Phone Reading

My beautiful friend Letizia has included “Beneath the Satin Gloves” as her e-book photo examples on her latest post…”Phone Reading”. I am grateful for her support and hope you will check out her blog in return. She is a phenomenal writer who offers clever insight into reading habits.

Please feel free to chime in with your thoughts about phone reading.

Happy weekend to you all!

Letizia's avatarreading interrupted.

I love hearing about people’s reading habits (see previous post) and often ask people if they prefer traditional books or e-books.

One conversation that struck me was with a man I met at a recent conference.  He told me that while he reads paperbacks at home, when he travels he reads novels on his iPhone.

“Oh, you mean your iPad,” I replied. “No, my iPhone,” he replied amiably, taking his iPhone out from his pocket to show me.

True enough, he had a few novels on his iPhone. I was fascinated! Didn’t the tiny screen bother him? Nope, he replied. Did he zoom in to make the words larger? At first, he said. But then he got used to it, and now just read the text normally.

 

I was surprised and intrigued that he felt comfortable reading entire books on his iPhone.  I sometimes look up a short text…

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Blog award lovin’ at its finest

Recently I was showered with blog affection from two incredible lady bloggers. I am perpetually awe-inspired by the resplendent connectivity in the blogging universe.

Every day we write, we read, and we feel together. It’s magnificent.

Thank you all for being so warm and welcoming, spreading the good vibe into a world that can always use it.

You may have noticed a physical perspective had a make-over this week. I think she looks pretty jaunty, don’t you?

Alrighty, onward to the honorary festivities!

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up-and-coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. I won’t be in this company for too much longer as my blog grows, so I am happy to snatch up this award while I’m still a pup.

Thank you to my fellow newbie over at Scribble Of A Happy Go Lucky Gal. Check her blog out for some guaranteed fun. She’s a sassy force over there!

First I must answer 11 questions she cooked up:

  1. Which color do you think is best related to you?  Purple, because its vibrancy offends people sometimes.
  2. Who is the person you secretly admire and why?  My husband. He’s an all-around exquisite guy.
  3. If you have only 12 hours left in your life, what will be the 3 things you would love to do?  Buy plane tickets for my closest family and friends, travel to an exotic locale, and have an epic soiree.
  4. A perfect holiday for you is?  An adventurous destination, oozing with history and culture.
  5. Your Hubby/Boyfriend/Girlfriend can be best described as…  See #2.
  6. Which cartoon character are you?  Wonder Woman.
  7. What will you prefer to wear on your perfect date?  A vintage dress that makes me feel like a million bucks.
  8. If at all you get worldwide calling card free for 1 day, name the first 5 people you would immediately call.  My hubby, my dad, my mom, my sister, my cats.
  9. What is that thing which you wish your dear ones knew about you?  Even though I don’t seem like the type, I love getting hugs. They’re a necessity.
  10. Which one do you think is more important for a human being–love, money, power, fame…and why?  Love. Because it will never be transient.
  11. How do you describe your life?  Restlessly passionate.


I couldn’t quite scrounge up the required 11 nominations as the other blogs I follow are very established with 200+ followers, or have been awarded by yours truly recently. So, I must cheat by nominating the following 6 for the Liebster Blog Award (some of you may have more than 200 followers, but congrats anyway!):

And, here are some kooky questions for my nominated Liebsters to answer:

  1. If you lived in a box of crayons, which color would you be and why?
  2. What do you think is the strangest animal?
  3. There’s a fire in the house and you only have time to save three things. What are they?
  4. Beach, mountains, or desert?
  5. You just won the lottery. Donate and be rid of it or keep it all?
  6. Name five free things you like to do.
  7. Do you see yourself as a grown-up?

This is my second time receiving the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and I am equally thrilled. Much gratitude to Gail over at The Jotter’s Joint for bestowing this prestigious honor. Take a moment to scope her out as well. She’s funny, she’s graceful, she’s cool.

To accept, I must say 7 things about myself:

  1. I used to be obsessed with Josephine Baker. I always wanted her banana skirt.
  2. Living in Wisconsin has turned me into a beer connoisseur.
  3. I prefer to be barefoot. But, I love boots!
  4. I never tire of historic buildings.
  5. I’m a complex character and sometimes even annoy myself. See #2.
  6. I have an acute sense of smell. It’s a gift and a curse if you know what I mean.
  7. I don’t consider myself an adult.

Here are my 7 sprightly nominations for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award:

How do you pick a genre for life?

Last week I began pondering a cumbersome idea. And frankly, it’s been consuming me. How do you pick a genre for life?

I have a love-hate relationship with categorization.

The annoying, fastidious side of my personality appreciates the tidy attempt, providing a simpler way to choose entertainment in the form of books, music, or films—all things I can’t live without.

Lately categories have become a thorn in my side. For me, one of the hardest choices I had to make when I recently self-published Beneath the Satin Gloves all came down to that bloody categorization.

I stared at the screen for a good while and had to partake in some monumental soul-searching. What about history, romance, adventure, comedy, drama, and don’t forget…science fiction?

After biting all of my fingernails until they became unrecognizable, I made some big girl decisions. After all, the right reader may never find my book if it’s in a category that doesn’t fit. No pressure.

So, I threw my baby book into the thriller pile. When applicable I tossed my baby into the espionage heap for good measure.

I just finished the first draft of my second novel. But, the marketing elves reared their ugly heads, stifling my excitement with their shrill, no-nonsense voices of reason saying: “How are you going to define this kooky one, Britt?”

In a lot of ways, my latest work is an inspiring story about self-discovery and surrendering to love. On the other hand, there is a dark past which haunts the main character, creating suspense throughout.

I eventually realized why picking a genre for my books was so damn difficult. It’s like picking one for life.

Stories are fantastic glimpses into the lives of others. Concepts and characters don’t simply appear out of thin air; they’re based on real experiences and real people.

Life is impossible to categorize.

If it were simple to define, it would be dull as all get-out. We would walk around aimlessly, because everything would be ordinary, regulated, and colorless.

What about my life? I see romance, comedy, and adventure. Sometimes drama makes an appearance—and that’s OK, too. Perhaps my life story would be considered an indie dramedy.

When it comes to packaging up entertainment, categories bestow essential borders of interest for us to reference. Yet, there are times when I watch a comedy and I don’t laugh—in fact, sometimes it’s a downright tear-jerker.

Will readers think my books are all about hopeless criminals and serial killers, because of the thriller label? Possibly. Because we all categorize the category, don’t we?

All I know is, I rolled the dice and took a chance. Hopefully readers out there will do the same when they stumble upon my books, mere needles drowning in a haystack of millions.

So, now I have to challenge all of you. If your life story became a book or a movie, which genre would it fit into?

The Smart Bod Regimen – Part 1

Let’s face it. We all have routines in our lives: brushing our teeth, making our beds, feeding our pets, working 9-5.

Often we associate routine as being stuck in a rut. However, we can greatly benefit from the power of regulation when it comes to our health, where we often fly by the seat of our pants, and make poor decisions.

For those who don’t know, I am a self-proclaimed Dessertaholic. Check out Sweets Without Grief if you missed it.

Diets make me cringe.

Two months before I got married I had the absurd idea to get a personal trainer who encouraged me hand over fist to go on a crash diet.

Let’s just say I ditched that militaristic plan when I realized I was becoming hostile in the break room. I feared one of the neighboring employees would steal my food. Needless to say, I got a little loopy.

I am one of food’s biggest fans, but I try to find a healthy balance. So, I’m going to share a systematic approach to your body with 5 sensible eating habits.

  1. Eat in, not out  Guess what? When you’re not making the food yourself, you have no idea what’s in it. Take control by knowing exactly what you’re eating. Eat a good breakfast before you leave, bring your lunch, and eat dinner at home. Bonus…you’ll save money.
  2. Carrots are the new chips  I just made that up, but I think I’m on to something here. We love crunchy snacks, don’t we? I always keep a bag of miniature carrots around. When I’m in between meals, I chomp away. You can eat as many of these bad boys as you want–they’re awesome for you.
  3. Go nuts  I never leave the house without nuts. The moment you get hungry, have a few. This will keep you from making bad choices while you’re out and about. Almonds and walnuts are my favorite. Add a little dried fruit to change it up.
  4. Cherish each meal  Eating while working or watching television will leave you dissatisfied. Food is beautiful and important; we should respect it and savor every bite. Take your time and give it all of your attention. After all, food gives you energy and keeps you alive.
  5. Water is your best friend  See that water bottle I’m hugging down there? I refill it several times a day. A lot of times we mistake dehydration for hunger. Next time your tummy talks, try drinking some water before you eat. To jazz it up, add lime, lemon or cucumber if you’re not a fan of plain. Most importantly, the first thing you should do when you get up is drink a full glass of water. Then, proceed with your day.

Trust me, crash diet mentality is completely unnecessary. Be smart and be kind to your bod…it’s the only one you’ve got!

Join me next week for The Smart Bod Regimen – Part 2 to chat about exercise habits.

One Lovely Blog Award!

To be considered lovely by anybody is just lovely, isn’t it?

So, I am overjoyed to accept the One Lovely Blog Award for a physical perspective from my charming friend Kristi over at Biscuits & NAVY. Kristi is an adorable fashionista with a knack for fun and elegant wardrobe combinations. Check her out!

I would like to thank all of my beautiful followers out there for your continued support and enthusiasm. You are beyond lovely.

Recently, my little blog surpassed 100 followers! Here’s the celebratory happy dance in case you missed it.

To accept, I must say 7 things about myself:

  1. My goal is to write 10 books in the next 10 years. There, I said it. Now I have to do it!
  2. One of those books is probably going to be about pirates. I thought they were cool long before the Pirates of the Caribbean movies came out.
  3. I can’t resist dark chocolate with sea salt. It rocks my world.
  4. I shudder when people crack their knuckles. By Golly, I even shudder just thinking about it.
  5. Lost In Translation is one of my favorite movies. A lot of people said they didn’t get it. I got it, and thought it was spectacular.
  6. I look like a clown when I wear lipstick, so I usually avoid it altogether.
  7. No matter what is happening in the world, I continue to believe in humanity. The power of positive thinking is always enough.

I would like to nominate the following bloggers for the One Lovely Blog Award (please note…the categories below are only a guideline; several of these blogs cover multiple topics.):

Writing

Travel & Food

Photography & Design

“Whatever makes an impression on the heart seems lovely in the eye.” – Sa’di