This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2018 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Why did I choose this Challenge? Well, if you have followed this blog, you know that I love Challenges, even though I may not complete all the ones I sign up for. I just find it to be fun. Another reason I decided to do this Challenge, is that I realized it has been ages since I have actually blogged, other than posting reviews, interviews, guest posts, giveaways, etc. Over the past few years, being busy organizing VBTs, I have slacked off with one of the main reasons I joined the Book Blogging Community.

This month’s prompt is: ORGANIZE

Spring has finally arrived here in RI. And that means Spring cleaning and getting my house organized. I’m a bit OCD when it comes to organization.

The only thing is years ago, I could do a room in a day. But now, and especially with my history of so many back surgeries, it takes 2-3 days, depending on the room. I just hope I finish before it’s time to start Fall cleaning.

I like things to be neat, tidy with everything in its place. So when Spring finally arrived, I started on major Spring cleaning in each room from floors to ceiling. If I haven’t used it in 5 years, it goes in the garbage. The first room I started on was my home office. Here is a picture of my desk, I moved my chair to give you a better look, and one draw where things are organized..

However, I do have a bit of a battle going on. My husband retired last year and we don’t agree on organization, which of course, my way is the right way ;-). For example, my kitchen counter. The toaster has a special place in my cabinet but my husband seems to forget where he got it from and that it should be put back.

Are you more like me or my husband?

I am taking part in the 2018 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight!

The last Saturday of the month, I will be recapping the books I have read for the month, what I thought and the links to my reviews, and what I hope to read the following month.

April Books Read

KEEP THE MIDNIGHT OUT by Alex Gray
Comments: I absolutely love this series. My review will be posted on May 8th.

YESTERDAY’S NEWS by R.G. Belsky
Comments: This was the first book I read by this author, but won’tbe the last. It took me hours to process and digest the ending. Incredible! My review will be posted on June 6th.

THE PROMISE BETWEEN US by Barbara Claypole White
Comments: A raw and emotional story about mental illness. Great read! (Click on the title to see my review)

THE LAST TIME I LIED by Riley Sager
Comments: I had mixed feelings about this book, which I will explain in my review that will psot over the coming days.

Current Read

MURDER IS A PROMISE by Giacomo Giammatteo
Comments: I was given the honor to do a beta read of this book.

Upcoming May TBRs

BAD TIME TO BE IN IT by David Burnsworth
Comments: This is the 2nd book in a series that I enjoyed.

THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW by A.J. Finn Comments: I keep pushing this book back but hopefully this onth!

Comments: So many books in my pile so not sure which book will be next.

Your Turn

• What did you finish reading this month
• What book(s) should I add to my TBR list

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2018 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Why did I choose this Challenge? Well, if you have followed this blog, you know that I love Challenges, even though I may not complete all the ones I sign up for. I just find it to be fun. Another reason I decided to do this Challenge, is that I realized it has been ages since I have actually blogged, other than posting reviews, interviews, guest posts, giveaways, etc. Over the past few years, being busy organizing VBTs, I have slacked off with one of the main reasons I joined the Book Blogging Community. At the time, I told myself that I would create a blog just as a way to keep track of the books I read with a few notes on the specific titles. I was very lucky that I met Vicki from I’d Rather Be At The Beach who took me under her wing, mentored me and answered all my questions. I went back through my posts to see how it all began in 2009 with my first post, which can be seen here. And 8½ years later, I still thoroughly enjoy being part of this community.

This month’s prompt is: ART

Art is literacy of the heart. – Elliot Eisner

I have to admit, that when I saw this topic when I first signed up, I knew it would be a hard one for me. I am so inept when it comes to drawing painting, etc., however, I always wished I had the talent to draw or being an arts and crafts type person. The best I can do is along these lines:

As far as wall art, I do have eclectic tastes but I would say that I tend to choose scenery since my house decor is colonial.

And of course, tropical scenes because it reminds me of our favorite vacation destination, Aruba, which is where these photos were taken.

And for arts and crafts, I had to share this beautiful gift I received from my son and his girlfriend for my birthday. I was so impressed, and absolutely blown away, that they took the time out of their busy schedules to make this for me. A beautiful shadow box for my office/library. Maybe, just maybe, Paul has some artistic talent. He knew he wanted to get me something to do with books and searched for some ideas, but I’m guessing it was Michelle, who did the finishing touches.

What about you? Do you have artistic talents?

Next month’s topic: Organize

I am taking part in the 2018 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight!

The last Saturday of the month, I will be recapping the books I have read for the month, what I thought and the links to my reviews, and what I hope to read the following month.

March Books Read

Click on titles to see my reviews

BRING ME BACK by B.A. Paris (click on titles for my reviews)
Comments: Having read her previous books, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS and THE BREAKDOWN, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. I was not disappointed.

LIE TO ME by J.T. Ellison
Comments: Another psychological thriller that I wanted to read and another psychological thriller that I enjoyed!

THE GOOD WIDOW by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Comments: This book has been hiding in my Kindle for about a year, and having seen a lot of buzz about it and it fulfilled two of my Challenge requirements, I thought it was time to read it. So glad I did!

HIDING by Jenny Morton Potts (Review will be posted on May 1st.)
Comments: This was a “new to me” author. I liked her writing style and it held me captive!

Current Read

KEEP THE MIDNIGHT OUT by Alex Gray
Comments: I am addicted to this series!

Upcoming April TBRs

BURN ONE DOWN by Jeffrey A. Cooper
Comments: This will be the first book that I plan on reading by this author

THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW by A.J. Finn
Comments: I hope that I can get to this book this month

Your Turn

• What did you finish reading this month?
• What book(s) should I add to my TBR list?

This year, one of the Challenges I signed up for is Blog All About It, hosted by The Herd Presents. The guideline is basically a blogging prompt challenge. Each month there’s a different prompt that you can interpret as you’d like then create a blog post around it. The 2018 list of prompts can be seen here on my Challenge Page. I will be posting for this Challenge on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Why did I choose this Challenge? Well, if you have followed this blog, you know that I love Challenges, even though I may not complete all the ones I sign up for. I just find it to be fun. Another reason I decided to do this Challenge, is that I realized it has been ages since I have actually blogged, other than posting reviews, interviews, guest posts, giveaways, etc. Over the past few years, being busy organizing VBTs, I have slacked off with one of the main reasons I joined the Book Blogging Community. At the time, I told myself that I would create a blog just as a way to keep track of the books I read with a few notes on the specific titles. I was very lucky that I met Vicki from I’d Rather Be At The Beach who took me under her wing, mentored me and answered all my questions. I went back through my posts to see how it all began in 2009 with my first post, which can be seen here. And 8½ years later, I still thoroughly enjoy being part of this community.

This month’s prompt is: Favorite Scent

Hmmm…..favorite scent? That’s like choosing a favorite child, isn’t it? And since I have too many favorite scents, I found a way to have them year round. But that is later in the post.

Some of my top scents are the beach, my favorite perfume, Tresor, food cooking on the stove and Star Gazer Lillies.
 

 

 
So how do I enjoy so many scents year round? It’s one of my guilty pleasures, Yankee Candles. I would have candles lit all day, every day but I had to switch to a Scenterpiece System due to the consequences of soot build up. And after repainting the house because of it, I switched to the wax melts. The Scenterpiece System is an electrical warmer that melts the wax cups, no wick to cause any soot.

 
I purchase scents according to the seasons, Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.
 

It can get a little expensive since I have the warmer on all day and each melt cup lasts approximately 24-27 hours. So I only order when Yankee Candle has specials. But I love it when someone visits and says “your house smells so nice”. For that, it is definitely worth it. But even more important is that I enjoy the way my house smells.

Do you have a favorite scent? Or are you like me and Yankee Candle is your go-to scent?