weekly wrap-up Archives - Page 12 of 21

This week in…: The 15th in 2016

April 22, 2016 by Jana 31 Comments

Remember last week when I said this feature needed a new name? I’m thinking Friday six-pack and having six specific topics I write about. Possibly books, TV, food, internet links, funnies, and a rotating miscellaneous one. What do you guys think? Any categories you’d like to included? Name suggestions? Help!

But, until that’s resolved, let’s continue the standard weekly recap stuff:

this week

Finished Side Effects May Vary, almost through Liar, and started We’ve Already Gone This Far. Picked up 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl and How to Start a Fire.
Finished The Armchair Librarians site (I’ll have a redirect on the URL set up in the next week) and also my author coaching site. I’m not a designer by any means but I’m pretty happy with what I’ve put together.
Started exercising again. You guys. It fucking hurts. But a good hurt. Except when I’m laying down and try to sit up. That’s a terrible hurt.
Watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. This show is so damn funny I seriously can’t stand it. If you’re not watching it, DO IT NOW.
Made my very first from scratch copycat recipe for Wawa’s Mocha Mint iced coffee. It’s not an exact clone because but close enough. Here’s what I did: brewed a gallon of coffee. Added 3/4 cup simple syrup, about 1 tbsp peppermint extract, 1 cup half and half, and 1/2 cup skim milk. I still need to to tweak the measurements but I have been drinking this like a fiend.
Prince died. The celebrity deaths this year are ridiculous. I did enjoy his music and he was so damn talented. Sigh.
Thinking about starting an accountability group for anyone trying to work on a project but feel stuck or scared or whatever. I still need to respond to everyone’s comments on my post from Tuesday but thank you to everyone who shared. It’s comforting to know I’m not alone and I feel like if we all bonded together, we’d kick some serious ass.
Internet reads: This post from Scary Mommy on what’s weighing on the mind of a mom with depression. My birthday is in 6 weeks and I want so many of these products (hint, hint, Husband. I know you’re reading this). I’m a sucker for time management tips so this article on designing your time at work was quite fascinating. This awesome post from Lifehacker on the importance of self-care.
Funnies:

This weekend is my 12th wedding anniversary so we’ll be celebrating by spending Sunday at the beach and eating at a restaurant called The Cultured Pearl because apparently the 12th anniversary is the linen/pearl anniversary and this place has both (linen napkins ’cause we’re fancy like that). My sister and brother-in-law also had their birthday (they have the same one) this past week so we’ll be celebrating that, too. Lots of good stuff going on!

Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you back here on Tuesday!

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This week in…: the 14th in 2016

April 15, 2016 by Jana 16 Comments

I’m starting to think my weekly recap needs a new name. I don’t like this one anymore. But I’m terrible with naming things (fun fact: I am typing this on my iPhone and autocorrect wants to keep saying “thugs” instead of “things”), especially features so…yeah. This will probably stay. #bloggerproblems

Anywho, let’s recap the week.

Picked up 4 books from the library. Currently reading Liar and Side Effects May Vary in my attempt to balance a library book with a NetGalley (not Netflix, as I said twice in this week’s podcast).
A HUGE THANK YOU to the 50+ bloggers who joined me and Steph for Show Us Your Books. I have never been so happily exhausted reading blog posts. Next one is May 10.
Speaking of Steph, we had lunch on Wednesday and she gifted me her no longer wanted Urban Decay Naked Palette. This is true friendship, y’all.
Signed up for a 5k benefiting one of our local beach libraries. Giving back AND getting my fat ass moving again? Yes, please. Oh, and make no mistake. I’m walking it. Running sucks.
Started watching Graceland as my new binge watch. Thanks so much for all your suggestions last week!
Listened to “Black Cadillac” by Shinedow on repeat.

No links for you as I have not done much internet reading that’s not stuff I can use for work and my new author coaching services. The site for that is almost done and I’ll share the whole thing when it’s complete. Also, if you are thinking about self-publishing a book and want an alternative to Amazon that also comes with the support of a traditional publishing company, let’s talk. The house I work for does just that!
Funnies:

I’ll be helping my sister and her family move this weekend. Wish us luck! Hope your weekend is fun and relaxing!

This week in…: The 13th in 2016

April 8, 2016 by Jana 17 Comments

this week

- Finished Evicted and American Housewife. Working on Fallout. Put 6 books on hold, breaking my vow not to until all the NetGalley books were read. Oh, well.
- Show Us Your Books is this Tuesday, April 12. Brace yourselves now.
- Finished all the shows and am in a TV desert. Fortunately Kimmy Schmidt comes back to Netflix next week but let’s be honest, I’ll work through that in a weekend. Any suggestions on what to watch that’s not sci-fi or comic book/superhero or The Walking Dead?
- Cooked nothing exciting but did set a new personal record the other day by assembling a full meal in the crockpot in 6 minutes. Literally. SIX minutes. I even remembered to turn the crockpot on.
- Found out my state is having a taco festival in June. How do I not go to this?
- Baseball. Is. Back. #LGM

Already started planning next year’s spring break trip. Myrtle Beach, we’re coming for you (sorry, Kelli. I know how you feel about tourists).
Purchased the Too Faced Country palette. I want to be one of those people who just has a signature look with standard colors but alas, I am not. So I felt the need to add this to my repertoire (I tried to get a good picture of it but I couldn’t so if you want to see what it looks like, just follow the link). The great makeup refresh of 2016 is almost complete.
Internet reads: Speaking of baseball and the Mets, I love what they’ve decided to do this year with their Champion of the Game belt. This interview with Powell’s Book Store. Paperback Paradise. You just have to trust me on that one.
Funnies:

Have a great weekend you guys! See you back on Tuesday for Show Us Your Books! And, if you’re so inclined, if you’ve been listening to The Armchair Librarians, would you leave us a review on iTunes? Everyone likes a good ego boost, amirite?

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This week in…: The twelfth in 2016

March 25, 2016 by Jana 19 Comments

this week

Finished The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. Started Evicted (NetGalley) and will be bringing that and American Housewife with me on vacation next week. Put The Nest on hold. I don’t ordinarily put new, megahyped releases on hold immediately but something about this book is making me need to read it NOW. Don’t forget, next Show Us Your Books is April 12th. It will be here very soon.
iTunes approved The Armchair Librarians!! As of this writing, we’re still not in the directory but we will be soon!
Found a dead cat on the road behind my house. It looked identical to my cat but thankfully, it was not. We learned this after my husband inspected the dead cat’s face (and after I picked it up off the road, thinking it was my cat and she needed a proper burial). This is why I HATE having an indoor/outdoor cat. We also gave the not our cat a name and burial (Mrs. Louie Meowzer, RIP. Also, the child named her).
My daughter’s cheer squad is going to US Finals! Talk about an emotional decision. Long story short, they should have won but made a huge mistake in their routine and it cost them first place and a paid bid but we’re going anyway. Virginia Beach, we’re coming for you! My poor wallet is screaming, though. Can you hear it?
Made taco stuffed peppers. Super easy. Cook turkey or ground beef and season with your favorite taco seasoning like you would if you were making regular tacos (I use a homemade one that I’d link to except I can’t remember my Pinterest password to get it from my laptop). Cut 4 peppers (any color but we used green) in half and spoon the taco filling into pepper halves. Sprinkle (or use heaping handfuls. Your choice) your favorite cheese and bake at 350 for roughly 20 minutes. Top with salsa, guacamole, sour cream or whatever else you feel like using because you’re an adult and can top your food with whatever you want. Stuff it in your eating hole.
Am currently 3 episodes behind in Better Call Saul and 4 in Generation X. I blame House of Cards.
BOUGHT CARNIVAL OF MADNESS TICKETS!!!
Got my speaker badge for FinCon16 that WP won’t let me upload for “security reasons”. WTF, WordPress? But I do have all kinds of feelings about being a speaker for realz and not just running a mentoring session. Public speaker I am not.
Internet reads: A whole bunch of things people wish their friends knew about depression (from Buzzfeed). This real life version of The Leisure Seeker (and you should totally follow her on Facebook. It’s amazing to watch and she is my idol). This perspective on child support from a man who loves his children but is hugely delinquent in his payments.
Funnies:

That’s all for me this week. I’m headed to Boston on Monday so if you don’t see me around next week, you’ll know why. I still have some posts coming at you, including a new episode of The Armchair Librarians on Thursday (tacked to the bottom of a post, per usual). I don’t know how many pictures I’ll be sharing but you can follow along on Instagram if you want. See you when I get back! And happy Easter!

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This week in…: the 10th of 2016

March 11, 2016 by Jana 14 Comments

Once again, coming to you live from my iPhone. So this will be short, sweet, and probably full of typos and weird autocorrects.

Still reading Beasts and Children. Picked up The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend and American Housewife.
Thanks to everyone who linked up for Show Us Your Books and listened to the podcast. It should be in iTunes next week and we’ll be sure to let you know when it is.
Had a fun and interesting Twitter conversation with Richard Fifield (The Flood Girls). THIS is why I love authors and social media. It’s amazing when you can talk about a book with the person who wrote it. It’s even better when the author is kind and funny and personable. And yes, I fangirled hard the whole time (oh, and his IG handle–because I stalk on all the social media–is mrsjakeryan. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!)
Watched half of the new season of House of Cards. Insane. Just insane.
Hit my steps goal on half the days. Okay, so I lowered it to 5k but still.
This school year, my daughter has been a buddy for the Special Olympics and this past week was their bowling tournament. I have never been so proud to watch her do anything ever.
Did you guys know that there are mint brownie Larabars? They are amazing!!
Internet reads: Again, I read some stuff but it’s mostly election and social policy stuff. Boring to most people except dorky me. But this post (and Ali’s, which are hilarious, by the way) is an example of why I am so glad not to have to date in the era of dating apps. And also this one about Steven Avery and some evidence that suggests he might have been framed (what, you think I’ve forgotten my obsession? Also, it’s a post from Hello Giggles so the reporting isn’t the greatest but it gets the point across).
Funnies:

Another weekend, another cheer competition. This one is late in the day, though, which is nice. And a nice change from having to get up with the fucking roosters.

Hope you all have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here on Tuesday!

This week in…: The 15th in 2016

This week in…: the 14th in 2016

This week in…: The 13th in 2016

This week in…: The twelfth in 2016

This week in…: the 10th of 2016

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