I was meant to be cleaning the house this morning, but somehow I ended up binge watching 4 episodes of The Great British Bake Off Christmas. 🙊 #holidayepisodes #wintergames #jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

I watched The Holiday Calendar which finally gave me my first cheesy Christmas movie bingo! #WinterGames #JingleBallers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

When Silver Bells Should Sparkle

I‘m thinking these are all either going to end up being hallmark romances or children‘s books

#wintergames #jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

That makes me Cookie McMittens hmmm, that‘s sort of cute, I guess... #wintergames #jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

Tonight‘s #holidaymovie lineup. I really loved Christmas Inheritance! Holy star fell kind of flat for me, but I‘m slowly filling up a bingo board and racking up some points for #wintergames !
#jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

This is the best book I‘ve read in months. There isn‘t exactly one plot line running through this, so I‘m surprised it kept my interest as much as it did, but I read this surprisingly quickly. There‘s a real simplicity to this that gets to the heart of her characters and made this really resonate for me.
#TBRRead #wintergames #jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

I haven‘t read the book yet, but I watched the Netflix adaptation last night and really enjoyed it so I think I might keep my eye out for a copy of the book. #holidaymovies #wintergames #jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

#wintergames #jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

#wintergames #jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

The first two movies in my holiday movie marathon. (actually the very first was last week) but that one doesn‘t count for #wintergames
#jingleballers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

#WinterGames #JingleBallers @FantasyChick @StayCurious @Clwojick

1. 130
2. 100
3. Tagged book is one I‘m definitely excited about
4. Curling up by a fire to get warm.

#WinterGames #JingleBallers @FantasyChick @Clwojick @StayCurious

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you so much for my #winterswap package! Opening it first thing was such a fun way to start my day. I can‘t wait to read Dark Matter! And I‘m super excited to find to the perfect shelf for my new bookend! ❤️❤️❤️🤗😘

This was one of those books that I actively avoided when it was popular. I couldn‘t say why, something about it just turned me off and I always shied away from it, but I needed an audiobook the other day to distract me from a migraine and there this was on Libby. And it was fabulous! I got so into this journey and the determination she found to continue it through the pain she encountered along the way. Really glad I read this in the end!

Give Them the Flowers Now by Leigh M. Hodges #poetrymatters #kindness @TheSpineView

This is one I #readinhighschool because I overheard a girl I thought was cool talking about it. And then I completely fell in love with it! I must have read it 5 or 6 times in those 4 years. #gratefulreads @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Wisdom by Dorothy Parker
#wisdom #poetrymatters
@TheSpineView

My first experience with a #classicyouenjoyed And still one of my favorite novels of all time. #gratefulreads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Most of this was content I was expecting and felt like I‘d heard before. (That was actually partly what I was looking for. I grabbed this on Libby on a whim this morning looking for something easy to distract me from a migraine.) But the writing and narration were excellent, and there were a few things she said that stood out and really peaked my interest, which seems pretty good for this self-help/memoir combo genre.

This Neil Gaiman short story isn‘t his usual writing style, it‘s almost modeled after a Sherlock Holmes story, but I loved it! I think this was really fun, and it was cool to see something totally different from him. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

I listened to the audiobook of this, and while I like that Gaiman reads all this own books and is so quick to embrace all forms of media, I get the feeling I would have liked this even more in print. I loved the characters though, especially Lettie. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

#BFCr4 final check-in. This round was hard for me. My mental health wasn‘t in a good place and my habits suffered hugely because of it. But @Hestapleton @StayCurious @Hufflepuffle were really there for me, so thank you ladies! I would never have made it this far alone, and while I don‘t have any positive stats to boast of this week, I still feel good about making positive changes going forward.

I‘ve been trying to stay away from swaps this year, but this one seemed too perfect to pass up, so I‘m all signed up! Until the actual swap begins I‘ll rely on @MaleficentBookDragon s beautiful graphic design, which far exceeds my spelling ability.

#poetrymatters #lavish @TheSpineView

This is a quirky little story. The description intrigued me enough that I requested a library copy, and while I didn‘t completely fall in love with it, I find it easy to imagine that I would have, had I read this as a child.

Ngozi Adichie is an author I continually like. She‘s sharp and unapologetic, and writes with a type of honesty we need more of. This was a smart commentary on the immigrant experience. There‘s oftentimes a tendency to exaggerate both the majesty and the hardship of home when you‘re away from it. I was impressed with Ifemelu‘s mitigated memories of Nigeria when she was in America, and vice versa. It made her a very reliable narrator.

I didn‘t get a picture of this one before I sent it off yesterday, but it‘s finally in its way back to you, @Johanna414 Great #lmpbc pick! This was really emotional! I had to read it much slower than my normal pace just to process the feelings it stirred up. I won‘t say everything about this worked for me, but I LOVED Coyote‘s voice! And any book that can make you cry more than once or twice has something special going for it!

Thank you for the blessings @Hufflepuffle !

1. My go to self care ritual is my essential oil diffuser and a Korean sheet mask.

2. Blessings and relaxing energy to @EadieB @TheAromaofBooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks and anyone who needs some extra care this week

I really wanted to have a week where I meditated all 7 days which hasn‘t happened yet this round. (Maybe week 6 is my week). But week 5 was good. Got a ton of housework done which was great for my mental health! Struggling with eating choices right now, cause I‘m sick which limits my options. So I‘m going to ponder how to make the best of that while taking it easy next week. @wanderinglynn @Hestapleton @StayCurious @Hufflepuffle

I kind of want to be Lillian when I grow up. #womenwithclass #namastenovember @Eggs

Thanks for the tag @Jee_HookedOnBookz ! Didn‘t manage to get to this on Wednesday, but I really like these prompts.

Neil Gaiman- Illustration is a big part of so much of your work. When you write, do you start with an idea for a story or an image of a character?

⬇️⬇️⬇️

I must read this! Apparently it‘s about a bookworm who accidentally switches suitcases with dad and ends up stranded with no books, in a town with no bookstore! Then mysterious nighttime reading begins to appear... #bluevelvet #namastenovember @Eggs

I just opened the most epic #litsylove package from @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks !!! You made my week girl 💜💜💜 Thank you! and I had to include a picture of this wrapping paper because I‘m obsessed with it!

My #LitsyLove #WinterSwap package from @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks is here! With an exciting extra Halloween package! Thank you Misty!!! ❤️💜🤗📚🎉

After setting my new goals I had a good week! I didn‘t miss any meds doses, and only missed 2 mediations. I didn‘t get much reading done this week, but I realized that between scarathlon and 24b4monday I‘ve actually read 9 books since #BFCr4 started, so I‘m just going to try to read a little every day and be relaxed about it. Next week my goal is to miss NO mediations.

I loved her forest book so I‘m #lookingforwardtoreading this when it comes out on the 5th! #gratefulreads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

October was a really fun reading month. I read 14 books, these were my favorites.

I didn‘t finish my books for #authoramonth or #lmpbc so they‘re moving to the beginning of November‘s TBR. @Johanna414 I‘ll try to get Coyote Sunrise back to you soon!

1. I like that I‘m artistic.
2. Tagging three amazing women #bfc brought into my life. You guys are the most caring supportive friends.
3. This weekend I will take a bubble bath, so a face mask, and deep condition my hair.
#BFCgiveaway

Happy #Halloween ! #chillingphotochallenge #teamstoker @TheReadingMermaid

#scarathlon #teamstoker @TheReadingMermaid

For me, #purple witch stockings are the only kind. #chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon #teamstoket @TheReadingMermaid @Clwojick

Scream movie marathon a few nights back that I forgot to post. #scarathlon #teamstoker @TheReadingMermaid

I missed my check in this week and realized I‘m behind on every goal I‘ve set except reading. I‘ve been depressed and overwhelmed lately and it‘s been making me shut down and accomplish nothing. Since I can‘t seem to find my way through this, I‘ve decided to pare back my goals to the basics. The thing I accomplished in earlier rounds that is MOST important to me was getting into a daily meditation practice, so my new goals are ⬇️

I‘m ending #24B4Monday with fewer hours than I‘d hoped, but I had a great time! I read 3 really fun books and started a 4th, and got in some quality reading time considering I had to work this weekend.
#scarathlon #teamstoker

The third Pluto‘s Snitch Mystery was a fun read, but it was so similar to the first two that I didn‘t find it very satisfying. I wish we‘d met a dynamic new character, or Rassia ourReginald had discovered a new psychic ability, or something to shake things up.

My third book for #24B4Monday Works for the #teamstoker theme #scarathlon @TheReadingMermaid

Loved seeing the difference between this and the movie! It‘s one of my favorite movies and I only found out it was adapted from the book a few months ago. And both stories really seem to sing! This book wouldn‘t have made a good film as is and vice versa. My favorite thing about the book version is that it‘s a bit darker. #24B4Monday #scarathlon #teamstoker @TheReadingMermaid

Starting off day 2 of #24B4Monday ! #scarathlon #teamstoker @TheReadingMermaid

Finished my first book of #24B4Monday ! Agatha Christie is a master and this was a great Halloween read! #scarathlon #teamstoker @TheReadingMermaid