Archive for the ‘blogging’ Category
NaNoWriMo & NaBloPoMo–Goooooo!
It’s here! It’s here!
It’s November 1 and that means a few things. One of them is a steady stream of people to the local cemetery–All Saints’ Day is widely observed in southern Italy–but let’s talk about happier things.
First, there’s NaNoWriMo, which is short for National Novel Writing Month. It’s more international than national, but it *is* all about writing a novel–or at least 50,000 words throughout the month of November. I’ve been informed that it works out to 1667 words a day, but who’s counting?
Right. I am.
I just may divulge more information about what I’m writing about as the month goes on, so do check back for updates. I guess I could put a little progress bar or something in the sidebar here. Hmm. We’ll see about that.
Next we have NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month. Again, not strictly national, but all about blog posting–every day in November. So long as my internet connection holds up, I’ll have something new (although I’m not promising “entertaining” or “interesting”) for you to come and read each and every day this month. Lucky you.
Now as part of NaBloPoMo, I’m also participating in 30 Days of Thanks, brainchild of Boogiemum, so every day this month I’ll be listing something I’m thankful for. Feel free to play along on your blog even if you’re not doing NaBloPoMo or, as always, in the comments here.
Today I am thankful for:
All of the wonderful friends I’ve made through blogging, and not just because they send me gifts like a digital camera (The Daily Rant), tahini and books (Piacere), and books in Italian for my birthday (At Home in Rome).
It’s a relationship that’s difficult to describe to those not in the blogosphere, but there’s just such a warm, comfortable feeling of flitting around from blog to blog in the morning, catching up on my friends’ lives and smiling, laughing, crying along with them. I feel so much more connected with the world since I started blogging, and it feels wonderful.
And Post Number 1 is in the books. Only 29 more to go!
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[tags]nanowrimo, nablopomo, 30 days of thanks[/tags]
What’s Cooking Wednesday: Trick or Treat Tomato Eyeballs
Happy Halloween!
Some of you have asked about what’s going on in Italy for this “holiday,” and I’m sorry to report: niente. That means nothing.
In some parts of the country, they are starting to get children involved with costumes and whatnot, but no one around here does any such thing.
This could be because I don’t have kids yet…because if you think my kids are going to miss out on trick-or-treating, well, you’ve underestimated me and my weakness for candy.
I’ll even have the good stuff shipped in from the US and distributed to the neighbors (for distribution to the children, of course, with other healthy treats encouraged too):
Added bonus is that the kids around here most likely won’t have to cover up their awesome costumes with big ole coats like we always had to do where I grew up….
Anyway, back to the business at hand, I’m keeping up the Halloween theme for this week’s What’s Cooking Wednesday and giving you a quick, fun idea for a holiday treat.
But there’s a catch–you have to go here to find the recipe for
Trick or Treat Tomato Eyeballs
Why not whip up a batch and then head over to Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun to celebrate?
Also, check out the true ghost stories over at Tui’s True Spooks Blog Carnival. Make sure you turn the light on first though! There’s some creepy stuff in there.
And, since it is the last day of October and I’ve yet to post my Monthly Musing, I’ll give you a little bit of why I love this wonderful month as we say good-bye for another year:
Sweet sweet October
Only a few words to say
How much I love you…
Sweaters, fireplace fires,
My birthday, delicious soups,
And this year, puppies!
What do you love about October?
Real Ghost Stories…Grab a Flashlight!
My friend Tui of Mental Mosaic has organized a Halloween-themed blog carnival, True Spooks 2011: True Ghost Stories.
Read on...ask me anything (again) & more
Remember back in July when I needed inspiration to come up with 8 things about me for a meme from JennieBoo?
Well now fabulous artist and blogger Robyn of Have Dogs, Will Travel has tagged me for 7 more things . . . and I need your help again.
Bonus–this will help me get through 30 days of posts for NaBloPoMo. What? You’re not signed up yet? Come join the fun, and don’t forget to add me as a friend!
Please leave your questions in the comments, and I promise to get to all of them (some restrictions apply, of course)–but if you’re afraid something has been asked before, don’t be.
I’m a proud member of the Department of Redundancy Department.
And now some announcements:
WIN!
Robin of My Melange, winner of my Bella Bags contest, is now paying it forward with a contest of her own! Read more about it here, but let me tell you about the wonderful prize:
You can win a fabulous copy of the soon-to-be-released book My French Life by Vicki Archer, and there are a few different ways you can enter the drawing. Get on over there before November 9th and check it out!
Also, if you want to see the Bella Bag that I chose for Robin, she posted about it here (and there’s some eye candy to boot!).
By the way, for the environmentally-interested, Marcia of Bella Bags has a new Be Green Shop Green full of organic goodies, so get shopping!
READ and REMEMBER!
Breast Cancer Awareness month is almost over, but that doesn’t mean we should forget how important this subject is. I put a widget from The Breast Cancer Site over there in my sidebar that you can click every day to help fund free mammograms, so click away!
And when you get to the site, why not click the Hunger, Child Health, Animal Rescue, Rainforest, and Literacy tabs at the top as well?
Now go read one of the most touching posts I’ve read about breast cancer, this by my new buddy through NaBloPoMo, BipolarLawyerCook, about her mother’s diagnosis:
Seventeen Years Later
WRITE!
(1) Halloween is coming up and blogging buddy Tui of Mental Mosaic would like to hear about your spooky encounters for the blog carnival she’s hosting:
Blog Carnival: True Spooks…Share Your Ghost Story
Hurry, post your entry, and send the link to Tui by October 28th. I’m working on mine!
(2) Another great event happening over at Vanielje Kitchen and The Passionate Palate:
Apples & Thyme…
celebrating time in the kitchen with mothers & grandmothers
Here’s your chance to write about the women who have inspired you in the kitchen, even if they weren’t your mother or grandmother. It’s a lovely way to remember and honor the women in our lives, so I hope you’ll participate.
Post your tribute by November 10th and then read the round-up of posts on the 15th.
Is this enough for you this weekend? I sure hope so.
I also have some planning to do for NaNoWriMo, so I know I’ll be busy.
Buon weekend,
and remember to fire away with the questions in the comments!
olive’s 108 years young!
As you probably know, yesterday was my birthday. Thank you all *so* much for all the wonderful wishes and e-cards; I will respond as soon as possible, but my Internet connection is still not letting me on most pages (and when I can access something, it’s taking forever). Pazienza.
Should be fixed by tomorrow, they say! What’s that? You have a bridge you want to sell me?
Anyway, continuing with the birthday theme, now it’s time for me to pass along some very special wishes to one of my most favorite bloggers in the whole wide blogosphere:
Most Mature Blogger in the World
Ms Olive Riley of The Life of Riley turns 108, tomorrow October 20:
I first introduced you to Olive here, and her adventures have only gotten more interesting with time. She is truly an amazing woman, and I hope that you’ll also post a birthday greeting for her on your blog (and then go comment on her latest post to let her know) or simply go over to Olive’s place and leave a birthday wish.
Let’s make 108 Olive’s best birthday yet!*Special thanks to Time Goes By for organizing this e-party for Olive.*
**Also a very happy birthday to my partner in crime across the pond Jenn;
hopefully we’ll get to celebrate together again one of these years!**
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[tags]birthdays, olive riley, world’s oldest blogger[/tags]
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
