Melanie D. Snitker's Blog, page 15

Introducing: Savior, Like a Shepherd

Please join me in welcoming Faith Blum as we take a look at her new release, Savior, Like a Shepherd. Faith's new book explores the life of three orphans born during the Wild West.

This cover is gorgeous and my favorite of all Faith's covers. Does that location look amazingly peaceful? Keep reading to learn more about Savior, Like a Shepherd, meet one of the characters, and then make sure you read to the end to see the super fun giveaway she has going on, too! The ground shook and a rumble sounded through the air as the train squealed to a stop. Maybe, just maybe, I could carry someone’s bags without the porter taking notice. And then there was the even bigger maybe: Maybe I could get enough money to at least buy a crust of bread for Trevor and Tabitha to share.

I hid behind the boxes in the freight yard and kept one eye on the porter, and the other on the second class passenger car. The porter had his attention on the first class car, so I slipped into the gathering crowd.
 
Titus Hine has always taken care of others. First in protecting his brother and sister from the men his mother entertained. Even more so after her death, when the townspeople refused to help the orphans of a town prostitute. He’s been protector and provider, despite the hardships. He’s learned that no one will help, no one cares and if he wants to survive he’ll have to rely on his own strength not just for himself but his family as well.
 
Then a stranger shows him the kindness and help no one else seems willing to. Between her kindness and the lecture she gives the Christian Leaders, Titus’s life takes an unexpected turn for the better. With help and provision from the local believers things should be easier, his burdens are lifted. So why does it feel like life is spinning out of control?
 
Can Titus learn that while man may fail him there is One who will never fail? Can he learn to allow God to be the Shepherd of his life and lead him? Or will life continue to push him every which way?
 
Note: 50% of my income from this series will go to the World Orphans organization.
Buy now on your favorite eBook platform:
www.books2read.com/saviorlikeashepherdCharacter Spotlight: Meet Trevor​Name: Trevor Hine
Age: 8 (at beginning of the book)
 
Background:
Trevor was born to Clarice Hine on July 9, 1872. He had an older half-brother who became the only father-figure he knew for a while. He was a quiet child from birth, always thinking things through and trying to help out whenever he could.

When his sister was born, he helped Titus take care of her while their mother entertained her “guests.” His primary job was to keep her quiet.
 
Personality: Timid, shy, creative, probably INTP, loves to read
 
Personal Goal: To help his brother as much as possibleBook ExcerptMr. Mills. He owed Willard plenty of favors. He thought through all the possible variables in involving Mr. Mills with his company. After thinking through each possibility, Willard grinned and headed for the door.

“Going somewhere?” Deputy Stevens asked.

“Yes. I’ll be back later.”

“I hold down fort here.” Deputy Stevens did a poor imitation of a Hispanic accent.

Willard stalked out of the office and headed to the mill at the edge of town. “Mr. Mills,” he said when he saw the owner.

“Sheriff Hanson. This is a pleasant surprise. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”

“I have a favor to ask you. Can we go to your office?”

Mr. Mills smiled. “Of course! Come.”

He led Willard to a small room with a desk and three chairs. They sat down.

“What did you need, Sheriff?”

Willard looked up at him. “I need you to not sell any more wood to Ezra Meyer.”

Mr. Mills’ mouth fell open. “What? Why? He’s one of my most faithful customers. And the best paying one. I can’t afford to deny him—”

“I could forget our arrangement,” Willard warned.

Mr. Mills’ eyes grew wider. “You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

“Why would you not want Mr. Meyer to rebuild the slums? It seems like a good thing to do.”

Willard scowled. “I have my reasons and I don’t want to get into them with you. Stop selling your planks to Mr. Meyer and I will keep you safe. If you don’t, I won’t.”

Mr. Mills clenched his jaw. “I don’t like this.”

“You don’t have to.”

Mr. Mills’ jaw moved from side to side and he tapped his fingers on the desk. “Fine,” he snapped. “I’ll do it.”
​
Willard held his gaze until satisfied he had told the truth. “Thank you.” He stood up and walked back to the office.
About the Author ​Faith Blum is a 20-something author of multiple books in various genres. She loves to write, read, play piano, knit, crochet, sew, watch movies, and play games with her family.  She lives in Wisconsin with her family on a small family farm where they raise goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and have 2 dogs and a varying number of cats.
 
Faith’s goal in her writing is to encourage Christians in their walk with Christ. If you want to know when her latest book comes out, go to her website to sign up for her New Releases Newsletter so you can get an email when her next book in the series comes out. You will also find links to her other Social Media sites on her website. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her.
It's Giveaway Time! ​Faith is generously giving away EIGHT prizes! She has two paperbacks and two eBooks of Savior, Like a Shepherd up for grabs as well as one paperback and three eBooks of her Hymns of the West Novellas: Volume Two. The novella collection contains the novella that inspired her latest series as well as her new novel. Fill out the rafflecopter for the chance to win one of the prizes:a Rafflecopter giveaway Tour Schedule​ Bonus Post from February 10
Petticoats and Pistols – The History of Paint (Note: the giveaway on that post is closed)
 
February 16
Bookish Orchestrations-Tour Introduction
Peggy's Hope 4U- Character Spotlight of Titus
 
February 17
Leah's Bookshelf- Book Spotlight
Rebekah Lyn Books- Character Spotlight of Tabitha
 
February 18
Zerina Blossom's Books- Guest Post – About the Town
 
February 20
Once Upon an Ordinary- Character Spotlight of Tabitha Hine
Sarah Allerding- Author Interview
 
February 21
Tara Ellis Author- Book Spotlight
Melanie D. Snitker, Author – Character Spotlight of Trevor
 
February 22
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections- Character Interview
 
February 23
Reveries Reviews- Character Spotlight of Titus Hine
Kelsey's Notebook- Guest Post – My Kind of Romance
 
February 24
With a Joyful Noise- Book Review
 
February 25
Writing Dreams- Guest Post – Why Orphans?
Zerina Blossom's Books – Book Review
 
February 27
God's Peculiar Treasure Rae- Character Spotlight of Trevor Hine
 
February 28
Homeschooled Authors- Author Interview
Rachel Rossano's Words- Guest Post – What’s the Inspiration and song connection?

Kiss-or-Miss Scavenger Hunt - Melissa Tagg

Welcome to the "Kiss or Miss" Scavenger HuntJourney through all eight stops, following the order in the schedule. Each stop will include two or three clue words in red. Collect them all and enter to win our grand prize at the final stop on February 17th on Crystal's site.

Along each stop, you’ll get to meet an awesome author friend, read a super fun excerpt from one of their favorite kiss-or-miss scenes, and enter some sweet giveaways.
​Here are the Details:Scavenger Hunt Schedule: February 13th through the 17th.

Once you have all the words, arrange them in order to complete the mystery quote and enter it at the final stop of the event on Crystal’s site, 2/17.

Grand Prize: A paperback from each participating author, as shown in the image below. Ready to Dive in? Follow the blog hop order below:Stop 1 - 2/13/17: Crystal’s blog, featuring Pepper Basham
Stop 2 - 2/13/17: Pepper’s blog, featuring Stacy Claflin
Stop 3 - 2/14/17: Stacy’s blog, featuring Juliette Duncan
Stop 4 - 2/14/17: Juliette's blog, featuring Sarah Monzon
Stop 5 - 2/15/17: Sarah’s blog, featuring Jessica Patch
Stop 6 - 2/15/17: Jessica’s blog, featuring Melanie Snitker
Stop 7 - 2/16/17: Melanie’s blog, featuring Melissa Tagg
Stop 8 - 2/16/17: Melissa’s blog, featuring Crystal Walton
Stop 9 - 2/17/17: Crystal's blog, final entryHello everyone! Please join me in welcoming author Melissa Tagg to my blog today. She writes romantic comedies, including the Walker Family and Where Love Begins series. Thanks for joining us, Melissa! How fun to get to hang out here today! Thanks for hosting me, Melanie. I’m excited to share just a little bit about one of my latest book, Keep Holding On .
 
Every time I start writing a new story, I worry that I won’t love these characters as much as I loved the characters in my last book. But oh. my. goodness. I really can’t tell you how strongly adorable-but-wounded Beckett Walker and spunky-but-stressed Kit Danby tugged on my heart. They’re former best friends who parted ways--not­ amicably, mind you!—years ago, but in this story, they’re once again thrown together. Enter plenty of hilarious moments…a few painful memories and long-forgotten longings…and oh yeah, SPARKS!
 
But really, it’s the theme of holding on that, well, took hold of me as I wrote this story. To be honest, when I started out, I thought it was a story about the things we need to hold on to. But it ended up being about how God holds on to us…even when we’re ready to let go. Writing this story changed me. And I hope it does the same for readers.
 
In addition to the paperback copy of Keep Holding On I’m giving away as part of our blog hope, you can also enter for a chance to win a Kindle copy by completing the Rafflecopter entry below and letting me know whether you think this excerpt from Keep Holding On ends in a kiss or a miss. ​~In this scene, Beckett and Kit are sitting on a beach just north of Boston and Kit has just finished telling Beckett about the time she visited Spain…
 
“You’re a good storyteller, Kit, you know that?” A drowsy quiet curled in the air around them. Beckett’s midnight eyes were fastened on the water, something distant and contemplative in his gaze. The wind ruffled his hair, and minutes passed before he spoke again. “It’s too bad we weren’t on speaking terms when you were abroad. I could’ve demanded you send me postcards. I’d like to go to Europe someday.”

Maybe the Army would send him there. Maybe he’d send her postcards.

The unwelcome thought propelled her to her feet.

“What?” Beckett lifted his eyes.

“Let’s go wading.”

“It’s going to be freezing, Kit.”

“I know, but if I can survive the Mediterranean in March, I can endure the Atlantic in September.” She bent over to unlace and yank off her boots, movement almost frantic. Off came her socks, and she rolled up her leggings.

Beckett just sat there, staring.

“Don’t wimp out on me, Beck.”

His inflated sigh gave way to obedience. He rose and kicked off his own shoes while she tested the water. A squeal pitched from her the second it touched her toes.

“Told you!” Beckett chirped, still safely ensconced in sand.

Just for that, she waded deeper, icy water licking up her ankles and the chill climbing her spine. “It’s refreshing.” Her teeth chattered through the lie.

Beckett laughed and followed her in, his own gasp colliding with the whoosh of the wind. “If I get frostbite and my toes fall off—”

“Stop whining.” She reached her fingers into the foamy blue and sent a splash his way.

Which, of course, was a mistake. Because, of course, he splashed back.

Within seconds she was half-doused and wholly frozen, shrieking and laughing and on her way to losing her footing.

If not for Beckett’s darting arms.

He caught her before she could fall, and she landed against his chest.

And yet, something told her she was far from safe. “Don’t you dare push me all the way in. Don’t you dare.” She yelped the command.

“I’m not going to push you in.”

But his impish grin and baritone laughter convinced her that was exactly what he was going to do. Which was why she clasped her hands together around his neck. “I’m not letting go. You push me in and you’re coming down with me.”

Her hair whipped around her head, wet strands matting to her face. She couldn’t feel her toes, couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t stop laughing . . .

Until he stopped.

Stilled.

Arms holding her in place and eyes locked on hers. “You said you wished you’d let me kiss you that night.”

The shiver raced through her. “Y-you heard that?”
​
He lifted his hand to brush her hair from her face, one finger trailing over her cheek as he tucked it behind her ear. 
~So? What do you think? Enter either “Kiss” or “Miss” in the Rafflecopter form below to enter the drawing for a Kindle copy of Keep Holding On.
​Award-winning author Melissa Tagg is a former reporter, current nonprofit grant-writer and total Iowa girl. The second book in her popular Walker Family series, Like Never Before, was named by Publisher’s Weekly to one of their spring 2016 Top Ten lists. Her most recent releases include Keep Holding On (Sept 2016) and One Enchanted Eve (Nov 2016). Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women's retreats. Connect with Melissa at www.melissatagg.com or on Facebook and Instagram.a Rafflecopter giveaway Ready for Stop #8?Did you collect your clue words in red above? Jot them down and hop over to Melissa’s blog for the next set of clues, goodies, and more.

It's Release Day!

It's finally release day for Finding Joy (Love's Compass: Book 5) . Can you tell I'm excited? :-D Parker and Chelsea's story was a lot of fun to write and I can't wait to share it with all of you. I hope you love it as much as I do!  [image error] Sometimes, what looks like a dead end, is really a new beginning.

A horrific accident changed everything for Parker Wilson. Unable to find solid footing in his disrupted life, he returns to his family's ranch, a place he thought he'd left behind for good. The scars on his face are a daily reminder of all he's lost, yet his mom still insists he needs to stop hiding and live his life again. The beautiful new employee she hires is the last thing he needs, despite his mom's best intentions, and he'll do whatever it takes to make the girl quit and regain the peace and quiet he prefers.

Nothing short of desperation would force Chelsea Blake to work on a local cattle ranch. But if she's going to avoid her parents' judgment when they arrive in three weeks, she must turn the temporary job into a permanent one. Between dodging mud, feeding longhorn cattle, and dealing with a handsome boss who keeps giving her the cold shoulder, staying gainfully employed is proving to be a challenge. Chelsea may not be cut out for ranch life, but her determination to succeed is stronger than Parker's efforts at forcing her to leave. 

Unprepared to discover all they have in common, if they set aside their initial dislike, they just might find joy beyond measure. Finding Joy is only $0.99
Now through February 19th
Check out the entire  Love's Compass Series
​ and experience the stories of faith, love, and family.  Finding Peace
Tuck and Laurie's story Finding Hope
Lance and
​Lexi's story Finding Courage
Duke and Avalon's story Finding Faith
Aaron and Serenity's story Finding Joy
Parker and Chelsea's story

A Longhorn on Sweet Romance Reads

Would you like to know more about this pretty girl and how she ended up on the cover of Finding Joy?
I'd like to invite you to come check it out - you'll be glad you did! We have new blog posts every day on the website. The Sweet Romance Reads Cafe is a Facebook group that's very active. We also host several large Facebook parties a year. Sign up for our newsletter and receive a free collection of romance novellas!

Website | Facebook Group | Sign Up for the Newsletter

Valentine's Day Sale: 52 books for $0.99 each!

Do you like to read? How about some one-stop shopping where you can browse through 52 clean romances for only $0.99 each? Yes, please!  Let's Go Shopping! Please Note: This sale is supposed to include only clean romances. However, I know there is at least one title that would be considered steamy, at the least. I'm saddened to see this. Please double check your titles before purchasing from this list. My apologies to all of you!  Finding Joy is one of the many books you can snag for just $0.99. It's a new release and will be sent directly to your Kindle application or device first thing on the 14th. How's that for a Valentine's Day treat? 
​
Sometimes, what looks like a dead end, is really a new beginning.

A horrific accident changed everything for Parker Wilson. The beautiful new employee his mom hires is the last thing he needs and he'll do whatever it takes to make the girl quit and regain the peace and quiet he prefers.

Nothing short of desperation would force Chelsea Blake to work on a local cattle ranch. She may not be cut out for ranch life, but her determination to succeed is stronger than her handsome employer’s efforts at forcing her to leave.

Unprepared to discover all they have in common, if they set aside their initial dislike, they might find joy beyond measure.

Sweet Romance Reads Valentine's Party

You are cordially invited to join all of us at Sweet Romance Reads Valentine's Party . We can't wait to chat with you! There'll be books, giveaways, and lots of fun. And you just might win one of three Amazon gift cards: $25, $10, and $5. Hostess Schedule: Times are EST
2:00 - 3:00 pm: Raine English, Liwen Y. Ho, Milou Koenings, Cindy Flores Martinez
3:00 - 4:00 pm: Rachelle Ayala, Patricia Forsythe, Grace Greene, Magdalena Scott, Merrillee Whren
4:00 - 5:00 pm: Mary Alford, Christine Bush, Josie Riviera, Roxanne Rustand, Kristin Wallace
5:00 - 6:00 pm: Lyn Cote, Julie Jarnagin, Victoria Pinder, Mona Risk
6:00 - 7:00 pm: Shanna Hatfield, Kristin Holt, Pat Simmons, Melanie D. Snitker
7:00 - 8:00 pm: Melinda Curtis, Margaret Daley, Denise Devine, Jean C. Gordon, Ciara Knight

All threads will remain open for 24 hours. Prize winners will be posted by noon on Saturday. Join the Party!

Research for Finding Joy: Texas Longhorns

Research is a part of writing any book. In Finding Joy , Parker and his family own a ranch in Kitner, Texas. In addition to the Angus they raise for beef, they have a small herd of Texas longhorns. Working with these animals brings up a lot of memories for Parker and I wanted to learn as much about them as I could so I could give all of you a true sense of what they were like.
​ I did a lot of reading online, but I was especially excited to learn that we have a longhorn ranch not too far outside of town. Justin and Diane own and run the Whining Bull Ranch . They and their son, Jordan, were kind enough to invite me over for a tour so I could see the longhorns up close and personal. I jumped at the chance!

Armed with my camera, I couldn't wait to learn more. They were wonderful about answering my long list of questions. After visiting for a while, they took me on a tour of their beautiful ranch. 

We first went across to the far pasture to see the longhorns there. Much like a scene I wrote in Finding Joy , I got to watch the herd race to meet us. Justin had range cubes and they were excited to come and get a treat. I knew their horns could be huge, but I had no idea until I was standing right there in front of them. Magnificent!  ​I even got to feed a range cube to their bull and that was a fun experience! When Chelsea gets to feed a longhorn in the book, I write that the tongue felt much like a large, warm slug. It also reminded me of the way a giraffe tongue wraps around your hand when you feed it. lol

It would have been easy to just sit down and watch the bull, heifers, and the adorable calves for hours. 

​Afterwards, we went back to the pasture closest to their home where some of the steers and the weaning calves were located. I enjoyed hearing stories about the animals, including how the steers even get babysitting duties while the heifers go off to graze for a while. lol

I'm truly thankful to Justin, Diane, and Jordan for the opportunity to experience this in person. It's something I won't forget, and it allowed me to add a lot more details to  Finding Joy  that I hope you wonderful readers enjoy! Finding Joy will be out February 14th, 2017
and is available for pre-order now Sometimes, what looks like a dead end, is really a new beginning.

A horrific accident changed everything for Parker Wilson. Unable to find solid footing in his disrupted life, he returns to his family's ranch, a place he thought he'd left behind for good. The scars on his face are a daily reminder of all he's lost, yet his mom still insists he needs to stop hiding and live his life again. The beautiful new employee she hires is the last thing he needs, despite his mom's best intentions, and he'll do whatever it takes to make the girl quit and regain the peace and quiet he prefers.

Nothing short of desperation would force Chelsea Blake to work on a local cattle ranch. But if she's going to avoid her parents' judgment when they arrive in three weeks, she must turn the temporary job into a permanent one. Between dodging mud, feeding longhorn cattle, and dealing with a handsome boss who keeps giving her the cold shoulder, staying gainfully employed is proving to be a challenge. Chelsea may not be cut out for ranch life, but her determination to succeed is stronger than Parker's efforts at forcing her to leave. 

Unprepared to discover all they have in common, if they set aside their initial dislike, they just might find joy beyond measure. Available for Pre-Order
for only $0.99 Check out the entire  Love's Compass Series
​ and experience the stories of faith, love, and family.

Guest Author: Josie Riviera's I Love You More

Hi everyone! Please join me in welcoming author Josie Riviera. Her novella, I Love You More, is the perfect story to read for Valentine's Day and has such a beautiful cover. It's on the top of my TBR list!  A billionaire and a single mother have more in common than they know.

He’s a billionaire businessman …

Luciano Donati, entrepreneur and eligible bachelor, lost his first wife to cancer. So though he lives in romantic Charleston, SC, he has every intention of ignoring the upcoming holiday for lovers … at least until he sets eyes again on his younger sister’s best friend. 

He remembers Anastasia as a teenager who idolized him, not this lovely, fragile woman with heartbreak in her eyes. Heartbreak that he finds himself wanting to cure. Her smile warms his soul, her touch ignites his desire, and her little girl Soo-Min melts his frozen heart. Adopted internationally himself at a young age, Luciano understands all too well the strong need to belong somewhere.

She’s a single mom …

Anastasia Markow, cancer survivor and divorced mother, didn’t come to Charleston, SC, for romance. She's here to make sure she has custody of her adopted daughter, Soo-Min. But when she encounters the first man she ever loved, here in the city of horse-drawn carriages and candlelight, her battered heart can’t help but bloom again. And when Luciano and Soo-Min take to each other, resisting his charm becomes even harder.

Handsome, self-assured, every inch the successful billionaire, Luciano is out of Anastasia's reach. But when a hurricane strands them together and they must trust each other to survive … things heat up despite the driving rain and gale winds.

Can Valentine’s Day bring this unlikely pair together … this time for good?
Don’t miss this poignant story of love, loss and renewed hope.
Get your copy of the novella today!
​
Only $0.99 
through the 10th
 
Amazon:
Ebook | Paperback
Itunes, Nook, Etc. Author's Note: Thousands of families around the world have opened their homes and hearts through international adoption. Soo-Min is the embodiment of many, many fortunate adoptive children and parents who’ve together created forever families. 

This sweet romance novella touches on international adoption, a subject close to my heart as my husband and I adopted our daughter from S. Korea. (Note the Asian child on the cover.) About the Author Josie Riviera is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary, inspirational, and historical sweet romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu who constantly needs grooming and live in an old house forever needing renovations.
Check out her website and subscribe to her newsletter for a free ebook:
http://josieriviera.com/

Author Facebook Page | Facebook
Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Guest Author: Josie Riviera and I Love You More

Hi everyone! Please join me in welcoming author Josie Riviera. Her novella, I Love You More, is the perfect story to read for Valentine's Day and has such a beautiful cover. It's on the top of my TBR list!  A billionaire and a single mother have more in common than they know.

He’s a billionaire businessman …

Luciano Donati, entrepreneur and eligible bachelor, lost his first wife to cancer. So though he lives in romantic Charleston, SC, he has every intention of ignoring the upcoming holiday for lovers … at least until he sets eyes again on his younger sister’s best friend. 

He remembers Anastasia as a teenager who idolized him, not this lovely, fragile woman with heartbreak in her eyes. Heartbreak that he finds himself wanting to cure. Her smile warms his soul, her touch ignites his desire, and her little girl Soo-Min melts his frozen heart. Adopted internationally himself at a young age, Luciano understands all too well the strong need to belong somewhere.

She’s a single mom …

Anastasia Markow, cancer survivor and divorced mother, didn’t come to Charleston, SC, for romance. She's here to make sure she has custody of her adopted daughter, Soo-Min. But when she encounters the first man she ever loved, here in the city of horse-drawn carriages and candlelight, her battered heart can’t help but bloom again. And when Luciano and Soo-Min take to each other, resisting his charm becomes even harder.

Handsome, self-assured, every inch the successful billionaire, Luciano is out of Anastasia's reach. But when a hurricane strands them together and they must trust each other to survive … things heat up despite the driving rain and gale winds.

Can Valentine’s Day bring this unlikely pair together … this time for good?
Don’t miss this poignant story of love, loss and renewed hope.
Get your copy of the novella today!
​
Only $0.99 
through the 10th
 
Amazon:
Ebook | Paperback
Itunes, Nook, Etc. Author's Note: Thousands of families around the world have opened their homes and hearts through international adoption. Soo-Min is the embodiment of many, many fortunate adoptive children and parents who’ve together created forever families. 

This sweet romance novella touches on international adoption, a subject close to my heart as my husband and I adopted our daughter from S. Korea. (Note the Asian child on the cover.) About the Author Josie Riviera is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary, inspirational, and historical sweet romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu who constantly needs grooming and live in an old house forever needing renovations.
Check out her website and subscribe to her newsletter for a free ebook:
http://josieriviera.com/

Author Facebook Page | Facebook
Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Eating Better and Staying Healthy: Snacks

Eating healthy and sticking to a calorie count  when it comes to meals has been working for me. But lets face it. Sometimes, a snack is just plain necessary. Snacks can help me get from one meal to the other without feeling hungry or grumpy (not that that ever happens lol), but they are also a great incentive or even a wonderful way to reward myself after getting all my steps in for the day, making it through an especially rough Monday, etc. 

So, since I'm a huge fan of snacks, I thought I'd share some of my favorites. And if you have some you enjoy, I'd love to hear about them! We can all use more snack ideas.
​ Vegetables: 
Snow peas, green beans, bell pepper, radishes, jicama, carrots, celery, cucumber, and more I'm certain I'm not including. 

These are all great choices. I like to cut up a bunch at one time and even divide into baggies with the calorie count written on the outside. It makes it easy to grab one when I get hungry or if I'm on my way out of the house. 

Hummus: 
This is a very low-calorie way to add some flavor to raw vegetables. My favorite is roasted red pepper, but there are flavors ranging from plain to spicy. 

Fruit: 
Fresh fruit is a wonderful snack and a good way to get a little sugar if you need it. I'm a big fan of dried fruit as well. We almost always have a bag of dried apples and apricots in the pantry as well as raisins. 

Another favorite of mine is Stretch Island's fruit leather strips. These are SO good and come in handy packages so you can just throw a few in your backpack or purse. It helps having these when you're out of the house and get hungry. 

I've also made my own fruit leather using a dehydrator in the past and it's wonderful. I make a lot of it in the summer and fall, but tend to buy the fruit leather strips in the winter and spring. ​ Nuts and Seeds:
If you need more calories, nuts are always a great option. Cashews are my personal favorite, but I also like sunflower and pumpkin seeds. There are also almonds, peanuts, etc. There have been times where we've combined nuts and dried fruit to make a great snack mix. 

​Cereal: 
I listed some of my preferences in my breakfast post. But I eat these for snacks, too. Usually 1/2 cup (1/2 of a serving) of cereal, and no milk. 
​ Crackers:
This is one of my favorite snacks. I usually try to go with rice or corn crackers because they taste amazing, they're very light with little to no sugar in them (and sugar is my biggest addiction when it comes to food, so finding something without it that I like is great), and you get a LOT of crackers per serving. 

These Good Thins corn crackers are my new obsession. They are so yummy! I could eat these all the time if I let myself. They are super crunchy and perfect for just snacking on, dipping in hummus, or even eating with some meat and cheese as a meal. 

This brand also has other flavors. I've tried the rice and they are good as well. 

Nut-Thins are another amazing brand. Their rice, almond, and pecan crackers are fantastic. 

Pretzels: 
Another go-to that's easy to take with me anywhere.

Candy:
Yes, I did say the word. I personally don't think there's a thing wrong with having a little candy as a treat or snack. Especially if you're wanting something sweet as opposed to actually feeling hungry. The fact is, if you completely cut out those sweet treats, you're going to crave them even more.

I'll be honest, I probably have about 200 calories a day that are an indulgence. Not always candy. Sometimes it'll be 4 oz. of some kind of fruit juice in the morning and then another 100-120 calories worth of candy. 

If I do have candy on hand, I try to limit it to either a specialty candy that I'll want to make last for a while, like a dark chocolate bar. I personally can't eat a lot of dark chocolate at a time, so I'm perfectly content to eat a square of this at a time. 

Or I'll get candy that's wrapped in small pieces. A favorite is Pearson's mint patties. These are 30 calories each, so I can have three of them for less than 100 calories and feel like I had a treat. Or spread them out and have one or two after lunch and dinner. 

How about you? Do you have a healthy snack you like to eat?