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Life

Currently // July 2016

July 22, 2016August 31, 2016 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 22 comments
Currently // July 2016

What I'm reading, watching, creating and loving in July 2016. // dreams-etc.com

reading…

I’m finishing up a few books that have been in process for awhile, starting with Broken Ground by Karen Halvorsen Schreck. The publisher sent this to me awhile ago and I’ve absolutely been loving the beautiful writing, so I’m excited to finish it up.

watching…

I was watching three different shows for awhile and the one that I was least interested in–Haven–was the show I put on as background noise while I was prepping blog posts. Well, it turns out the three main characters, and after a couple of seasons the storyline, totally pulled me in and breezed through all that’s available on Netflix.

creating…

I’ve been working on the setting of the book that I’m working on. As I have written I’ve felt like something is missing from my story and I realized that the setting wasn’t engaging, but it needs to be. So I’ve been working on all of that and am really happy with it.

make-up…

I reorganized my makeup to make it more accessible and then made sure that all of my makeup brushes were nice and clean so that I could use it all. The consistent pieces that I’ve been reaching for: the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks in Berlin & Lolita 2 and the Stila liquid lipstick in Patina.

learning…

I have thoughts about this, but they’re not coherent. They make sense in my head, though! šŸ™‚

I wonder how much of life is spent trying to put thoughts that make sense to you into words that will make sense to everyone.

listening to…

Audiobooks! After using all my credits and putting my Audible (not sponsored, that’s just where I get my audiobooks) account on hold since I wasn’t listening to them, I’ve been listening to them quite a bit. I finished Jane Eyre (more thoughts on that later) and now I’m listening to Midnight Taxi Tango by Daniel José Older, which is the follow-up to Half-Resurrection Blues. As with the first, this one is narrated by Older and it’s absolutely fantastic! At work I’ve been listening to Pride and Prejudice.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO THIS MONTH?

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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22 comments

  1. Abbey says:
    July 22, 2016 at 9:55 am

    Sounds like you’ve been doing a lot of reading! I’ve been reading For the Love by Jen Hatmaker and it’s so good!!! šŸ™‚

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 1:05 am

      That book looks really interesting. I’m going to have to check it out!

      Reply
  2. Rachel Ritlop says:
    July 22, 2016 at 10:33 am

    Need to try that liquid lipstick!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 1:05 am

      It’s amazing! If you try it, I hope you like it! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Charlotte says:
    July 22, 2016 at 10:48 am

    <3

    "I wonder how much of life is spent trying to put thoughts that make sense to you into words that will make sense to everyone." <I feel like this constantly. Like the words in my head come out in a different language when I tell them to others.

    Also can't wait to hear more about your book. I'm always fascinated in particular by stories where the setting plays an integral part. It's the reason I love Woody Allen movies so much, since New York is always given a prominent starring role. Or shows like The Affair (have you seen this?), because the scenery is just so gosh-darn beautiful to look at and makes me want to live by the ocean.

    XOXO and hope you have a great weekend!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 1:04 am

      I do too! It really adds another layer to the story when the setting is so important. I haven’t seen The Affair yet, but I’ve heard great things about it and I definitely want to. I’ll have to check it out soon! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. alexandra @ my urban family says:
    July 22, 2016 at 10:55 am

    I love posts like this! Do you have a favorite audiobook? I need to find a few more for my list while I’m working šŸ™‚

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 1:03 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed it! Posts like this are always my favorite to read too. šŸ™‚

      I have a couple! I really enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, which is also one of my favorite books. The audio format is perfect for the plot. I also really like The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. This is another one of my favorite books and I thought the audiobook was fantastic. Words can’t describe my love for this book and the narrator of the audiobook was perfect! And I also highly recommend Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel Jose Older. He narrates the audiobook and it’s fantastic! I read a review that said it’s almost like spoken word poetry and that’s the perfect way to describe it. It has a great rhythm and he’s an excellent narrator, which isn’t always the case for an author. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Nellwyn says:
    July 22, 2016 at 11:27 am

    I love Jane Eyre, such a good book! I also recently organized my makeup collection and it’s so refreshing to have everything neat and clean!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:59 am

      The more I think about the book, the more I like it. šŸ™‚ It always feels so good when makeup is organized and clean.

      Reply
  6. Mia says:
    July 22, 2016 at 3:36 pm

    I *love* Haven! Such a good show. You’re right, the main characters totally sucked me in. šŸ™‚

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:58 am

      I’m glad you love it too! And the characters! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Courtney says:
    July 22, 2016 at 4:38 pm

    The Stila lipstick in Patina is one of my absolute, all time favourite lipsticks! It is just so gorgeous!

    La Belle SireneĀ 

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:57 am

      It is! It actually took a little while to grow on me for some reason… I loved the color and loved it on others, but had to get used to it on myself. And now it’s one of my go-to’s!

      Reply
  8. Kim Munoz says:
    July 22, 2016 at 5:45 pm

    Oooh! I need to finish Haven. I am missing the last season. And as far as making sense goes, I am pretty sure that 75% of the time people have no idea what I am talking about LOL

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:55 am

      I loved the last season of Haven! I’m so excited for the next one. šŸ™‚ LOL, I’m glad I’m not the only one! I feel that way a lot.

      Reply
  9. Shann Eva says:
    July 22, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    I’ll have to check out that show on Netflix. I’ve burned through almost everything that I was watching, and have been looking for something new.

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:53 am

      Let me know what you think if you decide to check it out! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  10. Latonya says:
    July 23, 2016 at 10:56 pm

    I have preparing for the upcoming school year, reading lots of books from Overdrive, and writing. I was thinking about downloading a few books from Audible earlier today.

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:51 am

      It sounds like you’ve been busy! My library uses Overdrive and I love it, but they just sent out an email saying they’re switching to a new system. I’m sure it’ll be a good one, but I love Overdrive! šŸ™‚ I also love Audible! It’s definitely a great option if you like audiobooks.

      Reply
  11. Karin Rambo says:
    July 24, 2016 at 7:14 pm

    I used to listen to P&P while working as well ? I excited to check out Haven! You have the best Netflix rec’s!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:49 am

      It’s a great book to listen to while working on other things. šŸ™‚ You’ll have to let me know what you think of Haven when you watch it! And thank you! I’m glad you enjoy them.

      Reply

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

If only we always remembered to be in touch with o If only we always remembered to be in touch with our loved ones regularly; to tell them that we love them.

This thought has been on my mind the last few weeks as I’ve been in touch with one of my best friends almost daily. They’ve been navigating a scary situation.

But that’s what everyone says, isn’t it? Reach out to those you love. Tell them you love them. Don’t let a lot of time pass.

We all know that. We think about it sometimes. We hear about it when others are in crisis. We’re thankful that we aren’t the ones in crisis and we can remember this lesson through someone else.

But eventually we get caught up in life. Our daily ā€œI love you’sā€ are reserved for those we live with and sometimes we forget to text someone back… or it takes a few days to do so.

This week as I wondered why we don’t remember this more often I realized it’s probably a good thing. It’s a good thing that we can live life without worrying that tragedy is right around the corner. That would be an exhausting way to live.

It’s also good that we can get little reminders, sometimes not from our own life. So from someone who spent one week numb, another week weepy, and this week sad, remember to send your friends a text. Tell them you love them.
I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. šŸ’™
Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. ā€œThe water looks cold,ā€ I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. šŸ˜‚)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
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