December 2018: Recap + On My Shelves

December 2018: Recap + On My Shelves

• Jan 14, 2019

It feels a little backward to be talking about December when after I've already posted a bunch in January, but you know I don't want to skip a monthly recap. 2018 was a good year for my family, and here's to 2019!

1. Painting Our House – We bought our house in September, but December marked the end of a few big projects that have made it everything we dreamed. It looks like a new home now that the outside is painted white! Goodbye, ugly brown. We also had some remodeling done in the kitchen, and now I'm so happy. It's gorgeous!

2. Celebrating the Holidays – There are so many things that made December so special – catching up with friends who were in town for the holidays, lots of family events, thoughtful gifts from the people I love, and starting new family traditions. And I can't forget to mention seasonal reading by the light of a fire and the Christmas tree!

3. Relaxing in the Mountains – We went on two short trips to the mountains in December, and it was just what we needed! We spent lots of time relaxing, binging TV shows, reading, and just enjoying the family time. The weather wasn't always great, but the atmosphere was absolutely perfect. It was a great way to end the year.

Read 22 Books | Favorites:

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand

The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

The Gown by Jennifer Robson

“Love is many things, but it’s not easy. It requires everything.
Whatever you’re most afraid to give is exactly what it will demand of you. But it’s worth it.
That’s the secret. It’s worth it.”
Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery

“And that was how intimacy happened, she thought, watching as he took a mouthful of his drink.
Not in a giant leap, but step by gentle step, each movement forward as stealthy as the incoming tide.
One minute you were standing alone on dry land and the next minute you were in over your head and drowning.”
The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

 “When the day shall come, that we do part,” he said softly, and turned to look at me,
“if my last words are not 'I love you'—ye'll ken it was because I didna have time.”
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

“You tread lightly through life, but you leave deep footprints that are hard for other people to fill.”
One Day in December by Josie Silver

I just shared my October 2018 and November 2018 recaps in December. I planned to blog more but got too caught up in the festivities – and reading a bunch of books, of course. Oh well! I enjoy blogging at my own pace and when the mood strikes me. But I'm so behind on book reviews. Will I catch up? Only time will tell...

My favorite photo in December is the one I used as the main image of this post, and my second fave got all messed up because I posted it the day there was an Instagram glitch. So, here's my third favorite! I took this pic in the mountains, which was the perfect place to read The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. • @soobsessedblog

Favorite Song #1: "Stay the Night" by The Shires
After listening to my Top Songs of 2018 playlist, I moved on to Spotify's recommendations for me.
This one immediately caught my attention and stayed on repeat throughout the month.

Favorite Song #2: "The Vow" by RuthAnne

This was my other favorite song from the playlist Spotify curated for me! 

I haven't heard of RuthAnne before, but I really loved her voice and the lyrics to this one.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) starring Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Johnny Depp, and Katherine Waterston – Nick and I went to see this in December and enjoyed it. I didn't think it was a good as the first (and find it annoying how Rowling keeps tinkering with canon), but I still like the magic and spectacle of it all. 

Poldark, Season 3, starring Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson – I prefer to binge this show rather than watch week to week, and I ended up two seasons behind because of it. I watched Season 3 one weekend while Nick was out of town and loved it! I hate everyone at varying moments, but I still love it. Now on to Season 4!

Dumplin' (2018) starring Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Aniston – I haven't read the book this is based on, but I can't resist a fun teen movie. This one was quite fun, especially seeing Jennifer Aniston in such a different role! I didn't love everything about it, but I enjoyed the positive female friendships and overall message. 

Bought Brand New: The Glass Ocean by Karen White, Lauren Wilig and Beatriz Williams, Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor, The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan, and One Day in December by Josie Silver

Bargain Buys: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, The Secret Keeper and The Lake House by Kate Morton, Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills, Roar by Cora Carmack, The Grand Sophy, Arabella and Frederica by Georgette Heyer, The Firebird and Mariana by Susanna Kearsley, The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett, and The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Gifted for Christmas: Decorating a Room of One's Own by Susan Harlan, Bibliophile by Jane Mount, Pride and Prejudice: A Book-to-Table Classic by Jane Austen, the Jane Austen miniature library set, The Tales of Beetle the Bard by JK Rowling, The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton, Love á la Mode by Stephanie Kate Strohm, and Pride and Prejudice (print on demand edition) by Jane Austen

Bought for Kindle: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins, The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski, World Without End by Ken Follett, and The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy

Audible Freebie (Not Pictured): Christmas 1914 by Charles Olivier