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What I Read: July 2023

August 4, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

Despite my intentions to read some beach-y, fun summer books… that didn’t happen.

In fact, my reading seemed to slow way down this month. In part, because I was traveling and exhausted. But I did also tackle a 784-page book, so that likely played a role.

I still seem to be continuing my trend this year toward non-fiction and fantasy with July’s reads including:
-A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
-A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
-The Power of One More by Ed Mylett
-Ragdoll by Daniel Cole
-Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt

Now for the reviews!

What are SMARTER goals? (With Examples!)

July 19, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

I was hesitant to write this post.

I don’t want to say that I was traumatized as that’s probably a bit dramatic, but having to complete SMART goals each year for a previous job did… leave a bad taste in my mouth. Can anyone else relate??

Considering that the SMART framework is an effective way to set achievable goals, it’s obviously very disappointing to feel this way about the process. So, when I heard about SMARTER goals while listening to the audio version of Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt, I wanted to give the whole process another chance.

What I Read: June 2023

July 1, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

I have a confession.

Summer is only just officially in full swing… and yet, I find myself already opening my fall candles and smelling them. I love that time of the year, but I’m trying to get myself to embrace the season I’m in more. Maybe, I’ll actually read some summer/beachy books in July!

As for June’s reads, I’m continuing to read a lot of non-fiction (which is a bit surprising) and fantasy:
-A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
-Ledge by Stacey McEwan
-To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
-The Good Life by Marc. S Schulz and Robert J. Waldinger
-Mastering Plot Twists by Jane K. Cleland
-How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind by Dana K. White
-Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

Now for the reviews!

What I Read: May 2023

May 29, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

I seriously can’t believe we are already halfway through the year! Where is the time going?!

I feel like I have so many things I want to work on and accomplish before the year’s end, but I can’t seem to get myself to actually do the things. Anyone else struggling with this lately?

Something I can get myself to do is read. In May, I read six books, four of which were non-fiction:
-The Practice by Seth Godin
-Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
-Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton
-A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
-Beach Read by Emily Henry
-The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker, PhD

Let’s get into the reviews!

What I Read: April 2023

April 29, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 2 comments

This month felt like a whirlwind.

One minute it was April 1st and now suddenly I’m about to flip my calendar over to May. Time is so weird, but I am looking forward to summer (minus the extreme temperatures)! I’m definitely getting the urge to pick up some beach reads. Another Elin Hilderbrand novel may be in my near future.

For whatever reason, my lean toward non-fiction continues. I read 5 books in April, 3 of which were non-fiction. Here’s the list:
-The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
-Drinking Games by Sarah Levy
-Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
-Impossible Odds by Jessica Buchanan, Erik Landelmalm, & Anthony Flacco
-A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Let’s get into those reviews!

What I Read: February 2023

March 2, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I don’t know if it was the spark of the ‘new year, new me’ attitude still sticking around, but February proved to be a big month of non-fiction/self-improvement reads for me! I read 5 non-fiction books this month, which is far outside of my norm, and only two fiction books.

The list includes:
-Absolute Power by David Baldacci
-How She Did It by Molly Huddle and Sara Slattery
-Do Hard Things by Steve Magness
-Everyday Sisu by Katja Pantzar
-The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
-Range by David Epstein
-All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Now, for the reviews!

What I Read: January 2023

February 4, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

I kicked off my 2023 reading with a bang, reading 7 books in January! I was clearly on a non-fiction/self-improvement kind of a kick given all the excitement surrounding the new year.

Here’s the full list:
– Making Space, Clutter Free by Tracy McCubbin
– Make Space for Happiness by Tracy McCubbin
– Find Your People by Jennie Allen
– Kismet by Amina Akhtar
– When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
– Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones
– Bravey by Alexi Pappas

Let’s get into the reviews!

YEAR IN REVIEW: A Breakdown of My 2022 Reads

January 9, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I’ve been looking forward to putting this post together, because I always take it one book (or sometimes two or three books) at a time. But diving into the numbers and reflecting on my favorites really helps put my year of reading into perspective. In 2022, I read 68 books! This is more than in 2020 (65 books), but less than 2021 (72 books). I don’t actively count during the year, so it’s interesting to see that I’m ending up…

What I Read: December 2022

January 2, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

I feel like I’ve released a big breath of air. The holidays are behind us and it’s time to turn over a fresh leaf with 2023. I’m definitely the person who likes the start of a new year and imagining all the possibilities it can hold.

I hope the new year inspires me to pick up my reading again. I fell a bit off the tracks in December, only finishing 4 books:
– Unmasked by Paul Holes
– Gutter Child by Jael Richardson
– Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
– Glute Lab by Bret Contreras and Glen Cordoza

I know reading isn’t a competition or about the numbers, but I feel like my brain gets stagnant when I’m not reading enough. I love having a near constant input of new ideas and stories.

So, let’s get into the December reviews!

What I Read: November 2022

December 5, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

Better late than never seems to be my theme these days. This time of year always feels so hectic and I’m torn between wanting to mark everything off my to-do list and wanting to just quit, lay back, and relax until the new year. For the moment, I’m working through my checklist, which includes today’s blog post.

This month’s reads included:
-Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin
-The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
-Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton
-In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
-The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb

Let’s get into the reviews!