Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

stress relief

Glue Book Gorgeous!

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Inside cover of my holiday glue book and first page. Plus, at left, my first envelope glue book cover. Book club paper from Michaels I had to have, up top, plus  Tim Holtz holiday stickers to use. Let the pasting begin!

There is a new obsession in my life. Glue books! What are those you might ask?

Pretty simple. You glue stuff into books.

You can make them from papers, old print books, expired planners, composition books, a mail envelope, sketchbooks. It’s endless. I started down this rabbit hole after making my own watercolor journal with sewed signatures from a class with artist Laly Mille. In the meantime, I decided I needed to collect holiday magazine images to help when I write my Christmas books. In case that is in July. To put me in a festive mood when it’s scorching outside.

So, one day on YouTube, I stumbled across the Nicole Relax.Cut.Glue. channel. Imagine my surprise to learn she is in Oregon too! Not only is she fun to listen to, but she does beautiful work. Now, I’m a rookie gluer (is that even a word? paster?), but back in 1998 I started my personal journal in an oversized lined book I bought at J.K. Gill. (Still use it) Does anybody remember that stationery store?

I’d pasted several full-page magazine pages in it, featuring a quirky New York bookstore and a Calvin Klein ad. And fortune cookie slips. A drawing of Puss N’ Boots. You know, the usual. Once again, ahead of my time.

Then the two ideas merged.

I could make a Christmas glue book! Turns out folks have been doing this for ages, and I’m late to the party, but I’m all in. I loved the green spiral sketchbook from Michael’s that Nicole used in one video, so I got it on sale, then purchased the glitter glue she uses. (I tried the glue sticks, but I managed to attach myself to everything in my office, so I prefer the liquid glue with the applicator.) And I bought a cake frosting spreader, also from Michael’s, because our Dollar Tree did not have the one she uses.

Next, I was so inspired I MADE a glue book cover out of a 9 x 6-inch mailing envelope based on her tutorial. (See below.) Because heaven knows I have a not so miniature Office Depot in my home office closet. (I love the smell of Post-its in the morning!) Next on my project, I will be cutting paper and using a rubber band to secure the sheets, as she demonstrates.

The deep dark secret that goes along with this new passion is I have WAY TOO MANY magazines, old holiday cards, and pretty calendar pictures in my house. Being a writer and photographer, EVERYTHING gives me an idea or sparks a story. But now, I have a way to put them into themed books and hopefully STOP collecting more scraps. Take the best of the best.

Which reinforces one of my 2025 intentions, since I jettisoned New Year’s resolutions years ago.

Intention number two is: use it up.

That applies to everything from craft paper to postage stamps to freezer food to napkins to chocolate.

Writing about chocolate, there’s a lot of chaos in the world right now, especially in the United States. To those of us on the West Coast, the devastating fires in Los Angeles are affecting many things, including moving adoptable pets to our shelters to relieve the burden on those in California. Organizations did the same thing when the August 8, 2023, Lahaina fires devastated Maui and took so many lives. And the recent California fires affected the Maui Humane Society again when their normal flights of animals to the mainland had to be temporarily curtailed while incoming pets from California were moved north and east.

Plus, huge blessings and thanks to all the firefighters and amazing pilots continuing to battle the fires today. Our contingent of Oregon firefighters is still down there.  A firefighter story is on my future books to write list, has been for a while.  

We are all connected in so many ways. I remind myself to focus on what I can control, be kind to others, and take it one day at a time. Like I did in Army basic training. That’s why rest and relaxation are a real thing in the military. You have to come off the line at some point and take care of yourself.

Glue books are working for me right now. It’s very relaxing.

And walking on my treadmill. And writing.

I started my next book, Forbidden Warrior in the Moonstruck Makeovers series, on New Year’s Eve Day. Seems I can’t go more than thirty days without writing or I get super cranky.

Writing and glue books.

Saving sanity one day at a time!

Find something that works for you.

To the glue books!

No Sew Glue Book/ Journal Tutorial

 

Stomping Pumpkins Time!

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We’re going to be okay folks. There are cases of canned Libby pumpkin in my grocery store. Along with pallets of holiday baking ingredients. In a world gone wild, I focus on the few things I can control to relieve stress. Like baking pumpkin pies. As we head into the thick of the holiday season, buy your goodies, ingredients, and plan to snuggle in for the cold weather.

It’s cookie and hot cocoa time!

Life has been a blur these past two months, and now it’s almost Halloween. Egad!

My theme for this past year was “Simplify Everything.” I flunked. Because life has a way of throwing any plan into chaos. Especially in 2020.

I’ve added two more themes for next year. “Make Do” and “Good Enough.”

Simplify Everything. Make Do. Good Enough.

I think using those six words is about all I can handle for life goals right now.

Feel free to use them if you like.

Now is a time to be kind to ourselves. To say it’s been a crazy year is the ultimate understatement.

So let’s make cookies, find our favorite tv watching blanket, and snuggle in.

Two words. Baby Yoda.

So besides the annual pumpkin smash at the Oregon Zoo, let’s see more of Padu, our favorite Red Panda driving his mom nuts. 

Enjoy!

 

Here Come The Holidaze!

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Last week I was praying for toilet bowl cleaner and hemorrhoid cream tv commercials to avoid political ads, but we made it! It’s time to cut loose and prepare for the shopping frenzy and advance Black Friday deals. Talk about shopping creep.

So for a palate cleanser I have brought back an oldie and a goodie in Sing A Long mode!

Prepare to hoard eggnog!

Have a great, safe, weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

 

 

Need An Off-Season?

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How does this look for fun? Being on a ship, without being on a ship. No fishing or diving. Just saying.

Is it just me or is it time for an off-season? From life! Watching two of my three NFL teams get beat this past Sunday, I pondered their talk about the off-season. When do we get an off-season? Between the news, bad weather and the major construction outside my front door, I need to re-stock the chocolate shelf. Might fill up the downstairs shower too. Can’t be too careful.

Here is a look back at Wildfin restaurant from the suspension walkway. Trot off that dessert.

But a lovely escape did happen last week, celebrating my sister’s birthday. We motored across the Columbia River to wonderful Vancouver, Washington to see the new river walk area that opened up.

You can look down at the Columbia River or out at the Interstate Bridge.

Had a lip smacking lunch at the Wildfin restaurant, super tasty. Only been open a week, but the place was jam-packed. Try visiting off-hours between lunch and dinner. The industrial vibe can get a tad noisy when the place is full. But the food is great and the prices reasonable for a river front view.

After lunch we walked outside to experience the over the water suspended walk way along the Columbia River. Very cool. Great view of the Interstate Bridge and the river traffic.

Or you can watch a tugboat push a barge through the open railroad bridge.

They are still finishing final art and landscape installations along the river walk, but you can wander at will and enjoy the view. Mega condos and apartments are also still under construction. Walkers, runners, wanderers and doggies on the prowl were all in evidence.

Or you can help me figure out why somebody parked my yacht on the Oregon side of the river when I was on the Washington side. (I know the proper term is moored, but I love to drive Navy sailors nuts. It’s an Army thing.)

Sometimes a small escape from an ordinary day gives one a whole new perspective. There is another restaurant open, Twigs, so we must go back and explore that one too.

Never underestimate the power of a lunch date escape out-of-town. The sanity you save may be your own!

Looking back at the work in progress on the Vancouver USA River walk. Pretty darn spiffy!

 

A Photo Interlude?

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by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

I can’t seem to get my act together with a trash compactor these days, so today’s late post will feature some oldie but goodie photographs. Have a ton of new photos to share from recent adventures, but can’t get on top of things. Stay tuned, some day I might get organized. Maybe.

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You can never go wrong with good food and drink. Two of my favorites here. Perfect for rainy cold weather.  

Then we need to add some beauty to our visual break.

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One of my favorite roses, the Double Delight. Yes, Spring will come again and while a few roses are still blooming now, this gives me hope!

And last but not least, every writer needs a wingman, so here is mine, Spec Ops Cat.

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And I wonder why the paper jams in my printer; must be the cat hair. Spec Ops Cat doing his impression of a paperweight. Good boy!

 

In The Mood For Chicken And Dumplings?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                     (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

We are in the full court press run up to the holidays and things are getting wacky. From crazed drivers to potluck parties and trying to get two minutes to think, taking a break is a great idea. A comfort food timeout is even better.

Dumplings cooking away on the stove, right before the lid went on. Can you smell the magic?
Dumplings cooking away on the stove, right before the lid went on. Can you smell the magic?

I’ve been trying to make chicken and dumplings for two months and I finally accomplished it Sunday.

My co-worker gave me her quick and easy recipe which included using meat from four leftover baked chicken thighs, 6 cups low sodium chicken broth, 1 bag frozen peas and 1 bag frozen corn, 1 drained jar sliced mushrooms, 3 stalks cut up celery, 1 bag cut up baby carrots, minced garlic, 1 small white onion and 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil to sauté the onions and then veggies.

The fun part was making the dumplings. All it required was 2/3 cup of Heart Smart Bisquick mix and 3 tablespoons of milk. Mix together and drop on top of the simmering soup, leave for 10 minutes uncovered and then put the lid on for another 10 minutes and dumplings! Too easy.

When I got home from the day job on Monday night, heating up the chicken and dumpling leftovers in the microwave was super easy and left me to watch Monday Night Football. Sometimes we just need to slow down and smell the dumplings.

You could even put these dumplings on top of canned soup. The possibilities are endless. Try the Crock Pot too. The next best thing to Bisquick strawberry shortcakes is dumplings. So take some time in this busy holiday season to treat yourself. Dumplings for all!