2017 Reading Goals (a.k.a. 2017 MMD Reading Challenge)

Up until this past year, I had never set reading goals. I'd like to say 2016's goal was set with a lot of thought, but it wasn't. I was browsing on goodreads.com one day early in January and was prompted by the site to set a reading goal for the year. I figured, why not? I began by checking how many books I had read in 2015 and then set my goal for one more in 2016. My goal was 61 books! Well, I surpassed my goal. I read 73 books in 2016! I am not sure how I read so many books. (Well, actually, that is a lie. I know how I fit so much reading into my life. If there is interest in how I do so, I may write a post about it in the future.) Anyway, after such a successful reading year, I thought I would set reading goals again this year, but this year I knew I wanted to put more thought into my goals. I thought I would try something a little different than simply aiming for a specific number of books to read. Aiming for a specific number wasn't really motivating for me. In fact, not once this past year did I think about my specific number. I simply read books and then recorded them on goodreads.com. So, what are my goals for this year?

Favorite Books of 2016

I am excited to share my favorite books of 2016 with you. These are the books I loved. These are the books I couldn't put down. These are the books I am still thinking about today. Let's get to them, in no particular order. (I should note, these are my favorite books I read this year. They were not necessarily published this year.)

Rebeccaby Daphne du Maurier 

A Stitch Fix Review - December 2016 - Fix #14

It's that time again! Time to take a peek at my latest arrival from Stitch Fix.

What I've Been Reading - November 2016

Welcome to What I've Been Reading, where I share my (quick and personal) thoughts on what I've been reading this past month. For specifics (plot summary, etc.) about each book, click on the provided links.

Self-Motivated Kids: Creating an Environment Where Children Listen and Cooperate by Damara Simmons (5 stars)

Review: Growing Up with Conference: Practical Ways to Make General Conference Fun Year-round

Review: Self-Motivated Kids: Creating an Environment Where Children Listen and Cooperate

A Stitch Fix Review - November 2016 - Fix #13

First of all, welcome to my new blog! I'm so glad you are here! I have big things in store for this new little blog of mine. (Among many other things, an amazing graphic designer, a.k.a, my sister, is working on a new design for it right now.) I can't wait for you to see it all. In the meantime, stay awhile and enjoy!

My Family's Favorite Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
1 large can pureed pumpkin
2 eggs
4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 pkg chocolate chips
1 can cream cheese frosting
1/4 cup brown sugar

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add pureed pumpkin and eggs and beat until smooth.
3. In a separate large bowl, combine all purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and baking soda.
4. Add combined dry ingredients to wet ingredients until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Drip dough by spoonfuls onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for 16 minutes or until set. Cool for 1 minute on baking sheet and then move to a cooling rack.
7. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese frosting and brown sugar. Spread over cooled cookies.

Notes
*Recipe can easily be cut in half. Substitute a small can of pureed pumpkin.
*Unfrosted cookies freeze well.

What I've Been Reading - October 2016

Welcome to What I've Been Reading, where I share my (quick and personal) thoughts on what I've been reading this past month. For specifics (plot summary, etc.) about each book, click on the provided links.

A Great Reckoning (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #12) by Louise Penny (4 stars)

A Great Reckoning is the most recent installment in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, (a wonderfully and thoughtfully written literary murder mystery series, that is so much more about the characters and their human hearts and minds, than it is about the murders,) being just released on August 30. Having preordered it, it was delivered to my front door on August 30, yet I found myself not picking it up right away. I wasn't ready to be done with the series! (That is, until the next installment is released!) Finally, this month, I couldn't hold out any longer. It didn't disappoint and I found myself in tears by the end of this book. I have fallen in love with Armand Gamache and the many quirky characters in this series and hope (can't wait!) to return to Three Pines very, very soon. P.S. Read the Afterword! (*Brief language)

A Stitch Fix Review - October 2016 - Fix #12

I hope you all are doing well this fantastic, Fall season. Do you love Fall as much as I do? I sure love Fall! It is by far my favorite season. I love the changing colors of the landscape. I love the cooler weather. I love the shorter days. I love the sense of routine returning after a relaxing summer. I love the food. Most of all, though, I love the clothes. Fall is definitely my favorite season when it comes to fashion. That is probably why I got so excited opening my latest Fix, Fix #12! Not because my recent Fixes haven't been great, because they have been, but because I love Fall fashion! I was just so excited to see what Fall clothes I was lucky enough to try on and, hopefully, add to my wardrobe, which I must say has grown leaps and bounds for the better since joining Stitch Fix! Have you joined yet? I highly recommend it!