There will be a link-up on February 3rd to share about any new books you’ve added to your bookshelf in January. And by “new” I mean new-to-you, and by “added” I mean in any way, shape, or form. Library books definitely count, as do e-books or audio books. Instagram pics can be linked up as well, so no worries if you don’t have a blog post about it to share – just snap a picture!
I’m working on a graphic for the linkup, but it’s … not an area of giftedness for me. 
I’ve gotten something pulled together, as you can see. While this may very well be the best graphic I’ve ever done, this may not be the final version, if I can come up with something better (or find someone to make a nicer/more creative/all around more awesome one). The name is still up in the air a bit too. “New on the stacks” is where I’m leaning currently, but that may change. Any ideas or preferences, please share! Sleep deprivation brain is here and it’s definitely hindering my thinking processes.
I actually got my January oils order before I even managed to share about December’s, so here’s what I ordered both months:
Thieves soap (Love this stuff!)
Cedarwood (love this too – definitely one of my top five favorite oils. I love the smell, and it’s part of my nighttime routine to diffuse it.)
Valor (I am so happy this is back in stock, and I ordered the two bottles permitted.)
RuTaVala (Filling in from my list of oils I want to try)
Rosemary (Postpartum hair issues here, and am going to try this to see if it helps with the horrific texture my hair is currently experiencing)
Frereana Frankincense (regular Frankincense is still out of stock, and I’m almost out. Trying this as a substitute.)
Getting dinner on the table regularly has been a major challenge since having the baby. I keep thinking I can just do this or that and it’ll be easier.
Last weekend I finally decided to sign up for a menu planning service. It’s $5 a month, so it won’t take much before it saves me that in time and effort. I’m kicking myself a bit for taking so long to do this. I’d even been a beta tester for this plan when it first rolled out, but kept forgetting to actually sign up for it once that ended.
Last week a friend from grad school had a really quick visit with us, as she was in town on the way to a meeting in Kentucky. (Indianapolis counts as close enough to Louisville when you normally live in Colorado.) Despite that distance, she’s managed to make it to visit me and meet my new babies within a few months of each of them being born. That’s pretty awesome. 
I still think the cutest thing is one visit when G was talking, but still pretty young, and he kept calling her “snoozan” Not Susan, “Snoozan.” And then carrying on that tradition, H was calling her that this visit. What it is about my kids and the inability to pronounce “Susan” I don’t know, but it makes me laugh.
It’s the 23rd of January and I have finished very few books for the month. I’m starting them, but not completing them. If I’m to have anything to review next month, I need to get cracking and get some to the “have read” shelf instead of just the “currently reading” shelf.
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You\'re reading Seven Quick Takes on a New Linkup, Essential Oils, and Dinner Hope by Sheila Craig, originally posted on The Deliberate Reader on January 23, 2015. If you\'ve enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Sheila on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.