WEEKLY UPDATES: A MORE BALANCED WEEK…

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

My week was more balanced, and we had a nice mix of hot and cooler weather.  I actually read and reviewed three books:  one was a NetGalley ARC, and the other two were library books.  Yay, me!

This morning I got up early to have some routine bloodwork done…after a 12 hour fast.  Sigh.  I was more than ready for breakfast afterwards.  But I couldn’t eat it all!

I’m enjoying viewing Netflix and Amazon Prime on my newest BluRay player in the bedroom.   I finished a series that I saw on TV a while ago, but it was great to be able to binge-watch the whole thing.  Life Unexpected reminds me of my years working with foster kids; the premise of this show is an unexpected reunion between two biological parents and their teenage daughter.  They face many challenges!  Britt Robertson, as the teenager, portrayed all the angst, rebellion, and vulnerability of a real-life kid in this situation.

I also loved immersing myself in more of The Handmaid’s Tale, Season  II.

Now…what’s next?  Let’s grab some coffee and talk about the week.  Yes, I need MORE coffee.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Hello, May!  Check Out My April Reading…

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “Night Moves”

Hump Day Reading…

Coffee Chat:  My Reading Mojo Is Back!

Bookish Friday:  “The Book Club”

Review:  Sisters Like Us (e-book), by Susan Mallery (Library Book)Review:  How We Walk Away (e-book), by Katherine Center – NG-5/15Review:  The Other Mother (e-book), by Carol Goodman (Library Book)

INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty mailbox!  I downloaded one library book…and one purchased book.

The Other Mother (e-book), by Carol Goodman

The Perfect Mother (e-book), by Aimee Molloy

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WHAT’S NEXT?

Currently Reading The New Neighbors (e-book), by Simon Lelic

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Then…since all of my May NG ARCs are finished, I plan to read an author review book…and other books on my stacks.

Beach Bliss, by Joanne DeMaio

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So, that was my week.  What did yours look like?  Earlier in the week, my son and I had some Chili from Marie Callender’s.  It was delicious!

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89 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: A MORE BALANCED WEEK…”

  2. Oh I hate the fasting part since I tend to snack a bit at night lol. But looks like a yummy breakfast! And oh my gosh that chili- looks amazing!! Ergh.

    The New Neighbors looks great!

    I haven’t started Handmaid’s season 2 yet, but soon…

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  4. Patty

    I miss Marie Callander’s…when we lived in Santa Clara that was one of our favorite places! Your books seem to have a motherly theme running through them!

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  5. The Other Mother and The Perfect Mother…I was waiting for the next title to be something along the lines… of Mother *$%##^ , where’s my mind at! It’s late night… All good titles I’m sure. hehehe

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  7. I love my Netflix and Prime video. We realized we didn’t really watch ‘normal’ tv anymore a while ago because of the two subscriptions so got rid of our cable and I don’t miss it at all!
    I really need to watch The Handmaiden’s Tale. I still haven’t seen S1!
    Have a good week!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Nicc, and I think I need to get rid of cable, too! Even the movie channels can be found elsewhere. But every time I call to do that, they give me discounts…and I stay. Sigh.

      I hope you enjoy The Handmaiden’s Tale.

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  9. I wish I was on the cover of Beach Bliss! Doesn’t it feel great to have all current ARCs already read? Our weather went from snow on Tuesday to uncomfortably hot sleeping weather on Thursday. One of my Facebook Friends said we had 11 minutes of spring.

    Have a wonderful week. 🌞

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, LaLa, and I would love to be on that cover, too! I am seriously in need of beach time. It has been over a year.

      I think we had a very short spring, too, which is usual here. Our summers are very long and hot.

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  11. Yes… it’s always unkind that you can’t eat anything before a blood test – there’s always the brekkie afterwards to look forward to, though:). Glad your weather has been kinder – we’ve have a run of lovely warm days, too! Hope the coming week is a good one, Laurel.

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  15. Jenea

    Your food always looks so delicious! I could go for a big breakfast like that, we’re having it for dinner tonight. Enjoy your new book and your week ahead. 🙂

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  17. Good to hear it was a more balanced week, the breakfast does look yummy. Ah time to read two library books in the week, now that’s perfect. Hmmm must be nearly time for me to read the next book in the Demaio beach series.

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  19. Wait, have they already started Handmaid’s Tale Season 2? Yikes, I need to get on that, pronto. The chili from Marie Calender’s looks scrumptious. I hope all is well with your bloodwork. Have a great week.

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    1. Thanks, Susan, and I hope you enjoy Season II.

      The chili was much better than I imagined…not too hot, not too mild, but just right.

      There are always parts of the bloodwork that are not what the doctor wants to see…but it could have been worse. LOL

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. Oh, I like her, too, Barb; I really loved her in #Girlboss. She is also in a new series on TV, “For the People.”

      The New Neighbors was not a favorite, but it was good enough to keep my interest.

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  22. Once again, you are winning with those food pictures. *drooling* I really liked Life Unexpected, but it was canceled without giving me closure, as is the case with most shows I watch. It’s why I do not watch much TV any longer.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Sam, and I had the same impression about the ending of Life Unexpected when it was on the TV networks…but in the Netflix version, I think they added an epilogue, as the ending did resolve a number of things.

      But I hate when TV shows end with no closure.

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  23. fuonlyknew

    Yeah, the fasting is a pain but look at the reward. Yummy! And that chili is making my mouth water. LOL I have a TV in my bedroom but don’t use it. I like to read in bed and the flickering of the screen distracts me. I remember spending Sundays in bed just vegging and watching the telly. Sigh.

    My Sunday Post

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Laura, and I like both reading and watching TV in bed. The first time I had a TV in my bedroom was when my kids were at the age of wanting to hog the TV in the living room, and I didn’t want to fight with them over it…LOL.

      So it still feels like a retreat.

      I always get breakfast out after having bloodwork. Rewarding myself for an experience I don’t enjoy.

      The chili was awesome! Enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks, Nise, how great to find someone reading a Joanne DeMaio book on the plane. I hope you enjoy her.

      The breakfast was good, and anticipating it is how I get through the bloodwork. LOL. Enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks, Anne, and I didn’t foster the children; I was the social worker placing the kids, training the foster parents, and supervising the placements. Etc., etc. LOL

      Enjoy your books and your week!

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  29. Literary Feline

    I hope you were finally able to get something to eat after those blood tests. I hope the results come out the way you want them to! I haven’t heard of Life Unexpected. I will have to check it out. Someday I will get to see The Handmaid’s Tale. Loved the book. The Perfect Mother sounds so good! I also really want to read The Other Mother. I hope you enjoy them! Have a great week, Laurel-Rain!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Wendy, and my test results are never as good these days as they once were, but so far, not too terrible. I always look forward to a nice breakfast afterwards, one I don’t have to cook. LOL

      I am loving The Handmaiden’s Tale on Hulu. I read the book twice and also saw a movie based on the book, set in 2001.

      Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Laura, the fasting thing feels excruciating at the time, but anticipating and then enjoying the big breakfast…a reward!

      I always seem to pick titles with “trending” words, like “mother,” “lies,” “secrets…” LOL

      The chili was very good! Enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Nicole, and when Life Unexpected was on the TV network, it seemed to end abruptly. On Netflix, there is an epilogue that I think they added…which gave some closure.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Erin, and the thing about The Handmaid’s Tale…it all sounds like something that could really happen in our chaotic world. And that gives me nightmares! But I keep watching.

      Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and a couple of my numbers didn’t please my doctor…and therefore, I’m not pleased. But they are manageable.

      It’s weird about how some themes in books and titles seem to occur simultaneously.

      I love watching Handmaid’s Tale, but it also scares me. It sounds eerily close to the realm of possibility in the not so distant future. Sigh.

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    1. Thanks, Chrissy, I’m glad I decided to watch Life Unexpected on Netflix…binging a whole show is so much more satisfying than watching weekly episodes.

      Loving Handmaid’s Tale! Enjoy your week, too.

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  42. Sarah Sammis

    My daughter made cupcakes over the weekend. The checker at our grocery store figured out what she was making and she promised to bring him a cupcake. He was so surprised when we delivered the promised cupcake to day. What am I reading?

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