...and the Grinch was right! Christmas means more.

"And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! "It came without packages, boxes or bags!" And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
 
...and the Grinch was right!

Christmas isn’t about the parties and tasty treats
or how many gifts are under the tree. 

The real meaning of Christmas is Jesus Christ of course.

On Christmas, we honor the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior,
the greatest gift that God could send to us.

It's the perfect time to reflect on God’s goodness and grace
and knowing how wonderfully we have been blessed. 

Christmas is a time for love and forgiveness,
it’s a time to remember your family and friends.

Christmas is about giving not receiving.
it’s about serving and caring for those less fortunate.

Christmas is about putting the needs of others before your own,
it's about making sure that at Christmas time, no one is alone. 

Enjoy the Christmas spirit by spreading the Christmas cheer
and let’s all celebrate that Jesus Christ came to earth.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

“Christmas sale!!” Buy my books online.

Christmas is quickly approaching, the malls and outlets are swamped with shoppers, and you are running out of time and have no idea what to get. Well, let me remind you that a book makes a great holiday gift and you can get them in the comfort of your own home, the best part is that it is stress free. Until December 25, you can find my books on sale, and they are just a click away.   To buy the books just click on the title.
 

If you like vampires, demons, angels, or ghosts... the following titles are available in digital format or paperback through Amazon and Barnes & Noble online. 

　

　

Butterfly Kisses

Purple Moon

Now you see me, now you don't

Do you have children on your list? Check out Molly and help her find her cheese or follow Baba through the zoo.



Where is my cheese?



Baba - Trip to the Zoo

 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and

thank you for supporting my books.

We found our Charlie Brown tree!

This is a follow up to my previous blog, “Ever thought of getting an ugly Christmas tree?” Well, we did, after visiting four different places; we finally found our Charlie Brown tree.

We left home early morning with a list of things to do, eye doctor appointment, haircuts for the boys, grocery shopping and lastly, buy a real Christmas tree. 

When we finished with the first errands, we decided to go check the Christmas trees. The first lot we went to, the attendant person said that we were the fifth customer that had stopped by there asking for a Charlie Brown tree. I didn’t know there was a trend for this. Well, we looked around but didn’t see any ugly trees; they were all perfect to me. We left and drove around to the other two places, and every time they asked us what type of tree, we were looking for. We would ask for an ugly tree. The faces of the attendants at the nursery lots, were priceless, and then followed by the same question, “why?”

They didn’t understand our reasoning, so we walked around and found a few candidates for our Charlie Brown tree, but they weren’t ugly enough, so we didn’t get any of those trees. We left, I was about to give up. I didn’t know it was so hard to find an ugly Christmas tree. I was tired of driving around, and walking in between the aisles of 100s of Christmas trees in search of our Charlie Brown. I pulled to the lot and parked the Jeep, this was going to be our last stop of the day. I turned to look at my boys, they didn’t look too happy that we had more walking to do and to top it off, it has just started to rain. It would have been perfect if it had been snow to put us in the Christmas spirit, but Houston welcomed December with temperatures in the low 80’s and scattered showers, so it was more of a Christmas gloom.

We walked in and within a few minutes of walking around, my son found our Charlie Brown tree. Leaning to a post was a 5ft Oregon grown Noble Fir. My son pulled the tree out so that I could take a better look. “Yeap! That’s our Charlie.” I said.

The tree trunk was curved with messy branches, more in one side than on the other, it looked like it had just woken up with a bad case of bed head. The attendant couldn’t understand why we were picking that one, but he helped us carry it to the cashier. We paid for it and had them nail the wooden stand with the pail for the water under the tree. After they installed it, they stood it up and the tree was leaning to the left. The lady in front of us turned around to see to whom that funny looking tree belonged to, there I stood proudly with my sons, grinning like a fool, I was happy because that awkward tree belonged to me. The attendants saw that the tree was still leaning too much to one side and thought they were doing us a favor and nailed wooden stakes as braces to hold it up straighter, when in reality we didn’t care if it was leaning, that’s why we picked it.

We took the tree home. The tree was too small to put in the corner that we normally put our Christmas tree, you could hardly see it because the furniture was blocking it. We moved the furniture around and finally found a place for it by a window next to the stairs.

Now, it was time for the ornaments. Well, I have three plastic containers full of ornaments; I only ended up using like half of one, because I had to choose the ornaments very carefully, since most of them were too heavy for the wimpy tree branches. I even thought that our star topper was going to be too heavy for the scrawny tree, but it wasn’t, so we left the star on because it looks even funnier with it. The scrawny tree has been nicknamed by my boys as “Charlie.” It is the prettiest ugly tree we’ve ever had, and we are very happy to it show-off, —one look at our Charlie Brown tree and it makes you grin.  

Here is our Christmas tree last year.

…and here is our Charlie Brown tree. Before and after.

This year, we proudly gave this awkward looking 5ft Noble Fir a home for the holidays.

Welcome home, Charlie! And Merry Christmas to All!

Ever thought of getting an ugly Christmas tree?

 

 

This year my kids and I are getting a real Christmas tree.  It has been years since we have bought a real one, we are used to putting up our 9ft fake tree, but this year, we will be getting the ugliest, scraggly tree from the lot, the tree that no one else wants, it will be sort of our Charlie Brown tree.
  

So this weekend, we are starting our search for the ugliest tree we can find in our side of town and we will decorate it.  The downside is that I will not be able to use all of the Christmas ornaments and decorations that I have collected through the years, but we will make it as pretty as possible with what we can and give it a home for the holidays.  

Finding the ugliest tree should be fun.   I will take pictures and post them later.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!!!

 

 

Books always make great holiday gifts and in honor of the holiday season, I have put my books on sale.  If you have a Kindle or Nook, why not add a few new titles to your library?

From now until December 25, you can find any of my books in digital format on sale at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  

Merry Christmas!

EXCUSE ME, MAY I BORROW YOUR RHINO SKIN?

You are probably wondering, what in the hell is she talking about?  LOL.

 

Well, one of the many advices given to a new writer is that you need to get a thick skin to make it in the business.  Whether you write a blog or a novel, writing opens the door and invites anyone to take a pot shot at you.  What sucks is that as a writer you don’t get to shoot back with a smartass reply to the critique, because it is unprofessional.    Dealing with criticism is part of a writer’s life, but learning from it and staying motivated is part of the process of being successful in writing.  Guess what? —this is easier said than done.  

Now that my work is available to the public, there are days that I wonder why I ever thought of becoming a writer.   I was just setting myself up to get my ego hurt, humiliated and criticized, but I had a dream and I was going to live it, or at least give it my best trying.

I have always been my worst critic, and I thought of myself as being tough person.  After all, growing up wasn’t easy,  I was picked on for being different, I was anorexic skinny, wore awful looking glasses and had bushy eyebrows, then later on, I was made fun of for speaking with an accent, which to this day I still do.   I was rocking the heavy accent before Sofia Vergara made it popular and sexy.  (*grinning*)  I wasn’t known as the cool girl, I was noticeable for all the wrong reasons.  So you’d think I’d be used to criticism and that by know my skin would be as thick as a rhinoceros’ hide, but that is not the case.

When I started submitting queries and partials, the rejections made me want to curl up in a ball and just give up on my dream.   The truth was that my shell was not as tough as I thought it was, beneath it, was and still is a very sensitive soul, sometimes I take things personally, not a good thing when you want to be a published author.  Now that I’ve suffered through enough rejections, I kind of take them in stride but I still cringe and get weak at the knees every time I open an email from a literary agent, luckily most of them are just form rejection, but when they’re not, I read what they have to say and learn from their constructive criticisms. 

Some people have a gift for giving criticism in an encouraging, constructive way, and others say the same thing and you feel you’re being ripped to shreds.   So if the criticism comes from someone to whom you should listen, then you should begin looking for ways to learn from what they said, take what you can learn from it, and move on to the next thing.  At least that’s what I try to do.   

It’s ok to have flaws, we are all perfectly imperfect, and other people may notice that from time to time.  Nevertheless, no one likes to be criticized, especially when you don’t have a hard shell to hide under and you don’t have a magic wand to make the negative feedback go way.  You can’t act like a kid and close your eyes, and put your fingers in your ears while shouting lalalala, —that won’t work, I think I may have tried that already… lol.   As grown-ups, we have to face it, and sometimes even cry, but we must always pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start out all over again, that’s is the only way to survive a critique. 

Personally, I value the input of others and find some critiques to be very helpful, especially those that point out deficiencies in my writing.   If one of my stories happens to die of an honorable death because it is unreadable, received low ratings or unfavorable reviews, I’m fine with that, it doesn’t mean they don’t like me, they just don’t like the book, besides, I will not be the first nor the last author that this happens to.  

Now you are saying, “OMG! Did she get a bad review?”  

Ok, so my writing is not perfect, at least I should get an “A” for effort, right?  Well, that is not the way it works.  Darn it!  I knew I should have asked my family and friends to write excellent reviews for my books, that way the good reviews would outweigh the bad ones, but I didn’t… EPIC FAIL!   I don’t compare my writing to any famous prolific author, nor I am in the same rank as any of them but I like to write and I have fun doing it, coming up with characters and scenarios in my head.  Writers write; they put their writings out there for the public to enjoy and praise but they also run the risk of getting their work shredded by the public.  I just know that I have to be appreciative of a bad review; at least they took the time to read my book and write about it.   Of course, it crushed my ego, and left a bad taste in my mouth, but life goes on.  

Excuse me, while I finish dusting myself off, —ok, done!  Now, I need to keep focused on what I do and why I do it.  Since I am new in the business of writing, I still have a long, tough road ahead of me with much more to learn, if I dare to keep going down this path and keep falling down, but if I do, I’ll better start working on my rhino suit.   In the meantime, I have to keep reminding myself that a bad mention is better than no mention at all.  It could actually work in my favor, as other readers, particularly those who are skeptical of reviews would have never know of my book, had it not been for other people talking about it.

Can you handle criticism or do you need to work on your rhino suit?

Congratulations to the winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" book giveaway! 

I would also like to sincerely thank the 549 people who entered the contest at Goodreads.  Thank you all for your interest in my novel.

Purple Moon Book Giveaway at Goodreads has ended.

Congratulations to the winners of the Purple Moon (The Shadow Guardian Trilogy) book giveaway! 

Many thanks to the 571 people who entered the contest at Goodreads.

Angels are in! Are you under the spell of a Purple Moon?

 

NOW AVAILABLE

 

 

 

Betrayal will send her to the arms of an angel, but her blood will always flow for the one she is supposed to hunt.

 Available in kindle edition and paperback through Amazon.   Coming soon to Barnes and Noble.
(click on the image, it will take you there.)  Watch the trailer on my website.

Promotional offer of my novel!

Things that go bump in the night is one thing, but actually seeing a creepy ghost appear in your bedroom is quite another. Find out what has Benjamin so spooked.

Get your promotional copy of “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t” for only .99 cents at the Kindle store.   Hurry promotion ends October 10!  

New Project "BABA - Trip to the Zoo"

 

THIS CHARMING CHILDREN'S BOOK IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.   This book was inspired by my granddaughter, and the stuffed monkey that she carries everywhere she goes.   I am hoping to get it all finished by November in order to hit the stores for Christmas shopping.  

---The story of a little girl named Gracie and her toy Monkey named Baba. Baba is no ordinary stuffed animal, he is a silly little brown Monkey with big dreams and a wild imagination. He goes in a safari adventure, the first time he visits the Zoo.

A fun story that will have young readers wishing that their favorite stuffed animal was as cool as Baba.---

My Novel, Now You See Me, Now You Don't, is now available.

Just sharing the news... my book, “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t” is officially out!! It's available in hard-copy and e-Book. Available on Amazon and B&N. The story is about an outcast boy dealing with bullying and the ghost of a girl seeking to avenge her death. NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON'T is a YA fantasy novel dealing with a real life issue affecting our youth today, a story where the real world meets the supernatural. Check it out!!

Spiteful words can hurt your feelings but the silence of a text can break your heart.

Since text messages have become more common, we see more incidents of couples breaking up by cell phones. Everyone knows that telling someone you want to break up is hard, but explaining why can be harder, that’s the reason some people will actually text in order to avoid confrontation, but you are not doing anyone a favor, but yourself. While new technology has led us to socialize and communicate through airwaves, computer screens, or text messages, it has also made us a very impersonal society. A text message can be interpreted in many ways since emotion or tone of voice is absent, so it should never be used to end a relationship. This is a slap in the face. 

There are really no good reasons why you should dump someone via text, unless you are fifteen years old or you have been dating a psycho and you're concerned for your safety. However, if that is not the case, then breaking things off by text is bad etiquette and lack of social skills.  

So, if that person meant something to you at one point in time you at least owe that person the courtesy of a phone call, —even a phone call is better than a text message. However, breaking up in person is more civilized than the tasteless alternative, and yet still some people choose to use this tactless method of breaking up. Some do it to avoid confrontation, like I mentioned before, others have trouble communicating their feelings, others don’t feel like they want or need to explain, some are just lazy and look for the easy way out, and others are just plain rude. Remember when you break-up with someone you should allow them the opportunity to get some things off their chest as well; otherwise they are left with questions hanging in the air and that is not fair. A text saying, “WE’RE DONE!” or “IT’S OVER!” will not bring closure to that person. It is hard enough to cope with the fact that you are being dumped, let alone not knowing why and leave you wondering WTF?

Personally, as uncomfortable as it may be, I would prefer to deal with the unpleasant issue face to face. The use of a break up text is rude, crude and socially unacceptable, no matter what your age is. You should show some respect for the good times you had in your relationship by ending it in the right way. 

And if you are the one receiving the breakup text, you should not respond to their text. If that person lacked the character and spine to face you one last time, obviously they are not worthy of your time.

So, what’s your take? What do you think about breaking up with someone over a text message, voice mail or email, is it cowardly or just plain rude?

 

THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES

Why do people lie?  There is a simple answer: because it’s easy!

People lie every day for all kinds of reasons. Most people lie to protect themselves and to cover for their mistakes.  Virtually everyone does it, I know I do.   But some people may lie more than others and some people are better liars than others, but everyone is guilty of lying at one point or another.  When it comes to lying there is no gender difference, men lie no more than women, and almost everyone lies at work.

Most people learn to lie at a very early age, and continue lying their entire lives.  Starting at an early age children will lie to avoid getting into trouble, and when it comes to dodging punishment, most kids are expert liars; I know that for a fact, I have three boys.   

We all know it is wrong to lie, yet, we learned early not only the benefits but also the necessity of lying.  By the time most people are adults, lying is second nature to us, it is just another human trait, so don’t feel bad if you told a little white lie today.

Sometimes lying is the best approach for protecting your privacy.  Some deception, such as boasting and lies in the name of tact and politeness, can be classified as less than serious. A little white lie never hurt anybody, they are even considered socially acceptable.   So you see, not all lies are harmful.  Our parents taught us that lying was bad but we saw them doing it, and at some point they even encouraged us when we were little to tell someone a lie. For example, “Tell Aunt Bertha she looks pretty today,” when you knew she didn’t, or “don’t tell your dad how much I spent on these shoes.”   Leaving out the truth or putting in something false is still considered lying, those can be harmful if you get caught.  That person will lose all trust he or she had in you. 

Lying is considered wrong, but when it comes to avoiding trouble, saving face in front of the boss, or sparing someone’s feelings, many people find themselves doing it anyway.   We often lie to make ourselves more desirable to other people too, and other times when our self-esteem starts to decline, we even lie to ourselves as means to prevent loss of morale. 

Ok, so now that we have established that we all do it, why do we lie? Sure, lying can be both useful and sometimes even fun to embellish a little and stretch out the truth, yet there are fundamental reasons why we lie, but the main culprit behind our lies is “Fear,” our own insecurities are the foundation of why we lie to each other. There is the Fear of harm, Fear of conflict or having an argument, Fear of punishment, Fear of rejection, and the Fear of loss.  

There are also selfless reasons why we lie, we do it when we want to help our friends and loved ones, or when we want to flatter someone just to make them feel better.

Then there is the bald-face lie or the big fat lie, the most harmful lie of all and that is when it is done with the malicious intent to gain something or deprive someone of something.  In many cases, this form of lying is no different than stealing or taking another's life, but many still seem to do it regardless of the outcomes of hurting someone or depriving them of something.  But why do people do it?  Have they no shame?  Many couples do this to cheat on their spouse. Many thieves do this to steal others' belongings and other individuals do this to control the minds of people to get them to do what they want them to do.  But whatever the reason these individuals may have for these types of deceptive, misleading and dishonest lies, it is just plain wrong!   Not only society see these liars as low life scum but their deceptive gain actions constitute fraud, cheating or stealing, which are considered to be white-collar crimes.  

So, what kind of things do you lie about?  Come on now, be honest!

Ahhh... I'm not ready for a quiet house!!

First time in 16 years, I get to experience for a few days the meaning of being home alone while my boys are on vacation with my sister.  My free time is always spent with my boys, and if one of them is away then I’m with the other one, so right now I don’t know what to do with both of them being gone. The house is so quiet with them away, —it’s kind of eerie. The sound of silence is making my skin crawl, so I turned up the volume on the TV just for ambience noise… lol

Is this how life will be when they’re off to college? If it is, I’m going to go crazy.  I can’t take the silence! You would think I’d be enjoying this leisure time, but not me —I’m pretty bored!!

The house is clean, and I have nothing else to do. I already wasted enough time on Facebook. I would play with my dogs but all they do is sleep, so they’re no fun. I guess I could use some ME time, but then what?  I would take a nap and catch up with my sleep, but I’m not tired.  I thought of going to the outlet mall, but then I’d end up buying stuff I don’t really need with money I don’t have, so that’s a bust. I thought of going to the pool, but it’s so freaking hot outside, I can feel my skin sizzling every time I step out in the direct heat of the sun, besides I don’t want to end up looking like Snooki. Then I figured this would be a great time to write, but that didn’t work either, since today I’m having writer’s block, so it’s useless trying to work on my novel. Therefore, I'm just spilling out my awkward feeling on this blog, rambling on like an idiot.  I hope that by tomorrow, I will know what to do with the two words I’m not familiar with, “Peace and Quiet.”

Do you really want to know me?

I’m not perfect, I’m just a normal person, and I don't pretend to be someone I'm not.  I am an author but not a famous one.  I’m a single mother who has always struggled to provide for my children, but they have grown to be happy and honorable young men.  I’m not a widow, but sometimes I wish I was... yes I’m divorced, my children’s father made the choice of not being part of their lives, but that was his lost.  You can do me wrong, but never hurt my children or you will have an enemy for life.   I don’t always have money, but what I do have is the love of my family.  I’m the third of four sisters and we love each other.  

I don’t have a flat stomach, and I don’t have a perfect body.  I eat all the food that I love in moderation, that’s why I have curves.  I’m a Latin woman with some extra junk in the trunk.  People say I’m pretty but sometimes I feel ugly.  I have scars because I have a past, I have carried a lot of pain and hate inside.  I have been down but I always get up.   My house is not always clean, because I hate to clean.  I don’t like to be labeled lonely because I’m single.  I am a shy person, I hardly ever mingle, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to have fun.  I don’t hate all men, but I don’t trust any of them, that doesn’t mean I’m gay. (No offense to anyone)  I don’t judge if a person is gay or whom they choose to love, their color, their religion or their faith.   I have done many good deeds, and many bad things that I am not so proud of.   I wasn’t popular in school, in fact I thought people made fun of me for being different.  I color my hair and I wear glasses.  I rarely go to a salon to get my nails done, mostly because it is an extra expense that I can't always afford, but I enjoy being pampered.  Sometimes I like to dress up depending on my mood, but I love wearing jeans, boots or sneakers and a plain old t-shirt. 

I love the color purple, my lucky number is 3, and like most people I would love to win the lottery.  I like cats but I don’t have one.   I have a phobia but I won’t say it, only my immediate family know what it is.   I have two dogs, three sons and a granddaughter.  I'm random and sometimes even sound crazy.  I’m a prankster, I love to laugh and make people laugh.  

Some people love me, some really like me and if they hate me, I really don’t care.  I am who I am, this is the real me.

A Single Mom – Every day is Mother’s Day.

Being a single mother has been probably the most difficult thing I will ever do.  I have had to carry all of the responsibilities, difficulties and stress associated with being a parent all by myself.  I live under tremendous pressure, but still I have kept my sanity.  I have played the roles of mom and dad simultaneously for a many years.  My boys tease me that it is not fair that I get to celebrate both, Mother’s and Father’s Day, but if I can get two days out of the year for them to do chores without complaining, I don’t see why not.  As most single mothers, I too tend to be over protective of my children, but I have learned that you shouldn’t interfere too much with their life, just keep a watchful eye and a firm guiding hand when required.

Although being a single mother has its share of good and bad days, I have to admit it does have its advantages, —I get all of their love and affection, and I don’t have to share.  Being a single mother has made me a stronger person. It has made me independent and courageous. Their love for me is unconditionally, they look up to me.  To them, I am their hero, and that makes me feel even more special than any gift would on a day like Mother’s day.  Despite how hard my life is, I have been blessed with three wonderful boys, and I am eternally grateful!

To many single mothers like me, Mother’s Day is just another day.  You see, when there is no other parent to acknowledge your hard work or throw a little money in for some real flowers, you don’t expect any gifts or special treatments, especially if your kids are still young.

Thankfully, my boys are old enough and this year, I’m expecting to wake up to the smell of an edible breakfast and hopefully not to the sound of the smoke detector. 

I may not get flowers or gifts yet, but I know that I have and will always have the love and respect of my children, because they know my love for them is real and I would never run out on them, so to me every day is mother’s day.

Now, whether you are a single mom or not, being a mother is a demanding role that deserves many thanks and I hope you are rewarded for all of your hard work.

From one mom to another, Happy Mother's Day!

Losing weight – is it simple or not?

Do you believe losing weight is a simple thing to do?   For me it’s not.  It is a constant battle to which I have surrendered many many times.

Losing weight is a difficult struggle for many of us. With all the junk food readily available, it can be hard to stick to a healthy lifestyle and stay determined to lose the weight.   Especially because we are expecting too much result in too little time, and therefore we give up.

How many of us have seen weight loss commercials or read articles telling us how easy it is to lose weight? —if we just take this pill, follow that crazy diet, buy this gizmo or get that equipment which most of the time ends up in the corner of your room only to be used to hang your clothes or shoved in the garage under a pile of your other useless junk for your next garage sale.   We spend over billions each year on weight loss products and services and yet we are still overweight, because to lose weight, not only you have to change your eating habits but your lifestyle too.  Those are easy to do the first few weeks but then it is difficult for a lot of us to keep that promise.  The key to lose weight, be fit and enjoy a healthy life is the “Attitude.”  We all have to have that positive attitude to accomplish any goals we set in life, right?  Well, it also applies for losing weight.

Therefore, I have changed my attitude.  I have always been conscious about my weight, although I still get a lot of compliments for not looking my age, I am not as slim as I used to be when I was in my twenties or thirties.  However, when you get to a certain age and suddenly gravity strike, and certain parts of the body start shifting the wrong way and you find yourself looking in the mirror with horror saying to yourself, “WTF that did not look like that!”   It’s kind of a wakeup call, at least for me it was.   I myself HATE to exercise (which I like to refer to as self-inflicting torture probably invented by men.)  *laughs*  I am ok with diets but can’t get committed to one for too long, so my weight fluctuates which I don’t think is healthy.   But lately, it wasn’t  just how I looked in the mirror or how tight my jeans felt around my waist that made me realize that I needed to get fit and do something to improve my looks and health.  It was something more special that made me change my attitude from “ooh, I’m too tired to go to the gym” to “I can do this!” And that reason was that I want to be around for my children and grandchildren, and I think that is a hell of a motivation for anyone.   And if you don’t have children, you can also find something else to motivate yourself, like having more energy, improve your mood, have a better sex life, or help prevent or manage your health problems.

The idea behind losing weight is very simple, just burn more calories than you eat.  It can be as simple as replacing a couple of sodas with water and adding 20 minutes of walking to your day.  But you have to be willing to be more active on a regular basis--not just for a week here and there.  A workout is not about killing yourself, it's about being physically active by finding an activity that you like and that you will stick to for the rest of your life and eventually the results will show physically and emotionally.  I don’t believe in drastic weight loss, or extreme exercising, but if it works for you, —my hat’s off to you!

I think is best to be realistic about your goals, no one is going to go from a size 20 to a size 2 in two months unless you starve yourself.  My trainer asked me to bring a photograph of my ideal physique; he said it could be of a celebrity or one of me at my best to use as motivation.  Eeeeh! A celebrity, really? As if all of the sudden I’m going to transform into someone I’m not and could never be.  This is where the young girls get the wrong idea on how they should look. (society's unrealistic expectations.)  Embrace your body type and don’t be too harsh on yourself if you don’t see much progress, specially don’t give up.   The main thing is that you will gradually change your lifestyle and eating habits and that is what counts.  In the long run, you will be fit, healthier, feel younger and look great!  Remember, Rome was not built in a day!

I will keep you guys informed of my progress and/or if I keep up my exercise routine, (fingers crossed) like I said I’m not expecting any sudden changes nor I’m expecting to look like I did in my twenties.  I just want to have more energy, feel good, and if I drop of couple of sizes, more power to me.

Are there such things as Ghosts or do you believe the theory that is all in a person’s head?

Ever since I started writing a novel involving a ghost, “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t” I have had some freaky and weird experiences at home, (eek! I just got the chills) and I really don’t know what to believe, so I have just come to the conclusion that I’m stressed out because I don’t seem to be able to finish this novel. (That’s my way of debunking the paranormal idea.)  I have to admit that the thought of what if it is real, does scares me, and it has slow down my writing of this novel significantly, because I refuse to let any ghost inside my head.  But what I have done is that I took this first hand haunting experience and ghostly insight as a spooktacular inspiration and incorporated it into my novel (if life gives you lemons, hey just make lemonade, right?).   Now, I can really say I have a ghost story to tell, and there was no need for me to do the research. 

How about you, do you have any ghost stories to tell or is it all in your head?

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Can you hear the Love train?

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and you’re probably wondering what to give the special someone in your life, right?   Well, the importance of this day is how you communicate your love. Just make sure that you make it personal, so take some time to plan ahead and show your loved one how much you care.  But whatever you do, please don’t wait until the last minute to shop. 

  

Personally, I don’t think it’s important to spend a lot of money on a gift to show you care about someone, but if you don’t make an effort, your gift will not be appreciated as much as if you had put some thought into it.   

If you go with the traditional box of chocolate and bouquet of flowers, make sure that your gift is accompanied by a card with your heartfelt handwritten feeling and thoughts of love.  Don’t just buy a card and sign your name to it for God’s sake, make the effort to try to be creative and do something out of the ordinary. 

Many couples are busy with family and careers, and just struggling to keep up with life’s daily demands.  If you fall in this category, you know how exhausting it can be and the strain it can put on a relationship, well now is the time to unwind and consider spending some quality time with that special someone that well may be exactly what your partner is longing for this Valentine’s Day.  If you would like to create a beautiful Valentine’s Day memory for the two of you, here are some ideas that are sure to make a memory that you and your partner will treasure forever.  A romantic weekend getaway; a night to remember at a fancy hotel; a romantic rendezvous at a nice restaurant; or a simple movie date holding hands with your special someone can do the trick. You could arrange for a couple’s spa treatment and indulge in a soothing, healing and romantic message or if you want to be creative just light up some candles and pour some mineral salts to transform your bath into a sea of tranquility and unwind in your own romantic, intimate and sensual bath with your partner. (soft music playing in the background to set the mood right of course!)   You can keep it simple as long as you are creative and thoughtful.

Whatever you decide, just make sure you whisper to that special someone the three little words that means so much to them. 

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

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Crying is healthy for both genders.

There is a natural body function that helps relieve stress, but unfortunately, it is something that probably most men have been discouraged from doing.  Crying is a natural way to relief stress that if left unchecked has negative physical effects on the body, including increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and other stress-related disorders.  Sure, there are other ways to relief stress naturally; exercise, sex, sleep, massage, baths, but don’t deprive yourself of a good cry. The natural stress relief is really the best of all options. 

Usually women are known as the weaker sex because we are more emotional and sensitive.  I find that statement to be libel and offensive since I consider myself to be a strong woman, but sometimes I have no choice and a good cry makes me feel better, it doesn’t mean I’m weak, it makes me human.   It is unhealthy to keep one’s feelings bottled up and shoved deep down inside.

On the other hand, men are known as the less emotional sex, the rock in the middle of a storm, and the reason is that from an early age they were told not to cry.  From a very young age, boys were indoctrinated to accept pressures and pains and to suppress their emotions. To always, show their masculinity, confidence and strength, no matter what.

But when is it okay for a man to display his emotions through crying?

There are plenty of acceptable times for a man to cry.   For example, the death of a loved one, the death of a beloved pet, a break up, at the birth of their newborn son or daughter or even when watching a moving film or show.  However, the majority of men don’t even consider crying an option.  Why do they stuff down the tears when they really need to let them out? When they are emotionally stressed, sad, in physical pain or depressed?   Why do men rarely consider it acceptable for themselves or other men to cry?   Does that make him any less of a man? 

As a mother of three boys, I asked my sons the same question, and all three came up with the same answer because ‘we were told to be brave little soldiers.’   It’s amazing how a simple harmless phrase can cause so much impact in a boy’s life.  I never told them not to cry, but somehow that is what a brave little soldier meant to them.

Society has a lot to do with the concept that a man needs to be strong.  But what does it mean for a man to be strong? Does it mean he cannot cry?  Does he have to be invincible and never show someone he trusts his vulnerable side? 

Crying is good for either gender, it is therapeutic, de-toxin, cathartic, and stress reliever.  Crying is a healthy response, not an emotional meltdown.  Men should be encouraged to cry; they should put down their shield and allow themselves to cry when the situation demands it.  Men who cry when it is considered appropriate for them to do so are no longer seem as weak or effeminate; to the contrary, it is a sign of strength and self-assurance.  Not showing your emotions makes one weaker in the end. Bottle up feelings are unhealthy mentally and physically. Of course, women will continue to shed tears significantly more often than men do, but it takes a truly strong man to be able to cry, especially in public.  Real men show their feelings. Real men do cry.  

Personally, I don’t mind seeing a man crying, a man who is willing to show his vulnerable side has my respect and admiration; it means that he is human, genuine and honest.   Every woman likes a strong man, but one with emotions.

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WHETHER THEY ARE ANGELS OR DEMONS, YOU CAN’T HELP BUT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTERS OF PURPLE MOON by Judith P. Vaughan

In my previous blog, I introduced you all to my novel, Purple Moon, which is scheduled for release early 2012. After seeing the interest many of you have shown on my novel, I wanted to give you a little background on it.  I am proud to say that Purple Moon is the first novel I ever wrote and after so many years of it being filed away in a drawer, I will finally see it published.  This will be my third novel published.

As I go back and polish my novel, I remembered how much I loved my characters and how much I have missed them.   To some of you this may sound crazy, but if you are an author you know how emotionally involved you get with your characters. You develop an intimate relationship with them, kind of a one-sided romance.  A relationship that grows from spending hours, days and months with your characters and the psychological connection you get to share with your fictional creations.   It does not matter if the story is told in the first person narrative or the omniscient third person, if you want to make a believable character you must become faithful to the idea of their existence, and as a result, the author inevitably falls in love with the characters and sometimes it is hard to let go.  Now that you all know my insanity defense (*grin*) I would like to introduce to you the main characters of Purple Moon, and hope that you get to know them and maybe fall in love with them before the book is released.  

Here is where good and evil meet:

DRAKE SULLY, a hottie guardian angel with a rebel streak.  He has a simple assignment to protect the Shadow Guardian, but instead he falls in love with her.  If his gorgeous looks do not get her attention, his divine charisma will.  He is willing to do anything to keep her safe, even if it means putting his wings at risk.

            The stunningly handsome, E.J. BELLAMONT, he is a half demon with a hidden agenda.  His job is to get close to the Shadow Guardian without revealing his true identity, but to his family’s disgrace, he falls in love with her and refuses to let her go.

Then there is the dangerously sexy demon, JUSTIN BELLAMONT (E.J.’s older brother).  He is an ambitious young demon who wants to move up rank in the underworld; he is determined to be the one that ends the reign of the Shadow Guardian and he will destroy anyone who hinders his plan, even if it is his own flesh and blood.

And of course there is a leading lady, enters the beautiful, JADE PATTERSON, an orphan teenager, who on her eighteenth birthday learns of her legacy and the secret her mother kept hidden from her. —Jade is the product of her mother‘s love affair with an angel, but by the time she learns the truth, is already too late she has already made a pact that will change the course of her life.  She is a normal girl to the rest of the world, but to the underworld, she is known as the Shadow Guardian, a demon hunter. 

Purple Moon is the first of the Shadow Guardian trilogy, a gripping tale of love, betrayal, supernatural powers and a revelation that will change everyone’s life.  

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