The Good Stuff from May

May flew by! It started on such a high note, ended on such a hard note. I celebrated a birthday during a global pandemic, and marched in my first peaceful protests. It was such a wild and full month, and I’m glad I finally took the time to look back at it and record what happened.

Here’s the good stuff from May:

ps— affiliate links are included in this post!

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five-star books:

• Defiant: What the Women of Exodus Teach Us about Freedom by Kelley Nikondeha (review here)

• Leaving Egypt: Finding God in the Wilderness Places by Chuck DeGroat (review here)

• The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd (review here)

shows + movies:

• Never Have I Ever

• Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Hulu)

• Love Island - season 2 (Hulu)

podcasts:

• The Popcast (Knox + Jamie)

• Annie and Eddie Keep Talking

• The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman

the RAD podcast:

• episode 11: a book a day + keeping a log + birthday traditions

• episode 12: books that have helped my mental health + list maker challenge + heart's desires

•  episode 13: how emdr therapy changed and saved my life

•  episode 14: morning/evening prayers + gardening + humility.

•  episode 15: books that have helped me be a better ally + marches + a powerful post from my dad

music:

• Maverick City Music

• A loooootttttt of Donovan Woods

• played my “a novel playlist” for soothing vibes many, many times

everything else:

• turning 28!

• hannah + lauren organizing the best day of bday shoutouts and sweet messages on bookstagram

• reading ALMOST a book a day again this month

• everything blooming

• new vintage home goods from a local shop

• mother’s day walks + picnics

• new vans

• finishing a bookish puzzle

• spending afternoons on a blanket on the museum lawn with bare feet and books and snacks

• evenings reading and sipping wine on the front porch

• recording weekly podcast episodes

• joy to the people nails

• reading the NYT on Sundays (and turning them into collages)

• meal prepping and chopping all the veggies

• trader joe’s flowers

• new chalk art declaring #blacklivesmatter

• marching and joining in peaceful protests in my city

• trying really dark lipstick

• eating fried squash blossoms from my garden

• lots of sun prints!!!

• my first quarantine parade (saying goodbye to the kids pastor at my church)

• launching a new app for my church!!!

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ps— if you’re curious, here’s everything I read this month:

• The Distance from A-Z by Natalie Blitt (3 stars // review here)

• Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey (3 stars // review here)

• Defiant: What the Women of Exodus Teach Us about Freedom by Kelley Nikondeha (5 stars // review here)

• You’re a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass): Embracing the Emotions, Habits, and Mystery That Make You You by Mike McHargue (4 stars // review here)

• Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin (3 stars // review here)

• Pretty Things by Janelle Brown (3 stars // review here)

• The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon (3 stars // review here)

• The Upside of Being Down: How Mental Health Struggles Led to My Greatest Successes in Work and Life by Jen Gotch (3 stars // review here)

• The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager (3 stars // review here)

• A Totally Awkward Love Story by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison (2 stars // review here)

• Pax by Sara Pennybacker (4 stars // review here)

• Leaving Egypt: Finding God in the Wilderness Places by Chuck DeGroat (5 stars // review here)

• Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey (2 stars // review here)

• Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, from Someone Who's Been There by Tara Schuster (5 stars // review here)

• A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler (4 stars // review here)

• Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels (3 stars // review here)

• Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness (4 stars // review here)

• Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (4 stars // review here)

• Head over Heels by Hannah Orenstein (2 stars // review here)

• You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria (3 stars // review here)

• Open Book by Jessica Simpson (3 stars // review here)

• Remain Silent by Susie Steiner (1 star // review here)

• The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd (5 stars // review here)

• Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore (3 stars // review here)

• I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts On Being a Woman by Nora Ephron (2 stars // review here)

• Act Like a Lady: Questionable Advice, Ridiculous Opinions, and Humiliating Tales from Three Undignified Women (1 star // review here)

• I’d Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos (3 stars // review here)

• Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart (1 star // review here)

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