fun

Vogue 73 Questions Parody

Good afternoon! I was nominated to participate in the Vogue 73 Questions challenge by Charli Dee (https://lifewithcharli.home.blog/). To be honest, I wasn’t even aware of this, but decided to it just for fun!

If you don’t read, I won’t be offende at all, but the answers might shock you! (Not really).

Also, here are my nominations for it (if they wish to do it):

Elizabeth ( https://poetkisses.blog/ )

Shantanu Baruah ( https://afflatuz.com/ )

Tinka ( https://littletinkablee.com/ )

 

1.What’s your usual Starbucks order?

I can’t remember the last time I was even in a Starbucks.

  1. What does your workstation look like?

            My workspace looks like a giant mess, but it’s organized! Two screens and a corkboard keep me on point, usually!

  1. Favorite food?

Hmmm… Desserts!

  1. Favorite author?

Reading J.K. Rowling, P.C. and Kristen Cast, W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear, Patrick Rothfuss, Cassandre Clare, Stieg Larsson, a few more…. LOL

  1. What do you think of open relationships?

My husband and I are happy in our monogamous marriage, but I don’t judge those who have them!

  1. What is your favorite video game?

            Assasin’s Creed (mainly the Ezio chronicles).

  1. Guilty pleasure treat?

Coca-Cola, always.

  1. Favorite movie?

            I have too many for this!

  1. Favorite book?

            I don’t have one… I reread any book I enjoy a ridiculous amount!

  1. Twitter or Instagram?

            Twitter, but I post occasionally to Instagram.

  1. Desktop or laptop?

Desktop. My laptop was designed by the Devil to plague me in every way!

  1. Best advice you’ve ever received?

            Focus on your goals and fight for them. Don’t let yourself give up. (The wordier version of what my hubby says to me)!

  1. What project are you working on right now?

            My WIP novel. Editing it for the most part, but I have in and outdoor projects I try and tackle too!

  1. Favorite color?

Green.

  1. Did you get good grades in school?

In History and English. Plus Guitar. Only ‘cause I tried in those courses.

  1. Dream job?

Writer/Poet/Blogger and mother.

  1. Play any sports?

            No. I used to and miss playing dearly!

  1. Do you have a degree?

I do and it was probably the worst four years of my life trying to get it.

  1. Nationality?

Canadian.

  1. What is your favorite kind of blog post?

Any that are creative and artistic or relatable.

  1. What do you like to collect?

Lego, Cherished Teddies, Movies and books (which I should start reading more).

  1. Describe yourself in three words?

Crazy, Honest, and Hard-Working.

  1. If you were a rapper what would your stage name be?

Elliot Moose… Long Story. XD

  1. Who was the last person you DMed?

No one, really. I communicate openly through tweets normally.

  1. What’s on top of your wish list right now?

Finishing my book and getting it published. Sometimes finding a bigger house so we can actually display our collections and having a family seem to beat it for a little bit.

  1. Sorting house?

Gryffindor.

  1. How many tattoos do you have?

One. It’s a butterly – Red Spotted Purple Butterfly (and yes, it looks blue).

  1. What are you most grateful for this year?

I’m grateful for my husband and his constant support. He keeps me on point and motivates me.

  1. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this month?

            Best thing? It’s a tie. I’ve gotten editing done on my book and my relationship with my sister has improved.

  1. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you today?

Managed to do yoga for another day in a row and check off an outdoor project!

  1. What’s the best thing ever?

Writing and seeing its impact on others.

  1. Favorite season?

Fall/Winter. I love the colder months. Plus, I don’t have to mow the lawn every week!

  1. Favorite holiday?

Hallowe’en. Costumes and candy are where it’s at! I also get to spend time with my nieces and nephews!

  1. What fictional character do you relate to most?

I don’t know… I think every character I’ve met has something I relate to and something I wish I had.

  1. Do you like surprises?

No. Unless they’re for other people!

  1. What’s the biggest surprise you’ve ever had?

My friends planned a surprise party for my 18th birthday. It was pretty fun aside from the fact that I had wanted to go to the Spoken Poetry Contest and was unable to.

  1. Which surprise made you cry?

            After my grandmother’s death, I was given a gold angel necklace and it was the last Christmas gift I ever got from her. My sister and I have matching necklaces as a result and we never expected it. My angel is only worn when I need her around more than normal.

  1. What’s the best surprise you’ve given somebody else?

I once wrote a love letter to my husband and picked up things to go with it. We’d had a big fight and it mended the fences. He got to see and hear how much I loved him.

  1. Do you like muffins?

Yes. I love to bake zucchini chocolate chip muffins with zucchini from our vegetable garden.

  1. Do you cook often?

Yes, almost everyday.

  1. What’s your favorite dessert?

Anything I bake. 😛

  1. Is there a dessert you don’t like?

The majority of pies and anything with raisins or nuts in them usually.

  1. Cake or pie?

Cake unless there’s coconut cream pie…

  1. What’s your least favorite food?

Bananas and watermelons. I physically cannot eat them without gagging.

  1. What’s your favorite condiment?

Ketchup.

  1. It’s 4 am on a random Saturday. What are you eating?

            Cereal.

  1. If you could teach a college class what would it be called?

There is nothing I consider myself remotely capable of teaching.

  1. Best animated film?

Spirited Away has a special spot in my heart. After that is pretty much every Disney movie created.

  1. What has a guy done or said to impress you?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Most of the men in my life aim for insults and jokes rather than nice things. My brother impressed me once by giving me a hug and a thank you unprompted. My dad impressed me by reading my book in a week and getting a version printed and bound for me (it made me cry). My husband impresses me when he picks up something that made him think of me, or notices something I’ve done and thanks me without prompting.

  1. Best thing to do on a first date?

Coffee date at Timmies that lasts 5 hours, because your silliness just makes each other laugh (The first date I had with my husband <3).

  1. Worst thing to do on a first date?

Refusing to go to the bathroom because you don’t want to break the atmosphere (also my first date with my husband).

  1. Whats the funniest pick up line a guy/girl could use?

            I legitimately have no idea. Too many of them are hysterical.

  1. Best comic book character?

Raven.

  1. Name 3 things that can always be found in your purse?

USBs, toilet paper, and paper towel. XD

  1. Favorite drink?

Coca-Cola.

  1. If you could play a historical character in a movie who would it be?

No one. I wouldn’t do that character justice.

  1. Kittens or puppies?

Puppies. Kittens grow up into little assholes that stab you with their needle nails and HAVE to sleep ONTOP of you.

  1. Favorite Sushi roll?

I don’t like sushi. At all.

  1. What lipstick do you use?

None.

  1. What foundation do you use?

None.

  1. Blow dry or air dry?

Air dry with a toweled touch.

  1. Who is your fashion icon?

None. XD

  1. Favorite Disney Character?

Elsa. I can support a chick taking the time to tackle her own shit and fears, and not cause there’s a man involved.

  1. What are you doing tomorrow?

Hopefully edit my book and go to a football game in the evening.

  1. Movie you laughed the hardest through?

\           Not a movie per se, but Russel Howard’s Recalibrate had me worried I was going to pee myself!

  1. Movie that made you cry?

Anyone where an animal dies or a character I love dies.

  1. If you could sing a duet with anybody who would you choose?

No one. My sister is a music major and she keeps me informed of my frequent mistakes. XD

  1. If your life was a song what would the title be?

            I haven’t the slightest idea, to be honest…

  1. What is your favorite animal?

Foxes and Wolves. I’m a canine lover, for sure! And yes I know Foxes aren’t strictly canines.

  1. Favorite Illustrator?

Dr. Seuss.

  1. The person you want to have coffee with?

I don’t drink coffee, but I’ll have a hot chocolate or herbal tea with family and friends.

  1. What country would you like to visit?

Italy, Poland, Scotland. Not sure if that’ll ever happen though.

  1. Best way to decompress?

Depends. Watching stand-up comedies, playing video games, or marking something off the list all work for me.

Advertisement

August 2017

It was a big day
But in a little way.
The end of my two weeks
Which was less than bleak.
I left that job
Feeling more than just a glob.
Unsure of what lay ahead
Yet I was not filled with dread.
Instead I felt hope anew
My footsteps led me far and true.
I stumbled upon my purpose,
And it was time to get down to business.
 
I had had a dream,
Filled with danger and fun.
I told my husband, my mother,
And they were quite stunned.
It spun into an idea
A book written by me,
In which a girl named Vivian
Fought hard just to be free.
 
I am still on that adventure,
Editting, revising Vivian’s tale.
It consumed me through and through,
And I refuse to fail.

Wolves Do Shine

From yesterday comes the second bit of art mentioned: Silver Wolves. It is actually the first one I did out of the two, but I am more proud of it than the Butterflies (as meaningful as they are to me).

Out of the two, I thought it would be simpler, or truthfully, not as hard to mess up. I was afraid to screw up from the last time I had tried the engraving art kits. With that in mind, I got started on the Wolves, and kept going.

It was easy to keep at it since I was enjoying it so much. I started with the background where I knew I was safer to learn the tool’s movements, and the effects it could create.

Once I felt at ease with using the scraping tool, I started on the main figures of the piece; the Wolves.

My strokes were fearful and timid at first, still unsure. With time, I found my method, and used it to create the two Wolves to the best I could. I have to say, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

Metal.Wolves.jpg

I scratched my initials into the corner just for the heck of it since I didn’t design it, just scratched it on the pieces with the tool (all provided).

Now all I want are more of these kits to do. It was amazingly fun, and honestly, there are screw ups, but I don’t think they are the normal eye sore they could be. In fact, I feel they add depth either to the end product, or about the flaws all of us humans have.

Anyways, I absolutely adore canine life. It is so beautiful, and has so many faces to it. I love wolves and foxes the most, for different reasons. In fact, used to dream about owning one, but realized they are better enjoyed on their own turf.

P.S. Found SD cards, but they don’t fit my camera. Hoping to find some time in the next few days to find something for the memory slot.

Magic

Magic swirls in dusky skies

playing fun

playing hell

On other people’s lives

And yet not many believe in it.

The power of magic

To take your pain away

Or deliver another dose of it.

It brings roses, daffodils, tulips

to Life

And at the end of the day

Snuffs out their light.

It empowers people to fight for their dreams

And also knocks those on pedestals to their knees.

Oh wonderful magic, it plays its tricks

But you best believe in it.

It may help or hinder

But it’s definitely there.

Grab hold to its tail

And dear wanderer,

Beware.

Christmas Baking

Baking is something my mom does very well. She has been asked to do friends’ wedding cakes, birthday cakes, and the like. (She made my wedding cake too!) She loves baking, and despite being celiac, she makes gluten free desserts taste amazing! (She’ll agree that a chunk of gluten free products taste dense and gritty.)

Last night, I baked with my mom, and as always, we had a ton of fun making stuff together. You see, we have a weird dynamic. I cuss her out, jokingly, and she stares at me amazed at how I make the messes I do. We tease one another mercilessly, and to an outsider looking in, I am sure how we talk seems rather rude. You got to look for the smiles and laughter though to know the fun we are having.

My mom and I are friends, and it shows if you look at us that way. Anyways we have built gingerbread houses together, cakes, cookies, brownies, whatever we want. Last night, she prepped shortbread and sugar cookies while I got the messy peanut butter recipes.

The first recipe I made was peanut butter balls. It calls for four ingredients, and one is sugar. Frosting sugar to be exact, and I got it all over the stove. My mom turns to me the moment I say, ‘I didn’t do it’, and just shakes her head. However, she had dumped granulated sugar over her counter early so I teased her about that.

My mom loves a clean kitchen, but when I am in one, messes will cover the place. I don’t know if it is from my lack of care and knowing I will clean it up later, or if I am insanely clumsy. Who knows? But my mom is really good about not killing me when we’re in her kitchen, and so there is never any true anger or frustration when we bake together. In fact it is rather cathartic.

We talk about stuff in our lives, family, my writing, her knitting, all kinds of stuff. It is like a free therapy session for the both of us, and I wouldn’t give it up for the world!

So in hopes of helping others find fun with family in the kitchen, I am sharing two of my favourite recipes!

Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients

-1 cup icing sugar                                                         -1 cup peanut butter

-2 tbsp butter                                                                 -1 1/2 or 2 cups rice krispies

Mix sugar, butter, and peanut butter together with fork.

Add in rice krispies, and mix into other ingredients

Roll into small balls, hide in container, and eat them all yourself!

 

If you want to make them ‘healthier’, you can use chopped candied cherries, chopped dates, chopped pecans, and such just use the measurement for the rice krispies.

Fiddle Diddles/Haystacks/Macarroons

Ingredients

-1/2 cup butter                                                               -3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

-1/2 cup milk                                                                  -1 cup shredded coconut

-1 1/2 cups sugar                                                           -1 tsp vanilla

-6 tbsps cocoa powder

Combine milk, butter, and sugar in a saucepan and melt ingredients over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

Once a rolling boil starts, cook 4-5 minutes, stirring often.

Remove from heat, add vanilla. (It will bubble up)

Mix cocoa, rolled oats, and coconut together until well blended. (I usually do this before stove work)

Add to hot mixture then spoon unto waxed paper and allow to set.

 

With the fiddles diddles, they taste amazing while still ‘wet’, but the drying allows them to stick together. They taste awesome after too! In fact, I am pretty sure they are the only reason my younger sister hung out with us in the kitchen as long as she did. Food is the best bribery after all!

I wouldn’t want to live with a novelist. Writers are highly voyeuristic and indiscreet. ~ Philip Roth