Author: Rachelle

#ShelfLove – End of Year Check-In

Published on by Rachelle3 Comments

showyourshelves_zps8f6e8b06-png320x480

This is it!  The last month of the #ShelfLove No Book Buying Challenge!  Those of us participating are discussing how we did.

For those of you who don’t remember, I chose not to purchase any books this year.  Free books, of course, didn’t count.  I made one exception, but other than using gift cards I received for Christmas and my Birthday, and getting books from the Boyfriend as a prescription against insanity, I didn’t buy a single book.  Not spending my own money on books took some creativity on my part and generosity on the part of others, but I can at least say I was successful.

I also succeeded in reading at least 51 books that were already on my shelves…or in boxes…in a storage unit.  Yeah, lots of books, itty bitty living space.  There, my friends, is where I flailed.  You see, despite not buying books with my own money, I still managed to bring a lot of books home with me this year.  In fact, I have less space on my bookshelves than I did before the challenge started, and that’s after taking several boxes of books to the used bookstore to earn enough money to buy the Outlandish Companion, Vol. Two.  I earned that book, darn it, so why isn’t there any space on my shelves?!  Well, between the Boyfriend showing he loves me through books, a couple of subscription boxes I get, and all the giveaways I’ve won this year, I not only replaced the books I sold but ended up filling every last nook and cranny of my bookcase.

2015-12-29 11.54.22

I have so many books and so little space for them that when the Boyfriend asked me what I wanted for my graduation present, I told him, “NO BOOKS!”  I then checked myself for a fever because that is the first time in my life I’ve ever turned down the opportunity to get books.  It turns out this challenge has been a sort of 12-Step program for me.  So, I plan on participating again next year, but that’s for another post.

 

 

#FitReaders Check-In #52

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment
Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
  • This check-in is for December 21st – 27th.
  • This is my last check-in for the year.  Next year, I’ll be changing the day I post check-ins to Friday.
  • I didn’t meet my goal of donating $50, but I intend on trying for $100 next year since I didn’t start using Plus3 until about midway through this year.
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Yoga Workouts: 0/5
  • Steps: 36,542/63,000
  • Miles: 15.01/21
  • Flights of stairs: 55/70
  • Active Minutes: 166/210
  • Total Money Donated: $43.08/$50.00

Monday’s Minutes #52

Published on by Rachelle4 Comments

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling – for the HP re-read.
  • Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
  • A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
  • Greenglass House by Kate Milford

Half Blood Dirk Breath

Greenglass

Finished:

  • A Christmas Carol by Rod Espinosa
  • Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro, Taki Soma, and Robert Wilson

Christmas Carol Graphic Novel Bitch Planet

Challenges:

  • Show Your Shelves Some Love: 52 out of 51.
  • Outdo Yourself: 89 out of 66.
  • Netgalley/Edelweiss: 15 out of 50. – I’ve given up on this challenge, but I’ll keep it listed here in case I get around to reading any more of my Netgalley ARCs.
  • Twelve Books of Christmas: 5 out of 12
  • COYER: 0 out of 10
  • SF/F Bingo: I think it’s safe to count Bitch Planet as a Dystopia, which means I’ve only got one more book to read for this challenge!  If I can finish Greenglass House before the end of the year, then I will have completed the entire board.

S&S Bingo2update16

Total pages read: 585

Total # of books for the year: 90.  I had a bit of an Outlander Christmas!  The Boyfriend got me the special collector’s edition of Outlander Season One, and his Mom got me the two-volume soundtrack!  I got his Mom the 1st book in the series and the coloring book 🙂  The Boyfriend also got me a personal embosser for my book collection, one of his Sister’s got me an Amazon gift card, and I got several other small gifts not related to books.  I’m so close to finishing A Breath of Snow and Ashes, but now that I’m back home and working on an editing project to bring in some extra cash, I have no idea when I’ll get it finished.  Hopefully before the end of the week.  It’s so good that I’m probably going to jump straight into the next book, An Echo in the Bone.

What are you reading this week?

Lit-Cube Unboxing: You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

2015-12-18 13.50.09

This was another great box from LitCube.  While I’m looking forward to reading The Humbug Murders, I know I’ll never read the two-in-one Romance novel, so I included it in a Christmas gift to someone I thought might enjoy it.  My favorite item so far is the shirt, which I wore on Christmas day.  Now that I’m back home from visiting with the Boyfriend’s family, I plan on trying out the soap.

  • “You’re A Mean One” Grinch Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
  • Frosting Spatula
  • “Book Nerd” Christmas Ornament
  • “Lump of Coal” Peppermint Soap with a 20% Coupon Code
  • Mini Candy Cane
  • The Christmas Cottage and Ever After by Samantha Chase
  • The Humbug Murders by L.J. Oliver
  • QR Code for A Titan For Christmas by Aria Kane

2015-12-21 13.55.38

January’s theme is “Perfect Penpals.”  I’m interested to see just what will be in the box since every box now includes a wearable item and a snack in addition to other items and books.  If you’re interested in trying out LitCube, there are five days left to order the box for January.  Also, I got a discount code in my email that gives 10% off one box: NEWYEAR10 🙂  Happy New Year!

lit-cube-300

Wednesday’s Words: Remember

Published on by Rachelle

sherlock-frustrated

This year has been rough.  Just about everyone I know has suffered from loss, illness, or injury, and I’m not even going to get into world events.  I’m also not going to preach about how we should all reach out and help or do some other good Samaritan activity.  Instead, just be there.  Be a part of your community, your family, your relationships.  While I have always believed that those of us who can give a little something more during this time of year (and the rest of the year too) should do so, I also know that for many of us, just showing up and being present is all we’ve got.  While we’re at it, let’s be there for ourselves as well.  The Holidays don’t need to be full of activity to be *perfect*.  Do you have ten minutes?  Take five of those minutes and call a friend or a family member and tell them you love them.  Take the other five minutes to breathe.

“I walked inside Macy’s and faced the pathetic spectacle of a department store full of shoppers, none of whom were shopping for themselves.  Without the instant gratification of a self-aimed purchase, everyone walked around in the tactical stupor of the financially obligated.” – Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn

I say all of this because while most people are talking about giving and doing and and and…they forget what the Holidays are about.  I’ve been doing everything I can to avoid going anywhere this week.  People are grumpy, and tempers are flaring in the stores, in the parking lots, and on the roads.  Even store employees have attitudes, and it’s not hard to imagine why.  I went to pick up the mail yesterday, and the mail woman was so shocked and happy when I wished her a Merry Christmas that I wondered how much time of her day is spent being largely ignored and unacknowledged unless someone wants something from her or something has gone wrong.
So, forget about trying to rush around to do all the extraneous stuff that we’re all “supposed” to do this time of year, at least for ten minutes.  Just be there; for yourself, and for your loved ones.  If you think you can’t take that time, then tell everyone you’re going to church, or temple, or, if you’re Buddhist like me, to meditate.  No one can argue with you about participating in religious or spiritual activities, especially not during the Holidays.  We are all connected and have been since the first of us walked the earth, and this time of year has been special for various reasons to most civilizations down through the ages.  So take ten, or more if you can spare it, and remember.

“But Christmas he never forgot.  It was the one remnant of his religion that never left him, for he sensed behind it a great, shimmering history that went back and back through the millennia to dark forests where fires blazed and pagans danced.” – The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

#FitReaders Check-In #51

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment
Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
  • This check-in is for December 14th – 20th.
  • I think this might be one of the worst weeks I’ve had all year as far as getting exercise goes.  I’m on the job hunt and have been spending most of my time stuck at my desk.
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Yoga Workouts: 0/5
  • Steps: 25,538/63,000
  • Miles: 10.49/21
  • Flights of stairs: 6/70
  • Active Minutes: 120/210
  • Total Money Donated: $41.83/$50.00

Monday’s Minutes #51

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling – for the HP re-read.
  • Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
  • A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
  • Greenglass House by Kate Milford

Half Blood Dirk Breath

Greenglass

Finished:

  • A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Christmas Carol

Challenges:

S&S Bingo2update15

Total pages read: 608

Total # of books for the year: 88.  You know how I said I’d get back to a more normal volume of blogging once I graduated?  Well, about that…It’s now my full-time job to find a job (I’m starting a freelance editing project today, which will give me some extra cash to tide me over until I’ve got something more steady; hopefully, one of the many jobs I’ve applied for over the past week).  On top of that, I’ve been getting into the Christmas spirit and my favorite season by reading when I can and snuggling up with my cat and the Boyfriend under blankets and drinking hot chocolate.  We (minus our fur baby, Dresden) also went to a Christmas party.  I’m also traveling this week.  So, it’s fairly safe to say I won’t be getting back to my usual amount of blogging until at least after Christmas, but probably not until I find a full-time job, and I’m no longer sitting at my computer looking through job postings and submitting resumes for eight hours a day.

What are you reading this week?

Thursday’s Things: The Holidays Edition

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

Home Alone Gif

‘Tis the Season to be jolly, so here’s a list of Holiday bookish things to help make that happen!

  • Gone Reading Shop – Didn’t find anything in my 2015 Holiday Gift Guide that would make the perfect gift for your favorite reader?  Check out this shop dedicated to reading and book-related products.
  • 36 Best Audiobooks for Your Road Trip and Beyond – Traveling to visit family and friends and need an audiobook?  Check out this list from Book Riot.  I recommend Bird Box by Josh Malerman, and while I haven’t read Landline, Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park and Fangirl are excellent options.
  • Book and Dessert Pairing Guide – These book and dessert pairings would make great and inexpensive gifts.  Instead of just buying a book, make or purchase a snack to go with it.  You could even add tea, coffee, or hot cocoa mix to go with it all, and if you’re really “crafty,” place everything in a basket, wrap it all up, and top it off with a bow.
  • 60 Bookish Films Streaming on Netflix – Are you tired of watching Christmas specials, but sticking your nose in a book would be rude while you’re with family?  Give one of these bookish movies a try (be warned: not all of them are all-ages friendly).
  • 12 Books That Will Lift You Up When You Are Down – Many of us get the Holiday Blues or suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  While reading isn’t a cure-all, I’ve found it does help to lessen a case of the blahs.  Reading also helps reduce stress, another common problem during this time of year.
  • Project Night Night – Unfortunately, there are a lot of kids out there who are homeless.  This is a great bookish alternative to Toys for Tots.  Consider donating $25 towards a Night Night Package (which contains a security blanket, a children’s book, and a stuffed animal inside a canvas tote bag) or build your own and mail it to one of the donation centers they list.
  • 5 Bookish Charities Santa Claus Approves – If you’re looking for even more bookish charities to support this Holiday season, check out Litha’s list over at Victorian Soul Critiques.
  • Free snowflake patterns inspired by Game of Thrones – Here’s some DIY snowflake decorations.
  • 10 Classic Christmas Carols and the Stories Behind Them
  • Holiday Tradition and a Book – I was a guest blogger over at Michelle’s blog Because Reading is Better than Real Life, and I wrote about A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  Check it out along with the other guest posts throughout December.

#FitReaders Check-In #50

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment
Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
  • This check-in is for December 7th – 13th.
  • I was less than 10K steps away from my goal!
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Yoga Workouts: 0/5
  • Steps: 53,343/63,000
  • Miles: 22.04/21
  • Flights of stairs: 110/70
  • Active Minutes: 292/210
  • Total Money Donated: $40.82/$50.00

Monday’s Minutes #50

Published on by Rachelle2 Comments

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling – for the HP re-read.
  • Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
  • A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon

Half Blood Dirk Breath

Finished:

  • The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
  • The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Snow Wild

Challenges:

S&S Bingo2update15

Total pages read: 402

Total # of books for the year: 87.  OMG, I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE!!!  Thank you to everyone who commented with congrats and mutual excitement!  I know I said I would post photos on Sunday, but due to some unfortunate snags, I don’t have any great pictures of only me or ones I could crop well enough to remove those who don’t want their faces all over the internet.  Once I see what the professional photos look like, I may post those.  For now, I only have a question: did any of you fellow college graduates have the blues afterward?  I spent all of yesterday cleaning because it was either that or I wasn’t going to get out of bed.  I didn’t even want to read or watch anything on Netflix.  Cleaning helps, though, and the apartment desperately needed a return to dust-free order.

What are you reading this week?