N.J. Walters's Blog, page 238

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with fun, friends, family and fabulous food!

Happy Solstice!

Today is the shortest day of the year. It's also the "official" first day of winter. From this day forward, the days will get a little longer.



"If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind." ~Percy Bysshe Shelley



So Happy Solstice to everyone!

Happy Hanukkah

I want to wish a Happy Hanukkah to everyone who is celebrating the holiday!

The Writer Before Christmas

With everything else going on this time of year, it can be tough for a writer to get anything done.
That's why a poem by author Valerie Parv made me smile. Check out The Writer Before Christmas at Valerie Parv's Blog!

One Week and Counting...

It's only one week until the big day!


I admit, I'm looking forward to the world shutting down for a few days. I plan to turn off the computer, spend time with my hubby and family, eat lots of great food and probably catch a movie or two.

I made some shortbread Christmas trees on Friday afternoon. Only iced here, but you could add candies and pipe icing for garland. I did that one year and they were awesome.




Hubby and I were at the grocery store Friday morning and saw these adorable mini poinsettia plants. I couldn't resist. It looks great on the kitchen table in my vintage '60s santa mug.

Favorite Christmas Movies

Throughout the entire month of December, my husband and I watch as many of our favorite and classic holiday movies as we can possibly cram in. Of course, it starts out slow, with maybe one a week early in the month, and becomes more like one-a-night as the calendar gets closer and closer to the 25th.



Same as with the music, the movies I enjoy tend to be the ones that say something positive about life or humanity because I don't believe you have to be harsh or cruel to get your point across. At Christmas time, I just like to feel good. My favorite ten movies and shows of the season are below. These are the ones I try to watch every year.


10. Little Women (The Winona Ryder version. It has such warmth and wisdom.)
"I'm so desolated."

9. Scrooged (Bill Murray)
"It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer."

8. A Christmas Carol (Alistair Sim)
"Humbug!"

7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (The animated version. A mean one, but a great one.)
"You can't stop Christmas from coming!"

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas (I never get tired of watching the dust rise off of Pigpen when he sings or seeing that little, scrawny tree grow into a veritable forest.)
"Can somebody please tell me the true meaning of Christmas?"
"Sure, Charlie Brown."



5. It's A Wonderful Life (This one makes me cry, especially at the end.)
"To my big brother George, the richest man in town!"

4. A Muppet Family Christmas (Swedish Chef meets the Bird of his dreams!)
"Be careful of the icy patch!"


3. A Muppet Christmas Carol (Gonzo the Great plays Mist-uh Dickens himself)
"Darkness was cheap, and Scrooge liked it."

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Not mean, just nutty.)
"That tree will never go in our yard, Dad."
"It's not going in our yard, Russ. It's going in our living room."

1. Scrooge (The Albert Finney version).
"You wish to remain anonymous, sir?"
"I wish to be left alone!"

What are some of your favorite holiday movies?

Contest Reminder!

CHRISTMAS QUICKIE CONTEST!


We're all so busy this time of year. There are halls to be decked, food to be prepared and presents to buy. Then there are all the social obligations, Christmas pageants and the like to schedule in. There's not much time for reading.


But there's always time for a Quickie. No, not that kind of quickie. (Although that's not a bad idea either.) But a quick read. Something you can pick up and read in one sitting while you're relaxing after a hard day of work or shopping.

I want to help you out this holiday season, so I'm giving away a free PDF download of one of my Ellora's Cave Quickies each Friday between December 2nd and December 23rd. Just go to my website and click on the "Contests" page for details on how you can enter for a chance to win.

Winning names will be chosen at random and announced each Friday until December 23rd. That means there are TWO drawings left!

You only have to enter once to be in all the drawings!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Guest Blogging at TRS Blue

I'm over at The Romance Studio Blue Blog today with an easy Christmas recipe. Be sure to check it out.

I'm also a Featured Author over at The Romance Studio Blue Pages for the month of December. Be sure to stop by and check out my interview. [image error]

Decking the Halls

Just wanted to share some of my holiday decorating with you. Here's a shot of the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.


This is a closer shot showing some of the ornaments, which are all handmade or were gifts from family and friends. There are also vintage metal icicles (some of which I took from home when I left years ago and some I found at thrift stores).





Greenery around the archway between the kitchen and the living room. I made a bunch of those Care Bear ornaments about 25 years ago, gave some as presents and kept nine of them for myself.

Jessamyn's Christmas Gift and a Contest!

Looking for a quick holiday read? Check out my Ellora's Cave Quickie Jessamyn's Christmas Gift!

BLURB:

It's Christmas Eve and Jessamyn Parker waits by the fireside in her boyfriend's house. She expects him home any minute after being away for three months on business. Clad only in a slinky teddy and sprawled beneath the Christmas tree, she plans to surprise him. But instead of her boyfriend, a complete stranger surprises her.

Caleb Morgan is the new sheriff, and unbeknownst to her, he is also the new owner of the house. Jessamyn flees back to her own home, determined to forget not only her boyfriend's betrayal, but also the heated desire that Caleb has sparked within her.

While Jessamyn is shocked by his appearance, Caleb is enthralled by her. But Jessamyn has had more than enough of men. Now, one year later, it's Christmas time again, and Jessamyn is still swearing off men. But Caleb has other ideas. The only thing he wants for Christmas is the same thing he wanted last year and didn't quite get — Jessamyn Parker under his tree.




CHRISTMAS QUICKIE CONTEST!



We're all so busy this time of year. There are halls to be decked, food to be prepared and presents to buy. Then there are all the social obligations, Christmas pageants and the like to schedule in. There's not much time for reading.

But there's always time for a Quickie. No, not that kind of quickie. (Although that's not a bad idea either.) But a quick read. Something you can pick up and read in one sitting while you're relaxing after a hard day of work or shopping.

I want to help you out this holiday season, so I'm giving away a free PDF download of one of my Ellora's Cave Quickies each Friday between December 2nd and December 23rd. Just go to my website and click on the "Contests" page for details on how you can enter for a chance to win.

Winning names will be chosen at random and announced each Friday.


You only have to enter once to be in all the drawings!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!