Truth Next Exit

by Michele M. Paiva came to my door via Pump Up Your Book and I'm very glad it did. As the title suggests, truth is the main focus of the book. But it also has elements of focusing on health and well being.

The thing I really liked about this devotional is that it didn't string you along for answers. I'm not sure if that's clear but what I mean is there weren't the stock questions with the stock answers. The questions are really thought provoking and caused me to explore them further in my journal and in prayer.

Now as a special treat Michele M. Paiva took the time to answer a few questions for me:

What does your writing space look like?

I had a room built into my large den. I had collected an old door from a lawyers office that looks to be at least from the 40's. I have old windows that were meant to be outside door/windows.. so when you go into the den, it looks like you are looking at an old store front! I have windows on the other wall, so I get a ton of light. I have an old kitchen table as my desk, book shelves and antique pieces surrounding me. I like to feel like I've stepped back in time. It also offers me seclusion which I so need when I write!

Is there anything you know now, as a published writer, that you wish that you knew when you were just starting?

That no one's opinion really matters but yours, the editor and publisher. No external editor, no book group critiques, not your great aunt or best friend. Write from the heart and let it go from there. It's a business not a self esteem pat on the back; treat it as such. Luckily I only toyed with other's opinions for a very short time, and had confidence not to concern myself about what others thought. I think once you learn to stop looking outside of yourself THEN you are ready to jump in with two feet.

Has writing a devotional always been on your heart or did you find yourself writing it more out of necessity? (Meaning you wanted a devotion like the one you wrote but couldn't find it anywhere.)

Hmmm that is hard. I think it is a bit of both. I couldn't find anything like it through the years and, I always had it in my heart to help people from a more spiritual place.

Who did you dedicate this book to and why?

To my friend Denise, because she is someone who puts emphasis on truth.

Thank you so much Michele!

Sugar Free Journey

I'm giving up sugar for lent. No soda. No cake. No chocolate. No peanut butter M&M's.

I didn't have a fat Tuesday and I'm glad. I think it'd be harder to quit if I'd had an all out sugar coma the day before going cold turkey. In the past I never observed lent, but ever since marrying my catholic husband I've stopped eating meat certain Fridays. I love the concept of fasting. Praying when you feel a craving. A public declaration of faith. The world has too few of those now-a-days. This is a huge one for me.

I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to sugar. I know that's a big word, addiction. Everyday after lunch I get the itch. The sugar itch. Must. Have. Something. Sweet. Not no more. I'm not going to let a substance control me. It's going to be hard. I'm no fool. But that's why God gave us prayer. (Also, distractions. Thank you Google Reader.) So, I'll let you know how it's going. How I'm feeling (watch out for a few whining posts). The improvements in my health since giving it up. I'm looking forward to being a healthier, stronger Nikki.

Thanks for sharing this with me.

This guy...

Posts had just gotten back to a regular rhythm, but they are about to be interrupted by this guy. My husband is coming home for R&R today!

Let me show you my level of excitement by the amount of things I couldn't focus on:

• missed a meeting with housing
• my boss had to repeat everything to me 3 times
• I left the groceries in the car overnight
• this is the end of my list

Have a wonderful Valentine's day. Mine is going to be my best Valentine's ever because my Valentine will actually be here for Valentine's day.

(For the record amount of times the word "Valentine" has been used in a sentence see above.)

True Color?

Take the True Value Paint Color quiz to find out what color you are.

I'm yellow:

You are quite the powerful thinker. It’s this talent that allows you to overcome a plethora of great obstacles. Luckily, this doesn’t affect your ego and you give off a pretty easy-going appearance. You enjoy the finer things in life and also have an attraction to art. If you can help it, you try not to rock the boat. But you also can’t stop yourself from searching for new ideas, methods or styles.

A little fun for your long weekend (if you're American).

I have some big, big, BIG! news tomorrow. See ya then.

Just a quick blog tonight. I wanted to send a thank you out to Corey Marie for giving me her "I LOVE YOU" printable mini album kit. I just downloaded it and it's super cute. I can't wait to print it out tomorrow.



Lately I've been trying to observe more textures and patterns in every day life. I took this picture when I went to Venice last weekend in a church. It's a section of the floor there. Maybe good inspiration for an art journal page? Goodnight my loves.

Corey Marie Give-away

Corey Marie is having a snow day give-away on her blog! She's giving away 10 "I LOVE YOU" mini album kits. I'm pretty sure on this give-away, everyone's a winner.

Carnevale Dolce

The nice thing about Carnevale is that it's a feste. With feste there comes, what I call, the "State Fair" food. Near the Accademia, at the end of a large bridge, there's a crepe stand.



I know crepes are french, but these Italian ones were just as good as the ones I've had in France. I got a cinnamon sugar one. I do not regret it.



A famous feste food in Italy is the frittella. It's fried dough coated in sugar. The same idea as the American funnel cake.



Usually at the small local festivals the dough is molded into a flat disk, fried and coated in sugar. The ones we found in Venice were spherical and filled with... just about whatever you like.



Naturally, I chose chocolate. Another decision I do not regret. It was moist, sweet but not too rich. The sugar coating was flavored with lemon to make a sharp tartness followed by sweet, chocolately goodness.