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1. We had some issues with the pup: Early in November we noticed Finn having a limp (w/ no apparent pain or slowing down of activity) when he would run (well not a full run but when he would more so trot) and we took him to the vet, they put him on anti-inflammatory meds and then he was still limping so we took him back for x-rays (which saddest thing ever..he was crying for me and scratching to get to me when she led him out) and found out that he has hip dysplasia. She didn’t recommend surgery yet so I don’t think it’s awful yet but we have to give him supplements to help with his joints and really just monitor the limp/everything he’s doing. He doesn’t act like he’s in pain at all but he probably is a little bit. Hoping we follow the vet’s plans and that it never gets too bad. Feel so bad for the little guy 🙁
2. I saw Mockingjay Part 2 with my book club — I really enjoyed it!! I cried quite a bit, not going to lie. So bittersweet for this franchise to be over but I truly enjoyed these movies just as much as I enjoyed the books.
3. Will and I booked our trip to Madrid and London: SO SO SO SO excited to return to London (Will has never been though) and visit Madrid for the first time (plus visit some friends who recently moved there AND had a baby last week!!). If you’ve got recs for either of those cities of MUST DO’S/SEES/EATS/DRINKS let me have them! Also maybe some of your favorite books set in either place?
4. I had two separate dates with a new group of lady friends– I got to try two new local places — one for brunch and one for an Italian dinner and both times were so fun! It’s always so hard to make new friends at this age and I’m so happy to find people again who I click with. I’m looking forward to more shenanigans with them next month.
5. I started culling my “to read” list on Goodreads: It was out of control at around 1300 books — due to being on Goodreads since 2008 and also my habit to had ANYTHING that I am even remotely interested in or want to remember or want to check out to that list. It’s been a tedious process but I feel really good about taking a first stab at weeding out books I’m not interested in anymore — whether it’s that my interests are different than from when I added it years ago or trusted friends have all disliked it or I’m just not SUPER excited about it like I was when I added it (or some I’m like WHY THE HECK DID I ADD THIS?!). There still are probably way too many books on there…more than I’ll ever read..but it’s a start to get out the obvious ones I know I’ll never get to or am 100% not interested in anymore.
I put all my Monthly Rewinds in a Spotify playlist so you can listen to them here !
1. We Were Here — BOY
2. Arm’s Length — Kacy Hill
3. Avalanche — Kalle Mattson
4. Skin — Kyla La Grange
5. West Coast — Hey Marseilles
6. Into the Night — Madeline Juno
Honorable Mentions: The Dreamer by Anna of the North, Half The World Away by AURORA, Water by Ra Ra Riot, Memoir by Villagers, Making All Things New by Aaron Espe
Check out the rest of my November playlist
I read a total of 7 books this month — okay one was a dog training book but whatever.
1. Just Visiting by Dahlia Adler: What a great book about friendship! So excited for my upcoming book talk about this one!!
2. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken: This book reminded me how much I love time travel books!
3. Friday Never Leaving by Vikki Wakefield: AUSSIE YA WOOOO!
Not surprising since An Ember in Ashes was a huge hyped up book this year!
Ummm I really didn’t post much this month (I slow down a lot in November and December) so not much to wade through but here’s
1. The Tale of Two Warring Bookworms Within Me — Bookworm problems, man!
2. Recommendations Needs From YOU: It was nice to turn the tables and ask you all for book recs — in this case I was looking for comic books and graphic novels! AND BOY DID YOU ALL HELP. I am still wading through suggestions!! Thank you!
3. Ten Book To Movie Adaptions I Want To See: Already got to check Mockingjay off that list yay!
4. Whatcha In The Mood For? Happy to provide some recs for different moods! Hope you guys found some!
5. Beyond the Pages: Insecurities Then vs Now : It was nice to reflect on insecurities as a teen vs. now at 30 — “I think one of the things I’m learning about adulthood is that certain things that you experience as a young person don’t simply disappear as you get older…you just learn to deal with them differently/better and your tools for handling it are sharper. It could also be that you just simply run out of shits to give –you only have so much you can worry or care about and something has to give. ONLY A FINITE AMOUNT OF SHITS TO BE GIVEN.”
Any book talks honestly! I just want to talk about booooks with you all.
NOTHING. Will Jamie ever return? WE SHALL SEE. Maybe in the new year.
1. How To Hygge (or 29 Ways To Actually Enjoy Winter) – Winter is the pits for me, guys. I get sad that the sun is out. I get miserable that the cold air assaults me as I leave my apartment. I kick my car when the door gets frozen with ice. I just miss the nice weather. Sure I love snuggling in my blankets with some hot cocoa and a book but BLAH winter just gives me major blues. SOOO I will be trying this list and forcing myself to change my attitude towards winter!
2. Now What? 5 Steps To Figuring Out What You Want To Do Next When You Don’t Have A Goddamn Clue: I just entered my 30’s in October and I feel like I *AM* at this crossroads where I’m like I don’t know at all where I want to go next. I feel like certain doors are closing and I need to rally and make a new game plan for life. Going to try some of her tips!
3. 30 Simple Ways To Take Care of Yourself Over the Holidays: I’m already looking at my calendar for December and I’m half tempted to just go curl in bed until the month is over. I’m EXCITED for all my plans and things to do but also…wow lots of peopling and being on the go. Need to remember to take care of myself — particularly because the holidays always have the tendency of making me sad (without me even really being aware that’s what it is going on) because I miss my mom.
4. Smoky Maple Chipotle Brussel Sprouts: Hey don’t judge me…brussel sprouts are DELICIOUS, YO. And these look amazing and Will is totally going to make them for us. Maybe next month I’ll get back to sharing desserts or yummy drinks…but BRUSSEL SPROUTS.
5. No emojis necessary from Write Meg!: I’ve enjoyed Meg’s blog for years and this experience she shared with connecting with a friend IRL and her reflection of friendship in the age of social media.
1. All the Christmas parties: Will’s work Christmas party, family Christmas party, book club Christmas party, Christmas party with new lady friends. ALL THE CHRISTMAS PARTIES.
What book do you hope Santa brings you this year? And what NON-book item do you hope he brings you this year? (seriously though why can’t Santa be actually real though quite alarming to have someone slinking around your house when you sleep I suppose.)
Pick a category (or 5… or all of them) and tell me what went on in YOUR life this month!! What sort of things were noteworthy for you this month? New obsessions? Any new song recs?? Best books you read this month? Great posts I missed on your blog? Answer to my question of the month?
Mel@thedailyprophecy says
I read about Finny on Twitter and awwhhh, I hope it doesn’t get too bad 🙁
I should take a look at my Goodreads to-read list. It’s even worse than your 1300 books, haha.
I can’t wait to read Passenger! I’ve already heard some good things about it and it sounds amazing.
Jessica Jones is waiting on my to-watch list on Netflix.
Ways to enjoy the Winter.. yeah, good luck with that. When the sun disappears and the temperatures drop, it’s already terrible for me. I’m really sensitive to cold – it affects my body and that affects my mood. I just need to get through it.
-Noteworthy this month: I GOT A FLIPPING JOB 😀 And it sounds like everything I was looking for.
-New obessions: marzipan <3
-Song rec: Adele's new album. Especially When we were young.
-Best book: it's terrible, but I've only read 3 books this month.. And two were re-reads, haha.
Jamie says
Thanks lady! I hope it isn’t a big deal in his life and goes away (she said it possibly could though I don’t understand how haha).
It’s feeling like it’s taking a lot of weight off my shoulders to cull it. I mean, I’m not halfway done and there’s still 1200 books but BABY STEPS. I’m just interested in TOO MANY books I guess.
OMG YOU MUST WATCH JESSICA JONES SOON.
I’m so with you….the lack of sun and the bitter cold? MISERABLE and I just don’t want to get out of bed. I really do think I have seasonal depression :/
OMG CONGRATS GIRL!!!!! How exciting.
I’ve never had marzipan!!
YAS ADELE. I’ve been obsessed with Hello. I haven’t gotten a chance to grab the new album to really listen to all the songs but soon this month I’m just going to lay on the couch with that album and my big headphones and enjoy it!
And girl I feel you…the last couple months I had barely read ANYTHING. The one month it was 3 books EEP.
Katheryn says
Your posts are always so interesting.
I wondered why you weren’t posting videos much, and there I was tagging you in things. >_< Fail! But yeah, not much to mention on my side other than bad stuff. Sigh. I'd been doing NaNoWriMo but am never getting to 50k when I'm at 27k now and there's only 2 days left. -.-
It's cool that you're coming to England. Hopefully the weather will be decent for you as even in May/June/July we can have really awful rain and such. Then again, sometimes we get heat waves. It's so confusing.
Jamie says
Aw thank you! And yeaaaaah I always struggle once it gets darker out in the fall and winter because our lighting in the apartment is shit anyways. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a routine going in the new year plus Will and I just bought a new camera so MOTIVATION.
I hope things get better for you!! <3 And hey...27K is still amazing!! It's better than the 0 I did!! Hopefully NaNo at least gave you the burst of motivation you needed.
FINGERS CROSSED WE HAVE NICE WEATHER. When I was there in 2007 it only drizzled one day and the rest it was beautiful and sunny! I must remember to pack an umbrella or just purchase one when we get there haha
Lisa @ Reading, Writing, and Random Musings says
I’m so sad about your pup, but woo hoo Europe! I’ve never been, and it is such a bucket list item for me! I haven’t tried the Trader Joe’s peppermint ice cream, but I’m now adding it to my list :). I’m hoping Santa brings me the Harry Potter books. I just started the series (I know, I know), and I’d like to have my own complete set as I finish the series up for #potterbinge!
Alexa S. says
I think it’s great that you’re working on clearing out your TO READ shelf on Goodreads! I actually wound up separating titles I was considering reading from the rest of my ACTUAL TBR, just so I had a better idea of what I had already to read and what I was considering checking out eventually. It was a lot of work, but definitely worth it in the end! Hope your culling process goes well 🙂
Lefty @ The Left-Handed Book Lover says
I really love the way you do your wrap-up posts. It sounds like this month has been pretty good to you. I, too, cried quite a bit watching Mockingjay Part 2. And I am so incredibly jealous that you get to go to London. I’m dying to pay a visit! I’m glad to see you’re loving Jessica Jones. I’ve heard tons of great things about it, but I’ve yet to start it.
Such an interesting post!
My Sunday Post
Rachel @ Go Read A Book says
I love your Spotify playlists, I haven’t heard of a lot of these songs so I’m excited to listen!
I’m glad you liked Just Visiting, I’ve been DYING to read it. It’s definitely at the top of my Christmas list.
I’ve heard a ton about Jessica Jones, but I’m not huge on superhero shows so I was a little nervous. I might just give it a shot anyway.
Your book talk posts sound amazing. Like let’s be friends because I just want to talk about books too! 🙂
Emmah says
Book I want “Santa” to bring me this year? Harry Potter: Film Wizardy! They’ve released an extended edition and I only have the one before they extended it! Oh, and hardcover of “Incarnate” by: Jodi Meadows (BECAUSE IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND)!
Non-book item that I hope “Santa” brings me this year? A truckload of Amazon gift cards LOL.
So, I actually had a pretty exciting month (half-way through)!! On November 12th, I won floor tickets and meet & greet through Coast 93.1 (a Maine radio station) to the So You Think You Can Dance tour!! And then the event was on the 14th! It was AMAZING, omg! All the dancers were so nice and down-to-earth! The dance part was awesome too. I posted tons of pictures from it on my instagram (@likewhoaaemmy) 🙂
No new obsessions, just a few reignited ones lol. Like for instance, peppermint bark and then Edy’s peppermint wonderland (peppermint stick) ice cream. Hallmark Christmas movies lol.
You’ve probably heard it, but “Hello” by: Adele haha.
Best books I read this month? A lot, actually!! “Heart of Betrayal” by: Mary E Pearson, “The Bronze Horseman” by: Paullina Simons, “Cinder” by: Marissa Meyer, and “I Was Here” by: Gayle Forman! And I only have about 39% left of “Open Road Summer” by: Emery Lord 🙂
Sarah J. says
I would for Santa to bring me Jamie Fraser and if that’ s not feasible I’m okay with plane tickets to Scotland. I’ll take either or both. 😉 My top three books this month are:
Full Dark, No Stars
How to Seduce a Scot
Illuminae
Glad to see you had a pretty good month. Hope next one is fantastic as well!
threegoodrats says
I’m sorry about Finn’s troubles 🙁 We’ve been struggling with our dog behavior-wise and seriously thought maybe we couldn’t keep her, but finally got her into an intense board & train program a week or so ago. She will be there for a month at least, but about two days after we dropped her off we were both totally missing her already! Would love to know which dog training book you read and what you thought of it.
Back in May I decided to get rid of my To Read list on Goodreads because it was stressing me out. Every time I picked up a book to read and it wasn’t on my list I felt so guilty! So, I deleted everything except the books for my TBR Pile Challenge. It is so freeing! My one fear is that I’d be ready to read something new and wouldn’t be able to remember anything I wanted to read, but so far that hasn’t happened. It probably helps that I work in a library and am surrounded by literally thousands of books. Good luck culling your list – I bet you’ll be glad you did!
Heather says
I was in London a couple of months ago and one place you need to visit is Hatchard’s book store. They have two locations – one in Piccadilly and another in St Pancras International Station (conveniently located near Kings Cross Station and the Harry Potter shop if you’re into that. Which I am). And I really enjoyed the British Museum – but I think everyone has been there. I went to a whole bunch of places – mostly museums – and saw a play at Shakespeare’s Globe which is an amazing experience, if you’re into Shakespeare. But Hatchard’s is definitely a must-do.
Anna says
always love your song suggestions! They all make my commute more enjoyable! Do you have a spotify playlist that we can follow?
Also poor Finn! I hope he feels better 🙂
Anna says
Sorry stupid question about the playlist! I see the link in the post 🙂 thanks!
Evelynne says
Passenger is one of the books I’m most looking forward to in January – I really enjoyed Bracken’s writing style in the Darkest Minds and the premise of Passenger sounds awesome!
Alison R says
Hi, just stumbled across your blog so apologies for the late response. I am based in London so if you haven’t already visited us let me know the sorts of things you like to do and I am sure I can make some recommendations. Not sure how much of London you have already seen but some random thoughts:
For example: Borough Market (near London Bridge Station) is a fabulous fresh food market selling artisan cheeses, breads, exotic meats etc – great to wander around and the stallholders offer free tastes. It is located just behind Southwark Cathedral – a cathedral has stood on that site for over 1,000 years. You could also book tickets to go to the top of the Shard (a large office block/hotel right on London Bridge station) to see London – warning tickets are quite pricey. Then you can either walk along the Embankment (bank of the River Thames) past The Golden Hind (Sir Walter Raleigh’s ship) and the Tate Modern art gallery towards the London Eye (think big wheel that has great views of London) – if you want to go on the Eye I recommend booking in advance and paying the extra for the Champagne trip (costs more but you don’t have to queue for 30 minutes to get on the capsule). Or you could walk across London Bridge and up Bishopsgate (a street), stop off at Leadenhall Market which was used to film some of the Diagon Alley scenes in Harry Potter – if the shops are open you may see rabbits and grouse hanging outside the butcher’s (not for the vegetarians!), then carry on up Bishopsgate and visit Spitalsfield market which is full of trendy little booths selling handmade bread/jumpers/hats as well as “antiques”, old records etc. There are also lots of places to eat ranging from pulled pork vans to Mexican, Italian, burgers at the casual end or Galvin la Chapelle at the high end for Michelin star dining. Nearby is the famous Petticoat Lane market although it mostly seems to be cheap rubbish these days. If you haven’t had enough of seeing London from up high you could also visit the Duck and Waffle pub on top of the Heron Tower (110 Bishopsgate) – have a drink and the signature duck and waffle dish!
Anyway, some alternative thoughts from the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace tours.