My Southern Living

I was thumbing through the Christmas edition of Southern Living and seeing page after page of decadent holiday desserts. They were all so beautiful, so I thumb to the back to look at the recipes. Some of these seemed to have twenty ingredients, things I  have never heard of and couldn't even pronounce with roughly a seven step process. What? For Christmas cookies?

I don't know about you, but I don't have the time to do cookies like this for Christmas. And I don't have time to order strange ingredients from a New York market.My Granny would turn over in her grave. What in the world does this have to do with Southern cooking? Southern Christmas cookies was my Granny using her own milk, eggs, and butter to make sugar cookies. Southern cooking was my granny making popcorn balls with her own molasses. Now don't get me wrong, I adore my Southern Living magazine. But this just struck me as wrong. So, it has now inspired me to write my own true Southern cookbook. I want simple recipes, things like my mother and grandmother use to make. I want to know how to make some awesome and quick sugar cookies. I want to know how to make a quick dressing while I simmer my gravy. I want to know how granny seasons her cast iron frying pan, I want to know what granny did if the gravy was too thick or too thin. I want to know what the real southern women did in their kitchens, not just for the holidays but all year long. So follow me on this journey of creating the perfect southern cookbook that our southern grandmother's would be proud of. And thank you Southern Living for the inspiration. I truly do adore you!


#IloveSouthernLiving, #SouthernLivingMagazine, #Inspiration, #Grandmascooking

Update "About Me"

I have just updated my "About me" page. So if you're not bored and want to be, I suggest you go read it. If your curious, I suggest you go read it. If you're wanting a quick read, I suggest you stay away from it. LOL. So that's pretty much your post for today. I shall apologize now. Have a great one guys! Until next time, XXX

This and That

I know it has been a while since I have sat down and written a post, but, I have a good excuse, I promise. I have just finished Family Ties. And I took a few days break after that one. It was my first work of fiction. And it was really hard for me to publish it. I had a lot of anxiety with that one, which to me was very strange. I assumed the fiction would be easier, but I was wrong. I think it's the publishing part I general that gets to me. Just before I send my book to publishing I get the dreaded butterflies in my stomach. Then once it goes to publication I have a mini panic attack. So the break after each book is needed to get my mind back into perspective.

My new book. I am very excited to be writing this new book. I feel honored that I have been given the opportunity to do this. I am writing someone else's true paranormal story. I think you are really going to enjoy this one. I will try to give you more information on it as I get deeper into the storyline. Right now, It is slow going, but the first few chapters of any new book starts off slow for me. Just keep checking my pages for future updates on this.

Now I'm going to talk Graphics for a minute. As most of you already know I started out as a graphics and web designer. My first passion has always been writing, but it took an act of congress to find a publisher. Now that I am an Indie writer, I put all of my time into writing, which leaves me absolutely no time for web design. I have stopped that completely. But, I still feel that urge to open my paint shop pro or photo shop and get creative. I have been tossing around the idea to keep doing some blog sets and maybe throw in some book covers for Indie writers. What do you think? Maybe offer a free book cover for first-time writers? That way I could be doing something I enjoy and helping out the indie community. I would love to know your thoughts and opinions on this.

Do it yourself!

Here are a few of my favorite Do It Yourself Tips.

Color coded keys! Use different color nail polish to paint the tops of your keys! No more fumbling to find the front door, car or office keys!

If you hate stinky ash trays, add some baking soda to the bottom of your ash trays, it absorbs the stinky odor, makes cigarettes go out faster and makes them easier to wash!

Are you out of conditioner? No problem! Put your hair into a ponytail and apply a generous amount of Olive oil to your hair. Let set a minute and wash as usual. You hair will be soft and shiny!

Cling Stamps

Cling Stamps are not that different from your traditional rubber stamps. The rubber stamp has a wood mount where as the cling stamp has a vinyl piece.
Cling stamps are used in the same way as the traditional stamp, only with the cling you can see where you are stamping the image and adjust accordingly.

I myself have found the Cling Stamps easier to work with in creating, Birthday Cards, Recipe Cards etc.

Instructions
1
Position the card stock or other piece of paper for your project on a flat surface. You may want to cover your work area with butcher block paper or newspaper to keep it clean from ink.

2
Identify the cling rubber stamp image you want to use for your project and the color of ink you want to use.

3
Press the cling rubber stamp into the ink pad so that the image has ink running along the outline.

4
Place the image on the cardstock or paper where you want to add the image. Press down firmly and evenly so that the ink fully transfers to the paper.

5
Allow the ink to dry for approximately three to five minutes, and then fill in the image with colored pencils, markers, watercolors or paint.

6
Repeat Steps 1 through 5 for any additional cling rubber stamp images you want to add to your project.

7
Pour the stamp cleaning solution into the stamp cleaning pad. Press the used stamp onto the spongy area of the cleaning pad to remove the ink from the stamp image. This prevents the ink from mixing with other colors on your future projects and from staining the stamp image with dry ink.

Free Books

I know you guys are looking for more free stuff. I haven't had much time to look around lately. But I will see if I can come up with a few things.

Cari and I were busy making Fudge today. Well, I don't think two minutes in the microwave counts for busy. But it turned out to be the best Fudge we have ever made. You can find my recipe here. You just have to try this. Your family is going to love it, and probably you too for
making it!

FREE

Check this out!
Visit Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and click Register My Child at the top of the page. Choose your country and go through the registration process to sign your child up.

You might be told at this point that the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library isn't available in your area. If this is the case, they'll tell you how you can get this program going for your community. You may be told that online registration isn't available but you'll be given a contact person so you can register manually. If you can register online in your area, you'll be taken to a form that you can submit asking for your mailing address and information about your child.

http://www.imaginationlibrary.com/

Podiobooks has over 70,000 free audio books over every subject you can think of and includes audio books for adults and kids.

At Podiobooks you can download the free audio books directly from the website or receive them like podcasts from an RSS feed.

You don't need to register to get a free audio book from Podiobooks but if you do, and registration is free, you'll get a custom podcast feed that will make enjoying your book a whole lot easier.

http://podiobooks.com/

FREE Christmas goodies

I have found some really cool stuff I wanted to share with you. This is the first time I have done the "freebies", but these were just to cute not to share.

Check this out! Free Christmas cards! Now who doesn't like free?
http://freebies.about.com/od/freeholidayfun/tp/printable-christmas-cards.htm

Free letter from Santa!
What child wouldn't want to reciev a letter from jolly old Saint Nick?
This is just awesome. Get your childs free letter today!
http://freebies.about.com/od/Christmas-Freebies/p/free-letters-from-santa.htm


Free Free Free!
Free coloring pages
Free work sheets
Free Puzzles
Keep your children busy while you wrap those gifts!
http://freebies.about.com/od/freeholidayfun/tp/christmas-coloring-pages.htm


Free Shipping on the 18th!
http://www.freeshippingday.com/

Take a look at this! A Free video from Santa!!
http://freebies.about.com/od/Christmas-Freebies/fl/video-from-santa.htm?nl=1

OH MY!! I want this! A free phone call from Santa!
Kids are going to love this one!
http://freebies.about.com/od/Christmas-Freebies/fl/call-from-santa.htm?nl=1

I hope you guys can find some fun things here for your children and grandchildren.
If you find a link you like, leave me a comment. This is the first time I have done the freebies, feedback is always appreciated.

Just an Author

I have spent all morning writing,but have been very unproductive. Now let me explain, my goal is  to write from eight to one every day. So, this morning, I wrote a few paragraphs, I let the dogs out, put some clothes in the washer, and helped straighten the house. I put on coffee and headed back to my computer. I edited what I had written, straightened the kitchen and put some dinner on.I went back to my computer and wrote two more paragraphs then I fixed lunch for Marty and Myself. I watched a Video as I ate, not to mention that every twenty minutes a dog needs to go outside or one needs to come in, my grandson has a question for me or there is something Cari and I need to discuss..Then realized that I still have two web sites to get done for clients, two web sites that I am setting up for myself and two books that I need to be working on.So here I sit, no ideas for today's blog post. I am still in my pajamas and it is nearing three thirty. I have not accomplished one thing today, yet I have worked all day.I have my book open on my desk top, I have my web site open on my desk top and I have my Blog open....I really need to get my social media buttons up today....I have no clue what I will have accomplished when I shut my computer down for the night. Let's just hope that I can manage just one thing.

Pumpkin Enchiladas?

OK, so I saw this recipe on Facebook, you know the ones that make you want it just by looking at the image(Food Porn) so I save this recipe I write down all the ingredients, and it looked to be fool proof.This excited me, I could make a dessert for the family that was amazingly easy and looked awesome! I to get started in the kitchen, mixing it all up was so easy. Mine didn't roll up quite as pretty as the ones in the picture, But hey, It was my first try right. Now this was a no cook recipe. I wondered about that with the flour tortillas I would be using. But it looked fine in the picture. My desert looked so pretty as I proudly served it to the family. I took my place at the table picked up my fork with my mouth watering....and I couldn't cut it! A fork will not cut through an uncooked flour tortilla with out squishing out the filling! I looked at my husband, he had picked his up to bite it, that looked do-able, I pick mine up and give it a bite to have all the filling and caramel drizzle squish out into my hand. UGH! It tasted amazing though! I got up and washed my hands, then passed out knives to cut the dessert with. My take on this recipe is to mix it up just as it says then place it in a graham cracker crust, then drizzle the top with caramel. I am trying it that way tomorrow. I will let you know how it turns out. I give five stars to an amazing tasting dessert that just needed a bit of tweaking.

Grab the recipe here!
http://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/2013/10/pumpkin-spice-cheesecake-burritos-with.html

Spare time?

I finally got my second book ready to be published. (Yay me!) Just another milestone in my life. My goal was to have it done way before now.But i finally made it to that proverbially finish line and I'm feeling pretty darn good about it. Now that I have finished the book,what will I ever do with my  time? LOL. I asked myself that about four minutes ago, and remembered I hadn't updated my blog.  I am hoping to get my Southern Moon Creations straightened back out and take on at least two new clients. Well, I should say two new clients max. That is going to be piling my plate pretty full. So two will be the max.Somewhere in all this craziness that I call my life. I hope to plan an October vacation.We'll see how that goes.

You have officially been updated on my Crazy life.
Until next time, Know that someone loves you. I do! xoxo

My Paranormal Life, A True Haunting.

If you have ever had an interest in the Paranormal, then this is the book for you. If you like true stories, this book is necessary. You get this book from both perspectives, the family trying to live through it and the Paranormal Investigators that are trying to help them. This true haunting affected many people and touched many lives. This book carries you through three years of day-to-day paranormal activity. If you haven't grabbed a copy, get one today and find out what happens when a dark entity decides to take over your home! http://www.amazon.com/My-Paranormal-Life-True-Haunting-ebook/dp/B00HVE1VF6

Excerpt: Page 172
The next morning I got out of bed and walked into the kitchen. I looked down at my hand where the pain was still radiating. My finger was very swollen and really bruised. I could not even remove my wedding rings without soaping my finger first. As I looked down at my hand the feeling of being watched sank in. It was like the demon was examining its handy work, gloating in the shadows. I sat down at the kitchen table holding my hand to try and alleviate the pain. Tears began to stream down my face. I am still not sure if it was from the pain or the simple fact that the demon was back and it was not playing around this time.

Yes, this is my book. Yes, this is my personal life.
This book started out as a private Blog. I was told to document the activity in our home to see if there was any type of pattern.What started out as documentation soon became my release. It was a way of releasing all the anxiety, fear and sadness while living in a world I could no longer understand.No one was supposed to ever see what was written here, it was my personal journal. One day Brandon Hudgens came to me and asked if i would consider turning this blog into a book. I was horrified! This was my personal thoughts and fears.But when he told me that it could help others to not have to go through what my family endured, i considered it. It still took him a while of pushing me before I gave him permission to help me in this endeavor. Now that our private life is out there for all of the world to see,I  hope that it will reach that person that needs to read it.( I only wish, a book like this had been there for me when I needed it so badly.)


#MyBook#Scary#True#Faith#Paranormal

Big Changes

Well,I have decided to make some changes. Since my first book  http://www.amazon.com/My-Paranormal-Life-True-Haunting-ebook/dp/B00HVE1VF6 is doing pretty good. I have another book I am currently working on and I still have my clients. My first love is writing, so I am finally doing what I love. Graphics are going to have to take a back seat. I plan to still do my word press and blogger sets and offer my set up packages but that is all i will be doing. My set up packages are going to be greatly reduced as I want to make this affordable for people that need / want a web site but aren't quite sure where to start.
I will still be doing my product reviews and my rants . LOL. That part wont change. But Southern Moon Creations will be under construction for a while. I hope you will continue to hang with me as I work through these changes. Pretty soon I will be looking for people to read my new book and give feed back so watch for that post!
Thank you for hanging with me. And remember, someone loves you! Me. xoxo


#Book#Author#Fun#Reading

Summer time!

It is finally Summer! I have taken a break from my designing blogs. But this one will still be updated, of course. There is always something to rant about. Or some juicy gossip for me to tell you. This is going to be an awesome Summer. So lets see what we can get in to!


#Summer#Fun#SouthernMoon

Free? You said FREE?

Hi guys, I didn't have much of a thought on a post today. But I stumbled upon something pretty interesting.
I found a couple of books for my kindle today. So i thought i would share them with you. It's OK if you don't have a kindle. You can download a FREE one for your computer or tablet. Just pop over here and download it http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771
Now on to the Free Books. If you are a Blogger like myself, you too may find this one interesting.

You can download it here FREE until midnight tonight.(5/8/2014)   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BSIF2J2/?tag=untagged-20

And i think in this economy, any housewife or mother could appreciate this. I'm all for saving a dollar when ever possible.

You can download it here FREE until midnight tonight.   (5/8/2014)   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I2E9YTY/?tag=untagged-20

I hope you guys enjoy these. Be sure to go ahead and download that kindle. I will probably share more free books with you in the future.

XOXO

#Book#Free

Toilet Tissue Debate

OK, some of you ladies may actually kill me once you read this post. But I assure you, it's informative.
We all know about the age old dispute about which way the toilet paper roll should be turned. The majority of people say, it should come from over the top. While a few of you claim it should come from the bottom.Well, in actuality, it should come from the bottom. I know! I Know!. I was always a "top" person myself. BUT, It has been proven, that if your toilet paper comes from the bottom, you use less tissue.I know. I thought that to be impossible. But, I tried it. And it did work. We actually use half of what we were using.I can't swear that this will work for every house hold. But I do know that it worked for us.So you "over the top" people,take a deep breath. And turn that roll around. You may just be surprised.
xoxo

#Tissue#Toiletpaper#Pottybreak#gottahaveit

updateing

I don't have anything to review today. But I do have a few things i can catch up on. Our Cryptid Crew team had a benefit to do this past Saturday. We were there to surprise a big foot enthusiast. And that was basically all we knew. So we got her a T shirt made, and threw together a huge goodie bag for her.She did seem really surprised when she found out whom we were and why we were there. The look on her face was priceless! Everyone was really nice to us. We all had a good time.(The whole time we were that, i was worried about my swollen foot. I knew it could only be making it worse.As i had to stand on it well over four hours. And I figured I wouldn't be able to walk at all on Sunday. I was right. It was much worse on Sunday. But this morning, it seems to be showing some signs of improving. I just wish i knew what was causing it.The last time i went to the Dr. they gave me Lasik for it. It didn't work. I even tried doubling the dose and taking two a day. That didn't make any difference either. So basically, there is nothing i can do but suffer through it.


xoxo till next time

#Cryptid#Team#Benefit#Fun

Back on track

Well today I actually feel like I may be getting my Blogs into some kind of order. Well, I have made a start. LOL. I actually have a ways to go before I am completely finished. But i did make a dent in it today. I am trying to get them all linked up so it will be easier to update more than one at a time.
I still have a lot to post about in the upcoming days. So keep your eyes open. :)

#Working#Blog#Organize

More Snow?

I posted i guess about a week ago on the snow fall we got. It's not unheard of. But is very seldom in South Carolina. Well it snowed all day today too. And they say tomorrow we could get 8 to 12 inches. Now THAT'S unheard of! LOL It has been beautiful to watch though. And I always love having the whole family under one roof. So, I'll enjoy it while I have it.

This was our front yard at nine this morning.Simply Beautiful

#SouthernCharm#Snow#beautiful#content