Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I didn't get much more written last week than I did the week before. I think I was too ambitious believing I could get all the prep for Thanksgiving dinner done and still have writing time.Writing time is hard to come by once the Christmas season starts. I'm hoping to do most of my gift shopping online, but it still takes time to do and then there's all the baking and gift wrapping and decorating to do.

Motivational Quote: "You don't always have to know what you're doing, or how to do it, to successfully execute your purpose. Intention comes with its own intelligence." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading: I finished reading Lone Wolf by Sara Driscoll last night. It's the first book in the FBI K-9 mystery series. I'll probably start a new book in the next couple of days. 

Random Things: This is more writing related than random. I had hoped to have at least 3/4 of Mississippi's story written by mid-December so I could focus on Christmas related things and not stress out over not getting words written. I have no where near three quarters of it written. I'm going to try and fit in more writing time on the weekends around holiday stuff that needs to be done to at least get to that 3/4 mark by January.

Random Photo:

   I came across this car parked in my neighborhood. The photo doesn't do the paint job justice.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Writing was pretty much a bust last week. I had so many things crop up that ate up my writing time that it's a wonder I managed to get any words written at all. 

Motivational Quote: "To anyone who has a dream, I say follow that dream. You're never too old. It is never too late." ~ Susan Boyle

What I'm Reading: I've just started reading Book Lovers by Emily Henry. I don't feel that it's a romance novel in the traditional sense. Right now, I'm not sure how I feel about the book. I'm going to continue reading it for the time being. I'm still in the first quarter of the book so my opinion may change the further into the book I get.

Random Things:  I learned last week that there are promotional companies who don't provide materials when they say they will and when contacted about it, instead of apologizing, take offense and become insulting. I understand things happen and would have accepted a viable reason why things weren't emailed in time for the promotional slot, too bad the owner went the unprofessional route instead of owning up to the error. I'm not naming the company, but I won't be doing business with them in the future and if someone asks me my thoughts about them, I will be honest about my experience.

Random Photo:

             Given the week I had, I feel like only talking to my cat for the next week.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I had hoped to write at least fifty pages this week plus pick up a few of the pages that I'm behind to get myself back on track for NaNoWriMo. I failed abysmally. Not only did I not write any of the pages I was behind, I didn't get the fifty pages I needed to get done this week. I have two doctor appointments this week so I'm already stressing out about not getting the fifty pages I should be doing this week. 

Motivational Quote: "Don't shortchange the future because of fear in the present." ~ Barack Obama

What I'm Reading: I started reading The Girl Who Survived by Lisa Jackson on Saturday. I'm having a hard time putting it down to do things I should be doing. It's okay if I don't wash the cat bedding this weekend, right?

Random Things: I made cookies for the first time since the spring. I tried a new recipe - Gingerdoodles. They're a mash up of gingerbread cookies and snickerdoodle cookies. They came out pretty well. I put a picture of them below.

Random Photo:

                                                    Gingerdoodle Cookies

Monday Check In

Last week:

Writing Related: I think I mentioned in a previous post that I was going to unofficially participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year. The object is to write 50,000 words (approximately 200 pages) in the month of November. To be on track I should have about 39 pages written (not including today) by now. I had a crazy hectic week last week so I only managed to get 20 pages done. I'm hoping to pick up the extra pages I'm behind as I go along so that by November 30th, I will have those 200 pages done.

Motivational Quote:  "Failing once doesn't mean you'll fail every time. You will fail, however, if you don't learn from your mistakes." ~ Tabitha D'Umo

What I'm Reading: I'm currently reading Surrendering to Hunt by Jennifer Ryan. This is the second book in the Wyoming Wilde series. While I'm enjoying the book, I feel like there should be a trigger warning either in the front of the book or in the blurb because it does deal heavily with domestic abuse.

Random Things: I can't believe we have less than 2 months left in this year. I guess what my mom always says is true - The older you get, the faster the years go by.

Random Photo:

     My new planner for 2023. I'm old school and prefer a paper planner over a digital one.