Monday, February 20, 2012

Memory Lane Monday- My Baby Sister

Yeah, my baby sister would probably kill me for posting this image of her from back in the day, but Shhh...she'll never know seeing as how she NEVER gets online anymore these days and even if she did, she wouldn't pop over here to check my blog. LOL

This is the baby sister, ONLY sister, I remember holding on that drive home from the hospital when I was 3, sitting in the front seat between my parents. Same baby sister who was the bane of my existence when I started kindergarten because, even though my Momma promised to keep her OUT of my Barbies while I went 1/2 day to school, I still came home to naked headless dolls scattered all over our bedroom floor.

It goes without saying that we didn't always love each other- we "tolerated" each other as best we could. I mean, sure we had fun rolling down the hallway in the big cardboard barrel that usually stayed in our shared closet and housed all our bits and pieces of toys. Or when we lined the hallway with pillows and "hopped" or "rolled" our way across them. Hard telling how many sets of dirty footprints my Mom painted over by the time we got old enough to stop doing that! LOL Or how we used our set of encyclopedias more for Barbie's staircase than for research. They made an awesome spiral staircase to the second floor of the "Barbie Bookcase Townhouse" though. ;)

We were rowdy, now that I think back on it. We'd take the mattress off the bed and tilt it so we could use it as a slide, flip the living room chair over so we could sit in it and pretend to drive it like a car. I wonder if she still remembers that weird green "rocking" chair we had. It was a funky 60's or 70's vinyl floral pattern and silvery button tacking that was so popular. I've tried to find an image, but can't find one of the specific chair, though I'm thinking it would have been something along the lines of a vinyl upholstered swivel lounge chair. It didn't have normal chair legs but those ones that look like a plus sign and if we rocked it just right it would tilt. Our mom HATED that.

There did come a point where sharing a room became such a hair-pulling experience, my mom allowed me to take her sewing room and turn it into my bedroom. This came about when I was a 11, shortly after the numerous Barbie pages I so lovingly colored and hung up on the wall got ripped down by my sister. It was the final straw. I moved out- and across the hall. She didn't want me to at first, but after a while, I think we both saw that it was a better option than having to share our space.

Of course, having my own room didn't put an end to her snooping. She'd still seek out my diary/journal with the nose of a blood-hound and read it- then tease me endlessly over things she read. Of course, I gave her a hard time of things too when she wouldn't leave me alone, and I was probably a lot more vicious in my attacks, but I guess those little squabbles are forgiven after all these years. Here's hoping.

The best times were always chasing fireflies after dark or riding our bikes to the park, early Christmas mornings when we'd get up way before light to sit in front of the sparkling tree and try to figure out what we'd gotten in each gift-wrapped box. The many nights we sat up watching cheesy old B movies or Kids in the Hall or making up song parodies and laughing hysterically till we cried. Much as we fought, I believe we make up for it by the good times we have when we can now just sit and reminisce about growing up, about heartaches we've each had and knowing we do have each other, even if we DO still get under each others skin from time to time.



Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there. ~Amy Li
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If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. ~Linda Sunshine
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I'm smiling because I am your sister & laughing because there is nothing you can do about it.
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MY sister, has the BEST sister in the WORLD!

Have a wonderful Monday and if you have a sister or sisters, let them know how much you love them today and have a few good laughs about the old days.


Saturday, February 18, 2012

SCENTsational Saturdays- Does Your Hero Smell?


Just how does a hero smell? If he works hard he probably smells like sweat and dirt, motor oil, soil, manure, but how do you want your hero to smell?

My other half smells like Preferred Stock, which happens to be one of my favorite men's colognes.

Preferred Stock Cologne by Coty, Launched by the design house of Coty in 1990, Preferred Stock is classified as a refreshing, spicy, lavender, amber fragrance. This masculine scent possesses a blend of green, leafy, floral notes, as well as a touch of wood. It is recommended for daytime wear.

I personally think it can be worn ANYTIME cause it just smells SO good.

What about you-
What does YOUR hero smell like?

Friday, February 17, 2012

Fun Friday Feature- Paramour by Margaret Ethridge

Click Image to purchase on Kindle

Camellia Stafford has never been alone in her room. For twenty years, she’s been engaged in a fierce power struggle with her bedroom’s previous tenant, Frank DeLuca, the ghost trapped in the light fixture above her bed. Frank has one soft spot—Cam.

When Cam suffers the loss of her beloved father, she returns home to say good-bye, and confront her feelings for Frank--but finds an unexpected shoulder to lean on in neighbor, Bradley Mitchum. Cam falls hard and fast for the handsome ad man’s charming smile and passionate nature, but Brad’s easy-going exterior masks a steely backbone tempered by adversity. Now Cam must determine if her heart is strong enough to choose which dream could lead to a love that will last a lifetime.

Reviews

"A great book that packs a punch and when you finish, you may just find yourself flicking on the lights trying to find your own Frank." ~Romancing the Book Reviews

“Simply put: Paramour blows the roof off the house! I believe this new author is someone to watch. She's going to make waves, especially if she can continually produce stories like Paramour. Read. This. Book!” ~BookingIt A+

“The banter, the conversations, the descriptions and the emotions are all written to perfection.” ~Another Look Book Reviews

"...heart wrenching and warming...so well done!" Sizzling Hot Book Reviews


Author Bio: Margaret Ethridge survived the tyranny of six older siblings and the rigors of twelve years of Catholic schools, so she can handle anything. Margaret migrated to Chicago where she tried on careers like shoes while attempting to figure out a way to make a living as a professional spinster. Then, she met a Southern man with a sexy drawl and big chocolate brown eyes and her career plan went down the tubes. Now she lives in Arkansas with that same sweet-talking Southern gentleman; she spends her days buying booze by the truckload, and her nights spinning tales of love and lust.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Castaway Hearts Soundtrack

This is not the original song list from when I wrote the first draft in 2007, but the last one I have used while I was writing this novel.


I am a writer who can and generally does use musical accompaniment when I write. For Castaway Hearts, I leaned toward dark, broody music that I felt suited the tone of the story, the tragedy and madness and sorrow that Catherine falls under.
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Island- Ben Taylor
No More Running Away- Ben Taylor
Rain- Ben Taylor
Tonight- Ben Taylor
One Sweet Love- Sara Bareilles
Gravity- Sara Bareilles
Another Heart Calls- The All-American Rejects
The Wind Blows- The All-American Rejects
Sunshine- The All-American Rejects
I Do- Jewel
Whenever I Run- Keith Urban (no actual video, at the 5:22 mark of this link)
Nothing Lasts Forever- Maroon 5
Better That We Break- Maroon 5
She Will Be Loved- Maroon 5
Song for Holly- Danny Saber
Crystalball- P!NK
Glitter in the Air- P!NK
Orestes- A Perfect Circle
3 Libras- A Perfect Circle
Flowers in Bloom- Rob Thicke (no video for this song, sorry)
Lost Without You-
Rob Thicke
Can U Believe- Rob Thicke
2 the Sky- Rob Thicke
Lonely World- Rob Thicke
Angels- Rob Thicke
2 Luv Birds- Rob Thicke
The Sweetest Love- Rob Thicke
Dark Secret- Matthew Sweet
Under the Water- Jewel
Into the Mystic- Van Morrison
I've Got Dreams to Remember- Otis Redding