How My December 2023 Went

Happy New Year! I’m trying to start 2024 on a good note, which means I will successfully post my monthly blog posts on the 1st day of each month!

Skip to the other stuff:

• books
• music
• tv shows/music
• orders

Daily Life

December 1: I went to Boots & Good Co. to do some work. My usual, the iced Snickerdoodle latte!

December 2: We decided to try Louie’s Taco Shop since it’s newish. Stephen ordered some tacos and queso, and I got a burrito bowl.

It was okay. My ground beef didn’t really have any flavor. I wasn’t crazy about the place.

December 4: My apartment complex sent out an email about a property inspection and that 15 random apartments would be chosen. Not wanting to take any chances, I took Darby to Clarksville to hang out with my friends.

Darby got to meet his half-sister, Nala. She was afraid of him, so that was a bummer. Kelli just took Nala to the dog park since Skyler is a little more tricky with other dogs.

Alexis got off work early, around 2 PM, and I left Darby with Kelli’s husband while we went to Strawberry Alley for a late lunch. The hot chicken sandwich was so good! Then, we went to Plumb Line for coffee. I got my usual, the whiskey caramel latte. Alexis ordered an iced Cuban and Kelli got the Campfire latte.

December 5: Darby got a new bed! It’s a bit tall for him, but it is really comfortable and should keep him cool.

December 7: He lays in the weirdest positions.

December 9: I was in a thrifting mood, so Stephen and I went to ThriftSmart in Nolensville. I purchased a few clothes, as did Stephen. We had went to Goodwill the night before and found some clothes.

Afterward, we tried the Red Bicycle!

December 11: It’s Monday, so time for some fresas con crema from Sweet Sofia’s!

I would eat this every day if I could.

December 12: Not to be dramatic, but this iced Peppermint Cuban is life changing.

Boots’ Cuban is delicious as is, but the peppermint flavor takes it to a new level! The taste is bold and just absolutely amazing. I think it might beat out the Snickerdoodle. Still debating on that one, but trust me, it’s fantastic.

December 14: Darby received some presents from the kind maintenance supervisor! 

Today was the day we were to go to Kingsport, then Bryson City, NC, for the Polar Express train ride.

We dropped Darby off at Birdy and Goose’s around 7 PM, then we headed to Kingsport! We made it a brief goodbye. I worried about him, then attempted my best to chill out. We went to Buc-ee’s f! It was my first time trying the sliced brisket, and wowza, I have been missing out! It was so tender and delicious. We made it to Kingsport around 1 AM. 

I also bought two packs of beef jerky.

December 15: I woke up around 7 AM; I got like 5 hours of sleep. We packed and left a little after 8 AM to meet everyone else at Bob Evans. It was originally was supposed to be Cracker Barrel but the wait was long. There was hardly anyone at Bob Evans!

My caramel cappuccino was super sweet but good!

Next, off to Bryson City, North Carolina! We made it around 12:30 PM. The cabin had a beautiful view of the mountains!

The train ride was at 5 PM. We went to eat late lunch/ early dinner in the area at a place called CJ’s Bar & Grille.

My Philly Cheesesteak was decent! My parents ordered the fried green tomatoes, and they were apparently so good that they didn’t talk or offer any to the rest of us. I think my dad had the best meal, which were the wings. It seems like he was the only one to enjoy his meal because none of us were that crazy about our own. 

We walked around the shops until it was time to board the train, and we had to be waiting by 4:40. Stephen and I went into an ice cream shop. I ordered cherry rum ice cream on a cake cone and a caramel frappuccino. I admit, I overdid it, but I ordered the ice cream before seeing the frappe. 

The ice cream was fabulous, and the frappe was sweet. I was on a bit of a sugar high since on the train we also received hot chocolate. 

It was a fun experience! It was more of a show than I expected. We all got hot chocolate, a chocolate bar, a ticket that was hole punched, and a nice bell that rings like in the Polar Express movie! 

The ride was only an hour and 15 minutes, which is reasonable with a train full of children. 

Afterward, we browsed the gift shop, then purchased some things at Ingles. For dinner, we hung out and snacked the rest of the night. 

December 16: Breakfast was a bust since there were only two places open in that area and there was a huge wait. Instead, we went to Ingles again and bought breakfast items, which I’d rather do since I’m not crazy about breakfast in general.

My dad made my papaw’s famous gravy, and we had a mini feast. 

We napped and hung out until around 2 PM, then went to Anthony’s, an Italian restaurant. Spaghetti and Meatballs were $15.99, how crazy! Haley and so split that and some wings. Again, I should’ve just ordered the wings because they were good. The spaghetti also had garlic knots, which was a pleasant surprise.

Reece and Stephen split the pizza.

Next, more walking around. I bought some ground coffee from one shop and ordered another coffee from the ice cream place. This time, it was an iced peppermint latte.

Back to the cabin and in for the night! 

December 17: We had to be out of the cabin by 10 AM. We got home around 1:30, after getting McDonald’s. Then, we went back to Nashville after we finished eating. We picked up Darby around 5 PM. i think he was a little sad to be leaving Birdy and Goose! He was an angel, and I’m so relieved! 

All the photos I was sent:

December 18: I needed a big pick me up to start the week, so I ordered another iced Havana Sunset from The Well! I also bought the canned coffee so dad could try it over Christmas break. 

December 19: I tried a different seasonal drink from Boots, which was the iced Marshmallow latte. It was good, but not as good as the peppermint!

December 20: We received a corgi puzzle from Stephen’s uncle! Stephen worked on most of it after we came back from visiting our families.

December 22: Off to Kingsport to celebrate Christmas with our families! We got to Kingsport after 7 PM. Traffic wasn’t bad, thankfully. 

My boys posing with the tree!

December 23: Dad made me an omelet and some biscuits for breakfast!

We celebrated Christmas, part 1, at my mamaw and papaw’s house. My family was the first to get there, which was around 1 PM. There was so much food! Mom made some brown sugar bacon wrapped weenies, and they were heavenly! They were just as good when having them for leftovers. 

For the white elephant gift exchange, I wound up getting Haley’s present, which was a heating pad and some boot socks. 

A cousin photo:

December 24: For our annual tradition, Dad, Haley, and I went Christmas Eve shopping so Dad could buy Mom a present.

First, coffee. We all ordered the iced caramel macchiato from 7 Brew. Of course, it didn’t disappoint.

We went to the mall and it was a bit pitiful. There are less than 10 stores open, it seems. It’s sad because there used to be like 30+ like a decade ago. I miss working in the mall whenever it was the place to be. 

We then went to Walmart and Food City to get a few things. Then, Mom, Stephen, Nick, and Levi meet us at Ming Garden for lunch.

I had two plates and a bowl of ice cream.

After lunch, Stephen and I headed to Chilhowie to celebrate with his family. We decided to draw names this year instead of buying everyone presents. Stephen’s mom and I exchanged gifts. I received an apron to wear when planting my succulents, some succulent pots, and a corgi notebook!

December 25: CHRISTMAS! Thankfully now that we’re older, Christmas starts later instead of at 6 AM. This year, we gathered around at 8:30. Mom drew my name. I had my sister-in-law. I received a jade pendant necklace and some clay succulent earrings! 

Christmas breakfast was amazing, as usual! Dad’s bread was especially delicious and soft. I didn’t take many photos, but the cinnamon rolls were the highlight!! Mom used some canned cinnamon rolls and took them to the next level. I think there were maybe two left.

We then spent the rest of the day with Stephen’s family.

This was a rare photo of everyone getting along and minding their own business, although Teddy would start growling at Darby every now and then. Darby didn’t pay him any attention. He just wanted to sleep.

December 27: Stephen, his mom, and I went to Goodwill and an antique store. I found a jacket that looks brand new at Goodwill, and a purse that was $5 at her friend’s antique store!

After shopping, we ate at the Mexican restaurant. I ordered a lunch special consisting of one burrito with beans and rice. 

Since Haley and I didn’t get to spend much time together, we meet up in Bristol, TN, for dinner. Stephen was visiting his friend who lived in the area, so she just picked me up and we headed to 620 State Street.

We waited like 20 minutes for a table, then even longer for food, it was so busy! We split the Junkyard roll. She got some type of chicken, bacon, and mashed potatoes dish and I ordered the tofu drunken noodles with a spring roll.

The roll was fabulous, but my drunken noodles just tasted like soy sauce. I would not recommend these; I’ll try another dish the next time. 

After dinner, we got iced caramel lattes at Blackbird Bakery! The desserts looked so good, but we were full and the coffee was strong. 

We went back to Haley’s to hang out, then Stephen picked me up. Darby played well with his friend’s little corgi! 

We were going to go back to Nashville that night, but we wound up just leaving the next day. 

December 28: My friend, Kelli, had sent me a photo of corgi shoes at TJ Maxx she saw on TikTok a couple of days ago and wanted to know if there were any in Kingsport since she had left on this day as well. Funny enough, mom mentioned them to me this morning and was going to get me some but there weren’t any in my size. There were some in Kelli’s size. 

Well, I hurried, and sadly they were sold out! I did walk away with a future corgi gift for someone else and a new 2024 planner for only $7.99! I really love the concept of planners, but I tend to slack off when it comes to using them.  

I went by 7 Brew again for another iced caramel macchiato, then filled up my car. 

Saying goodbye to Mason is always difficult.

We left a little after 11 AM and got home after 4 PM because we stopped and ate at Arby’s at a place on the outskirts of Knoxville. 

After getting home, I visited my local TJ Maxx. I walked about with lots of corgi things, and I found the corgi shoes in sizes 6 1/2 and 7 1/2! I will need to pad my shoes, but I’m excited I found some close to my size! 

December 30: Stephen and I dropped off a gift to the kind people who watched Darby for us a few weeks ago. I turned it into a coffee and Target run.

First, Stephen wanted to get a bundtlet from Nothing Bundt. He inhaled it, so there is no picture of it.

After experiencing Boots’ peppermint cuban, I wanted to try it elsewhere. Dose’s is good, but the flavor isn’t as bold as Boots’ drink. So, if you want a bold peppermint cuban, go to Boots!

Next, off to Target to find Christmas clearance items! I found a generous amount of wrapping paper on a single roll for $2.10 and a pack of 16 Christmas cards for $2.39!

December 31: We didn’t do much celebrating on the last day of the new year. I managed to finish a book before the year ended, Stephen worked on a puzzle, and then I started watching a bunch of music videos. My favorite are the fan-made videos of the Hunger Games movies to Taylor Swift songs! 😜

Books

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• Playing Dead by Julia Heaberlin
  • synopsis: “Dear Tommie: Have you ever wondered about who you are?”
    
    The letter that turns Tommie McCloud’s world upside down arrives from a stranger only days after her father’s death. The woman who wrote it claims that Tommie is her daughter—and that she was kidnapped as a baby thirty-one years ago.
    
    Tommie wants to believe it’s all a hoax, but suddenly a girl who grew up on a Texas ranch finds herself linked to a horrific past: the slaughter of a family in Chicago, the murder of an Oklahoma beauty queen, and the kidnapping of a little girl named Adriana. Tommie races along a twisting, nightmarish path while an unseen stalker is determined to keep old secrets locked inside the dementia-battered brain of the woman who Tommie always thought was her real mother. With everything she has ever believed in question, and no one she can trust, Tommie must discover the truth about the girl who vanished—and the very real threats that still remain.
  • genres: mystery, fiction, thriller, suspense, crime
  • rating: 3
    • Well, I didn’t really like this character. She was too “not like the other girls” for my taste. The plot kept me interested despite being super far-fetched. 
    • Writing this review a few weeks later and it’s not sticking out to me. Entertaining story that kept me reading to figure out the mystery, but it wasn’t memorable.

• Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
  • synopsis: Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when at the age of eighteen she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of “Smile Mart,” she finds peace and purpose in her life. In the store, unlike anywhere else, she understands the rules of social interaction―many are laid out line by line in the store’s manual―and she does her best to copy the dress, mannerisms, and speech of her colleagues, playing the part of a “normal” person excellently, more or less. Keiko is very happy, but the people close to her, from her family to her coworkers, increasingly pressure her to find a husband, and to start a proper career, prompting her to take desperate action…
    
    A brilliant depiction of a world hidden from view, Convenience Store Woman is an ironic and sharp-eyed look at contemporary work culture and the pressures we all feel to conform, as well as a charming and completely fresh portrait of an unforgettable heroine.
  • genres: Japanese literature, Asian literature, fiction
  • rating: 3.5
    • I do not know what I was expecting from this book, but it was interesting. 
    • It’s not explicitly stated, but I thought that Keiko was on the autism spectrum based on the way she viewed life and how she interacted with people.
    • The idea is refreshing but sad. Keiko is content with being a convenience store worker, but everyone around her (and society in general) thinks she needs to get a “real” job and find a husband since she’s getting older.
    • The loser that is using her was annoying to read, but she stood up for herself and kicked him to the curb.

• She Started It by Sian Gilbert
  • synopsis: Annabel, Esther, Tanya, and Chloe are best friends—or were, as children. Despite drifting apart in adulthood, shared secrets have kept them bonded for better or worse, even as their childhood dreams haven’t quite turned out as they’d hoped. Then one day they receive a wholly unexpected—but not entirely unwelcome—invitation from another old friend. Poppy Greer has invited them all to her extravagant bachelorette party: a first-class plane ticket to three days of white sand, cocktails, and relaxation on a luxe private island in the Bahamas.
    
    None of them has spoken to Poppy in years. But Poppy’s Instagram pics shows that the girl they used to consider the weakest link in their group has definitely made good—and made money. Curiosity gets the better of them. Besides, who can turn down a posh all-expenses-paid vacation on a Caribbean island?
    
    The first-class flight and the island’s accommodations are just as opulent as expected…even if the scenic island proves more remote than they’d anticipated. Quite remote, in fact, with no cell service, and no other guests. The women quickly discover they’ve underestimated Poppy, and each other. As their darkest secrets are revealed, the tropical adventure morphs into a terrifying nightmare.
  • genres: thriller, mystery, suspense
  • content warning: severe bullying, self-harm
  • rating: 4
    • Wow, this is an infuriating group of mean girls. I find the big art final to be unbelievable because serious, I don’t think the accused could have pulled that off during the many hours of being in the room to pull that off. 
    • I wasn’t shocked by the reveal since I have read books with this same element, and I kind of think everyone had it coming and they got what they deserved since they were all self-centered and didn’t show remorse. 
    • Would not recommend if you don’t want POVs from mean girls. I seriously hope there aren’t these kinds of girls/women in the world because they were despicable.

• Paper Ghosts by Julia Heaberlin
  • synopsis: Carl Louis Feldman is an old man who was once a celebrated photographer. That was before he was tried for the murder of a young woman and acquitted. before his admission to a care home for dementia. Now his daughter has come to see him, to take him on a trip. Only she’s not his daughter and, if she has her way, he’s not coming back . . .
    
    Because Carl’s past has finally caught up with him. The young woman driving the car is convinced her passenger is guilty, and that he’s killed, other young women. Including her sister Rachel. Now they’re following the trail of his photographs, his clues, his alleged crimes. To see if he remembers any of it. Confesses to any of it. To discover what really happened to Rachel. Has Carl truly forgotten what he did or is he just pretending? Perhaps he’s guilty of nothing and she’s the liar. Either way in driving him into the Texan wilderness she’s taking a terrible risk. For if Carl really is a serial killer, she’s alone in the most dangerous place of all . . .
  • genres: thriller, mystery, suspense
  • rating: 4
    • Interesting plot. I enjoyed it, even though it was a little lengthy. 
    • Felt like the conclusion was underwhelming since it was easily solved by a certain person in a short amount of time.
    • It’s a reoccurring thing where Heaberlin throws in a random love interest that seems forced and awkward. This one had that, and the age gap is a little iffy to me. 

• Daughters of the New Year by E.M. Tran
  • synopsis: A captivating debut novel that moves backwards in time to trace five generations of Vietnamese mothers and daughters, drawing on Vietnamese zodiac astrology to chart the fateful events of their lives.
    
    What does the future hold for those born in the years of the Dragon, Tiger, and Goat
    
    In present day New Orleans, Xuan Trung, former beauty queen turned refugee after the Fall of Saigon, is obsessed with divining her daughters’ fates through their Vietnamese zodiac signs. But Trac, Nhi and Trieu diverge completely from their immigrant parents’ expectations. Successful lawyer Trac hides her sexuality from her family; Nhi competes as the only woman of color on a Bachelor-esque reality TV show; and Trieu, a budding writer, is determined to learn more about her familial and cultural past.
    
    As the three sisters begin to encounter strange glimpses of long-buried secrets from the ancestors they never knew, the story of the Trung women unfurls to reveal the dramatic events that brought them to America. Moving backwards in time, E.M. Tran takes us into the high school classrooms of New Orleans, to Saigon beauty pageants, to twentieth century rubber plantations, traversing a century as the Trungs are both estranged and united by the ghosts of their tumultuous history.
    
    A “haunted story of resilience and survival” (Meng Jin, Little Gods), Daughters of the New Year is an addictive, high-wire act of storytelling that illuminates an entire lineage of extraordinary women fighting to reclaim the power they’ve been stripped of for centuries.
• genres: Chinese literature, LGBT, historical fiction
• rating: 3
  • It feels like the story was incomplete. They would start and not go anywhere, which I guess makes sense since the timeline is going backwards. At first, I had forgotten that the timeline is backwards, so I was thrown off. The different POVs were mostly just snippets of memories for the women.
  • I wasn’t really attached to anyone, especially the older generations. I got a feel of the characters, but I wanted something more.

• American Girl by Wendy Walker
  • synopsis: A pulse-pounding novel about a small-town business owner found dead and the teenage girl caught in the crosshairs, American Girl is the latest thriller from international best-selling author Wendy Walker.
    
    Charlie Hudson, an autistic 17-year-old, is determined to leave Sawyer, PA as soon as she graduates high school — in the meantime, she works as many hours as she can at a sandwich shop called The Triple S to save money for college. But when shop owner Clay Cooper — a man who is both respected and feared by many in this economically depressed community — is found dead, each member of his staff becomes a suspect in the perplexing case. Charlie must work to protect herself and her friends, and uncover the danger that may still be at large in their tightknit community.
    
    Best-selling author Wendy Walker returns with another riveting thriller, told through the eyes of an unforgettable protagonist.
  • genres: mystery, thriller, crime, suspense, neurodivergent character
  • content warning: grooming, abuse
  • rating: 4
    • I’ll always read a Wendy Walker novel, and this one kept me guessing to figure out who murdered Clay Cooper!
    • I enjoyed Charlie’s POV throughout this novel, and I liked Charlie as a character and seeing how loyal she was to those she loved.
    • Her mom’s view is a bit skewed, about numerous things, which I wish that would’ve been addressed, but it really messed up Charlie’s perception as well.
    • The story kept me hooked and I learned just enough about each minor character in Charlie’s life.

• Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • synopsis: At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.
    
    Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?
    
    In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?
    
    Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.
    
    From the acclaimed author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this breathtaking novel focuses on a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold — with stunningly different results.
  • genres: romance, chick lit, sliding-doors story
  • rating: 4
    • Some parts were super cheesy for me, but overall I liked this novel the best out of the TJR books I’ve read so far. I don’t think she’s my go-to author since her books have been a hit or miss for me, but I liked the message in this one about how different choices lead to different outcomes, but you can still be happy after all the ones you’ve made.
    • Hannah was difficult to root for at first because, first of all, she’s having an affair with a married man, which she knew after a while that he was married.
    • She eventually gets her life back on track and becomes a better person, so good for her!

• Lie Still by Julia Heaberlin
  • synopsis: When Emily Page and her husband move from Manhattan to the wealthy enclave of Clairmont, Texas, she hopes she can finally escape her haunted past—and outrun the nameless stalker who has been taunting her for years. Pregnant with her first child, Emily just wants to start over. But as she is drawn into a nest of secretive Texas women—and into the unnerving company of their queen, Caroline Warwick—Emily finds that acceptance is a very dangerous game.
    
    It isn’t long before Caroline mysteriously disappears and Emily is facing a rash of anonymous threats. Are they linked to the missing Caroline? Or to Emily’s terrifying encounter in college, years earlier? As the dark truth about Caroline emerges, Emily realizes that some secrets are impossible to hide—and that whoever came for Caroline is now coming for her.
  • genres: mystery, thriller, crime, suspense
  • content warning: rape, self harm
  • rating: 3
    • The plot and characters are OTT yet some of them felt like they could be real in different instances. Letty really grew on me; she was pretty funny.
    • The book starts off pretty serious with Emily’s assault, which, 13 years later, she’s still haunted by. There were lighter moments, especially when Emily was interacting with the different housewives that had big, bold, caricature personalities.
    • To be admitted into Caroline’s women’s club, each applicant had to fill out a form that had them confess some big secrets. We have big secrets like infidelity and being pregnant with another man’s baby to small ones regarding what’s underneath someone’s mattress, which a woman confessed to being adult toys—nothing too scandalous.
    • I was invested in the mystery of who was leaving Emily random things to remind her of her past and to find out what happens to Caroline and who was behind it.
    • The twist wasn’t as big to me, but I wasn’t upset about it.
    • Since I wasn’t too invested in the book, it feels like it dragged on and I was ready for it to be over.
    • It’s a quick read, but not a favorite.

Now I have read all of Julia Heaberlin’s and Wendy Walker’s books! I have read

Music

Send recs. 😜

TV Shows/Movies

Ever since finishing The Nanny last month, we haven’t really watched any TV. We’re looking for a new show to start!

Orders

December 5: My 1989 cardigan finally arrived! The color is beautiful and I love it.

December 7: We ordered from an Asian market called Bokksu Market using the Shop app to receive a discount oj some items.

The ghost pepper spicy chicken noodles kicked my butt, but they were delicious! I ove the Buldak Jiajang noodles. They’re my favorite. Stephen’s choices were the tempura/seaweed wasabi chips and the shrimp chips.

December 29: I’m a weakling and ordered another opal ring. Don’t mind my crooked pinky.

That’s all for 2023! I’ll be making a 2024 goals post soon. I hope this year treats you well!