Guess what? I actually went to the library today with my kids. It’s been a little over a year since we have gone. It was closed during most of 2020, then was open to curbside pick-up only and finally opened up to short visits where you grab what you need and go.
Since my son is on summer vacation, we decided to venture there and borrow books to keep him occupied. There were hardly any people, and way less staff working than before. Some of the lights were off, maybe to discourage lingering – which I understood. But it was kind of sad. The library was one of the places I loved to bring my kids a lot since they had great toddler programs like story time and arts and crafts activities. It was nice to go in and browse, even though it was real quick. My kids both got a few books and I did too!
Here’s what I got:
The Gilded Ones by. Namina Forna
A Vow so Bold and Deadly by. Brigid Kemmerer
This Coven Won’t Break by. Isabel Sterling
Now there were a lot of books I wanted to get!! But I told myself to only pick three so I can make sure to actually finish them. I already finished A Vow so Bold and Deadly! 😱 My review to come.
I love having the library back open. I’m a mom and can’t afford to always be buying books on release day so the library is a lifesaver for me. I used to spend so much money on books, but now I try to spend it on my kids books first. I hope they develop a joy of reading like I do.
Have you read any of these books? Do you like to borrow library books?
Hi everyone, I have no bookish post ready for today. I spent last night doing an arc review to be posted in July and forgot to do something for a Friday post. Sometimes my mind is in just too many places at once – so let me show you what I’ve been working on in my Etsy shop.
I got new mold shapes like this diamond tray.
And here is a pill shaped tray.
These usually sell out in my shop, I love these zodiac trays.
I started my Etsy shop years ago making macrame bracelets, then for a few years was hand stamping metal. So I still make a few pieces for my shop still.
I’ve been working on alphabet tile sets this week because a good friend of mine wants to buy a set for her class. She teaches English in Japan at a preschool if I remember correctly. I’ve been working a few different sets since I’m in the mood. It’s fun making them and demolding them – not so fun when I have to now sand down the edges of like 70+ alphabet letters. 😩 I’ll be doing that today so wish me luck! Not going to lie, hand stamping metal is way easier than making resin pieces, but I love how with resin it’s like painting with color.
If you want to check out my Mother’s Day sale going on in my Etsy shop, click here:
Well…this week was wonderful because it started with my daughter’s 4th birthday! I love her so much and she had a great time with our little luncheon ~ she didn’t want food, she just wanted family, cake and gifts, and that is what she got.
The week got even better when the Georgia election Tuesday night showed Georgia turning blue…thank you Stacey Abrams and all your amazing hard wook, teamwork…all of it. 👑 Then Wednesday morning I was watching the news to make the Georgia results official…and realized the electoral college votes were going to be certified…and they got to Arizona, and there were objections so they went to debate it…and then all hell broke loose outside and inside. I am appalled, mad at the hypocrisy, just disgusted…can they just remove him today (as I write this on Wednesday during the protest)? So I wasted a day watching the news…
Anyway enough of that negativity…sigh…how was my reading week?
Newly Acquired Books:
NetGalley:
Kindle Unlimited:
TV, Movies, Etc…:
Netflix:
The Queen’s Gambit ~ finished the series and enjoyed it! It’s dark, sad, but love love love how it’s filmed, the aesthetic, her make-up, her hair, style…ugh, love. It was fascinating watching Beth Harmon’s life and how she grows from child to young woman. I love Jolene being real with Beth. ♥️ Compelling story for sure!
Adulting:
We got a fish. Haha…my son did his 2nd quarter project on an axolotl and I saw our local pet store had one so I took them there to see it. And we came home with a fish – daughter wanted the axolotl and I said no, told her to get a betta fish instead since ours died last year. Our fur baby died 2 years ago and I was waiting until my daughter turns 5 to get another dog…so I’ve been looking since last year! The search continues…
My son will start hybrid schooling come February and I’m happy for him. I wish they could roll out the vaccine quicker, teachers need them – my sister got hers because she works at the hospital. But yes, would be great to get that out quicker.
I hope your week went well and you are staying safe out there!
In review it was the worst year ever – lost family members to COVID, the anxiety was unreal, turn to stress eating and a daily coffee drinker now 🤦🏻♀️. Cancelled the family Disney Cruise which my daughter keeps insisting we are still going on when the virus disappears (not happening). BUT my friends and family are safe and healthy despite the crazy year…we got through it! Books got me through it so let’s see what I read!
According to Goodreads.com:
My goal was to read 70 books because I read close to 200 last year. Well…I tried getting to less than a hundred but in a pandemic year? Forget it!
151 sounds about right and wow, I rate books fairly high huh? 😁
And here are the books I read…
You know I did read more than this, a few were kindle unlimited series that I wanted to review all together in one post, but I’m waiting for the final book of the series to do it. Oh well…I’ll write them in 2021. There really were some amazing books this year!
As far as my blog format is concerned, I changed up the look a little this year by adding different banners for sections. More changes may be coming because I learn as I go and I may change how I write my reviews (again)…haha, I know, I know, more changes?!…I want more fun bookish content,. I just wish I had the time to spend on the blog. Anyway, we shall see how I feel! How did you do this year?
We made it to Christmas 2020, y’all! If you celebrate, Merry Christmas, if not, happy Aloha Friday! The ones who are super excited for today are my kids and the opening of gifts. I got a haircut and massage on Sunday so that was my Christmas gift and it was AMAZING. The massage was so needed. We are going to my mom’s for Christmas Lunch with my family, and all I want to do is chill.
My sister got the covid vaccine this week because she works at the hospital and honestly, I think that could be the best gift ever this year. I wish I could get the vaccine but I’m not essential. I hope this means things are going to be better for 2021. Looking back on this year, my husband lost his aunt to covid and my aunt lost her granddaughter. This virus doesn’t discriminate, it took young and old. Prayers to all of those who lost someone to this virus this year…it really is my Christmas wish, for everyone to stay healthy and safe.
Thank you for all the bookish content you post for me to read, it helped me get through this crazy year bonding with all you fellow book lovers. 🥰 I hope you get some awesome book gifts and Merry Christmas!
I was so upset to learn Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away last Friday. 💔 May she rest in power and peace. She did so much for women’s rights in America. Our political environment is…crazy…with the election only 39 days away…39! It’s making me anxious. You know my birthday is the day after the election? I told my husband I may need to get a bottle of wine for election night (to calm my nerves). Hello, I haven’t drank alcohol in a long while…it makes me so tired and with two young kids, my poison choice is caffeine. 🤷🏻♀️
So what happened this week ~
New Books Acquired:
Legendborn by. Tracy Deonn – I finally have it IN MY HANDS!
To Carve a Fae Heart by. Tessonja Odette (Kindle Unlimited)
I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by. Kimberly Jo & Gilly Segal (Overdrive Online Library)
The Midnight Lie by. Marie Rutkoski (Overdrive Online Library)
The Merciful Crow by. Margaret Owen (Overdrive Online Library)
NetGalley Books I’m Reading:
Every Single Lie – Rachel Vincent
Shadow City – Francesca Flores
Warmaidens – Kelly Coon
Books on my Shelf That I’m Trying To Finish:
Rogue Princess by. B.B. Myers
Strange Grace by. Tessa Gratton
Books I Want:
The Inheritance Games by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Greythorne (The Bloodleaf Trilogy, #2) by. Crystal Smith
Skyhunter by. Marie Lu
Adulting News:
Hoping to get a car this weekend! 🤞🏽
Counting the days when my son can go back to his physical school location haha – we are both kind of tired of each other at this point. His first quarter is ending soon and he has fall break in two weeks. Crazy!!
Time has flown by…we will be in October and I’m so sad that Halloween finally falls on a weekend this year and Halloween isn’t going to be happening, exactly. I’ll decorate for sure, but passing out candy – sorry no. Guess I’ll save money that way haha! ☹️
I know we are only approaching Halloween but I have to start thinking of Christmas items for my Etsy shop! So I’ll be getting started on making ornaments soon. 💚❤️
Another week done and we are almost into October. Craziness!
New Books Acquired:
Legendborn by. Tracy Deonn – I pre-ordered but my book didn’t come this week. 🙁 It’s shipping next week! Oh well, at least I already read the arc.
Blood & Honey by. Shelby Mahurin
NetGalley Books I’m Reading:
The Ravens – Kass Morgan & Danielle Page
Shadow City – Francesca Flores
Books on my Shelf That I’m Trying To Finish:
Rogue Princess by. B.B. Myers
Strange Grace by. Tessa Gratton
Adulting News:
Finally going to shop for another car 😕. I honestly hate car shopping, it just takes too long and I’m not into cars at all haha, plus it’s a pandemic so showrooms here are “closed”. That makes things somewhat challenging but hopefully I can get a car by next week? Or please by the end of September. I can’t believe I’ve been carless for more than a month, just happy the claim went through.
My son’s online schooling is…going. We supposedly have two more weeks of it but I think it may extend into the 2nd quarter. We shall see, our positive COVID cases have dropped but they are going to open up our state to tourism in three weeks. We’ll see how that goes.
I’m trying to work on Halloween items to add to my Etsy shop. Any resin pieces that need help or I just can’t sell, I’m going to turn into Christmas ornaments.
What’s new in your life? Or what new book did you get? Leave me a comment bellow!
Do you read ebooks and have Kindle Unlimited? I do, so I scour the new titles once in awhile trying to see if there is anything that I wanted to read but couldn’t afford to buy. I’m a mom on a budget so I can’t splurge on books like I used to. I usually use Kindle Unlimited to read indie authors.
I was checking out what was available on Kindle Unlimited last night and I found a bunch of titles I’ve been wanting to read. With the monthly subscription you can basically read whatever is in their Kindle Unlimited catalog without paying extra. So here’s what I added to my Kindle Unlimited library:
I’m reading Red, White & Blue first!
Some other titles I saw that I hope I can get to are:
I actually have a copy of The Great Alone on my shelf but honestly it’s easier for me to read an ebook at night than a physical book with a light on. I already have a bunch on my TBR for September so I hope I can get to these.
Last week was rough. 😞 My daughter and I got into a fender bender – we are FINE thank goodness, but my car is not fine. I got rear ended from behind and then my car hit the car in front of me…so my fender and bumper got damaged among other things. My daughter crying freaked me out a lot…but I’m so glad we are okay. I had some tightness all over my body the next day but the next day I felt pretty normal – so I think I’m good. I’m just without a car until the insurance claim goes through and it’s a pandemic…so things are SLOW GOING.
And speaking of pandemic…
Our numbers in Hawaii went from 0 positive cases in the beginning of May…to a daily of 200+ this past week, our highest was 355! A lot of these cases are in the city where my parents, sister (and her fam), and friends live – it’s where I grew up. And my anxiety has been through the roof with the accident but then I had a friend (negative result thank goodness) exposed to someone with COVID and then my own family have been exposed this week also. It’s a stressful waiting game to see if symptoms appear or when they can take the test.
We need another lockdown in out state – people here got too complacent when we had 0 cases. We were so happy, we did a good job staying home then we started opening the state and cases exploded. Also school was pushed back a few weeks but we start this week. I signed my son up for online instruction and I’m glad I did.
It’s a stressful time and I just want to protect my friends and family. Put them in a protective bubble sigh…so no one gets sick. Hopefully we get that stay at home order soon. And I hope that guy’s insurance company calls me back soon saying they ready to cover damages – because I need my car. I don’t go out a lot, but just going to do something normal like buy groceries…KEEPS ME SANE. I only go to the grocery store anyways these days or to buy take out to support local restaurants. 😒
Please stay safe out there fellow bloggers and readers! Positive vibes to you all.
So our islands are under a hurricane watch – we have them almost every year so I think everyone on the island is usually prepared with the supplies. It makes it more challenging this year because of COVID. Speaking of the virus, during lockdown in March-May we got our numbers flattened. I mean we got it seriously flatlined. As we opened up late May and into June, numbers started to rise, but this week…it’s been the highest daily cases. 50-70+ cases the past 3 days. And school is supposed to reopen in one week. They are rethinking doing that and as a parent, I don’t feel safe for the staff (teachers, etc…), and now I don’t feel safe to send my child even though it was only for 2 days a week.
I feel like the hurricane, covid numbers rising and school reopening has been a triple whammy – talk about anxiety. But I know I can’t control a hurricane, and I can’t control the virus. I do know I can make my family and I prepared for a hurricane and prepared to prevent catching the virus as best we can. 🤷🏻♀️
To relieve my anxiety I’ve been crafting – if you want to check out the 40% off sale I have on my Etsy shop click this link: Fanciful Wish – unfortunately I’m only shipping in the USA right now. Making resin crafts has really given me an outlet to dealing with my anxiety.
Of course I read as much as I can – do any of you find yourselves not able to read when your anxiety is high? I actually have to be in a certain mood to read these days. I have a TBR list that’s growing!
Cooking? I was not making bread during lockdown like everyone else because hello…there was no yeast to be found, anywhere!! Haha…I have learned to make more veggie dishes for myself though so that’s a win.
Music – because I craft a lot, I listen to music constantly and my playlists have consisted of:
BLACKPINK: because for some reason when I’m making kawaii resin items, it gets me in the mood for colorful things haha! It’s the only kpop I listen to.
Chromatica – Lady Gaga: because her music is so upbeat and energetic! And I was doing spaceship/alien themed resin pieces (like the photo above) and it just worked.
Hamilton Soundtrack – after watching Hamilton on Disney+….the soundtrack was on repeat for days in my house. I especially love when Eliza and Angelica sing, UGH…so good! Anyway, it was like listening to an audiobook that I could follow because it was music. I don’t follow audiobooks AT ALL. But the Hamilton Soundtrack works for me.
Folklore by Taylor Swift – just recently released and the story lover in me is obsessed with the song Exile and My Tears Ricochet! All her songs remind me of young adult contemporary novels and it’s such a more relaxed vibe than her usual pop songs that it’s perfect for when I’m crafting.
And when I need to watch something I turn on Netflix! This is what I watched this week while blogging or crafting:
Cursed – I borrowed the book and never had a chance to read it so yay for it being on Netflix! I wish they would make every ya book into a tv show or movie haha because visually, they all look amazing. Now Cursed…is violent, I didn’t realize how bloody it would be! So far I think it was pretty good, some parts I wanted it to hurry along but it makes me want to watch season 2.
Indian Matchmaker – because I’m always curious how different cultures see marriage and dating! This was fascinating.
Kissing Booth 2 – Kissing Booth the first movie was okay but I think I like this second one better because another hot guy is added to the cast! Just kidding! I didn’t think much of “Noah” in the first movie, but honestly after watching the same actor in HBO’s Euphoria, I became a fan. Anyway, it let me escape the real world for an hour or so which is what I need these days.
That’s my update and yes, typing this out is always helping me not think of the hurricane that is 24 hours away from “hitting” us. The waiting sucks haha so just gotta stay positive and busy.
Can you recommend any other Netflix shows for me to watch? Stay safe out there everyone!
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 