Life Update – Books, Travel, TikTok

Hi, friends! Happy Black History Month!

January was a busy month, but it also felt like it lasted 600 days. Did anyone else feel like it went on forever and ever?!

Nonetheless, I had a great month. I started this month off fasting with my church, which was so refreshing for my soul. I always fast with my church at the start of the year, but this year felt different. I want to get in the practice of fasting regularly. Because, if I’m honest, fasting is not a regular exercise for me, but I think it is important to do. So, this year I plan to implement it as a regular practice.

But, I will talk more about that in a separate post later on because I think it deserves it.

So, what’s new?

I read 13 books this year

Last month was a beautiful and record breaking reading month for me. I read some great books and some not so great books, but that’s okay! I read 13 books last month. I can’t believe I did it, but I did.

Some of my favorites were Babel by R.F. Huang (INSTANT 5-STARS), the One of Us Is Lying series by Karen M. McManus, and The Crash by Freida McFadden.

My goal this year is to read 100 books, and I think I can do it! I do want to pace myself though, so I don’t get burnt out, so February may be lighter.

This month I plan to read Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson, Brooklyn & Hold You Down by Tracey Brown, and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi along with a few others.

We’re going on vacation

My husband and I are HUGE sports fans. If you don’t know, now you know!

This month we are going to a Lakers and Golden State game because we don’t know how much longer Lebron and Steph will share the court. We’re kind of in denial, but they really are getting older.

We didn’t want to just go for the game though, so we are staying a few extra days and we’re going to visit a college friend, attend the Jennifer Hudson show, and check out the Balloon Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

This will be a quick trip, but it’ll be nice to get away from the cold (well, semi-cold) in Illinois.

TikTok is a weird place

I don’t want it to happen, but I feel like TikTok is going to go away. Or, if it doesn’t, it’s going to be vastly different from the TikTok we remember.

I am taking this time as an opportunity to diversify my content. Last month I did something I thought I’d never do. I started a Youtube channel to talk about books! (eeekkk!!)

It’s been fun so far! I do want to find a better cadence for posting and the best way to edit my videos to put “my spin” on things. But, I am really proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying something new creatively.

So, if you are on Youtube and would like to give me a follow you can find me, here!