The End Is Near...2011

There are less than 3 magical days of holiday wonder left of 2011 and I am definitely feeling the urge to tie off the loose ends of this year, banish those things that didn't really nurture my soul and begin the preparations for exciting fresh starts. Few things in the world make me as giddy as new beginnings, and that is probably why New Year's Day is one of my most treasured holidays. 


Whatever happens on New Year's Eve is irrelevant (unless I was seeing Guns n' Roses play at The Joint in Las Vegas), but as the glitter covered revelers count down the seconds, the reset-button of life gets a champagne soaked push at midnight, and once again the first day of the new year is that all-American open road I keep meaning to take (preferably in a vintage 1966 Mustang convertible) for an exhilarating drive across this sexy country. This year we turn 2012 and some say it may be our last year on this planet, at least on this realm anyway. I hope I live this year as though it were our last year our planet had left to live, taking the big risks like there's nothing to lose. 


My plan is to make this the most heavily documented year of my life so far. I plan on using blogs, social networks, photographs, sketches and songs to accompany the journey. I wish everyone love and luck in all of their endeavors this year!


Ciao, Rockers!
K.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Sings! And well!

New Discovery

     Yes, just like Erik The Red discovered our continent in the year 900 or so, heralding in new tidings, of good, bad, and wasteful, so have I discovered a new internet continent giving me more control and organization than Tumblr and more creativity than Facebook.
      It's essentially one gigantic internet inspiration board, made up of millions of smaller inspiration boards, that you can share and subscribe to and get loads of inspiration and ideas from without wading through how badly someone needs coffee (guilty!) or how they wish it was Friday.
     Best part is how the "pins" will link to the original source so I have already found several new blogs I love as well as found 365 new things to make in my crock pot. I'm pretty much hooked!

National Novel Writing Month!

"Not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. Begin anywhere." ~Bruce Mau

It's here! The first day of NaNoWriMo and I couldn't be more excited about it. The idea is to finish writing a full length novel from start to finish in 30 days. People do it every year so it's proven possible. Just last year my sister completed her first novel ever and now she's shopping it to literary agents. This year I, too, shall join their ranks. I don't have a title or a plot for my novel yet but I have a willingness to attempt this and see it through. Wish me luck!

To follow along with me on my endeavor, here is my NaNo page:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/karisabee

Food Network's Candy Corn Cordial!

Ingredients

For the infused vodka:

• 1/2 cup candy corn
• 1 1/2 cups vodka

For the cordials:

• 2 ounces orange liqueur
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 large egg white
• Candy corn, for garnish

Directions

Infuse the vodka: Combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container; set aside for at least 3 hours, then strain.

Make the cordials: Add 4 ounces of the candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish with candy corn.

Candy Corn Cordials on the Food Network

Happy Halloween!

...So this is my last minute costume. I threw it together in about 20 minutes and it was just enough to take some cute new profile pictures which was all I needed it for, since I don't have any parties to attend. I love Halloween, but I am unorganized so I'm rarely prepared for it when it arrives. I love the whole month of October for it's ghouls and spiderwebs (aesthetic ones NOT the real kind *shudders*) and all the crisp air and apples, cider and pumpkins...and lets not forget the scary movies and my annual screening of Sleepy Hollow. Glorious!
...At the same time it's time for me to mourn the death of...well, death, just in time to enter the month of gratitude. I suppose it's enough to be grateful for surviving all the creeps and freaks of the October and time to get all bundled, cozy, and thankful. :-)
...Tomorrow, on November 1st, it's all about the NaNoWriMo launch and getting ready for the holiday season, but more on that in tomorrow's blog.

Halloween Spirit!

A Halloween Cocktail That Will Spirit You Away

A Scary-Good Drink Recipe

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Halloween or not, there’s no disguising your love of a good drink. 

The Great White PumpkinServes one

Ingredients1½ oz. dark rum
½ oz. pumpkin puree
½ oz. Cointreau
¼ oz. lime juice
2 oz. heavy cream
½ oz. simple syrup
Fresh nutmeg

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine rum, pumpkin, Cointreau, and lime. Shake well and strain into a martini glass.

2. Shake heavy cream and simple syrup separately until thickened and layer on top.

3. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

From Daily Candy http://dailycandy.com/all-cities/article/91016/Halloween-Cocktail-Recipes-Drinks-for-Halloween

Jane's Addiction & Studying

     Jane's Addiction are blowing my mind right now with their spectacular new album The Great Escape Artist. Pretty sure I'll be playing this every day for awhile. I'm listening to it on Spotify, which is where I've been testing and trendspotting all my new music lately. This one's good enough for a download purchase though. It's kind of dreamy and ethereal. I admit, my experience with this band ended with "Been Caught Stealing" back in the 90s, so I have no clue as to whether or not this album is a departure or in sync with their usual stuff. I get really excited when I get excellent new albums from actual rock stars.


     I realize I need to get serious about my class work. My attention is divided into so many factions right now, and I tend to compartmentalize or I wont ever get anything finished. I have already wasted so much time today on random web surfing and following various bunny-trails but I tell you: I must study!


     Okay, got that off my chest, and now I will get some lunch and settle down to study all about Martin Luther's Revolt.
Ciao!

October halfway point! Yikes. I have a midterm, a photography field trip, and a bunch of other stuff to do. Aside from school there are 3 things takin up most of my concern:

1. NaNoWriMo- begins on November 1st, which is fast approaching. I need to have the apartment stacked with a month's worth of food, a month's worth of clean clothes and a lot of organization. I also need to complete character sketches.


2. Guns n' Roses are coming to Bridgestone Arena!!    (December 4th)


3. Christmas (Duh!) on December 25th.

September 30

It's the last day of the month and Ii can't even remember it. If I try really hard I think the first week was rained out, the second week I was sick, and the third week I was trying to get back on track. This past week, I've spent mainly on school...so, yeah, september, not very glamourous. On that note lets see if the last day can bring it up a notch. I have some chronic trepidation about my job right now because of some dame with chronic negativity, but...I have faith that God can handle her even though my chest tightens at the thought of spending eight hours with her. Light conquers darkness. Happy Friday!