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a little update

Saturday, June 18, 2016

i have no idea how long it's been. i don't really want to check either. mainly because i know i've neglected this little part of me, but i dont want to beat myself up over it. life happens!


instead, i want to go over a couple of recent highlights that stand out in my mind:

- i hit 1 year of working at my current job in May // how did that even happen? graduation feels like it was just yesterday, but i guess that's what happens when post-college life! 

- ran my first ever 5k // while i was really looking forward to it, my time wasn't all that great (~34 minutes) i think this was mainly due to the run being a pretty big one. there were so many people participating, i felt closed in and lost my pacing

- picked up longboarding // i went to California in April, i believe, and tried surfing for the first time. it was amazing. i'm so bummed that Florida doesn't get the waves Cali does or else i would be getting my butt kicked in the water with a board! so, when i got back home i thought what else can i do in the meantime that is a bit like surfing? long/skateboarding seemed good to me- and so far i'm loving it!

- i lost my phone while on a trip // now, how is this a highlight you might ask? actually, it really isn't. it was a huge bummer and dampened my trip. i ended up calling it an early night. but, it made me realize that you don't need to have your phone out at all times waiting to capture a moment. let things be. 

- i've been attending church regularly // this is pretty personal to me, but it's been a huge factor in my life. i'm still trying to get the "hang" of it- attending on a weekly basis- but i find great comfort in it. 

- reading was put on the backburner // i kind of went on hiatus with reading. i caught myself buying books that were stacking up on my bookshelf. with no room to put them, i made myself a promise to not buy anymore books until i finished what i had. so far, it's been going good, but i've been uninspired to pick up anything. recently though, that changed. last book i read was The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson which was a great summer novel!

- Venezuela made it pretty far in the Copa America // Venezuela is not known for it's amazing soccer skills but this year we have been doing pretty well. i am super impressed! unfortunately, this came to an end tonight against Argentina (4-1), but we put up a good fight and that's the best you can do. 

and that's that! i was also contemplating adopting a cat because i fell in love with my cousin's barn cat, but that idea was quickly shot down. 

i've been doing more thinking about my future lately and trying to feel things out, but i think that's more of an ongoing discussion we all have with ourselves, right? 

i might come back and post pictures- if my phone decides to work (it completely shut down on me this morning and won't turn on). 

i hope whoever is reading this is having a happy Saturday. i encourage you to jot down some of your own 'highlights' and share them with me :) 

xo Alex 

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reading slumps {suck}

Thursday, January 21, 2016


i hate neglecting my blog like this. so many weeks have gone by and all you see on here is 
s  i  l  e  n  c  e
it's wrong, and i feel horrible about it. 

so, what's been going on? well, i've been in a bit of a reading slump. i tried to read some of the books i have on my TBR pile that i mentioned before. the thing is that many of them are YA books, a genre that i have not been in the mood to read whatsoever.

i want to get back into reading classics and literary fiction (a broad genre, i know). i want to pick up more mature content, become lost in intricately written stories, delve into current events told from another perspective, and read more business/self-help books. 

i sound like a true adult. but, believe me, i am definitely a child at heart. and i have gone through this stage before- back in high school. back then i had more free time to do anything and read everything. so, like any other typical high schooler, i would read economic books and classical literary material. the usual. 

but when i left for university i lost some of that momentum because schoolwork at that level will suck the life out of you and let's face it, there are other things to do, people to see, events to go to.

when i started to realize i was forcing myself to read the books on my current TBR pile, i immediately stopped. i knew that wasn't the answer to my slump. instead, i've been slowly circling other potential books i've been meaning to read, feeling them out and scoping out their summaries to see if perhaps they will ignite my reading frenzy.

and even though i've sort of been putting down YA in this post, i will say that there has been 1 book i've read and finished this year- the first and only one in fact; it is Juliet Marillier's The Caller, the last book in the Shadowfell series. 

it was amazing. i've been reading this series since 2014 and it took me a while to finish because i kept putting off buying the last book. when i saw it on BookOutlet i knew the time had come to finally conclude this beloved fantasy series.  Marillier did a fantastic job of joining all the loose ends and neatly tying everything up. 

if you have not read this series, heard about it or been in the mood for some fantasy: PICK THIS UP. you will not regret it (only until you became enamored and realize you will have to end the series sooner or later). 

what do you do to get out of reading slumps? i would love some tips/suggestions! 

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bye 2015, cheers to the new year

Friday, January 01, 2016

2015 was one interesting year. so many things happened- both big and small. this past year i really honed in on my likes, dislikes, people i want to surround myself with, outlook for the future, values, and daily affirmations for positivity and motivation.

i want to do good and be good, not only to those around me, but to myself.

in 2015, i went on so many fun adventures with my friends, started consistently running, read a lot, graduated university, moved back home, bought my first car, landed my very first "big girl" job, began to travel, and made myself a firm promise to keep up with this blog and writing.

oh, and i turned 24. that sounds so old, but in reality, i have so many things left to do in this lifetime.

here are a couple pictures in 2015 that brought a smile to my face:

Savannah, Georgia roadtrip

A quaint bookstore in my old college town with very affordable prices
An engraving I spied on my university's campus while I was taking graduation pictures
1 out of 3 Disney parks my friend and I conquered in one day- these fireworks concluded the trip
NYC with my best friend for the second year in a row 
A hazy moment of cheers caught during Valentine's Day (Galentine's Day) with some girlfriends
 Very peaceful Minnesota lake that I unfortunately did not have the chance to run around- still beautiful, though
My aunt's wedding where I snapped their first dance
there were so many pictures i had in my album that i could not fit on here. so, these are merely a few. i hope that in 2016 i can become more photo savy and get a better camera.

i'm really thankful for having the opportunity to do all the things i was able to do in 2015 and especially for being able to graduate. school had its up's and down's but looking back it all worked out in the long run.

 what were some of your favorite moments this past year?

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life || what's going on

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

i saw this post over on Alphabeth and thought i would follow suit. i know i posted monday thoughts earlier this week, but this post seemed perfect for a collective reflection on what's been going on recently. life is so tumultuous and you never know what's around the corner, so let's freeze a fragment of time through these quick notes:

Reading: i'm currently reading In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park. it is such a powerful read with a rich historical overview. i'm simultaneously learning and being inspired.

Watching: Attack on Titan on Netflix. i've heard really good things about this anime so i thought why not? i wanted to watch something that was outside my norm and this has been just that. it's action-packed and extremely intense! 

Buying: this past weekend i was on the hunt for a new winter jacket i could use for my upcoming trip to New York. i thought i found one but it turned out to be too big, so unfortunately i had to return it. but on Monday i managed to find one, and at a reasonable price, so i'm good to go! although the temperatures have been pretty odd on the east coast...

Listening: the theory of everything soundtrack and the new Coldplay album.

Feeling: a bit stressed about the amount of work i have to do. i'm a bit hard on myself and always want my final drafts of projects to be perfect. also feeling a bit sad because i got into a minor fender bender last week and i still haven't had the chance to take my car into the shop :( 

Planning: to go to New York next week! i'm so excited to see my best friend and revisit the city!

Wishing: for some cold, preferably in the 40s/50s. i know this is weird because others are suffering of the cold and would rather be in sunny Florida, but i want to feel a change of season and some cold, crisp afternoons!

Enjoying: conversations with my dad. 

Eating: i just had some really good pasta my dad made and a sneaky stash of Justin's peanut butter cups i have in the fridge.

Hoping: to end this week on a good note! 

Thinking: how much i'm going to have to spend on my car and how i can't wait for next week to get here already- eek!

Lacking: time, sleep, exercise  

Trying: to prioritize my time and give a bit more of myself to this blog and posting. it's hard especially after coming home after a long day of work. all i want to do is eat and sleep!

Drinking: my usual cup of coffee in the morning and lots of water. 

Wanting: harmony and stability in the upcoming year. 

Cooking: i've gotten back into baking this past couple of months. i made some really good pumpkin bread in November as well as some pecan pumpkin muffins (lot's of pumpkin goodies)!

Deciding: what to do after i finish this post. keep fixing my blog up, put on my pjs or instantly delve into my book? decisions, decisions...

Wearing: running shorts (even though i have no plans to run today and have not been running for a couple weeks now, shame on me, but mostly the sun for setting so early) and a black t-shirt 

Needing: more TIME and energy! 

what about you? what's been going on?

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peace for paris

Friday, November 13, 2015

Peace for Paris sign

when i got home from work today the only thing i wanted to do was lie down and mindlessly scroll through my phone. my mom was going on about watching the news and seeing what was happening in Paris but i didn't pay her any attention.

the entire afternoon passed. we went out, ran some errands, went to the mall, and finally as i was in the backseat of the car i decided to ask, "what's going on in Paris?" it's moments like these where i reflect back on what i was thinking at the time, what i was doing, who i was with, what my train of thought was...

my mindset the entire day was "i can't wait to run home and lie down." once i had fulfilled that i then began thinking about the materialistic things i wanted to look at and buy- superficial enjoyment. when i pulled up the ny times and began reading, my heart dropped. this is what i kept putting off, what i nonchalantly shrugged off.

more than 100 people have been reported dead at this hour. more than 4 locations were used as prime vantage points of attack. paris, i am praying for you. social media has advanced so rapidly over the years that we now have the advantage of connecting with people all over the world to send an S.O.S. in these crises, to provide comfort and show that we too care. you are not alone.

i feel useless and redundant asking the question people always seem to come back to during these horrific acts: "why did this happen?" there is no one answer. i'm not sure even those behind the crime would be able to sufficiently explain their reasoning. just as we can not answer, when will this end? when will the hate be gone? we can only try to put love, understanding and compassion first.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King Jr. 

technology is not only at our disposal for entertainment but for awareness. tonight you are in my prayers Paris. i pray for the victims, the affected families, the bystanders, the unaware tourists, the children, humanity.
- alex 

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hello, it's me

Monday, November 09, 2015



in all actuality, hello, we meet again- almost one year later? time is weird, it goes by so quickly, more quickly than we realize. i've been trying to make the most out of my days because of this fact. i want to enjoy the little things but also make sure that i've made the most out of each day i'm given. i was about to let this blog go but there was something that pulled me back. 

maybe it was all my lengthy reviews or the genuine enjoyment i felt at keeping up with this, but when i looked back i knew i couldn't close it. there was too much writing and work that i put into this. during my last year of college, reading for enjoyment and writing everything down was nice. i know, what a great way of explaining my feelings. but that's what it was. when you're in school you're constantly running around, stressing over papers, projects, quizzes, mid-terms, research, life. school has its own beauty but it's also a conundrum of anxiety and stress. when you get home the real work is beginning, which is reviewing and studying for the next day or week ahead of you.

adult life is surprisingly a bit less panic and a bit more go, go, go. and when you're not running around trying to chase the hours after 5PM, you're trying to relax and figure out what to do with your spare time; should you pick up a book? bake? cook something new? scrounge the sales rack at the mall? pick up a new hobby? it's all very strange- how we get caught up in each new phase of our life, trying to figure out the direction to take as we go.

so i want to continue on "all alex reads." i want to jot things down, make over my blog and look back at my posts, seeing my progress over the years. also, connect with some more of you out there. 

now back to the title at hand. let's not lie to ourselves, this is a judge free zone- how many times a day do you repeat Hello by Adele? i have to admit that i'm guilty of more than 3 times a day. hope everyone's off to a good week! 
- alex

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Mini-Weekend Roadtrip

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tuesday's are the new Monday's for me, does anyone else feel that way? I had a 3-day weekend this past week and it was great! It's just a bit of a downer coming back to schoolwork and responsibilities :( I had the chance to do a bit of traveling though, which I was very grateful and excited for. I went to Savannah, Georgia which is about 4 hours from where I go to school. I had been wanting to go to Savannah for a while now because I've heard it has great places to eat, drink, dine and just walk around in general. Plus, the city is historically rich and full of stories so I couldn't wait to see the past/present mixed together. When my friend's birthday came around and she asked me if I wanted to come I could not resist!


I will post some pictures down below of what I did and saw, oh and what I ate, because I had some really amazing food. I only stayed for a night in Savannah, but I really liked it! I find myself relating a lot of cities to New Orleans (I went there last summer), so I would say that Savannah is a more toned down version of Nola. There is definitely night life because of the universities surrounding the city, but it's not quite as rambunctious. The port area where the market was situated, was not like New Orleans at all though. The architecture and the cobble stones really set it apart, as well as it's wide streets and foliage everywhere. Without further ado, my mini-weekend roadtrip! 

My friend's dog joined us for the ride, so I had to take a funny selfie with him :P

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Being a College Student

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

I'm trying to be more consistent on here (aka not disappear), and also expand my horizon on my posts. That is why I wanted to talk about being a college student. I know there are probably a lot of people out there who have been in my situation (perhaps recently), or that are currently still in school. I'm a senior graduating in May, so this will be my last semester. And this has been a long time coming, trust me!


I did not do the typical 4-year degree, nor did I do the 3-year program, instead I'm part of the select and special 5-year group. I have indeed taken the long and tedious route, and it has been a marathon not a sprint. It's crazy to look back but I can clearly remember the very first day that my parents dropped me off, and now seeing where I am and how much things change I'm in awe. Time really does fly and still find myself grappling with that fact. 


I have always been very dedicated about school, that one girl who cried if I got anything lower than an A. But transitioning into college was completely different than what I had been accustomed to in middle and high school. Jumping into classes and realizing how much studying I would have to put in, kind of disoriented me. I would say that I began my first 2 years, right and steady, trying to pick the "right" major and still discovering all the things I had at my disposable; for example, organizations to join, people to meet, things to do. I wanted to do it all. But picking a major was always really difficult for me. I just couldn't seem to choose one that I thought was "good" enough- something that was going to set me up for both happiness and stability. I was looking for a career that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life and never regret picking; at least those are the only things I ever thought about when trying to decide. 

It honestly was not until this past year, that I definitively settled on something. It's definitely out there, and when I tell people they look at me like I'm crazy, but I've gotten used to it. My official major is English Literature with a minor in Biology. I have taken about all the science classes you can name, with exceptions of a few, because for a while there I was gun-ho about medical school. My mind has changed since then, because I decided to be honest and truthful with myself about things I passionately enjoy and wouldn't mind doing everyday. You know that saying that you should wake up each day doing something you love? Well, I was waking up each day dreading what was to come and looking forward to the end of the day when I could sleep.


I think the whole picking a major process and all the "mile stones" and requirements that come with one, are ridiculous. They cause more stress and bring about more tension and unnecessary emotions in your life. Trust me, this whole college thing isn't easy. You will go through highs, some very good ones, but some really bad lows. I have been there and experienced a lot of it. I wish the college I go to offered more "liberal" degrees, and accommodating programs for the interests each person has. Instead of cornering you into one set thing. Also, I would love if the misconceptions on what majors or minors "go with each other" could be thrown out the window. I am a girl who loves her books and writing, but am still fascinated by science and computer things. The fact that one doesn't compliment the other is nonsense in my opinion. 

I'm really happy to be graduating but also really scared. I'm about to stop doing something that I've been accustomed to for the last 5 years. Weirdly enough I'm not necessarily nervous about leaving this school environment, but I am skeptical about what next thing I'm going to jump into. I'm still thinking about that. Let me know what your college experience was/is like. What's your major? What was your path like? Hang in there, we're half-way through the week! 
-Alex

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Hi 2015!

Saturday, January 03, 2015


I take full responsibility for completely disappearing since the end of November. As soon as I came back from Thanksgiving break it was GO TIME with tests, finals and last minute projects. Then December came and went! I got a chance to go to New York for my very first time and it was amazing. I'm so incredibly lucky to have an amazing friend who was generous enough to allow me to spend a week with her and roam the city. I will post some pictures down below of some of the things I did and saw!

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Hola!

Sunday, June 08, 2014

My name is Alexandra and I'm 22 years old and a full-time college student located in Florida. I decided to start this blog this summer since I have more free time than usual, as opposed to when I'm busy with school and work during the year. I love reading and discussing books and needed an outlet to write down my thoughts and opinions once I'm finished reading, so I thought a blog would be an easy way to do that and connect with other readers out there! I don't focus on specific genres, as I bounce around from science-fiction, YA novels, dystopian/post-apocalypse, fantasy, contemporary, and adult fiction. There's too many books to read and not enough time! I'm also a huge movie buff and watch a couple TV shows, so here and there I will post some of those things as well. Feel free to leave a comment and discuss with me, as well as suggesting new authors and titles- I love diving into new novels or series. Hope you enjoy this blog and my many ramblings!

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