A Tweak a Week

I LOVE the holiday season. These next few weeks are my favorite out of the entire year. Already the magazines are full of articles - decorating, cooking, baking, crafts, gift ideas and more. And, of course, they also have articles and ideas on how to get through the next couple months without gaining any weight. Followed by the January issues full of 'New Year New You' exercise and diet routines.
I always try those, but rarely, if ever, stick to them. It's just too much all at once. Plus, I just don't have time to workout for an hour or the finances to go to some fancy gym or buy equipment for home plans or buy the exotic foods in their plans.
Soooo, I thought I'd try something a bit different. Gradual changes that get me through the holidays and into 2017 without gaining more than a pound or two (which I don't mind. Trust me - my Mom's cheesecake is worth it!) and keeping some semblance of health and sanity.
Every Sunday I'll have another suggestion to 'add in'. Nothing will be big or massively time-consuming or a hit to your pocketbook. Just little tweaks that can add up.

This week's tweak - walking 30 minutes a day. It doesn't have to be all at once. If you're at an office, try to get up every couple hours and walk the halls for ten minutes. Or squeeze in 15-20 minutes during lunch. Bonus if you can go outside (weather permitting) and get fresh air and sunshine for your Vitamin D daily dose. Or, as I've done on occasion - get up every hour and walk 5 minutes. Thirty plus minutes easy peasy. If you have a dog, you're probably getting your thirty minutes with no problem. Keep track and add on a few minutes if you need to. Have children? Have them come with you in the evening (if it's safe, of course) and use the time as a way to unwind from the busyness of school and activities and talk with them.

I have a small notebook to write down the days of the week and how I fit in the walking - like Tuesday - 5, 10, 10, 5. And I'm done. Anything to get up and moving.

I am going to make it through the last eleven weeks of the year making small tweaks that focus on me and start 2017 healthier and happier. Join me!

October crafts with Abby

What to do when there are high winds and the threat of thunderstorms? I get crafty and pull out projects kept for just such times. With three cats (and three sons now flown from the nest) the furniture has a bit of wear and tear. So, I came up with a way of covering up the damage and adding to my seasonal décor.

First project – updating the ottoman for the rocking chair – I decided on one pattern, measured the ottoman and added a couple extra inches to tuck under. At each corner, I sewed small strips of elastic to hold it in place and… voila, a new cover.

Second project – this one took longer – I used ‘fat’ quilting squares and sewed them together to go around the sides. Taking a remnant of the material used for the ottoman, I cut that to fit the top, with extra for the hem. And… done.

I don’t think upholstering will be a second career, but I like the results and am already looking for material that will fit with my winter/Christmas decorations so I can do more over Thanksgiving.

Bonus? Panda Bear approves. I think.

Amazing week!

What a week! It started off fantastically - an email with the contract for the second in my Beloved of the Beast series on Tuesday.
MY TENTH!!
I was still floating and flying from that when Wednesday evening I got another email - a contract for the third in the Interstellar Matchmaker series!!

I am always so thrilled to get an email, but to get two within 48 hours? Yeah, my feet aren't touching the ground for a while!
And the fourth Interstellar Matchmaker is humming along nicely, and Allura and Barden FINALLY explain why Allura started her matchmaking... and what must still happen.

And the third in the Beloved of the Beast is bubbling in my head and ready to be written.

Busy, busy, busy!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blizzard of Inspiration

This past January a blizzard shut down the East Coast for a few days. My plan had been to work on an idea that had been spinning in my mind since Christmas. When I woke up though, something entirely different had taken over. Allura and Barden were the little voices in my head and gave me a rush of images - I saw Alice and Tre in the backseat of the car, him coming into her classroom to propose, Bessie in the wine cellar, Chance remembering his sisters, Darcy and Tina finding Hank and Jake in the fields, and everything else.
I've learned to listen to the voices and write what they tell me. And in one day I had Alice and Tre's story roughed out - nearly 10k words, plus the rest of the characters, their stories and the purpose of the series (which is revealed in book four - Tina and Jake's story), and the finale in the eighth book.
I was a bit blurry-eyed when I sent it off to Angela, my editor and amazing cover artist from the beginning. But she liked it and off we went.

I love the Fall season - the colors, the sweaters, football games, cider and hot cocoa. Prepping over Labor Day weekend is essential, but who wants to spend three days doing chores or pulling out boxes and bins? Especially if the weather is so enticing outside? So I mix things up - a few seasonal preps, monthly to-do's, and some pampering. What do you do to get ready for a new season?

Labor Day To-do
1. Pull 'summer-only' clothes and sandals out of closet
2. Pull out some transitional clothes - medium sweaters, heavier skirts and pants
3. Get mums and redo big pots on the deck
4. Check supplies - personal care, cat food/treats (heaven forbid I run low on those!) and pantry
5. Update grocery lists to be ready to make chilis, stews and soups
6. Pedi-mani - Friday - remove old polish to let nails breathe, Saturday - foot soak, Sunday - after bath - new polish on
7. Continue Hobbit and Lord of the Ring marathon

Busy weekend

Such a busy weekend!
Wrote the last two chapters for the second in the Beloved of the Beast - a few readers of Unleashed wanted to know just what happened after Wulfgar left Heinrich and Bettina in that locked room-- just wait!
And then,... I finished up Interstellar Matchmaker #3 - Hank and Darcy. Oooo, Allura is stirring things up even more.
I thought I'd take today, Monday off. Oh, no. Tina and Jake decided that their story couldn't wait any longer - and just like that - 9k is done on their story - Interstellar Matchmaker #4. At this rate, I'll have it done by the end of Labor Day Weekend.

Annnnd.... my busy brain is also working on the first of another series that I'm hoping will be a Winter series - but no snow bunnies here. The setting? A privately owned, by five families, tropical island. Who wouldn't want a Caribbean get away when the flurries are flying?

Plus--- Interstellar Matchmaker #2 will have a release date soon. Stay tuned!

IN THE KITCHEN WITH ABBY

While I am deep into the writing zone, cooking actually comes as a welcome break. I love to try new things. These mini apple turnovers are the perfect distraction and pretty awesome to munch on! Here's the  recipe with photos!

1. Mini apple pies/turnovers - two fridge pie crusts, one can of apple pie filling and spices. I used apple pie spice to keep it simple.

2. Let pie crusts come to room temperature -about 15 minutes. I used a pie cutter to quarter each crust

3. For easier 'stuffing' I dumped the apple filling into a bowl, cut them into smaller pieces and sprinkled the spice on top then mixed.

4. A couple spoonfuls and fold and pinch.

5. Smear butter, sprinkle spice and pierce

6. Bake at 375 for 23 minutes. A bit leaked out but my apartment smells heavenly

Welcome to Abby Gordon's New Site!

Hello and welcome one and all! 
I know that this site is a long time in coming, but it's been a long road! 
I just wanted to say hi and let all my readers, new and not so new, that I will be around more.

I've just had a new book drop a few weeks ago.

UNLEASHED (Beloved Of The Beast, Book 1)

His family cursed and all but gone, Baron Wulfgar Socton fights to control the animal inside him. Then a blizzard brings a beautiful young maiden to his lonely home, and this tormented shifter uses his power to seduce her. In her dreams, he shows her the pleasure he can offer and dares to hope again.

Born with the secret psychic gifts of a culture almost lost, Amanda Von Steinser knows the coming storm will change her destiny. When rising snow leaves her stranded in the home of a dark and brooding baron, she must rely on the depth of their erotic mind connection to see her past the danger at their door, until Amanda has no other choice but to surrender to the beast.

BUY ON AMAZON

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My next title out is : Headed your way on August 5th
 LIGHT A FIRE (Intersteller Matchmaker Series)

One bored otherworldly entity disobeys her master, leading to fireworks on Earth.

Tremayne Sheridan is so tired of Hollywood starlets, but ending up in a dinky New Mexico town wasn't quite the adventure he'd been looking for either. The town's only diner offers strong coffee, mediocre food, and a chance for Tre to reignite his inner Dom by way of fiery gray eyes and lush curves he can't forget, even when walking away was his idea.

Alice Andersson's usual diner meal turns into the opportunity to help two abandoned boys. So what in the world is Tremayne Sheridan, star of Alice's naughtiest dreams, doing in this corner of New Mexico? One freak storm, a naughty alien, and a plush sedan are the perfect environment to light a fire between them. But even Alice's and Tre's combustible chemistry strains under the pressure of anger and mistrust.

BUY ON AMAZON

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