Better than Perfect

Valentines Day might be over, but many people are still celebrating the romantic holiday over the weekend - and beyond! Romance lovers tend to gravitate toward romantic movies and books year round. Though I'm not a romance writer, I do enjoy weaving some romance into my books from time to time.

In my novel, Better than Perfect, my main character Karlie doesn't have much time for romance in her crazy life. That doesn't stop her from meeting not one, but two romantic interests. Though this might sound like a love triangle situation, that isn't so! There is much more to Karlie's life than finding the perfect date. Most of her time is spent supporting an elderly neighbor who has custody of her juvenile delinquent twin grandsons. For Karlie, community and friendship are far more important than having a boyfriend, and when she's forced to choose between having fun or helping a neighbor, she decides to do the right thing even when it breaks her heart.

Here's what a few reviewers have to say about Better than Perfect:

There are so many important life lessons in this story.....it shows you that life isn't always pieced together perfectly, and that's okay. It's how we deal with those curves that life throws at us that define who we are. If you are looking for a feel good read with a cute little romance this is your book. I loved it! ~ Amazon Customer

Family is family. Love is love, no matter how that is defined by you. This was a really enjoyable way to spend a day. I could hardly put it down. It progresses nicely without seeming to "push" too much. I loved the reminders in here that you don't have to be blood to be family and that what we thought was what we wanted isn't what's best for us or even really what we wanted in the long run. I will more than likely reread this...and I already can't wait. ~ C. Sullivan

If this looks like a book you might like to try, it can be found on Amazon and at several other online retailers in both ebook and paperback format.

*****

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Uncle Frank the Comedian by Erika M Szabo

Uncle Frank was a jovial man who had a joke for every occasion.

By Erika M Szabo

https://www.authorerikamszabo.com

The day after Valentine's day not everyone is in a good mood, so I thought I'll share a few jokes my favorite uncle used to tell at parties and family get-togethers..

Uncle Frank was a stocky man who laughed easily, and when he scrunched his face and squinted, everyone knew a joke was coming. He was a clown always ready for practical jokes such as putting whoopy-cushions on everyone's chair, offering those novelty vine glasses filled with red liquid that were sealed, or sending a piece of polished wood to a bald friend with hairbrush written on it.

Some of uncle Frank's jokes:

Joe and his wife visited their friend who proudly showed them his fruit garden with his wife.
"Do you remember honey? We'd been married for two years when we had our first fight and we planted this apple tree."
"Yes, and when we had a fight last year, we planted that pear tree over there. " She smiled warmly at her husband.
Joe exclaimed, "Two fights in ten years? Mandy and I've been married only two years and if we've planted a tree after every fight, we'd have an apple orchard."

A man got caught in the woods with a rabbit in his sack and shot gun over his shoulder. When the forest guard accused him of poaching, he said, "I'm not a poacher, I wanted to commit suicide, but I accidentally shot this poor rabbit."

The grandfather tells stories to his grandkids about his wartime memories. "Because of me, once an entire division was unable to fight."
"You were a gunner or sharp shooter, grandpa?"
"Neither. I was the cook."

Charlie is supposed to play his violin in the school play. He opens the violin case and sees a machine gun. He shouts, "This is terrible! Dad is going to be embarrassed when he opens the case at the bank."

"My wife has terrible memory."
"Why? Does she forget everything?"
"No! She remembers everything!"

Husband to wife: "You look better without your glasses, dear."
"Thanks. You look better without my glasses, too."

"I think my boyfriend is married."
"What makes you think that?"
"Yesterday I kissed his eyelid with lipstick on and today he showed up with a black eye."

A horse breeder calls the vet and asks, "Could you give me another prescription of the aphrodisiac you prescribed for my stallion last week?"
"What was the name of the medication?"
"I don't remember but it had kind of cinnamon taste."

A doctor's waterpipe breaks and he calls a plumber. After the guy fixed his pipe gave him the bill for $8,000.
"This is ridiculous!" the doctor cried out. "I'm a surgeon and even I can't make this much in half an hour!"
"I know," the plumber said. "I couldn't either while I was a doctor."

Hope you liked some of uncle Frank's joke. If you know a good one, add it in comments.

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A Valentine’s Day Crash Course by Toi Thomas

An English Victorian era Valentine card located in the Museum of London-Wikipedia

Hi there, Toi here. For this special day, I thought I’d share a quick-flash pop-culture lesson about this day as if you didn’t know anything about it. Before I dive in, I should explain that I don’t actually observe this day with my husband. I say Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone I pass and give gift cards to family and friends, but this is not an overly stressful day for me or my husband and we are never disappointed with the outcome of the day. We keep it real low-key and stay inside where it’s safe, and that’s how we like it.  

HISTORY

Here’s an idea of where this holiday came from.

CULTURE

Check out this snippet from the article, “10 VALENTINE’S DAY TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD” by Noreen, on the Today I Found Out site.

Be sure to click the link up top to read the full article and see all 10 traditions.

NEWS

Here's an article I found from CNN.com about how much money people in the U.S. spend on Valentine's Day.

Here’s a little lesson on the 1929 St Valentine’s Day Massacre

If you’re up for something more recent, check out this article I found, “ 20 Shocking Valentine's Day Crimes Committed by Lovers,” by Jacob Shelton on the Ranker site (I’d never heard of this site before and do not vouch for its accuracy, but it's really interesting).

MOVIES

Here are a few Valentine's themed movies, but I can't vouch for whether they'll put you in a romantic mood. 

Wikipedia	Wikipedia
Wikipedia	Wikipedia

BOOKS

Here are the top 4 Valentine’s Day themed books from Goodread’s Listopia (I’ve not read or heard of any of these, but then I’m still getting into romance as a genre, on the whole). See the full list here.

Goodreads	Goodreads
Goodreads	Goodreads

BTW- I too tried my little novice hand at writing romance and think I did a pretty good job. 

Amazon

MUSIC

Here’s a little Frank Sinatra for all the music lovers out there. If you know any other songs about Valentine’s Day or with Valentine’s Day in them, I’d love to know all about them.

If you didn’t fall in love with this post, I do hope you at least found it entertaining. And whether you observe or not, I wish you all Peace, Love, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Find out more about me, my work, and my inspiration at the following links:

Amazon | Goodreads | The ToiBox of Words | YouTube | See a list of my other posts here.

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50 Fabulous Tomatoes for Your Garden

Ruth de Jauregui

American gardeners plant a variety of fruits and vegetables, but nearly every garden features a few (or a lot) of tomato plants. From the classic 'Rutgers,' released in 1934 and used by Campbell Soup and Heinz, to the recent development of "black" tomatoes like 'Indigo Rose,' gardeners have favorites that they plant every year.

'Indigo Rose' - A small "black" tomato

My little tomato book, 50 Favorite Tomatoes for Your Garden, was conceived after my Mom saw the row of tomato plants along the fence. "What are those black things?" When I said tomatoes, she actually jumped out of her truck and went over to look at them. Along with 'Green Zebra,' 'Medford,' 'Sun Sugar' and 'Yellow Pear,' the purple-black 'Indigo Rose' has joined the row of tomato plants growing in my backyard.

'Sun Sugar' - An orange cherry tomato

Not only does the book feature 50 favorites, from heirlooms to modern hybrids, it also contains a little history about the tomato, a native of Mexico, Central and South America, and how-to-grow instructions.

Last year's tomato garden

Right now is the time to get the seeds and start seedlings indoors. In six to eight weeks, your tomatoes will be ready to plant in the garden or in containers. (Note: Because I rent, I grow my tomatoes in Dollar Store laundry baskets lined with black trash bags and filled with inexpensive potting soil. With a soaker hose wound around the plants, they thrive on the east side of the house.)

50 Fabulous Tomatoes is available on Amazon and Smashwords. It is distributed by Smashwords to a variety of ebook vendors, and thus available in favorite e-formats.

WIP

I'm currently working on my first novel Bitter Nights, which I hope to publish this year, and have outlined several more "50" garden books, including 50 Hummingbird Magnets for Your Garden. I also have several more nonfiction and fiction projects on the back burner.

WIP

In addition to writing books and a garden column, I have a part-time job and maintain a website dedicated to science fiction and fantasy for teens and young adults of Color, Alien Star Books. It is diverse and inclusive. There's room for all good books.

Amazon: Ruth de Jauregui Author Page
Smashwords: Ruth de Jauregui Author Page
Sneak Peeks of Works in Progress: www.ruthdj.weebly.com
Alien Star Books – Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens and Young Adults of Color: www.alienstarbooks.com

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I Am a Woman

Power Play in a Woman’s World

The Alpha, Omega and the Beta

~ Lorraine Carey

In a world of what we’d call ‘Power Women’ today, one may be quick to identify herself with one of these labels and understanding what role she has in society. Many believe we cannot move out of that trait but as we grow and develop we do indeed change, physically and emotionally. It is possible to identify with another trait.

So with that, let’s explore some of the common traits of each type:

The Alpha Woman~

Yes, the Alpha woman loves the spotlight—and she has earned it.  She’s the born leader and women gravitate toward her.  She never settles, be it work, love or play. She’s always up for the game—and most of the time she is the game. She is very selective when choosing a mate and even friendships. She gets a high from accomplishments and winning. It feeds her core only enticing her to power up.

It’s not easy being an Alpha. The goals one set are so high that sometimes they are impossible to reach. When an Alpha falls—she falls big time, but she picks herself up and gets right back in the game.

Some famous Alphas are: Angelina Jolie, Rhianna, Beyoncé, Oprah, and Hillary Clinton.

The Omega Woman~

If you find yourself to be more sensitive to other’s feelings, you may be an Omega. Most empaths and sensitives fall into this category. The Omega woman will be much happier to spend a night at home reading or thinking up brilliant ideas than out at a crowded social gathering. She is a constant giver and will put others first, sacrificing her own needs. Energy Vampires will seek her out—they sense the vulnerability. It is a known fact that the Alpha Male is drawn to this very type of woman. Giving off so much of her energy she often is left emotionally weak and physically drained. You will find teachers, nurses and those in caretaker roles fall into this category.

With that being said—I myself fall into this category.

The Beta Woman~

Beta women long to be Alphas but simply can’t see themselves filling that role. She talks herself out of Alpha women roles and playing up the defense.  Trying to keep up and afloat seems to be the routine. She may be high strung and stressed. Some do not see what she sees in herself and at times others assume she appears on the aggressive side. The Beta woman has all the traits of an Alpha but lacks the confidence to reach and maintain the high level an Alpha functions at. She knows how to play rough and doesn’t take the bullshit others dish out. She is possessive of the things she’s worked so hard to achieve.

No matter which type you identify with, there is power in each trait. I don’t think we need to let labels define us and we are capable of attaining what we want at different times of our lives.

~ I do tend to mix these traits with most of my female lead characters. I have also taken a Beta and transformed her into an Omega in my Women of the Willow Wood Series. That’s how we create a round character versus a flat one.

You can find my books here on Amazon~

https://www.amazon.com/Lorraine-Carey/e/B00ELQBUHQ/

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