Celebrate Stay Home Because You're Well Day

Today is a long-awaited special day—drumroll please—Stay Home Because You're Well Day.

I'm not making that up. It really is a named special day, and I hope you're able to celebrate it.

Most of us who work in a job away from home only stay home if they're sick. You never have the luxury of just taking a day off to rest, relax, and regenerate.

I guess that's why this day was created by Thomas and Ruth Roy who have created several rather silly "special" days to celebrate.

According to the entity that knows all, Google, the couple urges everyone to "call in well" today. I guess for most who can take a day off when they need one that would be taking a vacation day.

If you can do that, go for it. Call if a mental vacation day, self-help day, or just an escape from the never ending emails, texts, phone calls, etc. If you're already at work, maybe you can take the afternoon off.

How to Celebrate

Do sleep late or take a nap at some point.

Do have coffee with a friend or loved one.

Do visit someone you haven't seen in a while.

Do watch a movie you've been wanting to see.

Do read a book.

Do take a walk or engage in some kind of phyical activity you normally don't have time for.

Do NOT go shopping. Why set yourself for that exhaustion?

Do NOT go on social media. Take a true mental health break from the crazies.

Do NOT answer emails that may be upsetting. You know the kind I mean.

By the way, if you want to read a book that will make you smile, try JUST ONE LOOK, a zany romantic comedy that's on sale for only 99¢.

Takeaway Truth

Since it's a cold, rainy day here on the Gulf Coast, I think staying at home is a grand idea. Whatever you do, enjoy the day!

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Holiday Gifts for Barbie Fans

Barbie is back!

Truthfully, she never went away and has been part of pop culture since she was introduced back in 1959.

Women in their 70's love Barbie as much as little girls today. That's why the Barbie movie this past summer was such a big hit.

Smart marketing has kept Barbie viable during the new millennium, i.e., the image of a woman who can be glamorous, beautiful, smart, popular, rich, and happy.

In other words, Barbie has it all, and that's something women want even though it's impossible to attain.

The movie's popularity has given birth to countless products for those who adore Barbie. Here are a few gift ideas found on Amazon for the Barbie fan in your life.

These 3 items—that come in many different styles and designs—are just the tip of the Barbie iceberg. 

Barbie Pink and Magenta Crystal Martini Glasses

I have to admit these are pretty, and they're embellished with the signature Barbie branding. This set of 2 martini glasses is $44.99 and qualifies for Prime shipping.

Barbie Socks for Women

There are all kinds of Barbie socks for women. I think I'll be ordering some of these for a special young lady.

Barbie T-shirts for Women and Girls

"Come on, Barbie, Let's Go Party" tee comes in white, black, and pink.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

There are coffee mugs, insulated carry cups, games, shirts, shoes, jewelry, books, and so much more as well as dolls for those who play or for those who collect.

Barbie is here to stay!

Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click links in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Go For Cyber Monday?

Hurray! Cyber Monday is here!

What's that you say? You're exhausted from online bargain shopping? I hear you, sister.

It seems as if the Christmas holiday sales started with Amazon's second Prime Day back in October. At that same time, other big retailers had big sales.

November rolls around and Black Friday started a week before Thanksgiving and continues until the 29th.

So why Cyber Monday?

Tradition? Maybe. Or a last ditch effort to tap those shoppers who abstained from the previous 8 weeks of special price sales.

Personally, I can't think of anything else to buy. My list has already been completed.

Then I saw these Swarovsky Pink Crystal earrings. 

To Bling Or Not To Bling

Oh, dear. They're on sale for $80.69, and I know someone who loves pink stones as well as Swarovsky Crystal anything.

All of those darling pieces of jewelry are on sale. Oh, my. What to do, what to do? I guess I will be shopping Cyber Monday today after all, but not for anything techie. Going for the bling.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

When I was in Hong Kong many years ago on the street lined with businesses that sold loose gemstones, there was a sign in the store where I was buying a couple of emeralds and some small diamonds. "Go broke saving money."

Oh, what wisdom there is in those five words.

Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click links in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Holiday Mystery: Where Did November Go?

Yes, that's a real mystery? Where did November go? For that matter, where did 2023 go?

The days, weeks, and months seemed to disappear faster than one can turn the pages of a calendar.

Like Dr. Seuss said:

"How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?"

Seriously, I'm beginning to think the days are passing at warp speed. What if I go to sleep tonight, wake up tomorrow, and it's Christmas Eve?

Yikes! Give us a break Father Time! By the way, why is it Father Time? Why not Mother Time? She might be more benevolent. 

Time waits for no one. Time flies. Yada yada yada. Forget about the time that has already passed. Charles F. Kettering said, "You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time."

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Regretting the wasted time is simply a great way to waste more time. You can't make up for time you lost. Just plan to use your time more effectively and efficiently in the future. Now that's a good thought to start the new week.

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Saturday Share Recipe - Hot Pot Medley

Do you still have Thanksgiving leftover turkey, ham, or roast beef in the fridge?

You served leftovers yesterday. Today you may make sandwiches, stew, or chowder, but there will still be leftover meat hanging out in the fridge?

Don't despair, and don't throw it out because you're already tired of eating it.

The best thing about leftovers is that they can be transformed into something new and delicious.

Here's a recipe that's a quadruple threat: (1) it uses leftover meat (2) it tastes delicious (3) it's easy to make (4) it can be prepared, frozen, and defrosted at a future date when you want a hot meal but you're too tired to cook.

Hot Pot Medley (Serves 6-8)

Ingredients - Meat

2 cups turkey, ham, or beef, trimmed and diced

Ingredients - Vegetables

1 medium to large onion, diced

2 carrots, sliced

1 -2 stalks celery (depends on how well you like celery) sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon ground bllack pepper

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/8 teaspoon Tabasco (only is you like it spicy)

3 sliced potatoes (like you'd cut for scalloped potatoes)

Ingredients - Liquid 

1 1/2 - 2 cups leftover gravy for turkey or beef. For ham, use a cheese sauce, bechamel, or mushroom sauce. You can use cream condensed soup mixed with milk if you don't object to those or an Organic Alfredo Sauce mix.

Not enough leftover gravy? Make more using a mix like Organic Turkey Gravy Mix or the beef version from Amazon.

Directions

(1) Spray a casserole dish with a baking spray or butter the dish.

(2) Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit (approximately 177 Celsius).

(3) In a large bowl, mix the meat and vegetables—except potatoes—together.

(4) Sprinkle the seasonings over the mixture and pour into the prepared baking dish.

(5) Layer the thinly-sliced potatoes over the top of th mixture

(6) Pour the gravy over everything in the dish.

(7) Bake at 350 Fahrenheit (approximately 177 Celsius) for 35 minutes.

By the way, I have fancy baking dishes, but I usually use the plain glass ones with snap-on plastic tops like the ones shown here.

They're rectangular and take up less space than round ones, and they go from freezer to oven (but not the lids!!) and are dishwasher safe. Since they're clear, I can also see when the sauce begins "bubbling" while baking.

Amazon has this 8-piece set on a Cyber Monday deal. The set with plain gray top is around $35. The colored tops cost a little more.

To Freeze for Later Baking

(1) Put the whole thing together except for the potato layer and the gravy or sauce.

(2) Place the dish into a freezer storage bag or use heavy duty aluminum foil to wrap completely around the dish and seal the foil properly. Also freeze the leftover gravy if that's what you're using for the liquid component.

(3)  When ready to serve it, thaw and remove the dish and the sauce.

(4) Place sliced potatoes on top, pour the gravy or sauce you've made over the potatoes.

(5) Bake as directed above.

Takeaway Truth

Leftovers are a great thing for a busy cook. A little time space from the original serving of the item and a little transformation make for a great new meal.

A 99¢ Escape

If you're tired and need a break, grab a copy of a romantic comedy that's on sale until the end of November.

JUST ONE LOOK (a KU free read for subscribers) will make you smile and lift your spirits.

Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click links in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Black Friday Specials for Readers

Image by Basim Miller of Pixabay

Once upon a time, I avoided Black Friday sales. I'm not much for the pushing and shoving of crowds all looking to score bargains—not to mention the whole driving around and searching for a parking spot.

Backstory of Black Friday

When online shopping began, I changed my mind about Black Friday, now a national shopping day that was named by the Philadelphia police back in the 1950s when they noticed the huge crowds who came to the city the day after Thanksgiving simply to shop.

Black Friday Ongoing

Since Amazon and other retailers started Black Friday early this year, it's lost a little of its impact. I've already completed my post-Thanksgiving shopping.

Sales continue until the 27th I believe, but here are a few things I think Readers would be especially interested in.

Black Friday Specials for Readers

The Amazon Fire 7 Tablet is about the best bargain I've found. It has over 12,000 reviews averaging 4.5 stars. Fits in your hand and perfect for kids. Parental controls available.

You can read ebooks with it and go online too. This model is an unbelievable $39.95 and has a 10-hour battery life and 16 gb of storage.

You can get this tablet in black, denim, and rose. This one displays ads on the lockscreen. If you want a model without the ads, the cost increases to $54.99.

Amazon Fire 8HD

If you want one for yourself, this is the perfect model for streaming, reading ebooks, checking social media, etc. It's lightweight and has 13 hours of battery life and can have the storage upgraded.

Kindle Ereader

If you want a dedicated ereader that has a built-in light, this is the latest version and a great buy at $99.99 for the version with lockscreen ads. Without lockscreen ads, you'll pay $119.99. A single charge lasts weeks, not hours. It comes in black and denim, and you can get a discount if you trade in an older Kindle.

Relax on Black Friday

JUST ONE LOOK, my first bestseller on Amazon that sold more than 50,000 copies the year it was published on Kindle, is on sale now for 99¢.

(I think it sold almost twice that many, but I don't have time to go check my old spreadsheet.)

"This story gripped me and didn't let go. I finished it in five hours! It was fast-paced and filled with emotion and very HOT moments.  The hero -- Matt -- is delicious and sweet. Very enjoyable read." 5 Stars —MWatson Review

Check back daily because I'll have sales throughout the rest of the year on my books and books by author friends.

Takeaway Truth

I hope you grab some of the Black Friday bargains to enhance your reading time. If you read one of my holiday books, please do me a favor and leave a review—just a couple of sentences saying what you liked about the story. Happy bargain shopping.

 Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click links in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Meaning of Thanksgiving—Profound to Funny

Depending on your age, talents, skills, and family situation, you're probably doing one or all these things today:

• prepping food
• cooking and/or baking
• yelling (at kids or spouse)
• giving orders (run to the store for milk
• setting a table
• or primping to look your best in a game day jersey or fancy dress clothes.

Yes, it's that family holiday we call Thanksgiving.

When you get a chance to colllapse and put your feet up—usually when everyone else is taking a nap after dinner—here are a few quotes for your entertainment and pleasure.

Thanksgiving From Profound to Funny...Often in the Same Quote

Appreciation can change a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. —Margaret Cousins 

Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings, one by one, as each relative goes home. —Melanie White 

What I love about Thanksgiving is that it's purely about getting together with friends or family and enjoying food. It's really for everybody, and it doesn't matter where you're from. —Daniel Humm 

If you think about a Thanksgiving dinner, it's really like making a large chicken. —Ina Garten

We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. —John F. Kennedy 

After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations. —Oscar Wilde

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. —William Arthur Ward

Cooking Tip: Wrap turkey leftovers in aluminum foil and throw them out. —Nicole Hollander

Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have. —Catherine Pulsifier 

Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants. —Kevin James

Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind. —Lionel Hampton

If there's one thing I’ve learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it. —Rick Riordan

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

It's like Charlie Brown said, "We should just be thankful for being together."

Wishing you a day of full of happiness with family and friends.