Tag Archives: Life

Happy Mardi Gras, Friday the 13th, Lunar New Year, and Valentine’s Weekend Edition of Liquid Friday Blog-

Be sure to get your freebie-see below

It seems that in the next few days we are celebrating EVERYTHING! It’s midwinter, so every culture and religion seems to be having some sort of festival to commemorate it. For me, the karate mom, writer, and mom to one Valentine’s Day birthday child-the pressure is absolutely on.

My latest book is in the hands of the publishing gods and hopefully we’ll see that before the weekend is up, fingers crossed. Otherwise, you can unwrap your Valentine a little later. I’ll post the links as soon as they are available.

I had my beignets last week, and I’m making cake pops and home made chocolates for the imps endeavors. The not so chubby hubby has invited me out for a wine tasting this weekend, and I may just have to take him up on it.

There is something altogether insane about this weekend. I love my slasher movies on Friday the 13th, but they’ll be playing in the background while I get some work done this weekend. At least I’ll have some bloodcurdling screams to comfort me.

The news from my endocrinologist is not good, and she says the medication I’m on to fight my autoimmune disease has probably caused the diabetes (not news). I’m watching my sugar and diet and everything is in normal range for now. I’m working very hard to keep it that way. I’ve been on insulin before and the thought of replacing a treatment I know that works (insulin) with a pill that hasn’t been effective for anyone I know on it, has made me a very good girl with watching what I eat and when. (Must be one of those things, since the insurance has to make insulin affordable they offer alternatives rather than pay for it. I’ve watched people have bouts of hypoglycemia and lose digits on the alternatives, so I’m just going to agree to disagree and we’ll see where we are on the next A1C. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers)

Happy Year of the Horse 2026!

Back to all things fun and parties. This week is so filled with celebrations, I want to take a moment and wish everyone Happy Mardi Gras, Happy Lunar New Year, Happy Valentine’s Day, and unless you’re skiing- hopefully no more snow. There is also a special birthday on Valentine’s Day, so happy 30th birthday Claire- may all your wishes come true!

If you’re a February baby like Claire, I hope you have a fun birthday, too. Since the Lenten time will soon be on us, I’m going to take a couple hours to plan out my menu during this critical time of the year. I have some in the family that adhere to traditions of fasting, some that eat meat, some with food preferences… so the meals they do eat need to be extra nutritious, while still being carb friendly (the hubby loves curried chicken, and it’s within his diet plan, so yea!).

During lent I look for organizations to work with either through sponsorship or stewardship to help out those in need, local and abroad. Since the happy hubby and I wear many hats that can mean entertaining for charitable walks, school events, fundraisers… or donating to some local charities or people in need. We already have some of those events lined up, and I’m happy to be able to bring a smile to children of all ages.

If you have read some books from the All Tied Up In Knots series, you understand the kind of crazy that goes with being a professional entertainer. I’ve drawn from my own experiences and that of other entertainers I work with to flesh out the characters. You have to have nerves of steel, a strong back, and a permanent smile. The excitement and joy children and adults get when they see the balloon decor, henna artistry, balloon twisting, glitter tattoos, or face painting makes it well worth the effort.

For this weekend, I’ll focus on entertaining locally and getting those taxes started, lol. I’m having some friends over for hurricanes (see my 2023 blogs for the recipe and make them at home or somewhere you don’t need to drive to, just to be as safe as possible) and some fried okra to go with hubby’s spicy curried chicken. The children have asked for eggrolls, but I have eggroll wrappers and ingredients, so we’re all set for that, too.

Regardless of what the Groundhog has foretold, Spring is on the way and I know the doggies can’t wait for their time on the cool green grass. I’m awaiting those long walks in the park, not mad dashes for the shelter of the car or the house.

Wishing you a week(end) of celebrating with family & friends.

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Thanks for visiting. See you next week.

Friday Night and I’m in a Funk

Friday!

It’s Friday and I’m done with tax season. My accountant has the goods, I have copies of everything, and now I wait on a refund (no, I don’t do the refund anticipation loans). I should be over the moon that all that needed to be done has been done, but the abrupt completion of one task and the pending three have me out of sorts.

I could post another guest author for you, or a cocktail recipe, or maybe even one of my favorite cupcake recipes, but I’m going to share my crazy instead. When I get in a rut, I find that movement is the best thing that works. The dogs have been walked and fed treats, so there are a few other ways I can get back to my happy endorphin crazed existence. Any guesses?

If you have a dirty mind, that works too, but tonight while my bows soak up a beeswax and oil conditioning treatment to keep them supple, I am charging my sabers and preparing for glorious battle. The bow shooting will wait until my bows are ready, it’s too cold to make mistakes with natural wood (osage orange and coffee wood).

I have amassed quite the collection of lightsabers from several different small businesses. I try and keep everyone in business 😉 but I do have my favorites.

I have more shopping to do! LOL

I have a few doubles and a half a dozen different single sabers, so the imps and I can practice sword(saber) fighting techniques. Do you know what position number three is? I was fortunate to enroll my children in a school that trained for the Olympics, so I learned techniques including footwork by watching them and helping them practice. To that point, I’ll bet there are a lot of moms and dads out there that could have a black belt in Karate or other martial arts because they had to learn everything to make sure the children were practicing their kata correctly.

My doubles come apart, so you have options.

The hum of electronic sabers is calling, so off I go. I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend. I hope to go back and visit with some NJ vampires soon and regale you with stories of their exploits.

Let me know what fun things you have planned! Have fun!

Liquid Friday with author David Ellis

This week we are featuring International Award winning Author, Lyricist, Poet and a Humorist: David Ellis and his book Life, Sex & Death – A Poetry Collection Vol. 1

But before we cross the line into his book, let us find out what cocktail does David recommend for this evening.

My drink would be a Gin, Elderflower & Prosecco cocktail because it is elegant and when drinking it I feel like I’m James Bond on an exotic island 🙂 I also have a very sweet tooth, so if I can’t have biscuits or cake then this will do very nicely.

gin_proseccoHere is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 2 parts Gin
  • 1 part Elderflower Liqueur
  • Prosecco
  • Lime Wedges
  • Sugar (for the rim of the glass)

Instructions

  1. Fill a shaker with ice and add the Gin and Elderflower Liqueur. Shake to combine.
  2. Place the sugar on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a martini glass and press the rim of the martini glass in the sugar to coat.
  3. Strain the contents of the shaker into the glass and top with Prosecco. Squeeze a lime wedge in the drink and garnish with an additional lime wedge.
  4. Serve immediately.

Book blurb:

Life, Sex & Death – A Poetry Collection Vol 1″ is an International Award winning volume, having won an award in the Readers’ Favorite 2016 Book Award Contest for Inspirational Poetry Books.
Life, Sex & Death” is all about exploring themes of Inspirational, Philosophical and Love/Romance. There is humour, art, wit, passion lifeand self help throughout all the diverse styles found in this book. My poems explore emotional depth of the human condition and try to make sense of the world, even when it is at its most extreme and unforgiving, there are still beautiful things to inspire us and give us courage. I write to give people hope and confidence in their lives, to take chances on the unknown and above all to love and respect themselves, along with sharing endless kindness with others.

Here is a sample poem from my poetry book Life, Sex & Death:

A Double Edged Sword (by David Ellis)

Pride can be a sword
That can stab you in the back
Don’t be the one
To take the fall
If confidence is what you lack

Hate can be a mistake 
A jealous enemy you can forsake 
Consumed by evil 
You derail your goals 
Hampering any progress you make 

Be proud of yourself 
Focus on all your achievements 
Look at how far 
That you have come 
The lives touched now have purpose 

Face your fears 
Your mind is now crystal clear 
An ocean of serene calm 
Where once was a storm 
Now you’re the pilot and the bombardier 

Asking for help 
Is not a weakness 
And neither is 
Helping others 

So wear your proudness 
On your sleeves 
And remember 
To inspire others 
As they have done for you 

A perfect circle 
That makes us all complete 
No need to compete 
No need for anger, fear, loathing 
Just love and peace

About the Author:

David Ellis is a Humorist, Lyricist, Poet, Short Story Writer and davidellisAuthor.  In addition to his poetry book, he has recently published a collection of his Flash Fiction and Short Story pieces in a collection called “A Little Bit of What You Fancy.”  He has also published a collection of Short Stories to donate the proceeds to Children’s Charities written by a variety of talented authors called “A Blend of Tea Break Tales”.  David has collaborated internationally on Poetic Duets with people from around the world. His current passion is to expand his Author Interviews section and he welcomes any enquiries from people who have published books that would like to be interviewed that wish to share information about themselves, their work and their own creativity tips.  He is a field reporter for The Nudge Wink Report where he writes spoof news articles.

His website contains many tips, tricks and techniques to inspire creativity in writers, authors, artists, photographers, poets and musicians.  The website can be found at www.toofulltowrite.com. His Twitter handle is @TooFullToWrite.

In his spare time, David enjoys Netflix, tea and biscuits and dreaming up endless puns to make people smile.  Indiana Jones is his spirit animal.  David tries not take himself too seriously and neither should you.