January was a busy month. I resigned from my first job, experienced record-breaking snow in South Carolina, deep-cleaned my house with my new Bissell, and started my new job!

With the inclement weather,  I also spent a fair amount of time this month curled up with a good book. On that note, today I’m sharing everything I read, watched, bought, and loved during January.

Read

I finished Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. The last chapters of the book were my favorite because, in them, Anderson Cooper told the story of his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and her complicated childhood. The book is worth a read if you enjoy American history.

I bought The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue on a last-minute trip to Target before the snowstorm. The first third of the novel felt a bit slow, but now that I’m halfway through, I’m enjoying the plot.

I also picked up Deep Work by Cal Newport. It’s written as a guide to focused work in the context of our highly-distracted world.

Watched

I watched Spencer, a fictionalized film starring Kristen Stewart that depicts the three days leading up to Princess Diana’s decision to divorce Prince Charles. It was such a different take on the Diana story than what I’ve seen previously in The Crown. I enjoyed it and can see why there’s Oscar buzz for Kristen Stewart!

My favorite watch of the month was Palm Springs. A Hulu original, the movie follows two strangers who meet at a wedding in Palm Springs and get stuck in a time loop. It was hilarious, heartwarming, and thought-provoking—quite the trifecta!

I also binged the new Cheer episodes on Netflix. I liked how the second season focused on the rivalry between Navarro and Trinity Valley and spotlighted a new cast of characters.

Bought

In the name of being warm and cozy, I bought this electric bed heater. It’s dual-controlled so each person can set the temperature for their side of the bed.

I got the cutest rabbit wall hooks from Anthropologie for hanging my keys and masks.

As I mentioned up top, I bought a Bissell this month, specifically the TurboClean DualPro Pet Carpet Cleaner, and went to town deep-cleaning my place. I love that the Bissell cleans rugs and upholstery. It was honestly disturbing how much dirt I pulled out of the old couch in our basement, but it is a testament to the power of the Bissell.

During my cleaning spree, I also purchased Leather Honey cleaner and conditioner. After using the duo, my white leather daybed looks brighter and newer.

Loved

At the beginning of the month, I set a daily 15-minute time limit on my social media apps. I’ve found it has significantly reduced the amount of time I spend mindlessly scrolling and—more notably— that I don’t miss the apps once my time has run out.

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