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Katie

@joyfulteacup

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☕️ All about the cup of life - and I fill it
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So…I’m a collector of many things. One of them being books. One can never have too many books. The problem is my bookshelves definitely ✨can✨have too many books. I’ve more books than shelves. Instead of reading and purging my books, I just….collect them. In true Book Dragon form.

I add new (or new to me used) books to my shelves, take out books from the library, take out digital library loans… all while my physical TBR and unread books on my shelves look on in betrayal. The worst part is that I often procrastinate on reading books on my shelves – especially ones I’m most excited about! – because once I read them… they’ll be ✨done.✨

Enter: The Book Advent(ure) box. My 2025 reading challenge. One “surprise” books from my shelf per month for the entire year of 2025.

I removed 12 books from my shelves - mostly ones I’ve been procrastinating reading - and wrapped them in indiscriminate wrapping paper, shuffled them up, and labeled them 1-12. Each month I’m going to open one of them. That book will be my mandatory read for the month. Anything else read is a bonus! ☺️

Pop over to the blog for a list of the 12 books I added to my Book Advent(ure) Box.
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#bookstagram #bookish #booksbooksbooks #2025readingchallenge #somanybooks #somanybookssolittletime #bookdragonsunite #bookloversunite #bookdragon taken in Maine by @joyfulteacup

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2 years ago

Well, hello there. It has been a while.

It is a wee bit past New Years, but I’m bidding a not-so-fond farewell to 2024. While gratitude and cultivating joy will always be an incredibly important part of my life, a journey toward authenticity is, as well. That means being honest: it was a hard year. One of the hardest yet. I’ve never been a fan of rollercoasters and 2024 was a doozy of one. There was a lot that contributed to the rollercoaster, but, namely, we watched dad try to fight, suffer with, and ultimately succumb to cancer. Hence, the radio silence. Soon after my last post of dad and I celebrating his birthday, he went in for a routine screening and learned the cancer had returned, with a vengeance.

There is so much that I’m grateful for, especially in light of last year’s chaos and hardship, but it does not negate that the year was still hard. With the change of year, I’m focusing on finding a way back to balance after being off-kilter the last few years. ❤

Reflections on 2024, a small gratitude list for 2024, and what is next for me moving into 2025 are on the blog ( joyfulteacup.com ). taken in Maine by @joyfulteacup

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2 years ago

Happy little clouds in a happy little landscape. 🎨

(Dad’s birthday gift was a paint night. As often as we can, we do experiences over gifts to celebrate. ☺️ This time, we took an acrylic mini landscape painting class at River Tree Arts together.)
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#paintnights #experiencesnotthings #momentsofjoy #itsthesimplethings #joyfulteacup #everydaylifesnapshots #pursuewhatislovely #lifestyleblogs #mainestagrammers #newenglandigers #mylifeinsquares #bloggerdiaries #tuesdayart taken in River Tree Arts by @joyfulteacup

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2 years ago

It feels like January went by in the blink of an eye. (That also goes for February, by the way!) As winter often is around here, the time was subdued. Busy with life, but low on activity, as I settle into the nesting, withdrawing, nurturing aspect of winter to prepare for all of the fervent activity of spring, summer, and autumn. Here’s a few snapshots of moments that made the start of 2024 special, my heart happy, and filled my cup up during. I’ll expand on some of these moments in posts to come.

What were some moments helped fill the start of 2024 with joy or peace for you?

🎀 Kennebunkport with one of my nieces & two of my brothers
🎀 2024 intention setting
🎀 Theo realizing he loves the snow
🎀 Theo and I enjoying the snow together
🎀 Book mail
🎀 Baths (Why do I always forget how good I feel simply after either fresh air or a bath? Anyway, I used to do a bath once a week and I’m trying to get back to that again.)
🎀 Nature’s awe-inspiring, simplistic and yet majestic beauty
🎀 Theo learning to love the Snuggle Chair
🎀 Finishing P4A Memory 2023 drawings
🎀 Yoga with Tipper
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#januaryhighlights #momentsofjoy #itsthesimplethings #joyfulteacup #everydaylifesnapshots #pursuewhatislovely #lifestyleblogs #mainestagrammers #newenglandigers #mylifeinsquares #bloggerdiaries taken in Maine by @joyfulteacup

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3 years ago

Christmas decor p. 2 🎄🎅🏻 by @joyfulteacup

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3 years ago

Christmas decor p. 1 🎄

The Christmas decor finally came down earlier this month. It was up for the longest amount of time yet. But, before I took it down, I snagged a few photos like I do every year. It helps me recreate what I loved next year (and remember what I own, so I don’t fall to the temptation to buy more of what I don’t need next year). by @joyfulteacup

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3 years ago

A very (very, very, very) belated Happy New Year from my furkids and I to all of you.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been a bit behind on uploading lately. 😅 So, our Christmas photos became Happy New Year photos…which are now…happy February photos. 🫣 Well, at least the red in the color scheme works. (Pay no attention to the Christmas décor behind the subjects.)

Swipe ➡️ to the last two photos to see my absolute favorites of Tipper and Theo. Photo speed skills – and lots of treats – were required to obtain those pictures. It’ll probably never happen again. 😂
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#latergram📸 #happynewyear🎉 #happynewyear2024♥️🎆🎉✨🎈🌹💐❤️❤️❤️
#joyfulteacup #mainestagrammers #newenglandigers #lifestyleblogs #discoverunder1k #mylifeinsquares #bloggerdiaries #colormehappy #pursuewhatislovely #furkids🐾 #thatsdarling by @joyfulteacup

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3 years ago

What are a few of your favorite bookshelf decorations?

Little bookshelf decorations are one of my favorite ways to decorate. In an ideal world, I’d have less books per shelf and more space for shelf décor (and plants). I’m too much of a book dragon for that to happen, though. (Shout out to Bookstagram to turning me on to that word! 🤩 It really fits the description of collecting books like special treasures.)

I envy those who can be minimalist with their books. That is not me. I collect them until my shelves are overflowing, until every ledge is full, and until every burrow or desk has piles in every corner. Not even three library cards can stop the accumulation. Not even book swaps with my friends – my new found love – or dropping used books off at little libraries or used bookstores can stop it. 🙈 At some point, I’ve just succumbed to the fate of who I am. I loved to be surrounded by books. 📚

Theo, named lovingly after the Wyvern that hoards things precious to him in The House in the Cerulean Sea, hoards his toys, chews, and soft things he finds upon the floor. I hoard books and art supplies. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anyway, this was one of my newest bookshelf additions this year for the winter months, courtesy of a dear friend. (Yes, it’s technically a Hallmark Ornament. We don’t necessarily follow the rules in this house. 😝) The perfect little addition for this Mother Hen.♥️ taken in Maine by @joyfulteacup

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3 years ago

Gwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“I don’t think doing a difficult thing and being happy are mutually exclusive” – Lex Croucher, Gwen & Art Are Not In Love

Lovers of Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On series or F.T. Lukens’ novels will appreciate the vibe and writing style of this novel. If you grew up enjoying A Knights Tale, the humor and modern-historical vibe of this novel also reminded me of that movie. The first 70% is a bunch of fun and humor, romance, and adventure. It is not a retelling of Arthurian legend. It is its own story – with just a sprinkling of the history of King Arthur in the background. A story set in medieval times and is wonderfully gay.

Originally, I was going to rate this a 3.5 but decided to bump it up to a 4 because I think I was impacted by the audiobook. Personally, I wish I’d read this as a hardcopy. Not an audiobook. While I’ve come to adore audiobooks on the whole, I just couldn’t connect with the narration of either of the main characters. It skewed my whole view of the novel for a while, until I read a few pages in the hardcopy and realized what was off. Some of the witty, snarky dialogue and wild, darker humor came off better on the page than through the narration. The narration made the characters more obnoxious than lovable. (That’s just personal preference, though. I’ve heard people say it was better on audio for them.)

The dialogues – many of which were banter – and friendships were some of my favorite parts of the novel. One of the main couples needed more time together on the page for me to fully see their connection, but I loved what was revealed to us. I would’ve loved to see a bit more character development in some of the leads, as well.

Highlights, loves, & things of note:
💗Character driven, for the most part
💗Snark, so much snark
💗 LGBTQIA FMC/MMC
💗”Enemies” to friends
💗 Found Family (my weakness, every time)
💗 Branching off of that: Sidney. We all need a best friend like Sidney.
💗Acceptance of friends & loved ones for all of who they are

(Continued in the comments) taken in Maine by @joyfulteacup

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

📖 Do I have a massive TBR pile at home?
📖Is that TBR pile overflowing onto ledges, shelves, boxes, and bookstands?
📖 Should I be on a book-buying hiatus?
📖 Do I have e-library books calling my name?

Yes, yes, yes, and…yes.

However, did any of that stop me from buying these when they caught my eye at a recent trip to Costco? Nope. 😅 I snatched them up so fast.

Mitch Albom’s novels are a personal weakness. They always move my soul in such a way that he’s become one of my favorite authors. (The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto and Tuesdays with Morrie will forever hold my heart.) Rarely do his books disappoint. So, whenever I find out about a new one, I have to add it to my collection.

As for Fourthwing, well.... I just finished reading it as an audiobook from the library so it wasn’t by any means a ✨need✨ but it was a beautiful copy of a book I greatly enjoyed. It was a fun combination of so many books I loved growing up, packaged in a New Adult book with the author’s own personal flare. So, here we are. It is on my shelf now, too. I can’t wait to read the bonus pages!

Who needs empty shelves anyway? 😝
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#bookstergram #readerforlife #bookishphoto #booksaremagical #bookishproblems #girlswhoread #booksbooksbooks #joyfulteacup #mainestagrammers #newenglandigers #lifestyleblogs #discoverunder1k #mylifeinsquares #bloggerdiaries #colormehappy #pursuewhatislovely taken in Maine by @joyfulteacup

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3 years ago

My favorite breakfasts are when both my soul and my body feel nourished. 🥰 Roasted Squash breakfast “bowls” make me feel like that every time. It’s why they’re one of my favorite autumn and winter breakfasts. Those cold months call for a little extra nurturing.💞

Using koginut – my personal favorite – or buttercup squash, I fill the roasted squash with non-dairy yogurt, chopped sausage, nuts, and a little granola or grain-free granola. It is creamy, flavorful, the perfect balance of savory and sweet, satisfying, and filling. I often roast more than one squash and eat it for breakfasts a few days in a row. When I do that, it is a quick and easy, but satiating and nutritious breakfast.

(I fell in love with Koginut squash this year. It has all of the sweet, rich nutty flavor of buttercup that I love, but is smoother in texture when roasted compared to the drier flesh of buttercup squash. 😍 We’ve found koginut locally at Whole Foods. If you’re able to get koginut squash to try this with, I highly recommend! The recipe is still delicious with buttercup squash.)

Ingredients:
🧡 1 Koginut or buttercup squash – cut in half and roasted, with seeds removed
🧡 ¼- ½ C Siggis Unsweetened Plain plant-based coconut blend yogurt or your favorite Greek-style yogurt
🧡 ½ - 1 cooked sausage of your preference. I used @bilinskisausage Organic Lemon Herb chicken sausage. ( ¼ C cooked ground meat is also delicious)
🧡 1/8 - ¼ C chopped walnuts
🧡 Sprinkle of your favorite granola. Lately, I’ve been using Lavender Blueberry Granola by @maplenutkitchen .
🧡 Optional: drizzle of honey

* Either use the squash fresh from the over or reheat until warmed through
* Scoop non-dairy yogurt into the bowl formed by the squash
* Top the yogurt with sausage, walnuts, and a sprinkle of granola & enjoy! 🙂
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#koginutsquash #squashbreakfastbowl #whatsforbreakfast #dailyeats
#lifestyleblogs #joyfulteacup #bloggersofig #newenglandblogger #discoverunder1k #mylifeinsquares #bloggerdiaries #colormehappy #pursuewhatislovely #newenglandigers #maineigers #cozyliving #nutritiousanddelicious taken in Maine by @joyfulteacup

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3 years ago