The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.
Don’t forget to look at my giveaways on the right sidebar.
We had something happening every day this week. Her college class is on Mon/Wed/Fri. Doctor appointments were on 2 on Tuesday and one on Thursday. So it’s just the weekend we have free. My daughter is over the cold / sore throat from the holidays, but now has migraines and menstrual cramps. She is loving her class and doing very well with it. Finally Saturday night, she opened her Christmas gifts and seemed to like them.
On Monday, I made a new soup recipe with leftover turkey from Christmas. It is Next Day Turkey Soup on allrecipes. It has the usual onion, carrots and celery BUT also green beans and sweet potato. It’s a broth base which is nice since sometimes we get tired of tomato based soup but cream soups are heavier and usually don’t freeze as well. We both loved it! So it’s a winner. I followed the recipe except I used Imagine organic chicken broth, a package of frozen organic sweet potato chunks (probably in bigger quantity than the recipe) and gluten-free Barilla tiny elbow pasta. I didn’t have orzo – does that even come gluten-free? – so I used the elbows but still just a half cup (pretty small quantity). I cooked the pasta separately and just put it in at the end so it wasn’t all starchy. Today, I’m trying to make gluten-free cinnamon rolls for the first time.
We have looked at various meal plan companies. In Minnesota, I used a company called Let’s Dish where I went about once or twice a year to prepare 6-12 meals which could be frozen and eat at your convenience. I liked it, but afterward I always felt I could do the same thing at home and sometimes did. My brother lives in Florida and they get something called Catered Fit which is prepared meals, just reheat and eat. I found something similar, Freshly, which just started this week in NC. We got 6 meals and so I’d make 2 meals and we’d each eat half. We are finding out which ones we like and ones we don’t. It’s spendy, about $10 per meal ($20 for 2) but nice for speed and one can skip any week. They have plenty of gluten-free and are pretty tasty, better than frozen dinners but not quite as good as takeout. You just heat 3 minutes and eat. The Let’s Dish was only about $3 per person as a “meal” served 6 people.
I had finished my daughter’s cashmere cowl last week and started mine with a different pattern. It really contributed to my audiobook time this week, along with all the errands and sitting in the car during her class. I finished 4.5 audiobooks this week. Here is my daughter in her cashmere cowl. It’s been in the 30s overnight so it felt good!
I spent LOTS of time Saturday creating post shells, as in more than 6 hours. My goal was to create them for all my ARCs I have but I’m not even half-finished. How did I get so far behind? Well just lately I have gotten ARCs for now to July. Most are for January, February and March. I don’t create the shells until I actually get the ARCs and when one is doing blog tours one doesn’t always get the ARC until a week or two in advance. Plus I’ve read a bunch of Beat the Backlist and COYER stuff which I want to review here, especially the audiobooks from the library. I did finish January, at least, which was about 15 posts.
I finally got around to talking to my friends at Tantor Audio and AceRoc Books about the Alex Verus Read-along. They were enthusiastic and generous, so I will have some better prizes. The 10th book will be in October instead of June which is also perfect for the Read-along. They also will forward a Q&A to the author so we will have that to enjoy.
Things I Learned This Week:
OK if I’m asking for help, I’m also going to share the cool things I learn. You may already know them but hopefully it will help someone.
I did a few little updates this week. I created a Learn More button on my blog facebook page. Then I updated that page About – Books of My Heart, to include our email address and also an email subscription form. I thought I had those 2 things in the Contact Us form but noticed that page is still a draft(!). I use Mailpoet plugin for subscriptions and was easily able to get the WordPress shortcode to put in the email subscription on the page.
Many WordPress blogs allow one to include a link through the CommentLuv. I have discovered over the last couple weeks two things.
- One is sometimes it doesn’t work unless you uncheck and recheck the check box before Commentluv.
- Second, is on some blogs if your blog url is Https, you need to make it http for it to work.
I found a great little free program called Clipboard Master. It’s like Clipboard in Windows only more controllable. The Best feature is the Fixed Clipboard where you can put test or graphics or whatever you will use again. When I send reviews to publishers I include a set of links and information in the same format every time. This allowed me to save the format so all I need to do is copy in the links. I thought maybe I could use a template in Gmail but couldn’t find a way to do it other than saving a draft email and copying it. This program allows me to define a keystroke so I can just paste it in whatever program I am using.
I asked about how to line up data in my Library Love post. I googled and found several table plug-ins, and a Column shortcodes plug-in. I activated the Column shortcodes, copied the post and tried it but it totally messes up the right sidebar. Tablepress looks good but I couldn’t figure out how to add it to the plugins. The Help says click Add New but there is no button that says that. Then I got an email response from NoseGrace and she added Tablepress to my plugins but I haven’t had time to try it. It also may be possible to create HTML code for tables if I learn to do it. But since Tablepress would create it, I’ll try that first since I just need 2 simple columns.
How do I fix it?
I have so many questions to fix up things on the blog. Many are graphics oriented since I am graphics challenged. So I will ask a questions here each week and see if you have any suggestions to help me. Also if you have any questions, ask in the comments and I will try to answer or ask your questions.
So I am curious, do you all get an email notification of my reply to your comment? I know on some blogs I have to subscribe or click a button or checkbox to get replies and some just show up. Discus ones seem to show up twice.
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. These are the exciting ARCs I received this week:
Trust the Wolf Playing for Keeps Titanshade
Thank you so much to Zoe Ashwood, Pure Textuality PR, AceRoc books, Harper Audio, and Harper Voyager. You will notice every single one is a different genre.
Smoke & Summons Oz The Complete Collection
I got my second Kindle first pick this week. The Oz Collection was $0.66 for members, $0.94 for non members of Audible for 14 books! I used the Audible link for this one; all my other links are always to Goodreads except on reviews where I provide multiple options.
Of Blood and Bone Kingdom of Ash
Audible had a deal if you use 2 credits you would get a $5 coupon so of course I had to do it since I had more than 30 credits (gasp).
Now the really scary one. This is all the Kindle and Audible freebies I grabbed this past week. You can see why I need to do Thrifty Thursday to be sure I read a few at least one each month.
Carole alerted me to the fact The Passage is free at Audible until February 1. I’m not affiliate; I get nothing from you getting this. The link is on the blog facebook page. Valentine’s Days & Nights is FREE and includes some of the best romance authors books. I just bought Rough Edge by CD Reiss last week and it is included free in this anthology. Butterface is only free this weekend.
I really meant to cut back on freebies BUT they are free so I guess that won’t be happening.
I’m not including things like reviews posted or upcoming as they are always in the right sidebar. And, my challenge status is also there.
If you like this and want to see me do the Sunday post, as often as I can manage, leave me a comment and let me know.
Anne
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Thrifty Thursday:Texas Edition @JeanBrashear @KathyCarmichael @kathyivan #AnnDeFee#ThriftyThursday #Challenge #Giveaway - April 18, 2024
- 🎧 Pay Dirt by Sara Paretsky @SaraParetsky #SusanEriksen @WmMorrowBooks @HarperAudio #LoveAudiobooks - April 16, 2024
- Sunday Post – 14 April 2024 @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - April 14, 2024
You have certainly hit the ground running with your various 2019 challenges, Anne! I’m so impressed. I really like the cowl – it really suits your daughter. And food after Christmas always seems a hill to climb – we are vegetarians with dairy intolerance so some of the options, like cheese, doesn’t work work for us. Best of luck with the Freshly dinners:).
Thank you! I’m organized so I try to maximize my reads towards my challenges. I get to read a lot with audiobooks. I’ve read more than the challenge bars show as some I don’t write the review on the blog and I have 4 more reviews to write today. Gah I finished both a book and audiobook yesterday so I have to start 2 new at the same time which I don’t like but have to do often. The food thing is tough. I try different things to improve. My daughter has so many food issues. Thanks for visiting and I hope your week is smooth sailing.
Nice cowl! It looks soft and cozy-warm. I’m also impressed with your blogging-ahead prowess. At this point, I’m back to scrambling to get posts done each week. I’d love to get ahead, but somehow I never seem to!
Thank you. Well I don’t have this week ready but I find it really helps to create the shell and schedule when I will do the review at the time I get the ARC. I both got more ARCS right after the new year and more importantly I spent a good deal of time updating my schedule last week. I don’t know how it got so out of whack. Now that I’ve got it figured out I can go ahead and do all those post setups. Good luck on getting ahead!
Thanks for sharing The Passage freebie link. I didn’t know anything about it. I also bought two Audible books to get the $5 credit. Now I just need to decide if I want to buy a few that I have at $1.99 (because of Whispersync) or one that I really want that was $4.99. Decisions, decisions.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Obviously I agonize over it and hoard my credits. Carole told me and I think I will love The Passage.
I really like that cowl, Anne. Looks nice and warm!
After reading your post I immediately went and downloaded The Oz collection. I read some of those books to my son when he was little since he was a real Oz fan! Clipboard Master sounds good. I’ll have to check it out. And I like that you are telling us about things you’re doing at the same time you are trying to get some answers. I appreciate that.
I get an email notification when you’ve answered my email showing my comment and your answer. I really like getting that since I don’t always remember to go back to see if the blog author has commented on my comment and sometimes I like to comment on the comment…lol.
That cowl is Sooooo soft. I’m about 30% into mine.
I try to keep up and share the best deals. I do that more on the blog facebook page and do primarily reviews here. I read those books at one point. Amazing deal as it is all 14 books!
I feel if I am going to ask for help I should share what I learn that makes my life easier. I spent a LOT of time fiddling this week to learn some things. I may need to start learning some HTML. But I’ve spent more time on book reviews, posts and commenting so far.
Thank you for letting me know about the commenting. I know I get emails from some blogs and not others. Since I like that I wanted to make sure my blog is doing it.
You are doing lots of things and challenges this year. Be kind to yourself and take it in baby steps. No one can do everything at once.
The cowl is lovely – and I’m sure it’s warm, too.
30 Audible credits? Wow! I start getting emails from them urging me to use the credits anytime I have more than 3. LOL I love that Royally series by Emma Chase. So good!
Thank you! It is warm and soft.
The Royally series by Emma Chase looks to be in Audible Romance so I hope to try it there. I was shocked the first book was free; it was through the author newsletter not just on Amazon though.
Well I do the Annual one for 24 so I JUST got those new credits. But I hoard them to make sure I have credits if I need something and also to take advantage of sales. If it is less $$ than a credit I buy it instead of using the credit and I always check the Whispersync pricing also. There is some weird stuff with pricing sometimes, so I check the options.
You are off to a great start with your challenges. I’m adding one more and that is it. LOL Love the cowl and I could use one right now. It’s getting pretty chilly here:) I grabbed The Passage too. Been wanting it and love that I got it free. I spent way too much on books recently. And I do get a notice with your reply to my comment. Have a lovely week and enjoy those meals:)
Thank you so much! I was totally unaware about the Passage as I don’t watch TV often but now I know about this and the audiobook sounds so exciting! I need to curb my spending too. I got myself yarn, fabric and books for Christmas and now to use them all. Plus great deals on Audible Romance and KU.
Thanks for letting me know that you get a reply email. Have a great week and enjoy your books!
I’ve only read one Jill Shalvis book (Lost and Found Sisters), so Playing for Keeps is on my list now.
Enjoy learning all the tricks, some of which sound too complicated for me. LOL.
Have a great week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Jill Shalvis is a go-to for me in romance and I read everything she writes. Her characters just feel more authentic than most and there is some humor which I enjoy. My very first blog review back on Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks was a Jill Shalvis book which is still a favorite book.
I like to figure things out even if some things are hard for me. Thanks for visiting!
Glad your daughter was feeling better enough to open her gifts. The soup sounds yummy, I am at the moment making chicken soup. 🙂
I am so very behind on posts but I have a few that I hope to get done today but if I don’t it’s ok. I am trying not to over stress about it.
I hope you have a great week, Anne! Happy Reading! xx
Thanks. I love it when we find things we both love. It’s got lots of veggies and flavor. Sometimes a soup sounds great but is just too blah.
I have been trying to comment on every Sunday post every week and that is very time-consuming. I also spend too much time on Twitter and facebook some days. This week I spent a bunch of time on little fiddles and learning things. I’m really happy with the things I learned but I feel behind on some other things. It just takes some time and a bit of testing to learn new things and I haven’t taken time for it in too long, so I’m happy I did it.
I hope the Rhino is dead and you will have a great week and enjoy your books! I’m going to miss the library / KU counting for COYER after today but I have many ARCs to read so it’s not a problem.
Thank you for the heads up on the Oz Collection! 🙂
I try to share any good stuff I find. Enjoy! Thanks for coming to my blog!
I am always learning new things on WordPress! Now you had some great deals here! I hope you’ll love Kingdom of Ash as much as I did!
Learning is fun. I really want to read the Thrones of Glass but I’ve only managed to read the first one although I own them all.
Yep, I get notice of your replies. If you are getting two disqus comments something is wrong. I love the cashmere cowl! For those on comment luv that require http..they have not done the update for commentluv.
OK good to know. I know you know many of these things. I would only ask you when I am desperate. I know you did a tips post which looks like it has table code which I read and will probably be looking into HTML code a bit at some point. I don’t care about the Disqus one which send me a comment reply twice. I can just delete one. I’m more worried about the ones where I don’t know if they have replied or not.
You gals have been busy. Love the way you use your time so you can do things you enjoy along with tasks. Way to go on getting your post shells organized and finished out your January. Your next day Turkey soup sounds good. The cowl does look warm and cozy for the season. 🙂 That’s neat how you got the publishers to partner for your readalong.
I got The Oz Collection, too. Now, hopefully I’ll like it. LOL
Have a great week, Anne!
I hope we like all the stuff we got. 🙂 I have to organize my spreadsheet every week of remove items I have read and reviewed and add new ARCS . If I get up to date on setting up the “shells”, then all I have to do is write the 3-5 paragraphs for the review.
It’s been in the 30’s so we have been enjoying the cowl and our soups!
I hope you find all great reads this week. I am enjoying the Morgan Dane series from KU but with the COYER all read finishing it will be back to more ARCS.
The cowl turned out really nice. Interesting cover for Titan Shade. Enjoy your latest haul 🙂
Thank you! TitanShade is a UF series for a March Release. I couldn’t resist, it’s UF. March is going to be a huge release month though.
Thanks for visiting and have a great week!
Oh the cowls are great!! You have 30 audible credits?! Thats crazy!! The most I had was 12. And that was only because I paid for a 1 year subscription and they all come at once! Ha! Enjoy your books!
I am curious about tablepress! You will have to share your thoughts once you get into it.
Thank you! I just went for the big annual plan with 24 credits, and I had some left. I’m a hoarder of credits and books. lol
I’m sure I’ll get to tablepress this week. I activated it. So I’ll mention it next week, as far as what I learn. I saw you had some great books, enjoy!
You have been busy! My schedule is about to get crazy and I don’t like it one bit. Lots of new books to keep you busy! I do get an email notification with your replies which is nice. Enjoy all of your gluten free goodies. I made gooey butter cake this morning 🙂
Have a great week!
Hang in there and be sure to take some time for you and a bit of reading. My schedule is pretty routine now unless the weather sucks and I’m just trying to fit in all the things I want to do and read, etc.
I used one of the GF on a shoestring recipes for the cinnamon rolls and they were easy and turned out great. Thanks for letting me know you get the emails. Now I know both people who use WordPress and blogger get emails from me.
I wish the people in my house liked soup. It seems pointless to make it just for me, even though I love it. Congrats on finishing so many audiobooks. I really need to get into those. Have a great week!
Thanks. I do try to pick soups where I can freeze half right away to eat 2-3 weeks later. This is working really well. You just MUST freeze half right away. Or you could freeze in serving size containers to take out one at a time when you want soup. There’s a cream soup I like which doesn’t freeze and my daughter won’t eat so I make half a recipe.
Audiobooks have made a huge difference in my daily life. Thanks for visiting.
Oh look at all the books you got this week. I hope you enjoy. I’m excited for Protect the Prince. I’ve got that pre-ordered. Have a great week and happy reading!
Yes I got many things and sort of unexpected. I got denied for Protect the Prince and then it showed up this week??? I think maybe I accidentally requested the paperback instead of digital somehow?
I had a great week last week and with all the times I will be sitting in the car waiting this week, it should be another big week for reading. Today was 37 so I was cold reading in the car. I had to turn on the car but luckily I was plugged in to the electric charging station while my daughter was at her college class.
I hope your week is amazing as well!
Stay warm and happy reading!
The Jill Shalvis book looks good. I love that series. I keep getting freebies too. Like you said, they are free. It doesn’t hurt anyone to get the ones I think look good. Hope you have a great week!
Thank you. Enjoy your freebies.
30 credits! I thought I had a lot with 5! LOL. I saw that deal, but didn’t take it this time.
Hope you enjoy all your new reads!
It’s lots but I JUST got 24 with the annual subscription. I’m a hoarder of books and credits. lol Thank you.
Sounds like a pretty good week! I missed the audible sale by a day – bad planning on my part, oh well.
That’s great you are working with the author and Tantor on your listen along! I’m excited to read about it and follow along, even though I’m not participating.
We do Blue Apron meals usual two 4-person meals per week. We keep the recipes and have favorites we remake again and again. I used to do a meal prep program about 10 years ago – we had a big freezer so I could make and have all month. But they went out of business. Oh well. Hope you have a good week!
Oh, and I get a notification when you reply – I used to get two, one from the blog and one from WP, but I think I only get one now.
Thank you, not a bad week. Now it is just warming up from 30s to 40s today and tomorrow into the 50s. That will be nice since I need to work in the yard again.
I still have the big freezer which helps since I can buy stuff when it’s on sale. Gluten free is spendy.
Thanks for letting me know you get the email. Have a wonderful reading week!
I spent today looking at books to meet my challenges this year. It made me feel more in control of everything I want to achieve which is good considering I’ve read only one book (and a kids book too! 27 pages!) this year so far and I’m struggling to find the motivation to read.
I AM tackling an audiobook though and enjoying it. I’m not an audiobook fan but the kid loves them so I’m an Audible subscriber.
I can’t believe you managed 4 in a week! Let alone you’re able to knit complicated stuff while listening. You’re a listening rockstar!
That sounds like a fun time, looking at your books and planning! I hadn’t listened to any audiobooks before 2015 and I used to listen to the ones on CD from the library before I did Audible. You too can be a rockstar. It becomes part of your daily life with certain activities. But I don’t always. Today I grocery shopped and didn’t listen and in the car with my daughter we talked instead of me listening so I get some breaks.
I always try to cut back on free ebooks, but it only last a day or two. lol. I tried catching The Passage, but all the free ones were gone. Bummer. Hope you are having a great week!
I try to only get ones I will actually read. I am more selective the busier my schedule is. I do go to Goodreads and look at reviews before I get any of them unless I already know the author/ book. Sorry about The Passage. I thought it was available until Feb 1, but maybe they had a quantity limit. Thanks for visiting. Anne – Books of My Heart
I hope you love Freefall, Anne! It really kept my interest, and I hope the audio adds something extra!
I just finished it last night. 5 stars from me. It was amazing and I love Hillary Huber. I listened on audio.