Strawberry Gelato

A Spring Recipe: Strawberry Gelato

Making homemade gelato or ice cream is one of the nicest things you can possibly do for yourself. And I’m not exaggerating. This strawberry gelato is laughably easy to whip up. I always make it with strawberries freshly picked from the garden. This recipe comes from The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan.

Makes 4 servings

1/2 pound fresh strawberries
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cold heavy whipping cream
An ice cream maker

Pull off the leaves and stems from the strawberries and cut them in half, unless they are very small.

Put the strawberries with all the sugar in the bowl of a food processor, process for a few moments, then add 3/4 cup water and continue to process until liquefied.

Whip the cream until it thickens slightly, to the consistency of buttermilk. Put the cream and the pureed strawberries in a bowl and mix thoroughly.

Pour into the container of your ice cream maker and freeze it following the manufacturer’s instructions. When done, the gelato is ready to eat, but if you want to serve it later, or prefer it when it’s more compact, transfer it to a container that closes tightly and place in the freezer. If you are going to leave it in the freezer overnight or longer, let the gelato soften a little before serving by putting it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Guest post by Melissa Lee LeGette 

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Romantical Breakfast

Romantical Breakfast (Blintzes)

Crepes (for 6)

            In blender pitcher add:

                        2 2/3 C. milk

                        3 eggs

                        3 T. cream

                        3/4 t. Vanilla

                        3/4 t. Salt

                        4 t. Sugar

            Blend and while still blending, add:

                        2 C. flour

                        3/4 t. Baking powder

Lightly spray a non-stick pan with Pam, and pour 1/4 cup batter. Immediately rotate until crepe batter spreads into a thin film. Cook until barely browned. Loosen, and flip to other side for just a few seconds until that side is speckled with brown dots and no longer looks wet. Set aside and cover.

Blintz filling:

            Mix together and warm in microwave:

            1 C. dry cottage cheese

            1/2 C. sour cream

            4 oz. Softened cream cheese

            2 T. sugar

            1 t. Vanilla

            1/2 t. Zest of fresh lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit. (Grapefruit is heavenly!)

Serve with fresh berries, fruit, or pie filling, whipped cream, sugar, melted chocolate, etc.

Now, you're supposed to fill the crepes and then fry them in butter, but my family just makes them at the table, family style, according to each one's tastes. Here's how my most creative child does it.

Take a crepe, add a line of filling, berries, whipped cream from can, and top with a sprinkle of sugar down the line. Roll up the crepe and add another drizzle of fruit and whipped cream. Eat with hot chocolate topped with another generous gob of whipped cream from the can. Marvelous! And except for the cream, pretty healthy, but don't tell anyone and they'll never know. Happy eating! Jaclyn

Guest post by Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Aunt Julia’s Secret Crab Cake Recipe

Aunt Julia’s Secret Crab Cake Recipe

The secret is: you have to get your hands completely

immersed in goop. It has to ooze between your fingers like

some kind of demented seafood putty, a product of man’s

ingenuity that does not appear in nature. But, that’s

good. You see, the complete immersion method of crab cake

making goes back to the times of Edgar Allen Poe, who,

while once making the ubiquitous little seafood taste

sensations, was said to have composed the entire epic poem

“The Raven” from the first “Once upon a midnight dreary,”

to the very last “Nevermore,” while happily forming crab

cakes in his bare hands. The hands must be covered in

crabbiness at all times, making it difficult to do anything

else except concentrate on the task at hand. Poe believed

it, and so do I. The experience produces a euphoric state.

So here, and for all times, is mapped out the making

of the great American Crab Cake, Baltimore style.

Go to Costco and buy a pound of cleaned back-fin or

lump crabmeat or buy a nice freshly cooked Dungeness crab

and pick all the meat out of it. Then, get ready for an

out-of-body experience.

Aunt Julia (the world’s foremost authority on crab

cakes) and my mother set up an assembly line in her kitchen

where they’d crank out hundreds at a time. Aunt Julia, a

large woman of great emotional impact, was passionate about

making crab cakes. She was a liberal user of Old Bay

Seasoning, made by the McCormack Spice Company of

Baltimore, Maryland. She eschewed the use of store-bought

bread crumbs, preferring to dice up several pieces of

Wonderbread (without the crusts). She said it held

together better, but who’s counting? I’ve used both bread

crumbs and chopped white bread, it doesn’t seem to make

much difference. Bread crumbs seem healthier to me, but

what do I know?

Put a pound of crabmeat in a bowl. Beat an egg and

add it. Add a couple of tablespoons each of mayo and

yellow mustard. Using your hands, gloop it together

lightly, without destroying the fibers of the crabmeat.

Add a heaping palm full of chopped fresh parsley. Kneed it

into the mix. Your hands should be pretty disgusting by

now, so it’s a perfect time to add the Old Bay Seasoning.

Forget what it says on the box, that’s for wimps, triple

whatever they say to add. Trust me on this. The Old Bay

experience is like the heroin of all seasonings, so you

might as well go for broke. Otherwise your crab cakes will

be as bland those served by Captain Geech and his Shrimp

Shack Shooters at “Weekend On Party Pier.” Dullsville,

man. Imagine a young Don Rickles as “The Big Drag,”

saying, “The Old Bay is the most important part of the crab

cake, you hockey puck!”

Kneed it all together and whadaya got? Crab gloop!

Now, using the palms of your hands, form it into patties.

Make them the size of smallish single cheeseburgers at

McDonald’s. Smaller patties cook more evenly. Make sure

they don’t fall apart. If they do, add more breadcrumbs.

Making the patties is a crucial step, so make sure they are

well formed. Compress them slightly to remove excess

moisture. Put them out on plain white plates and get ready

to groove. If you don’t have plain white plates, use

smooth planks of Coka-Bola wood, or, if Coka-Bola wood is

out of season, use the backs of Swedish Office workers, so

pale and featureless. Failing all else, plastic or paper

will do.

In a medium pan, add a small amount of cooking oil.

My mother used vegetable oil, I’ve used olive oil, it

depends on what seems more natural for you. You want just

enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Turn the heat up

and let the oil get medium hot. Using a spatula, slide the

crab cakes into the oil. They should crackle with a jolly

sound. If the sound isn’t jolly, you may have breached the

space-time continuum. If that happens, we all die. (Just

so you know.)

Brown the crab cakes on both sides, making sure the

oil doesn’t get too hot and burn the cakes. This should

only take a few minutes per side. Don’t let them get too

dark and crispy, go slow. When they are golden brown and

calling your name, take them out and place them on some

paper towels to drain. Talk nice to them while they cool

off. Don’t jump the gun or you’ll burn your tongue.

My father loved to eat them between two saltines with

a dab of yellow mustard. I like ‘em straight up with a dab

of mustard, but every taste is different. I’ve seen people

use cocktail sauce or tartar sauce or even ketchup. It’s

up to you. But consider this: Johnny Unitas ate ‘em with a

dab and a Saltine, and he’s in the Hall Of Fame. The

“Saltine and dab” was popular at the Previs Brothers Lunch

Counter in the Broadway Market on the Baltimore Waterfront.

I remember sitting at the black and white checkerboard tile

counter on plastic swivel stools.

Enjoy your crab cake experience.

Guest Post by Author Greg Kihn

Guest Post : A Christmas "Recipe" from TaleSpins Author Michael Mullin

A Christmas "Recipe" from TaleSpins Author Michael Mullin

Asking me for a recipe is like asking me to fix your car. 

Ummmm....  [Cricket ... Cricket...] The engine is under this front part, right?

Although I truly would love to be able to cook, I just don't.

Instead of copying a recipe I found online, however, I'll share something I actually did the other day that was holiday related. My daughter bought candy canes for her friends at school. My son (her twin) dropped the bag and broke them. instead of throwing them out, I bought sugar cookie dough (Yes, premade... I know. Lame.) and vanilla frosting. I smashed up the candy canes into dust and mixed it into the frosting. I baked the cookies and frosted them in vanilla-mint (which UNsurprisingly came out pink). Needless to say to those who actually do cook/bake, a little candy dust goes a long way as far as mint taste. So go easy when adding!

Ta da! That's it. Rest assured, I'm a WAY better author than I am a baker. 

Happy Holidays!

Michael Mullin

http://talespinsbooks.com

Simple Roast Chicken by Stanley Schatt

Simple Roast Chicken

I love to cook. One of the easiest, never fail recipes I have is roast chicken. I heat the oven to 400 degrees, I oil the chicken and rub spices all over it (salt, rosemary, dill, thyme, garlic). The result is a chicken that is flavorful and crispy.

I like to cook a whole chicken and cut up potatoes and carrots and onions and place them on the same baking pan. You cook a whole chicken for 1 hour at 400 degrees. Chicken pieces cook more quickly and are done in 45 minutes.

Guest post by Stanley Schatt of Egypt Rising Book Tour

Egypt Rising 

Some ancient secrets should remain buried. An American teenager in Cairo finds herself in the middle of the Egyptian revolution fleeing militant Islamic extremists. She leads her worst enemy and the boy she thinks about much too often on the adventure of a lifetime. When she discovers an ancient artifact that was buried for thousands of years, she learns that very powerful people will stop at nothing, including murder, to learn the secrets of a long-dead civilization.  

Amazon

Praise for Egypt Rising 

From the first page, and quite possibly the first sentence, I was hooked on this refreshingly different YA read that is suitable and enjoyable for all ages! ~Dii 

   

Author Stan Schatt 

Stan Schatt has written thirty books on a wide variety of topics including a chapter book for children, a YA novel, biographies of Michael Connelly and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and books on technology and career changing. His love for teaching is reflected in outstanding teaching awards he received from the University of Southern California and DeVry Institute of Technology. Rather than having one career, Schatt has had several. He has worked as an autopsy assistant, an English professor, a software trainer, a law enforcement administrator, a market research executive, and a sales manager.

Website * Twitter * Goodreads

STANLEY SCHATT

stan_schatt@me.com

Blog: www.stanschatt.com

Twitter: stanschatt

Taco Dip Recipe

Taco Dip

Ingredients

• 8 ozs  Cream Cheese  ( softened )
• 16 ozs  nonfat SOUR Cream
• 1 1 / 4  ozs  Mix seasoning  ( taco )
• 1 / 4  Head  Iceberg Lettuce  ( - Rinsed and Dried Shredded )
• 1 CUP  Shredded cheddar Cheese
• 3  Tomatoes  ( Chopped )
• 1  green bell Pepper  ( Chopped )
• 2 1 / 4  ozs  Black olives  ( drained )

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning. Spread this mixture in a 9-inch (or a little larger) round serving dish. Top the mixture with lettuce, Cheddar cheese, tomatoes, bell pepper and black olives.

Source

Guest by Kaycee R for the book Twisted Book Tour

Twisted

Cayden Rivers wants nothing more than to be normal, but we don't always get what we want. For years he has been hiding a secret, afraid of being labeled a "freak". Every day he goes to school, plays football, spends time with his girlfriend, and helps carry his drunken adopted father to bed. Nobody knows the truth about his unnatural speed and strength, including his life-long friend Camilla. Suddenly, four strangers enter Cayden's life, and not only do they know his secret, they also have one of their own. With their help, Cayden discovers there is more to his power, something much more dangerous. Something other people will kill to possess . Camilla wishes her parents were around more. She gets lonely sleeping in her big empty house night after night. Sure, she has all the money she could ever need, but the only person who is there for her is Cayden. He has his own family and a girlfriend who takes up most of his time, so Camilla knows he won't be there for her forever, and recently he's been acting really strange. Will Cayden be able to keep his secret and his friendship with Camilla, or will his new found power destroy everything, including his own life? Switching between Cayden and Camilla's point of view, Twisted will leave you aching for more.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Kaycee R 

KayCee is a 24 year old self-published author from Cleveland, Ohio. KayCee has always loved reading. After a re-occurring dream she decided to try writing about it. She wrote the first installment of Twisted when she was 20. "I kept having this dream about these twins, and then I just decided to run with it. I wrote the beginning, the end, and then filled in the middle." KayCee finished the book in 8 months and then decided to share the book online. After seeing people get interested in the book and the characters, she decided to write another book and turn Twisted into a series. KayCee has finished four novels in the Twisted series and is currently working on the fifth book.

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Moose Track Ice Cream - Guest Post by Danni Pettrey

I love adding "extras" for my readers. I share a number of recipes from each Alaskan Courage series books on the Fun page of my website. Today I thought I'd share one of these recipes with you. Moose Track Milkshakes are a McKenna family favorite. 

Moose Track Ice Cream (Vanilla ice cream with peanut butter cups and famous Moose Tracks® fudge).

• Milk
• Additional squirt of chocolate syrup if you really like chocolate 

Fill blender to the 1st line with milk.

Add 2 scoops of ice cream and optional squirt of chocolate syrup.

Mix, first at high speed then low.

Add ice cream or milk to thicken or thin mixture to taste.

Add whipped cream.

Add dark chocolate shavings.

Or if you’re really adventurous you can make homemade Moose Tracks Ice cream and go from there.

http://www.food.com/recipe/moose-tracks-ice-cream-414689

This is a guest post by Danni Pettrey

Author Dani Pettrey

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

website, twitter, facebook

When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn’t satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn’t lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby’s position. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn’t the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.

Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He’s surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report. Something sinister is going on and the deeper they dig the more Gage fears they’ve only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Forget Me Not Blog Tour Excerpt

“Excuse me?”
I looked the woman up and down. It irritated me how she hung on Mason, as if she had every right in the world to do it. I growled and stepped forward, ready to go to war for the man I loved. I didn’t even care about whatever excuse she would give for invading our lives with her false presumptions—I was pissed. I could feel the change happening, and I smiled. Judging from the way she blanched, I knew my fangs must have shown.
“Darcy, stop.” Mason’s voice broke through my anger, and luckily for him he’d moved away from her. “This is Amber, and it’s not what it seems.”
“Who is this, Mason? And why does she think she has a hold over you?” Amber asked.
The syrupy sweetness of her tone set my teeth on edge, and I launched myself at her. I was acting on the most primal of levels, hospitality be damned. I was instantly caught up in strong embrace of Alpha, and pulled in tight to his chest. I lunged again with my hands clenched into fists.
“Calm down, baby,” he whispered into my ear, his deep, rumbling timbre trying to soothe the savageness rising within me. “There’s no threat here. Trust me.” I felt a small layer of power under his words, and my wolf stood down—for the moment. I realized I was panting as my body tensed—ready to fight.
Wrapped tightly in his arms, I glared at the intruder, and tried to unclench my jaw. Everything inside was on high alert, and I refused to look away. Listening for Mason’s response, I almost missed the flicker of amusement that crossed her face.
“What are you doing here? I’m pretty sure I made myself clear.” It was the coldness in his tone which finally caused me to relax. He was surprised to see her, but there was no mistaking the anger as well. There was history between them, but whatever designs this Amber had were all one sided.
“I heard, but it still doesn’t change that it was the wish of our parents. I thought you needed time to see the sense between the pairing, and now with the death of your sister, I knew you would need me.” Her focus was on Mason, but her body language told me she was still aware of me. “Maybe this is a discussion we need to continue away from your girlfriend.”
Finally meeting my gaze, she smiled sympathetically. “I’m sorry, I know this is sudden, but whatever you have with the Alpha is over. He is betrothed, so any promise you think you have with him can’t ever become a reality.”
“Amber. We are not betrothed.”
“But, you’re not tied to anyone. You don’t bear the marks. Why else would a male of your virility and status remain alone?” She looked at me again. “Surely, she’s not the reason why. She’s nothing, Mason, merely something to slake your lust with.”
He’d loosened his grip on me, and I broke free from his embrace. My vision zeroed in on her throat, restarting the process of shifting. I was determined that one way or the other, there would be one less werewolf on the property when I was done.
“Darcy.” Not only did he use my name, but Mason also slammed his plea through our mental connection, layering it thick with his love and need for me to stop. I wanted blood—needing to do something to show this two-bit hussy I wasn’t so easily tossed aside. I was the one Mason would be mating with, and another growl escaped from my mouth in warning.

Potty Cover Giveaway -US

 

Have you ever been into a public restroom, lined the toilet with the tissue-paper covers, then sat down only to discover that your protection didn't work as well as you'd hoped? I think for me that is one of the nastiest feelings in the world! I hate the thought of other people's bathroom remnants being anywhere near me, much less my daughter! Emma has just started using her potty, so we haven't yet come to a public restroom situation yet with her, but the PottyCover has definitely saved my rear-end! Because of the sensitive nature of the usage of this product, I don't have any in-actions shots for you, but I do have a picture of one draped over my toilet at home. Take a look! 

   

Isn't that a HUGE difference from the liners that they give to you in the bathroom? The PottyCover is made of non-woven fabric coated with a layer of plastic, creating a waterproof barrier between the toilet and you or your children's bottoms. I doubt that there is a single tissue-paper liner that can provide that level of protection!

 

In addition, it goes from the back of the seat and drapes down over the front, going almost all of the way down to the floor. The side panels extend down over the edges so that if a child is holding onto the edges of the seat for balance, their hands are protected too! Each seat cover is individually packaged in a small, easy to open bag that makes it super easy to always keep one or two in a purse or a back pocket. 

If you are interested in buying your own PottyCovers pack, they are available on Amazon, Ebay, all Buy Buy Baby stores around the country and at select Bed Bath & Beyond stores, typically running for $5.99. 

Thanks to our sponsors at PottyCovers, one reader will win a pack of PottyCovers to try out! This contest is open from 7/11/12 at 12:01 am EST and runs through 7/18/12 at 12:01 am EST. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter! Good Luck!!!

Snomees Giveaway - US/CAN

A Warm Welcome To You From the Oscar Nominated Artists for Animation Feature Film The Illusionist In July 9-15, 2012 Mega Blogger Giveaway Event!

We have teamed up with their creative team who is ready to release into this world the first-time ever SNOMEE. What Is a Snomee? Who Is a Snomee? 

A Snomee is your marvelous gift-within-a-gift. It is a solution to your gift wrapping and packaging. It is an upbeat presentation of your Gift Cards to a person who you would love to surprise. A Snomee is a snow globe created to hold your gift card inside. There are Snomees for every occasion you could imagine: Christmas – for sure. Birthdays. Weddings. Special Celebrations. Easter. Graduations. And more to come. Celebrate Woman Today with an amazing cohort of blogging personalities at

Suburban Coupon Mom Mom to Bed by 8 MS Stole My Brain Emptynester Reviews Clip This Not That Mary's Cup of Tea

teamed up with our super active communities of bloggers ready to release your chances to win. What’s up for you to win?

I Grand Prize – Limited Edition of Snomees (11 to be precise), $220 Value

10 Prizes – 15 People will receive $15 Value Each in Gift Cards (Target, Walmart, Macy’s – you choose. If it’s not listed, you can even request which card you’d like to receive when you win)

Do you want to increase your chances to win one of the grandiose Limited Edition of Snomees? You can! After you enter the Rafflecopter below, Like and Share the post on this link as many times as you want. Without further ado, here’s your Rafflecopter form, go and enter away!

Smile Brilliant LED Teeth Whitening Giveaway - US

Smile Brilliant Review and Giveaway! Hosted By: Xtreme Qpon

I was given the opportunity to try out Smile Brilliant's Brilliantly Simple LED Teeth Whitening, and I am so pleased with the results! As a 15 year smoker and pot a day coffee drinker, I could use a little teeth whitening. I've tried the different white strips, toothpastes, and although I could see a slight difference, it wasn't what I was looking for. Wasn't enough. With Smile Brilliant you get a professional grade tooth whitening in the comfort of your own home! It's so easy to apply and comfortable to wear, I can cook dinner or do laundry...I'm actually typing this review right now while whitening! Just paint on the whitening gel, put in the mouth guard, then set the LED light on top and you are ready to go, hands free! I noticed a difference after the first whitening, but saw a HUGE difference after the 3rd!

Smile Brilliant is so confident that you will be pleased with the results, they are offering a 30 day money back guarantee!

One lucky winner will receive the Smile Brilliant Brilliantly Simple package : LED Whitening and Whitening pen! ($129.95 value)

 

• High intensity Ultra-Blue LED activating light (batteries included)
• Protective trays(top & bottom)
• 4ml Professional whitening gel pen (35% concentration)
• 30 Day money back guarantee
• Life-time tray replacement warranty

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win! Don't want to wait for the giveaway? 

 Visit SmileBrilliant.com NOW and purchase your LED kit for a special price of $39.95 ($90.00 savings!!) PLUS, if you buy now, you can use my special Coupon Code: XTREME to get an additional 20% off!!
Good Luck everyone!!!!!

TriLight Health Products Giveaway - US

For over 20 years TriLight Health has faithfully supplied their customers nationwide with a high quality line of liquid herbal products. They are the first company to specialize in great tasting, non alcoholic herbal formulas for pregnancy, children, and the family. 

I was able to choose two products to review. I chose the NR Glow-Immune Support and the Tummy Plus-Stomach Support.

 

NR Glow contains echinacea and astragalus for immune and eczema support. It also contains red root, an herb historically used to shrink swollen lymph nodes. In combination with echinacea purpurea along with other infection fighters and blood purifiers, this formula has been used for chronic respiratory conditions, ear infections, swollen lymph nodes and tonsillitis.  I chose this product because my daughter has eczema. My daughter was diagnosed with eczema when she was about four months old. She is now one and a half years old. She does have prescriptions from her dermatologist that help with her eczema. I wanted to try this product out to see if it would help with her itching. The NR Glow has helped her out tremendously. She hasn't been itching as much as she used to. This product really works well. I'm so glad she can use this product to help with her itching. She has also had less break outs as well. My daughter had no problem with the taste either. She took it without hesitation. 

Tummy Plus is a former Cherokee Heritage formula passed on by Medicine Bear, son of a Cherokee Medicine Man. This strong, yet soothing herbal combination supports digestive function during times of colic, stomach ache, indigestion, heartburn, or intestinal gas. I chose this product because I get stomach aches often. I usually have them at least every other day if not every day. I wanted to see if this product would help with my stomach aches. With this product you have to mix 1/2 teaspoon per 25lbs of body weight into a 1/2 cup warm water. I was very impressed with the taste. It tasted just like green tea. I thought this would take awhile to start working, but it started working the second day I used it. I have not had any stomach aches since I have been using this product. I'm very impressed with this product. 

They have a wide variety of products to choose from. I love that they have many different products for different symptoms. They have products for pregnant woman, children, and the whole family. 

TriLight Health is offering 10% off your first order. Just use the coupon code FIRST10 at the checkout. If your order is over $25 you get free shipping as well.


Would you like to win one of these products? Trilight Health has offered to give two of my readers one product each. Just enter in the rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

Good Luck!!!

Oatmeal Face Mask

Hi, guys! Gwen here and I wanted to share a recipe for an oatmeal face mask with you. Of course when Fiona and I were younger we pretended this was a potion. Since most of our potions backfired I guess it was a good thing this wasn’t one.  Like the time Fiona tried casting a love spell and it turned her into a lovesick fool who fell in love with anyone she laid eyes on, and I do mean anyone. Barry, the janitor, was not the exception. 

Now that we’re older we know that casting spells and creating potions is not to be taken lightly. So without further ado…

Oatmeal Face Mask

¼ cup oatmeal

¼ cup of water

2 tsp honey.

2 drops of vitamin E oil

Steps

• Place oatmeal in a bowl. You can blend the oats down for a finer mixture if desired.
• Pour in water and blend until the substance is gooey. 
• Add 2 tsp of honey and 2 drops of vitamin E oil. Mix together.
• Apply to face for 10-15 minutes.
• After the allotted time, wash face with warm water and pat dry.

There you have it, an all-natural face mask that’ll leave your skin feeling baby soft! And I won’t hold it against you guys if you chose to pretend it’s a potion, just whatever you do, don’t add powdered bat wing and thistle—it won’t end good.

                                                             ~ Gwen Sparks ~

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Kindle

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Nook

Sweet Sound Inspirations ( Guest Post )

I know I’m not unusual in that I tend to get a lot of inspiration from music for my writing. I like to have a playlist of popular music to turn to when I need to connect with my muse.  

    

 The song that had the greatest affect for me from my Bitten Shame playlist was “Drop the Mirror” by Missy Higgins:  

Believe 

now in what you see,

 'cos seeing me is all you'll ever be, 

and shhh baby don't you think,

 I'll close your eyes so you need not to blink. 

And I'll numb your demise, 

yeah I'll numb your demise

'Cos baby who will come more than a mile

 to put a rose on withered cheeks that hide no smile?

 And if the pain don't satisfy,

 you know you can hide in me until you get it right.

 So drop the mirror, look at me...

I tried to dissect those lyrics, but in my mind they became Jill’s own words warring within herself as she struggled with the dark thing inside of her (I won’t say too much and give anything away.)

 

 The pull between Doc and Jill in the story is… hot and undeniable. I think the tone of The Fray’s “Say When” describes that yearning between them perfectly:

I see you there, 

don't know where you come from 

Unaware of a stare from someone

 Don't Appear to care 

that I saw you, and I want you

[…] 

Turn around and you're walkin toward me 

I'm breakin down

 and you're breathin slowly 

Say the word and I will be your man, 

your man, say when.

Listening to these songs throughout the writing process of my second novel really helped me stay in touch with the different ambiances I was conveying. They helped me to make Bitten Shame a stronger story just by the emotions they evoked within me. So have a listen to my Bitten Shame playlist and maybe find some inspiration of your own!  

Find Olivia's books:

Witch Way Bends is Available at Amazon

Bitten Shame is Available at Amazon ~~ Barnes & Noble ~~~ Smashwords

You can also get autographed paperbacks of both books from Olivia’s blog.

Olivia Hardin realized early on how strange she was to have complete movie-like character dreams as a child. Eventually she began putting those vivid dreams to paper and was rarely without her spiral notebooks full of those mental ramblings. Her forgotten vision of becoming an author was realized when she connected with a group of amazingly talented and fabulous writers who gave her lots of direction and encouragement. With a little extra push from family and friends, she hunkered down to get lost in the words. She's also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and is sometimes accused of being artistic, though she's generally too much of a perfectionist to appreciate her own work. A nativeTexasgirl, Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband Danny and their puppy Bonnie.

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Don't forget to enter the giveaway here, open Worldwide.

Immortal Voyage Blog Tour and Giveaway - US

 

Immortal Voyage

Before the time of the great pyramids, there was a place like none other, a city of glass and metal rising from the depths of the ocean. Shrouded in mist, the island of Hy-Brasil and its capital Atlantis lay hidden from the rest of the world by its people, a race of long lived, interstellar nomads. What secrets would you keep to save your kingdom? On the Queen’s deathbed, the sonless King Rowe is force into a promise to allow his five daughters to marry for love. A promise he wished he had never made, and one he will have to break, to save the kingdom from his squabbling, incompetent son-in-laws. The youngest of five daughters, Jael, spent most of her time at her father’s side learning to run a kingdom. Believed to be the King’s favorite, Jael is shocked when he betroths her to a longtime friend of his, Prince Sarik of Hy-Brasil. Soon she will learn that world is full of secrets and one of them is her very own birth. Will the secret that bonds her to Sarik be the ultimate downfall of a kingdom?


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Backyard Grill 750-Square Inch Dual Gas/Charcoal Grill Giveaway - US

Go Momma Coupons was one lucky lady and won an amazing Backyard Grill Dual Gas/Charcoal Grill. Many of you know I love cooking and already have one. So Go Momma Coupons has teamed with over 50 other amazing blogger to give it away to celebrate the fourth of July.
Summer would not be complete without having a barbecue.

You know the drill fill out the raffelcopter form below and Good Luck.

Contest end July 8th at 12:01 am. Open to anyone in US that is at least 18 years of age. Winner must have valid shipping address. Sorry no P.O. Boxes.

Freedom To Read: A Good Man by Vanessa Morgan

GUEST POST & EXCERPT OF VANESSA MORGAN'S A GOOD MAN

Blurb: Liked Dexter and American Psycho? Then you will love A Good Man.

Louis Caron is a good man – vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge – he's a vampire - and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempt to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.

Guest post by Vanessa Morgan

I often get the question if I base my characters on real people. Normally, that's not the case, but I made an exception for A Good Man. The steamy scene that I'm going to share with you below is a good example of that. When I was writing the first draft of A Good Man, one of my friends told me about a one-night stand with a lady called Butterfly. When he told me how they ended up in bed less than half an hour after they had met, I just knew I had to incorporate this scene into A Good Man. It has gotten me the bad reputation of the girl that asks too many details about her friends' sex life, but looking at the scene now, I'm sure it was worth it. Only two facts in this scene are invented: Butterfly didn't get killed and she didn't have a cat (that was just a sneaky excuse to talk about my cat Avalon, who you might know from his web comic at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.

A Good Man is now being turned into a feature film. Who would you cast as Louis and Butterfly?

About Vanessa Morgan

Screenwriter and novelist Vanessa Morgan is known as the 'female version of Stephen King'. You can find out more about Vanessa Morgan and her work by going to her personal blog http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com. If you like cats, you might also like the web comic about her cat Avalon at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.

Excerpt of A Good Man (screenplay)

INT. LOUIS' BATHROOM – EVENING

Louis takes a shower. He comes out, dries himself and

puts a towel around his body. He takes an organic

facial cream and rubs it on his face. He then puts on

some organic after shave.

INT. BAR - LATER

Louis sits at the bar. BUTTERFLY (46 years old),

fully tatooed and unkept, takes a seat next to him.

BUTTERFLY

Hi, I'm Butterfly. I believe we met on

Meetic.

LOUIS

That's right.

BUTTERFLY

My cat must have known I was seeing a man

tonight. He had a nervous breakdown just

before I left... So weird.

LOUIS

What breed is your cat?

BUTTERFLY

A Turkish Van cat. It's a very rare breed.

LOUIS

Ah, the swimming cat! Beautiful animal.

BUTTERFLY

(with admiration)

You know Turkish Van cats?! You're

wonderful!

Reason enough to kiss Louis languorously. Louis is

somewhat surprised, but returns the kiss.

INT. LOUIS' APARTEMENT BUILDING, STAIRCASE – LATER

Louis and Butterfly enter Louis' apartment building

and go up the staircase. Butterfly doesn't stop

talking about her cat, which is rather annoying to

Louis.

BUTTERFLY

(enthusiastic)

I'm crazy about my cat. I love him so much.

He's like my child. I can't imagine that

Avalon would be alone or unhappy someday.

Did I tell you that I only buy him organic

food? He eats better than I do --

Louis unlocks the door.

INT. LOUIS' HALLWAY

Louis and Butterfly enter the apartment. Louis

switches on the lights.

BUTTERFLY

That's a very nice apartment you have here.

I bet Avalon would love it too, especially

the sofa... To sharpen his claws, you know

what I mean? He has three climbing trees,

but he prefers --

Louis kisses Butterfly hungrily (in order to make her

shut up). She kisses him back. Louis undresses her.

When undressed, Butterfly frees herself from his

grip, goes toward the sofa in the living room and

gets on her knees. A large tatoo of a butterfly is

visible on her lower back.

BUTTERFLY

Take me like this.

Louis jumps on her like a wild beast.

CUT TO:

Louis and Butterfly in the throes of sex, moaning

loudly.

After sex, Louis rolls off her and sits down on the

edge, still panting. Butterfly stretches onto the

sofa. She caresses his belly.

LOUIS

Don't touch my belly.

BUTTERFLY

Why? My cat Avalon has a big belly as well.

You shouldn't --

Even before Butterfly is able to finish her sentence,

Louis bites her in the neck. Butterfly's life passes

rapidly before Louis' eyes – exotic holidays, drugs,

sex, more sex. People and places are never the same.

Exciting adventures intertwine with moments of

extreme solitude. Louis pulls back. Butterfly tries

to staunch the wound with her hands, but she's too

weak and she has trouble breathing. Louis bites

again. A flash of Butterfly doing drugs and losing

herself in nirvana. Butterfly dies while Louis is

still sucking her blood. The sofa saturates with

blood. Louis runs to the toilet to vomit.

INT. LOUIS' LIVING ROOM – LATER

Louis goes through Butterfly's handbag. He takes her

keys, looks at her ID and reads her address out loud.

INT. BUTTERFLY'S STUDIO APARTMENT, STAIRCASE – LATER

Louis, wearing latex gloves, opens the door to

Butterfly's studio apartment.

INT. BUTTERFLY'S STUDIO APARTMENT

Louis enters Butterfly's studio apartment. His hands

search for the light switch. He finds it and switches

it on.

LOUIS

(calling the cat)

Avalon? Kitty? Where are you?

Avalon jumps from the kitchen counter and walks

toward Louis, headbutting him. Louis takes the cat in

his arms.

LOUIS

Come with me, Avalon.

EXT. LOUIS' APARTMENT BUILDING – LATER

Louis leaves the car with a pet caddy. He unlocks the

door to his apartment building and enters.

INT. LOUIS' LIVING ROOM – LATER

Avalon eats from his tray. He is surrounded by dozens

of toys. Louis caresses him.

LOUIS

(talking to the cat)

I will take good care of you, Avalon. I'm

your new Butterfly. You see, I'm a good

man.

Behind Louis, the sofa is still covered with blood.

Other books by Vanessa Morgan

Drowned Sorrow (novel)

Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help to put her life back together. But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek. When rain falls over the village, the inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the village deserted with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake's surface, an eerie presence watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors. By the time Megan realizes that her daughter is in danger, it might already be too late.

The Strangers Outside (short story)

Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cottage after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they're being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with the strangers outside. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.