The Sunday Post January 30, 2023

Hello, Lovelies, and happy New Year’s Eve I hope you are all doing fantastic!

I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that today is that last day of 2023. Where did the year go? I feel like I blinked and it was over. And, let me tell you, those end of the year “to-dos” really sneak up on you, especially when you run a small business. I’ve spent most of this week tackling all the things, and I do mean ALL THE THINGS, that I need to check off my list before 2024. I’m writing this a little after 4 pm on the 30^th and I still have a few things I need to finish.

2023 was an odd year. I feel like most of the year I spent dealing with the front porch construction. Thankfully, the porch is finished; sadly, some of it became a DIY job. Unfortunately, the contractors caused some damaged (broken sidewalks, massive cement-filled holes in the yard) that has to be fixed come Spring. There’s also a lot of landscaping to be done out front. I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with that company anymore and I have an actual porch.

I’ve also had an odd year health-wise. During the Summer I contracted a mosquito-related illness (Skeeter Syndrome, I know, it’s an odd name) and it has really messed with my immune system so basically if someone sneezes two blocks over, I end up getting sick. December’s just been one long blur of the ick (stomach virus, flu, strep throat, flu again, and horrible sinus infection) and fatigue. I’m currently in the middle of trying to find a vitamin regiment that my body will tolerate.

Reading-wise, this was a pretty good year. I’m currently at 73 books read this year but I’ll end the year with 75. I have a few chapters of Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey and a little over 4 hours of The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz that I plan to finish tonight (the 30^th). I’m going to be honest, I’m not having the best time with The Writing Retreat, I’m finding it a little boring so I’ll probably increase the speed to get through the book.

Blog-wise, I didn’t blog, or visit blogs, as much this year as I would have liked. There was just so much going on and, honestly, I didn’t really have the energy to focus on blogging. I have a ton of reviews to catch up on, which I plan to do the first few weeks of January.

One of my family’s Christmas traditions is Jolabokaflod. If you don’t know, Jolabokaflod means Christmas book flood and it’s an Icelandic tradition that started during WWII. Paper wasn’t rationed which made books widely available in a time when so many things were rationed. On Christmas Eve Icelanders would gift books and a small treat, often chocolate or hot cocoa then spend the evening reading and enjoying their treats

On Christmas Eve, we trade books and small bookish/cozy items. Here’s what I received for Jolabokaflod.

-Twilight Falls by Juneau Black

-The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton

-2 sets of under eye masks

-2 pairs of cozy socks

-a set of hair clips

 

-Ruby Spenser’s Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow

-Lies We Sing To the Sea by Sarah Underwood

-pair of cozy socks

-bookmark that says, ‘A Well Read Woman Is A Dangerous Creature’

 

-Shakespeare in Autumn with the laser cut cover

-Outlander Planner

-pair of cozy socks

-cat eyemask

 

A dear friend of mine and her daughter gifted me this lovely mug, adorable Hocus Pocus ornament, and The Official Hocus Pocus Cookbook, which I cannot wait to use!

I hope that you had a lovely holiday and here’s to a brilliant 2024

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.