IT'S CYBER MONDAY

...and the last day of November. Which means the holidays are right around the corner!




SO I am giving away a $40 gift card to my Tags-n-Stones site.



Choose your shape and stone, and let me personalize it for you!



Here's how to enter the contest:



1) You must be a follower or subscriber of my blog (right sidebar).



2) Email me: christinalee@ameritech.net with TAGS-N-STONES GIVEAWAY as the subject line.



The last day to enter is Friday, December 4th.



That gives you enough time to choose your prize and me enough time to create it-- just in time for the holidays!

I'm traveling back home today! Can't wait to read all of my favorite blogs again! See ya tomorrow!

On Giving Thanks!

Well, I'm off to Florida for a Thanksgiving with my in-laws...

And then a family wedding on the beach (Yeah, Kate!)...

During my time away I am going to focus on all of the special blessings in my life, and BE GRATEFUL for them.

DON'T FORGET TO DO THE SAME!

Oh and if you're shopping on Black Friday, Check out this site for all of the sales going on that day :)

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!


photo credit: countryliving.com, wwbox.org

A Twist on Traditional Pumpkin Pie

I like Pumpkin Pie but ONLY if it has enough whip cream on it.

I don't like it well enough to eat it by itself. HOW ABOUT YOU?



So I found this great pumpkin pie recipe, with a twist.



In a graham cracker pie shell, sprinkle caramel ice cream topping and some chopped pecans.

Next, mix a cup of milk, one can of pumpkin, two packets of vanilla pudding mix and 3/4 of a tub of thawed Cool Whip. Whisk together until smooth (look, even a five-year-old can do it). :)

Pour the mixture in the pie crust and refrigerate for 1 hour. Top with remaining Cool Whip, drizzle more caramel sauce, and sprinkly more pecans.

WE ALL LOVED IT!!!

Some Weekend Thoughts

I got a list of these in an email.

Some are SO TRUE!!!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. There is great need for a sarcasm font.


3. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

4. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my document that I swear I did not make any changes to.


5. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail.


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Celebrity Chic But Cheap: Carrie Underwood

Carrie, I LURVE your grey puffer vest by British designer Ted Baker.

Especially it's longer length and interesting details.

I am also a fan of your ruffle front blouse (and your music).

So I've tried to re-create your outfit.

Here's what I came up with:

Carrie Underwood--puffer vest by real style real people featuring Charlotte Russe

Items in this set:
Charlotte Russe blouse, $20
Charlotte Russe vest, $33
American Eagle Outfitters jeans, $40

Three Reasons Why I Loved NEW MOON

Can I get a WOOT--WOOT! IT WAS SO AWESOME!!

And I wouldn't lie. The first Twilight movie was just ok. If it was a C, then New Moon would be a B+. It was done really well!

One of the best parts was being in the theatre with the fanatics (of all ages)wearing their Edward or Jacob t-shirts and Twi jewelry who waited in line to buy tix forever and then screamed their bloody heads off EVERY SINGLE TIME Edward or Jacob entered a scene.

But it's ok, I get it--I was screaming on the inside :) Mostly I just sighed like I was hot and bothered ....alot!

#1- Oh Edward, how do you do that thing to me, that you do? *SIGH*

#2- The werewolf special effects were PRETTY DARN COOL. Jacob, I almost crossed over to your side--almost! YOU, with your probing, soulful eyes and that buff physique. And then the anguish on your face and the pain in your eyes when, when..well you know...

I was feeling all sorry for you!

#3- Seeing the Volturi played out on the big screen was amazing (although I do wish a little more backstory was shown about them)--I imagine it being especially surreal for Stephanie Meyer!

SO-- if you're a true Twlight fan, you've GOT TO go see it, if only to experience the book played out on the big screen. But if you've never read the books (WHAT? shocking!) I think you'd enjoy it as well.

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Post...

....to allow this mature adult some time...



to GUSH like a thirteen-year-old...



My friend got us tickets for tonight's preview of NEW MOON!!!



Squee!!!!!!

The seating is first come, first serve so my body may be trampled by a group of teens (or their moms) on the way in.

I'll still get to see it from my nose bleed seats way in the back. You never know...I may get in some decent jabs to the ribs to score us more decent seats. :)

I will report back to you about it in my post tomorrow!

Should I bring my Bella and Edward barbie dolls with me?

Just kidding, I don't own those (YET!)

p.s. I do realize that if I wait a week I can see it in a regular theatre, in a more relaxed environment. It's the same concept as Shopping at 4 am the day after Thanksgiving--there's just something about the hype of it :) Plus it's got to be better than the first movie, right? Shirtless werewolves, Italy, the Volturi....

Do You Detect a Carmel Apple Theme?

What can I say? It reminds me of fall.

I am a HUGE fan of Philosophy's 3 in 1 bath products. I am NEVER without them.

My newest one? Carmel Apple of course. It smells DIVINE.

Plus, it has the easiest carmel apple recipe on the front label. All you need is: apples, popsicle sticks, caramel candies and milk.

Unwrap the carmels in a 14 oz. bag. Melt the carmels with 2 tbsp. of milk in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stick popsicle sticks in six apples. Dip the apples in the caramel and let them cool on wax paper (sprayed with non-stick cooking spray). Voila!

Dip in chopped pecans--if you dare! :)

Cascading Cardigans

I love the look of these cardis. They add an interesting detail to any basic bottom-be it jeans, trousers or a skirt!

cascading cardigan by real style real people featuring Kenneth Cole New York

Items in this set:
Kenneth Cole New York top, $52
Hollister Co. outerwear, $50
Alloy.com cardigan, $27

This is for you, Honey!

By the time you read this, I will have hopefully pulled off a SURPRISE 40th Birthday Party for my husband Greg, at a local bar/restaurant.

If I pulled it off successfully, he will have thought that we were going to a Sun News work party instead, only to be greeted by some 50 odd people from his life.

So, here's to you, honey. I LOVE YOU and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

UPDATE: I pulled it off!!!!!

photo credit: creationsbyskip.com

The NEW ADULT Fiction Sub-Genre

When I heard that the publisher St. Matin's Press was professing a new young adult sub category, called New Adult (or post-adolesent) and was looking for submissions, I got excited...I mean real excited.

Let me explain why. Their criteria for New Adult would be a protagonist 18 years of age or older who deals with the issues spanning that age range (ya know, NOT high school or adolescence, but young adulthood).

Why is this exciting to me? Because I have been struggling with my protagonist's age as well as the age of his love interest from my DON'T TELL A SOUL novel. They deal with issues post high school (really sans H.S. ) and I had the feeling they somehow didn't quite fit into the perfect YA category.

In fact, this past week I had just this kind of discussion with my writer's critique group.

I have even been playing around with a copy of my WIP to see if making my protag a younger age would work.

The new book I'm working on (tenatively titled HANDS TOUCH or some such variation) is about fifteen year old protagonist in high school, so he would fit the YA criteria fine.

But I've always felt like there was something missing b/w the young adult and adult categories. For example, when Bella graduates from HS in the Twilight Series, is she still considered YA/Teen or this new category, New Adult? Regardless, many adults as well as teens read and loved the series. So it's only a matter of semantics...

I hope this new category catches fire!

Click HERE to read the article from St. Martin's Press and to enter their submission CONTEST.

I am curious to hear what fellow writers think about this new sub-genre.

AND whether the age of the protagonist matters to you avid readers out there.

Sweater Dresses

Sweater dresses are so easy and versatile for this time of year.


sweater dresses by real style real people featuring Old Navy

Items in this set:
Modcloth.com dress, $73
Delias.com dress, $40
Old Navy dress, $37
Charlotte Russe t shirt, $25

Wear a sweater dress for work or a dinner out. With tights and boots (or booties), or with leggings and flats.

sweater dress options by real style real people featuring Bandolino shoes

Items in this set:
Modcloth.com dress, $73
Bandolino boots, $149
Yesstyle.com boots, $48
Peacocks.co.uk flats, 15 GBP
Rocha.John Rocha tights, 20 GBP

LOVE!

Bare Escentuals Perfume Diaries

I am definitely a Bare Minerals girl. I've been using the foundation for eons.



So I love the idea of CEO Leslie Blodgett coming out with a line of fragrances for Sephora, called Perfume Diaries.



The first one is called Bare Skin and I can't wait to smell it. It supposed to be a mix of musk, vanilla, orchid and sandalwood.

I've also begun wearing Philosophy's Amazing Grace, because everytime I'm with my friend Amy, she's wearing it and smells so good. It's a subtle clean/feminine smell.

What about you?

Harry and Hermione and Dan, Oh My!

Right now I am on book Six of the Harry Potter series. Yeah, I know what you're thinking--a little late, huh?

Not exactly. When I was teaching I got to book four with my students and that's where I ended.

Oh and by the way, reading the Harry Potter series out loud daily to your class can prove to be difficult...on your tongue. I would always get tripped up on Hermione--haha!

A couple of months ago I decided to finish reading the series--and to complete my seven book collection so that my five year old can own and read all of the books some day.

One of the things J.K. Rowling does very well (besides using her incredible imagination), is set the scene for you in very vivid detail. I can always picture exactly what is going on.

That is something I struggle with as a writer. You know how some writer's give too much detail? I am guilty of not giving enough. Something I am working to change!

I also began reading Dan Brown's new book. I've read and enjoyed all of his other ones.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Three Reasons Why I Love: Motto's Pleated Knit Jacket

1. You can unzip the hood AND the bottom half to wear a cropped sleeker look (like the one below on Rachel Zoe). Or wear it as is, for days you want more coverage (tummy coverage for me).

2. It comes in four colors: black, grey, violet and teal. Here's a back shot of the teal color.

3. The price is right: $54.92. Here's the link at QVC!

ZZZ...

Pretty much what I'm feeling these last couple of weeks.

I am up to my ears in revisions on my works-in-progress as well as life's little matters that keep getting in the way (like my paying jobs) :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

p.s. I want to give a shout-out to my local blog friends, Lisa and Laura whose book was picked up for publication! WOO-HOO so happy for you ladies!

Here's the blurb From Publisher's Marketplace:
Lisa Roecker and Laura Roecker's A Kate Lowry Mystery: THE HAUNTING OF PEMBERLY BROWN, a quick-witted mystery starring a private-school sleuth with attitude and pearls, who receives an email from her dead best friend, sold to Daniel Ehrenhaft at Sourcebooks, for publication in Spring 2011, by Catherine Drayton at Inkwell Management (NA).

Book Ends

I have tons of books and I am running out of shelf space.

But I can't seem to help myself--I can't get rid of anything!

Look at these great book ends:

Drink wine AND read a book too (from Wal-Mart)!

Love these (from hazelnutneworleans.com)! I just happen to have a chocolate Labrador Retriever.

These are great too (from Barnes&Noble). My sister's initials are AZ so she's bound to love these!

Five Blazer/Jacket Trends This Season

#1: Boyfriend:

boyfriend blazers by real style real people featuring Old Navy

Items in this set:
Topshop.com jacket, 40 GBP
Old Navy jacket, $40
Newlook.co.uk jacket, 30 GBP

#2: Military:

military blazers by real style real people featuring Forever21

Items in this set:
Delias.com jacket, $48
Dorothy Perkins jacket, 40 GBP
Forever21 jacket, $25

#3 Motorcycle:

motorcycle style by real style real people featuring American Eagle Outfitters

Items in this set:
Charlotte Russe jacket, $79
American Eagle Outfitters jacket, $60
Forever21 jacket, $16

#4 Fitted, with interesting details

fitted blazers by real style real people on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Motto (R) French Terry 3/4...
Motto (R) Brushed Cotton...
Motto Long Sleeve Button Cuff...

#5 Tuxedo:

tuxedo jakcet by real style real people featuring Miss Selfridge

Items in this set:
Spiegel.com clothing, $89
Miss Selfridge jacket, 45 GBP
Charlotte Russe jacket, $33

THANKS THE BUDGET FASHIONSITA FOR FEATURING THIS POST ON YOUR SITE!!!

Readers, check out this post at TBF: http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/home-remedies-for-broken-down-locks/

Carmel Apple Dip

What to do with all of those apples from the apple farm?



Make carmel dip, of course.




Mine only requires 4 ingredients (five if you count the apples for dipping).




All you need is: 1 stick of butter, I cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup of white corn syrup, and 1 can of sweetened condensed milk.

Melt the butter over a low heat. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and condensed milk. Bring it to a low boil, stirring constantly. Cook for 3 more minutes, then cool it at room temperature.

Serve it warm with apple wedges. TO DIE FOR!!!

Reheat it the next day in the microwave (if you even have leftovers).

Denim Toppers, 90's Style

I still cannot get on board with the denim shirts and vests I'm seeing this season.

Reminds me too much of the 90's grunge/burnout period of my life....

Denim Tops by real style real people featuring American Eagle Outfitters

What about you?

Military Jackets

The Balmain inspired military jackets are not really my thing.

They remind me too much of Janet's Jackson's Control years (Or Michael--he always wore this style), or the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's years.

If you soften the look, like on Olivia Palermo, below:

Then I LOVE IT!!

Here's another style from Ann Taylor Loft: