Come Alive and Stay Wild! (Or, How a Missing FedEx and Crazy Hair Put Me Back on Track)
I was out with my girlfriends a few weeks ago, doing what we do. Eating. Talking. Planning. Shopping. Crafting. You know how we do.
So it wasn’t unusual when we hit up the craft store(s). That’s when the Bestie, the Seester and I parted ways to each conquer our own areas. We rallied at the checkout and I was reminded, by the incredibly huge bin of impulse-buy-me-now Ty Beanie stuffies, of how, for a while, I bought a new one each month and related it back to writing, social media, and marketing.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Come Alive and Stay Wild!
The Seester suggested I get a new one, seeing as how I’m relaunching the blog, being a published author and whatnot. Except *gasp* *gulp*. She held up a, a … I can’t say it. No, wait. Yes. You must know. A glittery unicorn. Unicorn. With glitter. I mean … just. NO.
I had to explain to her how I don’t do unicorns. Like, ever. (Cue Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Getting Back Together.”) But then, like a bad Taylor Swift lifestyle report, I turned around and there he was. This cute little lionicorn. At least, that’s what I call it him. For realz. But that… that horn. Ugh. Suck it up, girl. He ain’t that ugly.
Really, it was the crazy hair that got me.
So, this little crazy-haired lionicorn thing that adopted me at the third craft store of the day became my bag buddy and found his way to work with me the next day. I told my friend Knitting Nancy (okay, I know. She doesn’t knit, she crochets. But that sounds less poetic.) all about it and she named him. Right there. On the spot.
“His name is Wild.”
And I had to agree with her.
But wait, there’s more.
I mean, of course there is. ‘Cause I can tell y’all about the cute lionicorn Wild, but is that really the end of the story? If you have to ask, it’s like you don’t know me at all.
Cue the intro music.
I may have also indulged in a little Labor Day Happy Planner online sales event. And, long story short–Ha! Like I could do that! I tried to tell a short story once, but since I was speaking and not typing I couldn’t edit myself so this SS, as I like to identify them, came out in waves of interruptions and misdirections and … Oh. Right. The planner story. Sorry. #rabbithole
Well, I ordered some great Happy Planner gear to start the next year with, but it never arrived. Even when FedEx said it would. So I called and spoke to a woman named Iris. I remember her name because that’s the name of my cat. [Sidenote, y’all: Pray for Iris (the cat, not the person. Although the person may appreciate prayers, too. I dunno.). My Iris Cat is in a downhill health slide and I’m not certain what else to do as we’ve been to the vet three times in two months. Also, Thanksgiving is coming up and we all know my beloved felines tend to go Home on Thanksgiving weekend. Oops. That was another rabbit hole, wasn’t it? And my name’s not Peter Cottontail.]
SO.HAPPY PLANNER UPDATE: Iris the Person issued a second shipment with the apology that my first Planner was on backorder so she instead sent one of her personal favorites and hoped I would enjoy it.
GUESS. WHAT.
The cover states “STAY WILD.” Folks, I can’t make this stuff up! I mean, I could. But I don’t have to. Because it really happened!
Frankly, My Dear . . . Come Alive and Stay Wild!
And the last corner of this triangle of a story is that during the Girlfriends Outing (see Paragraph One above for details), we were also talking about our words/phrases/taglines for next year. Oh, don’t you pooh-pooh me (Yes, I know I spelled it like the bear, not the dung. That was on purpose!). You all know that each year a mantra of sorts finds it way to each of us as our yearly focus. The Seester has hers. The Bestie has options.
For this year, I chose Come Alive. But I chose it late in the year, and did little with it. Except what I did, how I took it to heart, what it means to me (complete with Hugh Jackman singing in The Greatest Showman); I want to keep it going. It’s not just a yearly mantra. It’s me. But what to add to it?
I had nothing. Nothing. Until Wild. And Happy Planners. And then, like a glorious Snickers bar collision with a glass of milk. Like thunder that answers the lightning. Like powdered sugar on a beignet, I have my mantra for 2020.
Come Alive and Stay Wild.
Betcha didn’t see that one coming, didya?
And with that, I present to you, the relaunching of Frankly, My Dear . . . the blog.
Would you like to win a $25 gift card to Michaels Arts & Crafts to buy your own Happy Planner? Leave a comment and tell me what your favorite friendship moments look like. [$25 Gift Card to Michaels will be awarded to one random winner from all qualified entry comments on or before October 5, 2019. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email to claim prize, or prize will be forfeited and another winner selected.]
With a wild heart and a planning page, Come alive. Stay wild. And always, Savor the journey. ~M.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
P.S.: Check out this official video from Fox Entertainment to see Hugh Jackson sing “Come Alive” in The Greatest Showman.
This review is different than most. There are no spoiler alerts. No characters to introduce you to. Just some mighty fine eats.
The first two recipes I chose were the Mayonnaise biscuits (Pg. 24) and the Baked Potato Soup (Pg. 9). They paired well together. Or, they would have. I’m not a perfect cook and I had one of those moments when the recipe called for self-rising flour but This Girl used all-purpose instead. The flavor was good but the density was atrocious. That was my fault. And this week I hope to make them the proper way. You can see the biscuits trying to crowd their way into the soup photo here:
Baked Potato Soup, from Laughter is Louder with Good Food Cookbook
So let’s ignore those little biscuits and focus on the soup. That heavenly, creamy, warm, soothing, comfort-food, old-fashioned baked potato soup. It’s reminiscent of my mother’s Egg Gravy she would serve over boiled potatoes. I never thought to put the potatoes in the gravy! Lindsay’s recipe calls for something extra, as well: green onions. What a flavor boost.
Baked Potato Soup from Lindsay Reine
I’d love to say we all enjoyed the soup. I’d love to, but I can’t. Because there wasn’t enough to go around. Dot was at work all day and well, I was hungry. Really hungry. And so I did the Hobbit lunch thing and had three servings over a few hours. I shared some with my mother down the street. I put some away for my lunch at work the next day. I did save Dot a small serving. But that’s all she got. Okay. Two small servings. The recipe makes six good-sized servings. But like I said. I was hungry. And it was good.
The next recipes I’m salivating over are the Mexi-Corn Dip (Pg. 3), Oven-Fried Pickles (Pg. 4) and the Strawberry Lemonade Beer (Pg. 7). Oh, and the Lasagna Soup (Pg. 14), Brunch Egg Casserole (Pg. 28), Brown Sugar Maple Ham (Pg 39), and well, pretty much the rest of the book, too.
Laughter is Loudest with Good Food
With 150 recipes, there’s something for everyone. Printed through Morris Press, this cookbook has a spiral binding which makes it great for laying flat on the kitchen counter. There’s a complete Table of Contents in the front, and an Index of Recipes in the back. There are pages of helpful hints like how to use different spices, how to buy and cook different vegetables and fruits, and fun things like creative napkin folding. Do you need to substitute dried herbs for fresh? Or cocoa powder for chocolate? Yup. There’s a page for all that. Oh, and an Equivalency Chart. How much is one pound of raisins? About 3-1/2 cups. Now that’s useful information!
As mentioned in my interview with Lindsay, there are a few typos in the book. That’s okay. It’s not hard to figure them out. You wouldn’t really bake biscuits for 152 minutes, would you? Aside from the typos, the cookbook is really put together well.
Lindsay and her boyfriend Mike hand-typed each recipe from old, faded recipe cards. What started as a fundraising project for her turned into a labor of love to create a family heirloom collection. And they succeeded.
There’s plenty of NOLA-based recipes, too. Crab Meat Dip (Pg. 2), Shrimp Spread (Pg. 5), Crawfish Soup (Pg. 13) to name just a few. There’s also Shrimp and Grits (Pg. 35). But I’m really looking forward to making the New Orleans Praline Brownies (Pg. 70).
But if you want to win one, just enter below. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE MANDATORY ENTRY OR ALL OTHER ENTRIES WILL BE VOID. Leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite comfort food?
Lindsay and I can’t wait to read your answers. But first . . . let me grab something to eat.
While researching and writing NOLA, my great friend Lisa posted a link on my Facebook page for a cookbook. Not just any cookbook, mind you, but a cookbook from New Orleans, with recipes compiled by Ms. New Orleans 2014 Lindsay Reine. How much better could things get? A little bit better. Because of my affinity for all things NOLA, I explained this to Lindsay and she agreed to send me an extra autographed copy for this giveaway. She also became my friend on Facebook, and a huge source of information for my book.
Lindsay confirmed an idea I’ve had from the very beginning- “Most people (in New Orleans) are good people who love and care for everyone, even if they don’t know ya.” There will be a cookbook review/giveaway on my very next post, but first, I want you to meet her.
I love this photo Lindsay sent me for the blog. It shows the woman I know- fun, pretty, and not afraid to work.
Help Wanted – Lindsay Reine (photo used by permission)
Lindsay graciously sat through hours of emails and questions so I could interview her for this post. Here are her answers:
MoJo: Tell me about yourself, whatever you want to share.
Lindsay: I’m 32 years old, the youngest of three girls. I live in Slidell, Louisiana which is about thirty minutes from New Orleans. With the exception of college, I have lived here my whole life. I love Slidell, I love the people, the city and mostly I love being so close to my family as most of us have stayed here. My grandparents built this town in various ways and the values of family, charity, and tradition have been passed down to all of us as we continue to serve our community today.
I attended Southeastern Louisiana University where I graduated with honors holding two degrees, one in Management and the other in Marketing, but as you will learn, I did not stop there! I have been a Louisiana real estate agent for eight years as well as being a dental assistant and insurance manager for seven years, where both my sisters and brother-in-law work as well.
I am also the reigning Ms. New Orleans. While all these things keep me pretty busy, I would not have it any other way. I am so honored and excited to have each and every opportunity that has been presented to me so far!
MoJo: Talk about the Pageants you’re involved in. How long have you been doing Pageants? What do you like/dislike about them? Which titles have you won, and which are you going for?
Lindsay: Pageants…..well….until the Ms. New Orleans pageant in December 2013, I had not done a pageant in about 28 years. My family has been doing pageants for as long as I can remember and when we were little my parents took me and my sisters to quite a few. My Mother holds a few titles herself so it seemed pretty normal growing up for us to do pageants and stay to watch her compete. In addition to many other titles, my mother was Miss. Crescent City, and holding the title of Ms. New Orleans means so much more to me because I feel like I am carrying on a legacy, different title names, but the same great city.
Pageant Girls – Lindsay Reine (2014) and her mother, Carol Reine (1989)
Lindsay: I credit my ability to confidently stand in front of a crowd and also my ease of public speaking, to having the pageant experience when I was young. I fully believe those skills have carried me though many group presentations and in everyday life. Pageants are meant to be confidence builders and to get people involved in their community. I really enjoy being a beacon of self-acceptance and giving women a reality check. So many women have come up to me and thanked me, which I never understood until one said “Lindsay, you’re 32 years old, very little pageant experience, a few extra pounds and a lot of personality. You went out there and you did it. It made me reevaluate how I see myself.” I was not offended, not in the very least.
While I was volunteering at a Children’s hospital function a beautiful girl told me her story of how she gained weight after her chemotherapy treatments, she was so excited to see me because she felt like if I was a princess she could be a princess too. ABSOLUTELY she can be a princess, but until that day she didn’t have the confidence to even dream of becoming one. Her mother was in tears after we spoke, she changed my life more than I could ever hope to have changed hers. A few little girls have run up to me and I can see how excited they are, it makes everything worth it and it makes me want to work even harder to show everyone. “If I can do it, so can you.” Participating in the pageant system opens doors and gives you so many more opportunities you may not have had before.
To me, the worst thing about the pageant is the spray tan and the fear of falling on stage! During the Ms. New Orleans pageant, my heel went in a crack on the stage and I almost fell…twice.
I am currently filling out the application to compete for Ms. Louisiana State in August. It is going to be a tough competition as all my competitors are intelligent and beautiful but I am going to get out there, smile and hope for the best!
All that being said, competing in Ms. New Orleans happened by accident. I had no intention of competing; honestly, pageants were the furthest thing from my mind. Then, in usual fashion, I was motivated in the most common way, someone said some awful things to me and I got mad. I was made fun of for my weight, my skin, my accent, my background, even my height, (like I have any control over that) and I was tired of letting it happen. I was tired of feeling like I wasn’t enough and like I needed to change, quite frankly I liked myself and was content. I stirred over the comments, texted friends who gave their support and I love them dearly for it. This wasn’t the first time they had to come to my rescue, nor will it be the last, of this I am sure. My nieces and nephews are the light of my life and I started thinking “Would I want this to happen to them? Do I want them to ever be mistreated and have someone say demeaning things to them? What kind role model am I to let them see me accepting this behavior as normal?” Not going to happen, I will not allow them to be taught these things and I understand this person is just one of millions and they will have their own battles to fight. However, as far as I am concerned, the days of letting people walk on me were over.
Then a friend messaged me about the pageant -boom- life changer. I participated in the pageant for the most important reason, me. Win or lose, I was going to get up there and prove to myself and everyone who needed a flare of hope, it could happen and if you want it bad enough, it will happen.
MoJo: How did the cookbook come about? What was your inspiration for it?
Lindsay: I come from a long line of excellent cooks and I am Southern. Gathering around good food is tradition. Holidays and gatherings are always centered on what is cooking in the kitchen and what is set on the table, so to me, it just made sense.
The big joke is that I do not know how to cook for less than 20 people at a time, and it is true, I don’t. I love cooking big meals and sharing with friends and family as often as possible. It is a small way to show them I care and that they always have a place at my table and in my home, any time or day, no matter the circumstance.
The cookbook was originally a way to raise money for me to compete in the Ms. Louisiana State pageant and ended up becoming a family heirloom for quite a few people. So many people graciously donated their family recipes to me and the book grew a life of its own, it became a piece of history for families to treasure. Every recipe has a story and I was so blessed to hear a few of them along the way. My boyfriend, Michael, and I hand-typed each recipe to submit to the publisher and I could not have done it without him. Some of the recipes were handwritten and very old, it was an adventure to decipher a few but we got through it. There are 150 recipes filled with love and yummy goodness in the cookbook and I am so proud of how it turned out.
MoJo: I did notice a few typos in the cookbook. For instance, in one recipe instead of “simmer” it’s typed “sinner” which I found humorous since it originated in New Orleans. Another typo instructed me to bake biscuits for 10-152 minutes. That’s quite a time difference!
Lindsay (laughs): I knew there were a couple, the publisher was supposed to check and by the time they sent it to me to edit I was burnt out! Mike and I typed in all the recipes ourselves to save money, it was an adventure!! Some of the recipes were so old it was hard to read (the mayo biscuits was one of those recipes). It was fun but I’m glad it’s over.
MoJo: Tell me about being a real estate agent in NOLA. I imagine the properties you have access to are a bit different than standard cities.
Lindsay Reine, Top Agent Realty
Lindsay: Being a real estate agent is a really tough job. People are asking you to help them invest a very large amount of money into something they expect to shelter and protect them and they have no idea what they are looking for. There is a lot to playing detective and research involved but I love it. My grandfather, father and uncles are all contractors and are custom builders for commercial and residential. My mother and father both held real estate licenses for 30 years so real estate runs in my blood, which may explain why I love doing it. As far as the properties, each one is unique in its own way. We have to pay special attention to flood zones, swamps, Mardi Gras parade routes, historically protected homes, and elevation here so it is probably very different from places outside of the Gulf Coast.
MoJo: Tell me about NOLA.
Lindsay: New Orleans, to know her is to love her. The city of mystery, magic, ghouls, spirits, love, laughter and fun all rolled into one. The history and structure of New Orleans is amazing by itself but when you add the people, there is no other city that can compare. There are so many cultures here everyone can find a place to fit in and it feels like home, no matter where you are from. Everyone, at least once in their lifetime, should experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans or one of the surrounding cities.
There are so many things I love about New Orleans but there are also things I wish would change. It is my wish that the economy in New Orleans would continue to pick up, with all the movie producers coming in and other businesses interested in relocating to New Orleans, more jobs are steadily becoming available. There have been some really positive changes happening around the Parish and surrounding areas giving people hope and uplifting spirits.
MoJo: Since my novel is set in New Orleans, I’m researching a lot about the culture and events. Katrina is a big part of that. What can you tell me about hurricanes in NOLA?
Lindsay: If you want to visit New Orleans, avoid hurricane season. Seriously, hurricanes are scary. If you are not prepared you are in more trouble than you know. When the water rises and the wind howls, it is like nothing you have ever experienced before. You feel the wrenching of your organs in your insides and your mind goes in to preparation mode before you even realize what is happening. We have been taught and trained for hurricanes since the day we are born on the Gulf Coast. All the elders make sure you know every story of “the big ones”, not to scare you but to make it a reality. There is nothing you can do to stop the water once it decides to come your way.
Every part of the country has its share of Mother Nature’s choice of wrath and as ironic as it sounds, I would prefer to face hurricanes over mudslides, earthquakes, blizzards or tornadoes. Not only because that is what I am used to but because we do have a little bit of warning and time for preparation. While a hurricane will cause mass destruction and devastation, at least we are given a chance to prepare and evacuate if necessary.
Everyone asks about hurricane Katrina and when I talk about it I feel grateful, grateful it was just material possessions that got washed away. Not everyone was as blessed and lost loved ones who, for whatever reason, could not or would not evacuate. I had six feet of water in my home, as did many people. While I cannot understand why people were looting televisions, I do understand people taking food and necessities that they needed to survive, heck, I even understand the guy who took a bucket Heineken beers. I came back home three weeks after Katrina and it was a mess, buildings were gone, trash was everywhere and the spirit of the people was broken. As always, New Orleans came back better than ever, the Saints even won the Super bowl and the city continues to build and thrive today.
MoJo: If you couldn’t do pageants or sell real estate, what would you be doing?
Lindsay: If I had to choose a job other than the ones I have, it would be in Public Relations. I love meeting new people and do not mind speaking in front of people; it would be a great fit for me.
MoJo: Most people want to travel to NOLA but you live there. What places do you want to travel to?
Lindsay: I am a Disney fan, my favorite character is Sleeping Beauty, and while I have been to Disney World a handful of times I have never made it to Disneyland! I would love to see Aurora’s Castle! I also want to see more of Europe. I was able to travel to various cities in Italy and I loved traveling abroad, and the Italians know how to have a good time. Niagara Falls and an Alaskan cruise also top my list of travel destinations.
Lindsay has continued to share her NOLA life with me. Her insider tidbits are essential to adding more meat to my story. She’s a great source of not just tourist information, but history as well. One of her favorite drinking holes is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, purported to be the original building (with a few upgrades).
We also talked about the myths and darker side of New Orleans. It’s filled with Rougarous and violent crimes. But as she says, “For the most part the crime is kept amongst those who are involved in ‘that life’.” Every city has its good and bad parts. New Orleans is just more colorful than most.
With the rich history of New Orleans, her strong family background, and her go-getter attitude, it’s no wonder Lindsay is ready to conquer the world . . . and already has, in part.
So are you ready for the flavors of New Orleans? Read on to the next post for my review and your chance to win.
[All photos in this blog post are property of Lindsay Reine, used by permission, with the exception of “My NOLA Cookbook”, property of Molly Jo/New Inklings Press.]
Disclaimer: Aaron D. Gansky has been a friend of mine for many years. It is because we are both Christian writers (and he is married to one of my close friends which is how we met) that we get along well. These facts have in no way influenced this book review.
The Bargain is a Selah Award Finalist in Fiction novel. It is a suspenseful Christian fantasy story written by Aaron D. Gansky. It is available for purchase through Amazon and Amazon Kindle.
Aaron D. Gansky
I bought The Bargain for my Kindle. I’m all about supporting local artists. I also like to read what others are writing, and learn from their style and format. The Bargain did not disappoint.
To be honest, I’m no longer much of a reader (I still haven’t finished the Louie L’Amour book I started two summers ago). I want to be. But I keep myself busy with the day job, home life with Dot at Bedford Manor, and writing my own stories.
But one evening I needed a break from all that. So I picked up my Kindle and decided to glance through the first few pages. The more I read, the more I understood the cover art. Can you see it? A pensive man, a train, and a desert. And oh, so much more!
The Bargain by Aaron D. Gansky
It took just seven days for me to finish the story. I haven’t read that fast since I was pregnant with Dot . . . and she’s 19. I found myself irritated that my aforementioned life responsibilities got in the way of reading more, say at 3 o’clock in the morning or during office hours. I made Starbucks staff look at me funny as I gasped, frequently. (Note to self: stop emoting in public.)
The Bargain tells the story of international reporter Connor Reedly, in his own voice, as he struggles to find meaning and make sense of his dying wife, Nadine, and a town the world wants to forget. They arrive in Hailey, home of Nadine’s sister, Aida and her friend Mason. Mason is tasked with offering Connor $250,000 if he writes ten articles in eight days. Mason hints that to refuse means certain death for Nadine, and all of Hailey.
Connor has to choose between spending his wife’s dying days at her side making her comfortable, or talking to strangers in hope of saving her. What secrets does he uncover? In the end, is Hailey really worth saving?
The Bargain, although written by a Christian author and containing Christian themes, is not only for Christian readers. It’s not an in-your-face sermon. The characters are hardened, tough, bitter. They are criminals telling their stories. They are victims sharing their loads. They are a collection of folk who are nitty-gritty in a place that no one wants to visit, let alone live.
And it’s up to Connor, a non-believer, to find out if there are any redeemable qualities, not only in Hailey, but in himself as well.
Okay. That’s the synopsis. Here’s what The Bargain did for me personally:
It made me cry. It really did. Aaron’s characters are true, honest, not polished or cleaned up. The reality that life sometimes sucks invades this book not with a depressing countenance, but with a breathless, there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I sort of reading. I found myself nodding in understanding at each interaction, with all of Connor’s thoughts, and even in the solitude faced by the characters and Hailey as a whole.
I saw much of myself in this blend of people. From those who make no sense of their struggles, to those who justify their wrongdoings, to those who question everything, to those who just accept the world as it is. From the hopeless to the hopeful, there is a bit of each of us in each of the characters.
It left me wanting more. I’m a sucker for ongoing stories and I was sad when I reached the end. I like the continuing soap operas, trilogy movies, etc. So if you’re reading this, Aaron (and I know you are!), please tell me you’re writing more. If not these characters, then more like them. Please. Thank you.
It changed my perspective. Life isn’t always pretty. That doesn’t mean it has to be hell on earth. It’s not always about me (or Connor) and sometimes the choices aren’t easy. But they are choices. Sometimes, what you think will work, doesn’t. But sometimes, just sometimes, what you have no hope for actually happens. Or something completely different. This book affirmed it’s okay to just close your eyes and say, “What’s next?”
There’s so much more I want to tell you, but I don’t want to give away the ending. I will, however, share my short interview with Aaron for this giveaway:
Mojo: Is this your first suspense novel? Aaron: Yes and no. My first novel was also suspense, but, like most first novels, it wasn’t good, and hasn’t been published.
Mojo:How long did it take you to write it once you had the idea? Aaron: It was the matter of about eight months from concept to the end of draft one. Tack on another couple of months for editing, then a lot of years shopping it to publishers. Once it was published, we worked on edits for another couple of months. I’d estimate, conservatively, it was a little under two years of active work (most in revisions and edits).
Mojo: What was the hardest part about writing THE BARGAIN? Aaron: That’s a good question. For me, the writing isn’t the hard part, it’s the shopping and waiting for publication. But, because I wrote it when my kids were young, I’d say the hardest part was waking up early to write before my kids got up. I kept Starbucks’ pockets well lined in those thin hours of the mornings. In context of craft, I struggled to keep the quality high throughout the novel. My challenge was to make each “article” stand up to the last. I had the first few in mind, but coming up with the others that would be as equally as compelling gave me a lot of trouble.
Mojo: It’s a fast paced read, and at times volatile and emotional. Did you ever find yourself getting caught up in the story instead of writing it? Aaron: I did. I think, more than anything else, the final scene in Veronica’s story is what really got me. I won’t spoil it, but if you’ve read it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It was a chilling scene to write. I knew exactly how I wanted to handle it, and it came pretty naturally, and the words fell into place, and horrified me with each letter that dropped. My hope is that my readers have a similar experience when they read it—a chilling terror that washes over a subtle, quiet hope.
Mojo: What is your writing process (outline v. discovery)? I learned those terms on your podcast. Aaron: I’m a die-hard discovery writer. It’s how my mind works. I can outline, but I’ve not had nearly as much success with that strategy.
So. Are you intrigued enough to read The Bargain? Do you want to win your own autographed copy? Then look no further and enter below!
So. Y’all know I’m a Trekaroo Superoo, right? I get to write reviews for family-friendly based activities, restaurants, and destinations. I’m loving it. I haven’t received a sponsored assignment yet, but I’m so okay with that. Because I love writing reviews. Even if they’re based out of my own little town.
Another reason I love Trekaroo is the giveaways they offer every week with their Monday Madness. This week is no different. But it is. This week is a doozy. A week-long stay at a west coast timeshare through ResorTime.com.
Now, I’m not affiliated with this giveaway. Which is good. ‘Cuz I’m trying to win. Which would be good. ‘Cuz then I could review the experience. It’s a win-win-win. But that’s just me being selfish. I’d love for you to win instead, if you want to give it a try.
Can you find your way to Hawaii? Las Vegas? Sedona or Scottsdale or Carlsbad? Do you need a week away from it all with the ones you love the most?Sometimes you just need a break. Can you see yourself sitting poolside while the kids play, or sitting with the family all around the picnic table enjoying your own BBQ?
Then y’all need to check this out. Click on my Superoo badge above or below this post and you can read Katie Dillon’s Trekaroo Contest post. Full of information about the timeshares and plennnnty of chances to enter for your own vacation. [Disclaimer: by entering through my link, I get a bonus entry. So thank you. But truly, good luck! If I don’t win, I hope you do!]
Don’t forget to share your own link so you can earn bonus entries, too!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
TheRealMojo68
You can read all my Trekaroo reviews here: RealMojo68
