Hangin Out With Some Swans

The other day I paid a visit to Lake Mirror in Lakeland, Florida and hung out for a bit with some swans.Needless to say I had an amazing experience!I love swans! They are my absolute favorite bird!

A Swan's Haiku

In the light she sitscelestial starlight ablazeAngelic Lilly

I love swans. They somehow manage to elicit the ethereal, graceful, and magical all at once. They are indeed my favorite bird, and play a symbolic roll in the novel I've been working on.They seem so delicate and precious too...So much so they make me wish I could cup one in my palms much like The Childlike Empress cradled that single grain of sand in The Neverending Story. *Sighs dreamily*I'm a blabbering whimsical mess tonight.  I'm off to go drown myself in a yogurt parfait. (As any self respecting adorer of the chimerical would do.)love & whimsy,nicōle

Wintry Green Salad Recipe

I love salads. L.O.V.E. salads. I eat one (sometimes more) every day.One of my favorites lately is this little salad I prepared when I felt like having some grilled chicken on a bed of greens of course.I prepared this salad with a bag of Fresh Express Veggie Lovers I had on hand, but it would also do great using spinach, romaine etc. One could even use actual winter greens I suppose if you blanched them first.Ingredients:

• Fresh Express Veggie Lovers bagged salad (or whatever greens you prefer)
• Grilled Chicken (I used Tyson Frozen Grilled Chicken Strips)
• Tomatoes (I used the Grape variety)
• Dried Cherries
• Dried Cranberries
• Crushed Walnuts
• Cheddar Cheese (I used a sort that had cranberries in it)
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Crazy Janes Mixed Up Salt (salt & pepper can be subbed)
• Garlic Salt (if using frozen Chicken Strips)

To prepare:Grilled Chicken if using the frozen sort I did: Take out the amount of chicken you wish to use and place in a frying pan, do not defrost. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over the chicken and saute, before the chicken completely warms sprinkle with garlic salt. Set aside.Salad:Mix greens, cherries, cranberries and tomatoes. Top with the grilled chicken and crushed walnuts.At this point you can drizzle the salad with olive oil and the apple cider vinegar and salt to taste or whip up a quick vinaigrette for later using the Olive Oil, vinegar, and crazy salt. 

Books I Read In 2012

Twenty-Twelve is about over. Here are the books I read, cover to cover.

1. On Writing by Stephen King (easily my favorite book on "the craft" ever!)
2. Drums of Autumn (Outlander, #4) by Diana Gabaldon (Technically I'm not done with this one. I just got a little burned out with this series and decided to put it down. My arms hurt.)
3. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
4. Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster
5. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
6. Open Minds by Susan Kay Quinn
7. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
8. Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles #1 by Amy Lignor
9. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
10. On Writing Well By William Zinsser
11. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
12. Night Sky by Jolene Perry
13. Spectral by Shannon Duffy
14. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
15. Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
16. Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
17. City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5) by Cassandra Clare
18. Owlet (Society of Feathers, #1) by Emma Michaels
19. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood  by Rebecca Wells
20. When Angels Speak of Love  by Bell Hooks
21. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
22. Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1) by Becca Fitzpatrick
23. Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick
24. Silence (Hush, Hush, #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick
25. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

I re-read Breaking Dawn in anticipation of the final film in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.I found these beauties thrifting way back in February. Yay for secondhand books!

The Love of Thousands

The moment you start to criticize yourself, or think you or your life is less than someone else's think of this...and know you are the product of love and are loved. Photo: taken and edited by me. quote Linda Hogan.

Dreaming Dreams

I love this. It speaks to me in countless ways.Speaking of dreams....I had the craziest dream last night.I was writing on a never ending staircase, like literally on the stairs, with a silver Sharpie perfectly content and rather happy with my large scrolling handwriting. When I peered over the balustrade I discovered the staircase I'd been writing on came out of a canal in Venice. I remember thinking when I was through (writing) I'd hop over and go for a swim. Which made perfect sense...incidentally, I was wearing a big poofy organza gown.love & dreams,nicōle

Best Holiday Cocktail Ever!

It's that time of year when friends and family gather and one strives to find the perfect cocktail to enjoy the season!

I came up with this lovely little cocktail based on my signature "Twilight" cocktail the Bloody Bella, only switching out a few ingredients made for quite the change, perfect for this time of year!To make the absolute best holiday cocktail ever, you'll need:

• Cranberry Juice
• Grenadine
• Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur 
• Pomegranate Vodka, I had the Smirnoff variety on hand.
• Frozen Raspberries

To prepare:Make sure you start with cold cranberry juice, or add ice to your shaker if using one.Mix 1.5 oz (one shot glass) of equal parts Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur and Pomegranate Vodka to 1 - 1.5 oz Grenadine with 6 - 8 oz of Cranberry juice, garnish with frozen raspberries and enjoy!