Shoutout to any other “Parks and Recreation” fans who saw this Charles Addams cartoon and immediately mentally replaced the name Alice with either Leslie or Jan as I did.

The only thought going through my head during the later scenes in the caves was, “Do these guys get paid by the word?” My enduring crush on Pendergast will keep me coming back to the series. I also enjoyed the introduction of Corrie Swanson, but I‘ve come to accept that this is an audio only series for me, as I‘m somewhat concentration deficient at the moment and it‘s easier for me to listen than actively read it.

#fbf to yesterday and the tissue carnage after finally watching “Coco” before it disappears from Netflix (and realizing that I still haven‘t fully recovered from doing the same thing with “Moana” last year). It‘s also the picture to which I will refer in the future whenever I think I can make it through a Pixar movie in a theater without essentially transforming into a red-eyed, blithering ball of snot.

#tbt to a Halloween that I‘m relatively certain didn‘t have a snowfall total! (The costume is Herself the Elf, but since no one guessed it then I don‘t expect anyone to guess it now).

#tbt to my only trip to a Spirit Halloween store this year, since the closest location is now 45 minutes away (or 30, depending on who‘s driving). I didn‘t find all of the “Hocus Pocus” merchandise that I was looking for, but I did manage to get my hands on the Funko pen that I wanted! I was also very happy to find out that they still do the Spirit of Children donation program.

Why yes, I have seen “Beetlejuice”. Why do you ask? (And I‘m pretty confident in saying that this is the only Funko Pop for which I would ransack shelves and crawl around on the floor at multiple Box Lunch stores, ultimately coming away empty handed before ordering it online. I was adamant in getting this one because it‘s holding “The Handbook for the Recently Deceased”.) Close up of the floaty pen on the right.

Squad goals, obviously.

I think the only appropriate sentiment is: Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! With muppet arms, of course.

I liked Hamish, but I wanted to jump into the book and shake Alice out of her moon-eyed stupor over that obvious twit Jeremy, and Lady Jane was so horrible I almost stopped listening. The thing that was the most irritating was the sheer number of times that the author felt the need to describe Heather as “plump” when it did absolutely nothing to help the story. This book was okay, but I‘m not sure if I‘m going to continue the series.

#fbf to finding out that I‘m very easy to shop for in Iceland.

I should probably be concerned that the novelty stationary that best describes me is the Halloween stuff.

Another day, another Drawlloween prompt used for a book choice. I‘ve had this one forever and I‘m happy to finally have a reason to start it.

I‘m loving these origin stories for DC characters. I‘m new to Raven, but as soon as I saw her narwhal pajama pants I decided that I‘m in it for the long haul! She‘s awesome.

I decided to pull all of my Halloween-related things together into one mini binder so I could keep track of everything. My reading wishlist isn‘t yet finished but is already at over 200 titles, proving that I‘m delusional no matter the season.

Always love it when a Ghostbusters quote pops up! Loving this book so far.

While I‘m hoping to participate in the Drawlloween event that artist Mab Graves is hosting on Instagram at least a few times this month, today just wasn‘t my day so I‘m using the prompt for a short story selection. I‘m also hoping to get to the full-length novel that this inspired sometime this month as well, but it‘s a good choice to welcome the month.

I recently unearthed a cache of postcards I had in various places - lockers, bedroom, dorm rooms, etc. - so long ago. Most were from museums and theme parks but I‘m baffled as to where I got so many Beatles cards. I still vividly remember why I had them, I just have no idea where I bought them.

My Treat Yo Self days have a common theme.

I decided to make a summer TBR of “fun” titles - celebrity memoirs, childhood favorite re-reads, etc. - since we still have 2 months of the season left, back-to-school merchandise displays be damned. Even I was impressed when I saw my list had ballooned to 805 titles. (I‘m not delusional, I realize I‘ll probably only get through about 20 of them if I‘m lucky). #booknerdproblems

If you‘ve got a major life milestone coming up and start to freak out because you don‘t feel that you‘ve accomplished anything, hop on over to Buzzfeed so you can get photographic proof that you know all the lyrics to “All Star” and realize the situation is much more dire than you originally thought.

I love that my dad never seems to mind getting books for holidays, which is why I‘m always on the lookout for Chicago and/or Illinois history; he‘s already started reading it. It‘s also one of the designated days that I get to give the dog a new toy (otherwise I‘d probably give him a toy every time I see him). I have no idea what that goofy-looking animal is, so I‘ve decided it looks enough like a weasel to warrant the designation.

Sadly, the realization that I could have carried my towel around in this didn‘t hit until after I got home. It also would have matched my shirt. Oh well, already planning for next year! (Bag from @outofprint) #towelday

Honestly, the thought that I could have been any “Hitchhiker” character other than Marvin was ridiculous. I‘m the depressed, pessimistic robot or I‘m nothing. Book Riot knows me too well. Happy Towel Day 2019! #towelday

In honor of World Book Day 2019, I present my new favorite Dollar Tree find (narrowly pulling ahead of Marie-Helene Bertino‘s “2 A.M. at the Cat‘s Pajamas” that I stumbled across a few years ago). Just as I was considering investing in hardcover copies of the Helen Oyeyemi books I don‘t have, this beauty greeted me at the end of the aisle!

Does World Book Day 2019 need a (somewhat gross) mascot? I finally unearthed my Giant Microbes bookworm from one of my desks and moved him to his new home.

He‘s polite when he gets the bandannas at his grooming appointments, but I‘m pretty sure I‘d get an actual eye roll if I tried to put bunny ears on him. 📷sent to me by my dad a few days ago.

The biscuits from the “Magnolia Table” cookbook are delicious, especially when someone else makes them. I have had to remove myself from their presence because I‘m pretty sure I could finish the pile if I really put my mind to it. Happy Easter!🐰🐣🍬

#tbt to a few weeks ago when I sent these books to two now-fifteen-years-old, one of whom has already gotten his learner‘s permit! *valiantly trying not to get weepy again* The other opted to go surfing that day instead, so at least I made one correct choice!

I held out on buying this book as long as I could! The KonMari method hasn‘t worked for me so far, so I‘m trying to cobble together a mash-up if that, @thehomeedit, and some “Unf*ck Your Habitat”, with a dash of “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” (I tried hygge first, that didn‘t take, either).

I finally found this Pop at a reasonable price! (I also had a spirited debate with myself as to whether this should be posted under this book or Jane Austen‘s Emma.)

I may have gone a little overboard during a sale on the #Etsy shop Discounts For Lovely; many of these are destined for specific projects. This was also not the extent of my Etsy purchases, just the first to arrive. #jewelrymaking #charms

My mood on literally any day of the year. Happy St. Patrick‘s Day! 🌈🍀

My joy at finding her on the shelf was lessened by the fact that going into a grocery store before a snowstorm is essentially voluntarily walking into The Purge.

Somebody‘s going to Iceland! It‘s NOT me! This book is the most I can currently contribute to a gift that I didn‘t know was happening until a little over a week ago! (The Away gift card has been planned for a while.) I now have to spend several months pretending not to be jealous!

This pretty much sums up everything on my TBR/Netflix queue/DVR. I‘m convinced that I‘ll love all of it, even if I never actually get to it. This book reminded me of a mashup of “Alice‘s Adventures in Wonderland”, “The Phantom Tollbooth”, and “Haroun and the Sea of Stories”. I almost burst into tears at the end when the meaning of the card she received at the Surrender was revealed. I‘m hoping to get to book 2 in the series sometime this month.

My final numbers for 2018, give or take a few. I didn‘t break down the genres in the audiobooks, but there was a little bit of everything. I‘m trying to do a ridiculous number of challenges this year, going into them with fresh hope that I won‘t abandon them like I usually do; semi-required reading for work and borrowed books usually edge things out. I‘m also hoping to do at least one readathon this year, schedule permitting.

Part three of my #18in2018. (I‘m done now, I promise.)

Part two of my #18in2018.

Part one of my #18in2018 - there are a few more than 18!

My mom is a huge Louise Penny fan, and I started the series on audio earlier this year. As any other fans know, this phrase is not exactly a compliment - although I have no legitimate argument against anyone comparing me to Ruth, because even I see the similarities. Thanks, Mom. (Top picture is the front of the mug, bottom picture is the back.)

The books that I sent to my sports-loving 14-year-old cousins with a photobomb by the snowman toy for their dog - if there‘s a dog in the house, it‘s getting a present from me. Very happy to know that everything arrived in time. I also found out from my grandma that they always open my stuff first because they never know what I‘m sending. (I may or may not have cried some happy tears at that last bit of information.)

The card I sent my 14-year-old cousins because it made me laugh really hard at the store.

I didn‘t get nearly as many Halloween-ish things read/watched as I had hoped to, but I managed to track down these lovely ladies so I‘m happy!

Halloween vibes from a snowy afternoon I spent taking photos in our local cemetery a few years ago. It reminded me of a story Neil Gaiman had told in an interview about watching his son play in a cemetery, which was his inspiration for The Graveyard Book”.

I hope I made the right choices for Halloween-ish books for two 14-year-olds. I loved “Behind You” when I read it a few months ago; I haven‘t had a chance to crack open my copy of “Everlost” yet.

Best quiz results EVER! (From Book Riot‘s “Which Literary Creature Are You?” quiz.)

My first intentional bail in a long, long time, which is disappointing because a steampunk-influenced retelling of “The Tempest” sounded very promising. Occasionally, due to various circumstances some books/audiobooks just irritate the hell out of me and it feels more like a chore to keep going back. Since my rental period was expiring I decided to (possibly) revisit it later rather than knock myself out to finish it now.

Another recent purchase with an “Alice in Wonderland”/“The Neverending Story” vibe. One of my main rules in life is usually “no glitter” because of the mess, but this was just too cute to pass up. Since she‘s sparkly and wonderful I needed to find a name that matched, and it came to me before I got to the cash register. This is my new snail statue, Gaga. (Penny included for scale.)

I am ridiculously thrilled that I now own some original Mab Graves artwork, especially from one of my favorite books. I got them a few months ago and am still trying to decide where to hang them, but I‘m already thinking about another order since some new items have been added to the shop!

Best. Day. Ever.😍 I‘m not even going to apologize for this galley brag. I‘ve been eagerly waiting for it to pop up on Netgalley and I practically fell off my chair when I saw it. I love Lucy Knisley‘s Instagram account and have been enjoying the weekly sneak peeks. My biggest dilemma is trying to decide whether to read it at once or stretch it out so I have something to look forward to after work for a little while!