Book Blogger Confessions: Quit Blogging?!

This meme was originated by bloggers from Tiger's All Consuming Media and For What It's Worth. This meme occurs every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month to allow bloggers to vent, share an opinion, or offer a solution to a common problem.

Today's topic is:

Blogging and Quitting: We've discussed blogging slumps before but have you ever seriously considered throwing in the towel and quitting blogging? If so, what changed your mind? Did you discuss it with other bloggers?

My Answer:

I have not had a reason to quit blogging...yet. Right now, I'm so busy, I barely have time to blog. At the same time, even if I do post something, I don't see any comments to tell me that people are actually reading the content. Sure, there are page views, but that could just mean they clicked on it and exited out immediately.

No, I do not want to entertain the idea of quitting my blog, but the regularity of it might be different from now on or until I finish the acting projects I'm working on. I update my acting blog daily about my rehearsal experience so technically, I'm still blogging.

You all have to remember, I am managing three blogs and a book tour service when authors actually sign up. I think I'm still doing good given the time I actually have available and the number of things I need to manage outside the world of blogging.

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News Flash: New Publisher!

Hi everyone! I'm excited to announce that W.J. May and Stephanie Amox have new publishers! W.J. May have become self-published for now, while Stephanie Amox have moved to Cena Publishing! They now have updated covers for their books and we want you all to celebrate with us. If you haven't checked out their books, please do because they are awesome!

W.J. May - Chronicles of Kerrigan
Click the links below for my reviews!
Rae of Hope
Dark Nebula (ARC)

  

Stephanie Amox - Lumina Saga

Click the link below for my review of the first book!

Painfully Ordinary

  

I hope you will check out the books! I'll talk to you soon!

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Ice Cream Vs. Frozen Yogurt

There is a reason why I love super stores. Where I live, there is a Super Walmart. They have lots of varieties and I really appreciate that.

When I was on a hunt for ice cream, I was looking for Haagen-Dasz, but we all know how expensive that is. I also looked at sorbets, etc. Out of nowhere, I found TCBY.

TCBY stands for The Country's Best Yogurt. They have frozen yogurt instead of ice cream - half the calories. Score! My favorite is Cookies and Cream, of course. So, if you have a super Walmart near you, look for TCBY. Healthier than ice cream, and quite tasty :) I go through my quart pretty fast. I try to control myself, but I mean, it's frozen yogurt. It's hard to be as guilty as if it were ice cream.

This is really what it looks like. Look at that texture.

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Easy Dinner: Lemony Meat and Potatoes

Hi everyone! I'm not the best cook, nor am I the most diligent. In fact, I'm a lazy cook. So, here's a super easy recipe.

Ingredients:
Your choice of meat (chicken, pork chops, beef)
1 Russett Potato
1-2 lemons (squeezed)
5 bottle cap Kikkoman Soy Sauce
Onions (optional)

Instructions:
1. Fry the meat until brown.
2. Chop potato in squares and add into the frying pan when it's time to turn over the meat to cook the other side. This is so that the potato will cook at the same time as the meat. (If you are using onions, add it in this step as well).
3. Squeeze the lemons into a bowl. Then, add the soy sauce. Eye ball it, the soy sauce should be about twice as much as the lemon squeeze. Taste it to make sure it's to your liking, and it's not too sour.
4. Get another frying pan and transfer the pork chops and potatoes when they're cooked. You can also leave it in the same frying pan if you didn't use too much cooking oil.
5. Pour the lemon-soy sauce mix and let it simmer. When the sauce is almost dry, it's finished!
6. Eat with rice, dinner roll, veggies, or by itself. Enjoy!

This is my go-to recipe. I just change up the meat. You can also use fish if you like, but I prefer to bake my fish. I eat one piece of meat per meal, so the picture above was good for 4 meals. That's a lot of savings there, compared to one meal at Jack in the Box or whatever your favorite fast food restaurant is :)

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!

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Money Tips in College

Hi everyone!

One of my friends on Facebook suggested that I talk about some tips on how to be wise with money while in college. Since I've graduated last month, I thought it would be a good idea. My friend is planning to transfer from a community college to a university soon, so it was also appropriate.

Money tips in college

1. Forget about eating out, COOK.
Think about it. You spend $7-$10 for ingredients for one recipe. You will eat that recipe for two days at most. Compare that to one meal at a fast food that costs the same. 1 meal vs. 2-4 meals. I'm sure you can do the math from there. Come back here tomorrow for my go-to recipe.

  

2. Budget
I know, this is hard, but if you're diligent enough, you'd succeed. Set up a budget. Write down exactly how much you plan to spend on groceries, how much you want to save each month (or each paycheck), how much you want to save for future shopping trips with your girlfriends, and how much you want to save for booze if you like parties and you have to bring your own or you're the host.

3. Carpool
You have friends, probably that go to the same classes as you do. Agree to carpool alternately and save money that way. Either that or take public transportation. I personally only took the bus when I had no car. Other than that, I prefer the security of a car.

That's all the tips I have for now. If you have additional tips, leave them in the comments, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for a dinner recipe!

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Short Story: The Devil Conversation

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting. I have a story for all of you. It made me laugh so much when I was writing it. This is based on a real conversation. I hope you enjoy it!

Erin: Did I tell you about the person that inspired me to write those two poems?

Nadine: No. You never mentioned it.

Erin: Oh okay. Well, I thought he was hot at first. But the more closely I look at him, the more I think he’s not. But there’s something about him that’s drawing me to him. I think I’m drawn to the strange types, or silent types. Maybe I like the mystery. So, he likes to wear black. Today, I saw his arms for the first time. It was vampire pale. He also barely smiles, so when he does, his face stretches. He prefers to smirk, I think. And then, he’s a very quiet guy. When he talks, you can barely hear him. He likes to talk under his breath.

Nadine: Oh God, he doesn’t sound all that attractive! He sounds sort of creepy in a way, like not too approachable.

Erin: Well, I tried to ignore him today. Didn’t work so well. It must be the gloves. Those gloves seem kind of hot to me. And he has a tattoo on his left arm. Totally hot. He needs to get out of my head. And by the way, he’s not creepy. He was sweet and nice to me.

Nadine: It’s okay to be attracted to guys. At least he’s inspiring you.

Erin: I feel pathetic.

Nadine: Sort of pathetic but not that much. You should approach him; maybe you guys can hang out.

FLASHBACK

Erin sitting at the end of a bench next to a door. Luc approaches and tries to open the door.

Erin: Good morning.

Luc sits next to Erin.

Luc: How are you?

Erin: Good. How are you?

Luc: Good.

Luc looks around, gets up, and walks away. Erin brushes her hair.

PRESENT TIME

Nadine: Well, next time, be prepared to start a conversation. Just put yourself out there, you can’t really lose anything.

FLASHBACK

Erin walks to the bathrooms. Both doors are locked. She knocks on one of them. No response. She leans on the wall and waits. The bathroom she knocks on opens, and Luc emerges.

Luc: (inaudible) How’s it going?

Erin goes into the bathroom and locks the door.

PRESENT TIME

Erin: His mouth barely moved! I think I heard him say something but who knows!

Nadine: That sounds creepy.

Erin: Why is it creepy?

Nadine: His mouth barely moved. That is creepy.

Erin: I seriously feel dumbfounded more than amused.

Nadine: Just say whatever comes to mind.

Erin: That’s dangerous. When I’m driving, I imagine of doing things to him. Very inappropriate things that probably would not happen in this lifetime. And it’s hard to sleep at night because I can’t stop thinking about him!

Nadine: Maybe write down things you could talk about next time. You guys probably have plenty in common. Smile, seem approachable.

Erin: Oh God, that sounds terrifying. He scares the crap out of me, like I might say something stupid.

Nadine: I told you, the way you describe him is a bit creepy.

Erin: I wish you could come with me so you can see him!!!

Nadine: I wish I could, too. I want to see his vampire white skin.

Erin: He’s really not that handsome when I think about it. His cheeks are sunken, like he’s a starved vampire!

Nadine: Oh God!!! Starved vampire! That sounds SO not sexy. I mean Edward vampire is hot but sunken cheeks and starved….

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Lack of Posts

Hi everyone!

Sorry about the lack of posts. I've been exhausted driving back and forth to LA. I can barely read the book I'm supposed to currently be reading.

I'm updating my acting blog every day so check that out if you'd like to stay in touch. Otherwise, I'll be back soon with some new posts. Just give me time to adjust :)

*Hugs*

-Arianne

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