#DayofYes Spring Break

Every so often I have a Day of Yes, where I say yes to everything the kiddos ask, as long as it's within reach. I'm not Elastagirl, so I can't reach Tahiti. But macaroni and cheese for breakfast and cereal for dinner? That I can reach.

To kick off Spring Break we had a Mom's Night Out and I was suggesting they try Day of Yes to entertain themselves. You don't tell the kids you're doing it, you just wake up and start saying yes. Mine usually catch on pretty quick, but this time it took them a couple days.

My princess asks for the most, so she probably had the most benefit. Can we feed the ducks? Yes. Can I watch Frozen? Yes. (eleven times yes) Can we go to a restaurant for lunch? Yes. Can we go to a movie? Yes.

Restaurants aren't 'in reach' but On The Border had kids eat free for Spring Break, and Chevy's has kids eat free every Tuesday. The same with movies - but Tuesday is $5 day. And since I fed them lunch right before, they didn't even ask for candy. Icees were another matter entirely.

The kids were certainly happier, and I found they were more helpful. When I asked them to do chores or clean up, there was far less complaining. And the things they wanted were all doable.

waffles - pancakes - read to me - feed the ducks - library - Muppet Caper - Red Robin - play the iPad - rent a movie - bubbles - bacon - have friends over - Chevy's - paint - watch TV in your room - hot cocoa - make lemonade - On the Border - bike ride to the convenience store - hop the fence to a friend's house - burn the science experiment board - Take a bath? (my boys always shower, so the tub is a treat) - can we stay up -- now the secret for when they ask to stay up is to say yes, today. 12:01 is tomorrow

Try a #DayofYes. It's fun to see how long it takes for the kids to catch on.

Nine Naughty Novelists: Guest Blogger Jenna Bayley-Burke - There's a Jet E...

Nine Naughty Novelists: Guest Blogger Jenna Bayley-Burke - There's a Jet E...: Not an actual jet engine, but it sure sounds like it! Our fridge was secretly incontinent, peeing into the floor like an obnoxious cat....

Super Book Blast: Good Together by CJ Carmichael

Mattie, the eldest of Marietta’s Carrigan girls, married rodeo cowboy, Wes Bishop, right out of high school and raised twin daughters. A happy life, she thought, but now that she’s in her late thirties and their daughters have left for college, her husband has become strangely distant.

Then one night Wes comes home late from a rodeo—with a stranger’s key in his pocket. He won’t talk, but she knows something is wrong.

When her worst fears are confirmed, the hits keep coming. It seems her husband is determined to destroy everything she loves in this world. Thankfully she still has her sisters, and her home on The Circle C Ranch. But more and more she thinks, not of her roots in Marietta, but of her kind, dependable neighbour, Nat Diamond. Over the years Nat has been a constant in her life, but only as a friend. Is it possible the two of them could become more? But if Nat really does have romantic feelings for her—as she suspects—why does he keep pulling away?

Is there something he needs to tell her?

Good Together (Carrigans of the Circle C)

CJ and Tulle Publishing will be awarding a print copy of "Good Together" as well as cool author swag to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US only).

Cooking Up A Seduction Teaser

“Why are you doing this?” Cameron refilled his wine glass and took a long sip as if her answer didn’t matter, when really, her response could change the way his world rotated.

“Playing along as your girlfriend or offering to be an orgasm donor?”

Cameron barely managed to grab his napkin as he choked on his wine. Once he contained his sputtering he looked at her through his watering eyes. “You did that on purpose.”

“Of course.” The feline quality to her grin set his blood on simmer.

 

Cooking Up A Seduction

Cooking Up A Seduction Teaser

COME FOR DINNER CATERING

 

Boxed Lunch :: sandwich, two sides and a dessert

Sack Lunch :: sandwich, chips and a cookie

Sampler :: three salads and a dessert

 

Sandwiches

Roast Turkey & Provolone on Sourdough

Chicken Salad Spinach Wrap

Black Forest Ham & Swiss on Marble Rye

Roast Beef & Cheddar on Ciabatta

Muffaletta on Focaccia

Club Sandwich on Croissant

Salads

Red Potato & Bacon

New Potato & Pea

Tossed Green

Coleslaw

Tarragon Tuna Pasta

Greek Pasta

Chicken Curry

Beet & Blue Cheese

Cantaloupe Strawberry

Desserts

Banana Cake

Chocolate Fudge Cake

Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Oatmeal Coconut Cookie

Rugelach

Brownie

 

Cantaloupe & Strawberry Salad

Wisk together a tablespoon in honey, the juice of one lime,  two tablespoons chopped red onion, salt and pepper. Add a cup of chopped cantaloupe, a cup of halved strawberries, half a cup of sliced and seeded cucumber and a tablespoon of chopped mint. Toss together. Best at room temperature.

 
Red Potato & Bacon Salad

Slice a pound of red potatoes. Boil ten minutes, then drain. Cook four slices of bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and crumble. In bacon drippings, saute a quarter cup chopped red onion. When soft, add a half cup of wine vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, a teaspoon of mustard, salt and pepper. Toss dressing with cooked potatoes, bacon, a quarter cup of crumbled blue cheese and three scallions, chopped. Best at room temperature.

Cooking Up A Seduction Teaser

“Are you afraid of me?” No taunt spiked her voice. An honest question that deserved an honest answer.

“I don’t understand you. I don’t know what you want from me.”

 

Her eyes widened, innocence washing over her delicate features. “I’m afraid you’re over-thinking me. I’m a simple girl, really. I want condoms. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for a condom right now.” Her smile flashed in the dim light. “I want ten more hours in a week so I can do everything I do now, only slower so I can enjoy it more. I want a chance to live my fantasies, with someone who can make them come true.”

Cooking Up A Seduction

Cooking Up A Seduction Teaser

“Being with me for a while could be very good for you.”

Lauren choked on her water, sputtering into her napkin. “Excuse me?”

“I know I said it would only be for the night, and I intended to use your break-up suggestion today with Anders. But he started talking about needing to see me balance work and a personal life before he passed the reins to me. So, I’m hoping I can convince you to play along for a while longer.”

“Play the fake girlfriend.”

“Exactly. I’m prepared to do what it takes to show my appreciation.”

“Are you?” Lauren’s cheeks tightened in a smile thinking of all the ways she’d love for him to appreciate her properly.

“Is it too warm in here for you?” Cameron’s expression showed genuine concern. “You could take off your coat.”

        What Lauren guessed had been a faint blush tinting her cheeks turned into a full on flush. She swallowed hard, cursing fair skin and her dirty mind in equal parts.

Cooking Up A Seduction

Cooking Up A Seduction Teaser

“I thought you’d gone home.” He crossed the kitchen and stood next to her at the counter. “Since you could never be in a relationship with me and all.”

“Cameron,” she turned to face him, but from the tremble in her lips he knew she suppressed a smile. “This isn’t a joke. Playing for one night is one thing, but a relationship is another.”

“Oh, I don’t think Anders was joking. He’s probably contracting someone to draw up our prenup right now, just to ensure every party I throw is as good as this one. You did a wonderful job.”

“I could never marry someone who thinks marriage requires an escape hatch.”

“What?” Cameron laughed again. She certainly had a fresh way of phrasing everything. With a smile, he started looking about the kitchen for some sign of sustenance.

“A prenuptial agreement. I’ll never sign one, or marry someone who’s not fully committed to making a marriage work.” She stood taller, pulling her creamy shoulders back.

“Before you get too indignant about it, I have to have one. It’s part of my employment agreement so divorces don’t affect the other partners.” He stepped closer, and then closer than he knew he should. She’d had her hands on him all evening. Had it been just for show, or could there be more to it? “But then that’s not really the issue here.”

“What are you doing?” Her bottom lip trembled in a completely different way.

Cooking Up A Seduction

Read an eBook Week Sale

To celebrate Read an eBook week, Cooking Up a Seduction is just 99 cents. Kobo has it on sale too, if you'd rather.

And on Smashwords, the Happily Bedded Bliss books are on sale...or free. Check it out.

Contest Finalist -- Caribbean Crush

I haven't contested in a while, but I thought I would dip my toes back in the pool. And guess what? Caribbean Crush is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Southern Magic Award of Excellence. I ought to try this contest thing more often. It feels awfully good to be recognized.