So last Sunday, Christmas Eve, started out as a rainy morning, which would have been perfect for sleeping in, if not for one of my dogs, Dora, wanting me to get up, and my family texting about our plans for later in the day. We opened gifts at my mom’s house before dinner. I got some cool things, like a sticker maker, and a new bookshelf! Found out though that the dog I’d watched earlier this year, Gabe, was going to need a new home again. The people who took him in said he was having issues, things he never did with me or my friend who has to take him back for now. She is going to get the vet check up to make sure he’s not sick, but we’re looking for a new home again for sweet Gabriel.
Monday morning slept in till more texting, this time in WhatsApp from my fellow Outlander tour group members and texts from some friends. We did Christmas at my dad’s, and thought we wouldn’t get to watch the Chiefs game because my youngest sister isn’t a fan. However, she thought we weren’t starting till 2, the time we were going to eat, so she didn’t show up till almost 2. Which meant we got to watch the first half of the Chiefs game. And in a way, I’d probably have been better off not watching because they did so bad. Even with one really cool trick play with the punter throwing the ball like he was our quarterback instead of punting to the other team. I did get lots of nice gifts too! A new desk lamp, and an Outlander page a day calendar which I couldn’t find anywhere. Also a Harry Potter advent calendar, which fortunately is good until April 2025, so I’ll probably save it for next December. As well as a beautiful book vase, that I had to go buy flowers for so I could use it right away!
The first two days of the week were kind of weird Christmas weather as it was rainy. Tuesday morning woke up to still gloomy skies, but it was spitting snowflakes, even though they didn’t really stick. One of my fellow Outlander tour group members was visiting her daughter who now lives in Kansas City, so we got together for lunch. I also bought some flowers to put in the book vase I got from my sister for Christmas. The rectangular shape of the vase is kind of weird, I’ll have to figure out how to arrange flowers in it.
Wednesday woke up to light snow, ground was too warm so none of it stuck though. I got out to see my endocrinologist for a 3 month check in. Went to see a movie with my brother’s family.
Thursday morning I really slept in till 9 am! It was nice. Got up and soon after my mom texted me about coming over to have leftovers for lunch and then go to JoAnn’s. Maybe help her with some things around the house, but I think kind of just to give her a bit of a break from home with my stepdad, she needs time to herself I think, being a caregiver is definitely a lot of emotional stress.
Friday morning was chilly, but the sun came out a bit. Slept in nicely again. Put together the several gifts I got that required that. A rack to hopefully keep my pans organized in the cabinet, some little shelves for under my bathroom sink, and a new bookcase, which of course I did a bit of rearranging of my autographed books to fill it in and open those shelves up a bit.
We had a family Christmas get together with one of my aunts and some cousins at my brother’s house. Unfortunately the other aunt had to drive to my other cousin’s house in Georgia because their cat was sick so they didn’t feel comfortable leaving to come up to visit the family in Missouri right now.
Saturday morning was chilly, but it was going to be a bit warmer, in the upper 40s. Put trash out the night before since trash was a day late because of the holiday, just in case they came before I got up since I was sleeping in. Got up and did some blogging. Went and met my dad, stepmom, and sister at the Starbucks by my sister’s place for a few hours. Also ran by Barnes & Noble to find a quick book to read to make sure I met my 2023 reading goal instead of dropping it again, because I knew none of the books I am reading at the moment would be finished by midnight Sunday. Then I had a quiet night at home with the dogs watching tv.
Books Finished
First was a freebie Kindle book that was my official last holiday read of the season. I finished it on Christmas Eve and got it reviewed in my Santa’s List post on Christmas Day. Second was a shorter audiobook I found that I had and slipped in to work towards reaching my final Goodreads reading goal for the year. Third was the ARC I started from a publisher and my review will be this coming week. Last was the picture book I went to Barnes & Noble to read really quickly to meet my goal for the year!
New Additions to My Library
ARCs:
None
Audiobooks:
I gave in and used the 2 for 1 credit sale on Audible so I could get the first one for a read along with Anne on Books of My Heart. When buying an actual book was going to cost about just a little less than getting the deal for $14.95, I decided to do the audio. Plus I listened to the sample and like the narrator and how the story was being told. The second was the one I chose as my second for that deal.
Bookish Stuff:
None
E-galleys:
None
Free E-books:
Now I won’t read these first 6 till next holiday season, but they were free on Amazon, as were all these others through a big sale on the 26th and 27th, except the last one which was free from an author’s newsletter.
Physical books:
I’ve already read the book, Hollywood Games, but wanted a copy to put on my shelf, so had this on my wishlist for my family for Christmas ideas. And the Outlander page a day calendar will be awesome to have on my desk at work! The H. Hunting book is a series of novellas with her latest series. I ordered it back in November I think?
What I’m Watching
Of course I had to watch several run-throughs or bits and pieces here and there of A Christmas Story as it had its 24 hour straight on a couple cable networks. And some of the Harry Potter marathons when that wasn’t on and I was at home alone where I can watch whatever I want. I also started The Peripheral on Christmas night. I’m always a fan of Chloe Grace Moretz.
Wednesday night I went to the movies with my niece and nephew and brother and sister-in-law to see a cute kids movie, Migration.
Coming Up Next Week on My Blog
First is an ARC I got from the publisher that I really enjoyed and should be posting the review later this week. Second is also an ARC I got from a publisher. It is an author I enjoyed another book by so I was excited to get it to review, and I’ll also be posting later this week. Third is another ARC I’m hoping to get to this week.
I should be doing my End of the Year Wrap-Up post tomorrow which will include my challenges wrap-ups as well as talking about any challenges I plan to do in 2024.
Final Thoughts
Well, it is New Year’s Eve, so I should probably be spending it with my family tonight. I think it might be the last year my niece does her whole restaurant idea, she said she was getting too old last year, and she seems to not be wanting to any more after this year. I hope you enjoy celebrating if you do, or just having a nice night at home if that’s what you prefer!
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Glad to hear you had a nice holiday! Our weather was pretty much weird too. I kind of hate when it’s so warm for Christmas! I had even bought 2 nice sweaters I thought I could wear Christmas Eve and Christmas but it was wayyy too hot for that. So sadly they just hang in my closet! Maybe next year. We had the Chiefs game on as well, though I borrowed my mom’s ipad that had our TV app already installed and was also watching my A Christmas Story marathon! Lol. But yeah, the game was a little sad from what we all expected!
Nice new reads! And other goodies! Bookshelves are always good! I can’t wait to find my own place so I can hopefully acquire a few more…at least to fill up a room! Lol. The vase is really pretty too, maybe if you used a rubber-band with the flowers to hold them together that could help.
Happy New Year!
Here’s my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
It’s like the Chiefs are set to ruin all our holidays at the end of the year, lol. Hoping today’s game goes better, but with they way they’ve been playing I doubt it. We shall see! I need more room for bookshelves too, although right now I do have my front room dedicated to it! I’d encroach into my dining room if I could. Still considering it, but I’d hear things from my family when they came over about how I had too many books. I probably should go through and get rid of some, but I like having them, they make me happy when I see them!
I like that sticker maker. I might have to check that out. That Chiefs game was ugly. Ouch. The Jaguars are not doing any better. We’ve lost 4 game in a row. We’ve gone from #1 in our division the probably not making the play-offs. Ugh. Love your cookware organization! Happy new year!
Technically all it does is set it up so the back is sticky and peels off, it doesn’t really laminate the top of it for the sticker, that’s the only thing I’m not the biggest fan of, and I still have to cut around it too. Yeah, I think our Chiefs are done for the year, we will see if they’ll even win today to make the playoffs. Not that I think they’ll win in the playoffs if they even make it there this year.
Somewhere in the Deep looks really good!! Excited to see your review! Is that Gabe in the photo? Looks so much like my pup!
I’m enjoying it so far! And I was excited to just get a connection to the first book by the author in what I read last night too. That is Gabriel, he’s a sweet long haired dachshund boy.
What a nice week but cold! We are about 10 -15 degrees warmer here although we will get to the mid 40s for the high this week. I’m so sorry to hear about Gabe. I got a bunch of the romance freebies but didn’t include them in my post. Yay for getting the audio of WTZ. I’ve heard it’s really good on audio which is why I bought them all a few years back. I’m going to start reading it this week. Happy New Year!
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
I started the audio this past week and it is pretty good! Now I guess I’ll have to get the other audios too at some point. I paused my Audible membership, so we’ll see if any of the others go on sale.
That’s awesome you got so many cool presents during Christmas. That’s too bad about that dog needing a new owner again. We also had rain and strong winds here during Christmas, not very christmassy weather. I like seeing all your pictures. That’s neat you got two new audiobooks for a good deal. I am always happy when I can find a good deal for audio. I got a bunch of free ebooks during that sale as well. Happy new year!
It always makes Christmas seem to go too fast when it isn’t at least the right type of weather.
Sounds like you had a lovely holiday. Happy New Year!
I did! Hope you did as well!
Looks like a fun Christmas! That sticker maker looks so fun to use. I need one and / or a Cricut. I hope you have fun using it. And, poor Gabriel. I hope you can find a forever home for him quickly. Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
The sticker maker is cool, although not really exactly what I thought it would be? It is still quick and works! I got to see Gabriel today. He’s so sweet, I just don’t know why he doesn’t find a home.
Glad you had a nice holiday! And ooh The Peripheral. I started that series and somehow got sidetracked, so you’ve reminded me to go back and watch. 🙂
Hope you have a nice New Years!
I was sad to see that they cancelled The Peripheral, so I hope it gets wrapped up at the end of this season enough!
Sounds like you had a pretty good time! I’m unfortunately the reason everyone else has to get up on Christmas morning, hahaha — I get too wriggly and excited to give people their presents. 😆
Quite the haul of freebies — wow! Hope you enjoy them.
LOL! Nothing wrong with that! No kids in my house, and it’s just me, so I get to sleep in on Christmas morning these days.
Ooooh, a sticker maker! That’s pretty cool!
It’s not exactly what I thought it would be, but works well enough!
Happy New Year! Sounds like you had a pretty good week. I honestly don’t remember much now; we were so busy. We visited my sister in the Philly area for 5 days, and then celebrated Christmas again once we got home.
I started the audio of My Life As a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland yesterday and am enjoying it so far.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday (if you have any time off).
Sounds like a nice holiday for you, if busy! I’m enjoying the audio of it too!
Sounds like a wonderful holiday! That Vera Bradley pillow and slippers = awesome! Have a great New Year
Thanks! It was nice, but over too soon as usual!