Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016!

So I'm writing this a bit early since I'm not going to be online any tomorrow.  What a crazy fast year 2015 was, hard to believe we are entering a new year.  I must say that the end of 2015 was beyond amazing.  In July I met my bf J and he is the absolute best thing to ever happen to me and I am more and more thankful for him everyday.  You know you here people say "I cannot imagine life without you" and you sometimes think yeah ok, but seriously J is such a big part of my life now I really wouldn't know what to do without him.

 

October was J and I's first official vacation to New Mexico, you can read about the two blog posts on the blog also.  This was where I fell in love with him.  It was also an amazing vacation and we have talked about going back.  I hardly doubt he would complain about going home for a visit.

Now we look towards 2016, and let me tell you my friends, it is going to be out of this world. We are looking to take our next vacation and we are heading to San Diego.  This might actually be a dual trip because we might be making that a honeymoon trip (fingers crossed).  There are so many things I want to accomplish and see and do (typical resolutions, etc).

I thought I would share a few of mine with you and maybe you will get inspired to create some of your own.

Lose Weight

Travel

Visit a New National Part

Be Generous

10,000 steps a day

Be a Blessing to Others

So guys and gals, what are your resolutions?

Welcome 2016. Be good to all of us.

December Reads

 

What a great month for reading, so I decided to share a few favorites from this month.

Shepherd's Abiding - Jan Karon - I have been such a fan of the "Mitford" series since the first book.  Jan Karon weaves such a great little story in a town that every time you finish it you wish the town actually existed.  You will catch up with Father Tim as they prepare for another Christmas in Mitford.  Perfect December read.

A Walk In the Woods - Bill Bryson - The more I delve into the writings of Bill Bryson, the more he is becoming one of my favorite authors.  Here we catch up to him as he decides to walk the Appalachian Trial.  You'll read about all the ups and downs as him and a friend navigate one of the most famous trails in the United States.  If you like to armchair travel, then this is your book.

Delicious! - Ruth Reichl - This was my favorite book to read in December.  When I picked it up, I really did not think it was going to be the book it turned out to be.  I loved reading every part of this.  You meet a girl named Billie as she embarks on life on her own in New York City working for the Delicious! magazine.  Then the tables are turned as the magazine is closed and she is kept on to keep the magazine's guarantee.  While there she discovers a world of lost letters from a little girl to a famous chef.  

How the States Got Their Shapes - Mark Stein - I am not a huge non-fiction reader.  For me, these books are generally hard to get into.  This book was such a good, easy read.  This book tells the history of how every state came to have the particular shape.  I never knew it was as crazy as it was and how many different people wanted a say in where the boundaries would start and end.  Pretty interesting read.

If you ever come along a good read, feel free to leave a comment with your suggestion.  I'm always looking for the next great book.

2016 Reading Challenges - On Deck: Cornerfolds 2016 Dystopia Reading Challenge

                                                           

Hey Everyone.  Sorry it's been awhile since I checked-in with life and goings on.  The end of the year is always a crazy crazy time.

With that said, I'm excited to start looking forward to 2016 and the challenges ahead (no pun intended).  I already have around 3 challenges printed and they are being added to my notebook I keep of all the books I read.  When you read so much then you kind of need a reminder of what you read.

The challenge I am most excited about is Cornerfolds 2016 Dystopia Reading Challenge.  This challenge has 4 levels: Recruit, Rebel, Revolutionist and Leader.  It's based on how many books you want to read and review that have the genre of Dystopia (think Hunger Games).  Since I like a good challenge, I'm going for Leader.  This means I have to read and review 16+ dsytopia books.  Not a problem.

I am very excited to explore and conquer this challenge.  Check by here on my blog regularly to see what I am up to with this challenge and get some good book suggestions.

Here's to 2016 and "May the Odds be Ever in your Favor."