Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 66
April 29, 2014
Y is for YouTube
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
For me, YouTube started out as a fun way to embed videos on MySpace. Yes, I'm that old.
Now the site is considered a "social networking site" of its own, having become the most popular video-sharing service in the world.
But did you know you can watch actual TV shows on there? I just thought about an obscure TV show last week and had it streaming on my laptop within 30 seconds.
In that case, there were only two episodes available. In many cases, though, you can find entire series...shows you haven't watched in 20 or 30 years. You can even find old made-for-TV movies.
And those cheesy After School Specials, including one called One Too Many, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Val Kilmer. They made us watch it in high school.
Or you can spend valuable hours searching for obscure video clips. Or watching cat videos.
How do you spend your YouTube time?
An InLinkz Link-up
For me, YouTube started out as a fun way to embed videos on MySpace. Yes, I'm that old.
Now the site is considered a "social networking site" of its own, having become the most popular video-sharing service in the world.
But did you know you can watch actual TV shows on there? I just thought about an obscure TV show last week and had it streaming on my laptop within 30 seconds.
In that case, there were only two episodes available. In many cases, though, you can find entire series...shows you haven't watched in 20 or 30 years. You can even find old made-for-TV movies.
And those cheesy After School Specials, including one called One Too Many, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Val Kilmer. They made us watch it in high school.
Or you can spend valuable hours searching for obscure video clips. Or watching cat videos.
How do you spend your YouTube time?
An InLinkz Link-up
April 28, 2014
X is for Xanadu and a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
We'll continue with our regularly scheduled program in a moment, but first--on May 5th, I'll be debuting the super-duper beautiful cover for my second novel, 25 Roses. Want to be a part of the 25 Roses Cover Reveal BLOGstravaganza? Scroll to the bottom of this blog and sign up for my blog hop!
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
X is beyond tough. Unless you are into Xerox copiers, there really aren't any indulgences that start with X. I thought...
And thought...
And...suddenly...I had a Eureka moment.
It's not an indulgence as much as a guilty pleasure, but anyone who was born before 1975 will know it from just this picture.
Yes, Xanadu was every bit as bad as that picture makes it look, but if you were a kid when Olivia Newton-John was the biggest star in the world...you didn't care. Little girls LOVED Olivia.
The really crazy part is somehow that movie ended up becoming a Broadway show. As if the story wasn't just 100 percent bad-o-rama from the beginning.
Seriously.
What's the cheesiest movie you've ever enjoyed watching?
An InLinkz Link-up
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
X is beyond tough. Unless you are into Xerox copiers, there really aren't any indulgences that start with X. I thought...
And thought...
And...suddenly...I had a Eureka moment.
It's not an indulgence as much as a guilty pleasure, but anyone who was born before 1975 will know it from just this picture.
Yes, Xanadu was every bit as bad as that picture makes it look, but if you were a kid when Olivia Newton-John was the biggest star in the world...you didn't care. Little girls LOVED Olivia.
The really crazy part is somehow that movie ended up becoming a Broadway show. As if the story wasn't just 100 percent bad-o-rama from the beginning.
Seriously.
What's the cheesiest movie you've ever enjoyed watching?
An InLinkz Link-up
April 26, 2014
W is for Walking
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
For today's indulgence, I'm writing about something many people see as hard work. For me, one thing that always improves my mood is walking.
Of course, my favorite place to walk would be alongside water, especially on the beach.
Unfortunately, most days my view looks a little closer to this.
Thankfully, my addiction to SongPop takes my mind off of the drudgery. I start playing and, next thing I know, 50 full minutes have passed. It's sweet.
What's your favorite form of exercise?
Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email me with your address and I'll send some right away.
For today's indulgence, I'm writing about something many people see as hard work. For me, one thing that always improves my mood is walking.
Of course, my favorite place to walk would be alongside water, especially on the beach.
Unfortunately, most days my view looks a little closer to this.
Thankfully, my addiction to SongPop takes my mind off of the drudgery. I start playing and, next thing I know, 50 full minutes have passed. It's sweet.
What's your favorite form of exercise?
Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email me with your address and I'll send some right away.
April 25, 2014
V is for Vacation
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
Today I've chosen one of the biggest indulgences of all...
I, personally, love the beach. But I'm not one of those people who can sit in the sun all day and do absolutely nothing. I'd just end up doing this.
The best vacation for my Type A personality happened when we went to L.A. a few years ago. During the day, we saw the sights...
And at night we went back to our beautiful condo at Hermosa Beach.
Each morning, we'd wake up and have breakfast on the beach and maybe work in a walk along the strand before hitting the town again.
While we were in L.A., we even managed to work in a few seconds on the Friends couch.
What's your idea of the perfect vacation? Are you a beach relaxer or a go-getter?
If you live in the Nashville area, come out for my first bookstore appearance! It's May 15 from 4pm-6pm at BookmanBookwoman in Hillsboro Village. Click on the image below for details.
Today I've chosen one of the biggest indulgences of all...
I, personally, love the beach. But I'm not one of those people who can sit in the sun all day and do absolutely nothing. I'd just end up doing this.
The best vacation for my Type A personality happened when we went to L.A. a few years ago. During the day, we saw the sights...
And at night we went back to our beautiful condo at Hermosa Beach.
Each morning, we'd wake up and have breakfast on the beach and maybe work in a walk along the strand before hitting the town again.
While we were in L.A., we even managed to work in a few seconds on the Friends couch.
What's your idea of the perfect vacation? Are you a beach relaxer or a go-getter?
If you live in the Nashville area, come out for my first bookstore appearance! It's May 15 from 4pm-6pm at BookmanBookwoman in Hillsboro Village. Click on the image below for details.
April 24, 2014
U is for Upside-Down Cake
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
U was tough. I thought of Uno's Pizzeria...
But I've already done pizza and deep dish is just pizza casserole. My husband came up with Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, which is a U if you leave out the "pineapple" part.
It has all my favorite elements in a dessert--pineapple, cake, maraschino cherries... But it reminds me of a recipe I borrowed from The Cheesecake Factory a few years ago for Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake. Whoa, that was a lot of work, but it was delish. How about a picture of their version?
Can you think of an indulgence that starts with "U?"
Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email me with your address and I'll send some right away.
U was tough. I thought of Uno's Pizzeria...
But I've already done pizza and deep dish is just pizza casserole. My husband came up with Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, which is a U if you leave out the "pineapple" part.
It has all my favorite elements in a dessert--pineapple, cake, maraschino cherries... But it reminds me of a recipe I borrowed from The Cheesecake Factory a few years ago for Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake. Whoa, that was a lot of work, but it was delish. How about a picture of their version?
Can you think of an indulgence that starts with "U?"
Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email me with your address and I'll send some right away.
April 23, 2014
T is for Tervis
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
For T, I've chosen something you might not have heard of.
We all know drinking water out of plastic bottles is bad for the environment.
Plus, a bottled water doesn't keep your drink cold for long. Most of the day, I drink out of my double-insulated cup using a straw. Some are Tervis...
Some are cheap imitations.
Even the straw is reusable.
But of all my double-wall drinking cups, I like my imitation Starbucks cup the best. It makes me feel like a yuppie.
What do you drink out of throughout the day?
For T, I've chosen something you might not have heard of.
We all know drinking water out of plastic bottles is bad for the environment.
Plus, a bottled water doesn't keep your drink cold for long. Most of the day, I drink out of my double-insulated cup using a straw. Some are Tervis...
Some are cheap imitations.
Even the straw is reusable.
But of all my double-wall drinking cups, I like my imitation Starbucks cup the best. It makes me feel like a yuppie.
What do you drink out of throughout the day?
April 22, 2014
S is for Singing
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
For S, I chose "singing," but not the kind of singing you see here:
I'm talking about the kind of singing you do when you know nobody can hear you (a.k.a. make fun of you!).
I wouldn't even dare sing in the shower. But the car? All bets are off.
Especially if you just discovered a movie soundtrack you listened to over and over when you were a teenager (Streets of Fire). And you still remember all the words to the songs!
If you live in the Nashville area, come out for my first bookstore appearance! It's May 15 from 4pm-6pm at BookmanBookwoman in Hillsboro Village. Click on the image below for details.
For S, I chose "singing," but not the kind of singing you see here:
I'm talking about the kind of singing you do when you know nobody can hear you (a.k.a. make fun of you!).
I wouldn't even dare sing in the shower. But the car? All bets are off.
Especially if you just discovered a movie soundtrack you listened to over and over when you were a teenager (Streets of Fire). And you still remember all the words to the songs!
If you live in the Nashville area, come out for my first bookstore appearance! It's May 15 from 4pm-6pm at BookmanBookwoman in Hillsboro Village. Click on the image below for details.
April 21, 2014
R is for Robes
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
Is there anything more comfortable than slipping into a big, comfortable, warm robe?
It's really an ingenious invention, intended to be worn between showering and getting dressed, but some people wear them all day.
For that reason, someone invented the Snuggie, which was popular for about a minute.
I noticed recently my robe was looking shabby, so I bought a new one. It's a girly-girl Betsey Johnson robe!
How much time each day do you spend in your robe?
I have big news coming next week about my second book, 25 Roses, so be sure to check in!
Is there anything more comfortable than slipping into a big, comfortable, warm robe?
It's really an ingenious invention, intended to be worn between showering and getting dressed, but some people wear them all day.
For that reason, someone invented the Snuggie, which was popular for about a minute.
I noticed recently my robe was looking shabby, so I bought a new one. It's a girly-girl Betsey Johnson robe!
How much time each day do you spend in your robe?
I have big news coming next week about my second book, 25 Roses, so be sure to check in!
April 19, 2014
Q is for Quiet Time
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
Today I'm writing about something we all get far too little of each day...
Reading can seem like quiet time to some. Or some people even use the drive to work for a little peace and quiet. But how often do we just sit in quiet contemplation?
Scientists say quiet time is good for us, giving our brains the downtime they need. But how many of us can really sit and stare silently, even when the scenery around us is breathtaking?
Do you ever sit in silence and do absolutely nothing?
Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email me with your address and I'll send some right away.
Today I'm writing about something we all get far too little of each day...
Reading can seem like quiet time to some. Or some people even use the drive to work for a little peace and quiet. But how often do we just sit in quiet contemplation?
Scientists say quiet time is good for us, giving our brains the downtime they need. But how many of us can really sit and stare silently, even when the scenery around us is breathtaking?
Do you ever sit in silence and do absolutely nothing?
Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email me with your address and I'll send some right away.
April 18, 2014
P is for Pizza!
This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:
For P, I'm focusing on a food item with appeal that extends far beyond its deliciousness.
For families all across America, pizza for dinner means one thing.
You place a phone call and, within minutes, a friendly person shows up with a box.
I think our love for pizza goes even further, though. For many of us, "pizza" was a part of almost every great gathering we've ever had. Super Bowl parties. College get-togethers, retirement celebrations at work.
It's the perfect food for groups. It feeds many without requiring utensils. You don't even need a plate.
How often do you have pizza night at your house?
Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email me with your address and I'll send some right away.
For P, I'm focusing on a food item with appeal that extends far beyond its deliciousness.
For families all across America, pizza for dinner means one thing.
You place a phone call and, within minutes, a friendly person shows up with a box.
I think our love for pizza goes even further, though. For many of us, "pizza" was a part of almost every great gathering we've ever had. Super Bowl parties. College get-togethers, retirement celebrations at work.
It's the perfect food for groups. It feeds many without requiring utensils. You don't even need a plate.
How often do you have pizza night at your house?
Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email me with your address and I'll send some right away.
