Dream Destinations

“You know what they say about the Pacific? They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live; a warm place with no memory.”

–Stephen King, Shawshank Redemption

(My Ambitions are not quite as melancholy as that).

But right now, it’s super cold in the Midwest and I wouldn’t mind a small getaway or two, to a small place in the middle of nowhere. It’s hard not to daydream about traveling when you’re stuck inside from the frigid temperatures and CONSTANT snow. Real talk though, I love snow so much! I just appreciate it a little less since it’s snowed every week for the last month and a half. I’ve forgotten what dry socks feel like and I have KNEE-HIGH BOOTS *cue tiny violin*.

I always think about places that I would love to see, and all the things that I could do or try in those places (Maybe while I’m still young??). A lot of them aren’t realistic or financially plausible, but today I write with reckless abandon.

Japan

I know, this one isn’t very specific…but I can’t choose a specific spot, it all looks so amazing. I would love to see Okinawa, or Osaka (Nara park, I see you and your precious deer friends!) or Kyoto, or Tokyo. The possibilities are endless, and it’s hard to choose just one. I would love to go to a festival, or up in Tokyo Tower. The Miyazaki Museum! There is so much history and religious significance in this country, I want to experience it all.

I think visiting an Onsen (outdoor bath) would be quite an adventure, too.

Vancouver, Canada

I would love to see Vancouver! I have heard it been described as the “Hollywood” of Canada, among other glamorous things. The skyline is so pretty, and the weather is beautiful, and it seems that there are an endless amount of fun things to do there. I don’t know what this building is, but it looks cool and I want to see it in person.

Ireland

This destination isn’t very warm, but I do not care. I’ve wanted to visit Ireland for so long! I remember eagerly voting for Ireland in our surveys for “second destinations” on a school trip that I took during the summer before my senior year (We went to Paris, instead. Still cool, but totally not Ireland, boo.)

I would love to see the green countryside, and experience some of that history for myself. (I took a History in Ireland course in college, and to this day that is the HARDEST history class I’ve ever taken. 10/10 would not do that again).

Edinburg, Scotland

This city looks like something straight out of a Fairy Tale, and I’m all for it. I’m sure the reality is different, but the whole place seems shrouded in mystery and just….so ethereal. As an added bonus, a lot of my favorite writers live there! It seems like a beautiful place to be.

Hobbiton, New Zealand

Okay so there are a million other places I would want to visit in New Zealand, of course; but this one has made it to the top of the list. Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to visit New Zealand and experience the magic of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. That whole series shaped my love of fantasy, and for a good long while, made me REALLY want to get into acting.

(Narrator: She did not, in fact, go into acting)

I was 11 when the movies first came out, and I could not get enough of them. I was *obsessed*. And thus, my love of NZ was born! I know there are plenty of other wonderful things about this country, and my hope is that I may one day see it for myself.

Seoul, South Korea

My sister is currently teaching English over in South Korea, and I wish so much that I have gotten it together fast enough to visit her. Unfortunately, that won’t happen due to financial constraints. But, maybe someday!

Let me start by saying, I know that TV and media can warp our perception of reality, especially about places we’ve never been to. But by now, I have seen WAY too many K-dramas to not be enamored with the place haha. The fashion, the skincare, the beautiful scenery–sign me up!

And now, on to some of my favorite more remote locations….

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada

This has been my number one dream destination for YEARS now. (My header is Lake Moraine, in Banff). I’ve google mapped it–it’s exactly a 26 hour drive from where I live, this very moment. I think, out of all the beautiful places I’ve described here, I would want to go here the most. It looks so beautiful, peaceful, and magical. I think about this place the most. Of all the places, I think that this one might actually be the most attainable, and I am holding onto that hope that I’ll make it here someday.

I have also learned that there is a train that will take you from Vancouver to Banff, and I think that setup would ideal for me! But also incredibly expensive?!

Hawaii

I recognize that it’s not exactly a remote/rural place entirely; but the “remote” parts of the islands are the ones I’m most interested in. I’ve never seen a waterfall in real life; I’ve never seen a tropical forest, I’ve never seen a volcano. I’ve seen a lot of green in my life, but nothing that compares to this. It’s magical in every sense of the word. This would be my “warm place” that I dream about constantly.

And as you can see,

I clearly do a lot of daydreaming. This list is fairly extensive, but it means something to me. What are some places that you guys would love to see the most? Are there places that you dream about, too?

For the record,

the Midwest is so beautiful in its own right. It’s dreary and cold, at the moment, but that doesn’t mean it deserves any less praise.

Rick walking back to our apartment

Lovely view from the Lobby of my office

Back entrance to the Office

Wesley, enjoying the view from our balcony!

There you have it!

A list of some of my most desired destinations. (And some Midwest love, of course.) As always, thank you for taking the time to read my posts! It really does make me so happy.

–Lux

Advertisements

January Book Haul (& a Little Extra, of Course)

Happy February, everyone! I hope the New Year is treating you well. Today I’m here to talk about all the beautiful things I’ve picked up recently! I believe the majority of them came through in January, but there are a few February stragglers in there (because I’m lazy and didn’t think to post at the *end* of January…)

I’m not feeling a big intro today, so let’s jump right in!

**Disclaimer** I download a lot of my books onto my phone now, as that allows me to still support the author and to save space in my home 🙂

Books

Jackie Chan’s new autobiography, Never Grow Up

I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but I definitely  loved hearing about all of his adventures in the film industry and beyond. Jackie is a bit different than I imagined him, but I am A-okay with that. Solid 4 out of 5 stars!

Fresh off the Boat by Eddie Huang

I’m clearly in a memoir kind of mood this month and this book was an *experience*. I have a LOT of feelings about this one, so I’ll wait to discuss at-length…maybe I’ll write a post about it, but I’m sort of bad at that. He’s certainly no role model (which is again, A-okay with me. I don’t know why everyone expects celebrities to be in their best behavior or held to higher standards like they’re not a normal human being…come on guys). It has pretty mixed reviews on Goodreads, but I think because I read this *now*, when it’s more common to talk about racial inequality etc, it was a very poignant read and I would recommend it. 3.5/5 stars! 

Elementals: Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman

My favorite age to look back on would be between 9-14 years old; Everything was so magical, and every book that I read just seemed to be SO COOL. That being said, I’m surprised that I haven’t picked up another JA fiction before now. Well, this one was a great place to start! I loved the world building, and the sibling relationship between the two main characters. I love seeing things from Anders’ point of view–I found him to be an extremely relatable character; I loved the imagery, and the magic system. It was so unique to me! I can’t wait go grab the next title, out in March of 2019. 4 out of 5 stars!

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings, Edited by Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman

This is the only book that I purchased in physical format…and of course I haven’t read it yet. It is a retelling of various folklore/mythology of East and South Asia, from different acclaimed authors. I can’t wait to dive in–I intend to give this book all of the love and appreciation that it deserves.

Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novik (February)

This book….THIS BOOK. I loved it SO MUCH MORE than Uprooted, and I’m so glad to say that. She always paints beautiful imagery/atmosphere, and this woman could honestly make a living in writing horror alone, if she wanted to; she’s very good with suspense. My one gripe with her would have to be her characters, as they can come off one-dimensional or cliched. BUT. This book was a  VAST IMPROVEMENT (In my eyes, of course. She’s an accomplished writer to begin with). This one WILL be getting a post all on its own, I can promise you that. Please look for a review, hopefully in the next week! 4 out of 5 Stars!

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (February)

Victoria recently posted on her Twitter–this book was on sale for $1.99 on Kindle/iBooks, so I JUMPED on that deal. I haven’t read it yet, and it’s already been on my TBR for so long that I just had to buy it on impulse.

Those are all the books I bought in the last month (or so)!

What books are you guys hauling right about now? Are there any new books you’re looking forward to this year?

As always, thanks for taking the time to read my posts. I really makes my day 🙂

-Lux

The Babe with the Power

Today was a no-good-crummy-mood kind of day. (And yes, that’s okay).

Today, more than ever, I felt like a secondary character in my own life. You know, like Salieri in Amadeaus except MUCH less nefarious. (Though to be fair, Mozart was a showy in-your-face kinda guy). Nothing Salieri ever attempted came close to the dreams of a soaring career, or any kind of success; he was somehow ever overshadowed by the talent of others.  (If you haven’t seen that movie, go watch it now p l e a s e yes.)

Today, I was feeling downright sorry for myself. I found myself in a funk that I just could not shake, a self-imposed quicksand of despair. I couldn’t let go of my own insecurities….

…and then the silliest thing happened; I was moping  wandering through Target with my family and I stumbled upon this T-Shirt:

Here’s the thing–I watched Labyrinth for the first time just MONTHS ago, and I can’t say it was my favorite. But when I saw this shirt, I couldn’t help but smile and think of that iconic Bowie dance scene!

I love this song SO MUCH and even though the lyrics don’t make much sense probably because of all the coke   this scene just made the WHOLE movie for me, and I can’t wait to see The Dark Crystal. (I’m sorry, I still haven’t taken the time to watch that yet.)

But I digress, I digress!

Seeing this shirt reminded me (In the most profound way that traversing Target at Eleven-Thirty at night in sweatpants can) that *I* am the one who can change my own circumstances. With anxiety, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed and insignificant at the same time, like an impostor, like three children in a trench coat. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others.

But you are NOT the sum of your failures. There is always time to be who you want to be, even if it takes forever to get there. (See that sneaky Labyrinth theme again there?)

I happened upon this shirt at the exact right moment–fifteen dollars WELL spent.

For the first time in a long while, I choose to be the Babe with the Power.

Currently Playing/Watching/Reading VII

Question: Will I ever tire of anime, cartoons and other “children’s” media?

Answer: nah

Currents post! Without further ado, let’s get started:

Currently Playing: Spyro Reignited

(and it’s giving me fond flashbacks of wanting to pull my hair out, even at ten years old.)

I love the Spyro games SO MUCH. Growing up, I could never put them down! I had as many of the games as my systems would allow, including the two for Gameboy Advance. (I still have all my original copies tucked away in a box, because I’m extra like that).

This re-make is simply STUNNING. You can tell how much love and devotion was put into this game by the brand new artwork, minute detailing, and the painstaking effort of making sure that everything remained true to the original–just with a clearer lens, more so than what Technology would allow in the 90’s/early 2000’s.

Just as well in keeping with the original, the cast and crew also made sure to add their own artistic flair to the game. There are all new objectives called “skill points” which allow you to unlock a fun and beautiful set of artwork from the creators and the crew! It is wonderful, and everything I could ever hope for.

I spent my entire Christmas day (Happy Holidays!) completing the first game at 120%, something I was never able to do as a kid. (Sidebar: This is *the* game for overachievers, holy moly! You can track every bit of progress you make throughout the game, and it’s just as satisfying as any to-do list WOW.)

(Also I totally spent the morning visiting with family first, I could never ignore them on Christmas!!)

Parents, teenagers, millenials, grandparents–if you’re looking for something fun and infuriating cute, Spyro is the way to go.

I’ll be devoting an entire blog post to this series in the near future, bet on it.

Currently Watching: Voltron

By “currently watching” I mean squinting at my phone while dying on the treadmill.

I finally decided to give this one a watch. I’ve been meaning to for a while, and it’s only been exacerbated by the beautiful fan art and the immense screaming attention it gets on Twitter.  I’m really only on the first few episodes, but so far I’m enjoying it. I can certainly tell that the artwork is inspired by anime, and that while it is mostly geared towards a younger audience, I can see that there will be some heavy themes as I continue.

The humor is very…slapstick? Cheesy? But I actually kind of love it. I love that they are able to throw some ridiculous humor in there, while maintaining some very adult themes. I am  looking forward to finishing it someday in the future, though I hear the ending is disappointing. (I spoiled myself on Twitter, whoops.)

I plan to continue watching, even if I do know what happens. I am sure I will ramble more about this on a later post.

Currently Reading: The Name of the Wind

This book.

THIS BOOK.

“Demons fear three things: cold iron, clean fire, and the Holy name of God.”

“I seem to wander, if I seem to stray, true stories seldom take the straightest way.”

I don’t even know where to start. (Maybe by admitting that I’m not finished yet.)

I’ve seen this floating around Goodreads a lot in the last few months, all of the reviews simply *raving*. Lately, I don’t read much adult fantasy; my attention span leaves much to be desired. This book has CHANGED me. This one has been a VERY pleasant surprise–I am liking it so much that I actually bought a hardcover copy to give to my dad for Christmas! (Because who doesn’t want a 700 pg tome in their library?) (Unfotunately not the Original cover though because it’s $40+ dollars everywhere I look).

(But I *will* find a copy because do you SEE that?)

Honestly though, I haven’t even finished it yet and I’m already trying to share with everyone I know because it is that good. (I know more people than my dad OKAY.) Patrick Rothfuss is one of those writers who so easily puts into words all the things that I can’t. And I really like that. I have an ongoing Google Doc that I update as I’m reading books, all with quotes and my own thoughts. I had to stop “updating” the Wind section because I’ve already put too many quotes in there. Any more and I’m pretty sure I’ll have just retyped the whole book. 

I would try to explain the plot, but I just… can’t? It’s so multi-faceted that I wouldn’t be able to do it justice, even if I tried. So I’m just going to bail myself out of this one and leave the Goodreads link up 🙂 For a debut novel, over ten years old…it holds up.

A review will DEFINITELY be coming.

Unfortunately,

That’s about it for this month! My life has been pretty crazy with all the holidays–I haven’t had much time to add anything else to my currents (but I do have a Que of books, movies and games etc that seems to be miles long).

 

Until next time!

-Lux

Book Haul

Hey everyone! Today I thought I would take it easy switch things up, and show off a few things that came in the mail. A short and sweet post! Do you have anything on the way that you’re really excited about?

Nimona

I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this graphic novel–the characterization, personal growth, beautiful artwork and the LGBT+ representation come highly recommended. That makes me all the more excited to dive into it! I have also not read anything by this author yet–but as you can see from this photo, once I find a writer that I enjoy, I am *all in*.

Which brings me to my next talking point….

The Song of Achilles

Okay, I’ve cried screamed about this one MANY times before, so I’ll let you do your own investigation….but seriously guys, read it. This book contains multitudes. I don’t know that any review or description I could write, would ever do it justice. As previously stated, this is probably my favorite read of 2018 (or, you know–ALL TIME.)

Circe

I picked this one up off of Amazon after having read the Song of Achilles, and I cannot WAIT to get into it! I don’t know much about it, except that it’s another masterpiece set in Greek mythology. I’m ready to be RUINED.

The Grisha Trilogy

Confession–I’ve never read anything by Leigh Bardugo. (It’s painful, I know). My boyfriend recently bought me the beautiful box set as an early Christmas gift, so my error will soon be fixed! I’ve been pining after this set for a while now. (Just LOOK at those covers, the picture does not do them justice.) The YA world seems to think very highly of these, and they seem to be something I would enjoy. Stay tuned for book reviews!

The Tea Dragon Society

So I definitely ordered this as part of a Christmas gift for my nieces, and I also accidentally definitely ordered two, so I could have one to keep 🙂 I follow Katie O’Neill on Twitter, and I’m just so in love with everything that she does. She is precious.

Girls of Paper and Fire

Last, and more certainly not least–I downloaded a copy of this on iBooks, if only to save a little bit of money (I’ve clearly spent way too much on books this month as it is, hehe.) Yet another one that has been getting rave reviews! I’ve only just started, but already I can see why. It is beautifully written, and the main character is so level-headed and strong. I will be posting a review of this one, for sure!

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this post;

Tell me about any books that you’re really looking forward to! Do you enjoy posts like these? Is this a thing I should regularly do?

-Lux

 

My Favorite (things??) of 2018

You guessed it–this is (yet another) chance for me to scream about all the things I love.

Because I just love to talk about myself, to anyone who will listen 🙂

(I’ll try not so bombard you with all the things you’ve already heard about on this blog, but I make no promises)

This list is going to be SO long.

From what I can see so far, many of us have had a rough year. With all of the horrible things going on in the world right now, it’s hard not to–but I would like for you to take a moment, as you (hopefully) read this post, and think back on a few of your own highlights from this year. I hope that you have some wonderful moments that come to mind, be they personal accomplishments, new friends, new books, old favorites….anything!! That has made this world a better place for you this year.

Clearly,  you can see that this post is going to be biased, as it is all about my *personal* favorites. I want to hear about some of your personal favorites, too. What has helped you keep going, through all of your struggles?

The Song of Achilles

“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. “No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.”

“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

This book.  THIS. BOOK. Broke me, and didn’t even try to put me back together. It affected me so much. The writing was lush, imaginative and full of emotion. This is, quite easily, the best romance/epic I’ve read in my life. Even though I knew how it was going to end the entire way through, I could not put it down. If you are feeling uninspired, or going through a hard time, this is a heartbreaking wonderful distraction.

Modcloth

I love this site, so much!  They have a lot of really cute, modest work attire that has a flair of vintage appeal. In the last year, I’ve really learned to put more money into my wardrobe. It’s helped my self-confidence so much, and I look forward to getting dressed in the morning instead of dreading it. While they are not exactly cheap, they have great sales! Despite this, you honestly get what you pay for–I’ve learned that paying a little bit more for a piece of clothing that you love makes all the difference. Their pieces are great quality, and they really last. It also helps me, because I don’t settle for anything that looks just okay–If I’m going to spend that money, it will be on something I plan to get a lot of use out of!

Skin and Earth

“So just
Hold on tight
I’ll be coming, I’m coming for you, oh-oh
And every night I’ll be burning, burning for you, oh-oh
And I, I will back you up
I will show you love
I will give you all I got ’til I can not
Hold on tight
I’m breathing, breathing for you, oh-oh”

This is Lights’ most recent album, and she killed it as always. Her music makes me feel an entire range of emotions, and it’s always been that way. In this latest installment, she’s created a whole new post-apocalyptic world (and an award-winning comic, to go along with it.) If you’ve never heard of or listened to Lights, you’re in for a fun ride.

Fate/Grand Order

I’ve been playing this mobile game quite frequently the last six months, and it is a *great* distraction from everyday life. If you’re not looking to spend your down time coasting through various social media, this is a great alternative. I’m sure you’ve already heard me scream about it in my last post, so I’ll spare you this time–but I would highly recommend giving it a try. It’s fun, creative, and oddly educational. Also, the graphics are simply stunning.

(This is a gif taken straight from the opening sequence of the game!)

Makeup/Lipsticks

This year, I’ve really learned to appreciate (and hopefully) better apply makeup–it is quickly becoming one of my favorite things, and has certainly helped enhance my 2018 experience. Just like with my choice of clothing, learning to use makeup has really made me excited to get up and get ready in the morning! I fully recognize that makeup isn’t something you should feel “lacking” without. You can (and absolutely should) feel beautiful in any way that you choose to be. For me, makeup has been a fun and gratifying practice in patience and a nice, steady morning routine.

Another thing I’ve finally gained to confidence to try, is lipstick! My lips are always something I have been really self-conscious about, since they tend to be dry alllll the time–I felt like I was always pointing out my flaws instead of softening them. However, I’ve discovered the magic of lip tints and lip glosses, both which help moisten the lip and mask the things you’re sensitive about. So far, my favorite has been the Bigelow “My favorite Night Balm”  and the Christian Dior lipstains.  (Okay, so not cheap but SO worth it!! Easy to apply, smooths evenly along the edges so you don’t smear it all down your face, and so so pretty. Plus, a tube lasts you months and months and months.)

I think my goal for the coming year will be to try out eyelash extensions, and the Milk brand of foundations/makeup.

Your Lie in April

Yet another one that I’ve screamed about in the past, but also very very worthwhile. If you’re feeling stuck, or at a loss, this will help you so much. I will never not recommend this story. It’s on Netflix and Crunchyroll, if you would like to stream it somewhere (legally) online.

YouTube

I would honestly say I hardly watch TV anymore, simply because YouTube is much more readily available (and vibrant…is that the right word to use?). This has easily been my go-to of 2018. My favorite things to watch are book reviews, haul videos, makeup tutorials, play-throughs, travel vloggers…the possibilities are endless. More than anything, I love watching candid everyday videos of people just talking about their lives. It’s…soothing? Haha. It’s a great distraction for right before bed, to spend 10-15 minutes catching up on your subscribed channels.

New Apartment

This year, I took a huge step in my life; I moved in with my boyfriend! For me, this was a monumental moment–I’ve never taken a relationship to that level before, and while it’s definitely been an adjustment…I would most certainly say that it’s been a highlight of my year. I truly feel that it’s only up and onward from here, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings. A little bit of courage pays off.

TCG//Trading Card Games

I’ve spent the majority of 2018 working weekends in a trading card store, that rekindled my love of collecting! (Okay okay, it’s mostly Pokemon cards, but still).

Collecting Pokemon/Trading cards is a lot of fun–there’s always the thrill of the “hunt”, and aren’t these full-art trainers simply BEAUTIFUL? They didn’t have these when I was a kid. I think the artwork alone is inspiring. Also, it may (or may not) be a great investment in your future, because the prices can skyrocket for resale if you grab the right ones! (I plan to hold on to all of mine though, hehe.)

I don’t work that job anymore, and I miss it so very much. I made so many friends there, and work never really…felt like work?? Maybe 2019 will allow me to return at some point. That job really did make 2018 a wonderful year.

Which brings me to my next point….

My Job

I’ve been at my weekday job, full time, for about a year and a half now. I can honestly say that, yet again, this is the best thing that’s happened to me in a LONG time. I have steady income, regular hours, and everyone that I work with is kind and understanding. I get anxious a lot, and tend to make mistakes here and there, and yet they still treat me well and value me as a person and employee. I got a bonus and a raise this year that was quite substantial, despite only being there a short time. I really do love this job so much, and it has been a wonderful constant in my 2018. I know that money is not everything, but I am so grateful to have this stability in my life.

 

There is so much more I could add to this list,

But I think it’s important to stop here. (Because honestly, I don’t think I would ever stop if I kept rambling).

Don’t let this post fool you–this is simply a highlight reel of my best moments in 2018. Despite this long list of favorites and happy things, I have struggled quite a bit in the last year, with bouts of depression in between. Nothing is ever perfect–I just want to look back on this year and reflect on the good, rather than the bad. I hope that you, whoever you are, can do the same!

Tell me about yourself, and the things that you love.

-Lux

Build Something You can Be Proud Of, V. II

Today, I don’t have any exciting reviews or media content to share with you; today, I feel like only showing just myself. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been watching or reading anything–I’ve honestly been doing a lot more of that than anything else, I think. While I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with that, I want to bring myself back down to reality for a bit.

You see, I’m in a bit of a slump. When I’m in a slump, I feel that making small goals, or lists of aspirations, would help me to feel better–so that is what I’m here to do today!

Goals

1. Cross-Stitch

I want to learn to Cross-Stitch so badly! It looks so calming, and methodical and just…pretty. I see so many beautiful pieces on Instagram and Twitter. I would love to try it for myself!

 

(Irina Tkachenko / EyeEm / Getty Images)

(by Liz. E @ http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/cross-stitch-pattern-walkthrough/) SO CUTE.

(Pattern at http://de.weddbook.com/media/2670024/floral-boogie-modern-cross-stitch-pattern-pdf-instant-download  ) I am *so going back to try this later. Can you tell that I love Floral print?)

(plan to see some pretty epic “Expectations vs Reality” photos like this one…hehe)

2. Create a Bullet Journal

I’m definitely one of those people who buy pretty journals/calendars, work hard in them for about two weeks…and then forget that they exist. (Whoops.)

(Journal by Christina )

I have a hard time staying focused, and being inspired in my everyday life–it’s so easy for me to get discouraged. I think that keeping up with something like this would help me so much, both in productivity and peace of mind. I have so much creative energy pent up, and I’m too shy to really try much with it. I think that, with something like this, something *just* for me, I would learn to channel it the right way.

I love the flexibility of it. I love that you can keep track of whatever you think will help you the most–a mood tracker, a habit tracker, an expense tracker…or all three. I like that you can change it up, or become as detailed with it as you want to be.

(Journal by Sarah Mims Yeargin)

3. Read More (& write more)

Yeah, this one is pretty vague–but I’ve been in a huuuge reading slump lately, and I can’t seem to focus. The frustrating thing is that I absolutely love reading,  and I think it’s a great gateway to other creative ideas. I remember reading an interview by Neil Gaiman, and something he said really stuck with me–the idea that in order to write well, you also had to give yourself breaks and *read* well–to read anything that you can get your hands on! My friends, I have a TBR a good mile & a half long. It’s time  to get to work!

4. Quality over Quantity

Last year, I posted this photo of my old Bookshelf; it is still one of my favorite photos to date. while I still own quite a bit in terms of books and comics, I’ve learned to really be selective about what I own, and how I own it. (Digital vs in-print, Audiobook, etc etc.) I’ve downsized at least a little bit, thinking hard about the titles that really matter to me. Moving forward, I would like to downsize a bit more, and be much more mindful of my hobbies and spending habits, vs how much stuff I really *own*. I want to be able to look at the things that I have, and be truly grateful and excited about each and every one of them!

There you have it, folks.

Four goals that I’m really hoping to expand on in the coming months! While these don’t exactly seem  small (c’mon, I know that starting new hobbies can be expensive/time consuming), I hope that in the end I can become a more mindful person.

Do you have any smaller (or long-term) goals for yourself? How do you cope with being in a slump?

-Lux