Hello friends!
I hope you’re enjoying the fresh start of 2025 thus far. I always get a little down around this time of year (winter blues creep up on me), but I’ve been trying to find the good in these slower winter days (romanticizing them helps). It’s been a hot minute since I’ve shared a loving lately post, and I think this is a good way for me to stop and focus on the good things in my life. Hopefully you’ll enjoy hearing all the random things. I’d love to hear what you have been enjoying, too – DM me on Instagram. x
What I’m Loving Lately
– I’m reading the Zodiac Academy series and I am inhaling it. I was hesitant due to the bullying nature in the first few books, but it wasn’t as bad as I envisioned it. Not to say it isn’t bad… because it definitely is not great but I have read worse. I feels more YA to me (but the spice is very much not). The only thing I will say is that while I am enamored with the characters and their development, storylines, magic system, world building… it can be a bit depressing. It feels hopeless a lot of the time! If you feel like something bad is going to happen, know that something even worse will happen. The good times are SO so good… and the bad times are… brutal. I will be giddy and kicking my feet one minute and then screaming into a pillow the next. It is a roller-coaster ride for sure and you may need to be in a certain head-space for this kind of story if you are like me, but I can’t knock it because I ripped through the first 5 books within 2 weeks and they are NOT short books!! So that’s my very honest and slightly confusing review. LOL
– I’ve been loving Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine album. It’s been my jam for the last few months. Her voice is angelic and the songs are super catchy. My favorites are Supernatural and Eternal Sunshine.
– Every night while reading, I have this asmr ambiance room on as background because it’s gorgeous and snow falling/fire crackling is my favorite combination lately.
– I recently finished the graphic audio for Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and LOVED the performance of the voice actors. It honestly enhanced the book experience for me! I had been wanting to reread before Onyx Storm release and this was the perfect way to do it. I plan to listen to the From Blood and Ash graphic audio next.
– Speaking of the Empyrean series, I’ll be rocking my favorite bookish t-shirt (affiliate link) for Onyx Storm in just 2 weeeeeks!!
– These cold weather nights have me layering up with my weighted blanket (affiliate link). I have insomnia often and figured I’d give the blanket a try. It doesn’t always help but it does make my bed extra warm and cozy.
– My warm beverage of choice these days is milky earl gray tea with honey. It’s simple and basic but so comforting.
– I was gifted a set of these mugs (affiliate link) for Christmas and I love them so much.
– My go-to nail color this winter is Rainy Day by Olive + June. It’s my favorite neutral currently.
– You probably know by now that I am a cozy gamer and Animal Crossing: New Horizons is my very favorite. I have been playing quite a bit since we are stuck indoors more and I’ve been really enjoying dressing up my villagers. If you are a fan, you will appreciate these lookbooks that I have been pulling together for fun.
– I love the NYT games app on my phone. Playing word games is so fun and satisfying. It’s a simple thing but brings joy to my day, especially when my partner sits down with me and we play together.
– Winter sunsets. Forever loving on them.
– Piping hot ramen bowls have been a dinnertime staple for our family. I love following Amanda Ducks for food inspiration and she always makes great ramen and noodle bowls that are nourishing and satisfying.
– Speaking of food, I have a crazy obsession with takeout yellow curry from our favorite Thai spot lately. I could eat it everyday. I love mine with tofu, veggies, and pineapple. YUM YUM YUM.
– My daily soundtrack has been Ophelia Wilde’s playlists. They are so gentle and relaxing as background music. They really bring some main character energy to your day. Her romanticizing winter playlist and fantasy playlist are my favorites.
– On the homeschool front, we have been enjoying the Kiwi Co World boxes so much. They are a great choice for early elementary geography! I can’t say enough good things. Perfect for winter.
– For kids books, we have loved the Lola Dutch series for years but for some reason, my youngest has really loved them even more so lately. We read them so often. They are adorable.
– A shout-out to my favorite substack queen! Brittany’s Notebook is like a warm hug in my inbox each week. If you don’t follow her, you’re missing out. She shares so many great plant-based recipes and meal plans, book reviews, simple joys, and more. Her content is so refreshing in a world of ~too much content~.
– These words that I found on Pinterest.
– And on that note, Pinterest. IG has been an overwhelming place for me lately. Too many reels and too much movement. I have come back to loving Pinterest much more. I love static images and beautiful words and imagery… and Pinterest offers that.
