Heartbeat Monthly (3): March 2018

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on April 2, 2018 | 1 Comment

March haul

Bought

Lying Cat Funko Pop (FINALLY!!)
Storiarts writing gloves
A Novel Companion book planner from Little Inklings
Illuminae phone case from Society6, designed by EvieBookish
An Ember in the Ashes pillowcase from Illumicrate, designed by Stella Bookish Art (BST group)
Game of Thrones seasons 1-7

Books

Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen (signed)
Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi (signed Target edition)
Pacifica by Kristen Simmons (signed at event)

Candles

Omnis Vir Lupis layered candle from Novelly Yours
Kylo Ren & Gryffindor candles from Alchemy & Ink (LOVE)
Jukai Forest & Okami from the Melting Library (from BST group)
Canterbury Road Co wax melts (from BOGO sales) – Currently Reading (which I loved so much I went back and bought more), Toothless, Book Hangover, Second Breakfast, Blue, Queen of Eagles

Boxes

YA Chronicles Obsidio box, goodies only
March Flick the Wick box – ‘Magic & Make Believe’
March Enchanted Book Box – ‘Savage Sea’
March Nerdy Post – Dumbledore themed

Bookmarks

Nerdy Grl Designs – Strange the Dreamer set, Daughter of Smoke and Bone set, HP treats set, Manon, Manon w/ Dorian
In the Reads woodmarks – The Pointy End & Shire map
Let the Past Die Kylo bookmark from Alchemy & Ink

Freebies

March Fairyloot, anniversary box – ‘Memorable Moments’ (rep – my code is NOVEL5!)
Flickering Tales candles – Illuminae set, Poor Cow Cows, Lollipop (traded)
Jord Dover watch (for IG promo)
Au Barca candle from Cornerfolds Candles (THANK YOU ERIN!!!)
The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton (thank you Tor!)
The Final Six by Alexandra Monir (for IG tour)
Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake (Storygram Tours)
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (Thank you Erin for your shameless bookpushing!)
LIFEL1KE by Jay Kristoff (trade – THANK YOU JESSENA!!)
Blood of a Thousand Stars by Rhoda Belleza (IG promo)

From the Obsidio signing

Obsidio by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
Unearthed by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Already had & got signed – Godsgrave ARC, Lifel1k3 ARC, Godsgrave UK paperback, Godsgrave poster, death blooms phone case

March Wrap Up

Books I read

Obsidio by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman – ★★★★★
Red Rising by Pierce Brown (reread) – ★★★★★
LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff – ★★★★★
Golden Son by Pierce Brown (reread) – ★★★★★
Morning Star by Pierce Brown (reread) – ★★★★★
Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi – ★★★½

Pages read: 2,838
Average rating: 4.75
Favorite book read in March: LIFEL1K3
Least favorite book read in March: Restore Me

Holy CRAP, I had a whopping FIVE 5-star reads in one month! That has NEVER happened! I’m so stingy with my ratings that it’s rare for me to have more than 1 or 2 a month, let alone 5!

Books I reviewed

Wow, I was so bad this month review wise :(

What I’ve been up to this month

It has been SO busy!!! Dog grooming has been insanely busy lately for some reason – usually we don’t start getting busy until after Spring Break when it starts getting warm. I’ve had so many 5 pm days, which is downright AWFUL when you’re grooming. 9 hours of grooming feels like 13 hours at a regular job (I would know, I used to pull 13 hour shifts when I worked in the kennel). So when I get home I have zero energy to do anything. Plus I only have maybe 4-5 hours to do anything before I have to go to bed and start all over.

I’ve felt really overwhelmed this month for some reason. Between work being busy and having to do 3984923 things at home, my anxiety flared, which tends to inhibit my ability to do much of anything. Which caused me to fall farther behind and feel even more overwhelmed! You know how I was bragging a couple months ago about doing a phenomenal job at keeping up with all my hobbies? Well, yeah. I jinxed myself apparently because as you can see I’ve SUCKED at blogging. I’m still doing good at reading, but I haven’t done much else. I’ve been slipping on bookstagram really bad because like I said, I’ve been getting home late and haven’t had energy (or good natural light) to take photos. Sigh.

The candle shop is doing great, though! I’ve had a crazy amount of sales this week between sales and discontinuing items. I also have some exciting changes in the works!