Let's Chat Non-Bookish Edition: Grad School

Morning friends,

I'm towards the end of my fourth week of grad school and I'm surprised I've made this far without a meltdown. I have 2 weeks left of this session and on my course project, so who knows, maybe it'll happen at zero hours. However, I've been really focused on my studies and on top of all my assignments and I feel really proud of myself for that. I wasn't the best student at undergrad so this is sort of a test for myself and I'm happy to say that I feel like I'm passing it. 

Since I've been so busy with school, I haven't had the time for much of anything. I've been one boring person just working and going to school. I haven't read one single book that wasn't school related and I've barely hung out with friends or family. One of my best friends gave birth so I've been trying to get some baby snuggles every now then and a fellow sorority/blogging friend has visited me/spent time with me as I do more school work. I'm sorry for the distracted conversations, Lexi, but thanks for hanging out with me.

I am getting into a routine so I hope to add some reading/fun time to my schedule soon. I've been itching to do something so hopefully, I'll be able to swing that.

How about you, friends? Anything interesting is happening in your life? Tell me what's going on with you!

Let's Chat Non-Booksish Edition: Life Update

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that there would be some changes happening that might affect the blog. Today I want to go over that. As of January 1st, I’ve been the sole blogger of the site. Nahomi is currently on hiatus as she deals with some personal life stuff. Now, it’s been years since I’ve been the only blogger so it’s been a bit of a transition getting myself organized and getting posts up and scheduled. Nahomi and I had a partnership so I have to get myself used to doing it all on my own. She will be back, though, as she says It will only be a few months.

Another change that is happening is that I will be starting graduate school! I got accepted and will be starting the MBA in Human Resource Management program and I’m both nervous and excited about this new development. So now that I’ll be starting school and I’m the only blogger around, I’m trying to get myself sorted and organized to schedule blog posts in advance as a way to keep the site running as well to be able to dedicate my time to school work.

I pretty much have most of January scheduled. I just need to write up all the reviews I hope to have up this month. I also hope to start drafting up or at least planning my calendar for February. I know that once I start school and hopefully work soon, my time for the blog will be dramatically less. But I do want to say that even though I am trying to schedule posts ahead of time, school is my priority for the next 2 years. I know I have to cut back on my reading for fun and the amount of time I normally spend on the blog. So with one blogger down and the other in grad school, the blog might have some slow days. I’ll try to keep it updated as much as I can, though.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I’ll take any help I can get to succeed in getting this degree.

Let's Chat: Happy Holidays!

Morning Lovelies,

As the year draws to a close, I want to take the time to thank you for being our reader and for sticking by us. We're going to be taking a week off to enjoy the holidays with our families and friends so if you see the blog quiet, you're aware of the reasons why. 

I do have a few more posts for the year that will go up soon but after that, we'll be back in January. I'll be sharing some news that will affect the blog but hopefully, it won't be too bad. But I'll get into details in a couple of weeks.

But for now, I hope you all have a nice holiday and be safe!

Let's Chat Non-Bookish Edition: In Which I Talk Gilmore Girls Revival

So, I have many thoughts I need to get off my chest. I’m a HUGE fan of the show Gilmore Girls and if you may or may not have known, there was a revival called A Year in the Life that premiered on Netflix on November 25th. And after waiting almost 10 years after the original show ended, I was over the moon excited about this revival. I was counting down the days and it was a bright light after the disastrous election results (more on that later). However, after finally watching all four, 90-minutes episodes, it left a lot to be desired. So I’m going to talk about it and if you haven’t watched or don’t want to be spoiled, I suggest to look away because SPOILERS GALORE!

Luke and Lorelai:
While I am happy to see that they’re still together, Lorelai being all cute and refilling his salt shakers or picking up plates at the diner in order to help him and Luke just going along with her antics and allowing her to fill up the DVR with all the Lifetime movies, are you telling me that it took them 10 years to get married? That they never discussed getting married or having kids in the years they’ve been together? What exactly do they talk about? They used they excuse that they thought the other would approach it if they wanted to but honestly, that doesn’t really justify letting 10 years go by without talking about what they want from each other. It seems to me that the creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino (ASP), didn’t allow these characters to grow up after 10 years. I wouldn’t care if they hadn’t gotten married because they don’t believe in marriage, but they were engaged at one point in their relationship and had even discussed having kids. So seeing them get married in the revival was a little bittersweet because I thought it should have happened ages ago. I would have been more than okay with seeing flashbacks of the wedding or nothing at all because I know that they had been married already. I will say that Luke’s long ranting speech (like a true Gilmore, btw) melted my heart and Lorelai just easy breezy telling him that she already had the day picked for the wedding, and on a day that he’s able to get away from the diner, just gave me all the feels because they are so right for each other.

Richard’s Death:
One of my favorite things about the revival was how they handled Richard’s death. I cried every time he was mentioned because his presence was certainly missed. The grief that all three Gilmore women expressed for their missed companion/father was palpable. There were certain scenes that I could have easily pictured Richard’s smart and quick wit.

Emily’s story:
You can’t talk about Richard’s death and not mention Emily. Emily’s story was the one that I’m most content with. It was heartbreaking to watch her inner struggles of trying to cope with her grief of losing her best friend and partner of 50 years. It was made even harder to watch as she pushed Lorelai away (for reasons that are to be blamed on both women) because she was filled with such grief. But they were both in such pain that they didn’t know how to reach out for help or seek comfort in each other. However, seeing her close a chapter of her life, both personally and socially, it was still shocking for me seeing her attempt to move on by moving out of the home she shared with Richard. But in hindsight, I would probably do the same thing.

And finally, Rory:
Ok, this is going to be a long one so I’ll start with her career. Look, I love that she’s struggling in getting steady work. I love it because it’s realistic in today’s workforce. Print media has been struggling since before she graduated and the landscape was and still is changing, and in today’s world, some people her age are still struggling in finding their passion. Now, ahem, the relationships. I don’t like cheating. Like, it one of my most hated acts. Whenever I read/watch/hear about cheating, I get angry because I want to tell that person to put on their big girl panties or to grow a pair and end the relationship if you want to sleep with someone else. So seeing Rory fall into bed with my favorite guy for her and knowingly sleeping with him while they’re in a relationship with other people and he’s engaged! Like, what?! Didn’t she learn anything from the way she and Dean ended?? Like, I don’t fully get their reasoning in continuing the affair. Especially when you can tell that they both have feelings for the other but neither one of them is willing to broach the subject.

Which brings to two points, the last four words and ASP. Amy Sherman-Palladino said that she had planned these four words since the beginning and that it was always supposed to happen. Also, she has said that Logan was set up to be Rory’s Christopher. And I gotta tell you I am upset. Logan has surpassed Christopher in so many ways and so I resent that she’s still ended using that formula for him. I don’t necessarily care for the last four words, I prefer it wasn’t them but at least it didn’t happen when she had just graduated, but I hate what it’ll mean for Rory. ASP kept writing throughout the whole revival how it ends in “full freaking circle” but to me it kind of a cop-out; after everything Rory went through, all to end up like single-mom, Lorelai.

I don’t believe that Logan is Rory’s Christopher because he grew up and he’s older than when Lorelai and Chris were in that same situation. When Rory went to talk to Chris and asked him how did he feel about Lorelai raising Rory alone, I can take it to mean that she’s struggling to not tell Logan about the pregnancy or that she’s set on doing it on her like her mother. However, the Logan I have grown to know, he would step up to the plate and be the person that he needs to be. He loves Rory and you can see from the way he tried to take care her. With Rory, you can see from the way she struggled to give him up to his fiancé that she still loves him. However, I think she also knows that he is marrying for the benefit of his family so she doesn’t want to rock the boat. But SERIOUSLY! Cheating? Why???

My only hope is that if Netflix and ASP do decide to continue the show, that they’ll give Logan a fighting chance. Because if Logan is Chris, then Jess is Luke and to be quite honest, Rory and Lorelai might be eerily similar but their lives don’t need to be the same. Logan and Jess don't need to be the same as Lorelai's love interest. They're different people, so please ASP, let that idea go.

On a different note, it was so awesome being back in Stars Hollow and seeing everyone. Kirk was forever the lovable weirdo and seeing Paris was so fun because her character in How To Get Away With Murder is SO different. Michel was one my favorite in the revival and although we only got one scene with her, Sookie is still a favorite. And the boys! Dean, Jess, and Logan, forever gorgeous. They have only gotten better with age.

SO! What did you think? Did you love it? Did you hate it? Were there tears? What did you think of the four words? Do you want to do Wild? I kinda want to but not by myself. I’ll buy myself something cute to distract myself from that idea a la typical Lorelai move. Tell me what you thought! Comment down below.

Let's Chat: Reading Slumps

According to my Goodreads profile, I am currently reading six books. Two of those books, I haven’t picked up in almost four years and the other four, I’ve haven’t picked up in over a month. I certainly read plenty of books throughout all of those years and I’ve read two books last month so it not like I haven’t read. Now, the two books I haven’t picked up in almost four years, I haven’t “officially” given up on them if because I hope to return to them one day. So I’m not really going to talk about that right now. That’s a different subject for a different day.

The four books that I am reading but haven’t picked up in over a month, I WANT to read them. Like, all them. The problem is that I start them and get hooked but then I put it down and get busy with something and when I go to read, I pick up a different book. And started the whole process all over again.

At first, I know I put them down in order to study for an important test I had. Also, I am dealing with some continuous family health emergency. Now, I’m free of the exam and I’m free from the constant hospital visits but still dealing with family stuff but I still haven’t picked up any of my books. I guess my attention is not on them but I’ve never been in reading slumps like this before. After thinking about it, I know there are several reasons why this reading slump is persisting.

One, since I moved back home in mid-August, I’ve been busy dealing with family issues which may have helped me in reading at first as a distraction but now I can no longer use that excuse. Since things are returning to normal, I’m just so busy in the transition of helping out, that there is no time to read.

Second, since said move, I’ve been living at parents' home and there is always people stopping by so there’s no real quiet time or alone time unless I’m going to bed. These are the times when I miss my small apartment that my husband and I were living in.

And third, I’ve got a really long list of reviews that I need to do. At the end of August, I had 30 reviews that I needed to write. THIRTY. Yes, you read that right. In that hiatus that Nahomi and I took back in May and June, instead of writing reviews, I was reading like a fiend. So, I never did get caught up. I’m glad to say that the number has gone down to 21 but it’s still a lot to write.

So while this reading slump is not necessarily to blame on the books themselves being boring or not what I’m looking for, I can only blame real life and myself for this slump. I hope to get myself sorted on the reviews front and hope life becomes kind to me and get back to normal as much as it can. I really want to get back and finish these novels because I know they’ll be exactly the kind of read I’d enjoy.

How about you, what kind of reading slump have you gotten in? What do you do to get out of said slump? Let’s chat, comment down below!

Let's Chat Non-Bookish Edition: Can I Press Pause?

I wish there was a way to pause time, guys, just for a few hours. A few hours will give me time to breathe and get my thoughts together and just get myself organized. At my last discussion post, I talked about how my husband and I were moving in with my parents because he is starting his second year of law school at a more prestigious school. Ever since our move, almost a month ago, I haven’t had the chance to sit down and gather myself. Without going into a lot of details, my family is going through a tough situation and we are trying to deal with it as best as we can. Unfortunately, other stuff around us seems to be falling apart at the same time and it just feels like there’s no moment of rest.

I wish there was a way to just pause time, get some of the most pressing things done and out the way, and take a breather. I would then un-pause time and deal with things as they come. But at least I would be better prepared for the long road ahead.

I’m sorry to pick such a downer discussion but every time I tried to write about something, I would always be thrown back into reality. So I just decided to go with whatever was bothering me and leave the fun other topics for a later time.

I’m sure I’m not the only person who’ve wanted to pause time for whatever reasons. How have you dealt with it? How do you prioritized when everything is going downhill and you need to be on top of responsibilities (that may not even be yours)? Let me know how you cope, I could use some advice!

Let's Chat Non-Bookish Edition: Moving Back Home

So my husband got into a more prestigious law school and we’re in the process of moving. We’re are basically moving back to the same city were we came from and will be moving in with my parents in the meantime. We’re both stressed because while we’re happy in being closed to our friends and loved ones, the pressure is on for the husband to do well in an even harder school and it back to job hunting for me.

After job hunting last year for three months, I’m stressing the fact that it’ll be ten times more difficult in getting a new job in a bigger city. Also, after gaining the privacy of my own place, moving back into my parents’ home doesn’t seem as appealing. One small 8x10 room for two people is claustrophobic. However, I am very grateful that parents are willing to take me and their son in law in. I’m hoping that this job hunting won’t take as long as last time and since we won’t be paying rent, we can be saving up money and be able to move out in a couple of months.

Basically, I just wish I could dig my head in the sand for the next few months and pop out when everything is back to normal. Or to get back to a new normal. So with that, I’m going to go read.

Let's Chat Non-Bookish Edition: House of Cards

The husband and I are currently working our way through all the seasons of Grey’s Anatomy and Gilmore Girls on Netflix. But since I’ve been watching Grey’s Anatomy since it first premiered all those years ago and I watched Gilmore Girls live, the husband and I wanted to pick something new to the both us. So we picked House of Cards! And let me tell you, we are hooked! We watched season one in about a day and are already halfway through with season two. We probably would have been further along if we didn’t have visitors from out of town this past weekend and he didn’t have his second job to go to.

We honestly picked it on a whim and now I’m kicking myself for not watching it sooner. For those who haven’t seen the show, Frank Underwood, Kevin Spacey’s character, is one scary, ruthless, and relentless man and I’m scared to see how far this story will take him. As for his wife, Claire Underwood, played by Robin Wright, she is honestly my favorite character. I’m always trying to analyze her thinking and motivations and wondering what she will do next. With Frank, I just let him guide the story and no questions asked. However, with Claire, I want to know her motivations and the way she thinks. And I think it because her story line is not as clear as Frank. We know what Frank wants and that he is going to go for it because this is his show.

This show is definitely worth the hype and if you haven’t picked it up, I really beg you to watch. Just watch one episode and tell me then if you don’t like it because I refuse to believe it. And if you HAVE watched it, OMG don’t’ spoil me but also in a roundabout way tell me how this progresses. Gah! I need to go finish season two already!

Don't forget to comment down below!

Let's Chat: Blogging Pressure - When You Just Don't Want to Post

As bloggers, we choose what to put up in our little space on the internet. We choose what and when to post and we look to other blogs for inspiration and ideas. Doing this, gives us purpose to keep our blog updated and flowing with content as often as we can. But what happens when that sense of responsibility, to post something, is actually detrimental to you and your blog. Today, I'm going to be talking about feeling that blogging pressure on when you just don’t want to do anything.

Sometimes, I get inspired to get blog work done and scheduled for weeks in advance. Some other days, I’m barely pressing published on a post when it due to go live in a few seconds. Those days, I'm pulling myself together long enough to get something out there even though the motivation is not there. The inspiration is nowhere to be seen. I have that need to post something but the need is not there to actually work on it. But sometimes, I don’t want to post anything but because the need to remain in people’s mind, pushes me to post something I’m not really happy with. Basically, I’m stuck in a corner with no idea what to do. When these days come around, I either half-ass it and publish anything. Other days, I just let it be but fret the whole day until the next time I need to publish.

I am trying to give myself some flexibility and leeway for when those days come around. Well, I am going to try to give myself the flexibility and leeway for when those days come. I know myself and I’m a kind of control freak, no surprise from my husband here, and having that compulsion to post something will be hard to ignore. However, I feel like having that freedom to not work on the blog or post anything when my mind and heart are not in it will be beneficial in me continuing to blog and in posting something I actually really like and am proud of.

Want to learn some irony? I originally was supposed to publish this discussion in the beginning of April but because I just couldn’t get more than three words on the screen, I gave myself the night off. Coming back to this post weeks later, I realized that taking some time to gather my thoughts actually helped me in giving me a clear idea of what I initially wanted to say. It was also helpful because I don’t want to just publish something I’m not happy with and put my name on it. I’m tired of feeling like I need to post something just to keep up with everyone and every blog. I want to do me and I want to feel good about myself. I’m not the most popular or creative book blogger but I do like what Nahomi and I have done with Books and Swoons and I want to keep it going. So I rather do me and not force myself to be like everyone else and post what I feel like it good work.

How about you? Do you ever get in one of the mood? I know I can’t be the only one. Let’s chat! Comment down below!

Let's Chat: Reading Habits

So far, in the month of March, I have read six (!) books. For some, that's a number that they've surpassed within the first few days of the month and for others, like me, that's a surprising number. In a normal month, I can read up to three, maybe four books. Other times, I have moments where I only read one book and then, like this month, I get in a reading frenzy that I just read read read and don't take breaks in between any book.

I was thinking about my reading frenzy when I had finished my sixth book, and it was only the middle of the month. I was perusing my shelves for my next read and I wondered what had gotten into me and why I couldn't stop reading or take a break in between books. I had started feeling antsy because I wanted to be reading already and I couldn't choose between which books to read. My husband then asked me if I was going to watch my shows, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, or if I wanted to watch Netflix with him. When I told him no to both, which is unheard of since nobody can get between me and Shondaland, not even him, I wanted to read; he was surprised. All I wanted to do was pick up a book, curl up on my couch, and read. I don't want to be bothered, I don't want to leave my apartment, and I just want some wine to go with whatever book I happen to choose next.

I don't know why I sometimes get like this and I can't predict when I'll be in this frenzy. All I know is that there are a few times when I want to stop whatever I need to do to read because nothing is calling to my attention than reading. There are so many books I want to read and because that's I all want to do, I'm going to try to read as many of them as I can right now. So with that, I'm gonna go read my newest pick and see how many I can books I can get through the rest of this month.

Who else have moments like these? Am I the only one? What typically brings yours on? Let's chat! Comment down below.

Let's Chat: Book Buying Habits

I love buying books. As a community filled with book lovers and book bloggers, this is a surprise to no one. Going to a bookstore is dangerous for my wallet because I will walk out with at least one book. But today’s topic is about what happens when you already own a book in, let’s say, ebook version. If I loved and enjoyed the book to pieces, I’m going to want to own it as a physical book, ok? So I buy the book in hardcover and add it bookshelves. That’s typically the end of my collecting unless I’ve been given a paperback version of it and if I want to reread it, I now tend to look for it in audiobook from the library. For Nahomi, it vice versa. She starts off with buying the ebook version and if she loves it she buys it hardcover and wants to start collecting them as audiobooks too.

Compared to what we see in the book blogging community, we do pretty tame book collecting. I know some people who collect the same book but in different languages and covers. The only real collection I own is the Sarah J. Maas’ books. I own her U.S hardcovers of the Throne of Glass series, even the novella and ARCs, and I own two U.K. cover paperback. I want to own the rest of books with the U.K. cover but because of budget, living situation, and space issues, I haven’t been able to. Nahomi is on the same boat but her bookshelves is a linen closet so her space is even more limited.

My problem with collecting book lies here, as much as I want to support an author and add to other pretty versions of their books to my shelf, I can’t justify spending the money on a book I already own and taking up space for a book I’ll, inevitably, buy later on. I mean, that is money I could be using to buy another book and space I’ll need for another said book.

My other problem is how when I read an ebook or an ARC and end up wanting a finished version or physical copy, why should I buy a book that I already read? At that point, I’ll either tell myself that since it was an ARC, the final version is the best version so I should check it out and buying a finished version is supporting the author as well. But other times, I bargain with myself to buy the book next time or if it on special or I have a coupon because, well, I’ve read the book already.

So let’s chat! What kind of book buying habit do you have? Do you like collecting book? Do you just buy whatever version and pay no mind to which version or do only read from one specific medium? Let’s chat down below!