Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books With Fall/Autumn Covers/Themes

I love everything about fall..the crisp morning air, the smell of fireplaces burning, the beauty of the foliage colors but one of my favorite things I love about fall is curling up in a soft blanket with my tea and a book.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week, they post a new topic/top ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. This week focus on fall covers. So this top ten sounded like it was meant for me. I walked around my bookshelves and picked out old and newer books that either the cover made me get the Autumn feels or the story had scenes set in the fall.

The following are the ten books I selected:

Of the above books, I have read only one of them but let me tell you why I think they fit lovely into this category.

Let’s start with Susanna Kearsley’s The Rose Garden. I have been a fan of this author since I read, Marianna. The story sucked me in and I was sold. Then I went on to read Winter Sea and Shadowy Horses. Although I haven’t read this book yet, I feel the colors in the cover and roses make me think of fall. I also think the way that Ms. Kearsley blends history, time-travel and usually a touch of romance just oozes the autumn feels for me.

Maisie Dobbs book 1 has been on my TBR for years. I am not ashamed in saying that although I probably should be but at the recommendation of a book club member, I began the hunt for her books. I have never bought a new edition of any of her books and find it so much fun looking for them at used bookstores. This edition has the most amazing covers. This is a detective story set during WWI with a female (Maisie) sleuth. Need I say more. I mean fall is an amazing time for mysteries so I just know that this is a good choice for this category.

On that note, Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)  is another detective mystery with Detective Cormoran Strike. This is a first in a series. There are three books out and Rowling is working on the 4th now. So I can put on my thinking hat and solve a case while the beautiful leaves gently fall outside.

I picked The Folded Earth simply because of the beautiful fall colored cover.  However, it is a book by an author (Anuradha Roy) that I have been so eager to read. It is a tale of a woman making a new life in the foothills of the Himalaya. What better time for “armchair travel” via books than in the fall and winter months.

Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt was an ARC I read for a publisher in 2015 and I adored this book. It was a sweet women’s fiction with a little romance. It was first in a three book series. I didn’t know the other two books came out already until now so I will have to pick them up to see what happened to the characters. It’s a fast read and one of those starting over books that I think are perfect for the fall or even the new year.

On the second group photographed above I have 5 more books with yup only 1 that I read. Are we seeing a pattern here? Never mind that let’s move on.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi  – This cover is what made me think autumn. I think it is safe to say that I can now read this book. When it was first published it had so much buzz, I couldn’t even crack open the book. I just don’t like to be influenced by other’s reviews so I wanted distance to form my own opinion.

The Fortune Teller by Gwendolyn Womack – I read her debut novel (The Memory Painter) last year and loved it so much, that I emailed her to tell her as soon as I finished the book. She even emailed me back and I got the fangirl giggles. This book’s cover made me think of fall but the story of an antique appraiser who deciphers a text that she believes was written in Cleopatra’s time and how it plunges her into a dangerous mystery. Well if that isn’t one for a cup of tea and blanket I don’t know what is and I can’t wait to find out. I really appreciated the amount of research that Womack embarked on to create her first book and I expect nothing less for this one.

When Autumn Leaves by Amy S. Foster – Well if the color of the cover and the word Autumn in the title isn’t enough then a story of magic and witchcraft should seal the deal. I have not read this but don’t you think October would be a fantastic time to crack this one open?

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George – A book about bookstores and books seems perfect for the fall and I think this one should fit the category. I have not read it but I know it has received mixed reviews. However, I must decide for myself so I will let you know when I finally give it a go.

Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan – I read this book in 2015 and it is the third book in a trilogy. The first book is entitled, Unspoken and it is a lovely story of a girl with an imaginary friend she talks to in her head and one day, she discovers that this boy is real. It is really a fun fantasy story and the trilogy would make for a wonderful fall read.

Well there you have it, ten books I think would be wonderful choices for enjoying during the fall. Let me know if you have read any of these books.

Happy reading!

Belinda

Happy Monday : A focus on quality time.

Wow, last week flew by for me but I managed to be quite productive which makes my insides smile. I managed to complete more than I had planned for work with little procrastination. Can’t quite shake all of it but I sure did accomplish a great deal last week and that’s something to celebrate.

Leao and I went on another wonderful date night out for some Tapas on Tuesday and I laugh because I always manage to stuff myself sampling so many tapas. They are all so yummy. But the best part was the time alone with Leao talking. We have such great conversations and I love the time that I can focus on him alone without interruption. The night air was warm for October so it was fun to be out in the evening walking with him after eating. We plan on weekly date nights now that the boys are older and handling themselves well. It’s great to reach this phase and I feel recharged each time. I don’t take this time for granted and am grateful for every moment.

On Wednesday, I left work a little early and spent the day with my talented crafty friends. It was so great to see faces I hadn’t seen in such a long time. Despite the large turnout, I couldn’t believe how much I accomplished. We even had time to grab dinner together and I still l managed to be productive. I am really trying to make it a priority to spend time with friends. It seems like time moves so fast and not too long ago, we all used to meet once a week to laugh and work on our craft projects. But somehow, things have changed and the frequency is less and less. So I am going to try to coordinate with Leao and try to make it happen more often, weather permitting.  While I was out with my friends, Leao helped Apollo with his craft project that had to accompany him for this week’s poetry reciting in front of his class. I provided instructions before I left and I think they did a fantastic job. His caterpillar is named Carmen. Apollo’s presentation went well even though the eyes came off before he was able to present.

Yesterday, we all drove to my nephews’ home to help them celebrate my niece’s 6th birthday.  It rained early and then cleared in time for the kids to play in the bounce house and run around. My boys didn’t take to the girly themed party but were good sports nonetheless. It was great to hang out with family and watch the endless energy of a group of 6-year-olds. We came home in the early afternoon and still had time to enjoy some football.

Time with my boys has evolved over the years. As their interests change and their independence increases the amount of quality time together decreases. But I continually try to find ways to connect. Lately, that is with books and gaming. You all know I am a bookworm so that one is easy. Gaming, on the other hand, is a bit more challenging because I am so terrible at it.  But I have been making it a point to try. This weekend, we have blocked out time for gaming and I even have scheduled additional time for it today since they have the day off from school.  So I will be playing Minecraft with Apollo and Super Smash brothers with Nick later today. I hope that I can continue to find ways to keep our connections as we enter new phases in their young lives.

Today is a rainy day here and I am working only a half day and then off for some fun. I hope you all have a happy Monday and I will catch up with you later this week.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.

Belinda

Cute Cuts: Succulents Rock!

Welcome to my new blog series – Cute Cuts! I have amassed a zillion cut files for my Silhouette over the years and so many have not been used. I usually see them in the Silhouette store and order them with all sorts of ideas in mind. Then days and months go by and they are not used. So in order to inspire you all to use your stuff and push me to use mine, I thought I would begin sharing cute cut files from my stash. Today’s file is from the amazing Lori Whitlock who has been creating amazing files for years. I saw it (succulent) and had to have it. I love succulents I have Sedum Autumn Joy all over my yard and inside I have several Jade plants so I am no stranger to these beauties. When I saw this file I felt strongly that I wanted to own a succulent cut file and downloaded it from Silhouette Design Store.  Both the plant and the pot are included in the file.

I increased the size a little but after looking at it, next time I might make the actual plant slightly larger than the file for the pot. I used some leftover paper shreds from my youngest son’s recent birthday party to fill the pot. I found an older fall sticker sheet from Simple Stories to add some design to the pot. The sticker sheet is called Harvest Lane. I am not sure they are still being sold but a quick search online and I bet either Amazon or Joanns’ website will have one.

I placed it on one of my display shelves in my room to add to my autumn decor.  Well, that’s it for me today. I have to get back to work but I will be back soon to share another Cute Cut File!

Happy crafting!

Belinda

Happy Monday: Work in Progress

Good Monday Morning! I think I have tried to keep it real with you all when sharing on this blog. It is my intent to connect with you and provide sneak peeks “behind the curtain” of Belinda’s Crafts from time to time. It is also my hope to eventually feature new products and announce specials for new products going into my shop. But in addition to that, I want you, as reader and customers to understand more about my business through this blog by learning more about me and my interests as well as share the ups and downs of running my own business. That said, I would like to share my recent challenges and possible solutions.

Every business has ups and downs for that is the nature of building a business and the sooner this is fully grasped, then that is when the real magic may occur. Because it is really how business owners handle the lows that set good business owners from great ones. The ability to balance life with family, creative drive, confidence and the actual work have been major factors in my experience and I have not always handled them well. What I have noticed lately, is I have been procrastinating putting in the time even when I do have time and making excuses when confronted whether by a friend or myself as to where I am at.Here’s what I know doesn’t work for me:

  • Winging it. Just creating when I have a serious desire.
  • Only working when I have large chunks of time.
  • Not setting aside time to plan my monthly and weekly goals.
  • Not planning my week’s schedule the Saturday before.
  • Not providing specific deadlines.
  • Looking on Instagram

Here’s what I believe works for me:

  • Using my planner to schedule my weekly tasks and sticking to it.
  • Working even on days I am not inspired.
  • Staying off Instagram because although there is inspiration there are also factors that lead to daggers in my confidence.
  • Not comparing myself to others and having confidence that I was created with a unique gift to offer the world as we all are and to focus on my abilities, not others. Envy is draining and quite frankly a waste of time.
  • Setting deadlines and stick to them. If I miss one or two, not to let that keep me from moving forward.

So the funny thing is that I was lost without the use of my planner to guide me along my journey. I had been using it faithfully and then all of the sudden I just stopped and so did any progress I was making. So this past Saturday, I cleaned my desk and sat with my planner and scheduled my weeks’ work. I can’t tell you how much of a burden that has lifted. I woke with so much joy and pep in my step this morning knowing that I planned my path and all I need to do is sit down and work little by little towards my deadlines. I really am looking forward to my journey this week. I will not allow past setback weigh on my mind while I move forward.

I hope you all have a blessed Monday and thanks for taking the time to visit!

Belinda

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