Squeeeeeeeeeeee!

I am absolutely delighted, flabbergasted, shocked, sobbing and a whole host of other words that my humorous, yet spicy, romance, Bunny And The Bear, is a finalist in the Australian Romance Readers Awards. How freakn’ cool is that!?!? I think I kind of know how the unknown actor feels when they get the notice they’ve made the list. Awe, just plain unadulterated awe, and joy that people thought well enough of my writing to nominate me. I’m sitting alongside some pretty big freakn’ names. Authors whom I would squeee over if I ever got to meet them face to face. Even though my chances of winning are super slim, it is still tear inspiring to see my work getting that kind of recognition.

Squealing over, I want to say a great big, whopping, gi-normous THANK YOU to my readers. It is your enthusiastic responses to my sometimes twisted stories that keep me writing. I love hearing about how one of my tales has brightened your day. You guys are the absolute BEST! And have set the bar pretty damned high now lol. I guess I’d better get cracking on my next romance :)

Wishing you a wonderful day, and hoping all the books you read leave you with a HEA smile
Eve Langlais

Who else dreads tax time :(

I know it’s only January, but as a fairly organized person (when it comes to bills and stuff anyway lol), as soon as the kids go back to school in January, I start thinking about tax time. I eye the bulging drawer holding all the bills and receipts for the year. I fill up the stapler and get the shredder ready, then I dive into sorting hell. Please note, I start out each year with folders with categories but sometime around the end of summer, my system goes to hell. I’ll just blame the husband. I’m sure it’s his fault somehow lol.

As if paper chaos wasn’t enough, as a self-employed individual, I agonize over whether or not I’ve paid enough taxes over the year. I always fear I haven’t and start eying my budget to see if I can squeeze it tighter in case of a nasty surprise. I’ve yet to see a credit at tax time 
Previous years I’ve done my taxes myself, but this year, I give up. I know I’m not getting all the deductions I should and that means I’m paying too much to the government. So this year, I’m biting the bullet and going to see an accountant. But that comes with its own set of fears. For one, it’s kind of personal to let someone see all your receipts and have them know what you spend your money on. ( I swear the sex shop one was for research purposes. LOL) I also wonder how much I need to do beforehand. Right now I’m organizing all my papers into manila envelopes– ie utilities, house repairs, pay stubs, medical receipts etc. But am I doing enough? Too much? Have I mentioned I worry about the most inane things lol? Also, how much do I need to tell the accountant before they roll their eyes at the information overload? If I don’t tell them enough will they know that the blurry receipt was for the new keyboard for my work computer. Will they understand that the books I bought were truly for my work? Actually they were lol.

And this is why I start my taxes early because every year I go through this agony and it’s not over until I file them and pay whatever I owe (because the government seems to increase the amount every year). Then I have about 9 months to relax before the stress starts all over again.
lol
What about you? Do you turn into a stress bag when you know tax time is coming?

An Old Fashioned Christmas

There’s a song on the Osmond Family Christmas album (my favorite Christmas music ever!) that sings about having an old fashioned Christmas.  I love it and the sentiment behind it, but at the same time, my family is creating new traditions for the holidays, special things we do that are unique to us–and all the more cherished.  But that doesn’t mean we’ve ditched everything our parents did for us growing up. We kept the standard ones of course:

  • Christmas tree (artificial to save the forest) with the most awesome (AKA tacky or with your name on them) decorations ever.
  • Stockings for everyone in the family which Santa stuffs to overflowing (Thank you Dollarama!)
  • Christmas Lights and reindeer on the front lawn.
  • Sending of Cards (when I remember to buy freakn’ stamps)
  • Getting together with family and playing this cool card game that involves stealing presents. Everyone loves that one. And Santa always pays a visit to say hello to the kids.
  • Eggnog — the virgin kind lol

Nothing unusual with any of those. Then, there’s the traditions we started just for our family:

  • Skipping the turkey on Christmas day (because my kids hate it) and oven toasting some KFC along with french fries, reheating the KFC gravy and serving all that along with the fluorescent coleslaw on the fine china. We make the kids Shirley Temples in fancy plastic wineglasses and all sit in the dining room wearing the crowns from our crackers. My kids have never eaten more on Christmas Day since we started this a few year ago. And it is marvelously relaxing for me. I get to enjoy the day, play with the kids and best of all keep my smile because they actually eat instead of complaining and pushing food around.
  • Matching pajamas! Last year we went with red plaid, this year….ANGRY BIRDS. Oh yes, I found the kids matching pajama sets while hubby and I each got a t-shirt. My munchkins are delighted with the theme–and even hubby busted a gut when he found out.
  • Feeding the reindeer the night before so Santa and his crew can find us. Secret Recipe — take some oats, mixed with colorful candy sprinkles, add in some glittery magical dust and presto, you’ve got something special for the kids to sprinkle on the front lawn :)
  • Christmas Eve neighborhood walk where we check out the lights and sing carols–that taper off if we run into anybody lol
  • Oh and the most important tradition for mom and dad–something a little extra in our Christmas morning coffee. Nothing says cheer like a dollop of Sheridan in our morning brew.

So what old traditions have you kept? And what new ones did you create? Which ones do you hope your kids will pass on one day? I am really hoping mine keep the KFC one lol.

 

 

 

Favorite Christmas song ever!!! My kids can’t help seeing the WOOOOO! part. It’s hilarious.

 

Is jealousy romantic?

I think jealousy is romantic to a certain extent and I know many will disagree, but jealousy is  such a powerful emotion, one that just about everyone feels at one time or another. In the wrong hands, it can cause extreme envy and avarice. In the right hands, it can make a stupid man(or woman) realize what’s sitting right under their very nose and cherish it all the more.
Personally, I like to see my hubby in the grips of the green eyed monster every once in a while. Not that it happens often when you’ve been married over 12 years, but the rare occasions it does, I am filled with a guilty pleasure. Might I even say, a certain erotic delight.

I like knowing that my hubby doesn’t want to share me. That he considers me, “his”. It makes me feel desirable and loved. And do I feel the same in return? Damned straight. Knowing other women desire him is a source of pride, even if it drives me insane.  Do I like it? No, but we both tend to reap the benefits because it usually means when we get home I tear off his clothes and remind him of why I’m so special. And lucky me, he reminds me right back.

However, my enjoyment of his covetous nature does have boundaries. For example, I would never condone him attacking someone who complimented me, or to verbally or physically abuse me because he cannot handle his emotions. Some lines should never be crossed. But, grabbing me close to give me a deep kiss, maybe squeezing my ass in plain public thus reaffirming my taken status? Totally acceptable. Even encouraged.

Jealousy is a normal emotion, a strong one at times, that can rouse feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. Many couples have suffered at one time or another from the angst of the green eyed monster. In some cases, it can unfortunately devolve into unhealthy accusations, and violence. Hitting your partner because you can’t handle your emotions is not acceptable under any circumstances. Jealousy should never be used as an excuse to hurt the one you love, to make nasty, unfounded accusations or to do anything that requires extreme forgiveness or a restraining order.  If you are truly in love, truly a couple, then trust should be stronger than jealousy. Belief in your partner and their affection for you should be all the reassurance you need. If not, then seek counseling, but never, ever hurt each other. Some acts and words can never be erased. 

But let’s move past unhealthy jealousy onto the non-dysfunctional kind because jealousy, after all, comes in many forms and not all of them are evil or painful. The one I’m familiar with is the kind that arises within a couple where one fears losing the other to someone who might offer more–is she prettier, younger, sexier? In my world, that type of insecure jealousy is resolved simply by my better half–my dear hubby–showing with words and actions–the erotic kind–just how much I am loved and cherished for just being me. It can provide a reaffirmation of their bond to each other.

That’s one type, then there’s the jealousy that arises when you see someone that has something you don’t have, but suddenly realize you want. Examples would be where acquaintances for years suddenly realize their friend is someone worth having. It happens when two coworkers start dating and you fantasize about being in their place. It’s your BFF’s big brother never seeing you as more than a sister until one day he realizes you’re all grown up but with someone else.

However, what happens when the one you want is in a relationship and happy? What happens if the one you covet wants you in return–but also wants to keep their other lover? What does it take to shed inhibitions and pride to be with the one you desire? To share a home and a bed with third person all for the sake of loving someone?

I don’t know if I could ever go that far. Even the very idea of someone else touching my hubby drives me insane with jealousy. But, while I don’t feel a need to explore a threesome in my own world, I do explore it in my soon-to-be released book Jealous and Freakn’, coming out November 20th.

In the story, Mitchell’s been avoiding Francine, his sister’s BFF, for years because Francine totally thinks they’re meant to be together. Everything changes when Mitchell sees Francine getting involved with another man. But when she refuses to give Alejandro up, can Mitchell get past his jealousy to become a threesome with the woman he loves? Oh, and to add a little fun to the mix, did I mention they’re all shapeshifters?!

Steamy action, jealous antics and more abound in this stand alone sequel to Delicate Freakn’ Flower. For an excerpt and more, click the Books link. Also keep an eye out in the blogsphere because there are going to be numerous giveaways for a copy of my latest book in the Freakn’ Shifters series.

I do hope you enjoy, and remember, the next time the little green eyed monster plays you a visit, use it as an opportunity to show the one you love just how much you love them. Naked of course