KICKSTART YOUR RELATIONSHIP

If you've been married or in a long-term relationship for a while, you may have experienced what's known as a "relationship rut." Perhaps you take each other for granted or don't appreciate one other like you used to in the beginning of your relationship. Habits you once found endearing now grate on you like nails on a chalkboard. You've fallen into a nightly or weekend routine, and what used to feel like fireworks when your significant other walked into the room now resembles a match that fizzles out.

What to do when this happens? Don't despair. All it takes is one small action to jumpstart things and you'll be amazed at the results.

Here are 8 simple things you can try today:

1. Cook his or her favorite meal. Or, order in so no one has to cook at all.

2. Compliment him or her. Kind words go a long way.

3. Send a flirty text message. (Men: A d*ck pic doesn't count!)

4. Have sex at a completely random unexpected time. If you have young kids, put on a movie for them and lock the bedroom door.

5. Be genuinely excited to see them after a long day. Give them a hug or a kiss, or tell them you missed them.

6. Say thank you. You'll be surprised at how those two small words can mean the world to someone.

7. Talk about fond memories from when you first fell in love.

8. A simple touch can go a long way--a touch on the shoulder when you walk by, an arm around the waist, a squeeze on the arm.


Remember why you're with that person in the first place!




Tiffany N. York is a romance writer who thrives on love stories. You can visit her website at tiffanynyorkauthor.com 

THE LOOK OF LOVE

Anyone who watched the Academy Award show this year knows about "the look." More specifically, the look between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper during their performance of the song "Shallow." Immediately after, social media exploded with comments and speculations of their relationship.

"Oh, they're definitely doing it," was the general consensus. Or,

"If they're not doing it yet, they will be."

"They're so in love..."

Despite Bradley Cooper's girlfriend and mother of his child present in the front row, beaming up at them.

Women everywhere swooned over the way Cooper and Gaga gazed lovingly into each other's eyes while belting out lyrics. Ovaries pulsated, estrogen shot way up, and I imagine more than a few wives elbowed their husbands crying, "Why don't you ever look at me like that?"

We all know Hollywood is known for scandal, and if down the road, it comes out that these two co-stars did indeed have an affair during the filming of A Star is Born, well, I, for one, wouldn't be too surprised. But I don't think they did. 

As someone who used to act, I know what's necessary to make situations believable. And let me tell you, it would not be all that challenging to pretend to be in love with Bradley Cooper. Now I hadn't seen the film at the time of the awards show, but I watched it soon after. Despite Cooper's character looking like he could always use a shower and a haircut, one cannot ignore those baby blues, or that smile. 

This was Gaga's first film and she did a fine job. Cooper directed the film and he did a fine job as well. Their attraction to each other in the film is palpable and necessary in order to make the story believable and it comes across beautifully.

So, what does this mean? 

It means they're both consummate professionals who forged an amazingly tight bond during filming. An actress must trust her director implicitly, and essentially becomes like molding clay to him or her. It's the job of the director to coax the perfect performance from his lead actress, and Cooper succeeded.

While the Internet was on fire that night over "the look," I think it's safe to say Cooper and Gaga went home feeling immensely satisfied with their performance. Their goal was to show two characters in love from their Oscar-nominated film and they hit the mark indeed.

If you haven't seen their performance from that night, it's definitely worth a look.


Tiffany N. York is a writer living in SoCal who gets "the look" when she gazes at coffee and pizza. And baby animals. You can visit her website at tiffanynyorkauthor.com

GET TO KNOW ME

I love learning personal facts about authors, their favorite vices, obsessions, maybe even some secrets. I'm nosey, er, curious about people. So I thought I'd do a Get to Know Me post since I never actually formally introduced myself here.

http://www.themoviedistrict.com/moonstruck/2/

FACT: I've lived in California over 20 years, but I'm a New Yorker at heart. Yup, raised in Brooklyn in an Italian neighborhood where the men would "leave the gun and take the cannoli" if ya know what I mean. Pizza, a semolina loaf, salami, and black and white cookies were my 4 major food groups growing up. I lived a block away from the bakery in this photo, which is where the bakery scenes in the movie, Moonstruck were filmed.

http://whisper.sh/whisper/0518ae519891fb882747fe107dffbf6af97747/I-think-my-cup-of-coffee-just-said-youre-my-bitch


VICE: Coffee. How cliche, I know, but put it this way--If I could walk around with an IV drip of coffee all day, I would. I started drinking coffee back when no one knew what a cappuccino was, Starbucks hadn't been born yet, and it sure in the hell didn't cost over $2 a cup.

OBSESSION: Halloween. Let's just say this: It's only July and I'm already buying stuff for Halloween. Actually, I started in May. Truthfully, I started getting ideas about it on November 1, 2017. It's a year-round obsession. Oh, and I dress my diva dog to match me on Halloween. She knows if she wants to roll with this family, she's got to be a good sport. The boy? He's just in it for the candy. He may or may not have been switched at birth. I'm still waiting to see whether he rises to the occasion in the future.

https://memes.lol/crazy-cat-lady/

ANIMALS: I've had 7 cats at one time, however, at the present moment, we have 4 cats, a diva Chihuahua, a destructive bunny, and our parakeet just died. Yes, I'm open to more cats.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/159103799310108429/

LOVE LIFE: I'm 50 and have never been married. I've been a single mom for the last 15 years, and only since this February on my 50th birthday did I become engaged for the first time. To a man I was in love with 35 years ago. (Awwww) Guess when we're getting married? Halloween 2020! Mwahaha!

CAREER: I'm all over the place with my writing. I've published 2 romantic comedies, The Accidental Cougar and The Meatball Mistress, an erotic romance, The Submissive Muse, and am now shopping around a young adult novel. I've also started a romantic thriller...so yeah, no set niche for me.


That's it for now. Hope everyone is staying cool this summer.


Tiffany N. York is a published romance author who may or may not need help over her Halloween obsession. She procrastinates by perusing buy/sell sites, looking for cheap Halloween scores. You can visit her website at tiffanynyorkauthor.com   

When a Writer Stops Writing

I've been writing for a very long time. I believe it started in middle school with short stories and poems. Then I got married, popped out a couple babies, moved out, got divorced, graduated college, then decided to write again.

I've spent the last six years writing off and on. I've even published a few books, then unpublished a few books, then finally left my two favorite novels published on Amazon. It's true what they say, "No one is more critical of you than you."

People ask me why I unpublished some stories and frankly it's because I didn't feel as they were up to par. My heart wasn't in those stories, not really. To really pour my heart and soul into a story it needs my undivided attention. Sure I've written before while having a day job but my day job then was a lot less demanding than it is now. I used to eat, sleep, and breathe my stories but now it's become harder and harder to dive back into that world.

So what's a writer to do when there's nothing to write? Study? Figure out the answers to life's biggest questions? Learn how to paint? Become a conspiracy theorist? Cook? Who knows?

What I do though is blog. Blogging has saved me a few times. Every time I feel that spark begin to light back up again but I don't have the time to dedicate to writing a full blown story I'll blog or write a little and move on. Life has wrapped it's hands around my throat and has taken control between the day job, the family, the house, and studying for my real estate license I'm spread completely thin. So blogging gives me that outlet I so desperately need.

Do I always know what to blog about? Hell no! As I'm typing right now every single word is finding it's way to the screen without much thought put behind it. What you see is what you get. But that's what I like about blogging. It doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be edited, it just has to be real. (Some editing may not be a bad idea but nevertheless you get the point.)

I also read. Again, when I can. I try to focus more on the shorter stories or novellas because as bad as it sounds I just don't have the time to dedicate to a full blown novel. Maybe one day I will or maybe during the holidays I'll cram in some reading time but right now I just don't have it unfortunately. I've been desperately wanting to read Colleen Hoover's new book 'Without Merit' but I haven't had a chance to crack open the first page. I've downloaded it though. ;-)

I've fallen in love with the Misadventure series. If you haven't heard of it please go here and look it up --->   Misadventures FB Page

The latest book in this series is Misadventures of a Valedictorian. I haven't read this one yet but the others are fantastic! They have a new book released every week and these stories are full of hotness!!

Misadventures of a Valedictorian

This is what I believe most writers do who find themselves unable to write. We blog, we read, we spend time on Facebook jealous of those who can still write, we find ourselves at book signings and events soaking in the sweet air of creativity, and we promote the authors that we love. Because that's what this community does for each other. 

Thanks for reading! If you are looking for me I'll be over here eating cake, drinking wine, and attempting to study for this damn real estate exam.

Hugs,

Amber

FACEBOOK: Facebook Link

Instagram: Instagram Link

Blog: Amber Leigh Blog

THE END OF SUMMER

The end of summer is always bittersweet for me. I love the lazy days of the season, with no schedules, homework, or rushing around in the mornings to make sure my son gets to school on time. Spontaneous pool parties happen at a moment's notice, barbecues with a bit too much wine and beer, forgotten sunscreen. Summer makes me feel like a kid again.

This summer was eventful for a number of reasons. I released my very first erotic romance, The Submissive Muse, which is getting great reviews.

I fell in love for the first time in 15 years with an old boyfriend I dated 35 years before. (I know!) And I actively started going through menopause, instead of simply flirting with it. (Always hugely exciting for a woman. Ahem.)

But alas, I haven't done any writing on a new book and it's time for ASS IN CHAIR. So I bid the sweet summer adieu and vow to not take 3 months to get back into the swing of things.

Here's hoping you all had a deliciously sexy summer!

Tiffany

Tiffany N. York lives in Southern California with her spirited son, diva Chihuahua, an ever-changing number of cats, and one tone-deaf parakeet. She writes fiction to escape reality. Her two romantic comedies, The Accidental Cougar, and The Meatball Mistress, as well as her BDSM erotic romance, The Submissive Muse are all available on Amazon. Visit her website at www.tiffanynyorkauthor.com

Hugs

On this day I wish for you peace, love, and all of the hugs you can stand. Then a million more.

:)

Until next time

Anna

F* You, Sugar. F* You!

Genius that I am decided the week of Valentine’s Day to start eating clean and cut sugar out of my diet. I know! Valentine’s Day! But so far it’s been going okay. I found a program that I like and have been able to stick to it.

Now, this isn’t the first time I’ve tried to live a healthier lifestyle, and for the most part I do okay. But I am a stress eater. I do recognize what I’m doing when I reach for that third handful of gummy bears and stop myself before I grab a fourth.  But the fact that I reach for them at all was starting to become more frequent. So it was time to take a more active stand on my diet.

I know there are many of you out there, hundreds, thousands, who are doing or contemplating watching what they eat. For those who are struggling, keep on trucking. You can do it. I know you can! For personal reasons, I will not say what specific plan I use, but basically it’s clean eating. Organic, nothing processed, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. You know, the way people ate before food came pre-packaged in a box.

My goal isn’t to lose weight, although we all know that is a nice bonus, but to be healthy. Avoid cancer-causing agents, remove those free radicals. If I’m going to keep telling people I’m 24, I’m going to have to do everything I can to maintain the illusion.

As we approach that time of year when Cadbury Eggs and Starburst Jelly Beans are within arm’s reach, know that I am there with you feeling your pain. I am there with you when you say no to the ginger whiskey on Wednesday because you are saving your free day for the weekend. I am there with you in spirit as I know you are with me.

Crunch on with your crudité, my friends. Crunch on and stay strong!

Until next time-

Anna- The Super Diva

Website- http://annaalexander.net/

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All I ask

Yes, I know what today is. Some people will go over every detail of what happened fourteen years ago because somehow reliving each moment brings them comfort. Others will shy away and refuse to dwell on the past. Whatever you choose to do today, do it with love. 

                       Be passionate. Be respectful. Be grateful.

                                Love like there's no tomorrow.    

                         

Love you!

Anna

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