Monthly Musings- Back To School!

Today I'm joining Patty and Holly for their Back To School Monthly Musings!

1. I don't have any children but I'm going back to school, though not in the traditional sense! I work at a college, and my first day back to the office since March is today. Our first day of school is on Monday, so we're busy getting everything ready for a new school year!

My back-to-school supplies

2. I don't have any back to school traditions currently. 

3. Yes! Mom always took me on a "back to school shopping trip" for new clothes and a lunch date. I remember getting a bunch of magazines beforehand to see what all the trends were! 

4. When I was growing up, I always got a new Jansport for back to school. I usually brown-bagged lunch, so I didn't get new lunchboxes, especially as I got older. I have a new-ish lunchbag now though! I like it because it's insulated and zips closed so nothing falls out. Depending on whether we continue to go into the office or not, I may get one of these adorable travel Crockpots to keep my hot food warm :)

5.  Hmm, I don't remember any special back to school meals. 

6. Since it's still pretty hot, my go-to is a dressy tank with a cardigan and work pants. 

7. The "routine" part is still a bit up in the air. Right now I am going into the office 2 days a week, but those 2 days change every week. In mid-October that will go up to 3 days. 

8. I had a "sand flu" day (aka beach day) 2 weeks ago, and we'll have one last BBQ for Labor Day. 

9. Honestly I'm hoping we go fully remote closer to October/flu season! I'm probably alone in this but I miss working from home! I work directly with students and take public transportation to get to work, so wearing a mask and gloves all day and paying for Uber (instead of taking public transportation) is stressing me out.  

10. I always gave the teacher gifts but usually at the end of the year, not the beginning.

Are you ready for back to school? 

What does that look like in your area?

Show Us Your Books

I hit a few reading bumps in the middle of July and then again at the beginning of August. I'm calling them bumps instead of ruts because thankfully they didn't last too long, and though I'm only on my first book for August I think I'll be okay for a bit. I just needed to change some of my challenge books because I couldn't really get into them (and spent way too much time trying). Anyway, here's what I got through last month. 

Beach Read - Emily Henry: 4 Stars
library e-book

This was where my first bump began. I had this on hold and was so looking forward to it, but it started off heavier than I was expecting so I wound up placing it back on hold and starting something else. Luckily I had an easier time getting into it when I received it again, and it even had me tearing up in parts! Like I mentioned, this book had some serious meat to it. I liked how the secrets trickled out until the very end, the second chance love theme, and the banter between the two writers. though both protagonists are flawed in their own ways, I loved how they were able to lean on each other and learn from one another. I also really enjoyed some of the side characters, like the aunt and her wife- they definitely added some color and comic relief! 

"...when the world felt dark and scary, love could whisk you off to go dancing; laughter could take some of the pain away; beauty could punch holes in your fear."

Something To Talk About - Meryl Wilsner: 4 Stars
library e-book

I think this shone a realistic light at what women have to deal with in showbiz- from racism (in this case Asian), sexism, and even ageism. I thought the touch of #MeToo movement was handled very well, and I enjoyed  watching Jo the ice queen slowly thaw and how the relationship between her and Emma grew and changed. My only complaint was that it was a bit too much of a slow burn- I definitely wanted more sooner. 

“Security will be here in a moment to make sure you can find the door with your head so far up your ass.”

Secrets in Summer - Nancy Thayer: 3 Stars
own, hardback

This had an interesting premise and I liked the quirky characters and the relationship between Darcy and Nash. There were a few scenes that I thought Darcy was acting really immature (like, you're a grown-ass woman and you hear your barely teenage next door neighbor getting propositioned for drug use and/or sex, maybe stop taking so long second-guessing yourself and DO something?) which really bothered me, and a man forcibly kissing you after you say "no, not interested" which sounds more like sexual assault than just some guy that's into you and brushing it off and then continue to kinda flirt with him didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Other than THAT... it was a bit drawn out but a solid beach read.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1) - Jenny Han: 3 Stars
own, hardback

You could tell this was some of Han's earlier work. It was a bit too YA for me and the MC was a brat with no real growth. I'm glad I read it but have no intentions of following the rest of the trilogy. (Also, I hated the name "Belly.")


Book Stats (previously /now)
Total number read: 33
Netgalley: 9 / 11 - no change
Owned: 3 / 5
Non-Fiction: 8 / 9 - no change
WOC: 8 / 9
Given Away: 28 / 29

Currently Reading: Dominicana - Angie Cruz

What are you reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana!

10 on the 10th: Favorite Movies and TV Shows

The prompt for Leslie's 10 on the 10th this month is favorite books, movies, podcasts, and TV shows. I wrote about my favorite books of the year so far here. I don't listen to podcasts, so today you're getting my favorite TV shows and movies. I haven't been watching a whole lot of movies recently so I've listed some movies I'd like to watch sometime soon too! 

TV Shows:

Queer Eye (Netflix) - I try not to binge this show because the "seasons" are so short, but it's so hard! I cannot get enough of the Fab Five and the people who's lives they change- such a heartwarming show

Married at First Sight (Lifetime) - Sweet escapism! I cannot get enough of Married at First Sight, the American AND the Australian versions! Man, those Aussies really bring the DRA-MA! 

The Sopranos (HBO Max) - Blue and I started binging this series back in May I think, and we're on the we're about halfway through the final season (there are 6). This has been our main binge. They filmed in and around NJ so I know a lot of the places, and have even been to a few! Fun fact: When I was in Driver's Ed in high school, the teacher wanted to show me "something cool" so he had me drive to the Soprano house (from the opening credits). I was unimpressed though because I had never seen the show! 

Gone In The Dark (HBO Max) - I read the book and was really interested in seeing this mini-series. I love the way it was told and the many clips of the late Michelle McNamara and the discovery and writing process.

Sweet Magnolias (Hulu) - Another sweet show with a bit of bite and romance. So excited this one has been renewed- they ended the season with a really big cliffhanger! 

I also recently watched Love Life (HBO Max) and Love, Victor (Hulu). Love Life is a mini-series starring Anna Kendrick (whom I adore) focusing on her life but more-so her romantic relationships after college graduation. Love, Victor was a sweet spin-off of Love, Simon about a teen who is confused by his sexuality. It has been renewed for a second season, though I'm not sure where they'll go with it since the outcome was pretty clear in the finale. 

Movies:

P.S. I Still Love You (Netflix) - I never actually read these books but I did see the first movie so I was excited to see the sequel! I think I liked this one more than the first!

The Lovebirds (Netflix) - this one has been out for awhile and I actually did watch it a few months ago, but it was so absurd and funny that it definitely deserves to be mentioned again!

The Half Of it (Netflix) - One that I haven't heard much hype about, I think this was one of those "Suggested Based on Your Viewing" recommendations from the app and it did not disappoint! A "nerd" is asked by a "jock" to write a love letter to a girl he's interested in, only she's also (secretly) into her. It was a sweet story, and I loved how sassy Ellie was once we got to know her. 

And here are a few on deck: 

Hamilton

A Sweet Love

Bird of Prey

Onward

Downhill

As you probably noticed, I've been into romance/light-hearted themes lately (with a dash of YA elements!). Can ya blame me? There's enough drama lately so I need some funny and light when trying to relax. 

What are you watching and reading lately? 

Sharing with Leslie! 

What's New With Me

I couldn't get my act together to get this up yesterday but better late than never, right?! This was officially the month for me getting *out*. Finally, an actual update! Let's recap, shall we?

Just a few of the attendees

For the 4th of July, the Mountain Mamas had a huge cookout and played lawn games and lit sparklers (not me, I got burned with a sparkler on 4th of July a few years back and have sworn them off ever since!). It was a lot of fun! 

The following weekend we had our annual glamping trip. This year we decided to head to a different place, Split Rock Resort and Spa (oooh fancy, not!). The drive up was TERRIBLE, sheets of rain where you couldn't see two feet in front of you. We had 2 cabins - the first night (always the craziest)  saw us karaoking (Blogger is telling me that's not a word) our little hearts out. 

The following morning a few of us went to walk around the grounds since we'd never been there before, and then spent the day lounging by the pool. In the late afternoon we found a pavilion with outdoor grills and made a feast. After that the majority of the group headed to the bar on the grounds. I couldn't understand this- we had plenty of drinks in our cabins- why would you go to hang out with OTHER strangers in a potentially unsafe environment?! They were pretty buzzed by the time they got back, so we ate and then called it a night. 

The next Friday we attended a Girls Night Out in a friend's backyard. It was the first time I saw these ladies since February (yes, the infamous hibachi/strip club night aka our last outing pre-pandemic)! We just hung out, had a few drinks and played games, and I forgot to take pics... oops.

My friend Jenn finally got her new pool installed, so we helped her christen it the following Sunday. It's a salt water pool which I thought would be weird and murky, but it's not and it's cheaper and better for you than chlorine. My skin actually felt smooth after a dip instead of dried out and stripped of all moisture! 

This was also Blue's birthday month! Usually we do a night away somewhere and this year was no different. We opted for a one night stay in Asbury Park, NJ. While somewhat concerned at first, my thinking was that it had to be cleaner than any other time we've stayed at a hotel. We got there early, just in time to be the last people allowed into the pool area before they hit max capacity. We spent the day drinking cocktails by the pool and then when out for a lovely dinner. 

The following day we checked out and headed to the beach across the street- my first time this season! We were there from 9AM - 1PM, and it was pretty much empty until around 12. After that it got more crowded and our umbrella decided to up and fly away, so we took that as our sign that it was time to pack it in! 

So that's all the good stuff. The bad stuff... Blue lost her job at the end of the month. She's smart and she has been squirreling money away in an "Oh Shit" Fund for years "just in case." This is why it's important to have an emergency fund people! Anyway, she is diligently applying for jobs and taking courses to up her skills in the meantime, and we will make it work. Look forward to a lot more "home recipes" soon!

And that's a wrap! We've been remote since mid-March, but I will have to return to work in 2 weeks for at least one day a week and I'm not looking forward to that at all. I just got tested for Covid two days ago because we have to submit those results before returning to work. Not gonna lie, I'm a bit nervous/concerned, but I'll put on a brave face!

What's new with you this month?

Linking up with Kristen! 

Prime Purchases

As you will see, my shopping got a little bit away from me in the last 2 months! this time I broke them up into beauty, household, and "other." Of course now I'll probably be on a bit of a spending freeze for another 2 months, because my shopping is pretty cyclical and I need to pull in the purse strings a bit! Anyway, here's what I've been "Amazon-ing" lately! 

Beauty Products

Biolage All-In-One Coconut Infusion Spray - I saw Andrea raving about this leave-in conditioning spray during the last linkup, so I bought myself the trial size just to try it out. 

Rael Healing Acne Patches - repeat purchase because I ran out. These things are EXCELLENT! I put them over a blemish overnight, and the next day it's gone! 

Flawless Brows- another repeat purchase. After I raved about it my mom and Blue both requested it and they both love it! I have very sensitive skin, but this worked great and was pain-free! 

Foot buffer(s) - While I'm happy that spas and salons have finally opened up in these parts, I'm not quite ready to go in. These little guys came in a pack of 4, were inexpensive (only $2/ea!), and work great. 

Household

Stainless Steel colander- The one I had was this little plastic one that I think I got from the Dollar Store? I don't really remember, but I eat pasta way too much for that to be acceptable. I love this one! 

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls (with Lids- Set of 5) - Another somewhat necessity, but I love the fact that they have lids to I can just mix whatever I need to and put it right in the fridge instead of trying to find something else to put it in. I also like all the sizes. 

2-Pc Squirt Bottles - Again, I don't quite remember why I bought these but Blue and I both wanted them (maybe after watching Amy Schumer Learns to Cook?), and they were inexpensive. They'd be perfect for oil and vinegar and I'm sure many other things too!

Stainless Steel Cheese Grater - My mom bought me several blocks of cheese, and while I did cube some of it, I wanted some shredded so I bought this. I like this better than the cube ones because even though they have more options, I feel like I would definitely cut myself on those! 

Suction Hooks - These things suck, and not in a good way! They don't stick at all, and now I'm mad that I missed the return window because it's a pack of 8! UGH! 

Random/Other

Needed a new phone case, thanks to Kristin for recommending this one.

Emily purchased and shared this weekly planning pad last month, and I loved it so much I bought one too! it's a lot smaller than I thought it would be, I thought it would be like those desk calendar pads, but it's still cute and useful. 

Kindle Paperwhite and leather case - this was part of Blue's birthday present. She bought me one last Christmas and I noticed she was reading her e-books on her phone, so I got her one too! 

Jersey Girl wine glass(es) - I received one of these for a birthday many years ago, and then about two years ago (ON my birthday) I broke it. I was soooooo happy when I saw they were available on Amazon that I got one for me and one for a friend.

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw - this book was a gift for my Christmas in July partner. 

Active Lifestyle Wrist Wallet - Blue requested this as a place to store her keys while she went on her morning runs. I think she likes it! 

Beach.co jewelry - An IG ad impulse buy! I thought the company was going out of business and that's why everything was 75% off, but apparently it's still open and the sale is still on! 

GermKey - I forget exactly where I heard of this, but it seemed like a great idea, especially when I'm not wearing gloves and need to pay and push the button/touch the keypad. Blue thought it was stupid because if it's connected to your keys and then throw your keys into your purse, it touches all the surfaces in your purse and your skin when you next use your keys, but I like it. I'll just Lysol it after use, okay Blue?! Gosh!

What have you been purchasing lately? 

Linking up with Tanya!

Monthly Musings: Summer Vacations/Staycations

This is a fun questionnaire all about vacations and staycations is hosted by Patty and Holly. I actualy started going out a little bit, and had my first night in a hotel just last weekend. It wasn't bad- probably cleaner than ever before! Here are some 

1. It really depends on the destination! My carry-on always has reading material (book or Kindle or both), Aleve, a long sleeve shirt or hoodie if I'm not already wearing one, gum, my contact case and eyeglasses, and of course Mopey Batman, who comes with us on all of our vacations!

2. I've never used packing cubes before, and don't think I really need to especially since I'm only packing for myself. I could see how they'd be helpful if packing for multiple people though.

3. I ALWAYS prefer warm vacations- give me some clear blue waters and a cocktail any day!

4. Hands down Maui, HI. I went there for a wedding years ago and would love to go back!

5. I've heard "be a tourist in your own neighborhood" before, so I guess that. Try a new-to-you restaurant (with outdoor seating), and maybe go for lunch instead of dinner so it's less crowded. My friends dressed up for "a night at the theater" when they watched Hamilton which I thought was a cute idea too. 

6. I've gone glamping with a group of friends every year for the past 6 years and I love it! I'm a big fan of running water!

7. 20 - NY, PA, CT ,RI, MD, HI, CA, CO, NV, IL, FL, LA, TN, OH, NH, TX, KY, VA, MA, DE

8. Yes! I had a friend in high school who took  me along with her family 2 summers and I "camped" with them in their RV.

9. Every year Blue and I go on a trip for my birthday. I usually pick the place and find all the "must-sees" in the area and plan them out for us. A few years ago when we did the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, I found out that there was going to be a huge comet show on my actual birthday and there was a natural conservatory hosting an event where they'd have a bunch of telescopes and tell you about what you were seeing. First of all, it was in the middle of a forest, dark out (duh), and a man had to open the gate for us. That was kinda creepy and weird. Then we park and he takes us into the conservatory where there was a small group seated in a semi-circle in a classroom talking about stars and using one of those really old projectors to showcase what we would have seen. Apparently it was too overcast to actually see anything so they were holding a discussion instead, and it was very obvious when we arrived 15 min late since the group was only about 15 people! We were so mortified that we sat in rigid silence while the guy droned on until there was a 10 min coffee break and we raced out the door!

10. Italy. My partner and I were actually just discussing this last night. If we can swing it we'd like to do a Mediterranean cruise, but if that's not feasible then just 2 weeks all around Italy. I've always wanted to see the Amalfi Coast and Positano.

What about you? 

Where would you travel to first when you can?

Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2020

I believe this is my first time doing one of these, though I always read them and remember to participate just a bit too late. But I've finally made it! Honestly, this was a lot harder to do than I was expecting! So far I've read 33 books this year, so I tried not to repeat myself for any of the categories but for most categories I couldn't pick just one! 

Best Book You’ve Read So Far In 2020

Verity by Colleen Hoover and What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far In 2020

I don't read any series, so I'll choose the follow-up to her last book, Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To

Is 6 months ago still considered a "new release"? I hope so... Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half of the Year

I wrote a whole post on this last month, but here are my top 4 (in order of release date):

Heart Bones - Colleen Hoover: July 28

Charming as a Verb - Ben Philippe: September 8

Anxious People - Fredrik Backman: September 8

The Cousins - Karen M. McManus: December 1

Biggest Disappointment

The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren. It's not that it was a bad book, it's just that I had such high expectations and this definitely fell flat for me.

Biggest Surprise

The Boy From The Woods by Harlan Coben. This was my first by him and I picked it up after Steph mentioned loving it on the Show Us Your Books linkup hosted by Steph and Jana. Usually I already have a lot of new releases books on my TBR, but I hadn't heard of this one or the author. I was even more happily surprised that it takes places in NJ (where I live)!

Favorite New Author (Debut or new to you)

Courtney Summers

Newest Fictional Crush

I don't really "do" fictional crushes, but if I had to choose I think it's gotta be Reid from Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn. Don't get me wrong- he was completely uptight and awkward and incredibly hard to read at first, but I just love how the relationship between him and the MC grew and how he finally expressed himself at the end. 

Newest Favorite Character

I loved the headstrong  smart, and resilient Laurie from If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane. 

A Book That Made You Cry

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

A Book That Made You Happy

House Rules by Ruby Lang. (It was really a tie between this and Love Lettering, but as I said earlier I'm trying to not repeat books here! This was also quite a surprise because I got it from Netgalley and only after I got it realized it was #3 in a series, but it was so sweet, and the only book that was able to pull me out of my reading rut during the very beginning of quarantine!) 

The Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought (or received) So Far This Year

I don't buy books, but I received An American Marriage by Tayari Jones for Christmas and Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi for Christmas in July, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Guess I have a thing for a touch of gold foiling!

Favorite Book To Film Adaptation You Saw This Year

All of my favorite adaptions are actually TV mini series! 

Modern Love - Daniel Jones: Amazon Prime

Little Fires Everywhere - Celeste Ng: Hulu

I'll Be Gone in the Dark - Michelle McNamara: HBO

What Books Do You Need To Read by the End of the Year

All the ones I listed for Book Challenge by Erin 13.0, and...

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity In a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

So there you have it! My first Mid-Year Freak out- woot! My personal reading goals for the year were:

• 12 Non-Fiction (6/12)
• 25 from my bookshelf (digital [50] or physical) (/) I'm not going to count books right now, but I did make a dent! Probably about halfway through between digital and physical, especially since digital was counting Netgalley and as noted below, I read 10 of those so far this year. 
• BCBE 12 (completed) and 13 (3/10)

And just for funsies I decided to check out how many I read from these categories:

• Netgalley: 10
• Bipoc Authors: 8
• Male Authors: 2
• YA/Teen books: 8? (I wasn't sure whether to include Normal People since it follows them from teens into adulthood, but in the end I did) 

What were some of your favorite books this year? 

Did you do a Mid-Year Book Review? If so, I'd love to see it!