Wrapping Up 2013

Wrapping Up 2013

Musical Wise

This has been a good year for me as a music lover, reader, and writer.  I feel like this year was a year of change and rush.  It was a year of movement for me.

I am a big music lover and I have had the pleasure of being able to listen to some really great songs and albums this year.

Kerli’s release of Utopia- March 19th

This album was all that I was hoping for with Kerli and I loved the energy to it.  I still listen to it now and love the hope it has attached to it.  The Lucky Ones and Can’t Control the Kids were one of my favorite songs off the EP.

Next album I loved that released in May was Demi Lovato album DEMI.

Skylar Grey’s album, Don’t Look Down, was next released in July.  With these songs each hit at a different time in my life.  This was an amazing album.

Zendaya was an artist that I didn’t know what to expect but her album was all my dancing side needed.  September was so much fun with this playing in my ears.

I was looking forward to this album all year and when Icon for Hire finally released their self-titled album in October I was more than excited.  And boy do I love every song on here.

Last but not least, I fell in love with Leona Lewis’s album.  Christmas with Love made me love Christmas a little more than I already did.  Every day in December was Christmas.

Also as a Christmas present, Kerli released a song for her fans called Stardust which is ever so pretty and lovely to listen to.

Music makes my soul happy and my life better.  Can’t wait for 2014 good musical vibes.  Already looking forward to some new songs from Within Temptation.

Wrapping up 2013

Writing Wise

Writing Wise this has been more of a life changing than writing changing phase.  I did make some progress writing wise, like deciding to finally do this blog.

I feel like midyear I fell into a stillness.  I didn’t write, I listened more, dreamed more, and read more.  This stillness steamed from avoidance from my writing and challenges outside of writing.  I came up with two more novel ideas and also decided to stretch my writing with a 31 Day Challenge during this time.  The purpose of the 31 Day Challenges was to break me back into writing slowly.  I intended to be faster at writing each challenge but I took my time, avoiding again.

It was adjustment phase as well that contributed to this stillness.  Adjustment of my energy levels, I was doing and dealing with a lot more things and projects that I energy took a nosedive.  So my energy went from writing daily during naptimes, on my breaks, and when I got home to wanting to just read, relax, or sleep during my lunch break and when I got home.

The only good thing with having different projects was that they were still creative projects.  I was still doing my hand in being creative just a different outlet.  And plus being a writer there is no break in your mind.  My thoughts were still circling and my dreams were still bringing me new ideas for novels that I hope to expand in the coming years.

Wrapping Up 2013

Reading Wise

Reading wise I wished I had time for the number of good books that I found this year but I did happen to read a lot.  I also found new authors to try and that’s always fun.

Here is my list of great books I happen to read in 2013:

• Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
• MacRieve by Kresley Cole
• Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl
• Breathless Series by Maya Banks
• Inside out Series by Lisa Renee Jones
• Sinners on Tour Series by Olivia Cunning
• 1-3 One Night with Soul Regret Series by Olivia Cunning
• Many of the Sweet Series by Maya Banks
• Bad Girls Don’t Die Trilogy by Katie Alender
• Four Play by Maya Banks
• I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
• Forbidden by Syrie James
• How the Silver Lake Came to Be by Hiba Tahir
• Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

Like I said I wished I would have made myself read a lot more books in 2013 but there is still next year and I’m hoping to get back to the swing of things.  We still have the rest of today the last day of 2013 so I might be able to squeeze one more book in.  Right now I’m reading Fatal Tide by Lis Wiehl and Sweet Seduction by Maya Banks.

Wrapping Up 2013

Closing and Well Wishes

I always start my year off with a new quote or phrase that will keep me on track of my goals 2014 is Love thyself.

My Resolutions:

• Read More
• Write More
• Finish my 31 Day Challenge
• Better Sleeping Schedule
• Do things NOW
• Check with my Energy Levels and let go of things that I should not worry about
• Make time for me
• Breathe and Meditate more
• Inspire and build myself up

2014 feels like a slow year for me and to me that’s exactly what I needed to get back on track.  I’m excited and ready for another year of reading, writing, and rocking out to music.

Thank you for reading, liking, and commenting on my blog, I really, really do appreciate it.  Here’s to another year of love, books, inspiration, experiences, blogging, and writing.  Hope you have a wonderful New Years Eve and New Years.

See ya in 2014.

~I.L.U*

Quanisha A. McGruder