It's My Birthday - and YOU can Score Some Gifts!

I'm a little late in posting this due to some personal matters requiring my attention. Read on to see some of what's going on – and how you can score some gifts!

It's the official first day of Summer, and even better, it's my birthday today! The year I was born, June 20 actually fell the day before Father's Day, so my arrival was a gift for my dad, who  became a dad for the first time that year, (No, I am absolutely NOT going to give a clue as to when that occurred! LOL!).  Another factoid – my younger sister was born the day before Dad's birthday, so we were both "presents."

Being that I was born right as Summer began, it also makes sense that is my favorite season. There are a few reasons for that – as a kid, a big one was the fact that my birthday always coincided with the last few days of school. Think about it, what are the two most important days in any kid's life? Birthday and the last day of school! There were some years that the last day actually fell on my birthday – does it get any better than that? Lol

A while ago, I realized another factor played into my love of Summer. It's something I've paid more attention to over the last few years, (though of course there are always exceptions) and it's that people's favorite season tends to be the one they were born in. Sort of makes sense to me. I always say I'm going to look more deeply into a possible link, because I think I can use that theory in some way, shape or form in some upcoming book (well, at least on the ever-growing list of the ideas, anyway).  But it could play heavily into many of my books, especially the paranormal, though even the historical settings of my books could use the idea as an added layer to the world and characters.

Of course, the excitement over my birthday is a lot different now. I don't mind. It's still awesome to be the recipient of good wishes and such. But the fact is, it's not as big a deal as it used to be. The world and all the obligations keep turning, and work and responsibilities still need attention. Now, however, what I really find interesting about my birthday is all the different people who share it, or the events that took place on that day.

Errol Flynn 1909 - Actor
Olympia Dukakis 1931 - Actress
Danny Aiello (Daniel Louis "Danny" Aiello, Jr.) 1933 - Actor
Brian Wilson 1942 – Musician, Beach Boys
Bob Vila 1946 - Television host ("This Old House")
Tina Sinatra 1948 - Producer, actress, second daughter of Frank Sinatra
Lionel Richie 1949 - Singer, musician
John Goodman 1952 - Actor
Michael Anthony 1954 – Musician, Van Halen
John Taylor 1960 – Musician, Duran Duran
Nicole Kidman 1967 - Actress

That's some fine company to be in! And check out a few notable events from this day:

1782 - The US Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States.
1791 - King Louis XVI of France was captured while attempting to flee the country

1793 - Eli Whitney applied for a cotton gin patent. He received the patent on March 14.

1837 - Queen Victoria ascended the British throne.
1863 – West Virginia became the 35th state to join the US.
1910 - Fanny Brice debuted in the New York production of the "Ziegfeld Follies".
1947 - Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was murdered in Beverly Hills, on order of mob associates angered over the costs of his project, the Flamingo resort in Las Vegas.
1948 - "Toast of the Town" debuted on CBS, hosted by Ed Sullivan.

There's a lot more, but those were just some fun facts I stumbled across, while researching for various books.

And, as much as I do love Summer, there are pitfalls – the sorts of things that never occurred to me as kid. Would not have been in the universe of my imagination back then! lol The biggest problem - productivity falls way down. While there's Summer camp, it includes all sorts of extra activities – or at least driving to those activities. Family vacation is way more than its week or so away – never mind the pre-planning. Vacation is bookended by laundry and shopping and packing and unpacking. The next thing you know, it's time to bring DD back to college and prep the Little Guy for middle school. It goes fast – way too fast, if you ask me.

So what I plan with this post is to give some of you a chance to slow down the craziness of Summer – curl up with a good book, on me! That's right, for my birthday, I'm giving away presents – two people who comment will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon gift card, a copy of any of my titles, and some fun goodies to go along with it.

So tell me, what's your favorite part of Summer?

Decking the Halls with Holiday Insanity

So here we are, in the midst of another holiday season. Some were early this year, some were late.  Some are still waiting. The whirlwind of the season is exhausting, exhilarating and exciting. Half the time, I enjoy all the hullabaloo, the other half of the time, I wish it was over already. I like to shop, but with a deadline and a lot of people on my list, it isn't as enjoyable than "I feel like buying a new dress" shopping. Not to mention that it's killer on the feet!

Actually, one thing about this season that's worked in my favor is the fact that I am still unemployed. When I was working, I would take a day off, usually a Friday, and start at 9:00, hit every mall in the area (and if you live in Bergen County, you know that's a LOT of malls), plus a few stand-alone stores, and wrap it up close to 5:00. I'd manage to cram in just about everyone and have only a few leftover to pick up on shorter excursions. This year, I've been able to spread it to one mall a day, with a couple stand alones here and there. So there is that.

But there's still lots more to be done. In our house, we did away with the real Christmas tree several years ago and bought a really nice artificial. We were so tired of lugging the tree, trimming it to fit, vacuuming several times a week, checking the water, and so on. Ugh. This artificial tree looks just as nice, plus it's pre-lit, so it's easy in that regard. Only have to hang the beads and ornaments. Years ago, when we had a cat, tinsel and tinsel garland were out of the question because she used to munch on it, which is very very bad for cats. So we used strings of beads, all different shapes and sizes, in gold. And they look really really pretty.

I also set up a Christmas in the City village on my bay window, complete with fake snow and a bunch of people. I even have the Brooklyn Bridge on a side table to lead the way toward Ebbets Field. My kids like that part the best, and I have an assortment of Santas that adorn the dining room table. It makes the house feel festive.

We also bake cookies. I make all kinds – toffee bars, pecan pie squares, chocolate-drizzled sponge squares, raspberry ribbon cookies, and so on. This year, unemployment is again taking a load off for me – I don't have to make nearly as many as I usually do, since I always brought a giant platter of them to the office to share with coworkers and thank them for all their support.

And don't forget the holiday cards! Must make time to do that.

As far as Christmas, it has always worked out well for us. My husband's family has always had their big celebration on Christmas Eve, with the traditional Italian Seven Fishes dinner, though I think we're down to four now since some of the items on the menu in years past were made specifically for certain people, who sadly are no longer with us. It's always an enjoyable evening, and the kids just keep the excitement level at fever pitch. Of course, we must be home in time for Santa to come. My little guy is still a believer (I think), though I suspect those days are almost over.

Christmas Day has always been my family's traditional gathering day. My parents host and it's fun to see everyone who doesn't live close. Again, kids are crazed, but by the time we have dinner, they are calmer. Plus, A Christmas Story marathon is on, and everyone at one point or another ends up seeing the whole movie, even if it's not sequentially.

I like keeping the traditions alive, there's a comfort in them, a familiarity as we move through the season that makes everyone smile (usually). Of course, there are the usual school concerts, other holiday parties and the like in the midst of all of this. It's no wonder we all drop like stones in the water on December 26.

Still, each one of those traditions has evolved a little each year as the kids get older and can do more things. My daughter spends New Year's Eve with her friends now, instead of us, the cards have changed from going for a holiday portrait to taking our own and using Vistaprint and having them pre-signed, cookie recipes have been swapped out for newer ones, things like that. So as much as it's the same, it's also different and new, which adds to the fun. Or is it more like insanity?

So what are your traditions? The best, or the worst? Have they stayed the same, changed, or disappeared altogether? I've got a few things we don't do anymore, but never fear, I will always wear my reindeer antlers and giant jingle bells. In the spirit of the season, I'm giving away a goodie bag of swag and some things from my prize chest, as well as a few books. So tell me about your holiday traditions and you could win a present from me!