Happy July 1st, dear reader! Today, I am jumpstarting July to shake my life up a bit (in a good way). My life was derailed two years ago due to one personal crisis after another. Unfortunately, I let a few things fall by the wayside, but I am ready and excited to get my life back on track. This month, I want to focus on building good habits and cultivating realistic routines, so I can accomplish the aims on my 25 for 2025 List and restart my hobbies (other than reading) by the end of this year.
I have been wanting to reread Atomic Habits by James Clear, so when my friend Lee mentioned on a recent episode of Saturday Morning Momentum that she was reading it and having a hard time getting into it, I asked her if she wanted me to buddy read it with her, and she said YES. Therefore, I started with the introduction today. We will be reading and discussing it on my Discordif anyone is interested in joining us for the next couple of months.
I have created two lists, one for the habits I want to build and the other for the routines I want to cultivate in July. Some of my habits will be incorporated into my daily routines. I will play around with my routines this month since I want them to be realistic and manageable.
HABITS
Wake up at 5:00 AM
Walk at least 30 minutes daily, preferably outside
Drink more water
Mindful eating
Keep a JOY journal
Write a daily to-do list
Track book spending
Declutter/Chores (schedule)
Creative Time/Aims (schedule)
Monitor progress (habits/routines)
ROUTINES
Morning Routine
Weekly Routine
Evening Routine
In addition to rereading Atomic Habits, I plan on referring to ideas and strategies suggested in the following books which I would highly recommend to readers who want to work on habits, routines, decluttering, organizing, or making time for creative pursuits and projects.
The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma
Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin
Now that I am putting my July plans out into the world, dear reader, I hope you will help me stay accountable. I plan to update you periodically throughout the month. My friend Kathryn Huggett, who is a health coach, created two accountability trackers for her team that I am using to keep track of my daily walks and water intake. I am using a regular notebook to monitor everything else I will be doing. I am excited to see what I will accomplish this month. Happiness!
“Your jumpstart moment is critical. Start simple but simply start.”~ Bronkar Lee
One of my aims in 2025 is to start a new booktube project. It is more of a YouTube project because I am hoping it will not only appeal to my booktube community but also anyone interested in tackling their goals, projects, or creative pursuits in 2025.
Since I started my Youtube channel, my friend Liz and I have unofficially acted as accountability partners for one another. In December of last year, we met online to review our year, our 24 for 2024 lists, and how our one-word themes served us. I shared with her how I wanted to start a project on my channel where I could devote some focused time each week to working on my aims and somehow include my community. With everything going on in my personal life, I shelved the idea and created a book club with my friend Alex instead. However, out of that wonderful conversation with Liz, the idea for Saturday Morning Momentum: Thrive in 2025 was conceived. We agreed to officially be accountabilty partners and include the YouTube community. I now want to extend an invitation to you, dear reader, as well.
Our goal is to meet live on Saturday mornings (8:00-10:00 AM CT) for a structured work and share session that will help us take actionable steps towards our goals/aims/creative pursuits with accountability, so we can thrive in 2025. What you do with your focused work time is totally up to you!
Saturday Morning Momentum Schedule
8:00 – 8:15 Introduction and stated intentions for the session
8:15 – 9:15 POWER HOUR (focused work time)
9:15 – 9:45 Share progress and Feedback
9:45 – 10:00 Set intentions for the upcoming week and recommendations
Liz and I understand that people are busy and might not be able to attend our live sessions every Saturday morning; however, they will be available on my channel after the livestream, so the session can be accessed anytime. Of course, there will be Saturday mornings when Liz and I cannot meet for a live session, so we are going to try to prerecord the session and make it available at the designated time. Admittedly, I have never pre-recorded a livestream on Streamyard before and released it after the fact, so it will be an adventure in and of itself, but I am up to the challenge if the need arises. Hopefully, we will have a few episodes under our belt before we have to cross that bridge, so if it is not possible to prerecord, past episodes can be accessed and rewatched. This project is in its infancy and will evolve over time which makes it exciting for Liz and me.
Everyone is invited to join us. The first episode of Saturday Morning Momentum will be on Saturday, 08 March. This is your chance, dear reader, to stay motivated, stay accountable, and take action toward the life you want. I have included a video with the link for Episode 1 below if you are interested in joining us this Saturday. Consider subscribing to my channel for subsequent episodes of my personal development journey with Liz. You might enjoy other content on my channel as well. Happiness!
“Dream your own dreams, achieve your own goals. Your journey is your own and unique.” ~ Roy T. Bennett
Daylight Saving Time is fast approaching, dear reader, and I am thrilled to finally get my new year in high gear. Stepping into 2025 felt overwhelming but oddly familiar to stepping into 2024. I was playing catch-up from the previous year while having a vague idea of my plans for this year. I had adjusted my mindset last year and started my 2024 on the Lunar New Year. So, that plan was put into place again this year, but the Lunar New Year has come and gone with barely any progress. Why? I am still stuck in catch-up mode because of a few tasks I cannot let go. With that being said, I am seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel, and I have a project in place that I think will make 2025 my best year, yet.
PHOENIX is my word for 2025. My friend Kelsi actually came up with my word. On a car ride together in November, I shared with her that I was thinking about my one-word theme for the new year and what I was leaning towards, and she offered the Phoenix (a mythological creature that is reborn from its ashes) as a suggestion. After wearing out RESET in 2024 and desperately wanting my season of sorrow to end, I needed a strong word to get back on course. My plans for this year focus on self-care, organization, reading, creative pursuits, and fun.
In addition to my one-word theme, I created a 25 for 2025 list with my aims for the new year. Almost all of the items on my list are new; however, I did carry over six items from last year that I did not complete but really want to accomplish this year. Take a look at what I have planned for myself for 2025.
Kat’s 25 for 2025 List
1. Contact SPA 728 for health assessment information.
2. Strength train 2-3 times per week.
3. Walk at least 30 minutes daily, preferably outside.
4. Reduce reflux meds to 20 mg.
5. Keep a JOY journal.
6. Create a Book of Life.
7. Clear the clutter in my scrapbook room.
8. Clear the clutter in my bedroom closet.
9. Buy a comfortable chair for my home office.
10. Organize home library.
11. Keep track of spending on books.
12. Start a new booktube project. (Saturday Morning Momentum: Thrive in 2025)
13. Organize videos on Kat’s Novel Adventures (create playlists).
14. Read 25 Books that have been on my shelves for 5 years or more.
15. Read The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King.
16. Read Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix.
17. Write 25 blog posts on The Kat Files.
18. Scrapbook 25 times in 2025.
19. Attend TAC Scrapbook Event in June with Donna and Heather.
20. Volunteer at the Friends of the Library store during the summer.
21. Visit the New Orleans Vampire Café in New Orleans.
22. Visit the English Tea Room in Covington.
23. Visit the Hammond Farmers & Artisans Market at least 5 times.
24. Attend The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at The Columbia Theatre in March.
25. Put a deposit down on running The Open Book in Scotland.
I made a bingo board with my aims! Several members in the Happier in Hollywood Facebook group shared their bingo boards at the beginning of the year, so I decided to do one as well. Fun project!
Other Fun Plans for 2025:
Participate in Gretchen Rubin’s #Read25in25. The challenge is to spend 25 minutes reading daily in 2025. This challenge is the third element of Rubin’s Design Your Year: 2025 with the one-word theme and list of aims being the other two elements. According to Gretchen Rubin, “Research shows that reading is good for us: it benefits mental health, sharpens the brain, makes us more empathetic, helps us learn, and increases our tolerance for uncertainty. And most importantly, it’s fun!” Reading at least 25 minutes every day will be an easy daily challenge for me because I LOVE reading. It is my favorite activity, and I already read every day much more than 25 minutes; therefore, I have designated my daily 25-minute reading time for this challenge to read nonfiction.
Join the 2025 Reading Challenge on Goodreads. My goal is to read 100 books this year. Follow me on Goodreads (Katherine Loyacano).
Host three readathons on my YouTube channel: Nevermore, Folklore February, and Zombiethon.
Interact with members of the Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club on Facebook.
Participate in Booktube Book Clubs (FOMO, MGM, Cozy Cottage, and Book Wyrm).
Keep a TA-DA list for 2025. This list is for goals or activities that I accomplished throughout the year but were not included on my original list. These accomplishments should be celebrated, too.
Additionally, I will continue creating videos for my Youtube channel, Kat’s Novel Adventures. I passed my two-year anniversary of releasing my first video on 28 October 2024. As of the writing of this post, I have 1.19K subscribers and 270 videos for public viewing. My channel was monetized in May 2024, and I received my first check in January of this year. Happiness Boost! My channel growth is a slow-going process, dear reader, and I am fine with it. I love my small community of friends; they bring me so much joy. I have included a video about Designing My Year: 2025 below if you are interested in hearing more about my plans for 2025. Please consider subscribing to my channel, giving me a like, and leaving a comment.
As you can see, dear reader, I have planned another year of adventures for 2025. All of these aims and activities give me hope of getting my life back on track. I am excited about tackling my aims while also exploring other opportunities that might crop up this year. Happiness!
“Wake up, wild one! You are the phoenix, the firebird, the one who rises from the ashes of the past.” ~ A. A. Malee
As I mentioned in my last post, Review 24 for 2024 List, I am sharing my TA-DA List for 2024. The first month of 2024 started off a bit rocky. My mom broke her hip on 23 December 2023, and she had to have surgery the next morning. I spent 11 nights (and a couple days) in the hospital with her before she was transferred to a skilled nursing facility on 03 January 2024. My Dad took the day shift for the most part. I live an hour away from Ochsner Hospital, so there were a couple of days I just stayed day and night because I did not want to drive home then drive back later that afternoon. And, it also gave my Dad a break. Despite it not being the most ideal situation, especially during the holidays, I treasure that time with my mom. I did not want her to be alone, and I enjoyed taking care of her alongside the hospital staff. My mom was discharged from the skilled nursing facility on 23 January 2024, and we got back into our routine with me driving to and from my parents’ house a couple of times a week to help my Dad care for her.
Reflecting on my year revealed that I had pockets of time throughout 2024 that added up to plenty of joyful adventures with family and friends. 2024 was definitely a year filled with peaks and valleys for me. As you know, dear reader, we cannot just experience the peaks in life. However, the valleys sure do make us appreciate the peaks even more. Even though I hosted, co-hosted, and participated in readathons (online) throughout the year, I scaled back tremendously on my participation during these reading events. I also started listening to audiobooks in February since I was driving to and from my parents’ house on a regular basis. This format afforded me more time to read since reading is my absolute favorite pastime. So, I may not have completed all of the aims on my 24 for 2024 List, but it is pretty clear from my TA-DA list that I accomplished a great deal overall in 2024.
TA-DA 2024
My Health Adventures (Yearly Eye/Dental appointments; Mammogram; Gynocologist)
Lunch dates, coffee dates, dinner dates, movie dates, and movie watch parties with friends and family sprinkled throughout the Year
Participated in various online Readathons/Book Clubs/Buddy Reads (Booktube) throughout the Year
Hosted What’s Up Wednesday! weekly live Reading/Productivity Sprints on my Youtube Channel
Attended Plays (Grease, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, War of the Worlds, Frankenstein, and Clue)
Helped Mom with health-related issues (January-August)
Slumber parties with my parents (January-August)
Attended Dementia Caregiver Support Group Meetings with my Dad (January, March, April, October)
Title I Tutoring Job at Mater Dolorosa School on Tuesdays and Thursdays (January-May)
Improv Workshop with Lynae LeBlanc at Anubis Improv (January)
Hosted the Nevermore Readathon: A Week with Edgar Allan Poe on my YouTube channel (January)
Gnarley Gras with Barry, Sr. (January)
Co-hosted the Mardi Gras Readathon with Laurie @Books, Ink and Paper (January/February)
Book Shopping at the Friends of the Library Store (January, June, September)
Hosted Folklore February Readathon on my YouTube channel (February)
Improv Workshop with Adrienne Bruno at Anubis Improv (February)
Helped Mrs. Billie with health-related issues (August-October)
Performed in Blood on Yellowstone at Columbia Theatre (September)
Volunteered at MDS Book Fair (September)
Andrew and Meagan got engaged (September 12th) Happiness Boost!
Attended Author Event (Jerry Pallota) at Baton Rouge Library and had lunch with Andrew afterwards (September)
Title I Tutoring Job at Mater Dolorosa School: Monday-Thursday (September-December)
Part of the Monster Squad for Kelsi’s online Halloween-A-Thon Event (September/October)
Nalco Trunk or Treat with Barry, Sr. and Dad (October)
Dinner at Jeff and Joanna’s home to meet Kerry Cyrus’s girlfriend Michelle (November)
Thanksgiving at Kerry and Natalie’s home with Barry, Sr. and Dad (November)
Visited Shelly at Wetmore Cemetary and attended Mass afterwards with Barry, Sr. and friends (November)
Attended Friendsgiving with Barry, Sr. (November)
Watched The Muppet Christmas Carol Movie at the Columbia Theatre with Barry, Sr. and Dad (December)
Hosted Holiday Hell Reading/Productivity Sprints (live) on my Youtube Channel (December)
Krampus Haunted House with Kelsi (December)
Mr. Clarence’s 80th Birthday Party with Dad (December)
Brayden and Melyssa’s Gender Reveal Party (December)
Visited Mom at Lakelawn Cemetary with Family (December)
Hosted Christmas – Sister and niece Emma in town (December)
Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy with Barry, Sr. (December)
Lunch with friend Georgia and her family who were visiting NOLA (December)
As you can see, dear reader, 2024 had a good amount of joy. Sometimes, it is hard to spot the joy when you are living in the midst of sorrow or upheaval. This is the second year in a row that the second half of the year did not go smoothly, and I did not get to everything on my 24 for 2024 list. However, I was still able to maintain my connections with family and friends, continue working on my creative pursuits, and participate in activities that brought me joy while helping my Dad take care of my Mom and helping my mother-in-law when she needed it. Losing both my Mom and Mrs. Billie unexpectedly within a couple of months of each other was difficult. I miss them so much, and not a day goes by that I am not thinking about them. I take solace in knowing they are in their heavenly home with Shelly. I cherish the many memories of my time with my Mom and Mrs. Billie and will forever be grateful for my time with them. They were amazing women who did a great deal for my family and me over the years. As I stated last year in my 2023 TA-DA List, “Life is not only short, unpredictable, and at times unfair, but it is also precious, beautiful, and at times full of adventure. Live life to the fullest and make every day count.” Happiness!
“It is not length of life, but depth of life.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Note: Photo was taken by me to mark the 2nd Anniversary of my YouTube channel, Kat’s Novel Adventures, on 28 October 2024.
2024 started off in the same fashion 2023 ended with my mom in the hospital with dementia and a broken hip. I decided to give myself grace and begin my new year on the first day of the Lunar New Year. I admit it was a bit weird not starting a brand new year on 01 January, but considering the circumstamces, it felt like the right decision for me.
2024 turned out to be a continuation of my Season of Sorrow. My mother died in August and my mother-in-law followed her to heaven three months later.
As you can see, dear reader, by the date I am publishing this post and the lack of posts published in 2024, life had other plans for me. That is not to say I did not work on my aims or find pockets of joy amidst the upheaval. I am steadily trying to catch up on life, but it has been a sloth-slow process. Today is the day to share how I did with my 24 for 2024 list! I chose RESET as my word for 2024, and boy did I wear it out. It seemed like I was resetting every other week. With that being said, I did accomplish a few aims on my 24 for 2024 List. I completed nine items, started four items, and attempted one on my list.
Kat’s 24 for 2024 List
Time-track at least once per quarter (March, June, September, December). YES ✔
Join The 5AM Club by getting up at 5AM each morning (The 5AM Club). YES ✔
Implement the 20/20/20 Formula (The 5AM Club). NO (used it more for Focus Work)
Implement the Pre-Sleep Ritual (The 5AM Club). NO
Quit Coffee. STARTED (Gave up afternoon coffee on 06/19)
Strength train two times per week. NO
Walk at least 30 minutes daily, preferably outside. NO
Get a massage. NO
Clear the clutter in my scrapbook room. NO
Buy a book cart. YES ✔
Buy two bookcases for living room. YES ✔
Organize home library. STARTED
Keep track of spending on books. NO
Get library cards (Tangipahoa, Livingston, and Baton Rouge parishes). YES ✔
Start a new booktube project. YES ✔
Read 24 Books that I did not get to in 2022/2023. STARTED (read 11/24; started 1, but put to the side)
Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie) 2.0. STARTED (read 3/6)
Buddy Read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt with Alex @ Frankfiction. YES ✔
Read The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. YES ✔
Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. NO
Read On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. YES ✔
Write about my adventures in Sicily on my blog. ATTEMPTED
Organize photos and video clips from my Sicily trip. NO
Scrapbook 24 times in 2024. NO
Other Fun Plans for 2024:
I participated in Gretchen Rubin’s #Write24in24 Challenge. Loved this challenge! I did not use it the way I originally planned, but I did write (mainly book reviews) 25 minutes or more each day.
I joined the Goodreads Challenge again and set my goal to read 100 books in 2024. I reached my Goodreads goal back in November and ended the year having read 111 books.
I participated in Booktube Book Clubs (FOMO, MGM, Cozy Cottage, The Book Wyrm Club).
The Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club is still on hiatus; however, I have some ideas that I’d like to implement in 2025. I’m not quite ready to give up on it, yet.
I participated in Frugal February and saved some money. Gold star for me!
I collaborated with Kelsi in 2024. I was a one of her co-hosts for Old School April and one of her Monster Squad members for Halloween-A-Thon. We buddy read The Store by Bentley Little in August for the GarbAugust readathon and had a live Movie Chat about the movies we watched during the spooky season.
As for my Birthday Message Project 2.0, it fell by the wayside with everything that happened in the second half of the year which is when I wanted to complete the project. I just did not have the motivation or the energy. So, it might be something I try again in 2025, but it will not be on my 25 for 2025 List. Also, I did not keep up with a TA-DA List for 2024; however, I do plan to reflect on the year, write the list, and post on my blog like I have in the past.
Considering 2024 was another rollercoaster of a year where I continued living in a season of sorrow, I think I did okay with my 24 for 2024 list. I am grateful for my Youtube channel community. I passed my two-year anniversary of releasing my first video on 28 October 2024. My weekly Wednesday sprints that I host on my channel have been a continued source of joy for me. My community is super supportive and really helped me through the last year and a half. And, speaking of my channel, I have included a video about my Happier Trifecta Review below if you are interested in hearing more about my accomplishments and some of the books I read in 2024. Please consider subscribing to my channel, giving me a like and a share, and leaving a comment.
Currently, I am playing catch up with content both on my channel and here on my blog. I already designed my year for 2025, and I cannot wait to share with you my one-word theme, my 25 for 2025 List, and Gretchen Rubin’s yearly challenge. I really am hoping you will see more of me in 2025. How did you do with your goals in 2024, dear reader? Happiness!
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” ~ T.S. Eliot
The Lunar New Year is fast approaching, dear reader, and I am thrilled to finally start my new year. Stepping into 2024 without a plan felt odd, but I adjusted my mindset as the month of January unfolded, and I am NOW ready to get the ball rolling on accomplishing my aims for this year.
RESET is my word for 2024. After the dreadful demise of 2023, I have been desperate to hit the reset button. My plans for this year are to replace some bad habits with some good ones, clean up the clutter in my environment, and boost my sense of creativity and play by cultivating an existing interest. That last plan, regarding creativity and play, is the result of taking Gretchen Rubin’s Habits for Happiness Quiz.
In addition to my one-word theme, I created a 24 for 2024 list with my aims for the new year. Almost all of the items on my list are new; however, I did carry over three items from last year that I did not complete but really want to accomplish this year. Pretty much all of my aims fall into one of my three plans which have to do with habits, clutter-clearing, and creativity/play. Take a look at what I have planned for myself for 2024.
Kat’s 24 for 2024 List
1. Time-track at least once per quarter (March, June, September, December).
2. Join The 5AM Club by getting up at 5AM each morning (The 5AM Club).
3. Implement the 20/20/20 Formula (The 5AM Club).
4. Implement the Pre-Sleep Ritual (The 5AM Club).
5. Quit Coffee.
6. Strength train two times per week.
7. Walk at least 30 minutes daily, preferably outside.
8. Get a massage.
9. Clear the clutter in my scrapbook room.
10. Buy a book cart.
11. Buy two bookcases for living room.
12. Organize home library.
13. Keep track of spending on books.
14. Get library cards (Tangipahoa, Livingston, and Baton Rouge parishes).
15. Start a new booktube project.
16. Read 24 Books that I did not get to in 2022/2023.
17. Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie) 2.0.
18. Buddy Read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt with Alex @ Frankfiction.
19. Read The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.
20. Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
21. Read On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.
22. Write about my adventures in Sicily on my blog.
23. Organize photos and video clips from my Sicily trip.
24. Scrapbook 24 times in 2024.
Other Fun Plans for 2024:
I am participating in Gretchen Rubin’s #Write24in24. The options are to spend 2-4 minutes or 24 minutes writing daily in 2024. This challenge is the third element of Rubin’s Happier Trifeca with the one-word theme and list of aims being the other two elements. According to Gretchen Rubin, “If you write consistently, you’ll be astonished by how much you can accomplish in 2024. We often underestimate what we can do if we work consistently.” Writing at least 24 minutes every day will be a fun daily challenge for me because I LOVE writing. My writing time will be devoted to blog posts, book reviews on Goodreads, scrapbook journaling, lists (to-do & ta-da), correspondence with family and friends (cards), notes for videos, and morning pages (The Artist’s Way). These are just a few of the writing activities I have planned for 2024; however, other possibilities might be added to my list throughout the year.
On Goodreads, I joined the 2024 Reading Challenge, and my goal is to read 100 books this year. Follow me on Goodreads (Katherine Loyacano).
I want to revamp the Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club.
I will participate in Booktube Book Clubs (FOMO, MGM, Cozy Cottage).
I will continue doing Collabs with Kelsi. Our collabs can be viewed on her YouTube channel, Slime and Slashers – A Nostalgia & Horror Channel. Please consider subscribing to Kelsi’s channel in 2024.
I will participate in Frugal February again. This is a NO spend month.
I will be doing a Birthday Message Project 2.0 in 2024.
I plan to keep a TA-DA list for 2024. This list is for goals or activities that I accomplished throughout the year but were not included on my original list. These accomplishments should be celebrated, too.
Additionally, I will continue creating videos for my Youtube channel, Kat’s Novel Adventures. I passed my one-year anniversary of releasing my first video on 28 October 2023. As of the writing of this post, I have 769 subscribers and 152 videos for public viewing. My little channel is growing slowly, and I am hoping I will reach and surpass 1,000 subscribers in 2024. That channel milestone would be a HUGE happiness boost! I have included a video about my Happier Trifecta below if you are interested in hearing more about my plans for 2024. Please consider subscribing to my channel, giving me a like, and leaving a comment.
As you can see, dear reader, I have planned a year of good habit-forming, organizing, reading, writing, and scrapbooking adventures for 2024. All of these aims and activities will give me an opportunity to RESET my life and get back on track. Well, that is my plan anyway. Happiness!
“Every sunset is an opportunity to reset. Every sunrise begins with new eyes.” ~ Richie Norton
A weird feeling came over me upon January’s arrival as I gazed at the fireworks outside the window of my mom’s room at Ochsner Hospital. I felt out of place in both space and time, like I should be somewhere else. I felt uneasy, unprepared, and unhappy which is the total opposite of how I usually feel entering a new year. The lack of excitement for 2024 without its clean slate and plethora of possibilities waiting in the wings to take flight were marred by an unfortunate event and the recent death of my best friend. Never in the history of my life have I entered a new year in a state of disarray, discomfort, and despair.
There is nothing wrong with grieving after a loss or feeling a sense of hopelessness after an accident. However, getting bogged down by negativity can be tempting if the grief or hopelessness remains constant. Thankfully, a negative outlook on life is not my nature. I understood that I was in a season of sorrow at the end of 2023, but oh, how I wanted to enter 2024 in a season of celebration. Life is full of surprises, some are pleasant while others not so much. When those unpleasant surprises arise, I generally take a step back, feel all the feelings, then take a deep breath, and put the unpleasantness in perspective.
Therefore, that’s exactly what I did at the beginning of January. In the past, I announced my plans for the new year along with my one-word theme on January 1st or 2nd. At the start of 2024, my plans had not even been put on paper, and I was struggling with my word for the year. Even though I accepted that I was behind in this area of my life and had plenty to catch up on, I still fretted a little over the delay. I wanted my clean slate. I wanted to begin anew.
Finally about mid-month, I settled on my word for the year, and I started writing out my 24 for 2024 List. I recently filmed a couple of videos to close out 2023 on my channel and participated in a number of readathons, including one of my own, while also preparing for another one happening in February.
I realized this week that I have actually been laying the foundation for my year ahead throughout the entire month of January. On January 4th, I started reading, The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. The meditations for the month of January are focused on clarity. Then, yesterday evening, I saw a comment on the Happier in Hollywood FaceBook Group where a woman and her family, who encountered some unexpected surprises, are starting their year on February 10th, the Lunar New Year. I thought, “What a terrific idea!“
So, dear reader, I have decided for 2024, I am starting my new year on February 10th. I will be announcing my “Happiness Trifeca” in the coming days which includes my one-word theme, my 24 for 2024 List, and the 24 in 2024 Challenge that Gretchen Rubin has chosen for this year. I look forward to sharing my aims for the year with you. Have you set resolutions or made plans for 2024? If so, did you start on the first day of January or did you pick another day to start your new year? Happiness!
“No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.”~ Buddha
As promised in my last post, Review 23 for 2023 List, I am sharing my TA-DA List for 2023. The first half of 2023 was amazing! I experienced some exciting adventures, developed some new relationships, and made some wonderful memories. The second half of the year presented some challenges and heartbreak with my mom’s dementia diagnosis mid-September and the death of my childhood best friend Shelly at the end of November. I may not have completed my 23 for 2023 list, dear reader; however, I kept myself busy by spending quality time with family and friends, working, traveling, reading, improvising, creating content, and taking care of my health, family, friends, and home.
TA-DA 2023
Health (Dental Implant Crown; Bone Density Scan; Ultrasound; Biopsy; Cardiologist; Regular Crown; Yearly Eye/Dental appointments)
Lunch dates, movie nights, dinner dates, and drink nights with friends and family
Attended Plays (Sound of Music, Romeo and Juliet, OZ, To Kill a Mockingbird)
Participated in various Readathons on Booktube throughout the Year
Live Streams with Kelsi (books/movies: May, July, and October)
Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club (run monthly with Kelsi; January-July)
Buddy Read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson/Zoom Meeting Discussions with Rachel (January-March)
Anubis: Improv Level 3 8-Week Class (January-March)
Helped Mrs. Billie with health-related issues (January-August; December)
Helped Claire with Editing Assignments (January-November)
Birthday Message Project (January-December)
Kaitlyn’s Bridal Shower (January)
Pokeno Sub (January and May)
Created/Hosted Folklore February Readathon for my YouTube channel (February)
Couples Shower for Kaitlyn and Marc with Barry, Sr. (February)
Attended Gnarley Gras with Barry, Sr. (February)
Auditioned for Clue at The New Octavians & got the role of Mrs. Peacock; unfortunately, play was cancelled (February)
Orange Beach, Alabama trip with Barry, Sr. (February)
Applied for my first Passport (February)
Proctored/Supervised ACT at Southeastern University (February, April, and June)
Kaitlyn & Marc’s Wedding with Barry, Sr., Andrew, & Barry, Jr. (March)
Andrew’s Juried Art Exhibit at Southeastern University (March)
Anubis: Improv Level 3 Showcase (March)
International Honor Society Ceremony/Banquet for Andrew (March)
Buddy Read The Midnight Library with Mary @ Booking Through Life (March/April)
Anubis: Improv Level 4 8-Week Class (March-May)
Annual Crawfish Boil (April)
Created/Hosted Zombiethon Readathon for my YouTube channel (May)
Zombie Awareness Month (May)
Andrew’s Thesis Defense in Art History at Southeastern University (May)
Anubis: Improv Level 4 Showcase (May)
The Cure Concert in NOLA with Barry, Sr. (May)
Andrew’s Graduation from Southeastern University (May)
Duran Duran Concert in NOLA with Barry, Sr. (June)
Scrapbooking (attended TAC Scrapbook Event with Shelly and Donna in June)
Fr. Jamin’s Farewell Party at St. Margaret Church (July)
Readings for Amityville ’74 at Columbia Theatre (July)
Booktube Besties Retreat (July)
The Producers Concert in NOLA with Barry, Sr. (July)
Helped Mom with health-related issues (July-December)
Lunch with cousin Danny and his wife Patty who were visiting NOLA (August)
Started Title I Tutoring Job at Mater Dolorosa School (August)
Guest on Margaret Pinard’s Fireside Chat (August)
Volunteer at HGCS’s Book Fair (August)
Sicily Trip with Andrew, Dad, Rachel, Lee, and Emma (September)
Halloween Decor Shopping with Kelsi (September)
Family Fall Fest at Nalco with Barry, Sr. (October)
Livestreams with Andy @ Self Pub with Andy and Emma @ Emma Bennet (October/November)
Visited Andrew at Library in Baton Rouge (November)
Helped plan Shelly’s Funeral Mass at St. Margaret Church (December)
As you can see, dear reader, 2023 started off with lots of new adventures, opportunities to learn and grow, and treasured time making memories with family and friends. Even though the second half of the year did not go as planned, and I did not cross off every item on my 23 for 2023 list, I still feel like I made strides in 2023 towards creating a better life for myself. I will forever be grateful for the special friendship and bond I shared with Shelly and the memories we had made together since the 3rd grade. And, I am thankful that I still have time to make more memories with my mom. Life is not only short, unpredictable, and at times unfair, but it is also precious, beautiful, and at times full of adventure. Live life to the fullest and make every day count. Happiness!
“Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing!” ~ Oscar Wilde
Note: Photo was taken by me at the villa I stayed at in Scopello, Sicily in Italy.
2023 started off full of promise, projects, and possibilities. The first six months of the year flowed smoothly. Then, I hit a speed bump in July, thus beginning my season of sorrow and the reason I have not posted anything in the last six months. That story will be told another day.
Today is the day to reflect on my 23 for 2023 list! I chose CREATE as my word for 2023, and for the most part, it worked well with the aims I accomplished on my 23 for 2023 List. I completed nine items and started three items on my list this year.
Schedule dental appointment (implant crown). YES (February; implant process complete)
Buy two white bookcases for office. YES (I bought four.)
Buy a book cart. NO (suffering from decision fatigue)
Deal with digital clutter. (email, photos, documents). STARTED (still have lots to declutter)
Organize home office. YES
Organize home library. NO (need more bookcases; bought one for livingroom)
Write my personal manifesto. NO (never thought about it)
Write a will. NO (dragging my feet)
Scrapbook monthly. NO (only at annual June event with girlfriends)
Complete Year of Gratitude scrapbook. NO (sadly)
Learn StreamYard to host sprints on my YouTube channel. YES (now host weekly sprints on Wednesdays)
Host two Readathons on my YouTube channel (February/May). YES (Folklore February – February and Zombiethon – May)
Read 23 Books that I did not get to in 2022. STARTED (only read 9 books and 1 novella from my 23 Books in 2023 List)
Have a Year of Christie (Agatha Christie). YES (love reading Agatha Christie stories)
Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. NO (attempted in June, but too overwhelmed)
Read The Galveston Diet by Mary Claire Haver, M.D. NO (on hold after seeing new cardiologist)
Revisit Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin. NO (no time)
Read Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam. YES (really enjoyed it and participated in project)
Complete Becky Higgins Classroom: Photo Tips + Work Flow. STARTED (need to finish in 2024)
Complete the WordPress Blogging course. NO (disappointed; maybe try again in 2024)
Update theme (layout) for blog. NO (still suffering from decision fatigue; disappointed; maybe try again in 2024 )
In addition, I participated in two reading projects which I am still participating in one of them (Goodreads) until the end of today because I am hoping I can finish the book I am currently reading by bedtime. I joined the Goodreads Challenge again and set my goal to read 75 books in 2023. I reached my Goodreads goal back in September and hope to complete 95 books this year. I also read 6 terrific books with members of my Chills, Thrills, and Kills Book Club. Sadly, the book club has been on hiatus since the fall, and I am not sure what its future will be in the upcoming year.
I participated in three book clubs on a regular basis throughout 2023. They are the FOMO Book Club, the Middle Grade March Book Club, and the Cozy Cottage Book Club. I read some fantastic books and attended some enjoyable meetings with wonderful discussions. I plan to continue participating in these book clubs in 2024.
I participated in Collabs with Kelsi, participated in Frugal February, and created birthday videos for most of my family/friends for my Birthday Message Project. Circumstances out of my control prevented me from creating videos for everyone this year, so I may consider creating birthday videos for those peeps I missed in 2024. Finally, I did not keep a TA-DA list for 2023. If I can wrangle up some time to create one in the near future, I will do it and publish it in January. I would like to acknowledge my wins this year. The only other extra project, where I was not consistent, was #Outside23in23. I am disappointed that I did not do better with this project, but I did not make it a priority.
Overall, I think I did okay with my 23 for 2023 list considering the turmoil that entered my life in the second half of this year. I could never have predicted that I would be ending the year in a season of sorrow. Sadly, I will still be in this season starting 2024.
Currently, I am thinking about my one-word theme for 2024. As soon as I settle on one, I will start creating my 24 for 2024 List. January will be a month of wrapping up loose ends from 2023 and planning for 2024 since I did not have the time I usually have in December to wrap up the current year and plan for the upcoming year. How did you do with your goals in 2023, dear reader? Happiness!
“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” ~ Shauna Niequist
June was an amazing reading month for me. Despite everything I was involved in throughout the month of June, I managed to read a total of nine books. Four of those books were read for Kelsi’s Killer Corn Readathon which I wrote about in a separate post. Three books were for book clubs, one was for my Year of Christie project, and one was just for fun. Many of these books counted for the Summer Book Bingo Readathon that I am participating in for the very first time, and I earned my first bingo. Exciting!
COZY COTTAGE BOOK CLUB
A Princess of Wind and Wave by Melanie Cellier is a young adult, fairy tale retelling of The Little Mermaid. Isla is a mermaid princess, who feels stifled by her father’s strict rules. She longs to leave the underwater kingdom to live on the surface where her people once lived, especially after a chance encounter with a boy she once saved from drowning. Her desire to leave Merrita becomes a reality when her home is threatened by a dangerous opposition.
Even though A Princess of Wind and Wave started off a bit slow, it turned out to be an enjoyable read. Michelle Cellier does a fine job with creating likable characters and a formidable foe. There are twists and turns as well as some unexpected surprises. It is the sixth book in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series; however, it worked well as a stand-alone for the Cozy Cottage Book Club. I enjoyed it enough that I want to read the other books in the series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
MIDDLE GRADE MARCH BOOK CLUB
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson is a middle-grade historical fiction novel with an intriguing mystery at the center of it. Candace is staying at her late grandmother’s house for the summer with her mother and discovers a letter addressed to her grandmother while exploring the attic. The letter holds the clues to
an unsolved mystery leading to a substantial hidden treasure. With the help of her new friend Brandon, they decide to solve the mystery which could help the town of Lambert and clear her grandmother’s name.
The Parker Inheritance is fast-paced, moves through dual timelines from multiple characters’ perspectives, and tackles tough topics relating to history and social justic issues. The novel is well-written with well-developed characters. I enjoyed the terrific friendship between Candace and Brandon, the references to middle-grade books, and the mystery. This novel is not only thought-provoking and heart-felt, but it is also clever and entertaining. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FOMO BOOK CLUB
The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave was the May/June book club selection for the FOMO Book Club. It is a compelling historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of the mystifying dance plague that seized the city of Strasbourg in the early 16th century. At the heart of the novel, pregnant Lisbet lives a quiet life on the outskirts of the city with her husband and mother-in-law where she takes care of bees on a modest piece of land. Living conditions are hard for many of the people and the church makes unreasonable demands upon them. When
Lisbet’s sister-in-law Agnethe returns after a long absence, life becomes more complicated and secrets are revealed, leading to heartache and dire consequences.
The Dance Tree is a beautifully written novel, and Hargrave does a wonderful job of taking a grim period in history and intertwining it with a story of forbidden love, loss, and the struggles women had to face in so many aspects of their lives. Despite its melancholy tone, it is a story of strong female connections, abiding love, and women exerting a level of control for themselves and finding self-worth in the midst of horrible circumstances. This was not an easy read; however, Hargrave does end the novel on a hopeful note which lifted the heaviness I felt throughout much of the novel. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
YEAR OF CHRISTIE
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie is the exciting debut of Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian private detective extraordinaire. Detective Poirot is invited to Styles, an Essex country manor to assist in solving the mysterious death of Emily Inglethorpe. Even though the evidence points to her new
husband, there are plenty of other members of the household who could benefit from Mrs. Inglethorpe’s demise.
I loved the introduction of Hercule Poirot, and his intelligent assessment of Emily Inglethorpe’s crime scene. He is patient, good-humored, and dresses impeccably. I enjoyed his friendly banter with Mr. Hastings, who is the narrator of this mystery and tries his hand at amateur sleuthing. This novel has plenty of sudden twists and turns with a surprise ending that I did not see coming. Unfortunately, I was unable to guess the murderer. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
One of the squares for Summer Book Bingo is to read a book outside of your comfort zone. Well, in my case that would be romance. I have become friends with the British romance author, Emma Bennet. When I asked her which of her novels I should read first, she suggested her cozy contemporary romance, Her Perfect Hero. What an excellent choice!
Bronte, a romance writer, lives with her cat Mr. Darcy in a comfy cottage in a charming village outside of London. After a bad break-up, she is determined to
find her “perfect” hero like the ones she writes about in her books. Bronte finds herself in a dilemma when the handsome Ryan Murphy moves into the cottage next door, and she is rescued by the dashing Sebastian Fairfax. Both have appealing qualities, but who will prove to be “her perfect hero?”
Her Perfect Hero is the perfect summer read! It is a well-written, lighthearted romance with an awesome setting, interesting characters (including a clever cat), humorous scenes, and witty dialogue. I enjoyed that it was a sweet romance that left out the steaminess which is more my speed, especially since I rarely pick up this genre. At times, I felt like I was reading a romantic comedy. I will definitely be checking out more of Emma Bennet’s work in the future. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you want to hear more about my thoughts on this book or the other books I read in June, please check out my June wrap up video.
I am so late with this post that July literally ends tomorrow. My personal life has been a bit out of sorts lately, so my reading during July and creating content has been put on the back burner. It seems like I will be carrying over some books I am currently reading plus some books on my July TBR over to my August TBR, and that will just have to be okay. It is definitely not the end of the world, dear reader. Hee Hee! Instead of lamenting on the books that I did not get to in July, I will celebrate the ones that I did read. Hopefully, my July wrap up post will be more timely. To see my current book reviews or books I have read in the past, follow me on Goodreads at Katherine Loyacano. Happiness!
“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” ~ Joyce Carol Oates
"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." ~Gandhi
Run/Walk Schedule
Week #1: Walk 30 minutes a day, at least three times a week.
Week #2: Continue week-one workout but pick up the pace, pump your arms. Break a sweat!
Week #3: Walk 10 minutes. Run 1 minute. Walk 2 minutes (repeat this 3-minute session 5 times). Walk 10 minutes.
Week #4: Walk 10 minutes. Run 2 minutes. Walk 1 minute (repeat this 3-minute session 5 times). Walk 10 minutes.
The Kat Files 