Well Hello Bookworms!
And just like that it was CHRISTMASTIME! Holy macaroni. I hope all of you in the US had a delicious Thanksgiving and that everyone not in the US had an opportunity to eat too much and nap this weekend. I’m still trying to get my brain back in the game post holiday weekend stupor, so I hope you’ll forgive me as I jibber jabber for a bit.
1. I’m closing my PO Box. I opened it because I thought it would be a bad idea to give out my address to strangers (it still is) with regard to blogging things. That said, I never did get famous enough for legit strangers (let alone stalker types) to send me anything. Plus, most publishers refuse to send books to PO Boxes, so it’s just a giant waste of money. If you desperately need to send me snail mail for some reason, email me and we’ll chat. 99% of you I consider actual friends anyway, so yeah.
2. The final installment of The Lunar Chronicles (everyone’s favorite fractured fairy tale series) was recently released, and I totally read it. However. I feel like I should talk about Fairest before I talk about Winter because I never discussed it. Since Fairest is technically a Lunar Chronicles prequel and fairly short, it didn’t seem to warrant a full review. Suffice it to say that despite my best efforts I found myself feeling sorry for Levana. I like a well rounded villain and all, but I didn’t want to feel sorry for the woman. She was so eeeeeeevil. Girl lost her shiz (for REASONS) BUT she easily could have made better choices. GET IT TOGETHER, MOON QUEEN. Gah!
3. I’ve been doing a ton of my holiday shopping online. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to shop almost entirely online… I do like to peruse brick and mortar stores and find the perfect thing by chance, but I have a LOT of people to shop for and it gets pretty stressful. Sorry, serendipity, pragmatism wins the day.
4. If Hallmark holiday movies are to be believed, Europe is positively littered with tiny countries whose monarchies are teeming with extraordinarily attractive, unattached, and rebellious heirs. I get that the Cinderella story is appealing and all, but… Ah well. I’m pleased that Lacey Chabert has found a vehicle to showcase her talents at least. Not that I’ve been watching Hallmark holiday movies or anything…
5. As you know, the minute the clocks turn back, the only thing I want to do is eat and sleep, leading me to the obvious conclusion that I am part bear. Naturally, Thanksgiving is the best holiday for those similarly afflicted, as all one is expected (nay, encouraged!) to do is eat mass quantities and nap.
6. I say “y’all” in my writing constantly in spite of the fact that I NEVER say it in real life. Midwestern folk like myself tend to use phrases like “you guys” instead, but it lacks a certain cache in print… I’m a fraud.
Talk to me, Bookworms! Have y’all started your holiday shopping? Are you in-person shoppers or online types?
*If you make a purchase through a link on this site- like, say, you want to do some holiday shopping and just happen to do to Amazon via the little search bar on the right?- I will receive a small commission.*
Jancee @ Jancee's Reading Journal
No shame! My grandma and I watched Hallmark movies most of the afternoon and evening on Friday. There were 3 royal-themed movies back to back. Loved them all!
Words For Worms
My BIL and SIL are the king and queen of the schmaltzy Hallmark movies. They are both total sappy goofballs about Christmas, it’s kind of hilarious. They watch the good Christmas movies too, of course. I think my BIL could quote both Home Alone and Christmas Vacation in their entirety. And A Christmas Story. Don’t forget about good old Ralphie!
Elizabeth
All online, except tiny things like candy or crayons for stocking stuffers. Also “Sorry, serendipity, pragmatism wins the day” is my new Christmas-shopping motto. 😉
Words For Worms
Haha! We should have that put on t-shirts. Stocking stuffers are definitely better bought in person, they’re always those weird little impulse items near the checkout. You truly cannot have enough sparkly princess lip smackers.
thatashgirl
I’m totally an online shopper. Years of working Retail made me fear mall’s after November 1st.
I too am part bear. And because I’m Canadian and pale I’m going with Polar Bear.
Words For Worms
I was lucky to never work retail. I worked in a flower shop which was definitely busier during the holidays, but never to the extent of a regular store. I did a stint in radio when I was in college and having to set up remotes at 6 am the day after Thanksgiving really sucked- I can’t imagine how much worse it is for those stuck working in the stores. Ew.
Rhian
It’s only just December, of course I haven’t started my Christmas shopping. Which is why I’m a bricks-and-mortar girl – I’m not organised enough for online!
Words For Worms
I feel like I’d have to be MORE organized to get it all done in store- I have a list of sizes for my nieces and nephews and I have a terrible habit of forgetting what I was looking for even when I make a list…
Joules (from Pocketful of Joules)
I also do most of my holiday shopping (and real life shopping) online. I still like to go to the mall during the Christmas season, but just to browse and soak up the holiday feeling. =)
Words For Worms
I totally get that. I like the shopping experience but it gets ruined for me when I stress about getting ALL THE THINGS. It’s much better when I can go without freaking out about the hard-to-buy-fors.
Samantha
I’m seriously feeling like hibernation mode. It feels like there’s so little daylight anymore. It takes me by surprise every year for some reason.
I finished Winter last night and I’ve totally been fangirling over this series the entire time, but it was amazing. I love the characters so much and it’s one of the few books/series I remember physically holding my breath while reading. I have the biggest book-crush on Thorne. No regrets. I get what you mean about Levana, after reading Fairest, but by about halfway through Winter I was done feeling sorry for her. She had gone too far to take any steps back at that point.
I still have a P.O. Box, but it is a very, very tiny one, so it doesn’t cost a lot. It’s more so that I have much more peace of mind that important documents reach me at my PO Box than at my home address (which is a very shared mailbox). And if anything too big arrives they just put a note in it and I have to go pick it up.
Jennine G
I do a lot of in person shopping for Christmas, but don’t hesitate to go online when I think of something that just can’t be had in town.
And out here, closer to Pittsburgh, it’s “yooz guys” or “yinzes.” They call it Pittsburghese – it’s a thing. There’s an online translator too!
Charleen
If I lived in a house, I’d probably do all my shopping online. I had a couple bad experiences having things delivered in apartments, although lately I’ve started getting over that… I’ve probably ordered more online in the last year and a half than I did my entire adult life before that.
Andi
I would have you “y’alling” in no time! I almost fell over when you mentioned Lacey Chabert. Flashback! Also, I am TOTES for shopping online. I have a tendency to Google search “gifts for twisted people” to find the right things.
Jenny @ Reading the End
I support your y’all-saying! It’s a useful pronoun!
I prefer in-person Christmas shopping myself. I like having a thing in my hands, and I also do not like to WAIT. But sometimes, yeah, I have to online shop. It is disappointing yet practical.