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The world is a chaotic, noisy place sometimes.

So what’s a busy creative to do in order to stay focused and productive?

I’m sharing a few tips from my everyday routines.

They help me feel joyfully productive no matter what else is going on in the world.

Remember, you can’t control the entire world nor any of the other people in it. But you can control the choices you make.

You can choose to create joy every day no matter what anyone else is doing.

Be excited about your schedule

Keep electronics turned off as long as possible

Drink quality morning beverages

Have a morning attunement practice

Wear clothes that feel comfortable

Light something like a fire or a candle

Work in an inspiring space

Start work with something fun you really want to do

Take little breaks throughout the day

Resists time-sucks

Make moments to bask

Recap all the good work you’ve done

Always be letting go of what is not crucial

Celebrate what you do every day

I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. I am focused on making the world a saner, more expressive place. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

 

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Beef Stew Recipe By Christina KatzOn Sunday, we made a large batch of beef stew. Today is Friday and that stew is gone. Hopefully this helps you understand just how tasty this recipe is.

As I usually do, I begged, borrowed and stole from several other recipes to create this one. Let me know if you like it.

The most important ingredient in beef stew is the beef, of course. I got ours at Whole Foods, and I will probably never get it anywhere else from now on. The quality of the meat was amazing. Even better, I stumbled on a sale and it was almost half price.

Get two pounds of beef cut into chunks our cubes in a size that will suit everyone’s tastes. Our chunks were a bit big, but they maintained a nice juicy texture, so I will probably keep them about 1 inch by 1 inch by 2-3 inches next time, as well.

Red Wine Beef Stew

4 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic
2 lbs trimmed beef chuck, high quality, cut into cubes or short strips, at least one-inch thick (use fresh, not frozen meat whenever possible)
About a 1/4 cup flour tossed with meat, salt and pepper to coat
20 small red potatoes
2 medium onions
2 cups sliced, peeled carrots (I use rainbow carrots)
2 cups sliced celery
1 large parsnip peeled, sliced and chopped
2 cups red cooking wine
2 cups organic, salted beef stock
1 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes
Pint of sliced fresh mushrooms
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves or 1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp finely chopped oregano leaves or 1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

The whole process will go much more smoothly, if you do all the chopping first or if two people make the stew together with one person chopping and the other cooking. Have the butcher cut your meat so that will be one less thing to prepare.

Step one: Coat & sauté the beef

Put the flour, salt and pepper in a large plastic storage bag and shake half the meat to lightly coat. If you need to add more flour, salt, and pepper for the second coat, go ahead.

Heat up a large skillet over medium heat with the olive oil. Do not overheat the pan and scorch the meat or the oil, or you will ruin the flavor of your stew. Brown the beef, turning gently, on all sides for about five minutes. You are not trying to cook the meat all the way through, just to brown it. Break the meat into two batches, if all of your meat won’t fit in your pan in a single layer at once. Put all the sautéed meat in the pan, add the onions and garlic and sauté for three more minutes. Then pour in the red wine, beef broth, diced tomatoes, bay leaves and dried herbs if you are using dried herbs. If you are using fresh herbs, save them for later and only add the bay leaves now. Scrape the bottom of the pan so nothing sticks (always avoiding any type of scorching) and bring mixture to a boil. Then turn down the heat to low, cover, and simmer for one hour, stirring once every quarter hour.

Step two: Add the vegetables and simmer

Add potatoes, carrots, celery and parsnip but not mushrooms yet. Stir and bring to boil. Then turn down the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir once in the meantime. Remove the bay leaves.

Step three: Finish the stew and let it sit

Add the mushrooms and fresh herbs if you used them. Bring mixture to a boil and then turn off heat. Allow stew to sit on a cold stove for several hours for the best flavor. Once it’s cool enough, add salt and pepper to taste, and either serve or refrigerate.

When it’s time to eat, warm only the amount of stew you plan to eat in a sauce pan or microwave individual bowls. Offer salt and a pepper grinder. This stew goes well with fresh bread of any kind especially garlic bread or fresh popovers. We sometimes have it with toasted bagels.

Enjoy!

If you are looking for more recipes on this blog, click here.

So much inspiration, so much time! Please subscribe to the Create, Share, Prosper blog and sign up for The Prosperous Creative ezine for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere. Click on the Enter School tab above to put your creativity to prosperous use right now. Join my monthly pep talk video series because all the other prosperous writers are doing it. Like words? Check out my Etsy shop. And you haven’t seen anything, if you haven’t seen all the helpful offerings in my online shop. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing this post with fellow creatives!

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A couple of years ago, I opened my inbox one morning and realized, although I had a ton of emails, not a single one genuinely inspired me.

That’s when I thought, how can I inspire others, if I am not allowing the world to inspire me?

So I started being more picky about what I invited into my inbox, which is something I had done before, but this time was different.

Once I had whittled down my email subscriptions to what was absolutely essential, I started hunting for inspiration. And I defined inspiration as anything that inspires me.

Today, when I open my inbox in the morning, I never say, “Ugh.” I usually say, “Ah.”

I always find something that guarantees that today’s work will be inspired because the creator of that work will read emails that inspire her.

It’s such a simple principle, really. But women are notoriously martyr-like and we have an unconscious habit of trying to do things right rather than creating habits that enrich our lives.

We deserve better. We deserve to find delight every which way we turn. Think of it as heaven on earth, only in your inbox.

You know why? Because you deserve it.

It’s a small thing. But if you run your own business, it’s also a huge thing.

I’d like to share something I found today because of an email in my inbox. I had to click a few times to get to it, but it was so worth it. I will be adding these online gems to the stream of inspiration that flows directly into my inbox.

Enjoy.

Learn more about Moving Art by Louie Schwartzberg

So much inspiration, so much time! Please subscribe to the Create, Share, Prosper blog and sign up for The Prosperous Creative ezine for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere. Click on the Enter School tab above to put your creativity to prosperous use right now. Join my monthly pep talk video series because all the other prosperous writers are doing it. Like words? Check out my Etsy shop. And you haven’t seen anything, if you haven’t seen all the helpful offerings in my online shop. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing this post with fellow creatives!

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Be You, Be True: The Only Sustainable Platform

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I am headed down to Corvalis to speak to a branch of Willamette Writers today.

I thought I’d share a few things I’m going to say to them to help you get your week going.

  1. Be you. That’s the only sustainable platform you have.
  2. Be true to what you enjoy doing best. That’s the only way to keep up your enthusiasm.
  3. Be engaged by your work. Love what you do. Otherwise, why do it?
  4. Be good at what you do. Then the three things above will shine through.
  5. Have integrity. This means all of the above are true.
  6. Let go of everything else. Radical advice for complex times.
  7. Stay out of your ego. 1-5 will help you do this.
  8. Be respectful of those who have gone before you.
  9. Don’t lean on others. Compel interest via your own engagement.
  10. Celebrate all the paths available to you. Choose those that feel right. Learn by doing.

Perhaps you’d like to make your creative journey more complicated than this.

But don’t internalize perceived pressure. It will cause you to make choices for the wrong reasons.

When you experience static or turbulence, just go back to 1-5 until you feel centered again.

You will know you are on the right track when you feel like you are doing what you are supposed to be doing.

Let that feeling be your compass.

Coming soon: my new goal-setting course for creatives. Stay tuned!

So much inspiration, so much time! Please subscribe to the Create, Share, Prosper blog and sign up for The Prosperous Creative ezine for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere. Click on the Enter School tab above to put your creativity to prosperous use right now. Join my monthly pep talk video series because all the other prosperous writers are doing it. Like words? Check out my Etsy shop. And you haven’t seen anything, if you haven’t seen all the helpful offerings in my online shop. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing this post with fellow creatives!

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Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit By Christina KatzMom writers can benefit from excellent quality resources that cut through the chit-chat and help us achieve our goals sooner rather than later.

That’s why I have rounded up all of my offerings that can make the huge difference in the day-to-day experience of a mom writer who would like to become a published mom writer.

Books/Ebooks

Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Writer’s Digest Books) Learn More (contact me about signed copies)

Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit Learn More

Writing Prompts For Seasonal Stories, 4-Ebook Bundle Learn More

Online Courses:

The Art Of Short Article Writing For Nonfiction Writers Learn More

Become An Article Idea Factory & Prosper Professionally Learn More

The Art Of Selling Articles Like A Seasoned Pro Learn More

Power Up Your Platform Like A Pro & Become Better Known Now Learn More

Writer Platform Success: Discover Strengths & Grow Confident Learn More

Build A Better Bio To Market Yourself Easily Day Or Night Learn More

The Habits Of Successful Mom Writers Audio Download (37-minute pep talk) Learn More

Need specific support? Learn about phone consults Learn More

Writing For Pleasure Resources:

Creative Knowing, 50 Self-reflection Questions For Women Learn More

The Art of Making Time for Yourself, A Collection of Advice For Moms Learn More

Please note: all of my paid resources are for personal, individual use only. Let me know if you see anyone sharing or distributing my products in an inappropriate manner.

I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. I am focused on making the world a saner, more expressive place. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

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Join The Conversation About Motherhood & Writing

I am over at Confidently Connected Moms, a private Facebook Group run by author and journalist Christa Melnyk Hines all day today.

If any of these topics sound interesting to you moms, please feel free to join the group and participate in the discussion when you have a spare moment!

This will be one of the deepest conversations about the writing life that I’ve ever had, so you don’t want to miss it!

For The Love Of Writing Discussion

So much inspiration, so much time! Please subscribe to the Create, Share, Prosper blog and sign up for The Prosperous Creative ezine for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere. Click on the Enter School tab above to put your creativity to prosperous use right now. Join my monthly pep talk video series because all the other prosperous writers are doing it. Like words? Check out my Etsy shop. And you haven’t seen anything, if you haven’t seen all the helpful offerings in my online shop. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing this post with fellow creatives!

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In my first book, Writer Mama, I outline four principles every writer should strive to embody.

Those principles are: preparation, practice, professionalism, and poise.

Yesterday morning, one of my long-time students and friends, Christa Melnyk Hines, was on Fox 4 News, Kansas City, discussing the importance of talking politics with our spouses and kids.

And she embodied all four of these principles perfectly. Take a look.

Here are some of Christa’s key quotes from the interview:

“Kids are, by nature, they’re curious. They want to know what’s going on, and I know as a mom, there are moments when I want to cover their ears, but you know what? We have to tap that curiosity and really engage them. Ask them open-ended questions. Play the devil’s advocate. Push back a little bit. Listen to what they’re saying. They’re coming home from school every day with different things that they’ve overheard, so why not get them involved and talk about those issues that matter?”

“It’s a matter of teaching them to be critical thinkers, to think about things from different sides of the coin, not just one way of thinking about things because is black and white in life, as we all know, so definitely get them talking about it, and listen. Listen to what they have to say. Some of the things they say may really surprise you.”

“I think you have to decide,  we’re not going to be throwing insults at each other if we’re going to discuss this. I think it can really raise the anxiety level for kids,” she says. “If it gets too emotional at some point you have to at some point say, ‘Let’s agree to disagree and maybe come back to this later.’ I think those are all positive ways. What we don’t want to do is raise the anxiety level of our kids, but also model to them that it’s okay to disagree, that we can still love each other and have differing opinions. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Christa is an award-winning freelance journalist, author and connection expert. She writes about the numerous ways that healthy connection helps us build meaningful relationships in the digital age. Her articles appear monthly in national and regional publications around the world. She is the author of Confidently Connected: A Mom’s Guide to a Satisfying Social Life and Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.

Click on the covers below to check out her great books:

Writing and making appearances isn’t all that Christa does well, she also runs an online Facebook Group called, Confidently Connected Moms. I will be making an all-day appearance there on Wednesday to discuss For The Love Of Writing: Writing As A Path To Self-discovery & Family Closeness.

If this is a topic that interests you, I hope you will join Christa’s discussion group and participate in Wednesday’s discussion. I know life is busy, but you can come any time of day or night and participate, and everyone who comments during the 24 hours of my appearance will be eligible for a free gift from me.

So come on over and meet Christa and the other moms! Hope to see you there!

Source: Fox 4 News, Kansas City

So much inspiration, so much time! Please subscribe to the Create, Share, Prosper blog and sign up for The Prosperous Creative ezine for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere. Click on the Enter School tab above to put your creativity to prosperous use right now. Join my monthly pep talk video series because all the other prosperous writers are doing it. Like words? Check out my Etsy shop. And you haven’t seen anything, if you haven’t seen all the helpful offerings in my online shop. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing this post with fellow creatives!

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A photo by Austin Neill. unsplash.com/photos/ZahNAl_Ic3o

We are living in a pretty distracting world right now.

One that is so distracting that we can’t deny the mind-numbing effect of 24-7 social engagement.

I love technology. I love the Internet. I love social media. But none of those things love me back. So I try to remember that I am the boss of all of them.

And then I quietly focus myself and dive back into my own work.

This habit of diving back into my work over and over has paid off mightily over the years.

I have set a good example for other writers, who have followed my lead.

I earn thousands of dollars a year from the ideas that stream from my mind through my fingers, onto the screen, and then onto the page, and eventually make their way in front of other eyes.

This is what I wanted to do when I grew up and I’m doing it.

I also coach others how to write and how to become incrementally more successful writing.

I coach writers in how to find their own ideas, their own techniques, their own voice, and how to keep expanding their techniques until they become professionals or more professionally successful.

Anyone can write. But not everyone who writes is a professional. And not everyone who is a professional is a happy person.

I am a happy person and a writing professional. One of my proudest accomplishments, in the many years of my career, is creating a safe, distraction-free online learning space, where folks can cheerfully learn.

I just added a ten-minute bonus feature to one of my courses and it gave me so much pleasure to make that course even just a little bit more valuable without raising the price.

You see, I know where the good stuff is. The good stuff is coming through you in the form of ideas and impulses. And when I teach, I remember where the distractions are. They are everywhere. And they challenge you every day to listen to yourself or constantly react to all the things happening outside of you.

Responding to what is going on outside of you is better than reacting to it. But what is best of all is continually choosing what you are going to say and how you are going to say it.

Staying mindful in a chaotic world is what today’s professional writers need to do. And that’s what I teach.

Being successful at anything starts with being true to yourself. I teach writers how to be true to themselves because writers who are true to themselves cannot be false to anyone else.

I am responsible not only for what I write and also for what I encourage others to write. And I urge you to write deeply and meaningfully from your heart and soul rather than just skimming along the surfaces of life’s daily dialogue.

Focus, writers. Focus on what you care about and what you have to say about it.

And ignore everything else that is irrelevant to your path.

That’s our responsibility today, writers: to become as good at tuning out the static as we are skilled at using our best skills to make the world a better place.

Now get in there — into your distraction-free zone — and write.

So much inspiration, so much time! Please subscribe to the Create, Share, Prosper blog and sign up for The Prosperous Creative ezine for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere. Click on the Enter School tab above to put your creativity to prosperous use right now. Join my monthly pep talk video series because all the other prosperous writers are doing it. Like words? Check out my Etsy shop. And you haven’t seen anything, if you haven’t seen all the helpful offerings in my online shop. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing this post with fellow creatives!

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My Clients Rock! Here’s Why…

My Clients Rock!

My clients often:

Get book deals

Are invited to appear on TV

Sell ebooks globally

Are consistently published

Feel great about themselves and their work

Speak at events

Are prolific

Sell their work over and over

Impress agents and editors

Sign their books joyfully

Have good boundaries

Are published in national publications

Reach out to new markets

Master social networking

Break out of their comfort zones

Attract unique opportunities

Bounce back from a slumps

Network with ease

Spin-off original products from their writing

Are total professionals

Use their writing for advocacy

Cash steady checks

Win awards and prizes

Make onward and upward progress

Treat me with respect and appreciation (which is mutual)

Know that they are making a positive dent in the Universe

My track record speaks for itself. If you are interested in one-time or ongoing writing coaching, please get in touch. You can learn more about my rates here. I hope to work with you!

So much inspiration, so much time! Please subscribe to the Create, Share, Prosper blog and sign up for The Prosperous Creative ezine for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere. Click on the Enter School tab above to put your creativity to prosperous use right now. Join my monthly pep talk video series because all the other prosperous writers are doing it. Like words? Check out my Etsy shop. And you haven’t seen anything, if you haven’t seen all the helpful offerings in my online shop. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing this post with fellow creatives!

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