Ten hotdogs and I cheated on this prompt

The Writing Challenge prompt is "Ten hotdogs" Rather than try and recreate the wheel, I will defer to one of the experts - Rachael Ray and her hot-dog embellishments.  

Hot Dog #1 - the Deli Dog topped with egg salad.  Interesting.

Hot Dog #2 - the Seattle dog, topped with grilled onions and jalapenos.  I am not sure how this relates to Seattle in any way.  I'm a Seattle native and never encountered this hot dog embellishment.

Hot Dog #3 - the Nacho dog.

Hot Dog #4 - the Pesto dog.

Hot Dog #5 - the Pastrami Reuben dog, a slice of melted Swiss cheese over pastrami, topped with sauerkraut and thousand island dressing.  

Hot Dog #6 - The Pickle dog.

Hot Dog #7 - The Pimento Cheese dog - spread with pre-prepared pimento cheese spread and crushed Ritz crackers. 

Hot Dog #8 - Hummus Deluxe dog - spread with hummus, topped with roasted red peppers and sprinkled with paprika.

Hot Dog #9 - The Buffalo dog.  No, not made with buffalo meat (even though that would make an interesting eat), but rather topped with a relish of chopped carrots, celery and hot sauce, topped with blue cheese crumbles.

Hot Diggity Dog #10 - The French onion dog, of all the Rachael Ray dogs, this would be the one I would try.  Topped with melted gruyere cheese and carmelized onions.  

What is "Chill" and How Do I Do It?

The Writing Challenge writing prompt of the day, "Chill, what is it and how do I do it?" My interpretation of the word will be within the fashion realm, "chill" being one is so confident in the day's fashion ensemble, the state of Chill is achieved.  

I compiled an outfit in the Pantone color of the year for Spygirl's 52-pick-me-up-pantone-party-2015.  Color of the year is Marsala. My mission was to find the Pantone color via thrift.  I found a Jessica McClintock evening gown and a Coldwater Creek jacket (grand total $13).

Barbie styling the color of the year.

She was a thrift shop find.  I bought her for her "retro" looks.

I suspect her hair was cut and her head was placed on a later version Barbie.

1959 Pattern of the Day - picking up the Pantone color.

I am also chillaxin with the Visible-monday crowd and their OOTD (outfits of the day).  Patti is also hosting a Karina dress giveaway.

Finally, a majorly Chill Gal is Jes at The Militant Baker is asking her readers to resolve to Love The Mirror.  

#LoveTheMirror

Love Your Body and What You See ... Just As You Are Now

Not Later.  Not "After."

Now.

Jes posts "Our bodies are installation art that we curate publicly."

This year will you love that image of yourself in the mirror?  

The Sarcasm, Snark & Sass Blogfest and Ode to Platinum Hair

Linking up with a great gal, L.G. Keltner, for her ~

This link just has to be shared and fits right in the sarcasm theme, http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2015/01/06/sarcastic-mottos-for-all-50-states/

Prompt of "Invisible."  

Ode to Platinum Hair

My platinum hair - I've earned the right to wear it.

While it sometimes make me feel invisible,

I cannot deny my youth has passed on by.

I'm free to wear the clothes that would have caused disdain,

if worn to meetings at the P.T.A. (parent teachers association).

It's my hair, you see, that has caused me to be this way.

Who is that person I see in window-front reflections?

That platinum-haired person passing by?  Sweet Mother of Francis Ford Coppola, it's me!  

But that hair, shining pure white in the day's light, realizes discounts of the senior citizen kind.  While I still feel like I'm that brunette from days gone by, it is my platinum hair that keeps my spry.  

Travel and continuing on with the chill

The Writing Prompt is "Travel."  Having started a new job a year ago, I haven't had much opportunity to travel.  I do have my bucket list of locations I would like to visit and they are:

1.  Cuba.  Now that the "chill" is ending with that country, it appears as though I may be able to visit. 

2.  Chile.  From what I have read, the climate in Chile is similar to Northern California ... and they have salmon, one of my fav foods.

3.  New Orleans.  I have always wanted to visit New Orleans, Louisiana, NOT during Mardi Gras but off season.

4.  Puerto Rico.  One advantage to this location is it is a territory of the U.S. 

5.  Hawaii.  I would at least like to say I visited one of the islands.  I hear Kauai is the one to see.  

What travel places are on your bucket list?  

Willy Wonka's Greatest Candy Making Secret

Candy, how does Willy Wonka do it?  And what is his greatest candy making secret?  Since candy making is especially magical at the Wonka candy making factory, the greatest candy making secret is the troll candy making personnel.

Yes, the trolls come to life at the Wonka factory.  Course, there is no accounting for their terrible fashion sense.  I will give them points for the colored hair being on trend.    

Favorite Winter Comfort Food

The Writing Challenge prompt is "Favorite Winter Comfort Food." 
Since I am not a food blogger, I find it difficult to wax poetic about it.  I would rather be eating it than writing about it and food in general is difficult to photograph. 

This recipe is from the 1950 Ford Treasury of Famous Recipes from Famous Eating Places.  I snuck in a few of these recipes during the last writing challenge.  What I like about this book is the artwork on each page with each recipe.  

My father was Czech.  His mother dearly loved kolacky.  She was not supposed to eat it, that calorie-laden dessert, but she did anyway.  

And Hi-de-ho to visitors from the Czech republic, that country is coming in at number three after the U.S. and France for visitors to my blog.  

Spilled Milk

This is Day One of a Writing Challenge with the day's prompt being "Spilled Milk."  

I am going to cry over spilled milk!  How do I contend with these odd, unusual and near impossible prompts (listed below).

• January 5: Spilled milk
• January 6: Favorite winter comfort food
• January 7: Willy Wonka’s greatest candy making secret
• January 8: Travel
• January 9: Invisible

• January 12: What is “chill” and how do I do it?
• January 13: Ten hotdogs
• January 14: Favorite article of clothing for the winter
• January 15: Dishing the dirt
• January 16: The morning after

• January 19: Word for the year
• January 20: Newbies
• January 21: Organizing
• January 22: Bears, beans and beer
• January 23: Frosty

• January 26: 10 years ago, I was probably ___________
• January 27: The awkward dinner party
• January 28: Imagine that…
• January 29: Steamed
• January 30: And then there was one

I took this image on July 29, 2014, near the Sacramento Convention Center.   There was a group protesting something about cows and cheese and they were dedicated.  Dedicated because those folks in the cow suits endured late summer temperatures in the 90-100 degree range.  I am particularly impressed by the mounted police keeping watch over this suspicious gathering.  

My goal of this challenge is to post for each prompt.  I may not write a lot and may include an image or two.  

I've decided I won't cry over spilled milk.  Let the Challenge begin!