Before the Month of Halloween

September 22 - 28, 2013

How I decorated my house last year!

The Busy Season
I think we're headed to the time of year when many are busy.  However, my busy season started this past week, when I was making cupcakes for my little girl.  See, the end of September is my daughter's birthday and those cupcakes were for her class.  There was also a festival in my town this past weekend.  And now we're on the verge of the month of Halloween.  (Yes, month.  I celebrate it "right.")  Halloween is my son's birthday, a holiday and my wedding anniversary.  After that, I share all the same things other US-ians do.  (Thanksgiving and the December holidays.)

MaMa Window Shop
Writing Music: MaMa Beat - I discuss the title of this song and I can't decide on a lesson to learn from it.

WIPpet Wednesday: Does Windows - There's some whisper shouting in the hall.  It is all going down hill!

Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery Series - I give my two cents on this mystery series with a supernatural twist.

Recipe of the Week
Loaded Potato and Buffalo Chicken Casserole
I made this meal when the kids were gone.  This is a spicy dish that would have had them gulping water, but had all us heat loving adults purring.  Making it is a bit odd, however.

First you have to try to save as much sauce as possible (in the bowl) after you toss the potatoes in it.  I handed off the task of doing that to my husband, who made lots of frustrated sounds and growls.

Then you have to stir potatoes every 10 minutes as they cook a 500 degree oven.  I did this by pulling the rack out and stirring it with the oven door is open.  That was intense, but not impossible.  I bet I'd love it on days that are a high of 10 (degrees F).

A Rough Week

September 15 - 21, 2013

The spice words must flow.

Fear is the Mind Killer
DUNE had it right.  I've been recently afraid of finishing my current W.I.P. code named FLAMES.  It seems silly.  Yeah, I know.  But, if you look at everything that goes into (properly) writing a book, the task seems almost endless and quite daunting.  And, rather than focus on what I'm doing and need to do now, I looked down the long road.  That's when fear got me.  

I often try to keep my eyes on the now rather than the later.  Focus on the small things and even the biggest task can be conquered.  I do this with writing and general life stuff.  But, it takes a while to get those noise blockers/blinders (back) up and at full strength.  However, I'm working on it.  And fear will, hopefully, stop killing my mind.

On Bad Laugh Filler
Writing Music: ON AND ON - I flex my creative muscle and give you a (not) the plot run down for the music video.

ROW80 Round 3 Final Check-In: Not Bad - I admit to a case of the sads and tell you how my goals went (Not Bad).

WIPpet Wednesday: Can't Laugh - I share a sliver of one of a fairly big moment from this W.I.P.  

Writing Corner: Filler Up - Filler isn't limited to anime story arcs, extra movie scenes, or the like.  

Recipe of the Week
Cabbage Roll Casserole

This recipe had two problems.  First off, 3.5 pounds of cabbage has a hard time fitting into a 9 X 13 casserole dish, then there's the rest of the stuff that needs to fit in too.  Secondly, the rice and some of the cabbage cooked unevenly.

Reviewers of the dish said it tasted bland to them.  Knowing that, while I browned the beef, I seasoned it (with salt, pepper, a sprinkling of garlic powder, plus a dash of Italian herb blend) to ensure there was definitely flavor.  So, that wasn't a problem.

BUT!!!  Despite all that, it tasted like it promised.  And that's big in my household as my husband and I adore cabbage rolls.  The taste was great enough that we want to save this recipe.  My husband and I think scaling back the cabbage, layering it with the rice on the bottom with the broth, and giving it a wee bit more cook time might fix all that.  You may see a revised/perfect of this some day!

Mommy Approved

September 8 - 14, 2013

Growing Up
My husband and I had a talk one night.  Our daughter, being the baby, gets babied.  And we realized she was now old enough to stand at her bus stop (the end of our driveway), by herself.  Also, she could totally come in from the bus on her own.  We both thought she wouldn't like to wait by herself, but would jump at the "just come on in" option.  We were wrong.  The next day, I gave her the options and she jumped at both.  And not the next day, but that day.  To say I watched her through the window and cried as I waved, unseen by her, as the bus took her away is embarrassing, but true.  Growing up is hard on mommies, too.

Janus Packet Gets Physical Cookie Cutter
Writing Music: Janus - K-Pop to write to and thoughts on titles.

ROW80 9/11 Check-In: Eager Beaver's Packet Panic - I did okay with my goals, but one goal may not make it!

WIPpet Wednesday: Let's Get Physical - In this WIP snippet, there's some butt kicking going on!

The Cookie Cutter Shop Mysteries - This is a mystery series I began reading in spring and read during summer.  Want to know my thoughts on it?  Click that link!

Recipe of the Week
One Pan Spicy Sausage Pasta
It isn't that spicy.  Very mild.  So, if you're cool with that, this recipe might be up your alley.  The sauce is very watery fresh out the pan (maybe I should have cooked it lidless for a bit), but said sauce solidifies in the refrigerator (my husband claimed some for work the next day).  It is a good recipe and one I'll likely make again.

I will admit that I messed up, and only had about 1/4 of the broth needed (I used water for the bit I was missing).  However, that didn't destroy the flavor in the slightest.  It was still super yummy and would be more wow had there been that extra broth.

Back to Life, Back to Normalcy

September 1 - 7, 2013

I Got a Feeling that it's a demon
I remember this feeling.  It is almost like May, but instead of it getting warmer, it is getting colder.  This is what I'm used to nine months out of the year.  This is how I exist and thrive.  It is comforting, but challenging.  I want to return to everything I used to do all at once and better.  See, I want to do everything better!  (I always do try to do that, though.)  More words!  More exercise!  More cooking!  Less gluttony!  Better blogging!  More connecting!

So, yes I'm doing things I did in May, but in a different/tweaked way.  But, I really must pace myself.  Trying to take on too many changes all at once can lead to things not working out.  Also trying to do things at end result (like going from writing 1k words to 2k in one week) will end in tears.  The method to follow is to build up to it (1k to 1,100 in one week and work up to 2k however long it might take).  Yeah, I think I pushed myself too hard on the returning to Zumba front, ignoring that advice.

Wolf Kitchen Returns Focus
Before I start linking, I want to say blogging over at my other blog has changed a wee bit.  The details are here.  I'm hoping the blog posts are now of higher quality and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Writing Music: Wolf - This EXO-K song reminds writers to make sure you keep the mood and watch what you compare a lady to.

WIPpet Wednesday: The Kitchen - Mason (the narrator) drags Gabriel (her charge) where he doesn't belong.  Read this Work In Progress snippet (or WIPpet) to find out more.

ROW80 Check-In: I'm Back! - At the start of the round I left my September goals up in the air.  In this post, I state my goals for September of this round.

Hocus Focus -  A trick I use to get me through the writing days when I have trouble focusing.

Recipe of the Week
Jambalaya
This recipe will fill your house with bewitching scents that will drive you crazy.  That scent promises flavors and a kick to the mouth you will not be denied.  My daughter isn't a big fan of spicy food (there are exceptions) and, even though this was spicy, she ate her meal up saying it was yummy the whole time!