Mar 1, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Nippers, NOLA, and a Happy Planner
Hey y’all! Remember when I fell in love with my Happy Planner? And the Meal Planner pages to track the holiday foods and monthly meatloaf recipes?
Of course, I also bought my Planner to help with the social media, writing, and editing projects.
Happy Planner Page: Social Media MoJo
In less than three months, I’ll be at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Immersed for five days with fellow writers, agents, publishers, teachers . . . friends. It’s pretty much my equivalent to a big family reunion.
One of the most important accessories a person can have at any conference is a notebook and calendar. There will be classes to take, people to meet. Projects to share and shop out. It’s important to be able to track all this information. And for me, it’s also important to have a creative outlet for journaling.
So I took a few extra pieces and designed my own Happy Planner. Of course, my main writing focus is NOLA, so I made sure to add those little touches as much as possible.
Grab a glass of tea, sit back, and let me tell you all about it.
Happy Planner: Conference Dashboard
The dashboard is a tabbed, plastic divider. Think of it like a large bookmark. Some people use it to hold their sticky pads for writing notes. I also use mine as a motivator. Each day, several times a day, I’ll be reminded to be productive and, as Dwayne Pride of NCIS: New Orleans says, “Learn Things.” All this one needs is a honkin’ big coffee cup sticker.
Happy Planner: Conference Style – supplies
The beauty of the Happy Planner is even if you pick up a calendared version, you can purchase inserts and accessories. I knew when I first bought my Planner, as the months passed, I’d take them out and put them into another Planner, like a memory book. Since the extra covers come three sets in a pack, I had two left over to choose from. I picked the stripes/dotted combo because the dots remind me of ~ wait for it ~ Tiffany Blue. Like y’all didn’t see that one coming, right?
The Planner inserts are designed to easily slip onto the discs, so whether you have five or fifty pages, they lay flat and secure.
Happy Planner: Conference Style – I Heart Discs
The six-month calendar extension pack is so my friend. Since the tabs are undated, instead of using them as monthly inserts, I use stickers to identify each day I’ll be on my trip, including travel time.
Happy Planner: Conference Style – Day Tabs
Each month-at-a-glance layout will be used for that day’s highlights, while several week-at-a-glance layouts have been converted:
- “What They Said . . . ” will be a collection of quotes to inspire and motivate
- “Growth Spurts” track those “Aha!” moments
This leaves two week-at-a-glance layouts to be used however the day requires. Perhaps autographs from fellow conferees? Notes to and from God? They can be anything.
Happy Planner: Conference Style – Week-at-a-Glance Pages
I picked up photo pocket inserts and a fuse tool, so I can make photo/glitter/memorabilia pages (as inspired by Me & My BIG Ideas blog post “Valentine’s Shaker Pocket“). Oh, and twelve small containers of glitter. Hey, they were on sale, okay? And who doesn’t love a good shake of glitter now and then?
Happy Planner: Conference Style – Photo Pages and Fuse Tool
Of course, no Planner is complete without a Bucket List, yes? I queried my friends for suggestions, and as you can see, This Girl is going to be pretty busy.
Happy Planner: Conference Style – Blue Ridge Bucket List
Finally, an ample supply of lined and graph pages. Because you never know . . . I may feel like writing something.
Happy Planner: Conference Style – Writing Pages
A few stickers, some washi tape, and my Happy Planner is almost ready. Of course, I’ll post photos as more pages are ready, but I’m pleased as punch with the initial layout.
Happy Planner: Conference Style – MoJo Front Cover
Am I missing anything? Let’s plan on Blue Ridge, y’all!
Happy Planner: Conference Style – Countdown Sheet
CLICK TO TWEET: Happy Planner: Conference Style
With a big gulp of sweet tea and lots of Happy Planning,
~Molly Jo
And Franky, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Feb 27, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Who says y’all have to be in New Orleans to celebrate Fat Tuesday?
MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf
Y’all know my love for all things NOLA, right? The food, the parties, the spices, the food. Oh, did I say that already? C’mon. You know it’s worth mentioning again.
“It’s all about the food.
It’s always all about the food.”
~Rain [NOLA]
And y’all know my two favorite food companies are Zatarain’s and Winco, right?
And since tomorrow’s the end of this year’s Mardi Gras, as promised here’s this month’s meatloaf recipe. What makes it all that? The Holy Trinity of New Orleans cuisine, and Zatarain’s Creole seasoning.
I’m crazy about Zatarain’s. Remember when Bedford Manor celebrated our five year housewarming, and the Big Z supplied the side dishes? [Read: NOLA, Zatarain’s Style.] Now that was a party. Of course I keep as much Zatarain’s in the pantry as I can, especially the seasonings.
So. You ready to get your flavor on? Then let’s head into the kitchen.
First, grab your gear: Eight simple ingredients, a mixing bowl, cutting board and knife, and meatloaf pan.
MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf ingredients
What, you ask, is the Holy Trinity? Only the best cooking base New Orleans has to offer. A blend of equal parts green pepper, onion, and celery.
NOLA FOOD HACK:
Add two (or more) dashes of
Creole seasoning to the
Holy Trinity during saute’.
MoJo Creole Meatloaf: Holy Trinity
Is your mouth watering yet? Are you needing the recipe like your sugar needs tea? Hold onto your Mojo bag, ’cause here it is.
Recipe: MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- Milk
- 1 egg
- 12 saltine cracker squares
- New Orleans Holy Trinity (apprx 1/2 small white onion, 1 celery stalk, 1/3 bell pepper)
- Zatarain's Creole Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Crush crackers into small bowl. Add just enough milk to cover. Set aside.
- Dice onion, celery, bell pepper. Saute on low until tender. Remove from heat. [Holy Trinity should equal apprx 1/2 cup when done.]
- In large mixing bowl, add ground beef, egg, crackers, Holy Trinity, and 1 tsp Creole seasonings. Mix thoroughly.
- Shape into loaf pan. Top with 1/2 tsp Creole seasonings.
- Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes.
3.1
https://franklymydearmojo.com/2017/02/27/recipe-mojos-creole-meatloaf/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
NOLA FOOD HACK:
Saute twice as much Holy Trinity
as your recipe calls for,
and keep the extra in an airtight container
in your fridge. It’s a great addition
to chicken salad, sandwiches,
and on its own.
Serve it up with some collared greens, corn bread, white wine and all the beads you can hang ’round your neck.
Mardi Gras at Bedford Manor
CLICK TO TWEET: Frankly, My Dear . . .: Recipe: MoJo’s Creole Meatloaf
CLICK TO TWEET: Who say you to have to be in New Orleans to celebrate Fat Tuesday?
With a Mardi Gras mask and Hurricane in hand,
Happy Eating!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
[DISCLAIMER: Any outside product or company referenced in this recipe is not affiliated with Frankly, My Dear . . ., Molly Jo Realy, New Inklings Press, or The Unemployment Cookbook. I have not been compensated for any mention or reference in this or any other post.]
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Jan 1, 2017 |
#AmWriting: Using a Calendar to Storyboard Your Novel
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
#AmWriting: Using a Calendar to Storyboard Your Novel
As a discovery writer, I sometimes feel as though I’m just a passenger on this train. I’m the transcriber of events observed. Or a screenwriter giving words to the movie playing in my head. Often, my characters will rebel, refuse, and rearrange the scenes I’m trying to create.
I don’t know about your writing, but getting deeper into the story has caused some drama, and I don’t just mean on the pages. NOLA has been started, restarted, edited, revamped, revised and solidified. And through the past three years of all that activity, it was getting hard to follow.
New Orleans happenings occur every day, and Josie is experiencing as much as she can. Characters, locations, food [oh! the food!], and of course drama, drama, drama.
Keeping Track with Story Cards is helpful with details, but I need something more. Certain events are set in stone, others are more fluid. NOLA takes place during October, and Halloween is a big occasion in the Big Easy. And let’s be real: There’s no bulletin board big enough to hang on my wall to pin over a hundred index cards on to in order to view it all. [Also, have y’all tried carrying a wall-size board in your backpack? Just sayin’.]
Calendaring NOLA helps me note the big events, emotions, and experiences that propel the story forward. This is where my Happy Planner comes into play. I call it responsible scrapbooking. With the month-at-a-glance layout and plethora of stickers, I laid out the story so far. From Josie’s runaway red-eye, to the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, to Cafe du Monde, meeting new friends, reclaiming old habits, there’s a lot to remember about this journey.
NOLA is timeless. That is, events don’t happen on specific dates. So whether October 3rd is a Monday or a Thursday is insignificant. For future storyboarding, I’ll invest in blank calendaring pages. I bought my Happy Planner in November, which meant the pages for October 2016 went unused. Not anymore ~ A few dot/stickers to cover the dates, and I have a full month’s layout.
#AmWriting: Nippers, NOLA, and a Happy Planner
- The side notes allow me to list characters, locations, foods (for the NOLA Companion Cookbook), and other items I need to know.
- The Face stickers let me track emotions: Is a particular moment happy, sad, or exciting?
- Using different colored pens highlight themes: locations, events, dramatic scenes.
- What’s for dinner? Stickers indicate new eating experiences. Coffee stickers? Please. Do I really need to explain these? [whisper: Cafe du Monde.]
- Calendaring keeps it real: Does my story flow, drag, or skip around? [Note to self: Using a pencil helps until you know for sure. #experienceshows.]
Storyboarding NOLA is also a great at-a-glance review that gives forward movement by quickly answering questions:
- When was this character introduced?
- When was the last time it rained in New Orleans?
- What was the last big drama?
- Are too many events happening too closely together?
Of course, any calendaring system will do, but I find the abundance of creative options offered through the Happy Planner system really works for me.
With some sweet tea and responsible scrapbooking,
~Molly Jo
Now it’s your turn: How do you keep track of your storyline?
CLICK TO TWEET: Frankly, My Dear . . . : #AmWriting: Using a Calendar to Storyboard Your Novel.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Dec 5, 2016 |
Let’s talk winter comfort foods and family memories. Remember this little teaser from last month?
My Happy Planner: Recipe Teaser
That’s right. I’ve been using My Happy Planner for just over two weeks now. Talk about your sweet sauce! I’m tracking bills and budget, appointments, social media sharings, and the greatest of great, holiday gatherings. Of course, the first and most important reason was the great recipe organizer. How many people does this make happy?
I’m pretty sure Jacqueline will try to steal my chili recipe once we get to Blue Ridge. [Don’t tell her, but I think I’ll sleep with it under my pillow for safe keeping. The planner. Not the chili.]
But enough about that. Today, we’re talking winter comfort food. Today, we’re talking easy. Today, we’re talking meatloaf.
I mean, doesn’t the word itself conjure up happy memories of family mealtimes, maybe a potluck or party? Meatloaf is my happy place. I can make it nine ways to Sunday, and then some. And to prove that statement, I intend to give you a dozen meatloaf recipes in 2017. Yup, that’s right. I’m gonna haul my cart over to Winco, grab some grub gear, and make y’all some of the best meatloafs you’ve had in years. One each month. How do you like them apples? Eww. No. I’m not putting apples in the meatloaf. It’s a phrase, people. Just a phrase. Although . . .No. No apples in the meatloaf. Moving on.
Today’s recipe was inspired by my Magic friend, Hobbes. No, he’s not magical. Well, he is kinda special. He’s one of my gaming buddies. You know. Magic: The Gathering. [Yes. I know. I’m a nerd. We’ll discuss that some other time.]
Hobbes’ Mexican Chicken Meatloaf
Hobbes is kinda talented when it comes to building good gaming decks, and since I needed a deck I could assault Aaron with, let’s say I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. He’d organize my cards and I’d let him live feed him properly. Being the overly perfectionist attentive host that I am, I made sure to ask if he had any allergies, and what his fave foods are. He came back with a combination of chicken recipes and Mexican flavors, and also mentioned meatloaf and potatoes. So, voila! [Side note: When I was a kid, I always thought that was viola, as in, a mini violin. Maybe it made a high-pitched screech that got everyone’s attention, and that’s how the word came about? Apparently not. But now you know I wasn’t always the wordsmith I pretend to be present myself as am.]
So. Uhm. Yes. Voila! Say hello to Hobbes’ Mexican Chicken Meatloaf.
Recipe: Hobbes' Mexican Chicken Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 cup (apprx) Fritos chili-cheese chips
- 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilis, drained
- 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced seasoned tomatoes, drained
- 1/2 packet taco seasonings
- 2 eggs
- milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Crush Fritos chips in small bowl. Add just enough milk to cover. Set aside.
- In large mixing bowl, add ground chicken, green chilis, tomatoes, eggs, and 1/4 packet taco seasonings. Mix thoroughly.
- Add Fritos. Mix.
- Shape into loaf pan.
- Top with remaining taco seasonings.
- Bake 50-60 minutes.
Notes
Using chicken instead of ground beef makes this a healthier alternative to some other meatloaf recipes. Two eggs will help bind the loaf together for presentation, but doesn't affect the taste. Use just enough milk to soften the corn chips.
3.1
https://franklymydearmojo.com/2016/12/05/recipe-hobbes-mexican-chicken-meatloaf/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
Did you ever think of using ground chicken instead of beef in your meatloaf? Well, now you have. You’re welcome.
Recipe: Mexican Chicken Meatloaf
Dice up a few potatoes, spritz with olive oil and season with dill or kosher salt, and you have a perfect side dish.
And here’s your bonus holiday food hack: Drop a half-cup of chocolate chips or chopped nuts (or both!) into your banana bread batter for a delightful dessert.
Now it’s your turn: What are some of your favorite meatloaf dishes?
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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