In which I go bowling, reunite Nugget with her siblings, get a tattoo, and more.
Music:
Mogli – Winter Sun (Spotify / Apple Music)
Happy 2020! A new decade, haven’t showered since last year, blah blah, you’ve heard it all before.
2019 was a year that was fairly clear to me: I knew I was going to move out and focus mostly on training my service dog. 2020, however, is a blank slate. I have very little actually planned and I have no clue what this year is going to bring. It’s exciting but also a little daunting!
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In which I visit the Dutch island Texel for the summer, get settled at my new apartment, go on lots of walks, and celebrate my dog’s birthday.
Music:
Andrew Dempsen – Get Healthy (Bandcamp)
I can’t believe it took me this long but I’ve finally found the secret to surpassing my reading challenge… In August, I really got into audiobooks. I’ve been listening to them while doing chores, riding my bike, and walking my dog! I also discovered a few new favorites.
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In the second quarter of 2019 I had very little time to read because I moved out! I got my keys in May and moved sometime mid-June, so I mostly spent my time in homeware stores and painting my new place. I did manage to finish 4 books, though, which is actually impressive considering how much I had going on.
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Autism Books
🇳🇱 Recensie: Maar je ziet er helemaal niet autistisch uit
Posted on October 6, 2019
Maar je ziet er helemaal niet autistisch uit
Bianca Toeps
Genre: non-fictie (autisme), biografie
Verschijningsdatum: 2 april 2019
Uitgeverij: Blossom Books
Pagina’s: 224
Format: bibliotheekboek
Samenvatting
Autisme: dat is toch dat je supersnel kunt uitrekenen dat 7 augustus 1984 op een dinsdag viel? Nou… nee. Bianca Toeps legt je in dit boek haarfijn uit wat het wél betekent als je autisme hebt.
Dat doet ze bijvoorbeeld door te kijken wat de wetenschap zegt over autisme (en waarom sommige theorieën de prullenbak in kunnen), maar ook door haar eigen verhaal te vertellen, en andere mensen met autisme te interviewen. Bianca beschrijft op een frisse en luchtige manier de verschillende situaties waar je als autist tegenaan loopt in het dagelijks leven. Daarnaast geeft ze niet-autistische mensen tips: wat je doet als iemand je liever niet aankijkt, waarom je soms beter kunt mailen en vooral waarom het helemaal geen compliment is als je zegt “maar je ziet er helemaal niet autistisch uit!’
In which I paint my bedroom, go to Harry Potter In Concert, and take my service dog Nugget to Amsterdam.
Music:
Joshua Radin – Falling (Apple Music / Spotify)
Disclaimer: Part of this review was originally posted on my book blog Lauren Reads YA. I have since edited it to reflect my current feelings on the book.
Sad Perfect
by Stephanie Elliot
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publication date: February 28, 2017
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Goodreads | The Book Depository
Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Pea looks normal, but she has a secret: she has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). It is like having a monster inside of her, one that not only dictates what she can eat, but also causes anxiety, depression, and thoughts that she doesn’t want to have. When she falls crazy-mad in love with Ben, she hides her disorder from him, pretending that she’s fine.
At first, everything really does feel like it’s getting better with him around, so she stops taking her anxiety and depression medication. And that’s when the monster really takes over her life. Just as everything seems lost and hopeless, Pea finds in her family, and in Ben, the support and strength she needs to learn that her eating disorder doesn’t have to control her.
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for a review. In no way does this affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Less Stuff: Simple zero-waste steps to a joyful and clutter-free life
by Lindsay Miles
Genre: non-fiction (zero waste, sustainability, decluttering)
Publication date: August 6, 2019
Publisher: Hardie Grant
Pages: 224
Format: Paperback
Add to Goodreads | Buy from The Book Depository
Synopsis
When we consider how we love to spend our time, we don’t tend to think about sorting, cleaning or tidying. The mess and clutter filling our spaces impacts on our productivity, stresses us out and keeps us stuck. Our stuff stands in the way of the lives we dream about. But what about when it comes to throwing away all that stuff? After all, there is no ‘away’. Decluttering is great for our mental wellbeing, and when done right, it can be good for the planet too.
Less Stuff is a guide for people who find it difficult to declutter and who don’t want to see things go to waste. Step by step, you’ll explore finding your ‘enough’, learn how to let go of your old possessions without sending them to landfill, and eventually break the cycle of stuff.