Author: Shelia Watson

Feed Your Body: chocolate cake and a good romance novel

[Enjoy this guest post from Mrs. Swanky]

This month I am listening to the graphic audios of the ACOTAR series in preparation for the upcoming two books later in October and January.

In honor of the complex and wonderful (and sometimes misunderstood) Nesta Archeron, and of course our lovely Queen of Terrasen, Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius (I know, different series, but same author, so she counts), we have chocolate cake!

Important Note: I may be Mrs. Swanky, but I am definitely not a chef like Chef Swanky, so Duncan Hines it is.

* Obligatory disclaimer: We are not paid to promote these items. We just happen to like them.

Our guest blogger,
Mrs. Swanky, posts
on ways to Feed Yourself
— in body, mind, and spirit.

26 in 26: July

[Note: I’m doing a 26-word post on the first day of each month of 2026. It’s an exercise in concision and precision, which every writer should attempt now and then. Also Note: This explanation is separate from the 26-word count.]

Two hundred and fifty years ago, we were given the gift of a new nation, based on the idea that we’re all equal. Let freedom ring!

Feed Your Mind: reading and cooking, what could be better?

[Enjoy this guest post from Mrs. Swanky]

Something I would like to start doing is making a dish from a book I’ve been reading. Whether it’s a full meal or snack, it is very interesting when books highlight their cuisine.

This month I have been reading the Fey Spy Academy series by C.N. Crawford, starting with Avalon Tower. It is about a girl who goes on vacation in France and is swept up in a war between fey and humans.

It is a completed trilogy, a fun read, low/medium spicy, and the graphic audio books make it even more fun!

They talk a lot about the fey food in these books being better than anything she has ever eaten before. One thing that stood out to me was a chutney and cheese sandwich.

There wasn’t any more detail given than that, so here is my version: mango chutney with gouda on French bread. I also found port wine cheese and gave it a try.

* Obligatory disclaimer: We are not paid to promote these items. We just happen to like them.

Our guest blogger,
Mrs. Swanky, posts
on ways to Feed Yourself
— in body, mind, and spirit.

A most swanky (and historical) fruit

Ever wondered about the origins of the swanky pineapple in the most historic city in America? Of course you have. Chef Swanky explains what’s up with all the displays of the magnificent pineapple in Charleston.

Got a question for the great Chef? Drop us a comment below, and we’ll pester Chef Swanky to impart some more wisdom.

Follow Chef Swanky here and on Instagram at chefswankyhw.

Feed Your Soul: get a hobby

[Enjoy this guest post from Mrs. Swanky]

One way to feed your soul is to find a hobby and dig into it. Give it your all, as often as you can. It can be a great refresher in the midst of a busy, sometimes hectic lifestyle.

One hobby I have picked up in the last couple of years is reading. It’s pretty much exclusively fantasy, high fantasy, and romantasy. Basically, if there are creatures you’d find in a dungeons and dragons game and/or pointed ears, I am all over it.

Another hobby I have had for much of my life is gaming. It’s mostly video games: looter shooters, MMORPG, and more recently Survival, but I am also a big fan of Magic: the Gathering.

These are two hobbies that can be very time-consuming in a world with not a lot of time to oneself. And if that’s the case, sometimes one just needs to multi-task!

* Obligatory disclaimer: We are not paid to promote these items. We just happen to like them.

Our guest blogger,
Mrs. Swanky, posts
on ways to Feed Yourself
— in body, mind, and spirit.