Another month gone and we’re getting into the later half of 2018! Seriously, I can’t believe it. Before you know it, Target will have Halloween, and dare I say Christmas!, decorations up. Crazy pants.

This month was really good and really challenging in equal parts.

Books – The Good- I hosted two giveaways this month, giving away a very good amount of books.

The bad: I also only bought Magic of Wind and Mist by Cassandra Rose Clarke, Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl and The Memory of Fire by Callie Bates. I broke down mid-month and bought The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang and My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan. I really wanted some fun books to take with me to the beach.  (I did finally break down and also buy my favorite series the Immortal Beloved series by Cate Tiernan. They were very affordable and they’re favorites of mine so I would like to think they don’t count because they don’t add to my to read pile.)

I’m also focusing back on review books. I have a set number I want to read every month. And I have given away more books than I bought so I consider it a win.

Knitting – still having some muscle problems when I’m holding delicate fingering yarns. I started finally on the Find Your Fade shawl, but I am knitting with fingering weight yarn so I can only do a couple of rows and have to stop. It’s not bad, but it is slow going. I am almost finished with a cowl for my daughter (to be set aside for when she’s older) and I’m excited to share pictures of that. I’m using Bay Street Yarns in Jealousy. Gorgeous. Because it’s DK weight, I can knit for longer on this project so it is coming along fast.

Hygge – like I said, I got rid of a ton of books. I know, how do I still have so many? Anyway, I’m doing really well on that front. I have also really curbed my buying and my eating out habits and gave another box of donations to Goodwill. While I’m far from there, I do feel more grounded with the items I have, more relaxed about the space I’ve created and more, shall I say cozy?

Health – The first half of the month wasn’t so great, but by the 19th I was ready to begin again. Lots of fruits and veggies, less carbs, less meat.

In August I’m really looking forward to losing more. I’ve been taking loads of exercise classes including yoga and pilates, sometimes two or three times a week. It may not seem like a lot to some, but it’s huge for me.