How to make a date memorable
1. Give it a unique twist
2. Put in a lot of effort
3. Have your efforts be appreciated
Foodie Fridays: The Best Things in Life Are.. Rhubarb
In our garden the rhubarb grows wild. It is like the cockroach of the plant world because nothing will kill it. With such a free-growing bounty at our fingertips we should have food for days but alas rhubarb is one of those plants like zuchini that only has so many known applications.
Rhubarb is a very bitter/sour root (the leaves are toxic so stay away). It is most delicious when dressed up with sugar and cooked to soften.
For more information and a plethora of recipes involving rhubarb, visit:
Here are two recipes I followed with a twist. For the rhubarb love knots after I was done I put them in the freezer and made rhubarb popsicles! They were delicious!
Author Thursdays: Taglines
Who Are You, Really?
A phrase to place on your business cards, your email signoff, basically anywhere.
I wanted a phrase that spoke to how I wrote my first book. It was -loosely- based off of a dream I had but all I could come up with were:
“From dreams to words to reality”
“Author and Poet, dreaming words into reality”
“Making reality out of dreams”
I decided that they sounded too much like goals/aspirations/dreams versus vivid visions midst slumber dreams. Therefore I changed my tactic to something entirely different…
“Putting the moonwalk in my resume since 2012”
What do you think?
For more examples and information regarding taglines, visit: http://www.taglineguru.com/
Wildlife Wednesdays: The Beaver Tree
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| The Destructive Power of Nature |
Miscellaneous Mondays: Headshots = Selfies
The Face of Rachel Barnard
Even authors need headshots
Socializing Sundays: Little Gifts To Show You Care
Flowers, Chocolates, and Teddy Bears
These three items have been a standard in stereotypical gifts for a loved one to show that you care. How is it exactly that there is a ‘standard’ for the one unique person you care about? Surely all recipients are not the same?
As a gift giver you need to show that you care about the person and not the consumer holiday. What does the person like (and it could very well be flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears) and how can you show them that you care about them in particular?
I like chocolates but I despise boxed fancy chocolates because I am finicky about what I like and they always contain flavors I do not like. My chocolate favorites include confections like kit kats, twix, and haagen daz ice cream.
I do not even like flowers, unless they are edible. If you are going to give me a living (once living) plant then it very well be edible. I have yet to receive any but I would most appreciate a tomato plant or a bouquet of tomatoes than a bouquet of something ‘pretty.’
I used to like teddy bears but I do not appreciate them any longer, now that I’m an adult. I think – gasp – they are useless and a waste of space. If I wanted a waste of space I would get a trophy.
Great gift ideas come from knowing the other person more intimately, knowing what would surprise and please them. Don’t be generic, because the thanks you get will also be generic. Be original because your gift recipient is unique.
Foodie Fridays: Case Study of Paprika
Brown rice, fish, green beans, dill, black pepper, paprika
To me herbs have kind of been a mystery. I grew up with the standard basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, dill, and black pepper. Of all the many others I am not familiar. It is time I learned about them. Starting with paprika. Paprika is a wonderful herb because it is a bright and distinctive powdery red. It tasted decent on my fish. It comes in many varieties since it is made by crushing dried peppers. To my understanding it is high in Vitamin C. To note it is a wonderful word to pronounce.
Author Thursdays: Email Signoff
In the book Get Known Before the Book Deal by Kristina Katz details many little tidbits to follow to get known before the book deal. One such suggestions is to include a signature in your email. Katz points out that the average person sends out many many emails and by including a little tidbit (as an author, about your new book, about your blog, etc) you can garner more attention for yourself or your writings. She suggests changing up this signature every couple of months to re-bolster attention.
Email signature should contain:
-name
-contact
-tagline
-link to blog/website/web presence
-what you want the reader to do… (follow your blog, check out something, etc)
Sample signature, i.e. mine:
Rachel Barnard
Author, Poet & Dreamer
rachel-barnard.com
T: 425-273-1195
Putting the moonwalk in my resume since 2012
Ever wanted someone to write about how awesome you are? How you are so cool you can lick your own elbow? How, when you were five you could recite the alphabet backwards while standing on one foot? The 100th follower on my blog, rachel-barnard.blogspot.com will get a special blog post dedicated to them as well as a signed copy of the novel Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams.
Wildlife Wednesdays: DNF Geocache and duckies
Ten little duckies and a momma and poppa duckie
44 DNF’s and 126 Finds for the Coulon Island Cache. I didn’t have much time to spend looking as I was on my way out on the lake itself. This is a high muggle area and difficult for much more than that because it is a nontraditional container!
Toiling Tuesdays: What Do I Bring to the Table?
What do I bring to the table?
– I am reliable
– I like to do a good job
– I am creative
– I am productive
– If I know what the end solution needs to be and I understand the problem, I have the ability to figure out that middle part and get from the problem to the solution.
What kinds of things do YOU bring to the table?
Rachel Author Barnard 