January Free / Reduced Book Promos

Good morning, everyone! I usually post these freebies at the beginning of the month, but it's been wild around here and things are just calming down. Hopefully that means I can get back to business and back on schedule. In the meantime, enjoy these free books for January!

January Observances: Clean Up Your Computer Month

Time for another issue of January Observances! This week I want to share with you that January is Clean Up Your Computer Month. Have you cleaned your computer lately? I know I haven't. I do have it on my To-Do list for this month though.

As a writer, I really need to back up my WIPs (work-in-progress) regularly and in several locations. I learned a long time ago to never depend on a single draft in my laptop, and I learned that the hard way. Talk about a stressful 2 weeks while I waited for my laptop to return from the warranty department at Dell. I was on pins and needles waiting to see if they had erased all my data, or if my book file was still intact. I thanked the heavens above as I booted up my laptop and all my files were still there. Whew! Thus my learning experience that taught me to save my stuff in numerous locations, both online and off.

Sooooo, time to clean things up, update my antivirus program, clear out all those old files, upload photos, backup my current WIP to a flash drive, and make sure my online storage is up to date. While I'm at it, I guess I should clean up my phone too.

Let this be a reminder to all of my wonderful readers: Clean Up Your Computer! :)

Have a great week and I'll see you next time.

January Observances: National Oatmeal Month

Image from Yaroslav B

It's National Oatmeal Month! How do you like your oatmeal? 

Lately, I've been trying out a ton of "overnight oats" recipes (thank you, Pinterest!) and it's a lot different than cooked oats. After eating hot oatmeal all my life it's a little weird to eat them cold, but not bad if you find the right combination of goodness to add to it. My newest favorite is a brown sugar and cinnamon combination and then I throw in a tablespoon full of a tropical trail mix. The pineapple and bananas kind of soften after being in the fridge overnight, and the coconut gives it a nice flavor.

The overnight oats make it easy for me to grab the jar out of the fridge, throw it in my lunch bag with a protein shake and my lunch, before heading to the gym early in the morning. After a good workout I can sit anywhere and peacefully eat my breakfast and drink my shake without having to worry about finding a microwave. And then it's off to the day job!

Granted, you can do a lot more with oatmeal than eat it for breakfast. Cookies and breads are quite popular, but for me it will always be a healthy breakfast.

What do you put in your oatmeal?

January Observances: Hot Tea Month

Photo from Willie Cloete

Every day of the year seems to be dedicated to something extra, and while it's fun to celebrate Hamburger Day or Whipped Cream Day, I've decided to focus on months instead of days.

January has several observances, however, I picked just four I like and I'll be sharing them with you every Monday this month.

Today, I'm going to share Hot Tea Month with you!

As a born and raised Southerner, it took me a while to become a fan of hot tea. My experimentation with numerous tea blends and sweeteners, bags or loose leaf, and even different kettles led me to some delicious, healthy, and warming teas that I drink regularly during the cold winter months.

Some of my favorite blends include apples and citrus fruits. I have one I like for daily use to get me started in the mornings called Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy from Yogi Teas. This is my "start the day" tea that I sip while waking up at 5:30am every weekday.

I also enjoy their Kava Stress Relief for nighttime use. Since I have such a difficult time settling down in the evening (don't we all have a million things left to do at bedtime?) it helps me relax and sleep better. Mr. Silvers uses it to fall asleep in the mornings because he works nights and it's hard for him to sleep in the daytime.

I like having blends that are meant for particular reasons, such as the ones I pick for cold & flu season, mental clarity, and relaxation. I also enjoy scrolling through the pages of Adagio Teas for coconut, candy apple, peach, and cherry flavors. They always have good sized "sample" packets. I can go for months at a time with sample packets.

You may see my characters sipping a cup of tea in the stories I write from time to time. If you notice this, you'll know I was most likely writing that scene on a cold winter day with my own steamy cup sitting to the right of my laptop fueling me forward throughout the day.

Do you have a tea you love? Share it with me! I'm always looking for a new flavor to try.

Happy Tea Month!

The end of January. How was it for you?

Happy Sunday, everyone!  It's a cold morning here.  Friday we had a big storm come through that left us covered in snow and ice.  However, by Saturday morning an overnight rain had washed all the whiteness away, leaving behind a world of mud for us to slosh through.

Yesterday the temps didn't get out of the 30's.  Today is suppose to get into the mid-40's, but it was soooo cold last night that we'll just have to wait and see about that.

So it's the last day of January.  This first month of 2010 went by very quickly.  Hopefully the rest of the year will slow down a bit so I can enjoy it.  LOL.  It was a decent month... if you don't consider that I'm van-less and Tim's $12,000 hospital visit.  Hell, if I had $12K I'd buy myself another van.  *Rolls Eyes*

Tomorrow starts another new month.  I have to take the girls for their semi-annual dental cleanings.  This week I also have to get the February newsletter written and sent out, plan for our camping trip, do a lot of article writing, and do some work on Liz's second book.

Oh, and hopefully the last piece of paperwork I'm waiting on will arrive in tomorrow's mail so that I can file my tax return.  I'd like to start counting down the days until our refund is direct deposited.  It'll definitely be put to good use this year.  Planning to pay the oldest daughter's braces off a year early and knock that monthly bill off of us.  Also hoping to get my van fixed (it's gonna need a new motor), though Tim wants to just buy another one.  I'd rather keep the one I have since it'll be cheaper to fix it.

Oh, how I love tax time!  While we have the children to claim anyway.  LOL.  Once they're all gone I probably won't feel the same about tax returns.  ;-)

Okay, I'm off.  We have to go visit the in-laws for a few hours.  Maybe, just maybe, Tim can occupy himself with the Xbox long enough for me to get some writing done when we get back.  *Fingers Crossed*

Have a great day!

The last week of January.

Good morning everyone.  Welcome to another Monday morning.  This one leads us out of January and into a new month.  How has the month been for you?  Have you stuck to your New Year's Resolutions, or have they fallen by the wayside with the rush of everyday life?

I don't make resolutions, but I do make yearly goals.  I seem to be right on track for my yearly goals, so I call the month a success.  Of course, that's "business" goals I'm talking about.  I don't consider Tim being in the hospital any kind of success.  However, it has brought him over to my healthy eating side.  Bwahaha!  Welcome to the dark side, my dear!  LOL!  I still can't get him to even consider tasting my veggie sausage though.  All in time, honey.  All in time...  *wink*

Since I'm talking about business goals, I've been asked by many if I've heard from the New York editor who has Time For Death in her hands.  I have not, but she did say that it would get read in January, and there's still a week left in January.  LOL.  There's no telling when I'll hear back, but I will be moving forward with my plans in a couple of weeks whether I hear back from her, or not.  I'm sure I'll hear back before that day comes though.  Fingers crossed for good things.  Think happy thoughts for your lovely friend, Christie!  ;-)

This week is a week of no appointments at all.  I'm relieved after all the appointments we've had this month already.  Next week, on February 1st, the kids have their dental cleaning, and then that's it!  No more check-ups for anything until the next orthodontist appointment. 

Oh, did I mention that the girls had their yearly pediatrician check-up last week?  All the kids are perfectly healthy, with no problems whatsoever.  Yay!  The youngest ended up getting 3 shots in the legs and a skin test on her arm.  Unfortunately, they were out of the MMR vaccine and since it has to be given with the chicken pox vaccine or a month after, I have to take her back next month to get it.  We had to hold her down for the 3 she got last week, and I'm sure we'll have to do that again for the next one too. 

All in all, everyone is happy, healthy and immunized against the bad stuff out there.  :-)

All right, that's it for today.  I'm going to attempt to get some work done.  Easier said than done with Tim constantly wanting my attention.  He's worse that the kids these days with wanting my undivided attention.  The man definitely needs a new job soon.  Boy, I hope this economy picks up soon.  LOL.

Have a great Monday!

Manic Monday. Oh wait, it's Tuesday!

Gosh, it's only Tuesday. Blah! I'm downright tired this morning. January has been a terribly busy month here at the Silvers household. We've had birthdays, parties, visits to Chuck E Cheese, sleepovers, dentist appointments, and just the personal time together. I'm exhausted.

Yesterday our oldest daughter got braces. Well, technically she got the top braces. She goes back in 10 weeks for the bottoms. She did very well yesterday and looks cute with her braces, but I sure did hate writing that $800 upfront payment check to the orthodontist. LOL! In only 24 monthly payments she'll have the most gorgeous, straight teeth. :-)

Then of course it'll be the middle daughter's turn.

We'll be paying the ortho for the next six years if all three girls go one right after the other. I *might* get a break between the second and third child, but we'll see. That's genetics for ya! Tim & I both had braces. Hell, I still had mine on when we married nearly 15 years ago.

However, all of that isn't the cause of my exhaustion this morning. Tim and I have enjoyed a lot of alone time together lately. Not always doing what's going through your head at the moment. LOL!! We were up 'til after midnight last night and the last hour was just chit-chatting in the darkness. He had to get up at 5:30 this morning and I at 6:00. He's already informed me via text message this morning that he's tired. LOL! Poor guy. At least I can stay home for my job.

I'll be glad when this month is over. We usually try to take a weekend trip with the kids some time in February. I'm sooooo ready for that this year. I'll have to check to see what week the kids have off for "mid-winter break".

Okay, I'm just rambling now. Here's a pic from our oldest yesterday, before I forget, and I'm off. Have a fabulous Tuesday, if you aren't too tired to enjoy it! And if you are too tired, I hope that your tiredness is at least from doing something fun. ;-)