QUICK QUIZ - ARE YOU OVERSCHEDULED?

Summer is here—I love summer! Yet, I feel tired and frazzled because I can't spend the day outside in my garden.

Why? I asked myself that question. I answered the question too. I'm overscheduled.

If you feel frazzled and frustrated, maybe you're overscheduled too. Here's a quick quiz to help you.

If you can answer YES to 5 of these questions, you need to take a step back and change something in your life or your daily schedule.

(1) Do you frequently forget to do something you said you'd do?

(2) When you wake in the morning, do you dread getting out of bed because of all the tasks facing you?

(3) Do you skip breakfast because you need to tackle your projects right away?

(4) Do you feel pressed for time so you skim emails or save them for later rather reading and responding immediately?

(5) Do you eat lunch at your desk because you can't take 20-30 minutes for a real lunch because your computer may explode from the volume of email and social media posts that are stacked up?

(6) Do you want to spend time with your hobbies or just reading a book or watching a movie with the family, but you never find the time to do any of that?

(7) Do you feel discouraged as you're trying to fall asleep at night because you didn't accomplish enough even though you worked from sunrise to sunset?

WHAT TO DO

What to do if you're overscheduled? Maybe you wrongly feel that everything is your responsibility. Maybe you need to delegate tasks or eliminate some entirely. Maybe you need to learn to say NO. Maybe you need to be more assertive.

I don't have the answer to your overscheduling problem, but I bet you do. Most of us know what we should do to clear out a clutter-filled day, but we don't do it. 

Tackle the really important tasks in your world, and do the best you can. At the end of the day, leave all of that behind and enjoy your personal life.

It's easy to get caught up and feel you have to do it all, but there is something very important to remember. 

Despite all the propaganda to the contrary, no one can do it all. 

Do the best you you and make a plan to deal with the rest. More importantly, make a plan to free up enough time to have a real life.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Your personal life should be enjoyed, and your personal time should be protected. Personal relationships and fun nourish the soul and warm the heart.

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Saturday Share Recipe - Pecan Cookies

Are you enjoying your weekend? I am. So is Darling Hubby because I'm making cookies today.

The recipe I'm sharing is an old one from my Mom's collection. It's simple to make and only calls for 5 ingredients. It's a great cookie to have with a cup of coffee.

PECAN COOKIES

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1/2cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon plain bread crumbs
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans

Instructions

Lightly grease a baking sheet or cover it with parchment paper then preheat oven to 300°F. (145°C).

In a mixing bowl, cream together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Add the bread crumbs and nuts and combine well.

Drop by teaspoons onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Makes 3 dozen.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

You'll notice there is no fat in these so the cookie is a small, crispy bit of goodness. 

 I love to cook and bake. I also love to read (and write books) too. If you love to read, you should sign up for my free newsletter, I LOVE READING. You'll receive exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. SIGN UP TODAY.

All About Image Copyright

If you publish images online, you probably know that you must possess the RIGHT to use an image in the way you used it.

By possess, I mean one of these situations:

(1) you own the image,

(2) you paid the creator for the right to use the image and received permission for that use,

(3) the image was free and a license was posted saying you could use it without charge for a specific purpose.

Unless you meet those parameters, you risk everything by using an unlicensed image.

AN ASIDE TO TODAY'S SUBJECT

I'd also like to tell you that if you meet the parameters for using an image and you receive an email from a supposed law firm that alleges you violated copyright by using that specific image, that you're dealing with a scammer. 

These scammers use legitimate law firm names and addresses, but their email addresses never link to the legitimate law firm. 

The email may sound similar, but it's not the same you'll discover if you do some basic research on the law firm and the usual form their email addresses take.

COPYRIGHT ENFORCEMENT

Copyright violation has escalated with the rise of social media. As a result copyright enforcement firms are doing a booming business—especially when it comes to copyright image enforcement by firms like PicRights and its lawyers.

If you get a letter from them, it is probably legit. PicRights represents small potatoes and the big boys like the Associated Press. When they find an unauthorized image on a website, they send a letter to the website owner informing them of the copyright violation along with a demand for compensation.

You do NOT want to receive a letter like that. If you don't resolve the issue by paying a fee that is usually 4 figures, their lawyers follow up. 

If you still do not respond promptly, you'll receive a demand letter from the lawyers. The ante goes up, and the end result is that you'll pay a little or a whole lot.

I've got to admit, I wish there were a copyright enforcement firm for authors because my books have been pirated all over the planet! What recourse do independent authors have? Sigh. Not much. 

MAKE YOUR WEBSITE, BLOG, NL, MARKETING BULLETPROOF

Always get permission from the copyright owner before using any image unless the image is in public domain or it comes with a clear notice of permission. This is true for so-called "free" stock images too.

 A website that offers free images always has a Content License posted. For instance on Pixabay, in the top right of a download page, you'll see this: "Free for use under the Pixabay Content License" and the link takes you to a page that tells you what you can do with the image and what you can NOT do with it.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Protect yourself and make sure you know what to do before posting an image.

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Take Me Away to a Beach

I feel as if I need a vacation, but I just returned a few days ago from one!

I've spent most of the week catching up on, but I'm still not up to date.

Sigh.

Wish I could slip away to a quiet, calm beach, but that's not going to happen.

So...I look at pictures of beaches. LOL.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Love this beacy quotation by some Unknown beach lover. If you take a beach vacation this summer, leave a comment and tell me about it.

Review - Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning - Netflix

I’m probably the last person on the planet to see the final part of the last Mission Impossible movie starring Tom Cruise. I guess it’s the last.

After all, Mr. Cruise is now officially a senior citizen, but 63 isn't as old as it used to be. Ask any of the people I know who are that age or way beyond.

I'm thinking there may be another IMF movie or movies in his future where he must come back to the IMF to do something  only Ethan Hunt can do. What do you think?

Anyway, I gave the movie a look and found it to be rather standard IMF fare with a “today” plot revolving around artificial intelligence that is seemingly unstoppable.

Directed by Christopher Mcuarrie and written by McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen, the move was produced by McQuarrie and Cruise.

Along with Cruise, the movie stars Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, Anglea Bassett, and Esai Morales. This flick was touted as the climax of the franchise and ended upbeing one of the most expensive movies ever made. The budget came in at $300-400M. Generally, the movie pleased critics and audiences.

I'll admit I'm not the target audience for this film because I thought it was pretty standard fare. I see the target audience for this as comparable to those readers who enjoy "comfort reads." This is easily a "go-to" flick for those wanting an action film without a complicated plot, with charismatic actors, and with a predictable outcome.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for something entertaining  to watch on a lazy Saturday evening, you could do worse so watch the "last" IMF film.

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Think As You Wake

In Darling Hubby's Happy Friday post, I read this quote and liked it so much that I'm sharing it here with you.

These wise words came from the Dalai Lama. I'm sorry. I don't know which incarnation of the Dalai Lama said it.

In case you don't know exactly who the Dalai Lama is, he is the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th, and he is 90 years old.

The Dalai Lama served as the resident spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet before 1959.

After that year, he led the Tibetan government in exile as represented by the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India.

Now you know who he is so let me share what he said. 

"Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards 

others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can."

I'd like to take that apart and present each thought separtely and put a personal emphasis on his words. 

As you wake up each day, think these thoughts.

I am fortunate to be alive.

I AM a precious human life.

I am not going to waste my life.

I am going to use all my energies to develop myself.

I am going to use all my energies to expand my heart out to other.

I am going to use all my energies to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

I am going to have kind thoughts toward others.

I am not going to get angry at other people or think badly of them.

I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Those are wise words that I hope you take to heart. They're another way of saying, "Be a blessing to others." Have a lovely Sunday.

Books are little vacations between two covers. Pick up a book today and take a vacation!

If you love to read, sign up for Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. SIGN UP TODAY.

Saturday Share - Recipe - Blueberry Syrup

When you were a kid, did your parents take you to Denny's or IHop or one of the other diners famous for serving breakfast?

The pancakes were always light and fluffy and were served with a choice of syrups. My favorite was Blueberry Syrup. Butter melting on a short stack with blueberry syrup running down the sides of the golden brown pancakes.

Yummy delicious.

Today, I have the recipe for making Blueberry Syrup. It's super easy and takes only 4 ingredients. Why not make some today and have pancakes for Sunday breakfast?

BLUEBERRY SYRUP

 Ingredients

• 16 ounces of frozen blueberries, thawed, or 1 16-ounce can
• 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• pinch of salt

Directions

1. Into a blender jar, place all the ingredients.

2. Using the liquefy setting, blend for 30 seconds.

3. Pour into a saucepan and bring to a boil.

4. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring to keep it from scorching and sticking.

5. Serve immediately or pour into a container and store in the fridge. Before serving, simply microwave to warm the syrup.

6. Makes 2 cups. You shouldn't have any seeds after liquefying, but if you do, strain the syrup.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I'll confess that sometimes after a very busy day, I'll make pancakes for dinner because they're a crowd-pleaser.

Books are little vacations between two covers. Take a vacay today—read a book! If you love reading, sign up for Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. SIGN UP TODAY.