Category: Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday

Spreading Love | Books From Asian Authors

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

Lately hate crimes against the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) community has been dominating the news front. As a Filipino-American, this hits close to home and yet…living in Hawaii I feel also removed from it because we here in the islands are dominantly AAPI. So as I watch the news, and see the mass shootings, or see the elderly asian people being targeted, it saddens and angers me. Why does this keep happening? But I’ve been asking why since I was a child – why do people hate people?

I just wanted to show my support for the AAPI community in a way on this blog, so here are some books by asian authors that I love:

  • These Violent Delights by. Chloe Gong
  • Yolk by. Mary H.K. Choi
  • Unravel the Dust by. Elizabeth Lim
  • Skyhunter by. Marie Lu
  • Secret Crush Seduction by. Jayci Lee
  • The Last Story of Mina Lee by. Nancy Jooyoun Kim
  • To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by. Jenny Han
  • I’ll Be the One by. Lyla Lee
  • The Kiss Quotient by. Helen Hoang
  • The Silvered Serpents by. Roshani Chokshi
  • The Damned by. Renee Ahdieh
  • The Downstairs Girl by. Stacey Lee
  • Patron Saints of Nothing by. Randy Ribay
  • The Bone Witch by. Rin Chupeco

One of the best things about starting this blog and joining the book community was finding a bunch of authors I had not been familiar, authors of all ethnicities. Finding all these blogs or bookstagram accounts showcasing different genres and authors really opened my book world up even further. Now my reading world is much bigger than it’s ever been and that’s a lovely thing.

Let’s always try to be better and spread love instead of hate. ♥️

Love to you all ~ Yolanda

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday | 3/19/21

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

My puppy Atlas is soooooo cute, until he chewed up my laptop charger! 😒 Hence I haven’t created a post all week since Tuesday. So frustrating and expensive but he’s 4 months old, what can I do? He finds everything to chew right now!

I finally got my charger back today and brought my laptop back to life again. So what’s new? Here’s what I am reading this week:

And here is what I finished:

What I’m reading next?

I kind of love when book titles are song titles, it makes me start singing the song in my head or out loud, like this one. 😅

I really need to start making a dent on my physical book TBR pile.

I hope all of you had a good week of reading and I’ll be going through your blogs to check out posts I’ve missed the past few days. Have a good weekend!

😘 ~ Yolanda

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday | 2/12/21

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

Aloha everyone! It’s been awhile since I did an update – but Mr. Atlas (the now 3 month old puppy) is taking up a lot of my time. But here’s what I’ve acquired and watched in the past few weeks…

New Books Acquired:

NetGalley ARC’s~

Kindle Unlimited ~

Overdrive Online Library ~

Will I get to reading all of these this month? Probably not. But I’ll do my best to try!

Adulting:

  • Puppy is 3 months old now and it’s been rough! He is teething and has been so bitey. The cute phase lasted like 2 weeks. At least I’m getting more sleep now and he is crate trained at night but the teething, biting, mouthing…argh…😫.
  • Between 2 kids and a puppy, I haven’t had time to do any resin work but thank you to those who are still buying whatever is in my shop even though I haven’t had time to update my instagram account or promoting anything at all.
  • Son is back in hybrid school and it’s been great for him to see classmates, I can’t believe 2nd grade will be over in 3 months. 🥺😱

I hope you all had a good week and are staying safe! 😘 ~ Yolanda

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday | 1/15/21

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

Another Friday is here and we are now at the half-way point of January 2021. Wow.

New Books Acquired:

Netgalley~

Overdrive ~

TV, Movies, Etc…:

Cobra Kai ~ started season 1 but didn’t finish because I had no time.

Adulting:

  • I had no time to watch anything this week because we got a puppy! We actually got him last Thursday but I guess I didn’t add that in my last Friday post. Probably because I was lacking sleep after the first night he was with us. It’s like having a newborn again! 😩 One that nips. My son named him Atlas, and he is 8 weeks old. He’s a dachshund mix but I don’t see it…lol, he looks like a mini Boxer to me! He is barely 4 lbs and I’ve never had a dog this small – the last time I had a puppy was back in 2006, a husky/malamute and she was way bigger than Atlas. And back in 2006, I had no kids – just another fur baby so it’s been rough! I’m just glad my daughter is finally potty trained haha.

So he’s been taking up my nights, but get better each night in his kennel. He just pees and poops so much because he’s so young. And of course he is gnawing on everything – my feet, my fingers, my hair, lol…but I’m trying my best to redirect his nipping to all his toys. He is so fun to play with, the kids love him.

That’s been my week – late at night when I clean up his pee/poop messes, afterwards I’ll sit next to him and read on my kindle app while he nips or tries to go back to bed. So I am getting a little bit of reading in.

I hope you all had a good week and will have an awesome, safe weekend!

🌺 ~ Yolanda

Aloha Friday, Musings

Aloha Friday | 1/8/21

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

Well…this week was wonderful because it started with my daughter’s 4th birthday! I love her so much and she had a great time with our little luncheon ~ she didn’t want food, she just wanted family, cake and gifts, and that is what she got.

The week got even better when the Georgia election Tuesday night showed Georgia turning blue…thank you Stacey Abrams and all your amazing hard wook, teamwork…all of it. 👑 Then Wednesday morning I was watching the news to make the Georgia results official…and realized the electoral college votes were going to be certified…and they got to Arizona, and there were objections so they went to debate it…and then all hell broke loose outside and inside. I am appalled, mad at the hypocrisy, just disgusted…can they just remove him today (as I write this on Wednesday during the protest)? So I wasted a day watching the news…

Anyway enough of that negativity…sigh…how was my reading week?

Newly Acquired Books:

NetGalley:

Kindle Unlimited:

TV, Movies, Etc…:

Netflix:

  • The Queen’s Gambit ~ finished the series and enjoyed it! It’s dark, sad, but love love love how it’s filmed, the aesthetic, her make-up, her hair, style…ugh, love. It was fascinating watching Beth Harmon’s life and how she grows from child to young woman. I love Jolene being real with Beth. ♥️ Compelling story for sure!

Adulting:

  • We got a fish. Haha…my son did his 2nd quarter project on an axolotl and I saw our local pet store had one so I took them there to see it. And we came home with a fish – daughter wanted the axolotl and I said no, told her to get a betta fish instead since ours died last year. Our fur baby died 2 years ago and I was waiting until my daughter turns 5 to get another dog…so I’ve been looking since last year! The search continues…
  • My son will start hybrid schooling come February and I’m happy for him. I wish they could roll out the vaccine quicker, teachers need them – my sister got hers because she works at the hospital. But yes, would be great to get that out quicker.

I hope your week went well and you are staying safe out there!

♡ ~ Yolanda

Aloha Friday

2021 ~ Happy New Year!

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

Fireworks have been popping off here for weeks now, but last night was crazy as usual. Today is my nephew’s birthday so we are going to celebrate that and Sunday is my daughter’s birthday so we’ll be having cake all weekend it seems. 🎂

Since I didn’t do a weekly updated Christmas week, let’s do one today:

New Books Acquired:

NetGalley ~

Overdrive Online Library ~

Kindle Books ~ (bought)

TV, Movies, Etc…:

Netflix ~

Bridgerton – whoa…talk about 🔥🔥🔥…spoiler ~ there are lots of sexy times in Episode 6 haha. I mean there are some here and there in the previous episodes but yeah…episode 6? Overall, I’m a sucker for romantic period pieces so I enjoyed this one. I read a few of the Bridgerton novels years ago, but not all of them and I don’t think in order either. I don’t remember much because it’s been years but I’m definitely down for watching season 2. I LOVE Eloise, the actress who played her was great, yes Eloise and Penelope and Lady Danbury were my favorite characters in this first season of the Bridgertons. The diversity is great because we all know historical romances are usually white characters, so seeing various ethnicities in the show was fantastic.

excuse me, i love you ~ Ariana Grande’s concert documentary ugh, her voice is ridiculous. Would love to see her live in concert and this show made me miss concerts SO much. 😭 I loved concerts when I was younger and it slowed down when I had kids, but the times I can go to a concert is a TREAT. Anyway, I loved the show.

Adulting:

  • My nephew’s birthday is on 1/1 and my daughter’s birthday is on 1/3. She expects more presents and honestly, all I want to get her is a cake haha…she has way too many toys. I donated a bunch of clothes, toys and books the past two weeks to make room for more things coming into the house. But now I just want to clean house again. 🤦🏻‍♀️
  • I wanted to get a dog halfway through the pandemic. It’s been 2 years now since our fur baby Sky (a husky) has passed and seriously…this year was so trying I missed having a doggy. So I thought I was ready, it hurt losing Sky…but wow, is everyone buying the puppies and how are they buying them because the ones I’ve seen are SO expensive? I looked on humane society and the spca a bunch but the small dogs are usually adopted so fast and though I love big dogs, this time around I’m looking for a small dog, even small/medium is fine. My doggy nephew jumped into my car this past Christmas, I was about to take him home haha – he must remember that I dog-sat him when he was a puppy and he slept in my daughter’s bed for a week! Yes Aunty spoils him with lots of love.
  • I got to sleep in this week, meaning I slept in until 7:30am! HOORAY! lol…I honestly do not look forward to remote schooling coming back again. We’ll see if my son’s school makes any changes tot he schedule.
  • Etsy shop: I have a 25% off sale going on to clear out items before I start making anything else. Honestly I haven’t poured resin in almost 3 weeks now! Maybe I had a little bit of burn out. So I’m gonna rest for a bit and decide what I want to do next.

Have a great weekend everyone! And happy new year!

🎆 ~ Yolanda

Aloha Friday, Musings

Merry Christmas | 12/25/20

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

We made it to Christmas 2020, y’all! If you celebrate, Merry Christmas, if not, happy Aloha Friday! The ones who are super excited for today are my kids and the opening of gifts. I got a haircut and massage on Sunday so that was my Christmas gift and it was AMAZING. The massage was so needed. We are going to my mom’s for Christmas Lunch with my family, and all I want to do is chill.

My sister got the covid vaccine this week because she works at the hospital and honestly, I think that could be the best gift ever this year. I wish I could get the vaccine but I’m not essential. I hope this means things are going to be better for 2021. Looking back on this year, my husband lost his aunt to covid and my aunt lost her granddaughter. This virus doesn’t discriminate, it took young and old. Prayers to all of those who lost someone to this virus this year…it really is my Christmas wish, for everyone to stay healthy and safe.

Thank you for all the bookish content you post for me to read, it helped me get through this crazy year bonding with all you fellow book lovers. 🥰 I hope you get some awesome book gifts and Merry Christmas!

💚❤️ ~ Yolanda

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday | 12/18/20

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

Another week over but my son is finally on winter break – hooray! Christmas is in a few days, are you done with Christmas shopping? Or do you usually shop last minute?

This was my week!

New Books Acquired:

NetGalley~

Amazon Unlimited~

Amazon Kindle Deals~

I can’t believe this trilogy was on sale for only $2.99! 😱

TV, Movies, Etc…:

  • The Prom on Netflix ~ ugh…am I hormonal? It made me tear up at the end. I can’t believe the character Alyssa who is played by Ariana DeBose is the bullet in Hamilton. I was like…wait, that’s her?! She has an amazing voice in The Prom. And the actress who plays Emma, Jo Ellen Pellman, has such talent too. I look forward to see what they do next! Honestly, the whole cast did great and hello Meryl Streep 👑, Nicole Kidman (give it some zazz!) and Kerry Washington made me cry at the end. 👏🏼👏🏼 I loved the storyline, the dance numbers and music. It made me happy!
  • Tiny Pretty Things on Netflix ~ I never read the books. 🤦🏻‍♀️ As for the show…it definitely wasn’t what I was expecting! It’s a soapy sexy young adult ballet drama, it’s a mess…it’s VERY dramatic. It is dark, has lots of nudity (mostly backsides though), lots of sex scenes (straight and gay), body dysmorphia, drug use, abuse, scandal, sexual harassment, racism, sex trafficking and there is a crime mystery too. Sooo many triggers. And what is the age of these ballerinas? Are they over 18? Because if they aren’t the whole teacher/student affair thing is gross.😫 Honestly without knowing much of the story I first assumed they were college age but I’m not sure. To top it off, the acting is not the best (I struggled through episodes) but I give them credit for using real dancers though because those parts are really beautiful. I love when Oren and Neveah dance together, they are stunning together. I couldn’t binge it straight through because of the acting and all the unnecessary sex scenes, but thank goodness for the skip button. I get it, it’s supposed to be racy but I wanted more of the story instead. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Adulting:

  • son’s projects are DONE! And hooray for winter break!
  • I haven’t poured resin and crafted in a whole week which was seriously NICE. We shall see if I continue with it or go back to hand stamping metal or a new craft! Something that takes up less space to make haha. I’m always ready to learn something new.

How was your week? Stay safe out there.

🎄 ~ Yolanda

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday | 12/11/20

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

I’ve been so busy with holiday orders, also my son’s big project to end 2nd quarter and Christmas shopping. Oh the holidays! I barely got any blogging or reading done. 😟

Let’s see how my week has been like:

New Books Acquired:

NetGalley ~

Overdrive Library ~

Amazon Kindle Unlimited ~

TV, Movies, Etc…

  • The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix – I started this and haven’t finished it. I like it so far though, it’s kind of dark, but fascinating.
  • Selena on Netflix – not going to lie, it took me awhile to get into this one because the actress looks so old playing teenager Selena and the wigs – oh my!…yes I am an 80’s child and I had a perm and teased bangs 😆😅, but some of the wigs just didn’t look good on that actress. Now my favorite person on the show has to be her sister, Suzette, I like her spunk! I think learning about the family dynamics are interesting, their mom is so supportive, bless her heart. AB looks like he’s being pushed to his limit – but will I watch the second season? Yes because that’s when Como La Flor comes out and she blows up big time! 😍 Another thing I did like about the series, all the 80’s music I listened to growing up playing in the show, made me relive my childhood. Good times! Overall…the the show is okay, I don’t love it, I love the music though.
  • One Night Only: The Best of Broadway on CBS – music got me through 2020 and I love musicals. Jersey Boys was supposed to make its way to Hawaii this past summer and I saw it on Broadway, my first trip to NYC in 2009 with one of my best friends. But covid happened so…oh well, I hear they rescheduled the show to 2022!

Adulting:

  • helping my son with his projects 😓 and entertaining my daughter at the same time.
  • my daughter got a stomach bug and had diarrhea all weekend (boo!) poor kiddo – she’s still recovering but doing so much better, it’s been exhausting for both of us.
  • finishing and sending my Etsy orders.
  • cooking for the first night of Hanukkah – I was a little ambitious and thought I had enough flour to make challah and Sufganiyot (fried donut) but just donut bites (like donut holes). I did not have enough flour hahaha – so my challah leaves came out smaller than I thought they would and the donuts didn’t form. Oh well! I’ll try again once I get more flour. The kids loved their presents and challah, my hubby got his Matzo ball soup and I’m just happy they were happy! 💙🕎

Happy Hanukkah to you all!

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday | 11/20/20

Yolanda @ Past Midnight

Another week is almost over and next week is Thanksgiving for us here in the USA. I can’t believe November is almost over. So let’s see what happened this week:

New Books Acquired ~

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited:

Apple Books:

NetGalley:

I haven’t done a book blog tour in awhile so I signed up for 5! All the NetGalley titles acquired except for These Hollow Vows are for book blog tours. I tried to get a variety.

TV Shows & Movies ~

Netflix:

  • Julie and the Phantoms ~ okay I needed something to binge as I worked on my Etsy shop items and put this one on. I love it! It’s a wholesome, feel good, funny show about a girl with a ghost band. The music is great and I’m already listening to it on repeat my apple music app. I need season two!

Adulting ~

  • Trying to finish a bunch of resin pieces for my Etsy shop Black Friday sale next week! 😅
  • Also trying to get started on my Christmas shopping. A lot of online shopping this year. Thank goodness for gift cards.
  • We have Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and my daughter’s 4th birthday coming up, so a lot of things coming up – but super downscaled because of COVID. That’s okay though, we’ve kept our celebrations just to immediate family and it’s been nice that way too.

I hope all of you have a good weekend and please stay safe out there!

🧡 ~ Yolanda