I’ve read a total of 44 books so far this year. That is an insane amount of books for me, so at least COVID was good for something, right? While I’ve read a lot of books, I haven’t read a lot of 5 star reads this year — I’ve mostly been looking for an escape, which isn’t a bad thing, but it hasn’t brought me many jaw-dropping books, unfortunately. I thought I’d round up the top five books I’ve read this year, in hopes that I add some more amazing reads to the list before the end of the year. 1// The Arc of a Sythe Series by Neil Schusterman…
Tell Me Lies: A Review
WARNING: There may be spoilers in this review. We all have that one person we know doesn’t treat us right, but we can’t help being in love with them. For Lucy, that person is Stephen. Stephen is mediocre at best, but Lucy can’t help going back to him time and time again. Tell Me Lies starts out in present-day New York with Lucy working a so-so job heading off to her best friend’s wedding. Lucy is a jumble of nerves because she knows her ex-boyfriend, Stephen, is going to be there. The rest of the book is mainly told in flashbacks to the pair’s college days reliving their tumultuous relationship. This book…
Catching My Eye | 08.07.20
Everyone wish Maggie a happy birthday! I understand it’s incredibly extra of me to through my cat a birthday party (my roommate and I got fancy cake — it wasn’t really a party), but we all need something to look forward to during this ongoing pandemic, right? Aside from Maggie’s birthday, this week was very, very quiet. Client work has slowed down a ton, and I’ve settled into a good rhythm of dinner and TV/reading at night. I also gave my body a much-needed break and worked out less this week subbing in my normal HIIT workouts for more leisurely walks. All in all, it was a much needed “quiet”…
August Goals & A July Update
How in the world is it already August? I know I’m not alone in thinking we really would have been out of this pandemic by now, or at least the worst of it, and I struggled in July with the fact that it wasn’t over. Because of that, I feel like I almost wasted the month? I know I didn’t — I had a retreat for a non-profit board I am a part of, I went to the beach (safely) with my mom, and I had a holiday weekend — but I just feel like I got nothing done. I’m determined to make August a much more “successful” month, at least in measurement against…
Books I Read in July
Another month full of lots of reading! I don’t know if it’s my competitive nature (with myself) or the increased downtime due to COVID-19, but I am still so excited about all the books I am getting through. I’ve read some that have been on my list for ages, some recommended by friends, and some brand new finds. Let’s get into what I read during the month of July. 1// Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders — Audiobook I’m upset that I didn’t like this book as much as I wanted to. I listened to the audiobook since the full cast was raved about, but I never really connected with…
Catching My Eye | 7.31.20
Happy Friday! I know lots of people who make jokes about the weekend being just the same as the rest of the week, but I still look forward to those two little days of zero expectations every week. This week was quite the rollercoaster between work and personal stuff, so I’m hoping to get some much-needed downtime and practice a little self-care this weekend. What’s on your agenda? Let’s see what’s been catching my eye… 1// This list of books about voter-suppression… Early voting ends tomorrow in Nashville. I am lucky enough to have not experienced any issues during my time as a voting adult in the United States, but…
An Update on My Antiracist Behavior
It’s been almost two months since the revitalization of the Black Lives Matter movement that was invigorated by the wrongful deaths of individuals like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. During this time, I’ve experienced a myriad of feelings surrounding the movement from anger to inspiration to burnout. The most important thing I’ve practiced since the beginning of my antiracist education is reminding myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Racism, unfortunately, is not going away overnight. Hate will always find a place in some people’s hearts, and all I can do is speak out against it and educate myself as best I can on minority groups like Black-Americans,…
The Girl He Used to Know: A Book Review
Imagine grocery shopping after work; looking for the perfect microwaveable meal so you get enough nutrition but don’t have to work too hard. Now picture running into your ex. Not just any ex, but the ex you haven’t seen since you tragically broke up ten years ago after a traumatic life event left you both feeling lost and confused. The ex you always wanted to rekindle things with but never knew how. That’s what happens to Annika in The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves. Annika and Jonathan meet at chess club during their senior year of college. Annika doesn’t make friends easily and is surprised when, after being…
Catching My Eye | 07.10.20
Who’s ready for weekend? I know I am. This week has been insane, and I’m ready for a quiet few days before heading to the beach (safely) with my mom next weekend. I’m excited for some downtime. I know we have all been looking at these last few months as downtime, but even while working from home, I’ve been busier than ever. Let’s get into what’s been catching my eye this week! My roommate drew me! How amazing is she? Check out her other work on Instagram @sarahstonecreative. 1// These helpful tips for keeping your cool during tough times… If you haven’t had at least one freak-out during the last…
July 2020 Goals (& An Update on June’s Goals)
Life is slowly, slowly starting to return back to normal. Not fully, but the pace is definitely picking up as more and more people are venturing out of their homes. I’m still mostly keeping to myself, but more calls are being scheduled for activities outside of work and more friends are wanting to socially-distance hang, so my calendar is quickly filling up again. I secretly love that life is getting back to “normal” because I love keeping busy and crossing things off my list. Since coronavirus isn’t going away any time soon (please, just wear a mask), we are all having to adapt to a new normal. Here are my…
