Goodbye, BEDA (BEDA Day 31)

Today is the last day of BEDA, and to be honest I'm relieved more than anything. While I enjoy the practice of keeping a daily log of my thoughts and feelings, this month was not the month to be taking on this challenge. I've very clearly been having a hard time. I talked about it a lot over the course of the month, and it got to the point where I felt embarrassed to continue to come back to this platform day after day and either 

1. try to hide what I was feeling 

or 

2. repeatedly talk about how terrible I felt in a public way. 

It just... wasn't a good time to be doing this, and while I know I could have stopped this challenge at any time, I felt really stubborn and wanted to accomplish this goal once I started it. I know that sounds super negative, but it's the truth. If I wasn't in this mental head space, I likely would have really enjoyed this challenge, and I guess I should have taken that into consideration before committing myself to it.

That being said, I think I need to take an all around internet break for a while. Not really sure how long it will be... maybe I'll be back tomorrow. 🤷‍♀️ But I just need to not be committed to posting to the internet in any fashion at the moment. I'm exhausted and need to recuperate, and I can't do that while I'm forcing myself to feel okay.

I appreciate everyone who has read along this month, and I'm sure I'll be back soon.

Personality Assessments (BEDA Day 30)

A lot of folks think personality assessments are a bunch of malarkey, but I find that they really help understand myself. Working in higher education I do tend to be introduced to a lot of these assessments and usually see myself in the results that I get. I thought it'd be fun to share where I fall on different assessments. I've taken some of these tests multiple times and am a firm believer that your type changes as you learn and grow as a person (despite what the literature says) and can be accurate to where you are in your life. These are my most recent results for each assessment.

ZODIAC: TAURUS

While the Zodiac isn't really a personality assessment, I find that I do posses a lot of traits of a "typical" Taurus. I really enjoy following astrology accounts on social media and laugh at zodiac themed memes because (in my opinion) they are usually so spot on for me and for the people in my lives. I love learning more about how astrology interacts with my daily life and personality. Of course it's not always accurate, but it's a fun way to see how you align wiht the universe.

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MBTI: INFP/INFJ

The MBTI is probably my least favorite of the personality assessments that I've taken because I feel like I'm so down the middle on most of the 4 components of your type. I usually fall into the INFJ or the INFP type. I believe a few years ago I shared here on the blog that I was an INFP, but most recently I'm an INFJ. My J and P are so close that I flip back and forth, but I find descriptions of both types are accurate to me.

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ENNEAGRAM: TYPE 6

This is a newer personality assessment for me that I truly feel like I need to learn more about, and being in the place I am in my life (particularly struggling with my mental health) I'm curious to see if that is having any impact on my type. I am really excited to learn more about the Enneagram, my type, and how to use my type in my daily life.

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GALLUP STRENGTHS FINDER: INPUT, ARRANGER, LEARNER, RELATOR, STRATEGIC

This is the personality assessment that I utilize the most because my job and my field is very bought into the work of Strengths Finder. My top 5 strengths are very heavily focused on the Strategic Thinking domain, which makes a lot of sense because I am constantly in my own head. I feel like I see my strengths come out to play every day in my personal and professional life and am constantly challenged by my colleagues to utilize them to be successful. I love talking about Strengths with my students and my colleagues and I wish more folks in my life would take this assessment.

Life of a Risk Manager (BEDA Day 29)

Back to being a professional worrier at work. Hey, at least I’m getting paid for it right?

The best part of the new school year is... (BEDA Day 28)

...pasta bowls are back in the dining hall at work 🙌🏻

Things I'm Looking Forward to This Fall 🍂 (BEDA Day 27)

Usually fall is a time where I'm a bit bummed out because summer is gone and winter is inevitable. I thought I'd write up a list of things that I'm looking forward to this fall so it doesn't seem so bad. 😊🍂

1. Brett isn't coaching football this fall for the first time since we started dating, so we can actually make plans and hang out throughout the season! This is new for us, and I wonder if he'll get a bit stir crazy, but we live right down the street from his former team so I'm sure we'll enjoy plenty of local college football, without the stress. I'm wondering if we can plan some fun fall activities that we haven't gotten to do together in the past!

2. The Newport Marathon! I'm excited to be doing a fall marathon that is more local to me! It's been a while since I've done a marathon that's near me, so I'm really looking forward to being close by and to enjoy 26.2 during a New England autumn. I've heard the course in Newport is absolutely beautiful so I can't wait to experience it for myself.

3. Cozy fall cooking! Now that we have a full blown kitchen again, I want to make ALL THE THINGS. I want to make all the pumpkin and apple treats, cook in the crock pot every weekend, and try some dope appetizers during football on Sunday. We're all going to gain some serious weight this fall 😂 #sorrynotsorry

4. Pumpkin beer with cinnamon & sugar rims. For some reason I feel like this is way less common than I acutally think it is? Either way, I'm excited to get my mits on this delightful beverage as often as humanly possible.

5. Volleyball league! I've been wanting to get involved in some sort of adult recreational sports league since I left grad school, and I finally feel grounded enough in where I'm living and working to take the leap into trying one out for myself. I've signed up for a rec volleyball league which will start mid-October. I'm not super confident in my volleyball skills, but I think I'll be okay. Luckily, it's a novice league, so I can work my way up!

The Sun Says Summer, but the Air Says Autumn (BEDA Day 26)

It's that really weird time of year where the weather doesn't know what it wants to be. I always say that it's my least favorite time of year - when it's super cold and crisp in the morning but blazing hot in the afternoon. There's a distinct chill in the air that is reminding you that the warm days are singing their swan song and we're in for another long, cold winter. I'm trying to savor it as much as possible. I'm working remote today so I'm doing my computer work at one of my favorite places in town and soaking in the sun. My feet are cold (#HPsocksforever) and I'm wearing a long sleeve, but I'M STILL WEARING SHORTS, DAMMIT!

It's officially the first day of classes, so it's a little strange to not be on campus, but we're heading in to our big weekend of welcome back programming so I'll get plenty of time to enjoy the energy of the new year. I'm looking forward to seeing the campus back in action, even if it means saying goodbye to my favorite time of year!

Positives from today (so far, since I'm blogging earlier than 10pm for once)

+Spent the morning catching up on some episodes of Last Chance U

+Made myself a breakfast of turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, and Greek yogurt (and accidentally set the fire alarm off. WOOPS)

+Getting a ton of random things checked off my work to-do list that I can't usually get to when I'm distracted in the office

+STRETCHED for once in my life #whoami

Small Victories (BEDA Day 25)

Remember my list of weekend plans that I posted on Friday? Well, it turns out my short list of goals was completely achievable for me, and I wound up being able to check off everything on my list! As a refresher, here were my plans, and here's what I ended up doing...

Weekend plans:

1. Watch UnReal - I recently got into it and it's a reality show lover's dream of a scripted show ✔

Watched a bunch of episodes on Friday night and will probably watch more tonight.

2. Finish up Love Island UK - the last few episodes should be going live on Hulu tomorrow ✔

Watched all the new episodes yesterday while working on my paint by numbers.

3. Present to a few student groups at a student leader retreat tomorrow ✔

Did two presentations at the retreat yesterday and had a great time getting to know them a bit better.

4. Run 16 miles on Sunday... fingers crossed I can catch that distance ✔

This was really hard... and not even the running part. Had a huge mental block getting the run started which felt so, so horrible. But luckly B was there for me and was able to calm me down enough to actually start, and once I started I just kept going. I wound up getting all 16 miles in.

5. Finish my paint by numbers I started last weekend ✔

I finished up the entirety of the painting yesterday! Photo to come soon...

It's been a long time since I've been able to set small personal goals for myself and achieve them all in the time span I wanted to achieve them. I'm calling this weekend a victory and hope I can build some momentum into getting my head back into a better place. I want to set myself another small list of personal goals for this upcoming week and hopefully I can be as successful as I was this weekend.

Plans for the Week (8/26-8/30)

1. Do my two scheduled mid-distance training runs during the week (5mi & 7mi)

2. Finish a book (it's been a while since I've been able to do that)

3. Cook 2x during the week

4. Watch the newest episode of The Challenge which is returning this week

5. Spend time outside every day to savor the end of summer

I’m not very good at it, but it doesn’t matter (BEDA Day 24)

I have my 16 mile run in the morning. To be quite honest, any time I lace up for a run, especially if I’m staring down the barrel of a long run like this, I feel reallly nervous. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve run 16 miles, for some reason I always think I won’t be able to do well. Totally doesn’t help with the mental game of running 😅 but like Mr. Rogers said: it doesn’t matter! A 12 minute mile is still as far at a 7 minute mile. I’ll try my best to take it one step at a time and hopefully string 16 together. Wish me luck!

You Ain't Reason (BEDA Day 23)

Weekend plans:

1. Watch UnReal - I recently got into it and it's a reality show lover's dream of a scripted show

2. Finish up Love Island UK - the last few episodes should be going live on Hulu tomorrow

3. Present to a few student groups at a student leader retreat tomorrow

4. Run 16 miles on Sunday... fingers crossed I can catch that distance

5. Finish my paint by numbers I started last weekend

Weekends tend to be harder lately because there's less to keep my mind occupied. This comic I came across today reminded me of the mentality that I need to reference back to when the shadow snake is taking over. #youalittlebitch 😂

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It’s Thursday, Not Wednesday (BEDA Day 22)

Things I did today:

+Stayed off social media for most of the morning

+Listened to jazz as I got ready for the day

+Painted my toes blue

+Had Elizabeth’s for breakfast

+Was super productive at work

+Had after work drinks with my colleagues

+Spent literally the entire day thinking it was Wednesday, which I guess could be a positive or a negative, but let’s just say it’s a positive 

-Didn’t make an Iron Man Helmer our of a lemon for a cat, but really wish I did.

Busy Season Comfort Food (BEDA Day 21)

Found a moment of silence for lunch in the midst of the craziness of opening day.

Had a crispy chicken sandwich and fries for the first time in forever.

The perfect comfort food during the busy season! 🍟

Almost Opening (BEDA Day 20)

We’re knocking on the door of the opening of the school year! Tomorrow all of our new students will move in to campus and orientation will kick off, then next Monday classes begin and we'll be at the start of yet another academic year. Today, to set a positive foundation for the year, our involvement team within our staff did a bit of a retreat where we discussed our goals and hopes for the year, and finished the day with a bit of kayaking on the Charles river. It was a great day spending time with this subset of the staff and getting to know each other a bit better.

Clockwise from the top - me, Alexa, Matt, and Nick

I firmly believe that Humans of Higher Ed is saving our field, one hilarious meme at a time. Every time they make a post they nail it. 10/10 would recommend if you work in Higher Ed!

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Writer's Block (BEDA Day 19)

I keep wanting to type things and deleting them. I'm really at a loss for what to talk about, because the only thing on my mind is the way I feel and I'm kind of tired of talking about it. So let's talk about other things that are going on.

Went on a long run on a local rail trail on Saturday and really loved it, even though my run didn't really feel all that great. I liked making my long run a bit of an ~event~ though, and will plan to check out more trails and paths for my runs as we start to work toward the tougher miles. I've already got one picked out for my 16 miler next weekend which I'm pretty excited about.

Had to rock my Maniacs gear as this was my first long run as an official Maniac!

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This is too real.

Yesterday I started the paint-by-numbers kit my sister gifted to me a couple years ago for Christmas and it's been such a welcome distraction. I really threw myself into the project today after work and I'm nearly halfway done already. I just bought myself another kit this morning so hopefully by the time I finish the one I'm currently working on it will have arrived and I can just hop into it! I'll share a finished photo once it's done, but here's the kit I just purchased. I've also found a company that will turn one of your own photos into a paint by number which I'm thinking I'll definitely take advantage of.

Tomorrow at work we're having a little retreat with the Involvement side of our office. I'm excited to spend time with those folks, and we'll be going kayaking on the Charles at the end of the day! It should be a fairly nice day out so it will be perfect for getting on the water. Hopefully I can snap a few pics to share with y'all!

Positives from Today (BEDA Day 18)

+Perfect temperature for an early AM walk

+Checked out a new local breakfast spot with Brett

+Spent the day drawing and painting and watching documentaries 

+Had enough energy to cook dinner

ContemporaryAThon Round 5 TBR (BEDA Day 17)

One of my favorite readathons to participate in, ContemporaryAThon, is returning next month! Because I can't resist building a TBR, I of course needed to create one for this round as well. II'm super early to the party (this round is September 23-29), but I wanted to share the books I'd like to read during the readathon with you all because I am STOKED to read each one of theses! I really don't think I'll be able to get through all of these, but I'll give it the ol' college try as I always do. I'm unsure if I'll vlog (it hasn't been a great year for vlogging), but I have over a month to decide that so I'm not too worried!

ContemporaryAThon Round 5 Challenges

1. Read a 2019 release

2. Read a contemporary with yellow on the cover

3. Read a diverse contemporary

4. Read a contemporary with an illustrated cover

5. Read a dark/hard-hitting contemporary

6. Read a contemporary with plants on the cover

7. A contemporary beloved by a member of the book community (shout out the creator, if you want!)

Below you'll see that I've picked out a book for each one of the challenges, but I've also noted all of the challenges that the book could possibly fulfill. So, in the likely event that I won't finish 7 books during the readathon, I'll at least be able to strive to complete all 7 challenges! I've also made sure to link to each creator for any book that fulfills challenge #7, so be sure to check out each creator to find out their thoughts on each book.

1. Read a 2019 release

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Also counts for: Plant on the cover, dark/hard-hitting, beloved by a member of the book community

(Loved by Mollie at molliereads)

2. Read a contemporary with yellow on the cover

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

Also counts for: Dark/hard-hitting, beloved by a member of the book community, illustrated cover

(Loved by Julie at Pages and Pens)

3. Read a diverse contemporary

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

4. Read a contemporary with an illustrated cover

Hello Girls by Brittany Caravallo & Emily Henry

Also counts for: 2019 release, dark/hard-hitting

5. Read a dark/hard-hitting contemporary

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Also counts for: 2019 release, beloved by a member of the book community

(Loved by Kayla at BooksandLala)

6. Read a contemporary with plants on the cover

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Also counts for: Diverse, yellow on the cover, illustrated cover, dark/hard-hitting

7. A contemporary beloved by a member of the book community (shout out the creator, if you want!)

Everything All at Once by Katrina Leno

Also counts for: Yellow on the cover, illustrated cover

(Loved by Chelsea at chelseadollingreads)

Peter, You Suck + an Exciting Purchase (BEDA Day 16)

Literally how I feel today:

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I feel like every time I mention that I feel good my brain is like HAHA PSYCH and brings me back down. I'm over it. Ugh. At least now I'm in the mood to watch one of my favorite movies again, so Forgetting Sarah Marshall is officially on the weekend to-do list. So there's that.

I've been on the hunt for a new work bag. I've been feeling super disorganized and am tired of having a shoulder-only bag. I've been really wanting a backpack that has enough space for all of my junk that I like to lug around day to day, but also won't make me look like I'm late for class when I'm walking around campus. I'm happy to report that today I *think* I finally found a bag that has nearly everything I'm looking for!

This is the Panama backpack/tote from Ron Pon Pon. It's a cross between a tote and a backpack! The colorful strap is for your shoulder and there's also backpack straps when you need your hands free. After reading over some reviews it looks like most folks use it for a work bag and can easily fit a laptop into it, which is perfect for the size computer I use on a regular basis for my job. The bag was on sale so I opted to go ahead and snag the gray, pictured above! I'm excited for it to come in and see how well it works for me. Hopefully it's a good fit!

Tomorrow morning I'm waking up and running 14 miles for marathon training. Training took a hit through all this mental illness BS but I'm trying to get back on the horse and find some motivation to keep pushing through to get prepared for my October race. Wish me luck!

Finding Some Confidence (BEDA Day 15)

Things I did today:

-Dragged myself out of bed late and started the day running behind

+Laughed a LOT with my colleagues and a couple of students that are on campus early today

+Brainstormed some training sessions for students that I'm excited to present next week

+Managed a tricky situation at work and felt somewhat confident about it?

+Had enough energy after work to clear the sink of dishes and cook dinner

+Practiced drawing dogs (something I've always struggled with) while watching Jersey Shore with Brett, Craig, and Meg

Today was also my 1 year anniversary at my job, and I've been really feeling like I've been hitting my stride the last couple of days. I'm usually riddled with impostor syndrome and question all of my decisions, but for some reason I actually feel like I know what I'm doing?????? It's crazy what a year on the job will bring you. I still have so much to learn and I have a few major facets of my job that are brand new to me this year, but I'm actually feeling good in my role for a change. It's a nice feeling.

Admitting that I've been feeling somewhat okay (or dare I say... GOOD) the last couple days actually scares me. For some reason admitting that to myself makes me so nervous that I'm going to fall back into a depressive state. and an even deeper one at that (nothing like mental illness to make you think irrationally like that, amirite). I came across this comic from The Sad Ghost Club today and it really spoke to me. I felt really good today and was able to accomplish a lot of positive things, but "Doing My Best" might look different tomorrow, and I have to learn to be okay with that.

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Savoring the Summer (BEDA Day 14)

With summer creeping closer and closer to a close each day, I’ve been trying my hardest to spend as much time as humanly possible outside. You can already feel the autumn chill in the breeze and I’m not ready to say goodbye to the warmth for another 8 months! I’ve been soaking up the sun on our picturesque campus during my lunch breaks and have been spending what’s left of the daylight on our back porch. I’m currently reading The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker and while its a bit of a slow burn I’m really starting to feel immersed in the story. I love when a book gets to the point when you finally feel invested!

10 Books I'd Like to Read by the End of 2019 (BEDA Day 13)

Reading has been a challenge this year, which of course is a shame as it's one of my favorite things to do. I went into 2019 with a lot of lofty reading goals, and I think at this point they're just too much pressure to strive for. Right now I'm just picking up books when it feels good and trying to find time to enjoy reading instead of making it this pressure-filled free time endeavor. 

That being said, as a list maker, I always need to work off of some kind of TBR (plus TBRs are just fun to make). With the last quarter of the year (!!!) looming, I thought it'd be fun to share the books that I would really like to get to before the clock strikes midnight on January 1st. These are in alphabetical order of author's last name and not necessarily priority, but all of these reads I've had my eye on and have been floating at the top of my TBR for a while. Hopefully I can get to all of these over the course of the next few months!

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

The sequel to my favorite book of 2018. I hope it lives up to how good Beartown was!

After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown’s new hockey coach. 

Soon a new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the enmity with Hed grows more and more acute. 

As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through, the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent.

November Road by Lou Berney

Frank Guidry’s luck has finally run out.

A loyal street lieutenant to New Orleans’ mob boss Carlos Marcello, Guidry has learned that everybody is expendable. But now it’s his turn—he knows too much about the crime of the century: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 

Within hours of JFK’s murder, everyone with ties to Marcello is turning up dead, and Guidry suspects he’s next: he was in Dallas on an errand for the boss less than two weeks before the president was shot. With few good options, Guidry hits the road to Las Vegas, to see an old associate—a dangerous man who hates Marcello enough to help Guidry vanish. 

Guidry knows that the first rule of running is "don’t stop," but when he sees a beautiful housewife on the side of the road with a broken-down car, two little daughters and a dog in the back seat, he sees the perfect disguise to cover his tracks from the hit men on his tail. Posing as an insurance man, Guidry offers to help Charlotte reach her destination, California. If she accompanies him to Vegas, he can help her get a new car. 

For her, it’s more than a car— it’s an escape. She’s on the run too, from a stifling existence in small-town Oklahoma and a kindly husband who’s a hopeless drunk.
It’s an American story: two strangers meet to share the open road west, a dream, a hope—and find each other on the way. 

Charlotte sees that he’s strong and kind; Guidry discovers that she’s smart and funny. He learns that’s she determined to give herself and her kids a new life; she can’t know that he’s desperate to leave his old one behind. 

Another rule—fugitives shouldn’t fall in love, especially with each other. A road isn’t just a road, it’s a trail, and Guidry’s ruthless and relentless hunters are closing in on him. But now Guidry doesn’t want to just survive, he wants to really live, maybe for the first time. 

Everyone’s expendable, or they should be, but now Guidry just can’t throw away the woman he’s come to love. 

And it might get them both killed.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

I've heard nothing but positive buzz about this title, and I love me a good suburban drama.
Can't wait to dive in!

How much can a family forgive? 

A profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the bond between their children, a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, the daily intimacies of marriage, and the power of forgiveness. 

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, two rookie cops in the NYPD, live next door to each other outside the city. What happens behind closed doors in both houses—the loneliness of Francis’s wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne—sets the stage for the explosive events to come. 

Ask Again, Yes is a deeply affecting exploration of the lifelong friendship and love that blossoms between Francis and Lena’s daughter, Kate, and Brian and Anne’s son, Peter. Luminous, heartbreaking, and redemptive, Ask Again, Yes reveals the way childhood memories change when viewed from the distance of adulthood—villains lose their menace and those who appeared innocent seem less so. Kate and Peter’s love story, while tested by echoes from the past, is marked by tenderness, generosity, and grace.

Severance by Ling Ma

Candace Chen, a millennial drone self-sequestered in a Manhattan office tower, is devoted to routine. With the recent passing of her Chinese immigrant parents, she’s had her fill of uncertainty. She’s content just to carry on: She goes to work, troubleshoots the teen-targeted Gemstone Bible, watches movies in a Greenpoint basement with her boyfriend. 

So Candace barely notices when a plague of biblical proportions sweeps New York. Then Shen Fever spreads. Families flee. Companies halt operations. The subways squeak to a halt. Her bosses enlist her as part of a dwindling skeleton crew with a big end-date payoff. Soon entirely alone, still unfevered, she photographs the eerie, abandoned city as the anonymous blogger NY Ghost. 

Candace won’t be able to make it on her own forever, though. Enter a group of survivors, led by the power-hungry IT tech Bob. They’re traveling to a place called the Facility, where, Bob promises, they will have everything they need to start society anew. But Candace is carrying a secret she knows Bob will exploit. Should she escape from her rescuers? 

A send-up and takedown of the rituals, routines, and missed opportunities of contemporary life, Ling Ma’s Severance is a moving family story, a quirky coming-of-adulthood tale, and a hilarious, deadpan satire. Most important, it’s a heartfelt tribute to the connections that drive us to do more than survive.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

I'm not quite sure how Liane Moriarty's latest has been sitting on my shelf for as long as it has (it was released last November), but I'm sure if's going to be just as engrossing and delicious as all of her other titles!

Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be. 

Frances Welty, the formerly best-selling romantic novelist, arrives at Tranquillum House nursing a bad back, a broken heart, and an exquisitely painful paper cut. She’s immediately intrigued by her fellow guests. Most of them don’t look to be in need of a health resort at all. But the person that intrigues her most is the strange and charismatic owner/director of Tranquillum House. Could this person really have the answers Frances didn’t even know she was seeking? Should Frances put aside her doubts and immerse herself in everything Tranquillum House has to offer – or should she run while she still can? 

It’s not long before every guest at Tranquillum House is asking exactly the same question.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Riley Sager has been a solid thriller author for me since his debut, and I've been hearing this one is his best release yet. Can't wait to read this and get nice and spooked out!

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind. 

As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story—until the next day, when Ingrid disappears. 

Searching for the truth about Ingrid's disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew's dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building's hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.

The Oracle Year by Charles Soule

As this has been compared to one of my all time favorites, Dark Matter, this was put on my current 5 star predictions list. I love a good fast-paced sci-fi thriller and this one seems right up my alley!

Knowledge is power. So when an unassuming Manhattan bassist named Will Dando awakens from a dream one morning with 108 predictions about the future in his head, he rapidly finds himself the most powerful man in the world. Protecting his anonymity by calling himself the Oracle, he sets up a heavily guarded Web site with the help of his friend Hamza to selectively announce his revelations. In no time, global corporations are offering him millions for exclusive access, eager to profit from his prophecies. 

He's also making a lot of high-powered enemies, from the President of the United States and a nationally prominent televangelist to a warlord with a nuclear missile and an assassin grandmother. Legions of cyber spies are unleashed to hack the Site—as it's come to be called—and the best manhunters money can buy are deployed not only to unmask the Oracle but to take him out of the game entirely. With only a handful of people he can trust—including a beautiful journalist—it's all Will can do to simply survive, elude exposure, and protect those he loves long enough to use his knowledge to save the world.

These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. 

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica. 

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day. 

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Another sequel to another 2018 favorite of mine, this title is something I'm sure will be a great whimsical escape during the busier times of the fall.

Wunder is gathering in Nevermoor ... 

Morrigan Crow may have defeated her deadly curse, passed the dangerous trials and joined the mystical Wundrous Society, but her journey into Nevermoor and all its secrets has only just begun. And she is fast learning that not all magic is used for good. 

Morrigan Crow has been invited to join the prestigious Wundrous Society, a place that promised her friendship, protection and belonging for life. She's hoping for an education full of wunder, imagination and discovery - but all the Society want to teach her is how evil Wundersmiths are. And someone is blackmailing Morrigan's unit, turning her last few loyal friends against her. Has Morrigan escaped from being the cursed child of Wintersea only to become the most hated figure in Nevermoor? 

Worst of all, people have started to go missing. The fantastical city of Nevermoor, once a place of magic and safety, is now riddled with fear and suspicion... 

Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson

Of all the books on this list, this one has been on my TBR the longest, and is currently on my 5 star predictions list. If I were to pick a book I'd like to prioritize on this list, it would definitely have to be this one!

When Isabelle Poole meets Dr. Preston Grind, she's just about out of options. She recently graduated from high school and is pregnant with her art teacher's baby. Her mother is dead and her father is a drunk. The art teacher is too much of a head-case to help raise the child. Izzy knows she can be a good mother but without any money or prospects, she's left searching. 

So when Dr. Grind offers her a space in The Infinite Family Project, she accepts. Housed in a spacious compound in Tennessee, she joins nine other couples, all with children the same age as her newborn son, to raise their children as one extended family. Grind's theory is that the more parental love a child receives, the better off they are. 

This attempt at a utopian ideal-funded by an eccentric billionaire-starts off promising: Izzy enjoys the kids, reading to them and teaching them to cook. She even forms a bond with her son more meaningful than she ever expected. But soon the gentle equilibrium among the families is upset and it all starts to disintegrate: unspoken resentments between the couples begin to fester; the project's funding becomes tenuous; and Izzy's feelings for Dr. Grind, who is looking to expunge his own painful childhood, make her question her participation in this strange experiment in the first place.

Back to the School Year Grind (BEDA Day 12)

Today was the first day back to work and we are agonizingly close to the start of a new academic year.2 weeks until classes start, 13 days until returning students move in, 9 days before new student orientation begins. We switched back to our regular M-F, 8:30-4:30 schedule today as well, meaning the school year is officially upon us. Crazy! My boss and I are planning a bit of a mini retreat with our team in the department and reading about positive organizational leadership. I'm hoping it sets a good tone for the year ahead.

It's always so sad when the summer comes to a close, but I'm thankful to be heading into my second year at my job and feeling more confident in my role. I'm hoping for this year to bring more positivity than stress and that I'm able to grow in a more positive manner throughout the year. I feel like I have so much to learn about myself and the only way I can learn is to try my hardest each day. Fingers crossed for some positive energy all year long. 🤞