Barbara Witek's Blog

Obsessed. I am obsessed with this song. It's repeated daily on my playlist and I crank it up if I hear it in the car. In love with it!! Lee Brice never disappoints. (insert massive sigh)

so the song... MEMORY I DON'T MESS WITH. Have you heard it? It will hit you in all the feels, I promise. And I'll tell you why. I don't care who you are, but you've got 1 of these. Listen to the song with your eyes closed and you'll understand. And yes, it's the romantic in me but it's the reason songwriters do what they do! And when the right artist comes along to sing it....well that's where the magic happens and we can relate to it and feel it. The music, the lyrics, it's just beautiful storytelling.

So while some people say it's "spooky season", in Barbie's world there's always romance in the air - no spooks or spectres allowed! And to MY memory, if you happen to be reading this...thank you and well, you're welcome.

I'm attaching the youtube link below and I hope it doesn't get removed since I've given Lee Brice credit. :-) Enjoy YOUR memory.

If you happen to be reading this..... THANK YOU for sticking with me and checking back over the last FOUR YEARS!!!! Holy cow, has it really been that long?? I know, it has and for that I do apologize. Life took many (and that's an understatement) unexpected turns and yours truly found out she doesn't handle mounds upon mounds upon mounds of stress well. At. ALL. Nuff said there, what's done is done. It's been a very long and treacherous 4 yrs but they are over and there is NO going back!

Let's just say, I've come out of things stronger and so very blessed. I'm finding a balance, and the gratitude I feel for my life as I know it and everyone and everything that got me to where I am today fills my heart to overflowing. So whatever part you played (good, bad or undecided) Thank you for helping me grow.

I have so many things I want to share but if I do it all now this post might as well be a book! This is my check-in to let you all know how much I appreciate your support and interest in my stories. I'm writing again and it feels fantastic! I have new projects in the works and I can't wait to share them with you!

I'm committing to being more active, so make sure you check back often to the blog, and hit up my social media channels too. I've got some fun things planned on the social front as well.

Now go forth and make every day count! And read. Read all the books (mine first though). :-) 

​So Here we go! Official day 2 in the books. Yes, I did get the lower body workout in on July 4th! Felt great, by the way. Tried to get. my guy to do it with me but he declined for now and told me to try it out for a while first. He's so competitive, though, I think he'll be sorry he didn't give it a chance first. By the time he's ready to give it a go, I'm going to be a PiYo master! well, okay, maybe not a master but I will certainly be more flexible. And not for nothing but we did a lot of home improvement work over this long weekend, which I could totally compare to a lot of this PiYo bending and stretching. So I was definitely moving.

​So how do I feel starting for real? Well...pretty good! It's tough. I'm NOT flexible (yet) but I'm getting there! And remember from last week how I said I don't really feel like I'm doing a lot? Oh trust me, I am. I don't feel it right away, but later in the day I feel it in my core. I'm not kidding! And of course my legs, but they tend to be a source of tightness (must stretch more) and plus the whole pinched nerve, blah blah blah (I'm so sick of it so with a little luck it will eventually go away). Now the next component is getting the meals down to make sure I'm getting the right amounts of protein and carbs and yes, vegetables!

​This is hard for me. I know I can do it but I need to find recipes and get creative. 5 small meals, every 2.5-3 hrs. That's the ticket. 

​Go make today great and get your fitness in! I'm off to make my breakfast, lunch and snacks for the day!

According to the chart, Fridays are rest days (won't that be nice!) but I chose to continue with the workout sets so I an get an idea of what the 3rd session is all about. It's called SWEAT - and for good reason. By the end of the 35 min routine, I was literally dripping sweat. But here's the thing.... there's no high cardio. My heart rate was never elevated at all. I'm going to conclude that my major sweating was from constant movement and not being in shape already. Coming from the gym environment, I don't see how I'm going to burn fat if I'm not getting my heartrate up. It's that whole VO2 thing (Volume of Oxygen - thankyou Jeramy Freeman). :-) 

​BUT...I have to agree with what I said in yesterday's post. I believe this PiYo program is going to help with my strength and flexibility and get me back to where I need to be and back at the gym where I can really push myself once more. And in all fairness to the PiYo program, I do believe that once I'm in better condition I cant totally see how you can push within these moves as well. There's plenty of opportunity to take the stretches to the next level and I look forward to one day being able to do that. Right now it's once again about modifying and I'm still getting the stretch, I'm feeling it because I'm able to push myself within that modification. Hence, the drenching sweat. 

​Throughout the routine, I couldn't stop thinking about how I still somehow need to add in the cardio. Maybe it's getting out and walking before or after (1 mile through the neighborhood) or hopping on the exercise bike after a routine when I'm all warmed up. Or maybe it's hitting the gym for 30-40 mins on my way home from work! Or maybe I should do it all?? YOu can't see me, but I'm nodding my head as I write this because that's exactly what I should be doing. It's time to make it happen. I've done it before now I need to make it stick.

​So....I'm going to enjoy this holiday weekend, get my head back in the game - which in this case is making my grocery list and sticking to my meal prep and plan this time - and be ready to take this head on starting Monday. I will come up with a cardio schedule and stick to that too. It's all about the planning.

​No effort, no results. 

I officially started on Wed. with the first workout. I completed it, and I surely felt it! Let's just say it was a class on discovering just how UN-flexible I have become! Being overweight doesn't help, but there are just some position shifting that isn't as smooth as the professionals! Hey, if you can't laugh at yourself...... And, with the pinched nerve stuff still showing it's face, the moves were sometimes more challenging than I think they would have been otherwise. But again, I pushed through and I must say that I did break a sweat and by the end I felt pretty loose. I thought I'd be tight and in pain but I wasn't. So in the back of my mind I'm thinking this is going to be something very good for me by the end of the first 60 days. And that was Day 1.

So this morning I did the day 2 routine, which was supposed to be for the upper body. And it was, I guess. While I did once again break a sweat, fumble through the positions, laugh at myself (more than thankful that the rest of my house was sound alseep and couldn't witness my half plank twist (or whatever it was called) disaster!) as I tried to figure things out, I completed the set and felt pretty accomplished. Well, actually I felt like I really didn't do anything. I'm feeling alot in my wrists and shoulders while doing the exercises - which I guess is making them stronger - but so far nothing really hurts. As I'm sitting as my desk writing this and thinking about it, I can kind of feel a "fatigue" in my abs/core, so I'm going to say this is working! And I can be brutally honest and say there's a lot of fat to melt off those abs! So to feel something now is a fantastic thing!

Note: I purchased PiYo for myself as a way to steer me back on the exercise train and get through the joint issues I've been facing which have kept me off track. But I also purchased it as a "couples" program in hopes of being able to work out with my main man! (I even bought him his own yoga mat)

Well, babe.... GAME ON!

​#piyo #fitness #fitme #workout #myhappyplace

I know, I couldn't resist! Life has definitely thrown me several challenging loops in the almost 1 year since my last blog post. BUT...I'm about to change that. For the next 60 days I'm going to use my blog to keep me accountable on my next journey, and at the same time I hope to inspire you to take a journey of your own. Maybe it will be similar to mine or maybe it will be something that gets you out of  your comfort zone. Whatever it is, I encourage you to do it! Life is too short so let's make the most of it.

​So what's the big deal you ask?? Well one year ago I went through the most challenging 6 week fitness program of my life! I found out exactly how mentally and physically strong I was. I found the me I "used" to be. You know, before life gets in the way and bad habits form. :-) I won't go into the gory details of the many challenges that caused me to lose that new me. I take full responsibility for the fall. Choices were all on me, and at the moments of extreme stress....I failed. I let that old me slip back in. So for the last 9 months I've been struggling HARD to get back on track. What have I learned?? Apparently I dont' handle stress as well as I used to! But I'm getting there. I've also found out that my body just doesn't handle the hard workouts I need in order to regain the beginnings of my fit-self that I lost. Knees, hips, pinched-something-or-other. You name it and it lays me up for days filled with pain. And this is where this blog is going to come in.

​I got sucked into an informercial about PiYo. It's a Beachbody program that encompasses pilates and yoga for a demanding, yet gentle on the joints workout. I didn't even hesitate to order it! The gym has become my happy place, but I'm not able to work out without pain. I'm hoping that PiYo is going to be the answer to my fitness needs right now. Because I NEED to work out. I miss it! (never thought I'd say that, ever!) But I do. I have goals, and they can't happen until I manage this pain and make it go away. Being inactive isn't helping.

​So...with that being said, and if you've stuck around and read this far... I hope you will stay with me for the next 60 days as I go through the PiYo program from exercise to clean eating meals. I'm excited for this challenge.

​

Wow...I haven't written a blog post since Christmas! Now that's a shame. So what have I been up to, you ask? Lot's of motorcycle riding has to be tops on my list! I used to (and still do) love being the passenger, but something is so free-ing about being the driver. Every time I go out, I'm more confident. I love it and wish I'd learned sooner. My goal is to trade up my Kawasaki 500 in the spring. Which gives me the rest of this season to hone my skills even more so I can feel just as comfortable on a bigger bike. I can't wait. Because while "Thor" (yes, I named my bike) has been wonderful to learn on, I need more HP to keep up with the big boys when they take off from a stop or leave me in the dust when we go from a 35 to a 55 zone. Don't get me wrong, when I"m cruising 60-70mph I keep up just fine. But I want to do some longer distance rides and for that I need a more comfortable bike. So stay tuned for that update in the spring because I will make it happen!!!!

Writing wise I've been working on a story in a different genre. Getting in touch with my dark side and I must say it's very fun because I can get totally out of character. When all is said and done I will be subbing this under a pen name (still to be determined, as my alter ego hasn't spoken up yet). The story started as one thing, morphed into something else, and has a psychological suspense-thriller'ish feel to it. And I must say, I'm loving it! I've got other ideas brewing in my brain - hence the reason for a pen name. 

Have no fear Butler's Pantry fans!! There is a second book planned and a fun novella to be released soon! I've received some great personal messages about book one and I'm glad readers have loved it as much as I do.

Stay cool for what's left of our summer!

And who doesn't LOVE a holiday sale?

Who needs Black Friday? It all starts Cyber Monday !

Check out my Amazon author page to see the fantastic holiday pricing on my romances! I mean seriously, what's not to love? It's romance!! Included are my two holiday novella's! So if you haven't read Santa Wore Combat Boots (amazon best seller) or Top Secret Santa (debut last year) now is the time to get them! Guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

Better yet, if you've read them...REVIEW them! Show your favorite authors love by reviewing their books! It's the season of giving and receiving! And don't forget that books make great gifts - and ebooks make easy & convenient gifts for those long distance friends and relatives.

I've been blessed with amazing readers and fans. Knowing you enjoy my stories is the best present I could ever receive. Coming from me, who is sentimental about everything...this is huge! I hope to continue writing the best stories I can for your enjoyment and entertainment.

Stay safe this holiday season! And put your nose in a good book!

As you all know (at least here in the U.S.) Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday rush. And I say rush because Turkey Day has somehow gotten bowled over by the commercialization of Christmas. First we had Black Friday, then Cyber Monday, and now they've named Thanksgiving Day shopping as Brown Thursday, and we've added Small Business Saturday. Are the deals any better? I really don't know. I've attempted Black Friday twice in my life and hated it. This was my third year of mother-daughter Thanksgiving eve shopping and I find it fun. Mainly because we shop the deals for ourselves. Hey, don't judge. Then men in the family are best shopped for on-line, anyway, and this guarantees we get what we really want! I'm all in on Cyber Monday, and usually on Small Business Saturday we're busy hauling out the Christmas decorations for outside and inside the house. Personally, I think if you're a savvy shopper, you'll find the deals on what you're looking for no mattter what day it is!

With all that aside, I LOVE the holiday season! Christmas is my favorite holiday ever. The decorations, the tree, the lights, the love and laughter of entertaining family and friends. And I really do have fun shopping for people and coming up with really cool gifts they never saw coming.

I'm so thankful to my friends, my readers and my fans for reading and reviewing my books and requesting more. I will be kicking off a fun-filled week tomorrow (Small Business Saturday) by spending part of the day at the Lowville Free Library, Lowville NY. They are hosting an author event and book signing. If you can make it (no snow in the forecast!) stop by and say hello. I'd love to see you and I'm looking forward to making some new author friends. I will have copies of Cracker Jacked, Twists of Fate and Daddy Wore Dog Tags available to purchase, too.

Happy Shopping! Remember, books make great gifts. e-books are awesome gifts for those long distance (no postage necessary)

First off, you can never plan too much. Our train ride of awesomeness was cancelled the afternoon before we were to leave. Talk about panic. So we rented a car. Not so bad, right? We alternated driving every 3 hours and with a couple stops and some traffic delays (we won't even mention the GPS that wouldn't recalculate in time) we arrived at our destination 11.5 hrs later (said in the voice of SpongeBob).  Note to selfies: never drive more than 5 hrs. because the ride home after days of no sleep and binge drinking is not worth it.

I was still fighting a wretched cold - which I still have and is now a sinus infection - so we were stocked with a pharmacy full of supplies, a 24 pack of 5 hr energy, healthy snacks and 2 full bottles of alcohol - non of that stuff returned home.

But to continue with my conference lessons:

1.) Be healthy. All the cold medicine in the world cannot combat tons of walking, late nights and enough drinking to constitute a liver transplant.

2.) Mystery and Thriller writers are amazing, interesting in-depth people! I was so fortunate to meet so much talent. I have made new friends and become a fan of some very exciting and different stuff. 

3.) Register in time to stay AT the conference hotel (this should really be #1, but if you're not 100% then where you stay doesn't matter anyway). In all of our conference years, this was the first time Kari Lee Townsend and I were "off site" and I mean 1.5 miles one-way, WALKING!!! Again, not bad if you're not sick, Oh wait...did I mention this was Raleigh, NC? and it was in the 80's with a touch of humidity?? (we know how I feel about humidity, damn Mother Nature) I was not feeling the southern hospitality, peeps. But seriously, being at the conference hotel means you really get the scoop on what's happening, you can stay out longer and it's a hell of a lot easier to slip up to your room for a power nap, create the party room, etc...

4.) Get Stuff Done! Along with networking and brainstorming, Kari and I used this as a working trip too! Impressive, huh? :-) She is busting out a new women's fiction story and I have decided (thank you Bouchercon for confirming my decision) to dabble on the dark side and write a dark women's fiction story! I'm very excited. We tweaked our synopsis' and made some serious page progress. AND I came up with another idea for when this book is complete. So stay tuned.

5.) Get Going. The last but probably the most important thing I learned is keep going to conferences. Find time to at least make 1 a year. You stay current with industry information, you keep face to face contact with your new friends (always a plus) who live far away, you keep your name out there and you recharge your creative battery!!

And there you have it! There's nothing better than a vacation, except a getaway that feeds your creative soul. And that's what conferences do for me, no matter how large or how small. There's so much creative energy in the air I want to soak it up like a sponge! Unlike my liver.....

While I'll be looking at some new conference options for 2016, I'm
Looking foward to Bouchercon 2017!