Award ^-^

So Tessa, over at ChristisWrite has given me the beautiful blogger award!

I'm a beautiful blogger? Aw shucks *blushes* thank you so much Tessa, I really am flattered. And so here are the rules that come with the Beautiful Blogger Award:
Thank & link to the person that gave you the award.
Pass this award onto 15 bloggers you’ve recently discovered and think are fantastic.
Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won
State 7 things about yourself

I'm going to start with the fifteen blogs.

SeeSaraWrite

ConstantlyRiskingAbsurdity

SeeHeatherWrite

Jade Hears Voices

SomeThings I Think...

Words, etc.

The Blogger Girlz

A Life of Perpetual Awkward

Jenni James

VR Barkowski

Storyqueen's Storycastle

Ramblings of A Wannabe Scribe

ChristaCarol Jones

Eternal Moonshine of a Day Dreaming Mind

Jill Wheeler

Whew- I'm a little winded. So now the seven things about me...

1)I'm horribly attracted to men with certian names, it's not the names that attract me but it just so happens that a majority of my crushes have tend to have one of four names. Kid you not.

2)I have no idea what I'm doing. Regarding everything

3)I'm a fangirl at heart, like the couples I ship on the TV shows I watch...don't even get me started about Tiva, and how apparently I'm the only NCIS LA viewer who ships Sam/Kensi...Moving on.

4)I have a secret about school...I can't stand it.

5)I am going to be a crazy cat lady. Whenever I see a cute little kitten I want to scoop it up and take it home with me. Like really badly.

6) I'm taking three AP classes next year, and am debating taking a fourth. Not because I enjoy the class and not because I really want to...because of a boy...shhh don't tell my parents.

7)I just bought seven boxes of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. Now I've only eaten one sleeve, and the large amount to cookies are for the entire year. Yes, like my Halloween candy I make my Girl Scout cookies last until I can order more. Don't judge.

So yep, that's that. I'm off to go to a party (I'll be good promise). And not study for my SATs that are tomorrow. Don't worry you guys will have a post-SAT post tomorrow where I will display all my brain-fried-ness.

Chapter 3 OWNAGE!

So all of my critique partners, and friends/family know that during the writing of my WIP He's With Me I've struggled with the first before chapter, my chapter three. It has been, for lack of a better word, a bitch.

But Aaron, from Blogger Girlz, just sent me back her critiqued view of my chapter three. Maybe it's because I've purposefully not read the chapter in the past four months is why Aaron's critique was so helpful, because I'd been able to step back and not hate it for awhile.

I also think I've realized why it was such a pain to work with in the beginning. Because my WIP starts out with a mature Kali and Darren, while the first before chapter focuses on Mitch and Kali as younger kids like four and five which is important to the plot. And because of the age change the third person narration also had a change, which would explain why I was so annoyed with it in the first place. Duh Hayley.

So, I'm off, all happy to have finally gotten it to a point where I'm not ashamed to let someone read it! Whoot! And after I get it back from Aaron, again, I think I may like it even more! Onward to writing!

So....

SATs on Saturday, ugh...brain fried...need to write...need to read...need more sleep...

I haven't even taken them yet and I'm already on the verge of tears. I've been trying (and failing) to study, not working out well. Let's see what else has gone down this week... ooo my kittens are going to be a year old soon! Yay! (Well not yay because I miss their tiny cuteness but yay because I get to eat cake and say I'm celebrating their birthday! Cake consumption excuses) And they are also going to be big brothers, again. Now I'm not happy about this, because this is the second time their going to be big brothers, their mothers third litter. Her owner is really nice but obviously not very responsible, so my mom and I are taking the kitty to be fixed once this litter is born. We can't rely on her owner to do it, it's not fair to the momma kitty and it isn't fair to the babies. But I do have to say that if all goes well, *crosses fingers* I may have a couple kittens temporarily living in my bedroom for awhile whilst we look for homes for them. If this is the case pictures will be posted.

I went to visit Marist, cute school a decent multiple hour drive away from home, and it had a nice campus. But the thing is up until I saw this school I hadn't really been interested in the college search, now though, now I'm actually excited about looking into schools with my friends and visiting them and hanging around their campuses.

Other than the kitty news, SATs, and the singular college visit not much else has occurred. Ooo prom is coming up, and I'm not so sure I want to go, well okay I want to go but seeing as I am perpetually single and all my friends have either boyfriends or girlfriends or alternate plans I think I'm just going to attend my bestie(Zippy)s anti-prom party. She actually got down on one knee and placed her hand palm up and asked me to her party, I said yes unless I snagged a date to the real prom, placed my hand in hers and she kissed it. This is why we've been best friends since she was 7 days old (kid you not that's when we met, and have lived two houses away ever since, even when I moved!). But she understands the whole if thing, because she gets me. I just thought her proposal was cute. Writing has been put on a standstill, very bad because I'm going to the Backspace Conference in NYC this may and have to polish and primp and finish my second novel(He's With Me for those of you who are wondering). Yeah so I'm off to try and accomplish anything.

Here...we...go...

Award and Perspective?

So Bethany gave me the Sunshine Award!!

Thank you so much Bethany, I'm very flattered that you think my posts radiate sunshine. Thank you.

Now I have to pass this along to 5 deserving blogs that radiate happiness and make me smile. So here goes:

Mariah: Who has Resident Expert days that are just amazing, also she's spunky and I admire her for that.

Frankie: Who is not afraid to make ridiculous deals with the universe to attain her agented/published goal. I would never (as of right now) have the guts to do anything like that so props Frankie for being so brave.

Shannon: Who is fearless because she and Frankie (see above) are in the midst of an all out blog war, and that's scary. Like I said Frankie is basically fearless, which means Shannon you've got guts out the wazoo. I envy you.

K.M.: Who manages to balance two kids, a job and at one point broken bones, and write all at the same time. I would love that balance and coordination.

Karen: Who believes in talking to teens not down to them *bows in thanks*, has an awesome blog design and is just cool.

Of course there are lots of other blogs that I adore but there was a limit. So you guys thank you so much for having awesome blogs and I hope you pass this award around.

Now to the perspective bit. I've been trying to figure out a balance between school and writing, up until this year I didn't need to find one because it was just there. But then suddenly this year, college apps, SATs, job apps, and work just seemed to *WHAM* right in my face. So balance is being searched for, I've set aside my hour, agreed upon by my parents, the one hour a day left to just me, no chores, no homework, no work, just writing. That and chemistry and history have been a great place to pen extra words.

So I guess I'm looking for perspective, writing has always been my everything. Well for the most part, because the time before writing was small and not anything I like to dwell on. And by everything I mean it has taken a precedent over my social life and even at times (though I know it was wrong) my academic career as well.

Here's the thing it's all I ever wanted to do, write I mean, and this is one of those times in my life where I'm supposed to be focusing on my future. I've been asked to pick a major already, I'm not even in college yet and they already want me declaring my major. English, obviously. But that's not the point, I don't really have a definitive plan yet, I don't know what it is I want to do other than write. I don't even know what I want for dinner most days let alone what college I want to go to.

I just want to know if any of you have some advice, or perspective, on this predicament because I'm dreading all of this and that is never the way to enter into something. Let alone something that is going to effect the rest of my life. So my wiser, and slightly older writer friends, any advice? I'm going crazy here and it just feels so ick. My parents are on my case about this and I have no idea what to do.

I'm thinking that someone who isn't me will be able to look at this from a different viewpoint and give me insight into this whole thing.

The Return

I'm back, a little later after originally scheduled but sometimes that just happens, you know? Anywho I decided to get on here and post quickly just so everyone knows I haven't forgotten them, before I go and cyber stalk all my friends. Umm, I mean check up on. Duh. Hehe.

So lets do a quick round up. Over my vacation I read 15 books!

Beastly, and A Kiss in Time, by Alex Flinn I love fairy tale retellings, they like make my day.

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey great, reminded me why I love vampires that don't sparkle *sigh* a good vampire romance always makes me smile.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, it was good and even though the main character was a total jerk half the time and I've been bullied so I shouldn't be siding with a bullier (the MC by the way) I was cheering when she chipped the other girls tooth.

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard, just as delicious as everyone made it out to be. And I loved the ending.

Hold Still by Nina La Couer, so good, and I didn't cry half as hard as I thought I would which is a good thing because I'm an ugly crier.

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker, I liked it, not my normal venue but cute.

His Eyes by Renee Carter, it was a great read, I really liked it.

Fallen by Lauren Kate, I don't know about this one. Everyone was singing it's praises and so I couldn't wait to read it but I wasn't very impressed. That and Daniel didn't capture my attention like another certain fallen angel... *cough*Archer*cough*

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison, I bought this because I thought it was going to have a nice cute ending. Yeah didn't happen. I cried long and hard (In a good way), it was amazing!

Unclaimed Heart by Kim Wilkins, I really love old English writing and stuff stationed back in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries so this was a great read.

Ex-Mas by Kate Brian, I picked it up because I loved Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys and this one was just as cute, even though the main character was kind of obnoxious.

Far From You by Lisa Schroeder, I got this because I loved I Heart You, You Haunt Me that and I just like her style. I didn't think I'd cry, again I was wrong but I just loved the way it flowed and the character growth. If you haven't read it, you should.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I LOVED this book, I'd meant to read it awhile ago and never picked it up. So when the movie came out and it looked really good I told myself I wouldn't see the movie until I'd read the book. So I read the book, and LOVED it. Then, less than 72 hours later, I saw the movie. Not as good as the book (movies never are) but a good adaptation none the less. And I liked that they aged Percy, because he as a 16 year old is very cute and I like Logan Lerman, a lot.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, this book lived up to all the hype around it. I loved it so much. It was just *sigh* I wish my romance life was like that. Well without the whole debilitating diseases and such, but you know what I mean.

So yeah, I read a lot, was without internet (oh so painful) missed my kittens, and then when I got back returned to school. I did hear back from that writers program I applied for, thank you so much for your help by the way everyone who participated in the critique of my piece because it really was at the top of it's game when I went through and edited it after all your help and I was proud of it when I sent it out. So despite the fact that I didn't get in I'm very content in the knowledge that I did the best I could have. Besides rejections are part of the business. They only make me stronger.

How has everyone been? I've missed blogging and trust me, March will be full of most consistent posting. Promise.

And Pause

I'm going to be without Internet for about a week and a half. And I have no idea how I'm going to make it. But once that week and a half is over I will be back to my regular blogging schedule, at least once a week, and will be able to keep a closer tabs on all the people I stalk, uh I mean follow. Because honestly you guys always manage to make me smile even on the worst of days.

This is brief because it's late and I'm supposed to be in bed, though I'm praying for a snow day tomorrow. Here's the deal, I have not finished my novel but I haven't given up and am still chomping at the bit to get it finished, but like you all said these things take time. I'm almost done betaing Surviving Reject High and that is all I plan on doing tomorrow pounding out my last little comments on it before I loose Internet completely so I can get it back to Jade. I would have it finished but all the testing I've had to do in the past two months has left me unable to finish it, two or three hours of sleep can only get you so far before it starts affecting performance *sigh*.

I will also be basking in the sun by a pool in less than four days and will be indulging myself in my newly purchased novels, Percy Jackson and The Olympians (1), The Secret Year, Sharing Sam, Something Missing, and about fifteen others I can't wait to sink my teeth into. (Not literally because I can't bring myself to break the binding of a book let alone desecrate it with my teeth.) So yep. I'm a year older by the way, 17 and still feeling like I should be 8. I've picked a college I want to go to(it is a reach school but that's what determination is for right? And at least I've picked one), decided I'm taking four English classes next year including an independent study for creative writing (I'm calling it CW^2) because my school cut their regular program, and should hear back from that extra curricular creative writing program I applied to back in the fall during the first week of March. *Phew* That's a lot. But that's it for now, I'll be back here in about well two weeks. I'm going to miss you guys. *tear*.

So here, is yet another pause.

Goal Fail

So I was supposed to have He’s With Me done by yesterday. I failed, miserably. Midterms did get in the way, even though I professed they wouldn’t, then my characters decided to be jerks (yes I blame Kali, she’s so stubborn), and I asked myself a question that I should have asked way back in what 2008 when Kali walked into my head. Why would Darren continue to pursue her after she’d been a jerk to him? And why would she even consider forming a bond (of any sort) with him? See just a few kinks (a.k.a. big plot holes) that need fixing. Oh joy! You can already tell that this is going to be on my mind for the next few days. I see a few loud lunch periods in my future, brace yourself Kathryn.

I am going to own this, it is going to be finished.

I had seriously contemplated working through the night last night and into the early hours of this morning working on this novel, even though I knew it wouldn’t be finished. Yeah I decided sleep was important, especially because maybe dream me will have an answer to my plot problems.(She didn't *sigh*). Also all nighters are a pain in the ass to deal with, because you feel drowsy for days afterwards, not worth it unless you actually finish whatever you were working on.

Now I’ve reset the goal for by Valentines Day. I have nothing better to do that day anyways so why the heck not? So this will get done. On the upside despite my goal fail, (by the way do you guys have any self punishment ideas, obviously nothing you know too torturous but I did let myself down and need to do something to avenge my unfinished novel) I did successfully complete an outline, mostly that is. Of course there were a few blank note cards in the mix for TBIS (to be inspired scenes) but nothing too drastic, until I had to face the Kali/Darren predicament (that I’d stuck into the bowels of denial in my subconscious). So yep. I’m not seventeen yet, just a few more days and then well I’m so looking forwards to the chocolate and books and a surprise gift from my friend Sashi and it’s killing me that I don’t know what it is.

Also it may be a few days or a week or two before I get back up on the blogsphere which really upsets me. But my absence is because 1) school is such a pain and 2) I’ve got a lot of stuff that needs to get done around here this month. Sadly I am unable to participate in the fight fest going on today, even though I really want to. Like really really want to. But I don’t have any good fight scenes written, and was much to tired to pound one out last night, but you should stop by and check out all the blogs who are participating because I bet it’s going to be kick ass (pun intended). So have a great week and hopefully (fingers crossed) next time I get on here and blog I’ll be a year older, and have my second novel finished.