December's Plans and November's Outcomes

I know. I know. I'm a terrible blogger.  Blame it on heat and tiredness and a general lack of oomph.  None of which have helped with the writing or getting into the Christmas spirit.

I'm determined though to do better which at least is a start.

So onto this month's plans...

I have a thing for Christmas books. Especially romance Christmas books.  So naturally I have a nice pile to happily work my way through during my Christmas break.

1.     The cosy Christmas teashop / Caroline Roberts
        Christmas and a Tea Shop?  Sounds like totally me.  So of course I have to read this
2.     Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery / Jenny Colgan
        Do I really need to say anything more other than Christmas Cake.
3.     Christmas in destiny / Toni Blake
        I'm a bit of a fan of Toni Blake's book so I'm super excited to read this one.
4.     One Christmas in Paris / Mandy Baggot
        One day I too will have Christmas in Paris.  Or least a Christmas with snow and   
        hopefully all the goodies that go with it such as a roaring fire, mulled wine and 
        gingerbread.

 5.    Christmas kisses / Alison May
         More snow, more Christmas romance
6.     It must be Christmas / Jennifer Crusie, Donna Alward, Mandy Baxter
        Books filled with short stories are a perfect Christmas read. Even better this one has a 
        Jennifer Crusie story.
7.     Wrapped Up in a Beau / Angelita Gil
        Are you starting to get that I might have a problem.

8.    A Faiytale for Christmas / Chris Manby 
       Ditto. 
9.    Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe / Debbie Johnson
        Ditto
10.  A Christmas Kiss / Vicky Pattison
       And yes finally the end of my Christmas romance feast

And just in case you thought that all I read is Christmas romance novels, 3 books to round out my December To-Be-Read List.

11.   Nest / Terry Goodkind
        I really enjoyed Terry Goodkind's other one off book The Law of Nines so I'm hoping 
        that is thriller is just as good.  
 12.  Dark Road Home / Anna Carlisle
        And another thriller.  One by an author I haven't read before.
13.   The Book Of You 
        A motivational book for the new year.  Hopefully reading this will make my writing a bit 
        more regular. 

As for my viewing...

14.   The Secret Life Of Pets 
        I missed seeing this when it was at the movies so I'm really pleased that the DVD is
        currently on its way to me.
15.   Storks
        And another one that I missed.  Kids movies are the perfect Christmas viewing.
16.   Crown For Christmas
        Not only do I have a thing for Christmas romance books but I also have a weakest for 
        sappy, romantic Hallmark movies.  Especially their Christmas ones.  As you can see I 
        am planning a totally indulgence.

 And all the rest...

17.    Write more.
         I know.  I should totally hang my head in shame.
18.    Declutter and sell stuff
         I'm actually not doing too bad on this front, 3 boxes and 2 bags are so far piled in a 
         corner ready to go to our local Op Shop.  I'm hoping to add to this while on my 
         Christmas break and have a massive clean out of draws and cupboards.  
19.    Lose weight and get fit.
         This is going a bit up and down at the moment.  Christmas is so not good for the waist 
         line.  Luckily it is summer here so I can make up for it by eating all the berries and 
         salads.... and hopefully some cherries too.
20.    Knitting
         I haven't got any project on the go at the moment but I'm really missing knitting in the 
         evenings so I going to have a hunt for something to get stuck in to.

Octobers Buyer's Archive

As I mentioned in a previous post I am seriously lacking in my summer wardrobe which gives me a perfect excuse to do some shopping.

So what did I purchase...

Camisole Top - $3 from KMart 

I seem to have a bit of thing this year for camisole tops.  Probably because they are so versatile.  So when I saw this pink one on sale I just knew I had to have it.

 

Of course having brought a pink top I just had to get a skirt to go with it.  As you do.

Skirt - $5 from TradeMe 

I wasn't really sure about this skirt at first but having it worn now a couple of times I am now totally in love with it.  It's a really pale pink, it's made out of a lovely satiny material, it's lined and it's the perfect length on me.  How perfect is that.


Handbag - $39.99 from StrandBags

I wasn't really planning on buying a new handbag as I really love the one I have been using but sadly the handles on it have started to fray so when I walked pass StrandBags and saw they were having a 50% off everything sale I decided to pop in.

I nearly brought a bright pink one but after seeing this one and not able to make up my mind which one to get I got my Other Half to choose. And what do you know.. I love it.  It's a perfect bag for the summer and just totally me.

Total spend for the month: $47.00

November's Plans and Octobers Outcomes

It's hard to believe that it's only 7 weeks until it's Christmas.  Sometimes it feels really really close and other times it seems far far away.  I haven't even begun to make any plans other than place holds on all the things I would like to read during the Christmas break.  Priorities.

As for last month... well I started things a little late, courtesy of being on holiday, which personally is the best excuse ever not to do things.  I did watch The Secret of Crickley Hall   and am currently about half way through Longmire which I am madly addicted to at the moment.

As for the other things I managed read one of the books on my list, Sarah Morgan's Sleepless in Manhattan, and did a whole lot of knitting and walking.

So... part success and part utter failure.  Seems to be par for the course for me this year.  I'm certainly going to be doing a lot of catch up this coming month.

1.     The little bookshop of Lonely Hearts by Annie Darling
        Bookshop?  Romance?  Yeah I am so there
2.     Run to you by Rachel Lacey
        A contemporary romance by an author I have read before
3.     Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan
        It's pretty awesome when an author you like brings out two books back to back.    
4.     The immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky
        An American Gods type book with a murder mystery and some romance through in
5.     Mine by Brett Battles 
        A creepy sci-fi and one that I am looking forward to reading.
6.     What light by Jay Asher
        My YA reading has been a bit non-existent lately but I knew I just had to read this

I know.  Thrillers.  Three of them.  What can I say.  I have a weakest.

7.     Darkest place by Jaye Ford

8.     Pretty girls by Karin Slaughter

9.     Follow me by Angela Clarke

And just to mix it up a little, some nonfiction.  All on a similar theme.

10.    Keeping house : hints & tips for a clean, tidy & well-organized home by Cindy Harris
         Yeah I know.  A book of cleaning house.  Maybe it will inspire me.  Or not

11.    The cozy life by Pia Edberg
         Hygge is the latest craze at the moment so of course I have to find out more about it

12.    The year of cozy by Adrianna Adarme
         Really it's just the cover that caught my attention. 

 13.    Chosen
          I am marathony this as I write this.  And so far it's so so good. Like addictive good.

14.    Shetland          I love a good British crime show and even better this one has some lovely Scottish           scenery 15.    Poldark series 2              I loved the first series so I'm really looking forward to starting this.  I sense a Sunday           marathon session on the horizon      As for my other goals... 16.    Write more          Yeah yeah I know. But it's on the list and staying there 17.    Knitting          I've almost finished my latest project so I'm on the hunt for the next item to knit 18.    Lose weight and get fit          Luckily this is going a lot better than the writing.  I'm even thinking of mixing it up and           adding some extra exercise

September's Buyer's Archive

Finally this month's buyer's archive.  A little late I know but as I was on the other side of the world for part of the month I feel I've got a pretty good excuse as excuses go.

I don't normally spend much while I'm holiday other than the odd small souvenir and postcards.  This time though I had a tiny splurge, mostly because I found some super cheap bargains.

Amber Romance body lotion and perfume - $30 from Victoria Secret

I just love this scent which is kind of a rich cherry aroma.  Sadly it's super expensive here in New Zealand so when I came across it on sale at a Victoria Secret store in Toronto I knew I had to buy some.  Especially when it wasn't only just on sale but it was also 3 items for the price of 2. 

    
Lotions - $25 from Bath & Body Works

I have seriously fallen head over heels in love with Bath & Body Works products.  My only regret is that I didn't buy more.  I could have filled my entire suitcase with their products..  I'm not sure which is my favourite, the The Sweet Pea body lotion or the Pumpkin Marshmallow Latte bodywash. Both smell utterly heavenly. 

I'm sensing that I will be begging my friends to take my money and head to the nearest store when they go overseas to stock up on goodies for me.

Nail polish - $4.99 each from Shopper's Drug Market

Shopper's Drug Market is another store that I fell in love with.  They have just amazing bargains on all things beauty related.  I went a little mad and brought 5 bottles of nail polish.  3 in different shades of pink.

 And two that are in skull shape bottles.  How awesome are they.

Snoozies Slippers - $5 from Blue Banana Market

My previous pair of these slippers are starting to look a bit ratty so I was super pleased to come across these.  Even better they were on sale for a bargain price.  Pink as always is my colour.

   
Socks - $10 a pair from Blue Banana Market

This shop had so many pairs of socks that it was really hard to choose.  In the end I settled for these - pink daises, foxes, flowers and little green men.

I love them all. 

Total spend for the month: $124.95

October's Plans and September's Outcomes

Well the Canada trip pretty much took over my life as holidays do.  There was a ton of planning and organising and re-planning and then the actual holiday so my blog posts for the past few months have been fairly random and few.   I've now been back a week and the jetlag seems to have finally gone away and my head is a little less spacey than it usually is so it feels like the right time to get back into things and to think about future plans, small and large.

Other than my writing (blog posts and other material) I'm pretty pleased with my progress so far for this year.  I've cut down on my reading and no longer feel the pressure to read everything on my To-Be-Read wish list in quite such a mad hurry and have even gone through and deleted quite a few books off said TBR list, which was quite liberating.  I've gotten back into knitting which I'm enjoying and have, so far, finished everything I've started.  Which is kind of novelty for me, Master of Procrastination that I am.  The walking and losing weight is also going well, despite a few setbacks, and I definitely feel fitter and healthier and less tired which is a big plus.

So what are my goals for this month... 

First up reading goals.

1.     Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson 
         A book about food and moving on with life this is just the kind of thing I love reading at 
        the end of a long day.  A perfect warm and fuzzy read.
2.     Letters from Lighthouse Collage by Ali McNamara
        Another warm and fuzzy read
3.     Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan
        And another.  I've read Sarah Morgan's books before so I'm pretty sure I will enjoy this
        one too.

4.     Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton
        Give me a good old crime novel any day.  After having been a bit hit and miss with my 
        reading over the past couple of months I'm really hoping that this month's mix of chick 
        lit and crime will hit the mark.
5.     Hide and Seek by M J Arlidge
        I love M J Arlidge books so I'm really looking forward to this one.
6.     Play Dead by Angela Marsons
        And another one by an author I have so far really enjoyed reading.  This month's 
        reading goals are so far looking like a winner. 

 7.    Pumpkin it up by Eliza Cross
        It might be spring here but my heart is still in the Fall courtesy of all things pumpkin
        while I was in Canada so coming back home I just had to continue on with the theme.
        As you do.
8.     Veg Out 
        In the spirit of eating healthier I've become addicted to hunting out new recipes to try.  
        Despite the fact that I'm not much of a cook.  Oh well I can always look at the pictures.
9.     Afternoon Tea at Home by Will Torrent

        There is just something about afternoon tea that sounds warm and comfortable so this
        book sounds just the read before bed.

10.   Berlin Station
        Spies and Richard Armitage.  Need I say anything more.  Other than I have a major 
        weakest for both so it's no surprise that I can't wait to start watching this.  I sense a 
        Spooks marathon rewatch soon.
11.   Longmire 
        Other Half and I caught the odd episode of this show while traveling around Canada 
        and enjoyed it so much that we are now marathony the show right from the beginning.
12.   The Secret of Crickley Hall
        I don't know how I missed this when it first came out but at least I have found it now 
        and have added it to my viewing list.  Even better it has Lucifer from Lucifer in it.

13.   Write more
        Still on the list, still a goal that I would like to achieve 
14.   Knitting
        A goal that is still going well.  Three scarves and almost two blankets down.  I'm kind 
        of pleased with that. 
15.   Lose weight and get fit
        Another goal that is so far going well.  I did heaps of walking while on holiday and have
        managed to keep it up since I got back, going on a walk almost daily.  The weight loss 
        is also progressing... slowly but still the clothes are feeling looser and I'm feeling better 
        for it.