Thanksgiving may be over and done with, but there are many more holiday dinners from Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve, and may people enjoy cooking those dinner themselves instead of catering or getting takeout, but of course, you can't make a delicious meal unless you have the proper pans to cook with.

Yes, I know there are many different brands of frying pans on the market and all of them claim to be the best. The most recent ones I have seen in the stores are the organic pans, which don't contain harmful chemicals.

Early this week, I received the 8" Green Earth Pan by Ozeri in the mail. The pan is made from GREBLON ceramic coating from Germany. It is the first frying pan to achieve non-stick performance while being completely free of PTEF, PFOA and other harmful chemicals. The ceramic in the pan is scratch-resistant and the ceramic coating is eco-friendly, meaning no harmful fumes will ever be omitted.

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

Holiday Edition:

What book would you recommend for a Christmas present?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

  

My Answer:

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

 Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

Linky List:

Billy's Review:

Take on anyone, anywhere in the Cyber Hoop arena! The hoop connects wirelessly to your mobile device (sold separately) so you can challenge your friends through the app! Prove your dominance in quick play, head-to-head play, dunk contests and more. Watch your most amazing plays again with the automatically created highlight reel, which has commentary and slow-motion replay! You can even share your video highlights and stats with others! There are 5 ways to play and room for up to 4 players, so get your virtual dunk on and dominate with the Cyber Hoop!

Challenge your friends to a virtual dunk contest or other ways to play with the Cyber Hoop! Compete with your friends in real time, even when you're not in the same room! Choose from 5 ways to play for up to 4 players! App records your game or dunk and automatically tracks your stats! Creates a highlight reel with slow-motion replay, commentary and the ability to share it with others! Hoop wirelessly connects to your mobile device! App works with iPhone 4/4S/5, iPod touch 4th or 5th generation or iPad 2/3/4. iPhone 4/4S/5, iPod touch 4th or 5th generation or iPad 2/3/4 required (not included).

I've been a writer for a long time. For most of my writing career, I have ghost written for other people. I often get burnout writing other people's ideas. So that is why I decided I was tired of writing for other people and I wanted to write something for myself. Enter NaNoWriMo.

If you are not familiar with the concept, it is National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words between November 1st and November 30th.

I was able to complete my goal (read how I did it here). I did get to 50,000 words. But what I was not prepared for was how I would feel afterwards.

Writing is draining. I always imagine each word like a tiny smudge of yourself that you leave behind like a snail's slimy trail. The more words you write, the less of yourself there is.

After writing 50,000 extra words in November, I can definitely tell you that I feel like a drained snail. It has been extremely hard to continue working since I reached my goal just before Thanksgiving.

So, what have I done to keep motivated? Basically, three simple things.

3 Simple Ways to Keep Writing after Burn-Out

1. Set Goals: Goals are how you stay focused on what you want to achieve. If you don't have any solid goals, then there is no way you can make it past burnout. I like to plan daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals. 
2. Do the Bare Minimum: Normally, I try to do a little more than I have to do to get ahead. But when facing burnout, the minimum is enough for a while. Just make sure you start doing extra again after a small rest period to avoid life-long procrastination. 
3. Plan for Breaks: You will need a lot of off time to recover from burn out. I plan to take off at least a week in late December to make up for my burnout. I have also taken several small breaks each day. My kitchen has never been so clean. 

If you are looking for St. Louis photographers for your next special event, it is important to find the right professional to provide beautiful photos that you can enjoy for years to come. Don’t just go with any photographer; you need someone who can provide exactly what you are looking for. Whether you need a wedding photographer, headshot photographer, or want a photo session for your child or pets, you should look for a professional who specializes in the types of photos you need.

Candid or Posed

Most photographers can meet your unique needs and preferences, so if you are looking for a particular type or style of photos, they can work with you. However, if you are looking for something in particular, such as candid photos leading up to your wedding, let your photographer know upfront.

Research Your Options

Make sure to thoroughly research your options to find the best photographer that your budget can afford. While you can get a good feel for their personality, style, and willingness to help by either looking online or calling your favorite photographers, it may be a better idea to visit some professionals. By meeting for coffee or in their studio, you can ensure that you feel comfortable and relaxed with your photographer of choice so that you are confident working with them on the day of the event.