Blog Archives
A Month Of Memories: Day 3 The Tree
In my month of memories, today is about the Tree…as in with a capital T.
I tried to find a picture that really looked like our tree, but I couldn’t. I think this one is close though. It’s been a while.
Besides all that, the point is that we had a fake tree because of my brother’s allergies, and we had the kind that came in limbs marked in what looked like colored fingernail polish. You matched the colors with corresponding paint marks in the holes. It was my job to organize all the limbs and get it together as far as I could reach.
My mom kept that tree for probably 30 years. It was familiar. Why change? 
Share something of yours!
Day 2: The Anticipation… :)
I’m talking about my memories this month, sharing a Month of Memories since December is so full of so many traditions.
Today is Day 2, and my memory today is of helping mom drag all the decorations from the upstairs storage closet, giddy with anticipation as each box was opened. She probably hated that part. It was, after all, quite the task. The storage closet was a bear to get things in and out of, and then once you did wrangle a giant cardboard box out, you had the curved stairway to contend with. But I couldn’t wait. I can still remember what that closet always smelled like. To me, it was Christmas.
Share another of yours!!
A Month of Memories…
I didn’t post all this week…still crazy from the holiday, and so much going on personally and at work. So I thought I’d pop in on this bright and beautiful Saturday morning, the very first day of December.
There were alot of GRATITUDE posts floating around Facebook in November, everyone posting days of what they were thankful for. November was all about thankfulness, as it should be. We should stop and take notice of our blessings…we tend to spend way too much time complaining about what we lack. So November was a great time to take stock and see things right side up.
December, to me, is about memories. About all the traditions we had growing up, big and little. Smells and sounds and tastes and tactile memories that define the month of December and Christmas. So I’m going to do a little daily memory log this month, sharing my memories with you. And hopefully it will trigger some of your own, and you’ll share yours!
Today, Day #1, is the smell and feel of cold air, drinking hot spiced tea on the old brick porch with my mom.
Enjoy your memories!
Thanksgiving traditions…
I’m dishing about Thanksgiving dishes and what kinds of traditions we have over at Women Unplugged today…click here to view that post and join in the conversation. What traditions do you have?
I’m also at Tina’s Book Reviews today on the last leg of my virtual blog tour. Come by and enter to win some great prizes, including an e-basket of books from me!
Have a great holiday!
Aunt Bernie’s Spicy Crackers! from BEFORE AND EVER SINCE
In the spirit of book-y love and snack addiction, I wanted to round out this week with the recipe for the spicy crackers Aunt Bernie makes in BEFORE AND EVER SINCE.
Cassidy loves them, Emily loves them, even health crazy Holly loves them. So here you are–your very own recipe to make them yourself. EASY peasy and sooooo good. Enjoy!
TEXAS FIRE CRACKERS
(served by Aunt Bernie… good as appetizer or with gumbo…)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 2/3 cup vegetable or olive oil
2 1-oz pkgs Ranch Dressing mix
1 16oz box Saltine crackers
Place vegetable oil, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, ranch dressing mix, and crushed red pepper flakes in a 2-gallon plastic zip lock bag, seal, and smoosh with hands to thoroughly combine the oil and spices. Place crackers into bag, seal, and turn over and over to cover the crackers with the spice mix. Let the bag sit for about an hour, then turn them again. Repeat several more times until crackers are well-coated with spice mix. The longer they sit in the mix, the better. Remove crackers and let air dry. Serve!
Now you can make these for your family…or make them for yourself as a wonderful snack while you curl up and read! LOL! Enjoy!
@ @ @ @ @
My squee moments…
I mentioned that I was signing at the John Cooper School Signature Author Series last Friday…
Did I mention that I was going to meet Kathryn Stockett?
Well I did! I mean, not like hey we’re bff’s and dishing about lotion scents and recipes, but I did get my picture taken with her and Tate Taylor, who did the movie version of THE HELP.
Yeah, I was excited. AND if you didn’t see me squeeing all over Facebook, I had a childhood fangirl moment with the oldest Hardy Boy, when he was there with two other authors as the cover artist. He does photography now. AND he gushed over my cover. And told me how clever my chapter booklets were. AND I got a picture with him too!
(me and Parker Stevenson)
Yay!
So…now back to reality, but during that reality, today I’m at The Book Pushers, talking about the hugest theme in BEFORE AND EVER SINCE, which is the power of secrets. Stop by for a chance at a giveaway!
Y’all have a great day!
Today’s just a Friday… :)
What? No life lesson? No hot guys? What’s with that?
Well, Emily told us all she’s going to, now it’s up to readers to soak up the whole story. And the hot guys? Reading about Ben will take care of that for you.
What I can give you is the link for where I am visiting today on my virtual tour. I’ll being interviewed at Romantic Book Affairs today, with a giveaway of swag, and a tour-wide e-basket giveaway of each of my books. Worth stopping in to say hello!!
Physically, as in the real world I walk around in, today kicks off a three day event frenzy.
Yep…pretty much that!
Today: 10am – 2pm Signing at the John Cooper School Signature Author Series, featuring Kathryn Stockett of the THE HELP. I’m one of ten visiting authors signing today at The Woodlands Marriott Convention Center in The Woodlands, TX. Click on the link to see more!
Saturday: 4pm – 7pm Meet The Author social event at the Crescent Moon Wine Bar and Restaurant in Spring, TX. I’m hanging out with everyone and giving away books as doorprizes at the top of each hour! If you are in the area, come hang out with us! There will be great food and great wine!
Sunday: 2pm – 4pm Signing at The Woodlands Barnes & Noble (Woodlands Mall) in The Woodlands, TX. I’ll be signing BEFORE AND EVER SINCE and having a drawing for a giveaway of JUST ONE DAY! Again, if you are in the area, come by!
Whew!! Are you tired?
I’m excited! Let’s do it!
Life Lesson #8 from savvy Emily Lockwood
BEFORE AND EVER SINCE is now available! I get lots of questions asking me what it’s about.
Basically, the main character, Emily Lockwood has alot on her plate. She is successful in her own right, with a solid real estate career, but has a headstrong daughter, a mother who marches to her own drummer, and an ex-husband who needs sex therapy. Enter into this picture a house with an agenda, and the return of her first love, rocking a tool belt and a paintbrush and dark eyes full of secrets, and Emily just flat out has things to get through and get over. I call them the “Emily Lockwood Life Lessons”.
We can all learn things from Emily. And this is the last one she has to share. I’ve so enjoyed sharing Emily and her life lessons with you! I hope you’ve enjoyed it too.
Life Lesson #8 from Emily in BEFORE AND EVER SINCE…
MOTHERS KNOW EVERYTHING, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU GET.
…an excerpt from the book…
I rounded a corner of the wall and leaned my back against it, breathing in the cold air fast to stop the burn from coming back up.
But it wasn’t to be stopped. Everything stung on its way out. My skin felt hot, my eyes burned, my stomach threatened to upheave the nachos. My chest felt as if it would cave in from the lack of oxygen, as my sobs took over and beat the crap out of me. I slid down the rough brick wall till I was half sitting, half squatting on the ground.
Why the hell did he have to come back? If he didn’t want me then, fine. So why was he back now, acting as if he did? Holding me like that. Looking at me like that. Stirring up old shit.
“Emily!”
I jumped half out of my skin at the sound of my mother’s voice, and I scrambled unsuccessfully to get to my feet.
“Jesus, just—stay where you are, I’ll come to you,” she said, slowly getting to the ground. “Just takes me a minute.”
“I—just needed some air, Mom, I’m—”
“Oh yeah, I can see you’re the picture of wonderful,” she said. “Everyone has meltdowns behind buildings when things are going well.”
“I know,” I croaked. “I must look like a lunatic.”
“Luckily I speak the language.” My mom took one of my hands. “You’re in love with that man.”
New tears. New burn. “Well, that made me feel better, thanks.” The hiccupping sobs returned. It was all kinds of fabulous that other people could see what I was killing myself to keep hidden. Of course, the latest floorshow probably hadn’t left much to the imagination. We danced like people in love.
“Damn him,” I hissed.
* * *
Available at all retail stores and online locations
