Jaymee Jacobs's Blog, page 3
April 3, 2017
Small Changes for Big Success
I'm all about self-care, and if you follow me on any social medium, I'm sure you know that. I'm generally an anxious stress-ball of nerves. And I know I haven't taken enough time for myself in the past. I've trying to change that, so I've been implementing small changes in my life, including:
It seems so simple, right? Know what you're going to eat before you eat it. It's not rocket science. I always had a stocked fridge/freezer/pantry, but I never took the time to plan out meals. To make sure that I had all the ingredients needed for certain meals. So every time it came to make a meal, I was scrounging. That led to a lot of fast food meals, because that was so much more convenient.
Well, at that leads to is light wallet and a heavier weight on the scale.
I wanted to save money and eat better. Eat real food and not processed, frozen meals or stuff handed to me through a window. But there's a reason why meal planning is hard to do: it's the opposite of convenient. It's time intensive and a lot of work and research. It took many steps, which I have outlined below:
1. Well the first thing I did was to make a colorful chart, because I love to feel organized. It gave me a starting point: I knew I needed three small meals and three snacks a day.
2. Then I hit my Pinterest boards to find healthy recipes that I was sure I would want to eat throughout an entire week. Because let's be honest<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} -</style><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">—that's one of the hardest parts of meal planning. How am I supposed to know on Sunday what I want to eat on Friday? I don't even know what I want for breakfast when I wake up in the morning.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 3. Once I figured out what meals and snacks would be suitable, I took stock of what I already had and made a list of what ingredients and components I'd need to get me through the week. I divided the list into two categories: things to buy at the beginning of the week, and the fresh fruit and veggies to buy midway through the week (since I knew they would go back before the seven days would be up). I got the <b>good</b> roast beef from the deli, beautiful leaf lettuce, and ripe tomatoes to make sandwiches that rivaled Panera's, because I knew that would be a lunch I'd love to eat.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 4. I took a nap, because this was a lot of work so far!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 5. I did as much prep ahead of time as possible. I made a whole recipe of spinach dip that lasted as a snack for two households for two weeks. I divided up yogurt and granola for breakfasts and cottage cheese and fruit for snacks. That way, in the morning, I could just grab what was already prepped and not have to do any thinking.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 6. I figured out the key to meal planning: leaving myself options, aka planning for more than just the appropriate number of meals. That way, if I want tacos instead of spaghetti, I have that flexibility. Now I never feel trapped into eating something I don't want to eat.</span></span><br /><br /><hr width="80%" /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The other small thing I implemented is:</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epUqzPj5tF..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epUqzPj5tF..." width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Yes, yoga! I have been wanting to try it for a while, for two reasons. The first is that it's something I can do in my apartment without disrupting my neighbors. The other is that it's also supposed to help lower stress—and, as stated, I'm always stressed.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I started off with <a href="http://amzn.to/2nxKF9E" target="_blank">this beginner level DVD</a>. I rolled out a new mat, kept a towel and a yoga block nearby, and went for it. And it felt <b>good</b>. My muscles were stretched in ways they haven't been for a long time. I worked up a bit of a sweat, to my surprise! I've been making my way through the routines in this <a href="http://amzn.to/2ovAYNv" target="_blank">DVD</a>, as recommended to me by fellow hockey romance author and yoga lover, <a href="http://vlloceyauthor.com/" target="_blank">V.L. Locey</a>.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I plan on going to the gym three days a week, and then doing yoga the other four days. I hope to continue to see progress in my strength and flexibility as well as help reducing my stress. As I said, it's seemed to work so far!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><hr width="80%" /><br /><br />What do you do help manage stress? As always, let me know in the comments here or via any of my social media accounts. I'd love to hear from you, and maybe we can swap tips!<br /><br />Happy reading,<br /><br />Jay
It seems so simple, right? Know what you're going to eat before you eat it. It's not rocket science. I always had a stocked fridge/freezer/pantry, but I never took the time to plan out meals. To make sure that I had all the ingredients needed for certain meals. So every time it came to make a meal, I was scrounging. That led to a lot of fast food meals, because that was so much more convenient.
Well, at that leads to is light wallet and a heavier weight on the scale.
I wanted to save money and eat better. Eat real food and not processed, frozen meals or stuff handed to me through a window. But there's a reason why meal planning is hard to do: it's the opposite of convenient. It's time intensive and a lot of work and research. It took many steps, which I have outlined below:
1. Well the first thing I did was to make a colorful chart, because I love to feel organized. It gave me a starting point: I knew I needed three small meals and three snacks a day.
2. Then I hit my Pinterest boards to find healthy recipes that I was sure I would want to eat throughout an entire week. Because let's be honest<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} -</style><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">—that's one of the hardest parts of meal planning. How am I supposed to know on Sunday what I want to eat on Friday? I don't even know what I want for breakfast when I wake up in the morning.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 3. Once I figured out what meals and snacks would be suitable, I took stock of what I already had and made a list of what ingredients and components I'd need to get me through the week. I divided the list into two categories: things to buy at the beginning of the week, and the fresh fruit and veggies to buy midway through the week (since I knew they would go back before the seven days would be up). I got the <b>good</b> roast beef from the deli, beautiful leaf lettuce, and ripe tomatoes to make sandwiches that rivaled Panera's, because I knew that would be a lunch I'd love to eat.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 4. I took a nap, because this was a lot of work so far!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 5. I did as much prep ahead of time as possible. I made a whole recipe of spinach dip that lasted as a snack for two households for two weeks. I divided up yogurt and granola for breakfasts and cottage cheese and fruit for snacks. That way, in the morning, I could just grab what was already prepped and not have to do any thinking.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 6. I figured out the key to meal planning: leaving myself options, aka planning for more than just the appropriate number of meals. That way, if I want tacos instead of spaghetti, I have that flexibility. Now I never feel trapped into eating something I don't want to eat.</span></span><br /><br /><hr width="80%" /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The other small thing I implemented is:</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epUqzPj5tF..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epUqzPj5tF..." width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Yes, yoga! I have been wanting to try it for a while, for two reasons. The first is that it's something I can do in my apartment without disrupting my neighbors. The other is that it's also supposed to help lower stress—and, as stated, I'm always stressed.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I started off with <a href="http://amzn.to/2nxKF9E" target="_blank">this beginner level DVD</a>. I rolled out a new mat, kept a towel and a yoga block nearby, and went for it. And it felt <b>good</b>. My muscles were stretched in ways they haven't been for a long time. I worked up a bit of a sweat, to my surprise! I've been making my way through the routines in this <a href="http://amzn.to/2ovAYNv" target="_blank">DVD</a>, as recommended to me by fellow hockey romance author and yoga lover, <a href="http://vlloceyauthor.com/" target="_blank">V.L. Locey</a>.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I plan on going to the gym three days a week, and then doing yoga the other four days. I hope to continue to see progress in my strength and flexibility as well as help reducing my stress. As I said, it's seemed to work so far!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><hr width="80%" /><br /><br />What do you do help manage stress? As always, let me know in the comments here or via any of my social media accounts. I'd love to hear from you, and maybe we can swap tips!<br /><br />Happy reading,<br /><br />Jay
March 10, 2017
Marvelous March
My fabulous February, coming off the adult prom, is transitioning into a marvelous March!
One week after I got all dolled up and dressed up in my gorgeous purple gown, I had another fabulous weekend spent with an amazing group of fellow hockey romance writers and hockey fans! First, we all went out to the Pens game on Friday night to see Pittsburgh take on Tampa Bay.
Nice seats!
With the wonderful Lisa B. Kamps
Hockey romance writers and readers unite!
The Pens won, and we all had a good time together.
Then on Saturday, I was up early to head to the Meadows Casino in Washington, PA, for the Angels & Sirens 2017 author event. Here I am, at my table, my signing pen ready to go:
And meeting readers:
It was quite an experience. My first ever signing! I met some great people, including fellow authors, bloggers, and readers. I'll admit that I was nervous about my first event—whether anyone would want to stop by to see me or even what the event would be like. But it was better than I could have hoped. I was waiting to see how a local event would go before I decided if I would attend any future signings or events. I had so much fun that I've decided to attend more.
In fact, I've signed on for one in six months: The Glass City Author Event in Toledo, Ohio. It takes place on Saturday, October 28, 2017.
Even Anna was interested in the goodies I got from Angels & Sirens!
Of course, being so busy does have its consequences; I fell pretty sick this week. My brain has been so foggy that I can't even read, and I'm too exhausted to move about from room to room. I have advocated a lot for self care, and this is a perfect example of why that's necessary. When you push yourself, you weaken your body's ability to fight off any bugs.
Hopefully I'm feeling well enough tomorrow to attend my grandmother's 80th birthday party!
So I'm off to drink some tea and take some more decongestants. Happy reading!
One week after I got all dolled up and dressed up in my gorgeous purple gown, I had another fabulous weekend spent with an amazing group of fellow hockey romance writers and hockey fans! First, we all went out to the Pens game on Friday night to see Pittsburgh take on Tampa Bay.
Nice seats!
With the wonderful Lisa B. Kamps
Hockey romance writers and readers unite!The Pens won, and we all had a good time together.
Then on Saturday, I was up early to head to the Meadows Casino in Washington, PA, for the Angels & Sirens 2017 author event. Here I am, at my table, my signing pen ready to go:
And meeting readers:
It was quite an experience. My first ever signing! I met some great people, including fellow authors, bloggers, and readers. I'll admit that I was nervous about my first event—whether anyone would want to stop by to see me or even what the event would be like. But it was better than I could have hoped. I was waiting to see how a local event would go before I decided if I would attend any future signings or events. I had so much fun that I've decided to attend more.
In fact, I've signed on for one in six months: The Glass City Author Event in Toledo, Ohio. It takes place on Saturday, October 28, 2017.
Even Anna was interested in the goodies I got from Angels & Sirens!Of course, being so busy does have its consequences; I fell pretty sick this week. My brain has been so foggy that I can't even read, and I'm too exhausted to move about from room to room. I have advocated a lot for self care, and this is a perfect example of why that's necessary. When you push yourself, you weaken your body's ability to fight off any bugs.
Hopefully I'm feeling well enough tomorrow to attend my grandmother's 80th birthday party!
So I'm off to drink some tea and take some more decongestants. Happy reading!
February 23, 2017
Fabulous February
Wow, this month has flown by! I know it's not over yet, but there's only a few days left—and if the rest of February is any indication, those days will pass by just as quickly.
My birthday was a few days ago, and it was probably my favorite birthday ever! In the words of Ice Cube, it was a good day .
My day in the office went smoothly, and then my friends and I went out to a great new Turkish restaurant. The food and the atmosphere was phenomenal. They even would read your fortune from your coffee grounds! It felt a little like Harry Potter.
via GIPHY
Luckily for us, she did not read the Grim in anyone's cup!
A few of us then went out for drinks. Even though there was some drunk guy trying to talk politics with us, we had a good time at the bar.
Good food, good company, and lots of good wishes from you all via social media—I couldn't have asked for a better birthday!
Meanwhile, I'm impatiently waiting for this coming weekend, since the Adult Prom is on Saturday! I bought a purple gown, and my friend and I are getting our nails and hair done beforehand—just like if we were going to a real prom! Which is great for me, because I didn't go to my prom in high school. I'm so excited for this girls' night out.
Of course, the following weekend is the Angels & Sirens event! I am so excited to be in attendance with some other awesome hockey romance authors: Melody Heck Gatto, Lisa B. Kamps, V.L. Locey, Lindsay Paige, Samantha Wayland, and more who I know I've forgotten. Some of these ladies I'll be meeting for the first time.
I've been prepping for the past couple of months for this event. It's my first, so I needed to get a banner made. Next came some swag for myself and the Comets. Then I got a bunch of copies of my paperbacks to bring for anyone interested. I've bundled up my pre-orders. Now I'm making lists to make sure I bring everything I need.
Kindle? Check.
Credit card reader? Check.
iPhone 7 headphone adapter that I put someplace safe and then forgot where so I had to buy a new one? Check.
And I have a few surprises to put together. With a week and a half left before the event, there's a lot to do between now and then! I hope to get to see some of you readers there.
Now I'm off to double-check my list and doing some brainstorming.
Happy reading!
My birthday was a few days ago, and it was probably my favorite birthday ever! In the words of Ice Cube, it was a good day .
My day in the office went smoothly, and then my friends and I went out to a great new Turkish restaurant. The food and the atmosphere was phenomenal. They even would read your fortune from your coffee grounds! It felt a little like Harry Potter.
via GIPHY
Luckily for us, she did not read the Grim in anyone's cup!
A few of us then went out for drinks. Even though there was some drunk guy trying to talk politics with us, we had a good time at the bar.
Good food, good company, and lots of good wishes from you all via social media—I couldn't have asked for a better birthday!
Meanwhile, I'm impatiently waiting for this coming weekend, since the Adult Prom is on Saturday! I bought a purple gown, and my friend and I are getting our nails and hair done beforehand—just like if we were going to a real prom! Which is great for me, because I didn't go to my prom in high school. I'm so excited for this girls' night out.
Of course, the following weekend is the Angels & Sirens event! I am so excited to be in attendance with some other awesome hockey romance authors: Melody Heck Gatto, Lisa B. Kamps, V.L. Locey, Lindsay Paige, Samantha Wayland, and more who I know I've forgotten. Some of these ladies I'll be meeting for the first time.
I've been prepping for the past couple of months for this event. It's my first, so I needed to get a banner made. Next came some swag for myself and the Comets. Then I got a bunch of copies of my paperbacks to bring for anyone interested. I've bundled up my pre-orders. Now I'm making lists to make sure I bring everything I need.
Kindle? Check.
Credit card reader? Check.
iPhone 7 headphone adapter that I put someplace safe and then forgot where so I had to buy a new one? Check.
And I have a few surprises to put together. With a week and a half left before the event, there's a lot to do between now and then! I hope to get to see some of you readers there.
Now I'm off to double-check my list and doing some brainstorming.
Happy reading!
January 28, 2017
My Word of the Year: Forward
I noticed something at the beginning of this month, which was a trend of people picking words for the 2017. Like a mantra.
I didn't pay a lot of attention to it at the time, although it seemed like a good idea; I didn't think I'd be able to pick just one word to encapsulate my hopes for the entirety of the coming year.
That being said, one word picked me.
FORWARD
What exactly does that one word mean? It means that I will—and must—constantly keep moving forward. I cannot dwell in the moment, good or bad, because I have to think about the next moment, and what is more important: being caught up in the present or what's to come?
That also means that I must examine what I am doing in the moment and determine if it's going to help me move forward. Am I writing, working on that next book? Working on the administrative side of things? Engaging in needed self-care? If it's not important, then I shouldn't be spending time on it.
That means staying off of social media, at least for the most part. I can't afford the distractions—and let's face it, regardless of the side of the political spectrum you fall on—these are very distracting times. I try my best to keep my libertarian views to myself, but it gets harder and harder when you read the news and what everyone posts to their feeds. I think it's best if I just stay out of it and stay in my own, fictional world with my Comets.
And I do have a lot to look forward to. My first signing event is coming up in March! If you're in the Pittsburgh/Washington, PA area and are interested in coming out on March 4th and don't have your tickets yet, get in contact with me! You can PM me on Facebook, DM me on Twitter, leave a comment below, or e-mail me. I have two pairs of tickets to give away! I want to make sure they go to people who can actually attend.
And if you are attending and are interested in leaving with one of my paperbacks, then make sure to pre-order them using this form. I'll only be bring a limited number of books with me to sell, so you have to pre-order to guarantee your copies!
I hope to see you there!
Jay
I didn't pay a lot of attention to it at the time, although it seemed like a good idea; I didn't think I'd be able to pick just one word to encapsulate my hopes for the entirety of the coming year.
That being said, one word picked me.
FORWARD
What exactly does that one word mean? It means that I will—and must—constantly keep moving forward. I cannot dwell in the moment, good or bad, because I have to think about the next moment, and what is more important: being caught up in the present or what's to come?
That also means that I must examine what I am doing in the moment and determine if it's going to help me move forward. Am I writing, working on that next book? Working on the administrative side of things? Engaging in needed self-care? If it's not important, then I shouldn't be spending time on it.
That means staying off of social media, at least for the most part. I can't afford the distractions—and let's face it, regardless of the side of the political spectrum you fall on—these are very distracting times. I try my best to keep my libertarian views to myself, but it gets harder and harder when you read the news and what everyone posts to their feeds. I think it's best if I just stay out of it and stay in my own, fictional world with my Comets.
And I do have a lot to look forward to. My first signing event is coming up in March! If you're in the Pittsburgh/Washington, PA area and are interested in coming out on March 4th and don't have your tickets yet, get in contact with me! You can PM me on Facebook, DM me on Twitter, leave a comment below, or e-mail me. I have two pairs of tickets to give away! I want to make sure they go to people who can actually attend.
And if you are attending and are interested in leaving with one of my paperbacks, then make sure to pre-order them using this form. I'll only be bring a limited number of books with me to sell, so you have to pre-order to guarantee your copies!
I hope to see you there!
Jay
January 7, 2017
2017's To-Do List
In my last blog post, I reflected on last year's resolutions and settled on this year's.
But there's a difference between resolutions and tasks.
Resolutions are changes that I want to instill in myself for the coming year and beyond.
But there are also tons of tasks that I want to accomplish in 2017 to make it the best year yet.
But there's a difference between resolutions and tasks.
Resolutions are changes that I want to instill in myself for the coming year and beyond.
But there are also tons of tasks that I want to accomplish in 2017 to make it the best year yet.
December 26, 2016
2016: A Year in Review
December is so close to be over, and so is 2016. And thank goodness for that—is it just me, or has year been supremely sucky for just about everyone??
For me, it seems like I've hit a new speed bump every time I thought I had caught my stride. I said goodbye to my beloved Maxie Cat, my friend I've had for half my life. Quite a few relationships have fallen apart. I'm lucky that I haven't encountered any major setbacks, but I've had a bunch of smaller inconveniences: computer problems, a stolen credit card, break ups and broken hearts, death and illnesses, apartment disasters, unexpected expenses.... You name it, I'm sure I've experienced it this year.
But that doesn't mean this year has been all bad. Two new kitties, Flynn and Anna, have adopted me. I got a new Dallas Comets book published. An amazing friend invited me to see the Pens home opener and banner raising. I've made a lot of business decisions relating to my writing career including some big things for 2017—especially my first reader event in March that I'm really excited about.
My new year's resolutions fizzled out, although they did last longer than I had anticipated! (I think blogging about my adherence to them and progress definitely helped in that department.)
1.) I am significantly more organized than I was this time last year. My office is all set up, my documents and paperwork are filed away, my closets are neater than every before, and my planner is perfectly color-coded.
2.) I didn't consistently hit the gym three times a week, but I probably had more visits this year than last—which of course was good, even if I didn't hit my mark.
3.) I did fail miserably at my goal to release three books in 2016, though; I only got one new release and boxed set out.
So, as I reflect back on the year and look towards the one to come, I realize that I made a mistake when it came to that resolution of mine. I focused on OUTPUT (what I should release) instead of focusing on INPUT (time spent writing). My priorities were wrong, and I felt worse when I realized I wasn't going to meet my goals. I let my readers down, sure, by not giving them the three books I had planned—but I also let myself down, which is never a good feeling.
My two other goals were about effort: making efforts to organize my home and life as well making efforts to get to the gym and spending time on the treadmill. I didn't set a goal to lose X amount of weight; I set a goal to show up.
So I'm reframing my writing goal for 2017. It's not about output, it's about input: instead of expecting a certain number of releases, I'm going to spend a certain amount of time writing.
My goal for 2017 is to spending at least fifteen minutes a day, five days a week, in front of the keyboard. I know that it doesn't sound like a lot, but sometimes fifteen solid minutes of writing can be more productive than an hour staring at a blinking cursor. Plus, I'm planning on a minimum of fifteen minutes—in reality, I'm hoping that it becomes more than that. (I was going to make it fifteen minutes every day, but there will be days where writing is impossible.)
Okay, so that's resolution #1: write fifteen minutes a day, five times a week.
I'm only making one more resolution for the coming year, and that's to focus on my health. I know that sounds very broad; it is. Specifically, I've been having some stomach issues that have gotten worse, and I'm hoping to get them sorted out. Generally, I hope to continue hitting up the gym, making better food choices, and engaging in as much self-care as needed. Because if I've learned anything in 2016, it's that I've got to have my best interests at heart! Otherwise, I'm no good to anyone, including my readers.
That's it! Just two resolutions for this coming year, but they're just as important as last year's. These are simple resolutions, but that's the genius in them! They'll be easily attainable throughout the entire year.
What are your new year's resolutions? If you want to share, leave them in the comments! And whatever they may be, I wish you all the luck in the world when it comes to achieving them!
For me, it seems like I've hit a new speed bump every time I thought I had caught my stride. I said goodbye to my beloved Maxie Cat, my friend I've had for half my life. Quite a few relationships have fallen apart. I'm lucky that I haven't encountered any major setbacks, but I've had a bunch of smaller inconveniences: computer problems, a stolen credit card, break ups and broken hearts, death and illnesses, apartment disasters, unexpected expenses.... You name it, I'm sure I've experienced it this year.
But that doesn't mean this year has been all bad. Two new kitties, Flynn and Anna, have adopted me. I got a new Dallas Comets book published. An amazing friend invited me to see the Pens home opener and banner raising. I've made a lot of business decisions relating to my writing career including some big things for 2017—especially my first reader event in March that I'm really excited about.
My new year's resolutions fizzled out, although they did last longer than I had anticipated! (I think blogging about my adherence to them and progress definitely helped in that department.)
1.) I am significantly more organized than I was this time last year. My office is all set up, my documents and paperwork are filed away, my closets are neater than every before, and my planner is perfectly color-coded.
2.) I didn't consistently hit the gym three times a week, but I probably had more visits this year than last—which of course was good, even if I didn't hit my mark.
3.) I did fail miserably at my goal to release three books in 2016, though; I only got one new release and boxed set out.
So, as I reflect back on the year and look towards the one to come, I realize that I made a mistake when it came to that resolution of mine. I focused on OUTPUT (what I should release) instead of focusing on INPUT (time spent writing). My priorities were wrong, and I felt worse when I realized I wasn't going to meet my goals. I let my readers down, sure, by not giving them the three books I had planned—but I also let myself down, which is never a good feeling.
My two other goals were about effort: making efforts to organize my home and life as well making efforts to get to the gym and spending time on the treadmill. I didn't set a goal to lose X amount of weight; I set a goal to show up.
So I'm reframing my writing goal for 2017. It's not about output, it's about input: instead of expecting a certain number of releases, I'm going to spend a certain amount of time writing.
My goal for 2017 is to spending at least fifteen minutes a day, five days a week, in front of the keyboard. I know that it doesn't sound like a lot, but sometimes fifteen solid minutes of writing can be more productive than an hour staring at a blinking cursor. Plus, I'm planning on a minimum of fifteen minutes—in reality, I'm hoping that it becomes more than that. (I was going to make it fifteen minutes every day, but there will be days where writing is impossible.)
Okay, so that's resolution #1: write fifteen minutes a day, five times a week.
I'm only making one more resolution for the coming year, and that's to focus on my health. I know that sounds very broad; it is. Specifically, I've been having some stomach issues that have gotten worse, and I'm hoping to get them sorted out. Generally, I hope to continue hitting up the gym, making better food choices, and engaging in as much self-care as needed. Because if I've learned anything in 2016, it's that I've got to have my best interests at heart! Otherwise, I'm no good to anyone, including my readers.
That's it! Just two resolutions for this coming year, but they're just as important as last year's. These are simple resolutions, but that's the genius in them! They'll be easily attainable throughout the entire year.
What are your new year's resolutions? If you want to share, leave them in the comments! And whatever they may be, I wish you all the luck in the world when it comes to achieving them!
December 15, 2016
The Grand Total
Welp, I have the final calculations for how much
Home Ice Advantage
has made for the Seduced by the Game cancer charity anthology and my charity of choice. Ready for the grand total?
$1,488.63
Once all the royalties get paid through, I'll be making the donation to The Mario Lemieux Foundation and of course report on that.
All I can say now is a huge THANK YOU to all who purchased Home Ice Advantage and supported the Seduced by the Game cause.
$1,488.63
Once all the royalties get paid through, I'll be making the donation to The Mario Lemieux Foundation and of course report on that.
All I can say now is a huge THANK YOU to all who purchased Home Ice Advantage and supported the Seduced by the Game cause.
November 23, 2016
The Forgotten Holiday
I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday! I have so many memories of cooking in the kitchen with my mom, helping however I could—considering I refused (and still do!) to stick my hand in that turkey to stuff it.
I'm always disappointed when the stores start playing Christmas music on November 1. I know people are excited for Christmas, but it's like we're all overlooking the wonderful, forgotten holiday of Thanksgiving.
I'm going to get a little political in this section (so you can skip it, if you want). Thanksgiving represents a time when people come together, despite their differences; they help each other and celebrate what their cooperation has reaped for them. Of course, I am thinking of the "first Thanksgiving," in which the Native Americans helped the settlers at Plymouth, which lead to a bountiful harvest. Together, the settlers and Native Americans feasted. It is so pertinent to be reminded of this during the current turbulent condition of the U.S., between the division caused by the 2016 presidential election and the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline (I stand with Standing Rock). This time of the year should remind us how we need to band together, and yet we are farther apart than ever. As we forget the importance and observance of Thanksgiving—beyond a delicious meal and time of overindulgence—we are forgetting the true meaning of the holiday and how we should approach each day.
[It is not my intention to impose my opinion on anyway; I prefer to focus on the aspect of my job as a writer that brings joy to people, through the creation of worlds and characters for entertainment purposes.]Of course, Thanksgiving is also a time to reflect on what we are thankful for.
I must admit that, in preparation of writing this post, I have struggled to think of that for which I am thankful. Of course, I am always thankful for the support and love of my friends and family. I am thankful for my readers who encourage me to pursue my passion. I am thankful for my furbabies, who drive me crazy yet shower me with love and affection.
But this is also a bit of a trying time for me personally. I'm dealing with health issues, both of my own as well as in my family. My day job is always stressful this time of year, and it will be moreso when my assistant finishes out her two weeks' notice. A few relationships have been tried and tested only to fail and disappoint.
These struggles remind me of what I do have to be thankful for: the people who have stuck with me when I needed them most: comforting me when my heart needed respite, kicking my ass into gear when I didn't realize I'd stopped moving forward, and straightening my crown it was lopsided. The 9-to-5 job that permits me enough freedom to spend my nights and weekends pursuing my true passion in life. And the fact that, despite how I may feel some mornings, I am thankful for the fact that I will (1) get out of bed, (2) feed my cats, and (3) take care of business like the strong and capable young woman that I am.
November 1, 2016
Home Ice Advantage: Series Cover Reveal
A year has passed since
Home Ice Advantage
was released as a part of the Seduced by the Game charity collection. It will take a couple of months to get the final totals for donation, and I'll report that number as soon as I have it.
So now it is time for me to introduce the series cover for the book, as designed by the amazing Deranged Doctor Design:
Gorgeous, isn't it?
I've been in the process of getting everything updated—from the vendor sites to my website to this very blog—so the new version should be available soon. And if you've already purchased the Seduced by the Game version, you should be able to update the book on your eReader.
Here are the links (Not all of the sites have updated yet, but hopefully will be by the end of the day):
Amazon
Kobo
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Inkterra
Scribd
24symbols
Smashwords
Happy reading!
Jay
So now it is time for me to introduce the series cover for the book, as designed by the amazing Deranged Doctor Design:
Gorgeous, isn't it?
I've been in the process of getting everything updated—from the vendor sites to my website to this very blog—so the new version should be available soon. And if you've already purchased the Seduced by the Game version, you should be able to update the book on your eReader.
Here are the links (Not all of the sites have updated yet, but hopefully will be by the end of the day):
Amazon
Kobo
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Inkterra
Scribd
24symbols
Smashwords
Happy reading!
Jay
October 7, 2016
Covers Galore (and More)!
I've been doing a lot with covers recently: new cover reveals and unveiling some redesigns as well.
Those who are subscribed to my newsletter have already gotten the sneak peek of the upcoming Dallas Comets novel False Start , projected to release in 2017. Here's the public reveal:
Check it the new and improved Play the Man :
This new cover follows the redesigns of Shots on Net and Game On :
That's not all on the cover front! Soon, Home Ice Advantage will be getting a new cover to fit in with the Dallas Comets series, since its year-long run in the Seduced by the Game charity collection anthology is coming to a close on October 28. But I'm not going to reveal that to you just yet. I need to keep some secrets to keep things interesting ;)
The new cover for Home Ice Advantage will be revealed—and available for purchase—beginning November 1, so be sure to keep in touch with me to see that!
Keeping Up With the Jacobses :October 2016
All Month Long: Any Kobo readers out there will be interested in the Romance on Ice for $4.99 or Less deal going on, to help all of us hockey lovers celebrate the beginning of the 2016-17 season. Be sure to spread the word and stock on some hockey romance to get you through the season!October 12—13: A group of hockey romance authors (myself included) are celebrating the beginning of the 2016-17 hockey season with a two-day Facebook bash full of games and giveaways! Join us for The Puck Drops Here. I'll be taking over Wednesday, October 12, at 7:00PM. You don't wanna miss it!Thursday, October 13: I'll be at the Penguins' home opener and banner raising at the newly named PPG Paints Arena. I'll surely post pictures of the game and event, so stay tuned to my social media outlets to experience it with me!
Those who are subscribed to my newsletter have already gotten the sneak peek of the upcoming Dallas Comets novel False Start , projected to release in 2017. Here's the public reveal:
Check it the new and improved Play the Man :
This new cover follows the redesigns of Shots on Net and Game On :
That's not all on the cover front! Soon, Home Ice Advantage will be getting a new cover to fit in with the Dallas Comets series, since its year-long run in the Seduced by the Game charity collection anthology is coming to a close on October 28. But I'm not going to reveal that to you just yet. I need to keep some secrets to keep things interesting ;)
The new cover for Home Ice Advantage will be revealed—and available for purchase—beginning November 1, so be sure to keep in touch with me to see that!
Keeping Up With the Jacobses :October 2016
All Month Long: Any Kobo readers out there will be interested in the Romance on Ice for $4.99 or Less deal going on, to help all of us hockey lovers celebrate the beginning of the 2016-17 season. Be sure to spread the word and stock on some hockey romance to get you through the season!October 12—13: A group of hockey romance authors (myself included) are celebrating the beginning of the 2016-17 hockey season with a two-day Facebook bash full of games and giveaways! Join us for The Puck Drops Here. I'll be taking over Wednesday, October 12, at 7:00PM. You don't wanna miss it!Thursday, October 13: I'll be at the Penguins' home opener and banner raising at the newly named PPG Paints Arena. I'll surely post pictures of the game and event, so stay tuned to my social media outlets to experience it with me!
