Some things are just better naked, perhaps.

I'm trying to figure out for the life of me,
why it's necessary for this boy to be completely undressed while he's
"taking care of business".

I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for it...
I just haven't figured it out yet.

And the winner is...

MiaKatia! You are the winner of a signed copy of PRINCESS for HIRE, by Lindsey Leavitt. Email at ginniejphotograph[a]gmail.com with your mailing info so I can send it your way.

And just like movies, this interview had some outtakes that never made the blog. I've also discovered that only I have the fine ability to interview someone to find out more about them and in the process turn it around and make it all about ME. It's a talent not many posses. ;)

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Did you, by chance, write me into one of the characters of Princess for Hire?

- You know what, I might have. I can’t remember. Let me know if you see it. I used a whole bunch of my family and friends’ names. My writing friend actually has a really funny shirt that says, “Be nice, or I’ll make you my villain.” Haunting promise.

Oh, but Ginnie IS in my acknowledgements page because she managed to make me look good in my author photo. My problem now is that people meet me and say, “Hey, you look like the author of this cute, pink book. Except not as hot.”

Between that and the Megan Fox schtick, I’m starting to lose my identity.


If the answer is no (and that would be shocking) would you maybe consider basing one of your characters off of me in your next book? I want to be one of the main characters. I want to experience little to no drama. I want my kids (because I’m going to be a Mom in your book) to always be bathed and well behaved. I want my house to always be clean and to have dinner always hot and ready and on the table. And also, could you do something about my stretch marks? I think this book is going to be epic, your next best seller for sure.

- There’s this thing called conflict, honey. You need it in fiction. So instead, let’s make your dinner SO hot it burns your stretch marks right off, leaving behind a scar in the shape of lightning bolt. This scar has mystical powers that lets you SENSE when your kids misbehave (which, of course, is never) and when your husband has fallen asleep in an odd place (which, of course, is always). And I think we need to write you in a Latin Lover. Hmmm, what could we name him?


Last question, and I’m sure you get this a lot. I was thinking about writing a book and I wanted to pitch this plot to you. I’m thinking I’ll title this book, Midnight. It’s about a young girl named Issa who’s bored with life. She recently moved to a new town called Sporks, Mexico. Soon after her move she meets a young mysterious man named Edwardo, except he’s not really a man. Bom, bom, bom… the plot thickens. She then meets a boy named Jacobo, except he’s not really a boy. Bom, bom, bom… the plot thickens again. So thick it’s like molasses. Issa is now torn between love & lust and danger seeks her around every corner…

- YOU READ MY MIND!! That scar is magical! Yes, Edwardo is your Latin Love. Now Jacob… O, I keep him. Don’t fight me on this, either. I can joke around just fine about stretch marks and purses, but when it comes to Jacob… O, the kidding ends.

So that’s pretty much all I have right now.
Do you think it could be a hit?
Do you think this is where I will make my millions?
Do you think my picture could be posted next to yours in the entrance of Barnes & Nobles?
Maybe Midnight and Princess for Hire could be shelf partners, except yours will be the one people actually buy. Just take it all in and let this digest a bit before you answer.

...I’ll do that. It might take awhile to digest, though. Like when you swallow gum.

I'll take that as a YES.

. . . . . . . . . .

Licking the plate clean

When I was little I never had a dog that I could feed from the dinner table to get rid of all my unwanted food. We did have a dog, but a German Shepherd isn't as inconspicuous hiding under the dinner table as say, a wiener dog.

Since I didn't have a dog to lick my plate clean I had to be more creative. I remember getting up from the dinner table and stealthily scraping my plate clean behind my Mom's china cabinet and then rushing back to sit down with an empty plate so I could be excused.

My children share the same misfortune of not having a dog to sneak their food to and thankfully we don't have a china cabinet either. Lucky for them they've found ways to get around not having a dog or a china cabinet... they have a little sister named Macie, who will eat just about everything.

Odds are if Abrie and Kaleb are stuck at the dinner table with three bites of whatever left, all they have to do is sit next to Macie and slide her their food and BAM! problem solved.

Ya, they're sneaky... but at least it's not being scooped to the floor behind the china cabinet.

(It looks like Kaleb is lovingly sharing is chicken nuggets with Macie- truth is he's suckering her into finishing them for him so he can go play with friends.)

We're Not Morning People

And by "WE" I mean ME.

Sometimes I just like to watch the mornings come and go...

and just enjoy the moments where we're playing with our Polly Pockets ...

and we're lazying around in our pajamas
(preferably the tie dyed ones)...

and it's just me...

and Macie...

and not much else.

The verdict is in!

My little it-ling slash tiny he/she
can finally have an identity

and

it's

a

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

GIRL!!!!!

As it turns out, my highly scientific poll wasn't so scientific.
66% said boy (I was part of that 66%, including my husband)
33% were spiritually inspired and said girl.
As their reward for getting it right
they may each take turns rotating nights with the baby while I sleep...
SCORE!

We are thrilled.
Kaleb on the other hand? Not so much.

I think he's warming up to the idea of being stuck between 3 girls.
He's decided the Sally, Suzie, and Bob would all be acceptable names for the baby.

Interview with Author Lindsey Leavitt & Giveaway!!

Co-interview by yours truly & Miss Tiffany, an aspiring novelist and phenom blogger, from the would-be writers guild.

When an immaculately dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and asks you if you’d like to become a substitute princess, do you:

a) Run
b) Faint
c) Say yes!

For Desi Bascomb, who’s been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C—that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent, Meredith, explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula Royal Rouge, she can transform temporarily into the exact look-alike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?

Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don’t know? Or when a princess’s conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off—and you know she would want you to change his mind?

I first met Lindsey Leavitt in the fall of 2004. My husband and I had just made the move across the country from Utah to what I lovingly call the ghetto's of Philadelphia. I was sitting on the floor of our naked apartment surrounded by boxes, when there was a knock at the door. It was Lindsey and her husband, who lived just one apartment building down from us. From the moment I met her I could not believe how extremely quick witted this girl was. Every time she opened her mouth she had something clever & witty to say. I remember thinking to myself, "Dang Gina, that girl is funny!". From that moment on I made a silent vow with myself...

"Thou shalt not covet the neighbors sarcasm."

I am thrilled to announce the release of her book (which was just hit book stores this week) PRINCESS FOR HIRE!

This now leads me to another silent vow...

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor being published."

Now let's delve into the psyche of Lindsey Leavitt. Who is this girl? and what makes her tick?
Barbara Walters got nothin' on me.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

If I take a look inside your refrigerator what would I find?
Some horrors are too graphic, even for the Internet.

How does your toilet paper roll? Over the top or do you pull from the bottom?
(Please note, there is only one acceptable answer)
I just put my house on the market and left town, so all my toilet paper now is folded over and fancy-like. Usually, it’s on the top of the toilet. So I don’t really know how to answer this one.

Describe a typical day in the life of Lindsey Leavitt…
It’s all glam, 24/7. Wake up at ten, eat a breakfast of fresh fruit brought to me by the reliable Jeeves. After I bathe in my grotto, I take an invigorating stroll through my gated community. Then I choose between pretending to play tennis or lounging by the pool with my girlfriends. Around three, the nanny brings my children to me, all dressed in coordinating designer dresses, and we air kiss before she whisks them away to do whatever it is you do with children. Dinner is usually out on the town, then I hit the clubs, then I’m home in time to jot down a quick 10,000 words on my sure-to-be bestseller.

It’s a slavish life, but I just take it one day at a time.

What are the 3 things that can always be found in your purse?
Sadly, I am in diaper bag-mode right now, which I hate because I want to buy this mustard yellow purse I saw at Target and by the time I would even use it again, it’ll probably be out of style.

Wait, did you ask me something? Oh yeah.
Butt cream. Lip gloss. Lansinoh.
I try very hard not to confuse these items.

What top 5 songs are currently on your playlist?
My five-year-old stole my I-pod, so I don’t have a playlist. Three CD’s in my car (cuz I kick it old skool) are GLEE, Taylor Swift, and High School Musical. We’ve listened to them so much I pretty much hate them all, but it keeps the kids occupied, so therein lies my joy.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life (totally could happen), whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
Well, I think the obvious answer is Megan Fox. I can’t tell you how many times a day someone taps me on the shoulder and says, “Hey, hottie transformer girl. I wanna see more than meets the eye.” Then, of course, my husband has to punch them to defend my honor. It’s a curse and a blessing, this hotness.

::Now enters Tiffany from the would-be writers guild...

I love the concept of your book, Princess for Hire. What is the inspiration behind the story?
I was at a writers’ conference a few years back and an editor joked that her perfect book would involve princess dinosaur vampires (or some other assortment of hot trends in fiction). Now, I grew up a total tomboy, so I thought… well, I can’t write that book, unless I wrote the anti-princess book.

Ding!

From there, I began taking notes for a picture book about a little girl who tries out to be a princess for a bunch of countries but never measured up. I shared the idea with a friend, and she said it sounded more like a mid-grade. That one comment brought me back to thirteen-year-old me. Wouldn’t it have been cool if I could still be myself and do all the things I liked doing back then, but every once and awhile pretend to be someone else, someone popular and crazy rich? And viola, my main character, Desi became a substitute for princesses. (Note: no vampire dinosaurs appear in this book).

Can you describe your writing regimen while you were writing this book? And how long did it take you to finish?
Ha! Regimen is a very structured word, and my writing time is anything but structured. I do it when I can, where I can. I’ll tell you this—Chuck E Cheese has great WiFi.

I started PRINCESS FOR HIRE in August 2005, but only worked on it for a few weeks before putting it away for almost two years because I thought it was too fun and silly to warrant my attention (this was during my Serious Writer phase. I figured out quickly Serious was not my thing). Once I started up on it again, though, it all went rather fast. Four months of work before my agent saw a still-messy draft, a month or so of intense revision, and less than a month later, we sold. So almost three years from concept to sale, but I had other projects and life stuff (babies, moving, new jobs, you know the drill) inbetween.

What was the easiest part of writing this book? The most challenging?
Easiest is dialogue. I usually write much more than what ends up there, just because I get so carried away making people say things I never would.

The most challenging part was creating a believable magical world. You get to set your own rules in fantasy, but you still have to follow them. I was lucky to have a great editor who thought really logically and called me on stuff. A lot of time I just wanted to sprinkle glitter on all her questions and answer, “It works because IT’S MAGIC!”

Which came first? The manuscript or the agent? How and when did you know you were ready for publication? Did you wait until you had a full manuscript before you began the process of getting it published? What is your advice to would-be writers in this matter?
The manuscript ALWAYS COMES FIRST. That should be a fortune cookie:
Write First, Publish Later.

Getting an agent is Hard Stuff, and so you want to make sure you write the best story possible before you even think about approaching anyone in the publishing world. I wrote two other novels before Princess For Hire, and I needed to go through that apprenticeship period to prepare me for the authorly life (detailed below).

So my advice is not to get up hung up on being published when you first start. Try to be the best writer you can. When you reach a point where you can read other books in your genre (and you SHOULD be reading loads of books in your genre) and honestly say the quality of your work is similar, then you can start sharing it with critiquing partners (read: people not related to you. Trust me on this). Take their notes, revise that baby like crazy, and only then should you start submitting. Otherwise, you’re wasting the agent’s time and your own.

I read that you are a mom to three daughters. How has motherhood informed your writing, and how has writing informed your motherhood?
This book is dedicated to my two oldest daughters, and I wrote something I would feel comfortable with them reading someday. I also work with the youth in my church, and I kind of took in some of the dramas I saw them going through and tried to write something I hoped they could relate to and learn from.

It took me about five years to get this book published, and that’s taught me quite a bit about patience. I wish I could say that’s carried over into my mothering, but, well, um…

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Thanks so much Lindsey for taking the time to share with us your insight! I will be in line at the Barnes & Noble getting my freshly printed pink copy of PRINCESS FOR HIRE tomorrow.

::Giveaway::

• We will be giving away a signed copy of Lindsey's book PRINCESS FOR HIRE to one randomly chosen commenter.

• Just leave a comment telling us what the most recent book you read is, or what color your toenails are painted, or if you prefer paper or plastic... you get the idea.

• The winner will be chosen next Tuesday, March 23.

PS- Want more? You can meet Lindsey Leavitt at her book signing at The Kings English Bookshop in downtown Salt Lake City. Also, you can enter her fab giveaway on her blog over HERE.

Before & After :: The Kitchen

One room down, lots more to go.

- Painting... Check

- Glazing cupboards... Check

- Adding knobs... Check

- Installing under mounted cabinet lighting... Check

- Tile back splash... Check

- New bar stools... Check

- Makeover of the bead board island (from this post HERE)... Check

- Putting the husband to work... Check

- and [the husband] looking hot while doing it... double Check

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Now when you come to visit you can say,

"Hey Ginnie, you've got a nice set of knobs!"

and I can respond by saying,

"Why, thank you. Thank you very much.
I'm pretty fond of them myself.
They're real you know and they weren't very expensive either."

Next project: girls room and the landscaping...

Let's Talk About Sex: Part 2

Several people have been asking me what my baby is. I keep telling them that it's a baby, but that answer doesn't seem to suffice. Thing is, I don't know what I'm having yet. Apparently, my midwife (I wish they would come up with another name for midwife) finds it a form of cruel and unusual punishment to make me wait until I'm 20 weeks pregnant. Not cool.

Since it seems my other alternatives to finding out what the baby is has failed me, I turn to you. I have created a highly scientific gender determining poll. With just a click of the button you could determine the sex of my baby (at least you have a 50/50 chance).

Please choose carefully, my little It-ling slash tiny he/she gender rests in your fateful hands... That is until I find out what the real sex of the baby is on Tuesday.

Completely NON-Photoshopped Pictures

I was looking through the GAP maternity website recently

and I came across this picture...

I'm sure this image was not altered in any way or form.

It kind of reminded me of some other

completely NON-Photoshopped pictures

I have on my hard drive....

This picture was taken on a little cruise we took.

Let's just say it didn't end well.

I know I've already talked about this, but this is from Nate's former

Puerto Rican swim team days.
It was also taken back in the day when he was Hispanic.

What can I say, we're the adventurous type.

Be careful not to bring up Nate's double jointed neck-

he's a little sensitive about it.

And maybe sometimes he likes to wear short shorts.

I'm cool with that.

And this was taken when I was about 16 weeks pregnant.
It's funny, I pop right out as soon as I'm 19 weeks.
So crazy how that happens, right?!
And never mind that my face is a
different color than the rest of my body.
3 words...
spray.on.tan

Timeline: 9 year anniversary style

Last year it was the poem to me, from Nate but written by me. The Year before it was me getting sentimental and posting unflattering photos of myself. And well, this year it's our timeline. Just like my 5th grade teacher taught me how to do.

And it all starts August 21, 2000...

The day we met: I went to visit my Grandma, Nate was painting her deck. He had me at, "So, you visiting your grandma today?". I came home that day after a brief 15 minute conversation with a guy I just met and informed my Mom I met the man I'm going to marry.

1st Date: While sitting in the car listening to Rascal Flatts, I told Nate he would fall madly, deeply, hopelessly in love with me.

2nd Date: Nate leaned in close to me and whispered in my ear, "For lack of better way to ask, do mind if I hold your hand?". This phrase couldn't have been more true to Nate's character. He was (and is) a true gentleman. Needless to say, he held my hand and it felt perfect. So perfect that I never wanted him to let go.

3rd Date: I met Nate's family and all of his friends. His Mom had me at, "Would you like some cookies?". Nate and I held hands scandalously underneath the table. Later that night I told him, while playing an intense game of pick-up sticks in his living room, that I knew that he was "the one". I informed him that it would only be a matter of time before he realized that I was "the one" for him.

We kissed that night for the first time... multiple times. And it was electric. It was exciting. It was amazing. It was comfortable. It was PERFECT (and all of those other adjectives that describe pure awesomeness). The thought of interrupting that moment with a long car ride home was painful.

Somewhere in between 3 months of dating:

He met my family and decided that he still wanted to be with me.

He had me in awe with his perfection.

I fell in love for the first time.

The best part is he loved me back.

November 21, 2000: He got down on one knee out on my Grandma's porch where we had first met with Rascal Flatts playing in the background. He gently reached for my hand and with tears in his eyes (because he's sensitive like that) asked me if I would marry him. He had fallen madly, deeply, hopelessly in love with me. Truth is, I had fallen just as hard.

March 10, 2001: I made the anxious trip to the temple sitting in the back seat of my parents car. I was about to take one of the biggest steps of my life. All the nerves fled away as I saw Nate standing there waiting for me in the temple. He took my hand in his and we were married for not just time, but for all eternity... and that's a really long time. But if eternity had to be spent with just one person, he was the one I knew I wanted to spend it with. Nate is the anti-Ginnie. He's is everything I'm not. He is the better part of me, the non-sarcastic/non-crude, sensitive, vulnerable part of me.

9 years later:

Nate and I have experienced life together. We have 3 children with one on the way. We've spent some of the best years of our life in Philadelphia growing and learning together and making endless amounts of memories.

We continue to grow and learn as we start a new chapter in our life. The chapter where we're not in school, but in the real world with a real job full of other challenges that the "real world" brings. And so far it's been an exciting chapter.

I would be lying if I said our married life has been 9 years of bliss. Honestly, I don't think marriage is like that and I'm okay with that. Our marriage isn't perfect and neither are we, but the important part is that we love each other.

Nate says it best, "It's never awkward when we hug. It's like a puzzle, the pieces just fit perfectly together."

Happy Anniversary my dear!