Whew! One more holiday to go this year! I hope your Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, or whatever you celebrate, was enjoyable for you. And now we come to New Years. This is traditionally a time to make resolutions to do more and better things in the upcoming year, and to reflect on what we did the past year. Did you pull up last years’ resolutions on your computer to see how you did? Could you find last years’ resolutions? Is this one of your goals for the next year, to be more organized?  Don’t worry, most of us would like to be more organized. And thinner, and to exercise more, make more money, spend our time more wisely, eat better food, drink more water, etc. We all have so many things on our “to do” list, it’s discouraging to even look at it sometimes!


But what about all those good things you did do? Did you help someone less fortunate than yourself? Did you spend time with someone who needed to talk? Did you use a reusable bag at the grocery store once or twice? Drag your full recycle bin to the curb? Drink a little more water, make a few more healthy food choices, and cut back on some of the bad ones? Take care of an animal that needed you? Smile at a child? Use your turn signal? Gracefully give up a seat, your place in line, or a parking spot? Vote? Do jury duty? Give a donation to your favorite charity? Send a cheerful letter or email to brighten someone’s day? Patiently answer a question? Give needed information? Went to work when you really didn’t feel like it?


These are all small acts of goodness that mean a lot. I know you did several of these things, without even thinking about them. So if you didn’t accomplish all your goals, try again this coming year, but pat yourself on the back for all that you did. Be kind and gentle to yourself, because you are your primary care giver. Love yourself, treat yourself well. Be your own cheerleader, then you can spread that love and cheer to others.

Don't hate me, but I just slid into my 'skinny' jeans. Yay! Of course, I'm wearing them around the house for awhile to get them loose enough so I can move, but this is so wonderful. Not only because I'm a little on the skinny side (which should change as soon as all that sugar I ate last week catches up with me), but because now I can wear that certain shirt for New Year's Eve, which goes with the certain shoes I want to wear, and the coat that's the right color...you know how that goes!

Breathe a sigh of relief and pat yourself on the back. Christmas is done, you made it through Thanksgiving if you live in the United States, the Holiday Madness is over. It's time for life to get back to normal. But wait! Don't get too comfortable, there is more insanity looming on the horizon…New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Though these two celebrations don’t have the stressors of their more popular counterparts, they come with their own pressures. 

For many, New Year's Eve is celebrated by dressing up and going out for dinner and drinks. Women are expected to be sparkling and sexy, witty and fun. Unfortunately, this holiday comes so soon after Christmas, many of us have lost our wit and sparkle and don’t expect to have them back any time soon. In fact, we're downright depressed. We can't fit into our party dress and don't have the money or energy to shop for a new one. It's dark and cold, bad weather threatens daily. We're drained, worn-out, and really just want to curl up with a book and a bottle of wine and welcome the New Year from under a blanket.

Read the rest of this at Whipped Cream Blogfest. Leave a comment and enter to win a prize! http://wcguest.blogspot.com/2011/12/stuff-your-stocking-blogfest-naomi.html

By the time Christmas evening rolls around, I'm ready for a break from reality. Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol did a nice job providing that. Tom Cruise is perfect in this role, and it was delightful to see Simon Pegg and the other actors mesh so well together. The action is non-stop, the scenery is breathtaking. As always, I had a little trouble following the plot since some of the lines are delivered way too fast in mumble-speak, but I caught the gist of what was going on. Don't wait for this to come to video, check it out on the big screen.  http://www.missionimpossible.com/

Here are a few wonderful songs and videos on You Tube to get you in the mood. For whatever! They make me miss the snow and cold this time of year. But only for the holidays, then I enjoy the warm Florida weather again! Turn up your speakers and enjoy.

White Christmas  Cute rendition of this classic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooc5eJc5SHA

Snow by Loreena McKennitt     A beautiful song, and the person who put this video together did a great job with the pictures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPGVaegdsKA&feature=related

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Annie Lennox   I can't even describe this one. It's quite unique

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlsJD8RlhbI&ob=av2e

Snow is Lightly Falling by Nightnoise  Not an exciting video, but the song is awesome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Amr4H13TWU

So, ladies, do you have your sexy lingerie all ready for that special holiday evening, the one when you and your lover spend a long, torrid, blissful night together? Do you have a fancy negligee, baby doll, or teddy, carefully folded in your lingerie drawer, wrapped in lightly perfumed tissue paper? Do you have the scented candles prepared, the champagne chilling, a sultry saxophone CD ready to play for your evening of passionate delight? Ha-ha-ha! Neither do I!

Join me at Brenda Williamson's blog today as I talk about romance, passion, and bliss at the holidays.  http://www.aneclecticauthor.blogspot.com/2011/12/oh-lingerie-oh-lingerie.html

I put the names in my santa hat and drew a winner! Drum roll please...Desi Reilly! She has been notified via email to claim her prize. Thanks to everyone who participated and to Drea Becraft for hosting this wonderful blog hop.

 Are you ready for the Stuff Your Stockings Christmas Blog Hop? Thanks to Drea Becraft, the hostess with the mostess, there are 195 authors participating in this fun event. Starting tomorrow, visit each author's page, find their contest, and you could have yourself a very merry time.

For my contest, visit my About Me page and leave a note in the comment section. Tell me what your favorite holiday song is and why. You could win a copy of Demons and Angels, my latest short story.

I'll notify the winner at the end of the contest. Have fun, and good luck!

When I hear or see something several times in a row, I know I should pay attention. I was going to wait until next year to put together and send a newsletter, but the universe gave me a few gentle nudges, so I did it now. I used Tiny Letter, the simple version of Mail Chimp. It's fairly easy to figure out and use, and best of all, it's free! Here is my sign-up page: http://www.tinyletter.com/naomibellina  It took awhile to set up all my email addresses, but I finally got it done. Boy are my shoulders sore! Now for the fun part, coming up with interesting newsletters.