All the things
Those that know me (or even if you don’t) know that I’ve been doing all the things…making memories, wedding planning, working, etc…which would make sense as to why this blog post will be covering June, July, AND August! Because I’ve been too damn busy doing all the things haha.
Long winded intro aside, I’ve been staying busy as always and a little less than 2 months away from wedding day - yay!!!!
It’s been a wonderful summer season, despite the fact that it’s too damn hot in Texas…nothing like walking outside and feeling like you’ve just walked into an oven…I think I know now how Hansel and Gretel felt (if you know, you know). I’ve been spending time with family and friends, working like crazy (we love overtime pay haha), and really just trying to make the most of every day, good and bad. Additionally, one of my favorite bookstores - Talking Animals Books - is currently doing a North Texas Indie Bookstore Crawl (which has been SO FUN) for the month of August. To visit and support local bookstores and indie authors means a lot to me and I’ve even spotted some of my poetry books in the wild which has been so unique to see.
On the note of supporting indie bookstores, I have some sad news to share. Folklore Grove & Smash Toast, one of my favorite bookstore + cafe combos in Arlington, Texas has suffered from a devastating fire which damaged neighboring businesses as well. No one was inside of the store at the time of the fire, but they are really struggling at the moment. It’s especially sad because Folklore Grove was about to celebrate one year of being open (and the owner had kindly emailed me a few weeks prior that they were starting to carry my poetry books there) and they are having to navigate the next steps. I am especially grateful that I got to visit one last time for a while during the month of July, not knowing it would be my last time I could visit. I’m also very grateful to the friends I’ve met through the book community and how we’ve all come together to support them during this time. If you’d like to support, please visit https://smashtoast.co/fundraiser <3
I hope everyone is taking care of themselves (and staying hydrated if you’re dealing with the Texas heat) and thank you for your endless support! :)
Recent movie(s)/tv show(s):
Smile 2 — Alright so I used to HATE horror movies with a burning passion, but thanks to my sister, Abby, I am now very into the horror genre…don’t get me wrong, I still get freaked out, but my curiosity to watch a horror show or movie usually overrides the fear lol. This movie, the sequel for Smile, is VERY grotesque and filled with gore, but the story behind it was very fascinating!! Dare I say this is the rare occasion where I enjoy the second movie more than the first. While this movie released in 2024, it was my first time watching and I absolutely loved it. The chaos, the horror, and the (sometimes) comedic element of it all really tied this movie together.
Widow’s Bay — While we’re on the subject of horror, introducing Widow’s Bay!! If you didn’t know, Widow's Bay is the next Martha's Vineyard. This horror-comedy show is filled with the most intriguing characters and a season finale that will have you yearning for what’s to come next. I really enjoyed the pacing and cadence of this show - the episodes felt so movie like, it was difficult not to watch all of the episodes in one night! Would highly recommend if you haven’t watched already.
Recent book(s):
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — This book series is TOO GOOD. I’m already on book 2 and I am hooked. Especially reading/listening to the Audiobook version, I love hearing and meeting the different characters and getting to see this story unfold. Think sci-fi meets apocalyptic universe meets everything in between…if you wanna know more, you’re just gonna have to read it. ;)
Thank you for reading! Until next time.
~Hannah
