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1. I saw Taylor Swift on the 1989 Tour: Oh my gosh. I wrote all about it here but it was SO FUN and I hadn’t seen her since 2007 at a tiny little venue so it was so cool to see her where she is NOW. Had such a good time!
2. Lots of pool days!! — The one thing I love about our apartment is the pool. I’ve had some really nice and relaxing days at the pool reading! ULTIMATE RELAXATION.
3. I decided to start tinkering again with the story idea I started last year: I really have never wanted to write fiction before but I had this really personally inspired story idea and I finally wrote a paragraph last year, cried and was done with it. Meanwhile scenes have been popping up in my head and I can’t stop thinking about it. So I randomly found myself opening on a Friday night and wrote a couple more sentences.
4. We went to our second Block Party concert of the Summer– We saw A Silent Film, Misterwives, Big Data, New Politics + Foxtrot and the Get Down! Was super fun and I LOVED seeing Misterwives because they have become faves since I first heard them last year! Also we went to an AMAZING burger joint in Philly before the concert (PYT) and I got a cheese steak burger on A GLAZED DONUT BUN. It was incredible.
5. I discovered some new local foodie spots I love: I found a new Korean food stall at a local farmer’s market and it was SO GOOD and while I was there I saw the Brunettes Bookshop Bakery!! THE TWO THINGS I LOVE THE MOST — dessert and books!
I put all my Monthly Rewinds in a Spotify playlist so you can listen to them here !
1. Seventeen — Sjowgren
2. Back to the Ordinary — Kid Astray
3. Astronaut — Paris Carney
4. Cliff’s Edge — Hayley Kiyoko
5. Alligator Years — Twinsmith
6. Could Have Been Me – The Struts
Honorable mentions:
– Hold Me Down by Halsey
– You’re Mine by Lola Marsh
– Make you Mine by Family of the Year
– Slip by Elliot Moss
– Winter is for Kierkegaard by Tyler Lyle
– No No No by Beirut
Check out the rest of my June playlist
I read 12 book this month!
1. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard — OMG I had no self control after I got it at BEA. Will be reread MULTIPLE times before it comes out in 2016 I’m sure. SO GOOD.
2. Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta: WHAT A GOOD SERIES ENDING. THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING.
3. PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han: What a delightful book and conclusion to Lara Jean’s story as we know it!
I’m not at all surprised it’s a NEW SARAH DESSEN. Read my thoughts on Saint Anything!
“‘Me. I determine my own worth. If I had to rely on others I’d have lain down and died waiting.” — Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
Quintana once again proving why she is so BADASS. When I read this line I was like PREACH MY QUEEN.
1. My 5th year blogoversary post — I didn’t set out to write a post talking about those things to celebrate my 5th blog birthday but WHATEVS.
2. If We Were Having Coffee: These are my favorite posts to write if I’m honest and I love catching up with you guys!!
3. Ten Books I’d Love To See As TV Shows/Movies: Thanks for letting me ramble and be a bit sentimental and nostalgic but also for letting me share 4 blogs I’ve really been digging lately.
4. A Sentimental Value: Loved talking about some books that are special to me!
5. I’m Not Too Old For That: Another post inspired by a conversation I had with a non-YA reader that caused me to reflect!
Are We Out of the Woods Yet?
or maybe my two mini review roundups (here and here)
Eh only one video this month:
My Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda book talk
1. The Status of All Things: It’s Complicated – I loved this post from Estelle and she totally sold me on this book. I loved how she reflected on social media and the things on her mind have been A LOT of what have been on my own lately.
2. 7 Places To Pause For More Peace In Your Life Courtney’s blog is a new-ish add to my blog reader and I’ve really been enjoying her posts! This one REALLY was one I’m glad I read. They were all so spot on in places I really should pause more often. Except for #4. If I pause when I wake up I’ll fall back asleep haha. I also have to say I loved Courtney’s post How A Devastating Diagnosis Taught Me To Really Live
3.When You Die You Won’t Care About Emails: If you read these recaps of mine every month you pretty much know Alexandra is always on here because her posts always resonate with me so much. I have been thinking about a lot of things in the “when I die I won’t care about this” so maybe I shouldn’t obsess over it.
4. How To Find Balance Between Self Improvement vs. Self Acceptance: I swear I’m like a self help/self improvement junkie. I NEEDS THE BALANCE.
5. Welcome to the Present Moment: Nice, short little reminder from Jess about living in the present. When I think about what I’m thinking about all day it’s either worry about something I can’t go back and undo or ALL THE FUTURE THINGS. I’m rarely in the moment.
In honor of my road trip in July, tell me:
One song that would DEFINITELY be on your roadtrip mix!
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?
Kristin @ Simply Bookish Things says
Ahh, you saw Misterwives, I’m so jealous! haha! My best friend and I are always jamming to them everytime we hang out! You’ve read some really great books this month that I can’t wait for to come out so I can read it ASAP! 😀 I seriously cannot wait for Truthwitch to come out, it is quickly going on my list of most anticipated!
Sounds like you had a really fun month and I hope next month is just as fun! 🙂
Jamie says
There were SO GOOD. I highly recommend trying to see them if you can! And she was sick and you never would have even known it! Apparently she had been like puking and stuff before haha.
Emmah says
That bookshop bakery thing looks amazing!!
That ToG shirt is so awesome! Though I want the poster more haha.
I might do a slight reread of the ToG series, but I don’t know! I’ve already reread ToG and CoM this year haha.
Just one song that would be on my roadtrip mix?! That’s so difficult!! So, I’m going to just point you to two mixes that I’ve made: http://8tracks.com/likewhoaaemmy/nothin-sweeter-than-summertime#smart_id and http://8tracks.com/likewhoaaemmy/roadtrippin#smart_id
Hmm, noteworthy for me this month? I turned 23 on June 25th! I found out who my SS is from this round!
New obsessions? Nothing really haha. Though I really like that new reality show “I Can Do That”!
New song recs? “Work Song” by: Hozier, “All I’ve Ever Needed” by: AJ Michalka, “Oceans (Where Feet My Fall)” by: Hillsong United, and “Fight Song” by: Rachel Platten!
Best books I read in June? HANDS DOWN THE BEST ONE: ACOTAR!! Well, along with “Royal Wedding” by: Meg Cabot! I also really liked “P.S. I Still Love You” and “The Wrath and the Dawn”!
Side note: Once I get the time, I’m going to reply to your If We’re Having Coffee reply (to the thing I wrote you) to your email! What is your email, btw?
Aubrey says
A few podcast recs: Mystery Show, The Moth, and Death, Sex & Money. Enjoy!
Annie says
i loved reading your taylor swift recap jamie! i’m going in october and i’m just like CAN IT COME SOONER PLS because i don’t think it can wait. i love taylor’s music but i also love how she can put on a great show. i went to red and had such a fun time and 1989 just seems so much more fun! also envious that you got to see misterwives. their album was truthfully the only thing that kept me sane during finals while i was ripping my hair out, stressing over EVERYTHING. and love your litographs shirt! i don’t think you can ever get enough of sjm or celaena / throne of glass.
have a good july jamie!
Laura @ Scribbles & Wanderlust says
Where’s the Brunettes Bookshop Bakery? Also, why does it sound like it’s BEYOOOOOND perfect for you? Hopefully it becomes your new haunt 😉
Bravo for at least having *a* video up this month. That’s progress, right?
Your blog reader has a lot of inner peace posts bookmarked. I like that. What an introspective month you’ve had! I’m taking a look at the “when you die you won’t care about emails” post right now.
“Will grabbed these on a whim when I was PMSing” — SOLD. Hahahaha
Have fun on the beach and on your road trip to Michigan! If you swing by Indianapolis, let me know and we can grab brunch/lunch/dinner/coffee!
When’s the ToG reread? I haven’t read it yet and if there’s going to be a reread going on, then maybe it’ll motivate me to read it NOW.
SONG on my road trip mix: God. This is embarrassing. I don’t even know if it’s appropriate, but it always has me blasting it and rocking out to it: “Diana” from 1D. Hahahaha. Just to get the blood pumping.
Kathy says
I’ve thought about ordering the litograph shirts and accessories but never have. I’m not sure why I didn’t follow through, but that one really looks great. Maybe I’ll revisit that thought and follow through this time. I can’t answer the question with a song for your road trip because I usually put a book on whenever I travel. But, I’m sure you’ll have a lot to choose from and hit just the right mix. Happy travels!
Katie @ Book Arrows says
Sounds like you had a great month! My reading month was great! I read 12 books as well and loved pretty much all of them! Some songs that would be great for a road trip mix is Spaceman by The Killer (Love this song!) and The Wire by Haim or Forever by Haim as well!
Emily Seals says
I haven’t even read the books but that shirt is AWESOME.
Pili @ In Love With Handmade says
Brunette Bakery Bookshop totally sounds like my kinda place too!!
June has been mostly work, and working on apartment stuff and meetings at the apartment society and trying to read and do some blogging things here and there! I still have quite a bit of work to do at the apartment before I can move in but I hope to end up July living in there!
I also plan to re-read ToG before Queen of Shadows! I hope I can find my copies in between all the packed boxes of books! I have moved so many of my things to the apartment that I’m always wondering where things are! But one good thing, we’re opening the complex’s pool soon, so I can do some pool side reading and relaxing soon too!
Hayley @ Bookblogher says
I usually listen to one playlist for an entire drive (or an entire month, whatever). But during summer I almost always listen to The Decemberists. “June Hymn” is a great song for the summer. I’d definitely throw it on a roadtrip playlist!
Thiago says
Let’s organize a Throne of Glass series reread of our own!!
I’m down with it!
Amber @ YA Indulgences says
Aw, I bet seeing Taylor was amazing! I read your post about it before. 🙂 That’s so cool. I was just thinking earlier about the old apartment I lived in with my family back in middle school, there were two pools and it was really nice! I miss it.
I like a little bit of A Silent Film and I think, one song by New Politics, that I know (but don’t really know. 🙂
I NEED TO GO TO THIS BRUNETTES BOOKSHOP BAKERY, WHAT EVEN?
I need to listen to all your music too! Minus Halsey I’ve already heard her<3 Halsey is so good. I didn't know Beirut had new music out! I'm listening to the song now. 🙂
I love your If We Were Having Coffee posts, they're so fun and personal.
Oh my gosh! I have to try these Sun Cups! I LOVE dark chocolate so much and I'm always up for trying other kinds of butter, plus I've had sunflower before and liked it.
It sounds like next month is going to be really fun for you!
Let's Get Lost by Carly Rae Jepsen would seriously be on my road trip mix. And Stay In Love by Hilary Duff.
My obsessions this month have been Hilary Duff's new album, Carly Rae Jepsen's new album and Crescent rolls. The best (and only. . .from start to finish) book I read this month was Emmy & Oliver.
Jessica Lawlor says
Yay! Thanks for including me 🙂
Love these monthly rewinds so much! <3
threegoodrats says
Today I bought some Sun Cups on your recommendation. I admit that I was skeptical, because I love peanut butter cups, but I’m eating them right now and OMG THEY’RE MAGICAL!
Tiffany (About to Read) says
All 3 of your top books are on my TBR. Excited to get to them!