A little later in the week than my usual Hilo visit but I get the added “fun” of being filmed for our company monthly update.🫣

Fueling up & trying to cram this one in as it goes back to the library today.

Thank you @Eggs @TheSpineView @TieDyeDude for the #WondrousWednesday tags! 🤗

1️⃣ I had several but the tagged book was my most favorite!

2️⃣ I love all three depending on my mood & what I‘m doing but I read my Kindle the most!

8️⃣ Probably historical fiction but fantasy & mysteries from cozy to thriller are right up there.🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyone want to play along? Consider yourself tagged! 🤗

#SchoolSpirit

There are many more but here are three books of #Essays that I particularly enjoyed & made me think.

Thanks @TheSpineView for the #Two4Tuesday tag.

1️⃣ 2-3 (PJs to work from home wear & back to PJs unless I am going somewhere & need “real pants.”) 😉

2️⃣ Although I officially thought of Astrid (& probably more from the movie than the book), there are many characters in Crazy Rich Asians who are fashionistas. 👗👠👛

Anyone want to play that hasn‘t yet? 🤗

#SchoolSpirit

It‘s been a while (2015 according to Goodreads) but I remember enjoying this #Diary book, a Pride and Prejudice retelling. It made me go & watch the web/vlog series.

#SchoolSpirit

Thought of this one for today‘s #Paint prompt. It‘s in my #TBR waiting for #SundayBuddyRead 2025. I love Stacey Lee‘s YA historical fiction.🌅

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Trixie Belden for #BobWhiteBuddies & my #HyggeHour with my new seasonal blanket which cost all of $12.99 at Ross. I fell in love with the colors, flowers & Dia de Los Muertos theme. Sure, it‘s 79 degrees F. & 77% humidity at 8 PM & I won‘t be able to crawl under this blanket until late October, it still makes me happy. Drinking cold apple cider & trying cinnamon-flavored KitKats to get in a fall state of mind.🍁⬇️

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024

I finished this story earlier in the week & it was cute although I didn‘t like it as much as the Abby Jimenez one. I read it for my Kindlle Summer Reading Challenge & I think it was too short for me to get invested in the characters, but it had some sweet moments. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also, I can‘t imagine going into, let alone being trapped for hours in a flotation tank at a spa-my claustrophobia could never! 😱

#ReadAway2024
The #Naturalitsy #BuddyRead for August, it took me a while to get to & through this book. It‘s a pick for me for the gorgeous atmospheric writing but it was very moody & bleak so, although fairly short, I had to work my way through slowly as I struggle with too “heavy” books right now. Very thought provoking & also quite graphic in its descriptions. This is my first Lauren Groff (I‘m not sure why) & based on it, I would read more.

#SchoolSpirit

I am no artist but I do like to doodle & draw, especially outdoors & I love the simplicity & portability of a #Pencil or a set of colored pencils & a small sketch pad. Here are 3 books that I own that have helped give me inspiration. ✏️💚✍️

I‘ll link the other two below.

Book 3 in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series came out in June but I can‘t seem to get my library to buy it yet in print, ebook or audio (even though they have the first 2) 🤬
Imagine my delight to find it at the library bookstore when I ran in to drop off my due-back books. And it was 50% off, so just $1.50!

This series was one of my favorite‘s from @Laughterhp ‘s 2023 #AuldLangSpine list. The gift that keeps on giving! 🤗 #SeriesLove2024

#SchoolSpirit

The subtitle of this book is “On #Homecoming and Belonging. This is one of my favorite quotes from it that I think a lot about in this divided world we live in:

"If you want to make a society work, then you don't keep underscoring the places where you're different-you underscore your shared humanity."

My #SaturdayChatterday vibe is recovery from another busy week. So far the weekend is good.

Running errands & at the coffeeshop for lunch to read some of this book (one of my #Roll100 picks for Sept), catch up on some journaling & hopefully a few #LitsyLove cards for new members.💛

Next week is busy work-wise with retreat planning & a Hilo day trip on Thursday to film an end of month update.

No recommendations. I‘m still rewatching Dexter.

My #5JoysFriday list this week:

1. Had our 3rd Conscious Leadership training session our CEO runs at it was at a golf club with gorgeous views from our meeting room. #LuckyWeLiveHawaii??

2. Lunch for the CL session was very good—Misoyaki butterfish, rice & veggies but the dessert, “house-made” creme brûlée was yummy & brought me joy.?

3. My cute new purse & its sewn-in key hook gives me joy every time I use it.?

4. I took my HR Manager ⬇️

#SchoolSpirit

For today‘s #Graduation prompt, it reminded me of the Cullen‘s graduation cap art piece that Edward tells Bella is an inside joke with his family & then Charlie notices it in Breaking Dawn Part 1. 😆 (Note: I‘m more familiar with the Twilight movies so I don‘t know if it happened in the book!)
#TeamCharlie 😉

While it‘s still Thursday evening in my neck of the woods, it might be Friday in your‘s! So when you‘re ready, list those 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week! 💛

When you‘re ready, make & tag your #5JoysFriday post, tag me so I can visit & tag/share with others to spread the joy!
Use the background graphic as you like.

As usual, I'm tagging some friends to start this week‘s joy party, but everyone is welcome to join in! 💛🤗💛

#SchoolSpirit

A favorite school #FieldTrip for me was going to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. We got to stay overnight, visit the town & we saw two plays, one was Hamlet & the other I do not remember (it was a non-Shakespeare offering).

Because of this cozy mystery series, set in a bakeshop/cafe in Ashland, I‘d like to go back for an adult field trip someday!

Thanks @Eggs for the #WondrousWednesday tag! 🤗

1️⃣ I have always wanted to go to The Galapagos. 💙💚💙

2️⃣ This book is partially set there & in my #TBR 🐢💚

Anyone want to join in? Consider yourself tagged! 🤗

#SchoolSpirit

I couldn‘t think of a book for #Mascot but it made me think of The Brady Bunch episode where Greg‘s team steals their rival‘s goat mascot (Raquel) & Greg tries to hide her in his attic bedroom until after the big game.🤷🏻‍♀️🐐

Thank you @TheSpineView for the #WhatsNewWednesday tag! 🤗

I never feel like I have anything that new to share but as I was headed early across the island to a workshop I kept admiring the cute new purse I bought at the local makers market this past weekend. 🧡🍍🧡 There‘s even a little hook inside at the top for my keys.🧡

Also, if you like apple & chai, the Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai is pretty good.😋

#ReadAway2024

I‘m still unpacking my feelings about this one. I liked it but didn‘t love it as I wanted to be more scared.🤷🏻‍♀️I do think Tremblay did a good job interweaving the past (30 years ago), present day & the script of an underground cult classic movie (well really the 3 scenes released from a low budget 90‘s horror movie) together. The anticipation built & kept me reading because I couldn‘t quite look away from what was happening ⬇️

Thank you the #Two4Tuesday tag @TheSpineView & @MaleficentBookDragon 🤗

1️⃣ I have lots of favorite museums but The Cloisters in New York City holds a special place in my heart even though I have only visited it once. The setting, structure, gardens, galleries & even the restaurant, just draw me in.

2️⃣ This book was a light pick for me based on the atmospheric Cloisters setting.

#SchoolSpirit

My first thought for today‘s #Bus prompt was the tagged book (reprinted under Five Were Missing). Five teens are kidnapped from their school bus. I read & reread all of Lois Duncan‘s books & this one was a favorite. Here‘s some of the covers that featured a bus. 🚌

Almost forgot to snap a picture but I took my #LitSolaceFallCardSwap cards to the post office yesterday.
🍁💌🍂

Thanks for the #MiddleGradeMonday tag @Karisimo 🤗

This middle grade graphic memoir is about a 12/13-year-old girl & her experiences living in NYC & how her life changes when the towers fall on 9/11.

#SchoolSpirit

I have fond #Memories of sneaking these two books & passing them about in Junior High in the early 80s. 🤫There were others of course but these were the big two at my school. I recently reread Flowers in the Attic & did a Litsy buddy read of Forever about 6 years ago.

Did you have a favorite book you weren‘t supposed to be reading that you passed around in school?

#Naturalitsy #LitSolace #HyggeHourReadathon

For #HyggeHour tonight, I‘m finishing up my cards for the #FallCardSwap so I can mail them out tomorrow while listening to the tagged book for #SeasonalCozies

I‘m drinking raspberry lemonade (it‘s so humid) & noshing on mini lemon bars my coworker gave me. I guess I need to switch to a fall vibe soon. 😉

My mood is a little sad that tomorrow is Monday—I really could use an extra day off.

#SchoolSpirit

These two Jane Austen retellings are each set at a #BoardingSchool

Thanks for the #SaturdayChatterday tag @Eggs !🤗

1. So far, yes! 💛

2. My usual errands & hanging out. Went to the monthly makers market by my house & bought baked goods, & cards & stickers. ((I‘m addicted!)🤦🏻‍♀️

3. I‘m at the coffee shop for fuel☕️& breakfast. Reading the tagged book for #SundayBuddyRead & then working on my cards for #LitSolaceFallCardSwap🍁

4. Work! No Hilo trip this week but I have a conscious leadership session.🍵

⬇️

#SchoolSpirit

Still on my TBR this YA novel is tagged as “Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights” so it seems a good one for today‘s #Sports prompt. 🏈

A short week full of lots of joys for #5JoysFriday

1. Gorgeous sunrise on my way to Hilo this week. The pic doesn‘t do the colors justice!🧡

2. Unique “Dim Sum Burger” at lunch in Hilo. Pork patty filled with dim sum flavors & topped with crispy wonton disks. Joyfully good!😋

3. I successfully made an autumn newsletter for the #LitsolaceFallCardSwap & #LitsyLove fall replies. I used Canva for the first time instead of fighting with Word!💛

⬇️

#SchoolSpirit

I was thinking about my grade school #Library & the books I used to check out. Some of the earliest were The Happy Hollisters, my first of many mystery series. I remember bringing them home when I was pretty young & my brother “testing” me on them because he didn‘t believe I could read/understand them because he wasn‘t a good reader. 😂
It‘s actually his b-day today, so I pick them in his honor! 😆

Ah, friends, it‘s about time for Friday! How did a short week feel so long?🤔Time to list the 5 things big or small that brought you joy! 💛

When it's Friday where you are (or whenever you want to) just make & tag your #5JoysFriday post, tag me so l can visit & tag or share with others to spread the joy! Use the background graphic as you like.

As usual, I'm tagging some friends to start the joy party, but everyone is welcome to join in! 💛🤗💛

#ThreeLineThursday #TLT

I did pretty well with my score on this one & I loves me some good movie villains!😱

Favorites (Going with 6)
My Top 2:
-Mrs. John Iselin of The Manchurian Candidate was the perfect amount of cold cruel evil & I‘m a fan of the book & both movie versions (although the original was best).
-Dr. Hannibal Lecter of The Silence of the Lambs-both book & movie freaked me the heck out in the best way! 😱

Other Favorites: ⬇️

#SchoolSpirit

A childhood favorite with an #Apple (or 10)!
🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎🍏

Thank you @Eggs & @Texreader for the #WondrousWednesday tags! 🤗🤗

1. My job & especially developing others gives me purpose! 💜

2. Reading, good food, family, animals, nature, being outside & seeing everyone‘s #5JoysFriday posts each week! 💛

3. These 4 were my August favorites—I can‘t pick just one! 📚📚📚📚

Anyone who wants to join in, consider yourself tagged! 🤗

#SchoolSpirit

Since I used a serial killer professor for yesterday‘s prompt, I thought I‘d continue the dark, murdery theme with this one, set at a #College that has a secret program for psychopaths.

Thank you @julieclair for the #Two4Tuesday tag 🤗 sorry I‘m a day late!

1. Several places—although my parents have passed, they gave me a good foundation & my family is still a support. I rely a lot on myself & use journaling, meditation & practicing gratitude to keep me going.💛

2. Alice Diamond in the tagged book (which is awesome!) is strong, determined & at times very ruthless but she is also very supportive of her family & of women.💪🏼

A good readathon—having 4 days helped. Finished the 6 books on the right & made progress on the 3 on the left. I didn‘t add up hours or pages.

Thanks to @TheSpineView for hosting! 🤗

#SchoolSpirit

This one features an English #Professor who also kills very bad men around campus. 😱

Back to Hilo for the day… trying to finish up this one from last month.

#ReadAway2024 #ForTheLoveOfBooks

I read this one via library ebook & put it on my hold list based on the author who I love for her Rockton & Haven‘s Rock series. This is Armstrong‘s first foray into romance & it is an overall good rom-com about an author who comes up with a male non de plume to get her first novel published & has to hire someone to play him for publicity & gets in deep when the book takes off. Rather than the arrogant actor ⬇️

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 #ForTheLoveOfBooks

Read for #NancyDrewBR I read an extra 15 minutes & finished this during #HyggeHour last night. Book 11 in the series, I read the 1965 version which apparently differs completely from the 1934 addition. This one has Nancy, Bess & George traveling to Maryland asked by her father (who gets around with the cases) to drop off a key for a young woman renting the cottage. There‘s sightings of a ghostly⬇️

Starting September out right & finally getting some very late #LitsyLove replies out. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 💌 I think I have finally dug myself out of “the lost summer…”

If you sent me a letter or reply & haven‘t gotten one back, it should be coming you way this week! 📬💌

Went to the Labor Day 20% off BYOBag sale at the craft store for envelopes, stickers & stuff for fall.

Now at the coffeeshop for a dirty chai latte with oatmilk & and pump of coconut syrup & lemon poppyseed cake. Finshed today‘s chapter of the tagged book for #HashTagBrigade & a goal to finish my final 5 #LitsyLove responses.

A mellow Labor Day before a busy week including Hilo tomorrow.

#SchoolSpirit

This song immediately came to mind for back to school & #Bell 🔔

“Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, ring the bell, Brand new shoes, walking blues, climb the fence, books and pens. I can tell that we are gonna be friends.”

-We're Going to Be Friends by The White Stripes

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon #ForTheLoveOfBookd

For tonight‘s #HyggeHour I starting this one for #NancyDrewBR along with some Bueno chocolate. I‘m drinking watermelon water which doesn‘t quite go, but it‘s been so humid today I am trying to replace some electrolytes.

My mood is relaxed. I‘m happy to have the Monday off for Labor Day.💛

My September TBR with lots of readalongs & challenges as usual. Including #SundayBuddyRead #SheSaid #QueerBC HashTagBrigade #ChildrensClassicRead2024 #Roll100 #FoodAndLit #NancyDrewBR #BobWhiteBuddies #SeriesLove2024 #SeasonalCozies

Also a few more for challenges with Kindle & #BOTM & some library holds that came in. We‘ll see how it all ends up—a couple of these are in progress already. 📚📚🤷🏻‍♀️📚📚

I feel good about my August reading. I managed 17 books (including one story & one children‘s book) & made it partially through two more. A mix of genres & lots of series books. Favorites were The Forty Elephants for #SundayBuddyRead & Incidents Around the House, 😱 Hello Stranger & The Undermining of Twyla & Frank. Bear for #CampLitsy24 & Unwell Women for #SheSaid & Black Sheep were also of note. I managed all three of my #Roll100 books too.🎉📚

#SchoolSpirit

One of my favorite reads/listens from last year. The MC, Ryland Grace, is a junior high school science #Teacher
Teacher before he is sent to space to rescue the planet. 🧑‍🏫 🧑‍🚀🖤🚀🪐