Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Easter Traditions by @JoanReeves #SmartGirlsReadRomance

I love this photo! It brings together 2 of my favorite things: puppies and coloring Easter eggs.

Giveaway Alert: Details at end.

When I was a kid, every Saturday afternoon before Easter Sunday, we gathered in the kitchen to dye Easter eggs.

Back in the day, the Paas Easter Egg Dye kit came with only 5 dye tablets. 

The smell of the vinegar that was added to the cup of boiling water didn't exactly stink, but it made my nose tickle.

Then one year, a little wire "hook" was added to the package. Other improvements were a waxy crayon-type thing used to draw designs on the egg before adding it to the cup of dye. The wax kept dye from adhering to areas where it had been used.

History of Paas Easter Egg Dye

Invented by drug store owner William Townley in Newark, New Jersey, in 1893, Townley figured out how to concentrate dye in a tablet form. He sold the dye tablets for 5 cents each. Customers combined the dye tablet with water and vinegar just as my brothers and I did when we were kids decades later.

By 1901, Mr. Townly employed 7 men and 20 women, and he was well on his way to becoming the largest manufacturer of Easter egg dyes.

Eventually, the company was renamed the Paas Dye Company. The word Paas is derived from Pasen which is Dutch for Easter.

As you can see by the photo on the right, the company is still in business with more elaborate dye kits.

Church on Easter Sunday

Yes, church was the other tradition. We always went with girls wearing their brand new Easter dresses and boys wearing new dress shirts and pants.

Shopping for the Easter dress was a big deal when I was a little girl. Even our moms bought a special dress for Easter Sunday. After church, the big egg hunt was on! I never liked eggs when I was a kid—especially boiled eggs. Needless to say, I never excelled at hunting for the eggs hidden in the back yard.

Did you and your family have special Easter traditions?

Giveaway Alert

April Fool Bride on Amazon is FREE until 11:59pm PDT, Saturday, April 16.

Just drop by Amazon and pick up a free copy.

Is it a marriage of convenience or something more?

Oil heiress Madeline Quinn needs a husband by the time she turns twenty-five in order to claim her full inheritance. Mad Maddie, as the tabloids christened her, learned the hard way that men only see dollar signs when they look at her.

Maddie decides a marriage of convenience is the only answer. She turns to the one man in the world she can trust, her housekeeper’s son who always treated her like a little sister when they were growing up—until one disastrous night when she acted impetuously.

Jake Becker hasn’t seen Maddie since the night she tried to seduce him. Why should he help the woman who changed the course of his life? Simple. Revenge.

Or is it something else? Something that sizzles like steam heat between Maddie and Jake that neither can resist?

I'll see you next month on the 16th. Until then, happy reading!

 Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend with family and friends.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Easy Holiday Dinner for Guests by @JoanReeves

No Sweets—Just Dinner on the Table
Had enough cookie recipes? Want something to feed the family or guests?

If you're like me, you have no time to spare during the holidays. Preparing elaborate meals for guests? Nope. That's not what I want to do.

I fall back on my Crock Pot, which is the brand of my slow cooker. Mine is decades old. It's big and heavy with a stoneware insert, and it's not programmable.

Today, Crock Pot makes programmable slow cookers and even a power pressure cooker that can also be used as a slow cooker. (Instant Pot also has a slow cooker function on it.)

After breakfast, I can throw all the recipe ingredients into my Crock Pot, and I don't have to do anything else until a half hour before dinner is to be served.

One of the easiest entrees to prepare and serve is Chimichanga, a Tex-Mex favorite that gets rave reviews. It's a meat filling that's easy to make and delicious. For a holiday meal, especially for those who don't get Tex-Mex food that often, it's a winner.

Just so you'll know, a "real" chimichanga is a meat filling, with or without beans, wrapped in a flour tortilla and fried.

The kind of chimchanga we'll be making is the meat filling that you'll wrap in a flour or corn tortilla to make a taco with all the trimmings.

Each guest "builds" his/her own chimichanga taco. Let's call it...

Christmas Chimichanga

Ingredients
  • 2 pounds of beef chuck roast cut in cubes (or 2 pounds of beef stew meat if you really want it to be even easier)
  • 2/3 cup beef broth
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons dried leaf Mexican oregano
  • 1-2 teaspoons cumin (use more if you like a stronger flavor)
  • 2 teaspoons salt1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
  • If you have time, quickly brown the beef chunks. If not, don't worry about it.
  • Place all ingredients in your slow cooker. Cover with lid. Cook on Low for 10-12 hours, or on high for 5-6 hours.
  • When time is up, use 2 forks to shred the meat. The meat should be moist, but not have much more than a tablespoon or two of liquid remaining.
  • If there's liquid that didn't absorb into the shredded meat, either remove the meat with a slotted spoon, or pour everything into a saucepan and simmer until the liquid is nearly gone.
mexican-food-1561970_1920_by ALFONSO CHARLES, Pixabay
To Serve

You can prep all of this days before you plan to serve it. Just store well in the fridge and sprinkle lime juice on the avocado to keep it from turning brown.

Flour or corn tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomato
Sour cream
Shredded cheddar
Diced onion
Avocado chunks
Chopped fresh cilantro
Sliced jalapeno pepper
Pace's Picante or a similar salsa.

This will be the best taco you ever ate! If you have any chimichanga meat left, it freezes well. Place in a good freezer container for a delicious meal in the future.

Post Script

With all the time you save, why not read my new holiday romance short story Stuck on the Naughty List?

Cassie returns to Capitola, Texas, her small hometown, for Christmas and is immediately arrested on a trumped-up charge and taken downtown to be photographed and booked. 

That's where she meets the new Chief of Police. Could he be the perfect man to mend her broken heart?

Only 99 cents for a feel good story that will leave you with a smile!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Thanksgiving and a "A Musical Christmas" - by Judy Ann Davis


Thanksgiving, a national holiday in our United States, originated as a harvest festival. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. As a farmer’s kid, I especially like the idea of celebrating the fall harvest. It means all the hard work in the fields is done for the year.

Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the last Thursday of the month since the time of Abraham Lincoln. In 1941, President Roosevelt made the final permanent change by signing a bill making Thanksgiving Day fall on the fourth Thursday of November, regardless of whether it is the last Thursday of the month or not. This year it falls on November 28th.

I’m a fan of Thanksgiving. It’s a day of celebration where gifts are forgotten and the food is plentiful. I love the smell of a turkey roasting with the scent of sage and spices filling the entire house. And I am a huge fan of pumpkin pie piled high with whipped cream.

Now Available
In the northern states, Thanksgiving also is a reminder that Old Man Winter is on his way with flying fat snowflakes and sparkling white snowbanks. For many, the national holiday also heralds the start of the holiday season as stores and shops blare carols, hymns, and contemporary songs of Christmas from their speakers.  And Christmas music is something I can get behind, even if I dislike shopping for presents.

Releasing Soon!
This year, I created a “Musical Christmas Series,” consisting of three novellas. My first one, JUNE ~ The Pianist, was released the end of October. Each female main character plays a musical instrument and has a story to tell. I’m excited to reveal that ADELENE ~ The Violinist is also releasing at the end of this month in time for the Christmas season. LUCY will be released next year. What is her instrument? It’s a secret. [wink, wink]

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the holidays. The next time my post comes up, it will be Christmas Eve.

LINKS:    JUNE on Kindle   JUNE  on Nook      
Facebook      Twitter       
My Blog    Website   
 


Friday, November 24, 2017

Favorite Holiday Cookie - Almond Lace Cookies

by Judy Ann Davis
It's time to think about holiday baking. Below is my very favorite cookies I learned to make in Sweden when I was an exchange student. It is a delicate, crispy but crunchy cookie that is worth the time to make. Many people prefer not to roll the cookies over a round object, but leave them to cool flat.
  ALMOND LACE COOKIES



2/3 cup blanched almonds, ground

½ cup sugar
½ cup butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour4               
2 tablespoons milk
confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Grease and flour large cookie sheet. Into a large skillet, measure all ingredients except confectioners’ sugar.

Cook over low heat, stirring, until butter is melted and mixture is blended. Keeping mixture warm over very low heat, drop 4 heaping teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto cookie sheet. Bake 5 minutes or until golden.

Remove cookie sheet from oven and, with pancake turner, quickly remove cookies, one by one, and roll around handle of a wooden spoon, or drape over a rolling pin. (If cookies get too hard to roll, reheat in oven a minute to soften.) 
Cool. Repeat until all batter is used, greasing and flouring cookie sheet each time. Lightly dust cookies with confectioners’ sugar. Makes about 2 1/2/ dozen cookies.

NOTE: Mixture will be hard to handle on humid days. 
~*~    ~*~   ~*~


Looking for a gift for the holiday season for the person who reads? My collection of eclectic short stories, "Up on the Roof and Other Stories, which was republished recently, might be a great choice. Available in paperback and eBook.


UP ON THE ROOF  Amazon Buy Link: 



                Visit her on: 
Blog: www.judyanndavis.blogspot.com 
The web: www.judyanndavis.com 
Facebook: Judy Ann Davis Author 
Twitter: JudyAnnDavis4 
Pinterest: JudyAnnDavis44/ 
Author Page: Amazon Author Page 

Other Judy Ann Davis titles 
KEY TO LOVE
RED FOX WOMAN
UNDER STARRY SKIES
SWEET KISS [A Novella]
UP ON THE ROOF AND OTHER STORIES


 







Thursday, September 28, 2017

Where I Get My Story Ideas

The White Lady, (Book 2 the Ladies in Time series), is out on November 11th, and available in pre-order now. The story was inspired by the ghostly white woman lore I'm familiar with from the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding mountains. One such account speaks of a young woman dressed in white observed walking along the riverbank by the children of a valley family. When asked, their father told them she was the spirit of a brokenhearted woman who had died years before, that they would likely see her again, and to leave her alone. They did and kept their distance. As would I, I'm sure. 



After researching these haunting tales, I discovered this lore is widespread in America and the UK and dates back centuries. It's a paranormal 'thing,' or should I say she is? The white woman is described as a sad solitary figure deep in mourning, having been jilted in love, possibly left at the altar, maybe pregnant. Desperate, she generally kills herself or fades from illness and then lingers as a mournful restless ghost. While creepy, she's not usually vindictive. Usually....

In addition to research into ghostly white woman lore, I had one of my waking visions. I was walking around our meadow with the cows when I saw a young couple in my mind. He was fixated on the beautiful portrait of a mysterious lady while the girl endeavored to get his attention. She called him Ignus--a name I've never heard before--and warned him of the inherent dangers she sensed in this ghostly woman. He wouldn't listen. Guys never do. But there was something exceptional about Ignus, and then there's her best friend Stan...
This paranormal time travel romance takes place in a Victorian house in Staunton, Virginia at Christmas with flashes back to the Civil War and the end of WWI.

Story Blurb

Avery Dunham has always been ready to follow her friend, time-traveling wizard, Ignus Burke, on incredible adventures. This time, though, she has serious misgivings. It’s just one week before Christmas, but she cannot get him to change his mind. The usually cool and collected magic-wielding leader is wholly obsessed by the portrait of the White Lady whom he is bent on rescuing.

Almost as soon as they begin their journey, it becomes clear their mission is a trap. Avery was right: this adventure is not going to be like any other.~

Excerpt:

Avery had a few queries on the tip of her tongue, like, “Are you out of your freaking skull?”
If she didn’t ask, Stan probably would. 

They’d graduated from high school this past June and worked part-time ‘nothing’ jobs, taking a break before college while finding their way, as Avery’s mother put it. Mostly, they were drawn to Ignus like moths to a flame, especially Avery. Not that he noticed.

If only he’d look at her the way he did the white lady. More and more, the portrait seemed to dominate his thoughts. How could a petite, okay short, girl in a sparkly pink sweater and unicorn leggings compete with this tantalizing beauty?

Avery wasn’t plain, some even referred to her as cute, but exotic didn’t describe her. Quirky, sure. She wouldn’t term her brown eyes deeply affecting, and her face wouldn’t compel men through centuries to her side. The best she could do was plead with him.

“Ignus, be reasonable. Please.”

No reply. He wore his stubborn look. 

Crossing his arms over a lean chest, he tilted his head to better view the femme fatale on the wall above them. The tousled brown hair covering his ears and forehead needed a trim. In his red Zombie Preparedness hoodie with a white rescue logo, gray dress pants, and white high-topped sneakers, he was the quintessential
nerd. Most importantly, he was a wizard and time traveler with a passion for rescuing lost souls. His fervor for this particular lady was alarming.~

Get The White Lady in kindle at: https://www.amazon.com/White-Lady-Ladies-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B075XBTY1J

****Follow my Amazon Author Page and keep up with my new releases: https://www.amazon.com/Beth-Trissel/e/B002BLLAJ6/

***The Lady in Time stories do not need to be read in order. If you are interested in reading and reviewing this story please contact me: bctrissel@yahoo.com

Friday, December 9, 2016

2016 Holiday Gift Guide For Writers

It's that time of year again, and every year I update the gift guide for writers. For those of you who have writers in your life (and we all do. We're like black sheep, we're everywhere!) don't miss this list!
Here’s a simple guide of various gifts that writers would greatly appreciate, including a few items to avoid. :)


~Reviews! - 2nd year in the row on the top of the list! Reviews on novels through whatever medium you use. Amazon, GoodReads, B&N Nook. If you loved a novel, write a review and let others know! Can't tell you how much this one is appreciated, especially by Indie authors like us, more than any other 'gift!'
~Wireless laser printer (color or black & white) - With the amount of paper we go through printing out our masterpieces, the faster the better. Preferably one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to replace the toner.
~ Subscription to PicMonkey or Canva - Most authors are now involved in areas of marketing or promotions for their own novels and brand, if not 100% responsible for it. These sites help us create graphics and appealing ads to market our lovely books! (Writers, if you don't know about these sites, you must check them out!)
~Printer paper - A whole case doesn't cost that much, and we'll go through every single sheet. It's like chocolate or coffee, they don't last very long in a writer's household.
~Ink or Toner - See paper.
~Coffee mugs - Speaking of coffee, we go through ridiculous amounts of this life-saving beverage. Though feel free to spread the wings a little bit and include some kind of special flavored hot teas. Just to shake things up. But be unique with these mugs. Show us something different, and of course must be dishwasher safe!
~Coffee, or Starbucks gift cards – We need something to put in those lovely mugs you purchased. Since we're not allowed to filter coffee through an IV, we'll settle for the next best thing.
~Pens – But not just any pen. Give us something different, like those coffee mugs.
~Books – Obviously! Was there any other guess? We'll settle for giftcards to bookstores, too.
~ Chocolate or Fruit Bouquets - Something snack size so we can munch as we write. Chocolate because this is my guilty pleasure, and fruit bouquets because it would be nice to have something healthy in there. Or perhaps chocolate-dipped fruit! Ooh, best of both worlds!
~Massage or Spa Day gift card – This one is still on the list, because it's vital. Can't stress it enough. This forces us out of the house to relax our writing muscles.

Don’t Bother With These:

X Thesaurus – Once again, top of the Do Not Purchase List. Every writer already has one, and every good writer knows not to use it. Still #truth.
X Subscription to Writer’s Digest or Writer’s Journal – This was on the list last year as an option, but this year it got kicked to the curb. Why? Because all of the information in these subscriptions are now available online through other means, and mostly free of charge. Sorry!
X Digital Voice Recorder – Every phone has something already on it that works. My phone came with 3 different apps.
X Journals – Unless specifically requested, stay away from these! Every writer has a billion of these shoved somewhere in drawers. Plus, it’s a cliché. Writers are supposed to hate clichés.

That's this year's gift guide for writers. Do you have any suggestions for this list, something that we missed?  Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanza! Happy Holidays! PEACE ON EARTH
*This post originally appeared on Smart Girls Read Romance blog on 12/10/15.

Susan Sheehey writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance. Her latest series, Royals of Solana is currently being recovered and packaged, and will be available early 2017. Her original debut novel, Audrey's Promise, was rereleased November 2016, and is available on e-retailers now. Susan is a strong advocate for autism awareness and acceptance, and includes the healing element of water in every story. She lives and laughs in Texas with her husband and two boys. Follow Susan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and SusanSheehey.com. Sign up for her monthly newsletter of goodies and exclusive contests Here.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Vintage Christmas Cards Found In An Old Family Trunk



Vintage Santa Christmas CardSeveral years ago, my mother came across an antiquated box of family Christmas cards reaching back into the early 20th century. For those of you who enjoyed the British television series, Downton Abbey, this would encompass the Edwardian era before WWI (Season One). Other cards were sent during the Great War and soon after its conclusion. Some cards may extend even further back in time. This window into the past makes me very nostalgic. Reading the messages included in these holiday greetings transports me to an age forgotten by many, but shouldn’t be.
I’ve often heard about these ancestors, fine people, and even remember some of them from my childhood. Others lived far later into my life, but began theirs when America was quite a different place. Some cards from family friends are people not known to me, but glimpsed through their greetings. These gentle folk wouldn’t be trampling each other at Walmart on Black Friday. There is a graciousness in this era, despite the World Wars, that we are losing. Hearken back with me to earlier days.
Vintage American Christmas Card--excited boy peering through windowThese cards Mom scanned are among the most colorful. Because the cost of ink was high in that era, many only had small colored images or were in black and white. To receive a truly colorful greeting would have been a real treat. I’m grateful my family saved these images and messages from a simpler, more refined time. Many of these folks lived in Virginia. Our roots in the Old Dominion go back several hundred years.
Because of my fascination with these bygone days, I’ve written two Christmas romance novellas published by The Wild Rose Press: A Warrior for Christmas (set in Colonial America) and Somewhere the Bells Ring (set in the old Virginia family homeplace in the 1960’s with flashbacks to 1918). Both eBooks are available  at AmazonBarnes & Noble, and from all other online booksellers. A Warrior for Christmas is also out in audio at Amazon.
For more on me visit my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Beth-Trissel/e/B002BLLAJ6/
“Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year – and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.”  ~W.J. Cameron
Old Christmas Card Family Scene
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.”  ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
“This is the message of Christmas:  We are never alone.”  ~Taylor Caldwell
Vintage American Christmas Card with Carolers
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”  ~Charles Dickens
“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”  ~Washington Irving
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together.”  ~Alexander Smith
Early American Christmas Card--Romantic Couple
“A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away.” ~Eva Logue
***For those of you interested in old trunks. The one containing these cards and other family memorabilia is pictured below. We think it dates from about 1870, but are not certain. If you have a better guess let me know.
old family trunk

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Do You Like Holiday Romance Novels by Joan Reeves

Perfume Designer clueless about men!
Do you like romance novels that revolve around holidays? I have mixed feelings about the matter.

When one says, "holiday romance," the holiday in question is usually Christmas. I like Christmas romance in books and movies. I mean Hallmark must make a gazillion dollars with its Christmas movies. Right?

Christmas Romance Only At Christmas?

I like reading a Christmas romance, but the shelf life of that kind of novel is usually from early November to late January. After that, conventional wisdom is that Christmas romances languish on the shelves until November rolls around again.

Do you think that's true or do you enjoy reading a Christmas romance in July?

Valentine Romance

Valentine Romance novels are fewer because there's not as long a "shelf life" I suppose. I think that's why I didn't strongly link my romantic comedy Scents and Sensuality to Valentine's Day even though the "flowers and candy" holiday figures prominently in the story.

You see, the heroine, a perfumer by trade, is desperate to have a date for her cousin's wedding which is scheduled for, you guessed it, Valentine's Day. Even the last scene in the book takes place on Valentine's Day, at night, after all the hoopla is over.

Yet, I hesitated to brand it a Valentine romance because it sells nicely through the year, and I didn't want to change that. I did have a big promotion planned for it, but I ended up being out of town for several days and missed the romantic holiday completely. Like the song says, "That's life!"

On Sale Now

Scents and Sensuality is on sale this week for only 99cents at all ebook sellers. I'll go one even better. Leave a comment with your email address. Tell me what you think about romance novels linked to holidays. You'll be entered to win a free ebook copy of Scents and Sensuality as well as a free audio edition of the book. (Contest open until February 19. Winner chosen by random draw.)

Add to Your Library Now

If you want the book now (only 99cents through Thursday at 8pm), you'll find it at: All Romance Ebooks * Amazon Kindle * iBooks * Kobo * Nook * Smashwords.

Post Script

Joan Reeves is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. Available as ebooks, audiobooks, and print books, her romance novels all have the same underlying theme: “It’s never too late to live happily ever after.” Joan lives her happily ever after with her hero, her husband, in the Lone Star State. Sign up for WordPlay, Joan's email list/newsletter for readers and receive a free book.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Holiday Gift Guide for Writers

Writers tend to be like black sheep. Everyone knows a writer: in the family, a friend, a quirky coworker…we’re everywhere. :)
With the holidays around the corner, here’s a simple guide of various gifts that writers would greatly appreciate, including a few items to avoid.

~ Printer paper - Reams of it. Because most writers go through them like water. Or wine. Or chocolate.

~ Ink - See paper.

~ Coffee, or Starbucks gift cards – Most writers could probably use this best in an IV, but unless you’re a doctor and can write a prescription for the needles, best stick with the gift cards or beans.

~ Pens – Something cool, unique, different. Even a different color than the usual blue or black.

~ Coffee mugs - Just like pens. Be unique (and dishwasher safe!)

~ Books – Duh! Bonus points for knowing their favorite genre. But a safe bet would be a gift card to their favorite bookstore.

~ Comfy Clothes – Bonus points for writing related shirts/sweaters, such as “I’m the PsycHOTic
Writer Everyone Warned You About,” or “Grammar Snob,” or a personal favorite “Don’t Piss Me Off, Or I’ll Kill You In My Novel.”

~ Subscription to Writer’s Digest or Writer’s Journal – precious jewels in the mailbox, that many budget-conscious writers are forced to consider luxuries.

~ Massage or Spa Day gift card – This forces us out of the house to relax our writing muscles.

Don’t Bother With These:

X Thesaurus – Every writer already has one, and every good writer knows not to use it.

X Digital Voice Recorder – Every phone has something already on it that works. My phone came with 3 different apps.

X Journals – Unless specifically requested, stay away from these! Every writer has a billion of these shoved somewhere in drawers. Plus, it’s a cliché. Writers are supposed to hate clichés.

Hopefully, this list gives you some ideas and starts you off in the right direction. Have a fantastic holiday!


Susan Sheehey writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction. Follow Susan at http://www.SusanSheehey.com, or on Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, and Amazon. Be sure to check out her upcoming release, Jewel of Solana!