Natural Relief for Itchy Eyes

I have very sensitive eyes. If I spend a lot of time outdoors, especially when the wind is blowing, my eyes itch like crazy.

I've tried every kind of OTC eye drop, but the only one that helps is a gel drop that makes the world one big blur.

For obvious reasons, I only use this at bedtime.

Mint To the Rescue

However, I found a natural  way to soothe itchy, irritated eyes whether that's caused by allergens, dry air, or tiredness. All you need is some mint tea bags which you can find in just about every super market.

1. Add 2 mint tea bags to 1 cup of boiling water.

2. Let steep for about a minute.

3. Remove each tea bag, squeeze to get all the excess water out, place teabags on a saucer, and put in refrigerator until they're cool--not cold--just cool.

4. When cool, lie down, close your eyes, and place a teabag over each eye.

5. Stay that way for 10 - 15 minutes.

You can meditate or take a catnap while you're lying there. Mint is used in aromatherapy to relieve anxiety, pain, and improve memory and alertness. Just about any variety of mint works in aromatherapy because both peppermint and spearmint are from the same mint family.

Takeaway Truth

Relief the natural way helps relieve your eye problem and also provides some aromatherapy benefit. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Identity Theft Resource Center

Identity Theft is something we hear about constantly. It's become so common that most of us know someone it has happened to.

Recently I read an article in Costco's magazine about this. I wanted to pass on a resource for you if you've become an identity theft victim.

If you don't need that kind of help now, save this information for the future.

ITRC

The mission of the Identity Theft Resource Center, or ITRC, is to provide free help and information to consumers.

They want to be a voice for identity theft crime victims who don't know what to do about the situation. Visit their website or call them at 888-400-5530.

The ITRC website also gives information about scams and fraud and categorizes ID theft crime: child, criminal, elderly, financial, government, medical, and military. Sign up for their newsletter while you're there.

Takeaway Truth

You never know when something like this may happen. Sign up for their newsletter and/or  save this blog post.

Fun Facts About Voice Actors

I was preparing an audition script for my books that don't have audio editions yet.

I've worked with some wonderful narrators and am looking forward to diving into audio production again. The narrator can make or break an audio book.

Here are some interesting facts I learned along the way from my first audio book production to now.

1. The first voice over made was in 1900. Canadian inventor Reginald Fessenden, while working for the United States Weather Bureau, recorded a test he made reporting the weather. He also became the first voice of radio at Christmas time in Boston in 1906 when he recorded a program of music, Bible verses, and messages to ships at sea.

2. Robin Kohn Glazer, the voice actress who narrated the audio edition of my romantic comedy Still The One, was the voice of Lucy in the original Peanuts animation TV specials.

3. The actors who voiced Mickey and Minnie Mouse were actually married in real life. Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor were married for 18 years until Mr. Allwine died in 2009 from complications caused by diabetes.

4. Felicia Greenfield, the narrator for my romantic comedy Just One Look, has TV credits from just about every popular series.

5. The voice of Yogi Bear was by legendary voice artist Daws Butler.

6. Leah Frederick, the narrator who breathed life into Jane (I'm Still Single) Jones, has done commercials for radio, TV, and Internet; educational and corporate narrations, dozens of audiobooks, and even a Nintendo video game!

7. Jim Dale is the voice of Harry Potter in the audio book series. Actually, he created 134 different voices for the series.

8. Nicole Colburn, narrated my Christmas romantic comedy, Nobody's Cinderella, and breathed life into my heroine and hero. Like all good actors, she made the book sound as fun, romantic, and sexy as I meant it to be.

9. Dick Hill has narrated books from Mark Twain to Dave Barry, but most people know him best as the voice of Jack Reacher, the hero of Lee Child’s best-selling series. Since I've listened to several audio books by Hill, I understand why fans seek out other books he's narrated.

10.  Holly Adams has narrated several of my novels. She has been an entertainer since she was 13 and has sung, danced, and acted her way from coast to coast and beyond. Her first narration for me was my book, The Trouble With Love.

Takeaway Truth

Audio book popularity is growing faster than ebook popularity did. I think that's because audio books make it possible to "read" more than ever before, especially if you are short of time.

Frazzled? Have Some Christmas Humor

If you're like me, you're already feeling frazzled by the hurrying and scurrying--shopping, baking, wrapping, partying, etc. Sometimes, it helps to take a deep breath and laugh.

Here are a few funny things people have said about Christmas.

“Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.” – Victor Borge

“Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.” – Dave Barry

“The principal advantage of the non-parental lifestyle is that on Christmas Eve you need not be struck dumb by the three most terrifying words that the government allows to be printed on any product: “Some assembly required.”” – John Leo

“I love Christmas. I receive a lot of wonderful presents I can’t wait to exchange.” – Henny Youngman

“Let me see if I’ve got this Santa business straight. You say he wears a beard, has no discernible source of income and flies to cities all over the world under cover of darkness? You sure this guy isn’t laundering illegal drug money?” – Tom Armstrong

“Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas.” – Johnny Carson

There. Hope that gave you a smile. Feel better?

Answer the question in Comments.

Be sure and leave your email address written out to be entered in the random draw Giveaway this month.

Takeaway Truth

Feel better? You're welcome.

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Top 10 Christmas Songs

Christmas Carolers by DonnaSkolnick0, Pixabay

Yesterday I wrote a review of a wonderful book you must get if you love the Songs of Christmas.

Written by Ace Collins, Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas is a treasure trove you must have because it tells the stories behind the Christmas songs we all love.

Reading the book made me wonder what the top Christmas songs are so I went to Google and looked it up.

Many websites have Top 10 lists of Christmas songs. I don't agree with some of the lists, but this list which actually contains the Top 50 coincides with some of my favorites even though I have a problem with their ranking.

You can go to the website and see the entire list of 50. You can vote and also leave a comment if you wish.

I'm just going to list the top 10 songs from that list here. Do go and read their list. Bet you'll be humming some of the songs as you go read the list.

Top 10 Christmas Songs

Jingle Bells Music by geralt, Pixabay

1. Jingle Bell Rock
2. Waiting for Christmas
3. All I Want for Christmas Is You
4. Silent Night
5. White Christmas
6. Do They Know It's Christmas
7. O Holy Night
8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
9. Jingle Bells
10. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

What's your favorite Christmas son? Did it make the Top 50?

Answer the question in Comments. Be sure and leave your email address written out to be entered in the random draw Giveaway this month.

For details, see December Giveaway at the top of the left sidebar.

Takeaway Truth

I can't imagine Christmas without music. It's always been a part of my holiday celebration since I was a child and went caroling with my Sunday school class.

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Story Behind Do You Hear What I Hear

There's a wonderful book you must get if you love the Songs of Christmas.

Written by Ace Collins, Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas is a treasure trove you must have because it tells the stories behind the Christmas songs we all love.

I'll give just one example from the book.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I've always loved this song. After reading the story about how the song came into being, I'm even more impressed by the lyrics and music.

Gloria Shayne was an American, and Noel Regney was a Frenchman with a deep love of music.

When Regney was young, World War II broke out. He was forced into the Nazi army but managed to escape. He joined a band of resistance fighters. With the war over, in the 1950's he came to the United States. He wandered into New York's  Beverly Hotel and saw a beautiful woman playing the piano.

From Europe to America

Although he spoke little English, he introduced himself to Gloria Shayne. Within a month, Gloria and Noel were married.

These two seemed like complete opposites. Noel Regney was in the States to record classical music. Gloria Shayne was determined to write rock and roll music. Yet, they clicked I guess.

By the 1960's, her song "Goodbye Cruel World" had been recorded by James Darren and was at the top of the charts. She was a song-writing machine.

For Noel, the constant wars since WWII involving France and the U.S.--Korea and Vietnam--brought back the horrors of WWII. He found himself disillusioned and depressed.

Regney searched for something to bring him peace. He wanted the all humankind to have a chance to live without hate, conflict, and fear.

Inspiration Leads the Way

Inspired, Regney wrote a poem about the first Christmas, concentrating on the events leading to the birth of Jesus.

He remembered walking through the fields in France and watching the sheep and thought about the innocence of a newborn lamb, appropriate since Jesus is often referred to as the Lamb of God.

When he finished the poem, he gave it to his wife and asked her to compose the music. She went shopping and the first line of music "came to her," but there was a hiccup.

I won't tell the rest of the story. You need to read Noel and Gloria's story for yourself, and you can because it's available in ebook for only $1.99. You can also find it in print.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite Christmas song?

Answer the question in Comments. Be sure and leave your email address written out to be entered in the random draw Giveaway this month. For details, see December Giveaway at the top of the left sidebar.

Takeaway Truth

Chances are the story of how your favorite song came to life is in this book. Add Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas to your Library for only $1.99 on Kindle and read the rest of Gloria and Noel's story along with all of the others. You'll love this book.

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9 Holiday Trivia Tidbits

Here's some holiday trivia so you can rock the holiday games at parties.

1. Every elf has a bell on the tip of his shoes.

2. A snowflake traditionally has 6 points.

3. Of the 8 reindeer, 2 have names which, in German, are weather phenomenon. They are Donner, German for thunder, and Blitzen, which means lightning.

4. England is credited with the creation of eggnog.

5. Santa goes by many names, one of which is St. Nicholas who actually belongs to the country of Turkey.

6. The Christmas tree that is placed at Trafalgar Square in London is always a gift from Norway.

7. The first state in the United States to recognize Christmas as an official holiday was Alabama.

8. The last state in the United States to recognize Christmas as a legal holiday was Oklahoma.

9. The red and white costume of Father Christmas aka Santa Claus was allegedly first introduced by the Coca-Cola company.

How many of these Holiday facts did you know?

Answer the question in Comments and/or leave a trivia fact about the holidays.

Be sure and leave your email address written out to be entered in the random draw Giveaway this month. For details, see December Giveaway at the top of the left sidebar.

Takeaway Truth

Who knows why a tidbit of a fact will prove useful or at least entertaining?

VISIT JOAN & FOLLOW HER ONLINE

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