Showing posts with label Curiosity Quills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curiosity Quills. Show all posts

Monday, June 20, 2016

Magic Ice Cream!

It's a hot summer day. Sweat is rolling down your back. You love the sun, but the heat is so intense. Where can you find some relief???

You need some MAGIC ICE CREAM!! I'm so glad to have Sharon Bayliss here to share some secret Magic Ice Cream recipes to help us savor the release of her latest December People book. Check it out!

To celebrate the recent release of A Taste of Death and Honey, I've asked some of my spring wizard friends to share some magical summer concoctions. Through the years, Mundanes have attempted to make sweet treats without sugar. They've devised all sorts of chemicals to replace sugar, but there is really only one way to enjoy sweetness without sugar--magic. With the use of magic, you can even make ice cream without sugar OR fat. Don't believe me? Give some of these recipes a try.

Our spring wizards have released some of their secret recipes for magic ice cream just for Tara Tyler's blog:

Strawberry Ice Cream

Ingredients
  • 4 cups fresh strawberries
  • 3 tsp. real vanilla extract
  • 3 cups heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups local honey
  • 1 1/2 cup whole milk
  • Pinch of sea salt
Instructions

Put 2 cups of strawberries in a saucepan. Cover and heat over medium for about three minutes to soften. Chop the rest of the strawberries finely. Put heated and chopped strawberries in blender. Blend for only about 30 seconds to chop.

In a large bowl, whisk together cream, honey, milk, salt, and vanilla.

Add in the strawberries and beat until thoroughly combined. While you beat, recall a happy memory from your childhood. Preferably one experienced outdoors during the springtime.

Process in your ice cream maker according to manufactures’ directions.

Adapted from Live Simply.


Roasted Banana and Cinnamon Sorbet

Ingredients
  • 6 ripe bananas
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Arrange unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet. Roast until the banana skins have become deep brown, about 20-25 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Peel the bananas and place in a blender with the cinnamon. Blend until smooth. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least eight hours.

Place frozen banana cubes in the blender and let melt slightly (about five minutes). Blend! While you blend, think about the beach. Listen to the waves crashing against the sand and smell the salty air.


Watermelon Mint Sorbet

Ingredients
  • 1/4 of a seedless watermelon
  • 2 Tbsp fresh mint (preferably from your own garden)
  • 2 limes
Instructions

Cut the watermelon and scrape it into a blender. Blend until juice-like. Reserve 1/2 cup watermelon juice and pour the rest into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least eight hours.

Place frozen watermelon cubes, reserved juice, juice from limes, and mint in the blender. Blend! While you blend, recall your best memory from summertime. Preferably one from a day spent outdoors when you got a suntan.


Tropical Colada Sorbet

Ingredients
  • 2 cups frozen pineapple
  • 2 cups frozen mango
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • Juice from one orange
Instructions

Just place everything in a blender and go to town! Adjust ingredient amounts to create the desired consistency. While you blend, think sexy thoughts. Preferably about spending a hot night on the beach with the one you love. Serve with a tiny umbrella.

---

Now that you've enjoyed some tasty spring magic, try A Taste of Death and Honey!

This book will grab you by the throat, challenge your mind, and turn your heart inside out. Sharon Bayliss delivers a powerful, emotional punch with her third book in the December People series. - Amy Bearce, author of  The World of Aluvia Series
When Samantha’s parents died, she lost everything. Her home. Her friends. Her hope. Then a life-loving spring witch at the children’s shelter fills her life with light and joy once again.

But like the springtime, Samantha’s happiness doesn’t last forever. Her friend dies violently in front of her, the victim of a mysterious killing spell. Furious and grief-stricken, Samantha resents her own weak spring magic. She doesn’t need life and renewal. She wants revenge…and death.

Homeless and alone, Samantha seeks shelter with her old friends, the Vandergraff family, and finds an unexpected ally in the powerful winter solstice witch, Evangeline. The girls’ anger and eagerness lead them to cast a killing spell before knowing the truth behind Samantha’s friend’s death or the identity of her killer. 

Once the spell is cast, they can’t take it back, and they must fight to stop their own curse before it takes away everyone they love.


A proud Austinite, Sharon never saw much sense in moving anywhere else and got her degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. As an author and social worker, she has devoted her life to making the lives of real people better and the lives of fictional people much, much worse.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and still playing in the mud (which she now calls gardening).



So happy for Sharon! Her December People series is a delight!

On the home front, I wanted to mention that BROKEN BRANCH FALLS is on SALE this coming weekend JUNE 24, 25, 26 for 99 CENTS in honor of its Book Bday!! 

And if anyone would like to volunteer to do an ARC Review of the sequel, CRADLE ROCK, please let me know in the comments or email me, taratylertalks - at - gmail - dot - com. The cover is so awesome!! Reveal details COMING SOON!

Have a scrumdiddlyumptious week!!

Monday, February 9, 2015

Meet the Muffins!

First, some news:

I'm a lucky girl today! I feel like a semi-star cause I'm appearing at two prestigious blogs!

He's posting about publishing - check it out!

and

is highlighting Curiosity Quill's CHRONOLOGY - our lengthy collection of short stories
which was also recently reviewed in detail by the super fantastic


Woot and Woohaw!

And now, I'd like to introduce the 2015 A to ZMuffin Commando Squad!

C. Lee McKenzie is our fearless leader. She's tough but fair and very encouraging. Not a "drop and gimme fifty" drill sergeant. Sir! No, sir! (Thank goodness. I probably couldn't give her two!) And here's the rest of the squad:

We're going to be instigating a Twitter Blitz, going undercover to attack our assigned bloggers with a spree of comments, and keep our section ship shape!

And lastly, don't forget to enter my February - Read away the Mid Winter Blues - Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, May 24, 2013

Authors R Us - part 2


Celebration time again! Vikki hosts this wonderful hop every Friday.

Today I am continuing my celebration of being a part of Curiosity Quills Publishing! During the A to Z challenge, I shared some of the editing tips I gathered from CQ. They put out some crazy good books and I wanted to introduce you to three more fabulous authors...
Presenting: Eliza Tilton!
Eliza graduated from Dowling College with a BS in Visual Communications. When she’s not arguing with excel at her day job, or playing Dragon Age 2, again, she’s writing. Her stories hold a bit of the fantastical and there’s always a romance. She resides on Long Island with her husband, two kids and one very snuggly pit bull.

About her exciting YA Fantasy, BROKEN FOREST:
Hopeless he'll never be more than the boy who didn't save his brother, 17-year-old Avikar accepts his life as the family stable boy, trying to forget the past. But when his sister, Jeslyn, is kidnapped, the thought of losing another sibling catapults him on a desperate quest. With his best friend by his side, and using the tracking skills he learned from his father, he discovers Jeslyn has been taken, kidnapped by one Lucino, the young lord of Daath, a mystical place thought only to exist in fables.

And Lucino has plans for Jeslyn.

Praise for BROKEN FOREST:
"The premise and story were incredibly unique, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and romance." ~Jessa Russo, author of EVER

How to get BROKEN FOREST:

Eliza's Links:

Eliza's Advice: Write the bones and fill in the meat later.


Next we have James Wymore, he's a newbie, so he didn't have an author pic for me and his sci fi thriller, THEOCRACIDE, doesn't have a cover yet, but we'd still like to tell you about it!

At a time when everybody lives isolated lives behind computer glasses showing them whatever they want to see, Jason must abandon his idyllic life.  Just as things are coming together with his new girlfriend, his father drags him into a plot to assassinate the Undying Emperor.  With aliens invading the world and his sister dying of an incurable flu they brought, he plunges into a dark game of intrigue and conspiracy against the most powerful people in the world.  Is there any way to keep the girl he loves after committing Theocracide?

An ARC review:
“Wymore weaves a fantastic tale while taking a good hard look at religion, politics, immortality, entertainment, and technological advancement.  If you're looking for a thrilling sci-fi adventure that beautifully mirrors current real-world issues and advancements then this is the book for you.”  -Andrew Buckley (Acquisitions Manager and Author; Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish)

James's Links:

A piece of advice from James: Unplug sometimes.  Life is what happens outside.



And finally we have the cheeky Andrew Buckley!
We had a lovely interview a couple of months ago so I won't repeat his bio. But I will tell you he has some wild, innovative marketing ideas for his humorous paranormal, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH! Check out these hilarious videos:


MicroBlurb: In case of emergency, ask the Goldfish.



Well-chosen words about DEATH, THE DEVIL, AND THE GOLDFISH:
"Andrew Buckley's style and humour follows comfortably on and sits confidently next to the titans of the genre: Dogulas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Doug Naylor etc." - Jon Cross, The Podcast from the After Movie Diner

Andrew's Links:
WebsiteTwitter | Facebook | Amazon Author | Amazon

Hope you enjoyed that glimpse into the talented and twisted minds of some fellow Curiosity Quills authors - of which group I am very happy to be a part!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Authors R Us - part 1

Time to pay it forward...
I am so excited to be a part of Curiosity Quills Publishing! And I am in some impressive company. So this Friday and again in two weeks, I am Celebrating (thanks for the hop, Vikki!)  my publisher and my new found author buddies at CQ. I have gained a ton of info on marketing and what to expect, just by reading their facebook posts! And their books are unique and exciting!

First, I am pleased to introduce Katie Teller!

Katie hails from Australia and now lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter, and their dog. Working, traveling, and going to school for English and Creative Writing, she takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.

Katie's first book, Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh, is an NA historical romance and was just released last month. Here is a blurb about it:

When her sisters are snatched up to be added to the harem of the erratic Pharaoh, Naomi knows they won’t survive, so offers herself in their place. Impressed by her courage, the fearsome Commander Horemheb knows she's exactly what he is looking for…

But the Great Queen Nefertiti despises Naomi, stripping her of her Hebrew lineage, and changes her name to Kiya. With support from Horemheb, Kiya makes the Pharaoh fall in love with her, gaining his favor to conceive an heir, infuriating Nefertiti, who schemes to destroy Kiya. In an intense struggle for the future crown, if Kiya does bear a son, she will need to fight to protect him, as well as herself, from Nefertiti who is out for blood.

Kiya has received many rave reviews. Here is one:

"I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful this book is. 

The female lead, Naomi, is strong and powerful, and doesn't back down. She's exactly what we all want to see in fiction, but didn't feel anything like the author was forcing her to be someone she wasn't. Her actions were always believable and fitting. 

The love in this book isn't limited to one couple - in fact, love is shown to us in so many different people throughout KIYA. Different people, different types of love, different degrees of love; yet all of them powerful, well thought-out, and gripping."  - Jessa Russo, Author of EVER

Here are Katie's links:

And a parting piece of advice from Katie:
Never give up, never compromise your voice. You are what makes the story unique so don't let anyone drag you down. 

And our second CQ author today is:
Matthew Graybosch, author of upcoming science fantasy, Without Bloodshed, Part One of Starbreaker which is set to release July 4th! According to official records maintained by the state of New York, Matthew was born on Long Island in 1978. Questions have been raised as to whether he is, in fact, Rosemary’s Baby, the result of top-secret DOD attempts to continue Nazi experiments combining human technology and black magic, or that he sprang fully grown from his father’s forehead with a sledgehammer in one hand and a copy of The C Programming Language in the other — and he's been giving the poor man headaches ever since!
(Now that's speculative!)

Here is a blurb for Without Bloodshed:
Morgan Stormrider spent a decade killing tyrants, and he wants out. When a dictator’s public accusations make Morgan a liability to his organization, his duty is clear: he must depose Alexander Liebenthal without bloodshed, at any cost.

He just got that cool cover! Love it!
Here are Matthew's Links:
Author website   |   Starbreaker Series website

And a parting piece of advice: Read outside your chosen genre.

Have a terrific weekend! And hug your mother if you can! (virtual hugs, Mom!! Love ya!)

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Zeta


From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

Ziploc. Saved the best for last? Eh. Z isn't the most friendly letter to work with! But I do love Ziploc bags, maybe more than Swiffer! We use them for tons of storage, but here are some additional uses for Ziplocs:
  • Travel - I always put any bottled liquids or powders in ziplocs, had too many spill in the suitcase! Gallon size
  • Buy big and make your own snack size, saves lots of money
  • Leftovers - especially meat. I hate throwing food away, but meat is not usually served within the alotted time, so I end up throwing most of it away anyway. When I ziploc it right away, throwing it out is easier and cuts down on bugs
  • Crumbling - need graham cracker crumbs? frozen chocolate chipped down? etc? Put it in a ziploc and hammer away!
  • Money - especially for kids to bring to school for book fair or what have you, better than an envelope
  • Have to ship something fragile? Blow up a ziploc bag or two and put them in the box with it!
Z Special! - Puzzles! You must go visit Clarissa Draper and have your brain teazed! It's zany fun! And your thinking muscle needs exercize too!


Editing Tips

Zero, Zilch, Zippo.
I have no more to teach you, young padawans. Just go write!

Well, we made it through the challenge! Hope you enjoyed all the tips. And I hope you come back for the Reflections Post where I will share the stats from the over 800 blogs I visited during the challenge. PS - I kept track of my visitors and will be catching up with you in May! Thanks so much!

Find more A to Z posts here.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Psi (for Y)

From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

You! We are supposed to put ourselves last - and usually we moms do. But we also deserve time for us. Don't you forget about you! To spotlight you all, here are a couple of Lazy Housewife questions I asked friends that you can answer in the comments:

  • What is your most hated cleaning job?
    • bathrooms/toilets got the most votes
    • mopping
    • dusting
    • windows
    • laundry
    • garbage
  • Do you live close to relatives? 57% said no. How about you?
  • Yummy Recipes from You! 
    • When I celebrated my first year of blogging, I had a party and everyone brought a dish (shared a recipe). Here is the post if you'd like to see what the winners brought
    • I met a couple of new foodie friends with awesome recipes during the challenge:
Y Stress Reliever - Yoga, of course. I've tried this PIYO class recently that combines Pilates and Yoga and it's fabulous! Totally kicking my butt!


Editing Tips

Yes, I only have commonly confused "Y" words for you:
yin and yang (not ying and yang)
you're (contraction of you and are) / your (possessive)

Find more A to Z posts here.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Chi

From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

Xercise! So sue me, not many things start with X. And Xercise is important! I know I've mentioned xercise before, but it bears repeating! So here are some MORE TIPS, gathered from Prevention and SELF magazines and then some!
  • To motivate us to keep at exercising, Prevention recommends...
    • Start with "show-off" muscles like biceps which show results in as little as 2 weeks!
    • exercise in front of a mirror to see your muscles at work, flex it baby!
    • music - lifting to the beat is inspiring
    • challenge or even dare yourself to beat your last number of reps or to add weights
    • bring a friend - letting someone else down is harder than just letting yourself down
    • multitask - two moves are better than one and you get done with your workout quicker
  • SELF says...
    • do less cardio! their study said 30 min/day and 60 min/day lost about the same amount of fat in one week
    • try a new class, like 2Fly - a combination of aerobics and strength to a retro 90s beat
    • mind power - when doing an activity, think positive thoughts and you will be less likely to fail or fall. if you think you'll nose dive, you probably will!
    • workout in the AM
      • you feel fresher in the morning and by afternoon, you may use the too tired excuse
      • treats aren't as tempting, since you worked out, you may not want to waste it on that donut
      • mood high! you'll be happier all day
      • exercise gets brain juices flowing too, so you will be more productive
      • you will sleep better
      • and to motivate you: set a loud alarm & lay out your workout clothes the night before
  • Now the Lazy Housewife advice - Xercise while you...
    • pick up groceries - bicep curl those cans and 5 pound sugar sack and powerades... heck, we have to lift them about five times each (think about it)
    • walk upstairs - squeeze those glutes!
    • do the dishes, vacuum, & make dinner - ab crunches
    • talk on the phone - leg lifts, or any xercise of choice!
X Xtra: I have to mention another Xtra special blogger - Lady Jai is doing some awesome posts with Post It Notes. Great bits of advice in little reminder size! Check her out!


Editing Tips

Xtra spaces - go "find" all your double spaces - you will be surprised how many you have. And gone are the days of double spacing after a sentence - all single spacing, all the time. And check the beginning sand ends of paragraphs for an extra space which sometimes tag along when editing... little invisible buggers!

Find more A to Z posts here.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Omega (for W)

No, it isn't the end. But W is another pesky letter we have that the Greek alphabet doesn't. Woot! It's W day! We're almost done!

From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

Walking. Simple, yet effective. And a great way to multitask. Walking, requires little brain power, you just try not to walk into things like oncoming traffic, and don't trip. And watch out for that goose poop! Yuck! But here are a few of the many advantages and some TIPS for walking:

  • Exercise - the most obvious. Get up offa that thing! (courtesy James Brown)
  • Reduces Stress - gives you time to think and sort things out... or not think
  • Energizes - you just feel better after a good walk, ready to take on the next big thing, or be the next big thing!
  • Fresh air - being outside on a nice day just puts a smile on my face
  • Listen - to a book, music, or nature
  • Take the dog - if you have one, they need exercise too, and they are great walking partners.
  • Take a friend - the walk goes by so fast when you're gabbing with a friend
  • Treadmill - if you can't go outside, a treadmill has the same benefits, except the outside stuff. but on a treadmill, you can read or blog or catch up on a show
Extra W news: Weekly Support!


  • Celebrate the Small Things! Every Friday, my friend Vikki hosts a hop for us to support each other in our weekly accomplishments
  • Express Yourself! Danielle and Jackie get your week going by giving you a Monday topic to blog about


BTW, from yesterday, Velcro was invented in 1948 by a Swiss engineer (George de Mestralwho got the idea from burrs sticking to his dog!


Editing Tips

was - weak! telling. need ACTION! can have some, but replace most.

commonly confused "W" words:
wander (to roam aimlessly) / wonder (to have curiosity or doubt)
wrack (n, wreckage, ruin) / rack (v, to strain, torture, or torment)
wreak (to vent, bring about, or inflict upon a person) / reek (to give off fumes or unpleasant odor)
woke awoke (use awoke unless using woke up)

Find more A to Z posts here.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

5 (for V)

Ah, no V in Greek alphabet. Oh well! We are getting near the end, and almost out of letters! V is Five in Roman and Arabic. Novody's pervect!

From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

Veggies & Fruits! Again, I ask, Why can't veggies taste wonderful? Especially to kids! No one has to say, "Finish your dessert or you don't get your veggies!" This is one area I wish we could all go back to the basics about. We eat so much processed food with so many enhancers, chemical additives, perservatives, etc. It's terrible! We really need to go back to home grown. I honestly can't say I really like or crave any vegetables, I wish I did - I force myself to eat them. They are tolerable as we get older because we MUST eat them! That's why we need to get our kids used to eating them and liking them when they are young. Well, here are my TIPS for making Veggies easier to swallow:
    • Veggies don't count - On any weight loss program, I never count fruits and vegetables as negatives, encouraging myself to eat them when I'm hungry instead of trying to squeeze in bad calories (not to mention their nutrition info isn't on the package!)
    • Snack Size - when fresh fruits & veggies are in convenient, snack size portions, all you have to do is grab one and go. While many fruits come this way, the healthiest ones don't. When I first dig into my grapes or celery or cantalope, etc, I cut the whole thing and split them up, sealing the servings in ziplocs. Handy, healthy snacks! And great for lunches too!
    • Taste the Rainbow - no, not Skittles. Not all fruits & veggies are created equally - and you can't judge them by their covers. (I think I need a few more cliches here) The more colorful the "meat" of fruits and veggies is, the more nutrients they have (and by meat, I mean the part you eat)
    • Berry Best - berries are one of the best sources of nutrition. But they are hard to maintain. My skinny, veggie loving mother-in-law has great advice for healthy eating and she recommends not washing fruits and veggies until you are about to eat them to keep them fresher longer. And in my experience, this is the order to eat berries before they turn: Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Blueberries
    • Bagged Veggies - bagged salads and precut veggies are awesome time-savers and stay fresh for just as long as their whole counterparts
    • Take a Dip! - I love the individual cups of ranch and peanut butter for putting in lunches - perfect with celery, carrots, apples, etc.
    Extra V TIPVodka, et al - one drink a day keeps high cholesterol away...

    Other V stuff:

    Do you know when Velcro was invented? (Will reveal tomorrow)

    I'd love to know where you like to Vacation. We need some ideas. If you'd like, give a response to the poll in the margin. Or give us recommendations in the comments.

    And if you ever decide to Vacation abroad, my friend Rhonda and her family visited the whole world in a year! Her A to Z theme is travel tips! You'd be surprised at some of the ways things work in other countries (or don't work!) Funny stuff! Check her out!


    Editing Tips

    commonly confused "V" words:
    vice (bad habit or sin) / vise (a clamping device or motion)
    vicious (evil, spiteful, malicious) / viscous (thick, non-flowing)

    Find more A to Z posts here.

    Wednesday, April 24, 2013

    Upsilon

    U Extra! I wanted to note these Ultimate Bloggers for their Ultra Encouraging Attitudes!
    DL Hammons with his Blog Blitz
    Alex J Cavanaugh with the Insecure Writers Support Group and constant support of others
    Keith Wynn is the Optimistic Existentialist - newer to me with thoughtful, relative words bringing us together
    Betsy Brock, the newest to me, showing how to power through the darkness and see the bright side!

    I made a special award for them that they can pass on if they choose. Feel free to take it and award it to bloggers who are Ultra something to you!

    From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

    Useless v Useful. Seems like a no brainer. Do away with useless and keep the useful. Unfortunately, if I got rid of all things that seem useless, I would be sad. So I guess some of them have a use after all... making me happy to have them! 

    Here are things I find truly Useless:
    1. Dust & Lint
    2. Telemarketing (does anyone actually buy anything from them?)
    3. Mosquitoes
    4. Pot Holes
    5. Tangles
    6. Negative Attitudes
    7. Worrying
    8. Nagging
    9. Moping
    10. Loafing (the definition of useless)
    And here are the Superpowers, the Useful, for vanquishing the Useless!
    1. Vacuum Cleaners
    2. Caller ID
    3. Citronella
    4. Stimulus Package (ha ha)
    5. Conditioner
    6. Kick in the Pants
    7. Talking to someone
    8. Asking nicely
    9. Finding something to smile about
    10. Doing
    What do you find Useless?


    Editing Tips

    all I have for U is a few compound words:
    uh-huh or uh huh       undersized      
    upper crust (n)       upper-crust (adj)

    Find more A to Z posts here.

    Tuesday, April 23, 2013

    Tau

    T Extra! Here are Three Talented Artists I found! Joanie, Kate, and Saul. You really need to see their different styles! And one has a contest to win a poster! Go see to find out who =)

    From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

    Tweet! I finally tumbled into Twitter. @Taratylertalks, of course. But as a Twitter Toddler, I need TIPS from YOU! I still feel like I'm at TJ Max, sifting through tons of clothes, looking for that one awesome top! So here are my questions for you Twits (affectionately titled)!

    1. What is the point of Twitter? The exchange of information, yeah, I know that much. But when I think of something to say, I debate whether to say it on Facebook or Twitter. Facebook seems more informal and Twitter seems more businesslike and advertisey (I like to put y's or ish on things to create my own adjectives, it's fun!)
    2. I finally figured out that RT = retweet, right? (don't laugh!)
    3. I am getting a bunch of new followers I don't know - how does that happen? Does my name get put on a "new twitter list?" Am I being suggested to other writers or something? And do I have to follow back?
    4. Speaking of following, how do I keep track of all the tweets? As I said, there are so many that are just advertisements - here's my book, here's my blog post. Where's the BEEF? Not really sure what I'm looking for and don't have time to sift through it all.
    5. What is protocol for responding to a tweet? star it as a favorite to "like" it?
    6. And I am really confused by the whole hashtag thing. Are those just ongoing conversations on specific topics? How do you join those? (or get out of them?) and which ones would you recommend? WTH is #FF??
    7. But I do have the lowdown on abbreviations - here is a list from A to Z 2011, Nyms (can't believe that was two years ago! IKR!?)
    8. Oh yeah - follow me if you like! I added social links in the margin for the occasion =) 
    More T TIPSTexting
    • don't be rude! the text can wait! talk to the person in front of you!
    • don't text and drive, duh! (or tweet or read comments. I admit I'm guilty at stop lights. I hope they install the device that turns off reception in cars when it's in Drive! Remove the temptation!)
    • don't be like teens! SET THE EXAMPLE! Show them you care about the world around you and you can limit your screen time! Limit thyself!

    Editing Tips

    that - it's distracting from your beautiful writing, that! over there! find and remove as many as you can. If sentence makes sense without it, delete it!
    timelines - use them to keep your story straight, even if you're a pantster. What time is it? (gotcha!)

    commonly confused "T" words:
    than (used to compare things) / then (sequences)
    that (refers to things) / who (refers to persons)
    there their / they're (you better know these by now and use them properly!)
    tic (involuntary muscle spasm) / tick (a light noise, a mark to check off items, a blood sucking insect)
    towards (depends on the editor)

    Find more A to Z posts here.

    Monday, April 22, 2013

    Sigma

    S Extra! I met a Super Woman in my a to z travels. Becky Due has done a fabulous job with the challenge. I was drawn in by her B-Word post and so many of her other posts are encouraging and empowering as well. And she's on her fifth publication! Check her out!

    From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

    Showercize! I've mentioned this before and I'm finally getting around to elaborating on it. There are many tasks we do each day that require very little brain power. Showering is one of them. And many of us complain we do not have time to exercise. So I thought I would maximize my time by exercising in the shower - Showercize!* (*Copyrighted, because I said so!) And I've been doing it for over five years. 15 min/day!

    But first, before I explain, for anyone interested in trying Showercize, I am issuing a...

    DISCLAIMER! Always check with your doctor before taking on a new exercise program. And anyone who tries this in the privacy of their own shower better have a nonslip mat or stickers and a safety bar or something to grab onto. The Lazy Housewife is not responsible for any injuries sustained while doing Showercize.

    That was fun. Also note, these are not aerobic, no jumping around! And I don't count unless specified. Now here are my moves (naming them was half the fun! you can just read to have a laugh! I know it sounds crazy, I crack myself up, too):
    trunk twist stretch
    • Inner Thigh Lifts - I have heard many aerobic instructors say that lifting your legs also works on your stomach muscles - yeah for multitasking moves! So when I wash my face and hair, I alternate lifting my legs with bent knee and thigh facing up.
    • Trunk Twists - so hair is rinsed. When my back started hurting, I realized I needed to stretch it and exercise it more (I also got a back support pillow for my writing chair) There is an awesome back stretch where place your leg over your other leg and twist away from it (see pic) so I added it as an exercise. While adding conditioner and soaping up my washcloth, I lift and turn my right knee to the left and twist my upper body to the right, alternating sides. (I leave conditioner in through the body washing)
    • Lunges - I recently added this move as varicose veins creep up my legs because I read doing lunges helps prevent/lessen them. During the body wash, I put my foot up on our built-in bench and lunge as possible. I know, if you have a stall shower, you're out of luck... But that's okay. I don't get many in and it's awkward, but I'm dedicated!
    • Tricep Lifts - time to rinse the washcloth. Holding it spread out on both hands behind my back (under the water), I lift up, keeping elbows straight, about 20-25 times (I count these) then...
    • Chest Press - Anyone remember "We must, we must, we must build up the bust!" ? Hook hands together at chest level and push, and squeeze washcloth at same time, only about 10 AND
    • Chin Stretch - whenever I think of it, I work this muscle to curb that double chin that has been peeking out! Stick out your chin and lift and lower your jaw or just hold for 30 sec or do a combination AND
    • Butt Crunch - gotta keep those legs moving, too. During the previous upper body steps, I alternate lifting each heel from the knee up to ninety degrees
    • Stomach Suck-Ins! - Last one! This was the first move I incorporated, the biggest trouble spot! During the conditioner rinse out, I suck in that gut and release. I get in 50-75 reps, changing it up by holding in longer sometimes or shorter if I'm in a hurry.
    • But that's not all! After the shower, I do a few exercises while putting lotion on my legs, I alternate from time to time between these two moves:
      • Baby Kicks - laying on back, leaning up, alternate kicking legs in and out
      • Frog Legs - same pose, but kick both legs in and out at same time
    Other S TIPSShowers & Sinks - probably in the top ten of least liked cleaning jobs. I keep Tilex Mildew & Mold cleaner, a scrubber brush, and a big plastic cup in my shower. See some gross buildup? Clean it while you're in there! And for sinks, I try to keep the surface areas clear, then I can easily wipe up in between cleanings, which lets me put off those cleaning longer!


    Editing Tips

    SHOW! - you've heard it before, hope you're applying it by using action verbs and dialog and rich descriptions! Don't tell what they feel, what is their reaction? what are they doing about it?
    Semi-colons - use to separate two related, complete sentences; use sparingly
    Slashes - informal, okay to use at your discretion, again, sparingly/not all the time
    Sounds - for sounds we make with our mouths, use 2 letters after the initial letter, Ahh. See? Mmm. And for onomatopoeias (sound effect words), use italics. Whip it! Whoo-Pah!

    commonly confused "S" words:
    sheath (n) / sheathe (v)
    shudder (v) / shutter (n)
    snug (adj, a tight fit) / snugly (adv, fits tightly) / snuggly (adj, cuddly)
    stationary (unmoving) / stationery (writing paper)
    staunch (firm, steadfast, faithful) / stanch (to stop the flow of blood)

    Find more A to Z posts here.

    Saturday, April 20, 2013

    Rho

    R extra! I recently met Rhonda Parrish through this challenge. She is the publisher of Niteblade magazine, and she is gathering speculative fiction pieces about cancer to publish an anthology to Raise money for the cause. I submitted a poem. Check her out!

    From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

    Remember. One of the worst things to lose is my memory. That's why I use my lists. But I struggle with remembering the things I would like to improve about myself. Here are a few things I am working on, that I wish I could remember before I do them...


    • Let others finish their sentences. (I'm the interrupting cow! Knock, knock! Who's th...Moo!)
    • Slow down. I'm always in a rush - probably because I cut things too close and things come up I don't plan for that make me run late
    • Patience is something I don't have time for... see above
    • Stop correcting people, especially spouse, especially in front of others
    • Don't procrastinate
    • Be more positive
    TIPS:
         Remember to make time for you
         Remember to think about and plan for your future!
         Remember to appreciate what you have

    Bonus R - Read more! Research says Relating to a fictional character creates a satisfying sense of belonging. Writers are therapeutic!!


    Editing Tips

    Redundancies and Repetition - Many action verbs don't need defining, most common - shrugged his shoulders, nodded his head, etc. And did I really need to say repetition? Did I?
    Regions - use lowercase to designate direction, like north. Use capitals when referring to a region, country, etc, like the South.

    commonly confused "R" words:
    rein (to gather in or control) / reign (to rule over)
    rigid (stiff, hard, strict) / turgid (swollen, distended)
    rogue (scamp, scoundrel) / rouge (blusher)

    And lastly, here's a drabble I wrote a while back about Remembering (or forgetting...)

    Losing It.

    I came in here for something.

    I see my book. I sit down and read. The burly soldier is about to have his way with the buxom maid. Words are blurry.

    I need my glasses. I think they’re in the kitchen.

    I look in my purse and find a receipt. I have to return a blouse. I go upstairs to get it.

    My cat is on my bed. I pet him. He’s shedding. I go back downstairs to get his brush. The doorbell rings.

    It’s a delivery man. “Ma’am you still need to sign this.”

    “Wait a minute. I’ll go find a pen.”

    Find more A to Z posts here.

    Friday, April 19, 2013

    Xi (for Q)

    From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...


    Quotes. I've seen several blogs with famous quotes for their themes. I love reading them! Well, I have some quotes from friends, some they said themselves and some they recommended. All are great words to live by...

    "Necessity may be the Mother of invention, but Laziness is the Father." - Tara Tyler, LHW

    "Don't learn it." - Barb
    Because if you learn how to do something your spouse does, you will be expected to do it all the time!

    "Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet." - Beth

    "Eat like Adam and Eve." - Leslie

    "Happy wife, happy life!" - Stacee

    "Don't sweat the small stuff" and "Pick and choose your battles." - Caroline

    "I am too blessed to be stressed" and "If God brings me to it, He will bring me through it." - Jaime

    "There's a reason why God made children so cute!" - Sarabeth

    "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger." - Lisa

    "Make it fit." - Mom (one of my favorites, especially with the dishwasher!)

    "Don't do anything half-assed." - Dad

    Would love to hear one of your favorite quotes!


    Editing Tips

    Quotation Marks - Only use single quotes for quotes within quotes
      commonly confused "Q" words:
      quiver (v. to shake or vibrate) / quaver (v. give off unsteady sounds, n. a tremulous sound)

      Thursday, April 18, 2013

      Pi

      From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

      Pets! This might be my favorite letter of the month. Pets are so wonderful. Some people don't like or want pets and see them as too much responsibility or just a general nuisance. But if you've never had one, you really don't know what you're missing! Here is what a pet can do for you:

      ** Find a pet to suit your needs - most of these traits come from dogs, but there are various other animals that provide close to the same benefits. There is surely a pet out there for you.
      ** Unconditional love - no matter what happens, they won't fault you for it and they will always forgive you and be there for you
      ** Attention - they give it to you, undivided, whenever you want and they're always happy to see you
      ** Warmth - most furry pets like to cuddle and it's a great feeling on a cold night
      ** Smiles and laughs - animals will get into trouble and do silly things all the time, they don't mind doing the tricks because they live to make you happy! (and get treats) Just watch America's Funniest Home Videos!
      ** Extension of life - people with pets live longer than those without...
      ** Protection! - having a dog lowers your house insurance for theft prevention!
      ** Listening Ears - pets are a willing, captive audience and they don't talk back or give their opinion or make you feel bad. Usually by just listening, they can help you talk out your problem to find a solution!

      And 2 Bonus P TIPs
      • PMS management, taking care of your cycle: (guys can skip this section)
        • wk 1 - on it. need more sleep and less caffeine and screen
        • wk 2 - peak of least annoyance! tackle tough jobs on to do list. and enjoy the friskiness!
        • wk 3 - drink milk, more milk pre PMS can lessen symptoms during
        • wk 4 - PMS again, already? Avoid salt, drink water, your body is bloated enough this week
      •  Plants promote health! and not just by providing oxygen. Here are some Positive Plants (info from Prevention, 1/13)
        • Gerbera Daisy - my favorite! reduces levels of dry cleaning chemicals which can compromise immune system
        • 'Janet Craig' - lowers levels of a toxic chemical released from hot shower steam (called TCE)
        • English Ivy - removes formaldehyde, which is used in some dishwashing liquids and disinfectants AND some cabinets and tables!
        • Peace Lily - a powerful detoxifier
        • Boston Fern - also effective for removing formaldehyde and toxins present in some fabric softeners, carpet cleaners, and paint
        • Golden Pothos - removes ozone from auto emissions (not THE ozone)
      Apparently our modern conveniences and inventions are killing us - I need to bring more nature into my house!


      Editing Tips

      Passive - don't be. engage! entertain! punch! pounce! proliferate! ponder! Not is/was/were which are define passive.
      POV - no head hopping. Stay in one POV per scene and indicate a change in POV by extra spacing or asterisks or chapters. As the narrator, to keep a tighter POV, make sure you only reveal what the current POV knows and not what others think.
      Plurals and Possessives -

      • singular or plural not ending in s, add 's; 
      • singular ends in s, add 's (unless next word starts with s)
      • singular proper noun ends in s, only add '
      • plural ends in s, only add '

      commonly confused "P" words:
      passed (v. past tense of pass) / past (no longer current, over)
      peak (the pointed summit, the point of greatest value or intensity) / peek (look quickly) / pique (n. vexation or resentment; v. to provoke or arouse)
      penned (enclosed by a fence, or wrote) / pent (confined, repressed)
      populace (the general public) / populous (containing many people)
      principal (main or first; leader of a school) / principle (basic rule or doctrine)
      prone (lying face down) / supine (lying face up)

      Wednesday, April 17, 2013

      Omikron

      From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...


      Optimism. Time for another boost of Optimism! Being a lazy housewife/husband is hard and discouraging. We need Others to vent to and lift us up when we are down so we can carry on. Who else would do our job? Our families need us! TIPS for staying Optimistic:

      • Pause - with all the gaming, the term "pause" is used more frequently. I tell the kids at home and at school to pause what they are doing so I can tell them something and it gets their attention. But we need to pause too. When I get angry or irritated and start snapping at everyone, I have to take a break, do something that makes me happy - talk with a friend, play a game with my boys, take a walk. Reboot!
      • Don't Overdo! - everyone has a limit, even Wonder Woman was vulnerable sometimes. You have to gauge yourself and not take on too much - it stresses you out and you get cranky and yell and then the kids yell and then the hub yells, a very nasty cycle forms. Head it off before it starts. See the above tip. 
      • Exercise - have I said this before? I say it a lot because so many of us need to do it more, especially me. I'm hoping if I say it more, I might actually heed my own advice!
      • Sleep - Lack of sleep = lack of patience = not happy!
      • Others - don't be afraid to lean. We were not put here to be alone. Reach out - someone is bound to put that smile back on your face - and you will help them right back.
      And here are "Six Weird Things that Make You Happy" from Prevention (1/13):
      1. Tearjerker Movies - they make you remember why you love your loved ones
      2. Aging - what? I know, right? Apparently as we age our neurons react less to negative things, therefore we are more positive! (Another amazing thing God does for us)
      3. A Fake Smile - smiling, fake or real, eases stress and boosts your mood
      4. Thursdays - (that's tomorrow!) it's the upsweep to the weekend! we made it through the first three days and over the hump!
      5. Doing Less for Your Kids - I like this one. Mothers who worry too much about making their kids happy are usually more depressed. Lighten up. (I must be ecstatic!)
      6. Reading a Newspaper - get your hands dirty! Happier people read the real thing, according to a study.

      Editing Tips

      Only - only follows the word it modifies, as an adverb. when in doubt, put it after the verb, unless used as an adjective.
      of - a filler word, most can be removed.

      commonly misused "O" word:  okay (not ok!)

      O compound words
      off balance       off-duty       offtrack       old-fashioned
      once-over       online       out-of-body       over(anything) - no hyphen
      Find more A to Z posts here.

      Tuesday, April 16, 2013

      Nu

      From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

      No! The first word of most toddlers. Why? You know why, because we say it to them all the time. So here are some toddler TIPS - how to avoid saying "NO!" so much...
      • Paaaatieeence - have a mantra, happy place, focal point, whatever. Know that these kids are not trying to make you crazy. Take that deep breath (or 5) and give them a time out so you can deal with the horrible mess they made. I sometimes cry over spilt milk, but try not to in their presence. I tell myself, "It was an accident. It was an accident. But I just cleaned the floor! It was an accident." And when they go to bed, have a glass of wine and read your book or watch your show.
      • Lower your expectations - they're little. Their attention spans, bladders, retention skills, muscles, fuses, etc - are all small! This is the safest time of their life to assume innocence until proven (easily proven I might add) guilty. 
      • Raise expectations as they grow - You can tell what they can and can't handle. Make sure you give them the right amount of pushing out of the nest so they will fly. Trust your gut.
      • Remove temptation - I say again, little kids are like puppies, curious and persistent and destructive! If they want something, they will try their hardest to get it. 
      • Don't be afraid of messes - this is the time for making messes - and it's fun to watch. Need some time to make dinner? Stick little Suzi in her high chair with a bib and a mat on the floor and giver her some edible art - pudding, jello, whip cream, etc. Of course, she might need a bath - Hey, Daddy... Other messy things little ones love - bubbles, sandboxes, chalk, finger paints, water painting (for water painting, dip brush in water and paint on construction paper. Outside, my boys loved water painting rocks, sidewalks, bricks, wood, etc)
      • Terrible Twos AND Threes! potty training, ugh! Don't force, but again give little encouraging pushes. It's a delicate balance. ** More attitude, "Me do!" This is where "Pick your battles" originates ** Preschool Blues - Drop them off, let them cry, they will get over it (or you will get a call) and when you pick them up, they realize you didn't abandon them. It gets easier each time.
      • Pacifiers and Big Kid Beds - hard times. More crying. And crying. Mom crying too! But once it's over, it's so worth the result of them being able to get themselves to sleep - they need to be able to comfort themselves.
      • Door knob covers - one of my favorite kid proof gadgets. We also installed high locks on the doors going outside - I've seen too many wandering youngin's! They are smart!
      • Motivators - reward chart, earn stickers or points and when goal is reached, prize! And prizes can be as simple as playtime with you or a trip to the park, not always monetary.
      Bonus N TIP - Don't be afraid to say, "No!" to adults either. Know your limits and don't stretch yourself too thin.

      That should be the last of the kid/family posts, I know you might be getting tired of them... but when you get them, they consume your life!


      Editing Tips

      Nearly - weak. Either you do or you don't. Don't bother with nearly.
      Numbers - here's the drill
        • 0-100 spell out
        • >100 use the number unless it is followed by thousand, million, etc.
        • wattage: 60-watt bulb
        • spell out fractions and height and age, ex. six-foot-one
        • use numerals for addresses, dates, room numbers, measurements
        • write out decades and centuries
        • 9-1-1 is always 9-1-1
      commonly confused "N" words:

      nauseous (makes you sick) / nauseated (feel sick)
      nosy NOT nosey
      night vision (n) / night-vision (adj)
      Find more A to Z posts here.

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