Hey, my dear friends! Today is my one year anniversary of blogging! I have so much to be thankful for; most especially for all of you! I’m sharing a little bit about how I got here (eek! 😬) and also giving back some of the love I’ve felt from you all over the last year with an International Giveaway! So please read all the way to the bottom to enter! Lots of photos inside, too! Kittens!
“And so stand stricken, so remembering him!” Edna St. Vincent Millay.
How did I get here? Why do I blog?
I’ve had the above quote drafted as a post for almost a year. Like many of us, I started blogging to keep me busy. My soulmate kitty of sixteen years, Bailey, was ill and getting sicker by the day. I started blogging on May 3, 2018, and Bailey passed away four days later. I had a post drafted about Bailey, and I could never bear to finish it.
I tell you all of that to say this blog got me through a rough time, and it’s gotten me through a few more since then. And it’s not just the blogging that gets me through. It’s the support of all of you. Not a day goes by where I don’t pinch myself thinking about my dear friends who chat with me daily, tease me about mountainous TBRs (or lack thereof, in some cases- you know who you are!), share my posts, the ones who stop by to like them, and the entire sense of community we have here. It’s an amazing thing, and I imagine it’s helping many people and not just me.
Personal Update: 😬
A quick update because I’ve sporadically told a few of you here or there, and I don’t know where else to put this because I don’t often blog about personal things! Bailey’s littermate, Coley, my cat of almost 17 years, passed away on Christmas Day, just seven months after Bailey. She was the sweetest, most talkative cat I’ve known, and I miss her like crazy, too. The holidays were tough for our family.
I went to the Humane Society at the end of December “just to look” and came home with two kittens and a hairless (from a flea allergy) adult male I was worried no one would adopt because of how he looked. At the suggestion of my vet, I had the cats’ DNA tested, and my handful of a hairless cat is a Bengal (the vet knew based on his personality and behavior, even if he was hairless). My kittens are Abyssinian/Maine Coon, and I’m so in love with all three of them. Like blogging and reading, they keep us busy and out of trouble! (While they constantly stay IN trouble! 😂). The kittens are Charles “Dickens” and “Harper” Lee, while their older brother is Hemingway. Literary kittens. Ok, that’s my personal update for the year. 😂 Thanks for reading! ♥️
Twitter Jail:
It figures the week of my anniversary I would land back in Twitter jail for the first time in a couple months. I had been so careful, and it took me two full days to notice this time. 😂 I’m going to cut back on the liking of shares and daily thanking because I think I do those things too fast, and I don’t really know how to slow that down. I will absolutely NOT be cutting back on the sharing of your blog posts because that is the most important thing, and I will do my best to thank maybe in a weekly post like some do? Also, I’m sorry I’m silent right now on Twitter, but some of you have shared that’s the quickest way to get out of jail, so hopefully it’s just for a couple more days! 🤞
~INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY~
I have a little giveaway as a thank you to all of you who follow my blog. It’s open internationally because I have just as many good friends and followers out of the US as within the US, and it’s important for me to acknowledge every follower. I want to give away some books and a couple surprise bookish goodies. New followers are welcome to enter as well! ♥️
Thank you all for being here, for being YOU, for supporting me and my little blog, and for being my friends. I’m grateful for each and every one of you. ♥️
Please enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway
You must live in a country where either Amazon or The Book Depository are availble to you. The only sponsor of this giveaway is yours truly. I’ll pick the lucky winners on May 14, 2019, or shortly thereafter.
Happy Reading, my friends! Thank you all! ~ Jennifer THR (Oh, and I realize this looks like a cat lady’s blogiversary post, and hey, I guess that’s what I’ve become! 😂)
Hemy’s fur is still growing back in. We don’t know just yet what his top coat pattern will be! It’s fun to watch it evolve!
Thanks for the giveaway and congratulations! The first blogiversary is a sweet thing! (and a great achievement!!)
And your kittens are so adorable! 😍😍😍😍😍😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy 1st Blogiversary! Love your blog and this post with all your photos is wonderful 😍 Takes so much for the giveaway I’m definitely entering 📚👍😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
First blogiversary is a fun celebration! I agree that blogging and connecting can give us something productive to focus on in difficult times. Thanks for sharing your furry friends with us! Mostly thank you for being so supportive ….you helped me take the plunge on twitter and have been a great role model for me!
I think you asked for fav book this year…..I have a few titles competing but Ask Again, Yes might have the edge at the moment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on the blogging anniversary, Jenn. You have a fantastic blog and I will always adore your cats!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogiversary, Jennifer 🎉. I love your cats 😻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogaversary Jennifer! So happy to have connected with you and your fabulous blog too. Btw I love seeing the pics of your kittens, they’re so cute 🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
I adore your blog, lady! Happy blogiversary, hun x
Hope there’s many more to come x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogiversary Jen! I cant believe it’s been a year already! My favorite book so far in 2019 has got to be Dreams of Falling by Karen White! I’m sure I will find another book or two or one hundred from your reviews that I will love just as much! Thanks for the giveaway and congratulations!!😎💜🥳🥳🎉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean about ‘soulmate kitty’! I’m glad the new little ones have kept you busy. Happy Blogiversary!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy anniversary! Oh my your new additions are just gorgeous I’d love a Bengal their markings are beautiful, so cute! Happy they’re enjoying their new family and that this helps healing from your loss x
LikeLiked by 1 person
congratulations, and thanks for sharing your kitties’ pictures. Lots of love to them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for such a sweet peek into your life! I am a cat mommy too and they sure do worm their way into your heart, don’t they?
Dita
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the cat spam! 😂
Happy blog birthday, Jennifer! Here’s to many, many more to come!
One of my favourite books so far this year is …. wow, I already can’t choose. That’ll be a tough decision at the end of the year. Finding Dorothy, The Taking of Annie Thorne, 55 and Dirty Little Secrets. To name a few 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very happy one year blogiversary to you Jennifer. Here’s to many, many more! 🎂🥳🎈
Those kits are adorable. 🐾🐱🐈 xxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am mainly the purchaser of many books for 2 of my kids so far and 2 sisters. I also share them info so they can help to buy some of their own as well. One sister liked the book The Lost Night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogiversary! Your cats are absolutely adorable. Thanks for sharing the pictures! ❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hooray for saving kittens and congratulations on your blogiversary! My favorite book of 2019 has been Knockout Girl by Natasja Eby with a close second being Nightvision: Midnight Sands by C.H. Knyght.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on a year!!!
My favorite book of 2019 so far has been No Exit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy one year! (I genuinely find it hard to believe it’s only been one, I feel like I’ve been reading your posts for longer!!🤩)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogiversary! Your cats are gorgeous x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the giveaway! Love the cat pictures. So far my favorite reads of 2019 have been memoirs. Becoming, Maid and Tomorrow Will Be Different!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on your first Blogiversary!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jenni!! Happy 1 year blogaversary! I love all the pictures of the babies! I love the one of the twins in the BOTM box! I’m so sorry you lost some of your most dearest friends. I love that you are here to share great books and all the cat photos with me. This crazy cat lady herself! Thanks for being a friend! 😻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for this amazing giveaway (and all your other ones too) Happy blog anniversary!! Those kitties are too cute
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on 1 year! My favourite book so far this year is Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogiversary Jenni I love your photos on your blog and Instagram and of course your cats 😻 I particularly loved Baxter’s Requiem by Matthew Crow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogiversary, Jennifer! I adored seeing photos of all your beautiful fur babies and hearing their stories. That’s quite exciting that you ended up with a Bengal! Looking forward to many more posts from you😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your cats are so adorable. And I can totally feel you when your cats (pet you are obsessed with) dies. I’m a dog person and when my fluffy died 2 months ago I too was into trauma. He was pretty much everything to me. ):
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogaversary Jennifer!!! Love your instagram account.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogiversary, Jennifer! I have absolutely loved reading all of your reviews and bookish thoughts 🙂 and of course, seeing the cutest kitties ever is always a plus! Many of the books I have picked up this year are due to your recommendations. So thank you! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogiversary, Jennifer 🥂🎉 I for one love reading your reviews and look forward to many more!
Also, from a fellow crazy cat lady, I’ve loved looking at your gorgeous pictures in this post 🐈💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooops, forgot to telly you my favourite book (so far) of the year… The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary without a doubt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogiversary Jenni! I adore your blog, FB, and IG pages. Your reviews introduce me to new authors, are honest, and insightful. My favorite book in 2019, so far, has been The Beautiful Strangers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your blog and finding out all the scoop on books. We share the same taste in books, so your recommendations are always dear to me. I also love the personal side and seeing pics of your adorable cats. I don’t think I’ve been following you for the whole year, but always so excited to read your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, and favorite book so far, I think I have to go with “Things you Save in a Fire” by Katherine Center. Can’t wait until more people read that one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy bloggoversary!!! And a Maine Coon? He must be huge!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the giveaway and congratulations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG Jennifer!! Such an incredible post, I don’t know where to start. First, so sorry about Bailey and Coley. 😔 But so happy you’ve found more beautiful kitties. The Bengal is lovely!! 😍 All of your cats are precious. 🥰
My favorite thing about your blog is the content and the caption picture. You do such a wonderful job putting each post together, and I just love reading your reviews. They’re just the right length and always informative. Great job my friend. Seems like you’ve been at this for years!! 🤗😘 Sorry you’re in Twitter jail. Didn’t know Twitter does that when you like and retweet too much. 🙄 And I’m sure glad blogging has helped you to get through tough times. Ditto for me, too. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on the Blogversary! And here’s to many more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Happy!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogiversary, and here is too many more! I love you cats, they are beautiful! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy 1st blogiversary!! And many more… I love all the pictures of your beautiful cats, cat lady!! Thanks for the giveaway. Hope that you get out of twitter jail soon! 🐱🐾🐾❤️📚🍰😘😊🐈🐾🐾🐾🐾💐🎂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My favorite book so far is Next Year in Havana!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy first blogiversary! I’m so sorry it was a year full of loss, but it does also sound as if you’ve filled it with love, too. Here’s to many more years of love, cats, and books x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on a spectacular year! Yours was one of the first blogs I followed when I began mine. It’s hard to believe you are only one year in as you’re so GREAT at it💜
Thanks for creating a beautiful space here and contributing to my shelf exponentially. My shelf runneth over😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogiversary Jen! The first of many I’m sure! Your kitties are sweethearts 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogiversary. My favorite book so far would have to be Where The Crawdads Sing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogsiversary!!! Your cats are adorable. I have Maine Coon mixes too :). Got mine from a free ad on Craigslist. I’ve been in Twitter jail too….lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogiversary, Jennifer! I can’t believe it’s only been a year. You’re such a big generous part of this blogging community! Here’s looking forward to sharing many more years of books with you 🥂🌸😘🎉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Big congratulations!!!🎉🎉🎉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy blogiversary, Jennifer! 🎉😻
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your blog Jennifer!! Happy Blogiversary!!! Your kitties are so adorable. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person