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!

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.

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.

Love of the Dance

My friend Vincent surprised me with tickets to the Nutcracker this weekend and I loved it. This was the third time I’d seen the show but probably the first time I truly enjoyed it. To be fair, I was a kid the other times and I have never enjoyed wordless entertainment. Also, I think I appreciated it more because I too am a dancer. My mother put me in dance classes when I was five because she thought the exercise would solve the problem of my skinny legs. She was wrong, but my love of dance was born. I’ve danced in recitals and later in life in clubs. However, my appreciation of dance and dancers didn’t really come to life until I had to entertain an audience. I know what it feels like to worry about my wig being on straight or if my moves are on point. I know the exhaustion and the exhilaration of being on stage and figuring out when I can take a potty break while still in costume. There’s a lot you have to do to present perfection for an audience. Too many times dancers don’t get credit for all they do and all they inspire. The Nutcracker has reminded me that no matter its form, dance speaks to something in my soul. To be able to express oneself with arms and legs and facial expressions is a gift that I don’t want to take for granted. And I certainly don’t want to take it for granted in other dancers. Thank you Nutcracker for bringing me so much joy. What a way to start off the holiday season!

Happy Thanksgiving Yall!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, hands down. You’d think it was Halloween since it is my birthday and I love ghosts, or the Fourth of the July for the fireworks and barbeque or even Christmas with all of the pageantry that comes along with it. But none of them can hold a candle to Thanksgiving in my heart. The simplicity of breaking bread with those you love, appeals to me. It warms my heart that as a nation we have this one meal in common. I adore the idea of someone spending hours slaving in the kitchen to create a perfect meal for those dear to them. I love the fact that we focus on what we are thankful for and that there are no presents to take the focus off friends and family. Heck, I love the food! I hope this Thanksgiving you have the chance to spend it with someone you love and that you have something for which to give thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!

I am a Writer

Those of you who read this blog know that many times I use this blog to make confessions. So here goes another, I haven’t been writing consistently for a while. Like a long while. And when I say consistently, I mean hardly ever. Yup, I’ve been committing the sin of being a writer who doesn’t write. I don’t think it is because I don’t like my work in progress or because I don’t have the time. It is just so hard dang it. I was supposed to have completed my rough draft by the end of the summer. It is now mid-November and I’m still far far away from that goal. Rats. Most days I come home from work and all I want to do is lay in my Lazy Boy, watch some TV and read a good book (oh the irony I know). On the weekends I’ll think about my book , think about writing my book and before I know it, Sunday night has rolled around and all I’m doing is dreading the beginning of another work week—it has been one of those years. Going to my romance writers’ meetings are very inspirational and tend to light a fire under me, sadly the fire tends to die out by the end of that day. But I became inspired at my last meeting. I knew that NaNoWriMo was coming up and I wanted to participate, so I set that as my goal at the meeting. No, I’m not writing non-stop for hours every day, but I have committed to writing every day from October 24 until November 30. Let me tell you, it hasn’t been easy. I’ve battled tiredness, frustration, a weekend get-away, my birthday and a court summons. And yet I’ve kept my commitment to myself. Many days I only write three sentences (the minimum I’ve committed to) and sometimes I’ve written pages but through it all this experiment has reminded me that in order to be a writer I must write. After posting this blog I’ll be off to put in my pages for the day. My name is Mila; I am a writer, so I must write.

Happy Anniversary The Love She Wants!

It is the first year anniversary of The Love She Wants. I thought in celebration I'd post the scene from Moulin Rouge that helped inspire the tango scenes. I hope you enjoy!