Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

Through the Lens

In October, I held the responsibility of walking our mini schnauzer Greta, which meant seeing some beautiful autumn sunrises every morning. In November, my client Tara Sim’s Timekeeper was published, and it’s so shiny and wonderful and heart-poundly great! And in December, my best friend officially made me her Maid of Honor for her 2018 wedding (still plenty of time to plan).

Life Highlights

Not a positive one, but for most of October my mother was in the hospital (thus all the dog-walking). It really changed the dynamics of the household dramatically, and I am even more thankful for her strength and presence with each passing day. Positive highlights of course include the publication of Timekeeper and my best friend’s engagement, but also brunch with friends from Denver, preparing Christmas music for the holiday season, celebrating the Beau’s new job, and celebrating our first Christmas together too. Thanksgiving and Christmas were so wonderful with the family, and we’re very grateful to still have Grandpa with us. He’s been battling Stage 4 lung cancer the last year or so, and still miraculously has a lot of energy. Even the doctors are amazed he’s 86 and spritely, since he seems so much younger. All in all, a good holiday season!

Tunes on Repeat

Really, all of the Pentatonix holiday albums were on repeat, but this is my favorite favorite favorite of theirs (followed by “Little Drummer Boy”).

This is a video pieced together from phone recordings over the summer tour to Germany. Not gonna lie…I think we sound pretty good, especially for a church choir. Around the 3-minute mark, our section leaders sing a piece that always teared me up.

This piece the choir, as well as a little chamber ensemble I was in, practiced over and over because those jumps and intervals are so difficult for the voice. Yet stunning when done well.

Bookmarked in the Community

1. On “American” @ Laura Pittenger — Laura is one of my old college roommates and an amazing individual carving out a life in theater in NYC. She’s posted some great personal essays on her blog, and one of my favorites was this on being American, shortly after Election Day. She traces her family’s roots, finds a mixing bowl of nationalities, and shares her thoughts. Powerful.
2. Low Reading Months @ BookmarkLit — Lauren shares her experience with recent low reading months and combats it with a plan of how to get out of the slump.
3. If You Liked Gilmore Girls… @ The Book Addict’s Guide  — Brittany shares some YA recommendations for fans of Gilmore Girls and I agree with many of them!
4. Adventures in the Great Wide Somewhere: Packing a Purse or Personal Item @ Belle of the Literati — I LOVE this series Kelly is doing on her blog about traveling and the dos and don’ts of safe adventure. This particular post is a how-to and there were some tips and tricks she shared that had never occurred to me before!
5. Dumbledore’s Army Readathon @ Read at Midnight — If you’re looking for a diverse readathon this month (January), this is the one for you!

Popular Posts on Scribbles

1. On Reading Epiphanies and Getting Back to Bookish Roots — A discussion on reading fatigue, lifestyle changes and how it altered reading habits, and what I plan to do to combat it.
2. End of Year Book Survey III — Not surprised on this one at all, since it’s a great wrap-up of the year!
3. If We Were Having Coffee… — The second one! Though this is a series I plan on continuing, as it’s fun to just let go for a brief post and write whatever’s on my mind.
4. Book Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne — Not surprised by this one whatsoever either. This book seemed to take the blogging world by storm.

Cherished Reads

Leave Me by Gayle Forman ★★★★★

The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst ★★★★

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella ★★★★★ (review to come!)

The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan ★★★★ (review to come!)

Cherished Quotes

“Were you Gchatting?” Todd asked, peering over her shoulder. “With your husband?”
Maribeth closed the window.
“You little hussy,” Todd said.
—Leave Me by Gayle Forman

You can’t help who you fall in love with. That kind of love just
swoops in and grabs hold of you, even if you were to drop chemistry —
or switch jobs, which god knows I should have done a long time ago —
it’s still taken hold of your desire, and that’s a damn hard thing to free yourself of.
—Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen

Pretty much everyone in the world could use some therapy.
—Leave Me by Gayle Forman

If the bread wouldn’t fill his stomach, it might at least fill his mouth.
The girl had finished half of hers before he took a second bite.
“You shouldn’t rush,” he said. “There are no taste buds in your stomach.”
She paused to consider his reasoning, then took
another bite. “There’s no hunger in your tongue.”
—A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

Progress Update on Reading Challenges

Library Books: 13 / 10 // complete!
Future Perfect || Blackhearts || Rebel of the Sands
The Buddha in the Attic || Wide Sargasso Sea || Re Jane
The Elegance of the Hedgehog || The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
The Gilded Cage || Leave Me || Nine Women, One Dress
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena || The Queen of Blood

#ReRead2016: 2 / 5
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix || Emma

Flights of Fantasy: 7 / 5 // complete!
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix || Rebel of the Sands
Lady Renegades || The Star-Touched Queen || Assassin’s Apprentice
My Lady Jane || The Queen of Blood

Classics Challenge: 1 / 5
Emma

Rock My TBR: 14 / 12 // complete!
Walk on Earth a Stranger || Arsenic for Tea || Since You’ve Been Gone
Picture Perfect || Twenties Girl || Remember Me? || Assassin’s Apprentice
Eligible || The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow || 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here || Me Before You || First & Then
Mystery & Mayhem

Impulse Buys: 5 / 5 // no more buying!
Can You Keep a Secret? || I’ve Got Your Number || The Undomestic Goddess
My Lady Jane || The Hating Game

Overall Challenge: 53 / 50

Random Obsessions

On TV: I watched Poldark, even though he made me very angry and I’m not sure I’ll watch the third season. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was fun — I really enjoyed Lorelai and Emily’s stories, the quirkiness of Stars Hollow, and just being back in this world in general — but I had many issues with Rory and wasn’t too pleased with the last four words (yes, I know why they’re there, it still doesn’t make me happy though). What I’m very excited about is The Crown! Binged that show (finally) and I’m so pleased to see Netflix has six seasons planned!

On Film: Arrival was STUNNING and I’m eager to see it again! I also watched The Man Who Knew Infinity from Redbox and it made me all teary (just like many scientists-face-difficulty-and-acceptance-in-their-time-and-era movies).

In the Shopping Bag: All the Christmas presents! Including an early gift-to-self of a new iphone case that looks like a Hogwarts envelope. Thank you, Etsy!

Miscellaneous: I’m in need of some nice, sturdy, wooden bookcases for fairly cheap. If you know of any or you’re a fan of a particular retailer, do share!

Looking Towards the Future

January and March are full of birthdays, so there will be lots of celebrations in the winter months. I’m also looking forward to going to the symphony with the Beau, and traveling to San Francisco with my best friend while she has a slight break from med school.

What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts!