Well. That half day I was going to have to write? The one that was working around an event at my son’s school? Well, that one is no more. My husband decided this morning that we needed to ‘tidy up a bit’, just in case a friend of ours might possibly want to stop by for a visit while in the area. So I spent my whole morning ‘tidying up’ the colossal mess that was our house since the return of our trip. Yes, yes, I’d been working on it–not fast enough apparently, and yes, yes, I needed to get it done before this weekend, when my husband had agreed to drag our Christmas decorations down from the attic. But I didn’t need to have a whirlwind cleaning spree on my ‘day off’. Still…it does look much better.

Technically it’s not all done. I’m resting, drained after all the non-stop tidying. So, having not eaten breakfast, I poured myself a glass of milk and grabbed the little breakfast bar that Old Navy was giving out on Black Friday. Has anyone else had this nasty little snack??? Because it’s delicious!! It’s called a ‘Flapjack & Maple Syrup Short Stack Breakfast Snack Granola Bar’ with walnuts, and it’s simply scrumptious. I would immediately go out and buy up a box if I knew where to get them. The wrapper simply says ‘Season’s Eatings from Old Navy and Cereality’.

Wait! In my search for a picture, I found this. They’re selling a similar bar…wonder if it’s the same…for not a bad deal. I wonder what the shipping is. Will research and put off final cleaning a bit longer.

Today was the day I went shopping for knee-high black boots. I’ve never had any before but kinda wanted them last year and really think I should have some this year since I have several new things that would work really well with that type of boot.

I was hoping to find something at Macy’s, since I have a $10 gift card they sent me in the mail and they’re always having sales, but I couldn’t find anything. So, with trepidation, I headed down to Dillard’s. Dillard’s shoe department is twice the size of Macy’s and is always filled with cute little shoes I tell myself I’ll buy when they go on sale. .
Dillard’s very rarely has sales, so my shoe collection leaves a little bit to be desired. I did find some I liked–a couple of pairs actually–by Michelle D. I tried on the hipper of the two and it was uncomfortably tight across the toes and higher up, even in the wide size. So I tried the other, more casual of the two and it fit pretty well, although I think the tightness around the calves will take some getting used to.

Then I saw this cute little shiny navy patent ballet flat and sent my little one over to get it (not wanting to be seen walking around in capri pants and charcoal grey socks)…and he leaned on the table, upended it, and sent everything in all directions. He was very embarrassed. Well I got the boots and we left. I’ll get those little ballet flats when they go on sale. But then I thought, maybe I’ll just stop by DSW and see if I can find a bargain. .
If I do, I can just take back the hard-won boots from Dillard’s. So we breeze through, and just a few boots shy of stepping out the door, I find another pair I like–same price–less stylish perhaps, but more comfortable still. So I bought them too. And now I have to decide which one to keep or whether to take them both back and call the day a wash. What do you think?

Well, I’m back from a week long stint in Charleston, South Carolina, visiting my sister, brother-in-law and two nieces. After we got over the drive straight through, and I slogged through the first few days with a sinus headache, we really had a good time…and then we pulled another all-day drive back home. And now I’m absolutely swamped with things to do.

I tried to keep up with my blog a little over the vacation, but I haven’t worked on my WIP in what seems like forever. I’m really going to have to crack down if I’m going to even come close to making a stab at trying to finish up by the end of the year…or even by February when one of the RWA chapters I belong to will be hosting agents who’ll be taking appointments. (I have plenty of time to worry about how I’ll deal with that frightening aspect of writing life later).

And of course, now I have all those other little projects associated with the holidays to occupy my time as well…holiday parties, teacher gifts, holiday baking, shopping, gift-wrapping, decorating, and on and on. I’ll be lucky if I can squeeze out every last one of my Mother’s-Day-Out writing days before my little one gets out for Christmas break. I have exactly six of them left, and one is already at least partially taken up in a project at my older son’s school. Blogs may well be short and sweet from here on out…

Before I sign off (so much still to unpack…), look at this gorgeous cover from the very sweet and busyDeborah MacGillivray. Her debut novel, A Restless Knight has gotten rave reviews. This one though is so delicious looking…it makes me think of peppermints. It’s also a contemporary, which I’m reading more of these days. It’s in my current Amazon order. One more thing to distract me from my WIP…