If you read my books, you’ll often find my family traditions popping up in characters’ lives. Traditions are often how we define ourselves and our origins, remind ourselves of loved ones and experience the comfort of home.
Some traditions I’ve developed over time, from new relatives as we joined together to make a family and I’ve kept them even as the family, sadly, broke off into different limbs.
It’s a blending, just as Americans, we become more and more blended with the traditions of immigrants as they come into our lives, yet hold onto what we hold dear.
It can be as simple as a meal. My mother came from a “high German” tradition, so everything went on serving platters before it went on the table. My dad…not so much! A pot was perfectly fine on the table…in fact, he sometimes ate directly from the pot while standing, much to my mother’s horror!
I’ve inherited my mother’s meal traditions and they pop up in my new book, California Wine, as part of Elizabeth’s character. She likes things “just so.” You might even call her a little bit rigid.
New Year’s has become a blend of many things in my family, especially now that it’s just my husband and I. I love an evening of good wine, food we never have any other time (I’ve experimented with lobster, paté and multiple kinds of cheeses).
And movies…lots and lots of romantic, schmaltzy movies…..French Kiss with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline, When Harry Met Sally with Billy Chrystal and Meg Ryan, anything with Julia Roberts, Overboard with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn… What are your favorite movies?
New Year’s Day is the Rose Parade! Accompanied by Eggs Benedict (homemade Hollandaise sauce by my DH) and champagne. (Do you sense a theme here?) It’s also one of the few days that I’ll become engrossed in a football game!
This year the holiday is even more special — my new contemporary romance, California Wine, was released yesterday!
Single mother Elizabeth Ladina is done with men. From her father on down, all they want to do is control her life. Italian Marcos Gamari has one goal in life – to create the world’s finest wine from the best vineyards in the world.
What could they possibly have in common?
Blog hop is over!
Winners will be chosen January 7th!
Evie says
I just spend time with my family and we have a dinner here in my house.
Thanks for the giveaway! And Happy New Year!
by.evie at yahoo dot com dot br
Casey Dawes says
Thanks for stopping by Evie! Happy New Year!
Susana Ellis says
I made a list of goals for each month of 2013. Not resolutions, exactly, but something to keep in front of me to remind me of where I want to be next year!
Casey Dawes says
That’s a good idea! I create a theme for each year. This year my theme is Easy!
M.C. says
We’re big on fireworks during new year’s eve. For comparison, it’s like July 4th here.
Happy new year 🙂
bedsidelight
ATgmailDOTcom
Casey Dawes says
It’s like that here in Montana, too. Happy New Year!
Shar Simms says
Spending time with my family watching the ball drop in Times Square.
Happy New Year!!
aprilnu2003(at)yahoo(dot)com
Casey Dawes says
I was in Times Square when I was in my early 20s. What fun to watch the ball drop! Happy New Year!
Krista says
Eating some black eyed peas for luck. Happy New Year and thanks for the giveaway!
~Krista
pinkbonanza{ AT }gmail{ DOT }com
Casey Dawes says
Ah…yes…That tradition is big in the South, isn’t it?
Rhianna says
We’re not big traditionalists with new years… a quiet evening in seems to be our tradition. 🙂 My husband usually has to work on the 1st so it’s just another day of child-wrangling for me. lol
Happy new year!
always.and.never AT gmail DOT com
Casey Dawes says
I hope you get some time to yourself in 2013, Rhianna! Thanks for stopping by!
Casey
Karen H in NC says
We don’t have New Years traditions in our family. It’s really just a day to kick back and relax. Don’t even watch the Rose Parade anymore.
Happy New Year!
kareninnc at gmail dot com
Casey Dawes says
Relaxing is good, too! Happy New Year!
Kassandra says
No resolutions for me this year.
Thank you for the chance!
Kassandra
sionedkla@gmail.com
Casey Dawes says
Good luck and Happy New Year!
Michelle says
Happy New Year!
chellesy.clay at gmail dot com
Jen Rivera says
Family,games,wine,fireworks,homemade buttered rum,pictures,bed:)
LynnB says
These days I celebrate the New Year with friends and family but when I was growing up in Missoula we had a huge family open house every year with over a hundred people each year. It was always great fun to see how all the kids had grown. As I had a family and my kids grew they would help with seeing that the cookie trays were kept full and serve at the punch bowl. Many good memories.
Rita Wray says
We stay home and watch TV. Happy New Year!
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
laurie g says
Thanks for the great hop.Happy New Year!
parisfan_ca@yahoo.com
Tyler says
Resolution is to resolve conflicts.
Happy New Year!
t.abule (a) yahoo (dot) com
Joy F says
Thanks for the great hop.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
ki pha says
Thanks so much for a great beginning to a New Year. I just read and watched the ball drop~ For this year I need to find a job since I’m graduating college this Spring, so yup.
kp_kazamei(at)yahoo(dot)com
ELF says
We also eat black-eyed peas for luck but we added crab and lobster as well! Thanks for the giveaway.
elewkf1 at yahoo dot com
bn100 says
spend it with family
Happy new year!
bn100candg AT hotmail DOT com
Casey Dawes says
Thanks for stopping by everyone! Some great traditions…next year I’ll show up for crab and lobster and black-eyed peas, Elf!
Chelsea W says
Every year we eat the same Southern traditional food: black-eyed peas, cornbread, collard greens, and ham. We’ve had pretty bad luck the past few years, though, so we mixed it up this year and just went to Olive Garden!
chelseawoodring at hotmail dot com
Casey Dawes says
I hope 2013 is better for you, Chelsea!
LynnB says
I forgot to add my email to my post yesterday and wanted to be sure to add it. My email address is penguingram142@yahoo.com.
Kim says
I LOVE your post. I read alot of Christmas romances last year. It’s going to take me awhile to remember 2013 is here… But they had traditions like crazy. I don’t really have any. So I’m attempting to start.
Yesterday my husband decided we needed to get out more as a family. So we all went to the mall. I could get use to that.
I really want to read California Wine. I’ve added it to my TBR list.
Thank you.
kvmatlock(at)gmail(dot)com
Casey Dawes says
Thanks for adding California Wine to your TBR list! Doing things as a family is so important–the time goes so fast. Have a great 2013!
Shannon says
We usually just go to bed early but on new years day we do all day eating and watching football
fencingromein at hotmail dot com
Cherryll says
For New Years Eve, we always have a lovely dinner (and like you, I also try new foods), open up a good bottle of wine and toast the past year and to the year ahead. Then we watch the Times Square ball drop at midnight. New Years Day is ALWAYS the Rose Parade! Absolutely love it, the stories, and the stunning floats. Late breakfast and a relaxing day.
Casey Dawes says
Wasn’t that amazing to watch the soldier greet his family? My eyes still mist thinking about it.
Alexandrea Ward says
I don’t usually have any traditions for New Year’s but a friend of mine invited me over her house yesterday for New Years to eat an Irish New Year’s dish. It had cabbage, corned beef, bread, carrots, onions and celery in it. It was fun and yummy!
sankofa0509(at)yahoo(dot)com
Patricia Fuentes says
My tradition is family, family and more the merrier. We always have a great meal. Usually primerib and lobster with lots of side dishes. Lots of games and cards.
Jen Jackson says
New Year’s Eve tradition: Cozy up in front of the TV with fizzy drinks (with and without alcohol) and home-made appetizers watching Rockin’ New Year’s Eve on ABC…and in bed by 12:30 am…
New Year’s Day tradition: Back in front of the TV by 8 am for the Parade of Roses and then waste time between 10 am and 2 pm until the Rose Bowl football game starts…
Oh, and my favorite movie of all time is also a romantic movie: Out of Africa (sigh….)
Casey Dawes says
Ah…but a sad ending….
Tammy Turner says
Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing your heart and your soul with us through your books for another year!
angelheart618@gmail.com
Casey Dawes says
You’re so sweet, Tammy! Thank you!
Jeannie Platt says
We always have smokies with bbq, cheese and crackers and wine lol… just normal stuff nothing crazy that is as long as we aren’t sick.
j.m.platt83@gmail.com
Toni Cosgrove says
Ours started when kids were little and I wouldn’t leave them….we rent movies, get lots of fun snacks…and then watch the ball drop and toast with sparkling cider. The day itself isnt much different except we do have a really nice meal and it changes every year.
peach_hugs@yahoo.com
Alice says
No traditions, just spending some great time with friends and family to celebrate together 🙂
thanks for the giveaway and happy new year
movie1997 at live dot it
Wendy Pogrant says
I don’t usually have any traditions for New Year’s
wendy.pogrant@yahoo.com
Dawna Newman says
We just stay home, eat Pork and Sauerkraut for good luck and fortune.
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
vicky b says
played games
happy new year! Thanks
mrsbrinius at comcast dot net
going to try to lose weight this year
Céline G. says
My new year tradition is to have a film marathon on new years eve (Star Wars trilogy, old ones for this year).
Thanks a lot for the giveaway!
celine.guissart(at)gmail.com
Casey Dawes says
With you, Celine….we watch all the Jesse Stone movies! Too bad CBS won’t air any more because they don’t like the demographic that watches them…:-((
Mary Preston says
We always enjoy watching the fireworks.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Jennifer Irving says
super kewl giveaway, thanks for participating! We stayed at home with the boys, ringing in the UK new year, watched a movie, and put the boys to bed by 9 🙂
jennirv4967 at gmail dot com
Casey Dawes says
Great ideas everyone! I wish you all the best in 2013!
Sherry Johnson says
Happy New Year,thanks for the chance to win.
dragonkeep62(at)gmail(dot)com
Mary Doherty says
I am from the south, so it is Black Eyed Pea’s and Ham Hocks. It is suppose to bring good luck.
gatormaryd(at)yahoo(dot)com
JanD says
Watching the ball drop is an annual thing in my family.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com
Cassandra Hicks says
We don’t have any except to take down decorations if we haven’t yet lol
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
Ronda Tutt says
No resolutions or traditions for me this year, Hubby and I stayed at home this year, we had a nice evening with the fire place going, I had a glass of wine and about 8:30 hubby wanted to watch Batman Rising. It ended just in time before the New Year for our New Year Kiss, which by the way was interupted by our 3 big dogs who jumped up on the couch with us – LOL They were scared from the loud noises coming from the fireworks going off outside – LOL It was funny but was all good, we just laughed and realized how much love we have in our lives.
Happy New Year
mrsqueentutt@gmail.com
Casey Dawes says
Yes, love is what matters….
Jennifer says
happy new year
jkgf27@verizon.net
Dana Mason says
We do the same thing every year, stay home with friends. I don’t like to leave the house on New Year’s eve so my have people over and have a nacho party and drink. Everyone stays the night and we have a little carpet camp out with food, drink and board games.
Good luck with your book. Sounds like a good one.
danao.b7(at)gmail(dot)com
Casey Dawes says
Thanks! Staying home is my first choice, too. I’m older…maybe not wiser…but older…and there are too many crazies out there!
Tin says
One of my new year traditions is to buy a diary or planner for the year and then mark out all the birthdays and holidays —
The exercise feels me with excitement and anticipation for the new year. ^_^
Thank you for the great giveaway!
– Tin (khriscc at yahoo dot com)
Casey Dawes says
Wow! That’s great — I might adopt that one…along with creating cards on Send Out Cards…what fun!
Jen Jackson says
I don’t think I followed your very clear instructions when I posted my traditions…so consider this a P.S.! jberkley at theinsightadvantage dot com
Michele says
work less and play more!
happy new year!
realityfun2@gmail.com
Lisa Walker Liese2 says
Every New Years eve we eat snacks and watch the Twilight Zone marathon with the kids.
Thanks for the chance to win and Happy New Year!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
latisha depoortere says
I stayed home never do anything for New Years Eve.
Thank you very much for the great giveaway and fun blog hop!
I wish you a very Happy New Year!
Latisha D
tishajean@ charter.net
Missie Jones says
Some of my favorite Romance movies are comdies. 😀 I love 50 first Dates, Something about Mary, Over Board 😀 Thats just a few.
I have no tradions except for eating cabbage on New Years Day (Suppose to keep you with money all the year)
Happy New Year
Missie Jones
missie25524 (at) netzero (dot) com
Casey Dawes says
I’d never heard about the cabbage! I’ll have to try that some year…:-)) Comedies are good choices since laughing is so good for us!
Drea says
Happy New Year!
My resolution is to spend more time on myself. I spread myself to thin.
~*Drea*~
dreabecraft(@)aol.com
donna ann says
pork & sauerkraut for luck on new years 🙂
pagalatheart-at-yahoo-dot-com
Readsalot81 says
No formal traditions over here, we mostly stay inside or close to home. 🙂 Eat great food, watch movies,play music & games.. It’s a fun night that lasts awhile, then everyone heads to bed!
Thanks for the giveaway!!
readsalot81(@)hotmail(dot)com
Judy says
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! My family use to spend it together but now we lve to far away. i now spend it with a good book off my TBR pile. I’m going to lose 25 # and read 52 + books this year.
Judy
strawberryrose@earthlink.net
Dione Sage says
Thank you for participating in the New Year Blog Hop!
Best Wishes in 2013
uilani25 (at) hotmail (dot) com
donnas says
Happy New Year!!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Maureen says
We usually have a quiet dinner at home.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
Jennifer Rote says
We don’t have any tradiyions. Except take down the tree on New Years Day.
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com
Daniel M says
don’t have any traditions anymore, used to go out and drink with my friends when i was younger but those days are gone – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Casey Dawes says
Thanks for all the great comments and interesting traditions!
Becki Wyer says
My New Year’s tradition is spending time with family welcoming the new year.
rmwyer at shaw dot ca
April Holgate says
I am with you, I adore Overboard!! It is one of my all time favs!!
Thanks for doing the hop!! You are one of the new authors I found to stalk…um follow on Goodreads!!
grapeapril75(AT)gmail(DOT)com
April Holgate says
Oops forgot my tradition…We are Irish so we do Corned beef and cabbage for the new year!
Casey Dawes says
What was really fun for me was finding out parts of Overboard were filmed near Mendocino, CA where my husband and I honeymooned almost 10 years ago! I appreciate the stalking…ummm following!
Mel Bourn says
We start with waffles for breakfast, play games, eat more food, and watch football. Just an all around lazabout day.
Mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
Natasha says
Just staying home.
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
deb p says
Diet and Exercise.deb p
r.d1@myfairpoint.net
r(dot)d1 (at)myfairpoint(dot)net
Toni Porter says
My mom and I traditionally have our “midnight meal” on New Year’s Eve (consisting of appetizers and snack foods) while we wait for the ball to drop. We sip on sparkling pear juice instead of wine. Then, on New Year’s Day, we splurge on lamb for dinner.
tp DOT quixotic AT gmail DOT com
Shadow says
Hi! Happy New Years! I spent the day with my family. We watched movies, put together a puzzle and toaster in the new year. Thanks for the awesome hop and all the giveaways! This is so fun! I love these hops! I always meet new authors, reconnect with old ones and my TBR list grows by leaps and bounds! Thank you!! Have a great day! Best wishes and many blessings to you!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Veronika says
Happy New Year to you!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
Stacey says
We don’t have any traditions…try new things each year 🙂
Happy New Year
staceyprice(at)gmail(dot)com
elaine bishop says
thanks for the hop
myboo63@hotmail.com
Katie Amanda says
I like just spending New Years on the couch with my boyfriend and pup. Thanks! katieamanda1(at)yahoo(dot)com
AEKZ2 says
We like to watch the ball drop on tv. Thank you for your giveaway!
annettekz2 AT yahoo DOT com
Dee says
We just watch the ball drop in Times Square!
My goal is to complete my weight loss program!
Thanks for the hop & Happy 2013!
Deethomas291 at gmail dot com
Sarah L says
hopin john
Entering for Grand Prizes.
Thanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
Kaci Verdun says
Our tradition is to go out for dinner with family and then celebrate with champagne and watching the ball drop!
kacidesigns AT yahoo DOT com
Stacy O says
Thanks for the giveaway! No particular new years traditions–usually just a quiet night at home.
amnell(dot)khalan(at)gmail(dot)com