Monthly Recap | July 2021

READING

I read 10 books in July, which is a little low for me but TV kinda had more of my attention this month than usual. It’s all good! Here’s what I read in July:

• My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren (print, owned, Amazon) – ★★★☆☆
• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (print, owned, Book of the Month) – ★★★★☆
• The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard (audiobook, library) – ★★★☆☆
• A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare (e-book, library) – ★★★★☆
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle (print, owned, Book of the Month) – ★★★★☆
• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge (print, library) – ★★★★☆
• How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole (e-book, owned, Amazon) – ★★★☆☆
• The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali (audiobook, library) – ★★★★☆
• Steal Me by Lauren Layne (e-book, library) – ★★★★☆
• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (print, owned, Thriftbooks) – ★★★★★

My favorite book this month was The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and my least favorite was The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard.

WATCHING

• Superstore, season 4 – I have just two episodes left in this season! It’s been a fun season to watch with lots of changes happening.
• The Bachelorette – Yeppp. Still watching this show! It’s almost over and I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life afterward. Good thing there’s another Bachelorette season coming in October.
• Big Brother – Season 23 of Big Brother has been phenomenal! (Which the viewers really deserved after many lackluster seasons.) Tiffany and Kyland are my “must protect at all costs” favorites, and I just love how diverse this cast is. Way to go, CBS!
• The Olympics – Of course, I’ve been spending my evenings watching Olympics coverage! As someone mentioned on Instagram, the Olympics feel like the last vestige of patriotism because damn if I don’t root hard for my USA Olympians.

LISTENING TO

• Book Talk, Etc. – I started listening to this new book podcast thanks to a recommendation from another book podcast (Currently Reading). I’m really enjoying it! Each episode involves the hosts discussing something they’re currently obsessed with, their most recent read, and the last book they placed on their TBR. They also have a deep dive discussion about a bookish topic.
• Edith! – I’ve never listened to a fictionalized podcast series, but this one has been sensational. It stars Rosamund Pike as First Lady Edith Wilson and is about the time she essentially ran the country after her husband, President Woodrow Wilson, suffered a stroke during his second term. It’s funny and teaching me about something in US history that I knew nothing about!
• The Flavortown episode on The Popcast – If you haven’t started listening to The Popcast yet, may I recommend starting with this episode? It will have you laughing hysterically and thinking about a much more efficient way to say banana and if the letter “c” should be eliminated from the alphabet. Give it a listen!

BUYING

• A new bathing suit – I’ve had great luck with buying bathing suits off Amazon lately, especially Aqua Eve plus-size swimsuits that fit my body so perfectly. (Something I never thought I’d say about a bathing suit!) I purchased this leopard-style one-piece this month and I love it.
• Mixtiles – For my mom’s birthday, I planned to order a set of Mixtiles of Chip and Lucy. When I went to order the photos, Mixtiles was running a huge sale (buy 10, get 10) so I couldn’t help adding a whole bunch of photos to my cart for my own photo wall at home. I’ve been wanting to make the wall next to my couch into a gallery of photos but just have never gotten around to it. I’m so pleased with this little area of my home now and it makes me smile every time I see it!

• So. Many. Books. – I went a little crazy with book-buying in August. I bought 10 (!!!) books. To be fair, I used a gift card for a good chunk of that stack, but still. What can I say? Buying books brings me the greatest joy. (But I’m definitely putting myself on a book-buying ban for August!)

HIGHLIGHTS

dinner with family I rarely see • earning employee of the month • fireworks on the 4th of July • coffee flights at a local coffeeshop • a bookstore date with Briana • a tea party with friends • the Olympics • Olive finishing chemo • celebrating mom’s birthday • a friend’s baby’s birthday party • book club and jackbox • a pool day with mom •  an easy vet appointment for Eloise • a reading weekend • many, many, many wonderful dates with a wonderful person