Tag: happy things

Sunday Post | The Zoo, Some Ghosts, A Date, and Always Books

Posted April 20, 2024 by Haze in Sunday Post, Weekly Book Memes / 26 Comments

Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings. 

The Zoo, Some Ghosts, A Date, and Always Books

Last week was pretty fun! I managed to get to the zoo again, and it was great because the weather was nice. I went on the weekend and there was a lot of people so it was pretty lively. I wasn’t able to see the polar bears and the otters as much as I wanted because it was so crowded and everyone else were vying to see them. And they were mostly kids, or adults with kids, so I didn’t think it was a good idea to push them out of my way. 😂 I’m thinking I might try to go again on a weekday when there are fewer people around.

For food, I made some wontons and soy sauce chicken. They were both so yummy, but seriously, the wontons might be more work than they’re worth. I like them better fried and crispy so I might just do the fillings meatball style and leave off the wonton wrappers the next time I want wonton soup.

On Wednesday, we went to see the new Ghostbusters movie, which I loved because it’s a Ghostbusters movie, but some people have said it’s not that good and the storyline needs work. Thinking about it after, I agree it could’ve been better, but I still enjoyed it because it’s the Ghostbusters and I’m just easy to entertain.

We also finished watching Fallout Season 1. I love where it ended but I’m also very eagerly awaiting a Season 2 because there are still a lot of questions I need answered.

I haven’t had time to watch Renegade Nell or 911 since the last Sunday Post, but I’m not in a hurry either. There are a few movies I’d like to catch up on before getting into binge mode with another series, maybe. I’ve been trying to read Anna Karenina and I’m thinking of watching the movie first so that it might make it easier for me to follow the book. We’ll see.

All the happy things:

  1. I got to go to the zoo again!
  2. Movie and dating with the husband. We had lots of fun, it’s been a while since we spent the whole day out on a date. No special occasion, it was quite spontaneous.
  3. I managed to get a lot of reading done!
  4. I was able to go to the library twice this week and spend a couple of hours there each time for uninterrupted reading! I hope to do more of it next week.
  5. I might be getting better at this cooking thing.
  6. I’m up to date on my Goodreads and The Storygraph! Until I read more, that is.

The Books

Books I read last week:

  1. Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent – I finished this last weekend after I published the Sunday Post, so I’m adding it for this weekend’s Sunday Post.
  2. The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden – I loved the Winternight series and while the subject matter for this one is completely different, I felt the same vibes. I love the otherworldly, mystical feel of it.
  3. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Finished! The check-in is next weekend but I didn’t want to wait. I figure it’s still going to be fresh in my mind when we get to the discussion, and I can’t wait to hear what everyone else thinks!
  4. Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham – This is a graphic novel. I picked it up Friday morning just to flip through the pages and see what it’s about and ended up finishing it in an hour or so. I enjoyed it very much!

Books I’m reading:

  1. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – This is for my in-person book club’s BOTM. We’re meeting this upcoming weekend so I gotta get it read this week!
  2. Slewfoot by Brom – I got it on audiobook right after finishing The Count of Monte Cristo. I’ve been curious about it because I’ve heard good things, but I’ve read The Child Thief by the same author and really didn’t like it. I’m giving the author a second chance with this book and I’m managing my expectations. Hopefully I’ll end up liking it, but I’m also ready to DNF and move on, if not.

Last Week on The Blog

This Week

I’m focusing on The Kite Runner, and after that I want to read The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie because it’s the BOTM for my online book club. I’m still unsure about Slewfoot, so the sooner I get into it or DNF, the faster I can move forward. I already have a couple of nonfiction audiobooks ready just in case I DNF. I’ve also got several reviews to write for the books I finished, and I need to update my reading challenges as well.

How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!

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Sunday Post | Kitchen Not So Confidential

Posted April 13, 2024 by Haze in Sunday Post, Weekly Book Memes / 28 Comments

Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings. 

Kitchen Not So Confidential

There’s been a lot of cooking this past week. There’s no special occasion or anything, I just felt like it and had the time, and maybe I’m also enjoying the cleaner kitchen and want to take advantage of that.

I made Butter Prawns, some random soups with everything thrown in, Braised Pork Belly with hard boiled eggs, napa cabbage stir fry, and other stuff I didn’t take pictures of. I’ve been eating well but I’m not sure if I can keep this up! I should probably try to get better at taking food pictures if I do!

I’ve finished watching 911: Lone Star and I was going to start watching the original 911, but a couple of other shows caught my eye so I’ll probably alternate when I have time. I started watching Renegade Nell on my own and I’m quite enjoying it even though I’m still not sure what the end game is and why Nell is special. My husband and I are watching Fallout together. Neither of us play the game but that’s not going to stop us enjoying the show. We’re only on the third episode at the moment. I’m really loving Lucy’s character. Not too sure about Maximus.

The weather has also been pretty nice and we took some walks around the neighborhood. That made me very happy and I hope the weather keeps getting better and we get to take more walks. It’s supposed to snow again later this week but I won’t mind it too much as long as I get to walk outside a little more.

All the happy things:

  1. All the food!
  2. The walks and the warmer weather!
  3. I bought a couple of organizers to organize my sticker collection and I love them!
  4. I bought a few skeins of yarn I’m excited to use, soon!
  5. Had a nice chat with a friend who made me feel encouraged about things I’ve been wanting to do
  6. Got started on organizing my closet

The Books

Books I read last week:

  1. Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett – I’m so happy I finally finished this book! I’ve been anticipating it so much. I think I like the characters we meet in the first book more than the ones here, but I like them too, and I’m glad we were able to see more of Poe. I’m looking forward to the next book too!
  2. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree – Another one I’ve been anticipating. I loved the first book, and I love this one too! I love that it’s so much more about bookshops and books. And I love Viv as ever. She’s someone I’d love to be friends with, and I love how her character is written so well that you just feel drawn to her the same way the people in the book are drawn to her.

Books I’m (still) reading:

  1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – I meant to finish the rest of this book but was distracted by another audiobook. Plus the next check-in is still some weeks away so I’ve got time!
  2. Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent – I’m 65% in and enjoying it very much! I promise I’ll get back to The Count of Monte Cristo after I finish this!

Last Week on The Blog

This Week

I’ll finish up my audiobooks of Daughter of No Worlds and The Count of Monte Cristo, and I’m starting a buddy read for The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden this week. If I can make it, I’d like to get started on The Kite Runner for my in-person book club before the week is out.

I’m also hoping to get caught up on my book reviews and update my books read on Goodreads and The Storygraph.

How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!

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Sunday Post | Spring Cleaning, Sorta

Posted March 30, 2024 by Haze in Sunday Post, Weekly Book Memes / 21 Comments

Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings. 

Spring Cleaning, Sorta

I cannot believe it’s the end of March already! Where did the month go? I feel like I didn’t get much done this month, and I didn’t get a lot of books read either.

It’s the first week of Spring Break, and I’ve been taking it as an opportunity to do a little spring cleaning. See, when I imagined it in my head, I was all super-powered and I was able to clean and organize the whole house to make it look like one of those model homes. The reality though… I cleaned my kitchen. Only the kitchen. Ah well, better than nothing.

In regards to the weather, since everyone’s invested now; the beginning of the week started out promising. There was still snow on the ground but it was melting and the weather was getting warmer. Cut to Friday, and it’s snowing again. A lot.

Sigh… I am resigned to my fate and I have decided to embrace it.

All the happy things:

  1. I got the kitchen cleaned and somewhat organized!
  2. I signed up for a few buddy reads on my online book club, and I’m excited about those books!
  3. A friend from the USA may be visiting for a couple of days in May, and I’m excited to see her!
  4. My in-person book club met for the second time, and we had a great discussion about our book of the month, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.
  5. We are talking about a road trip for the summer! Nothing’s confirmed, but it makes me happy to have that possibility.

The Books

Books I read last week:

  1. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell – It took me the whole week to read this one. It’s dense, and a little bleak, but it’s really good and there’s so much to think about. This one took up a lot of my time and energy, so I didn’t get to read a lot of other books last week, but it’s for my book club and I’m glad I read it. I haven’t written a review because I wanted to have our book club discussion first, which happened this morning (at the time of writing). I’ll write a review soon!
  2. Bear by Marian Engel – This was a sort of gag buddy read for my online book club. It’s short and I managed to finish it in a couple of hours. It’s…interesting. Weird, confusing, and I’m still waiting on others to read it so we can talk about it.

Books I’m (still) reading:

  1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – The readalong is ongoing and the next check-in is Saturday. We’re reading Chapters 60-86 for this check-in. I’m currently at Ch 78.
  2. Blitz by Daniel O’Malley – I stopped at Chapter 19 (of about 30?) because the audiobook had expired and had to be returned. I have the physical book, so I’ll probably continue with it instead of waiting for the audiobook.
  3. A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal – I just started this as a buddy read! I’m only a couple of chapters in.

Last Week on The Blog

This Week

I’d like to finish Blitz and A Tempest of Tea this week. I’m losing a bit of momentum on Blitz to be honest, and I’m contemplating dnf-ing it. It’s not bad though, I’m enjoying the story, it’s just that I’m itching to read other lighter books at the moment, and there have been too many dense ones.

How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!

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