C.D. Hersh's Blog, page 23
June 3, 2024
Tell Again Tuesday Cemetery Coins
Why are Coins on Military Headstones?By Pam Crooks
Have you ever strolled through a cemetery and noticed a few (or a lot!) coins left on a monument?
Of course, it’s not unusual for loved ones and friends to leave sentimental items like a can of Dr. Pepper, a travel-size bottle of spirits, stones, a cross, and of course, flowers.
But money?
When we noticed several coins last year that . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:
May 28, 2024
Wednesday Special Spotlight True Love
This came in the C.D. Hersh stream on Facebook. We could not resist sharing since we are romantics.
My parents were married for 55 years. One morning, my mom was going downstairs to make dad breakfast, she had a heart attack and fell. My father picked her up as best he could and almost dragged her into the truck. At full speed, without respecting traffic lights, he drove her to the hospital.
When he arrived, unfortunately, she was no longer with us.
During the funeral, my father did not speak; his gaze was lost. He hardly cried.
That night, his children joined him. In an atmosphere of pain and nostalgia, we remembered beautiful anecdotes and he asked my brother, a theologian, to tell him where Mom would be at that moment. My brother began to talk about life after death, and guesses as to how and where she would be.
My father listened carefully. Suddenly he asked us to take him to the cemetery.
Dad!” we replied, “it’s 11 at night, we can’t go to the cemetery right now!”
He raised his voice, and with a glazed look he said:
“Don’t argue with me, please don’t argue with the man who just lost his wife of 55 years.”
There was a moment of respectful silence, we didn’t argue anymore. We went to the cemetery, we asked the night watchman for permission. With a flashlight, we reached the tomb. My father caressed her, prayed, and told his children, who watched the scene moved:
“It was 55 years… you know? No one can talk about true love if they have no idea what it’s like to share life with a woman.”
He paused and wiped his face. “She and I, we were together in that crisis. I changed jobs …” he continued. “We packed up when we sold the house and moved out of town. We shared the joy of seeing our children finish their careers, we mourned the departure of loved ones side by side, we prayed together in the waiting room of some hospitals, we support each other in pain, we hug each Christmas, and we forgive our mistakes…
Children, now it’s gone, and I’m happy, do you know why?
Because she left before me. She didn’t have to go through the agony and pain of burying me, of being left alone after my departure. I will be the one to go through that, and I thank God. I love her so much that I wouldn’t have liked her to suffer…”
When my father finished speaking, my brothers and I had tears streaming down our faces. We hugged him, and he comforted us, “It’s okay, we can go home, it’s been a good day.”
That night I understood what true love is; It is far from romanticism, it does not have much to do with eroticism, or with sex, rather it is linked to work, to complement, to care and, above all, to the true love that two really committed people profess “.
Amazing things
This story brought a lump to our throats and made us think about the romance in our books. As we continue to write this series we hope you’ll enjoy this excerpt from the first book, Ghosts and Gardenias, available to download from Amazon.
[image error]
Susan longed to feel the antique silk touching her body. She flipped her long hair behind her shoulders, then held the dress to her chest measuring the tiny waist to her own. The dress might fit, at least for as long as she could hold her breath.
The gardenia scent grew stronger. Susan twirled around to face the cheval mirror, the dress still held to her. The last rays of the evening sun, coming through a rip in the attic window curtain, glinted off the mirror, blinding her for a moment. She touched the glass, gasping when her hands met the ice-cold edge. Rubbing the goose bumps on her arms she took two steps backward.
Her reflection, misty and spotted by the mirror’s worn silver backing, stared at her. When she stepped closer to the mirror the image blurred even more. She blinked, trying to clear her vision.
As she reached for the mirror, the gardenia scent changed from pungent to rotting. Another flash of light glinted off the mirror. Susan’s breath caught in her chest as she tried to sort out what she saw. Two overlaid images, both her yet different, stared from the silvered glass.
The more prominent image wore a pristine version of the dress Susan held to her body. No yellowed streaks marred the silk. The lace caplet billowed around her shoulders as though caught in a breeze stirred by a midsummer storm. Mahogany curls adorned her head like a crown—a sharp contrast to Susan’s long, flowing hair. A pair of green eyes, a near match to her emerald ones, stared out of the mirror.
Heart racing, Susan clutched the fabric in her fist. She moved to the right. The two images parted briefly then merged. She moved to the left. The same thing happened. Squeezing her eyes shut, Susan willed her pounding heart to slow and ignored her instinct to drop the dress and run.
A trick of the light. Nothing weird is happening. There’s a rational, logical explanation.
Gathering her courage, Susan fluttered her eyes open and peeked at the mirror. Her reflection had been replaced by the Victorian woman. A low moan rolled from the glass. Dropping the gown on the floor Susan skittered backward.
If this interests you in our newest book Ghosts and Gardenias is available now on Amazon, the first book in our Haunting of Garnoa Road Series.
Here are the links for our other books:
You can find our books on our book page, under the menu at the top of the page or on our Amazon Author Page
May 27, 2024
Tell Again Tuesday Fiction Food
Fictional EatingBy Cindy Tomamichel
Should food be part of a novel? Does it add or detract from your reading experience? I prefer it in myself, having grown up reading a lot of Enid Blyton scrummy feasts or supping with centaurs in Narnia. It feels weird to read days passing in a novel with nary a drop to drink or a morsel of food.
Many fantasy novels do have a bit of a focus on food, with hungry Bilbo drooling over the elven feasts and all the hobbit parties and dwarven drinking. There is a funny scene in Tarzan, where he is at . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:May 23, 2024
Friday Feature Motorcycle Teaching
Harley-Davidson logoBrand building. It’s the backbone of any company or person. It’s how consumers identify with you. Know you. Want you. Need you. What does this have to do with Harley-Davidson? Plenty. Recently, hubby and I watched a three-part movie about how the Harley-Davidson company was born on the Discovery channel. Boy did I learn a lot about running a business and branding just by watching that movie! The story focused on three partners: William (Bill) Harley (the engineer/creator), Arthur Davidson (the salesman/marketer), and Walter Davidson (the risk-taker, promoter). Together, these entrepreneurs gave the world of motorcycling an experience that felt like ‘an explosion between your legs’. Bill Harley’s words, not mine! LOL! Here are six things I learned from Harley-Davidson… Create buzz.To build excitement and promote their product (think about this in terms of your book/books) Harley-Davidson sponsored a racing team named ‘The Wrecking Crew’ whose seat-in-their-pants racing style got the press the company needed to get on the map and stimulate sales. Okay, writers don’t need a Wrecking Crew. But what about a Street Team, or a legion of super fans waiting in the wings for your next book? Use your website, blog or email list to create the buzz your book(s) need to get them flying off the shelves.
1907 Harley-DavidsonFind your tribe.Arthur Davidson worked hard to generate sales. He started bike clubs, opened free beer tents at events to loyal customers, and had special offers/incentives to returning buyers. He was a trail-blazer of social media one hundred years before social media was even born. He engaged first, then sold. That’s what writers should be doing on social media—connect and engage with their target market first. If they trust you enough, they’ll ask about your book. Look outside of the box.
Always looking for ways to market his motorcycles, Arthur Davidson approached the U.S. Postal Service and convinced them to trade their bicycles for Harley-Davidsons. He followed through with the Fire and Police Departments and eventually won them over. When the three partners met with the military during WW1, Arthur suggested that they send mechanics (for FREE) to teach the soldiers how to fix their motorbikes in case they broke down while they were overseas. This strategy worked, and they shared the contract 50/50 with Indian Motorcycle, the number one motorcycle company at the time. BTW—Indian went bankrupt in 1953. Writers needto look outside the box too. There’s plenty of opportunity around, even if you have to offer your first book (or a short story) for free.
Focus on those little extras.Walter Davidson recognized the allure of the motorcycle look and culture, so he launched a campaign to sell Harley-Davidson accessories and clothing which remains a major part of the company’s success to this day. Writers can open a ‘store page’ on their website (you have a website, right?) and sell items that are connected to their books, like T-shirts, coffee mugs or water bottles imprinted with their book cover, or even jewelry. Re-brand or face-lift when the unexpected happens.The stock market crash of 1929 hit Harley-Davidson hard. There was no disposable income, and barely any sales. Bill Harley decided to give his motorcycles a much needed face-lift during the Depression. He redesigned their block-letter logo, and added a stylized eagle. The company also started offering their motorbikes in an array of different color schemes too. So when book sales are down, this gives writers an opportunity to redesign their book covers, or pull books off the virtual shelves and re-edit them. After all, Harley-Davidson built their company on a quality product, so shouldn’t you? Continue to develop.By the late 1930s, Bill Harley developed a new model that ended up being a breakthrough for the company. Sales soared with this bigger, badder, and more powerful machine. By the time WW2 began, Harley-Davidson had gained the respect of the military, and were asked to ship over 90,000 military-style motorbikes overseas to be used by the Allies. When the war ended, people returned to motorcycle riding with a deep respect and trust for the Harley-Davidson brand. So, while you may have one or more books out there for sale, it’s best to work on the next one, and continue to develop your brand and author platform. You never know. Your next book may be your ‘breakthrough’ book! Is there a company out there that you’ve learned some tricks and techniques from to help build your writing career? How are you building your brand? Please leave a comment and share what you’ve learned. Cheers for reading my post, I truly appreciate it! Here’s a glimpse into one of the books from Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls, my teen psychic mystery series.
The only witness left to testify against an unsolved crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…
City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in Fairy Falls and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an uncertain future.Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her murder.Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever. AMAZON BUY LINK
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Smashwords. Look up her Amazon Author page for a list of current books. Be sure to check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.
May 21, 2024
Wednesday Special Spotlight The Unique Generation
Author unknown but found on Facebook.
We were born in the 40s-50s-60s.
We grew up in the 50’s-60’s-70’s
We studied in the 60s-70s-80s.
We were together in the 70s-80s-90s.
We got married or not and discovered the world in the 70s-80s-90s.
Adventuring into the 80s – 90s
We’re settling in to the 2000s.
We became wiser in 2010s.
And we’re going strong into 2020 and beyond.
Turns out we went through EIGHT different decades…
TWO different centuries…
TWO different millennials…
We’ve gone from phone with operator for long distance calls, pay booths, video calls worldwide.
We’ve gone from slides to YouTube, vinyls to online music, handwritten letters to emails and Whats App.
Live games on the radio, black and white TV, color TV, then HD 3D TV.
We went to the video store and now watching Netflix.
We’ve known the first computers, punch cards, disks and now we have gigabytes and megabytes on our smartphones.
We wore shorts all through our childhood, then trousers, ep pants or mini-skirts, Oxfords, Clarks, Palestinian scarves, jumpsuits, and blue jeans.
We avoided childhood paralysis, meningitis, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, swine flu and now COVID-19.
We’ve done ice skating, roller skating, tricycle, bicycle, moped, gasoline or diesel and now we drive hybrids or electric.
We played with the little ones horses and checkers, ostrich and marbles, 1000 threshold and monopoly, now there’s candy crush on our smartphones
And we read… much
And our schoolmates religion was not a subject…
We used to drink tap water and lemonade in glass bottles, and the vegetables on our plate were always fresh, today we get meals delivered
Yes, we have been through a lot but what a beautiful life we have had!
They might describe us as “ex-annuals”; people who were born in this 50s world, who had an analog childhood and digital adulthood.
We should add the Biological Revolution that we have witnessed. In 1960, biology was very descriptive. We have witnessed the event of Molecular Biology: the molecules of Life have been discovered: DNA, RNA etc. When you see everything that has come from it: gene therapy, gene fingerprints, and others the progress is considerable.
We kind of have “seen it all”!
Our generation has literally lived and witnessed more than any other in every dimension of life.
This is our generation that has literally adapted to “CHANGE”.
A big congratulations to all the members of a very special generation, which will be UNIQUE…”
For those of this “unique” generation,” of which we’re a part of, here is an excerpt from our new book we hope you’ll enjoy. Ghosts and Gardenias is available to download from Amazon.
[image error]
Susan longed to feel the antique silk touching her body. She flipped her long hair behind her shoulders, then held the dress to her chest measuring the tiny waist to her own. The dress might fit, at least for as long as she could hold her breath.
The gardenia scent grew stronger. Susan twirled around to face the cheval mirror, the dress still held to her. The last rays of the evening sun, coming through a rip in the attic window curtain, glinted off the mirror, blinding her for a moment. She touched the glass, gasping when her hands met the ice-cold edge. Rubbing the goose bumps on her arms she took two steps backward.
Her reflection, misty and spotted by the mirror’s worn silver backing, stared at her. When she stepped closer to the mirror the image blurred even more. She blinked, trying to clear her vision.
As she reached for the mirror, the gardenia scent changed from pungent to rotting. Another flash of light glinted off the mirror. Susan’s breath caught in her chest as she tried to sort out what she saw. Two overlaid images, both her yet different, stared from the silvered glass.
The more prominent image wore a pristine version of the dress Susan held to her body. No yellowed streaks marred the silk. The lace caplet billowed around her shoulders as though caught in a breeze stirred by a midsummer storm. Mahogany curls adorned her head like a crown—a sharp contrast to Susan’s long, flowing hair. A pair of green eyes, a near match to her emerald ones, stared out of the mirror.
Heart racing, Susan clutched the fabric in her fist. She moved to the right. The two images parted briefly then merged. She moved to the left. The same thing happened. Squeezing her eyes shut, Susan willed her pounding heart to slow and ignored her instinct to drop the dress and run.
A trick of the light. Nothing weird is happening. There’s a rational, logical explanation.
Gathering her courage, Susan fluttered her eyes open and peeked at the mirror. Her reflection had been replaced by the Victorian woman. A low moan rolled from the glass. Dropping the gown on the floor Susan skittered backward.
If this interests you in our newest book Ghosts and Gardenias is available now on Amazon, the first book in our Haunting of Garnoa Road Series.
Here are the links for our other books:
You can find our books on our book page, under the menu at the top of the page or on our Amazon Author Page
May 20, 2024
Tell Again Tuesday What is it?
A CowBy Unknown
If a cow doesn’t produce milk
Is it a milk dud
or
An udder failure?
May 16, 2024
Friday Feature Editing Tornado Cleanup
We have recently discovered that editing a book is a lot like cleaning up after a tornado.
“A tornado?” you ask. “Why would you say that? My book editing isn’t as bad as a tornado!”
Here’s how we reached such a conclusion.
This spring our lake cottage, where we revised and edited our newest book, Ghosts and Gardenias, was hit by a tornado. While we were one of the luckier tornado victims, the F3 winds that hit full force only 20 feet across the water channel from us left devastation and house parts scattered everywhere. Homes were tipped over, blow off their foundations into other homes, roofs and siding were ripped off, and one home was picked up and tossed onto the road. Our patio door exploded, from the inside out, onto our patio, as did the patio doors and windows of many of the area homes.
The first day we came up after the tornado the paved areas surrounding our house glittered in the sun like someone had tossed thousands of diamonds on the ground. Catherine donned her sturdy work boots, grabbed a broom (which we had fortuitously brought with us, since ours had blown away) and she began sweeping. Donald began covering the missing patio door and places where we no longer had siding with tarps.
For eight hours that first day, fueled by anxiety and panic-driven adrenaline, Catherine swept up mounds of granulated safety glass. Each time she’d get a pile deposited into the trash can she’d look back at the cleared area and see more glittering bits on the ground. No matter how many times she swept, whenever she circled what she thought was a cleaned area, more glass appeared. If she’d had a penny for every piece of glass she put into the trash she’d have been a billionaire.
Two months have passed since the tornado hit and Catherine began sweeping the pavement around our cottage, and we are still finding, and sweeping up, bits of glass whenever the sunlight hits the ground. The same thing happens with editing. If you constantly inspect your manuscript something new will always come to light. It may be a word or some punctuation you missed, or perhaps it’s a phrase that doesn’t seem right now. No matter what imperfection you see, or think you see, there comes a time to let go. If you don’t your book may never see publication.
Like the bits of glass we keep finding on, or in, the cracks of the pavement, editing is really never finished. Whether we are sweeping glass or editing our books to death, at some point we just have to decide we’ve done all we can, let go, and enjoy the fruit of our labors.
As we continue to clean up after the tornado that damaged our lake writing cottage we hope you’ll enjoy this excerpt from Ghosts and Gardenias, available to download from Amazon. With any luck we’ll be back to writing the next book in the series very soon.
[image error]
Susan longed to feel the antique silk touching her body. She flipped her long hair behind her shoulders, then held the dress to her chest measuring the tiny waist to her own. The dress might fit, at least for as long as she could hold her breath.
The gardenia scent grew stronger. Susan twirled around to face the cheval mirror, the dress still held to her. The last rays of the evening sun, coming through a rip in the attic window curtain, glinted off the mirror, blinding her for a moment. She touched the glass, gasping when her hands met the ice-cold edge. Rubbing the goose bumps on her arms she took two steps backward.
Her reflection, misty and spotted by the mirror’s worn silver backing, stared at her. When she stepped closer to the mirror the image blurred even more. She blinked, trying to clear her vision.
As she reached for the mirror, the gardenia scent changed from pungent to rotting. Another flash of light glinted off the mirror. Susan’s breath caught in her chest as she tried to sort out what she saw. Two overlaid images, both her yet different, stared from the silvered glass.
The more prominent image wore a pristine version of the dress Susan held to her body. No yellowed streaks marred the silk. The lace caplet billowed around her shoulders as though caught in a breeze stirred by a midsummer storm. Mahogany curls adorned her head like a crown—a sharp contrast to Susan’s long, flowing hair. A pair of green eyes, a near match to her emerald ones, stared out of the mirror.
Heart racing, Susan clutched the fabric in her fist. She moved to the right. The two images parted briefly then merged. She moved to the left. The same thing happened. Squeezing her eyes shut, Susan willed her pounding heart to slow and ignored her instinct to drop the dress and run.
A trick of the light. Nothing weird is happening. There’s a rational, logical explanation.
Gathering her courage, Susan fluttered her eyes open and peeked at the mirror. Her reflection had been replaced by the Victorian woman. A low moan rolled from the glass. Dropping the gown on the floor Susan skittered backward.
If this taste interests you in our newest book Ghosts and Gardenias is available now on Amazon, the first book in our Haunting of Garnoa Road Series.
May 14, 2024
Wednesday Special Spotlight Beef Stroganoff
Stella May to yours.
Beef Stroganoff was invented in Russia in the early 1800’s. Count Stroganoff was a dignitary in the court of Alexander III. Count Stroganoff’s chef, who was likely French, created the dish and named it after Stroganoff. The earliest known recorded recipe was in Elena Molokhovets’s A Gift to Young Housewives, published in 1871. There have been many versions of the recipe over the centuries, but this is the closest to the original one. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I do.
BEEF STROGANOFF
1 lb. top sirloin steak cut into thin strips
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 small onion, chopped fine
½ lb. shiitake mushrooms, sliced thin
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 cup beef broth
¾ cup heavy whipping cream
¼ cup sour cream
½ tsp of Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
4 green onions, chopped include a good portion of green
Place a large deep pan over medium-high heat. Add two tablespoons oil. Once oil is very hot, add beef strips in a single layer. Cook until just browned and no longer red. Sear beef in two batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan. Remove beef to a plate and cover to keep warm.
Add butter, onion, and mushrooms. Sauté 6 – 8 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and veggies are soft and lightly browned.
Add 1 minced garlic clove and sauté 1 minute until fragrant. Add flour and sauté another minute, stirring constantly.
Carefully stir in beef broth, scraping any bits from the bottom of the pan. Whisk in whipping cream and simmer another 1 – 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Blend two or three tablespoons of the sauce into the sour cream to warm it so it doesn’t curdle. add it to the pan while stirring constantly.
Stir in Dijon mustard, season with salt and pepper. Continue simmering until sauce is creamy.
Add beef along with any accumulated juices back into the pan. Bring just to a simmer and cook until beef is heated through.
Garnish with green onions and serve over any noodles.
Bon appetite!
Here is a peek at my new series, the Rostoff Family Saga. New Dawn is book one soon to be followed by New Hope, New Life, and New Horizon.
Love wasn’t part of their agreement.
Neither was being caught in a brutal web of lies.
International playboy and owner of a jewelry empire that spreads across three continents, Dmitry Rostoff holds a memory close to this heart that not even his best friend Vlad Albrecht knows. When Dmitry learns the Russian ballerina, he had a passionate affair with died in childbirth, bitterness and hate overrule all other emotions.
Taking the baby out of Russia is an impossible snarl of red tape, but Dmitry gets his way, even if he leaves a trail of chaos in his wake.
Natasha Sokolova planned to turn over the baby to Dmitry then walk away. Instead, she is on a plane to San Francisco with the baby and a cold, emotionless man who makes her heart pound with scorching attraction.
The family matriarch and evil to her core Elizabeth Rostoff plots to gain control of the baby, no matter what it costs or who it hurts, and will do anything to make that happen. She blackmails Marie Dubois, the manager of their elite Paris store, to seduce Dmitry. But Marie reneges on the deal when former Special Forces officer Vlad Albrecht storms into her life.
Once in America, Natasha finds herself entangled in a sticky web of lies created by the brutally calculating family matriarch. A web that forces Natasha to make a heartbreaking deal with the devil to protect the children—and man—she’s come to love.
AMAZON BUY LINK and OTHER SUPPLIERS
Stella May is the penname for Marina Sardarova who has a fascinating history you should read on her website.
Stella writes fantasy romance as well as time travel romance. She is the author of ‘Till Time Do Us Part, Book 1 in her Upon a Time series, and the stand-alone book Rhapsody in Dreams. Love and family are two cornerstones of her stories and life. Stella’s books are available in e-book and paperback through all major vendors.
When not writing, Stella enjoys classical music, reading, and long walks along the ocean with her husband. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Leo of 25 years and their son George. They are her two best friends and are all partners in their family business.Follow Stella on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
May 13, 2024
Tell Again Tuesday Where, What, Name, History, Geography
Creating Believable SettingsBy Georgia Hill
Hi everyone, having just read Lucy’s The Car Share and loved it, I’m delighted to guest on her lovely blog. She asked me to share some tips on creating a believable setting.
I really had to think about it as I tend to be an instinctive rather than analytical writer but here they are. Mostly common sense but work for me and might for you too. All opinions are personal and gathered from life experience! Oh – and I tend to invent fictional settings. That way I don’t get criticism if I get anything wrong! . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:May 9, 2024
Friday Feature The Sweet Life on a Tiny Budget
While we may not all have the bank accounts of the wealthy like the Diamonds Pearls, the Southern socialites in my novel Koush Hollow, it’s still possible to infuse a touch of luxury into our lives without breaking the bank (or adding corporate corruption to your resume). Here are some tips to help you live like the rich, even if you’re not.
Create an environment around you that exudes elegance and refinement. Declutter your space, invest in quality over quantity, and curate a collection of timeless and sophisticated items that bring you joy.
Dress impeccably, even if your wardrobe consists of affordable pieces. Maintain cleanliness and tidiness in your living space. A well-presented appearance and environment can elevate your experience and create an aura of luxury.
Look for opportunities to indulge in luxurious experiences at a fraction of the cost. Keep an eye out for discounted spa treatments, sample sales, or off-peak travel deals. Enjoy a gourmet meal at home by trying new recipes or hosting a themed dinner party. Luxury can be found in the little details and experiences.
Rich living encompasses more than material possessions. Take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. Incorporate simple wellness practices into your daily routine, such as meditation, exercise, or journaling. Nurturing your well-being is a priceless investment in yourself.
Fill your surroundings with items that inspire and uplift you. Seek out affordable artwork, decorative pieces, or fresh flowers to add a touch of beauty to your space. Pay attention to lighting and ambiance to create an atmosphere of luxury and tranquility.
Expand your knowledge and engage in cultural experiences. Visit museums on free or discounted days, explore public libraries for a wealth of books, or attend lectures and workshops. Enriching your mind with knowledge and culture adds depth and sophistication to your life.
Living like the rich, as the corrupt Rayna from Koush Hollow would say, is about experiences, mindset, and attention to detail, and it doesn’t have to be about the price tags. Embrace the art of elegance, seek out affordable luxury, prioritize self-care, and surround yourself with beauty. By incorporating these practices into your life, you can live a life that feels luxurious, regardless of your financial status.
Leigh Goff writes young adult fiction. She is a graduate from the University of Maryland and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).
Born and raised on the East Coast, she now lives in Maryland where she and her husband enjoy the area’s great history and culture.
Learn more about Leigh Goff on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
