Jean Reidy

I have a new blog to post about today! It's Jean Reidy's blog... or should I say blogs? If you have kids you should read this review! There are a few of Jean's sites that you should visit. The first is her webpage: http://www.jeanreidy.com  Her main blog: http://jeanreidy.blogspot.ca (you'll want to visit this one before Monday is over if you are a writer).  And her boredom relieving blog: http://tooprincessyboredombusters.blogspot.ca  All three are well worth visiting and I'll tell you why!

Jean Reidy's website is a great place to get to know Jean. Yes it has the normal information about the books and articles she's written and an about me page, but this is not what I'm talking about. Jean has a rather lengthy FAQ section on her website. In this FAQ you can learn a lot about both who Jean is, and how to go about being a published writer. She also has great resources for Teachers and Parents (but check them out if you are a writer/illustrator) they are very well thought out and have lots of fun ideas.

"A Totally Random Romp" is Jean's blog. On her blog she writes about anything from book reviews to clearing out your clutter. She has many writers talking about their books. She's had great people on her blog too like: Anna Staniszewski author of My Epic Fairy Tale Fail (which I'd like to read soon) and Jennifer A Nielson author of the False Prince (read the False Prince and loved it... can't wait for the new book). These authors tell secrets about writing and publishing, so you don't want to miss these!  There are lots of things on this blog to inspire and enjoy so view it soon (after you finish reading)! One thing WRITERS WONT WANT TO MISS is Jean's latest post. She is offering a free critique for one lucky writer on Monday 2/11/2013!  Don't miss out on your chance for this.

The last site of Jean's is a great resource for parents, caretakers and maybe even teachers. This "Too Princessy! Boredom Buster Blog" is a really neat idea. There are many different games and crafts on this site to keep children busy for a really long time. The content is submitted by people who read this blog, so readers get the benefit of a range of projects. Right now there seems to be about a hundred different projects on the site. There will soon be a lot more because there is a contest (random drawing will be: March 1 2013). Enter now for your chance to win!

It is a long, long post today, but there were a lot of sites to cover! What's that? I would have written a long post anyway? Yep, probably true, but that's one of the reasons you love me. Umm right? Ha ha ha!

Woman of the Birds

I decided today to share a drawing that I finished a while ago, but didn't quite like how it turned out. I just felt like something didn't work quite right colour wise on this painting and it made the whole thing fall flat (scanner didn't help here either.. You are welcomed to comment on it if you like. 

My Sweet Dreams

My Sweet Dreams

My sweet dreams are funny things

Filled with pink cats on tall springs

Lions and bears skate on ice

Elephants carried by mice

Dogs hiding in small key holes

Frogs flying out of control

Tiny pigs dancing with grace

Huge mice don't seem out of place

Turtles faster than a hare

Wales smaller than a mare

Polka-dot birds wearing shoes

Glowing white fish in canoes 

When I think I've seen it all

Right out of bed do I fall

Oops! by David Shannon

I will admit that I didn't like these books when David first got them. I didn't like the drawings, but I've grown to love them. I honestly think it's the fact that my son's name is David, the main character's name is David in these books, and my son looks nothing like that baby! Ha ha ha. 

David Shannon has a nice series for his Diaper David books, but I chose this one for a very special reason. It's not that my son just loves this book, he can actually "read" it at 2 years old. He knows the book so well that he can sit there and tell people what it says. True, most of the words are based on pictures, however my little 2 year old is so proud of himself that he can "read" this book.  

There are tons of picture books out on the market, but I highly suggest these because they are whimsically drawn, are short for small attention spans, have recognizable words and relatable situations for babies. This is one of the favourites of my family and I hope it will soon become a favourite of yours as well.

Haikus For The Seasons

Spring

Fragrant flowers
Running in a field of green
When will this rain end?

Summer

Warm sun on my back
Waves splashing on sparkling sand
My skin is sunburnt

Autumn

Brightly coloured leaves
Gently carried in the breeze
Soon there will be snow

Winter

Softly falling snowflakes
People Dancing on the ice
I miss my warm bed

Look What I Won!

Before Christmas I entered this contest: http://paperfashion.net/2012/12/19/pin-it-to-win-it/ Hosted by Calypso and the lovely Katie Rodgers. I had some time just before the contest ended and for a few hours I was obsessed with adding photos to my Pinterest board for this contest. Here is my entry: http://pinterest.com/daniduckart/calypso-holiday/ A short while later it was announced on twitter that I was one of the winners. I couldn't believe it but confirmed it on Katie's Pinterest account here: http://pinterest.com/calypsostbarth/calypso-holiday.  

Today I was so happy to receive a package in the mail which contained my winnings wrapped in beautiful tissue paper. Inside were two watercolour illustrations from the wonderful Katie Rodgers herself, a Calypso St. Barth Mouse pad and a $200 gift card to Calypso St. Barth (Check out their website here: http://www.calypsostbarth.com/).                                              

I just can't wait to get shopping. There is really nothing better than be able to shop without using money! I have no idea what I'm going to buy yet, but I'll let you know!

I absolutely love the illustrations I received in the mail (my phone photo doesn't do them justice). I immediately stored them in my artwork cabinet so little hands didn't grab them.  I plan to get them properly framed and hung when I have time, but for now they  are safe and sound in my cabinet.  I believe I found Katie's Paperfashion Facebook page when I was looking up paper dolls on Facebook. Katie Rodgers is a wonderful Fashion Illustrator, so please follow her on Facebook if you like what you see here! Her Facebook https://www.facebook.com/paperfashion

Thank you, thank you, thank you Katie Rodgers and Calypso!

On New Year's Resolutions

Tons of people make New Year's Resolutions, but how many people actually keep them? I heard somewhere that if a person writes out what they plan to do they are a lot more likely to follow through. I don't know if that's really true, because I write down things all the time that I don't do. For instance I have never, ever made my husband sleep in the doghouse, though I believe I've threatened a few times (we actually don't have a dog). What is it then that make some people follow through with their goals and some not? I don't really know.

I am one of the many people who made a Resolution this year (you can read it here).  My number one goal was to make a blog post every day. It depends on your view on the matter to whether or not I've failed already. I know I have not posted everyday, but I am going on with my goal to make a post every day. I think some people make these resolutions, make a mistake, and decide to give up because of this. If you ask me I'd say I've been successful in my goals. I have made mistakes, and will probably make mistakes in the future, but I hope those will only strengthen me in my resolution.

I did start a sketch blog years ago while I was pregnant with my son. For the longest time I kept up with it (maybe missed a day or two), but I ended up quitting in the mid to late 100s. Though I did not finish my resolution (too much for me with a baby on the way) I think that this too was a success, because I learned a lot about myself along the way.

I'm interested in finding out who else out there is successful (or not so successful) with their resolutions. What is it that you learned about yourself when working on this goal? Do you think you'll be able to achieve your goals this year? Are their other parts of your goals that could be considered a success even though you didn't achieve your goals? Let me know.

I would like to say that New Year's Resolutions can be really rough. You'll do yourself some good if you don't get to upset with yourself when you quite meet your own standards. Even if you fall down pick yourself back up. If it seems too hard, then maybe you need to review your goals and take on something more reasonable. I do not know what it is that makes people achieve their goals, but I do know that one's journey is often more important than one's goals.