Enjoying the Planning

My obligatory New Year's Eve run photo. I didn't fall! It was snowing off and on for the last day of 2025. 

Today I am still deciding whether I'll go for a run or work out inside. Because I slept terribly last night, staying indoors and using the walking pad is very appealing. 

I'm taking advantage of my last weekday off before Winter Break is over by indulging in planning and list-making. 

For a couple of weeks this holiday season, I tried out a journaling app. I used it daily for the first week, and then I dropped off. It's a good thing that the free trial was a month long; it gave me enough time to realize I wouldn't stick to using it long enough to make the cost worth it. 

Do you use any apps for scheduling or planning? 

I have scheduled myself a bunch of fun activities for January. Now I need to focus on not cancelling my participation in order to stay home. TBD! 

Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews! My Favorite Science Fiction!

 Honestly, I don't know how I forgot that I had this novella downloaded to read!  But here we are, it was a bit of a Christmas present from past me to current me I guess. 

I'm sure I have said it before, but I'll say it again, I love everything Illona Andrews publishes. No surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I actually have it in audio as well as kindle.  I started listening to it when I was having some very invasive dental work done and it was a little hard to get lost in the story with a drill in my jaw, so I listened to the first few chapters, and then later after my mouth began to heel, I switched over and read the kindle version from the start. 

As this is a novella and Ilona Andrews is one of my favorite authors, I read this in one sitting. It took me most of the story to visualize how the secare's blades and shields worked. I couldn't figure out where they had their hands during the battles.  I have a hold on The Kingsman Universe from my library and so by the time I finish reading that I should have a better grip on the ins and outs of their skills. 

This story is about Matias and Ramon who belong to rival households--Romeo and Juliet or the Hatfields and McCoys.  These families do not get along and they are also deadly weapons so it's a real hurdle to overcome.  Ancestral enemies to lovers?  Basically yes, with lots of action and some politics involved. 

4 out of 5 stars to Fated Blades!

#TheSundayPost Welcome to 2022!

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme 

On Tuesday of this past week, we finally got our first measurable snow of this winter, the kind of snow that sticks and is great for snowballs and snow people building. Since it was just about 0 celsius, and since we had our windows crack to allow for some air circulation due to youngest child isolating with Covid, I could hear our neighbor's kiddos playing outside during the snowfall, it was lovely. I also went for a run in the snow, because why not, right?

I do like to be optimistic and not worry about jinxing things, but I've gotta say I am reluctant to say anything about 2022 being a great year or the year of me! Ha!  The few years have taught me that maybe I don't want to claim any year as mine! 

In any case, I will be making goals and sharing books and working on selling Tastefully Simple, and just doing my best to enjoy life. I hope you are making plans to enjoy life this year as well. 

This week I'm kicking off the New Year with reviews of:

And also a book I've seen on a bunch of book blogs, Fated Blades.

So How about About You? Did you make any resolutions?