Ahhhh, the holidays. The hustle and bustle. The frantic frenzy and the simple joy. It always seems to start around Halloween, that nagging edgy push to get things done over and above normal life ’stuff’. The energy kicks into high gear around Thanksgiving time, as the clock starts ticking louder. December? Crazy time. Parties, shopping, baking, family, juggling finances and sometimes the added stress of travel. 
You know, I absolutely love the holidays. We just had a wonderful week of family time, with the added joy of my grandmother visiting us from out of state. The house was full, every hour busy and the vast array of delicious food overwhelming. I’m so full I could burst, the taste of homemade pizza, the scent of succulent roast, the sweet sugar kick of almond toffee still lingering and reminding me to revisit my new-best-friend, the treadmill. 
I have a camera filled with pictures just waiting to be scrapbooked into happy memories. I have a fridge filled with leftovers. I have happy kids and a grinning husband, and after a week of company, silence fills the house.
I’m exhausted. How about you? Do the holidays wear you out? Even if you love ever second of them, do they make you desperate for a pillow, blanket and quite hour of solitude? Or is that just me? I’ve spent the day dreaming of my favorite holiday gift to myself… a whole day of self-indulgent alone time. To play with my pressies, to talk to nobody, to decompress curl up with a pile of books, a pitcher of tea and a roaring fire. I’m going to ignore the waiting laundry, pretend the somewhat wilted decorations aren’t begging to be taken down and let the kids run wild in their after-holiday frenzy.
But before I do, talk with me… how were your holidays? Did you have a killer time or are you worn out? Do you have a nurturing, self-indulgent plan to give yourself a little break after all the craziness, or are you still running strong (and if so, what vitamins do you take?) Does the idea of curling up with a pile of Blaze books fill you with joy and happiness (you know it does 
) And would you like to kick start your January reading by winning a copy of Blazing Bedtime Stories III? I’ll offer up two copies to random commenters today in an effort to contribute to your indulgent reading frenzy!!
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Hi Tawny,
I do enjoy seeing my family but some time to relax and catch up on my reading is something I enjoy too. January is usually a good reading month for me and I am looking forward to cathing up on books I bought but haven’t had time to read.
Yes, I am giving myself some me time this week…just to sit back and read. The kids are busy with their new toys, family has come and gone, and like you…I am ignoring the cleaning, taking down the decorations, and laundry…just so I can decompress.
I spent yesterday afternoon shopping at Amazon because I received a GC for Christmas and it was burning a hole in my pocket!! LOL. So, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new books.
Besides reading, sitting back and reading the blogs that I follow and taking the time to comment is big on my list this week too.
My goodness, you sure asked lots of questions this time, so I’ll try to answer them all!
My holidays were GREAT, thanks for asking. I’m not worn out TODAY, but I’ve been tired up till now. My “break after all the craziness” is to get caught up on lots of things, and so far so good. I’ve gotten a ton of paperwork caught up, and today I move on to the killer sewing pile. Whee haw! Yes, I take vitamins: a multivitamin, calcium, and potassium. If I feel like I’m getting a cold, I take Vitamin C or echinacea or Cold-FX, depending on the severity of my symptoms (as the vitamin is the cheapest and Cold-FX is the most expensive). Again, so far so good. Sitting in front of me is A BLAZING LITTLE CHRISTMAS with stories by Jacquie D’Alessandro, Joanne Rock, and Kathleen O’Reilly. Perhaps tonight I’ll have that long-overdue bubble bath and read my HQ Blaze; it’s nice to have a reward, ya know! So, YES, I would LOVE to win a copy of BLAZING BEDTIME STORIES III. Are you kidding me? I would NEVER say no to a book — especially a free one! I love bonuses in life, and this definitely qualifies!
I hope you too have lots of bonuses in life, and thanks for offering lots in ours too. Happy New Year!
The kids still have another week off from school. The fun doesn’t stop although its a little less hectic. The days will be filled with going to the movies, playing at the park, and reading with Mom or going to our favorite book stores. Its going to include a lot of Blaze titles. Yummy.
Happy New Year !!
I had a lovely holiday except for the fact that I have been fighting a nasty cold… The best present I received was a Sony touch screen e-reader!!!! Yippee I finally have an e-reader! More books to read…
Hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday! Tomorrow I go back to watching not 1 but both nephews because school is out…
Hi Tawny,
Your Christmas sounds absolutely wonderful! I had a very relaxing Christmas this year. I got all my shopping done early and had my presents wrapped ahead of time. This was an absolutely first for me which made for a very enjoyable holiday.
We had an amazing dinner at my mom’s house. We made a prime rib roast, yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and prime rib gravy, vegetables galore, and a homemade custard pie with a dash of brandy and nutmeg for dessert! It was so delicious!
As for the vitamins I take to ward off colds, ecchinacea, zinc, calcium with vit. D, B-complex vitamins, and lots of fruit and orange juice. My poor hubby caught a cold. I have been feeding him lots of chicken noodle soup with garlic and a dash of red pepper in it. His congestion is starting to break. Poor thing!
I love to read! At the moment I am reading SUGAR AND SPICE by Beverly Barton, Joanne Fluke, Fern Michaels and Shirley Jump. I always love reading Christmas anthologies around the holidays. I sure would love to win your awesome BLAZING BEDTIME STORIES for my Blaze collection!
Have an amazing week everyone!
Hey Tawny, girl it sounds like you guys had a blast. You really need one of those self-indulgent days. I love those days. I really need the time to decompress and be alone after visiting with family. I usually do a day of absolutely no physical labor, read, watch tv, blog, and sleep. LOVE IT!!!
Girl, can’t wait to get my hands on Blazin’ III. I love the Blazes. Right now, I am trying to lower by TBR pile so that I can fill the empty slots with books on my TBB list. I just finished As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason on Christmas and I loved it. The Gardella world is an amazing one. Right now, I am in the middle of three YA books…Betrayed by PC and Kristin Cast, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and Dormia by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski. I will also start Demonfire by Kate Douglas. And the icy on the cake are all those Xmas Blazes I didn’t get to yet. So, as you can see, very busy day today. It is a good thing that I have the whole week before kids come back to school. I also need to write. Have a great day of relaxation!!!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Unfortunately we were those unlucky Midwesterners that got pummeled by over 13 inches of snow and power outages, so no Christmas for us this year.
Not sure when the celebrating will occur. But definitely no relaxing here, just alot of digging out from under the snow. Ofcourse we’ll definitely take reading and hot cocoa breaks during the scoopage.
Well I’m exhausted because I had to work Monday through Saturday. I had to try to fit in last minute baking and such in between working. I was so tired on Christmas, could barely keep my eyes open while we were opening gifts. I did have a good Christmas, got a lot of new books to read. I had yesterday and today off, but I have to tell you I’m still tired. Plus I think it’s the let down that Christmas is over. I’m going to miss the Christmas specials. I do every year.
Hi Tawny,
I just made the comment to my crit group that trying to relax over Christmas is like trying to find a comfy spot for a nap on the lip of an active volcano… In Australia we don’t have Thanksgiving but our Chrissy dinners are huge! My partner’s family is a split one so we have to spread ourselves, our kids and Christmas over three family sections and try to fit it all into two days
Needless to say, we were like the proverbial chooks and I now have my first summer head cold. My father in law gave my 2 and 4 year olds a 12foot swimming pool so we’re having fun trying to tell them they can’t stay in it all day long.
The upside is? I can hear you say ‘is there one?’. I got to read! Lauren Kate’s ‘Fallen’. It was fantastic and since I’m still milking the cold, I’m going to read something today by one of my author friends Trish Morey or Anne Oliver. I have one from each of them on my TBR pile that I’ve been dying to get too.
So while my man paints our house the ugliest brown color you’ve ever seen in the 30C plus temps, I’m going to curl up in my fave spot in the sun and try, try, try to relax. Next week it’s back to the gruel and doom and exercise to burn off the extra kilos (I had a nightmare last night about the size of my expanding ass).
Have fun and enjoy your time whatever it is your doing =)
Bronwyn.
Well, the tree is gone now, and all I can think of is, was it Christmas? LOL All of that for one day and now it’s gone like it never was around. I like to try to keep the decorations around after Christmas seeing how this is the actual 12 days of Christmas until Jan 6, but yeah, I can get sick of it seeing how it’s been all around since Thanksgiving. The tree had to do a little early though since we had a problem with it standing up. It didn’t want to, so it was tied up to something. And we saw that the problem wasn’t the tree, but the stand. Had the thing forever (it seems) and just never thought to get a good look at it, because it was the cause of the tree tipage and water drenched carpet. LOL But anyway. . . well, just keep trying to tell myself not to think of the let down now. . . Valentine’s Day is next!
Lois
I’m not as exhausted as I normally would have been. We had an ice and snow storm on Christmas Eve so I didn’t get out at all. We celebrated Christmas Eve instead. I think the holidays are always exhausting. It seems like no matter how well prepared you are, you still forget something. And yes, I’d love to curl up with a good Blaze. Happy New Year everyone.
Now this is going to sound pathetic (but it’s really not) but I spent Christmas alone and read most of the day.
I had a pretty low-key Christmas, which is perfectly fine with me. I’m on winter break from work at the moment, which is very nice and relaxing.
In previous years, the holidays have totally wiped me out. This year, though, we kept everything low-key and it was wonderful. Whether it is the holidays or a convention or just a lot going on, I need some alone time to rejuvenate. (I call it Cathy-Time.) It is very necessary!!
And whether or not I’m exhausted, the idea of curling up with a pile of book fills me with joy and happiness. And yes, I would love to kick start my January by winning a copy of Blazing Bedtime Stories III.
Happy Holidays!! I hope you get a little Tawny-time.
Yes I’m Worn Out.The Cookie Baking the Gift Rapping thay all tierd me out .now is time to read and get back in the normal things.
Happy New Years
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
Hi Tawny!
We had a wonderful Christmas. My Mom flew out from california. It was the first time we have seen her in almost two years so it has been very special. I am a bit worn out, but now we have a low key week of just hanging out. Also its been fun cause my Mom and I have been doing jigsaw puzzles, which I love!
I cant wait to read your new book! Have a great New Years!!!
Hi, Tawny!! Christmas was wonderful, and I loved having time with family and friends
Yes, it was a little exhausting, and I also just enjoyed a fantastic time on an overnight with five dear girlfriends. Now I’m completely ready for a little rest and reading time! Curling up with a new Blaze sounds fabulous! 
Hey Everyone
My Me Time turned into sick time and I ended up spending the day in bed. And not in a good way 
Yuck, I hate being sick.
I’ll be up and running tomorrow and pick the book winners, though, ‘kay?
I’m so glad you all had a fun holiday and hope you get tons of reading time in!!!
Hi Tawny, I hope that you are feeling better. Take care of yourself okay. Now go back to bed. You should be resting in. I hate being sick too, so I know how you feel. Don’t count me in for the book okay. I picked it up already. I will get you to sign it when I get the chance to see you again. Stay in bed, and have a restful day.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Hope you’re feeling better Tawny! I agree with Paula get some rest, that’s the best medicine.
I hope you are feeling better soon Tawny! Sending many wishes for a speedy recovery!
Oh no, Tawny! Take care of yourself–hope you’re feeling better soon!!
Sending healing thoughts your way!
Feel better!
Everybody gets wore down over the holidays so getting sick is common (according to my sister, the nurse).
Feel better soon!
Hi Tawny,
Holidays can gain momentum like that can’t they – and suddenly you feeling like a chicken without its head being super mum! A member of the Holiday madness rat pack….
This year – I wasn’t one of that crowd at all.
Firstly : We had NO overseas visitors,( we live in Australia on a tropical Island so are always having our families from South Africa visit for long stretches of time – 6 weeks or more) Second: We didn’t go that big traditional lunch cookup- it was too hot – instead we had a wonderful BBQ for lunch with salad and a precooked Christmas pudding for desert. Then we all sat in the pool as it was about 30′C
And lastly: When the rain came in the afternoon, my wonderful hubby watched TV with the boys, while I started one of the 3 Blazes they had given me for my Christmas pressie, but was soon fast asleep.2 hrs glorious sleep on Christmas day!
No big frills Christmas – and the best for me in a while!
Here’s to a fantastic low key New Year’s celebration, but a big year in the writing department to follow from that!
Bye 4 now
Tina
I’ve had such a hectic time this year.I went from part-time to full time work as two of my co-worker’s babies decided to come out early!
I had all 4 of my children home plus my 85 yo mother. I’m really not used to buying for a crowd who loves to eat! ‘
I’ve really enjoyed having everyone here. BUT, I felt like I was trying to catch up with decorations, sending cards and buying presents.
I’m looking forward to peaceful reading time in the New Year!! I haven’t been able to read for weeks. Your book sounds GREAT!
Hope you’re feeling better!
Any winners!?!
And the winners are:
#10, Bronwyn
and
#21,Laurie G
Congrats Bronwyn & Laurie G!