2017 End-of-Year Challenge Updates ~ All My 2018 Challenge Sign Ups

I dedicated these last two months of 2017 to finishing up series I was behind in by 1 or 2 books - #TravelingtotheTerminus. 

I managed to complete the following series:

Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

Games Series by Nyrae Dawn

New Camelot Series by Sierra Simone

Tempest Series by Michelle Mankin

I almost completed these series:

The Mageri Series by Dannika Dark

Blackcreek Series by Riley Hart

Pushing the Limits Series by Katie McGarry

That's not very many considering the list is like 42 series long but I did a re-read of the first two in Day's Crossfire series so that put me behind. At any rate, I'll be working at this goal again in 2018.

***2017 Challenges End-of-Year Updates***

#2017 Bookish Resolutions
Y'all can click here for a list of my resolutions for 2017 but in the end, I still managed to accomplish some and fail at others. Again, I looked at these resolutions as goals which means I didn't really fail. *grins* Laura and Michelle are hosting this challenge again in 2018 but I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to participate...

#2017HW Report Card for Quarter One

My goal was to read 1 book a month. Again, I read 3 books in the first and second quarters of 2017 so that means I got A's!!! However, I received an F in the third and fourth quarters because I only read ONE single book from my list read. Hopefully next year will go better. :)

#2017NewRelease - 46 books
I totally hit my goal of New Release Pro this year - 31-60 books - so I'm happy with that. Lexxie is once again hosting the New Release Challenge and I plan to participate.

#Audiobook Challenge - 26 listens 
I didn't quite make my goal of 30 books but I'm proud of what I accomplished. I plan to join in this challenge again in 2018.

#authorluv - 1 book
Yep, kinda failed at showing CoHo some love. But I *DO* love her so and I plan to get more read in 2018.

#BloggerShame - 10 books
I failed to reach my goal of 20 books but 10 is better than none so I'm considering that a win. :) I'll work at it more in 2018.

Read All the Books - 11 books
I still have quite a bit of Sabrina Jeffries' backlist to tackle but I'll get there. This is an ongoing challenge so I'll be working at it again in 2018.

#ShelfLove - 85 books 
I *nailed* this challenge goal of 51+ books! Woohoo! I might be most proud of having made this goal because that was my aim - to read more of the books I own! Even though the lovely ladies at Chapter Break and Second Run Reviews aren't hosting this challenge in 2018, I plan to continue showing my shelves lots of love.

***CHALLENGES FOR 2018***

I've decided to cut down on the number of challenges I'm doing in 2018. I'm having issues keeping up with all of them all! ;) 

I'm once again participating in the Audiobook Challenge hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and Hot Listens. My goal for 2018 is Binge Listener or 20-30 books. :)

I'm once again joining in the Blogger Shame Challenge hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup. (click the button for all the details) I really am working at reading all those ARCs I requested from Netgalley. *winks* I'm aiming to read 20 books. That ought to help my rating. :)

I'm once again participating in the New Release Challenge hosted by Lexxie @(un)ConventionalBookViews. You can click the button above for all the details but I'm challenging myself to New Release Pro level again in 2018 because I *still* want to read books I already own. :) So that means I'll aim for 31-60 new releases.

Sabrina Jeffries is my author of choice for this challenge. So far, I've finished 11 of her books. :) If you want in on this challenge, click the button for details.

I'm once again participating in the Reading Assignment Challenge hosted by Berls & Michelle @BecauseReading. I'm committing to reading 1 book a month. You can click the button above for details on the challenge. One of the *big* changes they made to the challenge this year is that you only have to create a list for January to June and then in June, create a list for July to December. Yay! Hopefully this will help me stick to my list. My first half of 2018 Reading List is:

#OctobeRecFest Wrap Up ~ #TravelingtotheTerminus ~ Challenges Updates ~ Other Various Updates

My 4th Annual OctobeRecFest has come to an end. I didn't get quite as many books read as I'd have liked BUT I did read FOUR from the list I'd created and that also means I moved a little further into those series. :) I also read 3 not from the list for a total of 7...7 series I moved forward in. I may or may not get one last review posted tomorrow. It depends on how much reading I get done today and chances aren't looking good since it's our State Marching Band finals so I'll be away from home today, helping move pit equipment for the band.

Anyway, here are the books I managed to read this month:

Y'all know this year I've made it a goal to catch up in series. The last few years, I've dedicated November and December to #TravelingtotheTerminus. Once again, I'm going to tweak how I usually do things. This year, I'm focusing on series that I'm only behind by 1 or 2 books. There are ~45 series that fall into this category for me. There is no way I can read that many books, but at least I'll be able to cross a few series off my list. *grins* 

2017 Challenges

#2017 Bookish Resolutions
Y'all can click here for a list of my resolutions for this year but I just wanted to give a quick general update...and that is, I'm accomplishing some and failing at others. Luckily, I look at these resolutions as goals which means I'm not really failing. I simply need to refocus and get back to work at them. *grins*

#2017HW Report Card for Quarter One

My goal is 1 book a month. I read 3 books in the first and second quarters of 2017 so that means I got A's!!! However, I received an
F in the third quarter because I didn't get a single book from my list read. And my fourth quarter didn't start off well...nothing for October. But I still have November and December so we'll see. :D

#2017NewRelease - 34 books

#Audiobook Challenge - 21 listens
#authorluv - none yet

#BloggerShame - 10 books

Read All the Books - 11 books

#ShelfLove - 73 books

General Updates

As y'all probably know, I was MIA for quite a few months. I really appreciate all of y'all continuing to visit and/or comment on my posts while I was away. I know I owe y'all some raffle boxes and I have SIX already packed up. So look for those drawings over the next two months.

As for why I was MIA...if y'all follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you might have seen photos. At any rate, I did quite a LOT of traveling, following my oldest and youngest children while they toured for drum corps, took my middle on college visits, AND TO SEE HAMILTON!! I also traveled to be present for the wedding of one of my best friends. In all, I was in 17 STATES in 5 months. I like to travel y'all, but even though I had a blast, it was a bit too much for me. :D

Two last things... 1) I had a little accident with my laptop in August. I was opening it and it somehow jumped from the bar and ended up on the tile floor - on its lid - which did not do good things for my screen. So I'm having to share a laptop with James and since it's his, I get it when he doesn't need it. Therefore, my time online is somewhat limited. Santa is bringing me a new one though...so just a little longer. 2) I'm traveling again *sigh* this week. I'm headed to Texas to visit/check in on my grandma. I'll be online as much as I can.

I know this was A LOT. Thanks for reading!!!

2017 #BookishResolutions Update ~ April

I'm once again participating in the Bookish Resolutions Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Michelle @Because Reading and Laura @ Trips Down Imagination Road. For complete details and to sign up, click the graphic above or here. 

**MY GOALS FOR 2017**

I've been moderately successful with the challenge the past 2 years but I think I've come up with some tweaks so that I'll be even more so in 2017. Mostly I'm making my goals more specific and therefore more quantifiable. :)

• Blogging Goals
• Comment back THREE times a week
• Visit TEN blogs a day
• Interact with 3 blog Facebook pages a day
• Link up my challenge posts on the last day of each month (or last day of month quarterly for those updating quarterly)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar
• Reading Goals
• NO BOOK BUYING without a gift card (that was gifted!)
• Read TWO Netgalley reads per month
• Read (at least) TWO books I already own per month
• Read ONE book from a series I'm behind in per month
• Listen to TWO review books per month
• Read books my kids *need* me to read
• Born to Run (Jax)
• Death with Interruptions (Jax)
• Everything is Illuminated (Sky)
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Jax)
• School of Good and Evil (Berk)
• The Book Thief (Sky)
• The Lightning Thief (Berk)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar and in my book journal
• Personal Goals
• Exercise FIVE days a week
• Keep a food/exercise journal
• Spend an hour daily writing/editing
• Clean up my Goodreads Shelves!
• Spend ONE day a month on a different hobby - paper crafting or knitting
• Keep track of my progress with writing/editing and crafting on my calendar

***Update***

• Blogging Goals
  Where have I been?? I'm sure you've noticed my absence from the blogosphere lately and I apologize. I've had A LOT going on in my personal life with kids and their decisions, activities, and travel, writing, and I spent 5 days in Texas helping out with my grandma who fell and had to have 6 staples in her head. (that trip had already been planned but fell at a fortuitous time) Needless to say, I've been terrible at visiting y'all as well as commenting back. BUT I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS!! I will get back to all of you, I promise! But I'm in Atlanta this upcoming week for the RT Convention so I'll be absent again for the most part. Follow me on Instagram (@bookworm_brandee), Facebook or Twitter if you're interested in my goings-on...I'll be posting pictures there. :D
  I'm planning on a raffle for mystery boxes of books to show my appreciation for you sticking with me so stay tuned for that. And I *will* be getting back to a somewhat normal schedule when I return...at least for a few weeks. 

• Reading Goals
  I have officially made it FOUR months without having one-clicked a book! (of course I add a few *freebies* to my library) I did purchase my first physical book (using a gift card *wink* but I couldn't help it, y'all. I had to get Dragonfly in Amber after finishing Outlander!) I also read a few more Netgalley reads in April, Losing Control and Taking Control by Jen Frederick. I read (or am reading) two books from series I am behind in - My TBR reads for April, Paradise Road by C.J. Duggan and Changing Tides by Sarah Darlington. I managed to complete two audio review books and am working on a third. (traveling slowed my listening pleasure ;) I finished Your Inescapable Love by Layla Hagen, as well as Undone by John Colapinto. I'm currently listening to What You Need by Lorelei James. I still reading Born to Run from Jax's request list. Yay me! And I'm continuing to use my planner to keep track of these goals and it makes it easier to see what I have on tap. Reading-wise, it was a much slower month due to all my personal obligations, etc.
• Personal Goals
  This is one area I managed to keep on track with in April...at least partially. I've managed to exercise at least 5 days a week (except for while I was in Texas) and I'm continuing to use my fitbit to keep track of food and exercise. It's been enormously helpful since it's essentially done for me. I love that I can add in my food during the day to keep track of calories. And...I don't want to sound like I'm bragging but...I've lost 18 pounds! :D This means I've pretty much hit my goal weight-wise. I just need to keep on track to maintain. :)
  I spent ZERO time working at cleaning up my Goodreads shelves but I have spent time writing/editing. I didn't get to *THE END* but I'm close, y'all. So close! Writing, of course, has taken even more time away from blogging but I SERIOUSLY want to finish my book... So #sorrynotsorry.
  I DIDN'T manage any time for other hobbies in April...grrr! It's just been a rough month! Hopefully May will be marginally better but with two of my kids leaving for the summer, I'm not holding my breath.  

So that's my update. How are y'all doing with your challenges?

2017 #BookishResolutions Challenge Update ~ March

I'm once again participating in the Bookish Resolutions Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Michelle @Because Reading and Laura @ Trips Down Imagination Road. For complete details and to sign up, click the graphic above or here. 

**MY GOALS FOR 2017**

I've been moderately successful with the challenge the past 2 years but I think I've come up with some tweaks so that I'll be even more so in 2017. Mostly I'm making my goals more specific and therefore more quantifiable. :)

• Blogging Goals
• Comment back THREE times a week
• Visit TEN blogs a day
• Interact with 3 blog Facebook pages a day
• Link up my challenge posts on the last day of each month (or last day of month quarterly for those updating quarterly)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar
• Reading Goals
• NO BOOK BUYING without a gift card (that was gifted!)
• Read TWO Netgalley reads per month
• Read (at least) TWO books I already own per month
• Read ONE book from a series I'm behind in per month
• Listen to TWO review books per month
• Read books my kids *need* me to read
• Born to Run (Jax)
• Death with Interruptions (Jax)
• Everything is Illuminated (Sky)
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Jax)
• School of Good and Evil (Berk)
• The Book Thief (Sky)
• The Lightning Thief (Berk)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar and in my book journal
• Personal Goals
• Exercise FIVE days a week
• Keep a food/exercise journal
• Spend an hour daily writing/editing
• Clean up my Goodreads Shelves!
• Spend ONE day a month on a different hobby - paper crafting or knitting
• Keep track of my progress with writing/editing and crafting on my calendar

***Update***

• Blogging Goals
  I've done okay with my blogging goals this month. I've kept up with commenting back and that makes me incredibly happy! I have *not* done well with visiting 10 blogs a day but y'all, March has been hard. I had Sky home and my mother-in-law visiting, James was home some, and this week Berk & Jax are home. They're all messing with my schedule. LOL But seriously, y'all know my family comes first so... I'm working at catching up though. If I haven't comment bombed you yet, your time is coming. You've been warned. ;)  I also failed at interacting on Facebook, obviously. I did keep up with linking reviews for challenges as well as keeping track of things in my planner. So I think that means I'm batting .500.

• Reading Goals
  Woot! THREE MONTHS and I haven't one-clicked a book! I did, of course, add a few *freebies* to my library but I've really been selective, only choosing those books and/or authors I've wanted to read for awhile. I also read (am reading) four more Netgalley reads this month, Dare You To by Katie McGarry, Cupcakes and Ink by Helena Hunting, Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries, and I'm almost done with Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley. I read a book from a series I am behind in - My TBR read for March, Crash into You by Katie McGarry. I have to say I'm loving using series I'm behind in for my TBR picks. :) I managed to complete four audio review books and am working on a fifth, so I crushed this goal. (It's amazing how much listening you can do while running errands, cleaning, and cooking! ;) I finished Shifting Gears by Riley Hart, and Your Irresistible Love, Your Captivating Love, Your Forever Love, and I'm almost finished with Your Inescapable Love by Layla Hagen - yep, I'm binging on this series.) I started reading Born to Run from Jax's request list. Yay me! And I'm continuing to use my planner to keep track of these goals and it makes it easier to see what I have on tap. Again, overall I ROCKED March reading-wise.
• Personal Goals
  I'm continuing to do well with some of my personal goals. I've managed to exercise at least 5 days a week and I'm using my fitbit to keep track of food and exercise. That's enormously helpful since it's essentially done for me. I do add in my food during the day to keep track of calories. And I'm rather proud to say I've lost almost 12.4 pounds! I did spend some more time working at cleaning up my Goodreads shelves, but not enough. I did make some strides in writing/editing - setting a goal for myself has helped. Writing does take time away from blogging but if I want to finish my book, things have to be shifted. I also spent some time knitting this month - working on a project that's been getting the best of me but I think I've finally figured it out now. Woohoo!  

So that's my update. How are y'all doing with your challenges?

2017 #BookishResolutions Challenge Update ~ February

I'm once again participating in the Bookish Resolutions Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Michelle @Because Reading and Laura @ Trips Down Imagination Road. For complete details and to sign up, click the graphic above or here. 

**MY GOALS FOR 2017**

I've been moderately successful with the challenge the past 2 years but I think I've come up with some tweaks so that I'll be even more so in 2017. Mostly I'm making my goals more specific and therefore more quantifiable. :)

• Blogging Goals
• Comment back THREE times a week
• Visit TEN blogs a day
• Interact with 3 blog Facebook pages a day
• Link up my challenge posts on the last day of each month (or last day of month quarterly for those updating quarterly)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar
• Reading Goals
• NO BOOK BUYING without a gift card (that was gifted!)
• Read TWO Netgalley reads per month
• Read (at least) TWO books I already own per month
• Read ONE book from a series I'm behind in per month
• Listen to TWO review books per month
• Read books my kids *need* me to read
• Born to Run (Jax)
• Death with Interruptions (Jax)
• Everything is Illuminated (Sky)
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Jax)
• School of Good and Evil (Berk)
• The Book Thief (Sky)
• The Lightning Thief (Berk)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar and in my book journal
• Personal Goals
• Exercise FIVE days a week
• Keep a food/exercise journal
• Spend an hour daily writing/editing
• Clean up my Goodreads Shelves!
• Spend ONE day a month on a different hobby - paper crafting or knitting
• Keep track of my progress with writing/editing and crafting on my calendar

***Update***

• Blogging Goals
  I've done fairly well with my blogging goals this month. I've kept up with commenting back and that makes me incredibly happy! I've also done a relatively good job at making sure to visit 10 blogs a day although I did get behind one week because I was sick. :(  I've failed at interacting on Facebook though. I will try to do better with this goal in March. I know it helps us all get more views when there's more interaction on our Facebook pages. I've also kept up with linking reviews for challanges as well as keeping track of things in my planner. So overall, not too bad.

• Reading Goals
  I've made it another entire month without one-clicking a book! I did add a few *freebies* to my library but I've really been selective, only choosing those books and/or authors I've wanted to read for awhile. I also read two more Netgalley reads this month, Dare You To by Katie McGarry and Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries. I also read a book from a series I am behind in - My TBR read for February, Charade by Nyrae Dawn. I have to say I'm loving using series I'm behind in for my TBR picks. :) I've completed two audio review books and am working on a third, so I accomplished this goal. (I finished Playboy Pilot by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland and Highland Spy by Madeline Martin.) I didn't get any books read from my kids' request list, but I'm using my planner to keep track of these goals and it makes it easier to see what I have on tap. Again, overall not too bad.
• Personal Goals
  I've done well with some of my personal goals. I've managed to exercise at least 5 days a week and I'm using my fitbit to keep track of food and exercise. That's enormously helpful since it's essentially done for me. I do add in my food during the day to keep track of calories. And I'm rather proud to say I've lost almost 8 pounds! I also spent some time working at cleaning up my Goodreads shelves. I made some changes and will continue working at this although this morning I got to wondering if one change I made is really what I wanted to do. :/  I've failed completely at writing/editing and spending time on my other hobbies in February, which also means I failed at keeping track of these things in my planner since there was nothing to keep track of. The writing/editing...well, I actually did do a small amount of editing AND all this not writing actually sparked some ideas and I now know where I want to go to finish up my book. But I'm frustrated with myself over not writing. I will figure it out in March. I WILL!

So that's my update. How are y'all doing with your challenges?

Review ~ Breathe into Me ~ Sara Fawkes #BloggerShame #COYER #ShelfLove

Breathe into Me by Sara Fawkes
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #BookishResolutions, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
How did my life get so broken? It's a question Lacey St. James asks herself every day. Stuck raising her little brother in a trailer park while she works a dead end job at a grocery store, she has a stalker exboyfriend, a bad reputation, and no way out.

And then she meets Everett, whose presence changes her entire existence.

Everett is an outsider to her small community, in town for the summer housesitting one of the grand mansions off the Mississippi coast. When he saves her in a bar one night, she's grateful but wary of his intentions. Lacey doesn't trust most men in her life, but for reasons Lacey can't understand, Everett is completely captivated by her. He's determined to show her that life can offer more than she'd ever hoped for, if only she believes in herself. As she works with him to free herself, Lacey desperately yearns to trust him, to move on and perhaps start fresh.

But what happens when she finds out that everything he's told her about himself was a lie?

Breathe into Me is a story of a broken girls in need of a fresh start meeting a boy who makes all the difference until she realizes he's broken, too. Can they move beyond their pasts and make a future together?

Lacey is that girl. You know the one? The one everyone whispers about, spreads rumors about because of where she lives and what they think they know about her. But no one takes the time to get to know her. She's not the girl everyone thinks she is. She's loyal, hard-working, smart... She's looking to make a fresh start but it's hard when you live in a small town. And she feels like she can't leave her little brother because her mom is a drunk and her grandmother is abusive. Then she meets Everett. A boy more than willing to lend a helping hand with whatever she needs whether it's study help or rebuilding an engine. But can she trust his intentions? Everett seems like sweet guy and his intentions are above-board. He's smart and kind but he's a city boy only in town for the summer.

Breathe into Me had a lot of potential but didn't deliver on all of it, in my opinion. I think the writing could have been tighter - more focused - because the story meandered at times. Also there were some consistency issues - which may have been corrected in final edits - that bothered me. For instance, it's Sunday and Lacey and Everett are studying. He asks about her plans for later and she says she has to pick up her little brother from daycare. Um, it's Sunday. I also got frustrated with Lacey at times because although she wasn't necessarily one to whine about her situation, she made questionable decisions - ones that didn't help her situation. Of course, I do give her a little leeway because of her age, but still. One last gripe is that I didn't like one of the plot devices used to create extra angst. I didn't feel it was necessary with everything else these two had going on.

All that makes it sound like I didn't like the book but I did. Fawkes created characters I rooted for, wanted the best for. Lacey and Everett were surrounded by a realistic cast, both good and bad. And the overall story was good. I felt for both Lacey and Everett, understood what they were going through. I liked watching them become friends and the becoming more. It just felt like too many plot threads though and I think fewer would have made a tighter story.

Review ~ The Thorn & the Thistle ~ Julie Moffett #BloggerShame

The Thorn & the Thistle by Julie Moffett
Release Date: January 28, 2013
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #BookishResolutions, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Scotland, 1751

The MacLeods are a strong clan, united with their fellow Scots to resist English rule. But when their leader, the Black Wolf, is struck down in battle, it is up to his daughter to keep the rebellion alive. Megan knows she must act quickly or risk losing the fight for their ancestral lands. Desperate, she secretly assumes the Black Wolf's mantle, fooling their enemies into thinking he's still alive. If she can keep going for a bit longer, the clan's future will be secure...

Rolf St. James has been sent by the king to settle the Scottish lands once and for all. He's not about to let a woman get in his way, no matter how desirable he finds her. He must put aside his attraction and fulfill his duty to permanently quell the rebellion, regardless of the cost.

Rolf represents everything her father hated, everything she's been fighting against. But as the days pass and Rolf's code of honor reveals itself, Megan finds it's not so easy to hate him anymore. Can she risk her people's future for a chance at personal happiness?

This little gem has been sitting on my nook since 2013. I'm happy I finally read it as it was a compelling and satisfying read.

When the British defeated the Highlanders at Culloden, the MacLeod clan was removed from their lands - forced to live in the forest of Gairloch. Megan MacLeod, a smart, witty, cunning, and courageous young woman, tkaes over as laird when her father is killed. She carries on his legend as the Black Wolf, stealing food and supplies from the English until a new Englishman comes. One tasked with capturing the Black Wolf and bringing about peace between the English and the Scottish. When he captures Megan, they both begin to re-think their ideas and perceptions about one another and the possibility of peace between their people.

What I enjoyed most was seeing a woman in power - how brilliantly she negotiated and used her mind in aiding and protecting her people. And how the men, particularly the English, underestimated her because she was a woman. Over the course of the story, Rolf came to see Megan as his equal and that was a feat for the time period.

I also liked how living among the Scots changed Rolf's view of them. He'd heard rumors of their savagery but just as others had formed ideas about him due to rumors, he came to see the reality very differently - just as the Scots, and Megan specifically - came to view him as quite different from all they'd heard.

The Thorn & the Thistle was more a story of lessons than a romance, although there is that as well. The characters were complex and the story compelling. My only issue is the inconsistency in the use of the Scottish language. For example, "dinna" and "don't" were used interchangeably but I'd have preferred a consistent use of one. However, the writing was well-done overall and I'll certainly look for more of Moffett's backlist.

#2017 Bookish Resolutions Update ~ January

I'm once again participating in the Bookish Resolutions Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Michelle @Because Reading and Laura @ Trips Down Imagination Road. For complete details and to sign up, click the graphic above or here. 

**MY GOALS FOR 2017**

I've been moderately successful with the challenge the past 2 years but I think I've come up with some tweaks so that I'll be even more so in 2017. Mostly I'm making my goals more specific and therefore more quantifiable. :)

• Blogging Goals
• Comment back THREE times a week
• Visit TEN blogs a day
• Interact with 3 blog Facebook pages a day
• Link up my challenge posts on the last day of each month (or last day of month quarterly for those updating quarterly)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar
• Reading Goals
• NO BOOK BUYING without a gift card (that was gifted!)
• Read TWO Netgalley reads per month
• Read (at least) TWO books I already own per month
• Read ONE book from a series I'm behind in per month
• Listen to TWO review books per month
• Read books my kids *need* me to read
• Born to Run (Jax)
• Death with Interruptions (Jax)
• Everything is Illuminated (Sky)
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Jax)
• School of Good and Evil (Berk)
• The Book Thief (Sky)
• The Lightning Thief (Berk)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar and in my book journal
• Personal Goals
• Exercise FIVE days a week
• Keep a food/exercise journal
• Spend an hour daily writing/editing
• Clean up my Goodreads Shelves!
• Spend ONE day a month on a different hobby - paper crafting or knitting
• Keep track of my progress with writing/editing and crafting on my calendar

***Update***

• Blogging Goals
  The first week and a half or so of January, I was doing well with all my blogging goals. Mid-month I fell behind because I was spending quality time with Sky. I'm not going to feel badly about that. This last week and a half of the month, I've gotten back in the game. :D I've kept up with visiting, commenting back, and I linked up my challenge posts too! And I'm using my calendar as well to track everything

• Reading Goals
  I'm quite proud of the fact that I've managed an entire month without one-clicking a book! I did add a couple to my library but only because they were free and they were on my wishlist. I also read two Netgalley reads this month, The Thorn & the Thistle by Julie Moffett and Breathe Into Me by Sara Fawkes. I also read one book from a series I am behind in - My TBR read for January, The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. I've started one audio review book but haven't finished, so I didn't meet this goal for January. And I didn't read any books from my kids' request list. But I'm using my planner to keep track of these goals and it makes it easier to see what I have on tap.
  
• Personal Goals
  As with my blogging goals, a few of my personal goals fell to the wayside because of spending time with Sky. So exercising, journaling, writing, etc., are all things I got back to as the month ended and I'll try to keep up next month too. I *DID* spend a weekend scrapbooking so that covers that particular goal. :)

How are y'all doing?

#BookishResolutions 2017 ~ Signup/Goal Post

I'm once again participating in the Bookish Resolutions Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Michelle @Because Reading and Laura @ Trips Down Imagination Road. 

For complete details and to sign up, click the graphic above or here. These are the basic rules:

• Challenge runs January 1 - December 31, 2017
• Choose from 3 Main Categories: Blogging Goals, Reading Goals, Personal Goals
• You must choose at least 2 of the 3 Main Categories and you must have at least 1 goal per category (with the exception of Blogging Goals which must have 3 sub-goals)
• Post and link up an update on the 20th of each month. (29th for February)

There are Twitter parties and giveaways to inspire you in accomplishing your goals, too! Come on, join in the fun and reach that wonderful feeling of accomplishment!

**MY GOALS FOR 2017**

I've been moderately successful with the challenge the past 2 years but I think I've come up with some tweaks so that I'll be even more so in 2017. Mostly I'm making my goals more specific and therefore more quantifiable. :)

• Blogging Goals
• Comment back THREE times a week
• Visit TEN blogs a day
• Link up my challenge posts on the last day of each month (or last day of month quarterly for those updating quarterly)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar
• Reading Goals
• NO BOOK BUYING without a gift card (that was gifted!)
• Read TWO Netgalley reads per month
• Read (at least) TWO books I already own per month
• Read ONE book from a series I'm behind in per month
• Listen to TWO review books per month
• Read books my kids *need* me to read
• Born to Run (Jax)
• Death with Interruptions (Jax)
• Everything is Illuminated (Sky)
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Jax)
• School of Good and Evil (Berk)
• The Book Thief (Sky)
• The Lightning Thief (Berk)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar and in my book journal
• Personal Goals
• Exercise FIVE days a week
• Keep a food/exercise journal
• Spend an hour daily writing/editing
• Spend ONE day a month on a different hobby - paper crafting or knitting
• Keep track of my progress with writing/editing and crafting on my calendar

Are y'all participating in this challenge? Leave a link if you are so I can check out your goals. And good luck!