Ask and ye shall [not] receive
Hi friends <3 How are ya? Hope you’re having a wonderful day.
It was kind of a blah morning over here. A potential book deal that’s been in the works fell through (if anyone knows how I can gain *expert* status as a military wife, please share the secret with me), so I think I’m going to put it on hold again for a while. I didn’t write that it was actually a possibility because I didn’t want to jinx it and then find out that it wasn’t going to happen.. and that’s exactly how it went down [literally]. I’ve been cautiously optimistic about the whole thing, but it looks like I’ll need to keep trucking along. I’m going to wait a while before trying again because it’s defeating to write new book proposals and then have them turn into just another random file on my computer [I’ve written 3 different ones].
I just have a feeling that something else is supposed to happen, so I just need to figure out what it is, and in the meantime am just going to continue to focus on making this little blog as amazeballz as possible, because that’s what brings me joy <3
I went to meander around two of my favorite stores:
Pier 1 and World Market 🙂
I just love walking around to get ideas for the casa –especially since we have a nursery, office and little girl’s room to decorate- and at World Market, I also think it’s fun to check out the international foods.
If I ever need a small jar of clotted cream or some lobster pate, I know where to go 😉
I was also on a mission for pumpkin –none at Target or any of the close by grocery stores- but the closet thing I found was this:
pumpkin chips.
I’ll take it 😀
Even though was kind of full from pumpkin chips –which are fantastic, btw. Just pumpkin, canola oil and sea salt- I figured I needed to have a *real* meal for lunch, so made a massaged kale salad beast.
Per usual, I sang to the kale. It makes it taste better 🙂
Today’s song of choice was “Sweet Kale of Mine” {tune of “Sweet Child of Mine.” I am a giant nerd. Especially since I don’t know all the words to “Sweet Child of Mine” so I was making the whole thing up}
Bella judged me.
And then I gave her a few chickpeas and she thought I was cool again 😉
Bella LOVES fruits and veggies.. it cracks me up. Actually, she just likes people food. If I were eating a shoe, she would be begging for a scrap.
Of course, some things are not safe for dogs (like grapes, tomatoes, kidney beans and onions), but she absolutely goes crazy for watermelon, strawberries, peanut butter, cheese (aged goat gouda is her favorite), salmon, green beans, carrots and garbanzo beans.
Whenever I open a can of garbanzo beans, she comes sprinting into the kitchen:
[tonight said beans were for slow cooker channa masala]
It’s so nice to have have dinner waiting at the end of a long day 🙂
Time to eat and then take Bell on a post-dinner walk. I’ll also get that Family post up tonight <3
xoxo
Gina
Something to talk about: Does your pet like veggies or fruit? What’s your #1 cure for a blah day?
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oh, and chocolate 😉 always turns my day around, even the worst ones!
All of my kids (the Kittens) love love love people food! Pumpkin adores eating plain, cooked ramen noodles (weirdo ;-P), Ginger loves eating cream based anything, but especially potatos, and Otter (the vege/fruit lover) can eat mounds of berries, peas and pea pods, beets, and his favorite…grapes, slightly squeezed so the good stuff is oozing out 😉 Funny Bunnies!!
Our puppy loves anything you give him, fruits or veggies. He especially likes slices of banana!
Hi, maybe you could stop asking for permission and self publish….
http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/05/why-and-how-i-self-published-a-book/
If you think you have information worth sharing… just do it – the publishing world is changing!
All the best
My cat is ADDICTED to Doritos. He knows when they enter the house and does anything to get one. My vet tells me this is not weird. I choose to believe her!
Sorry to hear your book deal didn’t work out. Surely BEING a military wife makes you an expert on the subject?! Weird. I personally don’t see you writing a book necessarily anyway… I can see you hosting a Rachel Ray type chat show focusing on health and fitness. That would be amazing! If you do, please hook me up with tickets to be in your studio audience!! 😀
I’m sorry that your book proposal didn’t get accepted but I’m sure that does mean there’s something else better out there for you 🙂
My schnoodle Charlie loooooves fruit and veggies. When I make salads for lunch multiple times a week he goes crazy. His favs are romaine and green peppers. He also loves peanut butter, bananas and goes nuts when I have peaches or nectarines. I think he just loves people food as well lol he will eat anything (but I also make sure he doesn’t get anything that isn’t safe for dogs)
I’m so sorry about your proposal Gina! It really makes no sense to me how you’re not considered an expert on being a military wife, even though you ARE one. Sheesh. 😛 Don’t give up though – if this is what you really want, then I know it’ll happen for you eventually! 🙂
My favourite cure for a blah day is going out for sushi with a friend.
I wish my dog would eat veggies. He only eat’s meat or nut butters when it comes to people food. I usually give him my last bite of steak or chicken at the end of a meal. My fiance tries to feed him stuff when I’m not around but I am not a fan of that.
Sorry about the book deal. When you do get your first book deal… I will be buying it that’s for sure!
One of my cats loves grapes and cantaloupe! Weirdest thing ever…
My dog is OBSESSED with bananas. I only have to say the word “banana” and he comes zooming over to me. It’s gotten to the point where I buy at least one extra banana per week just for him haha.
He also really likes hummus. He recently got dental surgery and I put all his antibiotic pills in hummus to get him to eat them!
My #1 cure for a blah day is calling my dad, who always makes me laugh. If he’s not there, I watch Step Up 2. Not 1 or 3, has to be 2.
PS — my mom was rejected by over 20 publishers before getting her first book deal. You can do it!
Very sorry about the proposal Gina – I worked for a publisher in LA – General Publishing Group – long defunked – however we did Donna Karans Book “Leg”, as well as many smaller titles of those wanting to crack the market.
My advice to is this for what it’s worth – it can take many, many attempts at publishing a book – but don’t give up…
There is another blog that I subscribe to – 101cookbooks.com – by Heidi Swanson. She is great to say the least. In addition, she has published 2 books thus far, and recently I saw her book in Chapters(Indigo) here in Halifax…perhaps you could drop her a line? Hope that helps…
Jessie our dog likes most veggies – esp. if I munch on them in front of her…and loves bananas! I call her “monkey eyes”…
Have a wonderful weekend – and chin up….
I’m a mess in the kitchen… but I haven’t been thrown out of the kitchen yet, so I must at least make good meals! 😉 But every time I spill something or a chopped veggie falls on the floor I automatically say, “Oops!”… The dogs have learned to come running when I do because something is up for grabs! 🙂
Our dogs really love potato skins, strawberries, cheese, and carrots.
Forgot one thing – I’m sending you a special article to your gmail – look out for it!
Natasha
My pup Jersey loves loves loves carrots!
aw, gina, so sorry to hear about the book. it must be so frustrating. maybe take some time away from it (till after the baby is born?) and then start fresh? i bet it’ll happen at what seems like a totally random time – at the time, but actually is when it’s *supposed* to happen.. like the lil one.
The Help was turned down by 27 publishers.
I asked my vet about onions and he said they’re only bad for dogs in large quantities, like if your dog chowed into a bag of them or something.
Sorry to hear about the book, maybe they don’t consider you and “expert” because you haven’t experienced a deployment when children are involved. Just remember that The Help was rejected 60 times and now it is a best selling book/movie. Considering the number of people that read your blog I’m sure any book you right will be successful, just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll eventually find the right publisher. Good luck!!!
I would read ANY book that you write! Keep your head up, girl, you rock!
My dog will also eat any people food, but she hasn’t quite decided if she likes kale yet– she will put it in her mouth, chew it for a minute, spit it out, and then repeat. Until I finally decide she’s not going to eat it and throw it out.
Blah, sorry for that bummer. Your instincts are likely right, though–something bigger/different in store for you down the line that you can’t foresee now. I definitely had that experience in a recent job hunt. Had I not gotten turned down for that job, I wouldn’t have been able to teach and create the fitness classes I’m doing nowadays. And I loooooove it. 🙂
And I hope that when you sang Sweet Kale of Mine you included your rendition of the legendary guitar intro, hahahaa.
I’m sorry about your book ! I have to agree with Lizzie up there you do rock!
My cat loves Spinach! She will jump up on the kitchen chair and stick her whole paw in the bag when I’m not looking and run off with some!
My dog adores vegetables and fruits-he will come RUNNING for a handful of frozen peas or a bite of an apple. The only thing he wont do-lettuce….spits that right out!
Keep that head up, sounds like you have the perfect attitude for this annoying let down.
To me, it is all about the reaction to every action. 🙂 You have a great reaction, ” keep trucking along!”
I love you Kale salad and your lil song, haha! Awesome. 🙂
Nothing like Pier 1 and Word Market to cheer a gal up!
My kitty lives for cottage cheese, and cure for a blah day is at the end of it- do something like a face mask, or manicure, curl up on the couch and watch all of my guilty pleasure TV shows , i.e. NJ Housewives, Teen Mom, Rachel Zoe or just straight up HGTV. I’m telling ya, it’s relaxing!
My pup loves carrots, apples and ANYTHING with corn, potatoes … yea, she likes people food too 🙂 I can’t wait for allergy season to come to an end so she can have more than just carrots (she has allergies and skin allergies, so she can only eat bland foods when outside allergies are bad).
Sorry they didn’t have any pumpkin at Target! They should have the same items in every store! Don’t you think?
Whenever I’m having a blah day, there are different things I do. Massages, baking, spending time with friends (whether in person or catching up via the phone), taking a moment to be thankful for what I do have, and/or go through old pictures.
Hope your day turned around!
our cats LOVE tuna. The one cat actually knows the sound of the can being opened. I’ve tried it with other cans, such as soup and she won’t budge, but the sound of the tuna can she knows and comes running. its very strange!
maybe expert=marine/army wife with kids and poor?
how to become an expert military wife – be married for a damn long time and be alone, while your husband is fighting a war, with kids.
i think younger military wives need a book, too, though. many of the ones out there are written by wives who have been married for a very long time, but aren’t relevant to younger new wives
I’m not an expert on publishing or anything, but I do like your blog and obviously others do too. Out of curiosity, do you have an agent? I think it is a great idea to focus all of your energy into the blog for now, especially since your life is about to change drastically! Also, why do you want to write a book? Would your desires for publication be satisfied by other freelance writing projects, such as consumer health/fitness magazine articles? You might already do this, but maybe it would help you gain credibility and a larger audience. Bottom line, don’t give up and don’t be hard on yourself. You are so young and it is hard to be a “lifestyle” expert at this age.
Dogs can’t have tomatoes?? I’ve never read or heard that anywhere and I’ve been sharing tomatoes with my dog for years 😮
The Super Target on Oracle has organic canned pumpkin!!! 🙂 In the baking section!
Have you browsed around Tres Amigos yet…there are a few locations in town and they have some great imports and their furniture prices are really great for the solid wood…I was stationed with my pilot in Tucson and now live in Alaska and really miss shopping there. I had several decorating clients and we found some great pieces. 🙂 Would love to hear your impression…if you like it email me. I am not sure I would ever see a response on your blog if you posted one. I have enjoyed reading your blog. 🙂 Happy Blogging…
i love tres amigos! some of the pieces i bought at an estate sale are from there, and they’re beautiful!
They said this year there will be a shortage of pumpkins this year, cause Hurricane Irene decimated Northeast pumpkin crops.
so sad!
I have a Bella too (she is a springer spaniel x huntaway – nz dog breed). She totally loves fruit & veges, avocado is a big favourite, along with apples and carrots.
i keep forgetting dogs can have avocadoes! i’ll have to see if bell likes it 🙂
love springer spaniels… so cute!
I’m sorry to hear about the book deal, Gina. Though I have yet to go through the motions of the proposal process, I understand the passion that goes into it and know that there is something else that is going to come of this for you. I am a firm believer that everything we do happens for a reason – even if at some point I want to punch reason for keeping me in the dark on what it is. 😉 You are incredibly talented and a wonderful writer!
thank you friend- love you!
For the official record, I would buy any book you wrote!! I’m no military wife but through reading your blog I have come to understand at least a parcel of the sacrifice and joy that comes with being one – just keeping doing what you are doing and I have a strong feeling that things will work out even better than you hope!
thank you, diana! <3
xoxo
I hope you write a book! I would love to read it. I’m A BRAND NEW fitnessista blog addict. thanks you for being you. light to you sister. namaste
nice to *meet* you! thank you for such a sweet comment 🙂
What is your slow cooker Channa Masala recipe?
I’m really bummed about the pumpkin shortage this year. Really bummed. My favorite canned vegetable!
i use the all recipes one, but add a red bell pepper and some water to it
🙁 I’m sorry Gina. Hopefully this didn’t go through because there is something even better on the horizon! Don’t give up hope.
I know you are frustrated about the book deal but please keep it up. Your voice is amazing and I would love to read a book that you put together. Keep your chin up and remember to not stop because your peeps would love to see it come to fruition!
Oh crap – tomatoes are bad for dogs? Are you kidding me? When I’m chopping them my dog is practically trying to get on the counter. I tend to give her a piece or two. Shoot. I’ll look into that…
She also LOVES watermelon and will eat it off the rind if we hold it for her. It’s so dang cute!
I really want the recipe for your channa masala!
here ya go: http://www.food.com/recipe/channa-masala-17471
Gina, Sorry about your book deal, but you know what, better things await for you. Big hug too you!! 🙂
<3