December News
Financially, I made some major gains in December. After D and I separated in late 2014, I was paying for two households for months. Rent in Austin, Texas is incredibly insane. Now try paying two of those and establishing an entirely new household. It was a nightmare, and things have progressively compounded, especially after my unplanned surgery and new tires during summer. Mid-month I had an epiphany and decided to consolidate my debt with my credit union, who did a fantastic job. My bestest best loan officer also drew up the paperwork and took over the loan on my Jeep at a MUCH better rate and lower payments as well. On average, here is the comparison of what I was paying before vs. after (including my Jeep): about $1500 vs $751. This will definitely put me where I need to be financially so that I can pay off all of my debt and only have my student loan remaining, and also start saving up in the even that I pick up and move, or buy a house, or whatever may come. 🙂
After the rat debacle, I ordered entirely new bedding from JCP after I set up my Ebates account. It all finally came in. I paid $189 for over $500 in products and I got $20 cashback on from Ebates. Ebates is affiliated with so many companies, you could order anything from anywhere and you’ll get cashback. Go check it out!
Isn’t it cute? I’ve always had an affinity for water, so a beach theme was perfect. Ironically, my BFF also has a beach bedding theme, too.
Christmas was a little lonely with the man up north with his family for the holidays. I really missed him, as did Baby. Unfortunately, due to the rat situation, we were displaced from our house for the entire break so the landlord could get it together, which I am not entirely confident he did. We didn’t put up a tree or any decorations. Even though we were at the man’s house, it kind of felt like living in a hotel. It’s not the same without him. We were so excited when he came back! Baby and I spent a lot of time lovin’ on him.
He got me a couple awesome gifts, which were completely unexpected. (This is our first Christmas together.) I was very proud of his sneaky skills in determining the specifications he needed to order my gifts. Sly man. 😉
We were sad when he went back to work on New Year’s day, but he made New Year’s Eve spectacular for me. I gave him an impossible task, and he delivered. I was so incredibly happy I couldn’t stop smiling. I can’t wait to see what the new year holds for us.
Baby was very upset when the man went back to work, and that Lucy isn’t back yet. So we spent New Year’s Day running out for French fries. Like Mama, like Baby.
December Reviews
December was relatively light on the reviews compared to everything else on the blog throughout the month. This month I reviewed a total of 11 books, which is equal to what I reviewed in the last two months combined.
One new thing that has been changing around Land of 1000 Wonders is my review template. I know there are a few December posts still on the old one, but in January all reviews will be streamlined. I have decided to make my life less stressful and follow a very simple, easy format that is drastically shorter (and cuts off my long-winded reviews).
- A Billionaire Brothers’ Christmas
- The Lady and the Mountain Man
- Eclair Goes Geocaching
- Eros Element
- Sock Monster
- The Ant Thief
- Bala-Gala the Brave and Dangerous
- Power of the Matchmaker
- Light Fantastique
- Frankie Dupont and the Science Fair Sabotage
- Frankie Dupont and the High Seas Heist
What do you think of the new review format? Like it? Love it? Leave it?
December Reads
Noteworthy Posts
First: December 2015 was my best month ever since I started the blog! It beat out October (1731 views). December rang in with 2014 reviews! How funny is that?
At the beginning of the month, I talked about Christmas Wish Lists since the ever-increasingly craze of Black Friday (should I say Wednesday?) was upon us.
About halfway through the month I decided to focus on one thing I am very thankful for: friendships. I took a look at several of my Favorite Friendships over the years from books.
On Thanksgiving, I paid homage to a Thankful Thanksgiving.
COMING UP! In January, I will be calling for all good tour companies!
Final Challenges Updates
I am making progress quite a bit with so many of my challenges, but there is one I really want to complete by the end of the year and I really want to work on my NetGalley challenge.
Goodreads — 134/52 books I almost tripled my goal – I only needed 22 more books!
NetGalley — 19/50 books This is my major focus for 2016.
Shelf Love — 72/40 books
TBR Pile — 78/50 books
Story Sprites – Round 2 — 8/20 squares I didn’t do so well with this one this time around.
Alphabet Soup — 24/26 books I nearly reached completion on this one. I needed books for N and Q.
Book Blog Discussion Challenge — COMPLETED!
2016 Challenges
In 2016, I plan to simplify. I really want to focus on my NetGalley books and rating, so that will be my predominant challenge. I also want to keep a few others I’ve been doing over the years.
- Goodreads – 52 books
- Alphabet Soup – 26 books
- NetGalley – 50 books
- Shelf Love – 51+ books
- TBR – 50 books
- Discussion Challenge – 24 posts
- COYER – Going Back to Basics
- Holiday 2015 BINGO
- Chapter Break BINGO
January Reads
I still had the lingering of the cold/sinus/whatever from before Thanksgiving, so December was a little rough. I had planned to get much more reading accomplished, like I did last December, but I had other things that caught my attention like designing new graphics on Canva, coloring in my adult coloring book, and watching HGTV. I am still a little ahead in my blog schedule I want to keep this momentum and the overflow from Blog Ahead so that I am at least a month ahead in posts.
Girl of 1000 Wonders 
Sounds like December was quite a month! Hopefully the rat debacle is dealt with! I really need to do ebates. Not sure why I haven’t signed up for it. Your New Year’s Eve sounded fabulous and I hope this year proves just as wonderful!
I think the rat debacle is over. I’ve done some tests to see, so I’m waiting. December was marvelous, Katherine. Absolutely marvelous.
Wow, this was a busy month indeed! Rats… oh no no. Rats are not okay. I hope they are gone for good. I love that you had such a great time when your boyfriend came home! That must be quite hard to have him gone for a long time like that. But it sounds like he is treating you very well, so I approve 😀 Glad that you have gotten the financial stuff settled too. I’m also really inspired by how you didn’t let it trap you, you know? Even though it was hard, you did it, and now you are happy- something I need to work on!
So I checked out your latest review, and I LOVE the way it looks! Very easy to read, and pleasing to the eye- and I like the way you sectioned the information! VERY nice! I hope that you have a great new month AND a great new year 😀
Shannon, you and me both. I’ve set out a couple of “tests” to verify if they are indeed gone or still lingering around. It was hard – I nearly cried when I dropped him off at the airport, and I nearly cried when I picked him up. I can’t imagine how women do it with husbands who are deployed, or gone for work for long periods. He is treating me VERY well. 🙂 You know, the financial stuff was trapping me. It was like each month the statements came, the noose was getting a little tighter and tighter. I don’t know why I didn’t think of taking a loan out before, but I had all the old debt with the damn ex, the unexpected costs of my surgery, biopsy and new tires (less than 20K miles, brand new tires-so pissed!) that added on. My summer school pay didn’t even make a dent. I knew I had to do something or else I was going under. It was very hard and stressful sitting down each month to pay bills. I hope you get yours figured out! It is such an immense relief! YAY! I had hoped the reviews were easier to read and better formatting. Hallelujah! Happy 2016 to us!
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I’m focusing on my dismal NetGalley rating as one of my goals this year too. Cheers to a great year! Thanks so much for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
Tina