April 2020: Recap + On My Shelves

April 2020: Recap + On My Shelves

May 4, 2020

It felt like March lasted for ages, but April passed in a blur. The month was marked by more days at home but lots of special memories. There are hard things about this season, but I'm trying to find all the good stuff, too.

1. My New Planner – I started using a weekly Simplified Planner last year and was excited for the new academic year release on April 1. I've been curious about using a daily edition and went for it with this gorgeous gold dot Dapperdesk. I can't wait for August! (Here's my referral code for $10 off your first purchase, if you're interested.)

2. Social Distancing Movie Date – While talking to Kelly one day, she mentioned that she was watching Little Women later that night. Then, she asked if I wanted to watch it, too. I couldn't say yes fast enough! We got our snacks, started our movies at the same time, and texted throughout. Here's her view. It was delightful!

3. Backyard Camping – One of the items on our 20 in 2020 list was to enjoy camping in the backyard. Many of the adventures on our list are on hold due to COVID-19, so we've been focusing on the ones we can do at home. Nick and our big boy made s'mores and slept in a tent one night, and it was the most adorable thing ever. 

4. Solo Dinner Date in My Car – Nick had to travel for work in April, and it was the first time I was home alone with both boys for a few days. Once he got home, I needed a little time to myself out of the house. So, I picked up Culver's, parked my car, and enjoyed dinner + dessert while reading a book. It was exactly what I needed!

Read 15 Books | Favorites:

Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt

Beach Read by Emily Henry

The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

“And that was the moment I realized: when the world felt dark and scary,
love could whisk you off to go dancing; laughter could take some of the pain away;
beauty could punch holes in your fear. I decided then that my life would be full of all three.”
Beach Read by Emily Henry

“You don't stop fighting a war just because you're losing battles. You change tactics.”
The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

“Some people contend there are two primal fears.
The first and most basic is the end of our existence. The second is isolation;
we all have a deep need to belong to something greater than ourselves.”
You are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

“Every time you hurt someone, you break off a little piece of them.
Not only do they have to live with that broken piece,
then the next person who comes along has to figure out a way to spackle that spot.
Your behavior has ripple effects.”
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

“Many times in life I've regretted the things I've said without thinking.
But I've never regretted the things I said nearly as much as the words I left unspoken.”
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas

I'm so pleased that I've been able to maintain my blogging mojo! While I still have a backlog of posts I keep wanting to write, I'm glad that I've still been relatively consistent. I started the month with my March 2020 recap and then my April 2020 goals. I participated in one Top Ten Tuesday topic: Ten Books I Bought Because... and highlighted different reasons for each. After wrapping up The Contentment Challenged at the end of March, I shared what I bought during the no-spend challenge and what I'd been waiting to buy.

From a bookish perspective, I posted my March 2020 Quick Lit with mini reviews of six books. Then, I wrote a separate post I titled Mondays are for Murder to recommend two delightful mysteries I'd read. And I closed the month with a review of Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt, which was the inspiration I needed lately. And speaking of memories, the only other post I wrote in April was about creating bookish March Madness brackets to complete with my bestie. It was so much fun, and I loved chatting about what inspired it (and who won). 

Another month where I only posted once on bookstagram! While I'm still taking plenty of photos for the blog, I just don't find myself as drawn to that platform. But I do appreciate being able to connect with other readers and occasionally checking in there, so I just can't bring myself to quit it completely. This month, I mused on how the words "You Are Not Alone" could be the title of my quarantine memoir. • @soobsessedblog

Favorite Album #1: SOUTHSIDE by Sam Hunt
I've been anxiously awaiting new music from Hunt, and I think that raised my expectations.
I listened to this album a lot (and do love it!), but it's had to grow on me.



Favorite Album #2: Carly Pearce by Carly Pearce
I loved Pearce's debut album, so I was excited when Spotify told me she had a new album.
This has been such an enjoyable listen! Sometimes country just hits the spot for me.

Little Women (2019) starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Timothée Chalamet, and Laura Dern – I saw this in theaters this past December, and it was definitely my favorite movie of 2019. I couldn't wait to own it and be able to re-watch it as much as I want. I was thrilled when Kelly suggested we watch it "together." It was just as gorgeous, emotional, and perfect the second time around. I'm so glad it exists in the world!

Bought: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson and A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn

Book of the Month: Beach Read by Emily Henry

For Review: The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

Audible: The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez, Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers, and If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

NetGalley: Majesty by Katharine McGee

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Making Memories Matters

Making Memories Matters

Apr 30, 2020

I found Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt while browsing the shelves at a bookstore near me that was going out of business last year. At a deeply discounted price, I couldn't resist buying it, even though I wouldn't describe myself as someone who focuses a lot on family traditions. But something about it just called to me.

I was pregnant at the time – excited about what the future held but nervous, too. I knew this baby would change our lives in ways we couldn't even imagine, and I was already pondering what that would mean for our older boy. Around the same time, I started working on my 2020 goals. After setting a goal of nurturing my relationship with Nick and our sons, I had to think about what that realistically looked like and how I would live it out. What was I already doing to be intentional within our home and what wasn't working? I started with our 20 in 2020 – a family bucket list for the year. You can read about my heart behind the idea in that post, but it brings us back to this book.

As I was looking over the bucket list at the end of March and re-configuring some of our plans in light of COVID-19, my eyes kept stopping on one specific item. Create a new family tradition. I had no idea what that might be at the time I wrote it, but it felt like something we could do. But when faced with that item on my list, my brain just blanked. Then... I remembered purchasing this book all those months ago. I pulled it off my shelves, flipped through a few pages, and immediately knew it was exactly what I needed to read.

In Memory-Making Mom, Smartt writes, "I want to send my children off with memories for roots, love for wings. I want my children to know they are loved, to know what they believe, and to have the tools they need to succeed." She explains how their family life often felt monotonous while she both envied how her sister's family seemed to have more fun. Until she realized there was nothing stopping them from celebrating more, too. 

Using the word tradition might make it sound fancy or complicated, but Smartt defines it as "a planned determination to remember, celebrate, and value what is important." She's quick to mention that her book is a list of suggestions, not a manual of what to do, and so it's up to you to choose what your family values and what's worth celebrating. I loved how she outlined that understanding why traditions matter will motivate you to do the work and put in the time. I've noticed that with my goal setting this year, too, so that definitely rings true for me. She discusses how traditions offer security, provide comforting memories, make life sparkle, remind us what matters, make our values real, connect us to others, and shower love.

Before reading this book, I probably would have told you that we didn't have a ton of traditions growing up. My narrow definition of the word (and how I mostly associated it with the holidays) made me overlook all the wonderful things we did do repeatedly: trips to Callaway Gardens in October, skipping school on our birthday, getting to sleep in my parents' bed with my mom when my dad traveled, eating dinner together every night, dance parties in the living room, and so much more. Within just a few minutes, memories came flooding back.

After making the case for traditions, Smartt focuses on ten areas you can incorporate them in your family:

• Spontaneity, highlighting the joy of new adventures and doing things just because

• Beauty, celebrating beautiful things both inside your home and outside in nature

• Food, like everyday dinners, special celebratory meals, and time together in the kitchen

• Holidays, with ideas for each one and advice on how to plan ahead and choose what's best for you

• Learning, including reading together, family field trips, and instilling curiosity in your kids

• Service, prioritizing doing things for others as a family throughout the year

• Relationships, looking for opportunities to connect with each child individually 

• Work, examining how your kids can work in the home through chores and hobbies

• Rest, such as times of sickness, on Sundays, and during family vacations

• Faith, exploring music, prayer, family devotions, and other faith-focused activities

The author is a Christian and writes from that perspective, which I personally appreciated. If faith isn't a priority for you, I think there are still many suggestions in her book that will work for your family but it is worth noting because she does discuss her faith throughout. I loved how it challenged me to connect the everyday to the spiritual.

It was a lovely, thoughtful read that highlighted things that have been on my heart lately. It was full of inspiration and encouraged me to ponder what I want my boys to remember about our family. Reading through the long lists of ideas didn't overwhelm me or make me feel guilty about what we could have already been doing. Instead, it motivated me. It reminded me that creating traditions requires having a plan. It's work that is worth it because making memories matters. It sounds obvious, sure, but it's so easy to get caught up in the mundane and routine aspects of family life. Purposefully chosen traditions can lead to memories we'll cherish forever. I'm already brainstorming what we'll start doing and know I'll reference this book in the future, too.

So Quotable

"We can celebrate with whimsy. We can make memories. We can create treasured traditions our children will lie in bed and anticipate, tell their children about, long for during college, and cling to in times of sadness. When a special moment arrives, snatch the opportunity and create a memory that is important and lasting."

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Two Besties & Our Bookish Brackets

Two Besties & Our Bookish Brackets

Apr 24, 2020

Because I'm almost six feet tall, I can't tell you how many times I was asked if I played basketball while growing up. Y'all, one season in sixth grade was enough to teach me that athleticism is not my gift. If a sport didn't involve horses, I wasn't interested. Not much has changed, honestly. I don't care about sports at all – not even enough to tune in to major events like the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the World Series, or March Madness.

Kelly, on the other hand, loves to watch sporting events. And she adores March Madness. She fills out a bracket, competes within her family, and avidly watches the games. The complete opposite of me. A few years ago, she wanted me to fill out a bracket. It'll be fun, she said. But I wasn't convinced until she suggested a little wager. We'd both fill out brackets and whoever got the most right would win a prize. It was going to be a planner accessory of the winner's choice courtesy of the loser. Then, I had the idea to add some bookishness to our bet: the winner could choose any book for the loser to read. And just like that, I was caught in her web.

Our first year competing was 2018. I lost – BY ONE GAME! – but had fun checking scores during the tournament. What did Kelly choose for me? The Virgin's Daughter by Laura Andersen, the first book in an alternate history trilogy that imagines Queen Elizabeth I married and had a daughter. I ended up loving it so much that I read the entire Tudor Legacy series! In 2019, I won and got to gloat because I correctly chose Virginia as the championship winner. I have zero methodology to my picks, but fate knew I needed a win. I chose A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn, the first book in the Veronica Speedwell historical mystery series, for her to read. 

We'd planned to continue the tradition this year before the tournament was canceled. Rather than scrap the bet completely, I had another idea. What if we did a bookish version? We came up with four divisions: Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary, and Wild Card. Then, we each picked our sixteen favorite books from each division. Our brackets didn't match, obviously, since they featured our personal favorite books. So, what came next? We each printed out our own bracket and the other person's and filled both out. If I thought it was hard to chose my own winners when they went head-to-head, multiply that difficulty when trying to guess how I thought Kelly would fill out her own bracket. In some cases, I knew what book she loved most. In others, it was all gut feeling. 

Once we'd filled out both, we had a FaceTime call to discuss the results. We celebrated the things we'd gotten right, especially when the answer felt like it had been the "risky" choice. We argued about a few of the things we'd gotten wrong and how, for both of us, there was at least one book that the other person loved significantly more than we'd expected. We were both convinced that we'd lose in the end, especially before we tallied the wins. And then... we compared results. I won by HALF A POINT and owe it all to correctly guessing her overall winner, which we'd decided beforehand was worth three points. She was behind a full point but argued that she deserved a half point because of one particular match-up she'd gotten "wrong" should have been right.

Want to see my completed bracket? Click the image above to enlarge it! My winner was Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center. I knew it would make it to the Final Four, at least, but was a little surprised when my heart crowned it the champion. There are a million reasons I love it, but I think it won because it's had the biggest impact on me of all the books included. It also has the privilege of being the book that caused the biggest upset with Kelly's predictions. She had it falling to Mhairi McFarlane's Who's That Girl? earlier on. As for the book that Kelly got "wrong" but should have been right, I wrote that Code Name Verity beat Lovely War. Kelly correctly pointed out that Lovely War is my favorite of the two, by far. She's right, and I have no idea why I had it the opposite way.

What about Kell'y bracket? You can enlarge hers, too. One of my biggest errors was the reverse of Kelly's: I had Happiness for Beginners going much farther on her bracket than it actually went. The other was that I didn't have Mariana by Susanna Kearsley going far enough. It's a real struggle when two of your Final Four picks are incorrect. Haha! My saving grace was correctly guessing that Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward was her champion. 

Since we came within a half point of each other, we're both choosing something for the other to read. Kelly is forcing Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas on me, which I've had zero interest in from the first moment she mentioned it to me. I'm really looking forward to it, as you can probably tell. Haha! In return, I picked If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broke for her. She isn't a fan of YA contemporary, in general, but I think she'll like the 10 Things I Hate About You vibe of this one and know she won't pick it up without a push from me.

All in all, this was such a fun activity! I made the brackets in March, and then we filled them out and discussed our results in the first week of April. We laughed so much and loved proving how well we did (and didn't) know each other's taste in books. And I can't lie: I'm pretty tickled that there was only a one-point difference between us in the end. Would I do it again? Absolutely! I'm already planning future versions. 

Have you ever filled out a bookish March Madness-inspired bracket?

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Mondays Are for Murder

Mondays Are for Murder

Apr 20, 2020

I don't know about you, but everything going on in the world has made it harder to concentrate when reading. Some of my distraction is probably due to the new baby, but I know the news is contributing, too. Fiction has always been my favorite escape. I've definitely been through book slumps, but reading will always be a source of comfort to me. But right now, only certain types of books will do. I want contemporary fiction (the happier the better!) and fantasy worlds (far away from the problems of today) and... you guessed it... twisty, thrilling mysteries. 

Can you relate? Whatever genre is currently capturing your attention, I've got two books to put on your radar on this very murderous Monday. I read A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, the first book in a new YA mystery series, and A Murderous Relation* by Deanna Raybourn, the fifth book in the Veronica Speedwell historical mystery series, in March. Rather than review them in my March 2020 Quick Lit, I thought it would be fun to do a longer post highlighting both! So, let's chat about these two sharp-witted heroines solving crimes.

A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER

Do you love Veronica Mars or Nancy Drew? This book is for you! Five years ago, the pretty and popular Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Salil Singh. After he committed suicide, the case was closed. Everyone knew he did it, no "allegedly" needed. Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't convinced. For her senior year project, she decides to reexamine the case hoping to cast doubt on his guilt. But someone in Fairview doesn't want her searching for answers...

As soon as I started reading, I was hooked! The format was a nice touch since it made me feel like I was part of the investigation. It opens with Pippa's Senior Capstone Project Proposal and then has project logs and interview transcripts interspersed throughout. I loved getting to see Pip's notes, suspect list, and have a first-hand look at the evidence she had compiled. It was such a great way to show instead of tell – and was a welcome change from mysteries where the protagonist's findings are primarily revealed with inner monologue or significant conversations. If you like true crime podcasts, this would be right up your alley.

It was an addicting, thrilling mystery. I loved the heroine's inquisitive personality, her sense of humor, and her pursuit of justice. The tone worked for me – it's smart, witty, and just serious enough for the subject matter. The pacing was spot-on, and I didn't want to put the book down from the moment I started. I never felt truly scared but did have that heightened tension with every turn of the page. (I will note there is an animal death in here, in case that's a warning you need). I didn't predict the ending, but I loved that the clues were there if you could put them together. I recommended it to my sister once I was done, and she loved it, too. Why is that worth mentioning? She reads way more mysteries and thrillers than I do, so she's a tougher critic on the genre.

I liked how Pip's confidence and curiosity occasionally blinded her to how much she was at risk. That felt very accurate for her age! I wasn't sure how believable it would be that a teenager would (potentially) solve a crime that police couldn't, but Jackson made it entirely plausible based on the circumstances of the case and the failures of people in power. Additionally, I thought Jackson did a great job exploring how racism played a role in the case. The town's perceptions of both the murdered girl and her presumed killer heavily influenced the way it was investigated and reported. Not to mention the way the Singh family was treated afterward. That felt very realistic, unfortunately.

In addition to our spunky heroine, there's a great group of secondary characters. I enjoyed getting to know Pip's family, her best friends, and various members of their town. But my favorite was Ravi, Sal's brother. I was so nervous when Pip first approached him about her project, but I loved the way they partnered up to try to prove Sal's innocence. Their dynamic was one of my favorite aspects of the book! This particular mystery is wrapped up by the end of the book, but I was thrilled to learn it's going to be a series. I'm totally here for Pip (and Ravi?!) investigating and solving more crimes! And though I read the physical book, I noticed that the audiobook is a full-cast performance. You better believe I'm buying it for future re-reads!

A MURDEROUS RELATION

Not long after finishing A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, I decided to read the most recent Veronica Speedwell mystery. I read the first book back in 2017, and it immediately reminded me of the show Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. There's something about an intrepid historical heroine + a serious and slightly exasperated man as her sidekick that I just can't resist. Each book of the series has been filled with banter, sexual tension, and a compelling case that they're trying to solve. The second wasn't my favorite, but the third exceeded my expectations. And the fourth? Well, it was one of my favorite books of 2019. Needless to say, I was excited to dive in to the fifth!

If you aren't familiar with the series, it opens in 1887 London with the newly orphaned Veronica Speedwell, a butterfly collector, ready to travel the world. Fate, however, has other plans for her. After thwarting her own abduction, Veronica teams up with a natural historian named Stoker to unravel the plot against her. Rather than live in fear, she embraces the thrill of danger and is soon thrust into a life of crime solving. While the mystery changes with each book, I love feeling like I know what to expect when I pick up one of these mysteries: a delicious slow burn, lots of banter, fascinating secondary characters, and a heroine constantly defying convention.

In A Murderous Relation, Veronica and Stoker are asked to retrieve a jewel from an exclusive private brothel because it could be traced back to Prince Albert Victor and cause a scandal for the monarchy. Plus, tensions are already high in London with Jack the Ripper on the loose. This specific mystery is probably one of my least favorite in the series. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book as a whole, I was expecting a bit more complicated intrigue. The summary mentioned that infamous serial killer, but he's a peripheral part of the setting and not central to the mystery. The actual case was missing that certain spark that I've come to expect from this series.

Now, that being said, the dialogue and characters were still utterly delightful. Stoker and Veronica have tons of chemistry and a delicious will-they-or-won't-they dynamic. After the developments in the previous book, I couldn't wait to see what the future held for them. But the course of true love never did run smooth, so I shouldn't have been surprised that they had a difficult time acknowledging their emotions. I was frustrated at first, but it did feel realistic based on everything we've seen from them thus far in the series.

Raybourn still paints a vivid picture of Victorian England. I admire the way she's created a world that is clearly dangerous and yet is still so inviting for readers. I love my time spent with this duo and typically spend most of each book with a grin on my face. The clever, snarky banter just calls my name! It's fun to see familiar characters returning in each new installment, and I always look forward to seeing who Raybourn will introduce, too. If you're searching for a fictional escape, this series would be the perfect choice. They're smart, snarky, and have the perfect amount of suspense and sexual tension. And if you like audiobooks, I highly recommend them in that format!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

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What I've Been Waiting to Buy

What I've Been Waiting to Buy

Apr 17, 2020

After I recapped The Contentment Challenge, I shared what I bought during it. In that post, I mentioned adding things to my wishlist during the no-spend challenge. Today, I'm highlighting thirteen items I was waiting to buy!

1. 2020-2021 Daily Dapperdesk Planner in Gold Dot ($62)

I switched to the Weekly Simplified Planner last year, and I love it! I've wanted to try the Daily version, but as a leftie I just don't love coil-bound planners. Their Dapperdesk line is the same daily pages but in a book-bound format, and I just bought my academic year edition. Want one? Use my referral code for $10 off your first order. 

2. Happy Floral Page Marker ($5)

When I bought my weekly planner last year, I talked myself out of their page markers because I have plenty of magnetic bookmarks. However, I couldn't resist this year – mostly because I was dying to own something in that Happy Floral pattern. I'm contemplating ordering a May Book in it, but I know that I don't need it. 

3. Color-Coding Sticker Set ($10)

Prior to the Simplified Planner, I was addicted to The Happy Planner. While I still use them (as you'll see below), decorative planning wasn't working for me anymore. I needed something more functional. I didn't intend on using any stickers when I switched, but these color-coding dots won me over. I'm almost out, so this was a re-order.

4. Leaf & Lore "Talk Darcy to Me" Literary Tee ($25)

When Kelly sent me the link to this t-shirt two weeks before the challenge ended, I almost didn't wait to buy it. As a Jane Austen lover and Pride and Prejudice collector, this was clearly a need. Right? Well, I decided to exercise my self control, put it in my cart, and waited to see if I would still want it. And yes, I did. It's already been ordered!

5. Book of the Month ($15/month)

Last year, I wrote a post about my obsession with Book of the Month. So, what's it doing on this list? Near the end of the year, I decided to try to pare down on subscriptions / recurring charges. Since I'd had a few BOTM duds, I canceled my membership. But they've had a few books recently that I wanted, so I decided to re-join (for now). 

6. Rifle Paper Co. AirPods Case in Garden Party Blue ($25)

I technically found these after the challenge had ended, so I wasn't exactly waiting to buy them. However, I figured they had to be included because they'll be one of my first post-challenge purchases. I'm in love with my AirPods and like the case I already have for them, but this one is so much cuter. 

7. Little Women Blu-Ray ($23)

Have I been counting down the days until this was released? You better believe it! This was my favorite movie of 2019, and I have been dying to watch it on repeat. I thought it was brilliant, loved the cast, and turn the soundtrack on whenever I'm blogging. During quarantine life, I want to surround myself with all the things that bring me joy.

8. The Happy Planner Classic in Bookish ($33)

Although I don't use a Happy Planner for my daily planning anymore, I still use one for my reading journal. I used the mini size previously, which you can see in this post. For 2020, I switched to the Classic size and love it! When they released this bookish edition, I knew I had to have it. It's 18 months, but I'll just use it for 2021.

9. Classic Happy Notes in Bookish ($11)

In addition to the planner, they released this bookish notebook, too. I use their Happy Notes to create my own version of a bullet journal, including printables that I've designed for myself. Here's a look at my 2018 version, though I'm working on an updated post since it's changed some since then. I can't wait to use this as my new cover!

10. ProCase iPad 10.2 Case in Emerald ($17)

Nick got me an iPad for Christmas, and I've been trying to find just the right case for it. I think I've settled on this one, though I'm open to recommendations if you have one for this size iPad! I'm nervous carrying it around without a case, plus I want to protect it since my preschooler sometimes uses it, too. I've been using a book sleeve for now.

11. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby UK Edition ($18)

I'm honestly so proud of myself for completing a three-month book buying ban. As you might imagine, I've now got a long list of books I want to buy. However, one of my goals for April is to continue that ban – with one exception allowed – in the hopes of continuing to focus on books I already own. This gorgeous book is my April pick!

12. Various Audiobooks via Whispersync for Voice

I paid for a year of Audible back in December, so I continued to use credits without "cheating" on my no-spend. I also love buying audiobooks at a discounted price because I own the Kindle edition, but I've waited until the challenge was over to buy any more. At the top of my list? Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers for a re-read.

13. Universal Thread Rae Espadrille Platform in Cognac ($35)

I spotted these in Target (before March and prior to all the stay-at-home orders) and immediately wanted them. I'm almost six feet tall and rarely wear heels, but I had a pair of platform sandals that I loved until one of the straps broke. They aren't exactly alike but close enough. Now I'm just hesitating because I don't need them at home...

Have you added anything to your wishlist lately?

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