It‘s #hyggehour time! The best hour of the week. I‘m brewing cinnamon pear tea and catching up on these two books. Next week is sure to be chaotic. I‘m glad I‘m kicking it off with an hour just for me.

My very messy February list. I‘m working on reading down my TBR, various challenges, and getting ready for #TournamentofBooks2025. My free spaces will be devoted to more #TOB2025, my big stack of ARCs, and of course the #NancyDrewBuddyRead. February is a short month but my list is long. Just saying I could use another blizzard.

A short book about reducing your carbon footprint by creating an ethical wardrobe. I have to give a presentation on this in February and this was a great place to start for basics.

This was my most anticipated #TOB2025 title. I live in a city in Virginia with a large Ethiopian population so I thought I would learn more about my new neighbors. Haha no. That‘s not at all what this was. This was a fever dream that jumped all over the place and I‘m not even sure what happened to be honest. I‘m not mad. Just confused. Still a pick, but don‘t ask me any questions 😂

Wanted to catch up on #LitsyLove during the #Sharreadathon

@sharread was such a great pen pal.

Too dated and not interesting enough to make up for it. Some spots were funny so maybe the series gets better, but I‘m moving on. #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1) I froze a bunch of cookie dough around Christmas. Pulled some out this weekend and everyone was happy.
2) snow and berries from my walk
3) Look at where I found the cat sleeping yesterday
4) walking between matches at a tournament and found horses
5) illustrated Sense & Sensibility at night with mint tea and cookies is a balm

I bought this for some challenge or another last year but then never got to it. I finally got to it this week and enjoyed the author‘s travels while looking for the secret to happiness.

In bed with my journals, grocery lists, kindle, and Jane Austen. This Wednesday feels a lot like it should be Friday already.

This was much more violent than the usual cozy mysteries we read for our work book club, but it wasn‘t bad. It‘s frigid here this weekend so good timing for reading about Greenland.

The #sharreadathon starts today. @sharread was a friend to many of us and a bright light in the world. I‘m not sure yet what I‘ll be reading but I will light a candle and keep my cats close by.

Not really much of a mystery but let‘s face it I‘m only here for the cats. #thematicozies @julieclair #serieslove @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

#WithTheBanned @Jadams89
This novel was a tough read but in the best way. Toni Morrison is so good at painting a picture with words, and does a phenomenal job reading the audiobook.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
I‘ve been down and out this week with a pinched nerve happening at the same time as returning to office, but there were still joyful moments.
1) we‘re actually getting winter this year!
2) cats helping put Christmas away and sleeping in the sun
3) a beautiful sunrise
4) ice on the Potomac River
5) love my doctor- she always listens and tells me my weird symptoms make sense 😂

Live footage of @TheBookHippie tonight reading Lark Rise #hashtagbrigade

I thought this was one thing, then it wasn‘t, then it was again but in a completely different way. That probably doesn‘t make sense if you haven‘t read it but I don‘t want to spoil it for you. #FoodAndLit #Netherlands

#Hygge hour set up. Hot chocolate, a slice of stollen, and some light reading. It‘s a busy week ahead and I need the kind of strength only a slice of cake can give.

A great and powerful book about dealing with grief and what we are to others. Thanks @Riveted_Reader_Melissa for sending this. I‘ll email you tomorrow to get the next address on your list.

I loved this book. I was expecting something like The Memory Police, but instead I got a coming of age story about a girl who goes to live with wealthy relatives for a year. Written in a light way even though it touches on some dark topics, this book was easy to read and perfect for cold winter mornings when you just can‘t face getting up yet.

No ah ha moments for me in this one, but it was still interesting and entertaining. Unfortunately it did not solve my annoyance with certain co-workers.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

A good week this week but I didn‘t take a lot of pictures.

1) My son got his license- no more rush hour trips to the gym for me
2) Two separate snow events with another on the way meant a lot of outdoor time including snowshoeing which I love
3) A successful field hockey tournament for my daughter
4) seeing foxes playing in the snow last night
5) work has been productive this week

Happy Friday!

The whole family trecked up to York, PA for a field hockey tournament, and made it home just in time for my hygge hour. I‘m nervous that everyone at work will be back tomorrow, but relieved that the snow storm is going to have us telecommuting a little bit longer. Not a single flake has fallen yet, but both kids already know they don‘t have school. I‘m recommitting to my practice of mint tea and an hour of nonfiction before bed. Plus pie tonight😃

#12BooksofChristmas @Andrew65

My best read in December was a re-read. Love this book.

Read this a little early for #ChristiesCapers because the library wants it back.

I was positive I had figured it out but of course I hadn‘t. Christie really hits her stride right from the start.

#12BooksOfChristmas November @Andrew65

I think November was my best reading month of the year so it was hard to pick. This book stuck with me the most though- and I never would have read it if it weren‘t for #FoodAndLit #Canada

Yes I will be using #FoodAndLit #Netherlands as my excuse for eating stroopwafels all month.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) visits from dogs
2) visiting a nature preserve with my parents
3) new beds for the kiddos
4) cleaning out closets with my helpers
5) fireworks + Christmas lights from my porch make it worth staying up until midnight once a year

Also I have no idea what day it is so thanks for the reminder 😂

#12BooksofChristmas @Andrew65

A great book for spooky season. I was getting impatient for the last season of Stranger Things and this scratched my itch.

A re-read for me, but perfectly timed for when it‘s cold and the wind is howling. This is the book that started my love affair with high altitude climbing stories and it still holds up almost 30 years after publication.

Yet another book from the #TOBLonglist that I think should have been on the shortlist.

This was my first read of the year, and I loved it! It seemed so true to me- working a job with very little power doing what you can to create any change at all. Highly recommend.

#12BooksofChristmas @Andrew65

I read this on one of those stormy September days when the first hints of fall started showing themselves. It was perfect. As for the story itself it would ruin the surprise if I said anything more than I think you should read it.

Happiest of New Years team #XMasChaCha

December was way more busy than I expected and I couldn‘t participate as much as I wanted in #WinterGames2024

My points for the second half were 3,880 for a grand total of 8,745.

Many thanks to our fearless leader @StayCurious

Well @Texreader I came close, but didn‘t quite get there. 4 bingos for 80 points in #ChristmasAtoZ. Looking forward to the 2025 challenge.

My #boringkindlecover for this month‘s #hashtagbrigade read. Not gonna lie I got nervous when I saw a 17 minute chapter to start but it was mostly about food so it was fine.

My 2024 reading. Highlights for me were doing some deep dives for #FoodAndLit, reading all of the Station Eleven books in a row over a couples of weeks for #AuthorAMonth, reading around the world for #ReadingAfrica #ReadingAsia #ReadingTheAmericas and #ReadingOceania (none of which I have completed so I‘ll still be going in 2025), the hilarity of #HashtagBrigade, #CampLitsy, and numerous other challenges that have made my reading life so rich.

December was not the best reading month. I read a decent number of books, but reading time had to be patched together from little slivers of time. I‘m hoping for a calmer January with more control over my schedule.

#12BooksOfChristmas August @Andrew65

I didn‘t have any 5 star reads in August so I‘ll go with this informative book I read out of desperation for #FoodAndLit

All the stars to Litsy Challenges and their hosts because of all the books I read that would have never been on my radar otherwise.

#FoodAndLit #Finland

I enjoyed this dystopian crime novel about a man searching for his wife in Helsinki. In the days before Christmas the world is falling apart, climate change is a done deal, and the police don‘t have the resources to look for a missing woman. A quick read, perfect for holiday reading when you don‘t want to think too hard.

#12DaysOfReading July @Andrew65

This book was perfect summer reading. Looking at the cover I almost feel like I‘m sitting on my porch soaking up the heat of July.

#12BooksOfChristmas @Andrew65

June was such a great reading month! Margo was my top read, but I had to add in honorable mentions for Butter, Challenger, and The Postcard

I love a good book of short stories around the holidays. When everything is busy and there are voices everywhere they‘re great for dipping in and out of.

These stories were fun and whimsical, and in a happy accident some were holiday related. My favorite was How Good King Wenceslas Went Pop for the DJ‘s Feast of Stephen.

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

A very cozy and cute #hyggehour tonight. Guests went to bed early, and I‘m finishing up a book of short stories while the cats scamper about. We had a very warm day today, but storms rolled in tonight and brought the seasonal weather back with them. Back to work tomorrow but that‘s okay.

#12BooksOfChristmas @Andrew65

To me the official kick off to summer reading season is when Emily Henry puts out a new book. That‘s why Funny Story was my favorite May read.

#12BooksOfChristmas @Andrew65

It seems like people either loved or hated this one. I loved reading it, and I loved spending an hour talking about it with my brother later. Great book.

#12BooksOf2024 @Andrew65 March 2024
I thought this book was very informative. It doesn‘t seem like Nuns would have a lot of influence in the Catholic Church but I loved the ways they found to fight for social justice.

It‘s the last weekend of 2024! Time for one last Readathon! I personally don‘t ever want to see another cookie as long as I live, so will be replacing my sugar with carrots and grapefruit. Everyone is welcome! Make your own goals!

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1) I love a stuffed stocking more than any other present ever and my family gets that
2) first field hockey tournament done
3) excellent Christmas salad from a dinner guest
4) almost a bit of snow on Christmas Eve
5) a house full of cats and dogs

Happy Friday everyone!

I got my first #bookspin of 2025 done! I‘m trying to read more nonfiction next year.

One last book for #FoodAndLit #Canada

I got on an Anne of Green Gables kick last month and wanted to fit one last one in this year.

#XMasChaCha #ReadOutTheBooks

Holidays and long visits from in laws can be a bit overwhelming to me, but love it when random dogs crawl into my lap while I‘m reading and start to snore.