Welcome Home

A good friend of mine is returning home this week. He proudly serves in the US Marine Corps. For the last year he was on tour in Afghanistan.  He is also my main sounding board and research contact for creating the Marines and their stories in my Legend of the Spirit series.

He’s been very generous guiding me through the rank and file of mixing my imagination with the reality of the USMC. Best of all, we’ve shared a lot of laughs. I think he might have a little writer living inside him.

Previously on this blog, I’ve discussed who couples separated by miles and time can keep their fire alive. It takes a special person to serve this country and an extra special person to love him.

First I’d like to thank his beautiful wife, Annie, for letting me borrow her man and pick his brain. I try to leave as much mind intact after I was done but he was a little twisted to begin with. LOL Just kidding. And.. special thanks to the man himself…“Whiskey Rick”… for his service to this country and my muse.

The book “Hawk’s Honor” is dedicated to “Whiskey Rick” and Annie.

Keep in mind, while many of our service men and women return home, more are just beginning their tours. Authors Supporting Our Troops will be collecting books again to send out those stationed abroad. I will post info when it comes in.

Oorah!

Proud to be a Marine’s daughter.

Facebook Diet

How long are you on Facebook? How often do you check it during the day? Is it interfering with your work?

Here are few steps to go on a Facebook Diet.

1. Turn on Tag Review to avoid being distracted by everyone tagging you. Feel free to remove yourself from tags.

2. Turn off Facebook Chat. It can sucker you in.

3. Select Stop Notifications to prevent you from being notified every time someone comments on a post you’ve liked/commented on.

4. Hide your Sidebar and you’ll your Facebook Ticker. Put away the temptation to look.

5. Try the Chrome plug in “Newsfeed Eradicator for Facebook”.  It will replace your newsfeed with motivational quotes.

6. Turn off all game notifications.

7. Me? I’m not all that tech savvy and would spend too much time trying to figure out how to do all the above. So I just take a kitchen timer and keep it next to my computer. I set a time and when the dinger rings, I close Facebook. (I also do not have FB on my phone.)

#HumpdayHottie

Finish this sentence...

A man who cooks….

Tasty Tuesday–Spike Your Cocoa

Last week the temps here in Michigan were flirting with zero. My friends in Minnesota experienced frigid temps. (Lets look for a baby boom in nine months.) Cold temp means opportunity to warm up by cuddling with a mug of hot chocolate.

I have a hot cocoa station in my kitchen for the kids. I found some decorative canning jars and filled them with various ingredients. Powder cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, flavored creamer. Keep mugs or cups handy. Use mugs with names to prevent confusion or use a variety of cups for fun.

 

 

 

For the adults, keep flavored schnapps handy. A shot of peppermint is delicious. My favorite is Michigan Cherry liqueur – tastes like a hot chocolate covered cherry!

 

 

For a bit of romance… sip a mug of spiked hot cocoa while cuddling with your honey. 

I’m Back…Did You Miss Me?

Sometimes in a writer’s world real life unfortunately takes over. Such has been the case for me lately.
I am now officially a member of the “Sandwich” Generation. This group of 40-50 years old find themselves still raising their families while also caring for aging parents.  I was born at the end of the Baby Boom to a 40 year old mom and a WWII vet dad. With dad gone, it’s time for my siblings and I to step up. As the youngest, I’m the Medical Advocate and guardian of my 87 year old mom.
She’s a great gal but health problems have made her fragile. My brother, sister and I strive to make what is left of her golden years to be joyful. As a child, I watched my parents love and care for my grandparents. One grandma lived with us for a couple years before passing. I hope I set a positive example to my boys on what it means to be a family and take care of each other.

While mom still has most of her mind she enjoys proof reading my writing and embroidering pillow cases. I’m sure she’ll hound me to get at least three books published this year.
Needless to say, I’m back and hope to get this blog fired up and running smoothly again. Look forward to favorite posts such as Tasty Tuesday and #HumpdayHottie as well as fun guest interviews,  romance tips, blurbs, and teasers.