Update: Life, Reading, Watching...

I am happily enjoying my spring weather (other than a freak 5 day heatwave a few weeks ago) watching my flowers bloom, being able to get back outside to eat dinner and take the dogs on long walks. I LOVE it!

We finally caved and hired landscapers to mow our yard. I've always mowed my own yard. I don't mind. I even managed 3/4 lot in FL through sweltering heat. But we have a very hilly yard out here and the grass just grows like crazy. I'd have to mow at least twice a week to keep up and it cuts into time we could be doing other things. We got quotes for just the front yard years ago and it was more than we wanted to pay but now they'll do my whole yard (front, back, edging and clean up) for $50 - the same as what the said for just the front. Sold lol

I have something going on with my eye. It's slightly swollen and I have no idea why. I'm hoping it's allergies and I'm flushing it, followed by antihistamine drops. Fingers crossed that's all it is. 

Other than that - life has been fairly uneventful! So here's what I've been up to!

READING:

Elatsoe ~ Goodreads I think I mentioned I was listening tot his one in my last update. I'm already slow with audiobooks but I just haven't been in the right mood for this one so it's even slower going. It is good though and once I'm in the right frame of mind, Ill get through it. 

Unf*ck Your Brain by Faith Harper ~ Goodreads

The Worry Trick by David A. Carbonell ~ Goodreads (not pictured)

I mentioned in my last update that I had nodules on my lung and need to repeat my CT scan in 6 months. That's a long time away to find out of the nodules mean anything bad and yeah...my mind was starting spiral a little.

I was in therapy (CBT) for anxiety a few years back, so these books were just a good reminder to get back to what I need to do to keep worry in check. 

I liked Unf*ck Your Brain more because she explained (in very simple terms) the science of what happens to your brain on anxiety and why it's so hard to get out of that loop. She also looks at trauma informed anxiety - which is quite different from general anxiousness. If really bad things have happened to you (like abuse/trauma) - then telling yourself  it won't happen - like statistically a plane won't crash if you are afraid of flying - isn't going to cut the fear. Anyway - I just liked how she framed the fears and came at them in a logical, compassionate way. And she used humor a lot which I liked.

The Worry Trick had great information and a slightly different way of approaching it, but I felt like he didn't take true trauma/past experiences or valid worries into account - even though he was still right about the worry spiral and how to stop it from controlling you. 

I should mention the audio for Unf*ck Your Brain is awful. It sounds like she recorded it in her basement. It didn't really bother me but I wanted to let you know. 

Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler ~ Goodreads

I need to write a review for this one as it was a Netgalley review read but...I haven't yet and the release date was the 23rd. Oops. I did read it on time though so go me! 

Super cute - opposites attract, road trip, finding yourself, grief and loads of humorous situations abound.

Optimistic and trusting to a fault, always glass half full, Millie, is forced to carpool with grumpy Hollis from DC to Key West, FL  after mass flight cancellations. 

Her mission? Bring the ashes of her recently deceased, best friend and elderly neighbor, Mrs. Nash, to her long lost love - Elsie, to reunite them one last time before Elsie also passes. 

The story is told in dual timelines - Millie and Hollis int he present and Rosie (Mrs. Nash) and Elsie in the past. 

WATCHING:

The Silo - Apple+  A dystopian world where everyone lives in the underground Silo because the world outside is toxic. Or is it??? Dun...dun...dun... lol I wish it took a few more risks instead of being predictable but it's still pretty good. 

Queen Charlotte - Netflix This is the Bridgerton spinoff limited series about how Charlotte met King George and became queen. It also shows Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton as younger women. I really enjoyed this! It's much darker than the Bridgerton series but still has romance. I would say more bittersweet though. I thought the actors did a great job capturing the mannerisms of the the older versions of the characters. 

It's quite sad though. What happens to King George and his "treatments" for his mental illness. What Lady Danbury had to endure with an arranged marriage with a much older man (& I HATED that it was played for laughs) There were also a few surprise revelations that tie into the current series. The show flips back and forth between the timelines as well.

I ended up bawling over the final scenes though. The historical accuracy is spotty - at best. So don't go into it with any expectations on that part. It even warns you at the start.

The Great - Hulu  Speaking of spotty historical accuracy lol  This raunchy, hilarious, take on the origin of Catherine the Great starring Elle Fanning and Nicolaus Hoult is so underrated IMO. There are 3 seasons on Hulu right now and perfect for a binge watch. 

What have you all been reading, watching?