***UPDATE***
Heather (comment #31) you're the winner of the BODYGUARDS IN BED Advance Reader Copy. Email me at elisabeth (at) elisabethnaughton (dot) com with your snail mail info and I'll get your book in the mail! Congrats!
***
It occurred to me recently that I didn't post the winners to my book giveaway last month. Shame on me, I know. In my defense, I blame two things: 1) pain killers (I recently had surgery) and 2) deadline brain. Not sure which is the bigger culprit so I'll blame both. Major apologies to everyone who entered. And I promise to make up for it at the end of this post.To start things off, we'll do a little light housekeeping...
Would the following two people please email me at elisabeth (at) elisabethnaughton (dot) com to claim their prize????
Winner of MARKED: 
Kaetrin (comment #26)
Winner of ENTWINED:
Kaetrin (comment #26)Winner of ENTWINED:
Victoria (comment #10)
Congrats to the two winners! Winners, please send me your snail mail addy and I'll get your autographed book in the mail to you ASAP!
Now on to my post...
If you asked my husband how I treat myself, he would laugh and say I treat myself all the time. He's partially right. I don't often wait for an excuse to go shopping or get a pedicure. If I need something, I get it. He claims this is why it's hard to buy gifts for me. I point out jewelry is always an option. (He usually rolls his eyes at that one.)
But when it comes to a special treat, a few ideas come to mind:
Massages - I don't tend to schedule these on a regular basis. Only when it's a special occasion. But I love the way I feel after an hour long massage (or an hour and a half). Totally relaxed, ready to take on the world. Mmm....
A Fancy Dinner Out - I'm never opposed to eating out and foregoing time in the kitchen (especially while on deadline), but with three kids, eating out is never more exciting than Panda Express or a quick trip through the McDonald's drive-through. (My 6 yr old's favorite place in the world!) A fancy dinner with the hubs, though, where we can actually sit and chat about something other than which child flushed the toy down the toilet and where I don't have to cut up anyone's food...now that's a real treat.
A Vacation - Notice I didn't say a vacation with the family. That's because as any parent knows, a vacation with kids is not a vacation. It's work. No, for me, a real vacation is when I can lie on the beach reading books all day and the only person who bothers me is the waiter asking which fruity concoction I'd like to drink next. Where I can dip myself in the pool or ocean whenever I want, and where the most taxing thing I have to do is figure out what to wear to dinner. THAT is definitely my favorite kind of treat. And now that I've written it, I realize it's been way too long since I had one.So with that said...I'm off to research beach vacations and email all my choices to the hubby. (How can he possibly say I'm hard to buy for????)
Because we're talking treats, I've got another one to give away. And I promise this time I'll post the winner by Friday (not a whole month later). I just got ARCs of my upcoming novella - Acapulco Heat in the BODYGUARDS IN BED Anthology, and they're itching to be read. This is an RS, not connected to my Eternal Guardians series, but it's fast paced, fun and super hot. One lucky commenter will win a free book! Just tell me your idea of the perfect vacation.
I like the way you think! I agree with all of your indulgences. If I had to pick one it would be the vacation--somewhere tropical and sans children. *Sighs* I want to go right now. Especially since it just started snowing..AGAIN.
ReplyDeleteI get a massage every three weeks, but they're the therapeutic kind, so they're actually more painful than indulgent. Love going on vacation, though!
ReplyDeleteEverything sounds great to me. Lord knows, I need a vacation.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I can identify with the combination of deadline brain and post-surgery painkillers! I hope you're feeling better. If you're not, you'll have to get a massage, eat out, and go on vacation AT LEAST five times to recover.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover on the new novella! It looks like my kind of book!
Have a great vacation!!! We all need times like those! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's just so easy to say ditto to all your wrote! Or maybe amen and amen! I'm with you!
ReplyDeleteAmelia
I agree, it all sounds wonderful. Hmmm can't remember the last time we went on a vacation...
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
My dream vacation is a tour around the UK with my wonderful husband
ReplyDeletecladdagh64@yahoo.com
I'm glad to see a new release coming up for you. My perfect vacation is Paris, but I'll settle for a latte alone in a cafe these days!
ReplyDeleteWhile I love your idea of a vacation, I would love to take a cruise around Scottish islands, with day trips to special places on certain islands. {{sigh}}} Someday.
ReplyDeleteMy idea of a perfect vacation has to be to a hill-station to get away from all this hot weather right now. Okay so it should not be the peak of cold but pleasant, a nice resort on the hill, evening walks, snuggling in bed with a book= HEAVEN :)
ReplyDeleteNow, you're making me wish that I could go on a vacation right now, sadly studies call.
Hope you're all better now, and yay to a massage :)
The idea vacation for me would be someplace without my children. I always get the short end of the stick, hubby goes off to have fun while I am stuck with the three boys, feeling the want to bang my head, so someplace WARM * a MUST
ReplyDeleteThe perfect vacation is having no responsibilities! I don't care if I stay home as long as I don't have to wash clothes, check email, or do dishes.
ReplyDeleteThe beach with the sound of the ocean and warm night breezes, toes dug down into the sand, no telephone, no kids or grandkids, just a big thick book and a case of Diet Coke!
ReplyDeleteThat's what your blog stirred up in my imagination...thank you for that little virtual vacation.
My perfect vacation would be somewhere definitely warm must be close to a beach.... Fruity cocktails, great food, eye candy and definitely massages!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway!
kuuipo228@gmail.com
A perfect vacation would be one where I didn't have to: cook, clean, plan, prepare, and a beach, book, drink some chocolate and a nice comfy seat where i can see my family having their idea of fun. *waves to family*
ReplyDeleteTracy
The perfect vacation for me is one where my family is together and I can see everyone having a wonderful time. The kids are old enough to fend for themselves in the kitchen and dinner conversations are lively but we are all of us so busy with our own schedules that we don't get to spend as much time on a daily basis as I would like. That said, when evening comes in the cabin on some mountain, I want to be able to close the door and have quiet time with my husband.
ReplyDeleteI've never been on a vacation like that. Sign me up!
ReplyDeleteFinally, blogger lets me on. I've had a devil of a time with blogger. I've lost three posts in the last two days. Geez! I need a pedicure and a massage.
ReplyDeleteMy perfect vacation right now would be sitting on a white sandy beach looking out over turquoise waters with a box of books and nothing but the waves washing against the shore. I'm not a beach person usually, but I could go for it now.
I do buy things for myself but seldom "indulge" myself (I doun't count books as an indulgence, they are a necessity)...I've never had a professional massage and haven't taken a vacation in a long time (and it would have to be by myself...lol)...I think I'll work on scheduling a professional massage first:)
ReplyDeleteI want to relax on a beach in Tahiti or some other island and get massages and sample some great food.
ReplyDeleteSara - I want to go now too! Obviously mother nature hasn't been paying attention to the calendar because it's supposed to be spring!
ReplyDeleteCheryl - A massage every 3 wks? At first I was jealous, then I read your explanation. Not so jealous now. Whenever I go for a massage I say, "Don't hurt me. This is supposed to be relaxing."
Robin, I'm with you. Seriously need a vacation.
Joanne - Thanks. I am feeling much better. And thanks for the compliment on the Anthology cover. It's cute, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteTerry - I will...when I talk the DH into it. ;)(Wonder how many emails I should bombard him with...)
Amelia - LOL. Amen to that!
C.H. - I think a writer needs AT LEAST one good vacation each year to refill the creative well. (More would be better.)
Karen H. - Oooh, that sounds lovely!
ReplyDeleteHeather - thanks for stopping by! At the moment I'm sitting in McD's with the kids and I'm thinking...a cafe alone right now sounds like a great vacation too.
Alexa - my hubby is Scottish. I think he'd probably agree with your vacation idea. But I still need a warm beach in there somewhere. (Maybe a side trip to the Mediterranean??)
Saly - have to ask. Where are you that you're dealing with heat? Most of us are sick to death of winter.
Raonaid - I'm with you. You definitely need time away from the kids. I love my kids, but I think a little absence now and then makes the heart grow fonder :)
ReplyDeleteShana - agreed! Tho it's hard to have no responsibilities at home. I can't shake off the to do list when I'm home. Even if the kids aren't around. I do much better vacationing elsewhere...like on a beach. ;)
Carolyn - love the vacation image you painted!!
Olivia - What?! Oh, you must go. Email me and I'll hook you up with some great resorts.:)
ReplyDeleteAnita - Sorry you're having so much trouble with blogger but thanks for being persistent! It took my hubby a while to adjust to the idea that a vacation for me means a chaise lounge, a beach and books and books and more books. He's not a big reader, so he sits next to me while I read and bikini watches. Which is fine with me. (After all, we all likea little eye candy, right?) So long as he doesn't interrupt my reading, I'm good. ;)
Maria - I agree. Books are a necessity! (Love that!) And yes, go schedule a massage! It's heaven.
Jane - I haven't been to Tahiti yet -I hate long flights, which is the only thing that deters me. But I'd love to visit there someday soon.
ReplyDeleteXee - Love your addition of eye candy. Definitely a must on the beach!
ReplyDeleteTracy - How could I forget chocolate??? The waiter would bring that with the little umbrella drinks,of course!
Lil - See, I'm waitingfor the day my kids are old enough to take care of themselves and we can take them with us on vacation and I won't feel like it's still so much work. Currently only one is at that self-sufficient teen age. The other two aren't. And the last time we took them to Hawaii (WORK!) they didn't even want to hang out on the beach. They wanted to stay at the hotel pool. Way too much work arguing with them that I didn't bring them all the way to Hawaii so they could hang out at a pool like the one we have at home.
Before my husband and I had kids we took as many vacations as we could and our favorite was a cruise. I loved the idea of not having to do the traveling (especially the luggage) and there was so much to do on the ship but if we wanted we could also get off and sightsee. Although I have heard such good things about all inclusive vacations such as Punta Cana.
ReplyDeleteMy ideal vacation is a mix of exploring new-to-me cultures, a few lazy days spent in the sun with a good book, fantastic food and time to unwind and relax
ReplyDeleteI have to say that my idea is very similar to yours. A beach, a pile of books, and no kids.
ReplyDeleteCatslady - I've never done a cruise. I hate being on a schedule when I'm on vacation, so the cruise idea has never really appealed to me. I'd love to do one through the Greek isles though.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite all inclusive resort is Royal Hideaway in Playacar, Mexico. Five star, adults only, best inclusive I've ever been to.
Pearl - great vacation idea.
ReplyDeleteHeather - thanks for stopping by!
Can't wait to read this one! My favorite indulgence is chocolate!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite vacation is staying on the club floor at the Ritz Amelia Island FL. It's so relaxing and people wait on me hand and foot. Far cry from at home where I wait on everyone.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool Elisabeth. I miss your rom. susp. I have Stolen Heat right in front of me taking up space on my desk.
ReplyDeleteHope your recovery is going well.
My dream vacation would be playing lots of tennis and eating unlimited watermelon.
A secluded beach with lots of sun and tons of books to keep me company. But I would also love to go on a road trip in US someday.
ReplyDeleteI'd say the ideal vacation for me is one that has an even balance of relaxation and adventure. I love to sit on a beach and read, but I also like to get out and explore. My best friend and I tend to find cruises work well for this. Plus on cruises there's always food and drinks! :) Well now I want to go somewhere.
ReplyDeleteA great vacation. Relaxing by the lake, camping, enjoying nice slow walks, bike riding, a place to swim, maybe some boating but not fast, just a slow trip across the water, peaceful and looking at houses or the sights, no cooking, lots of family, but with quiet time to myself to read. No work phone, no work e-mail and most of all no big pile of work waiting for me at the office when I get back. Thank you for the contest.
ReplyDeletelisagk at yahoo dot com
Saly - have to ask. Where are you that you're dealing with heat? Most of us are sick to death of winter.
ReplyDeleteI'm in India and the heat is head-ache inducing.
UPDATE: Heather (comment #31) - you're the winner of the BODYGUARDS IN BED Arc! email me at elisabeth (at) elisabethnaughton (dot) com with your info and I'll mail you your book!
ReplyDelete