The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It’s a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.
What happened this week?
This week was still busy, but also fun. I made a headstart with May’s Marketing Assistant work and had a lot of fun with one of the tasks for this month. I realized I have more knowledge about setting up a self-hosted wordpress site than I expected and it went pretty seamless.
There was one new review opportunity open at Lola’s Blog Tours this week and I’ve been busy working on another tour and communicating with some authors. This week was also the start of a new tour and it’s always fun when a tour starts.
I tweaked one of my pages on Lola’s Blog Tours a bit, the Current and open Tours now has the review opportunities sorted on age category and the genre is listed as well, so reviewers can more eaisly see if there is a book that appeals to them. I like the change and kept trying out different ways to display both the age categories and genres, but eventually settled with this. Sorting them on age category, then listing all the book in that age category and the genre below it. Let me know what you think of this!
Concerning listing all the open tours during my sunday post, for now I decided to keep listing them all and mention New behind the tour that went open for sign-up this week. Thanks for everyone who provided feedback. Beside that I am considering whether to add age category and genre here as well, but that might make it too large and I don’t want that.
Oh and we got a letter that our rent will be upped starting July 1, which ofcourse got me worrying about money issues again. Ugh like we don’t pay enough rent already. On the other hand April has been one of the best month’s so far for Lola’s Blog Tours, so I am keeping hope I can actually do this and pay the rent myself eventually.
Monday we noticed that Smarties had an abcess, we gave her some painkillers and put her in a warm bath each day so the abces would burst. The abces finally burst on Thursday. We made sure to clean it well and hopefully she will recover from it well. She seemed in a lot of pain, but I am happy it burst and we got it cleaned. It’s just so hard seeing her in pain and even Snickers was concerned when she heard Smarties in pain. The wound seems to recover nicely, so that’s good. She’s running around like normal again. Although it is obvious the rats are getting a bit older, they are now 2 years old and get a bit more calm and like to cuddle more, which is also a good thing as I love cuddling with them.
Saturday evening we went out for dinner with my Grandma who turned 81. Each year we go to the same restauarant, this year it had a new owner, but the food was still the same. It isn’t really a good restaurant and we had to wait long before we got our food. We got a bit bored and ended up drawing on your paper placemats. I think my grandma had fun, so that’s good.
My mom and her husband visited as well and they brought us a new vacuum cleaner, yay! The old one was falling apart at the seams, literally, so we’re happy to have a new one. the new vacuum cleaner looks pretty cool. I might post a picture next week.
I am joining the Mini Blog Ahead which takes place in the first two weeks of May. I started this month with 36 scheduled posts and hope to get at least to 40 scheduled posts at the end of this challenge. The goal is to end the challenge with 14 more scheduled posts than you started, but I don’t think I get that many done, so I am aiming to ending with 6 posts more. I actually wrote some Lola’s Ramblings and Lola’s Kitchen posts end April, so that just makes this challenge more difficult lol. I have three more Lola’s Kitchen posts I have to write and alreayd have pictures for, so I am hoping to get those written and a few Lola’s ramblings post ideas, but I am not really feeling any of those right now.
Post I’ve written so far:
none :(. Not a good start, but hopefully I’ll make up for it later this week.
What did I cook for dinner this week?
- Sunday: Spring rolls – recipe post in July
- Monday: Leftover Spring rolls
- Extra: Apple Crumble
- Tuesday: Risottto with pumpkin and corn
- Extra: Brownies
- Wednesday: Leftover risotto
- Thursday: Cajun Pasta
- Friday: Leftover Cajun pasta
- Saturday: dinner with my grandma at chinese restaurant
I am so used to cooking for four people that we have enough food for two days now usually. It’s great! I love cooking for two days as that means I don’t have to cook on some days, which means more time for other things, like work.
Random Picture(s) of the Week
Sorry didn’t get around to taking any pictures this week 🙁
This week I blogged about:
– Review: One Good Cowboy by Catherine Mann
– Review: Dragons are People Too
– Blog Tour: Runaway Brides by Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock – review of book #0.5 and #1
– Lola’s ramblings: Settings in Books Part Two
– Lola’s Kitchen: Potatoes and Peas Curry Recipe
– My To-Be Read List #9: poll
What to expect next week on the blog:
– Blog Tour: Suspected by Rori Shay
– Cover Reveal: Mail-Order Groom
– Lola’s Ramblings: Why is it so Difficult to Choose a Favourite Book?
– Lola’s Kitchen: Spiced Pointed Cabbage Recipe
– My To-Be Read List #9: chosen book
Tours open for sign-up on Lola’s Blog Tours:
– Review Opportunity: Chills: a short story collection by Sahar Sabati – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Flawless by Jennifer McGill – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: The Luthier’s Apprentice by Mayra Calvani – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Daughter of Isis (Descendants of Isis #1) by Kelsey Ketch – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Cross Roads by Donald Wilson II – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Last House Burning by Katy Scott – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Click Date Repeat by K.J. Farnham – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Calling California (Hunter Hill University #1) by J.P. Grider – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Mending Michael (Hunter Hill University #2) by J.P. Grider – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: True Calling (True Calling #1) by Siobhan Davis – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Nights Under the Tennessee Stars by Joanne Rock – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: The Ghostcrow: A Tale of Andor by M.K. Theodoratus – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: Cutlass and Flintlock by Ashley Nixon – sign-ups open till further notice
– Review Opportunity: The Wraith of Carter’s Mill by C Evenfall– sign-ups open till further notice – New!
– Cover Reveal: Mail-Order Groom by Cindy Flores Martinez – sign-ups open till 5 May
– Cover reveal: The Sky Child and Otehr Stories by Danielle E. Shipley – sign-ups open till 11 May
– Blog Tour: Regina Shen by Lance Erlick – sign-up open till 17 May
– Book Blitz: Love Overcomes by Angela Schroeder – sign-ups open till 18 May
– Blog Tour: All for Love by Susanne Matthews– sign-ups open till 25 May
– Blog Tour: The Cursed Ground by A. Roy King – sign-ups open till 30 June – New!
– Book Blitz: 3volve by Josefina Gutierrez– sign-ups open till July 5
Book Haul:
I didn’t got any new books this week.
Fingers crossed for Smarties, I hope the worst is over for her 🙁 I’m sorry I don’t do blog tours, but the sorting by age looks like a very good thing to me ! Enjoy a peaceful sunday after this busy week 🙂
Thanks! I think the worst is over now, Smarties gave us a scare this week, but she looks fine again.
These are only the review opportunities, like netgalley you can request a copy for review, but usually without deadlines. The tours get sorted on when they take place. I am glad you like the sorting with age category, I am happy with how it turned out and hope this makes it easier for reviewers.
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #124
GOSH DARN IT! I forgot to make your button! I promise to do it this week, if you don’t get it by Wednesday send me an email or FB message. I knew I had something to do for you lol, I have mushy brains this week 🙂
I also just remembered you have a tour I wanted to sign up for. I will do that today before it gets to late. I really need to get my butt back in the blogging mind because I am losing it lol
Poor Smarties, I am glad she is doing better and hope she stays that way. It’s so cute they love to cuddle 🙂
Happy BIRTHDAY to your GRANDMA!!!
You know you are getting older when you get a vacuum cleaner and it’s exciting 🙂
I am stinking at the Blog Ahead also, last two days has been just weird, hoping to get some stuff done today. It’s beautiful outside and a nice day to clear my head and set up posts 🙂
Have a great week Lola! Happy Reading!!
No worries, you had a stressful week. Although I am looking forward to see my new button ;).
If the sign-up for a tour has closed, you can always e-mail me, often I can still add you to the schedule even if a tour has strated. I am sure you get back into the blogging mind soon!
Yeah we got a bit of a scare when we noticed she had an abces as it immediately reminded us of Pita, but it seems she is recovering quickly. she just didn’t like us constantly checking her belly to see the abces, poor girl.
We couldn’t afford a new one, so I was really happy my mom have us one and it looks really cool and modern. And indeed it’s definitely a sign of getting older that we appreciate things like that much more now.
It’s annoying that I had such a bad start of Blog Ahead, I did got a lot done last week. Inspiration really comes and go and I usually just go with the flow. I drafted my sunday post for next week today, I am calling that progress, one post written, even if it doesn’t count as it will be posted for the end of blog ahead.
You always seem so busy. How do you find time to read. That’s good that Smarties abcess seems to have retreated. I wanted to see a picture of the rats. Guess not, this week. Oh well. Enjoy this lovely weekend.
Grace @ Books of Love
Grace Fonseca recently posted…Sunday Love Affair #81: Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballentine and Tee Morris (Ministry of Peculiar Occurences #1)
Every evening I set aside one hour to read each evening, I really need it to unwind before I go to sleep. I love being busy and it was a good week, beside Smarties her abces.
I’ll do my best to make a picture of the rats for next week :).
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #124
Ooo I will be thinking of Smarties and yeah for realizing you have more knowledge then you gave yourself credit for!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Sunday Post #159 Clean Sweep, Sunshine and All things Bookish
It’s nice to be surprised by your own knowledge sometiems, lol. I also learned a new thing, I hope to learn a bit more CSS in the future so I know what’s possible with that.
Well done on the knowledge you already have for the self hosted site, I think we all learn so much from blogging and reading blog tips that we can surprise ourselves with all the info we have soaked up. And yay for a good months income, fingers crossed May will be just as successful.
Even if you don’t get a lot done in BlogAhead, you are still so organised that I feel jealous! Have a great week 🙂
Trish @ Between My Lines recently posted…The Sunday Post : Get your Bookish News #66
I agree, sometimes it’s easy to forget how much we learn through blogging. It was an interetsign experience, as I always fele like I know so little and others know mroe, so it was nice to surprise myself lol. So far May is looking pretty good as well, it feels like things are finally going better and my company is getting more attention, it’s a great feeling.
I always feel like I should or could do better and I think I am addicted to being ahead, which is why I am always pushing myself more. But if I look realistically 35 posts is still a lot, even though 3 or 4 of those are for the end of the year.
Great news for your tours! And I hope that Smarties feels better soon! Pet cuddles are always the best!
Laura @ trips down imagination road recently posted…Book: Behind the Scandal by M A Stacie
Thanks! And I agree pet cuddles are the best 🙂
I’m loving the organization of the Current and Open Tours page. It’s easy to read and find what you want. Great job, Lola!
Grace MyBookSnack recently posted…Pucked by Helena Hunting ARC Review Tour
Thanks Grace, that was exactly my goal. I know how less book titles can tell you and I didn’t want to use covers, so I came up with this. I should’ve done this much earlier, but better late than never.
Lola recently posted…Book Blitz: Suspected by Rori Shay
What a week, Lola! I’m sorry to hear a herd babe is having troubles. It really is hard to see them hurting but glad she’s hopefully on the mend. And that you’re getting snuggles in with your babes.
anna (herding cats & burning soup) recently posted…Review/Quote-tastic–A..little more joy, please!–What a Lass Wants by Rowan Keats
It’s always hard when one of the rats is havign troubles. It was a lot of worrying last week and I kept checking on her and she really didn’t like that. But I am glad the abces has burst and is clean now, she’s recovering nicely and doesn’t squeak anymore when I pres on the spot where the abces was so that’s good. I am spending a lot of time snuggling with them, it’s ncie they are more cuddlier now.
Lola recently posted…Book Blitz: Suspected by Rori Shay
Sounds like you had a pretty busy week Lola, glad to hear you’re getting some good opportunities with the tours. It sucks with the rent though. Your poor babies, I hope they’ll be getting better soon.
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes Review: Diverse & light thriller
Busy weeks seem to be the norm nowadays, but I don’t mind too much I like being busy. And yes the tour business seems to be picking up, which makes me really happy. We’re going to see if we can do something against the rent raise, but I know so little of law and rent that it’s hard to know what is possible and not. Smarties is recovering well and her wound looks good.
Poor little Smarties. I’m glad she’s on the mend and hopefully will be totally fine soon. Sounds like a busy time for you guys! Sorry to hear about the change in rent. It always sucks getting those letters and then wondering how it will effect things.
S. J. Pajonas recently posted…Sunday Update – May 3, 2015
Smarties seemed to recover quickly, she’s back to normal already. This is the first time we got a rent letter like that as we had a contract for the first two years with standard rent, so they only could up it now. It just sucks and I have so little knowledge of thigns that I don’t know whether we can do anything against the raise or not. For now I hope we can cover the raise.
Lola recently posted…Book Blitz: Suspected by Rori Shay
Here, based on where you lived, your landlord can raise your rent by a certain percentage every year. I think in NYC when I lived there it was 8% per year. So I think that a raise in rent is pretty typical. If you’re there for five plus years and pay on time, I’m sure you can then probably send a nice letter asking that they don’t raise your rent, but you’ll have to show some long history first.
Wow 8% per year, I think here the maximum is decided by the government each year and is 4% or something like that. I think it’s similair here with raising the rent each year, but lots of people call them and often you can get them to dismiss the raise if you have a reason, but have to look up the rules surrounding that.
Lola recently posted…Book Blitz: Suspected by Rori Shay
Your blog tour website seems to be doing well, I think I’m getting better at not signing up for many book tours now xD I do look forward to reading all your posts this week especially the discussion post 🙂
Benish recently posted…ARC Review: 5 to 1 by Holly Bodger ♥
Yes I am really happy it seems to be doing well, there has been an increase in authors that tour their books with me and I can only hope this growth continues. I also try not too sign-up for too many blog tours on my blog, beside my own tours as it can be hard to handle al the deadlines. I hope you stop by my discussion posts this week, I had fun writing it and I think lots of readers and bloggers can relate to the topic.
Lola recently posted…Book Blitz: Suspected by Rori Shay
I’m so glad Smarties is doing better. I suffer when my fur babies suffer too.
My mom is coming to stay for the summer and I’ve been trying to resist hosting as many tours but I will check out some of yours and join in the fun!
laura thomas recently posted…What’s New On My Bookshelf #107 and The Sunday Post
It’s hard when fur babies suffer and her abces reminded us of Pita (RIP), so that was hard, but Smarties is almost compeltely recovered now and seems to be doing well 🙂
If you need any of the media kits earlier so you can schedule them before your mom is coming to stay with you, just let me know. I have most media kits ready as soon as the sign-ups open, I just don’t send them out until two weeks ahead as I think the reminder two weeks ahead is helpfull for some bloggers. It’s been an exciting few weeks with lots of new torus I am organizing :).
Sorry to hear that Smarties had an abscess. Scribbles had one last month and thankfully it cleared up. I just found out our rent is going up in July too. It’s only going up $25 but it seems like it goes up that much every yer now.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Those abscess are nasty, I am glad Smarties recovers so well! It’s just so frustrating the rent goes up now as we’re still struggling financially and every euro counts. It’s a not a lot each month, but on a yearly basis it really adds up :(.
Lola recently posted…Book Blitz: Suspected by Rori Shay
My goodness, you have been busy! But you’re accomplishing so much. And I do hope things continue to go well for you and your business, Lola. I’m sorry Smarties had an abscess – is it something rats experience a lot? We had rats for pets when I was in elementary school – but only for about a year. Anyway, I hope Smarties is doing better. I hope you’re having a good week!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Review ~ Alpha & Omega ~ Patricia Briggs
It’s a lot of work, but it’s nice to see if paying off and I like beign busy, so it’s a good thing. I really hope things continue to go well for my business.
We now had two rats who got an abscess, so I would say they are fairly common and usually if you clean them well it’s easy to recover from. With both Pita (RIP) and Smarties the abcsess was a result of their tumor surgery and probably something getting into the wound and then a month later or so they get the abcsess. It can also happen if they groom each other too hard and get a wound. Luckily Smarties is doing better, her abscess wound is all closed now and she seems back to normal.
Oh I didn’t know you had pet rats for a while. I love these animals and every time I see pictures on facebook of young rats I am tempted to buy a few more. It’s sad they have short life spans, but they fill my life with so much joy.
Lola recently posted…Cover Reveal: Mail-Order Groom by Cindy Flores Martinez
It’s great that Lola’s Blogtours is getting more work! I hope it will continue like that 🙂
I also hope that Smarties won’t get any more trouble with abscess, and it’s good that you knew what to do to help her feel better.
Sorry it has taken me all week to get back to you, I have done more substitute teaching this week than usual, so I’ve been really busy, and now, I’m really tired. Only three more hours this afternoon, and then it’s the weekend 🙂
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews recently posted…Review: Can’t Resist a Cowboy – Elizabeth Otto
Yeah me too, it’s so awesome that this past month went so well for Lola’s Blog Tours and I hope it stays that way.
Smarties abcsess seemed to have healed almost completely so that’s good :). Pita (RIP) got multiple abcesses so we did a lot of research back then, it sure came in handy now with Smarties that we knew what to do.
Sounds like you had a busy week with all the teaching. I hope you have a great weekend!