2021 in Books:

 

2021 in Books: 

Solo, Kwame Alexander

Love, Creekwood, Becky Albertalli

The Wives, Tarryn Fisher

The Lions of Fifth Avenue, Fiona Davis

Scrappy Little Nobody, Anna Kendrick

The Giver of Stars, Jojo Moyes

My Sister, The Serial Killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite

Formation: A Woman’s Memoir of Stepping Out of Line, Ryan Lee Dostie

Grace Year, Kim Leggett

Dear Evan Hansen, Steven Levenson

Children of Blood and Bone, Tomi Adeyemi

All the Missing Girls, Megan Miranda

The Cousins, Karen M. McManus

Clap When You Land, Elizabeth Acevedo

To Kill a Mocking Girl, Harper Kincaid

One of Us is Lying, Karen M. McManus

One of Us is Next, Karen M. McManus

Persepolis 2, Marjane Satrapi

Call Me Elizabeth Lark, Melissa Colasanti

Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A true (as told to me) story, Bess Kelb 

Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany A. Jackson

Let’s Talk About Hard Things, Anna Sale

Sunshine Girl, Juliana Margulies

The Midnight Club, James Patterson

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent, Julia Alvarez

When No One is Watching, Alyssa Cole

All Girls, Emily Layden

Salt to the Sea, Ruta Sepetys

Why We Broke Up, Danel Handler and Maira Kalman

Ambush, James Patterson

Small as an Elephant, Jennifer Jacobson

Home Sweet Murder, James Patterson

Murder Beyond the Grave, James Patterson

2021Year in Review (The Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic)

 

2021Year in Review (The Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic)

1. What did you do in 2021 that you’d never done before?

This year, things were supposed to be "back to normal." They were and they were not, depending on the thing. We all returned to school in the fall in person, wearing masks. We were all thankfully able to be vaccinated, and no one in our home has contracted Covid. The kids have had their share of quarantines, but we did enjoy some degrees of normalcy. 

Lucas is in fourth grade, and he loves school. He is playing travel and rec baseball. He just earned his red belt in tae kwon do, and he is a Webelo in Boy Scouts. Cecilia is in first grade, and she is having a good year as well. She is happiest when riding horses. She also played soccer this fall, and she began tae kwon do over the summer. 

We also have celebrated most of the holidays and birthdays with our extended family again. We have been able to travel again, with some modifications.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

My resolution for 2022 (as in all of the years past) is to live in a state of gratitude for all I have been given, most of which I do not deserve. I need to make quality time for myself more of a priority this year. 

3. What places did you visit? 

We went to North Carolina in July, Maine in June, Cape Cod in August, and Lancaster, PA in December. 

4. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?

I miss that deep sense of security and trust in others that I experienced pre-pandemic. I would like to worry less and enjoy more. 

5. What dates from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory?

7/13: a new niece was born
8/9: Cecilia turned 6
8/22: Lucas turned 9

6. What were your biggest achievements of the year? 

After years of vacillating, I finally enrolled in a program to earn my Master's in Literacy! Being even a part-time student while balancing the rest of my life has proved to be a big challenge, and yet I am so happy to be back in school. I am learning so much, and I love the school I am attending. When work feels frustrating, I can now say that I am actually doing something to change it. 

  
7. What were your biggest failures?

Two of my failures are not blogging and not exercising/eating well! I could make excuses, but the truth is that neither is a priority right now.

8. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No :-) My back has gone out a few times, but otherwise, it has been a healthy year.

9. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 

This may sound corny, but watching Lucas pitch was really exciting! He is such a goofy kid, but when he gets on that mound...so poised and focused. 

Also, Ceci has made some huge strides. I want to be vague to protect her privacy, but she has come a long way! 

10. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
a bit of both actually
b) thinner or fatter? 
fatter
c) richer or poorer? 

richer

11. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I have to admit that my patience has been short this year so I wish I would have shown more patience. Patience with myself, with Dave, with the kids, and pretty much everyone else! 

12. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating bad food!

13.  What were your favorite TV programs?

Dynasty

Schitt's Creek

  
14.  What did you do for your birthday in 2021?

I turned 40 this year! It was a super-stressful time with school so I ended up taking a sick day. I took a walk with my sister, went to Home Goods with my neighbor, and tried to make the best of the day. It wasn't the best birthday ever, but there's always next year!

15.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2021?

Life is short! The pandemic has highlighted the importance of living life now. 

16.  My goals for 2022:   

I hope to graduate in 2022 or early in 2023. I also hope to be more present and peaceful.

Happy New Year!

2020 Year in Review (The Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic)

 

2020 Year in Review (The Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic)

1. What did you do in 2020 that you’d never done before?
This year, we had a very typical January and February. Over break, we enjoyed a few days in Boston with the kids, touring Harvard and Fenway Park and catching the view from the top of the Prudential Center. Then, on March 13, we learned that our schools were shifting to remote instruction due the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While the closures were forecasted to be short term, we did not return to school until the fall. With Dave and I teaching remotely, along with monitoring the kids' schooling, was a challenge. In some ways, it was such a weird time that was both stressful and boring at once. We were safe in our homes, but there was and continues to be so much uncertainty. 

We also have celebrated most of the holidays and birthdays with just the four of us. The summer did offer chances to see family and friends outside, but this year has been the strangest one yet. While it has been lonely in many ways, our family of four has grown closer.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

My resolution for 2021 (as in all of the years past) is to live in a state of gratitude for all I have been given, most of which I do not deserve.  And also to not let the decisions of others make me angry.  I also want to add that I need to make quality time for myself more of a priority this year. 

3. What places did you visit? 

Boston! We had originally planned to go to North Carolina in April and July, Niagara Falls, Maine, and Cape Cod. 

4. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?

Ummm normalcy? I would like at least some semblance of the life we had before this. I miss our family and friends. I miss travel. I miss dining out. I miss seeing people's faces.

5. What dates from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory?

3/13: School closed
8/9: Cecilia turned 5
8/22: LX turned 8

6. What were your biggest achievements of the year? 

Honestly, surviving largely unscathed. While this year has been hard, none of us have been infected. I did have a scare where I needed a test, but I was negative. I just hope we all make it out of this!

  
7. What were your biggest failures?

 Two of my failures are not blogging and not exercising/eating well! I could make excuses, but the truth is that neither are a priority right now.

8. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No :-)

9. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 

We tentatively booked our trip to Maine for 2021, assuming it is safe to go.

10. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
a bit of both actually
b) thinner or fatter? 
fatter
c) richer or poorer? 

richer

11. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish I had made more of my time at home. I have two modes: super planner/doer and sloth. I was more sloth than I wanted to be. Granted, there was a lot we couldn't do, but I could have walked more, run more, and hiked more.  

12. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating bad food!

13.  What were your favorite TV programs?

Gossip Girl

Dynasty

New Girl

  
14.  What did you do for your birthday in 2020?

I went to school, and we had Chinese takeout. Lucas had his tae kwon do assessment so we worked around that.

15.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020?

This was from 2015, but perhaps more poignant now: To try to be happy with what you have, where you are and who you are with.  I am someone who is always chasing the next big thing, but there is a lot to be said for accepting where I am, especially since it is pretty great.

16.  My goals for 2021:   

I hope to be able to see my loved ones and travel.

Happy New Year!

2020 in Books

 2020 in Books (30):

Step on a Crack, James Patterson

City of Girls, Elizabeth Gilbert

Summer of 69, Elin Hildebrand

Dreamland Burning, Jennifer Latham

Run for Your Life, James Patterson

Sadie, Courtney Summers

Allegedly, Tiffany D. Jackson

The Lost Girls of Paris, Pam Jenoff

Touching Spirit Bear, Ben Mikaelsen

Life Will Be the Death of Me, Chelsea Handler

The Beginning of Everything, Robyn, Schneider

Monster, Walter Dean Myers

Moloka’i, Alan Brennert

China Rich Girlfriend, Kevin Kwan

Watching You, Lisa Jewell

Fates and Furies, Lauren Groff

I Know This Much is True, Wally Lamb

Silver Girl, Elin Hilderbrand

All Adults Here, Emma Straub

All the Bright Places, Jennifer Niven

Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson

Third Degree, James Patterson

Rich People Problems, Kevin Kwan

Educated, Tara Westover

The Inn, James Patterson

Turtles All the Way Down, John Green

Becoming, Michelle Obama

Forge, Laurie Halse Anderson

Jam Sessions, Jerry Harwood

28 Summers, Elin Hilderbrand 

2019 in Books

2019 in Books:

The Woman in the Window, AJ Finn

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Michelle McNamara

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, JK Rowling

Her Kind of Case, Jeanne Winter

Nine Perfect Strangers, Liane Moriarty

Winter in Paradise, Elin Hilderbrand

Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi

Speaking in Bones, Kathy Reichs

Snow Day, Billy Coffey

I am Malala, Malala Yousafzai

Into the Darkest Corner, Elizabeth Haynes

Wishtree, Katherine Applegate

Furiously Happy, Jenny Lawson

If I was Your Girl, Meredith Russo

If the Creek Don’t Rise, Leah Weiss

Ghosted, Rosie Walsh

Gray Mountain, John Grisham

Three Women, Lisa Tadeo

The Poet X, Elizabeth Acevedo

Wonder, RJ Palacio

Kings, Queens, and In Betweens, Tanya Boteju

Past Tense, Lee Child

Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens

A Gathering of Secrets, Linda Castillo

Matched, Ally Condie

Tick Tock, James Patterson

Toil and Trouble, Augusten Burroughs

Crazy Rich Asians, Kevin Kwan

Reading January-July

I decided earlier this year that I was going to get back to reading and writing.  I haven't written at all, well aside from this post, but I have been BUSY reading!  A friend alerted me to an app called Libby, which allows me to listen to books on my iPhone, anywhere!  I was a huge fan of CDs in the car, but what about when I wasn't driving?  I am still reading traditional books for sure, but this app has definitely allowed me to get more books logged.  Plus, who doesn't like being read to?

Here is what I have read so far...

If you want to be afraid, read:

The Woman in the Window, AJ Finn

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Michelle McNamara

Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi

Speaking in Bones, Kathy Reichs

Into the Darkest Corner, Elizabeth Haynes

Young Adult:

Harry Potter #1, JK Rowling

Wishtree, Katherine Applegate

Mystery-ish:

Her Kind of Case, Jeanne Winter

Nine Perfect Strangers, Liane Moriarty

Winter in Paradise, Elin Hilderbrand

Religious:

Snow Day, Billy Coffey

Funny, but not that funny:

Furiously Happy, Jenny Lawson

Emotional/Inspirational Reads:

If I was Your Girl, Meredith Russo

If the Creek Don’t Rise, Leah Weiss

I am Malala, Malala Yousafzai

To be honest, I absolutely loved just about all of these. See you soon!

2017 Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?

This year, if I am really honest, was about keeping my head above water.  LX started Kindergarten, both kids started a new daycare, and we took some time to get adjusted in our new (August 2016) home.  I guess I can't really remember a year when I was quite this busy.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

I didn't really make any last year, but I still need to work on my diet and exercise.  I did read a decent amount, but I did not maintain my blog for the last 2 years.

My resolution for 2018 (as in all years prior) is to live in a state of gratitude for all I have been given, most of which I do not deserve.  I also want to add that I need to make quality time for myself more of a priority this year.  I have some really great women in my life, and they are all just as busy as I am.  I hope to log more hours laughing and connecting with them this year.  And as always, spend more time with my wonderful husband. 

3. What places did you visit? 

Vermont, North Carolina and Maine

4. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?

I have said this before, but I would really like to have traveled more. The year LX was born, I travelled every month but two. While I know that is not realistic, travel truly feeds my soul and I need it. 

***I would like us to move a bit further south so that we can be closer to family and friends, but for now, we will see what the future holds.*** We did this! My commute is pretty long, but I am so happy in our home.

5. What dates from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory?
9/6:  LX began Kindergarten

6. What were your biggest achievements of the year? 
Staying sane?  Between world events and being a working mom, stress was high this year.  I am hoping for a more Zen 2018.

7. What were your biggest failures?

 Blogging and reading! There just isn't time. By the end of the day, I just crash on the couch with lame TV.  

8. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No :-)

9. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 

LX and I took a solo trip to NC, I saw my sisters a fair amount, having 2 kids who sleep, etc.

10. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
a bit of both actually
b) thinner or fatter? 
fatter
c) richer or poorer? 

poorer

11. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish Dave and I took more time together as date nights.  I miss my hubs sometimes as we are in the throes of parenting.  

12. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating bad food!

13.  What were your favorite TV programs?

Gossip Girl
Friends
Game of Thrones
Transparent
NFL

  
14.  What did you do for your birthday in 2017?

My in-laws were here for the weekend working on the house, so we spent time with them and ordered in.  On Sunday, Dave, the kids, and I went for lunch at my favorite local pub for wings.

15.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017?

To try to be happy with what you have, where you are and who you are with.  I am someone who is always chasing the next big thing, but there is a lot to be said for accepting where I am, especially since it is pretty great.

16.  My goals for 2018:   

Be present, say thank you, love more!

Happy New Year!