Vacation Time

As y'all know, we took the boys to Myrtle Beach last week. What a crazy, wild adventure. I wonder what the police hate worse: Summer vacationers or Bike Week?

I thought I'd share a few pictures. And if you don't care, humor me and pretend like you do. LOL This is like one of those times you visited a relative and they broke out the old home movies!

These first few were from Ripley's Aquarium. They had a ton of cool stuff to see but it was hard to get good pictures because it was so dark. And I felt like the flash was intrusive on the other people trying to look around so I didn't take that many pictures with the flash.

They had a huge sting ray tank and you could lay down on your stomach, reach over into the tank and pet them as the swam past you. You could also "buy time" in the tank. They let you put on a wetsuit and sit in the tank with one of the employees when he was feeding them.













One of the coolest features was the moving "sidewalk" that took you through, and under, a huge acquarium. It had everything in it. I tried to get some pictures of the sharks, but again, it was too dark for them to come out good. The saw fish fascinated me so I got a few pictures of them. They can grow up to 15' long!













One night, we had dinner at Medieval Times. We got to cheer for the Green Knight - same as last time we went. The last time we were there the Green Knight won. This time, he didn't win. And he didn't play fair either - which was distressing to me and I found myself cheering against him in the end. That caused familial turmoil because my family was still cheering for him.















This is from Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Jim Cantore broke onto the large screen TV and gave a hurricane warning. The lights started flashing and then this HUGE bottle of tequila dropped down from the center of the hurricane and started pouring into the giant mixer below. It was a blast to eat there!











These are my guys (plus a friend that my youngest son met at our hotel) racing down the water slide. I think some one got an unfair headstart. LOL











And last, but not least, the guy that kept me totally fascintad while my family was parasailing. I don't know what it was about this guy, but I found I couldn't take my (or camera) off him. And wouldn't you know it, I don't have a single shot of him that's really good. I was so disappointed, but....

We're going back in September and I know my dad is going to want to go parasailing. I'm planning on going to this same place, and pray this guy is still working!! If he hasn't had to go back to school by then. ROTFL





And that's my vacation in pictures. Thanks for taking the time to look at them.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

Even on vacation, I made sure I was at the book store shortly after opening on Tuesday to get the new Stephanie Plum novel. I don't know why, because they just aren't as good to me as they used to be, but...well, I guess I do know why. I'm hoping that oneday Stephanie will make a decision about Morelli or Ranger. I'm pretty sure it will never happen - there are readers in both camps and she'd seriously alienate a whole bunch of readers if she did have Stephanie pick one over the other - but I have to wonder how much longer these can go on.

Anyway, I'm finished with it now, but it is what I was reading and I haven't started anything else. So, what about you guys? What are you reading?

Silver, huge congrats on the release date!!! We'll make sure we have a huge party for you!!!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Fruit Dip

My family LOVES this dip. And it's a great way to get them to eat fruit. Granted, they eat more dip than fruit but still.

1 brick softened cream cheese - I use the 1/3 less fat one
1 jar marshmallow puff
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mixing with a blender helps to get it smoother, but you can use a fork if that's all you have...LOL (been there done that a few times).

Happy Thursday!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Silver!!! It was late when I got home last night and I looked at y'alls comments briefly. But it wasn't until I looked again today that I saw the April 10th part. Is that your release day? Details. Details!!!!

Hump Day Humor...

A man was lying in bed with his new girlfriend.

After having great sex, she spent the next hour just rubbing his testicles -- something she seemed to love to do.

As he was enjoying it, he turned and asked her, 'Why do you love doing that?'

"Because," she replied, "I miss mine."

Luanna is responsible for this hump day humor...hope it made you gasp then laugh as hard as it did me! LOL

Have a fantastic day!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

The greatest waste in the world is the difference between what we are and what we could become.

Ben Herbster

Peace and Love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

I have found Mary Buckham to be an incredible teacher and couldn't even begin to express how much I've learned from her. She teaches classes at two different website, the first is writeruniv.com (there are multiple classes going on each month and every class I've taken from Writer U has been well worth it). She also teaches through her own website, MaryBuckham.com.

I picked up this book last week and am just now really getting into it. Since it's written for the unpubbed, as well as the pubbed author, some of the information is basic and a repeat of what I've already learned (it was great to see that I'm retaining what I'm learning!!). But some of it is new and the templates are fantastic!


Here's the Product Description (from Amazon.com)

Getting a book published is hard enough—getting a novel published is doubly so! But a writer seeing his story on bookshelves everywhere is just a rewrite away with this book!

Written by two award-winning novelists, this workshop-in-a-book is all aspiring authors need to master the art of fiction—and see their novel in print. Based on their popular workshops, Mary Buckham and Dianna Love Snell have created a novel-writing system that anyone can follow. Their innovative method shows writers how to create stories of depth, excitement, and emotion with:

Easy-to-understand templates that guide the new writer through building a novel and show more experienced writers how to deepen a plot and take a first draft to the next level

Reference examples from a strongly-plotted popular genre films like suspense, classics, children, and romance

Simple worksheets to build a strong story one plot point at a time for any genre

Troubleshooting tips that reveal how to find and fix holes that weaken the plot

Insights from best-selling novelists representing a variety of fiction genres,

A bonus dialogue guide that reveals how to make a character come alive through conversation.

Inspiring authors shall struggle no more with the help of this step-by-step guide!

Have a great weekend!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Simple Sizzle Burgers

This is a simple variation on regular 'ole hamburgers, but my family loves them. They're great for times you can't or don't want to fire up the grill.

Melt butter in the bottom of a frying pan
slice onion into thin rings and drop into the melted butter
Add Worcestershire sauce - the amount is up to you, depending on how strong you want them to be

Add hamburgers and fry - I usually put the onions on top at this point so their flavor seeps into the burgers.

Ta-da...you're done! LOL

Like I said, simple but they taste oh so good!

Have a great day,
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor...

This video is kind of long (I think 8 minutes) but it's so worth the time to watch it. I hope you enjoy!!!



Have a wonderful day!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

"The best job goes to the person who can get it done without passing the buck or coming back with excuses."

Napoleon Hill
1883-1970, Author of


Damn...If I could get my kids to understand this life would be sooo much easier! LOL

Have a wonderful day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

I'm ODing on the Brothers...but what a way to go!!! Last week I posted that I was reading Dark Lover, the 1st in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. Since then I've read Lover Eternal (Rhage's story) and now I'm reading Lover Awakened, Zsadist's story.

This is the cover and blurb for Rhage's story, taken from JR Warn's website:



In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Possessed by a deadly beast, Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…


This is the cover and blurb for Zsadist's story, Lover Awakened:



In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

Have a fantastic weekend!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Pineapple Casserole

I think I posted this before, but I was fixing it the other night and Lu asked for the recipe. So I'm posting it again.

PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE

2 lg. cans chunky pineapple (drained)
1 1/2 c. sugar
6 tbsp. self-rising flour
2 c. grated sharp cheese

Drain pineapple, reserving 3 tbsp. juice. Combine flour, sugar and stir in reserved pineapple juice. Add cheese and pineapple chunks. Mix well. Spoon mixture into greased 1 quart casserole.

PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE TOPPING:

2 c. Ritz cracker crumbs
1 stick melted butter

Mix butter and crumbs then spread over the pineapple mixture

Hope everyone has a fantastic day.
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Hump Day Giggle...

Hi, everyone!! I'm back. LOL

Yesterday there was so much going on at my house that I just couldn't get here to post anything...let alone anything worthwhile. My parents were sleeping on a futon in my living room. My oldest son (22) is moving back in with us for the summer and he was crashed in my youngest sons room (thank God we still have those bunk beds). It's like living in a large camper...we sleep 6. And we were packed to the gills.

Hubby was trying to get ready for work. My youngest had to be at school at 8:30 for gradution. I had to be there at 9:00 and my parents had to leave at 9:30 to get to the airport. Total chaos!!

But I figured you guys wouldn't mind hanging out with the Monday hunks for an extra day.

Here's a video I got last week and I giggled and giggled watching this dog. He's so smart!



Have any of you ever gone to the website listed in the corner of the video? I haven't had a chance but just the name of it suggests it might be worth checking out. LOL

Hope everyone has a fantastic day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

Reading Lover Avenged, and trying to explain to my mother all the reasons she should read the Black Dagger Brotherhood Books, has made me start craving more of the brothers. So...I've gone back to the beginning and plan to read through them all again.

Dark Lover - Wrath's story - started it all. Here's the cover and the summary from J.R. Ward's website.



In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There also exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both…


I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Happy 15th Anniversary to Us!!!

Damn, we were sooooo young!!! This has always been my favorite picture. And you know what, I'm the most fortunate person in the world because after 15 years, he still looks at me like that.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day!!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor...

How to tell if your anchorman is city folk...



Happy Hump Day!!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

A different kind of food for thought....

A few random tips....


Eliminate ear mites All it takes is a few drops of Wesson Corn Oil in your cat's ear .. massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing. (I hope I never have ear mites and need to know this)

Kills fleas instantly... Dawn Dishwashing Liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas. (I hope I never have flees either! But my cat sometimes gets them, even though she's an indoor cat.)

Rainy day cure for dog odor: Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers? (I always forget to try this when I get a headache. I just reach for the Motrin. I need to pin this to the bottle of Motrin as a reminder to try before I take the Motrin.)

Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns? (LOL...OK, the first time I read this I thought it said, "Chocolate toothpaste" and my initial reaction was "ewwwww.")

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose. (I use my inhaler way too often, I need to try this.)

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles. (OK...I'll let someone else try this one first! Let me know if anyone knows if this works or not.)

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria. (Silver, didn't you mention this one before?)

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly even though the product was never been advertised for this use.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes ... cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine Mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again. (I've heard of using Listerine as a mosquito repellant. I got some at the store today to try and I'll let you guys know if it works.)

Easy eyeglass protection ... to prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer ... if menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover: Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Balm for broken blisters... to disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine, a powerful anti septic.

Vinegar to heal bruises... soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... it's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.


This has been a publc service announcement...LOL

Do you have any tips to share?

Have a great day!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah