Working it Out Wednesday: Extra-Slow Cook Meal

I was so proud of myself yesterday. I took the time to prepare a slow cooker meal- one of my favorite recipes. I chopped, mixed, and stirred and went back to work, happy to not have to think about what was for dinner.

A few hours later, I happened to be in the kitchen (coffee time!) and peeked in the crockpot. Nothing was cooking. I hesitantly touched the bottom of the pot and it was completely cool. My eyes flashed up to the wall socket. Yes, I had plugged it in (just checking...embarrassing, but it has been known to happen!) and it hit me: check the GFI. It was the culprit, alright--must have been tripped and needed to be reset. The question of what to have for dinner was upon us after all.

Thought I'd share my boo boo. Here is my favorite crockpot meal-- which will now be dinner tonight-- in case you were wondering:

Moroccan Crockpot Tajine
1 (3lb) package of frozen stewing lamb or lamb shoulder or stew beef chunks or 8 skinless chicken thighs, bone-in  (I only use the chicken and it's boneless)
4 cloves garlic
2 onions
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon hot red chili pepper flakes or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups small chunks of carrots
3 cups large chunks of peeled squash or potatoes (I always use butternut squash)
1 (10 ounce) can condensed chicken broth or 1 cup chicken bouillon
1/2 cup pitted green olives (this is optional, but I love olives)
1 (19 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (also optional, but love the chickpeas, too!)

1. Thaw lamb, trim excess fat from lamb or beef, and cut into large bite-size pieces. If using chicken thighs, leave whole.
2. Mince garlic and thinly slice onions.
3. Stir garlic with onions, cumin, paprika, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, salt, chili flakes or cayenne pepper, carrots, squash (or potatoes), broth, and olives (if using).
4. Add meat.
5. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours or low for 9-10 hours.
6. Stir in chickpeas, if using, during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
7. Serve over couscous or crusty bread.

Total Yumminess

I found this on recipezaar.com a couple of years ago and love love love it.

Enjoy your day (and dinner tonight)!
-M

Working It Out Wednesday: Picnic

"Mom, why don't you blog about E's picnic today." my 10 year old son suggested.  At first, I thought it was a nice idea simply because he was thinking of his younger brother, but then I thought, "Sure, why not" because it incorporates reading & summer, two themes I wanted to touch upon today.

Today marks the official start of our Summer Giveaways!  We've created a separate page for this special event, Ta-Da!!!.  We encourage you to participate in the giveaways and become a fan of our blog if you haven't already.

In celebration of the last week of school, my 8 year-old son's class is walking to a nearby park and having a picnic today.  Parents will also attend and were asked to bring a book to read with their child while picnicking.   It made me think about some of the books I loved to read as a kid and one I'd like to re-read just for the fun of it is James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl.  My kids love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney and the Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton as well.  Although neither one has ever picked up James and the Giant Peach, I'm delighted that they've found several book series they love to read.

The weather is supposed to be amazingly hot today (heat index of 100 degrees) so we'll try to find a shady spot at the park to eat and read under.  I know my son's very excited about having me and his 2 year-old brother join him for lunch today, and I'm looking forward to it as well. 

Find a happy place to read, enjoy the summer fruit that's now available (I will be packing some in our picnic basket), and be sure to enter our giveaway contest.

Wishing all a Wonderful Wednesday,

Elena

Working it Out Wednesday: Giveaways!

Summer is soon upon us and with it comes Summer Reading!!!  To add to your summer reading list we will be having some random summer giveaways on our blog over the next few months.  The key is to stay tuned and keep reading our blog.  Our giveaways are to add to the fun of summer but also a token of our appreciation for following & enjoying our blog.


Now, regarding summer reading, I've added a current photo of my nightstand reading.  Currently, I'm enjoying a Harlequin Nocturne book called The Beholder by Connie Hall and as soon as I've finished it I'll read another Nocturne novel called Ghost Stalker by Jenna Kernan.  A fun read I heard about was Bite Me by Christopher Moore so I'm hoping to read that soon too. 

Books currently on my night stand...

For anyone loving Star Wars and Crafts I would like to recommend The Star Wars Craft Book by Bonnie Burton.  The book has fun & easy, "no sew" crafts.  In fact, some of my own crafts are photographed in this book and I admit that they were easy to make and the end results were really cute.  I made a Star Wars T-shirt throw pillow and a Star Wars T-shirt tote.


Finally - who's loving Game of Thrones on HBO?  After each episode I literally sit there and think "wow".  Plus, I'm totally loving Jason Momoa as the strong & sexy Khal Drogo.  I recently got the boxed set written by George R.R. Martin since I'm loving the HBO story so much and am not anticipating the end of the season.  Yet, these are lengthy books so they're not going to be quick reads but I have all summer. 


So what's on your summer-must-read list?  Go ahead and share your summer reading recommendations...


Happy Reading!!!


Elena

Working It Out Wednesday: Motion

The wheels on the bus go round and round.

Working It Out Wednesday: Preparation

RWA (Romance Writers of America) National conference begins at end of June in NYC.  I am excited about attending this conference for several reasons.  First, my mother will be attending with me.  I rarely get to see my mom because we don't live close to one another so the fact that we will be together for a week is exciting for me.  My mother is a published author who, for the past 20 years, also manages literary marketing/social media/website design for author's via Booktalk / promotion details featured at TalkInk


I'm excited about networking and attending workshops.  I attended a writer's conference on a cruise ship in January and the networking was amazing.  I loved meeting author's, getting editor/agent feedback, and listening to current market insight at the workshops.  I left with such a renewed attitude and energy that's been feeding into my writing this year.  Mid-way through the year, RWA Nationals should propel my writing forward for the remaining months of  2011.


Preparation is key for me right now, though.  I'm in the process of writing the synopsis for two novels, as well as editing one novel and soon to begin editing the second.  I want to attend the conference with some really strong material.


It will be great to dress up, socialize, be in NYC (!!!), and absorb some really great information that can only benefit my attitude and my writing. 


May you all be preparing your novels for success as well.  Wish Michele & I luck!


-Elena

Work It Out Wednesday: Taking Time

I need help. I admit it. The bf is constantly asking that I not work so much, but I can't help it; I am in a perpetual state of being behind. Don't know how that happens since I'm always working! While I have gotten better, I still find I can't quite stop checking emails when I'm off. That, of course, leads to my wanting to take care of whatever issue or question was detailed in the email, which, then, turns into several more responses and documentation. I'm stressed just typing this out!

This week, I requested Monday and Tuesday off for doctor appointments. Last week was very busy, so it felt good to not have to rush from work to the doctor's offices. But I still found myself working. How do I stop? Should I reward myself with a sticker for every hour I don't log on or check voice messages? At the end of the weekend, I could treat myself with a prize if I've collected enough stickers? I don't know but I have to stop. There is too much going on in my head. Monday night, I was so distracted as I rushed down the stairs into the basement, that I slipped and fell. Luckily, I am only sporting the beginnings of some nasty bruises and am a bit sore in certain places, but this mishap only illustrates that I am too busy rushing from place to place, activity to activity. 

Last week, I attended a work-related workshop that was inspiring, as I relayed here. It made me think about the journey I had started when I was younger: the journey of discovering what life had to offer- what I had to offer. Somehow, I veered off the path and wandered off. The workshop was the start of my re-thinking how I prioritized my time and this weekend added to my feelings. Sure, work is important and I pride myself on my work ethic; still, life is not all about work. It's about taking the time to stop and smell the flowers along the path, watch the sunset, go for walk, create something spectacular. 

Seen during walk along river

Yesterday, after my appointment, I went for a walk along the river. It was a beautiful day and I stopped to take pictures along the way and to listen to the rushing river. I want more days like that. Yes, I was up at midnight checking my emails, but I didn't log in the entire day. It was an amazing feeling. Plus, I was able to spend time writing, so that made me feel good.

Hayley during walk

cherry-scented stickers

I'm going to make it a point to take the signs- the workshop, falling down stairs- and slow down. Make time for the writing, creating, enjoying, seeing. Maybe I'll have to start with earning a sticker for every hour I don't work? I just got some Hello Kitty ones (they are scented). So even if I don't have any flowers to stop and smell, I can smell my stickers. :)

Are you finding yourself consumed by work duties? What do you do to ensure your time off is used effectively?

Happy Wednesday!
-M

Working It Out Wednesday: Tracking Events

I forgot my son's birthday today.  OK, it technically isn't until the end of the month, but I forgot to add it to my Google calendar.  No big deal, right?  Actually, to him it was. 

Near the end of 2010 I finally sat down at the computer and began to add appointments, meetings, school events, kids sports schedules, and even bill due dates to my Google calendar.  I love the email notifications I get on my Blackberry for each event I create, thus, no late or missed events and it keeps all the information so organized and at my fingertips (gotta love the Smartphones).

However, today my son checked to see what weekday his birthday fell on, only to realize I hadn't made a notation about it on the calendar.  I'm methodical about updating it and printing it out and tacking it on our kitchen bulletin board so the whole family can track the events instead of constantly asking me what's going on.  BTW, I love adding my husband's email address to the events so he too can be updated on appointments and such.  Although, he's told me several times how annoying these emails are.  Oh well.

It got me thinking though, how others manage the 24 hours we all have each day.  On Monday I blogged about spontaneity and ignoring the to-do list, but my calendar isn't a to-do list.  It consists of appointments and scheduled events that need to be attended.  With so many Apps & online tools there's probably a zillion ways to track these events.



Our Kitchen Bulletin Board

 As I've said, I've been happy with my Google calendar but obviously, in the case of my son's birthday and my own wedding anniversary (I realized afterwards that I didn't record that either for May!), it's not perfect.  Plus, I've added a photo of our kitchen bulletin board where we still hang school schedules, school lunch menus, sports schedules, etc. for reference as well.  Yikes, Kid Clutter, you're all probably thinking (see photo) but this works for our family.  We're not late to events and my family knows where to look for the information instead of me being the gatekeeper of it all.

If you have a better suggestion, please do share, but for now I'll just update my Google calendar with my son's birthday and my wedding anniversary (and set them as "reoccurring").

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Elena

Working It Out Wednesday: One Perspective

I can't draw. Period. But I love art and have always wanted to take oil painting classes. I attribute the fact that I never got around to taking classes to my insecurity about not being able to draw. Recently, I made myself sign up at a local school and started attending a couple of weeks ago.


There are four of us in the class. After our teacher told us about her background, she asked us to introduce ourselves. When it was my turn, I shared my nervousness due to my perceived lack of ability, but expressed my love for art and photography. Her response was warm and reassuring: she told me that oil painting is what you make of it and I shouldn't be worried because oils were very forgiving. My photography background would play a role in my painting experience, she said, and she was interested in seeing how it would enhance my work. Finally, she added that aside from being comfortable with mixing colors, perspective was what it was all about. 


I have thought about what she said since then and I realized that this was a great philosophy to have about many things. I am writing a trilogy with Elena as well as my own YA novel and even though I am new to all this and feel a similar nervousness, I need to keep writing. This will help in my becoming comfortable with the process of mixing together the characters, plot, and conflict. My perspective may not be the same as others, but that is what makes life wonderful: the differing ideas and views. And it's what will make my painting and writing unique since it will be enhanced by my own experiences. 

I should have taken classes a long time ago!


I hope you are enjoying our posts. We'd love to hear your perspective!


Happy Wednesday!
--M

The picture I chose to replicate for class. Taken in Burano, Italy.

 

Working It Out Wednesday: Small Steps

Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I think about the amount of pages I need to write to finish my book.  When my heart starts beating faster than it should when I'm sitting in front of the computer, I take a few deep breaths and refocus on the amount of pages I want to write for THE DAY.  I begin to write and often I write more than I planned to.  Those written pages for the day put me that much closer to the end of the story.

Perhaps you've heard the advice to "write everyday".  I've heard this advice first hand from published authors, I've read it in writing journals, and I've told myself to do the same thing.  Although, I usually interpret the "everyday" part to "Monday thru Friday" because as much as I would love to write on Saturdays and Sundays, it usually doesn't happen because that's family time.

During my pregnancies, 40 weeks seemed so long and far away, but once I hit 30 weeks into my pregnancy, I then began the 10-week-countdown and suddenly, those 10 weeks flew and before I knew it I had a beautiful baby in my arms.  My book is like another "pregnancy" so-to-speak.  It's growing and developing and now that I'm working on the last 100 pages, I feel like I've begun the 10-week-countdown again.  Baby steps to the big finale - a complete book that I've written.

Continue to write words, paragraphs, and pages and soon those small steps will result in a finished piece of work. 

Below is a poem I found amongst my 7-year-old's school papers and wanted to share his Small Steps representing Spring.

Daffodils from our front yard

Spring
Spring has sprung.
Put on your rain boots.
Rain jacket.
I love Spring.
Nothing but mud.
Going to the park.




 Stay inspired and continue to write,

Elena

Working It Out Wednesday: Characters

Elena and I are winging it- this whole co-writing thing. Yes, we have some sort of system we've come up with and, yes, it is working (yay!) BUT perhaps we should be a bit more organized. We do have an outline and we try to talk weekly when we play tag with our story. Still, the story and characters are developing as we write.While allowing development to occur in this manner may be fine for writing alone, it might get confusing down the road with two of us.

I didn't really analyze all this until recently when I read Ink Diva Diaries regarding "How to Grow a Character." In it, the writer used an analogy I loved- though not necessarily the image it evoked. Lori Sizemore described her free writing process as vomiting her characters onto her page. I can relate to this because it is what I do; however, I commented that the character worksheets she introduces in her post might be beneficial to Elena and I so that our vomit would be consistent. (insert winky face here)

A day later, I was flipping through a book and I stopped on a page: Character Bio Worksheet. Are you hearing bells and whistles? Because I am. And the neon signs pointing to it are pretty bright!

In case you're interested, here are the questions in the Character Bio worksheet:

1. Age
2. Occupation
3. Family Members and/or Significant Others
4. Personality Traits
5. Character History (where he/she is from)
6. Highest Level of Education
7. Physical Traits
8. Biggest Motivator
9. Biggest Fear
10. Things he/she likes and dislikes
11. What kind of music does he/she listen to
12. What do they like/not like about themselves
13. What is their favorite childhood memory
14. What is their most traumatic life event
15. What is their most prized possession
16. What kind of transportation do they use
17. What is his/her favorite food
18. What is the most interesting thing about this character
19. What does this character's voice sound like
20. If limited to five words, which ones would most people who know this character choose to describe him/her

I'm not sure what we're going to do, but I do know I'll be analyzing the topic a bit more! I hope this gives you all something to think about, too.

Happy Writing!
M--