January 2021: Recap + On My Shelves

January 2021: Recap + On My Shelves

• Feb 5, 2021

The first month of 2021 didn't feel all that different than our recent new normal, though I did experience a renewed burst of blogging energy and bought a lot of exciting new books. I can't wait to see wait to see what February holds.

1. Book Dates with My Sister – My sister, @talesandtigerlily, and I went on several bookstore dates in January. We hit the jackpot on one trip and found stuff on the shelves that hadn't released yet. We came home with a pretty big haul that night! But my favorite part is spending time with my sister and bonding over nerdy stuff.

2. Quiet Days at Home – Most of my photos from January are from our normal, daily life. There wasn't a lot of excitement, but still plenty of sweet memories. We went on a few walks in the neighborhood, read some books, ate some snacks, made some messes, and soaked up big brother making his baby brother belly laugh.

3. A Week at My Parents – Nick had to travel for work in January, the first time he's had to go somewhere in several months. And while I'm quite capable of being home alone with the boys, I couldn't pass up my mom's invitation to stay with her and my dad. Best week ever! I was so thankful for help and loved being there.

4. Visiting The Story Shop – My mom and I drove the boys to our favorite children's bookstore, The Story Shop. It's just far enough away to make regular visits difficult, but close enough for a spontaneous adventure. We had the best time and came home with so many excellent books, including Thesauraus Has a Secret by Anya Glazer.

Read 20 Books | Favorites:

The Searcher by Tana French

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

“Life is change – if nothing's changing, you aren't living.” 

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

“People ask how you’re doing, but they don’t really want to know if you’re struggling or not; 

they want the answer that enables them to go about their day without feeling guilty.”

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

“It’s hard to persuade anyone, especially a man, 

that your regard is worth having if you have none for yourself.”

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

“We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, 

revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.” 

Wintering by Katherine May

“A great deal of life will always suck. There will be moments when we’re riding high 

and moments when we can’t bear to get out of bed. Both are normal. 

Both in fact require a little perspective.” 

Wintering by Katherine May

“But they both knew that words were weapons too, 

and when fashioned into a story their power was almost limitless.” 

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

“I think in life you can know you're loved without peering too closely at the edges of it.

It's almost scary, seeing that there aren't any – it doesn't have a beginning or end.

It just kind of is.”

You Have a Match by Emma Lord

“Those who cannot win hearts with love often control people with fear.” 

The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

“We are all of us more complicated than the roles we are assigned in the stories other people tell.” 

Educated by Tara Westover

“Truth hides in fissures and hollows, in broken places and empty parts. 

It can be buried, crushed, or burnt, but the truth will alway rise.”

Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton

“You're so wrapped up in your preconceived notions about my motives 

you've never stopped to consider that maybe I'm different. 

You can't know what I think because you don't know me.”

Shipped by Angie Hockman

January was a great month for the blog! The content may have felt repetitive, since a lot of it focuses on my goals + recapping 2020. But they were all posts I wanted to share, so I'm glad I felt inspired to write. I kicked off the month with my December 2020 recap and most anticipated 2021 releases. Then, I shared my 2021 goals, got specific about my January 2021 goals, and shared my ten 2021 bookish goals. I spent a little time looking back after that with my 2020 bookish goal recap and my sister's favorite books of 2020. I reviewed my December 2020 reads and my sister's top three from the month. And finally, I wrapped up all my 2020 reflections by highlighting my top ten new-to-me authors in 2020 and completing the 2020 End of Year Survey. Whew! I had a lot to say.

Favorite Albums: Sing: Remembering Songs by Ellie Holcomb

This album of children's worship music was on repeat in our household in January.

I love these lyrics! And one song in particular inspired my word of the year.

Bridgerton, Season 1, starring Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page – Watching this show was a little bit like my experience watching Emily in Paris. I was absolutely addicted... but I'm not sure how much I actually liked it. I loved the drama of it, but I'm not a fan of the casting or styling. Honestly, most of the characters got on my nerves, and I hated all the sexual content. But will I watch the second season? Ugh, yes. You know I will.

Book of the Month: The Survivors by Jane Harper and The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

Barnes & Noble: The Next Right Thing Guided Journal by Emily P. Freeman, The House of Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell, and The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon

Gifted: The Anne of Green Gables Devotional by Rachel Dodge (from Kelly), Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Pride and Prejudice (Lit for Little Hands) by Brooke Jorden, The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon, Shipped by Angie Hockman, Everything Beautiful in Its Time by Jenna Bush Hager, Good Apple by Elizabeth Passarella, The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman, The War Widow by Tara Moss, The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (all from my parents), Storm from the East by Joanna Hathaway and The Prince of Frogtown by Rick Bragg (from my sister)

Audible: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas and None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney (not pictured)