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We had a pretty gorgeous week this past week. Lots of sunshine. Which meant lots of things blooming! Spring really is one of my favorite times of the year.
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But of course, it was sunny all week, and come the weekend, it has started to rain again. Looks like we’ll only get a couple of nice days this next week, then more clouds and rain.
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We need more sunshine if we’re going to have cherries this year. Right now, that doesn’t look as though that will happen.
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In the meanwhile, here’s a picture of one of my gorgeous tulips. I bought five bulbs last year as part of a fund raising drive. I planted three in one location and two in a different location. The three came back this year. The two didn’t—not surprising, as they just weren’t going to get enough sunshine in that location. I’m thinking that come fall, I’m planting more in the sunny location.
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I’ve started the next novel, Cultivator College: Year Two. That’s been quite fun. It’s starting a little slowly, but once I get my groove on, it should go quickly.
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I’m doing so much (SO MUCH) work on reducing my baseline stress level. That’s probably going to be another essay in about a month or so, as I figure out what works for me. (If you want to get a jump on this, I’m using the book, The Stress Prescription by Dr. Elissa Epel. She’s been studying stress for twenty plus years. This means there’s a lot of science behind her suggestions. So far, it’s been challenging but excellent.)
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My sleep continues to be better than ever before. I track it using my Fitbit (AKA the Tyrant of Movement).
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Prior to March, on average, it would take me about 30 minutes to fall asleep. I’ve gotten that number as low as 26 minutes, but I’ve also seen it as high as 35.
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For the month of March? 15 minutes, on average. I’ve never seen it that low before. And I’ve been tracking this for more than five years.
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Another thing that my Fitbit tracks is how many nights with a long disturbance. Basically, how often do I wake up at 2 AM and am not able to go back to sleep until 4 AM, if then? That number has also dropped significantly, from between 30-40% down to 16%.
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Do I still have bad nights? Absolutely. However, those nights are a lot more predictable. Before, it always used to feel like a game of roulette, wondering where the ball would drop. It was unpredictable and random, though weighted toward never sleeping enough.
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Now, I check in and see how wound up I am before I go to sleep. If I need to, I spend some time focusing on relaxing just before bedtime. Last night, I stayed up an extra 15 minutes so that I could bring my heartrate down to 64 beats per minute. Guess what? Slept great.
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On other nights, like when I went to a friend’s house last week and had wine and too many carbs, when I did my check in, I understood that I was never going to sleep, so I took something. Instead of fighting to sleep, I actually slept. Not great, but good enough.
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Before, I was taking an OTC sleep aid every other night. Now, I’m down to one to two nights per week. And I never take the prescription sleep medication any more.
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I have a massage once a week, generally on Mondays. I always take something to help me sleep Monday nights. You might think that a massage would relax me, but I’m not getting a relaxing massage. The masseuse that I see does sports injury massage. Almost every time she tells me to ice whatever part she was working on. This is the opposite of relaxing. Hopefully at some point I won’t have to take something after I get a massage, but I’m not going to worry about it at this point.
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So that’s the progress I’ve made at this point. I’m really happy about it. Took me long enough to figure out how to sleep.
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What are you working on? What progress have you made?
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Cozy Up to Crime Storybundle!
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Pick up the Cozy Up to Crime Storybundle!
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Lots of cozy mystery and cozy paranormal mystery books, all for one low price.
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For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.
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If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus SEVEN more books for a total of 11!
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This bundle is available for a limited time. So pick up your copy today!
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On Sale This Month at KRP!
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For this month, the Star Tribes box set is one sale! Get all five books, the complete series, for one low price!
Daniel has had enough as a chef. The burnout convinces him to sell the restaurant to his Sous Chef, walk out the door, and never come back.
Kathra Omezi’s star tribe faces poverty on a daily basis. Twenty-five ships in deep space against the entire Sept Empire.
And then a conqueror steps into their lives.
The Mbaysey tribe, and the galaxy, will never be the same.
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Available in May!
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Chocolates and Truffles and Bon Bons, O My!
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Shar Opalbender hates her life.
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Okay, maybe that’s a bit strong. Emo, even.
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Despite her Dwarven heritage, and her family’s expectations, Shar finds no joy in faceting, setting, or polishing gemstones.
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What better way to prove herself to her family (and herself) than to enter, and win, the Realms’ renowned contest, Chocolates Galore!
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And maybe, just maybe, with some magic, luck, and a little help from her friends, Shar also can discover the true meaning of life.
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If there is one beyond chocolate.
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Come enjoy this lovely cozy fantasy with low stakes, delicious chocolates, lots of breaking of the fourth wall, and utter silliness.
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Coming in June!
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A cozy fantasy tale about ice, fire, love, and snow cones!
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When El the Ice Elf asks Mara the fire elemental to marry her, she expects an immediate YES!
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However, a distinct maybe hangs between them.
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Not due to a lack of love, but a lack of tradition.
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The Elves have oodles of ceremonies to choose from.
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As a fire elemental, Mara is singular. She doesn’t know any other fire elementals. She has no true kin. She does want to get married…but the ceremony has to have meaning for both of them.
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El vows to go with Mara to the ends of the world to find rites for Mara to call her own.
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Follow this unlikely couple as they defined themselves, their rituals, and their love in the cozy fantasy sequel to The Ice Elf & The Snow Cone.
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