Dianne Castell is at Running with Quills this morning!

Dianne Castell is today's guest blogger at Running With Quills. Go see what she has to say about ghosts and hauntings - join in the discussion and you could win a prize! Dianne's latest book, HOT AND BOTHERED, is now available everywhere!

THINK THIN THURSDAY - Portion Control

AND THE WINNER IS . . . Carol! Carol, Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your full name and mailing addy and I'll get the books in the mail to you by the end of the week. If I don't hear from Carol by Thursday evening, I'll draw another winner. If any winner already has any of these books or isn't interested in any one or more in particular, feel free to decline those and I'll draw another winner for them.
Thanks, everyone, for playing! I hope you'll stop back, I'll have a review for Toni Blake's LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER sometime in the next week or so, and a bit of chatter about some other recent reads.

Portion control is very important when you're trying to eat healthy. It's incredible to see how big an actual serving size is, compared to the serving sizes we're used to. Here are some tips about controlling portions - and if you read to the end, there's a little contest that involves portion control of another variety!

* Hankering for a sweet treat after dinner? You can splurge on dessert -- you just have to limit your portion size. Instead of heaping scoops of ice cream into a large bowl, or worse yet, eating it directly out of the container, plop a few spoonfuls into a small teacup. The dainty serving dish will make a small amount of ice cream seem bigger. So curl that pinky and get in touch with your inner princess.
* Did you know that the standard bagel is the equivalent of four or five slices of bread and that the average soft drink is three times the size it was 25 years ago? * It's no wonder that so many of us are overweight. We eat portions that are way too big, with way too many calories. To lose weight, you'll need to cut your portions down to size.
* Eat on a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. A fuller plate tricks your brain into thinking that you're eating a lot.
* Eat lots of high-water, low-calorie foods, like lettuce, raw veggies, broth-based soups, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. You'll feel satiated without breaking the calorie bank, says Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition at Penn State University and author of The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan: Feel Full on Fewer Calories.
* Do a monthly portion check-up. Drag out the scale and measuring cups to make sure your portions haven't crept up in size. Even a small difference like three ounces of turkey instead of two can add up to a few pounds over a year.
* Make your own portion guide. Use common, recognizable items, like a tube of lipstick, your cell phone, or your hand-held electronic organizer. Match food portions to these common items. For example, an ounce of cheese is about the size of a tube of lipstick. This will help you eyeball foods and approximate their portion size.
Some good advice, huh?
Now for more good stuff! I'm doing a little portion control in my stack of "have read" books. I have six books to give away, sweet little romances, some fluffy, one suspenseful, a couple I bought because I liked the cover, and one is autographed (not to me personally) that I won as a door prize at a booksigning. I'm not putting the covers up, I'll leave it up to you to check them out further. Here's what's up for grabs:
THE CEO'S SCANDALOUS AFFIAR by Roxanne St. Claire
PRIDE & A PREGNANCY SECRET by Tessa Radley
THE MERCENARY by Cherry Adair
A ROYAL BRIDE AT THE SHEIKH'S COMMAND by Penny Jordan (this is the cover I especially liked!)
BEDDED BY A PLAYBOY by Heidi Rice
THE EXECUTIVE'S SURPRISE BABY by Catherine Mann (autographed)

So, if you're interested, post a comment saying so. Send a friend who comments and indicates that you sent them and you'll be entered again. I'll draw a name from all posts on Monday evening, March 31. Good luck!
Laurie

Kay Stockham has a new Super Romance, ANOTHER MAN'S BABY, in the stores now. I picked this book up Friday evening and read it in snatches over the weekend, finishing last night; I loved it so much! Before you dismiss this as being just another fluffy little Harlequin, I would urge you to reconsider. Kay is a very talented storyteller and her characters are realistically flawed, no picture perfect heroes or heroines allowed! I like an author who will let her characters make mistakes and have weaknesses.
Here's a blurb from Kay's website:
Garret Tulane is Darcy Rhode's personal knight in shining armor. Not only did he rescue her from being stranded in the middle of a snowstorm, but he's also given her a place to stay. His close family ties and his caring support create the secure home life she wants to give her unborn child.
That security is an illusion, however. Despite the growing closeness between Darcy and Garret, she knows he has obligations and commitments that don't include her--or another man's baby. But feeling as she does, when the time comes, will she be able to walk away?
What happens when you finally find The One...and it's two?
A brief review from me:
When Garret Tulane comes across Darcy Rhodes's wrecked car in a blinding snowstorm, it goes without saying that he was concerned. When he saw the very pregnant Darcy still in the vehicle, an instinct to protect takes over. Darcy, lacking a warm, loving mother or anyone else for that matter, to care for and take care of her, doesn't know what to think about Garret and his overprotective family. When you throw in Garret's intended fiancee, his best friend, who happens to be in love with said fiancee, and a young-at-heart grandmother, you have a well-rounded story that's highly entertaining.
I hope you'll all check this book out - while it won't be on the store shelves much longer (so you'd better run!), you can always order from Amazon.
Thanks for checking it out!
Laurie

Sylvia Day's DON'T TEMPT ME

Sylvia Day has a new release
DON'T TEMPT ME - this is one that all fans of historical romance should not miss. This book is complex without being complicated or difficult to read or understand; layer upon layer of rich goodness.
Sylvia has a blog that is always fun.
Here's a blurb to tease:
WHO IS SHE?
Simon Quinn can have any woman he wants, but he prefers them jaded, worldly, and free of illusions. His life is one of danger and temporary pleasures. An Irish commoner, he has nothing more than his expertise as a lover and mercenary to recommend him and no title, property, or family to redeem him.
Lysette Rousseau is a deadly beauty who can seduce or betray with equal skill. She should be just the sort of woman Simon entertains, but something about her sets him on edge. At times she is a femme fatale he cannot abide, at others she is warm, sweet, and irresistibly alluring. His reactions to both sides of her are equally powerful, but for opposite reasons. It seems almost as if there are two women in one…
TWINS!
…one wounded and exploited, the other innocent but strong. Lynette Rousseau will do anything to reclaim the sister who doesn’t remember her. She will gain the proficiency required to enter the underworld her sibling occupies. But how will she defend herself against the enigmatic, seductive Simon Quinn? A man who can liberate Lysette, but whose insatiable desires may ensnare Lynette forever…
I was fortunate enough to get this book for review at Romance Junkies - here is my review:
DON’T TEMPT ME is the story of Simon and Lynette, two young lovers whose passion knows no bounds. They both realize that because of differences in their backgrounds and social status they cannot plan for a future together, but even more important at present is simply staying alive.
Simon Quinn is not a man to be ignored. Lynette Rousseau can attest to this as the two exchange heated glances across a crowded ballroom floor. Lynette knows Simon’s reputation of being a relentlessly seductive rake, but there is some confusion between the two when, during their first conversation, Simon calls Lynette by the name of her identical twin sister, Lysette. As the relationship between the two escalates from that of mere acquaintances to lovers, not only does their passion increase to an incendiary level, but Lynette’s curiosity about her twin makes her determined to learn her whereabouts. What Lynette doesn’t realize is that the search to learn her sister’s secrets has put her in grave danger as well. Simon understands the danger and while his intention is to keep Lynette safe while discovering the strange truths behind her sister’s situation, he knows that the evil putting Lynette and her family in peril won’t risk discovery before eliminating the beautiful young sisters.
The heat between Simon and Lynette smolders on the pages. Their attraction, seemingly doomed from the beginning, is made of the strongest, sweetest emotions mixed with the steamiest passions. The history of and relationships between secondary characters are brilliantly told at the beginning, shedding light on the back story and giving readers the bonus of an additional story.
I remember the first review I did for then-new author Sylvia Day several years ago; I compared her style to that of veteran historical author Nicole Jordan. No comparisons are necessary these days. Ms. Day has come into her own as a masterful storyteller whose historicals are repeatedly guaranteed to become reader favorites. I highly recommend DON’T TEMPT ME for all historical fans.
So, what do you think? I think it's time for anyone who hasn't read Sylvia's work to check her out; if you have read her, you won't want to miss this one!
Thanks for stopping by!
Laurie

HELP! BLOGGER ASSISTANCE NEEDED!

See how my sidebar is waaaaay down at the left side bottom of the screen? Can anyone tell me how to fix this? How did this happen? I put up my Think Thin Thursday post last night, and then noticed it looked like this when I logged on this morning. I didn't do anything to the template - I NEVER do anything to the template because I'm not smart enough to figure it out.

Wishing I wasn't so technologically challenged - duh. Any and all help will be muchly appreciated. I just don't have the time to figure this out on my own right now.

Thanks,
Laurie

THINK THIN THURSDAY IS BACK!

Today's post discusses grocery shopping when you're hungry - always a big mistake - and some healthy snack ideas (for your desk) to add to your shopping list. My hubby does the majority of our grocery shopping and I can always tell just how hungry he is by the size of the bill!
Do you have any suggestions or tips for healthy snacking, at work or at home? If so, I hope you'll share them!
Going food shopping on an empty stomach is a sure recipe for diet disaster. That gallon of ice cream and those bags of chips look even better when you're hungry. Try to plan your trip to the store for when you're full, and make a detailed list. You're less likely to make unhealthy impulse purchases when you're full and have a plan!
Here are those healthy snack ideas:
Dried Fruits: Raisins, apricots, figs, and dates don't have the water content of fresh fruit, so they aren't quite as filling, says Maria Walls, senior nutritionist for Weight Watchers International. Still, they last for ages and contain much of the nutrition of their undried brethren. A small box of raisins has 130 calories and no fat.
Tuna Salad in a Pouch: The StarKist Lunch To-Go, for example, has 3 ounces of tuna, mayo, relish, and six crackers, plus a spoon to mix it all up. It doesn't need to be refrigerated and weighs in at a relatively small 210 calories.
Nuts: "They're great snack items because they're so filling," says Katherine Tallmadge, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Walnuts are desirable because they're high in omega-3 fatty acids that protect against heart disease. Limit yourself to 1 ounce -- about 160 calories.
Fruit Cookies: Two cookies have about 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. The low-fat varieties have 90 calories and almost no fat.
Animal Cookies: Sixteen of the critters contain only 120 calories. And even vegetarians can enjoy biting the head off a lion or the hump off a camel.
Single-Serving Soups: Look for an 8-ounce serving that has no more than 480 milligrams of sodium, says Connie Diekman, director of nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. You can find a nutritious cup of soup with 100 to 200 calories.

Keep those snacks healthy!
Laurie

THE WINNERS!!

Okay,
Surprisingly, about half of the winners from Dianne's party never got in touch. I'm naming replacement winners and will give another three days (Thursday 9 pm) to contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com . Here the new winners:

flip/Lori Foster
principessa/Erin McCarthy
sandyy456/Luann McLane
tina/Toni Blake
blackroze37/FAR goodie package
katie b/JC Wilder
valerie/Alison Kent
danette/Janice Maynard
barb v/Karen Kelley
littlelamblost/Sasha White
laura j/Laurie (Lady & Sons coffee mug)
****************************************************************

Update: I would remind everyone to check back this evening - I've only heard from about ten of the winners - any winner who doesn't email me by 9:00 tonight will forfeit and I'll draw another name.

Are you all ready? Here you go - winner's names and the author's name whose prize they've won. Winners have until Monday evening to get in touch with me at ljodamron@gmail.com with their names and addresses. I will provide your information to the author whose prize you've won. If I fail to hear from a winner by then, I'll redraw for that prize at 9 p.m.

barbara jo/Jill Shalvis
tetewa/HelenKay
consie/Lori Foster
rebeca/Erin McCarthy
judy f/Sylvia Day
byrdloves2read/Luann McLane
robin/Toni
elle/Fallen Angel Reviews
dina/Donna Kauffman
jill sorenson/Donna Kauffman
pj/J.C Wilder
kaleen/Roberta Brown
brownone/Kate Angel
margay/Alison Kent
cheryl s./Kay Stockham
cryna/Kay Stockham
angiethegreat/Janice Maynard
bernadette/Karen Kelley
donna p./Sasha White
pat l./Lucy Monroe
jodi/Janelle Denison
pat cochran/Laurie (The Lady & Sons coffee mug)

There they are! Congratulations to all of the winners, and huge thanks to all of the authors who donated prizes for the party. Thanks also to Dianne for spending yesterday and today with us - I hope you'll all rush out and order HOT AND BOTHERED!
Have a terrific weekend!
Laurie

DIANNE CASTELL, PART DEUX!

Howdy All!!!!!!!!!!
So glad you’re back for another day of our Blog Party for Hot and Bothered! Thanks, Laurie, for having me for two days.

Today’s going to be short. My dh has a doc appt this AM so I won’t be here till late and I have to work at the Snoot (That’s the Snooty Fox) so I’ll have to leave the blog by three.

But we do have some time for more partying! And I will give away more t-shirts and books! And Laurie as a ton of stuff to give away too!

Today is the official St. Patty’s Day in Savannah!!!!!! I think we need to join in. What is your favorite green thing? Celery? Money? Your car? I have a green jacket I love. Green contacts? Kermit?

And since we’ve talked Savannah to death, where else in the South would you want to visit? I want to get to Nashville. I hear it’s great and a ton of fun! And Charleston. Another great Southern town with all those neat houses on the Battery. And New Orleans. I want to eat my way through New Orleans and maybe visit Ann Rice. And there’s Hilton Head if you want to beach it or Vicksburg if you’re into the Civil War. Even DC is considered a Southern city.

I love the south but would love it a lot more if they didn’t have those horrid bugs!

So two things to talk about today. Green stuff and vacation to the land of Milk and Honey!

Thanks for chatting!

Dianne Castell


Hot and Bothered (Kensington BRAVA April 08)
www.DianneCastell.com
DianneCastell@hotmail.com

Drop in today - Romancing the Blog

I'm the columnist today - http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/ - please stop by!

Now, back to Dianne's party . . .

HEY! LET'S HAVE A PARTY!!

Well bless my soul, here we are at the Hot and Bothered Blog Party!

Thank you, Laurie, for having me as a guest. It’s great seeing so many great friends and readers and thanks for coming to sit a spell and chat.

One of the reasons I wrote Hot and Bothered was I wanted to set a book in the South, the real south. It has a flavor all its own from the way folks talk...How’s your mamma and daddy?...to the food...anything that has a stick of butter and cup of cream has got to be delicious! Just ask Paula Deen...to the way gals and guys behave.

Are you a closet Southern Belle? Now you ask, Okay what the dickens makes a Southern Belle? Well, I just happen to have a little list...

Do you never wear white after Labor Day or before
Easter

Do you own a strand of real pearls and wear them
with pride

Always drink sweet tea and love it when they
have it on the menu

A part of you truly believes in those Yankees

Civil War? What Civil War? Now that unfortunate
Northern Occupation...that you know about

Have Lee as part of your name or your children’s

Fav movies are GWTW and Steel Magnolias and Fried
Green Tomatoes

Actually read GWTW and reread parts from time to
time. Wish you had the name Scarlet

Have a tiara hidden in your panty drawer and
know how to twirl a baton

Have an umbrella that looks a bit like a parasol

Make sure your children know manners and use them

Love Red-eye gravy, grits, country ham and make
your own biscuits

Know that prime real estate is The Mall,
The Country Club and The Beauty Salon

Buy more then one can of hair spray at a time

Have actually said Y’all come back, Bless your
your heart, Drop by when you can, How’s your
mamma?

Love white gloves and wear hats

Have a subscription of Southern Living or ripped
a recipe from that magazine at the doctor’s
office

Have a pineapple decoration somewhere in your
House

Think the magnolia is a piece of heaven on earth


And what about the food? Do you own a Paula Deen Cookbook? Catch her on TV whenever you can? Actually copied a recipe and made it and know how to make cream gravy from scratch and would rather poke yourself in the eye with a sharp stick than put cool whip on your homemade pumpkin pie! Is there anything better than southern cooking? Well maybe Italian but that’s another blog.

So, how do you measure up? Is a part of you a Southern Belle? Know someone who is? I really tried to keep these characteristics in mind when writing Hot and Bothered. A gal in NY city is way different than a gal in Savannah and I sure wanted it to feel that way.

I am definitely a closet Southern Belle! I do make fried chicken and bathtub gravy. That’s what my kids call my cream gravy because they could eat a bathtub full of it. I do make my own pies, have white gloves, crab at my kids if they don’t use their manners, buy extra-hold hair spray, subscribe to Southern Living, have a fancy umbrella that I’ve been known to twirl from time to time and do know how to twirl a baton for real. Even took lessons.

On the Southern Belle scale I’m about a 7. What about you? What is your Southern Belle Score?

Thanks for being here!

Hugs, Dianne Castell

HOT AND BOTHERED from Dianne Castell

Dianne Castell, for those who haven't met her, is an unstoppable bundle of energy wrapped around the biggest, kindest heart you'll ever find. Dianne sent me a copy of her upcoming release, HOT AND BOTHERED, some time ago and we talked about her being a guest blogger here to promote her book. Dianne immediately went to work, planning a blog party, getting copies of her book out to readers so they could discuss it during her days here, and planning games and prizes. We've both been very excited about it and look forward to lots of visitors over the next couple of days!
First, about the book - Hot and Bothered is without a doubt, Dianne's best work to date. Set in sultry Savannah, Dianne's usual sense of humor shines and her lead characters, Charlotte and Griff, are priceless together.
NYT Bestselling author Lori Foster says this about HOT AND BOTHERED: “This is what romance is all about – first class writing with humor, sexy romance, and some very special twists. You don’t want to miss this one!”
Long-time romance reader and Georgia native Lisa Freeman offers this quote and review - "Great characters that makes the reader want more! I'm anxiously awaiting the next story in this "Hot" series."
Charlotte and her best friends, Priss, Bebe, and Brie, have known each other all their lives, brought together out of necessity to survive adolescence. Charlotte knows who Griff is, however they don’t socialize in the same circles. Griff hires her to find the missing heir to the other half of his hotel and immediate sexual chemistry flares between them. Events happen in a domino effect, and Charlotte’s friends are drawn into the mystery surrounding the missing heir, a missing heirloom necklace, and the old morgue.
As a native Georgian, I have been anticipating this book for quite some time. Dianne Castell doesn't disappoint at all! As you are reading the words you can just picture how they would sound with a southern accent. She uses sayings and phrases common to this area. The four friends were portrayed perfectly as best friends who have grown up together and share everything – closer than and more faithful than sisters. I loved the comedy written into every part of the book. I found myself cheering for the girls one minute and laughing out loud at their antics the next. Even the heroes had funny moments, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Reader Jodi Shadden had this to say: Hot and Bothered will do just that - Get you hot and bothered! Dianne Castell does it again with this great start to a new series. Dianne's descriptions make you feel like you are there living the story with the characters. It sure made me want to re-visit Savannah! I laughed at parts, wanted to slap a character upside the head a time or two, and bit my nails in anticipation of what was to happen. This book affirmed why Dianne Castell is an auto-buy author.
Reader Kaleen Cooper says: "Hot and Bothered is a Spicy, Sexy Who-Done-It Thriller. Wealthy Griff Parish hires P.I. Charlotte deShawn to find a missing person that will inherit half his family's fortune. Charlotte is thrilled to prove herself and jumps right in. What she finds is murder, mayhem and a mystery that spans over 30 years. Charlotte knows Griff is hiding something from her and she will try anything to find out what. Even if it means sacrificing her body!"
Stacy Ahlgren had this to say about HOT AND BOTHERED: "Dianne Castell incorporates her unique, sassy style in her latest book, "Hot & Bothered", a funny take on southern living with a haunting twist. Her stories are wild and steamy, overflowing with humor and fun. She is an auto-buy for me". Keep an eye on Stacy's blog around the 22nd-23rd, as she has her own celebration planned for the release of Dianne's book!
Cindy, who many of you know as "LilCinny" agreed to help spread the word about our party on her blog, despite mourning the recent death of her mother. This is what she had to say "My mama loved to read, so what better way to honor her than helping out an author?" Isn't that typical of someone in the wonderful world of romance? Bless you, Cindy.
Judy Flohr says this about HOT AND BOTHERED: "A delightfully funny romance. The characters have such depth and feel like long lost friends. Its a beautiful blend of southern charm with a taste of mystery."
I recently made a request of several authors, asking if they would simply help spread the word about our blog party on Thursday and Friday. That request was met with wide-open arms and their offers of books and prizes to celebrate the release of Dianne's book totally blew me away. Check out this list! All you have to do for a chance at these books is post a comment here during Dianne's blog party on Thursday and/or Friday. There will be one entry per person and I will draw names for this contest on Friday evening. Prizes will be mailed (US/Canada addresses only, please) to winners directly from the author offering the prize. Dianne will also be offering several prizes and she will be announcing her contest requirements.
Okay, here we go, in no particular order!
Jill Shalvis will be giving one lucky reader copies of SMART AND SEXY and STRONG AND SEXY! Thanks, Jill!
HelenKay Dimon is offering a copy of her latest release RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW and she will also be chatting about our blog party on her blog!
Lori Foster will be giving a hardcover copy of JUDE'S LAW, copies of SERVANT (written as L.L. Foster) and SIMON SAYS and a t-shirt from her Cafepress store (winner's choice) - wow! Lori is also talking about Dianne's blog party all over the place!
Erin McCarthy is giving one lucky winner a copy of SUCKER BET, the latest in her Vegas Vampire series!
Sylvia Day will be mentioning our party on her blog and is offering a copy of her latest release, DON'T TEMPT ME.
LuAnn McLane will be giving one winner a TRUCK MY TRUCK goodie package including an autographed copy of TRICK MY TRUCK BUT DON'T MESS WITH MY HEART!
Toni Blake is offering a copy of SWEPT AWAY for one winner!
Fallen Angel Reviews is generously offering a prize package to one lucky winner!
Donna Kauffman will be chatting up our party on her blog several times and is offering two different prizes - BAD BOYS IN KILTS and THE GREAT SCOTT as one prize and THE BLACK SHEEP AND THE PRINCESS and THE BLACK SHEEP AND THE HIDDEN BEAUTY as a second prize - woohoo!
J.C.Wilder will be chatting all over the web about our party, including http://www.eroticromancewriters.com - she is also offering one lucky reader a prize of IN THE GLOAMING!
Roberta Brown is offering one very lucky reader a $50. gift card to Barnes & Noble - wow! Her alter ego Kate Angell is offering another reader the prize of her Boys of Summer trilogy which includes SQUEEZE PLAY, CURVEBALL, and the April release, STRIKE ZONE. Pretty amazing, huh?
Alison Kent will be offering a copy of HOT AND BOTHERED on her blog and is offering a copy of BEYOND A SHADOW to one lucky winner here!
Kay Stockham Kay will be chatting about our party on her blog and is offering two winners each a copy of her latest release, ANOTHER MAN'S BABY!
Janice Maynard is putting up a copy of THE PERFECT TEN to one lucky winner!
Karen Kelley will make one reader happy with a copy of COSMIC SEX and an alien bookmark!
Sasha White will thrill a lucky winner with a copy of SEXY DEVIL! Sasha will be chatting about our party on her blog as well.
Lucy Monroe is going to make mention on her blog and is offering two prizes, a copy of SATISFACTION GUARANTEED and a copy of DEAL WITH THIS - both prizes will include chocolate, pens and bookmarks - sweet!
Janelle Denison is giving a copy of BORN TO BE WILDE to one lucky winner!

WHEW! Can you believe those prizes? This just goes to show how wonderful the romance community is. All I asked for was for these beautiful women to make simple mention of our blog party and this is what I was given in return.
Thank you just doesn't say enough, ladies, your generosity and your eagerness to celebrate with a fellow author has deeply touched me.
Laurie
xo

COMING SOON - Dianne Castell!!

I think I'll declare this "Dianne Castell Week" - I'll be posting reader reviews, comments and quotes in the next couple of days and then Dianne herself is going to take over the blog on Thursday and Friday for a blog party that will include excerpts, games, Q&A, and LOTS of great prizes! Mark your calendars and tell your friends - we're going to have a blast!
Laurie

HOMEBOUND

Update: The blizzard warning has been lifted and now we're just dealing with flurries and high winds. We're still under a level 3 snow emergency, meaning only emergency vehicles are permitted on the roads. I've added some more pics - one looking out of the garage when we first opened the door and one of Tim using the "Big Bastard", our name for his snow blower. He was able to get quite a bit done today, but will be out for several hours again tomorrow. Our neighbors are always happy when they hear the BB fire up because they know he'll be clearing all of the sidewalks and their driveways.

Our blizzard warning continues, for good reason. I took this picture looking out my kitchen window. Now that I'm sitting down to put it up, the houses across the street from us have totally disappeared from view in the heavy and blowing snow. We've had 12 inches so far and it's still coming down very hard. We had to clear a spot for Fred to go out to potty - you can see that the snow is deeper than he is tall - that's the problem with a basset hound and snow!
I'm about to make some pancakes and put a pot of veggie soup on to cook. This is a good day for cooking and baking. There's not much I enjoy more than being in my nice warm kitchen, filling the house with good smells!
Please be careful in you're in the vicinity of this winter storm - stay home if you can.
Laurie

EVERYTHING I NEED, AND THEN SOME - at the click of my mouse

One of the things I love about Google's gmail is that the spam blocker is excellent. Every couple of days I go in to give my spam folder a peek, just to make sure that nothing important has been dumped there. The subject lines on some of the spam emails make me laugh out loud - here are some of the best ones - and my immediate thoughts upon reading them:

Be Your Own Boss - This just screams failure. I'm too soft and would let myself loaf and have fun when I should be working. I would be a lousy boss, even over myself.
Diaper Promotion Click Here - I don't think so. Two words - Too Old.
You Have Been Selected to Live a Life of Luxury - I wouldn't recognize a life of luxury if it bit me on the ass.
A Forensics Degree is the Key to Unlocking your Potential - I guess they don't know that I can't brush my teeth without gagging, there's no way I could be in forensics. My potential will just have to remain locked up.
OVERWEIGHT? Lose between 2 and 14 inches in ONE hour! - I figure this must involve varying degrees of amputation - starting with a pinky and working up to a forearm.
Looking for a Hot Date? - Um, see the diaper promotion response above.
Your friends will be amazed with all your chixs! If I had "chixs", my friends would be amazed, all right. So would my husband.
hump - What? That's it? Just hump? Who, what, where, when??
Get a flat belly by Friday! Do they not realize what day it is? They must be dealing in miracles.
Say farewell to ED! - Ok I give up, who is Ed and where is he going?
One click repair for your computer - It seems to me that if my computer needs repair, clicking isn't going to do much good.
What silly subjects show up in your spam folder?
Have a great weekend, everyone! We're under yet another winter storm watch for this weekend. I'm so very ready for spring. Our crocus have been peeking out of the snow for a couple of weeks now, poor little things, trying to find the sun.
Hugs,
Laurie

THINK THIN THURSDAY - HEALTHY LIVING

I receive emails daily about diet and exercise. At the present, they aren't doing me any good because I've slipped completely off the diet track. I'm so far off track that I can't even see the track. It's very discouraging and I'm totally disgusted with myself. One of the emails I received today was about metabolism. I'm not certain I even have metabolism. I think mine is in the negative numbers. Hey, maybe I'm a metabolic freak of nature that scientists would give their right arm to study! No, I think I'm just a glutton who loves to eat and can't control herself for more than a handful of days at a time!
Check out this website for great tips on everything healthy. I have been a frequent visitor there, although you wouldn't know it right now!
I do plan on getting back on track in the next couple of days. My life has been very stressful these past couple of weeks but things are finally looking up and I look forward to being back in full control very shortly.
Look for some fun reviews and chatter for Dianne Castell's upcoming Brava release, HOT AND BOTHERED, in the next few days. Next week there won't be a Think Thin Thursday post because Dianne will be guest blogging here on the 13th and 14th - a blog party with lots of fun discussion, games and prizes! I hope you'll stop back and check it out - and please tell your friends!

Here's my baby rolling out on her first solo drive this afternoon. Yep, she finally got her driver's license yesterday. Look out if you're in the vicinity of central Ohio! lol I'm teasing, of course, she's a very cautious driver. She could have driven almost two years ago but had no interest in getting her license. I think her older sister had her permit and her license on the earliest possible date, so this seemed very unusual to us. My boss (also her boss as she works in my office after school and on days out of school) used to tease her about having been accepted into college but unable to drive a car! Trust me, I'm more than ready for this child to be mobile.
I hope everyone has had a great weekend. We were incredible busy, running here and there all weekend. I feel like the weekend went by in the blink of an eye. I'm hopeful that next weekend will be much more relaxing!
Laurie