Baby, it's cold outside.
Table of Contents
What is there to say about January? It's the month to recover from the controlled chaos of the holiday season. It's cold and a bit dreary. Additionally, some mysterious allergen in the air gets me this time of year. The kids and I have the crud, but it coincided with school closing due to wintery weather. So I really can't complain. We've had a very lazy end to January. Pajamas, s'mores, and lounging.
Check out my more productive parts of the month below.
Books I Read
I read six books in January. They were a mixture of fantasy, non-fic, and horror.
Click on the titles for a full review.
The book is a modern-day wink at the Arabian Nights.
Author: Salman Rushdie
Released: September 2015
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 304
Audiobook Length: 11 hours (approx.)
You think you know this story but you don't. I have never seen a movie depart so far from the book it was meant to portray.
This was my favorite book for January!
Military, geopolitical, or zombie enthusiasts will love this work.
Author: Max Brooks
Released: August 2006
Genre: Fiction, Horror
Audiobook Length: 6 hours (approx.)
Not a page-turner but absolutely informative.
Author: Thomas E. Ricks
Released: May 2017
Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Biography
Pages: 352
Audiobook Length: 10 hours (approx.)
A wicked little tale of dependency and how far it can push us.
Author: Oyinkan Braithwaite
Released: November 2018
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Pages: 226
Audiobook Length: 4 hours (approx.)
A cornerstone of the horror genre. Though, it is unclear what is more maddening -the mountains or having to get through the book.
Author: Howard Phillips Lovecraft
Released: 1936
Genre: Horror, Fiction
Pages: 186
Audiobook Length: 5 hours (approx.)
The first in Disney's Twisted Tale series. This book covers a retelling of Aladdin. In which, Jafar is the first to the lamp and deposed Princess Jasmine is ready to enact retribution.
Author: Liz Braswell
Released: September 2015
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror
Pages: 400
Audiobook Length: 9 hours (approx.)
Art I Made
I had a little fun playing with the Photoshop. It was my only art project for the month. It was the first time I actively attempted a piece with the main focal point being light.
Classes
First off, if you are not familiar with CreativeLive and its free offerings (< Click link), let me introduce you. Classes are offered free on specific days.
Classes I took
I actually took two classes but only reviewed one.
I didn't write a blog post about this course. I still may. The instructor covered a wide variety of techniques and tools I had never used previously in Photoshop. It was a very enlightening course and well taught. I highly recommend it to anyone who is already comfortable in Photoshop. This is not a beginner's course.
Louden gives her students tips, tricks, and techniques to conquer the forces working against their creativity.
The class covers:
Imposter Syndrome
Self-doubt
Lack of Focus
Distraction
The Talent Myth
and More
If you're ready to tap into your creativity but are in need of a great pep talk then don't hesitate. Take this course!
Classes I'm Looking Forward to in February
Classes that have piqued my interest:
CreativeLive:
Udemy:
At the time of this post, all these courses are free. I love the price of free! Check them out; you'll be sure to find something that interests you as well.
Also, I have a post on my seven favorite sites for free learning. I hope you find these resources as life-changing as I have!
So, Readers, what have you been up to this past month? What books have you been diving into? Have you taken any interesting online classes or workshops? And, for the artists out there, what kind of art have you been creating lately? I'd love to hear about your experiences and what you're working on. Please share in the comments below!
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