Hello, everyone! Happy Holidays and a warm welcome to my blog!
I live in south Florida and Christmas traditions are a little different down here. We don’t have snow, so we can’t build a snowman, but we can build one made of sand. There’s no sledding or skiing, but we do have surfing Santas and boats decked out in Christmas lights and decorations. We also have Winterfest, a town named Christmas, Disney World and much more. I found this poem about Christmas in Florida and thought I should share it. I hope you enjoy it.
T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the town, No noses were frozen, nor snow on the ground.
No children in flannels were tucked into bed, They all wore their shorty pajamas instead.
To find wreaths of holly was not very hard, For holly trees sprouted in every backyard.
In front of the houses were daddies and moms, Decorating hibiscus and coconut palms.
The slumbering kiddies were dreaming with glee, Hoping to find surf boards under the tree.
They all knew that Santa was well on his way, In a fiberglass boat instead of a sleigh.
He whizzed up the rivers, zoomed up the canals, Delivering toys to good boys and gals.
The tropical moon gave the cities a glow, And lit the way for Santa below.
Quite soon he arrived and started to work, He hadn’t a second to linger or shirk.
He jumped from his boat and gave a wee chuckle, He was dressed in deck pants, with an ivy league buckle.
There weren’t any chimneys, but that caused no gloom, For Santa came in through the Florida room.
He stopped at each house but stayed only a minute, As he emptied his sack of the toys that were in it.
Before he departed he had a long drink, From the glass of fresh orange juice left by the sink.
He turned with a jerk and jumped into his boat, Knowing that he still had more toys to tote.
He put it in gear and he opened the gas, Then up the Peace River he went like a flash!
And I heard him exclaim as he went on his way: “Merry Christmas, Punta Gorda, I wish I could stay ….
I want to wish all my followers,friends and family a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy Kwanzaa!
I’ll be popping in and out of social media during my holiday vacay, but my next blog post will be next year. Take good care of yourself, keep warm, and enjoy!
I know December is a very busy month for many people but for me and my family it is downright cray-cray! We have lots of out-of-town guests. My niece Vanessa and her husband Luigi are here all the way from the island of Japan, my youngest sister, Kathy is down from NYC and my nephew Josh and niece Natasha are down from college (Tennessee).
The entire family gets together several times during the holiday season for several festivities. This year we’re having a “Gingerbread House Decorating Pajama Party & Cocoa Bar” at my house on the 23rd. The 24th is a huge party day in the Spanish culture, so there’s a big party at my brother’s house and then another big Christmas celebration at my cousin Alan’s house on the 25th! We also have events scheduled for the 31st and New Year’s Day. Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, there are six birthdays to celebrate during the month as well, including my mom’s birthday on the 24th. To say the month of December is a hectic month for me and my family is an understatement.
That being said, and there is a point to all of this––he, he. I will be unplugging (well, almost) until after the new year. I may show up sporadically around Twitter, Instagram and Facebook but for the most part, I won’t be the busylittlebee that I normally am, until after the holidays. To be honest, I’m exhausted already with all the preparations and the festivities haven’t even begun.
I wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season.
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But––if you do have a list and you checked it twice and realized you forgot someone, don’t fret! It isn’t too late to give the gift of a good book.😉♥
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♥ As a Christmas gift to all my followers and friends, “The Fall of Lilith” will be marked down to 99¢ on December 24th, 2017. (One Day Only) ♥
Happy Holidays everyone and welcome to another week of ‘Haiku Friday’!
Bells and Ring are this week’s prompt words chosen by Ronovan Hester of Ronovan Writes.
I had a hard time with this week’s prompt words but I hope I did okay.
Ron hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge every Monday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your haiku poem. He is an author and poet and also does author interviews and much more on his blog. Be sure to check it out. Read Ron’s Haiku Prompt Challenge Guidelines for more information.
Photograph: Christmas Day Brunch at the Rosen Plaza Hotel
(^ Click play to hear song)
Hello, and welcome to my blog! I love receiving visitors, although I have to admit that I’ve been a bit “Bah Humbug!” this year. I’ve been slow getting into the Christmas spirit.
I recently watched the movie, ‘Lady in the Water‘ and I began to feel a spark of Christmas joy. The movie isn’t a Christmas movie but it has all the elements of a feel good holiday movie. I love movies where a diverse and interesting cast of characters come together to solve a problem. Some of my friends didn’t like it because they didn’t get it. Of course, this movie is pure fantasy and based on mythology but if you watch it with this in mind you will enjoy it.
‘Lady in the Water‘ is an American fantasy thriller that’s exciting, funny at times with some scary and suspenseful moments in between and it’s one of those movies that’ll leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I love it and highly recommend it.
Santa sat in calm reflection,
his heart was set in one direction,
Christmas day is near.
His opened list, he checked it twice
Who was naughty, who was nice,
Christmas day is near.
Soft white beard, stroked in thought,
Making sure no one’s forgot.
Christmas day is near.
Santa’s head chock full of names,
Who gets dolls and who gets games.
Christmas day is near.
Mrs. Claus feeds and stuffs her man,
To make him jolly as she can.
Christmas day is near.
Toys for Tommy, toys for Jane,
No one forgotten, it is plain.
Christmas day is near.
Mrs. Claus loves to sing,
Fa-la-la’s when bells do ring.
Christmas day is near.
Santa’s elves outdo themselves,
Stacking toys upon the shelves.
Christmas day is near.
Presents packed in his red sleigh,
Elves have worked night and day.
Christmas day is here.
Eight reindeer groomed and fed,
Rudolph waiting at the head.
Christmas day is here.
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen,
Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.
Christmas day is here.
The children, good as gold each day,
You-Know-Who is on his way!
Christmas day is here.
His pipe fit tight between his lips,
His red suit wrapped round his hips.
Christmas day is here.
Through the night sky his team flew,
On the way to me and you.
Christmas day is here.
On the rooftops, click-click-click,
Tiny hooves landed mighty quick.
Christmas day is here.
Down the chimney with full pack,
Stockings stuffed with Cracker Jack.
Christmas day is here.
“To All, A Goodnight!”
Eats your cookies, drinks the milk,
Up the chimney, smooth as silk.
Christmas day is here.
“Happy Christmas to all tonight
To all I wish a fond Good Night!”
Christmas day is here.
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Happy Holidays from sunny Florida!
My family celebrates Christmas Eve with lots of food, drinks, music and dancing. On Christmas Day we sleep in, and then enjoy opening gifts and a nice brunch of leftovers from the night before. So my post today features delicious Christmas breakfast/brunch recipes. I hope you enjoy them!
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You can prepare this delicious breakfast casserole the day before and bake Christmas morning. A great recipe from Allrecipes.com
Christmas Brunch Casserole
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If you’re like me you’ve gotta have bread! I ran across this beautiful and festive bread recipe at My Diverse Kitchen At first, I thought it would be too complicated to make, but Aparna gives you step-by-step instructions that simplify the process. I’m going to try it!
Golden Santa Bread
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I love pancakes and these look amazing! I got the recipe from Allrecipes.com
Grandma’s Gingerbread Pancakes
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Crumb Cake + French Toast = Scrumptiousness (is this a word? Hmm)
Cinnamon Streusel French Toast
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If your family is like mine then you had a big Christmas Eve party with lots of food. This is a great recipe made from leftover mashed potatoes from Key Ingredient
Bacon Cheddar Potato Cakes
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Feeling drowsy Christmas morning? The following recipes will wake you right up and get you going.
Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog. Today is Writer’s Quote Wednesday and the day before Christmas Eve. The month of December is a very festive month for many families in the United States of America. The month is especially joyful for my family because aside from the major holidays there are also six birthdays, including my mother’s on Christmas Eve! The month of December can get a little crazy but it’s also a month of blessings and good cheer. ❤
As excited as my family and I are about Christmas I’m sure there are other families around the world and here in the USA that are as excited about other holidays. This got me thinking about the different festivals celebrated that carry as much significance to others as Christmas and New Years does to so many of us.
Whenever we learn something new about other people, cultures, religions we become closer as a race––the human race. So I’ve listed several festivals celebrated around the world and in the USA. Click on a few and see what they’re all about.
Colleen Chesebro is a writer, poet, and book reviewer. She hosts an inspiring event every Wednesday on her blog, Silver Threading, called Writer’s Quote Wednesday. Anyone can participate by choosing a quote by a favorite writer and posting it on your blog. Check out her weekly wrap-up every Tuesday and be inspired by all the quotes.
Ronovan, from Ronovan Writes and Colleen have joined forces! He has been linking his #BeWoW blog share (Be Wonderful on Wednesday) now to include: Be Writing on Wednesday. If you would like to combine both posts feel free to do so and link them to Colleen’s post. She will make sure and add you to the quote wrap-up she does each Tuesday. Please make sure and check out Ron’s blog for more writing inspiration and motivation!
Colleen Chesebro is a writer, poet, and book reviewer. She hosts an inspiring event every Wednesday on her blog, Silver Threading, called Writer’s Quote Wednesday. Anyone can participate by choosing a quote by a favorite writer and posting it on your blog. Check out her weekly wrap-up every Tuesday and be inspired by all the quotes.
Ronovan, from Ronovan Writes and Colleen have joined forces! He has been linking his #BeWoW blog share (Be Wonderful on Wednesday) now to include: Be Writing on Wednesday. If you would like to combine both posts feel free to do so and link them to Colleen’s post. She will make sure and add you to the quote wrap-up she does each Tuesday. Please make sure and check out Ron’s blog for more writing inspiration and motivation!
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Just a reminder, because some people do get so wrapped up (no pun intended) in gift giving, buying, and getting that they’ve forgotten what the true meaning of Christmas really is. So I thought this quote could be a cute mental note for all of us.
Hello everyone! Welcome. 😀 Colleen Chesebro is a writer, poet, and book reviewer. She hosts an inspiring event every Wednesday on her blog, Silver Threading, called Writer’s Quote Wednesday. Anyone can participate by choosing a quote by a favorite writer and posting it on your blog. Check out her weekly wrap-up every Tuesday and be inspired by all the quotes.
Ronovan, from Ronovan Writes and Colleen have joined forces! He has been linking his #BeWoW blog share (Be Wonderful on Wednesday) now to include: Be Writing on Wednesday. If you would like to combine both posts feel free to do so and link them to Colleen’s post. She will make sure and add you to the quote wrap-up she does each Tuesday. Please make sure and check out Ron’s blog for more writing inspiration and motivation!
This year, since we have 5 Wednesdays in December, let’s celebrate each Writer’s Quote Wednesday week by finding quotes from authors about Christmas.
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I love the Christmas holiday because of the way it makes me feel. Most people around me seem to be more charitable, patient, tolerant, and empathetic during this time of year. There’s a spirit of generosity and goodwill in the air. There are twinkly lights and colorful decorations everywhere you look. That part of you that sings, laughs out loud, makes you smile for no reason, giggle at the silliest things, and allows you take things in stride––comes alive. Suddenly, you don’t sweat the small stuff and you look forward to tomorrow with hope. I wish the spirit of Christmas could linger all year long.
Hello and happy holidays to everyone! Welcome to Haiku Friday. Today I’m posting some Christmas horror haiku. I’m actually in bed with the flu right now. It’s the fourth day so I’m feeling better. The last three days were bad. Maybe next year I’ll get the flu shot––maybe. Anyway, enjoy!
Welcome everyone! It’s that time of year again! Is everyone ready for Christmas? I’m not but that’s okay. Ha, ha! Last year it took me a while to get into the Christmas spirit but it’s different for me this year. I guess I have a lot to be happy and thankful for––my dad is still with me, for one. That’s a biggy. Also, after a year I’ve finally found a house. It’s half the size of the house I used to live in but that’s exactly what we wanted and I couldn’t be happier with my cozy little home. Anyway, enough about me.
Even though I’m happy as a clam in high tide and busy with my new house I know it isn’t the same for everyone. So I decided to put together some fun and interesting posts and information that will hopefully inspire you in some way and put you in the holiday spirit. I hope you enjoy!
Music always inspires me and Christmas music can really get those juices flowing. Tricia at The Good Mama put together a great workout playlist of 20 Christmas songs.
I also love movies and there’s nothing like cozying up to a great Christmas movie during the holidays. Maybe with a hot cup of cocoa baptized with a little brandy––or not, whatever. 😉 Erin, from No Bohn’s About It put together a great list of Christmas movies. Check it out!
Not everyone travels for the holidays. I plan to stay home this year and I’m sure many of you are too. I found a great article that lists some ways to enjoy the holidays at home. Apartment Therapy lists 9 Things to Do Around the House Just for Fun
Some people become depressed during the holidays for different reasons. One of the reasons being that they’re alone. Well, I found a great post that lists 10 Things to Do If You’re Alone for the Holidays. There’s a lot of pressure to be happy and in love during the holidays when in reality that isn’t the case for most people. Check out this post it’s very inspiring.
What are your plans for the holidays? Are you staying home or are you visiting family? Are you single? If so how do you feel about being single during the holidays?
The Writer Next Door | Vashti Q 
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