Most Ardently Alice: The month of July

I think we can pretty much assume that since finishing and graduating from university, books have, once again, very much become my friends. I've read just over four books this month, with Carrie Hope Fletcher's fifty-percent complete and sort of, maybe not my cup of tea — but I'm going to god damn well try and finish it anyway. I've also bought a lot of books, which I can't altogether justify with my very scary bank balance, but I'm going to just churn over the words of my mother that spending money on books isn't really spending money at all, right? Actually, I'm not sure that was what she said. It can't have been anywhere near as poetic as that. But the gist was it's better than spending it on clothes or bottles of prosecco and I'd have to agree — although I very much like those things, too!

'The Potion Diaries' by Amy Alward
ALL OF THE HOLLY BOURNE!
'The Boyfriend List' by E. Lockhart
'Songs About a Girl' by Chris Russell

As for July itself. Well, it's been considerably less exciting than June, though I'm fast realising that life's pace is in a near-constant state of decline post-university. It's been a very family orientated month with my niece and nephew both turning 1. (Different sisters, different birthdays, not twins, just FYI!) There was a lot of cake smashing and, indeed, cake eating, which not so easily follows on to the fact I've taken up running. I'm starting off small, only running about 1 mile a time because I'm very unfit and pretty much a sweating tomato by the end of it. It's really unattractive and probably the upside of there being absolutely zero talent in my small home town.

From being a sweaty mess to gloriously glamorous (well, I tried) on my graduation day. It was such an insane day. It swept past me like a jammed up fast-forward button and I definitely wish I'd taken more mental pictures than I managed. But I did write a whole post reflecting on the occasion, so there's that for when I'm old and grey, with a rapidly declining cluster of memories. You can also read it if you'd like, obviously. And that, honestly, is about it... Exciting stuff. I've also been applying for some pretty mundane part time jobs. Weirdly, the act of being productive and hitting that 'apply' button does bring a bubble of anticipation — the good kind. It's one step closer to earning more money and, subsequently, one step closer to living and working in dreamy London. I think that'd be a pretty good way to live out my 20s.