Feeding the Obsession: The Sunday Post
The hoidays are finally over for another year! Thank goodness.
Each week on the blog I look forward and bacK with my friend KIMBA, THE CAFFEINATED BOOK REVIEWER!
Thanks to Kimba for hosting this each week!
This was kind of a blow off week for me, it was my husband’s last week of vacation and we had our big NYE party. So books were not front and center in my mind. Reading wise I’m in a rut but since I am expanding genres and really not taking requests or downloading books, I feel like I will get out of it soon. It is REALLY hard to read what feels like the same book over and over again.
We had our big potluck New Year’s Eve party that we have had for five years now. Next year we may go to Iceland on NYE to see the Aurora Borealis. It was lots of fun. Until the cleaning up. I made three legs of lamb crusted with herbs. We didn’t have a HUGE amount of left overs but enough to make a lamb stew. You can get a lot of fat out by chilling and skimming it. I feel HUGE from all the food and I do believe I drank an entire bottle of champagne or more.
We set out the world’s most impossible jigsaw puzzle but people weren’t too into it. They all wanted Cards Against Humanity but we had discussed the game and felt it was too risque for the mix of people at the party. Our friends, who range in age from 45 to 75 all scoffed at the idea they would be offended so, maybe next time.
How do you break out of your reading slumps??
On the blog last week I started here on Sunday
Monday was my annual tally of books and blogging and I featured all my icons.
Tuesday: I looked at Cecy Robson’s A CURSED BLOODLINE.
Wednesday I had some old postcards and Thursday I had more and I made some resolutions for the blog and reading in 2015.
Friday was a History Thing feature post looking at human height in history.
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- http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/2014/12/sunday-post-2.html
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- http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/2014/12/another-year.html
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- http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/2014/12/sunday-post-2.html
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- http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/2014/12/new-years-eve.html
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- http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/2015/01/new-years-day.html
I did not create any new icons last week. Probably because I only had one review.
I did have quite a few ARCs by favorite authors delivered: Lynsay Sands, Molly Harper and others…. Plus I won a slew of books from The Delighted Reader and Accidental Leigh by Melanie James from Eargasms.
I had very little time to do more that shop for food, buy food, prepare food and hang my paper lanterns for the party. I get WAY too caught up in that!! Could someone please invent a string of corded led lights spaced far enough apart to attach to the 9 to 10 inch paper lanterns? Or put out an led candle with an easy way to hang them. I make complex harnesses for about 30 and hang them. Then pull them in right before the party to turn them on.
Yeah, I got a little obsessed. I even have my husband search for nicer lanterns when he travels to Asia.
So, this week on the blog?
Monday: I have a post for FALLING AWAY from Penguin Random House: an exclusive excerpt and tourwide giveaway!
Tuesday: I’m looking at heroes. What makes a hero? Should they be more realistic or have smaller,…muscles?
Wednesday I hope to look at JASON by LKH but I am waiting for the publisher to give me some information.
Thursday probably a review and giveaway of SPICE by Seressia Glass
Friday I should have a guest post from Elizabeth SaFleur.
Beyond that, I would just be happy to get into a book and not cook for a week!
With my best wishes for a healthy and happy new year!!
January 4, 2015 @ 10:28 AM
I love your banners. Some day I’ll create my own. Ha! 😉 My husband & I were talking about Cards Against Humanity. I’m thinking of getting them to give them a try. They sound like fun. Have a wonderful week!
January 4, 2015 @ 11:15 AM
You can download them or buy them. If you download them they give explicit instructions on how to print them. It saves $15 but you have to cut them all precisely. Life is too short! Thanks for coming by!
January 4, 2015 @ 10:37 AM
Your NYE potluck party sounds like it was a lot of fun, Steph. I love hanging out with close friends to start the new year and say goodbye to the old year 🙂
About reading slumps. sometimes, I pick up a favorite from the past for a re-read – one in a genre that usually brings me lots of reading-joy. Good luck!
Happy New Year, and happy reading.
January 4, 2015 @ 11:16 AM
Thanks, that is a great idea. I am re-reading the OUTLANDER series – in audio this time. Thanks for the suggestion!
January 4, 2015 @ 11:02 AM
I had family in two for the Holidays, so really no time to read. Now that it’s a new year I am going to work on cleaning out the eReaders of all those lovely free book downloads I like to One-Click.
When I’m in a book rut I like to fall back on books I love like Shelly Laurenston Pride series or G.A. Aiken Dragon Kin or something thats light, fun and easy to read. Hope you enjoy whatever new genre you try.
Have a great week!
January 4, 2015 @ 11:18 AM
Thanks, maybe I will hit the new Molly Harper I got. Or one of the other 1,000 books on the shelf! I am going to try anything that strikes my fancy – but still not horror, religion or things I don’t like. Thanks for commenting.
January 4, 2015 @ 11:09 AM
What a festive NYE party, and your possible plans for next New Year’s sound fun! I’ve always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis. Happy New Year!
January 4, 2015 @ 12:05 PM
I hope we can make it happen. We have had a hard time finding a place we want to stay. Thanks for commenting.
January 4, 2015 @ 11:14 AM
It sounds like you had a fabulous celebration…and I’m salivating over the idea of the food. Enjoy the new week, and thanks for visiting my blog.
January 4, 2015 @ 12:07 PM
We enjoyed the food. I rarely like lamb, but it is easy to cook and stays moist. Thanks!
January 4, 2015 @ 11:15 AM
I seem to have spent the last two weeks cooking as well. Thank goodness for audio books!
Thanks for stopping by mine xx
January 4, 2015 @ 12:04 PM
The cooking-cleaning-eating-shopping cycle is nuts, isn’t it. Thanks for visiting.
January 4, 2015 @ 12:08 PM
It is good to listen while cooking or cleaning! I even have a waterproof bluetooth speaker for the shower! Thanks for visiting.
January 4, 2015 @ 11:35 AM
It sounds like you had a great New Year’s Eve! Have a great week!
January 4, 2015 @ 11:57 AM
We did and we have. We generally have a wonderful time as long as we are together and well. Thanks for coming by!
January 4, 2015 @ 11:48 AM
Thats a great group of challenges, good luck and happy 2015
January 4, 2015 @ 12:05 PM
I hope I can do them – it will be hard to pick which item to pull from each book. Thanks for commenting.
January 4, 2015 @ 11:51 AM
I have never heard of cards against humanity. Your NYE arty sounds like it was a lot of fun. I have gained so much weight this season, I don’t remember ever having this issue. Maybe I am just getting ol….no! I don’t believe it. I am planning on taking up Yoga in 2015, I hope it does my body good. You are so organized laying out your whole next week of posts. I am more like a fly by the seat of my pants blogger I guess.
Have a great week, my friend!
January 4, 2015 @ 12:02 PM
Weight and the holidays seem to be really good friends that shouldn;t be allowed to play together. Just know you can get back on your personal plan every day. Yesterday is gone; literally. You do not have to eat the holiday food because it is there. If you cannot bring yourself to throw it away or give it away just stick it in the freezer until it is so stale and dessicated you would only eat it in a survival situation. I am not always organized! Not even usually! Thanks for coming by.
January 4, 2015 @ 12:21 PM
I didn’t get a lot of reading done this week either- or the last two weeks actually. But it’s nice to just enjoy the holidays and the people around you.
Thanks for stopping by The Local Muse
January 4, 2015 @ 1:08 PM
You are right – it can’t all be about books! Thanks for commenting.
January 4, 2015 @ 12:34 PM
New Years Eve Party sound fun and love the Pot Luck idea. We had a party with a small group of friends at our house, lots of food and drinking and it was a lot of fun. So good to get together with friends around the holidays 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful week and Happy New year!!!
January 4, 2015 @ 1:08 PM
Pot luck is so much easier! Our crowd pretty much always goes pot luck! Thanks for visiting.
January 4, 2015 @ 12:38 PM
I love lanterns too. I must research this Cards Against Humanity everyone is talking about. Your NYE party sounds fantastic and ooh I want to go to Iceland with you. I hope your reading slump passes. Have a wonderful week!
January 4, 2015 @ 1:09 PM
I have the coat, boots and mittens! Thanks for visiting!
January 4, 2015 @ 1:34 PM
Your potluck sounds fun but so does going to Iceland! I hope you have a great reading week!
Stormi
January 4, 2015 @ 10:35 PM
Thanks Stormi – We are discussing Iceland every day! Thanks for coming by!
January 4, 2015 @ 3:09 PM
Happy New Year! Celebrating christmas or new year somewhere esle is soemthign i woudl love to do once as well, although staying home is nice as well. That potluck sounds fun and how sad people weren’t interested in the world’s most impossible jigsaw puzzle, it sounds fun! I like jigsaw puzzles.
January 4, 2015 @ 10:45 PM
Well, it was only $17 at a museum and it is David’s CORONATION OF JOSEPHINE. It is truly impossible!Thanks for coming by.
January 4, 2015 @ 3:23 PM
Your NYE party sound great, we had a quiet evening but it is nice to get together with friends and celebrate. Iceland would be a great place to spend the New Year I would think. I hope that works out.
January 4, 2015 @ 10:47 PM
A quiet evening is awesome. The giant dinner party without servants (I am watching Downton Abbey) is rather tiring. Thanks for commenting.
January 4, 2015 @ 3:34 PM
I love paper lanterns, so I can understand your obsession. I have a large ornate one in my bedroom. I adore your masthead! I had gotten so used to staying home with my son and a couple of his friends on New Years Eve when he was underage that when he started going out last year, I was lost. I swore I was going to join my friends this year, but I didn’t feel much in a party mood, but I did go shopping and out to lunch with my sister on New Years. Maybe that will be my new tradition. Thanks for dropping by my blog. It is appreciated. 🙂
January 4, 2015 @ 10:48 PM
I barely got out of bed! Thanks for coming by!
January 4, 2015 @ 4:12 PM
Your NYE party sounds like a lot of fun and the food you served sounds really good. I would love to go to Iceland one day so hopefully you can go next year. As for reading slumps, I switch genres or I re-read an old favorite. I hope you find a book you will love and have a great week!
January 4, 2015 @ 10:50 PM
If I go I am sure I will blog about it — hopefully they’ll have Wifi! Thanks for commenting!!
January 4, 2015 @ 4:28 PM
I love reading different genres as it keeps everything fresh. And when I leave a genre for a while, I fall in love with it all over again when I return. And your lanterns sound fab, I bet they looked amazing!
January 4, 2015 @ 10:25 PM
I do love my lanterns – I wish I had taken a picture of them. Thank you for visiting!
January 4, 2015 @ 6:07 PM
New Year’s Eve at Iceland next year? Oh, that sounds wonderful! I hope it works out for you.
A quiet week also sounds good, we all need the downtime. Happy New Year!
January 4, 2015 @ 10:32 PM
I love down time! Thanks for commenting.
January 4, 2015 @ 6:21 PM
Haha! I would have just chucked the lanterns if they gave me any grief, but good on you for persevering. Glad your party went well. Your Iceland trip sounds great.
I hope to clear some time to just read whatever takes my fancy instead of just a long slew of review commitments thus my NY’s resolution about that.
Glad you got your pile from the giveaway. Hope you enjoy them Steph!
January 4, 2015 @ 10:24 PM
Thanks! I am sure I will love them!
January 4, 2015 @ 6:29 PM
Sounds like a really fun NYE party – I’ve never played cards against humanity but from what I’ve heard I can see why you thought it might be too risque for a mix of people. I think I would love it 😉 NYE in Ireland sounds amazing, what a great plan for next year!
Good luck getting out of your reading slump, reading whatever you want instead of obligated books always helps me. Have a great week 🙂
January 4, 2015 @ 10:23 PM
Thanks for coming by! It is possible my friends don’t realize HOW risque they are – or I don’t!!
January 4, 2015 @ 8:09 PM
I’m a bit relieved that the holidays are over too 🙂 I love that time of year, but it’s a little crazy too. I’ve heard of Cards Against Humanity — our family plays a similar (less risque) game called Apples to Apples and we always get in a big fight. We’re very competitive.
Happy New Year and thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics
January 4, 2015 @ 10:21 PM
I will have to go look up Apples to Apples! Thank you for visiting!!
January 4, 2015 @ 10:29 PM
Your NYE party sounds like it was a fabulous celebration. But also nice to get back to the routine of simpler meals and (hopefully) more reading time.
January 4, 2015 @ 10:52 PM
Tomorrow chicken, veg, rice. And Champagne — I have lots of champagne! Thanks for commenting!
January 4, 2015 @ 11:13 PM
I hope you do get to go see Aurora Borealis next year for New Years. I’ve always wanted go see them myself. And I’ve never know a group that didn’t love Cards Against Humanity. You can always remove a few of the worst ones if needed. (Or like someone else mentioned, Apples to Apples was a fun more PG game.)
January 5, 2015 @ 7:05 AM
Ih hadn’t even heard of them before October — I have to check out the option of Apples to APples. Thanks for coming by!
January 5, 2015 @ 1:18 AM
Well, when I can’t seem to find that right book to read, I just try and try and try again until something piques my interest. I wouldn’t want to go without a book for a long time. I’d feel like I was missing on something, you know? 🙂 But I hope you’ll get out of your reading slump soon. The ARCs from your favorite authors might be a great help. 😉 Thanks for sharing and for visiting my Sunday Post 🙂
January 5, 2015 @ 7:09 AM
Yeah, It could be the time of year too. Or the weight of the TBR on my subconscious. I always have something I am reading – just not loving perhaps!
January 5, 2015 @ 2:51 AM
Glad you had a fun new years!
Reading ruts are the worst, I find that sometimes rereading an old favorite can help. Hope you get out of your rut soon!
January 5, 2015 @ 7:11 AM
I am listening to an old favorite right now so maybe that will be the key.
A lot of people seem to think that is a way to climb out. Thanks you for the comments!
January 5, 2015 @ 7:12 AM
I am really amazed so many agree an old favorite can help with a rut. That was something I never thought of before! Thanks!
January 5, 2015 @ 4:46 AM
I left a com, then posted it, then went to see an old page while yours loaded and now, I don’t know if I’m posting a double com or if mine just has to be checked first ! Ah, need coffee. Lots of cooking/food business done during the holidays, eh, sometimes it feels like it just adds up to that – and drink ! Regarding the reading slump, give books a break, they’ll end up making you need them one day or the other 😉 Have a great week !
(Now, posting and remaining on the page while it’s done…)
January 5, 2015 @ 7:20 AM
I only see the one comment. I’m sorry you had trouble with my commenting system. Sometimes i hit the cancel or log out. I need coffee too! My husband is going back to work and didn’t hear the alarm! Thanks for coming by!
January 5, 2015 @ 6:25 AM
I just had dinner… read about your lamb and I swear I’m hungry again, it sounds delicious! I mostly just read and didn’t do annnny blogging a– just relaxed basically!
January 5, 2015 @ 10:32 AM
Sounds like a fun party and the food sounds tasty! I love your plan for next year! I know when I’m super busy my brain just gets tired and I need a break from books. Hope you break out of your rut soon! I’ve never given any thought to hanging paper lanterns but they sound like something that would drive me insane. Have a great week!
January 5, 2015 @ 11:41 AM
Yup, paper lanterns make me a little crazy. I thik I have this image in my head of some romantic painting like the one in the header and they turn out to be cheap paper lanterns.
January 5, 2015 @ 9:11 PM
Sounds like you had a great party. I spent a quiet one at home and went to bed before the countdown.
You have such talent with your banners. Very lovely!
Here’s my Sunday Post – http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/01/04/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-91-and-the-sunday-post/
January 5, 2015 @ 11:01 PM
Quiet is also a good way to spend the evening. Thanks for your kind words and comments!
January 6, 2015 @ 9:20 AM
Reading slumps are so tough. Usually I just force myself to pick up a book (any will usually do) and start reading. I get a chapter in and think “Why did I not pick up a book sooner?”
Also, you had me a lamb stew. Yum! I love to make meat pies out of leftover stew.