Let it Rain – Let it Pour

Today is a lucky day for the area around here! It’s pouring down rain! I love the rain and we are in such a great need of it. Our grass is brown and crunchy – not what grass should be.

So far today, not much has really gotten done around here other than the bed was made up, laundry was caught up, the dishes were loaded in the dishwasher, and a few emails were replied to and oh my Lord, I posted a ton on AW today. So yeah, I guess some did get done. I feel so tired today. It’s raining outside and I guess it’s just one of those days. You know, one of those “lazy” days.

Dieting Update:

My diet is going pretty well. I’ve lost 4 pounds. Of course it’s not just the dieting – I think it’s probably also the exercise. What type – I’ll never tell. 😉

This post may not be as long as the others over this last week. I feel drained. So far I have quite a few questions ready to present during my interview with Freekibble and can’t wait to get started on it. I do however want to have a few more questions just to make sure that I can make at least a 600 word article. I have been contemplating on whether to pitch my artilce idea else where since I would be giving up all my rights to this article as well as it is very low paying. I’m not sure I want to give up all my rights and that is more important at the moment than the money is. I’ll have it all figured out in a day or two… I hope.

I have also had a great idea for another blog that I would love to make a bit of cash from. I’m not really sure how I could do that, but maybe I can figure that out as well in my free time. Well, enough writing for now. I’m going to go relax and maybe post another later.

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

Tuesday – A Brand New Day!

Today is a rainy day – I’m so happy! Well, my plans for today are as follows. Post for some quotes and information on AbsoluteWrite.com and I have received a lot of great feedback. I want to thank the ones who have posted responses to my post. Thank You! 

I have a lot of great ideas and watching the news last night just added a few more to my list. They won’t be full feature articles or anything of that such, but they will be quick tips, list, and filler articles. The easy of the easy, and a great way for me to start.

My list of things to do today isn’t really all that long.
1. Update my Blog (doing it now)
2. Delete/Organize the hundreds of emails (Completed)
3. Post more requests on AW (Completed)
4. Answer Emails (Completed)
5. Finish 2 Parenting Fillers (Half Completed)
6. Clean the Fridge (Completed)
7. Enjoy the Rain (Yay, finally it’s raining!)
8. Work on getting all of the info for my “Is There a Control Freak in Your Marriage” article. (Almost Done)
9. Start up another Filler on Parenting (Started)
10. Finish my “Being a Freelance Writer” article
11. Get the “FreeKibble.com” Profile article questions created
12. Query another magazine with my idea (Completed)
13. Update my FaceBook Profile (Completed)
14. Email Les Parrott, PhD back (Completed)

See 14 things aren’t that bad. Now it’s just getting them all done. So far I’ve posted quite a bit on AW, so maybe I can relax on that issue. Answering emails and getting my profile article in order is probably the most important right now.

Well I posted on AW and oh wow, I couldn’t believe the responses I got and the amount. It was awesome.

Below is an email I got from a dear friend of mine… Read, enjoy, and laugh your arse off!

Today is International Disturbed People’s Day

Please send an encouraging message to a disturbed friend… just as I’ve done.

I don’t care if you lick windows,
take the special bus
or occasionally pee on yourself..
You hang in there sunshine, you’re friggin’ special.

Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you’ll never get back.

Today’s Message of the Day is:

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

Send to all the people you love and don’t want to lose in 2008, even me.
If you get 3 back, you are a great friend.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance.

© 2008 UpSideDownGrl

A Quiet Sunday Evening

Well today was a pretty good day. Nope I didn’t get any writing done today, but I did recieve two response to emails from interviewees. One was from Les Parrott, Ph.D – His newest book is out in your local book store or can be found online. Be sure to check it out. He so graciously answered a few questions I had for an article that I have been working on and sent out a few queries to potential markets in hopes (fingers crossed) that they will love my article idea and say “yes awesome, it’s all yours.” That is the email or phone call I’m waiting for.

I love how helpful everyone in the writing world as well as some of the experts in particular fields are. They are all willing to help out someone. It’s so great to see that.

My Diet

Well, so far so good. I still have kept the 2 pounds off, but I haven’t lost any more. It’s the weekend (I know I should really stick to my diet) but I have been eating a bit of junky type foods, but not in large amounts. Very small amounts – I don’t know, maybe that makes a difference. Tomorrow however, I’m back to rice, veggies, and fruits. I still tend to drink quite a bit of soda. I try not to, but sometimes that is all that really goes with certain foods.

Birds and Windows Do Not Mix

This little guy flew straight into our window this morning. He hit the ground and we thought he had a broken neck. He was twitching and on his back like he was about to die. I went out and cupped my hands around him and he jumped out of my hand. Then I picked him up again and he just sat there, stunned. We gave him some water and he just sat there drinking. Later on we put him on a low tree limb and he sat there. A few hours later he was gone. We’re not sure if he survived or not, but he was no where to be found. We have a lot of small birds fly into our windows and some don’t make it. We find their little bodies laying on the ground in front of the windows or on the sidewalk further away. I dont’ understand why they all keep flying into the window, but some say its because it shows the reflection of the sky and trees. I wish they wouldn’t fly into the windows though. I’m afraid that one day they’re going to break on of the windows. This doesn’t just happen in the summer time, but all year around. It’s kind of freaky when you think about it.

My day was pretty good over all. We went to my boyfriend’s Grandmothers 87th Birthday party, ate a great dinner, had some Yorkshire Puddings, cake, icecream, and played a game of Trivial Pursuit – I didn’t win. All around it was great. I had a lot of fun.

I didn’t get any writing done today, but at least I did get this blog entry completed so it counts as some writing along with posting on a few forums earlier this morning.

Yorkshire Pudding Recipe –
with Eggs, Plain Flour, Milk, Cold Water & Lard

Ingredients
2 Eggs
4 oz (125g) Plain Flour
1/4 Pint (150ml) Milk
1/4 Pint (150ml) Cold Water
Salt & Pepper
2 tbsp Lard or Dripping or Cooking Oil*

Directions
Pre-Heat the Oven to 425F (220C, Mark 7). Crack open the Eggs into a cup and mix well. Add the Milk and Water together in a jug. Sieve the Flour into a large bowl and season with a sprinkling of Salt & Pepper. Pour the Eggs into this and stir together well with a fork. Gradually pour in the Milk and Water and stir until you have a stiff batter. Beat or whisk well until you have no lumps **. Allow to rest for half an hour.

Slip the Lard or Dripping into a deep sided baking tin and place just this in the oven. Allow to heat up until visible smoking. Quickly, but carefully, take out and rest on the top of the oven. Pour in the Batter mixture. Place back into the oven and bake for around half an hour until the batter is puffed up, golden brown and crispy.

Serve immediately

Serves 4 as a side dish to a main meal.

Yorkshire Pudding – Notes

* Not the healthiest of ingredients, but Lard does have a higher smoking point than Vegetable Oil. This is important if you want a successful puffed up crispy Yorkshire Pudding. The hotter the fat is when the batter first hits it the better the end result. Once in a while won’t hurt, but alternatively use Vegetable, Groundnut or Sunflower Oil, but not Olive.

** If you have a hand blender place all of these ingredients in a jug and just wiz until thoroughly mixed. If you don’t then these instructions should help avoid lumpiness.

(This recipe comes from TheBrittishShoppe.com.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2008 UpSideDownGrl

Saturday Morning Bright and Early

Well, it’s the weekend and my hunny has went into to work for a few hours and I got up earlier than usual. Today I have quite a few things I want to get done. I’m sitting in my comfy place in the living room sipping on coffee (and enjoying it since I have no more creamer) and don’t feel like going out and picking any up right now.

My List
1- Finish my outline of my Parenting Article.
2- Find an expert and ask them a few questions.
3- Project hunt yet again.
4- Finish Jenna Glatzer’s book.
5- Read thru a few magazines and pick up a few parenting magazines at the store.
And thats about it I think other than maybe go shopping to pick up a few needed things. I guess I will just sit back and relax for most of the day along with trying to complete my 5 objectives I listed above.

My Articles

My parenting article is making some headway. Now to find an expert. I’m still waiting on a reply from the last expert on my “Control Freaks” article. He has not replied to my questions as of yet, but I know that he is probably very busy. I have so many article ideas to get in order and start querying to magazines and search for experts, info, and some quotes from some real day to day people.

Just a quick reflection of my life…

For some reason I just got a quick realization of my life. My life is well, good. I sit here looking over at my two cats laying in the window sill, and think about the man in life, my friends, and my career choice and of how supportive my man is of my career decision. I know he doesn’t like it one hundred percent, but he is still supportive.  I love him so much.

My Diet – Back on Track?

Breakfast: Eggo’s and coffee.
Lunch: Not really sure, but for Dinner we’re grilling out. I just received this in my email – Marinades Help Keep Grilled Meats Safe. We marinade all our meat that goes on the grill except for burgers, however I have a special way of making them. Take ground beef and place into bowl, add chopped yellow onions and a half of a cup of Bar-B-Q sauce. Mix together and form patties. Put them on the grill and cook til done. They are awesome.

Tonight we’re going to have Bar-B-Q chicken legs (I think).  This is a picture of the first Bar-B-Q chicken I ever cooked on the grill. We’ll have grilled corn on the cob to go with this as well and maybe some pasta salad. That is if it doesn’t rain. Looking outside at this moment it is dark, cloudy, and windy with the look and smell of rain on its way. I can’t really complain because we really do need the rain. Our grass is crunchy and brown and thirsting for moisture. A lot of people around where we live have their wells going dry so there is a great need of rain here in our area.

UPDATE: Okay so its the weekend. We didn’t cookout and my lunch wasn’t exactly the best thing to eat. It was a deep-fried chicken breast on way too much buttered toast with tons of mayo, lettuce, and tomato. And a side of tater tots. For dinner I had Pizza. I ate all the toppings off and the inside of the crust (my favorite part along with the pepperoni). Okay on Monday, I’ll start again although I did lose 2 pounds. I’m guessing I’ve gained it all back by now.

© 2008 UpSideDownGrl

15 Minute Tacos – Courtesy of Montel Williams

15-Minute Turkey Tacos Everybody thinks it takes a long time to fix a healthy meal. Try doing it with your kids, and give them a job to do, like chopping up the lettuce and tomatoes. I have three words for you: basic, fast, and easy! Ingredients 1 pounds turkey, lean ground 1 packet(s) taco seasoning mix 2 cup(s) cheese, cheddar, low-fat, shredded 3 cup(s) lettuce, shredded 2 cup(s) tomato(es), chopped 4 taco shells (corn) 1 cup(s) salsa Preparation Brown the turkey in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoning according to the packet. Build your tacos—shell, turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sauce or salsa. Yum! More Info: Be sure to read package labels carefully! I buy only organic taco seasoning, so there aren’t any weird chemicals or extra sodium. And I look for taco brands without partially hydrogenated oils. About This Recipe Cook Time: 15 mins Total Time: 15 mins  Contains Dairy Nutrition Facts Number of servings:4 Amount Per Serving Calories:365 Total Fat:14 g Saturated Fat: 5 g Cholesterol:52 mg Sodium:1388 mg Carbohydrates:28 g Fiber:3 g Protein:31 g

Recipe From Living Well with Montel © 2008