I’ve come to look forward to these monthly posts about what I’m into beyond travel because there’s so much more to my life than where I go, despite the fact that it’s something I love. It’s funny how many people respond with their obsessions or agree with mine!
As with last month, I’m sharing the things I’m obsessed with at the moment. Thanks for following along! Be sure to share what you’re loving this month below!
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Reading
I haven’t had as much time to read as I would have liked, as evidenced by What I Read in 2016, but I am almost halfway through a book I won on Goodreads. After listening to an episode of Real Talk Radio interviewing the author, I knew it was time to pick up Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman. To see what else I’m reading, check out my Goodreads Profile here.
Listening
I made a pledge to myself that I would go to more concerts this year, even if it was alone. And I’ve kept that promise, going to two festivals and two other concerts solo. I saw Sia (and got my seat upgraded!) and St. Paul and the Broken Bones both in November and was so glad I did.
I’m now enjoying new music from both artists. In the podcast sphere, I’m probably the last one to find out about Truth & Justice and Criminal, two more true crime podcasts.
Watching
Winter means it’s time to bundle up and binge watch! On Netflix, I watched the Amanda Knox documentary, which was a fascinating watch and brought up some new theories in my mind. I also watched Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which gave me lots of mixed feelings but ultimately ended in tears. All the feels.
On Amazon Prime, I watched the entire series of Good Girls Revolt, a series set in the 1960s about women who work for a newspaper. It has a Mad Men-style feel, but also focuses on women’s rights and other issues. Sadly, it wasn’t picked up for a second season, so the #savegoodgirlsrevolt is trying to get another distributor to make another season! Tweet for yourself below.
And lastly, my Thanksgiving movie was Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, made complete with costumes that my sister and I wore to the theater. I loved getting back into the Harry Potter universe, even if the choice to include Johnny Depp was a controversial one.
Loving
In case you haven’t yet, go enter my Favorite Things holiday gift guide giveaway, which runs for a few more days! I’ve got only a few things on my personal Christmas wish list, but it includes a vegan tote bag, the Minimalist Baker cookbook, and a Turkish towel robe.
I’ve also used this time of year to donate money to both my favorite charities and organizations that I count on to make a difference. A few include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Shepherd Center, Planned Parenthood, Emily’s List, the Native American Rights Fund, and the ACLU. Donate to your own today!
Working
This is the time of year that my work tends to dry up, which is when I fall back on my seasonal jobs, but this year is different. I find myself with more work than ever! I’m still writing for The Knot and Her Packing List, but have also taken on work for the US Auto Sales blog about road tripping in the South.
I’ve got a story coming out in the January/February issue of Simply Buckhead, which Atlanta locals can pick up, and am working on a story for another new web client that I’ll be excited to share next month. I’ve also taken on a big project with Georgia Tourism for next year that has been one of my favorites to date. See what else I’m working on via my Contently profile.
Traveling
My travels finally started to wind down. Since my parents went to Costa Rica over Thanksgiving to see my sister Rachel, I dropped the dogs off at the kennel and went to visit my sister Sammi in North Carolina.
It was a surprisingly mild fall so we spent most of the trip chowing down on Thai food, watching the parade on tv, and drinking mimosas. A few weeks later, I met up with my friends Ruth and Jason in my old stomping grounds of Columbia, South Carolina for a press trip.
This week, I’m off to Savannah and Little St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, where I’ll be doing research for future stories, staying on a private island (!!!), and taking over the TravelFacts Snapchat account. Be sure to follow along! In the meantime, I hope you’ll consider donating to the Smokies recovery, a place dear to my heart that was devastated by fires.
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