Hi dear friends,
Today is Sunday, and I am back from my business trip! Yay! Time to have a chat with you about what happened in my life and on the blog last week, linking back to The Sunday Post @caffeinatedreviewer!
In my private life first
Well you probably know that my husband fell from his mountainbike (MTB) last week and ended up with broken clavicle and broken ribs.
This week has been really painful for him and exhausting for me as I have to take care of everything.
Cleaning my husband of course, cooking dishes he can eat with one hand and a fork or a spoon as he can’t cut his meat and he can’t wait the whole day without eating while I am working! Sleeping on the couch for me when I have to work and I take my turn when I have a day off as I don’t want to hurt him while sleeping if I pull the covers or … plus he is sleeping on his back and the snoring is deafening!
I also have to do the grocery shopping alone, drive the kids to the hospital (for my daughter’s allergies), to the rock climbing site, to the math private teacher, to … and do everything else that I usually do!
No wonder that I ended up with a killer migraine Tuesday (the second in seven days) and that I am commenting back and liking sporadically!
This year has been hard with my dad’s cancer and his passing away, my son unable to join the army this year, my husband’s accident ….
I already know that in life, when it rains it pours!
I also know that one day everything will get better and the only thing you can do is weather the storm, be patient and try to remain optimistic because at the end of the day, there is always someone who is suffering worse than me!
When bad things happen in life I do tend to use lots of humor and find release in reading or getting creative!
That’s why yesterday when Olivia (from Oliviacatastrophe on Instagram) encouraged me to try posting a picture of a “mini me” as a challenge, I thought: “Why not?”.
The same way I saw blogging as a challenge to tackle, I was intrigued by all the pictures you see on Instagram of people being into their picture like mini humans, part of an adventure. Sometimes you even have animated objects or animals. Olivia is gifted and does it from time to time.
I asked her how she did erase the background of her picture to only keep her silhouette and she explained her process.
As my moto is “Go big or go home” I did not only ask my daughter to take a picture of me while reading and reducing my size to put it into another picture.
No.
I thought: “Why not reenact some scenes of my favorite reads? You know when the kickass girl or princess is slaying a dragon?” and why not make it part of another photochallenge that I currently began yesterday about series?
So, I dressed the part and wore my crown, handled my sword and striked a pose to slay an imaginary dragon! 😀
I followed Olivia’s instructions, used a mock up dragon and voilà!
Here below you have three versions of my picture, if you could vote for your favorite, it would help me select one to post on Tuesday!
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Needless to say that my soon to be twenty of a son told me:” I don’t know you. I don’t have a mom!”
Ashamed of a mom involved in cosplay and theatrics? LOL
See all is not bad in my life, there are still pockets of brightness!
On the blog now (click on the graphic to read the post)
This week I read and reviewed two books: one adult with a mysterious alpha acting working in the mafia (Twisted by Aleatha Romig: 4,25 stars) and a fantasy audiobook that has been pushed on me by Alexandra (she can be bossy LOL): The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty (Looooooved 5 stars. I am currently listening to The Kingdom of Copper).
I also finished a buddy read of The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon but the review will be posted closer to the release date! And I am currently reading The Bride Test by Helen Hoang (contrary to many readers, I love My!).
I posted the Top 5 Tuesday post on a Wednesday (see migraine above) and the topic was Unputdownable books. As I was posting one day late I wanted to make it up to Shanah and decided to put some humor (remember, my weapon of choice when life is gloomy) and give you tips and places to read/hide when you can’t put your book down!
On Wednesday I also posted about my much awaited book this week: The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood. I waited three years for her next book!!!
Then I posted a light discussion post on Thursday asking why I could never remember the names of the characters nor the specifics of some scenes while other bloggers seemed so gifted that they did extensive tags requesting to recall every details about the books (if you wondered, I am very bad at these tags!).
On the blogosphere and in the bookish world
This week’s quizz is about which faction in Divergent you do belong!
And if I did not always (ha! It’s a euphemism) comment back promptly I chose to blog hop as often as I could and I have three very different but interesting posts to share with you this week!
Beth explains some blogging myths
https://booksnest.co.uk/2019/04/15/book-blogging-myths-debunked/
Kaleena did a fantastic job writing this review of Kingsbane! What I loved is that she had the same issues (mostly) that I had with the book but gave it a much better rating than I! It shows how reading a book is such a personal experience.
https://readervoracious.com/2019/05/23/kingsbane-empirium-review/
Then the Orang Outang Librarian wrote a satyr about how not to write a review (true 😀 )
Dani explains the differences between manga, comics …
https://perspectiveofawriter.com/2019/05/25/5-graphic-story-forms/
Now do tell me all about your week!
Thanks for reading.
Sophie
I pick #2. I don’t remember seeing this one Instagram. I will have to check to see which one you put up!
Mary
I know I’m late to vote, but I really like the first pic! Haha, love the hedgepiggie gif! I hope your husband heals soon. Clavicle breaks can be vicious. Shoulders too. My brother-in-law broke his many moons ago. He’s normally a very calm even tempered person , but turned into a bear.
Oh gosh, busy week!
Humour does help though <3 🙂
My fave is pic #2!
Well we are home and there is lots to catch up on at home. It was mostly 8-12C on our trip and at home it’s 30-32C! UGH. I have yard work needs doing too. Plus laundry, grocery shopping, reviews to write.
I feel for you as my daughter needs lots of help and it’s just me. I hope everything gets better quickly. Enjoy your reads and have a good week! Take care of you, too!
Here is my Sunday Post
I like #2. You’ve really been through it, Sophie – hope things calm down for you. Sending good thoughts!
Sending love and good, relaxing vibes your way Sophie!!
(I like #3 best)
I like #2 as it allows you to read both book titles. Awesome job. Your poor husband, but also poor you. It is hard when you have to pull the weight of both partners. Hope this week is easier for you.
How could I not read a blog post with this title! I’m voting for pic 3, by the way!
Much love to you and the family. I hope your days get a little easier soon and your hubby heals us quickly.
Thank you so much Nina!!!
Oh my goodness, Sophie, that sounds terrible! I cannot imagine your husband’s pain, but thank God it wasn’t worse. Your plate is definitely full with everything you have to do. I hope you can find time to relax and that your hubby recovers quickly! And I’m in between the 1st and 3rd picture!
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
Thank you so much!!!!
I really hope that your hubby is back on his feet soon and that life calms down for you. I love all 3 of your pics, but I think the first one is my favorite. 🙂
Thank you for your wishes and for your vote!!
Picture #1 is awesome! I hope your husband heals a little quicker!
Have a great reading week
Thank you!!
oh my goodness, so much on your plate! I’m sorry. I really hope everything gets better for you soon ): i hate when everything just keeps piling up, sometimes it feels like life is just testing how resilient you are. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel soon and you can start relaxing! Wishing you the best <3
I love the first picture 😀
Thank you so much!
Picture 1 is my favourite for me and your son knows nothing – you are awesome, Sophie!
BTW, I’ve really enjoyed your posts this week, perhaps you should be stressed and have migraines more often, they help with your creativity!.
(See what I did there, I use humour too! x)
Hope you have a great week and Hubby is in less pain. x
Hahaha yes Flora sarcasm and irony here! Thank you for your best wishes!
Oh Sophie hang in there!! And I love picture #1 the best. What a cute idea! And of course your son is embarrassed- that’s how you know you are doing something right!
hahaha take some teacher to pinpoint this Samantha!
After a couple of weeks from hell, and more to come, you still found the time, energy and the humour to create those graphics! Brilliant. What a fun, silly thing to do. As to which one I like? The first one has more balance for me, so number 1.
Meanwhile, give yourself a gold star, or, at the very least, a huge bar of favourite chocolate, or something, for all the hard work you’re putting in. You are one amazing lady, Sophie!
And from someone who went through 3 years of hell, believe me, it does get better!
Thank you Alexandra! And I know it gets better as I’ve lived five years in hell some 10 years ago then it was better then back again …it’s a loop between light and dark. But I think without some drakness we would not find the light so beautiful!
Just keep swimming love and it will all come together! ❤❤
Aaw that Dory quote is so fitting Caro! Thank you xoxo
❤❤
Sorry to hear things have been tough, totally understandable, but I love that story about your pictures and yay for using humor to make things better. 🙂 Personally I like Picture #1 the best- LOVE that blue dragon!! Awesome. And hey having a mom into cosplay and theatrics- maybe they’re secretly proud ? 🙂
Who knows Greg? Maybe he’ll confess one day? LOL
I love it. I vote for picture 1! 🙂
Thank you Jen!
I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time. I know how hard it is to function when you have a migraine, and you’re doing so much already! Those pictures were really gorgeous! Happy reading!
Thank you so much for your kind words Kelly!
I love the way Olivia illustrates her posts and it’s great to see you getting involved too. Personally I think you rock the sword and crown look so I have no idea what your son might be embarrassed about? Picture 1 is my favourite, but they’re all fun.
Fingers crossed life gives you a little respite soon
Hahaha Stephanie Jane thank you for your kind words here! I am happy to know that you are another of Olivia’s fans as she rocks it!
First off, I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. I’ll definitely be praying that you get some respite from all of the challenges you’ve been facing lately!!
Now, about those pictures: They are AWESOME!! I prefer the first one because I think I can see you most clearly in that one. Love them!!
Thank you so much Nicole! For your wishes and your vote!
Things will get better, you just need to find the rainbows. 🙂 I vote for the first picture.
Thank you so much! This is so true.
Don’t worry Sophie, it will get better soon. I have Priory also and I want to do the same with it. However, I am moving so it is currently packed. I have only Kindle for now. Oh well. I spent the entire day yesterday just cleaning out and packing rooms. It’s the WORST job EVER.
Thank you Jen and lots of hugs to you as packing and cleaning …eeek!
Sorry things have been so stressful.
Don’t worry about what the kids say, they don’t know what cool really is. I love number 1 🙂
I hope this week is better for you, Sophie! Happy Reading! xx
Thank you so much Michelle!
Oh Sophie! It all sounds exhausting! Your positivity is amazing.
I love number 3. 🙂
Thank you Nicci!!!
((HUGS)) to you. You definitely have a lot on your plate right now. It’s between picture 1 & 3 for me. I like the dragon positioned near the middle of the picture. Nice job! Really fun!
Thank you sam! For your wishes, hugs and your vote!