I'm giving my blog a big, wet, slightly-awkward kiss right now.  I've missed blogging a LOT.  So, as many of you know, I took November off from the blog to participate in National Novel Writing Month.  I have a little recap of that and more coming your way today, but first, I have to just say again how much I've missed all of you and reading blogs and this month has reinforced the belief that I am meant to blog, no matter what else I'm doing in life.  I'm a blogger.  Through and through.

So, on top of NaNoWriMo recap, stick around because I have some news about The Book Chat to share as well!

Okay, so about NaNo.  The goal was to finish 50,000 words in the month.  I made it 40,000, but honestly guys, I'm not upset about not reaching my goal.  I had a lot going on this month.  Jeremy was gone for most of the month leaving me to single-mom it the whole time.  But this isn't about making excuses.  The best thing I gained from this experience is that I know what I need to adjust to make this career goal more realistic.  I didn't finish the novel, but I'm not done.  I'm still working on it everyday and it will be finished and it will be published.  Just because I didn't finish it in 30 days doesn't matter at all.  I am so thankful for NaNo for giving the drive and motivation to reach this major turning point.  This was not a hobby to me.  This is my new career and without NaNo, I might have put it off for another and another and another year.

There were days I chose not to write because I wasn't "feeling it" or there was a good movie on or other "purposeful procrastination" things getting in the way.  I have my own personal hurdles to overcome, but I just keep driving forward making little changes one-by-one, and I know I will get there eventually.

So, look forward to the big "It's done!" announcement.  I hope to have the first draft done by the end of December.  Then, revisions!  {groan}

The Book Chat is back!

That's right.  I need some book chatters in my life, right now.  I have a couple fun book chat topics for December.  I need ideas for January.  I don't know if we'll go back to every week book chats, but I think we'll let the book chat inspiration come to us.  So, here are the topics for this month.  My favorites book chat topics!

December 12: What books are on your Christmas wish list?  Or you can share book-lover's gift ideas.
December 19: Top 10 of 2013

Oh yeah…it's that time of year again!  Share your favorite books of the year.  They can be new releases or your 10 favorite books of the year.  I usually just post my 10 favorite reads of the year.  I love making this list.

So, that's exciting, right?!  I hope you all join.  

I have some other great posts coming this month.  We went to Prague last week, and OH SO MANY great pictures of that coming your way.  Plus some travel tip posts.  And of course my favorite top 10 of the year posts.

So, what about you, friends?  How was your November?  Did you do NaNo and how did you do?  Any exciting blog news I should know?