
## In General

2021 was a difficult year, but I'm so grateful I was able to end it with a new job on a healthy team and a lot of space away from projects and social media to reflect. I'm looking forward to approaching 2022 and my projects in healthier ways.

## Posts Published

I didn't get to publish as many posts as I wanted to, but I still published 10 different posts and I'm very proud of all of them.

- [Build a Blog Site with Next.js and Firebase parts 1-5](https://ashleemboyer.com/blog/series/nextjs-firebase-blog)
- [My Writing and Planning Process](https://ashleemboyer.com/blog/my-writing-and-planning-process)
- [How to Create Your Own Next.js RSS Reader App](https://ashleemboyer.com/blog/create-your-own-nextjs-rss-reader-app)
- [How I Added an RSS Feed to My Next.js Site](https://ashleemboyer.com/blog/how-i-added-an-rss-feed-to-my-nextjs-site)
- [What the heck is "web a11y"?](https://ashleemboyer.com/blog/what-the-heck-is-web-a11y)
- [Speaking My Truth—I Did Not Leave for Personal Reasons](https://ashleemboyer.com/blog/speaking-my-truth)

## Speaking Events

I was hoping to do more speaking events this year, but a few were canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. Here is a list of the speaking events I did get to do, three of which were live streams on Twitch! I had so much fun on the streams and it's interesting to see how far I've come in public speaking. I _hated_ it in high school and most of college and used to be terrified to speak in front of groups of people.

- ["Getting started with accessibility" interview with Kevin Powell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr0ujkLLgmE)
- ["Debugging Semantic HTML Elements for Accessibility" SomeAnticsDev Twitch stream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vAo0-puheM)
- ["Accessibility August 2021 on Dev Roulette LIVE" with Stephanie Myers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWpj7t8I6SM)
- ["Build a Dark & Light Mode Switcher in React using Context", React.Indy meetup](https://github.com/ashleemboyer/react-indy-20210922)
  - _Note: I'm realizing I still have to upload the finished code from this event! I'll try to do that as soon as I can._

## Books

I am really good at starting new things, especially books. Part of my difficulty with finishing books is ADHD. It takes me a long time to get into a reading focus if I'm only reading. If I use an audiobook or speech-to-text in addition to reading, however, I have a much easier time. What's difficult about that is being deaf. If I don't have headphones to listen while I read, then I can't really listen. I've found that I can also read/listen better when I have a simple knitting project. I didn't finish a ton of books this year, but what's great is I'm learning all of these things about myself and working on carving out the right space for myself to read more.

### Books Started

This list is currently all the books I could find with my Goodreads account (I read on a Kindle). I'm 100% sure there are more books that belong here because I purchased multiple from people that self published. When I find them, I'll add them to the list.

- [It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48927823-it-s-about-damn-time)
- [Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41646234-sissy)
- [Real Life](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46263943-real-life)
- [Their Eyes Were Watching God](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37415.Their_Eyes_Were_Watching_God)
- [Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40651827-burnout)
- [How to Live With the Internet and Not Let It Run Your Life](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57000631-how-to-live-with-the-internet-and-not-let-it-run-your-life)
- [Conflict Resolution Playbook: Practical Communication Skills for Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Conflict
  ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56164760-conflict-resolution-playbook)
- [In the Land of Men: A Memoir](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45730112-in-the-land-of-men)
- [Brag Better: Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53105899-brag-better)
- [Sorry I Missed You](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52951550-sorry-i-missed-you)
- [Women in Tech: Practical Advice and Inspiring Stories from Successful Women in Tech to Take Your Career to the Next Level](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25852961-women-in-tech)
- [The Beginner's Guide to Stoicism: Tools for Emotional Resilience and Positivity](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52085903-the-beginner-s-guide-to-stoicism)

### Books Finished

- [Changing the Conversation: The 17 Principles of Conflict Resolution](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24751306-changing-the-conversation)
- [Such a Fun Age](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43923951-such-a-fun-age)
- [Help for Women with ADHD: My Simple Strategies for Conquering Chaos](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30248423-help-for-women-with-adhd)
- [Weird in a World That's Not: A Career Guide for Misfits, F\*ckups, and Failures](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33913476-weird-in-a-world-that-s-not)

## Projects

Like I mentioned already, I didn't get to finish as many projects as I wanted, but I'm really looking forward to getting back to all of these!

> _Note: I can't remember all my projects right now so I'll have to update this post as I remember them._

### Projects Started

**Knitting Projects**

- Socks in (yarn I can't remember the name of, I'll update ASAP)
- Triangle shawl in Cascade 220 Superwash Merino, color number 86

**Coding Projects**

- StaySemantic.com, a web accessibility resource that will have demos and explorations of various components, their properties, and how they sound with screen readers. Check out [a preview of the Disabled Button Demo](https://staysemantic-com-git-dev-ashleemboyer.vercel.app/demos).
- "Build an Accessible Blog with Next.js and Semantic HTML" course for egghead.io, which will get into the importance of semantic HTML in regards to accessibility, how to navigate documentation, and how to identify accessibility issues. I have [a GitHub repository that will get updates](https://github.com/ashleemboyer/egghead-accessible-nextjs-blog-course) as I work on the course.

### Projects Finished/Shipped

**General**

- 25-cube IKEA KALLAX shelf
- IKEA BEKANT standing desk

**Knitting Projects**

- Plain hat in Boss Kitty Hand Dyed DK Weight, Rock-A-Doodle-Doo colorway

**Coding Projects**

- What Can I Plant? For determining what you can plant in Stardew Valley and make the most money off of. _Last updated January 2021._
  - [Link to code](https://github.com/ashleemboyer/what-can-i-plant)
  - [Link to site](https://what-can-i-plant.netlify.app/)
- The Golden Girls Quotes API. Just for getting random quotes from The Golden Girls. _Last updated October 2021._
  - [Link to code](https://github.com/ashleemboyer/the-golden-girls-quotes-api)
  - [Link to site](https://the-golden-girls-quotes-api.fly.dev/)
- [React, TypeScript, Less/CSS modules, Jest, and Enzyme boilerplate.](https://github.com/ashleemboyer/webpack-typescript-jest-less) I did this for the learning experience and don't use it as a boilerplate. I mainly use Next.js for everything these days. _Last updated May 2021._
- [Discord bot for eventually doing cool things in Discord!](https://github.com/ashleemboyer/ashleemboyer-discord-bot) I like the idea of having a cool Discord server for engaging with folks. Maybe it'll happen this year? _Last updated August 2021._
- [Discord bot API for custom webhooks.](https://github.com/ashleemboyer/ashleemboyer-discord-bot-api) It currently sends various notification message in channels only I can see about my new newsletter service and subscribers. I'm hoping to have that newsletter live soon!


2021 was a wild ride. Here are some details from my year.

2021 in Review


I hate reading more than one book at a time, but here I am, reading three. I think? I can't even be sure. This is why I should practice self-control and only do one at a time.

Since discovering how much I love studying user experience and accessibility, I've come across **several** books that had to be added to my list of books to read. Some are about UX and design, others are about creation and productivity.

For each, I've linked the Amazon listing and also pasted the synopsis. I love, love, LOVE reading, so if you have any recommendations or lists of your own, _please_ share them! My already-full bookshelf won't appreciate it, but I sure will. 😊

# 1. Mike Monteiro's [_Ruined by Design_](https://www.amazon.com/Ruined-Design-Designers-Destroyed-World/dp/1090532083/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ruined+by+design&qid=1557279824&s=gateway&sr=8-1)

The world is working exactly as designed. The combustion engine which is destroying our planet’s atmosphere and rapidly making it inhospitable is working exactly as we designed it. Guns, which lead to so much death, work exactly as they’re designed to work. And every time we “improve” their design, they get better at killing. Facebook’s privacy settings, which have outed gay teens to their conservative parents, are working exactly as designed. Their “real names” initiative, which makes it easier for stalkers to re-find their victims, is working exactly as designed. Twitter’s toxicity and lack of civil discourse is working exactly as it’s designed to work. The world is working exactly as designed. And it’s not working very well. Which means we need to do a better job of designing it. Design is a craft with an amazing amount of power. The power to choose. The power to influence. As designers, we need to see ourselves as gatekeepers of what we are bringing into the world, and what we choose not to bring into the world. Design is a craft with responsibility. The responsibility to help create a better world for all. Design is also a craft with a lot of blood on its hands. Every cigarette ad is on us. Every gun is on us. Every ballot that a voter cannot understand is on us. Every time social network’s interface allows a stalker to find their victim, that’s on us. The monsters we unleash into the world will carry your name. This book will make you see that design is a political act. What we choose to design is a political act. Who we choose to work for is a political act. Who we choose to work with is a political act. And, most importantly, the people we’ve excluded from these decisions is the biggest (and stupidest) political act we’ve made as a society. If you’re a designer, this book might make you angry. It should make you angry. But it will also give you the tools you need to make better decisions. You will learn how to evaluate the potential benefits and harm of what you’re working on. You’ll learn how to present your concerns. You’ll learn the importance of building and working with diverse teams who can approach problems from multiple points-of-view. You’ll learn how to make a case using data and good storytelling. You’ll learn to say NO in a way that’ll make people listen. But mostly, this book will fill you with the confidence to do the job the way you always wanted to be able to do it. This book will help you understand your responsibilities.

# 2. Erika Hall's [_Just Enough Research_](https://www.amazon.com/Just-Enough-Research-Erika-Hall/dp/1937557103/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?crid=225WHYZ7RCHMQ&keywords=erika+hall+just+enough+research&qid=1557280061&s=gateway&sprefix=erika+hall+just+enou%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1-fkmr0)

Design research is a hard slog that takes years to learn and time away from the real work of design, right? Wrong. Good research is about asking more and better questions, and thinking critically about the answers. It's something every member of your team can and should do, and which everyone can learn, quickly. And done well, it will save you time and money by reducing unknowns and creating a solid foundation to build the right thing, in the most effective way. In Just Enough Research, co-founder of Mule Design Erika Hall distills her experience into a brief cookbook of research methods. Learn how to discover your competitive advantages, spot your own blind spots and biases, understand and harness your findings, and why you should never, ever hold a focus group. You'll start doing good research faster than you can plan your next pitch. Erika Hall has been working in web design and development since the late 20th century. In 2001, she co-founded Mule Design Studio where she directs the research, interaction design, and strategy practices. Erika speaks and writes frequently about cross-disciplinary collaboration and the importance of natural language in user interfaces. In her spare time, she battles empty corporate jargon at Unsuck It. She also co-hosts Running from the Law, a weekly podcast on business law and endurance fitness, and can probably outrun you.

# 3. Steven Pressfield's [_The War of Art_](https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield-ebook/dp/B007A4SDCG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)

Think of The War of Art as tough love... for yourself. Since 2002, The War of Art has inspired people around the world to defeat "Resistance"; to recognize and knock down dream-blocking barriers and to silence the naysayers within us. Resistance kicks everyone's butt, and the desire to defeat it is equally as universal. The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success. Though it was written for writers, it has been embraced by business entrepreneurs, actors, dancers, painters, photographers, filmmakers, military service members and thousands of others around the world.

# 4. Laura Klein's [_UX for Lean Startups_](https://www.amazon.com/UX-Lean-Startups-Experience-Research/dp/1449334911/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1ZYI5TIDLFFFJ&keywords=ux+for+lean+startups&qid=1557280161&s=gateway&sprefix=ux+for+lean+start%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-2)

Great user experiences (UX) are essential for products today, but designing one can be a lengthy and expensive process. With this practical, hands-on book, you’ll learn how to do it faster and smarter using Lean UX techniques. UX expert Laura Klein shows you what it takes to gather valuable input from customers, build something they’ll truly love, and reduce the time it takes to get your product to market.

No prior experience in UX or design is necessary to get started. If you’re an entrepreneur or an innovator, this book puts you right to work with proven tips and tools for researching, identifying, and designing an intuitive, easy-to-use product.

- Determine whether people will buy your product before you build it
- Listen to your customers throughout the product’s lifecycle
- Understand why you should design a test before you design a product
- Get nine tools that are critical to designing your product
- Discern the difference between necessary features and nice-to-haves
- Learn how a Minimum Viable Product affects your UX decisions
- Use A/B testing in conjunction with good UX practices
- Speed up your product development process without sacrificing quality

# 5. Jeremy Baines's & Clive Howard's [_UX Lifecycle_](https://www.amazon.com/UX-Lifecycle-business-implementing-experiences/dp/1522768300)

This book is for organisations starting their UX journey. It will help to address the basics such as defining what UX is; the importance of research; how UX is a process and not a job title; and where business value comes from improving efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. There is practical guidance for building a business case and identifying the key investments required in people and process that will bring about the change needed to deliver success. Implementing UX is brought to life through the UX Lifecycle, a methodology framework that was born out of real life successes. At the heart of the UX process is the most important stakeholder - the user! Clive and Jeremy have helped businesses from start-ups to enterprises derive value from UX. While running their own UX consultancy they created and applied the UX Lifecycle. Since then they have both continued to grow their knowledge through implementing UX solutions and learning from others. This book will answer the questions that they have been asked time and again by businesses seeking to embrace and leverage UX.


Let's be honest, my TBR is endless. While they do switch around periodically, I do have a few top books that I plan to read first.

Posts Related to the "reading" Tag

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2021 in Review

The Top Five Books on my TBR