Culture Creature - Harry Potter, Altered Carbon, Monstress, Love Nikki, Black Panther

*This post contains affiliate links.

Here's a look at what I've been reading, watching, playing, looking forward to and wanting lately.

SIX THINGS:

1. I've been working my way through the Harry Potter series again, but this time in audio book format. I look forward to my commutes so much more now. Currently, I'm listening to the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
2. We started watching Netflix's Altered Carbon and I am hooked. I love the character, Poe. He's my favorite...so far. Mr. LL isn't as into it as I am, so I have to watch it when he doesn't want to watch TV with me.
3. My best friend gave me Monstress Volume One as a gift and I have been wanting to check out this comic book series. I haven't gotten to it yet, but I'm excited to read it.
4. I've been slightly – or rather, totally – addicted to this mobile game, Love Nikki: Dress Up Queen. I have so many items in my wardrobe now that I'm overwhelmed sometimes.
5. I love this etsy find and I need it in my house. (affiliate)
6. We haven't had a chance to go to a movie since Lazy Baby was born, but I really want to try to make it out to see Black Panther in theaters. I'm like the only person in my friend group who hasn't seen it yet.

---

Oh hi, stranger!

JUST SO THIS ISN'T ALL TEXT. LOOK HOW BIG MY BABY IS!

So hey. How's it going? I've been a neglectful blogger, and I'm sorry. Life has been crazy. My work has been busy, for me anyway, Lazy Baby started daycare – and subsequently got sick almost immediately – and Mr. LL and I have been sick off and on for the past month. However, overall I'd say the family is doing well and adjusting to the changes we are going through. In just the last two weeks, Lazy Baby has slowly stopped losing her shit when I drop her off at day care in the mornings, so that's a good sign that things are getting better in my book.

I've been wanting to do redesign the blog, and that's been holding me back from posting. Finally, I've just gotten to the point where until I know I can dedicate a decent amount of time and energy to working on a redesign, I need to just post and worry about that later.

So, here I am, posting. I've got some family-oriented posts coming down the line, like baby's first Easter, Lazy Baby's FIRST BIRTHDAY OMG, and some family budgeting that Mr. LL and I have been working on together. I also plan on getting back to doing Culture Creature and Friday Favorite posts. Be on the look out!

2018 is going to be the best year of my life

This photo is pretty accurate about how I feel about life right now. I'm tired and feel beat down by life, but I love this little nugget and my little family.

2018 is going to be the year that my baby turns 1. She's going to learn how to talk, how to feed herself, how to walk and how to do a million little things that will be a great surprise and joy to me as they happen.

This year is going to be full of change and growth, not just on her part, but on my part as a person as well. I want to embrace the change and learn to better live in the moment so that none of them pass me by.

Right now, things are a struggle, tbh. My mom, who watches Lazy Baby while Mr. LL and I are at work, has to have surgery and won't be able to watch her anymore (at least for 5-6 months) so we are having to put Lazy Baby in daycare. The cost is overwhelming to think about, but my mom has offered to help us some with this burden (though I really don't want it to be a burden on her). We had hoped to save to buy a house this year, but I guess life had different plans for us.

Then there's also just finding a daycare that can take her at all. Sigh.

But, it's only January and there is a lot more of 2018 to come, so I'm not going to count the year as a wash just yet.