SLEEPING WITH SANTA by Debra Druzy

Blurb:
When Nick reluctantly accepts the temporary transfer to the Scenic View Fire Department he doesn’t plan on playing Santa Claus for the kiddie Christmas party. Sticking around town for the special assignment will give him a chance to get to know lonely, local sweetheart Lily and find out why she wants nothing to do with him. Lily is a lifelong fixture in Scenic View, sick of living hand-to-mouth in a place where everyone’s nose is in her personal business. Just when she’s ready to move out of town, she meets the gorgeous newcomer, and it’s lust at first sight. The only thing is she doesn’t date firemen, which is too bad, because charming Nick seems like a real keeper. With a little Christmas magic and help from the Santa suit, will Nick find a way into Lily’s heart and change her mind?

Bio:
Debra lives in New York, on Long Island, with her hero-hubby, two lovey-dovey daughters, and a furbaby-Shih Tzu. She loves Christmastime any time and is a sucker for a happily ever after. Sleeping with Santa is her first published book, and she is working on her next Christmas romance in the same neck of the woods with spin-off characters.

Links:

My Website is >> http://debradruzy.com/
TWRP Link is >> http://tinyurl.com/n2fqx4x
The Amazon Link is >> http://amzn.com/1628307374

I can't believe it is over!

Well, Christmas has come and gone. I find it hard to believe. All of that hard work for the last three months, 12 hours of shopping on Black Friday, countless hours working on the food, waiting for the kids to go to sleep so that "Santa" can bring the presents out, and all for what? To have it all gone in one day...LOL!

In my house, to make the unwrapping of presents last a little longer, we draw numbers and then we watch as everyone opens there gifts, oohing, and ahhing as they go. This way, we all get to see what everyone got and enjoy it with them.

So now, we are recovering from the day. Everyone is still playing with their toys, my husband is having a blast playing Guitar Hero with the kids, and I am enjoying having him home for the holidays. It's nice to have an extra day off together.

Now it is time to plan a New Year's Eve party. I will be hosting the gathering at my house and this year we have come up with a theme, Alter Ego. Everyone must come dressed as their alter ego. I can't wait to see what people will choose. As for me? I will let you know, I haven't quite decided.

We have hosted a themed New Year's Eve party before. It was a slumber party. We always invite the children, so every came in their pajamas and brought pillows and sleeping bags. I sent all of the invitations in a slipper. When the families arrived, they had to show their slipper, then they found their match and the two families had to do a challenge together. We had sooo much fun!!! All of our drinks were in mugs, we played Pictionary, etc.

Do you have plans for the New Year? I hope you will share them here!

Season's Greetings!

I wanted to take a moment and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you so much for stopping by through out the year and seeing what I had to say. I appreciate your support.

May you have success in your endeavors and I hope all of your wishes come true in 2011!

With much love,

Sarah

The History of the Nutcracker

After watching a bit of the ballet "The Nutcracker" on TV, I began to wonder how this became associated with Christmas.



Nutcrackers have been around since the beginning of time. Nuts and fruits have been an important part of man's diet. Not only did we eat them as they were, nuts were made into flour, butter, or as a way to spice up a meal. Nuts were easy to find and a plentiful food item.



If the nuts were too hard to crack by teeth, pitted stones were used. In excavations of early civilizations have found such stones and have been discovered in the United States and Europe dating back 4,000 to 8,000 years during the Archaic Period.



The oldest nutcracker can be found in a museum in Tarent, Italy and dates back to the third or fourth century B.C. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum has a bronze Roman Nutcracker dating between 200 B.C and 200 A. D. It was found in 1960 after being buried for over 1800 years.



Over the years, Nutcrackers have evolved. I found that according to German folklore, Nutcrackers would be given to friends and family as keepsakes to bring good luck and to protect the home. Legend says that the Nutcracker represents strength and power. It serves as a look out for your family, guarding them from evil spirits and danger. The Nutcracker bares his teeth to evil spirits and danger, forever being the fierce protector.




Nutcrackers have become a tradition at dining tables and Christmas holiday settings for a long time. Bringing with it, whimsical conversations. Many unusual forms can be found of these novelty pieces. Writers, artists and composers have paid tribute to these festive messengers. The most famous is the novel, "The Nutcraker and the King of Mice" written by E.T. Amadeus Hoffman somewhere between 1776 and 1822. It was then turned into a popular ballet, debuting in St. Petersburg on Dec. 18, 1892. It was choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and the score was written by none other than Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.



So, the next time you are sitting in the living room with the glow of the Chrsitmas tree over your shoulder and someone passes you a tray with nuts and the Nutcracker, I hope you will remember this post and it serves as another unusal conversation piece associated with this holiday tradition.

My family traditions part 2

Another tradition that has become a favorite of mine, is Candy Making Day.



(My sister Kim, niece Shelbey, and Sister-In-Law Laura.)

Thanksgiving, Candy Making Day and Christmas Eve are rotated between the family, that way, one person isn't doing the same thing or can visit their family if need be. This year, CMD is at my house.


We usually start around 10 AM. This includes my sisters, my mother, a couple of cousins and any girls over the age of 13. There is usually about 15-20 of us there. Then the men take the kids and will congregate at another house for the day.


Christmas music plays in the background. We make buckeyes, dipped pretzels, peanut brittle, 6 flavors of rock candy, think mint cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, divinity, rice crispie treats, and fudge. Of course, these are the things we always make. Someone usually finds something new to try. Then we take whatever container we brought and split it up.


(My niece Joy)

After we have made an obscene amount of goodies, the husbands and children come back and we have dinner and play cards. It is a fun day to be had by all!!