Winter Bucket List

Well, well, well, here we are in mid- JANUARY and I have yet to post my Winter Bucket List! Let's just say the end f the month was a bit busier than usual, and hey, better late than never right? I'm going to include things that have already been done because they WERE on my bucket list, even if I didn't quite get around to posting the list!

But first, a recap of how I did with the Fall Bucket List! I did quite a few things by my October update, so below is my progress since then. 

I did...

donate food to a food bank

light fall-scented candles

change over clothes (last week?), and am putting together a box for donations. I also wrangled up my friends and donated a bunch of coats to a coat drive. 

I didn't quite...

make chili. Not once. Blue didn't make chili either, or if she did she didn't share it with me! I also did not make my annual Oreo pumpkin cupcakes even though I purchased all the ingredients for them! Of course by now the Oreos are gone so... ::shrug::

give myself an at-home mani/pedi. Honestly I wasn't seeing anyone and it seemed more like a hassle tahn anything else. Not what that was intended for. 

drink allthepumpkinales. In fact, I think I only had one? But I was also completely out of it calendar-wise because I was still asking why there wasn't any Oktoberfest beers at my local liquor store in... December ::facepalm::

try a new food. In my defense, I was quarantined for 2 weeks and since cases spiked I haven't been going anywhere, so maybe that goal was too lofty. 

find/create a new skincare routine. After the new mask my mom got me dried out my face, I didn't try anything else other than lots of mosturizer. Honestly, I think my face doesn't like to be messed with. As soon as I stopped trying, everything cleared up! #girldontwashyourface

deck the halls

Have a holiday movie night- complete with hot cocoa and footie pajamas

read some cozy Christmas-themed stories

set some New Year/monthly goals

start a new holiday tradition

drive around looking at Christmas lights

read a self-help book

accomplish 5 to-do items I've been avoiding

"Home Edit" my apartment and Blue's kitchen

create a 2020 recap of GOOD things

How are you doing with your Winter Bucket List? 

Linking up with Leslie! 

December Reads

I always struggle with starting posts. Especially ones that have been pre-written (though I'm getting at writing my reviews right after I finish reading the books!). Anyway, with no challenges to complete and my personal "must reads of the year" out of the way, or at least out of time (minus Little Women... will I ever read that book?!) I read a lot of humorous, light, seasonal books in December, and it was exactly what I needed to end out the year. No heavy hitters here, but no DNFs either! 


The Twelve Dates of Christmas - Jenny Bayliss: 4 Stars
library e-book

I was really excited to get this one because it's rare that my library actually purchases one of my recommendations. This was highly predictable but I had fun going on the 12 dates with Kate. I also really enjoyed the cast of characters, especially Mac and Esther. But I especially loved the surprise recipes at the end! I'm hoping to make one or two of them this season. I just wished there was one for the mulled wine or hot toddies they kept mentioning!

"On the fifth date of Shagmas my true love gave to me, One gay man dancing, One date of drinking, One fireman skating, One vegan weeping And a no-show outside the Pear Tree!"

Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema - Lindy West: 4 Stars
library hardback

While I didn't like Shrill, I decided to give Lindy West another chance, this time in a non-memoir form. I didn't read every essay in this collection because I didn't see every movie, therefore the jokes and critiques wouldn't make sense but I did make sure to watch The Fugitive before diving in, since she thinks that it is the greatest movie and rates every movie on a number of DVDs of the Fugitive it was worth (10 being the highest).

This was hysterical and I could not agree with many of her reviews more, even when she was bashing some of my all-time favorite movies (Love, Actually and The Notebook). I would love to see her critiques on 100 Days of Summer, Final Destination, and Die Hard, or even a whole collection based on holiday movies (and I don't just mean Christmas- Valentine's Day, Groundhog Day and Independence Day can be in there too). 

10 Blind Dates - Ashley Elston: 4 Stars
library e-book

Another highly predictable Christmas romance, but it was so cute! Sophie overhears her high school boyfriend basically breaking up with her to his buddy at a party right before she heads to her Nonna's for the holidays. Nonna thinks it would be fun (and help Sophie get out of her funk) if each family member set her up on 10 blind dates with someone of their choosing. Not part of the deal was that her family members start taking bets on which one of their dates will "win" (her heart), and how long she lasts on each date. It was fresh and flirty and fabulous! 

The Home Edit Life: The Complete Guide to Organizing Absolutely Everything at Work, at Home, and on the Go - Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin: 4 Stars
library hardback

I've been low-key obsessed with Clea and Joanna (but mostly Joanna- for some reason I just liked her so much more!) since watching their Netflix series. And while I was hoping to get The Home Edit first (because it came out first), I was excited when this became available from my library holds list, even though my hopes for it weren't as high. But I took so.many.notes! I loved the mini quizzes, I loved how they explained how to keep/get rid of things even if they didn't "bring me joy" (cough, Marie Kondo... sometimes you need THINGS because they are USEFUL even if they don't always bring you JOY), and why it's "okay" to have surplus of certain things, especially based on your lifestyle/work style. I took waaaaay too many screenshots and tagged so many pages, which basically just means I need to own it, obviously!


Blue Christmas Balls - Nick Spalding: 3 Stars
Kindle Unlimited

I admit the only reason I read this was because it was Christmassy, a novella, and Blue really enjoys this author. I'm still waiting to become a real fan. While there were some funny parts, there some seriously graphic, cringeworthy parts as well. Though I DID enjoy the parts about the Ewoks begins his favorite of the Star Wars characters, because honestly, same. I think that part may have jumped my rating up a whole star, tbh. 

"The Ewoks were my favourite characters in Star Wars when I was a child. This is a fact that could get me murdered should it ever come to light at a sci-fi convention. Until Jar Jar Binks came along, they were the most universally hated of all Star Wars characters, for being too bloody cute for their own good."

You Better Not Cry - Augusten Burroughs: 3 Stars
own, paperback

As with all short story collections, this was hit or miss. Hits: the time he worked as a Macy's Christmas elf, and confusing Santa Claus with Jesus (he was very young- and in his retelling, I could see where he would get confused). Misses: eating Santa's (wax) face and having to get his stomach pumped, getting black out drunk and spending a night (or two? three? he doesn't remember) hanging out with some bums, and the very dark tale of his relationship and Christmas with one of his lovers/boyfriends, George. His childhood memories of Christmas were much more enjoyable than his Christmases as an adult, that's for sure. 

Currently reading: Never Never - Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

What are you currently reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana!

January Currently and 2021 Resolutions

Welcome 2021! I'd say I'm happy to see you, but I thought I was happy to see 2020 and we all saw how THAT went! Anyway, I haven't participated in this linkup since last...August? So I figured it was a nice, easy way to ease in to the new year! 

{via}

Reading: The Home Edit by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin and Astrid Sees All by Natalie Standiford

Watching: The Mandolorian on Disney+

Listening To: My top 2020 Playlist on Spotify

Looking Forward To: This weekend. Tomorrow is me and Blue's 6 year anniversary (6 YEARS! Time sure does fly!), so on Friday we are ordering in from our my favorite restaurant, and on Saturday we will have our annual Thanksgiving Do-Over. Every year we have a do-over because on Thanksgiving we see our families (sometimes... and sometimes I have Chinese food alone in my apartment, or Pret Manger turkey sandwiches while racing to get to the cemetery 2 hours away which was my mom and I's "tradition" for several years, or this year Mom and I "Zoomed" and had pre-made Shoprite Thanksgiving dinners!). 

Procrastinating: doing "real work" before I have to return to work tomorrow

Feeling: Slightly glum, since I have been off since Dec 23 and have been enjoying it IMMENSELY, and slightly anxious, because, well, see above! And like a dumbass I scheduled two trainings for new employees tomorrow ::facepalm::

Wondering: when I'll have to return to the office. It's officially closed (working remotely) until Jan 25, but with cases spiking and new orders in place, who knows what the future holds.

Organizing: everything! I've been implementing small organizational changes throughout my apartment, and this weekend I'll begin tackling re-organizing Blue's kitchen. Thankfully I love projects like these, and reading The Home Edit is fueling me with so many ideas and inspiration. Wish me luck! 

Beginning: to put away Christmas decorations. While I love reading in front of my little tree, I won't have time to put it away properly later this week or this weekend, and Christmas always "comes down" on Three Kings Day. 

Resolving: to post my "resolutions" before February this year! 

Finances

• Check finances monthly (amazingly even after someone hacked my bank account last December and stole literally thousands of dollars from me, I have not done this ::insert see no evil monkey emoji::)
• Complete a "no buy" month
• Find and open a better savings account option

At Home

• Declutter one room/month (including rooms at Blue's condo since I don't have 12 rooms!) 
• Sell/donate everything in coat closet
• Create/update home/recipe binder
• Instill One In, One Out philosophy
• Start a "Go Bag" - my coworker and one of the Mountain Mamas has been on my case about this for over a year, and it's not a bad idea! Deadline: Aug. 31 - again, blog about it! (EDIT: already added the go-live date of this post to my planner since September is National Preparedness Month, so it's gotta happen!) 

Personal

• Get back into journaling
• Scrapbook 2020
• Let go of one thing - physical, emotional, spiritual- that's been weighing heavily on you

Reading

• Complete my Goodreads goal of 50 books
• Complete BCBE 14 and 15
• Participate in the A-Z Reading Challenge
• Read 12 Non-Fiction
• Read 10 books from my physical bookshelf and 10 Netgalley books (with reviews)

Blogging

• Find and implement a new website design- change as needed (recommendations welcome!) 
• Reply to comments within 24 hours
• Post (at least) 6 times /month
• Finish, schedule, or delete posts in "draft" form, <12 (I currently have 57, dating all the way back to 2014... that is NOT okay!)

What's currently going on with you?

Linking up with Anne!

TTT: Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2021

Who else is excited for a brand new year?! I know I am! I've been reticent to make any grand plans or "resolutions" for the year (since we all know how well that worked out last year), but one thing that hasn't changed is my love of lists and books! Just for fun I checked out my post like this from last year, and I only read 2/10! So as per yoosh, who knows if I'll actually read any of these this year, but here's hoping! Without further ado, here are some new releases from many of my favorite authors for the first part of the year, in date order:

Jan 12: Concrete Rose- Angie Thomas

I have been anxiously awaiting to read ANYTHING by Angie Thomas since On The Come Up in early 2019. Looking forward to hearing more about Starr Carter's father, Maverick, in this prequel. 

Feb 2: The Project - Courtney Summers

Sadie was one of my favorite reads last year, so I'm curious to see what Summers has in store for us in this YA thriller involving a cult. 

April 13: Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing: Essays - Lauren Hough
Another one involving cults, but this one is of the non-fiction variety, and since I love reading memoirs as well I'm definitely intrigued by this one! 

April 20: Kate in Waiting - Becky Albertalli

I haven't read anything by this author since 2018, and I'm not sure why because I remember really enjoying her writing style. This one sounds a bit too similar to Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List, but I'm hoping I'm wrong. 

April 27: Sure, I'll Be Your Black Friend - Ben Phillipe

Again, an author who I haven't read since early 2019, but his writing style was so refreshing! I've often been the non-white friend, coworker, etc., so I'm curious to see how our experiences compare. 

May 4: 10 Truths and a Dare - Ashley Elston

I just finished 10 Blind Dates last month, and I'm already anxious to jump back in and see what the Fab Four are up to in this not-quite-followup-but-same-world. 

May 25: Malibu Rising - Taylor Jenkins Reid

I've only read one other by this author (Daisy Jones), and this occurs in 1983- my birth year! Not too mention I'm feeling like I'll be ready for some big family drama-type read by May. 

June 1: The Other Black Girl - Zakiya Dalila Harris

I saw this one on a Goodreads "most anticipated releases" list, and was instantly intrigued by the premise! Also looking forward to checking out this debut author.

June 1: The Maidens - Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient was my favorite read of 2019, so I've been anxiously awaiting more from this author!

June 24: The Lucky Escape - Laura Jane Williams

This one is a Netgalley e-arc I received since I read another one by this author, Our Stop, which I loved. This also sounds like a fun chic-lit for summer!

What new releases are you looking forward to?

Linking up with Jana!