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The Book Quiz

I found this quiz and couldn't resist...

Take the BOOK TEST here!

Here's my results. (Only partially true, I think)

You tend to have your head in the clouds. You love to be drawn in to a whole other world.
You are a sensitive person. You find it easy to be emotionally effected by books.
You are a person with a few deep interests. If you're drawn to something, you learn everything about it.
You are a person who loves to acquire possessions. You can't resist a sale, and you own a lot of things.

What'd you get? :)

I'm so glad my toddler isn't a TV show producer...

Little Miss has gotten a little spoiled when it comes to the TV - as in, she always gets to watch "her show", as she puts it. Which means I've adjusted to the idea of watching any of my shows at night after she goes to bed. I realized the other day I need to start working with her on sharing the TV (she's so great about sharing food and toys, but we've yet to fight his battle) and decided to start with Cupcake Wars.

I LOVE that show!! :) A girl from my town actually went on it a few months ago for her shop BUTTERCUPS. (amazing cupcakes)

I figured it would still interest her a little because she loves cupcakes and she loves races, so it'd be fun for her to watch the different teams compete and run around stressed and decorate their cupcakes. I tried to get her to interact, to pick a favorite cupcake, etc. She protested for awhile but finally started watching it with me.

Then I ended up having to explain what was going on, which wasn't easy. lol One team was upset because they ran out of time, and didn't get all their cupcakes decorated. She kept asking why they were upset. I finally just said "It's a contest, they want to win."

Little Miss nodded understandingly, eyes full of woe and voice full of compassion. "But they didn't. So now they die."

HAHAHA. Not quite as serious as all that!

Note to the masses- never go on a reality show produced by Little Miss. Or enter a contest she's judging... ;)

The Alarmists by Don Hoesel

This novel is an exciting from page one to the end. How can it not be intriguing by the title alone??? ::wink::



Take the blurb, for instance...


The 2012 phenomenon that's going viral around the globe has led sociology professor Jameson Richards to study the impact on society when, like the Y2K scare, 12/21/12 comes and goes with hardly a wrinkle. This is the date that, according to the Mayan calendar, the doomsayers predict the world will end. Richards teams up with General Michaels, a scientist stationed at the Pentagon whose job it is to monitor the world's fanatics, keeping an eye out for potential terrorists.

Together they uncover something sinister going on beneath the surface, linked to billionaire and media mogul Jeremy Maxwell, who also happens to be a huge manufacturer of weapons systems. The 2012 date has captured Maxwell's attention too, and he's looking to cash in on the public's fear and paranoia. And what he instigates--along with his corrupt partners--nearly starts another war in the Middle East, while also bringing the world to its knees economically. It's up to the professor/general team to blow the whistle on Maxwell, hopefully in time to avert a major catastrophe.

Sounds good, huh? I think even my hubby wants to read this one, and well. Let's just say he hasn't even read all of MY books yet ;)

I think this novel is timely as so many people in today's culture seem to be searching for a new reason to panic. Whether it's Y2K (and how exciting did THAT turn out to be? ha) or Camping shouting it's the end of the world, or this upset over the Mayan calendar, etc., its always something. Maybe if we had more satisfying novels about these events people wouldn't try to force them into real life!

(though I digress, because the second coming of Christ IS actually coming, but probably not when Camping says. Nevertheless that IS a real event, whereas the rest is hype and panic. But you know what? If you trust in Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him, this is good news and not reason to panic)

Anyway - read this exciting novel! And buy your copy HERE!

The Fitting Room

The Fitting Room is a great nonfiction read for anyone struggling to discover what it means to put on the character of Christ. Based on Colossians 3:12, that tells us to clothe ourselves in Christian virtues, this nonfiction book by Kelly Minter is warm and humorous and uplifting! I'd also recommend this book for anyone struggling with issues of insecurity and self worth.

This isn't necessarily a book to sit down and read at one time, though, but rather to space out and enjoy over several morning's worth of coffees or between appointments or other free times during your busy day.

About the author:

Kelly Minter is an accomplished author, songwriter and performer. She leads worship across the country, taking part in LifeWay conferences and their annual Women's Forum. Kelly resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

Buy your copy here!

Scribble Chicks

I cloned again! ;)

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A surprise delight...

So a few weeks ago, back in July when I fled my house, high heels kicking, to escape for a few much-needed MOMMY hours, I ended up at Barnes & Noble and decided to treat myself to a book. I chose THE SILENT GOVERNESS by Julie Klassen, having loved her GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE I had recently reviewed.

The only thing about THE SILENT GOVERNESS that was awful is that I finished it much too fast. I couldn't put it down! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - mystery, romance, intrigue, a castle, children, family secrets. It's the perfect regency novel! Now I have to go back and get Klassen's first novel, The Apothecary's Daughter, which is also known to be great. Good job Julie!!

Here's the blurb about SILENT GOVERNESS.

Believing herself guilty of a crime, Olivia Keene flees her home, eventually stumbling upon a grand estate where an elaborate celebration is in progress. But all is not as joyous as it seems.Lord Bradley has just learned a terrible secret, which, if exposed, will change his life forever. When he glimpses a figure on the grounds, he fears a spy or thief has overheard his devastating news. He is stunned to discover the intruder is a scrap of a woman with her throat badly injured. Fearing she will spread his secret, he gives the girl a post and confines her to his estate. As Olivia and Lord Bradley's secrets catch up with them, will their hidden pasts ruin their hope of finding love?

PS - I get soooo many books free from publishers or authors to review/influence, that its rare I just buy a book off the shelf anymore on a whim. But I did, and it was SO worth it! This review was therefore completely under my own influence, not requested by anyone, and until I go facebook Julie in a minute, she has no idea I even wrote this. I feel sort of sneaky and giddy. hehehehe

Buy your copy HERE!

Another good historical read by Kim Sawyer!

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet historical romance by Kim Vogel Sawyer! I always like Kim's books but this one contained a little bit of everything to make a perfect, lazy summer read. Romance, a strong female lead (who doesn't love a teacher bound and determined to teach children despite opposition from the town's board??) family drama, sibling issues, etc.

I have to admit one of my favorite characters was the owner of the boarding house where Miss Amsel stayed - such a wise, sweet woman (who made me hungry by all the cooking she did in the book!) I also thought the hero's nephews were great side characters.

Well done Kim!

Here's the blurb:

Edythe Amsel is delighted with her first teaching assignment: a one-room schoolhouse in Walnut Hill, Nebraska. Independent, headstrong, and a strong believer in a well-rounded education, Edythe is ready to open the world to the students in this tiny community. But is Walnut Hill ready for her? Joel Townsend is thrilled to learn the town council hired a female teacher to replace the ruthless man who terrorized his nephews for the past two years. Having raised the boys on his own since their parents' untimely deaths, Joel believes they will benefit from a woman's influence.

But he sure didn't bargain on a woman like Miss Amsel. Within the first week, she has the entire town up in arms over her outlandish teaching methods, which include collecting leaves, catching bugs, making snow angels, and stringing ropes in strange patterns all over the schoolyard. Joel can't help but notice that she's also mighty pretty with her rosy lips, fashionable clothes, and fancy way of speaking. When Edythe decides to take her pupils to hear Miss Susan Anthony speak on the women's suffrage amendment, the town's outcry reaches new heights. Even Joel isn't sure he can support her newfangled ideas any longer. And if he can't trust her to know how to teach the boys, how can he trust her with his heart?


I received a free copy of this book via Bethany House Publishers for review but was under no pressure to make it positive. I just truly liked the book! :)

Maybe we should have been more specific...

So guess what? Yesterday...it RAINED! Yes! Thanks for all who prayed. I know I did, and wow, what a blessing.

But maybe we should have prayed more specifically ;)

The rain came in the form of a sudden and intense storm, naturally the moment I made Little Miss go lay down for her nap. She's terrified of thunder, and was literally sobbing under her covers. So I let her lay on the floor in my office in a sleeping bag and rest while I tried to pay bills and work on a synopsis.

Genius plan, until the front door blew WIDE OPEN from the storm and wind. I go running through the house, heart in my throat, only hearing rainwater like a waterfall and thinking the roof had collapsed somewhere. Thankfully it was just the door, and rain and leaves were blowing in like crazy. This time I DEADBOLTED the door, and we were good. I get Little Miss settled back down and get back to my bills and...lights blink. Computers shut down. Grrrr. I restart, wait the indefinite period of time for it all to load, then get back to it. Programs pull up and...lights blink. Rinse and repeat.

I finally shut down all the computers and told Little Miss we could watch a DVD in my bed. She was ecstatic. So ecstatic, that neither of us napped at all and by the storm died down, it was time to get up. The lights hadn't blinked in an hour or more, so we decided to surprise Daddy with lemon bars (a box mix he brought home from the grocery store one day that he wanted us to make). It was almost dinner time too, so Little Miss helps me mix up everything, and we put the lemon bars and dinner (a chicken pepperoni pasta) in the oven. Shut the oven door, and...

Lights go out.

Not kidding.

This wasn't a blink.

They were out for 4 hours.

Hubby came home a few minutes after we shut the oven door, and turned on the generator for us, as Little Miss cried "the cake is going to ruin!!!". Despite the rain it was still about 100 degrees outside, so he kept trying to run the air conditioner, the fridge, the kitchen oven and lights, etc. At the same time.

Well the generator couldn't hang with that, so we ended up giving up and just running the kitchen appliances, after several frustrated tries. By this point I had no idea how long the oven had actually been cooking our food, since it kept blowing fuses and having to restart.

The house got hot pretty quick with no AC and the oven on, and we finally got everything done and sat down to dinner, with nothing on electricity-wise but the TV. We kept up with our neighbors, who had called the power company, who was working on it and knew there was about 25 of us down. Sigh. Lucky few!

Little Miss was confused why she couldn't play computer games, and why it was getting hot, and why she could barely see her dinner, etc. As she kept dramatically explaining "WORST DAY EVER!!!!" hahaha. We could never be Amish. ;)

We were debating going to spend the night at my parents so we didn't sweat all night when we finally heard around 8:30 that there was a pole down and crews had been dispatched to get it and it would be fixed soon. So we camped out in the dark, with the fans on high, watching TV until about 10:30 when sure enough, our neighbor told us they were back on. We shut off the generator and voila. AC! Woohoo!

So yeah. That was our night. So much for Blissful Thursday ;) But hey. The lemon bars were actually yummy, and we got rain - a good bit, at that. So I'm truly not complaining.

Just have the song "Isn't it ironic" stuck in my head ;)

Thursday bliss

Happy Thursday!

I love Thursdays because I don't work my part time job (at least not outside of the house, I typically spend some time on it on my home computer) so I get to stay home all day with Little Miss. We don't usually go anywhere and just spend the day in our PJs, cleaning a little, playing a lot, watching cartoons, and playing/working on our various computers. Yes, she's barely 3, but has taken over the desktop computer (I work on my laptop for my part time jobs and writing) as her own.

And you know what? She's a total whiz at it! She's mastered Disney Jr. games, PBSkids.org games, Scooby Doo games, and other online make-over/princess/puppy salon type games. She knows not only how to play them herself but how to load them/pull them up from the desktop. She knows how to minimize/maximize the screens, how to exit, how to use the spacebar and keys and mouse to play the various games.

It's quite impressive, and I'm counting my blessings because I sit on the floor with my laptop beside her and am able to be productive ;)

I think those games have also taught her so much - hand/eye coordination, counting, numbers and letters, patience when something doesn't work right, etc. To name a few!

I think she's smarter than me already...

What are you donig on this lovely Thursday?

Scribble Chicks!

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Praying for rain...

I think a lot of America is in a drought right now, I know for sure large portions of the South are. In my area of north Louisiana, things are getting dire. We haven't had more than a sad half-hearted drizzle in months. Worse yet, when we do get thunderstorms, they are rainless. So its just noise and lightning and fires without the benefit of the rain. WE NEED RAIN!

There's a lot of spiritual controversy going on, I see it online in articles and on the news and on Facebook, about whether the drought is just a drought or punishment from God on America. I could see it going either way - America isn't at its finest right now, to be certain. I think we should pray for rain and get our hearts right with Jesus regardless of this is consequence or not, because that's the right thing to do anyway. America might have major issues that are outside of one individual's control but you know what IS in your control? YOUR heart. YOUR choices. YOUR actions and attitudes and decisions.

So take a moment today, to get right with our Lord and pray for not only for rain, but for inward cleansing as well. You'll feel refreshed, regardless of if the sky actually opens up. And if it does, hey - thanks :)

If you're not used to praying but are interested in learning more or in what it means to become a Christian and obtain an active relationship with God, message me privately at betsystamant@yahoo.com. I'd be honored to talk to you about that!

Here's my prayer for today. Join me, shall you? Or pray your own - after all, prayer is just talking to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, I and these others with me come to you right now with a repentent heart. I confess my wrongdoings and my bad attitudes, my lack of faith and my lack of acting on Your behalf when given opportunities to do so. I pray for Your forgiveness and I thank You that I have it because of Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for me, and for all who claim it. Thank You for not only what you do, but most importantly, WHO you are! We love you Father! Thank You that we have access to Your heavenly throne via Jesus, who paved the way with drops of righteous blood. We ask now that you cleanse our hearts with purificatoin and cleanse this land You gave us Lord with rain. Please bring Your healing water, literally and metaphorically. Help us to take better care of the Earth You gave us. We ask for Your touch now Father. In the precious name of Jesus, AMEN.

Whew!

Ever have days where you just lean back and say "Whew! Glad that's over!" ??


I am today. Hubby fought in a fundraiser event called BATTLE OF THE BADGES in a neighboring Louisiana city Saturday night (about two hours away). Battle of the Badges is amateur boxing between firemen and cops. It's supposed to be fun but of course its taken seriously too, and winning is indeed a feather in one's cap.

Hubby, who has watched MMA fighting and boxing and all kinds of stuff for the majority of his life, did his first fight as a fireman two years ago here in our town. He lost his first fight (the fights consist of three 2-minute or shorter rounds), then the next year, did it again after training at a gym with professionals, and won...and I'm not bragging but, wow, he WON! Like, the guy didn't have a chance. lol That was last November. This past Saturday he was invited to this eventout of town, and he went, but I couldn't go with because of babysitting complications. (which might have been good, seeing how he was fight #14 and didn't even go on until 10 p.m. and this city is 2 hours away from us!) He went with his cousin, who promised to keep me updated via text message, and wow that was a long night! I was so nervous for him. The first fight he did he had ringing in his ear for months. I didn't want him hurt, for obvious reasons.

Well, Hubby lost the fight, but everyone that saw itwas posting on FB about how he should have had it, so it was apparently very close. I expected Hubby to be a little discouraged about losing, until I heard the details once he came home Sunday. Apparently, the cop he was fighting was almost 20 years older and had THIRTY amateur fights behind him, to my hubby's two. WOW! The cop also tore his bicep fighting Hubby, (Hubby only had black eye) and told him afterward that Hubby made him see stars with some of his punches. :) It was a great match! And this cop even wants Hubby to come down to New Orleans and spar with him sometime. Hubby also got invited back for next year as well as an additional invite to Galveston, TX, next year. He was pumped!

Me? I'm just putting on my support wife smile and thinking I will cross that nerve-laden bridge when we get there! ha! :) Seriously thought, super proud of my man.

"I love candy corn!"

That's what my 3 year old just said from behind me as I opened up my computer. She just polished off three candy corns, from a bag Hubby found on display at Walgreens last week. It's never too early for candy corn, right? Though it is definitely making me crave Fall! (though the 108 degree heat is doing that as well)

Who else is ready for Autumn? Schools are back in session or will be in a few days, so it seems like the weather should be easing up. It's just not yet, but eventually...

Any big Fall plans this year? Kids starting school for the first time? A sport? Are you a teacher with a new class? Are you planning on attending the ACFW conference in September? If anything makes you crave Fall, it's that!! I can't WAIT!!!! I missed last year for financial reasons so this year will be even sweeter.

Sort of like candy corn. But better ;)

Another winner by Stephanie Grace Whitson

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Most Unsuitable Match
Bethany House; Original edition (August 1, 2011)
by
Stephanie Grace Whitson

I loved this book! And how beautiful is the cover? :)

This is another great read by Stephanie Grace Whitson, one I highly recommend for lovers of historical romances (and if you're not an existing fan of historicals, I feel this could be one that would break you into the genre!)

This novel was unique and fresh and yet still very relatable to women today, who have ever wondered about their life's purpose or have ever longed for aventure. Don't miss this one!

Here's the info!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native of southern Illinois, Stephanie Grace Whitson has lived in Nebraska since 1975. She began what she calls "playing with imaginary friends" (writing fiction) when, as a result of teaching her four homeschooled children Nebraska history, she was personally encouraged and challenged by the lives of pioneer women in the West. Since her first book, Walks the Fire, was published in 1995, Stephanie's fiction titles have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times and been finalists for the Christy Award, the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year.

Her first nonfiction work, How to Help a Grieving Friend, was released in 2005. In addition to serving in her local church and keeping up with two married children, two college students, and a high school senior, Stephanie enjoys motorcycle trips with her family and church friends. Her passionate interests in pioneer women's history, antique quilts, and French, Italian, and Hawaiian language and culture provide endless story-telling possibilities.

ABOUT THE BOOK



An unlikely attraction occurs between two passengers on a steamboat journey up the Missouri River to Montana...

She is a self-centered young woman from a privileged family who fears the outdoors and avoids anything rustic. He is a preacher living under a sense of duty and obligation to love the unlovable people in the world. She isn't letting anything deter her from solving a family mystery that surfaced after her mother's death. He is on a mission to reach the rejects of society in the remote wilderness regions of Montana. Miss Fannie Rousseau and Reverend Samuel Beck are opposites in every way... except in how they both keep wondering if their paths will ever cross again.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Most Unsuitable Match, go HERE.

Buy your copy of this great read HERE!!!

Traveling' Gal

Visit me today at two places! That right, I finally cloned myself ;)

http://www.scribblechicks.blogspot.com/

AND

http://girlsgodgoodlife.blogspot.com/

If you could do one thing...

I like to ask this of writers a lot, so forgive me if I've done this before recently, but it's soooo interesting to me - what would you do if you didn't write?

And to put a spin on it today, what would you do (outside of writing) if you could be guaranteed success/pick it up on the first try, etc.?

Would that new factor change your first answer? Or would you still do the same thing?

For me, if I didn't/couldn't write and had extra time for a different hobby, I think I'd take up scrapbooking again - especially since Little Miss gives me such great photo material :) That's a realistic hobby/goal for myself and my lifestyle and opportunities.

However, if I could do anything and be guaranteed success/guaranteed to do it well on the first try, guess what I'd do?

Play the fiddle.

I know that's quite random, but seriously, I LOVE bluegrass music! Anyone heard the band Nickel Creek? LOVE!

Okay, now I'm headed to youtube to look up their old videos...

Booksigning pics!

Booksigning pics! And a few others for fun such as our weekend anniversary date! 7 years :)

The tiny baby in the booksigning pics below is my youngest fan ;) A sweet couple just had him 6 weeks ago and got him a new fireman onesie for the signing! Such a great family. There's also a pic of my good friend holding a book up to her pregnant belly, hehe. Gotta love new fans on the way ;)

My "cousin" Tim! (below) :)



Giveaway basket! (above)

My hubby and his coworker (mine is on the right)

Reading to Little Miss after the signing was almost over. She was so patient for my parents in the kids section all evening :) She got new two new books!

Good friends, good times...

Hehehee

My fireman!

Love this one!

Sweet baby!

My table before it started

Little Miss's good friend and my good friend (her mama!) as well!

Ready to go to Nana's for slumber party, for mommy and daddy's date night :)

Yay! Time for a date! No curfew! hehe

Just one Sunday the other week before church...

Another fantastic read...

Man, this summer has offered a lot of great reads, hasn't it??

This is another one not to miss, whether you're a history buff or not. People who have no clue who Anne Boleyn was will still enjoy the novel, just as much as people who are well acquainted with Anne's memory. A lovely, beautiful historical - you'd never guess it was Sandra Byrd's first!

Byrd does Anne, a woman turned queen, a timely justice, I feel, in this story of love, power, authority, grace, rejection, and God's sovereign will. One word that comes to mind for this story is "honest". I realize historical fiction rides a fine line between fact and fiction, but Byrd handles that line with finesse, inviting the readers into the life of a historical figure everyone should know about.

Here's some info...

Ladies In Waiting - series title

A rich alchemy of fact and fiction, the Ladies in Waiting series chronicles the glittering court lives of three Tudor Queens and the women chosen to be their closest friends and companions. Each book envelopes the reader in sweeping romance, heartwarming and heartbreaking circumstances, and heroines who choose lives worth risking all for.

TO DIE FOR - Book One

Product Description from Amazon -

To Die For, is the story of Meg Wyatt, pledged forever as the best friend to Anne Boleyn since their childhoods on neighboring manors in Kent. When Anne’s star begins to ascend, of course she takes her best friend Meg along for the ride. Life in the court of Henry VIII is thrilling at first, but as Anne’s favor rises and falls, so does Meg’s. And though she’s pledged her loyalty to Anne no matter what the test, Meg just might lose her greatest love—and her own life—because of it.

Meg's childhood flirtation with a boy on a neighboring estate turns to true love early on. When he is called to follow the Lord and be a priest she turns her back on both the man and his God. Slowly, though, both woo her back through the heady times of the English reformation. In the midst of it, Meg finds her place in history, her own calling to the Lord that she must follow, too, with consequences of her own. Each character in the book is tested to figure out what love really means, and what, in this life, is worth dying for.




Though much of Meg’s story is fictionalized, it is drawn from known facts. The Wyatt family and the Boleyn family were neighbors and friends, and perhaps even distant cousins. Meg’s brother, Thomas Wyatt, wooed Anne Boleyn and ultimately came very close to the axe blade for it. Two Wyatt sisters attended Anne at her death, and at her death, she gave one of them her jeweled prayer book—Meg.

What other authors are saying about Byrd's novel....


"Sandra Byrd's first venture into historical fiction is nothing short of brilliant. All the Tudor details are perfectly placed, like gemstones in a royal crown, yet there is far more to this compelling novel... Simply put, To Die For is the best historical novel I've read in many a season, a masterpiece of history and heart." - Liz Curtis Higgs, best-selling author of Here Burns My Candle

Buy this "not for the faint of heart" novel HERE!

Melody Carlson's River's Song

Sometimes when we look back, we are able to see ahead...

Following her mother’s funeral, and on the verge of her own midlife crisis, widow Anna Larson returns to the home of her youth to sort out her parents’ belongings, as well as her own turbulent life. For the first time since childhood, Anna embraces her native heritage, despite the disdain of her vicious mother-in-law. By transforming her old family home on the banks of the Siuslaw River into The Inn at Shining Waters, Anna hopes to create a place of healing—a place where guests experience peace, grace, and new beginnings. Starting with her own family.

This was a beautiful tale of family and love, sacrifice and new beginnings. A perfect end of summer read...

One of my favorite things about Melody Carlson is her versatility. She can capture your heart with a YA novel, a contemporary romance, a comedy, a historical or anything in between. She remains one of my top authors and this a novel not to be missed. :)

You can buy your copy HERE and visit Melody at her website HERE!

Tonight's the night!

So excited! Tonight's the night of my big booksigning at Barnes & Noble! I've never had the store theme the entire night around my book :) But what better theme? FIREMEN!!!

I'll be signing books at 6:30 until probably about 8:15. At 7:00, there will be a kids fireman-book storyhour in the back, and fireman from the city will be demostrating equipment. My fireman husband and his friend from their District station will also be there, available for photo opps with kids and showing off all their bunker gear for anyone interested. Bring your kids and your camera!!

I'll also have a big giveaway basket to giveaway, complete with books, candy, kitchenwares, and a gift card - drawing to be held at 7:30 (MUST be present to win! - too big to mail!)

I can't wait! :) Will post pics of the night next week.

Happy weekend, everyone! And if you haven't gotten your copy of Fireman Dad yet, check your local Walmart or click this link HERE!

And good news, e-readers! Fireman Dad and ALL my backlist of books are also available on Amazon via Kindle :)

Awww

Another lovely review of FIREMAN DAD! :)

Check it out here!

Scribble Chicks

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Accountability - sometimes a 4 letter word

So I'm posting this publicly so maybe you guys can keep me to it. Here goes. My secret vice (actually not so secret...lol) but one that needs work.

My name is Betsy St. Amant and I'm addicted to Diet Coke.

There. It's out. Officially. ha!

In all seriousness, last week I realized I was drinking too much DC and I thought it might be tying-in to some "blah" health feelings I've had off and on. I thought maybe kicking the asparatame aside would help pep me up again. I've heard stories of others who nixed all artificial sweeteners, and had great results. But this wouldn't easy.

I went almost 48 hours without caffeine or a DC at all. I thought maybe I could substitute one REAL coke a day instead, to not get headaches and be sluggish, and just keep an eye on the calories. Well, that's a joke. One medium Coke at Sonic is over 100 calories and a large Cherry Coke at Sonic is like 340. Ridiculous! I refused to gain back the 7ish lbs I've lost over the past few months to something like that. I didn't need to trade problems.

So now I'm just cutting WAY back on Diet Coke. I was drinking 3-4 a day in various forms, now I'm having one a day for now (to beat the headaches) and drinking a ton of water. A TON. It's actually been a very good thing.

Just pray I can keep it up, and more importantly with my personality, not beat myself up on the rough days where I do have 2. I'm still cutting back and doing better, and if this is to be a life change not just a temporary "diet" of sorts, then I need room for error and I need to take it slow so I don't give up.

Any vices you'd like to share that you struggle with? I can pray for you too! :)

Happy release day to meeee!

Today is the official release of my newest Love Inspired romance novel, FIREMAN DAD.

Check out what people are saying about it! :)

Virginia Garrett - http://wp.me/p16WfZ-jm

Georgiana Daniels - http://georgianad.blogspot.com/search?q=fireman+dad

Sis_Steel - on Barnes & Noble Site: The Perfect Firefighter romance

Firefighters come and go in romance popularity but their work ethic, risky profession, and brotherhood always make them appealing heroes to me. In Fireman Dad, Betsy St. Amant has created a fresh romance spotlighting the world of firemen and those who love them. Her insider knowledge and ability to weave a tale that is current yet timeless make her book one not to be missed. With a workaholic fire chief father and late husband who died in the line of duty, Marissa Hawthorne carries more than her share of baggage when it comes to interacting with firemen. Date one? Not a chance. But then Jacob Greene appears on the scene as her personal hero. He is everything she could want in a man: a gentleman, kind to her son, giving, attractive. But he works in the same profession that killed her husband and stole her father's time with her. Jacob is just as attracted to Marissa but has his own obstacles to developing a relationship with her. But when he decides to leap past those obstacles, watch out! Jacob is one of the most attractive "nice guys" I have met in a romance. How St. Amant brings these two characters together is a lovely combination of longing, love, and lessons in trusting God. A bit of suspense running through the book makes the reader turn the pages a bit faster but it was the courtship of Jacob and Marissa, set against the background of modern day struggles, making me race to the epilogue.

Tonya Lacourse gave FIREMAN DAD 5 carats- http://pinksapphire118.blogspot.com/2011/08/fireman-dad.html?m=0

More reviews here on Amazon! :)
http://www.amazon.com/Fireman-Love-Inspired-Betsy-Amant/dp/0373876882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312223176&sr=8-1

And check out this interview at April Gardner's blog!
http://aprilwgardner.blogspot.com/