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Showing posts with label small pleasures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small pleasures. Show all posts

Monday, April 3, 2023

Little Luscious Luxuries


 

 
It's the little luxuries that keep me going in my day to day life. I have been lucky enough to be able to go to wonderful locations in my lifetime and those memories keep me warm. When it comes to feeling luscious everyday, though, it's the tiny things that keep my spirits high.

When The Charming Man and I decided we wanted to be together, I asked him questions about what he felt about all the little things that can trip up a relationship- including how he felt about fruit bowls (he was totally down with it and we've been together for nearly thirty years now:).

I can't help it- I smile every time I see my beautiful fruit bowl on the counter. There is something about the colors. the scent, the shine of the fruits that gives my heart a little lift.

What are your small, everyday pleasures that make your life better?


 
P.S. I don't want to toot my horn too much, but I think Shea Macleod and I captured the luscious feelings that fresh foods bring us in The Cafe of Hopes and Dreams and Dream of Words.

 

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Living a Luscious Live: Avoiding Burnout.

 

 
Little luscious acts throughout the day can really ease you, therefore, easing your burnout. Some of my favorite things:
  • Take one minute to sit and enjoy the sensation of rubbing lotion into your hands and elbows. Does your lotion have a scent? Does it please you? Give yourself a tiny hand massage.
  • I love lying with my legs up. It helps reduce swelling and is super relaxing. My mother used to call that time, "The Miser's Vacation." Five minutes (if your body tolerates it) can even help back pain.
  • Brush your hair, or if you are bald, rub your scalp. Ahhhhhh.
  • Naps. :)
None of these things cost money and can be sneaked in during a busy day.



 

Friday, June 26, 2020

The Dream Factory is live!


Hello, everyone! At last, my super seekrit project sees the light of day. My fellow author, Shea MacLeod, and I have been working on a brand new book series together.

Shea is known for her brilliant and funny cozy mysteries. I am known for sexy political thrillers. Together, we wrote *drum roll* a small town, magical realism, coming of age story.

Check out the teaser:


Alice Kennedy needs some hope in her life. At the age of twenty-three, she escapes her mama's clutches, looking for change. In the small town of Gold Coast, Illinois, her car dies, leaving her stranded. Just her luck.


Alice doesn't expect to find empowerment in the depressed village, but a mysterious benefactor gifts her with a new start – the ownership of a once-magnificent costume shop called The Dream Factory. The store's potential to create beauty lifts up not only Alice, but Gold Coast itself.


Escape into the magic of The Dream Factory in this heart-warming, feel-good story of a woman called to become fabulous.
Chapter One
I am the captain of this ship.
Affirmations for Women in Business.
 
Illinois weather sucked and so did Alice Kennedy’s life.

Her wipers slapped back and forth as fast as a sewing machine on high, sluicing the water in wild sprays, but she could barely see. The lashing rain dimmed the streetlights on Interstate 55. She was driving across the flattest part of a flat, flat state, not knowing where she was going. All she knew was she couldn’t stay in St. Louis. Not even the radio singing about being nice and warm could lower her shoulders from her ears.

At twenty-two, she finally left her mother’s house. Nothing new had happened to snap her spine. The thought of endlessly serving at her mother’s capricious whims goaded her into the stormy night. She had no destination, no plans, no job, but anything was better than choking on her dreams and Mama’s dismal mindset. Her throat tightened.

Freedom was beautiful and frightening.
 
We hope you have as much fun reading this new book as we did writing it.  You can buy the book at:
Note: I will be donating a portion of my proceeds to Black Lives Matter.  Let's make the real world fabulous, too.

Monday, July 27, 2015

The Pleasure Center: Miser's Vacations

The Pleasure Center series isn't all baths and sexy. Sometimes, pleasure is about dreaming of a different life. My mother used to call these dreams and fantasies Miser's Vacations, because they cost no money but still refresh.

The Orient Express
One of my favorite Miser Vacations is fantasizing about glamorous rail travel. I love this thought so much, I've written and re-written variations on train sex and finally got it on in Vamping It Up.

I am fascinated by comfortable, leisurely travel since I love to visit new places. Can you imagine dining like this??
The Orient Express in Andaluz
I love writing on trains, too. You are away from your usual demands. I use the time for daydreaming and brainstorming.

And just for a tease, here is a section of my heroine Holly's train fantasy, just for you.



Her Marine knelt behind her and rested his face against the inward curve of the small of her back. He inhaled as though smelling her deepest essence. Holly rested her weight on his chest and closed her eyes.
He wrapped his arms around her abdomen and placed his hands below her navel. His teeth tugged her tee-shirt higher. He licked the small patch of skin he revealed. Holly shuddered. The hairs on her arms raised in response to his soft tongue.
He blew cool air against the wet spot. Her nipples hardened.
Holly pressed her bottom into his body, wanting his tongue and hands on more sensitive places.
He obeyed her silent command. He cupped her ankles and caressed her legs up to her hidden ass cheeks. Her bare, sensitized skin registered the lines on his palms and the whorls of his fingertips.
He squeezed the hem of her shirt over her ass and hissed in excitement when he saw her panties. A pink satin bow sat right above her tailbone. Thin red straps of lace led from the bow out to the leg band, creating a fan-like pattern over her dark skin.
“So beautiful,” he breathed against her cheeks. He cupped the sides of her hips, just over her saddlebags, and squeezed.
His action shocked her. Her hips were her least favorite part of her body, and he was worshipping them as though they were delectable.
“You have a perfect ass,” he growled. His lips vibrated against her. The buzz traveled through her pelvic bone and set her clitoris alive.
She couldn’t help herself. Holly ground her butt against his face. She willed him to go faster, to put that delicious tingle where it would do the most good.


Tuesday, May 5, 2015

The Pleasure Center: The Turkish Bath, part 3

I don't know any people who can afford their own heated marble slab and bath attendants (If I did, I surely wouldn't be sitting at my computer right now. I'd be visiting them!).

The best any of us can do is fake the experience in our own bathrooms.

It does help if you have a bath tub, but even shower aficionados can enjoy Turkish-accented bathing.

If you want to spend money, here are some fabulous things to add to your bath.

Turkish Towels aka pestemals are thin towels made of silk, cotton, linen or a blend. They dry fast, they dry you off even when they are wet, and don't turn into huge, heavy, dripping messes when they get soaked. I love mine. I travel with them as they can be used as a sarong, a sheet, or a blanket. But if you are broke, your regular towels will work just fine. :)

A kese or exfoliating bath mitt is the cheapest bath luxury you will ever experience. It's my favorite way to scrub and it is better for your skin and the environment than plastic puffs. Your skin will feel as soft as a baby's when you use a kese. This is the most essential part of faking a Turkish bath on your own.

The dipping bowl adds a sense of real luxury to your bath. Just dip the bowl in the water and pour it over your head or your limbs or your body. The cascade will still your mind and soothe your body. Yes, you can use a plain ol' bowl for this. Just don't use anything glass! Broken glass is not pleasurable under any circumstances.

What do you add to your bathing routines to increase your pleasure?

Monday, December 22, 2014

Quotes and snippets: Vamping It Up.

Celeste sipped her drink. “Enough of work. We are on vacation. Cheers.”

“Gan Pei!” Holly clinked their glassed together and they drank.

“And I see something that fits our vacation mood,” Celeste smiled. She beckoned to someone behind Holly.

 A perfectly ripped young man in a Roman gladiator outfit approached them, a golden tray of small bites on his shoulder. He stopped in front of the two women. “Fruit, ladies? Chocolates, perhaps?”

 “Some of us embrace the power of ‘and’.” Celeste smiled, her half-open eyes smoldering in admiration.

The waiter sat on the arm of Celeste’s chair and selected a fat, wet, strawberry. Grinning like they had a naughty secret, she bit into the luscious fruit. The berry’s juice stained her already red mouth.

 Holly blushed but she didn’t glance away. She watched as her aunt licked her lips, leaving a moist sensual shine. The boy’s eyelids dropped and he focused on Celeste’s mouth. The two shared a languorous, heated look, setting the cool indoor air on fire. He whispered in Celeste’s ear, making her lashes lower in agreement. With a small tilt of her head, Celeste motioned for their gallant to serve Holly.

He pivoted, a grape waiting for her in his fingers. Holly opened her own mouth, making him come to her. He sat on her chair and laid the purple-black globe on her tongue. She bit, relishing the juices bursting through the thin skin.

Their attendant stood, his thigh muscles shifting under his battle kilt. He blew Celeste a kiss, winked at Holly, and disappeared into the crowd. Sweat gathered on the back of her neck. The little display lasted less than a minute but the power of pleasure and attraction filled her.
At Amazon
At Barnes and Noble

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Pleasure of Food: Pineapple!

With the arrival of summer to the Pacific Northwest, it is time to indulge in sweet, delicious fruit.

What better summer fruit than the yummy but hard-to-get-at pineapple? The Flaming Chef, The Charming Man, and I made this video so you can enjoy fresh pineapple on a lovely day.
Enjoy your food!

If you enjoyed this, please join us over at YouTube for more Pleasure of Food!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Mmmm, food: Part Three

Almost done with that duck and duck-fat fried potatoes!

Link

Ready to cook yet?

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Mmmm, food: Part Two

How to roast a duck, part two of four:


Link here.

My mouth is watering already. How about yours?


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Mmmm, food: Part One.

Several years ago, The Charming Man, The Flaming Chef, and I produced a cooking show called The Pleasure of Food. As a reminder of everyday pleasures, I am reposting them here!

In case the video doesn't load for your, the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wS62MWlXyQ&list=PLF80B22C0AC7E55A6&feature=share

Monday, September 9, 2013

A little fan fiction for your day.

A friend of mine once asked for a dirty story between Catwoman and Batgirl. I threw in a little Nightwing, just for the fun of it.

I don't own these characters. I just want to play dolls with them.



Batgirl in Bondage
                                                    

            “Oh, hell.”
            Batgirl rattled the bars of the human sized bird cage one more time. She’d lost her footing and fallen from the rafters while spying on the Penguin. The fall knocked her out, but fortunately her pride was the only thing hurt.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t helped by being locked up in this cage just barely tall enough to stand up and turn around it. She couldn’t stretch at all.
            He’d also taken her belt, leaving her with only a hairpin to attempt the sturdy lock.
            It wasn’t going anywhere, either.
            A rustle in the dark told her she wasn’t alone. She peered into the gloom.
            A shadow whooshed overhead. A flash of blue and black had her sagging against the bars.
            “Nightwing,” she breathed.
            Strong legs flexed as the former Boy Wonder landed in front of the cage. “Don’t worry, Batgirl. I’ve have you out of there in no time.”
            He reached for his belt, but before he could pull the lock picks from a pouch, bolos wrapped around his body. He dropped to the floor with an uncomfortable sounding thud.
            “Oh, I don’t think so, young ones,” a feline voice called from the corner. “I have plans and escape is nowhere on that list.”

           “Catwoman!”
            “What do you want?”
            They called out at the same time.
            The click of high heels heralded the burglar’s approach. Unusually enough, Catwoman’s usually modest full body suit was unzipped down past her breasts.
            Well shaped and generous breasts, Babs noticed, starting to sweat a bit. She discreetly tugged at the collar of her own costume.
            “What do I want?” she asked, her hips swaying with each casual step towards the captured pair. “To get my rocks off.”
            Nightwing shifted, but not before Babs could see a betraying bulge grow in his briefs. Oh, the bird had the hots for the cat, did he?
            Great. All those times she’d sparred with him in her jumpsuit with no panties and he never noticed. Fine. She could handle that. But Catwoman? What did she have that Babs didn’t?
            It wasn’t fair.
            Catwoman’s green eyes flicked over the man, lingering at his green briefs. But her gaze quickly settled on Bab’s breasts. “I set my trap just for you, pretty bat, not the harbinger of spring.” She stepped over Nightwing and with a move too fast even for Batgirl to follow, cuffed Bab’s wrists to the bars of the cage. Babs shook the thick plastic, but they held steady.
            Helpless.
“He might be a nice dessert, but you are my dinner.”
            With that, the beautiful, bad, bold, sexy woman ran her gloved hand down Bab’s  hip. Shivers followed the hot touch. Thousands of forbidden dreams raced through Batgirl’s head. All the times she’d been treated to a view of Catwoman’s luscious behind as they chased her over the rooftops, or saw the jiggle of breast under vinyl. Had all those been a long, calculated tease for her? Someone saw her as desirable instead of just a sidekick’s sidekick?
            Seduced, Bab’s body swayed closer to Catwoman’s insidiously gentle touch.
            “Hey, let her go!” Dick protested.
            Catwoman nudged his ribs with pointed toe of her boot. “And keep you, instead? You think you are fooling anyone?”
            Nightwing hissed at the contact, but his gaze never strayed from the view of feminine hands on Batgirl’s body.
            Catwoman snapped her fingers, drawing his attention. “If, and only if, you are very good, you will be allowed to complete your arousal. You are here only by accident. The Penguin was supposed to keep you and Batman too busy to try to ruin my plans for the evening. But since you are here…” she shrugged. “You get to watch me get what I want from the treasure you so ignorantly disregard.”
            With that, she found the hidden center zip for Bab’s costume and drew the tiny metal tab down, down, down, past her breasts, past her navel, all the way down to the top of her panties.
            By now soaked panties.
            Even aroused beyond all telling, Babs knew who touched her. Selina Kyle’s distinctive blue eyes blinked at her behind that sexy cat burglar mask. She blushed, remembering how the older woman had flirted with her at the Policeman’s Ball earlier in the week.
            Full lips curved in an amused smile, Selina peeled the fabric away from Bab’s body, exposing her bare breasts to the cool night air. Her pink nipples puckered and lifted. Shivers of embarrassment made her breasts swell even more even as Babs hid her face in her shoulder.
            Long fingers traced the curve of Bab’s breasts. Dick’s groan echoed against Selina’s purr. A satisfied smile crinkled the corners of Catwoman’s red painted mouth.
“Pretty. Very pretty.”  Then those red, red lips descended and enfolded a begging nipple.
The sucking sent scorching lines of arousal down Bab’s body, from nipple to clit to mouth to nipple again burning her until even the backs of her knees felt aching and sweaty. Her cunt pushed against the seam of her costume.
An unexpected hiss opened Bab’s eyes. A quick glance down showed her Nightwing wiggling next to Selina’s boot, his lips busy on the other woman’s thigh.
With her free hand buried in Dick’s hair, Selina wrested him away from her own body. Making him crawl on his knees, she forced him over to the cage and shoved his face into Bab’s crotch.
“Make her cum, clever bird. Let’s see what happens when you both finally get what you want.”
She couldn’t help it. Babs lifted her legs and braced them against the bars of the cage, letting Nightwing have his fill of her pussy. Frustration at the lack of proper friction moved her hips hard as his lips moved.
            “Tsk. Hold on,” Selina said. A final tug of the zipper, and Batgirl’s costume hung free, held in place only by the cuffs and her boots.
            “Oh, sweet God,” Bab’s moaned as Dick’s tongue darted into her wet, slippery cunt. He moaned and slurped just like a man enjoying a delicious meal. Selina’s mouth went back to work at Bab’s nipples.
            Arousal never felt like this when she was alone in bed, dreaming of bodies against her. The muscles in her lower body clenched, curling her pubis tighter and tighter as the orgasm wound its way up.
            Then somehow Selina managed to reach her hand around Bab’s ass and shoved fingers in Bab’s aching vagina, tipping her over the edge.
            A scream pulled her throat back as the orgasm exploded again and again, sending her muscles into spasm. As the shudders loosed, she hung in the cage by her wrists. Pleasure warred with sadness. Surely Catwoman would let them go now, and Babs would be alone again.
            “No worries, little bat,” a voice whispered in her ear.
            Babs opened her eyes. Catwoman stood naked in front of her and Nightwing. “I’m nowhere near done.”
            A bit more pushing and shoving and Catwoman had Nightwing’s erect cock poised at Bab’s gate. Limber as one of her cats, Selina climbed the cage, her wet pussy just inches away from Bab’s mouth.
            “Now, fuck her. Fuck her until she can’t see straight.”
            Eagerness clear even under his mask, Nightwing shoved his cock hard into Babs. And how did he fit! A slight upward curve to his penis made Dick’s strokes a perfect hit against the sensitive spot on the top of her vagina. Even with his arms still bound by the bolo’s ties, he managed to set a grueling pace.
            “And now, to repay your Mistress for the favors,” Selina whispered. “Pleasure me.”
            Thousands of hours of fantasies of pussy didn’t measure up to the reality of Catwoman’s salty quim riding Bab’s tongue. As curved hips snapped against her face, Babs heard Selina talking.
            “Oh, yes, the two of you belong to me, now, don’t you?”
            Babs vigorously nodded – anything to keep this pleasure going.
            Dick gasped out, “Yes, Mistress.”
At their compliance, Selina grabbed Bab’s head and demanded, “Then make me cum all night, you good slaves.”
Many hours later, when Batman finally stopped the Penguin, he backtracked his way to where he’d lost Batgirl and Nightwing. Under his cowl, his eyebrows rose to his hairline. Selina, Dick, and Babs lay in a sweaty, naked heap on their discarded costumes. Dick and Babs flanked Selina, both of them half asleep with a nipple in their mouths and drowsy fingers rubbing her clit.
Selina looked up from her pile of love slaves and said, “What kept you? I expected you twenty minutes ago. Get over here.”
         
*************************
What fan fiction do you like?  What characters in popular fiction make your tail twitch?

Friday, August 30, 2013

Every day pleasures.

There are days when the rain is coming down too hard for words and you are feeling sad and scattered.


Me contemplating my current work in progress.

All you can do, then, is find a small pleasure and let it soothe your raw edges. Like letting the Rain Chains do their Rain Thing. That can bring a smile on even the rainiest of days!
 










Would I call it Rain Chaining? 
What are your small pleasures? What brings less stress to you?
I still don't know what I'm doing, but I'm not going to stress about it!