Hi everybody, and welcome to my July wrap up!
Honesly, my July felt like it lasted foreeever. Why that is, I’m not sure, because I did feel like I did a lot of things, but time just didn’t seem to go by at all. Perhaps it has something to do with the weather, since we’ve been in a heatwave pretty much all month and the high temperatures are making everything feel slow. Though I didn’t read that much, I did get to read 2 new books and re-read 2 old favorites, so I’m happy about that. I also watched quite some TV and listened to some new music. So let’s just dive in: here’s what I did in July!
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han
Last month I re-read the first two books in this trilogy so I could finally read the third and final book and finish the trilogy in time for the Netflix movie adaptation coming out this month (I am so excited for this, I’ve already watched the trailer a bazillion times on repeat!). And I still adore the everloving fluff out of these books. I think my favorite will always be the first one, though really it’s a tough call because they are all amazing. Always and Forever, Lara Jean was a perfect, sweet and satisfying finale to the series. I just adore Lara Jean, who is such a refreshing main character. I hope the movie adaptation keeps her personality intact because I need more homebody main characters who just love their family, baking, scrapbooking and hanging out at a retirement home. Peter K. is one of my favorite bookish boyfriends and the Song girls are adorable. Now I’m counting down the days to the movie because you know I’ll be there the day it releases!
Rating: 4 stars
Save the Date by Morgan Matson
I adore Morgan Matson books. I think they’re great summer reads that are full of fluff but also deal with deeper topics. So naturally, Save The Date was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year because one) Morgan Matson and two) I loved the idea of wedding shenanigans. That said, it unfortunately was not my favorite. Because seriously, I was annoyed like 80% of the time while reading this book. I mean, literally EVERYTHING that could go wrong at this wedding, goes wrong and it just got a little ridiculous. Then you have a huge family there, but somehow everyone depends on 17-year old Charlie to fix everything while they are off doing God knows what? It just really rubbed me in the wrong way. I think this is one of those books I could have handled better in a condensed movie format. But don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate the book either. I did love the huge focus on family, which was definitely the highlight.
Rating: 3 stars
TOP TEN TUESDAY
- 3 July 2018: A Quick Guide To Belgium For Book Cover Lovers
- 10 July 2018: The Ten Best Books I’ve Read in 2018 So Far
- 17 July 2018: Why I Don’t Like To Read Novellas & The Few Exceptions To The Rule
- 24 July 2018: A Trip Down Memory Lane Featuring… Books!
Quote It Wednesday
SOMETHING DIFFERENT SUNDAY
Favorite K-Pop Songs of 2018 (Pt 1)
DISCUSSION
Five Totally Easy & Helpful Tips On How To Read More
My playlist this month was all over the place again, as evidenced by my faves below:
SOME OF MY FAVES THIS MONTH:
Cheat Codes with Little Mix – Only You
I ADORE this song and I don’t really understand why this hasn’t been getting any radio play because it IS SOOO GOOD! I’ve been listening it almost every day this month and I still haven’t had enough. Plus I just want to give all the love for this video clip featuring mermaids and an f/f romance <3
Seungri – 1, 2, 3!
I was so excited for Seungri’s album and I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED! The entire album is just on fire and I love every single song, but this lead single takes the… well, lead… because I can’t listen to it without getting a huge smile on my face and wanting to dance.
Troye Sivan ft Ariana Grande – Dance To This
Though I adore Troye Sivan, I haven’t been super into his latest album, but Dance To This really is my jam. I love the collaboration with Ariana Grande, who sounds great and they just seem to have so much fun together in the video clip.
Seungri – Where R U From (Ft Mino)
Another Seungri, but seriously I love this album and Where R U From, the second single is also soo good. Plus the video is hilarious and I love the Fantastic Baby and Ddu-Ddu-Du references. Seungri is so extra and I am thrilled he’s letting his personality shine 😀
Seventeen – Oh My
Truthfully, the latest Seventeen song hasn’t grabbed me like some of their other songs, but it’s still a fun and catchy song and I’ve been playing it regularly. Also, can I just live in that video clip please?
TV
Queer Eye
I saw some buzz about this show on social media and since a ton of people I follow are absolutely in love with this show and the Fab 5, I decided to give it a try. And that try ended in me binge-watching two seasons in a few days because HOLY SMOKES THIS IS AMAZING! Admittedly, I do have a weakness for makeover shows, but Queer Eye is just so much more. It helps and heals people and in turn made me cry almost every single episode and cleansed my soul in the process. I immediately followed the Fab 5 on Instagram and Twitter because I’m such a Queer Eye fangirl right now.
Hwayugi / A Korean Odyssey
This was the hit kdrama of 2017, so when I saw it was available to watch on Netflix, I jumped right in. And while it took me an episode or 2-3 to warm up to the characters and to get into the story, I ended up hooked and my daily episode was the highlight of my days 🙂 For those that don’t know, A Korean Odyssey is a fantasy drama where a human girl frees a powerful immortal and makes a deal with him to be her protector. It’s funny and romantic and filled with a strong supporting cast. I was especially invested in the story of Bu Ja, a zombie who’s trying to find out how and why she died before she rots away (it sounds weird, but trust me, it’s good!). Completely worth the hype!
Things that made me sad this month:
- Being sick. I had painful cramps for about a week, which turned out to have been an infection that was treated with 3 days of medication. Lesson: I should learn to go to the doctor sooner.
- My shredded self-confidence. I’ve always been somewhat insecure. It’s just how it is and I can usually deal with it fine. But over the past few months I’ve been struggling with some toxicity in my environment that has slowly but surely been shredding every single bit of self-confidence I did have about myself, ranging from my looks and introverted personality, to my skills and career choices. Though I know I shouldn’t let it get to me, this month it really did and I’m struggling to get over it and make the necessary tough decisions to get myself out of this toxic cycle.
Things that made me happy this month:
- Ed Sheeran live! I’ve been wanting to see Ed Sheeran live for so long and this month I finally had the chance to see him live and let me tell you, it was AMAZING. It baffles me how this man can just walk on to a stage with his guitar and OWN the crowd. And his voice is just as amazing live as it is on CD <3
- Pearl Jam and Jack White live! Though I like and appreciate their music a lot, I’m not the hugest fan myself, but since my husband is, we went to see these guys perform at the Werchter festival and honestly, it’s another highlight of the month. I just love the atmosphere of a concert and how it seems to unite people. Everybody’s just there, hanging out and enjoying the show. I believe a good concert can really cleanse the soul!
- A trip to a zoo called Pairi Daiza where I visited the bats in the bat tower and of course other gorgeous animals, but I was most excited about the bats cause they are C.U.T.E. <3
- Friend dates <3<3<3
- Great entertainment: the fluffy books I read and great TV I watched
THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:
- BTS comeback! (us kpop fans are so spoiled really)
- To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before movie adaptation release
- City of Ghosts by V.E. Schwab release
I did the exact same with Queer Eye! I saw so many people talk about it and figured I had to give it a go as well. Then I just binge-watched the entire show because it was SO GOOD.
I also feel the same way about Oh My! It didn’t grab my attention as much as their other songs have, and it’s not my favorite comeback of theirs. Still enjoyed it though, because it’s Seventeen and I adore them.
I hope August will be a better month for you! A toxic environment can really be so damaging, so I hope you’ll be able to get out of it soon.
OMG, Queer Eye was soo good indeed, I’m already sorry I ran out of all the episodes so fast 🙂
Yeah, Seventeen is always great, I just haven’t been as drawn to Oh My than I have to some of their other songs. Still on my playlist though, of course 😀
Thanks Jolien, hope you’ll have an amazing August too!
I’m very ready for fall because summer is too hot. I feel gross and sluggish all the time. I hope you’re able to get rid of the toxic things in your environment. Nobody needs that. I think bats are cute, too! They’re like flying puppies. Have a great August!
Yeah, I’m totally counting down for fall too 😉 Thanks, toxic environments are definitely bad, but I’m working on it! And yes, bats are totally like flying puppies, I don’t see why they’re not more popular 🙂 Hope you’ll have an amazing August too!
It’s incredibly hot here in my country, too! But the heat always makes me want to sleep (because you don’t feel heat when you’re asleep HEH), so my July went by pretty fast. D: Anyway, I’m sorry you didn’t love Save the Date! I haven’t read it yet, but the Morgan Matson books I’ve read have been fantastic. I’m not sure how I’d feel about the ridiculous antics in this one.
Haha that’s a great tip, I should try sleeping more for sure! Though it’s cooled down a bit now so that’s good 🙂
I absolutely ADORED all other Morgan Matson books, so I’m sorry I didn’t love Save The Date as much as I did the others too. It’s still a nice, funny book though, so I hope you’ll like it more than I did!
I feel like I am going to the doctor a ton lately, which sucks, but it’s nice when it turns out to be a small thing that can be treated easily. I hope you’re feeling better and that August is a better month, personally – I think you’re an awesome person!
Yes, it’s definitely better to go to the doctor and be reassured it’s nothing than waiting to long and have something become worse. I should work on going more quickly myself 🙂
Definitely feeling better already – thanks so much Angela, that’s so nice of you <3
I was just thinking the same about the weather here in Belgium. July seemed to have last forever because of it. =/ I want to go to Pairi Daiza so badly. I went one time with school ages ago but that was back when they didn’t have a lot of animals, only birds basically. Is it worth the trip?
Yeah exactly! I love nice weather but honestly I’ve never been so happy to have rain and feel a bit chilly again haha 🙂
I think Pairi Daiza is definitely worth the trip, it’s so worth its’ title of one of the most beautiful parks in Europe. It’s a bit of a drive, but it’s beautiful and has so many animals now, not just the birds, and they all seem to be taken care of very well and have nice habitats.
I need to listen to that Troye Sivan song – and the Little Mix. I haven’t heard either. I feel like I’m so behind with music. Yay for seeing Ed Sheeran live. I just love them. I’d love to see him live again – it’s been YEARS now.
-Lauren
I hope you’ll enjoy the Troye Sivan and Little Mix song! And Ed Sheeran was sooo good, I hope you’ll get to see him live again someday.
Hey my sweet friend! I really hope that August has been good to you so far and that you’ve managed to break the toxic cycle that is damaging your self confidence! You don’t deserve that at all.
Hope to catch up with you properly soon. xoxo
Aww thanks so much Di! You’re the sweetest! <3