Where Have I Been?

Hi guys!

I just wanted to post a quick life update since it’s been a minute since my last post. This past month has been an absolute whirlwind. There have been some crazy awesome highs and some pretty bad lows. But, enough crypticness, I’m just gonna shoot it to you all straight.

Most people don’t know this, but I actually have two jobs. I work in the finance industry Monday through Friday, 40 hours a week and then at a coffee shop on the weekends. I started at the coffee shop around the holidays this past December to help them get through the seasonal rush (the owner is a friend of mine) and to also earn a little extra money because student loans will suck your bank account dry. BUT, I ended up loving working there so much, I decided to stay on as a permanent weekend fixture. While I feel extremely fortunate to have not one, but two jobs, it does not really leave much time to get other things done, such as consistent blogging. I am really going to try to keep up a consistent post schedule, regardless of how busy and tired I might be.
This month, a very close family friend of mine unfortunately lost her year and a half long battle with cancer. She was only 20 years old. Madison was one of the happiest, most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. We shared a love for books and Harry Potter that created a special bond between the two of us. Madison was actually one of the inspirations for creating this blog and sharing my reading obsession with the world. While her life was unfairly cut short, Madison made a forever impact on my life and I know I will think of her every time I open a book or see anything Harry Potter. Rest in peace, my favorite Ravenclaw. If you want to make a difference and help find a cure for children’s cancer, check out Love Your Melon. They donate 50% of their profit to non-profit organizations benefiting children’s cancer research. Not to mention, their beanies are downright adorable. (This isn’t sponsored, this was just an organization that was near and dear to Madison’s heart)
Like I said earlier, this month had some lows, but it also had some highs. Derek and I recently celebrated five years of dating on January 27th! Time has seriously flown by. For our anniversary dinner, we got dressed up and went a Peruvian restaurant called Andina in the Pearl District of Portland. We had both heard wonderful things about this place and oh man did it live up to the hype. I had never had Peruvian food before, but it included a lot of potatoes and seafood. Oh yeah, and mojitos. The BEST mojitos I think I have ever had. Catch their happy hour from 4-6pm for drink and appetizer specials.
As this month has been so busy, I have not had much time to relax and read. I have finished several books, though. So, stay tuned for some upcoming reviews!