Loving… how fast my new iPhone got to me! I ordered it on the 15th and it was delivered this Wednesday. It doesn’t feel different from my 6s at all, except that the camera is much better. And it’s nice to not be in danger of running out of space! Wheeeee. I’m still waiting for my Otterbox case to be delivered, so I’m treating the phone like it’s worth a million dollars, but I’m happy that it’s here and it’s fun to play with. 🙂
Loathing… Dutch’s nighttime cry-barks. It’s this weird thing he’s started doing where he walks around my apartment and whines and then, from time to time, lets out this high-pitched part-cry, part-bark. He rarely barks anymore as it is, so it’s really weird to hear it come out of him. I keep wondering if my neighbors think I beat him at night! I think it might be a way for him to say, “I’m ready for bed!” because usually when I pick him up and put him on my bed, he settles down quickly. Ugh, it’s so hard seeing him get old. I feel like I’m forgetting what he used to be like – when he was super active and able to jump up and down off furniture and went to sleep easily and wasn’t bumping into walls or getting stuck in corners. We’re in this weird, new normal now and I’m not sure I like it, but there’s nothing I can do about it. The sad reality is that our dogs get old and all we can do is have compassion for them and help them be as comfortable during this stage.
Reading… Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, still. I’m almost finished! I’m enjoying the book a lot, but it’s not a page-turner (more character-based than plot-based), so it’s easy to set it aside or only read a chapter or two a day. And it’s 416 pages, so it’s not a quick read at all. But I’m positive I’ll finish it either today or tomorrow. Woohoo!
Watching… season four of Parks and Rec. This show is so wonderful and well-written, and I just watched the episode where Leslie’s campaign managers quit and the rest of the Parks department steps up to help her with her campaign, and ugh, my heart. I’m thoroughly enjoying my rewatch of this series.
Anticipating… Asheville in six weeks! We started planning this trip in the spring, so it always felt so far away. But it’s starting to get real and I cannot wait to spend a long weekend with my best girls, exploring this gorgeous city. I’m also looking forward to experiencing cooler weather! Florida doesn’t get any semblance of fall (we’re still in the nineties here), so I’m ready to feel a chill in the air and warm myself by a fire. Yes, please!
Thinking about… my next cruise, which will be #10 for me. Last weekend, my mom and I ended up booking a seven-day cruise for the end of April. We even sprung for a balcony room because, hell, it’s my 10th cruise and I am going all of 2016 without a cruise and I want to live it up. This cruise leaves out of Port Canaveral and sails to the Bahamas, Belize, Honduras, and Mexico. It’s going to be the best week ever and I’m already counting down the days!
Needing… to make a decision about my 30th birthday party. I’m going back and forth on whether I want to have a full-blown traditional 30th birthday party where I invite a ton of friends and reserve a clubhouse and have food brought in… or if I want to just invite a small group of my closest gal pals and either have dinner at a fancy restaurant or meet up at a friend’s for a low-key game night. Honestly, the second option is so much more my speed and will be much cheaper than the traditional route. I guess I have to dig into why I felt the need to have a traditional 30th birthday party in the first place.
What are you currently reading and anticipating?
As far as planning your birthday, I say go with what sounds most fun to you instead of what you *think* you should do! For my 30th, my friend hosted a French-themed party. My family and close friends all came and it was such a fun and low key night. Between my girlfriends and me, we split up the food we made so it was a low cost but super fun event that I will never forget!
I just finished Beartown, which I loved. I gave it 5 stars! And now I am starting The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson. Anne Bogel has raved about it so I am thinking I will like it! It’s the first book I’ve read by this author so I will likely go back and read some from her back list.
You are going to LOVE Asheville! It’s such a beautiful area and the town is just so cute and charming. I’m excited to plan our trip there as well. Did you know that Anne Bogel is going to be at their indie book store that weekend? You should try to swing by and meet her if the event isn’t sold out!
I don’t quite understand the big bashes for 30th birthdays; a girl I know actually had a cake-smash photo shoot done and I thought it was ridiculous. Maybe because I’m at a different place in my life than many other 29 year olds I know? Either way, I was totally happy with my small birthday dinner at home for my 30th. Much more my speed! It’s your birthday so you should do what feels best for you 🙂
I loved the first two Kevin Kwan books and am looking forward to eventually reading the third! I just don’t have time to read and it makes me sad 🙁 I’ve been working on All the Light We Cannot See since the beginning of summer and I’m ashamed it’s taken me this long to get through it.
I’m very much anticipating Kyle and I’s trip to Las Vegas in just under three weeks! We need this alone time together so much; we’re going to pretend it’s out honeymoon and milk it for all it’s worth, lol!
So, for my 30th I didn’t want the big blowout bash. For one it didn’t sound fun and two we had just moved to California and I didn’t have many local friends.
My husband and I ended up going on an amazing hike and then we had a super fancy dinner with a couple we knew. And it was perfect.
Do what will make you happy for it. If it’s a big blow out? Go for it. If it’s the smaller gathering? Go for it.
Definitely do what feels best for you for your 30th! Don’t feel the need to do something just because everyone else is doing it 🙂 I have NO idea what my 30th will look like because I will have an almost 1 year old at that point, but I guess we’ll find out in a year!
Asheville sounds so fun, I’d love to go one day after hearing Lisa rave about it!
I liked Crazy Rich Asians but really liked the first two books much better.
I’m looking forward to October – my birthday month! And I’m taking a few big trips. TBH I don’t remember offhand what I did for my 30th, but maybe that’s from my old age. 😉 Whatever it is you decide will be great, I’m sure. 🙂
I’ve heard such good things about Asheville. Have fun!
I needed to blog and didn’t know what to blog about so I took a page out of your book today 🙂 Happy October!
Ugh, Parks and Rec is SO GOOD. I’ve watched and rewatched and I just love it so, so much!
I definitely second Lisa’s opinion that you should plan for your 30th birthday what sounds the most fun to YOU… not what you think other’s might think is the best way to party!
I was able to celebrate my 30th with my twin sister and family and friends back home and it was the best thing, if that helps your decision-making,