November 2015: Recap + On My Shelves

November 2015: Recap + On My Shelves

• Nov 30, 2015

Well, we're closing in on the end of 2015! I say this almost every month, but I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by. I thoroughly enjoyed November, even if I didn't find my blogging mojo this month! Hopefully soon...

1. I'm Having a Baby - I've technically known this exciting news for weeks (so it's not totally a "November" highlight), but I'm so excited that it's not a secret anymore! May 2016 is going to be here before I know it, and then a whole new adventure begins... In the meantime, I'm ready to start building a baby book library!

2. Sephora VIB Sale - If you spend too much money at Sephora (like me), you can become a VIB member of their rewards program. The most exciting part is the VIB sale where you can get 20% off your purchase. Beauty products aren't cheap (and rarely go on sale), so I took advantage and stocked up on new goodies.

3. #OTSPSecretSister Spoiled Me - My secret sister continues to send some of the most generous surprises my way! Seeing a package on my porch never fails to brighten my day, and I love all the thought behind the amazing things inside. My favorite part of the November box? A new Anne of Green Gables for my collection!

4. Mockingjay Part 2 - I'm a total and complete fangirl of The Hunger Games series, so I've been anxiously awaiting (and dreading) the release of the final movie. While I think the books are better than the movies, I've always been so happy with these adaptations. So, I took the day off work to see the movie with my dad!

Read 8 Books | Favorites:

The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas

Shadowfell, Raven Flight and The Caller by Juliet Marillier

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows

Challenge Progress:

7 Fantasy for Flights of Fantasy Challenge

 2 Re-Reads for The Re-Read Challenge

1 Diverse Read for Dive into Diversity

3 Series for Series a Month

"You have been all my moments of grace."
The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas

“It seemed to me it would be better to die standing up to a tyrant than to survive as a tool of his will.”
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

 “Because if I see you defeated, then I think I will see Alban defeated,
and if that happens, none of us can go on. To guard you is to guard the heart of this land of ours.”
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

 “Let there be a time in the future, I prayed, when he laughs with his children,
and plays on the shore with them, and spends all his nights in loving arms. Let us have that.
To whom I was praying I did not know. The future was in our own hands.
If we wanted a world where such things were possible, it was for us to make it.”
Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier

 "She will never see who I grow up to be - that great mystery of who I am
and who I am meant to be - finally asked and answered."
Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Overall: Cassie & Hannah's Holiday Gift Guide

TTT: Top Twenty-One Quotes I Loved from Books I Read the Last Year or So

Review: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Discussion/Feature: Top Ten Things I'm Thankful for This Year

1. Bookshelf Style by Rachel from Hello, Chelly - I loved getting to look at Rachel's bookshelves and see how she styled them! My shelves are currently packed with books, but I'd love to follow Rachel's lead and make some room so I can decorate them. Another series of November posts, Shelfie Hop, was great inspiration, too!

2. The Difference Between Readers and Bloggers by Lauren from Bookmark Lit - I've posted before about my reading habits before blogging, so I loved Lauren's post about the differences between readers and bloggers. I relate to all of her points, and it made me think about what I can change to get back to my pre-blogging self.

3. The Problem with Hollywood Casting a Novel by Kathleen from Forever Young Adult - I found this post so fascinating, and it was probably one of my favorite things I read all month! I don't really mentally cast books while reading, but I love this argument in favor of slowly building a picture of a character while we read.

Favorite Album: 25 from Adele

I've always admired Adele's talent (and loved when her song's come on the radio),

but I never bought one of her albums. But I succumbed to the 25 hype, and now I'm in love!

Favorite Song #1: "Something in the Way You Move" by Ellie Goulding on Delirium

I absolutely love Ellie Goulding, and I couldn't wait for the release of her new album.
The new album still growing on me, but this is definitely one of the songs I've had on repeat!

Favorite Song #2: "Sorry" by Justin Bieber on Purpose

I've always been a big fan of Justin Bieber, but I swore him off after all the drama.

But I couldn't resist giving his new album a shot, and I can't deny that I really like it!

Mockingjay Part 2 starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth - I know I already mentioned this movie in the What I Loved section, but I had to include it here, too! I absolutely loved the final installment. Seeing the epilogue on screen was everything I wanted and more, and I can't say enough about how impressed I was with Josh Hutcheron's performance as hijacked Peeta! ALL THE FEELINGS.

Grey's Anatomy, Seasons 1-3 - With all my TV shows taking a break for the winter, I figured it was the perfect time to binge watch an old favorite. I knew immediately that I wanted it to be Grey's Anatomy! I'm a big fan of this show, despite the ups and downs, and it's been to fun to revisit the early years. I love these characters!

Mad for Marillier: Dreamer's Pool, Tower of Thorns and Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

Pre-Ordered: Winter by Marissa Meyer

Gifted: The BabyLit books by Jennifer Adams (Thanks, Mom & Dad!) and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (in What I Loved)