Poised for Success by Jacqueline Whitmore

Peanut Butter Blossoms


If you love peanut butter and chocolate, these are the perfect cookies to serve your guests during the holidays or any time of year. You’ll be surprised how fast they disappear!

Dough:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 tbs. milk
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup (packed) brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Roll in: granulated sugar

Topping: Milk or Dark Chocolate Kisses

Combine sugars, butter, peanut butter, milk, vanilla and egg; blend until smooth. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately top each cookie with a Chocolate Kiss, pressing down firmly so cookie cracks around edges. Bake 2 minutes longer. 

How to Regift With Grace

If you’re feeling the pinch, want to save a little money, but still want to bring a gift to the party, you might consider exploring the depths of your storage closet for a gift that you either don’t want or can’t use.  If the idea of regifting seems inappropriate to you, it shouldn’t.

According to a 2010 survey conducted by Money Management International (a nonprofit, full-service credit-counseling agency), 58 percent of respondents say they regift or are considering doing so.  When budgets are tight, regifting makes good economic sense.  You needn’t feel guilty about passing on a gift to someone else, however, if you plan to regift, you must first observe some important guidelines. Read more

A Modern-Day Christmas Story

Ever wonder how the story of the Nativity might be told if one were to do it through the use of technology? Watch this video and find out!
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Wordless Wednesday

Let's Say Thanks In Support of Our Troops

Let's Say Thanks
Spread some holiday cheer to our military personnel stationed overseas! Show your support and appreciation by sending a colorful postcard from LetsSayThanks.com. It costs nothing to send. Just choose your favorite design, fill in your name and message, and hit, “Send.” Your card will be printed by Xerox and mailed in a care package!

Just Received My Book Contract!

I‘ve got some very good news! I recently received my contract from my publisher, St. Martin’s Press!  This 31-page document was way too complicated and overwhelming for me to understand so I turned it over to my literary agent, Rita Rosenkranz, to review.  A literary agent is someone who protects an author’s rights and makes sure the author gets the best book deal possible.  She also serves as the lubricant, so to speak, between an author and an editor and helps iron out any challenges that might occur during the publishing process.

The working title for the book was THE ELEGANT EDGE, but now the book has a new title:  SUCCESS IS IN THE DETAILS: The Four Key Qualities That Distinguish Outstanding Professionals. Read more