Cover Reveal - DIAMOND!

Hi lovelies!

Here it is, the cover for my upcoming novel, DIAMOND, book 2 in the I.C.E. Agency series!

The proof copy CAME and unfortunately the spine image got squashed by Amazon because the image I'd uploaded was too wide, so I'll have to alter that. But the rest of it is *singing voice* FAAA-Bu-Lous!

Thankfully the edits are all done - I tweaked a few things here, changed one character's name, added an extra scene, and generally made sure there were no missing punctuation marks. I am a typo bounty hunter, and I believe I've caught every single one of the little beasts!

So tonight I'm going to be uploading the revised document to Createspace and ordering another proof copy. As soon as that arrives and I give the final thumbs-up, the paperback AND Kindle versions of DIAMOND will be ready to purchase!

*SQUEE*

So tell me, what do you think? Do you like my cover design? How does it compare with its older sister, my first book? :)

Rapunzel's Resource

Calling all fellow hair enthusiasts!

Do you have long hair? (I certainly do!) Do you have trouble doing things with it? I mean, there's only so much you can do with long, straight, boring hair, right? Should you cut it off and donate it to a worthy wig-making cause to relieve the boredom? No.... (Although I have nothing against Locks of Love, etc.) However, I think what I'm about to share will fill you with a desire to grow your hair out as long as possible.

In-tro-ducing......... *drumroll please* .......

Rapunzel's Resource! (http://rapunzelsresource.wordpress.com)

This Blog is absolutely brimming with hairstyles and tutorials for beautiful things to do with your long hair. I was blown away when I found it - I've been needing this for practically my whole life.

The Style Index shows the incredibly vast array of styles for which the very talented Elizabeth offers tutorials and videos.

This is the "Double Bun", folded twist variation. So beautiful! I hope she'll forgive me for borrowing this picture to illustrate the post...

Here are links to my favorite styles: (the ones I want to 'work up' to!) ;)

Authentic 18th Century Style - Oh wow! This is an amazing work of art! Elizabeth wore this when acting the part of Patsy Washington, one of George Washington's daughters.

Curly Formal Updo - Now, where could I wear this? Somebody invite me to a ball, please! :D

Curl Recycle - (at the bottom of the page) I'd need to learn how to do pin curls first to try this, but I'd love to get my hair in ringlets like this style!

Elizabeth even has some clever styles that make it appear you have shorter hair, without cutting off an inch, for very cute effects! I want to try:

Faux Short 1940's Swing Style and the Faux Short Ponytail - love these!

And to enhance the texture, there are tutorials and a video on setting your hair into the most gorgeous curls and waves, with bandanas! (I actually did try this - last night -  but I think my hair was too dry, the curls didn't set that well... I think I'm going to use gel next time, as Elizabeth says you can try).

Here are things I've tried so far:

French Twist for long hair - I tried this because it was the most recent post on the blog (and it had a video to go with it!) and I've always longed to be able to do this ultra-chic, elegant, sophisticated  hairstyle.... but would never dream of sacrificing my long blonde tresses. I almost got it, but I think I need more practice before I've mastered this style. The idea is fabulous!!

Shell Bun - This was an easy technique and is used in some of the more complicated styles, but I'm excited to learn how to do it, nonetheless! :D

Rope Braid - Oh my goodness, it works! This lovely braid looks like a long strand of rope twists and I can hardly belive I did this... I was sure the whole twisty thing would fly apart as soon as I put a hairband on the end, but it stayed. :O! It was lovely!
{I was going to put a picture of some of my attempts here, but I haven't taken any.} :( My camera is coming back this Friday from repairs though! I confess, I can hardly wait. :) In the meantime, please excuse my lack of photos. ;)


A HUGE, enormous thank-you to my friend Allison for sharing this site with me!

So go visit Rapunzel's Resource, and then come back and tell me which style is your favorite! :)

I Loooooove blog design. :)

Today I went up to a house of some friends of ours and helped the very sweet Mrs. Pam set up a blog! :) We applied a totally awesome background from http://shabbyblogs.com, and I designed a header to go with it and helped Mrs. Pam edit her fonts and colors... and we had such a blast! :D I would have had a way easier time if my photo editing program had worked on her computer... *arrrrrgh* Windows Vista and I are not very good friends. :D However, I managed to outsmart the computer *da-da-da-DAAA! Victory!!* and use a different program to create her header online. (hurrah for Paint.net!)

Now, I would be absolutely thrilled if ya'll went over and said hi and tell Mrs. Pam if you like her new blog! Also, come back and tell me if you liked it or not. I'd love to hear your responses.

Here's a sneak peek.....

Ooooh, isn't it pretty??? :D

Three Exhilarating Things

Exhilaration
NOUN: The state of being enlivened, cheerful or exhilarated.

That's me at the moment! I have so much to be excited about that I'm thrilled right down to my fingertips.

Reasons for this feeling of euphoria?

1. Emily Joy helped me fix my background! Yay! My little blog looks so purty now, I could just burst with happiness! :) A great big thank you and hug to Emily for helping me out!

2. This Friday, Jasmine Baucham is hosting a giveaway on her blog of a custom designed blog header AND a fine glass necklace and earring set that I created ! Woohoo! This is such a blessing for me as it will help promote my Etsy shops, and hopefully send some customers my way! :) Thank you Jasmine. You are such a sweetheart!

3. I have no less than FIVE blog awards to post about and pass on to some of my dear bloggy friends. Whew! Ya'll are overwhelming me with your awards here! :D I love it but it's a lot of work. :)

Soooo... I will be kept hopping in the days between now and Friday listing things on my Etsy shops for people to look at and hopefully purchase. :)

Blog awards will be forthcoming soon, just not right now. :P

Love & Hugs,

How to Add a Navigation Bar to Your Blog

Miss Elizabeth has asked me how I made my Navbar (navigation bar... the thing at the top of my blog that has different links to click)

• I followed the tutorial Here -> This Tutorial ... To make the actual Navbar.

• And I used -> This Tutorial... to help make pages, or links, for the Navbar.

• And if you want groups of posts on your Navbar, see -> This Tutorial . :) Hope that helps!

Shabby Blogs - abounding loveliness!

I fell in love with this sweet website! They have amazing, lovely backgrounds, headers, post dividers, tag sets, buttons and blinkies for your blog! The best part, you ask? They're ALL FREE! I know! Incredible, right?

I'm currently using the Everything sidebar tag set on my sidebar... that's the pink pictures that say things like "about" "follow me" and "friends". Miss Elizabeth has asked me how I put them on my sidebar.They were not that easy to install, but this is how I did it.

• I went to shabbyblogs.com. and clicked on their 'Shabby Extras' section.
• I picked out a tag set and clicked 'download tags'.
• It took me to a free file-sharing website called mediafire. If you look carefully you can find where it says 'click here to download' inside a light-yellow box. click that.
• I then clicked 'open'
• Then instead of saving the files, I simply clicked on each file and saved the pictures of the tags to my computer.
• Once the pictures were in my computer, I put each of them into a picture gadget in my blogger layout page and dragged them to where I wanted them in my sidebar.

Hope that helps, Miss Elizabeth! :)

Let me know what you all think about the Shabby Blogs website! :)

Sneak Peek...

In a few days, I will be going up to Atlanta to sell my jewelry at the GHEA convention! I'll only be there on Saturday, but if you're going to be there, be sure to come by and say hi! :)

Here's a sneak peek if you're curious...
This is only some of the jewelry I'll have on display there... I currently have a new line with large pendants in the center of the necklaces with stylish, sort of 'chunky' accent beads... unfortunately I don't have pics of it yet, but I'll make sure I photograph it before I sell it! :)
If some of you would like to pray for the tip of my left thumb, I would be SO grateful. :P I have to use a small point of that finger to hold the earrings when I turn over the wire loop, and since I've been making lots and lots (and lots) of earrings, it has become rather sore. :(

However, I am all a-thrill about selling my jewelry live and in person again! It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to do that.

Have a very wonderful and blessed day!

I'm still here! I promise!

Hi There!

I know, I haven't posted anything in a while. I've been busy! :) I've been working on the devotional blog (Which is looking splendid and the posts waiting to be published look so wonderful!) And I have also been crocheting quite often on some lovely granny squares... I'll be making them into an afghan... and I cannot wait to use it this Autumn. :)


I've also been on Scrapblog a lot. :)

This one is the theme verse for Meditations of His Love, our devotional blog... I love this verse!

This has always been one of my favorite passages of scripture, and I've always taken the "All the days of her life" to heart. ALL doesn't mean "just after marriage".

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive and kicking! :)
Blessings Abundantly,

The Open Book

My brother Steven has started a blog called "The Open Book". I love his blog title! He came up with that himself. :) I helped him design a header and he chose a background and it looks great! :D Please please please consider stopping by and leaving him a comment! :) I know he would be so thrilled. :)

Blogging is like a plague... it spreads from person to person. I got hooked, then roped my mom into blogging... and now Steven is continuing the trend! :D Wonder if I could convince my dad and my other brother mark to start blogs??? Hmmm.... *Wanders away, thinking deeply*

Blessings!

Currently I'm: Chipper!

The Post With All The Awards...

I have five awards that have stacked up on me! Oh my! :) I am honored, but this means a lot of work! :) Here goes...

Thanks Madison! Behold the Gold Star Blog Award...


I am awarding the Gold Star Blog award to Laney @ Got Freckles, Amber @ HorseyGirl, Zoe @ Horses R My Life, and Lauren Ann @ Beside Quiet Waters.

Thank You Madison! This one is beautiful! The "One Lovely Blog" award...

I am awarding the One Lovely Blog Award to Jenna @ My Strength and Song, Rachel & Jessica@ Young Homemakers, Mckenzie @ Pecan Pastures, Bethany @ Polished Cornerstone, Katherine @ Pure In Heart, Emily Rose @ Simply Vintagegirl, and Breezy @ A Bowl of Moss and Pebbles.

Thank you Rachel! "The Lovey Award"

I am awarding the Lovey Award to Joelle @ A Stroll Through Delirium, Mckenzie @ Pecan Pastures, Lydia @ A Ray of Optimism, and The Meiners @ The Meiners' Blog.

Thank you Rachel! I am deeply honored! "The Godly Blog Award"

I am awarding the Godly Blog Award to Jasmine @ Joyfully Home, Ella @ All Because of Grace, Kaysie @ Alabaster Box, Mia @ Aspiring Homemaker, Madison @ Madison's Musings, Amanda @ The Daily Planet, and Jocelyn @ A Pondering Heart.


Thank you Rachel! The "Excellence in Blogcasting" award...

I am awarding the Excellence in Blogcasting award to Breezy @ A bowl of Moss and Pebbles, Amanda @ The Daily Planet, Jocelyn @ A Pondering Heart, and Madison @ Madison's Musings.


I am very sorry about my lack of links, but if you look on my sidebar you will find the blogs and names named. (I couldn't do all the links! It would have taken forever!)

I also want to do something that Madison did on her blog, which I thought was so sweet. To my blogging friends, (You're my friend if I've left you a comment) if I neglected to award you with one of these awards and you think it's just so neat, consider yourself awarded by me. :)

Blessings!

~Miss Julia

I am feeling Very Rushed!!

5 Practical Tips for Guarding a Maidenly Heart

Mrs. Stacy McDonald has given me permission to share something with you from her wonderful book, Raising Maidens of Virtue.

These 5 tips have been very helpful to me, and since most of my readers - well, the ones who comment, anyway - are young women, I thought this would be appropriate and possibly even help or encourage you, as it has me. :)

5 Practical Tips for Guarding Your Maidenly Heart

1. Read God's Word and pray every day. Specifically ask God to help you guard your heart. Pray for your father to make wise decisions regarding your future.
2. Avoid romance novels or discussions with other maidens regarding boys. When discussing your future role as a wife and mother, focus on preparing yourself biblically for your vocation. Keep away from discussions about romance, wedding fantasies, or eligible young men (whether they are godly or not).
3. Avoid being alone with a young man. It is best to fellowship while under the protection of your parents, within the environment of the home and family.
4. Avoid fantasizing about who might be "Mr. Right". Stay on guard, especially when you sense that you may be attracted to a young man (or that he may be attracted to you). Remember your goal is to stay pure for the one you marry, both physically and emotionally.
5. Talk to your parents about your feelings. Let them know when you need prayer in a specific area. God has placed them over you for your protection - trust them and Him.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Have you ever had a difficult time guarding your heart?

I hope this was helpful! :)

The Kreativ Blogger Award

I have been awarded this lovely "Kreativ Blogger Award" by Miss Marissa, over at A Peek Into My Life. (I love her blog title!) :)






I award:
Jo-Snazz @ Jo-With-It's Portfolio
Joanna @ Thinking On These Things
Joelle @ A Stroll Through Delirium
(haha! That's three that begin in Jo!)
Madison @ Madison's Musings
Lydia @ A Walk In The Rain
Bethany @ Polished Cornerstone
Katherine @ Pure In Heart
MY MOM!!! @ Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Breezy @ A Bowl Of Moss And Pebbles
Emily Rose @ Simply Vintagegirl
Rachel&Jessica @ Young Homemakers
The Meiner Family @ ~The Meiners~


(Note: In case you want to make one, I made my ☼New Signature☼!! (see below) At MyLiveSignature.com. There's a tutorial on how to do it here at "Splitdecisionz" :)

I'm gearing up to do a few tags and a serious post soon, but I regret to say that I can't this evening because my little brother wants me to read him a story. So off I go! :)


♥Love and Hugs,♥




I'm so : Creative - at the moment. :)

I Have Returned To My Home Sweet Home

Hi Everyone! I'm back! :) That's my house up there. :) The leaves aren't that pretty right now, in fact most of them are gone. That pic is from last autumn.

Michigan was AMAZING, but home is where my heart is. :) It was so neat walking into my log home and smelling the scent of the logs... a delicious piney-woodsy smell, faint but lovely. Since my family and I breathe in the house all the time, we can't smell the logs unless we've just arrived home from a long time being away and breathing other air. Our visitors can all smell the logs, but we don't, usually.

Here I am... in Michigan!

Well, to give you a short summary of my wonderful trip, here are some pictures and videos. (I won't be upset if you laugh at the sledding... I was cackling my head off watching them back at my Aunt and Uncle's house.) :D

Here I am with Kate in her barn. (I'm the one in the huge coat) :) It was about -5 the morning we were there.
We had such a wonderful time at Kate's house! They served us delicious milky chocolate-hazelnut tea, blueberry muffins, and coffee, and sent us home with homemade goats' milk soap in Candy Apple and Lavender-Sage flavors, and homemade lotion in Grapefruit and Cappucino flavors. All I have to say is WOW. :)

On the way into Michigan we stopped at a rest area with drink machines outside... and there was about a foot of snow on the ground, with a temperature well below freezing...

Cold Drinks? I'll say! :) I'm almost certain they had to be frozen solid!

At one point it was snowing so thickly that it was quite difficult to see where we were going... a veritable 'white-out' (yikes!) .

Here's a picture off my Aunt and Uncle's back porch... it was beautiful with the sun coming up behind the ice-covered trees...

I also discovered that during the night our car got well covered with snow..

Mark and Steven, in their snow fort... ready for battle!

I was so glad for my warm coat and "Eskimo Hood" while up there... it really kept me from getting too cold!I absolutely love this picture...

And here is my brother Mark, having the time of his life sledding...

My family and I at the pier in Grand Haven... you can see the lighthouse in the background, just to the left of Mark's shoulder... It was extremely cold while we were there with a freezing-cold wind, so we didn't walk out onto the pier.

Here we are tubing at "Pando's", on a HUGE hill... that was fun! And all you have to do to get back up the hill is hook your tube to a line that pulls you up the hill while you ride. Very nice. :)

Here's another sledding video... This is how kids from Georgia sled...Yeehaw!

I was so thrilled to be able to meet Miss Jocelyn Dixon and her family in person! We stopped by their house on the way back from Michigan.

We ended up helping push their grandma's car out of a ditch, but I don't think I'll post pictures of that... they ended up not being very...ah, dignified. :) :P

But I had a wonderful, amazing time in Michigan! I may post more pictures later... this seemed enough for now.

Blessings!

Julia

I'm currently: Tired, but Happy. :)

I'm in Michigan, Enjoying all the SNOW!

I wish I could show you how much SNOW is up here! There isn't a speck of bare ground to be found anywhere a snowplow has not been! My brothers and I said the word "Wow" about 3 million times in our drive up here.... marveling at the fantastic sight of all that glittery white!

(you have to understand, my two little brothers and I grew up in Southern Florida about 15 minutes from the beach, and we currently live in mid-Georgia, so we've never seen more snow than just a light dusting.)

I'm on my Aunt's computer now... And I haven't downloaded any pictures yet, so you'll just have to wait until at least tomorrow. :D

Really though, the amount of snow up here is absolutely incredible. This morning I was at the house of my lovely friend Kate, in Indiana, and the temperature was a balmy MINUS FIVE DEGREES FARENHEIT. (-5)!!!

I have pictures of Kate's adorable goats and sheep that I'll have to share with you later as well. :) We stopped at Kate's house on our way up to Michigan, as we had spent the night in a hotel outside of Indianapolis.

This evening my family and my aunt Cheryl and uncle Dave and maternal grandparents and I went out for dinner at "The Grand Coney", where I ordered some delicious though rather spicy chili and fries. We had a great time!

My little brother just told me it's bedtime, so I have to go for now. :)

Blessings!
Julia

Oh My Goodness- I just made a blog button! :)

Look to your right, all mortals reading these words, and behold what I, a person with VERY little computer knowledge, have created!

It's a blog button!

You can copy and paste the code into your blog and have a cute little square to click on when you want to visit me! :D

I am SO thrilled for the generous help of the wonderful and very smart LANEY, without whom I could not have accompolished this miracle. :D

Thank you Laney!! Love you girl!!

Blessings,

Julia

(sorry if I sounded ridiculously silly, I just had to reward myself a little for about ten hours of work and puzzlement...)

But I did it!!! YAY!

I Feel: Jubilant!! Giggly! Giddy! very Grateful to Laney!!

And... Relived that that's all over with. :)