Summer's Bucket Goodbyes

Summer 2016 has officially ended. Which means my bucket-listing has too.
This summer was a bustle of activity and editing. So many things happened from June to September that it's hard to nail down what my favorite things were! But I'll give you a few highlights.
Click here to check out my full Bucket List.
3. Make a Onigiri. This one was a lot of fun because of the company and because it was a new experience! My sister and I always have a good time, no matter what we're doing. And cooking is no exception. In the moment, the onigiri tasted delicious (which I said in the YouTube video). But looking back, I don't think I could eat another one. I think I'll just salivate over them in anime instead.

11. Pick cherries at Cherry Hill Orchards Outlet. I loved this activity because it was something my family got to do together--all six of us. With our hectic schedules, it was hard for us to spend time together this summer. Not only were we trapped together for an hour or so, but we also got a sweet reward while we were at it! The mold on the cherry trees (do to a damp and cold spring) made hunting for fruit difficult, but luckily my sister, Becky, has eagle-eyes up to the task.
16. Watch an outdoor movie. Not only did I get to watch one of my favorite black and white movies on a big screen, but I got to watch it with friends! Said friends put up with me as I crammed quite a few bucket-listing events into the evening, but I think we had fun--or I did, at least. It was a great girls' night (as my dad dubbed it) and will definitely be repeated next summer. With hopefully even more attendees!
There were three items on my Bucket List that I missed, but don't worry! Just because they weren't done doesn't mean they'll never happen. I'll just carry them over to next year.
Look out, Summer 2017. I plan to make it even more epic. Adventure, here I come!
But until then slippers, fuzzy socks, and hot chocolate are calling my name. Happy Fall!

Thinking Beachy

We've got a brief swell of warm weather out here on the East Coast. 
(By warm, I'm talking very low 70's)
The coat-less weather has my mind wandering away from fuzzy sweaters and boots to skirts and flip flops. In just a few short months, summer will be here in all it's warm, humid, buggy glory. I don't know about you, but I plan for Summer 2016 to be even more adventurous.

Literally. I'm planning.
Remember my Summer 2015 Bucket List?  Well, I'm making another one. Almost finished, in fact. And, let me just tell you, this one is even bigger and more "out there" than the last.
Why am I telling you guys this in early March (regardless of the warm weather), when summer doesn't start until June?
I WANT YOU TO HAVE TIME TO PREPARE A LIST OF YOUR OWN!
Sure, it's fun to be spontaneous. But "spontaniety" in the summer usually equates laying around the house with a book and junk food. 
But maybe that's just me...
Join the fun! Work on a Summer 2016 Bucket List of your own! Mine goes live on the blog June 1st.
Less than three months to go.
I.
Can't.
Wait!

Lessons in the Outdoors

Summer Bucket List item number two officially gets a line through it!

On July 2nd, I pitched my tent, grabbed the junk food, picked up the scary library books, and wrangled my sisters. Then we camped out.

We did the whole shebang: hot dogs roasted over a fire (then marshmallows!), scary stories, even the midnight trip to the bathroom.

Throughout the whole process I relearned a very important lesson: I hate camping.

It's not that I don't love the outdoors or being huddled in a tent while crickets chirp outside and lightning bugs dance. Those things were major pluses of the evening. More like I dislike being cold and having my sleeping bag stolen by an over-snuggly miniature poodle. I also happen to scare easily. So maybe those scary library books weren't in the best taste.

Still. The first item on my bucket list is finished! Since this is the first "adventure" accomplished this summer, I decided to dedicate a blog post to it. Make sure you periodically visit my Summer Bucket List page to keep up with the others!

Summer 2015 is going to be amazing, guys. I can just feel it.

They've Taken Over--Send Help

Say it with me, readers:

"Characters in books are not real people. They are imaginary products of a writer's imagination."

Okay, maybe say it even simpler:

"Book characters don't exist in real life."

But, guys? They kind of do. Not all of them, but definitely bits and pieces. I realized this Saturday when I was hanging around the pool with my sisters (super hot on the east coast this spring, say whaaat?!). To illustrate, I'll give you a few lines from my currently queried book THESE WICKED WATERS.

"Positive things about short hair: saves time in the shower. Negative: hair cut to the jaw line doesn’t fit into a ponytail."

"I yanked on my ugly florescent life jacket. Underneath I wore a cute tankini with pineapples on it."

"As I entered Mayfield Villa, I wondered if Mom considered the fact that I didn’t know how to swim, before she dragged me to her island."

And here's a picture of me from Saturday...

Short, crazy hair? Check!

Pineapple bathing suit? Check!

Can I swim? NOPE! In fact, I had to be saved in the ocean last summer (never going into the waves again), which happened to kickstart my idea for THESE WICKED WATERS.

So, are book characters all that imaginary? 

I don't know. You tell me.