Write on short stories in progress 3 days/week with a weekly goal of 2000 words Didn’t write 3 days but did write to my goal of 2000 words
Plot outline of a 2nd short story idea Spent time this week brainstorming the theme for my story idea and writing character sketches.
Begin the publishing process of at least one short story This will hopefully happen in May
Exercise 5 days a week – at least 30 minutes each time Okay-not that great this week but, I did get in 3 days/30min each
Overall, I feel this was a good start for this round of ROW80. I hope you all have had a productive week as well.
For those of you who have been adding healths goals to your rounds, like me, I want to share something with you. As a woman, I know firsthand how it feels to have flabby upper arms…you know, the part that waves at someone, and I don’t mean your hand. Well I found THE exercise to get rid of batwings. FOREVER. (This goes for the guys, too)
When you tone your triceps, you can say good-bye to flab. Click herefor a description of the exercise.
If you’re unfamiliar with ROW80, the challenge that knows you have a life, you can read all about Kait Nolan’s amazing challenge HERE. If you’ve participated before,here’s the linkto get started again! To learn more about Kait, click HERE.
Please stop by my blog on Wednesdays this month for author guest posts. There are so many really wonderful indie authors and I have some of the best with me during April!
TheLife List Club’s new bloglaunched this past Wednesday. We’ve had terrific response, so don’t miss it! We post every Wednesday and Friday. If you know someone who may be interested in guest posting on Mondays, please email me at Marcia DOT A DOT Richards AT gmail DOT com.
How are you feeling about your week? Please share!
PLEASE NOTE: I am also posting on our brand new Life List Club blog today!! Please go read what I have to say about chairs!
There is nothing a smart, sexy woman loves and appreciates more than products that are designed to multi-task. These are made for us!
I found these three and 8 more at Daily Glow. I just ordered the Smooth Operator. I use the Beauty Balm and love it. There are a few more that I use among the other 8 products. You might want to click the link and check them out.
Tarte Smooth Operator
Somewhere in between foundation and regular moisturizer lies tinted foundation. Tarte Smooth Operator ($36) provides the benefits of the best of both: It has light-deflecting particles to minimize the appearance of fine lines, is loaded with vitamins A, C, and E, and gives the perfect hint of coverage to even out skin tone without being too heavy. Plus it has SPF 20.
They say that this foundation covers well and isn’t heavy-feeling. It allows your skin to breathe which will eliminate the possibility of breakouts from using it. A lot of vitamins and SPF 20? Can’t wait to try it!
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pads
You know that you’re supposed to exfoliate before applying self-tanner, but who has the time? The two-in-one Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pads ($32) do both at once; the towelettes are made with alpha and beta hydroxy acids to gently remove dead skin to ensure that the color goes on evenly and give you a dose of topical vitamin D.
They say that one pad is enough for your face, neck and chest and gives you a natural glow. These are next on my list since my fair skin burns so easily and because it will take no time at all to use!
Dr. Jart Beauty Balm
There’s nothing that wins a beauty editor over faster than a product that multitasks and actually does a good job at each of those tasks. That’s what won Dr. Jart Beauty Balm ($32) top honors. This amazing oil-free skin cream contains 50% water to hydrate and create a natural, dewy finish on skin. Plus, natural sunscreens also give it excellent UV protection, and the neutralizing pigments cover and correct discoloration.
I’ve had a hard time finding a product that will cover the redness I have most of the time from sensitive aging skin. This one covers without making me look like I have too much make-up on.I love the feel of it!
All of the products at Daily Glow look good, feel good and are good for your skin. Feel pretty and healthy inside and out!
This is my 4th ROW80 round and I’m excited to get going!
I f you’re unfamiliar with ROW80, the challenge that knows you have a life, you can read all about Kait Nolan’s amazing challenge HERE.If you’ve participated before, here’s the link to get started again!To learn more about Kait, click HERE
I have my writing and exercise schedules on my calendar. My desk is clean for a fresh start. Got my best smile on to go meet other ROWers. Let’s get started:
April 2 ROW Goals:
Write on short stories in progress 3 days/week with a weekly goal of 2000 words
Plot outlines of a 2nd short story idea
Begin the publishing process of at least one short story
Exercise 5 days a week – at least 30 minutes each time
Staying focused on my short stories now and believe that will lead me to achieving these goals. Maintaining my fitness routine to reach my end of year goal should keep the creative juices flowing.
Wishing us all a productive and successful ROWnd!
You know I love hearing from you!
Have you signed up yet? What are you waiting for? Sign up here or go support your fellow ROWers here!
The awesome Fabio Bueno tagged my in the Lucky 7 meme recently!
Here are the rules:
1. Go to page 77 of your current MS/WIP
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs, and post them as they’re written.
4. Tag 7 authors, and let them know.
Okay, here’s mine. It’s from book one of my historical trilogy, The Dancer.
Line 77, 7th line down, 12 sentences
Maeve looked around to see where she was, but she didn’t recognize the neighborhood. Pushing off from the building, she wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing the goosebumps away, until she found a street she recognized. She began to run again, toward home now, knowing Ma would be worried about her being out after dark.
~~~~~~
Maeve turned the knob without a sound and tiptoed into the kitchen. The sight of Ma, head down, working her rosary and mumbling prayers at the table startled Maeve. Ma looked up, her lined forehead relaxed as her eyes scanned Maeve’s face for trouble. Seeing Maeve was unhurt, anger boiled under the surface, reddening her checks and pursing her lips. She pushed herself to her feet, warmed Maeve’s dinner plate of bangers and mash in the oven, dropped it on the table and left the room without a word.
Maeve’s eyes moistened. She wiped away the unfallen tears and refused to give in to the hurt. If Ma had hollered or slapped her, she might have known that Ma still loved her. To be ignored cut deep in Maeve’s heart.
Every week I scour the internet to bring you a fun, practical or yummy list. Today’s list is:
5 Powerful Reasons to try Black Garlic
But first:
What is Black Garlic? It’s raw garlic that is fermented. Fermentation is process that has been around for thousands of years and is used in many of the foods and drinks we consume such as wine and beer, yogurt and cheese, pickles and vinegar and many others.
Why is it black? According to BlackGarlic.com: Garlic contains sugars and amino acids. When garlic undergoes fermentation, these elements produce melanoidin, a dark-colored substance that is responsible for the color of black garlic.
What is the texture of black garlic compared to raw garlic? Black garlic is soft and truffled, dense and layered, with the paste-like texture of roast garlic.
Fermented foods enrich the diet through the development of a diversity of flavors, aromas, and textures. Black Garlic is just one of hundreds of foods created by this process.
1. Fermentation gives black garlic its sweet clove-and-caramel flavor in contrast to the acrid taste of raw garlic.
2. It’s natural antioxidants are double that of raw garlic.
3. The antioxidant compounds help lower cholesterol and decrease cancer risk more so than raw garlic.
4. Antinutrients, compounds that interfere with the absorption of nutrients, are eliminated during fermentation.
5. No worries about bad breath with black garlic.
Black Garlic can be purchased at Whole Foods stores and online at BlackGarlic.comand at Amazon.com. It must be refrigerated and used within 2 months.
Half to one tablespoon of creamed horseradish (according to taste)
2 cloves of peeled black garlic – chopped
3 tablespoons of fresh chives – snipped
Salt and black pepper
Instructions
Place all the ingredients with the exception of the creamed horseradish and snipped chives, into a food processor. Process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Add the creamed horseradish according to taste. Stir in the snipped chives.
Joan Reeves of Writing Hacks gives some great tips on using tags and keywords inMore Tags. She also talks about a self-publisher’s “street team”. Worth reading!
Joanna Penn’s The Rise of Indie Authors and How This Helps Publishing is her notes and slides from her recent keynote speech where one of her points was showing the positives of self-publishing and, to demonstrate, she shared her sales figures for the past year. Highly recommended.
Patricia Stoltey guest posts at Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agent’s blog about 10 Tips on Guest Blogging and Blog Tours, answering questions and calming insecurities about guest blogging.
Danielle LaPorte is one of my favorite people. She has a new series called Burning Question. She asks a question, answers it and challenges you to do the same. Go check out this one.
Are you into trying new ‘superfoods’? Would you eat black garlic?
I’m inviting you all to pimp your own work today! Please share a link to one of your best posts!
Next Wednesday, April 4th is the launch of the Life List Club blog and the debut post of our newest author, Sherry Isaac! Don’t miss it!!
Last, but not least, LLC Milestone Friday’s giveaway winner of a blog post swap and an Amazon gift card iiisss….the fabulous, Kate MacNicol!!! YAY, Kate!!
Kate, please email me to set up the blog post swap and to make arrangements to send you the gift card!
Yes, it’s time for our Milestone Party again! So get down on the floor and dance the night away!
The Life List Club has enjoyed an amazing 9 months. We’ve met so many new friends and have been steadily growing!We all are doing well on our life lists and hope to encourage you to keep on working at yours.
We have exciting news!
The Life List Club will have it’s own blog! We thought it would much easier for all of our readers to follow our LLC posts if we created a new schedule and format. LLC, beginning Wednesday, April 4th, will post on Wednesday’s and Friday’s every week.
No more blog hopping! You can find all your favorite LLC authors in one location. If you miss a post, it’s easy to search an author‘s archived posts and catch up.
We have a new author!Sherry Isaac has just joined our Club and will kick off the new blog with her first post on April 4th! Please stop in to welcome her!
On to my progress report:
MARCIA’S LIFE LIST
1. Finish my short story anthology and self-publish it, as well as publishing the stories individually. Then complete my novel and publish. I now have scheduled time to write that I will protect with my life!
2. Continue to participate in ROW80 and check-in every Sunday. Yes, yes, yes!
3. Motivate at least 10 ROW80 pals every week. Yes, every Sunday!
4. Get my butt out of my desk chair for at least 15 minutes every 2 hours. Got this covered!
5. Take at least 2 more online classes to improve my writing. Have taken 2 and am taking one more in April.
6. Allow myself only 8 hours a week to read blogs and keep up with social media marketing. This is working. The time is split up into 3 days each week.
7. Attend a writer’s conference or workshop and join a writer’s organization. Joining RWA in April.
8. Learn how to create podcasts, videos and a book trailer for my blog site. Not yet, but soon.
9.Create a business-like schedule for writing, blogging and social media. DONE!
10.Read 25 books in the next 12 months. Have read 19 books and am on track!
11. Get moving! Exercise at least 30 minutes 5 days a week. Getting back to my exercise routine in April that sadly lapsed in March.
12. Feed my addiction to chocolate, daily. Limit total daily sugar allowance to 1 ounce of dark chocolate. DONE!
13. Add more fruits and vegetables into my diet. Increasing them every week and actually eating them!
14. Lose at least 35 lbs, in order to get off all my meds, about 3 pounds a month. This has been a major struggle and will be consulting my doctor in April to figure out why.
15. Get back to the routine of cleaning bathrooms and dusting weekly, instead of pushing it off on my honey. DONE!
16. Create a few 30 minute pockets of time each day to spend alone with my hubs. Everyday!
17. Remember to thank my husband everyday for his constant love and support. Daily!
18. Find time to get back to painting chairs and selling them. Trying to figure out when I can work this in.
19. Clean attic and basement of all unnecessary items ans sell them. Plans to begin in 3 weeks are in place.
20. Eat more slowly. Practice. Still practicing.
21. Floss everyday. Getting much better at this. See?
22. Play. As often as I can.
23. Live in the moment. Definitely!
24. Notice the little things and appreciate them. Absolutely!
25. Take more photographs. Will embark on a daily photo, as inspired byTameri Etherton.
I’ve revised my list for this progress update. I removed some of things that I have accomplished and added a few new goals. 18 out of 25 goals achieved on this list, as well as a few more that I removed as completed. I feel good about my progress and some new positive habits I’ve developed. though, I do still have work to do!
I’ve learned a few things that might help you, too, if you’re having a tough time with any of your goals:
* I used to feel as though I should be at my desk every spare minute getting writing/business work done. I know now that I have to get out of the house more to get inspired by people, nature and my surroundings. Take photos, paint my chairs, read more.
* Exercise really helps make everything flow well, especially ideas.
* I may have been addicted to sugar, but now I have it under control. It was just a matter of creating a new, better habit: no baking except for rare special occasions; get hubby to do the grocery shopping and be my partner in avoiding sugar; get busy doing other fun things that will act as a reward for giving up most white stuff (sugars, white flour, white rice, white potatoes).
* Setting aside two days a week exclusively for writing is working so far.
* Breaking bad habits is so much harder than making them. Note to self: Don’t create bad habits anymore.
To thank all of you for your support for the last 9 months, all of us writers have prizes to give away!
Here’s the list of all the prizes you could be eligible for when you visit all the writers’ blogs:
Sign up 
Limit total daily sugar allowance to 1 ounce of dark chocolate. 
