Yogurt Chicken Salad with Dates #FoodieFriday

I’m not a big fan of wasting food and this weekend I made some roast chicken and had leftovers. I decided, Why not make some chicken salad? Of course, I’m trying to not have too much fat, so I decided to experiment a little and the result was quite tasty. So today’s Foodie Friday entry is a healthier chicken salad made with low fat greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Another nice thing about this salad is that you can really play with it. If you want it spicier, add a few shots of Tabasco or Cholula hot sauce. For a little crunch, some chopped walnuts or pecans. Sweeter? How about some grape quarters? The possibilities are endless.

Ingredients

2 cups roasted chicken, diced
1 cup low fat greek yogurt
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
4-6 dates chopped

Directions

Mix all of the above ingredients and voila! A healthier chicken salad. Not only lower in fat, but if you get a greek yogurt that has live cultures, lots of probiotics. Not to mention that dates are a great source of dietary fiber, iron, potassium, anti-oxidant flavenoids and other minerals. A win-win.

Have a great weekend.

November 19, 2015

#ThrowbackThursday NY World’s Fair with My Sis

I remember the World’s Fair like it was yesterday! We went a few times since we lived close by back then. I loved the It’s a Small World exhibit that eventually made its way to the Disney theme parks. This is a photo of my sister and me at the fair. We were all ready for the sun with our cowboy hats! My sister was already shooting up to be taller than me. Sigh.

Some people don’t think that my sis and I look alike, but I think in this photo you can see that our faces are very similar. Especially the eye scrunch. We both have light colored eyes and they are more sensitive to the sun.

November 18, 2015

#WriteWed The Boys of Summer and Rookie of the Year

I’m really excited to have released ROOKIE OF THE YEAR mainly because this was a series of my heart when I wrote it over 10 years ago. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR was originally slated for release in 2001, but the line for which I was writing went on hiatus and the book was never released. This is what the original cover looked like! Cartoon covers were big back then, but I like the new cover much better!

I love baseball as you know and back then very few publishers were willing to take on any kind of book with a sports hero. It was therefore quite awesome to be able to do the series about a sport I love. Plus, I got to give NJ their own team finally! Yes, we do have lots of minor league and independent ball clubs in NJ, but I wanted a Major League Baseball franchise in NJ. Maybe one day we’ll get one.

I hope you’ll check out ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. It’s specially priced at 99 cents for a limited time.

The next book in the series, A WINNING SEASON, will be out soon!

November 17, 2015October 30, 2018

#TuesdayTip Fitness Apps WellCoin and Fit Bit

As some of you might know, I’ve had a long battle with my weight. I’ve gone up and down so many times that I guesstimate I’ve lost and gained hundreds of pounds.

I’m on the heading down again and have lost 30 pounds. I’ve done that with a combination of better eating (a key part of it) and being more active. I’ve shared some of my healthier recipes with you in the past and today I’m going to share two of the apps that have helped me meet new people who keep me encouraged and help me track what I’m doing so I can keep to my lifestyle change. In the future, I’ll share some apps for workouts and exercise that are helpful.

WellCoin

I learned about Wellcoin several months ago and am now a Wellcoin Ambassador. What is Wellcoin? Wellcoin bills itself as the “World’s First Health Currency” and basically, you enter information about your lifestyle to earn points you can exchange for things like gift certificates, healthy food and drink samples, yoga lessons, etc. It’s free to join, but to earn the points you will need to photo document the various healthy activities you are doing.

The activities are many. You get points for counting steps, sleeping 7+ hours, eating healthy meals, participating in the community by verifying other people’s activities, etc.

I find that documenting my activities helps keep me aware of what I’m doing and also, I see interesting new foods, etc. that others are trying out. Makes me want to be adventurous and try them out as well.

Click here if you want to follow me there!

FitBit

As I mentioned, being more active is a big part of being healthier. I log at least 12,000 steps a day by walking to and from my office from the train station, getting up every 30 minutes to move and going to the gym for cardio and strength training. Yes, it can be work, but I am feeling so much better and stronger. It’s worth it!

I use FitBit and its community and app to help me. This does require the purchase of a FitBit device and there are several different kinds. I have the Fitbit Flex which I wear on my wrist. I have friends who use the Zip and the One which attach to your clothing. Still others have variations of the Charge (wristband) which also track your heart rate. Regardless of which one you choose, the end goal is the same: monitoring your activity.

In addition to monitoring, you can friend people on FitBit and cheer them on. Challenge them to daily or weekly goals. It’s all in the name of helping others stick to it. You can friend me by clicking here!

Another thing I really like about the FitBit is the smartphone app. You can use the GPS on your phone to have the Fitbit track your walk. You can also journal what you eat with a really nice interface.

The Fitbit also helps you track your sleep so you know if you are getting that essential 7+ hours of sleep (I don’t regularly, but am getting better).

I hope you enjoyed today’s Tuesday Tip!

November 16, 2015

#PrayersForParis

I know I’ve been missing the last week, but I’ve been really busy at work, with some new releases and with some very exciting news: A new agent and proposal for a new series.

And I know it’s Man Candy Monday, but it just doesn’t feel right today with the recent events in Paris. I’ve been blessed to visit Paris for both business and pleasure. It’s so sad to see the horror that’s been unleashed there by deranged Islamic Jihadists. I pray for peace and healing for the people of Paris and all of France. I pray for everyone who has been touched by this horrible evil. God bless you and keep you safe.

November 6, 2015July 9, 2019

#FreebieFriday JUST ONE NIGHT #Military #Romance

Just One Night New Adult Erotic Romance Good Morning! It’s Friday and you know what that means – FREEBIE!! Today I have 100 free copies of JUST ONE NIGHT, my sexy military romance with Marine hero Jason Hart. This is one of my favorite stories and it has kicked off a series that I am absolutely loving. The next one in the series, EMBRACE THE NIGHT, will be out soon and also part of a specially priced Box Set in December.

Here is a little taser for you about the story:

He has just one night to prove to her that anything is possible…

Jason Hart, Jase to his friends, has just graduated college and earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. It’s the night of the graduation party and she’ll be there. His best friend’s slightly older sister, Nickie. Nickie is the only woman he’s really wanted for a long time. He has just one night to make it happen.

She has just one night before the man of her dreams leaves, maybe forever, but can she find the courage to take a chance…

Nicole de Salvo has been in love â€“ and lust â€“ for her little brotherâ€™s best friend for years. For years sheâ€™s watched from afar and done nothing about her attraction for Jason Hart only now their time together is almost at an end. On their last night together will she find the courage to do something about her feelings, or will she live with regret for the rest of her life?

Click here to claim your free copy of Just One Night. All I ask is that you leave an honest review if you liked the story.

Speaking of box sets, I’m in a number of them that are still specially priced at #99cents, so please check them out!

Lucky 7 Brazen Bachelors

SEVEN New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Authors bring you SEVEN contemporary romance novellas, starring SEVEN brazen bachelors.

Get lucky with a brazen bachelor. . . .

Amazon: http://bit.ly/7BrazenAMZ
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/7BrazenUKAMZ
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/7BrazenCAAMZ
Nook: http://tinyurl.com/pdmkhg5
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/p5mmrtk
iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/poykr9c

Romancing the Military Man

Who doesn’t like a sexy military man? No one! How about ten, yes 10 hot military heroes? Join me and my friends for these stories about military men and women who will risk it all to save the world and find their happily-ever-afters. What can be better than that? How about the box set being priced at only 99 cents for a limited time?

This box set includes STAY THE NIGHT, with sexy Navy Seal Rafe Castillo.

You can purchase Romancing the Military Man for the special price of 99 cents at these e-tailers:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/AMZMilitaryMan
B&N: http://bit.ly/RMM_BN
iBooks: http://bit.ly/RMM_iBooks
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1iLR1QS

Hot Hometown Hunks

You know the guy. The hometown hunk who can make hearts race and knees shake with a flash of his abs or one crooked smile. From enemies to lovers to second chances, these sizzling, seductive, and satisfying full-length novels are guaranteed to sweep you off your feet.

This box set includes SECOND CHANCE AT PERFECT, a sexy and emotional story about a second chance at love.

You can purchase Hot Hometown Hunks for the special price of 99 cents at these e-tailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1URNhyj
B&N: http://bit.ly/1iLSCpI
iBooks: http://apple.co/1iLSWor
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1iLRbYj

Edge of Never

This box set includes Undead Uprising: A Wolf Alone, the first part of my urban fantasy romance with a kick ass werewolf heroine, vampires out to kill her people and an ill-fated love with a human.

You can purchase Edge of Never for the special price of 99 cents at these e-tailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Kd4E4z
B&N: http://bit.ly/1iLS3MI
iBooks: http://apple.co/1iLT2fE
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1iLRjHc

November 5, 2015

#ThrowbackThursday My Mom

It’s hard to believe sometimes that my mom has been gone from my life more than she was in it. Weird, because she made such a lasting impression on my character. She was my best friend and my mentor besides being my mom. She was also someone who always pushed me to do more, which isn’t necessarily a good thing because sometimes she pushed too much. I see myself pushing too much sometimes and have to really pull back from that because it can be damaging as well.

But anyway, here’s my mom when she was maybe in her twenties. A beautiful woman as well as smart and determined.