Guest Post by Sherri Wilson Johnson
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being on Kathi’s ministry team, it’s that a clutter free life is the way to go! To be honest, I’ve learned a lot more than just one thing, but that’s got to be the most important concept I’ve learned. When your life is free of clutter, you can become a world changer.
In 2015, I kicked a lot of clutter out of my house and my life and as a result became much freer. I applied Kathi’s principles and increased my business and even got up the courage to become an Indie author, self-publishing five of my Christian romances.
There are many things that are important to me, including the Lord, my family, friends, my church and my clients. I support Stop Hunger Now through my church because I can’t stand to think of people going hungry, and Compassion International because I love to see children being educated and their families being released from the cycle of poverty. That’s a carryover from my homeschooling days.
As a writer and entrepreneur, I work hard and when I’m able to take a vacation, I believe the only way to relax is in clutter free style. Our vacation in 2015 came two weeks after our son’s wedding, the wedding which jumpstarted our empty nest. I was ready to sit back, relax, read some books, work on my upcoming novel…and eat some ice cream. And that’s what I did!
We visited Cedar Key, Florida, the setting of my fifth book, Secrets Among the Cedars. Cedar Key is on the Gulf coast of Florida, down below the Suwannee River. It’s not your typical beach resort. It’s a nature coast with scrubby pines and marshes, lots of dolphins, and the most gorgeous sunsets you will ever see. Only about 700 people live there and everyone you meet is super friendly. It’s a great place to declutter your mind and your schedule.
In Secrets Among the Cedars, my heroine, Kathryn, is in Cedar Key to search for a murder weapon, but she doesn’t forget to eat plenty of the ice cream found in one of the local waterfront shops. Salted caramel turned out to be her favorite and it turned out to be mine too.
With warm weather approaching, I’m going to have to take a break from my 95% no sugar diet and indulge in some more of that great ice cream. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it back to Cedar Key this year or not, so I went searching for some homemade recipes. I pinned a few yummy looking ones to my Pinterest board and I found a super simple one at the Girl in the Kitchen blog. I hope you’ll join me in making some!
I’m giving away one print copy of Secrets Among the Cedars! Please leave a comment below telling me where your favorite place is to vacation and what your favorite treat is to eat when you’re there. Must have at least ten people to constitute the giveaway. Continental U.S. residents only. Winner will be chosen Friday, April 8th.
Here’s the back cover blurb:
Some secrets are better left buried…or are they?
Kathryn Bellamy is the Assistant D.A. for Perkins County, Georgia. After detectives fail to retrieve a missing murder weapon, she travels to Cedar Key, Florida to find it herself. She finds more than she ever bargained for when she meets Phil Tagliaferro, a former defense attorney.
Phil is drawn to help Kathryn when he learns she’s receiving threats—until he finds out their pasts are connected and his association with her could mean death for them both. Kathryn won’t leave Cedar Key until she has unearthed the secrets…and the murder weapon, but she can’t do that without Phil.
Secrets Among the Cedars brings two people from opposite sides of a case together with one goal in mind: Justice. What else will they find in the process?
Secrets Among the Cedars is available on Amazon in print and ebook!
Sherri Wilson Johnson writes Inspirational Historical Romance and Contemporary Romantic Suspense, and she’s a speaker and virtual assistant to authors and speakers. She lives in Georgia with her husband and her Chihuahua, Posey, and they are empty-nesters. Sherri loves spending time with family, vacationing at the beach, curling up with a good book and working on her current work-in-progress.
You can find out more about Sherri at her website: www.sherriwilsonjohnson.com
New Orleans, pralines from Southern Candymakers. Yummmmm buttery goodness!
Destin, FL with fish tacos, please 🙂 I love a slow, uncluttered vacation!
I love a slow, uncluttered vacation too! And if it’s on the Gulf, all the better. 🙂
I love to vacation in Nicaragua where my husband is from & I love to eat quesillos (warm tortillas wrapped around soft white cheese, with onions that have soaked in vinegar & cream on top).
Holly, our church just left today for a mission trip to Nicaragua. I’d love to go someday. Those quesillos sound amazing!
My favorite spot to vacation is anywhere in Colorado. The scenery, food and relatives are always enjoyed.
Lori, my daughter just returned from Colorado and she said the same thing. I hope to go there someday!
We like to travel to lots of places….
*We took a special day trip to Magic Kingdom: we all had a great time and enjoyed the Dole Pineapple Whip ice cream. Yum!
*We also like “roughing it” and cooking hot dogs and s’mores over a campfire.
Thanks for the opportunity. 🙂
Amy, I love Disney and that Dole Pineapple Whip ice cream sounds amazing!!! Thanks so much for leaving a comment. 🙂
Congratulations, Amy! You’re the winner! We’ll send you an email to get your info. 🙂
Our favorite vacation spot for 35 years is camping at Carpinteria Beach in CA. And reading a good book on the beach is my favorite activity. My favorite food is chips and salsa on the beach with a nice glass of wine. Does that count? Lol
Debbie, camping is my husband’s favorite way to vacation too. We’re hoping to get a teardrop camper and to hit Route 66 for our 30th anniversary! Chips and salsa on the beach totally counts!
My favorite place to vacation is North Carolina. We love taking the motorcycle to the Outer Banks and then travel west to Black Mountain to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway. I am a huge fan of salted caramel and dark chocolate. What’s not to love?!
And….I’d love to win a copy of your book!
Lauri, oh, the Outer Banks. I’ve never been, but I’ve seen plenty of Nicholas Sparks’ movies and the place is gorgeous. Salted caramel and dark chocolate? Oh, I’m going to have to try that next. Thanks so much for leaving a comment.
I love to vacation in Branson. We go to Silver Dollar City. But some day I would love to go to a beach. I have never been. My favorite thing to get at SDC is Salt water taffy.
Patti, I hope you are able to go to the beach somewhere someday. It’s so beautiful. I love salt water taffy too! Thanks for stopping by!
Your book sounds like a great read! My favorite place to vacation is in Negril, Jamaica. They have the most beautiful sunsets on this 7 mile beach. I like to eat jerk chicken there.
Debra, Jamaican sunsets are gorgeous! I went there three years ago on a mission trip. I loved the jerk chicken and surprised myself with how much I loved the curry goat. 😉 Thanks for leaving a comment.
Vacation… any beach!
Snack… chocolate, praline, caramel 😉
Your book sounds great!
Sally, you’re right about the beach. Anywhere at all is good as long as there’s a beach! And you’re right on when it comes to snacks. Anything caramel wins in my book. That’s for leaving a comment to win the book. 🙂
We love to go to Destin, FL. Our favorite treat is to go on Friday’s at lunch to Fat Clemenza’s which is when they serve their fried calzones. Super fattening and delicious!
Heather, the Gulf is so beautiful, isn’t it?! Those fried calzones sound amazing. I’m going to have to try one!
The North Shore of Lake Superior here in MN is our family favorite for vacations. No favorite ice cream spots, but there is Betty’s Pies and we can alway toast marshmallows over a campfire! Personally, I’m a die hard Haagen Daas gal!
I’ve always wanted to go to the Great Lakes. And bring on the pies and the marshmallows!
Arizona -Grand Canyon, Tucson,Sedona andlove the Navajo Bread.
Terri, the Grand Canyon is on my list! The Navajo bread sounds awesome. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Growing up I spent many a summer vacation traveling from Texas to Panama City Beach, Florida to visit my grandparents at their beach house for a week. The sound of a little table top fan or the smell of coconut suntan lotion still brings back wonderful nostalgic memories of too much sun, sand and surf. One of my favorite things I always looked forward to that we pretty much only did that once a year was going out to eat and ordering a fried shrimp dinner. Mmmm.
Lisa, P.C. is one of our favorite spots. Have you ever been to St. Andrews? It’s a beautiful park with a jetty and a shallow place to swim. So much fun. I love fried shrimp too. Sadly, I’m now allergic. 🙁 Thanks for leaving a comment.
Not necessarily my favorite vacation spot but have gone back specifically for homemade ice cream and homemade waffle cones at The Ice Cream Shop in Pagosa Springs, Co. And I’m a Texas girl.
Now that must be some really great ice cream to take you back to a spot that’s not necessarily your favorite. If I ever get out that way, I’ll have to try The Ice Cream Shop.
A little cabin on the woods, with plenty of ice cream!
Yes! Anything with ice cream!
I love going to New York City and eating hot pretzels sold on the street!
Nothing like a fresh hot salted pretzel! New York is on my list of places to visit… Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
My favorite place to vacation is with my family on the beach. The first thing we do is find a place to get ice cream. We love to try a different flavor every day!
Angie, I’m the same way. Beach and then ice cream. I like to try a different flavor every day too.
Israel, Galilee region and Old City Jerusalem, favorite treat is frozen coffee from Roma Cafe.
Would love to go to Israel! Frozen coffee is another favorite. I guess you could say I like anything sweet. 🙂
My favorite place to vacation is backpacking with my husband in Glacier National Park, Montana, and there’s no better pizza to us than at Moose’s Saloon in Kalispell!
Montana…another spot on my list! And I love pizza too. 🙂
I actually love “vacationing” back in my home town and eating at Runza and getting cookies from the best cookie bakery ever, Eileen’s!
Michelle, going home is always a treat! And the cookies sound great too. 🙂
My favorite place to vacation is Top Sail Island off the North Carolina coast. We only go there every couple of years since we live up North. I love to walk the beach and visit the Turtle hospital there where they rescue hurt sea turtles. I love ic cream especially Cherry Vanilla and anything with Coconut. My favorite food is fresh Shrimp caught off the coast.
I’ve never been to the North Carolina coast but we’ve been to the South Carolina coast and it’s all so beautiful. I love that you visit the turtle hospital. I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it a million times: there’s almost nothing greater than ice cream. 🙂
Tillamook, OR where they have licorice flavored ice cream. The kind we used to get growing up was black, but this is still wonderful. The Oregon coast is the BEST place to vacation!
My daughter took a vacation to Oregon last year and said it was gorgeous. She did the Washington, Oregon and California coasts and then stopped in to stay with Kathi for two nights. 🙂 I’ve never been a fan of licorice, but I might be tempted to try it if it’s in the form of ice cream.
Wisconsin Dells and they have Blue Moon ice cream there (it’s blue and is kind of cherry flavored). Thank you!
That ice cream sounds amazing! I might have to travel up north and try it out. 🙂
My favorite place to vacation is Las Vegas. Specifically in the lazy river at Mandalay Bay. No one can reach me there and I can actually relax!!
Jamie, that sounds amazing! A true vacay!
My favorite place to vacation is at a lake or the beach. I like tourist places-Disneyland, historical places, but being in nature in mush more relaxing.
I love the beach but have to admit that a beautiful lake or a mountain cabin is quite relaxing!
My favorite place to vacation is the beach.
The waves are relaxing.
I like to eat ice cream in a waffle cone and walk on the beach.
Jennifer, walks on the beach and ice cream in a waffle cone? THE BEST!
I went to Ventura, CA last fall for the first time. Enjoyed being at the ocean, the sea air, wineries, laid back environment & yummy food. We had lunch at a farm to fork restaurant where I enjoyed their fruit & cheese platter. When we return this fall, I’ll be going back for the same dish. P.S. I enjoy ice cream too. Found a place in Ventura and got my usual…mint chip.
Kim, take me with you!!! 😉
My favorite place to vacation is Branson, MO because we have a beautiful time share there and our son and daughter-in-love and their four sons go with us. The treat I look forward to most is the candied almonds at the Sight and Sound theater. I would love to win a copy of your book!
Phyllis, aren’t times with the grown kids so great? I’ve never been to Branson but I went to Kansas City, MO when I was a teen. The candied almonds sound great! Thanks for leaving a comment to win the book. 🙂