January was approximately 843 days long. I wanted January to be a fresh start. I think we all wanted that. It wasn’t the pure trash that the past year has been but honestly it was not the greatest. I had some setbacks (emotional, spiritual, and psychologically) but I also experienced some wins. I thought it may be fun to round up all of the things I loved this month. Finding the joy is important and I really don’t do it enough. Tomorrow’s post is all about my goals for the year and how I did in January.
I can only hope my recap of January books does not set the tone for the year. I finished four books in January and all four of the books I completed were good. Their reviews will be up in the coming weeks, but none of them really stood out as amazing. What was particularly exciting was that I received my most highly anticipated book of the year, Crescent City 3 House of Flame and Shadow.
There is a bit of a theme in the tv shows that I watched in January. Almost every one was in the action/mystery genre. Weirdly I couldn’t get into anything that felt low stakes. We binged two seasons of Reacher in about 2 days. Alan Ritchson is a fantastic main character who I just want to hug. Season one focuses on him solving the mystery around his brother’s death. Season two is dedicated to solving the mystery behind the death of his former squad members. Both seasons kept me on the edge of my seat.
We binged Monarch one evening and then had to wait for the last couple of episodes. The story takes place in the midst of a few of the Godzilla movies (don’t ask me which ones). It focuses on the back story of Monarch, the organization that monitors encounters with titans, like Godzilla and King Kong. I’ll be honest, I had very low expectations. My boyfriend really likes the Godzilla movies so this was his pick. I ended up really enjoying it though. There is a pretty interesting mystery at play and I really loved the cast.
If you haven’t watched Slow Horses yet, what are you waiting for?! I had already watched seasons one and two of Slow Horses last year, but didn’t realize season three was out. My boyfriend hadn’t seen any of it so we binged all three seasons in pretty quick succession. Don’t sleep on this show. It is fantastic and hilarious. Gary Oldman plays creepy, crotchety old guy way too well.
Now I am deeply obsessed with True Detective: Night Country. That HBO makes me wait each week for a new episode may actually kill me. It is tied to season one and it is leaning into the paranormal. I have been horrified by specific scenes in each episode and I spend all week looking forward to the new episode.
I’m trying to get better at catching a picture of my outfits each day. I certainly did not consistently get photos this month, but here’s to getting more consistent in February. Ultimately my goal is to have a weekly roundup of what I wore that week and pick my favorite two to three for my monthly round up.
I’m typically not one for flavored coffee, but I was convinced to buy a sampler of Bones coffee. We got five different flavors and I have been pleasantly surprised. We’ve tried two and I have been enjoying them. Highland Grog has been my favorite so far.
We tried a new breakfast spot: Rise and Brine Chicken Biscuits. I was absolutely floored by how delicious this new spot is. Both the chicken and the biscuits were to die for. If you’re passing through the Lexington area, I highly recommend. It is a little off the beaten path, but it is well worth the detour.
I’m a brunch girl. I love getting to mix sweet and savory and sleep in. This month we’ve made a habit of having a brunch date each weekend even if it is just at home (French toast with bacon).
I’m obsessed with this app. I just started using the Five minute journal at the beginning of the month. I have not been as consistent as I would like but it has been so easy to use. I almost bought the physical journal, but I already have more journals and notebooks than I need. This app has daily guided journaling and it has really been a joy to add to my morning routine… when I do my routine.
It’s winter and my skin is disconcertingly dry. When I was shopping for my mom for Christmas, I also picked up my own supply of Sympathy for the skin. I forgot how much I really love this lotion. It is so soothing and smells absolutely amazing.
A week in Washington, D.C. was certainly one of the high points this month. I travel a lot for work, but often don’t get a chance to really just enjoy the place that I am. Lots of single nights in a hotel room then a convention hall the next day and a flight in the evening. I had the chance to spend an entire week working in DC. I had meetings and work, but I also got to have dinners and drinks with friends. It was a fantastic start to the year and (I’m hoping) will set the tone for work travel this year.
