NOT A Wednesday Writer Workout Tip

In fact, you could call this the exact opposite of a workout tip. But I just can't help myself. Something this wonderful needs to passed along. I present to you...

THE SODA CAKE



Part of what makes this so great is how easy it is. You take 1 box of cake mix, any kind, 1 can of soda, any flavor, mix, and put in the microwave (yes, MICROWAVE!) for 9 minutes. That's it! My kids, the 12- and 8-year-olds, made this without any help from Mom. I think that's the best part. Aside from the eating, of course. And believe me, it's dee-licious! We used Devil's Food and Cherry Dr. Pepper. If you try it, let me what you used and how it tasted. Otherwise I'll have to experiment on my own much to the chagrin of my waistline. And hips. They don't lie.

TIP: Be sure to cover when microwaving. A paper towel or paper plate will do. Makes for a less dense cake. Of course, if dense is your thing, like it is mine, then never mind :)

Enjoy!

¡Buen Provecho!

The Thursday Thirteen: THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

In honor of the midnight tickets I hold for tonight's movie premier, this Thursday Thirteen I review Suzanne Collins 2008 wildly popular THE HUNGER GAMES in just thirteen words. Anyone can play, punctuation does not count towards word limit, but emoticons do :) That's 1. If you'd like to be featured here, email me at shielacblank(at)aol(dot)com and I'll get it posted. It's the most fun you can have in thirteen words or less!

Here we go:

Brave teen fights to the death for family/home. You. Can't. Look. Away.

 
And there's your Thursday Thirteen! I'm off to take a nap. At my age, midnight movies take a lot more prep than they used to :)

Happy reading and ¡Buen Provecho!

The Lucky 7 Meme: Tag, You're It!

Big thanks, huge, go out to McKenzie McMann of The Ubiquitous Perspective and Clare Dugmore at Clare Dugmore Writes for passing me THE LUCKY 7 MEME! They are both fun and informative blogs that you should check out sooner than later.

There are 5 simple and fun rules to the Lucky 7:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines or paragraphs as they're written-- no cheating!
4. Tag 7 other writers
5. Let them know!

I chose my Nano MS because my Desert Snow is in pieces right now (along with my heart - revisions hurt!). Be forgving; it's still in word-vomit form. I did add some () for clarification.


From TO THE BONES:


"For that, I am sorry," I said. I hadn't thought of any of that and he was right.


He didn't say anything for a few minutes. "Were you really shot?" he finally asked.


I told him everything as we walked home, trying to beat the sunrise. From thinking they (half-demons) could kill me, how the other nahuallis (our Aztec-underworld spirit twins) hid from me, and hearing my nana. "I don't think that world is supposed to have the demons in it," I said. "And I don't think my nana is there either."




If you've already been tagged, I apologize. Either way, I love to see what people have. The next lucky 7 are:


Emily @ Emily R. King
Larissa @ Larissa's World
Alex @ Magpie Writes
Erin @ Mmm, Waffles
Barbara @ Barbara Ann Watson
Siobhan @ defcon's defunct delirium
Jasmine @ An Author's Ramblings


Happy writing and ¡Buen Provecho!

¡Lunes Libro Fantástico!: WONDER by RJ Palacio

You should never judge a book by its cover, or a boy by his face. This lesson we learn in RJ Palacio's debut Middle Grade novel: WONDER.

From the publisher: August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

WONDER deftly explores the highest and lowest forms of human behavior in a way that is accessible to both younger (MG) audiences and older (ME!) ones. Be sure to have tissue nearby - it's not a question of whether you'll need it, but how much of it you'll need. Don't despair - not all tears are an evil. Though there are moments of great heart-break, at its core, WONDER is a celebration of kindness. Told from alternating points of view, you will come away with a well rounded picture of the wonder that is life with main character Auggie Pullman. Enjoy with all your heart!

Happy Reading and ¡Buen Provecho!

The Thursday Thirteen: THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY by Adam Rex

It's Thursdays so that must mean it's time for the best thirteen words of the week! Where we review books in 13 words or less. Anyone can play, punctuation does not count towards word limit, but emoticons do :) That's 1. If you'd like to be featured here, email me at shielacblank(at)aol(dot)com and I'll get it posted. Try it, you'll like it :)

Today's review is the 2007 Middle Grade book THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY by Adam Rex.

Here we go. Ahem.

Sassy girl, sweet alien save Earth from worse enemy. Hilarity ensues. Edutaining read!

And there's your lucky thirteen. See you next week!

Happy reading and ¡Buen Provecho!

Cupid's "Surprise Agent Invasion" Info!

First of all, a hearty Bienvenidos to my new followers courtesy of Wip: The Movie blogfest. So glad you are here, hope you enjoy your stay :) What a wonderful bloghopping experience!

Secondly, yes it's late Mon night, but I wanted to get word out for Cupid's Literary Connection's Surprise Agent Invasion. You have until tomorrow by 11am EST (8amPST) to enter the second window. Click below for more details:


Cupid's Literary Connection: Submitting to "Surprise Agent Invasion" and Info!: FIRST WINDOW IS FULL!!!!! Still sending emails.  *Fyi: I will be donating the funds for Helping Hearts for Britta very soon. If you're i...



Best of luck to whomever gets in!


Happy Cupiding and ¡Buen Provecho!

My WiP: The Movie. Starring...

Welcome to the premier of HOW SNOW CAME TO THE DESERT!


In the time before memories, when marvelous and terrifying creatures still roamed our world, a little piece of heaven was hidden deep within the misty mountians of Oldest Mexico. ¡Bienvenidos a CIELITO LINDO!

Starring:



Selena Gomez as Brisana de la Cerra, an emotionally repressed, half-human 16-year-old who fears being alone almost as much as she fears the monsterous Jaguar Warriors hunting her human blood. But her non-human half, hidden deep within her blood, could be more than the key to unleashing the were-jaguars' imprisoned ice-god: it could save her life and the lives of those she loves. If she can figure out how to tap into it in time.



Edward James Olmos as Genernal Matanza, the cunning Jaguar Warrior leader. He has learned how to release his imprisoned ice-god master using Brisana's rare human blood and unleash a second ice age where they all can reign again. 

 




Hector Elizondo as Aurelio, Brisana's godfather and mentor.

He is responsible for bringing Brisana to live in her
late father's fabled homeland of Cielito Lindo.









Javier Bardem as Garfa, a lower Jaguar Warrior, who strikes an ill-fated but life-changing relationship with Brisana.




Benicio Del Toro as Garra, Garfa's savage older brother. He will stop at nothing to secure Brisana for General Matanza. But he may have (literally) bitten off more than he can chew.





Moises Arias as Brisana's older,and smaller, half-brother Emiliano, who will do anything to protect his sister.

Victoria Justice as Mariposa, Emiliano's fiery fiance, who is threatened by Brisana's arrival.





 AND





Jay Hernandez as Eberardo



                         





Eduardo Verastegui as Aldo



 Cousins who both fall for Brisana and go from best friends to bitter rivals. One will do the unthinkable to enusre Brisana's love, sealing all their fates.







And a big thanks to both Kyra at Write Here, Write Now and Rachel at Writing on the Wall for hosting such a fun event!!

Happy Blog hopping and, as they say in Cielito Lindo, ¡Buen Provecho!