UP!—TWO Winners and One of Them is ME!

A “heads up” for anyone following both blogs: this is a double post, so the contents are the same.

GiveawaysHello, everyone! I do hope this finds you all well on this Monday morning. Well, it’s morning here on the U.S. east coast, anyway 😉

With my last post I ran a little giveaway on my Creativity Cookbook blog for 3 bookmarks. (I have plenty to give away so I’ll be doing it again, along with the occasional mousepad and notebook.) Just a few minutes ago Rafflecopter did its “thing” and I’m more than happy to announce the winner is none other than drum roll, please:

PAUL a.k.a. alfredsalmanac!!! Ha-ha! And you didn’t expect to win! See? Ya just neva know! Now, I recall you saying you’re not much of a reader, but I’m hoping these bookmarks come to good use, maybe in a cookbook or, I don’t know—an almanac? 😉 Your bookmarks will be winging their way to you today 🙂

I also mentioned that I, too, am a winner. Well, “winner” is probably a misnomer for two reasons: I was nominated for an “award,” aaaaand…I’m not going to fully accept it :/ Let me explain… Continue reading

UP! — It’s all about FOCUS! Plus a Giveaway :)

VisualArts_WriterSideUp.com_byDonnaMarie

Recently, on Leslie Zampetti’s blog, Rear in Gear, she posed a question about how to get kids to talk about what they’re reading. As I began typing my comment in response, it got me thinking about what’s at the core of the issue. My thoughts came full circle, ultimately encompassing what’s at the core of many “road blocks,” even for we adults. Whether it’s to do with getting kids to talk, writing a novel, or just about any task or issue with a similar obstacle, it comes down to focus and how we go about achieving that. Continue reading