Christmas – My Favorite Things About the Holidays
With the holiday season in full swing, Thought I’d mention a few of my favorite things. I love Halloween, it’s by far my favorite holiday and decorate for the All Hallows Eve almost as much as I do for Christmas, which comes in a close second. Did I mention, I LOVE to decorate! LOL At Thanksgiving the aroma of turkey, candied sweet potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie made the house smell so inviting. My mouth waters just thinking about it. But Christmas…well… Bright lights adorning neighborhoods, Christmas Carols playing in the malls, and Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays on everyone’s lips makes the holiday season special. Here’s what makes my family’s holiday special.
1. Decorations. First of all, we start decorating the Friday after Thanksgiving. First the outside decorations go up. Then the tree, it’s lights, especially the bubble lights they are mesmerizing to watch. Several years ago, I brought the cutest colorful lifesaver shaped garland that I wind up the stairway banister. The tiny Precious Moments nativity is one I found years ago, along with Sam’s town, the soft lights from their windows are my 
parrots night light during the holidays. 
2. Food. Christmas is turkey, homemade cranberry sauce, rolls, candied yams and pumpkin pie swirled in whipped cream. Yummmm! The leftovers are even better. Sometimes we freeze the turkey leftovers and weeks or even a month later, yummy turkey sandwiches are wonderful. I’ll be putting one of those sandwiches together for lunch today. Left overs from Thanksgiving. LOL
3. Music. While we decorate the tree, we play a wide variety of Christmas Carols from the traditional to Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. The carols are sung by rock and roll artists, county western or classical renditions. It has been a family traditional as long as I can remember. We reminisce where the beloved tree decorations passed down generation to generation originated and the funny stories each spark.
4. Movies. It’s officially the Christmas season when we watch Miracle on 31st Street and How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carey. He is such a hoot. Then its Scrooged with Bill Murray. Afterward most nights we enjoy watching the variety of Christmas movies collected. Yep, get my Christmas movie fix. Then of course there is always the Hallmark channel heart felt Christmas movie magic.
5. Christmas Light Looking. It isn’t Christmas without getting in the SUV and driving through town admiring everyone’s decorations. Some lighting displays are synchronized with popular holiday music wafting through the crisp night air as you drive by. It’s beautiful and we enjoy it every year with a mug of hot chocolate and Christmas cookies we pack with us for the drive.
6. Family and Friends. The best part of the holidays is connecting with family and friends, whether it’s a long over-due phone call to catch up or a board game with friends. Years ago, I started writing a Christmas letter with our family’s actives for the year, complete with pictures. Since then it’s become a tradition. Friends and family look forward to that letter and make sure updated address are in my hands by Thanksgiving. There have been scary times, happy times, sad and in-between times, but keeping in touch seems to help everyone weather the preverbal storms. It’s been a rough year for many.
One last favorite thing of mine is to curl up in front of a crackling fireplace with a good book and a mug of homemade hot chocolate. Speaking of good books, have a look a couple of feel good books and a holiday tale, Only 99cents each. Lets start with A DEMON’S WITCH The adventures of Bruce, Angie and friends are an entertaining escape from the ordinary world. Be swept away into a magical romantic fantasy adventures, you’ll never want to leave. These spicy tales have it all intrigue, humor, thrills, danger and a splash of magic to keep you on the edge of your seat. and the heartwarming holiday story A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING. Tales of redemption, magic, wildlife rescue, true love and paying it forward will leave you breathless. A Witch’s Journey and the sequel A Witch’s Holiday Wedding.
If you already have these, you are going to want to check out CHARM ME AGAIN audiobook. Two families long divided brought together through love and understanding. But there’s more, breaking the curse is only the first step to forever.
New on audiobook, HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC. The consequences of awakening hidden gypsy magic could forever alter life as they know it! A trip to the past added a twist to the Salem Witch Trials. Be sure and take a listen.
So there you have it, a few of my favorite things along with a few gift ideas. What are yours favorite things?
With that, I’ll wish you all Love and Laughter. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Got any resolutions? Come on, you know you do. LOL What do you plan to change and what do you hope to see in 2021? I look forward to hearing from you! See you next year. I know it’s an old cliché, but couldn’t help myself!
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged A Demon's Witch, A Witch's Holiday Wedding, Charm Me Again, family, Favorite Things About Christmas, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
NaNoWriMo – A Tale of 50,000 Words in Thirty Days – WOW!
Along with millions of writers around the world, (okay maybe not millions, but close) I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWrimo).
A challenge to
write fifty-thousand words in thirty days. For weeks, our minds have worked out the logistics of the story, our fingers are twitching to tap that keyboard and kick off the race to our latest novel. The National Novel Writing Month challenge is a great confidence builder and something we writers look forward to November 1st every year.
NaNoWriMo as it’s fondly referred to has become somewhat of a tradition for me starting in 2010. I’ve made my goal of at least 50,000 words every year since with the exception of 2013. That year I failed miserably at only 17000 words. My day job was a monster, the hours were long,and by the time I arrived home, I was the monster. Anyone know what I mean? But I digress, at 17,000 I still had a working story, plot and characters. Yeah! Finished it up in the months that followed, polished the manuscript and submitted it. Since that time, I left the monster of a day job and writing is now my full-time job, and I love it. CHARM ME AGAIN is my 10th novel since 2015.
Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
Ten novels that NaNoWriMo helped me to create have been published by The Wild Rose Press. Last year’s NaNo project, CHARM ME AGAIN is available for pre-order right now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble. and itunes Yippee! CHARM ME AGAIN releases December 9, 2019, just in time for Holiday shopping! Psssst…. to help you with your holiday shopping, my e-book of A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING is on sale beginning November 15th for 99 cents for a limited time at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and itunes. Download a copy today and join the magical, romantic fantasy adventure, you’ll never want to leave!
This year for NaNoWriMo I’ll be working on GYPSY MAGIC the third book in A Witch’s Journey Series. I’m so excited to share Brock and Gwen’s story and return to the world of Pepper and Lathen and wildlife rescue!
Along with the Romance Writers of America and Pikes Peak Writers group, who gave me the tools, NaNoWriMo gave me the confidence needed to stick my toe in the murky waters of the publishing industry. The 50,000 words, approximately 1,667 per day, usually is three-quarters of a pretty darn good novel. Each year I build on what I’ve learned throughout the year and use it to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge. The camaraderie among participants is phenomenal making the challenge a fun way to kick off the holidays!
Wish me luck! Keep checking back for updates on my progress this year. Will I make the 50,000 words? Only time will tell, but you can bet I’ll do my best! I know you’ll be cheering me on! If you have a chance, I’d love you to leave me comments of encouragement.
Have a fun and safe Thanksgiving! Eat lots of turkey and enjoy family and friends. After all that’s what its all about!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged 000 words, 30 days, 50, A Witch's Holiday Wedding, Charm Me Again, NaNoWriMo, Novel Contest, November, Paranormal Romance, Tena Stetler, World wide, Writers by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Exciting 99 cent sale – A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING
Click on cover to read more and purchase!
Its Sunday and A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING is on sale for 99 cents. What more could you want only a nine days from Halloween and the Holiday season fast approaching? Download your copy today!
After she set her glass down, Lathen brushed a couple strands of hair out of her eyes and searched her face. “Are you all right?”
“I’m tired, my wedding is in a couple weeks, I have ghosts fighting over who is going to do what. Guests that have no idea the place is haunted and… Your family and pack, my parents, Gwen… To top it all off, the head of my clan, who is a ghost, is sitting in front of me wanting to know who is coming to the wedding and whether the ghosts will be outed. How could I possibly be all right?”
“When you put it that way.” Lathen chuckled. “It sounds just a bit… I don’t know…crazy?” His right eyebrow winged up. She saw mischief sparkle in his eyes. “We could still elope,” he offered.
Available at: Amazon, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press, and Barnes & Noble
My celebration of three years of being a published author continues. Check back for more sales!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Witch's Holiday Wedding, ghosts, Ireland, magic, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Joy of the Season Blog Hop & Highway Cafe Christmas Blog Tour from the North Pole!
Direct from the North Pole, welcome to the Joy of the Season Blog Hop and Highway Cafe Christmas Blog Tour (links to participants and rafflecopter are at the bottom of the post)!
Here at the North Pole it’s extremely busy, but we still have time for a little holiday fun and shenanigans.
Let me introduce myself. I’m an elf and my name is Twinkle Bright because my elf hat has twinkle lights wound all around the scalloped edge and the pointy top.
I make yummy Hot Chocolate for Santa and the elves from a secret family recipe passed down from generation to generation. My hot chocolate keeps everyone warm and toasty inside at the North Pole. There is even an automatic dispenser in Santa’s Sleigh providing him with hot chocolate during his travels on Christmas Eve. It goes good with the cookies the children leave for him.
While I am mixing up large batches of hot chocolate, I listen to Christmas Carols from a variety of pop, country and rock artists. I always taste each batch to insure its up to elf standards.
. You would think I’d get tired of hot chocolate, but no — never. I love the steaming chocolaty drink. I usually keep mine in an insulated mug so it stays warm while sampling the cookies in the elves’ bakery. Frosted sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies are my absolute favorites.
Now, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. But you must promise not to tell…anyone. We do a secret Santa gift exchange around here and this year I got Bob, her job at the North Pole is name checker to make sure Santa has all the correct spellings of the girls and boys. One year she spelled Chrys’ name Chris and wow what an uproar. Luckily Santa caught it, but we had to rush to change all the tags on her packages. Whew! I’m getting Bob a package of 120 different color markers in a jewel encrusted case for marking off the correctly spelled names after she checks them. Do you think she’ll like that?
Do you like fudge? Great, I’ll share with you my favorite Fantasy Fudge Recipe.
3 CUPS OF SUGAR
3/4 CUP BUTTER OR MARGARINE
1 – SMALL CAN (5OZ) EVAPORATED MILE (ABOUT 2/3 CUP)
DON’T USE SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK)
1 – 12 OZ PACKAGE OR NESTLES SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS
1 – 7 OZ JAR OF MARSHMALLOW CREME
1 TEASPOON OF VANILLA
YOU CAN ADD CHOPPED NUTS IF YOU WISH.
BRING SUGAR, BUTTER AND EVAPORATED MILK TO A FULL ROLLING BOIL IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT, STIRRING CONSTANTLY. (COOK 4 MINUTES OR UNTIL CANDY THERMOMETER REACHES 234 DEGREES. HIGH ALTITUDE IT TAKES ABOUT 5 MINUTES). REMOVE FROM HEAT AND ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND MARSHMALLOW CREME, STIR UNTIL MELTED. ADD VANILLA AND NUTS, STIR UNTIL WELL BLENDED. POUR INTO A GREASED (I USE BUTTER) 9 X 13 INCH PAN, SPREAD EVENLY. COOL COMPLETELY. CUT INTO SQUARES AND ENJOY!
For leaving a comment on my blog, you will be entered into a drawing for a $5.00 amazon gift card.
Tales of redemption, magic, wildlife rescue, true love and paying it forward will leave you breathless. A Witch’s Holiday Wedding
Elemental witch, Pepper McKay and former Navy SEAL, Lathen Quartz have built Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on enchanted McKay land. During a romantic interlude on Halloween night, Pepper happily agrees to become Lathen’s wife. What better day than Winter Solstice for their wedding in a town that loves celebrations and Christmas. However, planning a wedding and operating their wildlife center takes a toll on both Pepper and Lathen.
When the couple takes a much-needed break for Thanksgiving with family in Colorado, a Maine snowstorm fills the center with injured wildlife. Lathen finds himself drawn into a covert military mission, while trying to deal with issues concerning friends and family. Pepper wants to cancel the wedding. Is she having second thoughts? Will the nosy McKay ghosts, Lathen’s werewolf pack, Pepper’s parents, and her best friend help or hinder the wedding and holiday plans?
Available from Amazon, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press, All Romance, and Barnes & Noble,
I am participating in Joy of the Season Blog Hop and Highway Café Christmas Blog Tour with prizes, giveaways, fun
and games. Please click on the links to visit the other blogs on the hop and tour for more holiday tales . You don’t want to miss out!
We are giving away prizes to two randomly selected winners: 1) an ebook bundle, including books in various genres by various authors participating in the hop; or 2) a $50 Amazon gift card. Please visit the main hop page here to see a list of books included in the bundle.
Enter now for your chance to win!
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Posted in Holidays, My Say What Blog and tagged A Witch's Holiday Wedding, Christmas, Elves, Giveaway, Highway Cafe, Holiday, Holiday candies, Joys of the Season, North Pole, Paranormal, Romance, wildlife rescue by Tena Stetler with 36 comments.
