Monthly Check-In - June

Lots of boxes checked in the month of May! I'm rolling in to June full steam ahead, keys to the shop in hand, walls painted, bookshelves built. Here's where I stand with my goals and a few more updates.

Week 1: Lots of painting

The colors of my shop.

The Big One - Stop biting my nails.

The first weeks of June were the toughest yet. With my manual labor duties on the rise, there have been a few close calls but so far I am still calling this goal a success!

The Other Goals

1. Read a novel written in Spanish. Still no novels, and no picture books this month. But I am working on my Spanish lessons 4 days a week, despite all the other craziness going on!

2. Learn how to roller skate...again. No. However, I give a shout out to every roller skater I see and I also found a cool roller skate throw pillow I want to buy for the shop. Doesn't count but thinking about it.

3. Stop dying my hair. 👍👍I think I even managed to get a few more greys!

4. Learn how to use power tools. I really didn't set great parameters around this one so I guess what counts could be a lot of things. When we built bookshelves last weekend I was the person wielding the drill. Check it off the list!

My sister-in-law Jenn got a photo for evidence.

5. Join a writing group. Yes! And I love my group! We are a diverse group of writers from all over the country and reading their work, getting their feedback, has already shifted my writing in great ways!

6. Learn to play "Blackbird" on the guitar. My brother-in-law changed my guitar strings. I learned how to play "Born to Be Wild" but still nothing on "Blackbird."

7. Alice, Ever After Books

This is the most exciting part of 2021 for me! On June 1 I got keys and started building this sweet baby. The website (linked above) for the shop is updated! You can still buy books online and this will be the way to buy books and have them shipped to you even after the store opens. Once the store opens you will also have an option of picking up orders from the store but that will be limited to the inventory I have on hand. 

I finally finished my April Reese Witherspoon bookclub book and just got the May book from the library. One month behind isn't too bad, is it?

Finally warm weather!
Because of Covid, the Toronto Blue Jays
are playing at our minor league field.
Got to go to a very socially-distanced game!

I never say no to a carousel!
Buffalo's new Heritage Carousel 
on the waterfront.

My sister-in-law Katie made this sweet sign for the shop.

Oh hey, new business cards

Yep. It's all happening!