BEST OF BOOKS 2018

These were my favorite books of 2018.  I reached my Goodreads Goal of 100 and surpassed it by 20.  I am currently trying to make a plan for reading in 2019.  Beginning to read again was the best thing I've done in years.  If I had to recommend one book from this list it would be 11/22/63.  Amazing!

Joining in with Jana and Steph for Show Us Your Books Best of 2018

What I've Been Reading October 2018

 I cannot believe that it is almost Thanksgiving and we have one link up left for 2018.

I am Thankful for Books and this link up. 
Thanks Jana and Steph!!!

In October I read these 11 books:

        Stretched Too Thin by Jessica N. Turner ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Ocean at The End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman⭐⭐⭐

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum⭐⭐⭐

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith⭐⭐⭐⭐

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

That Kind of  Mother by Rumaan Alam⭐⭐⭐

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls⭐⭐⭐

Ghost by Jason Reynolds⭐⭐⭐

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry⭐⭐⭐

I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel⭐⭐⭐

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell⭐⭐⭐

  

Books I'd recommend reading: 

 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Stretched too Thin and 

Braving the Wilderness

What I've Been Reading: September 2018

It is the most wonderful time of the year and the month!!!
Show Us Your Books Day.  I'm linking up with Steph and Jana on their 4 year Anniversary of SUYB!!! I enjoy this link up and the great community of readers who share what they read and what they are currently reading.  Can you say TBR explosion!?

All the books I read in September were 3⭐⭐⭐ except for the non-fiction title What School Could be by Ted Dintersmith ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nothing stood out - nothing was terrible

What's Up Next:  In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
Happiness:  The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After by Heather Harpham
(Those are my last two titles in Erin's 9.0 Challenge - will I complete it????)

Goodreads Goal (100) - I'm at 97 books

What I've Been Reading: August 2018

WOW It's already time for my favorite day of the month!!!

August Reads

I'm linking up with Jana and Steph (Show Us Your Books) every 2nd Tuesday of the month to let you know what I've been reading.

I spent most of the month on the struggle bus (a few books took me so long to get through).  I also read less in August than normal (7).  Favorites:  Sing Unburied Sing and The Mountain Between Us.  I have read 6 books for Erin's Challenge and seem to be making good progress with my Goodreads Challenge (87/100).

I'm looking to get into a few spooky reads in October (In a Dark, Dark Wood, Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic).  November will be the big bad 11/22/63.  Thanks for looking!

Celebrating 80 years of MOM

I had a fun time planning a simple birthday party for my mom, who turned 80 on June 3rd.  I picked her favorite restaurant The Old Grist Mill Restaurant in Seekonk Mass.  We didn't tell her too much but did tell her we were going out to dinner on the day of her birthday.  Several months prior my aunt and cousin in Colorado said they were making plans to come.  We decided to keep that a secret.  It was a beautiful day and she really enjoyed the party.  She especially loved that everyone was there.  All 13 of us.  Her two children, their spouses, her four grandchildren +1 grandson's girlfriend, her sister, niece and husband.  She had baked stuffed shrimp (which was yummy as I had it too) and
Jo Jo's cupcakes for dessert.  It was a wonderful day!!

Here are some pictures of the day:

What's New with You? AUGUST 2018

I thought it would be fun to link up with Kristen @ See You In A Porridge for What's New With You? on the 1st Thursday of every month.

Reading:   I am pretty well on target with my Goodreads Challenge (75/100) and also trying to get up to speed with Erin's 9.0 Challenge (have read 3). Currently reading:

Also loving my BookBeaus

Watching:  I have been trying to keep the television off (especially the news) but we do tune in for Big Brother (three times a week which seems like alot)  Mindless fun!

Beaching It:   In the summer I go to the beach at least twice a week.  Here are some of my recent pictures of heaven on earth ;)

Seaglassing:  I have been seaglassing for about 10 years.  I love the adventure of not knowing what you may find.  Here are some of my recent finds.

Photographing Flowers:

Working:  Things will start to get busy around the end of August.  I have two planners ready to go and am getting some new business cards made up at Vistaprint.  I am an educational advocate and support families as they are going through the special education process with their child/children.  This will be my third year doing the work as my own small business.  Cheers to back to school time!!

I'll end this long post with a few quotes I've saved over the past month:

JULY READS: SHOW US YOUR BOOKS!

WOW It's already time for my favorite day of the month!!!

July Reads

I'm linking up with Jana and Steph (Show Us Your Books)

every 2nd Tuesday of the month to let you know what I've been reading

I had a pretty good reading month overall.  I read two books that I liked but took me forever to get through (The Immortalists and Not that I Could Tell).  I listened to When Dimple Met Rishi and loved it!  I was glad to finally read (listen) to some poetry.  You have to listen to A Good Cry, Nikki Giovanni has a wonderfully melodic voice!  I enjoyed Just Mercy but think it is a book I will definitely have to read again (lots of detail).  How to Raise an Adult and  Mystic Summer were good just o.k. and I wasn't that impressed with Summer at Beach Street Bakery or The Year of Less.  Found both boring.   
Happy August Reading!!  

May and June Reads (A Bit Overdue)

Today I am sharing my book reads from May and June.  Overall two very good months for reading.  I was on vacation the second week of June.  I was able to read two books taking place in Bermuda while vacationing there.  I continue to keep up with my Goodreads Reading Challenge (67 out of 100) and will also be participating in Erin's 9.0 Challenge from July 1st to Oct. 31st).  

Joining Jana and Steph For Show Us Your Books:  

MAY

Best of the Month:  A Mother's Reckoning, Salt to the Sea

JUNE

Best of the Month:  Tell Me More, Wildflower, Great Alone 

Erin's 9.0 Challenge Books

Bermuda = Paradise

Bermuda Trip - June 11-18th 

Accomodations made through Bermuda Rentals (Devonshire Cottage)

Bus Transportation/1 day Swizzy Rental (electric car)

Devonshire Bay - Two minutes from the cottage we stayed at (cottage was on a large private residence) in Devonshire.  Walked by everyday on our way to the bus.  Lots of fishing. 

Views from Horseshoe Bay Beach.  We visited several beaches and this was our favorite.  Returned for a second day.

Warwick Long Bay Beach.  Beautiful quiet spot.  There was a large drop down to the water and there was a bit of an undertow.  Rick loved it!

Alexandria Battery Beach.  This is one of the sea glass beaches.  There is alot of sea glass in the water and at the high tide line.  There is also a cave here that you can access by snorkeling or at low tide.  I was alone on the beach for about an hour then two other people came by. 

A few of the sea glass pieces I picked up.  I was thrilled to find quite a bit of pottery. 

Beautiful view through the rock formations at Tobacco Bay Beach.  We had a wonderful day here.  The bay is very calm (good for young children) and a lovely place to snorkle.  We enjoyed this spot very much and were able to see alot of fish of all varieties and colors. 

 This is a photo of the view from the front yard of the property where we stayed (Decks Awashed).  It was absolutely breathtaking.  Infinity pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  We were able to spend the morning enjoying the view, each other and the pool on the day we were leaving. 

Celebrating 30 years coming up July 3rd!