Thankful Thursday!

Instead of posting on Facebook for 30 days about things I am thankful for, I’m going to give it to you all at one time.  To be perfectly honest, I’m just that lazy some days and focusing for that long is nearly impossible for me.  So, here goes…

 

1.     I am thankful I am not a turkey, deer or a duck this time of year. 

2.    I am thankful for deodorant and that most people use it.

3.     I am thankful for 10 toes with good grip.  How else would I be able to pick up so many things off the floor without having to bend over?

4.    I am thankful that my vacuum has wheels.  You know that piece of lint on your carpet that just will not come up?  Best thing about wheels.

5.    I am thankful for Macklemore.  It’s ok to THRIFTSHOP!!!

6.     I am thankful for darkness.  Seriously, who wants to witness me running in the light of day?

7.    I am thankful for Facebook.  Neglecting my family so that I can see what you had for lunch has never been so easy.

8.    I am thankful for Miley Cyrus.  Without her, I quite frankly may never have figured out what to twerk or when to tweet.

9.    I am thankful for coupons.  Scoring $972 worth of products that I will never ever use for $2.88 is the best feeling ever.

10.I am thankful for Obama.  I don’t feel so bad that I voted for George “W”’s 2^nd term.

11.  I am thankful for magic easers.  Instead of repainting the house, the blood just wipes off the walls.

12. I am thankful for control top -- I instantly get the appearance of doing 100 days of sit-ups.

13.  I am thankful for caller id.   I can see who is calling and avoid you if I want to.

14. I am thankful for auto correct.  Nothing can make me look like an idiot quicker than pressing SEND.

15. I am thankful for medication.  How else would I be able to make it through the holidays so merry and bright?

16.  I am thankful for GPS.  I don’t know how I ever managed to get home from work every day without getting lost.

17. I am thankful for texting.  I can manage an entire relationship without ever saying a word.

18. I am thankful for all the sex scandals.  Even more thankful that my name didn’t appear in any of them.

19.   I am thankful for mopeds.  I get a chance to test my defensive driving skills every single day.

20. I am thankful for tailgating drivers.  By honking your horn and flashing your lights, you have alerting me to my impending doom.  I must have been driving too fast…let me sloooooww down for you.  Hint…next time leave sooner!

21. I am thankful for chevron.  The fashion industry would have had absolutely nothing to print on clothes this summer without it. 

22.  I am thankful for Zumba.  I found parts of my body that I never knew existed.

23.I am thankful for self-restraint.  I would hate to have to introduce you to the real country girl that lives inside me when you tick me off.

24.  I am thankful for my family.  I have learned to accept them for who they are.  We will just leave it at that.

25.   I am thankful for my son.  Without him, I never would have discovered that Pluto really wasn’t a planet.

26.I am thankful for my daughter.  My mom always wished that I would have a child that acted just like me.  Guess grandma forgot she would be the one babysitting.

27.  I am thankful for my husband.  He taught me to translate.  “It cost $30” in man talk is translated into woman terms “I paid $75.”  “I will be there in 10 minutes”….translates to…”30 minutes is soon enough”.

28.  I am thankful for all the junk in my purse.  If a skinny mugger tries to take it and run, I imagine he won’t get very far.  Dead weight is heavy.

29.  I am thankful for you.  If it wasn’t for you reading this, I wouldn’t have wasted the last 6 hours composing it.

30.  Last but certainly not least, I am thankful that I will not have to come up with a new list until next year.  Whew…I’m exhausted.

Happy Thanksgiving Yall!!!  Eat Turkey, Sleep Well!

 

5 Ways to Make Thanksgivng VERY MERRY!!!

Whether visiting with family, eating out, or staying home, here are 5 ways that you can make Thanksgiving Merry and Bright…oh wait…that’s Christmas.  Never mind, here goes…

 

1.    GIVE THOSE FACE MUSCLES A WORKOUT.  Smile people.  Nobody cares if you burned your hand on the curling iron or if your kids kicked over the green beans in the car.  Slap a band-aid on the burn, scoop up what you can from the floor board and turn that frown upside down.  Remember, smiling boosts your immune system.  NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY, wants to catch whatever Aunt Kim is sneezing all over that turkey. 

 

 

2.    SHARE THE LOVE AND THE BOUNTY.  Ask Cousin Betty how she’s doing…even if you don’t care.  Make small talk with strange relatives.  Talk about the weather but stay clear of politics.  As for food, don’t reach for the last piece of white meat, even if you starved yourself for weeks in preparation. Save that last slice of little layer chocolate cake so Uncle Ralph can take it home to his wife who has double pneumonia and broke her leg coming out of the house on her way today.  Their kids have already told you that she’s home putting up the tree…just play along!  Remember…there is still plenty of that dreaded pumpkin pie left.  

 

3.    PLEAD THE 5^TH!   When the conversation turns to something that you know is going to make you want to set your hair on fire, play dumb and change the subject.  When someone asks what you did last Friday night, don’t tell them that you got a little too rowdy and the next thing you knew you woke up behind some metal bars in a pretty orange jumpsuit.  PLAY DUMB and CHANGE THE SUBJECT.  Say, “Wow…last Friday was forever ago.  On second thought, I think I will have a piece of that delicious pumpkin pie?”  See how easy that was.  Get up and walk away.  DONE.  SAVED.  YOUR SECRET IS SAFE WITH ME.

 

4.    TAKE A WALK.  If you can’t play dumb (and I don’t see why you can’t), get up and go for a walk.  We all know that someone is going to show up that you just don’t like.  It happens.  It’s family.  Instead of sitting in the corner rolling your eyes and mumbling crazy rantings under your breath, go outside.  Fresh air can do a body good.   Your grandma is not prepared to see that rowdy side of you that caused you problems last Friday night.  Remember? Pumpkin pie anyone?

 

 

5.    DON’T NAP ON THE COUCH.  If turkey makes you tired, stay off the sofa.  Rest assured, the last thing the person who has been slaving away in the hot kitchen for two days wants is some slug curled up under her warm blanking sleeping off an overdose of turkey and dressing.  If anyone wants to be confined to the couch for a day, it would be the cook.  Don’t wear out your welcome…GO HOME.

Seriously folks, Thanksgiving can be stressful in a wonderful kind of way.  Someone, or maybe a lot of someones, have worked really hard to pull off this feast.  Take time to thank them for all of their hard work.  Offer to help with the dishes or take out the trash.  If its ok with the host, bring a guest…someone that otherwise might have spent the holiday alone.  Monitor your mouth and don’t say things that could cause tensions to mount.  Be respectful of everyone and have fun.  Family and friends don’t spend enough time during the year together, so make these moments count.  Regardless of your situation, you have plenty to be thankful for.  And if all else fails, remember, you can be sure of the fact that Thanksgiving only comes once a year!!!

Well...Jingle My Bells!

Can you believe that it is almost Thanksgiving?  Usually by this time in November, I have all of my trees up, the lawn decorated and have heard “Run Run Rudolph” 3000 times.  This year, I’m having a difficult time getting into the spirit.  I sort of feel like Rudolph when he lost his glow...all my bells have lost their jingle.

 

Speaking of jingling bells, have you seen Kmart’s "Jingle Bells" commercial?  If not, you have lucked up tonight because it can be found right here?  You really should check it out, but first let me provide you with a disclaimer:  "This commercial quite possible could be rated PG13 - ok maybe PG17 - but it’s still worth a watch (or 12)!"

 

Seriously, who is shopping at Kmart this Christmas?  I know I am!!!

 

Back to the blog.  This weather…let me get into the Facebook spirit of Thanksgiving… Day 19 – I am very thankful that we have weather; however, I wish Mother Nature would make up her mind.  Do you want me warm and cozy and snuggled by the fire or do you want me sipping on margaritas at the beach?  I guess if you ask a man, Mother Nature is just like every other woman on earth...just can’t make up her mind.

 

Last week it was snow flurries and hot chocolate and  this week it is sunshine and bikinis. Strike that.  Reverse it, unless of course that mental image is already burned into your brain.  I doubt I will ever be seen in a bi-kini again.  Some really cute shorts and a tank top could work though.  Moving on…

 

Whether I wish it so or not, there are halls to be decked, songs to be sung, presents to be wrapped, goodwill to be spread and eggnog to be made.  On second thought…if I make the eggnog first, everything else might just go a little smoother.

 

Truthfully, I love Christmas.  It is my most "favoritest" holiday ever (and I'm not just saying that because of all the huge presents I get *wink*wink*).   Sometimes I just need a little push or maybe a great big shove to get me started.  

 

Where is Cindy Lou Who when you need her?  I think a quick trip to Whoville is in the stars tonight!

 

What makes Christmas magical for you?  What jingle your bells?

 

By the way, only in the south can Christmas and bikinis be talked about at the same time and no one finds it unusual. 

 

Peace and Love and Chocolate!!!

Attention Corn Hole Players: Please Vacate The Beach...Immediately!

In case you haven’t noticed, I have been MIA for a couple weeks.

A lot has been going on and I just haven’t felt up to writing.

To me, writing is final.  Writing puts everything into perspective. Writing stores everything in its place.  Writing comes easy at times. At others, writing is exhausting and emotionally draining.

This week, I’m drained.

So, until I am ready to share, let’s talk fun!

Summer is almost over (well, at least according to the school calendar)! 

Book bag – check.  School supplies – check – well, sort of!

I still need gallon bags and Kleenex.  For some reason, gallon bags are essential BACK TO SCHOOL items in this part of the country.

Lucky for me, we don’t buy our new school clothes until it gets cold – no need to buy jeans until we need them, right?  So, we don’t have to spend our time scouting out the latest fashions and the coolest kicks.

We get to spend our time working on our SUMMER BUCKET LIST. (Yes, I am one of those Pinterest Moms.  Yes, I created my kids a summer bucket list.  DON'T JUDGE!) 

Sad to report, but we had a lot going on this summer, and were unable to accomplish much on our list; however, SUMMER IS NOT OVER YET.

We usually take the kids on vacation the week and weekend just before school starts back.  There last hoorah usually involves pulling into town the night before the big day.  This year, it is going to be a little different.

We have decided (everyone agreed) to have a sta-cation.  We are going to play tourists in our own little town (except for the touristy driving part…we will obey the rules of the road). 

Waterparks, mini-golf, ferris wheels, snow-cones, air-brushed t-shirts, old-time photos, roller coasters…if you can think it, we are going planning to do it.  There is nothing like trying to cram a summer’s worth of fun into 7 days with a couple of kids.  AND I MEAN NOTHING! (Sounds like someone might need to be medicine induced.)

Don’t get me wrong.  It’s not like we haven’t done anything this summer.

We have had some fun.

Just not the kind of mind-bending, sugar overloading, wet your pants kind of fun that kids love.

We did finally check  #876 off the list this weekend though - SPEND THE AFTERNOON AT THE BEACH. 

 

I know… it’s not that big of a deal when you live 10 minutes away every day.  What is a big deal though is that we were able to actually get to the beach without sitting in traffic for an hour or so. To top it all off, we actually had room to spread out our towels when we got there.

All in all, we had a blast.

We sifted the sand...
 

We played in the surf..

We mastered the waves...sort of (see that splash)...
 

We were chased by birds...

 

And Stung by jellyfish (who knew bringing vinegar to the beach was a requirement)...

You have to look closely...

We did have to deal with a group of middle aged men playing corn hole for a while, but thankfully they left soon after we arrived.  (I don’t know about you, but I was always under the impression that men liked to drink beer and watch the babes at the beach.  Clearly, I must have been wrong.)

I am so excited for next week!!!!  It is going to be jam packed with fun and adventure.

It is not often that I get to spend a lot of YES time with the kids.  Most of the time, we are on a schedule, and a budget.

To me, the best part of the whole week will be that the kids won’t know that we are making memories; they will just think we are having fun!

Happy Summer Endings!  Send it out with a BANG!

Back In Action - No Words Wednesday (Picture Words Don't Count!)

 

 

 

 

 

All About Town

This week, I had the chance to travel around our fine little county!  While very little surprises me anymore, I did see a few things that I thought were worth mentioning.

A little known fact about me (well, maybe not so little known), is that I attract weirdness and maybe some weirdoes too.  I see the strangest things…that is the main reason I started taking a camera with me everywhere I go.

What I discovered this week…

There is a replica of Boss Hog’s car –horns and all--cruising around Surfside Beach. 

Oh…did I mention that the car is pink?  I tried to get a picture for you, but I had to think about my own safety over your happiness this time.  Don't worry, I am planning to stalk 544 for you this weekend.  I will not be able to rest until I snap a pic of that little beauty!

All Wal-Mart stores DO NOT CARRY the same items.

I guess that is not really news to you, or me, for that matter, but I would expect stores in the same area to carry similar product lines.   Unfortunately, just as in life, my expectations and assumptions are usually wrong.  However, I did luck up and find this fine specimen of chevron awesomeness.  Yes…I know chevron is just about played out, but I think this will add the perfect touch to some of my fall designs.

Some styles are better suited for me than others.

I found this little lovely at Wal-Mart.  Honestly, I can’t explain it, but this baby was calling my name and I couldn’t leave the store without it, especially since it was $3.88!  Not sure if it reminds me of my grandma or a flower shop or was just the best option that was available at the time, but it made me smile. 

Jealous, right?   

This, on the other hand, was best left at the store.  Not sure if it was in the wrong location or in the wrong department all together.  What do you really think I am going to be able to put in there?

 

 

Piece of advice…Just because they make something in your size, doesn’t mean you are supposed to wear it.

Chic-Fil-A offers FACE TO FACE ordering (and it is awesome).

I swung by Chic-Fil-a in North Myrtle for some yummy nuggets—really I just wanted the Polynesian sauce, but with sauce you must have a dipper, hence the nuggets. 

Anyway…when I pulled into the drive through, they had cones set out and these three poor pitiful employees were standing out in the heat taking orders. I assumed, incorrectly, that their drive through speaker must have been broken. 

A guy motioned for me to pull forward to the next sweaty attendant (actually she wasn’t sweaty at all in the 105 degree heat---would love to know her secret).
 

She took my order, handed me this cute little order form and told me to pull around.  The next gal, called in my order on her head seat.  She told me my total and I continued to move along the conveyor belt drive through.  I was met by this happy little lady that took my credit card and I continued forward.  Immediately, as I approached the pick-up window, my order, credit card and receipt shot out the window just like magic. 

Two minutes tops and I had been served.  AWESOME.  Well, except for one thing…

My car is apparently a sedan.

While the gal with the headset was phoning in my order, she told her partner I was in a white sedan.  Really?  A Sedan?  That sounds like something old women drive.  Why couldn’t she just say "In the Honda"?  I realize she was young and my car probably wasn’t hip enough for her, but she didn’t have to resort to calling my transportation a sedan.  Maybe I should have asked her for my senior discount too.

People actually smoke or huff of whatever they do with Hookah while driving.

I kid you not!  I saw a painter guy in his painter van doing Hookah going down 17.  That was a first for me.  I wanted a picture as proof, but once again worried about my own safety.  Keep your eyes peeled and you may just see it for yourself.

Please people…don’t ask me what Hookah is – ask your children – they can tell you! 

I also learned…

Some parents say the most repulsive things to their kids when they don’t think anyone can hear them.

Our road system sucks.

People drive like aliens abducted their car (and their brains).

I hate traffic.

I am always glad to go HOME to my FAMILY!

My wish for you this weekend is to make it fabulous.  We all have millions of things to get done in two short days, so make it count!

Remember: If you see me stalking you, you might just end up on my blog!

Lots of love!

~Jess

Good Times Great Memories - No Words Wednesday

 

Laughter Makes You Live Longer

So today is Tuesday and I thought we could all use a laugh.

 

This is some of the best stuff I could find (in a pinch). For the sake of my ego, a least muster a chuckle or two!

 

Here goes...

 

When I get old, I’m not going to sit around knitting.  I’m going to be clicking my LIFE ALERT BUTTON to see how many HOT firefighters show up.

 

Never sing in the shower.  Singing leads to dancing.  Dancing leads to slipping.  Slipping leads to paramedics seeing you naked, so remember DON’T SING!

 

Never get married while in college.  It’s hard to get a good job when your prospective employer finds out you’ve already made one huge mistake.

 

The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.

 

If there is a “WILL”, there are 500 relatives.

 

 

God created the world.  Everything else was made in China.

 

I don’t suffer from insanity.  I enjoy every minute of it!

 

A day without sunshine is like…night!

 

If at first you don’t succeed, don’t try skydiving.

 

 

If ignorance is bliss, then tourists are always in a state of euphoria.

 

Eat right.  Stay fit.  Die anyway.

 

Do not argue with an idiot.  He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

 

Last but not least…

 

What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back?  A stick

 

Hope these made you smile because a day without smiling is a day wasted.

 

Happy Tuesday!!!

 

 

 

Whew...Glad I Got That Off My Chest!

OK…so I know this will be a shock to you and you may never be able to fully recover from what I am about to say, but… I AM NOT PERFECT! 

 

Yes…it is true. 

 

Let me say it again, I AM NOT PERFECT.

 

I have been doing this diet and exercise thing for about a month now.  So far…so good – at least 12 pounds are now history. That was until this weekend.  I totally blew it.

 

I don’t mean I just slipped up…I MEAN...I BLEW IT.

 

Chocolate, ice-cream, BREAD, BREAD, pizza, bread and oh yea…chocolate (did I mention chocolate  already?).

 

When I woke up this morning (at 4:50am), I was beating myself up for all the bad choices that I had made on Saturday and Sunday. 

 

I was weak -- and I don't mean in my knees.

 

I heard those feel good foods calling my name, and I answered...IN A BIG WAY! 

 

I had been so good for so long, but some days there is no turning down a bag of M&Ms and a Twix bar.  All the will power in the world, isn't going to work.

 

 

So…what would any person that felt as bad as I did about my weekend binge do?  Why…they would get up and get busy.  Walking, weights, sit-ups, Zumba, running…anything I could think of! 

 

Believe it or not, after about an hour of soul searching and punishment and tons and tons of sweat (people…it was hot this morning), I felt better. 

 

I felt better than the day I saw the 12 pounds jump off my scale.  I felt better than I had at  any time over the last 4 weeks.  I felt better than I had in years.

 

Although I had fallen off the wagon (HARD), I got up, brushed myself off and jumped right back on.  I didn’t let 2 days of bad choices change the healthier person I am becoming.  I didn’t let my mind convince my heart that I should just go ahead and give up. 

 

In all honesty, I was awake way before 4:50am today, but I prayed and prayed and prayed that my alarm clock would not go off and I could stay in the bed until 6am.

 

I was looking for an excuse.

 

Looking back now, that is probably the first time in my life I was looking for something that I am glad I did not find!

 

Had I slept in late this morning and skipped that workout, I would have been giving myself a pass on being healthy -- for at least a whole day and maybe even longer.

 

Every day I miss taking that fitness opportunity would have made it easier and easier to make up an excuse to miss another.

 

How many times have you just had “one little bite” and then “just one more” and then figured that since you had already screwed everything up, you would just start working on your diet and health goals tomorrow? 

 

How long did it take for your tomorrow to come?

 

I’m not saying that you should never cheat, because let me tell you, I AM PRETTY GOOD AT CHEATING (with food anyway).

 

Slowly but surely, I am learning just because I make one bad choice right now doesn’t mean that I can’t make better choices for the rest of the day. 

 

 

Having something that I crave and desire at breakfast, doesn’t give me the green light to be a raving lunatic when it comes to what I choose for lunch.

 

One bad apple isn’t going to spoil my bunch!!!

 

Listen to me, It’s all about baby steps. If you take enough baby steps and stick with them, you are absolutely guaranteed not to fail. 

 

It takes 21 days to make or break a habit, so why not start right now?  Twenty-two days from now, you will be glad you did.

 

You may not be the weight you want to be as quickly as you would like, but you will be well on your way to finding your optimal health.

 

If you are like me and are tired of starting over, quit giving up!  Enjoy your night and make sure you get moving tomorrow. 

 

NO EXCUSES!  DON'T QUIT!  Your success could be just around that corner.  Mine is!

 

 

I'll be starting a 30 day squat challenge on August 1st.  If you are interested, make sure you follow me by email on the side of the page or join with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss one single day!

 

~Jess

SSSHHHH…It’s too early!

Ever wake up in the morning on the wrong side of the bed…I’m not talking about trying to get in a little snuggle before you start your day with your hubby, partner or significant other…I’m talking about just being in a rotten mood from the time your feet hit the floor?

I think I told you before, I am not a morning person.  I don’t like to get up early (but I do), and I don’t like to talk to people right after I wake up.

When I was younger, hearing voices in the morning, especially ones that sang, ”In the jungle, the mighty jungle”, would make me physically ill.  I am serious! I would be sick on my stomach until the awful noise stopped.

For me, mornings should be a time of reflection.  A time to mentally prepare for the day.  A time to get your zen on.  A time to focus on what tasks needed to be completed and what goals need to be accomplished.

Who am I kidding? 

Mornings are for being quiet and leaving me alone until I have had my exercise and my coffee.  Then and only then, am I going to be ready to chat it up.

Once I am on an endorphine high and have had sufficient caffine, I can then begin to transition into the overly excited, it’s going to be  a great day, happy mommy roll that consumes my entire being.  That is, until just about the time I pull into the parking lot at work.

Just be glad you (or anyone else for that matter) doesn’t have to see my until after 6am.

Don’t think for one minute that I came up with this brilliant idea of being really quiet in the mornings all by myself. Maybe you didn't know, but this is actually a law and it is enforced by nature.

Don’t’ believe me?

Go outside early tomorrow morning.  By early, I mean sometime before the sun comes up.  What do you think you will hear? 

I’ll tell you.  Aside from the newspaper guy speeding through the neighborhood, or the man trimming hedges in the pitch, black dark (while holding a flashlight), or the loud little Cessna trying to dive bomb my house,  you won’t hear anything.  Nothing.  Zip.  Zilch. Nada.  Just silence (can you really hear silence…never mind…moving on).

No frogs.  No crickets.  No birds.  No nothing (yes, I am aware that I could have combined all that into one sentence and made it fancy sounding but I am trying to make a point here).  You won’t hear anything.

You see…there is this law in the Articles and Constitution of Nature that states that making noise early in the morning is a crime, and in my opinion, punishable by stiff fines and a long imprisonment.

Side note: Just because you can wake up early, DOES NOT MAKE YOU A MORNING PERSON.  True morning people are only a myth. They are just characters in books.  Hear me when I say…THEY ARE NOT REAL! 

Listen, I’m not asking for people to tip toe around me for an entire day.  I’m just asking for about an hour or so just for me.  That’s all.  Not much - Sixty little minutes.

I’m a smart girl!  I don’t try to punish people with my quirkiness, so I get up earlier than everyone else in my house, every day, to make this time as smooth and painless as possible. 

Lately, my internal alarm has been waking me up at 4am.  Wish I knew how to shut that dang thing off. 

Trust me, the other occupants of my house enjoy their morning quiet time too, regardless of what they will tell you.  You can defiantly tell when you have overstepped the noise bounds in our house by the moans, groans, squeals and sometimes the evil eye that is staring right at you.  I guess you could say we all complement each other well.

Apparently, the apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Uh oh…what’s that?

Quiet time is over…let’s go out and make this a GREAT Noisy KIND OF DAY!

 

These pics have absolutely nothing to do with this post other than I thought you might like to know that after 6 years of waiting, my crepe myrtles finally decided to grow (a pink one and a purple one...imagine that)!!! 

 

What Have I Been Missing?

 I prefer the Cliff Notes version of a book to the actual book any day of the week.  In all honesty, I would rather you just tell me about it and try to make it quick.

Regardless, since I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas, I have made it my mission to read at least one book every month for the entire year.

I think I am up to around 6 books to date, so I wouldn’t consider my efforts to shabby thus far.

On to my July review!

I chose to read a book entirely out of my comfort zone.  The books I generally read are all on motivation, business related topics or some hobby that I am genuinely interested in.  If I am going to spend my free time reading, I want to make sure that I get something out of it.

This month, I decided to try a combo novel -- one that included romance, mystery and suspense.  I chose, The Naughty Never Die by L. L. Kellogg.

 

 

Let me tell you, I am so glad I did!!! :)

Just by the title, I should have known that this read was going to be a little spicy; however, by having never read other romances, I don’t have anything for comparison as the level of intensity, but boy was it HOT.

Josephine Callahan, or Josie, as she is more frequently referred to, is the oldest daughter of the governor of the great state of New Jersey. 

Due to an unfortunate accident, the governor’s wife died and Josie has now been required to fulfill her mother’s duties as the First Lady.

On the edge of a nervous breakdown and annoyed at her lack of privacy, Josie plans to sneak away from her security detail to have an impromptu romantic getaway with her all too boring boyfriend.

Fortunately, the Governor has learned that someone is trying to kill Josie and he has hired DJ Ryder, an ex Special Forces officer who has quite a disfigured face (although I think the rest of him looks pretty darn good), to protect her.

Due to an intentional miscommunication, from the governor’s assistant, Ryder is told to follow and track Josie and make her believe that she is being kidnapped.  He is then to hide her away for several days until the threats against her can be resolved.  According to Ryder’s source, the governor wants to teach his daughter a lesson.

Although scared for her life, Josie realizes that the bad boy that has captured her has a tender side and she attempts to tap into it so that he will not hurt her and will return her to her home unharmed.

Ryder’s sole purpose is to protect Josie.  Josie’s purpose is to be set free.  Everything is going according to plan, until, emotions start to get involved.  For the first time ever, both of their hearts are endanger of falling in love.

They are truly, THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!

Happy Reading!

Any suggestions for next month?  Be sure to comment and let me know what your favorite summer reads are.