Graphics for A to Z Blogging 2026

Even though it's not until April, and the theme reveal isn't until March, I'm going to begin exploring themes for A to Z Blogging 2026. Their website already has this year's graphics up and once again I am loving them! This is a very earthy design.

Nearly One Year Later

Nearly one year into the Orange Ogre's second term, this is what are seeing:

Book Bingo Reading Challenge 2026 @ My Reader's Journey

I wasn't sure about doing this one again, since the hosting blog was so late in posting it (just today). But I am signing up. Some books I've already read fit some squares.

Made by Leticia Toraci on Canva

Book Bingo Reading Challenge Prompts:

Only normal mode this time!

You can substitute 2 squares if you consider them too difficult to find a book for.

ROW 1
A novella
80’s or 90’s – Read a book first published in the 80’s or 90’s
500+ pages
Spring or Autumn – Cover or setting reminds you of Spring or Autumn: The Bodyguard--Katherine Center
Summer or Winter – Cover or setting reminds you of Summer or Winter

ROW 2

Past – A book set in the past: The Odious Duke--Barbara Cartland
Future – A book set in the future
Horse – Because 2026 Is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese Zodiac let’s read a book with horses!
Favorite Author
A book in translation – Read a book translated from another language to English or a book originally written in another language besides English: The Librarian of Auschwitz--Antonio Iturbe

ROW 3
Number in the title 
Space or desert setting
Free – Choose a mood read: Devil in Winter--Lisa Kleypas
By an author you never read before: The Indigo Girl--Natasha Boyd
Multi POVs

ROW 4
Totally random – Look at your Goodreads TBR list or another TBR book list. Think of 5 different numbers between 0 and the number of books you have there, look at the titles corresponding to the numbers you thought and pick the book you most want to read among them
Out of your comfort zone: Self-Sufficient Living--Andy Westley
Rainbow – Read a LGBTQ+ book
Love or mystery – Read a romance and/or mystery book
Gothic or feminist – Read a gothic and/or feminist book

ROW 5
BIPOC Author – Read a book written by a BIPOC author
Flowers – first or last book in a series
Vintage – Read a classic or poetry book
Book – Read a Standalone: After I Do--Taylor Jenkins Reid
Travel – Read a book with a setting you would like to visit

My Year in Books -- a Meme

I first did this one last year. As you can see it's very similar to this one.

My Year in Books

Rules?

• Answer the questions with titles from books you read in 2025. (Some may end up being silly, others may seem overly serious.)   
• The goal is to have fun. 
• Participate by copying the questions below. Erasing my answers and inserting you own.  
• Once you've created your post, link it below so others can see it, then visit others' posts to see how they answered the questions.
• Spread the word. Let's see if we can make this a thing again this year!

Questions:

In high school I was:  The Best of Enemies--Jen Lancaster

People might be surprised (by): Pieces of Happiness--Anne Ostby 

I will never be: Lady Nightmare--Rachel M. Yoldi

My fantasy job is: As Seen on TV--Sarah Mlynowski

At the end of a long day I need (to go to): The Beach House--Jane Green

I hate it (when I'm): The Only Woman in the Room--Eileen Pollack

Wish I had: The Bookshop on the Corner--Jenny Colgan

My family reunions are: Cursed--Karol Ruth Silverstein

At a party you’d find me (at the): Table for Five--Susan Wiggs

I’ve never been to: Ellis Island--Elizabeth Carney (this one is actually true!)

A happy day includes: Magic Candies--Heen Baek

Motto I live by: The Summer Pact--Emily Giffin

On my bucket list is (going to): The Beach House--Rachel Hanna

In my next life, I want to have: A Spark of Light--Jodi Picoult

Don't take your titles too seriously or judge the actual plot line of the book in your answers. Have fun with this.

Once again, it was hard just picking out one title for each prompt. There were so many to choose from. And it's all in fun, as it says in the rules. 

Also posting this to:

In 2025…My Life in Books

This prompt is being held at Book'd Out. The answers can be real or silly, and most of mine are in fact not true. It's all in fun.

Complete the prompts using titles from the books you have read in 2025 to complete the sentence to describe your life in the past year. 

2025 was the year of: The Blackbirds--Eric Jerome Dickey

In 2025 I wanted to be: Invisible Emmie--Terri Libenson

In 2025 I was: Cursed--Karl Ruth Silverstein

In 2025 I gained: Pieces of Happiness--Anne Ostby

In 2025 I lost: The Reading List--Sara Nisha Adams

In 2025 I loved: The Light We Carry--Michelle Obama

In 2025 I hated (being): The Only Woman in the Room--Eileen Pollack

In 2025 I learned: None of This is True--Lisa Jewell

In 2025 I was surprised by: Big Magic--Elizabeth Gilbert

In 2025 I went to: Summer Island--Kristin Hannah

In 2025 I missed out on: The Great Boy Chase--Janet Quin-Harkin

In 2025 my family were: Under the Same Stars--Libba Bray

In 2026 I hope (it will be): Happily Ever Afters--Melanie Cellier

It wasn't easy choosing just one for each. In a few cases, I changed my answers, as there seemed to be more than I though humorously fit each prompt. I never expect anything like this to be serious or true. 

What books would you pick for this? Are they true or just fun?

I'm also posting this to the Book Discussion Challenge.

26 Things About the Number 26--Part 2

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. 🙂  

This week is Part 2 of "26 Things About the Number 26." I chose to do this as a two-parter since 13 is half of 26. Click to see last week's post.  

1. The 26th amendment or “Old Enough to Fight, Old Enough to Vote” amendment, passed on March 10, 1971, and was a huge change to youth responsibility and values, giving all those over 18 the right to vote.
2. At 26 years old, males can no longer be drafted into the United States.
3. In Windows Alt Codes, Alt + 26 produces the “right arrow” or → symbol.
4. An Australian Alternative Rock band exists called 26.
5. 26 was Frank Furillo’s badge number on Hill Street Blues.
6. Twenty-Six is a 2003 novel by Leo McKay, Jr.
7. The number 26 only appears once in the entire bible.
8. Click here to see athletes who wore the number 26.
9. 26 Men was a syndicated American Western television series about the Arizona Rangers, a law-enforcement group limited to 26 active members.
10. Its Roman numeral is XXVI.
11. The 26th Wedding anniversary symbol is opal.
12. Many TV shows have 26 episodes per season.
13. 26 is the only integer that is one greater than a square (5x5=25+1) and one less than a cube (3x3x3=27-1).

I'm sure there is much more trivia about the number 26 out there. Do a search to find more. It was a little hard just what facts to choose for this two-part post, as is always the case for Thursday 13.

Funny Stuff This Week

I just had to share some things from some of the blogs I follow. I also found some myself.

2026 Book Blog Discussion Challenge

Nicole at  Feed Your Fiction Addiction announced that she was stepping down from blogging. She co-hosted the Book Blog Discussion. I then wondered if the discussion challenge would still be happening. From it It Starts at Midnight, now the sole host:

Welcome to the 2026 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by… just me. Yes, let us please take a moment to celebrate our favorite MG Fantasy author, and all her incredible successes that require her to take a step back from blogging, and like, go buy copies of her book, yeah? (Emotional moment time: this is really hard for me- Nicole and I have been doing this for a decade, guys. I am tearing up writing this post, in fact. But it’s a mix of happy and sad tears, because while I am sad for me, I am so very thrilled for her much deserved and well-earned success as an author!)

Anyway, I zhuzhed up the button, because starting our second decade felt like a change was due- plus without Nicole’s animal friends, I had no one to dress up every month- this will lighten my load by doing just one graphic per year!

The Levels:

1-10 – Discussion Dabbler
11-20 – Creative Conversationalist
21-30 – Chatty Kathy
31-40 – Terrifically Talkative
41+ – Gift of the Gab

Once again, I am aiming for the first level, then see how much farther I get. The new graphic will displayed on my posts.

Rainy New Year

How did the new year start off for you? In my area, it has been raining since around New Year's Eve. The rain would stop for a while each day, only to let up again after a while. 

We had a five day at work on New Year's Eve, and I got sleepy during the first half of the movie. We watched the Wonka prequel that came out in 2023, my second time seeing it. As someone who has taken to staying home on NYE, the rain that night did not bother me. 

Over the first days of the year, I have tried getting out when the rain has stopped, only on at least two of those days, to see the rain starting up again just as I am heading home.  The rain is expected to continue for at least another two days this week.

Having to stay inside has somewhat given me cabin fever. This also comes form being off two Fridays in a row, as well on Christmas Eve. I woke up last Friday, nearly forgetting it was Friday! 

The county library has been closed for the holidays, and is reopening today. I plan to go again once the rain stops. 

January Bookish Bingo

The new card for January is here.

My Books:

1. The Odious Duke--Barbara Cartland (3 squares): Physical Book, Shelf Love, Not in a Series
2. Snow White Learns Witchcraft--Theodora Goss (6 squares): E-book, Special Abilities, Gods/Demi-Gods, Vengeance, Deadly Trials, Free Space
3. Self-Sufficient Living--Andy Westley (3 squares): Audiobook, New Start/Staring Over, Exercise
4. The Indigo Girl--Natasha Boyd (3 squares): Book Club, Simple Book Cover Design, Siblings
5. Two Can Keep a Secret--Karen M. McManus (2 squares): Library Book, Secrets
6. Devil in Winter--Lisa Kleypas (2 squares): In a Series, New Series
7. The Librarian of Auschwitz--Antonio Iturbe (2 squares) Long, Librarian

2026 Reading Challenge @Blydyn Square Books

 Another I have been doing. 

1. Pronoun in the title:
2. Color in the title:
3. An author's first novel:
4. Geographical word (mountain, sea, etc) in the title:
5. Blue cover or spine: The Indigo Girl--Natasha Boyd
6. Set in 20th century:
7. Bio or memoir:
8. Female protagonist: Devil in Winter--Lisa Kleypas
9. Adjective or adverb in the title:
10. One-word title:
11. Title starts with "The": The Accidental Bestseller--Wendy Wax
12. Set in Europe:
13. Written before 1990: The Odious Duke--Barbara Cartland
14. Author who uses initials:
15. Children's book:
16. Former bestseller:
17. Recommended to you by someone else:
18. Been planning to read for at least a year:
19. Self-help/self improvement book of any kind: Self-Sufficient Living--Andy Westley
20. Photograph on the cover:
21. Part of a series:
22. Audiobook:
23. Set in a seaside community/area:
24. Romantic book:
25. Funny book:
26. Read at least once before:

Xennial Movie Challenge

This is at this Instagram account, which did the Board Games challenge last year. There are a lot of prompts on this one! I don't know if I'll get them all, but will be happy no matter how many I get. The prompts are on StoryGraph.

1. 10 Things I Hate About You Retelling: Snow White Learns Witchcraft--Theodora Goss
2. A Christmas Story  Eye on the cover
3. A Few Good Men Features military
4. A League of Their Own  Features sports
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street  Tree on the cover
6. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective  MC works with animals
7. Adventures in Babysitting  MC named Chris (regardless of gender, variations allowed)
8. Airplane!  Hilarious read
9. Alien  Sci-Fi
10. Amadeus MC is a musician
11. American Beauty  Flower on the cover
12. American Pie  Food item on the cover
13. American Psycho  Character has a secret life
14. An American Tail  Features immigrants/refugees
15. Annie Jewelry on the cover
16. Apollo 13  Set in space
17. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Set in Britain: The Odious Duke--Barbara Cartland
18. Back to the Future  Dual timeline
19. Batman Character with a dark past
20. Beetlejuice Repeating word in the title
21. Big  More than 500 pages: The Librarian of Auschwitz--Antonio Iturbe
22. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Features a historical character (fiction or nonfiction)
23. Billy Madison Set at a school
24. Blazing Saddles A western
25. Braveheart  Set in Scotland
26. Caddyshack  Animal on the cover
27. Carrie  Unpopular MC
28. City Slickers Urban to rural storyline or vice versa
29. Clerks  Features a death
30. Clue Mystery
31. Clueless Classic retelling
32. Crocodile Dundee Knife/Dagger on the cover
33. Cruel Intentions Dysfunctional family
34. Dances with Wolves  Indigenous rep
35. Dazed and Confused Set in the 1970s
36. Dead Poets Society Poetry or written in verse
37. Die Hard A book with lots of action
38. Dirty Dancing Set at a camp or features camping
39. Dirty Harry Character with a catchphrase
40. Dumb and Dumber Features a best friend relationship
41. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Author with initials in their name
42. Edward Scissorhands Features snow
43. Empire Records Coming of age
44. Fargo Thriller
45. Fast Times at Ridgemont High Features a dream sequence
46. Ferris Bueller's Day Off  Breaks the fourth wall
47. Field of Dreams Set in the midwest US
48. Fight Club Mental health rep
49. Flight of the Navigator Features time travel
50. Footloose Features dancing
51. Forrest Gump Historical fiction
52. Friday POC representation
53. Fried Green Tomatoes Set in the southern US
54. Full Metal Jacket Character with a nickname
55. Ghost Paranormal
56. Ghostbusters Set in New York City
57. Good Will Hunting Character who is a genius
58. Goodfellas Features organized crime
59. Grease Set in the 1950s
60. Gremlins Monster fiction
61. Groundhog Day Features a time loop
62. Happy Gilmore Disability rep
63. Harry and the Hendersons Features a cryptid or mythological creature
64. Heathers Features a clique
65. Home Alone Child MC
66. Hook Features pirates
67. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Snake on the cover
68. Innerspace Features medicine/medical technology
69. Interview with a Vampire Features vampires
70. Jaws Set at sea
71. Jumanji Adventure story
72. Jurassic Park Features a park (theme, amusement, national, etc.)
73. Kindergarten Cop Character in disguise
75. Little Shop of Horrors Plant on the cover
76. Labyrinth Character makes a wish
76. Matilda Middle grade read
77. Men in Black Black cover
78. Monty Python and the Holy Grail Set during the middle ages
79. My Girl Character with glasses
80. National Lampoon's Animal House  New adult read
81. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Set during the holidays
82. Office Space Red cover
83. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure MC rides a bicycle
84. Philadelphia Features terminal illness
85. Planes, Trains, & Automobiles Road trip
86. Porky's Problematic read
87. Practical Magic Magical realism
88. Pretty in Pink Pink cover
89. Pulp Fiction Multiple POVs
90. Raiders of the Lost Ark Set during WWII
91. Rain Man Neurodiverse rep
92. Raising Arizona Features infertility or adoption
93. Reservoir Dogs Color in the title
94. Return of the Jedi Second in a trilogy
95. Risky Business Features a car crash
96. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Features royalty
97. Rocky A character who "goes the distance"
98. Romeo + Juliet YA romance (Yes, I know it's a tragedy not a romance...just go with it)
99. Say Anything Features unrequited love
100. Scarface Character with an addiction
101. Scream Features a journalist
102. Se7en  Number in the title
103. Short Circuit Acronym in the title or featured in the story
104. Sixteen Candles Features a birthday
105. Sleepless in Seattle Long distance relationship
106. Spaceballs Book that reminds you of another
107. Speed Character uses public transportation
108. Spies Like Us Features espionage
109. Stand By Me Features a train
110. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope First in a trilogy
111. Stripes Red, white, and blue on the cover
112. Terms of Endearment Mother-daughter relationship
113. The Bad News Bears Yellow cover: The Bodyguard--Katherine Center
114. The Big Lebowski Characters go bowling
115. The Blair Witch Project Unique style (your definition)
116. The Breakfast Club A group of misfits
117. The Dark Crystal A book that scared you
118. The Empire Strikes Back Last in a trilogy
119. The Exorcist Horror
120. The Godfather Features a wedding
121. The Goonies Features a quest
122. The Great Outdoors Set outdoors
123. The Karate Kid Mentor-mentee relationship
124. The Land Before Time A book that traumatized you
125. The Last Unicorn Fantasy
126. The Matrix Story within a story: The Accidental Bestseller--Wendy Wax
127. The Mighty Ducks Features a lawyer
128. The Muppets Take Manhattan Features the performing arts
129. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! MC is a police officer or detective
130. The Neverending Story Horse on the cover
131. The Princess Bride Romantasy
132. The Rocky Horror Picture Show LGBTQIA+ rep
133. The Sandlot Features a dog
134. The Shawshank Redemption Story takes place over several years
135. The Shining Features twins: Two Can Keep a Secret--Karen M. McManus
136. The Silence of the Lambs Features a character named Bill (or a variation)
137. The Sixth Sense Book with a wild twist
138. The Terminator AI, cyborg, or robot character
139. The Truman Show Memoir
140. The Usual Suspects Locked room mystery
141. This is Spinal Tap! A book you would rate an 11
142. Three Amigos! Latinx rep
143. Three Men and a Baby Features found family
144. Titanic Features a historical event
145. Tommy Boy Features a character named after a parent/relative
146. Tootsie Character is an actor
147. Top Gun Features a plane
148. Twins Features an odd couple
149. Uncle Buck Familial descriptor in the title (mother, son, sister, uncle, etc.)
150. Wayne's World Features a TV show, movie, play
151. Weird Science  Manic pixie dream girl trope
152. When Harry Met Sally Name in the title
153. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Character trying to prove their innocence
154. Willow Features a prophecy
155. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Book that has been adapted to screen

2026 Foodies Read

 Another favorite.

My Books:

1.