Krys’ Little Life

Happy National Best Friend Day!

Hannah,

I can’t believe we’re celebrating 21 years of friendship (or is it more? You know math isn’t my strong suit, haha).

We’ve had some pretty bad downs over the years, but we’ve also had some pretty amazing ups as well!

Thank you for believing in me, for pushing me, and for calling me out on my bu****it when needed. If I can count on one thing in this life, it’s my trust in you 💛.

Love you!!

Ps. I’m so glad we’re getting better about pictures…I didn’t have to dig a lot this time, haha!

Weekend 22


Met my good friend for brunch at and had the BEST shrimp and grits of my life!

We then met some other friends at (I will be back, it was so cute!) to see The Backrooms. I’ll post a review soon, still mulling it over.

Afterwards on my way back to my car, I decided to stroll a bit and discovered a great new to me bookstore . I learned it’s an independent, community owned co-op bookshop…how cool! They sell a mix of second hand books as well as new releases, AND have two stories! I snagged a copy of Giovanni’s room and can’t WAIT to go back!

Bought myself my monthly bouquet from and appreciated some rainbows in my room.

Woke up Sunday with a nasty migraine, slept most of the day. I did make it to the grocery store though and did my lazy girl prep (let me know if you wanna know what that is), so my week is set up for success!

Another lovely weekend in the books. 🥰

Someone today told me anytime they see rainbows they think of me, and that completely made my day! Happy Pride y’all! And because I’m crazy, here’s some random Pride facts. If you have any, please share! (Also, pic 5 is my favorite 😜)

🌈 Ancient Rome had openly same-sex relationships. The idea that LGBTQ+ people are a “modern trend” is a myth. Q***r people have existed throughout recorded history.
🌈 The word “homosexual” wasn’t coined until 1869. LGBTQ+ people existed long before the labels we use today.
🌈 The last state anti-sodomy laws weren’t struck down until 2003. Before then, being gay could literally make you a criminal in parts of the U.S.
🌈 Marriage equality nationwide is younger than TikTok. Same-sex marriage became legal across the U.S. in 2015.
🌈 The American Psychiatric Association classified homosexuality as a mental disorder until 1973. That’s not that long ago….

And my reminder every Pride, if you’re unable to come out, for whatever reason, stay safe and know I’m still incredibly proud of you!

Is it perfect? No. Am I incredibly proud? Yes. Did it take longe than it looks like it should’ve? …I plead the fifth.

Genre: Literary Fiction / LGBTQ+ Classic
Format: Audiobook
Author: James Baldwin
Publisher: Vintage International
Narrator: Matt Bomer
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you. On the surface, not a lot happens, but emotionally, it absolutely wrecks you.

This was my first experience with James Baldwin’s writing, and I can absolutely see why he’s considered one of the most influential literary voices of the twentieth century. Even though Giovanni’s Room was originally published in 1956, it feels remarkably modern in the way it explores identity, shame, love, and the pressure to conform to society’s expectations. It was honestly hard to believe this book was written nearly seventy years ago.

What impressed me most was Baldwin’s ability to make every emotion feel so raw and real. David isn’t always a likable character, but he’s an incredibly fascinating one (which are actually my favorite kind of characters!). Watching him wrestle with fear, desire, and self-acceptance was heartbreaking because so much of his suffering comes from the walls he builds around himself.

Overall, Giovanni’s Room felt like a book that was far ahead of its time. It was beautiful, moving, and quietly devastating. I will be purchasing this for my own collection!

My friends and I do monthly events, and I’ve been wanting to host one for the LONGEST time. Unfortunately, my living situation makes hosting at home kinda impossible right now. Then my bestie and I stumbled across the cutest little coffee shop with a free-to-reserve event room, and the second I saw it, the gears in my brain started spinning!

These Friendship Farmers Markets have been ALL over my FYP lately, and I finally decided to host one. The idea is simple: everyone handmakes something, shares what they brought, and everyone leaves with one of each item.

And let me tell you…my girls SHOWED UP. The items were so creative, thoughtful, and genuinely adorable. We spent the afternoon swapping gifts, catching up, laughing until we cried, and drinking amazing coffee.

Honestly though, deserves its own shoutout. The staff were unbelievably kind and hilarious, and the manager even hung out with us from time to time, which somehow made the whole day feel even warmer and more special. The vibes were genuinely a 10/10, and I already know I’ll be hosting something there again.

Lowkey thinking this may need to become a seasonal tradition now…

Who brought what:

-Me: Blind date with a book full of bookish goodies
-.hannah: The CUTEST bookmark charms (she also took most of these pics, thank you Hannah!)
-Alice: Spa night set complete with the sweetest intentions
-Sarah: Delicious homemade lavender syrup and homemade candy and a teeny jar with a grain of rice she hand wrote our names on and added self care tasks to
- .rebeccafarmer: Individualized hand painted tote bags. She also hand painted the gorgeous banner (yes even the lace!) If you love hand painted stuff, check out her small business !

“I’m that reader, been that reader, still that reader…” 📚

This is the only time I’ve ever been “camping” and it was literally a tent on my aunt’s front porch. Naturally, I brought an entire library.

The Mad Wife

Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Audiobook
Author: Meagan Church
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Narrator: Brittany Pressley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book absolutely hooked me from the very beginning. The Mad Wife was beautifully written, deeply intriguing, and had me completely on the edge of my seat the entire time. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” and suddenly hours had passed. I typically only read audiobooks when driving because I have the attention span of a toddler, but I read this one through my day!

One of my favorite parts was how much I learned about women’s health and the treatment of women during the time period. The story takes place in the 1950s and explores topics that were frustrating, heartbreaking, and honestly eye-opening. It felt incredibly well researched without ever losing the emotional heart of the story.

There was more than one twist throughout the story, which I loved. A couple of them were somewhat predictable, but they were revealed in ways that still managed to feel shocking and emotionally impactful. And then there was one twist that completely blew my mind and sent me spiraling into research after I finished the book because I needed to know more.

The author’s note at the end was the cherry on top and somehow made the whole reading experience hit even harder. Meagan Church reminds me a lot of Jodi Picoult in the best way possible: thoughtful and emotional with layered storytelling that makes you think long after you finish the book, but with a historical fiction lens.

I already know I’ll be picking up more from this author. This one absolutely earned its place on my shelf.

Trigger warnings:
– Medical trauma
– Misogyny
– Institutionalization
– Mental health struggles
– Emotional abuse
– Pregnancy and childbirth themes

The Teacher

Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Author: Freida McFadden
Publisher: Hollywood Upstairs Press / Poisoned Pen Press
Narrators: Leslie Howard & Danny Montooth

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my second Freida McFadden book, and unfortunately it just landed in the “ehh” category for me. The twists were entertaining enough, but a lot of the story felt pretty predictable, and I found myself figuring things out a little too early.

I’m also always cautious with books centered around teacher/student relationships, but I did appreciate that this one showed how disturbing and harmful those dynamics actually are instead of glamorizing them. That definitely made the story easier to stomach.

Overall, it wasn’t terrible, but it also wasn’t a new favorite. The Shelf Trophy Committee met, reviewed the evidence, and respectfully declined to offer this one permanent residency on my bookshelf.