SHARING MY FAVORITES

Often my blog posts are about craft or the writing life, but today I thought it would be fun to chat about my favorite things. Oprah does not have dibs on favorites. I can’t afford to give the products like she does, but most of my favorite things are free.
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Prayer—It boggles my mind that I can talk to God whenever I want. If you’re a talker like I am, then you know good listeners are hard to find. God is an attentive listener. I listen to Him too. Once in a while, He speaks to my heart in no uncertain terms. What a privilege prayer is.
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Sunrises and sunsets—Our house faces east and west so except on overcast days, we’re gifted with gorgeous displays twice daily. My favorite sunrises and sunsets take place over water. Even the pond out back reflects the beauty. I’ve taken a slew of pictures of the rising and setting sun, but none seems to capture God’s awesome sky painting.

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Oceans, lakes, rivers—viewing large bodies of water fills me with this amazing peace. And awe. We spend some time near the gulf in the winter and take walks along the beach. I drink in the sight of the ever-moving surf like a parched camel. Minus the slurping, of course.

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Walks—I love nature and being outdoors. I usually walk with my husband. He’s on a mission and doesn’t like to stop or even slow down. This is exercise to him, but for me it’s exploration. A time to connect with him, nature, the dog down the street. LOL
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Combine these favorites—A stroll along the beach at sunset captures a little piece of heaven on earth. Unpubbed Island goes mainland.
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Love songs: I can’t imagine this world without music. My favorites are love songs. Rod Stewart’s classic love songs top the list. We enjoy dancing too. But we're no Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

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Creating: Scarves and afghans with knitting needles and yarn, art with colored pencils and paper, greeting cards with rubber-stamps and card stock, fictional people with my imagination and the computer. I’ve noticed writers often create more than books. God wired us to create.

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Books: Books are near the top of my list of favorite things you can buy. And I hope you buy lots. LOL I love reading books. I love writing them. I love holding them. I love seeing them—coffee table books and a stack of paperbacks make a house feel cozy, lived in. Trust me our house looks very cozy. Having a book on bookstore shelves is a thrill! Seeing friends books on the shelf is great fun!
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Last month I announced in Seekerville the release of my mail-order bride story The Substitute Bride. Where has the month gone? Tomorrow The Substitute Bride will be removed from Wal-Mart and grocery store shelves. Hey, maybe they all sold. Yep, I live in LaLa Land, a nice place. Visit me any time. If you want a copy of The Substitute Bride and don’t win today, its still available online at eHarlequin and Amazon and can be found and ordered at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million bookstores.

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My Critique Partner, Shirley Jump—No way could I list my favorites without mentioning Shirley. We’ve been critiquing for 15 years. More than critique partners, we’re friends. I asked Shirley to name her favorite thing. I already knew her answer. Shoes! She wears all these fabulous five-inch heels. I marvel at how easily she moves around on those stilts. I look up to her. Literally. She’s already taller. Add another four inches and I’m getting a crick in my neck. Shirley’s women's fiction release from Harlequin Next, Around the Bend is in stores now. I love the cover of this fun mother/daughter road trip story. Look at the daughter’s shoes. So Shirley! Here’s a blurb:
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Thelma and Louise they're not. First of all, Hilary and Rosemary Delaney are not friends—worse, they're mother and daughter.

Hilary's a wayward thirty-something running from a marriage proposal, and Rosemary's her disapproving mother, a retired lawyer who can't drive and won't fly. So they're driving together across country.

In a cherry-red Mustang.

With a potbellied pig named Reginald, and a life-size cutout of Rosemary's late husband.

Should be a fun trip. As the miles tick by, Hilary ponders why the word "marriage" has her so terrified and finds she's got a lot to learn—about her mother, love and life in general.

Together, Hilary and Rosemary will discover what's around the bend…if they don't drive each other crazy, or drive off a cliff first.

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Shirley will give away a copy of The Other Wife from those leaving comments today.
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Seekers and Seeker friends—in case you don’t know how important you are to me, let me make it clear. I am so blessed to have all of you in my life. Early on, I wrote in a vacuum. Not the Hoover variety, but alone with no one to share the ups and downs of the writing life. So thanks to Shirley, my fourteen Seeker Sisters and our special followers who bless me daily.
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These favorites require an open wallet.

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DeBrand chocolates—a hometown favorite that’s delicious. I indulge in Hershey Kisses more frequently, but DeBrand’s is a treat, especially their truffles. Yummy.

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Vera Bradley bags—Vera Bradley originated in my hometown too. The owners started the business in a garage. Lots of imitators but Vera Bradley was first. They’re so well made they last for years. I’ve got garment bags, duffels, and cosmetic bags. Vera Bradley has an annual sale that draws thousands and golf and tennis events to raise funds for breast cancer research.

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Beauty products—I love make-up. Wear it. Spend money on it. Can’t do without it. With all the different skin types, I won’t go into brands. Besides we don’t have all day. LOL I’ll tout two products I love: Eyelash curler—opens up the eye and makes the lashes look longer. Get a no-stick variety that doesn’t pull out your lashes. Highlighter pen—reflects the light and makes lines around the mouth and between the brows seem to disappear. Tip—apply under eyebrow arch to lift your eyes, your entire face. I could be in denial and it’s not a river in Egypt. LOL
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Cleaning Products—I like anything that makes cleaning easier. I’m allergic and sensitive to fragrance so I want effective and odorless products. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser—this guy is my hero. Easy on the hands and like every great hero does what he promises. Swiffer dust mop: I dust the furniture with the Swiffer cloth then turn it over and attach it to the mop head and run it over our solid surface floors. It’s great at removing dust and hair but won’t pick up crumbs. Remove and toss in the trash. Couldn't be easier.

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I asked my husband to name his favorite thing. He said, "You." That man is hilarious. He was afraid this was a trick question. LOL Then he said, "Titleist Pro V1x golf balls." He claims they’re the only golf balls he's used that will stop on the green. These are expensive to smack around the course and lose so he asks for them for Christmas and birthdays. Vince and Mel, if you’re out there, please don’t hesitate to pop in and tell us your favorite guy things.

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I brought my breakfast favorites this morning—strong coffee, cheese blintzes with blueberry topping, apple fritters—crunchy on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside—and fresh fruit.

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Share your favorite thing/s for a chance to win an autographed copy of The Other Wife and The Substitute Bride. Two winners today! Notice the shoes!

Please remember to give your e-mail address in @ and dot form. Thanks!
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Blessings, Janet

www.janetdean.net