Summer Bucket List 2021

I hear the beach calling for me! Summer is near. I usually enjoy winter, but this one was rough and I’m definitely ready for a new season. 


Summers in Manitoba are hot and humid. sometimes temperatures reach up to 35 C. We go through many fire watch’s, intense storm warnings and even the odd terrifying tornado. But, summers in Manitoba bring the most amazing waves at the beach, and the most beautiful gardens that seem to dance in the suns rays.


My summers are usually very laid back and filled with a lot of time at my parents house swimming. I find my days fly by so fast and I’m not left with as many intentional memories as I’d want. I’m really trying this year to be intentional and purposeful. So, here are 10 things I want to do, visit, see, or experience!


SUMMER 2021
1. Take a walk in a different town.

2. Tie dye some shirts with the kids.

3. Paint and hide rocks.

4. See a waterfall.

5. Paint my toe nails.

6. Watch a sunset.

7. Read in a park.

8. Try swimming in the beach.

9. Take A LOT of photos.

10. Laugh every single day. The uncontrollable kind.


I want this summer to fuel my soul. It’s been a tough year. It’s time for a different season.


What’s on your summer bucket list?

Love Always,

Enn

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Bookworm Life while in Quarantine

Hello bookworms!
Welcome to another random thoughts post. I believe, we’re all experiencing the enhanced community quarantine due to Covid-19. No schools, employees are on work from home mode, no one should get out of their homes unless getting your necessities (e.g. groceries, medicines, etc.) but all of the malls are closed. Is it just me or anyone here thinks it’s also a relief for the environment? and for our tiring social life? I have this introvert side soooo I am so much affected and relieved, thanks to social distancing (kidding). 
On a serious note, I am worried for most people specially the affected ones. I’m having this anxiety every time I go out of the house until I return. I keep on telling myself that I can’t be sick since I am prone to asthma and allergies. I think, this virus is not just affecting our lungs or physical aspects of life but also mentally. I hope and pray that people like me, specially those mentally challenged people are okay. This will all be temporary. You guys will be fine. Just stay at home and always practice the proper hygiene and every thing will be alright. I may not be in a proper position or an expert to tell all these things but, at least just a reminder for some, I could help. 
So, for this blog entry, I’ll share my routines as well on how to fight my own anxiety. Some might not be applicable to others but at least you’ll have some ideas. 
  1. READ BOOKS – since I started working at home, all I’m thinking was, finally I could get some time with reading. I have a lot of pending books to read and my TBR is very long so maybe this is the time to read them one by one. I also made a list specifically for this quarantine days. 
  2. CLEAN YOUR BOOKSHELVES – during this time, I am putting this task as one of my priority because I really can’t remember when was the last time I had my shelf cleaned up. Aside from that, it’s a sad thought but I need to let go some of my books so I have to sort them out.  
  3. WATCH ON NETLIX – do you have some movies or tv series that’s been added to you list for a long time? I guess now is the time to start watching those. I did the same thing and during my free time that’s the only thing I do. 
  4. DO YOUR JOURNAL – have ever think of making a journal? to some it’s called diary and yes I still do that. There are plenty of guides or ideas in the internet (e.g. Pinterest & Instagram). If you’re artsy, there’s a pretty type of journal that could be your guide. 
  5. DO YOUR HOUSE CHORES – this, I think is really important. I guess it’s time for some of us to throw those old clothes, old items from our home. Aside from that, it’s time to sanitize things around the house and make time to rearrange things based from your perspective. 

So far, aside from work, I’m doing #1 and #3 and over the weekend I could finally focus on the other things. I still have work stuff to do and that’s an 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM kind of work, I just do breaks if I feel tired or something.

Anyways, may you have a good health always and please, take care. If you’re sick, make sure to get it checked right away. Don’t wait for it to get worse, okay?

Book Review: Me Myself & Him by Chris Tebbetts

When Chris Schweitzer
takes a hit of whippets and passes out face first on the cement, his
nose isn’t the only thing that changes forever. Instead of staying home
with his friends for the last summer after high school, he’s shipped off
to live with his famous physicist but royal jerk of a father to prove
he can “play by the rules” before Dad will pay for college.

Or . . . not.

In
an alternate time line, Chris’s parents remain blissfully ignorant
about the accident, and life at home goes back to normal–until it
doesn’t. A new spark between his two best (straight) friends quickly
turns Chris into a (gay) third wheel, and even worse, the truth about
the whippets incident starts to unravel. As his summer explodes into a
million messy pieces, Chris wonders how else things might have gone. Is
it possible to be jealous of another version of yourself in an alternate
reality that doesn’t even exist?

With musings on fate, religion, parallel universes, and the best way to eat a cinnamon roll, Me Myself & Him examines how what we consider to be true is really just one part of the much (much) bigger picture.

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29752011-me-myself-him

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. No payments made between me and the publisher.

I’ve seen this book from Facebook and Twitter so, when I got the chance to request this on NetGalley, I really didn’t think twice and try to get a copy and, it’s an honor to have my request granted. I was really curious about this book since from the start, as far as I remember, I haven’t read a book with an alternate universe yet (and if I do, it’s not a lot since I can’t remember LOL). Anyway, this book was a good read. It made me realize some things personally especially when I’m thinking about life and what’s the worse thing that could happen…right? 
I like the characters, especially Chris. I feel like you really traveled to his world and how he thinks. It’s sort of confusing at some points but everything is good. I somehow can relate to his life about his dad though. I knew how hard things are and how to pretend everything is okay but it’s not, and one day, it will just feel like everything is alright and things are working well. I think, there’s no such thing as permanent when it comes to this. Good things happen, yeah?
“A problem is a problem, and when it’s not addressed, it gets worse. Sometimes, that’s not about the substances, but about the way our choices impact our relationships with other people. Everyone’s here for their own reasons.”

I really enjoyed reading this book, a parallel universe where you have other possibilities yet, both endings could turn out good or it could be the opposite but whatever is the outcome, I think, it all points back to the decisions we made.

Anyways, I am looking forward for more books from Chris Tebbetts. I really had a great time with this one and the book cover is interesting. I loved it. Once again, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.

“I don’t need every little thing to be predictable,” she went on. “I know God has a plan for me, and that’s very comforting.”
My Ratings

Hey It’s 2020!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 
It’s the start of another decade and we should welcome 2020 with a positive attitude. Have you set any New Year’s Resolution? I kinda stopped doing that personally because I end up not following any of it (LOL). Anyway, I still have my book goals set for this year, I’m planning to read thirty-five (35) books and I have my Goodreads account to help me track it. I’m also trying this new app, Bookly because I’m personally enjoying the timer. I also made a list of my first three (3) books to read.

Also, I’ve decided to try and read my other books from my TBR list on both kindle app and personal book collection for this year. I’ll try my best not to buy too much book! I think it’s time to pay attention on what I currently have before getting new ones!!! Wish me luck!

Another thing, I’ve been too busy last December 2019 so I wasn’t able to celebrate my blog anniversary and I wasn’t able to host a book giveaway so please stay tuned for next month’s announcement for that. 

Lastly, I’d take this opportunity to apologize for not being able to answer every email or tweets regarding book reviews. I really have a lot on my plate right now with work getting really insane lately and some chores that I needed to finish at home. Hopefully by this year, I could sort things out so that I could finally dedicate time on doing book reviews and blog updates. I really miss my reading habit.

Big Bad Wolf in Manila, 2019

Hey guys! There were lots of book sales last month, February but I think this Big Bad Wolf is one of the biggest and people were really looking forward to this. I myself was so excited and I really don’t know what to buy first because, book budget! Anyway, this year’s Big Bad Wolf held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. It was open for 24-hours and to be honest, even around 1:00AM to 5:00AM,  I was told that people really visit! Insane isn’t it? Every one wants to get dibs on the book sale because it was really cheap! 

I was, one of the lucky book lovers who were given a VIP pass. Thank you to my friend, Sarah, for giving me that. I felt like it was the best Birthday gift ever! (I’m such a kid!!! LOL) anyway, during the VIP day, I went with friends and I went home around 12midnight! I had to give up some of the books and I had to think if I will really read those before I leave them at the corner. During the first day, the line was long and it was so hard to roam around because, I was overwhelmed with all the books. I felt like, I just wanted to buy lots of Young Adult books but of course, I had to choose (that was the hardest part ever!) This year was great though, so many young adult books like 10 or more tables out there that’s dedicated for that genre only. I picked up books for myself and I was so happy to score some good Young Adult books, Historical and Business books. Every thing was worth it! I also picked up books for some of my friends and of course comics to my man, Frank. He liked them, Teen Titans fan. His comics, aren’t in the photo below. 
First book haul on VIP day
After all the crazy book haul on a VIP day, I decided to come back for the last time. I told myself I won’t buy much because I already did that, but I end up buying more. Not as much as the VIP day, but still… I’m a little out of budget but I don’t regret anything, those are books!!! I loved this month. I have another haul that isn’t in this photo though, I will just share that in my Instagram. Check my second book haul below, this time more Thriller/Suspense books and a Rick Riordan book
Second book haul
Aside from the good experience about this book fair, I just noticed a few things that isn’t fun to see. These comments might affect my blog traffic but, I have to speak. I knew we all want to have first dibs on the low prices books and what made me sad is that, some people hoard so much and I feel like they’re not thinking about the others who really is a bookworm or a book lover who is eyeing for some specific books that he or she likes. Some people buys so much and then they will sell it online with increased prices. It isn’t bad to resell I know, but it was like they somehow doubled the price. I feel bad for those who are really a fan of a specific author and poof, the book is out-of-stock. I was thinking what if… Big Bad Wolf put a rule about books with same titles, each people can only have two (2) or three (3) maximum of purchase? I guess that could be a good rule. I guess, some people should be considerate, it makes me question will they really these books? That was a lot.. or.. if they sell it online, are they gonna be nice to not have a higher price? Hopefully, next year would be better. I saw lots of comments online both Twitter and Facebook platforms that they had complaints, do these people who hoard too much books even read the complaints of the people? Guess not.

Anyway, enough of the bad experiences, all in all I am so glad for my book haul this year. I don’t regret buying anything, to be honest I am so excited to read all of these books. I am hoping to have more time for all these lovelies! I wonder if I’ll finish all of them this year? Well who knows! I’m just hoping to read as much as I could. And of course, I’ll post my reviews here on my blog once I’m done.
 

What about you all? What’s your Big Bad Wolf experience this 2019? Or, what’s your book haul for February? I would love to see all your books!

A Workaholic Bookworm

“Workaholic” someone who works very long hours and finds it difficult not to be working (defined by Cambridge Dictionary). That is how I define myself lately and that is how my friends define me. I’m the person who goes to work early and paranoid about getting late to time in and I’m also the last person to go home and time out. I work more than eight hours a day without any overtime pay. I don’t blame my employer for that, we have a choice not to do overtime. The usual work hours are from 8:30 AM up to 5:30 PM but I time out way past that, sometimes 12AM too. People around me are telling me to take a break, take some time for myself, etc. I do that on my most convenient time, not always but at least I do. I love my work and I love what I do at work, plus there’s a non-stop studying even though I graduated from college a long time ago. I still take exams and I must maintain certain grades for my performance evaluation. It is fun at some point but sometimes it is tiring as well (not complaining though).

There are just a few things I really miss doing because somehow, I stopped doing that due to insane working hours I spend at the office; reading a book, I miss the feeling of spending hours or the whole day of simply reading a book and finishing it then start a new one. I am not a fast reader and I easily get distracted (LOL). During my college days, I usually finish a book easily because the only thing I need to do is study and finish my homework, right now? Negative. I end up going home late or during weekends, there are other priorities, or I go to sleep to make up for the lost hours I spent at work. Writing a blog post, this is another thing. I haven’t written much book reviews or promotional posts last year. Aside from the lack of time, I feel like every time I open my laptop I have to do some work. I kind of get anxious so instead of trying to write, I’ll end up watching movies or shows on Netflix.

My life had been like that last year, I would love to try and change it a little. This year, I’d probably put up more random posts aside from my reviews or promotional posts. I’ll have to try anyway, right? I’m so bad at time management but I think it is time for me to at least try harder. Aside from that, maybe my social media hours will be reduced and add that to reading or writing hours instead. We’ll see, I’ll have to check and try the possibilities. There’s no harm in trying anyways. I guess I could count that as my new year’s resolution. Do you guys have any as well? Also, I am hoping that this year, I’ll be able to finish my Goodreads challenge.

One thing I realized though, too workaholic isn’t really healthy. It eats you up alive until you forget what it’s like not to be workaholic. That’s what I am right now, but I think, it’s time to have a little time for myself as well. Live a little.

This quote is sorta true to me;

“The workaholics have done immense harm to the world. And the greatest harm they have done is that they have deprived life of its moments of celebration and festivity. It is because of them that there is so little festivity in the world, and every day it is becoming more and more dull and dreary and miserable.”
– Rajneesh –