Monthly Recap: January

Let me just say right now that this post is going to be pretty long. After all, it IS a recap post and I always get long-winded on those. ;) But I hope you like it! (Let me know if you think this should be a thing) I also just want to mention that I did a guest review for Kate @The Magic Violinist and you should maybe probably totally go check it out. *grins*

favorite book quotes

"We don't get to choose who we love. Or stop loving them when they're difficult." {born wicked by jessica spotswood}

"Laugh it up," she told him, "but the thing is, I hadn't known myself at all until I went away. I knew how Nicole and Amber saw me. And Lucien and the Spider and all the others-- they're afraid of you, so they figure you must be pretty awful indeed. They think you can't feel anything, because they've forgotten how. You're very, very dangerous, I get that, and you're prone to some very theatrical brooding, but don't let yourself mistake that for some kind of inner corruption. They see themselves in you and are blinded." {the coldest girl in coldtown by holly black}

favorite quotes (from the real world)

Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal. {albert camus}

favorite songs

Honey, I'm Good by Andy Grammer

G.R.8.U by VIXX

Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Be the Light by Block B

Fire by JJCC

update on my book blogger organization challenge

to-be-read: I said I would read The Host by Stephenie Meyer and a memoir called Please Stop Laughing At Me...

Sadly, I didn't finish reading either of them. I started but it seems like reading is always the hardest pleasure thing to do during college time for me. :(

resolutions: 
1. Create a Goodread's shelf for the books I want to read this year. Check! 

2. Set a time to work on blog stuff-- this will be super important to keep up because of school. Check! I don't have an exact time but I try to work on it consistently whenever I have free time. 

3. Write a monthly recap post and continue writing them each month. Mwuahahaha. Check! VICTORY. 

things to change: Some things I wanted to change this month (that I didn't call resolutions because resolutions are intimidating) or do that I hadn't done before were-- watch one movie, do an artwork that wasn't required for class, eat healthier, sleep better, and keep in touch with family and friends.

1. Watch at least one movie. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (It was awesome :) )
2. Read the two books. Nope. Booo.
3. Do at least one artwork that's not connected with any of my art classes. Rather than finishing one, I worked a little on a few so I'm gonna let myself pass ;)
4. Eat healthier. It was getting to the point last semester where I wasn't even eating regularly so I definitely did better this month.
5. Sleep better hours. Yup!
6. Keep in touch with my friends and fam. Especially remembering my blogger friends. I think I passed this one too. *grins*

changes in the blog

There have been a few changes since the beginning of the month. You might have noticed the advertisement space at the top of my sidebar. I decided to try out GoogleAds and see if it actually helps me out.

Also, my posting schedule has changed. Last year, when I had tons of extra time, I posted a lot. I reviewed a lot, I joined all the major link-ups. And then, when I moved to college, that wasn't possible AND I stopped posting pretty much at all because of the busyness and stress of college life. So from now on I'll be trying for a happy medium-- posting two times a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays. That's waaay more manageable for me. :) 

favorite tv show

Another Korean reality show. I know, I know. I think they're my guilty pleasure or something. This one's actually kind of stupid. Kind of super romantic (hello, helpful title). Kind of not my thing. Usually. *le sigh* It has sucked me in though. 

Basically, it covers the activities and such of eight Korean idols, 4 guys and 4 girls. They're there to date and be romantic because they really don't get time for that in their everyday lives. 

On the one hand though, it's definitely not like American reality shows like The Bachelor or The Bachlorette. (Cue face-making.) I like how things like holding hands or giving a back hug are treated way more seriously there (in Korea). 

amazing blog posts from around the blogosphere

Since January is the first month of the year and the month of change, there were a lot of good posts on inspiration and organization floating around. 

Here are some of the ones I liked best (obviously it was a big month for getting myself inspired):

• 10 Ways to Get Something Done When You're Feeling Unproductive
• How to Get Big Projects Done (When You've Got No Time)
• 5 Things I Learned in 2014 & Some Resolutions for 2015
• 4 Questions to Ask Before You Write that Story
• 5 Things that Don't Happen in Novels
• Does Plotting Have to Be Hard?

favorite picture

*screeches* THE FEELS. This is of The 100 fandom. I am fully invested and have fallen in love with half the characters. This is a ship but also not. It's complicated. 

favorite GIF

D.O. from Exo. The small evil one.

*falls on face from laughing* Does this need an explanation?

January was a great month of getting myself back into gear. So...tell me all about your month! What goals did you meet? What new things did you discover? TELL ME ALL. :)