I have a question inspired by some things I read recently. I'll have to put my examples in the comments because they're a little spoilery for The Twelve and The New Hunger but I'm sure relate to other books as well. It's a question relating to acceptable social mores and stretching them in fiction. Do come and chat? I'd love to hear what other people think of this.

This pic is tangentially related (consider it a hint):

Is anyone, ANYONE, as excited about this as me?!!!! Vampire Academy was option for a movie a really long time ago and now it's scheduled to start filming this summer! I really have been waiting for ever for this. First the movie will be called  Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters. And, the guy who wrote Heathers, Daniel Waters, and his brother, Mark, the guy who directed a little movie called Mean Girls are in on the project. David has written the script and Mark is set to direct it. Also Rose, Dimitri, and Lissa have been cast (pictures below and they actually picked a Russian actor to play Dimitri!)

Interesting fact Zoey Deutch is the daughter of Lea Thompson, Back to the Future, Lea Thompson! So a Heathers, Mean Girls, and Back to the Future connection.

Okay so lettuce discuss, if you are a fan like me!

(source)

There is no Vampire Academy tag...why?! Also I have tagged it as Demetri, but if you are a VA fan you know Dimka's name is spelt Dimitri, with i's instead of e's!

I'm a step sister. As in...mom married step dad with 3 very close daughters when I was 14 and I'm suddenly an only child with 3 step sisters. They never accepted me as a sister and it's all I ever wanted.

Flash forward to our thirties. All three blood sisters are very close. I'm still.... not. I am not good at developing family relationships because my own family is pretty screwed up. For the last 18 years, I haven't gotten close to my step sisters.

Anyways... it's "Sisters Week" apparently. My step sister posted this sister quote on Facebook and tagged her other sisters but not me in it. Lame. immature. I know. I can't help it but I'm PISSED. All 3 of them have gotten married in the last 2 years and I've been a bridesmaid in each of the weddings but they can't tag me in a sister quote on Facebook?! 

So what do I do?! This isn't the first time I've seen stuff like this on Facebook, and it might not be the last. It's upsetting to me and I'm not good at conveying my feelings to people. 

I need some advice. Please help.

xoxo

I need from help from my fellow mommy campers. I have a precocious 8 month old that began rejecting her formula after she started eating solid food. I breastfeed her, but supplement with formula during the day because I have never been able to pump more than a few ounces. She drinks water from her sippy cup (with assistance) and eats three meals a day, and the number of poopy and wet diapers she has tells me she is not dehydrated. More importantly, she is a healthy weight. What's the problem you ask? She still hasn't slept through the night. 33 weeks after her arrival, this mommy has yet to sleep more than 5 hours, and that's on a rare good night. Her pediatrician suspects she is reverse cycling - making up for the calories she is missing during the day by nursing all night.

The ped suggested cutting back on her food so that she is hungry for a bottle. I tried that one day - she came home from the sitters starving and fussy because her food was cut back and she still only drank 2 oz of her bottle. I caved and sent her normal amount of food to the sitters the next day. 

Should I drop the bottle and focus on getting her used to a sippy cup? Is there another way she can get the calories she needs during the day so she isn't waking up 2-3 times per night? Her normal pattern is to nurse around 9, then 12-1, 2-3 and get up around 5:30 for the day.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I would appreciate any and all tips, suggestions and words of wisdom. I love my daugher more than I ever imagined possible, but I am teetering on the edge due to the bone crushing exhaustion I feel each and every day. I have tried co-sleeping, but she won't nurse laying down and generally will not settle down at all if I try to lay with her. I have tried to have my husband give her a bottle and she just screams until I come nurse her. Needless to say, I'm exhaused and desperate for to try anything within reason to get a full night's sleep. 

Lucky for her, being cute covers a multitude of sins ;)

I recently found out about this movie in the making and had to share:

Be Brave

Bursting with unquenchable curiosity and a boundless love for life, Daniel Northcott was a one-of-a-kind filmmaker. Barely 20, he set out on a decade-long quest to travel the world, spreading his infectious enthusiasm across four continents and dozens of cultures. Through ruins and cities, war zones and sacred sites, he captured each precious moment on camera with an eye for colorful characters of every age and description.

In April of 2007, Dan’s journey led him to a greater adventure than he had ever imagined. Despite warnings of an ancient curse, he brought home a bone from a sacrificial Mayan burial cave in Yucatán, and just months later he was diagnosed with leukemia – cancer of the bone marrow.

When Daniel learned 8 years into his film project that he had only months to live he began a race to complete his unfinished film. Amazingly, he continued to document every detail of the roller-coaster ride that followed —from the doctor delivering the crushing news to every intense medical procedure, losing his hair, and intimate moments with friends and family.

With over a thousand hours of footage and no energy or time left he made a 40-minute sketch of the film he dreamed to make and left the footage in his will to his sister Erin Northcott. His last wish was to request she oversee the completion of his legacy, his film.

Ok Ladies...what brings out the 12 yr old boy in you? What totally innocent things make you do a double take and then giggle? What makes your brain take a detour through the gutter?

Show and tell so we can all see..... and explain if need be.

I saw this the other day in a parking lot and it made my mind go places other than the manufacturers intended.

It's a Pontiac Vibe.....all I could think was...."must be a woman who drives that"

I had to press the reset button on my pc while my microstorage device (4.0GB) was plugged in because my computer just froze, I couldn't safely remove the storage device.

I turned my computer on and now I can't load the storage device. It has all the pictures/scans I was editing. My computer wouldn't let me safely remove after the reboot so I pulled it out. A window popped up about formatting drive f and that I shouldn't have removed the storage device...

Is there a way to recover my pics/scans. I'm kind of freaking out right now. I don't have any back ups. :(

Thanks for any help. 

More vampire movie excitement!

So the other day I posted a still from Only Lovers Left Alive. Today there's a new trailer for Byzantium:

I love German Shepherds.

I believe they are one of the best breeds out there.

I'm seriously considering adopting a Shepherd from a rescue after I graduate college in December and once I get a steady job. I've already saved up quite a bit of money from my summer jobs and babysitting (I've been thinking about getting a dog for a while, haha) Anyways, I've never had a GSD before so I would love it if any of you lovely Shepherd owners could let me know what to expect. I'm not getting a puppy, instead I think I'll get an older Shepherd around 2-3 years old. I also would love to make him/her a therapy dog, but we'll see. Can't plan too much yet!

Do you have any great stories about your Shepherd that you'd like to share? 

Or any pet! (doesn't have to be a Shepherd)

Also, to make this more interactive: What's your favorite dog breed and why?

Shetland sheepdogs are my other favorite breed, I grew up with two of them. :)

Have you had moments where you think, this is too ridiculous, this should be in a fic?  Or maybe it's a good moment.  Have you had that perfect romantic moment where the music swells just as the sun is setting and you get that amazing kiss and then...your leg pops?  :) 

Okay, it doesn't have to be that cheesy or whatever.  Just come in and share your amazing/ridiculous/swoon-worthy/face-palming moments.  

As for me?  My life is feeling a little fic-like lately.  My husband got his groove on with inappropriate would-be suitor...or something.  I'll share an update on my work awkwardness in the comments. :)

Okay, so it wasn't this intense but any excuse for angry Edward is a good one, right?  ;)

My hubs and I can't agree on a name for our little girl who will arrive in 8 to 10 weeks. It's come down to:

If she has brown hair when she's born she will be Natalie.

If she has blonde hair when she's born she will be Emily.

If she had red tones she will be Madelyn.

(kidding but only sort of. And son is reddish blonde, daughter is brown)

I like them all but prefer Madelyn or Natalie better than Emily. Prefer nicknames of Maddie, or Emi better than Nat.

Wonder if Madelyn is too popular now but it's my current fave....I think. Gah it's so hard!

Your pick of the three?

And just for fun, my latest belly shot - 30 weeks - ala bathroom. I'm up 12 lbs. Mostly boobs and baby.

HA HA when I clicked on the campfire after I posted, it elongated my picture to make me look thinner than I am. Me likey LOL

Hey all!

Come and share your losses, gains and anything else!

Your challenge for the week - Inspiration. Come and tell us what is inspiring you to lose weight. Tell us how you get inspired. Inspire someone else. Use pictures, stories, gifs etc.

Or for something more practical like the exercise-avoider like me, show me an inspirational exercise video to make me do something. I tried a core strengthening class this week and genuinely thought I might have torn my intestines open or something.

Yeah, so this is me right now.

For some insane reason, I did NaNoWriMo and completed my first orginal fiction novel. It's now with an editor (yay!), but now is the hard part--writing the book blurb.

It's driving me nuts! I've narrowed it down to two versions. Can you help me by taking a peak and letting me know, which one grabs your attention the most?

Blurbs are inside.

It's the FFA

have at 'er.

keep your nudes off the front page

shut yer filthy mouth up in front, too

whatcha been up to?

So there's a questionnaire in the web that "gives" you a new citizenship based on your values.

Okay, so this only covers European (and some "affiliated") countries, but we have had so much fun at work when we have been comparing our results.

The questionnaire is based on a survey that is conducted every 9 years in Europe (since 1981) and they are about your attitude to society, work, fellow people, religion etc.

So, where would you feel like home, in Europe?

http://sreda.org/igra/?lang=en

I was a bit surprised to find that I share most of my values with the Danish. :)

So, I've found someone to come with me to Milan and MUSE (she's actually a girl I met through the fandom!!! She writes Twific and I found out through Twitter that she's a neighbor of my brother's). Problem is, we'll arrive at Malpensa at midnight, as we made the mistake of going for a low-cost airline (Easyjet), which isn't so low cost as you'll spend the money you save on a hotel (again, arriving at midnight). So, can anyone help me with the following please?

-No public transportation between Malpensa airport and Milan after midnight, right? Taxis cost like 100 euros damn it. And even if we do find public transportation from the airport to the central station, how safe is it for two single women? And can you easily find a taxi at say 2-3 a.m to take you to the hotel? (see below)

-I'm thinking of staying at Ibis Milano Centro. Any opinions?

-On the 29, the blessed day of the concert (during which I REALLY REALLY HOPE i won't have a migraine) I think it would be better to stay at Turin, right? Does anyone know what time do the conerts finish? Suggestions on Turin hotels are also welcome

-Any recommendations on sightseeings that can't be missed? Esp. outlets!! I'll only spend like 2 days in Milan and one in Turin.

-How likely is it that Matthew will dump Kate Hudson for me?

-Their drummer is dating KatyPerry????????????????

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN. 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT? 

COME ON IN AND DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS IN HERE, CAMPERS.

YOU KNOW THE DRILL. 

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS CAMPFIRE. SO IF YOU CAN'T WATCH IT AT 8PM EST, BE WARE!

Hi all,

Does anyone remember a very old fic where Bella is a waitress in a diner and has a witty sense of humor and Edward comes in a few times, he plays piana across the street, Esme doesn't like Bella because she's lower class and gets Bella to cater an event for her.  I don't remember much else.  I think Success was in the title but for the life of me I can't remember it, hope it's still kicking around.  Any links would be great!  Thanks.

Also , can someone rec a newer Carlisle/Bella fic.  I haven't seen any new ones lately.

Recs:

Barefoot in Texas
Author: planetblue PM
I watch her jumping, prancing, her hands empty but taking pictures. Her feet bare on the hot Texas earth. Everything in my life that was planned to a T just whirled away in a ruffled skirt.
Rated: Fiction M - English - Romance - Edward & Bella - Chapters: 22 - Words: 76,858 - Reviews: 2,456 - Favs: 1,153 - Follows: 1,476 - Updated: 01-14-13 - Published: 10-30-12 - Status: Complete - id: 8656218

The Practicum
Author: TheFicChick PM
"We're going to be teaching high schoolers how not to get each other knocked up or infected with gonorrhea. It's hardly a romantic evening for two."
Rated: Fiction M - English - Romance/Humor - Bella & Edward - Chapters: 6 - Words: 33,744 - Reviews: 1,194 - Favs: 904 - Follows: 1,494 - Updated: 01-29-13 - Published: 01-13-13 - id: 8906792

WINNERS ANNOUNCED HERE!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ...

1st Place @VerucaDarling

2nd Place @bkhchica

Honourable Mention @ileftmyscar

Honourable Mention @BedeliaJane

Thanks to BelieveItOrNot for judging.

Thank you so much to everyone who participated - we'll see you next week!

______________________________

I canvassed interest about this on here a few weeks ago, and I think we're ready to roll write!

There is so much talent in this fandom, and we want to see it in action!

So let's do some ...

fan fic flash fic

Get over there, and check out the rules, and get ready to write me all sorts of pretty words.

BelieveItOrNot has picked a gorgeous prompt, and she's super excited about seeing what you all come up with! (So am I!)

Rec for your time ... I'm utterly besotted by this Edward.

Two Weeks: Based on 'One Week' by Barenaked Ladies. It's been one week since she looked at him, threw her arms in the air and said, "You're crazy." Edward is in trouble with his girlfriend and her parents. Will he learn to swallow his pride and overcome his fears? Will helping his sister through troubles of her own help Edward to face his? E/B, A/J This is their Much Ado About Nothing