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The ninth month of 2021 has arrived. We are steadily approaching the end of the year. September ushers in the beginning of school and the arrival of fall – which is the best season. As with all months, I like to create a list of goals to accomplish. Whether that list is long or short will depend on the month. After doing this for a few years, I’ve really come to enjoy creating and reaching these goals. If you haven’t started making monthly goals yet, then I highly encourage you to start doing so. Before we get to my September 2021 goals, let’s first takeRead More →

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The arrival of September has brought another month of reading to an end. As an avid reader, I always look forward to sinking into a good book – though not everything I read ends up falling into that category. Reading is my favorite hobby, a way to escape the world or learn something new. Over the years, my TBR grew to an enormous amount. But with dedicating, a bit of purging, and limiting new purchases I have put a significant dent in it. Every month, I read as much as I can and love to share my thoughts on those books. So, without further ado,Read More →

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Gather your binders, pencil cases, staplers, and paper! It’s time for the September 2021 Use It Up Challenge. This month we are focusing on school supplies. Most schools return in September, though some places return as early as August. This makes it the perfect time to use those school supplies around your home. Whether you have recently stocked up on the necessary items for school or have leftovers from the previous year, it’s time to sort through it all and make sure it will actually get used. Hopefully, you have already established a back-to-school routine with your kids. Now, it’s simply a matter of seeingRead More →

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As August comes to an end, this means the garden is hitting its peak. The plants have hit maturity and many are producing enough to start harvesting. Of course, August came with its own set of challenges, much like in July. We once again dealt with many days of hot weather, which is very unusual for here. The weeds have also started to take over, as I have been limiting my garden time because of the heat – high temperatures and I do not get along. Despite all this, I am still happy with how the garden has been doing for the most part. So,Read More →

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Writing a million words in a year sounds like a crazy challenge. In fact, it is somewhat crazy. However, what is life or writing without a bit of a challenge here and there? So, along with my dedication to a year of writing, I also wrapped in the milwordy challenge – to write 1 million words in a single year. The first three months of this challenge went quite well. When committing to as much as possible for an entire year, it’s important to track every word – which can be a challenge in itself. Now that we have gotten past the first sixth monthsRead More →

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The eighth month of 2021 has arrived. It’s crazy to believe we are already in the second half of the year. This means that the beginning of fall is only a month away. I know it may feel too soon to be talking about fall, but honestly, it’s just around the corner. So while summer is still here, let’s make the most of it. The best way to do that is to set monthly goals. I’ve been setting monthly goals for a few years now and it has made a huge difference in my life. Each month presents different challenges and so it’s important toRead More →

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Another month of reading has come to an end. As an avid reader, I always look forward to seeing how many books I read in a particular month and how much I love or hate those books – though I always hope I enjoy them. Over the years, my TBR got a bit out of control. However, focusing on the books that I own and limiting new purchases allowed me to whittle that TBR down quite a bit. After two years of reading my own books, it has shrunk quite a bit. Another part I enjoy is sharing what books I read. Not only doesRead More →

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Gather your saws, hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches! It’s time for the August 2021 Use It Up Challenge. This month we are focusing on tools. Whether you own your home or rent, having a basic number of tools in your home is important. However, much like everything else, tools can take up space and eventually lead to clutter. That’s where the Use It Up Challenge comes in. Let’s take advantage of the nice summer weather and get some DIY projects done or perhaps tackling that home improvement project you have been putting off. Grab your tools and get busy. The previous categories this year covered wereRead More →

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July is coming to an end and that means it’s time for a garden update. This is the month where the garden truly starts to come into its own. The plants are getting well established and if the conditions are right, might be flowering or starting to produce. One of the biggest struggles this month was the heat and lack of rain. Only in the last week of the month did we get any rain. Growing a garden that focuses heavily on cool-weather crops and then having steady heat in the summer does not mix well. So how is the garden holding up in theseRead More →

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In Japan, Natsu matsuri, or summer festivals, occurs in July and August. These festivals all have different traditions and origins. However, one thing they have in common is a selection of summer-inspired food.  For those of us who don’t live in Japan or are unable to visit during these festivals may feel like we are missing out. But there is a way to experience the traditional flavors of these festivals at home. The July 2021 Bokksu captured the flavors and textures of the Japanese summer festival and brings them right to your door. This is not my first time trying Bokksu. Back in 2020, IRead More →