Hollywood Aloha

A tour of chocolate croissants

2023-01-16T08:08:00.000-08:00

Chez Alice Cafe

5 Palmer Square West, Princeton, NJ 08542

Chocolate croissant $3.50

Delizioso Bakery and Kitchen

205 Witherspoon St. Princeton, NJ

Nutella croissant

Maman

43 Hulfish St., Princeton, nj 08542

Chocolate hazelnut flan $6.50

brioche pastry with a hazelnut custard filling

Pain au Chocolat $4

flakey pastry filled with morsels of dark chocolate

Pistachio Chocolate Croissant $5.50 - SO TASTY!!

classic croissant filled with a white chocolate pistachio ganache,

dark chocolate morsels & topped with crushed pistachios

Croissant $4

flakey & buttery french pastry

The Little Chef of Pastries

8 South Tulane Street, Princeton, NJ 08540

Chocolate Croissant $3.50

Terra Mommo Bread Company

74 Witherspoon St Princeton, NJ 08542

Rojo Rotisserie

33 palmer square West, Princeton, NJ 08542

The Bread Boutique

41 Witherspoon St Princeton, NJ 08542

Pain au chocolat $4

Pivoting!

2022-07-21T13:43:00.006-07:00

I hate using overused words, but it's the simplest way to describe what I need to do.

In the earliest months of the pandemic, I began to have physical issues that were beyond COVID. After 6 months of visiting a variety of doctors and getting poked and prodded, as well as contorted in MRI machines, a diagnosis was made. Since early 2021 I have been on medication to lessen the symptoms and was doing splendidly until I got COVID and had to stop the meds. Since early 2022 the pain, swelling and sleepless nights have been increasing. I attempted a visit to a supposed Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Registered Dietician to advise on meal planning. What I encountered was "you need to lose weight" and some outdated handouts. Since then I have been reading and consuming information on how to stop it. Which, yes I know, is a ridiculous thought, but positive thinking right.

So, with that being said. I am ready to start the journey. And that's here. So until I "Pivot" again, I'll be finding my way through the RA maze.

Stay healthy my friend!

Instapot Beets

2021-08-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

Get the goat cheese out and ready to mix it up with these Instapot beets.

INGREDIENTS

5–6 beets (we used a variety of sizes)
1 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut away the stems and leaves from the beetroots.
No need to peel. You can save the stems and leaves for salads, stir-fries, juices and soups.
Turn the Instant Pot and place the trivet inside the pot. Add a cup of water. Place the beets on top.

For whole small beets:

10 minutes HIGH with natural pressure release for semi-soft beets with a little crunch in the middle;
15 minutes with natural pressure release for softer beets.

For whole medium beets:

15 minutes HIGH with natural pressure release for semi-soft with a little crunch in the middle;
20 minutes with natural pressure release for softer beets.

For whole large beets:

20 minutes HIGH with natural pressure release for semi-soft with a little crunch in the middle;
25 minutes with natural pressure release for softer beets.

If you’re cooking mixed-sized beets, we suggest 15 minutes, HIGH pressure with natural release and you would get some soft beets and some semi-soft, or you can cut the large beets in halves.

Once cooked, open the lid and transfer the cooked beets on a plate or in an ice-bath to cool off before peeling. Let them cool and serve as desired. Although our desire is with goat cheese.

Kung Pao sauce

2021-03-24T19:16:00.004-07:00

Ingredients:

2 tbsp soy sauce/ light soy sauce

2 tsp dark soy sauce

4 tsp rice vinegar

2 tbsp water

2 tsp corn starch

1/2 tsp sesame oil

Instructions:

Create stir fry sauce by combining all the stir fry sauce ingredients.

Mix well and set aside.

Stay saucy my friend!

Simple Lettuce Wraps

2021-02-28T21:11:00.007-08:00

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 yellow onion diced
1 cup mushrooms minced
3 cloves garlic minced
1 pound ground turkey
1/4 cup liquid aminos
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar or cooking wine
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
1 tablespoon sriracha or sambal oelek

Sauce:

1/4 cup liquid aminos
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a large skillet set over medium heat, heat olive oil.

When the oil is hot, add onion and cook for about 3 minutes or until beginning to soften, then add mushrooms and cook 3 more minutes, or until onion is translucent and mushrooms are softening.

Add garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

Add ground turkey and cook until browned, crumbling with a wooden spoon or spatula.

In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup liquid aminos, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar, ginger, and sriracha.

Whisk until smooth then pour over the meat mixture.

Stir until combined.

Cook for 3-4 minutes then remove from the heat.

Make sauce

Whisk together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl.

When ready to serve, spoon 3-4 tablespoons of the mixture into the center of a lettuce leaf and serve with sauce.

Stay Hungry my friend!

Writing prompts

2020-10-01T01:00:00.001-07:00

A young woman is impregnated by her handsome new boyfriend, who turns out to be something other than human.
Swarms of insects appear in various places in a town, always followed by an untimely death.
The children eagerly ripped into their candy, but just as quickly dropped it in horror. This was very clearly not sweets, but carefully wrapped insects.
The line went dead and her heart dropped to her stomach.
The mother swallowed hard as she stared at her child’s drawing. Who was the man that stood next to her?
The empty swing is swinging.
A bride on her honeymoon discovers she’s not her new husband’s first wife… not even close.
Long ago, when he was a baby, a man’s parents made an unwise deal in order to bring him back from the dead.
Members of a family or people in a town begin sleepwalking and doing strange things in their sleep.
A child’s imaginary friend starts to cause real trouble.
When putting together a slide show for a wedding someone notices that for decades, the same man, dressed in the same fashion, has been appearing in the background of photographs taken in public places.
The fairy godmother isn’t the good kind of fairy.
It always happens when he’s alone in the car.
The ghost at the movie theater wants everyone to watch one particular snippet of film.
A politician, religious leader, or celebrity exerts mind control over the will of his or her followers.
A patient in a mental hospital encounters a malevolent ghost, but nobody believes her.
Grisly events happen after the arrival of a hypnotist in Victorian London.
A mother’s young child may or may not be a changeling.
Suddenly, his computer began to glitch, and symbols he didn’t understand began to appear on the screen.
“I hope you have fun tonight,” She chirped. “I think you’ll find tonight very special.”
A college Halloween party takes a turn for the worse when a costumed guest shows up. But they aren’t there for the party.
After your parents die, you inherit their old estate. For years, you’ve avoided it because you’re convinced something is off about it. And upon stepping foot into the house, what lies inside is worse than you could have imagined.
You’re babysitting a younger sibling for the night. While they play with their toys, you begin to hear them speak of things they were never told and couldn’t possibly know. Things about you.
A young man confesses to a killing that hasn’t happened. The murder he describes takes place while he’s in custody.
Craft an argument for or against using the DNA of extinct species to restore them to life on Earth.
Write the argument a person’s conscience might make right before s/he takes part in a jewelry heist.
A man sleeps for 72 hours and wakes up with the power to read minds, what does he do with it?
Your character is given a list of names. Why?
They were known as the Faceless. Yet they knew everything.
The street light outside your home is flickering. You realize it's sending you a message in morse code.
"Can you hit him with your knife?"

Happy Writing.

Instapot - Infused water

2020-09-20T12:10:00.001-07:00

Since getting my instapot, I have been trying to cook more at home as well as eating cleaner and exercising more. But after a while, you get tired of plain water or even lemon water.

Today I attempted Infused water. 5 minutes and time to cool down and you have some colourful tasty water to drink.

I tried Blueberry and Lemon. The deep purple colour of the water made me forget that I was just drinking water. So how do you do this?

Ingredients:

1 cup of blueberries (I used frozen ones so they would be handy when I needed to make more)

2 slices of lime (I didn't have a lemon on hand)

48 oz. water (Use 5-6 cups of water. I used 48 oz. because that's how big my storage container is)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in the Instapot and cook under high pressure for 5 minutes and quick release.

Mash ingredients if necessary.

Serve on ice and garnish as desired.

Stay Thirsty my Friend!

Instapot - Inspired Ropa Vieja

2020-09-20T11:57:00.003-07:00

Today's chunk of meat we're using is chuck roast. Since getting the Instant Pot, I have been keeping larger cuts of meat in the freezer so that when I find a new recipe to try or I need some red meat I don't have to run to the store or worry about the cost.

Ropa Vieja is typically a Cuban dish made with flank steak. But I am using chuck roast and still using olives for my bit of zing topper at the end.

Ingredients:

1 (3 – 3 ½) pound chuck roast

1 onion, sliced

4 teaspoons minced garlic

2 ½ teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 (10 oz.) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chillies or 1 (14.5 ounce) can of diced tomatoes

2 bay leaves

Add after:

3 bell peppers (I use a combo of green, red and yellow)

sliced Green olives with pimentos

Directions:

Add all of the ingredients (except the ones listed under add later) to an Instant Pot.

Secure the lid, close the valve and cook for 90 minutes.

Naturally release pressure.

Shred the beef using two forks.

Press the sauté button, add the bell peppers and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until tender.

Stir in the green olives.

Serve with rice or eat with tortillas.

Don't forget to garnish with sliced green olives.

Stay Hungry my Friend!

Writing Prompts

2020-09-01T01:00:00.001-07:00

If you had to pick one day to relive over and over for the rest of your life what would it be and why?
Describe your perfect relationship
How would you describe yourself to a stranger?
What are your ten best talents?
What was the best compliment you ever received?
What is the most unique thing about you? Do you like to hide it or let it show?
If you knew this was your last day on earth what would you do?
Name ten songs that make you feel pumped
If you could achieve anything in your life what would it be?
What friendship that you’ve had was the most meaningful?
What are you most looking forward to?
Three goals for this month
Describe your day in ten words
Something that you're looking forward to
A time you don't want to forget
A trip you want to take this year
Your top three priorities
A list of the places you have visited
Do your actions match your words?
One thing you learned about yourself last year
A change you have overcome
A need you can meet
A place you have been recently

Instant Pot Pulled Beef

2020-08-15T19:12:00.003-07:00

Ingredients

3-4 lb chuck roast

1 onion sliced

1 tbsp seasoned salt

2 c beef broth

1/2 c ketchup

1/3 c apple cider vinegar

3/4 tsp chili powder

1 tbsp garlic minced

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tbsp soy sauce

1.5 tsp salt

Directions:

Slice your onion, large slices and put into your pressure cooker on bottom.
Place your chuck roast on top.
In a separate bowl whisk together all other items until smooth and pour on top of your meat.
Close your pressure cooker lid and close steam valve.
Set to high pressure for 90 minutes, then allow to naturally release for 10 minutes.
Shred beef.
If you want sauce inside pot to be thicker turn pot to saute now.
In a small bowl add 2 tbsp cornstarch with 4 tbsp of hot liquid and whisk until smooth, then add this into the pot. Stir slowly and allow to thicken for about 2-3 minutes. Then turn pot off.

Stay hungry my friend!

InstaPot - Chicken Thighs

2020-08-10T10:13:00.005-07:00

I haven't worked on a recipe in such a long I don't know how it should look. As I am writing I am realizing I took no photos of the prep. I am just really excited about starting to use an Instant Pot again, and I just wanted to write the recipe down so I wouldn't have to look for it online. Yes, I know there are a variety of ways to save a website, recipe any information online. But each time I do it differently. So here we are.

Instant Pot chicken thighs are super simple.

Place trivet in the pot.
Put 1 cup of broth in your pot.
Lay the thighs on the trivet. If you have more than one layer of thighs, pour some oil on the first layer before placing the next ones.

Don't forget to season.
Put the cover on, and make sure the pressure valve is closed.

Press the Manual button

Set timer for 10 minutes if you're using fresh or thawed chicken) OR 15-20 minutes depending on how frozen they are

Press Start. and wait.

When the time is up, let it release naturally for 10 minutes for fresh (15 for frozen)

Stay Hungry my Friend!

Aloha! Thanks for stopping by

2020-08-09T17:11:00.004-07:00

InstaPot garlicky potato

2020-08-09T14:47:00.001-07:00

Still working on perfecting cubed potatoes in the Instant pot. To add some taste, I added a few whole garlic cloves - which made them melt like butter.

Next time if I'm using russets, I'll try 2 minutes.

Ingredients:

2 lb rough cubed russet potatoes
1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons salt divided
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

Chop potatoes into cubes
Add potatoes to pressure cooker
Pour in the broth and season
Put the lid on and select Manual for 3 minutes
When it beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then release the pressure valve
Drain the liquid from the pot and add the butter, salt, garlic, thyme, and black pepper
Stir until butter is melted and adjust salt and pepper to taste

Stay Hungry my friend!

InstaPot creamy soup chicken

2020-08-09T13:50:00.003-07:00

My crockpot died and I decided it was time to get an Instant pot again. Luckily right about that time there was a sale at Kohl's for discontinued Instant Pots. I couldn't pass that up. After a week of getting over the fear of being burned by the steam (I haven't been, I've been super careful) I am in love with it and try to make everything in it.

I could right some pretty stuff an tell you how wonderful it is. It is. But I just need the recipe. So here it is. Hope your enjoy.

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken
10.75 oz can cream of chicken soup
1 1/3 cup water
garlic salt and dried parsley to taste

Directions:

Place your chicken in the bottom of your 6-quart instant pot.
Mix together the rest of your ingredients, except for your rice, and pour over your chicken.
Seal and cook on manual 10 minutes.
Natural release for 15 minutes, then quick release.
Serve over rice.

Stay Hungry my friend!

Later...

2020-08-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

I am at a loss. Still. I want to write and I do. I write something everyday. Now I just need to pull it together for a cohesive piece, but then I find another reference, or another article that I add fuel to my writing and I can't put it out there.

I am searching for the secret, so if you know, please share it will me? How do you give zero f*cks? I can say all day long that I don't care what people think and that I am writing my truth, but something hides in the shadows just waiting for me I know. Someone there to have the conversations I am dying to have but...procrastination. My house is so clean because of this. If only I could channel it.

“You know you are getting old when it takes too much effort to procrastinate.”

— Source unknown

I have started once again doing writing prompts. Which at the time when I choose the prompt I don't think it will be helpful but as soon as I start the timer my mind is drawn into my play and I am filled with some sense of accomplishment.

Taking a 5-10 minutes clearing my head is hard. Sitting still. Needing to do something, anything else than sit here. What's better for me, to get my writing done is to lead the meditation. That way I'm always thinking of what I'm going to say next, which I know is not what I supposed to do, but I'm trying. The random prompt then leads to dialogue. The time limit making me choose my words quickly and not overthinking it. Just write. Get something on the page. Don't go back and edit. Just write the next sentence. What makes it worst, I have a book with 400 writing prompts, yet I insist on searching online everytime I need to find a prompt.

What else is productive for me is to take a class. During this time there have been so many opportunities to take classes from all around the country. I've written 2 short plays already. Way more than I think I've done before. EVER. I mean in a week's time. But now I am procrasting on deadlines to submit a full length play and I've turned to reading a book about playwrighting. You know, just so I can get it right. I think I'm getting good at this procrastination.

I hope you are writing. I'm trying. Keep at it.

Prompts

2020-08-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

What was your most embarrassing moment and why?
Write about a difficult time in your life that you overcame
Describe how you want your life to look in 5, 10 and 20 years
What are the three things that scare you the most and why?
10 things I feel thankful for are __________
Name five moments when you were ecstatically happy
What are three things you can do to help your mental health?
When times get tough I want to remember that _______
My greatest qualities are ________
Right now my greatest challenge is ________
This week I am looking forward to these three things _________
On a scale of 1-10 my mental health is at a _____ because
If I could meet anyone in the world I would like to meet _____ because
Describe a situation where everything worked out for you
Who has been your biggest supporter? Write that person a thank you letter
Today my victories were:
What was your biggest learning moment this week?
If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
Describe your biggest accomplishment and why it means so much to you
No matter how terrible my day is these ten things can always make me feel better:
The biggest lessons I’ve learned from anxiety are:
If I didn’t have depression I would have never learned________________
If I didn’t have any fear I would ________________
What was your biggest failure and what did you learn from it?
What do you wish most people knew about you and why?
A fear I would like to overcome is ________. I can do these things to start overcoming it:
If you could change anything about yourself what would it be and why?
Write a thank you letter to your body
Describe your happiest and saddest childhood memories
If I could have any career I would be a __________ because:
What was the last thing that made you feel deeply frustrated?

Resources for understanding the arts

2020-07-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

Resources

East West Players Wednesdays
Artistic Leaders Roundtable • East West Wednesday Episode 8
https://www.facebook.com/EWPlayers/videos/305556950811395/

We See You
https://www.weseeyouwat.com/

31 Daily Prompts

2020-07-01T07:10:00.001-07:00

What are you most looking forward to?
Three goals for this month
Describe your day in ten words
Something that you're looking forward to
A time you don't want to forget
The thing that frightens you
A person you would like to meet
Someone who made you proud
A trip you want to take this year
Your top three priorities
A list of the places you have visited
Do your actions match your words?
One thing you learned about yourself last year
A change you have overcome
A need you can meet
A place you have been recently
A good idea
What are your personal gifts?
A quote that inspires you
A mistake that help you to grow
Three words that describe your style
The last fiction book you read
When you feel most rested
Words you want to share with others
Music that makes you feel adventurous
A project you've been putting off
A change to make
Thoughts about today's events
One thing you will always do
Something new to try
Your favorite part of the past month

Journal Writing Prompts

2020-06-01T15:35:00.001-07:00

Describe in great detail what 5 years from now looks like. Where do you live? What’s your job?
What are 10 things you love about yourself? Why?
What are you most grateful for in your life? List at least 10 things.
What activities sets your soul on fire? (If you aren’t sure, then think back to your childhood. What did you love to do as a kid?)
How can you feel more fulfilled in your life?
If you couldn’t fail, what would you do?
What do I need more of in my life? Less of?
What are my best qualities?
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
What’s your dream job?
Who do you look up to the most? Why?
Write down the type of person you wish you could be. Create an avatar. What’s their personality? Where do they work and live? How do they react to difficult situations? Think about ways you can bridge the gap between who you are now and the avatar you created.
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
Write down 5 positive affirmations about yourself. Repeat them daily.
What’s your favorite memory?
How did your darkest moments shape you into who you are today?
If you could live in any other time period what would it be? And what would you be doing?
When do you feel the most at peace?
Set a 2 minute timer and write down whatever comes to your mind.
What can you do today to move you closer to your goals?

Happy Writing!

Extroverted Introvert

2020-05-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone? In March I was poised, full of energy chomping at the bit to write a post, with a week's worth of ideas and thoughts and here it is the weekend and my time is almost done. I am always at a loss of what to share and what to write about playwrighting. But this go round, I have so much to say I can't contain it and it is coming out in bits and pieces.

Depending on the class I'm in, I wonder how this would be different if it were in person. Does it change the dynamic of the class because we can see each others faces as opposed to sitting in classroom style. Do people hesitate to talk and be the first to talk because they are truly an introvert, or are they just feeling the effects of quarantine.

I never really thought much of the difference of Introverts and Extroverts, thinking of it as if it were some placebo affect that I was feeling and acting upon. I didn't want to read of what an Introvert was because then, of course I would think I was. And I really never thought of myself as an Extrovert, but could certainly embody some of the characteristics should the occasion present itself. But with the world closing its doors and forcing people inside the definitions came screaming out. People needed an outlet to share their energy and ease their anxiety. I could clearly see the defining line in people and myself and how we are dealing with it all.

I hesitate to share my joy of writing as I know of others who have be stymied by this time. The weight of the world on our shoulders and anxiety of it creeping in. For me writing during this time has been marvelous. I have always been a stickler for rules and following how-tos, so the mechanics of playwrighting always hampered me. I am thankful for the teachers out there who reached out and shared their classes I would not have otherwise been able to attend. The joy of sitting at home in L.A. and attending a class in NYC with far-away friends was freeing. Being able to connect with people outside of my sphere and being able to explore writing has been a treat. So much so that I have written two short plays. I found the joy and laughter again of why I want to write. Tips and tricks to get past the rules of structure I suffered with and to just sit down and write. A mantra I try to repeat to myself as a quiet motivation and just now realizing the flippantness of the statement.

I am wondering if I am an Extrovert because of all the classes I've been taking and all of the participating I have been doing. My head is full of information and my computer holds bits and pieces from a variety of classes. My notebook, that I usually carry with me and takes months to fill, has only a few blank pages left. Full up from a month of opportunity and ideas and unfinished scenes.

Lessons learned during this time:
Set aside 15 minutes to write and do it daily. Consistency helps.
If you're looking for something to write about - think "what am I curious about?"
Think of the intention of every scene. What do your character(s) need?
What is the action of your scene? Your character needs something from the other.

Now when I get lost in the weeds, I just start out with a random line that I've collected from the books I read. I usually write these sentences down because as I'm reading them a voice is commenting on them in my head and they speak to the subjects of my current writings. As I write the scene I consider what do the characters want to get to the end of the scene. The plays that I have finished during this time had constraints that had to be included in the play, which made it fun and I included things that made me giggle, like lines from 80s movies.

I gotta go. I'm entering another #Bakeoff and it's due tomorrow.

Take care of you.

Using photo prompts

2020-05-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

Trying to develop a writing practise, takes, well...practise.

I am trying to trick myself into writing. I know it's not nice to play tricks, but anything that will get me writing, is ok with me.

Today's trick - Photo Prompts

I'm trying to write on a specific subject so I've found about 10 photos related to that theme and saved them on my computer.

Let's start:
Find your favourite writing spot. Take a few minutes to quiet your mind. Close your eyes. Deep breaths and all. In and out. Ok. Come back to the present moment.

Take a look at the photo and just let your imagination flow.

Focus on how you feel emotionally or physically. What do you think of or feel like doing? Does the photo bring up any memories? Remind you of something?

Happy Writing!

Journal Writing Prompts

2020-04-01T15:39:00.001-07:00

What type of person do you want to be known as?
What do you value most in life?
What’s one toxic thing (or person) in your life you need to let go of?
What fears hold you back from living your best life?
Draw a picture in your journal of something that makes you happy.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but was too scared?
How can you take better care of yourself?
What self-care practices will you try today?
At the end of life, what would you want to be remembered by?
What makes you feel alive? And when was the last time you felt that way?
Write a journal entry about something that didn’t happen.
“I’ve always wondered…”
What is your favorite hot drink, and how do you make it?
What is the one thing you wish others understood about you?
If you knew s/he had to answer honestly, what would you ask?
What excites you?
What do you wish you did more of?
Pretend money is no object. What would you do?
What area of your life, right now, makes you feel the best? Which area makes you feel the worst? Why?
Let’s jump forward a year. What would you like to have achieved in the past year?

Backgrounds for Zoom

2020-04-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

When I discovered I could change my background so people I would be Zooming with didn't get a pick in my house and worry about it's cleanliness, espcially since we're in quarantine and sometimes cleaning is not on your mind.

How to change your background.

Sign in to Zoom.
Click the caret next to START VIDEO
Choose Virtual Background
There may be some already there. Click the PLUS sign, in the pop-up window, choose ADD IMAGE, a window opens for you to find the image(s) on your computer.
To Disable your Virtual Background follow the above - Choose NONE

Here are places you can find some interesting backgrounds.

Random (lots of fun ones - START HERE)
PBS
LA Magazine
Discover LA
30 Backgrounds from Elle Magazine
Marvel
Bravo - Million Dollar Listing
KTLA set

Interiors from Curbed.com

Animation Domination from Fox

Disney Parks

NASA

Star Wars

Alaska Airlines
Starbucks

Have fun and we'll see you on the Zoom.

Journal Prompts

2020-03-04T20:56:00.002-08:00

Trying to get in the daily habit of writing, something, anything can be difficult. You sit down and hope something pops out of your head to the page. You stress yourself out trying to think about what to write.
I've found some prompts from around the internet to help get you started.

Pick a prompt. Randomly. Don't read them. Pick a number between 1 and 25. Read that Prompt.
Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.

Don't think, just write.

Happy Writing.

Journal prompts

What is the biggest barrier between you and full honesty in your journalling?
What would you do with $10 million?
What are the three strangest or most inappropriate sex dreams you’ve ever had?
What scares you the most about dying?
If you could start your life over, what three things would you change?
Write a letter to your 5-year-old self.
A time traveller offers to kidnap your child self so you can raise him/her. Do you do it?
“Tomorrow will be better because today I learned…”
“If I could change one thing about the world, it would be…”
“The thing I’d be most ashamed for someone to know about me is…”
“The thing I do most often when I’m supposed to be doing something else is…”
What are the top five skills you wish you had? Why?
“I wish I knew these three things for sure.”
“I am most grateful for…”
Which book most influenced your life?
“If I had the courage, I would…”
Write a letter to a fictional character.
What are you wearing right now, and why are you wearing it?
When you picture God, what does s/he look like?
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Happy Writing!

Storyteller

2020-02-16T04:18:00.001-08:00

ICYMI, the Academy Awards were this past Sunday and all week I have been seeing post after post about Taika Waititi and quotes from his speech.

"I dedicate this to all the indigenous kids in the world who want to do art and dance and write stories," Waititi said in his acceptance speech. "We are the original storytellers and we can make it here as well." A well deserved reactions considering how long we have been telling our stories.

Storytelling is part of who we are, regardless of indigeniety. Every culture, race and ethnic group has some kind of tie to it. Otherwise how would we, today have a link to our past. Sometimes, we live so deeply in these stories they consume us. Once just a tale to pass the longs and nights and to entertain, we now believe wholeheartedly in them. We give them power and when someone tries to disprove the story; we fight for it and cling to it like bubblegum stuck to your shoe on a hot summer day.

As a child, my father ran the summer camp program, where we he would take the group camping for a night. Although not that deep into the woods, yet a good 20 minutes outside of town, we would camp next to the rapids. At night while roasting smores, dad would spin yarns that still make me think twice before I jump into a lake.

Growing up I never considered the history of my people's stories, I have never really thought of where they come from, or who they come from, until now. I remember my dad telling stories around the campfire during summer camp. Sitting around the fire, roasting smores, while he told of water monsters and things that live in the woods. Which as a kid that was afraid of the dark and hated bugs did not bode well. My favourite was of the a creature that lived in the water and always made me pause before I jumped off the high rock into the water.

It wasn’t' until I started writing that my dad told me we come from storytellers, that was who our family was an I am finally coming home by writing. In telling stories, I am torn. By myth, tradition and technology. I live in social media, not realizing that htese snippets of life give a glimpse into stories, made to look pretty with filters and the right angle, cultivating, creating a new story, a myth so e can carry on with the day.

As I look back to this story my dad would tell an I remember, I wonder the true meaning of it is as it most likely been re-told and distorted through time by the lens of the teller.

reprinted from lafpi.com