Things to work on

So, I was researching a little and on Weight Watchers, I had 11 points left at the end of the day, plus 3 activity points that I hadn't used. Well, they said that it's best to use all of the daily points so here I am going "even if I don't eat all of them, I need to try." I got all but one for the day, but I learned to spread things out a little more.

It's difficult when I work because I don't have a lot of time to snack, usually. Today, in fact, I brought an already peeled orange with me and didn't even have time to eat one section! I'd only had four of my points with breakfast. I am just learning to try to spread things out a little more so I don't have 20 points left at the end of the day.

Anyway, that's all for now. I just thought I'd point that out to those of you interested in doing Weight Watchers.

Stay random!

Time For a Change... Or Two...

You may have gotten it from the title, but I'm making some changes. For Lent, I gave up soda and sweets (pretty much sugar, as much as possible). But I'm going a step further to get in shape. I'm overweight and I fully admit it. I have been for a while. But I have a goal and I'm sticking to it because, guess what! My family and I are going on a cruise at the end of May and by golly, I will feel sexy in a bathing suit.

That said, I joined Weight Watchers today. I joined online tonight so I was messing around to figure out, using what I ate today, how many points I had used up and how many I had left. I actually came out with 3 points left for the day! Which is a nice little snack. Oh and fruits and veggies? No points so I can eat s many oranges as I want! I love oranges and they're easy to eat at work.

If y'all are looking to lose weight, I've got some tips for you. Yes, tips. I love giving tips, but here goes:

1. Don't completely deprive yourself. Using Weight Watchers, adding up points, etc. I can still indulge a little. For example, something I learned a few years ago is that a great snack can be made with calorie-free butter spray, cinnamon, splenda, and whole wheat tortillas. Just cut the tortillas into sixths (triangles), spray with a couple squirts of the butter spray, sprinkle cinnamon and splenda to your liking (don't overdo it or they won't taste as good) and bake at 375 degrees for about 7-10 minutes. The first batch may take longer in a convection oven, but after that they will only take the minimum. These are AWESOME! And one full tortilla (six triangles) is only 2 points on Weight Watchers because the other ingredients add up to 0. Nice, right?
2. Exercise a little. Even if it's just a half hour each day. I work on my feet so I'm not crazy about it, but I already know it's helped because, in a month and a half, without monitoring what I eat and without exercising, I've lost about 10 or so lbs. I had a doctor's appointment last month and I remember what the scale said. Even leaving room for some discrepancy between the two scales, I am still doing well. Adding in Weight Watchers and exercise can only help!
3. Keep your goals where you can see them. I have a white board hanging in my room that has my current weight, my weight goal and measurements hanging on it. I update it once a week on the same day each week to stay consistent. I've got other goals, like financial things, up there as well. It does help.

That's just a few things I have already learned before this year, but that I'll be putting into affect right.... NOW! GO!

That's it for now! Stay random!

I'm a Bad Catholic... Sometimes

Yes, I was raised Catholic. I'm a bad Catholic, though, I'll admit. The only reason I'm following Lent? To lose weight. Yeah, I know. It's bad.

On the bright side, I'm giving up soda and sweets. Basically sugar, but I like diet sodas usually. Not because they're diet, but because I like the flavor better. I know. I'm weird. Been told a lot. But I have read many many times that soda, whether diet or regular, is still bad for you. Multiple reasons. I'm giving that up. I'm also going to start Weight Watchers. I'm signing up tomorrow and my dad might even do it as well. We had a silly conversation tonight about it.

Dad said "We'll see how it goes. (whether or not he joins) If it works for you, I'll do it your way, but if starving myself and stressing out and exercising a lot works for me, you do that instead." Now, you may have to know my dad to understand his humor. He's not ever going to have any sort of eating disorder. He's too intelligent for that. I said it was deal. :)

Anyway, I'll try to share my experiences and even recipes if you're interested. I know this blog was sort of supposed to be about my book, but I'm using it for everything in life. I'm an author, working in a bakery, trying to lose weight. Crap, that sounds bad. Working in a bakery and trying to lose weight... Giving up sweets for Lent... Yeah... We'll see how that goes.

On another note, I've gotten it into my head that I can go to Australia in about a year and a half if I save up enough money. I'd like to go on a work and holiday visa, so it would be for a year. Big, big goal in terms of money... BUT... I just put $150 in a new savings account today. It's a start. A small start, but a start all the same.

That's all that's new with me in case you were wondering. It was a bit random, but who cares?! That's the name of this blog!

Until next time...

Stay random!

Oh my good, golly, gosh!

Holy crap, have I been gone a while! It's been, what? Four months or so? I apologize. Really.

What's new with me? Well, I'm back from Orlando and in Overland Park once more. I like it here, but I'd still rather be somewhere else. I see Australia or New Zealand in the future, I'm thinking. But that's a ways off. Still, keep an eye out for another blog like What's Under the Kilt? because I may just have some more epic adventures on the horizon.

In the meantime, I'm working for a local bakery back home and I do love it. I love the people I work with and the bakery is doing really well. I came in at just the right time, too because they're expanding and they need more people! Score!

Anyway, I'm also planning on appearing at some schools/libraries/stores(?) in the next few months and will be happy to keep y'all posted because I'd love to meet any fans/readers. This also would give you the chance to purchase a copy and bring it for me to sign! Yay! I may have a few copies with me that I'll be selling, but the better choice is to purchase one in case I run out.

Would y'all be interested in watching short video blogs about what it's like to be a writer? What I've come up against and all that? I wonder who would be interested because I'd also feature more contests that I've been unable to feature thus far. I'm trying to think of ideas for titles at the moment so we'll see what happens once I do that. Gotta have a great name! Something snappy and clever, you know? Something like "Written in Stone" or "Victorious Vernacular". Cliché, yes but catchy.

You may be seeing/hearing about weight loss, eating healthy, etc. in the next few months as well. Just a warning. I'm starting Weight Watchers in the very near future and will more than likely want to talk about it. If you have questions, post them! Doesn't matter what they're about, I'd love to answer them if at all possible!

That's all for now, folks!

Happy Turkey Day!

So, I'm doing Thanksgiving early. Gotta work on Thursday. And with that thought, I also decided to post some of my absolute FAVORITE recipes! So, here goes:

Cheesy Potato Casserole (made with cheesy, potato-y goodness)

32 oz bag frozen hash brown potatoes

1/2 cup melted butter/margarine

1 can dream of chicken soup

10 oz grated cheddar cheese

8 oz sour cream

dash of salt

1 small onion, grated

TOPPING:

2 cups corn flakes

1/4 cup margarine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

TIP: Try to warm the hash browns a little to prevent the melted butter from hardening and becoming difficult to mix.

Mix all ingredients (except those for the topping) in large bowl. Place in large casserole dish. Top with cornflakes and remaining melted butter (1/4 cup under TOPPING).

Place in oven for 45 minutes. If dish is deeper, cook a little longer.

One of my other favorites is the infamous green bean casserole! Now, the recipe can be found on the back of a box/can of French's fried onions. It's really easy to do, but a tip to drain the green beans, if you got the easy-to-open cans with the little tab? Pop the tab, but don't pull it back yet. Hold the fan sideways so that the tiny slit is vertical and drain into the sink. Then open the can fully. It's easy, mess free, and quick. Also, use the 2/3 cup of French's onions in the main part of the dish, like the recipe says, but then pour what's left over all of the casserole for the topping (after having cooked for 30 minutes as instructed). More onions? More flavor!

My last favorite bit of Thanksgiving (and Christmas at my house) is the frozen, chocolate pie! Mmm. It's really easy and the recipe is inside the box of Baker's German Chocolate. I think it's the bittersweet or semi-sweet box. Here is the recipe copied and pasted from the website.

What You Need

1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S GERMAN'S Sweet Chocolate

1/3 cup milk, divided

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)

Make It!

Microwave chocolate and 2 Tbsp. of the milk in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after each min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add cream cheese, sugar and remaining milk; beat with wire whisk until well blended. Refrigerate 10 min. to cool.

Add whipped topping; stir gently until well blended. Spoon into crust.

Freeze 4 hours or until firm. Let stand at room temperature or in refrigerator about 15 min. or until pie can be cut easily. Store leftover pie in freezer.

What I'll tell you from my experience is this: All you really need is the chocolate, the cream cheese, the Cool Whip and the pie crust. It's sweet enough without adding sugar and the milk isn't enough to do anything.

Next, soften the cream cheese... A LOT. This is the only reason I could see the milk helping. If you add the melted chocolate to cold cream cheese or even slightly cold cream cheese, it'll harden up again and become grainy. Doesn't affect the flavor, just the look of the finished product.

Last, but not least, I like the chocolate graham cracker crust, rather than Oreo (which is still tasty) or regular graham cracker. Regular graham cracker doesn't stick together well when you're trying to smooth out the filling. Trust me. I just ran into this problem today because that was the only kind of crust at the store yesterday.

I think that's it, though. Yep, that's it. Now go enjoy these on Turkey Day!

This is Kate Brown, signing off.

Stay random!!!

VACAY!

OK, so not really vacation time, but sort of... I'm planning for one. A year and a half from now, give or take a month or two. My friend and I are planning a trip to Europe. Backpacking and doing things I may have already done, but need to explore further. Not to plug my book, but the profits I get will help to go toward the trip. The trip where I will further research TRL (The Rose Legends) destinations/locations and find little nuances that, perhaps, my characters will find too.

Remember things like the Eliminator or the football game from Book One? I'm trying to insert those into the second book right now. Things I've seen or done that will make the characters and the places they visit more relatable. It's what makes reading a book that much better. Sure a character could be nice or somewhat interesting, but seeing them in a real place that you know the author has seen or that you've seen yourself? Well that's even better.

Also, I'll be taking suggestions. Remember, I'll be on a budget, but if you have tips or ideas for places (even specific restaurants, etc) to visit, please post them here!

This is Kate Brown, signing off!

Never Forget

Remember 9/11/01 and what happened that day.

Remember those who died.

Remember the heroes who gave their lives.

Remember where you were and what you were doing.

Never forget the flag flying, no matter where it is; in your front yard, in your school, high over the memorial fountains. Keep the families of those lost in your prayers and in your hearts. This is a day we will never repeat. Because we are stronger now. We have come together as a nation to show those responsible for this tragedy that we can only come together during an attack like this. We cannot be divided.

The cowards who caused these attacks; the ones who took not only their own lives, but the lives of nearly 3,000 people. They tried to bring down this nation by tearing us apart. Did they think we would not retaliate? Did they think we were so weak? We are the longest surviving republic of our kind and we will continue to be strong.

In the New York City skyline, there is something missing. We all know it when we see it. Those two towers, which never really stood out to most of us before, are gone. And in their destruction, in the place where they once stood, we see twin fountains, around which the names of the victims and heroes have been etched into the black stone. We are going to soon see the memorial building which is currently under construction. And every time we see that building along the NYC skyline, whether in person, picture, or film, we will remember the strength of the city that lost so much ten years ago. We will remember the families of those we lost; of those who gave their lives for others. We will remember.

Never forget. This is Kate Brown, signing off.