We’re working hard to slim down before RWA Nationals in July through healthy eating, exercise, sharing information, and accountability. Join us any time along the way, introduce yourself and post goals, or just contribute to the conversation! We’re here to share!
Welcome Ella Sheridan, who is sharing with us about rewarding ourselves this week!
When B. F. Skinner coined the term “operant conditioning,” we finally had a scientific name for a concept that has been around since the beginning of time: our behavior is modified by its consequences. Call it reward and punishment, reinforce and punisher, whatever; the truth is, rewards make us do more of an action and punishments make us do less. When it comes to losing weight, rewards are key.
I used to reward myself with food—stupid, I know. I’m trying to get away from food, not use it to feed my addiction. Now I give myself a free meal once a week, including dessert, not because I need a reward but because I understand that deprivation leads to bingeing. If I don’t allow myself to have something on a limited schedule, I’m guaranteed to break at some point and gorge myself on all the things I keep away from myself the rest of the time. That’s a safety net, not a reward.
So what do I reward myself with? Some of you have heard me talk about gold stars. I decided I needed immediate feedback on my daily efforts. I couldn’t reward myself with food, so what did I use? Well, I took a page out of my childhood book and put a gold start beside every day on my food diary where I have fulfilled ALL of my goals for that day. When I get seven of those stars, I give myself a non-food-related treat. A new shirt. An album off iTunes. A trip to the dollar movie theater. I’m not certain it matters what you reward yourself with as long as it makes you feel good. Make yourself a list; check it when you are doing well and boost that good feeling with some positive reinforcement.
I also give myself a number-related reward. Every five pounds. Every ten pounds. Every two pounds, doesn’t matter as long as you have a set schedule and stick to it. Knowing when you hit that five-pound mark and you get that new pair of jeans to replace the ones that are too big for you right now might just be the incentive you need to get through the week of hormone-related, I-can’t-get-enough-chocolate-to-save-my-life cravings from he**. My next incentive, when I hit the ten-pound loss mark, is a new bra and panty set from Soma. It’s been so long since I felt beautiful in my underwear, none of which is pretty. I can’t wait to go pick out something I can enjoy every time I put clothes over it—or when I take them off. c;
Challenge: So what’s your reward list? How often do you reward yourself? Do you need to do it more often? Let’s throw out some ideas to help each other build our list of “operant conditioning reinforcers”—and yes, cabana boys and chocolates count, if they’re real, not virtual (Bonnie! c;).
I remembered something about myself tonight. I' m a perfectionist.
Shocking, I know. But I've really struggled over the past few days with a synopsis for my editor. Tonight I wasn't feeling well, was trying to finish the synopsis and send it off, trying to bolster my sinking writer's self-confidence, and it hit me -- I don't have my blog post up for tomorrow. Maybe we could skip just one week? Oh, heaven forbid!!! My perfectionist tendencies kicked in. I certainly could not do that.
Looking back over the last week, I've felt the same way in another area: my diet. I haven't done it perfectly, so I've been very down on myself. Exercise is going well, but I haven't followed my diet to the letter. So of course nothing is working. Of course I feel fat. Of course I'm depressed.
Because I'm not perfect. Hello! We're not supposed to be.
Yes, I can try harder. But I also think this perfectionist thing hurts me. You see, if I can't do something perfectly, why do it? It's a lot easier to just give up. :) So this week I'm going to focus on 1 meal at a time, and stop beating myself up over every little mistake.
Challenge: Are you a perfectionist? Or are you more flexible? How do your personality traits hinder or help your weight loss goals?
Check in today and let us know how you're doing!
Dani (who promises to turn on the comments this week so Ella doesn't panic!!!)
We’re working hard to slim down before RWA Nationals in July through healthy eating, exercise, sharing information, and accountability. Join us any time along the way, introduce yourself and post goals, or just contribute to the conversation! We’re here to share!
Today I have the privilege of hosting my own sister, Ella Sheridan, as she shares some motivation from her own journey!
Don't Wish For It; Work For It.
Over the past few months, this has become my mantra. I’ve spent a lot of the last thirty or so years wishing my weight was something it wasn’t, wishing my body was different, wishing everything I wanted wasn’t so hard. And you know what? Wishing got me exactly what I put into it: almost nothing.
About two years ago, I tore my rotator cuff in my right shoulder during karate training. It was an accident brought on totally by me, not my partner (I turned the wrong way during a throw). I went to the doctor, went through physical therapy, but the injury never truly healed. Finally, last November, my husband and I decided enough was enough and I went back to the orthopedist, who scheduled me for surgery. The week before Christmas, I was under the knife with a minimum four-month recovery period ahead of me.
Yeah, not an easy task.
Here’s the thing: shoulders rotate more than any joint in the body. Can you imagine how hard it is to function when that rotation is now severely limited by ultratight screws, ties, and anchors? Very hard. I was unable to do any cardio exercise for around two months because the jarring hurt so badly, but I came out of therapy three times a week sweating like a dog and crying because it hurt so horribly just to stretch. I had to do it, though; there was no other choice, not if I wanted to heal and heal right.
As time went on, the therapists and I noticed something that frustrated us both. I couldn’t relax enough to let them take me from mostly healed to completely healed. I didn’t trust them enough not to hurt me beyond what I could bear, and so they could only push me so far. (Honestly, they told me just about every session that they’d never had a patient with such horrible trust issues, lol.) To get beyond where they could take me, I had to do it; if I ever wanted full function of my shoulder again, I had to be the one to push myself, not them. Considering I’m a black-belt karate instructor and need full function to continue teaching, wishing and not working was not an option.
So I did the work.
Every day, my shoulder gets stronger. It might be months before I have complete rotational ability again, but I will get there. And it might be months before I arrive at a good, stable, healthy weight for me, but I will get there. I’m now willing to do the work, not just wish the work was done and I looked the way I want to. We all have to be willing to do the work to be healthy, happy writers. That means overcoming obstacles, sacrificing what we need to sacrifice, refusing to accept our own excuses, and committing to long-term diligence, not just this day or this week or this month.
We have. To do. The work.
Will I ever be skinny? No. Will that wish I had as a teenager of being like all the other thin girls who never have to worry about what they eat ever come true? No. But I can and will be healthy. I can and will be the best I can be in the body God gave me. I can and will…if I do the work.
Challenge: Where could you put more effort into your workouts? Eating habits? Stress relief? Share with us today!
Today I have the privilege of hosting my own sister, Ella Sheridan, as she shares some motivation from her own journey!
Don't Wish For It; Work For It.
Over the past few months, this has become my mantra. I’ve spent a lot of the last thirty or so years wishing my weight was something it wasn’t, wishing my body was different, wishing everything I wanted wasn’t so hard. And you know what? Wishing got me exactly what I put into it: almost nothing.
About two years ago, I tore my rotator cuff in my right shoulder during karate training. It was an accident brought on totally by me, not my partner (I turned the wrong way during a throw). I went to the doctor, went through physical therapy, but the injury never truly healed. Finally, last November, my husband and I decided enough was enough and I went back to the orthopedist, who scheduled me for surgery. The week before Christmas, I was under the knife with a minimum four-month recovery period ahead of me.
Yeah, not an easy task.
Here’s the thing: shoulders rotate more than any joint in the body. Can you imagine how hard it is to function when that rotation is now severely limited by ultratight screws, ties, and anchors? Very hard. I was unable to do any cardio exercise for around two months because the jarring hurt so badly, but I came out of therapy three times a week sweating like a dog and crying because it hurt so horribly just to stretch. I had to do it, though; there was no other choice, not if I wanted to heal and heal right.
As time went on, the therapists and I noticed something that frustrated us both. I couldn’t relax enough to let them take me from mostly healed to completely healed. I didn’t trust them enough not to hurt me beyond what I could bear, and so they could only push me so far. (Honestly, they told me just about every session that they’d never had a patient with such horrible trust issues, lol.) To get beyond where they could take me, I had to do it; if I ever wanted full function of my shoulder again, I had to be the one to push myself, not them. Considering I’m a black-belt karate instructor and need full function to continue teaching, wishing and not working was not an option.
So I did the work.
Every day, my shoulder gets stronger. It might be months before I have complete rotational ability again, but I will get there. And it might be months before I arrive at a good, stable, healthy weight for me, but I will get there. I’m now willing to do the work, not just wish the work was done and I looked the way I want to. We all have to be willing to do the work to be healthy, happy writers. That means overcoming obstacles, sacrificing what we need to sacrifice, refusing to accept our own excuses, and committing to long-term diligence, not just this day or this week or this month.
We have. To do. The work.
Will I ever be skinny? No. Will that wish I had as a teenager of being like all the other thin girls who never have to worry about what they eat ever come true? No. But I can and will be healthy. I can and will be the best I can be in the body God gave me. I can and will…if I do the work.
Challenge: Where could you put more effort into your workouts? Eating habits? Stress relief? Share with us today!
We’re working hard to slim down before RWA Nationals in July through healthy eating, exercise, sharing information, and accountability. Join us any time along the way, introduce yourself and post goals, or just contribute to the conversation! We’re here to share!
The biggest challenge in getting healthy, for me, is Mindset. It’s too easy to tell myself, Well, this once it won’t hurt to… One little cookie won’t make that much of a difference… Missing exercise just this once isn’t a big deal… But I feed myself these excuses again and again.
I let myself get away with things I shouldn’t because I won’t tell myself “No. You can’t have that (or that much).” My internal dialogue needs some serious adjusting.
I don’t think switching to all negative self-talk and beating myself up will help, but a gentle reminder of what I have to gain through self-restraint or continuing to work hard would go a long way towards changing my outlook and helping me confront temptation head on.
So I’m making a list of reminders to guide me until I can maintain a different internal dialogue. It needs to become second nature. So here are some ideas for more positive internal dialogue:
Food:
“Eating that will not make you feel better.”
“Your health is extremely important. Is eating this going to help you reach your health goals?”
The occasional “Not having that cake (cookies, etc) won’t kill you,” probably wouldn’t hurt either.
Exercise:
“Remember how good it feels to workout on the elliptical?”
“Exercising will help your body regulate your insulin and sugar better.”
“Moving will lift your mood.”
“Remember how the story ideas flow when you work out and crank up the music?”
General
“Being here for my family is more important than this moment.”
“I can write better and longer when I feel better physically.”
CHALLENGE: What are some positive internal thoughts that would help us reach our goals?
Share Your Progress! (even if the #s haven’t changed, we still have lots to celebrate)
Dani
Crock Pot Cooking, Part 1 -- Party Food!
December tends to be full of parties and potlucks where the obligatory dish must be provided. Then there’s the issue of having food that tastes better warm, but goes cold while its on the buffet. The answer: Crock Pot!
I have to admit I’ve fallen in love with mine since going back to work. Add in the new slow cooker bags and clean-up is as easy as a wipe down.
So in hopes of making your holiday parties easy AND enjoyable, I’m sharing a few recipes with you today.
Cheese Dip
1 block Queso Blanco Velveeta cheese
1 pound hamburger meat, browned and drained
1 can green chilies, drain most of the juice out
Chop the cheese into smaller squares and melt in the microwave. Add all ingredients to the crockpot and mix well. Serve with tortilla chips.
Barbequed Smokies
2 packages Little Smokies, favorite brand
1 bottle barbeque sauce, favorite brand
These are super easy and will keep all day! Just dump both ingredients into the crockpot and simmer until the smokies plump up.
Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
2 bags frozen meatballs
20 ounces ketchup
¾ large jar of grape jelly
3 heavy dashes of Red Hot sauce
Thaw meatballs in the microwave. Whisk the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl (jelly will still be a little lumpy). Put meatballs in the crockpot, set to high if you’re in a hurry or low if you have plenty of time. Pour the sauce over the top. Let simmer until heated thoroughly. (or if you prefer traditional meatballs, just cover with your favorite spaghetti sauce)
And don’t forget my quick Apple Cider recipe at http://daniwade.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/autumns-harvest-blog-hop/
So share your quick and easy party recipes with us today! Or your favorite party eats! :)
One lucky commenter will win a prize pack from yours truly, including a $5 Amazon gift card.* Comment with your email address to qualify!
It's a Happy Holiday from your favorite Authors and Bloggers. While we know everyone celebrates a different way, we wanted to make sure that you guys knew how much we treasure you all. So from Dec 14th to Dec 17th, all 200 or so of us will be blogging about the holidays and what they mean to us. We may talk about our favorite holiday traditions, recipes, gifts, reads, heroes, and so much more. We want to hear about what you do for the holidays, what you read, and who you'll spend it with. We hope to see you here and happy hopping!
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.
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!
December tends to be full of parties and potlucks where the obligatory dish must be provided. Then there’s the issue of having food that tastes better warm, but goes cold while its on the buffet. The answer: Crock Pot!
I have to admit I’ve fallen in love with mine since going back to work. Add in the new slow cooker bags and clean-up is as easy as a wipe down.
So in hopes of making your holiday parties easy AND enjoyable, I’m sharing a few recipes with you today.
Cheese Dip
1 block Queso Blanco Velveeta cheese
1 pound hamburger meat, browned and drained
1 can green chilies, drain most of the juice out
Chop the cheese into smaller squares and melt in the microwave. Add all ingredients to the crockpot and mix well. Serve with tortilla chips.
Barbequed Smokies
2 packages Little Smokies, favorite brand
1 bottle barbeque sauce, favorite brand
These are super easy and will keep all day! Just dump both ingredients into the crockpot and simmer until the smokies plump up.
Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
2 bags frozen meatballs
20 ounces ketchup
¾ large jar of grape jelly
3 heavy dashes of Red Hot sauce
Thaw meatballs in the microwave. Whisk the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl (jelly will still be a little lumpy). Put meatballs in the crockpot, set to high if you’re in a hurry or low if you have plenty of time. Pour the sauce over the top. Let simmer until heated thoroughly. (or if you prefer traditional meatballs, just cover with your favorite spaghetti sauce)
And don’t forget my quick Apple Cider recipe at http://daniwade.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/autumns-harvest-blog-hop/
So share your quick and easy party recipes with us today! Or your favorite party eats! :)
One lucky commenter will win a prize pack from yours truly, including a $5 Amazon gift card.* Comment with your email address to qualify!
It's a Happy Holiday from your favorite Authors and Bloggers. While we know everyone celebrates a different way, we wanted to make sure that you guys knew how much we treasure you all. So from Dec 14th to Dec 17th, all 200 or so of us will be blogging about the holidays and what they mean to us. We may talk about our favorite holiday traditions, recipes, gifts, reads, heroes, and so much more. We want to hear about what you do for the holidays, what you read, and who you'll spend it with. We hope to see you here and happy hopping!
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.
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 $200 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
*Winner from Dani Wade blog must claim gift within 5 days of being notified they've won.
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
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