Pictures from 2013 ACFW Conference in Indianapolis

Earlier this month I went to the 2013 ACFW Conference in Indianapolis. Not only did I enjoy seeing my beautiful agent Tamela Hancock Murray and the agency CEO Steve Laube, I had the pleasure of hanging out with my writer pal Cherie Burbach who lives across the country from me. And I got to see a bunch of my other buddies! I wish I had taken more pictures, but at least I managed to take a few. Here they are:

With my literary agent Tamela Hancock Murray

With my pal Cherie Burbach

With longtime conference buddy Lena Nelson Dooley

With friend and Bloomfield neighbor Martha Rogers

With friend and fellow "Bad Hair" devo author Kristin Billerbeck

Tickled Pink - Coming Soon!

The release date of Tickled Pink has been pushed back to October. I'm excited that Priscilla, Laura, Trudy, Tim, and Celeste will discover even more about their classmates and themselves as they head to Piney Point, Mississippi, for their 20th high school reunion.

Here's a blurb:

Priscilla Slater shows up at her 20-year reunion as a national celebrity. Her hair salon dynasty has skyrocketed, and to top it off, she has her own line of hair products. She has become a huge success with the “Ms. Prissy Big Hair” line that lets women with the thinnest of locks get the coveted “big hair” look so popular in the South. Her classmates have finally come to terms with adulthood, but they’re handling it with the grace of a Southern woman wearing white after Labor Day. It’s just downright awkward! Asserting the maturity that her classmates have often lacked, Priscilla holds her head high. But she can’t ignore everything. When she catches her mother in the arms of her former high school principal, Priscilla can’t get out of town fast enough. Eager to get back to her more comfortable life, Priscilla runs head-on into an ultimatum: Tim tells her they’re not getting any younger—as if she has to be reminded.


Click on any of the following links to order Tickled Pink:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books a Million
Christianbook.com
Cokesbury

I loved writing this series and getting to know the characters as they matured over the years. When people ask which character I most relate to, I can honestly say a little bit of all of them. I would love to hear from readers, so please email me at DebbyMayne@gmail.com.

Repurposing

Since we can't always get exactly what we want or need, I believe in being creative and using things you can find around the house to solve little daily problems. Who says each item can only be used for whatever it was designed?

Here are some ways you can repurpose items:

Old Doors – Turn an old door into a coffee table. Sand it down, paint or stain it, and add spindles or other wooden structure for legs.

Old door repurposed as a coffee table
Photo courtesy of Jusben/Morguefile.com

Old Wooden Ladder – Turn it to a vertical position, hang it on the wall, and use it as a bookshelf or knickknack rack.

Chipped Coffee Cups and Glasses – Don't toss a cup or glass into the trash just because it has a small chip. Use it to display cut flowers. If you turn it around so the chip is facing the wall, no one has to know it isn't perfect.

Dish Rack – Use your old dish rack to store your file folders upright.

Squirt Bottles – After you finish using the last of the ketchup, wash out the bottle and use it for something else you can squirt, like pancake batter.

Cork Board – Add some push pins or decorative thumbtacks and use it as a jewelry display. You'll be able to keep your necklaces from tangling, and they'll be lined up, making it easier to find the perfect piece for each outfit.

Old Rake – Another idea for displaying your accessories is to cut off the handle of a rake, hang the tine section on your wall, and use it for your necklaces or scarves.

Old Socks – Turn any sock into a puppet by adding felt eyes, nose, and ears. You can also fill them with lint from the dryer and turn them into stuffed animals or holiday decorations. 

Turn an old white sock into
a holiday decoration.
Photo courtesy of LadyHeart/Morguefile.com

Paper Coffee Filters – Use them to separate your dishes or nonstick cookware.

Egg Cartons – You can use empty egg cartons for a variety of things around the house. When your child wants to paint, dribble a little bit into each section to prevent the colors from running together. You can use them for beading or anything else with small pieces.

Last Year's Lunch Box – Your child might want a new lunch box every year, but that's not a good reason to toss the old one. Use it for other things, such as a carrying case for electronics accessories, place to store receipts or manuals, or a first aid kit. Don't forget to label it before putting it away.