Sunday, December 27, 2015

A Year in Review

This is the last week of 2015, and so I thought I’d reflect on my resolutions for the year. As I reread some of my posts from January, I see that I had a lot of goals, which is great. It is always good to have aspirations. But as I review those goals I realize that for many of them I have fallen short of the goal line. We won’t even focus on the ubiquitous weight loss goal. Let’s just say that I’m still a work in progress. But you’ll be happy to know that I’ve bought not one, but two Beachbody exercise programs to whip me into shape for 2016. I know, I know, but hope always springs eternal. Now onto writing, I thought I’d be done with writing Eli and Mia’s story, but I’m not. Life got in the way, as did laziness, if I’m being perfectly honest. My new goal is to have it finished and ready to send out to a publisher by June. My writing group helped me to work out some of the kinks, and I hope the new direction will make for a better story. As for my western, my plan was to edit it throughout the year. Sadly, I’ve not really looked at it. I think part of the problem is that I’m focusing on its flaws instead of its great potential. Maybe in 2016 give it another chance and fall in love with it again. My last resolution was writing this blog. I had committed to posting every week about things I loved, be they about the written word or not. I’m thrilled to write that I was mostly successful. There were only two weeks that I failed to create a post. Now that I’m at the end of this journey, I wish I had been able to report back that I had posted every week. Not that it had been always easy. There weeks I wracked my brain trying to come up with a topic, other weeks ideas were rushing at me. However, without knowing that I had made a commitment to my readers, I don’t think I would have been as determined to blog every week (almost). I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have had in writing it. See you next year! Oh, and long live resolutions!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Things to Love about Christmas

Christmas is almost here and though it isn’t my favorite holiday (that distinction belongs to Thanksgiving) there are still plenty of things that I love about the holiday season. I love getting Christmas cards, smelling my tree after a long day, and getting gifts doesn’t suck either. Here are the three things I love most about Christmas. I absolutely adore Advent calendars. I’d never even heard of them before going to college. Then during my freshman year, my French roommate got a care package from Paris. I can’t remember all of the goodies she received, but I do remember being entranced by her colorfully decorated paper and cardboard calendar. I was absolutely charmed as she got a chocolate treat as she did a daily countdown to Christmas. I wanted a calendar so bad. Now I have an Advent Calendar of my own and my honey leaves treats for me to find every day. I love me some Donnie Hathaway, Mariah Carey and Darlene Love and I love them even more when they are crooning their Christmas hits. But, as much as I love secular Christmas songs, my absolute favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. After Thanksgiving I hear it all the time over the radio and in movies, but when I was young the only place I had heard O Holy Night was in my church. It was sung by my mother. I’d be so proud hearing her beautiful voice singing words of love for the Christ child and giving justice to the author’s words. Now when I listen to it, it reminds me of my mother as much as it reminds me of Jesus’ birth. Lastly, yall know I love movies and television right? So I think it is fitting that my third most favorite thing about Christmas is a movie that got famous from being on television all of the time. No, not A Christmas Story, (though I do love that movie), but It’s a Wonderful Life. How can you not love George Bailey’s story of sacrifice, family, dreams deferred and friendship? My honey has never seen the movie and I’ve just bet her that she can’t sit through it without crying. I know that George, ZuZu and Clarence will move her and make her appreciate life and the Christmas season as much as it has made me appreciate them. And yes, I cry every time I watch it. I hope that for this Christmas you get a chance to enjoy all of the things that make the holiday special for you. From the bottom of my heart, have a very merry Christmas and an amazing New Year!

Sunday, December 13, 2015

My Favorite Contemporary Romances

A few posts ago I created a list of my ten favorite historical romances. Today I thought I’d share a list of my favorite contemporary romances. This list was definitely harder to create than the earlier one, probably because I’ve been reading historicals for almost 30 years compared to just 10 years for contemporaries. In no particular order, I bring you my favorite contemporary romances. • Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E. L. James. Okay, this is actually my favorite one. What can I say, I’d love to have Christian Grey served up on a platter. Preferably naked and as neurotic as he wants to be. • Breaking the Silence by Katie Allen. I love me some alphas and anti-heroes. But the hero in this book is a sweet, hot beta boy that just steals your heart. • Josh and Hannah by Lynda Chance. I don’t read a lot of YA or NA but Lynda Chance writes one hell of a dominant alpha hero even if he’s still in high school. • Knight by Kristen Ashley. When you don’t want to read about a bad boy, but are craving a bad man, then Knight is the one for you. This might have been the first time I’ve ever had to question my morals because of a romance. Read it and see if you will too. • Twist Me trilogy by Anna Zaires. If you love a capture romance, if you love a sociopath for a hero and all kinds of violence then this one is for you. Trust me, you’ll love it (or hate it ) • Willing Victim by Cara McKenna—this one is an honorable mention. Unfortunately the book ends just when the romance really begins, but it is so hot, is about such a taboo topic and is written so well that I couldn’t help but add it to the list.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Sexiest Lap Dance Ever


I don't know what it is about this scene that I love so much. It could be because I love watching lap dances, or because Tarantino truly understands the sensuality of the everyday (can you say flip flops?). Or maybe it is the dancer's slight pooch peaking out of her t-shirt. All I know is this scene makes me fan myself every time I see it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.