Turns out I've had a NetGalley Account Since 2013!

 NetGalley is a website that gets books into the hands of reviewers who then spread the word on Goodreads, Amazon, and social media.  Apparently way back when in 2013, I set up an account and then never did anything with it.  

All that has changed now! I've got my profile completed, my Goodreads account, and this blog connected to it and I'm reading the first book I requested. I'm planning to see if I can finish the book and get my first review up before the calendar turns to the New Year. We will see.  I'm looking forward to sharing the book with you as so far it's a very solid read. 

The Christmas decorations are still up, and at my coffee station, I have some new, and new to me winter mugs. I asked my family for winter mugs so I could decorate my coffee station for Wintertime. When it comes to gifts, I'm always happy with a secondhand item especially when it comes to books or music. 

As this most unusual year winds down, I am looking forward to reading and reviewing more books, finishing my rough draft of my Cozy Mystery, and trying lots of new recipes. I am hoping for great health for me and mine and to run the Chicago Marathon in October of 2021. I  am dreaming that we will have the pandemic under control and that we will be able to travel and see family. I am optimistic that the kids will attend school in person. 

I'm planning on saying goodbye to 2020 with the Hubs and the Kids and a nice batch of appetizers and maybe even a mocktail! 

The Thing About a Cookie Fail is the Cookies Still Taste Good!

How did my most recent batch of cookies turn out? Not like they were supposed to turn out!  These are my fail cookies. They are supposed to be cinnamon swirl cookies. The problem is I didn't realize the dough needed to be rolled really so when I cut the slices the pinwheels fell apart. Then I tried to squish them into swirls but it didn't work so well. They taste good, so there is that! Next year I will give these another go. 

Are you like me?  On the one hand, it's hard to believe Christmas is here. The month has flown by! On the other hand, it's been a very long year.  Mind you I am not complaining. Any day I am healthy is a good day for me.  

Once again this year we will be celebrating Christmas without a signature cocktail.  It always seems like it would be festive to have one, and Pinterest is filled with pretty looking drinks; but then when you get down to it, all those cocktail recipes require an investment in liquor and mixers that I don't have in the holiday budget and also, the cocktail will only make me sleepy and then I'll take a nap and then I won't be able to fall asleep at night.  I just had a thought, maybe next year, a signature mocktail. That I could maybe do. 

Speaking of next year, I am hoping next year we will be on the other side of the pandemic and able to gather throughout the season with friends and family near and far. If so we are most definitely having a holiday party.