I can't believe it's been almost a year since we moved into our home, and we still love it just as much as ever. This time of the year is the most common time of the year to move and it's no surprise why - especially with so many people (both high school and college) graduating within the past few months and moving out on their own. While a lot of college-aged students probably moves out of their parents' houses while they were in college, something about moving out on your own is different. This isn't necessarily just moving into a pre-furnished apartment, but moving out really on your own, where there are so many things that are needed that you may not even think about.  Of course, people other than just recent grads are moving, which includes families and couples, and others who may have already been out on their own but are moving some place new. That doesn't mean that there aren't still things that are needed. Read along for my tips on moving and how to stay sane while doing it.  Pack as you go. Start packing ASAP. As soon as you know you'll be moving, start packing up decorative items and things you don't use regularly. When we moved last year, we basically had a pair of dishes for the two of us, a couple of towels, and our clothes. Mostly everything else was wrapped and boxed up - ready to go when we were. If you start packing up and do just a little each day, it makes the process way less overwhelming. Wrap with things you have. Use any crates, laundry baskets, etc. in lieu of boxes. Use dish towels and washcloths for packing. Have cardboard boxes, newspapers, and bubble wrap handy, too, but  use what you already have first! Figure out what you have and what is needed. As you're packing up, figure out what you may need for your new home - and the things you already have and don't really need to replace. 





Some things that you may need to think about getting for your new home:
A rug. Wherever you move, regardless of the space - a rug can really tie a whole space together. Find one that works best for you. Or make your own. Artwork. Whether you choose sketches or paintings, sculptures, or weavings, artwork can add personality to your home. Check out local thrift stores, farmers markets, or etsy for artwork that speaks to you. A new mattress, sheets, and pillows. It can be so difficult to tote an old, ratty mattress from one home to the next. It can especially be more trouble than it's worth if it's an older mattress. Or maybe you've been sleeping on a furnished bed, or in a dorm? A new mattress is the perfect gift to yourself for your new home.  Shelves are a must. For me, they're covered in books, pictures, and knick knacks, but shelves are the perfect was to liven up your home. Fill them with anything your heart desires. Plus, using standing shelves help you decorate without knocking out your deposit (if you're renting!). New bathroom decor is something you may not think about needing to update when you move, however, do you really want to continuously tote around old bathroom stuff? An update to your bathroom decor can be quick and simple - just check out this tutorial.  Lastly, dish out a little for some lamps. Once you've figured out your new home setup, you'll want to grab some lamps for those places where you just need a little extra light. I recommend a standing lamp for the living room and a tabletop lamp for your bedside table. I for one hate having to get up to turn off the lights, so lamps are the perfect solution.





Also make sure to check out some other items from my new home wishlist from when we moved into our new home last year.


How do you settle in to a new home? What items are on your must-have for a new home list?

I've discussed many times how I've opened up to reading different genres this year, and while I've come across some books I really enjoyed that were outside my usual range of reading (thrillers, crime novels, etc.), I've also pushed through some books that weren't necessarily enjoyable for me. The Half-Life of Remorse was one of those books. At just over 200 pages, I figured I could get through the book fairly quickly - I assumed it would just take me a day to get through. I was wrong. It took more than a couple days, because I was so bored with the book.

Brief Synopsis: The book follows three characters - Chick, Sam, and Claire - who's lives are all intertwined, even though they don't know it. Chick and Sam are both homeless men who take a kindling to each other and find solace in each others' company. Claire is a woman who is on a search for her father, who went missing after a horrific incident when she was a child, and she isn't even sure if he's alive.

The first thing that really got to bothering me about the novel is the Chick is spelled one way inside the book, while being spelled as Chic throughout any description of the book. Further, the book never really hit any kind of climax for me. It stated pretty boring all throughout, and while I'm sure there is a wonderful message within the story, I never connected with the characters or enjoyed the story being told.

The book is split into a few different parts, and each part is set up differently. Part one is story-telling of the characters. Part two is the majority of the book and is told from each characters perspectives (including their personal dialect). It's almost like a journal of each character. Part three is one long-ish chapter of story-telling again. It's just very inconsistent, and again - I found myself very bored the entire time. The plot is, however, interesting, and I think I would've liked this novel is written in a different format, where I could've formed a better connection with the characters. There are even very intense scenes in the book that, while they didn't necessarily need to be more graphic, could have definitely been written more excitingly.


I wouldn't recommend this book.

I struggled a little in June, because classes started back, and honestly - why did no one tell me how terrible summer classes are? We have assignments due every three days, and I have been swamped, but I still managed to read four books. I sadly feel like I let myself down, but at least I got through those four, right?


The Lying Game* by Ruth Ware: If you're a fan of Ruth Ware like me, I wouldn't say don't read this, but it's definitely my least favorite of her three novels. This story is basically Pretty Little Liars for the 30-something crowd. (full review here) 3/5
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* by Taylor Jenkins Reid: One of the best books I've read in a while, this novel follows the life and love(s) of Evelyn Hugo as told to new-on-the-scene journalist Monique Grant. (full review here) 5/5
Every Last Lie* by Mary Kubica: Another book about liars, this Mary Kubica books follows suit with other novels by Kubica - told from multiple perspectives with too many side plots to follow. The main plot isn't so terrible, but it could've been better. (full review here) 3/5
Arboria Park* by Kate Tyler Wall: This is a quick read that starts in 1960 in a housing development. I loved that this story was about community and knowing where your home is. (full review here) 4/5

Brief synopsis: When her husband Nick dies in a car crash just days after their second child is born, Clara becomes obsessed with the idea that foul play was involved. Even after the cops confirm that the crash was Nick's fault for driving to fast, Clara becomes entranced in her own perception of the truth. As Clara starts to uncover Nick's lies, she starts to go further and further down the rabbithole of her beliefs. What all was Nick hiding from her, and did that lead to his death?

Guys, I don't know why I keep reading Mary Kubica novels. I swore never again after reading Pretty  Baby, but I got sucked in and I read Kubica's newest, Every Last Lie.

The novel wasn't terrible. I didn't hate it. (I find myself saying this more and more in my reviews). The plot is pretty good, but I've decided that Kubica finds a way to weave too many possible plotlines into her stories, and instead of making it more mysterious, it just makes it more scattered. I always feel like their are too many lines left untied at the end.

I felt myself being annoyed with most of the characters throughout the entirety of the book. The story is told from two perspectives: Clara after Nick's death, and Nick before his death. I really do enjoy thrillers told from two perspectives so you can really get both sides of the story and it helps to really weave the story together in an unparalleled way.

I tried to put myself in the shoes of the characters. What would I do in these terrible situations? While some of the things were realistic (I can see myself going mildly insane and obsessive if something were to happen to my husband), there were other things that really irked me. I found Clara to put her vendetta to come before her children at times, which really bothered me. I thought Meredith, Theo, Connor, and Kat were just really terrible people. Nick was mostly in a terrible situation, but was making some questionable choices. Clara's dad was a wonderfully sad soul, but a good person.

I found a lot of the chapters to be very repetitive of previous chapters, and I guess it could have been purposeful (maybe to make me feel like I was also going mildly insane), but it really bothered me.

All I can say is it was definitely a Mary Kubica novel. I want to enjoy her books, the plots usually have a lot of promise, but Kubica isn't an impressive writer in my honest opinion.


Have you read anything by Mary Kubica? What were your thoughts?