What This Week: January 30
As the first month of the year comes to an end, I’m compelled to review what I’ve accomplished so far in 2023. The answer: not a whole lot. Sure, I’ve read a lot of books already, but I’m no closer to my other goals: lose weight, get healthier, save money, plan our vacation, etc. So, this week I’m going to try to focus on moving more (while listening to a long audiobook) and finishing our London/Paris itinerary (let me know if you have any suggestions). Find out what else I’ll be up to in this edition of What This Week: January 30.
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What This Week: Reading
I didn’t get nearly as much reading done last week as I’d hoped, so a few of my featured reads from last week’s What This Week are still in the mix. I’ve started but not finished Looking for Jane and The White Hare, so they will surely be on the TBR this week as both promise to be great.
I’m participating in a buddy read of an advanced reader copy of a new post-WWII romance novel called Stars in an Italian Sky. The synopsis promises an epic love story filled with many family secrets and drama. Italy, romance, and family secrets usually equal big hits in my book (see my review of The Good Left Undone for proof). I’ll be sure to report back what I find!
On the audiobook front, I’m listening to The Whalebone Theatre, a historical fiction set in the early 20th century. The book is about a creative young girl and her dreary family life which enlivens when a whale washes up onto the shores outside their home. Told over the course of two decades and featuring both peacetime and WWII storylines, this book has lots of potential to be magnificent.
featured books
What This Week: Watching
We started the new HBO zombie series, The Last of Us, this week, and we’re instantly hooked. I’m a huge fan of zombie movies, but I haven’t watched any of the shows like The Walking Dead. I’m enjoying this so much I might have to reconsider that. The Last of Us has some pandemic vibes, too, so I think it’s likely to be a huge hit. Not to mention, Pedro Pascal is pretty nice to look at! HBO just announced that the show was renewed for a second season, so get on the bandwagon now!
What This Week: Lifestyle
I recently shared my favorite shampoo/conditioner for wavy/curly hair, so this week I’ll let you in on another secret weapon: my new favorite shampoo/conditioner combo for fine/thin hair. See, I’m from the South, where the saying “the higher the hair, the closer to God” was coined. Volume has always been a challenge for me; my hair is limp, fine, and doesn’t hold heat-based styles very well. But Biolage’s Volume Bloom Shampoo and Conditioner have changed all that. Used in combo with my favorite Bumble & Bumble products, this shampoo/conditioner combo adds height and shape to my otherwise lifeless hair. If you struggle with limp hair give this combo a shot!
If you’ve been following me for a while you already know that 2022 was a shit year for me. We lost my mother to brain cancer within six months of her diagnosis. My family are in Louisiana and I’m in Los Angeles, which means I spent a lot of time traveling back and forth. The stress of her illness and the hectic schedule added a good 10+ pounds to my already too heavy figure. So this year I’ve committed to getting that extra weight off and taking better care of my body. I’m hoping that my brand new stand-up desk and mini-treadmill (currently $100 off on Amazon) will help me meet my daily step goals while I work! They both arrived this past week, so I’m still adjusting to walking while I work, but so far so good. I’ll be sharing my progress in these posts from time to time, so stay tuned!
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