Love-a-Thon Mini Challenge: BINGO!

I just love the graphics the team created for the Love-a-Thon! SO adorable. I will be updating this as needed throughout the day!

2016 Discussion Challenge

I'm joining roughly about 80 other bloggers who are dedicating themselves to more discussion posts in 2016. This is something I mentioned as a reading intention for the new year already. Joining up with the challenge is simply a way to help keep me on track.

Our lovely hosts do offer some levels to achieve for this challenge:
1-12 Discussion Dabbler
13-24 Creative Conversationalist
25-36 Chatty Kathy
37-48 Terrifically Talkative
49+ Gift of the Gab.

I am going to shoot for Creative Conversationalist. Again, this is probably a aim low, shoot high kind of goal. And again, I use baby #2 as an excuse :) I'm already brainstorming and hope to share a discussion post/personal life post at least every other week.

Anything you would like me to discuss? Shoot me some pointers, tips, or ideas below!!

2015 Library Challenge Wrap Up

In 2015 I knew that I wanted to get myself back into the library. Not only is the library an AWESOME resource, but I loved having grown up in my library. Now I want that for my daughter as well. 

You can find my original post HERE, but by August I had already accomplished the Seasoned goal and was challenging myself for Experienced!

2015 Flights of Fantasy Challenge Wrap Up

You can find my original post HERE from last January. I was aiming for 20 fantasy reads in 2015, including four of the host's favorite fantasy reads. By August however, I had already read 24 fantasy reads! SO I challenged myself to read another ten before the year ended. 

2016 Reading Intentions

I can't even get myself to say 'goals' or 'resolutions'. Coming up with just this list was hard! With the imminent birth of my son, I just don't know what to expect in 2016. I'm loving everyone's posts on resolutions, goals, and challenges, and the planner in me is just DYING to jump in and plan away. But the realistic side of me says "What's the point? You'd be setting yourself up for failure. You're going to have TWO kids now!"

So even though I read about 130 books in 2015, according to Goodreads, I set my new challenge at 50 books for the year. This totally saddens me, but is probably realistic. I'll reevaluate in June of course :)

STILL, I just can't help myself :) So I have come up with a list of simple bookish/bloggish intents that should be do-able even with a newborn. I knew I needed to post them on the blog and not just in my journal. I need accountability and the ability to easily find these intentions when I need motivation or just a quick reminder.

1. Sign up for less tour stops
This one will be the hardest. Seeing those awesome books makes me want to dive in and swim in all the beautifulness. However, I have already went through my favorite publisher's catalogs and written down the books I *need* to read in 2016. My intent is to stick only to this list if and when they come up on tour. Again, I'll reevaluate in June. I would still like to sign up for a few cover reveals and blitzes since I do enjoy promoting authors and their hard work.

2. Request even less from Netgalley
Don't we all say this? I probably said it to myself last year! And honestly? I DID request less from Netgalley in 2015. However, in 2016, my intent is to only request books that I *need* to read that didn't come up on tour. Otherwise, I just need to read, and review, what I have already shelved

3. Catch up on Outstanding Reviews
I have seven or eight reviews in my blogging journal that I need to get up here on the blog. I haven't even been attempting to review books I've gotten from the library, or even Audible books, because I am just trying to stay on top of tours and galleys. I'd like to keep my journal to 3-4 reviews max.

4. Clear out some Kindle books, review books, and Audible listens. 
I think this intention about sums up where the previous three were headed. I've stocked up on books for my Kindle, from Netgalley, and I have several credits available on Audible as well. I am assuming much of my reading will be done on an e-reader while nursing a baby for at least the first six months. With Baby Girl, Hubby would wake in the middle of the night with me and we would watch Netflix while she fed. With Baby Boy, I am thinking that won't be such an option. Instead, I am hoping to turn to Audible and listen to some good books during those late night feedings.

5. Be active in a book club and/or start one.
Sheila at The Deliberate Reader has set up an online book club that I am really intending on participating with starting in February. I'm worried of all my intentions that this will be the one that I let slide first. Because it is online, I will have less accountability than a face to face group. My dream intention would be to start a little book club with my mommy friends in real life....but that does seem more like a dream than an intention :)

6. Share more discussion/personal life posts
This one terrifies me. I always feel silly posting discussion posts. Hasn't it all been said and done before? What could I add to the noise? But I want to show more me, more personality around this ole place. Letting people know I have actual thoughts is a good place to start :) Nothing to do but dive in and make mistakes!

7. Comment more frequently on other posts.
 Little known fact: I read a lot of your blog posts. But I am a lurker. Half the time it is just too difficult to post on your blog while on my phone, the other half the time I am just too lazy. However, I have already started with this intention, clicking through on Bloglovin' or Twitter. I want you to know that your words are being read AND appreciated!

8. Survive the year :)
I am nervous to be a mother of two. I am not sure how I will manage or organize my time, but the best way to find out is to just do it! If I can make it to 2017 with my sanity in tact, I will consider it all a WIN!

Share your 2016 Resolutions/Goals/Intents below! Or send me those links! I would love to see what you have planned for your year :)

Get Yourself Organized for Christmas {Review}

Get Yourself Organized for Christmas by Kathi Lipp

Visit the Author's website HERE

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Publishing Date: September 1, 2015

Goodreads Summary:

Have you lost your Christmas joy? Does the thought of jam-packed malls, maxed-out credit cards, overcrowded supermarkets, and endless to-do lists give you the feeling that maybe Scrooge was on to something?

In Get Yourself Organized for Christmas, Kathi Lipp provides easy-to-follow steps to reduce the stress of the holiday season, including tactics for how to put together a holiday binder you'll use year after year determine a budget that won't break the bank gather your elf supplies get your gift list together (including ideas for various ages and relationships)collect your recipes and prep your kitchen

By putting into practice Kathi's tricks and tips, you'll finally be able to fully enjoy this most wonderful time of the year.

Flights of Fantasy 2015 Update

According to my original post, my original goal for Flights of Fantasy was 20 reads. I'd like to say I have blown past that record but.....I've only read 24 fantasy books, one a re-read and four on audio. 

I haven't been keeping up with the monthly updates either which makes me a little sad. The beginning of my year I jammed in a bunch of fantasy and the INSPY awards helped out in June, but lately I have been reading more historical and contemporary. 

So although I have met my goal, I am a little disappointed in myself. I want to read another 10 fantasy novels before the years end! Hopefully including a re-read of some Potter books??

Check on my progress with my Goodreads shelf!

2015 Library Challenge Update

See my original post here.

I honestly have no idea if Sheila has been posting updates on Book Journey about the Library Challenge (oops on me), but I haven't tried contacting her either. She has had a rough year. 

I have been continuing to challenge myself however, because utilizing your local library is ALWAYS a good idea.

Flights of Fantasy Update-January

Hello dear friends. I am sharing my January updates on my Flights of Fantasy challenge. (See? I CAN do this!). I read FIVE of my 20 books for the year! WOO-HOO!! And the five were....

Flights of Fantasy

I'm joining up with Alexa Loves Books and Hello, Chelly for their 2015 Reading Challenge 'Flights of Fantasy'. I already love to read fantasy and sci fi. Last year I only put SEVEN books on my Goodreads fantasy shelf!! YIKES! But 2014 was the year of non-fic for me.

Re-Read Challenge 2015

My first challenge for 2015?? A re-read challenge! I don't know which books I will re-read yet; I will post a list near the end of the month hopefully here on this post. BUT I am setting a goal of at least six re-reads! 

I am planning on reviewing each re-read with the awesome questions provided by our lovely hosts:

WHEN I First Read

WHAT I Remember

WHY I Wanted to Re-Read

HOW I Felt After Re-Reading

WOULD I Re-Read Again

Consider joining us? Just click the round badge above!

Summer Book Bingo Reading!

I completely forgot to share a my Summer Book Bingo card! I found the bingo card generator from "Books on the Nightstand" podcast. I love that each card is unique and features different categories. I wanted to go with the first card I choose, so here is my card:

As you can see, I have already checked two off :) But my goal is to simply read as many off the board as possible. I'm going to get at least one bingo for sure, but I would also love to see myself getting an 'X' or a '+'.

Books Checked Off

All links lead to my reviews or the Goodreads page

Thriller/Suspense: Poirot Investigates

Nonfiction: The Book of Not so Common Prayer

With a child on the Cover: Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full

Historical Fiction: The Butterfly and the Violin

I will continue to update throughout the summer! As you can see I have given myself until Labor Day. Join in the fun! Also check out these great bingo boards from Retreat by Random House. 

May ARC Challenge

Hello friends! Thanks for stopping by today. I had such success with my ARCApril Challenge that I wanted to challenge myself again in May. I have about FOUR books I need to review in the first week of June alone. Keeping myself accountable here on the blog seems to be the trick for me. So here I am sharing my...

Two of my books are for tours, but the rest are from Netgalley. I want to keep challenging myself to improve my Netgalley ratio. I am at about 50% right now. Here are the books I'd like to read in May:

Doctor Who: Touched by An Angel

Fury (The Cure #1)

The Book of Not so Common Prayer

Finding Spiritual Whitespace

Selah: Studying God's Songbook

The Kissing Bridge

Hope Runs

I am so excited for a lot of these!! And I think it is a good mix of fiction and non-fiction. Three other books that I need to address in the month of May:

The Nesting Place--an eARC from Booklook. Look for this review next week!

While Love Stirs--a blog tour with Revell for later this month

Love Idol--a book I am currently reading and loving. I received it from Tyndale Publishers

Continue to check back here for all my updates and links to reviews.

UPDATES: 

-The Nesting Place Review is HERE

-My Love Idol Review is HERE

-I completed and finally got around to reviewing my Doctor Who novel. Find it HERE

-Hope Runs Review can be found HERE

-The While Love Stirs tour with Revell went live May 22 

-Finding Spiritual Whitespace review can be found HERE

-Doctor Who review is up and posted HERE

UPCOMING REVIEWS:

-Fury is read and the post is waiting for the blog tour JUNE 9th!!

-The Book of Not so Common Prayer is finished and will be reviewed in JUNE

NOT COMPLETED:

I didn't get to The Kissing Bridge at all, but hope to start reading it in the next week or so. I started Selah: Studying God's Songbook, but it is not like what I expected. It isn't just a book, but a workbook. So it is taking me a bit longer than expected. I am not sure when I will get around to completing this one. 

Have any challenges you are participating in for the month of May? Consider joining me on my May ARC challenge! Leave a comment below telling me what you are hoping to accomplish this month :))

TBR Pile 2014 Reading Challenge!

I'm doing it! I am joining a year long reading challenge! I love the idea of reading challenges, yet feel like I struggle to find ones that would fit me and my reading personality. Knocking out the pile of books on my bookshelf is a personal goal for 2014 already, so might as well join an awesome challenge along the way!

Hosted by Bookish

This challenge will be loads of fun with monthly link ups on the 20th, read-a-longs with prizes, and to keep track of it all an email list solely for this challenge! 

MY GOAL:

11-20 A Friendly Hug.

Yeah...I know. But I don't want to overestimate my abilities. This already takes a good bulk of my 2014 Goal of reading 60 books. I also want to make sure I only count books that are already on my TBR list and not books that I will continue to add throughout 2014.

I will try to keep a running list here on this post...but no promises :) Always check my Goodreads profile to see what I am up too.

MY PROGRESS:

1. Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst:: review

2. I'm No Angel: From Victoria's Secret Model to Role Model by Kylie Bisutti
3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor:: review