Roxy's Musings - ROXY MEWS

Taking my own advice and eating frogs

10/14/2020

I was in a really bad spot for a really long time this year financially. I would break out in a cold sweat whenever it was time to pay the bills, because I knew there wasn't enough to cover it.

Covid-19 hit my family really hard. Both my husband and I were deemed essential workers. But there was a shortage on every bit of cleaner and PPE on the planet. I had to take to online ordering to buy good masks, and gloves and cleaner. Only the organic meat was in the stores, and there was a limit on it. Our expenses went through the roof when we were already struggling. Even with no one getting sick, the financial burden was huge.

I'm letting you in on this because I know I'm not the only one struggling.

We ended up doing a lot of sacrificing, and cashing in to get out of that spot. But like clockwork, when I start to see bills...I get scared. Because I know that feeling of panic that comes from wondering if we are going to need to pay for an unexpected expense.

I have been working a lot with my tarot cards, and my intuition. Today my cards told me to suck it up and get to work, and quit whining.

My deck is hella sarcastic.

I stopped my morning pages practice and opened up my laptop and dug in. I didn't give my over-analyzing brain a chance to panic, I just got started.

I feel a million pounds lighter knowing it's done.

I know I have talked about this phrase "Eat That Frog" before. It comes from one of the few self-help books that stuck with me after I read it. Mainly because the whole book can be knocked down to one idea.

Do the hard/scary shit first.

Literally. That's the main takeaway. You can still read the book. I don't remember anything beyond the main point, but you can grab the ebook on Amazon still.

If you read the book or not, it's still great advice. Today, my frog was my bills. I had been putting them off for almost two weeks, and today I just grabbed my fork and knife (in the form of my bill bullet journal and pen), and chowed down (by actually going through and paying my bills).

Sometimes it's good to remember the advice you've preached to others. Today I took my own advice and ate my frog. What frog do you need to chow down on today?

~Roxy

Finding Joy in Nostalgia: Vampire Diaries By LJ SMith Re-Read

2/15/2020

I started writing because I loved reading so much. Way back in the long long ago, I was just a reader who discovered her kindle. I paid way more money than I probably should have, but that little device brought me so much fucking joy, that I regret nothing.

In finding my joy this year, I am working on doing things that make me happy. Like last week, I sat down with a friend I made through this whole crazy writer world and we just brainstormed. I told her that I want to write a book next month, that I need to hit a “THE END” and we went from a hint of “I miss vampires” to an entire character arc and story line for both her book and mine. I’m so grateful for your willingness to lock the door to the craziness in your own house and take that couple of hours with me, Kayleigh Malcolm. (Seriously, buy a book from the woman. She’s brilliant.)

But even though I’ve said it before in an offhand manner, I've noticed something about myself this past month. I do better when I have more to do. Don’t get me wrong, I still need to do the dance between overloading my TO DO’s and sleeping all day, but when I have multiple things to keep track of, my mind goes into serious mode. I make lists and plans, and I know that I have to get X done, because Y is up next.

So I’m going to start jumping into a few small frying pans and see if I can dance again.

Starting with....

A READ ALONG!

Even before I fell hard for my Kindle, I fell in love with vampires. I can remember checking very specific books out from the library again and again. LJ Smith was also the first author I hunted down and spent my own money on in the bookstore. (I think it was a Borders. RIP) And her Vampire Diaries were the ones I fell hardest for.

The original 90’s-tastic book covers for the Vampire Diaries are stuck in my mind. That black crow with Elena’s blue eyes peaking out…LOVE.

These are the books I blame for my start down the road to romance. Before I even knew exactly what it was. This unnatural pull and fated meeting...this was my shit.

Yes, I know there was/is a TV show about this. But any LJ Smith purist knows Elena Gilbert is FUCKING BLOND WITH BLUE EYES!

ahem. Sorry.

Actually, no I'm not. Those features had meaning and purpose, and my little teenage heart still hurts that a brunette played her.

I tried to get into the show, but it veered too far off the path of the original story for me.

I've heard of people currently doing a re-read of Twilight because of the nostalgic flutter that it gave their hearts. I don't have that for Twilight. I did read the books, and they were a fast read for me. But all I could think of when reading them was the Vampire Diaries. The OG vampire love triangle. The struggle of family and loss. All with 90's bangs and so much teenage angst I'm probably going to choke on it. But I'm going to love every minute.

Does this book hold up in today's world? Probably not, but if you go into this in the same frame of mind you'd have watching Friends, or Full House, you'll get it.

So whether you want to relive a little 90's drama, or see some of what the hell happened to my head as a child that made me who I am today. Read along with me!

This week, let's read "The Awakening". There are various formats available, but I'll be reading from the 2007 re-release edition. It's a quick read, and I figure in a week, most people will decide this either is or isn't their cup of tea and will allow those of us who are still obsessed to move onto the next book in a speedy way.

Just realized, maybe this is where I got my obsession with cover art that stares you down! Huh.

Either way, I'm reading this book from Today, Feb 15th, through Feb 22nd. Then it will be onto "The Struggle".

Feel free to chat here in the comments, or head on over to my Facebook page and let me know what you thought of this. I'll link the thread below. Or come tell me what book flips your nostalgia switch! I'd love to hear about it.

~Roxy

New Year, New Self-Help Book

1/4/2020

If I have learned anything about myself, it is that I am a self-help book ho. I love self-help books.

There aren't a ton of brilliant break through moments in these tomes. Many self-help books talk about the same basic tenants.

Some of the themes I see repeated...

1. Use affirmations to tell yourself exactly who you are about to become.

2. Think big, but start with small steps. Goals need baby steps, just like we did.

3. Start your day off right. Most of the time, by starting it off early.

Yeah. Early morning productivity is a big theme I see a lot in books. We all remember my Miracle Morning kick, right? If not, I'll spare you. I got injured and felt like absolute shit when I couldn't complete the umpteen million steps I had laid out for myself every day.

My miracle mornings had me feeling like I could take on the world...if I got them done. When I started missing the routine, I felt like absolute shit. I felt like a failure, and added into the other craziness that was going on in my life around the time I started missing my routine, it was one more issue that sent me spiraling.

As a straight-A student for the vast majority of my life, failure is something I fear. Failure causes an eruption of emotions that should probably be addressed by a professional, but that would involve me admitting my own short-comings to a real person face-to-face, and I can't think of a more real vision of hell.

And after saying all that...my latest self-help read is about waking up early and doing morning routines.

Now that you've all face-palmed at me, let me explain why.

I thrive in the mornings. The house is quiet. I get one-on-one time with my pets. I get to listen to audiobooks or podcasts without someone constantly interrupting me (in a house with 5 people and 4 pets that's huge), and I get to drink my coffee all the way through without reheating it.

When I was writing regularly, my best words came before noon. After making lunch for everyone and scarfing down my own food in between the different meals for my pickyass family, I wasn't good for much more than mundane tasks.

In the new year I want to find the joy in my life again, and much of that joy came from writing, reading, and my animals. When did I get time for all that? Around 5am.

Which is why I used some built up audible credits to download, Good Morning, Good Life.

I'm also following along with a book club through one of my favorite planner channels on YouTube, Cindy Guentert-Baldo. She is doing a lot of "plan with me" style videos for the new year, and while she and I are not of the same planning style, I like hearing her opinions, and she's a foul-mouthed momma that I relate to on a lot of levels.

My thoughts on this book...

1. Buy or borrow in paper if you can.

This book has a few exercises at the end of the chapters that are a pain the butt to do if you have to keep rewinding to get the information down. In fact, I only completed the first prompt, because I was listening to this book while running errands, and stopping in the middle of the grocery store to write down deep meaningful journal entries just wasn't going to work for me. I'm probably going to re-read this or at least jump to the prompt pages when I have more time.

2. This is a kidless woman who works out of her home talking about how to make the most out of your mornings.

To be fair, she acknowledges that she has it easier than a lot of people, but I know many folks will be grumpy by this fact, so giving you the heads up if you're thinking of purchasing. That being said, I don't disagree with her logic or her methods. There is always a way to fit in your dreams, but you have to make it a serious priority. I published my first book in a 1200 square foot house with no office, three kids, and two dogs underfoot. Everyone has their problems, and if we assign priority to something, we can do it. (Not talking about people with chronic health issues or people in crisis mode. You know when you're ready to do something about your dreams.)

3. I view this as Miracle Morning Lite

I saw a lot of the Miracle Morning mindset and techniques in this book. The difference? Amy doesn't expect you to do all of them every morning. She just suggests options and wants you to craft your own experience.

4. A couple of items I plan on getting back to after reading this.

I'm going to start drinking water first thing in the morning again. Hydration is super important, and being that I'm recovering from the plague over here, it's extra vital. I'm also going to start journaling again. But I'm not ready to do anything too commitment heavy, so I'm journaling in the goodnotes app. One page. Big text. I'm also going to start reading more. But I have to admit that I'm not ready for romance yet. So I'm picking up alternatives. I'm getting into The Burial Society, by Nina Sadowsky, and I'm trying to read paper again to work on disconnecting from the internet. I learned I need to have a healthy distance sometimes, and it's important to have mental downtime.

The new year is always a time that I feel inspired to mix things up in my life. But rather than a radical shift this year, I'm going to start plucking bits from past years and make a new reality for myself.

I started this morning sitting alone and writing this blog. The kids and hubby are all asleep. School and all the activities that come with it start back up tomorrow, so I'm taking today to enjoy the calm before the storm.

I'm off to do a quick journal entry, and then read a book to unplug. After a load of dishes, because I think they multiplied overnight.

What are you going to do for yourself today?

~Roxy

Reading on a budget

3/1/2019

The idea behind this post might seem counterintuitive to talk about as an author. You know...one who would love it if you were to buy a book or two. *HINT HINT* You could aways check the "Books" tab if you'd like to add some robosex or tiny house lovin' to your TBR pile.

But before I was a writer, I was a reader. And money has never been something that could keep up with my appetite for books. I've been a coupon queen and purveyor of the sales rack for as long as I can remember. So I thought I'd share some of my tips for reading on a budget.

1. Don't be married to a format.
I absolutely ADORE reading on my Kindle. I love the ability for it to keep my exact spot. Since I can increase the font size, jumping right back into a book is super easy, even if I have to put it down in a hurry. But what I've learned over the past few years is that by allowing myself to be fluid in the format, I can take advantage of a lot of sales. When authors are looking to jump into new avenues, they tend to price things lower. Ebook, paper, audiobook, Radish serials, alternative vendor apps on my phone, all of them are there. Because sometimes an author wants to boost visibility on a certain platform, and they'll price items accordingly.

2. Get intimate with your library, and others nearby.
I'm incredibly lucky to be in a city with a robust library catalog. My library consists of multiple branches and will bus books between them for me to pick up at no cost to me. BUT, I have purchased a PLAC (Public Library Access Card) in the past. For my state, it's only $65 for the entire year, and allows me to drop in and get a library card for any library in the state of Indiana. This was amazing for me in regards to program access the other libraries had as well. But solely on a book level, if you're struggling to find what you want in your library, check out what other libraries are around you. You might be able to pay a small fee and gain access to a vast amount of other options. Or gain library ebook access when you might not have it available otherwise. And libraries buy the copies of their books, so by requesting books you'd like to see from your favorite authors, or supporting your local library by buying a card, you're supporting those authors too.

3. Subscription services aren't all bad.
I'm going to pre-empt this with the fact that I'm not a subscriber for anything other than Audible at this moment. I personally didn't find the value for other subscription services because I didn't use them. But check out the catalogs for online services like Kindle Unlimited, Scribd, Playster, or KOBO Plus. You might find something that works for you, and most of them have free trials. I personally liked Audible the most. Aside from the fact that the books I purchase with my credits continue to be mine even if I pause or leave the subscription, (I'm not sure if this is true of the others or not), I have access to Audible exclusive titles, and even things like guided mediations and Yoga routines. However, some subscriptions require the author to be exclusive with the platform, and for that reason, some of the bigger names I'd like to use the subscription for, won't be available. I'd say to pick your top 10 favorite authors and see what kind of titles you can consume through a platform for each author. If you can't find that many, move along to the next.

4. Newsletters and Mailing Lists are more than junk mail.
Sometimes. I have been thinning out my newsletter and mailing list influx lately, because it got to be too much, and I'm pretty sure at least one or two of the authors I subscribed to sold or swapped my list, because I got some junk mail from people I'd never heard of before. (Authors if you're reading this...don't give your email list to another author. It's a bad look.) But there are plenty of services you can sign up for, like BookBub, that will compile lists of sales. And I mention BookBub because I know authors pay to get on that list, and have an investment involved to make the book they promote be a great one.

Newsletters by your favorite authors are also a great way to learn about new releases, special promo pricing, and maybe even enter a giveaway. So while I'd caution to keep the subscriptions to ones you'll actually want to read, if you're on a budget, they can be an excellent source of information to save you big bucks.

5. Work your present-getting occasions to your benefit.
If your Aunt Cindy gives you another candle, you'd probably have enough to open your own shop. The vast majority of items you get from fairly distant relatives, or well-meaning family aren't things you'd prefer. Let them know you want book gift cards. Talk about it at family functions, tell your significant other to spread the word, tattoo the sentiment on your forehead, just get the word out that you want gift cards to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. Let people know you'd love to get that book bling much more than a blanket this year under the tree. You don't have to tell grandma that you wouldn't wear the jean vest she made, just let her know that you already have one and would love to get a book to cozy up with instead. If they want something to wrap, tell them to grab you a great hard cover new release you don't have the cash to splurge on yourself. If you hate the book selection the uncle you've blocked on Facebook gives you, just return it for in-store credit and grab the erotic romance you've had your eye on instead.

I purposefully left off half price book stores on this list. The reason is, I like to find ways to support the authors who are writing the books, and unless you're buying from the "New" section, resale stores don't send checks to the authors. And don't get me started on the pirates out there sharing books on torrent sites and Google Drives. I hope you all get a virus.

Those are my tips for reading when the cash is tight. What are some of your favorite ways to feed your reading addiction? I'd love to hear about them! I'm diving into my next read as soon as I get this blog done. Happy Reading!

~Roxy

Audio Books are my new obsession

2/22/2019

Well, first of all, I should say I'm still on my Kylie Scott binge. Damn, can that woman write!! And being that she has a decent backlist I've got two of her series going on side by side at the moment. I tend to have both audio and ebooks on hand so I can get my read on no matter what the circumstances. This woman is all over my kindle, overdrive, and audible applications.

My family recently became a one vehicle household due to budget cuts, and I think I spend at least half of my waking hours either getting ready to get in the car, being in the car, or filling the car up with gas.

Obviously, reading an ebook while doing these things is not conducive to my, or my family's, survival.

Enter Audible.

I don't have any special links with kickback, or a brand deal. Good lord, I wish! But I have been obsessed with my Audible subscription. And other than my coffee and wine budget, it's the one luxury I spend the money on. Why? Because if I have to listen to one more radio DJ talk in my ear I'll tear the damn device out of the dash with my bare hands. I do enjoy music, but I'm over the ads, and with an election coming up, I am not down for the smear campaigns.

I have wireless earbuds I keep in my ears almost all day, and as I start my long hours of errands, and...you guessed it...car driving, I simply push a button and I'm reading.

I'm on the basic audible subscription, but I tend to save up my credits and bulk buy. So I listen to new to me authors on Overdrive and borrow from my local library. And if a book I'm interested in checking out isn't there, I recommend my library pick it up. Seriously, if you are bummed by your library's digital selections, pop a recommendation in through Overdrive. My library has purchased quite a few books I've suggested. Although, if it's a book I want NOW, I pop over to Audible or Amazon and download anyway. Life is too short not to read a book NOW.

Currently I have "Deep" in my ears. I'm working my way through the Stage Dive series at record pace. And honestly, I'm kind of shocked because I'm not really a rockstar trope type of gal. But the situations she's thrust these characters into, the story telling and the outright funny moments have me absolutely enamored.

The narrator for this series is stellar. Andi Arndt is going to be a voice I'm on the lookout for. And seriously...just pulling up a link for this narrator, I found an Audible Original and one-clicked the hell out of that shit.

I adore finding an author that checks all of my Romance boxes. Kylie Scott has deep POV, humor, spice, and a talent for building a world it's easy to get lost in all the while telling a story that locks you into one couple at a time. Now that I've been so entrenched in audio books, a great narrator has also gone up high on that list.

Turns out, I'm a single narrator listener. I'm not thrilled when there's a cast. And since the Stage Dive novels are told from one POV, it works out even better, because I feel like I'm listening to a friend tell me the most fantastic tales.

Do you listen to audio books? I used to only listen to self-help books, but I am loving having romance in my ears as well as beneath my fingers. Do you have any favorite listens? Or narrators you adore? I'd love to hear about it.

~Roxy

BiG Beautiful Recommendation

2/1/2019

If you go back a couple days in my blog, I was having a kindle-throwing time trying to read a book about a heroine who lost a hundred pounds and had no loose skin (eye roll), but despite being an "independent woman" was going mean girls and running high school mentality schemes.

Needless to say, seeing a woman portrayed that way, and the insinuation that she couldn't possibly get the guy as a bigger girl pissed me the FUCK off. Could also have been a dig to see the author quote the size I currently am as "disgustingly big", but hey...knowing the author thinks I'm disgusting is neither here nor there.

But I'm not grumpy about it. *Ahem*

So I took to twitter and was gifted with a recommendation for the book I'm currently pimping to you all. I asked for a plus-sized heroine who was happy just as she fucking was.

Enter a rec for Kylie Scott. I heard the series was called "Dive Bar" and shit...this MidWest gal was sold. I bought "Dirty" and it was on my kindle in seconds.

I didn't read the blurb. (The rec came from a trusted source. Thanks Karen Greco!) I didn't look up the cover, but I had heard Kylie Scott's name bounced around the interwebs. I think she popped up on my Amazon recommededs from time to time, before they were all paid spots.

I opened the book and could not put it down. The book starts with an incredibly low point for the heroine, and drops you into a scene that has our gal scaling a fence to get away from her groom-to-be's awful family. She meets a former rockstar, who is also going through his own shit. But they both tackle their demons with some smartass lines, a few punches and a great big dose of fantastically written sex scenes.

This heroine isn't a skinny bitch, she's got curves and bumps, but when she'd drunk on studmuffin sexy, she can't help but throw caution to the wind and jump his bones. This doesn't end with her losing the weight and "feeling better". This ends with her loving food, embracing her hero's love of her stellar rack, and a lot of happy sappy love.

I haven't had a "read till the end" book in a while. I needed this, and I needed this heroine. Thank you, Kylie!

Guys. I am now a @KylieScottbooks fan and have to start binging her backlist. If you're looking for a plus sized heroine, whose story isn't about her weight and her HEA doesn't involve a diet...I could not put down "Dirty" (Dive Bar Series Book 1).
— Roxy Mews (@RoxyMews) February 1, 2019

Do you have any big beautiful heroines you just love? Or big beautiful heroes? I love to read about characters of all shapes and sizes. I would say I'd jump on the rec's right away, but after getting a taste of Kylie Scott's humor, her writing style, and her characters? Shit...I'm about to binge a bitch's backlist. I highly suggest you do the same!

~Roxy

I love vacations I can take from my couch

1/29/2019

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a hermit. Getting me to leave my house is not an easy task. If I have a day off, spending it with a good book is one of my favorite things.

But I do have family and friends who love to travel. And while I like to think I'd enjoy going with them, what I really like is to hear about their travels.

Which is why I'm stoked my friendJayne Rylon has released videos about her recent adventures! She even put out a book today "Roaming with the Rylons" and I'm stoked to hear in detail all about her travels.

But since I've been crazy busy today, I was even more excited when her videos highlighting some of her adventures went live and popped up in my subscription feed.

So if you actually like to leave your house and travel, or if you're like me and enjoy checking out different parts of the world from the comfort of your pajamas while reclining on your couch, this will be something very entertaining.

Are you a travel buff? Or are you a couch surfer who would rather play an epic video game while food is delivered to your door? I'd love to hear about it...after I watch the next video.

~Roxy

Craft Book Recommendation: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

1/19/2019

As part of my Miracle Morning (Just finished day 19 in a row, BTW!) routine, I am reading one paper book on either self-improvement, business, or writing craft.

The book I've been spending at least one chapter with every morning for the past few days is Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. I adore this book for a lot of reasons, and as I'm entering the last 50 pages of it I wanted to give it a shout out, because it's a fantastic writing book, and one that I dug out the highlighter and notes for.

I was a huge fan of Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! books. So when I got wind of the theories being broken down into theories on novel writing (which was what I had been reading Blake's books for) I ran to my local bookstore to grab a copy on release day.

Of course my local bookstore doesn't put much emphasis on writing and craft, so there was a single copy tucked away in a four foot section next to the kids books. When I finally got my hands on it, the cashier rolled his eyes and mansplained how the only thing you needed to write a good novel was a good story. Which is why I try to steer clear of Barnes & Noble on the south side of Indianapolis as much as possible. But I wanted this book in paper that day, DAMMIT! (Sorry for the tangent. That store's attitude toward anything other than bible study and cookbooks pisses me off.)

ANYWAY...I've dug into the book and it's been such a fucking pleasure to read that it was worth dealing with the bookstore asshats. Jessica Brody has an academic slant to the breakdown of the beats, uses common knowledge examples in both literature and movies, and has an author voice that is a joy to read.

This book has me looking at different parts of the novel in new ways. And while I generally knew what worked and what didn't in the books I read, this craft book helped me put a finger on WHY those items worked. And it gave it a label. And not some multi-syllabic mumbo jumbo I'd have to take notes on to remember. These were labels that made sense in layman's terms. With labels like "Bad Guys Close In", "Buddy Love", and "Dude With a Problem", the topic had an image popping into my head before the chapter even began.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is writing a novel, or even anyone who is studying them academically. This book gives you a delicious amount of insight as to what formula's work, and even when authors sidestep the formula by adding additional heroes or killing off their B story or even main characters, how those same authors used solid techniques to accomplish those plots with flair.

Quick note...this book is available in both ebook and audio book as well. I would HIGHLY suggest getting this in paper. There is a quick reference guide, and the author breaks down books by ten basic story types, that would be fantastic reference material. This is one you'll want to flip through over and over again. At least, you will if you're me!

Are there any new craft books you've been thrilled with? Or even self-improvement books you've loved? I'm almost done with this book and will definitely need something new for next week's reading.

~Roxy

She's a Storyteller

1/9/2019

I don't give book recommendations very often. And aside from some writing craft books, I don't think I've ever given a shoutout to a biography.

So make not on the calendar, because this isn't likely to happen again for quite a while.

I'm going to give a quick shoutout to Michelle Obama's Becoming.

And yes...I linked the audio book instead of the Kindle book. Why? Because Michelle Obama is reading her own book and it is a fucking magical experience.

I've always been impressed by the way my fav FLOTUS was able to string words together. She has a strong voice, with the ability to inspire while still giving you that momma side-eye and call you out for your own bullshit.

I have not finished this audio book yet, mainly because it is NINETEEN HOURS. If you have audible credits available, this is the book to cash it in on. You'll get your monthly fee worth with this baby.

Some people might read this book to get Michelle Obama's true opinion of Donald Trump. But seriously...if you didn't catch the screen grabs from the current POTUS's inauguration you have your head in the sand. We all know her opinion already.

For me, what was truly fascinating was the story of her growing up. The story of her family and living with her mom. The story of her demanding Barack use a phone even if he wasn't a "phone type guy" was one of my favorite.

This woman is a storyteller. She picked key points about each memory and took me along an emotional ride. Her voice felt like home in my ears every time I turned the book on, and I loved it.

You know that point in a singer's performance when you get the chills because you feel the emotion in their performance? I got chills multiple times while listening to this book. Michelle Obama doesn't just read her story, she tells you about her life. Part of me has this image of her in sweat pants, kicking back in the recording booth with a cocktail. I feel like I'm chatting with a new friend and she's just put her feet on my coffee table to tell me what really happened.

Every time I open my Audible app, I'm sucked back in.

If money is tight, tap your library for a listen. I can't recommend this book enough. And for once...it's an audio book I can listen to over my Amazon Echo with other people in the room. LOL. It's kind of nice.

Are there any books you've read outside of your normal tastes? What book has surprised you recently? I'd love to hear about it.

....After I listen to a few more chapters from Michelle Obama, of course.

~Roxy

Miracle Morning...This Time For Real

1/2/2019

If you've been with me on this blog for a while, or if you're a friend of mine, you've probably had me attempt to drag you into the "Miracle Morning" whether you wanted to or not.

I don't remember how long ago it was that I first read "The Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod, but it was a real lightbulb moment for me. I think I originally heard about this book through a Bullet Journal Facebook group. And since I'm a reader anyway, I grabbed it in ebook. I have since devoured any Miracle Morning book that I feel might pertain to me. Obviously, as I restart my Miracle Morning journey for the new year, I'm using "The Miracle Morning for Writers" as my final S in my S.A.V.E.R.S.

If you've never read any of the miracle morning books, I highly recommend starting with the original, because the author, Hal Elrod's, story is one that will make you realize your obstacles aren't so bad. He has a serious rock bottom tale, times two, and I found his story inspirational to read.

Of course, while I was writing this I discovered that I'd missed a new MM book and used an Audible credit to get on that shit immediately after I finish this blog.

It's the second day of 2019 and it's the second day I've completed my "Miracle Morning" or "S.A.V.E.R.S.". My goal is to complete a MM every morning this year. And it doesn't have to take as long as I make it, so some days I guarantee there will be an abbreviated version taking place. But it will take place.

If you've never read this series of books or heard of the technique before, it centers around doing "S.A.V.E.R.S." every morning to work on self-development.

What are the SAVERS and how do I do them each morning? Well, good thing you asked, because that's what this blog is about!

SAVERS stands for Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing (writing of some sort). The books go into detail about all the different ways you can accomplish these every morning, but according to Hal Elrod, he cherry-picked tasks successful people did every morning, and decided to do all of them.

My MM will develop and change over the course of this year, I have no doubt, and as my schedule and my family's schedules change, the time I do all of this will alter as well. But for right now, I'm doing these in order.

S(ilence) = I'm taking the time to meditate for this step. Right after I wake up and brush my teeth, wash my face, and start a pot of coffee, I drink a glass of water and head downstairs to cozy in for my ten minute meditation. For the first three weeks of this year, I'm using Audible's 21 Days of Meditation. If you're an audible member, it's free to download.

I've dabbled in meditation for the better part of 2 years now, and I've found that 10-15 minutes is the minimum I need to get the settled buzz meditation gives me. I can get there some days in 5 minutes, but I have to be in the right headspace to do it.

A(ffirmations) = I have a notebook with about ten affirmations that I repeat for at least five minutes. I have space to add more, but really I only write down the ones that speak to me. Some I've written myself, and some I've pulled from the books I've read. I keep the notebook on a small shelf and pull it out every morning after I've grabbed a cup of coffee and headed into my office space.

V(isualization) = This one is something I'm still working on. Visualization is difficult for me, because I have trouble deciding on exactly what I want to do in a day. I have a big family. There's always a wrench thrown into my day, and mapping out exactly what I'm doing is just a guaranteed fail for me.

What I've spent my time doing for this portion lately is visualizing myself at the keyboard. Thinking through what's on my calendar for the day, and what order I'm going to check off those tasks in. I imagine what needs to be done to get each task accomplished and then I visualize each item going smoothly. From the Miracle Morning for Writers we're told to "Visualize actions, not results." To Do's don't magically jump off our list, we have to work on them. So that's what I try to picture happening.

E(xercise) = Even when I did a version of the Miracle Morning prior to this year, I didn't incorporate exercise. Or if I did, it would be for a day or two and then I'd say, "Fuck it", and sip my coffee while working through the rest instead. I am overweight, out of shape, and perimenopausal which adds a whole other wrench into things. So what I'm doing right now is walking up and down the stairs in my house. Yesterday, I did two minutes. Today, I did two and a half. Tomorrow, it will be three. I'm working my way up to five minutes. And for all of you skinny folks or healthy folks who might scoff at that, try hauling a couple hundred pounds around and tell me it's easy then. I'm going with the idea that doing something is infinitely better than doing nothing. I'm playing an audiobook or podcast for a couple minutes while I get my blood pumping. And then I refill both my water and coffee and head back to my office to finish up.

R(eading) = My goal for reading is ten minutes or one chapter of whatever self-help or craft book is up next in my que. I would ideally read more than this, but when my brain is in the mood to check off the items on a list quick, accomplishing even ten minutes is a task. So I wanted to make it doable on an ongoing basis. I'm trying to get back into paper books after reading so much on my kindle and audible, so that's what I plan to use my Miracle Morning time doing. Paper only. Because the other formats I easily squeeze into the rest of my day.

S(cribing/writing) = While many people would say my blog time would more than count for this portion, I'm not going to use it. I'm picking my journal back up again. You'll see a few posts ago that I was singing the praises of making time for journaling every day. And it was true. I felt amazing when I took time every morning to write in a book with a pen and see where my head was at. I even completed a journal, cover to cover, for the first time ever in my life. I gave myself a three page/day goal, but the lines in that book were big, and it took no time at all to fill. I kept the same three page goal when I moved to a larger notebook, and I think that's where I set myself up to fail. It's why I ultimately got frustrated and quit.

So this round, I'm doing two pages per day, and allowing myself the freedom to switch to one if my morning is hectic. Writing in my journal everyday is the goal. I'm not going to stress about page count. It's also the last item on my list. Moving this back until all the creatures are fed and happy is easy.

That's it. That's what I'm going to do every day this year. I'm hoping to up the exercise as I get my body moving more, and I'm excited to gain more skill at my visualization and mediation practices. But mostly, I'm excited to see how this impacts me after my SAVERS are complete.

Stay tuned for another #Roxys7DayChallenge. I'm planning on redoing this to refresh my schedule this month as I get my feet back under me and my SAVERS timed out.

Do you do a Miracle Morning? Or are there any practices you want to incorporate every day this year? I'd love to hear about what your resolutions are. Let's kick ass together in 2019.

~Roxy