Wednesday, January 3, 2018

IWSG January


It's a new year. Time for fresh starts and new resolutions...or if you're like me, you'll make the same resolutions you've been making for the last decade. And evidently failing at them if they have to be rebooted year after year.

Normally, that revelation would cause some degree of insecurity and discouragement, but not this year. This year, I realized as I wrote down my ever-familiar goals that these goals are always on the list because they are not only my toughest challenges, but they are ongoing, multi-faceted and are more journey than destination.

Take my nemesis, weight loss. Unless there is a miracle shift in metabolism where chocolate consumption actually burns calories, then I cannot imagine weight loss will ever be off my resolution list. The desire to reach THE perfect weight has been a goal that dates back to the age of pre-teen insecurities that accompanied training bras and maxi pads.

I am pretty damned stubborn about not abandoning my insecurities. I'll keep trying, but now that I'm older and I'd like to imagine, a bit wiser, I'll forgo the frustration and be sure to give myself credit for small victories. I mean, just because I haven't hit the bull's eye of perfection doesn't mean I'm not scoring points. I do eat my veggies and drink my water.

Small victories-- I'll take them.

It's like writing a book. We all look forward to writing "The End", but we must also acknowledge that every chapter, paragraph, and sentence are also accomplishments.

How about you...big goals or small? New goals  or reboots?


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Thanks to our fearless leader, Alex Cavanaugh and this week's co-Hosts: Tyrean MartinsonThe Cynical SailorMegan MorganRachna Chhabria, and Jennifer Lane.

Really Real Housewives
I almost forgot! We're back. Tara Tyler and I are the Really Real Housewives. As writers, we prefer make believe to reality, but reality is so damned insistent, we have to deal with it. Houses need cleaned and meals need cooked. Our goal is always to do it as quickly and easily as possible so we can get back to dreaming and writing. Come on over and check us out! And if you have a life tip and want to share it...give us a holler, we love guest posts.

And there's this (that I forgot to do!)...



Flaming Crimes Blogfest


Prompt: What is something ridiculous you would save if there was a fire?

That's easy...




My pink kitty. Personally, I don't find the choice ridiculous, but my family would definitely vote that she would be the stupidest thing I would ever risk flames for. She's ratty and torn and recently had her face ripped apart by our pup (emergency surgery went well, thankfully, but she has been with me since I was four-years-old. 



Series: Disaster Crimes #4Page Count: 304 Digital Price: 4.99 Print Price: 16.99
Rating: Spicy (PG13) 

BUY LINKS:

BLURB: Beth and Donovan are now happily married, and what Beth wants more than anything is a baby. Her dream of starting a family is put on hold as fires burn dangerously close and Donovan becomes a victim of sabotage.

Donovan escapes what could've been a deadly wreck. Their past enemies have been eliminated, so who is cutting brake lines and leaving bloody messages? He vows to find out, for the sake of the woman he loves and the life they're trying to build.

Amidst a criminal mind game, a fire ignites next to their home. They battle the flames and fight to keep their house safe from the blaze pressing in on all sides, but neither of them expects to confront a psychotic adversary in the middle of the inferno.

Their lives may just go up in flames…



About the Author: Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. She’s partnered with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and runs their Goodreads book club. She’s also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press.

Author Links:

37 comments:

  1. Since none of us can ever be perfect, those small goal are important.

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    1. I'm okay with not being perfect. Perfect people are boring.

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  2. That's good to set smaller goals and realize that some are just ongoing ones. The weight one is something we all deal with. And like you, I must have my chocolate. Wishing you a great year. Hope you celebrate all the smaller goals you've set for yourself.

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    1. I heard someone on TV tonight say that careers are built on small goals.

      Here's to a year of great things for you too.

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  3. Setting small goals fools the amygdala into thinking we aren't making scary changes. I think of it like a gorilla and it wakes up grumpy if we make huge claims. Sneak by it I say! Yay to you I whisper!

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    1. That makes sense. Any time I think big, I panic...now I know why!

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  4. Sometime ago, I decided that making New Year's resolutions didn't cut it with me so I stopped doing them. By the way I love chocolate and especially if they are chocolate covered cherries. Could eat them all day but I don't.
    Wishing you a great year Elizabeth.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G

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    1. I didn't get any chocolate covered cherries this season. Bummer. I love them too.

      There is something invigorating about a new year-- sort of like getting a new notebook-- the possibilities are exciting.

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  5. I am totally with you on the weight loss, and how it's more of an ongoing journey, not a destination. I do have a number on the scale that I'd like to reach but it's more of a range than an actual number, and it's totally reachable. I raise my water glass to you in a toast to all things veggie! :)

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    1. The more I worry, the more I gain. But it's hard not to worry about it. LOL.

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  6. I think it's completely ridiculous the amount of time I spend thinking about my weight. It's there, it's not going anywhere, and dang, that chocolate tastes fine. Maybe I should just make a rule that any chocolate calories must be counter-acted by exercise burning activities. But then there's the time factor, and the fatigue factor, and ... back to the drawing board.

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    1. It's quite the dilemma. Exercise and eating right gives me energy, but when I'm feeling fatigued, those are the last two things I want to do.

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  7. Weight loss, weight gain. It's a cycle I can't get off of! Damn those circles! :)

    Happy 2018!

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    Replies
    1. I've never been overly good at weight loss. Mostly just a steady climb-- which is probably worse than the circle.

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  8. Glad to see you back! Weight loss is my goal too. I still have 20lbs to lose before November to hit my goal.

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    1. I'll see your twenty and raise you twenty more. LOL. That would be sweet to be able to pull that off.

      Good luck to you!

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  9. Small victories are so important. Baby steps, right?

    Happy New Year!

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    Replies
    1. I think baby steps should be celebrated, for sure.

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  10. I wish chocolate consumption burned calories! That would be awesome!

    Best wishes for 2018!

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    Replies
    1. Wouldn't that be the greatest thing? Or if it at least had the calorie count of a stalk of celery.

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  11. I like small goals. They're more immediate and keep me going toward those mountainous ones that seem impossible.

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    1. And I like to scratch things off of lists. It's like an immediate reward.

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  12. Every little word you wrote, sure counts note for note haha

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  13. Small victories count. And they count for something big. :)

    Aw. Your pink kitty was well-loved. I have a teddy bear I'd want to save, too, if time permitted.

    Thanks for participating in my blog hop!

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    1. Sorry for being late on it. I had the 19th in my head and all the rest floated right out.

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  14. Pink kitty - love it! There are definitely goals that I set each and every year and fail to achieve. Eat healthy and start exercising come to mind :-) All the best for the New Year - Ellen

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    1. You and I have that in common. But I'll never give up, maybe one day it will happen.

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  15. I'm not big on resolutions. Not that I don't have goals, they're just ongoing and continual.

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    1. I think that's my problem. I don't stray far from the goals-- write books, try to lose weight, try to get organized. It's always the same.

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  16. I think the saving the Pink Kitty sweet. Happy 2018.
    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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    1. She is special-- though my kids swear she's haunted.

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  17. Small victories are worth celebrating. I like that you see the journey instead of just the stops along the way. Love the pink kitty. Definitely worth saving.

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  18. Yeah, some goals are forever ongoing. Maybe those consistent "epic fails" allow us to focus better or the other achievable goals, lol.

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  19. Yup, small achievements are important. They are the things that will add up to the final results. Keep on keeping on Liz.

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  20. You're absolutely right, Elizabeth – it's the small achievements that are the most important. At least you're being healthy most of the time. I couldn't live without chocolate either!
    Happy New Year my friend.
    Suzy xx
    www.suzyturner.com

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  21. Small is good, especially if you just keep going. I've stopped resolutions because I realize I need to be aware all year long, not just at the "beginning"...! Happy New Year!

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