I've always loved when popular magazines do their favorite picks for beauty products and wanted to do my own because I think I know better! So here they are, my picks for must have products for the summer

This post is geared toward both men and women -- women: because who doesn't like reading about beauty products and makeup?! men: HELLO, Mother's Day is right around the corner. So, if you haven't gotten your wife and the mother of your children anything yet, or your own mother for that matter, get shopping! Take this list with you and fill a cute little cosmetic bag with some of this stuff and she'll <3 you.

** IF you click on the image, it will take you to Amazon to purchase. Unless, it is one of my pics :)

I came across an article today (thanks to Yahoo) that discussed a study that was completed and proved that brain interruption actually leads to a a decrease in brain activity - i.e. making a person dumber.  They were referring to what they called "rapid toggling between tasks." In a nutshell, what they're saying is that texting while working on your computer, answering the phone while writing, folding laundry while talking on the phone AND helping your kid with their homework--basically switching from task to task and back again has a cost. And that cost, as I mentioned, is that your performance is worse.

I laughed when reading this study because it completely describes what my days are like. I am constantly doing a million things at once. And I have to admit, I certainly do feel scattered. Now I have a study to prove it and back up the way I'm feeling! lol.  I think it's so hard nowadays to slow down. There are so many things expected of us, so many things "we need to get done," that just can't wait. I think this is especially true for mothers who also work. Most of us have the kids (which is a full time job in and of itself), our career, and the house to run. It's, quite frankly, exhausting, and any woman in this position knows that there is no way in hell you're getting all everything done without doing some "rapid toggling." The question is, how do you balance it? How much is too much? Where does it end and when do you stop yourself and say, "hey, slow down...relax...do nothing."  Life, like writing, requires balance in all things. This is something I think we all have to work on every single day. I don't think it's something that comes easily. Instead, it's something we must work at and hopefully, over time, we all can achieve.

So, for all you "rapid togglers" out there, I feel ya. And especially for all those working or writing moms, I feel ya. For all those working moms who are also writers, you're both amazing and crazy. lol. ..slow down, breathe, take a break and sit on your butt for a while. Watch your kids, put your phone and all devices away. Even superwoman needs a break sometimes.

Oh, and you all should check out The Serious Reader today. Waiting On Hope is up on Hollywood Dream Cast!

If you're a regular reader of my blog or check my site frequently, you may notice some changes. Because I switched websites, I lost all of my previous blog posts, but instead of manually adding them, I decided to start fresh. So, even though it's May, and the post "A Year In Review" may seem like something that should come with the new year, I decided it was relevant now despite the time of year...

I also released my latest novel, Freedom Road, which placed as an award-winning finalist in the USA Best Book Awards (YA category) AND placed as a quarter-finalist (second place prize) in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. I also released an eShort prequel, titled Prelude, shortly after. I was lucky to have all of my books rank as bestsellers on and off throughout the year.

I have had some bumps in the road with my writing. I started one project and after months of fretting over why the words just wouldn't come, decided to set it aside and work on a new project. I finally found something I love and think will really work, which I promise to tell you more about soon...

This year also brought with it some new friends, both at home and online--namely a group of author friends that I had been conversing with for a year and a half. We finally got to meet this past year at a get together geared toward the WLC women (a group I had been volunteering with at the time). Here's a pic! You can see more in my photo gallery...

All in all, 2012 treated me well. 2013 was off to a fairly rocky start with my writing, but I hope to change that in the next two months. I promise to keep everyone updated of news and future projects, including my latest virtual book tour, scheduled to start the last week of June! Oh, and did I forget to mention that Prelude (the eShort prequel to Freedom Road) is FREE for the next few days? That's right, go get it! And don't forget a copy of Freedom Road while you're at it ;)

Until next time...
TM