January was full of changes. February felt a little more stagnant, comfortable. Yet it was certainly eventful. I’m worried that I’m being busy without being efficient. This month I’ll be searching for that January energy and figuring out how to reallocate my time and what new changes I can be making to move myself forward.
Read
My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg // I thought this book was a memoir, but it turned out to simply be a collection of some of RBG’s previous writings and speeches. The works were professional and dense, so admittedly this was a tough read and not the most enjoyable for me. Because my expectations for this book were off, I’m not giving it a rating. If you do want to give this book a try, I recommend listening to the audiobook because it “features archival original recordings of Justice Ginsburg’s speeches and bench announcements.” I think her words would be more captivating and more digestible heard in her own deliberate voice. (Full review on Tumblr)
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton // ★★★★☆ // This book was recommended to me by Saman when she saw I enjoyed Sophie Kinsella. I desperately needed something light like this as I was slogging through My Own Words. Smashed through it in two nights! The gist of it is that Caroline can hear her neighbour Simon’s, erm, late night activities, through their shared wall. They mask their sexual tension with frustration toward each other but we all know how that goes. (Full review on Tumblr)
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire // ★★★★☆ // Another fast-paced New Adult book as I was working through My Own Words. Abby’s the good girl. Travis’ the bad boy. She seems to be the only one resistant to his charms, but stuck as roommates for a month, who’s to tell what will change? The beginning was cute but I didn’t like the end at all. There’s the protective older brother trope that gets progressively more extreme and obsessive, but it’s romanticised, which made me uncomfortable. But it started as a cute love story and they were both so obviously drawn to each other so I was still rooting for them. It’s only fiction after all! Still important to be cognizant of that subtle emotional abuse though. (Full review on Tumblr)
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi // ★★★★☆ // I finished this 500-paged book in a night and a morning so that I could return it to the library in time (I thought I’d be able to renew it, but alas, I suppose there was a waitlist after me). This book has been compared to Harry Potter in terms of world-building and acclaim, but I like to compare it to Avatar: The Last Airbender in terms of plot. I liked the characters and thought they were nuanced. I could sympathise with their internal conflicts. Although I didn’t always agree with their methods, I understood where they were coming from. The book ended with a great cliffhanger and I’m so looking forward to the second book coming out in June! (Full review on Tumblr)
Someday Is Not a Day in the Week by Sam Horn // ★★★☆☆ // The book was largely made up of quoted dialogue from conversations between Horn and clients or other people she met, which made me feel like I was reading an anthology of testimonials. I wish there was a little more synthesis in that regard. I think the most helpful thing about this book is that if you know that there’s something you’ve been meaning to do and you haven’t yet gotten around to it, this book is that little extra push to remind you to do it. Some of the exercises in the book were pretty helpful. I think I might have preferred this book in the form of a workbook or pre-made journal. (Full review on the blog)
To be read
March’s TBR is completely determined by what I have in from the library. The first two are both due soon, so I’m hoping to finish them this weekend. The next one I’ve checked out of the library already. The last three are waiting for me on hold in the library, and I’ll probably check them out this following week!
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng // Everyone was talking about this book last year! Miraculously, I didn’t have to wait too long on the library waitlist to get my hands on a copy. Excited to get into such a highly-acclaimed book by an Asian-American author!
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel // I feel like this book has been on my TBR for ages. I have the hunch I heard about this title through bloggers but can’t remember what they said about it. Probably that it was really human or something. From the blurb, I take that there are transgender themes.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows // I watched this on Netflix and didn’t know it was based off a book! Loved the film (love my period dramas) so looking forward to this.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams // A classic. I have no idea what it’s about but I’m intrigued because I feel like it has shaped some people’s fundamental ways of thinking.
Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello // Hermès is my favourite luxury brand so this title caught my eye at a used book store. I was tempted to buy it for $2 but ended up deciding to borrow it from the library for free. I’m still thinking about going back to buy the book because I find the title funny and the cover illustration is nice, but I don’t yet know how substantial the content of the book is and whether it’s worth buying. And anyways, the book might already be sold…
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward // This book recently got on my radar because there’s an event at the Eastern State Penitentiary (now a historical site, no longer a working penitentiary lol) this weekend featuring a prison labour tour and book discussion of this book. A friend shared this event with me because the penitentiary is near my apartment. We haven’t decided whether we’re going yet and I definitely won’t read this book in time for the event, but I’m still interested regardless!
Music
I saw Jacob Banks live!!! His voice gets me feeling thingsss. Catch up with my recap here + video clips and recommendations of my favourite songs.
I already have tickets to see Tom Odell in April, and I’m planning to get tickets for Bruno Major, which will also be an April show. I’ve already seen Bruno Major (recap here) but I’m going again to accompany a friend. And because I love Bruno Major. Plus, his tickets are still only $15 (:
Spendings
I started tracking my spendings to relieve guilt about necessary spendings and notice unnecessary spendings. Now that I have spendings logged for two months (I just started this January), I can make some comparisons!
Monthlies – 51% // Rent.
Transportation – 11% // Overall, I spent only slightly more on transportation than last month. However, my Lyfts to the gym were more than double last month, but that makes sense since I got my gym membership halfway through last month. I think my overall spending in this category evened out because in January I had expensive Lyfts to and from the airport.
Groceries – 12% // I spent $40 more on groceries than last month, but that makes sense since I was on holiday with family for part of January, during which I didn’t spend my own money on groceries (or on anything really heh).
Coffee – 2% // After realising how little I spent on coffee last month, I wasn’t as strict with myself on coffee spendings this month, but I ended up spending about the same amount.
Bubble tea – 1% // Bought one extra bubble tea than last month.
Food – 8% // Spent almost double from last month. I was really anxious about eating out this month because I caught up with quite a few friends over meals.
Clothes – 2% // Underwear from Victoria’s Secret’s Valentine’s sale (7 for $30).
Other – 12% // Jacob Banks tickets, A Midsummer Night’s Dream opera tickets, college dance concert tickets, Philadelphia Museum of Art tickets, knitting supplies, thrift shopping. Considering how many events I went to and the tickets I bought, I’m surprised I didn’t spend more! I went thrifting one day and spent $6.13 on a new game of Twister, a hardback copy of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt in basically new condition, and a little jar. Still haven’t played Twister yet.
Last month’s spendings totaled to approximately $1400 and so did this month’s, albeit last month I was rounding up to $1400 and this month I’m rounding down to $1400, but not by much. So I think $1400 is a good budgeting goal for me! I’m pretty happy with my consistent spending habit, especially considering I spent all my own money this month, whereas last month I spent my parents’ money over the holidays when traveling together.
Lately
Catching up with Louise after swims. During my senior year, Louise and I would catch up over coffee almost weekly between classes at the University of Pennsylvania. Now that I’m swimming three times a week at Drexel University near the Penn, Louise and I can resume our (almost) weekly coffees! This time we also got a quick lunch.
Made cucumber toast with toasted baguette slices, creamy dill spread, shaved cucumbers, and alfalfa sprouts. Felt like I was having partial afternoon tea 😛
Spotted this crochet art on my way to my favourite thrift shop in Philly, Philly Aids Thrift. This guy saw me trying to get a picture and took it upon himself to give a little pose.
Checked out T Cafe after thrifting. At the front of their shop, they have a table by the window with two hanging egg chairs. I got myself a matcha latte and strawberry mousse. I really wanted to try their matcha earl grey mousse but the strawberry mousse was more photogenic lol.
My roomie Georgina surprised me with mini cakes from Carlo’s Bakery on Valentine’s Day! Chocolate mousse and cheesecake.
Kat came to visit me in Philly from New Jersey!
I revisited the Dior exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with Kat and Georgina.
Spotted pretty street art.
Spotted leftover Christmas decor. Pointed the wrong way.
I WANT THIS BAG. Spotted at Omoi Zakka in Old City. Kinda pricey though. You can find other “emotional baggage” bags on Etsy, but I’m not sure about their quality. I can confirm that the one from Omoi Zakka is very sturdy.
Brunch with Kat at Bluestone Lane. Avocado toast with a yoghurt bowl, and a cappuccino.
This Madewell sweater was on my wish list a few months ago. Found it on sale. Tried it on but the material felt a little rough and the size a little too skintight, so I didn’t buy it even though I loved the colours.
Watched A Midsummer Night’s Dream opera with Kat before she headed home. It was funnier than I expected.
I knitted my second scarf in my life! The first row was a bit loose and the last row was a bit tight, but I hoped the tassels would camouflage the inconsistencies. Anyways, I’m completely embracing taking up hobbies you’re bad at.
Checked out Bookhaven, a used bookstore. They have two cats.
Checked out Book Corner, another used book store, the same day. They also have two cats. Book Corner is more budget friendly ($1 for mass market, $2 for paperback, $3 for hardback), but I liked Bookhaven’s curation more (many titles I looked at at Bookhaven were about $8). Or maybe I simply ran out of steam by the time I got to Book Corner.
A free cappuccino at Joe Coffee because I finally filled out my punch card.
A cappuccino at Reanimator Coffee. I meant to meet a Philly blogger there for a shoot, but she had a personal emergency, so I ended up reading at Reanimator and slowly enjoying my coffee myself.
Right after that, I checked out Milkcrate Cafe, since my day freed up. Got another cappuccino and bought myself a record even though I don’t have a record player. I may share a full blog post featuring Milkcrate later!
Met Jessica x Little Henry Lee over coffee at Elixir! She’s just moved from Canada and is about to move back to Australia, but in between she’s traveling for six weeks. One of her stops was Philly (: We had a good catch up and chatted about life, changes, and blogging. It was kinda surreal “catching up” even though this was the first time we met in person, but it also felt so normal! The power of blogging 😮
Made sweet potato topped with creamy dill spread, kale chips, and curried chickpeas. I didn’t like the chickpeas that much but the sweet potato, creamy dill, and kale combo was delicious.
Treated myself to bubble tea and buns.
~
These monthly recaps are getting quite lengthy aren’t they? I think I might have to start separating sections into different posts. Perhaps my future monthly recaps will only include what’s in my “lately” section; books could be their own post, but I’m not sure where to stick music, shows/films, spendings, and wish lists. Eh, I’ll figure it out. Anywho…
What was your highlight of February? What are you looking forward to in March?