September 2012 – Page 3 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Tattoo Tuesday – Does your tattoo artist have a style?

Published on September 11, 2012September 11, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

Most tattoo artist can do it all. Give them a picture, an idea or an image and they can create an original tattoo, no problem.

But, some artist have a style or a speciality. Some artist prefer doing one style or another. If the artist apprenticed under a guy who does Asian. He may prefer to do dragons and water and lotus flowers. He probably learned as well that you don’t place certain elements or colors together. So much about these type of tattoos is the tradition behind the tattoo style. If you find an artist with this type of knowledge, it is a great experience and I am all about the tattoo experience as a whole.

But, is it important? I enjoy reality competition shows and the latest crop are tattoo competition shows. The two best are Ink Master on Spike TV and Best Ink on Oxygen TV.

Both shows put tattoo artist through a series of challenges that focus on certain techniques of tattooing as well as different styles; shading, fine lines, color and black and grey as well as Asian/Japanese, old school, new school, photo realism, portraits, scripts, pin ups, military, mechanical, the list goes on and on. They judge the artist on their work as a whole and then declare a winner. The whole idea is a great tattoo artist has mastered all the techniques and can do any style.

One of my favorite artist who did my favorite tattoo, a asian inspired bull on my ankle, is known for tattooing the most amazing dragons. People come from all over the world to get an original dragon from him. It is his speciality. But, he can do it all.

There is nothing wrong with wanting your tattoo artist to be an expert in the type of tattoo you want. I compare it to doctors. I am sure if I have a heart attack, a general practiciner can save my life. But, I would much rather go to a cardiologist.

The goal is to get the best tattoo. So, research your artist. And if you have a tattoo in mind and it’s possible, make sure your artist has done that style of tattooing before.

What’s more important to you, technique or style in picking an artist? What style of tattoos do you like?

What’s Your Chocolate?

Published on September 10, 2012September 9, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle54 Comments

I told you it was a Blogfest heavy month for me. Today, I am truly excited and regretfully sad to bring you the What’s Your Chocolate? post.

Ciara Knight and her fellow host asked a very important questions recently; Do you love chocolate? Why yes, I do. And, thanks for asking. But, I am not a chocolate purest. Well, if given a piece of chocolate, I would eat it, but I prefer my chocolate with peanut butter.

Be sure to click on the badge to learn more about this blogfest and to visit other chocolate inspired post.

Without further ado, I bring to you my top 5 favorite chocolate and peanut butter pairings:

#5 – Butterfinger – The first candy bar I remember eating with my dad many, many, many years ago. I haven’t had one in years until recently. OMG, is it still good.

#4 – Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup – It is the classic chocolate peanut butter candy and still a crowd pleaser, but for me I prefer it in the Easter Egg, Christmas tree and the newly discovered Easter bunny shape. Year round, I prefer other forms.

#3 – See’s Peanut Butter Patties – a little fancy. A little pricy, but the only chocolate and peanut butter treat I can find in Hong Kong with any consistency. You do what you have to do.

#2 – Lindt’s Lindford Chocolate and Peanut Butter Truffles – These are super rich and super decadent and I discovered them at Barnes & Noble years ago. I would wander up and down the aisle of B&N looking for the perfect book for that day. Next to the check out where these lovely treats. I would only buy one. One is all you need.

#1 – Peanut Butter M&M’s – When I get off the plane coming back to America, I purchase this bag. On my way to the airport to go back to China, I buy another one of these bags. Take note, this is the XXL size bag. When ever anyone send me a care package they know to send me these. It is just BLISS in bite size chocolate peanut butter pieces.

None of these treats are available in China on a consistent basis, therefore I regret I am unable to partake as often as I would like. Oh, the deprivation.

There you have it. That’s my peanut butter chocolates.

What’s your chocolate?

My Weekly Update – Books and Beginnings

Published on September 9, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

Books

I read a book last week. I know what you saying. “Sydney, you are a writer, your supposed to be reading books.” Let me clarify. I read a real book, last week. No. That’s not the right word. I read a physical book last week.

It had paper, a soft cover on the front and the back and I never had to recharge it. I read it in bed and didn’t have to worry about breaking my nose. Am I the only one this has happened to? (Imagine lying in bed holding your iPad/Kindle over your head and you loose your grip and from that distance it landing smack dab on your face) I can’t be the only one and it hurts. I read in the tub and didn’t have to worry about dropping my life in the bathtub and loosing all my information. And, I read on the train and didn’t have to worry about the shady guy eyeing my most prized possession and think, that could easily belong to me. (Just kidding, there are no shady people on the Hong Kong train).

Regardless, it was quite a thrill. I didn’t tap it, flick it or swipe it and accidentally turn to many pages. I read a page and manually turned to the next page. I used an old receipt as a bookmark and there was no question whether I was in the right place. I spilled some coffee on it and still kept on ready. It was so much fun.

I haven’t read a real book in about 6 months. Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPad with it’s iBook and Kindle app. But, really there is nothing like reading a real book.

What do you prefer? Your Kindle or the real deal.

Beginnings

Spring is considered the season of new beginnings, but it appears the end of summer is inspiring me and others to begin new stuff as well.

I began to edit my June novel and at this point it is a lot of work. But, I found these articles very helpful in getting my head organized to tackle this new writing task.

How to Use Brainstorming to Edit from Ava at Writability

What is It Like to Read a First Draft? from Becca at Inspiration for Creation

Roxie’s Blog is beginning a series on effective editing on September 14th. She will feature a weekly post on her editing process. I can’t wait. Her post are informative and always funny.

Sevestian Winters began a new blog: The Homeless Gazillionaire. It you haven’t read it, I would suggest you do. It is fascinating and sad and inspiring and heartbreaking and life altering all at the same time.

AM has returned to My Weekly Update. I am sure he is thrilled. But, this is legitimate. His site had a new beginning last week; a new look and a new focus and I think it is pretty cool. I also wanted to help him introduce a new feature; Wired Writers Wednesday, for all those coffee drinking writers out there. I was inspired to take this lovely photo:

New Follower – they began following me this week (it works).

Baz McAlister

Tyson Carter at Head in a Vice – Movie Review Site

Meghan Elisabeth at Book Nerd

Patrick Latter at Canadian Hiking Photography

Miranda Hardy – Future New York Times Bestseller! – I love that.

Next Weeks Schedule

Monday – What’s Your Chocolate Bloghop

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday

Friday – Sydney Quotes the Movies – The Bourne Legacy

Sunday – My Weekly Update

Summer: Fact or Fiction? – The Big Reveal

Published on September 7, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle16 Comments

It is time for the big reveal in the What I did Last Summer: Fact or Fiction? Blog Hop. Thanks so much to all the lovely people who stopped by and casted their votes. I was thrilled with the response and appreciative of all those who where concerned about my health and those who enjoyed the Universe setting things back in balance (You need to read the stories to get what I am talking about).

Taking a walk down memory lane and putting these two story on paper was a great experience for me. I truly enjoyed it and discovered I have many of these types of stories rolling around in my head. I can use them in my WIP, might be fun. You know – – –

Oh, all right. I will stop stalling. Here is what you all have been waiting for:

Broke Back in Three Places – FACT

Roller Coaster Karma – FICTION

Thanks again Emily R. King and Melodie Wright for a cool Bloghop. I had a blast.

Make sure to stop by the other participants and see if you guessed correctly.

Have a great weekend!

IWSG and Summer: Fact of Fiction Bloghop

Published on September 5, 2012September 4, 2012 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle43 Comments

Ok. Busy day here at Sydney Aaliyah. Let’s start with my Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. I kept it short. Then, stay to enjoy story #2 of the Summer: Fact or Fiction Blog Hop (Don’t forget to vote in the comments which story you think is true; this one or that one).

The main area of stress and insecurity for this month is showing my work to other. I am super excited to have formed a critique group with two talented writers. We haven’t started, yet and I am scared to death to show them my work as a whole. Introducing characters, excepts for blog post, no problem, but the entire work at one time. Wow, scary stuff. Now, I know I will get over it and I understand to be a published author the goal is to get others to read my work, otherwise what’s the point. But, the initial idea of it is making me nauseous. But, I am really looking forward to the critiques, so go figure. What am I scared of? How did you feel the first time you let some else read your work? Does it get easier?

Story #2 – One summer when I was 13 and my brother was 16, our parents bought us and our friends (two each) season passes to AstroWorld in Houston, Texas. They were trying to keep us out of trouble I guess. The only rule, stick together.

Well, as you can image, 16 year old boys don’t really want to hang out with 13 year old girls. Besides, my friends and I were really silly. We broke out in song at the most in opportune times. I still do. It wouldn’t have been so bad if we could carry a tune. So, as soon as we entered the park, we all went out separate ways.

On one particular beautifully hot and muggy day in Houston. we were in line for the roller coaster. One of my friends hated roller coasters, but we were able to finally talk her into riding it with us. It just so happened, my brother and his friends were a couple of spots ahead of us in line for the same roller coaster. Seeing how nervous she was, one of my brother’s friends who was really obnoxious started teasing her and trying to scare her even more.

We ened up on the same ride and we started the slow, agonizing crawl to the top of the roller coasters first hill. Even I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach. But, that coupled with my brother’s stupid friend yelling “We’re going to get stuck, We’re going to die.” Even I was getting nervous.

The roller coaster creeped, creeped, creeped up the hill and it got to the top and started over and then it stopped. We were in the back so we had not made the crest when it stopped. The obnoxious friend, he was in the second car and was hanging over the edge.

Everyone was quiet for a moment. Thinking this was part of the ride, but after about a minute, we knew we weren’t going anywhere. We were stuck.

The park operators had to walk up, show us all how to unhook ourselves get out and walk down. My friend was handling it all pretty well. But, my brother’s friend. He was terrified. It was hilarious. First he refused to get out of the car. Then, when the park workers and my brother finally talked him out of the car, he held on to the guy in front of him and cried the whole walk down.

Month: September 2012