I would love to hear your thoughts on May happenings, however, and to hear what’s new with you!
5 Things I Learned
1. Ask before you sign up for an online summer class
I signed up for an online class this summer thinking that I would have ALL summer to do the work at my own leisure. Turns out there are set weekly deadlines. Not to mention that the first week of class was the week immediately after finals!
While the work’s not too bad (it’s a 2-credit class), I could have benefited by asking friends who have taken the class what the work schedule is like.
2. I’m a hoarder
While spring cleaning in May, I cleared out stacks of books and piles makeup. (Let’s not mention the closet, which I have yet to tackle.) I hadn’t realized how much I had accumulated over the years!
Have you had the same experiences with spring cleaning?
3. Take a day off regularly
During the semester, I was so busy with classes, work, and other obligations that I rarely took a whole day off to rest. The week after finals, I crashed. Regular rest is important, especially when you feel like you have no name.
4. Quality time is found in small gatherings
It’s so very tempting for me to open hangouts to anyone who’s available. A couple weeks ago, however, I attended a small potluck. Though I didn’t know everyone present, the small gathering created an intimate atmosphere, and the conversation was rich. Everyone had a chance to speak up, and we learned things about each other that wouldn’t likely come up in a larger group. I would love to hold more small gatherings in the future!
5. Drink LOTS of water when running a 5k
On Memorial Day, I ran my first 5k race. At 8 a.m. in the morning, in 90-degrees. And there was only one water station. From this experience, I learned that (1) I need to prepare better for the weather and (2) I need to drink more water before and during the race (and of course after).
May Loves
Massages
A year ago, my doctor recommended that I get monthly massages, but I didn’t start going to a place until this past month. I wish I listened to my doctor sooner. Massages are so relaxing. I’ve become a fan.
Morning Walks
Now that I’m back home with family, I’ve been going on morning walks on the neighborhood trail. It’s been a great opportunity to get to know some of my neighbors and to enjoy some fresh air before the heat wave comes in.
Essential Oils
The real prize this past month definitely has to be my essential oils premium starter kit from Young Living. I’ve been in the process of switching over to natural products, and I love the versatility of essential oils. Two of my favorites this past month have been Lavender and PanAway.
I’ve been using Lavender to help with my acne and also with my diffuser while I sleep. My diffuser has a setting where it diffuses every other minute, which allows it to function for ten hours. It’s been really relaxing, and I wake up feeling more refreshed.
PanAway is a blend of essential oils with a soothing and stimulating aroma. I add 5-7 drops to a tablespoon of coconut oil (which acts as a carrier oil). I rub this ointment on sore muscles. It’s soothing, and I like the aroma. (Note: coconut oil has a strong smell, but a little ointment goes a long way, and the only scent left after rubbing it in is that of the PanAway essential oil.)
Do you use essential oils? What’re your favorites?
Or if you’re new to essential oils and interested in learning more, I’d love to chat with you! Just send me an email or message me on Instagram!
What I Read
I read seven books in May. Three of them before summer break started for me!
- Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist
- Magician: Master by Raymond E. Feist
- The Bible among the Myths by John N. Oswalt
- Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
- Cinder by Marissa Meyer
- Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
- Cress by Marissa Meyer
My gym buddy is getting married β‘
My friend Joy is getting married this month. She’s been a blessing as my gym accountability partner, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her this past year. I’m happy for her and look forward to attending her wedding!
Jumping on the audiobook bandwagon
Because my copy of Cress didn’t arrive in the mail by the time I finished rereading Scarlet and the only copy available at the library was an audiobook, I gave the audiobook a try and fell in love. The audiobook narration brought the characters to life in a new way. Plus, it made doing chores a lot more fun because my brain had something to digest while my hands were at work.
I’ve requested a few more audiobooks from the library and look forward to integrating audiobooks more into my day-to-day life.
Merging my book and lifestyle blogs (right here at Imaginary Reads!)
Lastly, I made the decision to merge this book blog with my lifestyle blog. Right now, I’m the only regular blogger here at Imaginary Reads, and for the past couple of years, I’ve been doing a poor job of juggling the two blogs and their associated social media accounts.
Many of my upcoming lifestyle posts will be relatable to readers. For example, I’ll be sharing some posts on time management and productivity. All for the purpose of making more time for reading in our lives, of course π
And, of course, there will be posts directly related to reading, such as how to make intentional time for reading on a daily basis and collection posts.
I’m excited for these changes and hope that you’ll enjoy them too!
Question of the Month
What kind of blog content would you like to see more on the blog?
I’d also love to hear your musings on how May has been for you! π
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Chey says
I've discovered that I'm also somewhat of a hoarder…I recently got rid of 25 books and felt pretty accomplished, but no more than a couple weeks later, I bought 32 books from Book Outlet. Oops! I've also always wanted to turn my blog into a mixture of everything I like, from books to makeup to craft DIYs…but I still haven't really found a way to do so. Looking forward to seeing you merge blogs!
Crystal says
I totally understand, Chey! I keep cleaning out books only to buy more! I hope you enjoy the changes coming to the blog π