The high of my week was winning a Goodreads giveaway! I enter these giveaways all the time because it takes, like, two seconds, and why not?! I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from Goodreads on Wednesday that told me I won a copy of Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven! I haven’t won one of these giveaways in years.
The low of my week was heartburn. I haven’t isolated which of my meds gives me heartburn (the likely culprit is my iron supplement) and it doesn’t always give me heartburn, but when it does, it really makes me feel like I’m dying. On Wednesday morning, I was convinced I was having a heart attack because the burning in my chest was so bad. (I always think the heartburn is actually chest pain and if I don’t get to the ER immediately, I’m going to die alone at home. My mind is a wonderful place to be!) Anyway, it always eases after an hour or so, but it definitely sucks. I’m going to try taking my iron supplement separately from my other pills and see if that helps.
I’m currently reading two books! I’m reading After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles, and I am loving both of them so very much!
A blog post I loved was Nicole telling us all about her process to publishing her novel. I’m so proud of her, and I love the non-traditional route she took! I haven’t read Inhale, Exhale yet, but it’s one of the next books on my list to read! I’ve heard excellent things, and if Nicole’s blog writing is anything to go by, I know I’m going to love it.
A show I watched this week was Survivor 50! It’s hard to believe this show is on it’s fiftieth season. There is one contestant on this season who was on the second season when he was 25. Now, he’s in his fifties and mentoring one of the younger contestants who is 25! Full circle moment. Anyway, the premiere episode was excellent and I am very much looking forward to what awaits us this season!
The best money I spent this week was $25 for a ticket to Bri’s performance. My best friend and podcast co-host Bri was cast in a play at one of our local community theatres! Isn’t that so cool?! I’m so excited to see her play! I bought second-row tickets for my mom and me.
My plans this weekend include some fun things! Tonight, it’s a night to myself, and I plan on watching a movie to fulfill one of my 2026 goals (I’m thinking The Martian). Tomorrow, I have my younger nephew’s birthday party and then a shopping date with my mom. And on Sunday, I have a morning writing date with Mikaela and the rest of the day to myself (I think a nap will be in order).
What was the best money you spent this week? What are your weekend plans?
This weekend is going to be BUSY! Today is my daughter’s early birthday party/going away event. We’ll be gone for her birthday, so we’re celebrating early.
Tomorrow, I think we have to drive 2 hours round trip because my daughter bought a sweatshirt at Aritzia in the mall and they didn’t take off the security tag. I’ve tried to use magnets and such but no luck. So back we go. ARGH. My parents are coming for dinner. Sunday is church, touring the person staying at our house while we’re gone around, and LAUNDRY.
And errands, of course, because I feel like all I do lately is errands in prep for our trip.
I loved that post by Nicole.
Congrats on winning. I LOVE winning.
I loved The Martian and I’m going to read the book soon. The movie was great and surprisingly funny.
The Martian is one of my all-time favorite books. It was incredible! I can’t believe Andy Weir made me love science fiction so much!
*blush* thank you Stephany! I hope you enjoy it!
I read After I Do and I had to go look in my spreadsheet to see if I liked it. I gave it 4 stars so I guess I did! That’s the thing about reading as many books as you and I do – it’s hard to remember the details. Thankfully we have blogs!
I liked the book The Martian a lot. Did you know that was an amazon self-publish? Talk about blowing up! I can only dream. The author wrote it just for fun to share with his friends. I find that kind of story immensely satisfying.
Best money I spent this week – gosh, I think I only bought groceries. I mean, groceries are good but…kind of boring?
I forget how I felt about the books I read all the time, ha. “Did I like that book??” I guess it means it wasn’t a standout! I really enjoyed After I Do, though, but I like anything TJR writes.
Is The Martian based on the book by Andy Weir? I’m reading another of his books, Project Hail Mary right now.
UGH, that heartburn sounds awful. I hope you can successfully identify the culprit.
Your weekend sounds super fun!!! I don’t have anything big going on this weekend, which hopefully means I’ll get a lot of reading done.
Yep! And Project Hail Mary is coming to theaters this month with Ryan Gosling. I really want to see it! I guess I’ll have an Andy Weir-books-as-movies month!
UG heartburn! I hate any ailment that you can’t fix or can’t figure out or need someone else to help you with. I just want to take care of it and move on! I am having some sensitivity to cold drinks on one area of my mouth and I know its going to be a cavity and I hate going to the dentist….whaaahh… I hope you figure out what is ailing you soon!
I really enjoyed both the book and the movie of The Martian. I think they did a good job with casting and representing the book, which isn’t always the case!
Ugh, I’ve been dealing with some tooth sensitivity, too, but it’s not just one tooth or area so I’m trying some sensitive teeth toothpaste for now. So far, seems to be helping! Why are bodies so complicated?!
I agree that the movie version of The Martian was quite well done! It’s always iffy if I read the book first, will I like the movie. I also like the KJ Charles book, hope you continue to enjoy it.
I thought you were the person who recommend KJ Charles, but I couldn’t remember! I picked it as a “blind date with a book” at a romance bookstore, and was really excited about it because of your rec!
I can’t wait to read Nicole’s book! I have a hard copy. I just need to get through 1 more library hold! I know I will love it. I just wish it was signed!
I didn’t spend much money this week since I was traveling. So I will say the best money I spent was the money I spent on a latte with friends after an exercise class on Saturday morning! We had a pretty busy weekend since we had Paul’s party yesterday and his actual bday today. There have been some big emotions and bickering between the kids… so I am ready for them to go to school tomorrow 🙂
Should we plan a trip to see Nicole and get our books signed by her?!?!
I’m glad you were able to escape to an exercise class + coffee date even in the midst of a busy weekend! That sounds perfect!
I just started Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen too! I’m listening to it on audio, but I don’t love the narrator, so I might switch to reading it.
That is so wild that we were reading the same book! What are the odds?!
That’s so cool you won on GR!!!!
I hope taking the iron separately helps. That sounds horrible and scary 🙁
Oh my gosh! Go Bri! What is the play about?
I LOVE The Martian. What did you think of it?
Best money I spent last week. Gosh. I had a spendy week! I got a subscription to my moisturizer/sunscreen, the cutest little bottle to put milk in to take to work, a puzzle of a Cessna cockpit… one of those? LOL
Ummm… what is the play about… that is a great question. I know it takes place in a mental hospital in the 1950s. Bri is a nurse so she has to wear this very old-fashioned nurse’s outfit and she is ADORABLE in it.