Task it Tuesday - Dec 22

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

How quickly the year is passing. It has been quite a year. I hope you have been able to count some blessings along the way. My hope is after tomorrow, I will be taking a few days off to spend time with my kids. Despite all of us being home, we don't always have a chance to do things like play games or sit down to supper together. 

Here is what my to-do list looks like:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking five days
• Market new edition of A Christmas Kindness
• Send out family and friends holiday cards
• Blog at Christian Children's Authors and 4RV Reading, Writing, & Art News
• Look into a new publisher for my GAP books--moving to January 2021
• Look into getting a small dumpster--moving to January 2021
• Put up the last tree and put out my Santa and angel collections
• Bake something special
• Wrap remaining gifts
• Play a board game with the kids
• Read, write, or both

This may be my last post before Christmas, so I want to wish all of you a blessed holiday.

Task it Tuesday - Nov 3

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome to the first Tuesday of November and election day if you live in the United States. I will be taking my daughter out to vote for the first time. This has been one of the most divisive races in my life. I will be glad to see it over; though I doubt we will know the winner for days. 

Here was my list from last week.

• Daily Bible reading--DONE
• Walking three days--DONE
• MassSave Audit Tuesday--DONE
• Meetings Wednesday--DONE
• Media interview Thursday--DONE
• Finish editing two chapters for a client--Almost done
• Come up with marketing plan for the new edition of A Christmas Kindness--Not yet, but I have ideas
• Look into getting a small dumpster--won't happen, but need to keep it on the list
• Continue reading Systemology--Almost done
• Continue reading The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street--DONE
• Start looking into a new publisher for three of my books--won't happen, but need to keep it on the list
• Plan to be off Friday--Not a chance

I've begun thinking of my business plan for 2021 and what I want my goals to look like. Because of some things that came up unexpectedly, I need to focus on what I can realistically accomplish next year. 

This is what I am looking to accomplish this week:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking five days
• Board meeting Tuesday
• Blog Tour Wednesday
• Marketing class Friday
• Finish yard work for the season
• Showings Saturday
• Take Sunday off
• Finish editing two chapters for a client
• Come up with marketing plan for the new edition of A Christmas Kindness
• Finish reading Systemology and review it
• Look into a new publisher for my GAP books--probably won't happen, but want to keep it on the list
• Look into getting a small dumpster--won't happen, but want to keep it on the list
• Prospecting two days

That's it for this week. Hope you'll share your to-do list for the week. I love to motivate people because it motivates me, too.

Task it Tuesday - Nov 26

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

We are back to Tuesday. Thanksgiving is here this week, so there are a few things to accomplish for that. I'm looking forward to having family at our house. Here is my list:

1. Daily Bible reading. 
2. Exercise twice 
3. Get 6 hours of sleep at least 5 nights  
4. Start editing a new manuscript on Wednesday
5. Blog
6. Complete four more pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness 
7. Wash floors on Wednesday
8. Make squash on Wednesday
9. Thursday - Enjoy family and cooking
10. Friday - Recover from Thanksgiving (LOL!) 
11. Write a chapter of Amelia's Mission
12. Start 2020 Business Plan

So far so good on my list. Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Task it Tuesday - Nov 19

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Last week and this week have been productive. I'm committed to ending the year strong.

Here is this week's task list:

1. Daily Bible reading - not quite
2. Exercise twice - not even close 
3. Get 6 hours of sleep at least 5 nights - maybe 3 nights
4. Start editing a new manuscript - not yet
5. Blog - yep
6. Complete two pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness - yes
7. Prepare for a closing - yes, closed today

One project that wasn't on the list was cleaning my office closet and organizing all my books. That took a while, but it's done.

This week's list:

1. Daily Bible reading. I'm two days behind. (Hear me sighing now.)
2. Exercise twice (Want to bet on this one?)
3. Get 6 hours of sleep a night - not on Sunday or Monday
4. Start editing a new manuscript - should happen
5. Blog - definitely
6. Complete two pages of additional content for A Christmas Kindness - already done and have done two more. Only 14 more pages to go.

What are you hoping to accomplish this week?

Mailbox Monday - April 15

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Welcome to Monday! It is tax return day, so the post office will be busy. I am dropping off ours and the in-laws' returns. I don't relish it, but it must be done. The Lil' Diva and I are also wrapping up the college tours today. We think she has already decided, but we want to check out the last one on her accepted list.

This was a nice weekend. I started my barre workout program. They are 10 minute workouts, so I should be able to fit those in. I also planted the early spring vegetables this Saturday. The hubby and I joined his father at the veterans appreciation dinner that night as well. It was Palm Sunday today, so we went to the new church (still not sure if it will be our permanent place) and the pastor gave a wonderful message on how Christ's death and resurrection means the devil is defeated, but he just can't accept it. Spiritual warfare is one of my favorite topics.

I'm not reading as much lately. Partially because work has been busy, but also because I'm tired all the time. I've got an appointment with the pulmonary department now that they have discovered I have mild sleep apnea.

Here is what my mailbox held last week.

I also bought this book with an Amazon credit. 

That's it from my neck of the woods. Hope you'll share what was in your mailbox. Enjoy your week.

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - Oct 3

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

My niece/goddaughter is getting married this month. I'm so excited for her. Saw her FB post today talking about stressful wedding planning and it reminded me how my sisters told me I was so calm when planning my wedding. I guess if you date a guy for 11 years, you kind of have it all set in your mind by the time you get engaged. And honestly, it's just one day out of the rest of your lives. You want it to be special, but how can you enjoy it if you've driven yourself batty?

Sleeping hasn't been great lately. I hear insomnia is part of menopause, but I've never been a great sleeper. At least the hot flashes come less often...especially if I keep the stress level down.

I'm trying to find a way back into my exercise schedule. Not feeling very motivated right now.

Inquiring minds want to know: tub or shower? I prefer soaking in my jetted tub. That's usually where I read and it helps relax me before bed. It's been mostly showers for me lately. Maybe that's why I'm struggling with sleep.

Meeting one of my sisters for breakfast this week. Need to reconnect with two friends for lunch one day soon.

Reviewing 2012

I'm a big fan of setting goals and writing to-do lists. It's the only way I can accomplish all I have to do. This time of year, I sit back and reflect on how I've done. I'm also starting to put together goals for 2013.

Personal Goals

• Going Green - I wanted to make more of an effort this year to reduce our family's carbon foot print. My goal was to cut our trash down to two bags a week, in addition to changing cleaning products around the house. How did we do? Not a total failure. I donated more and recycled more than usual. I hit the two bag goal some weeks, but most of the time it was three bags. I switched from chemical disinfecting wipes, but the horrible smell was a deterrent. I ended up going back to my usual brand. I have, however, stopped using some of those disposable wipes for cleaning and instead use washable towels.
• Participate in reading challenges - I decided to participate this year in four reading challenges at The Book Connection. I completed the 2012 EBOOK CHALLENGE, but will fall short on all the others. Because I was so busy this year, my reading time was greatly reduced. I usually catch up while we are in North Carolina, but since the family joined us for a good portion of the vacation, and because the hubby came down with pink eye and couldn't drive much going home, I didn't read the ten or so books I normally do. I've still managed to read 118 books between my two main blogs: The Book Connection and The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. This is around 50 less than in 2011 and around 55 less than in 2010. My hope is to catch up in 2013, so I can open my blogs up to new requests again.
• Blog five days a week - Well, I wanted to, but with running so many blogs, it's just not possible to make sure I blog here or there every week day. I would actually like to expand the reach of my Christian book blog, but that will all depend on whether or not I find a job outside my home.
• Eat healthier - Ha, ha, ha. I keep saying it. I know I need to do it. I just don't like it. I'm getting older, and eating a more balanced diet will be important to me staying healthy. I guess it's just too easy to snack too often when I'm home by myself. I still plan to work on this goal next year.
• Exercise more - Here's another funny one. I hate exercise, but right now I can't stand to look at my body in a mirror. I'm only out of shape in the middle, and I'm not even considered overweight, but I am 20 pounds heavier than I used to be. I'm hoping Santa will bring me an exercise bike to get started.

Professional Goals

• Seek representation - Being represented by an agent is one of my dreams. I love the small presses that I've dealt with so far, but I want to move forward in my career. I met with an agent this year at a writers conference, even though I knew she didn't represent Christian children's fiction. I still feel it's good experience to talk to an agent face-to-face. I couldn't afford to travel to a Christian writers conference, so I chose the local one I usually attend. I'm praying I'll be able to swing at least one Christian writers conference next year. In the meantime, I'll start sending out more email and snail mail queries in 2013.
• Submit two manuscripts - I submitted one, which is now under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing. It will be my second book with them, but my third children's book when it is released. No date on that yet, but hopefully my new book, A Christmas Kindness, will be out soon.
• Finish Amelia's Mission - I love this historical middle grade novel I've been working on, but research became an obstacle. There are fourteen rough chapters completed, but I didn't get any further. The good news is that I think I've finally performed the right type of research to bring the rest of the story to life. Maybe I'll be able to complete the first draft in 2013. 
• Find a job - If this were 1987 or 1997, I would have three job offers by now. When I decided to stop working on book tours to concentrate on finding a job outside the home, I knew it would be tough. I've been home for nine years, and while I've kept up my skills, working for someone else is very different than working for another person. It's hard to give up a flexible schedule. I'm not sure what 2013 looks like in this area, but hopefully God will guide me in the right direction.

What were your goals for 2012? How did you do? 

Taking Time for Mom Thursdays

Taking Time for Mom Thursday is here. Thanks goodness because I need the stress relief reminder. I've had an overwhelming schedule this week and next week will be busier. Ugh.

I'm really not much into exercise. I know I should be, especially at my age, but man, if I have to cram one more thing into my schedule right now I think I'll lose it. Each year about this time, I say to myself, I will make a plan once the weather gets warmer to walk three mornings a week. It never happens. I manage for the first week, but after that the hermit in me takes over and I sit at my computer and work all day.

I was just whining about my schedule to one of my writing friends, but I honestly have no one else to blame but me. I started two new blogs. I'm posting five days a week at two of them. I have virtual book tours to work on. I run two critique groups and I volunteer at church.I'm trying to squeeze in a bit of writing too--when I'm not playing mommy and wife, that is. What was I thinking? No really needs to be more a part of my vocabulary.

But, back to exercise. The benefits are numerous. It:

• Controls your weight,
• Combats health conditions and diseases,
• Gives you more energy,
• Helps you sleep, and
• Improves your mood.*

Exercise, like any other life-changing activity, requires time to adjust. If I decided on January 1st to begin a regular exercise routine (at least 15 minutes, 5 days a week), I know I am going to fail. Why? Because I'm not currently doing anything in the way of exercise. Committing to that big of a change is crazy. So, here's what I'll do. I will agree that on March 1st, I will walk twice a week for a minimum of 20 minutes. This will allow me to choose days where the weather is nicer and also will get me more exercise than I am getting now. If it works out, then I can increase the length of my walks or the number of days I walk. Once I am comfortable with this, I should be able to add other forms of exercise to my schedule.

How about you? Do you have an exercise routine? Did you make a New Year's resolution in 2012 to exercise more? If you did, how has that been going?


* This list taken from an article by the Mayo Clinic staff.