March 2020: Recap + On My Shelves

March 2020: Recap + On My Shelves

Apr 3, 2020

March was a month unlike anything I ever expected, as I'm sure the rest of the world will agree. I still can't believe how quickly life turned upside down. I'm trying to focus on one day at time since the future feels so uncertain.

1. Celebrating One Month Old – Our sweet baby turned one month old on March 7, which also happened to be the last time I left the house for anything other than a doctor's appointment. I'm reminding myself daily to live in the present, to soak up this short season of his life, and not let fear of the unknown steal my joy. 

2. Decorating Our Screened-In Porch – When we bought our house in September 2018, one of my favorite things about it was the screened-in porch. I'd always wanted one! Projects inside took priority, so it has remained mostly empty and unused. For my birthday this year, my mom has been helping my decorate it. I'm in love!

3. All the Afternoons Outside – Speaking of our porch, getting it fixed up has perfectly coincided with the arrival of some gorgeous weather in Georgia! Since we've been following all the guidelines about staying at home, I've been so thankful for our backyard and this beautiful porch that allows us to soak up some sun and get outside. 

Read 14 Books | Favorites:

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

“The people you love weren’t algebra: to be calculated, subtracted,
or held at arm’s length across a decimal point.”
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

“Through love, all is possible.”
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

“That’s the point of it, Bryce. Of life. To live, to love, knowing that it might all vanish tomorrow.
It makes everything that much more precious.”
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

“When I feel overlooked or ignored, I ask God what he wants me to learn from it.
Sometimes he is humbling me. Sometimes he is giving me a heart for the rejected.
Sometimes he is helping me die to myself. And sometimes he is pruning something toxic in my soul. But if I simply wish away the heartache, I wish away redemption too.”
Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller

“When a goldsmith wants to purify gold, he heats it until the impurities are revealed
so he can skim them off. Without the heat, the impurities stay embedded in the gold.
Similarly, our circumstances turn up the heat until we see what's in our hearts.
It's not that we used to be nice, energetic people, and now (due to this transition
and things outside of our control) we're suddenly irritable and unkind.
Those changes simply expose the hidden sin that existed all along
in the ease and familiarity of our old circumstances.”
Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler

“Our everyday moments might be ordinary,
but when we accomplish them while displaying the fruit of the Spirit,
they reflect our extraordinary Savior.”
Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler

Although I didn't blog quite as often in March as I did in February, I'm still pleased that I was able to keep posting consistently. It definitely took planning and patience, however! I met my goal of blogging two times per week – with only one exception. I started the month with my February 2020 Recap, my March 2020 Goals, and then shared my February 2020 Quick Lit with mini reviews of nine books. I wrote a full-length review for Maas' House of Earth and Blood because I went through almost every stage of my rating process while reading it.

I chatted about how I organize my digital photos, which is one of my big goals for the year. I'm working on years past while implementing a routine to help me stay on top of them moving forward. I participated in two Top Ten Tuesday topics: My Spring 2020 TBR and Ten Signs You're a Book Lover. Both were fun, though the latter was definitely my favorite. I wrote about my 12 favorite things to do at home since that's where we are spending all of our time lately. And finally, I chatted about what I learned from the no-spend Contentment Challenge.

I only posted on Instagram once, which seems like this might be my new normal! In March, I celebrated the release of House of Earth and Blood and reminisced on my past trips to England with Kelly. • @soobsessedblog

Favorite Album #1: Heartbreak Weather by Niall Horan
I never really listened to One Direction, but I've become a fan of much of their solo work.
I had this on repeat in March and found it so enjoyable! I need to go listen to his previous album now.

Favorite Album #2: Lady Like by Ingrid Andress

Someone I follow on Instagram has posted about Ingrid's singles over the past few months,

so I had this new release on my radar. It didn't disappoint! It's a great debut album.

Bought: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

For Review: If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Gifted: Anna K by Jenny Lee

Audible: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, On Second Thought by Kristin Higgins, The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn, and Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Kindle: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

NetGalley: Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles, The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez, and The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan 

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You Might Be a Book Lover If...

You Might Be a Book Lover If...

Mar 31, 2020

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is such a fun one: Top Ten Signs You're A Book Lover! As soon as I saw it on the schedule, I started brainstorming what would be on my list. I tried to think of some of my nerdiest habits – the ones that make it very evident that I'm so obsessed with books and that sometimes elicit teasing from the people who love me most. But the only thing required to be a book lover? A love of reading! All the stuff is just the icing on the cake... or the jacket on the book, as the case may be. 

1. You have books in every room of your house... and a home library, too.
My husband made me the most gorgeous built-ins from IKEA Billy bookcases. And now my finished library is my favorite room in our house! But the books don't stop there. You'll find some in every room of our house.

2. You own multiple editions of your favorite books.

You'd probably be shocked by how many books I own multiple copies of: because they have different covers, are from different countries, or because it's in a different format (like audio or e-book). The list is... extensive.

3. You own a book sleeve. Or two. Or more.

When I first heard about book sleeves, I thought they sounded dumb. Now I own and love a bunch! My favorites are from Story Time Sleeve, A Hum for Hope, Book Besties UK, and a Book Beau my friend customized for me.

4. You've paid for some type of bookish subscription.

There are so many of these, and I've tried several. I loved Book of the Month for a while, though I've since canceled. My son gets a BookRoo picture book subscription. And I adore my Audible subscription. Just to name a few!

5. You discuss the texture of book covers with your bestie.

I was browsing the bookstore one day and sent Kelly a picture of a recent release. "It has a velvety texture!" I texted. "Like Jojo Moyes' books?" she asked. And then we laughed at how nerdy we sounded!

6. You design and complete a bookish March Madness bracket.

Kelly and I make a March Madness bet where the winner gets to make the loser read a book of their choice. Since this year's tournament was canceled, I made us a bookish version. A post about it is coming soon.

7. You have your library card number memorized.
I don't have my credit card number memorized, but you better believe I know my library card number by heart! I'll be in trouble if it ever changes. Bonus points if you pay to belong to another library system. Because I do that, too!

8. You buy books about books.
I don't know if you can tell from the photo in this post, but I have a stack of books about books on that side table in my library. The prettiest is Bibliophile by Jane Mount, and my favorite is I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel.

9. You have bookish journals and made custom inserts for them!
I have a reading log where I track what books I've read and what I thought about each of them. But my favorite is my bookish Happy Planner because I designed custom printables for it. I need to share the updated version of it.

10. You buy products inspired by your favorite books.
And finally, you know you're a book lover if you can't resist bookish merchandise. I have prints, t-shirts, candles, bookmarks, mugs, totes, and more that all pay homage to the books and characters I love most. Nerd alert!

Are any of these things true for you?

What would you add to my list?

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8 Things I Learned from My No-Spend Challenge

8 Things I Learned from My No-Spend Challenge

Mar 30, 2020

If you've been reading my blog the last few months, you may know that one of my 2020 goals is to "grow in my knowledge and stewardship of our finances." As I was brainstorming ways to make that happen, I discovered The Contentment Challenge hosted by Nancy Ray. It's a three-month commitment where, in Nancy's words:

“I will give up shopping for clothes, accessories, household decor, and ‘stuff’ for three months, to focus my heart and mind on the root of true contentment. I will actively pursue fulfilling activities that will replace my addiction to material things.”

The Challenge officially took place from January - March 2020. This was my first time participating, though Nancy has hosted it for several years. I heard about it while listening to an episode about it on her podcast and felt like it complemented my financial goal for the year. I hoped it would give me an opportunity to slow down, save, and evaluate my spending. Nick and I have been tracking all of our expenses using the Goodbudget app since last November, and that's when I first noticed how much I spent on random things I didn't really need. 

In Nancy's introductory blog post, she outlines some guidelines to help steer the challenge. I kept them in mind but didn't strictly adhere to them. I specifically wanted to focus on the money I spent on myself. I don't personally spend a lot on clothes or household decor, but I have my own money pits – paper products, makeup, books, etc. For example, I still bought a few things for our new baby. BUT I GAVE UP BOOKS. A three-month book buying ban? It was a first! However, Kelly and I had previously decided we wanted to buy at least one book per month from somewhere other than Amazon (ideally from an indie bookstore). So, that was the only exception I allowed myself. 

I'm wrapping up this challenge tomorrow, so I thought I'd share eight things I've learned along the way:

1. Unsubscribe, unsubscribe, unsubscribe.

The first thing I did for this challenge? I opened my email and unsubscribed from every single marketing list that I was on. There were some I'd meant to unsubscribe from for months and others that I reluctantly removed. What if I missed an awesome sale on something I loved? Well, I probably did miss some great sales – but I also realized how often I was shopping solely because I saw something in an email. This was huge, and I'm not going back. 

2. Skip the sales.

The first thing I learned leads me into the second lesson. While I do love a good discount, I think it's better for me, personally, to buy something full price when I actually need it than to stock up during a sale. I'm more aware now of how often I've used a sale to justify purchases that I definitely didn't need and sometimes never used. But I have started a small list of specific things I "want/need" that aren't urgent and can wait for a sale. 

3. If I can't see it, I don't want it.

I unsubscribed from emails and stopped visiting my favorite online retailers' websites, I didn't see new things that I might like to own. When I stopped visiting my local used bookstore, I didn't know what they did or didn't have in stock. If I didn't wander Target, I wasn't adding things to my cart. It's common sense, but it still amazed me how easy it was to stop spending money once I stopped visiting the places I most likely to spend that money.

4. When I don't buy more, I use what I own.

Here's another thing I learned that will elicit a "no duh" response. When I wasn't buying new things, I started using what I already owned. No new notebooks = finally using some that I'd been hoarding (why?!) for ages. The biggest place I learned this lesson? BOOKS! While I still used the library, I was shocked at how quickly I decreased my To Be Read pile when I wasn't adding new books to it. In fact, I think I'm going to extend my book buying ban!

5. When in doubt, wait it out. 

I've shopped for all kinds of reasons: because I was bored, because I wanted to reward myself, because I was stressed out, etc. That itch didn't go away just because I decided to stop shopping! I started to find something else to do when that feeling hit, but I also let myself put things in my cart to save for later. As I waited before purchasing, I usually forgot about it. And if I still wanted it? Well, it would still be there when this was over.

6. Abstaining adds up.

My objective for participating in this challenge wasn't saving money. I knew that would (hopefully) be a result, but I really wanted to break the habit of impulse buying and mindless spending. But I won't lie: it's been rewarding to see the dollars add up in my bank account. It illustrated just how much I've spent on things I didn't need. YIKES. Talk about convicting and motivating for the future! I'll still shop but with more intention now.

7. Self control is a skill.

Before I started, I knew this would truly be a challenge. Why? Because I'd tried book buying bans in the past, and I always failed. I'd usually start strong, and then begin rationalizing purchases. Since I was fully committed to this project, I took it more seriously. And like a muscle that grows the more you work out, my self control grew every time I followed through on the challenge. The more I exercised restraint, the more I wanted to continue.

8. Need it? Not really.

This final lesson wasn't a surprise: I don't need most of the things I buy. Almost everything I was tempted to purchase was truly a want. There's no guilt or shame in that, but I need to keep it in perspective moving forward. The ability to spend money on things that I want, just because, is something I don't want to take for granted. I'm more content with what I have and more appreciative of the fact that I can buy more. 

Well, there you have it! This challenge ends April 1, but I'll continue to practice the things I've learned during it. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! And like Nancy, there's a good chance I'll be repeating this challenge every year. I have loved the experience and what it taught me. And I think a yearly refresh would be so worthwhile!

You may be wondering: did I buy anything during this no-spend challenge? I've mentioned my one book a month exception, but I did purchase a few more things, too. Later this week, I'll share what I bought the last three months and why. Additionally, I'm planning on purchasing a few things now that I'm done. Check back for that list, too!

Have you ever participated in a no-spend challenge?

How long did it last? Were you successful?

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12 Things to Do at Home

12 Things to Do at Home

Mar 26, 2020

I knew from experience with my firstborn that I probably wouldn't be out and about much after my second child was born. And since a February birthday = the middle of flu season, I figured that would keep us close to home, too. I certainly never anticipated a dangerous virus sweeping the globe and making it absolutely vital that everyone stay home to help slow its spread. I'm doing my best to stay informed while not spending too much time reading the news, but it's definitely hard. Life right now is far from normal! When anxiety over the unknown starts creeping in, I try to remind myself of what I love about being home. Here are my twelve favorite things to do:

1. Read a book.

Are you surprised this is the first thing on my list? It's my favorite hobby, and it's what I spend the majority of my free time doing. Books can take you on the best adventures! Here are eight favorites that just make me happy:

• Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

• The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

• To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

• The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

• If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

• One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

• Act Like It by Lucy Parker

• Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

2. Reorganize my bookshelves.

This is one of my favorite things to do when I'm itching for a project. I love taking all my books off my shelves and rearranging them. Separate your read and unread books? Want rainbow shelves? Now is the time to try it!

3. Shop online. Support small businesses!

While staying safe at home, I can still shop online. Whether ordering takeout from a local restaurant or treating myself to something fun, this is a great opportunity to support small businesses. A few of my favorites:

• Avid Bookshop

• BookRoo Subscription 

• Carrot Top Paper Shop

• Helen Ficalora

• Promptly Journals

• Rewined Candles

• Simplified by Emily Ley

• Story Time Sleeve

4. Take a nap.

I'm not typically very good at taking a nap, but sometimes it's what your body needs – especially when you're overwhelmed or anxious. It's hard to be productive when you're feeling that way, and a nap can be so restorative.

5. Tackle a project.

I've been writing a lot about routines lately, and I know it's hard to implement something when your schedule is so far from normal. But this could be an opportunity to tackle a project that you've been avoiding. For example:

• Clean out your closet

• Cull your bookshelves

• Organize your kitchen drawers / pantry / fridge

• Try a cleaning schedule

• Rearrange your furniture

• Organize digital photos

• Hang some photos or art

• Create new weekly or monthly routines

6. Paint my nails.

I've always preferred painting my nails at home, but it took time, practice and patience before I got the hang of it. If you typically get salon manicures, here's your chance to do a little self care at home.

7. Play with my boy.

Since I'm a stay-at-home mom and my kids aren't in school yet, we haven't had as much of an adjustment. I know this season would be much harder if I was trying to work or teach school from home. A few of our favorite things:

• Busy Toddler on Instagram

• Cincinnati Zoo's daily Home Safari videos

• MagnaTiles and Melissa & Doug puzzles

• Sidewalk chalk and bubbles

• A giant sticker book (my son's favorite)

• PBS Games app on the iPad

• Plastic animals, from companies like Schleich or Safari Ltd. 

• Books, books, and more books!

8. FaceTime a friend.

People may complain about how technology has changed modern relationships, but these are the moments where it's truly a blessing. Feeling lonely? Phone a friend or your family! I adore my daily I FaceTime chats with my bestie.

9. Get creative.

Blogging is my main source of creativity, and it's definitely a labor of love. I don't know any skills like knitting, but I do love playing around with paper products. Here are the some ways I try to exercise my creativity:

• Decorate my planner.

• Cook something new.

• Create a reading log.

• Make graphics for the blog.

• Bullet journaling(ish) – here's my own version of it!

• Take photos of my life and my books.

• Write, especially three good things about each day.

• Design my own Happy Planner inserts.  

10. Go outside.

We've had nice weather in Georgia the past week, and I've been so thankful that we fenced in our backyard last fall. The baby and I have enjoyed rocking on the porch while big brother plays hard and soaks up the sun.

11. Watch something.

As much as I love reading, sometimes I just need to watch something instead. That's my go to when I can't concentrate on a book but still need something to distract me from my own thoughts. Here are some favorites:

• If I want happy, small-town vibes: Gilmore Girls or Hart of Dixie.

• If I need some non-coronavirus medical drama: Grey's Anatomy.

• If I want to keep calm and carry on: The Great British Baking Show or The Young Victoria.

• If I need teen angst: Gossip Girl or 13 Going on 30.

• If I want murder and mayhem: The Vampire Diaries.

• If I need to laugh: Friends or The Proposal.

• If I want all the comforting, childhood feels: Anne of Green Gables. 

• If I need to go back in time: Downton Abbey or Pride and Prejudice.

12. Take a bath.

I adore taking a bath, and it's my favorite way to wind down in the evening. Light a candle, use bubbles or bath salts, turn on some quiet instrumental music, and grab a book for some much-needed relaxation time. 

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Welcome to Crescent City

Welcome to Crescent City

Mar 19, 2020

For the past two years, Kelly and I have celebrated our birthdays by going to England together. We’ve made the best memories, which you can see in my 2018 and 2019 trip recaps. If you can spend a week traveling with someone and still be sad to leave them at the end of the trip, you know that’s your person. I couldn't go with her on this year's trip, but I was able to console myself with some hot cocoa in my London mug while reading Sarah J. Maas' House of Earth and Blood and cuddling my baby. A new series from one of my favorite authors? Yes, please!

Kelly was reading it at the same time, so she would call me every night when she got back to her room to tell me all about her day and discuss the book together. The best part? We were at very different points in the book throughout the week, but we still managed to finish on the same day! I was originally going to review this in my March Quick Lit post, but then I realized I had too much to say about it. Buckle up – we're going on a journey.

I was apprehensive before I started reading House of Earth and Blood, especially because I have such high expectations when picking up something from Maas. Plus, it was a brand-new series – a total unknown! And y'all, this book was an experience. I went through almost every stage of my rating process while reading, so I've decided to structure my review that way. I'm going to start with my least favorite aspects and then work my way towards everything I adored, which mimics the way my final rating shifted from start to finish. Let's dive in – and there's no spoilers here:

SO DISLIKED IT:

+ The language. I don't mind cursing, but it got excessive here. It felt like a teenager trying to prove how grown-up they are and was distracting for me. Once I started to notice the frequency, I kept wondering how it served the story. And honestly, I'd love it if I never had to read the word "alphahole" again in my life! 

+ The drug / sexual content. This is definitely a matter of personal taste. The sexual content is not a new complaint for me, since that was my biggest dislike in the ACOTAR series, too. As for the drugs, they gave me such a bad impression of the characters at first. However, I can see why it was included in this particular story.

SO OKAY WITH IT:

+ The info dumps. The beginning of the book was packed with information about the characters and the world, and it wasn't always done in the most seamless way. I wanted to learn more but found myself bogged down by details and losing interest early on in the story. It would have benefited from heavier editing and losing about 200 pages.

+ The lack of glossary. This goes hand in hand with the previous issue. I would have loved if the book had a glossary, especially since so much new terminology was introduced right away. I kept getting hung on trying to decode acronyms and remember what certain words/places/roles meant. I did get past it eventually though!

SO LIKED IT:

+ The pacing. The first half of the book was hard for me to get into – for all the reasons I've discussed above. And then... the second half! By the 50% mark, I needed to know what happened next. And by 75%? I couldn't put it down! I wish the pace had been more even throughout but am so glad it ended on a high note.

+ The plot. In a lot of ways, the story at the heart of House of Earth and Blood is a mystery. What happened to Bryce's friends on that fateful night two years ago? I liked the investigation + search for the missing historical artifact, but I'm really looking forward to the next book because I think the conflict will be even richer.  

SO ENJOYED IT:

+ The world. Since I mentioned finding the world confusing at first, you might be surprised to find that I truly did enjoy it in the end. The more I was able to understand it, the more I wanted to know about its history. I can tell Maas put a lot of thought into it, and it was fun to see her try something new with an urban fantasy setting.

+ The romance. Initially, I wasn't completely sold on the romance. I needed to warm up to Bryce and Hunt! They've both survived painful things and have walls built up around their hearts. Slowly but surely, we began to see their vulnerabilities. Their banter, strength, and softness became an incredibly compelling dynamic.

SO LOVED IT:

+ The characters. Mass is always able to make me care deeply for so many characters – not just the protagonist. Crescent City was no exception! From the adorable sprite at Bryce's office to the hilarious creature she keeps as a pet, there's no shortage of people to love. And there's plenty that will keep you guessing on their motivations, too.

+ The emotions. When I reminded myself that Maas has always excelled at her characters, their relationships and the emotions they evoke, I was better able to focus on the heart of this story. And y'all, Maas definitely hit all the right emotional notes! You've got love, joy, sadness, anger, fear, contempt, and even some surprise. 

SO OBSESSED WITH IT:

+ The friendship. Maas made me so deeply invested in Bryce and Danika's friendship, in such a short amount of time, that the events from the summary were still a gut punch. I adored watching Bryce grapple with loss and remain loyal to her friends' memory. The love she and Danika had for each other was my favorite thing in the book!

+ The ending. I already said it, but it bears repeating: the last quarter of this book was incredible! Maas' ability to develop moving relationships, exciting twists and turns, and emotional climactic moments came to fruition here. And I loved that the ending didn't leave readers hanging. There's conflict to come, but this was nicely wrapped up.

Whew! Can you see how complicated my feelings were for this new release?! With that huge range of reactions, you might be wondering how I settled on my final rating for House of Earth and Blood. I was leaning towards So Enjoyed It (4 stars) for most of the book, but the way it all came together in the end left me on such a high. And I would always rather have a book start slowly but finish strong than the reverse! I found the last quarter so emotional and satisfying that it only felt right to go with 4.5 stars overall because I So Loved It by the end. 

It's definitely not my favorite book from Maas, but I have historically liked the first books in her series the least. So, I would not be surprised if my love for this series grows with each new release – and with each re-read. I'd be willing to bet that some of the things that felt slow or confusing on my first read won't even phase me the next time around! All that being said, I'm so excited to see where Maas takes these characters next. 

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