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
Let’s get into private life first …
First of all the QFPS also known as “Quest For Perfect Suit”!
I told you last Sunday that my son becoming bulkier with more muscles everywhere, thighs included, he needed a new suit to accomodate his newfound muscles. Sale being the perfect opportunity to shop we went in town armed with a lot of courage but little hope.
Have you tried shopping with a young man of 19? Yes? Well you must know you have to be efficient! He won’t try hundred of clothes just for pleasure like a teenage girl of 17 would do! After the third shirt you give him to try on he will barely grunt his assent. The next step is meet you with a scowl and a stubborn set of his chin. No.
If you are a mom you will have learned to tiptoe around the wild beast and be sneaky to reach the set goal!
Two hours later we were back home armed with a suit (still no stretch suit but more room for the legs so we called it a victory) and my son having a migraine.
Poor baby is not used to young saleswomen with faces caked with foundation, fake eyelashes and teeth sharp as shark ready to sell you “one more clothe because it will be so trendy the next season”. He barely cowered behind his mom *well I exaggerate here as he is way much taller than my 5 feet two and it would have been impossible to hide behind my small frame*.
Next topic this week: my quest for the perfect new theme!
As I said last week with WP5 and me being prudent *or a chicken depending on your risk appetite* I had asked my IT of a hubs to set up a clone site. I got to try the new WP5 there or rather I installed the Classic Editor Plugin pronto!
As no disaster happened I installed everything on my “true” site.
But the perk of having a clone site is being able to try on new themes! I am happy with my current theme that I already fine tuned with some coding but there are still here and there minor details that I’d like to change (example: a footer widget to have my bookstagram pictures) but that even with coding I can’t twist (or it would be massive coding and so much more than I know) .
Plus new year and want of novelty and all.
I mentioned last week the looooong list of requisites for the theme and I began trying some (one!) theme last week.
This is HARD because you have to change the appearance and customize a theme you don’t know yet to make it look like you think would be best. It takes time and patience…
Some things looked better (my posts were wider and that’s one thing I’d like to have) others not so much (I can’t see the tagline). I am scrutinizing everything and it drives me nuts!
I’ve realized that this will be a long process and that by the end it’s possible that I’ll stick with my theme. Who knows?
That’s pretty all for this week as I enjoyed my first week of holiday.
On the blog (click on the graphic to read the post)
I’ve read three books but only published one review. I’ve read and reviewed Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata. It was a disappointment. Only 3 stars for an author I usually love.
I’ve also read What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon, an ARC of her book that will be released begin February and I swear that it’s already on my “Bests of 2019!”. First day of the year, read in one loooooong sitting as it is a big book but just fantastic!
I have read another ARC (I know I told I would tone it down on ARCs in 2019 but there is a bunch I had requested that will come in January and February!) Fool Me Once by Nicole Williams. It will be published later this month and the review will be scheduled accordingly but it was a 4 stars and perfect for romantic minds!
I had two “discussion posts” on the blog this week.
The first one was about Good resolutions: are Good resolutions “has been” and what are my goals for 2019.
The second “discussion post” is about the most awaited books for 2019: First part of most awaited books in 2019 (winter)
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I did only one meme this week: the WWW Wednesday
Last but not least his week was the last leg of my #BestBooksof2018 😥
These are my “Best Bloggers” but the list is longer on the post and I would have chosen every one of you!
My year in books and Goodreads challenge
Just last announcement! As you know that I love reading romances I will organize an event celebrating romance and love in February. I did it last year inviting authors and bloggers to post on the blog for several days in February. Many were interested and I plan on doing it again this year. Expect a post in the coming days but already know that if you want in then …you are most welcome! Oh and if you don’t like reading romance or don’t believe in love you can also explain others why 😉
Now it’s your turn! How was your week?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
It can be fun but so time-consuming to figure out new things with your blog. I am posting a paragraph or so with each Sunday post on things I have learned or things I can’t figure out. I utilize my blog host support, friends and Google, and then test out my options. Good luck with getting your desired look.
You have some great looking books for 2019 there. Enjoy! Anne – Books of My Heart
Oh… how I can relate to looking at a new theme and playing with your blog. I begin fiddling with things, but I know how much work it all takes, so I stop. I’ll be redoing some things this year, but I’ll wait until I’m perfectly happy with them before I change anything as it’s a pain to undo and redo and whatnot. It’s awesome that you’re loving the books you’ve already read this year! That is the best way to start a new year off. 🙂 Anyway, thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous week!
Thank you Tressa and you are so right!!!
Getting the right theme for a blog is so important but also so frightening because HOWW to decide?! I can totally understand and I would recommend you to go slow because yes, editing everything is going to be super difficult so the process inevitably becomes slow LOL. I read the anticipated winter reads post and it was so much fun <3
Fanna I have seeb your blog this week and …did you also change your theme? Because I don’t recall it being like that but truth be said it’s been some time since I visited you …Anyway it looks great!
Ha, well done on finding a suit! I rarely shop in person, and i think i’m kinda like your son 😀
Well Norrie it should not be only men who hate shopping LOL
Sounds like all in all a good week. I had a good one too. I think your blog looks great and getting another blog for testing was a great idea.
sherry @ fundinmental
Thank you so much Sherry! That’s sweet 😉
Good job getting your son a suit! (That sounds miserable haha) and good luck with picking a new theme (that also sounds miserable haha)
Exactly as you said Brittany!!! LOL
Oh my, I feel your pain with the shopping and my son is only 11. I don’t even want to think about how he will be by age 19, lol.
I hope you have a great week!
You have a few years to enjoy before getting there Suzanne 😉
You left with a suit! That’s a mission success!
I’m with you on Luna and the Lie… 🙁
Good luck with playing with new blog themes. I often flirt with the idea of changing, contemplate the amount of work everything would be and just go nope!
Oh you too? I am not the only black sheep here? And yes changing theme is hard so laybe I’ll stick with mine depending on what a new theme offers.
LOLOL I’m laughing because I feel your pain. I had to take my youngest sons “nice clothes” shopping this past Spring because they had nothing to wear for my youngest’s graduation. The 18-yr-old had put on weight (new medicine) and the 17-yr-old graduate had no decent clothes at all. Yeah, we don’t go to too many places that require us to dress up. lol I’m not sure who was tortured more, me or them. LOL
Just thinking about messing with my blog gives me hives. *sigh* I should really mess around with it more and play on WordPress, too. Maybe I’ll make that a goal this year.
Ooooh I see you understand totally!!! LOL Well if you make it a goal this year I hope it will be a success and not a disaster!!!
My son has gotten bulkier and hates shopping. Once we got through trying things on for new sizes and fit he now tells me, you know what I like just grab it while you’re there. LOL I keep thinking about trying a new theme but I know just enough coding to make a disaster. LOL Happy New Year, Sophie!
Hahahaha Laura that’s what I do for mt son from time to time too but he’s changed too much recently for me to dare shopping without him trying it on 😉
Me and my partner took our nephew suit shopping for his 21st birthday, as our gift. He also finished school having done good, so we went for broke. Thankfully, he was up for the experience even with all the taking on and off of clothes! So I can imagine it was hard work with your son, Sophie!
As for themes? I find looking at other people’s blogs helps as well. Do you like someone else’s blog, what theme do they use? But theme forest has a huge selection all in one place, and you can look at the images in a grid of 20-30 at a time to look for something. Just a suggestion if you haven’t been there already.
I have two themes I use that I’m happy with, the one on my blog is Zuki, from a German company. The other is Presso, a magazine style theme on my other online project. It’s really customizable!
Anyway, good luck with the hunt.
Thanks for the tips Alexandra! And yes I am looking at other people’s themes. So far I am vying for Tweak me by Nose Graze or Ashe …I will have to try them and ask several questions too!
Glad suit shopping is done for you lol.
I still haven’t updated my site yet. I might do it on my website for my design business since I don’t use the blog part and see if it works then do it on my blog. I just don’t want to mess it all up.
I hope you have a wonderful week, Sophie! Happy Reading! xx
This is wise to do it in two steps Michelle! I hope everything will go well 😉
I love WP, but I don’t think I’m ready for anything that requires coding.
Congrats to you, and I like the idea of the clone site.
Enjoy your reading…and your images make me want to watch The Devil Wears Prada…again. LOL.
Have a great week, and thanks for visiting my blog.
The Devil Wears Prada is one of my favorites! With Shopaholic lol I think I have watched it at least ten time with my daughter!
Glad it’s mission accomplished with the suit search. 🙂 I always HATED trying stuff on (still do actually) so I can relate to his pain haha! And good luck with the themes !
I’m looking forward to Two Can Keep A Secret big time!!!
Hahahaha Greg I think that few men love trying clothes and doing shopping!
I agree with your son, shopping assistants terrify me, lol. I’m on WordPress’s self-hosted site and find it super easy to change themes- maybe too easy!
Glad you’re enjoying your holiday, Sophie. Enjoy!
I am also self hosted Jacquie! I just have to find the right one…easy peasy LOL
Yeah finding the right theme for your site is so challenging, it took me a while to discover the one I wanted but I love what I have since it is adaptable to my needs.
I have seen your theme and I love it! 😉
LOL Your poor son… guys just don’t have that shopping gene. 🙂 I think it was 2017 when the first book I read that year was one from Amy Harmon (From Sand and Ash) and it ended up being my top pick of the year. Nothing like starting the year with a bang! Glad to hear her latest has done the same for you. I’m so excited for it!
Hahaha Tany no they don’t have the shopping gene indeed!
Sounds like you had a blast of time last week. My son hates clothes shopping also. My daughters are on the fence about it.
Also, it took me months to get my theme where it is today. No coding. I have no clue how to do that.
Hahaha yes I had a great time! And so far I narrowed down my search to two themes. Now asking questions and testing time!
Hope your son finds the great suit. My brother is getting married this month and my husband offered to pay for his tux, but allas he wants to wear a suit instead. Probably one I already saw him in once before:) Happy New Years!#Sundaypost
Hahaha yes he did find his suit!
That whole tale of shopping for a suit was terribly fun to read. Sorry you had to suffer through it, but I want you to know how much it amused me. Good luck with the new theme. I am glad my daughter did all that stuff for me, because I would be too fussy, but I am rather docile, and will use what is set before me. I haven’t read a Nicole Williams book in a while. Glad to hear her new release is a solid read.
Hahahaha yes I know Sam 😉 These little fun posts are what I love to write. Nicole released a sweet book here!