Sunday, November 08, 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: 
We missed not having my granddaughter this weekend but I did see her earlier in the week for a swim and garden/park play date. Scrapbook retreat was a lot of fun, I found some creative mojo but the best part is always catching up with friends. Will post photos next week. 

It's been hot and steamy this week building up to ferocious storms in some places in QLD but we've been lucky here in Brisbane. The rain has been wonderful for our veggie plot, everything is growing madly. 

I love having home grown flowers inside and sweet peas are a favourite, they only last a few days cut but they're such a beautiful little flower with a gorgeous fragrance.




#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 pushed myself early in the week as there's always lots of sitting around at scrapbook retreat and finished up about 10% over target. 

Fitbit Steps:
Mon: 8180 steps
Tue: 11,266 steps ~ swim with the fam and walk with Bella
Wed: 9589 steps ~ walk with Bella
Thurs: 12,514 steps ~ walk with Bella
Fri: 9212 steps 
Sat: 4942 steps ~ eating, talking and a little scrapping
Sun: 6005 steps ~ repeat :)

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Reviews & Posts: (click on title) 

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

BE BRAVE, PINK PIG by Phil Cummings & Sarah Davis ~ a Mia/Nonna review from Nonna's Library and a favourite picture book 

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Finished last week: 

THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen (audiobook) ~ this ended up being an OK read for me, not sure if I'll continue. Who's read book 2 Invasion of the Tearling? Thoughts? 

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This Week's Reading List: 


MEDICIS DAUGHTER by Sophie Perinot ~ book tour

ALONG THE INFINITE SEA by Beatriz Williams ~ had to have it after Kathryn @ Book Date declared it an October favourite

VANESSA AND HER SISTER by Priya Parmar (audiobook) 

THE INFORMATIONIST by Taylor Stevens (Vanessa Michael Munroe #1) ~ finally making a start on this series

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Reviews Coming: 

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

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

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



43 comments:

  1. Sounds like you've had a lovely week! I'm glad the storms gave you a miss. The flowers look gorgeous. I love the idea of having home grown flowers inside but somehow I never quite make it happen. I have a grand idea of having a cutting garden but have yet to make it happen! Have a great week!

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    1. I wish I had more flowers to cut ... I'd have them in every room lol.

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  2. I want November 9...and I love the look of Burnt Paper Sky. The author has another book I've wanted to get my hands on...What She Knew.

    Enjoy your week...and now I can smell the Sweet Peas. My grandmother had them.

    Here are
    MY WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. What She Knew is the US title for Burnt Paper Sky, I mentioned that in my review, I think it's due for US release in early Dec.
      ... that's such a lovely memory

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  3. Awesome fitness report! It's a lot of walking to get 12K steps!

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    1. Thanks Steph, I'd love to be doing 10,000 steps per day but that's pretty tough to keep up :)

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  4. Great week! Those flowers are beautiful. I had a good week. Lots of fun visiting with my folks on vacation, too!

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    1. Good week for both of us, so nice your mum is really into walking too

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  5. I love sweet pea too, and their scent. Sounds like the srapbooking weekend was just what the doctor ordered. Great walking too. Yes rain is so important for garden, I bought some pea straw to put on this year, never done that before. Yes I am not sure about the second Tearling book with so much to read I just haven't been drawn. Hope you like The Infinite Sea when you get to it!! The Outback Midwife I saw on NetGalley and was tempted but as you liked it I'll keep it in mind.

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    1. pea straw, I've not even heard of that ... we put lucerne on the garden to keep the moisture in and the weeds down, it's so much better than sugar cane mulch.
      I need to get my review done for Outback Midwife, it was like a walk through the history of nursing and midwifery in Australia and the places in the NT are places I've lived or visited, so it was extra special. Thoroughly recommend the audio!

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  6. Good week :) And have another great week!

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  7. It's always nice in the spring when everything starts growing, especially the garden stuff (just not the lawn which needs cutting every few days seems like, LOL). Be Brave, Pink Pig looks like a cute kids book, and Along the Infinite Sea just looks nice, with that cover. Very resort- ish. :)

    Have a super week!

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    Replies
    1. ugh lawn mowing, I'm so glad we don't have acreage lol. It was the cover of Along the Infinite Sea that got me before I read all the wonderful reviews.

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  8. Looking forward to your thoughts on THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE . I loved that one. Your flowers are gorgeous. Hope your week is amazing!

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    Replies
    1. lol must do that review, I loved it, I'm just slack ;)

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  9. Gorgeous flowers. I have heard great things about Burnt Paper Sky. Looks good. Have a good week.

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    Replies
    1. Burnt Paper Sky is an incredible debut, hope you pick it up Emma.

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  10. I'm hearing about Colleen Hoover a lot. I didn't even know if her stuff was out here in Australia. Keen to hear what you think.

    And those flowers are just beautiful!

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    Replies
    1. my friend Karen who guest reviews on my blog occasionally has been a fan of CoHo for years. She nagged until I promised to give her a go and I'm so glad I did lol. I've now read 3 or 4

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  11. Those flowers are beautiful and I can't wait to see your pictures from your retreat. I haven't scrapbooked in a long time so you might inspire me to start again. I'm listening to the Queen of Tearling and I almost stopped. It was really boring in the beginning but so far it is ok for me too. I'm going to give it a couple more days then decide if I want to DNF. I hope you have a good week!

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    1. Queen of the Tearling turned out to be an ok read even though half way through I was thinking 'meh' ... keen to see if you finish it. For an ok read, I'm surprised I'm still tempted by book 2 lol

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  12. Replies
    1. more talking than scrapping but I did get a few LO's done Julie lol

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  13. I wish it was spring here! Those flowers sure are lovely. I am glad you had a nice time at your scrapbooking retreat. Good job with your fitness goals too!

    I look forward to your thoughts on Vanessa and Her Sister. I've got that on my list for next year.

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    1. Thanks Christina, a good week all round for me. I was so happy to see you checking in with Fitreaders too :)

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  14. I hope you love Vanessa Michael Monroe as much as I do! Beautiful flowers. I am waiting for November 9! Have a great week.

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    1. I thought of you Nise`, I know how much you love the series ... fingers crossed :)

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  15. Along the Infinite Sea really caught my eye - looks mighty interesting. I envy you your physical activity - I did manage to run last week - but only once since the haze is still bad here in Singapore. :)

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    1. It was the cover of Along the Infinite Sea that got me before I read all the glowing reviews. Sounds awful Myra, the haze wouldn't be conducive to exercising outside ... hope things clear this week.

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  16. I've read just Infinite Sea and Vanessa and both were very very good.

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    1. Thanks Mystica, I've been a little concerned about Vanessa and her Sister, glad to hear it's a winner!

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  17. Those sweet peas are beautiful!!!

    I have been reading Invasion of the Tearling but have to get it back to the library before I can finish - boo! I am loving it, but then again I quite enjoyed Queen of the Tearling.

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  18. Your flowers are so beautiful - I just love the colors! Have heard great things about the new Beatriz Williams book, and Vanessa and her Sisters looks good, too. Enjoy your week :)

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  19. I noticed your steps on Fitbit - you're doing awesome!! Great work. Such lovely flowers. I wish I had a green thumb. Sigh. Glad to hear you had a great time at the retreat! I'm really curious about Along the Infinite Sea. Knowing Kathryn enjoyed it...excited to see what you think, too!

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  20. It sounds like you had quite a good week - I wish you much of the same for the coming week.

    I've recently picked up scrapbooking again myself. I've dug out my materials for my Christmas scrapbook. I know it makes to scrapbook after an event but I'm scrapbooking last years memories. I think it's a fun way to look back whilst anticipating the upcoming one.

    Beautiful blooms!

    Reading With Jade

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  21. Sounds like you had fun at that scrapbook retreat and got your creative process working. I never scrapbooked myself, but it sounds like a func reative hobby.

    Those flower looks so pretty and I can imagine they smell delicious too! I've been seeing 9 November around quite often lately, it sounds like a good one. I hope you'll have a great week!

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  22. I like the sound of Be Brave, Pink Pig. :) No grand babies, but it sounds so cute.

    Oh...you will LOVE Along the Infinite Sea.

    Have a wonderful week...looks like last week was good.

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

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  23. I really need to catch up on the Animal Magnetism series. I enjoyed the ones I read. Come see what I am reading here. Happy reading!

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  24. Those flowers are gorgeous!! I don't know if I have ever seen Sweet Pea's before! Maybe I will plant them next year.

    I have been thinking about giving scrapbooking a try! I am feeling like creating something lately. :)

    Have a great week!

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  25. Those flowers are gorgeous!! I don't know if I have ever seen Sweet Pea's before! Maybe I will plant them next year.

    I have been thinking about giving scrapbooking a try! I am feeling like creating something lately. :)

    Have a great week!

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  26. I never knew what a sweet pea looked like. They are pretty; what a green thumb you have. A swim and garden playdate sounds so much fun as does your scrapbooking retreat.

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  27. I wasn't terribly keen on Inasion of the Tearling,mi liked Queen better :)

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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