Gratitude Journals- A Look on the Silly Side #RB4U @melissa_keir

Gratitude Journals- A Look on the Silly Side

Hello everyone. It's Melissa popping in today for a little look at gratitude. I know we focus on that during November as a part of Thanksgiving and with our New Year, we set goals and resolutions. Many people want to be more positive this year. It seems like 2015 was a pretty yucky year for so many people...at least according to my Facebook feed.

According to Wikipedia.."A gratitude journal is a diary of things for which one is grateful. Gratitude journals are used by individuals who wish to focus their attention on the positive things in their lives...participants who kept weekly or daily gratitude journals had greater psychological and physical benefits when compared to participants who did not keep gratitude journals."Link to Wikipedia

I don't keep my own gratitude journal but I do text my best friend every day. We text what we are grateful for and it help support each other as well as keep in touch, since we live so far apart.  Sometimes our texts are profound and other times, simple. We each are facing so challenges that we love being able to keep in touch and help each other. So a journal doesn't have to be a book, but some way that you reflect and share what you are grateful for.

I thought it would be fun to see what some of my characters would write if they wrote in a gratitude journal. Mind you I took it on the silly side. 

Betsie Wolfe: I am grateful that I found my favorite lipstick when I dropped my purse. Too bad I had to witness that murder. 

Jonah Pigg: I'm grateful that Betsie didn't freak out about staying in my old bedroom. At least the sheets were clean... I think.

Protecting His Wolfe Buy Link

Michelle Alt: I am grateful for my mom helping out with my daughter and our home. I'd never have time to protest if she wasn't here.

Preston Hall: I'm grateful I didn't continue with the polo career. There's no way I'd be able to compete against the British Royals.

Cowboys Forever Buy Link

Keira Matthews: I'm grateful for my little furry baby. He's always there for me, even when Rob's too busy. At least, Gris kisses me.

Rob Matthews: I am grateful for a vacation, even if it's supposed to be a second honeymoon with my wife who doesn't trust me. Maybe there'll be some good fishing.

Crashing into Love Buy Link

While these are silly gratitude journal entries, I could see the characters being honest in a journal they think no one else would read. Do you keep a gratitude journal? What would your characters say in a journal? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

Don't forget to drop by next month at this same day for more silly insights into my writing, books, characters and life. 

I am grateful for all of you who read the blog, visit my page and website, and buy my books. You are so important to me! I wish you a happy and prosperous 2016!

http://www.melissakeir.com

Been There... Done That....Cold December Mornings....#RB4U #FoodPorn

Cold December Mornings...

Hello and welcome back to Melissa's Musings. Each ninth day of the month, I drop by to share my thoughts, wonderings, happenings, and life. Lucky you! You're in for a treat today!

If your family is like mine, mornings are not our favorite time of the day. Youngest child--who is now an adult working as an electrician is up and in the shower by 6:00, I'm doing my hair for work or phoning in my movie review to the local radio station by 6:30. At this time of year in Michigan, it's dark...and cold!

It's hard to think about food, let alone have time for yummy meal. Forget cereal... too messy and you have to sit down and eat it. The breakfast bars are okay if you like cardboard. They also leave me hungry about 10 am. Stopping at the local hamburger joint is fine but expensive. With the holidays, I don't have a dollar to spare!

I cut my time down to the second so that I can sleep just those few extra minutes. Beauty sleep is important. I didn't get this way on Botox alone! *wink*

So been there, done that... I've tried to make up breakfast meals ahead of time. They didn't turn out so good. Think messy and boring. But you will receive my special secret recipe today.... just because I love you, all!

I make egg muffins. They are super easy and I make them on Sundays, stuff them in a Ziploc baggie and with a quick pop in the microwave (1-2 min) they are ready to go. You can even make them into a sandwich if you want to give up an extra minute of your rest.

Egg Muffins

6-9 eggs

1/8-1/4 cup milk

Muffin pan

Cooking spray

Extras:

Cheese

Onions (green or sweet)

Bacon

Sausage

Ham pieces cubed

Mushrooms

And anything else you can imagine!

Preheat the oven to 350*. Spray the muffin tin with cooking spray (don't be a Grinch with it...make sure it's coated in the muffin spaces so the eggs come out.) 

In a separate bowl, combine the eggs and mild. Wisk.

In the muffin tins, load up your extras. Go all out! Be creative!

Pour the milk/egg mixture over the extras in the muffin cups. Place in the oven and cook at 350* until firm and lightly browned (about 15 minutes or so).

Remove from oven and let cool. You can eat them when warm or place them into plastic baggies for future mornings. 

Now you have a yummy treat that won't waste your precious sleep time. In addition, these are wonderful things to make ahead for the holidays. You can wake up and warm up these on Christmas morning while the children are opening presents or serve them on New Years Eve, before your party guests go home.

Aren't you glad you got to learn from my own trial and error? If you make them, I'd love to hear what you put in them. My favorite is green onions, mushrooms, bacon, ham and cheese.

Now for a treat of a different sort... Yummy Cowboys!

Cowboys Forever 
Six Women—Six Cowboys Forever 
Six Cowboy Love Stories by the best selling authors who brought you Cowboy Up 1&2 

Marry Me Again, Cowboy by Allison Merritt 
An unlikely match made in Texas... 

Cowboy Apocalypse by Leslie Garcia 
Can a former Marine and a Hollywood diva facing apocalyptic changes in their lives salvage new beginnings together? 

Claiming A Cowboy’s Heart by Melissa Keir 
Even broken souls deserve a second chance at love… 

Rock-n-Roll Cowboy by Autumn Piper 
Never judge a rock band by its cover song. 

A Cowboy's Princess by Sara Walter Ellwood 
Oil and water don't mix...neither does Texas oil royalty and an ex-Navy SEAL turned rodeo cowboy until danger forces them together. 

Ride, Cowboy, Ride by D’Ann Lindun 
Can they find freedom together? 

EXCERPT FROM CLAIMING A COWBOY'S HEART:

The horse’s tail rose. A small leg became visible as the birth began. Holding his breath, he waited and watched.

With his gaze on the eminent arrival, he frowned. “Crap. That’s an upside down hoof.”

His friend drew in close. A second leg arrived. “Shit. The foal’s backward. Those are the rear legs.”

“We have to get the foal out now. If we don’t, it’ll drown.” He knelt next to the horse. “Get up front and soothe Cheyenne. I’m going to have to pull the foal out fast, and I don’t want her thrashing around.” Sweat trickled down his spine. Playing God was not what being a veterinarian was about. Losing an animal—any animal—took a piece of his soul. But to lose a new life…it might leave a permanent scar. I’ve been blessed so far. Would the blessing last?

Glancing to see that his buddy had followed his directions, Preston gritted his teeth and seized a hold of the offspring’s legs with both hands. “Ready, on the count of three…. One, two, three.” He heaved with all his strength, observing as the foal came out. Quickly, he tore open the sac, releasing fluid and giving the foal a chance to breathe. He gnawed on his lip, gaze glued on the foal. Was it alive? Come on. He whispered a silent prayer.

Free with Kindle Unlimited or only 99 pennies...(ebook) 
Buy Link: AMAZON

Thank you for stopping by today and be sure to let me know about your own extras!! I'm always up for trying a new treat!