Saturday, January 4, 2025

More about Goals


 So I'm trying something a little bit different this year - a whole notebook for the year filled with lists.

But also filled with accomplishments.

I've tried this in the past and it hasn't work too well, but I am making some changes this year. I talked a little bit about it on TikTok yesterday.

@yabooknerdlibrarian Question: how do you keep going back to your goals for the year and mark progress or new goals??? #goals #newyear #resolutions #journal #lists #notebook ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

I'm hopeful that these changes will help me make it through the year with the notebook and not forget about it halfway through. 

Maybe I should set aside time each month for a recap/revision.

Do you journal your year? How does it work for you?

Friday, January 3, 2025

2025 Goals

 

I have started jotting down goals for the new year.,,

Places I want to visit:
I'm building a list of things I want to do in CT - I haven't done too much exploring here. I'm hoping to go on monthly adventures 

Reading:
Goodreads Challenge: 235 books (Children's, YA, and Adult)
500 picture books and board books

Blogging:
350 blog posts
Middle Grade Mondays - highlight more middle grade reads
reach 3 million blog hits 

Creativity:
Keep painting
Get back into paper quilling

Work:
Clean my office and become better organized

What are your goals for the year?

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Wrap of 2024


2024 is over and it was a year!

Pictures:
I met Mychal Treets at our CT Librarian Annual Conference
I hiked in Glacier National Park
Went to a pop-up Gingerbread Bar
Saw the Northern Lights (finally) with friends
Visited Hyde Park
Vacationed in Ocean City, Maryland where we saw wild horses

I completed some goals and not others...
I did complete my reading goal of 225 books
I did not reach the 500 picture book reading goal
I did not reach my blogging goal of 350 blog posts
BUT I did reach 2 million views on my blog!
I did spend the year highlighting middle grade books
I did paint more
I failed at paper quilling
I did try resin - made a huge mess in the kitchen
My home library is more organized - my work office, not so much
Reviewed a bunch of books for Fresh Fiction and a couple for SLJ

Highlights of the Year
Visiting Banff 
Saw my friends in Seattle - we went to a Wallaby farm
Visited friends in Knoxville where we saw Northern Lights
Attended a James Ponti author event
Attended an event with Kristan Higgins and Kate White with author friend Regina Kyle (sadly, I took no pictures)
Visited Elizabeth Park for the tulips 
Interviewed a favorite middle grade author, Jessica Burkhart
Visited Nantucket with family
Wrote a mini essay for KidLit for Kamala on my experience with book banning
Ate lots of ice cream from Mel's and other sweet treats
I was sent lots of great books from publishing folks

There were some hard moments too, but not as easy to talk about those things.
 Some of them happened indirectly to me, so I'm not sharing those.
Conference proposal rejected - which I thought was a sure thing
After visiting the doctor, I have high cholesterol - so I've worked hard to change the way I eat, which has been a struggle. I do love sweets and cheese. Everything in moderation. 

What were some of your highlights from the year?

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Happy New Year


I hope 2025 is amazing for you and filled with so much happiness and laughter, great books to read, adventures with friends, and amazing desserts!