Book Club Monday

If you are into Crime and Suspense books today’s choice, Outsider: A Novel of Suspense by Linda Castillo is for you. I saw a friend reading it on the beach and the cover looked so interesting…It came highly recommended. And once I read the summary, I knew it was for me….

image Amazon.com

Linda Castillo follows her instant New York Times bestseller, Shamed, with Outsider, an electrifying thriller about a woman on the run hiding among the Amish.

While enjoying a sleigh ride with his children, Amish widower Adam Lengacher discovers a car stuck in a snowdrift and an unconscious woman inside. He calls upon Chief of Police Kate Burkholder for help, and she is surprised to recognize the driver: fellow cop and her former friend, Gina Colorosa.

Years before, Kate and Gina were best friends at the police academy and patrol officers in Columbus, but time and distance have taken them down two very different paths. Now, Gina reveals a shocking story of betrayal and revenge that has forced her to run for her life. She’s desperate for protection, and the only person she can trust is Kate―but can Kate trust her? Or will Gina’s dark past put them all in danger?

As a blizzard bears down on Painters Mill, Kate helps Gina go into hiding on Adam’s farm. While the tough-skinned Gina struggles to adjust to the Amish lifestyle, Kate and state agent John Tomasetti delve into the incident that caused Gina to flee. But as Kate gets closer to the truth, a killer lies in wait. When violence strikes, she must confront a devastating truth that changes everything she thought she knew not only about friendship, but the institution to which she’s devoted her life. – Amazon.com

For more information or to purchase this book, click HERE.

Calling Single Ladies..Signs That He Wants To Marry You One Day….

This post is for all my single ladies out there who write in to me and are keeping the faith. I have heard of sooo many covid romance stories new relationships and many proposals!!!…It is sooo exciting…well for all of you who ask me about relationships and the next steps…….Here’s to Wedding Bells Ringing soon!!!!

image Pixabay

Love can be exciting, but it may not always be clear cut where your love is headed. That doesn’t mean, though, that there aren’t clear signs that he’s thinking about taking your relationship to the next level someday. If you’ve been wondering where your relationship is headed and whether you’ll need Mona Salehi Notaire services one day here are a few things to look for. 

He Always Talks About the Future

If a man mentions the future to you a lot, it’s pretty likely he sees a place for you in it with him. Men don’t typically mention their future plans to a woman they have little interest in, so if he’s talking about future plans, particularly plans that are months or even years away, there’s a pretty good chance he wants you to be a part of those plans, too. 

He Values and Asks for Your Opinion 

Another sign that you mean a lot to him is that he takes your opinion seriously. If he’s frequently asking you what you think, or asking you to weigh in on things that are going on in his life, it means that he cares what you have to say and values your input. It also shows that he’s starting to lean on you for support, which most likely means he can see you being in his life long term. 

image Pixabay

He Always Remembers the Little Things, Even When You Don’t

A man often won’t pay very close attention to a woman he isn’t deeply interested in. If he’s always noticing the little things, and remembering things about you that you don’t even remember yourself, it shows that he is truly focused on you, in a meaningful way. This kind of focus is usually a good indicator that he wants to know everything about you that he possibly can. 

He Wants To Make Smaller Commitments

Yet another sign that he’s in it for the long haul is that he’s already making smaller commitments with you. Whether it’s getting on the same cell phone plan or giving you the keys to his apartment, if he’s willing to make smaller commitments and show signs of trust, there’s a high probability he can see himself making larger commitments, like marriage, eventually, too. 

Even though love can be exciting, it can sometimes feel confusing, too. This can be particularly true if you’re wondering where your relationship is headed, and if he wants to commit to you, long term. While love isn’t always easy to figure out, the truth is that there can be many easy to spot signs that he wants to be with you for the long run. 

He talks about proposals and marriage

One of the dead giveaways to whether a man wants to marry you one day or not is if he openly, and actively talks about proposals or marriage with you. Some women may become concerned if their partner is talking too frequently about proposals and marriage and worry that they won’t make the event special. However, when a man talks about proposing to you and asks a lot of questions about the subject, it is likely that he is just gathering as much information as possible so that he can make it as special.

For example, he may one day ask you to browse through a moissanite stones catalog to pick out, or identify the kind of stones, and designs you like the look of. This could be so he has a better idea of what your preferences are for the all-important engagement ring.

If he is trying to be sneaky he might use his friends, or work colleagues and their girlfriends as examples rather than asking you for your direct opinion on something. So, keep an eye out for this little trick that men like to implement.

Men can sometimes be hard pushed to take the next step and fully commit, so if your partner is talking to you a lot about proposals, and marriage in general, or asking you for your opinion and thoughts around these subjects, it is likely that he is interested in marrying you one day.

A Few Summer Wardrobe Must-Haves

It has been a while since I have posted a must-have list…I partnered with Shop Bop to bring you some great looks in dresses and accessories. Since our socializing time is very minimal these days, I thought it makes sense to invest in one or 2 cute dresses and maybe a new pair of earrings and a pair of shoes. Any of these looks would do and they are so perfect you can wear them over and over all summer long….Happy Sunday!!!!

Stoney Clover

Have you heard of Stoney Clover Lane? It is the cutest line of lifestyle and travel accessories to help you stay organized on the go…The company was started by two sisters, Kendall and Libby, who love to “keep things lighthearted and labeled” and offer an assortment of decorative patches, inspired by their love of travel, sports, and beauty, to personalize your own Stoney Clover item for yourself, or for creating gifts to celebrate friendships and milestones. They have also recently collaborated with Love Shake Fancy and are selling fabulous floral, totes, travel bags, and cosmetic bags. The newest Stoney Clover store just opened in East Hampton where my friend’s uber-stylish daughter, Claudia just started working. She sent me some photos of the store and all the great items they are carrying…I cannot wait to go visit. If you are in the EH area stop by and tell Claudia that I sent you..In the meanwhile, check out the Stoney Clover website…it is so hard to choose!! Everything is perfection!!

Aerin Lauder’s Summer Sangria

This awesome recipe was in my inbox today from Aerin Lauder’s mailing list…it is her favorite Sangria recipe. I have been asking friends over for a social distance outdoor dinner during the past few summer Friday nights. It is a nice way to catch up on the many weeks missed, spend some quality time together al fresco, and try dishes and drinks that have been on our list. I just love the idea of this easy refreshing Sangria and I think I am going to make it this weekend. Bottom’s Up!!

image Elle Decor

Aerin’s Sangria

Add 2 types of fresh fruit to a bottle of light, fruity white wine

Whatever fresh fruit you have on hand will do…sliced strawberries, cut melon, orange slices, blackberries, raspberries

A splash of Cognac and throw in a clove or 2

Add a teaspoon or 2 of sugar (depending on how sweet you prefer)

Refrigerate for at least an hour and serve over ice in really pretty GLASS.

image Williams Sonoma

The “New Normal” of Travelling After Covid-19

It’s no understatement to say that there are very few occurrences that have resulted in such a worldwide paradigm shift in our lifetimes as that of COVID-19. We are still in the thick of it and already we can see how people are clamoring for change after we’re out. How we live, how the state handles welfare, the importance of scientific literacy and the rise of conspiracy-mindedness are all big questions brought up by the virus still taking its toll. Travel is another part of our lives that might change a lot, and here are some ideas of what the new “normal” might looking like.

Image – CC0 License

People are likely to stay much closer to home

While there may be a lot of people who are more than happy to get far away from home and to find somewhere to relax once COVID-19 is over and done with, there is likely to be an increased sense of caution amongst travelers for some time once travel restrictions start easing off. As such, many people anticipate that we are going to see a great rise in staycations and city breaks and fewer people traveling overseas or too far from home in general. Given the number of people who got stranded from home by being overseas when the borders and airports shut, this is no surprise. People who worry about the potential of a second wave are likely to fear that happening to them, too.

Road travel is going to become a lot more popular

A lot of people are also going to have concerns about using any kind of transport that is shared or the public in general. As such, it’s likely that cruises and air travel might see something of a reduction for a while. Air travel demand might decrease, but that doesn’t mean that travel as a whole will decrease. Instead, many anticipate that road trips and RV purchases and hire are likely to expand. People are going to want more control over their own environment and have peace of mind that they’re not sharing their modes of transportation with people that might be carrying the virus. This might also translate to more people taking the time to go camping rather than entrusting their safety to hotels.

Different countries will re-open at different times

One of the factors worth remembering about the virus is that its impacts are not being felt equally around the world. There are some countries that are still experiencing their first swell of cases and there are others that seem to be at the tail end of things, with no new cases found in some time. As such, they are also likely to have different COVID-19 travel restrictions. We might expect that some countries might restrict travel for tourists for some time while keeping them open for essential travelers or for citizens. Similarly, the countries with the highest infection rates are likely to be treated with more scrutiny, with travel from the countries blocked by other major countries. As such, it will be crucial for travelers to do their research on travel restrictions on a country-by-country basis. You need to see if the country you want to travel from accepts visitors from the country that you are leaving, especially if you live in a place that still has a relatively high rate of transmission.

Airports are going to become a much different experience

Even if the rates of transmission continue to decrease across the globe, it is very likely that airports will take the risk of COVID-19 very seriously for a long time in the future. Already, a lot of airports are installing heat-detecting cameras and implementing longer and stricter checks to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. If there is a COVID-19 vaccine developed at some point in future, it is likely that airports will demand travelers provide proof that they have been vaccinated. Already, some airports are requesting that even essential travelers offer proof that they have tested negative for the virus. As such, we can all expect to have to do more prep work if we want to fly, and to spend more time in the check-in. It may also mean that we have to visit the doctor ahead of time to collect any proof that we might need to present before boarding any aircraft.

Costs are going to change across the board

At the moment, it is very difficult for even industry experts to guess whether or not the costs of travel will go higher or lower in general. Many anticipate that both flights and accommodation will experience a drop in price. Customer confidence will be low, meaning fewer people will travel, meaning these costs can go down. However, most also agree that insurance prices are going to skyrocket. Insurance prices are always affected by risk. If there’s a greater risk of you becoming sick, then insurance costs are going to go up. With that mind, everyone is likely to be at more risk, so everyone’s insurance prices are likely to go up. However, costs may be decreased in some other ways. For instance, many have been predicting that travelers will rely less and less on third-party travel agents and will instead be booking with airlines directly. This is due to the fact that airlines and hotels are going to have their own measures that third-party agencies can’t keep up with.

Hotels and tourist spots are going to become stricter

Just as airports are likely to undergo some changes to ensure that travel is safer, we expect the same to come from the tourist and hospitality industries, as well. For instance, hotels and BNBs are likely to start implementing new measures such as stricter hygiene practices and new employee training, as well as new rules for guests, such as social distancing and the mandatory use of gloves and masks. Tourist spots are also likely to start having stricter rules, such as restrictions on how many people can be at a certain spot at any one time throughout the day.  To that end, it’s going to be important that tourists check ahead with any spots they want to visit, find out what restrictions might apply, and prepare accordingly. This could include longer wait times to see some of the most popular spots of any tourist destination as well as rules for mandatory maks wearing.

Everyone should still stay on guard

Aside from the trends mentioned above, we’re going to see most travelers remain very mindful of the risks of going overseas and traveling in general. As such, we should all be sure to stay vigilant, to keep our distance from others, to stay out of crowds, to wash our hands regularly, and to wear our masks. When it comes to traveling in airports, staying in hotels, or otherwise using shared or public resources, it’s important to be wary and to clean one’s environment, too. As such, it will be recommended to travel with your own supply of things like hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, and masks, as well. Even if a country has no reported cases of COVID-19 in the past weeks, travelers are expected to present a risk of transmission from place to place. As such, the responsibility will be on us to make sure we’re being responsible for the added risk that we represent.

We still can’t entirely predict what travel might look like once COVID-19 has fully eased off. However, we can expect a long transition back to normal given how slowly some countries are recovering.