Announcing: The Roarin' Twenties Poetry Blogfest + Chapter Critique Giveaway

QOTD: If you could go back and (re)live through an entire decade in history, which decade would you choose and why? 

There are officially 8 days left until my 20th birthday! Huzzah! One would think turning 20 wasn't as exciting as turning 21 or 18, but in China decades are huge turning points in a person's life. I mean, I consider this past decade (Year 10 - Year 20) to be the Decade of Rebellion. I wonder what this next decade will bring? 

To celebrate my second decade of being alive, I am hosting The Roarin' Twenties Poetry Blogfest. This calls for another: "Huzzah!" The last blogfest I hosted was Inanimation 100-Followers Blogfest back in May 2011. Over 15 bloggers participated and it was one of my favorite blogging experiences ever. I've wanted to host another for a long time - and so here we are! I'm not very good at writing poetry, but I still write with words - I am writer. But I've decided I'm going out of my comfort zone for this one, because isn't that what part of being a writer is all about? Challenging yourself? Who's with me? 

Here are the rules: Any time between June 22 (my birthday!) and June 24, post on your blog either an original poem or an existing poem that focuses on one or more of the following: birthdays, the 1920s era, or time. Don't forget to enter your link and your name/blog name below using the InLinkz tool, and check out everyone else's blogfest entries! That's it!   


Actually...wait...one more thing! 

Not only is it going to be my birthday, but I am also getting close to 200 followers as well. This is a bit of a stretch, I know, but it would make my decade if I reached 200 followers by my 20th birthday. I would love to reach this goal if possible, but I need your help. Therefore, I am also hosting a Chapter Critique Giveaway to complement the blogfest! 

That's right - for the winner who racks up the most giveaway points, I will read and critique any one chapter of a manuscript OR a short story (page limit: 20 pages). The critique will include in-depth review, copy editing, rating, and suggestions - either over email or a Skype call (!). As a copy editor for both Cellar Door and Blue & White magazines, I promise you I will give constructive feedback.

To enter the giveaway, do any of the following and COMMENT below with a list of everything you did for your entry (P=Points): 

• Become a follower of my blog (5P)
• Participate in The Roarin' Twenties Blogfest (5P)
• Tweet about the blogfest and include the hashtag #theredangel and @xtheredangelx in your tweet (1P)
• Like TRA on Facebook (2P)

For every point, you will be entered in a random generator once. The maximum number of entries you can have is 13. On June 24, I will list all of the names in a random generator (*idea from Oh to be a Muse), and one name will be chosen randomly receives the chapter critique. So the more points you rack up, the better chance you have for the giveaway! 

Remember, participating in The Roarin' Twenties Blogfest automatically gives you 5 points. Woot!

Wendy Lu

Announcing: The Roarin' Twenties Poetry Blogfest + Chapter Critique Giveaway

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ROW80 Days: Hello, June!

#DailyWings:  "I'd rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy permanent planet." 

-Jack London

Alas! Is it June already? I know my posts often include exclamations of how time flies, but this exclamation is particularly significant because June is my birth month. In a little over two weeks, I will turn 20 years old. My reaction: O_O 

Ha. Um, what? That's two decades of my life right there! I used to think birthdays were the best ever, and that no matter what your age is, the day you were born and came into this world should always be a reason for celebration. Don't get me wrong - I'm still excited, but I'm a little afraid too. Technically I qualified for "grownup status" almost two years ago, but somehow the age 20 solidifies the new period in life that means real world. Responsibilities that require good decision-making. The job market. It's like I've been living in a bubble my whole life, and all of a sudden that bubble is going to be pricked with a needle. Pop. 

Well, I suppose there is nothing else left to do but embrace this next decade ahead of me. Changes are to come, and lessons of a lifetime. There are so many pathways in front of me... each one has the potential to define the rest of my career and my identity. It's up to me to choose the one that is best for me. I don't even know what those pathways are yet, but I'm ready to find out. Well, not yet. Soon. In two weeks, I will be ready. 

For this month, I have resolved to write in my journal, my beloved Moleskine journal, for every day of June. To document the last few days of my 19th year, and to accomplish a major writing goal. So far, I have managed to journal every single day no matter what, and it's been liberating. For once, I feel like my journal entries actually connect and make sense when they're read from page to page. 

Speaking of writing goals, I am sorry for not keeping up with my ROW 80 blog posts. But I do have wonderful news: I finished a whole chapter! I checked the count, and it's almost 6,000 words. Considering the fact that I've been taking summer classes and serving as a research assistant, I'd say that's an accomplishment! What about you? Have you 

Finally, I would like to introduce my new camera, Diego. Isn't it handsome? Diego is my first--and the best--birthday gift. I've been taking it out for some practice shoots in various locations just for fun, and I just started a new project called: "One-Sentence Story Photography." I will post favorites on my Facebook page. The idea is that every photo features a fiction super-short (theoretically one sentence long, but I get carried away and sometimes one sentence isn't enough!). All stories are fictional, of course, and merely for my own enjoyment. It's a nice writing exercise, too! Here are just a few from the first batch of Diego photos, along with their respective shorts: 

There was nowhere else in the world where she felt safer or happier than in the realm of her nearly-forgotten childhood, but what use is there in living in the past?

All his life, he had cared for nothing but books and movies. When he was nine, he tugged on his mother's skirt and said, "Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a storyteller."

No matter how hard Fishy tried to swim, he could never get close enough to pick up the pail.

She placed two hands on her mother's favorite vase and blew off the dust that covered the gold-tipped rim. Against the tip of her fingers, the vase was cold and hard, just like her mother.

Cameras took pictures, and pictures meant evidence. The investigator knelt down, determined to capture every crack, every stain.

To cut or not to cut? He was sure she would love it...roses were her favorite, after all.

The boy giggled, for no one else could have thought up of a better hiding place...nobody could find him here, in this perfect sanctuary.

This peculiar wall was the only thing that was keeping the squirrel from getting to his beloved pine nuts on the other side.

The ant clung to the rose branches for dear life, but to no avail - a single thorn sliced across his tiny foot, and down Tim fell.

After nearly twelve years of consuming half-eaten crusty doughnuts and sour milk from behind trash cans, Patty smelled her very first Thanksgiving.

It wasn't that she was afraid to break the glass cage and claim her freedom. She just wouldn't.

I have started a new #DailyWings trend on Twitter for sharing quotes, sayings and tidbits of inspiration. Feel free to tweet me your own collection of #DailyWings. Let me know how you like this new feature on TRA, as opposed to the Question of the Day. 

Wendy Lu

ROW80 Days: Hello, June!

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Bonding With My Blog: "Summer Cleaning"

QOTD: What books would you recommend for summer reading? I'm currently going through The Hunger Games trilogy!

Could...could it be? Is it summer 2012? I don't know why it's taken me a whole week to realize this, but here it is! SUMMER 2012! I feel compelled to break out into High School Musical's What Time Is It? but I'll spare y'all. 

One of the best things about summer, to me at least, is having more time on my hands than I need to do absolutely nothing but reflect. Three whole months to just tell life to s-l-o-w the heck down and think about where I am right now. And all those writing and health and personal goals I brushed aside during the school year in favor of studying? I just wait 'til summah, summahtime. Well, summahtime is here and everything I am thinking and feeling can be summed up in a single face: O_O

I mean, where do I even start? 

I spent a good while today catching up with my thoughts and scrolling through my blog dashboard. Lately, I feel like I've been scrambling for ideas of what to blog on, which is silly because there are endless things to talk about - what I've been cooking, which books I'm reading this summer, where I'll be traveling abroad, what I am writing and the like. I have a nice layout, helpful resources, social networks. I have 180 wonderful followers, and yet a part of me feels like I'm not giving The Red Angel blog my all. It seems as though there is something missing. 

I need to figure out what I want this blog to be about. 

It's funny how I've been keeping up with TRA for over two years and yet my blog is just now having an identity crisis. But I suppose all blogs have to go through a bit of mental "summer cleaning" (summer, since spring is already over). This is strange, but it feels like my blog doesn't quite reflect who I am as a person. It doesn't tell my story, and I don't record my adventures as consistently as I should. The posts don't really "weave" together as well as I'd like for them to. Despite the fact that The Red Angel blog is a very important part of my literary life, I don't use it to its fullest potential. I don't bond with my blog enough. 

I suppose now, summer 2012, would be a good time to "re-brand" my blog, so to speak. One big challenge for me is not being able to look at big pictures. Instead, I focus on minute details--which are important too, of course, but detailing without actually looking at where those details build up to isn't very productive. So I'm taking a step back and thinking about what sort of themes outline my values, my belief system, my character. 

Things That Matter to Me

• self-expression, writing, creativity, narrative worlds
• freedom, equality, cooperation, anti-poverty
• respect for religion, the marketplace of ideas
• meditation, self-reflection (obviously), open-mindedness, intuition, personal preference
• kindness, service, working toward the betterment of society
• language, communication, books, travel, culture
• symbolism, storytelling, identity
• personal happiness, goal-setting, checklists
• nature, natural power, time, music, emotion, spontaneity, things that cannot be seen with the naked eye
• inner-strength, family, mutual trust
• respect for those who are different, education, learning
• pretend play, childhood, conquering fears, courage

Whew. I feel a lot better already. There's nothing like a little bonding with your blog to get you reoriented for upcoming projects. Check back soon for updates on my blog, and if you want to chat, feel free to follow me: 

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Wendy Lu

Bonding With My Blog: "Summer Cleaning"

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Love yourself. Be beautiful the way only you know how.

I’m glad I’m not blonde, tan, stick-skinny, brunette, caked with makeup, freckled, or Barbie. I don’t understand why so many girls obsess over appearance and wish to look like those plastic-looking models on Project Runway. 

Truth is, confident girls get the best guys. Real girls get the best guys. I’d rather look natural and wait for the right boy to love me for everything that I am than look like a model and have men falling for my body and not for me. 

You were born with your own looks - why make life miserable by trying to be something you’re not? I’m short, Asian and skinny. I never wear makeup. Flat nose and one small freckle under one eye. Dimples. That’s the kind of beautiful that I am. 

What’s your kind of beautiful? What do you love about yourself?

Finishing up finals tomorrow! Will return to my regular blogging schedule this weekend.

Love yourself. Be beautiful the way only you know how.

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Reveal of the Red Angel + NaNoWriMo 2011 Begins!

QOTD: Tell us about your Halloween. Did you dress up? Did you go trick-or-treating (you're never too old for this, I promise!) or hand out candy to the kids? Did you stay at home and watch scary movies? Let us know! 

When I was a little girl, I used to get really paranoid about being in the dark and having bad guys snatch me away from the safety of my home. Both figuratively and literally. These bad guys include dangerous creepers, but also verbal attackers and anyone who is wrongly judgmental of who I am. Honestly, I think I worry too much about what other people think of me.

Which is totally understandable, right? I mean, I know I'm not the only one who cares about how my opinions and lifestyles will shape what people see the parts of me that I share with them. But to an extent this sensitivity is a setback, seeing as I'm a writer and journalist/psychologist-in-training. How can I give other people solid advice on how to improve their lives for the better and write articles on topics I feel strongly about when I'm nervous about what nice or mean things Jack and Mary are saying behind my back? 

A major lesson I have learned in college so far is that it really, truly does not matter what other people think of you. There are just way too many individuals in this world, and focusing on one's rank in popularity and likability is just a waste of time. Of course, that isn't to say reputation and presentation of one's self doesn't matter, because they do--especially in the corporate world and in the job market. But it's important to balance reputation and individuality. 

Be who you want to be, and don't let the fear of what others may think of you prevent you from trying out new things, expressing yourself and saying what you believe in. 

This sensitivity is also what has kept me from becoming too public on the Internet. I can say anything I want to online...but doesn't that mean other people--strangers, friends and colleagues alike--can say anything they want about me too? My answer to my own question is...yes, but so what? I have nothing to hide except myself, and why do I want to hide myself when there is so much to share and so much to do in a single lifetime? 

I don't. 

So after much thinking, I have decided that I'm going to share with you all who I am--not just as "the red angel," but as me. I feel like by doing so, all of you readers and fellow bloggers will be able to identify with me better now that you can put a name to a face and have a better picture (no pun intended) of who I am. 

Yup, that's me! My name is Wendy Lu 

(Sometimes I get called Cindy Who/Wendy Wu/other forms of Wendy Lu, so whichever you prefer ;) Red Angel works too haha)

So I made this costume for a "Super Rave" that took place in one of the dorms last year. What do you guys think? And hey, Supergirl could be Asian...you never know! Haha. I am always really curious as to how Halloweeners (LOL) put their costumes together, so I'll break down my Supergirl facade for you: 

• The Superman shirt was a gift from a wonderful friend of mine. He knows how much I love Superman! You can find different versions at Hot Topic. 
• I bought the blue/violet stockings from the mall, though I forgot which department. $3.00 on sale. Check out various styles at ModCloth! 
• The red skirt is from a local thrift store. It was originally a long skirt, but another friend of mine who is excellent with the sewing machine was able to hem it for me. Only $3.00! 
• The red cape is a really long piece of fabric that I got from Hancock's Fabrics. About $6.00 or so. 
• My red headband was part of a set of headbands that my sister gave me for Christmas a few years ago.
• You can't see my shoes, but I'm also wearing black Converse All-Star high-tops. They weren't originally going to be a part of the costume but they actually fit really well with the Superman look, so I figured it worked! 

Sadly, I was not able to go out for Halloween this year due to my American History (1865-present) exam, which took place yesterday (hence, the late blog post!). Halloween wasn't all just textbooks and studying, though. I live in a really quiet apartment complex and there aren't that many families or children living near me. But to my surprise, starting at 6:30pm on Monday night, three adorable little kids dressed up as princesses came knocking on my door. I quickly tossed some Kit-Kats into a bowl, threw on my Superman shirt and showered them with candy! :) How was your Halloween? 

NaNoWriMo Word Count: 582 (I blame History. But...major write-in tonight! If you are a participant, how is NaNo going?)

Reveal of the Red Angel + NaNoWriMo 2011 Begins!

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19th Birthday Blogfest: The Favorite Book Challenge

Question of the Day: What is your favorite type of cake? Describe the perfect slice...include any toppings or fruit or flavors :) I want to hear about the yummiest, sweetest, most divine cakes you can imagine!!!

Yayyy I am officially 19 years old, as of 9:15am this morning! *does happy dance* I'll be pretty busy for the rest of the day but I had to post and share my happiness with you all. I don't quite feel 19 yet but I'm sure it will hit me soon at some point--probably right before I dig into the birthday cake that is anxiously waiting for me in the fridge. *nom, nom*

Speaking of cake, be sure to tell me what is your favorite kind of cake and what your ideal cake would be! Everyone loves a good cake fantasy. :) In my next post I'll share with you photos of my own cake as well as other visuals of my festivities! Also I'd like to take a moment to thank all of my family and friends for always being there for me and for making today so amazing already--and it's not even the afternoon yet!

Since I already hosted my 100-Followers Inanimation Blogfest not too long ago, I decided instead to participate in a blogfest myself! And just in time...

Today is the last day to participate in Teralyn Rose Pilgrim's Favorite Book Challenge Blogfest over at A Writer's Journey (click the previous link to see the other entries)! The idea is to choose my top five favorite books of all time (this is a challenge, indeed), and for each book write two lines on what it's about and why I like it so much. So here goes!

1) My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult--This is a novel about two sisters; one of them has leukemia and the other was conceived by her parents solely for the purpose of saving her sister throughout their lives by constantly donating granulocytes, bone marrow, and other cells that are crucial for survival. Reading this compelling novel made me aware that many families must struggle and go through difficult situations and I must remember to feel grateful for all the good things in my life.

2) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini--Amir is a Sunni Muslim who is living in Kabul as a child, and befriends Hassan, the son of his dad's Hazara servant. I loved this book because not only did I learn so much about the contemporary history of Afghanistan, but I was also engrossed into a story that is filled with prose that highlights the sins, the tragedies, the beauties and the truths about what natives of certain Middle Eastern countries go through.

3) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott--Follow along with Jo, Amy, Meg and Beth in this book filled with their stories of growing up in the midst of America's civil war, from small skits to marriages to school troubles to sisterly quarrels. Having a sister of my own, I know how strong the connection between sisters can be and easily relate to all of these March girls in some way or another; plus, Alcott's writing is amazing.

4) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling--In this third book in Rowling's epic series of the magical world, Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts hear about his godfather, Sirius Black, for the first time and find out if he really is a menace or if there's something else about Harry's tragic past that we have yet to discover. I'm not sure why I like this book the most, but it's probably because we learn more about Harry than just the sad story of his parents' death that we already know of, and Remus Lupin is AWESOME (seriously, I wish I had him for a high school teacher).

5) A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle--Ahh, it is hard to explain this book but I will try my best: a science fantasy novel, A Wrinkle In Time follows the Murray kids as they set out on an adventure to find their father and discover the truth about what happened to him when he went missing during his mission to learn about time travel. This book indirectly shows its readers what it means to be courageous, put your family first, and have hope in the face of dark times.

19th Birthday Blogfest: The Favorite Book Challenge

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30-Day Challenge 10, 11, and 12: Catch-Up Day

Question of the Day: Does life ever make you feel rushed? Do you ever feel so busy that, everywhere you look, there are deadlines and chores and mouths to feed and must-do's staring at you from every angle....and for just one moment you wish you could close your eyes and make all time and space stop?

I know I do! As exams and papers and end-of-the-year whatnots are looming over my head like levitating post-it notes, sometimes I feel like I could just make everything disappear so that my mind may be at peace for just a moment...a moment... *pause* And THEN the world can start spinning again like before.

Even so, I have found that, overall, I rather enjoy working under pressure with a million things to do rather than lounging about being unproductive for hours. It genuinely feels like my time is being spent well and effectively. (It must be confessed, however, that I am extremely looking forward to summer!!!)

~~~

This afternoon, I will be catching up with my 30-Day Tumblr Blogger Challenge. Not only do I still have a long way to go, but tomorrow I will also be posting an interview with the lovely Jordan-Marie Smith, who is one of the coolest, most creative and most expressive people I have ever met. But you must wait until the morning to learn more about Ms. JMS! :)

Day 10: Song you listen to when you are: Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad

Happy

Sad

Bored

Hyped

Mad

Day 11: Another picture of you and your friends.

So I discovered on the amazing world of Facebook that "Red Angel" comics actually exist! This was super exciting and I just HAVE to roleplay for this. I just have to. The genre is steampunk/science fiction, and the superhero of this series is Captain Victoria Angel of the airship Red Angel. Ahh, I just think this is so neat!

(if you can't see the drawing or caption, just drag the image to your URL bar)

Day 12: How did you find out about Tumblr Blogger and why did you make one?

This blog has been around since January 2010 and is officially 1 year and four months old. YAY!!! I began using Livejournal back in 2005 (when online journals suddenly became the middle school fad) and continued that for at least four years. My LJ was private, though, and could only be viewed by a select few of my friends. I really loved being able to share my values, my daily doings and personal opinions with other people, and learning more about my friends through their own LJs helped me discover more about them than I would have known otherwise.

Although I'm a total advocate for the printing press and would rather use a paper book rather than a Kindle any day of the week, towards the end of 2009 I started to get really into reading online articles and blog posts. I mean, there was just so much interesting information...on the Internet, everyone has a story to tell and everyone wants to have those stories told. I came across several blogs on Blogspot...in fact, most of the blog posts I'd seen were hosted by this site. So I thought, hey everyone else is doing it, why shouldn't I? Thus, I created this blog.

And I am so glad I did! :)

30-Day Challenge 10, 11, and 12: Catch-Up Day

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30-Day Challenge 2: The History Behind "TRA"

Question of the Day: In my last post, I confessed that I know how to burp by will. Care to 'fess up a hidden talent of yours?

Day 02: The meaning behind your Tumblr Blog name.

My second-ever post on this blog actually dealt with the meaning behind my alias, Red Angel. Looking back at all the old stuff I wrote when I first started blogging, it is almost embarassing to read what I wrote as an unexperienced blogger! 8) It is still fascinating to me what a long way I have come.

Basically, the idea of a "Red Angel" came to me when I fantasized what the name of my band would be if I ever chose to make one. One of my favorite colors is red because if its rich hues and meaningful symbolism behind that color. In China (Ethnicity=Chinese! for those of you who don't know), red is associated with good luck and fortune; it can also stand for love, passion, blood, and pretty much any super intense emotion.

My goal in life is to be my best self and use my writing towards improving society for the better, sharing my unique experiences and others' as well. I constantly strive to help and serve others, whether it's through lending an ear and shoulder for a friend to cry on, spreading awareness about breast cancer, trick-or-treating for UNICEF, or simply writing the story of someone who has survived something traumatic. I always try to be there for other people, and be as close to a guardian angel as I can be... without the wings, of course.

Well, I hope you enjoyed that little tidbit about the blog and about me. :-) According to the TRA poll results, 57% of you would like to see more personal entries on my blog and get to know more about me as a person. Again, thanks to all who participated in the poll, I really appreciated all the feedback I received!

In other news, I FINALLY GOT A NEW CAMERA. Being a huge fan of Nikon, I got this camera for Chinese New Year, and have fallen absolutely in love with it. So! You can expect to see a lot more photos now, which 28% of you voted for! Hurray!

However...I have two Calculus and Economics exams on Wednesday and Friday, respectively, that I must cram for. Most likely you can expect the next post from me (the public-speaking entry that I promised!) on either Friday or Saturday! I hope you all have a fantabulous week!

30-Day Challenge 2: The History Behind "TRA"

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30-Day Challenge 1: Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Question of the Day: What is one thing you crave the most? It could be cookies, American Idol, the rush of performing on stage, anything!

Day 01: Post a picture of you and 10 interesting facts about yourself.

Sadly, I have a strict no-people-photos policy so I will have to skip that part of the challenge. The 10 interesting facts, though? I think I can handle that. :)

1. I can burp by will.

2. My macaroni and cheese dish is a beast (a good one!).

3. Someday, I plan to open up my own restaurant and name it: The Macaroni Shop.

4. I secretly believe in magic. Okay...maybe it's not so secret anymore.

5. For past Halloweens, I have been a cat, a pirate, a gypsy, a twin, Little Red Riding Hood, myself, a sorority girl, just to name a few.

6. I am by far the slowest eater you will ever meet.

7. When I was little, I made doll clothes for fun.

8. I am terrified of the dark and wet paper.

9. I was named after Wendy's the fast-food restaurant.

10. I don't know how to put makeup on (excluding lip balm and nail polish).

TRA Poll Results:

Thanks to all who participated and provided me with feedback about how to improve this blog! If you have further comments or questions, don't hesitate to email me at xtheredangelx@gmail.com.

photography and visual elements	4 (28%)
more about TRA, who she is, and personal entries	8 (57%)
writing advice and literary works	5 (35%)
tutorials and how-to post	1 (7%)
bits and pieces of randomness	8 (57%)

30-Day Challenge 1: Happy Chinese New Year!!!

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Best Commercial of 2010 + Extra-Mini Hiatus

Question of the Day: What is the one materialistic item that you wouldn't be able to live without? (For me, it's my piano! I love making music. Or my laptop! It let's me do everything =D)

What with my first day of spring semester classes looming ahead (this Friday, eek!), I have to buy my textbooks, get a jump start on my reading assignments, start packing (*sniff*), having my last couple of homemade meals, and other college-student-y things like that. I probably won't get the chance to post again until Saturday or so due to all the busy-ness (Ha! Like "busi-ness", get it?) I have. Don't worry though, I shall still be commenting. :)

Be sure to take this opportunity to vote on my poll to the left. I'd love all the feedback I can get to know how I can improve my blog in this year 2011! In addition, if you haven't already, it would be great if you could fill out the Rate & Review Form. It is short and sweet, and here you can finally tell me anything you want about what you want me to do differently on the blog...no hard feelings, I promise!

Now, here is probably my absolute favorite commercial of all time. I've seen it at least seven times through Hulu and on television, and NEVER get tired of it. That's all I shall say...a-hem. Here is the commercial, and you can decide what you think for yourselves. :)

**If you can't see the whole video (my apologies if that happens!), then GO HERE to see the YouTube video of the commercial.

Hurray! I just discovered that this is my 100th post! :D Also, welcome to any new followers. It is lovely to have you here reading my little words...

Talk to you all Saturday!

Best Commercial of 2010 + Extra-Mini Hiatus

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The Best of The Blog in 2010 + Rate & Review TRA Poll

Question of the Day: What are you doing to celebrate New Year's Day? Did you count down and watch the ball drop on television?

I've compiled a list of the blog's ten best entries in the year 2010! Feel free to share your own favorite blog post of TRA in comments below!

From oldest to newest....

1) Crystal City

2) Alice in Wonderland Movie Review

3) Give Me Your Titles

4) Go Green!

5) China 2010 Scrapbook: Scenery

6) Abstract Art & Its Impact on the Human Mind

7) Compromising With Your Main Character

8) "How Dumbledore REALLY Died" Mad Lib Contest + Winner!

9) Reading Between the Lines

10) Five Steps to a Resolution You'll Stick With

Rate & Review TRA Poll

After blogging for a year, I still can't get enough of it! I am slowly beginning to expand this blog by adding more features and links that I hope you will find beneficial and helpful for you.

Here's your chance to let me know how I'm doing! It would be wonderful if you could take a few minutes to participate in this poll. It would definitely help me out and let me see what I can add in future posts to make TRA blog for the better.

What would you like to see more of on TRA?

• Photography and visual elements
• more about TRA, who she is, and personal entries
• writing advice and literary works
• tutorials and how-to posts
• bits and pieces of randomness

Created on Jan 1, 2011

View Results

In addition, please let me know:

1) What would you like to see less of, if anything?

2) Are there any particular topics (recent current events, debatable politics, gardening, the writing process, etc.) you'd like me to write about in future posts?

3) How do you like the layout? Should I change it? If so, how?

4) Any specific resources, links, or non-literary things (like polls and quizzes) you'd like me to add?

5) Any suggestions or overall comments

I would truly appreciate your feedback! The poll will be up for a month so you can have a while to make your decision. Thanks so much for being such a loyal follower/reader! Happy New Year!

The Best of The Blog in 2010 + Rate & Review TRA Poll

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