I LOVE Spray Tanning

I don't know what it is...but having a tan just makes me happier about life in general. :)
I think I look better with a little color added. I look like I've lost 5 pounds. :)

With spray tanning I no longer have to worry about burning, peeling, or sand in my suit from the beach. :) Woo Hoo!

I was sticky for the better part of yesterday, but it was worth it.

Now I can be known as...the writer formerly known as Pasty-Faced Ghost Girl.
L

The Things I do for the Sake of Beauty...

...or in my case, how not to look like a pasty-faced ghost at RT.

I live in Florida, but I try not to get out in the sun too much...okay ever.
I'd like to say the reason is that I'm conscientious about burning and getting skin cancer.
The truth is that I'm a writer. I'm usually hunched over my keyboard typing.
And I've never been much of a beach babe...even when I had the body for it. :)

Today I'm off to get a spray tan so that people I meet next week won't laugh uncontrollably when I tell them I'm from Florida.

No, I've never gotten a spray tan before.
Yes, I'm praying I don't turn out like an Oompa Loompa.
Double yes, I wish I had the body of the girl in the picture below. :):)

From what I've read, spray tanning should be really cool.
I'll let you know.
L

The Lawman's Wife is a finalist in the Passionate Plume contest

I'm very excited to announce that The Lawman's Wife is a finalist in the 2006 Passionate Plume contest.








I'm very honored.

I'd like to say thank you to all the judges and offer a big congratulations to all the finalists in the contest.
See you at the Passionate Ink luncheon in Dallas.
Good luck everyone. :)
L

Chase Away Your Tax Blues with a SALE

There's a huge e-book sale at the Siren Publishing Bookstore.



15% off all e-books and 25% off orders over $75.


The sale ends April 18th so hurry and pick up all the titles on your wishlist today! :)




Here are some suggested titles by yours truly
a.k.a. Lara Santiago

The Blonde Bomb Tech
The Lawman's Wife
The Executives's Wife
The Miner's Wife
Just One Embrace
Just a Kiss

Plus there are titles available from all the other fabulous authors at Siren.

Emma Wildes
Gracie C. McKeever
Amanda Hilton
Sage Burnett
Kate September
Morgan Ashbury
Samantha Lucas
Tonya Ramagos
Melodee Aaron
Cynthia Boris
Sarah Dobbs

Now is the time to stock up!
Check it out. :)
Lara

April Showers Make Me Want to Cook Soup

It's been rainy here in Florida. This fact has several implications.

Best of all it's good for my writing.

Rainy days also make me want to burrow into a comfy chair, drink tea, make homemade soup and of course, write. :)

Because Sela Carsen has such fabulous blog ideas, I'm stealing yet another from her.
She had fabulous recipes on her blog earlier this week for Greek Chicken and Lemony Orzo. Fabulous.

One of my all time favorite things to make on a rainy day is Potato Soup.

Now potato soup for me is an opportunity to be creative.
I rarely make it the same way each time.

Here is the recipe for the soup I made yesterday.

Ingredients list:
Olive oil
Two small yellow onions, diced
Six slices of bacon, cooked and diced
One red pepper, diced
A box of chicken broth (or two cans)
8 med potatoes, cut in to eighths
1/2 cup of milk (I use 2%)
One can of cream of mushroom soup
Fresh ground pepper, (salt optional since the soups add so much sodium)

Directions:

Put a splash of olive oil in a large preheated soup pot (over medium heat) and toss the onions in.
Cook until light brown.
Toss in the bacon pieces and stir.
Toss in the red pepper and stir around with the bacon and onion (OR you can add them when you add the potatoes~ yes, I forgot yesterday. :) )
Put the box (or cans) of chicken stock in the pot.
Carefully place the cut up potatoes in the pot (no more tossing)
If the liquid doesn't cover the potatoes...add enough water to cover.
Bring the potatoes to a boil and turn the heat to med. low.
Cook until the potatoes are tender. (20 minutes or so)
Once the potatoes are tender, I mash half of them still in the pot.
Add the milk and stir.
Add the cream of mushroom soup and stir.
Cook on low for 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve in bowls or mugs with Ritz crackers or bread and butter.
Enjoy.

This version was very bacony (is that a word?) and thick.

In other variations of this recipe I've been known to add celery or carrots in with the potatoes.
I almost always put the juice and peel of one lemon in my potato soup, but I didn't have a lemon and didn't want to go out in the rain to get one. :)
Sometimes I use sausage instead of bacon.
Sometimes I sprinkle with a little fresh chopped parsley before serving.

My husband especially like this version. (probably because of the bacon)
L

Lara Santiago available at Barnes & Noble

Well...at least two of my books are anyway. :):)
The Blonde Bomb Tech and The Wives Tales are now listed at Barnes & Noble.
Woo Hoo!! Check it out.
L












Here is the link: The Blonde Bomb Tech at Barnes & Noble















And one for The Wives Tales at Barnes & Noble

Roxanne St. Claire is AWESOME

I'm reading Rocki's new book. Take Me Tonight.
It's awesome.
Go pick up a copy and see for yourself.
L

If I Were a Superhero...

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Mighty Demon Your Superpower is Speaking to Animals Your Weakness is Crosses Your Weapon is Your Toxic Gel Your Mode of Transportation is Hovercraft

What's your Superhero Name?

Aren't these quizzes fun? :):)
L

How can my baby be 16 years old?

There is a rumor in our household that my oldest child has turned sixteen today.
I'm in denial.
How can this be true?



I'll go get a cake...but that doesn't mean I believe it.











I swear he was only a couple of years old and toddling around the house the day before yesterday. At least it really seems like it to me.
When they say time flies...I hadn't realized they meant at a supersonic rate. :)

Not to mention it's hard to convince people I'm only a child of 29 when I have a sixteen year old towering over me claiming I'm his mother. :)

Okay. I'll stop whining for now.

Happy Sixteenth Birthday, my sweet baby!
L

I'm Bert ~

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Now there are people...Kristen...who will dispute the total neat freak part of this analysis. She witnessed the utter and complete chaos that is my office today. I believe she said she would only need a couple of hours to take care of things for me.
So what, I say. I'd only need a match. :)
L

It's April...so I got my hair cut shorter

The start of April was as good a reason as any for a new hair style.

My mom will be thrilled. She always wanted my hair cut short. Oh...no...wait...she only wanted it short when she had to wash, comb and take care of it. :)

While my hair is shorter...I didn't shave my head or anything!! Calm down.
I had about 5 inches taken off the back.
I planned on a bob, but my hairdresser, Virginia, added a few layers. I trust her. She knows best.
It's now shoulder length. Easier to care for. I hope. :) I'm not known for spending copious amounts of time on my hair.

This is sort of what it looks like, although I don't look like Tea Leoni. I wish. And my bangs are shorter. :)

Of course I'll never get this cut to look like Virginia does. Virginia can make it flip out and look fabulous...until I stepped outside into the unseasonable wind I encountered this afternoon. Then I had that messy look. I hope it’s still fashionable.

My new hair cut was short enough that my kids even noticed.
...And they're boys. They never notice anything. :)
I probably could have shaved my head and they'd still park in front of the open refrigerator door after school and ask what there was to eat. :)

The true test will be in a few minutes when my husband gets home.
Personally, I believe he will notice. You see...he's the one who likes my hair long. The second I trim a quarter inch off…he notices.
I plan to have a tissue ready for him. He usually doesn't cry for too long.

L