Word Press 1 year Anniversary ワードプレスの一年記念日

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1 year of blogging! Woohoo! 😄 I can’t believe I’ve made it this far. Thanks to Word Press for making it possible.
I still remember when I started out blogging exactly a year ago.

A friend of mine asked me, “Why don’t you start a blog?” and it got me thinking, “I never thought of that before, why don’t I start a blog?”  Of course there was a reason behind that.

Reason #1: I have no idea how to start a blog.

Reason #2: I don’t have confidence with my writing.

Last year, as I was scrolling through facebook in my newsfeed, an advertisement of Word Press caught my attention and I saw it as a sign to start blogging.

So I did. With my first post as a book review of Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle.

With 74 blog posts and 387 blog followers, a year has passed since I started this blog. I would like to put into words my heartfelt thank you to those who read my posts and followed me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

一年間のブログ!ここまで出来るなんて信じられません。ワードプレスのおかげでブログを始めて続けられてありがたいです。一年前ブログを始めた時の事をよく覚えています。

ある日、私が友達にこう聞かれました、「ブログ始めればいいんじゃない。」その質問で私はこう考えました、「そうだね、そんな事考えた事が無い。始めた方が良いかも。」もちろんそれに理由がありました。

一番目の理由: どうやって始めるか分からない。

二番目の理由: 私の書く能力に自信が無い。

去年、フェースブックでスクロールしていたらワードプレスの広告を目に入ってそれが運命だと思ってブログを始める事に成りました。

だから始めました。一番最初のブログポストは、ジョングリーンとマウリーンジョンソンとローレンミラクルが書いた「レット•イット•スノー」と言う本の書評でした。

一年間でブログポスト74、そしてフォロワー387人。読んでくれている皆さん、そしてフォローしている皆様のおかげでここまでこられて本当にありがとうございました。これからも頑張ります。よろしくお願いします。

What Book Should I Give as a Gift this Christmas?

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Haven’t decided yet what book to give this Christmas to your book-loving friend? Or a gift for yourself?

Then you’ve come to the right place. These are my personal favorites and I hope you’ll like them too!

1. My True Love Gave to Me by 12 authors edited by Stephanie Perkins


If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with “My True Love Gave to Me” Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers (Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de La Pena, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, Laini Tayler and Kiersten White), edited by the international bestselling Stephanie Perkins. Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or Kwanzaa, there’s something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.”

2. What Light by Jay Asher

“Sierra’s family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon. It’s a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other. By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. Sierra sees beyond Caleb’s past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. But as disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra can’t help but wonder if love really is enough to overcome every obstacle…”

Book Review here.



3. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle


Let It Snow is a compilation novel comprising of three separate stories that intertwine with one another. A trio of bestselling authors – John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle – brings all the magic of the holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away. The stories include The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green, and The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle.

Book review here.



4. Christmas Legends to Remember by Helen Haidle


Three tales of true Christmas spirit come alive in the hands of award-winning children’s author Helen Haidle. Legend of the Candy Cane opens with the lonely candy maker seeking the truth in the Christmas season. As he finds warmth in the laughter and bustle of the village children, a thought occurs: What can he give to show love for those in need? Unexpected inspiration leads to a sweet and meaningful answer.



5. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella


Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true a shopping friend for life! But it s trickier than she thought two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping.

She can create havoc everywhere from Harrods to Harvey Nicks to her own christening. She hires taxis at random, her favourite word is Mine , and she s even started bidding for designer bags on ebay.

On top of everything else, there s a big financial crisis. People are having to Cut Back including all of Becky s personal shopping clients and she and Luke are still living with Becky s Mum and Dad. To cheer everyone up, Becky decides to throw a surprise birthday party on a budget but then things become really complicated.

Who will end up on the naughty step, who will get a gold star and will Becky s secret wishes come true?



6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney


Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of.The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays?

Happy Holidays and cheers to more books! 😄🎄🎁📚❤
Love,

Flexi

Book Giveaway Winner

Hey what’s up readers? I’ll be announcing today the winner of the book giveaway I held from November 9 until the 29th of November.

First of all, I would like to thank all those who joined the giveaway and made it a success. It wouldn’t have amounted for nothing were it not for your participation.

The Instober and Blogtober Success Book Giveaway Winner is Mystique of the_mystique_reader. Congratulations! 😄📚❤🎁🎉

I have read and enjoyed every comment you guys wrote on my blogposts and Instagram posts. I want to make all those who participated and those who followed the rules be the winners but I only have one book to giveaway.

To all those who joined but didn’t win, don’t worry, I’ll be doing another giveaway soon so stay tuned. 😊

Cheers to more books! 😄📚💖
Love,

Flexi

We Climbed Mt. Takao 

Hey what’s up readers? Today’s post isn’t anything book-related but I hope you’ll enjoy it nontheless. I went to Mt. Takao, a mountain 599 m high in Japan and the autumn leaves were so beautiful that I want to share a video with you guys. Enjoy! 😄❤🍁
You can watch it on YouTube here.

That’s it for today, thank you guys for watching! 😄❤

October Book Wrap Up 

What’s up readers? We’re already past half of November and I think it’s a bit late to post a wrap up of books I’ve read last month but anyway, here are the books I’ve read last October with my thoughts and reviews about it. 😊📚❤

1. Find Your Awesome by Judy Clement

In a perfect world, maybe you wouldn’t need a 30-day challenge to find and fall in love with your most playful, imaginative, and colorful self, but we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a fast-paced, high-octane society where feeling lost in the jostling crowd is the norm and finding our own significance is oftentimes the biggest challenge of all.

-My review here.

2. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do But You Could Have Done Better by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell

Anonymous break up stories from men and women, old and young, serious and silly and the cartoons that inspired them. Author and artist Hilary Campbell turns the painful into the hilarious, validating emotions from forgotten middle school tragedies to relationships that ended only hours ago.

-My book review here.

3. Sea Trials by Wendy Hindman

In 1973, the Wilcox family sets off to sail around the world aboard the 40-foot sailboat, Vela. Thirteen months later, they are shipwrecked on a coral reef, with surf tearing a huge hole in the side of their boat. After years invested in saving money, preparing the boat, and learning to navigate by the stars, parents Chuck and Dawn refuse to give up. Fourteen-year-old Garth is determined to continue, while eleven-year-old Linda never wanted to go in the first place. Can they overcome the emotional, physical and financial challenges to transform from castaways into circumnavigators?

-Very inspirational. A must read to those who love travelling. While reading, it made me feel like I was voyaging together with them. It’s a true story and I’m very awed by how a family of four has managed to successfully sail around the world despite the countless trials they faced while at sea. Their resilience and perseverance has been tested again and again in this unforgettable journey of the Wilcoxes.

4. Why LA Pourquoi Paris? by Diane Ratican


Why LA, Pourquoi Paris? represents a visionary approach to a comparative study of two major, contemporary metropolises. As a long-time resident of both cities and a successful entrepreneur, author Diane Ratican curates visual pairings of Los Angeles and Paris with a newfound appreciation for their similarities, differences, and eccentricities.

-My book review here.

5. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

With people having to “cut back,” Becky decides to throw a surprise party for Luke to cheer everyone up. But when costs start to spiral out of control, she must decide whether to accept help from an unexpected source–and therefore run the risk of hurting the person she loves.

Sophie Kinsella is my favorite chick lit author and as always, she never disappoints me with every shopaholic series book I pick up. Becky Brandon neé Bloomwood is a likeable character because in spite of debilitating circumstance after another, she always has a solution to everything despite how crazy and unique her ideas are. Becky’s no ordinary character and that’s what I like about her. I love love love Luke Brandon’s charcter as well. I mean, who can not be attracted to him?  And Minnie! OMG! She’s kind of spoiled but very adorable. Oh God, I can’t imagine how Minnie will turn out as a teenager but I’m sure Becky will figure out how to raise Minnie to be a proper lady. Haha All in all, a very hilarious and sassy read! 😄

6. That Place of Knowledge by Philip Alan Shalka

It all begins when Sabre is assigned to an autistic, non-verbal, boy who seems to have an adventurous streak. One sunny summer afternoon, the usual swim in the pool leads to an under water trap door opening a passage to a secret city. There, time seems to have stood still since Ancient Greece. Sabre is right at his side as Philip encounters the philosopher Aristotle. Their conversations centre on a shared desire to seek knowledge, learning and happiness. Philip’s questions incite deep revelations, not only about himself but also about life in general. He gains insight and knowledge from Aristotle and it is clear that the philosopher also quite enjoys the company of his new friends.

-So many lessons within a short book. Wonderfully and skillfully written. Short and precise with his storytelling, author, Philip Alan Shalka takes you to that place called knowledge where he gets you thinking and the mysteries of life.

7. The Time And The Place by Donna K. Drago

During her inaugural trip to France in 2012, the American author experiences her first case of “love at first sight,” but it’s not a man that turns her head–it’s a country. She falls in love with the villages, the décor, food, wine and the lifestyle. Once back at home she becomes obsessed with the idea of owning her own place in France and begins her own vigilant search for a dream cottage. She allows herself to be drawn in and charmed by the clock tower’s wonky and sporadic clanging. Pour a glass of rose’ and sip along as she signs the contract and spends five whirlwind days making the house her own. Then relish the moments when she finally sits down and blissfully savors the first glass of wine on her new French balcony.

-Most of the time, I read fiction to get out of everyday stress by escaping from reality for a while but reading non-fiction every once in a while is something I try to do. When I finished reading Beginning French, I was scrolling through Amazon and “The Time and The Place by Donna K. Drago” popped up as one of the recommended books. Realizing that it is another book about France, specifically buying a house in France, it got my attention (I don’t plan buying a house there but it’s fun to know about how people buy houses in another country – all the preparations and whatnot). It was a very short but insightful read and I had fun reading along how the author shopped and

Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts on these books? Let me know in the comment section below. 👇😊

More Book Wrap Ups:

September Book Wrap Up

August Book Wrap Up

July Monthly Book Wrap Up 

2017 Half Year Book Wrap Up

Weekly Wrap Up for the 2nd Week of June 2017

Weekly Wrap Up: First Week of June 2017 

Flexi Aquilla’s Youtube Videos:

Halloween Haul

Let’s Go to the Bookstore 

Giveaway:

I’m conducting a giveaway of Dan Brown’s Origin so if you want to win a hardback copy of it, click here for more details. 😄

That’s it for today. Did you enjoy this post? Want more posts like this? You can click on the follow button to be notified everytime I write a new post. 😄


If you’re interested, you can follow me on Instagram @flexireads.
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Thank you for reading and cheers to more books!
🍷📚💕😄

Love,


Flexi