Ten Things So Lit

books, a favorite summer recipe, and go ride a bike!

1. Rereading classic literature from my childhood. I enjoyed Ralph and Sheila as much as ever, but now I’m also looking at structure, character and voice. Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume forever <3¹

   

   2. “The first weapon I ever held was my mother’s hand”

   Kolina Cicero
   shares the 25 most iconic first sentences she’s ever read.

   3. This BEST DIP EVER is our Ride or Die summer meal forever. Sometimes I cut the chives right from the garden. Readers and writers need to eat!

   

   Best Dip Ever: Black Beans, Cilantro, Avocado

   • 1 Can Black Bean (drained and rinsed)

   • 1 Can Corn (drained)

   • 1 Can Diced Tomatoes (my favorite is “fire roasted”)

   • 5 Scallions chopped (green onions)

   • 1/2 Red Onion chopped

   • 1 Red Bell Pepper chopped

   • 1 Avocado, chopped

   • 1 Bunch Cilantro chopped

   • 1/4 Cup Lime Juice freshly squeezed

   • 2 Tbsp Garlic

   • 2 Tbsp Honey

   • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil

   • Stir. Enjoy with good chips.

   4.

   Dr. Mary Claire Haver, MD
   is a terrific doctor and teacher, and the reason I’m taking creatine, low dose estrogen replacement, and Magnesium L-T. I’m also trying to lift *heavy*² and wear this weighted vest.³ Brain and body health!

   5. NOTES TO SELF. Posted everywhere. This one’s been pinned to my cork board for years.

   

   6. SPARK by Chris Baron: is out this week! GO HERE to see all of the cool pre-order stuff and to schedule a FREE online author visit with Chris and Caroline who wrote one of my favorite reads of the year, THE BURNING SEASON.

   

   7. MOOCHIE (short for muchacho) AND WIN WIN are our spoiled miniature schnauzers. Their actual names are Artie and Winnie but we are a family who nicknames everyone. Our first schnauzer, Lord Tennyson, inspired my third novel, THE MCNIFFICENTS. I’m thinking Moochie and Win Win need a story, too…

   

   it’s HOT in New Hampshire

   8. A GOOD TELEVISION SHOW. We are enjoying The Gilded Age on Amazon Prime and have rediscovered The West Wing…is there a better written show than this one? I LOVE the characters - Sam, CJ, Josh, Toby, Leo, Jed, Charlie, Donnatella….what are you watching?

   9. NOOM APP. I have always been averse to tracking my food - blah! But the Noom app (free trial) has been good for me. After just one week, I have more energy and my pants are fitting better. I’m sorry to repeat this cliche, but it’s made me more MINDFUL about what goes into my mouth. I like how you can see how much protein, carbs, and fat you’re eating. Do you have an app to track food intake? Preferable free?!? (myfitnesspal?)

   10. MY BIKE. I love to ride my bicycle, I love to ride my bike…it makes me feel like a QUEEN (esp since I haven’t laced up my soccer shoes this summer). What’s riding my bike have to do with reading and writing? Everything! Movement helps us think, work through plot points, ponder, wrestle with the story. Maybe it’s the increased blood supply getting to the brain. I give bike riding five stars (easier on the joints and I’m *almost* flying down hills without applying my brake the whole time…childhood accident that’s left me a bit terrified :)

   

   my other ride or die…he says “serious bikers don’t have pink bells on their bikes.” I want one.

And that’s a wrap, my friends! Tell me your “so lit” things. What are you reading and writing? Eating and watching?

Amy 💖

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The Last Part:

Nine days until Cope and Kaden’s baby is due!!! (Cope is my oldest daughter :) Baby is due on Pioneer Day which is fitting because Cope wore pioneer bonnets all through her childhood, hehehe. Are we excited? Oh my, we are excited. We don’t know the gender and are keeping the paparazzi informed via the “BBC” (Baby Bump with Cope) on my Instagram. This week, according to thebump.com, she’s the size of a small pumpkin. She feels like a large pumpkin.

I painted pumpkins using this book as a reference. Pumpkins are fun to paint, maybe not so fun to carry around in your stomach…

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The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair is part-mystery, part understanding of the human heart 💖

Ten Thousand Tries is Golden’s quest to save his dad and the soccer team ⚽

The McNifficents is one summer with six rambunctious kids and their miniature-schnauzer nanny 🐕 New Hampshire’s 2024 Great Reads for Kids selection!

1. I started reading The Hobbit but gave up…maybe I start with Lord of the Rings?

2. Bone and muscle health!

3. Should I have an Amazon storefront? I’m so conflicted about Amazon but I still do a lot of recommending and shopping there. And wouldn’t it be nice to reap some of the benefits from that?