Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New Year Blog Hop!


Good morning my friends!

It's currently almost 3 am and here I am sitting in front of my laptop while listening to Greensleeves and wondering what New Year memory to share with you.

But first, let me remind you what you can win in this cool Blog Hop! Everyone that participates gets into the draw for:
A 1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire
A 2nd Prize (to a second winner): an $80 Amazon GC

And, to everyone that leaves a comment here on my blog I'll be picking out a name to give them a copy of my Christmas novella "The Uncertain List".

Picture
Tristan's job is to investigate those people on Santa's Uncertain List and determine whether they're truly Naughty or Nice. His last mission of the year is Amy, a sweet girl with a kinky streak that will make his job harder than expected.


So anyways, New Year memory...The honest truth? My New Years have all been pretty dull... Basically, what we do at my house is have dinner, set out the bottle of champagne or cider, prepare 12 grapes (one for each gong) and sit in front of the TV to wait. When the clock strikes 12 we eat the grapes and then we cheer and drink. After that, it's bed time or internet time. I've been out on New Year's twice and by 4am I was falling asleep on my feet and annoyed by the amount of drunk people that hunkered in every corner. I'm not a crowds person.

Anyhow, back to grapes. Tradition says that if you manage to eat all 12 grapes it means good luck... if you don't, well, no harm done. This year I didn't manage to eat even half of them. I began stuffing my mouth with grapes as soon as the clock started to strike midnight and my dearest mother found my face comical and had a laughing fit which she passed on to me. I ended up dribbling grape juice down my chin and spitting some of it out. What a way to start the year... LOL

Okay, so not the greatest memory, huh? hehehe. Oh, I know! I'm going to tell you about what I did the day previous to New Year. It's not an old time memory yet because it happened on Friday the 30th, but I will remember it in the future because it was something different.

You see, I went to the New Years try outs! Yep, just like it sounds, try outs. On the 30th of December, at Plaza Sol, in Madrid, where the clock stands, people reunite with their drinks, their party hats and their sweets or grapes (although it is rumored that having them before the 31st brings bad luck).

The blurry picture I took of Sol. That round sphere at the top, way, way at the back is the clock.


When the clock strikes twelve, they lower the ball and the clock gongs. Everyone eats their stuff and drinks and celebrates.

In the company of a close friend, another friend and other acquaintances we had cider and gummy bears to celebrate the start of the pretend New Year. Suffice to say, I couldn't stuff more than 2 gummy bears in my mouth. We didn't hear the gongs because there were loads of people and we were really far away from the clock, but it was a lot of fun!

Okay, so I've babbled enough. Leave a comment and visit the other blogs for a chance to win prizes!


61 comments:

  1. Thank you for the great contest.

    I hope you have a happy and prosperous new year.

    orelukjp0 at gmail dot com

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  2. My favorite New Years Eve will always be special since it was the night my hubby proposed. After 35 years together, so glad I said yes.

    caity_mack at yahoo dot com

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  3. I have never heard of the grapes. I stay at home on New Years too. I don't do crowds (social anxieties) and drunks just make it worse. This year I spent NYE with my sis and 2 of her kids, watching a zombie marathon on tv. Goofy but fun.
    June
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

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  4. Thanks! I hope you do too Orelukjp0!
    No wonder it is special, Cathy M! Congratulations on those 35 years!

    The grape thingie is a Spanish tradition that also takes place in some Latin American countries :) The important thing is to have fun, June M.!

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  5. Sounds like some good New Years memories. I usually spend it with my family but this year I stayed home a read a very good book and just relaxed.
    sstrode at scrtc dot com

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  6. The story sounds really awesome. I prefer a quiet new year's at home too. :) This year I went out to dinner with the husband and was home by 10 to fall asleep on the couch watching movies.

    a_breen87@yahoo(dot)com

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  7. Yeah, I really haven't done anything on any NYE either, family just gets together, we watch tv, eat snacks, play games, etc. I didn't even have an alcoholic drink this year to celebrate...well I was trying to get over a cold, so that's my excuse :)

    Eva
    evitap67(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Happy New Year! Hope you have a great New Year.

    lmjtgm(at)gmail.com

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  9. I will have to try grapes next year. That sound like fun. And walk around the house bangin on a pot to chase away bad luck.
    linze_e at hotmail.com

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  10. I always spend time with my family on New year's.

    amysmith98 @ gmail.com

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  11. Interesting post. I've never heard of the 12 grapes thing. My New Years Eves are pretty quiet too - usually stay home, eat too much, watch movies and then open a bottle of champagne near midnight.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ringpop2010 at gmail dot com

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  12. We have the same tradition with the grapes.

    mythic021@gmail.com

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  13. I'd like to be in Times Square at least one year for New Year's Eve ;) richnkathy718 (at) msn (dot) com

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  14. I love the thing with the grapes :) (It helps that I like grapes lol) Quiet new year's eves sound perfect to me!

    Happy new year!

    mihoxli at gmail dot com

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  15. Grapes? Is this something your family came up with or is this a tradition somewhere?

    I just do the family, home, good food and movies thing. We enjoy it.

    acm05atjuno.com

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  16. That is very interesting about the grapes. I could never manage it, I would end up laughing to much. Just like to stay in and watch movies and eat popcorn with my husband and dog.

    skpetal at hotmail dot com

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  17. The grapes tradition sounds like a lot of fun! I'll have to remember that for next year. Thanks!

    eaz130@yahoo.com

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  18. My favorite New Year memory would be this year.. I had a party with all my friends and we were so involved in a game we almost missed the ball drop.. We turned the channel just in time for everyone to share a new years kiss.. not with each other of course haha

    Dprissypunk(at)gamil(dot)com

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  19. Happy New year thanks for the giveaway. This New years sucked because I had to work. Next year I will be in London with my fiance
    teressaoliver at gmail dot com

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  20. Wishing you a prosperous new year. Thanks for the contest.

    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  21. Best wishes for a prosperous new year. Thank you for the giveaway!

    christinetoney (at) hotmail.com

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  22. All my favorite new years memories are the same; it doesn't matter were I was as long as i'm with friends and family :)

    ~jennifer

    wocaworld{at}gmail{dot}com

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  23. I am also unfamiliar with the grapes tradition! Very intriguing!

    I'm a homebody at New Years Eve, in bed early. Just another day...but I rise early on New Years Day, happy to start off the New Year fresh ans smiling, hangover free, hehe!

    Thank you for participating in the hop and for the great giveaway chance!

    Gena Robertson
    robertsongena@hotmail.com

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  24. Your book sounds like something I'd love to read & I'm adding it to my TBR pile! Thanks for sharing!

    & Thanks for the giveaway!

    May God bless,
    Trisha Wilson
    TrishaWilson79@gmail.com

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  25. I liked this new years because I've got to spend it with my whole family my 2 sons included they are 4 and 1! But my most memorable is 2005 that is the day my husband and I officially started dating ;)
    brandon_savannah@yahoo.com

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  26. What a memory. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the release.

    SLira

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  27. My favorite NYE memory was my first one in Chicago. The fireworks downtown were gorgeous especially when they were reflected in Lake Michigan.

    Most of my NYE have been spent at home with friends. I'm not a drinker so they are usually pretty tame.

    geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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  28. I usually just get together with one or two friends. We eat and drink too much, talk and laugh. We're all home by 12:30.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

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  29. Thanks for participating. I have this book on my wish list.
    Have a great 2012.

    musicalfrog at comcast.net

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  30. awesome contest and whata fun new years eve

    ive had a few memerble ones one that stanes out the most was the firts one with my fiancee and allw e did was sit up and talk about everythinga nd nothing all at once was so perfect

    ty for the chance

    mortalsinn(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  31. Thanks for the contest! The Uncertain List sounds awesome and I can't wait to read it.

    charmed_sphere_mage69@hotmail.com

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  32. Thank you for sharing! My family and i stayed home too. We watched superhero movies and ate junk food. It was fun! Thanks! Happy new year!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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  33. Happy New Year! All the best in 2012!
    chey127 at hotmail dot com

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  34. Thanks for the giveaway and have a Happy New Year!

    elizabeth @ bookattict . com

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  35. I like to play cards with the family on New Years! Thanks for the giveaway! Gloria

    geschumann at live dot com

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  36. Monica says:
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    January 4, 2012 at 6:47 pm


    My New years memory was watching my Mom perform an old German custom she learned from her Mom. Have champagne in one hand & pickled herring in another( yes, I know it’s gross). At 12 am, eat the herring and chase it with the champagne. It’s an old wives tale that is supposed to bring luck all thru the year.
    I like the idea of the twelve grapes so much better.
    mcv111 at hotmail(dot)com

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  37. thanks for t he hop and hope you have more books and more luck in the year to come
    desi the blonde 2 msn.cm

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  38. My birthday is NYE and one of my sisters is NYD so we have a combined birthday party at midnight.
    snulfers at hotmail dot com

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  39. i don't like celebrate that much, so I usually have dinner with friends, but I loved NY when I was a kid because i could stay up late, sip champagne and watch fireworks!

    aliasgirl at libero dot it

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  40. Any new year with my sister and brother was always fun! This hop is fun!
    Ljay
    Toonsgirl1@yahoo.com

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  41. OMG! Book model has marvelous eyes!!

    brbalways(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  42. I never heard of that...interesting! I'll have to share that with my family...hmmm. We usually spend the evening inside with family and friends, lots of good eats...playing cards (poker) and listening to music until the ball's about to drop. Then the wine is poured, toasts made, kisses shared...and then the party usually continues for a little while longer. Those that drank a little too much, or came without a designated driver snuggle in for the night...that's just how we play. Better safe than sorry. :) Happy 2012!

    barbbattaglia@yahoo.com

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  43. My best NYE - We had a party for our friends and family. We could see the high school fireworks from our backyard. We all had a great time being together. Almost all the food was gone and the drinks...well there weren't any left..lol Those who needed to spend the night found a piece of floor and blankets and we had breakfast the next morning...some not so much LOL

    Great Blog Hop. Hope you will blog at KP sometime.

    Mary Keith
    mary@keithpublications.come
    www.keithpublications.com

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  44. My mom would make shirley temples and snacks for new years eve celebration- loved it!

    mconnolley(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  45. thank you so much for being part of this giveaway!!! Happy New Year!

    yankeedragon4 at gmail dotcom

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  46. My favorite NYE memory is the one I spend with my now husband. We went out with my best friend and her (then) husband. It was horrible. They fought the whole night but at one point during all that craziness he leaned over and told me that he loved me.
    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    areeths at new dot rr dot com

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  47. How fun...both! Grape juice and laughter and pre-celebration.

    We're boring too. We did the usual...hubby slept, daughter and son were on the computers and I was reading!

    Thanks for sharing your memories! Happy New Year to you and yours!

    thewildtwo @ sbcglobal (dot) net

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  48. That man on your cover has the most incredible eyes!!!! That's the first time I've heard about the grape thing. Learned something new again. Funny about the gummy bears, I don't think I could choke down even one of those awful things!!

    Happy New Year!

    mnjcarter@charter.net

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  49. Juliana
    Shooting champagne out of my nose the first time I accidentally tasted it when I was 10! Thanks for being part of the blog hop! Happy New Year!
    OceanAkers@aol.com

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  50. Thanks for sharing your memory
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

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  51. The husband and I usually go out to dinner and then stay home and wait for midnight to roll around. We'll share a bottle of Champagne and then go to bed.

    Happy New Year!

    Lori

    knitrix29 at gmail dot com

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  52. I love dull New Years!

    I got married on New Year's Day (1988) so that was my most memorable New Year--by far! And I enjoy nice dull NYE with da hubby.

    Cheers,
    catherinelee100[at]gmail[dot]com
    @capefearlibn

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  53. Happy New Year! I also stay home during the festivities. I don't drink and i'm not a fan of crowds, so my perfect night is one with a cup of tea and a good book. n.dematos@gmail.com

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  54. I stayed home spent New Years eve with my Mom watched movies! Thank you so much for taking part in this fun blog hop! Great giveaway and Happy New Year too year!
    Latisha D
    tishajean@ charter.net

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  55. My favorite new years was when I had a fun and crazy party with friends last year, the champagne was literally flowing everywhere!

    lilazncutie1215[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  56. Happy New Year! I'm going to be adding your book to my wishlist! It sounds just like my kind of book.

    suz2@cox.net

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  57. Great contest.Your book sounds great.
    r.d1@myfairpoint.net

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  58. thank you for the chance at such a great giveaway.
    my favorite memory is the year my husband asked me to marry him.

    tammy ramey
    trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com

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  59. What a great hop this has been

    Pamela Jo
    pmjg(at)E-jama(dot)net

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  60. This year, I stayed at home and invited my friends. We made fun and at midnight, we sang Justin Bieber's Baby, which was horrible, by the way :)
    Thanks for the chance! Happy new year to you!
    creature-in-night@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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