"Just Because" Gift Idea: A Post by Nico Jaye!

 JUST BECAUSE Gift Idea: A Post by Nico Jaye

On days when I don't want to do much or when reading or writing just don't hold much appeal (yes, they exist – shocking, I know!), I plop in front of the TV with a movie and some yarn. Recently I discovered a new (and super easy) pattern, and a couple days later, I had a couple of new hats. Yay!

Here's the new hat that I made for Nico:

[Note from Penny: OH MY GOD! THIS IS ADORABLE!]

And here's the pattern I used to make it:

Snow Day Hat on the blog "A Beautiful Mess"

For my own hat, I used super chunky yarn (Hometown USA by Lion Brand, to be precise) in neon pink.

[Note from Penny: SQUEEEEE! Matching Hats! I LOVE IT!]

Homemade gifts are pretty nifty, and they're super budget friendly, too. You can give your homemade gift a professional touch by attaching custom name tags that say "Created by" or "Handmade by," which you can whip up on your computer or order online.

This eBay store has a bajillion stamp designs that you can customize. I've had my eye on this design for a while:

The cold days don't seem to be letting go, so maybe this little hat might help keep one of your loved ones (furry or otherwise) warm and toasty! =)

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From Penny: That is the CUTEST THING EVER! I wonder if Lucy and I could wear matching sweaters? Hmmm....

Thanks, Nico, for this great post! 

Ciao!

Penny

Review of THE WINTER COURTSHIP RITUALS OF FUR-BEARING CRITTERS by Amy Lane (A Nico Jaye Review!)

Review for The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters by Amy Lane

❆ A review by Nico Jaye ❆

Hi romance readers! I'm Nico Jaye, and I'll be popping into the site with some m/m (a.k.a. male/male) romance reviews.

With the holiday season coming up, Penny has me thinking about (i.e., drooling over) gingerbread men and peppermint spice lattes. I can't get enough! Ahhh! *slurps peppermint cocoa* *ahem* While Penny's in the midst of reading her Christmas-themed stories, I figured I'd swing by to share an m/m romance Christmas rec of my own. :)

Amy Lane's The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters is a cute, sweet, angst-free novella of adorable and yarnfully-awesome proportions.  It's filled with character, from the narrator Crawford's gruff ways to the gentle hand with which he cares for his alpacas to the titular courtship rituals he engages in to woo his new neighbor. I adored it and thought it was just the thing to snuggle up with for a nice little dose of winter holiday joy.

In the m/m romance world, Amy Lane is known for her angst-filled stories, and this novella is a nice break from that trend.  I'm definitely not an angsty reader—in fact, I'm pretty allergic to it – ACHOO!—and this one hit just the right mark for me. It's heartwarming, and, if you haven't read m/m romance before, then I think it'd be a great little introduction to the m/m romance world.  There's a sexytimes scene in it, but it's not terribly explicit.  It's also at a point in the story where you'll be celebrating that the two men finally got their signals in tune and opened their hearts to each other.  :)  In addition to two wonderful men finding love, you'll also read about quirky side characters, winter prep in the Colorado Rockies, and yarn-related awesomeness.  There may even be a scandalous knitting pattern included at the end of the book. ;)

This story was super sweet and lighthearted, and I look forward to enjoying it for many holidays to come. Hope you all are having a great holiday season! Keep an eye out for more m/m Christmas-y goodies from yours truly. :)

Making merry with menfolk under the mistletoe,

Nico

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Thanks so much, Nico, for this adorable review. This book sounds RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. I can't wait to read it!

(I am trying to imagine a scandalous knitting pattern...hmmmmm................)

Happy reading,

Penny