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Military Romance Author

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Warrior Tales

Beads, Bling, Coloring And Shell Casings?

July 14, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Creativity is everywhere. Opening our eyes and senses is the first requirement to seeing it. Spent a quick visit Saturday at the Gem Faire, one of my favorite things to do. The show only comes twice a year so I can’t do too much damage to my wallet.

I hadn’t been for quite a while so the thrill of exploring energized me. Due to a competing appointment I had 70 minutes to power shop through the show. Did it! Got some pretties I couldn’t live without and saw some items which made my muse happy and curious.

Sounds like a Ginsu knife commercial - but wait there's more! Shell casing earrings and pendants!
Sounds like a Ginsu knife commercial – but wait there’s more! Shell casing earrings and pendants!

Take the shell casing pendants and earrings. Now, I have some leftover shell casings from my Dad’s workshop I’ve kept for a future project like a draft pick; not sure what they will become or accomplish but I’ve got the stuff. Had to take a picture and share with you this creative use of ammo.

Now, I might shine the casings with Brasso, although I thought I got enough of Brasso in the Army, but shiny is in my blood after basic training. Then I might add crystals, sparkly bling, a pink quartz rock and flashier earring findings and that is how I end up with tons of “project stuff.”

Recently a new Ace Hardware opened up in my area and I was beside myself exploring the aisles and all the fun new toys, er tools. They even had a “Hobby” aisle! Can you say more accessories for my Dremel? Yes, I bought the 80-piece accessory pack when I got my Dremel but I’m sure Ace must have more by now.

Then last Sunday the “Parade” magazine had a great article about coloring for adults. While I admit I buy Disney color books and have a fabulous supply of colored pens, Crayons and pencils to use, now there are big kid coloring books! They even have a couple of pages you can download free from the article.

Here is the link to get to the article and the free coloring pages.

http://parade.com/409702/hdowdle/50-shades-of-happy-the-new-joy-of-coloring/

Life is good! New beads, new bling, recycling shell casings and getting to color? It must be summer!

www.gemfaire.com

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Filed Under: Creativity Tagged With: adult coloring books, ammo, beads, coloring, crafting, creativity, Dremel, earrings, Gem Faire, jewelry, Kimberly A Cook, Parade magazine, shell casings, steampunk, Warrior Tales

Put Down The Tech And Pet Me!

July 10, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

I’ve noticed a recent trend with Spec Ops Cat. Every time I try to use my tablet to look something up, he gets right in my face between me and the tablet. Now I’m used to this behavior when it comes to books, magazines and newspapers, but it appears he’s traded up to the new tech too. He knows when I don’t have all my focus on the kitty!

With reports of parents paying more attention to their smartphones than their kids and chiropractors having a new diagnosis of “smartphone neck” perhaps the cats are right. Seems even Nala, that fabulous cat in Norway, agrees. She’s included tv game controls in her intervention program.

So the cats must be saying; unplug and pet me! Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

P.S. The Hallmark Channel has one-upped themselves this coming Sunday. The Kitten Bowls were such a hit now we have the Paw Stars game! Seriously, watch out Starbucks, cats are taking over the world!

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: animals, cat, Hallmark Channel, humor, Kimberly A Cook, Nala, Paw Stars, pets, screen time, smartphone, tablet, tech, Warrior Tales

It’s Time For Minion Shopping!

July 7, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 4 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Ever since Hollywood missed out on marketing stuff for the film “Top Gun,” it seems each new blockbuster ends up with more “products” than stars in the sky. Some of those items are fun and a bunch don’t make much sense, but obviously they make somebody money. Case in point, the run-up to the opening of the “Minions” movie this Friday.

Don’t get me wrong, these little yellow guys are too cute. Yes, I’ve been haunting www.happymeal.com to see when the new toys were released – yesterday! But I don’t quite understand the other products offered. I’ve seen everything from paper towels to dusters with the Minions on them. Now if I had a battalion of Minions who used dusters at my house, then we’d have something.

I’m a sucker for cartoons and especially “animated movies.” When you add in the fact that these little yellow guys bear a striking resemblance to Twinkies, their allure is unmistakable. I understand there are even Minion cupcakes you can make by slicing a Twinkie in half and plopping it on a cupcake. I bet you can find that on Pinterest! My problem would be making sure I didn’t eat half of the Twinkies in the decorating process.

So with us Oregonians on day 14 of a potential 17 day heat wave above 90 degrees, my mind turns to mush and then to Minions. Since I spent the weekend afternoons indoor rotating between fire watch and viewing Hallmark Christmas Movies – yes they were on tv – it seems anything involving cake and humor is right up my alley these days.

So in case you are among the two people on the planet who do not know the “Minions” movie opens on Friday, I have two pieces of advice.

Get your Happy Meal Minion toys now.

And it’s time to start hoarding Twinkies!

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Filed Under: Toys Tagged With: animated movies, cartoons, Despicable Me, Happy Meal, Happy Meal toys, humor, Kimberly A Cook, Minions, movies, Twinkies, Warrior Tales

Happy Birthday America!

July 3, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

The high temps keep rolling here in Oregon and it’s going to be a firecracker holiday weekend without any pyrotechnics! I’m going the route of watching the official fireworks shows and not lighting a thing with flames or sparks due to our tinder dry conditions. Let’s all help out our firefighters and neighbors by being safe this Fourth of July!

It’s also a time to consider vets and pets. With National Guard, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans back from deployments, firecrackers and loud booms can be unwelcome reminders and triggers of combat. Heck, my first Fourth of July visiting home after basic training a loud firecracker went off to start the fireworks and I was half way to the ground; reflex training.

Pets of all kinds, dogs and cats particularly, get upset by the noises too and can run off. So watch the sponsored shows and keep the noise out of our neighborhoods.

So, if we don’t fire up sparklers at home, what can we do? Eat! Check out the tiny hamster’s BBQ party! These patriotic pets have the perfect recipe for a fun-filled weekend – picnics!

Have a safe and sane Fourth of July and Happy Quirky Friday!

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: BBQ, fire safety, fireworks, Fourth of July, guinea pig, hamsters, hedgehog, Kimberly A Cook, military, Oregon, ORvets, pets, picnic, rabbit, USA, veterans, Warrior Tales

Sun, Feta And Pasta – Happy Summer!

June 30, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

by Kimberly A Cook                 (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

With our wacky weather giving us early hot temperatures and then thunderstorms and humidity, the best thing to do is pace ourselves. Or in my case, be lazy. One way I accomplish that is to make salads I love which last for a week. I think calories don’t exist during heat waves, at least according to the ransacking the grocery store ice cream aisle took last Wednesday night.

If I had my way, this would be Feta Greek Salad with pasta, but I am watching my cheese intake. Kinda. Greek Pasta Salad ala Kim!
If I had my way, this would be Feta Cheese Greek Salad with pasta, but I am watching my cheese intake. Kinda. Greek Pasta Salad ala Kim!

Today I’m sharing two fabulous pasta salad recipes. All you have to know how to do is boil water and chop.

Out to dinner with a friend last Thursday night and we explored the joy of making food, knitting and jewelry items that look complicated but are easy. Not lazy, I prefer to call it efficient. These two salads fit the bill, just in time for the long holiday weekend!

The original Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe from a co-worker at the day job is second. I modified her recipe for a Greek Pasta Salad I adore right below. Perfect for hot weather and the coming Fourth of July picnics! Here goes:

Greek Pasta Salad ala Kim

1 package Orzo pasta, 16 oz. – I use Barilla

1 bottle Girard’s Greek Feta vinaigrette

1 Cup chopped celery

1 whole cucumber, chopped

3/4 pint of cherry tomatoes cut in half

6 to 8 ounces of Traditional Feta crumbled cheese

9 Kalamata olives cut in fourths (I found they have ones already halved and pitted, score!)

Bring 4 to 6 quarts of water to boil. (I used a 6-Quart pot, but a larger pot works better so you don’t have to watch it all the time.) Add dash of olive oil to boiling water. Cook pasta for 9 to 10 minutes. Drain in strainer using lukewarm water, not cold. Place in 4-Quart bowl. Pour entire bottle of salad dressing over pasta and stir. Cover and place in fridge overnight or for four hours. Chop everything else and mix well.

Original recipe – Shrimp Pasta Salad

1 package Orzo pasta, 16 oz.

1 bottle Girard’s Champagne dressing, lite

1 Cup Chopped celery

1 Cup Sliced green onion

1/2 Cup Mayonnaise (optional)

1 Tablespoon Mustard

1 tablespoon Dill Pickle Relish (I’m a sweet relish girl myself, do what you want)

1 teaspoon celery seed

1/2 to 3/4 pound Salad Shrimp

Same as above, marinate pasta overnight, then thrown all the ingredients in. Fabulous! This is so simple and looks great too.

Let’s raise a bowl to summer, cheese and pasta!

Photo Alert: To my photographer friends, tonight is the full Thunder Moon so get out there with your cameras between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. and get some great pictures. If you can see the moon, that is! Have fun!

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: Fourth of July, full moon, Greek pasta salad, Kimberly A Cook, orzo pasta, pasta salad, photography, photos, picnic, recipe, salad, salad recipe, summer salad, Thunder Moon, Warrior Tales

Conserve Energy, Eat Lying Down!

June 26, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

It’s going to be a scorcher here this weekend in the land of the Douglas fir trees and rain. We’ve got heat warnings, fire weather warnings and low rivers. So I’ve decided to follow the skilled teachings of Nala, a Norwegian Forest Cat/Maine Coon from Norway. In this video her classic moves of eating while lying on the floor must have taken years of practice and study.

Following her lead, the sun tea jar is outside making tea, my beloved air conditioning is set to 75 degrees to not kill it and I plan to eat lunch lying down. Nala can’t be wrong!

Stay cool and be safe in the heat this weekend. Happy Quirky Friday!

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: cat, heatwave, humor, Kimberly A Cook, Nala, Oregon, pet safety, pets, summer, sun tea, Warrior Tales, writer

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