I’m Going to Brandcation in Pensacola

Posted by nicóle on Apr 30, 2012 in Blogs, Social Networking & Media | 11 comments

This weekend I’ll be on a Brandcation in Pensacola, Florida with 30 + super, amazing, fantastic bloggers and a slew of brands where we’ll discuss blogging and learn about the products and services these brands have to offer. All while having a little mini-break (from the blogosphere & our real lives) to really connect with each other on a personal level all while having fun! I’ll be staying at the drool worthy Portofino Island Resort, right in view of the beautiful white sand beaches.

Activities on our itinerary include a Blogger Olympics (there’s been mention of a hoola-hoop contest, I’m wondering if I should just bring my fancy one?), a murder mystery who-done it, in our condo one night, zip lining, tubing on a lovely crystal clear river courtesy of Adventures Unlimited and a little boat ride where if we’re lucky we’ll get to see some dolphins.

I’m totally stoked. It’s going to be a long and exhausting weekend but sure to be a blast!

The entire trip is hosted by Brandfluential 

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10 Little Things [All About Me Sunday]

Posted by nicóle on Apr 29, 2012 in meme | 23 comments

I’m happiest when… I’m curled up on the couch with my honey watching a movie, reading, writing, snuggling with my little guys.

The best place to be in the summer… At the beach underneath an umbrella with a cold drink in your hand and your toes in the sand.

I could spend the whole day…  Thrifting, reading, writing, watching old movies.

I always wanted to be… a Mom. Awesome. Check. Check. It wasn’t until later, I realized that writing was something I always did, loved to do and should pursue professionally.

Favorite thing about my house… well MY house doesn’t exist. Not yet anyway. The thing I love about my in-laws house… I guess my bedroom. It’s the only space that feels like “me”.  Sigh.

For inspiration I… pin, listen to music, read, talk to my kids, check out blogs, stand on my head (j.k. -but it’s not a bad idea).

It’s worth the splurge… my Mac Book Pro (thank you honey), DSLR camera, iPhone 4, ASICS running sneakers.

Words I live by… “If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.” 

Day I’d love to live again… my husband coming home for R&R at Christmas.

Brings out the best in me… my husband. my kids. being creative.

Tag! You’re it!

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May Photo A Day Challenge #PHOTOADAYMAY

Posted by nicóle on Apr 28, 2012 in Photographs | 6 comments

FatMumSlim has done it again! She’s developed a cool photo a day challenge this month. Can’t wait to get snapping!

You can follow my camera happy self here:

Instagram: @WriteSpell
Twitter: @WriteSpell
Flickr: photostream 

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Expedition to Congo Anyone?

Posted by nicóle on Apr 27, 2012 in Blogs, Social Networking & Media, Personal | 16 comments

I have an awesome kid brother -okay, I probably should stop calling him my kid brother since he’s 27 years old, but he is pretty cool none the less.

My brother Joe besides being absolutely good looking, is extremely smart, and has a big heart (he’s also single). He graduated from college, with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. He’s a computer programer by trade, but sitting behind a desk all the time makes him crave adventure.

He wants to see the world and he’d like to do something good while doing it.

He’s done a bit of traveling, he’s hiked the Inca Trail, and scuba dived in ‘The Blue Hole’ in Belize. He’s currently learning how to rock climb, which can prove difficult  in Florida where…well, the world is flat.

This desire for adventure, while doing something noble, and worthwhile has led him to set his sights on Africa and the Congo. He along with a small group of other do-good-aventure-y types are trying to raise funds for a documentary they hope will be picked up by The Discovery Channel. This film will document their search for as yet undiscovered wild life like dog sized tarantulas (my heart stops a little every time I think of that) and -this boggles my mind, a real, living, and breathing (river dwelling) dinosaur!

“I’ll be launching one of the first expeditions in this century with the goal of categorizing plant and animal species in the vastly unexplored Republic of the Congo.” said, Stephen McCullah who is spearheading this adventure. The Congo is an area in Africa larger than the state of Florida of which 80% is unexplored nature.

For more information on this Documentary Expedition to the Congo, and to help support this cause please visit:

 The Newmac Expedition Kickstarter page this is where you can go to donate funds.

@NewmacCongo The Newmac Expedition on Twitter

The Newmac Expedition Facebook page

To learn a little more about my brother Joe follow him on Twitter @ManVsCode or check out his website www.joemarrero.com

love & adventure,

nicōle

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Darn Floor…

Posted by nicóle on Apr 26, 2012 in typography | 20 comments

source (http://girlfromparis.tumblr.com/ via pinterest)

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Baby Bump (Longing)

Posted by nicóle on Apr 25, 2012 in Internet & Technology, kids & parenting | 19 comments

My little sister is expecting her second child, a little girl (squee), and we are so thrilled! She’s going to be coming down to Miami next month for vacation, and I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to throw her a baby shower.

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Spectral by Shannon Duffy [Book Review]

Posted by nicóle on Apr 24, 2012 in Books | 11 comments

Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian . . . and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.

As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.

Novel: Spectral by Shannon Duffy

Published: Published April 10th 2012 by Tribute Books

Stand Alone or Series: Not sure.

How I Got it: I received a copy in e-book format from the publisher.

Where can you get it? This book is available in all e-book formats. Get it at Amazon it’s $2.99!

What made me want to read it: I have to admit, when I first received the pitch to review this book I was shocked. Shocked because the premiss is very similar to the book I’m writing down to names, birthmarks, being lied too…etc. I knew immediately I wanted to read this novel because I figured Shannon Duffy had to be a brilliant and totally cool writer, I’d want to get to know. I was right, and you’ll want to get to know Shannon Duffy’s work too! This book was phenomenal (and nothing really like the one I’m writing *wipes brow*)!

What I thought…

Jewel is no slacker! I immediately liked her and wanted to get to know her more. Once she discovered the life long ruse her family kept, her world does go and get all topsy turvy, but Jewel managed to keep herself level headed and come out on top!

Jewel has probably gone to a zillion different schools (growing up in Witness Protection could do that to a girl), and when she found herself at yet another new high school she wasn’t expecting to be there for very long, or make any lasting friendships. She not only manages to make a good friend, but she also has two hot guys to give her butterflies. The love triangle is put to rest early on when Jewel realized which boy is the one for her but not before a little rescuing is done by both boys. Ultimately Jewel rescues herself and becomes the kick ass witch she was meant to become.

Shannon Duffy wrote a thrilling story jam packed with intrigued and a few plot twists that will keep you up reading well into to the night. When I got to the end of my e-book I kept trying to turn the page, hoping there was some magic in my iPad that would make the story continue!

 

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The Name of The Star by Maureen Johnson [Book Review]

Posted by nicóle on Apr 23, 2012 in Uncategorized | 9 comments

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

____

Novel: The Name of the Star Shades of London, Book One – By Maureen Johnson.

Published: September 29, 2011

Stand Alone or Series: Series – This is the first book in the ‘Shades of London’ series.

How I Got it: I bought it.

What made me want to read it: I’ve been wanting to read Maureen Johnson for the longest time. When I read Cassandra Clare‘s praise, “A gorgeously written, chilling, atmospheric thriller. The streets of London have never been so sinister or so romantic.” - I decided I’d start here, instead of with an earlier work.

What I thought…

The Name of the Star has a great MC (main character) in the form of Rory Deveaux. I liked her immediately. She’s an American teenager from Louisiana who moves to London to go to boarding school for her senior year of high school. Everything would have been hunky-dory except her arrival happens to coincide with some gruesome murders that have quite a bit of similarities to the famous (and never apprehended) Jack the Ripper! “Rippermania” ensues as it only could in modern times complete with t-shirts, round the clock news, and the web.  Unfortunately for Rory she finds herself right in the middle of it all and no, she’s not going crazy (but the stories about her family and home town sure are!) Lucky for her she befriends some cool London police officers who aren’t exactly your typical “bobbies”!

The Name of the Star is a cool paranormal-esque book that will bring two worlds together to solve this murder mystery. There is a bit of romance but it’s not the main focus which is very refreshing in a YA novel.

This is the first Maureen Johnson novel I’ve read and I can’t wait to perch my nose in the middle of her other works. It was very well written and her characters are so believable and the pace is just perfect. I’ll definitely read the sequel.

You can read a bit of The Name of The Star on Maureen Johnson’s website.

If you’d like to see some other photos I took of this gorgeous book -Check out my flickr set Books and Writers and things

love & books,

nicōle

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abc’s of me (a meme) [All About Me Sunday]

Posted by nicóle on Apr 21, 2012 in meme, Random | 18 comments

So I just decided (like right now) every Sunday I’m going to go a little random and share some thing about myself. I realize it’s still Saturday, but I’m getting a head start!

Here I am, ready for a night of writing. I was waiting for my coffee to cool, and I decided to goof around in Photobooth. If you’re wondering why I’m wearing the scarf…my son Michael suggested I do, “cause I’m so fancy!”

Here’s a little meme that’s been floating around the blogosphere for a bit. Since I’ve got some time (who am I kidding, my coffee is the perfect temp-I’m procrastinating.)

The “abc’s” of Me

Age: 33. Oldest of 4.

Bedsize: Queen…and it feels very big some nights when I wake up in the middle of the night to tell my husband something, and realize he’s at work on the other side of the world…

Chores that you hate: Hanging the wash out on the line to dry. My in-laws don’t own a dryer.

Dogs: I don’t own one at the moment, but I long to own a Maltese again, and my boys won’t stop buggin’ for one.

Essential start to your day: Coffee either espresso or a Vanilla Latte from Starbucks is lovely. If not, then I like a glass of fresh green juice.

Favorite color: I love grey and pink.

Gold or Silver: Depends, right now it’s silver.

Height: Average 5’4″.

Instruments you play: my iPod. I can’t remember much of my very few piano lessons. I’d love to take piano again, or learn the violin. I can’t tell you how happy it made me when my son expressed a desire to learn to play the violin. I never imagined finding an instructor here in Miami would prove so difficult.

Job title: Mom. I write things too.

Kids: Two wonderful and amazing little men, Michael & Evan.

Live: “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” Herm Albright

Mother’s Name: MaryEllen.

Nicknames: The obvious: Nicky (I spell it like a boy, cause that’s how my mom told me it was spelled when I was four.). Others in order of preference: Freckles, Red (Riding Hood), Snow White, Nicoleyoleyoley. Nickel.

Overnight hospital stays: My two boys, and when I had gastric bypass surgery.

Pet peeves: I hate it when people “tap” me, or poke me or anything like that. Tap, tap, tap, poke, poke, poke…GRRRR.

Quote from a movie or tv show: “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Albus Dumbledore

Right or Lefty: Right handed, but I’ve got two left feet!

Siblings: 3 – A sister Danielle, a brother Joe, and another sister Liz.

Time you wake up: Assuming I actually go to sleep, 6 a.m.

Underwear: Yes thank you.

Vegetable you hate: Ummmm, I don’t really have one.  I love my veggies.

What makes you run late: A book I can’t pull myself away from. Procrastination. Pinterest, Facebook. My kids.

X-Rays You’ve Had: The one that stands out the most…getting my elbow X-rayed when I fractured it. OUCH!

Yummy food you make: I rock at making soups. I can make a mean smoothie too.

Zoo Animal: I love the elephants.

love & abc’s,

nicóle

p.s. If the desire to copy this meme and answer these alphabetically inspired questions sounds like something you want to do, please  leave a comment with the link to your post, so I can go read a little abc’s about you!

photo: Taken on my MacBook Pro using Photobooth. Edited in Photo Effects Studio Pro.

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