PiBoIdMo - Picture Book Idea Month

Tomorrow, November 1, is the start of PiBoIdMo - Picture Book Idea Month. During the month of November, Tara Lazar over at taralazar.wordpress.com organizes PiBoIdMo.

During the 30 days of November, the challenge is to come up with one picture book idea each day so that at the end of the month you have 30 picture book ideas.

If you have any interest in writing for children, this is a great way to start brainstorming and keep motivated. Also, if you officially sign up for PiBoIdMo, you could win cool prizes.

Check it out at: PiBoIdMo

Halloween Costumes

This is my daughter's last year to Trick-or-Treat. She's in 8th grade, so tonight is her last "hurrah" for door-to-door candy collecting.

She and her two friends are trick-or-treating with her friend's 2nd grade sister. They're chaperoning the little sister but also get to dress up and collect candy themselves. Afterward, they'll meet back at the friend's house for a party.

My daughter is dressing as The Mad Hatter. A cute, girly version of The Mad Hatter, that is. (Note: She will not be taking my grandmother's china tea cup with her. That stays home.)

It doesn't seem long ago that she looked like this on Halloween night:

At 5 years old, she was a fairy princess with her ballerina dog in tow. That facial expression looks familiar though.

It says, "Are you done taking photos? I want to go get me some candy!"

What is your child wearing for Halloween? Link up to Sellabit Mum and Four Plus an Angel for their Boo in the Blogosphere event!

Writer's Workshop: 22 Things I Have Done

Thursday is Writer's Workshop Day and I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop. The prompt I chose was:

22 Things I Have Done

1. Touched a string ray

2. Published three books for children

3. Gone on the Chicago Gangster Tour (see photo!)

4. Seen the Berlin Wall (when it was still up)

5. Been to Jamaica and did NOT get my long hair braided.

6. Kayaked on Lake Superior

7. Performed on stage

8. Been interviewed on TV

9. Was an “Interstellar Ticket Agent” on Newton’s Apple (PBS)

10. Taught Junior High English

11. Directed West Side Story

12. Broken my finger trying to play volleyball

13. Dressed in Medieval garb

14. Talked in a fake accent all day

15. Brought my child to the Emergency Room

16. Met Barbara Kingsolver and she said, “Hi. My name’s Barbara.”

17. Played a fiddle (poorly)

18. Sold a book.

19. Bought a book.

20. Stole a piece of candy (I was 4)

21. Had a baby that was in the NICU for 10 days

22. Driven my daughter to school in my pajamas

What have you done that was fun, awesome, embarrassing, or goofy?

Turkey On My Patio

Today is Wordless Wednesday where the picture speaks for itself. (But sometimes I speak a teensy bit for it too.)

This turkey visited my patio in September, along with his 10 turkey family members. I live in a big city so it's always amusing when the turkeys visit.

I think he's saying, "Whoa, camera lady. Where'd you come from. I'm outa here!"

Here's the whole family. They look a little skinny. Come back for another visit - in about a month - when you're a bit plumper!

Letter Jacket Dreams

This morning my daughter asked me if I ever "lettered" in anything in high school. And if I had a letter jacket.

Here's how the conversation went:

"Did you get a letter in high school?"

"I think I got a letter for band."

"Band? I meant for a sport?"

"Well, the only sport I did was Ski Team. But I don't think I got a letter."

"But, did you have a Letter Jacket?"

"Nope. I didn't have a letter jacket."

(I did NOT tell her that there was no way in heck that I would have worn a letter jacket in high school. I was way too "alternative" and cool for that nonsense.)

Then she said, "I want to letter in track so I can get a Letter Jacket."

OK then. I'm thrilled that she's thinking ahead like that. I'm excited that she wants to stick with track and run like nobody's business. It's something I never would have done and I'm thrilled she wants to.

So what if the motivation seems to be fashion rather than actual fitness. Whatever works is OK by me!

Pumpkin Carving Extraordinaire

Halloween is just a week away. Costumes are being prepared, candy purchased, and pumpkins are being carved. At my house, a carved pumpkin consists of three triangles for eyes and nose, and if we're lucky, a mouth with one or two teeth.

Not so for my friend, and children's author/illustrator, David LaRochelle. He is a Professional Pumpkin Carver! No lie, his pumpkin carving is seriously amazing, as you can see. He's even been interviewed on national television about his pumpkins.

Here's an awesome alien pumpkin carved by David:

During October, David carves amazing pumpkins. The rest of the year, David writes and illustrates children's books, including one of my all-time favorite kid's books, THE BEST PET OF ALL. Actress Reese Witherspoon agrees, because she chose THE BEST PET OF ALL to read out loud at The White House, during the 2010 Easter Egg Roll event. You can watch a video of Reese reading David's book on his website.

To see more amazing pumpkins carved by David, check out his website HERE.

Maybe his pumpkin carving will give yours (and mine) a little inspiration this Halloween!

(Both pumpkins shown were carved by David LaRochelle.)

Kid Quote

A mom was talking to her 8 year-old daughter about how some strangers are not safe.

Mom: "What would you do if a stranger asked you for directions?"

Daughter: "I'd give him directions."

Mom: "But what if he was a bad person and wanted to hurt you?"

Daughter: "Then I would grab the bull by the horns and kick him in his privates."

(Excellent, empowered answer! But I'd also add, "Yell for help and run like hell!")