April/ May Wrap-Up

Personal Updates 

This month I've been trying to get some wedding planning done, and it's exhausting... even the cats are exhausted. Honestly, my partner and I have been engaged since August 2016 and we've been so lazy about the wedding planning. (To be honest I'm the kind of girl who would be happy with a registry office wedding, but my future Mr. wants a proper wedding). We've looked at a few venues but nothing has really taken my fancy...especially for the prices they're asking. But *crosses fingers* we're going to look at another venue outside of our hometown this weekend so I'm hopeful.

Finished 

  

 

As you can see I really only focused on 1 series for the last couple months. The Royals series is quite addictive...trashy and dramatic...but definitely addictive. The first 3 books follow Reed Royal and Ella, the orphan teen whose stripping to make ends meet who happens to be taken in by the Royal family. Obviously, Reed has a vendetta against Ella from the start, but sexual tensions lurk pretty close beneath the surface *wink*. While all the drama was entertaining I needed something a little bit more substantial to fill the gaps and started the Eurona duology by Wendy Higgins, which I hope to finish this month.  

Up Next In June

   

   

        

 

February/March Wrap-Up

Personal Updates 

February and March were not great reading months for me, but I have a feeling April will be different. I put it down to watching way more TV in the last couple months. I've suddenly become addicted to Grey's Anatomy again after not watching for ages (I stopped watching after the season 6 finale- so it's been like 8 years!) 

I've also been watching the Simpsons here and there, while simultaneously being addicted to The Simpsons Tapped Out. Seriously this is probably the longest standing phone game that I've played. I remember 4 years ago being in University classes and playing. 

Easter weekend was amazing. Me and the fiance went to Tauranga for the long weekend to visit our close friends who we haven't seen since New Years. So I got some reading done on the road trip. I also got to soak up some sun on the beach and got introduced to the show Naked Attraction which is brilliant. (I highly recommend if you want something trashy and your Ok with some full frontal nudity.) Also did a little adventuring while we were down there and did a small hike to the gorgeous waterfall featured above.

Finished 

 

As I mentioned before February and March were not kind to me. Never Never was a great short little 3 part read. It had suspense and mystery that kept me turning the pages trying to figure out what the hell was going on. The Bone Witch was a little on the slow side. It was overly word heavy at times and seemed to draw the story out too much. Overall it was Ok, not sure if I want to pick up the next book but the cover is gorgeous. I remember reading The Wind Singer as a kid and absolutely loving it, and not much has changed. While it is a little on the juvenile side now, it still has the whimsical feeling it once had and the sense of childhood adventure. 

Up Next In April

   

 

        

Did you have a nice Easter? Tell me what you got up to in the comments below

January Wrap-Up

Personal Updates 

I feel like January brought adventuring which was great- even if there have been 2 heatwaves this summer already!

Me and my partner went camping for New Years with some friends which was great. I'd never been before so it was definitely a new experience with the limited facilities and long drops.

I sang Karaoke for the first time which was thrilling. I was almost soiling my pants before I went up, but then I was on stage singing and it was exhilarating. For those of you who care, I sang "There are worse things I could do" from Grease (I'm big into musicals haha). 

There was a hens party and a wedding for an old friend. We went hiking in the Coromandel and got to visit the beautiful Cathedral Cove (featured), which was so gorgeous. 

A few other notable mentions include a drag show and a male strip show haha. Reading wise, January was a good month for me. I had a bit of time off here and there so I was able to get some reading done. I'm not as hopeful for February though.

Finished 

   

 

   

They Both Die at the End was my favorite of the month, just WOW! My review will be up soon, but  this book was so thought provoking and so well written.  Saga Volume 8 was of course just as good as its predecessors, there's not much I can say that I haven't already said before this series is so good. 

Alex + Ada was a nice surprise, but almost too short. I wanted more of it and I wish the story could have been extended out. At the same time the ending was fitting and wrapped up nicely. I was glad to be able to finish a series this month when I completed the final installment in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before Series, Always and Forever Lara Jean. While the book probably wasn't necessary, it was a nice 'ending' as Lara Jean goes off to college. 

Up Next In February

Going with the flow in January actually worked really well for me. I picked up books as I felt in the mood for them and I also DNF'd or put on hold books which I wasn't feeling (Which is one of my goals for this year). I'm going to go with the same concept in February and only have a few books that I really want to read and the rest is up to my mood. 

        

  

Did you go on any adventures over the New Year period? What was your favorite memory of January?

December Wrap Up

Finished 

   

   

I finally finished Heir Of Fire after taking a break from it for a while (I just couldn't invest the time in it, and it's one of those books that once I start reading I can't stop). Each book in the Throne of Glass series just seems to get better and better. The Upside of Unrequited was one of my favorite books from December (and possibly the year). You can find my review HERE. But basically this book is about Molly and her many crushes. It touches on the insecurities of many teens and has some great diversity of characters. 

I'm not sure how to feel about Asunder. The first book was good, but this one fell a bit flat for me. I'm uncertain if I want to continue onto the last book, but then again I kind of want to see how the series ends. My main surprise of December was the Song of the Lioness quartet. HOW HAVE I NOT READ TAMORA PIERCE BEFORE THIS?! Wow, I am loving this series, it's probably aimed at a slightly younger age group than I'm use to (maybe somewhere between middle grade and YA) but it gives me the nostalgia of Harry Potter. Not to mention the plot is pretty fast paced. 

Up Next In January

For January I'm kind of just going with the flow a bit. I have about a million books out from the library (which I'll only find time to read half of). At the moment I'm just reading whatever grabs my attention and also trying to finish off any series/books I didn't get to in December. 

        

 

Other Updates 

Boo! I have to go back to work on Monday :( Which means no more lazy days in the sun reading. I am a little bit excited though, as much as I've enjoyed the last 3 weeks off I miss the social aspect of work and as much as I love him, my partner is starting to get on my nerves after 2 weeks together 24/7 haha.

Gaming wise I've been playing Rage, a post apocalyptic shooter. Graphics are good and so is the game-play (I'm getting better at shooter games!). I have been contemplating buying Sims 4 Cats and Dogs as well (I'm a huge Sims fan), but I think I'll save that for later in the year when I'm in a funk and need something fun to look forward to. 

As for TV, I am watching Hart of Dixie and also The Good Place (I love Kristin Bell). I've also started my new 2018 journal. This year I opted for a simple already made planner, and then a small moleskin for my fun list making stuff :)

Are any of you Gamers? What kind of games do you play/platform do you use?

November Wrap Up

Finished 

   

  

This latest episode of Paper Girls was kind of weird, I definitely was left with more questions than answers again, and I'm intrigued how its all going to come together as some stage (or if it ever does?)

Of course because its coming to the end of the year, I decide its a good time to start another series with Incarnate (instead of finishing the piling list I have). It's got some interesting ideas about reincarnation which are pretty unique and the story was pretty good if a little lagging sometimes. Holes, was my favorite book of the month. It got me out of my reading slump as it always does. One of my favorite childhood books. 

What to Say Next was also a great read this month, about an unlikely friendship between a popular girl whose recently lost her father and the 'odd' boy at school who has Aspergers. Very sweet and funny, but also addressing the cruelty of others for being 'different'. 

Up Next In December

I have high hopes for my reading in December. I'm taking annual leave in a few weeks till early January so I'm hoping to dedicate some of my time to finishing my Goodreads challenge, amongst all the Chrsitmas prep and holiday madness. So far on my list I have. 

        

 

Other Updates 

I really enjoyed using my bullet journal this year to document all my crazy lists and notes. I was good at updating these things throughout the year, but I was quite bad at setting up each month for everyday life tracking and planning. 

Unfortunately that also means I'm left with a whole bunch of empty pages in my bullet journal which seems like a waste. I think next year I am going to revert back to a planner for everyday use for my tasks, and use a smaller moleskine journal for my fun list making and goalsetting etc. 

For those of you who used bullet journals, how did you find them? Any adjustments for next year?