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Happiness is Research

Blog, Transformation January 31, 2014

Well, first let me say, Happy Chinese New Year! It’s the year of the wooden horse, promising lots of freedom and success. Yes. More. Please. Thank you.

Now then, what’s this about happiness being “research?” Truthfully, I was reminded of how much I love research this week when Mayor Sue Fuchtman of Norfolk, Nebraska let me interview her about her experience running for and being mayor of a community about the size of Dare Valley, Colorado in my first series.

I used to interview people all the time for my old career, and no, I wasn’t a journalist, even though I am from a long line of them stretching back to my great-great grandpa winning our family newspaper in a poker game in 1892, the rebel. I used to rebuild war zones in my old job, anything from communities to political systems to the rule of law. When I visited these wild places, I interviewed a ton of people, anyone from a village woman to a Member of Parliament. I probably averaged about thirty interviews with people on my trips. And let me tell you, it was fascinating. I had forgotten how much I love it until this week…

When I interviewed Mayor Sue.

This time I’m not rebuilding a warzone, but creating a fictional setting. Real information is still critical in making it come to life. Be real. Resonate with people.

It finally hit me why research makes me so happy, or should I say interviewing. Because I get to connect with people and hear their story. It’s about listening. It’s about being heard. It’s about having a short peek into their life, their passions, their journey, their victories. And in the case of Mayor Sue, what a victory. She’s the first female mayor of Norfolk. Yeah for her and women everywhere!

What’s also wonderful is when the person you’re interviewing strikes a chord in you. As you probably have guessed, community, family, and connecting are all important values to me. And I could tell the same for Mayor Sue.

My novel, THE PARK OF SUNSET DREAMS, isn’t only going to be better because of this interview, it’s going to rock. Why? Because like with all my characters, there’s some spark of the true, the real, the higher vision–critical to what I believe my writing is all about.

So, next time you have a chance to research something, try interviewing someone. Or even when you meet someone new, think of it as “life” research. You might be surprised not only by how happy it makes you, but by how much you learn.

Spread the joy.

Ava

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Happiness is Receiving

Blog, Transformation January 24, 2014

It’s taken some serious intention these last couple of years to receive help when I need it. But it makes me even happier when support comes without me even having to ask for it.

This happened in a number of instances this week, most notably with my delightful neighbor shoveling my sidewalks for me, not once, but three times.

I was raised to give more than I received, and like a lot of us women, I was uncomfortable asking for and receiving help when I needed it. Now, even though I have moments where I still want to do it all, I am exploring the new territory of receiving. And my heavens, does it make me happy.

What is your comfort zone? Are you more a giver or a receiver? I don’t think you have to be one more than the other now. I’m just calling in balance. When I need to give, I do. When I need to receive, I allow it. Mostly. I’m still a work in process.

Receiving support is inspiring to me because it helps me see I am walking my own talk. I was tired of being drained from giving all the time, and much of it wasn’t fun anymore. With the right balance between giving and receiving, I’m pretty happy doing both.

So, go on. Give receiving a chance. You might be surprised how much you like it after you undo all that conditioning not to. Come on. I’ll cheer you on.

Image courtesy of graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happiness is Your Bliss Becoming Manifest

Blog, Inspiration January 16, 2014

This week has been epic folks. I read at my first Reader’s Event with some incredible authors.

And I became a bestselling author.

NORA ROBERTS LAND took the #1 spot on my beloved B&N, #10 on iTunes, and #24 on Amazon. Holy freaking frijoles.

Yes, folks. Following my bliss has manifested into achievement, and it’s also made me so happy/joyful that my heart simply burst from it all. I don’t know how much I laughed and screamed and threw my arms up in total joy these last days. It was incredible!

A friend told me last night how happy she is to see me so happy. She knows I quit my old career with faith and trust that writing was what I was meant to be doing. That I left behind the stable, the certain (the regular paycheck and benefits) to make my living as a writer. She’s just so inspired, she told me.

And do you know why?

Because when we see someone else follow their passion and throw caution to the wind and it actually PAYS off, it gives us faith that the dream inside our hearts (one buried or one known) actually might work for us if we follow our guidance and take the first step.

If you think I have not had days of doubt, you’d be wrong. But I’ve always believed in my message. Always believed the Divine was going to bring the right readers to read my books. And look where we are.

My heart is filled with gratitude. For you and for me. I did it, and you found me. It’s all manifesting in perfect order.

So, now what about you? Are you in the job you really want? Are you doing what makes your heart sing? Are you doing something you’re proud of? Come on, take the leap. I’ll be here to cheer you on. Because when one of us succeeds, we show others that it’s possible.

It’s possible for you. I just know it! So go on. Leap already!

Image courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happiness is Knowing What to Say

Blog, Transformation January 10, 2014

Well, the holidays are now behind us so we’re back to Friday posts at The Happiness Corner. Be regular from now until…another holiday perhaps. 🙂

I’m feeling really happy right now because I’ve just had one of those sticky conversations with a friend who’s in crisis, and I knew what to say–and not say. My books focus on sticky items in relationships sometimes, and so often in them (and in real life), we all wonder if we’re saying the right thing. What do you say to someone who’s going through a divorce? What do you say when someone’s learned they have cancer? What do you say when someone’s kid keeps acting out time and time again?

And how do you know you’ve said the right thing? Because there’s peace. You haven’t told them what to do or how to feel. You’ve just listened and encouraged them, and told them you’re there for them. Maybe you’ve told them an anecdote about how something worked out for someone else when they don’t believe something good can happen to them.

We’re all here to support each other, and if we’re lucky enough, we’ll have a coterie of people who trust us enough to talk to us about their “stickiest” situations. And if we’re truly present to them and give them the freedom they need to be empowered in that situation and make the best decision for themselves, we are saying the right thing to them.

We’ve all come through another holiday, surrounded by family and other people we sometimes have those “sticky” encounters with. How did you fare? Was there enough love and space to say what you needed to say or simply be peaceful about accepting where things are, knowing they can change?

Let’s all listen a little more to our inner wisdom and give ourselves a pat on the back when we truly feel, down to our deepest self, that we knew exactly what to say. And we did it.

Image courtesy of gubgib / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happiness is Cocktails

Blog, Cooking December 26, 2013

Or I could call this post, How “Mad Men” Saved Cocktails.

But first, let me welcome back everyone to the HUNGRY HEARTS HOLIDAY HOP where we’re celebrating the New Year with mouthwatering dips, appetizers, and drink recipes and delicious EXCERPTS from today’s hottest food-loving ROMANCE writers! Again, hop around each author’s site for a new recipe, and fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter our GIVEAWAY: an Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Book Depository GIFT CARD! Additionally, Amanda Usen will be featuring Hungry Hearts authors on Writer.Chef.Romantic and gifting their books to lucky winners. Stay tuned to get in on the fun! If you’d like to party in real time, please join our Facebook Party December 26^th – January 1^st.

Okay, now back to our regularly schedule program. 🙂 So, truth be told, cocktails are like good food to me. They are special treats that come from a creative spark and are meant to be savored. I don’t drink much, but when I’m in the mood for a special treat, I’ll make a cocktail. There’s something magical about them, and since a foodie made me my first one (a vodka gimlet in a martini glass when I was 21), I fell in love with the history, mixology, the presentation, and the glassware (oh don’t even get me started there).

Where does “Mad Men” come in? Well, before the TV show made such an impact on bringing back old trends and fashions, I didn’t find a lot of elegant cocktails in restaurants. It was pretty much martini, pina colada, margarita, whiskey sour. Well, you get the idea. Then “Mad Men” came along, and restaurants (the nice ones) started researching cocktails from the past. And that’s how I found the one I’m going to talk about today for our Hungry Hearts Holiday Hop: The Boris Karloff.

Yes, it’s named after the actor who played Dracula. He was also in “Arsenic and Old Lace” (and it was when he was playing his role on Broadway that a NY bartender ended up making this drink up). My favorite local restaurant is known for its cocktails, and I got to know the bartender there. Well, one night, he asked me what I wanted, and like usual I said, “Surprise me.” He dug out his special black book (yes they have them, and I think it’s the coolest thing ever). Moments later, he set this daring egg white concoction in front of me. Yes, egg whites. And don’t worry, there’s nothing to be afraid of. The citrus in the drink “cures” the raw ingredients (just like it does with ceviche). And it’s delicious.

This love of “Mad Men” worked beautifully in informing my newest release, THE TOWN SQUARE, which I call my ode to “Mad Men” in a small town with a happy ending. People loved the grandpa, Arthur Hale, in my series, and they begged for his story. I wanted to know too, so I wrote it. It’s set in 1960, and not surprisingly, talks about the fashions and culture of the time. Of course, my hero drinks Manhattans. I don’t think he would have been able to order a Boris Karloff in Dare Valley, Colorado. I can’t imagine anyone making a drink with egg whites in the local diner they frequent. 🙂 Arthur even jokes that the Manhattans aren’t as good in Dare as they were in New York City (no surprise there). He should come to my house. I’m known for my cocktails amongst friends and family. My sisters are even spreading the tradition of The Boris Karloff far and wide as well. We’ll be having them for Christmas and New Year’s no doubt. Heck, we had them at Thanksgiving. They’re just that special.

Well, let’s get onto the recipe, shall we? Drum roll please.

The Boris Karloff

1 shot of both St. Germain Liquor (heaven in a bottle) and Gin (I use Bombay Sapphire)

3 shots of Rose’s lime juice (or you can use fresh lime and simply syrup)

1 egg white

Now, here’s the trick to making it. Shake all of these ingredients together first and then add the ice and shake again (you want to have the egg whites expand before they are cooled with the ice). You will have a nice foamy top. Pour into a lovely glass. Add a dash of sparkling water. Now, here’s my recent daring addition (because that’s how I roll cooking wise). Dice up some fresh rosemary and sprinkle on the top. It was heavenly. But you can leave it plain if you want. It’s superb either way.

Whatever you plan on celebrating with, on New Year’s Eve, I’ll be raising my glass to all of you and being grateful for your presence in my life and looking forward to much more fun in the coming year.

Blessings and light,

Ava

And now, here’s the giveaway:

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Happiness is Parties

Blog, Cooking December 20, 2013

Okay, so there’s little that I like better than parties. And by that I mean, the small, intimate ones where you know most of the people and can totally relax and be yourself. This time of year is the perfect party season, and I’m about ready to dive into a whole bunch of them. Besides the food–which I love–what I most love is connecting to the people there. That’s the best part.

It makes me SO happy.

Well since we’re all busy, I’m keeping this post short and wish you that light-hearted joy of parties too.

We all need some downtime, and none more so than after this busy season. I have my fifth book out in six months, and that’s certainly something to celebrate.

Raise your glass with me and toast the good things that have come your way this year. It’s time to party.

Happy holidays!

Ava

Image courtesy of Rosen Georgiev at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happiness is Holiday Blessings

Blog, Cooking December 13, 2013

This time of year we’re surrounded by blessings. The moments when we’re with family, cooking up holiday treats, sipping special beverages around the fire, or making a snowman. We come together this month in a way that enhances our joy. And we’re blessed by it.

Kids are showing us how to still believe in something magical and bigger than us. They show us their list to Santa and write him letters, send him emails. We see the joy they have as another present is slid under the Christmas tree, and if the kid is anything like I was, he’s probably shaking it to see what’s inside. Then there’s the litany of “ohs and ahs” from children as they see a gigantic Christmas tree like my niece just did, standing beneath it with her mouth open in awe, looking so small in the face of that fabulous fir.

And beneath all of this connection and rapture are the blessings we hold in our heart. For our health. For the safety of our family. For our jobs. That we are okay.

And in taking a moment to see those blessings–all of them–our happiness grows.

Our hearts want to burst, and we find ourselves recalling good memories of people who have passed on who used to make certain holiday cookies or their own version of Bailey’s, like my great-aunt.

Blessings are all around us: in people, in decorations, and in food.

And yet our biggest blessing is that we are here in this place, right now. As New Year’s edges closer, we start to ask: how have we fared this year? Am I where I thought I’d be? Am I somewhere better? Time enough to reflect on that.

Be in the moment. Savor the holiday blessings in this season of light. It’s the place to light a candle for your dreams and let them soar.

It’s where happiness truly reigns.

Image courtesy of franky242 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happiness is Hard Work Paying Off

Blog, Inspiration December 6, 2013

Do you ever work toward something in your life, and it just doesn’t achieve the heights you’d hoped? But you stay at it, knowing it’s what you need to do? Maybe it’s a relationship, or maybe it’s a new business you’ve started.

Patience is a virtue, they say, and really WHO said that?

Don’t we want abundance right now? It’s easy to get caught up in the season of instant gratification. I know I do it, and most of the people in my life do it as well. What’s so bad about wanting something to turn out big the first time?

Nothing.

But it doesn’t always work that way, does it?

Take me, for example. Quitting my old career to launch into this new one as a writer was scary. Yes, it was what I was meant to do, but it also required a leap of faith and had a heck of a learning curve. And then there’s the work. Do you think putting out four books in four months was a piece of cake? I used to work in war zones that were as challenging.

But this week, something magical happened. I’d followed my guidance and hired an assistant to help place me on various readers’ blogs. We all need connections, and this person has been a godsend to me. She asked a while back if I wanted to be a part of a holiday hop, and I said, sure. I was happy to donate a few books as a giveaway. I didn’t have all the details, and on Sunday, my Facebook page started getting Likes. And I don’t mean a few. I mean a lot.

Within three days, I had doubled the number of likes on my page. Why is this important? Because it means more readers have a chance to discover me and my books. What’s funny is that I didn’t even realize it was connected to this holiday hop I was on until I saw the post saying the way to enter the book giveways was to like author FB pages.

Wow!

Now that’s what I call surprise abundance.

But it also was a whole lot of hard work paying off finally. I was able to connect with new readers and enlarge my platform. Get my message out to more people, because it all comes down to the message for me.

I couldn’t have been more delighted. So even though I knew not to fall into the trap of thinking FB likes meant people “liked” who I really was, I decided to simply enjoy it for what it was. New connections. New readers. New fun. And all that hard work paying off on social media.

What about you? Is your hard work finally paying off, making you happy? Or are you still working hard to get there?

Take a moment like I did this week. You might be surprised at how far you’ve come, and that’s something not just to be grateful for, but happy about.

Image courtesy of Feelart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happiness is Gingerbread Houses

Blog, Cooking December 1, 2013

Well, it seems almost strange to be talking about gingerbread houses with Thanksgiving barely behind me, but here we are.

It’s another HUNGRY HEARTS HOLIDAY HOP, and I for one am excited. We’re celebrating the holiday season with mouthwatering cookie recipes and delicious excerpts from today’s hottest food-loving romance writers! Hop around and fill out the Rafflecopter form on each author’s site to enter our giveaway. This time it’s a a spectacular mix of Harry & David Truffles. Yum… In addition to the HUNGRY HEARTS HOLIDAY HOP prizes, Amanda Usen will be featuring Hungry Hearts authors on her site and giving their books away to lucky winners so visit http://amandausen.wordpress.com/! I’m going to be featured this week, so check it out!

Well let’s get back to gingerbread, shall we? I decided not just to make gingerbread men, but to make a house. But first I have to share the happiest synchronicity EVER. Our family gingerbread recipe is from my great-great grandmother Clara–the wife of my great-great grandpa who won our family newspaper in a poker game in 1892. He’s the man I based Grandpa Hale on in the Dare Valley Series, remember? Well, I was just so darn happy that my mother finally told me that. I mean, we’ve been baking this recipe all my life, and somehow, I never heard it was from Great-Great Grandma Clara until just a few weeks ago.

Gingerbread houses make me happy for so many reasons. First, the cookie pretty much knocks flavor out of the park with all of the coffee, molasses, and spice. Then there’s the fact that my mom made gingerbread houses for us growing up, and like Abbie Maven in THE HOLIDAY SERENADE, my Christmas novella, she does NOT allow anyone to eat them. So maybe I made my first ever gingerbread house so I could eat it. 😀 Then there’s the last reason. Since I’m a sculptor, I thought it would be fun to join walls and a roof in something other than clay and goop. Trying my hand at cookie and frosting was a challenge, and I have to say I pulled it off nicely with the lovely Christi Barth (also in our hop) watching me when we cooked together on a recent Saturday.

There’s something magical about gingerbread houses. Any time I see one I simply become happy.

My inner child wants to dance at the sheer delight of that house, decorated in frosting and candy.

So if you want to have some fun and make some memories, try out my Gingerbread House recipe and watch my YouTube video below, showing me decorating it and wishing you all a happy holiday.

Christmas only comes around once a year, and I have to say, I’m glad I finally had the impetus to make my own gingerbread house. It might just have become a new tradition. Enjoy!

Gingerbread Houses

Recipe by Ava Miles’ Great-great Grandma Miles, circa 1900

Baked by Abbie Maven at Christmas in THE HOLIDAY SERENADE

Gingerbread

1 c. butter

1 c. sugar

Cream these two ingredients.

Add ½ c. hot coffee

¾ c. molasses

5 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

¼ tsp. nutmeg

1 ½ tsp. ginger

½ tsp. cloves

Mix the ingredients. Chill for at least 1 hour. Overnight is best.

Icing

4 egg whites

5 c. sifted powdered sugar

Beat egg whites until stiff and slowly add the powdered sugar. Keep covered when not using since the icing dries quickly.

House Dimensions

Roll dough onto a lightly floured surface. Cut the shapes outlined below:

2 Side Walls: 4×6 inches

2 Roof Pieces: 7×8 inches

Base: 10 inches

2 End Pieces: 6.5x6x4

*You can half the dimensions to make a smaller house if you want to start small and practice as you become more adept at assembling. If so, half the frosting recipe too.

Bake at 375 degrees for 3-4 minutes on parchment paper (less time if you use the half dimensions).

Cook pieces in the oven and let cool on a wire rack. Place the frosting in a pastry bag with a small decorating tip. Anchor the base cookie on aluminum foil or parchment paper and use the frosting to glue it down. Secure the end piece and one side wall with frosting and let dry for 30 minutes after propping up. Remove prop and join other side wall and end piece. Prop up and follow earlier instructions. Add the roof next and secure the walls with additional frosting to secure the structure.

Then use your imagination. Add whatever seems to work for your house: gumdrops, chocolate Santas, etc. You can also dye the frosting different colors to decorate the house if you want to go wild—like Abbie does.

If you have leftover dough, form them into gingerbread men or other shapes and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Rhett suggests you make both male and female gingerbread cookies (sugar sprinkles for sequins optional).

Enjoy!

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Happiness is Playdates

Blog, Inspiration November 22, 2013

Does anyone miss playing like a little kid? I know I watch the little ones run around with their toys or simply picking up a stick and using it like a sword, and I miss that kind of play. So it was pretty wonderful to have a friend agree to get together recently and call it a playdate. A what date? I was like, oh, I totally love that.

Happiness is playdates. Who knew?

Being an adult can be fun, but all of my “dates” involve dinner, drinks, coffee, tea, lunch, or movies. Does this sound familiar? There’s not a lot of playing.

But today, when my friend and I met, we headed to the woods. I don’t know that we played so much as allowed our imaginations to roam. We noticed sap that looked like amber coming from a dark knot in a tree. We took a moment to be in awe of the yellow leaves still clinging to a species of tree, making the copse look as if dotted with a thousand little suns. We picked up rocks and branches that were cool. And we talked. Simple companionship. Watched the crows cry out in the pines. Followed the red tail of a cardinal into the brush.

Our imaginations were open and alive. And for me, that’s definitely a form of play. I even climbed up a tree partway to grab a piece of amber sap for my friend. I miss climbing trees, one of my favorite childhood past times.

I wondered, when have we gotten so serious? When did we forget how to play? Kids bring it out in us, but not too many adults it seems. So I’m calling in more playdates. More fun afternoons spent with a friend, letting our imaginations take over and our spirits soar.

Sometimes you don’t need a playground. You only need good company and an invigorating landscape like the woods.

What about you? Anyone else up to a playdate? It might just make you happy.