October was so, so busy - it felt like we were running around all month! We started the month by taking a family vacation to Memphis; we all had a great time and it was nice to be able to spend time together. Unfortunately, the night before we left for our trip, Tom and I were in a car accident. We're fine and the other driver was at fault, but my car was pretty banged up, so we had to deal with that right when we got back. After 10 days in the repair shop, I have my little car back, good as new!
Tom and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary this month, as well as 15 years together. Sometimes it's really hard to believe it's been that long! Every year we've been trying to stick to the "traditional" anniversary gifts, and the 5th year is wood. We planted two boxwood bushes in the backyard, and Tom gifted me with a wooden bookmark - so perfect!
My sister and I attended the Morristown Festival of Books for the first time, and we loved it! So many great authors and we even got to meet one of our favorites, Kate Morton! In more book news, I finally got up the courage to volunteer with my Friends of the Library group at their annual book sale. I spent a morning making sure all the displays were fully stocked and neat while customers shopped, and of course I had to grab some books for myself.
We went to the movies twice and saw Venom (not what I expected) and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (fun but not as good as the original). Team Outlaw had a pretty good month in fantasy football and we're now 4-3! We were tied for first for a week, but now we're back down to the middle of the pack. And thankfully, we had a lot of trick or treaters on Halloween and gave away most of our candy, so now I won't eat it!
The Books
Guess Who (review to come) // The Clockmaker's Daughter // The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (review to come) // The Perfume Garden
The Dry // The Winter Sea // The Residence (review to come) // Royally Screwed
The Posts and Reviews
5 Books to Read Before You Take a Trip To Disney World
Top Ten Tuesday: Longest Books I've Ever Read
Review: The Other Side of Lost
TBR Expectations
Morristown Festival of Books
Review: Playing With Matches
Review: The "I Do" Deli
Three Days in Memphis
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
Spooky Mini-Reviews
Nonfiction November 2018: My Year in Nonfiction So Far
Book Haul #2
Top Ten Tuesday: Longest Books I've Ever Read
Review: The Other Side of Lost
TBR Expectations
Morristown Festival of Books
Review: Playing With Matches
Review: The "I Do" Deli
Three Days in Memphis
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
Spooky Mini-Reviews
Nonfiction November 2018: My Year in Nonfiction So Far
Book Haul #2
The Posts I Loved
Amy at A Magical World of Words lists 5 classic novels you should read, even if you don't like classics
Laura at Boats Against the Current discusses new genres she's discovered
Tracy at Cornerfolds breaks down 5 horror books that actually terrified her
Michelle at Pink Polka Dot Books writes a break-up letter to confusing books
Sam at We Live and Breathe Books talks retellings
Marie at Drizzle and Hurricane Books lists 10 ways you might be a book blogging cliché
Laura at Boats Against the Current discusses new genres she's discovered
Tracy at Cornerfolds breaks down 5 horror books that actually terrified her
Michelle at Pink Polka Dot Books writes a break-up letter to confusing books
Sam at We Live and Breathe Books talks retellings
Marie at Drizzle and Hurricane Books lists 10 ways you might be a book blogging cliché
How was your October? Did you dress up for Halloween?
Cinder and The Winter Sea are on my lists too. How great you could meet a favourite author of yours! Did you ask her anything? Were you nervous? I'm sure I would have been :)
ReplyDeleteRonnie @ Paradise Found
I was so nervous! I basically just handed her my book and I was speechless! Finally I told her I was a huge fan and I recommend her books to everyone.
DeleteI'm looking forward to your review of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle because I've heard some bad things about it. I'd love to hear your take on it. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a really interesting book! I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone, though.
DeleteWow, sounds like you had an eventful month. Happy Anniversary! Sorry about the car accident. :( I haven't been to a movie in such a long time. I have been wavering on whether to go to The Hate U Give, but I think it's the type of story I like to read, but not watch.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you! We used to go to the movies so much more, we've really cut back a lot.
DeleteWhat a month!! Great wrap-up! My October was very busy, but awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely a crazy month!
DeleteWow, you were busy. Happy anniversary! Sorry about your car, though. I’m glad you are okay. Have a great November!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Thanks, Aj! I'm glad we were able to walk away with no injuries, and the car was fixable.
DeleteI'm so glad to hear you are okay after that car accident. That must have been terrifying. Congrats on your anniversary! How wonderful. Hope you have a wonderful November!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alicia! It was definitely scary and I was a bit in shock right after it happened. My husband took care of everything!
DeleteOur anniversary was lovely, thank you!
Wow! 15 years is a long time. Congratulations on hitting that milestone together. Sorry about the car, but I am glad you are ok, and able to tell us the story. You got a lot of reading done considering how busy you have been. (thanks for mentioning my post, too)
ReplyDeleteIt was a great post, you're welcome! I can't believe I got that many books in, considering two of them were 500+ pages. 15 years IS a long time! It's hard to imagine that I was a teenager when I met him! We definitely got lucky with the car accident, and we were able to go on vacation and just deal with it later.
DeleteWow, October really was a busy month for you. I'm impressed that you still got so much reading done. Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzanne! I know, it was more books than I thought it would be!
DeleteHappy anniversary! You've definitely been busy this month -- and I want to see what you thought of The Dry!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was so good, I'm glad my sister recommended it!
DeleteOh no! That is horrible but I’m so glad you both are ok!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an eventful month it is but I’m glad you had a great time in Memphis and congratulations on your wedding anniversary!
I love that you stick to the traditional gifts, I always found that exception sweet.
I’ve never heard about the Morristown Festival but I’m glad you and your sister had a great time and got to meet one of your favorite authors.
I need to watch does movies as well!! I loved the first Goosebumps and must see all of them now and of course Venom.
I see you have The Clockmaker’s Daughter!!! I have it and hopefully get to it soon. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it.
My October was eventful with my hubs birthday party and a Halloween part as well. My hubs was Pennywise and I was Georgie, which we won the best couples costume. So it was pretty awesome.
Other than that, I’m getting back to blogging after a major blog and reading slump. Thats why I haven’t visited you in so long. I’m happy to be back and glad everything is good with you. I hope to see you around again.
Hope you have a great week ahead as well. 💋 xoxo
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I'm glad your slump is over! Your Halloween costume sounds awesome!
DeleteHa, we've made it the first 5 years sticking to the traditional gifts, I think some of them get a bit difficult after this!
I'm sorry to hear about your car but so glad that you two are ok!
ReplyDeleteAww, I love that you two are sticking to traditional anniversary gifts. That's such a cute idea!
Ooh the Festival Books sounds like fun!
Thanks, Kristen!
DeleteI love doing the traditional gifts, and honestly, it really helps me come up with ideas!
Gosh, my October was also manic. I don't even know what's going on this year. As for blogging... Yeah. I've been awful! But I'm just going to start afresh as from now and see if I can just stay on top of things a bit better and stay more current.
ReplyDeleteGah! A car accident! I'm so glad that you guys are okay though! It's awful, but it was the best kind of awful it could be, right? Also congratulations on your anniversary! That's so amazing! A wooden bookmark also sounds like the sweetest, most thoughtful kind of gift.
I hope that your November is a great one and thanks for always stopping by my blog - even when I'm terrible in return!
Thank you so much, Di! I know you're super busy; just keep doing what you're doing! The car accident was pretty crappy, but it's working itself out!
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