Resolutions?

Personally, I don't do them because it's like saying the word "diet"...it's just not gonna happen:)

But, I do re-evaluate myself and reflect on the past year to see where I could've bettered myself. I also do this because my birthday is New Year's Eve and I want to make the next year of my life even better than the last.

Do you all do resolutions? Or do you do like me and just see where you can better yourself?

I'm always looking forward to another year. A new year gives everyone fresh hope and a clean slate to make the changes they need in their lives. Are you as excited as me to get started on 2009?

I hope you all have had a great year and have set some outstanding goals for '09!

Hugs,
Jules

Spring Cleaning!

No, this isn't an old post. I seriously cleaned the whole first floor of my house (excluding my bathroom). Wow, who knew you could pack this much junk into such a tiny cottage style home?

My poor living room took the brunt of the attack. Hubby and I pretty much tossed everything in the floor of the living room and decided what to put back and what to throw away. We used 6 of the super-sized black garbage bags and 10 thirteen gallon bags.

Now, I freely admit to being a pack rat and I'm sure one day I'll want something that got the boot, but I gotta tell ya, my house is looking pretty spiffy right now:) It's a nice feeling - even though I'm wiped out.

I can't wait 'til the girls come home and demolish it again, but at least there's less stuff to toss about. Right?

So, do any of you get in those silly, all day cleaning moods? I wish that burst of energy would come more often and then it wouldn't take as long.

Well, 'til next time, happy cleaning!

Jules

Sold to Silhouette!

Can you say thrilled? I can:)

I've been working my fingers to death for the last year in an attempt to sell to Silhouette Desire...per my agent's suggestion. She was insistant that that line was perfect for me and turns out she was right!

Unfortunately, as hard as Jenn, my agent worked, she was on vacation in the Bahamas and couldn't call me. Actually, I'm not even sure she knows yet. When her boss called, she said she had no way of getting in touch with Jenn. I can't wait to talk to her about this. We've worked and worked and our teamwork has paid off!

I've already got another proposal ready to go (as soon as I do one more read-through) and she'll send it on. Keep your fingers crossed for that!

My Desire book will be out in February 2010 - don't worry, I'll remind you. Also, I'll be revamping my website so keep you eye out for something new and fresh!

So, since I'm in the mood to celebrate, I'll be giving away a sterling silver bracelet with a cute dangling heart. All you have to do is leave me a post! See how easy that is?

Huge Hugs!
Jules

Family Photo

How can two innocent words come together and be so terrifying? Let me tell ya, I'm shakin'.

I've scheduled family pictures for the end of November so I have one month to get this last 15 lbs of baby weight off. I've been hitting the gym like crazy since I work right next to it now. Not only do I have my weight to worry about...WHAT THE HECK DO WE WEAR?

I'm not one of those people who do cutesy outfits with everything matching. I'd like us to all match in color and the girls will be wearing jumpers with black, pink and white in them. I guess I'll go with my old standby of...black:)

As for hubby, he's even less thrilled than I am. But, I know if we don't do this when the babies are, well, babies, we'll be sorry when they get older that we didn't. And, hey, I'll need something to blackmail them with when they get older:)

I look back at family photos from when I was a kid and I don't know whether to laugh at the puffy, bad permed hair or cry at the fact my mother let me leave the house looking like Young Frankenstein.

Anyway, I'd love to hear some family photo horror stories:) Why do we put ourselves through the misery? I can't figure it out...

Hugs,
Jules

Happy Anniversary to Me!

This is such an appropriate post to follow on the coattails of "Romantic Gestures". My hubby and I just celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary on Sept. 25th.

What did we do? Well, we went to my FAVORITE restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory and did some shopping. Great food, a shoe purchase (or two) and trying on clothes that make me look skinny...what more could a gal want?

We had a fabulous time. Why is it that when the anniversary rolls around I feel more giddy? Does anybody else get this? I even get giddy on the anniversary date when we started dating.

Oh well, I hope I never lose that school girl feeling. I get the tingling in my belly throughout the year as well. Like when my guy takes my hand and squeezes, a nice subtle, unspoken I Love You. Or, when he thinks I'm asleep and he comes to bed and runs his hand over my hair and my cheek and whispers, "I love you" or "You're so beautiful".

Man, do I have a good guy or what?

So, do you all still get that silly, tingling feeling with your mate? If so, how long have you been together? I think romance is the best emotion, action...whatever, in the whole world. I would hate to go through this life alone, having never felt this connection.

Since I'm in the lovey-dovey mood, I'll give away a really cool silver-plated bookmark to one lucky person who leaves me feedback!

Romantic Gestures

Because they don't happen everyday, I get all giddy when they do:)

My husband is a romantic at heart. The man has no choice seeing as how he grew up with 4 older sisters. Needless to say he knows how to treat a lady...lucky me:)


The other day I was hustling around trying to get all the girls' things together as well as my own before we left. As I'm rushing to get to the door, I stop where I always hang my keys and instead of seeing my keys, I see a CD. On the CD were the words "I Love You". I stopped in my tracks and smiled.

So, now I'm even in more of a hurry to get to the car because I want to see what's on this CD my hubby made me.

I strap both girls in, load the car with bags and pop the CD in. Off we go.

There's only one song on this new CD - I Need You by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

WOW! My hubby sure does know how to impress me:)

Has a special person in your life ever done something romantic that took you by surprise? I'd love to hear about it!

If You Hate It...Change It

I overheard a conversation between two people the other day...okay, so I was eavesdropping, that's beside the point.

Anyway, there was a lady complaining to a man. She said, "I hate being fat." (BTW, she was NOT fat by any means.)

The man said, "No you don't."

Her head snapped back. "What? I do to."

He replied, "If you hated it, you would do something about it."

Very good point. I really believe that could apply to anything in life. Personally, I hate having a messy house all the time, so I've decided to spend more time cleaning...now if I could just find that spare hour or two a day.

I also hate working my day job, so I'm taking steps to fix that:) Soon, I should be able to stay home and be a full-time author and mother.

So, is there something you hate? How do you plan to fix it? I'm offering up a prize from my goodie stash to one person who leaves me a comment!