Tag: writing challenge

A Thankful Word, or Few

Posted on by Mama

thankful

I would like to take a few moments to thank you, the readers of Small Talk Mama, for following me and my family in our daily lives of DIY, celebrations, family matters and silly stuff. I truly enjoy writing about all our adventures, but knowing that I might just touch a chord in someone else’s life makes what I do so much more fulfilling. I appreciate all your comments and well-wishes, and enjoy sharing even a sliver of my life with you.

Speaking of sliver, that makes me think of pie! And since today’s Thanksgiving feast will most probably end with pie, let’s start the day with a few words of thanks. Now if I just started rattling off all the people and things for which I’m thankful, we could be here all day; instead, I’m answering Mama Kat’s “So Very Thankful YouTube Tags” for a fun and light-hearted twist on gratitude. My answers are listed below, but please feel free to play along. 

1. Name a color you are thankful for. 

Pink. While I haven’t ever claimed this as my favorite color, I’m quickly becoming fond of a really pastel version of this color. It makes me feel young and peaceful.

2. Something your spouse does that you are thankful for.

Doing DIY projects with me. We are in the midst of what was to be a “simple” kitchen project; and although he may shake his head at times, he mostly just does what I ask for as long as it takes. Thank you, honey!

3. Something your kids do that you are thankful for.

Enjoying school. Our little guy started kindergarten this year, and he loves to learn. I do realize the social aspect is the big draw for him, but at least the learning is a plus.

4. A food you are thankful for.

Since today is Thanksgiving, I’m going to say turkey. I love turkey! I’ve started buying freshly sliced roasted turkey in the deli section so that I can skip the added nitrates and preservatives. I seriously can make a meal of that stuff!

5. What recent good news are you thankful for?

I can renew my teaching certificate as soon as my completed college course grade is posted. This means I can return to the classroom next year.

6. Name a drink you are thankful for.

San Pellegrino sparkling water. I love the combination of healthy water with fizzy bubbles that tickle my tongue.

7. Name a restaurant you are thankful for.

My son and I love Chic-fil-A! We can both get a tasty meal (I love their spicy southwest chicken salad) and he gets to run off some steam in the playroom. As for the germs, I should probably buy stock in those little supplied wet wipes.

8. Talk about an animal you are thankful for.

I’m thankful for being able to enjoy our recently deceased goldfish, Spike, for over twelve years. It was such a sad day when we lost him earlier this year. He was originally purchased to be catfish bait, but after we saved him from the lake, with his black mustache and mohawk, he quickly became a member of the family.

9. Name a beauty product you are thankful for.

Natural apricot oil. It has no added bad stuff and it’s great for moisturizing the entire body and removing eye makeup. I buy mine at Sprouts.

10. Name a cleaning product you are thankful for.

Norwex cleaning cloths. Using these cloths have allowed me to eliminate most harmful cleaning products from our home. My husband will roll his eyes, but at least mine aren’t watering on house cleaning day.

11. What social media platform are you thankful for?

Instagram. I love photography, so this platform is perfect for a special collection of pictures.

12. Tell us why you are thankful for the last person who texted you.

That would be my husband. I’m thankful that he knows I don’t always check my phone on a regular basis and that I may not see or respond to a text in an at all timely manner.

13. Name a candy you are thankful for.

Peanut Clusters, especially the homemade variety. I love the simple combination of peanuts, chocolate and nothing else.

14. Name an app on your phone that you are thankful for.

Meetup. Without this app I wouldn’t be able to get to many of my MOMS Club destinations in a timely manner. . . or even remember I was supposed to go.

15. What are you looking forward to that you are thankful for?

I’m looking forward to finally cleaning out all the nooks and crannies of this house. We have lived here for over four years and I swear our storage room still looks like we just moved in; so after the new year, I’m cleaning up and clearing out loads of this stuff.

I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

posted at Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop

Secret Subject Swap — My Nobel Prize

Secret Subject Swap — My Nobel Prize

Posted on by Mama

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 14 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

My Secret Subject is:
You’ve won a Nobel Prize. Which? Why? What did you do to deserve the honor?

It was submitted by: http://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com

Hmm. . . this is a toughy. I guess I’ve never dreamed of winning a Nobel Prize. Why would I? I have too many other fish to fry just trying to raise a family, keep up with the laundry and keeping food in the fridge. Whew, just makes me tired thinking about it. But that being said, I do have dreams; and so why not go with me to the land of farfetched ambitions for a couple of minutes and let’s just see what this Nobel Prize might be all about.

On 27 November 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace – the Nobel Prizes. http://www.nobelprize.org/

Since we’re dreaming here, let’s pretend I was just awarded a Nobel Prize in the literature category; because well let’s face it, I’m probably not nearly humble enough to win the peace prize and the other categories are way out of reach. As described in Nobel’s will, the literature prize is intended for the person who, in the literary field, had produced “the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.” So let’s see what I’ve done. . .

For my literature prize (and I mean no disrespect to actual Nobel Laureates), I’ve created the most outstanding work of literature in the children’s book category (remember – dreaming). It’s titled: Sammy and Guinevere Take a Very Long Vacation. It’s a book with simple, but smart animal characters that travel the world and explore time changes to unravel the real history of the world and all its civilizations. It’s a cross between, The Secret of Nimh, Animal Farm and Pete the Cat, and the kids are just wild about it. It’s a book that teaches the real truth about people, governments and injustices throughout time without being judgmental or condescending.

Sammy, one of the main characters, is an elderly little white terrier rescued from the pound by a kind family (yes, that happened); and Guinevere is a little green parakeet (also true). They accidentally discover a time traveling portal to the world among the mess under the bed of the little girl who loves them, and the two companions and countless side-kicks travel to and fro on countless adventures. Each time they return home, they recount their stories to Betty, a sweet old white cat, and a young artistic ferret named Picasso. Together the cat and ferret write and illustrate the lessons learned and keep all the knowledge safe from the neighbor’s evil German shepherd (no reference to certain evils, but our neighbor’s dog was really mean).

So what do you think? Sounds great, right? Well, I’ll let you know when I’ve completed my masterpiece and you can nominate me for the prize.

*****

If you want to read more of the fun, here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

A Trip Down Musical Memory Lane

A Trip Down Musical Memory Lane

Posted on by Mama

Okay, so I am suppose to be finding “harmony” for today’s Even Day Challenge by listing some of my top favorite albums of all time, complete with excerpts. (Our host actually called them CDs, but since I was listening to music before CDs were invented I will simply call them albums. . . yes, I know this seriously dates me.)

Back to the harmony part. I guess I’m a bit out of sync (no pun intended), because I thought I needed to list ten of my favorites, but I just discovered it was only my top five. Well then, I guess you’re in luck! I present to you ten of my favorite albums of my entire lifetime, in no specific order. By the way, this was tough, and already additional artists have popped into my head. So enjoy the songs. . . and let me know what I missed

Rattle and Hum by U2

Favorite Track (very difficult decision): Hawkmoom 269

Hawkmoon 269 by U2 on Grooveshark

This album was very popular in college, and who doesn’t love some good U2. I was introduced to them by a bunch of boys from Europe studying at the University of Arkansas. Go Hogs!

 

Janet by Janet Jackson

Favorite Track:  This Time

This Time by Janet Jackson on Grooveshark

This is one of the few CDs I own of a more mainstream artist. It was a great workout album and I absolutely love the vocals at the end of “This Time.”

 

Garbage by Garbage

Favorite Track;  Dog New Tricks

Dog New Tricks by Garbage on Grooveshark

It was the mid-90s and I was a young woman on her own in the big, not-so-bad world when I first heard Garbage. I’ve always had a thing for alternative music; so when “Only Happy When It Rains” hit the radio, I was hooked.

 

Haunted by Poe

Favorite Track:  Haunted

Haunted by Poe on Grooveshark

I’m not sure where I first heard Poe, but I immediately fell in love with her haunting lyrics and folky, jazzy alternative sound. Although Haunted was not the first of her albums I put in my CD collection, it’s still one of my favorites (okay, so she only has two and both are great).

 

Hysteria by Def Leppard

Favorite Track:  Animal

Animal by Def Leppard on Grooveshark

Yes, it had to be done. Let me just say junior high and high school would not have been the same without Def Leppard blasting on the airways and in our portable CD players.

 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Favorite Track: Carol of the Bells

Carol of the Bells by Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Grooveshark

This may seem like an odd choice but let me tell you, nothing gets me in the Christmas spirit faster than this song. I finally got to see them in concert and it was an amazing experience for both the ears and eyes.

 

All Fired Up: The Very Best of Pat Benatar by Pat Benatar

Favorite Track:  Promises In the Dark

Promises in the Dark by Pat Benatar on Grooveshark

Another oldie (sorry Pat) but a good one. I think I could sing her songs all day long, and did you know that she first started out with plans to be a classical and theatrical singer?

 

Shepherd Moons by Enya

Favorite Track:  Caribbean Blue

Caribbean Blue by Enya on Grooveshark

I latched onto Enya during my college years. I guess I just needed something a bit more calming at times and let me tell ya, her fabulous Irish vocals can calm a person’s blood pressure right down to nothing.

 

Swamp Ophelia by Indigo Girls

Favorite Track:  Touch Me Fall

Touch Me Fall by Indigo Girls on Grooveshark

I began listening to Indigo Girls during my late college years and found their folky, alternative sound and interesting lyrics to be a nice change of pace to the techno dance music that was all over the place.

 

Footloose Soundtrack (the original) by Various Artists

Favorite Track:  Holding Out for a Hero

Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler on Grooveshark

The year was 1984 and I was in junior high — the perfect age to be forever affected by this movie and its soundtrack. It’s full of great hits, but Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” is still definitely one of my favorites. With that being said, I think I better cut, Footloose.

 
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