Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everybody!!!!!!!!!

What?? I'm only six days late.

It could be a lot worse...

Of course it could always be better too.

That's actually my New Years Resolution. To be on time.

To be on time better.... Better-ish.

Solid resolution, right??? But last year I resolved to be on time better and I improved about.... 50%. Granted, that's a self-evaluation. BUT. I did way, way, way better at Dance and School. Those are the most important things.

I mean social functions I was still known for being hours late and as far as self-imposed deadlines... well, let's not even go there. But since School and Dance make up at least 50% of my life. I'm giving myself an A for improvement.

Ok. Maybe not an A.

Probably more like a solid B+.

B- at the worst....

Those are figures I can work with.

So the improvement continues into the New Year. Be. More. Punctual.

Also in the Resolution category is to get better control of my life. I'm like a walking tornado. I'm just chaos! And I have got to get a grip on everything around me.

It's not so much of a choice as a desperate plea to grab the reigns of my own life. I mean, really, I thrive in chaos. I could be the definition OF chaos. But my family doesn't.

My poor children.

And their future therapists.

So. This New Year you will find a brand new, punctual, organized Rachel.

Or at least a Rachel that is really, really trying hard for those things. And that's a Rachel I can live with.

I take New Years Resolutions SUPER serious.

I don't know why exactly, but they are really important to me. And I do my best to stick to them. Also, I take Lent really seriously, and I'm not even Catholic.

Go figure.

However, I'm all about self-improvement. Lent was the catalyst to giving up my obsession with Celebrity Gossip one year. Yep, I said goodbye to Perez Hilton and have never looked back.

That was one of my successful years.

I also give up soda every single year, but that has yet to stick....

I'm thinking about adding it to my Resolutions this year, but I haven't made up my mind yet. I just spent the last week of my life battling a nasty and very painful UTI in which I had no choice but to give up soda.

So now that I'm completely detox-ed I'm half tempted to keep it that way. The other half of me is tempted to guzzle a 44oz. Cherry Coke Fountain Pop.... But since I have like three more days of antibiotic, we will see who wins in the end.

Anyway!! I hope you all had a fantastic New Years and Holiday Season!! I can't even believe it's over or that it's 2013. I mean, for real, what happened to 2012?????

I have no idea.

I do know that wherever it went it was filled to the brim with so many unbelievable blessings and surprises. Oh my word. I am so thankful for the last year and what has been happening in my life and in my family.

It seriously brings me to tears when I sit down and realize that my dream, this once upon a pipe dream, hoped for make-believe job has become my reality.

I am a writer.

What????

I know, it's crazy to me too. So. Crazy.

And I have more to write! This year has just been insanity. Plus along with the books, there was this little baby thrown into the mix. Now I'm a week away from Stryker turning two, I am in the middle of writing three different books and I just can't believe it all.

I'm not sure if it will ever sink in.

Which I'm ok with.

So anyway. I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has picked up a copy of one of my books and made this year one of the best of my life!!!!!!! I am so grateful, and just thankful beyond words for your graciousness and generosity. I love you all.

Every single one of you.

And because of that very reason I'm going to do a giveaway!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow on the blog I'm going to announce my favorite reads for 2012. Again... I know I'm late. But to be fair this took me FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR to figure out. I made only about 39 lists and could not for the life of me narrow it down to ten, or twelve or even fifteen top choices. But I do have three faves for the whole year, in three different categories.

So I'm giving away a signed Reckless Book AND a Team Kiran t-shirt if you comment below with YOUR favorite read for 2012. I'll give you 24 hours and then pick a winner tomorrow at 5pm.

I cannot wait to hear what you guys have been reading!!!!



















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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