This past weekend I went to my local Romance Writers' group's Christmas party. Every year we do a fun gift exchange that involves scheming, stealing, and lots of laughter. But this year I scored a gift (with the help of a friend!) that had my kids thrilled when I walked back in the door. This:
[caption id="attachment_305" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
It's Dinner Tonight![/caption]
At least this one I planned for them to use, and use it we did! Now they beg for hot dogs at every meal. Then there are the years I bring home lots of smell good bath products or candles -- my daughter has her hand in the bag before I can blink!
What's the best gift you ever brought home from a gift exchange? The worst?
Dani (who might just get some ideas for next year...)
Don't forget to join me on Friday for the Christmas blog hop that has tons of great prizes and holiday ideas!
It's Dinner Tonight![/caption]
At least this one I planned for them to use, and use it we did! Now they beg for hot dogs at every meal. Then there are the years I bring home lots of smell good bath products or candles -- my daughter has her hand in the bag before I can blink!
What's the best gift you ever brought home from a gift exchange? The worst?
Dani (who might just get some ideas for next year...)
Don't forget to join me on Friday for the Christmas blog hop that has tons of great prizes and holiday ideas!
The holidays are fully upon us, and we all know that December can be a crazy time for families! Parents have work party commitments, friends they’d like to see, and extended family get-togethers. Kids have school parties, extracurricular activities, and church programs. Volunteer efforts abound. And all around us is the pressure to create the “Perfect Holiday”.
While the most renewing part of this season is the time spent with family and those we love, by the time we show up we’re exhausted from cooking, buying, wrapping, etc. So I’ve compiled some wonderful tips and tricks for how to Simplify the Holidays from myself and some of my fellow romance authors! I hope one of these little nuggets of wisdom from women who struggle with the same balance of time and obligations that we all have will make your holiday season just a little bit easier!
Share your own tip in the comments for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card as a little reward for all your hard work!*
SHOPPING & PRESENTS:
From Laurie Kellogg, author of the sexy, sassy holiday story No Exchanges, No Returns
I believe families bond over shared experiences, not exchanging THINGS. This gift can be a little pricier, but it's worth the extra cost. To simplify holiday shopping, find an event or activity (play, circus, ice show, concert / bowling, skiing, rollerskating, movie, etc) that the entire family will enjoy and give everyone a ticket to attend as a group. If you can afford to be really extravagant plan a shared vacation. I like to attach each ticket or invitation to a favorite snack or treat to personalize the gift. (It's only one trip to the grocery story, but you have to KNOW what each family member's guilty pleasure is). If you use tissue paper and small gift bags, your shopping is done for the entire family in less than two hours.
From Betty Bolte, author of the combination YA historical fiction and biography Hometown Heroines (True Stories of Bravery, Daring, and Adventure)
Years ago, after one memorable year trying to stuff all the presents into the trunk of the car so we could make the trip home from grandparents’ house, we started including family activities in lieu of so many “things” under the tree. So we go to see the Galaxy of Lights then go to a nice restaurant for dinner. We also try to go to a Christmas concert – at the university or a professional production – this year we’re seeing the Celtic Woman Christmas performance. This way we’re creating memories rather than filling up the house with objects, which means less time spent shopping and wrapping and more time together as a family.
From Vivi Andrews, author of the paranormal romance Finder’s Keeper
If you have a big family (like mine), consider a Secret Santa or White Elephant Gift Exchange to avoid breaking the bank while still having fun and celebrating the season. And if your family is spread out all across the world (also like mine) and shipping costs are getting out of control, you might want to try what we do - ask for volunteers to be "designated shopper" in each city (continent, whatever works for you). That shopper buys and wraps the presents locally (with consultation and reimbursement from the gift giver). The giver saves on time and shipping, while the shopper gets the fun of a gift shopping binge with someone else footing the bill. ;) We started this when my grandparents began having trouble handling the malls during the season and it has snowballed to be a family-wide phenomenon.
From author Marilyn Puett
I shop all year long and keep track of it with a list. I made a Word document with a table with three columns: Name, Gift, Bought. I list all the folks for whom I need to buy a gift and print off the document. I may pencil in gift ideas for some folks. Then during the year when I see things on sale or see the perfect item in a mail-order catalog or online, I get it, mark what it is in the Gift column, put a check mark in the Bought column and put the item on a special shelf in the closet. This year the bulk of my shopping was done by the end of October. I actually bought two gifts in November of LAST year. I saw them in a catalog, thought they would be perfect for my brother-in-law and nephew and went ahead and bought them because I was afraid they wouldn’t be available this year (they are, but they’re more expensive – WIN!). Once all the shopping is done, I type all the info into the list and save it on my hard drive. I have
lists going back quite a few years. This way Uncle So-and-So doesn’t get flannel lounge pants three years in a row. And I’m spared the stress of shopping at the last minute in all the crowds. I have to mail gifts to a lot of my family so the early shopping means I can also beat the long lines at the post office.
When I moved in October, 2009, a friend helped me pack. She saw a box in my closet marked “Playfriends’ Christmas Gifts” and said, “Really?” All I could do was nod and smile. I didn’t tell her they’d been in that box for several months. Now she’ll know. <G>
From author Jannette Spann
We have tall men in our family, 6 ft. 1 to 6 ft 7. I carry a card with their sizes in my purse year round, along with a tape measure. I don't dare depend on manufacturers tags to get the sizes right. I measure for myself. It saves time on returns.
FOOD:
From Tamara Hogan, author of the paranormal romance Chase Me
My tip has to do with COOKIES. A good friend and I get together for a full day in early December and bake holiday cookies together. We choose three recipes each, and at the end of a day spent cooking, gossiping and generally catching up, we have six kinds of cookies to to divide between us. With a beautiful collection of cookies already made, it's a simple matter to arrange a pretty plate for the neighbors, or to bring to an impromptu holiday gathering.
This sounds great, Tamara! My sister and I have done this a couple of times, not just with cookies but with pumpkin bread, chocolate covered pretzels, etc. Then we can split them into holiday containers to give out. Much more fun than cooking all day alone!
From Andrea Laurence, author of the paranormal romance Sexy as Hell
When Christmas comes around, a lot of people like to bake cookies and make candy. Unfortunately, the time is tighter that month than in any other and pre-made dough can be pretty pricy (and not that tasty, if you ask me). Save yourself time and money by making your own cookie dough ahead of time. You can probably start as early as October if you need to. It usually only takes about fifteen minutes to make a batch of cookie dough, so when you get a chance to make it, get out a cookie sheet and scoop balls of dough onto it. Stick it in the freezer for a couple hours. Once they’re frozen, you can put the dough balls in a large ziplock bag. The dough won’t stick together because it was pre-frozen. Put it back in the freezer until you’re ready to bake. Make another batch of cookie dough whenever you can and do the same. When you have the time or the need to bake, just pull out the bag and pop as many as you need into the oven. It may only require an additional minute or so of bake time from frozen. Watch your first batch’s progress and adjust accordingly.
Great idea, Andrea! This could also be done now on a weeknight, then frozen and baked later for a weekend party.
From Dani Wade, author of the contemporary romantic suspense Snow Bound
This is a combined food + present idea, but when I make up lots of food gifts, I like to use some of them for Teachers Gifts. Instead of waiting until the last day of school, I go ahead and send them with my children the next day. That way, I know teachers’ gifts are taken care of, the food is still fresh, and its one less thing my teachers have to carry home on the last day of school.
Consider making your family get-together less about meal preparation, and more about spending time together. Serve delivered pizza or have everyone bring a simple finger food, then enjoy an evening of games and conversation rather than clean-up.
One family I know makes their Christmas Eve get-together “Soup Night”. Each family brings a different soup, including several different chilis, potato soup, and beef stew. The great thing is, these can all be made in advance and frozen until the day before, then heated in crockpots. The hostess provides the “extras”, like cheese, crackers, croutons, etc. Very quick and easy!
DECORATING
From author Ella Sheridan
The past few Christmases, as my kids moved into their teenage years, have become increasingly busy. My family has simplified Christmas by going designer. What do I mean? Instead of hauling out the three tubs of family Christmas ornaments and home decor, we keep it simple and elegant: a real evergreen swag over the hearth, dotted with white candles, a real evergreen tree, decorated with 7-8 clumps of poinsettia, twigs, and feathers I save from year to year, and our nativity on the entertainment center. We can sit in the living area and enjoy Christmas without the hassle of having to work for hours to put it together or put everything away, and it looks like we spent a fortune when all we have to buy are the evergreens!
From Dani Wade
I recently received a tip from a friend when I was complaining about the hassle of decorating outside. She told me to simplify my decorations by choosing items that were easy to put out/take down and gave a lot of bang for their buck. No more ladders or hard-to-reach work. For instance, net lights for my bushes – lots of lights and all I have to do is throw them over the bush and plug in. A wreath on the door. Maybe a couple of lighted trees set on each side of the door. Voila! Done!
GET-TOGETHERS WITH FRIENDS
From Dani Wade
I don’t know about you, but I have lots of friends that I love to see over the holidays. But we all have very busy weekends that are already packed full. TWO possible solutions: 1) Get a big group of you all together on a weeknight at a restaurant. Then there’s no cooking/clean-up and fewer conflicts. 2) Put off the get-together until January, when schedules start to unwind. Christmas doesn’t only have to happen in December! Exchange gifts while you eat out, catch a movie, or whatever you had been wanting to do in December but didn’t have time for.
AND FINALLY…My Favorite
From Rita Henuber, author of the romantic thriller Under Fire: The Admiral
I suggest everyone stop listening to the media hype about what you should be doing to have a perfect holiday. There is no such animal. Relax. Hug your family. Do what makes you and your family happy. If you want Taco Bell, KFC, or Subway on paper plates for the family feast, DO IT! Think back to your most memorable Christmas as a child. Do you remember how perfect it was or something else? Admittedly, I am not the norm but I remember the Christmas my aunt’s furnace blew spewing oily back soot through the house and helping to clean up the mess. My husband remembers the year his flying squirrel got loose and took out the Christmas tree. I remember when my three year old son got loose at mass, crossed over the alter and went to sit in the life size nativity scene. My Midwest aunt kept her house at 89 degrees in the winter. At Christmas, my cousins and their families came in shorts and Hawaiian shirts. The pictures are hysterical.
Enjoy your day and hug your family – a lot.
So what steps do you take to Simplify Christmas? Comment for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card!
*Prizes must be claimed within 5 days of being notified you've won.
SHOPPING & PRESENTS:
From Laurie Kellogg, author of the sexy, sassy holiday story No Exchanges, No Returns
I believe families bond over shared experiences, not exchanging THINGS. This gift can be a little pricier, but it's worth the extra cost. To simplify holiday shopping, find an event or activity (play, circus, ice show, concert / bowling, skiing, rollerskating, movie, etc) that the entire family will enjoy and give everyone a ticket to attend as a group. If you can afford to be really extravagant plan a shared vacation. I like to attach each ticket or invitation to a favorite snack or treat to personalize the gift. (It's only one trip to the grocery story, but you have to KNOW what each family member's guilty pleasure is). If you use tissue paper and small gift bags, your shopping is done for the entire family in less than two hours.
From Betty Bolte, author of the combination YA historical fiction and biography Hometown Heroines (True Stories of Bravery, Daring, and Adventure)
Years ago, after one memorable year trying to stuff all the presents into the trunk of the car so we could make the trip home from grandparents’ house, we started including family activities in lieu of so many “things” under the tree. So we go to see the Galaxy of Lights then go to a nice restaurant for dinner. We also try to go to a Christmas concert – at the university or a professional production – this year we’re seeing the Celtic Woman Christmas performance. This way we’re creating memories rather than filling up the house with objects, which means less time spent shopping and wrapping and more time together as a family.
From Vivi Andrews, author of the paranormal romance Finder’s Keeper
If you have a big family (like mine), consider a Secret Santa or White Elephant Gift Exchange to avoid breaking the bank while still having fun and celebrating the season. And if your family is spread out all across the world (also like mine) and shipping costs are getting out of control, you might want to try what we do - ask for volunteers to be "designated shopper" in each city (continent, whatever works for you). That shopper buys and wraps the presents locally (with consultation and reimbursement from the gift giver). The giver saves on time and shipping, while the shopper gets the fun of a gift shopping binge with someone else footing the bill. ;) We started this when my grandparents began having trouble handling the malls during the season and it has snowballed to be a family-wide phenomenon.
From author Marilyn Puett
I shop all year long and keep track of it with a list. I made a Word document with a table with three columns: Name, Gift, Bought. I list all the folks for whom I need to buy a gift and print off the document. I may pencil in gift ideas for some folks. Then during the year when I see things on sale or see the perfect item in a mail-order catalog or online, I get it, mark what it is in the Gift column, put a check mark in the Bought column and put the item on a special shelf in the closet. This year the bulk of my shopping was done by the end of October. I actually bought two gifts in November of LAST year. I saw them in a catalog, thought they would be perfect for my brother-in-law and nephew and went ahead and bought them because I was afraid they wouldn’t be available this year (they are, but they’re more expensive – WIN!). Once all the shopping is done, I type all the info into the list and save it on my hard drive. I have
lists going back quite a few years. This way Uncle So-and-So doesn’t get flannel lounge pants three years in a row. And I’m spared the stress of shopping at the last minute in all the crowds. I have to mail gifts to a lot of my family so the early shopping means I can also beat the long lines at the post office.
When I moved in October, 2009, a friend helped me pack. She saw a box in my closet marked “Playfriends’ Christmas Gifts” and said, “Really?” All I could do was nod and smile. I didn’t tell her they’d been in that box for several months. Now she’ll know. <G>
From author Jannette Spann
We have tall men in our family, 6 ft. 1 to 6 ft 7. I carry a card with their sizes in my purse year round, along with a tape measure. I don't dare depend on manufacturers tags to get the sizes right. I measure for myself. It saves time on returns.
FOOD:
From Tamara Hogan, author of the paranormal romance Chase Me
My tip has to do with COOKIES. A good friend and I get together for a full day in early December and bake holiday cookies together. We choose three recipes each, and at the end of a day spent cooking, gossiping and generally catching up, we have six kinds of cookies to to divide between us. With a beautiful collection of cookies already made, it's a simple matter to arrange a pretty plate for the neighbors, or to bring to an impromptu holiday gathering.
This sounds great, Tamara! My sister and I have done this a couple of times, not just with cookies but with pumpkin bread, chocolate covered pretzels, etc. Then we can split them into holiday containers to give out. Much more fun than cooking all day alone!
From Andrea Laurence, author of the paranormal romance Sexy as Hell
When Christmas comes around, a lot of people like to bake cookies and make candy. Unfortunately, the time is tighter that month than in any other and pre-made dough can be pretty pricy (and not that tasty, if you ask me). Save yourself time and money by making your own cookie dough ahead of time. You can probably start as early as October if you need to. It usually only takes about fifteen minutes to make a batch of cookie dough, so when you get a chance to make it, get out a cookie sheet and scoop balls of dough onto it. Stick it in the freezer for a couple hours. Once they’re frozen, you can put the dough balls in a large ziplock bag. The dough won’t stick together because it was pre-frozen. Put it back in the freezer until you’re ready to bake. Make another batch of cookie dough whenever you can and do the same. When you have the time or the need to bake, just pull out the bag and pop as many as you need into the oven. It may only require an additional minute or so of bake time from frozen. Watch your first batch’s progress and adjust accordingly.
Great idea, Andrea! This could also be done now on a weeknight, then frozen and baked later for a weekend party.
From Dani Wade, author of the contemporary romantic suspense Snow Bound
This is a combined food + present idea, but when I make up lots of food gifts, I like to use some of them for Teachers Gifts. Instead of waiting until the last day of school, I go ahead and send them with my children the next day. That way, I know teachers’ gifts are taken care of, the food is still fresh, and its one less thing my teachers have to carry home on the last day of school.
Consider making your family get-together less about meal preparation, and more about spending time together. Serve delivered pizza or have everyone bring a simple finger food, then enjoy an evening of games and conversation rather than clean-up.
One family I know makes their Christmas Eve get-together “Soup Night”. Each family brings a different soup, including several different chilis, potato soup, and beef stew. The great thing is, these can all be made in advance and frozen until the day before, then heated in crockpots. The hostess provides the “extras”, like cheese, crackers, croutons, etc. Very quick and easy!
DECORATING
From author Ella Sheridan
The past few Christmases, as my kids moved into their teenage years, have become increasingly busy. My family has simplified Christmas by going designer. What do I mean? Instead of hauling out the three tubs of family Christmas ornaments and home decor, we keep it simple and elegant: a real evergreen swag over the hearth, dotted with white candles, a real evergreen tree, decorated with 7-8 clumps of poinsettia, twigs, and feathers I save from year to year, and our nativity on the entertainment center. We can sit in the living area and enjoy Christmas without the hassle of having to work for hours to put it together or put everything away, and it looks like we spent a fortune when all we have to buy are the evergreens!
From Dani Wade
I recently received a tip from a friend when I was complaining about the hassle of decorating outside. She told me to simplify my decorations by choosing items that were easy to put out/take down and gave a lot of bang for their buck. No more ladders or hard-to-reach work. For instance, net lights for my bushes – lots of lights and all I have to do is throw them over the bush and plug in. A wreath on the door. Maybe a couple of lighted trees set on each side of the door. Voila! Done!
GET-TOGETHERS WITH FRIENDS
From Dani Wade
I don’t know about you, but I have lots of friends that I love to see over the holidays. But we all have very busy weekends that are already packed full. TWO possible solutions: 1) Get a big group of you all together on a weeknight at a restaurant. Then there’s no cooking/clean-up and fewer conflicts. 2) Put off the get-together until January, when schedules start to unwind. Christmas doesn’t only have to happen in December! Exchange gifts while you eat out, catch a movie, or whatever you had been wanting to do in December but didn’t have time for.
AND FINALLY…My Favorite
From Rita Henuber, author of the romantic thriller Under Fire: The Admiral
I suggest everyone stop listening to the media hype about what you should be doing to have a perfect holiday. There is no such animal. Relax. Hug your family. Do what makes you and your family happy. If you want Taco Bell, KFC, or Subway on paper plates for the family feast, DO IT! Think back to your most memorable Christmas as a child. Do you remember how perfect it was or something else? Admittedly, I am not the norm but I remember the Christmas my aunt’s furnace blew spewing oily back soot through the house and helping to clean up the mess. My husband remembers the year his flying squirrel got loose and took out the Christmas tree. I remember when my three year old son got loose at mass, crossed over the alter and went to sit in the life size nativity scene. My Midwest aunt kept her house at 89 degrees in the winter. At Christmas, my cousins and their families came in shorts and Hawaiian shirts. The pictures are hysterical.
Enjoy your day and hug your family – a lot.
So what steps do you take to Simplify Christmas? Comment for a chance to win an Amazon or B&N gift card!
*Prizes must be claimed within 5 days of being notified you've won.
The past few weeks have been crazy! On top of my first book release, I've started a new day job that requires longer hours and no internet access (I'm definitely feeling the deprivation). As a wife, mother, and woman with a bazillion things that need to be done, I can relate with the need to juggle and make things work. We all have to do it. And when change comes into our lives, so do new coping strategies.
At least, I'm hoping they do! I've been trying out several different things, working to make everything run smoothly and also leave time for me to write and sleep and have some kind of a life. As we all know, there's never any definitive answers, and as soon as our families settle into a pattern something new usually comes along. But for now, here's a few goals that I'm aiming for every day:
1. Keep meals simple, utilize the crockpot often, and save the meal for the weekend if its going to take to long to prepare. Oh, and we're eating plenty of leftovers. I'm hoping if we have frozen foods once or twice a week, there won't be any lasting damage!
2. Use my lunch break to get in some writing or plotting, so that I've already started the process before I finally get to write at home. This usually nets me at least 500 words, and really rejuvenates me during the day. It also helps me feel like I'm accomplishing something on those nights when we have too many things going on and I have to hit the bed without writing.
3. Don't multitask. At least in terms of creativity and family. Now household chores, sure, it works great. But my creativity needs one-on-one time, and so does my family, even if its short bursts. That's a whole new way of thinking about things for me, and will take a little adjustment. Okay, a lot. :) I'm slow, but I eventually get there.
4. Take time for me. Just because life is busy, I work 2 jobs, and always seem to be behind on something, doesn't mean I don't deserve some free time now and again. In fact, I work better if I give myself a break. That's a hard 1 to remember, but it really is true! This might mean a nice, hot bath, or a couple of days to read a book.
As you know, I'm always open to suggestions! I'm still struggling to fit in exercise, keep up with the kids' school stuff, and keep the house clean (though I'm proud to say that we still wouldn't be shut down if the health inspector came, even if I haven't dusted in almost a month). Tell me, how do you do it all? What do you let slide? Where do you spend your time wisely?
Dani
[caption id="attachment_253" align="aligncenter" width="228"]
From My Family to Yours[/caption]
As an author, I'm on a slow learning curve when it comes to social media (blogging, Twitter, Facebook, etc) and how to use it to connect with readers, fellow authors, and industry professionals (and I truly mean connect, not bombard with promotional posts). I'm not the best at it, but I'm truly trying to figure some aspects of it out. I'm an introvert, but also enjoy social interaction. The perfectionist in me wants to do it RIGHT (or at least, not embarrass myself in public).
In my search to learn all I can, I've been reading a blog by Kristen Lamb that is absolutely invaluable in this area and many other aspects of a writer's journey. The post I'm sharing with you today is about rest. If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you might have seen that this is a problem area for me. I want to rest, but then I feel guilty about resting because I should be DOING something during that time. But Kristen discusses what I've long suspected and struggle to absorb: sometimes stopping to rest means farther progress in the long run.
Check it out!
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/add-word-count-why-dead-bodies-are-good-for-the-living/
Dani
From My Family to Yours[/caption]
As an author, I'm on a slow learning curve when it comes to social media (blogging, Twitter, Facebook, etc) and how to use it to connect with readers, fellow authors, and industry professionals (and I truly mean connect, not bombard with promotional posts). I'm not the best at it, but I'm truly trying to figure some aspects of it out. I'm an introvert, but also enjoy social interaction. The perfectionist in me wants to do it RIGHT (or at least, not embarrass myself in public).
In my search to learn all I can, I've been reading a blog by Kristen Lamb that is absolutely invaluable in this area and many other aspects of a writer's journey. The post I'm sharing with you today is about rest. If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you might have seen that this is a problem area for me. I want to rest, but then I feel guilty about resting because I should be DOING something during that time. But Kristen discusses what I've long suspected and struggle to absorb: sometimes stopping to rest means farther progress in the long run.
Check it out!
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/add-word-count-why-dead-bodies-are-good-for-the-living/
Dani SNOW BOUND BLOG TOUR
My wonderful Ruby Sisters are helping me celebrate the release of Snow Bound with a cool Q&A hosted by author Vivi Andrews. Check out my interview and comment for a chance to win one of 2 $5 Amazon gift cards!
www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com SNOW BOUND BLOG TOUR
Have you ever wished you could be snowed in with someone really special? I'm sharing my favorite snow bound memories today at author Delilah Devlin's blog! As always, there will be a giftie to win! Comment and you may just be chosen for Snow Bound prize, including hot chocolate, a lap blanket, and $5 gift card.
Please join me as I visit with Delilah and her readers at http://www.delilahdevlin.com/blog/ SNOW BOUND BLOG TOUR
Over the next few weeks, I'll be visiting various blogs to share different snippets and experiences of SNOW BOUND with readers. But I wanted to start off with something special on my own blog today: how SNOW BOUND came into being. This story is very special to me, and I want to share that with my very own readers here at home. I'd been having a particularly difficult time with my writing, a period of darkness as I dealt with questions like "What am I really doing?", "Am I just wasting my time?", "What direction do I really want to go in?". There were way more questions than answers, and discouragement had become a way of life. In search of encouragement, I went to close friend and Maven Linda Winstead Jones, pouring out my angst and frustration.
Linda had read my work before, both in the past and recently, and she coached me on a few areas, including characterization. But her biggest piece of advice to me was: go home and write something just for fun. Something you want to write because it excites you, interests you. I'd spend so much time writing to different lines that I'd forgotten what excited me about writing.
I didn't start that day, but over the next few weeks the idea started brewing. Before I knew it, Damon had started talking to me and I was exploring his pleasure-focused way of wandering through life. Who better to challenge him than the 1 woman he'd vowed to stay away from: a single Southern belle ripe for marriage. Only he didn't realize this was 1 woman who could take care of herself - in every way.
I had so much fun with them! Did it answer all my questions? Solve all my problems? No. But it taught me that I needed to enjoy what I was doing, to write something that excited ME, not just fit someone else's requirements. I hope I never forget that lesson!
So tell me, what's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
DON'T FORGET to comment on my Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop post (below) for a chance to win my fall goodies and an Amazon gift card, along with chances to win some big prizes like a Kindle! Chances to win end tonight!
SNOW BOUND
Available now through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Z1FCW6 ) and Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/251508 ) .
The last thing Damon West wants is a trip to his bookish neighbor’s house in the midst of the worst snowstorm Cadence, TN, has seen in a decade. Still, his military instincts warn him that Miss Priss could use a little help. His arrival is met with an attack by an unknown assailant and the sight of Miss Priss in a sexy wisp of nothing-much, confidently wielding a double-barreled shotgun.
Tori Anderson carefully portrays herself as a responsible bookstore owner and capable young woman to anyone willing to look twice. But two men grappling in her backyard called for speed more than decorum. That’s how the guy she’d been secretly lusting after since he’d bought the house next door sees her in a silky robe and panties—with nothing in between. Damon’s sudden interest thrills her, but she can’t help worrying about the unknown threat scared off by her shotgun blast.
Trapped in her house under several feet of snow with no way to reach the outside world, Tori finally has the chance to indulge her wildest fantasies. But she isn’t sure which is more daunting—the abusive boyfriend back to punish her or her desire to have more than one night with the town’s most unavailable bachelor.
Dani Wade Style!
Autumn is my favorite season, for more than the averages reasons. Yes, it’s cooler and at this stage of my life I have a deep appreciation for cooler temperatures. Yes, the turning and falling leaves are magical here in the southern US. Some of my favorite colors even make their appearance in fall – coppery orange, buttery yellow, rich burgundy, and chocolate brown.
But my favorite part of fall is the cooking! Hot soups on cool nights, dark rich hot chocolate, a crockpot of apple cider, and just about anything pumpkin. Here are a few of my favorite recipes to make your fall that much spicier!
QUICK & EASY APPLE CIDER
This hot, spicy drink is a must for every family gathering at our house from November 1st to February! I hope it spices up your get-togethers too!
64 oz apple juice
2-4 cups each of orange and pineapple juices (to your particular taste)
3 cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
2 allspice
Equipment: large crockpot, tea strainer ball
Combine all juices into crockpot. Drop cinnamon sticks into mixture. Place cloves and allspice into tea strainer ball and float in the liquid. Heat on high until juice comes to temperature then switch to low. Set out with plenty of cups and a ladle so guests can help themselves throughout the party.
PUMPKIN BREAD
(recipe courtesy of Emeril Legasse via FoodNetwork.com)
1 teaspoon butter
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup light brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup buttermilk
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Grease 9X5 loaf pan with butter or cooking spray. With an electric mixer, cream shortening and sugar until smooth. Sift flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in separate bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, to the creamed mixture. Add pumpkin puree and mix until smooth. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk.
Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes (should be golden brown) and a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool before serving. Can be served with cream cheese icing.
What's your favorite fall recipe? I'm always looking to add to my collection.
Commenters between now and Monday night will be entered to win my goodie package: Candles and Chocolate Kisses (including a Fall Festival candle, Godiva Chocolate Caramel Gems, and a $5 Amazon Gift card). Please include your email address in your comment!
Romance author Dani Wade writes sexy suspense novellas, the first of which was released in October 2012. She also writes sexy contemporaries for Harlequin Desire, where she will debut in August of 2013. You can see more about her books on the BOOKS page, including info on Snow Bound - her debut release.
What do you love about Autumn and Fall? What does it remind you of? What about reading? Do you think it's a good subject to read? Tell us your favorite Autumn stories! Well, we authors are ready to share our favorite Autumn stories and why we love snuggling in the cold. *wink* Starting on Friday and ending on Nov 12th, over 200 Authors and Bloggers will share their favorite things about those sexy men we know and love.
And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger. You can find a complete list of participating blogs at http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/ ! And don't forget to check back in on Tuesday to find out the winner!
But that's not all....
We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains 10+ paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
Thanks for participating.
Dani
I was privileged to have SNOW BOUND go live on Amazon last week, then Smashwords over the weekend. There were a lot of technical things for me to figure out (and I'm NOT technically minded, believe me), and blog posts for me to prepare for the next month. I chose to go ahead and get those ready, because I start a new full time job next week. Learning new people and a new computer system, I have no idea what level my creative brain will be functioning at next week.
Full time work (and somehow I never get the jobs that have lots of downtime), a family, activities at 2 different schools, writing and publishing -- life is filled to overflowing. I'd love to say I stay on top of everything, know exactly when each child needs to arrive at their special events, remember which day I have guest posts, and when edits are due, but I can't. Other people find me to be very organized, but they simply can't see the little man behind the curtain. :)
The main way I keep up with the bazillion things that happen every week of our lives is my trusty Day Planner. Some years its a more expensive, involved planner; sometimes I go for the basic model. This year it was the latter. I looked several places but found a basic model at the Big Lots store for cheap and snatched it up. Now I don't like small spaces on the page, because my writing is quiet large, but in this case I convinced myself it worked. You see, I'm going to have less time than I used too. Less space = fewer notes. I say its a sign, because I truly won't have enough time nor energy to have a jam-packed day when I come home.
I also keep a list that I call the Mind-Boggling To Do List. This list never ends (as work never ends for parents, I'm sure you'll agree). I simply check off when something is done, and add when something else comes to mind. Now, this might appear to add stress, but actually it relieves it. By getting things that I need to remember on the page, I have confidence that I won't forget them now or in the future. I simply have to look at the list. I can actually "forget" it. :)
So I'm hanging on this week with my Day Planner and Mind-Boggling To Do List. What tools do you use to keep your chaos under control?
SNOW BOUND RELEASE DAY!
My awesome friends at The Writing Playground are hosting me today for my Debut Release! Snow Bound, my sexy suspense novella, is now available from Amazon. I'd love for you to join me as I blog about exciting firsts! And there will be a giftie up for grabs! Comment for a chance to win a $5 amazon gift card, Fall Festival candle, and Godiva chocolate gems. Yum!
And if you'd like a chance to see my inspiration for hottie hero Damon West of Snow Bound, I've got pictures up at my critique partner Ella Sheridan's website, The Mutual Admiration Society, for Foto Friday. Double yum!