Weekend Warrior #27

Weekend Warrior #27

by | Aug 27, 2017 | Weekend Warrior

Happy Weekend to you!  I am here on Sunday morning, using my AGENDA to figure out this busy day.  Friday I started a new challenge.  It is another five-day,  free,  online challenge, and since I had such a successful run at the last one I did, I signed up for the next one.  The first one taught me about how to Brand myself, as an Artist and an Author. The current Challenge is about Tribe Building, and that is a logical thing for me to learn tips and tricks for, also.  Both of these subjects need to be worked on, constantly, because the audience of today may be a different audience a month from now, six months from now, and onward.  Not that the core audience should be changing itself, but the needs of the audience will change and refocus over time, and I need to stay relevant if I am going to level up as an artist and author.

The homework for today, Day 3 is making me hesitant to answer. It looks easy, because of launching the contest, I think I am already figuring out the next step for me.  I am actually going to delay answering today until after the video for the challenge is posted.  I want to be sure that my answers are well thought out because I am Always Thinking…and I need to get the most out of this challenge that I can, which means sometimes I have to think about the answer, not just slam it out onto the keyboard.

I am really inspired from taking these challenges.  I ran a contest for people to check out different online projects I have on the go, and I picked a winner.  Today I need to create the prize, after having a consultation with the winner, yesterday.  I will be delivering the prize tomorrow, as she is someone that I work with.

Yesterday should have been an easy win for the cleaning and prep cooking.  It wasn’t.  I actually spent the whole day writing on the blog and working on my social media presence, as well as completing day 2 of the GYT Challenge.  I made the video, and I wrote two stories for the blog, one has been published, and the other one has been written in draft format.  It is waiting for approval on some links before I publish, as I want to be sure that I have gotten permission from the sources before sharing the links.  (I did get permission already for the one shared here.)

You may think that it is not hard to spend the day in front of the computer.  In one sense, you would be correct with that assumption.  On the other hand, I am working on many things at the same time, most of the time with writing as the main event, either here, on the blog, or writing my book, elsewhere.  I enjoy the social networking, and I have friends that I interact with online.  I also try to share only the best, most clever tweets.  I have not branched out far in the Twitterverse, but I do check in daily.  It is something I am getting the hang of how to use.

If I am writing, and that is working, then yes, there is a fun factor there for me too.  I really enjoy writing, and I do want to work hard at launching my trilogy to be a success.  I am trying to learn as I go, and do as much of this as I can by myself.  I know my limits, though, and will be in need of an editor when I have the manuscript and my initial editing completed.  I will need help in different areas, but I just took a Facebook quiz, and it said that I will be a millionaire in 2019.  If that is correct, I am going to be a successful published author by then.  I don’t really believe that it will happen because Facebook said so, but it is something that could happen if I work hard to make it so.

Today I went to a movie with my husband.  We went to see The Nut Job 2, and it was cute and funny.  Full of puns!  Not a lot, alright, but there were a few.  Then I rushed home to put a roast in the oven for supper.  Then I ran out again to help a friend buy what she needed for her store to create a new display.  We were both a little off, maybe tired from being busy, so we decided to go get some iced coffee.  We both had the sugar free vanilla.  I really enjoyed it, and it was just what I needed to pick me up.  We also sat down for a bit to have a chat.  Sometimes it is good to make time to just catch up.  The down side of this is that I had to turn down a visit with another friend today because I had already committed to the first friend yesterday.  The timing just wasn’t working out to do everything, and I still have homework and earrings to make.

When I publish this I am going to finish making supper, watch the video for my challenge, do the homework, make the earrings, and empty the dishwasher so I can fill it up again.  If I get REAL ambitious I’ll throw a chicken in the crockpot for tomorrow’s prep cooking adventures.  I LOVE Roast beef sandwiches, so lunch tomorrow will be a treat!  Tuesday I will need something prepared, and I am going to make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole.  Hence the need to cook the chicken, tonight or tomorrow.  It is a simple recipe so it can be done in the morning.  Then all I will need to do is steam the broccoli, grate some cheese, and mix the recipe together and pop it into the oven.  If I get that far.  Right now, I could seriously go for a nap.  What does that mean?  I win this weekend! I even conquered a hard avocado last night when I was making nachos for supper. It never stood a chance. What did you do this weekend?

 

 

Weekend Warrior #27

Weekend Warrior #24

by | Aug 6, 2017 | Weekend Warrior

If you have ever wondered why I picked the “Angry Tomato” pic for this series, there are a few reasons.  One is that it made me laugh, out loud.  I reacted to it, so I decided it would work.  Another is because I am fighting my way to living a healthier lifestyle, and I wanted a kitchen themed picture for this series.  I try to do the cooking and cleaning on the weekends, I find it had to work at during the work week.  I have had some success this year in my spring cleaning challenge, but as of yet, I have not finished.  I choose not to dwell on what I have not done and try to move forward because of what I have done.

I am planning my day out, dreading the return to work tomorrow.  I am a firm believer that there should be less week and more weekend.  I do not have the power or the budget to sustain a lifestyle that does not include a day job, so the reality is, I have to keep the day job, even if I would rather devote all of my time to being creative and writing.

Which brings me to my books.  I have started them, yes.  I have had an idea (finally) this morning about where to continue as I plan to write some more today.  I don’t know if I will succeed in writing enough to complete the weekend challenge I joined, but I am going to see what I could do.  That is how I entered.  This doesn’t count, as it is not progressing on my book.  I will add it to the word count as a side project, because it is writing, nonetheless. I do have deadlines with my blog, too, though and I have to do my best to keep up with it here for myself, and for my followers.  Thank you to those who are taking the time to read my Blog, and welcome to any people who are new here.  I write at least twice a week, and this is one of my regular categories. Me vs the weekend. 🙂

Yesterday I got up early, bought and delivered a birthday present to a friend.  Her birthday had been the day before, and I wanted to make sure I got to see her.  We had a good talk, but as she was working it wasn’t the same as a real visit.  I am going to try and pop over again today, as I think it would be nice.

I then tackled some indoor gardening projects.  I have read online that spiders and other bugs do not like mint plants.  A few weeks ago, I had bought six different mint plants, and my husband replanted them into new pots for me.  I have noticed that they were drying up.  I am still trying to figure out a watering schedule for them.  I watered them from the top yesterday when I was finished, and just before I started writing I watered them from the bottom.  I will have to do some online research.  While I was working yesterday I found a green “leaf eater” bug, which my husband buried in the dirt saying that it is a leaf eater, that should be the end of it.  I have my doubts.  I also found an inchworm in another one, and that was successfully relocated outside on a leaf from that plant.  Late last night I got him to move a ladybug back outside for me.  The ants and spiders are not found as frequently inside, so that is a bonus.  I am hoping it works and more bugs stay outside.

Something else was a little confusing.  There is a spearmint plant amongst the varieties I bought, and around the base of the pot on the shelf that I have it on are a lot of hard, black dots.  It is either droppings from a critter or the plant went to seed because it was so dry.  I am not sure, the black bits are no bigger than granulated sugar pieces.  They may indeed be little seeds.  I may gather them up and plant them, to see what comes up!

My husband worked a few extra hours yesterday.  He has been doing that on one of his days off to help with our budget.  I am not going to write about my work here, at least not this week, I had a frustrating week.  I am going to leave it at that, and it is also the reason I did not do any over time at my work this week.  Sometimes I do.  This week it just wasn’t going to happen.

After he was done, we picked up a few groceries.  He made us subs for lunch and he barbequed some wieners for supper.  We then headed out to spend time with some friends.  He had a guys gaming night, and I watched a movie with another friend and called it a ladies night.  Sometimes it is important to plan activities apart.  Other times, like today, we will spend more time together.  It is OK to not spend every single minute with your significant other when you have free time.  It is healthy to have different friends, hobbies and activities.  There is still a common ground for the things you enjoy doing together, but a little break here and there is something we all need.

For prep cooking today I am making Bangin’ Ranch Drums.  It is a Trim Healthy Mama recipe.  I love it, and my husband is OK with it in the rotation, but like with all of the THM recipes, he doesn’t want it all the time.  We also got buns for barbequed cheeseburgers and sloppy joes.  I have some THM sloppy joe mix already made in my freezer.  He likes Manwich.  On this, I am OK with him making his own supper.  If I am to be on plan when I eat it, I will have it with salad, not on a bun.  I may make some green bean fries this week too, as I do enjoy them as a side with the chicken.  I am still working on everything all at once but trying to be realistic at the same time.

Today I will be continuing the cat sitting job.  I also did some plant care there yesterday, they have one houseplant and it needed TLC.  I don’t know about the plant boxes on the deck, though.  They look like they have had a rough summer, and I am not sure if they can be rescued.  I may try, just to surprise my friends when they come home.  I will see how the day goes.  It is very dry, there is a no fire ban here province wide. If I do work on the outdoor plants, I will have to remember to water them.  If they don’t read this, it will be a nice surprise.  If they do, I make no promises.  It may be beyond saving.

I am a member of the Fredericton Science Fiction Society.  The FSFS gets together a little less frequently than it used to, but today we are going to meet up at a local ice cream shop.  My husband is a member too, and the group usually has potluck events year round.  With a ban on fires, we decided it would be better to go have ice cream instead of an outdoor BBQ at a local park today.  Air conditioning may or may not have been a deciding factor in this plan.

We have to do some cleaning.  While I was working on my indoor gardening yesterday, my husband was trimming the lawn.  He didn’t mow it yet.  It is still very dry so there may not be a rush for that.  He is amused that I think we should water it with the garden hose.  It is turning brown.  I just want it to be healthy, and not be so dry it is at risk for burning.  There was a thunderstorm last night, but we need more rain to remove the risk of fires, sooner rather than later.

All in all a busy weekend, but thankfully, it has been going at a slower pace this week.  It is a holiday tomorrow, and I look forward to the holiday pay that I *may have* already spent yesterday.  It is OK. I will forfeit it to the budget since I went ahead and bought some extras.  It’s all about compromise and doing what you can to make life enjoyable with what you have to work with.  Weekends are supposed to be fun and relaxing.  I think I snuck a little of each in this weekend, so it is a win for me!  What did you do this weekend?

 

 

 

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 24

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 24

by | Aug 4, 2017 | Trust Your Gut

 

Trust Your Gut is a series of stories about real people with weight issues, and complications arising from those issues.  It will explain what the person is facing, what their options are, what they have decided to do to take action, and why they chose the path they are on.  Each person’s story will be based on truth, so it won’t all be happy, but it will be real.  The goal of this series is to get people talking about options that are available for people who have weight issues, on either end of the scale.  If you would like to contribute to this series, there is a contact form linked on my Homepage for this blog.  I know there are people out there that want to help people like them; as I do.

 

The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name.  If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story.  The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors.  I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.

This week I am pleased to share another of my own stories.

Here is  Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 24

Life is funny.  Today when I got up I expected good news here on my blog, as I had published an introduction and my second guest blog post on another blogger’s site.  I was not wrong.  The day turned dark on me this afternoon, and I came home and posted on social media that I was having a hard time.  Friends asked if they could help.  One person sent a friend request.  That person I had never chatted with before helped me turn my night around.  I am not saying that I am not still having the feelings I had earlier, but just having a cry wasn’t enough, either.  I had to do something different.

I have been using this blog to help myself and to try to help others.  Whether it is to share a laugh, or tips, or explore my inner thoughts and demons, I have a purpose here.  It has grown since its beginnings under a different name until I was challenged to rethink things and make it better.  I like to write, that is obvious, and I have rediscovered my passion for writing since I started this adventure last November.  I am working hard at it, to set and keep deadlines, and practice my writing skills.  I am proud of what I have done so far.

I am working on myself too.  On a day like today, there were too many emotions to keep under the cork.  The cork popped, and my tears flowed.  I was sitting here unashamedly crying my beautiful blue eyes out, trying to understand why I wasn’t good enough for something else I wanted to do.  I am working on a lot of me and there is a lot of me to work on.  I am trying to find my gumption every day, not every other week.  I am trying to maintain the cleaning I have done thus far in my home, and improve on it.  I am doing well with the Blog writing, but not so well in the book writing.  I am busy socially, both online and in real life.  I am going to Zumba when I can.  I do some prep cooking, but admittedly not enough.  As I am often told, sometimes I am too hard on myself.  The truth is, and I think I have shared this before, I don’t know how to be any other way.

I have issues with self-esteem.  I often feel like I am good, but not good enough.  This is part of what happened to me today.  When I am rejected, it is like I am taking a kick in the teeth.  I try not to let things show all the time, but there are days like today that I am frustrated, and my only way to get it out is through my tears.  I try really hard to not speak out impulsively in anger. I lost that one today, on both fronts.  I really feel like I am being treated unfairly, with a few different things that are happening in my life.  All of these things added up, and in time, they have to be let out.  Some people yell.  Some people become quiet.  Some people hide.  People like me, well we cry and eat.  Trying to fill the hole caused by whatever triggered the feelings.  I am trying to change that.

The new friend I made today said to write a gratitude list.  Write down five things that I have gratitude about in my life.  In a private message, she also invited me to write down 3 things that are causing me to have my issues I posted about.  I did.  I shared what was going on with a few close friends.  My new friend agreed with me that I had a reason to be upset.  I didn’t need the validation, but there it was.  Without telling this person everything that was setting me off today, they still saw that there is a lot going on for one person to deal with.  Keeping those three things inside was a part of what made it so hard for me to cope today.

I need to make some changes.  I can’t fix every problem that I am facing right now, but I am trying to work on the ones I can.  Tomorrow is a new day.  I will try to face it with my best foot forward, but right now, I am feeling a little nervous about that.  People that know me know that I am not good at hiding how I feel.  It’s going to be a bad day tomorrow because what happened today was bad news for me, and it will be good news for some other people tomorrow.  That is going to be hard to swallow.  Considering I would rather avoid it all and just make poor choices for what to eat and drink avoid real life tomorrow.  I am going to end with my gratitude list.  It didn’t fix my problems, but at least it got me thinking about something else.  For a little while.

1. Discovering my passion for writing and realizing it is what I am meant to do.
2.My husband is my rock and my hero.
3. The joy I get from working on my blog and watching it grow.
4.My stubbornness.
5. Friends and family.
6. My blue eyes.
7. My sense of humour.

After I calmed down a bit, my final entry to the list for the day was:

8.  I still have my teeth. Nobody actually managed to kick any out yet.

My new friend was right. It’s all about perspective.

#TrustYourGut.

 

Sun Kissed and Salt Licked

Sun Kissed and Salt Licked

by | Aug 2, 2017 | Guest Blogging, Writing

 

If you have been to my About page, you will recognize this picture.  It is from one of my favourite places in the world, in Chimney Corner, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.  It is a bench made from driftwood that overlooks a private beach.  You will not find it easily, it is not open to the public.  Not even very many locals have been here.  It is a gem in the home of my heart, and a place I think of often.

The ocean seems to find its way into my words when I write, whether it is song lyrics or into my fantasy trilogy.  That’s right, I am planning to write a fantasy trilogy based in the home of my heart.  It won’t be about my life, exactly, it will be straight from my imagination.  There may be familiar issues or mannerisms found in some of the characters, but I am not basing any of it on real people.  After meeting Kelly Armstrong a few weeks ago, I realized that for my first trilogy, it will be enough to write it without creating a new world for it to happen in.  I asked her during the Q&A session at the local library if she would ever write in a world that she created, and she answered that she didn’t plan to create any other worlds for her writing.  She said that she felt that there are people that are better suited to world building, and she isn’t one of those people.  I am reading some of her books now, and have read some before the event at the Library.  I am not sure if I will write more than a trilogy based in Cape Breton, or if I will connect all of my books there somehow.  However,  I do think it is a logical place for me to start.

I also got some books signed after the Q&A had finished.  I told her that I am writing my first trilogy and that I am a little nervous about writing book 2.  I am scared that I might get lost and stuck in there.  She told me I was looking at it from the wrong perspective.  She shared that book two is not where I should get lost, but where I should plan to have fun.  I am going to try and remember that.

Meeting Kelley Armstrong

Matty, Kelley Armstrong, and me at the local library.

I am writing this post to tie it into my upcoming Guest Post on another Blogger’s page. He is a friend I have met online since I started my blogging adventure, and he asked me to write a story for his Around The World category.  I wrote to him about my upcoming vacation in Cape Breton Island, and this became the topic I decided to write about.

The Atlantic Ocean, kissing the Cape Breton Coastline

The Atlantic Ocean, kissing the Cape Breton Coastline

The sun setting beside Margaree Island, seen from the shore of Cape Breton Island

The sun setting beside Margaree Island, seen from the shore of Cape Breton Island

What a Beach day! Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

What a Beach day! Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

Thanks to my friends and family members for the beautiful pics I blended together in this project, with permission.  I came back from my week in Cape Breton feeling relaxed and refreshed.  I did go swimming twice, and that is where I got the title for this story.  Salt water therapy on the shorelines of Cape Breton Island is the best kind and one money can’t buy.

I was honoured to be invited to share my story on Mohamad Al Karbi’s Blog.  I hope you take the time to visit and read the story of my vacation.  It is written to share MY Cape Breton with the world.  While you are there, if you have some time, there are many other posts in this and other categories.  I have enjoyed reading about different places in his blog, and I suspect if you want to read more about other places in the world, this is a way for me to help you discover the world through other people’s eyes, with their own stories.

You can read my Guest Blog # 2, Homesick for the Home of my Heart, here.

I hope you enjoy both stories for this project.  As always, I have enjoyed writing them.  Always Thinking…

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 24

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 23

by | Jul 27, 2017 | Trust Your Gut

 

Trust Your Gut is a series of stories about real people with weight issues, and complications arising from those issues.  It will explain what the person is facing, what their options are, what they have decided to do to take action, and why they chose the path they are on.  Each person’s story will be based on truth, so it won’t all be happy, but it will be real.  The goal of this series is to get people talking about options that are available for people who have weight issues, on either end of the scale.  If you would like to contribute to this series, there is a contact form linked on my Homepage for this blog.  I know there are people out there that want to help people like them; as I do.

 

The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name.  If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story.  The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors.  I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.

This week I am pleased to share another of my own stories.

Here is  Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 23

I really didn’t know if I was going to be able to write this on time this week.  I am fighting another migraine.  It started yesterday and hung on for the day today.  I am really hoping I can shake it off before the weekend. ( I love that song!) The last time I had a migraine the diagnosis was a sinus infection.  I am really hoping that it is not the same this time because I just want to feel healthy and well, not to have to take more antibiotics.

As I write I have done what I can and have taken what I can take. I will be taking another migraine pill before bed, which will likely be shortly after I publish this story tonight.

I left work a little early, which I signed up to do since I am not feeling so good.  I try to work my regular shifts and even do a little overtime when it is offered, so if I am looking to leave early, it is usually because I don’t feel well or there is something going on that I need to leave early for.  If I have company, for example.  That happened a few times this month.  I think today was the 5th time of the year that I left early.  Some people sign the paper to go home every day.  I can’t afford to go home early all of the time, but if it is necessary, then I make a decision to do it.

I have tried to stay on plan for the early part of the week, but when I am not feeling good, the lazy way wins.  I did not eat well for some of the meals I had this week.  Today was one of those days that I went off plan for supper.

If you haven’t heard of the phenomenon that is called “Chase The Ace” then you are missing out on something fun.  It is a lottery, so if you don’t gamble, it is not for you.  It does usually get run by a charity though, so if you wanted to donate the winnings back to the charity, that would be an option that you could still play if you don’t accept the prize for yourself.

There are a few of these events going on in the city, and all over the Maritimes.  You purchase tickets, and there is a growing jackpot.  There is a weekly prize amount, based on the number of tickets sold.  A certain percentage goes to the charity, and a certain amount is the jackpot.  The weekly prize is what you win if you don’t pick the Ace of Spades out of the remaining cards in the deck every week.

So if your ticket is drawn, you get to pick a card from the table.  If you pick the Ace of Spades, you win the jackpot. If you pick any other card, you win the weekly prize.  This week someone else picked another card, so next week we get to try again to “Chase the Ace.” The charity that is running the event that I go to is three local SPCA shelters and another animal rescue.  I am a person who loves animals, so I like going when I get the chance.

I took my migraine medicine and had a nap when I got home today.  I woke up in time to go to the Chase The Ace at Houlie’s Hometown Pub.  The food there is excellent.  I wasn’t feeling great, but I said to my husband, “Even zombies have to eat, ” and we decided to go.  He only has every third Thursday off, and we have gone a few other times.

I REALLY enjoy the Mozza sticks there.  In fact, I don’t even want to share them, they are that good.  I have had the nachos and a pulled pork wrap with sweet potato fries there before.  I have heard that the seafood chowder is amazing, and I wanted to try it tonight, but I will have to wait for another time, as it was sold out.  I opted to try the fish and chips and had sweet potato fries instead of traditional fries.  Sweet potato fries are on plan, so I sort of did OK. (I tried. I don’t feel good.  Eating with a migraine is a gamble in itself).

I have been watching MasterChef again.  I tapped the batter with my fork, and it sounded like it did when Gordon Ramsay did it on TV.  I cut into the first piece of fish, and just like on MasterChef, the fish was flaky and glistening.  It was really tasty, too.  I was eating my supper, and a thought occurred to me.  Pepere, my grandfather on my mother’s side, always said something when we were having a meal with fish.  He would always say, “Fish for brains!”  My hope is that the fish will help my brains feel better and lose the migraine.  It also can be loosely thought to reflect the zombie comment I had earlier said about going out for supper.

We didn’t have a jackpot winner this week so the chasing will continue at least for one more week.  The jackpot was around $4,800.00 tonight and will be higher next week.  I did get to see some friends and support a charity tonight.  I also had a delicious meal, and now I have a full belly to fuel me to start feeling better and work harder tomorrow.  Something was telling me to eat fish at supper tonight.  So even if it was off plan, it was a choice I made and I think it was the right one.

#TrustYourGut.