April Reading Journal Update | Magical Readathon, Reading Review, and Getting a Bingo!

Hi Friends! It’s been a while since I shared an update. I’ve been loving participating in readathon’s recently, and I wanted to start documenting the experiences. I hope you enjoy my journal update, and would love to connect and see your journals too.
PS. Apologies for the inconsistent audio. I’m still learning :)
CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS:
The Magical Readathon (April & August)
Created by @Book.Roast
• ✨Magical Readathon: Or...
Escape - The Readathon (May)
Created by @bookswithlexie
• May Readathon Announce...
LETS CONNECT:
Instagram: @book.bound.besties
Goodreads: Manda Rodriguez / 84777075
Discord: Myndalyn_59811
If you’re watching and want to share your video, please link it in the comments. 🍓👱🏻‍♀️
AFFILIATE LINKS:
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Read All Day - Kindle Cases
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readallday.shop
MUSIC:
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[@claudiaf6637]

I love your TBR Bingo and the Orilium pages.

[@manda_made]

Awe! Thank you 🫶🏼 I’m wrapping my head around making a whole Orilium journal, but haven’t begun yet. Stay tuned!

[@AshleyRebecca]

Omg your pages are so fantastic!! I hope you continue to share with us 🤍 I can’t wait to see your next journal and final flip through of this one!

[@manda_made]

Thank you! I’m working on my May wrap up now, and will do a Jan-June flip through soon. So, fun things ahead! 🥰

[@RyeMiArt]

Your pages are super pretty! I love the square journal format, you did s much with more space!

[@manda_made]

Thanks friend! I don’t think I can go back to A5 after this. I love the square set up. I still use A5 for my life journal, but that one’s not as cute.

[@rebeccahazen6656]

Love your journal! I’m just starting one, so gathering up ideas from everyone. Out of curiosity, what are you using to print your large photo collages?

[@manda_made]

Thanks Rebecca! I use Canva to make the collages, or I find a collage off of Pinterest that I like. I use the Canon Pixma Photo Printer on glossy paper. I haven’t found a matte paper I like with this printer yet. It’s still pretty new to me. But the printer can handle larger than typical sizes, so I usually print on an 11X17 sheet which gives me plenty of space and I waste less paper.

[@amara560]

Your reading journal is so pretty! I love the way you did your series tracker 😍

[@amara560]

Orilium was my first readathon and got me obsessed as well, haha. In May I did Escape the Readathon, and now in June I am doing The Amazing Readathon. All lots of fun!

[@manda_made]

Glad you like it! I have a whole set up video with all the yearly spreads as well, but that series tracker works best for me because I read a lot of series.

[@manda_made]

I started with Realmathon in March, followed by Orilium, Escape, and Amazing Readathons. I haven't started my spread for this month at all. Still trying to figure out the structure. But I've been loving everyones inspiration photos in the discord!

[@amara560]

@@manda_made Oh nice, I'll check that video out. I recently made a series tracker in Notion, but I think something in my journal would be cool too.

[@amara560]

@@manda_made Wow you have one month on me even! I am planning to take July off and reset before the Orilium autumn equinox in August. It will be good to clear any lingering TBR stuff after all these months of readathons.

[@cheriewheatley8442]

I just love your reading journal. Do you happen to have a video or can you tell me how you print the book covers. Are they printed on glossy paper? Thanks so much for your help with this. Thanks for sharing!

[@manda_made]

Thank you! I do not have a video of how I make the book covers, but what I do is pretty simple. Go to Canva.com, create a blank project (set to the size of your paper, I prefer photo paper), and upload your book covers (I save the covers from Goodreads). I scale my small book covers as 1x1.5” and the larger ones are 1.5x2”.

[@manda_made]

Here’s a great How-To video by @plantbasedbride. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3K0lI1piMysfM0si=h2U3cZDhyWnxbs1U

[@cheriewheatley8442]

@@manda_made thank you sooo much! I really appreciate it.

[@alyxbeauchamp7883]

How did you figure out where to start for Orillum? I wanted to do it two years ago and I was just so intimidated and lost as to how to do it, and i was also looking at it midway theough the year. This year's looks less daunting? Did you feel it was hard to jump in partway through the year?

[@manda_made]

I started at the beginning of the year, but didn’t make a journal entry until April when we did the first readathon. I was also overwhelmed when starting, but the discord community is really great! it’s easy to catch up! The google drive on Book Roast’s video description will bring you to a file of printables. The main quest is Adventure in Aldeia, which will give you a prompt for each month. You’ll need to create a character, and pick their trade. That will give you the prompts you need for both the spring and autumn equinox. For example, my character is a Thread Mage, so I had 5 classes during the spring semester. The classes that are assigned to your trade are the prompts you read for the readathon. There are also extra licenses like the Apothecary keeper, dragon rider, etc., as well as two side quests. These are optional, but a fun way to level up your character. I’ve had so much fun in this world. I hope you join!

[@alyxbeauchamp7883]

@manda_made that makes sense! Thanks. I may wind up waiting another year as I have a wedding to plan but it's good to know it's so fun and maybe easier to grasp than I realized!

[@manda_made]

Always here if you have questions! Congrats on your wedding!

[@ShikiPirs]

my little familiar) also a familiar: A BEAR

[@manda_made]

🧸🐻 awe!!! I love that. Bears are the best!!!

[@redfoxbooks]

All the printed out stuff is soooo beautiful and makes your journal looking perfect! 😍 out of curiosity which printer(s) do you use? 😌

[@manda_made]

I was spoiled with a Canon Pixma Pro photo printer (a Christmas gift). It’s WAY nicer than I needed, but the printing is phenomenal. It’s taken some time to figure out. It prints well on glossy paper, but I’ve yet to find a matte or printer paper that can hold the ink as well. I’d rather the photos not be so shiny in my journal, but it’s what we’re working with for now. 😂 Example, the tickets I printed for Escape the readathon we’re all the same color, but I printed them on two types of cardstock, so they ended up looking different after printing. It annoyed me, but not enough to re-print them. Printers are my biggest frustration, but I fully believe that any printer can work well when it’s paired with the right paper.

[@redfoxbooks]

@@manda_made thank you so so much for answering! I hope to see a lot more reading journaling content from you 🥰

[@manda_made]

I’ve got two videos being edited right now, so stay tuned 🥰