Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
Here's to a new year! I am hopeful that things get better, or at least, we make changes to adapt to our new normal. You know what I found odd? I cannot claim COVID type things for reimbursement via my HSA. Wouldn't you think gloves, masks, and gloves should be covered this year? Well, they are not. Vitamins are a no too. My sister swears her vitamin regiment has something to do with no one in her family catching the virus. Four of the five of them have worked outside the home the entire time, and two are in healthcare and have dodged the virus. Could be something to it. 🤷♀️
I haven't done anything for NYE since I rang in 1994, but this year, I did enjoy a little virtual celebration with the kid. I don't stay up late, so I time traveled, and Kiersten came to my island to celebrate. It was the cutest little thing Animal Crossing put together. The countdown, the fireworks, the sparkling cider - I loved it all. Here are some pictures Kiersten too, as well as our countdown video.
Next week I have my first 5-day work week in eons. I hope I can last. I was spoiled the last two weeks too. It was really slow at work, so I hope it's not crazy this coming week. There never seems to be an in-between. Just fast or famine.
Bcuz every timeline need more baby goats pic.twitter.com/9JvU7wYgBb
— Nature & Animals🌴 (@AnimalsWorId) December 30, 2020
Let's Discuss!
- Jackie talks about digital clutter
- Jen found the perfect image size for social media
- Briana makes some predictions about book blogging in 2021
On the Blog:
- Monday: Best of 2020 - Favorite Throwback Books
- Tuesday: Best of 2020 - Favorite Adult Books
- Wednesday: Best of 2020 - Favorite YA Books
- Thursday: Discussion - How my reading changed in 2020
- Friday: Five Star Friday - December 2020
STACKING THE SHELVES
Edelweiss/NetGalley
- What If You and Me by Roni Loren
- Between the Bliss and Me by Lizzy Mason
- The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffen
What I Read Last Week
Books
- A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody - ★★★★
- Then There Was You by Mona Shroff - ★★★★
- The Knockout by Sajni Patel - ★★★ 1/2
- This is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey - ★★★★ 1/2
- Tacker by Sawyer Bennett - ★★★★
- Suite Dreams by Rachel Hawthorne - ★★★ 1/2
- Girl Unframed by Deb Caletti - ★★★★
- Dirty Secret by Emma Hart - ★★★
- Road Trip by Gary and Jim Paulsen - ★★★
What I Am Currently Reading
Runaway Road is really wonderful! The heroine's backstory is heartbreaking, but the story is light and fun. AND, the book is set in West Virginia. That was a tough state for me to check off my challenge, so it's exciting to find a book set there so early in my reading challenge. Winning!
The Switch is a bit slow moving, but I loved the grandmother so much. Her matchmaking, her dating, her flirting - she's delightful. 
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- Runaway Road by Devney Perry
- The Switch by Beth O'Leary (audiobook)
What I Plan to Read
- Love in English by Maria E. Andreu
- Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
- Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon
- Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
That is so cute that you guys were able to celebrate NY via Animal Crossing! How neat! That's odd about the HSA thing. And vitamins... I'm not really surprised, there's so little we know about this virus and how it interacts I wouldn't be surprised if vitamins help people fight it off.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful week!
Our NYE party was a lot more fun than I expected. My hats off to Nintendo for all that. I am still going to take all that zinc, D3, etc. I mean, it couldn't hurt, right? Stay well!
DeleteWeird about the COVID PPE stuff not being covered. You'd think it would be encouraged. Good luck with the five day work week... same for me this week. We can do it! :) The baby goat... I'm dying. I love Devney Perry but haven't picked up Runaway Road yet.
ReplyDeleteI googled it and there as all this blah, blah, blah. Whatever. I forgot about my HSA until they sent something about filing claims. I used it the past few years for bigger purchases - my eye procedure, glasses, etc, but this year, I had a lot left. We will support each other is working a full week. *high five* I downloaded Runaway Road for free, and I believe I will continue the series. I enjoyed it.
DeleteHappy new year, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteCOVID stuff was not covered here too - everything bought in 2021 will now be covered.
Happy readings!
So they changed the rules by you, as well they should. This is special circumstance, but I only have like $10 leftover, so I won't cry about it. Happy new year to you too!
DeleteI love that you were able to celebrate virtually with your daughter! I didn't stay up until midnight either. It has always seemed odd what an HSA will cover and what they won't. I got so frustrated by the whole thing, I opted out. I was tempted to download two of the books you added this week. I am trying to control myself but we will see. I hope you have a great week, Sam!
ReplyDeleteI am grandfathered in where my company gives me $250 a year in my HSA. I'm not all mad about them holding my money hostage, since I didn't contribute the money, but I thought it was odd given that we are in a pandemic. Que sera sera. Are you eyeing the new Roni Loren and the Witches books? Sourcebooks actually had a great bunch available. I am waiting to see early reviews on some I did not click, but they look delightful.
DeleteHappy New Year! Mine was a quiet holiday too. It usually is, I'm not one for staying up super late anyway. Went to bed around 11, so I said a Happy New York New Year and fell asleep...only to be woken up at midnight by partying neighbors. So yeah. This week is is my first 5 days work week in 3 weeks and I'm not ready for it either! Time to go back into the office. I admit, there are struggles to working from home, but I also like it a lot since there's no driving involved! Lol.
ReplyDeleteNice new reads! All new to me ones but I hope you enjoy them all!
Thanks for visiting my StS!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I haven't worked a full week in months. I have been taking one day off a week to burn my vacation. If 2021 is a repeat of 2020, I will have LOTS of vacation again, since I rolled over 10 days. I am a big fan of the WFH commute. 🤣 I am dreading going back to my commute.
DeleteHappy New Year, Sam. Love your pictures of your animal crossing New Years Eve celebration. I am so glad you enjoyed Runaway Road.
ReplyDeleteRunaway Road was good. It was fun, and the premise for the series is great too. Happy New Year!
DeleteUgh. 2020 was such a mess. Your new books look beautiful.
ReplyDelete2020 was a weird year for me. The collective world fell apart, but my quality of life improved via work from home.
DeleteYour new review books all look good
ReplyDeleteLove your virtual NYE celebration!
Wishing you a great reading week, and a happy new year
Thank you! Happy new year to you too!
Delete"You know what I found odd? I cannot claim COVID type things for reimbursement via my HSA."
ReplyDeleteHa! They're doing their best to economise, I suppose. But still.
"I haven't done anything for NYE since I rang in 1994, but this year, I did enjoy a little virtual celebration with the kid. I don't stay up late, so I time traveled".
😂 The pics are really nice! But why 1994? I mean, that's oddly specific. Of course, you don't have to tell me (us) if it's private.
You already know how I spent the last hour of 2020 (and the first of 2021, for that matter). I'm the type of person who would normally enjoy celebrating New Year's Eve (when I'm not at the E.R. of course...), but when you get older and you don't have exciting company and/or a real purpose, it's hard to stay awake!
Have a great reading and blogging year, and I hope you'll get to travel (and see the kid!) again soon!
The thing about the HSA is that it's your money for medical expenses. There really is no motivation to reject claims to my own money, but whatever. Well, 1994 was my last year of college. My daughter was born in Feb 1995, so being as pregnant as I was, I did not attend my friends' NYE parties to ring in 95. Then, I was busy being a single mom.
DeleteOh, gotcha.
DeleteUgh, not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow! Tom has been off for since the middle of December - it is going to be a rough morning for him!
ReplyDeleteI think it's amazing that companies can shut down like that. My daughter opted not to take all that time off, though most of the consultants did. She wanted to rollover the days hoping to use them in 2021.
DeleteI do know some people that have upped their vitamin regimen especially Zinc and even if they had a house of family members that had it and never got it. But I do think if you practice great hygiene that is the best fight we have.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful New Years!! I had such a fun time with Runaway Road, so so good. Glad you are enjoying it.
Zinc is almost impossible to get in the store. That's also a big one during cold and flu season. It's the big ingredient in like Zicam and whatnot. Runaway was my first Devney Perry book, and I really enjoyed it.
DeleteThe baby goat! I needed that. Happy New Year:)
ReplyDeleteI love his little private dance party there.
DeleteGood luck on your full 5 day work week. It's going to feel like a struggle I'm sure, but hopefully it will go quickly. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAs long as it's not too busy or slow, I will probably be ok. The last two weeks were pretty slow, and the days were dragging.
DeleteThat animal crossing with your daughter is so cute Sam! I ahve one more week of holiday but then it won't stop before July so I am in no hurry either. And that baby goat put a big smile on my face!
ReplyDeleteWait. No vacation until July? Do you have holidays? We have Martin Luther King Day in two weeks, and a bank holiday just about every month. They keep me sane. Oh yeah, that goat is pure gold
DeleteOops, I forgot to log into AC for Christmas and New Years. XD It looks so cute though! I'd love to hear your sister's vitamin regimen - I have one of my own going. Haha! I'm glad you read a few good books this week! It always sucks when there are several that you don't love. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI know she definitely added Zinc and D3, those are the biggies.
DeleteMy girls got Switches with Animal Crossing for Christmas and I’m not allowed near them much to my disgust!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was telling me you can have multiple accounts on one, which is how some people can live together on their islands. I don't know the details, but you could always get your own too.
DeleteI love your Animal Crossing pictures!! I am going to have to TT back so i can celebrate.
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention it, I'm surprised they don't cover masks, gloves, etc as well. But, my actual health insurance doesn't cover hearing aids, so I guess I'm not that surprised. UGH.
Happy New Year!
I will never understand some of the things covered and not covered by insurance. You should time travel. The party was fun, and you only really need to go on for 10 mins or so. Happy new year to you too!
DeleteBaby goats are just too cute! They always seem so happy and playful. I want the new Roni Loren! I got a copy of Runaway Road, too, so happy to hear it was a hit.
ReplyDeleteBaby goats are almost as fun as fainting goats. Runaway Road was a good time for me. It was on the lighter side and I really enjoyed it.
DeleteSo much fun to celebrate over Animal Crossing! What a great idea! Glad that you have had lots of great reads Love the animal pics! Happy New Year, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteI commend the people over at Nintendo for that NYE party. I had a great time.
DeleteGood luck with your five-day work week! I hope you like Fat Chance, Charlie Vega. I think that book is going to be on my most-anticipated list, whenever I get around to making it.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I am about halfway through Charlie Vega, and I am enjoying it. I think she does a good job capturing a lot of the different things fat people might have to deal with, as well as things they may feel.
DeleteThat's terrible that you can't claim PPE!
ReplyDeleteAlso I'm surprised that the next Roni Loren book is out. Wasn't the first one on EW/NG like a month ago??
You have to have a medical necessity for gloves, but this is a pandemic. I don't know about your, but I love that romance authors can churn out their series so quickly. The first book comes out in March, and the one up there comes out in July.
DeleteI was surprised about the gloves and vitamins not being covered too. I actually read an article recently that suggested Vitamin D may help fend off COVID or at least keep the symptoms minimal. I've only seen that mentioned in one place so I'm not sure what to make of it but it did make me go drink a few glasses of milk just in case, haha.
ReplyDeleteI heard D3 and Zinc, which are also good for colds and whatnot. I was doing vitamin D therapy at one point, because I was so deficient, so I try to take it.
DeleteI love your animal crossing updates so much. They bring me such joy :-)
ReplyDeleteMy SIL, her husband and one of their kids has COVID right now. They live in UT and have been pretty strict about following protocols but she's a teacher and not everyone else adheres to guidelines. Like - one kid came to school knowingly sick with it.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I hope they all heal quickly and have no lingering damage. I hear about people who are really careful getting it. You really run a risk every time you leave the house or interact with another person. This virus is just that contagious.
DeleteHappy New Year, Sam! I love your animal shares as always. The baby goat is ADORABLE!!!
ReplyDeleteReally, goats for the win (even if they smell)
Delete