13 Penny Phrases

Colleen at The Thursday 13 holds a weekly blogging prompt where bloggers make a list of 13 things on Thursdays. The topic is for you to choose. The blog host doesn't have any official graphics to display on the Thursday 13 posts, so I decided to whip one up myself. 🙂  

With the last penny having been minted more than a week ago, I got to thinking of phrases that contain the word "penny" and what might become of them. Some of those phrases include (from this link and this one):

1. A bad penny always turns up
2. A penny for your thoughts
3. A penny saved is a penny earned
4. A pretty penny
5. Cut off without a penny
6. Pennies from heaven
7. Penny-pinching
8. Worth every penny
9. Find a penny pick up and all day long you'll have good luck
10. Penny wise and pound foolish
11. Penny dreadful
12. Spend a penny
13. The penny drops

Another thing that came to mind was the traditional Christmas rhyme that goes:

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat

Please [do] put a penny in the old man's hat

If you haven't got a penny, [then] a ha'penny will do

If you haven't got a ha'penny, [then] God bless you!

How many people have had to explain what a half-penny was? Yes, it was half a penny, and it was British. The US had a similar coin called the half-cent. Half-cents were the last coins discontinued by the US mint, in 1857. There also used to be large cents, which were replaced by the familiar cent that has now been discontinued.

The other day at work we played Pictionary, and on one of my turns, I picked a card that included the phrase "penny candy" as one of the options. I chose this one and drew an image of a coin with the 1¢ sign, followed by a drawing of a candy, but somehow no one guessed "penny" at first. "Cent" and "one cent" somehow did come to some people's minds, however.  The phrase "penny candy" went out years ago, because of the penny's loss of value.

This also brought to mind the dated lyrics of The Turtles' hit, "Happy Together," and the line "If I should call you up, invest a dime." How many people today have had to explain this to younger people who have no idea about pay phones and how they cost a dime? (Not mention what a pay phone even was, but that's a whole other topic) Even the pay phone cost went up with inflation. Are we going to now say "a nickel for your thoughts" or "put a nickel in the old man's hat" (from the aforementioned Christmas rhyme? This could easily be a topic for another time, songs with dated lyrics about technology or costs.

Decades Reading Challenge: 2026 Edition

 Once again, doing this one, at Book Girls' Guide.

January--1880s--1890s*:

February--1900s--1910s*:

March--1920s:

April--1930s:

May--1940s:

June--1950s:

July--1960s:

August--1970s:

September--1980s:

October--1990s:

November--200s--2010s*:

December--Spanning Decades:

* For the months that cover two decades, you only need to read one book from that time period.

Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2026

Another I have been doing for years. Even though I didn't make a lot of progress on this one this year, I plan to going again, getting as many books as possible.

Welcome to the 16th annual Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge! We're off to another year of cozy mystery reading! Once again, I'm giving challengers two options - one is to read only sub-genres and the other is to read cozy mysteries of your choice.

To find out exactly what a cozy mystery is, check out Cozy-Mystery.com. This site is dedicated to cozy mysteries and does a great job of defining them as well as giving a list of cozy mysteries. This challenge is NOT restricted to what is on their list, it's just to be used as a guideline in case you need some hints on what to read.

This cozy mystery reading challenge has two ways to participate and you can choose whichever suits you the best:
A) Read only cozy mysteries of your choice.

My Books:

1. 
   

Creativity Reading Challenge 2026

My last one for 2026. I wasn't too sure about bring this one back. I've made less progress on it this year than on the others I host.  I now will see how I do next year, and see if I want to keep this one going after next year.

This challenge is about reading books on creativity, art, crafts, writing, film making, photography, cosmetology, DIY, cooking, music and any other topic that helps you live a more creative life. 

Challenge Guidelines

• Runs January 1 to December 31, 2026. 
• I won't be creating different levels. Read as many books as you want.
• Books may be nonfiction, memoir, how-to, self help, coffee table books, instructional, picture books, and even fictional books if they are about people who are creative.
• You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks or audiobooks
• You may reread books. 
• Books may count towards other reading challenges in which you are participating.
• Sign up below in the comments. 

Need ideas for reading? Here are some links to get started:

40 of the Best Books to Unlock Your Creativity

Fiction Books Involving Art

11 Essential Art History Books

2026 Key Word Reading Challenge

 Another favorite, from the same hosts as the Motif Challenge.

Read a book each month with one (or more) of the key words in the title. Variations of key words are allowed. For example: Drown, Drowning, Drowned are all okay for the key word ‘drown’.

JANUARY Weekend, Keep, Ground, Door, Among, Midnight, Glitter, Highway:

FEBRUARY Lying, Ruin, Alchemy, Hoax, Blind, Chance, Flower, Sound:

MARCH Favorite, Orange, Picture, Broken, Sister, Look, Forget, Fortune:

APRIL  Mirror, Mist, Party, Stray, Light, People, Everlasting, Spell:

MAY Bright, Creek, Letter, Empire, Forever, Emerald, Wreck, Eye:

JUNE Box, Apple, Castle, Fool, Middle, Cold, Flight, Become:  

JULY Fall, Sun, Boyfriend, Thousand, Shores, Country, Confession, Society:

AUGUST Matter, Spy, Roof, Missed, Zero, Enchant, Water, Point:

SEPTEMBER Orbit, Hot, Daydream, Endure, Curse, Ice, Decay, Smile:

OCTOBER Prey, Crypt, Hollow, Dreadful, Killer, Hex, Wolf, Lore:

NOVEMBER Whistle, Quiet, Bitter, Rising, Strings, Lands, Seven, Song:   

DECEMBER Lemon, Welcome, Bake, Crush, Cafe, Taste, Cat, Kind:

2026 Motif Reading Challenge

 One of my favorites is now up for 2026.

JANUARY- Read Around the Clock  Read a book with a clock on the cover:

FEBRUARY- Secrets, Lies, & Schemes Read a book in which the characters are telling lies, keeping secrets, or involved in schemes: 

MARCH- Books on the Brain Read a fiction or non-fiction book with a brain-function related theme. This could be memory, processing, mental health, dementia, dreaming, subconsciousness, thinking patterns, intelligence, brain injuries, etc.:

APRIL- Alliteration Appreciation Read a book with repeating sounds or letters in the title:

MAY- Debut Novels Read an author’s first career published novel:

JUNE- Under the Neon Lights Read a book with neon, electric, and fluorescent colors or typography on the cover:

JULY- Literary Road Trip Read a book that takes place somewhere that is at least 5000 miles from where you currently live: 

AUGUST-  Celestial Covers Read a book with celestial beings on the cover, or as part of the title (stars, comets, planets, galaxies, etc):

SEPTEMBER- Based in Truth Read a book that is based on real-life events:

OCTOBER- Otherworldly Read a book with otherworldly elements or entities in it. This can range from angels and demons to aliens, mythical creatures like elves and dragons, ghosts, magical characters, or any unexplained phenomena:

NOVEMBER- Indie Imprints Read a book published by an independent publisher:

DECEMBER- Eats, Treats, & Sweets Read a book with food, candy, or pastries on the cover, or as an integral part of the story: 

Read With Allison’s 2026 Reading Challenge

 Another favorite is now up.

1. Book Released in January (Any Year):
2. Five Star Prediction:
3. Received as a Gift:
4. 2025 Bestseller:
5. Book Released in February (Any Year):
6. Bought Over a Year Ago:
7. Genre: Romance:
8. Sweet Treat on the Cover:
9. Released in March (Any Year):
10. From a Subscription Box:
11. Genre: Fantasy:
12. Recommended by a Friend or Family Member:
13. Features Fresh Beginnings:
14. Released in April (Any Year):
15. Has a Cover You Love:
16. Set in a Country You’ve Never Visited:
17. Genre: Contemporary Fiction:
18. Released in May (Any Year):
19. Book You’ve Seen Someone With in Public:
20. Number in the Title:
21. Book You Own Multiple Copies of:
22. Released in June (Any Year):
23. Genre: Thriller:
24. Book With Travel in the Plot:
25. Cover With No People On It:
26. Author Shares Your Initials:
27. Released in July (Any Year):
28. Book With Multiple POVs:
29. Genre: Sci-Fi:
30. Reread a Favorite Book:
31. Released in August (Any Year):
32. Six Words in Title:
33. Next Book in a Series You Need to Continue:
34. By a 2026 Debut Author:
35. Released in September (Any Year):
36. Genre: Young Adult:
37. Set on an Island:
38. Book That Feels Cinematic:
39. Book With a Blue Spine:
40. Released in October (Any Year):
41. Genre: Horror:
42. Book You Bought on Vacation:
43. Book That Makes You Feel Cozy:
44. Released in November (Any Year):
45. Title Starts With The Letter ‘F’:
46. Book You’ve Been Saving For “The Right Time”:
47. Book From Your Most Anticipated List:
48. Released in December (Any Year):
49. 2026 New Release:
50. Genre: Dystopian Fiction:
51. Book With a Positive Message:
52. Book That Doesn’t Fit The Other 51 Prompts:

Humor Reading Challenge 2026

 Another I am bringing back. 

Choose a level from below.  You may go up a level, but not down.

Cartoonist: 1-5 books

Humor Columnist: 6-10 books 

Comedy Writer:  11-15 books

Stand Up Comedian: More than 15 books 

Guidelines for the Challenge:

Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Books must be started on or after January 1 to count. Re-reads are allowed as long as they are read during the specified time frame.

Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating.

Any book (fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, graphic novels, poetry collections, plays, picture books) labeled as humor counts. As such, all book formats (paper, audio, electronic) may be read.

You do not need a blog to sign up. You may keep tract of your progress on Goodreads, Amazon or other similar sites with a shelf dedicated to this challenge. Or sign up on Facebook, Bluesky, Youtube, etc. 

There will be no checkins, nor do you need to post reviews.

Sign up below in the comments. 

 

Need ideas? Here are some links to get started:

Goodreads: Funniest Books Ever

Goodreads: Books that Made Me Laugh Out Loud

Goodreads: Humor Books

B&N: 50 of the Funniest Books Ever Written

Amazon Best Sellers: Best Humor

Epistolary Reading Challenge 2026

My next one I'm hosting again for next year.

The challenge will be to read books written in the form of letters, diaries, blogs, e-mails and such, either completely or partially written this way. 

Guidelines:

Challenge will run from January 1 to December 31, 2026.  Books must be started on or after January 1 to count.  Re-reads will be allowed as long as they are read during the specified time period.

Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating.  

Fiction (all genres and subgenres) and nonfiction that fit the challenge description may be read.

All book formats are allowed (paper, audio, electronic, graphic novels/manga, picture books). 

No levels. I will let you choose how many books to read.

You do not need a blog to sign up.  You may keep tract of your progress on Goodreads, Amazon or other similar sites with a shelf dedicated to this challenge.  Or sign up on Youtube, Facebook, X or Bluesky.

You do not need to post reviews, nor will there be any check-ins.  Sign up below in the comments.

Need ideas for reading? Here are some links to get started:

Goodreads: Epistolary Novels Books

100 Must-Read Epistolary Novels From the Past and Present

11 Epistolary Novels That Will Make You Miss the Days of Letter Writing

Amazon Best Sellers: Epistolary Novels

Mental Health Reading Challenge 2026

 Another I have been hosting. A topic that is very important to me.

General Rules:

• Any book depicting mental health counts, whether fiction or non-fiction.
• Challenge takes place from January 1 to December 31, 2026. All books must be read during that time to count.
• All book formats (print, audio, e-books) are accepted.
• Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating.
• No levels, read as many books as you like.
• Need ideas for books? Check this Goodreads page for several lists of books on the topic.
• You do not need a blog to participate. You may sign up on Goodreads, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc. 
• Sign up below in the comments. 

Need reading ideas? Here are some links to get started:

Goodreads Lists of Mental Health Reads

Amazon: Best Sellers in Mental Health

11 Enlightening and Empathetic YA Novels about Mental Illness

Memoir Reading Challenge 2026

It's time again. I'll be bringing back my challenges for 2026. I must admit did not make a lot of progress son some of them, but will see how much farther I can go by the end of this year, and how far I will go next year. First up is:

To participate, you must read a minimum of five memoirs from any of the categories listed. One book can only count for one category. Re-reads are acceptable. All book formats count. 

Other Rules:

1. Books must be read on or after January 1, 2026 to count.
2. Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
3. Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating. 
4. Books must be labeled as memoirs to count. 
5. You do not need a blog to sign up.  You may keep tract of your progress on Goodreads, Amazon or other similar sites with a shelf dedicated to this challenge.  Or sign up on Youtube, Facebook, X, or Bluesky. Sign up below in the comments.

If you need reading ideas, here are some links to get started:

Goodreads: Best Memoir/Autobiography

Goodreads: Memoirs by Women 

B&N: 50 Essential Memoirs

Here are the categories:

1. Mental Illness Memoir: 
2. Other Illness Memoir:
3. Political Memoir:  
4. Food Memoir: 
5. Animal Memoir: 
6. Music Memoir: 
7. Travel Memoir:
8. Written by a person of color: 
9. Written by a woman: 
10. Written by a person who identifies as LGBTQIA: 
11. Written by an actor or a comedian: 
12. Written by an author or journalist: 
13. Written by any other celebrity:
14. Written by someone under 40: 
15. Written by someone over 40: 
16. Written by someone from a country different from your own: 
17.  One you find thought-provoking: 
18.  Made into a movie: 
19.  Graphic novel memoir: 
20.  Bestselling memoir: 
21.  Humorous memoir: 
22.  Fictional memoir: 
23.  In translation:
24.  Won an award: 
25.  Published in 2026: 
26.  Published in 2025 or earlier: 
27.  Under 300 pages: 
28.  Over 300 pages: 
29.  One you want to re-read: 
30.  On a favorite topic: 
31.  By a favorite celebrity: 
32.  Free choice: 
33.  Free choice: 
34.  Free choice:

She Reads Romance Books’ 2026 Romance Book Reading Challenge

 Another now up for next year.

January – Marriage of Convenience

February – Enemies to Lovers

March – Friends to Lovers

April – Second Chance Romance

May – Fake Dating

June – Relationship/Bedroom Coach

July – Grumpy Sunshine

August – Why Choose

September – Age Gap

October – Opposites Attract

November – Forced Proximity

December – FREE CHOICE

New Used Bookstore in Town

As I pointed out in this post, a new bookstore for used book opened in my town, diagonally across from the bookstore that opened back in February. It had been more than 20 years since our last bookstore had closed. Now there are two, across the street from each other--kind of seems weird. 

Again here the photos from my group's little trip to the store on Halloween, and some photos of the store's exterior:

It's small store, much smaller than the used bookstore that used to be in a nearby town. I was upset when that one closed. Now I've got one in my own town. 

So far I've only gotten three used books from the new store. The books are priced individually. Two rather unexpected finds: two different books by Barbara Cartland--something that seems hard to  find. Four years ago, one of the challenges I participated in had "A book by Barbara Cartland" as a prompt. One was listed in my library's database, but they were unable to locate it, so I requested another via their Zip books service (ordering books not already at the library). The aforementioned now-defunct used bookstore did not have any of her books, despite how large the store was. And I have never seen any of her books in thrift stores either. So I was surprised to find two of her books in one small used store. The two books were this and this one.

The 52 Book Club’s 2026 Reading Challenge

Another favorite is now out, much earlier than usual. 

1. Set in an ancient civilization:
2. Kangaroo word on the cover:
3. Written without quotation marks:
4. Has a dust jacket:
5. Featuring a conspiracy:
6. Title starts with O:
7. Title starts with P:
8. Three-syllable word in title:
9. Featuring a natural disaster:
10. Spans a decade or more:
11. Requires suspension of belief:
12. A genre-defining read:
13. Bookface:
14. Includes a character list:
15. Subtitle with a comma:
16. Deus ex machina:
17. Author's bio mentions their dog:
18. Provokes strong emotion:
19. A nosy neighbor character:
20. Day of the week in title:
21. Written in the 1800s:
22. Spotted in a TV series or movie:
23. Grumpy sunshine trope:
24. Uneven number of chapters:
25. Includes a red herring:
26. Title in a serif font:
27. Two or more authors, one pseudonym:
28. From a series at least eight books long:
29. Set in the Arctic or Antarctic:
30. Author related to another author:
31. Author related to author in Prompt 30:
32. Publisher staring with the letter B:
33. Standalone fantasy novel:
34. Inspired by the top-grossing movie the year you were born:
35. Character with a secret identity:
36. Award-winning book from last year:
37. Started on the 26th of the month:
38. Domestic fiction:
39. A book that cost you nothing:
40. Author's first and last name start with the same letter:
41. A guide to...
42. Includes a handwritten interior font:
43. Goodreads recommendation for you:
44. Literary Device: Personification:
45. Biographical fiction:
46. Nonfiction about character in Prompt 45:
47. Diacritical mark on the cover:
48. Related to the word "Nemesis":
49. In the 800s of the Dewey Decimal System:
50. Set in a castle:
51. Includes a map:
52. Published in 2026:

Unabridged Podcast 2026 Reading Challenge

 Another favorite is up for next year. I'm now just one book away from completing this year's challenge.

1. From a favorite author's backlist:
2. Memoir by a trans author:
3. By an AAPI author:
4. About the environment:
5. From an Awards list:
6. Published in your year of birth:
7. Work in translation:
8. Adapted into an award-winning film or TV series:
9. About an animal:
10. Middle-grade graphic novel:
11. Work of YA history or historical fiction:
12. Nonfiction audiobook:

November Bookish Bingo

Here is the new card for November.

My Books:

1. Frozen: The Junior Novelization--Sarah Nathan (7 squares): Audiobook, Save the World/Universe, Reluctant Chosen One, Travel, Secret/Forbidden, Missing Person, Unlikely Friendship
2. A Snake Falls to Earth--Darcie Little Badger (7 squares): E-Book, Not in a Series, Indigenous, Weapon on Cover, Sci Fi/SFF, Fall Colors on Cover, Free Space 
3. The Best of Enemies--Jen Lancaster [re-read] (3 squares): Feminism, Book Club, Physical Book
4. Intermezzo--Sally Rooney (1 square): Library Book
5. Blackmail and Bibingka--Mia P. Manansala (2 squares): Free Book, In a Series

Beyond the Bookends Winter 2026 Reading Challenge

 Here is the winter bingo card. Although it says Winter 2026, it begins in December 2025.

1. Cozy Mystery (December):
2. Book Set in Italy:
3. Office Romance:
4. Book Being Adapted (January):
5. Fantasy Duology:
6. Book Like Downton Abbey:
7. Mystery or Thriller About Writers (February):
8. One of our favorite books of all time OR of the last year:

Popsugar Reading Challenge 2026

One of the challenges I look forward to every year. It's come out early this year. The categories have gotten a little bizarre. And some seem difficult, but I'll do my best to complete them.

Main Prompts

1. A book where gardening or a garden is central to the plot
2. A book that features a platonic friendship between a man and woman
3. A book you meant to read in 2025
4. A book that starts with the letter "Z"
5. A book about women astronauts
6. A book with an overweight main character whose story isn't about losing weight
7. A book about a granny hobby
8. A book about a sexless marriage
9. A book with a "type C" character
10. A book about a horse or with a horse on the cover
11. A book with a dad as the primary caregiver
12. A book with "pop" or "sugar" in the title
13. A book featuring a character with a hidden past
14. A book set in Michigan or written by an author from Michigan
15. A book about new beginnings
16. A book less than 260 pages
17. A book about your favorite event in the Winter Olympics
18. A love story that defies social boundaries
19. A book about teen angst
20. A book with a character who does Pilates or Lagree
21. A book about a bachelorette trip
22. A book about a book club
23. A book you were hoping would fit into a prompt but doesn't
24. A book about postpartum
25. A book that explores influencer culture
26. A book with a character who navigates infertility
27. A book with a character who has curly hair
28. A book about debt
29. A book that takes place during harvesting season
30. A travel ghost story
31. A book that makes you feel FOMO
32. A book with an underwater civilization
33. A book about college
34. A book with a trans or nonbinary protagonist
35. A book that makes you want to travel to Italy
36. A book about a mob (fiction or nonfiction)
37. A book about a pop star
38. A book with any type of fruit on the cover or in the title
39. A book with a character who runs a marathon
40. A book outside your comfort zone

Advanced Prompts

1. A book in a different format than your usual: physical, audio, eBook
2. A book inspired by a real song, album, band, or artist
3. Two books written by real-life partners or spouses (1)
4. Two books written by real-life partners or spouses (2)
5. A book that features birding
6. A sapphic comic
7. A book told entirely through letters
8. A book with a shadow daddy
9. A book with a mention of your zodiac sign
10. A book about Afrofuturism

Last Night

Some pictures from last night. A costume contest was held and I took third place. So many of the pictures turned out blurry.

And someone els had the same idea as me. She even wore the same leg warmers and mesh shirt (not visible in the pictures):