I Have Covid.

It took 2.5 years but it finally got me. And man have I been SICK. Throwing up, 102.2 fever, worst headaches, body aches, chills from head to toe, dizzy/lightheaded, so congested, insane cough, complete loss of taste/smell, and probably a million more symptoms that I can’t even think about right now. FREAKING. COVID.

My view. Still have drinking coffee everyday even if I can’t taste it!

Covid. Sucks.

Today is officially Day 11 for me and while so many of my symptoms are better, some most definitely remain (lightheaded, congested, exhausted, ears still closed although not as bad, taste/smell GONE). I have zero energy and everything is exhausting. I think this will just take time! I miss feeling like myself!

Only I would crave a spinach smoothie when I’m sick, lol.

This virus is an absolute BEAST. I am fully vaccinated (and boosted) and I still got this sick! I can’t even begin to imagine how much worst this could have been had I not been vaccinated.

The only coffee I’ve ever had without Splenda. I figured there was no reason for Splenda if I couldn’t taste it! But my sight wasn’t affected… there’s no way in the world I could visually drink black coffee so cream was still added, lol.

I’ve been trying to sit in my backyard to get some fresh air. This was a few days ago…even my creepy mug of coffee couldn’t get me to smile!

You know I’ve been sick when I have literally spend the past 11 days laying in bed and have read exactly 0 pages of any book! The only thing my brain has been able to handle is 90 Day Fiance (I’ve watched almost 2 entire seasons over these past 11 days)! The only actual reading I have done has been in the form of these 2 magazines:

So that’s where I’ve been for the past 11 days. In my bed. Watching 90 Day Fiance. Eating bagels and macaroni and cheese and crying because all of this SUCKS.

Oh and did I mention that the day after I tested positive my husband ALSO tested positive? And then the day after THAT my son also tested positive? The 2 of them were also pretty sick, but I definitely had the worst case. Trying to parent a sick child while both Jon and I are sick ourselves has been interesting.

Gooooood times over here. Holy hell.

They are both feeling better! I am slowly getting there, too :).

The last time I posted a blog post was June 18th (whaaaaaat?)! Let’s do a giant rewind to where I was BEFORE Covid…

June 18: I posted THIS blog post.

I took a 2 week blogging break for no reason other than I was just enjoying summer and keeping very busy 🙂

July 4th: Tragedy in Highland Park. I live about 15 minutes from Highland Park and everything about this is horrific and terrifying. I was not at the parade but I so easily could have been. My family and I were in the neighboring town of Deerfield just the night prior watching fireworks. I still cannot believe this happened. Here is a selfie with a Little Free Library that I took on Central Avenue (where the parade was) just 2 weeks before the shooting. I’ve spent lots of time shopping and eating on that very street this summer. My thoughts, my love, and my prayers are with you, Highland Park.

After July 4th, I understandably felt weird blogging when so much sadness was happening around me. So many of my friends were at the parade with their families! Thankfully all are ok (physically) but I can’t imagine what they are going through having been right there.

So I took a few days off of blogging and then…

My daughter left for overnight camp for 1 month. Camp Moms, YOU. GET. IT. Holy hell packing was a full time job and it kept me BUSY. Runs to various stores, lots of Googling and texting my way more experienced camp mom friends, and daily Amazon Prime deliveries were all so overwhelming. My guest bedroom was officially packing central and the amount of stuff she brought with her is insane. Being as organized and as type A as I am, this was my TIME TO SHINE but man it was a lot…even for me!

Snuck these into her duffle before she left 💗

She left for camp on a Sunday. I tested positive on that Tuesday. My husband tested positive on the Wednesday. My son tested positive on that Thursday. I can’t believe the timing of all of this and that she left JUST at the perfect time to avoid this house of germs! And yes, I was in contact with the camp IMMEDIATELY after I tested positive to tell them to test and monitor her for any symptoms because I literally COVERED her in kisses less than 48 hours before I tested positive. She’s ok! She’s happy and healthy and the pictures that the camp has posted have been beautiful. I’m incredibly thankful that she’s having such a wonderful time while the rest of her family…well…I wouldn’t say we are having a “wonderful time” 😉

So that pretty sums up where I’ve been and why I’ve taken such a long and completely unintentional blogging break! Thank you to those who have reached out…I’m still here, just taking a bit of time to heal. As always, I’m so touched that so many of you have been wondering where I’ve been, especially since I don’t know the majority of you in real life. XO!

Here are 3 books I DID read before all of this:

I have a review of Lease on Love and Every Summer After coming soon and a review (and giveaway!) of The Mommy Clique coming soon as well! Stay tuned!

I received this beauty in the mail a few weeks ago…I can’t wait to read it ASAP! A review (and giveaway) of this one coming soon as well 🙂

And then this book, the book I was 100 pages into when Covid struck. It’s ok, I’m not really itching to get back into it which isn’t a great sign :). If you have read it, should I continue reading?

Here are some random photos from the past few weeks before the Vid struck:

Obsessed with these beautiful flowers and vase that my husband and son bought for me the day my daughter left for camp to cheer me up! You can see them in the picture of my nightstand above…I immediately brought them upstairs once I realized I would be quarantining in my bedroom so I could stare at them. How BEAUTIFUL are these???

Gorgeous cupcake that I ate a few weeks ago. I wish I could taste it now!

My daughter did this to my hair before she left!

Soooooo there you go. That’s where I’ve been. I’m REALLY hoping things start to look up and I can get back to my normal life soon! I am currently sitting outside in my backyard listening to birds chiping as I’m typing this blog post and it feels GREAT to be out here and doing something normal.

I hope you are doing well, staying Covid free, and enjoying your summer! I promise I’ll be back soon, I’ve really missed working on my favorite hobby! I just can’t really write a book blog when I’m not currently reading any books, lol.

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

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I Bought 2 New Books Last Night!

I Bought 2 New Books Last Night!

My daughter and I had some very special mommy/daughter time yesterday. We saw an amazing play (The Sound of Music), and when it was over we headed to the mall. We had exactly 1 hour to shop before our dinner reservations at Maggianos…the perfect amount of time for each of us to choose 1 store for a little pre-dinner shopping.

She chose Claire’s (obvi). I chose the bookstore (obvi).

1 set of fake unicorn nails (her), 1 adorable headband (me), and 2 newly released books (also me) later, we called our mini shopping excursion a success. We then went to the restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and I introduced her the complete joy known as olive oil and parmesan cheese for dipping the bread. Aaaaaaand obviously we stopped at Crumbl Cookies on our way back home because I apparently live there now.

According to Crumbl, this cookie that I inhaled in about 3 minutes flat last night was: “A tasty graham cracker cookie decorated with honey butter frosting, a light drizzle of honey, and Teddy Graham Crackers”.

Opening a Crumbl so close to my house continues to be a complete (although delicious) disaster. I really wish they had opened a salad bar instead.

So what 2 books did I buy at the mall?

New Book #1: Book Lovers {Emily Henry}:

Ok so I’ve been wavering for months on if I would be reading this one. I’ve heard such great things but I was NOT a fan of Beach Read (you can read my review of that very boring book HERE). And then last week, my cousin told me that she loved Book Lovers so much that she’s already read it TWICE! That definitely swayed my opinion! I’ll post a full review once I finish reading…

Goodreads Synopsis of Book Lovers {Emily Henry}:

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming….

Nora Stephens’ life is books – she’s read them all – and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away – with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again – in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow – what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

New Book #2: Lease on Love {Falon Ballard}:

So this one is alllllll over Bookstagram and apparently EVERYONE loves it. I really shouldn’t go by what everyone else is loving because quite often I feel the opposite (again, HERE is my review of Beach Read)…Fingers crossed I love this one! I’ll post my review once I finish reading…

Goodreads Synopsis of Lease on Love {Falon Ballard}:

After getting passed over for an overdue—and much needed—promotion, Sadie Green is in desperate need of three things: a stiff drink, a new place to live, and a one-night-stand. When one drink turns into one too many, Sadie mixes up a long-ignored dating app for a roommate-finding app and finds herself on the doorstep of Jack Thomas’s gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone. Too bad she’s more attracted to his impressive real estate than she is to the man himself.

Jack, still grieving the unexpected death of his parents, has learned to find comfort in video games and movie marathons instead of friends. So while he doesn’t know just what to make of the vivaciously verbose Sadie, he’s willing to offer her his spare bedroom while she gets back on her feet. And with the rent unbeatably low, Sadie can finally pursue her floristry side hustle full-time. The two are polar opposites, but as Sadie’s presence begins to turn the brownstone into a home, they both start to realize they may have just made the deal of a lifetime.

Now for the big question: Which of my 2 new books should I read first???

Have you read either of these books? What did you think (NO SPOILERS PLEASE)? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

Click the images below to order the books through my Amazon affiliate links. When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

Book I’m Currently Reading (I Bought It!), Book I Recently Read (Review Coming Soon), Book I Plan On Reading Next (Looks Awesome)

I love when Book Coffee Happy can participate in WWW! The Three Ws: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

Thanks so much to Sam from Taking on a World of Words for hosting this fun weekly post!

I looooooove reading outside! Happy Summer!

What Are You Currently Reading?

Goodreads Synopsis of Malibu Rising {Taylor Jenkins Reid}:

Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over–especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud–because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own–including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.

From Facebook:

If you don’t follow Book Coffee Happy on Facebook, please do! Lots of awesome book discussions are always happening over there!

I’ll let you know my thoughts when I finish reading this book!

What Did You Recently Finish Reading?

Goodreads Synopsis of Beach Read {Emily Henry}:

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They’re polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

I finished reading this one yesterday morning! I’ll have my review posted on here soon!

What Do You Think You’ll Read Next?

Goodreads Synopsis of Are We There Yet {Kathleen West}:

Alice Sullivan feels like she’s finally found her groove in middle age, but it only takes one moment for her perfectly curated life to unravel. On the same day she learns her daughter is struggling in second grade, a call from her son’s school accusing him of bullying throws Alice into a tailspin.

When it comes to light that the incident is part of a new behavior pattern for her son, one complete with fake social media profiles with a lot of questionable content, Alice’s social standing is quickly eroded to one of “those moms” who can’t control her kids. Soon she’s facing the very judgement she was all too happy to dole out when she thought no one was looking (or when she thought her house wasn’t made of glass).

Then her mother unloads a family secret she’s kept for more than thirty years, and Alice’s entire perception of herself is shattered.

As her son’s new reputation polarizes her friendships and her family buzzes with the ramification of her mother’s choices, Alice realizes that she’s been too focused on measuring her success and happiness by everyone else’s standards. Now, with all her shortcomings laid bare, she’ll have to figure out to whom to turn for help and decide who she really wants to be.

Sounds so good, right??? I’m excited to start reading!

Have you read any of these 3 books? What did you think (no spoilers)? What are you currently reading? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Happy Friday! I hope you weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

Xo,

Jenny

Click on the images below to order through my Amazon link. When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

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The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

Random Thoughts From a Book Blogger

Hiiiiiii! This post is filled with a whole bunch of super random thoughts from a book blogger…

I won an Instagram giveaway from Jennastopreading and I’m so excited! Look at these amazing books that she sent me! Have you read any of these? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! I’m so excited to read 3 of them (I’ve actually already read Small Great Things so I am paying it forward and giving it to one of my besties to read…you can read my VERY unpopular thoughts on that book HERE).

A few weeks ago I was laying in bed reading a library copy of The Guest List by Lucy Foley (review coming soon!) and suddenly right at a VERY intense part…this object fell out from the pages and straight onto my chest. Scared the HELL out of me. A business card. From a FUNERAL HOME. Stuck smack in the pages of a very ominous murder mystery thriller. Rigggggght as I was reading a super intense part of the story so I was already on edge. OMG.

Yesterday I posted that I was currently reading this book:

Aaaaaaand I just couldn’t get into it and decided to call it quits last night. It has the potential to be great…but honestly I was just too bored to stick around and find out. Like I always say, too many amazing books out there to read one you aren’t loving! Moving on…

I’m currently reading:

I started reading it last night and will post a full review once I finish! I’ve heard it’s amazing.

We ran out of half and half yesterday and I’m currently drinking my coffee with milk. Ugh. Gross.

The final round of the Goodreads Best Books of 2020 is posted and voting is open until 11/30! American Dirt without a doubt got my vote in the fiction category (I LOVED THAT BOOK! Read my review HERE). Which book did you vote for???

This is the most random blog post ever! Tell me something random going on with you!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE