2025 has been an interesting start so far, and I don’t mean the weather (which has been chilly to freezing cold to being in the 70-80s lately) or the current happenings in the world. Although quite frankly, these days I’m just taking it one day at a time and not really following along — because following along feels like I’m continuously watching the world and country fall apart even though we’ve basically signed up for this clusterfuck.
I recognize that I’m in a position of privilege currently where I can disassociate and disconnect for my mental health when others can’t, at least for now, that is. I’m genuinely not sure how long that’ll last before I become the next generation in my family to carry on this intergenerational trauma that I’m trying my best to break free from. But even if I can’t disassociate and disconnect, I’m definitely in a position of privilege to afford therapy for professional support, even if it’s on a sliding scale.
But anyway, gloominess aside, let’s chat about what’s been happening lately!
December – February Musings
- [6 Dec] Bookwyrm Breakdown: October + November 2024
- [10 Dec] Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao ★★
- [27 Dec] The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall ★★★
- [3 Jan] A Look Back at 2024 + 2025 Aspirations
- [18 Feb] Books I Fully Intended to Review But Completely Forgot
- [28 Feb] 2024 Book Blogging Stats Transparency Post
Books Hoarded
December
- Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani – I know I talked about this in the last wrap-up, but I did get it in December! And it comes with a little guidebook, so it counts.
- The Light Seer’s Pocket Tarot by Chris-Anne – I mostly got this to use as my “on the go” deck or when there’s not enough space to use my usual deck, but this has honestly snuck its way as my “new” usual because of the size.
January
It’s hilarious how I’m requesting books when I can still barely keep up with my old ARCs. But these come out in the summer, so I should be good, right? Right?
Narrator: she said this 6 months ago for a different book that she hasn’t read that came out last month.
- Fateless by Julie Kagawa (eARC)
- A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim (eARC)
Books Devoured
Lots of books were being read lately — most of them manga. There’s a few self-help books as well, but I’ve been trying to limit those to 1 per month since they can get pretty emotionally heavy. I’ve gotta take care of myself, ya know? It’s probably why I’m reading so much manga. I don’t question the brain with my reading. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
December Reads
- Mashle: Magic and Muscles Vol. 1-8 by Hajime Komoto
- Cat + Gamer Vol. 6 by Wataru Nadatani
- The House of Hades: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan
- My Happy Marriage Vol. 3-4 by Akumi Agitogi
- Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships by Nedra Glover Tawwab
January Reads
- Mothers Who Can’t Love: A Healing Guide for Daughters by Susan Forward
- Mashle: Magic and Muscles Vol. 9-16 by Hajime Komoto
- The Evil Secret Society of Cats Vol. 1 by Pandania
- Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell (reread)
- Heaven Official’s Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
- The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1 (Manga) by Natsu Hyuuga
February Reads
- The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2-12 (Manga) by Natsu Hyuuga
- Past Tense: Facing Family Secrets and Finding Myself in Therapy by Sacha Mardou
- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (reread)
- A Cat from Our World and the Forgotten Witch Vol. 2-3 by Hiro Kashiwaba
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
- But What Will People Say? by Sahaj Kaur Kohli
- Mashle: Magic and Muscles Vol. 17 by Hajime Komoto
Fandom Assemble
Media we’ve consumed and enjoyed, or what we’re looking forward to that’s been announced lately.
December
- What Would You Do by Wonho
- Enemy by AleXa
- rosie by Rosè – this album honestly just spoke to me, especially number one girl; I think I wanted to cry over that song even though the original meaning didn’t exactly felt I was feeling at the time. I also loved toxic till the end, stay a little longer, and two years.
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
January
- Into the Woods
- Python by GOT7
- Slow Motion by Alessia Cara
- doppelgänger by Creepy Nuts
February
- Better Off by VOILÀ
- Puppets Can’t Control You by ONE OK ROCK
- TEARS by Jisoo
- Hugs & Kisses by Jisoo
- Knuckles
The Breakdown
What catastrophes have the universe handed us throughout the month? Let’s find out. 🧐
The past few months have been busy busy busy. There’s been a lot going on in my life, though I won’t be sharing everything — but if you know, you know.
I scheduled therapy in early December for early January, which ended up with my first session getting delayed multiple times because of the weather. I originally planned on going once a month due to cost, but have been going twice since my therapist offered a sliding scale. It’s been nice to have a professional in my corner who I can turn to, and I’m so glad resources like the Asian Mental Health Collective exist now (which is what I stumbled across when searching for a therapist again).
December was also when I came across Little Words Project while doing groceries; some of the bracelets were on sale and I decided to get a few. I’ll probably forget to wear them as often as I would like, but I’ll take the occasional small reminders that I’m enough and I should keep going when I do remember to wear them.
I’ve continued to go for full-time roles at the library, though I’m not applying as aggressively now unless it’s at my home branch* since my therapist is within walking distance. There’s been one recently that I’m shooting my shot for, so here’s to hoping I have good news soon! Although by the time this post goes live, I’d have completed my interview (yesterday) and I’ll probably find out my fate by the time I work today or sometime in the near future.
*part of it is the amount of rejections has gotten to me and I just need a break from interviewing; it’s hard out here
While a full-time position would help me out tremendously, I’m not too fussed about it if I don’t get it this time around. Sometimes I feel like a full 8 hours shift is too much for me because I’m feeling sleepy two hours after waking and fully exhausted by the time I’m finished with my shift. But that’s probably connected to my current mental health.
January had me getting bitten by the stationery bug again when looking to accessorize my new Rocketbook Pro. I’ve probably spent way too much time looking at pen bodies and learning about different pen sizes — there are fountain pens that are worth 2-3 of my paycheck? What even..?
I’ve never really cared too much about having pretty pens growing up since most of mine can’t use refillable ink, but you know what? Bolt action pens, turns out, is way too satisfying for me.
Also, pen style scissors are so compact, index clips and book darts are absolutely life changing, and I can get adhesive pockets for my notebooks?!
January ended with the Lunar New Year, which seems to have a vendetta against me in recent years — there’s always something and if you know, you know. I won’t be getting into details, but maybe it’s a good thing I started therapy the way I did. I haven’t decided if it’s a good thing, a bad thing or a little of both yet.
Let’s talk!
How’s 2025 treating you so far? If you’re a stationery addict as well, what’s your must have?
Sophia started blogging in February 2012 for the hell of it and is surprisingly still around. She has a GIF for nearly everything, probably listens to too much K-Pop and is generally in an existential crisis of sorts (she's trying her best). More of her bookish reviews and K-Pop Roundups can be found at The Arts STL.
If you enjoy her posts or found them helpful, consider tipping on KoFi!
“It’s hilarious how I’m requesting books when I can still barely keep up with my old ARCs. But these come out in the summer, so I should be good, right? Right?
Narrator: she said this 6 months ago for a different book that she hasn’t read that came out last month.”
😂 That’s my rationale every time I request an ARC…hey, I have MONTHS to read and review it! The fact is, I have no problem with reading at all, never – but I’ve taken to dragging my feet about reviews…
I hope you managed to get that full-time position, but if not, I’m also sure that you’ll find the right thing at the right moment. You’re on a learning curve, and you can only ride it to the top – plus therapy will hopefully be able to fortify you and make you more well-suited for everything you set your sights on. Good luck!
I’m actually bad with BOTH these days if I want to be honest. 🤣 But I’m at least trying, so there’s that. I just need to stop requesting fantasy when my heart is clearly in romance currently.
I actually did get the full-time position, and I’m transitioning into it at the end of the month!
😃 🤗 🎉 I’m SO proud of you! And very, very happy for you. Go Soph!
Thank youuuuu. 🥺🥰
Mental health is important so I hope you’ll keep taking care of yourself.
I haven’t read manga before but it seems like you can read them faster and also, they are visual stimulators as words doesn’t mean anything until you read while visual images right away give you something without reading. Sorry, too much ramblings. Perhaps I should try reading manga.
I like the idea of Rocketbook but I don’t know if I will like it. Suppose it’s better than wasting paper.
I guess I’m the opposite, I like pretty things and new things and is picky when making purchases – books have to look new, notebooks have to have decent covers – I think pretty things or new things can make a person happy even temporary.
Have a lovely day.
No worries at all with the ramblings – feel free to ramble at any time! You’re definitely right about manga – they’re definitely quicker to read! They also just don’t require as much brainpower, honestly, which I guess is related is to how they’re visual simulators…
Rocketbook definitely isn’t for everyone – I thought I would use it more when I got it way back in college, but it seems to be up and down trend for me. Lately I use it more for therapy in between sessions to summarize important points from my journal entries, which seems to be working out for me, and I have a mini one (same one I used during college actually) that I use instead of scrap paper when working at the library.
Ahaha fountain pens can be very expensive. I haven’t touched mine in a while though since I’ve fallen in love with my energel clena pens for the planner! Maybe I’ll ink up the new pen I bought since I’m pretty sure the first fountain pen I got is broken since the piston system wasn’t working properly oops. Washi tapes are like a nice addition but not a must have. I think now for me it’s my mildliners, tombow dual brush pens, the hard tip and soft tip fudenosuke brush pens and the energel clena in 0.5 that are my must haves. Like if I had to pick I’d need all of them to properly function at least haha.
I was not expecting to see Voila there but at the same time…not surprising cause our music tastes do overlap a fair amount. I need to listen to that One Ok Rock song still and Rose’s whole album. I’ve only listened to like three songs still oooops. Sending you all my love and here’s to the universe finally being kinder to you!
Aww, sorry your fountain pen is broken. 🙁 I debated the Energel pens, but I ended up passing on it and stuck with the good old popular Pilot G2, although I seem to be moving back to regular ballpoint pens? Depends on what I’m doing, though. Surprisingly I do have mildliners but I don’t use them as much – I think I still have the same set from 4 years ago, but I did take a break from bullet journaling and using them, so we’ll see over the next year!
I’m honestly surprised I haven’t mentioned Voila in our DMs they’ve been releasing some bangers lately! 😭 I think I came across them when they did a collab with Chrissy Costanza or possibly even earlier? I’m not sure, honestly.