Progress!

This week has been filled with amazing things and truly depressing ones as well. Sometimes when you are a writer, things don't always go according to plan. I finished my 300 page book and handed it over to my editor. They read it, and immediately sliced it in half. The first half, amazing. The second half... sucked. I was to rewrite part 2. WOW. 

Well, this week I was reunited with my childhood best friend. He reminded me of things that happened when we were kids, made me laugh. Everything has been amazing. 

The depressing thing that happened this week was that I found out my book isn't quite finished. The amazing thing that happened this week, is that I know where the story goes. 

Really excited. 25 newly typed pages is what I have to show for this week. AWESOME!

It Doesn't Go Away

I wish I could sit back and tell you all that as you get older the mean kids go away. If I did, it would be a lie. In your life there are always people that want to show what they have, what others don't, and what other people will never get. I'm not one of those people but I have frequently come across those who are.

As a kid, I was harassed relentlessly by a group of girls. I was poor, lived in the wrong side of town, wore the wrong clothes, had the wrong sneakers, my mom drove the wrong car, I had the wrong hair color, I had the wrong skin color, and I had the wrong background. To them I was just--wrong. I kept hearing, "It will get better." That has become a motto these days. One that I think is pretty powerful, but slightly skewed. It does get better because as an adult, I don't have to take it. I'm not forced to stay around people I don't care for. I don't have to sit back and let things happen anymore. However, you could lose your job, make things uncomfortable for your kids, or start a Facebook war (something that is actually quite pathetic. Cryptic posts aren't so cryptic, they are actually embarrassing... for the poster). None of those options are pleasing to say the least.

Adult bullying happens everyday. People think they know everything, when in fact they don't. No one cares what you think about someones outfit... if they are comfortable in it... good for them. No one cares what tattoo a person has, if they liked it... that's all that matters.  Making fun of other people, behind their backs is cowardly. I choose not to be a part of that. I don't talk about people, I don't make fun of people, I don't pass judgement on other people.

The problem with adult bullies... is that they produce childhood ones, and the vicious cycle continues. It's time to stop the problem where it all starts... the parents.

Dallas Comic-con

I have heard the arguments, a proposal was written and I have been convinced. Ilinnuc will go to his first comic-con this May. It's a few months away but he tells me it's really important to plan the cosplay outfit. Here in lies the dilemma. What should he go as? I think he is thinking about going as Ash or Ginka. However, he is really leaning towards Ezio from Assassins Creed. What do you guys think? We are in the planning stages now. It's Dallas in May so its going to be HOT.

What is he looking forward to the most? STAN FRIKKEN LEE! THAT IS WHO!

Oh My!!!

This is not a post about healthy living. I have to warn you, it's fried, it's covered in sugar 2 ways, and delicious.

Grands Biscuits Donuts.

What are they exactly? Simple. Sinful. It is a donut made with Grands brand biscuits.

I found it on pinterest. I had to try it. No I didn't actually eat them. :(

Here is what you will need.
Grands Biscuits
Medicine cup
Sugar
Cinnamon
Powdered sugar
(different toppings depending on what you like)
Vegetable oil

What is left! HA!

1. Place vegetable oil in a boiler pan and place on medium heat.
2. While the oil is heating open the can of biscuits and cut a hole in the center using a medicine cup. Save the centers for donut holes.
3. In a shallow pan mix the cinnamon and sugar. And put the powdered sugar in a sifter.
4. Place the donuts in the oil and cook until golden brown. You will need to flip them.
5.For powdered sugar donuts:  Place them on either a paper towel or brown paper bag to drain the oil then sift powdered sugar on top and flip them and do the same to the other side.
6. For cinnamon and sugar donuts: Place the donut into cinnamon and sugar straight out of the oil.

TRY NOT TO EAT THEM ALL!

Not-So-Nachos

Trying to lower your carbs!? Partial to chips oozing in cheese? I have the yummiest recipe!

Ingredients:
Shedded cheese
Jalapeños

On PARCHMENT paper make 4 little mounds of cheese and heat in the microwave for 75 seconds. Remove from parchment and let cool.

These little cheese crisps give you the crunch of tortilla chips but without all that guilt! Dip them into salsa or put jalapeño peppers on them. I use jalapeños because they have the same flavor as nachos! So yummy!

Do not use sandwich cheese. It turns into a bloated disaster! Enjoy! Let me know if you guys like it.

A little side note: don't use wax paper. It totally sticks!

Fighting the Creative Killer

I have talked in a previous post about the annoying little thing called, writer's block. It is the most annoying aspect of writing a book. It comes and goes, causes self doubt, and throws the story for a loop. What is most frustrating about writer's block is looking at the screen and seeing that your story is going nowhere; that no matter how much you will it to happen... it isn't going to happen.

This week was a difficult one. I usually try to produce something everyday. Does it always happen? No. Life occurs and sometimes I don't even get to open my laptop. This wasn't the case this week. I made a conscious effort this week to sit down everyday and hammer out something. Day 1 went well, day 2 and 3 okay,  but day 4 sucked TERRIBLY. I couldn't do anything. I sat there thinking, "Is this where I want my story to go?"

Usually when I write, I don't force the story. It's like I am seeing this movie in my head and I write down everything I can; from the color of the leaves on the tree to the flush that is creeping up my heroine's neck. I try to detail everything that I can. If I can't, I try to recreate it somehow. For instance I had to explain the smell of a perfume. I went to a department store, and smelled it (and promptly got a headache--I am terribly allergic to most perfumes).

Nothing was coming to me on Day 4. I sat there staring at my screen willing my fingers to flex enough for me to produce 1 page. Usually events of the day trigger my writer's block. Earlier in the day, I started to doubt aspects of my story... and vocalized them. That was a BIG mistake. Usually it is good to talk through what you are feeling... it wasn't a good decision in this case. When I write I dive. I free-fall into the story and I don't look back. It isn't me creating the actions of the characters, the love interests, the clothing choices, or sayings--it's the character. I wish I could explain it better. It's like these people are alive in my head and it is my job to just... be the instrument.

Day 4 was the most frustrating day in my writing process. It will never happen again. Will writer's block occur? Probably. Will I vocalize my doubt? Never. I'm going to dive, free-fall, until the end.

Page progress this week 12.

Peppermint Bark... YUM!

Peppermint Bark
My favorite desert is and will always be... Peppermint Bark. I am not a fan though of dark chocolate. It's a little healthier, but around the holidays I rather splurge on something I love! This Recipe will cost roughly $12.00 depending on where you shop. Pay attention to sales adds and coupon inserts close to Thanksgiving because they had coupons in my local paper for the chocolate I use in the recipe.

This recipe is gets a ☆  in difficulty level. It is so easy!


Ingredients
2 packs of Semi-Sweet Chocolate (I use Bakers chocolate)
2 packs of White Chocolate (Baker's premium white chocolate)
Candy Canes


Equipment needed
Spatula
Boiler
Mixing bowl
Baking sheet with 1/4" sides
Aluminum Foil

The brand of chocolate you use is completely preference based. Whatever you like the most... use!

Step 1:
Rough chop the chocolate squares. Rough chopping makes it easier to melt.

Step2:
Fill a boiler 1/2 full with water and bring to a boil. Place a mixing bowl on top of the boiler and place the rough chopped Semi-Sweet Chocolate in the bowl. The heat from the boiling water will melt the chocolate. (You can also heat it in the microwave, be sure not to over heat the chocolate)

Step 3:
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Pour melted semi-sweet chocolate onto the lined pan. And smooth out. It doesn't need to be even, because the peppermint bark will be broken up in uneven pieces. Place in refrigerator to cool.

Step 4:
While the semi-sweet chocolate is cooling rinse the mixing bowl and dry thoroughly. Rough cut the white chocolate and melt it like the semi-sweet chocolate before it is completely melted remove from the heat still on top of the boiler.

Step 5:

It should look similar to this

Place 8 candy canes in a sandwich bag or between 2 sheets of wax paper. Either use your hand or a rolling pin or SOMETHING to finely chop them. You don't want them to be a fine dust... but small little pieces are good. Add 3/4 of the candy canes to the white chocolate. While you were beating the candy canes the white chocolate was finishing melting.

Step 6:
Remove the semi-sweet chocolate from the refrigerator. Pour candy cane and white chocolate mixture on top of the chocolate and spread it to cover the semi-sweet chocolate. Sprinkle with the remaining candy canes.

Perfect Peppermint Square!

Step 7:
Place in refrigerator and cool completely. After cooled use your hands to break the peppermint bark apart. You can achieve square breaks by scoring the bark using a knife heating with warm water.

Suggestions:
You can use cute little bags and give them out as gifts during Christmas or place in a decorative tin. I gave them out at Christmas and it was a COMPLETE HIT!

Each piece of peppermint bark is roughly 100 cals depending on the size.