Writing Prompt #99: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Songs/Music/Bands” (Letter L)

Welcome back!

April 12th – L

Lady, Styx

I grew up listening to a lot of different music, but whenever a Styx song came on, my mom always sang along!

This is one of those songs that gives my goosebumps – Not many songs do that for me. I always sing along, although I definitely don’t sing well!


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with L?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #98: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Songs/Music/Bands” (Letter K)

Welcome back!

April 11th – K

Keep On Loving You, REO Speedwagon

This is one of my favorite songs from the 1980s! A lot of the music I listen to you covers the decade. There are so many iconic songs, it’s hard to list them all!


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with K?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Getting Personal #115: Sixth TBR Recap

Ebook Friendly

Image Credit: Ebook Friendly

Welcome back!

In case you’re interested, here are the links to my previous TBR posts:


Here’s what I’ve read since my last TBR update in January:

  1. The Woman in Cabin 10, Ruth Ware
  2. Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining America, Barbara Ehrenreich
  3. A Winning Spirit: A Molly Classic 1, Valerie Tripp
  4. Stars, Stripes, and Surprises: A Molly Classic 2, Valerie Tripp
  5. Chances and Changes: My Journey with Molly, Valerie Tripp
  6. Victory in the Valley, Domeka Kelley

And, here’s my updated list!

Laura Beth’s To Be Read (TBR) List, as of April 2018:

  1. The Language of Silence, Tiffany Truitt
  2. Black Rabbit Hall, Eve Chase
  3. Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
  4. The Red Tent, Anita Diamant
  5. Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller
  6. New Boy, Julian Houston
  7. The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling
  8. 11/22/63, Stephen King
  9. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
  10. Hollow City, Ransom Riggs
  11. Library of Souls, Ransom Riggs
  12. Tales of the Peculiar, Ransom Riggs
  13. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K. Rowling
  14. Quidditch Through the Ages, J.K. Rowling
  15. Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, Emma Straub
  16. Modern Lovers, Emma Straub
  17. In the Unlikely Event, Judy Blume
  18. You Will Know Me, Megan Abbott
  19. Dare Me, Megan Abbott
  20. The Fever: A Novel, Megan Abbott
  21. Give Me Your Hand, Megan Abbott
  22. Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov
  23. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand
  24. Valley of the Dolls, Jacqueline Susann
  25. The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson
  26. Loving Day, Mat Johnson
  27. American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes, and Trial of Patty Hearst, Jeffrey Toobin
  28. The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson, Jeffrey Toobin
  29. The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future, Gretchen Bakke
  30. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, J.D. Vance
  31. A Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression, Jane Ziegelman and Andy Coe
  32. Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney
  33. Bright, Precious Days, Jay McInerney
  34. Underground Airlines, Ben Winters
  35. A Good Month for Murder: The Inside Story of a Homicide Squad, Del Quentin Wilber
  36. Teardrops of the Innocent: The White Diamond Story (True Colors – Volume 1), Allie Marie
  37. The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
  38. Caraval, Stephanie Garber
  39. Jefferson’s Sons: A Founding Father’s Secret Children, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
  40. The War I Finally Won, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
  41. Read All About It: A Kit Classic Volume 1, Valerie Tripp
  42. Turning Things Around: A Kit Classic Volume 2, Valerie Tripp
  43. Full Speed Ahead: My Journey with Kit, Valerie Tripp
  44. Autumn Street, Lois Lowry
  45. The Giver, Lois Lowry
  46. Gathering Blue, Lois Lowry
  47. Messenger, Lois Lowry
  48. Son, Lois Lowry
  49. Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
  50. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
  51. Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
  52. Emma, Jane Austen
  53. Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
  54. Persuasion, Jane Austen
  55. The List, Patricia Forde
  56. Hello Me, It’s You, Anonymous; edited by Hannah Todd
  57. Use The Force: A Jedi’s Guide to the Law of Attraction, Joshua P. Warren
  58. Digital Fortress: A Thriller, Dan Brown
  59. Deception Point, Dan Brown
  60. Inferno, Dan Brown
  61. Origin: A Novel, Dan Brown
  62. The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
  63. Camino Island, John Grisham
  64. The Rooster Bar, John Grisham
  65. Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self, Manoush Zomorodi
  66. Lost Laysen, Margaret Mitchell
  67. Before Scarlett: Girlhood Writings of Margaret Mitchell, Margaret Mitchell; edited by Jane Eskridge
  68. Mystic River, Dennis Lehane
  69. Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane
  70. Uglies, Scott Westerfeld
  71. Pretties, Scott Westerfeld
  72. Specials, Scott Westerfeld
  73. Extras, Scott Westerfeld
  74. Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery, Robert Kolker
  75. Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and For Those Who Want to Write Them (P.S.), Francine Prose
  76. Reading Like a Lawyer: Time-Saving Strategies for Reading Law Like an Expert, Ruth Ann McKinney
  77. Into the Water, Paula Hawkins
  78. All The Missing Girls, Megan Miranda
  79. The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien
  80. In the Lake of the Woods, Tim O’Brien
  81. July, July, Tim O’Brien
  82. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Jenny Han
  83. P.S. I Still Love You, Jenny Han
  84. Always and Forever, Lara Jean, Jenny Han
  85. Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn
  86. Dark Places, Gillian Flynn
  87. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
  88. Ready Player One, Ernest Cline
  89. The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls
  90. Half Broke Horses, Jeanette Walls
  91. The Silver Star, Jeanette Walls
  92. Because You Exist (Light in the Dark Series) (Volume 1), Tiffany Truitt
  93. Among The Hidden (Shadow Children #1), Margaret Peterson Haddix
  94. The Goldfish Boy, Lisa Thompson
  95. Postcards from the Edge, Carrie Fisher
  96. Shockaholic, Carrie Fisher
  97. Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher
  98. The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher
  99. Trell, Dick Lehr
  100. In A Dark, Dark Wood, Ruth Ware
  101. We Can Be Mended, Veronica Roth
  102. Carve The Mark, Veronica Roth
  103. Sing, Vivi Greene
  104. West End Quartet, Ariadne Apostolou
  105. Defining Sexism in the U.S. (Sexism in the United States) (Volume 1), Elizabeth Hall Magill
  106. Sexism and U.S. History (Sexism in the United States) (Volume 2), Elizabeth Hall Magill
  107. What Yo Mama Said, Elizabeth Hall Magill
  108. Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy, Seymour Reit
  109. Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, David Foster Wallace
  110. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, Becky Albertalli
  111. The Upside of Unrequited, Becky Albertalli
  112. Words in Deep Blue, Cath Crowley
  113. Turtles All the Way Down, John Green
  114. Lea Dives In, Lisa Yee
  115. Lea Leads the Way, Lisa Yee
  116. Lea and Camila, Lisa Yee & Kellen Hertz
  117. Mary Jane’s Ghost: The Legacy of a Murder in Small Town America, Ted Gregory
  118. The Dark Lake, Sarah Bailey
  119. The Innocence Treatment, Ari Goelman
  120. Haunting the Deep, Ariana Mather
  121. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, Barbara Ehrenreich
  122. The Secret, Bryon Priess
  123. Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide, Patrice Banks
  124. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford
  125. Jesus’ Son: Stories, Denis Johnson
  126. Tree of Smoke, Denis Johnson
  127. The Largesse of the Sea Maiden: Stories, Denis Johnson
  128. The Real Z (American Girl: Z Yang, Book 1), Jen Calonita
  129. Z On Location (American Girl: Z Yang, Book 2), Jen Calonita
  130. The Legend of the Shark Goddess: A Nanea Mystery, Erin Falligant
  131. Warcross, Marie Lu
  132. Nothing But Sky, Amy Trueblood
  133. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
  134. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, Margot Lee Shetterly
  135. My Name is America: The Journal of Rufus Rowe, Witness to the Battle of Fredericksburg, Sid Hite
  136. My Name is America: The Journal of Joshua Loper, A Black Cowboy, Walter Dean Myers
  137. My Name is America: The Journal of James Edmond Pease, A Civil War Union Soldier, Virginia, 1863, Jim Murphy
  138. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee
  139. The Hazel Wood, Melissa Albert
  140. Husband in Hiding (The Unde(a)feted Detective Series), Karina Bartow
  141. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, Michelle McNamara
  142. With Malice, Eileen Cook
  143. The Year They Burned The Books, Nancy Garden
  144. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, Matthew Desmond
  145. Last Night, Kerry Wilkinson
  146. Sister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser
  147. The Life of Jesus, Ernest Renan
  148. A Doll’s House, Heinrik Ibsen
  149. Winesburg, Ohio, Sherwood Anderson
  150. The Old Wives’ Tale, Arnold Bennett
  151. The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett
  152. The Red and the Black, Stendahl
  153. Victory, Joseph Conrad
  154. The Revolt of the Angels, Anatole France
  155. Sanctuary, William Faulkner
  156. Swann’s Way, Marcel Proust
  157. Within a Budding Grove, Marcel Proust
  158. The Guermantes Way, Marcel Proust
  159. South Wind, Norman Douglas
  160. The Garden Party, Katherine Mansfield
  161. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
  162. Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  163. The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah
  164. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
  165. We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Shirley Jackson
  166. The Dinner, Herman Koch
  167. The Time-Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
  168. Green, Sam Graham-Felsen
  169. Bonfire, Krysten Ritter
  170. A Girl Named Rosa: The True Story of Rosa Parks (American Girl: A Girl Named), Denise Lewis Patrick
  171. A Girl Named Hillary: The True Story of Hillary Clinton (American Girl: A Girl Named), Rebecca Paley
  172. A Girl Named Helen: The True Story of Helen Keller (American Girl: A Girl Named), Bonnie Bader
  173. A Girl Named Misty: The True Story of Misty Copeland (American Girl: A Girl Named), Kelly Starling Lyons
  174. The Boston Tea Party (American Girl: Real Stories from My Time), Rebecca Paley
  175. The Underground Railroad (American Girl: Real Stories from My Time), Bonnie Bader and Connie Porter
  176. The Titanic (American Girl: Real Stories from My Time), Emma Carlson Berne
  177. Pearl Harbor (American Girl: Real Stories from My Time), Jennifer Swanson
  178. Luciana, Erin Teagan
  179. Luciana: Braving the Deep, Erin Teagan
  180. Luciana: Out of This World, Erin Teagan
  181. Menace at Mammoth Cave: A Kit Mystery, Mary Casanova
  182. Emergency Contact, Mary H.K. Choi
  183. Prez: A Story of Love, Margaret Garrison
  184. North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
  185. Before I Let Go, Marieke Nijkamp
  186. Picture Us in the Light, Kelly Loy Gilbert

That’s all, for now!

I’ll publish my next TBR update / recap in July!

What have you read recently?

Happy reading!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #97: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Songs/Music/Bands” (Letter J)

Welcome back!

April 10th – J

Josh Groban

After Clay Aiken, I fell for Josh Groban. Hard. His voice is SPECTACULAR!

My mom and I share a love for the man, along with millions of other women. Haha!

I think we own every album that he has released. He’s performed in Norfolk several times, and we’ve been able to see him live twice!


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with J?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #96: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Songs/Music/Bands” (Letter I)

Welcome back!

April 9th – I

Imagine Dragons

Al and I first learned about Imagine Dragons when we heard their song Radioactive.

Ever since then, we’ve enjoyed most of their songs. We loved their performance on New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day! They bring so much energy and passion.


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with I?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #95: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Songs/Music/Bands” (Letter H)

Welcome back!

April 8th – H

Hooked on a Feeling

When I first heard this song in the trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), I fell in love with it.

We saw the movie, and I bought the soundtrack.

While listening to it one day in the car, I told Al that I wanted the song to somehow end up in our wedding.

We entered our reception to this song. It was awesome!


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with H?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #94: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Songs/Music/Bands” (Letter G)

Welcome back!

April 7th – G

Ghostbusters

When I started this challenge, I knew the letter G was going to be a cinch. This was the first song that popped into my head!

I wasn’t alive yet when the first movie was released (1984), and I wasn’t old enough to see the sequel in theaters (1989). However, I do remember seeing episodes of the two animated series in re-runs/syndication, The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991) and Extreme Ghostbusters (1997). But, it remains one of my favorite franchises of all time.

Al and I went to see the reboot in theaters in 2016. I really liked it – Girl power!


I’ve also been lucky enough to have visited the Ghostbusters firehouse in New York City. Yes, it really exists! I don’t have my own photo to share, but it’s Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8. It opened in 1903! It’s currently undergoing an extensive two-year renovation, which started in 2016.

I knew it was really close to where my Great-Aunt Sherri lives, but I didn’t realize they were only a block and a half apart when I entered the addresses into Google Maps.


I’ve enjoyed cosplaying as a Ghostbuster, too.

Photo Credit: Al Vardaro

Halloween, 2014.

Photo Credit: Al Vardaro

Special Ghostbusters Jamberry nail wraps. The thumbnail is a likeness of Slimer, and the rest of the nails are black with green lettering that reads “Who You Gonna Call?”

Tidewater Comicon, May 2015.

Tidewater Comicon, May 2015.


Recently, I visited the 2nd and Charles store with Al, near my office. This store has all things books, movies, music, and games. They also sell a lot of other memorabilia and gifts, such as Funko Pops, journals, art supplies, and more.

ECTO-1, Egon Spengler, Peter Venkman, Winston Zeddmore, Ray Stantz, and Slimer.

So, when I saw this Ghostbusters Micro Figure Set, I had to have it!


Okay, enough about my love of Ghostbusters.

Here’s the music!


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with G?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #93: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Songs/Music/Bands” (Letter F)

Welcome back!

April 6th – F

Footloose

I’ve always loved this song! It always makes me want to dance. At wedding receptions, I’m usually on the first to jump up when this song starts. I know every word!

Admittedly, I didn’t see the original movie (1984) in full until 2010! Several sorority sisters were horrified that I hadn’t seen it all the way.

Then, when the remake came out in theaters in 2011, Al was so sweet and took me to see it. I bought the soundtrack, and I love listening to it in my car. On the first really warm day a few weeks ago, I rolled my windows down while leaving work and blasted the CD for most of the drive home.


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with F?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #92: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Songs/Music/Bands” (Letter E)

Welcome back!

April 5th – E

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You, Bryan Adams

This is one of many “classic” love songs for me. Several people I know have played it for their first dance at their wedding, and others have included it during their receptions. It’s a little sappy, but I love the message!


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with E?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Writing Prompt #91: “The A to Z Writing Challenge: Favorite Music/Songs/Bands” (Letters A-D)

Thanks to Jim Kane’s recent comment on the blog, I found a new challenge to complete! Jim’s blog is titled Musings in the Middle… – Go, check it out!

I’m a few days behind already. The idea is to post once a day, during the month of April, using one letter of the alphabet for each post.

Here’s how the challenge got started: What Is Blogging From A To Z?


I was instantly drawn to Jim’s “theme” of using Hymns and Songs of the Faith, but I don’t want to copy him.

Here is the link to Jim’s first post of his challenge, published on March 31st:


So, for Hot Shot Headlines, I’ve decided to adapt my challenge into:

Favorite Music/Songs/Bands

This is gonna be awesome!


Now, here are the first four days of the challenge, rolled into one post.

Come back every day, through April 30th, to see my pick for Favorite Music/Songs/Bands. Enjoy!

April 1st – A

Amazing Grace

I have always loved this song, ever since I was in children’s choir at church.


April 2nd – B

Backstreet Boys

I remember falling in love with the Backstreet Boys (BSB) in elementary school. There were so many boy bands! Hearing their music now, over 20 years later, makes me laugh, but also floods me with memories.


April 3rd – C

Clay Aiken

Although I wasn’t a big American Idol fan, I loved Clay Aiken from his audition on. After he was the runner-up, I knew I wanted every CD that he would release. I had my blue portable CD player, and listened to his first album, Measure of a Man, over and over!


April 4th – D

Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey

This song has so much significance for me. I’ve sang it several times for karaoke. I performed it once in a college talent show. The song made me fall in love with the show Glee. It was even the last song of our wedding reception!

Image may contain: 5 people, including Amy St John, people standing and wedding

Belting it out! We had so much fun. Image Credit: Stellar Exposures.


What are your favorite songs/music/bands that start with A, B, C, and D?

Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!


Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂