It took my daughter about a year to get enough hair to cut, but then it was time! First haircut time! Hard to believe so much time has passed since this day.
#ThrowbackThursday – Parrot Jungle Visit
Pulling old photos from all kinds of places and came across this one of my sis and me at Parrot Jungle in Miami. We loved this place and would visit it when we went to Miami to visit my paternal grandmother. I also took my daughter there when we visited South Beach, although I think it’s called Jungle Island now.
#TransformationTuesday – Stalled at 50 pounds lost
I haven’t shared any news on my lifestyle transformation lately because I’ve been stalled at 50 pounds lost thanks to the pandemic and my retirement from being a lawyer. I’ve not been able to do my usual cardio and strength training and I’ve actually been sitting a lot more now that I’m writing full-time. But the good news is: I’m stalled at 50 pounds lost. In the past, I would have gained back weight with such a change, but I’ve actually been able to stay at the same weight. That’s a win-win right now. One of the reasons for that is that I’ve been doing a lot more walking. I try to sneak in a walk right after my morning writing session and another in the afternoon right before it’s time to prep dinner. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do and it doesn’t require any extra equipment, just your feet. Well, and some shoes of course. Remember to stay hydrated, especially when the weather is as hot and humid as the last few days.
#MotivationMonday – So you want to be a writer? Do you know what to do when you get ‘The Call’?
Good morning! I hope you all had a nice weekend. I’ve heard from some people that with time on their hands, they’re finally doing something they never had time to do before: Write a book. But what do you do if the book is finished and you’re thinking about how to publish it? Whether you self-publish or follow a traditional route, it’s important to understand the publishing process and the legal terms you may encounter in a publishing contract. If you’d like more information, please join me in my workshop tonight on Contract Issues for Writers! You can register for the workshop at the International Women’s Writing Guild website at https://iwwg.wildapricot.org/SP20-full/.
#ThrowbackThursday – A Visit to Santa
I’ve been packing and unpacking, going through so many things that were tucked away and I found some older photos of my sister and me! This is a fun one of us visiting Santa. Have a great day and stay safe and healthy out there.
Creamy Pesto Macaroni Salad
This is an easy and adaptable macaroni salad recipe that’s just perfect for a summer BBQ or picnic. It doesn’t take all that long to prepare and you can mix in your favorite vegetables and change it up as you see fit.
Ingredients
- 1 box Barilla Elbows
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 cup chopped cucumbers
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped red (or orange) peppers
1/2 cup shredded carrots
8 ounces diced mozzarella cheese
1 cup basil leaves
1 clove garlic
3 heaping tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions
Follow directions on the box for cooking the elbows. I use Barilla elbows because they have ridges that hold the dressing better and normally cook them for about 7 minutes so they are al dente. Once cooked, rinse with cold water and drain.
To make the creamy pesto dressing, coarsely chop the basil and garlic. Place in either a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender to mix. Add the oil and mayonnaise and mix until completely blended. For more punch, think about adding some grated parmesan to the dressing if you’d like. If you’re adding parmesan, you may want to hold back on the salt at this stage, but salt and pepper to taste. If you like it more garlicky, add additional cloves before you mix the dressing in your blender or food processor.
If you really like basil, double up the amount and add a little more oil and mayo to keep the dressing smooth. Or just make a chiffonade of the basil and mix it in!
Place macaroni in a large bowl and add the dressing. Mix well.
Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, red peppers, carrots, and cheese and mix again. I used both red and yellow grape tomatoes to add a punch of color to the salad.
To change things up, consider using these ingredients as additions to the salad:
- scallions, greens included
salami
pitted green olives
marinated artichokes
celery (I like the greens better than the stalk)
Peas
I’d love to hear from you if you try the recipe and if you added anything different to the mix!
#ManCrushMonday – Luis from Exiled Hearts
I’m just finishing up my new book for Sourcebooks and I am loving it, even though it’s really different from what I normally do. There is a strong romance element, but there is also the story of three women separated by past hurts. Exiled from each other hence the tentative title, Exiled Hearts. I’ve also mentioned that I’ve worked a lot of my family’s history in escaping Cuba into this story. It’s been quite fascinating to do that since I’d tried many times in the past to write about that, but couldn’t because it was too emotional. Somehow weaving it into a fictional story has released the chains that kept that story locked in me. Anyway, the romantic interest in the story is Luis Torres, the CEO of the heroine’s family business. He’s almost like a member of the family and although their relationship starts off rockily, it quickly develops into much more. I picture Luis as very handsome and very stylish, much like the young man in this photo.
