F is for Florida, Fun, and Friends

Many years ago there were three girls who grew up in the same neighborhood. They played Barbies. They had sleepovers. They all bought hermit crabs together (see picture...can you guess which one is me?). They went to the same grade school and high school. Two girls even roomed together in college. They stood up in each other's weddings. They held each other's babies. Thankfully they stayed best friends throughout their lives.

Fast forward to last week. These three girls took their first vacation together since spring break in high school (we sailed to the Virgin Islands our senior year). We added another high school friend to our vacation plans and a few more surprise family members. Two of us flew in from Illinois, one from Michigan, and one all the way from Spain.

We spent five nights in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We laughed. We giggled. One even giggled so hard she peed her pants. We cried a little. We danced a lot. We shopped. We enjoyed massages and facials. We sang karaoke. We ate together. And then we laughed some more. And forever this song will remind me of this trip.

We even reenacted the picture we took almost 30 years ago.


Here are a few pics from our vacation together.

Aren't friends grand?

I took everyone's advice and left my computer at home, too! I did absolutely no writing and read Elana Johnson's Possession on the plane to and from Florida. Awesome book. Awesome trip. Awesome friends.

My friend Becky also posted a blog about our trip today. See her post HERE.

Please check out this week's posts at Book Recs of the Rock and Famous! I have my kids' favorite Disney channel actor and a rocker with an amazing voice this week!

This and That Thursday

Is it Thursday already? How can that be?

LIFE
1. I may be MIA from blogland next week. Three of my friends from high school and I are going to Florida for a girly getaway. We've never done anything like this before. I know it will be a blast! I will miss my kiddos though. It's hard to tear me away from them. But sun and fun with my girlies is going to be crazy fun! I'm debating whether or not to bring my computer though...

2. I am LOVING my mornings in the kindergarten class. It is so great to be back in the classroom and making a difference. The children are filled with such joy, I smile all morning long.

WRITING

My arm has been twisted, and I will be doing Nano for the first time this year. I'm slightly scared but mostly pumped, because I know our book's first draft will be finished by the end of November. Who's with me?!

BLOGGING

This week at Book Recs of the Rock & Famous I have a True Blood hunk and a fantastic, thorough interview about books with the Goo Goo dolls drummer, Mike Malinin. It's so interesting to see what actors and musicians read. It gives a different insight into their personalities. Check my new blog out HERE!

Thank you to Cori Jackson for the Amazon gift card I won on her blog! I promptly bought Possession by Elana Johnson and Forever by Maggie Stiefvator. My mom has already abducted Forever to read, and I will be reading Elana's book on the beach next week. If I can wait til then...

Have a fabulous weekend!

My Allegiance to Rock

Last week I attended yet another concert. This Rock Allegiance tour consisted of seven killer bands, five of which we saw: RED, POD, Puddle of Mudd, Papa Roach, and Buckcherry.

Two of these bands I've seen multiple times (Papa Roach - 7, Buckcherry - 5), so when I heard they were in the general area, I HAD to go!

My mom and my friend Shanon accompanied me on this 90+ degree evening. We were pleasantly surprised that the festival venue was next to a river and had a friendly, casual atmosphere and best of all - the seats were awesome and we snuck even closer! We were happy, sweaty rock fans.

Here are a few pics. I've written a full review at a new ezine that goes live soon. I will link it when it does. Yep, I've got another writing gig!

My friend and I with Tobin Esperance, bassist of Papa Roach.

Puddle of Mudd

Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach

Josh Todd of Buckcherry

A quick snippet of 3 bands at the fest. Watch to the end to see Josh Todd of Buckcherry dance. He can move!

It was a great way to end summer! Did you do anything special to commemmorate the end of the summer season?

Don't forget to check out my other blog, Book Recs of the Rock and Famous. This week I have Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees and John Taylor of Duran Duran featured! Thanks!

This and That Thursday

I like big books and I cannot lie
You other mothers can't deny
That when a man walks in with a beer belly waist
And a rectangle thing in your face
You feel young
Wanna pull up tough
Cuz you notice that book was stuffed
Deep in the jacket he's wearing
I'm hooked and I can't stop staring
Oh, baby I wanna read with ya
And take your picture!

1. One of my favorite things to do is take the kids to the book store when we are on vacation. This month we frequented a Barnes & Noble the same day I bought my big books tee at Hot Topic. Here's the Little Red Writing Book that I couldn't pass up.

Here's a peek inside.

2. Speaking of books, did you see Anita Laydon Miller's new cover for the middle grade ebook, Earthling Hero?

Beautiful, isn't it?? And speaking of Anita, I read A Scary Good Book last weekend in two sittings. I highly recommend this mg mystery! It's suspenseful, it's slightly creepy, and it has such likable characters. And I'm NOT just saying that because she was at the shooting range yesterday.

3. Thank you so much for showing your support on my new blog, "Book Recs of the Rock & Famous." If you haven't visited yet, click HERE to see what Kate Middleton and Leah Remini have been reading. Next week I have a True Blood hunk and a rockerboy on deck. Spread the word that reading ROCKS!

4. And a hello to all of you wonderful people stopping by from the campaign! I'll be bloghopping soon!

5. I almost forgot to mention that I just started my first Monday-Friday job in twelve years! I used to be a full time grade school teacher until I became a stay at home mom to my three kids. Now I'm a teacher's aide in a morning kindergarten class at my kids' school. I love it so far! It's wonderful to be able to be part of a regular classroom again. The pay is meh, but I figure it's a great way to ease myself back into the realm of education and have my afternoons free for errands and writing. So be careful while commenting. I may be correcting your punctuation! :)

Have a fabulous Labor Day weekend, all! Any plans?