20 Things in January

Kim here with our monthly check-in -> Goodbye January. Hello February! Here’s a look at some of the highlights.

From The Blog

ONE. Tanya posted a comprehensive list of all the Major Literary and Genre Awards for 2021. If you’re participating in the Book Award Reading Challenge or just looking to read more Award Winners, this is a great resource.

transcendent kingdom

TWO. We also took a look back at 2020 and made note of a few Best Books That We Missed and hope to make time for in 2021. 2020 was such a great year for books! So many good one to choose from. 

THREE. What book settings are you drawn to? Apparently I’ve got a thing for boarding school settings. If this interests you, here are 6 Mystery/Thrillers With A Boarding School Setting I recommend to get you started. 

FOUR. We love food at GXO and have decided to share some monthly meal plans. This month I shared my Winter Dinner Menu on the blog. Maybe you’ll find some cooking inspiration.  

FIVE. Planner mentality has us looking forward to the first half of 2021 New Releases On Our Radar. There are some highly anticipated books coming out this year and we don’t want to miss them!

SIX. If you belong to a Book Club or you just like books that provoke good discussions, check out our list of 9 Genre Fiction Book Recs for Your Lit Loving Book Club

SEVEN. We also kicked off the first month of our 2021 Reading Challenges! It’s not too late to sign up. You can also join our Goodreads Challenge Group

2021 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge

2021 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge

2021 Book Awards Reading Challenge


Bookish

EIGHT. I participated in the Chunkster Readathon hosted by Monika of @lovelybookshelf on Instagram earlier in the month. I started reading The Starless Sea, Erin Morgenstern, a book I meant to read in 2020 but had to put it down for the time being. I’ve got too many library books that I need to finish and had to prioritize. 

NINE. I’d hoped to participate in Bout of Books and read quite a bit for the first day, but then January 6th happened and well, I couldn’t concentrate on anything- including books. It took over a week before I could pick up a book again. 

TEN. I requested a couple of books I wanted to read from Netgalley at the beginning of the year and was approved for them. I haven’t accepted ARCs for several years but I think I might dip my toe in again just a little bit this year. 


Life Lately

ELEVEN. My husband and I are still working our way through Schitt’s Creek. We only watch TV maybe two nights a week so it takes us forever to get through shows. We also started watching The Expanse and we’re really enjoying it so far (only two episodes in.) 

TWELVE. Speaking of shows, we took the kids to see The Croods 2 in the theater this month. We were the only ones there and it was really fun. I thought the first Croods was just okay, so I wasn’t sure I’d like this but it was hilarious. Definitely recommend if you like animated films. 

THIRTEEN. I made the mistake of putting around twenty books on hold at my library at once. Yes, I did end up with all of them at the same time. And yes, I’m still desperately trying to work my way through all of them. Face palm. Why do I do this to myself? 

FOURTEEN. Bath Bombs are my current favorite thing. I suggested to my husband that he slip one in my stocking this Christmas. He and the boys ended up giving me a 12 pack. I love baths so I’ve been really enjoying reading/soaking/relaxing a bit more this month. 

FIFTEEN. January always has me perusing seed catalogs and dreaming for spring. We aren’t year round gardeners because I’m just too busy right now, but we do love to grow a small garden in the summer months. My favorite seed catalog is Park Seed.


Around the Web

SIXTEEN. These Jerk Chicken Bowls from Modern Honey look so yummy! I’m adding them to my list of must try recipes. 

SEVENTEEN. I’m living for all of the Bernie Sanders memes that have surfaced since the inauguration!

EIGHTEEN. Action Precedes Motivation. Not the other way around. The concept is that if you don’t have motivation, you need to force yourself to just get up and do something- anything- and the motivation to accomplish more will follow. I struggle with motivation a lot in the winter. I was glad to be reminded of this lately.

NINETEEN. Nordic Socks are basically the best socks ever. A friend gifted me some a couple of years ago and I’m hooked now. They’re perfect for puttering around the house in winter. 

TWENTY. I found these Tips For Taking E-Reader Bookstagram Photos helpful. To be honest, I’ve struggled posting to Bookstagram this month. I think my headspace has just been too full with other things to make room for taking bookstagram photos.


What has been the best thing that has happened to you this month?

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