The Big Reveal (Hop-Within a Hop)

It's The Big Reveal (Hop-Within a Hop) time, hosted by Mina Lobo @Some Dark Romantic and David Macaulay @Brits in the USA. 

If you're signed up for the A to Z Blogging Challenge in April, then this hop is for you (unless you're keeping your theme a secret) .... what's your theme for the challenge? 

Go HERE for more details and to check out other bloggers participating in this hop.

   
My theme:  My Fave Book Characters 

During the month of April, I'll share some of my fave fictional characters in books today by way of top 5-10 lists, quotes, and stuff I love about them. Also, there will be a few character interviews that I'm soooo excited for. (Thanks to some pretty cool authors who agreed to help me out and let their characters visit my blog! Woot!) 

I told Dani what I envisioned for my badge thingie, and she created the one above for me. I LOVE it! Speaking of Dani, check out her blog Entertaining Interests and our joint-blog Cover Girls to see our theme reveals.

I hope you'll stop by in April, and I look forward to reading what your themes will be!

Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest, a joint-blog reveal, and Express Yourself Meme

It's time for Ninja Captain Alex's Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest. 

List your top 10 favorite movies then visit other blogs to see their choices. Click HERE for more details on this fun blog hop!




My top 10 fave movies (as of now):

10. Step Brothers
9.  Ratatouille
8.  Gladiator
7.  The Ref
6.  Reality Bites
5.  Titanic
4.  Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
3.  Dawn of the Dead (2004 version)
2.  Tombstone
1.  The Notebook

What are your top ten favorite movies?

Also, today is the reveal of a joint blog with *drum roll* please ... Dani @Entertaining Interests. I mean, who else would it be? *shows a devilish smirk* 
Please venture to our joint blog, Cover Girls. We participated in Alex's blogfest over there, too! 

It's also Express Yourself time! The question that Danielle and I came up with this week is:

Do you have a lucky charm or lucky ritual?







Well, I have three "lucky" rituals...

1. I LOVE Lucky Charms... no, not a certain charm. I'm talking about the actual cereal. When I eat it, I make a wish on the last green clover marshmallow in the bowl. LOL Typing this out, I know I sound so stupid! But to each her/his own, right?
2. When the time on a clock is all the same number, I make a wish. Always. Like if it's 12:12, I think of something in my head and hope it comes true. 
3. Prayer. No it's not "lucky" ... there's no luck involved. But I'm listing it here because it works. Period. 

Do you have any lucky charms or rituals? Check out other bloggers who participate in the Express Yourself Meme. If you'd like to join, you only need to sign up once and post your answer sometime that week. And if you miss a week or two, no biggie. Make sure to visit other participants and have fun with it!

Celebrate the Small Things 3/15

It's time to Celebrate the Small Things hosted by the lovely Vikki @Scribblings of an Aspiring Author. Visit her site to join and to read what other bloggers are celebrating!

My celebrations this week:

• My 10 yr old made the travel baseball team in our area. For this travel team, he had to try-out. That was a big step for him because he's shy, and he's only ever had his dad as a coach. This means he'll be on two teams now, which will make for a busy boy, but he loves the sport and as long as his grades stay up, I'm all for it. Plus, he cheesed ear-to-ear when he found out he made the travel team. It was priceless.
• My two youngest boys have been gobbling up books like candy. I LOVE this. The best part? They are letting me read to them and are reading back to me. <3
• I received my Invisalign this week. As a teen, I had braces for 2 1/2 years, then had a retainer... which I lost years ago. Yeah. So Invisalign will help. No more covering my hand over my mouth when I laugh or smile. Woot woot! :)

What celebrations do you have for this week?

Don't forget to check out DL Hammons blog Cruising Altitude 2.0 for his Blog Blitz. Click HERE for the deets. I promise, he has a wonderful idea! Go take a look and join!

Express Yourself ... Game shows and Reality TV

It's Express Yourself time again! This week, Danielle and I would like to know if you could be on any game show or reality TV show, which would you choose and why?

As for game shows, I’d say Jeopardy, but I have a list for reality TV...

1. Survivor - I’d LOVE to go on this show because it looks straight up awesome, but going without food would make me grumpy. Also, I’d miss my family sooo much!
2. The Amazing Race - Dani and I dream of joining, but they’d have to put a lot of “bleepity bleep bleeps” in the editing process because we’d for sure get lost and end up cursing.
3. King of the Nerds - This show was so much fun to watch, and I think it'd be just as fun to be a contestant! Season one is over, but I hope they have another. 
4. Hell’s Kitchen - NOT because I want to be a chef. I'd go on just to meet Gordon Ramsay and have him yell at me in his accent.

How about you? What show would you go on?

Celebrate the Small Things

It's time for Celebrate the small things - the weekly meme hosted by Vikki @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author.

Instructions: Each Friday, post something you wish to celebrate achieving for that week.






Here are my reasons to celebrate this week...

1. My 15 1/2 year old completed his driver's training course and received his permit. Look out, people! No, I'm kidding. He'll be a great driver! :)
2. Started playing Ruzzle yesterday. Another game to add to my addiction, but it is so much fun!
3. Played in the snow with two of my little ones. Loved it! And so did they... snowball fight, anyone?

What celebrations did you have this week? 

Have a great weekend!

Express Yourself Meme - Color

It's Express Yourself Meme time, and it's a simple one. Dani and I would like to know your favorite color. See? Simple. :)

Dani and I have a lot in common, and our fave color is no exception... the greens have it.





Pics of green things I photographed yesterday...


                                                               Athos Poms...

                                                              Bells of Ireland...

Hydrangeas...

                                                                   Hot sauces...

                                                                   Cute little critter...

What's your favorite color?

If you haven't joined the Express Yourself meme, it's a one time sign up below. If you miss a week or two, no worries. If you only want to participate once a month, that's fine, too. We still want you to sign up so we can check out your blog. Thanks for the support. Dani and I appreciate it!

Celebrate the Small Things, Back From the Future hop, and the Bloghop of Joy

First up is the Celebrate the Small Things Meme.
Host: Vikki @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author
Instructions: 
Each Friday, post something you wish to celebrate achieving for that week.

1. I got a good night's sleep... we have a new bed, and it's heavenly. With our old mattress, I felt like an old woman in the mornings, bones creaking and popping, but the new mattress makes me feel rejuvenated.
2. My oldest son's first track meet is Saturday. I know it's not until tomorrow, but I'm so excited for him!
3. Put on paper - some ideas for my WIP. 
4. Dani @Entertaining Interests and I have been in cahoots again. Look for some fun bloghops from us as well as a surprise *rubs hands together with a silly grin* I'm so excited!

Next up is the Back FROM the Future Bloghop. 
Hosts: M. Pax, Nicki Elson, and Suze. 
Instructions:
You're up before dawn on a Saturday when the doorbell rings. You haven't brewed your coffee so you wonder if you imagined the sound. Plonking the half-filled carafe in the sink, you go to the front door and cautiously swing it open. No one there. As you cast your eyes to the ground, you see a parcel addressed to you ... from you. 

You scoop it up and haul it inside, sensing something legitimate despite the extreme oddness of the situation. Carefully, you pry it open. Inside is a shoebox -- sent from ten years in the future -- and it's filled with items you have sent yourself. 

What's in your capsule? 

Here's what's in my capsule:

1. a picture of my family. Wow, my boys are handsome! :)
2. the winning lotto numbers for that Saturday
3. copies of my first pubbed novel - hardcover and paperback
4. keys to a restored Chevy Camaro and a restored Shelby Mustang
5. location of said vehicles

Yep, I know you're thinking car keys? How could that even work? Well, I say anything can happen. Plus, I really want to race my hubby!

Next up is The Bloghop of Joy. 
Hosts: Kyra Lennon and Clare Dugmore
Instructions:
These are the small, sometimes slightly unusual things that always cheer you up - they want to know, what is on your list of joy?  Post your list with a minimum of five things that put a spring back in your step!


My list of JOY....

1. The laughter and/or smiles of my sons
2. Love notes/emails/texts from my hubby
3. Artwork from my little ones
4. Walking into a bookstore or library
5. Coffee - Grande vanilla blonde from Starbucks
6. When I find a pair of jeans or shirt that I love, then discover they're on sale!
7. Waching my sons sporting events
8. Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
9. Dark chocolate with sea salt (Thanks, Cyn! It's delish)
10. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
11. That new baby smell
12. Blanket straight out of the dryer

That's all for me, folks. Hop around to the other blogs and check out their posts!

Have a great weekend! :)