Welcome! It’s a big day here. Foolish Bride hit the shelves today, so I’m excited and a little out of my mind. But you are here, so I am here, my dears. Lets see what we have for today and if you didn’t come over from Leslie Hachtel, be sure to hop back.

.

This week is my topic and I asked the Romance Writers Weekly hoppers – What can’t you live without? Tell us five things you can’t do without. It can be coffee from your favorite shop or a pink tee-shirt. Whatever it is, tell us about it and why you can’t go on without it.

.

I thought about this a lot. I don’t have that many material things I can’t live without. I would be very sad to live without my family and friends or my pets. But I don’t count them as things. I narrowed it down to the five things that would be hard to not have everyday.

.

The first: Mascara. I cannot live without mascara. Being blond means that no matter how long my eyelashes are, you won’t see them unless I goop them up really good. I love mascara and put it on to go anywhere past walking the dog around the neighborhood.

.

The second is coffee. I do not function without a cup of coffee or two in the morning. In fact, you probably want to stand clear until I’ve had my first cup.

.

Number three is books and lots of them. I love my books. I wish I still bought paper books, but the digital ones are so convenient and take up no room. Every now and then I still go and buy a paperback from my favorite authors.

.

My Forth thing is my planner. I have to have one. I know I should be putting this stuff in my phone or computer, but that never works for me. I have to write it down on paper and keep a calendar with goals and deadlines. This year I stumbled upon the Rituals for Living, Dreambook Planner. I LOVE IT! I hope they won’t mind my linking to it here. If you have a moment, take a look at all the things it has to offer as far as balancing your life with work, family, dreams, goals, etc. I’ve found it very helpful and vital.

.

.

Last is my phone. I know I know, everyone is obsessed with their phones these days. But the thing is, it’s not the text, FB, Twitter and other apps I can’t live without. I’m a Google junkie. There, I’ve said it. I cannot stop looking crap up on Google. I look everything up and then debate the answers either with myself or whomever happens to be in my line of sight. I love that you sometimes find a definitive answer to a question from a reliable source. The best is when the sources are not as sure a thing and you can weigh in on the answers. I ask about everything and anything. Granted a do a lot of research for books and Google is helpful to prod me in the right direction. However, random things like: recently I wondered why boats have steering on the right (starboard) instead of the left (port). I live in the US so why isn’t it just like cars? I’m married to a bass fisherman and we had another here for dinner. I asked them both and got several different answers.

.

This was my favorite: Boat propellers turn clockwise. Hulls used to be designed in such a way that when there was torque on the prop, the right side of the boat would rise up. The wheel was put on the right so the weight of the fishermen would counteract that.

.

.

.

Then the three of us debated it for half an hour. FUN! I know, I’m strange and love a good debate, but it was fun. 😀

.

So that’s my things I can’t live without. What are yours?

.

.

Keep on hopping and find out what Carrie Elks can’t live with out. She’s back in action and we’re all excited about having her back.

.

___________________________________________________________

.

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Foolish Bride today.

.