Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Bullet Journaling



I've recently discovered the art of bullet journaling. Basically, it's a daily, weekly, and/or monthly journal where you write down anything you need to keep track of over time. You can use it for your daily schedule, meal plans, track appointments, birthdays... The sky is the limit!

It took me a few days to put one together that works for me. While in the creative process, I kept going back-and-forth as to whether I really wanted to keep one or not. I was trying to make it much more difficult than it had to be.

Finally, I just decided to keep it simple. One page per day with everything I wanted/needed to do that day, split up into sections. I used a different colored pen for each section to keep it organized and make it pretty.

For now, my one-page-per-day is perfect for me. As time goes by, I can add more information, or even more sections. I can also see myself getting a bit more creative with colors, stencils and stickers. Oh, what fun!

Is bullet journaling right for you? Check out Sarah's Chapter blog post on starting a bullet journal to find out, and get some great tips on putting one together. Enjoy!

Do you have a BuJo? Post a pic in the comments.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Book Release | Delivered by Angels by Emerald Barnes

Delivered by Angels
by Emerald Barnes

Determined to escape her abusive father and drunken mother, Lexi Johnson turns to the blade to numb her pain, but it isn’t enough to end her misery. She’s convinced that not even God could save her now.

Roxy Taylor is the new girl in town, and Lexi doesn’t trust her, especially when she teams up with DJ Tucker to try and break down the barriers that Lexi has put in place.

Little does Lexi know, there are greater forces battling for her life, and as Lexi begins to open up to both Roxy and DJ, she’ll see that she isn’t alone in this world.

In the heart-pounding sequel to Entertaining Angels, everyone’s favorite angel, Zach Taylor, is back, and he’s there to make sure that Madison and Chase Sanders are on the path that God has chosen for them, a path that could deliver Lexi from the demons who want her soul.

Purchase Delivered by Angels on Amazon today, available through Kindle Unlimited as well! 

From Emerald

As teens, it’s easy to feel alone and unloved, and so often, that can lead down dangerous paths. It’s easy to want to fit in, to make sure that you’re popular or whatever. But the best advice I can give you is to be yourself. Be true to who you are as a person. And if you do feel unloved and alone, know that you aren’t alone and that you are loved!

I wrote a book, Delivered by Angels, to show others that God loves them and that He would do anything to show others that love. And that’s what I hope you know. That even when you feel at your lowest, there is always someone who loves you.

As a teen, I know that I felt unloved. I felt like such a loser. I had friends, and I was semi-popular, but I wasn’t blind to the mocking of my peers behind my back. I was never good enough for the people I went to school with, and I have lived with that to this day. (I’m about to turn 29.) It’s hard, especially as a kid, and there are people who deal with similar pain, bullying, and more, such as abuse, on a daily basis. There are kids who have to live with things they shouldn’t have to, and it’s not easy on them. They don’t know how to escape their pain.

I’m not saying I have the magical cure. I don’t. Even as a Christian, I know that life isn’t all rainbows, but I do know that I don’t want people hurting. I encourage anyone going through difficult times to talk to someone, even if it’s finding a support group or counselor. You don’t have to do this alone. There are people who will be happy to talk to you.

Take it from me, I bottled in most of my emotions. I didn’t like talking about the things that bothered me, and it wasn’t good. I should have talked more, opened up, trusted more people because I wasn’t alone. I had family who loved me, and they would have done anything to help me. There are people who feel that way about you, even when you don’t think that’s true.

You are not alone. Whatever you’re going through, know that God loves you, and He is there for you no matter what.

If you need to talk about something, or just want prayer, you can message me through the prayer request page on my website.



About Emerald Barnes:

Emerald Barnes graduated with a B.A. in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing at Mississippi University for Women. She resides in a small town in Mississippi and has the accent to prove it. She’s an auntie, a Whovian, a little bit of a nerd, a reader, a writer, and a family-oriented person. God is number one in her life, and she thanks Him continuously for His love and favor.

Connect with Emerald online:

Twitter: @emeraldbarnes
Pinterest: Emerald Barnes


Email: emerald_barnes@yahoo.com




Sunday, June 12, 2016

Book Review | A Charming Ghost by Tonya Kappes

A Charming Ghost (Magical Cures Mystery, #8)A Charming Ghost by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always love reading about June's new adventure, and this one had a double dose. There was a new murder mystery to be solved, of course, but the mystery of the ghost boy from A Charming Death (do us part) was also explored. June had a lot of running around to do in this book, which allowed readers to get a wonderful look at Whispering Falls.

I loved watching June solve two puzzles at once, and even getting a chance to look back on her past while doing so. I can't wait for the next one!


View all my reviews

Thursday, June 9, 2016

The Morning Light



My husband was running late this morning and asked me if I minded making his breakfast. It was just after 7 am, and though that is extremely early for me (I usually sleep 'til 11), I didn't mind getting up to help. I let the pups out the back door and discovered the beautiful morning. The sun was out, the sky was a beautiful blue and there were no clouds. A perfect morning.

So perfect that I decided to stay up. I sat quietly on the couch with a cup of coffee, grabbed my iPhone and began playing with my apps. When I got to Pinterest, I found several quotes to pin to Spoken from My Open Heart. When I was done pinning, I looked at the board and enjoyed the mix of quotes, stories and pictures I've collected over the last four months since starting the board. I was really happy with what I saw.

It's amazing how relaxing and inspiring it can be to get up earlier than normal. The quiet and the view make it a peaceful way to start the day. Try it sometime!

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Book Review | A Charming Death (do us part) by Tonya Kappes

A Charming Death (do us part) (Magical Cures Mystery #7.5)A Charming Death (do us part) by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this novelette in which Oscar and June finally got married! There was just enough of a mystery to whet my appetite for the next book, but it was the beautiful wedding storyline I enjoyed most. I've been rooting for this couple for what feels like years, and I'm so happy they are finally married! This book was a wonderful mix of mystery and romance, which was just what I needed to get me back to reading.

View all my reviews

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Why Bother?



Earlier today, I was cleaning my kitchen, again. It seems every time I think it's clean, suddenly more dishes stack up and the counters are full of crumbs again. The same thing happens in the bathroom: I clean it, only to see soap scum build up quickly, water all over the counter, and hair all over the floor. Why bother?! It takes a lot of my energy to clean up just one or two things around the house, and I always have to rest afterward. So when I see that it doesn't last long, I get so frustrated. And it's not because I have a messy household. My husband and I do the best to clean up behind ourselves, and there are no kids making their own mess. It's just life. Life is messy. And you have to deal with it.

But I don't always feel like dealing with it. For the past several months, I've been feeling tired, depressed, and stressed out. I have no idea why. I keep trying to think of why, but I don't come up with any answers. I think maybe it's from not getting any work done. I haven't touched my draft in months. But when I think about picking it up to work on, my stress increases. It seems my body and mind just want a break. Which is OK, but it still bothers me. Why? I don't have a clue.

Do you ever get the moody blues and don't know why? What do you do to figure out the problem and fix it? Me, I try to write a list of what's bothering me, even if it takes me a while to come with something, and even if that something is ludicrous. Right now, it's that I'm bored. I'm bored with writing, frustrated even. Yes, I want to finish my book. but I know when I do, I have a lot of work coming for editing and formatting it for publication. Yikes! That just freaks me out right now. So, instead, I do nothing. And nothing seems to make things worse. And so it's an endless cycle. 

What I really want to do is find another hobby that will fill my soul while I take a break from my writing. But I have no idea what to do. So, I thought I'd ask you. What are your hobbies? What would you suggest I do to get my creative energy flowing again? Thanks in advance for your help!