Happy New Year!

This year I hope to continue to be braver, stronger, kinder, and happier. 

I wish you the best year ever as well. May we all realize our fondest dreams and take time to recognize and enjoy each and every blessing. I pray we all have love, hope, health, happiness, peace, and a fierce determination for accomplishing good. Stay safe. Be good to each other.

I'll be back on January 8th for the next IWSG post. Until then...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Boxing Day!

 

Happy Boxing Day! If you are not familiar with this celebration, it is usually observed the day after Christmas. Originally, it was a day to donate gifts to those in need, or those who worked for you, depending on where you were from and how you were raised - mostly started in the United Kingdom.

Even if you have never heard of or celebrated this day before, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas yesterday and that you are able to count your blessings. Please remember to check in on those less fortunate than you - there is always someone worse off. We can all serve as a blessing to someone, and I pray we never forget this fact. As the old adage goes, "the quickest way to forget your problems is to help someone else with theirs" - even if it's just being there for them and listening. Happy Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas!

This picture was taken in the front yard of my old house some years ago. The figures were inherited from my grandmother. The manger was built by my husband and oldest daughter.

So far this year, we haven't had any freezes or snow. I'm sure we are due some.

Wherever you are, whatever your situation, I pray you all enjoy a beautiful holiday season full of your favorite traditions. May your best wishes come true.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Freebies and Traditions

There are only two weeks left until Christmas. Have you already finished your shopping, or do you wait until the last minute? If you tend to procrastinate, and you find yourself scrambling to find that perfect gift for someone - or even if you just want to treat yourself - this list of 25 ideas might help.

Whether you're shopping for yourself, a loved one, or just for some basic holiday ideas - this list has a little something for everyone!

1) FOR KIDS - If you have the Amazon app, you can download some children's Christmas books for FREE. While this link in specific to Christmas reads, there are some out there for non-holiday themed reads as well. To learn more: http://www.amazon.com/iMarvel-Christmas-Story-Books-Free/dp/B0062NFLBM

2) FOR KIDS - Interested in more free books for kids? This site offers both holiday and other popular reads for free: http://www.kcedventures.com/blog/free-kids-holiday-and-christmas-books-online

3) FOR MUSIC LOVERS - iHeartChristmas Classics offers a free variety of traditional and contemprary tunes to get you in the holiday spirit: https://www.iheart.com/live/iheartchristmas-classics-6137/

4) MOVIES FOR ALL AGES - 28 of the best Christmas movies on Youtube in time for the 2018 season:  https://www.lifewire.com/watch-christmas-movies-on-youtube-3486071

5) 10 SHORT CLASSICS - some of my favorites are in this list: https://ebookfriendly.com/christmas-stories-free-download/

6) 31 BEST CHRISTMAS READS - Classics most everyone will recognize and love:  https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2017/11/21/classic-christmas-books-to-read

7) CHRISTMAS RECIPES - nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit faster than some of my favorite holiday foods. Check out these free recipes: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/187/holidays-and-events/christmas/

8) Free, Printable Christmas Gift Tags

9) Free Christmas Card Templates

10)  Free Letter From Santa

11) Printable Christmas Coloring Pages

12) Free Christmas Party Invitations

13) Christmas Party Games That Won't Cost You a Cent

14) Christmas Word Search Puzzles

15) Free Christmas Sheet Music

16) Free Christmas Clip Art

17) Printable Christmas Tree Templates

18) Free Christmas Fonts

19) Printable Christmas Stationery

20) Printable Christmas Wish Lists

21) Letter to Santa Templates

22) Christmas Newsletter Templates

23)  Gifts Needs: 13 Can't-Miss Christmas Freebies You Didn't Know - The Krazy Coupon Lady

24) MORE MISCELLANEOUS - https://www.thefreesite.com/Seasonal_Freebies/Christmas/

25) 121 Christmas Freebies: Amazing Free Stuff to Celebrate the Season With - MoneyPantry

Are there any freebies out there that you want to recommend? What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? 

IWSG: Cliffhangers

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

DECEMBER QUESTION - Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?

MY ANSWER - I'm not a fan of cliffhangers at the end of a story. I think they are fine for the end of a chapter, but not for a book - not even if that book is part of a series. Life is uncertain enough. I want closure at the end of my story. Even if it's not a "happily ever after".

How about you? Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?