Cowboy Kisses (Lynx, Rodeo Romance Book 1)
I am blogging hourly at Coffee Time Romance today.
Please drop by when you have a moment or two.
Life too busy today? No problem, my blog posts will be available for viewing for the next nine days!
Connie Vines
Connie Vines' Fragrance for Love Series
Saturday, February 09, 2013
Sunday, February 03, 2013
E-book Reading on the Rise Amoung Young People
E-books may finally be catching on with the toughest of customers: young people.
A report commissioned by children's publisher Scholastic Inc. finds that 46 percent of respondents aged 9-17 had read an e-book as of 2012, compared to just 25 percent in 2010.
And around half of those who have not read an e-book say they want to do so. But the appeal of paper remains.
Around 80 percent of kids who read an e-book still read print books, according to Monday's report.
While e-books are believed to comprise around 25 to 30 percent of the total book sales, the number has been much lower amoung children.
The rise of the iPads and other tablets has helped vastly expand the availability of picture books and other children's books in electronic format.
On a personal note, my granddaughters ages: 8 - 14 all have an e-book reader. My youngest grandson: age 8 months is already familar with the colorful storybooks on his mama's iPad.
I expect the e-reader will be common place by the time he starts school.
Hopefully, he won't be carrying a backpack loaded with 10 lbs of textbooks in middle school and high school.
A report commissioned by children's publisher Scholastic Inc. finds that 46 percent of respondents aged 9-17 had read an e-book as of 2012, compared to just 25 percent in 2010.
And around half of those who have not read an e-book say they want to do so. But the appeal of paper remains.
Around 80 percent of kids who read an e-book still read print books, according to Monday's report.
While e-books are believed to comprise around 25 to 30 percent of the total book sales, the number has been much lower amoung children.
The rise of the iPads and other tablets has helped vastly expand the availability of picture books and other children's books in electronic format.
On a personal note, my granddaughters ages: 8 - 14 all have an e-book reader. My youngest grandson: age 8 months is already familar with the colorful storybooks on his mama's iPad.
I expect the e-reader will be common place by the time he starts school.
Hopefully, he won't be carrying a backpack loaded with 10 lbs of textbooks in middle school and high school.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
3 Tips from Paris to Look Fabulous
Being stylish doesn't mean spending hours getting ready. "It's about paying attention to a few details," says Jennifer Scott, lifestyle blogger at the Daily Connoisseur.
Ladies, try Scott's real-world tricks to look perfectly polished.
1. Create a core wardrobe. "Clear out the clutter in your closet and donate clothes that do not suit you," says Scott. "You'll be able to orchestrate several polished outfits that you can pick at a moment's notice." This wardrobe may include such items as a pair of shinny jeans, wool pants, blazer, pencil skirt, fitted cardigan, silk blouse, ballet flats and trench coat.
2. Organize your accessories. "Spend one afternoon playing with the accessories in your wardrobe to find out which scarves work best with which blouses, and do the same with the jewelry," says Scott. Knowing which accessories work best with various outfits makes it easier to finish your look next time you're in a hurry.
3. Perfect a simple hairstyle. "If you pull you hair back into a ponytail," Scott says, "try this embellishment. Hide the elastic band by wrapping a few strands of hair around it and securing with a bobby pin for a thoughtful touch." For short hair, try an off-center part; smooth flyaway hairs with gel. It looks sleek and neat dressed up or dressed down."
Merci!
Ladies, try Scott's real-world tricks to look perfectly polished.
1. Create a core wardrobe. "Clear out the clutter in your closet and donate clothes that do not suit you," says Scott. "You'll be able to orchestrate several polished outfits that you can pick at a moment's notice." This wardrobe may include such items as a pair of shinny jeans, wool pants, blazer, pencil skirt, fitted cardigan, silk blouse, ballet flats and trench coat.
2. Organize your accessories. "Spend one afternoon playing with the accessories in your wardrobe to find out which scarves work best with which blouses, and do the same with the jewelry," says Scott. Knowing which accessories work best with various outfits makes it easier to finish your look next time you're in a hurry.
3. Perfect a simple hairstyle. "If you pull you hair back into a ponytail," Scott says, "try this embellishment. Hide the elastic band by wrapping a few strands of hair around it and securing with a bobby pin for a thoughtful touch." For short hair, try an off-center part; smooth flyaway hairs with gel. It looks sleek and neat dressed up or dressed down."
Merci!
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Easy Egg Nog Pound Cake
1 package of yellow cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)
1 4-serving size package of vanilla pudding (sugar free works too)
3/4 cup Knudsen low-fat Egg Nog (again, my preference)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Powdered sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, egg nog and oil beat on low speed until moistened. Add eggs and nutmeg; beat in a medium-high speed 4 minutes. Pour into a greased (prefer butter flavored crisco) and floured 10-inched fluted or tube pan.
3. Bake 40 - 45 minutes until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan. Cool completely. Sprinkled with sifted powdered sugar. Store left overs covered at room temperature.
Makes one (10-inch) cake
Pre Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 40 to 45 minutes
1 4-serving size package of vanilla pudding (sugar free works too)
3/4 cup Knudsen low-fat Egg Nog (again, my preference)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Powdered sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, egg nog and oil beat on low speed until moistened. Add eggs and nutmeg; beat in a medium-high speed 4 minutes. Pour into a greased (prefer butter flavored crisco) and floured 10-inched fluted or tube pan.
3. Bake 40 - 45 minutes until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan. Cool completely. Sprinkled with sifted powdered sugar. Store left overs covered at room temperature.
Makes one (10-inch) cake
Pre Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 40 to 45 minutes
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Latest Gadget--AKA Darth Vader's Death Star
According to Wikipedia: The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized spacestation and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive energy beam.
The Pressure Cooker is a sealed vessel that does not permit air or liquids to escape below a pre-set pressure. Pressure cooking allows food to be cooked with greater humidity and higher temperatures than possible with conventional boiling or steaming methods. Excess heat causes boiling water to vaporize into steam. In a sealed pressure cooker, the boiling point of water increases as the pressure rises.
Umm. . Sounds like a mini Death Star--capable of destroying my kitchen and, perhaps, even vaporizing ME!
As my family, and a select number of my friends know, I have attempted to purchase a pressure cooker (in one form or another) for the past five years. I've researched, examined, held, and even got as far as the check stand at Macy's--only to change my mind.
I spied an electric pressure cooker last week and ordered it online. I unpacked it yesterday and yanked my rump roast from the fridge this afternoon. After memorizing the directions, I got busy. I chopped an onion, bell pepper, garlic cloves, added a cup-and-a-half of beef broth, Italian seasoning, bay leave and five Italian peppers. Everything went into the inner pot. A little over an hour later, I had prepared the best roast I had ever tasted!
Now I see my pressure cooker as more of a cute little R2D2 (Resourceful and spunky droid). His bravery, coupled with his many gadgets, played large roles in saving the galaxy time and time again, than Darth Vader's weapon.
I'm still cautious when operating pressure cooker, as I should be, but I'm confident this device will become my go-to gadget after I get home from work.
The Pressure Cooker is a sealed vessel that does not permit air or liquids to escape below a pre-set pressure. Pressure cooking allows food to be cooked with greater humidity and higher temperatures than possible with conventional boiling or steaming methods. Excess heat causes boiling water to vaporize into steam. In a sealed pressure cooker, the boiling point of water increases as the pressure rises.
Umm. . Sounds like a mini Death Star--capable of destroying my kitchen and, perhaps, even vaporizing ME!
As my family, and a select number of my friends know, I have attempted to purchase a pressure cooker (in one form or another) for the past five years. I've researched, examined, held, and even got as far as the check stand at Macy's--only to change my mind.
I spied an electric pressure cooker last week and ordered it online. I unpacked it yesterday and yanked my rump roast from the fridge this afternoon. After memorizing the directions, I got busy. I chopped an onion, bell pepper, garlic cloves, added a cup-and-a-half of beef broth, Italian seasoning, bay leave and five Italian peppers. Everything went into the inner pot. A little over an hour later, I had prepared the best roast I had ever tasted!
Now I see my pressure cooker as more of a cute little R2D2 (Resourceful and spunky droid). His bravery, coupled with his many gadgets, played large roles in saving the galaxy time and time again, than Darth Vader's weapon.
I'm still cautious when operating pressure cooker, as I should be, but I'm confident this device will become my go-to gadget after I get home from work.
Friday, November 02, 2012
Overcoming Writer's Block
So, here I am, mind utterly blank, staring at a completely blank computer screen, and hoping some ethereal entity will sprinkle pixie dust in my hair or smack me with the business-end of a magic wand to get me writing.
Ummm. Still no Muse?
What was that Philip Pullman quote?
“All writing is difficult. The most you can hope for is a day when it goes reasonably easily. Plumbers don’t get plumber’s block, and doctors don’t get doctor’s block; why should writers be the only profession that gives a special name to the difficulty of working, and then expects sympathy for it?”
Why indeed?
In my case there’s an awful temptation to just keep on researching. Another trip to the library, a new techie toy, writing program, or workshop? A long drive down Route 66 to make sure my sensory details are accurate. Soon it's information overload.
However, today it's time to step back, reach for a strong cup of coffee, and toss my plotting notebook, with my almost-legible scribbles filling its pages, onto my desk. I don't want sympathy. I want a killer opening hook!
Experience has taught me that even when I haven't got an idea, I must start the story anyway. I can always press the delete button later. Perhaps by the third page I will have a workable idea.
If not, I'll save it to a file labeled backstory, and begin again. I'll rework my plot twists and my dialogue until I not only have a killer opening hook, but a darn good story!
No one said my job was easy, but it is sooo worth it!
Ummm. Still no Muse?
What was that Philip Pullman quote?
“All writing is difficult. The most you can hope for is a day when it goes reasonably easily. Plumbers don’t get plumber’s block, and doctors don’t get doctor’s block; why should writers be the only profession that gives a special name to the difficulty of working, and then expects sympathy for it?”
Why indeed?
In my case there’s an awful temptation to just keep on researching. Another trip to the library, a new techie toy, writing program, or workshop? A long drive down Route 66 to make sure my sensory details are accurate. Soon it's information overload.
However, today it's time to step back, reach for a strong cup of coffee, and toss my plotting notebook, with my almost-legible scribbles filling its pages, onto my desk. I don't want sympathy. I want a killer opening hook!
Experience has taught me that even when I haven't got an idea, I must start the story anyway. I can always press the delete button later. Perhaps by the third page I will have a workable idea.
If not, I'll save it to a file labeled backstory, and begin again. I'll rework my plot twists and my dialogue until I not only have a killer opening hook, but a darn good story!
No one said my job was easy, but it is sooo worth it!
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