Monday, January 30, 2023
Mini Book Reviews: January 2023
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Mini Book Reviews: December 2022
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
I wrapped up 2022 with a total of 77 books read. I don't set reading goals--that's just too much pressure! Reading books is one of my guilty pleasures and I don't want to feel bad if I can't get through one to meet a goal. It's hard enough when all my library holds come in at once and I only have a few weeks to read them all!
Everyone has been posting their favorite reads and after reading so many books, I can remember only a handful of them. Tops on my list are Lessons in Chemistry, followed by Unlikely Animals. These 2 books checked all the boxes--they grabbed me within the first couple of chapters, I didn't lose my interest, I didn't want to put them down, and they've stuck with me for a long time after finishing them. The characters were interesting and quirky. The stories weren't clichèd. And they were different. A couple of other books are worth mentioning as well: What Could Be Saved, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, Remarkably Bright Creatures, Carrie Soto is Back, Hurricane Girl, Now is Not the Time to Panic, and Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
I also read a few non-fiction books, most of which were really good. Non-fiction November gave me an excuse to explore some books that were on my TBR but just couldn't find the time to read! I continue to refer back to Next Level, which validated and educated me about how to train after menopause. It's also on sale for kindle for $2.99 right now! Other favorites include Good for a Girl, Corrections in Ink, Solito, and Running While Black.
This is just an observation of mine, but it seems to me that many of the books I read this year were unnecessarily long. I don't mind a long book if the story cannot be condensed--in fact, I'm reading an amazing one right now--but there's nothing worse than reading a book that just meanders on and on. Just get to the point! It reminds me of a hair stylist I used to go to who took an hour to cut my hair but mostly spent her time fluffing it. Chop chop! Good editing is a must to make a book crisp and interesting.
Over the holidays, my sister and I were comparing favorites and it was a good reminder that not everyone likes to read the same thing. Multiple times this year, I read highly recommended books only to be disappointed. People always ask me how I find the books I read and mostly, I pick books that are recommended by a couple of the book bloggers I follow. I hope that you will find a couple here that you might like!
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Coffee Talk
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Let's catch up over coffee! What are you having? Today I'm having a local roast, Granville, from Metropolis Coffee. We used to live on Granville when we lived in Chicago, so I just couldn't pass this one up! I learned that Metropolis has opened a cafe in Edgewater, right down the street from our old apartment building. Such good memories and every time I have a cup of this delicious blend, it takes me back. What a great neighborhood!
Anyway, I've got my usual GLG collagen and a splash of half and half to make everything just right!
So what would you tell me over coffee?
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Coffee Talk
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Let's catch up over coffee! What are you having? I've got some Starbucks Spring Day Blend that was on the clearance at Target last week. If you remember, I had it last spring and loved it! It tastes just as good on a summer day, especially with a scoop of GLG Collagen and a splash of half and half.
It's been a pretty eventful couple of weeks for me, and if you haven't read any of my other posts, you might want to check them out.
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Yep, I bought this shirt, lol |
Friday, March 5, 2021
Coffee Talk and February's Book Reviews
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Let's sit down and catch up over a cup of coffee! I love our monthly coffee date--it's the one time of the month where we all share what's going on in our lives off the road. While I love to run, I do have other things to talk about. I'm drinking my usual Dunkin' with a splash of half and half and a scoop of GLG collagen. What's in your mug?
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Coffee Talk and January's Book Reviews
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Let's catch up over coffee! I've got Allegro Organic Hardwired brewing; this bag of coffee benefits the National MS Society through the Team Left Hand's Bike MS Team. Bike MS is the largest fundraising bike series in the world. I do love me a cup of socially conscious coffee! Mine has a splash of half and half and a scoop of GLG Collagen.
Thursday, December 31, 2020
New Year's Coffee Talk
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Happy New Year! Happy NEW YEAR!!! Have any of us ever been so glad to welcome in a new year? I can only wish that with the flip of the calendar, we could flip a switch on life as it is right now. Sadly, no. The pandemic rages on, complete with new strains and continued discontent around us. But I'm not going to dwell on any of that. I'm hopeful for good things to come this year and that's how we should start a new year. Clean slate and all that, right?
It's time to catch up on our first coffee date of the year. What's in your cup? I've got a fresh pot of Dunkin' Donuts coffee brewing. Sipping on it as we speak, along with a scoop of GLG collagen, and that most important splash of half and half.
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Coffee Talk: 'Tis the Season for Joy
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Let's sit down and catch up over coffee! It's the final coffee date of 2020--a year that I think most of us are ready to see come to an end. I'm torn between unleashing on this terrible year and keeping it light and festive. There's just so much to talk about. After spending so much time in isolation, I may just talk your ear off.
What are you having? Today, I'm enjoying a complimentary cup of Starbucks with half and half. For the month of December, all frontline healthcare workers can get free regular coffee. I'm not a fancy coffee drink person, so this suits me well.
In spite of all that's going on right now, I've found that it's the little things in my life that are giving me joy. Pour yourself a big cup of your favorite beverage while we talk about them.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Coffee Talk: Another Squirrel Incident
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Let's catch up over coffee! So much has happened this month that I don't even know where to start. I'm drinking Dunkin with a splash of half and half and a scoop of GLG collagen. I'm so boring. But I do love a cup of Dunkin! What will you have?
Thursday, October 1, 2020
Coffee Talk
Thursday, September 3, 2020
Coffee Talk September
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Good morning! Let's catch up over coffee! I'm drinking Dunkin' with a scoop of GLG collagen and a splash of half and half. I know, I need to mix it up but right now comfort feels good! Don't you agree? What are you having this morning? What would you tell me over coffee?
Friday, July 3, 2020
Coffee Talk
Good morning! Let's catch up over socially distant coffee. I'm still loving my Dunkin Donuts with a splash of half and half and a scoop of GLG collagen. What will you be having?
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Last time for this view... |
Friday, May 1, 2020
The Best Part of Waking Up...
Let's catch up over coffee! I'm so ready for a hug. Virtual coffee dates have been so much fun but they're just not the same as face to face. Wouldn't you agree? I'm trying not to complain--I know it could be so much worse. It's just lonely. While we wait for this virus to ebb, we'll just have to the best of things with our virtual options.
I'm still drinking my Folgers--as Linda called it last time, 'nurse coffee'. You know, the hard stuff. Go ahead, make fun of me. I actually don't think it's that bad! I'm putting my collagen and some half and half in today.
As I mentioned in my Runfessions post last week, April felt like the longest month. It didn't help that we had so much rain and wind. Before all this happened, I thought how nice it would be to have some time off. Be careful what you wish for, right?
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Friday, April 3, 2020
Coffee Talk
Let's catch up over a cup of coffee! Has it only been a month since we last shared a cup of joe? I don't know about you, but it feels like an eternity. Wow, have things changed since a month ago. Let me pour you a cup. I'm having Folgers (don't laugh) with a large splash of half and half. And of course, collagen.
Or maybe we should go straight to wine.
What would you tell me over coffee?
Friday, March 6, 2020
Coffee Talk
Let's catch up over coffee! I've got some good stuff brewing. I picked up this bag of Allegro Girls Gotta Run Coffee at Whole Foods last week. Girls Gotta Run is a foundation started in 2007 with a mission to empower girls in Ethiopia through education and athletics. GGR starts working with girls after age 12 to keep them in school by providing them with scholarships, trains them in athletics, teaches them life skills, and assists their mothers in building a business. This year, the first class of girls graduated from the scholarship program--100% of them are going to college.
Allegro Coffee has been involved with the program since 2015 and this year has pledged $10,000 from its sales of Girls Gotta Run coffee. International Womens' Day is Sunday, March 8--what an amazing way for Allegro to empower these young women! This is a cup of coffee you can feel good about drinking.
Plus, the coffee is really good! I'll have a little half and half in mine, if you please...
Friday, January 31, 2020
There Goes My Dream of Singing in a Rock Band...and other Runfessions over Coffee
It's pretty much pain-free!
But first things, first, how do you like your coffee? I'm still sipping Colectivo Co-Optiva with GLG collagen and half and half. It's the perfect way to start the day!
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Singing on the treadmill helps pass the time! |
Friday, January 3, 2020
Coffee Talk
Good morning! What's new with you? Are you recovered from the holidays? Let's catch up over a cup of coffee. I'm pouring some Colectivo Wonderland, a holiday coffee which was a gift from my son's girlfriend. She also gave me this awesome mug, my new favorite. Besides the Colectivo, I received quite a bit of coffee for Christmas, so I'll be working my way through it during these cold, dark days of winter. With a splash of half and half, it's the best way to start the day.
Friday, December 6, 2019
Coffee Talk
Good morning! Would you like to join me for a cup of coffee so we can catch up on life off the road? I know how busy things are this time of year, but it always feels good to take a break and sip on a hot cup of joe! I'm drinking a Holiday Blend from Whole Foods. Super tasty and with my GLG collagen and half and half, I could drink it all day!
What's happening in your world?
Friday, November 1, 2019
Coffee Talk
Let's catch up over coffee! Once a month, Deborah and Coco host a coffee chat where a bunch of bloggers talk about what's going on in our lives. Besides running, that is! I'm having a cup of that yummy Colectivo Co-Optiva that I picked up again in Madison last week. Don't you love regional coffees? Do you take anything in your coffee? I've got half and half over here...
Friday, October 4, 2019
Coffee Talk
What's new? Let's catch up over coffee! I'm drinking my usual--Folgers--with GLG Collagen and a splash of half and half. Don't judge. I'm heading up to Madison this weekend to watch my Badger play rugby and I hope to come home with some Colectivo.
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