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Author: CAstfalk

Carolyn Astfalk is a wife, mother, and author of contemporary Catholic romances, including her latest, All in Good Time. She formerly worked as a communications director and now works just to keep her head above water. Find her books on Amazon and her other words scattered around the blogosphere and social media.

Seven Quick Takes Friday

Published by CAstfalk on 07/17/2015

Seven Quick Takes Friday

Week in Pittsburgh Edition

I’m still adapting to re-entry following vacation, so before I forget where we went and what we did, I’ll recap. We spent our vacation in the city where my husband and I spent the first twenty-five or so years of our lives: Pittsburgh. We’re the only members of our immediate family who no longer live there, so our visits are harried as we try to spend time with as many family members and friends as possible. This year we took a whole week, built around my niece’s wedding, and did some things we hadn’t had an opportunity to do with the kids – or even ourselves.

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Things Change, You Change, It’s Okay

Published by CAstfalk on 07/13/2015

Some changes happen in the blink of an eye. (Think a lightning bolt strike.)

Some changes are such gradual transformations that the difference is nearly imperceptible except when glimpsed from afar. (Think the Grand Canyon’s creation.)

Changes may be monumental, calamitous, or inconsequential. The big changes are instantly recognizable, but the small, subtle shifts are often missed.

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Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Ways Music Helps Me Write

Published by CAstfalk on 07/07/2015

The title reads, “Top 10 Ways Music Helps Me Write,” but you could substitute the creative activity of your choice: painting, sculpting, or even more rote activities. I’ve written about the music related to the creation of  Stay With Me. Music has an uncanny way of altering mood and spirit. I’ve found that the right music can help me cope on the most trying days, elevating frustration and drudgery with lightness and good humor.

Piano Keyboard
I couldn’t resist this piano picture, mostly because it looks like every piano I’ve owned – missing a few ivories and , ahem, well-loved.
  1. Serves as background noise. Sometimes a little white noise cuts the distraction. The rhythm and hum of music can help you tune out the random noises, sounds, and dare I say, voices, that drive you to distraction. My mom couldn’t understand it, but I often did high school homework with music in the background. It improved my concentration.
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Small Success Thursday

Published by CAstfalk on 07/02/2015

Small Success Thursday

Why small success? Because that’s the only kind I know! Even the big ones come in small steps. Here’s my paltry offering for the week.

  1. Baked, baked, and baked some more. I killed my hand mixer, and my oven is liable to rebel from extreme overuse. It started with chocolate chip cookies and snickerdoodles for the junior high youth ministry. I suspected their energy levels might be depleted after zip lining and rolling around in an OGO ball.

    I moved on to blueberry muffins and gingerbread cake for an upcoming blog post featuring more recipes from Stay With Me. Next came banana bread (see #3). And finally, I baked six-dozen heart-shaped beauties for the cookie table at my niece’s wedding next week. What? You don’t know what a cookie table is? I dare you to Google “Pittsburgh wedding cookie tables,” look at the images, and not salivate.

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