Time for another Throwback Thursday Linky Party!

You are very cordially invited to

Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy’s

THIRD Thursday Throwback party!

Let’s blast to the past!

What makes this link up different from all the rest?

Simple. This link party is not about dropping a bunch of links and moving on. No, this is about sharing posts from our blogs that are at least 30 days old. You can shine it up so it sparkles again or just leave it as it is. You might want to include an update at the end or not. It’s all up to you. As long as the post was written and published a month ago, add it to the link up. Then, read and share some love to the other posts in the link up.

When is it?

Well, every Thursday, duh! The link up runs from Wednesday night through Sunday.

The Rules

There is only one rule: the post you add must be at least 30 days old. The older, the better.

That said, we’d love it if you visited other posts on the link up and share some love

And, if you wish to follow your hosts, grab the badge and add it to your post or sidebar, we’d give you extra kudos and love you lots! However, it is not required that you do so.

Hosted by:

Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy

The Qwiet Muse

Part-Time Monster

Throwback Party #2!

Feb25

It’s a brand new Thursday!

It’s time to go back to the past and party again!

A note from Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy – “Thanks to all of you who linked up last week! I was thrilled to meet so many new bloggers and read 33 amazing posts !!Yes, I read every single one, shared and pinned a few, and commented on most (unless the commenting system “requires” I get an account with them and verify my email. What’s up with that?).”

Now, it’s Thursday again and time to get out some older posts to share. I can’t wait to see what you have for us this week!

What makes this link up different from all the rest?

When is it?

Well, every Thursday, duh! The link up runs from Wednesday night through Sunday.

The Rules

There is only one rule: the post you add must be at least 30 days old. The older, the better.

That said, we’d love it if you visited other posts on the link up and share some love

And, if you wish to follow your hosts, grab the badge and add it to your post or sidebar, we’d give you extra kudos and love you lots! However, it is not required that you do so.

Hosted by:

Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy

The Qwiet Muse

Part-Time Monster

#TBT Link Party! You’re on the guest list!

Feb18

Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy is throwing a party and YOU’RE invited!

This is my kind of party! The guest list is phenomenal, obviously, and the entertainment is sure to amuse, delight, and inspire ~ Don’t be shy, come on in and mingle!

Welcome to the first #Throwback Thursday Link Party! We are thrilled to have you here and can’t wait to read what you have to share.

What makes this link up different than all the rest?

When is it?

Well, every Thursday, duh! The link up runs from Wednesday night through Sunday.

The Rules

There is only one rule: the post you add must be at least 30 days old. The older, the better.

That said, we’d love it if you visited other posts on the link up and share some love

And, if you wish to follow your hosts, grab the badge and add it to your post or sidebar, we’d give you extra kudos and love you lots! However, it is not required that you do so.

Hosted by:

Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy

The Qwiet Muse

Part-Time Monster

Chiseling Stone With a Feather – Fickle Words

Jan28

You know that terribly annoying feeling when you feel a sneeze coming on and you’re ready for it – all prepared for the coming facial explosion that will remedy the tickling in your schnoz, but it never comes? That is how I feel right now as I sit and wait for the words I can feel within me to burst forth upon the page. They’re tickling the corners of my mind, but they simply won’t come.

I’ve sat with pen in hand, blank page before me beckoning me to fill it, I’ve stared at a blinking cursor on a brightly lit screen for longer than I care to admit, pleading with my muse, who has quite obviously forsaken me, to breath even the smallest breath of inspiration my way.

Nothing.

I’m near to bursting with the need for release, and yet, I’m for lack of a better word at the moment, blocked.

I’ve come upon a seemingly impenetrable barrier, perhaps of my own design, and it seems the more I try to chip away at it, the stronger it becomes. I don’t recall building this wall, but it has all the hallmarks of my own handiwork. I’ve built similar walls brick by infuriating brick and used my self-doubt as mortar to seal myself behind them. This one seems fortified from the outside as well as in though and I’m thinking about simply hanging some art on the wall and calling it home.

I won’t of course, but this is my particular pity party for one so I’m allowed to be dramatic. The truth is, there is probably a door somewhere and I’m just not looking for it hard enough. I could attempt to climb my way out, in a way I suppose that is what I’m doing now, but it’s tiring work, climbing. I don’t seem to be making much progress either, I’m trying to chisel away stone to make footholds with a feather and the going is slow.

I’ve been questioning myself of late, wondering why I care how the words come out. Wondering why I bother to share them at all, if not for the sharing, would I care how they were arranged? They aren’t even mine – the words – I however, am theirs and must do their bidding. But then, if that is the case, why do they trouble me so sometimes? Bothersome, beautiful burdens words can often be. Fickle things that pick people to give them life upon pages and then torment them as they do.

Oh, but without them . . . I cannot imagine.

Well, back to it then, there’s a door around here somewhere.

Directionless in the Blogosphere

Jan6

My Words by Crystal R. Cook

I write.

I write poems and I write prose. I write about love and anxiety and autism. I write about parenting and love. I write serious and I write silly.

I don’t have a niche. I don’t have a direction. I don’t have a thing.

I just write.

I’m not a mommy blogger or a fashion blogger. I’m not a mental health blogger or any kind of blogger. I just have a blog.

It took me a long time to reach this place, the place of sharing the words I have written, and in reality, I’ve not shared nearly as much as I one day hope to. I’m not filled to the brim with confidence like some seem to be. Each time I hit that publish button I’m filled with a sense of dread. It wasn’t good enough to be read. I make myself do it though because the words inside of me want more release than I’ve allowed them.

I’ve been their captor for so long, relegating them to spend their entire existence tucked away between journal covers and computer files, but still . . . it scares me to set them free.

As this new year approached I told myself I was going to let them go, let them flow, and let them fly.

But I haven’t. Not yet. I’ve held them and hidden them for such a long time now, I’m not certain how. I’ve only loosened the leash I’ve used to keep them tightly tethered to my soul.

I should give myself more credit. I’ve taken steps, baby steps. I took a leap of faith and started this blog. I took a few more and sent my words to be considered for publication outside of this little world I’ve begun to create and they were welcomed and sprouted wings of their own.

Still . . .

I’m not sure. Do I find a focus? My thoughts are scattered and random and I don’t think I can rein them in. Truthfully, I don’t really want to. I admire those who write with singular purpose, I am in awe of their ability to do so. I’ve never been the fitting in type, and I suppose I’ll never be. I guess I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, each day trying to do a little more, each day just being me.

Directionless in the blogosphere . . . but happily enjoying the scenery.

Just write the words and everything is fine – everything is fine.

Dec28

Everything is fine.

It’s good.

In fact, perhaps, just maybe, there’s a possibility things are even great – but I cannot say for certain for my heart, my heart is beating far too fast, so very, very fast. My thoughts are swiftly swirling, swirling, swirling into a vortex, into a void – spinning fast and furious, and then faster, faster still – pulling apart with magnificent, terrifying ease, the finely woven tapestry, the tapestry of * me *. Threads of my reality are fraying, strings and strands and tendrils of . . . sanity? being swallowed by a nothingness I swear is all too real.

Silly, silly girl. I know. Everything is fine.

Tell it to my heart, it’s beating faster still.

Everything is fine. I must write the words to make them real. Words. Words. Which ones?

The right ones, the right ones of course.

Words. I must simply write the words because maybe things are great and I need do nothing more than read them to remind my beating (still too quickly) heart . . . remind my heart to tell me, tell me everything is fine.

Write the words and swallow half a little pill . . . write them, read them, once and then again, and then again once more.

The tempest quells, the words prevail – the words prevail once more.
Everything is fine.

Writers – You NEED this book! Fall in Love With Writing.

Dec19

If you’re looking for the perfect, last-minute gift for the writer in your life, (or for yourself) this is it. I am currently devouring each word. Usually, I finish a book before recommending it, but I knew just a few pages in that anyone who has ever sat down and put pen to page was going to fall in love with it as quickly as I did.

Juni Desireé has compiled a phenomenal collection of quotes and anecdotes from writers of all ages from around the world about one of my favorite things to both read and write about ~ writing. They share from the heart their love of writing; why they write, what the written word means to them – they encourage and uplift and inspire. I am honored to be among these many voices, I must admit to feeling almost unworthy of sharing the page with them.

Already, I feel empowered and inspired to write, write, write.

I have so much more to say about this beautiful book, but for now I must resume my reading. I simply couldn’t wait to share.

“Whether you’re an established writer or just thinking about giving writing a go, this book will inspire you to write for the love of writing. With over 200 people from around the world sharing their love of the writing, Fall in Love with Writing will encourage you that anyone can write. You don’t need eloquent words or literary prose; all you need are your own words on the page to share your stories. Packed full of writing advice, prompts, and examples of people’s raw and honest writing, this book will give you a taste of the writing world and lots of ideas to get you started and keep on going. May you fall in love with writing.”

Fall in Love with Writing by Juni Desireé

Click the link to order your Kindle copy right now!

20 gifts for that hard to buy for writer, book lover or word nerd in your life

Dec14

*update *

click

—> here < —

to check out this years list!

(after you’ve picked your faves from this one, of course!)

Looking for a fantastic gift for that hard to buy for writer, book lover or word nerd in your life? I may have found a few things to consider (twenty to be precise) beyond the usual moleskin notebooks, journals, bookmarks, and gift cards they usually receive; things that might just make their creatively nerdy hearts skip a beat and let them know you really appreciate their unique interests.

Some, most . . . maybe all the items on this list definitely made it into my letter to Santa this year.

Click on images to visit websites

~ 1 ~

Personalized Library Embosser $26.00

~ 2 ~

Grammarian Plate Set $49.99

~ 3 ~

Bluetooth Typewriter keyboard $309.00

~ 4 ~

Soap for Writer’s Block $8.95

~ 5 ~

Shakespearean Insult Bandages $9.99

~ 6 ~

The Storymatic Classic – 540 Unique Cards – Tell Stories, Play Games, Make Art, and More $29.95

~ 7 ~

Jonathan Adler Ampersand Resin Paperweight $14.95

~ 8 ~

Beautiful Reading children Bookends $242.00

~ 9 ~

Pictorial Webster’s
A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities $35.00

~ 10 ~

Shakespeare Pencil Set

~ 11 ~

Distressed Famous Classic Author Book Spines Black & White, Framed Canvas Art by Pied Piper Creative $45.00

~ 12 ~

The Drop – Horror Novel Toilet Roll $15.00

~ 13 ~

The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: The Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed

~ 14 ~

Grammar Owl Tee $22.00

~ 15 ~

Windsor Pros Writing Set $54.95

~ 16 ~

Antique Style Wood Folding Travel Writing Lap Desk $89.99

~ 17 ~

Magnetic Poetry – Edgar Allan Poe Poet Kit $11.95

~ 18 ~

Haikubes $22.00

~ 19 ~

Scrabble Luxury Edition $200.00

~ 20 ~

PREMIER EDITION SCRABBLE® $159.00

Doodling, dawdling in the brain fog.

Nov18

12239473_10206443018367807_4213700723084260240_n - Edited I like to fancy myself as a writer and generally speaking, I am more often than not quite adequately equipped to forge words into whatever I will them to be and wield them at once in whatever way I see fit, but of late – not so much.

11048746_10206443017447784_6862415908959125612_n I’ve plenty to say. I do. It’s not that my mind has lost the functionality required to form thought, it has however, seemingly lost the practical knowledge required to transform those thoughts into words that work together while simultaneously placing them one after another upon a page to form something somewhat coherent to whomever may chance upon them, including myself. That sentence alone should be enough to convince just about anyone that what I’m saying has some validity to it.

I get pissy when I cannot write. Not writing makes me pissy. I am pissy when I do not write.

Obviously – I am feeling rather pissy at this particular moment in time. That perturbs me.

It’s brain fog. Foggy brain. My brain is lost and adrift and the lighthouse which ought to be leading me back to me seems to be out-of-order. I’m floundering blindly about, feeling and stumbling my way across the vast landscape of scattered everything in my mind.

I’ll not grumble and groan of the causes, anyone with a chronic illness or those who love someone who battles the seemingly never ending crappola of 12246698_10206443018247804_900916185864178734_n one, will undoubtedly know what that blasted brain fog can do a person. For those who are blessed to be bewildered by my seemingly overly dramatic angst regarding the current state of my fogged in mind – you are actually, quite literally, blessed.

By the way, this is nowhere near over dramatic, not even close to being so. A few more days of this pissy, foggy, nonsense and I will go full on drama queen. Actually, I’ll be too tired for that. Empty threats are about all I’ve the energy for.

I’ve tried to write for weeks now. Most of it was deleted immediately or left unfinished in some unnamed file I’ll find one day when I figure out how to find files on this blasted piece of glorious technology. Since my words betrayed and abandoned me, I took to doodling. It’s actually quite relaxing. Of course, my hand is cramped up and I haven’t done anything else for three days aside from going to Michael’s craft store for some pencils and fine tip pens.

Tomorrow is a new day, perhaps I will find my way to that proverbial saddle and hop back on it. We’ll see . . .

12227810_10206443018127801_7214307562804288937_n