Hi, friends! My birthday is later this week. I am turning 35 years old, and although I am so very grateful for many things in my life, I wish I could go on a trip SO BAD right now. But life is weird at the moment. So, instead I’ll just share with you a number of things I bought myself as a birthday present and a few things I still might buy. Ha.
I bought myself not one but TWO pairs of these yoga pants. I now own three pairs and it’s almost all I wear right now.
I had been eyeing these shoes for a while and I finally bought myself some. So far they have mostly been used to go to the grocery store, but I am hopeful for their future.
Oddly enough, I haven’t been biting my nails lately. I have mostly been a life long nail-biter, but recently I stopped somehow. So, a nail polish set seemed to be in order.
I’ve also bought myself a number of rings lately, starting with this one and then this one and also these.
Wanted some Tiny Tassel earrings for a while and finally got this pair.
It hasn’t arrived just yet, but I bought myself an Agility mattress (like I had before). I love it that much!
I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, but I am very, very seriously considering a new pair of tennis shoes. I love this brand—I have an old pair I wear a lot, but they are finally on their last leg (pun!).
I ordered myself a cake from a local baker (and singer/songwriter), Ellie Schmidly. Check out her Instagram account @cake.sgf. especially if you are in the Springfield, Missouri area.
On my birthday, or a day or two after (however my schedule works out), I am planning to go flea market shopping around town, which I haven’t done in forever. I have a list of things I’m looking for so fingers crossed I might find a little treasure that day. 🙂
This isn’t really a birthday present (because I go outside of my birthday too, lately twice a month), but I have a therapy session this week and I do consider that a gift to myself.
Last thing. Do you want to give me a birthday gift? If so, what I’d really love is some book recommendations, just leave them in the comments. I’m looking for fiction and I’m open to anything, but I’m especially into more lighthearted things at the moment, yet I also always love a good mystery, romance, fantasy, YA, or a thriller. xo. Emma
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine was a great Sci-Fi read!
Hello Emma 🙂 I’m a podcast listener (and new blog reader) and I think this is this first time I’ve commented. ANYWAYS! If you’re looking for lighthearted/fiction, I’d recommend the Piece of Cake Mystery Series. I see you have a lot of book suggestions, so have fun reading 🙂
Happy Birthday! My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison is so clever. I love them,she has 3 Godmother books that could be read in any order.
Have you read Taylor Jenkins Reid? Everything by her is great, Maybe in Another life is my favorite. The main character is so relatable. And I love that the ending isn’t cliche. She makes 1 decision and her life takes 2 separate course. I’ve read it twice and I’m not sure which ending I like more.
My favorite light hearted books are the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han. They are young adult novels and the first two books are also movies on Netflix right now. I think you’d love them! Happy late birthday!
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller. Gothic romance with a ghost story, fantastic banter, and a little spice.
Congrats, Emma!!! And happy birthday! Also ‘My Not So Perfect Life’ by Sophie Kinsella is the perfect fun, lighthearted read with a main character who is so charming. It’s like a modern feel-good rom com in a book.
New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl. Some of the stories are just delightful, others disturbing and thought provoking, all really good. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Fav books for me are the Discovery of Witches series by Deborah Harkness, Rivers of London Series by Ben Aaronovich, anything by Tamora Pierce and His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. Enjoy!
I’ve read a lot during COVID and I keep a list in my notes of the books I read with grades. Here are three that got A’s and are either traditional novel or thriller:
Mrs Everything
The Last Mrs Parrish
Nine Perfect Strangers
The Hearts Invisible Furies
Happy birthday!! Anathema by Neal Stephenson is a doozy of a book (almost 1000 pages), but it’s really good if you like sci fi. Also, I may steal this idea of getting book recommendations for my next birthday. It can be tricky to find good fiction books without recommendations.
Have you read Ready Player One? I watched the movie when it came out and it was entertaining, but all kinds of confusing. Finally listened to the book on audio on a long drive and it was so good! I’m definitely not a gaming person, but this story was just super fun.
Happy birthday!!!
Happy Birthday Emma! I love the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. She’s a charming child detective 🙂 Very lighthearted, but also has mystery.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/46160-flavia-de-luce
I wanted to recommend re-reading a favorite book! I dont do it very often but it’s so comforting and fun to get back into a story you loved once before. Specifically I recommend a Hunger Games re-read! It holds up!!
It’s also fun to read it with more perspective and age – it changes things but it’s still super gripping
The Allbirds wool loungers are amazing! I use them in place of house shoes and they are so cozy and not too hot! Would love to try their tennis shoes too.
Happy birthday Emma! Wishing you so much joy! I needed a lighthearted read too, and I’m currently in the middle of The Madwoman Upstairs: part mystery, part tribute to the Bronte sisters, part college/ coming of age story… it’s fun! ❤️
Happy Birthday! And congratulations! So excited for you !
I just finished Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes by Kathleen West. It was just what I was looking for as a lighthearted escape. A Man Called Ove by Frederik Bachman (or anything by him, although some of his books have a tendency to make me ugly cry), Sourdough by Robin Sloan, and Happy and You Know it by Laura Hankin are also all lovely or fun or both.
Just finished reading Dumplin’!
Super cute, light hearted and fun. 🙂
‘When we believed in mermaids’ Barbara O’Neal
Happy birthday!
Love allbirds! I wore my last pair down to the floor so now I need a new pair 🙂
Re. book recs: if you like romance, have you read anything by Alice Clayton? I recommend her trio Nuts/Cream of the Crop/Buns. Thriller: I read Alyssa Cole’s When No One is Watching and loved it! Lighter fair, Fix her Up by Tessa Bailey was delightful (and apparently she has two follow ups).
Enjoy being 35! I’ll be following you in 3 months 😛
Happy Birthday! Mine is coming soon too, a fellow Aquarian. I have been reading a lot of memoirs, but a great fiction, oldie but really goodie is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer. Enjoy!