Hi dear friends,
Time for our weekly wrap up and chit chat. As usual I am linking this post with The Sunday Post meme created by Kimberly @caffeinatedreviewer
Private life alias in real life
I am writing this post very very late on this Sunday as since yesterday I am busy surfing to look after new themes. Why? Because my current free theme is really good but so far it hasn’t been updated to WordPress 5.0 and Gutenberg.
I know I should be lenient as it’s only been two to three weeks since Worpress moved to Gutenberg but it gave me ideas.
It’s been two years now since I began blogging (two years already!) and it seems that I am still doing it with pleasure so maybe I could invest in a paying theme and have some support?
The only problem is the abundance of themes!
I am lost since yesterday scrolling through many themes and not finding exactly what I want that’s to say …what I have now. Nearly LOL
I want a SEO responsive and fast loading theme first. With a big header for my logo. Ready for WP 5.0 and Gutenberg. With colors that I can customize and if possible a side bar, widget and customizable typography.
Oh and I want a one page site as I don’t want to showcase a portfolio and hate when you have parallax or big “parts” of the site “static” and you have to scroll with some huge “bar” in the middle.
Above all else the theme must accept the jetpack plugin as I want to show up on the WP reader! For months I didn’t show up on the WP reader and no one visited or commented my posts! It’s been a nightmare that I am so not ready to live again as it was like screaming in the desert….
If you have any advices … just shoot!
Now I’ve also been busy today to bake tomorrow’s dessert well rather freeze tomorrow’s dessert as it’s a “frozen nougat” with butterscotch sauce.
Because tomorrow we will go to my mother and try to celebrate Christmas the best we can given the circumstances.
On a side note can I say how much I miss the blue blue eyes of Paul Hollywood since they changed channels and I can’t watch The Great British Bake Off anymore? Sigh…
I am also working and commuting tomorrow so it does not help to realize that Christmas is around the corner! I bought my last gifts this weekend and that is so not like professional planner me!!!!
It does not feel like Christmas at all. Not only with my father’s death but the weather is much too warm for the season. Usually we’d have frost and some snow yet it’s well above freezing with rain and wind. Only the short daylight gives us a “winter feel”.
But enough about private life!
Let’s get to the blog (click on the graphic to read the post)
This week I’ve only reviewed one book but it was a big book (900 pages): Queen of Air and Darkness. 4,5 stars.
I’ve also read and scheduled the review of A Place Without You by Jewel E. Ann. It’s been a very difficult read as it broaches the topic of a son whose dad is dying from cancer ….among other topics. Reading this shortly after what happened in my life has generated many mixed feelings.
I am also currently busy reading The Wish Collector by Mia Sheridan and if it’s good it is not as great as I hoped. Or maybe it’s me and I have a hard time focusing on a read.
My Best Books ofΒ 2018 is still going on full swing and you can read the daily posts below.
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I promised to publish today the results of your votes for the Best Cover Model!
On Facebook the winner is: Fabian Castro with 5 votes
On WordPress the winner is: Dusan Susnjar with 4 votes
Adding all the votes WP + FB the winner is Fabian Castro 8 votes with Luca Bloms and Dusan Susnjar in a tie with 7 votes each!
One meme only this week with all the daily posts but I had fun writing to Santa, explaining why I’ve been a very good girl and he’d better deliver with some goodΒ books!
On the blogosphere
If I had only one post to recommend, it would be this incredibly useful post written on Avalinahsbooks blog as we get fantastic tips on how to request ARCs and these tips are given by a former publicist!
Just read it!
Now it’s your turn!
What have you been up to this week?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΡΠ½ΡΡΡ ΠΌΠ΅ΠΆΠΊΠΎΠΌΠ½Π°ΡΠ½ΡΡ Π΄Π²Π΅ΡΡ
Π΄Π²Π΅ΡΠΈ ΠΌΠ΅ΠΆΠΊΠΎΠΌΠ½Π°ΡΠ½ΡΠ΅ ΡΠ²Π΅ΡΠ°
http://furnituradverjzavesi.icu
ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ ΠΌΠ΅ΠΆΠΊΠΎΠΌΠ½Π°ΡΠ½ΡΠ΅ Π΄Π²Π΅ΡΠ½ΡΠ΅ ΡΡΡΠΊΠΈ
Π΄Π²Π΅ΡΡ ΡΡΠΎΡΠ° ΠΌΠ΅ΠΆΠΊΠΎΠΌΠ½Π°ΡΠ½Π°Ρ
ΡΡΡΠ°Π½ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ° Π΄Π²Π΅ΡΠ΅ΠΉ ΠΊΡΠΏΠ΅
Ah, new themes can be tough! I hope you find something nice π
And thank you for sharing my post! <3
Ok, probably a dumb question here…why do I not know if I have an adjustment to the Gutenberg that everyone is talking about??? Mine isn’t looking any different…I don’t think!
I’m graphics challenged so I don’t want to change my theme. It’s hard enough to make minor changes I want on the way things work. I use the Ultimate Book Blogger from NoseGraze and the Tweak Me Theme which I know I do have Jetpack, too. I’ve been able to ask or figure out most things. I just like to have different headers for different seasons. Good luck.
I hope you are having a great holiday week and all the best books! Anne – Books of My Heart
Tweak me is one I am considering Anne! Thanks for the advice <3
Oh wow ! lots of requirements… ahah; no suggestions from me but goodluck and I hope you find something !!
Chill day for us, basically the wait until midnight to open gifts. And then we apparently travel up north tomorrow for a family supper.. 3hours drive to go and 3 more back .. erhh. Atleast i’d get to see my bestfriend too hopefully, and have gifts on time for once !! ahahah
Merry Christmas, sophie xx Hope you have a good one!
I know I am picky Kristina ;-)))))) I hope your drive went well!
First of all, Merry Christmas to you and your family Sophie, and I hope you all have a wonderful time, under the circumstances. My thoughts and prayers to you.
Secondly, I just avoided upgrading to WP5 and so, haven’t had to worry about Gutenberg, but I don’t know how long that will last. I hate when they do this to everyone. But that’s a side gripe. As to themes? I love mine and bought it from a German company and it has all the bells and whistles I want, and some I don’t need but don’t have to use. The good thing was, it was reasonably priced, and I got a full year of support. If you want advice email me and we can chat, I build a lot of websites for different people. π
Hmm … frozen nougat for desert? Oh, I am sooo there, save some for me will you? lol
You build websites? Wow! I had no idea! I may take you to your word Alexandra! Now my hubs has set up a clone site and I will experiment this weekend π
I’ve been using the same theme for a lot of years. Every time I browse new ones I can’t find anything that is me. I’m also tech challenged and afraid that I know just enough to screw things up. LOL I hope you find something that is you:) Have a lovely Christmas, Sophie!
Thank you Laura! And I hope you had a great Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Sophie.
For themes check Envato and Creative Design. There are other pages but those are independent graphic designers/web designers. The prices are from cheap to expensive.
Sorry about the Jewel A Ann book. That must be tough.
Thanks for these advices Astrid! I will have a look this weekend!
Netflix for Paul?
Yes that’s what it seems Jay!
Oh, good luck finding a blog theme. It took me absolutely aaaages to make my mind up, so i feel ya.
Do they not have the bake off thingie online anymore? I remember watching it via their website in the past.
Well I hope I can watch it from their website or via Netflix like Brittany suggested …
What a shame that you can’t watch the new Bake Off! I actually like the new presenter line up better than the old ones! The Christmas special is top of my list this Christmas. I’m afraid I know so little about computers that I won’t be much help with your decisions! Have a good Christmas!
Really? The new presenter line up are better than the old ones? I really must see it!
Good luck with your hunt for a new theme. I rarely ever change mind just because I get so overwhelmed by all of the choices, lol.
That dessert sounds so amazing. I love butterscotch and nougat.
I can understand why it doesn’t feel like Christmas. *HUGS*
Thank you so much Suzanne!!!!
I’m in the dark about the WP 5.0 and Guttenberg. I have used the current WP since 2009…and I didn’t even change over to their “new and improved editor,” as I didn’t find that description to be a true case…not for me, anyway.
It’s not that I don’t like change, but I need to see improvements. Good luck, and I hope you are finding the new themes and editing tools useful.
Thanks for visiting my blog, and enjoy your holidays.
Not since 2009? Why am I fretting really??? Haha thanks Laurel and I hope you had a great Christmas!
Nougat is so good! That dessert sounds amazing! Good luck with the theme. I hope you find something that works for you. ((HUGS)) I can only imagine how difficult the holiday will be for you and your family.
Thank you so much Sam! I hope you had a great Christmas! xoxo
Good luck with your theme search! That can be so hard sometimes, finding just the right thing. I hope it goes well for you. And I know exactly what you mean about the weather! I need cold and snow to really be in the Christmas mood! π
Hope you have an awesome Christmas though either way!!!!
Thank you Greg! I hope your Christmas went well too!!!
There are so many themes!! Its so hard to choose one! Good luck <3
And I believe The Great British Bake Off is on Netflix. They won't have the current season, but you could still get you fix!
Oh really? That’s a good advice Brittany! I will have a look!
Oh man, there are soooooooooooo many themes! It is a tough decision, especially if you’re indecisive like I am lol. But the good thing is that it means you’re sure to find one you like. Your dessert sound delicious! Even though it doesn’t feel like Christmas for you, I hope you have a good one π
Hahaha yes that’s true! Thank you Kristen!
Frozen nougat with butterscotch sauce sounds AMAZING!! Sending love to you and your family Sophie xx
Thank you Meeghan! <3
I’m about 70% done with QOAAD! Its such a massive book! Have a merry Christmas!
Thank you Samantha! I hope yours went well and that you’ll have finished QOAAD by next Sunday π
There are quite a few great themes out there. I used Tweak Me for a while but then switched to Angie Makes. I like it a lot, but I can only get my header to get so big unless you want to pay them a bit more than you could get your header bigger.
Hi Lydia I had my eyes on Tweak Me and Angie Makes themes too. Both are really feminine themes. I am looking for something kind of artsy and a little pop …
OMG, I feel your pain Sophie…Deciding on themes is tough! I’m not sure if my blog shows on WP, all that tech stuff is so freaking confusing but I was thinking on changing my theme to a more cohesive one. Sigh…we’ll see! Meanwhile, I hope you have a wonderful holiday my friend, as hard as it may be without your dad. Sending you my love!
Thank you Trisy!!! I will email you to get some news soon. Thinking of you!
Hi Sophie! What an inspiring article at the end. I’ve not been in WordPress world for some time and didn’t even realize about the new updates. This is a dilemma indeed.
Ha well Reach I hope that when you get back you won’t feel lost π
I spent a lot of time trying to settle on a theme, so I feel your pain! Since I don’t host on WP I can’t offer much advice (any, really, haha) but good luck finding something that will suit your needs! I’m sure there’s an option out there that meets everything you’re looking for π I also finished up my Christmas shopping a little late this year, but it’s nice to be done and relax and enjoy the next couple of days. Merry Christmas! β₯
I hope that you had a Merry Christmas JJ! And to a more relaxing job in the future π
I love my theme, but i paid $39 for it.
I plan to use it for the forseeablr future. I love your blog as it is easy to navigate. Not to mention, you are a fabulous writer!
Oh my! Thank you so much Jennifer! Now $39 is not too expensive for a theme!
I’m still trying to ignore this new content builder and it’s working so far.. the only thing I hate is that my selected image doesn’t post on Twitter sometimes and it takes another random pic, but I really don’t want to change anything. I like your theme now, especially the header, but I hope you can find a theme that you like ! Mmm frozen nougat, that’s an original one, would love to taste it :-).
I’ve not been up to much this week… I wish I had read more but I’ve been doing this and that and in the end it seems I haven’t done anything at all :-). I hope to read more this week. It’s not fun that you have to work but it’ll be Christmas eve soon and you already have all the pressies and dessert so you’re very organised. Merry Christmas Sophie!
Thank you Inge!!!! I hope you had a great time with your family π