Over the past couple of years, I’ve tried to focus more on the good things in life than the things that get me down. I think it’s working. Last year, I started doing the notes in a jar. In 2016, I plan to continue that, but I’m also adding the Happier app to my repertoire. It allows me to take pictures and note the happy as it’s happening.
Still, I love my pretty post-its, so I can’t abandon the good old mason jar. I opened my 2015 good things jar on NYE.
That sucker was stuffed!
Wanna see what went down this year? Here’s the scoop:
January
1/1/15 – Pan fried praline french toast in butter. We are rebels!
1/1/15 – 1017 words to kick off the new year!
1/2/15 – The best days are royalty check days!
1/2/15 – Print copies of The Last First Date for RITA have arrived!
1/4/15 – Cracker Barrel with Kathy, Monica, and my man!
1/6/15 – Facebook harassed Kay Fairchild with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.
1/6/15 – Spring Chickens re-release!
1/7/15 – Hug therapy and Pillsbury ready-to-bake sugar cookies.
1/23/15 – I got a raise!
1/24/15 – Snuggle nap.
February
2/3/15 – Switched RT enrollment for RWA in NYC with Karen B!
2/4/15 – Colin James Kidwell is born!
2/11/15 – Popeye’s Pandora, and the perfect truffle from my love.
2/12/15- Viva Las Vegas with my Super Cool Party People!
2/14/15 – Spring Chickens will be in the Unforgettable Heroes II boxed set!
2/15/15 – Stranded in Las Vegas with my girls.
2/16/15 – Spa day with Iwanna. There are worse places to be stuck than Las Vegas. J
2/23/15 – Signed up for NOLA Stars conference in Shreveport.
2/26/15 – Finished draft on Full Court Press.
2/28/15 – Request for a full on Full Court Press – agent J.A.
March
3/1/15 – Submitted Bossy Pants (retitled A Will and A Way) to Kensington.
3/1/15 – Tulips, pretty tulips!
3/7/15 – NOLA Stars – request for full on FCP – editor P.B.
3/7/15 – NOLA Stars – request for partial and synopsis – agent L.B.
3/7/15 – NOLA Stars – submitted full and synopsis FCP – agent D.K.
3/7/15 – NOLA Stars – Won 1st chapter critique from Molly O’Keefe in auction.
3/18/15 – Query S.M. on FCP.
3/24/15 – Partial request from S.M.
3/29/15 – 3.5 miles in 44 minutes watching Rory’s Birthday Parties on Netflix.
April
4/4/15 – Flying Fish, grass sledding, Riverwalk, salted caramel ice cream, and Outlander. The perfect day!
4/9/15 – Kensington wants Bossy Pants (to be renamed) and two more to follow Going Deep!
4/12/15 – Sara Megibow offered representation!
4/20/15 – Accepted representation with Sara Megibow, KT Literary. Officially a part of Team Megibow!
May
5/4/15 – Charlotte Castle Kolleng is born!
5/6/15 – Boaz Joshua Kiewiet is born!
5/20/15 – Full Court Press going out on submission.
June
6/2/15 – Jewels booked her flight to Little Rock!
6/10/15 – Chicago! Got to smooch Kat, Becky, Johnny, Katie, baby Lottie, and el Jeffe!
6/11/15 – Chicago part II – visit with Strokie at State Farm, Garrett’s Popcorn, and Lou Malnati’s pizza!
6/12/15 – RUSH at the United Center with Wild Bill, Jazzy Jeff, Dazed Dan, Kat and Carol!
6/17/15 – Terms with Kensington at good. Three book deal is a go!
6/21/15 – Father’s Day Italian beef, sugar cookies, and hoops with my boys.
6/24/15 – Kidneys and bladder passed their tests with flying colors.
July
7/4/15 – Annual viewing of The Music Man.
7/18/15 – DSRA, Café Cinco De Mayo, and pre-RWA mani/pedi.
7/21/15 – Surprise bonus at the day job just in time for my trip. 🙂
7/22/15 – RWA in NYC – I touched Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Such a lovely lady.
7/22/15 – RWA Literacy Signing.
7/22/15 – RWA with Karen B. – Up late girl talking. 🙂
7/23/15 – Kensington party – Cab ride with Sharon Struth, Terri-Lynne DeFino, and Sonali Dev.
7/24/15 – Harlequin party at the Waldorf Astoria – Nine authors, one limo. Danced the night away with Karen B!
7/25/15 – Ate a delicious Steakburger in NYC. You can take the girl out of Bloomington…
7/25/15 – RITA awards – two wins for Team Megibow authors!
7/26/15 – Sad news about my BeBe to start the day, but smooth travel with Renee N Kelly. Now home to my pillow.
7/31/15 – Turned in Flip This Love – 64k in 31 days!
August
8/8/15 – Amazeum in Bentonville to meet Sara Megibow.
8/13/15 – Jewels hits Little Rock. 3 Sams BBQ for PB pie. Shooting hoops in the back yard.
8/14/15 – Burgers, shoe shopping, Flying Fish, cardboard sledding and Willy D’s piano bar with Jewels, Joe and Deb!
8/15/15 – Took Jewels to DSRA for show and tell. Mexican food, Trainwreck, and bopper sundaes.
8/16/15 – Jewels, Kayson, and juggling.
8/29/15 – 1st round edits on Flip This Love.
September
9/15/15 – Going Deep release day!
9/27/15 – 12331 words at the DSRA writing retreat 2015!
October
10/13/15 – Flip This Love cover is FABULOUS!
10/13/15 – An offer on Full Court Press!
10/17/15 – I had a bunny. He made me very happy for a very long time.
10/28/15 – Entered Going Deep in 2016 ROTA awards.
10/28/15 – Signed 3 book deal with Samhain Publishing for Warrior (Full Court Press) series.
10/31/15 – Batman returns for trick or treating!
November
11/1/15 – 1st round edits on A Will and A Way.
11/4/15 – Samhain deal announced.
11/9/15 – Lulu bought a house in Missouri just to be closer to me!
11/12/15 – Watched WKRP turkey drop. “As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.”
11/14/15 – Loblolly ice cream sundaes for lunch.
11/14/15 – Hogs beat LSU – always a good time.
11/15/15 – Dinner at Marketplace with the kiddos – chocolate mess sundae with my favorite little boy.
11/16/15 – 47th bday – New Kindle and Snoopy book on writing.
11/21/15 – Shared a teeny-tiny birthday cake with Mr. Bill.
11/22/15 – Playtime Pizza with the family for Bill’s double-nickel birthday.
11/26/15 – Thankful for a fun Thanksgiving.
11/27/15 – Finished 1st draft on Love and Rockets…finally!
11/28/15 – Joe and Deb’s wedding!
December
12/1/15 – More good publishing news (announcement to come in January).
12/2/15 – DSRA lunch and PHC party. Eat, eat, and eat some more!
12/6/15 – Christmas lights are finally up.
12/13/15 – I am a turkey roasting goddess. Who knew?
12/18/15 – Sally finally learned to play tug.
12/20/15 – My man bought me cookies after a long day of inventory.
12/25/15 – Family, little smokies, monkey bread, and I left The Isle up $5!
12/26/15 – Kidwell Christmas = Babies, babies, babies, and euchre.
12/27/15 – Bill became the fool who ripped his pants!
12/28/15 – Free bonus charm at Pandora.
12/29/15 – Brinda Berry proved that she is magic, like a unicorn.
12/31/15 – Dinner with my man, puppy play, yoga pants, West Wing on Netflix, football and Little Debbie Nutty Bar.
Whew! What a year! Thank you all for being a part of it!
The jar is empty again and ready to go. My goal for 2016 is to top 100+ notes. How about you? Are you doing anything to tap into your happy?
