So, I need to find a happy medium. I’m going to try blogging on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as well as posting a snippet of a current book on Sunday’s Weekend Warriors.

Wish me luck. And if you have any tips for being more discplined and fighting procrastination, I’d love to hear them.

1-1/2 lb ground beef (you can also use 1-1/2 lb of meat-loaf mixture if you want)
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup breadcrumbs (or enough to hold the meat together)
1-2 tbsp garlic (or 1 tsp garlic powder or to taste)
1-2 tsp salt (to taste)
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper (I only use 1/2 tsp)
1/3 cup milk (approximately)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (optional, or to taste)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tbsp dried parsley)

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Shape into small meatballs (they can be frozen at this point or refrigerated up to 24 hours)
3. Simmer in pasta sauce, but do not move them around for at least 20-25 minutes or they might break apart.
4. Continue cooking for another 20 minutes or so (40 minutes total cooking time should cook the meatballs but you might want to test one if you’re going to eat them immediately.)
5. Or continue to cook for as long as desired.

Note:
* If you don’t have dry breadcrumbs, soak 2 slices of bread in the milk.
* Instead of cooking in sauce, you can bake the meatballs in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until cooked through.

Limericks are short poems with a sense of humor. They’ve been since the mid-1800′s and are generally assumed to have originated in the town of Limerick, Ireland. There’s no documentation I could find to prove this, though.

Limericks are simple little poems that all have the same rhythm. The first, second and fifth lines rhyme, and the third and fourth lines rhyme. So, in poetry language, the rhythm is AABBA. I’ve never written a limerick before, but I decided to give it a try.

As you can see, I’m not poet. It was a good mental exercise, though.

Have you ever written one? I’d love to hear it if you have.

Koalas aren’t the cute and cuddly little bears we think they are. In fact, they’re not bears at all, but marsupials.After they give birth, they carry their babies in a pouch, just like kangaroos. After about six month, the babies emerge and cling to them until they’re about a year old before they’re independent.

Native to Australia, koalas mainly live in eucalyptus trees and feed off the leaves. They’re nocturnal animals, sleeping up to 18 hours a day.

But whether they’re bears or not, they’re still cute. But don’t get too close. Those claws are super sharp.

Its origin appears to be pretty obscure, but it seems it’s a nursery rhyme song. Here are the lyrics:

If you can’t remember the melody, it’s here.

Do you know the song? Fingers crossed you won’t spend all day today trying to get it out of your head.

Wouldn’t it be fabulous to own your own Caribbean or South Pacific island? You can! I was researching islands for a project I’m working on and came across a website listing islands for sale. Two hours later – yes, I admit it, I got sucked right in, searching for the perfect island. For my book, of course

It might be a little tricky importing food, furnishings, etc. but it would be like living in a resort, with white sandy beaches at your front door, year-round sunshine, and R&R. What’s not to love?

Anyone have a few million to spare? I promise to pay it back

According to the www.dictionary.com, one definition of happy is “characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.”

Happiness is such an individual thing, that it means something different to everyone. I got to thinking about it, and other than good health, family, friends, what makes me happy?

1. Music. No matter what kind of mood I’m in, music is guaranteed to make me feel better and make my heart lighter.
2. Sitting in front of a fire with a good book on a cold winter’s night.
3. The beach – walking along the ocean’s edge, listening to the waves break, watching children play.
4. Snuggling with my hubby.
5. Movies, especially romantic comedies.

What about you? What makes you happy, other than the obvious three I mentioned above?

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins (or chocolate chips, craisins, almonds etc. – or a mixture which adds up to 1/2 cup)
1/4 to 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar (I use about 1/4 cup – I find 1/2 cup too sweet)
1/2 cup light corn syrup (I usually use honey – but only because I rarely have corn syrup in the house)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Combine cereal, rolled oats and raisins in a large bowl.

2. Combine brown sugar and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.

3. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until smooth.

4. Pour over cereal. Mix well.

5. Press into an ungreased 13×9″ pan.

6. Cool. Cut into bars. Wrap individually. Enjoy.

Makes 24 bars.

Hints:
1. Press hard into the pan, otherwise they might not hold together.
2. You might want to spray Pam or butter your hands so the mixture doesn’t stick.

The story is a cheesy and corny romance/comedy/adventure, which fits my criteria for light, fun entertainment. “Finn” Finegan (McConaughey) and his partner are searching for sunken treasure in the Bahamas and because of his obsession, his wife, Tess, (Hudson) has divorced him. Somehow, he convinces her and millionaire Nigel Honeycutt (played by Donald Sutherland) to help him find it. Along the way, they have to deal with local gangsters who are also trying to find the treasure.

Of course, the ending is predictable. Finn and Tess reunite. They find the treasure. Everyone lives happily ever after. But isn’t that how a romantic comedy is supposed to end?

Yes, the critics overwhelmingly dissed the movie, but looking at the box office returns and DVD sales, the fans disagree. Fool’s Gold is right up there on my list with Romancing the Stone and The Thomas Crown Affair.

Have you seen Fool’s Gold? What do you think?

From his childhood in Tupelo, Mississipi to wealth and fame few of us can imagine (and to be honest, I wouldn’t want), he racked up almost 40 top ten hits and starred in 33 movies. He died far too young. But his music lives on.

So today I thought I’d have a little contest. Below are five Elvis songs. Fill in the blanks, post your answers and I’ll choose one winner from the correct entries to receive a digital copy of another “E”I thought about talking about today – my historical romance, Emma’s Wish.

1. In the ____________

2. ____________ Heart

3. I Can’t Help _________ in ___________

4. _____________ Rock

5. Blue _________________

For a bonus entry, tell me your favorite Elvis song and why.

Thanks for visiting.