Countdown to New Years- Day 16

I think I remember why I didn't do to well and following through with this last year. As the big day approaches and my EDJ gets more and more hellish, it's harder to think about positive things. It's hard to even want to think about anything happy when I could sit here and fill pages and pages with complaints.
But, one step at a time and all complaints aside, I was happy to come home from work...and I was happier to eat too many mini eclairs.  LoL (My beach body has been put off until next summer...or the summer after.)

Countdown to New Years - Day 17

9 days till Christmas! Yes, we have made it to single digits. To those of you who are sludging through the trenches of working retail this time of year....we're almost there! Stay true to yourself, don't let them get to you.

Friday Flash Fiction will return after the 25th....when my brain recovers from Retail Christmas Syndrome.

Countdown to New Years - Day 18

My whole day was a happy day today!

Really, it was. It was my day off. LoL I laid in bed a read till the obscene hour of 9am, then I sat around in my cozy "Bad Side" sweatshirt and leggings. Did some christmas shopping, spend some time with my husband. It's was an incredibly wonderful day that was way too short.

I'm back to work tomorrow...and everyday...for the next 11 days.  It's almost over for another year

Countdown to New Years- Day 19

My happy thought for today.

Baths

Seriously, is there anything better than lounging in a hot bath with a glass of wine, a couple bath bombs and a book?

Nope, I didn't think so ;)

Countdown to New Years Day 21 & 20

I didn't get my post done yesterday. It wasn't a good day and my brain really wasn't in a happy place and it was a struggle to think of something positive. But, I watched Scrooged and that made me laugh enough to snap out of it...(there are some heavy spots in that movie but I fast forwarded past them.)

In the end I'd say my happy thoughts for Day 22 was giggling at some classic Bill Murray. <3



Today was better and I had a much easier time coming up with some happy thoughts. Hubby suggested we go for a quick tan after I got off work, and my 12 minutes of quiet basking certainly lifted my spirits. (I swear I was a lizard in a past life)

But, what really put me in a good mood today was that earlier my daughter sent me a video on how to make a wreath out of a hanger and a bunch of ornaments. So, on my lunch break I went to the dollar store and picked up what we needed.

It turned out so awesome! We're completely covered in glitter and I'm going to be vacuuming my carpets for eternity to get it out, but I don't care. It was fun spending time with my youngest and creating something really pretty.

Countdown to New Years - Day 22

I was just about to crawl into bed when I realized that I hadn't posted for today! I would have been so angry at myself in the morning had I missed it...to be honest I probably would have posted tomorrow and changed the date, but deep down I would have known I didn't do it! LoL

What was it that made me happy today? Tonight I sat down and wrote my final exam for the online course I've been taking through Sheridan College. Yeah! I finished the course :)  I will admit that many bad words escaped my lips as I worked my way through the questions, but damn it felt good when I finished. 

And, despite already suffering from "retail holiday brain", I managed to pass the exam with an 85% . 

Yup, I'm feeling a little chuffed right now :)

Countdown to New Years - Day 23

I'm sitting here with the button of my pants undone wondering how I'm every going to make it up to bed, and if my husband has the energy to roll me up there. My favourite part of today was getting to go out to dinner with out best friends. No kids. No work. No distractions. Just the four of us making jokes and eating a fabulous meal. It was so much fun!
But, I'm so full right now....good thing this chair is comfortable because I don't think I'm going anywhere for a while.

Countdown to New Years - Day 25

What made me happy today?

NEED I SAY MORE?

#DoughnutsMakeEverythingBetter

Countdown to New Years - Day 26

As my first week is drawing to a close I've realized I enjoy thinking about what I'm going to post about. With the craziness of this time of year at my EDJ, thinking about positive things  is good mental practice. LoL

Today was harder than normal, might be a combination of a lot of things. There aren't any windows at my EDJ and I feel like I don't ever see the sun. Which is a one way ticket for my brain to sink into an unhappy place.

So off I went to the tanning beds with my husband today. I know they aren't exactly healthy for you but a quick ten minutes once a week really helps my mental process. 

I like laying there all toasty warm and cozy, imagining I'm on a beach somewhere. Ten minutes of peace and quiet and it's amazing how much I can get my thought process quieted down and semi organized.....or as close to organized that my brain will ever get. 

:) 

Countdown to New Years Day 27

My warm happy fuzzies today came from being able to spend some time alone with my husband in a dark room....while munching on popcorn and chocolate :) 

We went to see Justice League. I know a lot of people didn't like this movie but it wasn't that bad. I enjoyed it. (It wasn't as good as Thor:Ragnarock) There was action and cool fight scenes.

The Flash totally stole the movie for me. Maybe because I write stories I'm a little more aware of character arcs and growth...and really Barry Allen (the Flash) was the only who had any kind of character development at all. He's a little bit dorky and a whole lot adorable. I hope they make a Flash movie because I'd enjoy learning more about his character.


What movies have you seen lately that you've enjoyed??

Countdown to New Years Day 28

4 days into my countdown to New Years, what made me happy today?

This x 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

I'm guilty of it and I know lots of other people are too. We don't want to be made fun of so we cut down something that makes us happy before anyone else can. That's something I don't want to do any more. 

If you need someone to cheer you one, I'm here. Share in the comments if you'd like. I'll never poke fun of your dreams or ideas. <3

Countdown to New Years Day 29

Everything was pretty low key around my house today. But, I can honestly say something that made me feel happy is TEA :)

It might be psychosomatic, but the moment I'm not feeling 100% I shy away from coffee. Growing up, my mum's first response to any emergency, dilemma, trauma, boredom, etc, was to put the kettle on. (My Dad would wet a facecloth, fold it up and slap it on your forehead, but that's another story)

It's possible that I have drank my body weight in tea today. I have two favorites at the moment. 

Tetley Vanilla Earl Grey with a splash of milk

PC Feeling Soothed with a generous spoonful of honey 

Are you a tea or coffee drinker? What are your "goto" flavours/brands

Countdown to New Years Day 30

What made me smile today...I want to say not much because I'm not feeling good and I'm a bit of a grumpy bastard at the moment. 

I was freezing....like turning into an icicle, at work today. A sure sign that I'm coming down  with something, especially when everyone else was complaining that the store was too hot. LoL I ended up popping down the hall to Ardene to get myself a sweater. I found not just a sweater but the most amazing t-shirt. This made me smile today and I instantly felt a little better. 

Lilo & Stitch is one of my girls favorite movies.  They are 18 & 20 now and they still both get excited when they see Stitch stuff. To be honest I'll be lucky if I ever actually get to wear this again because I'm willing to bet one of them will swipe it from me. 

We're not Samoan or Hawaiian but "Ohana" has always been something we used to explain to our kids that family doesn't just mean the people your related to. We have lots of people in our life who are chosen family, or we've adopted to be part of our motley crew.  

Ohana makes my heart smile

Countdown to New Years- Day 31

A "Memory" popped up on my Facebook feed earlier today, reminding me that last year I did a countdown to the New Year. Everyday I'd write about something that I enjoyed that made me happy. I won't get into why at the end of November I was feeling very negative and oppressed but I remembered enjoying the mental exercise.

I didn't manage a post every day, as my EDJ is in retail and the month of December will suck anyone's will to live. But, I'd like to try again this year. End the year on a wave of positivity and hopefully it will create a habit to carry into the new year. 

December 1st....Day 31 

I'm going to tell you about something silly I had a lot of fun with today.

My husband had a booth a THE BUILDERS SHOW at the Metro Convention Center in Toronto. I was there today to help out, cover the booth when he ran to have a smoke or get a coffee, but other than that I was free to wander around. 

Now, wandering around a massive trade show devoted to construction is more interesting than I'd thought. There were lots of plot ideas floating around in my brain as well as character inspiration. 

What I didn't expect to see were so many stress ball type swag...and I got quite obsessed with them. 

As I wasn't there as a trade member or would ever be a customer I felt bad just scooping their swag. So I made a rule for myself that anyone I had a conversation with about their business then it would be okay. LoL It made what could have been an incredibly boring day into a fun one. Every time I came back to my booth my husband would laugh and ask what I got that time. 

I managed to come home with 2 lego blocks (the guy said you can't take just one), a van, a toolbox, a brick, a green light bulb and 2 hard hats (white and yellow) 

There were lots of interesting people there today and I learned some interesting things that I'm sure will end up in a book at some point. And now I have a collection of funky stress balls I have no idea what to do with!

Any suggestions? :)

#SixSentenceSunday - The Prince's Elite Warrior

I've back to working on my post-apocalyptic warrior book, it's so damn close to being finished, I need to focus and get the words down. My goal is to have it complete by the end of the month. Completely doable as long as I focus. Focus....must Focus.

My last SSS post on this book was from Titus's POV so this time I thought we'd look at the world through Ali'i :)

The Prince's Elite Warrior

   Ali’i Ku’ukaki scanned the sand covered expanse around him watching for any dangers that might be crawling along the desert floor. The undead hunted the living as if they could regain life by devouring the bodies that still held a spark of life. For the last two days, he and his men been following a trail of bodies, as if the creatures had been drawn to something but then cut down.

A large hoard had caught up to them earlier in the day and he and his seven fellow Kolo warriors had cut them down and placed their bodies back in the earth where they needed to be. They’d wanted to head back to the waters of their home but something kept driving him, curiosity or something in wind whispered for him to follow the trail.

Ali’i Ku’ukaki 

Titus

Counting down to a New Year....17,16,15,14

It's that time of year when everything goes to hell in the retail world. I'm still making notes of what makes me happy and trying my best to be more positive and appreciated of my life. (although I'll admit there are moments when it's really difficult. LoL)

I've gotten myself quite behind over the past couple days and while I'd like to believe I'll stay on target over the coming weeks....there might be another "catch up" post done before it's all over. :)

But today I'm gong to share 4 more things that have made me happy over the past couple days.



1) A friend of mine on FB makes the most amazing paper roses ornaments and wreaths. They are gorgeous absolutly beautiful. One day I'd like to give that a try, but for now I'm going to stick with my version. Crochet hook and yarn, :) I think it turned out really cute...so I have 1. I figure in another decade or so I'll get a couple more finished. LoL




2) About 6 months ago I decided that I' was tired of touching up my hair every month because of my greys and I planned to grow all the colour out and go natural. Well....I do like my grey that's coming in. It's really pretty and sparkly but there isn't enough of it yet and after all this time I finally caved and covered them all up. I redid my streak though. After asking an informal poll on my FB page (Pink or Purple) Purple won by a landslide, but again I was inspired by a friend and decided to do both. It's purple with a thin bright pink segment down the centre.






3) My ongoing attempt to eat healthier, and start my day with something other than 2 cups of coffee has spawned something new. I came across a recipe for "Oatmeal to Go" It's like taking a bowl oatmeal and baking it into a portable version. It looked delicious and was crazy easy to make. I got a bag of "country trail mix" at Walmart and that's whats on some of them. The others have chocolate chips because that's the only way I can get anyone in this house to try something new. Put chocolate on it.




4) Winter got a late start for us this year...not that I'm complaining. I'm not a fan of snow and I really hate being cold. But that does mean I can pull out all my comfort food dinners again. The ones that are too heavy or hot for summer. Tonight I made Cottage Pie (not to be confused with Shepard's Pie, that's made with lamb). Not that it's close to a pie because I use the biggest dish I have and even then the savages cleared out half of it on one sitting. I'm going to have to hide some now so I can take it for lunch tomorrow!



Let's keep these happy thoughts going. Share what made you happy today in the comments. Even if it's small...some days are harder than others.

Counting down to a New Year....18

What make me happy today..... Chili!

I've been smitten with a hella sinus cold in the last couple days. Par for the course when my day job involves working retail with the general public. Virus get passed around like smarties at Hallowe'en.

But, making a boiling pot of herbal tea helps and so does a big pot of bubbling spicy chili. I can already breath better just from standing over it. Of course all I can smell right now is chili powder but that's okay too. :)

I completely acknowledge that I'm playing fast and loose with the term "Chili" as I put beans in mine and according to Sheldon on BBT....that's not chili. :)

Counting down to a New Year...19

What makes me happy today....RELEASE DAY!!!

Yes, today is the day that SNOWY KNIGHTS is released. My short story KISS OF ICE is in there with 9 other amazing authors. I love anthologies and was so excited when I was invited to take part in this one.

Snowy Knights: 10 Suspenseful Contemporary and Paranormal Romantic Rescue Stories

When the cold hits, only he can warm her…

This December, snuggle up with 10 BRAND NEW romantic rescue stories! From literal heroes in the snow, to the bad boy whose soul is saved by love. These sexy stories will burn up your e-reader while melting your heart.

 Featuring:

WINTER DECEPTION by Amy J Hawthorn

ALASKA’S SNOWY MATE by April Zyon

WINTER’S STORM by Gracie Meadows

KISS OF ICE by Kayleigh Malcolm

SNOW-KISSED by Lizabeth Scott

FROST-BITTEN by Lori King

BY THE LIGHT OF A BLIZZARD by Michel Prince

STORM OF SEDUCTION by Nicole Morgan

SNOW ANGEL by Rose Nickol

SNOW BOUND by TL Reeve

Available NOW:

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1171907995

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXCIM4M/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MXCIM4M/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MXCIM4M/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01MXCIM4M/

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/snowy-knights-anthology

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1125069378

---

WINTER DECEPTION

Amy J Hawthorn

Kelly’s been framed for diamond theft and nothing is more important than clearing her name and keeping her job. There’s only one problem, the deadly snowstorm tearing through Kentucky.

Detective Jake Bowie comes home exhausted and prepared to sleep his vacation away. His dog, Jasper, has more important things in mind. Say like rescuing a half-frozen, damsel in distress.

No stranger to puzzles, Jake senses there’s far more to Kelly’s story than she’s admitting. Can he see through the heat of their passion to figure out this sexy little mystery?

———————–

 ALASKA’S SNOWY FATE

April Zyon

Christmas is looking rather bleak for recent divorcee, Alaska. Spending her vacation with her family will truly test the limits of her sanity, but she’s determined to push through and get some killer slope time in the snowy mountains.

Drake is looking forward to spending the holiday season hunkered down with his polar bear clan, rest and recouping from his constant training for the Olympics. When he and his clan-mates are called out on a dangerous search and rescue mission he never dreamed he’d come face to face with his fated mate.

Saving Alaska from her car was only the beginning, and the pair find themselves in a dangerous cat and mouse game with someone determined to kill her. Is it Alaska’s Snowy Fate to find Drake and fall in love, only to die in the process?

———————–

WINTER’S STORM

Gracie Meadows

Born to a life of privilege, Winter Stevens is ripped from her entire world by a secret she’s not willing to give up. In a small run down cabin in the middle of nowhere, the past blasts back into her life in the form of the deliciously enticing, Jules Brennon, and threatens to reveal the secrets she’s protecting.

Jules spends his life in a solitary cabin in the woods, content with only his ax for company. When the long-vacant cabin nearby is rented out, he’s forced to endure a neighbor. Never in a million years did he expect it to be Winter.

A blustery cold night forces these two together causing secrets to be spilled, and Jules to get tangled up in Winter’s Storm.

———————–

KISS OF ICE

Kayleigh Malcolm

Alice loves life as a geothermal engineer, searching the globe for her next adrenaline thrill. Falling down a crevice into a glacier and finding a frozen Viking of a man was an adventure she never saw coming.

Erik pissed off the wrong witch and she cursed him. Every living thing he touches…freezes. His only escape was to hide away and hope the curse died with the witch. The gorgeous woman who finds him is everything he’s ever craved, but he can never have.

Can Alice and Erik learn how to break the curse before it’s too late or will the ice freeze their chance for love?

———————–

SNOW-KISSED

Lizabeth Scott

Reed Hamilton, a home restoration expert, is more comfortable in her steel-toed boots than teetering on heels at a shopping mall. Relationships she usually kills from neglect so she’s taken herself off the market. An unexpected assignment to evaluate a potential project in upstate New York has Reed leaving the Victorian she’s working on to meet with the client. A client she discovers spooning her from behind when she wakes up in his bed! Reed finds Mason charming, tempting and hot!

An early snowstorm dumps an irresistible woman at Mason Tate’s door. As beautiful and enticing as he finds her, career focused Mason doesn’t do entanglements of any type. So he proposed that while snow falls outside, they make their own heat inside and then go their separate ways with only pleasant memories of their time together. No emotions, just a good time.

At least that was the plan. Until that kiss.

———————–

FROST-BITTEN

Lori King

Dr. Quinn Jameson has secured his future by submerging himself in his career, but no amount of money in the world can ease his loneliness. Despite the fact that his inner polar bear is supposed to not need a pack, he finds himself craving more out of life, more contact, more intimacy, maybe even a mate.

Aubrey Celine is pregnant and on the run. This feisty tiger shifter thinks she is out of options when she wakes up in the hospital under the care of the delicious shifter. But after the horror she has gone through, can she trust another man? Even someone who seems so strong and caring?

In the midst of an epic blizzard, these two strangers must rely on each other to stay alive. The sizzling heat between them could melt the ice caps, but will it be enough to melt her frozen heart and give him the warm home he desires most?

———————–

BY THE LIGHT OF A BLIZZARD

Michel Prince

Kelsi Stamp is known all over the world as one of the best-selling Sci-fi authors. Living in a small town she’s able to stay hidden tucked away in her cabin in the woods. Outside of her internet searches she stays away from the world. Readers are fickle and love has turned to an unhealthy obsession in the past.

As a blizzard bears down on Northern Minnesota Kelsi’s lights flicker then go out right after a large crash echoes through the wilderness. A truck holds an unconscious stranger she is being pulled to, but who is Jace Runyon and why was he driving so fast on a road no GPS even knows exists?

———————–

STORM OF SEDUCTION

Nicole Morgan

Lori Hammond wanted for nothing. As the only heir to her family fortune she’d learned at a young age she only need ask for whatever she desired. All the money in the world hadn’t gotten her the one thing in life that she’d wanted most, Kevin Preston.

As the head of The Gilpin Search and Rescue Team, Kevin knows the dangers that a Colorado blizzard can bring. And with one looming closer to their patch of the Rocky Mountains he and his team prepare for the worst winter storm to hit their county in decades.

Hearing of the blizzard, Lori concocts a scheme to get exactly what she wants. But, will her plan be the thing that brings them together? Or will the rewards not be worth the risk as their very survival hangs in the balance?

———————–

SNOW ANGEL

Rose Nickol

Kasey Danvers is on the run. Her step-father has finally pushed her to the edge, and now her only plan is to drive until the car runs out of gas. It’s just her luck that it happens in the middle of a freak snowstorm.

Fate intervenes, when Bryce Cromby comes to her rescue, warming her body and soul as he protects her from the storm. But can he protect her when her step-father comes for her again?

———————–

SNOW BOUND

TL Reeve

Amity Jones is in trouble. Her ex-boyfriend is stalking her and won’t let her go, no matter how many times she runs away. After his latest attempt at kidnapping her, she has to disappear, or else.

Lance Wingham, Alpha of the Rosewood pack isn’t expecting to find his mate in a ditch on the side of the road. Caring for her is easy. And, when Amity’s ex-boyfriend shows up looking for her, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.

Will Amity be able to accept the wolf lurking under Lance’s skin, or will she once again be running scared?

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/Snowy-Knights-1231896653541186/

Counting down to a New Year...20

Things that make me happy... 6 Sentence Sunday Monday!!

Okay I had a brain slip yesterday and forgot to post my 6 sentences. I blame the fabulous lunch I had with a bunch of author friends. It sent my brain spinning in glee. But, 6 sentences I have and I'm happy to share :)

Tomorrow is release day for Snowy Knights!! This has been an amazingly fun journey and the best part is the fun doesn't stop tomorrow. Snowy Knights are counting down the 12 days of Christmast with lots of fun and prizes. So be sure to pop back every day and learn more about the stories in this anthology.

Since we got a good dumping of snow around here last night, I've opted to go with a bit "warmer" part of KISS OF ICE. :) Hope you enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alice’s body hummed under the intensity of his gaze. She’d never been a prude and he wasn’t the first man she’d ever been with but there was something more naked, more intimate here. It scared the hell out of her and made her want him more at the same time.  Lifting herself up she tucked her feet under her and balanced her butt on her heels. Letting her knees fall apart gave him access to every inch of her as she leaned back against the ridge behind her. Reaching out, she grabbed a handful of his hair and tugged his face closer. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snowy Knights: 10 Suspenseful Contemporary and Paranormal Romantic Rescue Stories for only 99 CENTS **10 Full short stories, not snippits or teasers!**

iBooks

Amazon

AmazonUK

Amazon CA

AmazonAU

Kobo

Nook 


This December, snuggle up with 10 BRAND NEW romantic rescue stories! From literal heroes in the snow, to the bad boy whose soul is saved by love. These sexy stories will burn up your e-reader while melting your heart.
Featuring:

WINTER DECEPTION by Amy J. Hawthorn
ALASKA’S SNOWY MATE by April Zyon Author
WINTER’S STORM by Gracie Meadows
KISS OF ICE by Kayleigh Malcolm SNOW-KISSED by Lizabeth Scott Author
FROST-BITTEN by Lori King
BY THE LIGHT OF A BLIZZARD by Michel Prince
STORM OF SEDUCTION by Nicole Morgan
SNOW ANGEL by Rose Nickol
SNOW BOUND by TL Reeve

 Romance Rebels Publishing brings you Snowy Knights

------------------------------------------------------------

PREORDER NOW: (Release Date December 13th

Counting down to a New Year...22

There were things that made me happy today (yesterday)....but I forgot to post them.

So instead, I'm going to forgive myself and move onto tomorrow. Because not beating myself up over little mistakes makes me happy.