tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:55:30 +000010 Random Things for a FridayRandom Tuesday ThoughtsPhotosMommyWordless WednesdayMemeBooks - 2020Sunday PostSunday SalonBooks - 2021QuizzesBooks - 2022ContestWifeyMenu Plan MondayFriends#2020NewReleaseChallengeNaBloPoMoTo-DoThursday ThirteenGuest BloggerSponsoredBooks - 2025Five Things for FridayRecipes2015 Reading ChallengeChocolateShow Us Your BooksBooks - 2024AwardHaiku Friday2017 Reading ChallengePicture of the DayGermanyJust sayinMemories2016 Reading ChallengeBooks - 2023TVBooks - 2019Weekend in ReviewBook Beginnings on FridaysBooks - 2018Friday56MaggieSunday StealingSexy SaturdaySelf-PortraitsWhat the Hell Wednesday12 Days of Christmas - 200912 Days of Christmas - 201012 Days of Christmas - 201112 Days of Christmas - 201212 Days of Christmas - 201312 Days of Christmas - 201412 Days of Christmas - 201512 Days of Christmas - 201612 Days of Christmas - 201712 Days of Christmas - 201812 Days of Christmas - 201912 Days of Christmas - 2020Holiday Wish List 2024Saturday 9Thursday Thunks12 Days of Christmas - 2021Thankful ThursdayStitch Fix#2020DystopiaReads30 Days of TruthBig Screen - 2018Happy Homemaker MondayBooks - 2026Tell Me ThursdayHoliday Wish List 2025JackKidPikTop DroppersTried and True TuesdayWAHMCurrent EventsLEGOMy Birthday 2013Throwback ThursdayFirst Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday IntroWednesday Hodgepodge2024HoHoHoRATBig Screen - 2019CandlesFriday Fill InsThinking Out Loud Thursday5th grade Battle of the Books - 2023Book Blogger HopReviewTricksWednesday Medley52 to FabulousCurious as a CatDreamsKidboxMailbox MondayMy Birthday 2015PL 2014Teaser TuesdayTheatre 2025Whymommy12 Challenge 2022First Line FridayFriday Food FunHoHoHoReadathon 2025HoHoHoReadathon2024It's Monday! What are you Reading?Monday Crazy QuestionsMonday MemeMonday What are you Reading?Photo-a-Day 2019Poetry PantryStacking the ShelvesSunday 6Thirsty Thursday & Hungry HeartsTop Ten TuesdayTravelVideoYelp"There are two things I always wanted to believe in but didn't dare. One is that there was one man, somewhere, who was made just for me. The other is that I just might deserve him."http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/noreply@blogger.com (Becki)Blogger3989125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-4034847716337195350Tue, 26 May 2026 21:19:58 +00002026-05-26T17:28:23.691-04:00Books - 2026Top Ten TuesdayI have wanted to join in with that artsy reader girl for Top Ten Tuesday for so long. I'm finally taking a swing at it for this week's 'favorite books by favorite authors.' Be sure to visit her site to see others' picks too!I'm purposely sharing mine before I go visiting, as I'm sure ya'll will show me more I forgot!In no particular order:When Women were Dragons by Kelly BarnhillWhere the Forest http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2026/05/top-ten-tuesday-26-may-2026.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-4239733845965188445Sun, 24 May 2026 17:40:02 +00002026-05-24T13:40:02.354-04:00Books - 2026Sunday PostSunday SalonWOW! I feel like I've spent my first full week not on vacation, trying desperately to organize the rest of our summer. But it's okay, since I think I've almost been successful. LOL Things I've added to my calendar for my family for this summer (most added this week): band concert, 8th grade ceremony & celebration, two business trips, Freaky Friday performances, Pride and Prejudice auditions, http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2026/05/sunday-postsunday-salon-may-24-2026.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-4689841355238251269Sun, 17 May 2026 12:30:57 +00002026-05-17T08:30:57.947-04:00Books - 2026Sunday PostSunday SalonI'm not sure if I'd mentioned it before, but my computer was a lil finicky and old. I had continued paying the bills as needed, and trying to squeeze out a few blog posts, but after a steady decline, we reached the point where it was doing n o t h i n g. So I came home from work one day just before I had set aside extra spending money for my April and May vacations and said, "Nope! I deserve morehttp://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2026/05/sunday-salonsunday-post-may-17-2026-new.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-6757501505364348374Sat, 16 May 2026 12:55:36 +00002026-05-16T08:55:36.265-04:00Books - 2026The Gallery Assistant by Kate BelliPublication: October 14, 2025Pages: 288 pagesRating: 3 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆Sweet Spark: Chloe is trying to ignore the traumatic events of September 11, but working near the dark side of the New York art world may not let her.Chloe knew people were saying she drank too much, but they weren't there, and no one - literally no one - knew about what she had been http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2026/05/the-gallery-assistant-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-4030828230164093611Sun, 08 Mar 2026 20:32:00 +00002026-03-08T16:32:59.383-04:00Books - 2026The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten WhitePublication: March 10, 2026Pages: 350 pagesRating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆Sweet Spark: These characters were so engaging - in a good and evil way.Anneke has made it her life's mission to avenge her father's death. He was a vampire hunter, and she saw Diavola leaving the scene of her father's death.Through her investigations, she has become a valuable resource http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2026/03/the-fox-and-devil-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-4863458358390846250Sun, 25 Jan 2026 15:20:00 +00002026-01-25T10:20:00.056-05:00Books - 2026Sunday PostSunday SalonWow. I'm spending an extra few minutes staring at a blank screen this morning. There's a lot. Especially murders of American citizens in the streets, kidnapping of children, and considering relations with beloved family members who voted for this. But then, the 'every day.' Is 'rage' becoming my new personality, even while I do nothing but work, take care of my family, follow the news, and http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2026/01/sunday-postsunday-salon-january-25-2026.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-5695353435538784053Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:43:00 +00002026-01-19T12:43:02.848-05:00Books - 2026The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-GarciaPublication: July 15, 2026Pages: 359 pagesRating: 5 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆Sweet Spark: Minerva learned everything she could from Nana Alba and the fate of Beatrice Tremblay. Will it be enough to save her?The three timelines linked by an eventually common evil were so intriguing. Minerva grew up caring for her Nana Alba in Mexico. Her love of reading and http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2026/01/the-bewitching-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-3692746232117991035Sun, 04 Jan 2026 12:18:00 +00002026-01-25T10:14:19.081-05:00Books - 2026Sunday PostSunday SalonHappy 2026! It's already shaping up to be a good year. I've had an odd sense of...contentment? so far, and have been practicing being in the moment. I'm doing the tasks I need to do, and moving on (especially at work). I suppose it's kind of 'let them,' though I haven't read the book. Our son, unfortunately has been under the weather since new years day, so please send him all your good jujuhttp://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2026/01/sunday-salonsunday-post-january-4-2025.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-7267414652084409743Sun, 28 Dec 2025 14:21:00 +00002026-01-04T07:17:03.953-05:00Books - 2025LEGOSunday PostSunday SalonWow. Looking back, I feel like 2025 kind of flew by. On the one hand, it feels like a succession of similar days, over and over. In reality, our daughter graduated from high school and moved away to college, my husband changed jobs and had major surgery, and our son started hanging out with a great friend group and seems more content and happier than before. I never finished a goal list or http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/12/sunday-postsunday-salon-december-28.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-5951838718216744690Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:53:00 +00002025-12-28T09:20:22.276-05:00Books - 2025LEGOSunday PostSunday SalonYet another short week. Or was it? I worked overtime Monday - Thursday, and had Friday off to volunteer at the middle school's career day again (for the 7th grade this time) and enjoy the last show of our son's theatre production of Bye Bye Birdie. He was Albert Peterson on Thursday night, and Harvey Johnson on Friday night. It was so much fun, and a great performance! Anyway, after greatly http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/12/sunday-salonsunday-post-december-7-2025.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-3199130134129545695Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:17:00 +00002025-12-07T07:24:39.996-05:00Holiday Wish List 2025This ask has been kind of a long time coming. There was a post years ago with my beloved winter boots. I was lucky enough to get some like-new Sorel duck-style boots of eBay for like $35 (an excellent deal, even then). I've worn them for YEARS. But now a tiny hole is developing in the rubber where the toe bend is, and the laces are just about dead. Yes, I could replace the laces, but the hole!I http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/12/holiday-wish-list-part-7.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-745573244153942452Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:04:00 +00002025-12-07T07:07:40.777-05:00Holiday Wish List 2025Don't know why this one took so long to get here! Probably because I need it already and was hoping to buy it ASAP! LOLWayyy back when I was able to work remotely, in my home office, I had a great electric space heater. It's cold in here, and even when it's not, I run cold and would rather be cozy.My good old space heater locked up. No more heating, no more fan. Hubs looked at it and deemed it http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/12/holiday-wish-list-part-6.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-3324874917173880302Sun, 30 Nov 2025 16:38:00 +00002025-12-07T08:52:13.121-05:00Books - 2025LEGOSunday PostSunday SalonWhat a glorious weekend. I have not left my house since Wednesday evening. We had a great dinner and visiting at my brother's house after I worked on Monday. Thursday was Thanksgiving at home (the kids went to the store for a few last minute items). Friday our son had a ride and went shopping at the mall with  a friend while our daughter visited friends. Yesterday the kids both had plans; http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/sunday-salonsunday-post-november-30.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-3031173814090610031Sat, 29 Nov 2025 21:09:00 +00002026-01-19T12:15:28.246-05:00Books - 2025A Family Matter by Claire Lynch Publication: May 29, 2025Pages: 240 pagesRating: 5 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆Sweet Spark: Maggie has always been close with her father, both because they love each other, and they don't have anyone else.This emotional story told in a few different viewpoints over two timelines, has basis in fact, as explained in the author's note at the end. Dawn was an 'unfit http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/a-family-matter-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-3853233130993594897Wed, 26 Nov 2025 18:30:00 +00002025-11-29T13:42:49.079-05:00HoHoHoReadathon 2025It's time to sign-up for the 13th Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon hosted by the Caffeinated Reviewer. It started Wednesday, November 26th and runs through Wednesday, December 17th, 2025. Participants will read/listen to holiday/winter books, while taking part in challenges at different sites.I signed up and was an elf last year, but didn't end up reading any holiday books! LOL This year at least I've http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/hohohorat-2025.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-309184569108477339Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:13:00 +00002025-11-29T13:25:25.071-05:00Books - 2025The Language of the Birds by K.A. MersonPublication: May 13, 2025Pages: 368 pagesRating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆Sweet Spark: Arizona knows she looks at things differently, but her parents have raised her to recognize the strength in that.Arizona and her mom have continued traveling after her dad died in a motorcycle accident near one of their favorite places to set up their camper. When her mom, http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/the-language-of-birds-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-830127249211812560Sun, 23 Nov 2025 12:21:00 +00002025-11-30T11:31:50.279-05:00Books - 2025Sunday PostSunday SalonMY GIRL IS COMING HOME TODAY!! My daughter is at college almost seven hours away, and today she is coming home for the first time since we moved her there in August. Most of the other college kids headed home a couple days ago, but she had rehearsals through last night. Originally, I was trying to get tickets to a local show for this afternoon, and she wanted to see it too, so she said she would http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/sunday-postsunday-salon-november-23.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-3207686266922874773Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:58:00 +00002025-11-20T16:58:00.119-05:00Holiday Wish List 2025CANDLES.I absolutely love to burn candles when I go to bed early each night to snuggle up with my current kindle book. FactsI love Partylite votives or tealights, or just about any jar candles. True story. With that said, I will now resist the urge to fall down the old rabbit hole of my direct sales day. Don't tell me the 'evils' of direct sales. I didn't waste my money buying product, and Ihttp://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/holiday-wish-list-part-5.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-798142219591924632Wed, 19 Nov 2025 21:42:00 +00002025-11-19T16:42:00.109-05:00Holiday Wish List 2025 Okay. This one is pretty specific. I want an appointment (with gift certificate) with Chay. Because I want this haircut, but I will continually not have enough money or time to set up the appointment, because I'm busy taking care of all the other life things. Yeah. It's a bob. Doesn't even look that complicated, but I'm not a hair stylist, or even a girly girl, so hopefully it'll work http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/holiday-wish-part-4.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-5298681671264123177Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:12:00 +00002025-11-18T15:12:00.119-05:00Holiday Wish List 2025Oh my golly. This could be a big one. If you've ever been here before, you know I enjoy LEGO. I'm especially looking at sets that are retiring this year, but here's my wish list that I submitted to possibly win (I do love to dream). At the site just now, I see some super cute LEGO piece magnets that would bring a smile to my face, and picture frames that look like bricks but would hold some of http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/holiday-wish-list-part-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-271530891594291360Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:40:00 +00002025-11-17T14:40:00.112-05:00Holiday Wish List 2025My next wish is pretty simple. Women's PJs - size large. I have some in shorts or pants, so I'm really not picky. I'm just asking for them cuz some of mine are literally threadbare. My sloth PJs are losing their waistband, sadly, and a couple of my big t-shirts are getting quite hole-y. I also have a nightgown I rather like, so those are fine too. I do like tops and bottoms together, though. http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/holiday-wish-list-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-8517719731599929969Sun, 16 Nov 2025 19:40:00 +00002025-11-16T14:40:03.407-05:00Holiday Wish List 2025 In the past, I did my own '12 days of Christmas,' then kind of drifted away. My son (super sweet kid) is feeling bad about the size of his holiday wish list, so I decided that I can't very well tell him that dreaming and making a list of things he'd like to have is fine, without setting a better example.So let's start my own holiday wish list again, for 2025. And preface it by saying, therehttp://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/my-holiday-wish-list-part-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-9115722757223999736Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:05:00 +00002025-11-02T10:05:51.258-05:00Books - 2025March of Crimes by Jess LoureyPublication: September 8, 2017Pages: 247 pagesRating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆Sweet Spark: I can never get enough of Mira James and Mrs. Berns! What a plot twist in this one!Poor Mira James! Since moving to the tiny Minnesota town of Battle Lake, she's somehow been faced with a dead body & murder every month! It seem statistically impossible, but there it is - and http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/march-of-crimes-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-4996768222003646265Sun, 02 Nov 2025 12:26:00 +00002025-11-02T07:26:12.607-05:00Books - 2025Sunday PostSunday SalonYes, I am one of the people ready to start the Christmas music on November 1. Even though I'm currently wearing my Freddy Krueger PJs (congrats to Robert Englund, the famous actor who played Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street, on his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded on Halloween). I've resisted so far and will follow the lead of the radio station in Detroit who switches to http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/11/sunday-postsunday-salon-november-2-2025.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3377589.post-628572337447156984Sun, 19 Oct 2025 12:03:00 +00002025-11-02T07:24:28.087-05:00Sunday PostSunday SalonGood morning! While October is a lot about Halloween (I love all the spooky, creepy stuff!), today my family is celebrating Thanksgiving. And Christmas. My parents are what we in Michigan call 'snowbirds' - they head south for winter. Since they do it in a class A RV, they prefer to leave before November. Last year, with their grandkids' activities, they didn't make it out til a week or two into http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2025/10/sunday-salonsunday-post-october-19-2025.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becki)9