Category Archives: Blogging

06.27.18
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Tag #61: My Blog’s Name in Books Tag

book-tag

Image Credit: Drifting Pages

If you haven’t checked out Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts, do it! She’s an amazing blogger who loves book reviews, yoga, and more!

I found this really fun tag on her blog last week, and decided to do it myself!

Here’s the link to Jenna’s post:

Rules:

  1. Spell out your blog’s name (…should’ve made a shorter name).
  2. Find a book from your TBR that begins with each letter. Note: you cannot ADD to your TBR to complete this challenge – the books must already be on your Goodreads TBR (…good grief!).
  3. Have fun!

H – Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, Margot Lee Shetterly

Hidden Figures book cover.png

Image Credit: Wikipedia

O – On the Come Up, Angie Thomas

Image result for on the come up book

Image Credit: Goodreads

T – The Real Z, Jen Calonita

Image result for the real z book

Image Credit: Amazon

S – Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Other Four-Letter Words, Michael Ausiello

Image result for spoiler alert book

Image Credit: Amazon

H – Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford

Image result for hotel on the corner book

Image Credit: Amazon

O – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey

OneFlewOverTheCuckoosNest.jpg

Image Credit: Wikipedia

T – Turtles All The Way Down, John Green

John Green Turtles All The Way Down Book Cover.jpg

Image Credit: Wikipedia

H – High Crimes, Joseph Finder

Image result for high crimes book

Image Credit: Amazon

E – Emergency Contact, Mary H.K. Choi

Image result for emergency contact book

Image Credit: Simon & Schuster

A – American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes, and Trial of Patty Hearst, Jeffrey Toobin

Image result for american heiress book

Image Credit: Goodreads

D – Dear Heartbreak: YA Authors and Teens on the Dark Side of Love, Heather Demetrios, et. al.

Image result for dear heartbreak ya book

Image Credit: Goodreads

L – Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds

Image result for long way down book

Image Credit: Amazon

I – I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, Michelle McNamara

Image result for i'll be gone in the dark book

Image Credit: Amazon

N – North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell

Image result for north and south book

Image Credit: Goodreads

E – Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, Matthew Desmond

Image result for evicted book

Image Credit: Amazon

S – Sleeping Beauties, Stephen King and Owen King

Image result for sleeping beauties book

Image Credit: Wikipedia

That’s all for this tag! I loved researching the books, and particularly the covers. Sometimes, the covers of books make a big difference!

What about you? What books would you pick for spelling out your blog’s name? Let me know in the comments!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.24.18
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Blog Awards #19: The Sunshine Blogger Award – Number Four!

The Sunshine Blogger Award

I was honored to be nominated for this award by the lovely Kristian, who blogs at Life Lessons Around The Dinner Table. She’s a really fun person who loves to read and write! If you haven’t, go check her out! Her recent fiction is so much fun to read! I’m also honored to call her a dear friend. Thank you!!

Here’s the link to the original post where I was nominated:

The Rules:

  1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
  2. Use the “Sunshine Blogger Award” logo on your post.
  3. Answer the 11 questions the selector asks of you.
  4. Nominate 5-11 bloggers you want to give the award to.
  5. Ask the following bloggers that you selected 11 questions of your own.

My Questions from Kristian:

  1.  What do you think are the 5 most beautiful things in the world? Why?
  2. What impression do you think you give when you first meet someone?
  3. What one responsibility do you most wish you didn’t have?
  4. What is your favorite subject to write about?
  5. What would constitute a perfect day for you?
  6. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
  7. What fictional place would you most like to visit?
  8. Who do you admire most? Why?
  9. Is there a book that had an impact on your life? If so, what was it?
  10. Where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
  11. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

My Answers:

  1. Only five? You’re breaking my heart! Okay, here’s my list: (1) Lighthouses, (2) Rainbows, (3) The night sky, filled with stars, (4) Snow-capped mountains, (5) Animals in their natural habitats / environments.
  2. Energetic, enthusiastic, chatterbox, and wanting to know everything about you.
  3. Good question! I’m not super fond of cleaning my house, so I’d love to have a maid service!
  4. I love writing about people overcoming obstacles, with a little bit of romance mixed in.
  5. A perfect day would be waking up either at the beach or in the woods, hot coffee, reading, writing in my notebook, good food, spending time with my husband, exploring a new place or places, and stargazing. I want to use my camera, but be an unplugged as possible throughout the day. Less technology is better sometimes!
  6. I’m so grateful that I’m alive on this Earth. I was born at 25 weeks, and was given a 50/50 shot at survival!
  7. I would love to visit Hogwarts!
  8. I admire J.K. Rowling so much. Her story is incredible!
  9. Several books have impacted my life. However, I think the one that has had the biggest impact was To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It was assigned reading in ninth grade, and it’s one book that I re-read every year. It changed my perspective and world view.
  10. I think Moscow has been the most interesting place I’ve had the opportunity to visit. I was able to travel there for a week in January 2001. It was freezing cold, but completely worth it! I gained a greater appreciation for living in the United States, and how much Russia has gone through in the last 100-150 years.
  11. I would head for Ireland! There’s so much to do and see!

My Nominees:

As others have say, you are under no obligation to accept this award. It’s all in good fun. But, if you choose to do so, thanks!

My Questions to the Nominees:

  1. What is your favorite season, and why?
  2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?
  3. You’re offered $100,000 a year to pick your dream job. What would you pick?
  4. What is the first movie you remember watching?
  5. What is your favorite color?
  6. Who is your hero / heroine?
  7. Why did you start blogging?
  8. Do you enjoy traveling?
  9. Aside from blogging, what are three of your favorite hobbies / interests?
  10. If you had the opportunity to meet someone famous, who would you want to meet?
  11. What is your favorite non-American food?

Thanks so much for the lovely award, Kristian!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.20.18
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Tag #60: Ultimate Book Tag

The Ultimate Book Tag

Image Credit: Found on Fiction No Chaser

Fiction No Chaser is awesome! I stumbled upon Teagan and Jess’s blog a while back, and I’m loving their book reviews. Check them out!

Here’s the link to their post:

The Questions

Do you get sick while reading in the car?

  • Nope. While I’m not driving, I love reading on road trips!

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Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?

  • I was hooked by Sharon M. Draper from the beginning. She has this way of making predominantly African-American and people of color characters jump off the page. I’ve read nearly everything that’s she published.

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Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.

  • Harry Potter wins. Every. Single. Time.
  • Point #1: Harry Potter was the first series that got me remotely interested in the fantasy genre.
  • Point #2: Twilight is not my thing. I tried. But, I’ve read, devoured every single page of Harry Potter.
  • Point #3: I donated my Twilight books long ago. I will never donate my Harry Potter collection.

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Do you carry a book bag? If so, what’s in it (besides books …)?

  • My current Vera Bradley purse is big enough to carry a book, so that works. That’s one of my main policies for purses / bags – At least one book has to fit in it.

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Do you smell your books?

  • I have. But, I don’t make a habit of it.

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Books with or without little illustrations?

  • I love illustrations. That’s one thing I didn’t like when American Girl launched their BeForever series in 2014. The style of the books changed so that they became solid chapter books, and lost the beautiful illustrations that captivated the imagination. I will keep the older, six series books for myself and my future children because the illustrations are timeless.

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What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn’t quality writing?

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Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood?

  • We almost had to pay a $25 fine for the local library to replace a beautifully illustrated, hardcover children’s book. Right before the deadline to pay, we finally found the book. It was under my parents’ bed. I have no idea why I thought it was a good idea to put it there. From then on, library books were restricted to my bedroom, or in a bag in the car.

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What is the thinnest book on your shelf?

  • Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, by Dr. Seuss. It was a graduation gift with a beautiful inscription.

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What is the thickest book on your shelf?

  • 11/22/63, by Stephen King.

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Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?

  • I’ve been writing in journals and creating stories since I was 8-years-old. I decided that I wanted to be a writer when I was 10. I’m getting closer to that goal every day – My goal is to finish my current WIP for the first round of editing by December 31, 2018. I want to reach at least 50,000 words.

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When did you get into reading?

  • Probably in the womb. My parents and grandparents read to me constantly.

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What is your favorite classic book?

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In school what was your best subject?

  • English was my absolute favorite. I didn’t always like the books that were assigned, but I certainly gained a greater appreciation for literature over the years. The lively discussions we had in my high school classes are some of my fondest memories.

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If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated…what would you do?

  • Say thank you, and accept it.

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What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or The Hunger Games?

  • I can’t answer this question. I don’t know of one!

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What is a bad habit that you always do (besides rambling) while filming?

  • I don’t do many videos, but I struggle with what to do with my hands. I talk with my hands, so gesturing is something where I have control issues.

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What is your favorite word?

  • Awesome.

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Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb?

  • Likely all of the above, but nerd shines brightly.

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Vampires or Fairies? Why?

  • Fairies. I love Tinkerbell! And vampires have never been my thing.

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Shapeshifters or Angels?

  • Ooooh. I like both, but angels win for me. I rely on my faith quite a bit.

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Spirits or Werewolves?

  • Spirits – Such as, A Christmas Carol.

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Zombies or Vampires?

  • Given the choice, I’d go with vampires. Zombies are gross, and I would very likely get eaten, or turned into one within minutes. Yuck!

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Love Triangle or Forbidden Love?

  • Forbidden love, hands down. I don’t even want to write love triangles in my works, let alone read them.

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AND FINALLY: Full on romance books or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in?

  • Both. Mixing action and romance is never bad.

Tag – You’re It!

This was an awesome tag! Really interesting questions!

What would your answers be?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.14.18
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Tag #59: Sage Advice From Ancient Times

Ancient Times

Image Credit: StatusMind.com

I found this really interesting tag from Kim. She writes at Over The Andes. Check out her blog! I think you’ll like it.

Here’s the link to Kim’s original post:

The Rules:

  • Choose the author or philosopher (it should be one from the Ancient Time). Don’t know anyone? Google it. It shouldn’t be so hard.
  • Choose 3 quotes of this author/philosopher. The country of origin – doesn’t matter (Egypt, Greece…Italy). Add any info or explanation if you like.
  • Share those quotes and nominate 3 to 6 people; Ops, that’s not obligatory.
  • The title for the post? Choose something cool.

My Choice

I chose Lao Tzu, the honorary title of Li Er, from ancient China. Lao Tzu means “Old Master.” As a saint or deity, he is known by multiple names (Lao Jun, Lao Dan). He is credited with founding Daoism.

Source: Lao Tzu Biography

Quotes

“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.”

Tag – You’re It!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.13.18
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Tag #58: The “All About The Reading” Tag

All About The Reading Tag

Image Credit: YouTube

Thrice Read! Happy two-year anniversary, by the way! Thanks for publishing so many awesome tags!

Here’s the link to their original post:

What do you look for most when you pick up a book?

A) A beautiful writing style
B) A character driven story
C) A plot driven story

Honestly, I’m picking C. The plot has to hook me from the get-go.

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What are your pet peeves in books?

  1. Multiple POVs that are poorly executed.
  2. Characters that diminish their self-worth to attract the love interest.
  3. I agree with Thrice Read – Using / having pregnancy as a conflict? No, thanks!
  4. Most love triangles. They don’t typically end well in real life, so I don’t really want to see it play out in a book. Next!

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If you could print one quote on your wall, which one would it be?

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

~ Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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Which genre would you like to explore more?

Science fiction. I want to re-read Ender’s Game, and then finally read more of Card’s books. Then, we’ll see what happens from there!

I also want to try my hand with Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch.

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Was there ever a movie adaptation you liked better than the book?

The Notebook (2004) was one of the best adaptations.

However, no movie adaptation will likely top a book, for me. Books will always win.

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If one of your favorite books would be adapted or get a new adaptation, which book would it be and which role would you like to play?

I would love to see a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby. I think I’d like to play a female version of Nick Carraway – How’s that for turning something on its head?

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A hyped book you wouldn’t recommend at all?

As much as I want to say Fifty Shades of Grey, I didn’t get past the first few pages before I completely stopped. I will never read any of them, ever. So, technically, they don’t count.

So, I’ll go with Twilight. Initially, I though it was an intriguing series, but I never truly bought into the vampire side. This is also coming from someone who was basically forced to watch the first two movies while in college. I haven’t seen any of the others.

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A book that highly influenced your life and way of thinking?

Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card.

Double points for using the same answer twice!

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Are you a fan of re-reading books, do you do it often?

Yes.

I re-read The Great Gatsby and To Kill A Mockingbird every year.

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Which book title could easily be the title of your life?

Eat, Pray, Love (I’m horrible with questions like this!)

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Which book should be required reading for everyone?

I don’t like to use the term “required reading,” but here’s my list of my recommended books (in no particular order):

  • Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary
  • Holes, Louis Sachar
  • Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone, J.K. Rowling
  • The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
  • Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card
  • To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
  • Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
  • The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
  • Looking for Alaska, John Green

What would you recommend for required reading? Why?

Thanks for another great tag!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.11.18
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Blog Awards #18: Liebster Award – Number Three!

Liebester Award

I was tagged by Rory, who writes the awesome A Guy Called Bloke and K9 Doodlepip! Thanks, Rory!

Here’s the link to the original post where I was tagged:

The Rules

  • Thank the person who nominated you.
  • Answer 11 questions about yourself provided by you nominator—or 11 random facts.
  • Nominate 5-11 fellow bloggers with fewer than 1000 followers who you think deserve the award.
  • Create a new list of questions for your nominees.
  • List the rules in your post.
  • Let your nominees know of your nomination personally.

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Rory’s Questions To Me

Do you read question lists from the top, the bottom or from the middle first?

Did you ask yourself why l asked you that first?

If l didn’t want an answer for question 4 would you supply it anyway?

Can you see what question 4 is yet?

How many questions are asked on this nomination in total?

If there was one big question you wanted this list to ask of you, what would it be?

What would your answer be to that question?

I don’t want you to answer any of these questions with the exception of number 7 and maybe 11, ok?

Who invented FAQ’s?

For this Liebster Award nomination who asked the 12th question?

What was it, and more importantly of all the questions asked, how would you answer the 12th question found in question 2?

Think about it numerically…

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My Answers

I hurt my brain trying to sort the questions correctly. For several days.

But, here we go.

If there was one big question you wanted this list to ask of you, what would it be?

What would your answer be to that question?

  • What is your favorite decade, and why?
  • Answer: The 1950s, because it was a time of amazing fashion, recovery from World War II, and progress.

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My Questions

  1. Do you play games?
  2. What are your five favorite movies?
  3. Do you have a favorite animal?
  4. Where is your favorite place to watch movies?
  5. Where is your favorite place to read?
  6. If you could have a dream breakfast served to you, what would you order?
  7. Do you have a favorite alcoholic beverage?
  8. What is your most vivid childhood memory?
  9. If you could have a house built anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  10. Where is the one place you want to visit, but haven’t yet?
  11. What is your favorite city?

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My Nominations

I offer a similar disclaimer – Awards are meant to be fun, so please don’t feel obligated to participate if you don’t want to. It doesn’t hurt my feelings!

  1. Destiny – Howling Libraries
  2. Laurie – Work, Play, Chardonnay
  3. Hannah Undecided
  4. Kim – Over The Andes
  5. Vinnie
  6. Fiction No Chaser
  7. Tony – The Tony Burgess Blog
  8. Jenna – Bookmark Your Thoughts
  9. Thrice Read
  10. The Book’s the Thing
  11. In A Messy World

Thanks again, Rory!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.06.18
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Tag #57: First Date Book Tag

First Date Book Tag

Image Credit: Pinterest

Thrice Read does some of the best book tags! Here’s another one!

Here’s the link to their original post:

The awkward first date – A book where something felt off. It wasn’t a bad book, but lacked that spark for you.

Go Set A Watchman, Harper Lee.

I wanted to like this book so much. But, it felt weird almost the whole time I was reading it. However, I can’t rate it higher than a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

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The cheap first date – A book that turned out less than you expected.

This Is Where It Ends, Marieke Nijkamp.

This is one of those books where I was really intrigued by the synopsis, but ended up being let down. It didn’t help that the main plot coincided with a real-life national tragedy, either.

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Well-prepared first date – A book that was better than expected.

The Woman in Cabin 10, Ruth Ware.

I’d heard good things for a while, before Al bought me my own copy for Christmas. But, this book knocked it out of the park. One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read so far. Give me more!

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Hot but dumb – A pretty book, not so hot on the inside.

Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer.

Vampires aren’t for me.

 

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Blind date – A book you picked up not knowing anything about it.

The War That Saved My Life, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

I found this book purely by chance during a Barnes & Noble expedition. Completely worth it!

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Speed dating – A book you read super fast.

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne.

I was writing the Book Review just two days after starting it. I couldn’t put it down! I think that’s nearly a record for me.

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The rebound – A book you read too soon after a book hangover and it kind of ruined the book for you.

Camino Island, John Grisham.

I ended up in a two-week reading slump right after starting it, and once I picked it up again, I knew I needed to set it aside. It’s back on my nightstand after several months, and I look forward to reading it all the way through very soon.

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Overly enthusiastic date – A book that felt like it was trying too hard.

Allegiant, Veronica Roth.

See my review of the trilogy for more.

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The perfect first date – A book that did everything right for you.

Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide, Patrice Banks.

I loved this book. She offers excellent advice, tips, and experience. Be a #shecanic like Patrice and I!

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Humiliating first date – A book you’re embarrassed to admit you liked / embarrassed to see reading in public for whatever reason.

I’ve read quite a few of the Gossip Girl books.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.04.18
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Tag #56: My Bad Reading Habits Tag

Let's Talk Bad Reading Habits

Image Credit: She Latitude

Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts did this amazing tag recently!

Here’s the link to her original post:

Bad Habit #1

Not finishing books that I’m semi-interested in.

I don’t typically do this. I have definitely Did Not Finish (DNF’ed) a few books in the last year or so, but mainly because I was in a reading slump for a while and needed to set that particular book aside for a while. If I do DNF a book, I usually find my way back to it to finish it, eventually.

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Bad Habit #2

Switching between books but never finishing them.

I rarely do this. I’m a one-book-at-a-time person, so I rarely switch between books at all.

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Bad Habit #3

Buying books … because “I have nothing to read.”

THIS IS DEFINITELY ME!

I’m completely guilty of this. Ugh. I need to “shop my own bookshelf” much more frequently.

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Bad Habit #4

Not reading books on my TBR list.

I’m getting better at this … Slowly.

Doing my own version of “Down The TBR Hole” at the beginning of May really helped me with this habit.

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Bad Habit #5

Not getting out of a book slump.

My longest book slump, in recent memory, only lasted about two weeks. I was just physically and mentally exhausted by the time it was bedtime, so I had zero energy or desire to read.

Tag – You’re It!

  • I tag anyone!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.01.18
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Getting Personal #125: June Goals

BeautyBeyondBones 2

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

Hey there, June! Nice to see you!

We’re halfway through 2018. Wow!

Here are my goals for the month of June:

  1. Attend P.E.O. State Convention.
  2. See Incredibles 2.
  3. See Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
  4. Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018.
  5. Update the Household Bills spreadsheet.
  6. Write at least 1,000 new words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor.
  7. Download Evernote.
  8. Host a “vacationing doll” from Ohio!

Here’s the breakdown:

Attend P.E.O. State Convention.

  • P.E.O. State Convention is in Blacksburg, Virginia this year!
  • The theme is “Catch The Waves To Better Futures,” so we’re having a beach party in the mountains!

See Incredibles 2.

  • Finally! Fourteen years in the making, we’re finally getting a sequel!!

See Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

  • We really liked Jurassic World when it came out in 2015, so we’ve been intrigued about the sequel for a while now. Bring it on!

Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018.

  • I’m determined to make this happen in June!

Update the Household Bills spreadsheet.

  • This has been been bugging me for at least three weeks. It’s absolutely happening!

Write at least 1,000 new words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor.

  • This is another thing that’s been bothering me. After all the work I did for Camp NaNoWriMo in April, I didn’t write a single new word during the month of May. Challenge accepted!

Download Evernote.

Host a “vacationing doll” from Ohio!

  • One of my American Girl doll Facebook groups is full of ideas. A woman in Ohio has nine kids, so vacations are expensive. Her 7-year-old daughter loves AG, and wanted to send one of her dolls, Emily, on “vacation.”
  • Al and I will have her for a full week, before I ship Emily off to the next destination!
  • I’m so excited to be participating!

Do you have any goals for the month of June?

If so, I’d love to hear about them!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.31.18
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Getting Personal #124: May Goals Recap

BeautyBeyondBones 8

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

May was a month full of adventure!

Here’s the link to my May Goals post:

Ready?

Here we go!

  1. Drastically curb my spending habits. — Accomplished!
  2. See Solo: A Star Wars Story. — Accomplished!
  3. Finish prepping the Lady Lounge for the new standing desk. — Did not accomplish.
  4. Schedule the replacement of our ductwork and HVAC system. — Did not accomplish.
  5. Finish the book I’m currently reading, plus write the Book Review. — Accomplished!
  6. Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018. — Did not accomplish.
  7. Update the Household Bills spreadsheet. — Did not accomplish.
  8. Visit the farm! — Did not accomplish.
  9. Prepare for P.E.O. State Convention. — Accomplished!
  10. See the Virginia Symphony Orchestra perform the music to Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets live. — Accomplished!
  11. Publish my first “Down The TBR Hole” post. — Accomplished!
  12. Continue progress on my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor. — Did not accomplish.

Here’s the breakdown:

Drastically curb my spending habits. — Accomplished!

  • I’m so incredibly proud of myself. I actually did it!
  • The power of writing down a goal really works.
  • I saw the difference in my bank account and credit card statements.
  • I also FELT the difference, which I think is the most important thing. More money in the bank means more money to go toward the things we NEED.
  • My stated goals were: (a) not buy any more new clothes [both for Laura Beth, and Laura Beth’s American Girl dolls], and, (b) not eat out as much for my lunches.
  • I felt successful with both goals, and I’m very happy.

See Solo: A Star Wars Story. — Accomplished!

  • We saw Solo on Thursday, May 24th.
  • Is is the best Star Wars movie ever? No. Absolutely not.
  • However, it is fun, entertaining, action-packed, and a good story. The cast is AMAZING!
  • Give this movie some love and go see it.

Finish prepping the Lady Lounge for the new standing desk. — Did not accomplish.

  • We had other priorities this month. The standing desk is lower on the list!

Schedule the replacement of our ductwork and HVAC system. — Did not accomplish.

  • We had to get our electrical panel upgraded first, and we’re just waiting for the city inspector to sign off on the work.

Finish the book I’m currently reading, plus write the Book Review. — Accomplished!

Work on a goals list with Al for the remainder of 2018. — Did not accomplish.

  • This just didn’t happen. Looking forward to doing this in June.

Update the Household Bills spreadsheet. — Did not accomplish.

  • See above comment. I’m determined to do this by the end of June!

Visit the farm! — Did not accomplish.

Prepare for P.E.O. State Convention. — Accomplished!

  • It’s almost time! I’m so excited to be a delegate with Darcy this year!

See the Virginia Symphony Orchestra perform the music to Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets live. — Accomplished!

  • Al and I went to Chrysler Hall on Friday, May 4th.
  • It was such an awesome concert!
  • Plus, we got to eat California Pizza Kitchen AND cotton candy during the movie!

Publish my first “Down The TBR Hole” post. — Accomplished!

Continue progress on my 2012 NaNoWriMo endeavor. — Did not accomplish.

  • I had all the intentions of working on it during my trip to Florida, but it just didn’t happen.
  • However, with my self-imposed deadline of December 31, 2018 on the fast-track, I best be cracking for the rest of the year!

Final Thoughts

  • I was able to put Accomplished next to six out of 12 goals! I’ll take it!
  • The six goals that I did not accomplish: I forgot what happens when you take a week off of work and travel extensively for that week! On to June!

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

Come back tomorrow to see my June Goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂