Category Archives: Blogging

12.14.16
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Blog Awards #9: Mystery Blogger Award

mystery-blog-award

Copied from Getting Through Anxiety.

The amazing B.G. at Getting Through Anxiety nominated me for the Mystery Blogger Award. Thank you! The creator of the award is Okoto Engima.

Here’s the link to the post where I was nominated:

The Rules:

  • Display the award logo/image on your blog
  • List the rules
  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to the nominator’s blog
  • Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well
  • Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
  • Answer 5 questions from the nominator
  • Nominate 10 – 20 people
  • Notify your nominees by leaving the nomination link in the “comment” of their blog
  • Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice, with one weird or funny question (specify)
  • Share the link(s) to your best post(s)

3 Things About Myself:

1.) I’m exclusively left-handed, and proud of it!

2.) I consider myself fairly organized and neat, but I highly dislike cleaning!

3.) I currently have three American Girl dolls, but I want more!

5 Questions From The Nominator:

Have you had a crush on your teacher as a teenager?

No. Most of my teachers were married and had kids! Haha. I do have great admiration for a lot of them.

If you had the power to change one thing in your past, what would that be?

I would somehow get a hold on my anxiety before it took over so much control of my life.

Which country is your next dream vacation, and what made you want to go there?

I would also have to answer Italy. I love the history, and I definitely want to enjoy the food! Plus, Al is a quarter-Italian. I would love to see Sicily and Corsica!

Do you think it is okay to keep secrets even between best friends?

I agree with B.G. – Yes, as long as they’re not harmful.

If you could be transformed into something else, what would be your preference, and why?

Wonder Woman. She’s one of my favorite superheroes. I cannot wait for the movie to be released!

5 Questions to Nominees:

  1. What’s your favorite holiday, and why?
  2. Is there a movie that you can’t wait to see?
  3. Did you have a favorite stuffed animal growing up?
  4. Do you have a favorite game?
  5. What book are you currently reading?

I Nominate:

  1. North East Olympics
  2. Doggys That Blog
  3. Sister Sole Space
  4. The Wind Blows All Over: Living with Mental Illness and CFS
  5. Let your words speak what your heart thinks.
  6. DaiseyDropper
  7. My world.
  8. Still Funny

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

12.01.16
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Getting Personal #49: December Goals

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Image Credit: quotesgram.com

Here are my goals for the month of December!

  1. Decorate for Christmas.
  2. Fully clean up / clean out the attached garage.
  3. Enjoy several holiday parties!
  4. Donate blood.
  5. Create our budget for 2017.
  6. Help either a child or a family have a good Christmas.
  7. See Rogue One: A Star Wars Story!
  8. Make peppermint bark.

Here’s the breakdown:

Decorate for Christmas.

  • We just bought our first Christmas tree! We’re excited to set it up in our living room and decorate it!
  • Red and green are so festive!

Fully clean up / clean out the attached garage.

  • We cleared out two of the end tables last weekend, so one whole wall is clean now!
  • We plan to go through boxes and containers a little bit every weekend!

Enjoy several holiday parties!

  • Amanda and Dan’s annual gathering is this weekend.
  • Al’s company holiday party is next weekend!
  • At the end of the month, we celebrate New Year’s and Kathryn’s birthday!

Donate blood.

  • I’m trying again this weekend!

Create our budget for 2017.

  • We started a spreadsheet in July, and we need to fill it out for the rest of 2016, and then create a new worksheet for next year.

Help either a child or a family have a good Christmas.

  • Having been raised in a church that has participated with Angel Tree, Salvation Army stockings, and Operation Christmas Child, I always try to do something extra in the month of December.
  • I’ve already volunteered to be a Christmas elf to help a college friend help a family she knows, but I want to do a little bit more than that.

See Rogue One: A Star Wars Story!

  • This has been the most anticipated movie for us this year!
  • This is one that we are going to see multiple times!

Make peppermint bark.

  • I discovered this a few years ago, and it’s super easy to make!
  • I love peppermint during the holidays. Plus, it has white chocolate! Yum!

That’s all I have for December! I can’t believe it’s the last month of 2016!!

Do you have any goals for December?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

11.30.16
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Getting Personal #48: November Goals Recap

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Image Credit: quotesgram.com

Hello, readers!

November whizzed by so fast, I could barely keep up!

Here’s the link to my November Goals post:

—

Ready?

Here we go!

  1. Complete NaNoWriMo 2016! – Did not accomplish.
  2. Wear makeup every single day. – Accomplished!
  3. Make more progress with my 2016 Reading Challenge. – Accomplished!
  4. Enjoy our first wedding anniversary! – Accomplished!
  5. Make chocolate mousse pie for Thanksgiving. – Accomplished!
  6. Make final preps for our housewarming party! – Did not accomplish.
  7. Start the “Lady Lounge” makeover! – Semi-achieved.

Here’s the breakdown:

Complete NaNoWriMo 2016! – Did not accomplish.

  • I felt super confident on October 31st, but then I looked at the calendar for November. There was so many things filling these 30 days – Vacation, Thanksgiving, Al’s parents coming to visit, plus trying to finish my class projects way before November 29th. I didn’t even sign up / register this year.
  • I’m slightly disappointed, but I know that it wasn’t meant to be this year. Hopefully, by next November, I’ll have graduated with my Paralegal Studies degree and I won’t have to worry about projects, homework, and exams!

Wear makeup every single day. – Accomplished!

  • I felt amazing taking just a few minutes out of my morning to put some makeup on. I received multiple compliments, and I plan to keep going!
  • I definitely want to experiment a bit more in the coming months – Play with colors, etc. I’m having fun!

Make more progress with my 2016 Reading Challenge. – Accomplished!

  • I made my first trip to the local library at the beginning of the month, and picked up two books on the list. I almost got through one of them by the time they were due two weeks later. I want to go back this weekend and check that one out again to finish it!
  • I’m currently one-third of the way through another piece on the list. Look for that review in the next week or two!

Enjoy our first wedding anniversary! – Accomplished!

  • We enjoyed a wonderful six-day vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We explored Avon, Buxton, Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke Island. I’m hoping to publish my Adventure Time post next week!

Make chocolate mousse pie for Thanksgiving. – Accomplished!

  • It’s actually called chocolate mousse cake.
  • Here’s the recipe I used: Bon Appetit Chocolate Mousse Cake
  • I was a little nervous, cooking it for the first time in my own kitchen. I think I spent about 3 hours on it that Wednesday night.
  • I shouldn’t have worried: It was AMAZING. Everyone complimented it at my parents’ house.
  • Needless to say, the leftovers didn’t last past Friday lunch!

Make final preps for our housewarming party! – Did not accomplish.

  • Given that tomorrow is December 1st, it looks like plans for a housewarming party aren’t in the cards for 2016. We want to clear more of the clutter and put a few more finishing touches on our living room and kitchen area first.

Start the “Lady Lounge” makeover! – Semi-achieved.

  • This is along the same lines as the housewarming party. I need to make a plan for what I’m buying and when – Buying a desk, moving the massive bookcase from my parents’ house to ours, researching shelves, etc.
  • It’s becoming more organized. I’m definitely going to use the break in between my classes to keep this going!

Final Thoughts

  • I was able to put Accomplished on 4 of the 7 goals! Yay!
  • The one goal that was Semi-Achieved: I wasn’t able to spend as much time on it as I wanted, but I’m getting there.
  • The two goals that I didn’t accomplish: Both were due to time constraints. This month was one of the fastest yet. I’m excited to make more progress!

Did you have any goals for November?

Come back tomorrow to see my December goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

11.04.16
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Blog Awards #8: The Sunshine Blogger Award!

sunshine-award

Image Credit: Unknown, but copied from Forest City Bookworm.

I was nominated by the lovely and talented Michelle from Forest City Bookworm! She has an amazing blog that I’ve fallen in love with, so please, take a few minutes to check it out.

Here’s the link to the original post, where I was nominated:

The Rules:

  • Thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
  • Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

The Questions:

1. What’s the story behind your blog’s name?

I came up with Hot Shot Headlines because I studied mass media / journalism in college, and I wanted to have a news / media angle to my blog. Also, “Hot Shot” is the nickname that my dad gave to me years ago, so every time I come to the blog to write, I smile because I think of him.

2. Do you prefer e-books or physical books?

Physical books, all the way! I see the practicality of e-books, and I’ve used Kindle a handful of times for school, but I will always have paperbacks and hardbacks for my library.

3. What’s your ideal pizza?

I love a good supreme pizza. I love the mix of pepperoni and veggies!

4. What’s your favorite childhood book?

Where The Wild Things Are.

5. What cheers you up?

Reading, writing, watching movies, and spending time with Al and my family.

6. Are you an introvert or and extrovert?

I’m definitely an extrovert. I love talking to people!

7. What’s the last book you read that you simply could not put down until you finished?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. So good!

8. If your life was a movie, which actor/actress would play you?

I always have trouble with this question! Hmmm … I love Emma Watson. She’d be a good pick!

9. Which is the longest book/anime/TV series you’ve read/watched and how long is it?

So far, it’s Harry Potter. Seven books, eight if you count Cursed Child.

10. If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pasta with garlic bread and a good salad.

11. What’s your favorite book genre?

Historical fiction.

My Questions:

  1. When did you start blogging?
  2. What’s your favorite movie?
  3. What makes you smile?
  4. What’s your guilty pleasure food?
  5. Where have you lived the longest?
  6. Who is your favorite actor or actress?
  7. What’s your dream job?
  8. What’s one TV show that you will never stop enjoying?
  9. What’s your favorite color?
  10. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go, and why?
  11. What’s your favorite cartoon?

The Nominations:

  1. Sometimes Stellar Storyteller
  2. A Writer’s Path
  3. The Musings of a Writer
  4. icebreaker694
  5. Elan Mudrow
  6. By Hook Or By Book
  7. Thrice Read
  8. David Snape and Friends
  9. Be Like Water
  10. Reads & Reels
  11. Tangible Triumph

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

11.01.16
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Getting Personal #45: November Goals

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Image Credit: pinterest.com

Here are my goals for the month of November!

  1. Complete NaNoWriMo 2016!
  2. Wear makeup every single day.
  3. Make more progress with my 2016 Reading Challenge.
  4. Enjoy our first wedding anniversary!
  5. Make chocolate mousse pie for Thanksgiving.
  6. Make final preps for our housewarming party!
  7. Start the “Lady Lounge” makeover!

Here’s the breakdown:

Complete NaNoWriMo 2016!

  • NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month.
  • I did it in 2012, 2013, and 2014. I took 2015 off, and I found that I missed it! I’m excited that 2016 will be Year #4!
  • My overall goal is surpassing 16,000 words. That was my total for my 2014 novel!

Wear makeup every single day

  • I’ve wanted to wear makeup more often, so I want to make more of an effort for this month.

Make more progress with my 2016 Reading Challenge.

  • I’m not setting a specific goal this month (i.e., “read two books,” etc.)
  • I just want to review the list and try to make headway before December!
  • I plan to go to the local library next weekend and get started!

Enjoy our first wedding anniversary!

  • I’m blown away – I can’t believe we’re 13 days away from celebrating one year of marriage!

Make chocolate mousse pie for Thanksgiving.

  • My parents are hosting us for Thanksgiving, so I’m excited to make the famous chocolate mousse pie again!
  • I’m excited to make it in my kitchen for the first time.

Make final preps for our housewarming party!

  • We’d like to have a housewarming bash before the end of the year.
  • We have a good-sized list to accomplish, but I’m excited to check everything off!

Start the “Lady Lounge” makeover!

  • Al has dubbed my office space the “Lady Lounge,” and I love it!
  • I’m hoping to move over the huge bookcase from my parents’ house, most of my books, and finalize plans for a desk and a plan for my American Girl dolls.

That’s all I have for November!

You guys are awesome – Your likes and comments mean the world to me!

Do you have any goals for this month?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

10.31.16
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Getting Personal #44: October Goals Recap

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Image Credit: brainyquote.com

Hi, my amazing readers!

I’m stunned – It’s the end of October! Wow!

Here’s the link to my October Goals post:

—

Ready?

Here we go!

  1. Prep the house for our first overnight visitor! – Accomplished!
  2. Donate blood! – Did not accomplish.
  3. Plan our Halloween costumes! – Accomplished!
  4. Decorate the house for fall! – Semi-achieved.
  5. Clean up the clutter and plan my office space! – Accomplished!
  6. Recap my 44 for Bill Movement participation. – Did not accomplish.
  7. Celebrate birthdays – Mom’s and Mia’s! – Semi-achieved.
  8. Read at least two books on my 2016 Reading Challenge list, and publish those book reviews. – Semi-achieved.
  9. Join the Portsmouth Public Library. – Accomplished!
  10. Read through Megan’s cookbook, and try at least two of her recipes! – Accomplished!
  11. Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals. – Accomplished!
  12. Get ahead with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice assignments. – Accomplished!
  13. Get excited for our wedding anniversary getaway! – Accomplished!

Here’s the breakdown:

Prep the house for our first overnight visitor! – Accomplished!

  • This one was a little wonky. Our original visitor wasn’t able to come down during the weekend of October 14th due to a work schedule conflict. It actually worked out okay – There were some unexpected changes that weekend, and Al and I ended up moving a good chunk of furniture from my parents’ house to ours.
  • However, Al’s parents stayed with us this past weekend! It was awesome. We had a great time. They stayed overnight on Friday, and then went to see some of our family yesterday.

Donate blood! – Did not accomplish.

  • I was so close. My favorite phlebotomist, Spencer, was able to work the drive at the beginning of October, for the first time in over a year!
  • Unfortunately, I just barely missed the mark. For women, you need a score of 12.5 for hemoglobin, and I got to 12.4. Argh!
  • I’m beefing up my vitamins and investing more research into iron-rich foods. I will give again in December!

Plan our Halloween costumes! – Accomplished!

  • We went to Kathryn and Tim’s annual Halloween party on the 22nd as a wizard and witch headed back to Hogwarts. We had matching Griffyndor ties, collared shirts, and dress pants. We also showed off our wands from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Decorate the house for fall! – Semi-achieved.

  • I showed off my painted pumpkins, and I was able to give another stylized “V” one to Al’s parents! Mom was so excited – She can’t wait to put it in the house on the farm!

Clean up the clutter and plan my office space! – Accomplished!

  • I finally got so fed on a Sunday night that I turned into a tornado and went to town. It’s still a work in progress, but I have all my doll items in an organized pile now.
  • Plus, there was enough floor space to move the vintage yellow couch into another corner! I can’t wait to transform that space into my reading nook.

Recap my 44 for Bill Movement participation. – Did not accomplish.

  • This didn’t happen. I’m still writing letters!

Celebrate birthdays – Mom’s and Mia’s! – Semi-achieved.

  • We went out to dinner with my mom and dad to Szechuan Inn, a great local Chinese place. Mom had a great day!
  • We’re hoping to meet up with Mia in November to celebrate her. They were super busy in October, and Nick and Savy both got the plague after attending a wedding!

Read at least two books on my 2016 Reading Challenge list, and publish those book reviews. – Semi-achieved.

Join the Portsmouth Public Library. – Accomplished!

  • I marched in there after the blood drive on October 1st. The man that helped me was wonderful! I’m hoping to visit next Saturday to check out my first books!

Read through Megan’s cookbook, and try at least two of her recipes! – Accomplished!

  • I successfully made Burger Bowls and Chili-Lime Sweet Potato Fries!
  • We’re gonna look through the Shrimp section next!

Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals. – Accomplished!

  • I officially signed up! Woohoo!
  • I started emailing Penni, who posted in a forum that she was essentially left high and dry by her “match.” She’s wonderful!

Get ahead with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice assignments. – Accomplished!

  • I finished my midterm exam ahead of time, and I feel like I did well. We graded them in-class on the 25th. I missed a few questions, but I got all of the extra credit right! I’m pretty sure I scored a high B or a low A.
  • I put in some good work on both folders last weekend and this weekend. Everything is due at the end of November, and I feel really good right now.

Get excited for our wedding anniversary getaway! – Accomplished!

  • We’re going to Hatteras Island, North Carolina! We love the beach, and I can’t wait to show Al all that Hatteras has to offer. We are so excited to get away, and enjoy our first anniversary!

Final Thoughts

  • I was able to put Accomplished on 8 out of 13 goals! Woohoo!
  • The three goals that were Semi-Achieved: I’m happy that I was able to do as much as I did this month!
  • The two goals that weren’t accomplished: I’m excited to conquer them in November and December!

Did you have any goals for October?

If so, how did you do?

Come back tomorrow to see my November goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

10.01.16
by

Getting Personal #38: October Goals

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Image Credit: quotesaddicts.com

Here are my goals for the month of October!

  1. Prep the house for our first overnight visitor!
  2. Donate blood!
  3. Plan our Halloween costumes!
  4. Decorate the house for fall!
  5. Clean up the clutter and plan my office space!
  6. Recap my 44 for Bill Movement participation.
  7. Celebrate birthdays – Mom’s and Mia’s!
  8. Read at least two books on my 2016 Reading Challenge list, and publish those book reviews.
  9. Join the Portsmouth Public Library.
  10. Read through Megan’s cookbook, and try at least two of her recipes!
  11. Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals.
  12. Get ahead with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice assignments.
  13. Get excited for our wedding anniversary getaway!

Here’s the breakdown:

Prep the house for our first overnight visitor!

  • Right now, the plan is for one of our good friends to come visit our house during the weekend of October 14th. I’m so excited!

Donate blood!

  • As this post goes live, I’m at church volunteering at the blood drive. It’s easy to remember – We host blood drives on the first Saturday of every even-numbered month. This time around, there’s a delicious pancake breakfast that’s made by the local high school’s field hockey team as a fundraiser!
  • I’ve struggled with anemia since I was diagnosed in college. I take a daily multivitamin with 100% iron, and I also try to eat a well-balanced diet of iron-rich foods (Red meat, dark leafy greens, whole grains, and a handful of other interesting foods). Usually, since you can give blood every 56 days (eight weeks), I’m able to give a pint and then miss a drive. I was able to give in August, but fingers crossed I can give today!

Plan our Halloween costumes!

  • We had this discussion a few days ago in the car. In the past, we’ve dressed as similar characters or part of a team. We’ll keep hashing out ideas!

Decorate the house for fall!

  • A local woman paints designs on plastic pumpkins, so I asked for one with a stylized “V” and one with the Green Bay Packers logo. They look amazing, and I can’t wait to put them on the front stoop!
  • Pinterest is both a blessing and a curse!

Clean up the clutter and plan my office space!

  • This coincides with prepping the house for our first overnight visitor, but I’m itching to clean out the clutter in my future office space and plan it out!
  • We have a lot of empty boxes laying around that need to go in the recycling bin.
  • Since my parents handle the nut orders for Mom’s PEO chapter every fall, they’ve put us on notice for the sawhorses and plywood in our garage. We want to get it cleaned out, anyway, so one of us can finally put our car in there!

Recap my 44 for Bill Movement participation.

  • I’m not quite done with my letters, but you’d better believe there will be a post here when I’m finished!

Celebrate birthdays – Mom’s and Mia’s!

  • My mom’s birthday is in the beginning of October, so I’m hoping we’ll celebrate with dinner as a family, and maybe a movie!
  • Our future niece, Mia, turns 11 this year. We have a few gifts lined up for her, and we can’t wait to give them to her!
  • I also want to get better at sending birthday cards and the like to my relatives. My Aunt Marny’s birthday is at the end of October, and I definitely want to send her a birthday card on time this year!

Read at least two books on my 2016 Reading Challenge list, and publish those book reviews.

  • I feel so far behind! I’m about halfway through one of the books now, and I’m motivated to keep that train going.

Join the Portsmouth Public Library.

  • Finally! Better late than never. Accomplishing this will definitely help me with the reading challenge!

Read through Megan’s cookbook, and try at least two of her recipes!

Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals.

  • It’s absolutely happening this month! I saw a few Facebook posts from Kristian about her pen pal, and I want those feelings, too!

Get ahead with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice assignments.

  • At this point, we’re almost halfway through the semester. If I can concentrate for 3-4 hours per weekend, I’m confident that I’ll ace my midterm and get ahead with my work. I want to fully enjoy our wedding anniversary getaway in mid-November!

Get excited for our wedding anniversary getaway!

  • We’re headed toward the mountains of Virginia in mid-November. I’m getting more excited every day! It’s hard to believe that we’ve been married for almost a full year!

That’s all I have for October!

Thank you, readers, for all your comments and encouragement! You have no idea how much your words mean to me – They keep me going!

Do you have any goals for this month?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

09.30.16
by

Getting Personal #37: September Goals Recap

if-the-plan-doesn-t-work-change-the-plan-but-never-the-goal

Image Credit: askideas.com

Hello, everyone!

I can’t believe we’re at the last day of September. This month seemed to fly by!

Here’s the link to my September Goals post:

—

Ready?

Here we go!

  1. Complete my first full 30-day blogging challenge! – Accomplished!
  2. Enjoy my six-year dating anniversary with Al.- Accomplished!
  3. See Emily G. before she jets off to London! – Accomplished!
  4. Keep on track with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice assignments. – Semi-achieved.
  5. Attend the Chambers Family Reunion.- Accomplished!
  6. Work on an exciting wedding anniversary surprise for Al! – Accomplished!
  7. Join the Portsmouth Public Library. – Did not accomplish.
  8. Play catch-up with my 2016 Reading Challenge. – Semi-achieved.
  9. Read the September book and attend my first book club meeting with Sarah H. – Did not accomplish.
  10. Make at least three new recipes. – Did not accomplish.
  11. Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals. – Did not accomplish.

Here’s the breakdown:

Complete my first full 30-day blogging challenge! – Accomplished!

  • I did it! I had a lot of fun with this challenge, overall.
  • There were a few days where I almost didn’t post, mainly because I had forgotten to write it up in advance and came home dead tired and didn’t feel like I had any energy to write anything. However, I keep thinking of this goal, and it kept me motivated!
  • If you’re curious, here’s the post that started it all: Writing Prompt #7: “30 Day Writing Challenge” (Day 1)
  • I’m not planning to do a challenge in October, but I would like to do one in November. I’m thinking every other month from here on out. Suggestions / recommendations are welcome!

Enjoy my six-year dating anniversary with Al! – Accomplished!

  • Our dating anniversary fell on a Sunday this year, and it was lovely. We enjoyed a quiet day at home, and then we went out to Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake to the Cinema Cafe. We discovered that on Sundays and Tuesdays, the tickets are only $1.50! Score!!
  • We enjoyed seeing Independence Day: Resurgence while we stuffed ourselves with glorious food. We split the spinach artichoke dip. Then, I had the amazing beer-battered shrimp and a hulking amount of popcorn, while Al had the gyro and a salad.

See Emily G. before she jets off to London! – Accomplished!

  • Al and I drove up to Williamsburg to meet Emily and three other friends (Her boyfriend, Andrew; Emily’s good friend, Michelle; and Michelle’s husband, Brett) for lunch on Saturday, September 10th. We ate at this great place called Food For Thought. Yummy!

Keep on track with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice assignments. – Semi-achieved.

  • I made excellent progress with my Homework Folder this month, but not so much on my Trial Notebook. I’m playing catch-up with that one right now. Hoping to get ahead in October!

Attend the Chambers Family Reunion. – Accomplished!

  • This will be explained in a new Adventure Time post, coming to the blog next week!

Work on an exciting wedding anniversary surprise for Al! – Accomplished!

  • I can’t say much about this one, but a lot happened, and I’m eagerly awaiting our anniversary getaway!

Join the Portsmouth Public Library. – Did not accomplish.

  • Every weekend in September was jam-packed. I didn’t have any time to read much of anything new this month, either. Hopefully, if I get my car back in time tomorrow, I’ll go sign up tomorrow afternoon!

Play catch-up with my 2016 Reading Challenge. – Semi-achieved.

  • I barely had time to breathe this month!
  • I did make progress with Go Set A Watchman, but I haven’t finished it yet.

Read the September book and attend my first book club meeting with Sarah H. – Did not accomplish.

  • The book club moved the meetings to the beginning of every month, and I won’t be able to attend the one in October, since it falls on my mom’s birthday!
  • I wasn’t able to pick up a copy of the book, since I haven’t yet joined the library and the price of the book online was a little too steep for me this month.

Make at least three new recipes. – Did not accomplish.

  • We stuck to staples this month – Pizza, a few frozen meals, salads, and a few marinated meats. This will come up again in October!

Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals. – Did not accomplish.

  • Having hardly any time to breathe, this didn’t happen. However, I’m determined to make it happen in October!

Final Thoughts

  • I was able to put Accomplished next to 5 out of 11. Not bad!
  • The two goals that were Semi-Achieved: I’m happy with the progress!
  • The four goals that were Not Accomplished: This was frustrating, but there were certain circumstances that made these goals nearly impossible to achieve. I just need to carve more time to read!

Did you have any goals for September?

If so, how did you do?

Come back tomorrow to see my October goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

09.06.16
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Blog Awards #7: The Entertainer Blogger Award

The Entertainer Blogger Award - icebreaker

Image Credit: icebreaker694

Thank you so much to icebreaker694 for nominating me for The Entertainer Blogger Award!

Here’s the post where I was nominated:

The Rules:

  • Write a post with the award picture.
  • Nominate 12 other bloggers who are funny, inspiring, and, most important of all, ENTERTAINING!
  • Add these rules to the post.
  • Thank the person who nominated you and leave a link to their blog!
  • Also, answer these questions down below!

The Questions:

Why did you start a blog in the first place?

I was required to, as part of my Computer-Mediated Communication class in college. I wanted to go farther after the class ended, so Hot Shot Headlines was born after several rounds of trial and error. I’m sad that Dr. B. is no longer with us, but he left a lasting legacy on Longwood’s campus and community, and the world around him.

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What is your favorite book?

Gatsby - biography

Image Credit: biography.com

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

I was required to read it in high school, but I fell in love. I re-read this book every single year. I love the time period. The characters are intriguing. There’s an air of mystery. When I first read it, I was sad when it ended, hungry for more.

Afterward, I was inspired to read more of Fitzgerald’s works, and I did at least one research paper on his other books. The time period – The Jazz Age – is almost intoxicating. Reading the stories of Americans in Paris and other expatriates made me want to travel all of Europe and explore their world.

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What do you dislike the most?

I absolutely loathe spelling and grammatical errors. I’m always checking and double-checking any type of written communication I make before I let it go. I also spell out every word in my text messages!

Other than that, I’m not much of a hater – Unless you’re a distracted driver, an incredibly lazy or unmotivated person, or someone who is a complete asshole to me, my family, or friends. You will face my wrath if you mess with my family or close friends, and trust me, it’s not a pretty picture.

—

What is your favorite food item from the mall?

It’s a tie – Orange chicken with fried rice, and Auntie Anne’s pretzels! There’s a great Chinese place in the local mall that makes some of the best orange chicken and fried rice. And you can’t go wrong with Auntie Anne’s – I love their Garlic Parmesan pretzels with the cheese dip!

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What is your favorite past time?

Another tie – Reading and writing. I love books, and as soon as I finish one and write a short review for the blog, I usually feel the need / itch to pick up another one to start within 24 hours.

When I’m not reading, you’ll usually find me working on the blog, or dreaming up a story idea in one of my notebooks, on a legal pad, or on my laptop. I’ve been writing stories down for well over 18 years now, and I always have a working pen and notebook / pad of paper with me at all times.

I Tag:

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

09.02.16
by

Blog Awards #6: One Lovely Blog Award!

B.G., from the fabulous blog Getting Through Anxiety, nominated me for the One Lovely Blog Award! Thank you, B.!

The Rules:

  • Thank the lovely person who nominated your blog and follow them. B. is amazing!
  • Display the award and add this set of rules to your post so that your nominees will know what to do.
  • Nominate 15 other lovely blogs listing them in your post and notifying them via a link in one of their blog posts.
  • List 7 interesting facts about yourself to the post.

My Nominees:

Seven Interesting Facts About Me

  1. I’m a sucker for game shows. I love Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Supermarket Sweep, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and the NPR shows / podcasts Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me and Ask Me Another.
  2. I chew ice. I know it’s terrible for my teeth, but I haven’t broken any so far!
  3. I own every book that Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham have published.
  4. Most of my wardrobe is from Old Navy – It’s so comfortable, and affordable!
  5. I’ve seen every single episode of Forensic Files.
  6. I love thrift stores! I’ve gotten some amazing things from Goodwill and the like. I also like giving my money to the thrift stores that help the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk.
  7. I’m a massive Green Bay Packers fan. GO PACK GO!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂