Chloe Jacobs's Blog

I've been playing around with a new presentation program called Sway...I think it's pretty cool!

Greta and the Glass Kingdom Photo Book Trailer

Hello world! I've missed you!

Our family moved to a new city a couple of weeks ago, and the craziness of selling our old house, getting everything packed up, moved, unpacked, and adjusting has consumed me for longer than I care to admit.

We were very happy in our old neighbourhood and we loved our old house. I was all in favour of moving, but I didn't quite realize just how much it would affect me subconsciously. I found myself floundering a bit, unsure how to get back into a routine when everything around me had changed so drastically. It threw me off my game like...OMG.

But today is the beginning of a new normal, and I'm determined to make it work for me, to embrace this new home wholeheartedly. So I'm starting a new book, I've got my writing chair set up and parked in a good spot, and I'm diving in. Wish me luck!!

It's been a while since I blogged here, but now that the weather is getting better I feel so refreshed, like I can do all the things! Blogging? YES Writing? HELL YES Editing? BRING IT

I'm also taking nice long walks with the dog, which I love. As soon as the snow is gone and the sun is shining, you can't keep me inside, even if that means the computer has to come out so I can keep working :)

My favourite thing to do this time of year is sit out on the deck with my coffee and a good book to read...or a book to write...and listen to the birds.

We've had such a brutal winter where I am, and I'm getting sooooo sick of the cold so I decided to make something good out of it. I wrote a poem!

Here are a few of mine!! Share yours!

Crusty, bitter, sad
I think it's time to break up
I never liked you

The wind burns my cheeks
The snow comes to my eyeballs
Buries me in cold

I don't like making resolutions, but 2013 was a really hard year for me in a lot of different ways, and I feel as if making resolutions might help me to put 2013 behind me and start anew.

So here are a few of the things I'd like to focus on in the coming year....

Keep moving forward -- 2013 made me feel like for every step forward, I was forced three steps back, and in 2014 I want to keep looking and moving ahead to the next project, the next level, the next learning experience.

Focus -- I made a very deliberate decision to eliminate a few responsibilities at the end of 2013 in the hope that it will help me to focus a little better on the responsibilities I must maintain, like my day job and my writing. I wish I could do everything, but I have to face the reality that if I'm going to do the important things really really well, there are other things that I just have to give up and let someone else take on.

Enjoy the Downtime -- Every year I tell myself that I'll do more, write more, accomplish more...but in 2014 I actually want to do only what I've scheduled myself to do, because I think that a better balance between work and relaxation will help me to be productive. That, and I think it's important that I don't sacrifice my family for my career.

So, those are the resolutions I'm making for 2014, but it really just amounts to one thing...a good work/life balance.

How about everyone else?

Went to see Pacific Rim with the hubby and kiddo yesterday. A good example of what makes an action flick work really well. A simple storyline that doesn't need a lot of backstory to introduce well developed characters, and lots of conflict that keeps escalating until the very end!

Who else watched it, what did you think?

I'm in a phase right now where I'm trying all these new recipes. I haven't tried this one yet but I'm going to make it tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes.

Perfect Pasta Salad

1 green pepper chopped
1 package green onions chopped
1 box cherry tomatoes
2 cucumbers chopped
16 oz pasta
1 tsp prepared mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup cider vinegar
2/3 cup vegetable oil

Chop all vegetables and place in a bowl. Cook pasta then drain and cool. Mix all other ingredients together in a separate bowl. After dressing is mixed combine all ingredients, chill, and serve.

I made banana bread yesterday, and it always makes me feel so warm and homey. I use a recipe that I got from my mother and it never fails (unless I forget something...one time I forgot the eggs, that was NOT a good thing)

Here's my recipe

2 cups flour, 3 tsp baking powder, 3/4 tsp baking soda, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/4 cup sugar

In a separate bowl mix 3 mashed bananas, 2 eggs (beaten), 1 tbl sp vanilla, 1/2 cup butter -- add to dry ingredients, stir until mixed.

Bake 1 hour at 350 F

What are your favorite things to bake? Share the recipe with me!

Now that "The Big One" is finished (could you hear my cries of joy across the land?) I've moved onto a new project, and I'm so excited about it.

It feels good to move onto something fresh and new in the spring, when the air is fresh and the new flowers are blooming!

My favorite thing about spring is getting outside again. The winter is so long and cold it feels as if the warm weather might never come. Those first few days of really really nice weather always make me feel like dancing!

So I need some good recs! What do you dance to when you want to feel good?

I figured it was about time I came out of the writing cave to say hi. I've been working really hard, just like I promised and it feels great to know that projects are getting checked off the list.

And yes, the BIG project is almost finished. I think I'll have another 2 weeks of writing and it will be ready to send to my critique partner.

But what happens then??

Well...I'm so glad you asked *grin*

Then I get to write something completely new, absolutely different, and totally mind blowing.

Eeek! This year rocks so hard!