Posted Dec 15 2014 in Christmas Cookies, Monday Memories, Robin Perini, Secret Ingredient
Old family recipes are the best. I remember my Grandpa’s Rigatoni sauce, my Nonnie’s chocolate cake recipe and a few others. But since it’s the holidays, I have to mention our family Christmas Cookie recipe. I remember my mom pulling out an old cookbook, it’s pages slightly stained with vanilla, and turning to a page with […]
Read More»Posted Dec 13 2014 in Christmas, Crossfire Connections, Favorite Christmas Activities, Hallmark, Robin Perini, Straight No Chaser
My favorite memories of Christmas are candlelight services, singing Silent Night outside, all of us holding candles, and a star-filled sky above us. There was something magic and holy about those nights during my childhood. And that is still where the heart of Christmas lies for me. But…there is also fun and joy during the […]
Read More»Posted Dec 12 2014 in Exercise, Fitness Friday, Shoes
I was working out on Tuesday and my feet started killing me right in the middle of my workout. The reason: my shoes. I supinate a bit, so I really need shoes that support. Last week I knew that I was finding it more difficult to keep my heel down during my wide squats. I […]
Read More»Posted Dec 11 2014 in Homework, Math, Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, Techno Thursday
I received a phone call from my brother today. My fifth-grade niece brought home a math problem. I took one look and my jaw dropped. Granted I haven’t been in fifth grade for a VERY long time, but this just had me stumped. I was able to *eventually* figure it out and I analyze data […]
Read More»Posted Dec 10 2014 in George Washington Carver, Quote of the Day, Think of Others, Wednesday Wisdom
How we treat others shows more about character than anything else we do. Sometimes I think we really need to get out of our own heads. Take a moment today and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. The view might appear quite … surprising!
Read More»Posted Dec 9 2014 in Christmas, Christmas Music, Mary Did You Know, O Holy Night, Pentatonix, Silent Night, Tuesday Tunes
This is December, a month of celebration for Christmas. One of my favorite elements of the season is the music. Silent Night during a candlelight service, O Holy Night by a soloist during church, my dad and brother singing We Three Kings with alternate lyrics that my mom would frown on. I tend to embrace the traditional, […]
Read More»Posted Dec 8 2014 in Bobsy Twins, Childhood books, library, Monday Memories, Wizard of Oz
Someone asked me the other day why I started reading? Really, it was my parents. I remember going to the public library each week with my mom to pick out new books. I loved to read. I loved the stories. I loved losing myself in them. For me a couple of series stand out. One […]
Read More»Posted Dec 6 2014 in Robin Perini, Smile, Twin Babies Dancing, Viral Video, Wacky Weekend
Okay, so this weekend, I’m going to be doing a little Christmas baking–which in itself should be comical, however, I wanted to share one of the videos that truly makes me grin. Just because it’s a wacky weekend :-). Babies really do make me smile.
Read More»Posted Dec 5 2014 in Fitness Friday, Hydration, Robin Perini, Water
One of the things I’ve learned about myself during my health journey is that I don’t drink enough water. It’s easy enough to figure out when I do. I feel better, my skin looks better, I breathe better, and I don’t build up water. I’m VERY sensitive to all kinds of salt; I have been […]
Read More»Posted Dec 4 2014 in Clips, Guns, Magazine vs. Clip, Magazines, Romantic Suspense
As most of you know, I write romantic suspense. That means my heroes and/or my heroines know a thing or two about guns. Luckily, my dad is a competitive silhouette shooter (shooting at small metal targets). He taught me to shoot and about weapons. One of my pet peeves is the incorrect usage of a […]
Read More»Posted Dec 3 2014 in Christmas, Dr. Seuss, Grinch, Robin Perini, Wednesday Wisdom
During the holiday season, a reminder never hurts. The Grinch was a pretty smart cookie!
Read More»Posted Dec 2 2014 in I Won't Give Up, Jason Mraz, Robin Perini, Tuesday Tunes
Sometimes a song haunts you. In my stories, I’ve always been drawn to characters who don’t give up, who have faith and who sacrifice. And who fight for what’s right…and for the person they care about. I think that’s why this song touches me so much. Do you have a song that touches you?
Read More»Posted Dec 1 2014 in Ants Go Marching, Childhood Memories, Childhood Songs, Christmas Justice, Monday Memories, Robin Perini
The garage clean-up continues at my house. What a mess. But with each box, new memories surface. I was a lucky kid. I had parents who loved me, an irritating younger brother (who I adored) and a slew of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. I know those childhood memories have influenced my writing. Small little […]
Read More»Posted Nov 29 2014 in 80s clothes, cleaning, Commodore 64, garage, leg warmers, memories, Michael Jackson, Thriller, Wacky Weekend
I’m cleaning out my garage over the next month. I almost had it cleaned out at one point, but then my parents delivered my childhood room, and half the garage filled up again. It’s amazing what you find in old boxes from 20 years ago. Some of the goodies in my garage include: A Commodore 64…does […]
Read More»Posted Nov 28 2014 in Fitness Friday, Fitness Pal, Food Diary, Robin Perini, Thanksgiving, Working Out
Wow. It’s the day after Thanksgiving. We ate, we drank, we ate some more. And man, today, I’m not hungry AT ALL! Yesterday I didn’t keep track of what I ate. Part of me is glad. Did you know the average adult consumes about 4000 calories on Thanksgiving? Not sure if I did, but it […]
Read More»Posted Nov 27 2014 in Attitude of Gratitude, Happy Thanksgiving, Quote of the Day, Robin Perini
Today is a good day to concentrate on gratitude. How, you may ask? I won’t pretend it’s always easy, but what I have learned is that for me, living every day with an attitude of gratitude makes the tough times easier and the good times truly joyous. Not that I don’t get mired in hopelessness […]
Read More»Posted Nov 26 2014 in Actions, John F. Kennedy, Thanksgiving, Wednesday Wisdom
In honor of Thanksgiving…a few well chosen words…
Read More»Posted Nov 25 2014 in Garden of Your Mind, Mr. Rogers, Neighborhood of Make Believe, Robin Perini, Stories
Okay, so not all tunes are the latest and greatest pop hit. Some take you back to childhood, and in this holiday season I’ve been doing a lot of walking down memory lane (as I told you during yesterday’s blog). This catchy ditty, I just can’t shake off (wink-wink to Ms. Taylor Swift). Probably because […]
Read More»Posted Nov 24 2014 in Inspiration, Reading, Robin Perini, Storytelling, Why I Write, Writing
One of the most common questions I’m asked is ‘when did you start writing?’ The truth is, I’ve been writing forever, but the real answer to that question is a little different, because for me, it’s always been the storytelling that grabbed my interest first. I lost my heart to storytelling when I was a […]
Read More»Posted Nov 23 2014 in Carol Burnett, Elephant, Funny, Improvisation, Robin Perini, Tim Conway
Hi everyone! Sometimes we just need to laugh. This video is almost five minutes long, but what can be said of Tim Conway on the Carol Burnett Show? There’s a small cuss word at the end, but I couldn’t stop laughing. Enjoy this wacky weekend!
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