Highlight Reel (January 2019 Favorites)

I thought it would be fun if I took a moment each month to let you know what things are currently striking my fancy, so here goes the January installment! 

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CURRENT FAVORITES:

BOOKS:

This month, I listened to some audiobooks, including Room by Emma Donoghue, which was fantastic! I really liked the different readers doing the different voices to make the story come alive. I listened to A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler, Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor, and Paris for One by Jojo Moyes, too.

One of my favorites this month has been Chrystal Evans Hurst’s She’s Still There.

My fiance and I began reading What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp for our premarital counseling, and I’m really liking its practical advice about building a loving, lasting marriage.

I also read A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeline L’Engle.

QUOTE:

“You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously.” —Chrystal Evans Hurst, She’s Still There.

MOVIES/TV SHOWS: 

I’ve been watching a lot of Gilmore Girls recently because it’s one of my favorite standbys to return to every now and again.

I also watched Wonder, and I really enjoyed it! I’d read the book, and while I almost always believe books are better than their movie counterparts, Wonder was really good in both!

SONG: 

I’ve been LOVING “Look Up Child” by Lauren Daigle, as well as the rest of that album of hers. It’s so encouraging and uplifting (pun intended)! :)

PRODUCT:

I ordered these luggage organizers because while I was proud that I’d fit everything I needed for a nine-day trip in my suitcase (definitely a win for this overpacker), I had to dig every time I wanted anything out of it because I’d just wedged it all in there in whatever way it fit. It wasn’t very efficient and got old really quickly. Now I’m using these little organizers to keep my things organized and separated, and it’s so much easier to find everything when I need it! As a bonus, I can keep clean clothes separated from dirty ones!

FOOD: 

I made some delicious Thai quinoa salad, lots of yogurt parfaits, and a taco pasta salad that my fiance and I both really liked. I also made some delicious chicken chickpea chili.

MEMORIES FROM JANUARY:

Happy 2019! We’re already a month in somehow. The weather here in Minnesota was pretty mild for a while, so we were kind of spoiled, and I was fooled into thinking we were closer to spring than we actually were. I’m already loving the longer, brighter days, though!

I had my first wedding dress fitting, which was exciting!

I also got to spend an afternoon at Midtown Global Market with my best friend, enjoying some delicious Indian food (I had an indurrito, an Indian burrito, which was as delicious as it is hilarious) and ending our day with delicious bubble tea (of the blended variety, a new experience for us both).

My fiance and I got more wedding planning done, including booking our honeymoon, and we started premarital counseling!

LOOKING FORWARD TO IN FEBRUARY:

My family is going to Walt Disney World, and I couldn’t be more excited for the trip! We get to spend several days just enjoying the sights, the rides, and the warmth together! And, of course, we timed it out well so we get to escape some of the cold of the Minnesota winter, which I’m not at all mad about. :)

I also have a dinner and movie night with my college roommates and a baby shower for a friend, so it’s shaping up to be a great month!

What were some of your favorite things this month? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Wonder image credit: pagingsupermom.com