Sunday, November 01, 2015

It's Sunday/Monday: Check-In Time



Linking up with Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer and It's Monday! What are You Reading? now hosted by Kathryn @Book Date

On the home front: 
This week was tough going with my hands. I managed to make a few soups with veggies from our garden which was pretty exciting. Yeah I know ... but it's the little things. Spinach soup (an old recipe from my mum) and Coconut Curried Cauliflower Soup ... might do a weekend cooking post. So darn good!

Eek where did October go?? 

Mia played dress up for Halloween. Isn't she the cutest little skeleton! We haven't ever had trick or treaters knock at the door but we've decided next year it's time for another Halloween party. 6 years ago was the last one, for my eldest's 18th birthday. 


Finally saw the movie The Martian today and ... we loved it. The book was better; obviously more content and more humour but the movie didn't disappoint and the cinematography was pretty awesome. 

It's scrapbook retreat this coming weekend and yet again I'm not organised so I'm not sure how much time I'll have for reading and reviewing ... oops. Like I need a reason to NOT take care of that review backlog haha


#FitReaders Weekly Check-In


 
#FitReaders co-hosted by Felicia @ Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and Jen @ That’s What I’m Talking AboutFitReaders is a great way to stay motivated, accountable and it's more fun having bloggy friends to check in with. If you also have a fitbit and want to add me, let me know :)  

Check in for October thru to December is with Jen That’s What I’m Talking About. I'm definitely in again for November. Such a fun, supportive group. 

Felt pretty flat this week. Chatted on the phone to a friend, we both walked while we talked and I ended up feeling a little brighter. Nothing like friend therapy :)

Fitbit Steps:
Mon: 8308 steps ~ swim
Tue: 10,574 steps ~ 1 hour walk
Wed: 9235 steps ~ walk with Bella
Thurs: 7583 steps
Fri: 5100 steps ~ meh
Sat: 8319 steps ~ walk with Mia and Bella/gardening/park
Sun: 8605 steps ~ walk with Bella 



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Reviews & Posts: (click on title) 

MENAGERIE by Rachel Vincent (audiobook) ~ freakin awesome!! Might even be THE book of the year :))

AFTER YOU by Jojo Moyes (Me Before You #2) ~ enjoyed this so much. Meaningful, but in a quieter way than Me Before You.

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Finished last week: 

ALL I WANT by Jill Shalvis (Animal Magnetism #7) ~ I love this series

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This Week's Reading List: 


MEDICIS DAUGHTER by Sophie Perinot ~ book tour

THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen (audiobook) ~ meh, can't say I see what all the fuss is about, but I'm still going.

Maybe another audio? I do have another library borrow waiting

VANESSA AND HER SISTER by Priya Parmar (audiobook)

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Reviews Coming: 

BURNT PAPER SKY by Gillie Macmillan ~ OMG heart-in-mouth psychological thriller

THE OUTBACK MIDWIFE by Beth McRae (audiobook) ~ loved this memoir

UNDER THE MOON by Gabriele Wills (Muskoka Trilogy #3) ~ good until the abrupt end, then I realised the trilogy is no longer a trilogy. Not sure when book 4 is due for release.

THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE by Amy E. Reichert ~ another fave this year

ALMOST FRENCH by Sarah Turnball (audiobook) ~ loved it

NOVEMBER 9 by Colleen Hoover ~ YAY CoHo I love you. Book tour review 19th Nov




40 comments:

  1. So sorry about your hands and hope you can get some relief this week! Glad you had a friend to visit with. Your little skeleton is precious!! And I'll be interested in hearing what you thought about Burnt Paper Sky - a good one, right? Take care!

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    1. Thanks Kay. Yes Burnt Paper Sky was great ... fingers crossed review up this week!

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  2. Mia looks adorable! Have a great week.

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  3. Sorry about your hands :( She looks adorable in her costume!!!!!!! And YAY!!! for seeing The Martian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Doesn't she lol. Finally got there Julie, Mike and I both loved it but the book still wins :))

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  4. I'm sorry your hands are bothering you. :( I hope it gets better. A Halloween party sounds awesome!! I would love to have one some day. Mia is just the CUTEST!!

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    1. Thanks Brandie, a 'meh' week so I'm patting myself on the back for actually moving lol. We have the perfect excuse for a Halloween party with my son's birthday. Halloween parties are taking off in Australia, trick or treating not so much.

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  5. I plan to download November 9 as soon as I can...and I also want After You.

    Mia is so cute....thanks for sharing!

    Enjoy your week...and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. I loved November 9 ... hope you do too Laurel. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Sorry to hear about your hand pain. I hope you feel better this week! Glad you got to spend some time with Mia. Such a cute picture!

    I want to see The Martian but I will probably wait till it is out on DVD. I never did finish the book. I will have to give it a try some other time.

    That's too bad about The Queen of the Tearling. I bought it when it was on sale but still haven't read it. I am curious about Vanessa and Her Sister. I've got it on the list of possible book discussion books for next year.

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    1. Spending time with my granddaughter tops my list of favourite things to do. Yeah I probably should have had a break from audiobooks after The Martian and Menagerie ... hard acts to follow.
      I loved Priyar Palmar's Exit the Actress so I just have to read Vanessa and Her Sister

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  7. Oh I'm so sorry about your hands! That must be so frustrating. I love the idea of a Halloween party and Mia looks beyond adorable! Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks Katherine, I get frustrated when I can't do the things I want to do but good days and bad days so ... staying positive. You have a wonderful week too!

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  8. I empathize about your hands. Mine are painful right now too. Your soups sound delicious. You got me hungry now. LOL
    Mia looks adorable as a skeleton:)

    My Sunday Post - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/11/01/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-134-and-the-sunday-post/

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  9. The week sounds hectic but then which week isnt! Mia looks so sweet. My grand daughter of two and a bit was a pumpkin!

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    1. oh so cute Mystica, they look so adorable in dress up when they're little :)

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  10. Yes, glad you loved the Martian. Mia looks adorable!! I miss dressing up our little ones, but we have fun handing out candy and toys to little ones in the neighborhood.

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    1. I miss that too Kimberly my daughter in law sent me the very cute pic of Mia, I'm sure there'll be more as she gets older.

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  11. I still have to see The Martian. I just saw the trailer last night and now that I've read the book - I really want to see it. Maybe my dad will go with me next weekend.

    Just bounce back this week and you'll be moving again really soon!

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    1. Thanks Jen, bouncing away lol. Fingers crossed you get to see The Martian, can't wait to see what you think since we're both raving over the audio.

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    1. the cutest ... but I guess this nonna is a bit biased lol

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  13. Mm, love soup this time of year. Must be the cold weather... and I do want to see The Martian, it sound so good.

    Aww, cute skeleton. Glad you guys had fun. :)

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  14. Mia does indeed look very cute! As you know I was at my mum's and we ended up with one group of 3 teenage boys knocking on the door and that was it! More chocolate frogs for me however!

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  15. Mm the soup sounds wonderful and so satisfying when ingredients come from your own garden - full of goodness. Mia is the best looking skeleton I've ever seen!
    So happy to know you enjoyed The Martian, naturally the book had more but I felt they did a good a job as possible.
    Sorry to hear your hands have been so bad, so hard to have such a chronic disorder with no respite. Take care, nice to have friend therapy.
    Hope the scrapbook retreat goes well and you make something gorgeous.
    I see you are persevering with The Tearling, I see the second book on the shelves but not feeling the push to get it or even read it.

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  16. Mia looks adorable!! The scrapbook retreat sounds like a lot of fun. I have never been on one but my friends have. I just borrowed The Queen of the Tearling audiobook from my library. Is it bad? lol. I'll start this tomorrow since I am waiting for other audiobooks. I hope you have a good week!!

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  17. Mia is too cute! Love the costume! I still haven't seen The Martian, but it's good to hear a report from someone who has also read the book. Maybe I'll see it this week... Enjoy your scrapbooking retreat!

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  18. I am sure that cute little skeleton helps distract from the pain. Hope your hands are better. I suffered with terrible tooth pain this weekend and Cole helped. I hope it isn't too involved at the dentist tomorrow to fix. The coconut soup sound delicious! It is soup time here.

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  19. I want to see The Martian but I haven't read the book yet. It will have to wait until then. I'm glad to hear it's good though! Mia is adorable! Enjoy your week!

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  20. I hope you decide to do a weekend cooking post on those soups... both sound delicious!! Hope your hands are better this week. Mia is an adorable little skeleton:)

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  21. I too would love to see the post on the soups. Have a great time at your scapbooking retreat. Take care and have a great week.

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  22. How many cakes are titled after cake or have the word "cake" in the title? I'd like to read each one. Many? don't know.:)

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  23. Mia is adorable. Thanks for the photo.

    ENJOY your books...looks like you had a terrific week.

    Lots of reviews coming up for you.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My It's Monday, What Are You Reading

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  24. I liked Vanessa and Her Sister. I hope you do too!

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  25. She is darling. How fun you had a Halloween party!

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  26. I'm glad you were so positive about Menagerie. I like the author's writing but have been debating about this one because it's not her usual sort of book. Here is a summary of my week. Happy reading!

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  27. Oh my gosh what a cutie!!!! I am sure she will love the Halloween Party next year!

    That cauliflower soup sounds amazing!

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  28. Oh my gosh what a cutie!!!! I am sure she will love the Halloween Party next year!

    That cauliflower soup sounds amazing!

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