Tell Me Something Tuesday: Have you met any bookish/blogging friends in person?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

If you would like to join TMST and receive periodic emails of upcoming topics, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. TMST is a laid back meme – join in or opt out depending on your interest in topics or schedule.

I'm a few days late but here's this weeks TMST!

Question: Have you met any bookish/blogging friends in person?

Answer: Yes! I've been lucky enough to be able to attend several book cons and meet dozens of my blogger friends in person. Most were just a quick hi - so that's what you look like lol but I have remained good friends with several people.

I've mentioned my weekly virtual movie date and that's with a blogger I met at BEA. I've only really met her twice & just waiting in lines but we've remained good friends for years now. 

There are several more, that mostly have quit blogging, but we still stay in touch even though I don't see anyone now that I've moved out West. There aren't a lot of book conferences anymore either. 

Have you ever met any bookish/blogging friends in real life?

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Leaving My Comfort Zone

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

If you would like to join TMST and receive periodic emails of upcoming topics, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. TMST is a laid back meme – join in or opt out depending on your interest in topics or schedule.

Question: Have you ever ventured outside your comfort zone and ended up having a good time?

Answer: Not really but also kind of? lol 

I'm an intensely shy/introvert person with lots of phobias. 99% of life is outside my comfort zone. I hit a point (after losing Fonzi) where it was developing into a bit of OCD (in addition to panic attacks) and sought therapy. I'm not going to get into the whole thing here - but a quick take is that science shows that your brain treats a level 2 threat as a 5 alarm fire and exposure therapy can help retrain the brain to see threats more clearly and respond more appropriately. I try to push myself to do things that are outside my comfort zone more now and it has helped butit's still a struggle at times.  

Pre therapy - but blogging has been an ENORMOUS help to me. Creating a blog and putting myself out there is way beyond my comfort zone and it's turned out to be wonderful for me. I'm terrified of flying, yet a flew to NYC for book cons, I've talked to total strangers like publishers & authors where you have to sell yourself, met other bloggers in person, designed things for my blog. Just ALL very scary for me. 

Since moving to the PNW, I've been pushing myself to tackle my fear of height's - everything fun seems to be near some kind of cliff out here lol I try to make myself have conversations while I'm out and about - but I'm still awkward as hell ha!

I did a cave hike, which scared the shit out of me but I did enjoy that one. Kevin got me a headlamp and was always willing to turn around. Plus it never closed in on me (also claustrophobic). I'm actually really proud of myself for that one! 

Now, do I have fun doing it though?? Not really. I tend to do better when it's still controlled in some way. Like when I went to book cons, I was fine in the crowd but could not handle smaller gatherings, like publisher events where you need to talk in small groups. I'm much better getting lost in the crowd or one on one. And do I like to fly now? Hell no! Still terrified. 

I love the top of the mountains and the views once I get there, but I'm still white knuckling it the whole drive. But I kind of hate the idea that Kevin has to live a smaller life because I'm afraid to do things. He's not afraid of anything lol 

I try to find a balance now. I look for places/drives/hikes that challenge me but aren't on THE EDGE or have railings so I at least have a sense of balance (most places have no railings or safety measures out here).

I just do my best!

Because this is a bookish feature though - I'll add that going outside my comfort zone with books has been successful! Especially this past year when I've veered more to audiobooks. I have found that format matters a lot ot me for certain genres so I'm able to mix it up more and venture beyond my reading comfort zone with great results. 

Welp, that was more than you needed/wanted to know about me lol

Do you venture outside your comfort zone? And has anything good come from it?

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Spring Reading Plans

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

If you would like to join TMST and receive periodic emails of upcoming topics, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. TMST is a laid back meme – join in or opt out depending on your interest in topics or schedule.

Question: Which books are you looking forward to reading this spring?

Answer: I have no idea what (or if) I'll be reading in spring but all of these books are recent purchases from my local bookstores & one review book - that I hope to read in my lifetime lol.

North Woods by Daniel Mason - Goodreads Bargain cart 50% off buy

"A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries" 

Summer in the City of Roses by Michelle Ruiz Keil   Goodreads  I found this one at the airport section of local authors. The story is based in Portland, Oregon (near me)

"Inspired by the Greek myth of Iphigenia and the Grimm fairy tale “Brother and Sister,” Michelle Ruiz Keil’s second novel follows two siblings torn apart and struggling to find each other in early ’90s Portland."

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle - Goodreads I've heard so much about Chuck Tingle but I thought they wrote silly, parody type books, until I saw this one. I've heard that it's sci-fi/horror but I guess I'll see.

"From Chuck Tingle, author of the USA Today bestselling Camp Damascus, comes a new heart-pounding story about what it takes to succeed in a world that wants you dead."

Cinderella and the Beast (Princess Swap #1) by Kim Bussing - Goodreads I haven't accepted a book for review for over a year now but this looked light, fun and maybe just what my reader brain needs at the moment. 

"What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast's castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother's home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!"

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by T.J. Klune - Goodreads I love this series. I read the first on audio and I think I'll do the same with this but the book is gorgeous with it's sprayed edges so I bought it anyway.

"Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the hugely anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, one of the best-loved and best-selling fantasy novels of the past decade."

This delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham - Goodreads Another bargain cart buy. Sounds gory but funny.

"Four best friends, one music festival, and a cooler filled with human organs: this summer is about to get gory."

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates - Goodreads Welp, you can't say this list isn't eclectic! A little non-fiction thrown in for good measure. 

"Ta-Nehisi Coates originally set off to write a book about writing, in the tradition of Orwell’s classic Politics and the English Language, but found himself grappling with deeper questions about how our stories—our reporting and imaginative narratives and mythmaking—expose and distort our realities."

What are your plans for spring reads? Have you read any of the books I've included on my list? 

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do you like to cook or bake?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

If you would like to join TMST and receive periodic emails of upcoming topics, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. TMST is a laid back meme – join in or opt out depending on your interest in topics or schedule.

Question: Do you like to cook or bake? What is your favorite thing to make?

Answer: Like is a strong word. I don't enjoy cooking or baking yet I love looking for recipes, reading cookbooks and the idea of replicating them. 

I make a complete mess of my kitchen when I cook - especially when I bake - and the results are usually 50/50 good/bad. I get very stressed and it's not relaxing to me, so I have no idea why I do it lol

I'm not a patient person and I give up on things easily so I think it's some sort of therapeutic device to teach me those lessons. 

Things I love to make (& come out good!) though are Chicken and dumplings, butternut squash soup in the Instant Pot. Those two are my winter go-to's. I also make a great grilled cheese using a few tricks I've learned out here and roasted salmon.

I do enjoy baking sourdough bread. I have a King Arthur no-knead recipe that I use all the time. It's easy and comes out perfect every time.  

I'm really horrible at things like cupcakes, cake, cookies and brownies and pie crust. 

Do you like to cook or bake? DO you have any favorite recipes I should check out?

Tell Me Something Tuesday: What is your favorite thing about winter?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

If you would like to join TMST and receive periodic emails of upcoming topics, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. TMST is a laid back meme – join in or opt out depending on your interest in topics or schedule.

Question: What is your favorite thang about winter?

When I first moved to the PNW from Florida, a nurse told me to find the special things that only happen in winter and look forward to those - like a starbucks drink or food that only comes out winter. That advice really stuck with me and I have found several things that help me, not only tolerate, but enjoy, the winter. Parts of it anyway.

Soup! I love soup and dreary, rainy winter days are perfect for soups. My favorite is my chicken dumpling or my butternut squash but I also love going out for a good bowl of pho. I've been trying a few new recipes this year too. 

Sweaters. I love sweaters and I missed being able to wear them in FL, so that's been fun.

Fireplace. We have a fireplace and I love the warmth and glow on cold winter nights.

By far though, I love the winter skies the most. We live in a very hilly area just a few miles from the Columbia River and we get the coolest clouds, mist, and fog just hanging in the air in the mornings. It doesn't matter where I go - for a walk by the water, driving to do errands, just sitting on my couch looking out my window - I'll get a gorgeous view in the morning. Every day - every view is totally different.

This is the Columbia River - just a quick drive from my house and where I take the dogs walking. The clouds hanging low and the mist coming off the water make for the coolest  views. Dozens of dead logs float down the river and the small hotel down there has twinkle lights along their trail. It has a slightly creepy vibe but I love it!  

The same place at sunset 

That just doesn't happen in the summer because the skies are clear everyday and it gets bright early/dark later. We also have the sea lions are arriving now and Bald Eagles that line the trees along the river. Very cool!

What do you all love about winter?

I actually hate winter lol but that topic is next weeks TMST - so I'm saving that rant lol

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Blogging/Reading Goals for 2025

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

If you would like to join TMST and receive periodic emails of upcoming topics, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. TMST is a laid back meme – join in or opt out depending on your interest in topics or schedule.

Question: What are your blogging/reading goals for the year?

Answer: Is anyone reading this??? I have not blogged in SIX MONTHS!

I'm not even sure why I'm bothering at this point lol I'm not sure if anyone will visit this post - or if I won't vanish again for another 6 months. 

I read 17 books last year and posted 16 times on the blog - not even one of those posts were a review EEK!

Last year was a YEAR. For a lot of reasons - Kevin lost his dad to cancer being one of those things but a lot had been going on. 2025 looks to be rocky as well, with the world and I have some medical tests upcoming but I DO want to try to get back to some type of regular reading and/or blogging. I am not one for resolutions or goals but I am going to try to do some simple things to maybe get me back on track.

1) Read one chapter from a physical book or Kindle and listen one hour to an audiobook - per day.

It doesn't seem like much but my book focus is shot! I do somewhat better with audio because I listen while running errands. But I can't seem to listen while doing anything else so it takes me weeks to finish an audiobook. 

My hope is one chapter a day may lead to two - or just get my brain in that reader mode again. If not, one chapter a day will still get a book read, even if it's not very fast. 

Oh how the mighty have fallen - I used to easily read one book a day!

2) Blog once a week or even a monthly wrap up if weekly feels like too much.

I have got to find an easier/more spontaneous way to do this. I want to blog but sitting down and formatting pictures/links and all that is not rewarding for me anymore. 

I often think to post a picture of what I'm reading or somewhere fun I've been but then I do it on Instagram and figure everyone has already seen it. I don't know...I miss the old days of blogging (Old Lady...I remember in my day when we blogged...lol) and I'm struggling to find a way to do it that's still fun for me. But....I always miss it when I step away for too long. 

3) Make 1 recipe from a cookbook I own per week. 

Not quite reading - but I probably bought or was given, at least, 20-ish cookbooks last year and I don't think I've made more than 1-2 recipes from them. I keep getting distracted by new Instagram recipes instead lol

Several of the books are written in a way that tell family/cultural stories along with the recipes and I really want to deep dive into them and learn how to cook better now that I live somewhere with amazing ingredients almost year round.

If you are here reading this MUAH!!! Thank you - I missed you! Happy New Year!

What are your reading, blogging or even personal goals for the year? 

Or do you do a word or phrase? That's what I usually do but I'm sort of just carrying all my past words forward this year since I think they will be relevant - LAUGH, SIMPLIFY, DISCONNECT lol