This is a part of my new series on the blog that’s going to be a life catch-up and what I’ve been reading! This can include what I’m reading so articles, blog posts, books, anything! This also will include what I’m currently watching — aka Gilmore Girls so basically what episode I’m on and deep diving the episodes I’ve been watching. Hopefully these will come out every Monday and they’ll be a good start to your week.

SO ENJOY!

A Life Chat…

Life has been average lately. And I’ve been really liking that right now. I like my routines and not even just with routines, but with just enjoying the mundane. Because that’s what life is all about, right?

A big thing I’ve been doing, truly a part of my self-care routine, is creative writing. I’m working on a novel (surprise!) and very recently, I’m working on a short story that’s set at Christmas. That’s all I’ll say about it, LOL. Writing has been an act of self-care for me lately and I’m not mad about it. Journaling is a big self-care habit for me, but most recently, creative writing has been a way to get all of my feelings on paper (or Google Docs).

I’m writing this right before this blog post goes up but OHMYGOSH — we have a new Taylor Swift album coming!! It is the long-awaited TS10 and it’s called “Midnight.” She announced it at midnight and earlier when she won the Video of the Year at the VMAs for All Too Well Short Film. I’m VERY excited for this album (and won’t shut up about it). I get the feeling that a few songs will be about mental health and specifically how she has dealt with being in the public eye for basically her entire life. We have a month and a half until her new album drops on October 21, which is not a lot of time at all. I’m hoping that she’ll even release a single… even if she doesn’t, I’m still so pumped!

Also, yesterday was the five-year anniversary of releasing Look What You Made Me Do as a single (off Reputation), meaning she can re-record and re-release it whenever. Nbd. It will be up to Taylor what she decides to do and frankly, we stan.

What I’m Reading…

I’ve been on my reading game this month! I’ve been listening to more audiobooks and trying to use my Kindle more. I’ve also been trying to save money (lol) and shop small bookstores. I used to think shopping at Barnes & Noble was helping authors, but then this article came out recently saying Barnes & Noble is very selective in their advertising of books in the store. So, I’ve been trying to shop small bookstores and also Bookshop.org instead of Amazon!

I just started The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager and already, I love it. As I’m writing this, it’s Friday (August 26) and I really hope to finish it by the time this blog post comes out on Sunday (August 28). Follow my #bookstagram for the official review!

I just finished A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariki-Kia and ohmygosh — one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I gave it a 4/5 but don’t let that give you pause. I really loved it although I think I wanted it to end a certain way? IDK — I’m still unsure of whether I want to give it 5 stars. I think I just thought it to be very casual and laid back … but weirdly, I liked that? Anyway, go pick it up especially if you loved The Bold Type, The Devil Wears Prada, and Younger. It’s a book about media and publishing, specifically the divide between print vs. digital. Definitely eye-opening.

I just pre-ordered The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, the third book in The Inheritance Games trilogy that’s out this week. I’m super pumped to add that to my September TBR!

What I’m Watching…

I recently subscribed to HBO Max so I am catching up on old PLL episodes. (Naturally.) I wanted to watch the PLL: Original Sin, the spinoff, and so when I watched a few episodes of PLL to catch me up on the old characters, I started the spinoff. And ohmygosh — this show is insane. Insane, weird, a concept … I just don’t know how to even think after watching this show. I have one episode left and I don’t even know how I’m going to finish it. The show follows five daughters of this clique in high school from 1999 at Millwood High. The show follows the five daughters who are being tormented by “A” (lol, a concept) by something their mothers did (or didn’t do?) in high school in 1999 after the death of one of their classmates. The show is so twisted, which is expected, but it’s almost borderline Riverdale (which weirdly is supposed to exist in the same universe as this show??). Honestly, I would recommend.

What I’m Listening To:

I’ve been trying to catch up on my favorite podcasts in between audiobooks and so I have the same podcasts that I always recommend on my #bookstagram.

I catch up with Bad on Paper Podcast hosted by Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter where they talk all about books and other banter. I loved their freelance episode!

I also catch up with Gals on the Go Podcast hosted by Brooke Miccio and Danielle Carolan. I have their skincare episode (the most recent one) in my queue that I’m excited to listen to.

Sunday Self-Care:

Something I’ve been trying to do is a Sabbath. And specifically, on either Sunday or Saturday. For the sake of this blog post, and under “Sunday Self-Care,” I’m going to talk about how I incorporate self-care into my Sunday routine.

It’s simple. (But not actually.) It takes discipline and a lot of practice. And honestly, you can incorporate these self-care practices into any day of the week … not just on Sundays. I like Sundays because they invite rest into my life and it can set me up for a great week. I try to give myself grace and rest on Sundays because I believe that’s what a Sabbath is for. Even if you’re not a Christian, I think that setting up a “rest day” (and I don’t just mean rest from exercise) where you turn off notifications and choose to do things that bring you joy is something that everyone should practice.