PrttySweet Distractions

Acrophobia (heights), claustrophobia (enclosed spaces), hydrophobia (water) there is a long list of intense and persistent fears or phobias. Are you arrays of spiders, germs, falling? Peruse the interwebs and find out if your greatest fears have a name, and tell us all about it.

We are all capable of a beast under the right circumstances. We can spew vitriol in a heartbeat, with the right trigger. What triggers that inner beast to immerge? Can it be tamed? Can we ever heal the damage it does? If you wake the Beast, do you deserve what you get for poking the bear?

Part 2 of the series, What's IN Your Mind. We shared time with our shadows, now it's time to embrace the light. We all have those little things that make us smile, even when we think we aren't able. Let's embrace those nuances that make us believe dreams come true. Often times, it's easier to sit with our demons, it's comfortable. Let's get out of the shadows and recognize the thoughts that motiva...

This week is a two-part series called, What's IN Your Mind. First comes the darkness. When we feel like our own thoughts are our enemies: negative self-talk, fears, the voices in the shadows, at times they haunt us all. Whether it's mistakes we've made, all the useless what-ifs, or paralyzing comparisons in unfortunate shoulds', tell us all about those dark and shadowy places that keep you up at n...

Whether it’s a favorite pet, an animal you relate to, respect for wildlife in general, or the animal within, it is all about how they enhance or change our lives.  Celebrating the life love and spirit of our pets. The bonds of friendship in the comfort the gave us. The laughter they ignited. The secrets they kept, and the tears they licked away.

Oftentimes, people become who they perceive others need them to be. It's easy, too easy, to lose ourselves in the needs of others, with no regard for our own needs. Let us work towards finding a truth that let us be who we are while also being there for our loved ones. That balance isn't easy. It disrupts the status quo. Do we stay as expected to appease others, or do we embrace our own nature, ev...

We have all dealt with pain that we don't always wear on our sleeves. We paint on a smile to not burden others with our reality. It's never an easy feat. Why do we so readily listen to the pain of others and never think it a burden, yet we find it hard to share because we don't want to burden others? How many times do we suffer in silence to not inconvenience those around us or is that just an exc...

Ever want to drop that baggage you’re carrying? I’m over the craziness of the Holiday season, over the hoopla of New Years. It’s another day in the grind. Let’s leave it all behind instead of letting it all bog us down. Let’s just declare: I’m over it!

The end is Nigh and, once again, it's time for parties, celebration, and new beginnings. Are you glad the year is over and looking forward to bigger and better things, Could this be the year you stick to the resolutions, or will next year screw you as much as this one did?

After the excitement of Christmas day,  sometimes we need to wind down a bit.  It was a night of open poetry and conversion. 

This is a special Boxing Day edition to wish our very own Titus Llewellyn a very Happy Birthday. You can listen to his recordings on SoundCloud. Just click the link: https://soundcloud.com/titus-llewellyn-606309592 Titus has been an integral part of PrttySweet Distractions. His contributions and encouragement mean more than he knows. We hope this show can convey our care and gratitude for all the...

Season’s Greetings can weigh us down with unreasonable expectations of a jovial outlook. Sometimes, we get lost in the ghosts of holidays past and miss traditions that fell out of favor or the people we don’t get to see. Maybe it’s the gray skies and cold, unforgiving air that hurts to breathe that makes us want to burrito blanket binge watch until it’s all over and it’s a whole new year.

From rust-free nipples, to Frankenstein, to pacemakers galvanization shocks things to life or makes them stronger. Words can do both. They can change perspective or perception. They can incite action or upbraid us into complacency. A powerful tool used to educate and nurture, words are easily weaponized. Whether they have calmed anger, fought for injustice, crushed hope, or made you believe in the...

Smooth shiny baubles abound. The sound of jingle bells is all around. A big strong fir or some logs on the fire, tells us what do these holiday icons inspire?   Naughty or nice, tell us all about those bells, balls, and some hard wood.

Is it the cooler weather? Perhaps. Is it that people tend to be kinder during the holidays? Could be. What is it that makes the holidays feel like the holidays or summer feel like summer? Let's talk about the feeling of a season, whichever that may be.

We all prepare for the holidays in different ways, but sharing time with loved ones can be a truly beautiful experience. Sometimes, it’s bittersweet. While we all look forward to Thanksgiving leftovers. Sometimes, the holidays change in the blink of an eye. When we lose someone we love, it’s the little things that we miss most. The pie isn’t quite the same. The holidays seem a bit more hollow when...

A flock of ravens is called a conspiracy or an unkindness. But in today’s world, it can seem that everyone is out for themselves. Gone are the days of truly polite society. It feels like there is a true conspiracy of unkindness.

It's Functional dysfunction, after family has come and done what family does, come and tell us all about it. The shenanigans, the memories, the food... come join us in the aftermath and trek us all about it.    

Are you ever the optimist? Perhaps it’s easier to see the darker side of things? Maybe, you just like to stir things up or get by with the bare minimum. We're taught that anything worth doing is worth doing well. But what if we do things so badly, that others will do it for us? Ideal, no. KInd? Also no. What half do you fall into?

Crisp nights mean cuddle weather is upon us. Do you like to snuggle up in front of the fireplace? Do you like a warm comforter and a soft bed? When you get a little chilly, do you get a lot of thrill?  

Spooky season is over, and the skeletons are back in the closet, but the turkey hasn’t even been thawed. Why then are we bombarded with all the jingling bells in every store on every radio? Are you ready for the holidays to take over everything, or are you the type that likes one holiday at a time?

Italian sonnets, shakespearean sonnets, sestinas, oh my! Pantoum, palindrome, and blank verse to try. Acrostic or concrete, doesn't matter the mode. Villanelles, monotetra, blank verse, or ode. 

Pumpkin spice lattes have taken over. But does pumpkin spice really belong in everything? Forget the allspice in weird places. and just eat the pie!  

Changing leaves, crisp air, pumpkins, spice. and shorter days. Do you fall in love? Do you spice your rum? Tell us, how do you Fall?