Tami Brothers

Happy Monday Sweethearts!

2012-02-13T01:08:00.003-05:00

This has been a crazy two months. Thankfully I am FINALLY catching up. I have three more things to do to fill some obligations and then I can get back to my writing. That is the plan.

Once those tasks are done, I WILL catch up on some writing classes I've been lurking in, I'm participating in a very cool Valentine's week blog hop (see post tomorrow), am getting ready for a great GRW meeting this coming weekend, am excited for a date night with hubby tomorrow (and no kid…), AND I AM going to go through some of the clutter I have around my house. Although I do have most everything put away from the downsizing move, I don't like having it simply stacked here or there. I don’t like having my baking dishes on a bookcase in my bedroom. I don't like having to climb over teetering boxes in order to get to my three-ringed binders. I don't like having my filing sitting on a shelf beside my desk (and not in the filing cabinet where they belong).

Exciting stuff, huh? Oh yeah. I plan to write, too. :)

This is the plans for my week. How about you? Any over-the-top tasks staring you down this week?

Sexy Saturday

2012-02-11T01:22:00.000-05:00

Repost - 2011 Year of Reevaluation – Family Time

2012-02-10T01:53:00.012-05:00

Blog post originally posted on Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog May 26, 2011.

2011 Year of Reevaluation – Family Time

By Tami Brothers

The Kid - - “Ummm, you really want to try this game?”
Me - - “Sure. It doesn’t look too hard.”
The Kid - - “OK. If you say so.”

Ten very looooonnnnnggggg minutes later (I lasted this long because I spent most of that time creating my Avatar for the game).

The Kid - - “You really aren’t very good at this.”
Me - - “Yeah. I’m coming to that conclusion.”
The Kid - - “Then why you still in here?” (here being the game room)
Me - - “Just trying to spend time doing stuff you like to do.”
The Kid - - “Really?”
Me - - “Yep.”
The Kid - - “How about we go to GameStop? That’s something I really want to do…”

My family had this brilliant idea back in December to embrace 2011 and Reevaluate everything we’ve been doing up to this point in our lives. To say it mildly, we were not impressed. We had backed ourselves into a corner that didn’t leave us much wiggle room to maneuver through life. During our country’s current economic struggles, THIS was not a position we wanted to be in. Change had to happen and it had to happen now.

After listing our too-big house for sale, we progressed to taking control of our Budget, de-cluttered our house, and finding a balance with our health and eating habits. All these changes were like learning basic math compared to the next topic we tackled.

Reconnecting as a Family

Sound like a simple idea. Log off the computers in the evenings, eat some meals at the dining room table, take the dog for a family walk. Easy peasy. Not! We jumped from addition and subtraction to calculus and statistics in ten seconds flat.

The activities that are working

Don’t get me wrong. There are some things that are working. We have been doing a pretty good job of walking the dog as a family at least three times a week. Those other times she has to settle with playing in the back yard because we have been swamped with afterschool activities.

We’ve also done very well sitting down as a family to eat dinner at the table at least three times a week (again the afterschool activities have really made this tough to do).

I’ve scheduled something out of the norm at least once per month. This month is the Renaissance Festival here in Georgia. Next month we are headed to a water park.

Even with these activities, we don’t feel like we are really where we want to be yet.

Epic Fails

Okay, so I’m TERRIBLE at video games. We’ve discovered that Pokémon is really the only one I can play without dying (Note - these are games for older kids. Maybe some of the younger ones might work… but that defeats the purpose of spending time as a family). Although I really like that transportation helicopter with the mini guns and missile launchers (on Halo: Reach), I just can’t live long enough to fly the darn thing. And hubby doesn’t like playing the games at all, so that really didn’t work.

We’ve been working at clearing the smaller trees and brush from some land we bought. This has been a huge undertaking. Unfortunately, everything we need to do is done separately. Hubby in the Bobcat. The Kid on the mower. Me picking up sticks and raking the leaves and brush away from the larger trees. Although we are doing something together, there is not much communication going on.

My plan was to disconnect from the computer and electronics in the evenings and sit together as a family to watch TV or connect before bedtime. With the after-school schedule, hubby working on clearing the trees, me trying to keep up with the whole writing gig, it just isn’t working. After spending all day at work/school, we are maybe able to disconnect one night a week.

Any ideas?

Although we are slowly getting back on track, I’m just not satisfied with the results quite yet.

Repost - Food for thought… or at least for a healthier body

2012-02-09T01:54:00.001-05:00

Blog Post originally posted at the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog on April 28, 2011.

Food for thought… or at least for a healthier body

By Tami Brothers

The Kid - “Mom, can I make dinner tonight?”

Me – “Ummm, sure. What do you think you want to cook?”

Hubby – “Anything would be better than whatever you plan to make with that slab of tofu renting space in our refrigerator.”

Me - :(

For most people, the thought of their offspring taking an interest in everyday household duties would warm their heart. Hearing a teenage boy ASK to cook the family meal is pretty rare. Even more so in my family. The Kid has cooked a few meals over the years, but he’s never really shown an interest in the act of cooking until recently. That momentous event started the day I purchased a 400 calorie cookbook.

To back-up a bit, this is my Year of Reevaluation. I’ve spent the better part of 2011 finding the right balance in my family’s budget and decluttering a couple of decades worth of collections. Everything has been met with a semblance of interest from the two men in my life. That is, until I started messing with their food. This was the moment I sensed a rebellion brewing amongst the ranks.

In my defense, I’m not the best cook. When I find a new recipe, I usually follow the directions to a “T.” Then if the meal is something that garners a second chance in our home, I’ll adapt it with other spices and items that I think will enhance the taste (did I mention I’m a terrible cook??? Darn distractions.). Unfortunately, most of the meals in this new cookbook were beyond bland. Even I had a tough time faking any enjoyment in eating. But until I’ve had a chance to taste the original version, I don’t have the imagination or skill required to know when something just isn’t going to work.

Why, then, would I put my family through all of this?

Along with finding a better balance in our everyday life, hubby and I decided we need to do a better job with our health as well. Both of us have gained a significant amount of weight over the last five years and our cavalier eating habits are beginning to show in the habits we see in The Kid. After hubby required two heart surgeries and then my battle with my wacked out hormones increased, our eyes were opened to the serious consequences of our actions.

Kind of scary when you stop and look at the obesity statistics in both kids and adults and some of the issues that are causing them to rise. After doing a bit if research, my family decided we needed to take on a proactive role in fighting back.

Along with doctor check-ups, dentist visits, and making it a requirement that we all walk the dog every night (as a family), we’ve focused our attentions on a couple of other big issues that plague our lives. Because all three of us have multiple interests keeping us hopping, we spend most of our week nights eating fast food. Because of this, I’ve become entirely too intimate with the dollar menus. They are fast, cheap and extremely convenient but are also packed with way too many calories.

Or are they?

One of the tricks we’ve found to help cut some of the calories and fat while still utilizing this resource is to know ahead of time what we want to eat and exactly how many calories are in each item. I now have a printed nutrition list for each of the fast food places we use tucked inside my purse. We also grab a bottle of water from home and opt out of the sugary drinks. Not only has this cut back on the calories, but we are saving quite a bit of money, too. When water just doesn’t cut it, we use those little flavor packets or the new MIO flavorings to give us that little extra we’re craving.

What else?

**Me**

On the exercise front, I started the wimpy man’s version of the P90X program. I did this 90 day regimented exercise program in the fall last year and was pleased with my 15 pound weight loss and the increase in my energy levels. *note: this was backed by a strict diet that I kept regular track of on the fitness app on my phone. My plan for this 3 month period is to lose another 10 to 15 pounds, but to also work on some toning issues I have.

**As a Family**

Hubby and I have started taking advantage of the three hours a week our jobs allot us to exercise. We’ve become quite familiar with the 5K walking/running path by our offices and I truly believe this is helping us reconnect as a couple as well.

I mentioned the evening family dog walks. At the moment we are up to two and a half miles. We’d be much further but Princess Bella’slegs just aren’t long enough to keep a good pace. Apparently we have to ease her into this life change, too. Our goal is to start the Couch to 5K program in May, alternating those specified 3 days a week with The Kid’s swimming schedule and mine and hubby’s Tuesday and Thursday walks. I’ll let you know how that goes in a future post.

Whew. I’m exhausted just typing this.

With all this going on, that 400 calorie cookbook has been passed onto a friend with instructions not to return it. I’ve since bought a 600 calorie book and those meals are going over better than the other.

Still, every once in a while The Kid gets an inkling to try his hand at the stove. Unlike his mother, he’s much braver and willing to try making a meal with items he happens to be craving. Most even turn out well (see photo of his baked Macaroni and Cheese – only a tad bit too much butter but still incredibly yummy). Hey, I even get a few days off from cooking. Win, win. What more could I ask for. :)

A few links to other Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog authors who are on their own healthy journeys.

Sally Kilpatrick has a regular spot on the Healthy Writer’s Blog as she works to get back into the exercise groove, to figure out why she allowed herself to eat poorly, and to come up with strategies to lose weight and make that weight loss permanent.

Pam Asberry is working on her own life changes as she trims the fat in many aspects of her life.

Christine Glover is deep into a program called The 4 Hour Body: Operation Skinny for RWA Nationals.

How about you? Is anyone taking a similar healthy journey with their family? My pickles and popcorn staples are getting a little old. I’d love some new healthy snack ideas.

Check back with me on Thursday, May 26^thto find out why I’ve become obsessed with a transportation helicopter called a Falcon with two mini guns on the side and missile launchers. And no, I haven’t joined the Army…

New Year's Resolutions. Uggghhhh!!!!

2012-02-07T07:10:00.000-05:00

I'm back at it again.

Blogging about a New Year and a New Resolution. This time I'm tackling both my physical and spiritual growth. I started 2012 by giving up two of my very favorite things. I pulled the trigger on both Starbucks and Sodas. Cold Turkey. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am. And I felt great. Right up until January 2nd.

Come on over to the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog and see what stopped me in my tracks.

http://petitfoursandhottamales.com/2012/02/new-year-new-resolution/

I'd love to hear how your new year's resolutions are progressing. Did you give up anything that you wished you had not?

Please people! Come over and keep me company. :)

See ya there.

Tami

I'm almost caught up. I think. Maybe. Well, a little close?

2012-02-06T21:56:00.001-05:00

As you can tell, I'm not quite sure myself. I did complete all the prerequisites required for a certification in my job. Woohoo! I wish I liked business as much as I enjoy writing. Might be much easier to wade through.

Amongst all the classes, I spent a month preparing for a big safety inspection in our office. Now that it's over (and we passed), I'm actually surprised at how much time it actually took. I'm crazy busy catching up on all the work that was temporarily set aside.

I'm half through three writing/networking classes I started in January. Unfortunately I wasn't able to keep up with a single one of them. Thankfully two are classes I can copy the lessons down and read through later. The third is a class with writing assignments I was supposed to keep up with. Failed it. I'm still able to copy the lessons, but the biggest benefit of the class was the feedback from the instructor on my short stories. Boo. I hated missing out on that. Maybe I can take the class again later in the year… If she lets me back in…

Life hasn't been all work and no play, though. Several of us from the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog got together this weekend at the Regal Hollywood Stadium in Atlanta to watch the movie, One for the Money. AWESOME!!! Not only is it a great movie with Katherine Heigl staring as a bounty hunting ex-lingerie saleswoman, but it is an awesome first book in a multi-book series (eighteen to be exact) by Janet Evanovich. I had only read two of these books before seeing the movie but you better believe I'll be plowing through the others. I LOVED this movie. Katherine Heigl made a great Stephanie Plumb.

Not only did we enjoy a great movie, but we all got together for lunch at The Rusty Nail Pub. Not bad. The food was great, but I'll be honest when I say it has been a very long time since I've been in a place that allowed smoking. I kind of like the non-smoking restaurants. But like both Lindy Chaffin Start and Pam Asberry said, the place has some great ambiance.

Now that I've given a rundown on my last month and the reasons why I've been MIA from the blog, I wanted to mention a couple of things I do have coming up. Tomorrow I'm blogging at the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog about improving my physical and spiritual well-being in 2012.

I'll also be posting the remaining posts from my 2011 Reevaluation journey over the next couple of months. My intent is to share with you the major changes I made last year and how I plan to expand those changes in my personal life. Hence the physical and spiritual growth.

I hope you continue to stop by and maybe you can share some things about your goals for this coming year. See ya tomorrow!

Tami

Sexy Saturday

2012-02-04T01:21:00.000-05:00

Sexy Saturday

2012-01-28T01:20:00.000-05:00

Funny E-mail

2012-01-26T05:57:00.000-05:00

Comments Made in the Year 1955!

'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20.00.'

'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $2,000.00 will only buy a used one.'

'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.'

'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?'

'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.'

'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.'

'Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail haircuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls.'

'I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.'

'I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas .'

'Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President.'

'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.'

'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.'

'It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.'

'Marriage doesn't mean a thing anymore, those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat.'

'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.'

'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress.'

'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.'

'There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.'

'No one can afford to be sick anymore; at $35.00 a day in the hospital it's too rich for my blood.'

'If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a haircut, forget it.'

2011 - Collections, Hobbies and Clutter. Oh CRAP!

2012-01-25T01:46:00.000-05:00

This blog post was originally posted on the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

Collections, Hobbies and Clutter. Oh CRAP!

By Tami Brothers

My son has always called my craft room, the crap room. Maybe it’s because that’s the term my husband uses. Or maybe because the room is always full of various half started craft projects scattered from one corner to the other. Of course, I never thought my stuff was crap; until recently.

This year my family decided to take a long hard look at our life and everything we’ve accomplished. Because I’m a firm believer of looking at both sides of a situation, I also felt we needed to focus on areas where we have not been successful as well. With this in mind, we dubbed 2011 our Year of Reevaluation and took a critical look at every aspect of our lives together.

In January I blogged about making the decision to downsize our home. I still feel strongly about this choice and we are well on our way to making it a reality.

In last month’s post, I gave a little insight into our revamped family budget and how a detailed spreadsheet has kept us on a fairly straight path to paying down our debt. We still have not been able to keep from dipping into those luxury columns every now and then, but I think given a little time we will get there.

This month, I want to share one of the toughest decisions we’ve had to make thus far - cleaning out the “clutter” that has filled our home. By clutter, I don’t mean just the pile of quilting scraps stacked on a shelf next to my sewing machine. I don’t mean just the mountain of half used sheets of colored paper that I use with my scrapbooking projects. I also don’t mean just the shelves of handmade clay figures I’ve received over the years from The Kid. No. Those items would be far too easy to target alone.

What I do mean is that we also evaluated the various collections we’ve accumulated because they might be worth something one day; the antique items inherited from relatives as they’ve cleaned out their cluttered homes; the books, the clothes, the shoes, the videos, the games, the sports equipment, the toys. I could really go on and on here… This stuff can really add up.

One of the items I had to take a hard look at is my collection of more than 150 Barbie Dolls. All are in their original boxes, unopened and sitting in Rubbermaid tubs in the corner of my craft room. I don’t look at them or display them because I fear damaging the boxes, which would drop their value tremendously. I had originally thought to pass them onto a daughter or even a granddaughter (I only had the one boy), but they take up a LOT of space. With the home downsize, that space is going to be limited.

My husband inherited an old amber glass lamp from a great aunt after she passed away. To be perfectly honest, it matches NOTHING in our house and we fear breaking it every time we move (and we do move more than the average family). He also has a fairly large shop back in Wyoming that was too full of “his crap” to move when we headed southeast eight years ago.

I inherited an old Victrola record player and a heavy upright piano from my family. Those items are sitting in my in-laws garage back in Wyoming because (like hubby’s shop items) they are just too big and bulky to keep moving.

The Kid has saved every Lego piece we bought him, every Bionicle he put together, every Tonka truck he bought with his own allowance. These items alone don’t even make a dent in the boxes and tubs we have in storage for when he “grows up and has a family of his own.”

Yeah, yeah. Blah, blah, blah. What is the point I’m trying to make here?

Simply that we’ve been extremely greedy over the years and become tied down and limited because of it. In eight years, we’ve moved six times. That’s just in the last eight years. Don’t get me started on the others. One of our “hobbies” is to build or remodel houses. Not only do we usually make a decent profit, but we’ve created a family bond that has literally been the glue to some of the tough economic times we’ve had to face.

So, as we reevaluated life, we realized that there are far more things we would like to be doing and all this stuff was just one of the obstacles keeping us from doing them. Most of the items I mentioned have already found new homes (still trying to talk hubby into parting with that lamp….) and the others will also vacate the premises before the end of the year.

Ironically after accepting this change, we had an epiphany. Instead of feeling sad or lost without our “stuff,” we’ve felt somewhat freer. I have a lot less to dust. I’m not constantly worried about damaging my collection of dolls. I’m not feeling guilty about all the projects I have in progress that I honestly will never complete. Hubby and The Kid have also expressed similar feelings about their sacrifices. If we had known just how good this would feel, we might have done it a long time ago. Maybe.

2011 - A Budget Reevaluated

2012-01-23T01:36:00.000-05:00

This blog post was originally posted on the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog on Tuesday, March 1st, 2011.

A Budget Reevaluated

By Tami Brothers

Husband: “How are we broke? There is still money in the checkbook.”

The Kid: “Can I get a raise in my allowance?”

This year started out with a complete reevaluation of our family budget and expenditures. For a family who has been living paycheck to paycheck the past few years as we completed our education and started new careers (not our choice {darn economy} but something that worked out better in the end…), our budget was already pretty bare bones. Now that we are finally on the upside of this major life change for both my husband and myself, we needed to add in a few things that we’ve put on the back burner and cut some things out completely to make this reevaluation work.

In January I created an Excel spreadsheet that lists literally everything we spend money on; from monthly bills, to gas fill-ups, to dog/cat food, to haircuts and groceries. We even have one that lists The Kid’s lunches, afterschool activities, snacks and allowance. When I showed this to the guys, The Kid piped up and said, “Why is my column so small? I think I need a raise.” (ya right!)

This was the bare bones part.

One of the things I’ve learned over the past twenty something years is that even if you have a job you love, you need to work to live and NOT live to work. Easy to say, but hard as heck to do. With this in mind, we added some new columns to the budget. Things like a monthly clothing allowance, summer camp projections, vacation and holiday savings, Starbucks runs (man, I have missed those!), rainy day savings, and a few other small projects we’ve put off.

These columns have a specific amount that is deducted each month from the overall account totals. To answer my husband’s questions, yes, we do have money in the account; but each dollar is designated to a specific column. One column may have a zero balance, while another is quite large. Regardless of the balances, that doesn’t mean we can rob from Peter to pay Paul. Okay, so it looks like we are spending more money with this system. Not really. Instead, we are cutting out a lot of frivolous spending we had been doing when we didn't have a plan in place.

Does this kind of system work for everyone? The answer is no. This never would have worked for us the past five years and in fact, we haven’t been able to stay out of those other columns yet. BUT we are on our way. It will take a few more months and many more tweaks to make this work. It will also be more than a year before we can determine if our pay off schedule is on track. Still, this is a track-able plan and (if I do say so myself) a good one for us.

With our reevaluation of space and downsizing already in progress, stop back Tuesday, March 29^th to see how we’ve implemented this mindset into our hobbies and collections. Here is a sneak peek into the family mindset on this – It isn’t pretty…

Cheers!

Tami

Sexy Saturday

2012-01-21T01:20:00.000-05:00

Go Red for Women - The Importance of Fighting Heart Disease in Women

2012-01-20T19:21:00.001-05:00

I was visiting some other blogs this afternoon and found a really good post on The Romance Dish blog. PJ talked about how sometimes the Universe sends us subtle messages (and sometimes we need a whack up-side the head).

She mentioned a great website called Go Red For Women and the importance of fighting heart disease in women.

The following video is funny, but represents all too well the do-it-all attitude most women have. I especially love the look on the actress's face when the 911 operator tells her the ambulance would be there in 3 minutes. :)

Funny E-mail

2012-01-19T06:06:00.002-05:00

This can be spookily accurate!!
Feng Shui horoscope

This is a Chinese Feng Shui horoscope. If you are honest, this tells the truth.
Write your answers on paper.
To find your Feng Shui horoscope scroll down.

1. Which is your favorite color: Red, Black, Blue, Green or Yellow?
2. Your first initial?
3. Your month of birth?
4. Which color do you like more, Black or White?
5. The name of a person that is the same sex as you?
6. Your favorite number?
7. Do you like California or Florida more?
8. Do you like a Lake or the Ocean more?

When you are done, scroll down. Don't cheat!

Answers:

1. If you choose:
Red: You are alert and your life is full of love.
Black: You are conservative and aggressive.
Green: Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back.
Blue: You are spontaneous and love affection.
Yellow: You are a very happy person & give good advice to those who are down.

2. If your initial is between:
A-K: You have a lot of love and friendships in your life.
L-R: You try to live your life to the max & your love life is soon to bloom.
S-Z: You like to help others and your future looks very bright.

3. If you were born in:
Jan-Mar: The year will go very well for you and you will discover that you
fall in love with someone totally unexpected.
Apr-Jun: You will have a strong love relationship that will last forever.
Jul-Sep: You will have a great year and will experience a major
life changing experience for the good.
Oct-Dec: Your life will be great; you will find your soul mate.

4. If you choose:
Black: Your life is about to get better. You are more than ready for the
change.
White: You have a friend who completely confides in you and would do
anything for you, but you may not realize it.

5 This person should be your Best Friend.

6. This is how many close friends you will have in your life time.

7. If you choose:
California : You like adventure.
Florida : You are a laid back person.

8. If you choose:
Lake : You are loyal to your friends and your lover. You are very reserved.
Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people.

Rearview Mirrors, Speed Limits and Pot Roasts…

2012-01-18T01:16:00.002-05:00

Originally posted at the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog Jan 10, 2012.

By Tami Brothers

Looking Back

2012 rushed in like a lion. I’m hopeful that means it will fade out like a lamb. Wait. Isn’t that the phrase used for the month of March? In like a lion, out like a lamb?

Whatever. It’s my story and I’ll give it the best ending I think will fit.

Wouldn’t that be a kick? We’re able to change anything that doesn’t work in our fictional stories. Why not in our own lives? Looking back through mine, one thing I’d change is to have started my Master’s degree immediately after graduating with my Bachelor’s. I’d be finished by now. Instead, I’m stuck trying to figure out how to incorporate all those classes into the life I’m currently living.

I’m sure I’m not the only one with thoughts of re-writing my life story. But that’s virtually impossible. Unless someone has invented a time machine they haven’t told us about. So we can’t dwell on the past.

Twists and turns

As life goes forward, we travel an uncertain path. We could be driving along thinking we’ve got it all figured out. Then a roadblock pops up just around the corner and we find ourselves coming to a screeching halt.

No matter how much I try to plan, I find myself barreling out of control at times. I’m speeding along, blasting through those small towns. I’m passing gas stations, convenience stores, and rest stops. Not until a police cruiser pulls me over do I realize I’ve been going over the speed limit for miles.

A nasty cold and the stomach flu beat me down the first part of this year and made me get off life’s interstate and stop at a rest area for a few weeks. Regardless of all the unpacking I still have left to do, the classes I have to take, the writing goals I set for myself; I really don't have control over my future.

Salt and pepper

Instead of getting frustrated because plans I make have not turned out the way I wanted them to, I try to look at life like making dinner. Cooking can be quite complicated. Lots of ingredients. Many parts of the recipe need to be in work all at the same time. A good chef knows how to juggle these.

But even if you get your cooking flowing in a smooth direction, your meal could still turn out bland. Without a few spices thrown in here and there, you find yourself just coasting through life. Is that really how you want to live? Taking no risks, everything going so smooth that you aren’t really alive?

That's the kind of person I am. I need a challenge. Ok, a few challenges.

Yeah sure, I do need to adhere to life’s speed limits. Take on only those things that I think will benefit me, my goals, and my obligations. I’m working on that. With that in mind, I sat down and started writing out my yearly goals.

I can see the eyes rolling now. Another year and another post with goals and resolutions that will never be achieved (you know me too well).

Yes and no. This is another goals and resolution post, but it’s not like the ones I’ve done in the past. Instead, I've decided to follow in both Beth Revis and Nova Ren Suma’s footsteps and list my goals like this.

One will be easy to accomplish.

One requires a lot of my free time.

Two challenge me to do something I haven’t done for years.

One hinges upon another.

And one is something I’ve wanted to do since I started writing.

Did I grab your interest?

Good. Check them out below.

What do you think? Not very nice of me, huh?

This is what makes this goal post a bit more interesting than my others.

These are my six big writing goals for only the first half of the year. Like Pam Asberry has done in the past, I decided to break them up into manageable pieces.

By only showing you the pictures, I’ll leave you to guess what they might be. If you are interested in seeing exactly what they are, follow my blog at http://tamibrothers.blogspot.com/ and each time I accomplish one of these goals, I’ll post the update there.

Just in case you miss the big reveals, I’ll also post a consolidated update on my blog in July.

Until then, what are your thoughts on goals and resolutions? Do you make them? Hate them? Have a system on how to accomplish them?

Photo credit
Goals - Tami Brothers
All other pictures - http://www.sxc.hu/home

New Year! New Goals!

2012-01-17T01:55:00.001-05:00

As you can see from yesterday's post, I started 2011 with a pretty intense list of goals for the year. Throughout the next couple of months I plan to repost those 2011 goals here on my Live, Love, Write blog (originally posted on the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog). The following day, I'll tell you how I did.

Since yesterday's post was all about taking that HUGE step and trying to get out from under a very large portion of our debt, I'll fill you in on our journey of selling the too-big-for-a-family-of-3 house.

I loved that house. Loved the layout. Loved the large rooms. Loved the kitchen. LOVED the office that looked out over the small flower beds in the front of the house.

What I didn't like was cleaning that house. I didn't like that our son had three rooms all to himself (what else were we going to do with them?). I didn't like that we were living pay-check to pay-check in order to make the large mortgage that came along with that house. Most weekends were spent at home because we couldn't even afford a one-tank trip.

I'm really not whining. Life wasn't unbearable. We were able to make all our bills on time. We just weren't able to pay down debt we accumulated while both hubby and I were in school.

So, we listed the house in January. Bought some land that we intend to eventually build a new house on in February. And then we waited.

And waited.

Then waited some more.

We were now making virtually TWO home payments. This caused even more stress.

The journey to actually selling the house was a long and eye-opening process that I plan to turn into a blog series later in the year. Suffice it to say, we learned a LOT about selling a home.

The good news is that we eventually did sell the house. In December…

That's a very long time to wonder if you've made the right decision. I promise you that we spent quite a bit of time reevaluating whether or not this was going to work.

In the end, selling has already paid off big time. Yes, we live in a small single wide trailer. We've decided this is more than adequate for our small family until we've cut down our debt. Then we will consider looking into building.

In December we were able to pay off the first credit card AND THEN WE CUT IT UP. We still have a long road ahead of us, but the benefits have far outweighed what we thought were going to be some pretty heavy sacrifices.

Come back tomorrow and I'll lay out my new goals for 2012. I decided to continue on with the decisions my family made in 2011 and see how much further I could take them.

How about you? Did you accomplish any of the goals you set out to do for 2011? If not, did you reset them for 2012? Someone recently told me that if I don't accomplish something within the time-limit I set for myself, then I could always Re-Do the time-limit. I think I've got a few of those I need to reset.

2011 - A Year of Reevaluation

2012-01-16T01:24:00.003-05:00

This blog post was originally posted on the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog on February 1, 2011.

A Year of Reevaluation

By Tami Brothers

Noun

reevaluation - the evaluation of something a second time (or more)

There comes a point in a person’s life when they take a step back and look at the path they’ve taken. That person may also take a moment to figure out where their current path actually leads.

As we age, we tend to stop and evaluate our progress more often. This year happens to be one of those turning points for me.

Over the last five years my life has been crazy. School. New job. Moved. Three times! Surgery for both me and hubby. Clubs, sports, skinned knuckles, and teen hormones with The Kid.

Although some of this was beyond our control, most of it was done with a purpose in mind. Of course, we’ve strayed a few times over the years but we usually got right back onto the correct path.

As 2011 approached, my family sat down and took a long hard look at where we were heading and realized that some of our priorities had changed since we’d originally started our journey together.

Yes, we still want to retire with enough energy to travel, but are we really able to do that with what we are currently saving?

Yes, we like owning our own home, but do we really need the huge house we are living in for a family of three?

Yes, we’ve been taking better care of ourselves (you know, after a few wake-up calls with the surgeries), but are we really doing everything that we can?

These are just a few of the questions we asked ourselves and then weighed the pros and cons of everything we are currently doing. The cons side was quite a bit longer than the pros and this was a wakeup call to us. We realized just how much waste filled our lives and quickly came to a decision to make some drastic changes.

The first of these changes were put into motion just weeks ago. We listed the gigantic house with too many rooms (two of them are used mostly for storage) for sale and started searching for something that would “fit” us. As luck would have it, we actually found “the place” and promptly bought it.

This was our first step in altering our path.

We don’t know yet what the ramifications of this first step will be. We hope it was the right decision, but until the other changes have been implemented, we can’t be completely certain. It feels right to us and “that” is why we made this decision.

Sexy Saturday

2012-01-14T01:18:00.000-05:00

Goals, Resolutions or Insanity?

2012-01-10T00:18:00.000-05:00

What do these two pictures represent?

Check out my post over at the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog today to find out.

Sexy Saturday - Great way to spend a Saturday morning :)

2012-01-07T01:18:00.000-05:00

Funny E-Mail

2012-01-05T01:16:00.001-05:00

Dear God,

My prayer for 2012 is for

a fat bank account & a thin body.

Please Lord don't mix these up like you did last year.

AMEN!

The New Year has barely started and I'm drowning already!

2012-01-04T20:40:00.001-05:00

2012 really washed in like a hurricane with a bout of food poisoning. At least I think it was food poisoning.

Everyone I talked to said the symptoms sounded like food poisoning. That would have been the easy diagnosis. Except… Except now three other friends and family members have come down with the same thing. Hubby had his tsunami two days after mine, but not as bad. Then a friend caught the wave. Now today a coworker called in and was barely treading water. Not sounding so much like food poisoning anymore. Nasty little bug. I’m hoping the little bugger drowns soon and no one else ends up with it.

I was looking forward to a fun spa day this weekend with a couple of friends (would have been my first facial!!!). Unfortunately, just found out we have to cancel. Still not quite sure why, but my friend said it was necessary and that she would explain later. Hope that bug didn’t hitch a ride on her boat.

Another friend and I signed up for three classes spanning the next two and a half months. Already I’m bailing water out of a rapidly filling boat!!! Grrrr… This doesn’t even take into account three classes I’m already in for work (which I’m also behind in).

Unlike in years past, I haven’t even started writing out my goals for this year. Normally I have personal, fitness, work, writing, family and even reading goals all lined out. But this year. Nothing. None. Natta a one. The Captain’s log is blank.

As you can see, my ship is a bit unstable in these choppy waves.

Fear not, though. I will not let these sneaky little Debbie Downers ruin my year. I’ve got a rubber ducky life preserver wrapped around my chest and floaties giving my arms a rest.

I vow that even though I can’t get caught up this week, I will make it happen over the weekend.

I’ll just pretend that January 9^th is my fresh 2012 start. Maybe I’ll shop around for a better boat while I’m at it.

Until then, have a fabulous weekend. :) Bon voyage!!!

*photo credit to http://www.sxc.hu/home

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T01:40:00.016-05:00

I wish for you that your New Year be filled with lots of great things.

That you are able to leave all the crap behind.

Forget about all those unrealized resolutions.

Attack the 2012 with a positive attitude.

Enjoy each moment for the gift that it is.

Live each day as if it were your last.

Happy New Year!!!

Tami

Sexy Saturday

2011-12-31T01:17:00.000-05:00

The Undercover Librarian is HERE!!! You can read all 10 chapters FREE

2011-12-30T11:44:00.000-05:00

It’s finally here! The last chapter of the much anticipated The Undercover Librarian. Take a moment and hop on over to the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog and read all ten chapters of our latest group novel. You won’t be disappointed. Bonus for me is that I was fortunate enough to be allowed to write both chapter 5 and chapter 10. Today, chapter 10 went live. I’d love to hear what you think.

~~~

Désirée Devereaux is not your average librarian. She can judge a book by its cover. In fact, every time she picks up a book, she picks up vibes, flashes, emotions-even crimes committed by the last patron who checked it out. When Désirée’s boss, the Branch Manager, turns up dead in the Mysteries section of the new branch of the Harrow County Public Library, Désirée is at the head of a list of suspects, which includes FedEx guy, Skirt Boy and a member of the Hookers.
Dead bodies start turning up all over the stacks and that spells Murder with a Capital M right here in Harrow County. But Hunky Detective Danny Bonner is on the case and as he gets close to Désirée, he begins to realize there’s more to the sexy librarian than meets the eye. This laugh-out-loud cozy mystery/romance is a suspenseful read you’ll definitely want to check out.

Chapter One by Marilyn Baron – Good Luck and Death Wishes

Chapter Two by Sandra Elzie – The Plot Thickens

Chapter Three by Linsey Lanier – Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad… Books?

Chapter Four by Sally Kilpatrick – Dangerous Vibes

Chapter Five by Tami Brothers – Tick Tock. When the clock strikes …

Chapter Six by Pam Asberry – The Happy Hookers

Chapter Seven by Sandra Elzie – The Time is at Hand

Chapter Eight by Sally Kilpatrick – She Had to Know How the Story Ended

Chapter Nine by Sia Huff – You Know Too Much

Chapter Ten by Tami Brothers – Undercover in Jimmy Choos

Funny E-mail - The Husband Store (wouldn't we all love one of these???)

2011-12-29T01:11:00.002-05:00

Husband Store

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is description of how the store operates:

You may visit this store ONLY ONCE!

There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights.

The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor; but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.

On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs

She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.' So she continues upward.

The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.

'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'

Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor.

There are no men on this floor.

This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.

Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

PLEASE NOTE:

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

The first floor has wives that love sex.

The second floor has wives that love sex, have money and like beer.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

25 of MY Favorite Things – Day 25 CHRISTMAS!!!!

2011-12-25T02:07:00.002-05:00

You will never guess what Santa brought me!!!

I got exactly what I wanted, a new Kindle Fire e-book reader!!!! Woohoo!!!

Not only will this be super fun because now I can read all the books I’ve been trying to read on my small cell phone, but the next time we decide to move it will be MUCH easier to move that one little device instead of five book cases full of books. It will be VERY hard to part with some of my hard copies, but as I slowly rebuild my library, I don’t think I will mind donating those to some other readers.

I hope you enjoyed this series of 25 favorites as much as I did while writing it. I’ll be honest and tell you I really had to stretch my imagination to think up a few of these items, but eventually I would remember a handful of other favorites.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my blog this year. I hope you keep coming back again in 2012. Trust me when I say a have a whole slew of ideas to come. ;)

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful time with family and friends.

Hugs!

Tami

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-25T01:02:00.000-05:00

25 of MY Favorite Things – Day 24

2011-12-24T21:44:00.000-05:00

Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake mix. Sounds silly, huh? A moist gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting is a must have for Christmas.

The Kid and I actually started the tradition of making gingerbread men for Santa. Not very original but it was something that he and I could do together. Plus, Santa realllllyyyyy likes Gingerbread men. :)

A couple of years ago we were on a time crunch and couldn’t take the time required to make our gingerbread men. So I quickly threw together a gingerbread cake and VIOLA! A new tradition and a new favorite was born. I found that I actually love the gingerbread cake much more than the gingerbread men.

Now, I must go and eat a slice of cake. Later!

Sexy Saturday

2011-12-24T01:59:00.000-05:00

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 23

2011-12-23T22:54:00.000-05:00

I honestly don't know what I would do without Olay Total Effects Daily Moisturizer. Since having a hysterectomy three years ago, I have been on a roller coaster ride of hormone therapy. I can't even count the number of different hormone pills, shots, creams I've had to take/use. These constant changes have done a number on my complexion. And not in a good way. I think I have more acne now than when I was a teenager. Uuugghhh.

I've had to start seeing a Dermatologist because of the constant problem and the resulting scaring that comes from them. In doing so, I've gone from oily to dry to combination and started over again several times. The only thing that has stuck with me through all the prescribed cleansing creams is Olay's Total Effects Daily Moisturizer. No matter which direction my skin takes, this cream counteracts the effects.

Just as I always keep cleansing towels in my purse, I don't leave home without this moisturizer.

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 22

2011-12-22T02:51:00.001-05:00

I asked for a Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee maker for my birthday. I'd researched the single serving coffee maker and knew that it made the Lattes that I liked with milk (where another nameless brand did not). Once I received the wonderful coffee maker, I attempted to purchase the little coffee pods and couldn't find them. Anywhere! Oh man did I catch all kinds of grief over this. Everywhere we went the nameless brand was staring at me. Always front and center on the shelves. And boy did they have a ton of different flavors.

I was about to admit defeat when a friend of mine (who works at a wonderful local grocery store) said she could have the store order some in for me. Once I was FINALLY able to drink my coffee, I was in heaven. Ok, it's not Starbucks. I have to admit that up front. BUT I can make a pretty decent Caramel Macchiato Latte for less than $1 per cup. Now that is savings…

Since that terrible period of not being able to find coffee for my Dolce Gusto, I am pleased to announce that I can find a box of little coffee cups almost everywhere. Thank you Nescafe!

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 21

2011-12-21T21:50:00.000-05:00

I honestly don't know how I ever lived without my Samsung front loading Steam Saver washer and dryer. We justified the purchase after moving into the smaller home because we needed the extra space. I never expected all the other benefits that came along with it. I'm not only saving water and electricity (water saving setting on the washer and the dryer senses when the clothes are dry), but I am saving a TON of time by not having to iron most of our clothes. Seriously folks, this is why I love these machines. Every two weeks I lug out the ironing board and iron and spend several hours pressing both hubby's and my work clothes. Because I disliked the chore so much, I've purchased enough clothes to get us through a two week cycle. Of course that always meant a boatload of ironing to do at the end of that cycle.

Not anymore with my new Samsung washer and dryer. I simply pop the clothes that need ironing back into the drying, steam them for 15 minutes, then hang them up. I'm in LOVE! :)

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 20

2011-12-20T01:18:00.000-05:00

Okay. Just like with the potato peeler, how in the world did I miss out on how handy the ice cream scoop is? We were visiting my brother-in-law and sister-in-law over Thanksgiving and I got up VERY early to go to the bakery with my SIL. I watched as she made several batches of muffins for the Black Friday crowd. When I asked her about the ice cream scoopers, she said they make every muffin the exact same size as all the others. Who woulda thunk it?

I watched as she scooped up larger blueberry muffins and medium sized red velvet cupcakes. I never really thought about how they did this, but you better believe I will be doing this myself from now on. Will make life much easier when The Kid has friends over and they are fighting over the biggest one.

Oh, and they are pretty good for scooping ice cream (and melons) as well. :)

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 19

2011-12-19T20:17:00.000-05:00

Intensive 3D White Crest White Strips! Anyone else use these? Being a coffee and tea drinker (and colas), I've really done a number on my teeth. I don't have the money to have them professionally whitened, though. I mentioned this to my dentist a few years ago and she suggested I give Crest White Strips a try. LOVE THEM!

I don't like the sensitivity of my teeth for a week or so after using them, but the results are so worth it. And they are incredibly easy to use. I've actually had an assistant at my orthodontist mention how sparkly white my teeth were.

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 18

2011-12-19T20:10:00.000-05:00

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE colored pens! They totally make me happy. I have at least four different brands for each of the various colors on my desk. Gel pens. Felt tips. Calligraphy. Lime green. Purple. Orange. I'm always looking out for a new color.

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 17

2011-12-19T20:04:00.001-05:00

Since I have been crazy sick this week (thank you hubby for sharing your germs!), my next favorite thing HAS to be DayQuil Cold & Flu Liquid tablets. At least when I take these people don't ask me if I've been stung by a bee in the throat. Excuse me while I grab my second favorite thing today (Kleenex with lotion).

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 16

2011-12-19T19:55:00.001-05:00

TGIF! If you have had a week like I have then sitting down with ~~a bottle~~ glass of Castello del Poggio Moscato wine. I will be the first to admit that I am NOT a big wine drinker. For me to like it, it has to be sweet. This Moscato is a twist between sweet and sparkly. I discovered this during a date night with hubby at Olive Garden. The only available seats (without a long wait) was at the bar. So we said yes. After I told the bartender I wasn't much of a wine drinker, she set out to find one I would like. After 6 different tastes, I fell in love with this Moscato.

Two weeks later, hubby and I drove all over town trying to find a bottle, finally finding it at a store near our home (go figure). The only way we found it was when we asked for the Olive Garden Moscato. Too funny. Now you can drive around town and see various billboards advertising the "Olive Garden Moscato."

Excuse me while I grab my glass and veg on the couch.

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 15

2011-12-19T19:52:00.000-05:00

I honestly don't know how I ever lived without my Helen of Troy Hot Air Brush. Seriously. No idea. I've tried several different brush curling irons. Did. Not. Work. I usually ended up ripping out part of my hair just to get them untangled.

The last time I went in for a trim, my beautician used this Air Brush on my hair and I was immediately hooked. Easy to use. Easy to clean. It does exactly what I need it to do without burning my hair to a crisp when I try to straighten out the frizz while putting in a slight curl. Clear as mud? :)

I wish I had this when I was in high school.

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 14

2011-12-19T19:48:00.000-05:00

Ahh, another hump day. You know about my love of Starbucks, but do you know about my other hot drink obsession? Chai Tea. But not just any Chai Tea. It has to be Oregon Chai Tea in the powdered form.

Yeah, yeah. Silly of me. Why does it have to be in powdered form, you ask. Well, since I'm not a tea fan (what????) and can't really stand the bitter taste (huh????), I love that I can adjust the powdered mix to be as spicy and sweet as I want it to be. In liquid form it has more of a tea taste. Although they can be hard to find (only Wal-Mart in my area carries them), they are well worth the hunt.

Of course I have to add a caveat here. I make mine with milk (1%). I like it much better than with water. To do this without scorching the milk, you have to heat it in 40 second intervals. 40 seconds. Stir. 40 seconds. Stir. Then remainder time would be determined by how hot you like your tea. I like mine hot. ;)

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 13

2011-12-19T19:44:00.000-05:00

For anyone that knows me well, you will totally understand this next favorite. The Tide To Go Stain Remover Stick. Tadaaaa!!!

This is another one of those Karma moments. Even though I'm a huge klutz and continuously spill or dribble food onto my clothes, I mocked my friends for using them. Really. How could they work? After all, it is detergent. I just knew it would leave a bigger stain around the original stain.

That is until I absolutely had to use one in order to save my favorite shirt. Silly me. I was eating a chocolate ice-cream cone while wearing a pretty gray silk shirt. Of course, I dribbled right in the middle of the blouse. I was devastated. My friend whipped out her Tide Stick and I was willing to do anything to save this shirt. We dabbed it on, waited for it to dry, dabbed again and viola. The stain was gone. And I was an instant convert.

I now carry one with me wherever I go and I leave one in each my desk drawers. I've even given them as gifts because I know how handy they really are.

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 12

2011-12-19T19:36:00.000-05:00

Hmmm… Betcha thought I dropped off the face of the earth again, didn't ya. I kinda sorta did. That's what it felt like anyway without Internet access. Can you believe I actually laughed at hubby when he whined about not having cable for a week? Yeah. That was before I realized that if we didn't have cable, we didn't have Internet… Karma, baby…

Anyway, after a week of waiting for the cable install, they arrived and realized we did not have a cable line ran to our house. Ummm, yeah. That's why we called them. Seriously, I'm pretty sure this was discussed. After another week of waiting for another company to run the cable (did I mention that hubby was an electrician in a previous life and could have ran the wiring himself if it wouldn't have been against their laws or something???), unpacking (five more boxes to go!!!!) and me catching a bad cold (I honestly think it was the flu but everyone says I'm just being a whiney butt); I'm back on the net. AND over a week behind with my favorite things. Who knew this was going to be such a problem for me?

Oh yeah. The guy who told me we were moving the end of November. Shoulda listened…

Whatever. That's done and gone and you are probably waiting to find out what my next favorite thing is, aren’t you?

Fear not. Because I have lit a Christmas scented candle to calm my nerves and am ready to type my 12th favorite thing, which is - - - scented candles. Yeah. Didn't see that one coming did ya? :)

My absolute favorites are Yankee Candles, simply because they last an incredibly long time and because they have a ton of varieties. My next favorite is from Bath and Body Works. I've also enjoyed Heritage Candles and KISS Candles that are 100% Soy Wax. Both were bought through The Kid's school fund raisers and I've been pleasantly surprised both times.

I do switch up scents depending upon the time of year. Coconut Lime, Caribbean Splash, Apple Cinnamon, Hazelnut Coffee, Gardenia, Peppermint. But I have to admit that my all-time favorite is Spiced Pumpkin. Yummy.

Sexy Saturday

2011-12-17T02:30:00.000-05:00

Funny E-Mail - Need some exercise incentive... This will do it. :)

2011-12-15T16:11:00.000-05:00

25 of My Favorite Things – Day 11

2011-12-11T01:50:00.000-05:00

Ok. Another silly idea but one that is invaluable, especially this time of year. Other than Christmas and all the trimmings that go with this holiday, it is also cold and flu season. Lots of people are out shopping, some who might even be too sick to be out. But because they have to get that one special gift before it’s gone, you can find them braving the crowds, sneezing into their mittens and grabbing the shopping carts with those same mittens.

I know. I’m not really a big germaphobe but I have had my share of holiday colds and let me tell ya, it isn’t fun being the only person not participating in those fun holiday family activities.

So I carry around these convenient sized bottles of Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer. Bath and Body Works have made this oh so convenient with their purse size bottles and they even make the neatest rubber holder that can wrap around the handle of any bag, making it even so easy for the user.

AND they smell really good, too. My favorites (yes, with an s) are the Cucumber Melon, Peppermint, American Pie, Coconut Lime… I could go on and on…. Like my lip gloss, this is another item I make sure to have conveniently on hand whenever I need it.

Sexy Saturday

2011-12-10T02:29:00.000-05:00

25 of My Favorite Things – Day 10

2011-12-10T01:47:00.001-05:00

Along with the Mommy kissing Santa Clause idea, my next favorite thing is lip gloss. Hi. My name is Tami and I am a lip gloss addict. I have a tube of something in every purse I use, vehicle I drive, and desk that I occupy for any length of time. Very seldom have I found myself without one and when that happens, watch out.

My favorite (at the moment) is Cover Girl WetSlicks AmazeMint Merry Berry. It has a hint of mint that leaves my lips feeling cool and tingly.

My second favorite is ChapStick’s True Shimmer Peppermint Rush. Yeah. Yeah. I know this technically isn’t lip gloss, but it does leave a glittery shimmer to your lips and again, it has that cool mint undertone.

Makes me want to grab MY Santa Clause and test it out. See if he likes my favorites as much as I do.

25 of My Favorite Things – Day 9

2011-12-09T17:45:00.000-05:00

“I saw momma kissing Santa Clause underneath the mistletoe last night.”

I LOVE this song. It was one of my all-time favorites growing up. That and Cindy Lou’s from the movie The Grinch with Jim Carey, rendition of “Where are you Christmas”. Her voice is awesome and brought tears to my eyes. I also loved the song when country singer, Faith Hill sang it for her Christmas album. Check out the YouTube link to Faith singing the song.

If you haven’t guessed yet, my next favorite thing (at least around this time of year) is Christmas Music.

I have a ton of Christmas CDs. I also have a bunch of cassette tapes. I remember when The Kid was little I had a Flintstone’s Christmas CD. Every time I would play that tape (in the car because that was the only place left that we had a cassette player) he would break into a fit of giggles in the backseat. Now every time I happen to hear Fred Flintstone yell, “Barney!!!!,” I can’t help but remember him trying to sing along.

Even if the kiddie songs aren’t your thing, there are plenty of Christmas CDs to choose from. I think just about every performing artist has released one at one point in their careers. In my car right now is Elvis, Michael Buble, Kenny G (saxophone Christmas music), Kenny Chesney, and oh so many more…. They really put me in the Christmas spirit.

25 of My Favorite Things – Day 8

2011-12-08T09:07:00.000-05:00

Today I’m home unpacking boxes. The first one I opened held a set of plates with a blue and white snowflake pattern. I’ve had them for over ten years, but they have become a family winter favorite. As I dug deeper, I found a set for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, New Years and the Fourth of July. There is something about eating a bowl of cereal out of a Christmas tree bowl that keeps me in the Christmas spirit.

Okay, so these take up a LOT of room, but I couldn't part with them when we downsized. I only have a set of 4 for each holiday (8 for the snowflakes), so they will all fit in one cabinet.

(me justifying this to hubby after I suggested he downsize some of the tools in his garage… ;) )

25 of My Favorite Things – Day 7

2011-12-08T08:21:00.000-05:00

Hump Day favorite things. Especially after the week of moving and being exhausted, the only thing I want to do is to pull on a comfy sweatshirt and veg in front of the TV (or with a good book).

I have a bright yellow Wyoming Cowboys college football hooded sweatshirt that is extra plush. Living in Georgia, I don’t often get a chance to wear it, but on cold days like today it's nice to pull it on and snuggle down.

Out of the closet-full of sweatshirts I currently have, a few of my other favorites have logos from Aeropostale, Washington DC, Virginia Beach, Disney World and even University of Georgia.

Like my calendars, these are another reminder of the fun times I’ve had throughout years.

25 of My Favorite Things – Day 6

2011-12-08T08:12:00.000-05:00

I can’t live without calendars. Every time I go on vacation (even if it is for a weekend), I look for a calendar for the following year that features the sites and feel of that specific place. This year I had a really cool calendar of Savannah Georgia on my wall. I also had a cool airplane/helicopter calendar I bought after visiting a museum on our way to a weekend in Alabama. Right now I have a Wild Words for Wild Women desktop calendar at work with a different quote each day. My favorite quote is from Fanny Fern, “Dear Abby” of the 1800’s. “I am convinced that there are times in everybody’s experience when there is much to be done, that the only way to do it is to sit down and do nothing.”

Gotta love it.

I already have next year’s calendar with various sites from the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC. The trick is NOT to sneak a peek at the next day’s calendar tab. Makes it fun each morning to flip the page and read the next passage.

25 of MY Favorite Things – Day 5

2011-12-08T08:07:00.000-05:00

After the sticky note post, I had to go with the fun push-pins. Anyone who looks at my desk (either at work or at home) can tell I have an obsession with decorative push pins. I’ve got all the various colors of the normal pins, ladybugs, stars, hearts, orange cubes, yellow octagons, and even famous landmarks. If you are looking for a cheap stocking stuffer type gift, these can be found at most Wal-Mart/Targets and especially at most office supply stores. When hubby and The Kid are looking for presents to add bulk to my stocking, this is the first gift they grab.

25 of MY Favorite Things – Day 4

2011-12-08T07:57:00.000-05:00

Well, keeping up with this was much easier in my head. ;)

Sorry to be MIA AGAIN but moving this past weekend made it almost impossible to get on the computer. Add to that the cable/internet company not being able to hook us up until NEXT Tuesday (Oh my!!!!) and I have been going through major withdrawals. Hubby finally sent me to his Uncle’s house to take a break from moving stuff and “play” on the internet for a bit. Great guy. ;) Which is why I am FINALLY able to continue this series. :)

To continue with 25 of MY Favorite Things, I’m going with the various colors and designs for sticky notes. Again, something silly but they make me happy. I have pink hearts, yellow and orange stars, snowmen, reindeer, mittens, flip flops, fluorescent pop up ones, large 8.5 by 11 size all the way to small sticky note tabs.

I smile every time I come across a page on my (or my critique partner’s) manuscript and I see a big yellow smiley face telling me to watch my overuse of exclamation points. Hmmmm… I really need to pay attention to that advice…

I also use these to try to track my POV changes, ups and downs in the story, kissing scenes, love scenes, etc on a progress board I have in my office. This process helps me keep everything in perspective.

One of my all-time favorite notepads is a Maxine sticky notepad that has a different Maxine quote for each page. People LOVE getting notes from me on those.

I highly recommend adding a couple of fun designs to your desk. Just be careful if you have to put a note on a male co-worker’s paperwork, no matter how innocent it may be. The bright pink heart I used for one of mine didn’t go over so well with his wife when he took his work home.

Sexy Saturday

2011-12-03T02:28:00.000-05:00

25 Days of MY Favorite Things - Day 3

2011-12-03T01:36:00.004-05:00

Okay, okay. So I gave up sodas and Starbucks this month. This is the beginning of my yearlong journey of giving up certain things for a month at a time. I readily admit that I wasn't very smart when I chose these particular items to give up during this particular month. After all, I am finishing up two big classes AND moving. *smacks forehead*

Regardless of whether or not I can drink it (at the moment), I have to add Starbuck's Cinnamon Dolce Lattes to the list. Yummo! I ordered this drink two Christmases ago and have been hooked ever since. With a hint of nutmeg and a dollop of cream on top, you can't go wrong with a nice steamy cup on a cold day.

Gotta stop talking about it or I will be making a Starbucks run…

Enjoy!

25 of MY Favorite Things - Day 2

2011-12-02T21:46:00.000-05:00

Okay, now I know I'm late to the game with this item. Seriously. Who never heard of using this nifty little gadget to peel potatoes, carrots, fruits, etc? Me, that's who.

I grew up with the flimsy metal peelers that were dull, dull, dull. I remember my mom asking me to peel potatoes with it and I usually ended up gouging out half the outer layer trying to make it work. Since then, I've only ever used one to peel the skins from carrots. Even then I struggled. Now I buy the already peeled and bagged carrots. Much easier and more convenient.

Well, this past week I spent Thanksgiving with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law in Virginia Beach and she assigned me the task of peeling potatoes. When she handed me this really cool peeler, I looked at her funny. Seriously? I know I'm a huge klutz but I CAN use a knife.

I was amazed at how well these new peelers work. We slicked through those potatoes like they were nothing and I didn't even feel guilty like I normally do for cutting so much off with the outer peel.

Needless to say, I came right home and bought my own (or two). So this nifty little peeler is my #2 favorite thing for December. Don't you love the colors? I've got an orange and a green one. :)

25 of MY favorite things - Day 1

2011-12-01T22:12:00.001-05:00

I know I'm late in the day for this, but I really wanted to start the month of December doing something new on the blog. Taking a page out of Pam Asberry's book, I decided to share a few of my favorite things.

25 of my favorite things to be exact.

Some might be a bit silly and others might be just the item you were looking for. Either way, maybe you will come away with a few new gift ideas.

Today I want to share with you the Pampered Chef Mix N' Chop. Oh man is this little kitchen gadget nice. A friend of mine recently bought this for me after watching me struggle to separate ground hamburger into smaller chunks while frying.

I wasn't too sure about the gift because it really didn't look all that useful. That is until I actually used it. Wowza! I have no idea how I lived without this handy, dandy tool. I definitely plan to add the Mix N' Chop to a few stockings.

Cheers!

New Author Blog Hop winner!!!

2011-12-01T21:31:00.000-05:00

The moving is going great. We hope to be living in the new place by this weekend. Yay! But that good news means that I am a huge slacker on the blog front. ;)

As you may have guessed, the New Author Blog Hop is over. This was a lot of fun and I met some really cool new authors and have filled my Kindle with some awesome books. Now I just need to get this move finished so I can read some of them.

The gift I offered was a $10 Starbucks gift card. I had The Kid pick a number and the winner is…..

C.M. Brown!!!

Thank you to everyone who stopped over. AND a HUGE thanks to those who downloaded Drool Worthy. I can't thank you enough.

Tami

Last chance to find new authors to read and win neat prizes!

2011-11-30T06:03:00.000-05:00

The New Author Blog Hop ends at midnight tonight. Come on over and meet some brand new authors who are publishing their first books. Enter to win free reads and neat prizes. You can't lose with this opportunity. :)

Where in the World am I?

2011-11-28T22:29:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone! Totally missed my update post today. Sorry. I had a very busy week last week with a Thanksgiving trip to Washington DC and then Thanksgiving dinner with my wonderful brother-in-law and sister-in-law and my SIL's awesome cooking in Virginia Beach. I think I gained ten pounds even though we probably walked at least ten miles each day. Wow. I honestly had no idea we would be walking that much. But, I loved it (Washington DC AND Virginia Beach) and plan to blog about some of those experiences in the near future.

I'm also in the middle of selling my house (yay!), packing away all non-essentials for a move to a much smaller home, and cramming to finish a couple of heavy duty courses that are prerequisites for two other major classes (that are requirements for my training program) scheduled for January. No stress in my life…

Anyway, on top of all that, I'm blogging today over at the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog about the wrap up to my 2011 Year of Reevaluation. I'd love to see everyone over there and hear how your 2011 resolutions are going.

As an added incentive, I'm giving away a $10 Starbucks gift card to one lucky commenter. I'm leaving the drawing open through tomorrow to give everyone a chance to enter.

I really hope to see you over there.

Hugs!

Tami

Sexy Saturday

2011-11-26T02:27:00.000-05:00

VERY Inspiring

2011-11-25T00:05:00.003-05:00

Sandra McGregor posted a link to this very inspiring blog post last week. Tonya Kappes with The Writer's Guide to E-Publishing wrote an amazing article on How Bad Do You Want Self-Publishing Success?

I was immediately inspired and motived to sit my butt in the chair and start writing. I've since started carrying my AlphaSmart with me everywhere, along with a pad and paper.

Regardless if you are trying to self-publish or go the traditional route, read the post and watch the video. Listen to the words. You won't regret it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T01:10:00.002-05:00

New Authors Blog Hop!!!

2011-11-23T01:10:00.022-05:00

Hi Everyone!!! Welcome to the New Authors Blog Hop!!! What a fun idea. I can't wait to read some of the books I'll discover through the various links and add some new authors to my "must read" list.

I'm just getting started on this wild ride of publication. At the moment I have one short story posted over at Smashwords (which you can download for FREE!!!). My second book, Jasmine's Quest, will be released in December.

Until then, please enjoy Drool Worthy, a short story written with a Halloween theme. No spooky ookie scare your pants off story for me. Just a sweet introduction between a pastry chef and the sexy gym owner in a small middle Georgia town.

Blurb:

Will all-work-and-no-play keep Marianne from finding a great guy? Or will the pastry chef be in exactly the right place when opportunity walks through the front door?

Drool Worthy is a FREE short story in eBook format and can be downloaded at the following locations:

Smashwords

~~What people are saying about Drool Worthy~~

~ What a sweet story! Ms. Brothers captures that first thrill a woman feels when she becomes aware that the guy she's attracted to is attracted right back - the first shiver of excitement that gets the romance rolling. ~ Pamela Mason

~ I enjoy a well written novel that is clean and carries a good story line, this is one of them. ~ Jason Richardson

~ Drool Worthy is a fun story with delightful characters. Ms. Brothers has a great “voice” in her writing and writes a fast-pace, tale where not only the goodies made in her bakery are drool worthy, but one of the shop’s visitors is too. She holds your interest from beginning to end. ~ Maxine Davis

Along with the FREE download, I'll be giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter on the right sidebar. Leave a message and let me know that you entered. Winner will be chosen December 1st.

Okay, onto the next author. Just click on the photo below and you will hop back over the to the Word Diaries post.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous Thanksgiving week!

Tami

If I'm cute, then they won't notice...

2011-11-21T01:44:00.000-05:00

Princess Bella loves playing with her stuffed animals. Isn't she adorable? Yeah, not so much when she takes them away from the little kids who come to visit.

Then there are those days when we just can't convince her that she has her OWN bed and that people pillows are not doggie pillows. Really though, how can a person stay mad at a face like that?

Of course the Evil Queen reminds us often that she told us so…

Sexy Saturday

2011-11-19T02:25:00.000-05:00

Funny E-mail - Gotta love those Marines :)

2011-11-17T01:57:00.007-05:00

A paradigm shift with your morning coffee:

Top This One For a Speeding Ticket

In Kingsville, Tx, two Texas Highway Patrol officers were conducting speeding enforcement on Hwy 77, just south of Kingsville, Tx. One of the officers was using a hand held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching the town of Kingsville. The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300 miles per hour and climbing.

The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset and then it suddenly turned off. Just then a deafening roar over the Mesquite treetops on Hwy 77 revealed that the radar had in fact locked on to a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low flying exercise near this, its Naval Air home base location in Kingsville Tx. Back at the Texas Highway Patrol Headquarters in Corpus Christi the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to the US Naval Base Commander in Kingsville for shutting down his equipment.

The reply came back in true USMC style:

'Thank you for your letter....

You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked on to, your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it, which is why it shut down.

Furthermore, an Air-to-Ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had also automatically locked on to your equipment's location.

Fortunately, the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched to destroy the hostile radar position on the side of Hwy 77 So. of Kingsville ...

The pilot suggests you cover your mouths when cussing at them, since the video systems on these jets are very high tech. Sergeant Johnson, the officer holding the radar gun, should get his dentist to check his left rear molar. It appears the filling is loose...Also, the snap is broken on his holster.'

Semper Fi

*Note: I went searching for a picture to add to the post and found this same exact post on another blog. How cool is that? I'll post their link in case you want to check it out.