Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 67

O is for Office Supplies

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:




For my O, I've chosen a slightly outdated topic. Something many of us don't even use anymore, in this era of electronics. But I still get that same thrill when I walk into an office supply store.




It seems like only yesterday that I was purchasing notepads and pens for writing. I'd hand-write my novels and type them up later. My brain seemed to work better that way. I had a very specific notepad I bought.



And I was even pickier about my writing pens.



I also had this weird affection for daily planners. The kind online calendars have completely replaced.




Now I walk into an office supply store and long for the days when a new notepad and set of pens meant a new book. I miss those days...but, most of all, I'm sad for a younger generation that will never know the joy of a new notepad or day planner.

Do you still buy office supplies? Or have computers replaced your need for them entirely?

Want some bookmarks for your classroom or library? Email  me with your address and I'll send some right away.

N is for Nicole Lee

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:



N is for Nicole Lee!




I discovered her purses earlier this year, after hearing about Betsey Johnson's bankruptcy. This is the purse I have now:




But she has all kinds of unique purses, including these awesome spring designs.




As well as luggage and makeup cases.



Who is your favorite designer?



.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway 30 Days of No Gossip by Stephanie Faris Giveaway ends April 30, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

M is for Mexican food

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:



Just walking into a Mexican restaurant makes me happy. It's a whole experience. There's this:



Not to mention this:



Plus, some delicious fried ice cream:



But nothing beats Chuy's Creamy Jalapeno Dip:



If you've never tried it, go to your nearest Chuy's now!

What's your favorite type of food?

.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway 30 Days of No Gossip by Stephanie Faris Giveaway ends April 30, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

L is for Lace

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:



My choice for L shows my girly side. Whether it's clothes or purses, I tend to be drawn to a particular type of fabric.



I probably would have done well in the Victorian era!



The only problem is, lace is hard to clean. You can't just toss it in the washer and dryer. But I have plenty of clothes with lace trim that can be washed and dried, as well as a lace makeup bag...



And lace Betsey Johnson slippers...




What's your favorite type of fabric?




.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway 30 Days of No Gossip by Stephanie Faris Giveaway ends April 30, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

K is for Kindle

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:



For K, I've chosen a device I never thought I'd use. I swore that there was only one way to read a book...



Nothing could compare to the feeling of turning the page, I said, of holding a book in my hand. But then my husband bought me one of these for my birthday a couple of years ago.

A Kindle can hold an endless number of books, all in one easy-to-carry format. You can download samples and read a chapter or so before committing to paying for a book. Best of all, you can pre-order a book and, long after you've forgotten about it, you'll open your Kindle one day and there it will be.

Plus, with a Kindle, you can adjust the font so if the text is to small, just  make it bigger.
Do you read books on an electronic device or the old-fashioned way?




.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway 30 Days of No Gossip by Stephanie Faris Giveaway ends April 30, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

J is for Jeans

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:


When I worked in an office, I dressed up every day. Jeans were saved for casual Friday.


Once I began writing full-time, though, I learned when you work from home, your wardrobe is often a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. Over time, though, I evolved to a new dress code. My closet is now full of denim.


The person in charge where I used to work hated jeans. So I feel like wearing them is a sign of my independence.
But that means when I do have a special occasion, I have a closet full of jeans. That's when you pull out your fancy, BLING JEANS!


What's your work wardrobe?



.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway 30 Days of No Gossip by Stephanie Faris Giveaway ends April 30, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

I is for iPhone

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:


It's my constant companion, wherever I am during the day. It's by my side when I work, sleep, eat, and rest. What is it?



It's my iPhone!


Is it an indulgence? Not in itself. But it holds a large number of indulgences in one place.

They say the next iPhone will be even better. I'm counting the months until its fall release. This is just someone's guess of how it will look, but doesn't it look fun?



Do you feel your smartphone is an indulgence?
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; } Goodreads Book Giveaway 30 Days of No Gossip by Stephanie Faris

Giveaway ends April 30, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

H is for Handwriting

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:


Today I'm talking about something I love but rarely, rarely do anymore: handwriting.

Is there anything more beautiful than the sight of a page full of beautiful cursive?


In school, I always had handwriting envy. I'd see someone with really cool script and want to copy it. Now I hear they're taking cursive out of school. The kids will be missing so much fun.


Do you think cursive is an important thing for children to learn? Should it be taught along with other subjects?

G is for Gossip

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is



Of course, the reason I chose "indulgences" as my theme is in celebration of my book release, 30 Days of No Gossip.


Sadly, I couldn't go 30 days without gossip. I love getting together with friends and former co-workers for a good, hearty round of gossip.



Unfortunately, gossip is fun unless someone is getting hurt. That's why it's always fun to gossip about celebrities. They'll never know we're talking about them and, even if they did, they're richer and prettier than the rest of us, so they'll just figure out we're jealous and laugh it off.



Do you gossip? Be honest!

F is for Freestyle

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is indulgences. Today's letter is:



I chose Freestyle.

I'll bet you have no idea where I'm going with this.

When I say "Freestyle," I'm referring to the coolest machine on the planet (aside from iPhones and laptops...)


I actually would choose to dine at one place over another if I knew they had a Coca Cola Freestyle machine.

Pick a cup, pour your ice, then choose from more than 100 drink options. If you select Diet Coke, for instance, you can have Diet Vanilla Coke, Diet Cherry Coke, Diet Cherry Vanilla Coke, Diet Orange Coke, Diet Raspberry Coke, etc.

Don't like soda? That's okay. You can choose from different flavors of water and Minute Maid lemonade. Raspberry lemonade is yummy.



Have you ever tried one of these machines? What did you think?