Happy Valentines Day!

I can never decide on whether or not I want to say "Happy Valentine's Day" (as in, the day of Saint Valentine) or "Happy Valentines Day" (as in, the day in which being Valentines of one another is celebrated). This year, I've opted with the second choice and in celebration of my SEVENTEENTH YEAR of being Valentine-less (because yes! I was Tyler's Valentine in the fourth grade thankyouverymuch), I invite you to be MY Valentine and in anticipation of your saying yes (because you did... right?!), I'm providing you this link that will take you to that special announcement I promised you on Sommertales (my umpteenth blog).

Please don't hate me. It's Valentine's Day!

Lots of love,
Deserae

Commenting on Comments

Prerna- There definitely is a reason for the hype of this one, my dear, but yes--- with Baby Dearest coming soon, waiting is perfectly fine! That's the joy of a book, though, isn't it? Being able to put it down and pick it up whenever you choose? I hope you've bought it, though, just so when you ARE ready, you won't have to make a trip down to the bookstore and get distracted by all of the pretty new releases that promise action, adventure, and excitement. No, no. Stick with romance. And hope. And excellence. It is Valentines Day, after all. Buy the book in the spirit of love, but read the book when you are ready to feel ALL OF THE THINGS.

Sonal- I'm so glad you liked my review! Honestly, I could have said more and more because I really loved the story. I was surprised by it because it was MY first John Green book as well. But The Fault In Our Stars is... I don't know! It's beautiful, I think. Like I said, I laughed more than I cried. I cried ONCE for real and was teary-eyed through about a quarter of it. But I felt, most of all, HOPE when I was reading it. It made me very grateful for the life I get to live and hopeful that my own Augustus Waters might be within reach, someday. :) I hope you read it one day, Love. And SONAL! I love your profile pic! :] I wish I had glasses that were that attractive. Mine make me look... grandma-ish. Not that I don't like grandmas, of course... 

The Reason for the Season

We interrupt this WriMo for a very special announcement.

It's Christmas! So Merry Christmas everyone!

This Christmas, I got almost everything I wanted.
-Alex Day hit number four on the UK charts as an unsigned artist.
-The entire HP movie collection is now in my clutches. Nostalgia is setting in.
-So many of you commented to wish me a merry Christmas.
-And Mini Z, my soon-to-be-niece, is on the way.

So with all of these wonderful things happening, it's easy to get caught up in the hype of a commercialized Christmas. It's hard, however, to remember why we have a reason to celebrate.

Let me tell you a story. It starts with a journey, as most stories do. Three men set off in search of a child, and their only guiding light is a star over the sleepy town of Bethlehem. Enter Joseph, a young carpenter in Nazareth, and his pregnant wife Mary who is due any day, now. The two are being forced to trek back to Bethlehem in order to be counted for a census ordered by the king.

It's not until the couple gets there that Mary starts having labor pains, and her husband, being the sweetheart that he is, sets her on a donkey and leads her to every inn in town. But each say, "There is no room, here," and sent the couple on their way. Each of them, but one.

"I have a stable," one innkeeper tells them, seeing that the woman is with child and about to burst. They accept his hospitality as they're in need of a place to stay, and soon afterward, Mary gives birth to the Son of God.

From the humblest of beginnings, my Savior was born. And in that lowly stable, Christmas came to be. When the Wise Men reached him months and months later, they saw him and knew that he was the Son of God. And each of them presented him with a gift--- each of them gave him all that they had to pay respect to the newborn King.

So as you celebrate Christmas today, think of the ones you love. I hope you give without thinking and love without wanting. Today is about more than the things we see under the Christmas tree. It's about more than the lights that we string representative of the one that led those men to Christ. As Talia says, it's about love. The love that Jesus and His Father have for me and for you, and about the love that I hope you pass on to others.

Have a very merry Christmas, All.

Love,
Deserae
P.S. Thank you Prerna and Maya! Merry, merry Christmas to you both.

WriMo Day 16

So last night, I wrote another 1,260 words for The Secret Project, and today, I wrote another 1,280 words for  The Secret Project. No words went toward The Girl Book, though, so I can't give any treaties, BUT it is Christmas Eve so my excuse is that I've been running around doing things like last minute shopping.

And OH MY GOSH! Last minute shopping sucks! Why are there so many procrastinators in the world? I'm supposed to be the only one!

But that's another tale completely. All that I have left to say to you guys is Happy Merry Christmas! and do enjoy the holiday as well as five of my favorite Christmas songs.

1. Nat King Cole "The Christmas Song."

2. Donny Hathaway "This Christmas"

3. Eartha Kitt "Santa Baby"

4. George Winston "Carol of the Bells"

5. Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas"

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Deserae <3

Commenting on Comments

Nikki: It's still Christmas Eve here so Merry Christmas Eve to you, too! I'm glad you like Mari and thanks for your love and comment! :) Have a very merry Christmas indeed. 

Eleven, Eleven, Eleven

1. Am I the only person who's noticed that we've been having these blank-blank-blank dates since 2001? They happen at the beginning of every century and my family (okay... little sister) and I have gotten excited about each and every one. But for some reason, the whole freaking world is bugging out about 11-11-11. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood or something. But if you miss your chance to make a wish at 11:11 tonight, don't fret! 12-12-12 is only 1 year, 1 month, and 1 day away, plus an hour and a minute if you plan on making wishes then, too.

2. Blogging has taken a backseat to my hectic schedule (wake up, eat, study, sleep). I plan on getting all the blogs back on track, so please send in contributions to My Ticket Home and My Ticket Elsewhere so that love and inspiration can be spread all across the land.

3. In the meantime, feel free to check out what I've been lollying around with:
-Sonal's blog where inspiration and book recommendations abound.
-Arianna's current project which shows that superheroes are just super human.
-Maya's blog where I go to chat with one of my girlies from the Blah-g.
-Author and agent sites like Daphne Unfeasible's blog, Natalie Whipple's blog, Evil Editor's blog, etc.

4. Hmm... what else has happened? Well, I've been listening to music, as usual. You guys already know of my love for The Civil Wars and The Kings of Convenience, but maybe you don't know that One Night Only has a new song out. Check it out, ya'll. I love George, and you will, too.

5. Oh! NaNoWriMo is nearing its halfway point. I decided to push my WriMo to December, but I've been revising a project I think is coming along nicely. Thanks to Lisi's Blah-g, I've made some writing friends my age and they're a pretty supportive group. Together, we're whipping PW into shape. I hope to be able to share it with all of you one day! But until then, good luck on your own WriMos. Don't let age stop you from pursuing your dreams. Start now because you'll only get better with time. I guarantee it.

6. My Twitter has been sorely neglected, but don't worry; I'm finding more contests for you guys and am making more free time to read the things everyone's buzzing about.

7. Speaking of buzz, I pretty much hate it. Because, in my opinion, half of the books people buzz about aren't all the spectacular folks make them out to be. But I appreciate buzz, too, because word of mouth is how people find out about books and start to read them. So take Sonal's lead and RECOMMEND books! Take Talia's example and show us what you're reading! There are few of us who actually read consistently, so we've got to spread the word. Don't keep quiet about the books you love and dislike, okay?

8. I haven't had ice-cream all week and it's pouring out here in the woods. Due was going to get some ice-cream today. I am sad, Clouds, and it's all your fault.

9. Greek verbs suck. Hebrew vocab sucks even more. But both languages are beautiful and worth learning. I don't know what to do. Definitely can't continue with both next semester, though, because they're killing me softly.

10. Happy Veterans Day. Yeah... that's right... I didn't leave this one until number eleven. I'm laughing at you right now because I knew you'd think I would. Ha! And double ha!

11. My tummy is rumbling which means lunch is upon us. Reread numbers 2, 3, 5, and 7 so you know your homework for this week (i.e. checking out blogs, contributing to blogs, recommending things, etc.). I love you all mucho. Have a blessed week and an awesome three-day weekend.

Love,
Deserae