Maggie’s Musings

Here is the total compilation of my 2023 #happythings lists!

JANUARY

1. Tijuana Brass, blown transformer, and an outdoor Christmas on a beautiful day. 
2. B&N date and nesting. 
3. Pre-steak snoozing with Sally. 
4. Massages and mashed potatoes.
5. Slim Chicken’s and shining LaFawnduh. 
6. Pet documentaries confirm we are nothing but minions.
7. An excellent Panera date with Kathy & Tina, Riviera Maya with Kelli, and a chat with Jewels and Lulu. I am a social butterfly. 
8. Carol’s birthday! Jamming Elvis and Bowie. 
9. Zooming with my CNRW pals. 
10. A punch in the arm from Dr. Wayne. 
11. Hacks!
12. David’s burgers and cozy clothes. 
13. Elvis date with my king.
14. Cinnamon Creme Bakery madness!
15. Mediterranean dinner and dreams.
16. Burgers, beans, and my baby!
17. Stitches out. 
18. Arron’s first annual 29th birthday! 
19. Bill is bichipsual. #regularorwavy
20. Mediocre Chinese food, but a superior post-dinner snoozle with Sally. 
21. Running with Reep & RSG holiday party. I wore a sparkly sweater!
22. I sat am forever am at work here.
23. Look,ma, no cavities! 
24. After dinner wind-down with our fur babies.
25. Vegging out with Jewels and Emily In Paris. 
26. Scored a foot-long churro for $1. #winning
27. Schnitzel nacht! 
28. Words! I made words! 
29. The Nurserie field trip.
30. Mickey Ds with my man because I deserved a break today!
31. Jewels is 40! 

FEBRUARY

1. Campbell’s Chicken Noodle soup and oatmeal cookies. #healthfood 
2. Prescribed methylprednisolone. Did not see my shadow.
3. Feeling slightly human. #gome
4. YouTube food experiments are a success! #omelettoast #grilledcheese 
5. Scoring in the clearance aisle!
6. Caught Fodder hiding in the bedroom with a bowl of ice cream . He didn’t want to have to share with the dogs. 
7. A good chat and a few atta girls from my coach. 
8. Not a heart attack. #positivity
9. A busy day, which kept me from dwelling on a sad day 25 years ago.
10. I made some manicotti and it made me nap.
11. Playtime and pastries with my guys! Thinking of my Mommy.
12. Sunshine day. 
13. Back to Margaret Monday.
14. A “Be Mine” cake made by my Valentine. 
15. Massage day! And I slept through the night like a big girl!
16. Nothing like a good pencil whipping’!
17. Trawling the Lowe’s for tile ideas.
18. Panera with Tina, Parker & Mandy! This time, we actually made words!
19. Puff pastry experimental kitchen and weenie roast.
20. The Bueno birds are stool pigeons!!
21. Book mail from Lucy Gilmore! 
22. Fun with closed-circuit cameras.
23. A perfect pink hyacinth. 
24. Discovered that Eugene Levy and are totally MFEO. 
25. Nesting day – stocking the freezer.
26. Pasta fagooooool made us drool!
27. Sunny and 74!
28. Making plans for a foyer renovation while Fodder makes the mess.

MARCH

1. Tazz’s burgers and hunkering down. 
2. Even old girls get the zoomies. #pupperplay 
3. Day 1 of BeccaCon. The fire hose of information is open. 
4. More Input overload, but the sun shone and my guy and I had an exciting evening of burgers and tile shopping. 
5. Savoring the joys of dandelion fluff with Sawyer.
6. A haircut and a box o’ books! 
7. Brought my baby a delicious square fish sandwich.
8. The rain held off a bit. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good evening to puppy nap. 
9. Chattering away with Jewels.
10. Neck deep in FI: Drive to Survive and speckled with chocolate.
11. Banana muffins! 
12. Get things done day. 
13. Kayson is 10! 
14. Tiles and paint procured. Bill covered in confetti.
15. The Ides of Ted Lasso!
16. Taco soup, puppy snoozing, and F1.
17. Texas Roadhouse  and TraderJoe’s.
18. Shrinking and Lasso rewatch.
19. Kroger grocery pickup.
20. Mainlining Daisy Jones and the Six. 
21. 8 week program complete!
22. More Lasso. Can there ever be enough? 
23. Popeyes and puppy snoozing.
24. Brinda and Mags weekend!
25. Making words, Mexican brownies, a walk in the sun, and the devil’s donuts. 
26. Home with man and beasts. 
27. Going wild-ing with Kelli Reep.
28. Manwich night!
29. Massage day, taco truck, and Ted Lasso. 
30. Tag team Walmart shopping and beautiful new tile!
31. Safe and sound. 

APRIL

1. A lie-in, surveying the local nurseries, and a lovely day for yard work.
2. Hanging with the Ottawa Romance Writers and the fab Sara Megibow.
3. Fresh purple hull peas.
4. Rebellion night. 
5. In-depth Lasso play-by-play and analysis with Jewels.
6. A Thursday-Friday!
7. Spent the day in my pajamas writing.
8. More writing then yard work and sunshine 
9. Easter with Arron, Kendall, Sawyer & Rylee. 
10. Flower inspection/anticipation season! 
11. Leadership conference for RSG.
12. Post office ninja!
13. Taco truck tastiness on Friday Eve.
14. Mrs. Maisel returns! 
15. Tile triumph!
16. Writing a few words. 
17. Singing the painting song. 
18. Singing Danny’s Song in our Bueno bubble.
19. Ted’s Triangles.
20. An offer!
21. Legally Blonde: The Musical with Kelli Reep! 
22. Luigi’s and Fernando. Vroom vroom! 
23. Wordsmithing and interior decor.
24. A Happy Go Lucky Carnival of Snackery with David Sedaris and Kelli Reep! 
25. OZARKS MISSING PERSON release day!
26. Chat with the ISU OGs. 
27. Breakfast for dinner and a great coaching call. 
28. Nothing like a little fricassee with Big Dan when you’re feeling a mite peckish. 
29. Today is the day we celebrate all things Renee. 
30. Wordsmithing and marketing for fleas.

MAY

1. A pretty pale pink peony.
2. Doing the DocuSign dance! 
3. AYTG?IM,M with Kelli Reep. Judy Blume is a goddess.
4. A Sonic date with our puppies. 
5. #22 on PW bestseller list!
6. Would you like a cinnamon brown sugar cat milk espresso? 
7. ORW Superman workshop. I don’t think anyone went sleep. 
8. Schnitzel in honor of Queen Charlotte. 
9. Timber the play puppy pinup girl. Every inch the lady.
10. Roy Kent! Roy Kent!
11. Flowers and cuddles.
12. Off to Dallas to meet Chants! 
13. Sightseeing and singing Pictures of You! #thecure #rocknrollsummerkickoff 
14. Plane nap, puppies, pizza, and patio snoozing. 
15. Puppy cuddles = Monday cure all.
16. 33 1/3 written.
17. Review day in the Room of Wonders!
18. We know the way to Santa Fe Cafe…maybe too well. 
19. Splurging on the froyo with our hit dog combos. 
20. A kegger with Dogtown Ukulele Band. 
21. Mags + Bill + Kelli + Higgins + Pickering + Eliza = a loverly day.
22. Vegging out on Selling Sunset.
23. Release day OZARKS DOUBLE HOMICIDE.
24. Television night! 
25. Mrs. Maisel provides a glimpse into my future.
26. Family fun around the fire. 
27. Farmers Market, splash pad, and county fair with Axel & Co.
28. A bouquet of empty recycling bottles from my baby beaux. 
29. Writing, reading, sunning, writing, reading, shopping….
30. Chicken McNuggets and cruising with my guy.
31. Oh, Ted, how we’ll miss you. #barbequesauce

JUNE

1. Marvelous manicotti. 
2. Haircut date. 
3. Doing whatever I feel like…gosh!
4. Sunday prep day. 
5. Snoopy drawings and words of encouragement. 
6. My guy makes me laugh. 
7. An official announcement. 
8. Rocking some synth in honor of Nick Rhodes’ birthday. 
9. Lemon cheesecake cookie! 
10. Rainy day snoozles with Sally & Timber.
11. Netflix and chilling with Kelli & Jewels.
12. Adventuring with my guy. Dumplings and honky tonks.
13. Ryman Auditorium and Bridgestone Arena – Duran Duran!
14. Home with our beasties.
15. Catching up on ALL THE WORK. 
16. Indian Matchmaking with Jewels and Billiam. 
17. Sawyer time then Riviera Maya time! 
18. Daddies are the best.
19. Big wording tonight! 
20. Revelations of the fictional variety.
21. Dairy Queen for dinner. 
22. A Hollywood High . 
23. Loading up Caddy Canoe! 
24. Paddling about and snoozing it out.
25. Sweltering Sundays mean banana pudding.
26. Steak and cuddles. 
27. A new book for me and a new house for our Little Squirrel  .
28. Dollar store key lime pie on massage day.
29. Appraisal assistant extraordinaire. 
30. 22 years, 2 kids, 4 grandsons, 8 dogs, and 1 rabbit in…so far, so good. 

JULY

1. Croissant breakfast sandwiches , Grandma Caleta’s chocolate oatmeal cookies, and tacos = a good Saturday.
2. Our first batch of purple hull peas.
3. Indiana Jones and a massive bucket of popcorn. 
4. Eulalie Mackeknie Shinn Day! Happy birthday, ‘Merica! 
5. Checking things off the list. 
6. Preparing for the sojourn and celebrating Sawyer’s birthday a bit early. 
7. Lucca Grill with Bill and Renee. 
8. Christmas in July  with the Kidwell clan.
9. A smooth trip home and puppies to greet us!
10. Frito pies and an easy night.
11. Sawyer Day! 
12. MasterChef and Smartless. 
13. Thursday night snoozles.
14. Chimichanga and discount roses. 
15. Homebodying.
16. Words, glorious (?) words!
17. Welcome to Wrexham!
18. Executive dinner decision: Pizza pizza!
19. Hot guy in a Razorback shirt and cutoff shorts.
20. A fresh bedspread.
21. I lived in the same world as Tony Bennett. 
22. Revisions, Mexican food, and Shine-Ola.
23. Falling I love with my book. 
24. The boys are back! New house, new room!
25. Moogie didn’t miss the boat the day she bought Boz tickets…. 
26. A good check up at the dentist. 
27. Cool banana pudding on an oppressively hot day.
28. Monster pencil bags. 
29. Being Barbie girls with Brinda and Kelli – pink margaritas for everyone! 
30. A quiet Sunday, just drifting along.
31. A festival of meat and The Great. 

AUGUST

1. Writing my love of cheese into a book.  Because I can. #MoogiesWorld
2. Pizza date with my guy. 
3. Off to Michigan!  An evening with Kat, Jeff & Carol. Two Tonys for pasta and Tony Bennett, then the Front Porch  for dessert.
4. The perfect day! A walk with Kat, beautiful beach  time, scaling the dune with Carol, and Renee made it in time for happy hour . Capped it all with good music, good conversation, and…blue ice cream?  My heart is as full as my belly.
5. Pub grub, Barbie, and Flamingos in the can! 
6. Hugs, kisses, a few tears, and a happy homecoming. 
7. 8 minutes in an exam room. Healthcare by the Flash! 
8. Bagging up some goodies and solving the world’s problems with Kelli Reep.
9. Carne asada nachos. Yum!
10. Keep the Beat testing  my heart is practically perfect in every way!!!
11. New  watch.
12. A puppy snoozle and a dipped cone. 
13. Arkansas Special Agents featured in review by the Arkansas Times! 
14. Monday nap day.
15. Putzing about getting a little done here, a little done there. 
16. Massage day – rubarub-rub!
17. Thumping speaker dance party with the puppies.
18. Riviera Maya for Friday refreshment!
19. Joey & Ben’s mojo dojo casa house  and three sweet boys! 
20. Soft clothes Sunday.
21. Sometimes, I just open a can of Hormel chili and a bag of Fritos. #notevenmasterchefnight
22. A visit from Arron and Sawyer. 
23. A new chair for my command module. 
24. Flying Fish  and Kilwins with my guy. 
25. Party prep and pizza with Kelli.
26. Pool party at Brinda’s! Drumsticks  in the shallow end and rom com afternoon! 
27. Closing in on an ending!
28. Made it through Monday. Chicken, bacon, provolone sandwiches as a restorative.
29. A warm welcome and delicious dinner at the Santa Fe Mexican Grill. 
30. Eliminating that’s, reallys, justs, and verys.
31. A big, beautiful moon followed me to work this morning. 

SEPTEMBER

1. The Pantry and a fresh new Apple .
2. Date night – pizza , beer , and new Razorback gear.
3. Typed “The End” at last! 
4. Miller time on a Monday. Sent my manuscript off!
5. Time dinner with our boy before he hits the road again. 
6. Puppy snuggles and tacos.
7. Nurse Sally helped with my upset tummy.
8. A bountiful bouquet of beautiful basil.
9. Three boys filled with boundless energy. #wrecked 
10. I did a whole lot of nothing today, and I was damn good at it.
11. Positive feedback!
12. A great chat with Sara. Excited about this book! 
13. Pasta e fagioli and MasterChef.
14. Home alone. 
15. A hot date to Sam’s Club.
16. A little adventure on an ordinary day with you. 
17. Turned my Restorative skills loose on my manuscript. 
18. Downloading WatchOS for Snoopy’s sake.
19. Warm chocolate chip cookies  at work!
20. A nap and the Masterchef finale.
21. Ricotta stuffed shells. 
22. Called it Easy Friday, and we took it easy.
23. Hatching  plans with Kelli and Brinda.
24. A field trip plus croissants!
25. Lounging in bed long before bedtime. 
26. Crinkle cut French fries.
27. Catching up with the Wrexham guys.
28. A nice guy who pumps my gas.
29. A big, beautiful morning moonset. 
30. Caulk talk and taco truck.

OCTOBER

1. Fun, food and fellowship at the RSG family picnic! 
2. Mmm. A particularly tasty Homer’s burger. 
3. Bill Ethridge: Man on a Mission
4. Massage day! I am the rubber band wo-man.
5. Dictation, Schmicago with Jewels, and a little Superstar. 
6. Shots and sopapillas.
7. Meandering words and lazing with dogs.
8. A beautiful day to pull some weeds. 
9. Snuggle pups and stroganoff.
10. Watching Jewels shoe shop – a spectator sport. 
11. Everything can be fixed with a truckload of fries. 
12. Ringo!!! 
13. Road tripping. Glad we don’t drive a grassfed Telluride. 
14. Fire in the hole!!! SDC with my big boys. 
15. Home to our canine overlords. 
16. Street tacos  to the rescue!
17. A proposal proposed. 
18. Talking things out. Making a plan. 
19. Italian pastry cookies and a fabulous plot bunny! 
20. Baking with my guy, our pups and Elizabeth Zott. 
21. Plants, puppy naps, and pizza. 
22. A shrubbery!
23. Tub jamming Taylor Swift, much to Fodder’s chagrin. 
24. Sunshine and a festival of meat! 
25. Dipped into The Gilded Age.
26. Making words while the guitar man plays. 
27. A B&N date. 
28. Rainy day puppies don’t mind days spent in jammies, they just keep snoozin’ on. 
29. SIX with my partner in crime, Kelli Reep. 
30. FRIENDS reunion rewatch. Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion. 
31. Passing out the Halloween goodies to all the kiddos at Joe & Deb’s. Have trick or treaters, will travel!

NOVEMBER

1. Kicked off NaNoWriMo strong. 
2. Taco  truck fueled typing.
3. Holding hands on Friday night errands. 
4. A pursuit of, uh, for the ages.
5. A sunny Sunday. Off to the races with Sawyer and Rylee! 
6. Billy cracks pecans and roasts them in butter! 
7. Mainlining Selling Sunset for a brain break. 
8. Massage day!
9. Girls night with Timber and Sally.
10. A brewski and a Big Dan pizza. 
11. Rizatriptan to the rescue. 
12. Belting out some classics with Tony Bennett on the way home from Kroger. 
13. A snoozle and some schnitzel.
14. Whipping up words before marinating in Julia. 
15. Hanging out in my nest watching trash TV.
16. Double nickel birthday! Surprise donuts and flowers, a good meeting, and Santa Fe Cafe. 
17. Massages and madcap Christmas light shopping.
18. Fu fu fu Fu-Lin for dinner. 
19. On top of mount Chex Mix…
20. Rainy day soup and snuggles. 
21. Cranking out the goodies!
22. A birthday stampede through the Texas Roadhouse for Billiam.
23. Thanksgiving  with the Prewitt clan!
24. Hugs and little chatter boxes. 
25. Working on old habits and making new plans.
26. Landed on Planet Fitness again. 
27. A big, bright Beaver Moon! giggles
28. Busy day, tasty dinner, and a few words.
29. Mr. Chip Hauler III 
30. Rainy day puppies always seem to know when you’re eating nachos. 

DECEMBER

1. Jamming my  Music 2023 playlist. Eclectic doesn’t seem strong enough… 
2. Hanging with Sawyer and Rylee.
3. The Starship Enterprise tree topper never fails to delight us. 
4. You gave me a mission this week…what was it? 
5. A good visit with the railroad, but the pot roast was even better.
6. A successful state of the union talk. 
7. Home alone for a few hours. 
8. A slow walk and fast food. 
9. Christmas shopping! 
10. RSG Christmas party and my 5-year workiversary.
11. Lazy Monday night.
12. Big words! 
13. A lucky miss.
14. Words and Julia. 
15. Knocking the last of the shopping out and scoring 4x fuel points! 
16. Hitting the old Sizzlin’ and gawking at the Christmas lights. 
17. Super Sunday productivity extravaganza!
18. Fudge and roasted pecans. 
19. Shopping out of spite due to a sleepless night. 
20. Cereal killer… qu’est-ce que c’est.
21. All. The. Prep. Hurry, Santa! 
22. Invasion of silly boys.
23. Christmas with our kiddos. 
24. Brunch with my guy on Christmas Eve.
25. Christmas Day in our pajamas. Headlamps and Doritos make the best stocking stuffers! 
26. Puppy cuddles while feeling cruddy.  And a great big beautiful moon  !
27. Up and about. Hopefully on the mend.
28. Homemade chicken soup. 
29. Mainlining a good book. 
30. Big Dan, Trader Joe’s, Somebody Feed Phil with my guy.
31. Christmas with Sawyer and company. 

I hope you found plenty of little things to make you happy this year.

Wishing you a happy 2024!

xoxo

Mags

Hello friends, I just wanted to pop in and share a bit of what I’ve been up to with you. As you probably already know, I’ll have another series for Intrigue coming out in 2025. I have a bit of a lag in there due to the way scheduling works in publishing and also because I had about six months where I was struggling to write anything at all. When I shared my feelings with my fabulous agent, she told me to take my time, and when I was ready, just focus on writing a story that lights me up inside. Sounds great, right? But after more than a decade of writing books for publication, it’s hard to ignore that niggling little voice asking if maybe I’ve written my last book. I wouldn’t say I was blocked so much as feeling a bit empty. So I read a lot. And watched a ton of Netflix. Spent time with my family and friends. Saw a bunch of concerts. When I felt ready, I sat down and made a list of some of the elements I like to find in stories I read:   1. A noisy, sometimes complicated, but always loving family.  2. Genuine female friendships – the kind destined to last a lifetime. 3. Heroines who may not be perfect, but are unquestionably awesome human beings trying their best.  4. Heroes who appreciate a woman who owns her awesomeness and never expects her to dimmish it.  5. Snark. Banter. Warm hugs. Hot kisses. Friends who rally. Heartfelt moments. A little more snark when things get too mushy. Then, I wrote a book with all of those. A big book. And by big, I mean it went on and on. LOL  I call it a mom-com. It’s sort of a Mom (TV show) meets Bridesmaids thing with some single dad romance thrown in. I’d say it skews more toward women’s fiction than contemporary romance, but it definitely deals with relationships. Who knows if it’s something I can ever sell to a publisher, but I’m glad I wrote it. It feels like me, and that lights me up inside. I hope you’ll want to read it one day. xoxo Maggie How about you? Are there particular elements that draw you into a book?

OZARKS WITNESS PROTECTION (Arkansas Special Agents #3) is available today! Be sure to grab your copy at your favorite retailer!

Here are a few thingsthat made me happy this month. How about you?

1. A lie-in, surveying the local nurseries, and a lovely day for yard work.
2. Hanging with the Ottawa Romance Writers and the fab Sara Megibow.
3. Fresh purple hull peas.
4. Rebellion night. 
5. In-depth Lasso play-by-play and analysis with Jewels.
6. A Thursday-Friday!
7. Spent the day in my pajamas writing.
8. More writing then yard work and sunshine 
9. Easter with Arron, Kendall, Sawyer & Rylee. 
10. Flower inspection/anticipation season! 
11. Leadership conference for RSG.
12. Post office ninja!
13. Taco truck tastiness on Friday Eve.
14. Mrs. Maisel returns! 
15. Tile triumph!
16. Writing a few words. 
17. Singing the painting song. 
18. Singing Danny’s Song in our Bueno bubble.
19. Ted’s Triangles.
20. An offer!
21. Legally Blonde: The Musical with Kelli Reep! 
22. Luigi’s and Fernando. Vroom vroom! 
23. Wordsmithing and interior decor.
24. A Happy Go Lucky Carnival of Snackery with David Sedaris and Kelli Reep! 
25. OZARKS MISSING PERSON release day!
26. Chat with the ISU OGs. 
27. Breakfast for dinner and a great coaching call. 
28. Nothing like a little fricassee with Big Dan when you’re feeling a mite peckish. 
29. Today is the day we celebrate all things Renee. 
30. Wordsmithing and marketing for fleas.

The Arkansas Special Agents Series is officially out in the world. We kick this round of true-to-life crime thrillers off with OZARKS MISSING PERSON!

A woman’s disappearance
Leads to a mysterious but powerful family

The disappearance of his sister has filled prosecuting attorney Matthew Murray with guilt over their estrangement. Then she’s found dead and special agent Grace Reed’s inquiries expose a politically influential family. Joining Grace in her investigation, Matthew must choose between his political ambitions and his desire for justice. But Grace’s fearlessness and resistance to intimidation inspire admiration—and more—in Matthew.

I hope you enjoy this series inspired by recent headlines. When I started writing these stories, I had no idea how wild the truth could be compared to fiction!

It was a rough day in Arkansas yesterday. Seems like a good time to select on some little #happythings

One of the characters in my WIP would tell us to remember it’s the everyday that counts. Revel in it. The extraordinary is just…extra.

1. Tazz’s burgers and hunkering down. 
2. Even old girls get the zoomies. #pupperplay 
3. Day 1 of BeccaCon. The fire hose of information is open. 
4. More Input overload, but the sun shone and my guy and I had an exciting evening of burgers and tile shopping. 
5. Savoring the joys of dandelion fluff with Sawyer.
6. A haircut and a box o’ books! 
7. Brought my baby a delicious square fish sandwich.
8. The rain held off a bit. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good evening to puppy nap. 
9. Chattering away with Jewels.
10. Neck deep in FI: Drive to Survive and speckled with chocolate.
11. Banana muffins! 
12. Get things done day. 
13. Kayson is 10! 
14. Tiles and paint procured. Bill covered in confetti.
15. The Ides of Ted Lasso!
16. Taco soup, puppy snoozing, and F1.
17. Texas Roadhouse  and TraderJoe’s.
18. Shrinking and Lasso rewatch.
19. Kroger grocery pickup.
20. Mainlining Daisy Jones and the Six. 
21. 8 week program complete!
22. More Lasso. Can there ever be enough? 
23. Popeyes and puppy snoozing.
24. Brinda and Mags weekend!
25. Making words, Mexican brownies, a walk in the sun, and the devil’s donuts. 
26. Home with man and beasts. 
27. Going wild-ing with Kelli Reep.
28. Manwich night!
29. Massage day, taco truck, and Ted Lasso. 
30. Tag team Walmart shopping and beautiful new tile!
31. Safe and sound. 

I forgot to post this here. Where is my mind?? Anyhoo, are you ready for some #happythings? February is always a challenge for me, but that doesn’t mean there were not bright spots. And cupcakes.

1. Campbell’s Chicken Noodle soup and oatmeal cookies. #healthfood

2. Prescribed methylprednisolone. Did not see my shadow.

3. Feeling slightly human. #gome

4. YouTube food experiments are a success! #omelettoast #grilledcheese

5. Scoring in the clearance aisle!

6. Caught Fodder hiding in the bedroom with a bowl of ice cream . He didn’t want to have to share with the dogs.

7. A good chat and a few atta girls from my coach.

8. Not a heart attack. #positivity

9. A busy day, which kept me from dwelling on a sad day 25 years ago.

10. I made some manicotti and it made me nap.

11. Playtime and pastries with my guys! Thinking of my Mommy.

12. Sunshine day.

13. Back to Margaret Monday.

14. A “Be Mine” cake made by my Valentine.

15. Massage day! And I slept through the night like a big girl!

16. Nothing like a good pencil whipping’!

17. Trawling the Lowe’s for tile ideas.

18. Panera with Tina, Parker & Mandy! This time, we actually made words!

19. Puff pastry experimental kitchen and weenie roast.

20. The Bueno birds are stool pigeons!!

21. Book mail from Lucy Gilmore!

22. Fun with closed-circuit cameras.

23. A perfect pink hyacinth.

24. Discovered that Eugene Levy and are totally MFEO.

25. Nesting day – stocking the freezer.

26. Pasta fagooooool made us drool!

27. Sunny and 74!

28. Making plans for a foyer renovation while Fodder makes the mess.

It’s February friends! Here are a few of my #happythings from January:

1. Tijuana Brass, blown transformer, and an outdoor Christmas on a beautiful day. 
2. B&N date and nesting. 
3. Pre-steak snoozing with Sally. 
4. Massages and mashed potatoes.
5. Slim Chicken’s and shining LaFawnduh. 
6. Pet documentaries confirm we are nothing but minions.
7. An excellent Panera date with Kathy & Tina, Riviera Maya with Kelli, and a chat with Jewels and Lulu. I am a social butterfly. 
8. Carol’s birthday! Jamming Elvis and Bowie. 
9. Zooming with my CNRW pals. 
10. A punch in the arm from Dr. Wayne. 
11. Hacks!
12. David’s burgers and cozy clothes. 
13. Elvis date with my king.
14. Cinnamon Creme Bakery madness!
15. Mediterranean dinner and dreams.
16. Burgers, beans, and my baby!
17. Stitches out. 
18. Arron’s first annual 29th birthday! 
19. Bill is bichipsual. #regularorwavy
20. Mediocre Chinese food, but a superior post-dinner snoozle with Sally. 
21. Running with Reep & RSG holiday party. I wore a sparkly sweater!
22. I sat am forever am at work here.
23. Look,ma, no cavities! 
24. After dinner wind-down with our fur babies.
25. Vegging out with Jewels and Emily In Paris. 
26. Scored a foot-long churro for $1. #winning
27. Schnitzel nacht! 
28. Words! I made words! 
29. The Nurserie field trip.
30. Mickey Ds with my man because I deserved a break today!
31. Jewels is 40! 

It’s that time of year again! I won’t say that 2022 has been without challenges, but I have so much to be grateful for – including you. Thank you for your continued support, enthusiasm, and friendship. I wish you and your nothing but #happythings in 2023!

If you’re curious about the little things that made me happy throughout the year, here is the complete compilation.

January #happythings

1. Snowy day frozen custard sundaes.
2. Spent the entirety of this rainy day watching football in leopard print loungewear. Go Hogs! 
3. Hamburger Helper helps your hamburger make a great meal!
4. Beware the candy monster! 
5. Listening to my husband deny his information addiction.
6. Burgers with my boy and chat with the OGs.
7. Being gently awakened from a post-work puppy nap with the words, “I made you mini chicken tacos.”
8. Made lots of words today. Also, I ate the vegetables in my vegetable soup. Who am I? 
9. “I wonder if she fell off the side of the bed?” 
10. Fodder: “I don’t eat all of the chips, the dogs help.”
11. Much better wording today. 
12. So close to the end….
13. Kayson Oliver gets the rebound and takes the shot! Too bad it was the wrong basket. Good thing he missed.
14. The End – book #45 is in the *ahem* books.
15. Manic manicotti making. 
16. The Croissanterie with my honey!
17. Built our boy a birthday cake for tomorrow. 
18. Big time puppy pile on the big bed.
19. Did her water break, or did someone have an accident? Dun dun dun…
20. Welcome Axel Benjamin Prewitt!
21. Musical night in the Ethridge home theater. Once with a Guys & Dolls chaser. 
22. Goooooooaaaaaaaal! Plus one! -54lbs!
23. Sunshine Sunday. 
24. Getting things done. Achiever®
25. Watching This is Us with Jewels and Lulu.
26. Sewing this book together!
27. MagMuffins and puppy cuddles after a long day.
28. Realizing I may be a 53 year-old Swiftie and I’m not afraid to admit it.
29. Just me and my guy, poking about and dreaming of springtime.
30. Mama gotta new canoe! 
31. It’s Julie Doner day! It’s Julie Doner day! 

February #happythings

1. Running around with my guy.
2. My man made me chicken fried steak and roasted potatoes.
3. Warm, safe, and well-fed. Plus – Olympics!!
4. A little thaw and a lot of puppy love.
5. Bill provides chauffeuring, entertainment, lively conversation and nourishment. A full service husband and Renaissance man.
6. Bought a pair of jeans half the size I was wearing this time last year.
7. Nacho Cheese Doritos are the best food ever.
8. Sunny day, chicken spaghetti, puppy cuddles, and a plan to see a little man.
9. Slippin’ out for a Sonic coke midday.
10. Hamilton!
11. It’s been a David Bowie kind of day – getting things done!
12. A day of Axel adoration and spending time with our Little Squirrel and my best fellas. 
13. Sweet cuddles, a sunny day, and home with our canine overlords.
14. Three bouquets of tulips . Or should that be threelips? #victorborgeinflationarylanguage
15. Zoning out with Jewels watching Cheer.
16. Massage day! I smell delicious.
17. Thursday night nap.
18. Croissant madness.
19. Getting set up for canoe season!
20. I made and ate spinach salad. 
21. I am a culinary master! Okay, maybe not, but I did okay.
22. Mini taco and simul-watching.
23. Tapping into joy with my RSG family.
24. Ted Lasso rewatch with Jewels continues. #watchTedLassobegreatagain
25. Went bathing suit shopping…bought two!
26. An afternoon with my guys – Hogs win!
27. Lazy morning lolling in a warm bed.
28. Sunny day, a little warmth, and a dinner date with my guy.

March #happythings

1. A daffodil blooms one week after the ice storm cometh. #Marchcominginlikealamb 
2. Almost 80 degrees today!
3. A little garden clean up.
4. Raising Cane(s) with mah man.
5. Hanging with Arron and Sawyer – cheers! 
6. Nesting day.
7. Competitive cuddling!
8. Coming home to a spaghetti dinner.
9. Vegging out on Inventing Anna.
10. Test drives and fun zooms with old friends.
11. Spring snow = tacos  and puppy  snuggles!
12. Making plans with the ladieeeeeez! 
13. Kayson is 9! Spent the day leopard lounging. 
14. Chicagoland Sisters in Crime panel.
15. FOOTHILLS FIELD SEARCH large print ARCs arrived!
16. Rub rub rub! Massage day! Shooting hoops with Too-tall Timber.
17. Muppets Danny Boy. Oh boy, oh boy…
18. A box o’ books!
19. Croissanterie breakfast and the Hogs win to end a busy day. 
20. First day of Spring – first outing in our new canoe. 
21. Decision made. Ordering our new CRV – LaFawnduh Honda.
22. Facebook Live and sneak cuddles with my guy.
23. Peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets. 
24. Hogs win! Elite eight!
25. Italian beef and a bevy of boys!
26. Grandparenting like a boss (or Boss Baby). 
27. Recovering with my cuddle puppies.
28. Bridgerton S2. 
29. Tamales, tulips, tortured heroes, and TiU with Jewels & Lulu.
30. Packaging ARCs of FOOTHILLS FIELD SEARCH for mailing. 
31. Giant tennis balls = fun for all! 

April #happythings

1. Why did the duck  cross the road? To get a DQ dipped cone. 
2. Achiever day!!! 
3. Eleven years smoke-free! 
4. Haircut day!
5. Robin’s Mags video courtesy of Apple. 
6. I’m a super stepper!
7. Soup, garlic bread, and the comforts of home.
8. Big breakfast because it’s been a heck of a week!
9. Schnitzel and Strummer and cheesecake with brûlée, these are a few of my favorite things!
10. Local Lime and Lost City with Brinda Berry! A fabulous day! 
11. Got my walk in before the storms.
12. A great performance review meeting in the Room of Wonder.
13. Productive day at RSG – problem solving with paper towels.
14. Cha-ching Cherry pedi!
15. Sleeping in, linner dates and Hurts Donuts. 
16. I made words today! Celebrated with hanging baskets and croissants at the Nurserie. 
17. Easter visit with Arron & Sawyer. Gummy bears and chocolate bunnies.
18. Watched The Hating Game with Sally and Timber. 
19. A post-work walk with my bodyguard.
20. Making plans for my trip to Chicago.
21. A few words and a good stretch of the legs.
22. Sunny Friday date and beef broth. 
23. A trip to River Valley Horticulture and caramel ice cream treats.
24. Words, weeding, and a warm spring day.
25. Prepping to see my peoples!
26. The momentary joy of a cleared desk.
27. Time with my sissie. 
28. Lunch with Jen, laughs with Team Megibow, dinner with Vicki, Nancy, and Dara.
29. Renee’s birthday! A fabulous panel, a meeting with Sara, and finally reunited with my women.
30. Brunch, book signings, and flaming cheese! Opa!

May #happythings

1. Home to my guy, our beasties, and the whole enchiladas!! 
2. Getting things done!
3. HBD, Jimmy! 
4. May the fourth be with us all.
5. A great visit with UP.
6. A lilac!
7. Breakfast at the Croissanterie, a trip to Good Earth, planting flowers, and Sawyer time!
8. Sawyer sets a new baseline for how Grandma Moogie would like to be greeted by everyone. 
9. Summer has come early!
10. Schnitzel nacht. 
11. Massage day! I am unknotted.
12. Pizza fueled words.
13. Working off our cheese curds at Sam’s.
14. Tincture talk at Panera with Kathy & Kim!
15. Floating the Saline River with my guy.
16. Fueled by fire, murder, she wrote.
17. A hot hand with the hoops. #stillgotit 
18. An evening spent babbling into the computer- book stuff and ISU OGs!
19. Hot date with my tasty enchilada. 
20. Chitter chat with Lulu and Not-Christine.
21. River Market with my guy. Have a full arsenal of bath bombs! 
22. Wrote over 10k this weekend.
23. An excellent coaching call with Jess and crew.
24. Release day  and This Is Us finale. 
25. Watching Master Chef with Jewels and Lulu.
26. Old friends + old jokes = fresh laughter.  #thunderhead
27. McDonald’s fries.
28. Book, beer, battered food, and B&N.
29. County fairs and funnel cake. 
30. Typed The End.
31. LaFawnduh Honda has rolled off the truck! 

June #happythings

1. I get a car! And Bill gets a car! And Sally gets a car! And Timber gets a car! 
2. Catching up with Kelli Reep.
3. Swapped tainted peanut butter for tasty steaks. Thanks, Sams! 
4. Just me and my guy. 
5. Sunday, get things done day.
6. Words and an amorphous plan for book 3. 
7. Nap date with Sally E. and TimberToo!
8. A fourth booster! 
9. Pizza and puppies.
10. Got me a sugar daddy.
11. Date day at Panera, a nap, then date night at the Faded Rose. 
12. Laughed so hard I cried.
13. A PW top 25 bestseller!
14. Cleaners, cupcakes, and car wash.
15. Massage day!
16. Getting salty and crispy with my guy at Mr. Chen’s. 
17. Resting my eyes with Sally and Timber.
18. Sweet Sawyer hugs. 
19. Chicken salad croissants. 
20. Shade tree relaxation after work. 
21. Achiever day!
22. Happy clams and cranky oysters. 
23. Dozing on the patio under the fan.
24. Took the doggos to Sonic for burgers and tots.
25. Finding comfort in my guy and two cuddly girls. 
26. Grillmaster Margaret.
27. Loving Timber is easy because she’s underfoot, and every day of my life is filled with loving Timber. La La La La la…La La La La La…
28. Turned the the proposal for another Harlequin Intrigue. 
29. Getting away with my guy.
30. 21 years of marriage is beerious business. Good thing our marriage is old enough to drink now. 

July #happythings

1. Getting beerious about bar mix in the shade of the pecan tree. 
2. Celebrating with the family. <3
3. Indulging my need for the nugget…ice, that is. 
4. Talking out loud with a librarian named Marian. #TheMusicMan
5. Walking the Home Depot because I’m working up to being a mall walker. 
6. Office hours with Team Megibow.
7. Watching Loot with Jewels. 
8. Toy shopping for Sawyer’s birthday!
9. Movie and dinner date. So full!
10. Slooshing at Lake Catherine and dappled, drowsy happy hour under the pecan tree.
11. Big Monday hugs.
12. Virtual cocktails with Tom the Bomb. 
13. Massage day!!! 
14. Wrestling with the beasties.
15. Persuasion with my puppy friends.
16. Sorta-fishing with Sawyer. 
17. Lake day with Bill and Kelli. Kreme Kastle burgers! 
18. So grateful for air conditioning.
19. I’m a normal as a girl from Bloomington-Normal can be. 
20. Team Megibow and McNuggets.
21. An Ozark rendezvous with my Lu, Pop, and Lobster.
22. Floozies, fine leather goods, flaming margaritas, and Mexican train dominoes.
23. Moonshine Beach, Dick’s, 2nd thought shopping, and enormous food. 
24. Home.
25. Plowing through a pile of Monday.
26. Executive dinner decisions.
27. Another annual wellness visit done 
28. Sam’s club cookies. 
29. A bookish 70th birthday for my Eddie. 
30. Write Now! with Tracy & Jewels, then Fodder & I celebrated National Cheesecake Day accordingly.
31. Rainy days and Sundays always make me sleep. 

August #happythings

1. Mellow Monday.
2. A productive day at work.
3. Coming home to nest after a long day.
4. Hanging with Jewels and Tracy. Write on! 
5. Friday night errands with my guy.
6. Bid fun with our big boy at Big Rock Fun Park.
7. Sunday snoozes. 
8. Comfy cuddles on a puny evening.
9. Rizatriptan.
10. Sharing ice cream. 
11. Breakfast. It’s what’s for dinner.
12. Friyay!
13. Mexican Train Dominoes dominated by Vegas Mags.
14. Words were made. 
15. Steak and potatoes. Yum!
16. Watching Indian Matchmaking with Jewels. 
17. Recombobulating with a massage, mashed potatoes, and MasterChef.
18. Clean as a whistle, inside and out.
19. Got a 5 year reprieve from ingesting Miralax cocktails! 
20. LaFawnduh’s maiden voyage with Caddy Canoe , fussing about with Sawyer, and Kelli and I were punked by Bill. 
21. Slept until I couldn’t sleep any more. 
22. Fabulous chicken melts.
23. Fortuitous oven mishaps and sugar cookies.
24. Spent the day letting Brene Brown whisper into my ear.
25. Walking the Home Depot and shopping Etsy!
26. A full chapter!
27. Big words and a night at the ballpark.
28. Survival of the warehouse shopping warriors.
29. Caramel lovers mix! Milk Duds, Rolos, and Reese’s Take5s!
30. Prepping LaFawnduh for the big trip!
31. A busy day, a lazy dinner, and an early bedtime.

September #happythings

1. College football kickoff! Boiler up! 
2. Road tripping with my guy. #homewardbound
3. Kidwellapalooza2022. 
4. Adventures in SEMO.
5. Home with our beasties. Sawyer and his driver stopped by. 
6. Back in the groove. Leaning into finishing energy!
7. Cruising closer to the end! 
8. Invaded by the Louisiana gang!
9. Put Sawyer to work. It’s about time the 3 year old earned his Scooby Snacks. 
10. Pool party at Brinda and Brent’s – Woo pig! Sooie!
11. Finishing energy!
12. Ted Lassoed more Emmys. 
13. This book does not suck!
14. The end!
15. Stepped out of the cave. 
16. Mucho nachos with my macho man.
17. Whew pig! Sooie! Buh bye, Bobby!
18. Paddling through a busy Sunday.
19. Making plans for world domination with Sara. 
20. Enjoying Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen. 
21. Massage day! Chat with my ISU OGs!
22. New kicks! New desk! Just a little spruce. 
23. Frantic Fridays and fluffy friends.
24. Closet doors! Such luxury!
25. I falafel good about our closet update. Ba dum dum! 
26. Cooler days a day hot hand with the hoops.
27. Flu shot = caramel milkshake.
28. Just being with my guy.
29. Harlequin party and candied pecans.
30. Boosted with my boyfriend. 

October #happythings

1. A beautiful autumn day for a hike along the bluffs.
2. A bouquet of zinnias. 
3. Backyard Pickleball is back, my friends! 
4. Much laughter on the court. 
5. Bling Empire is back!
6. I’m a wheeler dealer. 
7. Buying clothes for a sweet baby boy. 
8. Sawyer time and Turkish food fest.
9. Lazy Sunday.
10. Mellow Monday and a few good words.
11. Lemon cake – like sunshine  in your mouth.
12. A rainbow !!!
13. A hot bath  and a good book .
14. Mani/pedi and Slim Chickens.
15. Hogs win and Costco goodies.
16. Zooming with the Panera Supper Club.
17. Puppy pile.
18. Territorial disputes and extra cuddles. 
19. Burgers and Better Call Saul.
20. Video chat with Jewels.
21. Chimichanga, baby!
22. Hiking Allsop, escaping Harvestfest, and shooting hoops with Sawyer. 
23. Loungewear and Love Is Blind. 
24. Some Mondays require oatmeal cookies. 
25. A blustery day and a bowl of chili.
26. Massage day and hanging with the OGs.
27. Being Gutsy with Jewels.
28. Being the Mom who makes Mom’s vegetable soup.
29. B&N adventures with my guys.
30. Once again, peace returns to Innisfree…
31. This is Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! 

November #happythings

1. Birthday month begins!
2. Date night with Bill and Slippin’ Jimmy.
3. Sock shopping, but not having an affair with Thelma Rice. 
4. Snuggled in safe while it storms. 
5. $1.50 hot dog  date.
6. Sunshine and Sawyer.
7. Mental health Monday. just vegging out.
8. An evening in slippers.
9. Fresh bread, evoo, and cheese. 
10. The Crown S5.
11. Netflix and chill. 
12.  pie with my guy.
13. Achiever day 
14. People cookies vs. puppy cookies…
15. Cruising the Dollar Tree with my man.
16. This is 54.
17. Snoozles, french fries, and TV time.
18. Birthday smorgasbord at The Pantry.
19. Girls day at Casa KD! 
20. Restorative workshop.
21. Open enrollment juggernaut.
22. My Billiam. My .
23. Burgers, beans and Better Call Saul.
24. Thankful. 
25. Flying Fish Friday.
26. Axel time!
27. Playing ‘Yay!’ with my littlest guy. Grandma Moogie is still funny.
28. A toast light from Katie! Yay, toast! 
29. Taco soup on a rainy night. 
30. A nice massage to round out birthday month.

December #happythings

1. Impulse buy churros.
2. Saul Gone. Sad it’s over, but such a good show.
3. Guys & Dolls at The Rep. 
4. Nesting day. 
5. Chicken noodle soup  on a cold, wet day.
6. Listening to podcasts while walking and enjoying an “A-ha!” moment.
7. Eye exams and Santa Fe Cafe. 
8. Snoopy blanket snuggles with Sally.
9. When my library loans come in! 
10. Decluttering and decorating. 
11. Fodder and I attended Sundae School at DQ. 
12. Crazy day + happy call + sauna time = Tired Mags.
13. White Lotus – Jennifer Coolidge is a queen. 
14. Our future’s so bright we have to wear shades. 
15. Flaunting our flautas. 
16. Calzones, car wash and Christmas shopping. 
17. Sunshine, glorious sunshine! 
18. On top of Mt. Chex Mix.
19. Horrible day, but feeling blessed. Thank you, God. 
20. The wondrous generosity of friends and strangers.
21. Fiesta dinner. 
22. Christmas crack and cinnamon roasted pecans.
23. Elf with my guy. 
24. Saw our squirrel family, then home to our beasts. The kids are all right.
25. Merry meatloaf and lazy Christmas.
26. The wrong block of cheese  and suspicious ice. 
27. Trash talking the royals with Jewels. 
28. Hogs win the Liberty Bowl…barely. 
29. Pizza and puppy night.
30. Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with cheesecake.
31. Sweets and treats and a fancy BK date because that’s how we swing in the New Year.

*gasp* I forgot to post my #happythings for November! Here they are in case you were wondering how much time I spent on Netflix.

#happythings

1. Birthday month begins!
2. Date night with Bill and Slippin’ Jimmy.
3. Sock shopping, but not having an affair with Thelma Rice.
4. Snuggled in safe while it storms.
5. $1.50 hot dog  date.
6. Sunshine and Sawyer.
7. Mental health Monday. just vegging out.
8. An evening in slippers.
9. Fresh bread, evoo, and cheese.
10. The Crown S5.
11. Netflix and chill.
12.  pie with my guy.
13. Achiever day
14. People cookies vs. puppy cookies…
15. Cruising the Dollar Tree with my man.
16. This is 54.
17. Snoozles, french fries, and TV time.
18. Birthday smorgasbord at The Pantry.
19. Girls day at Casa KD!
20. Restorative workshop.
21. Open enrollment juggernaut.
22. My Billiam. My .
23. Burgers, beans and Better Call Saul.
24. Thankful.
25. Flying Fish Friday.
26. Axel time!
27. Playing ‘Yay!’ with my littlest guy. Grandma Moogie is still funny.
28. A toast light from Katie! Yay, toast!
29. Taco soup on a rainy night.
30. A nice massage to round out birthday month.