2014 To-Do List

I guess it's that time of year again. The time when people vow to do better than what they did the year before, or when they make resolutions they have no intentions on keeping; but not this girl!

At the end of 2012, I came up with a list of things I wanted to accomplish in 2013. I actually completed 7 out of the 12 items that were on my list, but if I hadn't put a specific number on some of the items (i.e. complete 2 scrapbooks), I would have actually completed 10 of them.

For 2014, I've decided to create another checklist, but this time I'm not limiting myself to a specific amount…life throws us curve balls every now and then and we have to be ready for them! I know how busy my life can get, which is exactly why I won't be putting specifics on myself, unless it can't be avoided.

Here's my To-Do List for 2014, in no particular order: 

Work on a novel

Publish a novel

Attend Maryam's wedding

Attend one of Scott's games

Do yoga

Successfully complete squat challenge

Eat king cake

Watch more television movies

Go to the movie theater

Go to the casino

Complete a scrapbook

Raise at least $20 for New Orleans' American Kidney Foundation through GoodSearch

Start a Prayer Journal

Create inspiration board 

Blog as much as possible

Post more photos on Instagram

Buy a book on my wishlist

Read a novel that's not from my preferred genre

Get an A in at least one class

Bake something/make candy

Cook a dish

Try a new snack from a store

Have Family Game Night

Go to the gun range
Try a new food
Review more novels on NetGalley 

  Hopefully, my to-do list will inspire you to create your own to-do list. Feel free to share your list with me in the comments. Here's to a great year! 

My Father, My Unsung Hero

Today is the day that I take this time out to celebrate my Unsung Hero, my father. My father has always been my hero, but after these last two years of witnessing my father's strength, it has made me realize that I couldn't have picked a better hero. If anyone knows me, they know that I'm the definition of a daddy's girl. I've learned so many lessons from my dad, but here are my top 22 favorite lessons that I've learned:

22. How a real man is supposed to treat a lady (he treats my mom like the Queen that she is).

21. How to deal with whatever God throws my way.

20. Burping is NOT ladylike.

19. How to shout really loud during basketball and football games.

18. How to shoot a BB gun.

17. Westerns are really fun to watch (especially Bonanza).

16. How to stew a chicken (this was my first and last cooking lesson with him).

15. Never agree to drink coffee that comes with the bribe of $1 (he still owes me $1). 

14. How to be independent.

13. To believe in myself and my talent.

12. His favorite quote:  "If you don't mind do it, and if you do mind, do it anyway."!

11. Family is all that matters.

10. Nah unh is NOT a word!

9. Charlie Wilson is one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

8. That I beg too much (but he gives in)!

7. To cherish family every day because they can be here today and gone tomorrow.

6. How to mow the lawn.

5. Health should be your number one priority.

4. Water guns are definitely allowed in the house...unless mom finds out!

3. How to play pitty pat.

2. No matter how old I get, I will ALWAYS need my dad.

1. How to be a FIGHTER!

Happy Birthday, Dad! Thank you for being an amazing hero and an inspiration to all of us!

Prepping for NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo begins tomorrow, and I couldn't be happier. Although I'm still prepping, I couldn't feel more prepared than I already am. I always find it interesting to see how participating in NaNo will coincide with my everyday life. For example, last year was kind of hectic because I was in two writing classes, and it was my first time participating so I had no clue what to expect.

Now that I know what to expect, I was able to prepare a lot better, which brings me to the point of this post. This year I had a few apps to help me along the way.

Evernote

Pinterest

Polyvore

WordTracker (Which I'll start using on tomorrow to track my word count)

Spotify

I only have one more day to finish my chapter outline. I will try my hardest to blog at least once a week to update you on my NaNo status, but if I don't it's because NaNoWriMo has taken over. Wish me luck!!

Announcements!!

For the past couple of weeks I've been trying to come up with blog posts to write, but they were either too short or too dumb to post. Then a sudden spark of inspiration hit me, which led to this post. As my title promised, I have a couple of announcements to make.

The first announcement is that I will be participating in NaNoWriMo again. This will be my second year participating, and I cannot wait to start writing. This week I've been doing some major plotting for my novel, Beyond Their Beliefs, and I've been getting even more excited by the second! I've already interviewed both of my main characters, created my pinterest board of my dream cast, and came up with a playlist of the songs I'll be listening to as I work my way towards the 50,000 word finish line. I guess there's no question as to whether I'm a plotter or a pantser.

My next announcement is that I'll be hanging up my book reviewer title beginning January 1, 2014. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love reviewing novels, and I'll continue to do them for each and every novel and novella that I read, because I believe in helping authors out. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I won't be accepting as many reviews as I used to. Of course the authors I've gotten to know will always have a place on my blog with reviews and interviews, but in order to focus on my writing I have to learn how to cut back. Also, 2014 will be my senior year in college, and I already know that's going to take up majority of my time. So in 2014, I'll be focusing on my writing and my last year of college. 

I want to give special thanks to my family for supporting me (and not thinking I'm crazy when I live vicariously through my main characters)! I also want to thank a few authors who have inspired and encouraged me along the way, especially my Facebook family of Goddesses and the women at Marching Ink. Samantha March is the author who encouraged me to pursue my dream of being an author, unbeknownst to her. I also would like to thank Lacey Camy and Samantha Stroh Bailey. All of you ladies are so incredible, and I wish nothing but the best for y'all in the future!

The Meaning of True Love

As an Author, you often wonder what the meaning of true love is, or at least I do. Well, I used to, but not anymore. Today we celebrated my parents' 36th wedding anniversary. I've only been present for 22 years out of the 36 years they've been married, and I've learned so much from both of them. I wouldn't say that my parents have a fairy tale relationship. What they have is a forever kind of thing. 

One thing I admired, and still admire, about my parents' marriage is their unity. In our home, there was no such thing as getting one parent to go against the other one to get what we wanted. Somehow they were so in sync to the point where they could tell what the other one said.

A major life lesson I've learned about love, from my parents, is if you're going to be married, you must take your vows seriously. My parents vowed to love each other through sickness and in health.

Two years ago God put my parents to the ultimate test. My father was diagnosed with renal failure. He was hospitalized for what seemed like months, and my mom never left his side. A lot of people were shocked by this, but not me. Like I said, what they have is forever, and they did promise to love each other even through sickness.

The one thing I'm thankful for is that I didn't have to turn to fairy tales or movies to witness such a great love because I was raised in a home where my parents never stop showing or giving love. From sending anonymous cards to each other in the mail to saying, "I love you" every time they get off the phone with each other, what my parents have is special. I pray that I'll have as much success with my husband as my parents have with each other. 

Here are the top 10 things I've learned from my parents' marriage, that I'll eventually expect from my better half:

1. The true meaning of loving someone through sickness and his health.
2. Always share your coffee with whomever finishes their's first.
3. Always say "I love you" before getting off the phone with each other, even if you're in the same house, but different rooms.
4. It's okay to wake your spouse up if the weather is scary.
5. Always give your spouse a kiss before leaving the house.
6. Like all of the same movies and shows they like, if you don't, pretend that you do.
7. There is no such thing as mine and yours. . .it's ours. Unless it's coffee.
8. Sending an anonymous card in the mail for no reason (it'll definitely make your brothers-in-law want to step their game up).
9. You know you've found your better half when you've been married for 36 years and have NEVER had an argument.
10. There's no need to renew your vows if you got it right the first time.

So Happy 36th Anniversary to my wonderful parents. I know you'll have a lot more wonderful years to come!