Celebrating with Zombie Killer Wine

Edits are done and now back in the hands of my editor so I'm celebrating with a bottle of Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser. I'm a strong suported of brews and wine produced in my state and this delightful bottle was created by B. Nektar Meadery in Ferndale, Michigan. This is a Gold-Medal winning mead that a bunch of locals have been raving about, so I had to take my shot at it. B. Nektar has a fun sense of humor as you can see with their anti-zombie rhetoric on the bottle story and also on their website.

The label art done by Marcus Christy is very cool. It takes the zombie theme and applies it to a main ingredient, cherries. One cherry is killing the another zombie cherry with a sword while cherry juice blood is splattered everywhere. I save my emtpy bottles of Witches Brew to use in Halloween displays and I believe I'll add this bottle to my collection. Maybe even put in a string of lights for effect.

  I was introduced to mead when I was 16 staying with friends in Leicester, England. I've loved it ever since. This mead really coats the palate. It has some body but the tart zing really keeps the sweeter aspects at bay. Apple cidery zip, dry finish, delicious juiciness. The carbonation adds a nice little touch of effervescence that brings the flavors to the tip of your tongue. Ahhh... a great way to celebrate the end of a book.

Oh, oh... a zombie plot bunny just limped by. Hmmm.... will I write a zombie erotic romance story next? Ewe.

Why am I suddenly

in the mood to watch

Warm Bodies?

Thursday 13 - Tips for Successful Flirting

 

1: Don't Come On Too Strong

Flirting is all about subtlety, and being too aggressive when pursuing someone can turn him off. Levine agrees: "Women are more likely to strike out when they try too hard, act too available, or take the mystery out by making the outcome obvious," she notes.
Likewise, it's not smart to play too hard to get either. Although most men enjoy some degree of a challenge, if you continue to discourage or reject them, they will give up.

2: It Takes Confidence

Although you may be secretly quaking in your boots anytime he even looks at you, it's important to project a confident attitude. If you are a naturally shy person, this may be easier said than done, but Levine recommends wearing a new outfit or something that makes you feel good about yourself. "Sexy shoes can make you feel especially powerful!" she adds.

3: Drop Physical Clues

If the object of your affection is at a distance, making eye contact and smiling are sure-fire ways to grab his attention. Within closer distances, try gently touching him on the arm or chest while he's talking, but be careful not to linger too long and create an awkward moment.

"If time is flying by, you're both having fun, and neither of you is wasted, he'll likely ask you out and follow through. If not, and you want to see him again, tell him in a flirty way. If he's doesn't ask for your number at that point, leave it be-you're saving yourself a headache later on. And, most importantly don't take it personally."

4: Don't Forget to Be Yourself

Lastly, "to have a relationship that's real and lasting, the bottom line is to be yourself," says Levine. "To get to that point, it's trial and error. What doesn't work with one guy will work on another. Your heart is on the line, and until you make your move, you won't know the benefits or the ramifications."

5: Smile.

It seems obvious, but one of the best moves is a big smile. Do you smile enough? Practice smiling in the mirror -- your smile needs to get noticed. For the most impact, it should be a genuine smile, not forced. Make sure your teeth are white and your breath is fresh.

6: Hold eye contact.

See that cute guy across the room? One of the best ways to let him know you are interested is to get caught looking. Look him up and down, stare and wait until he notices. Then, make eye contact and hold it until it's almost uncomfortable, then look down and away.

7: Make "accidental" contact.

Touch is powerful. Touch his back as you walk by his desk. Brush his hand as you sit at the bar. Touch his shoulder briefly when you are introduced. If he's interested, he'll welcome this type of non-intrusive touching. If you feel him pull away, don't do it again.

8: Do the foot jiggle.

The dating advice book, Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love, suggests the foot jiggle move. And it works. While sitting down, cross your legs and then jiggle your foot in his direction. If he's interested, he'll get it.

9: Whisper.

At a crowded party or club, where everyone is yelling to be heard, lean in and whisper. It's a great excuse to get closer. Whisper softly, so he'll have to lean in even closer to hear you. After a few minutes of intimate whispering, don't be surprised if you hear, "Do you wan Talk about sports.

A hot woman who knows about sports is a guy's dream. Brush up on your sports knowledge and then take your flirting game to a sports bar or sporting event. Just a few (correct) observations about his favorite team will get his motor running.

10: Rub your shoulder.

Rub your shoulder or neck like you have a crick, then just sigh. If he's interested, he'll find it sexy and probably offer you a quick massage. While he's massaging, be sure to compliment him on his strong hands.

11: Laugh a little.

Laugh at his jokes if they are funny; be a little sarcastic if they aren't. He'll enjoy the banter. Relax and laugh a little, but don't laugh at everything he says or try to be a comedian yourself. Just act natural and comfortable.

12: Have a line.

Corny lines actually work sometimes. Ask if you can have a look at his cell phone. After giving it the once-over, say, "It's pretty nice, but it's missing one thing" -- which is, of course, your number. At least, you'll get a laugh. At best, you'll have given him your number.

13: Be straightforward.

Sometimes, the best flirting move is the boldest one. Being straightforward is especially effective if you are looking for a one-night stand. Place your hand his knee, make direct eye contact and tell him he's hot. If he's interested, you'll be between the sheets before you know it.

 

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Ways to Heat Up A Batch of Passion

I love autumn because of the wonderful food so I end up spending quite a bit of time in the kitchen. Anyways, while I was making some pumpkin spice bread my mind started wandering about other ways to have fun in the kitchen… without kids around that is.

1. Wearing only an apron will stop any man in his tracks.

2. Be silly and wear an apron that says “Hot Stuff”…. Ask him to undress and put on one that says “Grill Master”.

3. Check at your local “lovers lane” type of store for an apron style teddy. Oooo… how about a maid or chef costume!

4. If you are clothed, the kitchen sometimes gets a bit too hot so try stripping down to your birthday suit one piece at a time. Sometimes it can be fun to let him watch but not taste… uh… I mean touch until it’s done.

5. Better yet… imagine your honey walking in to see you at the stove wearing only your birthday suit!

6. Hmmm…. Try sipping a glass of red wine while cooking. How about some special food such as anything dipped in chocolate?

7. Yummy scents such as pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla or even a batch of fresh cookies can get that blood flowing.

8. Make something with oysters or chili peppers – items known for being aphrodisiacs.

9. Cook with your honey. Use your fingers to mix ingredients, lick each others fingers, or have a food fight.

10. Blindfold each other and taste test foods prepared with a variety of textures, tastes, and temperatures. Take turns feeding each other.


11. So the heat is on, are you naked yet? Sit on the counter or lay on a table while he stands at the edge, wrap your legs around his waist.


12. Can’t stop stirring that sauce? No problem! You keep stirring while he snuggles up to your back for a rear entry position. Make sure you put in a request for extra neck nibbles.

13. Getting too hot? Oh, hell with it! Just throw him on the floor, poor the wine all over him and lick it off!


Excuse me… I need to run to the market for some more red wine. Do you have a kitchen fantasy?

Queen of Hearts on Sale Now

Jenny has secretly lusted for her sexy next door neighbor for years but won't cross that invisible line dividing friendship and romance even if it is Valentine's Day. Josh is done with his provocative life and ready to settle down. With a few tricks up his sleeve and the Valentine's Day costume party, he takes a chance on seducing his best girl pal. Will the Queen of Hearts allow herself to be seduced by Madd Hatter's kiss and offer of more? On Sale Now for only $1.99 at Smashwords.

Humpday Help - Plot Bunnies

For the next several weeks, Humpday Help will attempt to explain Plot Bunnies. First of all, a Plot Bunny is an idea for a story that gnaws at the brain until written.

Some well known plot bunnies that have been positively identified. There are various breeds, thousands of them, and many aren't even tied to writing. Inventors and scientists have their own breeds of plot bunnies that lead them to discoveries where A leads to B which jumps to G or even Z.

Here are a few Plot Bunnies that commonly plague writers.

The Lop-eared Sitting Around Talking Shorthair

Physical Characteristics: Lop ears, short brown/grey flecked fur

How to identify his presence: When your characters inevitably come to a point where the plot simply won't advance, so they sit on a couch/the ground/ a golf cart/ a pirate ship and start talking about nothing in particular. Some couple thousand words later, a plot bunny pops up, grins, and heads off! It can always be discovered in this kind of plot stall, and it's known for waiting until the last possible moment (the moment when you are about to throw your laptop across the table) to come and create a diversion.

The Mystery Plot Bunny

Physical Characteristics: Black, short hair with small, pointed ears.

How to identify his presence: This bunny is attracted to plots which aren't usually intended to have any mystery. The bad guys are known, the goal is visible, but suddenly the Mystery Plot Bunny appears and there's a piece of information lacking, a lost object, or an unknown baddie that needs to be discovered and stopped.

This bunny is known to complicate plots far more than they need to be. Usually can be made happy with a missing item, but sometimes demands the more involved mysteries.

Killer bunny

Physical Characteristics: Small, white, red eyes

How to identify his presence: Not unlike the much-feared Monty Python variety, this little white bunny looks harmless as you're writing along, and then up close, abruptly kills off a character you weren't expecting to kill - at least, you didn't intend for it to go right THEN! In its wake, it leave behind a host of new plot opportunities... as well as some definite Closed Paths.

Thursday 13 - Flirty Quotes & Sayings

 

1. “I am not a sexy woman, I’m not beautiful, I’m not a sex kitten, I don’t flirt with people, yet I’ve been tagged more of sex symbol than women who truly are and I that’s solely because I don’t reveal too much: people are curious.” Anna Held

2. “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.” – Albert Einstein

3. “To me, there is no greater act of courage than being the one who kisses first.” – Janeane Garofalo

4. “Stolen kisses are always sweetest.” – Leigh Hunt

5. “‘In love, there is always one who kisses and one who offers the cheek.” – French Proverb

6. “Kissing is like drinking salted water: you drink and your thirst increases.” – Chinese Proverb

7. “I’m fairly in control and I don’t like to flirt particularly. I mean, obviously if I meet someone who I think is hot, of course I’ll want to flirt with him, But in general I don’t use it in day-to-day life.” Katie Price

8. “You know, I’m not really any good at working out when people are flirting with me. And I think I’m too flirtatious with people I’m trying not to flirt with! What I am good at is making people feel uncomfortable. I don’t want to but it always ends up happening!” - Dee Dee Myers

9. “Whoever loves above all the approach of love will never know the joy of attaining it”. – Antoine

10. “The amount of women in London who flirt with their own husbands is perfectly scandalous. It looks so bad. It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public.” – Oscar Wilde

11. “Women know not the whole of their coquetry.” – François Rochefoucauld

12. "Love is like a friendship caught on fire: In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable."
--Bruce Lee

13. “Smile... it's the second best thing to do with your lips.” - Anonymous

Humpday Help - Gypsy's Advice for Winter Colds

I have a special gypsy friend who is wise and has many wonderful tips to share. She recommends the use of a Simmer Pot during the cold, dry winter months.

A Simmer Pot is any large pot of water placed on the stove to simmer for many hours. Of course one can make a pot of soup, which will fill the home with awonderous, welcoming aroma that will also fill a body with nurishment.

Here are many Simmer Pot recipes I like to use when I'm cleaning.
*add orange slices, whole cloves, and a few sticks of cinamon
*lemon slices, slices of fresh ginger
*lemon slices, sage leaves
*dried lavendar, sage leaves
*lemongrass, dried lavendar, sage leaves
*a handfull of pine needles, couple of cinamon sticks
*a sprig of fresh rosemary, a few drops of peppermint

Now, if you make a pot of soup that simmers all day... make sure you share it!

Thursday Thirteen – 13 Natural Aphrodisiacs

Today's post was originally posted several years ago. With a few edits I've decided to share it again.

Many New Year's Resolutions include "eating and living healthy". This TT is for those who may want to add some "natural health" to their sex lives.

The word “aphrodisiac” comes from the Greek goddess of sensuality, love and beauty, Aphrodite. They are agents used to increase sexual desire. Aphrodisiacs can be foods, herbs and supplements, tinctures, teas for ingestion or bathing, or oils for massage or scent. Aphrodisiacs are a fun way to generate sensual feelings, enhance your sexual experience, and increase your level of sexual performance. Various herbs, spices, vitamins and minerals can be found easily at any health food store. Check with packages for directions or ask a specialist regarding organic herbs for advice on dosages and uses.

(Natural Herbs & Spices)
1. Ginkgo biloba – the “longevity herb”
2. Ginseng – increases sexual appetite
3. Horney goats weed – stimulates desire and gives you energy
4. Lovage – used in love brews for women
5. Rosemary – add to food and also good added to a bath

6. Sassafras tree – used to make MDMA, the root cortex of this tree is used in making sensual oils and is also ingested
7. Saw palmetto – promotes circulation – especially in the genitals
8. Yarrow – ingest tonic or chew on the raw stem 3 hours or so before intercourse – a stimulant

(Vitamins and Minerals)

9. B-Complex – increases energy, metabolism, and function of nerves – directly related to sexual fulfillment
10. Kelp – used to help an improperly functioning thyroid gland that causes fatigue and lowered sex drive, among other symptoms
11. L-Tyrosine – increases sexual drive, decreases reactions to stress, and helps depression
12. Wheat – strengthens sexual organs
13. Zinc – key for healthy sexual function

Try something new and natural to brew up a sensual love life.

Thursday 13 - Sexy New Year Resolutions

So many New Year Resolutions are made and quickly forgotten. Not only are these promises easily forgotten when we are caught up in the hustle of everyday life, but also we can forget about the love in our lives. Try making a few resolutions that won't be forgotten and easily obtainable. Make your relationship with that special someone a priority, put pleasure first on your resolution list.

1.  Plan to have more sex. We schedule time to shop, get our hair done, and take the kids to soccer... Being spontaneous is not always easy and by some simple plans to be more sexual, you'll actually end up having more sex. 

2. Get away from it all. Send the kids away for the weekend or escape for a night alone. Grab a movie, dinner and a romp in a cheap hotel. Use this time to NOT talk about family, friends or work. Focus on each other.

3. Do some redecorating in the bedroom. Our surrounding have a significant impact on how we feel. Turn your bedroom into a sensual room. Add some sexy satins, new pillows, mirrors, incense or candles, artwork to create an environment to bring out your sexual animal.

4.  Exercise more. I'm talkin' the horizontal mambo three /four times a week. Not only are calories being burned in a super fun way, but with each orgasmic session your endorphins (the chemical in your brain that makes you happy) will do miracles for your mood and zest for life!

5. Stop the sensory deprivations. Get off the computer; turn off the cell phone, put down the e-reader. It's time to get your hands into life! Cook with your honey and savor every tasty moment. Inhale life's scents and enjoy the fragrance of the world around you whether it is a sensual perfume or the way the air smells after a rain shower. Gaze into your partner's eyes and drown in the lipid pools of desire.  

6. Save your money and give each other full body massages. Invest in some scented massage candles and let your inhibitions fly out the window. Pick up some edible massage oil. Don't leave out the happy ending!

7. Eat in bed. Whipped cream, chocolate body paint, honey dust! Decadent and suggestive foods coupled with steamy sex make a rather delicious combination.

8. Make food a sensual part of your life. Forget the chips and go for the juicy, creamy and succulent stuff. Fresh strawberries, ripe peaches, and bananas can be cut into bite sizes. Finger food can be very sensual; take your time eating to experience the textures and flavors. Savoring food can be great practice for savoring sex.

10.  Make yourself feel sexier every day. Go through your panty drawer and buy yourself some new sexier styles. Lose the flannels, the old rugby jersey and stop lounging about with holey socks. Try some sexy silk pajamas or simple lingerie you can wear under your clothes. Treating yourself to sexier underclothes will help you tap into your sexy side. Indulge in a new fragrance that makes your partner hot. Wax, shave, work out... whatever makes you feel good about yourself and sexy.

11.  Have an affair - with your partner of course!  Here's your chance to have fun with a sexual fantasy.    Share your fantasies with each other or create one together then act on them.  Dress  as a seductive stranger and meet at a secret location, hotel, or bar.  Have fun with costumes, they can be just what you need to get started.

12.  Get back to the basics.  Rediscover the art of kissing.  Spend a night simply "making out".  Just be careful if you go "parking".  Be open and honest with your partner by sharing what really turns you on.  Be romantic by leaving notes with hints and sexy suggestions where your honey will find them.  Take time to explore each other's bodies to learn likes and dislikes.  Be open to pleasure.

13.  Be more playful and creative.    Try something sexually new.  Play with sex toys.  Visit a swingers' club.  Get a book on sexual positions and try all of them at least once.  For a more spiritual sex life, study Kama Sutra.  Take a class on strip tease or belly dancing.  Pick up a couple sex games and play.  Feel free to visit your local adult store, the staff is very discreet and helpful.

Author's Note: My favorite shop is Lovers' Lane.  I feel comfortable working with the staff and have enjoyed every purchase! 

HAVE A SEXY NEW YEAR!

Host a Holiday Cookie Swap

Too busy to do much holiday baking?

Then host a cookie exchange party.

 

 

 

Invite your girlfriends over and tell each to bring at least 2 dozen cookies to sweet treats.  Have a table set aside with empty trays and let your guest place their treats on the trays. Make sure there are plenty of treats to sample and some holiday beverages.

 

Plan to have a couple "door prizes" such as a cookie cookbook, a pretty apron, or a cookie jar.  Before they leave they can pick out and take home as many cookies as they contributed.from the wonderful selection.

 

 



 

The Visionary was the signature cocktail served at Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards

 

 

Ingredients
1.5 ounces Baileys® Original Irish Cream
3 ounces brewed Chai Tea
...

Raw brown sugar
Cinnamon stick

Directions:
Brew a pot of chai tea. Add 2 teaspoons of raw brown sugar for every cup. Stir until dissolved. Fill a coffee mug with chai tea and add Baileys. Stir with a cinnamon stick.

This recipe contains no more than 0.6 fl. oz. of alcohol per serving.

 

Offer this drink during a cookie exchange party with the girls. 

 

 

For more ideas on hosting a Cookie Swap, visit Robin Olson's page CookieExchange.com