Perchance have you seen MTV’s new show The Buried Life? I almost wrote it off as another MTV Real World/Jersey Shore reality train wreck, but I’m glad I didn’t let preconceived notions rob me of a really a great show. Here’s the blurb:

The Buried Life is “The true life story of four regular guys on a mission to complete a list of ‘100 Things To Do Before You Die’ and to help and encourage others to go after their own lists.”

Yes, the majority of the tasks on their list are typical of 20-something guys: attend a party at the Playboy mansion (pleeeease…  ); ask out the girl of your dreams – Megan Fox (insert eye roll here….  ) but what redeems them (besides the fact that they’re funny and all pretty easy to watch) is for each thing they attempt to accomplish on their list, they help a stranger accomplish something on theirs. Darn it, that part of the show always makes me get a little teary.

If nothing else, the show has made me think about what I want to accomplish. Writing and raising a family can be all-consuming. Lately, it seems I don’t do much beyond writing and family.  I’ve never made a Bucket List – not even after seeing the movie. Somehow, it seemed like a countdown to death, and I have so much more life to live. But The Buried Life got me thinking: What would I like to do? What would I like to accomplish beyond writing and family… ? Things just for me. So, I’ve started jotting down notions as they come to me. Some things are beyond my control, other tasks on my list are going to take a while to accomplish. I guess I’d better get started…even though I don’t plan on “leaving” anytime soon.

Here are ten things from my list – not in any particular order of importance. Actually, it’s my entire list right now. Hey, it’s a work in progress. And I’m discovering I’m kinda picky about what I add …

1. Climb Mt. Hood. (Mt. Hood, OR)
2. Hit the NY Times List
3. See my daughter become a grandmother (see, this proves I plan on sticking around for a while)
4. Live in Paris for at least consecutive three months
5. Write (a minimum of) 200 books
6. Go for a hot air balloon ride
7. Learn to play the cello
8. Visit all 50 states (and do something memorable – not just an airport layover)
9. Sleep in a castle
10. Trace my family’s roots

So, what about you? As they ask on The Buried Life, “What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?”

The Family They Chose

By Nancy Robards THompson

Available February 2010

I have an embarrassing confession to make: until earlier this week, I didn’t know how to check the pressure in my car tires, nor did I know how to put air in the tires. I learned, and that’s the important thing. I also found out it’s so easy, even a five year old could do it, but until the “very low tire pressure” warning light flashed on my dashboard, the need to bone up on that skill had flown under my radar.

That experience started me thinking about other things women need to know. Don’t worry, this isn’t a practical list. As empowering as it is to pump up my own tires, I’ll save the sensible list for another time. Right now, let’s go a little more intangible.

Here’s my top eleven list of things women should know:

HOW TO FLIRT FOR THE SPORT OF IT. Even if you’re married, it’s all in good fun and can be an instant self-confidence booster. So go ahead, make eye-contact, smile Work it, girl!

HOW TO FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING LUNCH BY YOURSELF /GOING TO A MOVIE BY YOURSELF / TRAVELING BY YOURSELF. Learn how to enjoy your own company so you don’t miss out while waiting for a friend or lover to finally get around to doing what you want.

HOW TO POLITELY, BUT FIRMLY, DEFEND AN ISSUE YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT. Even if you don’t win over the person to your side, the point is having a position and being able to articulate it. If you missed it, see guest blogger, Adele Ashworth’s fabulous (2/2/2010) post on defending the romance genre. She made me stand up and cheer! Go, Adele!!

HOW TO TELL WHICH IS YOUR DRINK AND BREAD PLATE AT A LUNCHEON WHERE THE PLACE SETTINGS ARE CRAMMED TOGETHER ON A ROUND TABLE. A friend of mine who was once a Walt Disney World Ambassador learned a trick in an etiquette class Disney sent her to as part of her training: with your hands in your lap, make a circle by touching your thumb and forefinger together on each hand while holding your other three fingers up. You’ll notice that your left hand forms a small “b” and your right hand forms a small “d.” The “b” of your left hand reminds you that your bread plate is on your left, and the “d” of your right hand signifies that your drink is on the right. Cool, huh? Go confidently to that luncheon!

HOW TO DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM A “TOXIC FRIEND.” This can be difficult, but really, it’s a matter of self-preservation. You don’t have to be nasty, just unavailable.

HOW TO GET RID OF GUILT.  Remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said: No one can make you feel inferior unless you let them. Same applies to this – no one can make you feel guilty unless you allow them.

HOW TO NOT TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY. Eleanor’s rule can loosely apply here, too. It’s not always about you and sometimes that’s a good thing.

HOW TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF. There’s something remarkably liberating about not taking yourself too seriously. This is one of the most important things I’m trying to teach my daughter. And it requires me making a huge fool of myself a great deal of the time. I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun.

HOW TO SAY NO. This is a hard one for me, especially when it comes to NOT volunteering for the various writers’ organizations I belong to and NOT taking on committee work for my daughter’s school. There are only so many hours in a day and it’s amazing how fast they fill up-and not always with things we want to do.

HOW TO SAY YES. This one is hard for me, too. It’s sort of the converse of the “just say no” item above. Learn how to say yes to things you want to do – girls weekends; writing conferences, the occasional splurge on an expensive trinket for yourself. You work hard and you deserve a treat every once in a while.

FINALLY, KNOW WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT YOU. Everyone has something unique and special about them. What makes you special? Me? I know how to put air in my tires! I think that’s pretty cool!

That’s my top eleven. What about you? What are some things you think every woman should know?

Look for THE FAMILY THEY CHOSE by Nancy Robards Thompson –  Available February 2010

There’s nothing quite so magical as the day an author gets “The Call” telling her she’s sold her first book. I never tire of hearing stories of dreams come true – or telling my own story. Since tomorrow marks the seven-year anniversary of the day the wheel started turning, carrying me toward my first sale, I thought I’d share my own story of how I got “The Call.” 

On January 16, 2003 my agent, called and said a publisher was very interested in seeing the completed manuscript of my Chick Lit REINVENTING OLIVIA, of which I’d written only three chapters.  “How soon do you think you can finish it?” she asked. 

I said something stupid like, “Consider it done.  Give me three weeks to polish it.”  

“So I’ll tell him he can expect the complete on February 2?” 

“Sure,” I said. “Sounds great!”  

Come February 2, I’d reached my projected end-of-the-book page count, but I still had more story to tell. Surely, he didn’t mean this February 2…? I thought as I kept plugging away.  

I know this is a terrible thing to admit, but since the publishing industry moves at an absurdly slow pace, I thought — February 2, February 22, same difference.  Besides, February 2 was a Sunday.  Surely the editor wouldn’t notice if I turned it in a few days/ weeks later. 

WRONG! Bad writer!  No chocolate! 

On February 3, the editor called my agent asking about the book. It seemed he had a slot to fill and needed to see it ASAP.   

Oh. He really meant February 2. Oops.  My mistake.  

See Nancy type.  See Nancy type very fast in long marathon sessions. See Nancy scratch her head and wonder how she could have so much story left to tell when the book should’ve ended fifty pages ago.   

As if that weren’t bad enough, two days later (Thursday, February 6) my little cat who was the queen our backyard decided to go on a royal adventure.  Normally, this would’ve been fine, but she was an animal who never missed a meal.  In her three-year reign of the land, she never strayed farther than earshot.  When she didn’t show up for breakfast, I was concerned, but I forced myself to focus on the writing. 

The next day, she was still missing. I was frantic.  At the time, we lived on a busy downtown street and . . . Well, you can imagine the horrible visions running through my head.  But a quick road check, proved “all clear,” and I kept writing.       

Then around two o’clock that afternoon, I took a break and noticed a huge raccoon sitting on a lawn statue in our back yard.  Florida raccoons prowl at night.  They rarely come out during the day unless they’re sick or very hungry. . . this one was particularly cheeky (not to mention about three times the size of our little cat who probably weighed about seven pounds after a big meal). I opened the back door to shoo the beast away, but the thing just sat there and stared at me, then sauntered over to the cat food bowl for a snack.  

The raccoon was still hanging around when my husband got home from work. I watched out the window as he picked up a broom to chase it away. Just then the phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID – a natural reflex of a writer with projects out in the field. The screen flashed a long-distance number where the publisher who was interested in my book was located.  Despite the fact that my husband was picking a fight with a potentially rabid raccoon, I HAD to answer. 

Of course, it was the editor.  Perfect timing. 

Among other things, he asked me if I was polishing the book one word at a time and if I ever planned on sending it to him. Just then, the raccoon charged at my husband.  The fate of my publishing career was on the line (literally), and I was watching a rabid raccoon chase my husband through the backyard.  I kid you not. 

I don’t remember exactly what I said to the editor  something about having the manuscript to him the following Monday, which I did – I finally wising up and realizing if an editor cared enough to call and goad me along he was probably seriously interested in the book (Hello?!?).  

Long story short, my husband and cat (who eventually showed up) made it through the battle unscathed; the raccoon disappeared; and I got THE CALL for REINVENTING OLIVIA a week later.  I guess you could say we all lived happily ever after. 

Later, when I told my editor the story of what happened that day he called, he laughed and said, “The next time you even think about missing a deadline, picture me as that mad raccoon.”  

Since then, I’ve gone on the sell thirteen more books, including “They Family They Chose,” a Silhouette Special Edition, which will be available next month.      

 What’s your favorite true-life funny story?

Is it just me, or does it seem like the holidays have arrived early this year? It feels like it shouldn’t even be Halloween yet. Probably because Halloween came and went without even a carved jack-o-lantern or toasted pumpkin seed in our household (Awww, man, and I love toasted pumpkin seeds…).  Halloween was preempted by deadlines and obligation. There was just no time. Missing that, we held on tight and careened into November, which is birthday season in our family; then the birthdays gave way to Thanksgiving.  Now, here we are sprinting toward the end of 2009.

I realized the other day, I need to slow down and smell the Christmas cookies. Actually, I need to make time to bake some. I need to make time to enjoy my family and the meaning of the season before it’s over and we’re halfway through another new year.

It’s time to take a deep breath and live in the moment.

I’m reading a great book called Ten Zen Seconds by Eric Maisel. Chapter nine, Embracing The Moment, really spoke to me. It’s about the difference between “passing the time” (or in my case, racing through it) and “being present.” Living in the moment.   It’s really given me pause and made me think.      

How is it that we get so busy that we don’t have time to enjoy life? We get so caught up in planning and scheduling and racing from one thing to the next that we neglect to live. Events that are supposed to be fun and memorable become burdens or worse yet, they slip by because we don’t have time or we we’re present in body, but not in spirit as our mind wanders, planning what’s next .

The commitments and obligations won’t evaporate – and the truth is, we probably don’t want most of them to go away.  I’m very blessed to be a wife and mother (my family is my top priority); I’m on deadline (thank goodness for book contracts!); I’m way over committed in the volunteer arena (I can’t imagine giving any of it up); I’ve barely made a dent in my Christmas list (probably good for the budget – but gifts will find their way under the tree); my parents are arriving for the holidays in less than a week (one of the events I’m anticipating most– who knows how many more Christmases we’ll share.  I don’t want to take for granted a single moment with them). Oh, and remember that gingerbread house I blogged about on December 1? Yeah, that one. Well, December’s not over yet…

So, here’s the question: What’s your best tip for living in the spirit of the season? How do you keep up with family, friends, work, housework, decorating and all those holiday concerts, pageants, and parties and keep your sanity?

 ”An Angel in Provence”  by Nancy Robards Thompson

www.NancyRobardsThompson.com

Building The Perfect Gingerbread House

Several years ago, I set out on a mission to make the perfect gingerbread house. Considering it’s usually humid in Florida – even in winter – this was no easy feat. I’ve had several houses crack. Others crumbled. Finally, I found a process that works.  As with anything worth doing, building this house isn’t a quick activity. But if you set aside several hours on four days or so, the process can be a fun family project and you’ll have plenty of time for all the icing to set firmly and, most importantly, you’ll enjoy the time you spend doing it. The house can stand for up to one month. So don’t worry about buulding it too soon.

Ready to get started?

Me, too. But first, I wanted to invite you to come over to my website NancyRobardsThompson.com  to join in on the Twenty-Four Days of Holiday Goodies. Starting tomorrow, I’ll post a recipe for different holiday treats every day thru December 24. I hope you’ll stop by.

But today, we’ll start building our gingerbread house.

Day One: Mix the Dough

6 3/4 cups all purpose flour
4 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 1/2 cups solid vegetable shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
3/4 cup robust (dark) molasses

Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cardamom into a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat shortening in a large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar and beat to blend. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add molasses and beat on high speed until well blended. Add dry ingredients in a quarter portion at a time, beating at low speed until dough forms. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into rectangle. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate at least 6 hours or better yet – wait until tomorrow when we’ll begin the next phase.

 Day Two: Rolling, Cutting and Baking

Go to http://images.allrecipes.com/site/allrecipes/gingerbread_house_diagram.pdf

for a template of the six pieces you’ll use to construct your house.  You’ll cut and bake six different pieces of dough  – two side walls, the front and the back walls, and the two roof sections. Be sure to save the scraps so that you can re-roll them to make the roof tiles, trees, stars, figures and other cookies for nibbling.

1 roll of kitchen parchment (at least 10 yards)
1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter for roof tiles
Assorted cookie cutters (such as Christmas tree, gingerbread man, and star)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

6 pieces of cardboard on which to transfer the house templates

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Rolling dough:

Roll out 1 dough piece between two 12-inch-long sheets of parchment to scant 1/4-inch thickness, turning over dough and parchment occasionally. If the parchment wrinkles, peel off, smooth wrinkle and reposition the paper over dough; continue to roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness.

Roof:

Place the cardboard roof template atop parchment. Using small, sharp knife, cut around template through top sheet of parchment. Peel top parchment off dough. Pull away excess dough from around the rectangle. Slide dough rectangle still on its bottom sheet of parchment onto heavy large baking sheet. Gather dough scraps; wrap in plastic and refrigerate.

 Bake rectangle about 13 minutes until it’s dry looking and firm to touch in center and just beginning to darken around edges,. Slide parchment with rectangle onto a rack and cool completely. Rinse baking sheet under cold water to cool; wipe dry.

Walls:

Repeat rolling, cutting and baking of each remaining 5 template pieces, 1 piece at a time, so that you have 2 roof sections, 2 side walls, a front wall and a back wall (cut out windows on side walls and door on front wall but not a door on back wall). Gather and refrigerate dough scraps for use later and rinse baking sheet to cool each time.

Roof tiles:     

Roll out some of reserved dough scraps between sheets of parchment to 1/8-inch thickness. Peel off top parchment. Using floured 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out rounds for roof tiles. It might help to use a small knife, to cut and pull away dough from between the cookie cutter.

Slide parchment with cookie rounds onto cooled baking sheet. Bake cookies until dry looking and firm to touch, about 9 minutes. Slide parchment with cookies onto rack and cool cookies. Working in batches, repeat with more reserved dough to roll, cut and bake a total of about 50 round cookies, gathering, wrapping and chilling any dough scraps each time.

Door and other cutouts:

Roll out some of reserved dough between sheets of parchment to 1/8-inch thickness. Using the template as a guide, cut out a piece to use for the front door. Using floured cookie cutters, cut out several stars, gingerbread figures, Christmas trees and other decorative shapes as desired.  Slide parchment with cookies onto cooled baking sheet. Bake cookies until dry looking and firm to touch, about 9 minutes. Slide parchment with cookies onto rack and cool cookies completely. Remove all baked gingerbread from parchment. (All gingerbread can be prepared 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

Day Three: Building The House

You’ll need 14-inch round cardboard base on which to build your house

4   7×10-inch cardboard rectangles for the house foundation

2 pastry bags
1 1/4- to 3/8-inch diameter plain round pastry tip

eggs

powdered sugar

Icing:

You will prepare this recipe twice: once for assembling the gingerbread house, and again for decorating it.

4 large egg whites
7 to 7 1/2 cups powdered white sugar

 Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until very foamy, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Beat until well blended. Add remaining cups sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating until well blended after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Beat icing at high speed until very thick and stiff, about 5 minutes. (Second batch of icing will be made later.)

Assembly of Foundation and Walls:
2 pastry bags
1 1/4- to 3/8-inch diameter plain round pastry tip

Foundation:

Place 14-inch round cardboard base on work surface. Spoon some icing into pastry bag fitted with 1/4- to 3/8-inch diameter tip; cover icing in bowl tightly to prevent drying. Pipe a small dab of icing in center of round. Place one 7×10-inch cardboard foundation rectangle on icing; press to adhere.

Pipe small mound of icing in center of rectangle. Place second 7×10-inch cardboard rectangle over; press to adhere. Repeat with more icing and remaining two 7×10-inch rectangles, forming the foundation for house in center of round cardboard base.

Walls:

Pipe thick line of icing on bottom edge of 1 sidewall. Stand wall on cardboard foundation, icing side down, 1 inch in from and parallel to one long side and 2 inches in from one short side; hold for 5 minutes.

Pipe thick line of icing onto front edge of wall. Press back edge of front wall (with door cutout) into icing on front edge of sidewall. Hold pieces together for 5 minutes.

Pipe thick line of icing on bottom edge and up the front edge of second sidewall. Press icing on front edge of sidewall into the back edge of front wall, positioning wall parallel to first sidewall. Hold for 5 minutes.

Pipe line of icing up back edge of each sidewall. Press edges of back wall (without door) into icing, forming the back of the house. Hold 5 minutes to set.

Pipe lines of icing inside house where each wall meets, along the base and on outside at all vertical joints to reinforce.

Pipe a thick line of icing along 1 long edge of front-door cookie. Attach cookie to left side of door-opening in front wall, creating an opened front door. Let house stand until the icing is completely dry and very hard — about 12 hours. 

Day Four: Putting On The Roof And Decorating The House

 Assembly of Roof and Tiles

1 1/8-inch diameter plain round pastry tip
1 1/4- to 3/8-inch diameter plain round pastry tip
2 pastry bags

Prepare a second batch of icing (with the above recipe).

 Spoon 1 cup icing into pastry bag fitted with 1/8-inch diameter tip. With the icing, outline windows and front door decoratively. Pipe decorations on front and back walls.

Roof:

Spoon icing into a new pastry bag fitted with 1/4- to 3/8-inch diameter plain tip. Pipe thick line of icing down 1 diagonal edge of front wall; continue piping icing along top edge of adjoining sidewall and up diagonal edge of back wall.

Press 1 roof rectangle into icing, positioning so that top edge aligns with top of front and back walls and the lower edge overhangs the sidewall by about 1 1/4 inches. Hold in position for 5 minutes to set.

Pipe additional lines of icing along roof joints inside house to reinforce.

Pipe thick line of icing down the second diagonal edge of the front wall; continue piping icing along top edge of the adjoining sidewall and up diagonal edge of the back wall. Press the second roof rectangle into the icing, positioning it so that the top edge aligns with edge of the first roof rectangle and the lower edge overhangs the side wall by about 1 1/4 inches. Hold in position for 5 minutes to set.

Let the house stand until the icing hardens – at least 3 hours.

Cover the bowl of icing and let it stand at room temperature.

Tiles:

Spoon more icing into pastry bag fitted with 1/4- to 3/8-inch diameter plain tip. Pipe small mound of icing in center of underside of 1 round cookie. Align cookie edges flush with one bottom corner of roof; press to adhere. Repeat with about 5 more cookies to form bottom row of roof tiles, cutting end cookie to align with edge of roof.

Pipe generous mound of icing on upper half of underside of 1 round cookie. Position cookie halfway between 2 first-row cookies and overlap them by about 3/4-inch. Press the icing portion gently onto roof. Repeat with more cookies to form the second row, cutting cookies to fit at each end.

Repeat with more cookies to cover the first side of the roof. Attach the cookies in the same way on the second roof rectangle.

Using the first pastry bag fitted with 1/8-inch-diameter tip, outline the bottom halves and cut edges of roof tiles with icing.

Decorations:

 12 hard red-and-white striped peppermint candies, cut in half with serrated knife

4 striped candy canes, cut to fit corners of house under roof

cinnamon redhots
Chocolate nonpareils

Gumdrops

Jellybeans

Other assorted candies

Spoon icing into pastry bag fitted with 1/4- to 3/8-inch-diameter tip. Pipe 1 or more thick lines of frosting between roof sections at top of house, filling opening completely. Gently press cut side of peppermint candies in row into icing.

Pipe 1 thick vertical line of icing at each corner of house; press 1 trimmed candy cane into each. Pipe small rounds of icing onto both sides of door for doorknobs and in center of each roof tile. Press cinnamon redhot into each round of icing.

Using pastry bag fitted with 1/8-inch-diameter tip, pipe small mound of icing onto edge of roof.

Slowly pull bag downward while squeezing out icing so that about 3/4- to 1-inch section of icing hangs freely. Pull bag away, leaving “icicles” hanging. Repeat at 1/4-inch intervals around roof edge. Pipe decorative line of icing along front and back eaves of roof sections.

Outline and decorate gingerbread figures, trees, stars and other cookies. (you can color the icing if you’d like) Using back of spoon or flexible spatula, spread icing around base of house and on cardboard base, creating “snow-covered” landscape.

Press chocolate nonpareils into icing, making path to front door. Stand decorated cookies and other candies in the icing.

 ”An Angel in Provence”  by Nancy Robards Thompson

www.NancyRobardsThompson.com

We’ve all know someone who’s totally butchered the lyrics to a song. Not us, of course, but maybe a family member or a close, personal friend. Someone who was belting out a tune – in total rock star mode - when it happens –“WAIT! What did you say?… NO!  That’s not how the song goes! Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!!”

They’ve bungled the lyrics.

For me, the most delightful episode of misheard lyrics happened when my daughter was three. I was working in my office. She was playing quietly by herself in her room when she started to sing. Her sweet little voice carried down the hall, and the song went like this:

“You’re a grandma flag,

You’re a hot flying flag,

And forever in peace may she wave.

You’re the emblem of the land I love,

the home of the tree by the lake.

Every heart beats true for the red, white and blue

And there’s never a loaf of bread.

May all the Lincolns be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grandma flag.”

I nearly wet my pants.

Seriously.  I had to clasp my hand over my mouth to keep from ha-ha-ha’ing out loud. Once I contained myself, I walked into her room.

“Whatcha singing?” I asked.

“A song I learned in school,” she said.

“Really?  Sing it for me again.”

And she did.  With gusto.

Exactly as I’d heard it.

Lincolns and all.

To this day it’s my favorite misheard lyrics story. Even better than my high school friend singing, “HAM ON RYE” when Kenny Logins sang, “I’M ALRIGHT.” Or when a girl at a party was belting out, “YOU GOTTA DANCE TO THE LEFT, DANCE TO THE RIGHT…” as Jimmy Buffet sang, “YOU’VE GOT FINS TO THE LEFT, FINS TO THE RIGHT.” (She even had her own little dance to go with her imagined lyrics)

It even aced the time someone I know sang, “STOP! In the NEIGHBORHOOD before you break my heart.” When everyone knows Diana Ross says, “STOP! In the NAME OF LOVE before you break my heart.”  To me, it’s even better than the king of bungled lyrics - that line from Jimmy Hendricks’ “Purple Haze,” “Excuse me while I kiss THIS GUY” when it should be “Excuse me while I kiss THE SKY.”

Okay, if I’m telling on everyone else, I suppose it’s only fair to fess up. It happened to me the other day.  As a general rule, I don’t sing in public, because… well, I just don’t. If you heard me you’d understand. But I’m a diva in the car, and I was singing along to Jordan Sparks’s song, “Battlefield.”

Total bungle.

You’d think the title – BATTLEFIELD – would’ve clued me in, but rather than, “Why does love always feel like a BATTLEFIELD.” I heard and sang a heartfelt, “Why does love always feel like it’s BAD FOR YOU.” That was forgivable, but when she got to the part where she sings, “Go get your ARMOR.” I could’ve sworn she said, “Go get your MAMA.”    <hanging head in shame>

For my daughter, it was ultimate payback time for the mileage I’d gotten out of her “Grandma Flag.”  Not only did she Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha, she pointed her finger at me and clutched the area where her belly would be if she had one.  Touché.  

How about you? Have you ever misheard lyrics or know of someone who has? Share it with us so we can all ha-ha together.

Fall is my absolute favorite season. I love the smell of the air, the cooler temperatures, all the activities associated with fall – and pumpkin. I can’t get enough pumpkin! Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin cheesecake (in moderation, of course), toasted pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin bread. Here’s my favorite pumpkin bread recipe. What’s your favorite fall goodie?  Please share the recipe.

Pumpkin Bread

Unsalted butter at room temp for the pans

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

2 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

¼ tsp ground allspice

½ tsp cloves

¼ tsp salt

2 cups canned pumpkin puree

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed dark-brown sugar

4 large eggs

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 2/3 cup of buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350.  Coat two 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch loaf pans with butter; set aside.  In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of a electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the pumpkin and both sugars; mix on medium speed until well combined – 2 –3 minutes.  Add the eggs and oil; mix until incorporated, bout 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl.  With mixer on low, add the flour mix in two batches alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the flour until just combined.

Divide the batter between the two pans; smooth the tops with a spatula.  Place pans on a baking sheet.  Bake rotating the sheet halfway through until a knife inserted in the top comes out clean – about 55 – 60 minutes.  Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes.  Remove loaves from pan and cool completely.  Bread can be kept at room temp, wrapped in plastic for up to 4 days.

Since Halloween is right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to do a bit o’ research on the origin of Halloween. Here’s what I learned:

Two thousand years ago, the Celts celebrated the new year on November 1. This day commemorated the harvest and the countdown toward the dark, cold winter. Celts believed that on October 31, the border between the worlds of the living and the dead opened. On that night, they celebrated Samhain – a time when they believed that the spirits of the dead returned to cause trouble for the living. However, they also believed that the presence of ghosts made it easier for the Druids predict the future and these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate Samhain, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to sacrifice crops and animals to the Celtic deities.

During Samhain, the Celts wore costumes of animal heads and skins and told each other’s fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their home fires with torches from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming months ahead.

Later, over the four hundred years that the Romans ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain:  Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead; and there was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. Pomona’s symbol is the apple and some believe this is the origin of the modern tradition of “bobbing” for apples at today’s Halloween parties.

When the influence of Christianity spread into Celtic lands in the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints’ Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. Many believe that the pope did this to replace the Celtic festivals of the dead with a church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.

Even later, the church made November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Collectively, the three celebrations of All Saints’ eve, All Saints’ day, and All Souls’ day, were called Hallowmas.

As European immigrants came to America, they brought varied Halloween customs with them. But early New England had a rigid Protestant belief systems that limited Halloween celebrations. Such festivities were much more common in the southern colonies. As the beliefs and customs of different Europeans melded, the American version of Halloween began to materialize. The first celebrations were public events held to commemorate the harvest. During these Colonial festivals, neighbors would share ghost stories, tell fortunes, dance, and sing. And there was plenty of mischief-making.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new settlers, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland’s potato famine, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween. Borrowing from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money – the precursor to “trick-or-treating.” 

Still, in the late 1800s, there was a attempt to mold the America Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers, and less about goblins, tricks, and witchcraft.

By the turn of the century, Halloween parties featuring games, foods of the season, and festive costumes became a common way to celebrate. Communities were encouraged to remove everything scary or monstrous from Halloween celebrations. Because of this trend, by the beginning of the twentieth century, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones.

By the 1920s, Halloween was firmly a secular holiday, with featuring festivals and parties. In addition, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was revived around this time. Unfortunately, so was the practice of vandalism.  Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for a community to come together and, in theory, prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. From these roots, a new American tradition was born, and continues to grow. According to the History Channel, today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday.

As our daughter has gotten older and more involved in school activities, we don’t go trick-or-treating any more, but we used to. We still try to carve out come time to make a Jack-O-Lantern and toast the pumpkin seeds.

What are some of your favorite Halloween traditions?

Today’s the day I’ve been waiting for… Accidental Cinderella and An Angel in Provence hit the shelves! I can’t believe I have two books out in one month.

The best way to describe An Angel in Provence is to think Under the Tuscan Sun meets The Holiday – only set in Provence. For Accidental Cinderella, think Cinderella meets the Food Network.    They’re fun reads that will take you on a mini vacation. 

In celebration, I’ve decided a double release means a DOUBLE contest!

 You’re going to have to work a little to win the first one because it’s a scavenger hunt. But the prize is worth it… a custom-made, gold-toned charm bracelet with gold Swarovski pearls. To commemorate the release of Accidental Cinderella and An Angel in Provence, I had two bracelets made; one for me and one to give away to a special reader.

To enter,  here’s what you have to do:

1. Pop over to my website NancyRobardsThompson.com
2. On the right side of the page, you’ll see my bookshelf. Click on the first book – An Angel in Provence. It will take you to a page on Amazon.com that features this book. Scroll down to the excerpt and read it.
3. After you’re finished, answer the following question: What time did Rita’s husband come into the bedroom?
4. Go back to NancyRobardsThompson.com.
5. Click on the second book on the bookshelf – Accidental Cinderella. Again, it will take you to a page on Amazon.com that features this book. Scroll down to the excerpt and read it.
6. After you’re finished, answer the following question: What is the name of the man that Lindsay almost married?
7. You’re almost finished… the last thing you have to do is, e-mail the answers to the two questions. The e-mail address is NrobardsThompson@yahoo.com.  Please include your complete mailing address – including zip code – so that I can send you the bracelet if you’re the lucky winner!

 Then stay tuned… On November 1, I will notify the winner.

In the meantime, I’m curious… what’s your favorite way to celebrate? Obviously, I like holding contests… and toasting with champagne! Tell me how you like to celebrate, and later tonight, I’ll draw the name of one poster who will receive a copy of Accidental Princess (the prequel to Accidental Cinderella) AND What Happens in Paris (the prequel to An Angel in Provence).  Thanks for joining in the fun. Cheers!

Originally, this was going to be an ‘Are you a John Girl or a Paul Girl?” post. But my daughter demanded equal time for George. And I couldn’t leave out Ringo… So, why not? Let’s talk about the Fab Four. Who isn’t these days, with all the hubbub over Beatles Rockband and their remastered music flooding the airwaves?

Usually, shameless commercialism has me running the other way, but being bombarded with Beatles tunes has reminded me how much I love their music and what an impact they made.  So, it begs the questions: Have the Beatles had an impact on you? Who’s your favorite and why?

Me? I’m a John girl. Always have been. Always will be. See, I’m a sucker for cool guy with a cheeky sense of humor. Someone who marches to his own tune. In my single days, guys like John won my heart hands down over sweet, cute guys like Paul. I remember clearly where I was when I heard the news that John Lennon had been killed. I cried, listening to his newly released Double Fantasy (Watching the Wheels was my teenage anthem). I still get wistful wondering what he might have done had his life not been cut so tragically short. 

Who’s next?  Who’s your Beatle and why?