Archives for September 2015

My kids love balloons. There is a local toy store who offers a balloon with the purchase of any toy. When we received the Wubble X toy in the mail, I knew they were going to like it, because it’s essentially a big floating balloon. Wubble X comes with a helium tank, a straw and a plastic blob that inflates into big bubble. The instructions for creating the Wubble X were fairly easy to understand. The straw connected to the plastic jelly blob and the helium tank inflated it. The end result was this:

The kids loved playing “volleyball” with Wubble X. Check out how it works in this video:

It’s a lot of fun to watch the Wubble X suspended in the air. It looks like a bubble, but unlike a bubble which pops imminently after it’s creation, the Wubble can be played with for longer periods of time. I could imagine having multiple Wubble X toys at a party and batting them around for fun with a bunch of kids. I would recommend the Wubble X for kids five and up.

The is a sponsored post that contains affiliate links. I received compensation in exchange for writing this review. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own.

Samara is a play dough enthusiast. We have spent so much money on store-bought play dough. Today, we embarked on a new adventure: play dough making!

I found a recipe online that we used. Try it, it’s awesome:

2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)

Heat all ingredients and add food coloring.

Yay! Fun!

I was a pretty good actor, but I’ve never been good at anything besides writing. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t value writers in a financial sense.

We can pour our souls out on paper and not make a dime.

Writing is valuable. Your voice, your words and your truth are worth paying for. Yet, we are writers are consistently made to feel like we need to give our talent away for free.

Let’s apply this logic to another profession. Imagine you knew a skilled carpenter. Now, let’s say you approached this person and asked him to make you a coffee table for free. You did this knowing that he needs to pay for the materials to make the table and work for hours on this project. That seems inconsiderate, doesn’t it?

Well it is, and people do this sort of thing to writers all the time.

It can take years to come up with a concept for a book, write and and get it published. That process is labor intensive. The writer’s process is dismissed and disrespected by out society in a variety of ways.

One thing that consistently happens is that people expect you to write for free. I have experienced this so many times. My mind, my words, and my trade are valuable and I deserve to get paid for what I do well.

Another problem I encounter is that people want you to give away your book for free. Why? Would you ask that carpenter I mentioned before to make you a free table? No, you wouldn’t, because you value his skill set and his time.

It’s time that we began respecting the work that writers do. The first way to do this is to pay them for their work. The second thing that needs to change is this sense of entitlement we feel with regard to creative types. As a writer, I don’t owe you anything. Just because I can write, doesn’t mean I have to do it for you.

And here’s the final truth: not everyone can write. In the same way that not everyone can tap dance or fix a car engine. These things are skills, just like writing. So please, don’t expect a writer to do something for free just because she possesses that skill.

A CAFFEINATED AFFAIR
I awake thinking of you everyday

Your constant access, your strong presence

Sometimes I try to deprive myself of you

But in the end you always make me buckle

I am fairly certain I am addicted to you

I can’t think straight without your strength

I am sure you sit completely secure

In the power you hold over me

Through all my emotions you sit patiently

Waiting… waiting… waiting… for the opportunity

To once again make my heart race

To wake me up, to help me function

Sometimes we like to enjoy the company of another

Sweet, smooth, adding a whole other layer of enjoyment

I hate to divulge in this relationship too often

Worried I could become addicted to more than just you

But in the end you are the one I can’t do without

Without out you the other would have no appeal

So go ahead, sit there all smug and cocky in my mug

So conceited, so arrogant, so self-important

Knowing nothing will ever break my love for you!

HastyWords is an anxiety driven over-analyzer. With a mind full of rainbows and devils she began giving her thoughts a way out of her head by writing poetry. Writing began as therapy for her depression and helped her gain perspective by putting her tears and laughter into words! You can follow her journey at:

hastywords.wordpress.com or facebook at www.facebook.com/hastywords