Showing posts with label Blog Awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog Awards. Show all posts

Blog Awards: The Sunshine Award


A huge thank you goes to Charity for passing this award on to me! Thanks so much!!



Now, the way the award works is this: you copy the above award picture into a post and link back to the person who gave you the award. You then must either answer ten random questions or give seven random facts about yourself. Then spread the award along to ten other bloggers by tagging them!


So I am going to answer ten random questions.


1. Pantser or Plotter?

I’m a pantser for sure! I hardly write anything done, I just type by the seat of my pants.
2. Do you listen to music while writing?

I sure do! Though I have an iPhone with only about 70 songs on it, and well, I hear the same ones over and over again! But I do have them broken up into playlists depending on what kind of mood I’m in.
3. What genre do you write in?

Young Adult Paranormal 4. Books on writing you recommend?

Wow, totally creepy question since UPS brought me a present not more than a few days ago... it was... a book on Writing!!  I’ve just stared reading it but, my god, it’s amazing: Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for BetterWriting. I seriously have been wondering where this book has been all my life. 5. Which are your favorite authors?

I can’t disclose. I’ve got too many it would be mean to single out just a few. 6. How long have you been writing?

About 5 years for novels, and almost my whole life for poetry, though I don’t write it anymore.
7. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

The first draft. I’m a pantser so it tends to go fairly fast sometimes, I just sit down and write and see what kind of ride my characters take me on. It’s the editing that kills me. 8. How do you capture ideas when you are on the go?

I usually have a notebook with me, if not I use my iPhone note pad.
9. How do you handle bad reviews?

So far, I’ve been lucky enough that I haven’t received any really bad ones. But my first three star stung. But I sucked it up, and remember that I cannot please everyone. 10. Worst writing mistake you make:
I’d have to say it’s the comma, or the apostrophe. Sometimes I just have no idea where that the little buggers need to be.

Who am I going to nominate for this award? This is so hard!!!




Award: Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award

Thanks to the lovely Hildie McQueen I have received The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award!

The terms of accepting the award are simple, share 7 Random facts about yourself and pass the award on to 7 other fellow bloggers.

In honour of award season, and the upcoming Oscars I thought I’d create a fun theme to share my required 7 Random facts. I hope you enjoy and I hope that in the future every one of you is lucky enough to receive a prestigious award as well J
Best Supporting Actress- And the award goes to... My mom. She’s only a phone call away and is one of my top supporters not only as an Author but in life. She continues to help me develop my idea’s from creating the perfect wedding, creating fun swag for A Stiff Kiss or coming up with the very idea for this post!
Best Song- And the award goes to... Nothing Else Matter’s by Metallica. It might just be the best song ever! Including the one me and Mr. Olive shared our first dance to at our wedding.
Best Personal Trait- And the award goes to... Creativity. It’s what allows me to come up with my novel ideas, gives me inspiration for the cakes I create, gives me an eye for detail when taking pictures, and I think I’d be lost without. Which this, no doubt was passed down to me through my mom, who might just be the most creative person I know!
Best Food- And the award goes to... Tropical Chicken Pizza. This is a Boston Pizza treat that I love to death. If there ever needs to be a “last supper” this one might just be it!
Best Costume Design- And the award goes to... Family Pictures. Every year I make me, Mr. Olive and our son Andre wear matching shirts just for pictures. We will go out and buy new shirts if we have to just to make everyone the same!
Best Major Motion Picture- And the award goes to... Pretty Woman. There was a time when it was Princess Bride or Dirty Dancing.
Best Location- And the award goes to... Golden, British Columbia. That’s where I was born, so if it didn’t exist, well I wouldn’t be here J

Now, I have to pass on The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award to seven lucky people I’ve nominated!

And the nominees  are...

Sasha Summers for SashaSummers
Clare Marshall for Faery Ink Press
Kelly Vitollo for Kelly Vitollo Writes
Roni Loren for Roni Loren
Chelsea Fine for Chelsea Fine
Elizabeth Cheryl for The Summerland
Kate Evangelista for Kate's Blog 






Where Have you Been and What the Crap is NaNoWriMo?

I feel like I’m neglecting my blog just a bit. Sorry for that guys! I’ve been hard at work with my NaNoWriMo project, trying to get as many words down as I can.
Wait, what? You don’t know what NaNoWriMo is? Well shucks, that’s a pity. I’d be happy to explain it to you!
National Novel Writing Month is amazing. It’s where Writers get to sit down during the Month of November, their goal? Write 50,000 words from the 1st to the 30th.
They have set up a great site with tons of resources, including forums to help you through just about every aspect of writing. You can add buddies, other writers who are working towards the same goal as you. NaNoWriMo also collects donations to help out some really great causes to! They have a nifty store if you feel like shopping, chats with great people and if you are a part of NaNoWriMo you can get some discounts on some really great products.
But wait, you say novel writing isn’t really your thing? How about trying Script Frenzy? It’s the same sort of principal as NaNo but instead for the month of April your goal is to write 100 pages of a script! They offer the same awesome things. You can find others that are doing the same thing as you, meet new friends, and well, they have cool T-Shirts as well.
Maybe you’ve decided to write your novel’s first draft, but my God it’s not November! It’s June! Well have no fear because there is also Camp NaNoWriMo. It gives you the same great tools, opportunities and support of writing a novel in November, but you can do it... during a month that isn’t November!
NaNoWriMo also has another, even greater thing they offer! (I know it’s hard to believe isn’t?) They have a Youth Writers Program. During November they have help kids improve writing skills, self-esteem and get’s them involved with literature. They do this with a kid/teen friendly website, great resources and a support system that can’t fail. If there was ever a reason to get kids involved and donate money, this is for sure why! Youth need to understand just how awesome string words together can be! As well as learn more about literature and what makes it so great.
So you see, even though my blog isn’t getting the action it deserves, I am doing something important! And just because we are already in November, doesn't mean you can't join in the fun, you can still sign up! Maybe make your goal for this year 25,000 words, and get out there, make friends and try to accomplish the greatness that is writing a novel’s first draft!

My name is Avery Olive and I am a 2011 NaNoWriMo Participant!
And just so's you know, I've got 14,800 words!
That means, if my math is correct (lol) I've got 35,200 words to go!

Blog Award: I've got One Lovely Blog!

Okay, so I’m a little behind on posting this, but better late than never! So without further adieu may I present to you, my very nice and shiny One Lovely Blog Award! See it’s over there à somewhere. Isn’t it just pretty? I’d like to thank the very nice and gracious Juliana Haygert for bestowing this wonderful honour upon me.
Now, the rules of this award are just like the Versatile Blogger Award. I have to share seven things with you, thank the person that gave me the award and pass the award on to others.
So, last time I shared seven things about myself that all fit into a theme. I think to keep things fun, and just  a little bit more challenging I will share seven things that fit into another theme.
1.       I once travelled all around the states for many months, only eating chicken fingers and Clubhouse Sandwiches.
2.       Chicken fingers and Clubhouse sandwiches are my fall back meals. If I go to a place that I’m unsure of, well I order my fall back food, because it’s pretty hard to screw up chicken or a sandwich.
3.       I wouldn’t be Canadian if I didn’t admit to loving French Fries covered in copious amounts of Gravy and Cheese. Now, a Poutine can be made more than one way, with shredded cheese or with cheese curds... I prefer shredded cheese as it melts nicer.
4.       I went many years not eating Steak. I thought it was gross, that when it was well-done it was too touch, but the thought of blood on my plate was sickening. Until I had a perfectly juicy, moist, flavourful steak... and then I was hooked.
5.       I don’t not like popcorn. I once work at a movie theatre, had my fill of it. When I became pregnant the smell of popcorn made me sick. To this day, the popcorn makes my tummy go all silly and the smell makes me want to gag.
6.       My husband is a hunter, sadly he likes to kill Bambi’s and what not. I do not like the taste of Bambi, or Moose, or Elk however, if you toss in some spices and turn it into jerky, well, it masks the gamy taste up so much, it’s actually edible.
7.       I love Teriyaki. I like it on wings, in Stir-Fries, really on anything. However, not all Teriyaki is created equal. A bad sauce can ruin an entire meal.

Now, I get to pass the award on to other’s... This is really hard, but I think I managed to find a few that a worthy of the award J
Chelsea Fine – Her blog is so pretty! She’s got a great novel out, and more to come!
KC Neal - Blue is just one of my favourite colours, so of course, her blog is super cool!
Jena Lang - Her blog is all about elegance!

So, why not check out these great blogs and show them some love!! Congrats girls.

The Liebster Award, and I'm Passing it On!

Hello Friday!
Okay, to me Friday doesn’t mean the same thing as it does to others. Sure it’s still Friday, but my weekend tends to look much the same as my Tuesday or Thursday, or Friday for that matter. You see, when you are a stay at home mommy like myself, the days tend to just meld together.
But today, on this Friday I got me another award! See it? Over there on the right hand side? Below my other awesome award. Isn't this one pretty too?
I’m very thankful to Juliana Haygert for thinking of me and passing this award my way.
The Liebster Award is given to those blogs who have less than 200 followers. Ouch. I know, I’m actually a little sad that they have an award that points out the fact—as if I didn’t already know—that I have less than 200. Hell, I have less than 100, oh wait, dammit, I have less than 50 blog followers.  And I'm okay with that! It takes time to leave an impression on the blogging world, and I'll work my way up :)
But, with that being said, I think it’s a great way to get involved, share the love and of course meet new people!
I’m supposed to pass this award along to five other people, so, here are my five!
The YA Curator –I picked this once first because I see great potential in this blog for giving the world excellent book reviews, and pointing readers to unique and maybe unheard of books.
Elizabeth Cheryl –I’m confident her soon to be release novel Summerland is going to make some waves and become an instant hit!
Sarah Mekala –Sorry I don’t know how to do the cool dots over the “e” and “a” but her blog is often full of sexy guys. And well, who doesn’t love sexy guys!
Melodie Wright –I’ve just recently became a follower and well, so far all of her posts have been fun, interactive and attention grabbing!
Danielle Q. Lee –Her novels are full of paranormal and fantasy yummyness and I think everyone should pick up her books!

Now, of course, you aren’t obligated to pass on the love, but you should, cause it’s fun. And everyone likes to receive a little something that shows them, even if they have less than 200 followers, their blog is still making a difference in someone’s life.
So, fly little Liebster Award and make some new friends!

I Gots Me an Award! And Seven of my Quirks.

I’m so ecstatic and overwhelmed!
 I received my first BLOG AWARD from the lovely Becky Wallace. I hope this is the first of many, because there is just something about seeing that little award on the side, see over there, isn’t it pretty? Well I want more. I’m not going to lie the high that encompassed my body when I knew I’d won one was nothing short of amazing!
Now that being said, I’m supposed to share seven things about myself, and then pass the award on. So when coming up with things to share, I’ll admit I had a hard time. I thought about it for almost an entire day. Several things went through my mind, what was appropriate and what wasn’t appropriate to share to a bunch of strangers, who aside from my bio (which isn’t anything special) know nothing about me. So basically below you will find a list, one that I’ve tailored to a theme. And that theme is a list of quirks of mine. Now, seriously, I have more than will fit on the list, but I picked seven. And, I know some of these might seem silly, weird or even outlandish, that one person could not possibly have this many quirks (but I do, because remember I said I had more than just seven) and I believe they make me a unique person. My mom always told me I was special. And so far, in ever novel at least one of these seven (and the many more that don’t fit on the list) have found themselves into my novels as traits of my characters.
Anyways, enough babble. Here are some of my quirks in no particular order.
1.       Grocery baggers annoy me—I hate, hate, when they don’t bag my groceries appropriately. Meat does not go with anything but meat. Even though peas and corn are soft they don’t go with bread—it creates condensation and makes for a soggy loaf. Cleaning products do not belong with food of any kind. I don’t care if it’s in a package, double sealed or in a box. And just because you’ve double bagged something doesn’t make it okay. I’d rather you take those two bags and even out the product so it’s not heavy. I often have urges to jump over the counter and do it myself, and I have, on more than one occasion told them how to do their job.
2.       I hate my fridge—Yes it keeps things cold, stores food. But what people don’t realize is that a fridge (at least mine) is a place where things go to die, or grow mould. Leftovers are the bane of my existence. Sure I should save it, eat it the next day, but honestly I don’t. Then it stays there because after a day or two my stomach and mind just imagines how gross that bowl of leftovers is and thus starts the gag reflex. Instead I have to shove the mystery bowl to the back and wait for my husband to come home and throw it away. If I’ve opened a package of something, and sure the label says good until (insert date here) after about two days it goes in the garbage or get’s shoved to the back. Milk stops getting consumed three days before the expiration date. It’s just a guideline you know, that stamped on date and it could be wrong. In fact it has been wrong. Do you know how disgusting and gut-wrenching it is to take a swig of milk straight from the jug when it’s spoiled? No? Trust me... I’ll never have that experience again. So I tend to keep my fridge stocked (or rather not) with only condiments, things that I can eat in two days flat and I hardly save leftovers no matter how good it was the first day.
3.       I can’t clean up my own puke (or anyone else’s for that matter)—It sounds silly, but one hundred percent true. I am what I like to call a “see, hear, smell puke, puke person” That means that if puke is anywhere near my personal bubble I will, in fact puke. And luckily for me, the few times I've puked myself, or my son has puked my husband has been around to clean it up. Except that one time where I pretty much puked in the garbage can while cleaning up my son's puke.
4.       I refuse to defrost in the microwave—This has been a problem for awhile. I tend to keep very little in my freezer because fresh is best. And well I hate defrosting things in the microwave. It’s just not the same as letting it do it naturally in the fridge, or if need be in cold water in the sink. The microwave doesn’t defrost evenly, it will, if you are not paying attention start to cook what you are trying to thaw... but when it does that, it doesn’t mean your food is no longer frozen. No, no, it means that the out-edges are but the inside is still rock hard. And I don’t care what anyone says, it tastes funny afterwards.
5.       Cheese slices do not exist for me—Do you know what a cheese slice (or cheese whiz) is made of? And it does not taste like real cheese, at all. So, I don’t buy it, ever. A meal can be ruined if there is a disgusting fake cheese slice or whiz on my food. It taints the flavour of everything. That being said, I don’t care what the commercials say, a grilled cheese sandwich can only be made with REAL cheese.
6.       If it was cool to have plates with dividers I would have them—You know the kind right? They make them for kids, or you see them in movies when people are in jail or in the army. Well, I’d love a plate with singled out sections with ridges because I hate when one item on my plate touches another item. I know as they say “it all goes to the same place” but that does not make it okay for all the flavours to meld together and make for a weird looking, tasting heap of food. I’d rather enjoy it on its own. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, the plan has to be well thought out, more than one plate is needed and a system for consumption needs to be devised, if not the whole meal can be a disaster.
7.       The dryer is almost useless—if it wasn’t for the fact that I own delicates and socks my dryer would harder every get used. I love the feeling of air dried jeans. They are stiff and tight, just like the day I bought them. And the same for shirts. If I was billionaire, I’d love to be able to wear things once straight from the store and then give them away, because it never feels that good after you wash it. Hense the hang things to dry. And, not to mention, the biggest problem with dryers, the reason why I hate them, because I don’t care what anyone says the dryer SHRINKS clothes, and eats socks. But seriously, it happens, maybe not the first dry or the second, but it will happen.


Now... see those aren’t even the worst of my quirks. I didn’t want you to think I was crazy or anything! Right, you don’t think that do you? God, I hope not.
So, since I’ve shared, maybe more than necessary I’m going to pass on my award (did you see it? If not look at it, it’s just so dang pretty) on to Steven Whibley because this guy is the king of versatile. I mean who can talk about Books, writing, poop, and travel all in one blog and have it full of awesome-sauce? Also I’d like to pass my award onto Ciara Knight, her blog is super fun. She engages her readers through great posts like “Did I Notice Your Book” and many others.