Winners of the Nice Girls Writing Naughty’s Recipes to Cool a Blistering Heat Contest!

NGWN Promo Summer Recipes REVISEDAnnouncing the Winners of our RECIPES TO COOL A BLISTERING HEAT CONTEST!

I’m Jianne Carlo and I was your host for this HOT— yeah, I’m being snarky—contest.

First of all—a big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to share their precious recipes with us. Honestly, I cannot wait to try them out. What amazed me was the creativity and simplicity of some of the recipes you all shared.

Witouth further ado, let’s get down to shouting out the winners!

Category Prizes – $15 Amazon Gift Card:

DRINKS CATEGORY:

Drinks— the prize goes to …..drum roll…………………………………PIPER MALONE!

APPETIZER CATEGORY:

Appetizers— the prize goes to …..drum roll…………………………………PIPER MALONE!

ENTREES CATEGORY:

Entrees— the prize goes to …..drum roll…………………………………PIPER MALONE!

DESSERT CATEGORY:

Dessert— the prize goes to …..drum roll…………………………………PIPER MALONE!

 And our GRAND PRIZE winner

of a $50 Amazon Gift Card

is drum roll & trumpets…..

Brandi Dagwan!!!

 

I will be contacting all the winners to deliver their prizes. Thank you so much everyone for making this contest cooling and fun!

Cheers.

Jianne Carlo

The Nice Girls Writing Naughty

 

38th Anniversary – Where Has the Time Gone?

aberfoyle millThirty-eight years ago today, the dh and I tied the knot.

Our wedding ceremony was held in our college hometown of Guelph, Ontario. My family and a few Trinidadian friends flew in a couple of days beforehand and we all ate dinner at the restaurant where the dh proposed, The Aberfoyle Mill, back then the only option for fine dining. Quaint, isn’t it? Since we’re heading to Canada tomorrow, we’re thinking of dining there again.

Most of the day is a blurred memory for me. I recall our official photographers, an English husband and wife team—Gordon and Tina, plied me with champagne as we, my bridesmaids, mom, and I dressed. We lived in a tiny apartment back then, and Gordon went door-to-door in the neighborhood, until one homeowner gave us his permission to use his backyard for the pre photos.

My BFF’s boyfriend was in charge of getting my dad to the church. Turns out his car had a hole in the floor, which had my father totally perturbed! Two of my brothers were groomsmen, and my aunt, who’s two years younger than me, was one of my four attendants. It was a lovely day, the temps were in the low 70s, and there was a brisk breeze.

We had a great time. There was a sit down dinner with the usual speeches, and my dh’s BFF was master of ceremonies—we’ll be visiting with him and his wife on our trip. The Trinis partied down the place. There is such a thing as ‘last call’ in Canada and bars aren’t allowed to serve alcohol after 13:AM. My dad bribed the bartenders, the hall stayed open, and serving drinks until 4:30 that morning. We left with the last guests.

It’s been three decades and more, and there’s no one whose company I’d prefer to keep than my dh’s. He’s my best friend, my lover, my hero, and my partner. Together we’ve raised three sons who are all financially independent (whew! Wiping the sweat from my brow on that one!), and the two of us are thoroughly enjoying our ‘empty nest.’

Life’s darned great these days.

About the only thing I’d change is having my middle son, the wayward one, living on the west coast. But, he’s a happy Googler (what Google employees call themselves) and he loves his job and location.

Have a happy hump day!

Cheers,

Jianne

P.S. I’m going to look at house exhanges for Mountainview, California.

 

Winners of the RECIPES TO COOL A BLISTERING HEAT CONTEST on Thursday!

Lamb in Mint SauceOn Thursday the Nice Girls Writing Naughty will announce the FIVE winners of the RECIPES TO COOL A BLISTERING HEAT CONTEST!

PRIZES:

A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD FOR BEST OVERALL RECIPE!

FOUR $15 AMAZON GIFT CARDS – ONE EACH FOR:

BEST DRINK

BEST APPETIZER

BEST MAIN COURSE

BEST DESERT

Photo is of my Big Green Egg Grilled Rack of Lamb with A. Catherine Noon’s delish Mint Sauce!

Contest Details at: http://nicegirlswritingnaughty.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/recipes-to-cool-a-blistering-heat-contest-a-catherine-noon/

Merry Monday!

Cheers,

Jianne

Cash in on The Prymal Lust Book Tour!

Prymal Lust book tour 0814

Don’t forget to enter the contest at the many stops on the Prymal Lust Book Tour. Here’s a schedule of venues and dates:

4-Aug     Books N Pearls

5-Aug     Karen Blue Reviews  

6-Aug     The Pages of a Good Book  

   7-Aug     Books N Pearls

8-Aug     TwinsieTalk

9-Aug     Secret Hungers

10-Aug   Renea Mason  

12-Aug   TNT Review

13-Aug Underneath the Covers

14-Aug   Angel’s Guilty Pleasures  

15-Aug   Book Junkie

  22-Aug   Cait Jarrod

Have a fantabulous Friday!

Cheers,

Jianne

R.I.P. Robin Williams. You will be sorely missed!

220px-Mrs_DoubtfireThe world is poorer by far with the loss of Robin Williams yesterday. A comic genius, a devoted family man, he had the unique ability to immerse you completely into whatever world he occupied in a movie or a television show.

Robin Williams made me laugh until I cried. Deep bust gusting laughter is the ultimate tension reliever and there is no greater talent than being able to provoke that in a human being. Robin Williams had the supreme talent to do that, over and over again. From Mork and Mindy (I still agree with the concept of being born old and growing younger until you return to the womb- brilliant) to Jumanji to Mrs. Doubtfire to The Birdcage—these are movies I watch again and again  and still bust a gut laughing.

Then there is Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, and Good Morning Vietnam, all films which showcase Robin William’s dramatic talent. Movies that make you think long after you’ve seen them.

Obviously, I didn’t know the man, but I admired him for his honesty and tenacity while conquering some of his demons—he had been sober since 2006. I also venerated the way he adored and loved his family. By all accounts, he was an admirable human being.

Yes, there is no doubt, the world is poorer. I am stunned, desolate, and blue, and I lament his loss. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

Grieving Robin Williams and watching Mrs. Doubtfire,

Jianne