Is it Summer yet?

How do you define the beginning of summer? For some people, the end of the school year heralds the summer season. For others, Memorial Day opens the curtains to this time of year. Public swimming areas open, huge sales abound on clothes consisting of very little material and swimsuits consisting of even less material. If we go by the calendar, however, the first day of summer doesn't actually occur for almost another month...toward the end of June! Could you even begin to imagine the incredulity of trying to force people to accept that it is now, actually, still SPRING? Amazing, isn't it. 

For myself, I respect the official dates of the season's change. I have to in a way as I teach my kids. But internally, summertime for me comes with the weather. It begins at that exact moment when the air turns warm enough I need a fan or air conditioner on and the humidity levels rise so that even with my straight-iron in hand, my hair still battles to frizz.

Now, let me inform you that summer is my least favorite season. I know, I know, that should be a sin, right? Let me explain: my favorite season is Winter. Cold air, it invites closeness, snuggling, sharing warmth with someone else. Besides, if you're cold, you can always add more layers. In the summertime, if you're too hot, you're screwed. 

Other sins of summer include constant shaving in parts that should never see a razor. Razor rash in the same areas, and then having to don scraps of material that shows the world a body you'd rather keep hidden and these rashy areas you'd rather not dwell on. *shudder* Sweating - but not because you've worked for it. When I simply walk out the door and sweat pops out, I'm disgusted. Blowing fans and air conditioners may bring relief, but they also stir up allergies. Getting into hot, sticky car seats. A rise in tempers and impatience. Listening every day to the kids complain they're bored and then working fast ahead of this complaint to find/take/make/plan entertainments to keep them happy.  

I could go on, but you get the picture. So my summertime actually lasts a long time, especially since I live in the South, and I look forward to the cooling days that sneak in sometime around October, if I'm lucky.

I don't want to leave you,  however, with the thought that I'm a complete grump about this time of year. Contrary to all my dislikes, it does have a huge benefit for me personally. You see, since I play school teacher to my guys virtually August through May or June, these couple of months in between give me a break to do more of what I want. The kids can hang out with their friends more, play more video games or watch more TV (I know, bad mom, but this stuff is practically non-existent the rest of the year). They play outside more, go to summer camps. I don't have to be with them them near as much as I do within the school year, so while they're entertained elsewhere, I can read and write and work on all those, ahem, "great" writing addendum's that are a struggle the remaining months. 

 

Oh, yes, and the other added benefit of summer? I will admit; seeing hot guys wearing little to not, is a definite plus in the summer column!

Whether you love or detest the season, and whenever it begins for you, make the best of. After all, it only comes once a year!

Book Sale!

 

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/

This is an awesome Memorial Day Sale! You cannot beat this! Go, go, go!

ARE is offering all purchases made by PayPal or Credit Card at 50% off through the weekend! Check it out for more details and get your summer reading started right!

Enjoy the music!

Love the song. Love the video. Enjoy to your hearts content!

by the way, it's Shakira in "Gypsy"

Put some funny in your sex life!

Hey Everyone!

Today I'm posting on the Total E-Bound blog and talking about mixing a little laughter, genuine laughter, into your sex life. C'mon over. Have some fun!

My Man Rocks!

Sometimes, he gets it absolutely right. And when he does, it's fantastic!

Yesterday I will admit, I had one of the best Mother's Day ever. It definitely made up for the periodic missed gifts, missed Anniversary (yes, there was one of those), or general didn't-put-much-thought-into-getting-your-gift incidences.

The cards were amazing. He spent the time to help the little ones pick out very awesome cards that bespoke each child's attitude and personality. His was heartfelt and wonderful. 

The boquet of flowers was a surprise, but a beautiful arrangement of (okay, I may be female, but I confess I don't know plants or flowers)...but it is gorgeous.

Cozy pj's, and again, the playful cat motif suits me and my kids to a "T".

But best of all, he gave me a Kindle. It is sooooo sweet!

I take that back, the Kindle isn't what's best of all.  

Seeing my book on my Kindle, 

is the best of all!

Hope your Monday is a happy one!

Happy Mother's Day

To all the wonderful women out there, thank you! 

Love to you!

 (and)

I hope your day is absolutely fantastic!

Princess Mentality and Empowerment: Together

The old stand-by of the Princess mentality is that a woman should look for a husband who will take care of her, at the very least, and care for her as a bonus. This doesn’t make her a weak woman by any means, but it also pervades the belief that a woman needs to be taken care of.

Recent years have shown an upsurge in dispelling this notion. A woman is strong, damn it. She has the capabilities to care of herself – even others, if you can believe that. She doesn’t need a man to make sure she has a roof over her head or even food to eat. You know the line: “I am woman, hear me roar!”

If you look, these ideals are two sides of the same coin. What about a combination of the two? The best of both sides, so to speak. This is where we, as romance authors (of any genre) play a very important role in the lives of women everywhere. We do combine the two elements, some from the old and some from the new, to create the heroine we all dream of having been or of yet to become.
 

The women we usually write about have inner strength and stamina. They are intelligent, they are beautiful in their own right and they have – or will - overcome obstacles that test all of these and more. Our heroines prove, without a doubt, that they can be independent and stick up for themselves. They don’t need anyone else for their survival. Proof of point number two above.
 

What about the first point? A man to take care of her? We dose this into our stories as well, but we make it work in our favor this time. Our heroine may not need a man. Hell, she may not even want one, but we create our heroes in such a way that our steadfast heroine falls for him regardless of what she thinks she wants. We create heroes who are dependable, trustworthy, and sensitive to our needs and desires. So even though the need isn’t necessarily there for the woman to have to have the male, his sense of rightness makes it okay to for her to lean upon him from time to time.
 

Most of us have grown up with either the first or second belief system instilled into us. Older, we tend to have that tiny voice in the back of our minds that insists on indignation when our man is not living up to our expectations – basically, of providing for us. Another portion of us grew up with the ‘screw men’ mentality and have worked ourselves into frenzy of doing it all and proving that we can do it all, yet we still cry out when our man is not there for us to lean on from time to time.
 

C’mon men, work with us. It’s only a simple compromise. Jeesh.
 

Years ago I heard a Bill Cosby comedy bit where he was poking fun at women, specifically Eve, if I remember right, indicating a woman, to a man, is like this, “come-here-come-here-come-here. Then when he comes ‘here,’ it turns to go-away-go-away-go-away.” It is funny, because it’s true. But not in an ugly sense. No, it’s quite simple.
 

We want our men on our own terms. If it’s not, it’s because he’s a damn smart man to know when we do need him, even if we can’t always see it for ourselves.
 

 

With the “come-here” side, our men would be able to come to us when we call, if he knows we sincerely need his presence. Likewise, if we call, he might stand back with silent support if he knows we truly need to overcome and succeed on our own. He’d be there either way with open arms.
 

On the “go-away” side, our men would be able to step back without injured pride or ego when we state the need to be independent, yet he would be strong enough to know when we’re posturing, and he would be able to ground us when that’s what we truly need at the time.
 

Still, the reality of a strong, smart, independent woman actually finding the kind of male who will love her, be there for her, and take care of her when she wants or needs? *snort* I haven’t seen in any of these men in my lifetime. Have you? Maybe it is all a fantasy. Either way, real or not, at least we have the heroes of our books to stand us through.
 

 

Happy reading everyone!

 

Exciting News!

Today is a very exciting Monday! The winners were announced at Changeling Press for its Shamrock Challenge Contest. Look here to see a list of all the winners. As for me, I received runner-up! You'll see my name right below the box with the yummy, hot guy. Yes, okay, I'll admit, I am very happy, and I can't wait to have this story out for all of you to enjoy.

I like Changeling with it's hot, tight reads and am looking forward to be a part of the Changeling world. I'll keep you updated as I can, but for now, head on over to Changeling Press to see for yourself, if you haven't already, the stories they have to offer.

Thanks to all the judges and organizers at Changeling for making this contest happen.