Outrageous Pumpkin Carving Ideas (And Some Classics)

By Victoria M. Johnson

It's pumpkin carving season!  That means it's time to get out your serrated knife, scoop out mounds of seeds, and get busy designing and carving faces on your pumpkins.  Do you prefer whacked out faces or the classic jack-o-lantern face?  Either way, here are some ideas to get your creative pumpkin juices flowing.

But I NEVER Carved a Pumpkin Before!

Not to worry, you can find step-by-step instructions to carve your pumpkin on almost any food website.  Here is a sampling: BBC Good Food, Good Housekeeping, and Martha Stewart.

Photo by Rohan Reddy

Photo by David Menidrey

Photo by Paula Smith

Photo by Benedikt Geyer

Photo by Ian Dooley

I couldn't share enough pictures here so I included links below to more outrageously cool jack o lantern faces… just click on the name.

I adore this Whimsical Face

Here's a cute Zombie Pumpkin

Check out these eye-catching Eye Can See You Pumpkins

Here's an amazing Sweet Tooth Pumpkin

I hope you feel inspired to carve your own pumpkins this holiday season.  Are you already a pro?  What's your favorite design?  Please share in the comments below.  Happy Halloween! 

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma.  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

A Trip Outside Your Writing Zone

by Victoria M. Johnson

I just returned from a brief trip to Europe and it was my first time in a really long time I wrote anything away from my desk.  I had forgotten how wonderful it is to write in a completely new place or to revisit a favorite writing spot. 

For me, just stepping into a new writing environment adds a dose of freshness to my thoughts and perspective.  It's kind of exciting.  My sense of observation kicks into high gear and well the other senses do, too.  Whether I'm working on an existing project or something new, I believe the writing benefits. 

  

Photo by Bonnie Kittle

I have vowed to not let so much time go by without giving myself a change of writing scenery.

Have you tried writing outside of your usual writing zone?  Do you have a favorite spot outside of your "office" to write?  If so, please share in the comments below.  If not, give it a try.  The new location doesn't have to be far from home or extravagant, it only needs to be different than your regular place.  It can even be another room of your house—or literally outside, in your backyard or balcony.   Maybe this is the type of change-up you need once in a while, too.

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma.  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

In Praise of Lazy Day

by Victoria M. Johnson

Celebrated on August 10 every year, Lazy Day really is a national holiday.  Though no one knows for sure when or where it originated—perhaps laziness has something to do with the lack of historical record—the holiday has caught on.  I suppose we don't need too much persuading to take a lazy day.  However, while we like the idea of allowing ourselves to be lazy, actually doing it can be challenging.

Photo by Roberto Nickson

Many of us have a To-Do list that doesn't go away on holidays.  Taking a day of relaxation often brings feelings of guilt or anxiety for not tackling items on our list.  While we all know we need down time for our mental and physical health, many of us just can't do it.  That's where Lazy Day comes in.  It's only one day.  Surely you can allow yourself one day off.  One real, true, pure, day off.  Imagine that.

What would you do, or rather, what would you not do?  Perhaps read, watch a movie, take a walk, write?  While relaxing, those activities involve 'doing'.  Think lazier.  Think lounging.  For me, the best way to totally unwind is lounging at the beach, not reading, not writing, not looking at my cell phone, just being.  It's doing absolutely nothing.  While I'll admit I don't often have the time for a lazy day, when I do take that time I come back feeling rejuvenated.  Try it for yourself. 

For other ideas of what to do on Lazy Day, click here:

National LazyDay: 7 Easy Things You Can Do To Celebrate Holiday

For interesting facts about laziness, click here:  

5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

What's your favorite way to be lazy?  Share in the comments below.

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma.  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

My Worst Cinco de Mayo Ever

by Victoria M. Johnson

Late April 2015 my husband and I left for an adventure of a lifetime in Germany.  We were excited to explore, meet people and check out the food and beer.  Though we enjoyed doing all those things, the pending Cinco de Mayo holiday caused me unexpected stress.  Every grocery store I visited in our village (and surrounding villages) did not sell the ingredients I needed to make my homemade salsa.  Particularly, they did not carry cilantro or jalapeno peppers.  Maybe, maybe, maybe I could make salsa without the jalapeno, but no cilantro?  I couldn't do it.

It was an age-old dilemma, you can't make salsa without cilantro, and you can't make tacos without salsa, and you can't have Cinco de Mayo without tacos!  I was bummed, sad, depressed.  To lift my spirits, my hubby decided to take me to a "Mexican" restaurant.  I put that in italics to emphasize that Mexican cooking in Germany is different than Mexican in California and certainly different than in my home.  We arrived at the restaurant that had a packed parking lot.  A full lot indicates good food, right?  The décor was as welcoming as any popular Mexican restaurant in the States.  Mariachi music played from overhead speakers, staff wore traditional clothing of Mexico, and we were warmly greeted and seated.  We ordered two kinds of tacos and they quickly brought out a basket of chips along with salsa.  To say the salsa was underwhelming is an understatement.  It was like the jar salsa from grocery stores—only worse.  We looked around and noticed that the Germans seemed to enjoy it.  That's because they haven't tasted real salsa, I thought.  And for some reason I felt incredibly homesick.  How long would I last in Germany without the ingredients I needed to cook with?  I was already mourning not having a Trader Joe's store around.  Could I handle this blow, too?

photo by Heather Ford

As it turns out, it took three months and three "Mexican" restaurants for me to give up on German salsa.  The Germans do many things well, some things extremely well.  Making salsa is not one of them.  Luckily, we gained the ability to shop at the American commissary at Ramstein Air Force Base—it carried cilantro and jalapenos!  My Cinco de Mayo may have been a bust but at last I could make salsa and other dishes my way.  And our new German friends reveled at my delicious version of that essential condiment.  Oh, here's a salsa recipe for you to try: https://www.cookingclassy.com/fresh-homemade-salsa/  Enjoy!

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma.  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

 

Spring is for Letting Go

by Victoria M. Johnson

Spring is here!  Finally.  For many of us it has been a brutal winter and signs of spring are very much anticipated and welcomed.  We all know spring as a time for rejuvenation and regrowth.  It's when flowers bloom and the sense of renewal fills our spirit with hope.  Spring often brings expectations, too.

Are you someone who thinks of spring as a time for spring cleaning?  Do you go through your house or closet and clear out the clutter?   

Perhaps you're someone who gets swept away by spring fever—that feeling that something good is in the air—where you toss responsibilities to the side and let loose in fun activities?     

Or have you been so busy working hard all year that you just need a break—some time to do nothing—a spring break, whether you're in college or not? 

Photo by Andre Furtado

All three of these responses to spring are appropriate.  But I'd like to add one more action for you to consider when thinking about spring.  Think of spring as a time of letting go.  Let go not only of unwanted clothing or household items but also of negative feelings that are impeding you.  Any feelings that are unconstructive, that dampen your spirits or thwart your momentum; need to go.  Use spring as a reminder to clear your mind and heart of clutter.  For a healthier and happier life let any disappointments or unmet expectations from the past go.  Make room for personal renewal and growth. This spring, give yourself a fresh start.

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma.  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

February is for Fairy Tales

by Victoria M. Johnson

You know those popular holidays in February.  But you may not know about my new discovery, Fairy Tale Day is celebrated on February 26.

Many of us can remember the earliest stories that were read to us by family or teachers.  Some of them were scary—those with unkind lessons for bad decision-making.  Some were magical—those with fantastical characters and settings.  Either way, these tales were likely the first books we learned to read and they usually have happy endings.  It's no wonder we love them!

photo by Anthony Tran

How to celebrate National Fairy Tale Day:

1.  Reacquaint yourself with your favorite childhood tales.  Pull them off your shelf or visit your library or bookstore.  Do you still have your original fairy tale books on your shelves?  Cuddle up with your beverage of choice and enjoy.

2.  Read to a child.  Your own or someone else's.  Get into the role and voice of each character. Muddy Days Blog has other great ideas to ignite the imaginations of youngsters on Fairy Tale Day.

3.  Watch a fairy tale movie.  Animated or live action, films such as The Princess Bride, Beauty and the Beast, or Mirror Mirror will be time well spent.  Don't forget the popcorn.

4.  Throw a fairy tale party.  Just add friends to any of the above ways to celebrate.  You can all dress up as fairy tale characters.

5.  Write your own fairy tale.  You knew this was coming.  Why not try your hand at a fairy tale based story?  Poets & Writers magazine offers tips.   

Celebrate your way.  I'm wishing you your own happily ever after. 

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma.  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

Get Ready for National Spaghetti Day

by Victoria M. Johnson

What food is delicious, easy to cook, and has a national holiday?  If you guessed spaghetti, you're absolutely right.  This extra versatile Italian dish actually didn't originate in Italy.  Surprise!  Historians say pasta was invented in Asia and made its way to Italy in the 8th century. 

Pasta has become so prevalent that 55 pounds of pasta are consumed by the average Italian each year and the average American consumes 15.5 pounds of pasta each year.  No wonder spaghetti got it's own unofficial holiday.

National Day Spaghetti Day is January 4th.

Photo by Vitchakorn Koonyosying

The most popular ways to prepare spaghetti are: with pesto sauce, with alfredo sauce, or with tomato sauce.  Add seafood, or ground beef, or vegetables and you get a whole new dish.  Yum.  All this talk is getting me hungry.  Let's get to some mouth-watering recipes…

Spaghetti and Meatballs

The Delish website has a recipe for spaghetti with tomato sauce.  Did you know Americans invented adding tomato sauce and meatballs to spaghetti?

Spaghetti with Alfredo Sauce

Cook spaghetti in water as usual then add it to this recipe from the Food Network's Ree Drummond.

Spaghetti withBasil Pesto Sauce

Campbell's has a great recipe for pesto sauce that uses chicken broth.

No matter which way you serve your spaghetti, don't forget the vino.  What is your favorite way to cook spaghetti?  Let us know in the comments below.

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma.  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

A Lesson Learned

by Fran McNabb

NOTE: Posts on the first Thursday of the month are usually written by Victoria Johnson. She has asked me to fill in for the October, November and December blogs. I am honored to help her out.

Technology is a wonderful thing. I keep telling myself that even when it drives me completely insane. I love my computer and am on it way too much. My old computer is trying to go out so I bought another one and have yet to conquer all the differences. Being "untechy" and not wanting to deal with getting my new computer ready to use, I look at it, close it, and go back to my old computer and decide I’ll deal with the new one later.

Phones can be just as frustrating. While on vacation in Fort Lauderdale, I woke up one morning to find my phone completely dead even though it had been plugged in all night. I panicked.  I was expected at my DIL’s house and had no way to contact her except from the hotel lobby phone, but once I got there I realized I didn’t know her cell phone number nor anyone else’s except my husband’s. He was on a boat in the Atlantic fishing and I knew he was skeptical about answering a number he didn’t know. Luckily the lady at the front desk let me use a phone and my husband answered and had my son text his wife.

Long story, short, it took three hours for my DIL and I to figure out it was my charger gone bad and not my phone. That was a relief, but in the process I learned a lesson. Today we take for granted the ease at which the computer, the internet, and cell phones make our lives so much better, but I think we rely on them way too much. I made a vow to write down all of my important contacts and their cell numbers in case something like this happened again. We no longer have telephone books for cell phone numbers nor do most of us memorize phone numbers. (Gosh, I still remember the 7-digit phone numbers of my childhood friends.) I feel much more connected knowing I can rely on a paper list of my important contacts. Do you have one?

Now that I have my phone working again, a list of emergency numbers stashed away in my purse, and a new computer I've almost conquered, I can sit back and enjoy this tech-21st Century and pretend I understand it and am part of it!

 

FRAN MCNABB grew up along the Gulf Coast and writes sweet romances sometimes set along the coast. Her newest book, A SOLDIER’S HONOR http://a.co/d/cJ6y5U8, is set on the Gulf Coast as well. She and her husband live on a bayou harbor and enjoy the activities and beauty of the water. 
Visit Fran at www.FranMcNabb.com

6 Ways to Celebrate Grandparents Day

by Victoria M. Johnson

Grandparents Day became a national holiday in 1978 and is celebrated the first Sunday after Labor Day.  For 2018 that day is September 9.

According to a post on the Very Well Family website, the holiday came about when a West Virginia mother, Marian McQuade, "while helping to organize a community celebration for those over 80, became aware of the many nursing home residents who were forgotten by their families. She wanted a holiday to bring attention to these forgotten individuals and to honor all grandparents."  And McQuade intended the holiday to be noncommercial and more about family and celebrating generational connections.

The Holidays Calendar website states the purposes of Grandparents Day is: 1) to commemorate and pay respect to grandparents, 2) to recognize the importance that older people can have on the lives of the young, and 3) to give said grandparents the opportunity to show love and support for their children’s children.

 

It all sounds good to me!  So what can we do to celebrate the grandparents and grandchildren in our lives? 

photo by Thais Morais

Here are a few ideas:

1.  Call or visit

This one is obvious.  Grandparents love to hear from their children and grandchildren any time of the year.

2.  Take a walk

It doesn’t get any simpler than this.  A stroll around the neighborhood, the beach, or anywhere in nature is good for exercise and bonding.

3.  Complete a puzzle together  

This sounds fun.  Visit while you all put your heads together to assemble the pieces.

4.  Make a video together

You don't need an expensive camera to make a movie.  Just use your smart phone to record, edit, and watch.  The video can be anything you like: a How-to, an interview, cooking demonstration, singing, etc.  Keep it short, three or so minutes, so you can finish and watch it in one visit. 

5.  Cook for your grandparents

Instead of grandma cooking for you, cook up a special meal for your grandparents.  The kids can help prepare or bake the dessert ahead of time.   Or grandma may want to cook with the kids.

6.  Start a new tradition together

Grandparents can take the lead on this and create a simple, meaningful, and fun new tradition.  On the GaGa Sisterhood website, Donne Davis says, "Rituals don’t have to be big. But they should have a purpose and be personal. Make them direct and active as possible and fun is always a plus." 

Finally, here is a link to 25 adorable DIY gift ideas on the Dating Divas website.

These craft projects can be made as a gift or they can be a fun activity for children to make with their grandparents.  The ideas for handprints and footprints are my favorites. 

In the words of Alex Haley, "Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children."  And Grandparents Day is a day to show our appreciation for them. (Actually, it is a day to honor any elderly person who you appreciate).  What will you do?  Let us know in the comments below.

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma.  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.