Alexa Darin's Blog

Holiday Treats

Christmas Confetti Jell-O Cake

3 packages (3 ounces each) Jell-O (blackberry, lime, and orange work well)3 cups hot water1 ½ cups cold water1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice¼ cup sugar1 (3 oz) package raspberry Jell-O½ cup cold water1 cup cold milk1 tsp vanilla extract3 envelopes Dream WhipPrepare first three Jell-Os using 1 cup of hot water and ½ cup of cold water each. Pour into three shallow dishes so that when firm, Jell-O can be cut into ½-inch cubes.Mix pineapple juice and sugar. Heat until dissolved, then remove from heat and dissolve raspberry Jell-O in the hot liquid. Add ½ cup of cold water.Chill just until it becomes syrupy. Note: when mixture is getting close, begin next step.Combine milk, vanilla extract, and two (2) envelopes of Dream Whip in a chilled bowl. Blend until mixture forms peaks, and then fold gently into syrupy Jell-O.Cut firm Jell-O (blackberry, lime, and orange) into ½-inch cubes. Fold gently into syrupy raspberry Jell-O mixture.Pour entire mixture into a 9-inch Angel Food or Bundt pan. Chill 8 hours.Unmold and spread top and sides with last package of prepared Dream Whip.

Tip for unmolding: Fill kitchen sink with a couple inches of warm water. Set cake pan with mixture in sink for only 7-10 seconds, then remove from sink. Place plate over top of cake pan and in one swift motion, turn over. Jell-O mold should come out easily and look fabulous!

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Lily’s Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour1 ½ tsps baking powder¾ tsp salt¾ tsp cinnamon½ cup unsweetened applesauce1 cup packed brown sugar¼ cup softened butter (not melted)1 tblsp vanilla extract1 large egg1 generous cup semisweet chocolate chipsPreheat oven to 375°Lightly spoon flour into measuring cups; level with a knife.Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Lightly mix.Spoon applesauce into a fine sieve over a bowl. (A paper towel in a strainer works fine.) Let stand 10-15 minutes. Discard liquid and scrape drained applesauce into a large bowl.Add sugar and butter to applesauce. Beat with mixer at medium speed about 2 minutes.Beat vanilla and egg into applesauce mixture.Add flour mixture to applesauce mixture, and beat at low speed until well-blended.Fold in chocolate chips.Drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray. (Note: Spraying baking sheets just once, for the first sheet of cookies, is usually sufficient.)Bake at 375° for 10 minutes, or until you can see the bottom edges turning golden and the tops become puffy and look done. Cool on pan 2-3 minutes, or until firm.

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Lily’s Crazy-For-Hot Chocolate Cake

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour1 cup sugar½ cup unsweetened cocoa1 tsp baking soda¼ tsp cayenne pepper¼ tsp salt1 tsp cinnamon1 cup cold water¼ cup vegetable oil1 tblsp good quality balsamic vinegar1 tblsp vanilla extractChocolate or colored sprinkles (optional)Crushed walnuts (optional)Preheat oven to 350°FLightly grease and flour (with cocoa powder) an Angel Food or Bundt cake pan.Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, cayenne pepper, salt, and cinnamon in bowl and stir until blended.Add remaining ingredients and stir until smooth.Pour mixture into cake pan of your choice and bake for 25 to 35 minutes (until toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean).Allow cake to cool for ten minutes before removing it from the pan. After cake is completely cooled, prepare glaze.After glazing, if desired, add sprinkles or crushed walnuts to the top of the cake (before glaze has cooled).

Chocolate Glaze

1 cup confectioner’s sugar½ cup unsweetened cocoa2 tblsps melted butter5 tblsps water1 tsp vanilla extract

Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth, then pour over top of cake and allow
to set for approximately 30 minutes. Add sprinkles or nuts, if desired, before glaze cools.

Extraordinary Places to Kiss

The time will soon come when we’ll all be free to share a spontaneous kiss with our significant other…or anyone else. So, in anticipation of that day, I’ve put together a list of getaways where you can go for a most extraordinary kissing experience. Whether you’re a fan of romantic beach interludes or something more exotic, this list is sure to get you thinking about escaping the current reality. But before we talk possible kissing excursions, let’s first discuss the good and the not so good of kissing…

First, the good…

No doubt about it, kissing is fun. But what happens to your body when you kiss another person? It depends. If your kiss is a heat level one—in which case, I suggest you pay close attention to the benefits of a good lip-lock—then you might feel a release of the happy chemicals serotonin and oxytocin. But up the heat level to a five and not only will your body be flooded with the aforementioned happy chemicals, but you’ll also experience a sudden surge of dopamine that will have you feeling more energized and uplifted for hours.

Myself? I prefer a heat level that makes my toes curl.

Beyond being in a merry state of mind, passionate kissing often leads to more amorous activities. Here’s why…a man’s saliva contains testosterone, which ups a woman’s level of arousal. So, if you want to get in a little beach exploring or hill climbing when you arrive at your destination, save the passion for later.

You may feel more relaxed after a session of kissing. Why? Because it can decrease your level of cortisol, which is the stress hormone. Hmm…Could kissing possibly be the cure for nervousness when you’re about stand before an audience and give a speech?

Kissing burns calories. How many calories are we talking? Again, depends on the heat level of your kissing session, but a good 30 minutes could have you burning up to 150 calories. And couldn’t we all use a pleasurable way to burn calories?

Kissing may reduce your cholesterol. Talk about win-win. By reducing your cholesterol, you may also be lowering your risk of hypertension and heart disease.

Kissing can help alleviate pain. Guess that means no longer being able to use “I have a headache” as an excuse not to get frisky.

Now, for the not-so-good of kissing…

You might get a cavity or two. Sad, but true. It happens with the exchange of saliva. To be safe, experts suggest using mouthwash after a session of heavy kissing. But whatever you do, do not give up kissing.

Kissing spreads germs. Duh, right? Experts say that just one little kiss can pass up to 80 million bacteria from one mouth to another. Again, do not give up kissing, though I highly recommend not kissing anyone who is exhibiting any signs or symptoms of herpes, the flu, the Bubonic Plague, or any other illness.

Kissing can cause an allergic reaction…which can be deadly. If you’re allergic to peanuts and you kiss a guy who’s just eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you could be in serious trouble…or dead. And if you’re not allergic to peanuts, but are in the habit of kissing guys who typically eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, you might still be in trouble. Just saying.

Kissing, or just the thought of kissing someone, can make your stomach feel all topsy-turvy. Here’s why…your fight-or-flight hormones—adrenaline and noradrenaline—make your blood flow faster and your pulse rate quicken. This is actually a good thing. It means you’re excited at the idea of sharing a kiss with a certain someone.

Okay, so now that we’ve gone over a few of the pros and cons of kissing, let’s get to my picks for great places to pucker up. I’ve listed my top ten, plus five additional worthy mentions. Happy kissing!

TOP TEN:

Sedona, Arizona

Not that you’ll need to add any heat to your kisses, but when you’re ready to take a break from smooching, and maybe do a little hiking, Sedona is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever visit. Just be sure to do your hiking first thing in the morning…unless you have a hankering to be rescued from the heat by the Sedona Fire District rescue crew. See Sedona here.

Vail Village, Colorado

While summer is nice, this small town is best known for its ski resort. And when you’re finished gliding the slopes, you can sit by a roaring fire and kiss the night away. See here for more information.

Malibu Beach Inn — Malibu, CA

In my opinion, this is the best place to stay in Malibu. Besides having a five-star restaurant, this lovely inn gives you access to the beach that goes unpopulated even on the warmest of days. From your cozy ocean-view balcony (ask for a room on the second floor), you might see porpoise’s swimming or pelicans diving into the Pacific Ocean. You might even see surfers surfing. And when you’ve finished watching the show outside your room, sleep with the sliding door open and listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore while you kiss your significant other into the wee hours of the morning. For more information, click here.

Isle of Skye, Scotland

If you’ve never kissed in a medieval castle, this is the place to go. But when you’ve kissed to the point of having chapped lips, what’s next? So much, I can’t even begin to tell you. But never mind that. Who hasn’t dreamed of kissing in a castle? See here for more information.

Fregate Island Private, Seychelles

This is one of the best places on the planet to kiss. Fill your days with exploring a world you only imagined might exist. Accessible by boat or helicopter, you’ll want to leave this place…never. For more information, click here.

Gorges du Verdon, France

If kisses from your significant other don’t take your breath away, this place will. Turquoise water flows through the gorge that will have you wishing you could stay forever. Kiss here and you might just find yourself falling in love all over again. Google The Gorges du Verdon for more information.

Denali National Park, Alaska

Six million acres of Alaska wilderness is home to some of the most incredible wildlife you’ll ever see. But that’s only if you’re able to take your lips off your significant other long enough for a trek into the park. (Gentle warning: If you do take a trek, and stop along the way to smooch, be sure to keep both eyes open so you can see the Grizzlies coming at you.) Click here for more information.

San Juan Island, Washington

With a temperate year-round climate, this is a great destination no matter when you visit. There are two modes of transportation to the islands: plane and boat (ferry, private boat, and charters). If you’re looking for a gorgeous sunset, paired with plenty of tranquility, take a boat or a water taxi to Henry Island where you’ll find all the inspiration you need for a great kissing experience…and maybe a little exploring, too. Click here for more information.

Winthrop, Washington

If you’re in the mood for a blast from the past, look no further than this western-themed town that has only 595 acres for kissing. And when you’re ready to come up for air, there are plenty of extracurricular activities to keep you busy. From alpine skiing and sledding during the winter months to horseback riding and rock climbing during the summer. For me, I can think of nothing better than beginning my day with a long trail ride after a morning filled with smooching. Then to end my day, I would sit next to a cozy fire with my kissing partner and share a good glass of wine. Whether you fancy staying in a cabin or a house or even a tent, be sure to plan your stay well in advance. For more information, click here.

The Maui Westin Resort & Spa — Maui, Hawaii

Choose the Westin KOR, rather than the Westin resort on Kaanapali, for plenty of quiet time with your significant other. Click here for more information.

WORTHY MENTIONS:

Martha’s Vineyard

Accessible by boat or air, this New England colony encompasses harbor towns and lighthouses, along with plenty of sandy beaches to walk along with your kissing partner. See more here.

Ross Lake Resort — Rockport, Washington

This is a great nature-at-its-finest resort. There’s no road access so you’ll have to hike and then get a quick boat ride across the lake to the resort, or you can take the Diablo Lake Ferry. Once at the resort, you can spend your time in seclusion kissing the day away, or you can stay the night at one of the furnished cabins and kiss the night away. (Note: pots and pans are included, though you must bring your own food as there are no restaurants or stores.) For more information, click here.

Scottish Highlands

Think big! Everything about this place is a sensuous escape from your normal routine. After a day of getting lost in the majestic mountains, and watching dolphins frolic off the coast, you might be thinking you’ll be too tired to kiss. Think again. Don’t miss the opportunity to lay one on your significant other in this wondrous paradise. Click here for more information.

Charleston, SC

Romance is in the air in this lovely city of the south. Take a horse-drawn carriage down a cobblestone street, and then find a place that serves genuine southern cuisine before retiring to your room for a night of blissful kissing. If you’re a first-timer, click here for more information.

Leavenworth, Central WA

The quaint town of Leavenworth has a charming Bavarian theme that makes you feel as though you’ve left the U.S. With a back-drop of the Cascade Mountains, you’ll have no trouble getting in the mood to lip-lock. And if you decide to take a break from kissing, you can visit a nearby reindeer farm or you can hike one of the many nature trails. Or if you want to find something to take home that will remind you of your time in this charming escape, you can peruse all the shops that sell unique gifts like the traditional dirndl dress. For more information, click here.

Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

Recipe Ideas for Thanksgiving!

It’s that time of year! We’re all getting ready for the holidays and, for some of us, that means preparing a big dinner for a lot of people. And while most of us enjoy the turkey and potatoes and gravy, sometimes the extras can be a problem. Like cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce isn’t for everyone, but it’s a hard one to forgo because it adds color to the table and to your plate. Leaving it off the menu just seems wrong. So what do you do when you have family or friends who wrinkle their noses at the red stuff? Not to worry. Here’s a colorful replacement recipe that will turn those frowns into smiles. While it may seem an odd choice for a dinner side, the flavor and texture of I-Hate-Cranberries Cranberry Sauce goes surprisingly well with the traditional turkey dinner.

I-Hate-Cranberries Cranberry Sauce

1 package red Jell-O (strawberry or raspberry works well)
1 cup sugar-free applesauce
¼ cup red hot candy (aka Cinnamon Imperials)

Note: This recipe is for preparing a small package of Jell-O. For a large package, double the amount of applesauce and red hots accordingly.

Another Note: Prepare Jell-O as stated on package, except for cold water, you’ll use applesauce.

Put red hots in the boiling water and stir until melted. Then add Jell-O and mix.
Stir applesauce into red hot Jell-O mixture, then chill until firm.
Serve as a colorful cranberry sauce replacement to those haters of cranberries.

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If you’re looking for a tasty idea for turkey leftovers, check out the following recipe for What’ll-I-Do-With-All-These-Leftovers? Casserole.

What’ll-I-Do-With-All-These-Leftovers? Casserole

2-4 cups of leftover turkey, cubed
2-4 cups of broccoli florets (or cauliflower)
1-2 cups mushrooms, chopped small (optional)
1 (12-oz) can evaporated milk
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon black ground pepper
Dash of nutmeg
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 (7-oz) container Greek yogurt
¼ cup sherry
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Sliced almonds
Cooking spray

Note:  Broccoli works great, but you might try cauliflower, too. The amount of turkey and broccoli is your choice, as are the mushrooms. If using the lesser amounts, you may not need the full amount of the other ingredients. Adjust accordingly. As for the sherry, I prefer to use drinking sherry over cooking sherry.

Another Note:  To save calories, you can use low-fat mayonnaise and low-fat Greek yogurt, but if you’re like me, you’ll burn off those Thanksgiving calories with holiday shopping or even a good hike.

Preheat oven to 400°.
Steam broccoli (if not using leftovers) until crisp-tender. Transfer to a large bowl.
Add leftover turkey to broccoli.
Combine evaporated milk, flour, pepper, and nutmeg, stirring with a whisk for smoothness while bringing to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook 1 minute, continuing to stir while mixture thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
Add mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sherry, Worcestershire sauce, cream of mushroom soup, and ½ cup Parmesan cheese to broccoli/turkey mix. Stir gently to combine ingredients.
Add milk/flour mixture to broccoli/turkey mix. Stir gently.
Spoon mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle top with about a ½ cup Parmesan cheese and bake at 400° for 50 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and beginning to brown at the edges. Sprinkle ¼ cup sliced almonds on top and bake another five minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool five minutes before serving.

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And, finally, here’s my tip for easy, tasty pumpkin pie…

You’ve already outdone yourself preparing a fabulous dinner, so consider taking it easy with dessert. Run to Costco and get yourself one of their big ol’ pumpkin pies! It’ll serve several people and it’s so cost-effective, it doesn’t make sense to do anything else. Oh, and don’t forget a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream!

Old Dogs Need Love Too

If you ever feel you can no longer care for your aging dog, or if you have a dog who needs medical care that you can’t afford, please take the time to check out any of the organizations that may be able to help. Old Dog Haven is one in my area (Washington state) that I just love. They do such great things for our elderly furry citizens!

Their Mission Statement:

Old Dog Haven is committed to the belief that all senior dogs should live peacefully in their final years as members of a caring family. To this end we:

Provide permanent foster homes for unadoptable, abandoned or soon to be homeless, senior dogs in western Washington, age eight and over. We give preference to the oldest dogs and those that have serious health issues.
Assist owners, shelters, and rescues in finding homes for their adoptable senior dogs age eight and over by posting those dogs on our website and our Facebook page;
Educate the public about the value of senior dogs in our lives and the unique gifts they bring us.

We intend to keep Old Dog Haven foster dogs as healthy and comfortable as possible by providing excellent medical care, but without heroic measures intended only to extend life. We are committed to helping these dogs find peace in their final years without judgment of the humans who have left them.

When quality of life is no longer present for any senior dog we believe that euthanasia is the ultimate gift we give them.

Finding an Agent

It’s time. You’re ready for a relationship (with an agent). All you need to do now is begin your search for others with similar interests. Could be a first glance (your query letter) will be all it takes to spark something. Then, maybe you’ll share a cup of coffee (agent asks to see the first few chapters). Or, perhaps, the two of you will get right down to business (agent dives in and asks to see your entire manuscript.).

Now you wait. Waiting is hard. Were you witty enough, sexy enough, memorable enough? Did you make the agent catch her breath, laugh out loud, lose sleep? Or did you leave her feeling empty, like she’d wasted her time trying to get to know you?

Two weeks pass. Where is she? Panic sets in. You second-guess yourself. What if you forgot to give her your phone number? And, gasp, email address? You know you didn’t, but what if you did?

You could use a shower, but showers are for wusses. And, anyway, it’s not easy to check phone messages while standing under running water. The upside of waiting, though, is that you’ve lost your appetite and, along with that, the last ten pounds you’ve been wanting to lose for the past year.

Another week goes by and your friends are avoiding you. You stink! And it’s not just your body odor. You’re ever downward spiraling mood has sent them running. What were you thinking? You can’t write! You’re not a writer. That agent isn’t ever going to call. You didn’t show her a good enough time. You weren’t witty or memorable enough.

You were b-o-r-i-n-g!

But wait—is that your phone ringing? You check and see that—omigod!—it’s her! Your mouth goes dry. Your heart goes pitter-pat. Your deodorant fails. Thank God she can’t smell you right now. Or see your hair. Or see how you’re still wearing that blouse you spilled coffee on five days ago.

You wait to answer while you compose yourself. But you don’t want to wait too long, else she might hang up…and never EVER call again!

“Hello, Ms. Agent? Oh, yes, I was just doing some laundry/reading/etc. Oh, thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed my book. What’s that? You’re interested in having a relationship with me?”

You hang up. To hell with composure. You scream loud enough that your neighbors think you’re having an affair with the UPS man. But you don’t care what the neighbors think, because right now you’re consumed with giddiness. You’re over-the-top happy with the promise of a long-term commitment. You can’t sleep, can’t think straight, can’t do anything but smile and call everybody you know to tell them you’ve fallen in love.

And then you get down to reality. Editing, connecting with potential fans, signing your books, leaving reality behind. You are now an author. May luck be with you!

Writing Tips…

1) The word that first comes to mind when you realize you’ve submitted an earlier version of your manuscript than you intended to a potential agent/publisher/anyone is horror. Followed by humiliation. Then regret…for not double-checking the material about to be sent. It happens. The only thing to do is move on and, hopefully, you will have learned something.

2) When you’ve finished writing your book (or think you have), print out a hard copy and read it (out loud). You’ll be surprised at how much different a sentence might sound when you hear it, rather than just see it. Unless, of course, you’re a super talent like Stephen King. Then you might only need to pop the cork on a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

3) You’ve come up with the perfect plot…but then you discover a similar book has just been published. Now what? Don’tbe put off! Your voice and your story will be completely different and maybe even better. Besides, it’ll take you a while to write that book and by then that other book will have lost its newness.

4) When you land an agent, treat them like the gem they are, for they will weather your storms and be the champion who finds a home for your story.

Post Super Bowl Blues…it’s not just a man thing!

Some people suffer from seasonal blues; i.e., lack of sunshine. Me, I suffer from seasonal blues, too. End of football season blues. It’s not just a man thing…

 

 

http://www.kjrh.com/sports/local-spor...

Ten Things To Keep In Mind When Planning Your Own Wedding…

*          Eighty percent of your guests won’t care about your music selection. Choose what you and your groom enjoy and dance like no one is watching.

*          Always task a back-up person (i.e., friend/stranger/family member) to take wedding photos. Camera batteries die, photographers go missing, s#!t happens, so be prepared.

*          Do not expect your cake to be the flavor or have the icing or filling you ordered. By the time you cut the cake, it’s too late to take it back, so accept it as is and be glad it even arrived.

*          Do not expect your wedding bouquet, or any other wedding flowers, to actually look like what you explained in great detail to the florist. And, too, don’t blow a blood vessel at said florist when you see that she f#&$%d up. Unless she’s an ex of your husband-to-be and has evil intentions (so, why would you hire her?), she, in all likelihood, did not f%&k up on purpose.

*          Your Maid of Honor may not be aware of certain duties and/or your desire to have her perform certain tasks, so do not expect her to: 1) plan a bachelorette party, 2) provide you with something old, something new, something borrowed, or something blue, 3) arrange your dress attractively at your feet for picture taking, 4) offer an after-ceremony toast, or 5) refrain from getting blottoed and doing the best man.

*          Do not send a wedding invite to any family members of any previous marriages. Too, do not allow them in the door should they invite themselves. And while we’re discussing the invite list, do not send an invite to people who make you feel like you can’t let your hair down. This is your day. Have fun, be crazy!

*          Do not waste money on veggie trays. Most people, once they get your invite, will either anticipate blowing any diet they may be on, or will be too tempted to avoid food splurging when they see everyone else stuffing their faces with butter-poached Red Spot prawns, cheese soufflé, and wild Tasmanian sea trout.

*          Do not expect your wedding dress to fit perfectly. The final week before your wedding, your nerves will cause a three-fold increase in calories burned, which may result in your dress hanging loosely on your hips. Accept this phenomenon and embrace your slimness. Soon, you’ll be back to normal weight and you’ll be wishing you had another event to shatter your calm.

*          Do not expect monkey sex on your wedding night. No matter how passionate your groom has been in the past, fuhgetaboutit! He’s not getting it up. Nor are you. Sleep it off, wake up with a smile, and join him in the shower.

*          Don’t worry. Be friends, be lovers, be happy!

Pizza and Chocolate–Just Two of the Reasons I Love Autumn

And here are a few more…cooler weather, deciduous trees, the ability to eat again (i.e., pizza and chocolate), and, of course, the end of FICA…for some of us anyway. But before I digress into a diatribe about the evil twins–our government and taxes–let me go back to cooler weather, where I’ll discuss the connection between dropping temperatures and the ability to eat again. Most of you ladies out there know exactly what I’m talking about, but for those few of you who have yet to experience the yearly female feast and famine ritual, here’s the low-down. A mere ten degree drop in temperature means we can continue to wear our strappy sandals, but we can also slip into one of our favorite tees (that we’ve all but forgotten about over the long, hot summer), without risk of suffering heat exhaustion. A twenty-degree drop allows us an occasional day where we can skip the shaving, exfoliating, and moisturizing that has become part of our daily routine during leg-baring weather. All we need do is wiggle into a cute pair of jeans and voila! we’re good to go! Thirty degrees–this is where I start to get excited–and we can go on a three-day chocolate binge, where all that’s required to cover the evidence is donning a light-weight jacket. And when the mercury drops forty plus degrees, we can get away with chowing down on pizza for dinner, topped off with chocolate cake for dessert, two days in one week. Because when it’s that cold? All that’s necessary to cover the bulges you’ve gained is zip yourself into your favorite puffy Ralph Lauren ski parka.

Okay, now that we’ve got eating covered, let’s move on to deciduous trees and losing some of that weight you will undoubtedly gain by feasting on pizza and chocolate cake. Some of you may think I’ve gone bat$#!% crazy when you read this, but trees that shed leaves all over your yard present you with an opportunity you dare not waste. Listen up, ladies. I’m talking about arms here. That’s right, arms! Beautiful, toned, sexy arms that can only be yours if you put in the time…raking leaves, that is. The more the better. According to Livestrong.com, raking leaves for just 10 minutes counts toward 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exertion. So, don’t just sit there complaining about the huge maple trees behind your house, get out there and work that rake. Make no mistake, other women will burn with envy, some will even glare at you from behind their martini glasses, but you will be laughing the last laugh, because when you step out on the town in your new holiday frock, your arms will rock! And all because you spent a little time tidying up your yard. I don’t know about you, but I see this raking business as having a three-fold benefit: calories burned, sexy arms, and the opportunity to build a better relationship with your teenage son. He’ll be so grateful you didn’t ask him to do the raking that he’ll do all his other chores without question. Heck, you may even be able to eat pizza and chocolate cake three days a week. Though I wonder, wouldn’t it be most perfect if trees lost their leaves twice a year–spring and fall? Then not only would we look stunning in our holiday wear, but we’d also have beach ready arms when summer arrived. Just saying…

But enough about sexy arms and pigging out. Here are a couple other reasons to love autumn: 1) you no longer have to risk dislocating your entire body by dragging a hose around the yard to give your flowers a drink; and 2) the sun still appears often enough that you can continue to forgo a Vitamin D supplement.

Okay, so I’m sensing a few moans out there. Enough already! Just tell me about that FICA business you mentioned earlier. Okay, here’s the 411 on that… For those of you in the know, no explanation is necessary, except to inform you that once again your government has been hard at work raising your taxes. (For 2014, FICA has been increased to $117,000, from $113,700 in 2013). But for those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, it might be better–especially if you suffer from high blood pressure and/or bouts of anxiety–for you stay in the dark. Though if staying in the dark doesn’t appeal to you, listen up. The end of FICA means that after you reach a certain point in your yearly earnings, you may take home a little more pay with each paycheck. And that, my friends, is not such a bad thing with the holiday season lurking just over the horizon.

What about you? What’s your favorite season, and why?

When You’re Still in Love…

Seasoned writers are always handing out advice. And this is a good thing…else newbies might never see their works-in-progress through to completion.  Even so, each writer has their own way of getting the job done. Or not. Sometimes, no matter how we try, no matter how many times we go over our WIP, we are simply unable to pull all the pieces together into a seamless work of creativity. And then what? Do we chalk it up to a bad idea and just toss it aside, never to be thought of again? Do we throw it all away and start over with new characters and plot? If you possess any sanity at all, you already know the answer to that.

“Put it aside,” “Forget about it,” “It’s not working, so don’t waste your time,” “Move on.” That’s the advice you might hear. And could be it’s good advice. After all, you’ve got another book to write, more characters to develop, another world to create…right?

But what if you’re still in love? What if your original idea still swims free and reckless inside your mind, and your characters still breathe life? What if you can’t forget them, that hero and heroine you’ve created and lived with month after month after month, maybe even years? Can you toss them aside? I can’t…and didn’t.

It wasn’t easy. Three titles, a complete rewrite from third person to first person, and ten revisions later, I finally made Live a Little, Love a Lot work. (Though, according to some of my reviewers, my book is still shit.) People (editors) began to take notice. And now the story that began as a silly grain of an idea has a home, a cover, and its very own ISBN number.

Did I waste my time? Some would say I did. But was it really? If I’d moved on, what would I have gained? The experience of rejection? I needed no more of that.

No, moving on wasn’t the answer. I wouldn’t improve as a writer and might very well continue to make the same mistakes that garnered all those rejection letters. Which is why my advice to writers who’ve written shit may be different than some. I say, if you’re still in love, close your eyes and see those characters you’ve created, breathe the air you’ve surrounded them with, and remember how you felt when you first came up with that plot/idea/story. Don’t shove aside all those hours you spent hunkered over your keyboard, all those hours you spent laughing, crying, and dreaming. Stick with it. Write out the shit and learn and work through it and maybe one day your book will be a shining star. After all, becoming a skilled writer is a learning experience. A surgeon doesn’t become a surgeon over night. Even when he’s just graduated from med school, he’s still learning (FYI, I wouldn’t let him operate on me). Give yourself time to learn. Don’t give up on the patient (your book) just because what you’ve tried hasn’t worked. Maybe you’ll save your book, maybe you won’t. But one thing is certain, you will have gained valuable knowledge along the way.

On the other hand, if you are not still in love, throw the bastard out!