The Saturday Six (Three)

Sorry to be late again! At least I'm posting this morning, so a little bit better than the last Saturday Six! Haha.

1.  Sunday was my youngest nephew, Camerin’s, third birthday.  Oh, how time flies!  Three years ago, I was an 18 year old who had just finished her first year of college, holding a newborn baby in my arms who was cute as can be.  Now, that baby is my youngest nephew who runs around and takes my hand saying “I want to show you something,” leading me through wherever we are, even if he doesn’t know exactly what it is that he wants to show me.  He’s also the little ham, that on my graduation day from college, after the commencement ceremony, went into my arms and didn’t want to let go.  Truth be told, kid may make me want to yank out my hair sometimes, or to pour myself an extra large glass of liquor or wine, but we’re tight.  Anyone fucks with my boy, just as if anyone were to fuck with my nieces and other nephew, they’ve got me to deal with.  Camerin lights up my world and is often the main one who brings me the most smiles, and the warmest of feelings anymore.  Wow…still trying to get over that he’s three now.
   
   
2. Tuesday, I watched Camerin while my mama went and did errands, because my dad was out of town for this week.  He didn’t want to do anything all day but stare out the window at the tractors in the field across the road.  Yes, I live in the country, so tractors, trucks, and fields are a huge thing in my daily life.  I don’t know how I did it, but I managed to get him away from the window and into the kitchen long enough to eat a peanut butter sandwich and get washed off.  My patience may have been worn by the end of the night, but I’ve learned through him over time, that small defeats with children are big ones in the long run.  Granted, I’m still worried after three years to fall asleep when I’m the only one taking care of him, paranoid that if something goes wrong I’ll be too tried or something to leap into action. So, even though I almost fell asleep with him when I laid him down to his nap, I dragged my butt out of the bed and listened as I watched a little bit of Grimm.
   
   
3. Wednesday night, I went over to my friend Jamie’s house and we spent most of Thursday together.  It was nice that we got to do that, just two friends instead of having to make it a group thing like most friends seem to make things these days.  Been friends since…I believe the eighth grade, ups and downs included, but still, we are friends.  It’s great to be blessed with having friends from my high school days or in my hometown still, because I don’t know how I would survive living in my hometown full-time again without any of them.  We ran some errands, which included laughter from small things.  She even took me out to Buffalo, which is a rare case for me.  Last time I went out to Buffalo was over a year ago with my friend Dani to shop for things for her wedding last year.  Jamie lived in Buffalo as a kid, so it was awesome to get the chance to be shown her old side of the tracks.  I love hearing old stories from friends and good people, even more so when I have a setting to view. 
   
   We went to the mall, and *gasp* I gave up my Victoria’s Secret virginity.  I’ve been in the store before, yes, and have used Love Spell body products on occasion when I was a little younger, but for the first time, I bought something there.  And wowza, the material feels great against my skin.  I went clearance of course, no offense, nice stuff there, but you think I’m paying fifty bucks for a bra, you’re loco.  We also went to a gourmet chef store and another one that has things you can fill your living quarters with; if it weren’t for me being unemployed for now, and running out of storage space…I would have been buying things at both these stores for my future place.  I was enraptured by some of the objects.  I mean, hello, there was a stand that had the old time film reel inside of it, and canvases with beautiful pictures.  And awesome cookware.  I also took her into a store full of Swarovski beauties.  She had never heard of them, and I said that it’s amazing, and some of the best crystal, and even though it’s expensive, it’s way cheaper than diamonds.  If I were of the mind to do it, I probably could have stayed in that store just staring at the amazing glitz and dazzle of the jewelry in there.
   
   Later on, we got a bite at the Olive Garden (breadsticks, nom).  And by the way, just because I seem to not be full of life or something, doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying myself.  I wasn’t bored one second like she worried, I was just mellow and calm, and for a nice while, not stressing.
   
   
4. Friday night, we had a small laugh in my sister’s car, where I told Camerin that he was precious sometimes, and he responded, “yeah.”  Ma’s response was “and a little conceited, too!” Laughter ensued.
   
   
5. I know I’m late with this post, yet again, but yesterday I was with my sister Ashley and Camerin all day, helping prepare things for the party today.  I shelled and chopped eggs, minced celery, poured things into the bowl to be mixed for salads, peeled and cut potatoes (had to keep stopping, because gripping the knife caused a lot of pain in my wrist and lots of shaking).  Things may take a while, but even with pain, I keep going.  I also helped with the cake, which, in a way, was fun.  We made the inside tie-dyed, which was interesting to do.  Ashley and I split the cake mixture into four bowls and she added the food coloring as I used the mixer.  After the colors were done, we took turns on which side of the cake pan we were going to be, so that we could get the colors all over, and then marbled the colors.  I will admit, the cake looks pretty sick.
   
   
6. The thing, that is the most simplest of things that made me happy about this past week however, was sleep.  I got it.  I managed in at least a half hour nap in Ashley’s car during errand running yesterday… and last night, I WENT TO BED EARLY!  It’s fantastic.  Insomnia got the short end of the stick for the first time in months, and I got to be asleep by ten o’clock last night.  Oh heavens bless sleep!

~Count your blessings, and whether things are bad or you’re doing well, find something good and hold on!

Much love!

~*~Alyse~*~

Let Love Go

If I let love go,

Let it fall from my heart

Will I still be me?

Will I still be standing?

It’s always been,

What holds me up.

It’s my strength and my weakness

My walls and my doors.

So kiss me and leave,

It’s what you’re good at.

Kiss me and leave--

Will I keep the love in?

I want to let it fall

Let it fall from my heart.

But I can’t let go

Either you got me good or you got me wrong.

True loves they can come and go

But the ones that touch your soul

It seems like they just grow.

You came in, seven years ago

I tell my heart to be silent

But with kindness or sadness

I can’t seem to let the love go,

It consumes me whole.

Presenting the COVER REVEAL for Michael, the seond in the Sons of Old Trilogy by Annabell Cadiz

Back in January, I had the wonderful honor to present the cover of the first book in this series. Today, I have been once again been bestowed that honor, to present the cover reveal for the SECOND book in this series. Annabell has come to be a good author friend, and please, if you are a fan of this series, pick up this book when it comes out. If you haven't checked it out yet, THEN I HOPE YOU DO, and get your hands on the first to hold you over until you can get your hands on this one!

Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy, #2)

Author: Annabell Cadiz

Genre: New Adult, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Estimated Publication Date: August 2013

Add on Goodreads!

Synopsis: Zahara Faraday looks like a normal eighteen-year-old and lives in a quiet neighborhood with her overprotective parents. She works at a bookstore and hangs out with her best friend Becca King on a daily basis. But underneath the normal lies a secret life filled with dangerous supernaturals. Zahara belongs to a world made of Light Witches, rogue Imagoes (supernatural creatures with super strength, speed), fallen angels, and Nephilim (hybrid children born half-human, half-angel). Where her father Solomon Faraday is human, her mother Mia and her Aunt Catalina are Light Witches. They help protect the human world by hunting down rogue supernaturals who commit heinous acts against humans.

What they never expected was the possibility of having to hunt down the one rogue coven they had befriended and come to trust in their battle against Lucifer. Rekesh Saint-Louis is the leader of the most powerful Imago coven in Florida and now he’s the most wanted. Supernatural bodies are starting to pile up with an ancient ritual long forbade being used to murder them and the symbol, one large cross with four smaller crosses around it, which represents Rekesh’s coven, being left behind. Rekesh and the Elders of his coven set out to find who is behind the murders and clearing his name before a war between the covens begins. To make matters more difficult, Rekesh also has to deal with the return of someone he would rather preferred stayed away.

Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are introduced to an old friend of Charles, Michael. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. Jason also starts to develop a close bond with Michael, protecting a very powerful secret.

But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. A side effect of the drug: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural. 

Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan.

A battle is about to begin. 

One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold most dear.

About the Author: Annabell Cadiz was born in the sweltering heat of South Florida. She was raised surrounded by Puerto Rican chefs and band of siblings that weren’t all related to her. A self-proclaimed nerd and book-a-holic (her room does hold much evidence to prove her claims are justifiable), she created TeamNerd Reviews to showcase her EXTREME love for novels where, along with her best friend, Bridget Strahin, she hosts book reviews, interviews, giveaways, Indie Shoutouts and much more. She also had the pleasure of being published in three separate issue of Suspense Magazine. She also adores Cinnamon Teddy Grahams, has an addiction to Minute Maid Orange juice, and is a proud Jesus Freak. Her debut novel, Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy, #1) was published January 2013 and Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy, #2) is set to be published Summer 2013.

Where to Find the Author: 

Website/Goodreads/TeamNerd Reviews/Twitter/Pinterest

Sons of Old Trilogy Giveaway

**Opened to U.S. and International Fans**

**Must be 13 or older to participate**

**Winner will be selected on MAY 31, 2013 and have 24 HOURS to respond before another winner is selected**

Ten Lucky Winners Will Receive

E-Copy of Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy, #1)  and ARC of Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy, #2) (once its ready)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One Lucky Winner Will Receive

E-Copy of Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy, #1) by Annabell Cadiz

A cupcake keychain

Body wash from Bath and Body Works in the scent of Pin Chiffon

Girls Rock Wristband

Mini Notebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Running Out of Wishing Wells

I think I’m running out of wishing wells

The universe is full of stars, and I think they’ve lost their powers.

I never wished on the clock,

But I blew out candles with prayers upon my breath.

Each kiss in which I partook,

Were hopes locked on lips for the love that was within;

The other kisses, the ones with the others,

The ones without markers upon my heart,

They were skipping stones I threw across the water

Trying to find feeling inside and reach for a flutter like butterflies

            Those kind in your stomach, but few achieved it.

            None were the hopes though, the wishes backed with feelings

The kind that makes you cry at night

            And in the daytime.

I wish for you, even though my mind has said stop.

Told you I feared hope, but it’s settled in and I’m scared.

You’ve become silent when it comes to the matters of our hearts once again,

            And I have an inkling that you’re running once more.

            Can’t handle the commitment to someone that’s good for you.

            Can’t handle the commitment to the one you know you can’t erase.

I know I can’t erase, but I’m not waiting.

            Not anymore.

You have to decide, I’ll still come, I’ll still love you,

But no more excuses, no more withholding.

Take a stand, otherwise, we’ll just keep revolving like earth, sun, moon

            The axis going around

                        And around.

I’ve become dizzy.

I will do my best with my life, but please decide

The coin you toss into the air,

            That’s my heart

Heads,

            Face love, have love

Tails,

            Run, imagine, acquire love façade.

Go ahead, throw it into whatever wells you have left,

I know we’re both coming to spiraling ends going

            “Where’s a wish when you need one?”

Please…someone grant.

Wave a wand, breathe in

Let an angel brush against.

Find me. We’ll talk,

            I’m back

Here I am, je suis ici

Come to me

I’m still living.

The Saturday Six (Two)

I know this is a day late, but there was lots of craziness due to Graduation day.  This is my second Saturday six, but in actuality, I guess you could call it a Sunday Six.

1. Monday was something for me.  I had my last college exam and jumped for joy for being done with psych research methods, which, out of the equivalent for each concentration, majority of Brockport college students say it’s the worst and there are apparently horror stories about it, according to a professor friend of mine.  Afterwards, I stopped by the women studies department, and spent some time there for a good hour, that made my positivity shoot up even though we talked about some rough subjects.  Ran on four hours of sleep all day, but my good friend Amber gave me a shot of perspective and hope and light to hold onto for some of my darker spots that I don’t talk about often. 
   
   The rest of the day went decently, I finished packing everything that I sent home on Tuesday, had a light dinner with my suitemates that I hadn’t had a chance to do all semester, and then went out to wing night at my friends’ and mine favorite bar in my college town.  No, we didn’t really have wings due to the timing we had, but it was good.  I even got a grilled chicken sandwich with hot sauce…wasn’t fried and oh my, how my stomach appreciated that!  My best friend, her boyfriend, and I all ordered ourselves some voodoo buckets to drink (which is just a step up from a rum bucket), and my other friend got me a whiskey sour because I won a bet the week before.  Yes, rum and whiskey, thought me just a vodka woman, didn’t you? Haha. If it tastes good and my body doesn’t reject it, I’m content. 
   
   The surprise to me of the night though?  My friend who ordered me my whiskey sour, we were supposed to split the check…and she nabbed it before I could look at it.  Whipped out her debit card, and handed it all to the waitress, denying me the ability to pay!  They laugh and wonder why I still react in shock.  Truth is, most of the time, I’m used to paying for myself.  And for others at times, and then I’m lucky to have a few handful of friends I truly don’t mind paying for because they pay me back in some form and things even out.  However, when friends won’t take my money, I’m floored.  I know I work hard and am now officially unemployed, but unless you’re family, paying for me and not expecting me to pay back is still something I will meet with surprise.  That’s what happens when I do whatever I can not depend on others.  Which…when the time comes and I can afford it, I’m getting my own place.  Please let that not be a year from now!
   
   
2. I sent most of my stuff home on Tuesday, to my parents’ house.  It was weird to be living in my dorm room with the absolute bare minimum, and the lack of the homey feeling that I’ve always brought to my living quarters.  I felt like, if I were to close the doors, my voice would start to echo!  Which is funny because…the room is pretty damn small; smaller than my room at my parents, by at least a few feet, but it does have a higher ceiling, and FLOOR SPACE. When I move back, while dad’s gone for a few days and I’m alone during the day…I get to spend time trying to reconfigure my bedroom so that there will be walking space and so I can access what I need until I accumulate enough money to get my own place and move.  Seriously, before I sent the stuff home, between my belongings from growing up alongside my belongings that I’ve been storing to go towards my future first apartment, I only had an aisle to walk from my door to my window (thankfully, alongside my bookcases so I can still be granted my literary need) and a small path to my bed.  Let’s see how bedroom tetras goes this summer!
   
   
3. Thursday, I gave my last college presentation, which was on 1960s girl groups and perception of equality.  I also handed in my last paper.  Needless to say, I hope the people that lived in the same building as me, weren’t irked by the amount of Shangri-las music I had going all morning.  I love me some Shangri-las, you know “Leader of the Pack” and “Sophisticated Boom Boom.”  You don’t know sixties music, get your butt to youtube or whatever music searcher you have, and look them up.  Unless you have a bad love story, which also has a key of the stereotypes of “good girl” and “bad boy,” and the story of yours is in a slump or questioning area, then don’t listen to the first.  It’s fantastic, but it’s sad at the same time.  You want something to smile to or sway your hips to though, listen to the latter.  I mean, if a song that says “stand up straight like your back’s against the wall, and move your hips” doesn’t do something…well, find something that will.
    
4. Also, on Thursday, I received quite an unexpected surprise!  My college’s literary magazine came out with this year’s edition. I didn’t know whether or not they were even doing it anymore, because of some issues that had arisen last year, causing publication to not happen.  The last publication, was two years ago in May 2011.  I was published in that one, for my poem entitled, “Jenn,” which was about losing my one cousin who I miss dearly.  This year, I was published again!  This time, for my poem “In Bed With The Devil” about my first time with someone dear to my heart, although if you want more about the man, sorry, I don’t even know we stand after all of these years. Just enjoy the poem.  The other piece, is a chapter excerpt from my one novel that has been in progress for a long time, entitled Pieces of Jade.  Oh, and the magazine, it’s FREE, so if you happen around The College at Brockport in the next year, or have connections, get yourself a copy of Jigsaw.  I’ll tell ya though, I was floored when my one friend brought me over a copy, because I didn’t know there was going to be anything this year, and I also didn’t know I was in it.  I had submitted last year but when the magazine fell through, I forgot about it.  It’s a nice little feather to put in my cap.
   
   
5. Friday was my last “family” gathering of friends.  My best friend, Christine French braided my hair, and then her, our friend Kammie, and I all went over to her boyfriend’s for dinner and movies.  We talked, we laughed, we picked on each other, I got a tour of the house (honestly, flat screen mounted to bedroom ceiling above bed, I don’t understand).  We watched a little bit of Liar, Liar and a South Park movie, and all of the (third installment I believe) of Jackass.  The latter is what got me actually laughing, especially due to my stress levels and all that jazz, my friends admitted that I was like a wall lately to most things funny.  Oops. We enjoyed ourselves though, granted, I really could have gone for some chilled red wine that night.
   
   
6.  Saturday, MAY 18^TH, I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts degree.  I honestly don’t even remember too much right now, I was tired, hot, and quite sore.  It is now all a blur, but the senator even stopped by, and thank goodness I was not one of the students standing when he got up to speak.  Long-winded.  And I had my friend M. R. Bryant by my side during it all, which is good, because thousands of people were in the room, and…that’s a bit stifling for me.  Four years, more credits than I needed, and three concentrations….I am now an alumni, with another chapter of my life behind me and the future’s path’s beneath my (slightly bruised) feet.  Voila, je suis ici, j'ai conquis et je trouverai la vie!
   
   ~Count your blessings, and whether things are bad or you’re doing well, find something good and hold on!
   
   
   Much love!
   
   
   ~*~Alyse~*~

The Saturday Six (One)

Now that college is coming to a close, I’ve decided to take a page out of Sarah Dessen’s book and share big, positive, or interesting things that have happened each week. Here is the first of my Saturday Six.

1. I finished my first children’s book for my Children’s Literature course this week! No, I do not plan to get it published, but I do feel accomplished. The most work was the illustrations, because I haven’t drawn in a long time and just jumped right back into it. Great therapy and felt good on the inside to do, but also was painful due to my wrist injury I acquired this semester.  I don’t care though, I will work through the pain.  If I still have some use of body functions, I do my best to push through, and am so happy I did! They weren’t my best drawings ever, and I needed visuals, but for being away from the sketching world for so long, I’m patting myself on the back.

 

 

2. Wednesday evening, the library where I have worked for four years had a pet therapy event happening on our main floor.  There were a few dogs and a couple bunnies, and oh, my word they were so kind and sweet!  I was told by the night desk supervisor to take a few minutes during my shift to stop by, and if it wasn’t for me wanting to get through my shift and all of the people crowded into the room to pet these animals, I would have stayed the whole time.  Aside from my dad’s dog and my best friend’s dog, I haven’t really been able to bring myself to pet a dog since mine passed.  It was so wonderful.  Even for a few minutes, a bit of love from an animal is precious.
   
   
3. Another interesting thing, to cheer me up because of the switch in my mood, a close friend of mine made a bet.  Instead of money though, especially since I am NOT a person that makes bets as a rule, we betted each other whiskey sours.  Which, if you haven’t had one, are delicious. It’s like lemonade and they don’t last long when we get our hands on some.  The bet you wonder?  It had something to do with our inside joke of leprechauns and my job, and covered my last two shifts.  At the end of Thursday, I won the bet, so she gets to pay up come Monday night.
   
   
4. I have some awesome people in my life that are kind and I will miss them.  A good reason why I say this is my friends know that I haven’t been eating much due to my workload, stress levels, and other reasons.  On Tuesday, I hadn’t eaten anything until I managed to choke down a turkey artichoke Panini right before work at four.  Still was hungry and extremely worn down after (and being called a dip-shit by my mother for not eating, when after 21 years she should know my bad habits) friends were so great.  During my shift, two of them stopped by.  One bore a cookie and the other watermelon licorice (which, I LOVE).  They only wanted to say hi and give me a little sugar to get me through.  Later on, when I didn’t get a chance to nab some supper from the nearby food place on campus (seriously, it’s not even ten yards from where I live) until almost eleven at night, I ran into my author friend M. R. Bryant, whose boyfriend gave me a last piece of cake. A giant piece. My heart soared! We all take care of each other, and I have to say, that makes me even more sentimental about this chapter of my life coming to an end.  Note, if you have someone in your life who is a writer, or an artist, or just plain workaholic, if we are in the zone or something else is going on, try to feed us.  We won’t always think about it ourselves unless we feel the hunger pains in our stomachs or the wafting of yummy air drifting under our noses alerting us to eat.  Even if we are getting headaches from lack of food, we keep going.  So place food within our view, preferably something that will perk us up, so that we don’t starve ourselves to death.  Oh, and like animals, we will keep coming back to you and a bit of us will love you.  Seriously, if you’re close to me and do this, I may just honestly purr with contentment.
   
   
5. As a treat, my supervisor from the last three years who I have come to admire brought in jewelry that I had asked her to make this semester.  She is a wonderful artist and I enjoy looking at her handcrafted jewelry every time that I see her work.  The jewelry was a three-piece set, and I am paying for the necklace because it is my graduation present to myself.  I wanted something, that was requested by me that I can pass down to my children along with the special jewelry I received from my parents for my 18^th birthday/high school graduation and my 21^st birthday.  The earrings and the surprise bracelet though, were graduation presents from her to me, and I was absolutely giddy when I received my new jewelry.  I honestly had wanted to cry because this was thought out for me and my supervisor has learned over the years what represents me well.  I could not part ways without a breaking hug and later, when I tried the jewelry on, I didn’t want to take the pieces off.  You know a piece of jewelry is right for you when you don’t want to remove it and it feels so right against your skin.  They are made of silver, turquoise and tiger’s eye.  Three things I love, and they have a mix of a Native American vibe and spiritualism that makes me smile, because…well, it’s just another part of me. Haha.

  
 

Can’t wait to wear them for graduation! Because yes, they do match my graduation dress =)

6. Speaking of graduations, time sure flies! My youngest niece, Ava, officially graduated preschool this past Monday night.  I looked through the pictures that my sister posted, and I dearly wished that I was in Kentucky.  She looked adorable and sophisticated in her little blue cap and gown.  I must admit, I was a little jealous that she, even though she was under the weather, she is probably pulling off the look better than I will a week from today.  Seriously, M. R. Bryant and I were talking not so long ago, about how we can pull off most hats (I wish I had my fedora recently), but we’ve both tried on our caps, and nothing can make those green atrocities look good.  Anyways, I looked at the pictures and couldn’t help reminiscing.  I still remember the day I heard that I was going to be an aunt for the third time when my sister found out that she was pregnant, and that was not long after I turned 15! To think…she is done with preschool and going to be six come October.  I want my nieces and nephews to stop growing, but I am also so proud of all four of them!  Camerin won’t be long behind Ava.  Honestly, seeing how I am as an Aunt, whose heart could not be any fuller on account of these kids, I feel somewhat sorry for my future kids I wish for someday.  I already know I’m going to have some Lorelei Gilmore quirks, just saying. Haha! I cannot wait to see the kids this summer though, even if the oldest, Madison, is now up to my shoulders.  I love them all and as I have said, am so proud of each and every one, for being who they are, and the small and big achievements each of them make.

~Count your blessings, and whether things are bad or you’re doing well, find something good and hold on!

Much love!

~*~Alyse~*~

(Unfortunately, there is a glitch and the photos I have embedded are having problems being viewed, my apologies)