Emily Rachelle Writes

A long, long, long  time ago on this blog, I mentioned a television show I was watching. At the time, I think the show was beginning season two. I binged the first on Netflix and watched the second live. Now, fast forward a few years, and the show has come to its end, after 155 episodes (and one failed spinoff). I'm talking about ABC's Once Upon a Time. I just recently caught up on season seven, which took its own weird turn in jumping ahead a good decade (at least; I don't think specific dates are given). The cast's contracts all expired, and only three of the original actors remained. So the main character's son goes from high school student to full-fledged 20-or-30-something man (effectively replacing the actor), and a plot is contrived to stick him (as the new main character) in some other place where all our missing members can be mentioned with plausible excuses for never seeing them. Honestly, the way I talk about this show's writing sounds like I hat...

Sorry for the skipped week, readers -- the end of the semester is getting tight here at university. But we have two more weeks left in this series! R ebecca Bauman Name: Rebecca Bauman Age: 20 Gender: Genderqueer/ Genderfluid/ Non-Binary (I use she/her and they/them pronouns) Sexual orientation: Queer Religious denomination: Mennonite Education/career: Bachelor of Arts and Science (completed 2 years) Favorite food: I like to mix it up with various vegetarian creations. Taco salad never fails to please. Favorite book: I’m eclectically indecisive and love to read. Good LGBTQ+ fiction is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe  by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting Favorite color: Rainbow ;) (I am especially fond of the reddish hues) Hobbies/sports/interests: Reading, writing, learning (this seems to be a common homeschooler affliction) hiking and camping, singing (sometimes with my guitar or cello), spoken-word poetry, i...

When it comes to mental illness, I like to be the champion. The advocate. The information bank just waiting to enlighten and educate you. A source of awareness, a spark for understanding. But the whole world of mental illness and living with one is just as new to me as it is to many of the people I'm trying to help understand. I'm still learning, and now that I'm back at school, it feels like a crash course. And I think a lot of people with mental illnesses can relate.

Lately, my friends Cait and Mime over at Notebook Sisters have been posting with the Top Ten Lists prompts. I'm not into blog prompts, but I thought it'd be fun to make my own Top Ten list this month. I've been getting things ready for college this fall -- including the books I plan to take with me -- and a lot of those books are my favorite kids' books (goes with the Elementary Education major, you know). So I thought I'd share them with you! Some of these were my favorites when I was a kid; others are my favorite children's books now. This list was actually a lot harder to make than I expected -- there's just so much genius out there in the kiddie libraries! 10. Cam Jansen They're not the epitome of great literature, and the stories all blur together in my memory. But I loved these books as a kid. Besides, stories about freakishly cool memories never really get old (and generally involve solving totally creepy crimes). Basically this set me u...

 {Corresponding lists written before I got the cut; notes in italics are edits from after I actually lived with the haircut for a couple of days.} Source

Some of my lovely readers may have noticed that I've made some changes to my book blogging routine - what programs I'm using, how I set up my reviews, etc.  So I decided to go back to a post I wrote as a still-very-new blogger and give it a facelift.  I hadn't realized how outdated some of it was!  So today, rather than a Pinterest project, I bring you the new-and-improved Book Blogging 101: The All-Inclusive Guide! Also, if any of you have book blogging questions, I'm open to creating a sequel - Book Blogging 101: The Q&A Edition!   Just send off an email or chime in at the comments below. Book Blogging 101: The All-Inclusive Guide

Ten simple steps to your next favorite family film! 1. Pick a fairy tale.  You may immediately think of those centered around princesses and/or love stories, but considering the Arabian Nights tale that Aladdin was based on, it's not actually necessary for a princess or love story to be the key point.  All you really need is either (a) a girl who is or can be made into a main character, or (b) such a boy who does not have a significant other in the story.  Some that I've found: The Princess and the Pea , Brother and Sister (love that one!), The Twelve Dancing Princesses , The Canary Prince , Maid Maleen (I've read an amazing adaptation of this one), The Silent Princess  (really cool one), The Thirteenth Son of the King of Erin , Thumbelina , The Young Gardener , Catherine and Her Destiny , The Six Swans (another favorite of mine).

Today brings our second annual blog bash to an end, my lovely readers.  We had a lot of fun.  There were plenty of great gifts, a few wonderful guest bloggers, and several new author interviews.  Plus, your numbers, lovely readers, actually doubled!  So to all my new lovely readers, welcome to my blog!  Here's the link list of all guest posts, my posts, and author interviews during the party, in case you missed anything. You Should Try NaNo If... {guest post} Eggless Banana Muffins Review Rachel Coker Interview Holiday Break To-Do: Watch These 5 Classic "Going to College" Films {guest post} Cidney Swanson Interview Daring and I {guest post} 4 All Humanity Jewelry Review What Christmas Means for Me {guest post} Christmas in Apple Ridge Book Review One Word 365 Worst Photos of 2012 Gail Carson Levine Interview Connection Book Review Stephanie Morril Interview Maple Syrup Candy Fail + Candy Kick Caramel Recipe Interrupted Book Review Jill William...

Today a freelance writer who recently discovered my blog is sharing five going-to-college movies now considered classics.  Before this list, I'd only seen (or heard of!) Toy Story 3.   Guess I'll be watching some Netflix over Christmas break! Holiday break is quickly approaching. It’s time to start planning how you will spend your time off. One entertaining way to spend your evenings is by watching a few good movies at home with family and friends. The following five movies tell timeless stories about growing up and making big life changes; stories that everyone can relate to. Also known as “coming of age” films, all of these flicks are also American film classics.

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Most people don't naturally think of siblings as cool.  Bossy or annoying, yes.  Cool, friendly, awesome, even fun to be with?  Not so much.  But not all siblings are like that - we can all think of at least one person, even if it's on television or in a book, whose older brother is their hero or who protects and loves their little sister above all else. I'm not an expert at sibling affection (as if), but I do have brothers and a female cousin who seems particularly attached to me.  So, since I can at least relate to older sisters and sister-figures, I thought I'd share my own personal experience on what makes you cool to people with fewer years behind them.  Please note that these tips are neither in order of importance nor infallible. Also, I'm not going to list "be patient" or "be nice."  If you're reading this post, then you obviously want to be a cool older sister, so you should already know those things are both important and imposs...

This list was drawn up by one of the pastors at my church, Mikado Baptist, and he gave me permission to share it here.  I keep it pinned to my bulletin board (real, not Pinterest!) as inspiration. Just a note: my previous list of 9 Ways to be a Better Steward of the Earth now has a pinnable image!

I've never been a particularly green person.  My family just follows the recycling rules for where we happen live at the moment.  We generally don't buy organic stuff (unless it happens to be more economical) or make our own granola bars.  (Who has the time for that?  Although I've always wanted to try, just once...) There are times, though, when I've wanted to find ways to be a better steward of the world God's given us.  On one of those days a while back, I decided to do some online research, and came up of a list of ideas.  This list then sat buried in my computer until now, as I was desperately searching for something to blog about, and uncovered it.  

This week is the second to last of the challenge, and today I'm supposed to share my "hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days."  That's a lot of days to talk about, so I'll try to be brief. :) {via}

So, my friend Nathan, my brother Eddie, and myself have been hanging out lately and recently mentioned bucket lists.  We tossed the idea around and made a few suggestions before Nathan said I ought to make one as a Tuesday list.  Which brings us to today's post. As a bucket list is sort of a lifelong thing - growing as you get older and get more ideas, shrinking as you cross off completed items - this is really just a start to my list.  It's a list, nonetheless. Before I Die To Do: -graduate from high school -read every book on my To-Read lists -adopt a child -have a pet that is MINE -hold a koala -feed a giraffe -ride on a dolphin's back -own and run an orphanage -be published -look through a telescope -attend a March for Life/SFLA conference/March for Life Youth Rally -own a VW bug or bus To Learn: -Spanish -sign language -crochet -knitting -cross-stitch -sewing (with buttons,...

As many of you know, I don't have a favorite book - or a favorite author.  I have a few favorite authors, and some books that I doubt I'll ever forget, but I could never point out any one favorite. Some of the authors I like are... ~Robin Jones Gunn ~Shannon Hale ~Melody Carlson ~Greg Paul ~Jane Austen Some of the books I treasure... ~ A Family Forever by Brenda Coulter ~ Just Ella and Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix ~The Books of Bayern series by Shannon Hale ~Christy Miller & Friends series by Robin Jones Gunn ~ Princess Academy by Shannon Hale ~ Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen This is by no means a comprehensive list; just a sampling of literature I enjoy. :)

Like I said last week, I don't really have favorites. (I mentioned color and blogger as the two constants: I forgot cereal! - Cheerios, of course.) But I do have several movies I enjoy, so today I'm cheating and sharing more than one. :) I suppose that's a bad idea, cheating when it's only day two... So, movies I love: ~ Christy movies I much prefer the television show, but the third and last of these continuations is such a perfect ending. ~ Disney's Tangled Their love isn't first sight (ick). The music is good. The guy actually has a personality and a back story and looks like a person. Also, I have this thing for hair... ~ Disney's Beauty and the Beast Again, no love-at-first-sight, good music, guy has a personality and story... plus I am a sucker for all things Beauty and the Beast related, as we will learn when we get to favorite television shows. ~ Left Behind trilogy I am in love with Buck. Have been since I met him in the books, ...

Blogs I Love (in alphabetical order) adorkable by Dezzy Ask Caitlin by Caitlin O'Conner Big House in the Little Woods by Bailey Breezes in the Meadows by Sarah Grace Enchanted Musings by Marcia Far Above Rubies by Jasmine Grace's Garden Walk by Grace Just Us Girlz by AnnaKate Only a Breath by Melanie Muthering Heights by Jessica old-fashioned beauty by Abigail Pastor's Girl's Ponderings by Carlotta Pro-Life Quotes by Christine Scribble Chicks by the Scribble Chicks The Daughter of a King   by Anna The Disney Wedding Blog by Carly The YA Blogosphere (Teen Blog Directory) You Are Still Loved by Bethany Young Homemakers by Rachel and Jessica As you can see, there's pretty much something for everyone. I sorted through the 200+ blogs I follow to find the ones I truly love and check up on. The topics range from mothering, homemaking, and parenting to books, clothing, and random life. A uniq...

Ways You Can Promote Life... ...For Free (Or dirt cheap): host Abort73 video showings at your home, church, etc. pray fast - give up something, not necessarily food, for a set amount of time and pray - pray lots! wear light pink and baby blue ribbons in remembrance of the lost babies donate your Facebook status to Abolish Abortion Tweet and/or Facebook quotes, statistics, and links to inform your friends and followers share Abort73 photos and videos stay informed about the latest in the abortion and pro-life movements, and the people involved write blog posts, Facebook notes, poems, stories, articles, etc. sharing the truth honor those who would have graduated with you, if not for their tragic deaths volunteer at Pregnancy Crisis Centers vote for politicians who fight to end abortion request books at bookstores and local libraries that tell the truth about abortion set your automatic email signature to include a pro-life phrase and/or link fly the flag half-mast in...

Inspired by two college professors' posts, which I cannot link to because I can no longer find them. 1. Use improper grammar.  I am a writer.  I am a reader.  I'm not a grammar fanatic (although some would say otherwise); but blatant or continuous mistakes drive me crazy.  And guess what?  If the top posts or most recent posts in your blog are riddled with problems, I'm not likely to click 'follow.'  Just because less literary people accept errors they themselves make a lot, does not mean everyone appreciates trying to sort through your misplaced commas or run-on sentences. 2. Use improper spelling.   This is very close to #1.  They're both very common mistakes that the average person would overlook.  I admit, sometimes I get too picky or the editor in me kicks in and all I can see is red.  Most times, though, I can understand a few words out of a hundred.  Your and you're; they're, their, and there; or too, two, and to are...