearing that from me this time). Smiles.

Hope everyone has a great Monday (or at least try to).

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Early Merry Christmas/Happy New Year

First of all, I want to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS! I’m not sure if I’ll get out here again before the holidays are in full force. Hope you all have fun ((HUGS)).

Phew! Here it is, my last day of work (at the day job) until after the New Year (oh yeah). I’m really excited to have some time off. My plan? Well, to hang out with my family, play some video games, watch movies, read books, and maybe do a few “small” edits on TLOM (we’ll see though).

And for once, I have ALL my Christmas shopping done and the gifts are ALL wrapped (LOL). So, I actually get to chill. I’m SO looking forward to spending time with my kids/hubby. I’m already making a list of video games we can play (Skyrim is at the top, I’ve been waiting all week to play it—ahhh), as well as board games, and I have a ½ finished puzzle I REALLY want to get done.

It’ll be nice not to have to make the long commute and just stay home. Some years we take trips in December (like to Florida/Disney etc), but this year we’re all going to be home.

December 24^th I’ll watch A Christmas Story (like I do every year). The 25^th will be a blast as all my kids are home. Devin and Kris are home from GVSU, and Alyssa got in last Friday from Roosevelt University. The younger kids haven’t left (LOL), and my sister, 2 nephews, and niece, will be there with us. And hopefully, my dad will be back in off the road by then.

The following weekend (New Year’s Eve) will be my side of the family’s Christmas/New Year get together and my brother and his wife will be coming up with their 3 kids, and my sister will be there with her kids etc. We normally play board games, eat LOTS of food, and goof off (um—yeah can you say Nerf Gun Wars?).  Then we watch the ball drop. Usually, there is a prank call or two (MOM). LOL. But yeah, lots of fun.

As you can see, most of the stuff planned revolves around my LOVELY family. I can’t say enough about how awesome my family is.

So, until the New Year (unless of course I get some awesome news to share before then). Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (or whatever holidays you may celebrate, I hope they’re perfect).

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BACK FROM VACATION In Pictures…

Well, this was my first week back from vacation! Man has it been rough (LOL).  I got used to hiking, camping, swimming, and just vegging out every day.  Taking some “me” time.

I started vacation off on Friday August 5th by driving down to Ann Arbor for a book signing for Saundra Mitchell, Rhonda Stapleton, Lara Zielen, Christine Johnson, and Aimee Carter. The name of the book tour was Girls Taking Over the World. All I can say is it was FABULOUS!! They spoke about the importance of girls as strong main characters, their books, how they got started etc.  It was VERY good.

I drove the 3 hours back home and then had to get up 4 1/2 hours later to leave on my trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It’s absolutely gorgeous up there.  Seriously.  There is so much wilderness, it’s like being in another country or world. 

Every year we go up, we make a stope at Sea Shell City.

 

Here we mess around, look at cool “sea” themed things.  And the kids get their pictures taking by ridiculous things in the store:

My Daughter Erin posing with a giant stuffed bear.

My youngest son, Chase posing with the giant stuffed bear.

My hubby and son Barrett posing with the bear. And why yes, my hubby is smoking a toy pipe (don’t ask–LOL).

After our grand adventure at Sea Shell City, we got back on the road and headed up to Mackinac City. Here we took the kids to the historic Old Mill Creek.  There are a lot of cool places to look around and learn more about the old woodmills etc.  And they also offer a new Adventure Tour, which includes zip lines, rock climbing wall, and a really high rope bridge. 

Here’s a pic of my youngest son kicking my hubby’s butt on the rock wall (shhh…don’t tell my hubby I posted this). Hehehe

 

 

After watching a demonstration on some of the old ways of wood chopping we headed into town where we went on a tour of a lighthouse, and also Fort Michilimac.

The fort was a lot of fun. They had all the reenactment people up there in tents, and dressed in period clothing that weekend.

Here’s a pic of the kids in one of the guard towers.  And man is Chase awesome with a cannon (LOL).

 

After that we headed across the Mackinac Bridge to our first stop/camp site in the UP. 

We did some running in St. Ignace, then hung out at the camp site for the rest of the night as we had to get up early to catch our ferry across to the island (Mackinac Island).  Mackinac Island is kind of a cool place. There aren’t any cars allowed. Everyone gets around by either bike, horse, or horse cart/buggies.  The island has a lot of large, old houses, as well as historical sites.  We did a TON of walking and hiking while we were there. We visited the old fort on the island then went out to see Arch Rock, Skull Cave, etc.

(Above, the Fort, below Arch Rock)

The island is also known for it’s fudge (yummy). So of course, I had to purchase some before we headed back to the mainland.  We had an awesome time sightseeing (the Grand Hotel, the Governor’s Mansion and seeing miles of island). I was holy-hellah-tired when we got done though.

The next morning, we drove another few hours north to our favorite camp spot: Fayette State Park.  It’s out in the middle of nowhere and there is a ghost town/historic site of where the old town of Fayette used to stand. There are ruins there and some buildings that still stand right on Lake Michigan. It’s absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  And it’s got some pretty fantastic views of not only Lake Michigan, but of some of the bluffs, and a really wild Fairytale-esque kind of woods.

 

 

 

 

 

I could post cool pics all day (sigh). Seriously relaxing place. We spent 6 nights in Fayette. And while there, my boys decided they were going to do a little “Lord of the Rings” stuff (LOL). Yeah…you’ll below.  If you haven’t gathered from the pics yet, we’re kind of a bunch of dorks (mainly me and the kids–snicker).

(Barrett (above) he actually carved the walking stick himself-below Chase, holding the bow/arrows my hubby carved/made while we were up there).

 

Now they’re doing battle:

 

It wasn’t all doing battles with Middle Earth and stuff (LOL). We also enjoyed some calmer moments (sun sets/beach/campfires).

 

 

 

 

 

 

And our last night there, my hubby managed to steal the camera and actually get a pic with me playing a card came with the kids…Better look quick, because I normally don’t let anyone take my pic (LOL). Seriously though, I’ve got HUNDREDS of pics from vacation.  I had so much fun and was so relaxed. It’s hard coming back to the real world. So here it is, our last night in Fayette…Can’t wait until next year!

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