Sooooo heyyyyy besties!

I took another hiatus.

A longer one.

Was that the plan?

No.

Did I keep saying, “I should really update the blog?”

Yes.

Did I then proceed to do literally anything but?

Also yes.

But I’m officially back. For real this time.

…Don’t look at me like that.

Where Have I Been?

Honestly?

Existing aggressively.

Summer happened. Work happened. Books happened. Video games happened. My brain invented approximately 493 new projects while finishing maybe two of them.

I originally thought I’d just right back into blogging, but then decided to take a longer break. That way, I could come back fresh in the fall with new ideas.

Summer camp is officially over and the school year has started.

Like I said, I made the transition to middle school after being surrounded by elementary schoolers for 10 years. The age group isn’t completely new (thanks, Teen Travel) but my position being a 1:1 is. So far, it’s only been one week of school but I already can tell I’m enjoying my new position and working in a new building (the building where I was once also an awkward middle school so there’s that). Here’s to many more solid weeks!

MOST IMPORTANTLY: IT IS ALMOST FALL 🍁

Yes, technically fall doesn’t start until later this month.

I don’t care.

September 1st arrived.

Summer has been evicted.

I’m ready for:

• crunchy leaves and the beauty of fall in New Jersey
• giant fantasy books
• pumpkin spice lattes (actually pumpkin spice everything)
• spooky season
• football (go Eagles!)
• fall scents (apple, pumpkin, cinnamon)
• sweater weather
• apple cider
• unnecessary stationery purchases

Now, is it still warm outside?

Unfortunately.

Will that stop me from eating my weight in apple cider donuts?

Absolutely not.

What Have I Been Doing?

Reading, obviously.

I’ve also been gaming a lot, including still working toward 100% completion in Red Dead Redemption 2, which was apparently a choice I made because peace was getting boring.

I also went back to bullet journaling and being an avid planner. Most people put important dates in their Google calendars. Me? I have my trusty BuJo. I’m also working on a reading journal to track series I’m reading, the books I finished, bookish BINGOs I created, and so much more. This has definitely been a season of creativity.

As for writing?

Writing and I are currently in a complicated relationship.

I have outlines.

I have character sheets.

I have series bibles for the two main series I’m currently working on.

Do I have a finished novel?

Next question.

But November is creeping closer, which means the phrase NaNoWriMo has begun floating through my brain.

It’s my goal to actually complete the 50,000 words this year.

What’s Coming to the Blog?

I am NOT giving myself some insane posting schedule.

I’m being normal.

Expect:

• books
• writing updates
• gaming
• bullet journaling
• school stories
• fall activities
• musicals
• random adventures
• history rabbit holes
• TV and movie thoughts
• and whatever happens in my life that makes me say, “I need to write about this immediately.”

Basically, Stories, Sips, and Shenanigans is returning to its natural state: organized chaos.

So…hi again.

I’m back.

I missed writing here.

I’m not making huge promises or pretending I suddenly have my life together because it’s September.

(lol how many of us actually have our lives together right now?)

But I’m excited for fall, excited to write again, and excited to bring my little corner of the internet back from the dead.

So grab a book, grab a drink, light a fall candle even though the AC is still probably running, and ignore the fact that summer technically has a few weeks left.

It’s fall, y’all.

…Almost…