Dec 30, 2024

Beg, Borrow, or Steal

 


Thank you Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams. In exchange for this ARC, I agreed to give my honest review. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. So buckle up, we’re heading back to Rome, KY!

In the third installment of the When in Rome series we find ourselves following Emily Walker, the eldest daughter of the Walker siblings. Emily is the Queen Bee of Rome and has been holding her family together since the death of their parents in childhood.

Emily is known to be a strong-willed, a fixer and a perfectionist. To all of Rome, Emily is the rock the wave crashes upon. But once we get a look into Emily’s head it becomes clear that Emily is barely holding herself together.

Enter her archenemy, Jackson Bennett.

Jackson “Jack” Bennett and Emily Walker have been archenemies since the moment they met 10 years ago. And yet, the universe is doing all in her power to keep bringing them back together.

 

What I have loved since the very first book in this series is the dual POV. I especially enjoyed this in Beg, Borrow, or Steal because we get to connect more with Jack, who is also struggling with his own trauma.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is by far the heaviest book thus far in the When in Rome series. Sarah Adam delicately writes about depression, anxiety, and the aftermath of having a narcissistic parent. In many ways, I found this to be the most relatable book in the series because of it.

Even with some heavy topics, Sarah Adams manages to keep Beg, Borrow, or Steal entertaining and comedic with small town shenanigans and Emily and Jacks dialogue.

I especially enjoy that we are still getting cameos from our other Walker siblings and beaus. I am eagerly looking forward to Madison’s story in the next book. And all I can say to Sarah is you better not do anything to Mabel except maybe to make her even more sassier and wise!

Dec 8, 2024

Macarons wrapped. My year in macarons.

 How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

 I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

I love thee in all the ways you make me feel just right

💗my lover letter to macarons

There are many trends I would leave in the early 2000s but macarons would never be one of them. These little cookies still have my heart (and stomach) and it's a joy to get then whenever I can. Unfortunately for me, the closest patisserie that offers them is over and hour away so they are always a treat that I savor every time. 

Here is my 2024 Spotify Macaron Wrapped:

When the clock strikes 12 on NYE is when I start stalking Costco for these holiday delights. In my opinion these are the best store bought Macarons and you can't beat the price. Plus they're little hearts! how cute is that?!

My favorite "local" patisserie is on the coast and just over an hour away. A Sweet Affair has the most delicious looking display. The two things that bring me two the coast are the beach and the macarons!

Life imitates art. I picked up this macaron cart from Poppy Designs. I'm waiting for a LNS visit to pick out some special fibers to stitch it.
Another round of Coscto year round macarons to starve off the itch.
J'adore les macarons and I was excited to see these cute Emily in Paris themed macarons at my grocery store. It was a nice mix of traditional flavors and "different" flavors.
I had high hopes for these but Costeaux, you let me down. The almond croissant was fantastic so they do get points for that.

 
 
When I saw the Ladurée x Marin Montagut I squealed with delight! A bookish and macaron cross over?! Sign me up! Thankfully I was able to order these and can attest that the packing is as beautiful as the macarons are delcious! I even got a repost from Laduree (fangirling over here. Also, I accept payment in the form of macarons)
After a tough day a work I came home to find these waiting for me on my front porch. My bestie generously gifted these as part of my Christmas present and they were just the pick me up I needed. AND THEY WERE SO GOOD. Like immediately gone, so good. These are my first macs from LadyYum but definitely not my last!

What a sweet year it was!

Nov 30, 2024

Black Friday or Bust

I'll be frank. I'm not usually a Black Friday shopper. But you know who could get me out on Black Friday? 

Taylor Swift. 

And a Black Friday RSD so let's gooooooo!

First Black Friday stop was my local record store for Black Friday Record Store Day

I was able to snag just about everything I wanted and didn't even have to get up to early to do it!

I mean, look how gorgeous this is!

Next I headed south to the land of Targets. I was able so swing into a Barnes and Noble and grab the last signed, hardcover copy of Done and Dusted!


Next to target to secure the bag!

I was lucky enough to get the book and the vinyl!

 
Both the babies at home <3

I was also able to snag the Kacey RSD at a different record store down south, All in all not too much damage done and I only ended up with the things I was looking for. Best yet, I didn't have to get up at o'dark thirty to do any of it!

Nov 4, 2024

I fought the Great War....AND WON

 On August 11, 2023 I fought in the Great Ticketmaster War.... AND WON!

I secured tickets to go see Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour! I was literally shaking during the check out process and completely shell shocked afterwards.  

I counted days, I counted miles

To see you there, to see you there

It's been a long time coming

Fast forward to November 1, 2024 and it's FINALLY my time to see it live. 

Not to be dramatic but there aren't words to described what this experience was. I had seen the show endless times on grainy livestreams, in theaters and at home on disney plus. 

BUT NOTHING COMPARED TO LIVE. And not just the show but the whole weekend being with the Swifite community. 

I could go on and on and get real weird about it but I'm just going to photo dump some of my favorite photos from the weekend.


























It was rare
I was there
I'll remember it all to well


Oct 24, 2024

Spooky Season, Spooky Things

At this point I'm updating this blog to show proof of life because 
IT IS STILL A HUNDRED DEGREES OUT IN OCTOBER
Fen's why is it still so hot face

Now our weather is usually *a little* behind the seasonal trend but this is a little ridiculous. At this point I'm trying to manifest fall by buying, eating, and doing all the spooky, pumpkin spiced shit. 
Exhibit A: My spooky season book haul!

 
Exhibit B: Various pumpkin spiced goodies.
The Tate's were SO. GOOD. The Oreo's were just ok.


Exhibit C: Spooky mugs that I should be drinking hot chocolate out of. *Note the flowers that are STILL BLOOMING in the back. Which honestly is one of the few pluses to the weather being wacky.

Exhibit D: Spooky visitors! 
I couldn't help summon the Anti-Hero ghost when the Eras started touring again.

Exhibit E: Witchcraft! Familiar included! 

Alas, none of these things helped with the weather! 😭
In non-spooky news we celebrated the anniversaries of our sweet, wild, fluffy pups.
Miss Sugar, Princess Pants celebrated two years with us! 

Fen celebrated three years with us! 

They both wished for cooler weather ðŸ˜‰
 

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Hello, I'm Amber! I'm a grand-millennial living in the countryside of NorCal. I love to tell my story through photos of all the things I love. Escape the ordinary with me!

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