February 2018: Recap + On My Shelves
February is usually one of my least favorite months in the year, even though it's my birthday month, but my trip to the UK has made it the month to beat in 2018. Will anything this year top my trip? We shall see...
1. Birthday Adventures - My mom, son and I spent the morning of my birthday visiting The Story Shop and eating a delicious lunch nearby. Then, Nick and I had a date night packed with all of my favorite things: visiting craft stores, browsing at the bookstore and dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. I felt so loved!
2. Besties Abroad - Honestly, this could have been ALL of What I Loved about February! But I figured you've heard me ramble about my trip enough since I just shared my UK Recap, so I decided to reign it in. This trip was definitely a dream come true -- and it was made even better by being there with Kelly. I'm so thankful for her!
3. Reunited with My Boy - As much fun as I had, I was excited to come home and be reunited with my sweet boy. Nick travels a lot for work, so I'm a little more used to time away from him. But this was the longest I've been away from my son since he was born! Needless to say, I loved coming back to his sweet snuggles and todder 'tude.
4. Major Haircut - The week I got back, I chopped 8+ inches off my hair and added some highlights. It had been almost a year since I'd last gotten my hair cut -- for no other reason than pure laziness on my part. I went to a new stylist and loved her, so that's a win! My son got his very first haircut on the same day, and he officially looks like a toddler now.
Read 12 Books | Favorites:
If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey
Still Me by Jojo Moyes
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
“Three-quarters of these people are a walking waste of oxygen.
And that's a conservative estimate.”
Act Like It by Lucy Parker
“I don't believe that you're somehow completed by romantic love.
You aren't born half a person, doomed to drift through life unfulfilled
until you find someone who can validate you. You're a whole person with a whole life,
that you might choose to share with another person. Or you might not.”
Pretty Face by Lucy Parker
Not only are you furious, you feel like he's doing it all on purpose, in order to torment you.”
Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella
“I thought about how you’re shaped so much by the people who surround you,
and how careful you have to be in choosing them for this exact reason, and then I thought,
despite all that, in the end maybe you have to lose them all in order to truly find yourself.”
Still Me by Jojo Moyes
“So much of life is just grinding through.
So many moments just exist to deliver you to the ones that follow.
But this moment was a destination in itself.”
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
And that's a conservative estimate.”
Act Like It by Lucy Parker
“I don't believe that you're somehow completed by romantic love.
You aren't born half a person, doomed to drift through life unfulfilled
until you find someone who can validate you. You're a whole person with a whole life,
that you might choose to share with another person. Or you might not.”
Pretty Face by Lucy Parker
“Whenever I need help, you're there.
It was one really shitty page in what I hope is a very long book for both of us.”
Making Up by Lucy Parker
“Frusture is my word for the exquisite fury that only your husband can give you.It was one really shitty page in what I hope is a very long book for both of us.”
Making Up by Lucy Parker
Not only are you furious, you feel like he's doing it all on purpose, in order to torment you.”
Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella
“I thought about how you’re shaped so much by the people who surround you,
and how careful you have to be in choosing them for this exact reason, and then I thought,
despite all that, in the end maybe you have to lose them all in order to truly find yourself.”
Still Me by Jojo Moyes
“So much of life is just grinding through.
So many moments just exist to deliver you to the ones that follow.
But this moment was a destination in itself.”
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
I'm trying to blog more consistently in 2018, so I've set some low-pressure, achievable goals for myself. And I was so pleased that I met them in February! As always, I kicked off the month with my January 2018 recap. Then, I was excited to share my January 2018 Quick Lit in a timely manner. I hate when I forget to post it!
Then, Kelly and I were off to the United Kingdom and collaborated on an event together while we were gone: UK Recs Fit for a Queen. If you missed it, check out my favorite UK books, movies/TV shows and places/memories.
My favorite post of the month was a collaboration with Rachel from Hello, Chelly, Alexa from Alexa Loves Books and Kelly from Belle of the Literati. I had a blast sharing "You're My Person" // A Galentine's Day Gift Guide. I was inspired by Rory Gilmore and Paris Gellar from Gilmore Girls and loved the way the post turned out!
Aside from the January Quick Lit, I only shared one review in February -- but I was quite pleased with it! I devoured The Rose Trilogy by Jennifer Donnelly early in the year, and I already know they'll show up on my "Best of" lists at the end of it. I hope I've convinced more readers to try them!
And finally, Kelly and I decided to recap our trip with our UK Recap Fit for a Queen. We talked about the books we read abroad, what we did while we were gone and what we were up to back at home. It was so lovely to relive all the memories we made together -- and to dream about trips to come!
1. A Life Well-Nourished: Reading Intentions for 2018 by Madeleine from Top Shelf Text - I really enjoyed this post and can relate to taking a step back from something assess what is/isn't working. And man, it's so refreshing when you return with a clearer vision for moving forward. And it reminded me that I still have to write about my word of the year!
2. How About We Don't Expect Meghan Markle & Kate Middleton To Get Along by The Fug Girls for Bustle - This was my favorite article from February! I love the Fug Girls and appreciate their insightful commentary. This was such a great take on how friendship takes time to develop -- and the expectation that society has for women in the public eye.
3. I Miss Blogs by Kristin from Super Space Chick - I don't watch a lot of booktube videos, so I was excited to see a new blog post from Kristin pop up this past month! I was going through Feedly recently and experienced some of the same feelings she mentions in her post. It's sad to see many of my favorite blogs that are inactive now.
Favorite Song #1: "Wild Love" by James Bay
I looooooove James Bay, so this was a highlight of the month!
I love the new sound and cannot wait for more. Until then, I'll just wear this out on repeat.
Favorite Song #2: "Butterflies" by Kacey Musgraves
I didn't realize how much I was missing new music from Kacey until she released some!
This song (and "Space Cowboy") definitely have me hyped for the full-length album.
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, Seasons 1-3, starring Essie Davis, Nathan Page, Hugo Johnstone-Burt and Ashleigh Cummings - I watched the first season of this show on Netflix a few years ago, and then I forgot to continue! So, I binged all three seasons in February and have no regrets. This is a delight to watch!
Black Panther (2018) starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
and Danai Gurira - I'm not really interested in superhero movies, but my husband loves them. And all he wanted for his birthday was for us to go see this in theaters. He loved it, and I enjoyed everyone in it. The women stole every scene!
For My Collection from the UK: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Biographic Austen by Sophie Collins, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (from Kelly)
UK Editions: Faking Friends by Jane Fallon, Happiness for Humans by P.Z. Reizin (from Kelly), Who's That Girl? by Mhairi McFarlane (from Kelly), The Country Escape by Fiona Walker and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
From Nick: Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology edited by Danielle Binks
From My Mama: Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen by Deborah Hopkinson
Audible Credit: A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn
Kindle: Act Like It and Pretty Face by Lucy Parker, Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm, and Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
NetGalley: Making Up by Lucy Parker
Awesome month—and happy belated birthday! :)
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing all of the UK posts this month! And happy birthday- the Story Shop looks adorable! And thank you for sharing my post!
ReplyDeleteI love these recaps. I always get so many ideas!
ReplyDeleteOh man, I miss Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries! It's one of the only TV shows that I've binged and loved, and I still think about rewatching it from time to time.
ReplyDelete