March, April & May 2016: Recap + On My Shelves

March, April & May 2016: Recap + On My Shelves

• Jun 6, 2016

OH, HELLO. Remember me? I wouldn't blame you if you don't! It can't believe it's been so long, but I'm blaming that on pregnancy and the birth of my baby boy. Let me catch you on on the last few months...

1. Markus Zusak Signing - The Book Thief is one of my all-time favorite books EVER, so I was positively thrilled when I found out that Markus Zusak had a signing in Atlanta in honor of the book's 10th anniversary. Since he's from Australia, I assumed I'd never get the chance to meet him. Well, I'm glad I did because it was the best book signing I've ever attended! He was incredible, and I'll cherish my signed book forever.

2. Baby Shower in a Box - I got home from work one day in April and found a GIANT box waiting at my front door. I knew Nick and I hadn't ordered any baby stuff recently, so I wasn't sure what I'd find inside. The surprise was even better than I could imagined - my blogging friends sent me a baby shower in a box! I was already so emotional as I approached baby's arrival, and this gift just added to it. I can't thank these ladies enough!

3. Bestie Weekend - Last year, my best friend and I spent a week at the beach - a trip that inspired me to write this post about friendship. We wanted to do something fun again this year but decided to stick closer to home. She came in town for a weekend, and we had so much fun together. We relived some of our favorite college memories in Athens, and she arranged a fun little brunch with some friends to catch up and celebrate!

4. Baby Boy is Born - On May 3, my baby boy was born! I was so nervous about childbirth beforehand and while I'm not dying to go through it again anytime soon, I had a great experience overall. I'm thankful for the nurses and my doctor (and the miracle of an epidural!) - but most of all, I'm thankful for my husband and our baby. The past month of being a mom has been incredible and has brought me so much joy!

Read 24 Books | Favorites:

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Hope Heals by Katherine & Jay Wolf

“She will never see who I grow up to be -- that great question of who I am 

and who I am meant to be -- finally asked and answered.”

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

“There is other love out there for me. But it's different. It isn't this. It isn't this exact love.

It's better and it's worse. But I guess that's sort of the point of love between two people --

you can't re-create it. Every time you love, everyone you love, the love is different.

You're different in it.”

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“You don't need to be gifted with a blade. You are your own best weapon.”

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

“At a certain age almost all the questions a person asks himself are really just about one thing:
how should you live your life?”

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

“Early love is exciting and exhilarating. It's light and bubbly. Anyone can love like that. 

But after three children, after a separation and a near-divorce, after you've hurt each other 

and forgiven each other, bored each other and surprised each other, after you've seen the worst 

and the best -- well, that sort of love is ineffable. It deserves its own word.” 

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

“I could do this. If whole galaxies could change, so could I.” 

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

[Personal Favorites]

TTT: Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR

Review: Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Discussion/Feature: Three Types of Recommended Reads

1. Laurie Isn't a Good Guy; He's a Nice Guy by Maddie Rodriguez on Book Riot - I've always hated that Laurie didn't end up with Jo in Little Women (spoiler alert? ha!), but this article had me re-thinking that opinion. I'm starting to see Laurie in a whole new way... and it's not for the better. 

2. {Bookish} Style Files: Met Gala 2016 Edition by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books - This is one of my favorite posts that Alexa shares every year! It's so fun to see what she pairs with different books - and to read her reasons for choosing each. Have fun admiring her post - and daydreaming about what gowns you'd like for yourself!

3. It's Here: The Summer 2016 Reading Guide by Anne from Modern Mrs. Darcy - This is another one of my most-anticipated blog posts - Anne's summer reading guide! There are always new-to-me books on her list, and this year is no different. There are definitely a handful of books that are now on my radar to read this summer!

4. How Re-Reading Re-Energized My Blog by Kelly from Belle of the Literati - I adore posts about re-reading, which shouldn't be a surprise since I co-hosted the re-reading challenge with Kelly last year (this year). I loved that Kelly focused on how re-reading can remind you of why you read and blog in the first place.

Favorite Song: "Bullet" by Chelsea Lankes on Chelsea Lankes EP

I think Spotify's Discover feature introduced me to Chelsea's music, but I can't remember.

Either way, this was one of my favorite songs from the past three months. I've had it on repeat!

New Girl, Season 4 - I used to watch New Girl on TV every week, but I took it off my DVR about halfway through the third season because I was getting tired of it. But when I started craving something funny to watch in March, Netflix's suggestion to watch this was the perfect solution. I enjoy these crazy characters!

Scandal, Seasons 1-4 - I wanted something addicting to watch during my first few weeks home with the baby since a) he slept all the time and b) all of my TV shows are off for the summer! I settled upon Scandal, which I'd been meaning to watch for a while now... and OH. MY. GOODNESS. This show is completely insane!

Pre-Orders: The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski, When We Collided by Emery Lord, Who's That Girl? by Mhairi McFarlane, The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry, The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh, The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas and Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

Impulse & Bargain Buys: The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner, Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck, The Mother Letters by Amber C. Haines, What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (not pictured) and Hope Heals by Katherine & Jay Wolf (not pictured)

Book of the Month Club: Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Signing Purchase: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (in What I Loved section) 

Gifted: The Sh!t No One Tells You and The Sh!t No One Tells You About Toddlers by Dawn Dais

From Estelle: Parent Hacks by Asha Dornfest and Move! by Lolly Hopwood and YoYo Kusters

For Review: Results May Vary by Bethany Chase

Bought for Kindle: Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer, After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Audible Credits: Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer, Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center, The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman