2021 Challenges: December Update

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We got COVID for Christmas, which is why it's taken me this long to post this update.

Both my kids are still positive and I have bronchitis caused by long-COVID and am currently doing another round of antibiotics and various other medicines. Not the best end to 2021 or the best start to the new year. It is what it is though and so just need to be patient and feel grateful it's not worse.

Before all that hit though, December was a productive month. I completed more of my reading challenges and did a lot of reading over all.

I'm also happy with how my blog and social media challenges went for 2021.

The Blog Audit Challenge 2021

The December Challenges were focused on looking at our results.

I am amazed at the growth I've seen on my blog during 2021. Traffic has gone crazy!

I started the year (1/1/2021) with 13,299 page views for the month. During this year I have repeatedly set new personal bests for traffic to the site. Currently my PB is 47,138 in the one month. As you can see, that's quite a good increase. I'm thrilled with the results.

There's still a lot of work to do to improve my site and although I'm not planning on doing the Blog Audit Challenge for 2022 I will be continuing to update older blog posts.

Posting consistently has been a major factor, as has improving the general SEO of the blog posts. Pinterest and Twitter continue to bring in the most traffic.

The Social Media Audit Challenge

For this challenge I'm concentrating on social media. The December focus was again on looking at the progress made over the course of the challenge.

This challenge was interesting as it really made me think more about what social media sites I use and how I use them.

I did see a general increase in followers/subscribers on all my profiles through out the year.

I definitely want to invest more time into my Youtube channel, Twitter, and Pinterest as these are the ones that get the best results.

I'll be thinking a lot about the ways I can better leverage my social media based on my findings from this years audit challenge.

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The Clock Reading Challenge

I created the Clock Reading Challenge as I thought it would be fun and not too difficult to complete.

I did it! I completed the challenge!

12 books in 12 months to form a clock face.

I love the variety of the books I read. Some of my favourite books read in 2021 are on this clock.

I'm doing the Clock Reading Challenge again in 2022.

Books read this month:

12- Twelve Days to Save Christmas by Elizabeth Neep - Amazon - Goodreads

Net Galley TBR Reading Challenge

As I completed the A to Z Reading Challenge in November, I decided to add this additional challenge for the last months of the year.

Whilst I didn't get through all the books on my TBR, I did improve my feedback ratio and get it to 82%.

I'm doing the Net Galley TBR Reading challenge again for 2022.

Books read this month:

Twelve Days to Save Christmas by Elizabeth Neep - Amazon - Goodreads

Everyday in December by Kitty Wilson - Amazon - Goodreads

So You Want To Build A Library by Lindsay Leslie - Amazon - Goodreads

Other books read this month:

Decluttering Your Home in A Year or Less by Kai M. Jordan - Amazon - Goodreads

The Mice Before Christmas by Anne L. Watson - Amazon - Goodreads

Declutter Workbook by Luigi Harbin - Amazon - Goodreads

The Most Awesome Money Book Ever by Melaine Bajrovic - Amazon - Goodreads

Leveling Up by J. Hopkin - Amazon - Goodreads

The Art of Optimism by Jim Stovall - Amazon - Goodreads

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How did you do with your December Challenges? Did you take part in the Blog Audit Challenge or the Social Media Audit Challenge in 2021? Have you read any of these books? Join the conversation in the comments section.

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My thoughts about XOXO by Deborah Bladon

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

The book synopsis for XOXO by Deborah Bladon

This is how the worst Friday of my life started…

Subject: The Dick

Hey Sinclair,

Mr. Calvetti is as ornery as ever today.

He scolded me for taking a message from a woman who asked me to pass along this to him – “your lips are the purest form of pleasure this side of the Mississippi!”

She may not be a poet, but she is obviously head over heels for him, so I thought I’d play cupid and give him the message.

Dominick (The Dick) Calvetti told me once again to ignore all messages women leave for him.

He’s a cruel bastard with a gorgeous face and rock hard abs. I imagine he has those. He’s 6’3” and works out every morning. He has to be built under those suits, right? I know that the nickname I gave him is based on his attitude, but I sometimes wonder if it “fits” in other ways if you know what I mean. Even if it does, I still loathe him. He’s the worst boss on both sides of the Mississippi.

I attached a picture of the lingerie I bought for my date tonight. I snapped a selfie in the mirror this morning since you were still asleep.

Let me know what you think, roomie.

Arietta xoxo

P.S. Tomorrow we’re getting you a new phone. I miss texting. Emailing is for old people like The Dick.

Subject: Re: The Dick

Miss Voss,

Thank you for your email.

I hardly think 34 is considered old, and for the record, I’m 6’4”.

Details matter. Sending emails to the intended recipient matters more, especially when you include a sensitive image exposing so much of your body.

Also, cancel your date, as you will now be working late tonight.

And report to my office. Immediately.

Signed,

THE DICK

“XOXO”

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Discussing XOXO by Deborah Bladon

Quotes from XOXO by Deborah Bladon

“It’s chocolate, Arietta.” She takes a bite of the piece in her hand. “It’s good, but even bad sex is better than this.” I disagree. I’ve never had sex that has been as satisfying as this chocolate.

Her brows perk. “Playing hard to get is how I landed my husband.” I’m not playing. I may be hard to get, but that’s because I’m worth the wait.

Jesus, I feel like I’ve stumbled into a time machine and shot back to high school when my dick directed everything.

This woman is not Arietta, and if I can’t have her, I don’t want anyone else.

“That is special. First dates can lead to lifetimes together.”

I didn’t wear my pretty pink lace bra and panty set for Lowell yesterday. He won’t see it tonight. I have it on because I like knowing that under my clothing, hidden from everyone’s view, I’m wearing something that makes me feel beautiful in my own special way.

Arietta raises her hands in the air and uses sign language to communicate with my father: I got the postcard you sent, and you got a tan. How was the trip?

“You’re more beautiful and kind and everything than you realize. Dominick sees that. He came here dressed like a GQ model because he wants you. He took you to dinner because he’s falling for you. He told you to call him Dominick because he needs you, and he was alone when you emailed him last night because no one is you but you, Arietta.”

“No one can guarantee you another minute. Why waste even one when you can be with the woman you love?”

Where to find XOXO by Deborah Bladon online:

Amazon affiliate link

Goodreads

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My Reading Resolutions 2022

My Plan for Better Reading This Year

As it's the start of a new year it's always a good time to think about how to improve. That goes for my reading habits too.

I've decided that this year I'm going to set myself some reading resolutions in the hopes that they help guide me to a more productive year.

Net Galley Ban

The struggle is real when it comes to Net Galley. It's super easy to get click happy and end up spiraling your TBR out of control.

Although I did the Net Galley TBR Reading Challenge at the end of 2021, which helped improve my ratio (currently 82%), my big goal is to get my TBR list down to zero. In fact, I'm doing the Net Galley TBR Reading Challenge again this year.

My resolution is to not request or add any new books to my TBR until I've cleared the whole of the backlog on there currently.

Should I manage to be successful in keeping my resolution and in clearing my TBR list there 🤞 I'll be adding a second resolution to not have more than 3 books on my Net Galley TBR list at anyone time.

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Daily Reading

Life has a habit of getting hectic and I can end up with weeks where I manage to get very little reading done. I'm hoping to make sure I make more steady progress with my reading by setting the resolution to read for at least 1 hour a day, every day.

The hour doesn't need to be in the one block as that's sometimes just not possible. It therefore can be spread out throughout the day. Ten minutes here, thirty minutes there... who knows I might end up reading for more than an hour a day. One can hope.

Try New Genres

Thanks to the reading challenges I do I've ended up reading some books that I might not (almost definitely wouldn't have) picked up otherwise.

As some of these books have turned out to be awesome reads I've decided I want to keep pushing my comfort zone and trying out more books that aren't in my usual genres. Don't get me wrong, I will of course still be loyal to my thriller and romance genres. I just want to add a few "different" reads into my year for more variety.

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