Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge 2016

Posted on by Cindy

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You know summer is just around the corner when  summer reading challenges start popping up.

BookSparks is hosting their 6th annual summer reading challenge. Have you done this summer reading challenge before? I have done it in the past and I am hoping that this year I will have better success with it.

The theme this year as you can see is #BestSummerEver.

This summer BookSparks picked  20 of the hottest books to read over the next 18 weeks and I am hoping that I can get to read them this summer.

Be sure to check back this month to see more of the May books.

If We Were Having Tea.... #26

If We Were Having Tea…. #26

Posted on by Cindy

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If we were having tea… I would tell you that I was hoping it would be a quiet week but it turned into the exact opposite. With dentist appointments. faith first classes and hockey it was busy this week. If that didn’t make it busy enough my washing machine went kaput on Tuesday so we had to rush out to buy another one that will only be here is week.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that Michael enjoyed the past week because he was off Monday (the elementary schools were visiting the high schools they will be attending this fall) and Thursday the academic plus students went to Ottawa for the day visiting a war museum and a Canadian History museum.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this past week I started to get a lot of my etsy orders in and I am loving everything I have ordered.

If we were having tea... I would tell you that I am slowly discovering some Canadian etsy shops that do the planner decorating so I will be ordering from them this week. If you happen to know of any Canadian etsy shops please let me know.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I have started working in my planner and I have a few things set up and now that I have the majority of my orders in I can’t wait to dig in and decorate. I am thinking of perhaps making this a Monday weekly feature.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that today is our final team event of our regular season hockey. Our party is this afternoon and the kids gifts have been purchased as well as the coaches gifts.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week.

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Blog Ahead May 2016 The Mini Edition

Posted on by Cindy
Blog Ahead

You might recall in the past that I have taken part in a 30 Days, 30+ Pre-Schedules Blog Ahead ( I have also taken part in the mini editions) that Anna from Herding Cats & Burning Soup hosts this fantastic event where the idea behind this was to actually have pre-scheduled blog post ready for you blog. I loved doing it and it was honestly nice knowing I had posts pre-scheduled ready and waiting for me.

I was doing extremely well with being on top of the schedule/draft posts in the past and over the last few months I have slipped and I really need to get back on track with my blog and the posting.

You can click on the above image to find out more about the Mini Blog Ahead.

I will be taking part, will you be? If you are please be sure to sign up on Anna’s blog.

Today is the first day and I am hoping since I have a few hours this morning to spare that I can sit and plug away and get some Waiting On Wednesday’s done and perhaps be a few months ahead in this. So that is my goal today and get those posts done.

April 2016 Book Unhauling

Posted on by Cindy

BookUnhauling

Good  Monday morning everyone. Its that time of the month where I show what books I am unhauling this month. I had so much success last year unhauling books that I thought I would continue this again for 2016.

I decided way back in  January (2015) that I wanted to document how many books I was giving away each month to see if I was making any kind of dent in my book collection.

I know last year I probably brought in more then I was actually giving away so this year I am trying to be cautious with my book buying and I am giving myself a budget each time I go shopping in hopes that it will curb my spending.

So each month I will be posting about what books I am unhauling and then another monthly post will be what books I physically bought in the month.

Are you a constant book buyer? Can you resist buying books on a weekly bases? Please tell me I am not alone in this?

I am doing a little bit of spring cleaning mostly to the bookcases in my living room and switching things up with organizing and then gradually starting to go through the boxes in the basement so more will be unhauled this upcoming summer.

Take a look at what I unhauled this month:

  1. The Widow by Fiona Barton
  2. When Angels Sing by Turk Pipkin
  3. The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
  4. United we Spy by Ally Carter (sampler)
  5. The Prenup by Beth Kendrick
  6. Easy on the Eyes by Jane Porter
  7. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
  8. Prom Kings and Drama Queens by Dorian Cirrone
  9. My Grandma Follows me On Twitter by Craig & Marc Kielburger
  10. Croak by Gina Damico
  11. Glee Summer Break
  12. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
  13. Lost Boy by Brent W. Jeffs
  14. Vermont travel book
  15. Hungarian Phrasebook & Dictionary
  16. The Diviners by Libba Bray
  17. Stirring the Pot by Jenny McCarthy
  18. The Longest Holiday by Paige Toon
  19. Anna & The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
  20. To Sleep..Perchance to Die by Donald R Grippo
  21. The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman
  22. The Bronze and the Brimstone by Lory S. Kaufman
  23. The Loved and the Lost by Lory S. Kaufman
  24. Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
  25. Daily Dishonesty by Lauren Hom
  26. Perry’s Killer Playlist bu Joe Schreiber
  27. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
  28. The Young Elites my Marie Lu (chapter sampler)
  29. The Santangelos by Jackie Collins
  30. The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere
  31. Death’s Excellent Vacation (anthology)
  32. Positive by Paige Rawl with Ali Benjamin
  33. The Awakening of sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie
  34. Star Darlings #8 Astra’s Mixed up Mission

Unless otherwise noted these are books I have read and I am passing them along to another book loving home.

So for April I am releasing  34  books this month.

Total for 2016 is 63
Total for 2015 is 211

If We Were Having Tea... #25

If We Were Having Tea… #25

Posted on by Cindy

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If we were having tea… I would tell you that this was a quiet weekend. We had no hockey or other commitments. It was still a do something weekend for us as we went summer clothes shopping for Michael as he needed shorts, tshirts and sneakers (hopefully he will get to wear the tshirts and shorts soon) and groceries.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this week was Michael’s 13th birthday. Where has the time gone?  He is an amazing young man who is caring and compassionate.

A photo posted by @cindysloveofbooks on

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this past week I spent alot of time on etsy looking at people who were selling planner decorating kits. If you know of any Canadian etsy sellers who sell planner kits/stickers can you please let me know as I am on the hunt.

If we were having tea... I would tell you that I did order a few (perhaps I went a little over board) kits from various etsy sellers and I have to say that I am a little nervous that I will be hit with duty when it arrives at my door. Fingers crossed it won’t be that bad. Do you decorate your planner?

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I have started working in my planner and I have a few things set up. I am hoping to share that with you some time this week.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I am in the final stretch of the party planning for the hockey team. We ordered the end of year gifts for the kits and had certificates made up as well. It should be a fun party for the kids.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week.