dearkitty1 nominated this blog for the Sunshine Award.

Thank you so much! I`m starting to feel a little overwhelmed by how much people seem to like my blog. Really, three awards in a little over a week? I never dreamed this would happen!

Thank you, all my readers! I feel so loved :)

The rules of the Sunshine Award are:

Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog.
Answer 10 questions about yourself.
Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers.
Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.
Share the love and link the person who nominated you.

A Little Bit About Me

I hate an issue with feet. I mean, I love shoes, but I hate other people`s feet. When they touch me, or are too close to me, I kind of go into panic mode. I say, keep your feet to yourself at all times!

I`m kind of gullible. I remember in fifth grade a classmate took me aside and told me in complete secrecy that she was a fairy. I totally believed her until I heard giggling about it late. Ah well. Better to believe the best in people than to be paranoid all the time.

I have freckles. I kind of like it. I don`t use foundation or anything, because that would cover them up!

I like collecting glasses. I have three pairs right now, and I`m slowly adding so that I`ll eventually have a pair in every color. The thing holding me back, of course, is the fact that I have prescription glasses, so it costs a bit more to build up my collection.

My favorite citrus fruit is lime. I love lime. I use it as a condiment in my favorite Thai food, and I`ve always liked fruity lime pops more than icecream.

I actually grew up dairy free. When my Mom starting working full time (as opposed to being a stay at home Mom) that sort of fell by the wayside, so it is kind of funny that I can`t make the switch to it now. I mean, the only dairy stuff I like is cheese, but I just can`t stand to give it up.

I love antique cars. A ton. My favorite is a 1949 Ford Plymouth, but I just really love antique cars in general.

I carry my water bottle around everywhere. It makes me feel pretty silly, but it`s better than being dehydrated.

I still love to watch Looney Tunes and Scooby Doo. Kid stuff, I know, but it is comforting to revisit the past.

When I watch any other movies or shows, after ten minutes I generally know the whole plot. Plots just repeat a lot, especially in Hollywood, so it really isn`t difficult for me. But, either way, I still end up enjoying the show. I just don`t pay close attention for every minute of it.

Nominees

1. fairly light

2. foodflavorfascination

3. Marisa D Lyon

4. Village Cake Craft

5. wwromania

6. sofreshnsogreen

7. pamelajeanstudio

8. violet gallery

9. sawwaiteh

10. edithlevyphotography

Spread the feel good fuzzies by sharing some of your favorite blogs in the comments below!

Here are some upcoming events/reviews as well as updated to my blog!

• 3/29/13-Friday- Haven From the Storm Review
• 4/1/13-Monday- The Guardian Cover Reveal
• 4/2/13-WALKLING DISASTER RELEASED!!!!!!!! OMG TRAVIS MADDOG MADDOX!!!!!!
• 4/3/13-Wednesday- Interview with Aleatha Romig
• 4/4/13-Thursday-Consequences Review & GIVEAWAY
• 4/5/13-Friday- Nowhere to Run Blog Tour/Review
• 4/8/13-Monday- Date Me Giveaway ENDS!
• 4/9/13-Tuesday- Date Me Release Event
• 4/11/13-Wednesday- A Brand New Ending Review
• 4/16/13-Tuesday- Waiting on Forever Review
• 4/23/13-Tuesday-Wilsom Mooney Almost Eighteen Review

Whoa, that’s a lot for this month! But I’m loving all of it!

Don’t forget the Date Me GIVEAWAY! http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23ac074/

Best Moment Award

Awarding the people who live in the moment,
The noble who write and capture the best in life,
The bold who reminded us what really mattered -
Savoring the experience of quality time.

Wow, so many awards! Look at the bottom of my homepage, I still have the last one cued up! I feel so loved. Maybe I`m not such a failure of an unpopular blogger after all. It really is stuff like this that encourages me to spend an hour every day making a new post, and spending a bit of time after that going through each comment, and even spending a bit of time on Twitter and Pinterest to keep the fun going. Because I care about you guys, and it is nice to know that you care just as much about me! Thank you so much for the nominations for the ‘Best Moment Award’!! My goal in writing this blog is to help others learn, and get inspired, and really think about things. I guess it`s why I`ve always written, but it is so much nicer to have the world see these posts instead of hiding them all in my writing journal!

Gosh, it`s hard thinking of more nominees, though. I just go through so many lately! I`ll try to add more of those bloggers who inspire and delight me, but I think I`m going to end up nominating a lot fewer beginners and a lot more established bloggers, because I`m running low on the beginners I know!

THE WINNERS OF THE BEST MOMENT AWARD ARE:

1. a dash of vanilla
2. miartedoris
3. dan the man`s movie reviews
4. poems and people
5. design trolls
6. dragos calinescu
7. kanzen sakura
8. dear kitty
9. a shade of pen
10. the market basket
11. soumamidori
12. tintoms
13. offthecuttingboard
14. simplehealthyblog
15. bakedbylauren

RULES:

Winners re-post this completely with their acceptance speech. This could be written or video recorded.

Winners have the privilege of awarding the next awardees! The re-post should include a NEW set of people/blogs worthy of the award; and winners notify them the great news.

Get an idea from the great acceptance speeches, compiled in MomentMatters.com/Speech
Display the award’s badge on your blog/website, downloadable in MomentMatters.com/Award

Don’t forget to celebrate with your followers! Tweet your success with hashtag #MomentMatters. Congratulations, winners!

Yay You!

Zambini

Whose blog do you love that you think other people should visit more often?

A priceless scenic ocean view, a fantastic glimpse of Penang Bridge by the window and the warmest greetings on the nicest card welcomed my family and I last Saturday, 23rd March 2013, when we were invited to spend a usual weekend turned extraordinary one in Eastin Hotel Penang.

One of the sweetest greeting cards I’ve ever received.

Accessibility is one of the best selling points of Eastin Hotel Penang. Whether you are coming from Penang International Airport, Penang Mainland or Seberang Prai via the iconic Penang Bridge, or one of Malaysia’s World Heritage Sites, George Town, Eastin Hotel Penang is just located a few minutes away either by public and tourist buses, private cars or ferry. Best, the hotel’s a stone throw away from hawker food stalls where the foodie in you can sample cheap and authentic local dishes from Malay, Indian and Chinese cuisines (although you can also savor them from the hotel’s F&B outlets’ menu), and adjacently located with one of the island’s most visited and largest malls, Queensbay Mall!

With almost 3 years of working and living in Penang, it was only last weekend that we set foot in Eastin Hotel; I thought it was never too late to discover another gem in this side of Malaysia. We appreciate the invitation given by Eastin Hotel Penang for us to experience what makes them different and special from the rest.

From the hotel lobby, we were ushered by the most accomodating & friendliest staffs at the 11th floor and while on the lift, I had to ask them if all elevator units in the hotel are dimly lit. I got a positive response making me wish for a brighter lifts. Othe than that, excitement heightened.

It was a love at first sight! 

We loved EASTIN DELUXE SUITE!!! Our 8-year-old-son, Gabby’s the happiest!

Jump for joy upon the sight of Eastin Deluxe Suite!

Now that blissful expression was taken before he opened the gifts from Eastin Hotel Penang. This defined how thoughtful and sweet the people behind this hotel are! Thank you very much!

First adjective that popped out upon the sight of our 56-square-meter, one bedroom suite : Minimalist.

First impression : Wow! (I wished I invented post-its! Running joke between Tina & I from the movie, Romy & Michelle High School Reunion, lol!) The room surely will appeal to businessmen and leisure travelers. But did it meet our family’s expectations? Read on.

While I do not deny the fact that seeing something whimsical or edgy is sometimes fascinating,  having only what you need in the cleanest lines and tasteful interiors (without clutter and yes, without any plastic plants and floral curtains) is always fresh and rejuvenating.

We certainly had one of our restful sleeps in Eastin Deluxe Suite’s comfortable king-size-bed. I liked the bed so much however, I wished the pillows are a bit firmer. But Tina & Gabby had no qualms about the feathery pillows; it must be me! hahaha!

With free and fast wifi access, apparently, Eastin Deluxe Suite is perfect for businessmen, honeymooners, a bunch of friends and yes, even family with kids! It certainly provides no-frill-comfort and convenience.

The very spacious suite is equipped with a luxurious living area with a sofa that’s big enough to fit the hyperextended-me, a wardrobe that keeps a flat iron & an ironing board, a safe and a shoe rack; the room also has an LCD TV with cable channels (another unit is generously installed in the bedroom), and a complimentary bar.

The room’s huge enough to offer a separate powder room where Tina reigned for two days, a full length mirror, a toilet, shower & bath that’s even the most discerning ones would give a thumbs-up.

I didn’t feel short with the bath tub. The size of the tub effortlessly accomodated the 5’7 1/2″ in me (don’t forget the half inch in height! i reckon! lol); I had slept 30 minutes in the tub, almost fully soaked in lukewarm water. It was so relaxing it nearly melted all my worries away!

Go ahead, ask our son if he enjoyed the tub!

I also liked this little business corner at the living room. If only they have installed more than two sockets and a few more gadget plugs, it could’ve been better, nonetheless, it doesn’t disappoint.

Actually, the nook became more impressive at night when Gabby lorded it like a boss!

And just so you know, this one’s candid. Tee hee!

At few minutes past 5PM, we went to the lobby to meet again the Marketing & Communications people of Eastin Hotel Penang, Selene & Joanne. They exclusively toured my family and I for few minutes to some of Eastin Hotel Penang’s rooms and facilities. I must state, we enjoyed it as it doesn’t come on a daily basis!

Far from being boring, the hallways display vibrant visual attractions via abstract paintings that are continuously echoed in various rooms at Eastin Hotel Penang.

Our first stop : The Deluxe Rooms with Hillview (and the other Deluxe Room with Seaview). These well appointed rooms apparently were designed to provide both function and ease to either businessmen, leisure travelers or families. With such contemporary style and amenities, one’s definite of a comfortable and delightful stay.

Eastin Hotel Penang also has Friendly Suite Room, called as such because it’s built to cater to the needs of elderly and physically-challenged guests. Another room that’s remarkable with Eastin’s their Family Suite Room which at the time of our visit was occupied. Good to know, I told our hosts. Then there’s that Soho Duplex Room that has few similarities to Family Suite Room. Probably it’s unique in most, if not all premier hotels here in Penang. Let the succeeding photos defined how Soho Duplex Room looks like.

Beautiful, isn’t it? (My family and the Soho Duplex Room!)

Expectedly, Eastin Hotel Penang also has a fitness center, a spa (not in photo) and a swimming pool.

Located at the third level of the hotel, the swimming pool gives everyone a sweeping view of the skyline, roads leading to Penang International Airport and yes, Queensbay Mall! Did we take a dip? Negative. Not because we didn’t feel like it but Gabby preferred to savor our suite the next morning after the buffet breakfast; told you it was that relaxing! But the swimming pool looks really inviting!

Passing through hallways of Eastin Hotel Penang, we saw some guests interviewing applicants for jobs, proving that Eastin caters to businessmen and the like. We also peeked at its function rooms and ballrooms where special events and momentous occasions are usually  celebrated.

After that brief hotel tour, we trooped to the Executive Lounge which is only accessible by hotel guests who upgrade their packages. With more soothing ambiance, wonderful view of the ocean, contemporary and minimalist interiors, and a shelf with reading materials from travel & fashion magazines to broadsheets can be savored over a free flowing cups of coffee or tea, sodas or wine and some cheese, English scones, sushi, bite-size pizza, cold cuts and more! Here’s a peek at our late afternoon tea time!

Yum, yum, yum!

The High Tea at the Executive Lounge is a great prelude to the delicious dinner buffet we had! Did I already mention that this spot also serves breakfast? Courteous & efficient staff, quick and attentive service. Delicious bites. Awesome, isn’t it?

No captions needed; the smiles said it all!

JAPANESE DINNER BUFFET @ SWEZ BRASSERIE, EASTIN HOTEL PENANG

One of the highlights of our staycation at Eastin Hotel Penang was the Japanese Dinner Buffet hosted by none other than, Swez Brasserie’s Senior Sous Chef, Daniel Tan. Chef Daniel heads the Swez Brasserie where he and his team offer a wide variety of international and local favorites. It was a pleasure meeting him as Gabby desires to become a chef someday. Talking to the main man responsible for the sumptuous spread was such a nice opportunity. While Tina and Gabby were busy filling their dinner plates, Chef Daniel casually informed me that everything in the buffet is Halal making me more impressed as I somehow knew how challenging Japanese cuisine to be done with no pork or its derivatives (Read : No Pork Tonkatsu!). I told Chef Daniel that despite I’m far from being a food critic and a no authority in Japanese cuisine, my palates have tasted authentic Japanese dishes during my 14-day-trip in Tokyo back in 2005. The dinner buffet, to simply put it, was satisfyingly good! My family and I were pleased with what he and his team prepared. Bravo, Chef Daniel!

Freshest sashimi! Yummy!!!

Sharkfin’s soup, sushi, sashimi and more!

How could you not be impressed with this Japanese themed eat-all-you-want dinner being offered every Saturdays in Swez Brasserie at Eastin Hotel Penang with OKONOMIYAKI (the so-called Japanese pizza), SOFT SHELLED CRABS that aren’t usual in other hotel buffets and so much more? Other than a variety of sushi and sashimi, they also have one of my ulitmate favorites, that sweet and salty beefy (they have chicken too) SUKIYAKI!!! Not to forget, Chef Daniel offered to do a platter of kani, ebi and veggie tempura for all of us after learning Gabby likes it!

Oishii!!!

Shameless display of one of my plates! Sukiyaki, Okonomiyaki, Unagi, Baked Oysters,  Salmon, and those Skewered Grilled Beef – so tasteful and very tender!

Desserts were Japanese themed too! There were mochi and some jelly balls of some sorts! Interestingly good!

We didn’t miss the opportunity to have a photo-op with Chef Daniel, a couple of friendly staffs of Swez Brasserie and the ladies behind the MarCom of Eastin Hotel Penang, Selene and Joanne. Thank you so much!

THE LOBBY LOUNGE @ EASTIN HOTEL PENANG

Just when we thought the day was over, Selene and Joanne led us to the opposite end of the lobby where The Lobby Lounge is located. We met the manager of the bar, had some drinks from their menu (Mojito, Singapore Sling, Strawberry Ice Cream Blend and Kiwi mixed Shake), watched and met the Filipina singer after their set and absorbed all in and capped the night!

BREAKFAST BUFFET @ SWEZ BRASSERIE, EASTIN HOTEL PENANG

We woke up with excitement to sample the breakfast offering! Good Sunday morning, Eastin!

I was silently jumping for joy seeing two choices of congee (plain & seafood congee filled with shrimps and scallops) with several choices of toppings. Too perfect to warm my tummy!

Char siew pao, prawn dumplings, and other dim sums, beef bacon strips, (and another favorite of Tina and me; drum roll please) smoked salmon, assorted fresh fruit slices, strawberry and mixed berries yoghurt, DIY-salad were some of the offerings on the spread we enjoyed. Gabby had fresh juices while the coffee addicts in Tina and I were truly satisfied.

One of the best tasting Congee!

So many food, so little time!

HIGH TEA | SUNDAY LUNCH BUFFET @ SWEZ BRASSERIE, EASTIN HOTEL PENANG

Our overnight staycation at Eastin Hotel Penang was nothing but pleasant accomodation and nearly non-stop gastronomic feasts! What a blessing! Few hours after a very heavy breakfast came lunch time! The 3 of us avoided rice intentionally to sample a little bit of almost everything from the High Tea spread.

There were many local dishes featured in Swez Brasserie’s Sunday High Tea - Rendang, Curry, Nasi Lemak, Sotong & Udang Dishes, but my eyes were attracted to this Mixed Veggies while my palates loved their version of Chicken Satay that blended so well with its Peanut Sauce (some satay I’ve previously tasted had overpowering gingery taste; this one’s from Eastin tasted just fine). The Roasted Duck & Chicken were also must-sample! However, the Chicken Shawarma was a let down according to Tina.

Plates for the three of us-self-proclaimed foodies!

Bow!

The Children’s Corner at Swez Brasserie’s High Tea | Lunch Buffet last Sunday was something commendable! Our kiddo’s happy with the “treasures” he found on that spread!

Bubur Gandum (Wheat Sweet Porridge)-Malaysian equivalent to Philippine’s Guinataang Mais. LIKE!!!

I’m already so full but I wanted to sample their version of another popular Malaysian dessert – Ais Kacang (reminds me so much of the Filipino, Halo-halo). When I went to its station, the Assistant Sous Chef suggested to his junior to make a colorful Ais Kacang, something that will look extra pleasing to the cam. As per his instruction, my bowl of Ais Kacang was made of all the sweet ingredients on the table, and instead of having them under the dome of shaved ice, mine had everything as toppings! Beautiful!

Tina and I ended our unforgettable digestive feasts with a cup of coffee but I made mine more sinful. I tried to marry the coffee and ice cream stations and made an affogato instead of the usual dose of caffeine!

The people of Eastin Hotel were super generous, they even allowed us to avail of a late-check-out at 2PM!

Despite our very short stay at Eastin Hotel Penang, our family felt so at ease with their hospitable and courteous service, comfortable and spacious room, guest-friendly amenities and very wide variety of delicious treats! Who says Eastin Hotel Penang is only for businessmen? It’s so family-friendly too!

Thank you very much, Eastin Hotel Penang!

We’re more than grateful with the experience!

My family and I can proudly say that we highly recommend Eastin Hotel Penang!

EASTIN HOTEL PENANG | 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queensbay 11900  Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia | www.eastinhotel-penang.com

>><<

*While this is a sponsored post, all words and opinions on this blog aren’t influenced and remain 100% my own.

Special thanks goes to Criz Lai of www.crizfood.com

If I am ever going to stick to a routine at all, it needs to be simple to use and easy to incorporate into my everyday life. No fiddling about with hundreds of different bottles. Luckily, I was recently able to try out Decleor’s 4 Piece Divine Skincare Collection, which features 4 travel size skincare products and 2 muslin cloths, all neatly packaged in a lovely white wash bag. I couldn’t wait to give it a go. And, in just four easy steps – it’s not time consuming either.

Morning

1. Aroma Cleanse

I adore BB creams, secretly love 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioning products and carry round my hydrating (yet colour pigmented) lip balm with me everywhere. In essence, I absolutely love multi-functional products, as they make life just that little bit easier, so I was pleased to see that this kit featured a 3 in 1 cleansing, toning and smoothing mousse, which takes off make-up, hydrates skin and tones. You simply lather a small amount of the cream in water, apply to your face in a circular motion and rinse off. It couldn’t be any easier. The effects, quite literally (despite minimal effort) feel like you have cleansed, toned and used a make-up wipe, so I was pretty impressed. With a fresh, soap like scent – it’s not the most fruity or enlivening of smells, but you definitely feel clean and refreshed after using it. And it doesn’t smell artificial, it’s very natural and fresh.

2. Flower Nectar Moisturising Cream

After cleansing your face, add a small amount of this cream to your finger and apply all over your face. Again, with a very fresh but not overpowering scent, this product does leave you feeling very refreshed and awake, but if you prefer more fruity or citrus-y smells for your moisturiser, this doesn’t necessarily cater for this. With a non-oily, light texture, this cream sinks into your skin immediately and gets to work hydrating and softening the skin on your face within an instant. Usually, I have to leave my moisturiser on for five minutes before applying my foundation, but this one is much quicker, making the morning routine a lot less time consuming.

3. Essential Serum

I am not a huge skin serum fan, as I find them quite oily and difficult to apply. However, giving this one the benefit of the doubt (oh, aren’t I kind), I used a little amount on my face, before applying make-up, mainly in the areas that I find are the most dry and then dabbed any excess oiliness with the muslin cloth. I actually found it to be fantastic with regards to hydrating and illuminating and I shall definitely be adding this into my daily routine a little more!

Night

1. Aroma Cleanse (see above)

2. Night Beauty Cream

I found the night moisturiser to be much lighter than the day hydrating cream, which is great – as I tend to need a little more help during the day at keeping my skin soft and protected, than I do during the night. Still with a fresh, non-oily texture, this product is really effective at banishing any dry patches – but it feels much lighter on your skin and is much nicer to sleep in.

3. Essential Serum (see above)

Overall, I found the kit to be extremely easy to use and since it’s all packaged nicely in a cute little washbag – I found myself getting into the habit of using each of the products morning and night. I’m travelling quite a lot in April (I’m off to Spain, a fitness boot camp and Bath) so this is going to be perfect for taking away with me, and not using the fact I am out and about as an excuse not to keep up the good habit!

The Decleor 4 Piece Collection can be found on QVC’s website here – and is priced at a very affordable £19.68. 

1. Babble.com, a leading parenting blog, features the MACRO-E as a “top 25 beauty product you should try this Spring”: http://bit.ly/16HiI2F.

2. DailyCandy Everywhere Edition included the MACRO-E as a “top 25 tool to tame your beauty woes”: http://bit.ly/Y0CYva.

3. Beauty Shall Save the World, the popular skincare blog, featured the MACRO-E as the tool that is “revolutionizing exfoliation … and housecleaning”: http://bit.ly/ZHBPVf.

The MACRO-E has taken the beauty industry by storm…
Our 90 day supply sold out in less than 3 WEEKS!!!
Unfortunately, for now they are backordered! But, fortunately for YOU, you have the chance to get on our waiting list!
New stock arrives May 1 – just 36 days away… and will be released ONLY to our Preferred Customers!
Contact me to find out how YOU can be added to the list!

xo,

karen [pretzel] wujek

loveyourbestskin@gmail.com
Cell: (619) 750-3340
Blog: www.loveyourbestskin.com
Facebook: facebook.com/loveyourbestskin

In the past I have reviewed Miss Me Not (FREE today!!!) The Saving Angel’s Series, and Jordyn. Here they are below… she has many other books that are fabulous as well!

Miss Me Not

Have you ever made a pact with a friend? In Miss Me Not by Tiffany King, that is exactly what happens.

Madison and her friend James are loners. They make a pact to end their lives because no one will miss them. Life will go on like they were never there. That is until another classmate beats them to it. Now what will they decide… Life or death?

When I first began this book, I was totally blown away with the suicide of classmate Mitch as well as Madison’s resentment for church. I didn’t know if I could read it, especially learning about the pact. Even with that on my mind I had to find out what happened next. I had to find out if they went threw with it!

Madison is a loner for many reasons, but I believe mostly due to her mother. Lets just say I have a few choice words for her! Her story is one of a very independent, young lady. She seems to have accepted her life, consequences for her actions, and feels that death would be better than living.

This book pulled at my heart. As a mother, I wanted to take her as my own. I wanted to know why she was never put first. Why her family as a whole didn’t operate as a family? What made her want to end her life, and why she had lived in the “shadows.”

Miss Me Not isn’t a book about suicide. It’s a book about choices. We all have skeletons in the closet no matter how big or small, it’s what we do with them when we free ourselves that matters most. This book is at the top of my must read list. I give it 5 stars if not more. I honestly don’t know if I can put my feelings in words. The only comment I can make is when life is chosen you can change the outcome, write your own story. If you choose death, you leave an open book for other to write!

The Saving Angels Series

Imagine your favorite dream occurring each and every night. In The Saving Angel Series by Tiffany King, this is what happens to Krista every night.

After the loss of her father, Krista and her mother decide to move to Santa Cruz. It is a new start for them, but it is also a special place for Krista. Each night she dreams of the beach there, along with a young man who she prays will be there as well. When she realizes that her dreams are now a reality, she also has to understand that she is “linked” to Mark in more ways than one.

This series is FABULOUS! If you love books about angels, demons, good, bad, vampires, and warewolves… then this is your next series! The love aspect in this series is very different. It is about family and survival. This is what draws everyone to Santa Cruz. The story behind The Light and The Dark Ones is very unique. There is so much emotion in this series. I loved how everything was happy, nothing can go wrong to OMG! WTH? in like 2 seconds! Also, the relationships between each character are so specific. The relationships remind me of people in general… The ability to see good and evil, never giving up hope, fighting for love-your beliefs, and overcoming the evil in this world.

I’m so glad that I could read all 3 books at one time…. if I would have had to wait on them, I would have been a mess! Also, one plus about buying the bundle is the added bonus of The Dark One: A Saving Angels Prequel I’m not even going to comment on it because it will give too much away! All I can say is that it broke my heart in so many ways! Poor Haniel! I really wished that it kept going instead of only a few short chapters! It does give you insight to what happened before all Guides and Protectors lost their families.

I have to say that I can’t give Tiffany King enough props! She is hands down one of the best authors I have EVER read! Also, the fact that I have found her to be so open to reviews and really wants to know what readers think!… It might also have to do with the fact she wouldn’t trip me if we were chased by zombies because that’s how we roll!

I am super excited to say that Tiffany King has a new book called Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel to be released soon! Also, the 1st chapter is on her blog! Book Love You can also follow her on Facebook at Tiffany King or Twitter @AuthorTiffany. Happy Reading and Daemon a** kickin’!

Jordyn

Tiffany King has done it again with Jordyn! I just finished The Saving Angels Series a few weeks ago, and was excited that Jordyn would be out soon! I also WON an Copy of the book from Mrs. Tiffany King herself!!!! Eeeeeekkkk!!!!

Jordyn is a Daemon Ass Kicking Expert. She can take on 1, 2 , or who knows how many Daemon on at once, and they are all toast when they meet her! She has been told since she met all the Guides and Protectors that she is “special.” She’d give ANYTHING to be normal. Her first chance at normal is when she meets Emrys. There’s only one problem…. he’s a Soul Trader. Will Jordyn go against the ones that love her? Will she find that he is a weakness for her? Will she let the first chance of normalcy pass her by or will hold on to it and never let it go????

I have to say that I was BEYONG EXCITED to read this book! I was even more excited and in love with it when I decided Jordyn is my FAV! She can kick Daemon Ass any time and anywhere! I also love the fact that she struggles to fit in with everyone else. She’s not like any other from the group. She is also younger, and they feel the need to protect her… which I found as amusing as her due to her abilities.

Now lets talk about Emrys…. Oh, Emrys! He stole my heart… even if he’s a “bod boy” in Angel/Daemon world. There was just something about him. It could have been the fact that looked like a rock star or in the words of Jordyn herself…. “Emry in jeans and a leather jacket equaled hot. Emrys in slacks and a button-down shirt qualed scorching.” (Jordyn) I felt he actually wanted to get to know Jordyn. Also, the fact that he took the time to get to know her for who she was just made me smile!

This book was Daemon Ass Kickin FABULOUS! I love how we get to know Jordyn, and also get to see how all of our friends in The Saving Angels Series Haniel is still Haniel… Krista, Mark, Shawn, Sam, Robert, and Lynn are all there. We get to see Jordyn figure out who she is, meet Emery, and discover the unknown. Also, Tiffany King leaves the end of this book at a point where you are praying…. PLEASE DON’T STOP HERE… not only does Jordyn BIG OLE BOMB get dropped on her by Haniel and Emrys, now her only friend is being herself. I guess on a positive note at least she’s got sand, water, porpoises, and solitude?!

I also can say it’s safe to say I will try to patiently wait on Tiffany King to get Jordyn (A Daemon Hunter Book Two) published! I do believe that it is going to be tough! I might even resort to a little Daemon ass kickin myself to kill some time! Until then…. Check out Jordyn by Tiffany King or any of her fabulous novels! No matter which one you pick… you won’t be disappointed! Happy Reading!

Get your copy of Jordyn at Amazon

Check out Tiffany King at the following places!

Tiffany King
Facebook: Author Tiffany King
Twitter: @AuthorTiffany

Anyone interested in a GIVEAWAY??? I”m thinking who wants a Jordyn sticker??? Leave comments below for an AUTOGRAPHED Jordyn sticker!

Also, Friday I was able to reveal the cover for Tiffany King’s upcoming book No Attachments…. check it out below!

Cover design by Sarah Hansen from Okay Creations

ABOUT NO ATTACHMENTS:

Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she’s not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn’t count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.

Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He’s done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored–his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: If the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?

ABOUT TIFFANY KING:

Tiffany King is the author of The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy.
She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

LINKS:

Twitter- @AuthorTiffany

Facebook- Tiffany King

Pintrest- Tiffany King

Blog- authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Goodreads- Tiffany King
Happy Birthday Tiffany!!!!!!!!!

One of the lessons that I learnt throughout this module is handling digital identity effectively and taking into account issues of privacy and ethics. The Internet is a powerful virtual environment, where nearly everything is possible to do and to make. Its a place where you could really be yourself or whoever you want. But, if you really care about you reputation and public image and if you want to create yourself a clean digital identity then you have to be very careful about what you do and what you say there. This leads to privacy and ethical issues. I have signed up for many websites online using my real name. And I have clearly demonstrated who I am? what I do and where I live, this can be clearly seen on my WordPress blog, twitter, YouTube and the About Me page. Therefore, in order not to damage my public image and reputation, I have to be very careful about how I would manage my digital identity online, because everything I do or say will be recorded under my name.

One thing that I was very concerned about throughout the process of developing my digital identity was copyright and licensing issues. The internet is a very rich resource, meaning that you can find anything you want there. But at the same time you need to be careful about how you use other people’s work and ensuring that you respect other people’s privacy and give proper credit to their work.

Overall, I am happy to point out that I managed to complete all the required tasks on time and created myself an online digital identity which I am hoping to take it further.

Lalu bagaimanakah caranya, agar kita bisa mengubah dunia menjadi lebih baik? Apa yang harus kita lakukan?

Caranya, dengan mengubah diri terlebih dahulu, demikian yang dikatakan Adjie Silarus, seorang Meditator muda yang dikenal dengan teknik Sejenak Hening. Ia mengatakan jika setiap orang adalah komponen yang saling berpengaruh satu sama lain di dalam ekosistem bernama dunia. Oleh karena itu jika ada kebutuhan akan sebuah perubahan maka langkah awal untuk melakukan perubahan tersebut adalah dengan mengubah diri terlebih dulu. Setelah itu baru, dampak perubahan akan menular pada sekitarnya. Adjie juga mengatakan, tidak ada pemain tunggal yang memiliki tanggungjawab atas seisi dunia. Bahkan seorang pimpinan negara seperti Presiden sekalipun tidak boleh berbuat menurut kehendaknya sendiri. Namun,  bukan berarti tidak ada yang bisa kita lakukan. Justru sebaliknya, menurut pria berkacamata ini, jika setiap orang mau mengubah dirinya sendiri lebih dulu, maka harmonisasi dengan alam akan mudah dicapai.

Apa yang harus dilakukan untuk mengubah diri sendiri?. Menurut Adjie Silarus,  yang saat ini bergabung dengan Personal Branding Agency dari Indscript Creative mengatakan, caranya dengan memulai menerima diri sendiri. Setiap orang tentu telah melalui berbagai pengalaman. Ada pengalaman yang membahagiakan ada pula pengalaman  buruk yang menyakitkan. Pengalaman-pengalaman itulah yang membentuk diri mereka menjadi seperti sekarang ini. Kadang, pengalaman buruk membuat seseorang menjadi pasif, apatis,  bahkan bertindak agresif pada orang lain  dan sulit untuk merasakan kebahagiaan. Hal itu dikarenakan, pengalaman buruk meninggalkan trauma  pada seseorang, dan berusaha untuk dlupakan atau ditutupi. Proses menutupi luka masa lalu ini yang bisa berbalik membuat orang tidak bisa bahagia.

Adjie pun memberi saran untuk memulai menerima diri sendiri apa adanya, agar bisa mencapai kondisi yang seimbang dan bahagia. Baik pengalaman buruk maupun bahagia, semuanya adalah bagian dari diri yang harus diterima secara utuh. “Kita tidak akan pernah mampu menjadi sosok yang lengkap dan mampu memberikan kontribusi positif pada dunia, jika kita tidak memiliki penerimaan diri yang utuh”, ujarnya.

Adjie pun mengatakan jika kita tidak perlu menunggu semuanya sempurna untuk bisa memberikan kontribusi yang positif pada dunia. Setiap orang bisa memulainya dari dirinya sendiri melalui langkah-langkah kecil yang terus berkelanjutan. Kita bisa mulai dengan hal-hal sederhana, seperti tidak membuang sampah sembarangan, berlaku baik pada orang lain, menjadi contoh yang baik bagi anak-anak, dan menghindari perilaku korup.

“Jika kita sudah bisa mengubah diri kita menjadi insan yang lebih peduli, dengan sendirinya masalah dunia akan berkurang,  sekalipun pencapaiannya satu demi satu. Tidak perlu buru-buru saat memutuskan berubah. Nikmati dan hayati prosesnya, dan jangan lupa untuk senantiasa menyambungkan diri kita dengan alam dan Sang Pencipta,” tutur Adjie menutup perbincangan.

Saturday morning…Ding Dong ….not fully dressed, hair not done so I stayed partially hidden…hopefully they’ll go away….hearing nothing….peered through the side window to see The Brown Man running quickly down the front yard…he jumped back into his truck and drove away….opened the door slowly looking for the familiar brown box delivery…looked left…then right…then looked down…what the…what is this bright orange box…oh wow…my 1st Influenster VOXBOX!!!

Not fully dressed, hair not done…called #2 son to come downstairs quickly...what Ma?…here take this camera and go outside and take a picture...what?...go outside and take a picture of the box on the front step…what is it?...boy, just go out and take a picture…and not too close so you can see our address…what?…take the picture puhleeze (closed the door)…IT’S COLD OUT HERE!

Pic taken now he wants to open it up, grabs the letter opener while I stand aside, heart beating a mile a minute…I’ve read about these boxes but never actually saw one…it was exciting…son slits through the packing tape…lifts the lid and ta-da…this is what “we” got:

Son is not impressed…“Ma…can I have the biscuits, I’m hungry…next time tell them to send a car to test drive”, and with that off he went.

Inside the VoxBox were the following products:

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture 6.5 oz can

This was by far my favorite product because of the spray-on application which is how I buy my sunscreen.  It was not oily or overpowering in fragrance, also not thick and sticky which can be a problem when putting on clothes immediately after applying lotion.

Nectresse Natural Sweetener – 40 packets

I don’t use white sugar and don’t particularly like the bitter taste of artificial sweeteners but this was neither.  It’s not raw sugar nor is it an artificial substance, it’s 100% natural fruit extract with zero calories.  I used 1 packet in my coffee and a packet in my Spinach Smoothie this morning and it was really good.  A recipe booklet with a measurement conversion chart was included so I’ll bake something this weekend and post the results next week.

Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes – 20 count box

These towelettes were designed to be used as a quick refresher to remove dirt and oils from face and neck.   I used one after removing my makeup for the night, the smell wasn’t pleasant but Witch Hazel has never been.  It also contains aloe which gave it a cool and refreshing feeling that didn’t dry my skin or leave a residue.  I think these will be good after gardening, doing yard work, or after poolside lounging, I’ll let you know in a few months.

and money saving coupons

belvita Breakfast Biscuits

My son ate the sample but since I had previously purchased  I knew that I liked them.  I’ve bought the single packs from Walmart as well as the boxes of 5, each contain 4 biscuits per pack.  They are a perfect commuting breakfast because they don’t crumble and fall apart.  A good source of fiber, I especially like the Blueberry flavor and bought a box yesterday from Super G.

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Toothbrush

I suffer from Periodontal Disease so I am very particular with the products that I use for oral care.  I regularly use a Rotadent Rotary toothbrush at night with a toothpaste for sensitive teeth; a manual toothbrush in the morning as well as for brushing at work.  I also use a mouth rinse but this was the first time using Colgate Optic White Mouthwash.  I immediately knew it contained peroxide by the way it foamed in my mouth, as a kid I used to brush with peroxide and baking soda.  The Optic White Toothpaste was Sparkling Mint, did not have a gritty texture and didn’t irritate my sensitive teeth and gums.  I really like the Colgate Optic White Toothbrush because of the whitening cups, soft bristles, cheek and tongue cleaner.

I am  using all three products together as suggested for whiter teeth in 5 days, I will report my results next week.

Influenster is free to join and sends products for opinion of products and experiences. 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes

]]> http://thegreatzambini.com/2013/03/20/id-like-to-thank-the-academy/ Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:00:23 +0000 TheGreatZambini http://thegreatzambini.com/2013/03/20/id-like-to-thank-the-academy/ I am so honored to have received this award twice! First La Cartera nominated me, and now Amazing Star. I have such good blogging friends! It is so nice to see all of your posts, and what`s going on in your minds. To talk to my blogging friends that apparently live next door to me, and chat with bloggers across the globe. I blog for this community, you know?

Enough dragging it out. “I`m late, I`m late, for a very important [blog friends] date!” -Alice and Wonderland, the White Rabbit

Rules

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Thank and Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination by linking to one of their specific posts

About Me

Well, you already know some about me if you have ever read my About page. However, I guess I can share a few little extras! Here are my top 7 things you didn`t know about me.

• I am obsessed with the color yellow. Really. It makes me feel happy and cheerful, and reminds me that it takes a choice to appreciate something, no matter how small, and feel happy every day. I actually have a yellow map shirt collection. No, really! I have seven shirts that either have a map or a design that is sort of mappy. This doesn`t include my other six yellow shirts, or my other 15+ shirts in different colors. And that just the short sleeve section!
• I`m a bit of a green freak. I spend hours every Spring clearing up local parks, and I run through the park behind my house when I`m stressed or sad. The trees really are a comfort source, like a grown up teddy bear, so I want to take care of them. I grow these little miniature roses that I bought from the grocery store at $5 each, and I love them. They actually do better in my yard with no upkeep than the one expensive designer ‘disease free’ rose that gets fertilized and coddled!
• I am a skirt girl. I love skirts. My go-to ‘I don`t know what to wear’ outfit is a pair of bright tights in one color, a skirt in another bright color, and a differently brightly colored shirt. I guess I like to dress like a parrot! Sometimes I wear calmer colors. My friends can tell I`m having a terrible day, though, if I`m wearing jeans. It just doesn`t happen.
• I wear my hair up. Always. I use bobby pins, or clips, or decorative chopsticks when I`m lazy, but my hair is always up. I have curly hair, so I take hours making each curl look perfect the few times I let my hair down. I let it go wild and free and curl however it likes when it`s up, and people say I look so fancy when I was being so lazy!
• I love rainy days. People never notice it, but all the colors of the flowers and leaves is so much stronger when it is rainy! It feels so dreamy to me. And fog! I love the fog! It feels like anything magical or special could happen on a foggy day.
• I have a nail obsession. I feel a little naked if I leave my house with unpainted nails, so I always have at least clear nail polish (lazy days) or normally a plain color. I don`t go into the designs so much mainly because I don`t have any good brushes or tools to use for it, and I don`t want to do a crummy job!
• When I die, I want to be cremated, not buried. I just think bodies are so gross, and I don`t want to hog a piece of land for five centuries as my body takes forever to just go away. I`d be fine having the ashes dumped in the trash, but I`m ok with being stuck in a rose garden or something. Just not the ocean. Ashes were meant for land, not further dirtying our water.

Winners

Because nomination is a confusing term, at least to me. It sounds like you are up for an award, when in reality, if someone says you are nominated, it just means you`ve won. Just a little instance of word usage that sometimes drives me crazy! (Well, I`m a little crazy anyways. But you get my point, right?)

I`m sorry if I repeated a few names from last time, I tried to avoid it! I want to spread those fuzzy feel good feelings to as many people as I can, I`m just not that good at preventing overlap. I`m so sorry to anyone who reads this and wanted to be nominated, I didn`t skip you because I don`t love your blog, it`s just because I`m not as put together a person as I might wish!

• Genkikitty
• Style Over Stress
• Egg Yolk Days
• Sensitive Flour
• I am The Spoon
• Rabbit Can Cook
• DIY Geekess
• North Leads To Home
• Studio 18
• djdfr Blogging Here
• An Uncommon Girl
• Cilliandervan
• ArgentumVulgaris
• So Fresh `n So Green
• B In The Know

Who would you nominate? Share the name of your favorite blogger, so we can all find more reading material!

Kilby Canal – Prints available

She had a lovely photo of her son, looking over a canal bridge, that made the basis for a brilliant piece of art and a fantastic memory.

She highlights in her post some of the detail that you may otherwise miss on digital versions. In print, there is far more depth to the image. It really has to be seen in the flesh. Follow @nyeportraits on twitter to stay updated with details of some upcoming exhibitions and events, or order your very own illustrated memory.

“I think artwork is one of the things which is most flexible when it comes to interiors, modern or traditional, it usually just fits in no matter what the rest of the décor is like.”

So if your home is very traditional, ultra-modern, or somewhere in between, Nye Portraits can give you that finishing touch you’re looking for!

To view the full post, click here.

An award that goes out to the most multifaceted bloggers around. You know- those that don`t have a themed blog. Nothing wrong with that, it just means that the WordPress search engine with its category tags aren`t getting a lot of viewers to those blogs. That`s why they made this award.

I kind of like awards. They make me feel fancy and loved! And I have to be loved, because I got this award after the wonderful lacartera nominated me!

So, what must a nominated person do? What are the rules, regulations, quid pro quos, and legal jibber jabber that I must follow the straight and narrow on? Elementary, my dear Watson. (Love Sherlock Holmes, especially the BBC series- sadly on hiatus for the actor`s work in The Hobbit Trilogy, and the relatively recent movie series, installment 1 and 2! Other versions of the stories use an old stodgy guy for Sherlock, and we all know that has nothing to do with the actual books!)

Anyways, rules. Here they are, in all their glory:

• post the award picture on the blog (check)
• give a link to the blogger who nominated you (check)
• Nominate 15 of your favorite blogs (check mate!)

In case you didn`t catch that, nominated blogs are also blogs who have won the award. They go hand in hand on this one. I tell you this, becaue I was being silly and imagining a voting committee, or you need two or more nominations to win, or… Well, let`s just leave it at me being silly. So here are far less silly, but more skilled, bloggers:

1. jonathanochart
2. jewelsincolorado
3. franceleclerc
4. bentodays
5. kiisu23
6. wokattack
7. thglutenfree
8. fashionskyfall
9. The CoF
10. darcidiggs
11. One Fit Mama
12. Viva La Glamour
13. Style Anxiety
14. My French Heaven
15. Dave’s Nature

Who would you nominate? Share the name of your favorite blogger, so we can all find more reading material!

Could something that is supposedly so “healthy” be causing so much damage to our bodies? Cardiologist Dr. William Davis seems to think so! He uses the term “wheat belly” to describe the big gut that you see too many people carrying around. This big gut represents the accumulation of fat that results from prolonged consumption of foods that trigger insulin, the hormone of fat storage. The higher the blood glucose after consumption of food, the higher the insulin level and therefore the more fat that is stored.

It has been proven that wheat elevates blood sugar levels more than virtually any other carbohydrate! If you think about it, we aren’t light wheat-eaters either. Most people have cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, maybe some cheese and crackers as a snack, and then a piece of bread with their dinner. So much bread! After watching over 2,000 of his patients regain their health after giving up wheat, Dr. Davis concluded that wheat is the single largest contributor to the nationwide obesity epidemic – yikes!!!

When Dr. Davis asked his patients to give up wheat to improve their heart health, he found astonishing health effects other than what he expected. Patients experienced weight loss, decreased blood sugar, improved energy, deeper sleep, greater concentration, rashes disappeared, improved mood, cases of IBS disappeared, arthritis pain improved or disappeared and asthma symptoms improved or resolved! All of this just from eliminating wheat from their diet! How good can it really be for us if our bodies function so much better without it?!!

In The Wheat Belly, Dr. Davis expands more on why wheat has such negative effects on our bodies, as well as shares stories from patients who have turned their lives around thanks to the elimination of wheat from their diet. If you are interested in learning more about the negative effects of wheat, I would highly recommend you read The Wheat Belly. It is an interesting read and a definite eye-opener into the harmful world of wheat.

Here are a few thought-provoking tidbits from The Wheat Belly:

• “Modern wheat is no more real wheat than a chimpanzee is an approximation of a human”
• “There is hardly an organ that is NOT affected by wheat in some potentially damaging way”
• “Eating two slices of whole wheat bread is really little different, and often worse than drinking a can of sugar-sweetened soda or eating a candy bar”
• “Wheat is the only common food that has its own measurable mortality rate when observed over years of consumption”
• “The average American consumes 133lbs of wheat per year (133lbs of wheat flour is equal to approximately 200 loaves of bread, or a bit more than ½ a loaf of bread per day)”

Do you have a wheat belly?

http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/

Before the dancers had even taken centre stage, I knew I was in for a treat. As the audience took their seats, and just minutes before the performance was about to begin there was a few minute long voice-over which left the audience in hysterics. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was certainly a show I will never forget.

The show began with a performance of ‘Les Sylphides’ which had the most amazing choreography and definitely stood out as being the best performance in my eyes. Each ballerina had their time to shine and it included some of the funniest slapstick and satire humour to be seen. The ‘Dying Swan’ act was also a very memorable one, with the audience laughing non-stop throughout the whole performance as masses of feathers floated out from the tutu’s ruffles for the majority of this effective solo dance. Other acts such as ‘Walpurgis Night’ and ‘La Vivandiere Pas De Six’ showed off the skill each individual had. Every performance during the show was amazing; the amount of talent everyone in the company has is incredible. During the Q+A session after the show, I learned that there are always 2 or 3 people in the dance company that know each other’s dances in case of any injuries or illness.

The ballet company consists of 16 dancers so as you can imagine they work very hard, and it definitely shows. The effort and energy they put into each dance move and facial expression really pulls the whole show together. In the Q+A session after the show was finished, it was mentioned that one of the key elements they look for when casting the dancers, (obviously being an outstanding dancer was first and foremost) is to ensure they are a group player and have a good sense of humour.

By the end of the night, I was surrounded by people crying with laughter. It definitely broke the stereotypical ballet’s that I’d seen in the past and is a show not to be missed! To get even more of a taster of what the show is really like, you can view an open rehearsal here. More information about the show can be viewed here and to find out where they’re on tour in a city near you click here.

Tickets can be bought here.

I am a blogger and member of Birmingham Hippodrome’s First Night Scheme, offering £5 tickets to 16-21 year olds – CLICK HERE to join the scheme for free.

That’s all I can say…just WoW

http://tallulahrose.wordpress.com/

In no particular order here is my current, huge collection — I wish you Inspiration!

The other blog I looked at was Geeks of Doom. This site is a one-stop place for anything and everything “geek.” Books, movies, comics, video games, and anything else geeky. They also post about events such as the SXSW Film Festival. This site also has many contributors. Each post allows for comments but most of them have none or very few comments and most don’t have replies from anyone at the blog.  This site also include links to podcasts and contests that might interest their audience. This site covers a wide range of stories to look at which is, of course, a good thing but the layout of the site seems a little cluttered. I understand that ads equal money but this site has too many ads and extra stuff. Not only does this clutter up the site but it increases the loading time for every page.

All in all, I really liked these sites. They both take subjects that I really enjoy and approach them in a fun way while still keeping people up-to-date on news they might be interested in. Sometimes after reading about all the horrible things that are going on in the world it’s nice to take a break from it and read something that will make you laugh. Both of these sites accomplished that which makes them ok in my book.

Thought Catalog — Because one mind is never enough

Thought Catalog is “a place for relevant and relatable non-fiction and thought.” Above all blogs, this is easily my favorite. Thought Catalog is unique in that it is a user-generated blog written by a multitude of authors. Anyone and everyone has the ability to contribute his/her writing, whatever it may be, on any topic of his/her choosing. Some authors address news stories encouraging action and change among the upcoming generations of leaders, using links and videos to emotionally connect with each reader. Other stories are geared toward the hopeless romantics, the sarcastic know-it-all no one openly agrees with, the beautifully composed intellectuals and the “WTF” thoughts someone dared pen to digital paper. Comments are welcomed and encouraged, although the author rarely jumps in to add two more cents or defend that which is questioned; their “thought” has been shared and the world can make of it as its inhabitants individually choose. How beautifully poetic is that?

The blog is managed well, and no piece of writing has ever been a jumbled mass of journalistic garbage. I would not recommend Thought Catalog for the journalist with a passion for all things AP style; rules are often violated and fragments equate to complete thoughts. I read this blog for the personalities because each post is a tiny chunk of the author that they were selfless (or sometimes selfish) enough to share with strangers. There is a story for every person housed here.

As is plain to see, I have a disgustingly involved relationship with Thought Catalog. I could not come up with a greater blog concept if I tried. However, I do wish the blog manager(s) would reconsider the layout. Adding an archive would make accessing old favorites easier and displaying more blogs per page would make thumbing through simpler. I have often wondered why each post is not placed according to category and presented in a pull-down menu. It seems like a great way to organize “thoughts”, right? Unfortunately, my partner in this “relationship” reminds me that categorizing the thoughts of another is almost stereotyping their efforts, which would lead to great issues between authors and blog administrators.

Moral of the analysis: Explore the thoughts you dared to dream, tucked away for safe keeping or simply forgot ever happened; someone else has thought them, too.

The Knot — Planning for Prince Charming

The Knot is a haven for every woman (and the rare man) who lives, eats, sleeps and breathes weddings. The blog features posts for every detail of that special day, from hair and color trends to DIY decor and honeymoon planning. A total of seven editors contribute to the blog and pride themselves on housing the “new[est] and fresh[est]” ideas for weddings.

As an aspiring wedding/event coordinator, I find myself digging through posts on just about every topic that could possibly be important for planning a marriage ceremony. Do not let the subject matter throw you off, however; this blog extends far beyond a one-trick, “how to plan your dream wedding” pony. You will see the glamorous, the trendy, the unique and the straight-up odd. Like what you see? Lucky for you, each blog features additional links at the bottom for similar stories you may enjoy!

I have often heard that men are the visual creatures, but wedding details fall under the “seeing is believing” category in life. The Knot is filled with gorgeous pictures collected from a wide variety of sources, including those captured by TK staff. The overall organization of the blog often becomes overwhelmingly cluttered by all the multimedia used to communicate amazing wedding tips and tricks to brides and their beaus. Thankfully, the pull-down menu across the top banner helps narrow a search and keep our wandering eyes (and minds!) on track. Let’s be honest… planning a wedding is one step short of insanity. If the organization doesn’t help ease the distracted mind of a bride, perhaps another bride will; the online community included in the blog gives  sisters of matrimonial mayhem a place to chat, vent and share their special day with one another!

Moral of the analysis: Brides are crazy… Get a little knotty to calm the storm.

~Justine

I really enjoyed looking through this blog post by The Dating Divas. I’m really into DIY projects, especially when it comes to my boyfriend and especially when it comes to Valentines Day. It was really fun to look at all the different things I could print out. If I get super lazy, I might even go ahead and print some of these out instead of creating my own! My favs were:

The Prompt Loves Notes (#34)

The Alphabet Banner (#33)

The Me & You Card (#23) 

14 days of Love (#18)

This blog post doesn’t just allow for printing these designs, it  also allows the creative juices to get flowing so that maybe you can create something of your very own! (Which I definitely prefer to do!)

Check out the blog post by the Dating Divas and let me know which printable is your favorite and let me know if you’ll be using any of them! Feel free to post pictures!

Xo