And then I thought… aren’t I lucky to be this busy?

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February 8 will be my one year anniversary at my beloved MMI and reflecting on that fact has me reflecting on many of the other things things that have happened over the last 12 months.

I have a job I adore. My new blog design is beautiful. I would consider myself an almost-non-smoker. I am in love with my best friend. I have a client list that couldn’t make me happier. I got to visit New Orleans for the first time ever. I met Adam Scott, Emmit Smith AND took a ride on an elliptical next to Luke Wilson. I went on an epic Texas road trip. I buried a cousin and welcomed a new member into my extended family. I took up mountain biking. My sister kept me laughing and taught me to crochet. I made four scarves. My mom sent me supportive emails and messages. My friends were amazing. I laughed and I lived and I learned.

I found my way through a very unhappy time in my life and have discovered certain truths about myself. Maybe I will share those later, but for now, I just want to celebrate all that was amazing about my 26th year.

And when I start to worry things about things every now and then… I just channel the sage advice of Dr. Suess.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

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After I wrote my farewell letter on our company blog, I was immediately flooded with all kinds of messages asking why. I have remained somewhat quiet on the subject up until now but I figure it’s time I explained the real reason I left a job I loved.

First things first: No, I am not moving. Yes, I realize it is a recession. No, I am not crazy.

Here is why I said Goodbye.

I have been working really hard to reach one goal or another ever since I was 15 and got my first job. My “Goal” list looked sort of like this:

1. Graduate High School. Check!!
2. Join the Army. Check!!
3. Get into University of Houston. Check!!
4. Major in Public Relations. Check!!
5. Get a Cat. Check!!
6. Participate in few great internships. Check!!
7. Fall in Love. Check!!
8. Graduate with Honors. Check!!
9. Buy a sweet truck. Check!!
10. Land a job. Check!!

A few months ago I looked at my list and noticed there was nothing left to check off. I had everything I had ever wanted and I was only 25. I should have been hopping up and down in excitement… Only I wasn’t. I was missing something I really really needed… and I didn’t know what.

So I decided to join the Peace Corps. Before you freak out, I didn’t… I already said I wasn’t moving right? I quit my job instead.

Fast forward to this Monday: I woke up JOBLESS but totally at peace. I wasn’t really sure what my next steps were because I’d reached the end of my list, but for the first time in my life I was okay with that.

Enter Laura and the Happiness Project.

On Tuesday I went to drink coffee and eat cake with the lovely Laura. As I was walking out the door to her house to head to my own, she stopped me and handed me a book.

“I just got this in the mail but for some reason I think I should give this to you.”

I looked down, it was The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

“Are you sure? You haven’t even read it yet!”

Laura ensured me it was fine and shooed me out the door.

My Happiness Project

I went home and immediately started reading. Within the first few pages, I was smiling… and I knew it was time to embark on my own journey to happiness. This is the quote from Gretchen that did it:

Se says to herself: “As soon as I have some free time, I should start a happiness project.”

Well I do have free time… and vast amounts of it! Why not start my very own project while I read Gretchen’s story?

My Happiness Resolutions.

Like in the book, I would pick one happiness resolution to work on every month. That makes 12 happiness resolutions total. Gretchen picked all of hers before she started her project but I’m still sketching out all of mine so I’ll just start with the first and what I’m working on in January: Organization.

So here is what I did today to kick off my Happiness Project:

1. I started cleaning out my closet: Let’s face it. I’m never going to be a size 2 or an A-cup ever again so it’s time to get rid of those clothes I wore when I was 18, blond and bartending and make room for things that look good on my body now.
2. A whole lot of shredding went on: I like to keep things… but do I really need the syllabus from my freshman “Intro to Public Relations” class? No. I allowed myself to keep the book, but shredded the rest.
3. The recycling bin on my computer desktop is by new best friend: Like the syllabus, it’s not necessary to save every little thing. Chances are, if it was really important, it’s in my email archives or I can find it online somewhere. That .jpg of the UH logo has got to go. Trust me, it’s you can find it somewhere else.
4. I died my hair: Come one. EVERY good project needs to start with a great hairdo right?!

So here is to 201o and my Happiness Project. I hope you start your own!

I’m heading to Austin tomorrow morning to do a reading of my 6 Word Memoir (join me!!) and then I’ll be babysitting my teenage cousins over the weekend. If you don’t hear from me on Monday, I would suggest heading to Austin with a rescue party. You may find me hanging upside down from an oak tree… tethered with nothing but toilet paper.

Your Six-Word Memoir is Going to be Published!

Let’s rewind for a second. What is a Six-Word Memoir?!? Over a year ago, I heard the tale of Ernest Hemingway‘s Six Word Memoir and I was pretty immediately hooked. As a former bartender, the story had me at hello. Why?

It takes place at a bar!! One night, Ernest Hemingway was out on the town and a fellow patron challenged him to write a memoir in six words… and he didn’t hesitate. His response?

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

I know what you are thinking. BABY SHOES? And you were HOOKED? Well I was enchanted with the idea of a life summed up in six words… and I would soon find out that millions of other people were as well. Thanks to SMITH Magazine, the challenge lives on. SMITH believes that everyone has a story, they just need a place to tell it… And you can… right on their homepage.

For a while, I was a six word stalker. I read other people submissions, which range from heartbreaking (These bruises prove he loves me) to hilarious (Never really left the Trailer Park). On January 28, 2009 I finally strapped it on and posted my own.

Loves box wine in solo cups.

And on Saturday I got the wonderful news that it’s going to be published in a book called It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. You can pre-order it from Amazon now!! Or come to the book tour. I’ll be at the one in Austin on Friday, January 8 at 7 pm at BookPeople on Lamar.

Yes… it’s only 6 words. But it’s my six words.What are yours? Leave them in the comments section!!

Oh – and check out the video JMO filmed to help me commemorate the occasion.

In the beginning I promised to talk about Social Media and Social Media only, but as things have progressed, I have shared a much more personal side of my life than I ever really expected. I guess, like all things, blogs are meant to evolve and this happy little experiment definitely has. In a really wonderful way.

Since it has been such a wonderful year, I figured I would take today to give a shout out to my ten bloggiest influences!! Drumroll please….

1. Mom and Ali… you are amazing women and I would not be who I am without you. Thank you for your love and support and for drinking box wine with me. I am truly lucky to have women such as you in my life. You are my best friends (even though Alice is a HUGE dork).

2. Mo-Down… You are my best friend and one of the most important people in my life. You amaze me every day and I don’t know where I would have ended up if you hadn’t adopted me back when I was 21! You always make me laugh and are a force to be reckoned with. Houston would be a boring place without you.

3. My Schipul family… You are the most wonderful (and nutty) group of people a girl could ask to work with. You are all smart and talented and BRILLIANT. Never forget that.

4. Gwendolyn… You are one special lady. You are an inspiration to me daily and I have never met someone with whom I share so similarities. Dare I say it’s uncanny?

5. Dr. Miggy… You’re sexy and smart and sassy. You are doing amazing things in this world and prove that dynamite really does come in small packages. And I love being with you. Especially when we get “drunk” and “critique” people’s outfits at Leon’s.

6. David… This blog would not exist if it wasn’t for you. You are an phenemenal graphic designer and a rad WordPress wrangler. You are the best friend a girl could ask for and you have made my life a joy. As an aside… You also have the ability to grow a pretty sweet stache which is extremely respectable.

7. Monica again. Because did I mention you always make me laugh?

8. Laura… You are a wonderful person and role model and I look up to you greatly. Thank you for always listening to my long random career stories and for always having a smile when I’m freaking out about something crazy. You’re the best.

9. My clients… you guys rock and I learn something new from you crazies every day. Much love to you!!

10. Courtney… You my dear, are a serious blessing. Thank you for always checking my grammer before I hit “post” and (more importantly) for being from Tomball. It’s nice to have someone in the office who knows where I come from. Go Coogs right?

And lastly (but probably most importantly)… to anyone who has ever visited my cheesy corny of the world, thank you. I truly love you all.

Hey Daddy!!

Happy birthday!

I woke up this morning and it was a normal morning, and then I realized it was your birthday. Usually I see today coming from a mile off, but this year it crept up on me… and like always… took my breath away.

Sometimes the memories of you are so very clear that it is hard to believe you’re gone. Especially on days like today.

I miss your laugh. I miss your silly jokes and your hugs. Every single day, I miss you.

I wish you could see your girls, all grown up. Alice and I have become some pretty neat women. And Mom… she is truly amazing. She lives her life with a poise and grace that is wonderful to watch. I pray every day that I will grow up to be my Mother. You’re missing out Dad.

I wish you could meet David and Ali’s fiance, Justin. I wish I knew you as an adult. I wish you were here so we could really celebrate your birthday. I wish.

In a few months, you will have been gone ten years. So much has happened since then, but days like today take me back there in a flash. I am still 16. I am still waiting for you to come home. I still love you. You will always ALWAYS be my best friend.

So Happy Birthday Daddy…. I’m sending kisses your way.

Love always,

Your little girl

I love talking about all things Public Relations and Social Media related so while you’re here, check out some of my other posts! A few of my favorites are:

1. Personal Branding Cat Got Your Tongue?
2. Internet Speak Parts One and Two
3. On Social Media and Friends

So again, welcome to Mags Mac ‘n’ Cheese! I hope you enjoy it. Leave comments and suggestions but most importantly… enjoy the cheese!