tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238948692024-03-08T03:32:35.555-08:00Stacia Leigh at Espial DesignStaciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.comBlogger453125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-59589566338303864552024-03-07T13:36:00.000-08:002024-03-07T13:41:36.478-08:00Write-O-Rama!<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fun for Puget Sound Writers!</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Tipsy Typers (A Writing Club-In-A-Pub) is proud to announce Write-O-Rama on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">March 30, 2024 from 1:00-6:00 pm.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu8hinIJjfqdv5kXMnOiZhkEiXmnGRLDjQTZeobzvjHs3KeCMKFG5JSwMfVlAgBtGsZvSF-3pw9bffp2UCDK-5FT5pOjUGpE0Ep3wyM_UU74Y35Zng6nwxPNVnZB6WQNGUB8Mau8jmY1D0OvIR3TLi-pkRux7CTD1slN5spydhmqG0JFr87SAXw/s739/write-o-rama.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="723" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu8hinIJjfqdv5kXMnOiZhkEiXmnGRLDjQTZeobzvjHs3KeCMKFG5JSwMfVlAgBtGsZvSF-3pw9bffp2UCDK-5FT5pOjUGpE0Ep3wyM_UU74Y35Zng6nwxPNVnZB6WQNGUB8Mau8jmY1D0OvIR3TLi-pkRux7CTD1slN5spydhmqG0JFr87SAXw/s320/write-o-rama.png" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Write-O-Rama!</i></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part </span><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">write-in, part social mixer, Write-O-Rama aims to expand your writing community and your word count, all during one enjoyable afternoon at the pub. </span></p></span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amateurs and pros, extroverts and introverts, pro-tipsy and tea-sipsy are welcome. Come join the fun! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">To learn more and get your place reserved, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">click the link below:</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x1ejq31n xd10rxx x1sy0etr x17r0tee x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://www.confabarts.com/tipsy-typer-write-o-rama?fbclid=IwAR1AhdEjO7WYlea703XxsIUrPiF6i3_SxA1mFMFRe6g4ZJE5elKOpN1TmuA" rel="nofollow" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.confabarts.com/tipsy-typer-write-o-rama</span></a></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: left;">Don't wait too long, space is limited!</div></div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-60931225477215423302024-02-01T14:59:00.000-08:002024-02-01T16:21:32.619-08:00February 2024 Reading Challenge: Be My Guest!<p>Check out February's TBR pile:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRv_vUi2w5kO7Qqq2Dfe8gRMTI1___2VtF6Xxt6gkpLwh-Q6JaSKTpzygx5KhIBfAJHlRW2ILUmpbLBsWzDuguDCiTHRfujG_iwQX23dAZvNItsvXc2T07O5IsHhfOvt7s9VncRPJsyXHc4n9TXJfYMi4xSEtYCKBTbyLVk0Blyn2N6v_CvyaTw/s840/Feb2024_read_challenge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="840" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRv_vUi2w5kO7Qqq2Dfe8gRMTI1___2VtF6Xxt6gkpLwh-Q6JaSKTpzygx5KhIBfAJHlRW2ILUmpbLBsWzDuguDCiTHRfujG_iwQX23dAZvNItsvXc2T07O5IsHhfOvt7s9VncRPJsyXHc4n9TXJfYMi4xSEtYCKBTbyLVk0Blyn2N6v_CvyaTw/s320/Feb2024_read_challenge.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Stop by...but don't stay too long, okay?</i></div><p></p><p>1.) The Guest List by Lucy Foley<br />2.) I Invited Her in by Adele Parks<br />3.) The Houseguest by Amparo Davila<br />4.) The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan<br />5.) The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda<br />6.) You Can't Stay Here Forever by Katherine Lin</p><p>As you see, it starts with, "Hey, you're <a href="https://amzn.to/48UGexl" target="_blank">invited</a>!" and ends with "Now, <a href="https://amzn.to/3usjTrE" target="_blank">get lost.</a>" Lol. Mixed messages, over-stayed welcomes, regret, and even murder are the themes for this Valentine's month. Beware, nothing for your sweet tooth here.</p><p>Inspired by the title of Sam Sharland's picture book, <a href="https://amzn.to/494ajdW" target="_blank">Valentine's Guest House</a>, which is filled with beautiful illustrations. If you like tigers, give this one a look.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsXcTv5CStTkSu5xgWUdKSj7-Swuxj4xD3hTYstgYtGIMVJiiLg9Z-6-EWymcFwBuXducd057NzOGzsnya8ZetuVsSpvsla1OV76VXQYQUTTGs85PqPrmMzd-1wLgf_Dtycp683S916L6oxsxSh6jCHHfUk5W6bRNw3IFM3FDDw3E5JFxErJsvg/s841/Feb2024_read_challenge1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="835" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsXcTv5CStTkSu5xgWUdKSj7-Swuxj4xD3hTYstgYtGIMVJiiLg9Z-6-EWymcFwBuXducd057NzOGzsnya8ZetuVsSpvsla1OV76VXQYQUTTGs85PqPrmMzd-1wLgf_Dtycp683S916L6oxsxSh6jCHHfUk5W6bRNw3IFM3FDDw3E5JFxErJsvg/s320/Feb2024_read_challenge1.png" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Valentine's Guest House by Sam Sharland</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">_________________________________________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><i>"Come on baby and be my guest, c</i></span><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">ome join the party and meet the rest,</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><i>Everything is gonna be alright, s</i></span><i style="text-align: left;">o be my guest tonight.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> ~ Fats Domino, Be My Guest</span></div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-81763623792795496712024-01-14T11:39:00.000-08:002024-01-14T11:39:29.418-08:00Selected for the Writers' Room Residency 2024<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Guess where I'll be writing this year? I've been selected to participate in the Writers' Room Residency program for 2024, so I'll be tippy-tapping away in the Eulalie and Carlo Scandiuzzi Writers’ Room at the Seattle Public Library! Whoot! </span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNksFP-DDSZ5A5xYE55pPgVbK_8vEuRNbWddqharZw8Va33E_BLRsMYBCLhh6XoCGffY18QxowDHuKgvqNjOTJ8qh0_S2HkOUwfmBPyHp31J9pIpxx-8TfbuoBlLjOsqGno4C-KDEY5ZZcrOz8FEdxuWZLPRRpK9HaXxs-cIr1yuPqXQHfW7-7gQ/s1045/Sspl_writingresidency_ofc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1045" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNksFP-DDSZ5A5xYE55pPgVbK_8vEuRNbWddqharZw8Va33E_BLRsMYBCLhh6XoCGffY18QxowDHuKgvqNjOTJ8qh0_S2HkOUwfmBPyHp31J9pIpxx-8TfbuoBlLjOsqGno4C-KDEY5ZZcrOz8FEdxuWZLPRRpK9HaXxs-cIr1yuPqXQHfW7-7gQ/s320/Sspl_writingresidency_ofc.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inside the Writers' Room</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seattle Public Library</div><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Want to read more about it or apply next year? Check out more information here:</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://seattlemedium.com/seattle-public-library-invites?fbclid=IwAR3Wm9-tO_DVdCaYEb1sBMoWJtU9QBRWDZ6KZHVLFcElUp5kWwz5l071v-E" rel="nofollow" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://seattlemedium.com/seattle-public-library-invites</a></span> -writers-to-apply-for-prestigious-writers-room-residency-program/</div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-32959812009429602602024-01-08T11:46:00.000-08:002024-01-08T13:11:00.756-08:00Altered Cookbook<p> My collection of recipes comes in all shapes and sizes: torn out magazine pages, printed copies, hand-scrawled recipe cards, and on a variety of scratch papers...and they all ended up in a big box that I'd pull out and dig through before cooking time.</p><p>Honestly, I enjoy the process of thumbing through the pile of odd notes. Well, I should say I <i>did</i> up until more cooks entered my kitchen. Then, too many hands were sorting and moving recipes around, adding to the time it'd take me to find what I wanted. It became apparent to all us cooks, that we needed a new system.</p><p>Handwriting all my recipes onto index cards wasn't an option and regular school-type binders weren't cute enough. I discovered the blog <a href="https://freshvintagebylisas.blogspot.com/2021/06/altered-cookbook-with-better-homes-and.html" target="_blank">Fresh Vintage by Lisa S</a> and got down to the business of finding my own copy of the ring-bound Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book from the 50s. </p><p>I wasn't fortunate enough to find one at the thrift store, or patient enough to wait around. I went ahead and ordered a used version from Amazon, paying top dollar (*cough-cough*)...but I was happy with the quality and relatively clean condition...considering it's a used cookbook and all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FHWYFNlCnwqSnwt5eGCEjYrtkv__uqHT6XdiyZaUUxDBeyp25SOiRFwI7Xq-VI6HWcZ9dRpSlkCJPj1vP1t4FQ6r6eRPPLLJ5dcYM1NJVLI1vvaEqANrPsHulEUa4RFtve0IOb5EPwb5yv8yjNiz5nujUnx3jrkS7FJubEJ_ecddyn9Sp-sLYQ/s838/vintage_cookbook.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="835" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FHWYFNlCnwqSnwt5eGCEjYrtkv__uqHT6XdiyZaUUxDBeyp25SOiRFwI7Xq-VI6HWcZ9dRpSlkCJPj1vP1t4FQ6r6eRPPLLJ5dcYM1NJVLI1vvaEqANrPsHulEUa4RFtve0IOb5EPwb5yv8yjNiz5nujUnx3jrkS7FJubEJ_ecddyn9Sp-sLYQ/s320/vintage_cookbook.png" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Published January 1, 1953</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first step was to peruse the cookbook for pages to remove...and I can say with confidence that the recipe for the Liver-sausage Pineapple below (without any pineapple whatsoever) would never be made by moi. Goodbye to the recipe, but the photo has so much vintage-goodness that I set it aside in case it makes the cut later.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagMOMhzhxk8wkUbg6A9_O3a38WYV6lxBJwtcVQy1J8rBMvPfiM2C36jai4I2D5XmEXPxJSb8Q_SkULQTwtvAu_l_FZpbCuUwO6HMdVBSLXaYMjk38cUyY1k0jIcS6gvLNtUpzMUM1Z16GcrCWwt970w7JqUTirwRZMzsYoQZeLZ6CjoW2HwvPGw/s844/vintage_cookbook_pineapple.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="844" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagMOMhzhxk8wkUbg6A9_O3a38WYV6lxBJwtcVQy1J8rBMvPfiM2C36jai4I2D5XmEXPxJSb8Q_SkULQTwtvAu_l_FZpbCuUwO6HMdVBSLXaYMjk38cUyY1k0jIcS6gvLNtUpzMUM1Z16GcrCWwt970w7JqUTirwRZMzsYoQZeLZ6CjoW2HwvPGw/s320/vintage_cookbook_pineapple.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, circa 1953</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Page 61, Appetizers and Beverages</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The opposite page boasts, "Served with hot coffee or chilled juice, [these snacks] put people at ease, spark good conversation." I bet!</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Pardon me as I go back in time for a spell to jelly molds, green olives, and casseroles... I'll be back soon with more work-in-progress photos.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">____________________________________________</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Scrapbook paper options from </span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://echoparkpaper.com/" target="_blank">Echo Park Paper Company</a>:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8i_Zu7HXfhAlsP-6hJmAD2E_IhOfCxmdH_6RK2kXz2YF1GEn2r3r43SEIZMtkY4BdpyCcY1Gvd-7jCpdJfqxMV_WcFdhJkPGE-d7gJulYx62DW-EntcR52IajrXzwknYsKT6vccMh8YrLQoWjgcYs4yPI4fpua4nVjKRp_F-XSTCnAoMotcI8w/s421/EP-countrykitchen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8i_Zu7HXfhAlsP-6hJmAD2E_IhOfCxmdH_6RK2kXz2YF1GEn2r3r43SEIZMtkY4BdpyCcY1Gvd-7jCpdJfqxMV_WcFdhJkPGE-d7gJulYx62DW-EntcR52IajrXzwknYsKT6vccMh8YrLQoWjgcYs4yPI4fpua4nVjKRp_F-XSTCnAoMotcI8w/s320/EP-countrykitchen.png" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Country Kitchen by Carta Bella</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv7Ozn71aGRJJGAvPykMUUu00zlJ2h5Isk7kpAeaFpLG0UPTvm08yIDTtiCI7EG9L7MaxbKqd-kyqG0-NrjCaihll8UxkGwT53oAZamPng3zjdJ70Bhsx-P1FIDFqXoYaQXIpNE4lu8OeJunTY_AhsQa_cWHFtRsldC09LQT0h4BcSc-Q4z5BBg/s438/EP-farmhouse_kitchen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv7Ozn71aGRJJGAvPykMUUu00zlJ2h5Isk7kpAeaFpLG0UPTvm08yIDTtiCI7EG9L7MaxbKqd-kyqG0-NrjCaihll8UxkGwT53oAZamPng3zjdJ70Bhsx-P1FIDFqXoYaQXIpNE4lu8OeJunTY_AhsQa_cWHFtRsldC09LQT0h4BcSc-Q4z5BBg/s320/EP-farmhouse_kitchen.png" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Farmhouse Kitchen by Echo Park Paper Co.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsImUWOr8RgJOWbStK647nkBxodoRU2gO7ZvzbjjaSv4dHxcT7hJPsR0z2H64GPnaqQ1hvUQWMJyg5GcmGov4Z2X5qSZIEx_2ow2vien5RqRItuItYe1A_vwcMb7ldmdpmIyGfLunL4DRLdUQscJzN6k0TXyKwf17yAfeLgy9X9NJePoOnyycWA/s456/EP-farmtable.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="436" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsImUWOr8RgJOWbStK647nkBxodoRU2gO7ZvzbjjaSv4dHxcT7hJPsR0z2H64GPnaqQ1hvUQWMJyg5GcmGov4Z2X5qSZIEx_2ow2vien5RqRItuItYe1A_vwcMb7ldmdpmIyGfLunL4DRLdUQscJzN6k0TXyKwf17yAfeLgy9X9NJePoOnyycWA/s320/EP-farmtable.png" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Farm to Table by Carta Bella</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcT_J2im_qVGlYqtWaaPc4q0uxifB4MqHMxipzHXW8XK8WWIQvWMqJ5ENu7cSrAB0PeDgZKwZJbZClemiqoisO796AqYT6CtVrDG_hPtDyxaqQeFXG6A9qxwGxTzZvHnfEBcdBmZldr4XSeRBGelCKIRlz853lnOpsx8wbTIxEaAWTR2IRK1-1-Q/s454/EP-homemade.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="436" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcT_J2im_qVGlYqtWaaPc4q0uxifB4MqHMxipzHXW8XK8WWIQvWMqJ5ENu7cSrAB0PeDgZKwZJbZClemiqoisO796AqYT6CtVrDG_hPtDyxaqQeFXG6A9qxwGxTzZvHnfEBcdBmZldr4XSeRBGelCKIRlz853lnOpsx8wbTIxEaAWTR2IRK1-1-Q/s320/EP-homemade.png" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Homemade by Carta Bella</div><p></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-26500134021602946582024-01-01T09:00:00.028-08:002024-01-02T08:55:05.471-08:00Fabulous Five: Favorite Reads for 2023<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I've read over 300 books for the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge, which is a</span><span style="background-color: white;"> HUGE number for me mainly due to my <a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2023/10/october-2023-reading-challenge-picture.html" target="_blank">Picture Book BINGO Reading Challenge</a> last October. Due to the quantity, </span><span style="background-color: white;">I easily picked out five of my favorites.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpR1yVrbnhI2zq5gvlHsX3BLhKuSGpPH5B-tu4RmOwdu4sxKM2Ayp1fZ7CWO6IdGtQ3ULsiUJooN4XW4dZP82ah1CClv5mCmOzmjB6dQP8V3ShPtZtAMvTjpA6g1hjqgX6VBC1E2iMHYVgUsaSjARtMWCYHWoFxEnSP-PqxETHrmEjguPmzKr7CA/s934/2023readchallenge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="934" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpR1yVrbnhI2zq5gvlHsX3BLhKuSGpPH5B-tu4RmOwdu4sxKM2Ayp1fZ7CWO6IdGtQ3ULsiUJooN4XW4dZP82ah1CClv5mCmOzmjB6dQP8V3ShPtZtAMvTjpA6g1hjqgX6VBC1E2iMHYVgUsaSjARtMWCYHWoFxEnSP-PqxETHrmEjguPmzKr7CA/s320/2023readchallenge.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">329% - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2023/8094869" target="_blank">My Year in Review</a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">TOP FIVE CHILDRENS BOOKS:</span></p><p>1.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3TmTaac" target="_blank"><b>The New Rooster</b></a> by Rilla Alexander<br />4.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3RLHhJQ" target="_blank"><b>Mel Fell</b></a> by Corey R. Tabor<br />3.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3RJSb2s" target="_blank"><b>I Want to Be Spaghetti</b></a> by Kiera White-Ruiz<br />4.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3RIcXQe" target="_blank"><b>Little Witch Hazel</b></a> by Phoebe Wahl<br />5.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3TmUutG" target="_blank"><b>Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite</b></a> by Ashley Spires</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjHmvEugeFu8RyG9aLJeNTbuTuSr20uBRtzy4sKfO4_7m9CxO5RoqmFOP02LEva44Tlc1Y-KynhD94IJHoU5bGnsxLcPK6tqc7Am99DVkzAtm1OD-77Ce1m8UrE6gwqDTOaq38DBzAbmRxT3GOcKuchxPSjjq0JQoiqxheYU8vvxe6DnSgklo2A/s337/thenewrooster.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="337" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjHmvEugeFu8RyG9aLJeNTbuTuSr20uBRtzy4sKfO4_7m9CxO5RoqmFOP02LEva44Tlc1Y-KynhD94IJHoU5bGnsxLcPK6tqc7Am99DVkzAtm1OD-77Ce1m8UrE6gwqDTOaq38DBzAbmRxT3GOcKuchxPSjjq0JQoiqxheYU8vvxe6DnSgklo2A/w200-h150/thenewrooster.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHVuZwv1S7t8-iSS6vHBAKaIp05tHHGH9lbwwJ9BW4Gw5KHxJYwLTezhxiulThdmxef9Y3XHx8LO19L_6sH1G9lpQQFuYUyZ5sSIP6uJYRQhm8biPQ-jFwDmtNfVMhicZ5uAo4I3j57Sd9atXRKRwmwyx4MdIOTOHzxrNcAp3USEoIgaxoSStKg/s345/melfell.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="345" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHVuZwv1S7t8-iSS6vHBAKaIp05tHHGH9lbwwJ9BW4Gw5KHxJYwLTezhxiulThdmxef9Y3XHx8LO19L_6sH1G9lpQQFuYUyZ5sSIP6uJYRQhm8biPQ-jFwDmtNfVMhicZ5uAo4I3j57Sd9atXRKRwmwyx4MdIOTOHzxrNcAp3USEoIgaxoSStKg/w200-h160/melfell.png" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKqnAfWYyyjNr6paGLW7lUck0BffGEhO2Xtdmm0p2tdE2_IKPUayJAIcWv_3nZaKaKTOL74SuDhEEiYcvsebsr0NsLe4ajJw6RF9K0HTrjovSWCd3twCmfOdyEgD2zGtmMOdwJmas5OUJSdBH0VCvbQmeprjcIXqwTiC4IeHb0TdZNPU7GdYyjA/s334/iwant2bspaghetti.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="334" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKqnAfWYyyjNr6paGLW7lUck0BffGEhO2Xtdmm0p2tdE2_IKPUayJAIcWv_3nZaKaKTOL74SuDhEEiYcvsebsr0NsLe4ajJw6RF9K0HTrjovSWCd3twCmfOdyEgD2zGtmMOdwJmas5OUJSdBH0VCvbQmeprjcIXqwTiC4IeHb0TdZNPU7GdYyjA/w200-h196/iwant2bspaghetti.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECQHjW-huUj29C0ADrQ7qTRu45IkW0r2oUNegCOxGyrutgUg5UacruAetppUDLJJ5enukQIu_HYnGqSLv48B0QZiiOFoGNK90YOnsGRQWdpe2jS-eDTWKeD6NzFIjnqSLLP1FW4D2TYdNRvQWB3Oc3qkahhuJ57iDmtwWRy1nooeuw28TamNp0w/s331/littlewitchhazel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECQHjW-huUj29C0ADrQ7qTRu45IkW0r2oUNegCOxGyrutgUg5UacruAetppUDLJJ5enukQIu_HYnGqSLv48B0QZiiOFoGNK90YOnsGRQWdpe2jS-eDTWKeD6NzFIjnqSLLP1FW4D2TYdNRvQWB3Oc3qkahhuJ57iDmtwWRy1nooeuw28TamNp0w/w169-h200/littlewitchhazel.png" width="169" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdNhj_x6akzWzZ2J1UrN7VaVvRkUm-Vx-8EYGugPnH_egS-R0X5RNoIipoGEA66xZN41tKFNhhRCcOvy-t0gC-_iBY9jr7rp60JPZgXwlBBbRdIpYH3o3P2riW6LUWC8fkn_3y0NIvVauHz-M2qib99EcaF3COovmjSsbV-0u7Cyu4JyBEM1Diw/s334/burtthebeetle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="259" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdNhj_x6akzWzZ2J1UrN7VaVvRkUm-Vx-8EYGugPnH_egS-R0X5RNoIipoGEA66xZN41tKFNhhRCcOvy-t0gC-_iBY9jr7rp60JPZgXwlBBbRdIpYH3o3P2riW6LUWC8fkn_3y0NIvVauHz-M2qib99EcaF3COovmjSsbV-0u7Cyu4JyBEM1Diw/w155-h200/burtthebeetle.png" width="155" /></a></div>
<p><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: left;">Picture books and easy readers aside, I read so many good books that I honestly had a hard time choosing five favorites. But after some mulling, five books rose to the top:</span></p><p>
1.) My all-time 2023 favorite read goes to this SPECULATIVE FICTION...</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FY209rcISun3V2g0EVERUOTsphm2T6X0ZHW6M5WGwDXvIPLER6zAPFgREVa4llAS-O3NG__D1wII6yr2IZ7oTfXepp7GqJPik_dU21EfwyQYRNOJpoR9HnhVhYvcRYbK4_LElsXw7KjvBcgXFduSBZq_Xko7xHI8l-l24IXWSBAnn8k1K61Cyg/s385/ripe.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="382" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FY209rcISun3V2g0EVERUOTsphm2T6X0ZHW6M5WGwDXvIPLER6zAPFgREVa4llAS-O3NG__D1wII6yr2IZ7oTfXepp7GqJPik_dU21EfwyQYRNOJpoR9HnhVhYvcRYbK4_LElsXw7KjvBcgXFduSBZq_Xko7xHI8l-l24IXWSBAnn8k1K61Cyg/w199-h200/ripe.png" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Num2cP" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" target="_blank"><b>Ripe</b></a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">by Sarah Rose Etter</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>2.) Best read from a local PNW author is this MEMOIR...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFH3o1hX1Yn9cf0WriaXZ3-3pqIdSqfWCpANFqcdWFsM0qu_aMuYCW8tJEij36W0rEOO-sWglibhZBVLyfV2DljCVV98z8IqOsLZg3pR-kQ2dA2iX6cLBuWqVOuaYcWbtYoLZHqLezY_57pTz7592NDdWW9JsiZ8dUQ6UbyJWvCdzvyMzMX4I1A/s556/roughhouse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="366" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFH3o1hX1Yn9cf0WriaXZ3-3pqIdSqfWCpANFqcdWFsM0qu_aMuYCW8tJEij36W0rEOO-sWglibhZBVLyfV2DljCVV98z8IqOsLZg3pR-kQ2dA2iX6cLBuWqVOuaYcWbtYoLZHqLezY_57pTz7592NDdWW9JsiZ8dUQ6UbyJWvCdzvyMzMX4I1A/w132-h200/roughhouse.png" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3NpKIDq" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><b>Rough House</b></a> <span style="text-align: left;">by Tina Ontiveros</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>3.) Wonderful audiobook and great hook into a MYSTERY series goes to...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIf9JTsYdovBB5zx71Dyhi9vu3KCHM1ArmGi9tvGYcS85eFkRzrdp5EE-0-2U2B1EJz4iYdsHmeTLZ7sai7H0mAi-LZY47BelrOUNbMnuuGd_9gXTrabiUBmzsS3jPF7Q95LNf-KUFF2oPVwCPDreoX5lU17Ngu6fvbrP8AUMS_b8dHydwaHFew/s393/outofrange.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="381" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIf9JTsYdovBB5zx71Dyhi9vu3KCHM1ArmGi9tvGYcS85eFkRzrdp5EE-0-2U2B1EJz4iYdsHmeTLZ7sai7H0mAi-LZY47BelrOUNbMnuuGd_9gXTrabiUBmzsS3jPF7Q95LNf-KUFF2oPVwCPDreoX5lU17Ngu6fvbrP8AUMS_b8dHydwaHFew/w194-h200/outofrange.png" width="194" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3tkcMBb" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><b>Out of Range</b></a><span style="text-align: left;"> by C.J. Box</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>4.) Best COMING OF AGE / DYSTOPIAN read goes to...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweUF9YXnBgV2QlQminjwNZcCkvlQ2N5zM1ssxEFreKDPFLqzqky_RJ0Fzxxx8yeijbu8H9fU-XoAK_gwhyeCkLvnmrLZrKOAihjY-SOY4vbJ2I_8Zlg_SbmhnnNFMjNzgCPLtFSOx7XtT6HG73PW0P8HP8SdAG5WzbjDwMImtmXnZhfkqjIGKNQ/s568/deadlands.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="370" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweUF9YXnBgV2QlQminjwNZcCkvlQ2N5zM1ssxEFreKDPFLqzqky_RJ0Fzxxx8yeijbu8H9fU-XoAK_gwhyeCkLvnmrLZrKOAihjY-SOY4vbJ2I_8Zlg_SbmhnnNFMjNzgCPLtFSOx7XtT6HG73PW0P8HP8SdAG5WzbjDwMImtmXnZhfkqjIGKNQ/w130-h200/deadlands.png" width="130" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3v3vttv" target="_blank">Deadlands</a></b><span style="text-align: left;"> by Victoria Miluch</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>5.) A gem! I highly recommend this CHRISTMAS ROMANCE audiobook...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJkDH3jQnhd98yRMY-lYPqSn0X1h5tJgfXVqkscGAdHgwYrzrXNWVr9cH-N01E0DeQOGLsGldvGbte85xM5bnac7rh4eJ83oZn0Qut1Y-DDq_v9VSGIlmdpdsJfc0-znSD3Qy2bCijFFI4PWRBfO3hUHlpOzg_cMoT1qE7SF28OlW8P0CTeBfdg/s385/fakingchristmas.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="379" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJkDH3jQnhd98yRMY-lYPqSn0X1h5tJgfXVqkscGAdHgwYrzrXNWVr9cH-N01E0DeQOGLsGldvGbte85xM5bnac7rh4eJ83oZn0Qut1Y-DDq_v9VSGIlmdpdsJfc0-znSD3Qy2bCijFFI4PWRBfO3hUHlpOzg_cMoT1qE7SF28OlW8P0CTeBfdg/w197-h200/fakingchristmas.png" width="197" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Nzb0mz" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><b>Faking Christmas</b></a><span style="text-align: left;"> by Cindy Steel</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-26049990667121272832023-12-01T08:00:00.061-08:002024-03-07T13:24:42.766-08:00December 2023 Reading Challenge: Christmas Book Binge Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every December I immerse myself in holiday and winter themed literature, looking for those stories with Christmas spirit to warm my heart. Alas, this season is no different. If I recommend a book, I'll tag the title with a big, bold link. Let's get to it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrADjdy5I7AGXlqLxStbFLpcgaDF3lxRlgDNU_7L2UROGYTfxs3BzVPGFWxH2iEQRpr7m-nXohPx7HOSGbjeTg81zlQ45A0CYiX8XNjP4HhVCP8WgsgC-Q_f6ga-WomlxS9SX5KEOXwtehOfMZoygwKDSds33glnuBK5iDIBQEywXI0PHj7bjsJw/s3122/ReadChallenge_Dec2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1732" data-original-width="3122" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrADjdy5I7AGXlqLxStbFLpcgaDF3lxRlgDNU_7L2UROGYTfxs3BzVPGFWxH2iEQRpr7m-nXohPx7HOSGbjeTg81zlQ45A0CYiX8XNjP4HhVCP8WgsgC-Q_f6ga-WomlxS9SX5KEOXwtehOfMZoygwKDSds33glnuBK5iDIBQEywXI0PHj7bjsJw/s320/ReadChallenge_Dec2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A Holly and Jolly Reading Pile</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p>CHILDRENS PICTURE BOOK</p><p>1.) The Christmas Pine by Julia Donaldson<br />2.) Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck<br />3.) The Twelve Cats of Christmas by Feather Flores<br />4.) The Best Christmas Ever by Chih-Yuan Chen<br />5.) Robin Robin by Don Ojari and Mikey Please<br />6.) It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon<br />7.) This is Christmas by Tom Booth<br />8.) Deck the Walls! A Wacky Christmas Carol by Erin Dealey<br />9.) Fly Guy's Ninja Christmas by Tedd Arnold<br />10.) The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood<br />11.) Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke<br />12.) Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas by Rubin Pingk<br />13.) How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen<br />14.) Maple & Willow's Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols<br />15.) Peppermint Post by Bruce Hale<br />16.) Bear Noel by Oliver Dunrea<br />17.) The Christmas Boot by Lisa Wheeler<br />18.) A Whisper in the Snow by Kate Westerlund<br />19.) The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup<br />20.) The Little Match Girl by David Warner<br />21.) Seek & Find Classics: A Christmas Carol by Sarah Powell<br />22.) Christmas is... by Gail Gibbons<br />23.) Luke and Lottie: It's Christmas! by Ruth Wielockx<br />24.) The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas by Laura Murray<br />25.) The Christmas Owl by Ellen Kalish & Gideon Sterer<br />26.) Dasher Can't Wait for Christmas by Matt Tavares<br />27.) Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Rylant<br />28.) The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston<br />29.) Repair Shop Stories: The Christmas Doll by Katie Hickey<br />30.) The Christmas Book Flood by Emily Kilgore</p><p><br />CHILDRENS CHAPTER</p><p>31.) Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas by Melanie Watt</p><p><br /></p><p>AUDIOBOOK</p><p>32.) The Jolliest Bunch: Unhinged Holiday Stories by Danny Pellegrino<br />33.) <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3S3p9LC" target="_blank">Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel</a></b></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>PARANORMAL</p><p>34.) Lily Sees Dead People by JD Douwes</p><p><br /></p><p>ROMANCE</p><p>35.) Frosty Exchanges by Raine Winters<br />36.) Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews<br />37.) Chasing Noelle by Sonja N. Griffing</p><p><br /></p><p>SUSPENSE<br /></p><p>38.) <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3V98oQR" target="_blank">Thin Ice by Paige Shelton</a></b></p><p><i>_________________________________________________</i></p></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Check out<a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/12/december-2022-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank"> the 3 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2022 here!</a><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Check out </span><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2020/12/december-2020-reading-challenge.html" style="background-color: white; color: #44b9d2; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">the 8 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2020 here!</a><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Check out </span><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2019/12/december-reading-challenge-christmas.html" style="background-color: white; color: #44b9d2; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">the 3 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2019 here!</a><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Check out </span><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2018/12/december-reading-challenge-christmas.html" style="background-color: white; color: #44b9d2; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">the 3 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2018 here!</a><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Check out </span><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2017/12/december-reading-challenge-christmas.html" style="background-color: white; color: #44b9d2; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">the 8 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2017 here!</a></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-43973844369203249192023-10-14T09:20:00.001-07:002023-11-14T12:02:44.191-08:00Trope-licious! A Mega List of Romance Tropes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time for list-making again...and it's trope-licious!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love 'em or hate 'em, tropes are those common, overused themes you find in stories and are well-known in the romance genre circles. I'll seek out or avoid books based on tropes, as I'm sure others do, too. Sign me up for road trips, fake relationships, enemies to lovers, and going undercover. So fun! But please don't put books in my Christmas stocking with wedding, age-gap, or fairy-tale retelling themes, or anything set in Nantucket. Lol. Weird, I know! But I'm pretty sure I already know the tone. Of course if I visited there, my mind could be changed. Until that day, I'll stick with my tried and true.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now you, go forth and enjoy your tropes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndfRkyn0E-c9eHxwoW5NqCOK-aD9-W-vvq77j4DtL7YVAVpmTWIsvpZwWNh2waS8mnVSzk4CzxLUkBkkFb6PdOLxeFCsB7SZFTwwjYDy4G416KKIWS4bK6Q0RPqM0w-nMlw-bslA3b__WT-Pqz-WcCUJH3MYOTG4PxV6a8sT0ty6FX005ZvEdQg/s834/instagram_hafy_tropes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndfRkyn0E-c9eHxwoW5NqCOK-aD9-W-vvq77j4DtL7YVAVpmTWIsvpZwWNh2waS8mnVSzk4CzxLUkBkkFb6PdOLxeFCsB7SZFTwwjYDy4G416KKIWS4bK6Q0RPqM0w-nMlw-bslA3b__WT-Pqz-WcCUJH3MYOTG4PxV6a8sT0ty6FX005ZvEdQg/s320/instagram_hafy_tropes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tropes for Hanging Around for You by Stacia Leigh</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Young Adult Romance</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><blockquote style="text-align: left;">A newly abandoned girl hides the truth about a fatal accident, a grizzled biker she calls step-dad, and how she really feels about the new boy at school, a low-life spy! But really, who's spying on whom? </blockquote><p> </p></i></div></div><p>FRIENDS FIRST</p><p>Friends to Lovers<br />You've Changed / Love on the Rocks<br />Belated Love Epiphany<br />Brother's Best Friend<br />Best Friend's Sibling<br />Marriage of Convenience / Marriage Pact<br />Pretend Relationships<br />Best Friend's Ex<br />Roommate Romance / Innocent Cohabitation<br />Secret Admirer<br /><br /><br />ENEMIES</p><p>Enemies to Lovers<br />Pen Pals<br />Rivals<br />Love / Hate<br />Revenge<br />Not Good Enough<br />Forced Proximity / Stranded<br />Blackmail<br /><br /><br />FAMILY</p><p>Suddenly a Parent<br />Single Parent<br />Orphan<br />Widow / Widower<br />Forbidden Love</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5StajLSH5OZ2HCzujZGbUKeU156Jt7EhzlolLt8q27d5rglC-zl0tk2Ck8n3by99yW1e9AZ_DvsvGcYfleguNU5IxtjpK-7c1KstnElu-WYjMv7L3fRunICQnZYfolTNHeRHThz28BCHsT3TTVEtjvJ7YPWmKRrr3wDbVcOdkp1JlzjwOTAHIw/s833/instagram_bo_tropes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5StajLSH5OZ2HCzujZGbUKeU156Jt7EhzlolLt8q27d5rglC-zl0tk2Ck8n3by99yW1e9AZ_DvsvGcYfleguNU5IxtjpK-7c1KstnElu-WYjMv7L3fRunICQnZYfolTNHeRHThz28BCHsT3TTVEtjvJ7YPWmKRrr3wDbVcOdkp1JlzjwOTAHIw/s320/instagram_bo_tropes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tropes for Burnout by Stacia Leigh<br />Young Adult Romance</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><blockquote><i>"Suspended in grief, a down-and-out teen is forced on a therapeutic road trip. </i><i>How can he hold onto the past when a feisty biker girl has him hanging on for dear life?"</i></blockquote><p> </p></div></div><p>OPPOSITES</p><p>Opposites Attract<br />Age-Gap/May to December<br />Grumpy-Sunshine<br />Bad Boy<br />Celebrity/Actor/Actress/Rock Star<br />Rich vs Poor / Unequal Social Status<br />Different Worlds<br />Want Different Things<br /><br /><br />OBLIVIOUS</p><p>Lovers in Denial<br />Sworn Off Relationships<br />Lost Memories / Amnesia<br /><br /><br />SECRETS</p><p>Secretly Rich<br />Secret Identity<br />Unrequited Love<br />Dark Secret<br />Disguise<br />Mistaken Identity<br />Secret Baby<br />Is All as It Seems?<br />Spying/Detective/Undercover<br />Love Triangle<br />Workplace Romance<br /><br /><br />MARRIAGE</p><p>Wedding Planner<br />Jilted Groom/Runaway Bride<br />Arranged Marriage<br />Soul Mates<br />Destined to Be Together</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-18cI-HiZlVIA4ZirwWxesaGCrHAKGDgRAZE6mFOTkEVBzfQ3Uwxdms8thVfs8ZHIsliHLy6tLVD5LtvCWnH12WI-kI7vT8nrjHBXPDGg9-kFTDQXZjciii64FHmhz28mQY2dXtAMulKaLzLXlQ89xs6pDyWk59rKWTwn2uSxXOI77LxJRSXQA/s717/instagram_dwb_tropes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="717" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-18cI-HiZlVIA4ZirwWxesaGCrHAKGDgRAZE6mFOTkEVBzfQ3Uwxdms8thVfs8ZHIsliHLy6tLVD5LtvCWnH12WI-kI7vT8nrjHBXPDGg9-kFTDQXZjciii64FHmhz28mQY2dXtAMulKaLzLXlQ89xs6pDyWk59rKWTwn2uSxXOI77LxJRSXQA/s320/instagram_dwb_tropes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tropes for Dealing with Blue by Stacia Leigh</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Young Adult Romance</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><blockquote><i>When quiet good-girl Suzy Blue plays "pretend" with the charmer next-door, she risks exposing a mortifying family secret.</i></blockquote></div><p><br /></p><p>TAKE TWO</p><p>Love Potion<br />Second Chances<br />Love at First Sight / Insta-Love<br />Holiday Flings<br />Reunion<br />Redemption<br /><br /><br />COMMITTMENT-PHOBE</p><p>Wounded Hero/Heroine (Emotional or Physical)<br />Sleeps with Everyone but You<br />Playboy/Rake in Love<br />Back with the Ex<br />What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas<br />One Sided Romance<br />Afraid to Commit<br />Can't Say "I Love You"<br />All Grown Up<br />Long Distance Love<br /><br /><br />QUITE THE CHARACTER</p><p>Plus Size<br />Royal<br />Alpha Hero<br />The One That Got Away<br />Loveable Rogue<br />Ugly Duckling<br />Wallflower<br />Men in Uniform<br />Broken in Some Way<br />Bet<br />Blind Date<br />Fish Out of Water<br /><br /></p><p>QUITE THE PLOT / SETTING</p><p>Fairy Tale Retelling<br />Kidnapped<br />Adventure<br />Road Trip<br />Time Travel<br />Magical<br />Small Town<br />Location<br />Vacation<br /><br /></p><p>EXTRAS</p><p>Slow Burn<br />Matchmaker Gone Right or Gone Wrong<br />Against All Odds<br />Foodie<br /><br /><br />SUB-GENRES</p><p>Historical / Regency<br />Comedy / Drama<br />Mystery<br />Fantasy<br />Sci-Fi<br />Dark<br />Suspenseful<br />Western<br />Spiritual / Inspirational<br />Paranormal<br />LGBTQ+<br />New Adult / College<br />Young Adult (Ages 14+)<br /><br /><br />RESOURCES</p><p><a href="https://Eviealexanderauthor.com/150-romance-novel-tropes/" target="_blank">Evie Alexander: 150 romance Novel Tropes</a><br /><a href="http://www.tckpublishing.com/popular-romance-tropes/" target="_blank">TCK Publishing: 14 Popular Romance Tropes</a><br /><a href="https://brewingwriter.com/romance-tropes-list/" target="_blank">Brewing Writer: Ultimate Romance Tropes List: 28 Tropes + Book Recs!</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">___________________________________________________________</p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; text-align: left;"><i>“The reason that clichés become clichés is that they are the hammers and screwdrivers </i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><i>in the toolbox of communication.”</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; text-align: left;">― </span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">Terry Pratchett, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; text-align: left;"></span><span id="quote_book_link_64216" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; text-align: left;"><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1128601" style="color: #333333; text-decoration-line: none;">Guards! Guards!</a></span></span></div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-6199009445786892012023-10-01T07:30:00.170-07:002023-10-28T14:52:47.178-07:00October 2023 Reading Challenge: Picture Book BINGO<p>Since my picture book entry was a finalist for the PNWA conference this year, I decided to immerse myself into picture-book reading with a hefty stack checked out from the library.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97egJkmnEdv-m2pBy5pqgeqqSbMtIk8CGltrYsoI5p3nmJOzz8EPFdAZKEDTuk1fgc4ltE1R9yAMoOyfGLZGAVO03V75LyZSwbZjpRU1Ac-vt3hK6bTdAxQIKcH9anyA9EQZ2GvuvrlU9x4E2v_u2OVTM4DjYNkCzxJ0wb4IN5-5MoU3jSBngmQ/s3173/20230911_152546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="3173" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97egJkmnEdv-m2pBy5pqgeqqSbMtIk8CGltrYsoI5p3nmJOzz8EPFdAZKEDTuk1fgc4ltE1R9yAMoOyfGLZGAVO03V75LyZSwbZjpRU1Ac-vt3hK6bTdAxQIKcH9anyA9EQZ2GvuvrlU9x4E2v_u2OVTM4DjYNkCzxJ0wb4IN5-5MoU3jSBngmQ/s320/20230911_152546.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><i>A Hefty Stack of Picture Books</i></div><p>What's a better way to deep dive the genre than to play a game of reading BINGO? A quick win is reading five-in-a-row, but why not go for the gold? Read all twenty-five for a solid blackout win and find your next favorite book, author, illustrator...or maybe even a new series!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2v2qcnBtm2JXPPO-6Sbgw1mH-dj9JRKWsGnk1P9RC-JuFAe6mSUGXeoKQEAZHl3pHGtl0ocGiMYSZ_Ntup2L9dLTD3GB61B9n-ae_KVxx1ZpaOuYXPfBwcGjCiJyH5OZ9aBh_TGGaAWPoRJsjubY9AyXqDp-32GDL_6h20LP_NDa7mifJP5KHLA/s825/readchallenge_PBbingo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2v2qcnBtm2JXPPO-6Sbgw1mH-dj9JRKWsGnk1P9RC-JuFAe6mSUGXeoKQEAZHl3pHGtl0ocGiMYSZ_Ntup2L9dLTD3GB61B9n-ae_KVxx1ZpaOuYXPfBwcGjCiJyH5OZ9aBh_TGGaAWPoRJsjubY9AyXqDp-32GDL_6h20LP_NDa7mifJP5KHLA/s320/readchallenge_PBbingo.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Stacia Leigh's October 2023 Reading Challenge</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture Book BINGO!</div><p></p><p>Ready to read along? <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Print the BINGO card if you're able, otherwise the list below sums it up nicely.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I will post Amazon or Powell's Book Store links for the recommended reads I want to share (regular links are a 4/5 star read, bold links are 5 stars). From left to right, here's the breakdown:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></p><p>1.) Collage Pictures: <b><a href="https://amzn.to/468wI8a" target="_blank">Wonder Walkers</a></b> by Micha Archer</p><p>2.) Award Winner: <b><a href="https://amzn.to/45TMq73" target="_blank">Watercress</a></b> by Andrea Wang</p><p>3.) Retelling: <a href="https://amzn.to/3r4Laiv" target="_blank"><b>Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs</b></a> by Mo Willems</p><p>4.) Two-Word Title: <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3LpTXCm" target="_blank">Mel Fell</a></b> by Corey R. Tabor</p><p>5.) Set in the Forest:<a href="https://amzn.to/3tMRVGz" target="_blank"><b> Little Witch Hazel a Year in the Forest</b></a> by Phoebe Wahl</p><p>6.) A classic: <a href="https://amzn.to/46TyuKz" target="_blank">Harold and the Purple Crayon</a> by Crockett Johnson</p><p>7.) Non-Fiction: <a href="https://amzn.to/3rXKqfq" target="_blank"><b>I Was Born a Baby</b></a> by Meg Fleming</p><p>8.) Reptile on the Cover:</p><p>9.) Blackout Poetry by Stacia Leigh: <a href="https://amzn.to/46tuFeP" target="_blank"><b>Sounds Complicated</b></a> by Stacia Leigh</p><p>10.) Hide & Seek: <a href="https://amzn.to/45NVc6r" target="_blank">Where's the BaBOOn?</a> by Michael Escoffier</p><p>11.) A Number in the Title: <a href="https://amzn.to/45wxlHM" target="_blank"><b>The Three Ninja Pigs</b></a> by Corey Rosen Schwartz</p><p>12.) Title Starts with Letter "F": <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3Fuo2gM" target="_blank">Frog and Toad Together</a></b> by Arnold Lobel</p><p>13.) Free Space: <a href="https://amzn.to/46b5rBy" target="_blank"><b>Sidewalk Flowers</b></a> by JonArno Lawson</p><p>14.) Green Cover: <a href="https://www.powells.com/searchresults?keyword=evergreen+by+matthew+cordell" target="_blank"><b>Evergreen</b></a> by Matthew Cordell</p><p>15.) Little Free Library Find: Georgia in Hawaii by Amy Novesky</p><p>16.) Book with Bugs: <b><a href="https://www.powells.com/book/burt-the-beetle-doesnt-bite-9781525301469" target="_blank">Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite</a></b> by Ashley Spires</p><p>17.) Underwater Setting: <a href="https://amzn.to/3MgcsJN" target="_blank">Out to Sea</a> by Helen Kellock</p><p>18.) Book with Robots: <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3rRd9T0" target="_blank">The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess</a> </b>by Tom Gauld</p><p>19.) A Holiday Story: <b><a href="https://amzn.to/45RbSsV" target="_blank">Creepy Crayon!</a></b> by Aaron Reynolds</p><p>20.) Sports Theme: <a href="https://amzn.to/40crN4d" target="_blank">H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination</a> by Christopher Myers</p><p>21.) A Cultural Read: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Zh7XE9" target="_blank"><b>The New Rooster</b></a> by Rilla Alexander</p><p>22.) Back in School: <a href="https://amzn.to/400CLts" target="_blank">Sector 7</a> by David Wiesner</p><p>23.) Learn Something New: <a href="https://amzn.to/3MijeyR" target="_blank">Share a Scare: Writing Your Own Scary Story</a> by Nany Loewen</p><p>24.) Rhyme Time: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ZtGQGg" target="_blank">Frog on a Log?</a> by Kes Gray</p><p>25.) Based on Actual Events: <a href="https://amzn.to/468Ya5e" target="_blank">Ida, Always</a> by Caron Levis</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">_________________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Reading one [picture] book is like eating one potato chip.” — <a href="https://www.dianeduane.com/about-the-author/" target="_blank">Diane Duane</a></span></span></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-50759338159714357372023-08-31T20:30:00.179-07:002023-08-31T20:30:00.143-07:00September 2023 Reading Challenge: Back in School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With either a sense of dread or excitement or both, students and teachers are back in school and getting into the full swing of things. It's time to embrace the school schedule. Is your alarm set and your bag packed? Got your gym shorts? Did you make a lunch and charge your computer? What about binders, pens and paper, and books? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of school and books...let's talk about the September reading challenge. Yeah! It's time to find school-related good-reads. Whether it's a particular place of study on the cover, a class, a subject, a #2 pencil, or a yellow bus, summer is over and whatever "back in school" means to you...it's go time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWr3KkLB098vi9_gTIjpF-usaKQzUyR1bKUWcYexgKB9yt3lrP2gYfJXAlGMJPtdkXElzASRFgLM1NcMSz-4fNAysR10f-2mYA5Rkh0v35PX0jOvJIJurghx9C6MVDcqrHcbgVLBgWAn2HSaLC3pkgC7nQK3Y_P0O6q7sF6-13tGVCo7vPTO2Og/s3996/read_challenge_aug2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1879" data-original-width="3996" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWr3KkLB098vi9_gTIjpF-usaKQzUyR1bKUWcYexgKB9yt3lrP2gYfJXAlGMJPtdkXElzASRFgLM1NcMSz-4fNAysR10f-2mYA5Rkh0v35PX0jOvJIJurghx9C6MVDcqrHcbgVLBgWAn2HSaLC3pkgC7nQK3Y_P0O6q7sF6-13tGVCo7vPTO2Og/s320/read_challenge_aug2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Lists, Uniforms, and Libraries</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So grab some county library books, audiobooks, Little Free Library books, thrift store finds, and/or bookstore treasures, whichever and wherever, and read on. Here's my reading list with (AMZ) links:</div><p> 1. <a href="https://amzn.to/47yBixN" target="_blank">The Headmaster's List</a> by Melissa De La Cruz</p><p>2.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3OWyovn" target="_blank">Winger</a> by Andrew Smith</p><p>3.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3KKfFR7" target="_blank">I learned to Dance in Reform School</a> by H.L. McCall</p><p>4.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3OI9uhR" target="_blank">Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library</a> by Chris Grabenstein</p><p>5.) <a href="https://amzn.to/45zbgIG" target="_blank">The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College</a> by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht, and Jennifer Worick</p><p>6.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3sw9NVm" target="_blank">Dear Mrs. Larue: Letters From Obedience School</a> by Mark Teague</p><p>7.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3qLOU8g" target="_blank">The Secret School</a> (audiobook) by Avi</p><p>8.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3qCv7s1" target="_blank">Juliet's School of Possibilities</a> by Laura Vanderkam</p><p style="text-align: center;">____________________________________________________________</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5YbYVOaqxvdGQcK3fzlJwq9YWkhlkfs58RQU06d_DtMAUIBlMx3lYRzrHe02-9IqVe4_oMi_UVZaW2PL7FVx0ijm1PO3QChOQz71c2gPd-vRaSBxoURDSoAj76Kx8NSBKjppbHq6OubGzpaYkDTrwYHNldL3hGUdsd26Ju1tp8ooUrl4jTsUtA/s663/Julietbook_page.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="663" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5YbYVOaqxvdGQcK3fzlJwq9YWkhlkfs58RQU06d_DtMAUIBlMx3lYRzrHe02-9IqVe4_oMi_UVZaW2PL7FVx0ijm1PO3QChOQz71c2gPd-vRaSBxoURDSoAj76Kx8NSBKjppbHq6OubGzpaYkDTrwYHNldL3hGUdsd26Ju1tp8ooUrl4jTsUtA/w400-h250/Julietbook_page.png" width="400" /></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Time...a precious resource.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo credit to Audrey Monke</div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-57065349141422348772023-08-18T23:12:00.006-07:002023-08-18T23:13:23.400-07:00PNWA Finalist for 2023: Picture Book Category<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My picture book story is a finalist for the <a href="https://www.pnwa.org/page/Finalists2023" target="_blank">PNWA Literary contest</a>! </span></span></p><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🤩" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb1/1.5/16/1f929.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🥳" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tc6/1.5/16/1f973.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span> <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🥂" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t68/1.5/16/1f942.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span>Clinks all around to my writing buddies and the others on the list. Whoot! Time to celebrate!</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>There's a party goin' on right here,</i></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>A celebration to last throughout the years.</i></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>So bring your good times and your laughter, too,</i></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>We gonna celebrate your party with you!</i></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-90394379866233694052023-05-01T08:00:00.192-07:002023-05-04T10:09:22.453-07:00May 2023 Reading Challenge: Blankets<p>Here in the PNW, May is that wonderful time of budding flowers, rain showers, and sun breaks teasing us with summer. Winter blankets are off the beds and beach blankets are ready to go. Whether you're warding off the last chill or embracing those bright rays, this month's reading challenge is to read books with "blanket" in the title. So cozy...so relaxing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibE3FCoS3yxsHk7nLxrZbjIjVNX8hsGApluu_z2Orhy5c4R-70hzL-UAnvwLYEy3NPjFhyUaUeHSp3p4wH-a35FnQ7MmbJxX3qAn7nzen_NnmXxOpYJo_SD1-ySiZ6uA8qkQTDeqsctF2lQ53R_BR9hUcc_AWFNGF-thh0CSuDVds_D6jUVu4/s3528/20230430_181705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2608" data-original-width="3528" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibE3FCoS3yxsHk7nLxrZbjIjVNX8hsGApluu_z2Orhy5c4R-70hzL-UAnvwLYEy3NPjFhyUaUeHSp3p4wH-a35FnQ7MmbJxX3qAn7nzen_NnmXxOpYJo_SD1-ySiZ6uA8qkQTDeqsctF2lQ53R_BR9hUcc_AWFNGF-thh0CSuDVds_D6jUVu4/s320/20230430_181705.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Blanket Reads</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Blanket reads (and AMZ links):</p><p>1.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hn1lg0" target="_blank"><b>Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah</b></a> (audiobook) - <i>Enjoyed the storytelling!</i></p><p>2.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3nzZi0X" target="_blank">Back to the Blanket: A Native Narrative of Discovery by James Starkey</a> </p><p>3.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3zkbTbd" target="_blank">75 Floral Blocks to Crochet: [Blankets and More] by Betty Barnden</a></p><p>4.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3ZynSMW" target="_blank">Blankets by Craig Thompson</a></p><p>5.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3HmNDcH" target="_blank">The Blanket Where Violet Sits by Allan Wolf</a></p><p>6.) <a href="https://amzn.to/40yM8zR" target="_blank"><b>Twins' Blanket by Hyewon Yum</b></a> - <i>Cute story!</i></p><p>7.) <a href="https://amzn.to/40L1Ck6" target="_blank">Blanket: A Poem by Patricia Celina Ngo</a> </p><p>8.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3KlQx3s" target="_blank">Blanket Statement: One Thrifted Wool Blanket Repurposed into 40+ Projects by Vicki Haninger</a></p><p>9.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3KlQLYm" target="_blank">Bugs in a Blanket by Beatrice Alemagna</a></p><p>10.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3KiyhrQ" target="_blank">My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald</a></p><p>11.) <a href="https://amzn.to/40LI273" target="_blank">Pigs in a Blanket by James Burks</a></p><p>12.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3G3Rzyp" target="_blank"><b>Snoozefest and the Nuzzledome: Blankets and Pillows Optional by Samantha Berger</b></a> - <i>Fun!</i></p><p>13.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3Kizpvy" target="_blank">The Story Blanket by Ferida Wolff</a></p><p>14.) <a href="https://amzn.to/40uR6Ob" target="_blank">Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness by Loryn Brantz</a></p><p>15.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3oW8JbK" target="_blank">Battle of the Blanket Forts by Dee Romito</a></p><p>16.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3oW8JbK" target="_blank">Geraldine's Blanket by Holly Keller</a></p><p>17.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3HpdPDy" target="_blank"><b>Small Bunny's Blue Blanket by Tatyana Feeney</b></a> - <i>This is a good read!</i></p><p>18.) <a href="https://amzn.to/41Ph7YV" target="_blank"><b>That's MY blanket, Baby! by Angie Morgan</b></a> - <i>Another good read!</i></p><p>19.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3LmpXGB" target="_blank">Blanket by Ruth Ohi</a></p><p>20.) <a href="https://amzn.to/40LYy6Q" target="_blank">No More Blanket for Lambkin! by Bernette G. Ford</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E_Lw2At5nURoSXkHk0PAMdPFNmkteGL7o8ygvlMAJne0zq0cRKIgbip6a5UqUbOnR6RBiAMfshguES0pAKPBUoRjP1zhhrBqiIlvM16zdj1sLPYKdkMcfz8wM4wUMnSUMI0EqR-fTfOzI8e-Bhl4oYgoIQ15Z3XcBYuDzNLYsOajf8SYuJc/s874/Stealheart_notblanket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="874" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E_Lw2At5nURoSXkHk0PAMdPFNmkteGL7o8ygvlMAJne0zq0cRKIgbip6a5UqUbOnR6RBiAMfshguES0pAKPBUoRjP1zhhrBqiIlvM16zdj1sLPYKdkMcfz8wM4wUMnSUMI0EqR-fTfOzI8e-Bhl4oYgoIQ15Z3XcBYuDzNLYsOajf8SYuJc/s320/Stealheart_notblanket.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Steal my heart, not my blankets."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/921929730/steal-my-heart-not-my-blankets-wood-sign?click_key=e0c9786cbdd7b5166ac8fc8f0462fbd71acde681%3A921929730&click_sum=f48f40fb&ga_search_query=blanket&ref=shop_items_search_1&sts=1" target="_blank">ladyMAKESshop</a> on Etsy</div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-27667563374858043992023-04-01T08:00:00.089-07:002023-05-04T10:03:25.952-07:00April 2023 Reading Challenge: Marital Book Bliss<p>I take you, good book, to be my best friend, my faithful partner, my one true love, to have and hold from this day forward, to love and cherish for as long as it takes me to get to the last page. I truly hope you're a good read! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgJiSeSuYvNHTnN0kL0A95WSzuIlQtP8RRU7ogHQmEGOk49bDyN9rWiEaYQi1OHadgW1BLI0TY8zifuwFeM2cKJMG_lB4sGEVHUGMVJt1jVbK0CM7C2AXg4Wr_avWmXV1ICByzFeXkJSQevezZ_ieztq2FuVCFFohsRUJK1XUHiYZzQBDQ54/s3866/20230322_105835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="3866" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgJiSeSuYvNHTnN0kL0A95WSzuIlQtP8RRU7ogHQmEGOk49bDyN9rWiEaYQi1OHadgW1BLI0TY8zifuwFeM2cKJMG_lB4sGEVHUGMVJt1jVbK0CM7C2AXg4Wr_avWmXV1ICByzFeXkJSQevezZ_ieztq2FuVCFFohsRUJK1XUHiYZzQBDQ54/s320/20230322_105835.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marital Book Bliss Reading Challenge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Something old, something new...something borrowed, something blue.</i></div><p><br />My selection of books to have and to hold this month for reading bliss include (AMZ links):</p><p>1.) <a href="https://amzn.to/40mv6Ex" target="_blank"><b>The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo</b></a> by Taylor Jenkins Reid - <i>It's a good read!</i></p><p>2.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3TxSQDv" target="_blank">A Reliable Wife</a> by Robert Goolrick</p><p>3.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3FFAwCJ" target="_blank">A Wedding in December</a> by Anita Shreve</p><p>4.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3TyGjzW" target="_blank">The Vow</a> by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter</p><p>5.) <a href="https://amzn.to/42pkExY" target="_blank">The People We Hate at the Wedding</a> by Grant Ginder</p><p>6.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3UOVUvE" target="_blank"><b>The Younger Wife</b></a> by Sally Hepworth (audiobook) - <i>Enjoyed the storytelling!</i></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xmu8hz5Zdq_E4Bz64f64vJvEoq4TbeHyqiLGsfXUhUZ83Cqx-_E5PAouSJIO2OTZvaRYoj2SjEjjTRrRkNLwajoASlaQG4jTUlVwXbDGZGbTEvG82MUyPFzuZfIWilBXu4Sjl8ba7zMPSY07Wl4slSv6Linrp9714NWRe2piSoLLjB8C7p8/s637/weddingvows.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="579" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xmu8hz5Zdq_E4Bz64f64vJvEoq4TbeHyqiLGsfXUhUZ83Cqx-_E5PAouSJIO2OTZvaRYoj2SjEjjTRrRkNLwajoASlaQG4jTUlVwXbDGZGbTEvG82MUyPFzuZfIWilBXu4Sjl8ba7zMPSY07Wl4slSv6Linrp9714NWRe2piSoLLjB8C7p8/s320/weddingvows.png" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/123763337/wedding-vows-rustic-style-to-have-and-to?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=wedding+vow+art&ref=sr_gallery-5-36&sts=1&organic_search_click=1" target="_blank">ExpressionsNMore</a> on Etsy</div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-85709634358438974472023-03-01T08:00:00.146-08:002023-03-22T11:46:38.562-07:00March 2023 Reading Challenge: Happy Baba Marta!<p>"Chestita Baba Marta!" Happy Granny Marta to you!</p>
<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j8xuiSeaXxb7OBXkdvtwn-wxB283aBhahHk9NoHSbCY3jQHg7MnkTMlSWDsyDPJ457zawav4-f1wZCz_8wzdimKarA1dbM_UABV0LOZbUn0TGcpwQqDfOQEBAmW08RYjRy9C5vD6SB5hQ5GBphYE6piTWCGBIGPtlEwOEU8rXQPXaGb4goA/s3941/ReadChallenge_Mar2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="3941" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j8xuiSeaXxb7OBXkdvtwn-wxB283aBhahHk9NoHSbCY3jQHg7MnkTMlSWDsyDPJ457zawav4-f1wZCz_8wzdimKarA1dbM_UABV0LOZbUn0TGcpwQqDfOQEBAmW08RYjRy9C5vD6SB5hQ5GBphYE6piTWCGBIGPtlEwOEU8rXQPXaGb4goA/s320/ReadChallenge_Mar2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">White and Red for Pizho and Penda</span></i></div>
<p>The beginning of March marks a typical Bulgarian tradition of wearing and/or exchanging Martenitsi (plural). A Martenitsa (singular) consists of two small wool dolls: The boy doll named Pizho is mostly white, and the girl doll named Penda is mostly red.</p>
<p>A Martenitsa can also be a red-and-white woven cord or bracelet.The combined two thread colors symbolize the wish for good health. They celebrate Mother Nature, or Granny Marta, breathing life into the spring season. White symbolizes purity, and red symbolizes life and love.The Martenitsi are given as gifts to family and friends either pinned to clothing or as
a bracelet, until the wearer sees a stork or swallow returning from migration, or a blossoming tree, and then the Martenitsa is removed and tied to a branch.</p>
<p>This is a joyful holiday time, commemorating health and long life and probably for some, the start of warmer weather. Read more about the Bulgarian March culture here:<a href="https://bnr.bg/en/post/100525734/pizho-and-penda-the-folklore-symbolism-of-the-martenitsa" target="_blank">BNR Radio Bulgaria</a> <span>and </span><a href="https://sofiaadventures.com/baba-marta-day-martenitsa-bulgarian-tradition/" target="_blank">Sofia Adventures</a><span>.</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">To honor this Bulgarian tradition, I've chosen to read red and white books for March. My short stack includes (AMZ links below):</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3Iy7Dcq" target="_blank">Going too Far by Jennifer Echols</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3ksLnbV" target="_blank">The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">3.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3SzSdsQ" target="_blank">Firegirl by Tony Abbott</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">4.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3xTtmqb" target="_blank">303 Writing Prompts by Bonnie Neubauer</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">5.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3XYZfIp" target="_blank">Hope in the Mail by Wendelin Van Draanen</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">______________________________________________________</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBz4UEAu690MzGMEpy1BzALMnqvzZae6W04GcyWED7vC8zU-02O5CExZxIqCTWbSOdrLj89Ry1C-o3ibVSvcN67f7yvXgaftmk5RJMalT8F80_ldMX_VzuhliiQfuMI_hJkeI2Gg5HuTh1NW1p6LG_Hk1E4N0exeZHINGOFDNKRYXhnZLePo/s922/craftnroses_martinitzi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="922" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBz4UEAu690MzGMEpy1BzALMnqvzZae6W04GcyWED7vC8zU-02O5CExZxIqCTWbSOdrLj89Ry1C-o3ibVSvcN67f7yvXgaftmk5RJMalT8F80_ldMX_VzuhliiQfuMI_hJkeI2Gg5HuTh1NW1p6LG_Hk1E4N0exeZHINGOFDNKRYXhnZLePo/s320/craftnroses_martinitzi.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Martenitzi from a Bulgarian shop on Etsy:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CRAFTSnROSES?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=511774893&section_id=20943477" target="_blank">CRAFTSnROSES</a></span></div><p></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-46947576958099582972023-02-01T08:00:00.032-08:002023-03-30T10:09:38.177-07:00February 2023 Reading Challenge: Book Title Haiku<p>A book title haiku reading challenge? Of course! Sign me up, please. To refresh the rusty minds out there--like <i>moi</i>--a haiku is typically five syllables on the first line, seven on the second, and five syllables for the last line. It took some time perusing my bookshelf to find titles that worked AND made sense poetically. But I found 'em:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDHbYiZhsoX1up3Q7hpttN0iQ5PP-NPfnSmmQv6b8ib6zXpLIrkNp4bhVyhHgwp4-RO_yA2yX5M21sGeVWMPHqhDrMGSV2xSfSw7OJ4THQ-o8VPAo3bS53LOYeI17TVFeHlbjHn16hPj9Yi8hK-5bWcMSCBBbN78LTw4NYTZfp9ZzyLj5bqE/s3519/ReadChallenge_feb2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3519" data-original-width="2379" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDHbYiZhsoX1up3Q7hpttN0iQ5PP-NPfnSmmQv6b8ib6zXpLIrkNp4bhVyhHgwp4-RO_yA2yX5M21sGeVWMPHqhDrMGSV2xSfSw7OJ4THQ-o8VPAo3bS53LOYeI17TVFeHlbjHn16hPj9Yi8hK-5bWcMSCBBbN78LTw4NYTZfp9ZzyLj5bqE/s320/ReadChallenge_feb2023.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Book Title Haiku</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Frozen detective...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>How (not) to find a boyfriend,</i><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Writing down the bones.</i></div><br /><p>The book list:</p>1.) <a href="https://amzn.to/400NBPr" target="_blank">Frozen Detective by Amanda Flower (AMZ)</a><br />A <i>Knives Out</i>-style cozy mystery with intrigue, a fake relationship, and humor. <p>2.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3iZLzi7" target="_blank">How (Not) to Find a Boyfriend by Allyson Valentine (AMZ)</a><br />Can an overachiever turned airhead morph into a truer version of herself for love?</p><p>3.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3XwjSMK" target="_blank">Writing Down the </a><a href="https://amzn.to/3XwjSMK" target="_blank">Bones by Natalie Goldberg (AMZ)</a><br />The secret to creativity is to subtract rules, "uneducate" yourself, and find the Zen writing experience.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-2438309258966465542023-01-04T09:28:00.005-08:002023-01-29T13:55:10.097-08:00January 2023 Reading Challenge: Match Your Flannel<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqMDBAPzI-Bc95Euo8hIz_MshiqhjThSK02jXOYXVaRkBUIQVoLIakPQYnfmCv7N13s-hVAZI_K0dmnfeGi78P12ZUpW_9xNyXs4vihoKkYaTP51MJTQHSlJuto22_5auBoY-G6k6t4UQlxCJJGAh5vKvz7q9JXlOWjKY2kLCsGX0t9WTfoY/s3858/readchallenge_Jan2023%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2792" data-original-width="3858" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqMDBAPzI-Bc95Euo8hIz_MshiqhjThSK02jXOYXVaRkBUIQVoLIakPQYnfmCv7N13s-hVAZI_K0dmnfeGi78P12ZUpW_9xNyXs4vihoKkYaTP51MJTQHSlJuto22_5auBoY-G6k6t4UQlxCJJGAh5vKvz7q9JXlOWjKY2kLCsGX0t9WTfoY/s320/readchallenge_Jan2023%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Brown, tan, rose-pink, black, and a smidge of white</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is not an original idea, the matching of book covers to flannel, but one shared on Instagram by book-stackers across the land. Since I recently bought a new flannel scarf, I thought I'd give this reading challenge a whirl for January. Still cold outside. Still relevant. So, here's what I pulled off the shelf:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3GgiKFN" target="_blank">Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (amzn)</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3GgiKFN" target="_blank"><b>A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (amzn)</b></a> - <i>It's a good read!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3IiALG2" target="_blank">Little Black Book of Stories by A. S. Byatt (amzn)</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4.)<a href="https://amzn.to/3IiBbfA" target="_blank"> The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert (amzn)</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3Cpx1i2" target="_blank">The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen (amzn)</a></div><br /> Happy reading!Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-31127747083392032462023-01-03T22:34:00.003-08:002023-08-15T16:31:34.306-07:00Fabulous Five: Favorite Reads for 2022<div center="" text-align:=""></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;">Goodbye 2022. It's been a fabulous reading year of good books and new authors. After reading 116% of my annual goal, it's time to bid you adieu. But before I go, I picked out five of my favorites...hands down, no contest...these are great reads!</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZrL-R8lxh7qbl0e5ordcbkQYxqAabRf0Tz2AheroElsgsAyMh6O6FRF7fvwd3JPzC6c56cF8ZptnP7uFc6-RXX10Cx5_K3IsaebbqefrtmFayIFx3Anecfpwv0xueNLXoX3YRi14G8puvKmtA8TzKKRIOEQV-khxRgoWj-ChpvUSA8XqiMk/s459/2023_goodreads_readchallenge.png"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="459" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZrL-R8lxh7qbl0e5ordcbkQYxqAabRf0Tz2AheroElsgsAyMh6O6FRF7fvwd3JPzC6c56cF8ZptnP7uFc6-RXX10Cx5_K3IsaebbqefrtmFayIFx3Anecfpwv0xueNLXoX3YRi14G8puvKmtA8TzKKRIOEQV-khxRgoWj-ChpvUSA8XqiMk/s320/2023_goodreads_readchallenge.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2022?ref=yyib21_ads" target="_blank">Goodreads 2022 Reading Challenge</a></i></div><br />TOP FIVE!<div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">1.) My all-time 2022 favorite read goes to a YOUNG ADULT WESTERN...</span><br /></span><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7cSH6VzOaXJEyA5slbl_hqw4FOkGd7EuXrQ5C5w2wBT4vPtRbha-IJ8WCC6ikJYulVeCXMk5tJTJBLAYhfBWRjO5mZmKtdzfkRVyUKiuCAv3wq5y-kFfbZQAKun5Z_CTrglrY7U6WREDnXqrIoMEH7PrVPKaiAsHueSH4BZyTQhXpm-r7Nc/s516/delete_vengeancerd.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="340" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7cSH6VzOaXJEyA5slbl_hqw4FOkGd7EuXrQ5C5w2wBT4vPtRbha-IJ8WCC6ikJYulVeCXMk5tJTJBLAYhfBWRjO5mZmKtdzfkRVyUKiuCAv3wq5y-kFfbZQAKun5Z_CTrglrY7U6WREDnXqrIoMEH7PrVPKaiAsHueSH4BZyTQhXpm-r7Nc/s320/delete_vengeancerd.png" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://amzn.to/3WtmzOD" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman</a></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>2.) The best NON-FICTION, MIDDLE GRADE, and GRAPHIC NOVEL for the year goes to...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfgTu7ouexTSI3GKMZbloXs-bDDLRUWZhMxIS8pSyVicrLhPmdqca-1Tv89JrWXwnLicxcEmmZoiQqy-NVab3scBuQTxTURXAGQO5eV07QCEamh16TCF6jbjSScYDDSviYcjFkicHjFytrbXJ6Z1hwM0nwm6jOIiItsnR2WfHV7HftsEbWrc/s320/delete_hbtheater.png" width="231" /></span><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3vgSLZO" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Human Body Theater by Maris Wicks</a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3.) Best MYSTERY for the year and an author I'd read again goes to...</div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILDRGTZubKg7ovCJ-4mGpZkt9uNawFV42ATqjT3WTP4At858QcVe-PCOHXc6eHWCbSwuUn0llSBfhoKNVNGc8JiaukQ1iiInMYLOQJ4wxYXqneAMTtnR1eREunPUZe7c7K9zQa9D-C15ITvFfOWktX8p45b07e5nsCGspiYVts3AQvVe1QfY/s523/delete_parisapt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="340" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILDRGTZubKg7ovCJ-4mGpZkt9uNawFV42ATqjT3WTP4At858QcVe-PCOHXc6eHWCbSwuUn0llSBfhoKNVNGc8JiaukQ1iiInMYLOQJ4wxYXqneAMTtnR1eREunPUZe7c7K9zQa9D-C15ITvFfOWktX8p45b07e5nsCGspiYVts3AQvVe1QfY/s320/delete_parisapt.png" width="208" /></a><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3PZ3IZu" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (amzn)</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4.) Best INDIE read and MEMOIR goes to...</div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyfK2ljxEcki-JkeU-Yg1sjlb3d8qsIVH5ibGXm2XV314DF1U5lzb4Yzp7nO5HMTbUkKRDt9yHcX15Dels_Mbw3A7ikJ5Dt5iF_9fzBJu5ZkTAWOSgBLWnq81P_NDxqw_eFMnOGLL4MN_KMsk48BKjLNMf0gJjXfxaRgzS30oKbfThAJtgcY/s526/delete_skilak.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="340" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyfK2ljxEcki-JkeU-Yg1sjlb3d8qsIVH5ibGXm2XV314DF1U5lzb4Yzp7nO5HMTbUkKRDt9yHcX15Dels_Mbw3A7ikJ5Dt5iF_9fzBJu5ZkTAWOSgBLWnq81P_NDxqw_eFMnOGLL4MN_KMsk48BKjLNMf0gJjXfxaRgzS30oKbfThAJtgcY/s320/delete_skilak.png" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Wpwbd5" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Winds of Skilak by Bonnie Rose Ward (amzn)</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5.) Best CULTURAL and POETRY for the year goes to...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSY-5ullVSQ36unuCqgridjWyIzxz55LyZXhjft0xV_TubHkaMewD7U5rFW-YW4MH4JFScMaik4DcSQ3sqef6Pz1Ka1RbEZcf-P-A8Q8LGcH7SmJvdMbGH-msi7TC4fnbQQCAl3gNy2e2AuWW7l0GQ-RmNkObnHdQt9nceA63OPrNV4L7AzGk/s320/delete_seaweed.png" width="201" /></span><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3C21aE6" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">A Suitcase of Seaweed by Janet S. Wong (amzn)</a><br /></div></div></div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-36204737914207150612022-12-01T08:00:00.025-08:002023-01-29T13:53:06.888-08:00December 2022 Reading Challenge: Christmas Book Binge Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: georgia;">On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>A partridge in a pear -- Wait. Scratch that.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">How about instead, my true love gave to me a few really good books to read? While the French hens are co-mingling with the calling birds and the maids are busy milking around, I'll kick back with my feet up, cocoa on one side and my book pile on the other. Bliss. No phones, no computers 'cause my December will quite literally be booked. Let the Christmas-winter-snow binge reading begin!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfyf302awfBElFj98ykqU0JEB9RGoksRNwOXFrpjVtWo_ySq0zEdBKuJZle0DbiY2oSPBdYjR2DMYm7vReOxOK-_Cv6P2B5S0CvHDc0StoDQ96SmsxLyJraliFqQvFa8sAUsmWZ36N4LWMYf1i4okERQs4bsyBH_XLGZYpQsCwOCMaTpKJbA/s4002/ReadChallenge_Dec2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2469" data-original-width="4002" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfyf302awfBElFj98ykqU0JEB9RGoksRNwOXFrpjVtWo_ySq0zEdBKuJZle0DbiY2oSPBdYjR2DMYm7vReOxOK-_Cv6P2B5S0CvHDc0StoDQ96SmsxLyJraliFqQvFa8sAUsmWZ36N4LWMYf1i4okERQs4bsyBH_XLGZYpQsCwOCMaTpKJbA/w400-h246/ReadChallenge_Dec2022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The Primer Pile</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">1.)<b> <a href="https://amzn.to/3BgzYRC" target="_blank">Over the River and Through the Wood by L. Maria Child</a></b><br />2.) Over the River and Through the Wood by Emma Randall<br />3.) Oliver Elephant by Lou Peacock<br />4.) The Most Wonderful Gift in the World by Mark Sperring<br />5.) The Bear Who Didn't Want to Miss Christmas by Marie Tibi<br />6.) Morris Wants More by Joshua Seigal<br />7.) Luke and Lottie: It's Christmas by Ruth Wielockx<br />8.) Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares<br />9.) Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee<br />10.) Always Everly by Nate Wragg<br />11.) Always Together at Christmas by Sara Sargent<br />12.) The Wee Christmas Cabin of Carn-na-ween by Ruth Sawyer<br />13.) A Whisper in the Snow by Kate Westerlund<br />14.) The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford<br />15.) Ricky's Christmas Tree by Guido Van Genecht<br />16.) Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke<br />17.) Little Santa by Jon Agee<br />18.) The Best Christmas Ever by Chih-Yuan Chen<br />19.) I'm Not Santa! by Jonathan Allen<br />20.) Grumpy Badger's Christmas by Paul Bright<br />21.) A Christmas Tree for Pyn by Olivier Dunrea<br />22.) A Magical Christmas by Claire Freedman<br />23.) Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas! by Laurie Friedman<br />24.) The Wishing Tree by Meika Hashimoto<br />25.) Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden<br />26.) <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3GhQGBL" target="_blank">Construction Site on Christmas Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker</a></b><br />27.) A Thing Called Snow by Yuval Zommer<br />28.) The Tree That's Meant to Be by Yuval Zommer<br />29.) A Simple Christmas on the Farm by Phyllis Alsdurf<br />30.) Green is for Christmas by Drew Daywalt</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">ROMANCE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">31.) Kiss the Girl by Melanie Jacobson<br />32.) Christmas at the Ranch by Anita Hughes<br />33.) Home for Christmas by Camilla Isley<br />34.) Winter's Fairytale by Maxine Morrey</span></p><p>MYSTERY<br />35.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3V6PhTP" style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf</a></p><p>DYSTOPIAN<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">36.) The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b style="background-color: white;">2022 Christmas good-read meter = 3 book(s) to recommend, so far.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GMrsj4kiWO6M7iu7musa0V5wokJhJOSJeJCU2o6bxfAxVNr_XF6We4mEz_fdH0mjbpMMoSW_ifn6vDkYNwb2K_w8dNUd1OipXG9A10yT3ruLhco1J2m8yCGaIuLxDjrJv5euB216-Q4aHmOn_qnwepnBLiFYgswTUuuYcrZW_eySnqfSl3A/s855/reading_in_progress.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="703" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GMrsj4kiWO6M7iu7musa0V5wokJhJOSJeJCU2o6bxfAxVNr_XF6We4mEz_fdH0mjbpMMoSW_ifn6vDkYNwb2K_w8dNUd1OipXG9A10yT3ruLhco1J2m8yCGaIuLxDjrJv5euB216-Q4aHmOn_qnwepnBLiFYgswTUuuYcrZW_eySnqfSl3A/s320/reading_in_progress.png" width="263" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reading in Progress by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1233841024/reading-in-progress-pendant-keychain?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=reading+in+progress&ref=sr_gallery-4-24&edd=1&organic_search_click=1" target="_blank">TheGeekRetreat1</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">_____________________________________________</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Check out <a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2020/12/december-2020-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">the 8 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2020 here!</a><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Check out </span><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2019/12/december-reading-challenge-christmas.html" style="background-color: white; color: #44b9d2; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">the 3 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2019 here!</a><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Check out </span><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2018/12/december-reading-challenge-christmas.html" style="background-color: white; color: #44b9d2; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">the 3 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2018 here!</a><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Check out </span><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2017/12/december-reading-challenge-christmas.html" style="background-color: white; color: #44b9d2; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">the 8 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2017 here!</a></span></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-3693208353022680522022-10-18T09:37:00.006-07:002022-10-18T10:20:17.475-07:00Goodbye Little Etsy Shop<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrbswIX313498PPG6D0pTegTQoroEoMsstqybElOdVvzjurmVqBaeQEtkSFohmi6Bv3_K6wXf1aw3fGVgR7YQXUXL0A0-9uIKoYEHQQk5pPUm1Y8aSrMOTLs-S_6Awh2zFEIdw0APjSg0KAJdpXenf7binWtihsv38wwHxovPI7pnkQ6k_Z0/s3175/HAFY_stars_front.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3175" data-original-width="2903" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrbswIX313498PPG6D0pTegTQoroEoMsstqybElOdVvzjurmVqBaeQEtkSFohmi6Bv3_K6wXf1aw3fGVgR7YQXUXL0A0-9uIKoYEHQQk5pPUm1Y8aSrMOTLs-S_6Awh2zFEIdw0APjSg0KAJdpXenf7binWtihsv38wwHxovPI7pnkQ6k_Z0/w183-h200/HAFY_stars_front.jpg" title="Hanging Around for You" width="183" /></a></div><div class="separator"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3108" data-original-width="2909" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRIekFEdwNKuRE3DUOoOWOOP11_k63xujarJ91lriwR4VOj39PxnrIIOl-RcQzLGdAbZ1aHdJOvZDgbxv1gBRgXEoPwEpjjAHO-QXlzS-3sR6TgfUOYinQSPG78QOla5XvjTnybPDPJOmomiYT7g4MYjfzg_Ck_e-aTJ65FwAcg91qD9A9H8/w188-h200/burnout_roadmap_front.jpg" title="Burnout" width="188" /></span></div><p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">Things
change, and that's just the way of life. Sometimes it's good and
sometimes it's not. After some thought, I've decided the latest change
by Etsy is a sign for me to simplify my life. Today the EpialDesign shop
is closing the Etsy door. Maybe it's for good or maybe a door will open
somewhere else. Who knows? If you'd like to inquire about my wares--</span><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">young adult reads, greeting cards, crafts, blackout poetry pages, book bags, bookmarks--</span>feel free to <a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/p/about.html" target="_blank">email me</a>! Until then, adieu to you!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">* * * <br /></span></p><p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><a href="https://hyperallergic.com/762551/etsy-sellers-demand-reversal-of-train-wreck-policy/" target="_blank">Etsy Sellers Demand Reversal of "Train Wreck" Policy:</a>
<i>The company is asking users to verify their bank details via Plaid, a
fintech company that recently settled a privacy class action lawsuit </i>-
by Hyperallergic</span></span></span></p><p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"> </span></span> <br /></span></p><p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj6Am2YL1af7IGmHcfpOfYsVxw63zzea6xACaa88ihMWAxrTcAuPtTtDA84InYZF_Aedc_23txHzigJKY98PfdkaAaNQVXKZuDV88MF_pLivjCSrqd_rk679hPO9HX3wHkloJudNt4ib5ukyrhDWu0pbGQcIESUDypZO2YciHqUv0F8X_dko/s3086/20210312_181103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3019" data-original-width="3086" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj6Am2YL1af7IGmHcfpOfYsVxw63zzea6xACaa88ihMWAxrTcAuPtTtDA84InYZF_Aedc_23txHzigJKY98PfdkaAaNQVXKZuDV88MF_pLivjCSrqd_rk679hPO9HX3wHkloJudNt4ib5ukyrhDWu0pbGQcIESUDypZO2YciHqUv0F8X_dko/w200-h196/20210312_181103.jpg" title="Blackout Poetry Greet Card" width="200" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteVb0b5Q4wHCRku_4dqO0xW1L6FEsmgsXxXQMN4hDmqLIWdq0xymZLUoI7ZQoP481X6VQsL8KBzSia57ac8dWuUDNqjlkimv7k4EFO87ONr7H8J6JD-Wnz_sn1_1LO4-s6VLQECgQScvVfhQXDUwaHL79uVpH-01mYGuZkEjksNIb2yYxaXk/s3063/DWB_words_front.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3063" data-original-width="2950" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteVb0b5Q4wHCRku_4dqO0xW1L6FEsmgsXxXQMN4hDmqLIWdq0xymZLUoI7ZQoP481X6VQsL8KBzSia57ac8dWuUDNqjlkimv7k4EFO87ONr7H8J6JD-Wnz_sn1_1LO4-s6VLQECgQScvVfhQXDUwaHL79uVpH-01mYGuZkEjksNIb2yYxaXk/w193-h200/DWB_words_front.jpg" title="Dealing with Blue" width="193" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1316" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMNG5EEVYTaFhmFlWwYd7cvpgmUTpUCyr3S2NtXoV1DMTfGAWdGaB7r5ByYEvYVDStmIISLclCsquKxeN_mTb7bMD-mubEV1EiCpOcgihJFuT1xHl04IQlN_D1VFNbeixXzvzhS-PkmL8ChFnMvyl5btX79UW54B2WeBJnOVpfezMrxssLww/w200-h175/jestercard2a.JPG" title="Jester Greet Card" width="200" /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF47HykeWVigvRlivLxkQVL6Pmtq3g1AJnqyEJ2yH_iLUkiROMHaDpfXAEB5Qj54NRGbWJKpfTlyeNDsJVUCd-DA0BJZS8T58WfOcqNaz-DfuV6phrHiq3dQAmZBumLOZMXd9-bmALjSA5fqYdsrdlDLznYCGafcY1Zi4BqUW7waddGFP7EI/s3710/sc_book4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ukI1HBqhrh5-sv8-svyJ1AnFL_jQdD8uFbXU2SngqFQiFHnEs43q9kko6YaEuAY8ZUHr4VPLh3IoMKDQ19Z41DQ7rgVOcxo2-YzLsvnJplheKuN-llbBJh_adXG9xXfk_OMwILTjijljnVXVrd4PBGUYUVofW3tXHZYpOieiRoAkoD1vSMs/s955/paperhouse_3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ukI1HBqhrh5-sv8-svyJ1AnFL_jQdD8uFbXU2SngqFQiFHnEs43q9kko6YaEuAY8ZUHr4VPLh3IoMKDQ19Z41DQ7rgVOcxo2-YzLsvnJplheKuN-llbBJh_adXG9xXfk_OMwILTjijljnVXVrd4PBGUYUVofW3tXHZYpOieiRoAkoD1vSMs/w151-h200/paperhouse_3.jpg" title="Craft: paper collage house" width="151" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUlssZXgtnCYi2XDfxCOdL6b8zvTePvAzleA3KlzKFtIW3Pg6TMc4syQTChopMdoqzaIcZmFnlgLMWM1QrLFoWwqTigUbnLgz_hW7HnCbMG_Am6sPw0VGJ-s0cJPcM9ykWjnnsNX5t7ev-0OoSZMCC7nh4Gn8owhpOGqQWA4LFbtvmx6qU-4/s1440/20201029_140949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2374" data-original-width="2826" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY47ok7V_uQnDJbJ5AMpSzm1HkXr7kNdCdYF070gXxqPy_Az2ALRZ1YE2_wzlc_0mWfboBiSPLtvNsh6GmaCHdMralg0YUH7KaEstHx4gTaQSOis07vJqrGRmVaFALkKDeJLOsgZgdx5sMgcjZ-apBv0p2tN3jwaPUV_M0cKOElngs--UEj7c/w200-h168/IMG_20190529_113119.jpg" title="Stars corner bookmarks" width="200" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1BRCvwGmv5-yqdY4cQrfQ9DzTYbfH02s6aCB_-vjy1B9LTPQHghpc5Se7OIOrDRgvSxrdeC8aLOrozJCbTyfgRBLRUPpxC12Li8HoXwL3DiWfrE0epYrCqnLzMuEXsMjlx9TZ-p4fxJuqSGSpx9dW3HEO3eUXnPWZwsEKk_eJVSCY7wLYaI/s3305/IMG_20190520_130149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="3305" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1BRCvwGmv5-yqdY4cQrfQ9DzTYbfH02s6aCB_-vjy1B9LTPQHghpc5Se7OIOrDRgvSxrdeC8aLOrozJCbTyfgRBLRUPpxC12Li8HoXwL3DiWfrE0epYrCqnLzMuEXsMjlx9TZ-p4fxJuqSGSpx9dW3HEO3eUXnPWZwsEKk_eJVSCY7wLYaI/w200-h150/IMG_20190520_130149.jpg" title="Typewriter corner bookmarks" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrJK_M98MLrHIOVEY6u9JFmAV7nplZejsxS6a0-A88v-iLTN1lPxticCHfOwqoYNOnQUyfh1_DrcjcWw7lR69nCKp5rF6LZVwualYPG0hA6rScWVhUA_iQFhrWiVyhyoqJ12aXtQTGZVbuKFDx_ylF9_VgV1igNXMbZ6OtFWdTyb3T84XabI/s3123/blouts_all.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2229" data-original-width="3123" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrJK_M98MLrHIOVEY6u9JFmAV7nplZejsxS6a0-A88v-iLTN1lPxticCHfOwqoYNOnQUyfh1_DrcjcWw7lR69nCKp5rF6LZVwualYPG0hA6rScWVhUA_iQFhrWiVyhyoqJ12aXtQTGZVbuKFDx_ylF9_VgV1igNXMbZ6OtFWdTyb3T84XabI/w200-h143/blouts_all.jpg" title="blackout poetry sheets" width="200" /></a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvpTqVHQs7ef-xGI7g1zqX9IJotFL_9qrKLDI_eE-zVCcTtpwBBBvQfw7bcwgF9DDbPKjRVsDCk6_ScP7y3m4y_mkYUFstMUjowmbpT0jloPxu4AxjFeuCe49-qNB0d4bc2kwppW4ku3k0zVR2crtHWRVAb7j4LA5kGTqwVeZZDlIf_xgVeA/s3168/DB_bloutbook2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="2702" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvpTqVHQs7ef-xGI7g1zqX9IJotFL_9qrKLDI_eE-zVCcTtpwBBBvQfw7bcwgF9DDbPKjRVsDCk6_ScP7y3m4y_mkYUFstMUjowmbpT0jloPxu4AxjFeuCe49-qNB0d4bc2kwppW4ku3k0zVR2crtHWRVAb7j4LA5kGTqwVeZZDlIf_xgVeA/w171-h200/DB_bloutbook2.jpg" title="Distance Between" width="171" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPiW5NNSFBR_ookBNBBOExQwVMA6xghk-xiGOd-uMxHz8NiLOCpZ5zbMWf3_3RKbCVCQ6Xo27adlBa_gKokVu75F-UOR6j8ydkBtSgvoYRKkds0TSN8mZ8YokwNxUakjv0mLTz5ucIqwbA6cvVzwYLWKhHQgcJHiv7wBj7IUMWcsva8bqmJo/s3737/20200415_101842.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3737" data-original-width="2757" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPiW5NNSFBR_ookBNBBOExQwVMA6xghk-xiGOd-uMxHz8NiLOCpZ5zbMWf3_3RKbCVCQ6Xo27adlBa_gKokVu75F-UOR6j8ydkBtSgvoYRKkds0TSN8mZ8YokwNxUakjv0mLTz5ucIqwbA6cvVzwYLWKhHQgcJHiv7wBj7IUMWcsva8bqmJo/w148-h200/20200415_101842.jpg" title="Book Bag" width="148" /></a><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimke5q-h1KU5A2MQAXQemXn3ZNXHmmOlHo9oQrHFPTkiT1QDIIW7uhzdpKPnZKegLcGLoQUO1TFp5d3pNJ3W4W7v9sL9tRkPa52ankvlYg4m-NvmSgh3jvSVZgoCtRKLmxCttH_4_sXSjc8aiKe4ZZgR17tBzA5IQAv3fjH_5rOjvMWLfDFaA/s3240/turtle_all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="3240" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimke5q-h1KU5A2MQAXQemXn3ZNXHmmOlHo9oQrHFPTkiT1QDIIW7uhzdpKPnZKegLcGLoQUO1TFp5d3pNJ3W4W7v9sL9tRkPa52ankvlYg4m-NvmSgh3jvSVZgoCtRKLmxCttH_4_sXSjc8aiKe4ZZgR17tBzA5IQAv3fjH_5rOjvMWLfDFaA/w200-h156/turtle_all.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-48752294418607507242022-09-29T10:03:00.014-07:002022-09-29T14:32:02.585-07:00October 2022 Reading Challenge: Dem Bones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSiXjM_fVpWWNGGs2VDWeiJske6xpkI6JY7p_7ALuH-Na_ksM5FD5zRBl3H_Djz1SJq-VRxAdScVNKljeV7UkkzCSgK3ehYg-gWoWHukpxAMuggAzInzN7Eirwwc11fFAD1Ox2_OuASYexeIfYuHuIasCf2LrfWgQiz-WryaSteEptldztTk/s4128/20220928_123438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSiXjM_fVpWWNGGs2VDWeiJske6xpkI6JY7p_7ALuH-Na_ksM5FD5zRBl3H_Djz1SJq-VRxAdScVNKljeV7UkkzCSgK3ehYg-gWoWHukpxAMuggAzInzN7Eirwwc11fFAD1Ox2_OuASYexeIfYuHuIasCf2LrfWgQiz-WryaSteEptldztTk/s320/20220928_123438.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>October Reading Challenge</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Skulls and/or Bones on the Cover</i></div><br /><p>October is upon us, and I know I'm ready for some cozy reads. With an anthology called Black as Death in hand, a book with the Jolly Rogers symbol on the cover, I thought I'd make this the theme for the month: skull and crossbones, dry bones, noisy bones, whichever kind of bones. It's looking to be a month of rattling skeletons and good reads!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wDGEQeHtoJdxdowrKqlU4GGWMETESIhhgvrJiJIdOiDKXFweWqOc-GI9LUZqTNlUzXXupV6gxvSSoSgsWJUX06QBCbzGCP4JiQSQlWcyr0setd_8TDaZ3n7SaSDB4qT_Hb6rqERIJdlN3p74isz1Nfhrua7sD5ikKIvqzRqt3vMc7vNzrDk/s4128/20220928_123544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wDGEQeHtoJdxdowrKqlU4GGWMETESIhhgvrJiJIdOiDKXFweWqOc-GI9LUZqTNlUzXXupV6gxvSSoSgsWJUX06QBCbzGCP4JiQSQlWcyr0setd_8TDaZ3n7SaSDB4qT_Hb6rqERIJdlN3p74isz1Nfhrua7sD5ikKIvqzRqt3vMc7vNzrDk/w320-h240/20220928_123544.jpg" title="Book Spines" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Book Back Bones</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Need some inspiration? Here's a list of books I cobbled together:</p><p>1.) <a href="https://amzn.to/3CeVuHe" target="_blank">Black as Death: A Collection of Cafe Cozy Mysteries by Kate Swenson et al.</a> (Mysteries)<br /><br />2.) Skeleton Tree by Kim Ventrella (Middle Grade)</p><p>3.) Little Bird by Tiffany Meuret (Contemporary Fantasy)</p><p>4.) Human Body Theater by Maris Wicks (Childrens Graphic Novel)</p><p>5.) The Curse of Madame "C" by Gary Larson (Cartoon)</p><p>6.) Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman (YA Western)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdenPNKQODNrd8K48vScp_AvGZPHi4d-H_vzGHK2nM49i1B1MwxIzWrZ_lSoH0EYzuVhdkcx6-7h6TOsDL-mbrwD9pjbcT5XaCb3R4cVhdpan_pDe6u7m1yrx4rVAnAxvtjy-Dy9PYAezkEo2JhJH9pQTOVI9E8NdBleunDZUePdvzBtnttU/s403/vengeance_road_book.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdenPNKQODNrd8K48vScp_AvGZPHi4d-H_vzGHK2nM49i1B1MwxIzWrZ_lSoH0EYzuVhdkcx6-7h6TOsDL-mbrwD9pjbcT5XaCb3R4cVhdpan_pDe6u7m1yrx4rVAnAxvtjy-Dy9PYAezkEo2JhJH9pQTOVI9E8NdBleunDZUePdvzBtnttU/s320/vengeance_road_book.png" width="213" /></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A Western eBook</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Beautiful Cover!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p>Still looking for the right read? Check out these links:</p><p>1.) <a href="https://booksbonesbuffy.com/2021/09/28/twelve-books-with-bones-on-the-cover-top-ten-tuesday/">Twelve Books With Bones on the Cover – Top Ten Tuesday – Books, Bones & Buffy</a></p><p>2.) Goodreads List: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/127866.Skulls_And_Bones_Book_Covers" target="_blank">Skull and Bones Book Covers</a></p><p>3.) Scholastics: <a href="https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/10-skeleton-themed-stories-every-age.html" target="_blank">10 Skeleton-Themed Stories for Every Age</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipCO4L3G15_XWgz9-6Y1nvObHKFmAjjniJ06-Aa_cqYXB2FqbJcCkSYJrLwJXqEH9YKqZunTHfDBcYjp59I38E7CS4wgx5iRgiK3yEUKTQ9o7a95rvYBH3b762FgmPWogRKNmVgPAO4oUIfXNwGfNTbwW0eGpeXe6mKnWX2YuwaryZR6ij48/s469/james.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipCO4L3G15_XWgz9-6Y1nvObHKFmAjjniJ06-Aa_cqYXB2FqbJcCkSYJrLwJXqEH9YKqZunTHfDBcYjp59I38E7CS4wgx5iRgiK3yEUKTQ9o7a95rvYBH3b762FgmPWogRKNmVgPAO4oUIfXNwGfNTbwW0eGpeXe6mKnWX2YuwaryZR6ij48/s320/james.png" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>James Weldon Johnson</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Unknown Photographer, Public Domain</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/dry-bones-lyrics-video.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dry Bones by <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">James Weldon Johnson</span></span></span></a></b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"</span></span></div><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">"Oh, hear the word of the Lord."</div></span><p></p><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The foot bone connected to the leg bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The leg bone connected to the knee bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The thigh bone connected to the back bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The back bone connected to the neck bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The neck bone connected to the head bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, hear the word of the Lord!</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, hear the word of the Lord.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The head bone connected to the neck bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The neck bone connected to the back bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The back bone connected to the thigh bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The thigh bone connected to the knee bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The knee bone connected to the leg bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">The leg bone connected to the foot bone,</div></span><span style="background-color: #fcffee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, hear the word of the Lord!</div></span>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-59371956967791691862022-09-25T12:31:00.007-07:002022-09-25T13:47:25.674-07:00First Place!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuH5Egmp2cM4cV7_kflUZVgrRMSmKyLIHPkS5oJt04qLn7S1VBxbj1xy193otmcsGEMgMCxsstZN5zH5BDmWTjH8NUKjIw9eaS_eB9Xgddr28J4E23WiKtr3a9f-kE2bKK2kRQL6b4AbNcO8HYgI96KBIol35NYLXIAhe7kxLkq7rknyHdzQ/s1084/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-25%20at%2010.56.57%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1082" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuH5Egmp2cM4cV7_kflUZVgrRMSmKyLIHPkS5oJt04qLn7S1VBxbj1xy193otmcsGEMgMCxsstZN5zH5BDmWTjH8NUKjIw9eaS_eB9Xgddr28J4E23WiKtr3a9f-kE2bKK2kRQL6b4AbNcO8HYgI96KBIol35NYLXIAhe7kxLkq7rknyHdzQ/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-25%20at%2010.56.57%20AM.png" width="319" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pnwa.org/page/winners2022" target="_blank">PNWA Literary Contest Winner</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Short Story</i><br /></div><p></p><p>After my dad passed away, I hunched over my writing desk and wrote a fiction short story to process my grief. What was happening to my dad? What was he thinking in those last days? Where did he go? This story touched my heart. I cried while writing it...I cried while editing it...I cried again after taking first place at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2022 Conference.</p><p>I could feel my dad with me in spirit at the awards dinner last night, and if I could have, I would've hugged him. Thank you, Dad, for the love and the inspiration.<br /></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-79504770721023122182022-06-22T16:47:00.006-07:002022-09-25T13:47:09.402-07:00June 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO BLACKOUT!<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrraLSvHk6-PnCxS5FOVbOa-9YuJXNiweZpscIYiuUw86sPVF2EBVDwWhf5khrJjaCsBcPvv9J5rJx4pdyk61kxUJy1AsIXVwIU768MePByGDFhnd6-TvBINPqttxkqrjzQMMqiub-iKDHTi38Mkevg7-JGqOvjlzlZn_S0mMxTwzfCRDoes4/s1126/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-22%20at%205.03.20%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVd9KzQc0sQ5jL6KT9N62FJ3K5RKPRESRVQsc78wLWnwqwOe_DEWe0sLeURIPHwHJWcquvWYsl37lhU4RJIPiC22stCPFX4mcDXAuXdx3nbYa7yiNXjPa4IVy57QGpsTgFTWS_kbcLFAXdovSIqWthSO8AA69q6DuRr564wioAsyihTPdP_A/s2887/readchallenge_BINGOJun2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2887" data-original-width="2556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVd9KzQc0sQ5jL6KT9N62FJ3K5RKPRESRVQsc78wLWnwqwOe_DEWe0sLeURIPHwHJWcquvWYsl37lhU4RJIPiC22stCPFX4mcDXAuXdx3nbYa7yiNXjPa4IVy57QGpsTgFTWS_kbcLFAXdovSIqWthSO8AA69q6DuRr564wioAsyihTPdP_A/s320/readchallenge_BINGOJun2022.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stacia Leigh's Cozy Reading Challenge</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>BINGO card</i><br /></div><p></p><p>Half a year of reading with a BINGO here and a BINGO there, and I'm truly ready for a blackout. Found some favorites and even found a couple to buy for my shelf. I posted Amazon links to my recommended reads. Here's the breakdown:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R1C1: One-word title: <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3BGnnGz" target="_blank">CABLE by Jeffrey A. Pitts</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R1C2: Set in the northwest: <a href="https://amzn.to/3LFhVIH" target="_blank"><b>WONDERLAND POEMS by Matthew Dickman</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R1C3: Repeat Read: <a href="https://amzn.to/3LyUpgA" target="_blank"><b>THE EX-GAMES by Jennifer Echols</b></a> </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R1C4: A Rec-o-mended book: EVENTOWN by Corey Ann Haydu</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R1C5: Picture book: <a href="https://amzn.to/3r2yLHW" target="_blank"><b>WAITING by Kevin Henkes</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R2C1: Non-fiction: <a href="https://amzn.to/3CcpYtH" target="_blank"><b>27 PRINCIPLES OF STORY BY Daniel Joshua Rubin</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R2C2: By an independent author: <a href="https://amzn.to/3r6FMYd" target="_blank"><b>WINDS OF SKILAK by Bonnie Rose</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R2C3: A number in the title: <a href="https://amzn.to/3R04DYo" target="_blank"><b>2K to 10K, HOW TO WRITE FASTER by Rachel Aaron</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R2C4: Bottom of your To Be Read pile: WHERE THE WORLD ENDS by Geraldine McCaughrean </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R2C5: Blue cover: BOOK ARCHITECTURE by Stuart Horwitz</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R3C1: <a href="https://littlefreelibrary.org/" style="color: #44b9d2; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Little Free Library</a> find: ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME by Beth Harbison<br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R3C2: About your dream job: <a href="https://amzn.to/3BBPW8c" target="_blank"><b>HOW TO BE AN EXPLORER OF THE WORLD by Keri Smith</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R3C3: Free space: <a href="https://amzn.to/3fgfZtW" target="_blank"><b>SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND OTHER POEMS by Janet Wong</b></a> </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R3C4: A holiday story: HONEYMOON FOR ONE by Jennifer Peel </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R3C5: Memoir: ABOUT MY MOTHER BY Peggy Rowe</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R4C1: Set in nature: <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3fdb8tK" target="_blank">WILD BIRD by Wendelin Van Draanen</a></b> </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R4C2: A cultural find: <a href="https://amzn.to/3xLGazi" target="_blank"><b>AMAL UNBOUND by Aisha Saeed </b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R4C3: Made into a movie: <a href="https://amzn.to/3C2L9ht" target="_blank"><b>GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R4C4: YA romance by Stacia Leigh: <a href="https://amzn.to/3DMEjhB" target="_blank"><b>DEALING WITH BLUE by Stacia Leigh</b></a> </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R4C5: A forgotten classic: YELLOW WALLPAPER by Charlotte Gilman </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R5C1: Sci-fi or fantasy: DAUGHTER OF YS by M.T. Anderson </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R5C2: Based on a true story: <a href="https://amzn.to/3LEC6GY" target="_blank"><b>WINDS OF SKILAK THE CONTINUING SAGA by Bonnie Rose</b></a> </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R5C3: A scary book: <a href="https://amzn.to/3S57hNH" target="_blank"><b>DANGEROUS PRAYERS by Craig Groeschel</b></a> </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R5C4: An award winner: <a href="https://amzn.to/3xJM7MY" target="_blank"><b>RUNNING DREAM by Wendelin Van Draanen</b></a> </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">R5C5: Art, poetry, or play: <a href="https://amzn.to/3UwN7hr" target="_blank"><b>MOTHER by Maya Angelou</b></a> </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">It was fun while it lasted. Now I'm going to run off and read whatever the heck I want. Enjoy your summer reads, my friends! </div></div>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-73030888688255037662022-03-28T16:39:00.003-07:002022-09-22T16:52:58.519-07:00March 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XZHXuTfUWcl07drcRR0ItKdWPbA5D6qZ0RV6ur9l3tK7Im2ziGA73Xe2lQHaPxjbu58cSg9SlACb4qTVpio9b2k0e1gT0IBznhfYgn3bUHuNlBjYNhXBv4Ls6veduarhE1krLhwJQjU8Xq4OaAqqyoUPTJjkaproeNdAT2kSQyEPakOxT14/s3170/readchallenge_BINGOMar2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2517" data-original-width="3170" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XZHXuTfUWcl07drcRR0ItKdWPbA5D6qZ0RV6ur9l3tK7Im2ziGA73Xe2lQHaPxjbu58cSg9SlACb4qTVpio9b2k0e1gT0IBznhfYgn3bUHuNlBjYNhXBv4Ls6veduarhE1krLhwJQjU8Xq4OaAqqyoUPTJjkaproeNdAT2kSQyEPakOxT14/s320/readchallenge_BINGOMar2022.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Five in a row...fourth BINGO!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My two favorite reads.<br /></div><p></p><p> </p><p>SET IN THE NORTHWEST<br />Wonderland: Poems by Matthew Dickman (Poetry) - 4 out of 5 stars.<i> <br />The eighties were a dreary time in Portland, yet the author's words seemed as apropos then as they do now, which inspired my ode to Wonderland:</i></p><p></p><blockquote>This is Portland then and now.<br />This is Seattle, too, a green and seedy place, full of despair.<br />This is pills and brown powder on the streets and spent needles floating on puddles.<br />This is home to Billionaire Bill.<br />This is sprawling suburbia where neighbors in beige McMansions whisper behind their hands, "They're new here."<br />This is twenty years of "We should get together," on the other side of the fence.<br />This is the weather, wet, moist, gray, pushing people into their living rooms to collectively hate the color orange.<br />This is what 3 a.m. looks like.<br />~by Stacia Leigh<br /></blockquote><p> </p><p>BY AN INDIE AUTHOR<a href="https://amzn.to/3t63LZU" target="_blank"><br />Winds of Skilak</a> by Bonnie Rose Ward (Memoir) - 5 out of 5 stars!<i><br />An adventurous read already mentioned on the <a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/02/february-2022-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">February 2022 BINGO</a> win.</i><br /></p><p></p><p>ABOUT YOUR DREAM JOB<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3JMKT7D" target="_blank">27 Essential Principles of Story</a> by Daniel Joshua Rubin - 5 out of 5 stars!<br /><i>A shelf-worthy book with a new take on story crafting. Highly recommend.</i><br /></p><p>A CULTURAL FIND<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3BCtOsf" target="_blank">Amal Unbound</a> by Aisha Saeed (Middle Grade) - Highly recommend!<br /><i>A fun read already mentioned on the <a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2021/10/october-2021-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">October 2021 BINGO</a> win.</i></p><p>BASED ON A TRUE STORY<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3DxNFM5" target="_blank">Winds of Skilak: The Continuing Saga</a> by Bonnie Rose Ward (Memoir) - 5 out of 5 stars!<br /><i>The author certainly lived an adventurous and dangerous life. I think she should write a cook book next or maybe even one on canning. How many jars does it take to can a moose or a bear? Loved this series and would recommend it to anyone who's interested in homesteading, Alaska, or just being in the great outdoors.</i><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Follow the BINGO wins here:<br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/09/june-2022-reading-challenge-bingo.html">June 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Blackout!</a><br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/02/february-2022-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">February 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a><br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/01/january-2022-bingo-update.html" target="_blank">January 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a><br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2021/10/october-2021-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">October 2021 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>______________________________________________</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Want to join the fun? Click <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1175066141/reading-bingo-card?click_key=19b75b0202676c19f2d0db8f6901d82ca8b58166%3A1175066141&click_sum=e9f64388&ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">here</a> to get your own BINGO card on Etsy.</i></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-70453287326387438632022-03-11T15:54:00.010-08:002022-03-13T18:53:56.129-07:00Greeting Card Challenges<p>Are you like me with a closet full of paper, glue, and other supplies that only see the light of day once a year? Do you order things online--like stickers and stamps--only to add them to a bin, out of sight, out of mind until the next crafting retreat? Are you a tool collector? A paper saver?</p><p>If you answered yes, we might be twinsies! I recently made a vow to only shop from my stash and not buy any more stuff (already broken thanks to finding a like-new Cuttlebug at the thrift store). But I'm making somewhat of a dent after learning of the <a href="https://www.bringsmilestoseniors.com/" target="_blank"><b>Bring Smiles to Seniors</b></a> nonprofit organization that accepts greeting card donations for seniors. It inspired me to GET BUSY because if I donate 2,500 cards I'll get "Angel" status. Uh, oh...a challenge! Lol. So far I've made a bag of 50, so I have a ways to go yet...hence, the list of prompts below:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLGa7ZMnj8Vhd00qj4eN4s-jCKCPJ-Xc59louBskjbTPR2NDOxUt_74wPEJNaEv5-hJ8dywfDCSitvQlrpaOvMlysPzmDxi-v2obozBVpElEe_LlcwOEuMRi2XPLv9e3xxeMxPvs2D3NJlqVj6e3Lrm7FZ78Cl-Uw9xJyZNA3bYP74X7VT1iY=s833" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLGa7ZMnj8Vhd00qj4eN4s-jCKCPJ-Xc59louBskjbTPR2NDOxUt_74wPEJNaEv5-hJ8dywfDCSitvQlrpaOvMlysPzmDxi-v2obozBVpElEe_LlcwOEuMRi2XPLv9e3xxeMxPvs2D3NJlqVj6e3Lrm7FZ78Cl-Uw9xJyZNA3bYP74X7VT1iY=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">52 Weeks of Greeting Card Prompts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>And I'd be remiss if I didn't turn it into a BINGO game. You know...design...fun stuff. If you're on Instagram and feel like participating, be sure to tag your projects with #greetingcardchallenge and/or #greetingcardbingo to join in the fun. See you there! <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxlN1NYkTBLCfwqpmqd_u0Bxt2Yrh1X-JMSbdeSYx6xW8l3ie27U4n9LJqPWLE1EJzL1sCZVOFLIe_PaWu1VguoX0_uXHKdb7vJaABkJid4fWkPi2BBfeLW2ic9v4umXCNxOqJUY0ZWXvSaLg9sgFApORGbsSYRnoAXWLTNLPPv7xFxJzziek=s833" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxlN1NYkTBLCfwqpmqd_u0Bxt2Yrh1X-JMSbdeSYx6xW8l3ie27U4n9LJqPWLE1EJzL1sCZVOFLIe_PaWu1VguoX0_uXHKdb7vJaABkJid4fWkPi2BBfeLW2ic9v4umXCNxOqJUY0ZWXvSaLg9sgFApORGbsSYRnoAXWLTNLPPv7xFxJzziek=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Greeting Card Challenge - BINGO</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">___________________________________________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9YSI4OVXPs7RDGkI8Jp1iSYL9OIVbs65kRU3wPsF82r11bBtnkezbYUUxTjDcxoM6tWIVw1MtFQ-OqZMPSNZC0q_VDhMvuZByJbEzrvjbhm_q1puK1RqCsjfRRvt8xSTlU8I_AhbrCtKoN8nAAsb7sPgiGZBqMdt0g5WPRugA_hTyxncnjnA=s661" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="661" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9YSI4OVXPs7RDGkI8Jp1iSYL9OIVbs65kRU3wPsF82r11bBtnkezbYUUxTjDcxoM6tWIVw1MtFQ-OqZMPSNZC0q_VDhMvuZByJbEzrvjbhm_q1puK1RqCsjfRRvt8xSTlU8I_AhbrCtKoN8nAAsb7sPgiGZBqMdt0g5WPRugA_hTyxncnjnA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"She aint nothin' but a goal digger." ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dmarzdesigns/" target="_blank">@DMarzDesigns</a></div><p></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-87383932531315534852022-02-07T11:25:00.004-08:002022-09-22T16:51:32.725-07:00February 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN5afVJZ9XLLIuJPuldlBHsBUlpPPfPG3AN6qOxxW0xlScaSUwnZhofhd2tto4eoCsYtmjPFvtFSWQ75KhpW3STWxhjFrHTQSsmdVpy2B3EoGD1JvhdBiqW-TXSqPd5sA7gJaJCM8t5k-MLCAne7XTLlXh4lSW8IQPR1DNCqjSvw-8BkVCtJo=s1800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN5afVJZ9XLLIuJPuldlBHsBUlpPPfPG3AN6qOxxW0xlScaSUwnZhofhd2tto4eoCsYtmjPFvtFSWQ75KhpW3STWxhjFrHTQSsmdVpy2B3EoGD1JvhdBiqW-TXSqPd5sA7gJaJCM8t5k-MLCAne7XTLlXh4lSW8IQPR1DNCqjSvw-8BkVCtJo=s320" width="320" /></a><br />Five in a row...third BINGO!<br /></div><p> </p><p>ONE-WORD TITLE<br /><i>Something a little different for this one: I read an as-yet-to-be-published manuscript for a friend that crosses off this BINGO box for the win! A great book that I'll be able to talk about VERY soon.</i></p><p>BY AN INDIE AUTHOR<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3t63LZU" target="_blank">Winds of Skilak</a> by Bonnie Rose Ward (Memoir) - 5 out of 5 stars!<br /><i>The pages were filled to the brim with hardships, wild critters, and adventure. I was truly sad for it to end, but thankfully there's another book by this author, the saga continues.</i><br /></p><p>FREE SPACE<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3qV3BBU" target="_blank">A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems</a> by Janet S. Wong (poetry) - 5 out of 5 stars!<br /><i>A beautiful and amusing read already mentioned on the <a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/01/january-2022-bingo-update.html" target="_blank">January 2022 BINGO</a> win post.</i></p><p>YA ROMANCE BY STACIA LEIGH<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3t1jkC1" target="_blank">Dealing with Blue</a> by Stacia Leigh (Young Adult Romance) - 5 out of 5 stars!<br /><i>I
published this in 2015 and after reading it through with a lens of six more years of experience (more books written and published, judging contests, and providing critiques), I gave my debut baby a little polish. Update your Kindle or buy a new copy. It's now <b>New & Improved!</b><br /></i></p><p>ART POETRY OR PLAY<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3qStiD9" target="_blank">Mother: A Cradle to Hold Me</a> by Maya Angelou (Poetry) - 5 out of 5 stars!<br /><i>Short and sweet and nearly made me cry. Highly recommend.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Follow the BINGO wins here:<a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/09/june-2022-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank"><br />June 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Blackout!</a><br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/03/march-2022-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">March 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a><br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/01/january-2022-bingo-update.html" target="_blank">January 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a><br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2021/10/october-2021-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">October 2021 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a><i></i></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>______________________________________________</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Want to join the fun? Click <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1175066141/reading-bingo-card?click_key=19b75b0202676c19f2d0db8f6901d82ca8b58166%3A1175066141&click_sum=e9f64388&ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">here</a> to get your own BINGO card on Etsy.</i></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23894869.post-2357542905248193902022-01-02T08:00:00.139-08:002022-09-22T16:53:43.228-07:00January 2022 Reading Challenge: A BINGO Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ439XfDeyp3A2ljLMxCMd9wp3-r683c0drk01SZBdLQ7PLvRJxZAoNI-Vxn-CZoy3cwh0mbJFLQw58-85MAvtld8CYGhFSTFd6rNqKvvdLuEgvXCyjST3RAWCg8X7ZQBtokJ65_nbVEtzalARsNj2Ci5tatxhMo704_r6LtgGLcEV_ci-rmo=s2911" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2911" data-original-width="2424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ439XfDeyp3A2ljLMxCMd9wp3-r683c0drk01SZBdLQ7PLvRJxZAoNI-Vxn-CZoy3cwh0mbJFLQw58-85MAvtld8CYGhFSTFd6rNqKvvdLuEgvXCyjST3RAWCg8X7ZQBtokJ65_nbVEtzalARsNj2Ci5tatxhMo704_r6LtgGLcEV_ci-rmo=s320" width="266" /></a></div> Five in a row...second BINGO! <br /></div><p></p><p>I'm taking the long way around this Bingo card, but I've finally managed another BINGO win, starting the New Year on the right foot. Here's what I've read so far (Amazon links included): <br /></p><p>REPEAT READ<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3n17HHt" target="_blank">The Ex Games</a> by Jennifer Echols (Young Adult Romance) 4 out of 5 stars.<br /><i>A romantic comedy with lots of snow-filled high jinks. It's a quick read and perfect for the holidays.</i><br /></p><p>A NUMBER IN THE TITLE<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3pX81ZN" target="_blank">2000 to 10,000: How to Write Faster, Write Better, and Write More of What You Love</a> by Rachel Aaron (Nonfiction) 4 out of 5 stars.<br /><i>What's this book about? Exactly what the title says. It's a quick and motivational read for a dedicated writer.</i><br /></p><p>FREE SPACE<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3t6QoZH" target="_blank">A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems</a> by Janet S. Wong (Poetry) 5 out of 5 stars!<br /><i>The author denotes beautiful and amusing words depicting family pride, being Korean, Chinese, and American. I loved this one.</i><br /></p><p>MADE INTO A MOVIE<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/34fSg7O" target="_blank">Gone Girl</a> by Gillian Flynn (Suspense) 4 out of 5 stars.<i><br />A fun read already mentioned on the <a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2021/10/october-2021-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">October 2021 BINGO</a> win.<br /></i></p><p>A SCARY BOOK<br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3F3x9SN" target="_blank">Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe</a> by Craig Groeschel (Spiritual) 5 out of 5 stars!<br /><i>I'd never read a book about prayer before, but the cover and title sounded scary enough to cross off this BINGO square. All said and done, it did the job in more ways than one. I'd recommend.</i></p><p><i> </i></p><p>Follow the BINGO wins here:<br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/09/june-2022-reading-challenge-bingo.html">June 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Blackout!</a><br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/03/march-2022-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">March 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2022/02/february-2022-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank"><br />February 2022 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a><br /><a href="http://www.espialdesign.com/2021/10/october-2021-reading-challenge-bingo.html" target="_blank">October 2021 Reading Challenge: BINGO Update</a><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>______________________________________________</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Want to join the fun? Click <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1175066141/reading-bingo-card?click_key=19b75b0202676c19f2d0db8f6901d82ca8b58166%3A1175066141&click_sum=e9f64388&ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">here</a> to get your own BINGO card on Etsy. <br /></i></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330837800904926920noreply@blogger.com0