Thanks to the TH-cam algorithm I found you I’m thinking in the early fall. I love that it’s not drawing and it makes me feel like I can create a pretty bullet and reading journal as well. And what I like even more? The easy going attitude about mistakes and not hitting a reading goal. After all as you pointed out it’s just a number! And mistakes, it is after all a hobby for enjoyment. This all adds up to videos that are relaxing to watch and brighten my day
I haven't honestly read a book in a long, long time. But I want to start again. So while watching this/listening to this on my second monitor, I set up my temporary digital library card (my old card expired) and StoryGraph. I set myself a small goal because I just don't know how much I'll really want to read or listen to, at least for now. I need to have eye surgery soon, so we'll see what happens after that. 10 books, less than one a month. That would be nothing for you. LOL But that's ten more than I read last year, so here's hoping. Wish me luck!
Audio books are great! You can find a lot of them on YT, too. That might be a good option after your eye surgery. I hope your surgery goes well and that you fully recover quickly!
Hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of rediscovering the hobby! Libraries are so amazing for audiobooks, and audiobooks are so good for helping you to get going again with reading. There are a bunch of books I read over last year that I know I wouldn't have been able to plod through if I was reading a physical copy, but that I'm really glad I still got the benefit of their content!
I keep a reading journal as well, and when I finish a book but am not able to do the journal yet, I write my initial thoughts on a post it note, just to outline stuff that I know I'd want to talk about in my journal. When I finally get to my journal, I just look at my notes and then I can expound on my thoughts
I remember giving my sister Gwen and Art Are Not In Love for Christmas in 2023, just randomly saw it in the bookshop and thought it looked fun. Now I need to call her and borrow it haha So many gorgeous spreads. Can't wait to see what you do with a big square journal this year🥰
The spreads are always so great! I've loved how you used the TN format. As someone whose planning happy place is the regular-size TN, I'm always looking for inspo and you've given me tons. About your comments on GR's goals and people's comments on it: I don't understand why some folks feel compelled to gatekeep how others have fun. Personally, as long as people are reading and having a good time, I don't care how or what they read. I set my goodreads goal to 12 books because I have to set them to something and "1" feels a little silly to me, but I don't have a set number of books I want to read. There were years I read 30 books and years that I read 80 (like 2024).
I really liked the description of the book Last Call... I wanted to read it. I'm glad I found a translation into my native language, and I think she'll be next in line for this month. Thanks for the inspiration.
I sat and filled out some of my reading bingos while watching this. I've just bought a copy of The Kingdom of Sweets, as I'd read the original Nutcracker book and watched the ballet last month. Can't wait to read a darker take on it. It's my first time in a square journal as well and I'm finding the space a tad overwhelming so far. I'm currently 3 books in to the Lockwood & Co series, don't usually read YA but I'm really enjoying them so far.
Been watching your reading journal videos over the past year so thank you for the cozy videos! And as someone who has OCD and has dealt with harm OCD, plus I love cute romances, thank you for the book recommendation (and to the person who brought it up within the book club!) ❤
You show me what can be done with washi tape and stickers! So lovely. I'm learning how to use washi tape but one does need coordinating stickers which I do not have so I am putting teeny tiny drawings with my UEF fountain pen where stickers could go. Fountain pen inks takes longer to dry so I keep smudging them, ugh😢. Will try to add gold pen touches later. Thank you for being inspiring.
Watched this while setting up my own travelers notebook reading journal- my first reading journal ever! To say that this series was influential is an understatement lol. The book bracket looks fun, but I'm more inclined to use Jess/Jashi's method because I'd worry too much about a book ranking higher than it should just because I was in a reading slump that month 😅
I'm so excite red for your TN reading journal! It's a truly delightful notebook size! 🥹 I have deliberately not brought a book bracket forward into 2025 since this one felt so inaccurate - I do have a Hall of Fame though!
I take this opportunity to thank you for your videos. I am trying this year to create a bullet jounal, after starting travel journal last year. Greetings from France
I enjoyed Pumpkin Spice Cafe, didn’t love but did enjoy. I haven’t really read any small town romances before but it was an easy bit of escapism. But I absolutely LOVED the second book - the Cinnamon Bun Book Store. Characters drew me in so so much more. That’ll be a cosy reread for me I’m sure of it!
Interesting to see you're planning to incorporate your audiobook reading time as well, curious to see how this experiment will turn out for you. 💖 (I know I'm 'a bit' extra when it comes to administrating my reading, but what I like to do is actually timing every reading session I do (I'm using the ReadMore and the Bookmory apps for that), so I have an exact hour.minute value to write down on every book review page. I find it more accurate for audiobooks as well, since I don't really read them at 1x speed, it's more like 1.25-1.5-1.75, depending on the narrator's default speed and accent (as I'm ESL, not a native speaker). )
Hi Erin, if you're still looking for Australiana themed stickers/washi I find that The WashiGang often has a nice collection. Especially in washi tape form. Hope this helps.
Happy New Year Erin! I read Pumpkin Spice Cafe in December too, but I super enjoyed it. I do agree it is NOT a Gilmore Girl's kind of vibe, but I liked the small town vibe, and I like the obvious romance kind of thing. I'm just starting the second book and will read the third, then have to wait for #4 in March. I haven't been watching you long, but I am not surprised you didn't like it much. I also finished reading The Spellshop, and I look forward to seeing your review on that one. Looking forward to seeing what you read this year.
I just bought Gwen & Art Are Not In Love and I'm so excited🎉 Fake Dating with characters who are gay in opposite directions and marry to protect each other is one of my favourite niche tropes and also the cover is really pretty so of course I had to buy it😂
I think one year I'll try formatting my reading journal like you do, it's just very intimidating lol Also added you to Story Graph! I'm a sucker for stats!
Your Audible sounds very different from mine lol. If you want a book based on Australia I found "The Cuckoo's Cry" by Caroline Overington. There's also an Australian character in the "End of Days" trilogy but I don't know if that's your sort of thing.
Thanks for the nice video again Erin!! I always love your reading journal ones cause then I sometimes discover new exciting books :) Oh, I also noticed a little error in this video (don't ask me how lol). When you added up your cawpile ratings for Can I Tell You Something, I think you forgot a 6, because if I'm not mistaken the sum would be 42, not 36, which then divided by 7 would be a 6 average. If I overlooked something and am wrong just ignore this haha. Wish you a wonderful day!!
You could have “fixed” your book bracket by just eliminating one book from each round. So, the original six would go down to the top 5 of that group, etc. Your January spreads is so lovely.
Oh that’s smart! I’ll have to get me a very fine pen 🤣 (Storygraph only allows down to quarter star ratings though so I will likely stick to the quarter increments - it’s also easier for my bad-at-maths brain)
@@ErinSmith Right... I forgot you do digital stat tracking! I'm strictly analog, so working in 20's from 100 is perfectly 👌 to my visual driven brain. It sucks that a digital system won't let you switch between 1/4 and 1/5, though. 😔
I’ve been wanting to read the pumpkin spice cafe for a while and I was thinking the same thing that it would be over hyped, and the authors name is a pen name and it’s supposed to be a Gilmore girls inspired book by my understanding xx
Would love to see you rank your favourite books of the year without the cawpile rating. Our reading lists align a lot and i would love some inspiration!
I have a Hall of Fame spread in the TN journal that I haven’t filled out yet - it likely won’t be ranked but it will be all my favs from the year! That’ll be in the flip through, coming soon 😉
Nutcracker retellings died for me after reading Rebecca F. Kenney Court of Sugar and Spice of the Wicked Darlings series. The Sugarplum fairy has certainly a surprise up his sleeve (or pants). Please be cautious with reading this series.
I had no idea Pumpkin Spice Cafe was a big deal on Tiktok ( i avoid it due to the generally poor recommendations). The book for me was like s comforting and familiar hug. Yes the story was predictable and I've read similar things, but I think that's what made it my favourite December read. With a hectic and busy end of year I just really needed something cozy, simple, and familiar to read.
Aww I’m glad it gave you that warm hug feeling Heather! That’s something I love about books, how things can resonate so differently with different people!
![I bought a counterfeit stationery advent calendar ✨ Journal Vlog [giveaway closed]](/img/n.gif)
Thanks to the TH-cam algorithm I found you I’m thinking in the early fall. I love that it’s not drawing and it makes me feel like I can create a pretty bullet and reading journal as well. And what I like even more? The easy going attitude about mistakes and not hitting a reading goal. After all as you pointed out it’s just a number! And mistakes, it is after all a hobby for enjoyment. This all adds up to videos that are relaxing to watch and brighten my day
I haven't honestly read a book in a long, long time. But I want to start again. So while watching this/listening to this on my second monitor, I set up my temporary digital library card (my old card expired) and StoryGraph. I set myself a small goal because I just don't know how much I'll really want to read or listen to, at least for now. I need to have eye surgery soon, so we'll see what happens after that. 10 books, less than one a month. That would be nothing for you. LOL But that's ten more than I read last year, so here's hoping. Wish me luck!
Audio books are great! You can find a lot of them on YT, too. That might be a good option after your eye surgery. I hope your surgery goes well and that you fully recover quickly!
Congratulations! Audiobooks are awesome, especially dramatized books, they feel like going to the movies.
10 a year is more than none a year! it's as good an amount as any. just read for a joy of reading, not for numbers 😁
Congrats! I personally love StoryGraph for all it's extra data!
Hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of rediscovering the hobby! Libraries are so amazing for audiobooks, and audiobooks are so good for helping you to get going again with reading. There are a bunch of books I read over last year that I know I wouldn't have been able to plod through if I was reading a physical copy, but that I'm really glad I still got the benefit of their content!
How exciting to see all three sizes of reading journals in one video!
I need to sit with my TBR whenever I watch Erin’s videos
I keep a reading journal as well, and when I finish a book but am not able to do the journal yet, I write my initial thoughts on a post it note, just to outline stuff that I know I'd want to talk about in my journal. When I finally get to my journal, I just look at my notes and then I can expound on my thoughts
I’ve been known to do this in my notes app in my phone - I just didn’t realise I’d have so little time in December so I didn’t think to do it 🥲
I remember giving my sister Gwen and Art Are Not In Love for Christmas in 2023, just randomly saw it in the bookshop and thought it looked fun. Now I need to call her and borrow it haha
So many gorgeous spreads. Can't wait to see what you do with a big square journal this year🥰
The spreads are always so great! I've loved how you used the TN format. As someone whose planning happy place is the regular-size TN, I'm always looking for inspo and you've given me tons.
About your comments on GR's goals and people's comments on it: I don't understand why some folks feel compelled to gatekeep how others have fun. Personally, as long as people are reading and having a good time, I don't care how or what they read.
I set my goodreads goal to 12 books because I have to set them to something and "1" feels a little silly to me, but I don't have a set number of books I want to read. There were years I read 30 books and years that I read 80 (like 2024).
This 💜💜💜💜
I love all your set ups. However this January is my favorite favorite one. ❤
I really liked the description of the book Last Call... I wanted to read it. I'm glad I found a translation into my native language, and I think she'll be next in line for this month. Thanks for the inspiration.
Love love love!! So excited to watch you fill in your 2025 reading journal! 💜
Thanks for coming on the journey with me! 🥹
I sat and filled out some of my reading bingos while watching this. I've just bought a copy of The Kingdom of Sweets, as I'd read the original Nutcracker book and watched the ballet last month. Can't wait to read a darker take on it. It's my first time in a square journal as well and I'm finding the space a tad overwhelming so far. I'm currently 3 books in to the Lockwood & Co series, don't usually read YA but I'm really enjoying them so far.
Been watching your reading journal videos over the past year so thank you for the cozy videos! And as someone who has OCD and has dealt with harm OCD, plus I love cute romances, thank you for the book recommendation (and to the person who brought it up within the book club!) ❤
I’m so glad I could send that recommendation your way! 🥰
You show me what can be done with washi tape and stickers! So lovely. I'm learning how to use washi tape but one does need coordinating stickers which I do not have so I am putting teeny tiny drawings with my UEF fountain pen where stickers could go. Fountain pen inks takes longer to dry so I keep smudging them, ugh😢. Will try to add gold pen touches later. Thank you for being inspiring.
I'm in a square this year too, I'm having a lot of fun completely rethinking my monthly set ups! Love your January colour palette ❤
Watched this while setting up my own travelers notebook reading journal- my first reading journal ever! To say that this series was influential is an understatement lol. The book bracket looks fun, but I'm more inclined to use Jess/Jashi's method because I'd worry too much about a book ranking higher than it should just because I was in a reading slump that month 😅
I'm so excite red for your TN reading journal! It's a truly delightful notebook size! 🥹 I have deliberately not brought a book bracket forward into 2025 since this one felt so inaccurate - I do have a Hall of Fame though!
Hi Erin, thank you for sharing, Regards from France
I take this opportunity to thank you for your videos. I am trying this year to create a bullet jounal, after starting travel journal last year. Greetings from France
These are so fun to watch.
I started reading Tomes & Tea in December as well and I am really loving them! Such a cozy series. 🫶🏻
You should look into those cooling pads for cats and dogs. I'm gonna buy one of those for myself (I'm from the Caribbean)
It's a few years old, but Kathleen Jennings's Flyaway is a creepy fantasy set in a small town in Queensland that I found enthralling.
Ooh that sounds fun! Thanks Virginia!
I enjoyed Pumpkin Spice Cafe, didn’t love but did enjoy. I haven’t really read any small town romances before but it was an easy bit of escapism. But I absolutely LOVED the second book - the Cinnamon Bun Book Store. Characters drew me in so so much more. That’ll be a cosy reread for me I’m sure of it!
Interesting to see you're planning to incorporate your audiobook reading time as well, curious to see how this experiment will turn out for you. 💖
(I know I'm 'a bit' extra when it comes to administrating my reading, but what I like to do is actually timing every reading session I do (I'm using the ReadMore and the Bookmory apps for that), so I have an exact hour.minute value to write down on every book review page. I find it more accurate for audiobooks as well, since I don't really read them at 1x speed, it's more like 1.25-1.5-1.75, depending on the narrator's default speed and accent (as I'm ESL, not a native speaker). )
Hi Erin, if you're still looking for Australiana themed stickers/washi I find that The WashiGang often has a nice collection. Especially in washi tape form. Hope this helps.
Also cannot wait to hear what you think about The Spellshop. I guess it is a cozy romance
Happy New Year Erin! I read Pumpkin Spice Cafe in December too, but I super enjoyed it. I do agree it is NOT a Gilmore Girl's kind of vibe, but I liked the small town vibe, and I like the obvious romance kind of thing. I'm just starting the second book and will read the third, then have to wait for #4 in March. I haven't been watching you long, but I am not surprised you didn't like it much. I also finished reading The Spellshop, and I look forward to seeing your review on that one. Looking forward to seeing what you read this year.
Gwen and Art are not in Love was the first book I read of the new year. I thought it was so cute ❤
I just bought Gwen & Art Are Not In Love and I'm so excited🎉 Fake Dating with characters who are gay in opposite directions and marry to protect each other is one of my favourite niche tropes and also the cover is really pretty so of course I had to buy it😂
You’re in for such a good time Emily! 😍 I would die for Sid!
I think one year I'll try formatting my reading journal like you do, it's just very intimidating lol Also added you to Story Graph! I'm a sucker for stats!
Your Audible sounds very different from mine lol. If you want a book based on Australia I found "The Cuckoo's Cry" by Caroline Overington. There's also an Australian character in the "End of Days" trilogy but I don't know if that's your sort of thing.
19:13 I was going to say you better put that giant spider on the spread! Everyone knows AU is known for giant monster spiders. 😂
Gotta put the spider there to keep the flies away!
Thanks for the nice video again Erin!! I always love your reading journal ones cause then I sometimes discover new exciting books :)
Oh, I also noticed a little error in this video (don't ask me how lol). When you added up your cawpile ratings for Can I Tell You Something, I think you forgot a 6, because if I'm not mistaken the sum would be 42, not 36, which then divided by 7 would be a 6 average. If I overlooked something and am wrong just ignore this haha. Wish you a wonderful day!!
Oh thank you for this! maths is definitely not my strong suit 🤣
@@ErinSmith ahh that's totally fine! everyone has some weaknesses but also your very own strenghts too :)
You could have “fixed” your book bracket by just eliminating one book from each round. So, the original six would go down to the top 5 of that group, etc. Your January spreads is so lovely.
I would have never figured out that fix! I wait until the end of the year, and the book that remains most memorable is my book of the year.
Thanks for some book ideas. ❤
If you round, round to the 5th so the points match star tips. That 3.8 was perfect for it, because you just fill in 3 full and 4 star tips. 😘
What an interesting idea; I like it much better than a 0.25 round
Oh that’s smart! I’ll have to get me a very fine pen 🤣 (Storygraph only allows down to quarter star ratings though so I will likely stick to the quarter increments - it’s also easier for my bad-at-maths brain)
@@ErinSmith Right... I forgot you do digital stat tracking! I'm strictly analog, so working in 20's from 100 is perfectly 👌 to my visual driven brain. It sucks that a digital system won't let you switch between 1/4 and 1/5, though. 😔
I’ve been wanting to read the pumpkin spice cafe for a while and I was thinking the same thing that it would be over hyped, and the authors name is a pen name and it’s supposed to be a Gilmore girls inspired book by my understanding xx
Would love to see you rank your favourite books of the year without the cawpile rating. Our reading lists align a lot and i would love some inspiration!
I have a Hall of Fame spread in the TN journal that I haven’t filled out yet - it likely won’t be ranked but it will be all my favs from the year! That’ll be in the flip through, coming soon 😉
@@ErinSmith OMG YESSSSSS CANT WAIT
Hi did you change the size for the reading journal I really like that travel size a page a book set up
I switched into the little one in October 🥰
Nutcracker retellings died for me after reading Rebecca F. Kenney Court of Sugar and Spice of the Wicked Darlings series. The Sugarplum fairy has certainly a surprise up his sleeve (or pants). Please be cautious with reading this series.
Eep 😅
I had no idea Pumpkin Spice Cafe was a big deal on Tiktok ( i avoid it due to the generally poor recommendations). The book for me was like s comforting and familiar hug. Yes the story was predictable and I've read similar things, but I think that's what made it my favourite December read. With a hectic and busy end of year I just really needed something cozy, simple, and familiar to read.
Aww I’m glad it gave you that warm hug feeling Heather! That’s something I love about books, how things can resonate so differently with different people!
I know that they aren't in your part of Australia - at all. But do you like Jane Harper?
I’m not familiar actually! Where would you recommend I start?
MORRIS DANCING MENTIONED
IT’S MY THING NOW, I’M FOLKY! Wait til I start playing the box in vlogs 😎