The first month of 2024 is behind us, and while January can be a difficult one for so many, it was a pretty good one for me. It was a month of settling into this new year and trying to enjoy myself. I’m pretty happy with the month overall! Let’s take a look back.
BOOKS
In January, I read 9 books. My favorite was Cover Story by Susan Rigetti (review to come) and my least favorite was This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens. Some other stats:
- 78% fiction, 22% nonfiction
- 6 print, 3 audiobooks
- 3.9 average star rating
- 44% diverse
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory (print, owned) ★★★★☆ | The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (print, owned) ★★★☆☆ | White Feminism by Koa Beck (audiobook, Spotify) ★★★★☆ | This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens (print, library) ★★★☆☆ | The Honest Enneagram by Sarajane Case (print, owned) ★★★★☆ | Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale (audiobook, library) ★★★★☆ | Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake (print, owned) ★★★★★ | Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (print, owned) ★★★★☆ | Cover Story by Susan Rigetti (audiobook, library) ★★★★★
MEDIA
- Only Murders in the Building, season 3 (TV) – I love this show. I loved it even more with the addition of Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd.
- The Traitors, season 2 (TV) – I already talked about my love for this show in my latest Currently post. It’s sensational.
- The Floor (TV) – I don’t know why I decided to watch this game show hosted by Rob Lowe, but I did and I’m hooked.
- Sweet Bobby (podcast) – I listened to the majority of this true crime podcast series on my way home from Tennessee. It’s insane.
- 9/12 (podcast) – I’ve had this podcast series saved for months and months. Dan Taberski has to be one of my all-time favorite journalists.
- Pantsuit Politics (podcast) – I started listening to this left-leaning political podcast this month and it’s fantastic.
- The Friendship Paradox – This month, we released two episodes! We talked about how we podcast and our hobbies.
- Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS (music) – I loved this album so much. It’s so fun to sing along to!
PURCHASES
- A new iPhone case – I’ve bought three iPhone cases from this particular Etsy shop and I’ve been so pleased with all of them. I like a slim case with a colorful pattern and these are perfect!
- Valentine’s decorations – I’m not someone who decorates for random holidays but now that I have a cute ledge by my door where I can add seasonal decor, I can’t help myself. I bought two little signs from TJ Maxx and a bouquet of (fake) red roses, and they add a touch of seasonal delight to my home.
- New bathroom rugs – I talked about these rugs in a TGIF post, but have to admit again how much happiness they have brought me.
- A new doormat – I usually replace my doormat every year because it’s fun to find something new. This one from Target makes me really happy!
MOMENTS
It’s hard to believe that I was still in Tennessee on my vacation in January, but I was! We kicked off 2024 with a visit to Ober Gatlinburg and snow tubing.
We left Tennessee on January 2nd and the state was most definitely showing off in its wintery glory as we sped through the Smoky Mountains on our way home.
Let’s talk about one of the most delightful moments of January: Meeting Jenny! She came to my fair city with her family and we were able to match our schedules up to meet for coffee on a Friday afternoon. We sat there for over two hours talking about life and books and blogging and football and all sorts of other stuff! I am always nervous before a blogger meet-up (what if we have nothing to say to each other???) but, of course, I needn’t have worried. It was like catching up with a dear friend!
Our book club experience in January was a PowerPoint night! You can see all of the fun topics we came up with! At first, I had no idea what topic I was going to present on, but soon settled on “The 10 Hottest Coaches in the NFL.” As you can see, that’s not the topic I ended up choosing. I had such a fun time thinking of the reality TV futures for my friends!
It was so much fun to sit down with our dear friend Mikaela and record a podcast about what it’s like being an enneagram 1. She was so vulnerable and honest with us, and I think it’s going to be an episode that touches a lot of people. I can’t wait for it to be released tomorrow!
I tried sushi for the first time! Well, the second time—my official first time was on a cruise many years ago, but I barely ate it, so it doesn’t really count. Bri wanted to introduce me to sushi the right way so she took me to a Thai restaurant where she ordered sushi with fried shrimp. And y’all! It was so good! I have been missing out. I don’t know how I feel about raw fish when it comes to sushi, but I’m excited to keep experimenting with cooked options going forward.
I got my nose pierced, which is something I’ve wanted for a long time. I always thought my nose was too big for my face, and I never wanted to draw attention to it with a piercing, but damn if I didn’t want a piercing anyway. And now I’m in a place where I don’t care if my nose is too big… if I want a piercing, I should get a piercing! So I did. I love it and can’t wait to change out the stud for a hoop in a few months!
I finally have a cozy reading chair! I told the story about getting this chair into my bedroom on Friday. I’ve had many different reading sessions in this chair since then and it makes me so happy!
Sushi is one of my favourite things to eat – love it so much (but, ironically, HATED it the first time I tried it). Such fresh flavours and I love all the texture combinations you get in one bite.
I’m so jealous you got to meet up with Jenny. There are not enough Eastern Canadian bloggers!!!! I need to move to Florida (or Wisconsin).
Or we need to plan a Nova Scotia bloggers trip! 😉
Sometimes I read these recaps and I get exhausted on your behalf. All I did in January was read, work, and complain about how dark it was. Look at you getting out and doing things!
Haha – you should see all of the stuff my much more extroverted friends are doing! This is a low-key month compared to them. I don’t get out much during the week so I try to have busy weekends so I’m not hermiting TOO much.
January was a great month. Welcome to the sushi club! There’s no law that says you ever have to eat raw sushi, but I promise if you try it once chances are that you will be hooked.
I am definitely interested in trying raw sushi at some point in time, but for now, the cooked stuff is fine!
I can’t wait to hear your latest podcast episode since I’m a hardcore 1 as you know!! I will be listening asap for sure! Your book club powerpoint night is too funny!! I don’t know what I would present on! I mean I am know for spreadsheets and working in finance but that is probably too boring of a topic!
I am glad you had a great month of January! I feel ok about the month. It’s never my favorite month since it’s often very cold here but overall besides one longer stretch of terribly cold weather it wasn’t too bad all things considered.
Yay for sushi!!
I’m sure you could find something fun to talk about! Like, “Top Reasons to Visit Paris” or “Rating the Funniest Things My Kids Have Said Lately.” There are so many presentations to do when you think about it and make it fun!
I think your nose is perfect and that ring is absolutely stunning. It looks gorgeous. As always, love the bold red lip!
I was really into Murders in the Building until the third season, then I got bored. Now I’m watching The Bear and it’s certainly not boring. It is traumatic though! Jeez louise this show. Somehow I can’t stop watching it.
Your book club is SO fun!
I’ve never been to Tennessee but I would LOVE to go to Graceland!
I just started watching The Bear. I’m not sure if I can handle it, though. I’m going to watch through the first season and reevaluate then if I want to keep going with the series.
Your book club looks so fun–power points are a great idea!! What a great month– I hope it’s a sign of the year to come.
We had such a fun time with our Powerpoint night! We’re hoping to do it again this year because we all had so many more ideas!
Oooh! I made your January recap! : ) That was so fun.
I’m kinda bummed because I also went to Target for a new doormat, but I didn’t see the one you got! The one I ended up with is much more boring.
I may have already said this, but I think the nose piercing looks great!
Of course you did! Meeting you was a HIGHLIGHT of my month, for sure. It was such a great afternoon!
Nice nose ring, I love it. Also, I love that you and Jenny had a meetup!
I read in the comments that you are watching The Bear. I LOVE that show. The first couple of episodes were really stressful, and then it calmed down a bit. There’s an episode in season 2 with Jamie Lee Curtis that is SO STRESSFUL and SO GOOD. She definitely needs an Emmy for that one.
Thanks for your input, re: The Bear. The first two episodes were very stressful but I’m glad it’s not always like that! I want to give it a full season before I decide whether or not to continue with it.
You DID have a good January and I am so happy for you about it.
The highlight for me was that you got to meet Jenny (closely followed by that awesome nose piercing, your snowy adventures and the new reading chair!). Hooray.
You are so sweet, thank you friend! It was a great month for me, and I hope it is a good harbinger for things to come this year. <3
What a full and happy month of January you had. So many great memories. Happy for you.
And I am happy you gave Sushi another try. I love it. Also the raw fish versions. And I used to be a vegetarian for many years.
I am glad I tried sushi again – it was delicious! I can’t wait to try other varieties.
I am so envious of your nose ring, your meet up with Jenny, and of course, your cozy reading chair. Sigh. Thank you for sharing all of the bright spots in the first month of the year. It seems like you might have avoided some of the dreaded New Year slump, and if so, YAY, my friend. )