November seemed extra long but to go by so quickly, too. I found myself stuck with tons of end-of-semester assignments, but I got through four books, with two of them being extra long. I've got less than 10 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge prompts to go for 2018, then the 2019 challenge will start up. I'm confident this could be the first year I actually complete the challenge, and I've already started planning for 2019. Keep reading to learn more about my November reads!






Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them: the Original Screenplay by JK Rowling ★★★★★
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A past Goodreads Choice awards winner
Brief synopsis:  When Newt Scamander arrived to New York in 1926 with a suitcase full of magical creatures, an accidental suitcase swap causes many of the creatures to escape into the city. Simultaneously, there's a force wreaking havoc about the city. Is it one of Newt's creatures, or is something more sinister happening that's threatening to break MACUSA's statute of secrecy revealing the wizarding community to the non-Maj population?
See full review here.





The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath ★★★☆☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A book about mental health
Brief synopsis: After returning home from a summer scholarship in New York, Edith discovers she wasn't chosen for the competitive writing class she was hoping to enroll in. Instead she plans to write a novel. But her life isn't quite what she thought it would be, and maybe she doesn't truly know who she is or what she wants in life. This novel is a haunting look at mental health in the 1950s through Edith's journey of a mental breakdown.
See full review here.





Lethal White by Robert Galbraith ★★★★☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym
Brief synopsis: When a young man with some obvious mental health-related issues storms into Cormoran Strike's office claiming to have seen a child murdered, Strike becomes determined to find out what really happened. Is the child murder somehow tied in with the paid case Strike and his partner Robin are on - one involving major political figures? Meanwhile, Robin marries her longtime boyfriend Matthew but things aren't all rainbows and butterflies - not to mention Robin's still reeling from the previous injury received on the job.
See full review here.





Duma Key by Stephen King ★★★★★
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A best-seller from the year you graduated high school
Brief synopsis: After Edgar Freemantle's near-death experience featuring Reba's Fancy and a crane (the machine, not the bird), he loses his arm and his wife and decides to spend a sabbatical on the Florida coast in Duma Key. While there, he gets back into creating art - a small hobby he had as a child. But something's not quite right about his artwork. And something's not quite right about Duma Key either.
See full review here.

Brief synopsis: After Edgar Freemantle's near-death experience featuring Reba's Fancy and a crane (the machine, not the bird), he loses his arm and his wife and decides to spend a sabbatical on the Florida coast in Duma Key. While there, he gets back into creating art - a small hobby he had as a child. But something's not quite right about his artwork. And something's not quite right about Duma Key either.



Reading Duma Key has been one the most enjoyable (and frightening) reading experiences for me this entire year. This isn't a Stephen King book I've heard a lot of praise for. In fact, it's not a Stephen King book I'd really ever heard anything about, but I once bought it (along with about seven other King books) at the Goodwill, and a first edition nonetheless. Apparently a King fan had recently had a purge of books. Anyways, when I got to Googling best-sellers for 2008, Duma Key was on the list and on my bookshelf, so it was the perfect chance to get to reading. Plus, at 611 pages, it's a pretty tame Stephen King novel, if I do say so myself.

Anyways, I immediately connected to Edgar. The writing was smooth, the story intense. Honestly, I was a couple hundred pages into the book wondering if it was actually a horror novel, or even a thriller, before the terror started to set in. There was definitely supernatural terror, but there were also some truly realistic type fears within the book, which I think made it that much more frightening. Stephen King really drives it home with his writing, and this one was no different.

I've since read some reviews about this not being quite like older King, but I thought this novel was absolutely fantastic. It's been days and I'm still thinking about it. I'm still missing the characters - Edgar and Wireman, such great buddies. The book made me actually laugh-out-loud and cry, not (just) from fear, but also because the relationships in the book and the feel-goods, too. The novel also gave me nightmares (why must I read immediately before going to sleep?). There are scenes within the pages that are monster-scares, but there are other scenes that are terrifying in their own way simply by the two words ending a chapter.

Look, I really loved this book (if you couldn't tell), and I'm so surprised it's not a more well-known King novel. I would really recommend it, though, but it was truly a fantastic read.

Planning a romantic vacation can be a lot of fun, but it can also sometimes be tricky. You want to make sure you’re both going to have an amazing time and make memories that you’ll cherish forever. While I truly love getting gifts, hubby and I actually prefer to plan experiences as opposed to buying physical items for each other. I'm fairly certain we haven't purchased anniversary gifts since we've been married - instead, we've planned things to do together (and maybe we've bought items during our experiences). As a guide, here are some of our dos and don’ts of planning a romantic vacation:



Do plan things you can both enjoy

Your vacation shouldn’t be focused on something only one of you enjoy - it should be focused around things you can both enjoy and want to do together. A romantic vacation can mean you have to compromise to have the best time together. Like, when we went on honeymoon - it was to Universal Studios. Harry Potter is one my favorite things in the world and hubby enjoys, but it's not as big a deal to him as it is to me. But Universal offered things we both enjoy immensely (Men in Black, the Simpsons, Jurassic, Park), so it wasn't just me getting to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you know? So, when you're on a trip together, compromise. Maybe one of you wants to go scuba diving and the other wants to go for a hike. Maybe you’ll agree on a mixture of adventure and relaxation. Whatever you do, make sure you’re both happy.






Don't spend too much time with other people

Making friends is great, but alone-time is essential for a romantic vacation. For example, hubby and I are heading to Vegas this week, in part for a Call of Duty championship thing. Hubby knows people there - I won't. But we're making it a collaborative trip and we'll have alone-time, too. So, make sure you still plan plenty of time alone and enjoy one another’s company.



Do go somewhere new for both of you

Don’t go somewhere you had a wild weekend away with friends, as you might find yourself comparing the trip and feel like you’re showing your partner around. Experience new things together, to make that place special to both of you. Going somewhere new will be exciting for you both and you’ll be able to bond more over new shared experiences.






Don’t spend too much time on your phone

I'm the worst at this. I'm always taking pictures for the blog and posting things on Instagram in the moment. I mean, taking pictures and updating family back home is fine, but it shouldn’t be excessive social media or spending too much time on your phone. Make sure you pay attention to your surroundings and live in the moment. Don’t worry too much about always capturing the moment. Live in the present. (PS. I should take my own advice.)



Do choose accommodation together

Make sure you take your time to choose the right kind of accommodation together so you’re both happy when you arrive. A villa will mean having your own place and total privacy, or you can look at vacation condo rentals instead. A hotel will mean meeting new people and being around others most of the time, so consider the sort of trip that you actually want. Again - there's compromise to consider here. Make it an enjoyable experience for the both of you!






Don’t be surprised if you bicker

You can’t put yourself under pressure by vowing to have the ‘perfect’ trip together. There’s no such thing as "perfection." I'm a planner and hubby prefers to go with the flow, so veering from schedule can set me off and make me uncomfortable, which may cause an attitude on my part. You’ll probably still bicker on your vacation about one thing or the other, and honestly, it’s nothing to worry about - as long as you’re not having full-blown screaming matches every night.






Do spend a little time apart

Spending some time apart on a romantic vacation is totally fine. In fact, it’s pretty healthy and should be encouraged. Spending time apart from your partner to explore on your own for a while and do something you wanted to do will give you more to talk about when you meet up with them later on. If I'm being honest, though, I probably wouldn't wander off because hello, world, but I may spend some time reading, while he's enjoying video games. You shouldn’t feel under pressure to live in one another’s pockets or do absolutely everything together if you don’t want to - but maybe don't pull a Vegas Vacation and head to Wayne Newton's palace, okay?




Seriously though, planning a romantic vacation should be fun, so consider these tips and tricks above to have the best time with your partner. Live in the moment and make the most of your experiences together!














*This is a collaborative post.

It's that time again! I'm here to check in about my 101 in 1001. I actually got through a good bit of my goals these past few months, and I'm amped up for the last few months out to the finish line (where I'll start a new 1001 days). Are you working on a 101 in 1001, too? Share your links in the comments below, so I can check it out!




Career & Development


99. Complete my Master's degree in Student Affairs/Counseling with a 3.5 or higher GPA. I'm continuing to work on this. 

It's that time of year where we really need some snacks on the healthier side because all of that homecooked soul food is so dang good, and so dang rich. I always love getting teas from FitSnack and the low-carb snacks are always A+. Check out what came this month and this month, get 50% your first month with the link below!



What was in my November box?


Dietz and Waston | Landjaegers swiss sausage sticks

Zest Tea | pomegranate mojito

Intakt Snacks | original cheese

IQ Bar | blueberry sunflower lemon bar

Love Grown Foods | comet crispies

Anew | toasted muesli blueberry ginger


BONUS: Nothing But! | quick-fix bars in cherry + cranberry + almond and chocolate + coconut + almond
















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