Vicki Batman's Blog, page 14

Handbag and Book: What is Vicki carrying now? Summer reading in full swing. Have you tried Sommerville days?

Many years ago, my sister introduced me to Margaret Smith bags. When I visited her, our first shopping stop was the flea market. A woman sold Margaret Smith bags where I bought my first, a tote the size of a briefcase. 

Eventually, eBay and ETSY found me--haha--and I found more bags. I've bought several, many of which I've worn out. 

Yesterday, I carried a lovely bright floral tote. It's an excellent size and holds my stuff easily. The inside lining pocket could be bigger. A good thing to note about fabric bags is how light they are.  The drawback is cleaning and the wear and tear on the bottom corners and handles. 
I visited with a friend and she went ga-ga over my bag. She loved the bright floral fabric and the nifty size. Frankly, I was surprised she liked it so much.





Have you bought a vintage handbag?

Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities.
Raving Beauty: What if the love of your life was in front of you all along?Store Wars: The competition is heating up when Janie's old flame returns to town and is running his family's store. Could following dreams break her heart? San Diego or Bust: When a young woman plans a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, disaster strikes. Is her Mr. Right the right Mr. Right?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Raving Beauty: "I can't believe I let your loony brother, who's tormented me all my life, talk me into this." With my eye on the teenage competition standing off to one side, I tugged the swimsuit’s leg opening into place to better cover my hip. "Just because I did some modeling in college doesn't make me a pageant diva. Back then, I was incredibly skinny, and clothes fit easily."               "Daniel is a rat. He took advantage of your third, or was it your fourth, margarita, Kelly?" Maggie Ackerman, my best friend and roommate, adjusted the scarlet satin sash draped across my body. Glittery stick-on letters spelled out Miss Yahoo! Ranch Steakhouse. "Don’t worry. You’re beautiful and will be fine. Now, hold still."                I watched her pick my brown hair at the crown of my head with an old-fashioned teasing comb. When the eerie suspicion I resembled a scary dame with Big Texas hair from the television show, “Dallas,” I turned my head to avoid the mirror.                "Close your eyes." She blasted my hair with several short bursts of super freeze-it hairspray. "Now, that ain't goin' nowhere."
Find your days in Sommerville at: KU and Amazon

Handbag and Book: Rat Race, Chocolate, and Fiber #Iamaklutz #toobusy #laundryday

Sometimes, I think I’m a klutz.
Over the weekend, I felt a raised place on my arm not far from my elbow. I was a little concerned but decided to watch the owie before doing anything. And eventually, the spot reduced and went away. Puzzling as I couldn’t remember how I hurt myself. 
On Tuesday night, after a yoga class via zoom, I went outside to wash the breezeway. After I finished, my tongue brushed over my teeth. I felt something rough, you know, like extra cement that wasn’t removed. Only, I’d had no work done on my teeth. I pushed the spot with my tongue, trying to determine what was going on. My conclusion--pretty sure I broke a crown. But I can’t remember when it happened.
Wednesday morning, I noticed a scrape on my car’s right front fender. I didn’t do it. Don’t know when it happened.
Do you ever feel a tad forgetful?
I know I don’t have anything going on in my head. My life isn’t too jam-packed. I keep a good calendar. I write lists on sticky notes. I’m pretty organized.
I think what I have is the I’m in a hurry issues. I’m in such a hurry to get through the lists and the calendar, I bang an arm or leg or toes (yup, broken a few of those), and later, don’t recollect exactly when and where. I’m not enjoying the flowers. I’m not sitting by the pool. I’m not playing with the Adora-poos. I’m, you know, busy.
Maybe I’m too busy?


Wednesday is laundry day. After folding a load, I carried an empty basket to the laundry room and bam! I hit the same spot on my arm. My head was flooded with the “yah, you did this not long ago.”
Lordy. Maybe I need more chocolate or fiber. Or both. Is your life a tad crazy right now? Find your favorite beverage, your favorite reading spot, and a good book, like Sommerville days....
Delve into bliss at: 

Handbag and Book: Meet the Adora-poos #familypet #maltipoo #dogs

Ten years ago, Handsome brought home these guys:


Yup, they are pretty adorable malti-poos, part Maltese and part Poodle. That's why I call them the Adora-poos. The smokey gray one is Jones, as in Indiana Jones. And the white one is smaller and often mistaken for a girl. He's Champ because he's our alpha. Jones rolls in around twenty-three pounds and Champ at nineteen. 


I knew we were adopting dogs when Handsome began researching and talking to me about various breeds. Maltipoos:

don't shed
are easy going
are easy to train
are smart

They can:
sit
stay
shake hands
rollover
leave it

But they know other things like laydown, or if I point to the back seat, they move off the console. 

Jones loves to run-run-run around and Champ barks to egg him on. I say they are silly dogs, not show dogs.

BUT, ten years later, we're having changes. Jones has developed four lipomas, all non-cancerous. The vet is watching for growth.

Champ has trouble with a shoulder joint and sometimes limps. If only he wouldn't fly off furniture. Sigh.

Watching their changes has been hard this week. 

Do you have elderly furry friends?



 Available at Amazon and KU

Handbag and Book with Viviana Mackade - While Waiting for Baby 2 and her book Guns and Angels

You guys, I’m waiting for baby #2, baby girl supposed to be here August 30. Which means, I’m sending all my beloved bags for a vacay while I’ll get cozy with a diaper bag. Now, with my son, I remember I always forgot something. All. The. Times. Or, I wouldn’t even think about bring some stuff until, well, I needed it. An extra little blanket. A change of clothes (for him and/or for me. Spit up alert). But I never seemed to have enough room. So, this time around, I made sure to make a list (and remake it 100 times) with all the things I need to bring along for her. For which list, I thank Pinterest, btw.
Another problem I had with my first diaper bag was that it was a bag. Which means, my hands weren’t really free, and both me and my husband ended up disliking it so much. 
Now I decided to go with a backpack. One that could fit stuff and make my life easier.
And I went with Mokaloo (Full disclosure: pics are not mine, I took them from Amazon.I still don’t have it in my hands, but I saw pics and I love it. Room for a whole lot of stuff, so many pockets, a zipper in the back-bottom so you can reach that little onesie that always ends up hiding down. Or that one tiny pair of socks crumpled in the left bottom  corner under everything else. I think that one will be my favorite feature. And there’s even an USB charging station (not sure what that is yet, but it’s always a plus).
And I’m going to get the blue one even though I’m having a girl because I actively dislike 80% of pink shades, and the grey ones are plain sad.



From NY to sunny Miami, Ann and Mark run into a maze of lie, betrayal, and death, where love is the only, terrifying certainty. And when truth unravels, they will have to risk all to survive.
Ann
My sister was all the family I had. She was taken from me and now, someone wants me dead, too. Not sure why.
I’m sure I’m not going to give my life up, though. I’m not going to let them get away with my sister’s murder.
The new me will try, anyway.
You see, when she was alive I could live in brightness and peace. Now I have to accept the darkness within me. After all, isn’t life about balance? Ironically, the man who can teach me how to embrace the shadows is broken, hopeless, and angry. Mark is also the only one I trust to lead me through my heart’s night, and back into the light.
The one I trust to keep us alive.

Mark
A favor to a teammate: pick up two girls in trouble, take them to the Team’s safehouse. Should have been easy. It was not.
Then someone killed one of my team, one of my brothers. Now it’s personal.
They want me, too.
Even worst, they want Ann. The only person who cut through me, who woke me, who grabbed my hand and guided me back into life one smile at the time.
I’ll be damned if I let them have anything.
Not. One. Damned. Thing.
More about Viviana MacKade: Beach bum and country music addicted, Viviana lives in a small Floridian town with her husband and her son, her die-hard fans and personal cheer squad. She spends her days between typing on her beloved keyboard, playing in the pool with her boy, and eating whatever her husband puts on her plate (the guy is that good, and she really loves eating). Besides beaching, she enjoys long walks, horse-riding, hiking, and pretty much whatever she can do outside with her family.
Find Guns For Angels at: Amazon

Find Viviana MacKade at: Website

Handbag & Book: A Backyard Wedding and fun stuff #giveaway #NightOwlRomance #backyardwedding

Handsome and I went to a small family wedding over the weekend. The event originally chosen became unavailable due to the virus. So, the youngsters designed a beautiful backyard event. It was enchanting.
Cute ideas were:-A tree decorated with family photos, creating a "Family Tree."  -An old secretary on which was placed the guest book with hand sanitizer and colorful pens.-A smore station with gourmet marshmallows.-Music trivia!-Tiki torches to light the way.-White tablecloths, burlap runners, and white tulle decorations.-A handmade arch decorated with flowers.-Pots of flowers and candles in mason jars to line the aisle.-Pulled pork sandwiches with fixings, watermelon, and chips.-Lemon cake made by one grandmother and chocolate sheet cake made by the other.
Lots of friends and family pitched in to make the wedding special. 
What kind of wedding did you have ?
The Night Owl Romance Summer Fun
online romance reader scavenger hunt event is here!!! Enter between June 23rd and July 7, 2020.
 
During this event, I'm going to help you find some great new books. Make sure to check out my story collection, Sommerville days along the way.
 
Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities.

Raving Beauty: What if the love of your life was in front of you all along?
Store Wars: The competition is heating up when Janie's old flame returns to town and is running his family's store. Could following dreams break her heart?
San Diego or Bust: When a young woman plans a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, disaster strikes. Is her Mr. Right the right Mr. Right?





















I've teamed up with Night Owl Romance and other authors to bring you the chance to win a Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, Redbubble Gift Card, or an Amazon.com gift card.

Enter the giveaway at: NightOwlReviews
This giveaway is open to the world with some alternative prizes for those outside the USA. Void where prohibited. Open to those 18 and over.

I wish you much luck in winning. Happy reading! Vicki

Handbag & Book: The Stuff I Carry and Not as Bad as You Think #designerhandbag #accessories #lazyday

Isn't this bag adorable?

I found it in Florence last year. My confession--I hadn't bought any last year because I knew we would be in Florence and I wanted to shop for handbags!

The bag has a rattan look. The awesome pink handles and interior with three pockets. A great size.

But what I really wanted to share is this:


Yup, the stuff I carry.
I'm always asked how I switch all my stuff. Having the stuff in pouches makes moving easy. And I don't carry the kitchen sink. 
Here's everything in the bag:

And all fits!  I can even add a small needlepoint project and/or my paperwhite. Easy peasy. What's is as much fun as a great handbag??? A book! 

A hammock. A cool drink. A lazy day. A good book. A perfect day. A Sommerville day.
Find your bliss at: Amazon & KU

Blog: Handbag and Book with #author ADDISON BRAE and DARK ENERGY #newbook #romanticsuspense #amreading

This little Pierre Cardin vintage handbag is one of the most extravagant impulse purchases I’ve ever made. It’s likely from the 1950’s and is off-white patent leather with tiny bronze and pewter beads in an art deco pattern. It’s totally impractical, barely large enough to hold my phone, one key, a tiny lip stain, and a credit card in the off-white satin lined-inside. 
I splurged and bought this during a trip to Los Angeles for a writing conference. One of the best parts of this trip is the treat of visiting the vintage stores on Melrose. My favorite store is American Rag, where I purchased this and many other priceless vintage dresses, including the one I’m wearing in the portrait on my website. The bag spoke to me, so I couldn’t leave LA without it. One time, I carried it at a wedding and a friend threatened to steal if from me if I let it out of my sight. 

Cybercrime doesn’t talk. It creeps in and destroys lives right under Gillian’s nose when a cryptojacking scheme lands her boss, Pinkie, in jail. Gillian had just started over with a new career, boyfriend, and confidence after escaping a vicious murder investigation that shattered her ability to trust. Then Pinkie’s arrest leaves her struggling to run his two bars while also unraveling the conspiracy. Gillian will not let her mentor and friend go down for something he didn’t do. Neither will Jon, the most talented musician on the bar’s stage and the perfect boyfriend...until his good fortune sends her reeling. Gillian forces herself to trust the cops, people who hurt her, and known criminals. Will it be enough to free Pinkie and save her life?

More about Addison Brae: Addison Brae lives in Dallas, Texas on the edge of downtown. As a child, she was constantly in trouble for hiding under the bed to read when she was supposed to be napping. She has been writing since childhood starting with diaries, letters and short stories. She continues today with articles, video scripts, and other content as an independent marketing consultant along with new adult and adult romantic suspense and young adult contemporary fiction. When she’s not writing, Addison travels, collects interesting cocktail recipes, and hosts parties. She’s still addicted to reading and enjoys jogging, sipping red wine, binge-watching TV series, vintage clothing, and hanging out with her artistic other half and their neurotic cat Lucy.

Answer these questions:
Red, White or Blue?  Red
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Spring and Fall
Chocolate pudding, cake, pie? I can’t pass up a good, homemade pie, as long as it’s not drowning in meringue
Coffee, Tea, Champagne? Coffee in the morning, champagne at night
Country music or Michael Buble? Neither
Pencil or Pen? Pen because if I actually write something by hand, it shouldn’t be erased


Find Dark Energy (Return to Becker Circle) at: Amazon (99c through June 14, 2020)
Find Addison Brae at: website

Handbag and Book with #author Alana Lorens and a #newbook Voodoo Dreams #MFRWauthor

This handbag comes to me from a dear friend who’s been like a mother to me for 40 years. She’s getting older and our visits are becoming few and far between, so this makes me feel like she’s with me all the time. And of course it has cats! 
Laurel Burch’s kitties are definitely distinctive. See more here! 

https://laurelburchstudios.com/collec... 



When her big trial goes bad, corporate attorney Brianna Ward can't wait to get out of Pittsburgh. The Big Easy seems like the perfect place to rest, relax, and forget about the legal business. Too bad an obnoxious--but handsome--lawyer from a rival firm is checking into the same bed and breakfast. Attorney Evan Farrell has Mardi Gras vacation plans too. When he encounters fiery and attractive Brianna, however, he puts the Bourbon Street party on hold. He'd much rather devote himself to her--especially when a mysterious riddle appears in her bag, seeming to threaten danger. Strangely compelled to follow the riddle's clues, Brianna is pulled deeper into the twisted schemes of a voodoo priest bent on revenge. To escape his poisonous web, she must work with Evan to solve the curse. But is the growing love they feel for each other real? Or just a voodoo dream? 
More about Alana Lorens: Alana Lorens has been a published writer for more than forty years. Currently a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, she loves her time in the smoky blue mountains. One of her novellas, That Girl’s The One I Love, is set in the city of Asheville during the old Bele Chere festival. She lives with her daughter, who is the youngest of her seven children, three crotchety cats, and four kittens of various ages. 
Answer these questions: Red, White or Blue? Blue Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall Chocolate pudding, cake, pie? Pie, of course! Coffee, Tea, Champagne? coffee Country music or Michael Buble? Tough one. Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson, yes—Tammy Wynette, no. Pencil or Pen? pen 
Find Voodoo Dreams at: AmazonFind Alana Lorens at:Website

Handbag and Book: Episode 3, Confessions of a Supercleaner tackles mopping #cartoons #COVID19 #summerreading #housecleaning

Like a lot of you, I have been sitting at home. Looking around, I've seen multiple ignored projects I need to tackle. With nowhere to go, I decided to get busy. I also decided I wouldn't bust my a** over this. To take my time and see how it goes. With breaks of HGTV and chocolate.

I came from an old-school cleaning mom. Every Saturday before we could watch cartoons,
my sisters and I sprayed polish on a clean rag and dusted EVERYTHING  (I wish Mom would have watched cartoons with us. As a mom, I made sure I did with my boys. I raised them on Bugs Bunny, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars. The truth is they are terrible cleaners and are big movie lovers). Later, I found Mom dusted during the week. A little overkill maybe? Definitely, torturous.

We had to vacuum too. Since my sister and I shared a bedroom, one dusted and the other vacuumed. Then we moved to other rooms in the house, hoping we could finish by the time Bugs Bunny came on.

In my adult life, I continued to clean in Mom's manner, just like most of you may have. In this day and age, consumers have many choices when it comes to cleaning. Technology has infiltrated the modern home. During SIP, I no longer want to wring mops. I no longer want to dust with furniture polish. I became a convert to Swiffer.


I have been using Swiffer dust and floor cloths for a while. I like the way they work. I dust from the top of a room down, being sure to hit all outlets, switches, furniture, and pictures.


But I hadn't used a wet-jet. I bought one, and oh boy, what planet have I been on. With a press of a button, cleaner sprays on the floor. I coast over the wet area with a Swiffer mop cloth. No touching anything icky. No toting buckets of water. 

If this new cleaning method I've embraced is bad, please don't tell me. 
How about you? Have you found a new trick for cleaning? Are you embracing cleaning? Are you finding time to watch cartoons?

No house cleaning involved when reading a fun book, like Sommerville days. All required is a pitcher of lemonade, a comfy chair, and yes.....


Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities.
Raving Beauty: What if the love of your life was in front of you all along? Store Wars: The competition is heating up when Janie's old flame returns to town and is running his family's store. Could following dreams break her heart? San Diego or Bust: When a young woman plans a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, disaster strikes. Is her Mr. Right the right Mr. Right? Find Sommerville days at: Amazon & KU

Handbag & Book - Episode 2: CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERCLEANER #ContainerStore #Covid19 #housebound #cleaning #romanticcomedy

YESTERDAY, I supercleaned the family room for the fourth time. I was amazed at how fast the dusting went because I had removed so much over the time I've been SIP and tackling projects. (Please, don't think I'm a sloppy housecleaner. Supercleaning means going deeper.) 

I opened a drawer to the media center and found:
Remotes (we never use)
Mouse(s) (last time used was to find Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video. That's the truth.)
Keyboards (same for Lady Gaga)

Handsome had lofty dreams of turning the television into a giant computer thingy. Fine. If used. And wasn't. I am talking years of not using. I  sat him down and asked to let them go. His hesitation was quite amusing. When I reminded him of the last time viewing Lady Gaga (he loves her), he agreed. 

I moved to decorating magazines, tossing the ones not current. Tossed a map for the same reason. Decided only to collect Robert Sabuda pop-up books (his engineering is a masterpiece. Find here.) not Christmas cards and shall be sending out the cards this year.

And there were the DVDs. Years ago, I tossed the cases and put the DVDs in a sleeve that
hangs in a box. Lots of work, but looks so much better and stays dust-free, except for the top of the box and way easier to dust. Over time, SOMEBODIES didn't return the DVDs to their protective sleeve and store alphabetically in the box. Nooooo, tossed on the media center. I stacked them nicely and dusted around them mostly because I knew I would be the one who fixed that mess. 

D-day was yesterday. 

It took forever (but most likely, was an hour. I just like to whine about this. Who else says Bugs Bunny rocks?). I decided I needed an additional box. I purchased the original ones from the Container Store (love-love-love). A search told me they had nothing like I had anymore. BUT I could go for the rainbow version. Er, no. Secretly, I'm hoping the website neglected to show mine and shall go for a store visit where I'll find one like mine. (Seriously--rainbow?)

Are you supercleaning while SIP?

(Please, be reading a good book or working a puzzle or walking. LOL.)



Tired? Time for yourself? Need a good book? Try this:


Find your Calgon moment at:  Amazon & KU