Trying – Sleeping – Random Inspiration

January 12, 2026 / ccsocialcreative / Leave a comment

Hey guys, welcome back. I know, I know, I’ve already missed a week and it’s only the first two weeks of the new year. Well, life is crazy stuff sometimes and that is what it is for me right now.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I’ve been sick for many months. Well, it continues and right now, we are still trying to figure out what is going on. I’ve had more dr appointments and this week I’ve got more tests to get. In the meantime, my sleep schedule is even more erratic that it already was. I slept through the holidays, literally. I slept all Christmas Day and New Year’s days and then three days after, only being up for a few hours here and there. I slept almost this entire past weekend and trying to stay awake is a real fight. However, I’m still here!

With all of this being said, I’m trying so hard to stay focused on my book. The waking hours I do have, I dedicate to both reading and editing my manuscript. (And streaming Brooklyn Nine-Nine, because the show makes me laugh out loud.)

As dedicated as I’ve been, I actually went days without touching the book. That doesn’t happen and it bothers me that it did. I couldn’t focus, I couldn’t open it up to read it, I just couldn’t go near it. When I can’t work on it? That’s when I know that I can officially say, I’m not well.

I am happy to say though that the time I have put into it? I’ve cut almost 4000 more words! I’ve been cutting full pages, full paragraphs and reworking/rewriting the story so that it will embrace the time of year I’ve switched it to which has been fun.

I’m still trying desperately hard to figure out just how to keep so much of what I’ve written, without having to break this particular origin story in two. I’ve talked about making this a series in the past, but I really want a lot of what is already done to be a part of this first book. The stress I’m putting myself through about it though, needs to stop. Can’t afford that right now. So as I get through this latest read through and cut and cut and cut, I remind myself that yes, I can indeed put some of this into it’s sequel and to calm the hell down. (I yell at myself a lot when I’m working…sometimes I wonder what my neighbors think is going on over here.)

I think one of the best things I’ve done to help the editing process along has been taking it ten chapters at a time. Honestly, it gives me such a sense of accomplishment when I’m done with a set of ten and seeing just how much I’ve cut from them. How much I’ve changed them. Doing it all as a full document was making it rather overwhelming. Doing it in stages? Well, I should have been doing it this way all along!

Someone on a video I watched on YouTube once said, ‘if you are feeling overwhelmed by a task, try breaking it down into small pieces.’ Well damned if they weren’t right about that! I couldn’t recommend this process more. This is my second time going through the book doing the ten at a time method and it has helped tremendously and I’ll continue to do it this way until I get it just the way I want it.

Whether it’s a video on YouTube or talking to a friend, attending a seminar or hell, watching a tv show you like, advice can come from where you least expect it. The video I watched? Had absolutely nothing to do with processes or writing. It was just a random sentence that popped up and I latched onto it. Always keep your eyes and ears open, for inspiration can come from anywhere! (Including your friendly neighborhood blogger.) 😬

And that is where I will leave you today. I hope you got something out of this post!

Until next time folks…cheers!!!

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Want to start journaling this year? I’ve designed several blank journals that are on Amazon. You can find the graphic link here on the site, or hit up my linktree that houses my shops with thousands of items with my designs on them: linktr.ee/stuffwemade

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If you’ve made it this far, I thank you so much! See you soon. 😊

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2026 / ccsocialcreative / Leave a comment

Hey friends, welcome back!

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year and thank you for your support of my site and myself over this past year. It has meant so much to me to have you continue to follow my writing journey and frankly, put up with my random ramblings. To say that I’m grateful would be an understatement.

I am hoping that you’ll continue to follow along over this next year and that I’ll be able to keep you more entertained with my upcoming posts.

May this year bring you all the happiness, opportunities and love you deserve!

Until next time…cheers!!!

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Spirit – Festivus – Ho Ho Ho

December 23, 2025 / ccsocialcreative / Leave a comment

Hey guys, welcome back! ‘Tis the week of celebrations of all kinds and I am finally on board with all of it. (Took me long enough.) I have begun to read A Christmas Carol, my favorite book of all time and today we did the final shopping for Christmas dinner. Things are falling into place.

I don’t know how you celebrate the holidays, or hell, even if you celebrate, but I have what has been named by family members: Christmas OCD. I have had a strict schedule of things I do every year on the final days, especially on Christmas Eve…my favorite day of the year. I have it down to a science. What I watch, times I watch them, the final wrapping of presents, phone off and making the night last as long as possible because again, it’s my favorite night of the year! I don’t want to miss a minute of it.

If you’ve been following along with me, you know that I’ve been fighting illness for a good portion of this year. It had dampened my holiday spirit to a huge extent and it was really bothering me that I just couldn’t get into the season. I celebrate Yule, Christmas and of course, Festivus! I am someone that sings Let it Snow in July. I am someone who, on September first, is already fighting the urge to decorate the house. So for me to not be all holly and jolly has been making me sad. Thankfully, the spirit kicked in hard last night and I’ve been all about the holiday since! (Nothing like having it kick in at the final minutes!)

Now it’s trying to cram as much holiday madness into these final hours without falling asleep. Still fighting the sick and two days without sleep is starting to kick in as well as the holiday and they are fighting each other. I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO!! Sooo much wrapping and cramming in a ton of holiday movies before it’s over. Oh and no Hallmark movies for me. Just saying.

Ok, so the movies can be watched after the holiday, just like I read my holiday themed books through Spring to keep the season going…but I have a schedule to keep! I have cocoa to drink! Cookies to bake! I may need to admit that I have a problem.

In the meantime, as of this writing, today is the glorious holiday known as Festivus. Let us rejoice in the Seinfeldian holiday that has been a part of our lives for almost thirty years. ALL HAIL THE ALUMINUM POLE! Yes, I had one for a while and we put it out for years. I am that person.

What I am saying here is this…the holiday season can be rough for many of us. I’ve certainly had my share of crappy holidays. However, if you celebrate something or not, try to look for some joy this season. Look at the lights. Watch the silly ads on tv. Read a holiday themed book. Or not. Maybe it’s having that cookie that you haven’t had since you were a kid or calling an old friend that you haven’t talked to in a while. Even if it’s something small that can make you smile, why not indulge? January can be gray and bleak. Carrying over the colorful time we’ve been living in for months (because fall and Halloween begin the most colorful time of the year) can keep your heart happy.

I’ve been saying for years that I never understand why we take our lights down after the holidays. Keep them up! Make January more colorful, more vibrant, more fun!! And late to the party or not, let this season try to heal you as best it can. Even if it’s just a little bit. Take it from me, that little bit can mean so damned much.

And that is where I will leave you for today.

Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday and if you celebrate Christmas? May Santa bring you what you’ve asked for this year.

Until next time…cheers!

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Made it this far? Thanks so much for taking some time to spend with me and I will see you soon. 😉

Holidays – Stress – Holiday Spirit

December 21, 2025 / ccsocialcreative / Leave a comment

Hey guys, welcome back! I hope everyone is doing well and I want to say a giant thank you for continuing to come back and see what I’ve been up to. While it’s never anything too exciting, hopefully I’ve been doing something right here.😉

I don’t know about you, but the holiday season is making me lose my mind. Trying to work on the book has been interesting during this last week. I’ll be in the middle of a paragraph and suddenly remember I forgot to order something for Christmas. Then of course, the Amazonian doom scrolling happens and two hours later, (and after adding lots of stuff I’d like to get after Christmas to my save for later), I go back to the book, forgetting what I was doing.

However, one of the good things about this time of the year, is that I know I’m not alone. No matter what you are celebrating, or not celebrating, the end of the year brings about high blood pressure all around.

Being a one to strictly celebrate in a secular manner, I’m usually a total goofball around Christmastime. I watch all the specials (all hail Rankin/Bass), tv episodes with holiday themes and movies, (no hallmark, come on). I love to check out the holiday lights and LOVE to shop for gifts. This year has been tough for me to get into the spirit of the season, especially being in bed almost 24/7, however I’ve been working on it. Hell, even the year I had chicken pox as a kid, I was all about the holiday!

Many years ago, when I was still learning the internet and how to create a webpage, I created a Christmas website. It started as one page for kids and ballooned to something that to this day, I’m still proud of. I was completely self taught. I learned how to code it, design graphics for it including those for the two advent calendars, became an early affiliate (which was so new back then) and was even listed on top 50 sites around the globe. While several things had to be taken off as time wore on and some old links no longer worked, I still updated it last year and made sure to keep it going. I’ll link it under this post if you’d like to visit Eggboy’s Christmas Celebration…just please remember, it was created in the late 90’s and the graphics are as such.

One thing that’s been helping me get in the holiday mood are the old school gems I’ve found on YouTube. Retro specials and old holiday tv ads that I used to look forward to every year. I’ve started to watch those and the memories have come flooding back. I’ve also been watching more shows and stuff and with just days to spare, the spirit is seeping in. Oh and of course, I have a stack of holiday themed romance books next to me that I’ve been working though and will continue to read them well past the holiday season to keep me in the spirit a bit longer.

The next days will be filled with the usual mayhem of wrapping presents, trying to squeeze in as many silly things to watch as I can and gearing up for my favorite night of the year, Christmas Eve. No other night of the year compares for me. I keep an insanely strict schedule that night to savor every second. I do the same things every single year and even though I haven’t been a kid for quite some time, you bet your ass I’m still looking out the window every now and then to see if I spot a big guy and his sleigh. I even follow both the NORAD and Google Santa Trackers! (Because why not?)

I’ll be missing out on some writing time this week and that’s ok. I need to clear my head a bit for the next steps. I completed the latest read through tonight and think I finally have a handle on how this book is going to move forward. I am quite upset that I am missing my self-imposed deadline for it to be finished, but I’ve finally decided that it’s ok. It was one I put on myself. I have no one to answer to right now and if I was to declare the book ‘finished’? It would be a freaking train wreck. Not only is it still entirely too long, but if I was to just cut things left and right to only focus on the word count? It wouldn’t make sense. So as much as it hurts, I’ve learned to accept that it will get done when it gets done.

I was on a great path for it to be finished by now, but life is funny stuff. I wasn’t expecting to be sick for more than 80% of the year and the last few months have just kicked my ass. Maybe this was a way for me to slow down and look at the book as a whole. To figure out what is important to the story. To rearrange things, change the timeline and time of the year. I live by the rule that ‘things happen for a reason’ and I gotta think that maybe I was getting ahead of myself with the writing when I got sick. This slow down time, while frustrating as hell, has given me a new perspective and I can only hope that I will finish it with a much better all around story than it is right now. So am I close to being finished? No. However, that’s ok. It is what it is. Instead, it’s time to focus on the holidays and the things done that still need to get done. Santa only comes once a year and I want it to be special for him. 🎅🏻

And that is where I will leave you for today. As always, I thank you SO much for being here. For following my journey and for the support that I’ve been shown by so many of you. (Especially for reading the posts that were obviously done after the meds have kicked in. LOL)

I’ll be back before Christmas, but for those celebrating holidays right now, enjoy, be safe and may they be incredibly wonderful.

Until next time…cheers all!

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Made it this far? I thank you! Hang in there and let’s find the fun this holiday, ok? The way this year has gone, I think we all deserve a bit of fun. See you soon. 🥰

Countdown – Scrooge – Personal Connections

December 16, 2025 / ccsocialcreative / Leave a comment

Hey guys, welcome back. Sorry again for being absent. It’s been a rough season trying to get into the holiday spirit whilst being sick. (Yes, whilst.) However, here we are, in the final countdown to Christmas and I’ve begun to do the holiday push to get my ass in the spirit!

While I have friends and family that celebrate many of the Winter holidays, I personally grew up celebrating a rather secular Christmas and later on, I added Yule into the mix. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m normally quite elf-like, height included. I start singing carols in June, I’ve even been known to put up my decorations super early. I throw lights on anything that will stand still for more than five minutes. I make friends go see holiday lights with me and I have worn Santa hats proudly in public. That’s why this year has been so discouraging that I’m trying to force it. Well, not force exactly, but get more into it as best I can.

In fact, I’m writing this as I watch one of my favorite versions of A Christmas Carol, the 1970 musical version Scrooge. I grew up watching this one and as an adult, I am now two degrees from the gentleman that wrote the music for it! (Ok so I think that’s cool.)

I’m known far and wide as A Christmas Carol snob. I have very specific movie versions that I deem worthy of watching not just once a year, but several times a year. I have also had an annual tradition going back decades of reading the book between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course the snob in me must also read a copy with the original John Leech illustrations or else it’s just not worth reading.

I love this story so much, I mention it in many of my writings, including the current book I’m working on! To me it is the ultimate story of redemption and second chances. Of learning from those who came before us and to realize that without looking at our past mistakes, we shall be destined to repeat them. So Scrooge, for me, is a hero of sorts…post spirits that is. So, I will continue to watch and read this story until I can no longer do so. And maybe one day, I’ll come back and haunt some folks I know who could use a good spirit visit!

As I said, I’ve now incorporated my love of this story into the manuscript I’m currently working on. It was already included in it, however, now that I’ve moved the time of the year of the story, it really helps some back story of the two main characters. Sometimes, it’s a simple scene of two people coming together to watch a movie that just like in life, can spark a character’s memories and give more insight to what makes them who they are now. That is just what I’ve done by using Mr. Dicken’s story. Weaving it into the story as a mention or two that helps the characters develop an even stronger bond with each other.

When we take from our own lives and use it in whatever we work on, be it writing, art, music, etc, it becomes not just a way to connect with the piece but also adds more personal meaning to the work itself. For creatives, doing this can be both therapeutic as well as make it so much more meaningful. Every time I reread those scenes, it brings back some of my own memories. Each character I write has some sort of personal connection to myself. Sometimes it can even be something silly as a love of a particular food, a personal experience or a love of a holiday story for the ages.

Our work is a part of us. Our heart and souls go into everything we do. And the story of Scrooge? Well, it will always be a part of me and therefore, will be a part of my works whenever I can sneak it inside.

And that is where I will leave you for today. Thank you so much for being here, if you are celebrating a holiday now, may it be a wonderful one!

Until next time…cheers!!!

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If you’ve gotten this far, I thank you and see you soon! 😉