January Website Updates

Happy New Year, Honorary Playfriends! We hope you had a fantastic holiday and that you're entering the new year (and new decade!) with a fresh, rested spirit.

The Playfriends are entering the new year with a fresh, new look - on the website at least! Smarty Pants has been very busy, and the Playground boasts a fresh coat of paint and a good reorganizing. It certainly looks spiffy, but it's also a bit more user-friendly these days. All those fab articles and interviews in the Archives have been indexed and it should be easier to find what you're looking for now. You'll find lots of new photos and other surprises.

Along with our spiffy new look, we have lots of great updates, too!

First off, we welcome SB Sarah of the SMART BITCHES, TRASHY BOOKS blog to the Sandbox. You know, she's really nice, not bitchy at all! : http://www.writingplayground.com/sandbox.html

The end of 2009 means it's time to start thinking about taxes. Diane O'Brien Kelly is back this month with an article about what's *not* deductable on your taxes. : http://www.writingplayground.com/school.html#tax3

In School, you'll find that January's Book of the Month selection (MAGNATE'SMISTRESS... ACCIDENTALLY PREGNANT!) is by someone we all know and who is currently blushing at Angel's rave review:
http://www.writingplayground.com/school.html#MMAP

The start of the new year also means that the contests are back! I'm running the Jan-Feb "Beach Break" contest to celebrate the release of my February book. Be sure to enter!http://www.writingplayground.com/contest.html

The blog is active, as usual. We'll kick off the new year next with our Theme Week (any week with a MOANday and a Free Book Friday is an awesome week, right?). The week after that (1/11-1/15), we'll be celebrating our new look with a really great contest. Check the blog for details. Guest blogger Donna Alward returns on 1/11, and more guest bloggers will be added to the sidebar as we confirm the details.

2010 promises to be a great year! Ours is already off to a great start because we get to share all of this fun stuff with our Honorary Playfriends. We resolve to bring you the best interviews and bloggers and contests we can throughout the year because y'all make our Playground a great place to be.

Here's to great friends, great books, good times, and hunky cover models!

Resolutions!

It's that time of year. January 1, 2010 is upon us! A new year with new opportunities. I don't know what it is about this time of year that makes people want to start fresh. We eat the last of the Christmas goodies, toss out the tree, and bust out the exercise gear.

I know everyone is sleeping late after all the champagne, but pop in and share your resolutions or hopes for 2010. Maybe we can check back in the next year and see how we did.

This year, I would like to:

* Take better care of myself. (I use this resolution as a cover-all for exercising, flossing and eating better in addition to a justification for massages and pedicures). I'm not going to tack goal numbers or anything to it. Just want to feel better in general.

* Take better care of my house. I just... yeah. Declutter, simplify, clean, etc. Might use this as a justification for that Dyson I want. Or some new furniture. Say, I'm liking this resolution business already...

* Make more time for the people in my life. Real people, not the ones inside my computer.

* Read at least one book a month for fun. I hardly ever get to read anymore.

I'll leave it at that for now, though I leave myself room to revise as life changes. Never know what might be important a few months down the road.

What about you? Resolutions can be a dirty word, but what are your hopes and goals for 2010?
SP

PS. I am very late in annoucing my winners for my Christmas giving back blog. BUSY BEE is the winner of Eloisa James's "An Affair Before Christmas" for adopting a family this holiday. Please email me at smartypants@writingplayground.com to claim your prize.

PSS. If you don't check into the blog every day, make sure to scroll back and see if you've won a prize and don't know it. Occasionally we have gifties that go unclaimed. Don't let it be yours!

New Year's Eve

I love this holiday - the ending of one year and the beginning of another. While there will be plenty of time to talk about resolutions and how we're all going to do better at (insert your weakness here) starting tomorrow, today is for fun.

I don't know about you guys but I love the party aspect of New Year's Eve. Staying up to watch the ball drop. Fireworks and champagne. This year we waited to have our annual Playground Christmas party until tonight. There will be food, Rock Band, a few adult beverages and plenty of friendship.

Do you have big plans for tonight? How are you celebrating New Year's Eve? Will you be dressed to the nines to dance the night away or curled up on the sofa in your PJs watching the ball drop?

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy New Year!

Instigator

If you just believe

One year when my boys were small, we went away for Christmas. They were quite excited about the possibility of having a white Christmas because one of their grandmas lived in the mountains. However, they were also quite concerned about how Santa would find them since they would not be at their regular place of residence and tucked into their usual beds.

"You just have to believe," I told them. "No matter where you are, Santa Claus will find you."

And sure enough, Santa found them that Christmas and every Christmas since. For it's been the custom to hang our stockings by the fireplace each Christmas and even my thirty-something son finds his filled.

This Christmas was a little different. I'm living in an apartment with no fireplace and my sons didn't visit me on Christmas. I'd planned to visit my mother at Christmas because I needed to begin establishing a "new normal" routine for this season, but when she had surgery earlier this month and spent two weeks in the hospital, the trip became even more important because she needed help with just about everything while she began her recuperation.

I'd decorated my new apartment with a small tree from the thrift store (why pay $75 for a tree when you can find the same thing for $7.98 at Thrift Mart?) and put a wreath on my door. I wrapped my patio railing with evergreen garland and tiny white lights, and I bought two poinsettias to brighten up my kitchen and dining table. I put out some candles and found a spot to hang the really pretty crystal and mistletoe ornament Angel gave me for Christmas, and in a last-minute fit of tradition, I put a stocking hanger on the built-in bookcase and hung up the stocking my mother made for me when I was a little girl.

The stocking qualifies as an antique now and probably should go in the Smithsonian, but that's another story. I commented in an email to the other Playfriends that I wasn't really sure why I hung it because there'd be no one to fill it.

You see, I'd stopped believing in Santa years ago and so had my boys. But hanging those stockings and filling them with trinkets and candy was just a little piece of their childhood I could hang onto. I saw them both this year on the Sunday before Christmas and instead of trinkets and candy in a stocking, I gave them a Walmart card in a gift card holder (Grandbaby got lots and lots of princess and Tinkerbell stuff including a Tinkerbell Pez dispenser, and that's another story too). Cop-out, I know. I guess I figured that was just part of the "new normal." With the gift card, they could buy food or put gas in their vehicles or purchase socks and underwear if that's what they needed.

So imagine my surprise when I got home from my trip late on Monday and found a message from Santa scribbled on the little white board stuck to my front door. And imagine further surprise when I discovered several small gifts under the tree that I hadn't put there. And color me gobsmacked (don't you just love that word?) when I glanced toward the bookcase and saw my stocking brimming with surprises!

I got a new journal (I almost bought one a few days before because I wanted to start a new one for my journaling -- that's gonna be one of my resolutions -- and counseling sessions in 2010 but hesitated for some reason), and a Starbucks card (tall lattes here I come!), some note cards (to write thank you notes for all my wonderful gifts), lots of candy (Snickers, Reese's peanut butter cups and Kit Kat bars! Santa, you remembered!) and an apple and cinnamon oil diffuser with the little sticks (my office is going to smell so good). Last but not least, a pair of socks with snowmen was stuffed into the toe of my stocking. And as I type this, I'm wearing them to keep my feet warm in the sub-freezing weather we're having in north Alabama.

Isn't it amazing how even when you stop believing, others don't? We all know Santa didn't appear in the flesh at my apartment, but the spirit of Santa did and I think you can all guess which four people make up that spirit.

Enjoy the song below and pay attention to the lyrics printed below the player. And thank you to my special Santas for reminding me I need to keep believing.

Children sleeping, snow is softly falling
Dreams are calling like bells in the distance
We were dreamers not so long ago
But one by one we all had to grow up
When it seems the magic's slipped away
We find it all again on Christmas day

Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that's playing
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe

Trains move quickly to their journey's end
Destinations are where we begin again
Ships go sailing far across the sea
Trusting starlight to get where they need to be
When it seems that we have lost our way
We find ourselves again on Christmas day

Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that's playing
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe
If you just believe
If you just believe
If you just believe
Just believe
Just believe
believe

Don't tell anyone I'm here...

Seriously. If anyone asks, I was never here.

See, when the tingling in my fingers got really irritating and the pain in my shoulder and wrist got too bad, I finally went to the doctor. He gave me 17 shots -- literally -- and banned me from my computer. I told the Geek about this restriction with a laugh, and dang it if the Geek didn't back him up and threaten to dismantle the computer if I didn't stay off of it.

So, I'm sneaking in today with a quickie, drive-by post to explain my absence and announce winners from last week.

Winners are: Margay, Michele L and Julie Miller. Send me your snail mail addy at problemchild@writingplayground.com and I'll get your packages in the mail (when I can sneak a peek at my email that is...). Thanks so much for playing along everyone! I hope you got your grinchiness out and enjoyed the holiday!

And because this post is just too short and boring, I'll add this to make it worthwhile and interesting.

Yummy. Those abs...

So if I'm AWOL in the near future, you'll know why. Possibly because the Geek has taken my keyboard with him in order to keep me off the computer. (Can you feel my withdrawl pangs? Horrid.) Cross fingers the doc can get me sorted out soon and I'll be back on the internet like usual!

And you never saw me here, okay? Shhhhh....

Gone Visitin'

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday (and plenty of recovery time over the weekend)! I know our house was busy with excited children and lots of visitors. Now I’m heading to Florida to visit with my parents before my kids have to return to school. Then it is back to the grindstone for me.

Today, I’m blogging over at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood about building goals for the new year. If you are like me, and like to take some time to think about the coming year and prepare a plan of attack, join me over there! I’ll be taking questions and suggestions, and discussing everyone’s plans for 2010. I’d love to see you there!

The Playfriends are hard at work on the changes coming to our website next week (or rather, Smarty Pants is—she gets the brunt of the labor). We’re very excited and will be running a contest next week during theme week to celebrate our new look. So don’t forget to join us for that!

Hope all of our readers get a few days off to celebrate the new year this week! Enjoy!

Angel

Happy Holidays!

The Playfriends would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Christmas Eve

For my family, today starts our celebration of Christmas. This afternoon we'll attend mass followed by a trip to my parent's house to have a family dinner and exchange presents. If I can talk Zilla into it, we'll also drive down to the historical district in our town and see all the lights while listening to Christmas music.

Then we'll tuck the girls into bed and wait for Santa to arrive.

The fun and frenzy will probably also involve those last minute wrapping sessions. Hopefully, I won't need a final trip to the mall for anything.

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Instigator

P.S. The pictures are from another of our Christmas traditions, the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. Each year we try to get up there to do a little shopping and also stop by the hotel to see their amazing Christmas decorations.

The Holiday Spirit

This event happened on December 12, but I had to pass it on. My faith in humanity has been sorely tested this year but this just shows that goodness is alive and well on planet Earth.


Mystery Couple Starts "Magical" Chain Reaction
For five hours, strangers bought each other meals at a Philly diner

It played like a scene from a holiday movie -- a mystery couple, who didn’t leave their names or numbers, walked into a restaurant, finished their meal and then set-off a chain reaction of generosity that lasted for hours.

That’s just what employees at the Aramingo Diner in Port Richmond said a man and a woman did during their breakfast shift last Saturday morning.

“It was magical. I had tears in my eyes because it never happened before. I’ve been here for 10 years and I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Lynn Willard, a waitress.

Willard and other waitresses told NBC Philadelphia that the couple started the chain reaction by paying double: for their own meal and for the tab of another table of diners at the restaurant. There's no evidence that one group of diners knew the others.

“I could not believe it … and it continued and continued, it was very nice,” said Willard. “They asked us not to say anything until they left, but we said ‘Merry Christmas, that person picked up your tab.’”

For the next five hours, dozens of patrons got into that same holiday spirit and paid the favor forward.

The diner’s manager said not one person was concerned about price of the check -- which averaged between $12-$30.

“It was a surprise to all of us, the girls were even taken aback,” said Linda. “Those who took the check also tipped the waitress. So nobody had to do anything other than pass it on and that’s what they did. They just passed it forward.”

It’s a true holiday story that proves how a small gesture of kindness can create some magic.

Have you ever paid a favor forward?

I'm at my mother's house now, helping tend to her after some emergency surgery on December 5th and a 14-day hospital stay. She's doing well but has a long recovery ahead of her. I began my trip here with a visit to see both my sons (#2 son was visiting with #1 son), DIL and the grandbaby. We had our Christmas celebration on Sunday evening and here are a few photos of the surprises Grammy brought.

Watch out Rachael Ray! Her apron reads "Chef in Training"

Every princess needs a fuzzy pink bathrobe.

I want to wish everyone on the Playground a very merry Christmas.

Holiday Wishes... gone wrong. But with Prizes!

My holiday spirit is a little low at the moment -- all the last minute things tend to frustrate me (Hmm, seems that Angel and I are sharing that frustration thing right now). Sometimes you just need to let your inner Scrooge or Grinch out for a few minutes to let off some steam. So let's let them out to do thier thing, and then we'll all feel better going into to this "most wonderful time of the year."

It's time for the annual Christmas Wish game! (With a PC twist, of course.) Here's how it works: I'll make a wish. The next commenter will "grant" my wish, but in such a way as to make me regret wishing for it. For example -- Say I wish for a full body massage. You'd grant my wish, but inform me that it will be preformed by Frodo with his big hairy Hobbit feet. You'd then wish for something -- say a million dollars -- and the *next* commenter will grant your wish -- by giving it to you in pennies -- before making their own wish.

Got it? You can look at one of the past games if you need some ideas

Good Grinchy fun to release any of that holiday frustration before it ruins Christmas...

And because my inner Scrooge is already feeling better at just the thought of this game, I will be giving away prizes! I have a nice little selection here ready to go in the mail. Winners will be chosen arbitrarily by me with no guidelines up front. Could be best wish, best thwarting of a wish, most evil thought, or even the ones that make me laugh out loud.

Ready? I'll start --

I wish elves would come clean out my garage.

Go!

A Boot Frustration

Last week I learned something new about myself: I absolutely hate being physically hindered in any way. You see, I have developed tendonitis in one of my feet and the doctor has put me in a walking boot to keep it immobilized for 3 weeks in order for it to heel. Very quickly, I realized how very much I hated it.

At first, I walked like a drunken sailor. Everything felt off balance and out of rhythm. Once I started to get the hang of things, I didn’t look quite so funny, but it slowed me down. A lot. Which is exactly what the doctor wanted. He said so. But I don’t like it. I feel so much sorrier for my Drama Queen, who had 2 broken wrists earlier this year. She didn't whine at all (I'm not sure how she managed that).

I’m used to going about my business quickly and efficiently. When I shop, I want to get in and get out. I have a list and I get down to business (unless I’m shopping for clothes). Household tasks, I want to get them done and move on to something more enjoyable. And I’ve always been able to do that, except at the end of my pregnancies. This is a similar feeling of frustration.

Add to that the fact that I’m falling asleep all the time… You see, the only time I can take the boot off is when I’m seated or lying down. Since I hate having it on – you get the picture. But I get still and I fall asleep, which just seems to be making me sleepier instead of refreshed. At night, I want to take it off, so I go lay in the bed and watch television or read class work from the online course I’m taking. And fall asleep at like 9pm, which is unheard of for me.

Sigh. At least all of my Christmas shopping and preparations were done. I can’t imagine hitting the mall in this thing. Today, I have to do the grocery shopping for our festivities this week and I’m already dreading it. Who wants to take 2 hours to get groceries instead of 1? Not me.

Heard enough whining out of me yet? :) I’m sure everyone around me feels the same way. It’s just the frustration talking. On the brighter side, I’ve spent a lot of time cuddling my kids this week and we’ve watched as many Christmas specials as we can find. My hubby has waited on me quite patiently and I’m deeply appreciative (even if he has taken to calling me Bootsy).

So tell me, have you broken a bone or had to keep immobile to correct an injury? How did you handle the waiting part? Any advice for keeping my frustrations under wrap, especially during this busy holiday season?

Angel

P.S. For a smile to contradict all my negative energy today, watch our Elf Yourself video below. It's a hoot!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Giving Back

I'm going to try and do this without is sounding like a public service announcement. We'll see...

It is exactly a week until Christmas. A week! By now, everyone is buzzing about buying gifts, wrapping gifts, decorating trees, baking cookies, going to parties... its a busy time of year. I am no exception. This year, however, I've made time to do something different.

I'm volunteering Sunday. Normally, I try to do something around the holidays. Yes, I know I should do things year round, but the holidays tug at my heartstrings a little harder. Although stoic and sarcastic at most times, I'm really a mushball on the inside and get teary at the slightest nod to sentimental or touching things. Makes me crazy, especially around this time of year when every commericial is out to sell you something or make you cry, or both.

Normally my contribution involves me writing a check to the local Food Bank to feed people holiday meals. Maybe getting presents for Toys for Tots or cleaning out the pantry for donations. I've been known to adopt a family or an angel or a soldier. This year, in addition to my normal activities, I'm doing something new that requires only my time. It actually involves a semi-dangerous task I wouldn't normally attempt.

Dangerous, you say? Yes. I'm wrapping gifts at the mall on Sunday. The money we raise goes to support the Crisis Services of Northern Alabama. They provide safe shelter for domestic abuse victims, crisis hotlines and other services such as rape counseling. They have volunteers wrapping gifts at both local malls all month, so if you get a chance, stop by and let them wrap some of your gifts for a good cause. And as for the danger I mentioned, I have to tell you that it goes against my sense of self preservation to get anywhere near a mall within a few days of Christmas, but I am. For charity.

What are you doing to give back this holiday season? Share the wonderful ways you share the spirit of the season and one commenter will pick up a copy of An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James!

SP

Wish List

So, if you guys are anything like me, you spend the months of Nov and Dec trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. I've hunted sales, haunted online stores and made countless phone calls searching for those hard to find, perfect gifts. And so far, I've not only found everything that I needed (at the best price) but I've also managed to snag a few much needed items for other people as well.

But while I go out of my way to make sure that I know what everyone else's list includes, I usually have a hard time figuring out what to put on my own list.

Part of this is just being an adult. I mean, if I want something I generally just buy it. Sure, I go without things sometimes but never anything I truly need or really can't live without. Of course, this makes Christmas a little difficult on the ones that I love. This year, though, there's one item on my must have list.

A Nook. For those that haven't heard about it, it's Barnes and Noble's answer to the Kindle. It has a few extra features that I'm excited about - a color screen, the ability to add memory and a lending feature. However, it's back ordered until Feb 1st right now. And while I will be getting it (from my wonderful Zilla) I won't have it right away. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

And no, just because it's arriving in Feb doesn't mean it can double as a Valentine's present! :-)

So, what's on your Christmas list? Is there something that you're excited to find under your tree? Do you have trouble making your own Christmas list?

Instigator

P.S. Problem Child is guest blogging today at Tote Bags n Blogs http://authorsoundrelations.blogspot.com/ Stop by and say hi!

Guest Blogger Melanie Milburne

Please welcome the fab Melanie Milburne to the blog. Another Aussie author, Melanie writes for both Presents/Modern and Medical. She joins us today with a very timely and smart blog...

Procrastination and Presents

Hi everyone,

For those of you who haven’t done your Christmas shopping and sent off your cards, don’t panic-you are not the only one! What is it about this time of year that everything gets left to the last minute?

I am not by nature a procrastinator. I like to be organised, I need to know what I need to do and when and I am always super punctual.

But…

Yes, there is always a but!

People are not always consistent and I am a pertinent example of that. I have never missed a writing deadline but I procrastinate on other things, usually things I am not so good at or find threatening or imagine will be. It’s amazing how overwhelming a task can be once you give it enough room inside your head. If you ruminate enough about it, it will spread to every corner of your brain until it is all you are thinking about.

Christmas shopping is time consuming and I would rather be writing, but this year I have forced myself to set goals so I don’t have that racing heart and panicky feeling the closer the big day gets. So yes, the tree is up, some but not all presents are wrapped and under it, and I am back at my desk.

But…

Yep, another but.

Life is full of left field surprises and the trick is being flexible enough to deal with them when they arrive. I have learned to be more flexible over time. I guess having two very energetic full on boys taught me that over the years. They are adults now, but wow, was I on a huge learning curve while they were growing up!

My characters are another way I have learned to be more flexible. They – like my boys – very often have a mind of their own. They go off on tangents and do things I hadn’t planned for them to do. It’s the weirdest part of the writing process, how these imaginary people somehow morph into real personalities with real desires and wants and needs.

I think a lot of new writers (and I did this too when I was trying to break through) try too hard in crafting their characters into a stereotype or cliché of what they think a hero or heroine should be. My hint is to imagine them as real people, someone you would see on the street or sit next to at a restaurant. Study them: what do they look like? What are they wearing? What mannerisms do they use? What is their back story? Who do they care about? What is their most important goal? What do they have yet to learn?

Some writers use pictures from magazines and I do too occasionally. I once wrote a book on the basis of a picture of a man with blue-green eyes that I had pinned to my blind in front of my computer. His character came to life right there in front of me. Actually, he’s still there smiling that sexy half-smile right now!

Writing is a process and just about every writer has a different way of going about it. Some leave things to the last minute and fret over the deadline, and yet get it done by the skin of their teeth and still manage to write a best seller. Some like to set a daily word count and I have done that too in the past, but some days are diamonds and others are duds. There is no way sometimes of predicting what will get done, but one thing is certain: nothing will get done if you don’t at least try.

I love the following quote and I hope it encourages you all to make 2010 a fulfilling and happy year.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men (women) with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and will solve the problems of the human race. ~Calvin Coolidge, US President 1923-29

With best wishes,
Melanie Milburne

Visit Melanie's website at www.MelanieMilburne.com.au to get more information on these upcoming releases:
Presents:
The Future King's Love Child-USA December 09
The Marcolini Blackmail Marriage-Aust December 09 Christmas Gift Pack
The Venadicci Marriage of Vengeance -Presents Extra USA Feb 2010
Castellano's Mistress of Revenge- UK Feb 2010, Aust March
The Melendez Forgotten Marriage-UK July 09, Aust Aug 09
Medicals:
The Doctor's Rebel Knight-UK January, Aust Feb 2010
The Emergency Doctor and Cinderella- UK April 2010 Aust May

Um, wow. Just wow. That's a lot of books. Melanie's obviously not a procrastinator...

Visions of Sugar Plums... or Nightmares?

For many folks, going to see The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition. I often hear folks talk about it like it’s just not the Christmas season until they see The Nutcracker.

For many years, it was one of my traditions too. Not going to see it, mind you, dancing in it.

For six years of my life, September through early December was dominated by The Nutcracker. The rehearsals, the costume fittings, more rehearsals… oh, and the drama. My high school provided the corps de ballet for the state ballet company. Fifty teenagers with their usual melodrama inflated by casting decisions, endless rehearsals… mercy.

By the time I graduated, I was Nutcraker-ed out. Just the music was enough to send me into PTSD-like flashbacks, and with every shopping mall in America having the Sugar Plum pas de deux on an endless loop, I left more than one store screaming.

I couldn’t even watch Nutcracker. Not to brag, but I think the version my company did was one of the best I’ve ever seen, plus, it’s all tied up with memories of friends and performances and “that time when…”

And not all of those memories are good ones.

So, there was no way in hell I was going to pay good money to park myself in a theater and watch a performance that would most likely send me to the closest bar in need of a stiff drink and probably not measure up to my expectations anyway.

For someone who lived and breathed Nutcracker for three months of every year for six years, I’ve probably watched the Nutcracker maybe three times in the last twenty years.

But this year, we’re going to see if I’ve matured and outgrown my Nutcracker aversion. I’m chaperoning AC’s class trip to the Nutcracker this week. AC is thrilled, because she’s never seen it live. (I know, until you read the above paragraphs, I bet you thought I’d been dragging my child to the ballet every chance I had. Teenage trauma lingers longer than you’d think. Just ask the Playfriends about my weight issues… In comparison, my Nutcracker aversion is almost normal.)

I guess we’ll find out if time heals all wounds or if I need more therapy from Counselor Shelley.

So, is Nutcracker a part of your holiday tradition? What’s your favorite bit?

PC

*** Notes on the pictures (which I figured y’all would want to see). First, I’m kind of surprised at how few pictures I have of me in various costumes and performances. I guess it just goes to show how this was just same-ol’-same-ol’ in my teenage life and it just didn’t occur to me to document it.

But, to caption them. I'm 14, maybe 15, in that soldier picture. I’d just come off stage and was headed down to the dressing room to change for second act. The reason my hair is in pigtails is that I was a child in the party scene, with a quick change to soldier. The pigtails (and the bows) got shoved under a hat. My friend was in the same situation. Once we took off our hats, we felt we looked like majorettes, hence the pose. The next one is from 1988, so I'd just turned 16. I’m a candy cane in Act Two (I don’t know why my candy cane costume was green. It’s still a mystery. It’s a pretty tutu though…)

The last one isn't Nutcracker, it's Napoli (and I'm 16 or 17),but it's still a cute picture of me in costume!

***Tomorrow, Melanie Milburne joins us on the blog!

Holiday Rush

Oops! I’m running late on this wet, soggy Monday. I spent the weekend hostessing a party for our local RWA chapter here at my house (good times, good times) and then went to a friend’s house for tea Sunday where we spent several enjoyable hours talking about everything from where we are in our writing to kids to diets. You know, the usual writing women’s fare.

In the scramble to get the kids ready for bed and school the next morning, and the inevitable collapse after the weekends festivities, I completely forgot about blogging today! You’ll forgive me, right? :)

So let’s talk about Christmas activities. This weekend was my big one, then oddly enough, I don’t have anything else major until after Christmas, when I’m going to visit my parents in Florida. I’ll make it home just in time for the Playground Christmas party on New Year’s Eve (we had scheduling problems this year). What about you? Are you overloaded with holiday appointments or getting off easy with a party here and there?

Angel

Coming Soon!
Wednesday we welcome author Melanie Milburne!

Check out our Free Book Friday winner below!

FBF Winner

Just wanted to post quickly, while Angel gets her blog together, that our Holiday Edition of Free Book Friday's winner is Sarah Tormey. Sarah, to claim your prize, please email me at smartypants@writingplayground.com with your snail mail info.

All prizes not claimed within 7 days may be reawarded.

Free Book Friday - Holiday Edition

It's Free Book Friday time again! This year has just flown by. I honestly can't believe it's December already. It's been a blur of activity. Seems like we were just at Disneyworld, sweating and sunburnt and now I'm in a turtleneck wishing I had a contraband space heater under my desk. And next year will be 2010! Wow. I remember being in high school wondering what we were going to call the freshmen that would graduate after the class of '99 and now we're heading for a whole new decade. Crazy.

Since the holiday season is officially upon us, I decided to pick some very special books to give away. This month we have two sexy anthologies guaranteed to keep you warm during the cold winter. Whether or not you win, be sure to grab both these great books and snuggle up with a blanket and hot cocoa to read!

Holiday with a Vampire III

Christmas starts at midnight... And after you've been visited by these sexy men, you'll discover the true meaning of the season in these dazzling tales of love.

"Sundown" by Linda Winstead Jones - After distancing herself from a very attractive cop, vampire Abby Brown discovers she wants only one thing for Christmas--Leo Stryker. But when a murder investigation endangers his life, "she" may be the one to give him a present....

"Nothing Says Christmas Like a Vampire" by Lisa Childs - Sienna Briggs never knew she had a guardian vampire. But, when she stumbles across the truth surrounding the Secret Vampire Society, her guardian--the handsome Julian Vossimer--has only one solution to save the woman he's loved for so long.

"Unwrapped" by Bonnie Vanak - Adrian Thorne never expected to see Sarah Roberts again. But she's presented to him as a special gift. The vampire is elated to finally avenge the werewolf who broke his heart... except Sarah may be the only one who can mend it.

Better Naughty Than Nice

Meet St. Nick's delightfully devilish brother, Damon Claus. He's about to prove to three unsuspecting couples that being naughty is much, much nicer...

"No Mistletoe Required" by Vicki Lewis Thompson - With Damon's sneaky help, Hayden Manchester and Riley Kinnard rekindle a long-running, very creative rivalry...that leaves them fighting over who's on top

"Her Secret Santa" by Jill Shalvis - Workaholic Ally Dauer runs the local toy drive. Only when she discovers some very "adult" toys, firefighter Eddie Weston convinces her that the best gifts are meant to be shared....

"Snug in His Bed" by Rhonda Nelson - Viv Foster hates Christmas. Hank Bailey owns a Christmas tree farm. What could they possibly have in common? Sizzling sexual chemistry and, thanks to Damon, the opportunity to act on it. After all, it's the season of miracles...

To enter, comment with the phrase "Santa, I've been a very good girl this year!" Also, share your favorite Christmas story, be it a book or a movie. Personally, I'm partial to "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

SP

Theater Thursday

Zilla and I have had a gift certificate for a movie and dinner for months now. We just can't seem to get a date night scheduled. Well, that's not quite true. We've had date nights in there but we usually bail on the movie. For one thing, it's hard for us to agree on one that we'd both like to see. For another, we're both home bodies and most often just decide that staying in is a better option. Friday night we even had a babysitter lined up...I ended up working instead. Don't get me wrong, we took advantage of the child free hours. However, what we didn't do is go to a movie. And this gift certificate expires at the end of the month.

We've both agreed - and have babysitters already lined up - that we're going to see Sherlock Holmes the day after Christmas. I have to admit, it looks pretty damn good.

@ Yahoo! Video

There are actually lots of good movies coming out this month...just not ones Zilla and I would both go see. I'm interested in: The Lovely Bones, The Princess and the Frog, The Young Victoria, Did You Hear About the Morgans, Nine (although if it turns out to be anything close to Moulin Rouge I will walk out of the theater), and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (the girls loved the first one!). I still want to see Blind Side, The Men Who Stare at Goats and possibly the Brothers although that one looks pretty intense.

Are there any movies you're looking forward to seeing? Any that you'd recommend?

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