Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Romance In the Kitchen

 Gram always said, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." I'd say it's the same with some women too. Flyboy and I are foodies. We love to eat and we love to cook, especially together!

We prepared a special dinner for our anniversary.

According to studies, "when a couple cook together they have a tendency to stay together". Cooking together creates feelings of happiness and contentment as well as a relaxed atmosphere.

Flyboy is all about presentation.
Somebody watches too many cooking shows.

* Builds Cooperation

* Improves Communication

* Talk out issues

* Share Memories

* Laugh

* Staying at home takes the pressure off your wallet

* Have FUN being together


Sipping on drinks, XM Radio playing...we always have fun!

An article from the Casual Gourmet by the Culinary Institute of Virginia talks about why couples who cook together, stay together. CLICK HERE

Sunday, November 1, 2020

29 Years In Love

The first snow of the season fell as we celebrated our wedding in the Sky Room restaurant that overlooked the tarmac and runways of Tri City Airport (now MBS International Airport). After all, Flyboy proposed to me at the FBO part of the airport.

That snowy night was November 2, 1991. Here are a few of my favorite pix of the night.

Surrounded by friends and family,
we married at First Presbyterian Church. 
My parents were married in the same spot we stood.


Just the beginning.


We goofed around in the car rental area;
joking that "Love Hertz".

Flyboy's brother-in-law who's also a flyboy,
got permission for us to board a DC-9 for some unique pix.

Perhaps, my all-time favorite photos of Flyboy and me.


Flyboy and I at our son's wedding this summer.


HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY LOVING HUSBAND!
I LOVE MY FLYBOY!




Zombie Face For Firm Skin #FightAging

 Join me for some spa time! Like most women, I'm always on the lookout for something to slow down the aging process of my skin. I was lucky enough to be born with my Swedish Grandmother's amazing skin, but I am, after all, in my 50's. Some of you may know I'm a bit of an Amazon junkie...(perhaps it's because Flyboy flies Amazon and purchases keep him in the air). Nah... I just LOVE a good deal!!!

Such a good opportunity came up in "The Deal of the Day". The name of the product certainly caught me.

Zombie Pack from Zombie Beauty by Skin 1004.

Then the description had me tapping, BUY NOW.

Pore Tightening & Lifting Pack - as the mask dries, it tightens and lifts, leaving smooth skin and eliminates fine lines.

This mask is compared to fancy masks costing up to $200. This pack is a two-part system - you have to mix the powder with a liquid provided and put on with a brush (also provided). The system suggests you apply the mask every 3 days. It takes 10-15 minutes to dry. As it dries it becomes bumpy and/or cracked. 

  • Bumpy Parts: Areas that lack elasticity, and are prone to wrinkles. Look for the bumpiest parts to see which areas are losing elasticity
  • Cracked Parts: Areas that lack hydration. Skin may not seem dry on the surface, but could be dehydrated internally

Mine became bumpy. The mask reminded me of the egg-white masks I used to do with my Grandma. Ironically, the one of the primary ingredients is Albumin.

Known as a component from eggs, Albumin is a protein made of amino acids, and is effective for attracting moisture to the skin!

I used the product for the recommended time. My conclusion: I didn't notice a change in fine lines except for on my chin. My skin however did clear up - break outs from wearing a mask stopped. My skin was soft. However, I noticed a significant improvement under my chin and neck.

BEFORE

AFTER

For more information check out Zombie Mask on Amazon.


Friday, October 30, 2020

Trick or Treating is Better Than Sex

I found this and after a good laugh thought it would be a great way to start Halloween.  
Enjoy!

WHY TRICK OR TREATING IS BETTER THAN SEX
10) You are guaranteed to get at least a little something in the sack.
9) If you get tired, you can wait 10 minutes and go at it again.
8) The uglier you look, the easier it is to get some.
7) You don't have to compliment the person who gives you some.
6) It's okay when the person you're with fantasizes you're someone
else, because you are.
5) Forty years from now you'll still enjoy candy.
4) If you don't like what you get, you can always go next door.
3) It doesn't matter if the kids hear you moaning and groaning.
2) Less guilt the morning after.
And....................
1) YOU CAN DO THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.



 
 
 

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Remembering Book Tours

Even though I love the age of eBooks I still enjoy the smell and feel of a new book in my hands.When my first three novels in the Soul Series came out in print, I along with many other authors went on tour. I miss those days. Nothing beats the smell of fresh coffee and new books!

Readings and tours were essential component of promoting books.
 I loved sharing my work. However, I never got over blushing when I read the sexy stuff aloud.

Big events at places such as Barnes and Nobel and literacy festivals
encouraged authors of various genre to meet and inspire not only fans but also each other.

  
I did a solo tour visiting many towns of my home state, Michigan.
Coffee shops, book stores, libraries, museums!


I was in Bambi's Coffee Shop when the statistics came out announcing that women who read romance books have sex 70% more often than those who don't. 
I sold most of my copies that day to men who purchased them for their wives.

Visiting small town book shops and spending time with the owners 
made me appreciate all the work booksellers do for authors. 



Release Day in the library.
Always give your local library lots of love.



Fans and new writers enjoy discussing writing techniques.

Sometimes an author has to make special appearances at toga parties held in cultural centered cities.


The highlight of my tour was when my mentor, Doug Allyn showed up. 
AWESOME!!! He gave me a signed copy of The Burning of Rachel Hayes


As I’m writing this, one big question looms: are readings and tours worth it? That is, do people buy books and connect with the author actually happen? Yes, people buy books. On my tour, I believe I sold books to people who normally wouldn’t have bought the book. Does it make up for the expenses? No way. But it is sooooo worth meeting all the wonderful people. Something many don't mention is how while on tour, authors will find inspiration for their own work as well as inspire new writers. This to me is worth more than the dollars collected from a sale.

Special thanks to my first editor and BFF since 1968.
Tricia edited all my works in high school and college. She also co-wrote a story with me during a visit to London waaaaaay back in the '80's. 


Do you enjoy interacting with favorite writers?



Wednesday, October 28, 2020

#Thursday13 - Odd Facts About Halloween




1.   Orange and black are the colors of Halloween because orange is associated with the fall harvest and black is the color of darkness.

2. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with Orange.

3. Turnips and Beets once served as the original Jack O’ Lanterns.

4. Halloween is the second most commercially successful Holiday with Christmas being the first.

5. According to superstition if you stand in front of a mirror at midnight, you’ll see the reflection of your future spouse just over your left shoulder.

6. You can sprinkle salt and oatmeal on your child’s head to keep him or her from being possessed.

7.  In England, white cats instead of black ones are thought to be bad luck.

8. Harry Houdini died on Halloween, in 1926 from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix.

9. Burning a candle inside a Jack O’ Lantern on Halloween is believed to keep demons and evil spirits at bay.

10.           Put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night to meet a witch.

11. Gazing into the flame of a candle on Halloween night will allow you to see into the future.

12.           If you hear footsteps behind you on Halloween night don’t turn around, for it may be Death himself! And to look him in the eye is a sure way to hasten your own demise.

13.           If a bat flies around a house three times, it is considered to be a death omen.

* This is just a fun look at thirteen Halloween facts whether they are truth or superstition, you decide.  For more fun Thursday 13 click here.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!



 

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Odd Facts About Halloween

1. Orange and black are the colors of Halloween because orange is associated with the fall harvest and black is the color of darkness.


2. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with Orange.
3. Turnips and Beets once served as the original Jack O’ Lanterns.

4. Halloween is the second most commercially successful Holiday with Christmas being the first.

5. According to superstition if you stand in front of a mirror at midnight, you’ll see the reflection of your future spouse just over your left shoulder.

6. You can sprinkle salt and oatmeal on your child’s head to keep him or her from being possessed.

7. In England, white cats instead of black ones are thought to be bad luck.

8. Harry Houdini died on Halloween, in 1926 from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix.

9. Burning a candle inside a Jack O’ Lantern on Halloween is believed to keep demons and evil spirits at bay.

10. Put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night to meet a witch.

11. Gazing into the flame of a candle on Halloween night will allow you to see into the future.

12. If you hear footsteps behind you on Halloween night don’t turn around, for it may be Death himself! And to look him in the eye is a sure way to hasten your own demise.

13. If a bat flies around a house three times, it is considered to be a death omen.

* This is just a fun look at thirteen Halloween facts whether they are truth or superstition, you decide.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!






Tuesday, October 27, 2020

A Dystopian Version of Sleeping Beauty


These tales aren’t the ones from your childhood, but adult-only reads with sexy heroes. Decadent Publishing offers a variety of twisted romance stories based on Grimm’s Fairytales. These stories are like none you’ve ever known.  

One of my favorite authors is Taryn Kincaid who has the uncanny ability to twist a fairy tale
and she has her own version of Sleeping Beauty.
A Beyond Fairytales story
By
Taryn Kincaid
A dystopian retelling of Sleeping Beauty




            Sleeping Beauty in a post-apocalyptic land…

            In a world gone mad, where little remains but a vast wasteland of sand, the leader of a troop of roving warriors welcomes a brave young woman into his midst.

            Much as he burns for her, Major Clay Worthington swears to keep his distance from the mysterious woman, so sensitive even the stinging rain can wound her.
Rosina Brierly is besotted with the formidable soldier and will gladly trade her life for one torrid night of blissful passion in his arms.

       But when sleep overcomes them, will true love prevail?

***********************

Excerpt:
            Does the major ever feel lust? Does he covet a woman’s touch? He never gave any sign he did. Too aloof and austere, too remote from the simple emotions of mere mortal men.

            He shook her again. “Wake up, princess. The rain will come soon.”

            The men looked forward to the rain. They hated the relentless sun blasting down upon them, as if they thought it would incinerate what was left of the earth beneath their boots, baking the soft sand into badlands as hard as concrete. They’d strip off their T-shirts and boots, their combat fatigues, and sometimes even their camouflage boxer shorts, and dance and play, naked or nearly so, in the slanting gray soup, laughing, tossing round balls or throwing saucer-shaped plastic discs to each other.

            For her, the showers had the opposite effect. The stinging rain sliced into her sensitive skin like acid, raising blisters and sores, sometimes bloodying her.

            She did not know why the major called her princess. Perhaps he didn’t know either. Whatever royalty once walked the earth had long gone, fled underground or died in battle or simply disappeared. The war engulfed every human on the planet, every inch of land, and had waged so long she doubted anyone remembered anymore. Well, maybe Nicodemus. At least he sometimes hinted he did in the stories he told. And she had seen him whisper into the major’s ear, unknown things that made the major pale beneath his weathered tan.

            Major Worthington did not treat her like a princess, though, except when she slumbered, when he knelt before her in her fantasy world, his head bowed, his fist over his heart, laying his sword at her feet and claiming the role of knight. Her hero. Her champion. When she awoke, he remained one of the elite warrior breed roaming the planet, bristling with weapons like the soldiers he led. He treated her as the translator she was to him, sometimes barking orders to her as if she were one of his men, only occasionally seeking her counsel.

            She came fully awake as he jerked her up from the ground and yanked her toward him. The glare of the setting sun broadsided her, hurting her eyes. Why was he so insistent about the impending rain? No clouds yet darkened the sky, although the hour sped toward evening dusk now. But no hint of shadow yet blotted the horizon.

            “I can smell it,” he muttered.






Halloween Drinks (For Adults)

Will you be dressing up (or not) and walking the kiddies around to Trick or Treat?
OR
Will you be handing out goodies to the little gremlins and like at your door?
 
How a bout a little somethin' something' to warm the cockles of your heart on the darkest night?
 
Try these frighteningly delicious drinks.
 
Baileys Caramel Apple
 
2 oz Baileys Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur
0.5 Smirnoff Green Apple Flavored Vodka
1 dash of Goldschlager Schnapps
 
Pour Baileys & Vodka into an ice-filled shaker. Shake & strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Float Goldschalger on top. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
********************
 
Cabin Cider
 
1.5 oz Cabin Fever Maple Flavored Whisky
4 oz hot apple cider
 
Add whisky to warm or cold cider in a Collins glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
***********
 
Hot Maple Chocolate
1.5 oz Cabin Fever Maple Flavored Whiskey
1.5 oz Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur
4 oz hot chocolate
Add whiskey & Irish Cream Liqueur to hot chocolate in a mug. Top with whipped cream.

***********
Of course I have to share my favorites. 
Try a spiced red wine warmed up. Garnish with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick. 
 

 


Sunday, October 25, 2020

Give Me Primal Elements

 Nothing beats a relaxing bath, especially when you have a bar of luxurious soap to lather up with. Soft skin is nice, especially if someone else enjoys it too.

During his last trip, Flyboy wandered through the shops in Bethlehem, PA. Over the phone, he told me of the quaint shops and eateries. He picked up a few gifts along the way. One gift was a unique bar of soap for me.


This Primal Element bar of soap is wonderful! It's mostly made of glycerin and no animal products. The colors are delightful and I was tempted to use it only for display. The fragrance was an autumn blend of herbal greens and rich woods. LOVE! It produced a luxurious lather and rinsed easily. OMG...the fragrance was amazing. Sexy! Flyboy noticed how soft my skin was. "Silky, smooth," are the words he used.


Check out Primal Elements for all the products they carry. I think I might order a soap for every holiday and look at other products for gifts. After all, if Flyboy can't keep his hands off me...why wouldn't I?