Happy New Year...& Thanks for Sticking with Us! ♥
Happy 2017!!!!!!!!
I hope you ended 2016 on a good note! I ended it with a trip to the movies to see La La Land, which was completely sold out! Our theatre was crazy packed. Not an epic night out on the town, maybe, but a good night nonetheless! I also visited family earlier in the day and visited little babies, so...! ^_^
Mandy and I also want to apologize for how slow we've been posting in December. We've just both been so busy between work, shopping, wrapping presents, holiday outings, etc. We've either been exhausted or had mushy brains at the end of the day, which makes it hard to blog...or even read! We figure a lot of other folks are in the same boat, though, and maybe didn't even have time to read blogs much! We promise to do better in 2017!
(In fact, Mandy is doing her first-ever review based on a publisher request tomorrow! Isn't that so exciting? Our baby blogger is becoming a toddler! ^.~ *Runs and hides*
Do you have any resolutions for 2017? I try not to make a lot because then I feel bogged down, but I said a while ago that November was too crazy and I'd do my own NaNoWriMo in January/February, so....!!!
How Were Your Holidays?
Mine were pretty busy!! I spent a lot of time with family, though, and that's especially nice now that I have a niece and a nephew. Holidays are just...MEANT for little kids, you know? My brother's son turned one in October, so he still doesn't really understand Christmas yet, but my sister's daughter? MAN!!! She turned three in December and she grasps concepts really easily. She knows who Santa is, and knew to look for him first thing in the morning. She had an amazing day, and Christmas Magic definitely happened. Next year, she'll REALLY understand the holiday!!!
Did you guys get some good books for Christmas?
My dad got me these! (And my niece "picked out" my Hairspray Live! DVD "all by herself." She told me so!!)
My dad has given me every book in each of these series for Christmas, so I'll always remember they were from him! And even though he's not a fan of Hamilton, he knew how much I wanted the Mixtape and gifted it to me! #lucky!!
Plus, a signed copy of THE MIDNIGHT STAR!? This makes me so happy, especially because I loved the series so much!
#OTSPSecretSister
I got both my November and December packages this past month! ♥
NOVEMBER:
I've never heard of THE BRONZE HORSEMAN, which is historical fiction, but since receiving it, I've had a few people talk about how much they like it, which just makes me more and more excited. PLUS it's recommended as being in the same genre as CODE NAME VERITY!!!
I also love the cherry blossom stamps...such a calming image to me!
And the fold-out books are pretty cool, because if you fold each page, the book turns into a piece of art you can display!
DECEMBER:
(The shortbread accidentally hid in the packing peanuts! I almost threw it away, eep!!! I was too lazy to take another group picture because I'd already put everything away...)
I loved all the mummies treats my Sister sent and can't wait to try them out! I was also super excited to receive FROST LIKE NIGHT, because I've been waiting to finish this series! I can't wait to binge it in 2017!!!
Hunting for...Exclusive Funko Pops!!!
I was so happy to conclude my Funko Pop Hunt in December! I had so much trouble getting some of the exclusives I wanted, but it was totally worth it in the end!
Now I'm on the lookout for the Winter Beauty and the Beast line coming in January!!! I was able to preorder Belle and she just came in on Friday, so I'm hoping I get Beast and Gaston very soon to complete my collection!!!
NAIL POLISH!
My nails were short again most of the month. *sigh*
I had WANTED to do really cute holiday nail art. Instead, I did dots. Which are still cute. But it's not the same, you know?
Also, my niece turned three this past month. She saw me without nail polish one day and scolded me (She is obsessed with my nails for some reason), so I told them I'd do them that weekend for her birthday party. She asked for purple and pink. When I asked if I could use the purple she gave me for my birthday, she said, "That's so surprising! Yes!!" So cute. Then I asked if she'd paint hers purple, too, and she said, "Yes!! And Mommy's, too!!" I got a text the next day from my sister saying that my niece asked her to take off her pink polish and paint her nails purple and that, "Bonnie will be so surprised!"
At her birthday party, she asked me to take a picture of our purple fingers!
And then, of course, you can't get through the holiday season without red, green, and silver embellishing your nails!
PHOTOS OF THE MONTH
Here are some of the photos I've taken and shared this month!
MUSIC 🎶
Christmas music!!!! It's pretty much only been Christmas music. And Moana, because I saw it when it came out and it keeps getting stuck in my head. Well, I guess Shrek the Musical also got stuck in my head for a week and I had to listen to it a lot...
Oh, and last night I spent time at the movie theater with La La Land.
I'm excited to listen to the CDs I got for Christmas!!!! I haven't had a chance yet, but it's a new year now, right!?
MOVIES AND TV
Still behind on everything, of course! I'm only caught up on Once Upon a Time and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and only because I watch them when I visit with my dad on Sunday evenings! Or else I'd be caught up on nothing!!!!
Though I have seen two movies in the past month at the theater, Moana and La La Land. I definitely preferred one to the other, actually, and I thought I'd love both!
That was my December.
How was yours???
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Here's a look at everything that happened this past month!
Happy 2017!!!!!!!!
I hope you ended 2016 on a good note! I ended it with a trip to the movies to see La La Land, which was completely sold out! Our theatre was crazy packed. Not an epic night out on the town, maybe, but a good night nonetheless! I also visited family earlier in the day and visited little babies, so...! ^_^
Mandy and I also want to apologize for how slow we've been posting in December. We've just both been so busy between work, shopping, wrapping presents, holiday outings, etc. We've either been exhausted or had mushy brains at the end of the day, which makes it hard to blog...or even read! We figure a lot of other folks are in the same boat, though, and maybe didn't even have time to read blogs much! We promise to do better in 2017!
(In fact, Mandy is doing her first-ever review based on a publisher request tomorrow! Isn't that so exciting? Our baby blogger is becoming a toddler! ^.~ *Runs and hides*
Do you have any resolutions for 2017? I try not to make a lot because then I feel bogged down, but I said a while ago that November was too crazy and I'd do my own NaNoWriMo in January/February, so....!!!
How Were Your Holidays?
Mine were pretty busy!! I spent a lot of time with family, though, and that's especially nice now that I have a niece and a nephew. Holidays are just...MEANT for little kids, you know? My brother's son turned one in October, so he still doesn't really understand Christmas yet, but my sister's daughter? MAN!!! She turned three in December and she grasps concepts really easily. She knows who Santa is, and knew to look for him first thing in the morning. She had an amazing day, and Christmas Magic definitely happened. Next year, she'll REALLY understand the holiday!!!
Did you guys get some good books for Christmas?
My dad got me these! (And my niece "picked out" my Hairspray Live! DVD "all by herself." She told me so!!)
My dad has given me every book in each of these series for Christmas, so I'll always remember they were from him! And even though he's not a fan of Hamilton, he knew how much I wanted the Mixtape and gifted it to me! #lucky!!
Plus, a signed copy of THE MIDNIGHT STAR!? This makes me so happy, especially because I loved the series so much!
#OTSPSecretSister
I got both my November and December packages this past month! ♥
NOVEMBER:
I've never heard of THE BRONZE HORSEMAN, which is historical fiction, but since receiving it, I've had a few people talk about how much they like it, which just makes me more and more excited. PLUS it's recommended as being in the same genre as CODE NAME VERITY!!!
I also love the cherry blossom stamps...such a calming image to me!
And the fold-out books are pretty cool, because if you fold each page, the book turns into a piece of art you can display!
DECEMBER:
(The shortbread accidentally hid in the packing peanuts! I almost threw it away, eep!!! I was too lazy to take another group picture because I'd already put everything away...)
I loved all the mummies treats my Sister sent and can't wait to try them out! I was also super excited to receive FROST LIKE NIGHT, because I've been waiting to finish this series! I can't wait to binge it in 2017!!!
Hunting for...Exclusive Funko Pops!!!
I was so happy to conclude my Funko Pop Hunt in December! I had so much trouble getting some of the exclusives I wanted, but it was totally worth it in the end!
 |
All my exclusives in a row with their boxes!!!!
(I shot it crooked, I know, sorry!!)
|
 |
| The various stages of Moana!!!! I think the Target exclusive is my favorite! I was SO Happy to finally find her there!!! |
 |
| Such pretty belles of the ball!!! You have to make the picture bigger to see Ariel's glitter, but she's so sparkly!!!! |
NAIL POLISH!
My nails were short again most of the month. *sigh*
I had WANTED to do really cute holiday nail art. Instead, I did dots. Which are still cute. But it's not the same, you know?
Also, my niece turned three this past month. She saw me without nail polish one day and scolded me (She is obsessed with my nails for some reason), so I told them I'd do them that weekend for her birthday party. She asked for purple and pink. When I asked if I could use the purple she gave me for my birthday, she said, "That's so surprising! Yes!!" So cute. Then I asked if she'd paint hers purple, too, and she said, "Yes!! And Mommy's, too!!" I got a text the next day from my sister saying that my niece asked her to take off her pink polish and paint her nails purple and that, "Bonnie will be so surprised!"
At her birthday party, she asked me to take a picture of our purple fingers!
And then, of course, you can't get through the holiday season without red, green, and silver embellishing your nails!
PHOTOS OF THE MONTH
Here are some of the photos I've taken and shared this month!
 |
| It was surprisingly easy to make these yummy rice krispy tree treats for my co-workers! |
 |
| My niece is OBSESSED with band-aids and playing doctor. She made me "all better" when we got together on her mommy's birthday! |
 |
| Oh, and this is the other hand she dolled up for me! Kid went through an entire pack of band-aids before the waitress brought us food...! |
 |
| WIND WITCH socks are SO COMFY!!! You should preorder Susan Dennard's January 10th release WINDWITCH while you still can so that you, too, can have cozy feet in 2017!!! |
 |
| I was reading MY LADY JANE on the first truly cold day of the year. I decided that my gloves reminded me of riding gloves...and the book had horses... ...so a photo was born!!! |
 |
| I guest posted at That Artsy Reader Girl about the best gifts for writers. Did you miss it? Check it out!!! This is one of the many pictures I staged for the post!!! |
MUSIC 🎶
Christmas music!!!! It's pretty much only been Christmas music. And Moana, because I saw it when it came out and it keeps getting stuck in my head. Well, I guess Shrek the Musical also got stuck in my head for a week and I had to listen to it a lot...
Oh, and last night I spent time at the movie theater with La La Land.
I'm excited to listen to the CDs I got for Christmas!!!! I haven't had a chance yet, but it's a new year now, right!?
MOVIES AND TV
Still behind on everything, of course! I'm only caught up on Once Upon a Time and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and only because I watch them when I visit with my dad on Sunday evenings! Or else I'd be caught up on nothing!!!!
Though I have seen two movies in the past month at the theater, Moana and La La Land. I definitely preferred one to the other, actually, and I thought I'd love both!
That was my December.
How was yours???
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Here's a look at everything that happened this past month!
ONGOING GIVEAWAYS:
None atm, but two are coming! ^.~
Check out the January Blog Tour Schedule for more upcoming giveaways!
None atm, but two are coming! ^.~
Check out the January Blog Tour Schedule for more upcoming giveaways!
JANUARY BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
(Most blog tour stops feature giveaways as well!)
*LOST GIRLS by Merrie Destefano {1/02 Review}
*MIDNIGHT SISTERS by Sarah Boucher {1/12 Guest Post + Review}
(Most blog tour stops feature giveaways as well!)
*LOST GIRLS by Merrie Destefano {1/02 Review}
*MIDNIGHT SISTERS by Sarah Boucher {1/12 Guest Post + Review}
READING NOW:
{All links to Goodreads!}
*I just finished THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh last night, and am probably starting SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo today because I didn't get to it in December like I wanted to.
I wanted to read all of these:
I actually read...eight. And didn't read six.
Boo!!!
I was hoping to at least finish the year with ten, but the last two weeks were so busy that I only got two books in, not four! Oh well!!!
Hello, 2017, right!?
PLANNING TO READ IN JANUARY:
*SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo
*CROOKED KINGDOM by Leigh Bardugo
*CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber
*HUNTED by Meagan Spooner
*WINDWITCH by Susan Dennard
*RISE OF FIRE by Sophie Jordan
*THE SHIP BEYOND TIME by Heidi Heilig
*THE WARDEN'S DAUGHTER by Jerry Spinelli
*LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS by Rae Carson
*Start re-reading A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC by V.E. Schwab so I can move onto A GATHERING OF SHADOWS and be ready for A CONJURING OF LIGHT, though this may happen in February....
{All links to Goodreads!}
*I just finished THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh last night, and am probably starting SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo today because I didn't get to it in December like I wanted to.
I wanted to read all of these:
I actually read...eight. And didn't read six.
Boo!!!
I was hoping to at least finish the year with ten, but the last two weeks were so busy that I only got two books in, not four! Oh well!!!
Hello, 2017, right!?
PLANNING TO READ IN JANUARY:
*SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo
*CROOKED KINGDOM by Leigh Bardugo
*CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber
*HUNTED by Meagan Spooner
*WINDWITCH by Susan Dennard
*RISE OF FIRE by Sophie Jordan
*THE SHIP BEYOND TIME by Heidi Heilig
*THE WARDEN'S DAUGHTER by Jerry Spinelli
*LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS by Rae Carson
*Start re-reading A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC by V.E. Schwab so I can move onto A GATHERING OF SHADOWS and be ready for A CONJURING OF LIGHT, though this may happen in February....
[link to my GoodReads account so you can see my blurb feed as I read]
READ IN DECEMBER:
{All links to Goodreads!}
TOTAL: 8 Books!
*CARVE THE MARK by Veronica Roth {YA}
*THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE by Heidi Heilig {YA}
*THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN by Rouhani Chokshi {YA}
*THE WRATH AND THE DAWN by Renée Ahdieh {Upper YA}
*THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh {Upper YA}
{All links to Goodreads!}
TOTAL: 8 Books!
*CARVE THE MARK by Veronica Roth {YA}
*THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE by Heidi Heilig {YA}
*OUTRUN THE MOON by Stacey Lee {YA}
*EVER THE HUNTED by Erin Summerill {YA}
*MY LADY JANE by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows {YA}*THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN by Rouhani Chokshi {YA}
*THE WRATH AND THE DAWN by Renée Ahdieh {Upper YA}
*THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh {Upper YA}
REVIEWED IN DECEMBER:
{All link to our reviews!}
*THEY ALL SAW A CAT by Brendan Wenzel {Picture Book}
*EVER THE HUNTED by Erin Summerill {YA}
*FINDING WINNIE by Lindsay Mattock {Picture Book}
{All link to our reviews!}
*THEY ALL SAW A CAT by Brendan Wenzel {Picture Book}
*EVER THE HUNTED by Erin Summerill {YA}
*FINDING WINNIE by Lindsay Mattock {Picture Book}
FEATURES IN DECEMBER:
*Let's Discuss...Disney's Moana!
*{Month in Review/Monthly Preview} From Owlcrates and Exclusive Funko Pops to Toppling 2016 TBRs and Sleepy Puppies!
*Top Ten New-To-Us Authors We Read For The First Time In 2016
*Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017
*Today I'm guest-posting about...Five Amazing Gift Ideas for Writers
*Ten Things I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree
*Top Ten Best Books of 2016
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