Now What—>Writing Goals

You know you're a WRITER when you can't leave the house without a notebook.
You know you're a BLOGGER when you must take a photo to prove it.

I've neglected my writing, pushing my dreams and ambitions aside as I dealt with my paralyzing fear of failing and the messiness of my everyday life. So many (imaginary) roadblocks kept going up before me: back to school, conferences, surgeries, illness. I'll get back to it after . . . it's after. Now what?

I will rebuild my optimism muscle. I finished my $hitty first draft TEN months ago, yet I'm still floundering. Because I allow myself to flounder, I don't hold myself accountable, I give in to my doubts.  As Carleen Brice wrote on Writer Unboxed, "The stronger my optimism muscle gets, the more I write, and the stronger I become as a writer." Rehab can strengthen even the most weakened parts of us. While my hubby rehabs his knee, I will rehab my optimism. I can do this.

I will still the voices in my head and burst the unsaid speech bubbles hovering over my doubting friends and family. I will banish the "You're STILL not done?" The "but you don't have a real job—what do you do all day?" The "if you were any good you would be finished/agented/published/rich and famous already". 

"Find what it is you are meant to do and what you are deeply passionate about, and allow that to flow through you. Don't resist or fight it. You know you are in your sweet spot when whatever you're doing gives you energy instead of depleting it."

~Oprah Winfrey

I will hit that sweet spot more frequently. I'm at my best after I've completed a scene that flows like a Class VI rapid. The story pulls me along in its current, makes my heart race, my stomach lurch with anticipation, and joyful laughter break free. I spend hours smiling afterwards—hours!—and I laugh, gasp, or shed a tear each time I reread that piece of work. I've brought words to life, and I feel blissfully alive. That's my sweet spot.

I will learn to live more in the moment, but make most of the moments I dedicate to my craft. Far too often I waste time worrying, planning, overcompensating for my doubts instead of appreciating the joys, the LIFE going on around me. I must dive in and play the water, savor the glass of wine, tickle my son until he bursts, LIVE. And when it's time to work GET IT DONE.

I will organize and find balance between writing, blogging, and social media.  My recent experience at my first blogging conference flooded me with almost too much information, too many ideas. I can't do it all. I must prioritize, organize, and be efficient. The notion of "be everywhere, do everything" doesn't work for all of us, especially when we should be buried deep in our writing cave. Set times for social media and blogging (with a timer if necessary).  Block it during writing time. Schedule tweets, blog posts, and Facebook updates.  Write a blog post in an hour, not half a day. Be efficient.

I will make use of every moment. Too often I make excuses: I only have an hour until my son comes home, until dinner, until an appointment—not enough time to immerse myself into my manuscript. Books are written in these stolen moments. Just do it. I will learn to make better use of my early morning and evening time.

 I will make time for creativity and daydreams (as they are the things books are made of) but I will put my fingers to the keyboard and type.

I will finish my edits and rewrites. I will have my manuscript ready for querying by the New Year. Just over a year ago I wrote my November Manifesto proclaiming I would finish my first draft by the end of the month. I finished ten days later. It's all about the goals. I will get this shit done.





**Sorry WOE: I totally forgot about my 300 word limit until I went to link up. The first 300 can be JustBeEough's. The second half is all yours.

**

Around the Bonfire - DIY S'mores Fire Pot

Bonfire is our theme of the day. Why? Because I am guest posting over at Kludgy Mom for Gigi's fabulous Around the Bonfire series.

Over there I'm spilling the challenges of parenting an elementary-aged kiddo (it gets much more complicated than picking the proper pacier, trust me). I thought I'd spill a lighter secret here and share an easy hack the whole family will love: a DIY s'mores fire pot.

Our little family escaped to the beach for a few nights over Labor Day weekend. We had no set agenda, no drama, no obligations — with the exception of s'mores on the beach. I'd been a slacker mom: my kiddo had yet to feel the ooze of melted white sugar goo sticking to his fingers or yelp in awe as he made a marshmallow torch. There is a technique to making a proper s'more, and though I'd camped for years during my own childhood, I'd yet to share the tradition.

I owed this kid some kick-ass s'mores.

One teeny problem: bonfires were not permitted on our beach.

But. . .though it is as crowded as the interstate during rush hour come noon, at night the powered sands are deserted. The beach patrol may cruise by and the neighbors can be tattle-tales with itchy fingers, but save for teenagers hanging out, lovebirds strolling along the dunes, or a group of insane shark fisherman carrying their poles and kayak towards the jetty (did I mention our beach is The Shark Bite Capital of the World?)—there aren't many poeple.

It was worth the risk, even if we couldn't do a REAL fire. So we'd make our campfire portable—and easy to extinguish and run. 

All you need:

• an unglazed terra cotta pot
• heavy duty aluminum foil
• charcoal
• lighter fluid & lighter
• S'mores supplies 

I used a 10-inch orchid pot—just what I had empty in the garage. Line the pot with foil. If the pot will be exposed to wind or a heavy breeze (like our beach gusts) leave enough foil to pull up to shield the coals from the wind.  Fill it about halfway with charcoal and douse with lighter fluid. Light and watch that baby glow.

*You can go old school and use whittled sticks or pick up some of the nifty extendable s'mores roasting forks (I found at Target) or 30" wooden roasting sticks (from Christmas Tree Shop).

*Instead of the traditional Hershey's bars I used these Moser Roth dark chocolate bars from Aldi. They fit on the graham crackers nicely, were far cheaper, and, well, dark chocolate makes me swoon.



Did I mention it was the weekend of the blue moon? Only when the moon appeared over the roaring waves it shone like a crimson fireball — more like a solar eclipse from a sci-fy tale than a silvery globe. Either way, it was brilliant and bold as the little flowerpot flames seemed to lick at it's trail.

And the s'mores were pretty damn perfect, too.

Some nights are just made for memories.

Some nights you just have to live in the moment. 

And break a few rules.

Remember to head over to Kludgy Mom and check out her Around the Bonfire series and her other words of wisdom!

Craving Comfort: Time for Mac & Cheese with Sausage & Peas

Sometimes we just need comfort food. We crave comfort food. We think we will clean-out the chocolate section of Walmart if we can't have some comfort food.

Last night I was in desperate need of some comfort food. My sad & stressed out body pleaded for some homemade mac and cheeses.

Only one problem: my husband won't eat the stuff.

Yes, I know. . .how can anyone not like mac and cheese? It's unAmearican. It's sacrilegious. Luckily he had enough redeeming qualities that it wasn't a deal-breaker discovery.

His intense aversion is the result of some childhood trauma {stomach flu & a box of Kraft?} so for the past 35+ years he hasn't touched the stuff. When we first met he couldn't even look at it. He graduated to serving it once we had a kid (because every other kid in the world loves the stuff).  When we visited Savannah, he actually tried Paula Deen's heavenly, gooey dish and. . .he LOVED it.  But only because Paula made it. He trusted Paula more than me.

Yesterday, every taste bud and nerve center was crying out for some homemade m&c. I remember the smell wafting through the house when my mom would bake a batch. It was often accompanied by smoked sausage, split down the center and broiled until slightly crispy and browned.

I needed some. I didn't have any Velveeta like my mom's recipe called for. I turned to Panera's recipe.

Because everyone (including my crazy husband) loves Panera.

It's a pretty basic recipe. I made a few alterations and added smoked sausage and peas to make it a complete meal.

The comfort factor just oozed though the cheese, and the sharpness of the cheddar combined with the smokiness of the sausage warmed me from the inside. And the husband loved it.

Win.

Stove Top Macaroni & Cheese with Smoked Sausage & Peas


Ingredients

1 (16-ounce) package of small shaped pasta (like shells or rotini twists)
1/2 package frozen peas
1/2 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
12-14 oz. package fully cooked smoked sausage (we like the turkey) sliced into rounds
4 tbsp. butter + 1 tbsp. butter
4 1/2 tbsp. flour all-purpose flour
2½ cups milk (any milk or cream)
cheese: 6 slices white American cheese, chopped
            and 1 cup (8 ounces) shredded extra-sharp white Vermont cheddar
            OR
            12 oz. Sargento Chef Blends Shredded 4 State Cheddar Cheese
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon hot sauce

Instructions

• Prepare pasta according to package directions.
• Prepare peas according to package directions. (I always just toss them in with the pasta during the last 5 minutes of cook time—probably a no-no, but works for me. If you do so, add 1 minute to total pasta cook time.)
• Melt 1 tbsp. butter in pot. Saute the sausage and onions for about 3-5 minutes. Remove from pot with slotted spoon.
• In same pot, melt remaining 4 tbsp. butter over low heat. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium heat, whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add cheeses, stirring until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
• Stir in mustard, salt, and hot sauce.
• Stir in pasta, sausage, and peas. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute (or until thoroughly heated).
• Serves 4 to 6

Blogging Tips from Central Florida Blog Con

I FINALLY attended my first blog con—The Central Florida Blogger and Social Media Conference (a.k.a. CFL Blog Con 2012).

Yes, I've been blogging for years, but (1.) I'm horribly shy and the idea of hanging with hundreds of social media mavens scares the bejeezus out of me, and (2.) there's no wiggle room for plane tickets or hotels in my budget. I stay local. Luckily, they kicked off the first Central Florida Blog Con last year (but I missed out because I didn't buy my ticket soon enough). I didn't make that mistake this year.

I came. I saw. I learned so much my brain nearly melted. So please bare with  me if I wander off on any tangents.

This year's conference was held at the amazing Orlando Science Center. (If you want to know how much I love this place, see this previous AWARD WINNING post—more on that later.)  It was a bit of an adventure getting there. I had to drive through the Orlando Heart Walk, weaving between walkers as I drove on the wrong side of the road. (The cop told me to, I swear.)  I parked next to Captain Jack Sparrow and his wench who were speaking pirate-eze. Was I in the right place?

I was exactly where I needed to be. There just happened to be a big pirate fest going on also.

As we settled into the dramatically steep CineDome, the laptops and smart phones glowed and a flash mob broke out. No, I did not dance. I would have needed a few mimosas to gather the courage for spontaneous, extremely public dancing.

I thought I'd just share a FEW nuggets of wisdom that rocked my blogging/social media world. You probably know all this. Remember: I'm new to these things.


First up: keynote speaker Lou Mongello (of  WDW fame)

• If you want to blog full time, treat it like a job. Don't expect overnight success.
• You never know who is watching. Build great content from day one.
• And the much debatable Don't accept freebies. Coca-Cola doesn't pay their employees in coke. Freebies won't feed your kids or pay your bills. Demand more.

Them: laptops, iPads, technology.  Me: pen & paper.

Marketing Yourself: How to Build a Media Kit by Callie  @The Wannabe Athlete

• Always have an elevator pitch ready.
• Add services offered (i.e. freelance articles, sponsored posts) to your media kit.
• Save it on an EDITABLE pdf so it can be sent out and updated regularly.
• Your social media stats are important, not just for high numbers, but to show engagement and influence.
• Include your location. You never know when people are looking for locals.

 Fitting Blogging into Your Life with Christine @Cook the Story, Jackie @Momjovi, and Michelle @Crazy Running Legs.

• ORGANIZATION is the key to success
• Organize your Google reader to make scanning blogs more efficient (and find the plug in to comment directly from reader).
• Make Pinterest work for you: use a Pinterest widget on your blog sidebar & WooBox app creates a tab on your FB page to show all of your  boards.

From I.P. to M-A-G by Kyle @Brink Magazine

• Feature others who already have a built-in audience.

Tweet Your Way to Success: Developing a Social Media Strategy for Twitter by Rachelle Lucas @The Travel Bite

• Use manageflitter.com to prune who you follow and keep your ratio balanced.
• Curate & share content from your niche AND other areas of interest.
• Must, must, must use Hootsuite, TweetDeck, or other tool to manage lists and schedule tweets.
• Old school "RTs" still rock. Don't be a me, Me, ME tweeter. Don't be a stalker.

Widgets and Gadgets for Bloggers by Professor Josh @Professor Josh

• Use Delicious to bookmark tweets, posts, photos, videos, articles. Tag and organize, share and have access to links anywhere.   
• IFTTT.com is some kind of magic I must figure out.
• Use Zite to create your own perfect source of news feed. 
• Evernote syncs projects between all your computers and devices.

More Ways to Monetize Your Blog with Amanda Tinney @Disney Everyday

• Did you know you can FLIP blogs? I had no idea. Check out flippa.com. Mind Blown.
• Use google trends to discover what terms people are searching.
• It's better to link a post to FB with an image.
• Brands want video: just 30 seconds of exciting and engaging content will make them swoon.

 Extreme Makeover Facebook Edition with Jeanette @J's Everyday Fashion

• You CAN monetize FB through affiliate links in captions.
• If you build a consistent, engaged following, you can sell it as a part of your package.

Whew. Are you tired yet?

Organizers made this Blog Con paper-free. All the presentations slides (including the 12 or so I couldn't attend due to conflicting schedules) are available to attendees via Doccaster. I've downloaded all of the sessions and I'm waiting for a chance to learn about the ones I missed.

Now, imagine squeezing in some social time, a yummy lunch catered by Bahama Breeze, a quick yoga session, and gadget recharging time. I'm tired and exhilarated just thinking about it. (Note to self: I MUST get more gadgets. Like an iPad. And an iPhone. Or at least a tablet. My laptop with a burned out battery just does not cut it.)

Mmmmm. . .Death by Chocolate and Dulce de Leche

After all these amazing sessions, there was the Yelp after party in the DinoDigs. Yes—food, friends, and adult beverages while surrounded by dinosaur fossils. Absolutely fabulous.

I need to track down this new cider.

And I was so honored to have my #CFLGood Blogging for Good post about the Orlando Science Center selected as the winner!  I am proud to support such a wonderful organization.

Hanging with some of the Central Florida Lady Bloggers (me, Paula, Michelle, Christine, J, and Jackie) at the Yelp party. They make me feel short even in 3-inch heels.  Photo borrowed from J via Paula.

Thanks to all of the organizers, speakers, and sponsors of this year's event. They did a fantastic job. I'm ready for next year!

*Thanks to Macbeth Photography for letting all the attendees use his photos!

Island Dreams: Indie Phenom Tracey Garvis Graves

Have you read On the Island yet? If not, you absolutely should. Go over to Bookshelf Bombshells for the full book review.

On the Island's author, Tracey Garvis Graves, could be the poster girl for Indie publishing success stories.

She wrote a compelling, risky, and slightly addictive romance about two people who shouldn't be together stranded on a desert island. She sent off the dreaded query letters hoping to find an agent to represent her. Instead of snapping up the debut author's intriguing story, agents quickly ripped off rejection letters. The book didn't quite fit into the right genres. The storyline could be dangerous. It just wasn't for them.

While most writers would crawl into a cave of self-doubt and shove their precious manuscript into the back of a drawer to rot, Tracey fought back. She decided to self-publish On the Island.

Now, many of us are scared of self-publishing. I know I am. There is the stigma that if you self-pub it's because your book isn't good enough for the mainstream bookstore shelves, it's a sad reject filled with poor grammar, typos, and a plot seemingly contrived by a sixth-grader.

If you have read any of the millions of Indie self-published books out there (and if you haven't, why not?) you know this is not always the case.

She uploaded her edited manuscript onto Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

Then this suburban mom harnessed the power of the internet, promoting her  book to the top of the best sellers lists. On the Island became a word-of-mouth (and blog) phenomena.

I learned about the book through another blogger. Actually, several blogs, but when someone who normally doesn't talk about books mentioned it was a must read (thanks MomJovi), I downloaded it that day. Once I pulled up that first page, I was hooked. I stayed up past midnight finishing the book in one day.

Tracey's book sales and loyal fans finally caught the attention of the "big boys." She got an agent, a two-book deal from Penguin, and  MGM even optioned the book for a feature film.(And there's constant online chatter about just which actors should play main characters T.J. and Anna.)

Word of mouth sales keep going up. I should get credit for a few copies in my Costco. Twice I watched a woman pick the paperback up, skim the back cover, look slightly puzzled, and set it down. "That was a great book!" I gushed. "It's not smutty? It sounds ... just ... "  "It's not a 50 Shades. At all. Trust me. Not creepy at all. I read it in a day." They slipped the book into their carts.

Word. Of. Mouth.

Stop by Bookshelf Bombshells to read the full review. Come on: a 30-year-old teacher, her 16-year-old student,  a plane crash,  a deserted tropical island. Can love conquer all despite the odds? Should it? You know you're intrigued.

Blogging For Good: American Heart Association Heart Walk

Today I'm writing about a subject close to my heart (hopefully not literally): cardiovascular disease. Chances are it's touched someone in you life—it's the #1 killer of all Americans and takes a life every 38 seconds. Boom—three or four people will be gone by the time you finish reading this post.

It's a killer that has devastated my family too many times. The Father-In-Law I never knew died after his fifth heart attack—my husband was just fifteen. Weeks after I met my husband, it struck down his step-father while he sailed upon the open seas. And recently, the disease stole my son's beloved "Beach Papa" far, far too early. Strokes have dealt a crippling  blow to family members, as well.

Several friends have children struggling with genetic heat diseases. Every part of their family's lives are impacted by their conditions, and their bravery, compassion, and resilience never ceases to amaze me. They handle each new crisis with inspiring dignity and strength. They deserve a healthier future.

Such close tragedies have opened our eyes to the risks of not only an unhealthy lifestyle but genetics. Though we eat healthy, exercise, and don't smoke, my thin, athletic husband must carefully monitor his blood pressure and cholesterol. When we married, he vowed to live a year past 48, the age of his father when he died. I vehemently informed him that was not a part of our deal; I expected at least another 48 years together. 

This family will not become another statistic. 

That's why we support the American Heart Association.

American Heart Association Missions: By 2020, to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent.

 

How you can help:

• The 2012 Greater Orlando Heart Walk is THIS Saturday, September 15th, 2012. 
• You can still register for the 3.1 mile route or the 1 mile "Survivor" walk around beautiful Loch Haven Park. 
• Festivities begin at 7 a.m.  — Walk at 8 a.m.
• Can't make it? Please consider making a donation in a participant's name.

The Greater Orlando Heart Walk is a major fundraising event for the American Heart Association. At the time of posting, the generous people of Central Florida have raised just over 1 million dollars towards the event goal of 1.4 million. Funds raised help to:

Raise awareness. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women over age 25, but many women don’t make their own health a priority.

Groundbreaking pediatric heart and stroke research. About 36,000 babies are born with heart defects each year —research is the key to saving babies’ lives.

Get life-saving information to those who need it most – information that can save a life, like how to eat better, how to recognize the warning signs of heart attack, and how to talk to a doctor about critical health choices. 

Put up-to-the-minute research into doctors’ hands so they can better prevent and treat heart disease among patients.

Advocate for better health. AHA's nationwide volunteer network, You’re The Cure, advocates for key issues at the national, state and local levels such as requiring physical education in schools, clean air legislation and making AEDs mandatory in public buildings.

Reach out to populations at risk. Blacks have higher risk and higher death rates from stroke than whites. Our Power To End Stroke education/awareness initiative helps African Americans share information to reduce their risk of stroke. More than 23,000 key opinion leaders, including mayors, professors, ministers and celebrities, have been recruited to be ambassadors working within their own community.

Protect the future. Nearly one in three children and teens in the U.S. is overweight or obese. As a result, more kids than ever before are developing high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. AHA is helping kids develop lifelong healthy habits and working to make sure that today’s children can grow up to be tomorrow’s healthy adults.

Don't live in Central Florida?  
Click here to find the American Heart Association Heart Walk near you. 
Join with over a million people in 300+ cities taking a stand against heart disease
 and helping to save lives.

Support this amazing organization. Walk the walk. Support other walkers. 
Donate to AHA. 

 Or

 Buy a raffle ticket as a part of the Blogging for Good campaign.
For just $10 you have a chance to win this wonderful basket worth over $150.

• $50 gift certificate to Shula’s in Lake Mary
• Bottle of Red Wine
• American Heart Association Cookbook
• $50 gift certificate to the Spa at Thorton Park

 100% of proceeds go to AHA.

Your heart will thank you.

**Please help spread the word about this important cause. Tweet, Facebook, Pin, and share this post. You can make a difference.

I am writing this as part of a contest for the CFL Blog Conference and the Rollins Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center.  I stand 100% behind the Greater Orlando Heart Walk and the American Heart Association.

Sparking the imagination with science and Star Wars at the Orlando Science Center #CFLGood

 My son dreams of becoming an engineer when he grows up. Technically, if you ask, he'll just tell you he wants to build roads. And buildings. And ships. And robots. Maybe space ships. Definitely a bigger, safer Titanic. Fueled by books and educational TV shows (they do exist), ideas for new designs seem to burst from his imagination each day.  He breaks out his roll of paper or borrows reams from my office so he can carefully draw out his plans. With old wooden blocks or gallons of Legos he brings his visions to life like a modern day young DaVinci—if DaVinci built his models from colorful, interlocking plastic blocks.

My kid dreams big. Entire ports, ocean liners, cityscapes, and transportation systems seem to spring from his fingertips.  Transferring his enthusiasm, his passion into the classroom is challenging; multiplication tables and math factors just aren't exciting, but he'll need a strong background in math and science for his dreams to become his reality.

Education is the gateway to opportunity. That's why one of our favorite places to visit in Central Florida is the Orlando Science Center.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is considered the cornerstone to our prosperity as a nation. As the world’s economy continues to be increasingly fueled by knowledge and innovation, it is vital that the workforce be well-educated in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. With that said, the United States is in the middle of a STEM crisis.

The Orlando Science Center is taking a stand in the efforts to revitalize STEM education in our community. Through informal science learning, kids can take interest in STEM fields through fun, engaging ways. By simply generating excitement for science everyone can win, as a child takes this new found appreciation and explores it at home and school.

The need for a strong, STEM-educated workforce is greater than it’s ever been. The percentage of science and engineering degrees awarded annually peaked in the 1960′s.

Locally, the problem is even more magnified: only 20% of the degrees awarded in Central Florida are based in STEM fields, compared to 30% nationally.

To put it in perspective, 60 percent of the new jobs created this century will require skills that only 20 percent of the current workforce possesses. Jobs now and in the future will depend on the bright minds of today’s youth in these subjects. In fact, 28 of the 30 fastest growing occupations projected for 2018 require strong proficiency in the skills of math and science.

Our ultimate goal at the Science Center is to create a STEM-centered community that paves the way towards excellence in science, technology, engineering and math. Exploring these critical areas in an informal way can be fun, exciting and even inspiring.

Our kids don't want lectures. They thrive on interaction and entertainment. Hand-on, fun learning is vital to keep kids interested and intrigued. That's why we love the Orlando Science Center.

OSC is one of the top hands-on science centers in the country. Featuring four floors of interactive exhibits and live programs, it provides a full day of entertainment and learning about everything from natural science to the high-tech world of simulation technology.

Kids (and parents) can build dams and channels at water tables (my kiddo's fav), stare into the jaws of a T. rex, take to the air in F1-11  and F-16 flight simulators, get up close to native alligators and snakes, play a life-sized game of Operation, or control a Mars Rover.     

The CineDome theater doesn't just "show" movies. You can watch and experience the destructive power of a tornado at point blank range or take a visually explosive, sensory expanding voyage into space on its enormous screen (measuring 8,000 square feet!).

You can catch one of the planetarium shows, laser light shows, or view the cosmos via the Crosby Observatory, home to one of the state’s largest publicly accessible refractor telescopes.

AND coming soon. . .this has our family just buzzing with excitement:


 

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination

October 13, 2012 through April 7, 2013

May the Force be with you as you explore the blockbuster large scale exhibit celebrating the Star Wars® legacy and its impact on real-world science! It is the first exhibition to display costumes and props from all six Star Wars films with real-world technologies. The exhibit includes extensive video interviews with filmmakers, scientists and engineers; and hands-on components, including two large Engineering Design Labs, where visitors can build and test their own speeders and robots.

For more information on the exhibit, please visit: www.mos.org/starwars.

 Star Wars + science + kids = WIN

Not only is OSC an amazing resource for locals, but it should be on the itinerary of every family visiting Orlando. Need a day off from the hectic theme parks, some time to relax, hide from the heat or rain, or crowds and lines? Hit the Science Center. You will have fun.

The Orlando Science Center is a private non-profit organization with 501c(3) status. As part of the Blogging For Good Campaign, Central Florida bloggers are spreading the word about local charities and non-profits that benefit our community. Want to help? Buy a raffle ticket for this AMAZING Star Wars themed basket filled with:

• 4 Open Guest Passes to the Orlando Science Center
• Two tickets to the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination VIP Preview on Friday, October 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (This VIP Preview is the first opportunity for anyone to experience the exhibit at the Science Center!)
• Rubix Cube Stress Reliever
• True Green Life in 100 Everyday Ways – Written by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin
• OSC Otronicon “Level Up” T-Shirt
• OSC Coffee Mug/Beaker (it’s got measurements on it resembling a beaker – it’s awesome)
• Command Line Mouse Pad
• 2 Anakin Skywalker Lightsabers
• Star Wars Minatures: Rebels and Imperials
• Star Wars: STAR TOURS G2-9T
• Star Wars: STAR TOURS SK-Z38
• Star Wars 2007 Vintage Coin Set
• Star Wars: STAR TOURS Boarding Party – STAR TOURS Officer, Kaink, Teek, Ree-Yees, Chewbacca (Set is Limited Edition of 15,000)
• Star Wars Destroyer Droid
• Star Wars Miniatures: Princess Leia – Attack on Endor

Get a ticket for this basket now.

Any Star Wars fan (age 5 to 95) would be over the moon if they won those goodies. Maybe I'll buy two tickets... Each raffle ticket is just $10 and can be obtained here. 100% of the money raised goes directly to the nonprofit, so it’s a win-win!

OSC website: http://www.osc.org/
OSC Twitter: https://twitter.com/orlandoscience
OSC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orlandosciencecenter
Blogging for Good: http://www.cflbloggingforgood.com/

**Please help spread the word about this important cause. Tweet, Facebook, Pin, and share this post. You can make a difference.

I am writing this as part of a contest for the CFL Blog Conference and the Rollins Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center.  I stand 100% behind the The Orlando Science Center.

The Meryl Streep Movie Club: A SheReads Review

Newsflash: Today is the official launch of the She Reads Blog Network!


September's Book Club Pick is The Meryl Streep Movie Club by debut author Mia March:  a novel of love, family, and movie night.

Through everything, Lolly has always been there for them, and now Isabel, June, Kat—and Meryl—must be there for her. Finding themselves. Finding each other. Finding a happy ending.

Fifteen years ago, a New Years Eve car accident shattered Lolly Weller's family. She took in her orphaned nieces Isabel and June and raised them with her daughter Kat, but the girls have not remained close over the years. Now, faced with a tragic diagnosis of her own, Lolly calls them home to her coastal Maine inn to support her—and each other.

Each woman just happens to be at a crossroad in her life. June struggles as the ex-good girl who dropped out of college after her only whirlwind love affair left her as a single mother. Seven years later, she is desperate to discover why her lover abandoned their blooming relationship and her son yearns to find the father he has never known. Isabel is still railing after finding her husband with another woman. Can she brush aside the pain of her betrayal to find the life and the family she has always wanted?  Kat remained by her mother's side all these years, helping Lolly run the The Three Captains' Inn with charm and grace. She's ambivalent about upcoming wedding and wonders if she will be settling instead of following her passions.

The three women, now stuffed together in their old attic bedroom, barely tolerate each other in the beginning.  All it takes is a little Meryl Streep (during the inn's weekly Movie Nights) to get them to open up and see each other—and themselves—in a new light.

The story highlights how movies can touch a part of us we keep hidden and open clogged channels of communication. The "deep meanings" each woman pull from each movie are a tad bit too neat, but they come together nicely to mend the fractures in the family.  I could almost see the light bulbs going off over each character's head she had her "ah-ha!" moment. But movies can do that. Especially Meryl Streep movies.

Though The Meryl Streep Movie Club delves into deep subjects, the writing keeps a light tone. The back cover proclaims it follows in the footsteps of The Friday Night Knitting Club and The Jane Austin Book Club, so readers should keep this genre in mind. Expect to get a bit teary-eyed, but it won't rip you up. It's more Mama Mia than Sophie's Choice (but that's good because I've watched Mama Mia at least a dozen times but can't bring myself to watch Sophie's Choice). I still found it light enough escapism to enjoy at the beach.

If you need a refresher on the classics or you're looking for some movie night suggestions check out the list of all the films mentioned in the book (along with some fun movie & snack pairings) on the publishers website. It's just one of the unique details that would  make this novel an entertaining book club selection. Women's fiction and chick lit fans can not only discuss the book, but their favorite movies as well.

So grab some popcorn, keep a tissue in your pocket (just in case) and curl up in your favorite cozy chair (or beach lounge) with this book about love, loss, and family movie night. Just be prepared to hold your own Meryl Streep movie marathon soon after.  (I just added Out of Africa to my queue—I am embarrassed to admit I've never watched the movie or read the book—a problem I shall soon remedy.)

The Meryl Streep Movie Club

by Mia March
Gallery Books
325 pages


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