8.20.2026
Outer Banks!
Sweet Pea and Bella's first trip to the ocean
8.9.2026
Paw Paw Lake!
Lara & Jake's Bach weekend
my besties, Faith & Lara!
Cait & Kait jump
crafting time!
moments before an old man lectured us all on lake drownings
restorative yoga led by Evann
my new obsession!
possibly another new crafting obsession
August TBR!
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
Klara and The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Ready Player One by Ernest Kline (audio book)
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray (audio book)
7.31.2026
July Reading Recap
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Another two fantastic reads this month! Where the Forest Meets the Stars is a contemporary fiction that came as a much needed refresh amongst the other books I've been reading. And my long anticipated read, One Dark Window, became a top fantasy novel for me this year! Looking forward to closing out the duology next month.
7.19.2026
A Bookish Weekend in Detroit
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6.30.2026
June Reading Recap
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Such an incredibly busy month with the Ford Fireworks, so I only had time to finish one novel. This was my first read from the banned book list this year, and I'm reminded of the importance of reading and sharing these stories.
5.31.2026
May Reading Recap
Morning Star by Pierce Brown
Starhunt by Alysa Misfeldt
I was planning on reading all of the Red Rising series in preparation of the final book being released in July, but now that's been postponed. I feel that the end of this first trilogy is the perfect pausing point (what an alliteration,) before finishing out the rest of series in one fell swoop. Come on Pierce Brown!! I picked up Starhunt for a quick break between series, and it turned out to be part of an unfinished duology. Not upset about it though, now I have another new release to look forward to! I also started creating a mini book TBR jar this month.
4.30.2026
April Reading Recap
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (DNF at 100pg)
The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind by Barbara K. Lipska
Katabasis has become the first book a long time which I've read more than a few chapters and could not finish. I really wanted to love the story, but I just couldn't get in to it this month with everything else going on. C'est la vie! (A moment of appreciation for the fore-edge design though.)
4.12.2026
Aruba!
Oranjestad
3.31.2026
March Reading Recap
Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (audio book)
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
I was so committed to finishing Project Hail Mary before watching the movie adaptation that I was reading on my kindle during the previews in the theater! To no surprise, the book was better. I did feel that some major and minor elements that were critical to the story were left out, however I would say that the visuals and storyline of the film were beautifully dramaticized to be entertaining in this format.
3.22.2026
Flowers of Spring
Crocus. Purple, yellow, white. Petals easily bruise to the touch. Stem so frail it bends when outside the comfort of dirt and decomposing leaves. The first soldiers of the season, reassuring that spring has not forgotten us.
Daffodil. Delicate yellow trumpets fit for a fairy. Darling ruffles blush under the sun. Clusters bend and sway with the breeze, carrying honeyed notes to the critters bustling below.
Hyacinth. Bursts of vibrant pinks and purples. New life warmly welcomes their intoxicatingly sweet scent. Dainty flowers overwhelm one another in their close quarters, threatening to topple.
Tulip. Remarkable rows laid out to perfection. Verdant leaves and a palette to compete with Picasso. Layers of petals give way to reveal their quaint center. Morning dew fills their cups, tilting them to kiss the earth.
Collapsing into the soil which raised them. Gone almost as quickly as they appear.
These are the flowers of spring.
Picked up my charcoals today for the first time in a veryyyy long time. No better subject to draw than my Sweet Pea!
2.28.2026
February Reading Recap
Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The last thing I expected after finishing one of my favorite series of all time was to start not one, but two other amazing series!! I had heard only good things about Red Rising and knew I had to get into it after my non-reader boyfriend, Justin, blew through the first trilogy in a month. Red Rising exceeded my expectations and Golden Son has become my #1 read of the year so far. And don't even get me started on Dungeon Crawler Carl: this story is unhinged and I loved every second of it!
2.15.2026
Chicago!
Our day started with the strongest bloody mary I've ever (Handlebar, Wicker Park), followed by Justin's spontaneous decision to get his nose pierced
1.31.2026
January Reading Recap
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
Hera by Jennifer Saint
Kicking off the year with 6 books this month! Mackenzie gifted me a kindle for Christmas, and I was very happy to see the next book in T. Kingfisher's Sworn Solider series on unlimited. Also read some great greek mythology retellings! I finally wrapped up my tandem read of EOS and TOD, (not sure if I'll be doing one of those again anytime soon). And just like that, the TOG series has come to a close! This series has brought me tears and laughter, a story of magic, love, and loss like no other. It was such an epic conclusion to their fight for a better world, a world I will never forget.
