Sunday Post (35) / It's Monday, What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

Happy 2016! I hope your new year is off to a great start. On New Year's Eve I got together with my book group in the afternoon and we had lunch and watched A Walk in the Woods. I thought the movie was funny though it is different from the book. It is fun to read a book in book group and then watch the movie. We've also read and watched The Book Thief, The Fault in Our Stars and The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.

After meeting with my book group, I spent the long weekend at my parents' place. I decided to get in another visit before the bad weather hits and it becomes harder to plan any travel. I enjoyed my weekend though we didn't do anything for New Year's Eve. Normally their church has a New Year's Eve service but it was cancelled this year since so many would be out of town. Instead we stayed in and watched a cheesy Hallmark movie and ate lots of saltine toffee. On Friday we went to the mall and I got a Downton Abbey calendar for 50% off. I didn't really need another calendar but I couldn't resist getting a page a day calendar for my office since it is pictures from the show. Speaking of Downton Abbey, tonight it starts airing on PBS. I've seen the entire final season when it was on in the U.K. but plan to watch it again as there are usually added scenes in the PBS version (that aren't on the DVD). No spoilers but I was very happy with the final "Christmas" episode and how things wrapped up though I'm sad it's all over.

I participated in Book Journey's First Book of the Year but I forgot my book when I was packing so I've been reading other books instead. I had wanted to finish one more book before the year ended but I wasn't able to. Still my final total is 142 and my goal was 125 (though secretly I started hoping I'd reach 150). For 2016 I've set my goal at 130 books just in case I decide to read some bigger books like books 3-5 of A Song of Ice and Fire or the rest of the Outlander series (I've read the first 4).

#FitReaders Weekly Check In

#FitReaders is hosted by Felicia at The Geeky Blogger and Jen at That's What I'm Talking About

I was surprised that I managed to hit 10,000 steps (it wasn't easy) on Wednesday and almost on Saturday. I have been trying to walk more in the mornings using a Leslie Sansone workout and when I visited my parents over the long weekend I also took advantage of their treadmill. I'm wondering how I'm going to increase my walking when the cold weather hits. Pacing around my apartment I guess!

I'm still trying to figure out my Fitbit One especially where exercise is concerned. I wear it while I do the Leslie Sansone walking workouts but I don't think it is accurate with my steps (there are kicks and some other movements that aren't quite "steps") and the workout is 45 minutes long but only counts as 30 active minutes with the Fitbit and I don't know how to compensate.

Sunday--4,632 steps
Monday--6,508 steps
Tuesday--7,602 steps
Wednesday--10,314 steps
Thursday--4,067 steps
Friday--8,478 steps
Saturday--9,801 steps

Last week on my blog:

Top 10 Anticipated Books in the First Half of 2016 (post)

Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown (review)

First Book of the Year (post)

Books read:

A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern

I really liked this book and it made me think. The author does a good job of portraying both Belinda and Emily and the things they struggle with. I loved the Pride and Prejudice references too.

Currently reading:

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

I like this one so far. It reminds me of other YA fantasy I've read.

The Great Christmas Knit-Off by Alexandra Brown

I kind of forgot about this book (I accidentally left it in the side pocket of my suitcase) until I received a notice from the library that it is due soon. Oops. I have started reading it again and am almost finished. It is a cozy little village story with a little romance and humor and lots of knitting. Makes me wish I knew how to knit.

What I plan to read next:

How to Be Brave by E. Katherine Kotteras

This was supposed to be my first book of the year until I forgot it when I was packing. I intend to pick it up as soon as I finish one of my current books.

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

New books received:

The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine (for review)

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse (for review)