{SQT} Head Exploding From All the Awesomeness
Reunited and it feel so good! Oh, I’ve missed you all; my readers, my Facebook friends, my followers on Instagram and Twitter. It is like coming out of the desert to face a table laid with a bounty of gossip, current affairs, friendly banter, perfectly filtered pictures and spam. For almost two weeks I was forced to make decisions without crowd sourcing and communicate via email. EMAIL! Like it’s 2002 or something.
And what is that I hear? Could it be the sound of millions of jaws across the Catholic blogosphere hitting the floor as I take over Seven Quick Takes? We really tried to ease y’all into it to lessen the shock. Don’t worry, you can still visit Jen on the weekends and every other Tuesday, plus alternate holidays.
Please, don’t think of me as the evil stepmother. I know I can’t live up to the Jennifer Fulwiler; and I don’t want you to call me mini-Jen…unless you want to, in which case I guess it’s okay. Honestly, I tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted and when J-Ful (I can call her that because we’re tight) asks you to do something, you query your Facebook friends and then say yes!
I want to be friends, and I think if we both put in a little effort, we might really learn to like one another. Now let’s get things started with a rambling list of all the things I’ve been doing since I couldn’t be on social media!!! (C’mon, you said you’d try.)
1. I WROTE A BOOK.
At some point a few months back, as I reflected on my New Year’s resolutions, I realized I’d probably never get a book written this year. I couldn’t sit and write fiction and frankly, unless a publisher approached me and said, “Hey, write a book about THIS!” I really couldn’t think where to start. AND THEN, I just decided to create the perfect planner for myself, write a weekly entry for all 52 weeks and, viola, BOOK! A real book, not like any of the other books I pretended to write.
Tony came up with the name, ‘The Best Laid Plans’ and it’s 70 percent new material, with the remainder coming from that first year of blogging when I had four subscribers. It’s perfect for the person who wants to feel more organized without having to actually make any life changes. You can purchase a printed copy or download and print as many as you want. 8.5″x 11″ printed planners are $16 and pdf downloads are $8 until December 31st. But due to shipping times, you need to order by December 11th for the best Christmas delivery rates. Order by December 19th if you feel like paying someone from Lulu.com to ride out to your house on a moped, in a Santa suit. (Seriously, overnight fees are ridiculous.) Obviously, this won’t be the last you’ll hear about “The Best Laid Plans” but at least I won’t tease you about it for five years before delivering something, right??!?! Totally kidding Mrs. Fulwiler.
Click on the cover to check out a 15 page sample on Lulu.com!
2. My working title was actually “The Plan” but that sounded too John Grisham. “This is the plan and you’re going to follow it or die an unfortunate and untimely death.” I was describing my style to Addie and she came up with “Fun-spirational”. While I didn’t use that as my title, I’m pretty sure if I use that term to start a line of fertility monitors, I’d hit solid gold.
3. I was sad to not be able to share all of Byron’s comic prowess within minutes of it taking place. Notable antics included his impersonation of Sam Smith (which resembles the air being let out of a tire, vocally and physically) and his attempt to answer his math questions in all Roman numerals. I blame this on the stockpile of Calvin and Hobbes and Foxtrot comics at my parents house that he spent three days re-reading over Thanksgiving.
4. I was checking the statistics on one of my ad networks (because even without Facebook I can find ways to distract myself) and I noticed a graphic at the bottom that listed my blogs “audience.”
According to this, a lot of young, affluent, yet not college educated, childless white men are reading my blog. Hi guys! Any of you shopping for a sister, fiance or mom in need of a planner?
5. Re-reading, and realizing that all the things I jotted down in the last couple weeks to share really weren’t that interesting after all. My whole online social life is a sham.
6. I rediscovered this song recently and much happy, awkward dancing has commenced.T-shirt spinning? Perhaps.
7. Hey, I wrote a book! Howsabout a giveaway!?! One copy of my new planner “The Best Laid Plans” in your choice of either a pdf download or printed copy is up for grabs! And just in time for Christmas!
The rafflecopter giveaway has ended.
And now it’s time to join the party and link up below, just as you’ll be doing every Friday from here forwards. We’ll settle into new routines and establish new insider jokes and lingo. Just because you’ve been hanging at Jen’s since November 14, 2008 when she hosted her first Quick Takes link up using something called “Mr. Linky’s Magical Widgets” (kids, cover your eyes!) doesn’t mean we can’t make this relationship work. I can’t wait to use up all my new free time reading your posts!! Just make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL, and include a link back here… not Conversion Diary, but here. I’m Kelly, not Jen. You’re here now, and it’s okay.
What a great plan to write an entry for each week!
Congrats on your impressive coup – oh yeah, and the book 😉 Best of luck moving forward!
Taking over for good? AND you wrote a book? Mrs. Mantoan, how very sneaky/productive of you. Good for you, girl!
Oops! And I need a planner because perhaps if I planned things out better, I wouldn’t be so disorganized as to have my baby in a car. (i’m going to get a lot of mileage out of that one.)
I’m a little comment crazy right now. Just got back from the preview and I LOVE it. If I don’t win, I;m definitely buying it. Nicely done, Kelly.
Totally going to order a planner after Jon gets paid this weekend.
So is there going to be a totally cool graphic for your hosting of the Quick Takes?
I need a planner because I keep forgetting to do stuff or I double book myself and I’m kind of unorganized lately…maybe that’ll help me HA we can wish!
I’m with Jen above we need a cool new blog graphic!
Why do I need a planner? Because I was much better at getting to things when I used a planner instead of my stupid smart phone.
Thank you for taking the reins! And congrats on your book. Very exciting!
I need your planner because my plans haven’t worked thus far..Oh, who am I kidding, I don’t have any plans, that’s how we ended up with 11 kids 🙂
Your planner would make the ‘best laid plans’ super easy to carry out! And I’d hear your funny jokes in my head as I carried out even the most mundane of tasks!
Because my life is falling apart! Just kidding. It’s because I trust you that I need it.
So I want the planner because I am a Catholic Convert, home school mom of 8 age range 4-20 and just think the blog is cool. (Sorry from Cali!)
Why do I need a new planner? Well, why NOT? 🙂 I figure anything that will make me laugh until I snort and cry and fall on the floor can’t be a bad thing… 🙂
Kelly, a note: I just tried to do the “visit on Facebook” and it said the page was broken and it’s because the link isn’t right. the link it should be: https://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Aint-the-Lyceum/254218931325228 so you can update it in rafflecopter.
Fixed it! Thank you for letting me know!
I currently use a plain spiral notebook as my to do list. It’s not working out and I plan to break up with it over the Christmas holiday. Your planner is clearly the rebound I need, maybe it could be something more. (Did that come out as a compliment? It’s supposed to a compliment.)
Yay yay yay yay! That is all.
Congrats on the new book and congrats on your new power as the 7QT host. I’m always looking for new planner ideas. I need something simple and I love extra white space for adding notes, so this might actually be a god one for me. I try keeping to-do lists on my iPod and it just doesn’t work for me. Your planner may be a good 2015 resolution for me. Hmmmm … Stay more organized with Kelly’s new planner. Sounds like a plan to me!
It’s my first time here, and I really enjoy it! I tried to go digital with my planner, and I’m successful with putting things in there, but not so successful with checking back for what I’m supposed to do or where I’m supposed to be! I need to go back to paper, so it’s always in front of my face!
I need a planner because I have one child in high school, one in middle school, two in elementary, and an infant. I cannot cope with just my brain!
Welcome back!
I need a new planner because it is a new year!!! Very exciting week for you! Congratulations!
Not going to lie, it’s strange to think of anyone but Jen hosting the link up, but strange is not bad! Thanks for taking up the torch, I’m looking forward to joining in over here on those special days where I get my butt in gear to participate in time.
Love it! Congrats on your book!! I think t-shirt spinning is in order! 😉
Love the idea of a planner for next year!
Congrats on the book! And the blogging success!! I need a planner because…well..I got stuff to plan!
I’m always looking for the best planner for my life. Plus, my current one runs out on Dec. 31.
I would love a planner with a Catholic slant to keep up with my home business and family stuff.
Ok, I love that you’re hosting now Kelly! You’re the bomb! 😉
Thanks for taking over. My Friday blogging would just be nonexistant (like the rest of the week) with out 7QT.
I need a planner because I continually forgot what I’m doing and where im supposed to be.
Congrats on the book! That’s so exciting!!!
Congrats on the book! Yay you! I need a planner because all the stuff all the time all in my brain!
I absolutely remember that song AND Petey Pablo’s cameo in Drumline. #throwback
And aren’t you glad for a non-planner-petitioning comment? I was going to say “I don’t need a planner,” but that sounds arrogant and like a wish to have all my carefully laid out systems (referenced in my post) fall to shambles. I don’t believe in karma (see also “Catholicism”), but if I did, that would be asking for the bad kind.
Is It okay I’m not a white male?? Love it!! and so excited you’re da new mini-Jen. ????????????????
Five kids under seven, including a new baby, and trying to homeschool. Need I say more? Glad to have you back & hosting 7 Quick Takes!
I need a new planner, because I’m terribly scatterbrained. The planner comes with a guarantee to fix that, right?
Congratulations on becoming the new host of 7QT. I didn’t get a post done this week (see statement above), but I will be linking up in the very near future!
I need a planner b’cuz it looks like my temp job will last past Dec.31. Yay.
I stumbled across your blog and couldn’t stop laughing when I read your post. Seriously, your what my senior citizen self refers to as ‘a kick in the pants!’ Congrats on the book! How awesome! Linking up for the first time and now im off to find out how to follow you. 🙂
Oooh la la!! Congratulations, author lady!! And I need a new planner because I’m Type A to the max. ENFJ FTW 😉
I need a planner because I only have 2 kids but I still don’t seem to have time to get anything done. I’m in awe of all of y’all with so many kids!
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to be more organized.
Great job! I need a paper organizer! Sick of everything on my phone!
Because I am a hot mess. Truly. In a good way! I think??
Lol! Those guys must be really shy. Because both Adam Crawford and I are married with children.
And, no, I’m not shopping for a planner. I don’t think my wife would want something that will force here to keep a record everything she has failed to do. I kind of like Jen’s plan, actually.
Now that I’ve ruined your chances of selling anymore planners, maybe you should consider if these guys are single and looking for a nice Catholic girl? You could start a dating service.