Minivan Momma's Top Five of 2014

Does it seem weird to anyone else that the year is 2014? Why aren't we driving hover cars and getting dressed with the push of a button ala The Jetsons? Anyway, as we start a new year, I thought it'd be good to reflect on this past year.

This past year? Woof. It was weird to say the least. There were long stretches of my not writing, despite the fact that I had two additional books published this year (Crazy On Board and Girlfriend Rules), to round out the TMI Mom series. Plus, I had my first piece of fiction publish with some of my girls, Weekend With Effie.

Despite the wonkiness of the year where I was thrown head-first into the sandwich generation, it was a good year. Let's remember the top five posts of 2014 on Minivan Momma!

5. (You have to count backwards on New Year's Eve.) Teal Toes and Mi Familia--I was able to connect with my daddy's side of the family and share the story of my cousin's life and death.

4. Giggling Uncontrollably and Laughing Inappropriately--Wherein I stood, flipping through bras for Hadley contemplating the idea of letting Brian go bra shopping by himself.

3. Obligatory Father's Day Post--So much of my happiness is due in no small part to my better half. I heart him a lot.

2. 20 Freezer Meals--I really kinda feel bad about this post getting so many views. Kinda. It was done tongue-in-cheek, but the meals were all real. So many readers emailed me asking for specific recipes (including my sister) and the truth of the matter is that I rarely use a real recipe, which makes the number one post that much funnier:

1. Lasagna--I'm still not a food blogger--It was a sponsosred post for Red Gold, but it clearly resounded with a lot of people. Who knew?

So ... Happy New Year.

Instead of making resolutions, I decided to participate in monthly challenges. The problem with setting resolutions is that they are unknown destinations without a map. Saying that you want to lose weight, but not having a clear plan how that will happen is not going to be a successful venture. So, my monthly challenges will be lifestyle changes that I'll attempt for 30 days. Or 31 days. Or 28 days. You get it, right?

The first one for this month deals with my morning routine, or lack thereof. I realized that if I woke up when my alarm went off, I would have 45 minutes to work out, write, do laundry, whatever. So, my first challenge is to not hit snooze and to wake up when my alarm goes off.

This morning... Or the morning of January 1, my alarm went off at 6 a.m.. But, Jane Seymour was interviewing me, even though I'm pretty certain Jane Lynch was supposed to be interviewing me since I'd seen her on the NYE show. But, I was so embarrassed when my alarm went off during the interview that I turned it off and continued answering her questions. I was hanging with Jane until she started asking me Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman trivia, then I picked up the donuts, took off my mic and shook Carson Daly's hand as I left. (I told you it was supposed to be Jane Lynch.) I asked to go to the bathroom and at 8:49, I got out of bed to pee.

Technically, I didn't hit snooze.

I'll work in the "getting up" part tomorrow.

Happy New Year!

PS--I'll share the rest of my January challenges tomorrow. But, I'm already back in bed for the night.

2013, You've Sure Been Good

I love the New Year ... a time for new beginnings. That's always a welcome event, unless you're winning and the game isn't over and someone calls "Do Overs" then that kinda ticks me off. Nonetheless, I love the New Year.

In anticipation of this fresh start, let's look back over the year.

Source

In January, D2 celebrated her ninth birthday, and I harassed my cousins.

In February, I taught my kid the definition of rectal, and I took pole dancing classes.

March brought us strep throat (hallelujah!), and I showed off my dope rappin' skillz, yo.

April brought us (you, especially, but it made me happy, too) MY BOOK! And, I called out another author ... apparently you people like sap.

What a great month May was--I learned a lot and fell in love with my man all over again.

In June, we went camping, and I let it all hang out.

My husband pretended to be a Pretty Woman expert in July, and I entertained people in the Hellmart Parking Lot.

August found me in my gyno's office with a list of suggestions, and I reminisced about D1's first note from school.

In September, I met George Straight and D2 met a bull, and I got pissed about the VMAs.

October brought a wake-up call for us as a family and we counted down to Thanksgiving, and D1 and I chatted about spooky things.

In November, I had an opportunity to be kind and I took it, but it cost me, and Getting Lucky was published--you've read it, right?

And that brings us to December, where I felt a connection with Noah, and I had to help Brian take off his trunks.

Then and Now: A New Year's Eve Countdown

I thought it'd be fun to look back at how my life has changed; not just over the last year, but the last twenty years ...

New Year's Eve 1992: I will eat my weight in barbecue meatballs so I'll have something on my stomach when I start chugging Bartles and James coolers.

New Year's Eve 2012:  I will eat my weight in barbecue meatballs while swearing to start exercising twenty-six hours a day nine days a week.