It’s that time of year again. I love the holidays, but I’m just not ready this year. I know I’ll get there. The lights are on the house and I’m partially decorated. We’ll probably get the tree this weekend. That’s when the Christmas spirit usually hits me. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not in an insurmountable funk. I’ll snap out of it when I can rationalize binge watching Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life and drinking endless cups of hot cocoa.
The thing is, 2016 has been one of those years. The kind where you make plans, get excited and then wildly flail around searching for a viable Plan B or C when you realize life isn’t going to cooperate. You patch it up with a satisfactory Plan D…and then your dog dies and the wrong person wins a major election. See? The funk is real and not in a James Brown-soul man kind of way. However, I refuse to let the negatives keep me down. Not when there are so many amazing things to celebrate. Good friends, family, health.
Some things are outside of my area of influence. My husband was crushed when our Lab died. He’s not ready to get a new dog… yet. And although I’d love for matters in Washington to sort themselves out in a peaceful, productive way for all Americans, my optimistic side is challenged beyond the realms of hot chocolate on that one. But I can’t help but look for a silver lining. A reason to sing when I’m feeling sad or binge watch rom coms or Christmas movies that make me smile.
So I’m making a short list with a few of my favorite things…Julie Andrews-style. My family and friends (and readers!) come first but then…
- Dogs (any and all kinds)
- My Kindle and my seemingly endless supply of awesome MM romances
- The liquid amber tree outside my window (it’s a pretty view when I’m writing)
- A steady supply of Earl Grey tea
- Chocolate (need I say more)
- My comfy reading chair by the fireplace
Put all of these together and I’m in my happy place. What’s yours? ’Tis the season of giving so I’m going to offer a $10 Amazon gift card today (I’ll choose my winner at 7am PST tomorrow, Nov. 30). All you have to do to participate is list a few of your favorite things. 🙂 And yes… these are a few of my favorite holiday decorations.
Best wishes and happy holidays!
Lane Hayes xo
*One more thing! If you’re a fan of my Better Than Stories series, be sure to check out my website for part 1 in a new short story featuring all the DC boys next week.
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in an almost empty nest.
Books by Lane Hayes (Dreamspinner Press):
Better Than Good, Better Than Chance, Better Than Friends, Better Than Safe, The Right Words, The Wrong Man & The Right Time A Kind Of Truth A Kind of Romance
Contact Information:
Website: http://lanehayes.wordpress.com
Twitter: @LaneHayes3
Facebook: LaneHayesauthor
Email: lanehayes@ymail.com
My favorite things are my 12 elderly rescue cats that I shelter, and a husband who does without so we can support them.
Very sweet. 🙂
My favorite things would be my e-reader and other reading paraphernalia (ebook and print included), yaoi manga collections, coffee, chips and ice cream, my comfortable T and shorts. Notice that most of those have to do with reading or munching. LOL.
I’m with you. Reading, writing, books…
Hi Lane!!! A few of my favorite things…give me
1. Krispy Kreme donuts (yum)!
2. Definitely my Kindle and the endless TBR!!
3. Pizza 🍕
4. My comfy quilt!!!
5. The sounds of our chickens 🐔 is quite relaxing!
Thanks for sharing!! Love the Better Than stories and Kind of series! Have a great holiday, BTW tree is up for two weeks with only 7 ornaments that we purchased this year lol. I’ll get there!
Ha! I’m glad I’m not alone on the Xmas decorating, Amy. It gets done, but I tend to extend the process a few weeks! Great list, btw. Happy Holidays!
I have a bizarre liking on anything blue. (Not that I’d wear an OOTD that’s blue from top to bottom ’cause that’s pretty fvcking weird Lol.) I still hold this notebook of mine that I so love the shade of blue. I like wearing this particular shirt which is navy blue. I’m also fond of using the only Starbucks mug that we have. (It’s not blue, mind you. LMAO.) I think I like the simplicity of the design. I also have this odd liking of a particular brand of pen which is made in Malaysia. I feel like it makes my handwriting much better. 😀
I’m sorry for your dog. I hope your husband recover from the loss sooner than later. Maybe, and just maybe, something will come on your lives that’ll make the loss bearable. =)
Thank you James. Funny enough, blue is my favorite color too. 🙂
My favorite things… 1 would be that I home school my kids so I see them all the time (even if they drive me nuts), Hot cocoa with mint or vanilla extract, The cold weather of winter (being in Georgia, it doesn’t happen for too long *cries*) and the last for this list would probably be my hubby =).
Sweet list, Missy. 🙂
My happy place is my Family, my kindle(m/m books) & my grandsons..
Books and family! I love it!
Some of my favorite things are my e-reader and mm romances.
Me too!
Lovely list! My favorite things are my kitten, reading MM romances (and having the time to read them), kahlua, caramel eclairs from my favorite bakery.
Caramel eclairs?? Oh my! I’ve got to try one of those! Yum…I like your list too. 😉
🙂 I am totally with you on trying to find the positives despite all that has gone wrong this year. 1) Books especially mm romance and lgbt fiction. 2) My kids who are both full of empathy and enthusiasm. They bring joy with them. 3) My family who show unconditional love. 4) Authors who create the books I love and engage with their readers on a personal level.
Thank you Dana. These are definitely trying times, but we’re lucky to know there is still so much to be grateful for. Great list!
Hi Lane! Love the post! I love many things but there are a few which are favorites! My husband and 3 sons of course are! But I also love:
1) My kindle, which I would seriously cry without!
2) Candles
3) Snowflakes
4) Pumpkins
5) Coffee
Oh I love your list! I live in CA so I don’t see much snow unless I make the effort to go to it, but I’d add snowflakes and candles too. 🙂
My favorite things are my ereader with lots of M/M goodness on it to read; a good supply of coffee and tea, steak dinners, comfortable lounging pants, and my family.
Great list, Jen!
My husband and kids come first and then here are some others:
1. My cat
2. My Kindle for reading
3. My iPhone for audiobooks & music
4. Coffee
5. Tea
6. Wine
7. Dark chocolate
8. My MacBook for blog reading and organizing all my ebooks
9. Our online public library – without which I would be broke between all the reading my kids and I do.
I like the book theme! 🙂 I can relate to all!
A few of my favorite things are fluffy kittens, beautiful fall colors, anything caramel, my Kindle, coffee with French vanilla creamer, hoodies, and the color green, the funkier, the better.
I have absolutely no Christmas decorations up yet, but hopefully this weekend! Sorry about your dog. That’s always hard.
Thank you Autumn. I love your list! And I still say there is plenty of time to get Xmas up!
A few of my favorite things… hmmm…
-My family & friends
-my paperback books collection (they look so pretty when I open m eyes in the morning
-my Kindle (never leave home withut it)
-tall, cold glass of water (I don’t drink much else)
-warm blanket
-time alone when the hubs is at work & the kids are at school
-Disneylad decorated for the holidays
Great list, Laina! 🙂
Some of my favorite things:
1. the dog my husband and I didn’t know we wanted(thanks daughter!)
2. my kindle, which goes with me everywhere
3. TEA….TEA….and more TEA!
4. Dark chocolate
5. of course my husband and kids!
Ah!! We have so much in common. LOL
My list is not that long
1. Books. Actual books i can hold in my hand and smell and cradle and throw when a character does something stupid
2. My Kindle
3. Rain. Nothing makes me more happy than rain.If it rains, I’m outside playing and jumping around in the rain.
My favorite things (other than family and friends):
– My beloved Kindle (babyMerlin and babyArthur, I name them) and anything related to reading
– My reading nook aka my bed
– Chatting with my sister (she’s in Japan) via whatsapp
– Sleeping in on a rainy day
– Sunday morning 🙂
Some of my favourite things:
Cats, dogs, furry animals in general
Books, whether ebooks or printed
dark chocolate ginger biscuits
Rainy weekends at home, with plenty of the above mentioned (furry animals, books, and biscuits)
My family and friends.
It’s certainly been a challenging year for many. Hoping 2017 brings easier times, less conflict and maybe some new 4-legged friends your way.
Some of my favorite things:
A new release by a favorite author (esp when it coincides with a day off work)
The look of joy on my dogs face when he has his face out the window of a moving car
A good glass of pinot (both noir and gris)
Holidays in new destinations
Being able to listen to audio books during work
My brothers terrible puns that always crack me up
Fresh sheets on a newly made bed
Flowers… especially in the Springtime
My favorite is things are hearing my kids laugh and then bedtime so I can read.
My favorite things are hearing my kids laugh and then them going to bed so I can read!
Some of my favorite things are (no specific order):
1) December, I just love this month, lol. School holidays and Christmas together make it a happy month in my opinion
2) my family, even though they drive me crazy daily
3) Christmas decorations, they are lovely
4) my books & mangas – paperbacks and ebooks
5) having coffee with my mum in the morning every weekend I go to visit
6) my pets, they are too many but I adore them
7) movie nights while easting pizza with friends, we do not do it as often as we used to
8) going to the riverside and the beach in the summer with said friends
9) stormy days where I can stay at home and read or watch a movie
10) painting, drawing, listening to music, tv series marathon
Some of my favorite things:
1. Family/friends
2. Wine!
3. Books!
4. cats
5. my couch
Thanks for sharing yours!
Hmmmmm. Favorite things, eh? In no particular order:
1. Fall – even with the massive amounts of leaves I have to rake 😉
2. A good job that lets me save for retirement, help out family when needed and do the things I enjoy
3. Art – in all its forms: music, dance, literature, painting, sculpture, etc. etc.
4. The time to sit and do nothing but read a good book (this rarely happens so I love it when it does)
5. Friends to talk to about said books 😀
My favorite things are similar to your list. My top three would be books, chocolate, and spending time outdoors.
2 & 5 I can totally get behind. Some of my favorites are:
1. Spring, such great weather. Not too hot, not too cold.
2. Manga
3. Paperback books
4. Ereader full of books
5. Watching movies with my sister in law.
6. Listening to music
7. Learning to crochet
8. Putting the kids down for a nap
Lane ‘s generator picked Jencw congrats 🙂