Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - 2023 New Year Edition

Happy New Year!

I feel like I should have something to say, so I'm chiming in with Caffeinated Reviewer's Sunday Post and Readerbuzz's Sunday Salon (and hoping this will help me remember that it is, indeed, Sunday). 

This Week in Books

Finished:

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

Code Girls by Liza Mundy

Luminary: A Magical Guide to Self-Care by Kate Scelsa

Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks

Starting:

Positively Izzy by Terri Libenson

Room and Board by Miriam Parker

Eagerly Awaiting:

in the middle of things by courtney hanes

Outside of Books

• Wrapping up some extra responsibilities at work while the manager has been on vacation (totally doable, but just a lil extra stress)
• Wondering at not having more guilt over skipping my yearly accomplishments and goals posts - just out of effs to give, I guess
• Working on straightening up my home office, since we've been back to the office since May. Considering maybe an extra bed so it's sort of a guest room?

Three Good Things

1. Having a job I enjoy, so I don't have to dread the end of long weekends.
2. Everyone - including me - being happy with their holiday gifts.
3. Enough. We all have enough.

Hope the holidays have been good for you and yours as well :)

Happy New Year!

The Sunday Post 9/18/22

 Wow! Welcome to my contribution to the Sunday Post 💛 and The Sunday Salon 💜

It's been a bit since I've joined with one of these - hope everyone's been doing well!

Since I've hardly kept up on doing anything regularly since I've been back in-office full time in early May, this may jump around a bit.

Most of my blogging is still book-ish, so feel free to check out my last three reviews: The Flight Attendant (3 out of 5 stars), The Witches of Moonshyne Manor (5 out of 5 stars), and Devil's Chew Toy (4 out of 5 stars). 

I'm currently reading Her Majesty's Royal Coven (hoping to finish later today), The Fortunes of Jaded Women, and casually browsing a pdf of Luminary: A Magical Guide to Self Care while waiting for my paper copy (the pdf keeps losing my place!). 

But I don't live by books alone, right? Oh, wait. Maybe I do.

The rest of my, well, day:

Working full-time is severely messing up my ability to manage the rest of my life. Like, for real. Today I still need to do more of my theatre booster treasurer responsibilities (I HATE QUICKBOOKS!!!), get together a renewal lease for the tenants of the house we never sold, and finish disbursing my paycheck from Friday to various medical bills and other things I want to go away.

Ending on a happy note, three great things:

A beautiful day with my kids at the Michigan Renaissance Festival yesterday! If you're local and waiting to go, check out the ticket giveaway at Yes/No Detroit. After a cool-ish beginning to the week (and I think it's cool again by the end of this week), yesterday was mid-80s and mostly sunny! I got a cute huntress costume off of Amazon, but had no need for a cape yesterday! 

While 'great' may be overstating it, I'm going in for my first annual physical in seven years this week. LOL I did the advance testing and am ready to hear that I still feel pretty darn healthy for breaching the second half of my first century (why yes, I am an optimist frequently).

And I'm starting planning for my baby's 11th birthday next month! He's opted to have a super fun day and sleepover with one friend instead of a party, and I admit I'm a bit relieved. My biggest planning will be a family party with his grandparents, aunts & uncles, and cousins over for dinner. Now to help him pick a dinner....

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Every time I read, "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!" I hear it in the old Monster Jam truck show voice. I should go find that on YouTube so I can prove I'm not nuts. Until then, maybe you'll just think I am. Whatever. 

This Sunday I'm joining in with Deb at Readerbuzz for The Sunday Salon, and Kimberly at Caffeinated Reviewer for Sunday Post. It's my attempt to pretend I post something other than book reviews, except I still mostly talk about books. 

Bookish:

Last three reads:

Tell No Lies by Allison Brennan (reviewed here)

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge (reviewing soon at BooksIThinkYouShouldRead)

They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall (reviewing soon at SweetlyBSquared)

Reading now:

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson

Next three (probable) reads:

Knives and Knightsticks by K. Lew & C.R. Lockhart

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry

At the End of the World, Turn Left by Zhanna Slor

Non-Bookish:

Three things I've done besides read this week:

1. Watched some Netflix - The Wrong Missy,  The Do-Over, and The Last Blockbuster
2. Re-potted the mini rosebush that hubs gave me for Valentine's Day.
3. Finally returned the school library books that Jack's teacher gave him at Christmas time. The school library is only open after my work hours on Wednesdays, and we are usually at baton practice on Wednesdays. So having everyone gone meant I was free to do something else on Wednesday - return library books (luckily they don't track how late they may have been!).

Three good things:

1. My family comes home today! I've missed them. They all took the week off before hubs starts his new job tomorrow. I'm still new-ish at my job, so I stayed home and worked all week. It was peaceful, but I'm ready for some hugs and snuggles.
2. All of my work computer stuff is finally here! I've got quite the set-up, but it's way easier to learn/do my job with enough monitor space to keep it all straight.
3. Spring is definitely coming! We had a couple nice days last week, and although it's chilly and rainy now, there are more good days in the forecast.

Three things to-do this week:

1. Finish working on Jack's room. I was lucky enough to get a free dresser that fits in his walk-in closet. Now I'm emptying out the wire drawers he's been using in there (repurposing them to the basement?), getting rid of too-small clothes (just bagging them and putting them in storage while Purple Heart isn't picking up), and putting the good stuff where he can easily access it and maintain the organization.
2. It's spring break for the kids! Hopefully find stuff for them to do that will keep them out of my hair. Hahaha... Hubs and I are both working from home (at least I am, I think he is?), so I suppose my to-do is to work hours without being overcome with jealousy that my kids have free time all week.
3. Get family groceries and cook a couple dinners. No, really, it's a goal. Ski season is finally over, so I think we'll all be home for dinner. This hasn't happened in months! 

Three things I wish for:

1. Warm spring weather.
2. A meeting with our landscaping guy to get it all on track for spring (weed the front garden area, plant something in the shady spot, start on a property line plan on the east side of the back yard).
3. Convenient vaccine appointments for hubs and I.

Hope you all have a great week, and hope you always picture Olaf in Frozen whenever you read 'good things.'

Sunday Post - 7 June 2020

Welcome to Sunday! I've been reading my tail off more than blogging lately, so it's been a while since I checked in with a regular weekly post ;) Today I'm joining the list of bloggers over at Caffeinated Reviewer for Sunday Post. Come visit a few and find out about this week around the world - and bloggers love comments, comment on a few posts and make some bloggers smile this week :)

I'm officially done with work! My department is serving one more day (tomorrow) for children in the district, and then they're having a send-off of sorts on Tuesday. Both the department director and the administrator are retiring this year. While I think both women are great, I'm sitting out the gathering to limit my exposure to people.

And part of the reason I'm limiting my exposure when I can is because we've invited our families over to celebrate hubby's and my birthdays at the end of the week. So far it's just my parents and his dad attending. It feels weird planning my 'exposures' to the outside world, but it also feels like the right thing to do.

In a full-disclosure and mixed messages kind of week, Maggie and I chose to attend the local anti-racism and black lives matter protest in our town on Friday night. It was so powerful to be there with so many like-minded community members. Emotionally overwhelming, to be completely honest. But when you're living through the largest civil rights movement in world history, how can you not try to support those who need it?!?

Last Week on the Blog

Reviewed The Goldfinch (4.5/5 stars), This Won't End Well (3.5/5 stars), and A Royal Kiss & Tell (4/5 stars).
Also reviewed Hide Away (4/5 stars) at Books I Think You Should Read. There's also a giveaway on this one that ends tomorrow (June 8).


This Week on the Blog

Just finished reading Always and Forever, Lara Jean (4/5 stars). I really enjoyed this series. There are already movies on Netflix for the first two books, so hopefully this one will follow soon (it's the third and final book in the series).
Starting The Conference of the Birds (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #5) once I'm done posting and commenting on a few blogs, and will probably finish and review before the week is out.
Last but not even close to least, hoping to start on either White Fragility or White Rage to participate in the Blackout Buddy Read with Books with Shae (the link is to her video kicking the whole thing off. I couldn't find just a 'page' link. I don't do a lot of YouTubers...).



Around the Blogosphere

In addition to reading books at a quick pace lately, I've also read LOTS of articles about the United State's poor excuse for a President, Black Lives Matter,  and the global pandemic. Yes, this is all still going on, at the same time.




My Birthday Week

Are you just here because you were wondering about gift ideas for my birthday next weekend? Tieks (size 9, but probably won't get here in time), new makeup (a BB or CC cream with sunscreen, great mascara, and great water-resistant eyeliner), new flip-flops (the thick ones like I already have, but without all the holes in the bottom), and anything on my Amazon wish list (especially the things that aren't books - I get a lot of books from the library or on my kindle).
There - aren't you glad you asked? :P


Hope your life is feeling good for you. Safer at home? Excited to get out? Whatever. Just love each other, k?

Sunday Post - 26 April 2020

Hello and welcome, Sunday Post peeps!

I'm joining Kimberly at Caffeinated Reviewer (and the rest of the crew) for the Sunday Post this week.

Just for the purpose of my own personal statistics:

We've been out of school since March 13 - going on seven weeks now.

I've had to report to work four days since then. Once, March 16, to get our perishable foods out of our school kitchen and to a central distribution site, and the other three times to pack and/or hand out meals to kids in need. Our district distributes three days of breakfasts and lunches each Monday, and four days of breakfasts and lunches each Thursday.

The kids and I drove through the boonies to Linden, Michigan on Friday, March 20 to pick up a 1/4 of a cow from the butcher. Yay for not running out of beef any time soon.

On April 15, we drove to one of my daughter's friend's house to drop off a birthday present (and picked up a pizza order while we were out).

After work on Monday, April 20, I drove to the post office to pick up my packages, and then bought groceries at our local Meijer. On Thursday, April 23, I again got stuff we needed from Meijer, since I do not have another day out of the house scheduled.

This afternoon we're joining a local birthday parade for another friend of my daughter.

I've finished 17 books since March 13. I still haven't picked up my counted cross-stitch, but I would still like to, Right now I'm trying to bring my TBR list around to books published in 2020. I have one left from 2018 (up next), and two from 2019 (but I haven't received one as promised from the publisher yet). It's good to have goals, right?


Last Week on the Blog
Reviewed The Heirloom Garden - April 23
Posted for Mailbox Monday and IMWAYR - April 20
Also finished reading and reviewing Gotham High. My daughter and I really liked it, but hardcore comic fans may not be as fond of some of the characterizations. Check out my full review (and a giveaway!) here.


This Week on the Blog
Reviewing The Secrets of Love Story Bridge
Think of a post that isn't completely about books? LOL
I also plan to finish reading and reviewing Kill Code by Clive Fleury.


Around the Blogosphere
This post from Yes/No Detroit last year still gives a nice heads-up for several meal delivery plans. This is how we've been eating well, and having something to do by cooking new meals! Another word of warning, some companies are so busy now they aren't taking new customers, or allowing you to reactivate if you were with them previously but chose to suspend your account. We've used Home Chef the most, but have a Gobble box coming soon from another friend's referral link.



What are your best tips for surviving and enjoying the best parts of lockdown? If you're in an area that is not encouraging staying home, where is that??

Take care of your and yours :)

Sunday Post - 22 March 2020

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at the Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news ~ a post to recap the past week on our blogs and showcase books and things we have received, while also sharing news about what is coming up on our blogs in the next week.

What a week, amiright? No matter where you live, the pandemic is currently rocking your world, and probably not in the best way.
While I will never deny enjoying sleeping in, there's an underlying anxiety that distracts from everything while I'm awake. I have a constant need for more information. Instead of reading for the hours available to me each day, I'm distracted and wandering, and my reading pace is suffering. Weird.


Last Week on SweetlyBSquared

Okay, maybe my reading pace isn't suffering, but I still feel like I'm wasting a lot of time...

Book reviews: The Grace Kelly Dress & The Henna Artist (each 3.5/5 stars),
This One Summer (a not-YA graphic novel), and
The Sea Glass Cottage (a pleasant story of three generations of women over a couple months).
And I played along with some Friday Book Memes.


This Week on SweetlyBSquared

I just finished reading Ninth House (LOVED it!) last night and plan to get a review up for that tomorrow.
I just started reading Tigers, Not Daughters (so far, so good!) and have promised a review on Books I Think You Should Read for Friday, March 27.
I also need to get reading The Darkness We Hide (I've read this author's books before and they're usually quick page-turners) to review that one early the following week.


New Arrivals at SweetlyBSquared

Afterlife by Julia Alvarez (expected publication April 7, 2020) - received through Netgalley for review

The Lost Orphan by Stacey Halls (expected publication April 7, 2020) - received through Netgalley for review

Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev (expected publication May 26, 2020)- received through Netgalley for review




So - that's all she wrote for now. Back to reading (books and blogs), hopefully sitting down to pick up my counted cross-stitch again (after more than a year!), and following news updates. Tomorrow I've got a box of goodies from Amazon coming - yay!! Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and try to find something to enjoy and appreciate each day.

Sunday Post - 9 February 2020

Hello! I'm joining in with Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer again for Sunday Post. Last month was my first time (and weekly would take over my life, I think!). It's a great group of bloggers - you should check them out if you aren't already a part :)

This week has been a bit crazy. We were a homestay for a couple college kids with the Young Americans. They're a fantastic group that we've known about for about four years now. We started out with a camp just like the one they offered this week, back when our daughter was in fourth grade. Just three days, and one day of school skipped in favor of song/dance/practice, and we were hooked! They also regularly run summer camps, so she's gone for a week each summer since then. This summer will be the first that our son will technically be old enough for the experience (going into third grade). We've been homestays (having a couple kids stay with us through the camp, giving them somewhere to sleep and feeding them), and our son has LOVED the chance to hang out with these fun kids. They left this morning, so we're taking a lazy day and putting everyone back where they usually are.

Last Week on SweetlyBSquared

18 Tiny Deaths - Book review

Not a lot of blog action with working and having two extra kids ;)

This Week on SweetlyBSquared

Getting ready to review The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet (surprisingly, I'm really enjoying it! Several of the reviews posted already were not favorable)
Still planning an election FYI post (as an election inspector for 25+ years, I have a few points to make to Michigan voters especially, that have nothing to do with actual politics)

New Arrivals at SweetlyBSquared

Crave by Tracy Wolff - Received from NetGalley for review

Love, Life & Lucille by Judy Garman - Received a paperback copy for review

Daring to Live by Sheri Hunter - Received a hardcover copy for review

Far Away Bird by Douglas A. Burton - Received a paperback copy for review












That's about all she wrote! We've got a 'full' five-day week coming up, but then a four-day weekend - woo-hoo!! Hoping to pick up my reading pace a bit, as I've also got one waiting from the library (In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken, the third book in The Darkest Minds series) with only a week or so left.

Sunday Post - 5 January 2020

Whew. Out with the old and in with the new!
I'm turning to reading as much more of the focus of, well, everything! I work, take care of the kids and house, and read. Yup. That's everything. And I'm good with it.

Last year I believe I finished a grand total of 87 books. Way up from my 40-something in 2018. My goal for 2020 is pretty much to keep reading. I'm starting strong and have finished one novel (The Rules of Magic) and one picture book (Fly, Fly Again) so far. I gave them both 5/5 stars, so the year is off to a great start!

Today I'm joining up with Kimberly, the Caffeinated Reviewer for her weekly Sunday Post. Lots of fun blogs to check out - you should stop by.

Last Week on SweetlyBSquared

Happy Homemaker Monday - another link-up I like to check out once a month or so.
My 2020 Goals - hopefully a more doable list than last year.
10 Random Things for Friday - yup - I'm pretty solid with my random lists ;)

This Week on SweetlyBSquared

December 2019 - Books - what I read last month.
Adult Battle of the Books - YAY!! Check back and find out about this super-cool local event.
2020 New Release Challenge - I just saw this with (un)Conventional Bookworms and have to join in myself!

New Arrivals at SweetlyBSquared

These are the first books I've actually bought in a long time! Watch for my post later this week about the new adult version of battle of the books.

Sunday Post - November 25, 2018

I found a new meme to play along with this week. Thanks to Caffeinated Reviewer for hosting the Sunday Post!

First of all, a quick recap of my real week.

Only two days of work last week felt glorious! And even better news was the fact that after almost a year of employment there, I get paid for my regular shift for Thanksgiving (while sleeping that entire time, thank-you-very-much).

Lots of people time this week - probably more than I needed. Thanksgiving had my family of four, two SILs and their men, MIL and her man, FIL, and another two people (who I don't feel like explaining). Oh, and two dogs! Did I mention I really enjoy my own company? Then last night we went out for dinner with another family of four, and a woman with her daughter and a friend. They wanted to head to one of their houses and hang out afterward, but I was full up on human contact! LOL

Last but certainly not least, hubby started working on ripping out our old tile shower from the master bath and replacing it with a drop in shower and new glass door. I think the end is in sight, but home improvement projects are not his favorite. I'll be so happy when it's done, for more reasons than one!

Last Week on the Blog

Books - October - I got a chance on Monday to recap the two books I read in October.

This Week on the Blog

Hopefully I can fit in another post or two before the end of November, but I'm trying to wrap up a couple more books too! I'm currently alternating between books from my to-be-read pile and books on my sixth-grade daughter's Battle of the Books list.

Books

Just finished - The Beautiful Ones by Lori Brighton
Reading now - The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Probably next - The Things We Don't Say by Ella Carey