General

Wish Me Happy Birthday with a Coffee :)

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It’s my birthday on February 3rd, I’ll be turning 27. On February 3rd I will have officially made it through the first year I never expected to live. (I always intended to kill myself before my 26th birthday, but instead I got some intense help.)

As happy as I am to be able to say I’m making it through and improving my life, my financial situation is a constant source of stress and, frankly, a real buzzkill.

If you enjoy my content on WordPress, Tumblr, or Instagram, please consider making a small birthday donation to my family on Ko-fi. Even if you can’t donate, a signal boost would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance y’all!

2019 Reading Resolutions

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This year I only have 3 resolutions:

  • Read at least 75 books. (Goodreads Challenge)
    This is technically the same goal as the past 2 years, but I’m afraid to raise it because I’m going to start working in 2019 and I will have less time to read. If I’m doing really well on it by halfway through the year I’ll just raise the goal a bit.
  • Read more outside my comfort zone.
    Last year I made a goal to read more general fiction, and this is basically that. I mostly only read YA and I want to try to branch out.
  • For every book completed, put $5 in a savings account.
    I really struggle to save money, mostly because we barely make ends meet. The only thing I do really well is read, so I decided to make reading work for me by saving a small amount each time I finish a book.

2018 Wrap-Up!

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So first things first: 2018 reading goals!

  • Read 75 books in 2018! (Goodreads Challenge Goal)
    I actually surpassed my goal of 75 by reading 84 books this year! I’m so proud of myself honestly because last year I barely made it.
  • Give General Fiction novels another chance.
    I’ll say I’m partially satisfied with this one. I did read more general fiction novels than I ever would have before this year, but I didn’t read as many as I would have liked to, only 7. I just struggle to find ones that sound even vaguely interesting to me. Feel free to comment some recommendations!
  • Read at least 15 books that I own, but haven’t read yet.
    I didn’t manage this one. I only read 12 of the 15 I intended to read. 😦
  • Keep up with writing reviews.
    I think I did alright with this one for the most part. The only thing I’m unsatisfied with is that I did that thing again where I sort of trail off making posts towards the end of the year.
  • Keep reading more #OwnVoices novels.
    Again this is one that I’m partially satisfied with. I definitely read more diverse books than last year and I really enjoyed it, but I think I could have done more. Once again, feel free to comment some recommendations!

So I did mostly good on my goals in 2018, but can always do better. Feel free to check out my 2018 Year in Books.

As for non-reading things, 2018 was a big year for me. I started therapy again, got back on medications, started looking to work outside the home, made a new friend, and am just generally doing better. There’s still a long way to go and it hasn’t been easy, but I’m really proud of myself for the progress I’ve been making and I hope I keep it up going into the new year.

How was your 2018?

Liebster Award!

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I was tagged by the awesome Madge @ CaffeinatedBibliophile 😀

Rules:

  • Answer the 11 questions you’ve been asked
  • Nominate 11 other bloggers
  • Ask your nominees 11 questions
  • Let them know you’ve nominated them!

Madge’s Questions:

If you had to choose between getting on board a space ship or getting into a time machine, which would you choose?

I have a recurring fantasy of getting to do my life over. Like a time machine that just transfers my consciousness back and I get to do my life again, but better. I’d take that over space any day, no matter how much I do love space.

What’s your favorite book (or episode of a series, or movie) set around a holiday? (Any holiday!)

I literally can’t think of a single book I’ve read set around a holiday… Oops. I guess I’ll go with the movie It’s a Wonderful Life.

Have you ever received bookish gifts that weren’t books? (Ornaments, figurines, book-themed candles, jewelry, etc.)

Absolutely never, unfortunately. This is actually my family’s first year actually celebrating Christmas. So when I first typed up this post on Xmas Eve the answer was no, but this Xmas my mom got me this Book Bucket List scratch-off poster that is super cool. I’ll post it to the blogs soon.

There’s a lot of media about vampires, werewolves, ghosts, fairies, etc. out there. What underrepresented mythical creature do you think should get more attention?

I want books about sirens!! I need books about sirens!!

If you had the time/other resources, what hobby or skill would you love to pick up?

I would love to learn to play the cello…

Describe one of your favorite books briefly and vaguely, like you would if you were wrapping it up for a Blind Date With a Book.

My favorite books are a 4-book series so I’m going to proceed as if I wrapped up the whole set together:

  • Fantasy doesn’t have to have dragons
  • Adventure
  • Find your own way in the world
  • Stick it to the man

What do you think you would find in the Room of Requirement?

Oh let’s not pretend I would say anything other than an endless library with every book ever written.

What book/series has your favorite villain, antihero, or antagonist?

I’m going to say The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. I am deeply entertained by all the magical item dealers who come out of the woodwork in the last two books.

If you could vacation with some of your closest friends/family (in the real world or a fictional universe), where would you go?

I’d love to visit the Underland from Suzanne Collins’ Underland Chronicles.

What is the first book you remember loving?

The first book I really loved was The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. I bought it at the Scholastic book fair in 6th or 7th grade and it was my first fairytale retelling and my first YA fantasy novel and it really got me hooked!

What book did you read this year that you wish everyone would read?

Please just read the Tales of the Kingdom series by Cynthia Voigt!!! Please! I recommend them constantly to everyone. The descriptions on Goodreads aren’t great, they really don’t do the books justice, but I am MORE than happy to talk more in-depth about them. Oh also I have a review for the first one, Jackaroo.

My Questions:

  1. Do you have any pets?
  2. What is your favorite thing about winter?
  3. What was the last book you read?
  4. Talk about a fictional character who inspires you.
  5. What is your number one pet peeve?
  6. What is something you are proud of?
  7. Share some good advice you have received.
  8. What is the last thing you bought (not counting groceries)?
  9. Share the most useless piece of trivia you know.
  10. What was your first job?
  11. What rating system do you use for books?

Tags:

Nev @ NeverandaDaily // Bethany @ BibliophilicWitch // @ WordsintheRain // Olivia Elizabeth @ FoxingFae // Jenna @ JennaBookish // @ PurpleManatees // Kelsie @ BilboBookins // Marina @ TheReviewMarina // Jenaca @ JenacideByBibliophile // Sumaya @ Sue’sReadingCorner // Sam @ RiverMoose-Reads