Tag Archives: Life

Mystery Blogger Award April 2017

20 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in Life, Writing

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mystery-blog-award

Hi everyone! Another wonderful blogger, The Happiest Pixel, nominated me for a Mystery Blogger Award. Thank you for thinking of me, Silvia. Do check out her site. She posts about all things creative, especially her DIY section.

Here’s a link to the original post.

A little background on what the Mystery Blogger Award is: It is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion. Okota Enigma 

The Rules:

Display Award Logo
List The Rules
Mention Creator Of Award & Provide A Link
Thank The Blogger(s) Who Nominated You & Provide A Link
Say 3 Things About Yourself
Nominate From 10 to 20 Bloggers
Notify Nominated Bloggers By Leaving A Comment On Their Blog
Answer 5 Questions From Nominee
Write 5 Questions For Your Nominees
Share Your Best Post

3 Things About Me:

  1. I love writing and it’s a path I’m passionately pursuing. My blog will take readers along my journey to publication. Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide some tips and humor along the way.
  2. Another passion of mine is food. Who doesn’t love to eat delicious things? From appetizers to meals to dessert – yummy, yummy dessert – I love finding new recipes to try.
  3. One day I want to travel all of Europe for an indefinite amount of time, exploring the scenery, history and culture.

5 Questions For Me:

  1. What or who inspired you to blog? I’d been thinking about creating a blog for a while. One of my friends and I talked about doing one together, but never came up with an idea that we both wanted to do. For me, blogging is another extension of my writing and a way to share, create and express myself. I really enjoy it!
  2. What was the biggest obstacle you overcame last year? Or recently, really? Accepting the fact that we’re going to stay in our current city for a while. I was really looking forward to moving again, but sometimes life takes you in a different direction.
  3. What’s your everyday mantra? Create something!
  4. If you’re allowed one impossible thing only you can do, what would that be? Teleport anywhere in the world
  5. What’s your spiritual mythical creature? Dragon

My Best Post:

Austin Getaway

My Nominees (no particular order):

A Writer’s Path

Live. Eat. Create.

Haylsaway

Booknvolume

Our Nourished Table

Cooking with a Wallflower

Give Me Meatloaf

Mae Travels

Wild About Scotland

Lauren Sapala

5 Questions for my Nominees:

  1. What prompted you to start blogging?
  2. What are your favorite books?
  3. Share one of your favorite quotes
  4. Are you pursuing writing/blogging on a full time basis?
  5. If you could travel to one place in the world, where would it be?

Hope you guys check out the bloggers I mentioned above. They have some really great posts! Until next time . . . just love, Collette

Chocolate Chip Cookies

22 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Food, Life

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Chocolate Chip cookies

Happy Wednesday everyone! Anyone need a pick-me-up to get you through the rest of the week? I do, so I think today calls for something sweet, easy and delicious. Of course, it will include chocolate because chocolate makes everything better.

There’s nothing fancy here – just a basic chunk of happiness in the form of a chocolate chip cookie. Recipe follows below.

Enjoy! Until next time . . . just love, Collette

Recipe:

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter or margarine softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional – I usually prefer pecans but walnuts are good, too)
  • 1 package semisweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)

Preheat oven to 375. Mix sugars, butter, vanilla and egg in a large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in nuts and chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Cool slightly and remove from cookie sheet.

Mystery Blogger Award February 2017

26 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by in Books, Food, Life, Writing

≈ 2 Comments

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mystery-blog-award

Hi everyone! Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. I have a few new posts coming soon, but first some news: I was nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award by Pat at All Day I Eat.  Thank you so much, Pat!

Here’s a link to the original post.

A little background on what the Mystery Blogger Award is: It is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion. Okota Enigma 

The Rules:

Display Award Logo
List The Rules
Mention Creator Of Award & Provide A Link
Thank The Blogger(s) Who Nominated You & Provide A Link
Say 3 Things About Yourself
Nominate From 10 to 20 Bloggers
Notify Nominated Bloggers By Leaving A Comment On Their Blog
Answer 5 Questions From Nominee
Write 5 Questions For Your Nominees
Share Your Best Post

3 Things About Me:

  1. I love writing and it’s a path I’m passionately pursuing. My blog will take readers along my journey to publication. Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide some tips and humor along the way.
  2. Another passion of mine is food. Who doesn’t love to eat delicious things? From appetizers to meals to dessert – yummy, yummy dessert – I love finding new recipes to try.
  3. One day I want to travel all of Europe for an indefinite amount of time, exploring the scenery, history and culture.

5 Questions for me:

  1. What if anything, intimidates you when it comes to cooking/baking and why? I’m always nervous to try complicated or lengthy recipes. I usually gravitate toward quick and easy ones.
  2. What challenges do you have when it comes to writing? Time! Having a day job and a family can create challenges in carving out quiet time for my writing.
  3. Where do you get your inspiration? Early morning when no one else in my house is awake is when I can let my imagination and thoughts soar. The characters are usually in my mind for a while before I’m able to understand their story and write it down.
  4. Where do you see your website going one year from now? I hope to have a well-rounded and interesting blog with regular posts that readers enjoy.
  5. What is your day job? Banking

I’m supposed to include my best post, but being so new to blogging I can’t say that I have a best one yet. However, I’ll share one of my recent ones with a delicious and healthy recipe. Shrimp and Avocado Salad.

5 Questions for the Nominees:

  1. What prompted you to start blogging?
  2. What are your favorite books?
  3. Share one of your favorite quotes
  4. Are you pursuing writing/blogging on a full time basis?
  5. If you could travel to one place in the world, where would it be?

Nominees (in no particular order):

The Purple Almond

The Happiest Pixel

Kate M. Colby

Work Mum Balance

4am Writer

Nature Photography by Urmo Parts

Recipe in a Bottle

Cooking Without Limits

My Dear Kitchen in Helsinki

Mrs. Twinkle My Wonderful Little World

Millie Schmidt Writes

Duri Rolvsson – Stories of Adventure & Friendship

L. A. Lancaster

Jane’s Patisserie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potato Soup

14 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Food, Life

≈ 3 Comments

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This is a perfect dish for cold winter nights. Soothing and flavorful, pair it with your favorite book in front of a cozy fireplace and you’re in for a delightful evening.

As with all my recipes, feel free to play with it and make it your own. Details and pic below. Enjoy!

Until next time . . . just love, Collette

potato-soup

Ingredients:

  • 5-6 medium red potatoes
  • 1 medium sweet yellow onion
  • extra virgin olive oil (approximately 2 tablespoons)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s or salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion salt
  • 13 ounces chicken broth
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried sweet basil
  • 1/3 cup instant potato flakes (baby reds) – you can add more to create the consistency you desire
  • 1 pint 1/2 & 1/2
  • toppings: chopped green onions, grated Cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon

Recipe:

Peel and dice potatoes into small cubes. Slice onion and sauté in olive oil until soft. Add the diced potatoes and cook until potatoes are almost tender (about 5-7 minutes). Season with onion salt, Tony’s (or salt and pepper). Add chicken broth and sweet basil. Simmer covered until potatoes are tender. Mash the potatoes as you like and add the instant flakes. Stir well until blended. Add the 1/2 & 1/2 and heat over low heat until hot. Do not boil.

Garnish each bowl with toppings and serve. Enjoy!