Stuff I Meant To Get To And Just Finally Did
I’m a fan of the ‘Save Link’ option on Facebook. Only I’m terrible at actually going back and looking at all those saved links.
At any given point and time, my laptop has at least 10 tabs open of blog posts waiting to be read.
So, in honor of New Year’s being just around the corner, and it being a time of year for renewal, I thought I better clear out my digital queue.
Here’s what I meant to read, and just finally did.
Self Care Tips and Do Good Ideas
How My 2015 Has Felt
My year has been another one of transition and change. It’s been full of stress. And I’m not a good model for slowing down. These posts gave me some food for thought.
In need of some manageable, quick tasks to help you feel refreshed? Check out 15 Easy Things You Can Do That Will Help When You Feel Like Shit.
Want to reduce your stress level by 68%? Who knew all you had to do was read before bed!
And then when you’re ready to reflect, make some new goals, and treat yo’ self, read 26 Things Every Person Should Do For Themselves At Least Once a Year.
Ready to put some good in the world? 15 Things For When the World is Shitty and Terrifying.
Writing Tips and Blogs to Read
This year I became a freelance writer, writing both for local magazines as well as online sites. And I’m still plugging away at my book. Here’s hoping I can reserve more time to write in 2016.
Struggling with some aspect of your writing? Watch out for these culprits: Doubtful Writing Habits You Should Forget About.
How to Be a More Productive Freelancer in 20 Minutes is both a funny read and good advice from the seriously silly Schmutzie. Read for a laugh, stay for the tips.
Jane Friedman is a stellar resource for any writer and she nails it with 5 Reasons You’re Experiencing Writer’s Block.
Now, need a kick in the pants to get going again? Advice in Six Words: 17 Inspirational Writing Tips.
Just For the Fun Of It
It’s not Jess Witkins’s Happiness Project without a little fun involved!
Because it’s not time wasting when important questions are being solved. Which Jane Austen Heroine are You?
I got Catherine Morland. No surprise there. 😉
Because this is so real it hurts: What Marriage is Really Like.
And lastly, this beautiful round up courtesy The Bloggess, who shared all three Bad Lip Reading versions of Star Wars in We’re Those People.
*****
Your turn! Show some linky love in the comments below to the posts you’ve been reading or feel free to share one of your own. Let’s keep the blog hopping non-stopping! Cheers, friends!
Guilty Pleasures: Reading Blogs and a Vote For You!
Hi Peeps! I’m on route back to Wisconsin as you read this. My trip out west was a blast, but now it’s time to get back to work! I’ll be sharing trip photos next week and hopefully not too many accident stories. 😉
For this week’s guilty pleasures, enjoy the best of the blogosphere that I’ve been reading and think you should too!
On Writing:
Many of you shared this post by Roni Loren on using copyright images in your blogs, but it warrants another round! If you didn’t catch Bloggers Beware: You Can Get Sued For Using Pics on Your Blog, you don’t know what you missed.
To save you after the initial panic of the serious issue in Roni’s post, check out August McLaughlin’s post which helps you create your own graphic images, Blog Images Made Easy: Tips from a Non-Graphic Artist.
Donah, of Sweet Jelly Bean, also gives a creative outlet in her DIY Monday: 5 Easy Steps to Make Your Own Blog Header. When I get back, I just might give this a try. Who’s willing to talk me off the technology ledge when I do?
Kait Nolan shared The Dangers of Writing What You Know with some great tips so as not to go too over the top or not give enough.
Pop Culture:
Fabio Bueno introduces us to 5 Addictive TV Series with the funniest You Tube clip from Portlandia! You might wet yourself.
Ever wanted your own trading cards? Piper Bayard lets you vote on the outcome of society should you choose to purchase a Balloon Boy trading card in The End is Near (and we deserve it)…Balloon Boy Trading Cards.
Girl on the Contrary shared her play by play thoughts on the Kristen Stewart cheating scandal, and whether you admit it or not, these thought crossed your mind too. This is My Minute by Minute Reaction to the KStew Cheating Scandal
Want to feel smarter instantly? Donna Newton did the research of classic game show answers that borderline ridiculous and too real. WARNING: Read Only If You Want to Feel Intelligent
Margaret Reyes Dempsey puts women’s shopping plights to page in her recount of shorts shopping for an upcoming camping trip, Daisy Dukes Versus Cargo Shorts.
Please HELP! I need your input!
Inspired by Catie Rhodes’ post who is fine tuning some changes to her blog, I really wanted to reach out to you, MY READERS, and ask for your help.
I’ve been posting a barrage of topics lately and I’m curious to know what interests you most! Blogging really wouldn’t matter without my readers. I only post because I enjoy my discussions with each and every one of YOU! I’ll soon be celebrating my 2nd blog anniversary and I’d love to make this next year of the Happiness Project bigger and better than ever! So please take some time and tell me what you’d love to see more of on my blog! And if you select other, please share some helpful comments below! I always appreciate feedback!
Thanks for chatting! I truly appreciate all thoughts and comments everyone shares! You guys are the reason I write!
Must Read Monday
Hello friends! I’m catching up on my NaNo goals today, so no post from me, but I won’t leave you empty handed. Check out my favorite posts from the past week. There’s a bit of something for everyone, practical writing advice, book reviews, creepy legends, and hilarious love advice!
Word Stuff:
MuseInks gives us the Top 5 Reasons You Should Do NaNoWriMo. Reason number 6: It’s fun!
Kristen Lamb talks Successful Writers and the real truth about the word “lucky.” A must read for all writer wannabees. Take control of your career!
Kristen Lamb also did a post about how to focus on relationships with other writers. She warns you of the bad advice and assists with how to make a real connection happen in How to Win the Hearts of Bloggers – Scoring the Book Review, Guest Post, or Interview.
Freshly Pressed blogger, Jolie O’Dell, gave her Secrets to Productivity recently and really revealed how this gets her a jump start ahead of her peers and what tricks she uses to help wake up in the morning.
Writer Unboxed shared a guest post on how to Be a More Confident Writer and offer 5 tips to help you on your way.
Jillian at A Room of One’s Own wrote a beautiful review on the biography and history of author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Get swept away into The Big Woods of Little House on the Prairie creator.
Health and Wellness:
Mark Landen gives you the health advice and brain foods you’ll need this fall to crack your “WIP” into place. *LOL, I’m hilarious! Ok, seriously* Must read: 11 Ways to a Healthy Brain and Healthy Writing.
Piper Bayard gives us the health care resolution for her presidential candidacy: Granny Care, Putting the Care Back in Health Care. To which I may add, a vote for Granny is a vote for free chicken noodle soup for all!
Social Trends of the Season:
Margaret Reyes Dempsey guest blogs at Celluloid Zombie about the Willing Suspension of Disbelief for movie watchers everywhere. Join the heated debate: 300 zombies out of nowhere, now spotted yards in front of you with binoculars…believe it or not?!
If you haven’t yet checked out Gene Lempp’s Zoo Arcane series, you’re missing out. He’s got great mythology research, enticing book ideas for your use, and never fails to find something most of us have never heard of before. His latest spooky series was on Evil Little People, a title I’ll try not to take personally at my whopping 5’2″. 😛
Amber West’s edition of Worth a Watch Wednesday was on ABC’s new show Once Upon a Time. Fairytales and present day crime drama combine. Just caught my first episode Sunday night, and I’m intrigued!
Looking for love in all the wrong places? Tawna Fenske just may have the answers after cat-sitting for a friend. For a good time, read Please Pee So I’ll Know if You’re Sexy.
Any other NaNo’s out there? How’s it going? And everyone else, what fun have you been up to since we’re all shut inside?
Style Tips from the Happiness Project
Surely this day would never come. Me, get a stylish blogger award? And it happened without me having to bargain for it! I mean no one was trapped under something heavy, or starving, or having an allergic reaction, or unable to zip their pants on their own! It just happened! Woohoo! I always new I was stylish!
My Mrs. Peacock costume on Halloween. We dressed up as characters from the boardgame Clue.
So how did this eighth wonder of the world occur? It’s all thanks to Mckenzie at the Unabridged Girl. Always so supportive and genuine, her blog is like checking in with your bff to see what’s up. She shares her struggles, so you ask if you can buy her some chocolate, when she is consumed with sweets, she writes flash fiction, shares writing quirks, and tales of friendship. Thanks Mckenzie, it’s always fun to read your blog!
If I am understanding this blogger award thing correctly, it’s the new century’s popular way of sending a chain letter, right? Only I don’t have to pay any money to a cause that helps gorillas in a zoo or buy girl scout cookies. I can handle that. I do have to share with you some tidbits you might not know about me though. I’ll try to make them interesting.
- I think croutons are a perfectly acceptable snack.
- The sun hates me. I literally break out into hives if I don’t wear SPF 80. Although once, it happened in my childhood bedroom, and the only light on was a nightlight. Nature vs. Jess vs. Nurture?
- I loved the french film, Amelie, so much when I saw it, I rewound it (dvds weren’t out yet), and watched it all over again immediately.
- I love graveyards and walk through them as much as possible. On occasion, I’ve been known to tamper with some graves, but I swear it’s always respectfully. I think graveyards are full of stories.
Last summer in the cemetery attached to Boston Common. I can't help myself, I love creepin' in the crypts!
5. I’m more beatnik than hippy someone told me. I’m quite liberal, I believe in being environmentally friendly, I am pro-diversity, I like to write and listen to music. But, I’m more content with a cup of coffee in my hand than a joint. 🙂
6. In high school, my favorite musician was Tori Amos and I have all her albums! One year for my birthday, my best friends decorated my locker with the lyrics from Raspberry Swirl. They rock! If interested, my new favorite singer is Serena Ryder, she’s pretty rocker!
7. Audio books have become my new favorite way to multi-task. I listen to them while I get ready in the morning or drive home sometimes. I find them especially wonderful when reading a book centered around a different culture or country. I like hearing a native speaker read it aloud, I can appreciate the voice of the characters more this way.
And now, to award the Stylish Blogger Award to some of my favorite bloggers:
Stylish Blogger Award
Mark My Words: Mark is my go to guy for a laugh and a Portland, OR fix. If you love to laugh or love Portland and miss it like I do, you will get along well with Mark.
Mostly Bright Ideas: Charles is my role model wannabee. He writes eloquent, succinct prose and makes it look so easy I want to slap him, but I won’t because his writing is too damn good. Suck it, Charles! You’re amazing!
Conjuring My Muse: Margaret Reyes Dempsey is my roommate in a parallel life. So Madge, (I’m nicknaming you), it’s your turn to buy the TP!
Whenquiet’s Blog: Living my dream life in France and writing beautiful, moving poetry, she knows how to instill peace in her readers. I always find beauty in her blog.
Happy reading and writing!
Jess Witkins' Happiness Project 