AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS // 2017

It's the end of summer, and I'm completely okay with that. Because fall means writing with sweaters, chai, soft instrumentals, scented candles, and fuzzy socks. I mean... what can get better than that? (beside ordering a pizza)

Before we completely move on to fall, here's a look back at August and the last of the summer days.

Every month in my bullet journal I have a column for special memories, and it's quite amusing how many of them are food related: homemade quesadillas! coldstone ice cream! pizzzaaaa! donuts! constant coffee drinking! So there's my quick food overview for August. :P

I attended TWO weddings this month, which is kind of insane considering the fact that I haven't been to a wedding in about ten years. Both weddings served extremely delicious cupcakes (like a Snickers one! o.o), so that was a win!

This made me laugh until I cried:

Still working a bunch at Starbucks. Now that college has started there have been a lot more students in our lobby, and I've also begun to hang around writing before and after my shifts. It's just a pleasant atmosphere, yeah? There's something about a coffeeshop that increases productivity by ten thousand percent. (it's not a proven fact but it might as well should be)

The lovely Gabriela and I are watching Stranger Things together (very slowly, since life is a thing for both of us), and my sister and I have been (also slowly) enjoying Pysch. I don't think I could ever be a binge-watcher, no matter how appealing that sounds. There are so many other things to do! Unless I'm sick. Then I'll binge-watch away.

My sister and I also discovered the hilarity that is Studio C. Their YouTube videos are absolute GOLD (and clean!). But goodness, there are so many of them. Any favorite sketches I should definitely watch?

Music finds of the month:

Alcatraz // Oliver Riot -- catchy tune! it's one of those where you can't help but tap your foot along to the beat. I feel like this could be a soundtrack for a character?

Haze // Amber Run -- it's a sad song, but sometimes the soul needs to listen to an achingly beautiful sad song. the vocals are amazing, the lyrics are amazing, and it might be one of my new favorites so GO LISTEN TO IT. (I first found this song at night when it was raining and it fits so well <3)

I've come to the conclusion that it's finally time to lower my Goodreads goal. I reduced it from 100 to 60. *winces* And even with the new goal, I'm STILL behind. Pathetic, I know. BUT SOMEHOW I SHALL PREVAIL.

I read three published books this month. I also went through Alea's novella, but... unfortunately that doesn't count toward my Goodreads goal. -.-

Strange the Dreamer [2/5] - it started off amazing, and I thought for sure it was going to be a five star book! but then the plot dragged on and not a lot happened and I got bored, so it quickly became a two star book. :P

1984 [4/5] - dude, this is an example of a very intense dystopian society. o.o also, it was one of the first classics that I actually enjoyed!

Saint Anything [4/5] - cute fluffy book that is about family and friends and there is LOTS of pizza so obviously I loved it.

AND LOOK! Moving onto bookish news... one of my favorite authors and friend, Nadine Brandes, has signed a book contract with Thomas Nelson! You can proceed to run over to her blog and read all the little story tidbits she spilled. :D

I've falling in love with handwriting, which isn't good news for NaNoWriMo...

WHY IS WRITING SO HARD? *sobs* Hannah and I were talking about making progress on writing and editing, and I told her that "I feel like a snail." Seriously. Getting anything accomplished is taking 10000x longer than it normally does. Last week it took me thirty minutes to rewrite 300 words. I was focused the whole time, too. Just??? Why?? Usually it takes me under ten minutes?? 

I'm hoping that I can speed up the pace in September. Obviously I want to make sure that the content I'm producing is quality... but at this rate I'm not sure if I'm ever going to finish this draft, and that would be quite unfortunate. Feel free to yell at me to go and edit anytime. :P

September will be my final push before the NaNoWriMo prep starts! All I have for NaNo is this vague superhero idea... and it isn't much to go off of. It better work out, because I don't have a plan B. :P

OH! The first draft copies I ordered of my books finally arrived! I plan to share some pictures and maybe a snippet of a vlog later in September (if I can get my act together and actually take pictures and record a video :P). But they're very gorgeous and it's hard not to keep staring at them.

why I would be a horrible book character | dear senior year | three year blog anniversary!

Lisa decided to be the sweetest person on this planet and wrote an entire blog anniversary celebration post for me! I read it, squealed, and proceeded to lay face first on the ground because I didn't know how to handle the excitement. :P

Erin, one of my favorite bloggers, just redid her blog design and it is GORGEOUS. She's just an all around talented and lovely person, so do check out her site! 

I'm so tempted to link to every post Rosalie writes because they're all so awesome, but instead here is her latest one that really connected with me. It's about passion gone wrong: When Something I Love Became Something It Shouldn't.

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I hope your August was amazing, and if it wasn't... I hope that September goes better for you. May the words and inspiration (and motivation, ha) come easily! Let's go conquer this month and our goals together. 

<3,

katie grace

what do you hope to accomplish in September?

have you discovered any new music this month?