I'm gonna write you a sonnet but I don't know where to start

I thought it would be a good idea to publish a master list of all of my lenses currently up and active on Squidoo, as that’s where I devote a lot of my writing time these days. I’ve sorted the lenses by category and subject matter and will try to remember to keep this list updated in the future! (Last updated February 2012)

Squidoo Article Master List

Here you will find a link link for all of the articles (“lenses”) I’ve published to date on Squidoo, organized by subject matter.

Art and Art Tutorials:
* Creating a Classical Still Life Oil Painting
* Getting Started with Oil Painting: Recommended Materials and References
* Paint a Portrait Like a Renaissance Old Master
* Painting from Photographs: How to Achieve More Realistic Results
* Reproducing an Old Master Portrait Painting
* Tips for Painting Realistic Flesh Tones in Oil
* Using Grisaille and Glazing Techniques to Reproduce an Old Master Painting
* What is Verdaccio and How To Use It in Your Paintings
* Why Reproducing Art is An Important Learning Tool For Artists
* Yves Tanguy – Surrealist Artist

Artwork for Sale:
* Cat Portraits by Nicole Pellegrini
* Kindle and Nook Sleeves Featuring Science Fiction Art
* Space Art by Nicole Pellegrini
* Still Life Oil Paintings by Nicole Pellegrini

Coloring Pages:
* Free Cat Art Coloring Pages
* Free Iris Coloring Pages
* Free Orchid Coloring Pages

Debates and Controversies:
* Are Infertile People Annoying?
* Does Internet Slacktivism Hurt or Help Real Activism?
* Men’s Rights Movement vs. Feminism

Fandom:
* Actor John Glover
* DragonCon in Atlanta, Georgia: Your Survival Guide
* Dwight Schultz Fan Page
* FanFiction.Net vs. Archive of Our Own
* Is Fan Fiction Wrong?
* Slash Conventions and Slash-Friendy Conventions in the United States
* What is Band Fanfiction?
* What is Fan Art?

Food and Wine:
* BBQ Hot Dog Casserole
* For the Love of Sushi
* How to Make Pizza at Home
* Kielbasa, Sauerkraut and Potato Casserole
* Learn Italian Cooking From the Best Cookbooks Available
* My New Jersey Wine Quest
* Save Money on Groceries and Eat Healthier, Too!
* Sicilian-Style Pasta with Eggplant
* Secrets to Perfect Pasta
* Shrimp Stir Fry with Bok Choy and Wax Beans
* Simmered Summer Squash
* Top 10 Favorite Cookbooks
* Welcome to Eataly New York
* Winter White Pork Chili

Gardening:
* The Foxglove Plant: Facts and Care

Health and Wellness:
* Infertility’s Common Thread
* Living with Garlic Intolerance or Allergy
* National Infertility Awareness Week
* Raising Infertility Awareness and Coping with Fertility Struggles
* Weight Watchers Points Plus: The Problem of 29
* Weight Watchers Points Plus 2012

Interviews with Cool People:
* Portrait of an Artist: Dr. David D. Carrozzino

Jewelry and Gemstones
* Beaded Jewelry Basics
* Charoite: Stone of Transformation
* Seraphinite – The Angel Stone

Music and Musicians
* Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins: A Tribute
* How Well Do You Know The Police?
* The Police Tour 2007-2008: My Wild Adventures Following the Band
* My Top 10 Concert Experiences
* Roger Waters The Wall 2012 USA Tour
* Stewart Copeland: The Rhythmatist of The Police
* The Ultimate Duran Duran Survey
* The Ultimate Foo Fighters Fan Survey
* The Ultimate Pink Floyd Fan Survey
* The Ultimate Police Fan Survey
* The Ultimate Van Halen Fan Survey
* Who Are The Hoosiers?
* Who Is The Best Drummer in Rock Music?

Personal Pages:
* All About Sockii: Jane of All Trades
* Jewelry by Nicole Pellegrini
* sockii’s 10 Most Recent Lenses
* sockii’s lensography
* Sockii Rocks! My Music Lensography
* sockii’s Winter Holiday Lensography

Travel and Destinations:
Caribbean:
* Visiting St. Kitts: A Guide for Tourists
Italy:
* Beautiful Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore
* Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan, Italy
* Rome: A Guide to the Eternal City
* A Tuscan Holiday in Siena, Italy
* Visiting Vencie: City of Romance and Mystery
London:
* One Week in London
Philadelphia:
* BYOB Dining in Philadelphia: A Guide
* Dining Out in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Winter Holidays
* 2011 Christmas Gifts for Classic Rock Fans
* About the Feast of the Seven Fishes
* Best Gifts for a Jewelry Maker
* Buy Nothing Day vs. Black Friday
* Cooking for a Holiday Party
* Gift Ideas for Your In-Laws
* Christmas Gifts for Beginning Home Cooks
* Christmas Gifts for Philadelphia Eagles Fans
* Gourmet Holiday Gifts for Italian Food Lovers
* Great Christmas Travel Destinations
* Holiday Events in Gloucester County, New Jersey
* Holiday Events in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Holiday Gifts for Poultry Enthusiasts
* Infertility and the Holidays: A Survival Guide
* Jewelry with a Twist for the Holidays
* Klark Kent’s “Yo Ho Ho” – My Favorite Christmas Song!
* Leonardo da Vinci Gift Ideas
* Make Money at Christmas Craft Fairs
* Music Box Sets for Christmas 2011
* My Top 10 Christmas Pet Peeves
* Nativity Scenes in Public Spaces: The Controversy Continues
* New Jersey Christmas Ornaments
* Our Fontanini Nativity
* Philadelphia-Themed Christmas Ornaments
* Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer Gifts
* Running a Fan-Fiction Secret Santa Exchange
* Sockii’s Christmas Wishlist
* Sockii’s Picks: Best Squidoo Christmas Lenses
* A Totally Awesome 80s Christmas
* The Ultimate Christmas Survey
* The Ultimate Christmas Movie Survey
* The Ultimate Christmas Music Survey
* Traditional Italian Holiday Treats

Dragon*Con! It’s coming! Are you ready? Are you excited? Are you trembling in fear yet?

If you need some help finding your way around the convention and knowing what to expect, check out my new Guide to DragonCon 2011 (and Beyond). You’ll find useful links, resources, and the latest news on this year’s convention. Hope to see you there!

Who Are The Hoosiers?

Well, they just happen to be my current favorite pop-rock band. I love their silly sense of humor and catchy music. And although I am not always one to go for the singer, The Hoosiers’ Irwin Sparkes has a gorgeous voice that’s really hard to resist.

Oh yeah, drummer Alan Sharland is kind of hot, too.

If you haven’t heard of them before, check out the video link below. Then, check out my tribute page to the band, Who Are The Hoosiers? You’ll learn more about them and also have a chance to sample more of their music.

Are you trying Weight Watchers new weightloss program and finding the PointsPlus is not working for you? Are you at a low daily PointsPlus target of 29? Then read my recent article, “Weight Watchers Points Plus: The Problem of 29.” This piece takes a mathematical look at the Weight Watchers formulas and how PointsPlus works for men and women at different starting weights.

Y’all know I’m a huge Stewart Copeland fan. Well, of course I had to create a little Tribute to Stewart on Squidoo. Nothing there I’m sure the diehard fans won’t know already, but you can have fun debating Stewart vs. Neil Peart (I know better than to engage in yet another Stewart vs. Sting debate!)

Looking for some fun stuff to do this December in Philadelphia? Check out my list of The Top 5 Free Holiday Activities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It doesn’t matter if you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the season, these are fun things to do that won’t cost you a dime.

Also, I’ve updated my master list of Philadelphia restaurant reviews, so if you are looking for a good place to eat while in town, check those recommendations out.

My reviews of the four Wall shows I attended in October and November of this year. They were amazing! Truly some of the best live performances I have ever witnessed. Here are the full reviews:

Roger Waters: The Wall Live at Madison Square Garden, October 5 2010 by Nicole Pellegrini

Roger Waters Brings the Wall Live to Philadelphia: Three Nights in Review by Nicole Pellegrini

July 17, 2010 was “Tama Day” at Dale’s Drum Shop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. To celebrate the event, not only was the president of the U.S division of Tama Drums, Bill Reim, at the shop, but Jeff Seitz held a drum
clinic and Q&A session with attendees. Jeff is most well-known for being Stewart Copeland’s drum tech for over thirty years, however he is also an accomplished musician and engineer in his own right. Jeff shared many stories of working with Stewart during his years with The Police, as well as on film scoring and other projects. Jeff also talked at length about his own experiences as a working musician, and gave some fascinating technique demos from behind the drum kit.

read more…

Master list of links to my New Jersey restaurant reviews. Enjoy – and enjoy some good eats throughout the Garden State! This list will be updated as I post more reviews.

* DiPaolo’s Italian Restaurant – Penns Grove, NJ (Italian)

* Eastern Garden – Sussex, NJ (Japnese, Sushi, Chinese, takeout)

* The Harrison House Diner & Restaurant – Mullica Hill, NJ (diner, family restaurant)

* Hollywood Cafe & Sports Bar – Woodbury Heights, NJ (bar food, diner)

* Rode’s Fireside Restaurant & Tavern – Woolwich Township, NJ (bar food, American)

Master list of links to my Philly restaurant reviews. Enjoy – and enjoy some good eats in the city! This list will be updated as I post more reviews.

* Amis (Italian, small-plates)

* Bistro La Baia (Italian, BYOB)

* Cichetteria 19 (Italian, small-plates)

* Cochon (French, BYOB)

* Devon Seafood Grill (Seafood)

* El Rey Mexican Restaurant (Mexican)

* Giwa (Korean)

* Kingyo (Japanese) – NOW CLOSED.

* Miran (Korean)

* Noble American Cookery (New American)

* Novita Bistro (Moroccan, BYOB)

* Roberto Cafe (Italian, BYOB)

* Salento (Italian, BYOB)

* Scannicchio’s (Italian, BYOB)

* Twenty Manning Grill (New American, comfort food)

* Village Whiskey (American, bar food)