Quick Tip Tuesday: Mom versus mom

A confusion I see a lot of in manuscripts is the capitalization--or not--of Mom/Dad/Mother/Father.

The general rule is that if you can use a proper name to replace the word, then it should be capitalized.

A) “Hey, Mom,” he yelled.
or
B) “Hey, mom,” he yelled.


Try: “Hey, Susan,” he yelled.

So, in this case, A is correct--capitalized.


A) Jenny took her Dad to the grocery store.
or
B) Jenny took her dad to the grocery store.


Try:  Jenny took her Frank to the grocery store.

LOL, nope, that doesn’t sound right at all. In this case, B is correct--not capitalized.


So, for a quick reference whether to capitalize or not, simply read the sentence out loud using a proper name in place of the parental term of choice.

Li'l Pears of Sunshine: The World needs more YOU

Why does society make it that if you don’t match, you don’t fit in? If you aren’t wearing the right style, or aren’t the right size, or think the same way, then you just don’t measure up…what is with that!?

What fun is there in everyone being exactly the same? Yes, it hurts to feel left out or put down for thinking/acting/dressing/doing differently, believe me, I know, but it took me far too long to realize I was/am just fine the way I am. Great, in fact, because when I finally stopped trying to be just like “them” and especially the way “they” wanted me to be, I found the happy, grateful, unique person I was meant to be.

Respectfully, people have their own lives to lead, and in whichever way they choose, but that doesn’t mean we have to follow their path, take their dark nasty and put downs, or can’t live life in the sunshine, full of hope and positivity, with a grateful heart, in our own amazingly unique way.

So hey, Sunshine, hold your head high and just be your sunny self, because YOU are so much more than “them.”

Feel free to comment with one Positive word to describe YOURSELF, then go around and tag a few friends with a sunshine 🌞 and a positive word on their post to show them you see the special individual they are, too 🥰.

Li'l Pears of Sunshine: Bravery

Why does not finishing something or changing the plan halfway through have to mean we failed at something?

NOTHING is failure, because everything teaches us something…whether what we can handle, what we need more work on, what we like or what we don’t like—what we will accept and what we shouldn’t accept from others. And all those lessons are the footwear for our next step. And that is all starting over is, another step.

Keeping one foot in front of the other isn’t easy—you fall down, pull yourself up again just to trip up and tumble again, but if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, always moving, then you are NOT failing; You are Brave, courageous and life-affirming. (I like the term I heard recently, “falling forward”) No, it isn’t easy sometimes, more of a struggle than you even tell others, right? But that’s okay, because starting over means you have AMAZING COURAGE not to stop, not to give up, but to keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. 100 times, a 1000 times, it doesn’t matter. Just keep starting over if you have to, every minute, every day, every job, every relationship. Every step forward is taking you closer to where you are meant to be, to whom you are meant to be with, to the incredible person you are meant to be and want to be.

So hey, Sunshine, starting over is NOT failure—it is Bravery. YOU ARE BRAVE. Just keep telling yourself this.

Do you know someone else who could use a little help with starting over, with that next step? Feel free to tag them in the comments, and maybe tag a few on their social media posts today with a heart and a strong arm ❤️💪🏻 to let them know you see their bravery, too.

🌞  🌞  🌞  🌞  🌞

For the full series, check out my Instagram page at @lilpearsofsunshine 

Li'l Pears of Sunshine - Wine anyone?

Do you find you save things, waiting only for the perfect time to use them? Saving a particular bottle of wine for a special occasion or saving that beautiful paint palette until you have just the right inspiration for the perfect painting so as not to use it all up? I am guilty of this—especially holding back from using new and colourful art supplies until I have the perfect idea, perfect project, because I don’t want to waste them, use them all up in case I need them for something better in the future.

But…isn’t that what special things are meant for? To use…to enjoy? To make us happy? And how many times has it happened before that the bottle of wine goes vinegary before that special promotion or birthday comes around, or the pretty paint or colourful glitter pens you couldn’t wait to get dries up before you even took the chance to use them?

WHY do we have to wait for a “special occasion” or the perfect moment...isn’t every moment we are breathing, spending time with family and friends, a little time enjoying our own company, tapping into our creative vibe, or just relaxing after a long day at work a reason to celebrate? A time to enjoy life to the fullest? EVERY MOMENT is special…because YOU make it special. So hey, Sunshine, remember--sometimes you CAN have your wine AND drink it, too—and those ARE the best days.

Quick Tip Tuesday: A litTILe but big issue

Amazing how one little word is a main correction in every seven out of ten manuscripts I edit.

Till...til...'til.  Which is right?

As usual, it all depends on what you are trying to say...

He slid the ten dollar bill into the til and took out a five to hand back for change.

Till -- a store's cash register.

He slid the ten dollar bill into the till and took out a five to hand back for change.


Til we meet again.
I ain't givin' you no money til you show me the goods.

Till we meet again.
I ain't givin' you no money till you show me the goods.

'Til -- is the short form of Until...the apostrophe goes in place of the missing letter.

Until we meet again.
'Til we meet again.
I ain't givin' you no money 'til you show me the goods.

Til is technically not a word -- mostly used in abbreviated reference of "Today I Learned"


Hope this helps and you can say, "TIL how to use till and 'til the right way." 😁