Monthly Archives: April 2020

04.28.20
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Getting Personal #204: 10-Year Blogging Anniversary

This was a happy sight to see today!

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!

You registered on WordPress.com 10 years ago.

Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.

It’s kind of wild to think about – I started with WordPress to continue the passion that was kindled during a college assignment. In my Computer-Mediated Communication class in 2009, we were assigned to start a blog, on any topic we chose, that we maintained for the entire semester. That original blog, on a different platform, was about movies that I found in the college library that I figured my classmates had never heard of. It wasn’t much at the time, but it planted a seed.

Ten years ago, Hot Shot Headlines didn’t exist. I started, and then deleted, at least two other blogs. I lost my way, and my passion, for a while.

But, I stuck with it. I never really stopped writing, even when I wasn’t blogging. And it’s been an incredible journey.

Thank you, everyone, for your contributions! I truly appreciate all of my readers and followers. Every comment you write is significant to me. I try my very best to respond to all of them!

Best of all, I have made some amazing friends through the WordPress community. So, here’s to you, Kristian, Jenna, Tony, Simon, Ariel, Vinnie, Antonio, Lori, Sara, Didi, Tiana, Destiny, Greg, and others. Thank you for the words you write, the stories you share, and your friendship!

Cheers to 10 more years!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.21.20
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Getting Personal #203: Fourteenth TBR Recap

Image Credit: hippoquotes.com

Welcome back!

Here’s what I’ve read since my last TBR update:

  1. Polacco, Patricia, Thank You, Mr. Falker (Review coming soon)
  2. Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban *Re-Read*

Removing from Laura Beth’s TBR

  1. Brunt, Carol Rifka, Tell The Wolves I’m Home
  2. Sanchez, Alex, Rainbow High
  3. Wilkinson, Lauren, American Spy

Keep & Re-Classify – Laura Beth’s Updated TBR

  1. Betz-Hamilton, Axton, The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity
  2. Elliott, T.E., Loved by the Beast: A Historical Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
  3. Jennings, Ken, Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs
  4. Westover, Tara, Educated

Adding to the TBR

  1. Gaiman, Neil, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
  2. Gilbert, Elizabeth, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
  3. Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire *Re-Read*

So, my current TBR is 7 books.

Do you have a TBR?

What book are you looking forward to reading next?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.20.20
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Book Review #85: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” *Re-Read*

Image Credit: Amazon

Here are my reviews of the other books so far:

Originally, I didn’t really care for this book as much as others. However, I’ve had a change of heart. It’s still not my favorite book of the series, but I now understand why many people love this one in particular.

I fell in love with Lupin. I now realize why many people enjoy and are enamored with his character. I also learned more about the history of Hogwarts and the characters who came through before Harry, Ron, and Hermione – Especially Harry’s parents.

I’m excited to move on to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Another favorite!

5 out of 5 stars.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.03.20
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Getting Personal #202: April Goals

Image Credit: Maria Estes Photography

Welcome back!

Here are my goals for the month of April:

  1. Celebrate Dad’s birthday.
  2. Complete Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020.
  3. Hang photos in my office.
  4. Re-organize the filing system.
  5. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  6. Spring clean my closet, top to bottom.
  7. Drop off thrift store donations.
  8. Purchase new glasses.
  9. Finish the book I’m reading, and publish the review.
  10. Start a new writing prompt series.
  11. Commit to less screen time, especially in the evenings.

What about you? Do you have any goals for the month of April? Let me know in the comments!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.02.20
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Getting Personal #201: March Goals Recap

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Welcome back!

Here were my goals for the month of March:

  1. Print out the first draft of my novel, and begin editing it by hand.
  2. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  3. Go through at least three boxes in my office. — Accomplished!
  4. Make at least one thrift store run with donations.
  5. Purchase new glasses.
  6. Help my parents get ready for Grandpa’s arrival. — Accomplished!
  7. Publish at least one Book Review.
  8. Finish out my term as P.E.O. Treasurer. — Accomplished!
  9. Prepare for Camp NaNoWriMo April 2020. — Accomplished!

I made amazing progress with my office this month. I have a temporary set-up of a card table and Al’s old office chair, and these will stand in for now until I get my stand-up desk from IKEA. I’m excited to have more space.

This weekend, I hope to get all of the donations out of the corner, hang up some pictures, and make progress with some filing.

I’m grateful that I was able to help my parents when I could, before COVID-19 took hold in Virginia. It was one Saturday – Moving the dryer back to its proper place, moving the dresser from downstairs to upstairs, disassembling the desk at our friend’s house and getting it back to the house for Grandpa – but it feels like it was a lifetime ago.

I’m grateful my dad and grandpa arrived home safely earlier this week. That took away a lot of anxiety.

Now, I’m eager to dive head-long into Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020. And get back to blogging. I’ve missed it.

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of March?

Come back tomorrow to see my goals for April!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂