Linking up with Anne, Kristen and Gretch, Jessi, and Blogger’s Best.
Starting: The Leave a Mark Auctions back up. If you don’t know, these are online auctions that I host – the money has gone to various charities over the years. Normally the books are annotated (marked up throughout) by the author, but sometimes they are just autographed books. I’ve been meaning to bring them back, but I’m doing so now to benefit Baby Elliott. Mariah is part of the book community on Twitter and her son has had heart surgery already (and another fast approaching). In order to help with the medical bills, I’m having all the money from these next auctions benefit his fund. You can learn more here. Please follow the Leave a Mark auctions here – there might be one posted by the time you read this!
Hoping: That I can get more into the groove of being active this year. I’m thinking of joining my old university’s gym, because there is no contract and it’s not too bad per-month. Hopefully it will give me more motivation, being able to utilize their fitness classes and equipment.
Scheduling: I really need to be scheduling ahead on the blog. I feel like I’m just one step ahead lately and I need to get some things written/scheduled so I have a bit more of a cushion. Besides that, I’m having fun putting plans in my new planners for the year. I’ll be sharing more about those next week!
Reading: I’m in the middle of a book from 2017, but I wanted to start 2018 with something completely new as well so I’m currently reading The Princess Saves Herself in This One, a collection of poems by the amazing Amanda Lovelace. Even if you don’t read poetry – read this book. I’ve also been reading a lot of my January magazines for the first Glossies Made Me Do It of 2018 – posts/linky goes up this Friday, January 5th so come back to link up with us! Basically you share what a magazine (recent or not) has made you do: add a book to your wish list (or even read a book), try a new recipe, try a beauty product, inspired a discussion, etc.
Playing: I’ve been listening to Dua Lipa’s album a lot recently. It’s so addicting! My mom even enjoys it, so that’s a plus. Besides that, not much else. I want to try and get back into the podcast My Favorite Murder if I join a gym (it would make working on a treadmill more enjoyable I think haha).
January 2018 Currently: What are you reading, playing, etc.? #currently #ontheblog Share on X
I want to take today to let you know I’ll be hosting a fun link-up tomorrow (it’ll be open for all of January, so no rush). It’s time to show off the fun items you either received – or gave – this holiday season! Unwrapped isn’t about bragging or feeling bad; it’s another chance to publicly thank people for the things they gave you, or let us know about all the fun items you gave other people (I like giving gifts), and even give people other ideas if they happened to be gifted some cash or gift cards!
Unwrapped: Share what you got (or gave) this holiday season! Give a public thanks! Link-Up opens January 4th #linkup #christmas2017 #ontheblog Share on XPlease use the above image- and link back to my blog- if you decide to share your Christmas Gift Haul (or other holiday haul!) Remember, the link-up opens up tomorrow if you have something written already (or get it done in time), but feel free to use the whole month to get your post up. I’ll be visiting/commenting on all of them, and I hope you’ll hop around too! Will you be joining me?
You give the best gifts. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I thought of you today. Every time I whipped out the note keeper to jot something down. It was a huge warm spot in my very dreadful day! ❤
Aw, thanks Jess! *hugs* I hope you’re doing okay.
I am also hoping to get back into a fitness routine! This festive season has left me a little lazy!
Scheduling ahead on your blog is such a good idea – I need to get into that as well.
I’m looking forward to seeing what the glossies made you do this month 🙂
Oh God, poor bubs. I can only imagine as a parent how how utterly harrowing it is to see such a little bub go through so much. I hope mum and dad are getting the emotional support they need and surrounded by family and friends. When I’m on the PC today I’ll be donating.
I really need a blog plan this year Lauren. I’ve been thinking about reviewing more little known books on the blog that I’m lucky to receive review copies of and the big release books, reviewing them on Goodreads only. Then I don’t feel the pressure of having to post So regularly and can enjoy visiting other blogs such as yours more often. I’m aiming for less stress in 2018. Something we could all use les of <3
I need a better fitness routine too!
I hope you love getting into a fitness routine, I think classes at the gym would be fun! I love to workout st out for convenience, but a class is always motivating!
Brooke
pumps and push-ups
I discovered Dua Lipa last year and I love her! Such a great artist. I am also planning on reading more this year! I have too many neglected books sitting around lol
I am with you on trying to get back on the active train. It is so hard when you fall off!!! I hope you have a fabulous 2018!!!
Hmmm, I think I maybe haven’t read any poetry since college. I’d kind of like to change that though – seems especially nice/appropriate when I’m all cozy inside with snow falling outside – so I appreciate the suggestion of a good place to start! And yes, this idea of “pairing” things you enjoy, like podcasts, with exercise is such a good motivator. Right now I’m into Broadchurch on Netflix and pretty much only let myself watch it at the gym 🙂
I love your Leave a Mark auction! What a wonderful, generous, and pay-it-forward idea.
Scheduling ahead helps SO MUCH! I love this kind of post!
I’m hoping to be a little more active this year too. I was doing pretty good in the fall. It’s this cold weather that makes me wanna curl up and NEVER MOVE!
Fun link up idea! Cheers to the new year friend! xoxo
Wow, wow, wow! I love all of your ideas for posts in the new year. First and foremost, Leave a Mark to help your friend and her baby. Have that link open in another tab to visit pronto. And the Glossies post!! Great ideas. Have that open to check out in another tab, too. And tomorrow’s Christmas gift post. Ha! Great idea. I am doing Sentence a Day tomorrow but might have to make Thursday a two post day. Great inspiration. Going to grab my agenda to pencil these in.
I made moving as in exercising a winter goal. We were doing so well over here early this fall and then BAM, we sat down. And never got up. Until yesterday when we finally returned to the gym. Come on, girl, let’s do this thing together!
Happy new year.
I need to start planning my blog posts ahead of time. It would make life so much easier. And I need to read. I have stacks of books and magazines waiting to be opened. I don’t know what the Glossies are but I’m excited to check it out.
I am also trying to plan my blog posts out a bit more so I’m not rushing to get things posted. I am hoping to be more active this year too. I’m not necessarily setting specific goals other than just trying to be more physically active. We can do it!
That leave a mark benefit auction is such a good idea! Will go check it out. Hope the little guy is recovering well.
Happy to see the Leave A Mark auctions make a comeback.
For What It’s Worth
Get it girl with your reading! And yes to scheduling posts, it’s such a huge help!
I use to be so good at scheduling weeks ahead on my blog and now, not so much. I really want to get back into that this year if I can. It was way less stressful for sure.
Good luck with all of your goals!!
I wish I were better at scheduling blog posts ahead. These days I don’t even know what I’m doing week to week! I’m looking forward to seeing more about your planners too–I love planner inspiration! 🙂
Loads of lovely fab goals. I find being a week ahead with the blog really helps me. I want to vlog a little more too! Have a great start to the year. Thanks for sharing with #bloggersbest x
That auction sounds amazing! I’ll have to keep my eye out for a book that intrigues me and goes for a good cause.
I just started reading the English translation of The Slave….it is so eerie and makes me feel panicky. It’s short and my review is Monday, I think? I’ll get through it by tomorrow I’m sure but man… it’s odd.
I hope to work on my fitness level, as soon as I get over this dang sinus infection. Princess Sophia and I both have it.
Yay for fitness routines 🙂 I have a time table for my workout schedule throughout the week and this year I hope to follow it diligently 🙂 And lovely linkup idea! This has inspired me to do a post thanking all the wonderful people for the bookish gifts I received <3
I’m loving working in my little planner, too. I don’t have a “fancy” one, just one I picked up from the dollar store, but add some stickers + notes/goals & I’m practically giddy! =)
I am totally behind the idea of scheduling stuff ahead of time. I’m trying to write blog posts in advance so I can focus my time on other things this year. Also, I read The Princess Saves Herself and I really enjoyed it. It was so fun and inspirational!
Yesterday I set my alarm at 5 so I can go run for 10 minutes, what do you thnk? I didn’t do it! Today I did it again and I just couldn’t get up. So my fitness/running routine is totally gone with the wind. I’m planning to run for 10 minutes tonight and tommorrow evening. Maybe, I should change it from mornings to evenings. 🙂
I always see Dua Lipa whenever we watch the movies (because of the Google Pixel commercial). Never really listened to her though! But now I’m curious. Eager to know what planners you use next week.
I’m not a resolution-maker, but I’d had hopes I’d start doing some sort of exercise this week. The alarm goes off and it’s just too cold from under the covers to think about exerting myself. The Leave a Mark auctions sound intriguing – I’ll check them out!
I hear you on the scheduling! Every time I get even one step ahead we get sick or something else comes up and I am far behind again. we still have all of 2018, so here’s to hoping for good as the year rolls on 🙂
We love Dua Lipa around here too! It is addicting 🙂 Happy New Year to you!!
i love the title of ‘ The Princess Saves Herself in This One’ though i’m not really into poetry.
you should definitely join that gym if there is no contract and the monthly fee isn’t too much. i know i’m more likely to go if i am paying for it haha. speaking of, i really need to get back into it too. my husband uses the gym and we pay together so it’s not a complete waste of money but i really do need to get back in there otherwise it’s a waste of money!
What a cute link up idea! Girl, you can absolutely be more active. You’ve got this!
What a wonderful thing to do with the Leave a Mark Auctions! And I am with you. I need to be more active. The weather is killing my motivation. Good luck with all your goals.
I *really* need to work on scheduling. I’m always working on posts last minute and I’d love to develop a process that helps me avoid that. Definitely something I’m going to work to improve at this year.
I love your auctions and that they go to a great cause. That is so neat. I’ll look into your linkups. They sound really fun.
I’m at the end of a book from 2017 and want to start a new one so bad too lol! I’m trying to stay on top of a schedule this month too, just something about the new year right?! Happy 2018 Lauren!
I’m right there with you in regards to the scheduling. There are some points in the year when I’m really with it and have several scheduled way in advance and ready to go. Unfortunately, there are other times in which I’m scrambling around at the last minute.
Happy New Year to you!
Aw, I love that you are doing auctions for Mariah! That is so, so sweet. I have seen her story, and donated and shared but I really think it is extra fabulous that you are doing so much for her! I wish I had more money to help, I can’t even imagine what she must be going through. You are seriously the sweetest.
I love the idea of joining the gym! One of my goals is to join a place with a pool- but again, money. I hope that I can work this out at some point though, because I think there are so many benefits! And I applaud you for wanting to get ahead- I keep swearing that one of these days, I’ll catch up, forget getting ahead 😉
These links are a great way to engage community and camaraderie with others. I love it! I may actually try some of these! Thank you! 🙂
I really need to schedule ahead on my posts, I know this will be such a tool that will help me!
I’m also hoping to get more into the groove of being active this year!
I have been trying to be more active too; hiking outside, using exercise videos, and lifting hand weights.
Interesting way to break down your post sections. Starting, hoping, scheduling etc. Believe we’re all in need of getting more active. Still addicted to Dua Lipa?
Oh that’s nice that’s an offer from your old school. Hope that’s working out for ya! I’m getting ready to sit down and do some blogging ahead myself. 🙂