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Currently | The Life-Changing Magic of a Three Day Weekend

currently january 3

Time and Place | 8:45 a.m. at my newly-organized and decluttered desk. I spent my extra weekend day deep cleaning my office and I am so, so happy with the results.

Reading | My first book of 2016 is The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau. The book is all about bringing meaning into your life by pursuing a quest of some kind. It’s very example focused, which I’m enjoying. The other book I’m close to finishing is The Turner House by Angela Flournoy. It’s a great, multi-generational story about an African American family in Detroit.

Watching | Since fall television went off the air, I’ve been on a bit of a tv hiatus, just filling in the gaps with a few old episodes of Parks and Recreation. I’m going to try and cut back on watching more this year.

Cooking | We tried this recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala from Budget Bytes last night and really liked it. Super simple too.

Blogging | Since the end of the year can get so hectic, I want to share a few posts you may have missed over the last few weeks: my favorite fiction of 2015, my favorite nonfiction of 2015, and my 2015 reading by the numbers. This week I’m hoping to look ahead to 2016 with some bookish goals and sharing my One Little Word for the year.

Promoting | Alice (Reading Rambo) is hosting a readalong of Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton in January and February. I am SO IN for this, although I probably won’t do many posts here. You can follow along on Twitter at #HamAlong or at Alice’s blog. This will be a challenge for me because of something I admitted on Twitter this week:

Hating | Instagram stopped saving my photos to my camera roll a few weeks ago and I can’t figure out why. Anyone else have this problem?

Loving | I didn’t get many books for Christmas, but I did get an envelope from my parents that specifically said I should spend that money on books. YAY! Christmas in general, with my family plus the boyfriends family all in one house, was pretty excellent. So many presents!

Loving II | Spending a three day holiday weekend at home has been magical. We usually travel during long weekends, so the feeling of an “extra Sunday” gets lost. I got so much done with that extra 24 hours, it’s awesome.

Avoiding | The dishes, per usual.

 

Anticipating | The Vikings and the Packers play tonight for the NFC North division title. The Vikings already made the playoffs (yay!), so this is mostly for position in the post-season, but I’m cautiously optimistic it’ll at least be a good game. The Vikings are playing well above expectations, but the Packers are like our Achilles Heel, so who knows. Excitement abounds!

Happy Sunday, everyone! What are you reading today?

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Bryan G. Robinson January 3, 2016, 10:07 am

    I’m looking forward to your One Word post, as you, along with a few other bloggers, are the reason I started doing One Word each year. I did a wrap of several other book bloggers’ posts on their One Word and when you get yours, I’ll add it to the list on my post. As for what I’m reading today, later I’ll be finishing The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, my first book of the year, and might start on Alexander Hamilton as I’m participating in Alice’s readalong too. I’ve finished enormous biographies in the past, but my track record with nonfiction and large books in the last couple of years hasn’t been good so I’m hoping the extra motivation with the readalong will help.

    • Kim January 5, 2016, 8:48 pm

      If Twitter is to be believed, you’re making great progress on Hamilton — better than me! I need to settle in tonight to read for a bit.

  • BermudaOnion (Kathy) January 3, 2016, 10:50 am

    I didn’t get any books for Christmas but I did get an Audible subscription. I’ve already listened to one audio and am thinking about what to listen to next. I’m trying so hard to choose wisely and I’m not sure why because everyone says Audible is great about letting you switch books.

    • Kim January 5, 2016, 8:47 pm

      That’s excellent! And yes, Audible is great at returns — don’t be afraid to try some new things out.

  • Teresa January 3, 2016, 10:50 am

    I am even as we speak making that Tikka Masala recipe. Just put it in the crock pot about an hour ago. Glad to hear you liked it!

    • Kim January 5, 2016, 8:46 pm

      I think I could have given it a little more spice than I did, but it’s been really good as leftovers for lunch this week. I hope you enjoy it!

  • Hillary Roberts January 3, 2016, 5:24 pm

    I have the happiness of pursuit out from the library. I am hoping to get to it either this week or next.

  • iliana January 3, 2016, 5:41 pm

    Looks like you are starting off the year with some good reads! I’ve been very spoiled as our office closes for almost two weeks during the holidays so it’s back to work tomorrow. And, I admit I’m not ready 🙂

    • Kim January 5, 2016, 8:45 pm

      That sounds amazing! I don’t think we’ll ever get that in newspapers, but a girl can dream 🙂

  • Christine @ BookishlyB January 3, 2016, 11:30 pm

    I’ve been “reading” a biography on Che for like six years. I feel ya.

  • Shannon @ River City Reading January 4, 2016, 6:21 am

    I’m surprised by how quick and easy Hamilton has gone so far, which is great because it’s definitely a bit intimidating!

    • Kim January 5, 2016, 8:45 pm

      I’ve finished the first chapter and I agree, the prose is definitely readable and he doesn’t go too far into some of the digressions that doom biographies. But it’s so long!

  • Beth F January 4, 2016, 6:29 am

    Sounds like you did just the right thing with your long weekend! I happen to LOVE biography (so much better than memoir in my opinion) — and long is no problem for me. Enjoy learning about Hamilton.

  • Justice @ manuscripts & marginalia January 4, 2016, 6:49 am

    Can’t wait to find out what your word is!

  • susan January 4, 2016, 9:15 pm

    Wow congrats on the Vikings, winning at Lambeau field? Amazing. I didn’t see that coming at all. Taking the Division!! What a win. My team is Denver — they are so up & down that every game is pure exhaustion. Enjoy your playoffs!

    • Kim January 5, 2016, 8:44 pm

      It was pretty bonkers, especially since they tried really hard to give it away!

  • Michelle January 4, 2016, 9:53 pm

    I did pick up Chernow’s Hamilton biography the other day but I know I won’t get to it in time for the #HamAlong. I just really like have a shelf of overly large biographies that I do want to read but never know when I will actually do so.

    Yay for long weekends. It was glorious and was over far too quickly for my taste. Now is the time of year I start wishing for a massive snowstorm that forces me to stay home!

    • Kim January 5, 2016, 8:44 pm

      I would love a big snowstorm! I don’t have much of an excuse, since I live very close to work, but I have enough vacation days I could probably take one without too many problems 🙂

  • Jenny @ Reading the End January 5, 2016, 6:42 pm

    Happy Sunday and yay that you are joining in for #HamAlong! I am in the process of peering at schedules for that now, but I have done the first reading and scheduled my post and I feel good about myself and my prospects for finishing this monster book.

    • Kim January 5, 2016, 8:43 pm

      I’m midway through the first reading. Long chapters are my enemy! But I will prevail. It’s pretty wonderful so far, if only because I keep seeing words and phrases that show up in the musical and getting excited.