When you find a book, or three, by one of your favorite authors but leave it for someone else to try!
Thunderstruck
One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.
I read Thunderstruck by Erik Larson twice. But I completely forgot it the first time.
At a critical point in history for the development for wireless communication, there is a gruesome and unexplained murder that captures the worlds imagination. As Marconi is ruthlessly and singlemindedly strives to pioneer his wireless device, Dr Crippen’s wife goes missing. Could this invention be the key to solving the crime?
Soooo, I’m not sure where I got this book or how I read it and completely forgot that I did, but that is true. I picked this book up bc I was planning on reading another Larson book for a video (I’ll link it below!) but decided I wanted to read this earlier work first. Once I started reading it, I did remember some of it, that I could have only known if I had previously read it. I was glad in a way that I didn’t completely remember it. I might not have enjoyed it as much if it was not at all surprising. I really love the way that Larson takes two storylines that seem completely different and intertwine them. These stories more than other books I have read by him are very connected and the one very much informs the other. I also think that Larson does a great job of making the two stories equally interesting and compelling. One might in inclined to think that the invention of wireless telegrams was not very interesting or exciting but the there is a lot of drama there! I still don’t know what the wireless really is or how it works, so even though a lot of the science went over my head, I really enjoyed reading about it. The murder mystery of this history is also very compelling. There are a few gory moments and the lead detective is a fun character to follow. I would highly recommend this book for those who love history but don’t often read non fiction, those who read true crime, people interested in interconnected historical events, or people who have read other Larson books.
Have you read this book? Do you like true mysteries?
This book is featured in my Feb Wrap Up and in my BookTube Spin Spin 1 Vlog: https://youtu.be/DD3hiNMNHF8
Sharp Teeth
One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.
I’ve had Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow for many years. It was hiding in my basement box books.
Anthony takes a job as a dog catcher. Lark is a lawyer and he is the leader of a werewolf pack. She is Lark’s right and girl and holds the pack together until she falls in love with Anthony.
I must have gotten this book many years ago bc it’s from barnes and nobles and I don’t remember getting it at a books sale or thrift shop. When I picked this book up in Feb I didn’t realize that it was a were wolf book and I didn’t realize it was a book written in verse. This is the first book I’ve written in verse and I really enjoyed it! Barlow is also very clearly into music and created a playlist to go along with the book in the post script part of the book. He definitely seems to want to be a rockstar with this book which works at some points but also dates the book in many ways. Despite the author trying a little hard at times, I really enjoyed this story. The verse style gives you a unique perspective into each of the characters. I liked the way that there was many groups of characters that all came together at some point and in some way. I thought the the verse style might be difficult to read. But the story was compelling and interesting enough to move the action and the style added to that effect. I would recommend this book to those who like supernatural dramas, werewolf book fans, readers who are new to novels in verse, and those who like books set in California.
Have you read Sharp Teeth? Have you read other books written in verse?
This book is featured in my Feb Wrap Up.
Bullet Journal Check In | New Book for May
My last bullet journal was from Cognative Surplus and lasted me 6 months. I liked it, I got a new one for my next BuJo.
Weekly Video Round Up #19 - 4/12/2021 - 4/18/2021
4/15 - Try A Chapter | Reading the first chapter of 5 books | Keep or Toss | Backlist Booktuber
Hi, I’m Mo.
In this video I read the first chapter of 5 different backlist books to Try A Chapter! Will I keep them or toss them?
I've never tried this before and it was a little confusing at first but then really fun! I really enjoyed trying a chapter to see is I was going to like these five books and pick my next read. These are all back list books, of course! They were ones I wasn't sure whether I should keep when I did my TBR Shelf Organization (https://youtu.be/KHbRKruJr18). Have you ever done a video like this or used this method as a way to pick your next book? Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
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:
The Society of S (2007) Susan Hubbard
Masie Dobbs (2003) Jacqueline Winspear
The Magdalien Martyrs (2000) Ken Bruen
The Secret Life of Cowboys (2003) Tom Groneburg
Dark Matter (2016) Blake Crouch
Cats in this video: none joined me today
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 Please
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4/17 - The Bar and the Bookcase Tag | Cocktail inspired book recommendations | Backlist Booktuber
Hi, I’m Mo.
I finally got a drink and an afternoon to film The Bar and the Bookcase Tag! The prompts are all cocktail themed and the books recommendations are based on the cocktail prompts!
Jaylen (sp?) at The Bar and the Bookcase (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTZ9I9tX1zOmp7woF7xwPFw) created this cocktail inspired reading tag! This was a really fun tag to do! There are a lot of questions and this video got quite long! You can find some info about the books I chose down below. Since I primarily read backlist the titles range in publishing date from the 1930s to the 2000s. I opted to have a cocktail while filming this! I love cocktails but usually only drink them while I am out. We don't drink much at home. Do you drink at home, when you are out, or not at all. If you don't drink, you can still do this tag, as long as you are comfortable talking about alcohol. If not, that's ok, too! I tagged She wants the Diction (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAVkvyBF0_3aR2yuDzaajGw) and Mishelle Lexi (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCboGrYXHeVXAxTpn7bGJqug), but feel free to do this tag if it interested you! Also, go give these great booktubers a follow! Have you read any of these books? If so, let us know in the comments!
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 are the prompts:
Old Fashioned: Historical Fiction Recommendation
Sidecar: Book with a strong supporting character
Manhattan: Book set in NY
Bloody Mary: Book that scared you/messed you up
Espresso Martini: Book that kept you reading into the night
Sazerac: Book that left you disoriented
Long Island Iced Tea: Book that is doing TOO MUCH (bonus point if it works anyway ;))
Negroni: Book with a love triangle
Bay Breeze: Book with light, chill/heartwarming vibes
Dark and Stormy: Book that’s dark, thrilling, and menacing (bonus point if the setting matches!)
Martini: Classic Recommendation
Books in this video:
The Prestige (1997) Christopher Preist
The Hitchhikker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979) Douglas Adams
The Great Gatsby (1925) F Scott Fitzgerald
The Brooklyn Follies (2005) Paul Auster
The Murders of Molly Southbourne (2017) Tade Thompson
Coraline (2002) Neil Gaiman
The Good Life (1930-70) Scott and Helen Nearing
The Raw Shark Texts (2007) Steven Hall
Joy in the Morning (1947) PG Wodehouse
The Black Tower (1975) PD James
The Quiet American (1955) Graham Greene
Cats in this video: none
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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4/19 - Answering YOUR Zero Waste Questions | Free and Easy Zero Waste | Sustainable Tofu? | Plastic Free
Hi, I’m Mo.
Answering YOUR zero waste questions! Is there a way to buy more sustainably tofu? Ask me your zero waste questions and I will try to make you a video!
A friend and viewer asked a zero waste questions in the comments, but I thought everyone could benefit from my attempt to answer! Is there a way to get tofu in more sustainable packaging? Is there plastic free tofu? I'm not a zero waste expert, but becoming zero waste doesn't take an expert! It only takes making an effort to reduce your waste and be mindful of your choices! Do you make your own tofu or have some tips and tricks to reduce the waste it creates? Leave us some comments below! Do you have a zero waste question? Leave me a comment, contact me via email, or put it in the discussion/community tab!! I'll try to answer all questions and make you a short video!
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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Carry On Jeeves
One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.
I had read most of Carry on Jeeves by PG Wodehouse on audio before. I was happy to pick up and read the entire book with my eyeballs.
When doddery Bertie Wooster loses his gentleman’s gentleman, he meets his match when he meets his new man, Jeeves. This collection includes some early adventures of the perfectly paired duo.
I had watched Jeeves and Wooster before I listened to the audio book of Carry on Jeeves. Then I read other books in the Jeeves and Wooster series, now I have read this book. So I have a pretty good handle on not only the characters, but these stories in particular. And yet there was still surprises when reading this book. I really liked reading physically although it did take me a few month to get all the way through. Partly, I think that was bc it’s very easy to read most of the Jeeves and Wooster books as a collection of short stories. They are more chapters, but can be read almost apart from each other. One might think that that makes it hard to get back into upon picking it up again, but the sill and easy style of these books and characters, makes it simple to fall back into almost immediately. There are a lot of people to keep track of in each book, but one gets into the flow quickly and easily. Perhaps you don’t remember each person every time, but Bertie often give a background on someone you might have forgotten. I love that many of these books are self referential. Carry On has the tale of Bertie and Jeeves first meeting and then jumps in time to the duo living in NYC to avoid the strict and disapproving eye of Aunt Agatha. I had listened to the audio book so many times but I did not realize that in the print edition there are two additional stories. The last story is told from Jeeves perspective and is unique in all of the J&W series, as far as I can tell. I greatly enjoy these stories and would highly recommend them to any J&W fans, those who like British humor, anyone who likes bumbling and silly characters, and those familiar with the TV show.
This book is featured in my Feb Wrap Up.
The Hunter
One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.
The Hunter is the first of the Parker series written by Richard Stark (the psudonym of Donald Westelake)
Parker is a career criminal who was beyrayed on a job. When he gets out, he can only think of one thing: retribution.
My father gave me this book for xmas, and I was excited to read it, as I had been on a bit of a noir reading kick. It was interesting to read this book so soon after a noir classic, Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep. This book was written much later, and it has a much more modern feel. The Hunter was a little hard to get into bc it is much more violent and misogynistic with lots of violent acts and thoughts. None of the characters are likable and I found myself hoping that Parker could redeem himself, I did eventually get into the rhythm of this book, and over all I would say that I did enjoy it despite it being a difficult read. I would try another of the Parker books bc this book might suffer from first book syndrome. The idea and the characters are there, but the execution is clunky. Although I didn’t love this book, I would recommend this to those who are reading noir mystery/thrillers, fans of classic crime books, or anyone who admires Donald Westlake’s work.
This book is featured in my Feb Wrap Up.
On My Mind On Friday Morning
When we first moved into our house I bought some vintage wallpaper and intended to paper a few statement walls. 5 years later, I haven’t done the work but think about it often. These bold patterned wallpaper are a good inspiration.
I love the idea of using fabric that would otherwise end up in landfill. These look so cool!
Good list of maple syrup recipes here. Lately I’ve been pouring it on peanut butter sandwiches instead of jelly.
My husband is trying to grow giant pumpkins this year. This was a fun video about pumpkin growers in Australia. Maybe it will be us next!
Mad Cat Garden | March 2021
March is always the month that the garden really kicks off. We planted seeds this month and really tried to use the green house to it’s full potential. My husband has been making seed pots reusing newspaper. We also use found or donated pots. We have some kale and chard that had wintered over.
We also bought a few lettuces and chards to get our garden going.
Flowers and strawberries also wintered over in the green house. Both are already blooming!
Peas are the seeds that have come up the most but we also started pumpkins, radishes, tomatoes, peppers and more.
During the start of the month, almost everything was in the green house, but as the month wore on, we started moving plants out to the yard/garden.
We didn’t turn our beds in March, bc we were letting any bees, moths, pollinators, or other bugs stay sleeping under the ground as the weather is still chilly. The bluebs started budding, and the pear trees have leaves.
While a lot happened in March, it was still a month of waiting in the garden. Hopefully the weather will break and we can do a lot more in April.
What is happening in your garden this month? Was it gearing up or winding down?
1 More Month of Zero Waste | Food Scraps and Compost | April 2021
Each month we do a easy and free challenge to become better at a zero waste lifestyle 1 more month at a time. The challenges can be modified for all levels of zero wasters, from beginner to advanced. Every month, you can also choose how much you want to participate. You can do the challenge every day of the month, you can do one task, or you can take only what you need.
One thread that runs through all the challenges is to be more mindful and aware about the waste we create with each monthly challenge. If you only take a new awareness of what waste you create each month, you are succeeding in these challenges!
In April we are talking about food scraps and learning how to compost! Composting at it’s simplest definition is letting food scraps, yard scraps, and other organic waste rot and turn back into dirt. Home composts are most often kept in a container orpile kept in the back yard or garden, and allowed and encouraged to rot down into a nutreient rich siol, then used in the yard, garden or house plsnts. There is also industrial comoposting which is a whole other story. For this challenge we are mainly concerned with our home or community compost systems.
Step one to starting your own compost pile is to assess what food waste you are creating and reduce it.
Next is to research what is the best avenue of compost for you. Do you have a space in your yard for a pile or a compost container? If not, how else can you compost? can you put a bucket on the stoop or fire escape? Can you save your food waste and drop it off at the local farmers market? Does your city or town have a compost pick up program?
After you have figured out where to compost, you can start saving scraps and composting!
Do you have a compost pile? Do you use one of the other methods for keeping your food waste out of the landfill?
Weekly Video Round Up #18 4/4/2021 - 4/11/2021
4/6 - March Vlog Style Wrap Up | 11 Books in March 2021 | Ranting About Newer Releases | New Favorite Book
Hi, I’m Mo.
My reading wrap up for march is my biggest so far in 2021. I read 11 books this month. I get a little ranty about some of them! But I might have found a new favorite as well!
Even though I didn't love every book I read this month, I had a really great reading month! I am honing in on my reading tastes and I think that I don't really like contemporary mysteries/thrillers! I also read some backlist mysteries that I liked so much more!! I read a picture book. This wrap up also includes my BooTube Spin Spin 1 book! You can check out my BookTube Spin vlog here: https://youtu.be/DD3hiNMNHF8 I also read a comic, which I totally failed to explain the plot of. It's a great Batman book! You should read it if you like Batman! What is your favorite Batman book? What did you read this month? What was your favorite book this month? Did you read any of the books I read? Share your thoughts!
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 mentioned:
Secret TBR book
Dead Wake (2016) Erik Larson
Fletch (1975) Gregory MacDonald
Cover Her Face (1962) PD James
The Bunny Book (1955) Richard Scary
Batman, The Long Halloween (1995) Jeff Loeb and Tim Sale
The Wife Upstairs (2020) Rachel Hawkins
The Lake District Murder (1935) John Bude
The Woman in Cabin 10 (2016) Ruth Ware
The Nickel Boys (2019) Colson Whitehead
A Murder is Announced (1950) Agatha Christie
Cats in this video: Martin and Irving! (that bit where Irving bops Marty on the head makes me laugh every time).
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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4/8 - March Readathons Wrap Up | March Mystery Madness | 3 Readathons are Too Many? | 2021
Hi, I’m Mo.
I participated in 3 readathons this month (march 2021)! That might have been too many! I loved March Mystery Madness!
Too Fond Of Books always does great readathon and March Mystery Madness (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZNcl5UKlAQ&t=3s) is no different! She makes so many videos to help you be inspired for the readathon! I had sooo much fun reading lots of mysteries in March. I read 8 books out of the 9 prompts for this challenge. I read a few golden age mysteries, some from the 60s and 70s and some contemporary mystery/thrillers. Some I really liked and some I didn't like too much. I also tried my hand on the Backlist Readathon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL9FqaaHuZ0) which I only read 3 books for. I'm going to keep it on my radar for next year, tho, and hopefully do better! Lastly I had the March Of The Moderns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jIgcjJID8M) in my head, too but was only able to read one book for that. Did you participate in any readathons or challenges this month?
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:
Secret TBR book
Dead Wake (2016) Erik Larson
Fletch (1975) Gregory MacDonald
Cover Her Face (1962) PD James
The Wife Upstairs (2020) Rachel Hawkins
The Lake District Murder (1935) John Bude
The Woman in Cabin 10 (2016) Ruth Ware
The Nickel Boys (2016) Colson Whitehead
A Murder is Announced (1950) Agatha Christie
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
Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe!
4/11 - 1 More Month to Zero Waste | Food Scraps and COMPOST | April 2021 | Free and Easy Zero Waste
Hi, I’m Mo.
It's April and time for 1 More Month of Zero Waste! Our monthly challenge towards a free and easy zero waste lifestyle! If you think you can't compost, I'm here to tell you you can!!
For April we are examining our food and identifying how we can cut down on food scraps and how we can learn to reduce food waste by composting! Composting is free and easy and accessible to almost anyone with a little leg work or elbow grease! It's a great way to reduce food waste and keep food out of landfill and traditional trash. The first step in any zero waste challenge is to examine what we are wasting and how we can reduce. By eating all our leftovers, only making what we need, and being mindful of the waste we are creating, we can learn ways to utilize our food better! Making food from food scraps is a great way to reduce waste as well! Making veggie stock or meals with scraps are great options! Having a compost pile, or donating your compost to a local garden, farmers market, or a friend who gardens is super easy! Does your city have curbside composting? Sometimes this is a service that you have to sign up for. The challenge this month will be to look into ways to reduce your food waste, how to compost in your area and for your situation. Make sure to share your progress in the comments!
Past 1 More Month to Zero Waste Challenges:
Jan: https://youtu.be/Gs2W6Ngdl0s
Feb: https://youtu.be/8RewurP4A-0
Mar: https://youtu.be/ZEYaYJJf4fw
Start of do these challenges at any time or in any order!
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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Freedom from the Known
One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.
My husband had read this spirituality/philosophy book, Freedom from the Known, by Krisnamurti. When I saw it in our read shelf I decided to pick it up.
From Wikipedia:
Jiddu Krishnamurti (11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986) was a philosopher, speaker and writer…born in south India in what is now the modern day Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh…Krishnamurti said he had no allegiance to any nationality, caste, religion, or philosophy, and spent the rest of his life travelling the world, speaking to large and small groups, as well as individuals.
I haven’t read too many easter spirituality books, but those I have read I have really enjoyed. Taoism, Buddhism, hinduism, stoicism, sustainable living, are all idealisms that I am interested in learning about. I had never heard of Krishnamurti before reading this book. I also knew nothing about his philosophy and boy, it’s a doozy! It’s a hard one to wrap your head around. What I took away from this idea goes something like this this: one must be so pure and natural a being’s self, that one has no room for want, desire, hate, love, vanity, or any other human emotion, physical or mental state taht might remove one individual to another and create any kind of conflict. I found some of the ideas to be similar to what I understand about Buddhism in that almost all avenues of the human condition lead to pain and doubt and sorrow in one form or another, so one must transform one’s thinking to be solely in the moment and to ease pain in all forms for all beings. The goal is to be light and love and care for everyone and be kind and fair to all. Sounds easy, right? I am really intrigued by these ideas. If these are concepts and ideas that you might be interested in, I highly suggest reading this book. I would also recommend this book if you like learning about philosophies or religions, enjoy eastern studies, or have read anyone who was associated with Krishnamurti.
Have you read Freedom from the Known? What did you take away?
This book is featured in my Feb Wrap Up.
On My Mind On Friday Morning
I loved the richness of the homes in this article about NYC apartments.
I really wanted to post a pic of these angry baby owls, but couldn’t get it to upload on to my computer. You will just have to look at all these adorable baby birds.
And speaking of birds, look at how gorgeous these eggs are!
This was an interesting article about how shopping vintage is culturally complicated for some people.
2021 Quarterly Goals | Q2 (April, May June)
Here we are in Q2 of 2021. It was a little hard to not just keep all the same goals from Q1. Partly bc I feel like almost none of them were 100% completed, but also, it was kinda nice to just work on those goals for three solid months. Would it also have been nice to keep working on them? That might be a good goals experiment for another year.
But here were are, needing new goals for a new quarter. This is what I’m thinking.
10K steps (but really tho)
This is a carry over goal. What’s frustrating about this goal, is that it is one that I had made into routine, but fell out of. I have to get back to it.
cleaning schedule
This is also a carry over goals and it’s not quite going as I planned. So far this goal is helping me keep a cleaning schedule in mind even if i’m not 100% getting it right yet.
yoga/stretching/exercise 15 min a day
The last carry over goal is to take only a little bit og time to improve my physical health.
tiktok and reels
Last quarter I wanted to get better at posting on instagram, which I feel like I’ve gotten marginally better at. For this quarter, I want to continue to get better at instagram, but to focus on figuring out how to create reels. Along with this, I want to give tiktok a go.
be outside more
This will be easier now that it’s springtime. It also goes along with several of my other goals.
eat better/lose weight
Another goals in line with several others above. I don’t want to sat the D word, but I need to reign in some of my bad eating habits and get back to eating better.
We’ll check in over the next three months and see how these goals manifest. What are your quarterly goals?
Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers
One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.
I’m a big fan of the TV series of Red Dwarf. Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers is a companion novel that follows much of the first season written by the creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor who write as Grant Naylor.
When Lister finds himself planets away from Earth, penniless and prospectless, he decides to sign up for the mining ship Red Dwarf. He sees it as a ticket home to Earth. He could not be more wrong.
I was going to order this book used online, but it turns out, I had it in my Basement Box Books the whole time! I was very glad not to spend a ridiculous sum for the used copy, especially seeing as I had it for years. I had no idea what to expect from this novel. I was sort of hoping it would be more it’s own story but it turned out to be more of a novelization of the first season of the show. I hadn’t watched the show for several years, but I remembered a lot of it. I kept hoping that it would diverge and be more story we haven’t seen or learned. I wasn’t thrilled that it never did. It more made me nostalgic for the show then enjoy the book. I felt like a lot of the jokes didn’t work as well written and there was a lot of very dated references. Again, thinking back to the show, it was nice to have a personification of the writing when picturing the characters and ship. But I think the show did far better with representation and personality than the book did. It makes me wonder about the choices made in both cases. I love that the show is a diverse cast but the book seemed to fall flat. Ultimately I liked the book and enjoyed my reading experience more than not and I will be reading the next few books, I think. But I’m actually more excited to watch the show again, bc I think it will be more fun in that format. I would recommend this book to those who want a to look at the show from a different angle, readers who like sci fi comedies, and those who enjoy British humor.
Have you read Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers? Have you watched Red Dwarf?
This book is featured in my Jan Wrap Up.
March Plant Update
March still feels like a blur but we did get some good plant and nature observations in. The weather was up and down but by the end of the month there were some flowers and buds pocking out and about. Spring might have officially started in March, but only at the end of the month did it really feel like it.
Lovely, foggy, moody Asbury Park.
This poor beauty.
Dusting and rearranging the house plants.
Found a stone cormorant.
And a living duck.
We spent plenty of time at the beach this month.
Spotted this crane on a still wintery walk.
And this camouflaged deer on a drive.
Swampy goodness.
This pic does not do justice at all to how HUGE this bald eagle was.
I’ve seen this little creature a few times now. Neighbors.
Another foggy evening.
And finally the cherry blossoms.
What did you see or do in nature this month?
Weekly Video Round Up #17 - 3/29/21 - 4/4/21
3/29 - TBR Shelf Organization and Clean up! | March is TBR Month | Gotta Make Room for New Books | Backlist
Hi, I’m Mo.
Welcome to my TBR Shelf Organization and Clean up!! I have to make more room on my TO BE READ shelf for more books to read! Check out all my Backlist books while I clean and ramble.
I have declared March to be TBR month. I have done a TBR Tag (https://youtu.be/DiL2O8BJheg), Shown you all my physical books (https://youtu.be/clDFNN3TsmA), Talked about hauls(https://youtu.be/q3QHc9U5cUI) and shown some recently acquired books(https://youtu.be/Xp3qIZqzeBw). All in the name of organizing my TBR. But what I really needed was to organize my TBR!! Where do you keep your to be read books? How do you keep that space neat and tidy? In this video I also pick out my next read for March! I'm participating in March Mystery Madness this month and I'm loving it!
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!
Channels Mentioned: Rick MacDonnell: https://www.youtube.com/user/SuperMacDonnell
Books in this video: All of them!
Cats in this video: none
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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4/2 - April Plan with Me | Booktube Planning, Video Ideas | I ask my insta followers to pick my videos!
Hi, I’m Mo.
Here is a my April Plan with me using my minimalist bullet journal. My instagram followers help me pick my booktube videos for April 2021.
My minimalist bujo set us is generally the same but I have made a few little changes to my booktube content calendar. I find creating my monthly set ups each month fun and relaxing and it's always fun to show my subscribers as I do it! My minimalist and simple style really work for me! I show you last months to show how messy the calendar gets by the end of the month. It was so fun to have my insta friends help me pick videos for this month! I would like to try this again! If you want to follow me there (http://instagram.com/madcat1), please do!! I didn't want to list all the video ideas so that they are still a surprise!! If you have a plan with me, let us know in the comments!
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!
Cognitive Surplus: https://cognitive-surplus.com/collections/notebooks
Other plan with me videos:
Feb: https://youtu.be/rrC6aZ3XfxA
Monthly: https://youtu.be/kMjTct0oSa4
Daily Fill In: https://youtu.be/diKPqNabev8
Cats in this video: you can hear my husband yelling at the boys (Martin and Irving) to stop fighting at one point.
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
Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe!
4/5 - TBR ASMR 7 | LoFi ASMR | Tapping, scratching, page turning, cat sounds, petting, rubbing | Book ASMR
Hi, I’m Mo.
Booktube ASMR with tapping, scratching, cat petting, book stacking, page turning, lo fi sounds. These are some books from my TBR.
I really like picking some books from my TBR Shelf and creating some lofi ASMR. Irving decided to join me today. We are looking at all books that have to do with sharks this month! I hope you enjoy this gentle and lo fi book ASMR!
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:
Close to Shore (2001) Micheal Capuzzo
The Raw Shark Texts (2007) Steven Hall
The Jaws Log (1975) Carl Gottlieb 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
Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe!
The Murders of Molly Southbourne
One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.
The first book I read as a Booktube recommendation, The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson kinda blew my mind.
Molly grows up with many rules, some of which she doesn’t understand until she’s older. Molly grows up learning to fight and to kill. Molly grows up with many little girls who look like her but none of them can stay.
This is a very short sci fi novel that packs a punch. Molly is raised in almost complete isolation by her family and you quickly find out why. I think it might even say in the blurb on the back of the book, but I feel like when I read the book, I would have preferred not to know before hand. So I will not explain it here. Bc of the conditions of her isolation and the extreme care that her parents took with and instilled in her, she has periods of terrible paranoia. Although this book is short, it is able to convey it’s information in interesting and suspenseful ways. There was a revelation towards the end of the book that basically blew my mind and clues you in to something that has been a bit of a question mark since earlier in the book. You feel quickly for Molly’s paranoia and her desire to see and meet people. Murders certainly had a lot of mysteries, many of which were not in any way satisfied. This is the first in a series but can be read as a stand alone. I’m not sure who could just read this one, though, and am excited to pick up the rest of the books! I would highly recommend this book to those who like mystery horror, but be warned this book has many graphic passages. I would also recommend this book to those who like quick and gripping reads, and those who like clone or duplicate stories.
This book is featured in my Jan Wrap Up.
On My Mind On Friday Morning
I love these old buildings and backroads.
I’m a big fan of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, so I’m really interested in seeing these daily planners.
I haven’t quite mastered the cleaning routine, yet, but this article is good inspiration.
I was making a lot more pizzas this time last year. Here’s a good little list with some pizza pointers.
March in Review
ahhh, March. Where did you go? Is it spring yet?
1) Love my yearly sightings of these croc. 2) Zero waste snack tip. 3) #watchercat. 4) Almost time.
1) A home in the magnolia. 2) Oysters stomping grounds. 3) City in the fog. 4) Or more more familiar places.
Um, I guess it’s April now.