Tag: books i read

Weekly Wrap Up | 7/7/24

Aloha friends!

I hope all of you had a nice, easy week. It was pretty chill for us, all we did this week was grocery shopping and then we went to Chuck e Cheese for 4th of July since my daughter requested we go – and it was packed even though we went right when they opened. And then I thought my son’s allergies were acting up but then yesterday he kept feeling worse (itchy throat, slight cough, congestion) and then before bed I took his temp and he had a fever. A friend of mine just had Covid last week so I decided to test my son and sure enough his test turned positive quickly! 😫 I mean, yay, hopefully this means he won’t get it when school begins in a few weeks (because both my kids usually get sick in the first month of school). But, BOO, because it’s summer and he’s sick. My daughter and I already had a cold last month so I really, really, REALLY don’t want to have Covid. I’m just so tired of being sick and it’s summer time. Being sick in the summer SUCKS.

Anyway, I hope it’s a mild case and it goes away by the end of this week and my daughter and I and my parents who were exposed to him yesterday – don’t get it. 🙏🏼

I hope all of you have a good week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

  • The Ever King by. L.J. Andrews
  • The Ever Queen by. L.J. Andrews
  • The Seventh Veil of Salome by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Currently Reading:

  • A Winter Wish by. Emily Stone
  • Shadow & Storms by. Helen Scheuerer
  • Not In Love by. Ali Hazelwood
  • The Mist Thief by. L.J. Andrews

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • House of Dragon (Season 2, Ep. 3)

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

Weekly Wrap Up | 6/30/24

Aloha friends!

It’s been an easy, chill week for me – lazy summer days for sure! Took my kids to the pool, went to the mall to play at the arcade and that’s about it. I cleaned the house, took some bags for donation but nothing exciting at all. I do have time to read though so that’s nice!

I hope all of you have a good week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

  • The Unmaking of June Farrow by. Adrienne Young
  • Dungeons and Drama by. Kristy Boyce
  • House of Thorns by. Isabel Strychacz
  • The Monstrous Kind by. Lydia Gregovic
  • The Girl with No Reflection by. Keshe Chow

Currently Reading:

  • The Seventh Veil of Salome by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  • Shadow & Storms by. Helen Scheuerer
  • Not In Love by. Ali Hazelwood

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • House of Dragon (Season 2, Ep. 2) – what an ending 😦
  • Gossip Girl – so I never watched Gossip Girl when it came out in 2007 because I felt I was too old for it and Sex and the City was my show and related to that one more. But since I have my Max subscription for House of Dragon I decided to watch it!
  • Brat – Charlie xcx – I listen to it when I’m cleaning the house and it makes the time go by! lol
  • The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and Good Luck, Babe- Chappell Roan – because I’m addicted to her voice.

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

Weekly Wrap Up | 6/23/24

Aloha friends!

It was a chill week and I got to finish two books at least! Can you believe June is almost over? I cannot. Because that means I have to go back to school shopping already. I went to Target last week and they still had their summer stuff but we’ll see if the school stuff appear soon. And that’s that – my daughter will be in 2nd and my son will be in 6th and time just keeps flying by! 😅

I hope all of you have a good week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

  • This Summer Will Be Different by. Carley Fortune
  • The Break-Up Pact by. Emma Lord
  • The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken

Currently Reading:

  • House of Thorns by. Isabel Strychacz
  • The Unmaking of June Farrow by. Adrienne Young

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • House of Dragon (Season 2, Ep. 1) – not much to say so far. Expected more but it is episode 1 and I know it has to build. 🐉
  • Dune 2 – now that I renewed my Max subscription, I’m trying to watch what I can before I cancel after watching House of Dragon lol. Honestly the story is slow but I love this movie series because of the visuals. It’s really amazing! 📽
  • Inside Out 2 – my kids and I went to the theater and loved this movie! I love how they portray our complicated emotions. It’s a great way for them to learn about it and I wish I had a movie like this when I was young. 🍿
  • Brat – Charlie xcx – I bought the vinyl (yes how am I a vinyl collector now?! As if I needed a new expensive hobby). This album is so good, who needs coffee? This album is like caffeine.🎧
  • The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan – I just bought the vinyl so definitely had to give it a listen. 🎵

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

Weekly Wrap Up | 6/16/24

Aloha friends!

My daughter and I are recovered and we had a much more chill week, which was so needed. My son did a summer program this past week at his new middle school and he came home excited each day. He’s really looking forward this new phase of his life and I just hope it stays that way. I know when the work begins he’ll probably have a change of heart but we’ll see.

I did a lot of cleaning around the house, took things to be donated, cleaned up the rooms – especially with all the stuff my kiddos bring home at the end of year from school. So much papers to go through and decide what to keep and trash. It gets overwhelming but I got it done. I hope I get to read more this week since we don’t have much planned. We’ll probably go watch Inside Out 2 today or tomorrow.

I hope all of you have a good week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

  • A Magic Fierce & Bright by. Hemant Nayak
  • Happily Never After by. Lynn Painter

Currently Reading:

  • The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken
  • The Break-Up Pact by. Emma Lord
  • This Summer Will Be Different by. Carley Fortune

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

  • Hierarchy (Netflix) – So much drama! Too many long dramatic looks with music but I still ate it all up.
  • Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 (Netflix) – I hate that there was two parts to season 3 because it’s such a fun season. I felt like there was more humor in this one. I love how this one was about friendships whether it’s about best friends or friends to lovers. There were so many different relationship dramas going on but in the best way. The Queen is hilarious and her wigs are magnificent! But from what I’ve heard of Francesca’s story…I feel like that one will devastate me so I’m scared for hers – already her love story is so sweet. I think Kate and Anthony is still my favorite couple and I love seeing them still in the show. ❤️
  • Hit Me Hard and Soft – Billie Eilish – cleaning the house and playing this album really passes the time!
  • Brat – Charlie xcx – Honestly I only picked this up because she was all over my FYP on tiktok and I liked what I was hearing and honestly it’s summertime and I wanted to put away the sad girl music! THIS is summer music. Makes me wish I was in my 20’s and still partying lol.
  • The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan – This was on repeat for me at the end of 2023 and my kids and I loveeeeeeee singing her songs (no, they don’t know what any of the sexual stuff in her songs mean lol). So happy to see her star is rising!

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

Monthly Wrap Up | May 2024

May went by in a flash it seems but at least my reading slump was broken! Yay! I was so busy in May with my daughter’s dance recital, my son’s graduation and my hubby coming home that I’m surprised I even managed to read any books.

A few anticipated reads for me did fall short of my expectations but there were a few surprises for me this month also. Here’s what I posted in May!

What I Posted: 13 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

    4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

    3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

    2.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️💫

    2 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️

      I did better this month in posting more book reviews. I did one blog tour and posted one book excerpt. I do feel like my reads are landing in the 3-3.5 stars range and I’m hoping to get some better reads in June but we’ll see if that happens. There isn’t many June releases I’m looking forward to, so maybe it will be a light reading month again.

      How was your month?

      Weekly Wrap Up | 6/9/24

      Aloha friends!

      Well I guess all the festivities caught up to me and my daughter – that or we caught a bug going around because of graduations and then being at the crowded hotel. We’ve been sick since Tuesday! I hate being sick at the start of summer – getting sick in the fall and winter, I get it but summer? Ugh. I hate. We got enough fun time in at least with their dad before he had to leave back to Okinawa on Friday. He comes home for good in 6 months though and with the days flying by so fast, it will be in no time at all.

      I didn’t read much because I could barely stay awake when I was reading and my body just ached from coughing. So I slept a lot. My son had his piano recital yesterday and I had to try and get as healthy as I can for that. I’m so proud of him! He is doing a summer bridge program this week at his new school – he’s starting middle school in August and I’m a little emotional about it.

      Anyway I just need to rest and get better.

      I hope all of you have a good week!

      Blog Posts:

      Books I Read:

      • Ghostsmith by. Nicki Pau Preto

      Currently Reading:

      • The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken
      • Happily Never After by. Lynn Painter

      Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

      • Hierarchy (Netflix) – I just started this K-drama!

      How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

      Weekly Wrap Up | 6/2/24

      Aloha friends!

      What a week! I had my first colonoscopy and have to do another in 5 years. 😅 My son graduated from elementary school and school ended on Thursday. It was my husband’s birthday so we went to The Cheesecake Factory since we had a gift card. Then on Friday we went to the Disney Aulani Resort for one night only because even with my kama’aina (Hawaii local) discount it was pricey! But it was a treat for our kids since we didn’t do to Japan for spring break like we planned. So we went and enjoyed the pools, hot tubs and the beach. They kids had so much fun it’s a shame it’s so pricey and we can only stay for one night. We checked out yesterday morning and had to take my son straight to his piano lesson which he couldn’t miss since he has a recital this Saturday!

      My hubby leaves for Okinawa on Friday so we’re bummed but that means there is only 6 months before he returns for good! He gets to at least watch my son’s piano rehearsal before he leaves. Anyway, I’m hoping to rest a little this week!

      I hope all of you have a good week!

      Blog Posts:

      Books I Read:

      • That Prince is Mine by. Jayci Lee
      • When the Moon Hatched by. Sarah A. Parker
      • The Dixon Rule by. Elle Kennedy

      Currently Reading:

      • The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken
      • The Rule book by. Sarah Adams

      Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

      How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

      Weekly Wrap Up | 5/26/24

      Aloha friends!

      Friends, my a/c is finally fixed! Thank you to my brother-in-law. I’m hoping the repair holds out until December when my hubby will finally be back home for good and then we can buy a whole new unit which is gonna cost us a pretty penny but it must be done.

      My kids had a Song Fest on Wednesday and their cafeteria is not big enough to fit all the kids and parents so it was held out on the field. Even though it was from 8:30-9:30, it was SO hot, I was dripping sweat. I know it’s because I’m peri-menopausal but how do some people just deal with the heat? I’m out there dying 😅. The teachers had spray bottles and constantly were misting the kids. It was cute, but I swear it gets hotter each May. They haven’t done a performance like this since covid lockdowns, so it was nice to see the kiddos perform. My 5th grader was so over it though. I cannot believe this is the last week of school for them. My son will be going to middle school in August. My daughter will be in 2nd grade…it goes by so fast. 🥲

      My hubby flew in yesterday and he’s going to visit for 2 weeks which is nice. We have a lot of things planned but first I am going to have my first colonoscopy on Tuesday, so I prep tomorrow – wish me luck! 😬 Oh the joys of being 45 years old lol but yes I am doing it before all our celebratory events. So I can enjoy the rest of the week.

      I hope all of you have a good week!

      Blog Posts:

      Books I Read:

      • Curious Tides by. Pascale Lacelle
      • Just for the Summer by. Abby Jimenez
      • Heavebreaker by. Sara Wolf

      Currently Reading:

      • The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken
      • That Prince is Mine by. Jayci Lee

      Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

      • Hit Me Hard and Soft – Billie Eillish – I love Chihiro and Birds of a Feather. The whole album has amazing beats!

      How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

      Weekly Wrap Up | 5/19/24

      Aloha friends!

      My a/c is still not fixed because my bro-in-law couldn’t come out and so it was humid as heck – then the rain came. I’m happy for the rain, it keep my house cool when the sun isn’t hot. But I also want my a/c to be fixed before my hubby comes home to visit on Saturday? 😅 Oh well, I’m hoping it will be fixed this week since the rain should be gone. The part of the a/c that needs to be fixed is the outside unit.

      On Mother’s Day my kids and I went to hang out with my sister. We went to a cat cafe for a little bit – they are pricey but we have no cats though my kids and hubby want one. Just dunno how our dog would react. It was a nice easy day out with cats and then we went to lunch. We didn’t do anything with my mom (I gave her a massage the day before) but she was still uncomfy with some medical stuff happening to her so hopefully we will do something soon when she is feeling better.

      Look at these cuties!

      One day we will have a cat. ❤️

      I hope all of you have a good week!

      Blog Posts:

      Books I Read:

      • Fate of the Sun King by. Nisha J. Tuli
      • The Hemlock Queen by. Hannah Whitten

      Currently Reading:

      • The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken
      • Just for the Summer by. Abby Jimenez

      Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

      • Bridgerton (Season 3) – why why why did we have to have a cliffhanger AND part 2 of the season comes out on June 13? 😅 So not happy with that especially because I felt like this was a slow start to season 3. I was expecting mostly Penny and Colin but we get Francesca’s subplot too? I found Eloise still funny – heartbroken she and Penny are still not friends, but Cressida was interesting twist – I’ll reserve my judgment on it until part 2 comes out! Episode 4 was so good though for Francesca and Penny! I will say the Featheringtons are hilarious, they really brought the humor to these 4 episodes lol.

      How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

      Weekly Wrap Up | 5/12/24

      Aloha friends!

      All over after my daughter’s recital huh? Nope. My a/c broke and is still unfixed because my brother in law who was going to fix it has covid and isn’t feeling well. Then our house alarm was acting up – apparently due to a bulging battery in the monitor. So glad that is fixed at least. And my mom had another medical emergency so that sucks but just trying to take one day at a time. I hope this week is better.

      Anyway I hope everyone has a good week!

      **UPDATE EDIT:

      And HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! I totally forgot to add that in here lol…but Happy Mother’s Day to all the mother’s of humans, pets, mother figures, etc…!!! Hope you had a good one!

      Blog Posts:

      Books I Read:

      • Check & Mate by. Ali Hazelwood
      • Not Another Love Song by. Julie Soto
      • King of Sloth by. Ana Huang
      • Funny Story by. Emily Henry

      Currently Reading:

      • The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken
      • Fate of the Sun King by. Nisha J. Tuli

      Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

      How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!