Saturday, December 22, 2012

Interview w/ Vicky Dreiling + giveaway!


Woohoo! We've made it to day 22 of the Authors for the Holidays event! 

And we have a wonderful guest here visiting with us today...Vicky Dreiling! Who writes delightful historical romances that are so much fun to read! And don't you just LOVE her covers?! How to Ravish a Rake is one of my favorites! I love that dress :)

So, sit back and enjoy. Feel free to leave Vicky questions and don't forget to enter the fab giveaway down below :)

How to Marry a Duke (How To Series #1) How to Seduce a Scoundrel (How To Series #2) How to Ravish a Rake (How To Series #3) A Season for Sin



Good morning Vicky! Welcome to herding cats & burning soup :) We've got a few questions for you today so why don't we jump right in :)
Anna, thanks so much for inviting me to your fabulous blog. I’m ready, so fire away!
I'm reading your How To series right now and am loving it. For our followers who are just meeting you would you tell them a little about the series and what you have coming up next? 
Sure, I’d love to share the behind the scenes of this fan-named ‘How to’ series. I’m a fan of Jane Austen’s novels and loved Emma. So I wanted to write a historical romance featuring a matchmaker, but I wasn’t quite sure about a plot. Then one night while clicking through 800 channels on TV, I happened upon a reality show with one bachelor and 25 bachelorettes. I thought it was hilarious. When the episode ended, an idea popped into my head: The Bachelor in Regency England minus the hot tub and camera crew. I knew it would be tricky to write it, but I had so much fun with the spoofs of pop culture that are sprinkled throughout HOW TO MARRY A DUKE.
Similarly, HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL is a Regency version of the advice book The Rules.  The concept for HOW TO RAVISH A RAKE is What Not to Wear to the Ball in Regency England. Each of the books also contain traditional tropes such as the matchmaker, friends to lovers, and marriage of convenience. I admit I had so much fun writing these stories.
Oh and you can so tell you enjoyed it. They're all so much fun to read too! Alright, so, I love a good hero. What's your favorite thing about the men you've written?
Oh, gosh, I love them all. Tristan grabbed my heart right away, because his father mistreated his family and left his son in horrible debt, but Tristan worked hard to overcome the financial disaster. With Hawk, I didn’t know about his past. One morning I woke up from a dream about him. It scared me a little bit, because I didn’t know that underneath the clown mask, was a man tormented by his past. There was a point while I was writing HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL that I was crying so hard I couldn’t see the laptop screen. That’s all I’ll say to avoid spoilers.
Aw Tristan is an amazing guy. And Hawk, it's always amazing to see what's going on under the surface. I can imagine it would be hard to tell some of their stories! Do you have a special place you write (or read)? 
A local hotel. Seriously, when I’m on a tight deadline, I check into this hotel where all the staff knows me, so that I can write around the clock with no interruptions. I don’t get as much time to read, but I try to read a little in bed at night on my Kindle Fire.  I love print books, too.
Oh that's so neat! Do you ever sneak parts of your real life into your books? People you know, places you've been, etc?
LOL, there’s a behind the scenes feature on my website that describes the real life incident that spurred a door scene in HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL. It contains spoilers, so I advise readers to read the book first. Here’s a link: http://www.vickydreiling.com/behindthescenes_htsas.pdf
Other scenes were inspired by my business trips to London. For example, a scene involving a barge was inspired by a boat tour I took of the Thames River. The idea for the statue in HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL came from a visit to Apsley House, the Duke of Wellington’s residence. Julianne’s sketches of Stonehenge resulted from my own visit to those “big rocks.” LOL.



Oh my word. That must have been quite the boat tour!! LOL. Alright, so, if you could jump into one of your own books which would you pick? 
I always feel like I’m jumping in as soon as I start a book.
When you're not writing what's favorite way to keep busy?
I like to hang out with my writer friends. I also love going to see romantic movies or watching series on PBS. Right now, I’m really enjoying one called The Midwife, set in 1950’s London.
Since it's nearly Christmas do you have any exciting plans or traditions you're looking forward to?
I spend Christmas with my family and extended family. We exchange gifts, eat honey baked ham, and other goodies. Also, we often play board games and video games, too. It’s pretty funny when the entire family is playing Guitar Hero. I belt out a mean Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi rocks!).
Oh that sounds like a hoot! We'll let you get back to all the festivities but how about a little lightning round first...
  • First frivolous thing you'd do if you ruled the world? Turn all the bombs, guns, and other weapons into foam toys.
  • Favorite hero (not yours):  Christian Langland, the Duke of Jervaulx in Flowers from the Storm. This book is unrivaled in romance. It is my #1 favorite romance novel.
  • Cookies or cupcakes? Cookies.
  • Favorite vacation spot? Paris. I’ve been there twice and want to go again.
  • Favorite piece of clothing? My jeans.
  • Oddest thing in your purse right now...Sugar free Altoids.
  • Cats or dogs? Both.
    Thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with us Vicky! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year with the fam :)
    Happy holidays to all!  
    Here’s my question to readers for a chance to win a signed set of my first trilogy HOW TO MARRY A DUKE, HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL, and HOW TO RAVISH A RAKE. One winner (US & CA Only) What is your favorite holiday tradition?
    Vicky, Kati (from Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance) and Kieran who yall met on the 4th!
    Aren't they lovely?!



    Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.” When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. A native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing.  

    Find Vicky Online
    Blog  Facebook  Website Twitter  Pinterest  Goodreads



    Leave Vicky some book love and answer her question!
    What is your favorite holiday tradition?

    71 comments:

    1. My mom makes bizcochos (Spanish cookies) which I'm not particularly fond of and we just have that time to ourselves where we can talk and be honest with each other. Of course since I don't cook at all, I'm stuck with the washing of the dishes which kind of sucks but I enjoy the time with my mom so much that it kind of evens out the love/hate relationship I have with this particular tradition.

      Adria
      Breath of Life Reviews

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      1. Adria, those cookies sound good. Have a lovely holiday with your mom!

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      2. P.S. That google account is me, Vicky. LOL

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    2. my favorite holiday tradition is when we share memories when hanging the ornaments^^ i love that special moment all together

      happy holidays

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      1. Miki, there are often a lot of memories attached to the ornaments themselves. I love the ones my kids made in school when they were little.

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    3. I love baking cookies on Christmas Eve.

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      1. We used to have a cookie party every year the week before Xmas. My kids and their friends would decorate cut out sugar cookies well into their teens. They got very creative. :-)

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    4. Just being home on Christmas Day with the hubby and kiddos watching them enjoy their gifts and enjoying watching our favorite holiday movies.

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      1. Beautiful Disaster,

        Have a wonderful Xmas!

        Cheers!
        Vicky

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    5. Just getting the family together, it's the only time of year that it's possible to!

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      1. Nat,

        I hope you & your family enjoy a lovely holiday. I'm looking forward to spending time with my family, too.

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    6. I love baking cutout sugar cookies with my grandchildren using their great-grandmother's cookie cutters. Some of them were made by their great-grandfather and a couple were used by my husband when he was a little boy "helping" his Mom make cookies. The children love to do their own special decorating and always decorate a really nice cookie for Santa to go with his milk and the carrots for the reindeer. It's an all day event with lots of crumbs and sugar everywhere but so worth it. Believe me, after I get it all cleaned up, I'm tired. However, the children are happy and that's what makes it all so much fun.

      Merry Christmas to you, Vicky! Crossing my fingers to be selected as your winner.

      Connie Fischer
      conniecape@aol.com

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      1. Connie,

        We used to have a cookie party every year. We made cut out sugar cookies and the kids decorated them with icing, M&Ms, sprinkles, etc. We did this well into their teens. It was like a game to see who could make the funniest looking cookie - usually my mom LOL.

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    7. Besides seeing my son on Christmas morning my favorite thing is the Dirty Santa game my family plays. We buy tacky, gaudy ornaments and throw in a couple of pretty ones to make it more interesting. We always have a lot of laughs when the ornaments are opened.

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    8. This is such a wonderful giveaway! I absolutely love historical romances. Thank you soo much for the opportunity to win a set of Vicky Dreiling's trilogy! I'm very excited.

      My favorite tradition during the Christmas holiday is on Christmas Eve my family and I go to Mass. After Mass, we eat our ham dinner, clean up, and then go to see "Lights on the Parkway". When we get home, we get a plate of cookies ready for Santa and we leave a plate of vegetables out for his reindeer. It's a lot of fun!

      Happy Holidays
      Julie K
      kornhsl@yahoo.com

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      1. Julie, we used to leave cookies for Santa when my kids were little. Instead crumbs on a plate, we left a couple of cookies with bites taken out of them. Have a lovely Christmas!

        Vicky

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    9. i like the how to suduce a scoundril cover. we make cookies with the kids for santa on christmas eve then my husband and i eat them when the kids go to bed
      kaholgate at ymail dot com

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      1. Kimberly,

        I think that's a tradition that's so fun for the little ones - and yummy for parents LOL.

        Cheers!
        Vicky

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    10. I guess my favorite tradition would have to be getting together with my family on Christmas Day...watching all the kids play (and the adults), open their presents and enjoying the loud conversation going on around me.
      Happy Holidays!!
      Nicole.nobles@aol.com

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    11. I can't wait to read your books!
      My favorite traditions are decorating, baking, & spending time with the family :)
      Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
      cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

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      1. Have a wonderful Xmas Cassandra!

        Cheers!
        Vicky

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    12. My favorite holiday tradition is making Christmas cookies and watching Christmas movies.

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      1. Olga, it looks like most of us enjoy making cookies and watching holiday movies. I think the best part is taking time to be with family. We're all so darn busy, busy, busy that it often takes a holiday or event to get the family together. Merry Xmas!

        Vicky

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    13. I'm not entering, just going to fan girl comment, because I have my cherished copies of the series. Love me some "How to" heros! :)

      My favorite family tradition for Christmas is going to the candle light service on Christmas Eve. Going to miss it this year because I have to close at the store this year. Huge sighs.

      Wishing everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas!

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      1. Ah, Leah, that's so nice of you to stop by. I sure wish you didn't have to miss that Candle Light service on Xmas Eve, but I hope Xmas day makes up for it big time. xoxoxo

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    14. Watching A Christmas Story - it never gets old. Thanks for the giveaway. Damaris dsr002(at)gmail(dot)com

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      1. Maris, my family is goofy. Our fav Xmas movie is National Lampoon Christmas Vacation. We LOVE the Griswolds & watch it every year. ;-)

        Cheers!
        Vicky

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    15. Thanks so much for joining us Vicky! It's an absolute treat having you on the blog :) And I love your screen name! LOL

      My favorite tradition started 11 years ago now when I moved away for college. I adopted a puppy named Zack my first year who was just about 25 pounds. We went home for Christmas and he had his picture taken under the Christmas tree. We've done it every year since. He just turned 11 years old and now weighs 142 pounds.

      The pictures vary quite a bit. From full decked out trees, to one year where we had to have a little metal gold tree (only about 5 inches tall) because we waited too long and all the real trees sold out to this year and our honest to goodness "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree". There are various other pups now too. From ones we've adopted and those we've fostered over the years that have been with us for Christmas :)

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      1. Awe, I love that you foster pups! And my stars, Zack must be one big dog! Hope you have a blessed holiday and loads of fun. Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog (some of the pics aren't showing up by the way).

        Merry Christmas!

        P.S. Man Candy Fans refers to a Twitter event I held every Monday for over a year. A bunch of us (including Kati) put up pics on twitter of hot ... well, man candy. At one point, one of the editors at my publisher even blogged for us LOL. So that's the offical Man Candy Fans story!
        Cheers!
        Vicky

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      2. Oh my word. I can't believe I missed that! I would have loved to see what yall ladies came up with. LOL Bet it was a blast!

        Yep I foster all sorts. I actually run a rescue in my real life so right now have 3 foster kitties and 15 more at an adoption center I take care of. It's always a little crazy here. LOL>

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    16. Every Christmas Eve we go to my patents house and put out luminaries. Many of the neighbors also put them out. They are beautiful and a fundraiser for a local children's group. It makes the whole neighborhood glow.

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      1. Ann, I love that idea, especially since it's a fundraiser for children. Have a merry Xmas.

        Cheers!
        Vicky

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    17. Anna,

      Some of the pics aren't showing up. Just wanted you to be aware.

      Best of luck to all in the contest. May you all enjoy a wonderful and safe holiday.

      Vicky

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      1. Oy Vicky sorry about that! Which aren't showing up for you? They're all showing at my home and work computer. Not sure why it does that but let me know which ones and I'll reload them and see if that fixes it! Darn technology! LOL

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    18. My favorite holiday tradition is going to a tree farm and choosing then cutting down our tree!

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    19. My family recently started eating tamales for dinner on Christmas Eve. It's so yummy!

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    20. I love when the whole family gathers on Christmas Eve for dinner and presents. Everyone is always in such a good mood and it's a good chance for us all to be together.

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    21. My favorite tradition is. There are certain must haves at Christmas for my family and my contribution is various types of shortbread and nutz & boltz. It wouldn't be Christmas without these goodies :)
      Thanks for the giveaway.
      kitcat76(at)hotmail.com

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    22. We do Presents and FOOD on Christmas DAy
      Happy Holidays

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    23. I do a lot of baking at Christmas time, it's usually the only time I do that.

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    24. We drive around looking at the xmas lights.
      r.d1@myfairpoint.net

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    25. Lots of baking and of course christmas eve dinner with all of my family.

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    26. One of my favorite things....about 12 years now. We go to the drive thru lights display. We always bring bags of canned goods. All our favorites. Then we pay for the car behind us. Its a no stopping light display. So they will never know who or why someone paid for them. I always hope that they then paid for the person behind them and so on and so on.....Anyway, we always laugh all the way thru wondering what they are thinking right behind us all that time. hahaha
      lisakhutson @ cox. net

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      1. Aw that's a wonderful tradition! I love that Lisa :) Hope yall had a lovely time this year!

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    27. my favorite tradition is going to out town's Christmas Eve Carole sing around th town green.
      sallans d at yahoo dot com

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    28. Vicky, can you believe I had never read FLOWERS IN THE STORM until a couple months ago?? OMG. I love the Duke of Jervaulx so much! That was an amazing book. Totally crazy good!!!

      I love sharing a street team with you, and I'd love to see you playing GUITAR HERO! We're going to have to get ours out this Christmas. And board games are fun, too. My favorites are LIFE and CLUE.

      What a great interview on such a fantastic blog. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

      Hugs, Vicky and Anna.

      Kieran XOXO

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      1. Oops, Flowers From the Storm. Sorry, Laura Kinsale!!

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      2. LOL Kieran I'd love to see the Guitar Hero playing too!! Sounds like a lot of fun!

        Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

        ~Anna

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    29. Cookies! and putting up the christmas tree!

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    30. My favorite holiday tradition is turkey and dressing with family and friends.

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    31. My favorite holiday tradition is the Christmas Pickle! We hide a pickle ornament in the tree and the person to find it gets good luck for the year and an extra present :-)

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    32. Always our tradition is gathering with family and dinner chinese food :)

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    33. We always bake shortbread cookies for the holidays, but probably just hanging with family is the best tradition.

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    34. Your books sound fantastic.

      My favorite holiday tradition started when I was a kid & my half-brothers would come for a week during Christmas break. We would have fondue. This tradition died off as my brothers got married & moved away, but I just moved to the are where my oldest brother lives & we will be resurrecting the traditional fondue dinner sometime between Christmas & New Years to celebrate.

      drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

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    35. Favorite tradition is putting up the tree the day after Thanksgiving. Our son comes to help get the bulky and heavy box off the shelf. After we get the all the branches attached, we spend the rest of the day watching movies, going out to dinner and just having a good time.

      luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com

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    36. I have a huge extended family. Every year we choose a different house to host
      a Christmas Eve night get together. We make up a menu and everyone contributes.
      We eat, drink, exchange presents, play games, and just simply enjoy having everyone all together in one spot.

      Thanks for stopping by and sharing. I love getting to know a little about
      all you wonderful authors. Your books sound like very enticing reads.
      Wishing everyone a wonderfully joyous holiday season.

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    37. my favorite holiday tradition is we're gathering with family together for dinner :)

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    38. Spending time with the family ..

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    39. INT entree. Thanks for the fun interview ladies, and Vickie, congrats and good luck with the new series!

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    40. My favorite holiday tradition is driving around town on Christmas night and looking at all the lights and decorations. My sister and I have done this for many years.

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    41. Hi Vicky! I have several of your books and I love them! I can't wait to read your next one. Merry Christmas!

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    42. Favorite holiday tradition is opening presents together with family then playing monopoly until someone has to leave.
      ivegotmail8889(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    43. Oh gosh my favorite holiday tradition has to be setting up the tree with my mother then making rum cake <3 i do that every holiday and my brother in law love it!

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    44. International entry, just wanted to say that i loved the interview, =) and got this on my TBR list,

      Happy New Year!
      //Linda

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    45. thx 4 ur donation vicky :)

      my fave holiday tradition is going vacation with my family ...

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    46. Baking and watching holiday movies with the family.

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    47. My fave tradition is opening two presents on Christmas Eve. One from our my mom containing Christmas PJs that we then wear that night and Christmas Day, and one from dad containing an ornament that we then hang on the tree.

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    48. Hi Vicky!

      The one tradition my family follows every year is that the youngest person there puts the star on the tree on Christmas Eve! I must admit I came up with the idea the first Christmas my husband and I celebrated (and it's because I'm under-tall and I thought I'd knock over our very first tree and he's younger than I am!).

      It's been 42 years since that "first" tree and every year the youngest family member has always been placed on the top of the tree and both our sons now also follow the same tradition with our grandchildren!

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    49. I love baking cookies with kids!

      susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com

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    I always enjoy hearing what YOU think so come on and leave a comment. Everyone's welcome :) And feel free to leave comments on old posts. I'll check in on you there too :)

    Bloggers don't forget to leave your links!
    ~Anna

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