Defying STINK!

My buddy Liz, Elizabeth Seckman, is a creative machine! She is releasing another sensational sweet romance! Of course, I'm here to help spread the news. BUT! Before we are writers, we are mothers. And we both have a crew of stinky boys, outnumbered in our homes, and overwhelmed with smelly, sports paraphernalia. So Liz wanted to share some advice on cutting through the STENCH!

Tara and I are both busy moms who have houses full of sweaty, testosterone emitting guys who are prone toward stinky-ness. If you have similar tough odor problems, try these tips for a sweet smelling HAPPILY EVER AFTER! (Tara's comments in italics)

• Air. Keep everything aired out. Make sure it's not left in the trunk or the gym bag. (boys are so forgetful about this!)
• Sunlight. Stinky cleats or sports equipment that can't be washed easily? Spray it down with some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and set it out in the sun. Bleach is hard on the synthetics in the gear, so alcohol or vinegar is preferred. (my boys cringe at sunlight in the morning, might have some vampire blood)
• Alcohol. Rub chin straps and helmets with alcohol too. Helps keep bacteria from building up and cuts down on acne. (acne is embarrassing for boys too - but a part of growing up - stop picking at it!!)
• Mouthwash. Soak mouth pieces in Listerine to keep them fresh. (I need to do this with my youngest boy's retainer! love it!)
• Soap. Wash uniforms daily. Wearing soiled clothes not only increases the risk of skin infection, but it also increases the risk of the skin becoming galded since the salt in the sweat builds up in the material. (to keep the numbers from peeling, hang dry jerseys - they usually dry quick)
• Dry. Get a boot dryer. Wet athletic shoes are a bacterial breeding ground. Stick them on a boot dryer and they are good to go in hours. (I thought she said "booty" dryer, hahahahaha)
• Washing Machine. For that washer that starts to build up a smell (like our HE, high efficiency, washer)...run your washer (empty- without clothes) through a cycle with about a quarter cup of Iron Out. It's cheap and clears out the fatty, laundry soap build up that causes the nasty smell. I also like to run through a cup of vinegar in the next cycle. Keeps it clean and fresh without spending a lot on the pricey washer cleaners. (I hate the new HE washers, but progress forces me to use one. I suggest leaving it open to dry, and I leave a rag hanging on the door to wipe it out after loads and prop it open)

DEFYING REASON by Elizabeth Seckman

Jo Leigh Harper comes from a long line of trouble-making, white trash stock. 

Tanner Coulter comes from a longer line of wealth-creating, blue blood stock.

Jo graduated college top of her class, moving toward a future full of possibilities.

Tanner dropped out of college, trading a law degree for drinking games and one night stands.

A family crisis throws the rich party boy and the poor genius girl together. The attraction is immediate, though neither one is a heart-in-the-sand-drawing believer in true love. But as the summer sun heats up along the shores of the Outer Banks, so does the connection between them. Maybe, just maybe, they can win at love by defying reason.

Elizabeth is a multi-published author of books for people who are believers in happily-ever- after, true love, and stories with a bit of fun and twists with their plots. The mother of four young men, she tackles laundry daily and is the keeper of the kitchen. She lives along the shores of the Ohio River in West Virginia, but dreams daily of the beach. 

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I almost forgot to mention! T.B. Martinson asked me to tell you all about her giveaway this weekend only! Her awesome twisty thriller CLAUDIA MUST DIE, is FREE right now!! Check it out!

Claudia doesn’t feel like herself anymore—she feels like prey. Her husband’s hired goons have stalked her all the way to Boston and will only stop their pursuit once she is dead. 

Divorce is not an option. Instead, she has stolen a bunch of her man’s money to disappear into another life. 

In order for Claudia to live, someone else must die. A lookalike college student becomes the target capable of freeing her from an awful marriage. 

The plan goes horribly awry. Instead of murdering Claudia’s double, the assassins shoot the woman’s lover who is the cousin of a powerful Irish mobster. Claudia becomes hunted by all involved. Can she survive? Should she?

And don't forget to enter my February "Warm up with a Good Book" Giveaway!! (Make sure you scroll thru the prizes - books and a $20 Amazon GC!)

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