KB – whimsy and vice

February Book Round-up

March 9, 2019March 9, 2019by KBLeave a Comment

Hello a few days late! I ended February on a cruise ship for a work trip and got some good reads in, though overall I struggled with staying on pace for my 75 book goal.

I started this month with the intention that I wanted to read more than my usual escapist thriller list, partially because I am burning out on the genre and nothing feels fresh, but also I feel like I haven’t read anything that has challenged or moved me in a while. I’m glad I voiced that intention and followed up because while I didn’t read the quantity I aimed for, this was a pretty good month in books, with the exception of my only did-not-finish, The Seasonaires (I got past the prologue and requested a return on my Kindle).

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Favorites, Home

Small obsessions: the candle edition

March 7, 2019March 8, 2019by KBLeave a Comment

Candles are one of my love languages.

Oftentimes I’ve heard that candles as a gift are boring and generic – and maybe they are to some people – but at the end of the day there’s such abundant enjoyment in laying on the couch with no pants and a good book when your surrounding area smells amazing

I don’t think I really have a preferred scent range – honestly, I love them all – but I do tend to gravitate towards more masculine, richer woodsy scents in the cold months, and bright floral/citrus ones in the spring and summer. Gourmand, foody scents aren’t usually my thing unless it’s a good pumpkin or cinnamon for fall or there’s something really different and special (Bijou candles in June comes to mind).

And of course, while I love a good expensy ~luxury~ candle, part of the joy in acquiring a neverending candle collection is that they’re not super expensive. D.W. Home candles from T.J. Maxx and Bath & Body Works candles are some of my favorites. I didn’t really get the hype about Diptyque until I was gifted on this past New Year (Baies is good, I’m mad I love it).

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Books

January book round-up

February 3, 2019February 6, 2019by KBLeave a Comment

I fell off the wagon for my reading list last year after work got super busy, then fell into the pattern of using social media scrolling + TV to soothe my brain instead of reading. I didn’t really set any ~intentions~ for this year but I want to get back into the swing of reading, and reading a more diverse range of books that are challenging and enriching, and not just escape-y, formulaic thrillers.

If I’m being honest I’m beating myself up a little for only reading four books last month – in my element I’d read 4-5 books in a week, sometimes 2 a day if it’s a slow weekend – but it’s a start, and 4 books in a busy month isn’t a bad count.

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Favorites, Food

Trader Joe’s Favorites, Pt. 1

January 30, 2019February 6, 2019by KBLeave a Comment

There is a heavy assumption that this is part one because I go to the Trader Joe’s by work at least twice a month, if not more since I’m always hunting for the Riced Cauliflower bowls (best easy healthy frozen meal, hands down), but also because they’re constantly adding new things and I’m constantly discovering new things. My favorites of the moment are these 10 things, in no particular order.

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Uncategorized

Morning stretch

January 21, 2019February 6, 2019by KBLeave a Comment

It feels very strange to call myself a writer and not write in a meaningful capacity; I have my job, sure, which requires a lot of writing; a store which I half-ass a lot of marketing copy for (or really excel at, when I’m in that particular mood). But other than Instagram captions and the occasional self-indulgent and self-deprecating tweet, I feel like I’ve forgotten what it’s like to write for fun and to get my feelings out in an unconfined space. This is the morning, I think. This is the stretch before I get down to the real work of it.

Breathe, one, two, three.