I can’t believe it’s already the end of January! We’re already one twelfth of the way through the year.
I don’t feel like I’ve made much progress with my reading this month which means I’m starting to stress about all the reviews I’ve committed to in February. Finger’s crossed I get there. Worst case scenario I’m going to have to talk to the tour organisers to see about changing up how I do the reviews.
Come back on Friday for this review
8 reviews in one month feels like a lot. Yet when I look at my schedule for February and see 14 reviews I’ve committed to I feel like this was nothing. Fingers crossed I don’t go mental trying to get all of next months reading done!
I’m going to change up this next section (My Fav and My Least Fav) compared to how I did it last yr. Since I’m now tracking all my reading stats I’d like to focus this next section on the books I’ve read in January rather than the ones I’ve reviewed.
My Fav
Whenever I wasn’t reading Of Night and Dark Obscurity, I was thinking about it.
What were all the clues pointing towards?
Were my theories right? Was I even on the right track?
I honestly kept thinking through this, all the clues, how authors think etc trying to figure out what was happening.
My Least Fav
It’s not like I DIDN’T like Lilian and the Irresistible Duke. It just didn’t engage me and stay with me like some of the others did.
I enjoyed reading it.
I just wasn’t totally absorbed into the world wanting to know more.
Bookish Goals Progress
Not much progress has been made here. And I don’t think much will be made for another month or so.
I haven’t started the Aussie Author Bingo challenge yet since none of the review’s I’ve committed to in Jan-March contribute to this. However, for the A-Z Characters challenge I’m 22% (5 books) done! YAY!
I’m also having a lot of fun with my reading stats spreadsheet. I had to make several changes early in the month when I realised things like the graph layouts/labels and the dates (I’m Aussie, we do DD/MM/YYYY not MM/DD/YYYY) weren’t how I like them. But otherwise they’re good!
Personal Goals Progress
Ok, so THIS is where I’ve made some progress!!! And I’m super excited to share these updates with you!
I’m getting close to that size 6. Cutting down to two meals a day (although they are bigger than what I was eating before) has contributed to this. But I also think something else helped. Keep reading to find out what!
I’ve booked in a trip to the Maldives for 5 nights in November for my 30th. My birthday is in September but that’s still in monsoon season so wanted to hold off until later in the yr so I’d get a better chance of getting nice weather.
I’m super, super, SUPER excited about this coz we got an ALL INCLUSIVE (and I mean, any booze you want all day long) package at the Pullman Maamutaa Resort with an overwater bungalow with a pool . Which also includes stuff like a massage or jet ski tour and a sunset fishing trip.
This holiday will be a once in a lifetime kind of a trip and I’m so glad I found us such a great deal. It’s all paid for and I made sure to get travel insurance straight away so we don’t lose that in case something happens.
ARE YOU READY FOR IT?!
All my life I’ve wanted a dog. And you may remember that I had rescuing a dog as one of the things I want to do this yr.
Well, while I was in Perth I was keeping an eye on some rescues that were available and found a little guy who caught my eye. I put through an application the day before we were due to fly back home and got a call from his foster mum while we were at the airport relaxing before our flight.
Now that I’ve had this little guy for 2 weeks and we’re definitely keeping him I thought I should officially introduce you to BONES!
Keep scrolling to learn a few facts about him!
Hes 7 months old and dog aggressive (I’m working on this with obedience training and socialisation) 
He stares at us when we eat hoping to get some (partly why he’s not allowed off leash inside yet) 
He loves cuddles
And, yes. I have realised I’ve become one of those mums who is always taking photos of her baby. I can’t help it! He’s so cute!!!
If you want me to include Bones as a regular feature in my Wrap Ups let me know. I know I’ll have heaps of photos to use if you want updates on his progress!
12 Replies to “Wrap Up – January”
Bones is a handsome dog, he’s going to be a big boy it looks like.!
Your holiday sounds awesome, I’m jealous!
Bones probably won’t grow much bigger actually. He might get an inch or so taller, otherwise all his growth will be in muscle development. But I’m planning on keeping him lean coz I don’t like the overly muscular look.
I forgot to include that I’ve been working on the Vlogs, so I’ll be releasing some of my Perth trip over the next month or so on my YouTube 🙂
OMG!!! This is so exciting! That trip sounds AMAZING and you got a dog! I have always wanted to get a dog but we don’t have space right now, someday hopefully. Bones is super cute! I would love to see more photos of him. I’m so happy for you and I hope you have a great trip! Okay, I think that’s enough exclamation points. 🙂
I’ve been planning for this dog for so long! I told my partner when we met that I don’t need to get married, but I NEED to get a dog! After yrs of moving around, being in rentals and getting myself into a position where I could look after a dog in so glad I’m here!
I’m happy to keep including photos of him coz he is adorable and is doing so well with learning manners!
I’m SOOOO pumped for Maldives! Have wanted to go for yrs but given how amazing it’s meant to be I wanted to save it for a special occasion.
DW I use way too many exclamation points too 🤣🤣🤣
Your trip sounds a-maz-ing!! And Bones looks like a great dog!
Thank you! I’m super pumped for my Maldives trip. Since I won’t be getting engaged I told my partner I wanted to go for my 30th and he agreed. Just wait for the excitement levels closer to, while and after going!
Bones is so sweet 💜💜! Seems like 2020 is off to a good start.
Yes 2020 is off to a great start especially coz of Bones!
Awe Bones is soooo cute!!!! <3 Congrats on being a pet mom! XD
I can't believe it's almost February already either. I'm still not done with my 2019 wrap up stuff yet. XD
It sounds like you had a great month!
Thank you!!
Good luck getting all your wrap up stuff done 🙂 Now I’m tracking more stuff I can understand why it takes people a while to collate and analyse it all!
Oof- I’ll agree with you, 14 is indeed quite alot compareed to 8.. Goodluck completing all of those! If you can’t do it, that’s okay too – i’m sure the tour’s organizers would let you do something else 🙂 It had happened to me twice; for one I plopped out an author’s interview, while for the second I had published an un-finished review that I promptly modified upon finishing.
omg he’s precious !! 😍
A dog truly change everything, doesn’t it? xx I’m so happy for you!
So far I’m on track to keep up with all 14 reviews (JUST!) so fingers crossed it happens. Yea, I was thinking I could read the first chapter of each and do an “initial thoughts” review (to update once fully read) or an author interview. I’ll see how I go. At leas the organiser knows I’m feeling swamped and that I normally don’t let this happen so I’m sure she’d be understanding.
Yes. Bones is precious. When he’s not trying to haul my arm out of it’s shoulder socket (the muscles have been aching for 7 hours now) on his walks coz he wont listen to “heel”. He’s definitely changed things. Mostly for the better. With age and training he’ll be amazing. Just need to survive his puppy years!