The Seattle Times contacted me to participate in the 'Best in the Pacific Northwest' contest. I can be nominated in more than one category (such as my business AND my Covid-19 awareness & support blog). I am SUPER excited and am SO grateful for how much you support me. I won't be notified when you vote as they keep that private as well as your information to the public because the Seattle Times won't​ sell or distribute your personal information. You won't be added to any email lists either, there's an option to select to keep you off any list if you choose. I will provide you step-by-step instructions (literally quick 5-min. form for each so 10 min. of your time TOTAL) below on how to submit me for both (the deadline is THIS Fri. [5/23/25] and said no cut-off time so I ask if you can do BEFORE that date that would ensure your nomination gets in).

Step by step instructions on submitting me for my Covid-19 awareness & support blog

​Step 1: Visit this link: https://www.shopbestinthepnw.com/?_hsmi=361120102&utm_source=hs_email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--M_SOXV3yrLOODDbIGgGQ5iEmEVeitby0dIGmp28-wyhLzrT_6_3bVGFHw4yrNQS4Wwp_lueZcsTqoLMABv9lRPReLCABzbYcgrUD9dB3hlM4Ztco&utm_content=361120102&utm_medium=email

Step 2: Click on the sky blue button on the Seattle image banner in the middle of the screen that reads: "Nominate Now"

Step 3: In the required field for "Business Name:" you would type everything (minus the quotation marks and underline under my blog website): "Carly Calabrese's Covid-19 awareness & support blog: corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com"

​Step 4: In the categories for nomination you'd click the "+" button for "Education"

Step 5: You'd click to put a check mark next to "Educational Services/Tutoring"

Step 6: You'd fill out your first and last name in the appropriate fields of the form.

Step 7: You'd fill out your email address in that section of the form.

Step 8: You'd input your zip code in the form.

Step 9: You'd select the appropriate check box "I am a fan" in that next required section of the form.

Step 10: For the last required section of the form, you'd select your choice with the appropriate check mark in that box (you'll know what I'm talking about once you read it). 🙂

Step 11: Send an email to [email protected] immediately after submitting your nomination informing me which categories (my business OR my blog) so I know you successfully nominated me. Of course, contact me ASAP, too if you have any questions/problems. Thank you! 🙏

Step 1: Visit this link: https://www.shopbestinthepnw.com/?_hsmi=361120102&utm_source=hs_email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--M_SOXV3yrLOODDbIGgGQ5iEmEVeitby0dIGmp28-wyhLzrT_6_3bVGFHw4yrNQS4Wwp_lueZcsTqoLMABv9lRPReLCABzbYcgrUD9dB3hlM4Ztco&utm_content=361120102&utm_medium=email

Step 2: Click on the sky blue button on the Seattle image banner in the middle of the screen that reads: "Nominate Now"

Step 3: In the required field for "Business Name:" you would type everything (minus the quotation marks): "Work Solutions"

Step 4: I ask you fill out this NON-required field (my business website) in that section of the form so they know which business I am so input: worksolutionstoday.com

Step 5: In the categories for nomination you'd click the "+" button for "Services"

Step 6: You'd click to put a check mark next to "Customer Service"

Step 7: You'd fill out your first and last name in the appropriate fields of the form.

Step 8: You'd fill out your email address in that section of the form.

Step 9: You'd input your zip code in that section of the form.

Step 10: You'd select the check mark next to the box that reads: "I am a fan"

​Step 11: For the last required section of the form, you'd select your choice with the appropriate check mark in that box (you'll know what I'm talking about once you read it). 🙂

Step 12: Send an email to [email protected] immediately after submitting your nomination informing me which categories (my business OR my blog) so I know you successfully nominated me. Of course, contact me ASAP, too if you have any questions/problems. Thank you! 🙏

I am open for freelance/independent contractor writing/editing projects/positions that are remote and U.S. based only that are for one-time, a specified time (such as a contract), or ongoing. If you are an editor of a publication/creative agency/marketing agency that hires for this type of thing/know of one, please email me at: [email protected] (I would even love to be added to a list if you aren't presently hiring). 🙂 Thank you! 🙏

Even if you aren't an editor/know of an editor that hires for this type of thing, I am still open for your remote and U.S. based only writing/editing projects. Remember I help individuals who are NOT just career seekers and business owners. My email to reach me: [email protected]. Thank you! 🙏

Please follow me on my blog. Steps to do so are here:

 1.   Sign into Blogger.com (it's free to create/have a blogger.com account).

2.   In the left menu, click Reading list.

3.   In the top right, click Manage reading list.

4.   Click Add.

5.   Type "corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com" to follow. Please note those are dashes in my blog's web address and NOT underscores.

6.   Click Next.

7.   Choose whether to follow publicly or anonymously.

8.   Click Follow.

I'd also love it if you would make productive & appropriate comments to my posts at this blog. To post comments, you would click the "Post a comment" button right below my post OR clicking in the "Enter a comment" box which is also at the bottom of my post. I've enabled it so that even those who don't have Google accounts can post comments. 🙂

When you are at my blog, you can share my posts (individually if you want to share a specific one) to someone else by clicking the sideways triangle with circles at the end in the upper-right hand corner of the post. I've provided a screenshot below with a red circle around the "Share" button that I'm referring to. Once you click on that button, it gives you options to get the link to my post, or share the post via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or email it directly to someone.

Thank you,



Carly Calabrese

Highly motivated entrepreneur that is open for freelance and remote only U.S. based writing/editing projects/positions for individuals, businesses, etc. (if you are an editor OR know of an editor that hires for this), please email me. Thank you! 🙏

Email me: [email protected]

Work Solutions (my business of 12 years that I founded)

Additionally, founder & manager of a Covid awareness & support blog visit: corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com

“Never let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game."--Babe Ruth

1. The “Secret Life of Marilyn” Lifetime movie is a drama film/biography that initially released May 30, 2015 and shows the life story of actress and model Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was an only child, coping with her estranged father, a mentally ill mother, and her boyfriends, as well as Marilyn being a high functioning mentally ill person herself. The “Secret Life of Marilyn” discusses her three failed marriages; her first husband who left her because of her mental illness, the second who physically abused her, and the third who loved her deeply but blamed her for the death of their baby. Marilyn had many high-profile affairs, one allegedly with John F. Kennedy.  By 1961 she was famous, celebrated, and under the care of a psychiatrist due to her depression.  At one point her second husband rescued her from a high security mental institution. Her unstable and chaotic life continued throughout her life until she was found dead by her housekeeper, Eunice Murray. An autopsy revealed she had a fatal number of sedatives in her system, and her death was ruled a probable homicide at the age of 36. Decades later conspiracy theories believe Robert and/or John Kennedy had had her killed because they feared she would go public with her love affairs and other government secrets she had gathered.

2. “​Miss you already” is a 2015 drama/romance film starring Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette. Toni is diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and all its side effects not just to her body and her relationships (with her husband, best friend, etc.) but her life. A definite must-see for those who have had breast cancer, know someone who has, and/or just want to be educated. You will never take being healthy and alive for granted again after seeing this film.

3. “Tristan + Isolde” is a 2006 drama/romance film starring James Franco, Sophia Miles, and Rufus Sewell.  The story of Tristan and Isolde is an ancient one.  The two drink a love potion by accident and fall in love. They deceive King Mark until Tristan is forced to flee. Later he marries Isolde the Fair (the wife of King Mark).

4. “The Perfect Guy” released in 2015 and tagged as an erotic thriller.  It stars Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy, and Morris Chestnut. Sanaa Lathan plays Leah Vaughn, who has a satisfying career and stable relationship with long-term boyfriend Dave (Morris Chestnut) who isn’t ready to commit to marriage and a family with her. She breaks up with Dave and meets Carter Duncan (Michael Ealy) who seems like “the perfect guy”. Watch this suspenseful thriller to see who Leah ends up with!

5. “Sylvia”, a 2003 movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Sylvia Plath, an academic, author, editor, and poet.  The film tells the story of Sylvia Plath’s life and her stormy marriage to famous poet Ted Hughes. Already coping with her husband’s chronic infidelities, Sylvia sinks into more depression after he leaves her for another woman. She deals with numerous tragedies in her life that lead to her death at age 30 in 1963.

6. “Jane Eyre” is not exactly a new or unheard-of story, this is the 1996 drama/romance film starring Anna Paquin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Fiona Shaw, and William Hurt. Jane, orphaned as a young girl, suffers abuse and humiliation from her aunt, until she is finally sent away to a strict boarding school for several years. She endures and eventually becomes the governess of Thornfield Hall, caring for the child of William Hurt and his sickly wife. Jane and William begin a passionate relationship that ends in tragedy. Don’t miss this classic period romance!

7. “Autumn in New York”, a 2000 drama/romance film starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder. Richard plays a 50-something playboy who has a second thought about his misconceptions about women, relationships, and sex after he meets Winona who is half his age and dying of terminal cancer. Watch this movie to see how they both experience a love only some can dream of in a lifetime.

8. “Sweet November” is a 2001 drama/romance film starring Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron. Keanu Reeves plays an advertising executive who loses his job and live-in girlfriend all in one day. When renewing his driver’s license at the DMV, he has Charlize kicked out of the DMV for cheating. Charlize decides to take Keanu in for one month as her lover. As their time together progresses, she learns to stop and enjoy the important things in life, such as helping others, the outdoors, and romance. Keanu proposes marriage and learns why Charlize only takes men in for a month. As a result, Keanu learns valuable life lessons from her, and became a better person as a result.

9. “Fault in Our Stars”, a 2014 drama film based on the best-selling adult novel by John Green, tells the remarkable story of Hazel Lancaster, a teen who is suffering from metastatic thyroid cancer. She falls in love with Augustus Waters, who had lost his leg to cancer but is nonetheless a survivor determined to live an extraordinary life. They take a trip to Amsterdam together because of Hazel’s obsession with Peter Van Houten, author of the cancer story “An Imperial Affliction”. The author impatiently lectures on the differences between fact and fiction, which proves true to the line from the movie, “The world is not a wish-granting factory.”

10. “Steel Magnolias” a 1989 drama film about 6 southern belles with husbands who are either gone, dead, or depressed. The gossipy women get together and the film shows each one of their lives. The movie, written by Robert Harling, is based on a true story. Shelby’s tale belonged to Harling’s sister, Susan, before Julia Roberts brought it to the big screen. Harling wanted to get the true story off his chest and celebrate his sister. The characters are based on real people from his hometown of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Tragedy strikes and through the tears and real-life dramas with the women this is a tragic love story between friends and women in general.  This one is bound to become one of your favorite movies.

Which of the movies have you seen listed in this article? Any new ones that you’d like to see that are listed in this article or know of any other ‘non-mainstream’ tragic love story movies you’d like to share? Comment publicly to this post.

By: Carly Calabrese
 
Carly Calabrese is a professional writer in Puyallup, WA (and owner of Work Solutions and manager of this website you're at). She's been published in Woman's World Magazine (twice), the Tacoma Daily Index, the Eatonville Dispatch (Newspaper), SouthSoundTalk.com, Tacoma.com, the Tacoma Art Group, the Federal Way Mirror (Newspaper), South Sound Magazine, Showcase Media Magazine, the Business Examiner, & the Puyallup Herald (Newspaper). If you are an editor OR know of an editor of a publication who hires freelance writers, please email Carly at: [email protected]. Thank you! 🙏

​Below is a picture of some of the chicken fajitas that I made for lunch today.

Below is just a screenshot (image) of my latest post so clicking on it will NOT take you there, instead you'd have to visit this direct link to it here: https://corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com/2025/05/how-to-properly-wear-mask.html

Below is just a screenshot (image) of another latest post so clicking on it will NOT take you there, instead you'd have to visit this direct link to it here: https://corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com/2025/05/advice-from-someone-i-know-who-got.html

Don't forget to 👇🙂

Please follow me on my blog. Steps to do so are here:


1.   Sign into Blogger.com (it's free to create/have a blogger.com account).
2.   In the left menu, click Reading list.
3.   In the top right, click Manage reading list.
4.   Click Add.
5.   Type "corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com" to follow. Please note those are dashes in my blog's web address and NOT underscores.
6.   Click Next.
7.   Choose whether to follow publicly or anonymously.
8.   Click Follow.


I'd also love it if you would make productive & appropriate comments to my posts at this blog. To post comments, you would click the "Post a comment" button right below my post OR clicking in the "Enter a comment" box which is also at the bottom of my post. I've enabled it so that even those who don't have Google accounts can post comments. 🙂


When you are at my blog, you can share my posts (individually if you want to share a specific one) to someone else by clicking the sideways triangle with circles at the end in the upper-right hand corner of the post. I've provided a screenshot below with a red circle around the "Share" button that I'm referring to. Once you click on that button, it gives you options to get the link to my post, or share the post via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or email it directly to someone.

Thank you,


Carly Calabrese

I help unhappy/unchallenged professionals land their dream career (whether it's starting a business or otherwise)

Email me: [email protected]

Work Solutions - "Providing career assistance/coaching/prep, business marketing, writing, editing, and LinkedIn services for individuals and freelance opportunities."

“Never let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game."--Babe Ruth