Saturday Seven (Feb 23, 2019)

Happy Saturday, What have you been up to this week? I had a long to-do list and I got off course a few times but overall it is all good! Here is a run down of highlights for the week. I hope you find then useful in your life! My goal as a person and a writer is to always Pay-It-Forward so please let me know how I can help you. YES YOU!
Enjoy your Weekend & this post! Amazing things to come!
~Amy

•  What am I Reading? –  This week I could not put down Gavin by Russell, a crime thriller for the ages! Love, Love, love it! Also took some time to read a terrific blog post on Social Media Marketing by Jenn Hanson-dePaula at Mixtus Media - My Secret to Creating Successful Social Media Posts. Very interesting and insightful, you can follow Jenn on Twitter @mixtusmedia

•  What am I Listening to? – Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. If you are a writer or any kind of artist, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is inspiring in its look at the source and life of creative thinking and living a creative life. This will be the third time I’ve listened to it on Audible and I just drink it in! Read my review on my blog for more details.
•  What Quote am I pondering? ~ You don't have to do the picture, you don’t have to do the autograph, but it's important to take that moment to make a human connection. ~ Cindy Crawford (Happy Birthday, Cindy!)
•  What am I Researching? – I am always attempting to better myself not only as a writer but as a person. Researching and reading up on the latest, greatest and sometimes the past. As a writer aka business owner, I have been researching how success works and who are the leaders. One of the people I have found very helpful is Tim Ferriss (@tferriss. He gave me the idea for a Saturday Seven from his Five Bullet Friday Emails (thank you, Tim!)
• Yummy Meal of the week – This week we were working on a tight budget so no Taco Bell! Instead, I fixed an amazing Zucchini Lasagna using the zucchini as the lasagna noodles! It was super delish! Check out the recipe here. 
• What did I Learn this week? –  BIG lesson for me this week, on allowing myself to feed into a sudden feeling of being overwhelmed. I am a Mother of four, and a full-time corporate employee along with a writer. I am writing a blog post on how to juggle and how momentum is awesome and terrifying at the same moment.  I am learning it is okay to take a step back, take a breath, regroup and start again instead of allowing myself to be overwhelmed and anxiety-ridden over not being in complete control.  I can do this. I am doing this. I will achieve my goals.
• What am I Watching? – New on Netflix is The Umbrella Academy, the show is very interesting and beyond entertaining. It reminds me of a cross between The Watchmen and High School Musical. Corny and comical at times it also has a deeper message that is subtle in its context.  I’ve also read a bunch on the graphic-novel creator, Gerard Way who was the lead vocalist and co-founder of the rock band My Chemical Romance until 2013.

 Have any thoughts on my week’s activity or want to make a recommendation? Drop me a line, or a tweet. One lucky commenter will win a free Romine book of their choice! Never want to miss a blog post or a Saturday Seven? Join my mailing list and I will be happy to send it straight to your inbox!

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Friday Food Love - Capellini with Tomatoes and Basil

Have I expressed how much I do not cook? My ex-husband was the chef of the house so when we split households I needed to become the chef uber-fast. Here is a quick, easy and yummy way to make it happen!

Ingredients

Kosher salt

1/2 cup good olive oil, plus extra for the pot

2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)

4 pints small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

18 large basil leaves, julienned

2 tablespoons chopped fresh curly parsley

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3/4 pound dried capellini or angel hair pasta

1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Extra chopped basil and grated Parmesan, for serving

Preparation

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt and a splash of oil to the pot.

Meanwhile, heat the 1/2 cup of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan. Add the garlic to the oil and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, 2 teaspoons salt, the pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften but don't break up.

While the tomatoes are cooking, add the capellini to the pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.

Place the pasta in a large serving bowl, add the tomatoes and Parmesan and toss well. Add some of the pasta water if the pasta seems too dry. Serve large bowls of pasta with extra basil sprinkled on top and a big bowl of extra Parmesan on the side.

 View on foodnetwork.com

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Awesome Excerpts Thursday - What Happens in Bangkok – Bk 1 – Two Hearts One Love Trilogy by Daryl Devoré

Blurb

To save Darien's life his brother asks, "Can you walk in high heels?"

Erika Bailey, owner/manager of a drag queen club in Bangkok, Thailand has happily settled into all aspects of her new life, except for her lack of a love life. When a new diva auditions, Erika is bewildered over her instant attraction to the blond God, Apollo.

Darien Scott is on vacation after a world tour and mistakenly figures the safest place to be is at The Black Dragon with the head of a Triad. When the club is hit, Darien is the only person to get out alive. Now   he's running from the police and a Triad. Mistake number 1.

Disguised as a drag queen, he's hired by Erika, but falls hard for his new boss, then struggles with not coming clean with her. Mistake number 2.

Can he fix his mistakes and find a life filled with love or is he headed straight for mistake number 3?

eXtasy Books

Excerpt

Darien's stomach rumbled. "Love some. Kinda hungry. I'll be right out."

After dressing and eating breakfast, Darien settled back in his chair and released a long sigh.

"Feeling better this morning?" His brother grinned.

Darien nodded. "Yeah. Thanks. I so owe you."

"Hell yes, you do. First time Alonzo and I get the same night off in months, and you blow in bloody as hell, trying to escape from a Triad hit." Brian gulped back his coffee. "So now we just have to figure out how to hide you."

"Blond."

Darien glanced at Stewart.

"Dye his hair blond and shave the face fuzz, and no one's going to know who he is."

Brian pushed his chair back and stood. "Pretty drastic, but a good idea, until you can get out of here." He tossed his dishes in the sink.

Darien rubbed his chin. "Won't be on tour for a while, so I can always grow it back. I don't want to die and I'm gonna, if they find me."

Sandee swallowed the last of his breakfast. "Do you know if they are looking for you? The cops, I mean."

"I'd say they are." Lennie looked up. "Watched the news this morning, and the cops have the security video from the Dragon. They did a body count and you're missing. They have your face on the TV asking if anyone's seen you."

"Shit!" Darien thumped his hand on the table. "The cops are gonna want to know what I know about this. Bleeding Sun's gonna wanna know if I saw their shooters, and Nai Jâhng's gang is probably very curious about how I ended up being the only person who got out alive. They're gonna assume I was involved." He rested his elbows on the table and dropped his head into his hands. "I am so fucked."

"Not necessarily."

Darien's brow furrowed as he stared at Stewart, who waggled his eyebrows at Brian.

"Brilliant." Brian grinned at his brother. "Question. Can you walk in high heels?"

Buy it now!

 


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