Author: Rachelle

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for July 28th – August 3rd.
  • I decided to sign up for the Summer Charity Challenge, which started August 1st and ends September 30th. The challenge is to do at least 120 minutes of planks. I’m already behind a little, but I’ll be doing a minute or so of planks throughout today to try to catch up.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 40,203
  • Miles: 16.31/15.34
  • Total Miles: 485.46/800
  • Plank Time: 3/120 minutes
  • Zone Minutes: 62/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine
  • Metatropolis ed. by John Scalzi

Finished:

  • Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Total pages read this week: 525

Total books read: 52 of 80

TBR: -15 (Goal is -36)

I only need to finish one more book for the #SciFiSummer reading challenge to become a Time Lord. I also only need to finish one more book to keep me on track for both of my goals, assuming I can stop myself from buying any more books this month.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #162

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is down a few books to 1115. I finished a few books over the weekend.
This week’s books:

The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday – KEEP. I’ve always felt that Stoicism is similar to Buddhist philosophy, though I’m probably wrong. I’m going to read this book at some point so I can find out.

Atomic Habits by James Clear – KEEP. I’ve got some bad habits I would love to change into good habits, and I’ve heard this book is excellent for teaching how to do that. Now I just have to get myself to read it.

The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker – KEEP. I’ve read a lot of books on Minimalism and decluttering, and I do so because, even though I already know the information, they remind me of what I’m working towards and why. Also, every time I read another book on the subject, I end up getting rid of a ton of stuff from my home; usually stuff that I felt I needed to keep during the previous decluttering.

Digital Legacy by Daniel Sieberg and Rickard Steiber – KEEP. This is a short book about how to manage digital assets, such as social media accounts, in terms of what we want to have happen to all that stuff when we die. I’m interested to see if there’s anything I missed when I had my Will written, or if there’s a better way to make sure my digital life is handled after I’m gone.

Habit Stacking by S.J. Scott – KEEP. I’m not sure about this one, but I’ll give it a shot.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1115 books. I didn’t think I would keep most of these, let alone all of them. In the next post, I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of any of the books. We shall see.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for July 21st – 27th.
  • I had Friday off, and I’ve done next to nothing for the past couple of days other than a few chores around the house, rearranging a couple of my bookshelves, and a whole lot of reading while one of my cats turned me into furniture. It’s been great, but today I’m getting back into my normal routines. Next week’s stats should look much better.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 34,839
  • Miles: 14.15/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 17.69/100
  • Total Miles: 469.15/800
  • Zone Minutes: 44/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
  • Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine
  • Metatropolis ed. by John Scalzi

Finished:

  • Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
  • One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
  • Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Total pages read this week: 1274

Total books read: 51 of 80

TBR: -22 (Goal is -36)

The books I’ve been reading for the #SciFiSummer reading challenges have been exactly the kind of SciFi I love!

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #161

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf has increased again to 1122 books. I finished a few books, but I added several more to my TBR.
This week’s books:

How to Be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson – KEEP. I think having time to do nothing at least every once in a while is important. I see it as self-care. I am a bookworm after all and I love to spend lots of time reading for the sheer enjoyment of it, rather than for a productive purpose.

Welcome to the United States of Anxiety by Jen Lancaster – GO. I don’t need to be told that Anxiety is a big problem in the US.

The Haunting of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb – GO. I thought this would be a stereotypical Horror story, but it sounds more like a Paranormal Romance with a dash of Horror, and I’m not interested in that.

The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan – GO. Several years ago, I thought I needed to be successful and productive to be happy. I began listening to several of the motivational speakers that were very popular, and they all mentioned this book. It wasn’t until none of what I was doing, based on the advice of these motivational speakers was making me any happier. Then I realized that searching for happiness outside of myself was never going to work.

The Miracle Equation by Hal Elrod – GO “Hal Elrod…shares his “miracle equation,” the secret to unlocking happiness, success, and your full potential.” NO, THANKS.
My want-to-read shelf is down a few books to 1118. I wasn’t sure about any of these books until suddenly, I knew I didn’t want most of them anymore. A couple of them were books I bought for a version of myself I no longer aspire to be.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for July 14th – 20th.
  • I’ve struggled with making healthy food choices that are in line with the Galveston Diet this week, especially when I’m not at home. I’ve been getting far too many carbs and the result is that my weight has bounced back and forth between the same couple of pounds. My consolation is that I am still eating considerably healthier and yummy food most of the time and building good habits.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 44,819
  • Miles: 18.19/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 17.69/100
  • Total Miles: 455/800
  • Zone Minutes: 68/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
  • Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
  • One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde

Finished:

  • The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver, MD
  • A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
  • A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor

Total pages read this week: 1077

Total books read: 48 of 80

TBR: -16 (Goal is -36)

I bought a lot of books at the Columbus Book Festival last weekend and then even more books during Amazon Prime Days. I am thoroughly stocked up on Science Fiction for many #SciFiSummer reading challenges. I also bought a few Horror novels to add to my #RIP TBR.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #160

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf has jumped up to 1121 books. I finished a book, but I added a bunch when I went to the Columbus Book Festival this weekend.
This week’s books:

The Price of Paradise by Susan López Rubio – KEEP. I used to love Historical Fiction set in Cuba, but it’s been a long time since I last read any. I’m also skeptical about this one because it’s a love story, but I’m hoping it will be similar to one of my favorite movies, “The Lost City.” With that hope in mind, I’ll give this book a chance.

Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert – GO. Based on the synopsis, I feel like the title of this book is a little misleading. I’m no longer interested in reading this one. 

Hobbit Virtues by Christopher A. Snyder – KEEP. This is one of the few books related to The Hobbit that doesn’t seem to be purely academic or entirely religious. There’s nothing wrong with those books, but I’m always on the lookout for cozy and/or slightly more secular books that are all about Hobbits.

The Omega-3 Effect by William Sears, M.D. – GO. As good as this might be, though I’m sure a little outdated due to being twelve years old, I already know how important getting enough omega-3 in my diet is and have been doing so for quite a while now. I don’t need this book, so I’m going to let it go.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust – KEEP. I bought this solely based on Jenny Lawson recommending it. At some point, I will get around to reading it.
My want-to-read shelf is down a couple of books to 1119. I surprised myself a little this time, and I’ll probably surprise myself again in the next post. I’m not sure about any of the books coming up.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for July 7th – 13th.
  • I didn’t lose any weight this week, but I also veered from my diet a bit due to dining out for dinner on Friday with a friend and getting lunch and snacks at the Columbus Book Festival yesterday.
  • Fitbit has made it more difficult for me to tally up my weekly stats by doing away with the dashboard on the website. I now have to go day by day in the app. The frustrating part is that the app only shows my “Zone” minutes and not all active minutes. While my goal of 150 minutes a week is going to stay the same, I’ve changed the name of it.
  • Active Days: 5/5
  • Steps: 45,547
  • Miles: 18.46/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 16.10/100
  • Total Miles: 436.81/800
  • Zone Minutes: 160/150