Hello, my lovelies and welcome to my March 2021 monthly wrap up post.
What have I been up to this month?
March has seen an increase in the number of occular migraines and “normal” migraines I get – I started getting them when I was perimenopausal. 🙁 This month has been so bad that I’ve had another MRI! Nothing there that shouldn’t be, thank heavens. However, I’ve been told to drastically reduce reading and screen time! Eek! How will I survive. Thank fck for audiobooks.
Coronavirus COVID-19 is still sweeping the globe with even more aggressive strains to contend with. *Eek* However, here in the UK, our immunisation programme has successfully been rolled out. Over 30 million people have received their first Covid-19 vaccination with 3.5 million fully vaccinated, including my parents and in-laws. Hopefully, the Lockdown3 has been eased slightly this month with all pupils back to school and non-essential shops reopening. However, our government are still keeping a close eye on contagion levels, hospitalisations and death rates. of the virus.
In bloggish news…
Affiliate Programmes
As bloggers, we’re continually bombarded with “make money from your blog“. In 2019 I wrote about my rather sceptical view of book bloggers being able to earn a living from our obsession hobby and my own lacklustre experience.
The Amazon Associate programme is never going to pay enough to cover my book-buying habit, so instead, I’ve joined the affiliate teams for the companies that make my book blogging experience a dream instead of a chore.
I love being a self-hosted blog with ChemiCloud and can’t recommend them enough. They’ve been quick to respond to my (many) queries and never make me feel like a tech-dummy. Go check them out. Their 50% discount means their plans start at just 2.99 per month! If you use my link, I’ll get a little referrer fee credited to my account. 💜 I want to thank the 202 of you that have already visited ChemiCloud using my link. Thanks for your comments and kind words.
Try Canva Pro for yourself
You may have noticed that I’ve also been looking at the graphics on my blog and across my social media accounts. I’ve been using Canva for a couple of years but recently upgraded to Canva Pro. I love it. The extras are AMAZING! 😉 If you use my link, I’ll get a little referrer fee for this too. 💜
I’ve been working through my existing reviews and adding the Ultimate Book Blogger plugin by Ashley @ NoseGraze to the posts. I love the plugin so much that I asked Ashley if I could be an affiliate! So again, if you use my link, I’ll get a little referrer fee which helps with the running costs of the blog. 💜
I’m not expecting to make my fortune being part of these affiliate teams, I’d just like to earn a couple of quid to buy some more audiobooks or eBooks to review for you.
My work on old posts and the blog in general has slowed this month due to all the migraines. However, new posts and reviews are SEO friendly with the help of the Yoast SEO plugin. I apologise for my lack of communication and engagement with tags and memes this month.
Please continue to let me know if any pages, posts or links throughout Flora’s Musings either don’t open or you have problems with.
What have I been posting?
Now on with the rest of my March 2021 monthly wrap up post. Luckily, I had lots of content scheduled. Feel free to click on anything that you missed this month.
Book Birthdays
I’ve been celebrating some wonderful 拾 New Releases 拾
No posts found.Blog Tours
I’ve taken part in some some wonderful Blog Tours
- 5 Mar - #BBNYA2020 Blog Tour: Ranger’s Oath (Fall of Radiance #1) by Blake Arthur Peel @BBNYA_Official @foliosociety
- 14 Mar - #BBNYA2020 Blog Tour: The Gilded King (Sovereign #1) by Josie Jaffrey @BBNYA_Official @foliosociety
- 27 Mar - What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson – Blog Tour @WriteReadsTours @penguinplatform
- 28 Mar - #BBNYA2020 Blog Tour: Stay Mad, Sweetheart by Heleen Kist @BBNYA_Official @foliosociety
Book Reviews
And, of course, this being a book blog, I shared my thoughts about some books I read this month:
- 3 Mar - Magical Midlife Dating by K. F. Breene ★★★★★
- 7 Mar - New Witch on the Block by Louisa West ★★★★
- 11 Mar - Besieged: Stories from the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne ★★★★★
- 21 Mar - Grimoires and Gingerbread: A Sugar Shack Witch Mystery Christmas Novella by Danielle Garrett ★★★
- 24 Mar - Consumed by Suzanne Wright ★★★★★
I’ve been sharing a few bookish bits and bobs this month. 😉
- 31 Mar - March 2021 Monthly Wrap Up
I’ve also been ❤️ loving ❤️ the fun tags, mems and awards around the blogosphere by my fellow book bloggers. 😉
No posts found.That’s it for my March 2021 Monthly Wrap Up. However, moving forward, what can you expect from me in April?
~ Coming up on Flora’s Musings ~
- Celebrating more New Book Releases.
- Hopefully some author interviews, cover reveals, book tours and spotlight posts.
- and of course, lots of book reviews!
~ My Current Reading Challenges ~
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I take part in the Goodreads Annual Reading Challenge but that’s not the only one I take part in. I thought that I’d use these regular wrap up posts to update you on my progress in all the challenges that I’m taking part in …
2021 Audiobook Challenge
Last year I joined the 2020 Audiobook Challenge. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve signed up again this year. ! 臘♀️
I’ve been listening to more and more audiobooks each year, so decided to take advantage of my growing addiction interest. 😉 I might even make the permanent switch from eBooks to audiobooks. Check out my progress on My Audiobook Challenge 2021 page.
I’ve been linking up to The Sunday Post which is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer.
(See rules here: Sunday Post Meme)
Don’t forget to hop along to some of the other amazing blogs taking part in the Sunday Post.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my March 2021 monthly wrap up post.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, stay safe and healthy.
Bye for now,
Flora x
I am sorry about your migraines. I’ve been getting a lot more headaches lately but fortunately not migraines. I think mine are allergy related. I have other symptoms, however, that have me wondering about perimenopause. I hope you are able to get relief for the migraines. Those are such miserable making.
Take care of yourself and Happy Reading!
Aww, thank you. You could probably get a test to see if you’re perimenopausal or if your headaches are linked to an allergy. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the latter. Lol!
Sorry to hear about the increase in migraines. How miserable. Glad the MRI showed nothing but less reading sounds like a terrible fix. 😉
I know, Tanya. Part of me just says “blow it, what’s a little pain, right” lol! But honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without audiobooks.
I hope you have a great April! Thank you for sharing an open post about your March.
Thanks, Lauren. I hope you have a great month too.
Yikes. I’m sorry to read about those migraines. I hope they get better soon. And I do hope you’ll be able to listen to lots of audiobooks. Not being able to read as much sounds horrible.
Have a great week and happy reading!
Thanks Maureen, it’s a bookworm’s worst nightmare. But thankfully the audiobooks are keeping me sane. Well, as sane as I was before.
Oh no- I’m sorry to hear about the migraines. I hope you are feeling better! And glad to hear the MRI didn’t show anything alarming.
Hope your week ahead is a good one.
Thanks Greg. Hope your week is a good one too.
I’m so sorry about the migraines. My daughter suffers too and it’s no fun. I’m looking forward to doing the Iron Druid Chronicles as a Read-along in 2023 as I’ve never read them, except the first book. Happy Spring!
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Thanks Anne. Love the Iron Druid Chronicles – do you think I could read-along with audiobooks instead?
Sorry to hear about the migraines! I’m a sufferer too and when they get bad they get BAD. I had something similar sounding to what you’re going through a couple of years ago and it sucked, big time… For me, it lasted about 5 months then resumed “regular” programming. Fingers crossed this phase passes and you can get back to “normal” migraines soon!
As you say, thank god for audiobooks!
Thanks Nicci. Yes, they’re horrible, aren’t they. Normal migraines are bad enough but these ocular/retinal ones are quite scary.
Hope you have a lovely bank holiday weekend, Nicci.
Ooh, the thought of having to curtail reading and viewing makes me sigh. Good luck with that!
Enjoy your books and your viewing while you can…and thanks for visiting my blog.
Thanks, Laurel-Rain, I am struggling with the screen time thing but audiobooks are satisfying my book cravings. x
Looks like you have been having a very busy and productive time in life and on the blog. The images you use are very pretty. I am very sorry to here about the migraines you have been suffering with though – Sending you blessings for healing and comfort in these health difficulties. I have been taken a food supplement called Moon Balance from YourSuper.com that is for PMS and menopausal problems – It might not be for you but it has helped with my symptoms of headaches, low mood and anxiety. Take care and happy reading.
Thanks Jessica, you always think the aesthetics on other sites are better than your own, so thanks for saying my images are pretty.
I’ll check out Moon Balance, thanks for the recommendation. x
Happy April and I hope the migraines cease or lesson so you can get more reading in!
Thanks Kal, me too! Although, I’m really enjoying the audiobook experience. Happy April to you too. x
Im sooory about your migraines. I was worried regular migraines would reoccur with peri menopause, but so far so good. Instead my insomnia has worsened and I get surprise angry ‘visits’
Wishing you an awesome April
Thanks, Shelleyrae. Sometimes I feel that this stage in our lives is more trying than adolescence! Lol! Hope you have an awesome April too. x
Happy April!!
You too, Freda x