Sarah MacLean's Blog, page 18

An Open Plea to Cesar Millan

Meet Baxter.


He's seven, and I am in love with him. We've had him for six years, and I don't think I'm wrong in saying he's amazing. I mean, seriously. He's adorable, right? Like, empirically. Adorable. He's happy and sweet and he sits when he's told, and his ears go back when he listens and he wants 100%, more than anything else in the whole wide world--even peanut butter--even his stuffed hedgehog--he wants to be good. This dog is bizarre. He LIVES for the words "Good Dog." Praise is EVERYTHING to him. It's amazing. And he's good. Not just sit, stay, rollover good...but leave a whole turkey on the coffee table and he won't eat it good. 
Cut to two weeks ago, when Mr. MacLean and I move into a new apartment. And we're so happy! Because this new apartment is bigger and better in every way, and yes...even Baxter will like it more, because there's OUTDOOR SPACE! 
Except, he doesn't like it more. 
He hates it. 
And we've broken him.
He's still cute as a button. Still happy and sweet and sits when he's told. His ears still go back when he listens and he still loves praise. But now...when we leave him...this happens: 
Baxter Howl by Sarah MacLean
FOR HOURS.AND HOURS.
Like, from the moment we leave to the moment we come home. 30 minutes, 2 hours, 5 hours...
We've hired a trainer, we've started making Baxter lay on the floor instead of sit on the furniture. We've rationed his food. We've been firm, stopped meeting those big brown eyes, and even stopped cuddling with him so much. And nothing. 
Our vet says it could take a few weeks for him to settle in...but I'm certain our neighbors hate us, because the walls are thin and I KNOW they can hear him. And I don't blame them. I kind of hate us. 
I think we ruined our perfect dog. 
And it makes me le sad. 
Anyone out there know Cesar Millan? Maybe he'd come to Brooklyn to help us be better owners?
No? 
Ok...anyone out there have a good idea to share? 
I just want my puppy back. 

An Open Plea to Cesar Millan

Meet Baxter.


He's seven, and I am in love with him. We've had him for six years, and I don't think I'm wrong in saying he's amazing. I mean, seriously. He's adorable, right? Like, empirically. Adorable. He's happy and sweet and he sits when he's told, and his ears go back when he listens and he wants 100%, more than anything else in the whole wide world--even peanut butter--even his stuffed hedgehog--he wants to be good. This dog is bizarre. He LIVES for the words "Good Dog." Praise is EVERYTHING to him. It's amazing. And he's good. Not just sit, stay, rollover good...but leave a whole turkey on the coffee table and he won't eat it good. 
Cut to two weeks ago, when Mr. MacLean and I move into a new apartment. And we're so happy! Because this new apartment is bigger and better in every way, and yes...even Baxter will like it more, because there's OUTDOOR SPACE! 
Except, he doesn't like it more. 
He hates it. 
And we've broken him.
He's still cute as a button. Still happy and sweet and sits when he's told. His ears still go back when he listens and he still loves praise. But now...when we leave him...this happens: 
Baxter Howl by Sarah MacLean
FOR HOURS.AND HOURS.
Like, from the moment we leave to the moment we come home. 30 minutes, 2 hours, 5 hours...
We've hired a trainer, we've started making Baxter lay on the floor instead of sit on the furniture. We've rationed his food. We've been firm, stopped meeting those big brown eyes, and even stopped cuddling with him so much. And nothing. 
Our vet says it could take a few weeks for him to settle in...but I'm certain our neighbors hate us, because the walls are thin and I KNOW they can hear him. And I don't blame them. I kind of hate us. 
I think we ruined our perfect dog. 
And it makes me le sad. 
Anyone out there know Cesar Millan? Maybe he'd come to Brooklyn to help us be better owners?
No? 
Ok...anyone out there have a good idea to share? 
I just want my puppy back. 

Laura Lee Guhrke's Ten Most Shocking Scandals!

I'm so so thrilled to be hosting one of my favorite authors--Laura Lee Guhrke--on the blog today! Laura's Girl-Bachelors series is just incredible...if you haven't read The Wicked Ways of a Duke , stop reading this blog post and go read it. Now. I'll wait.

Anyway... I'm so excited about Laura's newest series--Abandoned at the Altar! The second book in the series,  Scandal of the Year , is out this month, and I cannot WAIT to read it! You know how I feel about scandals...and so when Laura suggested she come over to blog about real-life scandals...I was all for it.

Welcome Laura!

Because my latest book, Scandal of the Year, is in stores now, and because I love gossip, I thought I'd share with you my top 10 shocking scandals. These are the things that shocked me when they came out, but after thinking it over, I realized I wasn't all that surprised by them.

10. Tiger Woods. My first thought on this was, OMG, she bashed in his car with a golf club? And then I found out why. Ok, no longer surprised. 

9. Mike Tyson. I was shocked when the news about Desiree Washington came out. Although going up to a man's hotel room might give him the wrong impression, too bad. Rape is never allowed, and it's always shocking to find out not all men understand that. But then I remembered Mike Tyson was just that kind of guy. He bit off Holyfield's EAR. Is the idea that he raped a girl very surprising? No, sadly. It's not.

8. Steve Tyler. Here, I'm not thinking of how the lyrics to Walk This Way shocked me the first time I heard that song. And I'm not thinking about a while back when Steve fell off the stage TWICE. I'm not even thinking about how he's a judge now on American Idol. No, the most shocking thing Steve Tyler has done is get old. I saw a picture of him recently for the first time in years, and I was shocked because I thought, "Oh, crap, Steve was hot back when I was in high school, and if he's getting old, that means…I am, too?" Gulp. I had to book a facial appointment just to make myself feel better about that unthinkable realization. And if I could give Steve just one little bit of advice, woman to man, it would be this: Steve, Men Of A Certain Age should not wear leopard leggings. Pass that advice on to Mick Jagger, too, next time you see him. 

7. OJ Simpson. Having lived in LA before the murder, and having worked with quite a few people in the Hollywood movie crowd, I'd heard gossip about the abuse already, so although the news of Nicole's death and O.J.'s arrest was shocking to many people, it did not surprise me a bit. I wasn't surprised by the car chase either because he seemed the sort of guy who would run away. And I never thought for one second that he DIDN'T do it. Because of all that, I found the verdict shocking beyond belief. But in hindsight, when I think about the fumbling and bumbling of the prosecution, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised. 

6. Anna Nicole Smith. Marrying old man? Nah, not shocking. Trying to claim a share of his money after his death? Not shocking. That she proved she couldn't act her way out of a paper bag? That she died of a drug overdose? That…never mind. There's nothing shocking about Anna Nicole Smith. Let's move on. 

5. Rocky Horror Picture Show. Shocking enough that a low-budget musical with weird people and an incomprehensible storyline should become a cult classic that makes people go to the movie theater as if it's a costume party/picnic combo. But when I watched that movie on tv not long ago and I saw Tim Curry strut around in that black corset and fishnet tights once again, I realized I'm no longer surprised by the movie's success. Even in that getup, Tim Curry was hot. No wonder I saw that movie dozens of times back in high school. 

4. Brad and Angelina. When this romance came out, I wasn't shocked by Angelina. Who could be after Billy Bob Thornton? No, it was Brad that pole-axed me on this. I liked Jennifer Aniston, and I thought, "How could you, Brad?" I haven't been much of a Brad Pitt fan since. I think he's a great actor, but he's not hot. Not anymore. 

3. Lorena Bobbit. Cutting off her husband's most important appendage was shocking, but given the info about abuse that came out later, it was not surprising. In hindsight, I'm just surprised that after she cut it off she threw it out the window. I would have put it through the garbage disposal. Not that I'm vindictive, or anything… 

2. Project Runway. Ok, I hate Reality TV. Except for Top Gear and the Iron Chef, I think most of it's garbage. But I LOVE Project Runway, mainly because every year the winner shocks me. It's NEVER who I think it should be (except Jeffry, who made that yellow plaid dress that rocked the runway—he won, and should have won, and all was right with the world that year). But what doesn't surprise me now is that they are not rushing out to make Season 9. After the mind-numbing Gretchen debacle of Season 8, who could blame them? Any fashion sense the judges had has obviously disappeared, and they should move on. Tim Gunn, however, can have his own show. He rocks. 

1. Princess Diana. I was shocked by her death, but in a strange way, it seemed so iconic. Like JFK. Like Marilyn. Like Jimmy Dean. She died at the height of her beauty, and just when she'd really come into her own. Looking back, I think it was what I'd probably write in a book (if I didn't write romance, of course!). Her death seemed strangely suited to the ironies of history.

(Editor's note: I love. This. Post!)

Contest time!


What scandalous things have shocked you and why? Thinking back on them, do they still surprise you?  Leave your answer in comments, and we'll choose one lucky winner on Friday to receive signed copies of Laura's Girl-Bachelor series!! **Don't forget to leave your email address, so we can connect with you if you win!

Tawny Weber's Ten Most Romantic Songs for Valentines

I'm thrilled to host the fabulous Tawny Weber today on the blog...Tawny's tenth book, Breaking the Rules, is out this month, and who better to talk about Valentine's Day than a ten-time romance author? 


Welcome Tawny! 

As we approach the most romantic holiday of the year, I start imagining the makings of a romantic evening.  There's champagne, of course.  And chocolate (everything requires chocolate!).  And romantic music.  Slow dancing music.  Softly playing in the background while staring into the eyes of your sweetheart over a candlelight dinner music.  Sharing champagne and chocolate in front of a blazing fire music.


So I thought I'd share my favorite romantic music with you - and see what your list looks like, too!    


Tawny's Ten Most Romantic Songs for celebrating Valentines Day 
I Will Always Love YouMy Heart Will Go OnFrom This MomentAmazedUnchained MelodyEverything I Do (I Do It For You)Marry MeKeeper of the StarsTruly Madly DeeplyWonderful Tonight How about you?  What's your favorite romantic song?  Keeper of the Stars was my wedding song, so it has an extra special place in my heart.  Do you have a special song that, just hearing the notes, makes you feel romantic?  

I love this idea...the ten most romantic songs for Valentine's day! Marry Me definitely makes my list as well Tawny! In fact, Tawny's inspired me to think up my own Top 10 list...stay tuned later in the month for that! 


To celebrate the release of Breaking the Rules, Tawny is giving away some Valentine's treats to one commenter today!  She's hand-crafted a heart-shaped tin filled with candy, and she's offering a signed copy of a book from her backlist (winner's choice)!


Comment below with your favorite romantic song, and we'll choose one lucky winner on Tuesday! **Remember to leave your email address so we can reach you!  


And... don't forget to visit Tawny's website to join her invitation-only Valentine's Day Party!  Including: a downloadable short story; ten Tips for a Hot Valentine's Night; and a contest for a Valentine's Basket! Head over to the Breaking the Rules Valentines Party on Tawny's site and RSVP! 

The Day That Strikes Fear in the Hearts of Men...

I'm talking about Valentine's Day, of course!

It's a horrible, horrible thing we do to the men in our lives...so horrible, in fact, that in my house, we don't go all out on February 14th like most couples do. Although, I should add that there's another reason. I don't like Valentine's Day. I don't like being forced into feeling like I *should* be in love. I didn't like it when I was single, and I still don't like it now.

So...instead of dinner and roses, Eric and I wish each other a Happy Valentine's Day but feel no pressure to love each other any more than any other day of the year." I like it this way, because it gives a nod to this holiday that I used to hate hate hate, and at the same time doesn't feel like a huge dramatic thing that we *must* do or else we obviously have to end our relationship.

To that end, I give you Ten Ways to Show Your Love on Valentine's Day...Or Any Other Day...Without Making It a Thing.  I know it doesn't rhyme. But just go with it. :)

1) Write a note. I know. It sounds lame. But I find that when you've been in a relationship for a while, you tend to forget to tell your partner about all the things (s)he does that are awesome and make you love them that little bit more. Also, the love letter is a wonderful thing (I like to sneak it into Eric's coat pocket, so he finds it during the day). So, here's my theory: February 14th is as good a day as any to expound on your partner's fabulousness. Of course, April 3rd is good, too. Or June 25th. Or any other of the 364 days in the year.

2) Rent a shoot-em-up. At some point, someone said Valentine's Day movies are supposed to be love stories and you're supposed to be all date-y...but the truth is, that's only fun if it's fun for *both* of you. Instead, buy tickets to something you both want to see. Or rent something that's not lovey-dovey, but is fun anyway (I recommend The A-Team. Also, The Italian Job). Order pizza. Buy the Jumbo Popcorn. And have fun without feeling so pressured to be in love.

3) Get milkshakes. This happens to be my Valentine's Day tradition. And by "my" I mean the singular, "my." When I was in college, all my single friends would do milkshakes on V-day. When I was out of college, we kept up the tradition for years--even though many of us had boyfriends. Once we started getting married, husbands got to come along. Going out for milkshakes is old-fashioned and fun. For added cuteness, get one milkshake and two straws.

4) Cook dinner. Don't get crazy and go out of your comfort zone...we're not making this a thing, remember? But make something you both enjoy tonight. What's your partner's favorite? That's the thing you should make. More importantly, you should eat it together. Not in front of the TV or with your kids screaming like banshees. And if your kids' bansheeing cannot be stopped...may I suggest a little something for dessert to eat after they go to bed? Try these SUPER simple chocolate lava cakes...which you can premake and just throw in the oven before you want to eat!

5) Go old school. Get a box of Necco Sweethearts. Do your thing all day, have a normal, nothing special night. And then, while you're cuddled on the couch, rock the "Be Mine." For a naughtier ending to this scenario, get some Adult Conversation Hearts...

6) Smooch. This one is self-explanatory. But quality smooching time is a terrific gift in the middle of a busy February.

7) Make a plan to be in love on another day of the year. I know...this is a wild and crazy idea...but instead of Valentine's Day, with it's forced roses and it's overpriced dinners, what about planning a date night for another time? How about March 1st? Or April 12th? I bet it's easier to get a sitter...and you'll have something lovely to look forward to! My suggestion? Cuddle up on the couch on V-day and make your plans for You-day. That's "you" in the plural.

8) Take a walk. Yes, I know it's February, and all signs point to this being the longest, coldest winter ever in the history of winters...and yes, it's probably snowing RIGHT NOW...but sometimes, taking a walk, even in the snow, even in the cold, is as romantic as it gets. You're outside, together, talking...and when you stop on the corner before crossing that street, or to admire the way the snow is falling through the light from the streetlamp...it's just a perfect moment.

9) Those three little words. Sure, you say them. Plenty. But how about calling your partner up in the middle of the day and telling him/her out of the blue? Just because you thought about it? Can't take calls at work? Text, email...or write a little note and time-stamp it. This is a good one to remember every day. Don't ever skimp on telling someone you love them. It feels great to hear it when you're least expecting it.

10) Smooch. I know, I know, I already said this one. But it bears repeating, don't you think?

There you have it! Ten ways to celebrate with your sweetie without going overboard on February 14th...or any other day of the year. Do you have something to add? A mellow gift/experience for the 14th? Leave it in comments, and one lucky commenter will win an eARC of Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart! I'll pick the winner on February 15th!

And for more V-day festivity and the next stop on the Avon Ladies Valentine's Day ring, head over to Katy Madison's house!

The Day That Strikes Fear in the Hearts of Men...

I'm talking about Valentine's Day, of course!

It's a horrible, horrible thing we do to the men in our lives...so horrible, in fact, that in my house, we don't go all out on February 14th like most couples.  Instead, we wish each other a Happy Valentine's Day and do something very small that says "I love you, but no more than any other day of the year." I like it this way, because it gives a nod to this holiday that I used to hate hate hate, and at the same time doesn't feel like a huge dramatic thing that we *must* do or else we obviously have to end our relationship.

To that end, I give you Ten Ways to Show Your Love on Valentine's Day...Without Making It a Thing.  I know it doesn't rhyme. But just go with it. :)

1) Write a note. I know. It sounds lame. But I find that when you've been in a relationship for a while, you tend to forget to tell your partner about all the things (s)he does that are awesome and make you love them that little bit more. Also, the love letter is a wonderful thing (I like to sneak it into Eric's coat pocket, so he finds it during the day). So, here's my theory: February 14th is as good a day as any to expound on your partner's fabulousness. Of course, April 3rd is good, too. Or June 25th. Or any other of the 364 days in the year.

2) Rent a shoot-em-up. At some point, someone said Valentine's Day movies are supposed to be love stories and you're supposed to be all date-y...but the truth is, that's only fun if it's fun for *both* of you. Instead, buy tickets to something you both want to see. Or rent something that's not lovey-dovey, but is fun anyway (I recommend The A-Team. Also, The Italian Job). Order pizza. Buy the Jumbo Popcorn. And have fun without feeling so pressured to be in love.

3) Get milkshakes. This happens to be my Valentine's Day tradition. And by "my" I mean the singular, "my." When I was in college, all my single friends would do milkshakes on V-day. When I was out of college, we kept up the tradition for years--even though many of us had boyfriends. Once we started getting married, husbands got to come along. Going out for milkshakes is old-fashioned and fun. For added cuteness, get one milkshake and two straws.

4) Cook dinner. Don't get crazy and go out of your comfort zone...we're not making this a thing, remember? But make something you both enjoy tonight. What's your partner's favorite? That's the thing you should make. More importantly, you should eat it together. Not in front of the TV or with your kids screaming like banshees. And if your kids' bansheeing cannot be stopped...may I suggest a little something for dessert to eat after they go to bed? Try these SUPER simple chocolate lava cakes...which you can premake and just throw in the oven before you want to eat!

5) Go old school. Get a box of Necco Sweethearts. Do your thing all day, have a normal, nothing special night. And then, while you're cuddled on the couch, rock the "Be Mine." For a naughtier ending to this scenario, get some Adult Conversation Hearts...

6) Smooch. This one is self-explanatory. But quality smooching time is a terrific gift in the middle of a busy February.

7) Make a plan to be in love on another day of the year. I know...this is a wild and crazy idea...but instead of Valentine's Day, with it's forced roses and it's overpriced dinners, what about planning a date night for another time? How about March 1st? Or April 12th? I bet it's easier to get a sitter...and you'll have something lovely to look forward to! My suggestion? Cuddle up on the couch on V-day and make your plans for You-day. That's "you" in the plural.

8) Take a walk. Yes, I know it's February, and all signs point to this being the longest, coldest winter ever in the history of winters...and yes, it's probably snowing RIGHT NOW...but sometimes, taking a walk, even in the snow, even in the cold, is as romantic as it gets. You're outside, together, talking...and when you stop on the corner before crossing that street, or to admire the way the snow is falling through the light from the streetlamp...it's just a perfect moment.

9) Those three little words. Sure, you say them. Plenty. But how about calling your partner up in the middle of the day and telling him/her out of the blue? Just because you thought about it? Can't take calls at work? Text, email...or write a little note and time-stamp it. This is a good one to remember every day. Don't ever skimp on telling someone you love them. It feels great to hear it when you're least expecting it.

10) Smooch. I know, I know, I already said this one. But it bears repeating, don't you think?

There you have it! Ten ways to celebrate with your sweetie without going overboard. Do you have something to add? A mellow gift/experience for the 14th? Leave it in comments, and one lucky commenter will win an eARC of Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart! I'll pick the winner on February 15th!

And for more V-day festivity and the next stop on the Avon Ladies Valentine's Day ring, head over to Katy Madison's house!

Sunday musings...

I can't believe I haven't posted in three weeks...that makes me sad. And I'm sorry! With traveling to family all during the Christmas/New Year's craziness and then getting back into the swing of things, I don't really have a great excuse...but I'm back!

To make up for lost time, how about I give you some things that I've been thinking about in the last three weeks?

1. Tea. Seriously. I got a gift certificate to Adagio Teas for my birthday in mid-December, and I've mainly been basking in the glow of my spoils...Rooibos Vanilla, Earl Grey Moonlight and Chamomile. And, for the nerd in me, Adagio comes packaged with TeaClass.com, which teaches you all sorts of fascinating (and perhaps unnecessary) things about tea. How about this: Tea was never designed to be put in tea bags. An American tea merchant was using silk pouches to ship tea leaves, and the purchasers just threw the whole thing in water. What?! Anyway...Adagio is an awesome company, and look! They're letting me give you a $5 gift certificate!





2. Sports Night. My love for Aaron Sorkin knows no bounds, and this Christmas proved it...as I got both the Sports Night and The West Wing box set DVDs. It had been a while since I'd watched Sports Night, which is a fabulous, smart 1/2 hour comedy that only lasted two seasons because ABC had no idea what to do with it. Anyway...It's awesome. And it makes me wish I liked sports more.




3. Fresno, CA. My husband is from Fresno, which is right smack dab in the middle of California--and is a place no one ever really has a need to go. But besides Eric, figs and raisins come from there...so if you're into dried fruit or tall, blond Californians who play guitar, it could possibly be your mecca.

4. Typeset pages. Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart has been typeset! It has a first page and everything! And with that said, how about I give you the first line of the book?

"In retrospect, there were four actions Miss Juliana Fiori should have reconsidered that evening." 
5. Book #5. I cannot believe it.  I write that number down and I think, How is it possible that I've already written four complete books--books that have beginnings, middles and ends and don't descend into random combinations of nouns and verbs? But I have. And I've started book #5, the first in my brand new Fallen Angels series!

6. New Apartment? If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know that we've been looking for a new apartment for a really, really ridiculously long time. Like, months and months. I have a good feeling about this month, though. I'm ready, universe. I'm ready to pack my stuff and head on out to a new place!

7. GREEK. I am very likely the only person over 22 who watches this show, but I'm not ashamed to admit it, frankly. I love it. I think the writing is so clever, I think the characters are so fun, and I love that it's not afraid to put itself out there on serious issues facing today's college students. I'm so so happy it's back for a new season. If you haven't watched it, you're missing out...but don't be sad; it's on Hulu!

8. The Bachelor. Uhm...let's just say that it's really saying something when the girl with the fake fangs is not the craziest female on this show. And that Brad? He is not hard to look at. Just so we're clear. While I'm on the topic, I have to say that I've always thought that The Bachelor would make a great historical romance premise...and Vicky Dreiling has proved me right! Her How to Marry a Duke is a must read for fans of the show!

9. Vanilla extract. So so so cool! My mother-in-law bought me a "make-your-own vanilla extract" kit in Hawai'i this year...it's one of the coolest gifts I've ever received...the kit came with bottles and vanilla beans, but who needs a kit? You can do it yourself with this recipe!  And look how gorgeous these bottles are at Simply Recipes! No joke, I think I might make a bunch for Christmas 2011!

10. New year, new writing schedule. 1500 words a day. Every day. Even weekends. Of course, the last few weeks have produced several thousand utterly useless words...but I'm trying.

So...what about you? What's on your mind? Anything cool to share with the rest of the class?

Sunday musings...

I can't believe I haven't posted in three weeks...that makes me sad. And I'm sorry! With traveling to family all during the Christmas/New Year's craziness and then getting back into the swing of things, I don't really have a great excuse...but I'm back!

To make up for lost time, how about I give you some things that I've been thinking about in the last three weeks?

1. Tea. Seriously. I got a gift certificate to Adagio Teas for my birthday in mid-December, and I've mainly been basking in the glow of my spoils...Rooibos Vanilla, Earl Grey Moonlight and Chamomile. And, for the nerd in me, Adagio comes packaged with TeaClass.com, which teaches you all sorts of fascinating (and perhaps unnecessary) things about tea. How about this: Tea was never designed to be put in tea bags. An American tea merchant was using silk pouches to ship tea leaves, and the purchasers just threw the whole thing in water. What?! Anyway...Adagio is an awesome company, and look! They're letting me give you a $5 gift certificate!





2. Sports Night. My love for Aaron Sorkin knows no bounds, and this Christmas proved it...as I got both the Sports Night and The West Wing box set DVDs. It had been a while since I'd watched Sports Night, which is a fabulous, smart 1/2 hour comedy that only lasted two seasons because ABC had no idea what to do with it. Anyway...It's awesome. And it makes me wish I liked sports more.




3. Fresno, CA. My husband is from Fresno, which is right smack dab in the middle of California--and is a place no one ever really has a need to go. But besides Eric, figs and raisins come from there...so if you're into dried fruit or tall, blond Californians who play guitar, it could possibly be your mecca.

4. Typeset pages. Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart has been typeset! It has a first page and everything! And with that said, how about I give you the first line of the book?

"In retrospect, there were four actions Miss Juliana Fiori should have reconsidered that evening." 
5. Book #5. I cannot believe it.  I write that number down and I think, How is it possible that I've already written four complete books--books that have beginnings, middles and ends and don't descend into random combinations of nouns and verbs? But I have. And I've started book #5, the first in my brand new Fallen Angels series!

6. New Apartment? If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know that we've been looking for a new apartment for a really, really ridiculously long time. Like, months and months. I have a good feeling about this month, though. I'm ready, universe. I'm ready to pack my stuff and head on out to a new place!

7. GREEK. I am very likely the only person over 22 who watches this show, but I'm not ashamed to admit it, frankly. I love it. I think the writing is so clever, I think the characters are so fun, and I love that it's not afraid to put itself out there on serious issues facing today's college students. I'm so so happy it's back for a new season. If you haven't watched it, you're missing out...but don't be sad; it's on Hulu!

8. The Bachelor. Uhm...let's just say that it's really saying something when the girl with the fake fangs is not the craziest female on this show. And that Brad? He is not hard to look at. Just so we're clear. While I'm on the topic, I have to say that I've always thought that The Bachelor would make a great historical romance premise...and Vicky Dreiling has proved me right! Her How to Marry a Duke is a must read for fans of the show!

9. Vanilla extract. So so so cool! My mother-in-law bought me a "make-your-own vanilla extract" kit in Hawai'i this year...it's one of the coolest gifts I've ever received...the kit came with bottles and vanilla beans, but who needs a kit? You can do it yourself with this recipe!  And look how gorgeous these bottles are at Simply Recipes! No joke, I think I might make a bunch for Christmas 2011!

10. New year, new writing schedule. 1500 words a day. Every day. Even weekends. Of course, the last few weeks have produced several thousand utterly useless words...but I'm trying.

So...what about you? What's on your mind? Anything cool to share with the rest of the class?

Merry...happy...buon...joyeux...feliz...

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love.

If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.
-Love Actually


Merry merry... Happy happy...xoxo

Merry...happy...buon...joyeux...feliz...

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love.

If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.
-Love Actually


Merry merry... Happy happy...xoxo