Mora’s Pastimes

  • Setting Achievable Reading Goals for 2025

    Setting Achievable Reading Goals for 2025

    Let’s talk about reading goals! I know I’m a little late in sharing mine this year—February snuck up on me—but hey, better late than never, right?

    I first started setting a yearly reading goal in 2022 after coming out of my long reading slump. Since then, I’ve been tracking my progress each year. Here’s how it’s gone so far:

    📊 My Reading Stats:

    • 2022 – Goal: 30 books | Read: 32 books ✅
    • 2023 – Goal: 35 books | Read: 35 books ✅
    • 2024 – Goal: 32 books | Read: 25 books ❌
    • 2025 – Goal: 15 books | Read: TBD

    As you can see, I fell short of my 2024 goal by seven books. Life just got busy, and I never quite caught up. So for 2025, I’ve decided to significantly lower my goal to 15 books.

    Why Lower My Goal?

    I was inspired by a friend who set a goal of reading just one book per month in 2024—and she absolutely crushed it! Her consistency and dedication really stood out to me, and I admired how she stuck to her goal without feeling overwhelmed. So, I’m following her lead, with a slightly higher goal of 15 books.

    Lowering my goal gives me the space to:
    ✔ Be more intentional with the books I choose
    ✔ Revisit and reread books I’ve loved
    ✔ Explore different genres outside my comfort zone
    ✔ Dedicate more time to my other hobbies without feeling pressured

    Exploring New Genres

    Another major reading goal for 2025 is to diversify the genres I’m reading. While I have my comfort zones, I want to challenge myself to explore more literary fiction, contemporary fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, and more.

    One of my favorite books of 2024 was Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, which isn’t something I would have typically picked up. But it ended up being such a moving and thought-provoking read! This year, I want to find more hidden gems like that—books that make me think, feel, and see the world in new ways.

    📖 My TBR List

    If you’re looking for book recommendations or just want to compare notes, here’s a small selection from my To Be Read (TBR) list for 2025:

    Let’s Read Together!

    I’d love to hear from you—what books are on your 2025 reading list? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let’s make this a great reading year together!

    Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the blog!

  • My Reading Journey: Rediscovering My Love for Books

    My Reading Journey: Rediscovering My Love for Books

    Happy 2025!

    I was going to start this post off by talking about the new year, but seeing as it is now mid-February, scratch that. January is the perfect time to talk about books, especially as people set resolutions and search for inspiration on what to read next. Before I dive into my reading goals and TBR (to-be-read) list for 2025, let’s take a little trip through my reading history.

    I always read books in school, but I first started reading for pleasure in fourth grade. My love for books truly took off when I started reading Twilight. Yes, Twilight! I know—it’s a divisive choice—but that’s where it all began for me, and I have zero regrets. After that, I moved on to young adult books in general, especially contemporary and fantasy. I devoured series like The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot and Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan.

    Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer
    Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan
    The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

    I spent countless hours each week at my local public library, browsing the shelves for anything that caught my interest and participating in a book club. I vividly remember our first book had time travel elements, similar to A Wrinkle in Time,and we spent so much time debating the logistics of time travel in the story—which I absolutely loved. That experience sparked my love for book clubs, and I was lucky enough to join another one in high school. Being part of a book club exposed me to books I wouldn’t have picked up on my own and helped me appreciate details I might have otherwise overlooked.

    And then—plot twist! After years of devouring books, I just… stopped.

    I don’t know exactly why my reading slump happened, but after graduating high school, I completely stopped reading for pleasure. Maybe it was the stress of college, adjusting to new responsibilities, or just life changes in general. Shrugs Who knows? But my reading slump turned into a full-on hiatus that lasted five years.

    A surprise to no one, the book that finally snapped me out of it was Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer. For those who haven’t heard of it, it’s essentially Twilight retold from Edward’s perspective. On a whim, I picked it up—and I fell headfirst back into my love of reading. I finished it in one day and was at the bookstore the next, eager to grab more books.

    After that, my reading preferences shifted. I found myself gravitating toward romance novels, with some literary fiction mixed in. I think there’s something about the comforting, formulaic nature of romance that really pulled me in. For a while, I was reading a book a day before I slowed down to a more sustainable pace. Some of the books I picked up during that phase included The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, and The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren.

    The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
    The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
    The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
    The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

    More recently, I’ve been dipping back into fantasy, which has been so exciting. I’ve mostly been picking up whatever is available at my local library—which, if you haven’t noticed, I love libraries. Seriously, if you have the chance, please support your local library! They’re such vital community resources, making books and information accessible to everyone.

    Let me know if you’d be interested in book reviews or monthly reading wrap-ups—I’d love to share more of my reading journey with you!

    Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the blog!

  • Knitting/Crochet Background

    Knitting/Crochet Background

    Let’s dive into knitting and crocheting to start! 

    I’ve been knitting for over 15 years now, and I still love it just as much as when I started. I was lucky enough to learn how to knit in a knitting club with a wonderful group of people. Thinking back on those times makes me miss in-person activities, which seem so much less common these days. Along with learning stitches, I also picked up how to read patterns.

    One of my very first projects was a soda can cozy and a headband made with the trusty garter stitch. As I got more comfortable, I moved on to making scarves and hats with pompoms. Over time, I tried my hand at more adventurous projects like a teddy bear and a multicolored tote bag (complete with an i-cord handle!). I still have a few of these old projects tucked away somewhere. Maybe I’ll dig them out and share them here if anyone’s curious to see them! One of my more recent knitting accomplishments was designing my own pattern for a cable scarf—it was such a fun challenge.

    About a year and a half ago, I started noticing these trendy little sweaters everywhere. They’re not quite full sweaters—more like connected sleeves. I was so intrigued that I scoured the internet for patterns, tutorials, or instructions to knit one of my own. But all the resources I found were for crochet, not knitting.

    At first, I tried to replicate the design through knitting based purely on its look and feel. Big mistake! It didn’t turn out anything like I imagined. That experience ultimately led me to take up crocheting. Luckily, I still had a crochet hook lying around from my first (unsuccessful) attempt to learn years ago. With the help of a few beginner videos, I picked up the basics and dove right in.

    To my surprise—and delight—I managed to teach myself how to crochet! My first sweater was a bit of a test run. It looked good but came out smaller than I wanted, and the yarn wasn’t quite the right color or fiber for the look I had in mind. But I learned so much from that initial project and used those lessons to make a sweater I absolutely loved.

    Since then, I’ve crocheted a handful of tank tops and sweaters for myself and my friends. I’m still learning how to adjust patterns for different sizes, which has been one of my biggest challenges. It takes some extra planning to wrap my head around how a finished piece will fit before I even start making it. But that’s part of the fun, right?

    There’s so much room for me to grow, and I’m excited about the journey. I can’t wait to create more clothing and try out new techniques—and, of course, I’ll be sharing my progress with you along the way.

  • Greetings!

    Greetings!

    It’s so wonderful to be here, chatting with you all. I’ve been thinking about starting a blog or some kind of creative outlet for quite a while now, and I’m finally making it happen! One of the things I’ve always wanted is a way to keep track of all the hobbies I dive into and the projects I start (and sometimes, forget to finish). It’s been a dream to create a space where I can share everything I’m learning and working on – the good, the not-so-good, and everything in between.

    The list of things I want to explore is honestly so long that I don’t even know where I’ll find the time to get to it all. (Sneak peek of things to come: sewing, push needling, cake decorating, photography, interior design… the list goes on!) But that’s part of the fun, right? There’s always something new to discover.

    At the moment, there are a few hobbies I already love and do regularly, like reading, knitting, and crocheting. But my curiosity is always leading me in different directions, and I want this blog to be a place where I can not only document my personal growth but also connect with others who are equally passionate about learning new things. Whether it’s a craft, a creative skill, or just something fun I’ve decided to try, I’m excited to share it all here. I also hope to build a community of like-minded people who can support each other and share ideas, tips, and inspiration.

    I’ll probably start by rewinding the clock and sharing some background on my previous projects, so you can get a feel for where I’m coming from. There’s a lot to unpack, but I’m looking forward to taking you along on the journey!

    I should probably warn you all that I am definitely a “mood hobbyist” – meaning I switch between hobbies depending on what I’m feeling at the moment. Some days I’m all about knitting, and other times I can’t put down my crochet hook. Or I’ll get a sudden urge to bake a cake or try a new photography technique. So, if you’re expecting a perfectly organized, predictable blog… well, you might be in for a surprise! That’s part of the fun for me – following my moods and embracing the chaos of it all.

    But I hope you’re ready for the ride! It might get bumpy at times, but I promise it will be fun. I’m excited to share this space with you and see where it takes us!

    Thanks for being here, and I can’t wait to dive in and start this creative journey with you all!

Mora’s Pastimes

Stitches, Stories, and Everyday Creativity

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