Passionate about January!I passionately hate it! I would like to trade my January for May or June please. Any takers? Not unless you’re from
I thought about coming here and pretending to chirp about all the possibilities in this first month of the new year, but I’m too cold and cranky, and it’s really hard to ride with the top down when it’s sleeting! Sob!
I actually think bears have the right idea. Eat a lot then sleep through it. ZZZZ So what’s an anti-January girl to do when facing twenty-five more days of January. And we won’t even discuss February and March.
I need your help. How can I get through January (and the winter) and get something done besides turn on the gas fireplace, google anything and everything, sit on my asterisk and feel my thighs spread, and just wait for Spring?
I’ll give you my suggestions if you’ll give me yours!
1. Make friends with my treadmill. Or at least negotiate détente. The best way for me to do this is to trick myself to getting on the machine and listening to a great playlist that includes “I Want A Man” by Annie Lennox.
2. Wear lined wool pants, cuddle duds and cashmere sweaters. Knee-socks worn 24 hours a day will see me through.
3. Book a trip to 
Or the Keys. Think South.
4. Make friends with gloves and earmuffs. Sorry. Can’t do hats.
5. Be extra thankful for the gas fireplace with blower and bun warmers in my car.
6. Visit my local homeless shelter with a dozen gloves to give away. Maybe that will help my ungrateful wench self to be a little more grateful.
7. Reignite my affection for crock pot cooking (using the Reynolds crock pot liners for easy cleaning, of course).
8. Clean out a closet while watching a trashy reality tv show.
9. Plan at least one outing each week -- lunch with a friend, concert, new restaurant, visit a museum, a comedy club, join a bookclub.
10. Read a book… I’d like to suggest mine.:)
My January Silhouette Desire, FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA, was inspired by my trip to
Back to surviving January, I will draw a winner from those wonderful people who post a response and send an autographed copy of one of my books! And one more thing, if you’re driving a convertible and it’s a sunny day (but freezing), just turn on the heater.
xo,
Leanne
FROM PLAYBOY TO PAPA Silhouette Desire January 2010
THE PLAYBOY’S PROPOSITION Silhouette Desire February 2010
SECRETS OF THE PLAYBOY’S BRIDE Silhouette Desire March 2010
53 comments:
Congrats on the new release, Leanne. It's hard to be enthusiastic about doing anything when it's so cold, but I do get a burst of energy when I think about all those great sales going on right now. Snow can't stop me from hitting Victoria's Secret during there big sale.
Sometimes I hate the cold and sometimes I hate the heat.
We can always find something to groan about, but actually I usually find there are so many things I have been meaning to do and eventually I take the time and start doing them.
THen I find my spirits get lifted up !
Carol
My children grew up with me working out on my Nordic track... especially in the winter. I would put on a movie, a taped music concert or read a paperback (ackward, but it works) and the time flew by!!
I would also suggest hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows.
A fire in the fireplace (if you have one).
Start to knit a baby blanket. Someone you know is always having a baby.
Update your photo album. Buy picture frames and scatter pictures around your house.
Buy a calender with pictures of places you want to visit, or place inspirational quotes around the house that get you through the day.
Leanne, welcome back! And thanks for bringing a heart-warming (a-hem) hunk with you! What a cover!
And as for January-- I'm hearing all kinds of complaints that people have to (gasp!) put on jackets and shoes with toes in them. Snort. Pansies. Here in FLA-Land people don't expect to have to put up with temps in the 40's very often. Personally, I find it refreshing. And I head straight for the hot cocoa and break out the throws for the sofa. Great book-reading weather!
Hi, Leanne! Happy New Year to all!
"Sweet Dreams Are Made of These" by the Eurythmics is my favorite recording of all time. Annie Lennox is fabulous!
When it's cold enough outside to make my face hurt, then I stay inside and pamper myself. I love to make soup and bread, and that makes the house smell wonderful. It's good food that makes you feel good, too! Fresh hot coffee plus wicked chocolate goodies, combined with a great book is true cold weather bliss. Add my comfy reading place on the sofa with a warm afghan and a pile of cats, and I am fortified to do battle with Old Man Winter : )
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Hey Leanne! Welcome and congrats on the new book!
I'd trade January for any other month of the year, no doubt. And to add to your list - winter is a great time to start taking a D3 supplement.
A lot of studies are showing that due to sunscreens and winter conditions in northern climates we don't get enough sun and we all need a little bit every day to get our D3. So take a supplement!
Oh, and I meant to comment that the guy on your cover reminds me of Mark Wahlberg. Love him!
I love the hunk on the cover too, Leanne. Also love those cute little poochies!!
So happy to have you back with us today!!
Those are great suggestions Leanne. I do not like winter but January is a good time to relax. We are going to plan our garden for the spring this month. If you don't garden, just buy a couple of herb plants. It's nice to see greenery when it's barren outside and plus you can use the herbs in your cooking.
Welcome, Leanne! Sitting here in the frozen tundra of MN. Layers, it's all about layers. :-)
Love that man on the cover. He's enough to warm anyone up!
Quick note to let you all know that Leanne had something come up that she had to attend to this morning but she'll be checking in and responding as soon as she gets back home!
Keep those comments and ideas coming. I for one, could use some ideas too. This winter has been a stinker and it doesn't look like there's any quick end in sight!!
Hi Leanne, I always get over my January-blues by dancing. I put on my fav salsa music and dance dance dance away. Note: I do this at home! where it's safe and nobody sees my big bottom hopping around. Maybe you like to try it sometime. I feel better after words.
Take care, Kirsten
Hi Leanne. Congratulations on your new release. I am not a fan of winter either. My husband has battery powered socks that he wears when he is working outside.
Congrats on the new release. The cover is very nice.
I am with you, I don't like the cold weather. I like it where it's cool enough for jeans and a long sleeve shirt but that's about it. I definitely prefer the summer, especially because I am a swimmer. Swimming helps me relax. I go to an indoor pool but I hate leaving in the winter because I am wet, my hair it wet and it just takes too much time to get dryed off and dressed afterward.
As far as the cold goes though, I love curling up on the couch or in the floor in front of the fireplace and reading a good book.
I would love it if I had a car.. mine went to heaven in December and Santa did not bring me a new one.. So now I have to venture out in the cold.. I would like to stay cozied up in my flannel nightgowns with books and just hiberante for the winter...
Thanks for braving the cold with us Leanne. I spend hours out in it every day and I resent it deeply. Hot fluids, hot soups, lots of exercise...and who knows, we might survive one more year.
In Jan. is a great time to 'declutter' those closets or storage areas. Do a little and then, as a reward, make yourself a cup of hot chocolate or coffee with flavoured creamer and relax. Then up and at it again.
Homemade soups and stews make the kitchen smell heavenly and satisfy the hunger.
Have a candle lit and sitting on your stove for hours to make the house smell wonderful; e.g. Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Vanilla or what ever your preference.
On a day when you can stand the cold for 15 min. or so and it is a day when the trees/shrubs are covered in frost go outside and take pictures, breathe the fresh air and take in the beauty.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
Welcome, Leanne! Only you could do "cold and cranky" with a purely perky tone.
I'm with you on Florence. Absolutely incredible. Rome is fascinating, Venice romantic, but Florence has it all. Can't wait to see it with your Man-o-Month.
Oh, and I need a longer January this year. Book due in Feb, and I'm always behind. Good writing weather!
Lots of good ideas on your list, Leanne! January regularly begins my renewed devotion to my treadmill as we usually go somewhere in March and the promise of that is enough to keep me honest. (there's something about the prospect of having to put on a swimsuit...!)
Very arctic around here but I could be in Montana where it was -37, or one of the slightly more west states, where the snowfall is deep. Missouri is COLD and it's promising to snow today, but I'll live.
I get through January's arctic snaps by reminding myself: four more weeks and it'll lighten up. Then you'll only have to worry about sleet and snow instead of below zero weather!
I wear microfleece pants and a long sleeve shirt while lounging around the house; pile a number of blankets over me on the couch; and watch the TODAY show (which makes me feel like I've gotten out and seen friends.) I read a lot. I cook comfort foods like chicken and dumplings. I am thankful I don't have a woodstove and thereby HAVE to go out into the cold to get wood and bring it back in.
Other tricks are going to the gym after work (delays going home and crashing on my couch) and getting back into the habit of exercising after the holidays; more reading; and cleaning my apartment.
Hot baths and hot cocoa are also good. I also remind myself that I hate July and August for being TOO hot and that I should be grateful I'm not sweating to death. (This is more difficult if I'm actually outside.)
Hi :)
Thank you for the fun post!
I'm still smiling.
Thanks for sharing here.
Are you going to come back to Twitter Leanne?
Here's to a great 2010!
RKCharron
Leanne--I am totally with you on this. Possible therapies: Read (or maybe in your case, write) something with a sunny, tropical locale. Sit on a heating pad and watch those old "Beach Blanket" movies. Keep a flowering plant alive in your home and picture it blooming in your yard in the spring. Or, you could always visit us in south Texas--but not this weekend, because even for us, the forecast is for a hard freeze! Stay warm.
Not so much a cold weather person myself... actually not at all !!! Does anyone have that Wii exercise thing? I know nothing at all about it, but it seems like it could be good both for whiling away the cold winter days and whittling away the excess winter weight? My interest is peaked by this thing.....
The guy on your book cover, Leanne, looks like he could be helping someone keep warm. Would probably be much more fun than that Wii thing !!!!! :)
Lots of great ideas - I'm going to steal some since we are having snow and extremely cold weather in PA. If you have any pets, cuddle up with them (along with that book and hot chocolate/coffee/wine). Cats are especially soothing when they snuggle up and purr. At times I have 4 of my 6 fur babies keeping me warm and content lol.
I can't believe it. It's started SNOWING again here in Iowa. It's pretty but enough already!!!
I don't like the real cold weather either! My favourite winter activity is reading.
Jane, I'm an ebay girl. I'm very excited because my two pair of new with tags, Not Your Daughter's Jeans just arrived today.:)
Carol, I'll give it a try, but you don't sound nearly as cranky as I am!:)
Laurie, great suggestions! I don't know how to knit. Maybe that would be a good new activity. Unless it's like sewing... sewing makes me swear. Nordic Track! Look at you! I hear that's great for winter butt!
Bettina, I'm one of those pansies of which you speak. (Really wanted to avoid ending the sentence with a preposition.) 40 degrees doesn't make me happy, but 20 and 30 puts me in the cranky zone. I have a wonderful flannel blanket, though...:)
Virginia hand butt on "Sweet Dreams". It's MY dream to see her in concert! Your house sounds cozy and wonderful. May I visit?:)
Helen, thanks for the welcome! Did I read that you vacationed in the Caribbean over the holidays? If so, you are a girl after my own heart!
Helen, Mark Wahlberg! YES YES YES! And I think he looks wonderful... just not like the Italian guy I recommended.haha
Thank you Miss Cindy! I always love joining the top down girls. I get to pretend to be a cool girl and since I was never cool, this is really exciting!:)
Maureen, wonderful -- use the time to plan. I have heard that having green things around you can really help your health and mood. Thank you for the suggestion! Oh, and if you should have any extra homegrown tomatoes you need to get rid of, I AM YOUR GIRL!
Michele, thank you for your welcome. Layers, so true. I'm curious what are your staple layers? Hate to say it, but the winter clothes thing is one more way I'm in a rut. For super cold days, a cuddle dud, cashmere sweater usually bought on sale (they're thin, but warm) and lined wool pants. Unfortunately, I can only FIT into ONE pair of my wool pants right now! Makes things a bit repetitive.
Kirsten, you and I are kindred spirits! do you actually know how to salsa? where/when did you learn? I'd like to learn, but I'm afraid I might hurt someone in the process!:)
Crystal, thank you! Battery-powered socks? LOVE IT!!!:)
Heather! A swimmer! I'm so impressed! I thought about swimming a few years ago and made it through two laps. You are my goddess! I prefer the heat... especially now that I'm taking hormones.:)
Kathleen, no car? Gulp! Mine stays in the garage most of the time when the temps go below 30. I try to think of meals I can make without going to the grocery store. One of my all time faves is grilled cheese and tomato soup. I've gone to low-fat cheese, but have NOT given up my SALT!
Lois, thank you so much for the welcome and the empathy, but you lost me at "lots of exercise". No wonder you ALWAYS LOOK SO GREAT!:)
robynl, reading your post made me feel a little better. Just the idea of pumpkin pie spice soothed me. The de-cluttering has to get in line behind my writing, but I like the idea of your reward system... Ooooh, aaaaahhh....
Kathleen, thank you so much for the welcome! What are you working on? I have a March deadline that is approaching way too quickly too, but part of my problem is the complete inertia of winter...
Kylie, a trip in March is an excellent plan. Perhaps that could SHAME me into getting on the treadmill!!!:)
MsHellion, love your name. I hope you do everything you can to earn that name!:) I'm going to try the Today Show. I usually do a total TV fast during the day because I'm -supposed- to be writing, but maybe the pretend social interaction would help me. THANKS!:)
RKCharron, I'm so glad I made you smile.:) I don't know about twitter. I'm already backed up on facebook and my webpage is woefully out of date. Maybe... when I stop googling. In my defense, though, I think I may have FIVE books out this year!
LSUreader! BEACH MOVIES! THAT is perfect! Thank you! Funny you should mention setting a book somewhere warm. I set part of my January book in South Beach! Wanna go?:)
D Twomney! Regarding the Wii Fit. WE HAVE IT! But I don't know how to hook it up without messing up the tv signal.... or is that just an excuse? It does look fun, though. My daughter and a friend are using it.
catslady, PETS! Perfect! I have a Pomeranian who seems to be part cat. Every once in a while, she will even sit on my lap. So sweet. <3
Chey, reading is perfect... when you're not sleeping.:) I read about standing while writing -- putting your laptop on an elevated surface while you write. I'm seriously considering it.
I would suggest a lot of Starbucks drinks but you would have to get out to get them. Hmmm, wonder if they could be talked into a delivery service ? Failing that, a hot man, a hot book or both. It's snowing here again tonight and I'm really sick of winter.
I liked your article but refuse to drive any car with the top down today..16 degrees outside. I am hiberating. ha ha Reading is my speed today. Been nice to catch up on things here and enjoyed the article you took time time to share. susan L.
Hi! Forget the lined wool pants. Just wear fleece pajamas! All day! No need to go out! If you REALLY want to heat things up, throw a robe on top and swelter. I'm always cold, but I'm wearing fleece pj bottoms that are really warming me up. In fact, I get too warm in bed in them (and this from the woman who ALWAYS has cold feet). Good luck in whatever you do!
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