ONE OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES OF 2016!!! *dies*
Follow me on Instagram to see more images from my month.
Also you should follow my personal account — @jamielee841 — if you want to see even more!
1. Will and I celebrated 4 years of marriage on the 17th: Can’t believe we’ve been married for 4 years already but at the same time it’s like ONLY 4 years? Maybe it’s because we’ve been together since 2007 so it feels like it’s been much longer. Marriage hasn’t been without its ups and downs but honestly I’m still more than happy to be married sooo that’s good 🙂
2. I went and visited my pal Estelle in New York for a fun day — I used to go to NYC with regularity but it’s been FOREVER since I’ve been it feels like so I was happy to get a chance to visit Estelle and have her show me around her neighborhood in Queens. Had some good food, good beer, gelato that melted all over us, good convos and good views. Couldn’t have asked for a better day even if it was like 99 degrees out.
3. Went hiking at Watkins Glen, NY near where I grew up: Will and I went to visit my family (dad/stepmom/baby sis) for 4 days where I grew up. One of the things we did while they were at work was go hiking at Watkins Glen which was fun because I haven’t been there since I was a kid and Will had never been there. It was a PERFECT day for hiking and then we went to Rooster Fish Brewery for lunch and some cold beers which was so fantastic — highly recommend. Then we took in the views from the harbor of Seneca Lake. It’s interesting how my view of where I used to live as a young person was so influenced by mom’s hatred of it and desire to move to the Philadelphia area. I go back now and I just really appreciate the area more.
4. Went winery hopping with my baby sister: My baby sister goes to college near the Finger Lake region and so after we went hiking we went to see her house that she just moved into and OMG HER HOUSE IS RIGHT ON THE LAKE. It’s GORGEOUS. The views are to die for. They have their own dock. NOTTTTT quite my college experience. Anyways, we went hopping around to some wineries on her road that were all like 2 minutes from each other. It was SO fun to do this with my baby sister who just turned 21 this year!! I foresee more winery tastings in our future.
5. We celebrated my niece Adela’s 3rd birthday: I seriously can’t believe she’s 3! Where does time go???
I put all my Monthly Rewinds in a Spotify playlist so you can listen to them here !
1. Closer — The Chainsmokers & Halsey (I listened to this probably an unhealthy amount of times since it dropped at the end of July)
2. Painting (Masterpiece) — Lewis Del Mar
3. Run Run Blood — Phantogram
4. Ocean Eyes — Billie Eilish
5. High and Low — Empire of the Sun
6. Fresh Eyes — Andy Grammer
Check out the rest of my July playlist for more of what I was listening to this month!
I read 8 books and 1 comic book (volume 6 of Saga which OMG SOO GOOD) in the month of August.
 |
 |
|
1. Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand — I don’t typically read much MG but this book is magic and perfection and gahhh my heart.
2. Results May Vary by Bethany Chase: This one was so addictive and thought-provoking. What happens when the life you thought you had, the very foundation of it, crashes beneath you? That’s the overarching question the main character has to mull over and figure out during this novel in which her husband of 10 years cheats on her with a man…something she never saw coming.
3. Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler: If you are looking for classic ~chick-lit~ a la Meg Cabot or Sophie Kinsella, definitely check out this fun book! I flewwww through it because I was so addicted.
I didn’t do any full reviews but rather lots of mini-reviews soooo who knows! This collection of mini-reviews seemed to be the most popular.
“After all the evidence is in–after you’ve run all the facts by everything you know–and you’re still lost, you have to do some things on faith.” ― Island of the Secret Love Nun by Christopher Moore
This was one of those quotes that hit me right square in the heart because taking a leap of faith is something a struggle to do. I want concrete answers and a sure path…and sometimes life doesn’t give you that.
1. Shelves of Shame-– I mean, I’m NOT that ashamed but maybe a little. Thanks for your input!!
2. 17 Summer Must-Reads: A list of summer releases on my must-read list! Are these all on your to-be-read list?
3. 24 Book-To-Movie Adaptations To Read Before The Movie: Check out these upcoming book to movie adaptations for the rest of 2016 and early 2017!
4. To Savor or to Binge?: Loved hearing your habits when it comes to how you consume books and tv shows.
5. Ten Comics On My TBR List: Super appreciate you guys helping me prioritize my comics TBR and add even more suggestions for me!!
I think it got plenty of love but my Whatcha in the Mood For: The Romance (Or Lack of) Edition maybe? Was hoping for more recs that would satisfy the categories I had used!
1. Caprese Stuffed Zucchini: The zucs are always in our meals because we love them — either as a side or as zoodles or stuffed like these (we have a yummy cheeseburger zucchini boats we love making). I’m SO looking forward to trying these before the summer is over.
2. Ten Riveting Historical Biographies That Make History Fun: I also super love biographies about people in history so this post was like insta-save. MUST READ THESE BOOKS.
3. Are We Living In Post Comment World?: Food for thought! I could never disable my comment section because I feel like I have such good conversations here even though I do also get a lot of interaction elsewhere on social media.
4. 5 Ways To Connect With Your Creativity: I often feel like I’m not a creative type so this list might be of use to me to rethink that.
5. How 10 Minutes Can Change Your Whole Day: INTERESTING. Need to work on this.
1. Trader Joe’s “Bollywood” Popcorn : OH EM GEE. I had to get it because Will and I always like to try new things that pop up at TJ but also I loooove Tikka Masala so I had to try popcorn spiced up with those kind of seasonings. This popcorn is so addictive.
2. The White Queen– I’m a big history fan and I finally have gotten around to watching The White Queen and I’m so addicted. Also got me excited because Demelza from Poldark is in it!
3. Monday Fundays: In August my girlfriends decided every other Monday was going to be Monday Funday in which we meet up for wine and snacks and catch up time. It’s like the best part of the week when it’s Monday Funday week and a great start to any week. I love it because we are being intentional about having a date on the calendar without trying to coordinate when we are all free. If one of us can’t make it, no bigs!
1. All my tv shows coming back: I always do look forward to my Fall tv shows returning!
What is something that you feel like you need to stop procrastinating doing?
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?
Emmah says
I still havne’t read the Young Elites trilogy :X What’s it about? I LOVE the covers! Especially the one for The Midnight Star!
Congrats on celebrating 4 years of marriage!!
Wow, Watkins Glen is gorgeous!! What part of New York is that in? I have family in Ithaca (well near it)!
How is Adela 3 already?!
I tried Lays’ new Greek Tzatziki chips and OMG THEY’RE SO GOOD!! They’re a slightly bolder, creamier sour cream and onion.
I can’t wait for my Fall tv shows to come back either!! There’s SO many of them haha.
Also I cannot wait for EoS! Though I’m nervous and excited lol.
You MUST check out Kelsea Ballerini’s album (it’s on spotify)! It’s SO amazing! I honestly can’t pick a favorite song off of it, it’s THAT good.
I read like 7 or 8 books in August (that’s a lot for me)! But my two favorites were… The Winner’s Kiss (Marie Rutkoski) and A Mad, Wicked Folly (Sharon Biggs Waller)!
Jamie says
Oh man I can’t even begin to explain what The Young Elites are about but basically some people gained superpowers after this strange blood fever that ravaged the land and they are called The Young Elites but the people in power try to hunt them down to destroy them. The main character ends up finding a group called The Dagger Society who try to find other Young Elites, who might be hiding, before the people in power find them. The main character Adelina has even MOAR powers. Also…it’s kind of a villain origin story in a way. Like she’s not your typical hero…you root for her and can understand what is making her tick but she’s kinda a villain.
Watkins Glen is super close to Ithaca! I love Ithaca! Like 40 minutes from where I grew up. Buttermilk Falls, the Commons, Robert Treman State Park!
Oooh those chips sound good.
WEE FALL TV!
LOVED both of your faves books of August!
Melissa Lee says
You shared some really beautiful pictures here, especially your wedding photo. Congratulations on 4 years.
In response to your question.. I need to stop procrastinating on everything. But I’m just so good at it, haha. More specifically house work, I suppose.
Happy September to you.
Jamie says
Thank you! 🙂
GIRL same. When I asked the question I thought about a loooong list of things I’m procrastinating. House work is definitely one of those things. We keep saying we are going to get our shit together in the apartment and really organize and clean up but it doesn’t happy. We are just cluttered right now and like will throw a band-aid on the problem if someone comes over. May September be the month you and I both get it together and stop procrastinating!
Yasmine @ Swissbookworm says
Looks like a really great month for you and congratulations on your anniversary with your hubby! :))
I’m also looking forward to finally being able to watch all of my favourite TV shows again! But I’m not looking forward to everything pumking-y. I LOVE fall, but I really dislike the taste of pumpkins 😛 Can’t wait to carve my own for halloween, though 😉
In answer to your question of the month: I should REALLY schedule my first Uni semester. I’m just procrasting so much, and it starts in 2 weeks and I haven’t signed up for any classes yet :0 What’s your answer to your question by the way?
Here’s my Wrap Up @ Swissbookworm
Jamie says
It was a really great month! And thank you! 🙂
Fall tv is always seriously so exciting! Ahhh you are one of THOSE people who don’t like pumpkin 😛 Meanwhile I could eat pumpkin everything hehe. Okay maybe not EVERYTHING but a lot of things. My fave — a pumpkin sage mac and cheese Will makes, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that Will makes, and the list could go on. haha. We always carve pumpkins with my nieces which I always look forward too! Love baking the seeds!
AH get that schedule done, girl! My answer (sooo many answers tbh) but I need to stop procrastinating some projects around the house that I semi started, stop procrastinating cleaning my email inboxes out (they are horrrrrrid bc I’ve not tended to them all summer) and like even trying to figure out what my next step with a job is going to be….I stopped job hunting and just kept nannying because mentally it was taking a toll on me but I’m ready to figure out what’s next for me. I did marketing and social media stuff before I had gotten laid off and I need to start expanding that and figure out what else I could be into. I just have such bad vibes towards job searching after having an awful go at it and it putting me into a really bad period of depression…so I keep putting it off!
Angela says
We visited Watkins Glen this summer, too! I visited the park as a kid, but my husband had never been there, so I had to take him! The wineries near there are fantastic, too. And I’m definitely looking forward to fall – cooler temps and pumpkin EVERYTHING, I love it!
Like lots of others, I probably need to stop procrastinating on house work, but just some general tidying up of tables and bookshelves that I never seem to get to each weekend! Too many others things I’d rather be doing.
Jamie says
Vacation twins! 😀 It really is such a great park and area! Next time I want to do the wineries there along Seneca but it was fun to go visit the ones near Keuka! Are you from around that area??
MY HEART IS SO TORN ABOUT FALL — I love everything like pumpkin and the colors and breaking out my sweaters and boots and leather jacket but OH MY GOD SUMMER TEMPS ARE SO MUCH MORE MY THING. I always miss my pretty dresses and bare legs and outdoor things that don’t make me cold. lol
I feel the same!!! On a weekend I know I should tidy up but I’d rather just be going out doing stuff or reading or blogging. I don’t feel like a real adult sometimes. Somehow my mom always had the house pretty spotless.
Leandra Wallace says
Heh, talking about pumpkin, one of my neighbors already has pumpkins out in their yard. Since last week! Pumpkins in August is a crime!!
Jamie says
OMG HOW DARE THEY. All these people trying to push their Fall Agenda before August is even over. I get soooooo mad seeing Fall things out before September. Like all the pumpkin beers. I LOVE PUMPKIN BEER but like NOT IN AUGUST. My only exception is pumpkin ice cream lol I’m a hypocrite.
Tiffany says
Jamieeeeee happy September! I’m so looking forward to the fall. I feel like during the summer my life falls apart a little lolol – like I don’t run errands or go grocery shopping because it’s so hot outside. I’m also developing this theory that the more clothes I wear, the more powerful I become. ;3
Also, happy 4 year anniversary! Will looks so different in your wedding photo haha. So happy to see you got to spend a lot of time with fam & friends this month. And p.s. I love Watkins Glen – it’s so pretty there. I had no idea you grew up around in that area!! I went to college in Ithaca, which is like a half hour away. What a perfect time to visit. Let me know the next time you’re in NYC so I can come give you a hug! xo
Jamie says
OMG TOTALLY. I am a summer child through and through. I LIVE FOR SUMMER. But I am an unproductive and spacey human in summer months. I’m going to miss the nice weather and sun though. SIGH. I really am a happier person in the summer.
BUT I LIKE THIS THEORY. I do feel like a boss with a blazer on over my dress vs. just my dress.
Hehe Will looks like such a baby. I really do think since our wedding he has become more of a ~man~ and figured out his style and actually cares about it. lol. ALL WITHOUT ME PUSHING HIM TO BECOME MORE STYLISH.
OMG I LOVE ITHACA. We go there a lot every time we are up there — it’s like 40 min from my dad’s also. There is a Thai place I love in the commons and PURITY ICE CREAM.
UM no seriously..next time I’m in NYC I really do want to meet and hang out! I adore you! xo
Jordan @ ForeverLostinLiterature says
What a great month! And happy belated anniversary, that’s wonderful! That “Bollywood” popcorn sounds amazing, I am going to have to track some down. And I’ve never tried Pumpkin Beer – I think I’ll have to add that to my fall to-do list, too!
I’m still waiting to read Some King of Happiness, but hopefully soon! I keep seeing amazing things about it. 🙂
In regards to what I need to stop procrastinating on… gosh, what don’t I need to stop procrastinating on! Haha, I think it really changes depending on what it is. It’s normally small things, like calling someone back or working on a book review. Why would I procrastinate a simple phone call is beyond me, I’m just going to chalk it up to pure laziness. I also tend to procrastinate on big purchases that I know I have to make, like buying an overpriced parking permit for school. (I’m definitely not bitter about that or anything.) My final year of university is coming up, though, so I’m sure there will be plenty to procrastinate on soon…
Jamie says
It really was such a great month! Yessss that Bollywood popcorn is so good. Shipyard Pumpkin is one of my faves and it goes away kind of quickly in the season!
I hope you love Some Kind of Happiness!!!
“what don’t I need to stop procrastinating on?” — MY LIFE. I also really procrastinate small things that would take me like one minute to do. Like for the past month I procrastinated putting the registration sticker on the back of my car…LIKE WHY??? I finally just did it this week. YES big purchases. I also do that too because I’m like UGHHHH do not want to spend money.
Good luck with your final year of university!! All that graduation stuff to procrastinate!!
Girl About Library says
Love the music! Andy Grammar is one of my favorites and Fresh Eyes is so good!
Jamie says
Andy Grammar is so great!! Fresh Eyes was definitely such a perfect addition to my summertime commuting with my windows down in the morning.
Bryan G. Robinson says
Happy belated anniversary to you and your husband.
My wife and I live about 60 miles away from Watkins Glen in Pennsylvania and Seneca Lake is one of our favorite places to visit. We especially like the wineries up theretoo and are going on a wine tour there at the beginning of October. I can’t imagine hating the area, at all. Seems strange to me, but then I grew up in rural northcentral Pennsylvania so am not a city person…at all.
Jamie says
Thank you!
I think a lot of it was 1) she grew up in Florida in a non-rural area 2) so much of that area was tied to her unhappiness and divorce with my dad and 3) unfortunately she thought she was better than the people in this town that was largely uneducated and “unsophisticated” poor town in rural PA. Esp back in the 90’s I think she felt like she would never leave the town which..a lot of people didn’t. And even more unfortunately, as a kid, I looked to my mom so I felt her resentment and hate for this town and I learned to think less of it especially because when we finally DID move to Philly I resented having to go back there where I felt there was nothing to do. Also, I inherited her snobby attitude towards my old friends who I felt weren’t like my new friends. I definitely think once I was in college and started thinking for myself I became really ashamed of how I had felt as a middle schooler and high schooler and now I appreciate and love my hometown and my roots and see how silly those attitudes were. And now I think I can see how much of it stemmed from a hatred of my dad and being stuck there when she was married to him and had to stay around for custody reasons. WHEW that was super personal and a lot but there it is! haha
Bryan G. Robinson says
But it seems like you are learning to make your peace with Watkins Glen and that’s good. I’m sure the wine helps. 🙂
Aubrey @ Aubrey's Book Nook says
I think I struggle more with consistency than procrastination, but maybe I procrastinate reading books I HAVE to read for school because THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER *good* books I COULD BE READING… You know? I really like the layout of your wrap up. Thanks!
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
I’m pretty much jealous of all of those things that you did this month!! It looks like August was great – and oh my gosh, seriously, where has the time gone!!!
Pumpkin beerssss
I haven’t started this Marie Lu series yet (I’m still behind in Legend HA) but I kind of want to binge read them… I’ve been digging series binges lately!
Jamie says
PUMPKIN BEERS. It’s crazy it’s fall.
You should totallyyyy read The Young Elites first. I loved Legend but oof this one is so good!
La La in the Library says
Yay for Watkins Glen! I live in Binghamton, so I have been there many times. My son and his friends hop over frequently when they visit friends at Ithaca College. I just recently stopped procrastinating about starting to play guitar again. A friend of mine died a year ago from brain cancer. He was a musician and the cancer grew right where we process music in our brains. Music had been his life and he lived the last year and a half without being able to hear melody. The day he passed I swore that I would start playing again and not take my music for granted. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that I finally got serious about it. We have a city event called Porchfest where bands play on people’s porches and my goal is to get a group together by next August and play for Porchfest. I wamt to perform songs that Bill wrote and also songs another friend if mine, Jani, who also passed away, wrote to honor them. <3
Samantha says
I have Closer on repeat too!
Happy Anniversary!!
Monday fundays sound like a lot of fun. I hope I can do that someday with my friends. I miss them so much <3 (we live in different states).
My sister lives around a bunch of wineries, but we've yet to visit any of them. eek.
kristen says
happy anniversary! my husband and i have been married 4 years this november, and it really does feel like ‘only 4 years?!’ and ‘holy cow, 4 years?!’ slow down, time!
the white queen looks so good! i need to watch it. i am so behind on all the shows i want to watch.
okay is that closer song the one that talks about stealing a mattress from a roommate? hahaha sometimes i focus too much on lyrics and it really bothers me. but i singalong because it’s so darn catchy!