Keeping Up With The Quiroz-es

Hi everyone! A warm welcome to my blog.

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 busy little bee 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) ♥

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Haiku Friday – Short & Sexy

Hi everyone! Welcome to another segment of ‘Haiku Friday’! I hope you are all having a wonderful day, so far.

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Thanksgiving Day is a great reminder that we should be living a life of gratitude. No matter how bad you may think you have it, there are always others that have it far worse, so be grateful for the little things. Celebrate all your little victories, as well as the big ones. If someone shows you a kindness say, ‘thank you’. It doesn’t cost a cent to show gratitude.

Of course, there are some that mistake kindness for weakness and feel that thanking someone is beneath them. I honestly feel sorry for people like this, because this is such a negative and sad way of thinking and living.

Being grateful reminds us of the positive things in our lives. Be thankful for everything you have and say thank you often––you will be happier for it. Living a life of gratitude takes strength of character and a positive attitude. With this in mind, I’m going to list several things I’m grateful for today. You can list the things you’re thankful for in the comment section. I’d love to read what you’re grateful for this day.

1. I’m grateful for my family and the fact that everyone seems healthy and in a good place right now.
2. I’m grateful for my little writing buddy, Scribbles (my Pomeranian). He awoke one day, a couple of weeks ago, vomiting blood! I thought he was going to die. My husband and I rushed him to the vet and it turned out that he must have swallowed a tiny jagged rock or glass while licking one of his paws that cut and irritated his esophagus. He’s going to be okay, but it was heart-wrenching and terrifying to see him like that. I now check and clean his paws every time we come home after a walk.
3. I’m grateful, because my niece, Natasha and nephew, Joshua will be coming home from college in a few hours and will be spending Thanksgiving week with us! I’m very excited and can’t wait to see them and spend time with them.
4. I’m grateful that more and more readers are discovering my fantasy novel, The Fall of Lilith and are reading and reviewing it. I’m thrilled and humbled by all the great reviews, including a 5 star review I received recently from Readers’ Favorite!

6. I’m grateful to the talented designers at Damonza who helped bring the concept of my book cover to life. The cover of The Fall of Lilith has won two awards: A Gold Star from The Book Designer and a Silver badge from AUTHORSdb Cover Contest.

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This list could go on and on, so lets move on to this week’s poetry.

 

Short and Sexy are this week’s prompt words chosen by Ronovan Hester of Ronovan Writes.

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.

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Whipped Shortbread Cookies (Recipe)

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Holiday Baking

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Surely you’ll relate

to my never-failing love

for shortbread cookies

The ambrosial fragrance

drifts into my nose from plate

Vanilla Spritz Shortbread Cookies (Recipe)

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The excitement grows,

as I savor one and all

before I know it

They’re all gone! What have I done?

The ‘Cookie Monster’ left none

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Lavender Shortbread Biscuits (cookies) Recipe

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Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

Writer’s Quote Wednesday – Comfort during the Holidays

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!

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Quote by Helen Keller

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Have a wonderful week everyone. Happy Holidays!

Easter

 

 

Easter, the Christian Holiday that celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection is held the first Sunday after the Blood Moon this year (which was actually on Palm Sunday). I find this fascinating for some reason. Easter is celebrated after a 40 day period called Lent in which observers practice fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. During Lent Christians are supposed to emulate the actions of Jesus Christ and reflect on his life, death and resurrection.

So where do the cute little chicks and bunnies come in? Why do kids hunt for eggs? Like in almost every Christian religious holiday there’s a commercial aspect that stems from pagan religions– in this case, the celebration of Spring. You can read about this association here.

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some touching quotes about Easter:  (WARNING: Some of these will make you cry)

 

 

 

A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

Easter is very important to me, it’s a second chance.” ~ Reba McEntire

 

 

 

Earth’s saddest day and gladdest day were just three days apart!” ~ Susan Coolidge

If man had his way, the plan of redemption would be an endless and bloody conflict. In reality, salvation was bought not by Jesus’ fist, but by His nail-pierced hands; not by muscle but by love; not by vengeance but by forgiveness; not by force but by sacrifice. Jesus Christ our Lord surrendered in order that He might win; He destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.” ~ A. W. Tozer

I wish everyone a happy, safe and fun weekend! Happy Easter!