Back with an Update!!

Hello, everybody, I am back!

      I have been on an eight-month hiatus, maybe nine?  Well, I am back and I have a few things to show all of you.  My idea is to post two times a month, the 1st and 3rd Fridays.  Fridays, a day that completes the week and ties everything up into a nice, big, red bow.
      This Friday (February 5th) I have a Flash Fiction that will be posted.  I signed up for the challenge a week ago on Rachelle's blog over at The Ink Loft.  This is my first time doing a challenge like this, and I was super worried.  But, I think you will like it.  I will explain more about what a flash fiction is when Friday comes.  I did it with a lot of people and I hope you will have time to go check out their blogs.
      So, here's a little update that most of you have no clue about.  I dropped the story I was writing back in 2014.  Yes, The King's Daughter is lost in the forest for good.  I may pick it up in the future, but I highly doubt it.  My current project is a tale that I created last June, I then used that story in both the July Camp NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo in November.  Presently, I am at around 80k words, which is an amazing accomplishment in my book.  Especially since I couldn't even get my other stories above 30k.  You can find info of my daring tale on my "Writing Updates" page...which I need to fix, so until then...don't look at it.
*smiles warmly*
      I just recently went back to my previous blog, one that I shared with my cousin (To be honest, it was pretty nostalgic) and I noticed how cringe-worthy my blog formatting was compared to what I had 2 years ago.  And thus, a very determined Anna materialized, a side of me that I don't see too often.  I fixed up my template and background, as you can see, and I changed a bit of my formatting.  I created a banner, a better "About me" gadget,  and played with a whole bunch of different fonts.  I want to note that I took the picture in my banner, it's from my family's recent vacation to California in September.  The image is of a very beautiful Grand Canyon sunset.
      That is all for now, please leave feedback on what you would like to see on my blog or even if you find somethings that should be changed.  Let me know if the font size or style is hard to read, or if there is something I say a little too often.  I would really like to know if there is something wrong so that I can change it as quickly as possible.
o/  Thanks for visiting my blog, Ciao!

How Did I Discover Ilyon Chronicles? + Day 16 Photo Challenge

My favorite author Jaye L. Knight, has been busy with hosting a large event for her book's 1 year anniversary.  For the whole month of May she is having contests, character Q+A's, etc.  And she is having her followers write about how they found her newest series, The Ilyon Chronicles.   Now, today is my turn.

---------------------------------------------

I heard about Jaye, or Molly, when she first published her pirate series.  I know, that was a long time ago, but, I didn't actually start reading her books until the spring of 2013.  That's when I read her Makilien trilogy along with the pirate books.  Of course, I became a big fan and followed her every movements (just kidding, I never did such a thing) I was excited about her next series, The Ilyon Chronicles.  Katie, my cousin and previous blogger buddy over at Cousin's in Christ (don't look for it, its kind of disbanded…)  She was able to be a beta-reader for Jaye.  I was a little jealous at the time but I was a good girl and waited patiently for the book to be published.  Then, the time came and I was able to read the long awaited book in my very own hands.  Since then, Katie and I have read it twice out loud to each other while fishing on the dock at our cabin… Oh good times (to be honest, we never actually got through the whole thing)  After this time, I've also read the second book of the series, The King's Scrolls, and I'm excited for the upcoming novella, Half-Blood, and the third book, Samara's peril.

---------------------------------------------

So, I thought this fit perfectly into this post.  Today's topic for The Idea Room's photo-a-day challenge is top.  Or cover… So, I picked a picture that was taken by one of my friends last summer.  Katie, my other friend, and I all had a photo shoot.  One of our pictures (mine and Katie's) was of us and our Resistance books.  Top.  Cover.  The "top" of the book?  Close enough, I thought this picture was cute anyway.  (Note: We're wearing matching clothes)

Thank you for checking out m blog, I also want to apologize for the lack of pictures for the Photo-a-day challenge. I'm currently finishing up my school with all the finals, unit tests and whatnot… you know that kind of stuff is big this time of year.  My plans are to get all the days for the challenge done by June 1.  *Crosses my fingers* Hopefully I will do well with this plan.

          -Anna Jolene <3

Photo-a-day Challenge Day 3-4

               So…
               I didn't think I'd be doing this so soon, but it looks as if I will need to put two days in one.
               Well, I'll do a quick overview to start this post.  First off, I made a mistake in my first post and said that my mom was doing this challenge with me… I was wrong, I had it in my head that she was going to continue the challenge since she did the April version.  Even if she isn't doing the challenge, I would still like you to visit her blog and see her work.
               Now, lately I started a photography challenge made by The Idea Room.  For the whole month of May she set out a list of topics you need to take pictures of.  The first day's was shiny, the second was action shot, and yesterday's was unorganized.  I, sadly, have multiple things in my room that are very unorganized, my closet, my desk, and my bookshelf.  Of course I had to pick something, so I went with my jewelry plate.

               I most of my jewelry on here, as you can see, there are bracelets, earrings, necklaces and even a couple rings… even though I never wear rings.
               Today's topic is a dream, which I had to think long and hard on.  But, in the end i just took a picture of the sky because it's my dream to fly to somewhere out of the country…

               -Anna Jolene <3

Photo-a-day Challenge Day 2

My second picture for the Idea Room's May Photo-a-day Challenge was a no brainer.  My brother had baseball opening ceremonies and a game today.  The second topic is action shot, yeah, I know right? Perfect topic for today's activities.

 
               I thought this shot was really cool, because… you can see the baseball flying through the air.  Sadly, I didn't get a good shot of him actually swinging.  But, I enjoyed getting to see my brother doing his best at bat.  Oh, yeah, and my dad is the guy down by 1st base.

               -Anna Jolene <3

May Photo-a-day challenge 2015

               Yes,  I am going to do the picture challenge from the Idea Room just like I did back in December.  Except! This time I'm doing it along with my mom, who is going to post her pictures on her blog, Kat and Kaboodle.

Today's May 1st, which means that I will be starting this challenge today.  The first topic is shiny, I had to take a minute and think about the things around me that were "shiny enough" to make it onto my blog.

 
               For my birthday, my parents bought me headphones, the over-the-head kind.  For a while I have been using earbuds and I wanted something a little bit more comfortable on my ears.  (You can find the headphones online HERE, even though I know you don't need them)  So, for my first picture,  I used my headphones since they have a shiny area on them.
               I am planning on posting each day's picture and topic… but if I miss one, I will include that day's picture along with the day after.
               I hope you all enjoy my posts from now on, and I will bring you my creations to the best of my abilities.

                   -Anna Jolene <3

Big Birthday Update?!

          So, It has been many, many, many months since I have said anything on here.  I also left it off kind of abruptly...

          Well, I'm here to say that I've been having some trouble in school lately and that's why I haven't been able to post anything.  At least I'm back now and I will be back for sure this summer!!!

          This coming summer, I am planning on posting a lot of photography, writing and maybe something a little extra...  We'll see!

          According to the image up above you may be asking:  Is it Anna's birthday?  Yes! Indeed it is, I was born on Earth day, April 22nd.  I find it cool that I was born on Earth day, it's something that only people who's birthday is on the 22nd can say.  B-Earth-day ;)
          My plan for the upcoming months:

•  For the WHOLE month of May, I will be doing a photo-a-day challenge like I did back in December... but this time I will actually complete it.
• After that, I am planning on posting a fun picture every other week once May is done.
• On the off weeks, when I'm not posting pictures.  I am still deciding if I should post story snippets like I used to OR some other kind of writing post.
• I am also planning on doing a lot of reading this summer.  Hopefully.  I have some "school" type subjects I have to finish before the fall.

          I will also note, I do not know what day I will post... Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.  No idea...  I will figure it out when I get there, SO BE PATIENT!!!

          And... If you havent noticed, I'm giving my blog a face lift :)

          Now, don't expect to see everything on time.  I may be a day late or I may forget completely, BUT, I know for a fact... I will try my hardest to get everything out in time so that you all can enjoy my hard work!!!

          -Anna Jolene <3

December Photo A Day Challenge (Day 5+6)

Hey everybody!

This will be day 5 and 6 of the Photo a Day challenge because I forgot yesterday's picture.  The following link will bring you to the lady's website/blog.
http://www.theidearoom.net/2014/11/december-photo-day.html
Yesterday's theme was "ornament," every year my mom buys us a new ornament for the Christmas tree.

This was a spur the moment picture.  The needles of my Christmas tree are sparkly, just like today's theme.

Happy holidays everybody!

-Anna <3

December Photo A Day Challenge (Day 3+4)

Hello everybody,
  This is both day 3 and 4 of the December Photo a Day Challenge.  The following link will bring you to the lady's website/blog, she was the one who started the challenge.
http://www.theidearoom.net/2014/11/december-photo-day.html
Yesterday's theme was "candle," that's the first picture.  Today's theme was "silver," that's the second picture listed.
My brother had to do an experiment with candles, so why not take my opportunity and use that as my picture :)

This is today's theme (silver) Our stocking holders, spelling out N.O.E.L. 

Merry Christmas :D

-Anna