From My Mailbox to Yours: How to Keep Greeting Cards & Gift Cards from Disappearing #MothersDay #Graduation

In 2021, I mailed a graduation greeting card with an enclosed Amazon gift card, but it never reached the recipient. After years of mailing greeting cards, I had never had one not arrive. The same year, my Amazon order disappeared once it reached Memphis, where the tracking ended. When I told a friend about the card obviously being stolen, she said May was one of the worst months for regular mail to get “lost” because people usually mail GC or checks with greeting cards for graduations, Mother’s Day, and weddings. This also applies to birthday cards. This year, I never received a birthday card that was sent to me. 

Here are some tips to help your card/gift arrive safely.

Before you put your gift card in the envelope, make a copy of the back of the gift card package. Better yet, take the card out of the package and make a copy of the front of it, too. When my gift card went missing, I called Amazon. All I had was a copy of the purchase receipt. I was told they couldn’t track the card without the numbers on the back of the gift card package. 

Because gift card packaging is bulky, it is more evident that a GC is inside the envelope. So, it might be wise to take the gift card out of the packaging and tape it inside the greeting card. 

If you are mailing a gift card or check with your greeting card, don’t mail it without tracking and insurance. In other words, don’t put stamps on it and drop it in a box. That was my mistake.

Go inside the post office and mail it via the front desk clerk with tracking and insurance added. I would advise putting it in a small manila or padded envelope (6x9). 

Other options: 

You can mail the greeting card and send the gift card by email. Most retailers have an email gift card option. I think this is one of the best and cheapest ways to send a gift. Side note: If you are mailing out invitations to graduations or weddings, add an email address if it is not listed on the invitation. 

FedEx is an option that I like. When I had to re-send the graduation gift, I didn’t have the recipient’s email address. So, after buying a new card and a gift card, I took them to FedEx. The mailing price was reasonable, and I received tracking messages from the time the card left the facility to the time it reached its destination. 

One more thing I want to mention before I close, which has nothing to do with lost gift cards, is that the USPS now has Informed Delivery. You can sign up for it on the USPS website, and they will email you a photo of your mail for that day. It is in your email first thing in the morning, so you don’t have to wonder if you need to go check your mailbox. I’ve found that service very handy. 

May is such a pretty month! Hope you are enjoying the flowers! 

Patricia 

#Tuesday Review~Devil in Our Hearts by Lizzie Jenks 💗💗💗💗💗

💗💗💗💗💗

Lizzie Jenks transports us back to the 1670s in Devil in Our Hearts, where Colonial America is more about pitchforks and paranoia than pumpkin spice and pilgrim hats. The heroine, Ruth, is a widowed healer whose knowledge of medicine earns her an accusation of witchcraft.

Honestly, I doubt I’d have lasted a week without getting myself burned at the stake. I’m no expert on the early days of the colonial period, so this book was enlightening. And a few pages in, I realized that “Goody" was not a character’s last name, but a form of address. 

The sexy hero, Daniel, is tasked with proving Ruth’s alleged witchiness. Unlike the other men in town who treat due process like a joke, Daniel actually uses his brain. He’s thoughtful and—because this is a romance novel—he's kinda got the hots for Ruth. Naturally, this doesn’t sit well with his mission, but hey, hearts will do what they want.

Through scandal and drama, Ruth and Daniel are thrown into a marriage of convenience. One of my favorite romance tropes. Neither of them wants it, but you know how it goes—one minute, you’re arguing about witch trials, and the next, things are heating up in the cabin. And when I say “heating up,” I mean you might want to keep a fan handy. Did I mention this is a steamy romance? 

Yet, trouble brews in the village, where villains and meddling family plot against Ruth and Daniel’s happily ever after. But fear not. The ending is perfect and it will leave you with a sigh of contentment. 

Jenks has done her homework—this book brings the early days of Colonial America to life in the descriptions and dialogue. It is definitely a change of pace from the typical Regency romance. So, if you’re looking for something different when it comes to romance and history, read Devil in Our Hearts! 

Buy Links for all retailers:  https://books2read.com/DevilInOurHearts

Harvest Moon Tonight!

 

The September Harvest Moon is tonight. It is the closest full moon to the fall equinox. The reason it became known as the Harvest Moon is because it rises just after sunset for several days in a row, providing extra light for farmers to harvest their crops late into the evening. The trees around my house block my view, so I'll have to wait a couple more hours to see it. 

This time next week it will be officially fall! My favorite season and I love the fall colors and decor. I decorated my dining room in warm, fall colors and it stays that way year round. 

Peace and love,

Patricia 

Delicious Chocolate Nut/Fruit Clusters #Recipe

Hi! I hope you're having a wonderful holiday week! If you're looking for a super easy chocolate treat to give as a gift or enjoy yourself, give this chocolate recipe a try. You can add whatever you like to the chocolate mix. I've used almonds, walnuts, pecans, raisins, dried blueberries, dried cherries and coconut. I do use mini-size muffin pan liners because this is pure chocolate and it melts in your hand. 

1 cup chocolate chips. I prefer dark chocolate. 

2 tablespoons coconut oil

Put in a glass microwave bowl.

Microwave for 20 seconds, stop and stir. Continue another 15-20 seconds. Stir to melt chocolate chips. They will continue to melt as you stir. If necessary, heat for another 10 seconds. Caution: Don't overheat and scorch the chocolate.

Add nuts or fruit if desired and stir.

 You can pour this into a rectangular pan or dish. Or use a muffin pan with liners. 

 Whichever way you choose, put the pan in the freezer for an hour or so until the chocolate is firm. If you use a dish for your chocolate, you can cut the chocolate into pieces. You need to store the chocolate in the refrigerator in a plastic container until you are ready to eat because the chocolate will soften quickly. Best to pop it in your mouth right away.🙂 Betcha you can't eat just one!

If you looking for a cute, quick holiday read, check out More Than a Gift.

Escape into a world where love is the true holiday magic! Will meeting the mall Santa change Holly’s future? Find out in More Than a Gift, a fun holiday romance novella.

Available at most retailers and book lenders: https://books2read.com/morethanagift

Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTSEN7S/

 

#Christmas in July just got better with MORE THAN A GIFT 🎄 #MFRWHooks #RomCom #RomanceReaders #IARTG

 

Falling for Santa is not on Holly's to-do list

Back in town to celebrate his favorite season, Blake has firmly closed the door on romance, focusing on his family's thriving construction business. However, his world is turned upside down when he discovers that his brother has hired none other than his dream girl.

Holly has returned to Nashville, determined to steer clear of both office romances and the Christmas spirit after a heart-wrenching breakup last year. However, fate has different plans when she finds herself at the mall and encounters a playful, charming Santa who advises her on how to find the perfect gift and urges her to give the holidays a second chance. Can a mere stranger dressed as Santa really be the one to change her mind about love?🎅

SNIPPET:

Out of nowhere, a chunk of cubed ice smacked his cheek. He looked over his shoulder, wondering who had the gall to throw ice at Santa.

Surprise brought a gape to his mouth when he saw Holly sitting at a table. She wore a deep purple sweater, a matching ribbon in her thick hair, and her lips were a glossy plum color. He met her gaze. Did she recognize him? His eyes and the bridge of his nose were practically the only part of him that wasn’t hidden by the Santa costume. He even wore a pair of Santa’s wire-rim specs.

She motioned to the left with her head, and he kept staring at her like she was a mirage that would disappear. He adjusted his fake glasses. Had he thought about her so much he was hallucinating? When he didn’t respond, she tapped her hand on the table with her index finger pointing left.

He looked to the left and saw a three-year-old girl staring at him with wide eyes. He waved at her and said, “Ho, ho, ho.”

The child took off running back to her mother.

He turned in his chair, looking at Holly again.

“You need a different approach, Santa,” she called, and he realized she had no idea who he was. “Don’t you have a stuffed toy or something?”

“Not with me,” he answered. “I’m on break.”

“I didn’t know Santa took a break.”

“Sometimes.” He stuck his phone in the side pocket of his red Santa tunic. For all intents and purposes, he was Santa Claus. He wasn’t Blake Andrews, the guy who was damaged goods. For a little while, he could forget the past and enjoy the present.

After all, everybody loved Santa.

Maybe even Holly Ross.

He grinned behind the fake beard. “So, have you been a good girl this year?”

🎅🎄🎅

Available at most ebook retailers, also available free on Kobo Plus. Buy links: Books to Read.   Amazon

Check out additional blog posts from the Book Hooks authors this week! Click the picture. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!! If you have time, leave a comment and let me if you're enjoying the summer. 

Okra Jambalaya #Recipe #History #Louisiana 😋

 Jambalaya is a Louisiana Creole dish that dates back to the colonial Spanish-French era. Jambalaya usually consists of meat, vegetables and rich. Today I'm sharing a recipe for okra jambalaya that I found in an old Creole cookbook. I bought some fresh okra today. I intend to have fried okra for dinner. One of my favorite dishes and so simple. Just slice it up, roll in cornmeal and brown in skillet with about an eighth inch of oil. Yummy! 😋

OKRA JAMBALAYA

4 dozen okra, trimmed
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 cup green pepper minced
3 cups chopped tomatoes
1 tsp minced parsley
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne powder

Melt butter in a Dutch oven. Saute onion, garlic, and green pepper in butter for 6-8 minutes. Then add the rest of the ingredients and cook for about 20 minutes, until the ingredients are tender.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day! 

Patricia 

Be True to Yourself. Otherwise You're Wasting Precious Time #writinglife

 
While reading a magazine article recently, I came across this comment by Leo Buscaglia, "The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be." All I could think about is how very true that is. How much of life is wasted trying to be what others want you to be? I know I wasted a lot of time doing that. 

It took a number of years for me to come full circle, to accept myself the way I am and not feel badly about it. I tend to be a loner. I can honestly say I don't get lonely. I have no idea what that is like. I don't know if it is the writer in me or what, but I love my time alone. It is when I get to write, read and watch my favorite movies. I always worked with the public, so when I came home, I liked a quiet house, a silent phone and my own company. I am totally selfish, more so now than ever before. I have spoiled myself rotten and I'm very happy. Of course, there are many people who would hate my lifestyle, which is fine with me because I would hate theirs.

I believe life is too short and time too precious to squander by not being true to yourself.

I think the same should apply to writing as well. Be yourself when you write. Love your stories and feel confident about them. Remember, the more you try to please other people, especially other writers, the more you will have to struggle. The more faith you put in their opinion, the less your own opinion will mean to you. Without confidence and acceptance of yourself and your work, you'll be burdened to live with self-doubt. I'm going to close with a great quote by Aristotle on how to avoid criticism:

"Criticism is something you can avoid easily--by saying nothing, doing nothing and being nothing."

Today, do something.

Hugs,

Patricia