Seeing this post yesterday morning made me drift away into whimsical daydreams. Especially since it’s been a wild roller coaster ride of temperatures in Hampton Roads recently. It was chilly on Saturday, then rose to nearly 80 degrees on Sunday, and Monday was frigid and grey all day long.
I love tree houses! I’ve wanted one ever since I was a kid. What about you?
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
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:
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.)Â 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:
I Nominate:
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Image Credit: Becoming Who You Are
I don’t remember when I stumbled upon this link, but it must have been earlier this year.
Here’s the link:
At first glance, looking at it, I was filled with excitement and dread. FIVE YEARS? Wow. That’s a LONG time!
But, I like the idea of it. It reminds me of my parents and their logs. My mom still writes in a notebook almost every day, recounting the day’s events. Then, they have boxes of red-bound books with logs of years past. I didn’t read them much as a kid, but as I got older, I enjoyed reading pieces of them, especially Dad’s. He crammed his neat all-capitalized print into every line of every page!
I can’t remember a time when I haven’t journaled, in some way. I always have pen and paper with me. My journaling has evolved and changed over the years – From just regular paper, to spiral notebooks, to loose-leaf in binders, to legal pads, and mini-notebooks. Now, most of mine is electronic, with the blog and all. But, I value my handwriting and I enjoy writing in cursive, so I’m considering this “five-year journal” endeavor for 2017!
I like the prompts idea. I may go that route.
At the same time, several of my journals have contained random ideas and thoughts, and some of those have turned into story ideas. So, who knows where this may lead!
I already have a potential notebook in mind!
What do you guys think?
Do you journal?
Do you consider your blog a journal?
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Image Credit: quotesgram.com
Here are my goals for the month of December!
Here’s the breakdown:
Decorate for Christmas.
Fully clean up / clean out the attached garage.
Enjoy several holiday parties!
Donate blood.
Create our budget for 2017.
Help either a child or a family have a good Christmas.
See Rogue One: A Star Wars Story!
Make peppermint bark.
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 🙂
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!
Here’s the breakdown:
Complete NaNoWriMo 2016! – Did not accomplish.
Wear makeup every single day. – Accomplished!
Make more progress with my 2016 Reading Challenge. – Accomplished!
Enjoy our first wedding anniversary! – Accomplished!
Make chocolate mousse pie for Thanksgiving. – Accomplished!
Make final preps for our housewarming party! – Did not accomplish.
Start the “Lady Lounge” makeover! – Semi-achieved.
Final Thoughts
Did you have any goals for November?
Come back tomorrow to see my December goals!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
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:
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:
The Nominations:
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Image Credit: pinterest.com
Here are my goals for the month of November!
Here’s the breakdown:
Complete NaNoWriMo 2016!
Wear makeup every single day
Make more progress with my 2016 Reading Challenge.
Enjoy our first wedding anniversary!
Make chocolate mousse pie for Thanksgiving.
Make final preps for our housewarming party!
Start the “Lady Lounge” makeover!
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 🙂
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!
Here’s the breakdown:
Prep the house for our first overnight visitor! – Accomplished!
Donate blood! – Did not accomplish.
Plan our Halloween costumes! – Accomplished!
Decorate the house for fall! – Semi-achieved.
Clean up the clutter and plan my office space! – Accomplished!
Recap my 44 for Bill Movement participation. – Did not accomplish.
Celebrate birthdays – Mom’s and Mia’s! – Semi-achieved.
Read at least two books on my 2016 Reading Challenge list, and publish those book reviews. – Semi-achieved.
Join the Portsmouth Public Library. – Accomplished!
Read through Megan’s cookbook, and try at least two of her recipes! – Accomplished!
Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals. – Accomplished!
Get ahead with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice assignments. – Accomplished!
Get excited for our wedding anniversary getaway! – Accomplished!
Final Thoughts
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 🙂
I love Carla’s blog. She writes about so many important issues!
This is such a powerful video. The Mighty is a wonderful site!
I love her idea of writing letters to those with depression, thinking of suicide, or struggling with a debilitating illness. Since she lives in Australia, she will be starting with just Australia (Postage is very expensive to go outside of the country!)
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With that, since I love sending cards and letters, I would like to do a similar effort in the U.S.
Especially since I considered suicide once. It was the fall of 2008. So much was going on in my life, it was starting to become too much – My first grandparent had passed away, I wanted to leave Longwood and come home, I was having problems with my long-term boyfriend, he was using a few friends to aggravate me and feel even lousier.
If you would like to receive a card or letter, or you know someone who could use a little bit of encouragement and love, please contact me through the links below:
Thank you, Carla, for sharing!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Image Credit: azquotes.com
At the beginning of October, I was tagged by the great man at The Green Onion Blog! Thank you so much for the nomination!
I love his posts – They’re so nerdy, and geeky, and awesome! Please check him out!
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Here’s the link to the original post:
Ready?
Here we go!
Abandoned House – A book you once abandoned but then gave another chance and ended up enjoying
Image Credit: amazon.com
The Vacationers by Emma Straub.
This was relatively recent. My “Aunt” Lucy let me borrow this book in 2015, but I could not settle down and get it into it, which bothered me. But, I decided to set it aside, and I’m glad I did. I picked it up again earlier this year, and now Straub is one of my favorite writers. I can’t wait to read more from her.
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Vintage Photographs – A book you would have loved to have seen illustrations in
Image Credit: amazon.com
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.
This was the first true book review that I ever wrote. It’s one of those stories that immerses you in the time period. In this case, it’s the 1920s and it’s the novelization of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley.
As I was reading, I was imagining Paris, the Alps, and other fascinating scenes. The words were very vivid, but I found myself wanting a few illustrations here and there.
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Loop – A series you wouldn’t mind reading on loop; Back to back to back
Image Credit: amazon.com
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
Hands down. I know certain people have given it flack, but I have a few friends who I know will agree with me. I own the entire series, and most recently, I read The Cursed Child in August.
Next up (Eventually) – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages.
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Peculiar Children – A character’s ability that you desire to have for yourself
Any of Wonder Woman’s powers.
She’s always been an inspiration to me. I haven’t read many comic books, but I have seen the TV adaptations (Lynda Carter was awesome, and still gorgeous to this day), and most recently, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice earlier this year.
Gal Gadot is just awesome in my eyes, and I absolutely cannot wait for Wonder Woman in 2017!
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Miss Peregrine – Your favorite character that is a leader
Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org
Andrew “Ender” Wiggin from Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
I remember dreading this book when I found it had been assigned for my summer reading going into 9th grade. Ugh, science fiction?! Yuck!
Boy, was I wrong. I could put the book down! Ender is transformed into a bonafide leader, and it’s impressive. Because of my love of this book, I eventually want to read the rest of the series.
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Jacob – Your favorite story where a regular kid discovers an extraordinary world
Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org
Skeeter Phelan from The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
This is one of my favorite books. Plus, I thought the movie adaptation was very well-done, Emma Stone was a good choice to play Skeeter. Although not really a “kid” in the book, Skeeter quickly finds herself immersed in the world of “the help” – The black maids in her Mississippi community in 1963.
If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. Writing about it here makes me want to re-read it soon!
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Emma – A fierce and fiery character
Image Credit: The Hunger Games Wikia
Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.
Katniss, to me, is the premier definition of fierce and fiery. At least, in terms of modern young adult (YA) literature.
This is by far my favorite recent trilogy. I will be re-reading it shortly, as part of my 2016 Reading Challenge!
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Millard – A book that seems to be invisible but needs to be read by more people
An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser.
I first stumbled upon this book in the Chesapeake Central Library when I was senior in high school. I was researching F. Scott Fitzgerald at the time for a critical English paper, so I didn’t check it out at that time.
However, I found myself researching it online and became more intrigued. Shortly after graduation, I remembered this book and checked it out. It was a fascinating tale.
Dreiser is a good writer who excelled for his time, at the turn of the 20th century. Writing about this makes me want to read it again!
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Olive – A book that you bought that floated to the top of your TBR
Image Credit: amazon.com
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne.
This is the most recent book I bought, and I immediately wanted to start reading it, even before I got out of Barnes & Noble!
Judging that I flew through the edition within 48 hours, it didn’t stay on my TBR for very long!
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Hugh – A book that stung and caused a lot of feelings
Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I finally read this book, but it hit me hard. No spoilers, but it reaffirmed how precious life is and how anyone in your life can be taken away in an instant.
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Enoch – (NO SPOILERS) A book character that you would bring back to life
Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org
Cedric Diggory from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
I won’t spoil anything, but I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that most of you know what I’m talking about here.
I cried buckets of tears.
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Bronwyn – A physically strong character
Image Credit: DeviantArt
Gamora from Strange Tales and Guardians of the Galaxy.
She’s aggressive, strong, and feisty. I loved her character in the Guardians of the Galaxy film, and I’m so excited for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in May!
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Hollowgasts – A book you read that felt like an experiment gone wrong
Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org
Allegiant from the Divergent trilogy.
I really, really wanted to like this one. I loved Divergent and Insurgent, but as I mentioned in my book review of the trilogy, I couldn’t wrap my head around the back-and-forth of the different perspectives.
This was such a fun tag! It took me a long time to get this published – I wanted to publish it right after I was tagged, but life got in the way. It’s hard to believe 15 days went by between posts!
What do you think? I’d love to hear your responses!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
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