Gettin’ to know you, Gettin’ to know all about you… :)

I realized that I have new followers. Hello!!! And if you’ve been following my blog for a while now, thank you ❤ ❤ I know I have an About Me page and you’ve probably already read that. But I’d love to be reacquainted. So, here goes…

My name is K.Z. Morano.

All I want for Christmas is a pet dragon and a time machine.

Will Work For chocolate.

A real woman is strong and wears her battle scars with style.

My strangeness is the sexiest thing about me.

I have a passion for life, and for all things weird and wonderful.

My art is about telling stories that would make most people uncomfortable but at the same time encourage them to appreciate the beauty in dark fiction… to allow them to recognize that horror is an inevitable part of life and that it’s not something to run away from. Horror fiction is beautiful in such a way that it captures people’s capacity for love and hope and courage. It shows people’s will to survive under seemingly impossible circumstances. In the end, horror shows you how precious life is and it leaves you with the question of how hard are you willing to fight just to cling to life.

I take inspiration from life.

My heroes are my favorite writers: H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Neil Gaiman, and Clive Barker because they showed me the beauty in horror.

In my free time, I write dark and disturbing things, curl up with a book, spend time in the kitchen cooking, hang out with my grandma to bake cupcakes or to get our manis and pedis done, oh… and I shop… a lot. 😉

My life is crazy. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🙂

The thought of a good breakfast inspires me to get up in the morning. lol What can I say… I have a healthy appetite. 🙂

The most important thing to me right now is reconnecting with myself.

My number one nemesis is procrastination. It’s a disease and it’s contagious. That’s why I love surrounding myself with people who are productive and passionate about their craft. I love hearing about other people’s success stories. I’m not the kind of girl who gets envious of other people’s achievements (and if I sense that someone is that type, I try to stay away from them). I look at it this way: Their dreams came true; therefore, mine can too.

When I’m feeling lonely, I watch old black and white Hollywood movies to cheer myself up.

The combination of cruelty and ignorance scares the shit out of me.

The most challenging experience I’ve ever had was working with impoverished patients at the pediatric intensive care unit during my days as a volunteer. I worked with children that had very slim chances of survival. It was difficult not to get emotionally involved. In the hospital, you witness everything… the beginning of life, the end of life. It can be beautiful. It can be terrifying. And it’s most certainly challenging.

Having a well-nourished imagination is my secret to happiness.

My most awesome health tip: be meticulous about the food that you eat. Do your research, check food labels, and personally examine the source of your meat and vegetables. I enjoy preparing my own food from scratch. 🙂

I have an unhealthy obsession with pink.

The greatest thing I’ve ever learned is to love and be loved in return. Okay, I totally stole that one from Moulin Rouge, my favorite film. 🙂

I believe in fairy tales. Sure, sometimes I have to slay my own ogres… and sometimes, in the absence of a fairy godmother, I have to rely on my own magic… Still, I believe that I have the power to write my happy ever after.

I feel really sexy when I’m in water.

My ideal wedding is an elopement.

The most daring thing I’ve ever done was to run after a thief. I was a student then and I was wearing my gym class uniform and running shoes and for some reason it made me feel like I was a total bad-ass.lol
Now that I think about it, it was quite a stupid thing to do and it could’ve cost me my life. 😀 Anyway, a couple of guys tried to help and ran after him too but we didn’t catch him…

I really wish I had more time to blog and to visit other people’s blogs. I miss a lot of my blogger friends. Still, I’m very grateful to those who continue to support me despite my frequent absence.

I feel beautiful when I’m happy.

My favorite body part/s are my hands and my feet. They’re small and dainty and blemish-free but that doesn’t mean that I’m weak and idle. On the contrary, these feet have been to places and these hands have created a lot of things and have done a lot of hard work.

My style icons are Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel.

 

My fashion style is bohemian chic. I love tunics, chunky jewelry, denim vests, dresses with bold and eye-catching prints, tunics, hats, cardis, and one-of-a-kind purses. But I refuse to be categorized into a particular fashion personality. Sometimes, I enjoy rocking an edgy look—leather and studs– or an eccentric vibe—I adore Betsey Johnson… and sometimes, I prefer classics– I also love Kate Spade. Chloe, Chanel, Marc Jacobs and Burberry.

I think shoes are important because with the right shoes, a woman can be anywhere that she wants to be.

My favorite scent is Romance by Ralph Lauren/ Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue/ Lanvin Eclat D’ Arpege / Thierry Mugler Innocent / Marc Jacobs Daisy/ Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Blush/ Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede/ Jo Malone Basil and Neroli/ Burberry Sheer

I’m attracted to people who are passionate about the things that they do.

I write about strange things and anything that catches my fancy. I write about love, about fear, about people’s capacity for good and evil. I write about monsters—both imagined and real. My first story collection, 100 Nightmares, covered everything from ghosts and psychos to dark fairy tales and bizarre creatures in Japanese folklore.

A short message from me to you:

You’re only as beautiful as you believe yourself to be. ❤ Never forget your worth. ❤ It’s okay to ask for more. ❤ Dream. ❤ It’s never too late to write your own fairy tale. ❤ Strive to be original. ❤ Value your friendships. ❤ Speak up. ❤ Listen. ❤ Find your style and own it. ❤
xo K.Z.

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Treasuring Teatime with Family

Happy Holidays! 🙂 I’m spending more time with my family. I hope you are too. ^^
Make teatime (if that’s your thing) a regular activity with your loved ones, especially the older folks.

I like afternoon tea cos it gives us time for longer talks or longer silences– whichever we prefer.
I like how my granny grunts with disapproval at how tiny the sandwiches are.
I like that I get to eat all the cakes cos my grandmother can’t have too much sweets anyway.
I like that we get a senior citizen discount. lol

Last week, I went to granny’s house and brought a box of Korean red ginseng tea. So this is something you can do at home.

I bet you want to give your loved ones a gift that’s sentimental, something that screams ‘thoughtful’ and ‘sweet’ and ‘sincere’… Something that won’t depreciate over the years or turn to rubbish when the latest model comes out… Something unique… Something that’s gonna stay with them forever…. Something that’s not gonna burn a massive hole in your pocket…

Stop stressing yourself out. Spend time with them. Simple.

Time is really the best present that you can give your loved ones. And I’m not trying to get all mushy on you. Just sayin’. 🙂

And in case I don’t get to say this on the 25th, MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone. 🙂 🙂 🙂 xoxoxo

Challenge: Virtual Dinner Party

People follow my blog for a variety of reasons. Whatever they are, I’m extremely grateful and flattered. 🙂 But if you’re here for the writing, thank the gentleman Pirate; he’s always the one throwing writing challenges at me 😉 Today’s challenge, to host a soirée, a gathering – a dinner party, and invite the 5 most illustrative persons I would like to grace my humble abode.

Rules:

Throw a dinner party

– Five guests and oneself. While relatives are permitted, it will be more interesting if guests are public figures – dead or alive, speaking any language – or even fictional characters.

– In turn, tag five others to hold Virtual Parties of their own.

Well, first of all, there is no way in hell that the event would be at home; for the love of God, I’ll be sitting with royalty! Literally. Luckily, my family owns a reception hall, which I am very proud of. Considering my limitations, I think it would be the perfect venue for me to receive my very special guests. The reception hall was inspired by a Midsummer Night’s Dream… I’m guilty of having used one of the pictures in a previous challenge. ^^ It’s just as lovely during daytime.

My guest list:

1) Marie Antoinette, Queen of France – “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur.” (to her executioner)
2) Coco Chanel – “As soon as you set foot on a yacht you belong to some man, not to yourself, and you die of boredom.”
3) Audrey Hepburn – “I don’t want to be alone, I want to be left alone.”
4) Marilyn Monroe – “Do I look happy? I should—for I was a child nobody wanted. A lonely girl with a dream—who awakened to find that dream come true. I am Marilyn Monroe. Read my Cinderella story.”
5) Blair Waldorf – “Haven’t you heard? I’m the crazy bitch around here.”

Ok if you don’t know these women, I am not speaking to you — ever! ^^

I realize that after this little “soiree”, I would be knee-deep in debt but I don’t give a crap! This is quite possibly one of the best things that could ever happen to me in my entire life! I’m not gonna host a dinner — that would be too ambitious (as if my guest list isn’t ambitious enough). ^^ Instead, I’ve decided to go for tea — one could never go wrong with tea. The wait staff shall be dressed in their best; I shall hire violinists and some butterflies to fly ’round, if I could get my hands on them! (they shall not be harmed and will be returned to their normal habitat after the event) I’ll use the finest china and lace tablecloth that I could find – and afford. There’ll be cupcake towers and plenty of macarons de Paris – I know how the Queen and Queen B loves them. I want flowers everywhere! It’s gonna be an elegant, extravagant tea party — with a whole lot of excess!

The Menu

Various types of the finest tea (that I could get)

Rose petal loose leaf tea
Chamomile
Traditional English Breakfast Tea
Violette
Peppermint
Green Tea

lemon and sugar cubes

Macarons de Paris: rose, salted caramel, pistachio, chocolate, lemon and butterscotch

Cupcakes towers:

red velvet with cream cheese frosting
vanilla cupcakes with lemon buttercream frosting
chocolate cupcake with mint buttercream and chocolate chips
milk chocolate hazelnut cupcakes
brown butter almond cupcake with fresh strawberries and whip cream
coconut cream cupcakes with dark rum, banana slices and toasted coconut

Nibbles:

Raisin Scones with clotted cream, lemon curd and jam
Caramelized Apples with Brie On Croute
Madeleines
Hand-made Chocolate Truffles
Petit Croque Monsieur
finger sandwiches (toasted Gruyere cheese and ham)
Mushroom Duxelle in Vol-au-Vent
deviled eggs with salmon and caviar topping
Mini chocolate eclairs
Opera cakes

I know it’s a bit of an overkill but have you seen the Marie Antoinette film??? ^^

Obviously, I’m gonna shop for new clothes and get my hair done. So that I won’t look like crap while I sit with the most beautiful women to ever grace the face of this planet.

We’d talk about fashion and dresses… We’d talk about men — but only the significant ones like Truman Capote and Harry Winston. Yes, I believe diamonds will be discussed! I’d want to learn as much as I can from these women. I’d absorb everything like a sponge… If their beauty, grace and charm are somehow contagious, I so wanna catch it! I’ll take any advice that these women can give me.

After a while we’ll be talking about sordid scandals and affairs. We’d talk about the Queen’s sensual escapades — if they were true, about Coco Chanel’s time as Balsan’s mistress, and Blair, how is The Chuck Bass in bed??? ^^

Then we’ll talk about being misjudged and misunderstood. About their pains of being constantly scrutinized by the public eye and the pressure of having to meet everyone’s expectations.

And just before they disappear, I wanna hear it…. the truth. I wanna hear their side of the story. And if they’d let me, I shall write myself into exhaustion until I am able to tell the world of their untold stories. Marie Antoinette may have been the most hated woman in France but when I read her story, I FELT for her. Was she truly that selfish? Was it truly her fault? Yesterday and a few days before that, I have posted about the topic of judging others… I guess it will always remain a reality that if a person does a good deed, it is only remembered for a fleeting moment, and soon forgotten… but make one mistake — a misquoted word, a misinterpreted move — and it is forever immortalized in history.

I’m very interested in knowing what intriguing dinner party the following bloggers are going to plan. They are all brilliant writers with very different styles from each other. With their unbelievable imagination, I’m quite sure these people won’t let me down. ^^

Renee

rarasaur

Eric M. Vogt

Rick Mallery

Shadoza

Carolyn

miss marzipan

No obligation! Just thought you might think it’d be fun :p