Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-me Authors 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Where we take part in sharing our top ten of the featured prompt that week. For the list of past topics and future schedule, click here.

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read For The First Time In 2016

Umm err... ugh. It's been a rather uneventful year. All I can think of are re-reads or books for authors I know and like. Aside from that, over half the year was spent working 10+ hours at the office, that only recently changed.

I'm not sure that I've had a top ten new-to-me authors I read for the first time this year, but I will try!

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata, which I reviewed here.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, technically my "next to read".
Fledgling (Afterlife Book 1) by Katrina Cope, which is what I'm currently reading.
The Accidental Hero (Jack Blank Adventure #1) by Matt Myklusch, which I ended up not finishing.
Temping Fate by Esther M. Friesner, a cute easy read.
And of course, Rainbow Rowell. I read both Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, then promptly fell in love.

I started using Spottoon this year (Android) and started reading a bunch of new comics/manhwa.

Here's a few of my favourites...

Imitation by Kyung-ran Park (Author & Illustrator)
My Beautiful World by Maru (Author & Illustrator)
Dating 101 by Tuna Can (Author & Illustrator)
Romanian Gynmastic Society by Ji-Sang Shin (Author), Ga-yan (Illustrator)

That's ten!

Any good reads this year? New authors that surprised you!

Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Gift Guide

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Where we take part in sharing our top ten of the featured prompt that week. For the list of past topics and future schedule, click here.
 

Holiday Gift Guide (IE: Ten books for your dad, Ten books for your sister, etc.)

I'm going to twist this post a big and talk about great finds I made this Christmas season. AKA How to afford Christmas for three kids. Ages, 15, 12, and 5.

First things first, I'm basically a "demon organizer" or so my friends have call me. It's agree, I'm slightly OCD (about specific things!) and a bit of a control freak when it comes to planning things out. Like Christmas. Because it takes a decent amount of thought, effort, and general planning!
But.. this one in particular, this is the second Christmas with my partner, the first one we'd only been taking a couple of months and didn't make a big deal of it, but this time around it's different. Along with that, children are involved. We have visitation on Christmas this year, FIRST TIME EVER. BIG DEAL ALERT!

Each child has 2-3 major themes/fandom of gifts. With that in mind we made idea lists then searched around for related items of fandoms we picked. We shopped around, both physically and online.
Hit lots of different stores around mid October to mid November. Hit Big Lots, Target, Walmart, Book stores, nerd stores. If we saw something we liked, added it to our "idea list" and then compared prices.

As of about two - three weeks ago we finished with Christmas shopping.
Here's a brief breakdown of the best/biggest presents for everyone!

Please be warned, long winded post.

Top Ten Tuesday: Thankful

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Where we take part in sharing our top ten of the featured prompt that week. For the list of past topics and future schedule, click here.
 

Thanksgiving; Share what you are thankful for!

There are many things I am thankful this year. From my parents, always being there and trying their best to support me. Even if they don't agree with me, they try to trust me to do what I think is best. Who want nothing more than their daughter to succeed in life and be happy.

To my partner, for always standing beside me. Thought all the good and the bullsh*t, still being there trying our hardest to wade through what life throws at us and usually come out stronger on the other end. Also for letting me not only into their life, but sharing it with me. It's a big change for me, feeling included and appreciated.

To all the friends that have been there for me, even if I don't always let them in, understand that I am trying my best and if times are rough, I am there.

Even down to my cats, for always clearly showing so much love and appreciation in their little lives. If you ever doubt a cat loving you, you're doing something wrong. My furballs adore me and there's no doubt in anyone's mind that they do.

I'm thankful for having a roof over my head, as much as I want to move, as much as I'm currently struggling to stay afloat. I have a fridge with food, a bed to crawl into at night, cats who can't wait for me to get up, and a sun to greet me the next morning. A car that runs, a heater that works, clothes to wear, a table to gather around, and appreciation to know what all that really means to me.

To everyone far and near, I hope you know someone out there cares about you and loves you. Even if you don't see it or don't expect it, you are cared for. Please don't forget that.

I hope everyone has a great holiday, that's basis may not be the best, but modern days now promote something different. Gathering of friends, family, and food to share in good and bad times.

And I hope no one is involved in anything too crazy on Black Friday. It's just stuff!