Okay, originally this was a YouTube tag, but I really didn't feel like doing a video, so I figured I'd could use it for the blog. People do these sorts of things on blogs all the time. Besides, I think I need to try harder to keep this blog active, because I suck lately.
#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you? Mom and Dad call me Pooh. I'm rarely called by my name, it's always Pooh.
#2. What's a weird habit of yours? Uh, damn, just one? I've got a few. I think the weirdest that everyone comments on is that I wear my socks inside out. I don't like the fuzzies on the inside, or the seam at the toes that always seems to lay right under your toe nails. However, the other that's commented on is my relationship with food. I have this thing where my food can't touch on a plate. I will actually get multiple plates just to avoid things touching. I will RARELY mix any food (like some people mix their corn in their mashed potatoes. That freaks me out). I also don't like anything soggy that wasn't originally soggy. That means: no cereal in milk, no cookies dunked in milk, and who knows what else.
#3. Do you have any weird phobias? I'm a fount of phobias. Chief among them is a fear of spiders and riding on ferris wheels. I hate driving. I don't think that counts as a phobia, because I still do it, but I avoid the busier highway in my town, and stick to back roads. One of my weirder ones is a phobia of open closets. One time when I was little mom said something about skeletons in her and dad's closet (probably to keep me out of Christmas presents) and that weird thought just stuck.
#4. What's a song you secretly love to blast and belt out when you're alone? That changes all the time. I like almost all genres of music. Just when I think I've found something I hate, someone will come out with a song in that genre that I love. I think the biggest shocker to most people would be Miley Cyrus's See You Again. Or Taylor Swift's Our Song and Love Story. Considering how opposed I used to be to country and pop (seriously, heavy metal/punk rock all the way). There's a lot of belly dance, and some weird Balkan brass bands. Right now its You And I by Lady Gaga (usually not a fan of hers, but I like that song). Or it's In Ruins by Fol Chen.
#5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves? I don't know. I have so many and can never think of them when someone asks me that. I guess its mean people. I don't get mean people. I try to be nice to everyone (with the exception of mornings. I'm not a morning person). #6. What's one of your nervous habits? Pfft. Pick one? There's nervous laughter, fiddling with my hands, clothes, fingernail polish, etc. Nibbling my lips.
#7. What side of the bed do you sleep on? Well I used to sleep smack in the middle. I have a queen size bed and I like to take advantage of the space, but lately I've been sleeping horizontally across the center. I like it because I watch TV when I sleep, because I tend to have nightmares, and wake up in the middle of the night, and it's just comfortable. And I had some kind of stomach virus a few months ago, and after that dizzy spells, and it just helped to sleep that way, so I've been doing it ever since. I don't particularly like it, my feet hang off the bed, and after seeing Paranormal Activity, that kinda freaks me out...Well that's not true, before Paranormal Activity it was the childish phobia of monsters under the bed. Seriously, the only thing good in Paranormal Activity that actually freaked my shit was when the demon dragged her down the hall and the very end. The rest was boring. Can't believe they made more than one.
#8. What was your first stuffed animal and it's name? I have NO idea. I had like a million stuffed animals as a kid. I couldn't tell you the first, and I don't think I ever named them.
#9. What's the drink you always order at starbucks? Depends on the time of year. Soon it will be fall, so we're coming up on triple tall pumpkin spice latte time. Yes always triple tall. Don't judge my caffeine intake. All the barristas have been questioning it lately. It's like 'Whatever Starbucks worker! Like you don't consume much more than that."
#10. What's a beauty rule you preach, but never actually practice? Uh, quite a few. Lets see, I pop my pimples, and tug on my eyes to apply liner. I think those are my major offenders.
#11. Which way do you face in the shower? Usually away from the shower head. But it depends on what I'm washing I guess. This is a strange question.
#12. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'? Well, that really depends who you are. I'm a belly dancer, and while I can't seem to choreograph jack shit, I can do some interesting muscle isolations. I've had people say my spine must be a bendy straw. But if you're also a belly dancer, you might not find back bends, undulations, or really deep vertical chest figure 8's to be all that out of the norm.
#13. What's your favorite comfort food thats 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways? Anything sugary. I'm a sugar junky. I'm trying to cut back.
#14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say? That changes a lot. It's usually a curse word. I'm famous for my potty mouth. Well, not famous, but whatever.
#15. Time to sleep, what are you actually wearing? T-shirt and underwear. Pants push up to you knees and get tangled around your legs and are too hot. I like to wear as little as possible because I like to be covered by blankets no matter how hot it is. It hasn't been possible all summer. Makes me grumpy.
#16. I figure I should include something writer/book related. So for writers, do you have any weird writing habits? For readers, do you have any strange book habits? I'll answer both. Respectively: I like to drink hot tea when I write. I think it helps me focus (haven't been able to do that all bloody summer either!). I skip ahead in books looking for a good part, and then I'll read for a while when I find the good part, then curse myself for doing that and try to go back to read the part I skipped, but then I'll put down the book, because I get frustrated, because I was at a good part and had to go back. I've started to just go with the flow and if I skip ahead I figure I'll just catch the part I skipped next time I read the book.
If you do this tag let me know in the comments! I'd love to see some of your answers.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
First Books and Dyslexia
Elle Fowler (a YouTube beauty guru for those of you who don't watch her videos) talked about her favorite childhood book in a recent post and, well this sparked an idea for a blog post, so I'm just gonna roll with it, cause I don't blog enough.
I didn't read a lot in my early childhood, so almost every book I enjoyed sticks out in my mind. I have dyslexia, so getting me to read was always a struggle. I'm over it now (with the exception of lowercase b's and d's. If they're in a word, okay, but on their own? I really can't tell which is which) but back then I was a very picky reader, and had to be forced to do any reading. I'm kinda really surprised I ever learned how.
As I said, every book sticks out in my mind, and as I look back on them, they all have something in common. They ALL had a paranormal element. I guess that's always been my thing. I know I liked everything paranormal even before I could read. Like Buffy. Which I think started when i was six.
The first books I ever read were scary short stories. I read them over and over again, because they were short, and could hold my attention.
The first Harry Potter book came out when I was in 4th grade...Well I think it did, that's when our teacher started reading it to us anyway. And while I liked the teacher reading it to us, the prospect of reading a book that thick was a little too much for me, so I didn't start reading them until a few years later.
The first books that change my WORLD were the Everworld series by K.A. Applegate. My mom bought it for me to take to camp in 5th grade, because we had to have an hour of rest/reading time a day. Ugh. I dreaded that. They were taking something that was supposed to be fun, and they were putting an hour long torture session in it every day. I could have napped, but I've never been capable of that either. No matter how tired I am. So it was either stare into space for an hour, or read that blasted book. So, grudgingly, I picked up the book. It was the 11th on in the series, so I was more than a little confused. But even with that confusion, the world was absolutely riveting.
As soon as I got home, I begged for the first book in the series. Well, actually, I sincerely doubt I had to beg, considering my mom was probably desperate for me to read something. I finished the whole series before the 12th and final book had even come out. This was the first time I had to drum my fingers, and wait (not so) patiently, for the release of the next book in a series. I hate the way it ended by the way (well...if I remember right. It's been a while).
After that I moved onto the Fingerprints series by Melinda Metz. After that I pretty much read every book with paranormal elements I could get my hands on. Eventually I stumbled into Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, which made me a writer, and then a friend's mom loaned me my first romance ever. But those are separate stories for another time. I'm pretty sure I've told everyone about Atwater-Rhodes anyway.
Okay, peoples. I'm done typing. Hope you enjoyed my long pointless post. I guess it kinda does have a point. I guess it tells parents not to give up if your kid is dyslexic. Just keep gun forcing them to read books from different genres, and hopefully they'll stumble into something they can't live without.
Ooh, ooh. I can add a little promo at the end:
Running from an abusive husband, Natalya encounters more than she can handle…especially when she becomes a vampire’s target. Buy Fear of Darkness here.
I didn't read a lot in my early childhood, so almost every book I enjoyed sticks out in my mind. I have dyslexia, so getting me to read was always a struggle. I'm over it now (with the exception of lowercase b's and d's. If they're in a word, okay, but on their own? I really can't tell which is which) but back then I was a very picky reader, and had to be forced to do any reading. I'm kinda really surprised I ever learned how.
As I said, every book sticks out in my mind, and as I look back on them, they all have something in common. They ALL had a paranormal element. I guess that's always been my thing. I know I liked everything paranormal even before I could read. Like Buffy. Which I think started when i was six.
The first books I ever read were scary short stories. I read them over and over again, because they were short, and could hold my attention.
The first Harry Potter book came out when I was in 4th grade...Well I think it did, that's when our teacher started reading it to us anyway. And while I liked the teacher reading it to us, the prospect of reading a book that thick was a little too much for me, so I didn't start reading them until a few years later.
The first books that change my WORLD were the Everworld series by K.A. Applegate. My mom bought it for me to take to camp in 5th grade, because we had to have an hour of rest/reading time a day. Ugh. I dreaded that. They were taking something that was supposed to be fun, and they were putting an hour long torture session in it every day. I could have napped, but I've never been capable of that either. No matter how tired I am. So it was either stare into space for an hour, or read that blasted book. So, grudgingly, I picked up the book. It was the 11th on in the series, so I was more than a little confused. But even with that confusion, the world was absolutely riveting.
As soon as I got home, I begged for the first book in the series. Well, actually, I sincerely doubt I had to beg, considering my mom was probably desperate for me to read something. I finished the whole series before the 12th and final book had even come out. This was the first time I had to drum my fingers, and wait (not so) patiently, for the release of the next book in a series. I hate the way it ended by the way (well...if I remember right. It's been a while).
After that I moved onto the Fingerprints series by Melinda Metz. After that I pretty much read every book with paranormal elements I could get my hands on. Eventually I stumbled into Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, which made me a writer, and then a friend's mom loaned me my first romance ever. But those are separate stories for another time. I'm pretty sure I've told everyone about Atwater-Rhodes anyway.
Okay, peoples. I'm done typing. Hope you enjoyed my long pointless post. I guess it kinda does have a point. I guess it tells parents not to give up if your kid is dyslexic. Just keep gun forcing them to read books from different genres, and hopefully they'll stumble into something they can't live without.
Ooh, ooh. I can add a little promo at the end:
Running from an abusive husband, Natalya encounters more than she can handle…especially when she becomes a vampire’s target. Buy Fear of Darkness here.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Fear of Darkness rerelease
Fear of Darkness is out today!
Buy it here
Read the first two chaperes here.
Blurb:
As a Watcher of the King’s Guard, Vahe Patten hunts rogue vampires, ones who break their vampire laws. When dead bodies are left for the human authorities to find, their secret is out, and Vahe takes on the mission by seeking the next victim before the killer does—only to find her blood tasted sweeter than any he’s ever had.
Natalya Woods just wants to avoid her abusive husband and live a normal life, but the small town of Haven has been anything but safe. When she’s attacked in the streets, literally, by the man of her dreams, she finds herself kidnapped and putting her weapon skills to use—surprisingly not on her husband. Attraction and desire throws Natalya and Vahe in a bind as they work together to fight the killer, but will Natalya overcome her distrust of men and allow herself to take the risk to love?
Excerpt:
"Need a hand, Natalya?"
I spun around but before I could even get a word out, I was pressed against the wall with a hand over my mouth. I realized I’d forgotten my gun. I hadn’t thought to put a different one in my other purse, and I should have. Vahe was the least of my problems. Okay, so maybe not the least—a vampire was a big problem, especially if he was the murderer. It was also unbelievable.
"I’m going to take my hand away, and if you scream, I’ll snap your neck. Understand?" I nodded. "Good."
Vahe brushed the scarf away from my neck to reveal his marks. He ran his fingers lightly over my throat. I flinched when he touched the bite. Even with such a light touch, it was painful.
He leaned his face toward me, moved his palm, and then he was kissing me. I hesitated before I gave in to him. The kiss was soft, like he didn’t want to scare me off. So at odds with the threat he’d just spoken. My tongue brushed his fangs, and I broke contact.
He slid his mouth to my throat, and I stood there dazed for a second before I jerked back. I would have slammed my head on the wall, but his hand was between the bricks and me. He tangled his fingers in my hair. His tongue flicked out across the bite mark, and then his mouth clamped down. He sucked hard, making the tiny holes bleed.
I gasped in pain and pushed at his chest. He moaned against my throat and sucked harder. His erection pressed against my stomach. He gave my throat one last sweep with his tongue before he drew back. His eyes were unfocused and his breathing labored. I was glad we were in the middle of the street and not somewhere private. I don’t think anything would have kept him from fucking my brains out, and nothing could stop him from draining my blood.
He cleared his throat. "God, your blood is almost addictive." He shook himself. "Come on. I’ll help you with all this food. I’m surprised you eat so much. You look so thin."
I narrowed my eyes at him and didn’t respond. Seriously, idle chitchat? With a vampire and possibly a murderer. He picked up the food and carried it easily down the street, expecting me to follow.
I raked a shaking hand through my hair. Did I really have any choice but to go with him? It seemed like a bad idea. Before Hollywood had gotten a hold of them, vampires had been considered evil. He’d attacked me. But wouldn’t he have killed me already if he’d planned on it? I followed him before he found a way to make me. I watched my feet as I walked. My heart pounded as I tried to think of a good way to get away from him.
He didn’t struggle to carry the food, but maybe it would take him a few seconds to realize I was gone, drop it, and chase after me. Maybe a few vital seconds were all I needed. I doubted it.
I was starving and wanted to cry at the thought of leaving my food, but I wasn’t willing to go wherever he was leading me.
He stopped abruptly and looked over his shoulder. He arched an eyebrow. "Go ahead. Try running for it. You won’t make it three feet."
Read the first two chaperes here.
Blurb:
As a Watcher of the King’s Guard, Vahe Patten hunts rogue vampires, ones who break their vampire laws. When dead bodies are left for the human authorities to find, their secret is out, and Vahe takes on the mission by seeking the next victim before the killer does—only to find her blood tasted sweeter than any he’s ever had.
Natalya Woods just wants to avoid her abusive husband and live a normal life, but the small town of Haven has been anything but safe. When she’s attacked in the streets, literally, by the man of her dreams, she finds herself kidnapped and putting her weapon skills to use—surprisingly not on her husband. Attraction and desire throws Natalya and Vahe in a bind as they work together to fight the killer, but will Natalya overcome her distrust of men and allow herself to take the risk to love?
Excerpt:
"Need a hand, Natalya?"
I spun around but before I could even get a word out, I was pressed against the wall with a hand over my mouth. I realized I’d forgotten my gun. I hadn’t thought to put a different one in my other purse, and I should have. Vahe was the least of my problems. Okay, so maybe not the least—a vampire was a big problem, especially if he was the murderer. It was also unbelievable.
"I’m going to take my hand away, and if you scream, I’ll snap your neck. Understand?" I nodded. "Good."
Vahe brushed the scarf away from my neck to reveal his marks. He ran his fingers lightly over my throat. I flinched when he touched the bite. Even with such a light touch, it was painful.
He leaned his face toward me, moved his palm, and then he was kissing me. I hesitated before I gave in to him. The kiss was soft, like he didn’t want to scare me off. So at odds with the threat he’d just spoken. My tongue brushed his fangs, and I broke contact.
He slid his mouth to my throat, and I stood there dazed for a second before I jerked back. I would have slammed my head on the wall, but his hand was between the bricks and me. He tangled his fingers in my hair. His tongue flicked out across the bite mark, and then his mouth clamped down. He sucked hard, making the tiny holes bleed.
I gasped in pain and pushed at his chest. He moaned against my throat and sucked harder. His erection pressed against my stomach. He gave my throat one last sweep with his tongue before he drew back. His eyes were unfocused and his breathing labored. I was glad we were in the middle of the street and not somewhere private. I don’t think anything would have kept him from fucking my brains out, and nothing could stop him from draining my blood.
He cleared his throat. "God, your blood is almost addictive." He shook himself. "Come on. I’ll help you with all this food. I’m surprised you eat so much. You look so thin."
I narrowed my eyes at him and didn’t respond. Seriously, idle chitchat? With a vampire and possibly a murderer. He picked up the food and carried it easily down the street, expecting me to follow.
I raked a shaking hand through my hair. Did I really have any choice but to go with him? It seemed like a bad idea. Before Hollywood had gotten a hold of them, vampires had been considered evil. He’d attacked me. But wouldn’t he have killed me already if he’d planned on it? I followed him before he found a way to make me. I watched my feet as I walked. My heart pounded as I tried to think of a good way to get away from him.
He didn’t struggle to carry the food, but maybe it would take him a few seconds to realize I was gone, drop it, and chase after me. Maybe a few vital seconds were all I needed. I doubted it.
I was starving and wanted to cry at the thought of leaving my food, but I wasn’t willing to go wherever he was leading me.
He stopped abruptly and looked over his shoulder. He arched an eyebrow. "Go ahead. Try running for it. You won’t make it three feet."
Monday, June 27, 2011
Pizza Recipe
Okay, so I know for people who have read this blog, this post will be pretty random. But for those of you who have been asking for my pizza recipe, this is it. Making your own pizza is nice because you can control salt content. And if you eat a lot of boxed pizzas, well this has no preservatives, or whatever other little yuckies the manufacturer might slide in there.
Pizza Crust
2 1/4 c. bread flour
2 1/4 t. active dry yeast
2 T. olive oil
1 t. salt
1 T. white sugar
1 t. Italian seasoning
3 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. onion powder
1 c. warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
Combine sugar, yeast and warm water in bowl. Rest for 5 minutes.
Combine flour, salt, and spices, in a large bowl. Mix in olive oil and yeast water. Let dough rest 5 minutes. Flour your hands and level surface. Knead dough until it's no longer sticky before rolling it out with a rolling pin. Transfer to a lightly sprayed pizza pan and spread it out. Poke holes in the crust with a fork. Bake crust for 15 minutes at 450 degrees. Top as desired. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before cutting. Cheese: italian blend cheeses, mozz cheese.
This recipe also makes good breadsticks.
Pizza Sauce #1 (Tomato)
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2 t. oregano
2 t. basil
1/2 t. onion powder
1 t. ground paprika
2-3 large cloves garlic (fine chop)
1 t. sugar
Directions
In a medium bowl, Mix together tomato sauce and tomato paste until smooth. Stir in other ingredients
Suggested toppings with this sauce: Pepperoni, onions, bell peppers, Canadian bacon, or anything else your little heart desires. My favorite is pepperoni and onions.
Pizza Sauce #2 (Alfredo)
3 tablespoons salted butter
8 fluid ounces heavy whipping cream (you can cut it with milk if you don't have enough cream)
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk
2 cloves crushed/finely chopped garlic
salt to taste (keep in mind that there is salt in the butter, so you really should taste the sauce before you add more)
Directions
1. Beat egg yolk in a separate bowl
2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and heavy cream, stirring constantly. Stir in nutmeg, and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir constantly until melted.
3. Add about ¼ cup hot heavy cream/cheese mixture slowly to egg yolk, stirring constantly, and then gradually stir egg yolk mixture into the rest of the sauce. Simmer over medium low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and salt, if desired.
Suggested toppings with this sauce: Spinach, Canadian bacon, grilled or baked chicken, artichokes.
Note: This sauce isn't just for pizza. If you want to try it over pasta, feel free.
Pizza Crust
2 1/4 c. bread flour
2 1/4 t. active dry yeast
2 T. olive oil
1 t. salt
1 T. white sugar
1 t. Italian seasoning
3 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. onion powder
1 c. warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
Combine sugar, yeast and warm water in bowl. Rest for 5 minutes.
Combine flour, salt, and spices, in a large bowl. Mix in olive oil and yeast water. Let dough rest 5 minutes. Flour your hands and level surface. Knead dough until it's no longer sticky before rolling it out with a rolling pin. Transfer to a lightly sprayed pizza pan and spread it out. Poke holes in the crust with a fork. Bake crust for 15 minutes at 450 degrees. Top as desired. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before cutting. Cheese: italian blend cheeses, mozz cheese.
This recipe also makes good breadsticks.
Pizza Sauce #1 (Tomato)
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2 t. oregano
2 t. basil
1/2 t. onion powder
1 t. ground paprika
2-3 large cloves garlic (fine chop)
1 t. sugar
Directions
In a medium bowl, Mix together tomato sauce and tomato paste until smooth. Stir in other ingredients
Suggested toppings with this sauce: Pepperoni, onions, bell peppers, Canadian bacon, or anything else your little heart desires. My favorite is pepperoni and onions.
Pizza Sauce #2 (Alfredo)
3 tablespoons salted butter
8 fluid ounces heavy whipping cream (you can cut it with milk if you don't have enough cream)
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk
2 cloves crushed/finely chopped garlic
salt to taste (keep in mind that there is salt in the butter, so you really should taste the sauce before you add more)
Directions
1. Beat egg yolk in a separate bowl
2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and heavy cream, stirring constantly. Stir in nutmeg, and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir constantly until melted.
3. Add about ¼ cup hot heavy cream/cheese mixture slowly to egg yolk, stirring constantly, and then gradually stir egg yolk mixture into the rest of the sauce. Simmer over medium low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and salt, if desired.
Suggested toppings with this sauce: Spinach, Canadian bacon, grilled or baked chicken, artichokes.
Note: This sauce isn't just for pizza. If you want to try it over pasta, feel free.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
New Blog
Hey. It's Naomi. :) I just thought I'd post that I've actually started my own blog now. Honoria guided me through the scary blogger and now I finally feel brave enough to branch out on my own. I've actually been planning to start my own for some time. I've always wanted my own website, though I'm not going to actually pay for one until I have writing contract. I have deemed myself unworthy of my very own dotcom until then. For now I have my own blogger, which I am very excited about.
I'm sure you are feeling very skeptical about my blogging abilities since I seem to be quite the procrastinator when it comes to posting, but I truly am going to try and keep up with both blogs.
If you get the chance please come by and check me out at http://www.NaomiHunter.blogspot.com
Oh and don't forget to check out Honoria's new and improved http://www.honoriaravena.com!
I'm sure you are feeling very skeptical about my blogging abilities since I seem to be quite the procrastinator when it comes to posting, but I truly am going to try and keep up with both blogs.
If you get the chance please come by and check me out at http://www.NaomiHunter.blogspot.com
Oh and don't forget to check out Honoria's new and improved http://www.honoriaravena.com!
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