I skipped last week because of a cold, but I drove to Dayton, Ohio to visit one of my high school best friends. We went out, went shopping, and got to just catch up over lots of good food.

This week, I got over said cold, celebrated my 22nd birthday with tacos and cake, and then watched a whole lot of football with my dad, uncle, and cousins. I’m not a big fan of Thanksgiving foods, but I love the time with my family and my mom made these wonderful sugar cookie bars this year as an added dessert for me and my cousins.

Reading: Last week, I finished up Binding 13 (LOVED IT) and then I started Glow of the Everflame and Keeping 13. This week, I finished the two I started last week and my audiobook of The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, making that my 7th non-fiction book this year. I set an original goal of 12, one per month, so I really need to pick up the pace. I also still have 24 books left to read for my 24 series goal, so December is going to be a busy month – good thing I plan to do a whole lot of sitting with a blanket.

Eating: We were not an Advent calendar family when I was growing up because we have so many other fun traditions. However, I was always a bit jealous of my friends that got to eat candy before school. This year I grabbed Advent calendars for my sister and I at Trader Joe’s. They were $1.29 and had lots of super cute designs.

Playing: 2 hands by Tate McRae has been on REPEAT! Her new album comes out on February 21st, and I am so excited. I just know it’s going to be so good. Some honorable mentions are Keith Urban’s new album (not that new but I’m just discovering) and Sabrina Carpenter’s fruitcake EP (it’s Christmas but fun).

Obsessing: My mom reads my blog and she got me the sweater I put on my Christmas List post. It is just perfect. It’s oversized, soft, and warm without being suffocating. I’ve worn it almost everyday since getting it. It’s also perfect with leggings, sweatpants, or even dress pants – a sweater for all occasions!

Recommending: @styledbymckenz has been one of my favorite creators since 2018. She posts the best fashion advice and has recently gotten into travel. Her style is not too out there and she shops at lots of wallet friendly places, constantly showcasing deals. As for her travel posts, she goes to lots of warm destinations and talks about what it’s like to travel as a young woman, as well as the business side of things, giving us an inside look at influencer travel.

Treating: My birthday cake of choice for the last few years has been an Oreo cake. My mom found this recipe on Pinterest and it is my request every year. She has made the Oreo cake with Oreo frosting before, but it’s so sweet it hurts your teeth. So this year, we just did Oreo frosting with white cake. 10/10!

See you next week!