My New Bullet Journal

I have been trying my hand at bullet journaling for the past few years. It has been something that I have really enjoyed doing. It has offered me a way of feeling somewhat creative and keeping many things organized that I like to keep track of.

But my old journal that I used was an 5 x 8 art sketch book, that I loved, but that I started to feel was just too small. And I wanted to change up how I organized everything. So I looked around for quite awhile before settling on this particular brand.

I chose this one because of its size and that its pages include the little dots that help keep everything neat. Yay!

I like to include quotes all over the place. It make me feel sophisticated. (LOL).  

Here I am sharing with you the recent pages that I have created. I need to at least get my book set up until at least the end of the year, as things start getting scheduled for school for the kids and me. And there is always so much going on that I want to make sure that I do not forget anything.

On my weekly pages I have a space for each day for plans that I (we) have going on. 

I also include our dinner menu to so that we always know what is coming. It makes the mornings and evenings better. It lets me know what I need to get out of the freezer or what to prep in the morning to make sure I have an easier night.

I have a separate to do list, for things that need should get done during the week, but don't need to be done by a specific day.

I tend to color code my appointments and assignments so I know what class or place that it is associated with. 

Every week has something going on and this semester hasn't even started yet. As soon as it does this whole book will be full.

It's really fun to include some fun pages. Like monthly pages to decorate or pick some kind of theme. Why planets? I don't know. Seemed like it would be cute. 

And that's how far I've gotten so far. Maybe I'll add more to the blog as I continue to create. 

 

Can You Keep A Secret?

I'm not spilling secrets here...

No, I am about to have a small rant...

It's a bit of a late rant but I'm usually a little behind the times, so no biggie there.

Last night, I watched a movie that was made last year. It was a movie based on one of my favorite books, Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep A Secret?

In fact, this was the first book that I had ever read by Kinsella, who is one of my favorite authors, so it holds a special place in my heart.

When I first heard about the movie I was so excited! I didn't think they could destroy it.

I couldn't have been more wrong. The movie version of Can You Keep A Secret? is just plain awful. Like so bad I nearly turned it off in the very beginning, but at the prodding of my husband, and the hope that it would improve I kept watching all the way to the end. It was not worth it.

The movie removed entire plot points and characters that were important to the development of the story. They took out some of the best scenes and replaced it with garbage. Characters were changed and not for the better. Worst of all, the actors were bland and lost all the charisma of the book characters. There was no chemistry, no excitement, no passion and no likability.

The movie-makers took a fun story with great and fun characters and just plain ruined it.

They ruined it!

Why Sophie? Why would you agree to let them do this to something you so wonderfully created?

It was worse than the movie version of Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Ugh...

Jessica Reads: December

I finished off 2019 reading 59 books. I was pretty excited. I am also excited that I have been keeping it updated on the blog. It great to have a place to look back at the books I have been reading. I also keep track through Goodreads. I am weirdly diligent about it. I have been keeping track of my books on Goodreads since 2010.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This is the second time that I have read Pride and Prejudice and it is growing on me. I have still yet to see any of the movies based on the books but I do enjoy the novel. I read it for a paper for one of my classes last semester, like I read it for another paper a year ago. I didn't think I was a fan of Jane Austen, but I think I am slowly turning into one. Austen just plain knew how to write people. Read it.

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Yes, it is another Sophie Kinsella novel. I kind of got on a roll this year with rereading through her novels. This is one of my favorites. In The Undomestic Goddess, we get to know Samantha Sweeting, top lawyer, waiting to be partner in her firm. But, suddenly everything goes wrong and Samantha finds herself no longer a lawyer and now a housekeeper. And she has no idea how to be a housekeeper. Totally worth reading again, for probably the 10th time. 

Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan

I received this novel for Christmas. I had it on my future read list for a long time and I finally got a chance to read it. It was not my favorite book I've read. It more on just the ok side. I think I really gave it a chance because I remember my days as a stay at home mom, and the isolation and difficulties that came along with the job. I felt for the protagonist. But overall, I think there was a lot of poor storytelling that leaned a lot on jokes about needing a drink of this or that to get through the day. I don't think I'll be revisiting this novel.

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

This Kinsella novel is good. It's fun and silly. It has footnotes like a textbook. Read it because you can.

2020 Goals

I can't believe it's already a new year. 2019 brought so many changes and adjustments to my family, that 2020 came so quickly.
That means it's time to review last years goals and to set new ones for this year.
These were last years goals:

1. Read 52 books- averaging one a week for the year.
2. Write a story.
3. Weekly date night with Michael. One out of the house date a month.
4. Daily "one good thing" journaling.
5. Make a healthy exercise routine and stick to it.

And honestly, the only one I managed to fully complete was #1. I read 59 books in 2019. While I wrote a lot during the year I never managed to write and complete a story. Michael and I had lots of dates, but I'm not sure that we were able to get out of the house once a month. My "one good thing" was going strong until we moved and I got so busy that it just kind of forgotten about. Same with exercising. The move and settling into a new routine made some of the goals hard to obtain. Hopefully, this year I will stick better.

So, now for this years goals!

1. Read 60 books.
2. Lose 50 lbs.
3. Complete "Discovering Me A to Z"
4. Buy a house
5. Payoff Red Car
6. Make and stick to a good time management/study homework plan.

And that's where I am at. Most goals year to year are likely to be the same because they're the ones that I like to do. I like reading, and I want to be healthier, so losing weight is the way to go for me.  We'll see where this year takes me.

Jessica Reads: October and November

Oh man, I am late.

Let me tell you. The end of my first semester of graduate school was no joke. I felt like I was constantly going. I was reading. I was writing. I was working. I was cooking and cleaning and taking care of kids. I was going to church.

I have been doing all the things, but all the things did not include sitting down to write about my book for two months. TWO MONTHS!

The time just flew by in a craze.

But now I am here. Let's look at what I have read in October and November of 2019.

I"ll start with October.

Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella

This is the 5th installment of Kinsella's Shopaholic series. And it is probably my favorite of them all.  Becky is pregnant and excited for the baby and that includes baby shopping! Of course, this comes with its own set of problems and Becky's wild antics to save the day.


Light in August by William Faulkner

This bad boy here I had to read for my Southern Lit class this semester. I not only read it, but had to dive deep into this text to write a 20 page paper about it. 

This story follows the lives of several people in the 1930s American South. It is full of violence and racism and a deep story about being an outsider and struggles with not knowing oneself. After the several reads that I had through this novel, it began to grow on me. I would not call it my favorite book but I would say that it is worth reading.

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Oh, the baby is here. And she has grown. She is two years old and a bit of a handful. She has all the spunk of her mother and the sternness of her father, so Becky and Luke are a little rattled. And to top it off, Becky is trying to throw a surprise birthday party of Luke while trying to maintain a budget. It is another fun novel to the series.

Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella

As you probably noticed, I got into a bit of a Shopaholic binge lately. They are just really easy to pick up and read (or listen to). This particular installment does not rank very high in my opinion. It is one of the books in which Becky seems very selfish and unBecky like. Usually she seems selfish but generally has good intentions, but in this one, she is only selfish. I only read it in order to continue the story.

Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella

The part of the series is where Becky is able to redeem herself from the previous book. In this one Becky and family road trip around the American southwest in order to right a wrong from Becky's father's past.

Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan Culler

Oh, literary theory, you are my foe. This is one that I had to read for school. I have had to read some literary theory in the past so I was aware of many of the theories represented in this text but it is not my favorite subject to take on. But it is a big part of what I am currently studying so I at least need to know this stuff. So, I read it.

Deep & Wide by Andy Stanley

I listened to this book while driving to and from school. And I was blown away. I love being apart of my church and loving on people the best I know how. Over the years I have learned how important it is to love people where they are, and this book spoke to all that I have learned. Andy Stanley speaks about how to make a church a place where people are welcome, not just "churched" people. It is so important.

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

This is the current installment of the Shopaholic series, it just came out in October. And my awesome husband surprised me with it one day because he knew that I would want to read a new book. And I did. It started off a little slow, a little boring, but by the end I really did enjoy it. Sometimes with books we just need to push through to get to the good stuff, and this was one of those times. And I super love that Michael thought of me and brought it home, just because he is that amazing.

And that's October. Are you ready November?

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake

I read this for one of my classes this semester. This is by far one of the weirdest things I have ever read. But the background about the making of Blake's work is very interesting. In his process of creating his text, he created a new way of laying down printing. Very weird, and very interesting.

New Essays on Light in August by Michael Millgate

This book was part of my research for my paper on Light in August. I would have never touched it if I didn't need it for research.

Violent Disruptions: American Imaginations of Racial Anxiety in William Faulkner and Richard Wright by Linda Chavers

This was another book used for research purposes. Only read it if you are interested in William Faulkner or Richard Wright and violence in their novels.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Man oh man, I have probably read or listened to the book a half dozen times over the years. I know people are really big fans of the Twilight series, but if you want Stephenie Meyer at her best The Host is it. Her world building and storytelling is amazing. And that is why I keep turning back to it over and over again. My advice, skip Twilight, read The Host and be happy with your choices.

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

This is the first time Kinsella wrote a YA novel. And I think she does a wonderful job. This story is told from the perspective of Audrey, a fourteen year old with high anxiety. She has been through a trauma that has left her home bound. This story is how Audrey goes through her anxiety and moves through it and learns how to cope in life. It is endearing and lovely. I enjoyed it and think others would enjoy it too.

Can you Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella

This is the first Kinsella novel I ever read. It obviously was good enough to get me hooked on Kinsella as my favorite author. It is currently being turned into a movie that I cannot wait to see.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

If you are going to read one Sophie Kinsella book, read this one. Twenties Girl is my absolute favorite book that she has written. I have literally read all of her novels and this one stands above all the others. Lara is struggling. Her business is hard and needs help, her love life is going down the drain, and suddenly the ghost of her great aunt Sadie is haunting her. This book is about the bonds and troubles with family. Trust me. Read it.

History of the Book by Leslie Howsam

This is another goody that I read for a class. It speaks about the book printing history. Interesting stuff, but not necessarily a page turner.

And that is it. That is a lot of book over the last couple of months. 

What have you been reading? I'm looking for recommendations now that I am in between semesters.

Jessica Reads: September

This month has been surprisingly full of stories. And almost none of them are from school. I just do so much more driving than I did before so I listen to audiobooks almost constantly.

However, time just seems to fly by so finding time to write on the blog can be so difficult to come by. Also, to add to it, I have spent the last 3 weeks being sick off and on in one way or another.

Anyway, enough of my own whining about myself. Let's get down to business.

What did I read in September?

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I did say that I would be mentioning this book this month. I finished pretty quickly in the beginning of September. The first time I read it, I hated it. The book was such a downer. But, as I have ventured through this trilogy again, I have really come to appreciate Mockingjay for how it shows the struggle of life after trauma from several different perspectives. It is a very interesting take for a very popular YA novel. The movies just did not do this book justice (though they are very good). 

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

There is something about Confessions of a Shopaholic that I keep returning to. I think it's that the novel is just a fun read. There are moment that are completely ridiculous and I love it. But, at the heart of it, the book is about a woman who is just trying to figure out life while making mistakes and figuring out how to face up to those mistakes along the way. I listened to this as an audiobook for this read through.

This book is about Becky Bloomwood who is a financial journalist for a small financial magazine, but she really does not know how to manage her own finances. Becky loves to shop. She loves a good sale and can never resist buying presents for her friends and family if she finds something great. She cannot turn down a deal that includes free gifts. But this love of shopping causes a bit of a financial mess for Becky and we get to follow along as she navigates through life.

I do recommend this book for fun read. And then I also recommend continuing the rest of the series as I have been doing this month.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Graphic Novels

I picked up these graphic novels at the library because Sidda and I had just finished watching the series and found out that there was a graphic novel that was a continuation. And since I was wanting to find out what happens I decided to give it a go...

And it just didn't feel the same. None of the characters seemed to embody the essence of the character in the TV series. I made it through the first five in the series and decided that I am not going to finish them. I was very disappointed. Honestly, if you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer, don't bother with the graphic novels. They just aren't worth it.

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

This is the second installment of the Shopaholic series. Even after Becky seemed to get everything figured out, she now has the opportunity to visit New York with boyfriend Luke. With new shops and destinations to explore, Becky's financial issues return.

I enjoy this novel as much as the first. Becky continues to find herself in hilarious situations and somehow manages to creatively figure herself out.

Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

Are you catching a theme yet? During my drives I have been listening to this series. This is another fun read. Becky and Luke are getting married! Yay! Also, that means wedding shopping. However, the problem that comes with wedding planning is, what do you do when you accidentally plan two weddings for the same day on two separate continents? 

Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

This particular installment took some time to grow on me. The first time I read through it, my reaction was kind of "meh". But over the years and reading it over a few times I have really started to enjoy the story of Becky discovering her long lost sister.

Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson

This is not my typical choice reading. This was an assigned reading for one of my classes this semester. The story is told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator, whose race is a constant concern. He has both black and white blood, but his skin is pale and can pass for white in a time when black blood makes life far more difficult. Throughout the novel he is battling to come to terms with both his whiteness and blackness and trying to choose from which perspective to live his life. It is an interesting read, but at times is very boring and long winded.

And there you have it. These are my reads for this last month.

Share with me your favorite book.