Goodbye dumpster fire that was 2020! We were all dealt a pretty rough hand last year, and I’m glad to finally put it in the past. Plus, it felt like 2020 was about 20 years long! Anyone else?
I’m grateful for a new year, a fresh start, and the hope that is 2021. I have a stack of books that I’m practically dying to get through. So, let’s do this. Check out everything I’m Reading, Loving, and Sipping. I wish you all a wonderful New Year!
What I’m Reading
What Would Frida Do? by Arianna Davis. I’m expanding my repertoire with a biography – I don’t read nearly enough of these because I’m always afraid that my heroes are going to disappoint, basically by being as flawed as the rest of us. I’m about 90 pages in, and while Frida’s life is very interesting, I’m finding the writing a bit underwhelming and tough to get through. Hopefully, my thoughts will change by the end.
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian is about the wild adventure of Cassie, a flight attendant who wakes up in a Dubai hotel room next to the dead body of her one-night-stand. The drama that unfolds after she decides to clean up the crime scene and flee back to the U.S. will keep you on the edge of your seat. My friend and I are teaming up on a special project to discuss this in more detail. More info to come, but for now, be sure to check out her blog for good book recommendations.
This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith. It takes place on one long October weekend in Kentucky and follows the story of Tallie and Emmett’s emotional first encounter on the edge of a bridge. Everyone is going through something, everyone has secrets, and everyone can use a little healing. Lately, I’ve been choosing books out of my reading comfort zone, and this is one such novel.
And last, but certainly not least:
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. I’ve been putting this off for way too long, but the 400+ page count and heavy topic has kept it collecting dust on my shelf. But, it’s an important book that explores how racial hierarchy has evolved over the decades. We need this understanding now, more than ever, so I’m committing to read and deliver a review just in time for Black History Month.
What I’m loving
Rocketbook Panda Planner. It combines the structure and goal setting format of the Panda Planner with Rocketbook’s erasable technology, and is so, so awesome! I prefer paper planners to digital, but I’m anything but consistent and it drives me crazy to skip dates or make mistakes in the planner. I’ve tried Erin Condren, Commit30, and a few others, but without fail, every year, I end up giving up on them mid-year. The Rocketbook is different. You write in it with Pilot Frixion pens or markers and can erase the pages with a little water and a microfiber cloth. Use the Rocketbook app to scan your pages and send them to your email, dropbox, or other apps. There are regular notebooks available too with lines, dots, or grids. If you’re a paper lover (like me), just think about all of the trees you’ll save with this reusable notebook. I love it! It’s so 2021.
What I’m Sipping
Tea; all types of tea. My nanny got me a sampler last month for my birthday and I’m slowly making my way through it. I’ve always enjoyed a nice cup of hot tea in the morning or evening – even in the summer. It’s like a hug in a mug; so comforting and warm. Right now my favorites are peppermint and apple spice, but the caffeinated blends give a great boost in the morning.
Until next month…
Little Book Bites 