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Last week was a doozy; it was filled with so many good things and I made some fun memories! Here’s a few highlights:

• Tuesday, April 1st: it was a HUGE new book release day and the best part - I was invited to attend the launch party of A Feast of Thorns and Roses an unofficial ACOTAR cookbook by Chelsea Cole of aducksoven.com. It was a beautiful event and there were so many sweet details; I’m so glad I went. I got to meet and mingle with some amazing food bloggers and met a few bookstagrammers in person that I’ve met on Instagram which is always so cool!

  • Food bloggers to check out on Instagram: @midwest.foodie | @midwestnicemakesfood | @sustainablecooks

  • Portland Bookstagrammers to check out: @readwithshelbs | @winstonandbooks

  • Support local indie bookstore: @grandgesturebooks

• Saturday, April 5th: over 5 million people showed their support at hands-off protests across the country. I didn’t attend the local one in Portland (because toting a 2 year-old to a protest does not sound like a good idea) but I’m so proud that so many people showed up! It’s a breath of fresh air to see the majority of my social media feed filled with positive posts about the protests that happened across the country.

• Over the weekend: we filled our new planter boxes with an assortment of bright flowers

A Feast of Thorns and Roses Launch Party

Hands-Off Protests Across the Country

I’m not usually one to write about politics but as a reader, as a citizen of America, as a supporter of diversity, equality, and kindness, and especially as a mother, I recognize that our current day is extremely political and it’s unavoidable. The future of America is a scary place right now and I truly hope to see a better future for my child to grow up in.

Getting festive with beautiful flowers

We ordered two large planter boxes from Wayfair and my husband put them together last week for our front yard. Over the weekend we went to Costco and Lowe’s and planted an assortment of bright flowers. It looks so beautiful and it’s such a festive way to welcome Spring.

We’ll see how well they do and will enjoy them for as long as we can. Please share any gardening tips on how to keep flowers in planters alive and healthy!

April Reading Update | Currently Reading

• 📖 The Rival by Emma Lord

• 🎧 Me vs. Brain: An Overthinker’s Guide to Life by Hayley Morris

• 📱 The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman

• 📖 Good People by UpWorthy

Finished this month:

1. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer ✨ 5 stars, Loved it!

This Week’s National Holidays

• National Library Week (6th-12th): please do what you can to support your local libraries!

• 7th: World Health Day | National Coffee Cake Day | National No Housework Day | National Girl Me Too Day | National Beer Day

• 8th: National Zoo Lovers Day | National Empanada Day | National All Is Ours Day

• 9th: National Unicorn Day | National Name Yourself Day

• 10th: National Farm Animals Day | National Siblings Day | National Encourage a Young Writer Day

• 11th: National Living Donor Day | National Pet Day | National Submarine Day

• 12th: Passover Begins | National Only Child Day | National Colorado Day | National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

• 13th National Scrabble Day | National Peach Cobbler Day | National Make Lunch Count Day

Anticipated New Releases, April 8th

• 💌 3 Minutes for Mom by Erin Morrison | Adams Media

• 💝 Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory | Berkley

• 💌 Fun For The Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith | Ballantine Books | 💌 BoTM

• 💝 The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton | Berkley

• 💌 The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner | William Morrow | 💌 BoTM

• 💌 Passion Project by London Sperry | Penguin Books | 💌 BoTM

• 💝 A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper | Berkley

• 💝 Slayers, Every One of Us by Kristin Russo & Jenny Owen Youngs | Wednesday 💝arc

• 💝 The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson | Berkley

Posts coming soon to check out:

• March Reading Report & 2025 Q1 Wrap Up

• April Reading Update

• Bookish Birthday List - Helpful for reading challenge prompts for books by an author born the same month as you

What’s on your agenda this week?

At no cost to you, I may receive a commission for items purchased through links on my website.

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Welcome to my new monthly wrap-up format! I’ve seen a few bookstagrammers and bloggers that share variations of a monthly R.E.P.O.R.T., and I thought I’d put my own spin on the idea.

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This was originally posted on my previous blog on February 5, 2018 and has been transferred over for your enjoyment.

Don’t forget, the best way to thank and support an author is to review their book on retailer sites!

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The Joyful Book Blogger

I believe that every day is worth celebrating and that a joyful mindset can be reached through good books and living each day to the fullest! I’m here to provide inspiration for your reading list and overall positive outlook on life. 

A Brief History:

A few years ago Living Life With Joy o…

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