Last Friday of 2011

Sitting here going over plans for the next year and wondering if I have totally lost all sense of reality. For comparision I looked back over my goals for 2011 and found that I accompished quite a few of them, but far from all.

If I had to choose something that surprised me this year it would be my novells A Damsel Without A Dress winning a Bookie Award at Author's After Dark Conference in Philly. 

I'm also happy to say that in December I had my 15th title released. It only took 3 years to reach that goal. I also managed to master Facebok and Twitter. Maybe I'll get this blog under control by the end of 2012.



Vanessa "The Jeep Diva"



Joy from Joyfully Reviewed



I attended 2 reader conferences giving me the honor of meeting some amazing authors, and wonderful bloggers.





Matt and Rebecca Sawyer
at
Author's After Dark in Philly



Some Siren Publishing Authors at
Lori Foster Reader Get Together



I had so much fun. The different parties, events, and panels were amazing.



Over the last twelve months a read some great books too.

                                               Melissa Schroeder's A Little Harmeless Sex,

Karen Hawkins  Scandal In Scotland,

Sabrina Jeffries How To Woo A Reluctant Lady,

and Erin Kellison's Shadow Bound were just a few of my favorites.

Next years schedule is jam packed full of work, fun (I hope), and lots of reading. Here's hoping everyone accomplishes everything they want in the next year.

Tasty Tuesday: Christmas Eve Dinner

This year my family is getting together at my mother's house for a little Christmas Eve dinner. Well really there's nothing little when my big family gets together. So Saturday I will be making 2 huge lasagnas, a pan of chicken broccoli Alfredo, and a pan of linguine Carbonara. I'll also, with my nieces help, be making mini-pigs in a blanket. Now the question is what's for dessert?

What are you having?

Thursday Thirteen: Christmas Likes (and contest)

I decided to spend this Thursday thinking about all the things I like about Christmas.
 
 

1.) Holiday Contest. I'm have a great giveaway HERE check it out!

 

 

2.) Other author's Holiday Contest. Adele Quinn is holding a contest to celebrate the Holidays and her debut release Hands On with Secret Cravings Publishing. Check it out HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My daughters Zombie Gingerbread man

3.) Gingerbread men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.) Christmas Carols. Especially when sung by Michael Buble

5.) The tree.

6.) Christmas cartoons. Who doesn't like Rudolph and Frosty?

 

7.) The movie White Christmas.

 

8.) Wrapping paper. Hey, don't laugh. It's shiny and colorful.

 

 

 

 

 

9.) Christmas books. I did one a few years ago. 8 Ways Onto The Naughty List.

 

10.) Cookies.

 

11.) Christmas Lights.

 

12.) Spending time with my hubby and family. This weekend we'll be decorating gingerbread houses, and making crafts for the tree with my sister and her kids.

 

13.) The best thing about Christmas is that my kids are finally old enough that I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn. I'm guessing they'll make it until nine before they wake up.

 

 
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Check This Out

A fellow author friend of mine is also doing a Holiday giveaway. Head on over to her blog and see what it's about.


Adele Quinn's giveaway

Christmas Contest

The holidays are here. To celebrate I'm doing a little giveaway, well two actually.

Are you spoiling everyone else this season ? Why not spoil yourself.

Enjoy this bounty of bath supplies and a bottle of bubbly.

Or how about a cozy cup of cocoa for two?

In this basket you'll get to have your choice of peppermint cocoa, pumpkin spice latte, vanilla latte, peppermint mocha, cocoa supreme, carmel cocoa, mint cocoa, and french vanilla cocoa in to fun holiday mugs. Oh and the little visitor is going along for the ride.

How do you win? It's easy. Like my fan page on facebook then comment here so I can verify and you'll be entered. The contest will run until December 25th with the winners being drawn, announced and notified on the 26th.  

New Release: Hands On by Adele Quinn

Adele Quinn's debut release is Available Now!

Drew is a successful restaurateur and chef, living the life with a great crew and five star reviews. Jeremy, the newest member of the crew, still often finds himself debating with himself and family about what he wants out of his life.

When Drew starts having trouble keeping his own life together, Jeremy takes it upon himself to help him out. With an almost healing touch it seems he’s able to revitalize Drew and get him back on his game. While both get exactly what they want out of their first night as more than friends, things seem to spin out of control for them over the next few days.
Drew wants nothing more than to have his restaurant run smoothly and now be with Jeremy, but he doesn’t want anyone to think any less of either of them for diving into a relationship together. Jeremy on the other hand is ready to finally make a decision about his life and jump into shallow water. Will Drew take the risk and follow him or back off the relationship completely?

Buy or read more ARe, Amazon, and Bookstrand.

Tasty Tuesday



Chef Curtis Stone



Okay with this month being NaNoWriMo I don't plan to do much cooking. So I decided I'd deciate this post to a few chefs that I like watching.



Jamie Oliver The Naked Chef





Guy Fiere



Not because they're handsome, or I like their accents, but because the food they makes looks so good.

   

Chef John Besh



I do need to find some really quick easy meals to feed my famile this month since none of these men are going to come and cook for me.

So if you had your choice of any chef male or female who would you like to come and cook for you? I'd choose

Paula Deen

Weekly Wrap-Up

This week has been a blur of activity around here.

We prepped for 2 parties and Halloween itself, bowled, suffered two meltdowns (this will probably be addressed again next Saturday morning), went to a 50th Wedding Anniversary/Vow Renewal dinner in the midst of the NorEaster that hit Massachusetts Saturday night. During all of this I did manage to get about 5,300 words written, attend a local writers meeting, shop for my NaNo swap partner stuff, and worked up some new promo stuff.

Now onto what's in store for me this coming week. NaNo starts Tuesday so I plan to spend tomorrow working on my WIP and trying to decide which story to make my NaNo project. I like having 2/3 projects going at a time so I plan to do at least 2k for NaNo and then work on Brazen 6, which is slated to be the last in my Brazen Sister Series.

While I'm sorry to see the Brazen Sisters story end I'm looking forward to what coming next.

Tickle Me Tuesday: Halloween Goodies



This week is a total rush here getting things done, meetings, and of course Halloween.



Goodie Bags



Actually to start this off right I should say this week started Friday afternoon. My sister and her five kids came over to get a jump start on the 23 goodie bags we need and costumes for the party they went to on Saturday.



Cocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods



The bags we made are for all my nieces, nephews, and my niece Katrina's bowling group.



 My daughter is making stuff for her friends and co-workers too. Actually all the food on this page was made by her.

Marshmellow Frankenstien Pops

Later tonight after I get some writing done I'll be whipping up some brownies for my first meeting with the Worcester Writers Collaborative tomorrow night.

Chocolate Lolipops
and
Homemade Popcorn balls

 

Chocolate Cover Oreos



Thurday will be my only day to relax and write with no interruptions. Friday My nephew Josh and Katrina will be sleeping over so we can make the cupcakes for their Halloween Party at bowling Saturday morning. Saturday night is my hisband's father's 50th Wedding Anniversary party.








Chocolate Loli Pops



Sunday the kids have a bowling tournement and she has a birthday party to go to so I'll have them for that as well. Monday is finally Halloween and I'll be going to my sisters for a bit before I go to bowl in my Monday night league.

Next Tuesday I may be a little loopy from lack of sleep and too much fun.

Hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday.



Wayback Wednesday. How Many Remember This.

I have been watching my 4 year old nephew a couple of days a week and it has brought back a couple of fun memories like this song.

This was another great show from my younger days.

Is there a TV show or movie that you remember fondly?

Thursday Thirteen TV

This weeks 13 is my top choices of what to watch on TV this Fall. Now I admit I have a DVR so I can record and watch later if need be. Also not listed by order of favorite, just as I found pics.

1.) Revenge

 

2.) Castle

                            

                     

 3.) Sons Of Anarcy

 

4.) NCIS

5.) Fringe

          6.) NCIS: Los Angeles

7.) Last Man Standing (I love Tim Allen)

8.)Wendy Williams (my weekday guilty pleasure)

  9.) Project Runway (yes I know this is almost over)

10.) The Rosie Show

(She always makes me laugh)

 

11.)Once Upon A Time

(really looing forward to this)

 

12.) The Next Iron Chef

(great cast of chefs this season)

13.) Dexter

        

So now you have a glimpse of how I spend my free time.