I’ve Read Over 60 Books This Year. Here are the Top 10

I’ve Read Over 60 Books This Year. Here are the Top 10

I wanted to read 12 books in 2021. I made a list of to-do items (i.e. a list of goals but named differently to trick myself into thinking of them NOT as goals) with it smack dab at the top of this list. I may have outdone myself with this one. There are just a few days left to the year and I’ve read over 60 books. Welp. I lean towards new fiction, historical fiction, and romance. These are the best books I read in 2021 and ones you HAVE TO READ. I wrote the descriptions shortly after I finished each book to keep everything fresh, so no months old thoughts here. If you end up reading one (or all of them!) definitely let me know what you thought!

From Blood and Ash Series by Jennifer Armentrout

 

This is a series that will live in my head rent free for years. I took BookTok’s recommendation on this one without really knowing what the series was even about. The first book took a bit to pick up, but once the rising action hit its peak, it’s been a roller coaster ride ever since. You have to read these. I won’t even bother telling you what they’re about. You just have to trust me on this one.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

 

I thought for sure this series would make it to the tip-top of this list without a single contender fighting for number one. That is until I read Blood and Ash. Now it’s a toss up on any given day which series I love more. They both are in the fantasy realm, but all of my non-fantasy friends LOVE them. Another book series I didn’t read anything about before diving in. It may just be my favorite form of reading these days. No back cover reading for me. Just diving straight in.

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

This book follows the life of Evelyn Hugo and her seven husbands. A famous old-time movie star, Evelyn Hugo made quite the stir. With so many twists, turns, and a look at bisexuality that I’ve never experienced in a novel before, this novel will be one I recommend for years to come. Definitely if I cannot convince them to read Blood and Ash or A Court of Thorns and Roses…

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One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

 

This book completely took me by surprise and I had absolutely no idea how much I was going to love it. It follows a plus-size fashion blogger named Bea as she gets starred as basically The Bachelorette. I’ve always found “reality” tv to be a bit silly, but this book somehow managed to get me incredibly invested.

You get to see behind the curtain, what it must be like to actually star in something like The Bachelorette, with a lot of twists and turns thrown in. There’s discussion of body shaming as well as asexuality (something I’ve never seen talked about in a novel before). It’s a 10/10 for me.

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The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Graves

 

A beautiful story about love, growth, and change. A fantastic twist to the girl meets boy story mixed with an honest portrayal of autism. It kept me constantly invested in the characters, their backstory, and how everything is going to pan out for them. Plus there’s a twist that completely threw me for a loop and had me reading faster than ever to find out what happened next. 

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in five years by rebecca serle

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle 

This one has been on my reading list for ages and I even checked it out once before and never got around to reading it. Man was I sleeping on this one. It’s a fantastic, clever, thought provoking story with a great twist. I saw my younger self a lot in this novel and found myself turning pages quickly to see what happened next. Definitely one you need to add to your list if you haven’t read it yet.

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Untamed by Glennon Doyle

 

This book was a Christmas gift and it came into my life at just the right time. I’ve tried self-help books time and time again without much avail, but this one didn’t seem condescending or obvious. The entire book had fresh, new ideas without beating them over your head constantly. It’s inspiring, honest, and realistic. Definitely a book I’ll reach for once a year for many years to come.

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The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 

After a life of seemingly wrong choices and missed opportunities, our protagonist finds herself in the Midnight Library. A place full of books that hold the infinite possibilities of choices not taken. This is such a creative story of hope, second chances, and appreciation. I loved how it tackled such interesting concepts while doing it in a unique way.

It made me want to see what my Midnight Library is like…but trust that I’m not in a hurry to get there anytime soon!

I read this in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down.

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josh and hazel's guide to not dating

Beach Read by Emily Henry

 

Now I tend to roll my eyes at cartoon covered books while secretly devouring them. This one is definitely one of my absolute favorites of the year. It takes place in Michigan (where I live) and is just a charming as ever love story between two writers. It doesn’t get too heavy, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and should be on your must read list.

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josh and hazel's guide to not dating

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

 

Firmly in the sunshine/grumpy friends to lovers trope, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is a light-hearted story about two friends who are trying to set each other up with other people on dates. Hazel is a goofball with no filter, Josh is too serious for his own good. Add a bit of spice and some great dialog and you’ll finish this book in no time.

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Now I just need to decide on a reading goal for 2022. I’m thinking maybe 52 for each week of the year? What is your reading goal going to be? This is your friendly reminder to check out your library to rent any of these awesome books rather than spending that hard earned money.

What You Should Plan to Do in January

What You Should Plan to Do in January

With 2022 right around the corner, it’s time to start preparing to start the new year off right. With new planners kicking off, here are a few thing to plan for in January.

Schedule health and wellness appointments for the entire year

Usually the next dentist appointment is scheduled at the end of the last one, but just in case they haven’t been, now is a good time to book appointments. You’ll be ahead of the curve and get more available dates and times. Schedule your yearly physical and any other check-ups you may need in the coming year.

Plan out vacations and time off

After you’ve booked all your health and wellness appointments you’ll be set to plan out upcoming time off and vacations. It’s so important to have something to look forward to throughout the year, so add some time off and trips to keep things exciting. Even if you just have a staycation.

Finish holiday gifts

Make sure you’re wrapping up your gift giving in January to say thanks to anyone you want to acknowledge from the past year. We usually send gifts to our clients and partners who have helped us be successful in the previous year.

Review your financial plan for the year

Have a big trip coming up or renovating your place? Review your financial plans for the upcoming year so your funds will be where you need them just in case you have an unexpected car payment or pet medical bill. Set up an auto deposit into your savings account every month to help you save more this upcoming year.

Plan out benchmarks and smaller items for yearly goals

It’s great to have plans and goals for the upcoming year, but save yourself the heartache by scheduling out benchmarks and break down your goals into actionable steps. Want to read 12 books next year? Write down reminders each month to help keep you on track. That way November doesn’t roll around and you’ve completely forgotten all the goals you made at the start of the year.

floral embroidery

Check expirations dates on passports, licenses, etc.

Nothing is worse than getting ready for a trip to find out your passport is expired. Check all your major documents to see if anything needs to be renewed this year and write it down in your planner. That way you’ll have plenty of time to prepare and won’t be caught off guard.

Schedule meeting for taxes

Now is a good time to get on top of next year’s tax season. I know it sucks, but you’ll thank me later.

Clean out your fridge and pantry

With all the holiday parties over and the leftovers piled up, now is a great time to go through your fridge and pantry to get rid of expired, old food. Check expiration dates, clean the shelves of crumbs and stains, and reorganize.

Make reservations for important holidays and occasions

Book hotels, restaurants, and other important occasions now so they’re all set and out of the way. Alex and I eat at the same restaurant on our anniversary every year, so might as well book the reservation now rather than waiting until the event gets too close and we can’t get a good time. If it’s too far in advance to book at some places, write down a reminder in your planner when you’re able to book.

Doing a few of these things now before the start of the year will help clear your mind and set 2022 up for success.

5 Things I Bought in October

5 Things I Bought in October

Let’s be accountability buddies, shall we? Now I haven’t been a big spender in many, many years. Gone are the days of wandering the mall on a free afternoon and leaving with arm-fulls of currently trendy clothing. I’ve curbed my shopping addiction and would consider myself a pretty minimalist purchaser. When I do decide to purchase something, I try to put a lot of thought behind it, reduce impulse buying, and get things I’ll use for a long time. Here all the five things I purchased in October.

1. Cozy Sweater

I’ve been having a love affair with Amazon fashion and my most recent purchase is this super cozy sweater. I prefer buying clothes online these days because I just can’t be bothered to go to the store and try things on. Plus I find that Amazon prices just can’t be beat. I get a lot of my recommendations from various fashion Tiktoks I follow. 

2. ThirdLove Bras

This girl has some boobs. Like we’re talking in the G sized range and I have had trouble finding good bras for years. I discovered ThirdLove bras about two years ago now and they’re the only place I shop at now. They’re high-quality, comfortable, and have my size in actually somewhat cute designs. I find myself enjoying wearing a bra rather than flinging it off at the first opportunity. A shock to me too. I picked up two simple bras to round out my collection.

3. High Rise Jeans

Screw what the Zennials are saying, I cannot get enough of my high-rise skinny jeans. I’m pretty sure I own every single color option in these and in various sizes depending on what my body feels like doing. I recently dropped down a pant size so it was time to expand my collection with a few new pairs.

4. Kindle Paperwhite

During the last few days of our month-long Hawaii trip we decided to pick up a Kindle Paperwhite since I had been lusting after one for ages. I’ve since read a good 15 books on the thing in October and honestly prefer it over tangible books (*gasp*) because it’s so much easier to read at night without annoying Alex. It’s lightweight, easy to travel with, and has quickly become a must-have in my life.

5. Acrylic Desk Stand 

In an effort to help my neck and posture while working at my desk all day, I picked up this acrylic desk stand. It took a couple days to get used to looking straight at my computer screen, but I am so much happier. I have a fairly small desk so the storage on both sides is super convenient and has helped eliminate a lot of the things I’ve kept on my desk. I haven’t figured out what to put under the stand as my keyboard is about the same width as it, so let me know if you have any suggestions.

What did you pick up in October? My goal is to not purchase anything that’s not essential for the rest of the year since the holidays are right around the corner.

Why the Cultivate What Matters Powersheets Didn’t Work for Me

Why the Cultivate What Matters Powersheets Didn’t Work for Me

With the new Cultivate What Matters planners appearing on social media, it felt time to talk about my failed experiences with Powersheets. I gave them an honest go for two years in a row with disappointing results. It boiled down to five reasons why the Cultivate What Matters Powersheets just didn’t work for me.

1. OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND

I’ve tried the multiple planner route for years and always come back to one planner and a to-do list notebook. Even if the Powersheets sat on my desk on a daily basis, I just never cracked it open like I do my main planner or to do lists. Despite adding a note in my main planner or a two do list item in my notebook, it would fall to the wayside week after week.

2. LONG TERM GOALS DON’T WORK FOR ME

Powersheets tries really hard to tackle this issue and if anything was going to work for me, it would be Cultivate What Matters. Yet I’m not a big picture person much to my husband and business partner’s chagrin. A monthly goal or a quarterly goal is about as far as I can muster. Powersheets has audits and checkpoints in place to combat this, but I just can’t stick with a goal that goes longer than a couple of months.

3. I DIDN’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Now I don’t blame Powersheets for my failure. It’s a great option for goal setting and I know it’s worked for countless people (I’m envious for sure), yet I just didn’t put my full effort behind the planner. Cultivate What Matters offers a ton of supplementary materials and resources to explore. I just didn’t.

floral embroidery

4. THE MOMENTUM FADES TOO QUICKLY

I’m absolutely obsessed with the starting pages of this goal planner. I’m tempted to purchase the 2022 version just for the first pages. I eagerly devour them and fill them out with so much gusto…and then it fades so quickly. Once I’ve rated my priorities and start to make goals, the inspiration fizzles. I just couldn’t seem to keep that initial inspiration going.

5. I DIDN’T MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY

I’m much more successful with goals when I have accountability. In my work life there are a ton of measurable goals in place with equally important accountability. Every week we have a meeting where we discuss goals, metrics, and moving the ship forward. That just didn’t exist in my personal goal setting. Maybe I needed a buddy (I could have easily asked the goal setting guru Laken and yet here we are) or should have joined a group or something. Yet week after week I just didn’t feel the pressure to bother with the goals when so many other “more pressing” issues kept coming up.

So there ya go. Cultivate What Matters Powersheets didn’t work for me two years in a row mostly due to my shortcomings. If you’re interested in goal setting and becoming more productive, take these five things into consideration so you don’t end up with half-filled planners in your closet giving you serious guilt. Will I try Cultivate What Matters again in the future? Probably. But I definitely need to have these issues sorted out before I take a third stab…but third time’s a charm right?

My Favorite Etsy Shops

My Favorite Etsy Shops

Etsy is a wonderful, magic place full of seriously talented people. Over the years I’ve placed too many orders to count, but have developed a list of ten of my favorite places to shop. Some have been around longer than even my store has, while others are brand new. There’s a little bit of everything in here from stationery supplies, to jewelry, to some insane soaps. Your next favorite shop could be just a scroll away.

EtenIren

This shop is my newest discovery and has me lusting over literally every single product. Handmade plant and succulent jewelry? Shut up. They’re so detailed, well-crafted, and beautiful. I’m still trying to decide which products to include in my first order. 

Boy Girl Party

This shop has always been a huge source of inspiration for me and my own business. Susie Ghahremani is an incredibly talented artist and it’s been awesome to follow her artistic career over the past few years. She’s illustrated a number of different children’s books, carries some of my favorite enamel pins, and continues to expand her brand in exciting, inspiring ways.

Craftedvan

One of the first shops I discovered when I got into the planning world, Craftedvan is my favorite place for magnetic bookmarks. They have greeting cards, enamel pins, and magnets, but the bookmarks are where it’s at. They’re super high-quality, very magnetic, and there are tons of options to choose from. The bookmarks I ordered back in 2013 are still in perfect condition.

OfficiallyPosey

I have the great honor of knowing Posey Thompson in real life and her new shop screams Posey in all of the best ways. I have the inside scoop that she has a ton of new cards coming. Plus you can find them in my gift shop in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

LoveNeen

Another shop I discovered when I dove into the planning world, these charms and clips are beyond adorable. The type of thing I would put on every single zipper if I had the budget for it. The variety is insane and I have at least four of these on my wishlist at all times.

PernilleOrum

My husband Alex introduced me to Pernille’s artwork a number of years ago and it’s been a favorite of ours since. For our first wedding anniversary (the paper year), I gave Alex an autographed copy of her first book. Her images are so iconic and completely her. Her shop changes often depending on what she has available these days,. Fingers crossed she comes out with a line of stationery soon!

Soapopotamus

Soapopotamus could very well be the first shop I ever bought something from on Etsy. I have no idea how I found her, but it was love at first cute soap. I have a weird thing for items that look like something, but are actually something else. So donuts that are actually soap, sign me up? The sushi set on her homepage is definitely going to find it’s way into my cart. Such a fun idea for a gift for someone who has everything or you want to give them something that they’ll use up and not clutter their house.

MairaGall

When I used Blogger has my blogging platform, Maira’s templates completely MADE my website. She was incredibly helpful any time I had a problem with my template, even years after I purchased it. They’re downright beautiful and incredibly affordable if you’re getting into blogging. I made the switch over to WordPress recently, but I do miss my Blogger and these layouts.

SugarandIvy

Felt paperclips are my weakness. There’s just something about the cute little details and how it makes my planner look so festive that I just can’t escape them. This shop’s name changed recently (I think?), but I cannot get enough. The neutral beige rainbow has my attention these days. They also make reels for nurses and jobs that have badges. Plus they have over a thousand items to choose from so you can browse their page all day.

Xrestyk

Last but not least is the shop where I got Alex the gift for our 2nd anniversary (cotton). Ira-Yura is insanely talented in cross-stitch and is who I’ll go to for all of my cross-stitch needs, and I surprisingly have a lot of those. I cannot wait to make another one and am already drumming up reasons.

What I love most about Etsy is that you’re supporting an actual person and their passion. There’s something so beautiful about a product made by hand and incredibly worth it. What are some of your favorite shops?