SEO: July 2018

Have a piece over at the Register Today

I know blogging has been light, however, I do have a piece over at the National Catholic Register.

Please share this book review so that more people discover this saint's wonderful writings as translated by Victoria Schneider. I have a link to Scepter Press if you'd like to purchase the book, The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle, Saint Manuel Gonzalez Garcia. I highly recommend it.

Small Success Thursday Link Up

This week's SST will have to hold you through next week. I won't do an SST for next week, as Catholic Writer's Guild is online this week and so it's not possible.

Because the Schedule is Driving Me Batty

Today, we had summer school I, summer school II, pick up from Summer School 1, Pick up from Summer School II, drop off for Driver's Ed. Drop off for Conditioning. Pick up from Driver's Ed. Pick up from Conditioning. Drop child off at the Metro. Drop kid off at the gym (note, not me), and later, pick up kid from gym, and later still, pick up kid from metro. My youngest son's favorite movie?

The Fruit We Should Be Serving...

Early in his papacy, Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy from December 8th, 2015 to November 16,2016. I’m wondering if he’d consider a Year of Mercy Part Two, because I’m not sure the first one took.

First, a confession. I am a terrible sport in games. I struggle with getting irritated when I play poorly, which makes me play even more poorly. I get rattled, and I forget in those

At the Register Today

This week, practice asking God, "What do you want me to do?" and stand back to hear Him speak. Every once in a while I remember, this relationship is a two way thing, and not all about me and my wants, and it is in that rare moment when I stop talking, that God answers. As such, I have a piece over at the National Catholic Register, "We Have Been Given Freedom in Order to Really Love God." Memo

The Unexpected Break in the Blogging...

This week, my computer died. So here's link ups to the past week's work. Will get back to posting and writing now. This doesn't mean I haven't been busy. This week:

Leticia Velasquez invited me on her WCAT radio show, Living the Gospel Life. We had a great time swapping stories about our children who have Down Syndrome, and the Gospel of Life.

Here's this week's Small Success Thursday

My Favorite Zoodle Recipe - Chicken Alfredo over Zoodles - 5 Ingredients!

I make this on a weekly basis, it is so EASY and I love how it tastes, did I mention it is Keto Approved?? Most of the ingredients I bought from Costco, and it was ready in about 30 minutes. Also before you think I tricked you, this really is a five ingredient meal! Apparently you dont count salt and pepper!! Enjoy and share!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of Chicken - I use a rotisserie chicken from costco
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1 cups of parmigiano reggiano shredded - also from costco!
2 tablespoons of butter - I used kerrygold butter
4 medium to large zucchinis (optional - peel the skin off the zucchini - I did it for this tutorial)
1 or 2 tablespoons of garlic - I love garlic so I put 2 tablespoons
pink himalayan salt
pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Spiralize your zucchini. If you choose to peel the skins, peel them first! Lay out on a paper towel and sprinkle a little of the pink himalayan salt over the zoodles. This will help pull the moisture out of the zoodles. Set your paper towels aside.
Heating a pan on medium heat, let your garlic heat up for a minute or two.
Add your heavy whipping cream, parmigiano reggiano, and butter. Stir every 2 minutes or as you feel it needs stirring. If the sauce starts to boil, sticking to much to the sides of the pan, lower the heat just a little. The main part of this step is to mix your sauce and have it combine. I like to taste my sauce while its heating. At this time I may choose to add more cheese or heavy whipping cream, feel free to do the same.
While your sauce is heating, you can shred your chicken if needed. If already shredded, skip this step. I shred the whole chicken from costco and save the other pieces for another meal.
After about 20 minutes, test your sauce to ensure it is heated to your liking. I aim for warm to mildly hot. Moving the heat to medium - low (if not already), add the chicken to the pan.
After about 3 minutes, add the zoodles to the pan, and fold the ingredients together. Salt and pepper further to taste.
Enjoy :)

Alternatively I have also made with meatballs and loved this as well. Also, adding mushrooms will add a great low carb bulk to this yummy meal. Share any tips here:

Over at Aleteia Today

One of my writing goals for 2018 was to break into new markets, and shore up my work at older ones. Here's a piece I wrote for Aleteia on 10 Easy Ways to Create Summer Memories. Going out today to play with them.

Over at the Catholic Exchange today...

Something new for you. I've been published for the first time over at the Catholic Exchange. Here's my first piece, The Unexpected Graces of Offering Dailly Prayers for Others. Please go take a look, and share if you like it. Thank you!

Small Success Thursday

Hey, I'm posting on Thursday...about Small Success Thursday. As a bonus, I can report this is day seven of willingly submitting myself, or submitting my will, to exercise. Running Downhill.

At the Register

After a long hiatus, (a week), I'm hitting the hey, I'm a writer who sometimes gets published trail again. My latest is inspired by real life. Your teens will always be your babies. It's true.

Keto Beginner Tips

Starting out can be really scary! We learn the most by trial and well let’s face it, mostly error! Here are only some tips to get you going in the right track:

1) in the first days stay under 20 carbs and eat as much of everything else, try for more fats. Once your body adjusts you will gradually start eating less and then focus on you calories, and other macros. You may want to start a food log!

2) try not to do crazy recipes, stick to simple foods.

3) If you mess up or realize something had more sugar than you thought, it’s ok. Learn then keep going. But don’t throw the day out the window and splurge.

4) have Powerade zero on hand at the very least to replace electrolytes, or any other electrolyte replacement!

5) sorry no fruits except for avocados, lemons, small amounts of berries.

6) intermittent fasting won’t be easy / natural until you are fat adapted and aren’t as hungry. I forget to eat at times. So wait for now until you get to that point.

7) start with simple breakfasts - eggs, bacon, and avocado

8) start with simple lunches and dinners - salads with chicken, steak or fish. Always you dressings.

9) there are many variations of keto. Strict Keto, and Lazy Keto are the most popular. Do what’s best for you and your lifestyle 🤗

10) carbs minus fiber minus sugar alcohols = net carbs! We are allowed 20 net carbs. Too much sugar alcohol can have a not so great affect for you when it comes to the bathroom. Be careful on eating too many sugar alcohols.

Once I got the hang of it keto turned from a

.....To my new way of eating!!

These work for me, although they may not work for everyone!! Share yours here!

Disclaimer - These are the tools that I use for Keto Success. I am not a nutritionist, please meet with your doctor before following any plan!

The Ten, No, Twelve Stages of Writing a Column*

*Not inspired in any way whatsoever by real life. Any similarities to the writing process for anyone (living or dead) is purely coincidental. Really. 12) I have an idea. Oh. That would make a good column. I should write it down.
11) Writes it down. Oh, and I should add that and that and maybe tie in this...--Good idea brain. Writes down more. Wait...developing it too much before I get to the

Small Success Thursday!

We interrupt this bout of summer to post a blog contribution. Yes, I'm linking to Small Success Thursday at Catholicmom.com.

It's My Birthday

Hello everyone. It's July 3rd and I'm fifty-two.Part of enjoying the birthday is counting 52 blessings and/or big events from the past 52 years.1966 Born...and survived it. Yay!1967 Got to come home from the hospital. Yay!1968 Started talking. Never stopped.
1969 Became a big sister.
1970 Remember going to the Neuman Center, and mass.
1971 Became a big sister again.
1972 Learned to

100% Vegan Keto Fudge

Keto and Vegan have come together to make this delicious and EASY treat!! There really isn't an easier recipe that mixing something in a bowl and placing it in the fridge! This recipe has a coconut flavor, I will give some tips at the bottom to alter that.

Here is what you will need:

3 Tablespoons Sweetener - I used Swerve
3/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/3 cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk
2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
3/4 melted Coconut Oil
1/3 cup of Lily's Chocolate Chips.

Mix all of the ingredients, except the chocolate chips in a bowl.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips, in about 20 second increments until melted.
Combine the chocolate chips with the rest of the ingredients.
Pour into your molds, and place in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

That's really it! For some variation you can use extracts like raspberry, or strawberry! I recommend 1/2 teaspoon.

What to Do?

There's an issue when you write things for publication. Read the comments. Don't read the comments. I have learned, no matter how hard I try, if I read the comments, my ego shall be bruised. My brain will be frustrated, and my writer's heart will want to try and write again to explain whatever it is. However ignoring what is written means I don't learn what I need to know to grow as a writer