Happy Halloween

 Or Happy Samhain. Whatever you call today, celebrate in style!

Favorite Romance Tropes

• Marriage of convenience
• Fake dating
• Allies to lovers
• Second Chance
• BFF of sibling

What are yours?

Tidbit Tuesday-Glasses

 I'm one of the 4 billion people in the world who wear glasses or contacts. I've worn glasses since I was 16 and contacts since I was 18 and believe me when I say I wouldn't be able to see more than 10 feet in front of me without them. The 10 feet is a guess, it's not far I can tell you that.

So why are glasses rarely portrayed in TV, movies, or books? Other than to make fun of people somehow or other? I've no idea. With almost 8 billion people in the world, that means half wear corrective lenses of some sort and I'm certain that 4 billion number is undercounted.

Here's a short history of glasses that I found fascinating. Basically, it was a gradual process but since seeing is one of our 5 major senses, a pretty important process! 

The Gradual Discovery of Glasses | Lapham’s Quarterly (laphamsquarterly.org)

Who Invented Eyeglasses? - Who was Glasses Inventor? (glasseshistory.com)

The history of glasses (zeiss.com)

Self Care Monday-Food

 Tis the season of long winter nights. There are a lot of things that are supposed to boost your mood during this time, but I haven't tried to the sun lamps. (Any thoughts on those?) And there's only so much exercise I can tolerate in a given day.

Food, however, I can manage. What are some of my favorite mood boosters? Well, I don't like fish, so I stick to bananas and eggs. Mix the bananas in yogurt with a teaspoon of flaxseed or quinoa, a bit of walnuts--so tasty! And eggs, while delicious in chocolate chip cookies or chocolate cake, aren't half bad as a breakfast with a slice of toast.

Berries are yummy, too, but harder to find in winter. Frozen ones aren't so bad, especially if you mix the in your yogurt or smoothie.

Research-French Spies

 In Intrigue with You, which I'm currently adding a chapter to because it needed more, I have Malcolm and Louise working to stop French spies in Dover, UK. 

They're working together, and falling ever more in love, while trying to stop both French spies and human smugglers. "Trafficking" as a term of human trafficking, wasn't a term just then. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, human trafficking wasn't a term until 1904. 

I admit, I got bogged down in the plotty part of the story and had trouble with it. Hence the additional chapter--possibly 2! At its core, Malcolm and Louise's stories are about getting to know one another while apart as much as they are together. It's not a linear story, like so many, but interrupted by separations. 

And spies. Definitely interrupted by spies!

Wellington's Spies - napoleon.org

Category:Spies of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars - Wikipedia

Tidbit Tuesday-Home Remedies

 Given that we're in cold season, what were some of the remedies Regency Era people used? Many similar to those homeopathic ones we do today.

• Warm honey, especially in tea?
• Hot soup/broths (nettles or barley especially)?
• Citrus?
• Rest?

All sound familiar? Yup! If you want my nettles soup recipe, which is an excellent source of Vitamin C, let me know.

Regency medical cures | Jane Austen's World (janeaustensworld.com)

Types of Medicinal Cures in Georgian and Regency Eras - Geri Walton

Curing Coughs and the Common Cold in Eighteenth-Century England – The Recipes Project (hypotheses.org)

Medicine During the Regency: 10 Interesting Facts, by Anna Elliott – Austen Authors

Self Care Monday-Negativity

 We all say things about not needing the drama or not needing any negativity in your life. But what steps do you take to keep all that out?

Do you read news stories that make you angry? Do you open your email right after waiting (phones make it sooo easy!) and get aggravated over something so early in the day?

What do you do to mitigate that negativity? Meditation? Exercise? Cup of hot chocolate and a blanket?

I've severely cut back on my news reading/watching. And while I don't start the morning with meditation or exercise, the dog has very definite ideas of what comes first and it's her breakfast! But I do set aside 15 minutes for exercise and 15 minutes for meditation. It helps ground me and start my day on a better note.

What do you do to keep the negativity away?

Self Care Monday-Being done

 Not sure what's up with my social media lately, but I keep seeing things that really resonate with what I'm feeling. Maybe it's that whole you see what you're thinking thing. Or maybe it's the universe guiding me to certain points. Either way, this is what I have for you today, brought to you by Ralph Waldo Emerson via Twitter.

 

Tidbit Tuesday: Dover, UK

Part of Her Captain's Honor takes place in Dover. (Also all of Louise and Malcolm's stories!) 

Here's a couple cool links about Dover, the castle and the Western Heights that are mention later in the story. It's pretty cool and one day I'll definitely make the trip!

Dover Western Heights - Wikipedia

The underground secrets of Dover Castle tunnels | UK day trips – On the Luce travel blog

Self Care Monday-you

I saw this on social media and thought it conveyed life perfectly.