2021 Quarterly Goals | March Check In | Q1 Finale (Jan, Feb Mar)

In 2021 I have decided to make quarterly goals instead of monthly goals. But I still want to check in monthly so that I can take a look at my progress and be mindful of my goals. Here are the goals I’m working on for Q1 (Jan, Feb, Mar):

get dressed every day
yoga every day
face smoothing
10 k steps
monthly life admin day
cleaning schedule
3 vids per week
6 blog posts per week
instagram

We are now at the end of the first quarter of this quarterly goal experiment. So far, I’m finding it interesting even if I’m not sure it’s working exactly. I feel like I could keep working on these Q1 goals for the whole year. I don’t think any of these goals became completely ingrained routines. On the other hand, there are a lot more goals I want to work on. Sometimes one just has to say “good enough”.

That being said, I definitely crushed the goal of getting dressed day every day! I also have gotten the hang of posting 3 videos a week. This might ebb and flow a little, but I feel pretty good about it.

Goals that we are gonna leave at good enough are posting 6 blogs we week. Have I contunually slipped on this, yes, but it’s pretty ingrained in me to get it done when possible. See yesterday’s post. Face smoothing is also something that I have been doing pretty regularly. It’s not every day but it is frequent enough to be headed towards routine.

Although my idea of a cleaning schedule routine is getting very close to what I want, I want to take it to the next quarter to hopefully perfect it more. Stretching/yoga and walking 10k are also going to stay on the list.

My goal to post more on insta is going to change a bit for the next three months. I’m not quite where I want to be with a posting schedule, but I want to expand my goals a little to include figuring out how to post to reels and also get tiktok.

The only goal I’m not continuing to pursue is my monthly life admin day. Althought I still think a LAD is a great idea, I haven’t needed a whole day each month devoted to this task.

How did you do on your Q1 goals? Will you be continuing quarterly or change it up? Will you carry over goals or start all new?

A Bloggish Problem

I seem to have a reoccurring bloggish problem. Each month, towards the end of the month (sometimes even in the middle), I get off track with blog posts and It becomes very hard to get back on track. I out this up to a few issues: I have been busy trying to get on a schedule for my booktube (which is not more important to me than I blog but a bit more exciting at the moment), and then there is just life and productivity in general. Putting my efforts to making videos has left me with less inspiration (not to mention time) for writing. Life generally is always in flux, it seems.

Each month, I try to buck this growing trend and keep on track. The beginning of the month is always easier for me. I have lots of idea, as well as regular series that are easy to accomplish. I love my regular series but it’s important for me that the blog isn’t just those posts. That being said, if that’s all I can muster, it’s better than nothing.

So here we are at the end of another month where, going into the next, I have fallen off with blog posts. My notes books and drafts are full, but very little writing is getting done. On the horizon is my beginning of the month line up, and I feel good about it as usual. I see several weeks of content lined up and accessible for me to write. I love it. So As with each of the last few months, I will try to start strong and keep the momentum going for April.

How do you combat writing fatigue? Over come over or under-inspiration? Get around writer’s block? Stacy on schedule with creative endeavors without letting them becomes tedious?

Until I find the answers to these as well as many other questions, I’ll just keep trying.

Weekly Video Round Up #16 - 3/22 - 3/28/2021

3/22 - TBR Tag | March is TBR Month! | Booktube tag | How do I keep track of my TBR?

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

I'm officially calling March "TBR month"! Here is the TBR Tag! This is the TBR Book Tag!

Original http://aperfectioncalledbooks.blogspo...
Questions
1. How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
2. Is your TBR mostly physical, ebook or audio book?
3. How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
4. A book that's been on your TBR list the longest
5. A book you recently added to your TBR
6. A book in your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover
7. A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading
8. An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for
9. A book on your TBR that basically everyone’s read but you
10. A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you
11. A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read
12. How many books are on your TBR shelf?

Cats in this video: Only an unknown whisker!

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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3/24 -

Hi, I’m Mo.
I've been going on an extended little library tour lately! Here are some recently acquired books! (don't call it a book haul!)
I have been going to so many libraries lately! I'm obsessed. I have been keeping a list and searching them out where ever I go. I have found some really new books and a lot of backlist books. It's a struggle to make sure not to take too many books. I have also been dropping books off! Don't worry, I have a lot of books to show you! Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts?
How many little libraries do you regularly visit? How many are in your area? Check out my Little Library Tag: https://youtu.be/hLyQmkI0jGY
March is TBR month, according to me! How many books are on your TBR? Take this opportunity to sort and unhaul! Check out my TBR Tag: https://youtu.be/DiL2O8BJheg

Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

Books in this video: So many!

Cats in this video: Irving was there like the whole time.

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Socials:
Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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GEM ASMR 1 | Tapping, scratching, calm breathing, light flares, natural long nails | LoFi ASMR

Hi, I’m Mo.
Gem ASMR using amethyst, selenite, milky quartz, pyrite. LoFi tapping, scratching, light flares, calm breathing, long natural nails.
This was a super fun video to make and I will def be more gem asmr!! It was heck on my nails, tho! I really liked to take a closer look at my gem collection and the scratching was so soothing. Amethyst is my birth stone and I love to just look at it. The second piece is an interesting one bc it also has a green pattern. The pyrite is my husband's favorite. We have many gems and fossils, so I could make a lot of videos!
What are you favorite gems? What is your birthstone?

Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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Weekly Video Round Up #15 - 3/15/2021 - 3/21/21

3/17 - BookTube Spin Vlog | Booktube Spin #1! | First Spin Vlog

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

Rick MacDonnall invented the Booktube Spin and spun the first round at the end of Jan. The rules are simple: make a 20 book TBR, label them 1-20, put them into groups if you wish, post your TBR somewhere, and check out Rick’s video to see what book you need to read by March 31st. It’s easy and fun! I thought I might cheat, but in the end, I didn’t! I vlogged my experience!

Did you do the Booktube Spin #1? What was the book you got? Did you read it?

Rick’s first Booktube Spin video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc4Iz0dvGos
Rick’s first spin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6eYtA0X-2g
My Booktube Spin TBR video: https://youtu.be/UqXne0-dtWE

Books in this video:
Thunderstruck (2006) Erik Larson
Dead Wake (2015) Erik Larson

Cats in this video: Irving!

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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3/19 - Free and East Zero Waste | 1 More Month of Zero Waste | March Check in | Bag Swap

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

How are you doing with this month’s 1 More Month of Zero Waste Challenge? We are keeping an eye on all the plastic bags that are in our lives and swapping them out for more sustainable options.

March Challenge here: https://youtu.be/ZEYaYJJf4fw

Feb: https://youtu.be/8RewurP4A-0
Jan: https://youtu.be/Gs2W6Ngdl0s

Cats in this video: Martin meowing!

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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Recommending Books to My Favorite Booktuber | 3 Books BooksnadLaLa Might Like | Books Reccs

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

I was so nervous to make this video!! I have been wanting to make one like this for a little while. Thanks Hannah Snow White Reader for the inspiration and courage! Check out her channel here:

Here are a few book recommendations for @BooksandLaLa. I hope she reads them someday and I hope she likes them! But NO pressure!!

Books in this video:
Bunny Modern (1998) David Bowman
The Crying of Lot 49 (1965) Thomas Pynchon
The Raw Shark Textst (2007) Steven Hall

Bunny Modern was also mentioned in my Re Read Tag Video: https://youtu.be/haM9XJJkdus

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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Emergency Skin

One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

A free short story on one of my subscriptions, Emergency Skin is the first book I have read by much beloved contemporary sci-fi author NK Jemison.

Follow a volunteer and the AI guiding them from within their head, as they return to a long dead planet to replenish materials needed on their new home. The leaders of the new world have promised them this is a routine mission and the volunteer will be rewarded upon their return. They are quickly to find out, not all is as it seems on the dead earth.

I really enjoyed this short story! I still stands out in my mind, several months later. It was definitely one of my favorite reads of 2021 so far. I’m sure that has something to do with Jason Issacs being the narrator. One of the reason that I liked it is that it’s written and therefore read in second person. Isaacs, as the AI guiding the volunteer, talks directly to you. This helps you feel close to the character that you are in the books. Also the secretive and misinformed nature of how that character is treated, makes you weary to the AI in a very specific way. Although brief, this book held a lot of emotion. Reading this definitely made me want to read more NK Jemison. I wonder if all her works draws you in as well as this short story. I highly recommend this books for those who already have a**zon (you can listen to this free as part of your membership!), those who like stories told in second person, and sci-fi readers!

Have you read any NK Jemison? What are you thoughts?

This book is featured in my Jan Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
Goodreads

On My Mind On Friday Morning

Lately there have been some interesting animal articles. this “pale” penguin is so cute! It It looks like he took off his tuxedo! Unfortunately this coloring means a harder life for the little pen.

Check out these glow in the dark sharks!

There are a lot of crabs out there.

It’s hard to believe that the Fukushima nuclear plant radiation event happened 10 years ago now, let alone that someone stayed behind to care for the animals left by the devastation.

This is not about animals, but also quite interesting. And no one can convince me of the science behind this. Obviously that is magic.

Something New: Meal Plan Stories

For a few weeks now, I’ve been making a meal plan and posting it to my instagram stories.

I pretty much copied this idea from @lindsaystrannigan on instagram and I’ve been loving it! It’s nice to go through the fridge each week to see what needs to be used up and to have a list so if I forget what I was thinking, I can refer back to it. I also find it helpful to have an accountability partner in wanting to post the recap for the week. Since I started, I can see that we have less food waste and don’t buy as many duplicates when shopping!

Do you make a meal plan? Do you use any kind of system? What other tips do you have for cutting down on food waste?

Weekly Video Round Up #14 - 3/8/21 - 3/14/21

3/8 - 1 More Month of Zero Waste | Bag Swap | March 2021 | Easy and Free Zero Waste | Zero Waste Booktuber

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

For our March 1 More Month of Zero Waste challenge we are swapping out bags to be more sustainable. Whether you are a zero waste newbie or a seasoned pro, we can all swap out what we use for a more sustainable option. In this challenge there is no need to buy anything new!! The most sustainable option is often what you already have and can get use of.

What bags can you swap this month?

Some of the bags mentioned:
(most of these are from Mighty Nest. I’m not sponsored but I wish I was bc I love them!!!)
Bee’s Wrap: https://mightynest.com/shop/kitchen/food-storage/bee-s-wrap-assorted-3-pack
Plant based Bee’s Wrap sandwich bag : https://mightynest.com/shop/kitchen/food-storage/wraps-and-covers/plant-based-sandwich-wrap
Silicone bag: https://mightynest.com/shop/kitchen/food-storage/reusable-storage-bags/silicone-food-storage-bag
Produce bag: https://mightynest.com/shop/reusable-bags/organic-cotton-net-produce-bag
Cotton grocery bag: https://www.simpleecology.com/shop/organic-cotton-deluxe-reusable-canvas-grocery-bags

Cats in this video: Martin!

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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3/10 - My Physical TBR | all the books I need to read | TBR Shelf | Basement Box Books | Backlist Booktuber

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

Here is my physical TBR. Take a tour of my TBR shelf, my messy basement, and revisit my Booktube Spin list.

Books in this video:
too many!!

Cats in this video: Martin!

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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3/15 - I Hate Hauls | Or Do I?!?! | First Thoughts On video | Super rambling and ranty thoughts on hauls

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

This is the start of a series of ramble-y videos about things that I’m not sure how to get in other videos.

How do you feel about hauls? Do you love them or hate them? Do you do do regular book hauls, library hauls, second hand book hauls?

Let’s start a convo!!

Booktube mentioned:
Emma - Drinking by My Shelf: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBv9PyaDIjq_7nnTreH93_A
Book Break: https://www.youtube.com/user/panmacmillanbooks

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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Woodswoman

One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

My mom gave me this beautiful old copy of Woodswomen by Anne LaBastille. Weirdly, my BFF had read it only a few month before so I was to discuss in straightaway.

When her marriage, her career, and living situation disintegrate in one fell swoop, Anne LaBastille rails against the ordinary life that might be waiting for her, opting instead to move to the Adirondack mountains, build her own house and live completely alone. This is how she becomes a Woodswomen.

Thinking back to this book several months after reading it, I loved it but it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. This books was spoken to me in the same category as The Good Life by Scott and Helen Nearing and other books about sustainability and self sufficiency. Although there are definitely elements of these topics, mostly of self sufficiency, Woodswomen is more a true memoir. Although Anne LaBastille does live on her own and her own terms and although she does right about conservation, she does not live a very sustainable and environmentally conscious lifestyle in any ways. The story of how LaBastille bucks conventional living and makes her own home, with all the trials, fails and accomplishments that entails, is fascinating. And often frustrating. In sharp contrast to how the Nearings go about creating their life, with detailed plans everything thought out, LaBastille plunges ahead with barely a plan let alone detailed “blueprints”. She almost dies, or gets someone else killed, many times,. Her rash actions often cause close to chaos and has to redo many of her initial work. She must make the same mistakes over and over before she gets it right. She is brash and impetuous and head strong. But this impetuousness allows her to live the life she always wanted without getting bogged down by being scared or conjoled into how she should live. Anne’s writing is evocative and compelling and interesting. When she writes about the freezing lake, you shiver. I would highly recommend this book to all those who have dreamed of walking in to the woods and never leaving, adventurers living on their own, people interested in the history of the Adirondacks, those who want to build their own homes and lives.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

This book is featured in my Jan Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
Goodreads

1 More Month of Zero Waste | Bag Swap | March 2021

Two of the main ideas behind this 1 More Month of Zero Waste is that the challenges 1) are free (or can be), easy 2) and can be modified for all levels of zero waste.

Too often the zero waste movement is focused on esthetics and buying items to look a certain way within the movement. Helping the environment through zero waste should be multi-sectional, easy and accessible for everyone. You should not have to buy anything to join the low impact movement or become more zero waste.

Another aspect of zero waste that is very important is that you will never be done with zero waste. Once you decide to start your journey, it ever ends. Even the most seasoned zero waster has more to learn and can do better.

In 1 More Month to Zero Waste, we try to achieve both these zero waste agendas.

For March, our challenge is a Bag Swap. If you are a beginner, new to Zero Waste, try switching to paper at the grocery, or try not bagging your produce before check out. If you are intermediate, try to challenge yourself to always bring a cloth bag when shopping whether at the grocery or any other shop, don’t bag your produce, or only bag it in reusable bags. If you are advanced, remember to bring your cloth bags to every shop, and try to cut out bags else where (the food you eat, the products you buy, etc…). If you have somehow mastered how to not use any plastic bags, try educating someone else or give up some other plastic item!

All the levels of this challenge do not have to cost anything. You can run out and buy cotton shopping bags, but try to find things around the house you can use instead. You can make reusable produce bags, but try using something you already have first.

Where are you in your bag swap journey?

On My Mind On Friday Morning

Very beautiful bug works by a Welch artist with an eye to the environment.
I liked this little article about stopping train service to rescue a cat!
Along with Sherlock Holmes, The Great Gatsby has also entered the public domain. What fun interpretations are on the horizon?
Dana Scully’s Suits.
I’ve really only tried the Truff and Crystal hot sauces on this list (I don’t like either). Sure, I’ve eaten jerk, zhoung, Kewpie, and ponzu sauce, but I’m not counting those as they were not eaten at home and with purpose. I would like to work my way thru this whole list of interesting and exciting sauces. Below are the ones I’m most interested in.

Something Nice

Read Shelf first check in of 2021

2021 Quarterly Goals | February Check In

In 2021 I have decided to make quarterly goals instead of monthly goals. But I still want to check in monthly so that I can take a look at my progress and be mindful of my goals. Here are the goals I’m working on for Q1 (Jan, Feb, Mar):

get dressed every day
yoga every day
face smoothing
10 k steps
monthly life admin day
cleaning schedule
3 vids per week
6 blog posts per week
instagram

February is always a struggle for me. It’s cold, dark, rainy or snowy, bleak and depressing. It is a month that I try to pack full and keep my mind busy. But classically, historically, it is a month that often falls apart for me, productivity wise. Feb and August are notably the months that my blog drops off, that my goals are not met, and when less gets done than I had hoped. I’ve noticed and know this for years. And yet, somehow each year I’m surprised.

So I should not have been, but was, surprised that February pretty much fell apart for my quarterly goals.

Despite doing terribly on most of these goals in Feb and there being a whole other month to go, there are a few that I can say, can come off my list for Q2. The overall aim of quarterly goals is to get good enough at each and make these goals routine. February has cemented that a few of these have happened. Getting dressed every day has been no problem for two months. Yes, there are a few days here or there that I didn’t get dressed, but these were the exception, not the rule. I also think I can safely take my blog and video goals off my list for Q2. Although I didn’t really keep this goal in Feb, march is going to go much better and I know what needs to be done to meet this goal.

There are a few goals that I want to particularly focus on the last month quarter. Perhaps if I make these a priority, they can also come off the Q2 list. I knowI can instagram consistently as I have done it before, so I feel if I make a last push to get it in line with all the other things I want to schedule. One challenge is getting started with reels, but I feel like if I get my posting sorted, that could be a small challenge for the next quarter. I have been making some strides in my cleaning schedule, especially now that I’m not as focused on other things on my list. Hopefully, I can take March to really get this into a routine. The last middling goal, that I might be able to really incorporate is Face Smoothing. I’m like half and half on this one. I manager to do it a few times a week, but not everyday as I would like.

That leaves 10k steps, yoga and monthly life admin days most likely staying on my Q2 goals. I find this especially frustrating bc 2 of these things that I have made routine in the past. I’ve always had a mental block about yoga, who knows why.

Are you already thinking of your next goals? What goals are you crushing? What goals still need work?

Weekly Video Round Up #13 - 3/1/21 - 3/7/21

3/1 - February Vlog Style Wrap Up | 9 books I read in Feb 2021 |

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

Here is my February 2021 wrap up, Feb was a really nice reading month for me!

Have you read any of these books? What was you favorite book you read in February?

Books in this video:
Freedom from the Known (19xx) Krisnamurti
The Hunter (19xx) Richard Stark aka Donald Westelake
Carry On Jeeves (19xx) PG Wodehouse
Sharp Teeth (20xx) Tobey Barlow
Thunderstruck (20xx) Erik Larson
The Island of Dr Moreau (18xx) HG Wells
Y The Last Man Vol 1 (2002) Brian K Vaghne and Pai Guerra
Hellboy The Seed of Destruction (1995) Mike Mignola
Each Peach Pear Plum (xxxx) xx and xx

Cats in this video: Irving!

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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3/3 - I Wrote Morning Pages for 30 Days | Not For Me | Journaling Prompts | Slow Living | Productivity

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

I started reading the book that started morning pages, so I tried them for 30 days. I was interested to see how I liked them and if they did anything for me. If you are interested, too, keep watching!

Have you done morning pages? What are you thoughts?

Books in this video:
The Artist's Way (1992) Julia Cameron

Channels mentioned:
Lavedaire: https://www.youtube.com/user/Lavendaire
Femmehead: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRxM7IbVgPEOPvi_2qBd3mw

Cats in this video: Irving and Martin

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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3/8 - TBR ASMR 6 | LoFi ASMR | Scratching, page turning, rubbing, tracing, gentle breathing, stacking

Hi, I’m Mo.
Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

My latest tbr asmr is going up a little late! These are three mysteries from different time periods and all sound different. Lofi book sound asmr.

Have you read any of these? What are your favorite book sounds?

Books in this video:
Cover Her Face (1962) PD James
Fletch (1974) Gregory MacDonald
The Lake District Murders (1935) John Bude

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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Umbrella Academy 3: Hotel Oblivion

One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

The third book of The Umbrella Academy, Hotel Oblivion continues to follow the found family created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba.

Once again scattered, the members of the Umbrella Academy must reunite to prevent a prison break from the mysterious Hotel Oblivion. Chaos ensues, something the team is used to creating as well as vanquishing.

I really like the Umbrella Academy books, but I don’t think they are easy to read comics. They are not comics I would recommend to new comics readers. The art is highly stylized, can be choppy and, in comparison to the show, a lot of the characters look similar which can make them hard to distinguish. The plots are dense, twisting, and confusing. making leaps in understanding and time. That all being said, I really enjoy these books; They are fast paced, bizarre, explore themes of found family, tying your identity to your work, family, or those around you. The books deal with ideas of abandonment, responsibility, and control, and the aimlessness of the realization lack of purpose. This third installment came out 10 years after Volume 2 and I haven’t read it in many years. Hotel left me totally confused and adrift when first picking it up. I mostly blame myself for this, but there was also something about it that rubbed me the wrong way towards the book and reading experience. I do wish that there had been a separate recap, or even within the story, more was done to clue the reader in. Perhaps not a full recap, but more hints dropped. Overall, I did get into the story, even though there were bits I had to just accept that I didn’t really understand. I can’t wait to read more about the Umbrella Academy. I’m also highly anticipating the next season of the show. So far, the show has loosely followed the event of the comics, with the first and second season somewhat corresponding to the first and second books respectively. I’m interested to see if the third season follows the third book and how they adapt the events. I would recommend the three graphic novels, but I would suggest reading them in order and quick succession.

Have you read this comic series?

This book is featured in my Jan Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
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On My Mind On Friday Morning

I didn’t know anything about photographer Brian Griffin before seeing this photo essay announcing his autobiography. But let’s face it, I’m really only interested in the Douglas Adams portrait.
I’m not sure how I fee about palm fat in my butter. No wonder Canada is up in arms about buttergate.
I DO miss my bar and I miss having a bar that’s mine.
One of my all time favorite characters last books will go into the public domain in 2023. The fascination with Sherlock Holmes may only grow from there, I hope!
This song has been stuck in my head a lot lately.

Mad Cat Garden | February 2021

In January and February it was very hard to think about or even imagine working in the garden. For most of that time, our yard was covered in snow.

But as Feb wound down, we started thinking forward to Spring and we even got the seeds out to get started.

This is the first year that they garden was extremely dormant for the three most wintery months. We will see what that means for Spring, if anything. Perhaps it is just the natural cycle of things.

What was happening in your garden in February?

February Plant Update

There was a lot of snow in February. Sometimes we went out and explored it and sometimes we hid inside our warm house.

When we took walks, we saw a lot of cat tracks!

Ivy on trees is hanging on.

Bare trees give sneak peaks at some bird folk’s houses.

Ice on Deal lake.

Met a new neighbor.

Dove feather.

Shi++y pics of the moon

The full moon this month was a highlight of our observations and we went down to the beach to see it on the water. There were also some shoot sightings here and there which was surprising (as always) after so much cold and snow.

Are you seeing signs of Spring where you are or is it still deep Winter?

February in Review

In some ways I love Februarys and in some ways they drag for me. I love to fill this month with lots of activities, adventures, and events. This month we celebrated milestones, walked on the beach, saw friends, and explored our neighborhood.

February’s weather was pretty wintery with lots of snow and cold days. Partly bc of that we didn’t get out as much as we could have. But we did go to the beach, explore some close neighborhoods, check our local little free libraries, and take some snowy walks. There were some #watchercats here and there.

We spent a lot of time inside, cleaning, taking care of cats, and trying to keep up with creative endeavors.

By the end of February, it seemed like the snow would melt and perhaps spring was around the corner… Waht do you have to say about that, March?

Weekly Video Round Up #12 - 2/22 - 2/28

2/25 - Little Library Tag | Original Reading Tag | Book Exchange | Bookish Habits

Hi, I’m Mo.
"Thanks for joining me today! I post videos three times a week. I post about creative simple living: books, cats, zero waste, bullet journaling, beach life, and more!

This is my original booktube tag all about little libraries and book exchanges: Little Library Tag!! Please do this tag if you want, create a video or leave your answers down below!

1) How many little libraries are near you?
2) How many do you frequent?
3) What is the most popular book you've seen in a little library?
4) What is the best book you've taken and what is a book you regret not taking?
5) What is the best book you've left in a little library?
6) Do you curate what you leave?
7) Would you consider hosting a little library?
8) Share some little library stories and tag some friends!

Thanks so much for participating! If you have ideas for adding more questions (questions you've been dying to know about little libraries) let me know!!

Cats in this video: Irving!

Original music by audionightlight. https://soundcloud.com/anlight/tracks

Blog: http://www.madcatquilts.com/blog
Instagram: http://instagram.com/madcat1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120401161-ana-mo-shoshin

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