Michele

Bubbly Wishes

Happy New Year Everyone. With all my heart. I hope that you will enjoy a year full of magical moments - that perhaps you even seek them out.

I will return on January  2.  Until then,  hugs and  cheers. xo

The Extended Meet n' Greet

Thank you to the wonderful people who play multiple times, each of you are guilty of spreading lots of comment cheer - hugs from me.

Spread the Comment Cheer.

The site of the day: the person above you and then you.

How to play:

• Leave a comment here that says hello.
• Now, go visit the person who commented above you and say Hello, Michele sent me.

Please play along.

Note to the first person commenting: simply say hello to me.

And YES, of course you are invited to play as often as you wish. As you already know, I encourage that sort of thing.

A Special Request

Moments ago I opened my in-box to discover no less than  seven  notes  directing me to this woman's blog.

Minerva has always been a blogger that I admire: she is able to infuse her words with such poetic spirit and elegance.  This ability to weave ideas, thoughts and  reflections into magical prose is, I believe, possible  because the writer of those words is herself an elegant and poetic spirit.  If you have never "introduced yourself" to Minerva. Please consider doing so. You will be enriched for doing so.   

Please take a moment, visit this post, and send  your  good wishes her way.  Thank-you!

The Daily Question From A Blogfriend

This question was e-mailed to me

Connie wants to know......

How do you celebrate Christmas Eve? Do you have any traditions that you follow?

The Answer and Ask Comment Game

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

It is time to socialise and make small talk.......

How shall we do this?

Let me explain:

The person before you has asked you a question. Now being a pleasant guest you shall answer. See, small talk! Now, you will want to welcome the next guest by asking a question of them.

It really is as simple as answer and ask. Please remember you are a pleasant guest and this is only small talk, albeit of the amusing kind. Some possible questions mght be:

• What book are you reading?
• Where did you get that lovely ensemble?
• Do you think Brad Pitt is over-rated?
• Who was your favourite Bond, James Bond?

Please, keep it non-personal and ask fun questions. And  yes you can come back to mix and mingle, in fact I encourage it.

Question for first person:

What is your favourite Christmas song?

Other Than A Santa Claus

Finish this line:

Yes, Virginia there is....

A Wrapping Question

According to BBC News:

For most of us, it's a Christmas afterthought. But to a growing number the wrapping of a Christmas present is every bit as important as the gift inside, and messy wrapping is the ultimate festive faux pas.

According to Me:

I adore wrapping gifts. I spend many hours choosing pretty paper, making silk or French wired ribbon bows, and tucking fresh holly or flowers in the bows.

According to my Mother:

The second best way to gift wrap is having a supply of decorative gift bags. She simply places each present in it's own bag and covers it with tissue paper. It's quick. It's easy. It has the added delight of making her  only daughter cringe at the mere thought of it. The only thing easier  than this? Having the same daughter offer to come over and do all of  her holiday wrapping - because, after all, she does claim to adore wrapping gifts.

Your turn. Do you agree that wrapping is as important as the gift inside? Do you adore wrapping gifts or would you perhaps like to invite me over to finish your holiday wrapping?

The Daily Three Things

What three celebrities would you most like ot meet under the mistletoe?

The Daily Question From A Blogfriend

This question was asked  in the Answer and Ask Comment Game

Karen wants to know.......

Naughty or nice?

Create A Short Story Comment Game

Let the create a short story game begin!

Do you need instructions? I didn't think so. But, just in case someone else does here they are:

You read the story as it unfolds in the comment section and add the next one, two or three lines. No, you may not write four that would be greedy.

And so the story begins....

Twas  four days before Christmas and all through the house  not a creature was stirring except for.......

Let the create a short story game begin!

Do you need instructions? I didn't think so. But, just in case someone else does here they are:

You read the story as it unfolds in the comment section and add the next one, two or three lines. No, you may not write four that would be greedy.

And so the story begins....

Twas  four days before Christmas and all through the house  not a creature was stirring except for.......

The Seven Letters Game

It's a Thursday thing.....

It is that magical time again. That time when all the letters of the alphabet get to be placed in a pretty row for one of my comment games. Yes, I will pause while you clap your hands in glee. Okay, stop clapping dammit you are holding up the game. Now,what is the current alphabet theme? Seven letter words. Yes, it is time to show off your big word collection.   

So, in the spirit of alphabet games may I suggest that we create a list of seven letter words, put in alphabetical order of course.

Now begin  with the letter A, the next person does B and so on.....

Yes, you can return to play again, after all, there are many seven letter words, correct?

It's a Thursday thing.....

It is that magical time again. That time when all the letters of the alphabet get to be placed in a pretty row for one of my comment games. Yes, I will pause while you clap your hands in glee. Okay, stop clapping dammit you are holding up the game. Now,what is the current alphabet theme? Seven letter words. Yes, it is time to show off your big word collection.   

So, in the spirit of alphabet games may I suggest that we create a list of seven letter words, put in alphabetical order of course.

Now begin  with the letter A, the next person does B and so on.....

Yes, you can return to play again, after all, there are many seven letter words, correct?

It's a Thursday thing.....

It is that magical time again. That time when all the letters of the alphabet get to be placed in a pretty row for one of my comment games. Yes, I will pause while you clap your hands in glee. Okay, stop clapping dammit you are holding up the game. Now,what is the current alphabet theme? Seven letter words. Yes, it is time to show off your big word collection.   

So, in the spirit of alphabet games may I suggest that we create a list of seven letter words, put in alphabetical order of course.

Now begin  with the letter A, the next person does B and so on.....

Yes, you can return to play again, after all, there are many seven letter words, correct?

Other Than My Two Front Teeth

Finish this line:

All I want for Christmas is.........

Seeking Advice

Imagine this.....

You are walking through a parking lot towards your car, you witness the driver of a very large car pull into  a small spot and ding, scratch, and dent the vehicle in the spot beside hers.  You then watch as the driver gets out of her  car,  looks at the damage done to both cars, get back into her car and move to another vacant spot, which is two rows away from the scene of  the crime.

You patiently wait while she gets out of her car, you then you walk over and  politely ask her if she  realizes that she just damaged another car. She asks if it is your car that is damaged. You reply, no, but you simply witnessed the entire incident. She   smiles sweetly and says: "that was a very expensive car,  the owner must have money, so let's just keep it between us." Again, she smiles sweetly and walks away.

What would you do if you were the witness?

First, let me tell you what I did.

Yes, this really happened. Yes, I was the witness. What did  I do?  Well,  I left my business card under the wiper of  the innocent car. On the back of  my card I wrote the licence plate number and  vehicle description of the guilty car.

Later, when I told my neighbour about the  incident she said I was wrong to interfere. According to her, I should  have offered compassion to the at-fault-lady because she was elderly, because the damaged car was a BMW, and because it is  so close to Christmas. Despite my neighbour's reasoning I still think I did the right thing. The owner of the innocent car has contacted me and he is very grateful, and seems oh-so-charming. Yet, I do feel terribly guilty for "turning in" an elderly lady.

What would you have done if you were me?

Caption Contest Number Ninety

Yes. Another caption contest. You know the rules, yes? You think of a caption for the picture in the extended  post and submit it in the comment section. We at All Things Michele will once again select the best ones (every single one) and award each one (every single one) with an imaginary trophy for their imaginary caption-contest-winner cabinet.

Yes. Another caption contest. You know the rules, yes? You think of a caption for the picture in the extended  post and submit it in the comment section. We at All Things Michele will once again select the best ones (every single one) and award each one (every single one) with an imaginary trophy for their imaginary caption-contest-winner cabinet.

Yes. Another caption contest. You know the rules, yes? You think of a caption for the picture in the extended  post and submit it in the comment section. We at All Things Michele will once again select the best ones (every single one) and award each one (every single one) with an imaginary trophy for their imaginary caption-contest-winner cabinet.

Yes. Another caption contest. You know the rules, yes? You think of a caption for the picture in the extended  post and submit it in the comment section. We at All Things Michele will once again select the best ones (every single one) and award each one (every single one) with an imaginary trophy for their imaginary caption-contest-winner cabinet.

Wanting Your Opinion

US beauty queen to keep her title:

The current Miss USA, Tara Conner, is to keep her title despite allegations of underage drinking, drug abuse and speculation about her love life. She won a second chance after a crisis meeting with Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe beauty pageant contest.

Kentucky-born Miss Conner has become a regular on the New York party scene and a fixture in US tabloid newspapers since winning her title in April. She only turned 21 ,the legal drinking age in New York state, on Monday.

Mr Trump summoned Miss Conner to a Manhattan meeting on Tuesday, amid speculation that the beauty queen would be stripped of her title. Instead Mr Trump declared: "I've always been a believer in second chances." He said Miss Conner had become caught up in the "whirlwind" of a New York lifestyle, and added that she would not get another chance. A tearful Miss Conner, her voice breaking with emotion, thanked Mr Trump, saying: "I swear I will not let you down."

Last week Mr Trump was reported to be "seriously studying the situation", after becoming concerned at Miss Conner's personal conduct. Winners of the Miss USA title, part of the wider Miss Universe competition, are expected to abide by a code of moral behaviour. Under the terms of their year-long contracts, the winners are required to take part in a host of public engagements for the beauty pageant organisers. Miss Conner, by contrast, has ended up in American tabloids for all the wrong reasons.

She has developed a reputation as a party girl after being spotted dancing and drinking in a string of New York nightclubs and bars. There have been allegations of drug abuse and reports of scandalous behaviour in Trump Tower, where pageant winners receive a grace-and-favour apartment for a year. Miss Conner and another winner, Miss Teen USA, were told to leave their shared apartments after they were reportedly spotted kissing in public. Last week Miss Conner retreated from Manhattan as calls grew for her to relinquish the title, heading back home to Kentucky.

Do you agree that Miss USA deserves a second chance? Do you think this will affect the pageant's  "wholesome image"? Do you think this "scandal" will hurt her professionally or further glamorize the bad behaviour of celebrities? Is it fair to expect pageant winners to "abide by a code of moral behaviour"? Finally, should this story even be considered news-worthy?