I'm Back! (Maybe)

At the beginning of the year last year, I made a post where I resolved to become more active in the book blogging community, basically trying to do a better job of seeking out and interacting with other book bloggers on their pages. It was a really thoughtful resolution. Then I basically disappeared, for pretty much the whole year. I have a handful of posts from last year, and most of them were drafted before the year actually started. A part of me knew that making a resolution about blogging was a bad idea (because who ever actually sticks to their resolutions, amiright?), but the optimist in me swore that it'd be fine because it was book related and I love books.

Now I really want to get back into my blogging, but I want to make some changes around here. While this blog will always have a primary book focus (again, I love books), I'm going to add some lifestyle posts so you can get to know the parts of me that aren't obsessed with books. We're going to act like I'm a well-rounded character and not a one-dimensional book nerd for a change. And that starts now.

Part of the reason I was radio silent in the last quarter of 2019 is I started a day job (and that is how I will always refer to it because I'm not giving my stalker any ammunition against me when she's already threatened retribution for imagined slights). It's in fast food, so nothing glamorous, but it allows me to contribute to the household finances more than I was working as just a proofreader (which I'm also still doing). After about two months on the job, I began training to become a manager, and not long after that, I was promoted to assistant manager. And I recently found out that where I'm going to go from here is a major topic of discussion between my GM and the owners (who own more than one store in the area), so it seems to me that I may be promoted to GM sooner rather than later, although potentially in a different store. It's all happened rather fast considering that I have no prior management experience and didn't work outside the home for eight years.

Another change that has happened because of the new job is that I've started wearing makeup again, not because I'm required to for work, but because I feel good about myself again and want to. In fact, I recently realized that the real reason I didn't wear makeup for years wasn't because I just didn't care what others think of me like I'd thought, but because I didn't really feel good about myself. I know this because I still don't really care what others think of me, but I want to wear makeup anyway, for me. I don't know what the "it" products are in this area though, so I'm currently subscribed to BoxyCharm and Ipsy so I can test out some new products and find things to use. I will be talking about some of those things around here too. One day I may even get up the nerve to go into Ulta and ask for some help and/or advice, but that day is not today.

A final change I intend to make around here is that I will no longer be reviewing the books that I proofread here. I will still spotlight them and give a star rating, but I won't be writing in depth reviews. It became quite clear last year that I don't always have the time to write those reviews right after finishing a book, and since most of my authors write series, I can't always keep exact events in specific books straight, so my reviews were becoming rather vague anyway to avoid any possible spoilers.

So that's where we're at. I'm hoping to be around here more regularly this year, and with a wider range of topics for discussion. I hope you'll stay with me for the ride. - Katie