Healthy Salmon Surprise

Sorry it's taken me awhile to get a food post up here. Before we left for Mexico, I grabbed a couple magazines and mixed together pieces of healthy recipes to come up with a really delicious salmon dinner! Here it is below. It was super quick too and we both woke up feeling really good after eating this! Salmon Surprise serves 2 2 wild salmon fillets 1 bunch of asparagus 1 carton of grape tomatoes 1 can of...

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The Power of Friday

Can I say, "Thank God it's Friday (TGIF)"? What a week. Here's the latest going down in my life  - in no particular order or according to awesomeness. 1. After a looong travel day on Sunday: PHX to IAH, layover in Houston, then IAH to MSP...oh, not to mention a passenger on both flights suffering from either the worst hangover of her life, heat stroke or the flu, we managed to survive (Karl barely) and came home to find a letter from Karl's association. In short (and the nicer version), we have to put Karl's place...

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A Good Query Letter

Is it really about the query letter? Is less really more? I will be the first to answer YES to both of these. A month ago I sent out my first query to about ten or so agents. Sadly, my query was long. As in, I had to resize to 11-point font Times New Roman to get it all on one page. Even though I liked it and everyone who proofed it seemed to like, I still wasn't sure of it. Something in my gut kept second guessing everything....

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Show Me the Voice Contest

I'm participating in another writing contest! Over the years I've been somewhat lucky at winning things. Let's see, I've won a vacuum, a bunch of expensive perfume (I guessed the right amount of gumballs), a diamond ring, the Bride Wars writing competition at Mall of America, a month of free town home association dues... But getting an agent to look over my stuff will be one of the greatest prizes of all if it gets me that much closer to becoming a published author!!! With that said, below is the first 250 words...

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Oh, Cancer...How I hate thee....

Cancer. Ugh, how I despise you. Even the word sounds cold. Who gave it this title anyway? Isn't it an astrological sign? Can it really mean two completely different things? I don't know about anyone else, but I feel like cancer is closing in. And what I mean by this is I feel like it's everywhere. Who doesn't know someone who has or had cancer? Was it like this back in the day? I read an alarming statistic...

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Cheese and Quinoa-Stuffed Red Pepper

This meal has some serious healthy foods in it and tastes delicious! Cheese and Quinoa-Stuffed Red Pepper serves 4 (found in Shape January 2011) 1 cup dry quinoa (I used the Bob's Red Mill Organic brand) - we're talking 7 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber in 1/4 cup of this stuff! 4 large red bell peppers (red peppers have a significantly higher level of nutrients than green and contain lycopene, which is a carotene...

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312 Words of My Manuscript

312 Words Birthday Bash! I'm participating in a fun little birthday party event from the ever-so-awesome Gabriela Lessa (Happy Birthday!) from my critique group. Not only are we celebrating her, she wants everyone in on her party! Yes, she's that cool. She asked authors and writers alike to post the first 312 words of their manuscript on his or her blog. Today she'll review by going to each participant's blog. The top 12 winners get critiques from an awesome agent: Lora Rivera of Claire Gerus Literary Agency!!! How...

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Star Tribune Blog - Destination: Second Chances

My latest Star Tribune Blog on our trip to Mexico, and giving it another chance! Let me know what you think. Destination: Second Chances Enjoy Tweet ...

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Chicken and Pasta in Peanut Sauce

Chicken and Pasta in Peanut Sauce serves 4 (found on Better Homes and Garden Recipe Center) 8 oz thin whole wheat spaghetti 1 bunch of broccolini 1 medium red sweet pepper 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I bought a rotisserie chicken) salt and ground pepper (optional) 1 TBS olive oil 1/2 cup bottled peanut sauce crushed red pepper (optional) 1. In a Dutch oven cook pasta according to package directions, adding...

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A Request for a Full!!!

The email came on Friday. "Kim is interested in seeing your full manuscript." Now picture complete silence. My mouth dropping, eyes wide as saucers and complete panic rushing through my blood. There was more to the email but that sentence was all I read before immediately calling my husband. I don't know what I said to him. I think I panted in the phone for awhile before making sense. I was walking into Rainbow Foods, checking my BlackBerry (again) and almost passed out when the email came through. So I...

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Healthy Greek Chicken Surprise

Roasted Chicken with Olives, Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes serves 4 (recipe found in Fitness Magazine September 2010) 3 tsp extra-virgin olive oil 4 4-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 tsp dried oregano Salt Freshly ground black pepper 1/3 cup pitted chopped Kalamata olives (about 10) 1/4 cup crumbled feta 3/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained 2 cups cooked whole-wheat orzo 1. Preheat oven to 375. Spread...

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