Monday, November 24, 2014

A Wine Recommendation

This is going to be a super short post, but I wanted to recommend a wine for all the white wine-lovers out there.

Last night I tried a Sauvignon Blanc by SeaGlass, and it was wonderful. It was slightly sweeter than the other Sauvignon Blanc wines that I've had, but it was delicious. I imagine it'd go great with fish.

That's all! Happy Monday!



Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Pop Stars and Sex Marketing

I just read an interesting article that discusses the forced hyper-sexuality of our modern pop stars. I'm glad it didn't just slam pop stars for being sexual because for some, it fits. But it did also mention most are unfortunately put under pressure to do so--even if they aren't as "sexy" by nature. The article mentions Beyonce and how she comes at her "sexy" from a place of authenticity, which is always, well, sexier!

But sometimes pop stars try to play the sex kitten when it just looks awkward on them. Now, I think we're all sexual beings, but not everyone is Beyonce, nor should they try to be. In particular, I think of people like Ariana Grande, who it seems, has recently transitioned from being the cute girl character to attempting the sex goddess role...and I don't think it's a good fit for her. It seems forced, as if her star crew is forcing her to "be sexier" just for the marketing aspect of it.

What do you think? Think some pop stars are naturally sexy and others are forcing it, or do you think they should all flaunt what they've got?

Have a good week!



Monday, November 3, 2014

On the Creation of Characters and Keeping a Little to Ourselves

Today I spent some time getting inspired to work on my new WIP by listening to some tunes and browsing pics of my favorite celebs. There are a couple of people I decided to base some secondary characters on, looks-wise, but I'm not going to tell you who they are or what songs I was listening to! Why? Well, I'll try to explain.

Part of me thinks it's really fun to know what authors were listening to when they wrote a certain scene or to know exactly what famous person they based their main characters on. But the other part of me just doesn't want to know. And I think the part of me that doesn't want to know has the louder voice.

When I read a book, and I fall in love with the story and the characters, I often have my own idea of who/what they might look like. I also may be playing my own soundtrack as I read, making my own special playlist to create a special soundtrack for the tale. I'm making it my own, that way, turning it into something special and personal.

Reading a story is a private endeavor. We all interpret books in our own ways, often shaped by our life experiences. When we dive too much into the original creator's mind, we lose a little of our own magic that we add to our individual interpretation of the tale.

I remember when I found out that one of Anne Rice's inspirations for her character Lestat was actor Rudger Hauer. Now, if I had known that before I read the book, I would've pictured that beloved sexy vampire totally differently! To me, Lestat's not Rudger Hauer. He doesn't look like him or act like him. And I'm glad I didn't have this knowledge to make me think differently because might not have fallen in love with him the way I did by imagining him the way I wanted him to be!

And as for music, I remember listening to some Celtic music while I read one of the first books I ever read, The Hobbit. And even now, when I listen to that CD, it brings it all back. That's my soundtrack. Who knows what in the world Tolkien was listening to, if anything. But if he was, it may have been totally different.

As writers and/or readers, do you prefer to know what the author's inspiration was, or do you prefer to create your own world?



Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Live Together Before Marriage?

(Previously blogged on Goodreads July 28, 2014)

I read an interesting article this morning about living together before marriage. It made me think of a friend of mine. This buddy of mine, whom I've known since high school, thought I was making a huge mistake by not living with my husband before marrying him. (Well, technically we lived together 3 weeks before getting married, but we were engaged and had the date set. It was a matter of my lease on my rent house being up first.)

So, even though my hubby and I dated for a year and a half, my friend still thought it was a bad idea. Anytime I've called her up and talked to her about the little bumps in the road that I've had with my husband, she always goes back to the whole "You should've lived together first" thing. 

But I don't agree. I don't think that's where the problems have come from.

I think all relationships have their ups and downs, and I don't necessarily think that living together before we got married would have prevented them from happening. My husband and I are in a really fine place right now, with 5 years of marriage under our belts. And I think it has more to do with our willingness to compromise and grow together than anything else.

My friend, on the other hand, is still living unmarried to her boyfriend of 7 years, and has two children now. She really, really, really wanted to get married and have a big, fancy wedding, but it never happened for her... I think it's because she lived with her boyfriend first, and he didn't see the need to marry her since they were already living together.

Also, they haven't had a peachy-keen relationship... Nobody has a problem-free relationship! It's all about how you tackle those speed-bumps, when they hit, that matter, in my opinion.

Now, I am not an advocate of just marrying someone you barely know. No, no, no. That's why Drew and I spent a year and a half dating and spending weekends together and getting to know one another before we wed. 

But on the flip-side, you can "know" someone for 30 years and still be finding out new things about them that you didn't know before. I think getting to know someone is a life-long process that never really ends.

I think if you have some core values in common, similar goals in life, and you respect one another, that is more important than if you live together before marriage or if you don't.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the matter. What do you think?



Sunday, September 7, 2014

Sex Ed and Finicky Parents

(Previously blogged on Goodreads 8/27/14)

I remember when my mother told me about sex. I wasn't very old, maybe 5 or 6. I'd been asking her a lot of questions, and rather than avoid me, she bravely drove me out to our small town Wal-Mart and explained everything as we sat in the car in the parking lot.

And I mean, so told me everything.

With drawings on notebook paper.

Yes, it was a little bit of a shock. I was silent for the drive back home and didn't speak to her for the rest of the day.

You mean to tell me that men put THAT in THERE??

Well, fast-forward to now, and I've gotten over my horror. Also, growing up, if I had any questions about sex, I felt like I could comfortably go to my mother, and she'd be open with me. So her telling me at a young age didn't scar me for life or turn me into a nympho. 

I think parents should educate their children about sex as soon as the kids show a healthy curiosity about it. If you wait and avoid it, you risk doing more damage than if you gently explain the facts of nature at the time of their curiosity.

Parents who freak out and avoid talking about sex with their kids because it makes them uncomfortable aren't doing their children any favors. The kids are bound to find out from other people and in other ways, and it'd be better if you were the person they came to with questions and not, say, the Internet.

It's the same with educating kids about drinking, too. You can't hide under a blanket and pretend it doesn't exist. They will find out about it, and if they don't have a clear picture of the do's and don't's, they're more apt to figure it out the hard way.

Sex is natural. It can be beautiful part of life. What better person to educate their children than the ones who brought them into this world?