a quiet reading vlog

This past week, I decided to upload a YouTube video after taking a long break. I decided earlier this year to stop creating content because I really wasn't feeling it anymore, but for the past few weeks, I wanted to try something a little different. So I went ahead and recorded a quiet reading vlog.


I really liked this idea and while my channel is still a work in progress, I think this will be a new direction I am going to try. So I wanted to share my new video with y'all and hope that I can grow my channel a little more this year.

Life Lately

I went back to work full-time two weeks ago (ish) and I am still adjusting to a more regular routine. I was off work since March 13th (first day of quarantine for LA County) and worked from home, but wasn't doing that much. I became accustomed to sleeping in a bit and having time to clean, read, workout, etc. It was stressful but it was also, kind of nice. My boyfriend and I were both home all the time, and it was surprising that we ended up actually having really nice days together. I've seen a lot of memes and such about couples being together now and how it's not ideal, but I really liked being home with him every day. I miss that, now that I am back at work.

And I am also very tired most days.

It's crazy how quickly your body adjusts to a more sedentary lifestyle because now that I work 7 hours every day, I come home exhausted. I guess running around after toddlers is quite different than being in a classroom of infants also but that's what I have to do as we slowly normalize. I've tried to keep up with my reading and am participating in Bookopoly, an event over on my book club, but I can tell that my reading pace is already slowing down. I don't have more than an hour or so a day to listen to audiobooks now and I've struggled to get through any physical books these last few months. So I don't know how much reading or even updating (weekly) I'll be doing now that things are changing.

I just wanted to share a quick update, since it'd been a few days since I last updated. I was doing so well too. I am going to try to keep it up!

Book Haul #2

I mentioned in my Monthly Rewind that in May I finally signed up for Book of the Month, and I ended up choosing two books. I also got quite a few ARC's this month as well and also got to swap with a few people in my book club. So here's my haul:

Swapped 

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You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds 

Purchased

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The Guest List by Lucy Foley

A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight

Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

For review

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Surrendering to Him by Hope Jones (Pub. date: March 5th, 2020)
Girl Long Gone by Danielle M. Haas (Pub. date: May 25, 2020)
Fractures by Alice Reeds (Pub. date: June 1st, 2020)
This Eternity of Masks and Shadows by Karsten Knight (Pub. date: June 2nd, 2020)
A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee (Pub. date: July 14th, 2020)
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin (Pub. date: August 4th, 2020)
Memorial by Bryan Washington (Pub. date: October 6th, 2020)
The Push by Ashley Audrain (Pub. date: Jan 5th, 2021)

Monthly Rewind | May 2020

It's been a crazy month. I know there are a lot of sad + important things happening in the world right now, but this place is my little escape from reality, so I am going to focus on different things instead.

5 Good Things in May

  

1// I really got back to blogging: I wasn't sure if it would really happen, but I wanted to give my blog another shot because after a couple of years of taking breaks and attempting to come back, I realized I really want to share my thoughts on books + other things on the blog.

2// I went out for a hike: the weekend before last, I finally went out for a hike. most parks and hiking trails had been closed because of the quarantine, but they recently opened a few back up so my aunt and cousin and I decided to go out for a hike. it was a bit strenuous but a lot of fun. i can't wait to get back to more normal activities like that.

3// I got a Nintendo switch + animal crossing: I am not even sure if it happened in May but its worth sharing that I jumped on the Switch wagon and got myself Animal Crossing, which I am obsessed with at the moment. it's a lot of fun and it really helps with distracting myself when i really need it.

4// I got my first BOTM box: I'd been dying to sign up for book of the month for a while and finally decided to go ahead and do it this time. I got two books and for June I already picked out three...so I am not sure how good of an idea this actually was. 

5// I did a lot of reading: my reading has definitely improved since I have been staying at home, but -starting today (June 1st) I am back at work full-time. I am just hoping I will able to keep up the momentum of my reading going for the rest of the year LOL

Favorite Book of the Month

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

I read a lot of good books in May but I have to say, reading a historical romance again did it for me. It made me so happy to reading a good romance again, and I was just so happy while reading this one. I can't stress enough how much I loved this. 

Books Read:

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

If It Bleeds by Stephen King

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

June TBR

I am trying to keep my TBR for June as open as possible because of Bookopoly, an event that takes place over on my book club. I do have a few books picked out though for other things, and I am hoping to be able to fit those in the prompts that I might roll during this event. So as of now, I don't really have a set TBR, and I will leave it at that...