Weekend Assignment #346 Holiday Shopper

"I like my money right where I can see it, hanging in my closet."

-Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) Sex And The City

Weekend Assignment #346: Holiday Shopper

Ack! The holiday shopping season is upon us! What is your shopping strategy for this time of year?Do you spread out your shopping over weeks and months, or try to get it all done at once? Do you mostly shop online or in person? How heavily, if at all, do you rely on gift cards, gift certificates or plain old fashioned cash and checks?

Extra Credit: Do you enjoy shopping Friday and after-Christmas sales?

-Karen Funk Blocher (Mavarin)

Holiday shopping... all I can say is... YES, YES, YES! But let me explain. Alan and I have a lot of traditions around the holidays. We begin the "Holiday Season" in September, as the first day of autumn starts our holiday season. We have lots of stuff going on, most of which includes some form of shopping. October has our wedding anniversary, the seasonal opening of Apple Hill, The turning of the leaves in Plumas County, Family Day, which is our own made up holiday, and of course, Halloween. If it is an election year, you can find us, at some point, buying campaign buttons to add to our collections. November is a bit more laid back, but then Thanksgiving quickly comes upon us, and with it comes... BEAUTIFUL... MAGNIFICENT... CHILLY... SPARKLY... EXCITING... BLACK FRIDAY! Not really a holiday, but celebrated in our house as if it were Christmas itself.

Shopping plays a role in all these events, but only to a small degree. We have little traditions when it comes to shopping that keeps it all fun, but doesn't take away from the meaning of the season. Take Apple Hill for instance. You could spend a fortune there, between all the different farms and specialty goods they have. YIKES! Alan and I have discovered the very best of the place, such as Rainbow Orchards and their AMAZING Apple Cider donuts. We go there for the donuts, and maybe some fresh apple cider, but keep our heads when it comes to buying all the crafts and goods. It's an amazing time of year, and if you don't keep your wits about you, it could get crazy.

Black Friday, which I believe is the "official" shopping start of the holiday season is a big deal in our house. We don't do much shopping that day, but we do people watch! We begin the day in Union Square, in San Francisco, and after enjoying a Mocha for Alan and a Hot Chocolate for me, we walk the square, then its down to Maiden Lane. It's gorgeous this time of year, from the decorations, to the wonderful street performers singing opera. It's a unique time to be in San Francisco, and something we don't miss, come rain or come shine. After we enjoy the square, we head home for Thanksgiving dinner... part 2... then it's up the hill into Tilden Park to the carousel, to enjoy the Christmas Fantasy in the Woods.

The Carousel has a dozen or so lighted Christmas trees, with amazingly beautiful Christmas ornaments for sale. All of them more than reasonable, and all of them sweet and sentimental. Alan and I always give each other an ornament from the carousel each year for Christmas. It's one of our main gifts. Our little tree is now covered in Christmas memories. All bought from the Tilden Carousel Christmas In The Woods. Each one of those ornaments remind us of the fun we have there, or the fun of watching a child laughing or a little old couple cuddle, while holiday music plays and lights twinkle. It's special. It's the only time I really enjoy holiday music. I always balk when some dismal person insists that the holidays have become too commercial. They are only as commercial as you allow them to be. You know? It's pretty much up to you how you want to feel about things! You can choose to walk around cynical, or you can start your own holiday traditions and take a walk in the light! It's up to you!

The only other shopping tradition we have, is to purchase an Advent calender on Black Friday. We usually get that in Union Square.With the exception of the Advent calender and the special ornaments, I don't schedule my shopping, but I do look for bargains for what I plan to buy. It just makes life simpler. I do love to go out and walk around the crazy shoppers, while feeling perfectly at ease with my shopping style. It's fun to feel like the sane one once in a while! ;)

Karen, I hope you don't mind if I make this WA a bit of a pictorial. I just think the pictures complete the story...

Union Square Christmas Tree...


Mocha and Hot Chocolate...



Maiden Lane...


Maiden Lane Performer...


Xanadu Gallery (Building Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright)


Tilden Park Christmas Tree...


Tilden Carousel...


A Really Lovely Ornament...


Extra Credit: Yep... but then you already read that didn't you! LOL :)

Happy Holidays Everyone!

-Carly

WA #331: Pie v Cake

"I'd give up chocolate, but I'm no quitter."

-Unknown

Pie? Cake? Pie and Cake? No, that won't work! It would be way too naughty to choose both... wouldn't it? Yeah, it would!

Okay

Reluctantly, I choose Cake! Above you see a Red Velvet cupcake, which I made last Valentine's Day. Black Forest cake is my very favorite type of cake, but to be honest there isn't very many cakes I don't like, with the possible exception of German Chocolate cake. I am not a fan of coconut, even if it is covered in chocolate! LOL. I have been wanting to bake a Lady Baltimore cake for a long time, but just haven't had the chance. It is a rather involved process. If you haven't heard of it, it is usually a yellow cake of several layers, with a wonderful chopped fruit/nut/cream filling. It's a goal at this point. :) Maybe this holiday season will be the right time.



My love of cake, and all things sweet, by the fact that my husband Alan, doesn't like sweets, and he is especially uninterested in cake! In fact he HATES cake. He does, however, make the exception of pie. Yep, I am a cake person, and he is a pie person. Needless to say, I tend to bake more pies then cakes, because it just makes more sense. After all, I don't hate pie, I just love cake more! Above you see my famous, Sweet Potato Pecan Pie. A Thanksgiving tradition! I love to bake, pie, cake, it's all good!



I do have to admit, I really only indulge on special occasions these days. And when I do make something, it is usually sugar-free because I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2007. I have found a nice balance with things, and I don't have to cut my sugar consumption back all that much, in fact there are plenty of decadent indulgences available for the Type 2 Diabetic, such as a serving of Chocolate Covered Strawberries. It's true! 4 Chocolate dipped berries, prepared according to most recipes or dipped in Dark Chocolate coating, is about 175 calories! Not bad for a delicious dessert, when you just have to indulge in something wicked! It can keep a gal with a sweet tooth and Type 2 Diabetes sane!

Like I said, it's all good, but really, cake is the best! But if neither cake, nor pie is your favorite, try making Chocolate Dipped Strawberries! Here is the recipe, from Diabetic Gourmet.

Enjoy!

If you haven't joined in the discussion, you still have time. Just visit the Weekend Assignment blog for all the details! Just click the link below!

Weekend Assignment

-Carly

WA #316: National Poetry Month

I love poetry. I always have. I don't know that I have a particular favorite, but I must say, I enjoy the simplicity of a Haiku. I have written some from time to time, mostly as the spirit moved me. At times, something will happen, either in my life, or the world in general, and I will try to put my feelings about it, together with one of my photographs, in a coherent way. The essence of an Haiku is about linking nature to human nature, and that's what I have gone for here. I don't know, I think I am much more of a visual person, than a competent writer of poetry or prose, but sometimes one has to stretch out the creativity muscle. What do you think?

Reform
By Carly Gordon

Reform is the new word
Looking to make life better
NO is the new reform

Have you joined us yet at the Weekend Assignment blog? If not, this might just be the assignment for you! You have until next Wednesday to share your appreciation for the art of poetry!

-Carly

NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR LINKS IN THE COMMENT THREAD HERE, YOU MUST LEAVE THEM IN THE COMMENT THREAD AT THE WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT BLOG! JUST CLICK THE LINK BELOW!

Weekend Assignment #316: National Poetry Month

WA #315: The Thief Of Time

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back."

-Harvey MacKay

Weekend Assignment #315: It seems that we're all too busy these days to get around to everything we'd like to do, even if we had the money and means to do them. Is there a particular activity that takes up far too much of your time, and thus prevents you from getting around to other things?

Extra Credit: What is the #1 activity you wish you had more time for?

-Karen

I almost didn't do this week's assignment, because it doesn't really apply to me personally. I am okay with how I time manage things, and for the most part I manage to do all I would like to do, but there is an exception... time with Alan.

If you go back a few years, everything was flowing relatively smoothly, then came the forced furloughs by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The money we have lost has created a time loss as well. First of all, Alan doesn't get a day off without pay as other state workers do... that would create more time for us...because of his job, he still works the same amount of time, the state simply pays him less. Sigh. That creates the need for him to accept all the overtime he can find, and because of the of the original pay differential, it doesn't even make up for what we have lost. The fact is, we spend a lot less time together because of the forced furlough situations.

We make up for it the best we can, but it has been a long time since we could just get up and go on photo jaunts like we used to. We haven't been over to San Francisco since late December. There was a time, just a few years ago, when we went there every week and walked along the Marina Green, or biked in Golden Gate Park, or just window shopped in Union Square. We love San Francisco, it's beautiful, and there is always something to see or photograph. Hopefully, we will be getting over there soon, now that summer is soon approaching. I hope so. I miss it so. We also enjoy going to comedy clubs in different parts of the Bay Area, because lets face it, who doesn't enjoy laughing? Anyway, you see, it's not my time that's being stolen, it's Alan's, but then again, when you are married, what affects one, affects the other. That's just marriage.

:)

Extra Credit: As I said, we love to laugh. I wish we had more time to go to the comedy clubs. We have a good friend who is a performer and he gets us tickets, it's just difficult to find the time.

-Carly

PS... We had a wonderful turnout last week, I want to personally thank everybody who made our first week on the new blog a success! I hope you will continue to join us. It's easy, just click on the link above to be redirected to the Weekend Assignment blog!

WA #314: Summer Reading

"You know you have read a good book, when you turn to the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."

-Paul Sweeney

Weekend Assignment #314: Summer Reading.

I thought it would be fun to show you what I am planning for my summer reading, by showing you my spring reading! A couple months ago, a big brown truck pulled up in my driveway, inside of it were dozens of boxes containing all kinds of things. I imagine there were vacuums, and toys, and probably music, all wonderful things, but my box contained books! I LOVE reading, but haven't indulged in it for a while. Because of the forced furloughs, some luxuries and hobbies had to be eliminated. Purchasing new books was one of them. Fortunately, we received a decent tax return this year, and we will be okay again until at least the end of the fiscal year. That might bring it's own bag of horrors, but I will have a nice diversion by way of my new books.

Above you see my two spring choices. "Heat Wave" by Richard Castle, and "The Witches of Eastwick,' by John Updike.

I am currently about 1/3 of the way through Witches of Eastwick, and half way through Heat Wave. I am enjoying both books a lot. So much so that I am anticipating the sequel to Heat Wave with great anticipation. It's a fast paced, fun read. Not unlike the television series that inspired it, ABC's Castle. Unsurprisingly, it flows along as one long episode of the show, which is nice, because I enjoy that kind of light-drama very much. There is a second book by, "Richard Castle" due out in late September, and I already have that one my list for my fall reading.

The Witches of Eastwick is much different read. Dark. Intense, but not without it's humor. It's a lot different than the movie it inspired, but I love that, because stories stand nicely on their own. I am enjoying it a lot, and I want to know what comes next, which leads me to what I will be reading this summer...

The Widows Of Eastwick, by John Updike (Sequel to The Witches of Eastwick)

The Stepford Wives, by Ira Levin

Did I mention I like reading horror novels? Especially in the summer?

:)

How about you? What will you be reading this summer? There is still time to play, this assignment doesn't close until next Wednesday, at 9:00 PM ET. Come and join the fun! Just click the link below to be redirected!

The Weekend Assignment blog

-Carly

Shamelss Self Promotion... But In A Good Way!

"Easy reading, is damn hard writing."

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

Guess what? The magnificent meme, Weekend Assignment, that I co-host with my pal Karen, has a brand new home! If you have always wanted to participant in a fun little meme of writing, come on down! If you just want done something different, or maybe meet new folks, or just shake things up a bit, boy do I have a meme for you!

The Weekend Assignment has been around for years, since 2004 to be exact! Started by John Scalzi, and passed onto Karen after the implosion of AOL Journals, the meme has lived to see another day. It is the same old meme, in a brand new place. Come on, flex your writing skills and hop on board. A brand new assignment will be posted tomorrow (Thursday) and you are invited to come and participate!

Everyone is welcome!

Grab a pen, or grab your keyboard, and come on down!

The Weekend Assignment (blog)

-Carly

Where'd That Thing Go? A Weekend Assignment Mystery

Hmmm...

Something seems to be missing!!! Where did that thing go??? Ordinarily, Weekend Assignment #314 would be airing in this time slot, or blogspot, or journal place, whatever you want to call it. But lookey there, or here, it's not here or there! Where, oh where, could it be?

Okay, you know this is a tease... right? Weekend Assignment#314 will take place, I have it all picked out and I am preparing to write it up, but you will have to wait just a little longer. In fact, you might have to go on a bit of a hunt for it. Here is what you should do, tune into the Round Robin blog this coming Sunday, for a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT about not just what Weekend Assignment #314 will be about, but where it can be found!

Yep... big nifty Weekend Assignment doings are coming your way, and we would love for you to join us!

:)

Don't forget to check the Round Robin blog this coming Sunday! It has all the details you need to know!

Here are the links for Weekend Assignment #313:Meet A Fictional Character (Posted at Outpost Mavarin)

Julie

Sherrie

Florinda

Mike

Karen (Original Assignment Post)

-Carly

W.A. #312: A Culinary Review

"A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?

-Albert Einstein

Weekend Assignment #312: Write A Culinary Review



It's no secret, I LOVE to cook! I love everything about cooking, from creating recipes of my own, to playing food detective to make all those yummy things that can be bought out in the world, except with my healthier approach. Tonight, Alan and I had homemade French Bread Pizza, and Organic Creamy Tomato soup for dinner, which doesn't sound particularly exciting, but it was TOO yummy. I was happy with how dinner turned out, but even happier with dessert.

I had made Low-Cal Biscuits and Gravy for breakfast, about 300 calories per serving. I made some biscuits which were generic "buttery tastin" and after breakfast I had about 5 left over, so I decided to make Berry Shortcakes. I had purchased some frozen mixed berries a couple days ago, with the intention of making some vinaigrette or possibly a topping for some ice cream. I decided to thaw them out but wasn't expecting them to hold up well, so I planned to make a hot compote. I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that not only did they hold their shape after thawing but they tasted as if they had just been picked! And there was very little liquid upon thawing. Nice!

So, here is my review; Europe's Best is a fantastic product! I will probably buy this brand exclusively from now on! Perfect for cobblers, or a topping for pancakes or perhaps for dessert such as the shortcake I made tonight! Great product. Great taste!

4 Berry Shortcake

Calories 185

Buttery Biscuit: 110
1/2 cup Mixed Berries : 45
2 tbs. Light Whipped Cream: 15
Dusting of powdered sugar: 15 (Optional)

Extra Credit: The worst meal I ever ate was probably the time my boyfriends mother gave me, Alan, her son, her husband and herself food poisoning... ON PURPOSE! LOL. But the worst culinary experience I have ever had at a restaurant took place in Los Angeles and LAX. I was 7 years old, and my sister and I had flown down to L.A. to go to Disneyland. We were on our way back home, when we decided to have lunch at the airport before we left for home. OMG. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE! Not food poisoning bad, but I swear I could still taste it 3 days later! UGGGGG! I didn't eat a hamburger for about 2 years after that incident! LOL. That's ok, I was probably healthier for it. :) Don't eat a hamburger at LAX, under any circumstances!

:)

-Carly

Weekend Assignment #312: Write A Culinary Review

"The only time to eat diet food, is while you are waiting for the steak to cook."

-Julia Child

NOW CLOSED!







Weekend Assignment #312: Write A Culinary Review.
Your reviews can be about a favorite restaurant, or a specific item on a menu. Packaged foods, or something you created yourself. It's all up to you. Your take on it can be positive or negative, hey, it's your opinion! :)

Extra Credit: Write one paragraph about the WORST thing you have ever eaten.

If you haven't participated in the Weekend Assignment before, please take a moment to review our guidelines for participation...

1. Please post your entry no later than next Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM ET. I will be closing the assignment at that time, and no additional links will be accepted after that time.

2. Please provide a link back to the assignment. Feel free to display the logo below, along with the link, so other folks can find the assignment and participate along with us.

3. Don't forget to comeback here with the link to your entry.

4. If you can, please be sure to visit your fellow participants. Let's encourage each other!

5. Please encourage your readers to join us. The more the merrier... right?

Linking List for Weekend Assignment #311: Cheese It!
(Posted at Outpost Mavarin)

1. Karen (Original Assignment Entry)

2. Sherrie

3. Florinda

4. Carly

5. Paul

See you in two weeks!

-Carly

Weekend Assignment #311: Cheese It!

"The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese."

-G.K. Chesterson

Weekend Assignment #311: What is your favorite kind of cheese and why? Do you have it often or just occasionally?

Extra Credit: Is there a kind of cheese you hate?

MMMMMM...CHeeSe! I count my love for cheese right there with my love for Alan and the boys! Yes, that's right, the way to this girl's heart is with a wheel of cheese! Gouda, Parmesan, Ricotta, Swiss, Cheddar, Asiago, they are all my darlings. My love of cheese is so great that had Alan not loved cheese as much as I did, it may have been a consideration for not getting married! LOL. Nah, it's not that bad, I would have married him, but in complete honesty, he loves cheese as much as I do! It's a good thing,. :)

Hey, we both like to cook, and we do a lot of cheese related recipes. You don't have to use a lot of cheese in a recipe for it to taste good, we believe in moderation, but it does give an otherwise bland meal a little extra help. :) I don't know if I have a particular favorite, I like so many different types. I guess it just depends on what kind of meal I am serving. An example, if I am having a bowl of Tomato soup for lunch, I might grate up some Prima Donna Gouda to sprinkle on top. Or if I am making Lavender Chicken in Puff Pastry, I usually put some French Feta in the pastry and do a light Lavender/White Cheddar Bachamel sauce for the top. Delicious! :)

Extra Credit: Nope. No cheese I hate. Although there are some I don't usually use, such as Limburger. But hate? Hate is such a mean word. LOL.

-Carly

This Weekend Assignment is from Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin. You can join in the fun as well. Just hop over to her blog, and get all the information to play along. We love comments, but it's even more fun when you participate by posting your own entry. Look for this week's assignment here on Ellipsis Thursday!

Weekend Assignment #310: Create An Urban Legend!

"The power of illustrative anecdotes often lies not in how well they present reality, but in how well they reflect the core beliefs of their audience."

-David P. Mikkelson








Weekend Assignment #310: Create an Urban Legend! NOW CLOSED!
Okay writers, this is your chance to have some fun! Search your imaginations and create a brand new Urban Legend! It doesn't have to be anything too elaborate, just have some fun with the possibilities.

Extra Credit: Show us your Urban legend! Hint: This is where your camera and your photo editing software comes in mighty handy! ;)

If you are new to the Weekend Assignment, please take a moment to read the guidelines for participation...

1. Please post your entry no later than next Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM ET. I will be closing the assignment at that time, and no additional links will be accepted after that time.

2. Please provide a link back to the assignment. Feel free to display the logo below, along with the link, so other folks can find the assignment and participate along with us.

3. Don't forget to comeback here with the link to your entry.

4. If you can, please be sure to visit your fellow participants. Let's encourage each other!

5. Please encourage your readers to join us. The more the merrier... right?


Linking List for Weekend Assignment #309: Get In Line!
(Posted at Outpost Mavarin)


1. Karen (Original Assignment Post)

2. Carly

3. Florinda

4. Mike

I have scheduled this entry to post at midnight, if you joined us late and you don't see your link here, or you posted after the assignment closed, no worries. I will double check the comment thread later this evening for any late participants. If you still don't see your link, send me an email, and we will see about getting you added!



Okie doke. I will be looking forward to reading your responses. :) Don't forget, the Linking List for this week's assignment will be posted at Karen's blog next week, along with Weekend Assignment #311. I will see you back here in two weeks with Weekend Assignment # 312!

-Carly

W.A. #309: Get in Line!

"Remember in elementary school you were told that in case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file from smallest to tallest? What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?"

-Warren Hutcherson

Weekend Assignment #309: nobody likes standing in line, generally speaking, but sometimes you have to wait around to get what you want. Are you one of those people who avoid lines as much as humanly possible, even if it means doing without? Or do you accept the need for queues, and simply try to make the wait as painless as you can?

Extra Credit: Do you see the problem of waiting in lines as getting better or worse in recent years?

-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

Lines? No problem, well, unless we are talking about the lines at the DMV. That would be my least favorite line to stand in, but you see, I have to twice a year to renew my Disabled Person Placard. I could make an appointment and avoid the lines I suppose, but getting appointments here in California can be difficult, especially since the forced furloughs were put into place by the governor. (Shrug) I don't really mind standing in line, the only time it really bothers me is when it's cold. My arthritis protests loudly when it's cold, but I can usually just work around it with some heat patches strategically placed here and there. It's warm and nice, and gives me a nice minty scent. LOL.

Lines are simply a part of life. I don't really worry too much about them. Besides, if I am in too much pain, Alan usually helps me out. He is such a sweetie! The only time I get bugged about lines, is when I have 4 or 5 items in my cart, and someone in front of me has 500 items, and they don't offer to let me go ahead of them. I ask others with less items then I have if they want to go ahead of me... so it would be nice to get that courtesy in return. (Shrug again). Like lines... it just is what it is. :) But it is nice, to be nice to the person next to you, or behind you as the case may be. Pass it on!

:)

-Carly

EMPS #78: Still Life Featuring Food

"Nothing would be more tiresome then eating and drinking, had not God also made it a pleasure as well as a necessity."

-Voltaire

EMPS #78: Still Life Featuring Food.

Here is my contribution to this week's Monday Photo Shoot assignment. What you see above is a Pink Lady apple. I got it at Whole Foods, so of course, it's organic! :) It does a body good. Now, for something a little evil...

A Red Velvet Cupcake!

From For Ellipsis

I actually posted the cupcake a couple week's ago on my Twitter page. As I said then it's free to a good home." LOL

Go ahead, take a bite!

-Carly

If you haven't joined us for the Monday Photo Shoot, please consider joining in the fun. If you can't make it this time around, no worries, I post a new assignment each Monday at 12:00 midnight.

I am also hosting the Weekend Assignment this week...

Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flick or Guy Movies?

Round Robin Challenge: Look Up/ Look Down (Saturday, March 13th)

W.A. #308: Chick Flicks or Guy Movies

From For Ellipsis

"I watched Titanic when I got back home from the hospital, and I cried. I knew my IQ had been damaged."

-Stephen King

Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flicks or Guy Movies.
(I am hosting this week. Click the link above to participate)

I think in our house the choice of movies is pretty evenly split. Way back before Alan and I started dating, back when we were best friends, we made a deal to alternate which movies we watched. It's a custom that we still do to this day. Although, there was one recent exception... I couldn't get him to go to the theater to see the Sex and the City movie a couple years ago. Nope. No way. Not gonna do it! LOL. I didn't push, but man I wanted to see that movie. When it finally came on HBO, Alan did graciously agree to watch it with me, and he actually enjoyed it! LOL. I knew he would. There is a new Sex and the City movie set for release later this year. I am already trying to talk him into it. Ahh... come on Alan... we can go for pizza afterwards! LOL.

Sex and the City 2

Extra Credit: A review of the worst movie I have ever seen...

DUNE A review in Haiku

Bad movie I once saw
Searching for spice was a yawn
Who knew Sting was gay?

I hated the movie Dune. The book was so much better then the movie. If you haven't seen it, don't bother. Read the book. :)

-Carly

Don't forget, the next Weekend Assignment will be posted over at Karen's blog, Outpost Mavarin, next Thursday. See you back here in 2 weeks with WA#310!

Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flicks Or Guy Movies?

"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out."

-Alfred Hitchcock










Weekend Assignment #308: Chick Flicks Or Guy Movies?

This week, let's talk about our favorite films. Do you find yourself drawn to one type of movie over another? Chick Flicks or Guy movies, which do you think you watch most often? How often does your spouse, or significant other, choose the movie?

Extra Credit: Write a one paragraph review of the WORST movie you ever saw. :)

If you are new to the Weekend Assignment, here are our guidelines for participation...

1. Please post your entry no later than next Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM ET. I will be closing the assignment at that time, and no additional links will be accepted after that time. Also, please leave your full link in the comment thread. NO HYPERLINKS PLEASE!

2. Please provide a link back to the assignment. Feel free to display the logo below, along with the link, so other folks can find the assignment and participate along with us.

3. Don't forget to comeback here with the link to your entry.

4. If you can, please be sure to visit your fellow participants. Let's encourage each other!

5. Please encourage your readers to join us. The more the merrier... right?

Linking List for Weekend Assignment #307: 8 Days A Week.

1. Julie

2. Florinda

3. Karen

Don't forget, the Linking List for this week's assignment can be found on Karen's blog, Outpost Mavarin, next Thursday, along with assignment # 309!

See you in 2 weeks with an all new assignment!

-Carly

Weekend Assignment #306: You're A Famous Author, What Is The Name Of Your Book?

"If there is a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, you must write it."

-Toni Morrison









Hi Folks. :) Listen, just to get things off on the right foot, I do a couple things slightly different from Karen, so please read the full entry. :)

Weekend Assignment #306: You're A Famous Author, Whats The Name Of Your
Book?

Sounds easy, right? Oh, but hold on, there is a catch here folks! The book you are famous for writing must be from a genre that you aren't known for. As an example, if you really enjoy writing horror stories, make this assignment about a romance novel or a biography, or anything other then you usually relate to. If you don't dabble in writing very often, no worries, simply come up with a title for your fictional book from the genre you read the least.

Extra Credit: Write the opening paragraph of your best-seller!


If you are new to the Weekend Assignment, here are our guidelines for participation...

1. Please post your entry no later than next Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM ET. I will be closing the assignment at that time, and no additional links will be accepted after that time.

2. Please provide a link back to the assignment. (NO HYPERLINKS!) Because I will be sending your links to Karen for posting with her assignments, I need your link typed out, rather then put into a hyperlink. Doing so will save me a little work, and is very much appreciated! Feel free to display the logo below, along with the link, so other folks can find the assignment and participate along with us.

3. Don't forget to comeback here with the link to your entry.

4. If you can, please be sure to visit your fellow participants. Let's encourage each other!

5. Please encourage your readers to join us. The more the merrier... right?

Linking List for WA #305: Suddenly the Senses 02/06/10


1. Carly (Yep, I participated!)

2. Julie said (via comment)...
Good question. And I'm having trouble coming up with a good answer. Sometimes it's not one of the senses, but just a feeling - something I can't exactly quantify. And I have this feeling if I could I'd be a bestselling author. And I'm not, so that must tell you something! ;-)

3. Karen

** We know it was a shorter then usual time frame for you to complete the last WA, so if you need a little extra time, feel free to post your response along with the week's assignment. :)

Okie doke. That's it. You will find the Linking List for this assignment over at Karen's blog, Outpost Mavarin, along with your next assignment, next Thursday, February 18th! And I will see you right back here in 2 weeks, with an all new Weekend Assignment!


-Carly

From For Ellipsis

Weekend Assignment #305: Suddenly The Senses

From For Ellipsis

"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains."

-Diane Ackerman

Weekend Assignment #305: You're going about your day and then you sense something - a sight, a sound, a smell, perhaps even a texture or a taste. Whatever it is, it evokes a treasured memory of the past. What did you see, hear, touch, smell, or taste, and what did it remind you of?

Extra Credit: Are there any sounds, sights, or smells you actually seek out because of the pleasant associations?

-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

Scent...

Hmmm... nothing sets my mind at ease, and reminds me of fond memories quite like the scent of Cloves. I LOVE the spicy scent, and how it reminds me of autumn and the holidays. Alan and I have a lot of fun cooking together, and we seem to do most of it during autumn and winter. My cat, Elvis, loved the smell of cinnamon and cloves so much, that he would always insist on sniffing the cloves and cinnamon when I baked around the holidays. Just the other day, I was using an Cinnamon/Clove scented fabric spray, and I had to smile as I thought about how Elvis would snuggle into the pillows, curl up, and go off to sleep, whenever I used it. He loved flowers, and perfumes. I planted some Stock, because of it's spicy cinnamon scent, in the garden, and that is where he could be found most summer afternoons, sound asleep between the Jasmine and the Stock. He was quite a cat! :) Whenever I smell something deliciously spicy, I think of him.

Extra Credit: How many do I seek out?

1. Jasmine

2. Clove

3. Cinnamon

4. Popcorn

5. Lavender (I have a lavender sleep mask. It's great for relaxation)

6. Oranges

7. Paint... I LOVE the smell of paint! LOL.

8. I used to love the smell of a fresh roll of film, gosh I miss those days.

9. I love the sound of wind chimes

10. Almost any kind of music makes me think of fond times. I love music.


-Carly

**See you all on Thursday, a little past midnight, with assignment #306!

Weekend Assignment #304: Frazzled! How Do You De-Stress?

From For Ellipsis

"The man who doesn't relax and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, now and then, is in great danger of hooting hoots and standing on his head for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse a little later on."

-Elbert Hubbard

Weekend Assignment #304: How do you de-stress when feeling frazzled?

Extra Credit: The Weekend Assignment may soon have a co-host. That okay with everyone?

-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

De-stressing...

How do I de-stress? Well, Valium works pretty well! LOL. Nah, I can't even take a whole one, I have to cut mine in quarters. I am a little bit allergic you see, and not only do I become the mouthiest person on the planet, but I also become the most honest, which lets face it, only leads to additional stress when the pill wears off. LOL. Now I ask you... who needs that?

My favorite way to de-stress is pretty simple actually, I like to take pictures!

From For Ellipsis

But then I also have to give some de-stressing credits to my kitties, Dylan and Hendrix. They keep me laughing. Pets are so healthy to have around. I know I am as sane as I am because I have these little people to help keep me happy.

From For Ellipsis

But, when all else fails, I have my love of cooking. I cook every day. I like making my own meals. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love a night out once in a while, and I am a junk food junkie, but I love getting in the kitchen with the goal of creating something amazing to eat. What you are seeing in the picture below is a simple dish, Vadalia Onion Chicken. Macaroni & Cheese, and Carrots in Orange/Ginger sauce. So easy, so delicious!

From For Ellipsis

Photography

Cats

Cooking

The best ways I know how to shake the stress! :)


-Carly

The Good News And The Not So Good News...

From For Ellipsis

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

-Mahatma Gandhi

The Good News...

There are a couple new things to tell you about. Let's start with what I think is the good news. Beginning next Thursday, February 11th, I will be sharing co-hosting duties of the Weekend Assignment with Karen. We will be alternating weeks for at least the next few months, in order to bring Karen some much needed rest. She has hosted the project since John Scalzi handed her the reins of the Weekend Assignment in January 2007. I can't blame her for wanting a little respite, from time to time, and for wanting to be able to participate. I know how much she enjoyed the Weekend Assignment when John was hosting. Hopefully, this will give her the break she needs, and perhaps we can gain a some new participants. It would mean a lot to me to do well with this project, so, it goes without saying that I would really appreciate your participation. Please consider joining us for the fun!

:)

Now for the not so good news...

:(

I have decided to activate the Comment Moderation option on my blog. I know, I know... it's a pain wondering if your comment has gotten through. I am not especially happy with having to do it, but there have been a lot of SPAM and unwanted comments getting through lately. Sigh. I hope you understand. I watch my email pretty closely, so unless I am out, your comment should appear pretty soon after you leave it. In any case, it will appear by the end of the day you post it. Hopefully the unwanted emails and comment SPAM will stop soon.

Okay, that's just about it. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts about my doing the Weekend Assignment with Karen. Feel free to leave your thoughts about that, or anything you see or read on my blog. :)

-Carly

Weekend Assignment #296: Scandalized

From For Ellipsis

"It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper." -Errol Flynn



Weekend Assignment #296: The press and the public always seem to be obsessed with one scandal or another, from Tiger Woods, to Balloon Boy. Do you eagerly follow such stories, try to avoid them, or something in between? Does the identity of the celebrity (or would-be celebrity) affect how interested you are?



Extra Credit: Have you ever purchased a supermarket tabloid?



-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin


Scandals... Well, there never really seems to be any short of them... does there? I don't know if it is a much more popular phenomenon in this decade, or if interest in the sordid seems that way because I am now on the Internet, and you can get the scoop in the blink of an eye? My AOL Welcome screen rotates between several sections including NEWS, LIFESTYLE, SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT and sometimes, Travel. Oddly enough, I have seen what would count as "scandalous," on each of these screens! Can one really avoid the scandalous? Well I suppose, but it can be mighty difficult to do so.



I suppose my particular interest in such stories would fall into the "In between" category. I don't think I obsess, but there are some types of scandals that capture my attention more then others do. I tend to follow the political scandals much closer then... say... the latest he said/she said with John and Kate Gosselin. Although I have to admit, there is something about the Gosselin's that intrigues me on some level.



Maybe it is because their bickering reminds me of my own parents, and the horrible marriage they had. I don't know. I do know that I have for the most part shied away from most celebrity tabloids since the O.J. Simpson murder trial back in the mid 90's. That situation was so sad. It was infuriating at times, but most of all it was just plain sordid, and I found it, in it's entirety, completely depressing. Another thing that about tabloids that left a bad taste in my mouth, was the relentless pursuit of Princess Diana. Enough said.



I do glance through the occasional People issue, but I don't know if they count as a tabloid. I have never purchased a National Enquirer, not even for someone else. Once in a while, my pal Beth and I would pick up groceries for each other. We lived in the same apartment building and it was just what pals and neighbors did, but the one thing I wouldn't grab for her at the store was her favorite guilty pleasure, the latest issue of the National Enquirer. Period. Not in my cart! LOL. She reluctantly understood, but I think she considered it my main character flaw! LOL.



The truth is, I find pop culture interesting to keep up with, but I have a lot of interests beyond that. I enjoy a bit of a rumor about celebrities from time to time, but unfortunately the rags that start the rumors, or spread the sordid truth, never know when to stop. You know? Sometimes less really is more. I like to pick up a magazine to see what Michelle Pfeiffer is wearing because I love her style, or what the fashion trend will be for the winter and spring, but I don't really care if Chris Brown has hurt feelings because Rhianna doesn't like him anymore. It might be boring, but it's true.



Besides, sometimes real life can give you and up close look at what everyone else is thinking. Just look at this lady's costume from Halloween 2008. It was right before the election and she is dressed as Sarah Palin. This past Halloween the Kate Gosselin wig was all the rage. I suppose if you have a scandal during any given year, and the following Halloween sees a costume representing you, then you have truly made it!



-Carly