Around The Web!

I haven't done a link collection in awhile, so to brighten up your Monday, I thought I'd share of few of the things that I'm loving from around the internet lately:

This video, You Are Awesome by Camilla Sparksss makes me want to write all of the things:

Camilla Sparksss — You Are Awesome from Barbara Lehnhoff on Vimeo.

Arts.Mic compiled a list of 14 Brilliant Pieces of Literature You Can Read in the Time it Takes to Eat Lunch and even included links to read the works for FREE!

I love DrunkHistory and this is hilarious:

Drunk History vol. 3 - Featuring Danny McBride from Drunk History

Never Write From a Place of Despair by Erika Anderson over at Midnight Breakfast.

Because we need to talk about this: I have not read Matthew Vines book, God and The Gay Christain but I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

You can read the video transcript here

What's Hard About Covering Up to Breastfeed? is an article I wish I had written myself.  Even if you are a male/don't breastfeed/breastfeed: everyone needs to read this.

Totes fangirling over this new Mockingjay Teaser Trailer:


What have you been loving on this world wide web of ours?  Share with me!

Taking A Look Around

A few things I'm loving on the internet right now:

• This stupid Frozen/GoT meme:

Get it!?!  The Moon Door... (Apparently I'm easily entertained.)

• My brother in law, Jeff, has started making videos of his adventures: check out Part 1 of "Destination, Imagination" here:

You can follow him here: blog / youtube / facebook / twitter

• The awesome writing up at Scapegoat Review.

• This song, "I Blame Myself" by Sky Ferreira (her androgynous/Joan Jett look is just killin' it and the song is so damn catchy):

• I love Chobani - they have supported my blogging endeavors in the past with free products for myself and my readers, and they continually support bloggers in this way.  But, I'm really sad to see that they are using milk from cows who have been fed GMO grains.  You can't claim to be "all-natural" but support the GMO industry- if you agree- you can sign a petition here asking Chobani to use better milk in their products.

• This recipe for Banana Chocolate Flax Muffins from my friend Ashley over at Ain't Got Nowhere to Go.

• This sermon from my church where they answered questions submitted from the congregation on faith and being a Christian- (it's fabulous and full of authenticity... which I just love.)

I could have made a much bigger list, but I didn't want to lose your attention!  What things on the internet are you loving?  Send me the link!  Tweet to me!

Hope you all have an awesome Monday/ week!

Frozen is RUINING MY LIFE

I wish I could say I was lying, heck, even over exaggerating.  But, I just can't let it go-- Disney's FROZEN is *RUINING MY LIFE*.

I'm as surprised as you are.  When my oldest daughter, Eva, and I went to the theater together for a little date and saw this movie I loved it.  The music.  The fact that my daughter saw that women are fully capable of saving themselves (and not in need of a Knight-in-Shining-Armor-Archetype).  Olaf. The trolls.  I loved it all. Truth be told, I cried, straight up TEARS WERE SHED during the opening scenes after Elsa had to hide her secret from her sister.  It was sad.

I told everyone I knew to see the movie.  And, to see it ASAP.

When it came out on DVD, we went and bought it first thing in the morning. We watched it that afternoon.  We planned a junk food dinner (more on that another time) and watched it in the living room together as a family that night.  Frozen was a BIG DEAL in the DuPont household.  (Like so many households today.)

But, then my not-quite-two year old son fell in love with Elsa.

And it's been down hill since then.

"Let it go, Mommy!  Let it go!"  We listen to Frozen in the car, at home, it's freaking constant streaming.  If we aren't listening to the movie or the soundtrack, it is being sung or whined about by my son.

(Mind you, my 6 year old daughter is basically indifferent.  Loves the movie.  But, she's more of a Let's-Watch-Goosebumps-on-Netflix/It's-So-Cool-In-Willy-Wonka-When-Violet-Blows-Up-Kind-of-Gal" so Princess movies aren't totally her thing.)

But my son, my son is OBSESSED.  This is his first obsession and I'm not sure how to handle it.  He sings "Let it Go" in the bathtub, while playing with trucks, petting/attacking the cats.  He loves it.

But if I have to hear that song ONE MORE TIME my head may explode.  Or implode.  Or melt.

I've hidden the DVD.  I'm close, so so SO VERY close to "losing" the soundtrack.

I put in Rio this afternoon and my son was upset, asking "Where are the princesses?"

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.

The only song that doesn't bother me is Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People - it's like 45 seconds long and just ridiculous:

And, if I had to choose a favorite character, it's probably Kristoff because he's so weird.  But, ahh.  I just can't do it anymore.  I can't pretend to like this movie.  I NEED A BREAK FROM FROZEN.  So, that maybe, just maybe, in 25 years, I can actually enjoy it again.

I've composed a list of things I'd rather do than listen to/watch Frozen:

-Pluck out the hair on my legs one at a time

-Stick my tongue to a frozen pole

-Eat earthworms every day for every meal for an entire week

-Get a haircut like Miley Cyrus

Am I the only person being driven crazy by this movie?  PLEASE, THERE HAS TO BE SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS!

Conspiracy Theory Alert: I'm interested in know what Disney has subliminally integrated into this film to make children obsess this hard.  Something weird has got to be happening.  A reward in the form of a pan of No Pudge! Brownies is being offered to anyone with valuable information.

NaNo Ate My Blog

It's hard to blog when you're writing time is limited.  And, I'm so far behind in NaNo that it's basically predictable embarrassing.  How are the rest of you NaNo participants doing? 

A few things- 

• DirtyChai has been viewed almost 3000 times on ISSUU.  I have no idea how to track .pdf views, so that stat is unknown.  But, 3000 times on ISSUU?!  Um, I couldn't have hoped for that in my wildest dreams.
• We'll be announcing our Winter 2014 theme on MONDAY and the submission manager will open December 1st.  The set publication date is VaLenTiNes DaY- oooOOooh!
• My daughter turned 6 yesterday.  I feel extremely old.  She is having a birthday party with 6 of her classmates on Saturday at Chuck E. Cheese.  We're all pretty excited about it!
• I started ALLEGIANT by Veronica Roth on Tuesday.  Big surprise, I'm not that into it.  Hopefully it gets better.
• I submitted some poetry on Sunday night on a whim-- and I had some work accepted!  I'm not a poet but it's always exciting to be published in small presses.

Well, time to hit the NaNo before my kids realize I'm not playing with them.  (I give it 7-10 minutes).

The FLU is All Up in My House + BE MY NANO BUDDY!

Holy cow, you guys.  It's Tuesday already?!  It still feels like Saturday to me.

My son has had the stomach flu since 4am on Sunday, and now my daughter has it as well.  I think I've been vomited on at least 10 times since Sunday.  I've somehow managed to not get sick myself, but I smell terrible and my house is a disaster.  My son wants to constantly be held-- and showers have become basically impossible.  Don't even get me started on dishes.

I'm just praying that my husband doesn't get sick.  That will just the cherry to top this -vomit-filled-week-sunday. Also, that they both feel better by Halloween!  Because to miss Halloween when you're a kid is just WRONG.  (And not fair to Mom, who would like to grub on all the free candy.)


On a more positive note, Friday is the first day of NaNoWriMo and I'm getting pretty excited for it!  I have never been a NaNo winner, so that's embarrassing.  But, it will make it that much cooler if I am this year!

 I have no writing buddies as of yet- so if you're participating: ADD ME!  My user name is aziadupont -- super creative, right? ( I hate picking user names, what can I say?)  I'll need all the encouragement I can get.  I haven't been able to find the writing+Mom life balance that so many other author's have seemed to master.  I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Also happening in November: my beautiful first born turns 6!  I can't believe it!  Also,  DirtyChai's first issue will be available to the masses!  And- it's Thanksgiving!  I love to cook so I'm excited!  Hopefully November will start with a bang (and be flu-less!).  Here's to positive thoughts!

WE CAN'T STOP unpacking

I moved and that is the reason I have totally disappeared from the internet.

What an unfortunate time to do so, after participating in some great bloghops.  But, alas!  That is life!

I'm hoping to return to a regular blogging (AND WRITING OMG WRITING-- writing time has been so hard to find during all of this chaos!) schedule after the weekend.  But, it is all to be seen depending on how much I accomplish this week!

And, to be honest, I haven't been the most productive bee in the hive the last two days.  You know how it goes, when there is a ton of shit to do-- and you basically throw your hands in the air and say, "Meh, fuck this."  It's kind of been like that + taking care of a toddler.  I started out really well on Friday and Saturday-- maybe too well.  I may have burned myself out.  Who knows.  But, I know after this quick post, I gotta go do some type of Mom-Chore.

Want to know something embarrassing?  I'm totally streaming Miley Cyrus's new album BANGERZ on Spotify right now.  She is pretty rad when you don't have to look at her.  But, holy poop- did anyone see that spoof of her We Can't Stop video + Government Shut Down on SNL?  Watch it if you haven't.  It's stupid funny.  Like, it's really stupid but you'll laugh pretty hard.  (If you can handle the vulgarity, which I know some people can't.)

Um?  Anything else?  I probably could write a ton.  But, like most of this post, it would be rambling.  Anyway, blogging world, I miss you.  And sorry about being MIA.

1 Sentence Blog Post

Days like today, remind me why I wrote the essay, "I don't love you like I don't hate tomatoes."

4 TV Shows I Wish Weren't Cancelled

I decided to link up with You're Meaghan Me Crazy for Random Thursday!

The topic this week is TV Shows you wish were never canceled and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to mourn my favorites.



                                                                1- United States of Tara

I miss this show so much.  The ending was bitter sweet-- was see Tara driving off to impatient with her very beat up alters sitting in the back of the trunk.  BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS?  I hope they have a 5 year special or SOMETHING.  I'm begging you, Showtime- Tell us what happened to Tara!

 





2- October Road


I fell in love with this shoe during it's first season-- the actors were relate-able-- second season was a bit of "meh" and I understand why it was canned-- but it deserved at least one more season to tie up loose ends!

3- Happy Endings


I was the only person I knew that watched this show.  I'm guessing that's why it was cancelled.  But, it was so good you guys.  No lies.  I laughed every episode!  That's rare!

4- Roswell


My high school self will never forgive the WB for this one.  Granted, the last season wasn't as sci-fi as the previous seasons, but it was still worth bringing back for one more round!  Dang you WB, dang you!

---
Now-- if Revenge, New Girl, General Hospital or Game of Thrones cease to return any time soon, I'd probably cry like a little baby, curl up in the fetal position and sit in the dark for a few weeks.  Just kidding.  Kind of.

That's Nice, Honey...

I have yet to decide if  27 is "young" or "old."  I think it's mostly young, but possibly a bit old as well.; in the sense that a 21 year old looks so fresh, so baby-like in comparison to my permanently etched laugh-lines.

It's interesting to see the contrast of acne and crows feet laid upon the same canvas (of my face).  I would not have guessed that the two phases of growth would intermingle, that zits and wrinkles would take up simultaneous residency on my face.  I'm waiting for the grey hair, but it has not made an appearance (I think).  This probably has something to do with the correlation of grey hair and wisdom.  I've got much to learn.

But, in a small step towards growing up, I finally removed my nose ring.