Hello friends!

I can’t believe it’s almost the end of August already! Every summer, I usually count down excitedly to August because of my birthday, but once the first of August passes by, the rest of August is usually a countdown to back to school. But even though I’m not going back to school this year, my brothers are, and so it still feels like a countdown to enjoy time with them before they both get busy with school again.

This year it also feels like a countdown to Fall. It’s gotten drastically colder here in the GTA this past week and it definitely feels like summer is quickly coming to an end! Gone are the days when it’s 20+ degrees at 9 in the morning. Now it’s barely 15, if anything, and then the temperature slowly rises in the day, only to plummet back again by evening. It’s such a drastic change this year that it’s making me dread the impending winter already!

This week I got the best surprise ever: my best friend, who now lives in NYC, whom I haven’t seen since April when I went to visit her, flew in on Tuesday! I knew she was waiting for some documents before she could come, so I wasn’t expecting her. I was hanging out with my cousin and nephew when she called me and asked me to come open my front door. I don’t think I’ve ever screamed louder!

And even though summer technically is coming to an end, I can’t wait to spend time with her and do all the things I’ve wanted to do all summer, but have had no one to do them with! On my long list: the drive-in (I’ve never been!) and a chocolate lounge near lakeshore. Can’t wait!

I haven’t really been reading anything new these days; I got a gift card from work and bought 2 new books, but they’re still sitting in the Chapters bag by my bed. Currently, I’ve been rereading Harry Potter and am currently on book 5, Order of the Phoenix! I know this doesn’t count as much coming from a longtime fan as me, but they are STILL so good! It’s been a few years since I’ve done a whole series reread; I used to do it once every year but since discovering Goodreads a few years ago, I haven’t had a chance since I’m always trying to keep up with my yearly goal. But I’ve kind of (temporarily) abandoned it in favour of rereading my favourite books and I have to say, I’m highly enjoying it. People often ask my how I can reread books when I already know what’s going to happen, but there are lots of reasons! You can read more about them here.

I was supposed to begin writing my fourth book this summer, but alas, that still hasn’t happened! I haven’t really written much this summer, unfortunately. I have written some poetry lately, and so I try to write in whatever form I can, just to keep practising. I’m still sending queries out for my third novel in hopes that someone somewhere out there likes it (inshAllah!) so keep your fingers crossed!

In some ways, this feels like the summer of incomplete projects (writing and baking projects), but alhamdulilah, it’s been a summer of even more exciting things. Usually, with the end of summer there’s a feeling of melancholy in the air, but for the first time, I’m more excited about the months to come and the changes they will bring.

But until then, I plan on enjoying the last few weeks of summer with my family and friends. 🙂

Hope you’ve all had a good summer!

Thanks for reading,

Ikhas