Goodbye 2014: Highlights of My Year in Photos

At the end of every year, I put together a post with all my highlights from the past 12 months. It's probably my favorite post of the year -- all the good stuff crammed into one post (and none of the bad). :D
Somehow, despite a lot of time-consuming life events, like having a new baby, I managed to fit a lot of other good stuff into 2014 too. Here are my highlights...
The aforementioned baby.
Had an exciting start to the year when she was born in January. And she's been the most easygoing baby of all time.  I basically won the baby lottery. And bonus... I think she might be a jiu-jitsu prodigy. Not to brag.

New Orleans! Visited a bucket-list city.



I've wanted to visit New Orleans since I was a kid. Spent a week there in May for the RT Convention.
The bayou did not disappoint. I've never seen so many alligators in one place in my life!

Beating the VA Spartan Super Race like a boss.
I got this bee in my bonnet to run the VA Spartan Super Race (8 mile obstacle race, the VA Super is one of the hardest) with my husband. Mostly because he said I couldn't do it.
After months of forcing myself to run in the Southern heat and getting really sweaty lifting weights in my basement...
I beat the VA Spartan Super in August. And I will never, ever let anyone forget it. Especially my husband.
This was the race terrain -- a ski resort.
Meeting up with kindred book-hoarding spirits.
Few things are more exciting to me than getting to hang out with fellow book-lovers (other people don't understand). In 2014 I met up with readers and authors at book signings in Atlanta, New Orleans, Knoxville and Cincinnati. I had a great time in each city!
At TNVAE in Knoxville.
Queen City Indie Con in Cincinnati.
This new tattoo.
I've been planning this tattoo for years and got it in April. My schedule is tight with two kids, so the artist did this in one session of ~7 hours. It's a line from the last chapter of my favorite book.
Also, I published 4 books.
I almost forgot to add this, but it's still kind of a big deal. ;D 
My 2014 publishing line-up...
 
 
This is actually the fewest number of books I've ever published in a year, but I'm proud of each one, and with the new baby and other events that occurred this year, I feel like this is pretty damn good! 

As you can see, I launched a new series this year -- my Lock and Key Series.

Deciding I can. Not. Let the Inked in the Steel City Series go.
I know I said it was going to be a 6 book series, but all bets are off. Book 7 is coming this winter.

Thank you for being a part of my 2014. I can't wait to share 2015 with you! ❤