From inside the writing cave

Poet and satirist Dorothy Parker famously said, “I hate writing, I love having written.” That quote sums up the pain writers go through during the process, and the relief and pride when it’s over.

I love writing, but I’ve been there, especially when I was writing technical books in the late 90s. Which is why I’m so excited that the process of writing Minimalist Parenting is more fun than just about anything I’ve written so far. I find myself writing for hours (when I can find more than one hour to string together) then looking up wondering why my stomach’s growling.

Being in “the zone” means I’m more likely to toss quick ideas out on Twitter rather than write a full post. Here are the random hacks that popped into my head today while in the writing cave:

Healthy treat with a shot of protein (good for toddlers on up)

Fave meal prep shortcut of the moment

Think:

• Denver omeletes (ham, peppers, onions, cheese)
• Sausage, peppers, onions on top of pasta
• Burrito bowl component (part of my plan to automate dinner)
• Basis for pistachio curry (@woodenmask tweeted me the entire recipe and I’m totally cooking that some day.)

What to do with all of those empty Easter eggs

Great responses to this hack:

• I put them in my daughter’s play kitchen. I even made felt egg insides for her one year. — @amandaha
• A better idea is to refill them and deliver to a children’s hospital. It teaches your children to give and appreciate. — @pittweeter
• …and several people questioned the washing. We live in the damp Pacific Northwest, so our eggs were a little muddy. No washing if unecessary!

Decluttering: should it stay or should it go?

(A little fantasizing there, the retirement in Manhattan. You never know.)