Tuesday Teaser: Watercolored Pearls

This weekly theme is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. If you're currently reading a book and have it nearby, play along with us! Then go back and link up on her page to find other great books!

Here's the simple rules:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mine is from a Christian fiction novel called Watercolored Pearls, the 3rd installment of the story of Serena Jasper, written by Stacy Hawkins Adams.

"Aaron may not have remembered living with Serena and Micah from six weeks old until just after his first birthday, but his affection for the couple remained tender. He had been the first baby Serena had nurtured and bonded with, during a period she had believed she would never bear children of her own."

I don't have too much reading experience with Christian fiction but what I do like about Mrs. Adams is that she's not drama-focused and her stories are not so far fetched that you can't relate to them. I've been ministered to by her books and entertained by her stories, the love and faithfulness of Christ is weaved all throughout beautifully. If you're interested in her books, start with Speak to My Heart.

Enjoy!

I'd Rather Be Reading...

To tackle the first thing on my 30 Before 30 List, I've already begun the process of starting a real-life book club with a friend. Oooohhh....how exciting. Hosting is so much fun.

Here's the blog that'll chronicle important info for the members. You wanna know the name of the book club? It's called....
....
..............
...................
.............................. I'D RATHER BE READING!!! Clever, huh? It's being patented so get your own!! lol

If you're in the NYC area and want to hook up with some cool, fly, informed, intellectual and certified 20 and 30-somethings, leave me a comment. If you're available to meet once a month in any of the 5 boroughs and have been looking for the perfect book club where YOU actually have a voice then let's talk. When I verify you're not an internet weirdo, I'll send you an invite!!

Can't wait to get this show on the road! YEHAW!!

Friday Funnies: Elevator Etiquette

If you work in a tall shiny office building like I do, the elevator can be your best friend or your worst enemy. The importance of an elevator is sometimes overlooked and overshadowed by the
foolish acts people engage in while waiting, boarding and standing in an elevator. Even if riding on an elevator is not part of your daily routine, consider this short mode of transportation as serious and important as riding the train, in a car or on a bus. SAFETY MEASURES and COURTESY is still expected, but I'm assured we are all not cognizant of the rules.

I was inspired to write this post by a certain suit-clad man who decided the doors don't close fast enough by themselves and so he would FORCE THEM to close faster by pushing them together. I stood there in shock, hoping the elevator wouldn't malfunction by his interference. Oh, what a microwave environment we live in. Please don't fall victim to these practical elevator no-no's.

If you're on the outside...

• Running late? Not our fault! Have patience. The elevator is not making you that less late. When the doors open, stand to the side and WAIT until EVERYONE comes out before you go rushing on.

• If you're a gentleman, let the women on first. This is because if there's any creepy crawlers or unseen dangers, she'll know how to handle them better.
  

• Do not interfere with the doors closing. In other words, keep your hands, feet and other objects out of the doorway. Let the person ON the elevator decide if you should get on their ride. Do not take it upon yourself to invite yourself. If you do, don't be surprised if you get the stink eye.

• If you don't fit, wait for the next one. This is not Tetris. Do not try to maneuver yourself to fit in some contorted way. You're causing everyone to feel anxious and uncomfortable.

Once inside...

• If there's an attendant working inside, don't brag about what fun day you've had or will have that is more exciting than being inside an elevator all day. That's just rude. Your small talk is not brightening their day...
  

• Turn your ipod down or off and get off your cell phone. We don't
  want to hear Lil' Jon screaming that early in the morning, or the latest drama you're instigatin'...

• If someone is having a conversation, don't blatantly eavesdrop. Even if it's juicy, just look disinterested and impatient.

• If someone is standing too close to the button panel, don't reach your hand in front of them. Simply say "excuse me" or ask them to press your floor.

If you're exiting...

• Don't linger or hide in the nook. Be prepared to get off the elevator as soon as you reach your floor.

• Wait for the people in front of you to get off first. Sounds like common knowledge, but you'll be surprised...

• When you're on a crowded elevator, don't stroll off. No one likes to be on an elevator longer than they should. Grab your bags and keep the conversation moving!
  

And if you want to have fun on the elevator just make sure it's harmless...try some of these tips from a man who's spent most of his life working in elevators:

• "Hold the door open at ground level longer than necessary. When the other passengers glare at you, tell them the lift is refueling."
• "When someone presses a floor number, give them a strange look and say, "So. YOU'RE the one."
• "If people are looking grim, suggest a group hug."
• "Whenever a guy in a dark suit gets on board, hum the James Bond theme."
• "When any male and female enter, especially if they don't know each other, sing the Wedding March."
• When someone leaves the elevator, say, "Goodbye, darling. I'll never forget you."

What is your elevator pet peeve?

Photo credit.

Happy Friday, hope this brightened your day!

PS- Check the 30 Before 30! It's finally up!

My Birthday in Pictures & Giveaway Winner!

WHEW! What a weekend! This year was definitely a celebration to remember. I thank God for blessing me with another year of life. Each day I wake up with brand new mercies and grace, with provisions and in the right state of mind. I'm surrounded by great people who deposit in my life daily and I have family that may be spread far and wide, but still reach out to show me they care. I'm especially thankful this year for the boo, who went all out, making sure the day went smoothly and catering to my every whim!!
Enjoy the pics- it took me long enough to make the slideshow!!

Looked fun right? It was an amazing day & night... Now on to the Giveaway... Here's a recap of the Laila Rowe Giveaway Rules. There was only one person who followed both guidelines for an official entry.

<{TO ENTER}>

• Be(come) a follower of my blog.
• Leave ONE comment on this post telling me one of the most memorable posts you've read of mine and/or how you try to incorporate the "Pura Vida" perspective into your life (The hint to what the expression means can be found by following the phrase to the webpage- Open the Anniversary Issue-Look for pg 20 and happy hunting!).

I'm proud to announce the winner of the Laila Rowe scarf is LAMB AROUND! I loved her enthusiasm, and I'm so glad she won! LA please e-mail me at traceycalvo@gmail.com with your mailing address so I can send out your prize! Also, please forgive me for not posting my 30 Before 30 yet, I mis-placed my list and haven't had a chance to sit down and recall what I'd written!


PS- I'm officially a Godmommy!!

Five Question Friday

I'm participating in Five Question Friday today, from Mama M's page. Head on over there to see what it's all about and link up!

1. What is one food you could eat everyday?
Costa Ricans call them patacones but the rest of the world knows them better as tostones. I had this lunch almost everyday at the University's cafeteria with a side of fried queso blanco while I studied in Guayaquil, Ecuador!! MMMmm!! They are made from green plantains, if you're interested in the recipe-- go here. They go perfect with eggs in the morning, or a quick lunch snack!

2. Are you working in the career you thought you would be when you were 18?
I don't really remember what I thought I'd be doing at 18, I think I wanted to go into social work but someone told me there's no money in that-- only stress and gray hairs. So I changed my mind.

3. What is something that you wish you would have done when you were younger and you didn't?

I wish I was exposed to the arts more- playing an instrument, dance, swimming any extra-curricular activity.

4. What color are your kitchen walls?

Beige- I believe. It's much better than what it used to be, we used to have wallpaper with red bricks all over it. I remember how greased up it used to get, and the corners would crease from all the wear my Grandma threw down in the kitchen.

5. Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?

Probably some Disney movie song. My mom was a big fan of buying me sing-along tapes.... I know songs to this day to soundtracks of The Lion King and the Little Mermaid that no one knows! I learned lots of new words that way, actually! *singing*
[in Scar's voice]
I know that your powers of retention
Are as wet as a warthog's backside
But thick as you are, pay attention
My words are a matter of pride
It's clear from your vacant expressions
The lights are not all on upstairs
But we're talking kings and successions
Even you can't be caught unaware!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Thankful Thursday: God's Seen Me Through...

I've been quiet all week. For no reason at all except I hate "filler" posts. I really like being inspired by moments, moods, and other writers and I feel like my dear bloggie friends appreciate that.

This Saturday I'll be celebrating my 25th birthday {I know right!}. I don't have anything extravagant planned. I won't be going to no club, poppin' no bottles, or gettin' drunk because that's not my style. What is my style is buying a couple of bottles of Riesling from Trader Joe's and sitting in my backyard with sweeet company- in flesh form or in book form. I'm wrestling through Eleven Minutes (the middle is just dragging on and with no action in sight) and The Shack will be continued when I get a copy back from the library. The summer time begs for quick and not-so-thought-provoking reads. Eleven Minutes is full of so much romantic ideologies, one has to be in the right mind to get through it. The Shack is also full of a lot of emotion, and while I'm trying
to rationalize a lot of events and symbolism in the book-- the beauty in this read is that it's faith in action. They are both beautifully written, hands-down. I hope to have reviews up for at least one of them soon.

This Thursday, July 8th- I'm thankful to be seeing another year of life. I can't measure how much I've grown even from a year ago. All I can say is God has surely seen me through.

Some worthy mentionables:

• Celebrating 2 years and 4 months with the boo (above is the boo's JR!)
  
• My first vacation with the boo and my mother- we all survived in one piece!
• 5 months blogging about Travel with Centric TV!
  
• Upcoming 2 year celebration of Her Journey Magazine!
• Learning how to deal with rejection, how to bounce back and keep pressing forward
• Learning how to let certain relationships go
  
• Learning from others what it means to be selfless
  

The fact that I'm so eager to write down future goals and enthusiastic about completing them has led me to this "30 before 30" list that will be published on July 10th (see page above). I've noticed what a difference it makes to write the vision... concrete motivation to see it through.

I also want to share this comic, which spoke to me today...and maybe it'll bless you too. More of Alex's works can be found here. Stick around on Saturday for my own bucket list and the {obvious} announcement of the First Giveaway winner.


God's Blessings,

PS- If you'd like to be part of Thankful Thursday, see the button on the right hand side for Greg's site.

First Giveaway: Laila Rowe Anyone?

Firstly, let me say that I'm not the biggest fan of giveaways. When there's an exhaustive list of ways to JUST enter- I get lazy and say... "it's a random pick anyway!" or "what are the chances I'll win?" On the other hand, it's kind of inspiring to see how far people go for free stuff! I guess I've never wanted any of the prizes that bad!

I've tried to make this as painless as possible. Oh, I'm going to test you and make you sweat (ok we're all adults here) but this will be more of an academic test, with a spunk of fun (whaddaya expect? I'm an English major!).
And for the record, Tica is sponsoring this giveaway, because I'm getting sooo attached to my followers. You're welcome very much!

REAP THIS! Here's the sweeet prize. A LAILA ROWE 100% cotton knitted white scarf embedded with small wooden-like squares on both ends. The scarf is about 6 ft long.


Perfect for the summer, this light and fashionable accessory can blah blah blah blah. I'm not an infomercial. You know what to do with a scarf!!

<{TO ENTER}>

• Be(come) a follower of my blog.

• Leave ONE comment on this post telling me one of the most memorable posts you've read of mine and/or how you try to incorporate the "Pura Vida" perspective into your life (The hint to what the expression means can be found by following the phrase to the webpage- Open the Anniversary Issue-Look for pg 20 and happy hunting!).
  

<{FOR EXTRA ENTRIES}>

(worth 1 extra entry each)

• Follow me @TracitaLinda.
  I don't tweet, but it's nice to know if I ever feel the itching to do so-- someone's listening.
  

• Be(come) a follower of my second love child- the most interactive young woman's travel & personal development blog- Her Journey.

• Comment on any of my Centric TV posts (see Clips page).

• Tweet about the giveaway, and post your tweet link.

*{WEEKEND HOMEWORK}*

(worth 2 entries each)

• Blog about this giveaway and post your blog post link.

• Invite a friend and have them follow (this you'll have to report to my e-mail with the name of said friend, once they start following).

Winners will be chosen from the submitted comments and followers @ RANDOM.org. The winner will be contacted by e-mail and posted on the blog. If I do not hear from the winner within 3 days, a second winner will be chosen using the same method. Many will enter, but only ONE will win! (I've always wanted to say that).

GIVEAWAY WILL CLOSE ON MY BIRTHDAY- JULY 10th @ 11:59 PM EST.

Best wishes,


PS- I am also standing in solidarity for Baby Cohen (God rest his soul) and his family today. I just read about his mom's story here. Please send your prayers up for comfort, strength and peace wherever you might be.