Wow, I cannot believe it has been eight years since I created this- such a creative little nugget back then, I was. Here are all the past ones, if you are curious! Anyway, we’re back to our regularly scheduled Olympic years, and there was no way I was not going to double-dip in my very small vat of creativity, so… here we go again! 

Next Friday (July 26th!) marks the Opening Ceremonies in Paris. When we were in Paris last year, Sam was able to buy a stuffed version of the Olympic Mascot- it was legit the only thing he cared about in Paris, I think.

This is Phryges, he is supposed to be a hat, and he is sitting in a deflated PSG soccer ball. Life was good for Sam. Here we are wearing said hats. 

I confess, I used to get giddy excited about them, mostly for the swimming. Fine, exclusively for the swimming, but I’d totally watch some gymnastics, and even a track race or two. And now that I am a huge WNBA stan, I will watch that too! (Half our Aces will be there- legit, at least half!)

Feel free to do this yourselves- all of you! Use my graphics, whatever you’d like- I’ve even made a Google Doc with the images for easier snagging, because I am awesome. Also, book covers link to Bookshop or Goodreads! 

I was hooked completely from the start (and to the finish!)

This was kind of everything. 

It took me a long time to find a book with one, authors shy away these days. Also, this reminds me that I need to continue this series, cause I really liked this one! And have at least 2 of the sequels, whoops. 

This one delves so deep into the Ojibwe culture, both historically and in the present. I learned a ton. 

Sorry, all Handball aficionados, I do not understand this game. Even after reading about it on Wikipedia. So yeah. (Five Eight years later, and still, no clue.) Anyway, here’s a book that frankly, I still don’t understand.

I liked the parts I understood but then… I think I stopped understanding? If you get it, please explain! 

Gosh, there is something special about summer nights, and this book has the vibes you expect. 

I just finished this one and dear lord, is it brutal! 

This was so wonderfully twisty! 

Okay, it did not technically scare me, but I did have a very visceral reaction to it, and I feel like that counts?

It was so introspective, especially in the face of the end of the world. And freaking beautiful.

Amazing worldbuilding and characters in such a tiny book! Impressive, this series! 

Sir clocked in at 688 pages, but I loved it so it flew by. Much like distance swimming, come to think of it.

Look, tears = water, so it works. Plus, if any of you have swam, I all but guarantee that you’ve sobbed over it. So yeah. 

This book was epic and gorgeous and I sobbed my face off.

I really liked this one, it just happened to be slower. A good slow, if you will. I do not, however, really like golf. 

In high school, Lurlene was my girl. And legit every book was about some young person involved in a terrible tragedy that would make me sob for days. And send me down death panic spirals. Why did I read these? Masochism, I guess. 🤷‍♀️

Do dragons count? They do now still. Apparently I have changed the meaning of this question to just mean books with dragons but it’s fine. Also this has other animals too- plenty, and so fun. Also this book filled like, all the prompts so be proud that I didn’t just make a post of just Twyla & Frank, yeah?

This one made me so mad, especially because I was so sure I’d like it. Reader, I loathed it. And I think I just finished because I was so sure it would redeem itself? Instead, it made me madder. Good times! 

This found friendship group brought me so much joy. 

I mean, at least around Europe?

Gosh I loved this one! And I feel like it is such an underrated gem, so I just had to feature it! 

The ending was ::chef’s kiss::

Sammy is a huge fan of Total Olympics and insists I include it. In fairness, it is very entertaining, though it is nonfiction, so a heads up!

P.S.- I tag literally everyone. Don’t make me start to call out names. I’ll do it! Don’t forget the Doc for ease! Tell me, do you watch the Olympics? What is your favorite sport?I am totally biased in my love for swimming, of course!