My Mélange

Fun with Words

Or should I say Wordle.   My fellow francophile friend Claudia over at The Paris Apartment had these cool word clouds over on her blog. I decided to play around and these are a few my creations.  

This is too cool.  But consider yourself forewarned.  This is addictive.  You could spend hours playing around on this.  

Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon!

Wanna play?  Please do.  And if you do, please tell me so in the comments so that I can come see your Wordle Word Cloud!

Have fun playing!!

Just back from.....

 
                                                photo courtesy of gonewport.com

Newport! 

That's right.

It was Newport, Rhode Island. 

Janie was the clever girl who guessed it first.  Your little gift will be on it's way amica mia!

Thanks to all of you for your participation!!

Since there is so much more than one posts worth to tell about Newport (and only about 200 photos), I think I will have several Newport features over the next few weeks.

Stay tuned!

Gone Fishin'

Well, maybe not actually fishing.  But, I am celebrating the Fourth with a four day weekend away.

Whoohoo!!   Lord knows, I need it!

The picture above was taken a few years back in Booth Bay Harbour, Maine.

It is not where I am, but it is quite similar. And you know how I love a good guessing game. 

So, I thought we might have a little Fourth of July fun (yes, I know it's the fifth), but bear with me. 

Here are some clues to my whereabouts.... 

• 22 other cities in the US share it's name
• There are multiple lighthouses
• The first US circus was held here
• A famous icon lived and was married here
• I'll be able to stroll along the street where the first gas illuminated streetlamp stood
• Lobsta and chowda grace almost every menu
• Tennis, Polo and Golf have been enjoyed here by the wealthy
• Home to one of the oldest surviving taverns in the US
• My America's Cup will runneth over

So, there you have it. I hope I have given you enough info, but haven't given it away!  

Think you know where I am? 

Leave your answer in the comments. The first person with the correct answer wins a little prize. Maybe it will be a little souvenir from my trip.

And of course, I will give you a full report on my weekend destination when I get back.

Have a great Holiday weekend and good luck!!

Inside the Actors Studio Meme

This week my amica Italiana Michelle, over at Bleeding Espresso, unwittingly created this little meme based on the questions that James Lipton asks all of his actor guests on Inside the Actors Studio.

I thought it would be fun to play along..so here goes.                            

1. What is your favorite word?  Facetious
2. What is your least favorite word?  Mucous
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally? Surrounding myself with like-minded creative   people and appreciating their work. 
4. What turns you off? Arrogance
5. What is your favorite curse word? Sons-a-bitches, be-otch is 2nd runner up.
6. What sound or noise do you love? The Italian Language being spoken
7. What sound or noise do you hate? Nails on a chalkboard
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Comedienne
9. What profession would you not like to do? Coal Miner
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Hurry up!!Your Grandfather has tickets for you to see a Yankees game together (again).

Feel free to play along by answering in the comments or do the meme on your own blog!   If you play on your blog, make sure you leave me a comment....I'd love to pop on over and check out your answers!

 

Peony Prize Winner

Thanks for all your wonderful responses to my lovely Peony Bouquet! 

I let the Random Number Generator pick the winner....and it picked comment #8.

Congratulations Erin of Fully Alive, Ready to Smile.

Isn't that a great name for a blog?!

Erin, email me your full name and address and your prize will be on it's way!

Thanks again for playing.  It's always so nice to hear from all of you.

Flickr Fun

My good blog buddies Michelle and Anne have had a little fun with Flickr this week.  They have inspired me to join in!!

I must admit, I am a fan of Flickr and I even have some photo's on there, but with my crazy schedule, I can't keep up on it as much as I'd like. 

This is a neat little mosaic meme created using Flickr photos.

 

Cool right? 

Now it's your turn!  If you want to play...here's what you do.

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's Mosaic Maker

Here are the questions:

1.  Your first name.
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

 

I'd love to know if you are gonna play along.  Drop me a comment so I can come check out your mosaic!

 

And thanks to these fabulous Flickr photographers for helping to create my mosaic!

1. A very late...or Early Christmas Robin..:O), 2. Hilton Roy's filet mignon, 3. Stissing Mountain, 4. pink room, 5. Barack Obama made out of US flags, 6. coffee art, 7. Le Taha'a pier, 8. do you ♥ a matcha tiramisu? ^-^/, 9. 60s stewardess, 10. Love XOXO, 11. underwater rose, 12. Melange Keys

What's new and exciting at My Melange?

I have decided that we need to have some more fun around here...and I'd like your help with that!!  I am introducing two new categories, and the best part is...they are interactive!

Yep, that's right.  It's all about you!!

Let's get right to it...

Numero Uno~

Since this is part travel blog, beginning next Tuesday...I will have a weekly feature called Travel Tip Tuesday.  I will post a new travel tip every Tuesday.  It can be anything.  Airfare, packing secrets, discounts, new hotels or museums opening.  Really.  Anything. 

Here is where you come in.....I want YOUR travel tips!!  You know you have 'em, those certain little things you always do when you travel.  Something your friend taught you or something you read somewhere.  That little something that makes your life a little easier when you travel.  And what fun it is to learn from one another, right? 

So, send me your travel tips!!!! 

Email them over to me at mymelange (at) yahoo(dot) com, with Travel Tip Tuesday in the subject line. Please include your first name and city and/or country, so that when I post your tip, you get the credit.  If you happen to have a blog, please include that info as well, I will give you a little *linky love*

Travel Tip Tuesday will kick-off next Tuesday, so get your tips in by Monday!

Numero due~

I have also admired so many travel photos on other blogs.  I thought it would be a great to see photos and hear stories of other readers travels!  So sticking with the travel theme, I will also reveal....Travel Photo Fridays.  This will be a once a month event, on the 2nd Friday of the month.

I will post another readers picture and a short description (written by you of course) of why it is one of your favorite pic's.  And of course, you have to tell us where the picture is!! 

Now, as you know this is a blog with a focus on Europe, so if you have pictures to submit that are from Europe..that would be spectacular...but it doesn't have to be Europe.  It can be anywhere in the world...really!!  The more diverse, the better, right?

Won't it be fun to see different parts of the world that you haven't gotten a chance to visit yet?  Maybe we'll be inspired to travel somewhere we had never even considered. 

So, I don't know about you, but  I am pretty excited to see these photos start rolling in!!  If you have a friend or another blogger that has great photos on their blog, it might be a great opportunity to tell them about this event.  The more the merrier!!

Email your photos and descriptions over to mymelange (at) yahoo (dot)com and put Travel Photo Friday in the subject line.  Again, include your name, location and blog (if you have one).  May 9th is the official kick-off for this event!!

Fingers crossed, these events will be complete with blog badges.  Since I am graphically challenged, it is taking a little longer than I expected, but I am hoping to have it all worked out soon!

I need your help to make this successful.  So, get your entries in...I can't wait to see all the good stuff rollin' in!!! 

Stay tuned.....

 

Chatty Blog Award

Anne in Oxfordshire gave me a Chatty Blog Award.  Imagine that?  Me, a talkative person?  Sheesh, I guess she knows me all to well!!  Yeah, I guess I like to chat it up a bit!!  I also have chatted via email with many people I have met through my blog.  I really enjoy responding to all the comments left on my blog, getting to know new people from all walks of life and have made some great friends here just from chatting!!

So, my fellow chatters, I pass this Good Chat Blog Award onto....

Bleeding Espresso
Jessica in Rome
Rochambeau
Some Pink Flowers

Let's all chat happy!!

Festa Italiana

Well, you all know how much I love me some Italian Food.  And I have been known to enjoy a party or two, as well as a occassional regular mandatory glass of red wine with dinner.  Well, I can't think of a better reason to celebrate and bring it all together 'cause my friend Maryann over at La Dolce Vita and Marie at Proud Italian Cook are hosting Festa Italiana...

      

I have so many Italian recipes to choose from, but I think I will share with you one of my easy, but delicious favorites.  I have posted this before, but it is a classic that bears repeating. As with most simple Italian dishes that have few elements, it is important to use the best quality ingredients available to get the best taste possible. 

       Spaghetti Carbonara

Course salt
1 pound spaghetti
4 ounces pancetta, chopped
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
3 minced garlic cloves
4 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino-Romano cheese
freshly ground black pepper

                                  

1.  Boil a pot of salted water.  Add pasta, cook to al dente.  Drain.

2.  Meanwhile, cook pancetta in a skillet over med-high heat.  Stir to make sure it does not stick.  Remove with a slotted spoon when brown.  Keep on the side in a bowl.

3.  Reduce heat to med-low, add the oil than the garlic and cook until golden, but do not burn it!

4.  Lightly beat the eggs in the bottom of your serving bowl.  When the pasta is done, add it to the skillet with the garlic and toss.  Then transfer the pasta to the serving bowl with the eggs and toss.  The heat of the pasta will *cook* the eggs.  Add the cheese and the pancetta and toss again.  Season with lots of black pepper and serve with some additional cheese on top.

Buon Appetito e Buona Festa Italiana!

The Ultimate Blog Party

Come join in the fun.  5 Minutes for Mom is hosting an annual Blog Party.  Now thru March 14, head on over there and get a chance to win some prizes and meet some new bloggers.  Lots of new bloggers!!!

And if this is your first time visiting lil' ole me...let me tell you a bit about me and my blog.

I live in the Hudson Valley, NY and I have a passion for Italy and France.  And I love the European lifestyle.  I guess you could say I am a Frentalianophile or would it be an Italenchophile.  Well, it depends on the day!

I talk about my travels to both France and Italy, the food, the wine, the culture and the all of the reasons I adore them so much!  Oh, and pictures.  If you want pictures, I've got tons of pictures of my favorite places!!! 

I also love antiques and I have a flea market on my blog as well.  Somtimes I give you a little peek at the flea market finds in my home, my cute little Westie, Madison and my better half Chris, who shares my passion and doubles as my food stylist when I snap photos of recipes for the blog.

My latest project is studying Italian.  We are now taking Italian classes and try to share with you some quirks about the language.  I like taking you along for the ride.  Oh, and it's a bumpy one!

Now you know why it is called My Melange.  Melange, in French, means a mix of things.  And that is just what we have here. A nice mix, and a great group of readers. 

I love meeting new people, so if you stop on by, feel free to make a comment, so I can hop on over to your house and get to know you a little better too!  And, if you like what you see, you can always subscribe!  Just click on the feeds icon or enter your email address, both located at the top of the right sidebar.

See ya at the party!!!