Anita VP

Self-confidence is a tricky beast.   Tricksy Hobbitses.   Tricky to rock around.   It’s tricky to know where the fine line is between knowing you’re on to something good and listening to the voices around you – be it in the arena of something personal, professional, writing, social, parental, etc. That innate sense of creativity and determination, guided by gut and inner voice, isn’t inherently one that needs to be silenced.   I’d hazard to say that most great works of art (in any form) or inventions wouldn’t exist if their creators listened to the negative noise.   But isn’t that where things get tricky ?   How do you know what’s negative noise and what’s actually constructive?   How do you know you’re on to something great and other people can’t see your vision?   How do you know you’ve really got a bomb of an idea that’s going nowhere?  What do you do when you get a bad critique?  Or no one is interested in buying what y...

The curio cabinet of the internet delivers up another fun gem.   Check out Merriam-Webster’s Time Traveler site , which shows when words were first recorded as being used.   You can pick a recent year or go back a few centuries.   Really a fun look at how language is always a moving target and there are always new words.   For example, “meow” and “mango” have apparently only been around since 1582.   It’s also interesting to consider how words have changed in their usage over the years.   I texted my niece a picture of my baby, who was looking extra cute.   She responded with, “That’s so prime.”   I’m amenable to any compliments about my kid, but the first thought on my mind was “Ama…zon… Prime?”    Apparently, a modern use also means “perfect,” different than how prime was first used as an adjective in the 15 th century to meaning “first in time.”   Second children everywhere are now also allowed to feel… prime! ...

Every year as Spring pops up and we move into Easter season, my mind always goes back to a picture book we read each year, HUMBUG RABBIT.   It’s a silly, entertaining little story about a Scrooge-like rabbit – but what makes it phenomenal are the illustrations.   Check out this book preview here . I love it all.   Bunnies are hands down one of my very favorite animals.   I love the rainbow of eggs.   The careful placement of the text alongside of the illustrations and the binary above and under ground views turns this into something special. For whatever reason, picture books, in particular, sing to my soul and continue to do so.   I would encourage you to snag a copy and read it.   Read it to your kids.   Take the time to read the books that are special – you’re building memories, not just killing time. #AnitaVP #Easter #Easter2019 #Rabbit #HumbugRabbit #picturebook #readmore

The proverbial ‘they’ say that job change, having a baby, and moving are some of the most stressful things in life.   So why not pack that all into the span of less than 12 months, right?   Sure – I’m not crazy.   I’m totally crazy.   Just yesterday, I marveled at the fact that I’m lucky my head is attached at the neck or I would surely misplace it.   It’s also a wonder I’ve not fallen sick with all that’s going on over here. Nonetheless, I’m working my heinie off to help aid for smoother transition for my kids.   So what would my gut reaction be to do to help with that transition: write a new manuscript around the concept, of course!   At the moment, it’s titled WHEN I MOVE.   I’m looking to create something to help Human #1 develop a healthy internal monologue regarding the move.   Inspired by the narrative voice of books like IN MY ROOM , I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and writing something from a first-person point of view. ...

As a parent, I’m finding that some of my favorite picture books to read to my tiny humans are ones that in some way aid with anticipating a transition.  It feels like a parenting BOGO or 2-for – tiny human gets a story and we prepare for something more serious. Case in point, we read books about getting a sibling before Human #2 came along.  Currently, I’m in the writing stages of a picture book manuscript about moving.  What are your favorite picture books to help a child anticipate a transition, either as a parent or from your childhood? Pictured: A transition so fast that no human or picture book could have prepared me. #AnitaVP #picturebook #amwriting #moving #parenting #transition

One of my favorite things is when I get the sensation that I am actively, in that very moment, living out something that should be from a story.  Last Wednesday, Macho Man and I were out at a family-owned Mexican restaurant.  There was a middle-aged gentleman at a keyboard providing live entertainment.  I thought to myself, “live traditional music is pretty good for a Wednesday.”  We order our usuals of Tacos al Pastor (yum) and Arroz Con Pollo.  We begin to scarf down our chips and salsa like we’ve never eaten before – and then I paused.  Na na.. “Is that Hava Nagila?”  Na na.. Macho Man, mouth still full of chips, stopped crunching to listen too.  Hava... “That’s Hava Nagila.”  Hava Nagila... It was Hava Nagila.  Hava Nagila Mexican style, on a Casio keyboard.  I don’t know which story I was in there for a moment – but it was awesome! In the literary sense, juxtaposition is showing contrast by placing concepts sid...

In honor of International Women's Day, I can't help but think on what I hope that my daughter learns as she grows up. And really, for me, it's simple: I hope she learns to relish and flourish in the unique, God-intended plan for her.  I hope she learns to revel in the experience of being fully woman and fully human.  I hope she learns to lovingly support, serve, encourage, and value all those around her.  I hope she learns from the women in her life and their varied and distinct forms of strength. #AnitaVP #InternatinalWomensDay #daughter #hope

This really super article from Quartz, Tea if by sea, cha if by land: Why the world only has two words for tea , is a neat little breakdown of the etymology of the word “tea.” Let me just say this: I don’t always nerd out, but when I do, I prefer dos "chai teas". Consider this your very digestible, afternoon lesson in world history and linguistics combined into one!   Definitely worth your read.   I love knowing (and sharing) cool facts about language and its evolution over time.   Right about now, I could go for a good chai tea latte – although telling you that may be a bit redundant. *wink* #AnitaVP #lingustics #nerd #lingusiticsfun #chai #tea #chaitealatte

Frost’s “ The Road Not Taken ” is popular and lovely sounding.   Yellow woods?   Take me there.   People even like to reference this poem in a sort of pop culture sense. However, as with many literature references that “people make”, it leaves the astute reader wondering if the person speaking has actually read. I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. I have commonly heard folks use the above line to mean feel good things like, “I did something different and thus, go me.”   “Making a choice that fewer people have is the better choice.”   “Follow your own path; it feels good.”   Legit, I think there is even a country song about this mistaken interpretation. I wish you could see me shaking my head.   Those may or may not be nice things depending upon the circumstance, but that’s not what that poem means.   Plain and simple.   The speaker in the poem is clearly one who is inclined to regret.   ...