Bad Parent Tip #1: The Wardrobe

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 33 Comments

Cole, Carter, and Caleb
(Notice none of my kids had shoes that needed tied?)

Kristen Lamb wrote an honest post about the guilt of motherhood*.  Since I've been there, done that, and already sent the stained tee-shirt onto Goodwill, I'll offer some tips that aren't likely to find their way into parenting magazines.

It is bad parenting that nets good results. They are, of course, completely anecdotal and have not been proven by any research. I'm only saying...I did it this way and not a single one of my children turned out to be an ax murderer.


Tip #1
The clothes make the man, especially when he's a child. 

Simple truth: what's cool to a kid, may not be cool to an adult.

When my kids were little, I had the exclusive opportunity to choose their outfits for about one year. As soon as they learned the word no, they used it often.

The cute little sailor outfit was a no. As were polos, button-ups, and basically anything without a truck, a super hero, or an animal that could eat you alive if you weren't paying attention.

Now, I could have broken their wills and forced them to wear what I wanted (maybe), but as the mom of four young boys I didn't have time for that crap enjoyed watching their personalities flourish through self-expression.

Honestly? My first priority was keeping them alive. I had bigger worries like stopping them from playing in traffic or sword fighting with kitchen knives. What they were wearing was not a high priority for me. They loved choosing their own clothes, and I loved not having to worry about it.

My kids have worn gum boots to church and pajamas to the grocery store, and no one died. And eventually, they grew out of it. Not a single one of my boys started school in a Halloween costume**.

They are now all conventional looking, non-fashion obsessed, well-adjusted young men.

So go ahead...let them dress themselves. In the very least, you'll have great pictures for blackmail later. 

___________________________________________
*If you're not following Kristen, I highly suggest you do. She's funny, smart, and paving her own way to writing success.

**My son wanted to go his first day in his Buzz Lightyear costume, so I had to rework the rules a bit. The wear what you want was modified to...these dresser drawers are for school clothes...these are for leisure and play. Kindergarten is the place to learn to color inside the lines, both on the page and in life. 

33 comments:

Welcome Donna!

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 48 Comments

Donna Weaver is here to share some her thoughts on research, but before we get to that...we have our hops to update!

Thanks Misha & Beth for keeping us goal accountable.

Join the Goals Blog Hop Here! 

My big goals for this year were to publish two books and master marketing (whatever that is!)

1. Two books- on schedule. Just finished edits on Swept Away. Waiting for the next round of edits. This will be book 2.

2. Marketing. Trying to think outside the box. I had a good deal of success at the retirement home, so I booked a table at an artisan festival. Literature is an art and I figure if you appreciate one form of art, you have an understanding of all of them.


 Join this op weekly hop here!

Thanks to Lexa and her co-hosts, L.G., and Katie for reminding us to appreciate the small things.

    1. Met some wonderful people through the A-Z, so even though I dropped out, it was a positive experience.

    2. My oldest son turned 21 this week! Holy cow, how did that happen?

3. My youngest son turned 15. He's old enough to get his permit!




*********
Now, let's welcome to the lovely Donna Weaver. Donna has a new audio version of her book available. And both the eBook and audio book are being offered at a discount. 

Book Research
by Donna K. Weaver

Being a Navy Brat and an Army Vet, I’ve lived in a lot of places in the US, Europe, and Asia. Those experiences make my research easier because I’ve experienced cruises and lived through a Typhoon and sailed on a catamaran (but I’ve never had to deal with modern-day pirates). The old adage that we should “write what you know” is a true one.

But let’s be real. We can’t always write what we know.

My main character in Torn Canvas, Jori Virtanen, was born in Finland and immigrated to the US as a teen. In the book, he has a chance to go back to his family home. I’ve never been to Finland. I had the advantage of knowing someone online (from a Facebook game, Castle Age) who was from Helsinki, Finland. He was gracious enough to answer a bunch of questions for me.

I’m a visual person, though, and so I used Google Earth a lot in Torn Canvas, especially for the parts in American Samoa. It’s not perfect, but it can give you a good feel for roads and the surrounding areas, since I wasn’t able to afford a firsthand visit. Dang. Now, that would have been a treat.

I was able to visit Lewistown, Montana, which plays a role in Torn Canvas. Because of that visit, I changed a few things. Real life is always best if we can afford it. In fact, the Bed & Breakfast that Jori stays in is based upon a real one that my husband and I visited. Lovely place with gracious hosts.

So, we might not always be able to write what we personally know, but we can certainly draw upon the knowledge of friends and family. And the Internet. 

I’ll note that the audiobook has Whispersync. That means if you own the Kindle ebook, the audiobook is extremely discounted. Torn Canvas is on sale for $.99 during the tour, and the audiobook can be purchased for only $2.99 more.
About the Book
Modern-day pirates took more than Jori Virtanen’s friends; they stole his face. Not only does the twenty-four-year-old former model have to confront months of reconstructive surgery, he discovers his previous life was as superficial as his looks. Up-and-coming talk show host Olivia Howard wants an interview. She, like the rest of the press, expects a hero, but Jori knows the truth. His beauty masks a beast.

In seclusion and evading the press, Jori struggles to make a new life as an artist. But he can’t hide from himself; more than his face is damaged. How can Jori possibly make amends for all that he’s broken? When Olivia finally tracks him down, he must decide if he can trust her. Could this unlikely woman be a key to freeing his heart and healing the beast?
"A fantastic work of fiction... Jori is no longer the confident skirt-chasing model, but a man haunted by his scars. His journey of self-discovery ... helps him grow as a person and an artist... An absolute must read!"  Sarah E. Bradley, InD'Tale Magazine

About the Author
A wife, mother, grandmother, Harry Potter geek, Army veteran, and karate black belt. Author of the Safe Harbors series (A Change of Plans #1, Hope's Watch #1.5, Torn Canvas #2, and A Season of Change #2.5) and Second Chances 101, Book 5 in the Ripple Effect series.


48 comments:

No Condom, No Crib

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 58 Comments

I could lie and say I was watching C-Span and the cat walked across the remote thus forcing me to watch 16 and Pregnant on MTV.

But the truth is, my neurotic cat is hanging out in the neighbor's tree refusing to come home. The uglier truth is...I turned it on myself. Intentionally. Even scrolled through the guide to find it.

See...I am intrigued by human drama. Even the massaged, sensationalized variety. 

Go ahead, make fun of me. My kids do. 

Anyhow, during most of the show, the baby momma was trying to get the baby daddy to pick up a crib. A free one. He wasn't asked to go work in a rock mine and earn enough money to buy one, he was simply asked to pick up a free one. 
But nooo...instead, he hung out all day with his friend. Oh, and he whined...

Poor me. I'm gonna be a daddy in a few months. I should get to play and enjoy myself, not slave over a steering wheel and lug home a donated sleeping spot for my offspring. 

How draconian!! 

I was like, seriously dude...how lazy and irresponsible are you?! 

Well, evidently lazy and irresponsible enough to have neglected to get a condom in the first place. 

So, that's the take home message for the day...

Ladies, if he doesn't have the forethought, the cash, or the inclination to show up with a condom- chances are good you'll be picking up your own crib. 

*Can you tell edits are done and I'm unwinding?

Now, if you would like something that is actually good for your brain cells:

Cherie Rich has a book on sale!! I'm getting my copy today. I love a good bargain!!

On Sale for .99 !!

 A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you. Cherie Reich’s Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection is now available on Amazon as an ebook and paperback. From April 16-April 30, you can purchase the ebook for only 99 cents.

Purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by Cherie Reich at Amazon. The ebook is on sale for $0.99 until April 30th.


Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction author and library assistant living in Virginia. Visit her website and blog for more information.
photo credit: Cuna esperando via photopin (license)

58 comments:

Failure

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 63 Comments



I knew from the beginning that completing the A-Z this year would be tough. Coming off a blog tour, I didn't have time to have posts pre-scheduled, so I've been writing them each night.

I also knew I'd be in the middle of edits for my next release, but I had this pollyanna idea that little fairies would arrive to help me get my work done.

Darned things were no shows. I guess they aren't lured in by dust bunnies and piles of dirty clothes. And sadly, without the fairies, there is no way I can possibly meet my editing deadline and maintain the A-Z pace. 

But it's all right. That's why they call it a challenge. The A-Z is like a marathon and only the spry and well conditioned survive. So, for all the bloggers still managing the daily grind- kudos! Be proud. It is not an easy task. 



63 comments:

Love Easy!

6:00 PM Elizabeth Seckman 16 Comments



L is for so many lovely things. Like Love. Lasagna. And Lasagna Loving critter.





LOVE!





LASAGNA!



This is NOT my cat. My cat never walks on the counters. The idea of the cat walking across the litter box and then the food prep area is more than my OCD husband can tolerate.

Best way to train kitty to stay down? Water gun. I only had to spray mine a few times and she decided the counter wasn't a friendly spot.


Now, for that lasagna...

To make lasagna easier to prepare, I use the no boil noodles. The secret to making them taste good instead of gummy is to go heavy on the sauce.

Lazy Lasagna:

*Spray bottom of pan with oil.
*Pour a thick layer of meatless sauce (Ragu is easy!) on the bottom.
*Add first layer of noodles.
*Next, add a layer of cheese sauce (Package of Ricotta cheese mixed with 2 eggs, salt and pepper)
*Add some meat sauce (Ragu mixed with burger).
*Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
*Another layer of noodles.
*More meat sauce.
*Bake about an hour in the oven at 350 degrees.
*Remove from oven, spread on some more mozzarella, allow it to melt while cooling.

Lasagna Lover...I had this poster on my wall as a teen. It gets truer every year!!





photo credit: success via photopin (license)

16 comments:

Easy K's are Kool

12:29 AM Elizabeth Seckman 24 Comments




I was quite the party animal in high school. A really awesome Friday night was most often spent at my best friend's house watching Crocket and Tubbs on Miami Vice, music videos on Night Flights, and then smashing rocks with our triangle shaped space ship on  Atari's Asteroids. We'd keep the fun going until dawn, so food was always an essential. One of our favorite weekend fun snacks was Kool Aid popcorn. It's fun, fruity, and of course...easy!




Kool Aid Popcorn


3 qt. (12 cups) popped popcorn
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup butter
1 pack Kool-Aid Unsweetened Drink Mix, any flavor
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix the sugar, corn syrup, and butter in a pan until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the Kool-Aid and then the baking soda.

We never made it into balls, we'd take the easy route and pour a pan of popcorn onto a platter and then drizzle the Kool-Aid mix over it and eat. 




Another Easy tip? 

I prefer to proof read and beta read on my Kindle. It's much more portable and accessible than toting around my laptop...much less the desk top. Word docs and PDFs can be emailed and opened on Kindle for easy reading by following the steps below:

Go to Amazon and follow these links

1.Your Account
2. Manage your content and devices
3. Click on the Your Devices tab
4. Click in the picture of your device
5. Down below the picture should be an email address
6. Send your Word or PDF files directly to that address via email

photo credit: Popcorn via photopin (license)

24 comments:

Just Be Easy!

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 21 Comments





It's Saturday!!

Soooo, let's Just....

                 Relax...Laugh...think...and drink.









Jell-O Shots!
(These are so good and so easy to "drink", be careful or you'll have bed spins while still standing on two feet.)

3 ounces Jell-O or other gelatin (any flavor)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup (4 ounces) vodka
1/2 cup cold water

Mix Jell-O with hot water until dissolved. Add cold water and vodka. Pour into souffle cups or in a *cake pan to cool.

*with the cake pan method, just cut them into squares.


photo credit: MCED_4 via photopin (license)

21 comments:

I Is Easy Too

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 27 Comments





Intrinsic Motivation
Growing up, my family had a huge Maple tree in the back yard. My brother and I would rake leaves all day and jump in them. No one would ever have to tell us gather up all the thousands of leaves into a pile. We just did it. It was fun. But then, as soon as my mom brought lawn bags out and told us to rake the leaves, it was suddenly no fun. It's always more satisfying to do it for the love.


Italian Sausage 

Take Italian sausage (turkey sausage if you're counting calories) and cover in salsa or picante sauce (yes, I'm blending my ethnic foods in my melting crock pot) and slow cook in the crock pot. Then you can put them on a hoagie bun with mozzarella, or eat it over rice or pasta, or wrapped in a tortilla. 




The celebrate hop is brought to you by
Lexa Cain and her awesome co-hosts:
LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Egde
Katie@ TheCyborgMom

1. First round of edits and beta feedback are in and, so far seem manageable.

2. The weather is warming. I painted my toes, and I am ready to shed my shoes!

3. Signed up for two more book events. And I've survived the A-Z, so far.




photo credit: I love fall. via photopin (license)

27 comments:

The Letter H

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 24 Comments



Ha-Ha....





Hints From Heloise 

Hints From Heloise   

That's said like "ell-o-weese", right?
I had a teacher in high school call her "hell-waus". I corrected him. The class giggled, and he said he hated smart kids. I wasn't too traumatized. Looking back on it, any teacher who had to put up with my hair-brained attitude had a right to say he hated me every now and again. 

Anyhow, I'm sharing the link because Heloise knows everything. You have a Housekeeping problem, she has the solution. 


Ham made easy!!


Want a delicious, tender ham without a lot of fuss?

Cook it in beer. Be it Heineken or Natty Light, pop a ham in a roaster or a crock pot and cover it in beer, cook all day, and it's delicious.

*Thanks to my alcoholic grandma for this recipe...just joking...that crazy cat lady knew how to hold her liquor.

Photo Credit: Mmm Ham via photopin (license)

24 comments:

G, How Easy.

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 37 Comments


There's a story behind those Green Beans!
 I used to work in social work. A young man came into our transitional living program (a program for 17-21 year-olds) with white-power gang tattoos. We played dumb about the ink and staffed the young man with all black workers. A few months into the program, I asked him about the tattoos. He admitted they were gang related and racist, because he hated black people. I asked him about his staff. Did he hate them? No, he liked all of them. Especially Fred. He was a good-old boy like him. Fred liked to fish and hunt. Heck, Fred even taught him how to cook. I asked him if he ever thought his tattoos were hurtful to good people. He admitted he regretted them, but ink is permanent. Well, we couldn't get rid of them, but we could change them. A local tattoo artist covered them for free. A year or so later, the young man made us dinner....wanted to show off his skills. One of the items on the menu was Fred's Green Beans. To this day, I only make Fred's Green Beans.



Drain canned green beans
Heat your skillet until it's sizzling hot
(I use cast iron, sometimes I use my wok)
Add about a tablespoon of butter, allow to melt
Add the green beans and fry them up.
Salt and pepper and serve. 



My babies.
Carter, Cole, Conner, and Caleb

Need a Good picture of the kids without the pain?

If yours are anything like mine, threats of violence won't make them all smile at the same time. Three would look great, one would make rabbit ears. I'd yell at Bugs Bunny wanna-be and he'd straighten up, but then someone else would cross his eyes. Finally, I decided if you can't beat them, join them. I'd tell them to get me one picture I could send to family and then they could do have their fun- no holds barred. We've had so much fun with it, sometimes the goofy shot becomes the keeper. 


37 comments:

F's Are Easy!

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 64 Comments



Family Fun 
Hauling four boys from place to place was never easy, unless there was a plan.
One of the games in my mommy arsenal was "What Animal Am I?"
I'd pick an animal in my head and they'd have to ask questions, like what do you eat...do you live on land...are you a mammal, etc... until they could guess what animal I was. The winner got to pick the next animal. Worked great for car rides, doctor's offices, and other places where carrying anymore extra stuff other than the essentials required.


Fishy RX
Anyone know anything about Beta fish?
This is my grandfish (AKA my eldest's baby) and he's been sick for a week and a half. I change a third of his water daily (dechlorinated & medicated).
 He's in shallow water because he is an air gulper and they say to give him less distance to swim for air while ailing. He also has a heater, so his water is warm
He only eats about once every three or four days and spends most of his time lying sideways on the bottom. I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions?


Frankfurters!


1 pack hotdogs
1 can of croissants

These are so easy, though I shamefully admit I had no clue how to roll a croissant and had to have my husband show me. All you do is roll a hot dog in the croissant (large side first. Don't be an idiot and start from the small side...not saying that's how I first tried to do it, but well....) and bake for 13 minutes.

I used to make these for sleep overs and class parties. Kids love them.

To make them healthier, I use Hebrew National Fat Free hot dogs. Or if you're like my husband, we use those sort of hot dogs Jewish people can eat. See? I'm not the only ding dong in this relationship!


********************************************************
Special shout out for Alex Cavanaugh!
His book releases today. I got my copy, how about you?
You can get your copy HERE!!


64 comments:

Easy Does It

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 65 Comments



Easy come, easy go. 

The less effort put into acquiring something, the less it's appreciated by its owner. My kids HATE that...or more precisely they hate that their parents believe this to be true. I want is  usually countered with how much money do you have? Then they're expected to earn the money to buy the excess, like video games, with the money they make mowing lawns and such. They call it mean, we call it character building. 


Easy exercise?
Take a walk. No equipment needed! And if you have one of these...they're always eager to go!


Grizzly
He's napping while I write...
though he'd certainly rather go for a walk!

Easy Eggcellence?

I love eggs. Always have, even when they were the bad guys. I never doubted them and it seems science is finally giving them the credit they deserve. They're little vitamin powerhouses containing vitamins A, B, D, E, Biotin, Choline, Folic Acid, Iodine, Iron, Lutein and zeaxanthin, Phosphorous, Protein, and Selenium (I didn't know these by heart...I got the list from a Medical News Today article. To read all about egg goodness, click the link.) 


I smacked this egg on it's bottom
then gently squeezed its sides.
Consider it the sexy way
 to ease an egg from its shell.
At about 70 calories per egg, a boiled egg is a great snack. I boil half a dozen at a time and leave them in the fridge for a quick grab. 

Want to make a better egg?
*Boil eggs for ten minutes (I start the timer once the water is boiling)
*After ten minutes, remove from heat.
*Drain hot water.
*Cover eggs with ice and water and allow to cool. 
(Ice water will make the yolks fluffier and a brighter yellow.)
*Then peel. I like to crack the egg at the wider bottom, then squeeze it gently. Start from the side or top and the shell clings to the egg.


65 comments:

D Lighter

3:10 AM Elizabeth Seckman 58 Comments


 I've never been one of those people who doesn't understand why she's chubby. I like food and I'm pretty lazy  cerebral.

I do occasionally attempt to lead a healthier life because looks aside, I do want to have a body that can get me from point A to point Z (fun pun intended) without coding out.



D is for diet tips I know, but obviously don't use very often. 

*When craving something sweet, grab fruit first...after a while, your mind will start to crave the fruit (in theory, but the first time you wipe out the kiddo's Easter candy, you're back to square one)
*Snack sized candies and pre-portioned snacks. Never say no, say moderation.
*Stop eating when you're full. Sounds easy, but sometimes it tastes so good!
*Keep a food journal, or get one of the phone apps. I have fitness pro. It chastises me for not logging in enough...well worth the .99 I paid.
*Don't think diet, think healthy living. Diet is a four letter word containing the word die...it's a BAD word.
*Move more. Gym time is great, but unrealistic for some people. Give yourself credit for doing a tough job. My grandma baptized her 6th kid in a size 8 dress. Her secret? She constantly worked on a to do list.
*Keep high protein snacks handy. Almonds, walnuts, peanuts. Just remember portions. Trust me, you can be a chub on healthy foods!
*Plan ahead. Make a menu. If you know what the plan is, it's easier to stay on course. 
*Don't wait until you're starving to eat. I'm really bad at this. I forget to eat until I'm feeling hungry and instead of taking the time to prep a healthy meal or snack, I'm grabbing cookies.
*If you're seriously craving it, eat it, but in a smaller portion. I once wanted a Snicker bar in the worst way, but I was "dieting" and tried to ignore the craving. I had a yogurt, some almonds, half a peanut butter, a banana...but I still wanted a Snickers. I'd been better off to grab a 70 calorie bite size treat than try to be satisfied with the uncraved foods.
*Small work outs count. Something is better than nothing.
*Watch the salt. It will bloat you, then you'll feel fat and depressed and then you'll crave the comfort of a Snickers. Or is that just me?
*Stay hydrated. The body mistakes hunger all the time. 



58 comments:

C? Easy!

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 35 Comments


The best way to bring ease to life is to use a good dose of common sense. 

Being from a rural area, common sense is often more respected than a doctorate. I mean seriously, you could have a string of degrees after your name, and you won't get any respect unless you also know how to use a tire iron. 



************************************************************************

Easter is right around the corner. Here's one of my favorite Easter crafts:

Take the scoop from a powdered detergent box and glue on a couple of buttons, so it looks like a wheelbarrow. 
Then allow kids to decorate it. 
Fill the cup with dirt. 
Plant a few marigold seeds (they're easy to grow). 
The message of life after death is in the seed. What appears to be dead is only transforming into a new, better life. (The butterfly life cycle is the best metaphor, but transforming caterpillars into butterflies is not EASY, but if you'd like to try...you can buy one HERE.)

Photo courtesy Storknet


                                                                         ***********************************************************************

Want to try a tasty  coffee cake?


This is a great cake for coffee lovers!
Take a regular box of chocolate cake and replace the water in the recipe with coffee, and it's delicious. Add a layer of canned chocolate icing and you have an easy, delicious treat. 


The celebrate hop is brought to you by
Lexa Cain and her awesome co-hosts:
LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Egde
Katie@ TheCyborgMom

1. Finished the first draft of Swept Away. It's with the betas now.

2. A-Z. I've survived to C. 

3. Easter is coming. Hallelujah!!

35 comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...