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Twisty, Nonlinear Thrillers I’ve Read Lately

October 1, 2024October 1, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

In honor of shorter days and the spooky season approaching, I’m writing to share the thrillers I’ve been eating up lately and the ones I plan to start next.

A woman crying dreaming about different popular gum brands from the 2000s.

Candystand and The Decline of Chewing Gum in America

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

I suspect the death of Candystand.com played a significant role in the fall of chewing gum marketing, causing the industry to lose its most engaged consumer base.

Pexels image of desserts, flowers, and a cup of tea on top of an open book.

Recent Reese’s Book Club Romances

August 27, 2024August 27, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

This summer, I read two Reese’s Book Club romances; the May 2024 pick, How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang, and the August 2024 pick, Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell. I would describe both books as story-driven slow-burn romances, and I’ll dive into the details below.

A drawing in ballpoint pen of an Indian girl wearing a sari with her head covered by draped fabric.

A Free Art School Curriculum from ChatGPT and Me

August 23, 2024August 23, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

Something seems to have happened over the years. I’m not sure how I did it, but I became more free and loose in my art (probably related to letting go and accepting imperfection as a general theme in my life right now). I also think the technical art skills needed some time to marinate in my body. I feel this way with a lot of other things, like dance and cooking.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – Book Review

August 16, 2024August 22, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

Any book that takes over six months to read deserves no more than three stars. This masochistic endeavor lasted from November 20, 2023 to May 19, 2024. This book killed my reading streak, destroyed my spirit and stole my sanity.

SOTW Week 23: June 3 – June 9, 2024

June 10, 2024August 8, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

Hello world! This week was full of slays I’m excited to share. Summer is here!!! This week’s slays: Slay #1: Pick Up Pickleball This week, I went to play pickleball by myself during open play time at one of the community courts in my area. It was definitely a personal challenge, since I can’t remember […]

bunch of flowers, flower wallpaper, floral arrangement-394216.jpg

SOTW Week 20: May 13 – May 19, 2024

May 20, 2024August 8, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

Welcome back to SOTW!! I took two weeks off to travel in Spain with my best friend (very grateful to be able to do so!!), then recovered from plane illness last week. Needless to say, it’s been a long time coming returning to Slays of the Week. This week’s slays: Slay #1: Simple Flower Arrangements […]

SOTW Week 16: Apr 15 – Apr 21, 2024

April 22, 2024April 22, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

I realized I’ve already put The Tortured Poets Department and Taylor Swift as Slays of the Week in the past, so I can’t put them again this week (or perhaps I can… I haven’t made official rules for SOTW yet). Slay #1: $2.97 Ben and Jerry’s My besite came through this week with the digital […]

SOTW Week 15: Apr 8 – Apr 14, 2024

April 15, 2024August 8, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

Time has been passing so slowly lately, last Sunday feels like a year ago! I’m not sure what to make of it, but nevertheless, another week, another set of slays. Slay #1: Hard Boiled Eggs The Internet is so confusing on the number of eggs I can safely eat in a day. This article says […]

SOTW Week 14: Apr 1 – Apr 7, 2024

April 8, 2024August 8, 2024anikaLeave a Comment

Let’s jump right into it. This week’s slays: Slay #1: The Masterpiece I Found at Goodwill Isn’t she a beauty? I found this print hanging around at the back of the store the other day and knew she belonged in my home art collection (full of other GW finds… I’ll have to post a gallery […]