Editing's in the mail

OK, I realize that sounds just like what I tell creditors, only about checks, but I read the first edit of "Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone," and I have a few observations after putting the revisions in the mail.

One is that Jim, my publisher, is a really good editor. He saved me from myself a few times. Which is what good editors do.

Second is that having a book, while a blessing, is a little on the scary side for me. It is out of my comfort zone, which is a good thing. Staying in your comfort zone means you are not growing. I have my first signing scheduled, which is fun and terrifying at the same time.

Third, I haven't read through this book since last month, and before then, October. I still really like it. I hope others do, too.

And fourth, I need to get busy on the second book. I got out my handy dandy 2014 planner and figured out how much I need to get done each week to beat my deadline. It's doable.

2014 is going to be a great year. A really busy one, one that will be a little cray-cray at times, but a year that's got plenty of excitement and joy and laughter in store! Many thanks to all who supported my dreams this year before I wrote the first word, and wishing you all a blessed 2014!

Editing party!

This weekend, there's going to be a big party. Two guests.

Me and the first book. It's an editing party. It may go for days.

"Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone" is going to be read through again. My publisher, Jim Dickerson of Sartoris Literary Group, has gone through and worked his magic. I've had that version a few days, but things have been busy at the newspaper, so I pushed the editing party to the weekend, when I am not taking away from other projects and not letting other projects take away from this.

I'm getting up early, making coffee and plan to be all over it.

Sometimes you have to plan the work out like that. Block off the time. Check.

Now to just make it happen.

Editing away!

My publisher, Jim Dickerson of Sartoris Literary Group, just got me a copy of my first book to look over. He's edited it once and gave it a big thumbs up, so I am, in Southern-speak, tickled! Woohoo!

"Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone" will be released in April.

I am going to have a hard time not jumping up and down in the newsroom today. Happiness!

And a big thank you to Jim and all those who have been an encouragement to me since I started on this journey back in the summer. Keep on encouraging, because I'm gonna need it, and know that I thank God for you every morning.

And I'm going to have to get to work on the editing of this one and the writing of the second book. It's a lot to do, but it feels more like playing than working!

How to do it all

I had a friend ask me how I do the stuff I do.

My answer is, "Heck if I know."

Number one is that I don't get everything done that I want to get done. If I did, that second book would be finished by now. I'm a good 6,000 words behind where I would like to be.

Number two is that I think the important stuff always gets done. Because it is important.

The rest of the stuff we fit in. It's like the oft-told management story of the glass jar, the rocks, the pebbles and the sand. The way to fit everything in is to take care of the big rocks, the important stuff, first. Those can be your family, job, health. Whatever you want them to be. Then you put in the pebbles. Those can be a committee meeting at church or a PTA meeting. Whatever is kind of important but not important enough to be a big rock.Then there's the sand. It just sort of fits in around the nooks and crannies of the other stuff. Sand might represent watching TV alone -- not super important to me.

One way to fit in big rocks is to put them in first. I am happy to say that, although holiday stuff and time with those I love took up a lot of my writing time this weekend, I was up and writing about 6 a.m. today. I need to put that big rock in earlier tomorrow. My hope is to log in 25,000 words before Jan. 1. Can you tell I studied project management in grad school?

That's a lot of rocks, though, so here is the last tip until I think of some more. It is to consistently put the rocks in the jar. Every day. I totally need to work on this.

One of my favorite books on getting it all done is "First Things First," by Stephen Covey. I read it in my early 30s when I was working hard, caring for aging parents and young children and generally wearing myself out. It was a game changer for me.

Progress bit by bit is still progress

This week we got our Christmas decor up a step at a time.

Lights last night, tree two days ago and ditto the stockings. I still have to put out the holiday placemats, but that's coming.

Same with the second book. I have had schedule changes to deal with, so I have been getting up early on a more regular basis to write, even if it is less than 30 minutes. A hundred words here, 200 there. Progress is progress. I learned while finishing a master's degree while working full time and being a single parent that you have to take your spare minutes seriously. Fit in work when you can.

So right now, I am at 17,000 words and, although I am not on my original work schedule for the second book (can you tell that my master's was in project management?), I am happy about where it is.

The first book is in the proofing stage. And I have a meeting with my publisher, Jim Dickerson of Sartoris Literary Group, today.

So step by step. And about that Ryan Gosling meme, I don't get writer's block often or for very long. Usually I sit down and within 10 or 15 minutes the words flow and I write for a while. Then I don't want to get up except that by then it is usually nearing 7 a.m. and kids have to go to school and I have to go to the newspaper gig.

I think most of success is just showing up. Even if it is for 30-45 minutes at a time.

Being cheap at Christmas

I have an ugly Christmas tree.

It's true. I got it seven years ago. My cats have done their dead level best to destroy it. I have cemented it into a tree stand, and although it was prelit, I have covered it with lights since the lights it came with no longer work.

I am going to try to get one more Christmas out of it, though. I just need more lights. And if I drink enough eggnog, it will start looking better. Instead of beer goggles, it will be noggles.

The tree was priced at $29 and came with a wreath, so not counting the wreath, it comes to about $4 and change per year. But if I keep it next year, the price drops in the $3-a-year range. It's looking better already!

See, anybody with a checkbook can have a great-looking Christmas tree. Christmas-onomics happens when you are a journalist by trade (i.e., not one of your higher-paying gigs) and a writer on the side. Plus, it gets to be a game with me. How far can I stretch that buck without being a total tightwad?

It's that and I like to splurge on some things. My Dear Son laughs at my $3 and change-a-can coffee, but I will gladly plunk down some cash when all the family's together for a dinner out. I will wear pumps from Target to the office, but $100 Adidas when I run (cheaper than an injury or a heart attack).

The more I look at it, the more I like it. The cats can't do anything more to it than they already have, and it is impossible to knock over since it is stuck in a tree stand filled with 20 pounds of cement.

And there's an ornament for each of us. A guitar for one Dear Son, a mortarboard from when the oldest Dear Son graduated from high school, a basketball for the youngest Dear Son and a princess for the Dear Daughter. She hates it because she is not into princesses like when I bought that ornament when she was 5.
And for me, a little figure of Gina from "Dennis the Menace" because I sort of look like a grown-up version of her, only with the same hair.

That tree's looking better and better.

Getting it together

There was a funny old saying: "Once I got it together, I forgot where I put it."

And I do have those days. I have days when I can't remember why I went from one room to another, or crazy days at the day job editing and days where I am so far behind where I would like to be on my second book.

But there are things that, if I do them, make me feel like I have at least part of life together. I was talking with a friend about this the other day ... when parts of life are together, you somehow feel like the rest of it is in place.

Understand that the Food Network is not coming to my house, nor are the Southern Living photographers. I do not have an immaculate home and our meals aren't gourmet. But these things do make me feel like everything else will turn out OK.

• Coffee in the maker before I go to bed. Then all I have to do is turn the coffee maker on first thing and voila: coffee. A shake of cinnamon in the grounds is a nice touch, or a spoonful of hot chocolate mix stirred into my coffee mug. Mmmmmmm.
• A loaded Crock Pot. I do write a lot about these little appliances, but they are a mother/editor/writer's best friend. Load them and then do whatever. Dinner will be ready. We had peas and mashed potato casserole left over from Thanksgiving, so I popped in some rolls last night and put a meatloaf into the Crock Pot. Dinner was super easy, which was good because I had a couple of stories to write that afternoon at the day job.
• Dishes in the dishwasher. A pile of dishes in the sink just drives me crazy. I could have the rest of the house in trainwreck mode, but having an empty kitchen sink makes me feel better. Weird, but true.
• Making my bed. Yes, I know I will mess it right back up at night, but getting in a made bed just feels fresh. 
• Getting up early. If I can get going about 5 or 5:30, I have the bathroom to myself before the kids get up. I have time to dress and not be in a hurry. I can write on my other day job, the super early one of writing books, for a good 45 minutes to an hour. I can drink my coffee and eat breakfast. And I am awake and in good shape when it is time for my kiddos to get going. If I don't get that time, I feel like I am running behind the rest of the day.
• Clothes in the wash. They don't have to be put away, but I feel better about life if my kids have clean folded blue jeans and there are fresh, folded towels in the bathroom.

What home chores make you feel better once you do them?

Back to normal ... sort of

We're eating leftovers now. The kids are back in school, be it middle school or college. I am working away on a Monday morning.

Life is getting back to normal, sort of. It's that post-Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday, we're now in Advent sort of normal.

Christmas lights are up around my neighborhood. Football kept me from putting mine up first this year.

I got out Sunday with one of my besties to walk off some of the food I ate. Thanksgiving is just a hard holiday when you are trying to maintain the size you got down to. It's the only holiday when it is socially acceptable to eat two pieces of pie in one sitting. We walked for an hour and a half, which ought to burn off more than a celery stick.

I have already started shopping for Christmas gifts, which is not the manic rush it used to be. Some of my kids are getting stuff and others are getting money. That part gets easier as the kids get older. That makes up for the schedule craziness that you get when your children are grown. Instead of working around your own work schedule, you are working around multiple school and work schedules. But that is OK, because it is nice they are employed.

I didn't write as much as I would have liked, and that needs to change, but I am stubborn about putting people ahead of writing projects. A book isn't worth missing out on time with those I love. Today, it also wasn't worth getting out of bed, because I slept through my early morning writing time.

But I've now had my coffee, and I have my to-do list. So it's time to get busy. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been a busy week, no, wait, a busy month! I've been a print journalist for longer than I haven't been one, and I can tell you that it is nothing short of amazing that writers and editors can stand holidays at all. Holidays mean early deadlines and cray-cray weeks, just to get a day off.

Then if you are also a mom, you're doing the holiday stuff at home, too. And no matter how many times you go shopping during the holidays for special meals, you will always forget something. Always.

But in the midst of all this craziness, newspaper deadlines, book deadlines, kids out of school, family coming to visit, there is so much to be thankful for. By the way, blessings usually come disguised as a busy schedule.

I've personally been blessed far more than I deserve, with loved ones who know me better than I know myself sometimes and yet they love me anyway. I have a house that's a fixer-upper, but it's a great house and I love living there. My editors and publishers get me excited about what I do every day, and I have a church family that's pretty darned close to a family family.

To you and yours, a happy, safe and blessed Thanksgiving!

Being a good writer ...

I'm not sure I have hit the "good" stage yet. But it's like being a runner or being anything else. If you do the activity, then you are what you do. Run a few steps, you're a runner. Write, and you're a writer. Do the mom things, and you're a mom. And chances are, you do these things enough, and you are good at them.

The trick, though, is to not get distracted.

And dang, but the internet is just so good that that. Facebook. Holy cow. Facebook. If Facebook had existed when I was in college, I'd have never graduated. Who am I kidding? I would have never gotten out of high school.

I should be thankful that Facebook did not exist then, as there are no selfies of me taken in dirty bathrooms with me sporting 1980s hair and tacky clothing with enormous shoulder pads.

And Pinterest. I pin up recipes, and then order pizza because I was too busy pinning recipes to cook.

Thank God I have not gotten into Instagram and Twitter so much. Just a few Tweets here and there. Otherwise, I'd have to give up sleeping and drinking coffee, which occupy the yin and yang parts of my life.

Anyhoo, I am working on the second book, which is focused on things I am totally awesome at, love and money. Just kidding. I tend to be fairly bad at both. It's a cautionary tale. So far, I'm enjoying the journey and writing as much as the day job allows by getting up at 0-dark-hundred to get that writing time in.

And I had to share this awesome meme, from the blog http://allmeanssomething.wordpress.com.

Nothing like a deadline

I was reading an article last night about having deadlines.

I'm an editor by trade, so I am all about some deadlines. There is nothing like a deadline to make me get going. No deadline, no focus.

Anyhow, this was a story about losing weight. The writer was saying that losing that 5 or 10 pounds can be done faster if you have a deadline, like, say, a class reunion, a wedding, a vacation or swimsuit season.

That's interesting, because I am heading into the holiday season with 5 pounds I want gone. I do not want to be looking at them and 15 of their friends come Jan. 1.

So I have a meal bar in my purse and will pick up some fruit to supplement around lunchtime. And I hope that I do not veer off to the Mickey D's on the way to the Kroger for my healthy stuff.

These deadline thoughts are good, because if you have a smart plan that's realistic and can be broken into baby steps, then you will meet your deadline. By the way, I have a May 1 deadline on my second book. I was up and writing at 6 a.m. and need to do a lot more of that to meet this deadline since I have a rich personal life and a full plate at the office, but I'm not in the business of missing deadlines.

Baby steps. Take a few of those toward the deadlines you set. You'd be surprised at how far a baby step will take you. And here is a link to that article: Weight Loss

Mixing and mingling

It is Monday, and I need to go to work to get some rest. Had great fun over the weekend and late last week, and got some writing in, but we've had something literally every night for nearly a week! The calendar at our place has been full!

Wednesday: Church night

Thursday: Screen on the Green showing at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The Clarion-Ledger and the Gannett Foundation showed "Monty Python and The Holy Grail," and it was a blast. We were handed coconut shells to make the horse sounds. Gotta love an interactive movie.

Friday: Ice skating at media night at Christmas on Ice in Madison. One of the perks of being a journalist. This evens out when election night and early holiday deadlines happen.

Saturday: Going with the Gentleman Friend to see our kids at the Mississippi State-Alabama game. He had his two daughters there, and my middle Dear Son was there with his sweet girlfriend.

Sunday: Church, then a trunk show at my friend Katie's for Noonday Collection, which has some really cool and socially responsible accessories. Got a jump on Christmas shopping. Then I took our rotten but lovable dog for a long walk and got the kids off to UMYF. We were hosting all the kids from the East and West Jackson districts, so big gathering for pizza and worship. Meanwhile, I got to enjoy a dinner out with the Gentleman Friend before the fun continued with a middle-school girl sleepover. Don't worry ... they went to bed at a fairly reasonable hour and got up on time. I made the kiddos chocolate chip muffins and got them on the bus.

And ... wait for it ... Sartoris Literary Group sent me a contract for my second book over the weekend. Now I just have to finish writing it!

Be nice to yourself

Being nice to ourselves is one thing we moms don't do well.

We take care of everyone else from the minute our feet hit the floor to the second they are back under the covers, and I do remember quite a few years where my "me" time was spent sleeping.

What I realized was that we have to take ourselves and put us at the top of the list. When we're rested and feeling good, then we can be our best for all those we love. We're better parents, better partners, better coworkers and generally nicer to be around.

This week has been crazy. I have not gotten as much writing time as I would like on the second book, we've had early holiday deadlines to deal with at the day job and I know that I need to get my act together as far as hosting our family Thanksgiving.

You never need yourself to be nice to yourself more than during a busy week. Write that down.

So today, I sprinkled some cinnamon in the coffee grounds before I brewed it, and now I have a nice big travel mug of cinnamon coffee with me at my desk.

My hands felt dry so I got out the really nice lotion and moisturized all the way up to my elbows. And I took 15 minutes to read before battling traffic. And I decided that I will not beat up on myself for not being Wonder Woman every second. And I let myself sleep a little later than normal (and everyone still got to school and work on time!).

These were little things that didn't cost a dime this morning, but they made me feel better. Figure out what makes you feel better and do it, especially during these stressful holidays. Your family will thank you.

Comfort food and wake-up cats

So last night at our house, it was Poppyseed Chicken night. All you Methodists will probably stop reading now, because this is a frequently seen recipe at just about any church gathering or potluck. I think it is nearly impossible to be a member of a United Methodist church for any length of time without eating this at least once and/or making a batch for anyone who's sick or having a family emergency.

It's easy. It freezes well. It's not expensive. It is comfort food. There is just about nothing not to love about Poppyseed Chicken, and it is also a huge favorite with my kids and their friends. If I make a batch, they will all but lick the casserole dish.

So here it is, and I suspect this will be seeing us through quite a few evenings as I work on being a features editor by day and an author in the early morning hours.

Boil a pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders. Chop or shred. Meanwhile, mix a cup of sour cream with a can of cream of chicken soup and 1-2 tsp. of poppyseeds. Mix in cooked chicken. Crush about a sleeve or so of Ritz crackers and mix this with about 2-3 Tbsp. of melted butter. Sprinkle over the chicken mixture, which has been poured into a casserole dish.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Or don't bake, cover with foil and freeze to thaw and bake later.

My kids love this so much that the oldest Dear Son once ate some before it was baked. And pronounced it delicious. I told him it is much better when it has cooked!

So after a plate of this and some green beans, I konked out before 9 p.m. Only to be awakened by our cat Honey. She wants me to succeed in writing so to get me up and going at 5 a.m., she bit me. That's some love. Either that or she wanted cat food.

Just do it, already

So Friday night, I get a text from my publisher that he likes the premise of my second book.

Hooray! Being a Sartoris Literary Group author is something that makes me want to jump up and down and squeal like the middle-school girl who lives in my psyche somewhere.

Now I just need to finish writing the second book.

It's a daunting thing, taking on a big project. I have several that are at least in my mind or farther. The Gentleman Friend and I have some going on at the house that probably will not happen until after the holidays as I don't want to tear the kitchen and upstairs bath up until then, and I have been wanting to redo the Dear Daughter's room only to repaint the walls, sew curtains and hang shelves will first involve cleaning the room to the point where the floor shows. And that is a big project.

I promised her the redo if she would clean the room first. Hasn't happened.

But here is the deal. Sometimes you look at a project and think it will take forever. And it really just takes an hour.

Or you take on a project only when you have enough time to finish it. And you never have that much time, so you never start.

The trick to finishing these things is to do a little bit at a time. I wrote the first book, "Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone," in lots of sittings, none of them longer than three or four hours and most about 30 minutes to an hour.

So today, I am thinking about just doing it, like the Nike ad. Just start. Just keep plugging away once you start.

That goes for the book. I still don't want to take on the DD's room, putting in new kitchen counters or fixing the upstairs shower until after Jan. 1. The holidays are chaotic and messy enough without three more projects under way.

Time to recharge: How to tell

If you are barking at your family when they ask when you will be finished with work, it is time to log off and recharge. Everything. You. Your phone. Your computer.

My goal here is to recognize the signs of needing a recharge before it gets to that point.

I want my shoulders to not be at earlobe level, and I want to always express love to those I love. Always.

I need to do the talking, and not the stress.

It's all about making the first thing first, and the first thing does not need to be work. Find your peace, find your love, and the work gets done by a calmer person who is not stressed out.

Holidays, holidays, holidays!

The holidays are slapping the taste out of my mouth this week. In the words of the famous meme, Ermahgerd.

In the day job, we had a holiday high fashion photo shoot for a local magazine and I will be putting the finishing touches on a holiday calendar for the Family section of The Clarion-Ledger, then another calendar with equally fabulous events for the mag.

Mistletoe Marketplace is going on over at the Mississippi Trade Mart, so if you haven't checked that out, do. It's crowded if you go on Saturday, but I understand Thursday and Friday afternoons aren't so bad. Here's a link: Mistletoe Marketplace

And for my own personal writing, I am adjusting to a new work schedule but still getting some words in. Thank God and Maxwell House that I am up and at 'em pre 5:30 a.m. I knew today was going to be a little hectic at work and got the middle Dear Son coming home for a visit this evening, so I let myself sleep in. I do think there are at least several weeks in which I will not be writing much, and I am going to deem that OK. Because the part of me that supervises my own work is a nice boss. Sometimes.

I just know that I will have Thanksgiving (In another move of brilliance and niceness, I gave myself a pass on dressing and gravy and ordered Susie's. Susie Johnson makes the best dressing this side of Heaven.). I will have Christmas shopping. I will have travel to see the oldest Dear Son. The Dear Daughter will have her first dance. The youngest Dear Son is going to Xtreme Winter Conference with the UMYF and will be skiiing in Gatlinburg. And work schedules will go from a little crazy to insanity because of the holidays.

It's OK, though. I got this. Let the holidays begin! And let the clatter of my keyboard and the perking of my coffee be heard!

Up and at 'em

I got up early this morning to write. Having a schedule change at the day job meant my schedule more closely fits my kids' schedule, which is great, but I have to make time to write, which is a challenge. I don't want to take away any time from those I love, so that means getting up early.

Which I did today. Sort of. I woke up at 5 a.m., but then petted the cat while thinking about the day ahead until about 5:15. Then I had to make some coffee and toast, what a minister friend of mine calls a form of communion for the morning. So I got about 45 minutes of tinkering with copy and writing in, but I need to get better at shaking off the cobwebs.

I do like getting up earlier, though. I get the bathroom before the kids are up. I get a quiet house for a little while. And coffee is delicious. Did I mention that? It beats sleeping in and rushing around like a screaming maniac trying to get everything done and everyone out the door. And this way, I get to work on my own stuff before anyone else's, and as a mama, it is so nice to be at the top of my own list. Y'all know what I mean.

Anyhow, I'm working on making my own personal schedule work for me. Happy Monday, world.

The main thing

This is such a hard thing to do, yet it sounds so simple.

Keep the main thing the main thing.

All kinds of books on organization and management expound on this. One of my favorites is Stephen Covey's "First Things First."

I highly recommend reading for personal development, but I will save you some time on this one. Figure out what your main thing is, and then make sure that thing is taken care of. You can take care of other things, too, but they come second to that main thing.

And don't worry, you can have several main things. I do. I think we all have to have several main things.

Mine are:

• My health, physical, mental, spiritual. If I am not at my best, I can't give my best to others. Don't neglect this because I know women especially can neglect themselves. This is time for praying, thinking, reading, moving and otherwise being good to myself.

• My children. They're why I do what I do. They're my heart.

• My relationship. Having a healthy, happy relationship is such a blessing, so that doesn't need to be neglected.

• Then comes my career. I love what I do. I love being a features editor. I love being a writer. Don't tell the Boss Man, but I am amazed I get paid to have this much fun. And I have to keep this as a priority because my name is not Mrs. Rockefeller. I need to keep the lights on. But this is fourth on the list in value. And that is OK, because I bring a healthy, happy me and a healthy, happy life to my job and to my craft, and that only makes me a better employee and a better writer.

Then whatever doesn't fit in these isn't a red-hot emergency, so I don't sweat it.

Make your main things list, and it does not need to look like the list above. Yours is unique to you, mine is unique to me. But once you know what the main thing is, then its easier to keep it the main thing.

Happy publisher, happy author

I have tried hard not to be that writer.

The one who bugs the fool out of the editor/publisher. "Have you read my draft yet?" And that's five minutes after hitting "send" on the email of the draft.

I edit as my day job, so I know the other end. And I know my publisher has plenty of other authors to deal with. So I hit "send" on  the draft email earlier this month and resisted the urge to worry the man.

And to be honest, I had lots going on with work, projects, friends, family, and of course, my second book.

But it was great hearing from James Dickerson of Sartoris Literary Group yesterday. His take on the book was, "It's terrific!" So I was wanting to jump up and down with excitement, but I was sneaking a look at my phone in a Wednesday night church service, so, yeah, that would not have been good. I was doing the happy dance in my mind, though.

The editing starts in November, and "Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone" will hit shelves by April 2014.

Celebrating some good news with a little funny about authors. True? Not true? You all make the call.

The myth of getting it all done

OK, me pretending to know how to get it all done in 24 hours is pretty funny, because "it all" never gets done. I just do the best I can.

A friend of mine who spoke on stress management brought out two facts. One is that we all have 24 hours to play with every day. The other is that the absence of stress is being dead.

I don't want a stress-free life. I think it might be a little boring. But certain times should be stress-free. After a stressful day, I enjoyed a little Mexican food and an adult beverage with the people I love, and that was stress-free. I got up early the next morning and took a long, stress-free shower. Then, after my first cup of coffee, the stress was allowed to begin again.

In those two dozen hours, we need a few pockets to escape. At lunch, I had a conference call, but I took it in a lounge area away from noise and my computer and my to-do list. An escape from stress!

And that brings my to the 24 hour-fact. We get a finite amount of time each day, so a big part of handling stress is realizing choices have to be made. You can't get everything done. You have to pick what you will do a bang-up job on, what gets a lick and a promise and what will be pushed to another day or reconsidered.

Walking it off

I got my writing in Monday, working on book number dos, but I got to go walking with one of my besties. We went for about an hour and a half, and let me tell you, few things are as good for you as walking with a friend.

You get in good conversation, a good workout and before you know it, you have burned off some calories and solved the problems of the world. 

Here are my walking tips, if you want to take this up:

• Bring a friend. It makes walking more fun.

• Get good shoes. And good socks. Comfy feet are healthy feet.

• Hydrate. Very important this time of year as you may not feel thirsty in cooler weather. Experts say, though, that when you feel thirsty, you actually are a little dehydrated. So drink up.

• Pick a park. Some like treadmills. I don't get those people. Find some nature. Park walking trails are much more relaxing.

• Bring a jacket. I like to wear mine the first mile or so, and then I tie it around my waist.

Make time for the good stuff

The past week has been busy.

I wrote a little and took the rest of the day off Monday, started my work week Tuesday, and Tuesday and Wednesday are normally hard days for me at my newspaper gig at The Clarion-Ledger. Wednesday night the kids and I went to Wednesday night church, something that does us all good. I took a vacation day on Thursday to catch a Mississippi State game with my Gentleman Friend, and then it was back to work on Friday, theater that night (we caught "The Grapes of Wrath" at New Stage) and then today, Saturday, it was Make A Difference Day with Team CL at Mission First in the morning, followed by fun with the kids and some editing at the office in the evening.

On a normal week, I usually write 3,000-4,000 words, but I don't think I hit 1,500 in the past seven days.

But that is OK. Because I got to spend time with people I love, and I mean boyfriend, kids, church friends, coworkers, friends at Mission First, everybody. We cheered, prayed, ate, got some culture, painted a mural by Marshall Ramsey, planted a garden and beautified the neighborhood.

I take my fledgling career as an author seriously, but not so seriously I can't drink in the good stuff, and the past week, though busy, was loaded with some really good stuff. No book is worth missing that.

Make sure you make time for the good stuff, because it doesn't come around all the time.

When it rains, it pours

OK, our household plumbing disaster wasn't quite this bad, but anything that happens before 7 a.m. gets magnified.

I'm running off Special K and a pot of French Roast after staying up late for the Mississippi State-Kentucky game (Hail State!) and the Dear Son is upstairs taking a shower before school. All seems to be well so far.

Dear Daughter says her brother needs to get out of the shower. Just as I am thinking, "Why are they fighting over the shower when there is another one downstairs?" I look in the dining room, where water is pouring out of the light fixture. And in the living room, where water is coming out of the ceiling vents.

After becoming a single parent, I said on more than one occasion that if Bob Vila showed up on my doorstep, I'd marry him. Because plumbing is totally an area where I am a damsel in distress. I can plunge things and I replaced a flapper on a commode, but otherwise, I am clueless. The Gentleman Friend, who fixed a leaky pipe for me this summer, has been texted. So far, he's pretty good at rescuing.

Upstairs shower is now off limits, and we're thanking God for the downstairs bath and for more blog fodder.

Off to write ...

I try to remember that because I am an editor by trade. I run on deadlines. Everything has a deadline in my house. Kids getting on the school bus, me leaving for the office, etc.

And I write books on the side with deadlines in mind. I have to have a goal. Goals, to me, are like breathing.

That doesn't mean I reach them all, but I have to have something to shoot for. That is why I am already looking at planners for 2014. I have to write my goals and timelines down just so I can check them off. Everyone has their weirdnesses, and writing and scratching things off in a planner is mine.

So with the book I am currently working on, I am behind where I want to be. But I have some excellent reasons for that. And I like to think that I run my personal deadlines and goals -- they don't run me. Every good goal needs adjusting.

So with that in mind, I may write a little today, but I don't consider myself behind. I am good right where I am. Now, off to write.

Begin the begin

So today I was driving to work, and there was a five-car pile-up around every corner and curve, so it took a while.

You live in the city long enough, and you learn that you can either have a conniption whenever there is a wreck, or you can just drink your coffee and play your CDs and wait patiently. Having a cow about it doesn't speed anything up.

I got out a CD from a leadership class my employer was kind enough to send me to last year. I love it. Each of us had to name a song that said something about either personality, profession or outlook. This was the first one on the disc, from a colleague in Tennessee.

REM's "Begin the Begin." That one stands out because our instructions were, since we were meeting in Nashville, to pick a country song. This was a handicap for folks who don't like country.

It reminded me today that we begin again every morning. We're never stuck in the middle, mired in a rut. We begin all the time. So let's begin the begin today. And tomorrow.

P.S. Here's my song from Gannett's Leadership 5.0 class. Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Tender When I Want To Be." "I have a heart that's proud, you bet. I have a mind that won't forget. And I have arms that are strong yet tender when they want to be. You can be the will that finds the way. You can be the one who saves the day. But show me tender when it's time to say exactly how it ought to be." Pretty good advice, and you can dance to it.

A little paint, a lot of happiness

It is amazing what a little paint will do for your outlook.

I had a kitchen with plaid wallpaper. Bold green and pink plaid wallpaper. It needed an update, but I really had no idea what I wanted to do. My Gentleman Friend listened to me talk about saving up for a total re-do, and when I had gone on a while, he quietly said, "Paint doesn't cost very much."

And it doesn't. And he was right on the impact a little paint can make.

I started by looking at paint samples. Olympic has some that are actually Post-its, so I peeled those off and stuck them on different walls, trying to figure out what was going to work. I was also intimidated by coordinating colors, so these little cards that included four different coordinating shades made it super easy.

Here is how it's turned out. I have this yummy spicy color in the kitchen, a soft yellow in the dining room and creamy white in the hall.

I am quite pleased. We also painted the trim, baseboards, doors, chair rail and cabinets in the creamy white.

Here is the thing, though. For less than $100 in paint, the house got a new outlook. I still don't have re-do money but I don't think I needed a re-do. Just some fresh color and a change.

And I will throw in advice for free. Don't wait to freshen things up. Life goes by fast. Now I love my kitchen. It makes me happy just looking at those colors. It's amazing the joy that can fit in a can of paint.

Wise beyond her years

This blog post isn't going to be as dressed up as usual, because I am using the home computer, which is on its last legs, and because today is a writing day. My second book's not going to write itself, and after not writing Saturday, and not writing much on Sunday, I need to knock out some work.

But this blog post is a good one.

I was talking with the Dear Daughter Sunday night on the way home from her church youth group meeting, and she asked me how the book was coming. My kids are great like that -- I'm not just asking them how their day was at school. They're asking me how my day was.

So I said it's good, but I had hoped to write more than I had this past weekend and was still formulating plans.

And then she said, get ready for it ... this:

"I think writing a book is like driving at night. You may not see the whole distance, but you can see what the headlights let you see, and that's enough."

She is 12. Wise beyond her years, that one.

Sometimes I can be such a planner that I want to have all the information before I get started. And that could take a while. In so many areas of life, you may not see how things are going to turn out. You just have to start and be happy with the distance your headlights let you see, so to speak.

So this morning, I may not have a complete plan, and I am writing on a computer that I hope will hang on for me, but I have the headlights on. As long as I can see the next few feet ahead of me, I'm good.

What's Poppin'?

It was an afternoon for popcorn.

I had got back from a run in my neighborhood and was starving. It's not fair that you wind up ravenous after working out to lose a few pounds, but whatever. I had some butter flavor microwave popcorn and some white cheddar seasoning, so I was ready.

Then the Dear Daughter and one of her besties came in, and after a few handfuls, I handed the bowl off to the girls for munching. That shows a lot of love, because popcorn has always been one of my favorite snacks. Not necessarily at the movies, because it is steak dinner expensive over there, and while walking past the concession counter, I saw huge bags of pre-popped corn.

I'm sorry, but if I am going to pay crazy money for popcorn, it should be fresh, and the butter on it should be butter and not butter-flavored oil.

They were talking about catching a movie soon, since they want to see "The Hobbit" and the new "Hunger Games" movies when they come out. They'll probably want popcorn even though it is overpriced, and I will probably buy it for them. Love, people, love.

Here are a couple of popcorn snacks for you to enjoy with those you love. First, the spicy one, then the sweet:

Taco Popcorn

Pop one bag of butter flavor microwave popcorn. Pour in bowl. Shake half an envelope of taco seasoning over, or to taste, or use Mexican seasoning. Cajun seasoning is also good.

Source: Southern Living and experimentation

Caramel Corn

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp. baking soda
8 cups popped popcorn

Heat oven to 200. Combine first four ingredients and boil for 5 minutes over medium heat. Stir in soda and remove from heat. Pour over popcorn and stir to coat. Bake in large pan for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on wax paper or foil to dry.

Source: Foodnetwork.com

Tea party

I didn't write this morning because (a) I was enjoying the furnace making my bedroom toasty and (b) the Dear Daughter is running for student government vice president and has a speech today. She asked for bacon and eggs, so of course, I went to cooking instead of writing.

That's worth putting off a few hundred words for a little while.

If she runs for president of the United States one day, I will make her an omelet before her first debate.

She's a member of the tea party. That's right. Her platform includes a plank on making sweet tea available in the cafeteria.

At least I am raising her right, with the proper appreciation for sweet tea.

Of course, I don't see this happening with sugar-sweetened tea. It'd be Splenda or Nutrasweet or something in that tea, but not sugar. Sugar in the middle school cafeteria these days would be like opening a beer in the middle of lunchtime there. People would lose their minds equally.

Back when I was in school, there was a Coke machine in the lunchroom, and they were only 20 cents. I get nostalgic just thinking about a peanut butter sandwich and a Coke in a glass bottle.

Anyhow, she's in a crowded field of 20 candidates, but at least she's fighting the good fight for sweet tea.

By the way, even though it is cold out, I will tell y'all how to make sweet tea, because people north of Atlanta don't have a clue.

Fill a saucepan with about two cups of water or a microwavable pitcher. No need to get too exact on the amount of water.

Bring it to a rolling boil.

Drop in six individual tea bags or three family-size ones. Wait.

After a while (again, not super exact with this, maybe 10 minutes), remove and squeeze out the tea bags.

In a gallon-size pitcher, add about 3/4 cup Splenda or 1 cup sugar (we go with Splenda because I want to wear skinny jeans) and pour tea over it. Stir. This is key, as you want the tea still hot enough that it will dissolve the sugar. This is where a lot of people screw up sweet tea. It needs to be like a tea syrup. Otherwise you have a bunch of sweetener stuck at the bottom of your pitcher, and that is just nasty.

Then fill to about halfway with cold water and stick in the fridge. That is how I do a batch of sweet tea for my family. There's no recipe, but apparently, it's good enough to make the Dear Daughter's list of campaign issues. Sweet tea to the people!

Up early writing ... with coffee

So today I decided I would write. These books don't write themselves, you know. Given that the youngsters have to be up between 6:30 and 7, and I have to be at an 8 a.m. meeting, then my only morning writing time was at 5:30 a.m.

I know that sounds awful, but I have coffee.

My alarm went off at 5, and I was practicing my positive thinking by visualizing and meditating. That sounds better than falling back asleep and dreaming. I can visualize all day long but unless my hands are on the keyboard, words will not happen, so I got up, said a thank you prayer and went off to turn on the coffee maker, or dispenser of magic juice.

I was tired enough that I spooned coffee grounds into my cup instead of Splenda, but no worries. The magic juice, once in my cup, had me up and typing away by 5:40.

I really didn't want to stop but before long, it was that gray area of 6:45, when people really need to get moving. It is that time between me softly saying, "Rise and shine, kids," and screaming, "GET OUT OF BED!!!"

Anyhow, I'm plugging away at my second book while my editor reads the first one. Let's hope he likes it.

New shoes!

So last night, I got liquored up and bought some running shoes.

Kidding, but only a little. It was Diva Night at my favorite shoe store, Fleet Feet in Ridgeland, MS, and I got to taste a couple of wines, a moscato and a pinot noir, both by Red Tree from Colony Market in Madison. And I had been planning for quite some time to replace my running shoes. Even the Dear Daughter, when seeing the soles of them, said, "Wow! You need some new shoes!" If they were tires, they'd have been bald.

But a nice pinot noir takes a little of the sting out of the price. Running shoes are expensive. It is one of the things that kept me running, even after quitting a few times. I had some $100 shoes, so you can't waste something like that. You have to take them and wear them out.

To me, $100 is a lot for shoes. My power pumps for work come from Tar-jay. $30 max.

But good running shoes are cheaper than injuries. My faves are the Adidas Supernova Sequence. The pair I got last night, marked down 15 percent, is my fourth pair. They are the most comfy shoe I have ever worn. They are more comfy that my own feet.

Here's a commercial for them. Mine look very similar to the kind the guy is putting on, but I bought a women's pair:

And I also have to include my favorite running commercial ever, Nike's "I Would Run To You." I don't run in Nikes but am sorely tempted to after hearing this little ditty. Plus her outfit rocks and the lyrics are hilarious. "Baby, I could die without you ..."
"Baby, I could die ..."

Halloween green

Holy smokes. I am working on a story on Halloween festivities, and I found this little tidbit of info: The National Retail Federation predicts that Americans will spend $2.6 billion with a B on Halloween ... COSTUMES!

That is just for the costumes! That is not including the outdoor and indoor decor, the pumpkins, the inflatable six-foot ghost or the fun size Snickers!

Add all of it together, and it comes to $6.9 billion. That's a lot of green for Halloween.

We're trying to keep our costs down, but we'll still have candy for the trick-or-treaters. That expenditure is getting to be less and less, though, as in our metro area, trick-or-treating is falling aside for festivals and trunk-or-treats. There's more partying going on, it seems, and more spending, and more people dressing up everyone from the kids to the parents and even the dog. But less random trick-or-treating.

BTW, our cats will not be dressed up. The cuteness is not worth the scratches we'd get.

Here are some ways we've kept the spending in line over the years:

• Shop after Halloween for the next year. Just don't store things so well that you hide them from yourself. It's happened at my house.

• Share costumes as hand-me-downs with family or friends. They are usually in good shape since they're only worn once or twice.

• Shop for candy at the last minute. We do this because otherwise, the little goblins at my house would eat all the candy up. We'd still be shopping at the last minute, only the second time to replace what was eaten the first time.

• Fill up your Crock Pot. I love making a "Witch's Brew" or what would be called chili or taco soup any other day of the year. The Crock Pot keeps it warm so no worrying about food getting cold, and it is easy and it is cheaper than take-out, which can be a temptation when you have trick-or-treating at the end of a work day. And there is usually enough left for me to take to work for lunch the next day.

• Keep the outdoor decor in line. Sure, I love to have fun, too, but I also have to store everything for the other 11 months of the year. We've found that a pumpkin or two plus the porch light is enough decor for us. Spend on what makes you happy. For us, it's never been the decor. It's all about the Snickers bars.

• Share the wealth. I have neighbors who pool their Halloween candy and sit outside to distribute it together and enjoy a visit and seeing the trick-or-treaters.

Would Annie Buy It?

I should get some little rubber bracelets made with WABI on them. Would Annie Buy It? Or WWAB. What Would Annie Buy?

Here's the first of a little experiment in my blog for The Clarion-Ledger, The Mom Zone, in which I test out a new product and tell you what it's like, and more importantly, would I go buy it again. Because I am sort of picky and a bit of a tightwad at times.

This first time, I tested out McCormick's Slow Cookers mixes. Specifically the one for Fiesta Chicken, shown here. (Spoiler alert: I think it looks pretty yummy here, and it was.)

The link to the full report in The Mom Zone is here:

The Mom Zone - Would Annie Buy It?

More running, followed by some writing

I am thinking that writing on the side, just for me, is sort of addictive.

I've gotten a book off to the publisher this week, but I don't want to get out of what I hope is a good habit, writing outside of work, because I know how it is to get into a good habit only to drop it. Starting over again is awful.

I think I may have done that with running, because I wasn't running as much after I started "Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone." It's not like I was a marathoner, but I was running three or four days a week, somewhere between three and six miles usually, running until I needed to breathe. Then I got into the writing mode, and then I was thinking I should knock out the work first before running. Then time would fly and it would be time to do other things, like parent my children, cook dinner or whatever. So running would just be a nonentity that day.

Now that I proved to myself I could at least finish a manuscript and get it to my publisher, Sartoris Literary Group, I should work more movement back in my days.

For five to 10 reasons, the last time I stepped on the scales. Seriously, I need to burn some calories. The freaking holidays are coming. I can't start the holiday season with five to 10 more pounds than I want.

And I like to run. To nonrunners, that sounds crazy. And it is if you never run more than a mile, because the first mile is just horrible. But after that first mile, it is fun. The endorphins come out to play, I'm in a happy mood, my skin gets all glowing (or maybe that's sweat), there's trees and birds to enjoy on the trails, I see other runners and dodge some cyclists. It's really a fun thing. I promise.

Also, my family members never die of cancer. Heart disease takes us out way before cancer can get a foothold. So cardio is good for my ticker. I plan to be around a while, so I am thinking that running, along with pitching our Fry Daddy like I did, is a good move.

And I like to eat. I am terrible with math, so don't even talk to me about counting calories.  I also like to have a beer on occasion. Running will let you eat and drink and still fit into your clothes.

It's all about balance. In my off time, I like to read, run and write. I have been heavier on the reading and writing than the running the past five months, which coincidentally, were hot as fish grease. Writing with the air on was glorious.

Anyhow, I am saving for a new pair of running shoes and plan to run some, write some and read some this weekend. Running will happen first.

Getting out of debt, without worry

I've had all kinds of thoughts, wishes and desires for getting out of debt. It's pretty hard to avoid some debt, though. Student loans, car payments, home repairs, medical bills. You name it, and we've probably either had it (past tense) or are paying it off as quickly as we can.

Right now, I am focusing on preparing to send my two younger children to college in a few years, so that means getting debts down. Fewer bills mean more money free to save/invest/pay to the college of their choice.

The Gentleman Friend, knowing this and being a sweet man, sent me this article on why people remain in debt. It's worth a read. 

Three things keeping you in debt

I know that I have done all three of these ... being afraid to look at bills, not asking for help in creating a plan for our finances, and beating myself up for debt.

My current philosophy is not to dwell on debt but to be thankful for what we have. I try not to worry, and I have my moments, but looking at your money with a plan instead of feeling bewildered will take care of most of your fretting.

I am steadily paying debts down. I'm reminding myself that our college expenses (tuition, books, housing, etc.) have resulted in two bachelor's degrees, a master's and, by May, another master's. Our car notes (two currently) are not always fun to pay, but both our cars are in good shape and reliable. Every house payment means it is closer to being mine than being the bank's.You get the idea.

Another thing that's an improvement for us is planning for down the road. Instead of seeing college down the road and panicking, be proactive. Know the expense is coming, but instead of worrying, take steps to be ready.

There's no such thing as bad cheesecake

Really, it is true. I don't think I have ever had a piece of bad cheesecake, and I have had homemade with a luscious pumpkin filling and snappy gingersnap crust, the mix kind out of the box at the supermarket, the kind from the freezer, mini cheesecakes and cheesecake bites.

In just a bit, I am heading to the store to pick up some cheesecake because I have a Make A Difference Day meeting. We're planning an awesome project at Mission First in Jackson for Saturday, Oct. 26. Here's the info on it:

Mission First project

So anyhow, our team started joking about whether there was going to be cheesecake there at the meeting. But I never joke about some things, and cheesecake is one of them.

One of my sweetest cheesecake memories was when my second Dear Son and his Dear Brother and Dear Sister decorated a huge multi-flavored platter of cheesecake with birthday candles and surprised me on my day! It was practically on fire and setting off the smoke detectors because I am slightly over 29, but it was wonderful. I have the best children ever.

So we've got a couple of weeks until our project, but you can help now by making a donation of supplies for Mission First (detailed on the link), or make your own project for a favorite cause and register it on the website linked above, as one project will win $10,000 from Newman's Own. Someone's got to win -- why not your favorite charity?

We can't do good on an empty stomach, so I am off looking for cheesecake.

Stick a fork in it ... sort of

Well, writing-palooza happened this weekend, and I am happy to say that I emailed a manuscript for "Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone" to my publisher, James Dickerson at Sartoris Literary Group, Monday.

Stick a fork in it, because it is done. Well, not really. Now it gets edited. Editing is what I do as a day job, and it's just as much fun as it sounds. Take that any way you want to take it.

Personally, I like editing, because a good editor will save you from yourself. I have other editors read what I write at The Clarion-Ledger, and they make me look good. They catch stupid things that I do, and guess what. We all do stupid things, and we overlook them because they are our stupid things. Other people's stupid things stick out, but not ours.

Good writers like a good editing. Bad writers think their words were etched in stone by the hand of God. I want to be a good writer, so I am hoping Jim reads my ramblings with a sharp set of eyes and ruthlessly saves me from being stupid.

If not being stupid is one challenge for a writer, having a life is another. Before I typed the first word of "Because I Said So," I decided that if writing a book meant time away from my children or my Gentleman Friend, then it wasn't going to happen. I love them, I am blessed to have them in my life, and time with them is precious. So writing for me means getting up early or writing on the mornings of my days off.

I also see my off time as precious, as it is my time to recharge and rejuvenate, so I have to save some of it for me. If I don't take care of me, then I am not as good a friend, coworker, mother, girlfriend, etc. No book is worth giving that up.

Instead, writing is about carving out time, focusing and being consistent, week after week.

However, there's wiggle room. My Gentleman Friend and I got some quality time together Sunday, and Monday, the kiddos wanted to go to the fair. My gig at The Clarion-Ledger required an appearance at the company's tent there. So the writing happened Saturday morning and Monday morning and afternoon, and lo and behold, I hit the point where I was done.

And then I hit the fair, ate funnel cakes and catfish and got busy on job 1, being my kids' mom. Life is good.

Find your space and enjoy it

It took me way too long to figure this out, but we all have to have our space. That place to think, recharge, refresh so we can go be awesome as mamas, friends, coworkers, significant others or whatever.

For me, it is having my morning time. It is worth getting up early for this, although today I slept until 8 and didn't head outside with breakfast until 9. That's the fringe benefit of teenagers. You can sleep later, finally.

I like to sit outside with my breakfast and read and have my own little slice of peace and quiet before the day really gets going. On weekdays it is coffee or coffee with toast, but on Saturdays, I celebrate the weekend with some bacon and eggs, shown here.

For the longest time, I didn't get out and enjoy my back yard. I'd look at it and think that the wood needed cleaning and refinishing (it does) and that I needed to replace my plastic Adirondack chairs (I do). I wouldn't feel like I could really enjoy things until I had them just right.

Guess what. If I had decided to wait until conditions were perfect, I'd have a long wait. It's the same with enjoying time with your family (waiting until you can afford Disney instead of just spending time together in the here and now), with your dreams and desires (I am finishing my first book on a computer that's on its last legs. Still works, though!), with your personal self (shop now instead of five pounds from now).

Take time to enjoy the here and now, whether it is with yourself or those you love. And don't say you are too busy, because busy people especially need this. Realize that you are a human being, not a human doing. Take some time to just be.

And if you can just be and eat bacon and eggs, even better.

Get up, be awesome, go to sleep, repeat

So let me go do some 'splaining about Domestic Diva and what happened during a great big ol' gap of years when I didn't post.

Life happened. The end.

Actually, I have some excellent excuses for why I went years without posting. I took on more duties at work.

I finished a master's degree in project management (don't you love irony? I can manage projects yet can't blog for years), and then there were the ebbs and flows of emotion that happen when you become a widow and raise four kids on your own.

Although I like to think that the kiddos are active participants in the raising of each other in our family. They raise me as much as I raise them. They're my heart, and each is awesome in his or her own way.

The truth is, though, that I could have been blogging and instead let things get in my way. Not major things like family, but little things like scheduling and laundry (not sure laundry is ever little but you get what I am saying).

Same with writing a book. I had wanted to for years yet never got past the first few pages because I did not make that dream a priority.

I'm happy to say that (a) I believe you are never behind so you should just jump in where you are, and (b) the book's almost finished. This weekend is going to be a writing fest. I have coffee in the cabinet, so I am ready to go. I plan to get things finished Monday before a meet-and-greet at The Clarion-Ledger tent at the Mississippi State Fair at 5 p.m.

You notice, I just made that a public statement, and I'll tweet about it, too. You put things out there like that, and they tend to happen. I didn't tell people about my previous literary attempts, and guess what? They didn't happen.

I think sometimes we like to let things get in the way of our own awesomeness potential. Subconsciously, I think our own awesomeness potential is a little scary, so we stick to what we know, which is the ordinary and the same ol' same ol'. I know I do this ... sometimes, when I block out time for my own personal awesomeness, which is writing my book, I will think about running the dishwasher or mopping the floor. Weird but true.

So today, and each day, take some time just to work on what would be something awesome in your life. Just 15 minutes, or block out an afternoon for it. Don't be afraid of being awesome ... your best is just ahead. It is far better to be awesome with dirty dishes.

Here we go!

OK, to the left is me, Annie Oeth, and days are pretty full. Apparently not too full to launch another blog, though. Thank Jesus, coffee and Diet Coke for the get-up-and-go.

I'm putting the finishing touches on my first book and writing a post in my first independent blog, my author site at annieoeth.blogspot.com. These are fun times, although a little scary. Scary in a good way.

"Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone" will be released April 2014 by Sartoris Literary Group

Here's a link to a preview of it at sartorisliterary.com:

"Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone"

I'll post some samples as "Because I Said So" gets closer to hitting some store shelves, and it will also be available as an ebook.

And here's my other blog, The Mom Zone, at clarionledger.com. Go check it out!

The Mom Zone

For those unfamiliar with Free Stuff Friday, those who like my page on Facebook (search for Annie Oeth) are in the running for free stuff on Fridays, and sometimes on other days. I figure, it's my Facebook page, so I can make up the rules on when prizes are drawn for as I go along. It's something I do as part of my job as features editor at The Clarion-Ledger. It's a fun gig ... where else are you encouraged to play on Facebook as part of your workday?

Here's a link to that Facebook page:

Annie's Clarion-Ledger Facebook Page

And I'll develop this blog more ... I hope it will be a fun spot for you to visit on the interwebs!