This was December a year ago. We spent the holidays in Thailand with my sister and her family. What wonderful memories!
What a hectic month! December always is–for everyone. It’s such a blur I’m having trouble remembering all that I was up to…. I’ll start with something I love very much: books.
BOOKS
Then She Was Gone
I listened to this book during my commutes–there were many during the holiday month of December. I love to listen to a creep thriller. Those psychological books that lead up to an ending that you can’t quite believe? Then She Was Gone is one of them. It’s all very tragic but quite bitter sweet in the end. I really enjoyed this one, and I bet reading it would be equally as good.
Born a Crime
I host a book club with some of my colleagues. For December we read Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. First off, when it comes to pop culture, I’m pretty clueless. I had no idea of who Trevor Noah is–that might have helped me start the book off on a better foot. As I read the beginning, I wasn’t that intrigued. Then, I found out he’s a comedian and I watched his show Son of Patricia on Netflix. That helped out. I don’t watch the Daily Show either, so I didn’t have a concept of how famous this man has become. What finally helped me enjoy the book was listening to it. When the book is told in Trevor’s voice it was a real joy. There were times when I did laugh out loud. I would recommend this book, but only as an audio book. It’s definitely one to be listened to by the author himself.
The Kiss Quotient
Ok, this is a total vacation read, and a racy one at that. Once I finished the book I left it in the hotel, but inside the front flap I left a cautionary note: Very racy, rated X! I’ve never read Fifty Shades of Grey, and while I love to read romance novels, I don’t read the smutty kind. This one was a little too much for me. I don’t recommend it, but I can say I was happy the autistic heroine ended up with her hunky hero in the end.
Under the Never Sky
I’ll keep my romance novels at the young adult level; just enough sultry but not all the explicit sex. There’s a past student of mine whose taste I totally trust. We like all the same books. Since she’s rated this title as a 5 on Goodreads, it’s been on my to read list. It was a fun book with alternating chapters from the heroine and hero. This kind of story is right up my alley! Plus it was a fantasy/sci-fi which has been a genre I’ve been loving these days. Like Hannah, I’ll give it 5 stars!
Where the Crawdads Sing
I won’t finish this book in December, but I’ve started it, and like everyone else who has completely enjoyed this book, I am too. That HS Book Club I was talking about… this will be our January read. It’s going to be a great discussion; the book is so lyrical. I love when I book just sucks you in because you want to get to know the character more and more.
TV
Sense8
As predicted I started the second season in this series, and I’m hooked all over again. However, TV watching has gladly been replaced by reading while I’m on vacation. This is a very good thing!
Here’s a lil’ teaser with the concept video:
MOVIES
Spiderman in the Spider Verse is a must see just for the graphics alone. It was insane how good it was. The plot is sweet and all, but wow, the animation is at a whole new level. I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing more of this style in the future. Definitely watch this movie!
SHOPPING
Yeehaw! Let’s go shopping!
Get Redressed Pop Up
Yes, it’s true: I bought a lot of things in December, and not just gifts for others. However, I gave back too! This December I had a really great time helping out at the Get Redressed Pop Up Sale. I volunteered on both Saturday and Sunday of the sale, and it made me remember how much I love to help people shop. I get a rush from encouraging others to embrace their own personal style. It makes me feel good to be honest with women and help them celebrate what looks good on them. For sure I’ll be helping out with this pop up when it occurs again in June. I just wish it happened a little more often. Oh, and one major perk of working the sale is first dibs on items with a great discount! I scored!!
TRAVEL
Christmas in Bali
We are having an amazing time in Bali for Christmas. Kevin’s parents have now joined us, and it’s extremely special to be traveling with them again. They are great traveling buddies for us, and now we get some serious quality time with Babaji and Grammy.
Because Kevin doesn’t get the nickname KevStar Travels for nothing, I thought I’d share the amazing places we’ve been staying–just in case you ever get the chance to come to beautiful Bali.
The Haven Suites, Canggu
Waka Ganngga
Villa Nilaya
Life in Amed
We have three nights at the end of the trip that are still unbooked–which is so unlike Kevin, but we’re planning to be spontaneous. Once I know, I’ll update this post.
CONNECTIONS
Zoko Jewelry has really beautiful creations, and I’m lucky enough to know the artisan, Sue Ballard. I’ve become so inspired by many women in my life Anaita, Sabrina, and Sue) who are busy taking their creative ideas and turning them into beautiful pieces of jewelry and hence businesses. Sue was kind enough to connect me with a middle man here in Bali, and now I’m seeing if I too could turn the creative ideas in my head into something I could hold and actually wear. Stay tuned…. maybe I too will one day sell some Kremb de la Kremb jewelry!
SANTA
A New Camera
I must have been a very good girl because Santa brought me a new camera for Christmas! I was so surprised. I mean the one I use is still working, but it has really gotten its use. Santa saw how much I use it, and decided to update me with the newest (and better) mirrorless camera, the Sony Alpha a6000. I have a lot to learn with it–not to mention a switch in brand, but I’m ready for the challenge. Oh, and I’ll need to get a new Remota.
I think it’s kind of funny that this was my most like pic of 2018:
my beach bag on the sea while we camped in Hong Kong last spring.
Passed 3500
This is a very silly, silly accomplishment, but it seems as if it has taken me years to pass that 3500 number on Instagram, and I finally have. The thing is as my attention to Instagram wavers, my dedication to this blog grows. I’m proud that Kremb de la Kremb is all, ALL mine. I also love that I look forward to writing each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Happy New Year!
I do have to announce that I’ll be taking the first couple of weeks off in January 2019. It’s time for a little break from Kremb de la Kremb that offers a reset. I’ll be back in the middle of January ready to go with my regular posting–and hopefully some new ideas on how to grow and become an even better blogger!
To end, here is a picture of my favorite Christmas memory from last year, 2017: sailing with my sister in Thailand!
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