My word of the year is CONNECTION. I am spending each month connecting/reconnecting with a different area of my life and reading a book about it.

January is all about connecting to wealth and I am currently reading It‘s Not About the Money by Scarlett Cochran and this passage really hit home for me! I didn‘t think reading a book about wealth and money would be interesting but it‘s really helping me put some things into perspective.

Hello Litsy Community! 👋

I decided I missed posting about books and my reading — not to mention swaps and challenges — so I decided to try a return to this app for 2024!

Last year I ended up reading 87 books and my goal this year is to read over 78.

Pictured above are my current reads for January: two books for pleasure and two are for my new year goal.
#nonfiction #yalit #tbr #currentlyreading

I missed the last round (I have missed a lot of Litsy stuff lately), but I am back for #LMPBC Round 015 and taking letter U for the #lgbtq+ books again 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (I mean it‘s still Pride Month, even if this round starts in July).

Sign ups close soon! But go check out @suvata for details (there are still other slots available as well).

I don‘t know why it took me so long to read this book — especially since it‘s a very good Beauty and the Beast retelling. I loved all of the characters and how it leaned so heavily into the fairy tale elements (magic, mystery, darkness, trials by three, transformations).

I already ordered the next book!

I fell off for a bit, but now that it‘s summer I want to try again. #bookspin #bookspinbingo

I haven‘t used this app in 3 months 😱 I suppose that‘s what happens when you are a teacher.

I just finished this book — it was for a book club and while I didn‘t read in time for the book club discussion, I did finish. It had some great representation and while it was slow at times, ultimately it was enjoyable.

Not only did I manage a #BookSpinBingo this month but I also managed to get my #BookSpin for January read — Lore! This was a great Greek mythology read that had been on my #TBR for awhile. I enjoyed the relationships surrounding Lore herself and how the story unfolded.

For January I managed to finish 7 books, 3 of which were books for a 12 Book Rec Challenge. I managed to read my #doublespin but not my #bookspin for the month (but I am going to read it eventually). Sadly no bingo this month either — though I was one away!

Pictured is my list going into February for #bookspinbingo perhaps with better luck 📚

I was determined to finish this in January and I did it with a day to spare! Probably won‘t be able to mail it until later this week for #LMPBC #GroupP but it IS fully read and marked.

I finished this audiobook this morning and started yelling! It was such a fun read and ended on such a cliffhanger. I am not a fan of Romeo and Juliet but I love how this novel plays with the source material while still being original.

#Booked2022 #Winter

The school I teach at does a reading challenge. This book is considered a “quick read” because it has few characters, simple plot, and few pages. It‘s great for those students who aren‘t “into reading” and usually the topics are of interest to those students.

This particular QR focused on a teen dealing with social anxiety in school. It was pretty relatable even as an adult. This was also my #doublespin for #bookspin challenge!

At a busy post office to mail #LMPBC so it‘s on the way to you @WanderingBookaneer

My first #TBR list of the new year! The first 12 books are from an additional challenge of reading 1 book per month that was recommended to you by friends. The rest are books I checked out from the library or received as gifts over the holidays. Pretty good pile if I say so myself!
#bookspin #bookspinbingo

Well I was up at midnight so might as well share my #Bestof2021Swap package! Love these colors from the bookmark and scentsy. This game looks fun and I have definitely had these books on my TBR list for awhile. This was super fun @candority

So glad I finished this book before the new year! This was a great historical fiction piece that does just what a good historical fiction should: make you want to learn more about the people/time. In this case I definitely want to explore more about LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 people putting up a resistance in WWII! We never hear about that in history class. Thanks for sharing @IndoorDame great pick for #LMPBC #GroupP

Nearly forgot I checked this out from the library to read today! Seemed like a good (and short) book to read — I didn‘t even realize there WAS a book version of this story. 🎅🎁 Happy Holidays everyone!

My dog woke me up so I guess now is as good a time as any to open my #JolabokaflodSwap package 🎄🎁

Thank you @robinb for the LOAD of candy — all my faves — and the tagged book! I can‘t wait to dig in 😊

Thanks for hosting this swap @MaleficentBookDragon

😂 Wouldn‘t you know — not long after asking @candority about my package for #Bestof2021Swap what should be waiting but my package from @Endowarrior21 — so excited to open in a few weeks and find out what goodies you shared!

Post Office was surprisingly not busy — but I got my #Bestof2021Swap into the mail! It should arrive Monday. Thanks for hosting @candority this was such fun!

#Jolabokaflodswap Received from @robinb and it‘s going immediately under the tree! #litsyswap #christmas

Mail day! So a little delayed, but the tagged book is finally on its way to you @WanderingBookaneer for #LMPBC #GroupP

And I was also able to post my #Jolabokaflodswap on the same trip! @MaleficentBookDragon

Today is shopping for the various swaps day! But mostly this post is an update for #LMPBC #GroupP

I was out of town for Thanksgiving and have not had a chance to mail my book yet. Since I am shopping for my swaps today I want to try and make just a few trips to the post office. So, I will get Iron Widow in the mail by Monday! So sorry for the delay — I didn‘t expect this week to be so busy.

As usual I start strong and peter out. — even forgot to share my totals last week.

Final point total for #TeamHendrix is 305.

Don‘t expect to do a lot of reading this month as I am focusing on #NaNoWriMo but once again I had a lot of fun with #Scarathlon2021 and #BookSpinBingo

So excited for a new notebook and this fake book box — thanks so much for the books @Clare-Dragonfly there wasn‘t a note so could you tell me what stones you included? I especially like the green one.

Thanks for hosting #basicwitchswap @mklong and @sprainedbrain

#LMPBC #Round012 is wrapping up and I @peanutnine wanted #GroupG and #GroupP to know that I am a little behind in mailing but I will be returning books via mail later this week. Mainly this effects @peanutnine @WanderingBookaneer

As for #Round013 I still need to purchase my book, but I did finally decide on Iron Widow I think. So I look forward to #GroupP and more #LGBTQ reads with y‘all.

@MsRadioSilence Thank you so much for the package! I can‘t wait to dive into these books. And OMG the cackling I did when I unwrapped the black flame candle — it would have made the Sanderson Sisters proud. Fantastic start to my weekend! #HHS #HauntedHollowSwap

And here is my #basicwitchswap package from @Clare-Dragonfly I can‘t wait to open in a few days 🥰🧙🏻‍♀️

Thanks for hosting @mklong and @sprainedbrain

I was starting to worry, but the #HauntedHollowSwap package arrived from @MsRadioSilence 🥰 Can‘t wait for opening day! Thanks for hosting @wanderinglynn 👻🎃💀

Tagged book is my current read going into week 2 of #Scarathlon2021 and now it‘s time to post my totals:
🎃 Week One: 998
🎃Week Two: 267
💀Overall Total: 1265

Trying to power through some audiobooks over the next few weeks which will help. Go #TeamHendrix

Here are my picks for #LMPBC #Round013 #GroupP and I am curious about your thoughts…I will tag the rest in comments…

Such a good read! I know Hendrix writes other books and after reading this one I look forward to exploring more of her work. It was a great balance of creepy with some humor and mystery. Plus the social commentary was an added bonus.
191 points!
#buddyread #TeamHendrix #Scarathlon2021

I love the #LMPBC groups! I am claiming the letter P again for #LGBTQ+ reads. If you are interested in joining my group (or others!) head over to @suvata page for details and sign up #round013 #groupp 😁🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🌈📚

A mix of audiobooks and some television viewing of the spooky variety bring my total for week 1 to 998 (since I get 1 point for making this post lol).

Happy Reading in Week 2 everyone! #Scarathlon2021 #TeamHendrix

And just like that I‘ve taken care of mailing both my #BasicWitchSwap and #HauntedHallowSwap packages! According to post office they should arrive next week 😁🎃👻

Where haunted houses and ghosts meet history and cultural critique. I love reading about ghosts, but have never seen them explored as part of a larger context. The book explores everything from racism, sexism, classism and even the “future” of ghosts/hauntings! I definitely recommend this book.

🎃 116 points
#BookSpin #BookspinBingo #Scarathlon2021 #TeamHendrix

Heading to the post office today to mail out #LMPBC books for #GroupP and #GroupG

I was hoping to have my #HauntedHollowSwap and #BasicWitchSwap ready to mail as well so I would only have to make one post office run for October — but I am still waiting on some items for #HHS.

#BasicWitchSwap is assembled though! I can‘t wait any longer on #LMPBC so off I go. At least I can keep post office visits down to just two.

October is looking crazy already but I hope I can make time for these books! #BookSpinBingo #Scarathlon2021 #ScarathlonTBR #TeamHendrix

I waited so long to open this! What a delightful package! Thanks so much @BethM for the package and @Avanders for hosting! #FFFS

#bookspin pick for the month.
Did I mean to spend all day reading this book? No. Did I get sucked in and enjoy it anyway? Yes. I think it says something when you can power through a book in one go. This one has been on my #TBR list for some time. I can‘t explain why I kept putting it off, but once I picked it up I couldn‘t stop! Definitely an intense and thrilling read! And now that‘s one more book off my pile

Now that school is back full stop — let‘s see how this goes! #bookspin #bookspinbingo

Just in time — I finished this book for August #bookspinbingo VE Schwab has definitely become one of my fave authors and I really enjoyed this story in particular. It was quite a ride and I enjoyed how it unfolded as well. It wasn‘t until over halfway that I realized I was picturing Luc as Tom Hiddleston.

This was also my #doublespin book so despite no bingo this month I did at least get both my spins completed.

I discovered that Libby had the audiobook series and I was so thrilled to return to the Wayward Children series! Also figured this would be a good chance to post the August #bookspinbingo card as an update. Considering school is back in session I am fairly pleased by this…

And just like that the very next day I have my #FFFS #fallingforfallswap package from someone 🧡🍁 my guess is @BethM since that is the name on the From section — does this look like your package?

Despite a hectic schedule and terrible traffic I made it to the post office to mail off my #FFFS package. Unfortunately I may have forgotten to make a note of that on the package as well as putting my username — but it‘s wrapped so that‘s a plus!

Do I need to wait to tag who I am mailing @Avanders
#FallingForFallSwap

#LMPBC Books are on their way to #GroupG @peanutnine and #GroupP @WanderingBookaneer respectively— forgot to take a picture of the packages so here is a dog with the receipt instead. Happy Reading

#bookspin read complete! I really enjoyed this book about 3 teens and their experiences with the LGBTQ+ community and coming of age during the AIDS crisis of the 80s/90s. It was such an emotionally rich book and got to the point I couldn‘t put it down! Good pick @Soubhiville #lmpbc #round012 #groupp 🏳️‍🌈

Okay Campers today is a special day — we are going on a field trip for Arts and Crafts!

#LitsySummerCamp prompt inspired me to go out and finally check out a local ceramic painting place. I love painting and haven‘t had a chance to paint ceramics in years — so this seemed like a great opportunity. I love this store and (even better) you can buy the ceramics and paint there “to go” and do at “camp”!

It‘s August and time for another game of #BookspinBingo here‘s my card and list @TheAromaofBooks