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A short, but very sweet post today 
Over the weekend it was my birthday and so we were on the look out for a good book and something chocolatey to go with it. We came up trumps with Yum Yum! by Mara Bergman and Nick Maland, a random but clearly meant-for-us find.
Photo: Scottfeldstein
Two cheeky children get messy in the kitchen whilst baking bread, oblivious to the menagerie from a nearby zoo creeping through the open window, drawn in by the delicious smell. But when a big bear crashes into the kitchen everyone is aware of it. What has the bear come for? Is he going to eat up the naughty (but nice) children?
What’s not to fall in love with when reading this book? Independent little kids (no sign of parents anywhere), a camel, a crocodile, great rhyming text that trips of the tongue and builds easily and effectively to the scary moment when the bear appears on the scene hungry for something to eat. The sprinkling of fear sweetened with a good dose of humour is a really a delicious combination.
The illustrations are drawn with simple clear lines but are bursting with textures which remind me a little, and in the very best way, of the work of Ian Beck. This is one of those books that cannot be read only once in a sitting – J demands at least 3 or 4 readings one after the other whenever we find this lovely book in our hands.
Much as I adore bread, my regular loaf isn’t so celebratory, so instead we decided to bake some chocolate buns based on “Jack’s chocolate buns” from Richard Bertinet’s Dough: Simple Contemporary Bread. The recipe, should you wish to use it, is at the end of this post – do let me know how you get on if you try it!
The whole process is very kid friendly – just make sure you have some spare chocolate for the kids to enjoy whilst they’re helping This batch didn’t last long!
Music we danced to with chocolate stains round our mouths included:
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By: Jama Rattigan,
on 8/20/2010
Blog: jama rattigan's alphabet soup (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: summer soup 2010, louis simpson, poetry friday, chocolate, Add a tag
Once some people were visiting Chekhov. While they made remarks about his genius the Master fidgeted. Finally he said, "Do you like chocolates?" They were astonished, and silent. He repeated the question, whereupon one lady plucked up her courage and murmured shyly, "Yes." "Tell me," he said, leaning forward, light glinting from his spectacles, "what kind? The light, sweet chocolate or the dark, bitter kind?" The conversation became general. They spoke of cherry centers, of almonds and Brazil nuts. Losing their inhibitions they interrupted one another. For people may not know what they think about politics in the Balkans, or the vexed question of men and women, but everyone has a definite opinion about the flavor of shredded coconut. Finally someone spoke of chocolates filled with liqueur, and everyone, even the author of Uncle Vanya, was at a loss for words. As they were leaving he stood by the door and took their hands. In the coach returning to Petersburg they agreed that it had been a most unusual conversation.
"I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process. It may not be true, but why take the chance?" ~ Anonymous
el7bara/flickr
Before I read today's poem, I had never associated Chekhov with chocolate.
Cherries, maybe, even oysters or seagulls. But not chocolate.
Still, this narrative poem by Louis Simpson, based on a real-life incident, has increased my admiration for Chekhov considerably, assuring me that if I had been one of his guests, honored to be in his presence yet intimidated by his genius, I would have happily shared my own chocolate legacy. But more on that in a bit.
First, the poem:
Chekhov and Russian chocolate (uncorneredmarket/flickr).
CHOCOLATES
by Louis Simpson
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Blog: Book Binge (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Scarlet Whisper, Revision Process, Chocolate Caramel Cake, writing advice, Uncategorized, Chocolate, Editing, Writing, Revisions, Add a tag
Let’s just not talk about how I haven’t blogged lately. You and I both know only two people care, anyway. And you are NOT one of those individuals.
Let’s talk about the new adventure keeping me busy: REVISION
(Look! I’ve included random John Williams movie theme awesomeness to inspire your revisions!)
As I write this, I am slashing my way through the deep, dark jungles of revision for my agent, searching for the lost Tiki of backstory & characterization. When I finally lay hands on this ruby eyed idol, I’ll be one step closer to submitting my project.
How to get through this jungle full of Indiana Jones sized pitfalls? I definitely have strategies for coping. Here are my three tips for survival.
1.) Embrace criticism. Exploit it for all it’s worth.
The revision process is a great opportunity to grow and develop as a writer, so when your beta readers, your friends, and even your agent share feedback, really listen with an open mind. Yes, I’m talking to you, the tortured misunderstood artist. In my experience, the person giving feedback is right more often than not.
Neil Gaiman on critique:
“…when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”
Bottom line: Listen, then fix it already!
2. ) Don’t just write during revisions…read, too!
If something is not working, stepping away from your work and immersing yourself in something else might be helpful. When I struggle, I always pull up a pile of great novels and read excerpts with a critical eye. I notice the different styles and elements which make the stories work. I analyze the mix of narrative vs. dialogue, description vs. action, etc.
While I would never try to imitate any other writer’s voice, I think it helps to admire the artistry of good craft. If I read good stuff, it helps me write my own good stuff.
Honestly, show me a terrible writer and I’ll show you someone who doesn’t read.
2.) Write yourself a revision letter.
Tell yourself what you’d like to see in a new draft. Lay it all out there and take yourself to task. Make specific suggestions to your writer self. Then take your own advice and whip your WIP into shape!
3.) Take your time and be strategic.
I go over my manuscript many, many times, focusing on different issues each time. One pass for the protagonist’s voice, one pass for general world-building issues, etc.
And don’t forget what my friend Rosemary Clement Moore says, do overs are allowed!
Hungry for more?
If you are busy poking around on your revisions and pouring your heart into making it better, you might enjoy this recipe for Chocolate Caramel Poke and Pour Cake.
Binge!
Filed under: Uncategorized, Writing Tagged: Chocolate, Chocolate Caramel Cake, Editing, Display Comments Add a Comment
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By: Miriam Halahmy,
on 7/25/2010
Blog: An Awfully Big Blog Adventure (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Chocolate, Notebooks, top five, somewhere to write, writing inspirations, Add a tag
A few years ago the Independent put out a call for lists and there were some nice examples from well-known people. So they decided to throw it open to anyone.This was my contribution.
By: Dena Daw,
on 2/4/2010
Blog: My journey to becoming a published author (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: submissins, chocolate, Add a tag
Last night I got out my trusty 'Children's writer's and illustrators market 2010' and sat down with a highlighter and marked every publishing company that would possibly consider "Sally Circle." There were a few- what seemed to be- perfect matches, so I'm excited about that. All in all, there's roughly 18 that I can send it to. That's not including the few that don't accept simultaneous (multiple) submissions. I guess if none of the 18 want it I can try them too :-)
Blog: Book Binge (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, legal advice, Uncategorized, Chocolate, Writing, readers, Tomfoolery, Add a tag
This agreement made this 12th day of Never, in the 50th year of Our Lord Gaiman, by and between the peruser of the written article (henceforth referred to as THE READER) and the architect of the written article (henceforth referred to as THE WRITER).
WITNESSETH: That in consideration of mutual covenants and agreements to be kept and performed on the part of said parties, hereto, respectively as herein stated:
I. Said party of the first part (THE READER) covenants and agrees that it shall:
a. purchase, borrow, or otherwise legally obtain the written article in a manner demonstrating good faith in the power of a good story.
b. engage in the cerebral and/or emotional pursuit of the written article until such time as the written article ceases to engage THE READER.
c. discard the written article if such article contains more than an average of five metaphorical devices, cliches, and/or adverbs per page. In such case, THE READER vows to heap abuse on THE WRITER via Amazon and/or Twitter.
d. refrain from expressing an opinion of the written article in the physical presence of THE WRITER if said article induces the sentiment herewith known as “MEH.”
e. make loud and vigorous proclamation regarding the competency of THE WRITER, should the written article prove to be a string of wondrous, efficient, and/or fearsome words.
II. And Said Party of the Second Part (THE WRITER) covenants and agrees that it shall:
a. with reasonable liberality, endorse the purchase, lending, or otherwise legal means of acquisition of the written article by THE READER.
b. imbue the written article with such engaging features as non-preposterous characters and an actual plot. Additionally, THE WRITER agrees to saturate said article with satisfactory tension and non-loathsome sentences.
c. set fire to any pre-published, embryonic musings containing more than an average of five metaphorical devices, cliches, and/or adverbs per page. Should THE WRITER allow such musings to be published, THE WRITER agrees to accept THE READER’S abuse via Amazon and/or Twitter.
d. refrain from impuning THE READER for expressing a non-spectacular or otherwise uncomplimentary review published mechanically or distributed in the digital ether. Subclause: Should THE READER articulate a sentiment worse than “MEH” regarding said written article in the physical presence of THE WRITER, THE WRITER reserves the right to bludgeon THE READER ad mortem with said article, with impunity.
e. reward the loud and vigorous praise of THE READER by continuing to create strings of wondrous, efficient, and/or fearsome words.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING UPON THE PARTIES, INCLUDING THEIR SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ENFORCED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF EX LIBRIS.
Signed the day and year first written above.
Signed in the presence of:
Scarlet Whisper
First Party:
Second Party:
Hungry for More?
Try my Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies which are legally certified to be flourless yet delicious.
Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup creamy
By: Heather Davis,
on 12/31/2009
Blog: Books, Boys, Buzz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: giveaways, chocolate, YA novels, Never Cry Werewolf, gummy bears, Add a tag
Last week I gave you two choices, my cat Harper Lee and chocolate, but since I’m not sending Harper via priority mail any time soon – the winner is chocolate!
http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/
The Clearing – April 2010 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Never Cry Werewolf – Sept 09 HarperTeen
By: Carol Baicker-McKee,
on 11/25/2009
Blog: doodles and noodles (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: chocolate, recipe, advent, thanksgiving, hot+not, Add a tag
I love Wednesdays. Time to play along again with all the hotter-notters at Loobylu's. Head over there to check out the cute artwork Claire's featuring this week and to see what's hot and not around the globe!
Blog: Book Binge (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Beatles RockBand, Black Magic Cake, Helter Skelter, Scarlet Whisper, Uncategorized, Chocolate, Writing, Beatles, Add a tag
Saturday night, folks from my writers’ group came over for a RockBand/Guitar Hero night.
Writers’ Rocksgiving.
I never knew we had so many headbangers and fist pumpers in our scribbler’s gang.
And of course…Scarlet Whisper made an appearance with her signature encore: Helter Skelter on Beatles RockBand.
I lose all inhibition (and dignity) wailing Helter Skelter. Imagine a tone deaf Paul McCartney in Janis Joplin drag performing a Vegas Style lounge act rendition. That kinda sums it up.
Can’t stop myself. I love that song. It’s become my writing anthem.
When I get to the bottom
I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and turn
and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Revision after revision after revision. You edit your manuscript until the sight of it makes you want to hurl all over your Chuck Taylors. And then you work on it some more.
Do you don’t you want me to love you
I’m coming down fast but I’m miles above you
You waver. One day, you believe you possess a glimmer of talent. The next (after your query incites a chorus of crickets), you embrace the enormity of your writing suckage.
Tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
and you may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer
You turn to your beta readers, your crit group, your spouse and your second grade teacher (or worse, your mom) to analyze what is wrong with your book.
I will you won’t you want me to make you
I’m coming down fast but don’t let me break you
You put your manuscript aside. You start a new project.
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer
You play the waiting game with agents. You persevere.
Look out
Helter skelter
helter skelter
helter skelter
Yeah,
Look out cause here she comes
And one golden day, you get a manuscript request (or two, or six). Maybe it’s a partial. Maybe it’s a full. You’re back on the roller coaster.
When I get to the bottom
I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and turn
and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Well will you won’t you want me to make you
I’m coming down fast but don’t let me break you
Look out
Helter skelter
helter skelter
helter skelter
Rejection? Maybe. Who knows.
She’s coming down fast
Yes she is
Yes she is
coming down fast
I can’t stop. The ride makes me hurl sometimes, but it’s too much fun to get off and walk away. Yep, I’m hopping in line again.
Here we go.
Tell me, dear ones, what’s your writing anthem?
Hungry for more? Writing junkies will enjoy my Black Magic Cake
Black Magic Cake
Ingredients:
2 sticks butter, cut into pats
3/4 chocolate syrup
8 Milky Way Bars (2.05 oz. each), cut into chunks
2 cups sugar
1 cup buttermilk (or add 1 tbsp. lemon juice to one cup regular milk)
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa (dark choc. Hershey’s is best)
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 12 cup bundt pan. Put butter, syrup, and Milky Ways in a la
Blog: Time Machine, Three Trips: Where Would You Go? (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: UK, Chocolate, coffee, Weird, hospital, Custard, bizarre, tea, cream, cookie, British, injury, treat, Offbeat, biscuit, Add a tag
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Like many British people (and I suspect many other people around the world), it’s a real treat to crunch on a biscuit when enjoying a cup of tea or coffee. So you can imagine my surprise, when having my early Sunday morning imperfectly made cuppa (see http://purpleslinky.com/offbeat/the-complicated-cuppa-cup-that-cheers-or-mug-of-misery/) that I discovered I was amongst those idiots who have managed to suffer a minor injury at the hands of the humble hobnob.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/125767/Crumbs-half-of-us-have-been-injured-by-biscuits
I regret to admit that I’m one of the 29% of adult Brits who have managed to splash themselves with hot tea when dunking my digestive. For those of you who’ve never dunked or heard of dunking let me enlighten you. Once you’ve made your tea (or coffee) (beverage) and taken the biscuit of your choice from the biscuit tin (dunkee), you then proceed to dip a bite size piece of the dunkee into the beverage while holding onto the remainder to use as a ‘handle’ . Once the dunkee has been dunked for a couple of seconds you bring it to the surface of the beverage and then manouevre the dunkee together with beverage as close to your chin as you can before biting (or sucking) the dunkee. The skill is in getting dunkee to lips before it drops back into the beverage. More often than not the dunkee drops its load back into the beverage thereby splashing the dunker with hot beverage!
If you’re lucky enough to dodge the hot beverage if the dunkee drops, don’t believe for one minute that the danger ends there. You then have the job of taking a teaspoon, delving to the bottom of the beverage and trawling the cup to retrieve the errant dunkee to prevent choking. This is no mean feat as, more often than not, the dunkee slips back into the beverage like an eel through a fishing net, which again can cause the dunker injury from splashback!
Having overcome the hazards of dunking, I have also regularly fallen into the 28% of Brits who have choked on biscuit crumbs and at times I’ve fallen into the 7% of Brits who have dropped a biscuit tin on their foot and the 7% who’ve been nibbled by a pet while feeding it with a biscuit (obviously I’m so sweet they can’t tell the difference between a biscuit and me), but thankfully none of my injuries have required the services of the A&E Department of the local hospital.
So there you have it – the Great British Biscuit Bite Back!! I’m now going to get my mid morning coffee and I’m just pondering on whether to risk having a Bourbon (the UK version of the Oreo) biscuit – could be a nice treat or could end up as ‘death by chocolate’!!! If it turns out to be the latter then at least I will have died happy!
By: Jama Rattigan,
on 7/14/2009
Blog: jama rattigan's alphabet soup (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: taste of summer, chocolate, Add a tag
photo by ParsecTraveller.
Janet at Across the Page recently asked her blog readers to calculate their ages based on their chocolate habits.
The first thing we had to do was pick the number of times per week we would like to have chocolate (more than once, less than 10).
I picked 7, since my ideal scenario would go something like this:
Monday, some handmade Valrhona dark chocolate (best in the world),
photo by roboppy.
Tuesday, velvet fudge brownies,
photo by honey drizzle.
Wednesday, luscious, moist devil's food cake,
photo by Sifu Renka.
Thursday, live-on-the-wild-side chocolate cheesecake,
photo by rachel is coconut&lime.
Friday, warm from the oven chocolate chip cookies,
photo by amber in norfolk.
Saturday, hand dipped chocolate ice cream,
photo by Brown Eyed Baker.
and Sunday, a nice, cozy cup of hot chocolate:
photo by RoOoNa.
After calculating a few more numbers, I discovered this system really works -- proving yet again the undeniable awesomeness of chocolate. (My chocolate age is 26 35 41 never mind.) Math has never been sweeter!
Here, you try:
♥ First, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10).
♥ Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold).
♥ Add 5.
♥ Multiply it by 50 -- (I'll wait while you get the calculator).
♥ If you have already had your birthday this year, add 1759. If you haven't, add 1758.
♥ Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.
♥ You should have a three digit number. The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week). The next two numbers are . . . YOUR AGE!
Did it work for you? If not, you're probably not eating enough chocolate ☺!
Here, have one of these beautiful handpainted art chocolates:
photo by Ben Adlin.
Coming tomorrow: Chocolate and zucchini hook up!
By: Sevensheaven.nl,
on 7/10/2009
Blog: Sugar Frosted Goodness (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: cartoon, metin seven, sevensheaven, death, heaven, peter, michael jackson, petrus, chocolate, Add a tag
Cartoon for the Dutch Nu.nl news website, about the death of a man who had fallen into a vat of chocolate, combined with a wink to the death of popstar Michael Jackson.
More at www.sevensheaven.nl
By: Paula Becker,
on 6/10/2009
Blog: Whateverings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: food, chocolate, Illustration Friday, Miscellaneous, cartoon, dinosaur, paula becker, craving, Add a tag
Who doesn’t crave chocolate? Well, okay. I have met ONE person who had NO desire for it, but for the remainder of the earth’s population, I think it’s a universal craving. So unfortunately I don’t have time to create something new for this week, so I pulled out and modified this illustration from a cartoon spread [...]
By: Tara Chang,
on 5/23/2009
Blog: Silver Apples of the Moon (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pastries, caramels, Chihuly, all sorts of bribes to recover, chocolate, Star Trek, Add a tag
I'm supposed to be increasing my activity level every day - so I went on an outing yesterday. My daughter drove us downtown Bellevue to a spiffy new theater to see a matinee of Star Trek.
(One advantage to living in the Seattle area is the preponderance of Chihuly glass sculptures scattered about the area -this one right outside the theater).
The theater was lovely- wide, reclining leather seats (that I still found uncomfortable to sit on. Dratted lingering surgery side-effects!), incredibly entertaining movie. Fun company.
To further the fun, we drove a few blocks to the old downtown to scope out a couple of treat shops -
The first stop was Fran's Chocolates - lots of homemade, dark chocolatey goodness. The Laundry Faerie gave me a box of them awhile back and I've been craving their sea salt caramels ever since.
We then walked another couple of blocks down to the cute little French bakery - full of luscious pastries, chocolates and gelato. So many choices! Ack!
I came home with a small stash of deliciousness and promptly crashed. That was more than I apparently had the stamina for, but... did I mention sea salt caramels!? Worth it.
By: Robin Brande,
on 4/12/2009
Blog: Robin Brande (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Chocolate, Add a tag
Here: Technorati Tags: Chocolate
By: Robin Brande,
on 4/12/2009
Blog: Robin Brande (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Fair Trade Chocolate, Child Slavery, Child Slavery Africa, Fair Trade Cocoa, Chocolate, Add a tag
I don’t know about you guys, but there are a lot of things in this world that I don’t realize are happening, and once I do know, I can’t forget. This is one of those things, about the use of child slaves in the chocolate industry: I can honestly say I never gave a thought to any [...]
Blog: WriterBear (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: chocolate, Add a tag
Apparently, a Harvard professor has found a way to inhale chocolate as an aerosol, thus getting the chocolate fix without all those nasty calories, according to this Boston.com article. Frankly, I'm not going for it. The chocolate experience isn't just about the taste of chocolate per se, but what food scientists call "mouthfeel." Is it smooth? Does it melt nicely? Does it snap when you bite into it? Does it drench the tongue in velvety smooth, bittersweet flavor? (And don't get me started on all the flavor descriptors they've come up with, which as I mentioned before, rival those of oenophiles). Inhale my chocolate, and lose the chocolate experience? No, thanks.
By: Debbie Ridpath Ohi,
on 2/25/2009
Blog: Inkygirl: Daily Diversions For Writers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: chocolate, General diversions, Add a tag
Blog: Bit by Bit (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: design, illustration, love, Food and Drink, chocolate, drawing, valentines day, Drawings, hearts, cards, Daily Sketches, sweet, Colored Pencil, artwork, cupcake, delicious, dessert, floating lemons, snack, sweetheart, Add a tag
When I returned home for a visit last year my nephew and one of my nieces were baking these glorious cupcakes and I took photos so that I could eventually draw them as they looked (and tasted!) so yummy. Well, I've finally managed to get one down onto paper though I really am not doing it justice. This one is for my nephew Kaelen!
Life has been hectic and I've been pretty blocked too. The final move into the new house has been a huge relief and I'm happy. Since then I've had visitors non-stop and am about to go overseas for two weeks again, after which life will I hope resume it's normal (?) peaceful routine and I can begin drawing on a more regular basis. Cheers!
By: Garden Painter Art,
on 2/16/2009
Blog: Garden Painter Art (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: chocolate, Valentines Day, Kimberly Wlassak, Garden Painter Art, chinese food, blessed, Add a tag
Hello There:
Another day of luscious rain. Here in the Southern California desert, we take all we can get!
I hope this entry finds that you all had a lovely Valentine's Day weekend. Gary and I had our traditional dinner of chinese food, a bottle of Almond Champagne and lots of dark chocolate and cheesecake! A yummy dinner followed with a movie by the fireplace. And as always, the obligatory red rose ~
The majority of the weekend was spent moving my mom's "stuff" from her storage facility to our trusty 4 car garage. With her stay at the Board and Care, we decided that the $125.00 we were paying for her storage could be used in oh so many, useful ways. So...off to U-Haul to rent a truck, packing up all her belongings and shuffling them all round our garage was how we spent most of the weekend. After the truck was returned, we still managed to have our delightful dinner ~ 
But of course, as our holidays so often lead to adventure, a romantic dinner, a movie and a long day of moving furniture just wasn't enough. Nope, just not enough. Last night, while nobody was watching, the tank on one our toilets decided to "runneth over". By the time the soggy mess was discovered, the water had managed to find it's way out of the bathroom and into the hall carpeting. Hurry, hurry, run, run, run...outside to turn off the water to the entire house. Fetching over a dozen bath towels to soak up the floor. Then, Gary and my oldest son were off on an adventure to find a part for the tank. All of this just as Gary was almost finished with his school paper. Out the door at 7:15 p.m. They purchased the part and managed to get it all done and cleaned up with one minute to go before the season premiere of "The Amazing Race"! Sheeesh ~ I get a wee bit weary just thinking about it. However, even with the general busy-ness of this Valentine's Day weekend, a good time was had by all.
Oh....and lest I forget ~ one of our PCs became riddled with viruses while we slept. So, download anything saveable and reformat the entire machine.
I hope your weekend went a bit smoother than ours did. But...considering all that I have to be thankful for, virus riddled computers, drenching toilet tanks and shifting large pieces of furniture is all just part of the adventure!
Until Next Time:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
By: Marley Gibson,
on 2/10/2009
Blog: Books, Boys, Buzz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: chocolate, Valentine's Day, giveaway, Sorority 101, kitties, Add a tag
Happy Wednesday of Valentine's Week! Hope everyone is doing great! To celebrate this week of love, I'm giving away a Lindt chocolate basket, as well as both copies of my SORORITY 101 books: ZETA OR OMEGA? and THE NEW SISTERS.
To enter, leave a comment on the most romantic thing that has happened to you in your life (or that of a friend). We're all suckers for a happy ending or something that makes us cry sweet tears. You may enter as many stories as you'd like to qualify for the chocolate basket and books.
And here's a fun Valentine's Day tool...you've all see the Obamicon pics, right? Well, they have a Luvicon version, as well. Check it out! Here's one I did of my kitty, Stanley...isn't he precious? Wouldn't you want HIM to be Valentine?
Hugs all around!
Marley = )
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Coming October 2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
GHOST HUNTRESS: The REASON (Coming May 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
CHRISTMAS MIRACLES (Coming October 2009, St. Martin's Press)
SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available from Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available from Puffin Books)
By: tara,
on 1/25/2009
Blog: Tara Lazar (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children, Children's Books, KidLit, Interviews, Giveaways, Picture Books, Chocolate, Children's Writing, Writing for Children, Writing for Teens, Add a tag
Ah, February. The month of love.
I love that December’s bills have been paid off. I love that I don’t have to worry about fitting into a bathing suit quite yet. I love dreaming of ways to spend my tax refund (which has already been spent). And I love gettin’ cozy in front of the fire with my daughters and a good book.
So this February I’m hosting a celebration of children’s authors, new and old. (Well, maybe not old. Established.) It will be 28 days of author interviews, book reviews and giveaways beginning on February 1st.
And what would February be without chocolates? Besides the quintessential heart-shaped box, February 1st was the day Willy Wonka invited five kids to tour his chocolate factory for the very first time…
Do you have a new book coming out? Recently snagged your dream agent? I’m still looking for writers to feature, so please get in touch by leaving a comment!
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By: Mary Cunningham,
on 1/25/2009
Blog: Cynthia's Attic Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: meme, friends, chocolate, super bowl, laughing, cappuccino, steelers, Add a tag
Jacquelyn Sylvan , author of Surviving Serendipity, just tagged me with "What are six things that make me happy." Only six?? Are you kidding me? Okay, here goes:
1. My husband bringing me a steamy cup of cappuccino in the morning. (I say "it's love." He says, "self defense.")
2. Laughing with friends until we cry.
3. writing
4. Chocolate (and more chocolate)
5. The view from my desk
6. Watching the Superbowl. Go Steelers!
Now, for the fun part! Tag! You're it!
Diana Black
Janet Muirhead Hill
Morgan Mandel
Mayra Calvani
Blog: Bit by Bit (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Food and Drink, chocolate, drawing, Drawings, honey, artwork, candy, cookie, delicious, floating lemons, crunchy, peanut brittle, cards, snack, Daily Sketches, Dabbling, Colored Pencil, design, illustration, food, sweets, Add a tag
I've become horribly addicted to these chocolate dipped peanut brittle snacks. Delicious. Had to give the last lot of them away to a friend before I turned into one!
Happy 2009 to everyone!
By: Debbie Ridpath Ohi,
on 12/5/2008
Blog: Inkygirl: Daily Diversions For Writers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: chocolate, Reference and useful tools for writers, General diversions, Add a tag
I was updating my Gifts For Writers post with additional info when I came across these chocolate pencils, a collaboration between Japanese architect and designer Oki Sato with patissier (and Iron Chef champion) Tsujiguchi Hironobu, the man behind boutique dessert shops in Tokyo.
I’m both disappointed and relieved that these aren’t available in my neighbourhood.
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I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday, but now I want to make chocolate buns, too! Wishing you many more–birthdays, books, and chocolate buns!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
And chocolate buns sound like a great way to celebrate to me!
Thanks Anamaria and Carrie!