december + january wrap-up, favourites and others 🌨

Dear reader,

I know that I haven’t been the most consistent and active blogger. What made it worse was that my computer has been broken while I was at the hospital this summer. Ever since it has been harder to blog, even though I really wanted to. Well, I am happy to say that I am now back and that I have a brand new computer. I can now finally blog at home and at peace, and I have so many ideas that I can’t wait to share with you all.

As I disappeared for a while I decided to start my comeback with a wrap-up for the months of both December and January. I hope that it’s okay with you all. I missed you and am so happy to be back!

Without further ado, let’s jump into my December and January wrap-up!

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❥ WHAT I READ

In December my only goal was to reach 150 books read in 2018. Thankfully I ended up reading 12 books, which brought me to 154 books read in 2018! I never read that much and am still super proud of me.

Because I am wrapping up two months I won’t give my thoughts on all the books but if you want to know more about my rating feel free to ask me in the comments!

Here is what I read in December:

• The Wicked Ones by Cassandra Clare and Robin Wasserman, 4.5/5 stars
• The Land I Lost by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan, 4.5/5 stars
• Through Blood Through Fire by Cassandra Clare and Robin Wasserman, 4/5 stars
• Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones, 4/5 stars
• Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare, 4/5 stars
• Letters From Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien, 4/5 stars
• The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis, 3.5/5 stars (re-read)
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, 4.5/5 stars (re-read)
• The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout, 3.75/5 stars
• On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, 4.5/5 stars (ARC)
• The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare, 4/5 stars
• and The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend, 4/5 stars

As January started I decided to set myself a new Goodreads challenge: in 2018 I said I wanted to read 1 book because I only wanted to update what I have been reading, when really I had a secret goal of 150 books. For 2019 I decided to read 100 books on Goodreads, but I really hope I’ll be able to read 160 books.

Anyway, in January I read 10 books which is okay as it is my average, but I still hope I read more.

Here is what I read:

• The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand, 4/5 stars
• Meet Me at Christmas by Morgane Moncomble, 5/5 stars (Wattpad)
• Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, 5/5 stars
• What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, 3/5 stars
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, 5/5 stars
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, 5/5 stars (re-read)
• Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 4/5 stars
• Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan, 3.75/5 stars (ARC)
• A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi, 5/5 stars
• Dom Juan by Molière, 3.75/5 stars

❥ WHAT I LOVED

December and January have been two busy months and I did so much. I grew a lot, took a lot of risks and created some amazing memories. Here is what made me happy during those two months.

• Meeting my idol, Lin-Manuel Miranda

If you know me, you know that I love three men more than anything in the world and Lin-Manuel Miranda is one of them. I have been admiring him ever since the beginning of 2016 and never thought I would met him. Well, it happened. I told him everything I wanted, he laughed with me and we took pictures. He was the nicest and he deserves all the good things that are happening to him.

• Saying good bye to my favourite series, The Dark Artifices

It’s not something that I loved, but it sure was important and changed a lot of things for me. In December, Queen of Air and Darkness was released and I read it under 24 hours. It has been a hell of a road and I was scared, as this book was the conclusion to my favourite series of all time. Unfortunately it wasn’t as good as the two other books in the trilogy for me, but I still enjoyed it and still cried for a whole hour when I was done with it. I am so grateful to have this series in my life and I can’t wait to re-read it for the billion times.

• Taking many tea breaks

Both in December and January I have been taking tons of tea breaks with different friends: I went to Maison Pradier, to Angélina, to WHSmith and I loved it. Every time I take the time to relax and to drink some I feel as if I was back in London and nothing could make me happier.

• Working with Scribbler

As 2018 was ended Scribbler contacted me and asked me if I wanted to work with them. Ever since it brought me only joy! I love working with them, their boxes are amazing and I am having a blast. They are so kind and thoughtful, and I highly recommend their boxes. My opinion is totally honest, despite receiving those boxes for free, and it’s my first time talking about a company I’m working with on here, only because it truly brought me happiness.

• Mamma mia! Here We Go Again

In December my sister bought me the box set of Mamma Mia! and I finally have been able to make my sister watched the second movie. Weirdly she has been just as touched as I was and the movie moved her just like it did for me. We have been rewatching it together quite a few times and have been learning all the choreographies. I’m so happy we now share our love for this movie.

• Seeing Paris during Christmas

As 2018 was ended I decided to take new pictures for bookstagram with all the beautiful Christmas decorations Paris wore. I had a blast discovering new areas and fell in love once again with my own city.

• Going to Versailles

In December I also went back to Versailles to see my bookstagram friend Anne-Pauline. We visited the castle but also took a long tea break. I had an amazing time and being there so close to Christmas felt so magical. I can’t wait to go back already.

• Ice-skating for the first time

My best friend always loved ice-skating and I always promised her that one day we would go together. Well, we did it and I survived. I did hurt myself but it was so much fun and I can’t wait for us to go back!

• Seeing a friend having a baby

My best friend’s sister was pregnant in 2018 and right as 2019 started she had her baby. Going to the hospital and seeing her being a mom felt weird but also magical. I’m so proud of her and I’m so happy for my best friend as she is so in love with this baby. I can’t wait to see this little boy grow up!

• Going to Disneyland with my sister and cousin

For once I went to Disneyland with my family and it felt good to have a girls day with my sister and cousin. We had so much fun even though we were freezing and it felt so good to share my happy place with them. I can’t wait to go back already.

• Seeing snow again

Again this year we had snow and it was so beautiful. I love snow and am definitely a Winter girl, so it made me so happy. It’s not practical and it didn’t work great with my OCD (as my intrusive thoughts are always here to remind me that I can fall and die basically) but I still enjoyed it.

• Getting better

Finally I decided to get better in 2019 and I can proudly say that it’s working. I know that recovery isn’t a straight line and there will be days I won’t feel good, but I’m still happy to see all the progress I made. I’m definitely getting there and I’m so proud of myself.

❥ CHECKING ON MY DECEMBER GOALS

In November I set myself only three goals for December. I had to save money, which I did, enjoy Christmas, which I did as well even though I was super anxious about it (as it is my first Christmas without my grandma), and to study well for my finals, and they did go well.

❥ WHAT I WANT TO DO IN FEBRUARY

As always I have to set myself some new goals for the next month. Here is what I want to do in February:

• Save more money,
• Get back to studying for my next exams,
• Take more risks,
• Work out twice a week (not more not less),
• Spend a day alone in Paris.

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And that’s a wrap!

I have been doing a lot of things lately and I’m proud to say that I am finally getting better. The road will still be long, but at least I’m getting there.

How was your end of 2018 and beginning of 2019? Tell me all!

Love always,

Clara