How is it the middle of December already?! Holy smokes batman! We are officially in the thick of the holiday season and this month has been a whirlwind for me so far! Lots of fun firsts and challenging moments have made up these past fifteen days–but I’ve grown and/or taken something away from each encounter that I can’t be salty about it. Happy Hanukah to all my Jewish storytellers out there! Last year my mom decided to take the steps back into practicing Judaism and this year she felt comfortable enough to try her hand at celebrating Hanukah! This is my first time doing it since I was a very itty bitty girl (I grew up in non-denominational Christianity) so it was fun to learn the history and the meaning behind everything, lighting the Menorah each night and spending time with my family.
I also for the first time in my ENTIRE life, have finished all of my Christmas shopping for my family before Christmas Eve…WHO EVEN AM I! When I ticked the last person of my list last night I was so shook that I went out in 40 degree weather in nothing but my t-shirt, shorts, and fuzzy socks to get myself some congratulatory milk shake (I love the cold if you haven’t noticed) and a new super soft–put your new born baby to shame soft–throw blanket. To say that my evening last night was aesthetically pleasing as I watched the Holiday bake off would be overwhelmingly an understatement.
I haven’t really started on most of my readathons and events this year (save for bookending winter!) but Smutathon released their dates and challenges so I’m hopefully going to jump onto the TBR saddle for both Christmasathon and Smutathon and see if I can’t kill two birds with one stone with their challenges. 25 days of Creativity however, is going good–on the days I’m not doodling, I am typically either jotting down some fun poetry during my lunch break, or dancing in my room–which has been doing wonders for my mental health as I’ve been able to just…get away.
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one’s life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London’s most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.
After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca’s surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.
But that was then . . . Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love . . . until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets . . .
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Long Hard Ride by Lorelei James

During summer break, wannabe wild woman Channing Kinkaid is offered the chance to shed her inhibitions and horse around on the road with a real chaps-and-spurs wearing rodeo cowboy.
From the moment Colby McKay – bull rider, saddle bronc buster and calf roper – sets his lust-filled eyes on the sweet and fiery Channing, he knows she’s up to the challenge of being his personal buckle bunny. But he also demands that his rodeo travelling partners, Trevor and Edgard are allowed to join in their no-holds-barred sexcapades.
Although Channing secretly longed to be the sole focus of more than one man’s passions, all is not as it seems with the sexy trio. Colby’s demand for her complete submission behind closed doors tests her willful nature, and his sweet-talking ways burrow into her heart. Will Colby have to break out the bull-ropes and piggin’ string to convince this headstrong filly that the road to true love doesn’t have to be as elusive as that championship belt buckle?
Warning: This story has tons of explicit sex, graphic language that’d make your mama blush, light bondage, ménage a trois, and – yee-haw! – hot nekkid cowboy man-love …
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✅ Denotes Read / Completed
* denotes ARC (Advanced Readers Copy)
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Fantasy Romance | ✅*Contemp. Romance | ✅*Romantic Comedy |
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Historical Romance | Historical Romance | Historical Romance |
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This hasn’t changed much since my last update– I haven’t touched any of the shows on my TBW as I’ve just been watchin my usual Turkish programs–Sen Çal Kapımı, Doğduğun Ev Kaderindir, Zümrüdüanka–as well as my Nat Geo WILD shows, specifically Secrets of the Zoo. I’ve thrown in more christmas-y (thanks Hallmark!) movies in my spare time and I have FINALLY gotten my aunt to watch skin wars with me, and you all know how much I love my reality competition shows!
Here is a glimpse of my weekly watch schedule:
- Random Hallmark movie that is playing
- Skin Wars (Netflix) – Season 3
- Great British Baking Show: Holiday Edition (Netflix)
- Holiday Baking Championship (Food Network)
- Sen Çal Kapımı (FOX Turkiye)
- Doğduğun Ev Kaderindir (TV8)
- Zümrüdüanka (FOX Turkiye)
The goal is really to either finish one of these or to just simply start it. I’ve kept putting them off or getting distracted for weeks now (for one of them its been all year 😅) and I really am tired of writing their names on the TBW portion of my junk journal instead of the Shows Watched portion…
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Yaşamayanlar / Immortals (Netflix) | Outlander (Starz) | Şeref Meselesi |
IMDb | IMDb | IMDb |
How about you? How is your month going?
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