Guilty Pleasures Mash Up: Read ‘Em, Fools!
Time for a little Weekend Madness – Mash Up Style! Feast yourselves on these ballers of blogging!
Writing – Because it’s easier to write about writing than to actually just write. Or is that just me?
Avoid every writer’s nightmare with tips from Jody Hedlund in Why I Don’t Get Writer’s Block and How You Can Avoid It Too.
Looking for some inspiration? Jenny Hansen shared What Lights Your Creative Spirit on Fire? with advice from Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees author) and Forbes magazine about what creative people need to be successful.
Ever read a book where the dialogue or words take you right out of the story? Susie Lindau rants her best in Do You Curse Brightly? – a blog that examines the usefulness and purpose of swear words in our books.
Tawna Fenske wrote possibly the funniest blog evah about making believable characters and relating it to a guy making spinach. YOU HAVE TO READ The Domineering Male with Spinach and Dish Soap.
Interested in learning more about audiobooks? Stacy Juba interviews Award-winning voice artist, Nicole Poole, for The Ins and Outs of Narrating Audiobooks.
Exciting news!!! Ellie Ann has released the cover of her new book, The Silver Sickle and she’s sharing it with us! Check it out in The Revealing.
Ode To Social Media Tips:
Lisa Hall-Wilson guest blogged at Jenny Hansen’s with Facebook Tricks for Better Engagement and My. Mind. Was. Blown. I really hadn’t been watching any of this, but she gave us a cool easy challenge to consider how we’re sharing links on Facebook and what exactly we want those links to do! Must read for those building an author platform!
And if Twitter is your thing, Marcy Kennedy guest blogged at Kristen Lamb’s with The Proper Care and Feeding of Hashtags. Don’t get thrown in Twitter jail! Read Marcy’s tips!
Nina Badzin posted on Kveller.com the amazing plea Let’s All Stop “Replying All” to Every Email. Sing it, Sister!
Life Lessons – Growing pains mean wisdom gains!
Do you struggle with the “meantime”? That time of working out of/working towards something? Kristen Lamb shared a life lesson she learned that hit home with many of you in To Find Success, Learn to Embrace the Meantime. Another Must Read.
If you’re not reading August McLaughlin’s blog, you’re MISSING OUT! She’s one of the most honest, genuine, supportive female writers out there! True to form, August shared another heart-baring blog in Singing Naked: Honesty on Stage, about growing through vulnerable moments. Beautiful voice – inside and out!
I bet no one has ever told you THINK NEGATIVE before! Rachelle Gardner shares the smarts about goal achieving in Try “Thinking Negative” for a Change.
Entertainment and Smut – The stuff you won’t tell your boss you like, but secretly gossip with the secretary over…
Tiffany A. White gives the master rundown of Season 4 of The Vampire Diaries and its soon to be spin off, The Originals, from the CW network. Death and Evolution with The Vampire Diaries and The Originals
Remember the books you read as a kid and picked out what character was you? Sherry Isaac brings us Tribute to Trixie with Author Gloria Richard, sharing her love of the Trixie Belden books.
Got a favorite James Bond? What about the original? Piper Bayard and Jay Holmes share The Original James Bond – Ian Fleming. Fascinating guy!
The Funnies – Read these for your weekend funny bone!
Ironic Mom, the Comic Queen, shared You Know You’re An Optimist if You…
Miss Snarky Pants is sharing her best “Fictionary” – a play on words, often pun-like, to make new meanings and she’s got some good ones in Fictionary: Preventing the Extinction of my Muffin Top.
Julie Glover had me snickering over her Wednesday Words series in Laugh With Me: It’s Punny! Go pick your favorite pun!
Myndi Shafer shared in her Quick Giggle series Celebrities Read Mean Tweets. Should this one go under Social Media tips?
(photo courtesy Creative Commons – Mrs Inman)
Happy Reading!
And the Oscar for Best Party Goes To…
Welcome Friends!
I had a fabulous time watching the Academy Awards last night! How many of you did the same? I loved popping in on Facebook and Twitter to see what everyone was thinking.
There was some ranting going ON!
But today it’s all about who stole the show with their looks, what wins were most shocking, and at my place, the FOOD! 😀
Let’s Start the Show!
First things first, Guests, please load up your plates with this year’s Oscar treats! Food included:
- Chilled Green Beans with Lemon and Sea Salt
- Bacon and Blue Cheese Bruschetta
- Crab Nachos
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Sunflower Crackers with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
- Spinach Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
- Potatoes with Lavender
- Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
- Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders with Mustard and Poppyseed
- Aloo Mater with Rice
AND SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT!
There’s still our annual “Oscar-served” pudding parfaits with strawberries, and Lemon Curd Cake with Raspberry Sauce!
Time to Talk Wardrobe!
What were some of your favorite looks this year? I do wish there had been more color on the Red Carpet this year, but everyone truly looked STUNNING! There wasn’t a single dress I disliked. The ladies who really nailed it though, I think are:
Best Actress Winner, Jennifer Lawrence
She looked amazing and was so charming on the Red Carpet! She looked young, but glamorous and very natural with her make up! I’m thrilled for her! 22 years old, her second nomination, and her first win! She’s also been a phenomenal spokesperson for people with mental illnesses since her shooting of Silver Linings Playbook.
Nicole Kidman
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman
Possibly my favorite dress of them all, I thought Nicole Kidman looked killer! Presenting this year, I thought she had the whole package – a well fitted, gorgeous gown, romantic updo, minimal jewelry but all around great look!!!
Kerry Washington
I said I loved color, and Kerry Washington’s dress was so elegant and beautiful for spring on the Red Carpet! Her jeweled bodice looked great on her, and I loved the soft, smooth skirt and train of her dress in that bubblegum pink!
Best Actress Nominee, Jessica Chastain
I caught Jessica’s pre-show interview and she picked this dress because it reminded her of Old Hollywood – Marilyn Monroe, and I couldn’t agree more. Critics raved for her look and how the flesh tone dress is stunning on her pale skin with the pops of red from her hair and lips. You know this redhead was a fan! Plus, she took her grandmother as her date, y’all! So cute!
Charlize Theron
Presenting with Dustin Hoffman, Ms. Theron looked amazing in her chic white gown and I loved the short hair with it! And did you guys catch her dance number with Channing Tatum??!! She reminded me of Julie Andrews in Sound of Music!
And the Oscar Goes To…
Were you pleased with the Oscar wins this year? Here’s a recap of the big ones:
Best Picture: Argo
Best Director: Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
I was overall VERY pleased with the variety of films recognized this year. I had expected a sweep of either Les Mis or Lincoln, and it wasn’t the case at all! Almost all of the 9 nominated films for Best Picture won in some of the categories. Amour won Best Foreign Film, Zero Dark Thirty won Best Sound Editing; the only film not to receive an Oscar but was nominated for many was Beasts of the Southern Wild. I had high hopes it would take the Best Adapted Screenplay award, but that went to Argo. I’m sure we’ll hear more from the cast and crew of this film in the years to come!
May I present your Oscar?
And I have to announce the winner of my Red Carpet Giveaway is…
Memory Making Moments
There were a few call out performances at the Oscars this year, including its theme of Music in the Movies! There were stellar performances from Barbara Streisand during the In Memoriam portion, as well as the ENTIRE cast of Les Miserable joining together on stage for a Les Mis medley!
My favorites were of course – Adele! Taking home the Oscar for Best Original Song, Skyfall, from the James Bond film, Skyfall, she was awesome! And it seemed so fitting with the Academy also recognizing 50 years of Bond movies!
I also loved the performance of my favorite Bond song, Goldfinger, by Dame Shirley Bassey! This video shows the awesome montage of Bond films they made followed by Bassey’s performance. Sing it, sista!
By the by, Joe took a shot of me pre-party start when I wasn’t expecting it, and now we’re calling it my Bond girl shot. What do you think? I believe my Bond girl name would be…Cinema! But who will my James Bond be?!
Just For Fun
What would your Oscar face look like if you just found out you won?
(My friend, Cat, and I – AKA the Sequin Sisters – share some examples!)
Oh my God, I won!!!
We call this Screams of Success vs. Tears of Joy
Well, you win all the pudding parfait you can eat!
Happy Oscars Everyone!
Jess Witkins' Happiness Project 