International BFF's

Before you start celebrating New Years, Here's a little thing to celebrate on the side. So I opened up my blogger page, which is only visible to me, and there was the overview statistics for International Bffs, viewable only to authors.  And I saw something really  cool. Yep, that's right!  We just reached 2999 pageveiws, no joke.  And on top of that, after only  a little over a year,  we're only 28 posts away from beating my AF Bratlife record for post #.  Cool, right! Well, there's only one thing left for me to do before going and getting the sparkling apple cider.

HIYA!!! So its the last day of the year.  Can you believe it? I mean, think about it.  I started blogging Nov. 17, 2012.  That was three years ago - three!  This is making me feel old guys!  And International Bffs started on July 28, 2014.  I mean, this was our first full official year as a blog!   That  is cause for celebration, don't you think! So I'm here with glad tidings for all: Good Bye 2015!! HELLO 2016!!!!

Can you believe that 2015 is almost over? Like seriously, wasn't it like October yesterday?  And it hasn't even snowed yet where is my winter wonderland?!   The grass is green.  We have literal flowers  blooming in our garden.  I wore a t-shirt yesterday!  A t-shirt!!  Where is winter and what happened to 2015?! Ah, the mysteries of the universe. Anyway, I've been doing lost of interesting, well-thought out posts recently, and you knew that it could only last so long.  That's right - RMS is back.  And it wants revenge. I recently started CHAPTER TEN!!  Whoo!  I'm so happy and excited and its just so cool and I've made it so far in Book Two already.  I was talking to a friend recently (say hi Elena) and we figured out that I wrote Book One in two months, maybe three - because we were brainstorming without realizing it in August, when we went RVing for the first time, and I finished the draft version on Halloween night and...

Hiya, everybody? So International Bffs is a little over a year old now, and we have a few followers.  I do a lot of posting, but it's good practice for writing and I've learned a lot about blogging (like never do a 365 Day challenge without serious mental preparation) And yes, this is going to be one of those boring information posts.   Please read anyway!  This is important information (sorta)

GUESS WHAT?! Steve the Wimpy Dragon has returned, and with his own blog too! I said that it was going to happen, but I finally got around to actually doing it!  Steve TWD finally has his own, official, website, which can be found (and followed, hint hint) at www.stevetwd.blogspot.com . We're hoping for weekly comic posts* and eventually behind-the-scenes contact n stuff. (* There will be repeat comics for a while ) Anyway, comment with your comic ideas, questions, concerns and whatnot.  I want to hear your opinion!  :)  I will see you tomorrow for another 365 Days post, and have a great Monday.

I am a girl. I like nail polish.  I have lipstick and mascara.  I care about my hair.  I have nine pairs of shoes. I have four nerf guns (six if you count water guns).  I have pocket knives, and use them too.  I enjoy rollerblading and man hunt and nerf wars. And okay, maybe this would count as a rant post, but I'm only going to say this once so might as well rant about it, right?  I am sick  and  tired  of all the separation between "girl stuff" and "boy stuff" and you only have to walk through the kids' toy section of any major store to lose hope in humanity.  Why is it that Nerf, Lego, and other companies feel the need to make "girl stuff" anyway?  Ironically, the "girl" nerf guns' series is called nerf rebel. (over exaggeration)  Companies: well, we want girls to know that they're welcome in this business as well. Me:  by making sets of pink and purple guns specifically  for girls?  If a girl is goin...

Hi guys! Did you have a good Christmas?  I certainly hope so! You may notice that the blog has been revamped.  It's not much, just a background change and a color switch, but I hope you guys like it. So I was bored the other day and I wrote a list of questions that I (me, Noelle Matherne) am really tired of being asked. Literally, whenever I mention that I'm homeschooled: soooo how do you socialize?  Do you have friends?  No, I sit at home all day, doing nothing, and totally not messaging my friends in Ohio, Florida, New Jersey, Italy, and Idaho.   Not at all.  Nope. This does't really apply to me now, because I grew my hair our, but: Why is your hair so short? I don't know, why are your shoes pink?  Because REASONS. Military life: so...where are you going next?  I don't know.  My dad doesn't know.  The military doesn't know.  Why are you asking me. Okay, you guys might not get this one, but I'll say it anyway: what ...

Thanks for sticking with International Bffs this long!

Sorry for the long post name. As you might guess, today we're going to talk about ten things I've learned in my childhood military career.  Comment if you relate (or if I forgot something). "Brat" is not necessarily a bad description of someone Nothing lasts forever, so enjoy it while you can Good friends take work (if they don't take work, they're not good friends) No wall color is more ugly than that off white color Self checkout is easy to use {except its not} People have literally no idea how the military works...like...none...at all. Be inside at 5 o'clock or suffer the dire consequences You can't pack up a house in a single day.  No matter what the professional packers say. Normal people stand up for the national anthem at the movie theater Artillery fire and tanks in the streets are totally bad things (unless you don't live on base...) Some more things I decided not to include in my official list: "hm, that plane is ...

Sup guys. Noelle:  I would like to say that this might actually happen again, which would totally negate the title...be honest and comment below if you hate this or just think it's stupid. What she said.  Anyway, its Jess here guys, and technically I'm Noelle, but we're going to ignore that. Sam:  What?  She finally let you write a post?  Are you serious!?  Why can't I write a post?!!   Honestly I'm going to kill Noelle I can't believe that jjakfkdhagkdh..... That would be my best friend, Sam, but you can call him bucket head.  He's been trying to get Noelle to let him write one of these posts for-ev-er - Sam: -Because I'm Batman! *sighs* You're not Batman Sam, now go away!  Sorry about that guys.  Where was I? *Danny walks in*  Whatcha up to Jess? I will tackle the two of you now get out!  I'm trying to write a post and you're not helping! Sam:  We just wanted to know if you had any chocolate. ...

GUESS WHAT!!! We're just one day over 365!!!  Yes, today is the day after the half day mark!!!!!! *ahem* EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!kajreklfhkghvfakyrdiqh!!!!tharkjfhskg!!!!awhekdhtkhgjfhgskjd!!!!!!!!!!!! *cough cough* Okay, I'm done. I just want to thank all the authors, commenters, readers, sharers, and ignorers (even them!) for all your help and support and stuff.  It hasn't been easy, writing a post every single day, and we're only half way through, but if we can make it this far, we can keep going, right! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!

Hiya! So yeah, yesterday's post kinda stunk, but I doubt I can do better today...however, I can try. So a few people have been asking me about the newly introduced characters Red and Blue in my book, The Survivors.  Actually, let me restart with some news. There will be a third book!  It's going to be called The Cloners and will conclude the RMS series.  I hope that it turns out good, but I've got some good plans for it...*cue evil laughter*  Anyway, thanks to everybody that's helped me make it this far, and I can't wait to have The Survivors finished. Now that we have that out of the way, time for the character...study?  What would we call this?  I'm going to do my best to describe and give back story with out spoilers, but if you want to read the book without prior knowledge, do not click the link below!

So I had something planned for today. I really did.  What it was, we will never know, because I totally forgot and now I have no idea what to post.  So here, how bout a random preview of what's to come in Survivors (maybe possibly sometimes) "You shouldn't have come," the oily-haired man said, reaching for the gun. Sam shouted something wordless and before Ricardo could figure out what was happening, Red was kicking him in the gut.  Ricardo slipped, his arms whirling like off-balance pinwheels, and he slipped over the edge. Nova, refusing to leave this to gravity, dove after him.  "Catch me, you idiots!"  He screamed.  "Sure thing," Jess said. So yeah...that counts as a post, right?  RIGHT?! Adios everybody!    

Hello! I don't have a ton of time to post (part of the problem of posting literally ever day for 365) so I'm going to let you guys finish off chapter 5 in Survivors...its been bugging me, because its one of the hardest chapters I've ever written and I keep feeling like its not done. The Survivors (Part 22 & 23) Sam was shocked.  No, not shocked.  He had seen Jess’s determined face.  Heard her hope for better times.  He just didn’t know that she would force her way...and so fast.  So not shocked. “So are you going to leave?  Just like that?”  He asked, falling into step next to her.  Amazed?  Surprised? “Sorry, I don’t answer to S.H.I.E.L.D. interrogators anymore,” Jess snapped with a scornful smile.  Astonished.  That was the word Sam was looking for. He shoved her slightly, trying to get her to smile.  “I’m not a S.H.I.E.L.D. interrogator!  Where did you get that idea, anyway?” She abruptly pul...

Hiya! Okay, so originally I was going to post about how excited I was to be off of school finally.  And then I was going to just post RMS parts and call it good.  And then I was unsure.  And then I thought it would be fun to post about randomness, and finally it settled into a short post; remember the 1-Week Challenge that I put together?  Well, I have more! I've been trying to make each descriptive paragraph a little difference via writing style.  For example, this one is formed in short, choppy sentences (going against everything ever I've ever written...*shudder*) Monday was that kid.  The one that nobody likes.  Poor guy.  He tried so hard.  In music?  He sang off-key.  In math?  He raised his hand first - got the problem wrong.  At lunch?  Ate in the corner.  Maybe it’s the shoes.  They’re so shiny.  And perfect.  Like, all the time.  Bizarre.   So yeah, that's all I'm posting...

HELLO!!! I AM SO HAPPY!!!  Why? Well, first of all, I have a candy cane right now...and candy canes make everything better.  And so does lemon zinger tea.  Which I happen to also have right now. Second, the week is over, and I survived!  RMS is BACK!!! And thirdly, there's a Park Day tomorrow.  Don't know what a Park Day is?

You've heard me geek about EPBOT. Or maybe you haven't and are just sitting there, staring at the screen, wondering if Noelle has finally lost her mind. No, not yet guys.  I still have a few shreds of sanity left. EPBOT is an awesome geek girl blog with crafts, comic conventions, costumes, the whole deal.  Anyway, trust me when I say its AWESOME.  Don't trust me?  You can check out her latest posts here . So anyway, apparently I was supposed to get these for a Christmas stocking gift, but I did amazing  on a test recently (not bragging, I aced it) and Mom gave them to me early.  And I promptly screamed. This is a set of real, live, EPBOT pins made by Jen herself (no not my mom, the author of EPBOT) I got a Steampunk, a Little Mermaid, a Wonder Woman, a Disney, and a Jayne (from Firefly) pin.  SQUUEEEEEEEEE!!!! I'll try to post some more photos soon....ahem...SQUEEEEE!!!...and yes, that is a hand written note!! Sorry, I'm still geeking out....

Hi guys! I wrote a new short story!  It'll either be horrible or awesome (I can't decide) but I've gotten positive feed back so far, so lets see what you say!  :)

Hiya everybody! I have literally five minutes to write this post and still come across as professional and nice and all that, but I'm sure I can do it (right?) Anyway, we're almost half-way through my little writing challenge.  Haven't seen it?  I posted the picture yesterday.  I'm doing personified week days - what will you do?  Stories?  Poems?  You decide! She was a snoop.  There was no doubt about that.  She had pigtails bushy-full of secrets that weren’t hers and blue eyes wide with things she should have never seen.  Adults loved her little blue plaid dress; kids sneered upon her angelic smile.  “ You are liar.  You’re were not busy, you were having a party with such-n-such,” she’d say.  Don’t bother telling an adult though - they’ll never believe you.  Sunday is much too perfect to be a snoop, after all. That's literally all I have for you guys today!  Have a great day, and don't forget to comment! ...

Hiya! So like all challenges, I'm not going to do this in one week.  However, I will do this challenge multiple times, just to give you ideas.  There's no requirements, no pressure, no specific writing form, just a two word prompt with a day.  That's all I got for ya. Slight difference, between this and other challenges - this one's all me.  I sorta kinda made it up on the spot. So anyway, here's my next day (remember yesterday I did Friday, personified) The mess was unbearable.  It was driving me nutz.  But my friend Saturday?  Not so much.  He plopped down on the couch and used the pile of laundry as footrest.  The socks were foot warmers and dog toys; the stack of books entertaining and coffee holders; the couch a filing cabinet and a bed.  “This is the future!”  He said.  “This is the future.” Bye everybody, and don't forget to comment with your ideas and suggestions.  I hope you have a great day!

Fine. I won't post RMS yet.  Although you must know this is driving me insane.  Grrrrrrrr. However, I said nothing about not posting writing!  So I've been wanting to do this for a while - personifying weekdays as people (there might be a couple repeats, because some times a weekday can be multiple people...don't ask)  And no, this isn't like a marathon that's going to repeat every single day until you're all bored out of your skulls.  But it will be fairly often.  :) So here's today writing! Comment if you like it, or with your own twist on the Weekdays Challenge, because yes, it is a challenge...now.  Pinnable/re-postable poster coming soon. She was a breath on the wind.  One day here, the next dancing away, and the next she would be unrecognizable.  She was today, she was yesterday, but she was never tomorrow.   She painted her lipstick on bright red, her mascara on dark, and her tattoos like stickers.  Her hair was ...

I'm ba-ack! And I'm STILL forbidden from posting RMS parts (by my own mandate, of course, but still) so you get an interesting post today AND tomorrow!  (gasp)  And its a good thing too, because in this week of non-RMS posts, I may have written five more chapters and some other stuff.  Heh. So anyway, it's Christmas time.  Correction: it's advent time, but if you're not Catholic I'm not going to force this upon you, so it's Christmas time.  Anyway.... Not sure why my pictures cam out so cuddly, but I'm going to post them anyway!  So there!

Hiya everybody! Steve lovers unite; I have some news for you that I'm certain is good news or bad news.  At any rate, here's the picture and you tell me. So what do you think?  Would you read an official Steve blog?  Like I said in this little poster I made, I will NOT be posting any comics until this blog is ready for its grand opening and such.  Sorry guys. Once it gets started though, I'm going to try my best to post the sort of stuff you guys like, i.e. behind the scenes pictures and possibly time lapse videos or concept art.  Cool, right?  And of course, weekly comics, probably on Saturdays (geddit?  Saturday Steve?) Anyway, that's actually all I have today.  I promised that I wouldn't post RMS for a whole WEEK because of my Marathon posts that I tortured you guys with for a full week, so tomorrow will actually be a well thought out interesting post.  (gasp)  I hope you have a great day and don't forget to comment (I'm l...

Hey what's up everybody!? So I was like JUST talking about how I do a TON of stuff with my time (most of which my parents silently frown upon but have given up trying to stop me)  Anyway, here's two acrylic paintings I recently did.  Yeah. This is a painting of everybody's favorite demon!  Ain't she adorable...just for kicks, here's the photo I based it off of... He's the other pic (sorry...cruddy cell phone pic) of the acrylic painting I did for my mom.  Of all the things she could have asked for, she asked for...a cow.  Why?  I don't know.  Ask her. So anyway, that's all I got for you guys today.  :P

So here I am. Hi. You ever wonder why blogging is so hard for me? (no you don't, but I'm going to tell you anyway) I mean, its not like I have tons of stuff I do with my time, right?   Hahahahaha  no. First of all, I have school.  Considering I'm ahead a grade in two classes, that takes up a bunch of time - not just homework, but the actual classes as well.  Anyway, so I spend at least  seven hours a day on school, similar to public schooler, but usually its more like...(*frantically does math in my head*)...nine hours. Anyway, I have a bunch of other stuff.  Like all the time - 4H, art class (although art class recently ended...nooooooo) choir, piano, gym class....the list goes on and on. Besides all that, I run International Bffs and connect everyday with friends (school and otherwise) via G+ and blogger.  IBffs takes up a lot of time, because, you know, blogging.  Yech.  But you guys are awesome, its worth it.  I'm also consi...

Can you believe it? It's been like 170 Days since we started this challenge of 365 Days, which by the way, was totally not a good idea!  Anyway, 170 Days!!!  About 200 Days to go!  Lol. If you don't know what this challenge I'm talking about is, you can check out the "365 Days Info Page" at the top of this page - it's the tab that says "365 Days". Anyway, we just had a SUPERboring RMS Marathon  (if you're new, you can check out the RMS info page as well...we have a page for everything!!!) and I promised some photo dumping after said RMS Marathon.  Which I apologize for ahead of time.  :P  On this particular day, I have a bunch of photos which I should have posted a year ago, but didn't.  And I kept just putting it off...and putting it off...and so forth. NJ Readers:  remember the last gym class of the 2014-15 season?  Vaguely?  I had a broken collar bone and we went to the park instead of the gym?  Now the light bulb is...

Hello everybody! You survived the week through my RMS marathon, kickstarting the plot line of my second book, The Survivors!  As your reward, I promise not to post RMS for A FULL WEEK.   Although it may kill me - and then you would have lost your favorite blogger!  What would we do then?! Anyway, so the past few days, I like to do a little intro for my Marathon post.  Today, a deeply important psychological question: Who do you ship?  Jess & Danny (Alisa, one of our authors, christened this Jenny, but I changed it to Jelly) or Jess & Sam (she called this Jam...Jam and Jelly?  Geddit? Anybody?)  Comment!  :P

So yesterday I started out my RMS Marathon post by asking if somebody could name their band Marathon 5, because reasons.  Today: thoughts on life. Is it possible to eat popcorn more than one kernel at a time without feeling like a greedy American stereotype?  Seriously, am I alone in this feeling?

Just a thought... If any body who reads this blog starts a band (like, ever) can you call it Marathon 5?  It sounds edgy enough to be a band name and, well, it just does. Please?  I asked nicely! Anyway, just some marathon parts today (and geez, do I have a ton for you guys!)  We've had set up. We've had character development.  We've had feelz.  It's time for some action!!!

Just some RMS Marathon today. I know, I'm so boring.  I'll do my best to be a good blogger next week, ok?  No?  Not ok?

Ready for more Marathoning? Cool, because I just found some photos on iPhoto that TOTALLY need to be posted, so you know what that means...PHOTO BOMBING!!!  I'm a horrible blogger, really, but c'mon, torturing you guys is so fun.  :P

Hiya! What up everybody?  Are you ready for a long, boring post?!  BECAUSE I AM!!!  WHOO!! I promised to post the schedule for this train-wreck of an RMS marathon today, so here it is (read it and weep...or destroy me in the comment section at least....)

Ok, I know what you're thinking. Well, rather I should say, I know what old-timer International BFFs readers are thinking.  It goes something like this: they read the title, calmly looked around to make sure that there was nobody in earshot and then promptly screamed NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Me: :( Allow me to explain though.

Hiya! How is everybody today?  Of course, its Monday and nobody's happy about that, but all-in-all, how are ya doing?  Glad to hear it. So I was going to do a well-thought-out, nice, politically correct post and all that, but then I thought...nah.  Why not rant at some inanimate objects? Ahem.

How's your day going? Well today is Sunday, plus the official start of Advent, so get your Christmas trees out people, it's time for snow!  (Mom: shhh!  The weather will hear you!!!)  Anyway, I mainly hoping for time to write, paint, and blog this holiday season, and that my radio station won't go all "holiday hits" on me. Hopefully. It's been a while (almost a full week!  gasp!) since I posted RMS story parts, so let's start off with one of those, k?

So people who know me... Know that about once a month I'll be like: OMIGOSH GUESS WHAT WHAT GUESS. Friends:  What. Me:  I CAME UP WITH A NEW BOOK IDEA AND ITS AMAZING OMGOODNESS Friends:  again?  I mean, cool. Me:  I've already written like four chapters and I'm super excited I was up all night can you tell? Friends:  No, not at all. And then you, my blog readers, get the spawn of that all night writing spree...my unfinished book.  But seriously, I have ideas!  I just need time to think about them ... for a couple years .... Anyway, as I'm sure you might have guessed, I have a random book idea.  I'm just going to share the first section (which is totally NOT the only bit I've written) as a teaser and then I'm outta here, k? §§§ I drift into the club, bored out of my skull and hoping that Hannah was there.  Of course, she is, chatting away with Marcus and blatantly ignoring Jet. As soon as the boy in the corner spots m...

So I'm really sorry guys... But I can't post much today.  Of course, on my least favorite holiday of the year (Thanksgiving, as said in my last, very opinionated post) my whole family, including me, falls sick with a nasty strain of something.  I should be A+ tomorrow though, so see you then!

Well, I have to say it, don't I. *sighs* ...Happy Thanksgiving.... There!  I said it!  Happy? Like I said a couple days ago...I'm not a fan of Thanksgiving.  Food and happy people and Christmas pretty much just rolling over this poor holiday...maybe I'll do a special Steve comic or something for next week.... But seriously: why have a holiday that we pretty much ignore the virtual meaning of, i.e. thanks...giving....giving...thanks...Thanksgiving.... and that gets run over by Christmas?  Why not just say "Christmas-is-beginning-Holiday" and be done with it (answer: you couldn't fit it on your calendar)  At any rate, can we focus more on the charitable side of it and actually give thanks  and stop focusing on the whole chowing down on food, watching football, and not embarrassing yourself if your hosting? That's just my thoughts on the subject. At any rate, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and that you give thanks with the best of 'em...

HELLO!!! I hope you're having a great day...fun fact: only 210 days left till we have completed our ULTIMATE goal of posting everyday for 365 days straight!  I think I'll take like a month long vacation by that time.  Assuming we make it.  I'm feeling kinda confident though at nearly (sorta) half way through. Alright, so yesterday I said that I would post the riddle answers ...I LIED.  Jk!  The answers are (drum roll please) ...  "dragon" and "pineapple".  Didn't figure it out?  That's ok.  Better luck next time...BWHAHAHAHA. So now that we have that over with, time for this week's StWD comic.  Don't know what that is?  StWD stands for Steve the Wimpy Dragon, which is my ongoing, once-a-week comic.  It follows the random adventures of, you guessed it, Steve!  :) Tah-dah!  The official name of this comic is "Cheese" but I like the caption better. Anyway, that's all I got for today folks!  Don't forget t...

So... I haven't been exactly great about blogging lately, and I apologize.  Stuff has been crazy with all the prep for Thanksgiving, which, in my opinion, is a waste of energy and holiday happiness.  Save it for Christmas or spend it all on charity.  Choose one. Thanksgiving is not  my fave holiday, because every year I'm forced to eat food that I hate (gasp) and worst of all...cranberry sauce.  Yes, I am the weirdo of the family.  Sue me. So anyway, I've been working hard on Survivors and some other projects of mine (evil laugh...maybe I'll post some tomorrow), plus, I'm an editor for three different people right now and its starting to catch up to me....  But enough about my life.  Time to jump back into Jess's (semi)awesome life.  Where did we leave off?  Ah yes... The Survivors (Parts 4 & 5) By the time Nova and Danny even found the training hall, Jess and her siblings were already there, conferring over strategies. ...