SUNNY OR DARK SIDE? YOU CHOOSE...

Sometimes I could just explode with happiness! Do you ever feel that way? Sure, it's partly temperament, but I believe it's also a choice. No matter what happens, we can decide to find the good in any situation. Try it today and see what happens. I think you'll find you'll feel happier if you do. 


Blessings on your day, dear friends!
~Nancy Jill

FORMING GOOD HABITS?

Ever wonder why someone else seems to be more successful than you are? For me, the journey to success is often blocked with spending too much time doing unimportant things. Confession: I spend too much time on Facebook, but I do have 650 friends to keep up with, right? Okay, maybe I should only check posts three times a day instead of fifty. Hmm. That might give me more time to write! 

Habits take at least 21 days of repeating before they become one. Today, I will begin to check Facebook this evening. Tomorrow I will only check it in the morning, at noon, and before I go to bed. What about you? Are you a Facebook junkie?

LOOKING FOR SOME FUN?

Ever wonder what the word "fun" means to you? Going out on the weekends? Disneyland? A cruise? Okay, I'll admit, breaks are nice but come on, be honest.  You're sitting there at dinner, or on a bench at Disneyland, or where ever, and you think, I'm bored. Well, maybe it's just us creative types who get bored. Anyway, what I've found is that when I'm doing something I love to do (writing murder mysteries, serving afternoon tea, or making dinner for my grandchildren) I'm having FUN! Because within those activities I feel I matter, and validation is what we all really need to feel good. What does "having fun" mean to you?

PLEASE JOIN US FOR AFTERNOON TEA!

MEET THE LOVELY ADA BROWNELL, CELEBRITY AUTHOR

"QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA" BLOG

A FAVORITE SUMMER DRINK...

TONIC WITH A TWIST

One of our favorite drinks for the summer is a tonic with a twist of lime. We use diet-tonic water and enjoy a refreshing beverage with almost zero calories. Close your eyes and visualize me handing you a freshly made glass. Perfect for sipping as you get comfy, settle in, and begin to read your favorite cozy mystery. Here's to you! What? No cozy mystery to read? No problem! Just click on the slideshow and you can download a book. Enjoy!

SORRY, I COULDN'T RESIST!

 I just changed my blog to reflect my true intent. I'm hoping to connect with all you cozy mystery lovers out there! I will still share positive thoughts and ideas about life in general. 

Welcome to the new format!


Have a lovely weekend, and I'll see you Monday for "Queen of Afternoon Tea" Celebrity Author Interview with Ada Brownell.

WHEN YOU NEED A FRIEND...

Up the "Down" Ladder

Sometimes a person suffering from depression just needs a friend to talk to. And a friend like Dolores Ayotte would be an excellent choice. In her book, "Up the "Down" Ladder", Dolores shares insights from her experience with depression and simple steps to manage it. She cites numerous authorities on the subject, and writes the book in a conversational way, just as if she and the reader were sharing over a cup of coffee. If you are a person suffering from depression, I would highly recommend reading this book. Sometimes, you just need a friend.Thanks for being mine!

PULLS YOU IN...

Paperback $13.95 Kindle $6.99

Thought I'd share a review I just gave for an excellent writer and celebrity author friend of mine.


Promises of the Heart, written by Scarlett Rains, is an eighteenth century tale of a young girl’s coming of age. The first thing I really liked about this book was the lovely graphics reflecting the time period in London, England. The reader is also pulled into the story at once with carefully crafted prose appealing to all five senses. For example: watching the fluffy clouds lazily form shapes that quickly swirled into other shapes in the gentle breeze…a cacophony of sounds bombarded the weary coachman: the hue and cry of merchants and street people rose up above the clopping of the horses hooves in a relentlessly forlorn lament. Scarlett Rains does a masterful job on style continuity throughout the entire novel. Somewhat like Charles Dickens, but more like the Victoria Holt novels I read profusely at one time in my life, Promises of the Heart resonates with cleverly woven intrigue surrounded by authentic characters of the day. Historical novels should inform about the life and times of the era—Promises of the Heart did not disappoint! The segue to her second novel Seduction of a Bluestocking was a perfect cliffhanger, enticing the reader to find out what happens next. Well done, Scarlett Rains! Five Stars!

LIFE IS LIKE A CUP OF COFFEE...

Feeling philosophical about life today, so here is a video I thought you'd enjoy!

AHH, SUMMER VACATION...

School's out! Hooray! Now
what do we do? Well, as a stay at home mom with not a whole lot of disposable income for expensive summer camps, I created my own diversion for the kiddies. Every week day had a theme: Library Day, Friend Day, Park and Picnic Day, Swim Day, and Craft Day. All the neighborhood kids were invited to participate and we had a blast! My favorite was Park and Picnic Day when we took a lunch and fed the ducks. Fond memories that our children will never forget. Nor will their friends. And now, my son's friend who was such an integral part of those summer vacations is studying for the Bar Exam...Will you be making memories for your children this summer? And then there's Camp Grandma Fun...but that's another story. Enjoy your summer, my friends.  

P.S. And don't forget to get a copy of my new book for your summer reading list. Thank you!

"PACIFIC BEACH" Kindle $3.99  or Paperback $9.89