Monthly Wrap-Up: March 2023

April 6, 2023April 5, 2023 Dini @ dinipandareads29 Comments

It’s April. What happened in March? I’m not quite sure 😂 My days continue to be a monotonous cycle of work, eat, sleep(ish) and repeat. The only significant thing that happened was that my sister left to go to school in Japan mid-month and I took a few days off work to spend time with her and decompress. I’ve been feeling perpetually tired these days and I know that has a lot to do with my mental health, which hasn’t been in the best state. So, while March was already better and less stressful than February, I’m still hoping that April will be significantly better all around!

Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2023

March 4, 2023March 4, 2023 Dini @ dinipandareads16 Comments

Where do I even start with February? I thought I was ready for what the month would bring but I definitely was not. At. All. Ready. 😭😂 I think I can begin glancing back at this experience now and have a slight chuckle at how overwhelmed and overworked and over everything I was. And although I’ve done my best to push the stress of the situation to the back of my mind, I know that once I reflect on the past month from a professional perspective, I will also realise that I’ve gained a lot from it and I’ll probably maybe be thankful for having gone through what I did. But as of right now, I’m not quite there yet and I’ll do anything in my power to ensure I never have to experience this again. Ever. Again. No more. 🫣

This is pretty much it for the life update front because nothing else but work happened this month and it’s sad that that’s not at all an exaggeration, lol.

Monthly Wrap-Up: January 2023

February 2, 2023February 1, 2023 Dini @ dinipandareads34 Comments

Well, I don’t know about you but to me, January simultaneously felt like it would never end and like it passed way too quickly for my liking. This was the month I started my “new” job, returned to work 4 of 5 days in the office, and felt a ridiculous level of stress and pressure that I haven’t felt in quite some time. It has been both good and bad and although it’s gotten slightly better and I’m slowly finding my feet, it’s been a lot to adjust to!

With my first chunky new paycheck I decided to indulge in new tech and invested in my first ever tablet—the 5th Gen iPad Air and of course, I got it in the colour purple! 💜 I think 2023 is fast becoming the year I take my favourite colour and make it into my whole aesthetic and I’m not mad about it at all.

Monthly Wrap-Up: December 2022

December 29, 2022December 29, 2022 Dini @ dinipandareads40 Comments

Where has December gone? Is it really already the end of 2022? What have I done with all my time? These questions plague me. 😂 Honestly, all I can remember from the first half of December is that work was incredibly busy and took over most of my brain. One great thing that happened was that I GOT THE JOB for That Interview™️ I was panicking over at the start of the month and I signed my new contract yesterday!

Other than that, I feel like it’s been a weird-ish month. My mood has been shifting as wildly as the weather (the stormy winds and rain have been wonderfully cooling though!) which has in turn affected my reading. I’m in Bali for the holidays and I’m still WFH even though the office has been pretty quiet lately, which is making me want to go on hols! Also, I also can’t believe it’s time to wrap up the year? HELP.

Monthly Wrap-Up: November 2022

December 1, 2022 Dini @ dinipandareads26 Comments

Wow, is it really already December 1st?! I don’t know how November is already over but I do know that…

I spent almost two weeks of the month being totally bowled over by COVID (got it for the first time). It was not fun losing my taste & smell, plus I hated that my body ached so much that I couldn’t even get proper rest!
I spent one week slowly coming out of the brain fog and dealing with residual cough/cold symptoms. And…
I spent the last week getting used to travelling to the office again and getting back into work mode.

And that was basically my whole month? I have no idea what happened before getting sick because it was a blur of work stress. As much as it sucked to get knocked out by the virus, I’m glad that that’s now behind me and I’m back to feeling ‘normal’ again.

Monthly Wrap-Up: October 2022

November 3, 2022November 3, 2022 Dini @ dinipandareads33 Comments

I ask myself this every year (and like, probably every month for the past few months, lol, but) where did October go? The end-of-year months always pass in a blink and this past month was no different—I legit can’t believe we’re in the second to last month of the year now! Here are some highlights from this month:

My cousin had her wedding reception (and final wedding event) at this gorgeous cliffside location in Uluwatu, Bali.
I won a Twitter Giveaway (the second time I’ve ever won anything on socials!) and received my copy of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy! 😍
My new job has been tiring but it has also been invigorating to be surrounded by ambitious creative people.
Midnights (3am) by Taylor Swift — I’m still religiously listening to this album and love it more and more each day.

Monthly Wrap-Up: September 2022

October 3, 2022February 8, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads19 Comments

Hey, hi, hello! Where did September go? Does anyone have a clue because I literally blinked and the month was somehow over. 👀 I don’t even know where to begin with the happenings this month _{(mostly because I can’t recall all of it for some reason?)} so I’m going to stick to the highlights and keep this life update short and sweet:

My 3-months in India came to an end and I flew back to Jakarta at the start of the month.
I got to unbox some great book mail from the months I was gone!
My cousin got married at the end of the month and it was hella tiring but also wicked fun.
Lots of family reunion stuff—it’s been a lot but oh so good to see my aunts, uncles and cousins from the US, Canada and Australia again after years of separation.
I got a job as a consultant at the UN—woo for employment! 🥳

Monthly Wrap-Up: August 2022

September 5, 2022February 8, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads29 Comments

I keep asking these questions everywhere and to everyone but someone please tell me, is August really already over? How is it already September and we’re counting down the last few months left of 2022? It really beats me how the year has gone so quickly. August was my last full month in India and it was busy with photoshoots, travelling to Goa for a getaway from city life and to Agra for the Taj Mahal. What a time it has been and I can’t believe that as I’m writing this right now, I’m already leaving tomorrow evening!

Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2022

August 1, 2022February 8, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads40 Comments

As I knew it would, July passed by in a blink! The two biggest and most exciting things that happened were reuniting with a bestie after 13 years apart and getting my first bookish tattoo. Ngl, I’m still extremely obsessed with my tattoo and I can’t stop looking at it because I love it so much! Other than that, the weeks have passed by in a blur or going to work, trying to go to the gym as often as possible and being as productive as we can.

The 2022 Mid-Year Check-In Tag

July 7, 2022September 9, 2022 Dini @ dinipandareads54 Comments

Friends, despite 2022 being the year I’ve broken monthly reading records, I have to admit that it’s been a pretty weird reading year. I’ve read a lot of great books—I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone for some, dove deeper into romance which brings me much joy and I’ve continued reading my fantasies. All that said, I still feel like I haven’t found the books that’ve wowed me so much that they’ll be in my Top 3 of the year. I mean, maybe I have but I don’t know. I guess this is me trying to say that I’ve been a little underwhelmed with the quality of books I’ve read this year but I know we still have half a year to go so I’m not giving up hope yet!