Oct 13, 2013 |
Y’all know how I love-love-love the idea of Something Good: those little tidbits in life that make it worthwhile. Smiling at a stranger, getting an unexpected hug from my daughter, sitting with a friend at church.
The New Inklings
It’s no surprise that I’ve been less-than-stellar for a few months. For reasons that aren’t necessarily unique but are often personal, I’ve felt, for lack of a better description, run over and run down. We all have them: those moments when the world seems to push, pull, and crush us into submission. Those days when all you can do is breathe in, breathe out, and do it again. Those times when others are so consumed by their own trials and terrors that it makes reaching out seem selfish.
Yeah. Been there, done that, as the song goes.
But if I don’t change, then nothing ever changes. Right? What’s that quote?
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” ~Henry Ford
Yeah. That’s it.
Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect? That theory that, in essence, says one flap of a butterfly’s wing, under certain conditions, can result in a hurricane across the globe?
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we all were a butterfly? If you knew, if you were conscious of every thing you did, and how it affected others, what kind of impact would you have on your world, and the ever-growing circle of life around you? People who you don’t even know who know people you still don’t know who might be acquainted with someone who met someone who talked to someone else who was a neighbor of a friend of a relative of someone you hold dear… What if you knew without a doubt that you could have that kind of impact on the world?
What would you do? And how would you do it? What if the answer lies not in the goal, but in the idea. What if, by taking that first step, that’s all you needed to do? What if, just by flapping your wings once, you could cause a hurricane across the globe?
I decided since something needed to change for the good, that meant I’d better do the changing.
And on the flip side, that also meant to continue doing the things I didn’t necessarily want to do even though I knew I should do them. Like eating brussel sprouts. (Hey, wait a minute! I love brussel sprouts!)
So yesterday I went to my monthly Writer’s Club meeting. I was tired. I had a lot on my mind. And I wanted to spend time with Dot before she went off to work and out with her Guy.
But since history has proven that the meetings are beneficial, I put on my big girl pants and headed out. And, of course, I loved it. So very glad I went.
We were gifted with two speakers: Lynne Spreen and CJ Hernley who spoke less on writing and more on marketing. Which is just what This Girl needed to hear.
Learning How to Market
I’ve also personally been nudged, aggressively, to listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos of some exceptional speakers. Andy Andrews and Dan Miller to name two.
If you’ve never heard these men speak, I strongly encourage you to do so. They are phenomenal. Influential. Brilliant. And down to earth. They don’t throw pie-in-the-sky ideas at you. They don’t ask you to do anything the common public isn’t willing or able to do. But they do have some amazing resources available to help you reach your personal goals.
So as it seems the pieces of this puzzle are coming together for me, I took another two leaps (yes, I feel like SuperWoman right now!).
The first is I finally drafted the title piece for Broken Girl and Other Stories of Redemption: A Collection of Parables, Poetry & Prose.
Broken Girl cover
I realized after yesterday’s meeting that I’ve just been sitting on this project, waiting. Waiting for what? Nothing, really. Just waiting.
Waiting for a reason to finish compiling my stories and essays. Waiting to feel like I could do it. Waiting to get it done. But waiting doesn’t get it done. Waiting is… well, waiting.
So today I drafted the title piece, and worked more on curating my writings for this Project into one computer folder. Throughout this week, I’ll review and edit and format. And pray for a way to get published. Again. But that’s next week’s problem. This week, my goal is to assemble the book. And see where it takes me. One story at a time.
The second Something Good I accomplished today was to set up my Author’s Page at Amazon. Did you know such a thing existed? I sure didn’t. Not until yesterday’s meeting! [It’d be a big help if y’all could click on over and give me a “like”, as well as leave a review for either of the books you have on your shelf.]
So I did these things. And I’m hoping to do more, and reap more. I’ve a huge Faith-based project in the works so I hope you’ll stick around for that.
But even with all these great career-momentous movements on my horizon, I have to let you know the best moment I had lately was coming home last week while Dot was finishing up a college presentation. And I found this waiting for me:
She’s a Keeper!
Before I get back to flapping my wings, I leave you with this inspiration:
Do Something
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Sep 30, 2013 |
A month ago, I shared with you a few suggestions for stocking up the pantry to easily provide for your family and company without having to go to the store at the last minute. These tips are also great for those times when inclement weather or lack of transportation interferes with your daily schedule.
But what about those non-food needs? A well-stocked cabinet not only covers emergency moments, but can also provide some fun family time. Pretend you’re going camping: turn off the lights, the TV, the computers and see what you can do without electronics.
Batteries for flashlights and portable radios are essential. If you don’t have a gas stove, you may want to invest in a small outdoor grill. But if the weather’s too cold, there are alternatives for indoor cooking. A fireplace can be a great gathering place for roasting S’mores (with adult supervision, of course!).
Water and personal care products are essential. One of my favorite fun moments is stocking up at the local store in the Travel-Size section. One small plastic box holds all the shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and toothpaste a person needs for two weeks. Don’t forget body wash and deodorant! Face and body wipes are also great.
Aside from the necessary items, how do you pass the time when there’s no electricity? Cards and board games are great!
Family Fun Time
Are your kids creative? When I was a child, our favorite Christmas gift that we could count on each year was our Creation Boxes. Mom and Dad would get a cardboard file box for each of us kids, and fill them to the brim with blank paper, construction paper, notebooks, paper, pens, colored pencils, crayons, glue, scissors… pretty much the ultimate scrapbook kit before there were such things. We built our own kingdoms, created our own games, and wrote our own stories.
I’ve created another PDF Checklist to start you on your way to a well-stocked emergency kit. Not to mention, some unplugged family fun!
Did I forget anything? What are your favorite items to add to the list?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote.
You may also enjoy reading:
Stocking up the Pantry
Sep 11, 2013 |
Have you ever heard of House Party? It’s a social network website where companies choose applicants to showcase their product. Typically, if chosen to participate, you agree to invite at least 12 people to your shindig and promote the whazoo out of it before, during and after. Tweet, post, link, like, comment and share. Post videos. Tweet photos. Pin party ideas. Whichever product you’re chosen for, you also agree to host your party on a specific day. That’s right. It’s like a national block party with 1,000 gatherings taking place at the same time. How fun is that, right?
At least it sounds like fun. I’ve yet to be chosen to host a House Party. But I have been chosen to participate with their smaller program, Chatterbox: the selected participants need only enjoy the product then do some social sharing. No party participation required. As you can guess by this post title, I was recently chosen to be a Chatterbox for McCormick’s Grill Mates. Six products, a sampling of recipes, and some helpful hints on how to share.
Last week, this assortment was delivered to my doorstep:
My #GrillMatesPack from McCormick
Which means this week, I spent a couple evenings in the kitchen coming up with some delicious ways to spice up dinner at Bedford Manor.
As you may know, Dot started work last week. Coupled with her college schedule, and our meal schedule is more hit-or-miss than it used to be. The #GrillMatesPack couldn’t have come at a better time. I made it my goal to cook food that would nourish us while we spent our Quality Family Time at the table. I also wanted leftovers that would give us a hearty lunch the next day.
The first recipe was simple and delicious.
Caribbean Jerk Chicken
I sprinkled the Perfect Pinch Caribbean Jerk seasonings over chicken strips before cooking.
Caribbean Jerk Chicken Strips
Just look at those abundant seasonings! Served atop a green salad with a side of Thousand Island dressing, and this meal needed nothing more.
The next day I enjoyed a light chicken salad for lunch. The only problem? No more leftovers. It was that good.
The second recipe was just as flavorful.
Worcestershire Pub Burger and Smoky Montreal Steak Sauce
I added McCormick’s Worcestershire Pub Burger seasonings to the ground beef before shaping into burgers. I then dashed each side with more of the same then cooked the four patties on my indoor grill.
Worcestershire Pub Burgers
You know how spices tend to dissipate a bit after the jar is opened? Yeah. That didn’t happen here. As soon as the burgers met the grill, my kitchen filled with the salivating aroma of Worcestershire sauce and grilling meat. I would have been happy to smell it all night long. But ~ bonus! ~ when the cooking was done, we actually got to eat these amazing treats!
I’ve never been one to enjoy a steak sauce. I often find the tangy or bitter flavors overwhelm the taste of the burger. No so with the Smoky Montreal Steak Sauce. It was a delightful compliment to the burger adding, as its name suggests, a smokiness that completed the experience. But did these burgers need it? Heck, no.
Both dinners were so hearty, so delicious. In just a few minutes each night I was able to have dinner on the table when Dot walked in the door. Even Berry joined us for some Quality Family Time… although the food was too good to give her a nibble.
Sorry, Berry Sunshine. Maybe next time. But then, again…
Looking for Licks
This weekend, I’m planning to mix up a meatloaf with the Backyard Brick Oven spices. The aroma from this jar definitely leans toward a hearty Italian pizzeria flavor. I’ll toss in a bit of onion and red peppers, a few diced tomatoes, then top with Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and we’ll have a meaty pizza in a pan instead of on a crust.
I’ll try to get a photo for you. Unless Berry beats me to it.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
From Cover to Cover
RECIPE: Independence Day Cupcakes
Mother’s Day Frittata
RECIPE: Chicken Stock & Soup
