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Archive for the ‘Fun’ Category

Friday Five – What Is Time

Posted in Alive, Books, Church, Core, Food, Friday Five, Fun, Mental Health, Seasons, Work on July 24, 2026| 2 Comments »

This week has felt 14,325 days long. I even had Monday off work, but that feels so long ago, I can’t even remember what I did. 

Probably read? Probably cleaned? Maybe went to the library? Who knows?

Next week, I have Friday off to travel to the farm and help take care of some practical things for Mom and Dad. Then it will be August, and I’ll actually go back to working full weeks again (I’ve had a lot of time off in July, which has been nice). Maybe I’ll get to start working from home part of the time in August? Perhaps? We will see.

In the meantime, here are some things that have been helpful to me this week:

  • This may sound mean, but I’m so glad Nadia Bolz-Weber is bad at meditation. Me, too. But even stumbling at it is helpful, so I do it, even when I do it badly. “Not because after five minutes of breathing exercises the geopolitical situation improves. It doesn’t. But because it improves my spiritual bone density.” Well said.
  • In a reading slump? It happens. I had a big ol’ slump in April-May-June-ish. I still read, but not nearly as much as I wanted to. I just could not focus. Regardless of why reading slumps happen, though, eventually they subside. Usually. Sometimes they need a little push. Such as a Couch to 5K…but for reading. This is an amazing idea, and I love how detailed the plan is.
  • I am HEAVILY invested in the blossoming love life of Trenchfoot and Doughboy. Jessica introduced me to them, and I’m so happy. Team Trenchfoot. Doughboy needs to grow up if he’s going to be her baby’s father. Get it together, my dude. Riveted.
  • I have been planning to write a post about my summer bucket list for about a month. Reading isn’t the only thing that’s slumping in my world. So I’m just living vicariously through Joy the Baker’s lists – Part 1 and Part 2. I may still write my own (at this point, my list is just “Survive August in Texas”), but I also may just make a spin on her peach melba ice cream and call it a day. I think that’s good enough.
  • Speaking of sweet treats, this is on my list of things to try. It’s took hot in Texas right now to mail chocolate, but there’s a shop nearby that sells it. I feel an adventure coming up soon!

Edited to add: It’s National Tequila Day. Proceed accordingly.

I hope you have a good weekend, friends!

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Reading Retreat!

Posted in Books, Fun, Reading Challenges on July 9, 2026| 2 Comments »

The Dewey Reverse Readathon is this weekend. What makes it reverse, you ask? It runs evening to evening (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., my time)  instead of morning to morning (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.), so that, at least once a year, we are accommodating our internet friends in different time zones for whom our morning start falls at weird times. 

As an added bonus, this also accommodates those of us for whom waking up and starting anything at 7:00 a.m. is a special kind of torture and not fun at all.

Or one can just treat the readathon like I do, regardless of whether it is a regular or reverse event – start Friday night and extend into Sunday afternoon-ish. Why limit it to 24 hours? I nap and snack at weird intervals, but it’s an intensive reading weekend. This year, I’ve even taken Monday off to give myself time to reacclimate to a reasonable bedtime/schedule before having to be a human at work again.

I have read ahead far enough for my book clubs that there are no pressing deadlines in the upcoming week, so I don’t really need to include those in my plans. The themes of my selections for this reading retreat are fun and library books. That is, I have a lot of fun books (mostly next-in-series romance) on my recent TBRs that I have put off due to finishing the book on hold for someone else at the library or the book we were discussing at the next book club. 

Also, I have a lot of library books out, and some have holds on them. It seems to be a perpetual problem. One might point out that this could be solved by just waiting for the hype to die down and reading all the books I have at home. One can hush. We don’t need that kind of negativity here.

[Aside: I think I need a fun-read year in 2027. Yes, still a few challenges and my book club selections. But mostly fun. *ponders*]

The book stack I will be choosing from this weekend (and by “this weekend,” I definitely mean I started the first book last night):

[Disclaimer – I am a Bookshop.org affiliate – I get a cut of the sales from most of the links below.]

Additionally, I have some poetry and design books that I might dabble in. Or a book that spontaneously catches my fancy. Really, reading weekends are for reading exactly what I want. Even if it’s 30 pages each of 20 different books. Or one long book. Or a lot of audiobooks while I work on a craft project. It could be very structured or a chaotic mess, and I love seeing how it plays out.

I’ve already got my easy meals and snacks set up, and I’m washing sheets and blankets tonight to make sure I have all the cozy comfort that I will want to be readily available to me. 

Now I just need to get through two orientation days, and I’ll be ready to read!

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July 2026 TBR

Posted in Books, Fun, Home, Reading Challenges, Resolutions, Seasons, tagged , , on July 5, 2026| Leave a Comment »

If I were to become suddenly and inexplicably wealthy, a house with a pool might be one of my top five purchases. That’s really the only way to deal with Texas summers.

Other than the oppression of the outdoors, July looks pretty promising. There are some fun things on the horizon – i.e., a couple of live music shows I’m going to, a reading retreat, a few other fun bookish events, and maybe a trip to the farm.

And, of course, rampant reading. After a minor slump, I’ve been finishing books left and right. Hopefully, that will continue this month with the help of these reads.

[Disclaimer – I am a Bookshop.org affiliate – I get a cut of the sales from most of the links below.]

Book Clubs

Anti Brain Rot

Popsugar

  • The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen – A book with “Pop” or “Sugar” in the title
  • The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd – A book with a character who runs a marathon (I think? Or she just starts running? We will see.)
  • Yes, Yes, Cherries by Mary Otis – A book with any type of fruit on the cover or in the title

52 Book Club

  • In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson – Author’s first and last name start with the same letter
  • Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix – Literary device: personification (maybe – can’t find spoilers to confirm)
  • Shark Heart by Emily Habeck – Inspired by the top-grossing movie the year you were born (Jaws, because of course it was)

Libro.fm

Nowhere

Overeducated Women With Cats

  • Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas – A book set in a fully invented world

Bad Bitch Book Club

Read Your Bookshelf 

I hope your July is full of joy and pleasant surprises!

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Friday Five – I Love a Day Off

Posted in Books, Cozy, Food, Friday Five, Fun, Joy, Mental Health on July 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Happy July! I have the day off today, as I work for the state, and the holiday we would usually get at this time is on a Saturday this year. I’ll take it.

I’ve had a pretty easy week overall. In addition to having today off, I also took Monday and Tuesday off – just because – and I got a lot of reading and very little housework done and got to talk about books while in a pool on Tuesday. So…perfect days. I have a laidback party with some fun people this weekend, and then preparation for a reading retreat next weekend. Yay!

My seasonal depression is visiting. So far, it’s pretty mild this year. This is not a challenge, Derek (what I have named my seasonal depression. I feel like he would be a Derek. No offense if your name or the name of someone you love is Derek, of course. It’s just easy to yell in an exasperated manner.).

And yes, I do picture Derek from The Good Place when I yell it. Thanks for asking.

Here are some things that confused some of the summer sads this week:

  • Wednesday Adams is playing Klara in the screen adaptation of Klara and the Sun!!! And by Wednesday Adams, I do mean Jenna Ortega (which I had to google, because Jenny didn’t look right. Because it wasn’t). That is her real name. I’m too excited. I can’t be trusted to get names right.
  • One of my things-to-do-by-the-time-I’m-60 goals is to join an online book club. I should have been more specific. I have joined several. Technically, I am a member of at least three online book clubs, but I am having a hard time remembering to participate. I have online book friends and book groups, but I wanted to buckle down with one that reads and discusses a book each month. I was excited to discover that Kate Bowler has started one, and the first month is Shark Heart, which was on my radar to read for one of my challenges this year anyway. Added bonus – there are many ways to participate in this club. We’ll see how it goes!
  • One of these days, I’m going to give in and just make some Bala Baiana. It truly is everything I love in a candy.
  • “Obliterates” is a strong word, but I do enjoy Mamdani’s handling of the press. Almost as much as I appreciate that he actually does the job he was elected to do. The bar is so low, y’all.
  • Rachel Maddow’s concern about books that have been weeded is my favorite thing on the internet this week.

I hope you are doing well and get to do something fun this weekend!

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Friday Five – Adventuring

Posted in Friday Five, Fun, Resolutions on May 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

More Transfer Orientation today! I think I have the hang of these now. Just in time to start Freshman Orientation next week.

I started the year with a goal of 25 micro-adventures – quick things that I can do around town or within a day trip’s drive. I’ve only done a few so far, so today I am posting a list of things to inspire myself (and perhaps you, too) to get out and see the world that is right around me a little more.

  • I like a good crawl. Pub crawl? Classic. Wine crawl? Even better. I did a coffee crawl a few years ago, and that was fun. But something I’ve never done before is a book crawl. This would be a fun way to explore a cute area with lots of cafes or a neighboring downtown.
  • While I am not sure I want my adventure to be dictated for me, I love the idea of a mystery picnic. I do love discovering new places to get delicious treats.
  • I have lived near Dallas for over 30 years, and I haven’t heard of some of these places. May have to check them out sometime this year!
  • Bringing it even closer to home, there’s always so much to see and try right here in Denton. I stay pretty aware of my usual haunts, but it’s always good to keep an eye on this events page to step a little outside my regular proclivities.
  • And finally, if all else fails, you can always count on Reddit for some great ideas.

I hope you have a good weekend – and maybe a little adventure as well.

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Not-Friday Five – Maggie and Michelle Weekend!

Posted in Church, Denton, Food, Friday Five, Fun, Joy, Mental Health, Music, TV on May 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Yay, Maggie and Michelle! They are here in my house this weekend! I am looking at them right now. I was so excited they were coming into town that I didn’t remember to post this on Friday. We have eaten a lot of cheese and blueberry sourdough and also went to see The Importance of Being Earnest at the community theatre last night. Happy all around.

Some more things that made me happy this week:

  • I grew up singing in church choirs. It was always my favorite thing about church, a place where, otherwise, I felt as awkward and out of place as I did everywhere else growing up. I can’t listen to so many songs that we sang without feeling that gut punch of knowing how often they were used to belittle others (we called it speaking the truth in love) and shut them out (we hid behind our wildly out-of-context interpretation of the Bible’s instruction to be set apart for Christ). I remember how scandalous it was when a Christian singer, songwriter, speaker, preacher, etc., stepped outside the prescribed, approved path (i.e., anything but straight, conservative, and behaving according to their assigned gender role). As someone who knew how painful the rejection of not living up to said path could be, I had a soft spot in my heart for these people who were living our shared faith the best they could, despite not fitting their assigned boxes, in a very public arena, even before I understood how much I would come to agree with many of them as I got older. This week, I curled in a ball and sobbed when I read about the rerelease of Testify to Love, a reimagining that celebrates how big and wide God’s love really is. While it is very different in style from the songs I sing in my church choir now, that sad, serious inner child of mine with so much love to give just healed a little. 
  • I love this piece on self-compassion. Here are some golden nuggets that make me feel seen:
    • “I decided long ago that I would rather beat myself up every day for the rest of my life than whisper to myself about how the Universe is conspiring in my favor.”
    • “I try to approach my own brain the way I would approach a skittish rescue animal—no sudden movements.“
    • “I remind myself that I am not competing in the Trauma Olympics. I’m allowed to have feelings even if someone else has it worse.”
    • “Sometimes [self-compassion] looks profound. Sometimes it looks like eating sour gummy candy in my car while telling myself to calm the hell down before I ruin my own day. Either way, I think it counts.”
  • I love two things about Jenny Lawson’s post this week. First, I relate to the perpetual being behind on many cultural commentaries. I, too, get lost in my deep dives. Also, I sometimes have to take in information more thoroughly before I fully form my opinion about it. I blame (i.e., thank) my communication degree. Conflict management teaches response rather than reaction, and so much of what we get, particularly on social media, is mainly reaction (not all – some people just process information really quickly and can get their response out faster). And second, I am very excited to learn what she names her new foster fail kitty. The little face! That cat knows it’s found a home.
  • There is going to be a Grey’s Anatomy spin-off that takes place in West Texas. Yessss. 
  • Thom Yorke was inducted into the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy. Harry Styles presented him with the award. And Yorke’s acceptance speech was also brilliant. I love it when musicians are also good writers.

Hope you’re having a fun weekend, too!

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Friday Five – Good Buys

Posted in Books, Bookshops, Cozy, Friday Five, Fun, Getting It Together, Home, Joy, Resolutions, Work on April 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Happy Friday, friends! This week’s post is weirdly shopping heavy, but I’m here for it. I mean, some of the implied shopping is books, so at least that tracks. 

  • Yesterday was Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George’s Day), otherwise known as Day of Books and Roses. One of my coworkers surprised us with a selection of bookish stickers (“team whoever the villain is” is my favorite), bookmarks, roses, and a book of our choosing from her donation pile. 
  • Excited about Independent Bookstore Day tomorrow. I mean, every day is Independent Bookstore Day to me, and event days are crowded, so I’ll probably skip the festivities at my local shops. But I like the opportunity to celebrate them, even if from afar. I also love Modern Mrs. Darcy’s list of great indie bookstores around the world.
  • I took Montana Happy’s cozy living style quiz. Zero surprise that “whimsical retreat” is my brand of cozy (although I do like a garden, and also a house, not an apartment, is my ideal).
  • My current financial goal is to insert a pause on purchases. I am a quick decision-maker, which is beneficial in literally every facet of my life…except shopping. It urges me to buy things that, if I put just a little more time and thought into it, I might not want in the long run and thus regret buying. So this cute top is on pause right now. I want more spring/summer casual business clothes for work…but also need to reassess if this is one I really love or if it just checks that box (meaning there might be something else I want more). If I still love it in a week, I’ll take the leap.
  • Speaking of things I took off pause…these are the best under-skirt shorts I’ve ever worn. I have only worn them once, but it was on a super mobile day (i.e., I walked around a lot rather than just staying in/near my office, like most days), and they did not budge even a little bit. They’re also lightweight and super soft and low maintenance. I’m going to pause a little before purchasing more – give them a couple more wears to see if it was a one-time thing or if the quality persists after multiple washes – but if they continue to perform as well as they did the other day, Thigh Society can just take all my money. A good undershort is hard to find.

Enjoy your weekend! I hope you get to visit at least one indie bookstore (if that’s your thing)!

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Friday Five – I’m a Fan

Posted in Books, Food, Friday Five, Fun, Run, Work, tagged , , on March 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Happy Friday, friends. We did it. Despite being absolutely covered in pollen every time I step outside, I have made it through the week. Claritin is my friend.

I’m a big fan of these five things this week:

  • This is the deep dive into bar soap that I didn’t know I needed, and I am here for it. Bar soap for life. I mean, not Irish Spring, as I’m allergic. But you can pry my locally crafted soaps and my Dr. Bronner’s peppermint away from my cold, dead hands.
  • Jane Fonda is going to play one of my favorite book characters from the books I read last year. I’m so excited!
  • HARRY STYLES TALKING TO HARUKI MURAKAMI ABOUT RUNNING! “One of the most important things for a human being is to embrace the contradiction.” I feel better about life in general just having read Murakami saying, “What is this chaos in me?” Same, Murakami. 
  • Today, we are celebrating International Waffle Day (Observed) in the office because we had another lunch to attend on Wednesday, when it was actually International Waffle Day. Of course, I brought my waffle iron to work. While Mark Bittman’s quick and easy waffles are my favorite go-tos, I make a mess when I mix them up. I needed something more portable, so I adjusted to a mix I could just shake and pour. I tested it last night, and it was fine. Meh. It was waffles from a mix. It will work. I have cranberries and thyme to add to it, so that will spruce it up a bit. At any rate, yay waffles for lunch!
  • I’m going to make this dish this weekend. Baharan brought it to cookbook club, and I can’t stop thinking about it. So simple. So delicious. So easy to make, even on busy days.

I hope you have a good weekend!

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Friday Five – Representation Love

Posted in Alive, Beauty, Books, Fandom, Friday Five, Fun, Hope, Mental Health, Revolution, TV, What I'm Into on March 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

When the alarm went off this morning, my first thought was “last time I have to hear that this week.” It’s the small things. I have a pretty easy weekend ahead, so I’m looking forward to that.

Here are many things from the internet (mostly from Instagram) that I loved this week.

  • This made me laugh and laugh. Substitute “report card” for “cleaning my room” and this is spot on. My favorite is “You know everybody’s business on the street but you can’t remember what the doctor said?” Actual words that have come out of my mouth – “DO I NEED TO COME TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND SIT NEXT TO YOU?” My parents don’t think it’s so humorous when their own words come back at them, but here we are. 
  • Do you have someone in your life who is obsessed with Heated Rivalry? Yes, you do. It’s me. I recently preordered the 7th book that’s coming out in June and also all the special editions of the first six coming out in October, and I’m not even sorry, bank account. This is my joy. Thanks to HR, my Instagram algorithm no longer sends me immediately into a downward spiral (courtesy of the ongoing wtf-ness of the news cycle), and I’m so grateful. HR has gentled the spiral. My May/June TBR (or as soon as I can get my hands on all of them in some form – I’m next on the library waitlist for the first two eeeee!) will basically be this. I have watched the first three episodes with friends, but I am 96% sure I’m going to cave and subscribe to HBO Max for my birthday next week so that I can just watch them all on repeat on a daily basis. My favorite reel right now is of an episode I haven’t even watched yet that shows a whole sports bar’s reaction to a pivotal scene. Spoiler alert – episode 5 (but really, if you have any interest in HR and you are on the internet at all in any way, you have seen this scene). The sheer, unbridled, effervescent joy. Also – Representation matters.
  • Because the representation in HR deserves another bullet point. “It’s about a kid seeing someone loving the same thing he does, trying to stand fully in himself, realizing that the different parts of him don’t have to cancel each other out for him to belong.” The writers and cast are hearing from professional athletes in the closet who are so thankful for the show. “Queer people need to see gay people win. Gay love doesn’t have to end in tragedy. The other shoe doesn’t have to drop.” “Obviously, it’s important to have people who have the experience of autism playing roles who are autistic, but there’s also so much value in having somebody who loves someone who’s autistic playing this role” Finally, this is one of my favorite scenes so far (because there’s gonna be a Season 2 yay) – the apology, the acknowledgement, the space to just let the hurt and the apology exist in the same conversation without trying to smooth either one over. Just…*happy sigh*
  • Excellent breakdown of what good research actually is. Also, Ground News, y’all. Such a good resource. “Let your truths guide your politics; don’t let your politics tell you what’s true.”
  • And finally – I love this energy. “I’m not doing favors today.” “Your request is denied.” And my favorite – “Learn your rights – I can’t learn them for you.” That’s fed-up mom/teacher energy, and I second that emotion.

I hope both your day and your weekend are wonderful!

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Friday Five – Joy and Help

Posted in Beauty, Church, Food, Friday Five, Fun, Joy, Revolution, Work, Writing, tagged , , on February 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

My first full week in office in my advisor position! The first week had Monday as a holiday, and the second week was mostly working from home due to the winter storm that swept through this area. It’s been a long week, but it’s been good. I haven’t quite outfitted my office yet, so I’m going to do some more decorating next week.

I’m looking forward to going out with some friends tonight and I have a few events this weekend. Hopefully, I’ll also have some time to read, clean, and generally decompress as well.

Some links for the week:

  • This opinion from US District Judge Fred Biery on the release of Liam Arias and his father Adrian is a good read. “‘We the People’ are hearing echoes of that history,” is the type of statement that once inspired me to consider the law and eventually judgeship as a career path. As much as I would probably loathe being a judge most of the time, I would enjoy writing things like this.
  • Charcuterie. Pretzels. Y’all, this is adorable.
  • How to make soup and also write a novel. I’m going to add this wisdom to my Fall Curriculum (spoiler – my goal will be to revamp my writing practice and finish a manuscript).
  • I love her joy and her new ‘do!
  • Troubles in Minneapolis persist, and friends of a friend have a good resource on the ground if you are looking for a place to donate. The Helping Hand Fund through Our Savior’s Lutheran Church supports their neighbors in need, and you can donate generally or designate your donation as “immigrant support” if you want to specify where you’d like it to go.

I hope you get time and space to decompress this weekend!

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