Neat Finds...

I am addicted to purses...there is no denying it...but not every single one has to be Vera Bradley. I feel in love with a great store in Annapolis...Vivo!. The store features works from local artists...and there was a purse I just had to have. It had owls!!! And being that I was there in November at the end of National Novel Writing Month...a few thousand words away from 50,000 words I had to get the painting too. I love a good inspiration...and the pink and teal were so perfect...so me. I also bought a few journals. I'm excited to go back soon to see what other things I will find.

A cute store tucked off the beaten path of Main Street whose cute heart sign outside of their door lured me in..."Shop Local, Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Handmade, Recyled, and Vintage". I sort of had a shopaholic moment while there...especially since I had just been to Lilly Pultizer. I was on a high. I kept finding more and more things that I wanted. The store reminded me of how the truly special things are hand made...and how amazed I am at the creativity of people. There is great power in being able to create things with your hands. I don't have those skills...but I am happy to support those who do.

Mommy Knows Best...

I finally had some quality "Mommy and Me" time last weekend...my Mom and I did some Christmas shopping. I love how well she knows me. I love how she has been putting up with my super sensitive INFJ'ness for 33 years. I love how she loves me despite it!! From the get go in 1977, she has always understood me. How I worry. How I fret. How I work hard. How I need to remember to have fun too. Have I mentioned how she used to tell me when I needed to stay home from school to just chill out?

In our flurry of shopping fun, she had yet to find something to get me. I was telling her how boring I am in that my hobby (writing) is pretty uninteresting in terms of gift gifting. There are only so many journals and pens you can give a person. I was talking about how all I do is work...so may be there was something work-related that I needed. And then, like a mirage on the desert sand, a store appeared in my view from Rockville Pike...Shoe Retreat. Shoes!!! A work necessity!!

As if knowing that Santa was going to shop there for me, the Couture section had many, many lovelies for me to choose from. My Mommy bought me two pairs...and get this...they were further reduced at the register!! Under the tree for me?? Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman. Aren't they pretty???

Done!! Well...You Know the Deal...Word Count = 50,691

I have won my sixth National Novel Writing Month...checking in at 50,691 words. Is the novel done? No. Is it ready to be read? No. Do I love it as much as the one I wrote last year? No. Will I ever do something with it? Well...you never really know. This year was tough for me. I was so tired. I was so worried that I was not going to finish. I was not entirely in love with my story. But I did it. I got 50,000 words and have something that I can go back and fix should I ever want to. I know that I will at somepoint go back...this one was actually a series idea that I had that I carried over from my NanoWrimo 2008 Novel. Remember Lolly Friar? She was the star of this years too. I guess I should have mentioned that at the begining of the month. ;)

After writing this year, I am totally convinced that last year's novel was very different and I think that was because I had a realy story that hangs together. And truth be told, I can't wait to get my hands back on it again. I loved the story that much!!

And then there were Three... Word Count=47,035

Before you know it, you are three thousand words away from 50,000...I am thinking of stopping for the night and finishing up tomorrow. I still have three more days...but why put off for two more tomorrows what you can finish in one? I wrote just about 7K words today...not too bad considering that I was able to do other fun things too. Shopping...too much shopping...but it spurred the writing...that and an incredible view...and really good music. Those are pretty much the secrets to my word count exponentially increasing.