2009 In Review

Happy New Year Everyone!

I find it hard to believe that we are wrapping up the year and a decade. Where did the time go?

I have been seeing this on a few blogs today and seriously where did the time go? It just felt like we rang in 2009. Its was a busy and crazy 2009 for me that is for sure.

So many good things and bad things happened for me both personally and blogging wise. Personally for some reason my sinuses having been acting up alot this past year which made me feel like it was practically every other week I was sick. Then just before Easter I ended up burning my hand, thankfully nothing to serious.

I didn’t get to go to BEA in May like so many other bloggers did and I guess my whining and pouting did me good because I managed to convince significant other to let me go in 2010.

This was my first full year of blogging and what a year it has been. I have received so many great books from authors and publishers, there are way to many to name but you all know who you are and I want to say thank you so very much for contacting me and sending them to me. If I haven’t reviewed them yet they will be done in 2010. I am commited to reviewing all the books I have received.

If maintaining one blog wasn’t enough I went and started a children’s blog called Books Upon A Wee One’s Shelf and that is solely children’s books but I am sure it will soon be chapter books as my son who is 6 years old feels he has outgrown some picture books.

As for the new year with books I am going to be a little more selective in what I will accept to read. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. In my own personally opinion I wasn’t prepared for what happened. This is something important for any new blogger as nice as it is to get emails asking for you to review books its okay to say no. I learned the hard way. I am now okay with going a week without getting a book in the mail.

I have met some many great bloggers this past year and I am looking forward to meeting you all in real life in May. I have been fortunate this past year to form some real life friendships with fellow local bloggers Donna, Avis, Tina and Linda. They are truly exceptional friends and I am truly honored to be able to call them my friends. I love our monthly meet ups at that great little tea shop where we can talk about anything and everything. Plus swapping books is great.

Blogging wise I have to admit that at times I feel behind and it was hard to catch up. I think I learned that I really need to write my reviews as soon as I finish the book and not let it pile up because we all know there are times its hard to sit and write a review for the book.

As for challenges I am honestly pleased with my 110 books read for the 100+ Reading Challenge that was hosted by J.Kaye. I was really surprised that I read that many books. I have to say that a majority of that was new to me authors.

I also took part in Buy One Book and Read It hosted by Amy and that was a failed challenge for me. I think I only read two out of twelve books I actually bought. I had no problem buying the books it was just reading them.

There are a few other challenges that I am taking part in that are still going and that is: The Sookie Stackhouse Challenge being hosted by Beth Fish Reads. I am done 1 of 9 books and that will wrap up June 30,2010.

The other challenge is the Middle Grade Book Challenge and you can either read 12 or 25 books and I am so far 3 out of 12 books and that wraps up August 31, 2010. The host for that one is Bambi Reads.

As for 2010 and blogging I usually don’t make goals but I just want to maintain equal time online with blogging and life. To keep ahead and not fall behind. I think I might have signed up for a little too many challenges but the good thing is they can all be connected with each other. I am thinking of a few changes for my blog but not really sure yet. There will be some added content and some stuff I am thinking of doing away with. I want to try and have daily content on the blog.

I am looking forward to reading alot of great books in 2010, going to NY and BEA to meeting some of the bloggers I speak with all the time.

Lastly I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by my blog and left comments, I tried to comment back on yours and I am sorry if I didn’t. Also if you added me to your blog roll and noticed that I haven’t added you please let me know and I will ad you to mine.

Happy New Year and all the best in 2010.