Happy 2025! The authors of Inspired by Life…and Fiction are offering a new weekly post featuring some of our favorite things. We hope you enjoy getting to know a little more about us—and we’d love to hear your answers to these “favorites” questions in the comments below.
Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving. I love the food, the togetherness, the focus on gratitude—and that the craziness of Christmas is not yet upon us! Plus, the weather is usually still fall-ish, and fall is by far my favorite season. Here’s a quick Instagram video recap of our 2024 Thanksgiving courtesy of my daughter Kelsey… Gracious, I love these people.
Favorite Vacation Spot: Hilton Head Island. I love HHI. My family has been going there for years. While I’m not a summer beach person (I’m a shade worshipper all the way), give me a long walk on a beach on a mild winter day with a hoodie and scarf—and maybe a hot caramel latte—and I’m in heaven. The crashing of the waves, the salty air, the vastness of God’s creation, then back to the condo for games or a movie—or just to watch the sunset—and I’m a happy girl. Oh, and don’t forget the yummy seafood!
Favorite Dessert: Currently? (Because there are many…) Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. Be still my heart. This is the best chocolate cake EVER. I’m serious. This checks all the boxes and is so easy. And the espresso powder takes it absolutely over the top! Recipe HERE.
Tamera Alexander
Latest posts by Tamera Alexander (see all)
- Tammy’s Favorites - January 5, 2025
- Doing life with these amazing people - December 17, 2024
- Snippets from Thanksgiving - December 3, 2024
Deborah Raney says
I want to know who folded the cloth napkins at your Thanksgiving table? So intricate and elegant!
Tamera Alexander says
That would be Kelsey! I still can’t find my napkins rings after the move. LOL
Becky D says
I love this idea of sharing favorites and learning more about the BEST authors!!! And, yes, that IS the BEST chocolate cake!! We’ve used that recipe for a few years now…so moist & chocolatey, and family members ask for it as their bday cake each time.
I still have to visit HHI; I’ve heard great things about it, and the beach is my favorite escape. Thank you so much for sharing with us!!! 🥰
Deborah Raney says
Awww, thank you Becky! We’re so glad you like the idea. There are more fun posts scheduled, so stay tuned on Sundays! (And weekdays, too, of course!)
Betty Strohecker says
Great idea.
I think I would have to pick Easter for my favorite holiday. I love Holy week and singing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” on Easter Sunday. Decorating Easter eggs and fixing Easter baskets. Easter egg hunts for children. Our granddaughter declared at 14, “There will always be an Easter egg hunt.” Great family time with little stress.
Favorite dessert would be my mother’s caramel cake – which NOBODY got the recipe for – so sad.
Vacation spot: Bar Harbor, Maine, with Carmel, CA coming in second.
Deborah Raney says
Oh, my! How sad that recipe was lost! I hope somebody in the family experiments to try to reproduce it!
And I have to agree about Bar Harbor! We were there this past fall and it is just lovely!
Deena Adams says
Great idea to share favorites!
My favorite holiday has to be Christmas. I love all the lights, special music, family gatherings, giving gifts, and most of all the focus on Jesus.
Favorite vacation is the beach. We visit Myrtle Beach every August with another couple and I love it. While our husbands play in a pastors golf tournament each day, my friend and I relax in the beach. In the evenings we go to dinner and shows and play games.
Favorite dessert is probably hot fudge brownies.
Joy says
How fun that we’ll get to know all of you a bit better!
My favorite holiday is Christmas. One of my favorite things ever is to give gifts! I love being able to search out something that says “I think you would love this!” (to be honest, I love giving gifts all year long… but Christmas just ramps up that dopamine for me)
My favorite vacation spot is at my sister’s in NC. That is the one place where I truly vacation – I sit at the pool or beach (in the off season) for days on end reading. I walk on the beach (in the off season – it’s way too hot in the summer). We have family dinner every night. We put together puzzles. All of my other vacations seem to be filled to the brim with things to do and see.
My favorite dessert is Tiramisu. It’s so light and fluffy! (and go figure because I’m not a coffee fan! LOL)