Month: January 2024

Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

January Journal #5

What requires your patience today?

I woke up feeling off, I think I’m coming down with a bug. I went to bed with a bit of a headache. So basically today I think most things, especially the most mundane and ordinary will require a lot of patience. I’d rather just snuggle under my weighted blanket and sleep longer or read a book. I even had the whole “girl versus hair” monologue today. I really needed to wash my dirty hair (which is on day number FOUR) but the thought of “all that work”  irked me and I was rolling my eyes in the shower. That right there tells me I am going to have to make a very conscious choice and be deliberate in my actions today to show patience.

What about you?

Prompt from Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts

Categories
Entertainment

Book Club: January

Current Addictions is being replaced with the Book Club feature; where I’ll be sharing what I read over the month. I hope that you share your book recommendations with me in the comments! #bookwormsunite

January was mostly about reading books to add to my 7th grade English class library.

  1. Chomp by Carl Hiassen
    Wahoo Cray and his father are animal wranglers in Florida. They are contracted by the production company for a survivalist reality show with an over-the-top host. After filming takes a turn in the Everglades; Wahoo must save his friend and make sure his father gets paid.
  2. Wrecker by Carl Hiassen
    Set during the COVID pandemic in the Florida Key; Wrecker gets caught up in the illegal scheme of Silver Mustache. He must solve the case with the help of his friend, Willi. The story of Manuel Cabeza plays out in the background.
  3. Enola Holmes and the Boy in Buttons by Nancy Springer
    A short story written in 2021; about the disappearance of the brother of Enola’s porter. She has to find the young boy in Aldgate Pump before danger befalls him.
  4. Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer
    Enola must find her friend Cecily Alistair who is being mistreated by her oppressive father who is preoccupied with his social standing and her aunts who isolate her and starve her.
Categories
Food & Drink

Macaroni & Cheese

Looking for an alternative to boxed macaroni and cheese that is easy to make and incredibly tasty; this is the recipe for you!

colorful pasta
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Ingredients

2 cups Whole wheat macaroni
2 Tbsp Margarine
1.5 Tbsp Flour
1 cup Milk
1 cup Marble cheese (shredded)
1 cup Peas
4 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Bread crumbs

Directions

  1. Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the package; during the last minute of cook time add the peas; drain and transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Make a roux by melting margarine in a saucepan add the flour and cook until it has a paste consistency.
  3. Slowly add the milk to the saucepan and stir constantly; simmer until thickened.
  4. Add the cheese sauce to the bowl with macaroni and peas; mix well.
  5. Pour mixture into a casserole dish.
  6. In a small bowl, combine the parmesan and bread crumbs together; sprinkle over the macaroni.
  7. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350F
  8. Enjoy!
Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

January Journal #4

Re-write some of these commonly used idioms to make them more interesting, or maybe start a story: “Pardon my French,” “My mind is in a fog,” There is more than one way to skin a cat,” “You are on thin ice.”

“Pardon my nonsense!”
→have you noticed the slang these days and yes, I know this makes me sound like a “boomer,” but wow! I can barely understand my students: riz, drip, etc!

“My mind is a swirling vortex of idiocy at the moment!”
→This is for when you are more than discombobulated;when you are overtired and can’t think straight.

“There is more than one way to pluck a duck!
→I like rhymes, and it’s true! (Both figuratively and literally).

“You are in very deep snow!
→This is much more appropriate for my locale. 

What about you?

Prompt from Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts

Categories
Entertainment

Best Winter Dates!

In the dead of winter, it’s tough to want to go out and do things; it’s much easier to stay home, hang out and stay warm. One of my “INs” for this year is to go on more dates with my husband.

  1. Grab your favourite take-out and drive to a picturesque location to eat while you enjoy the view
  2. Visit a brewery or a winery
  3. Head over to a place like The Rec Room
  4. Go for a fondue lunch
  5. Take a class together (cooking, dance, painting, etc)
  6. Nerd out at a museum
  7. Go to a park, nature sanctuary or garden; meandering while enjoying hot chocolate
  8. Catch a show at the local comedy club
  9. Snowshoeing
  10. Go to a the theater or symphony for a play or concert
three red heart balloons
Photo by Kristina Paukshtite on Pexels.com
Categories
Food & Drink

Nutritious Shrimp Bowl

shrimp on black pan
Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com

Ingredients

2 cup Spring mix
2 cloves Garlic
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Olive Oil + some for drizzling
1/2 lb Shrimp (medium; shelled, deveined & washed thoroughly)
2 Green Onions (sliced)
1 Heirloom tomato (diced)
1 cup Quinoa
1 Avocado (diced)
Salt & pepper

Directions

  1. Combine the spring mix, garlic, lemon juice & olive oil in a food processor to finely chop.
  2. Add the mixture and shrimp in a Ziploc to marinate in the fridge while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
  3. Cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the package; but make sure once it is done you let it stand for 10 minutes.
  4. Cook the shrimp either on the grill or in a pan on the stove.
  5. In a bowl add the cooked quinoa, shrimp and tomato; mix. If you notice the mixture is drier than you would prefer drizzle with the additional olive oil.
  6. Cut up the avocado. Add it to the bowl and carefully mix it in without smashing it.
  7. Season with salt and pepper and ENJOY!
Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

January Journal #3

Were you ever bullied as a child? Tell a story of a time you were bullied, or a time you observed someone being bullied?

I got bullied in elementary school. I was the “fat kid,” and very uncool. I wore sweat suits everyday. One boy was kicking rocks at my friend Michelle on the playground and I yelled at him to stop. So, he turned his attention to me. He even peed in my indoor shoes in the cloakroom one day. The teacher and principal launched an investigation and questioned every boy in the class. They couldn’t pin it on Philip but I knew it was him. The whole thing made me mortified; the fact that someone would do that to me, having my classmates pulled on by one to an impromptu interrogation room with the shoes boldly displayed on the center of the table, and the fact that he got away with it. The remarks about my weight and appearance resulted in an eating disorder that I struggled with until university.

What about you?

Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts

Categories
Uncategorized

Back to the Vault: Beating the Winter Blues

I thought it would be fun to travel back in time and check out what I was writing about last year. On January 16th I published my second of three pieces about how to “Beat the Winter Blues.” If you missed it, or if you happening to be struggling with the winter blues like I do, I hope this helps!

Beat the Winter Blues Part 1
Beat the Winter Blues Part 2
Beat the Winter Blues Part 3

Stay warm!

Categories
Food & Drink

Simple Vegetable Soup

This is not only tasty, but it is ridiculously easy to make and it also freezes well.

Ingredients…

1 Tbsp Olive oil
1 White onion (chopped)
28oz Vegetable Broth
2 cups Water
12oz Corn (canned)
14oz Green beans (canned)
14oz Diced tomatoes (canned; with juice)
1 Zucchini (medium size; halved & sliced thin)
1/2 cup Orzo
Salt
Pepper

Directions…

  1. In a large soup pot, saute the onions with oil, salt and pepper until tender
  2. Add the broth and water to the pot and bring it to a boil
  3. Add the vegetables and orzo and cook uncovered until the orzo is tender (approximately 10 minutes)
  4. Enjoy!
close up of pouring stew into cup
Photo by Elina Volkova on Pexels.com
Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

January Journal #2

Do you do good things when no one is watching?

I do because I don’t need credit; in fact it makes me uncomfortable. I think those under the radar kind or good things mean more to the recipient and giver than public displays. When we only do things for recognition we aren’t building the intrinsic motivation to be kind people and sadly I think it is negatively affecting our communities. We seek so much validation for example on social media and broadcast so much of our lives it would be nice to do good things when no one is watching or do it anonymously. I think people need to model kindness so others can emulate it but I think we can restore faith in each other by doing small random acts of kindness on a day to day basis.

What about you?

Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts