I saw someone post this one on Substack and was able to find a used copy.
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I saw someone post this one on Substack and was able to find a used copy.
I do read self-help! Per my last post, you‘ll see one I finished last night and I explain why I find them invaluable.
But the tagged book is probably the one that has helped me the most. It‘s a quick read, but the concept of kaizen has infiltrated my life and helped me accomplish goals. Starting small is how I‘ve managed to be consistent with fitness for over a year and a half, CrossFit specifically for 11 months.
#sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern
pickSome people look down on “self-help” books, but I believe these kinds of books can be invaluable. Even authors who aren‘t “industry experts” have something of value to offer in the way of their wisdom and experiences. And at the very least, when certain things resonate, it helps you feel less alone. Meggan isn‘t an industry expert, and she does emphasize getting professional help with your mental health, but I loved this book. Continued ⬇️
pickThis one took me a while to finish, it‘s a chunky one plus I was juggling other books. But it‘s magnificent. The descriptions are poetic. The otherworldly atmosphere is almost palpable and I felt transported every time I flipped open the cover. I liked the characters, even one of the antagonists. There‘s also a sadness in its pages, a sense of grief and loss. Even as they cope with that; the characters find, in each other, a way forward.
1. This week marked 11 months of CrossFit.
2. I got a new doctor this week and really like her so far.
3. Due to healthier habits, my blood pressure is the lowest it‘s ever been, we are slowly weaning me off medication I‘ve been taking for it.
4. I‘ve been able to get a lot done, including more writing and drawing.
5. Excited for date night this weekend with hubby 🥰
@DebinHawaii #5JoysFriday
Decided to join in… feels pretty accurate, especially Michelle Tanner stuffing her face with spaghetti, can totally relate 🤣
Type “Literally my character” into your Pinterest search bar and see what you get…
#literallymycharacter #pinterest @TheBookHippie
1. Tired physically and emotionally
2. I usually journal, go for walks, and do CrossFit. Something new I‘m trying recently is breathwork/meditation.
3. What books people have read on the topic of mental health/psychology, maybe advice people are willing to share that they‘ve gotten from a therapist that was a game-changer.
#mentalhealthmonday @Kerrbearlib
Did some journaling and some reading while my son attended his tutoring session at the library… I love this hour to myself ☺️
This picture doesn‘t do this edition justice… found it in a little bookshop nearby and I just had to have it 😍
Had so much fun building these DIY “book nook” bookends. It was a Christmas gift from hubby, just didn‘t get a chance to build it until today. I love how it came out 😍
“Create the circumstances you need for a great Christmas, but then try to go with the flow and make the best of whatever unfolds.”
pickThis was a VERY soft pick. I almost rated it so-so. I love the descriptions of the Highlands, especially once winter finally hit in the story. I couldn‘t stand all the descriptions of the renovations and organizing they had to do for the cottage, the camper van, the shop, and the castle. It felt like I was reading a house flipper‘s memoir at times. And there were some errors (typos and such) that irritated me a bit. But what kept me going were ⬇️
Wanted a different kind of holiday read, and discovered this while browsing online. Really excited for it. I think this will be my final holiday read for the year.
pickI really enjoyed reading Tolkien‘s letters from Father Christmas to his children. I can only imagine what joy it brought them in the moment. And of course it had all the flair of Tolkien‘s imagination with goblin wars, dancing penguins, hidden caves, and a silly polar bear who helps Father Christmas but often makes things worse with his curiosity and clumsiness. I loved all of his drawings as well. What a worthy edition to my annual holiday reads.
“Christmas is not a single day; it is a season, and a manifestation of the spirit of generosity. It's a time for cherishing loved ones and using our skills and talents to create moments and memories. But it also takes place in the middle of winter, so we must be careful not to overextend ourselves.”
Cozy on the couch by the tree with another holiday read 😊🎄
pickThis is a soft pick. The few issues I had with it were minor, but overall this was a cozy, wholesome read. If you‘re looking for action and adventure, you won‘t find that here. But I loved the depiction of a Parisian Christmas and all of the bits discussing the Lost Generation of writers in Paris. I loved the literary mystery the MC unfolds as well, it was a nice touch to this cozy Christmas story.
1. It‘s actually a bucket list item of mine to spend Christmas at a cozy cabin somewhere with snow. I grew up in Miami so a white Christmas is fantasy to me at this point lol.
2. Paris at Christmas time, especially where the tagged book is set in, sounds amazing. A literary, Parisian Christmas *le sigh*
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
“Simplicity, generosity, delight, and belonging are true touchstones of festive joy.”
“You know that feeling when you are snapped out of a stressful situation by laughter, a kind gesture, or an unexpected occurrence? That is when you open a door to joy.”
“Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered… but nobody could ever count my love for you.”
Enjoying more of my holiday reads by the tree with a cup of tea while I wait for laundry to finish drying. I wish I had discovered Tolkien‘s collection of letters to his children sooner (I discovered it only last year). Such a whimsical, wonderful way he made their Christmas‘ more magical, I‘m sure. And it seems he didn‘t let up once they got older either lol.
Doesn‘t matter how many times I read this classic, I still love it so much 😊
My current holiday reads. I discovered the tagged book here just last night and found it was free on Kindle Unlimited. It seems like such a cozy read. And I reread A Christmas Carol every year. Already finished rereading The Return of the Light by Carolyn McVickar Edwards a couple of days ago (one of my fave holiday rereads). Making good time with my holiday reads this year lol.
pickI really enjoyed this story and LOVED these characters. It‘s a bit progressive for the times it‘s set in, but it‘s fantasy, and I don‘t read fantasy for the historical accuracy. This story is full of treasure-hunting pirates, dangerous magical artifacts, horrifying sea monsters, sorcerers, djinn and other supernatural creatures. I‘m glad the ending hinted at more adventures with Amina, I can‘t wait to see what else she gets herself into.
“Had I been so naïve to see purpose in the incidents that had led to me being here, rather than quirks of an uncaring universe? What madness to gaze upon the violent chaos and cruelty of this world and have faith!”
“It is not always easy to do the right thing… More often than not, it is a lonely, thankless ordeal. That does not mean it is not worth doing.”
Realized I didn‘t have any Christmas themed bookmarks and wanted one to use with my holiday reads. And this book has exercises I wanted to do in a dedicated notebook, so a Christmas journal seemed necessary lol. Early Christmas gifts to myself I guess ☺️
The farther I get into the story, the more I love Amina. She‘s such a badass 😅
“I have traveled widely enough that I take everything written about ‘foreigners‘ with doubt and know better than to judge a community by their worst individuals.”
I‘m definitely reading too much at once, but I wanted more adventure, so I picked this one up from my shelf where it waited for a while. I‘m also doing my holiday reads and still halfway through a nonfiction book, so this just might be my last physical fiction read of the year (cause I‘m also LISTENING to fiction). So many books, so little time…
pickIt‘s safe to say that Travis Baldree is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I adore these characters and loved the story. It had many wholesome, cozy moments along with silly scenes and plenty of action in between. I loved Legends & Lattes and this prequel held up to its standards. I enjoyed seeing Viv when she was 20 years younger and the steps that led her to where she was in the first book. I hope we‘ll get another book out of Baldree soon.
I usually get into the holiday spirit after Thanksgiving, but a few days early won‘t hurt. After this new one that I discovered here on Litsy, I‘ll also start with my annual holiday rereads 😊
1. Using the tagged book, I‘ve begun working on a business plan for the freelance business I‘d like to start.
2. Got back on track with making art just to make it, which makes my heart happy.
3. Over this past weekend I took my kids and their friends to the fair and loved watching them have a blast.
4. I‘ve been learning how to knit, which I‘ve always wanted to do.
5. My Sunny boy always keeping me company 😻
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
pickAfter striking out several times with audiobooks, I‘m so glad this one was able to hook me! This gothic tale features a “con-artist” spiritualist who ends up forced to help the people of a rich estate figure out the mystery behind the death of the future Lady of the house. The author did a fantastic job of placing suspicion on almost everyone, and several characters had me going back and forth with blaming them. It was a rollercoaster… ⬇️
1. Very much so. I‘m big on journaling, and I have one I call my “everything journal.” I do my monthly and weekly planning in it. And I tend to write lists there as well as in my phone.
2. It seems as though nothing ever goes as planned for the protagonist in this gothic mystery that I‘ve been listening to.
@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday
pickThe type of monsters described in this one don‘t usually scare me, but Stephen King really is the king of horror lol. I really enjoyed it, even though horror is not usually what I go for, and Stephen King never disappoints. I was entranced and kept wanting to turn the pages to see what would happen next. Of course, it gets gorey, so now I‘m ready for a palate cleanser lol.
“People are more capable of believing the devil is some external force we have no resistance against, instead of accepting their own capacity to be cruel.”
1. Stripes. But only vertical ones lol.
2. Not currently. But been craving something by Simone St. James, so I might head to the library soon.
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
pickThe mystery surrounding the disappearance of every resident of Silvertjärn (small mining town in Sweden) had me captivated. The effects on the surviving family members (who had moved away prior to the disappearance) are heartbreaking. A documentary crew (headed by the granddaughter of one such survivor) goes to the eerie, abandoned town to find answers. When we finally have said answers, it‘s not only terrifying, but more heartbreaking. ⬇️
1. Sunsets cause I‘m not a morning person lol
2. A spooky town
@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday
If you wanna play, consider yourself tagged!
“If a fear cannot be articulated, it can‘t be conquered.”
“I think it‘s relatively easy for people to accept something like telepathy or precognition or teleplasm because their willingness to believe doesn‘t cost them anything. It doesn‘t keep them awake nights. But the idea that the evil that men do lives after them is more unsettling.”
