I'm kind of embarrassed to say it, but I feel like I'm in mourning now that I'm done with The Hunger Games series. I got so invested in the characters lives over the past few weeks that I need my fill of Katniss and Peeta and Gale. Maybe there's a fourth book in hiding? :) I was skeptical about The Hunger Games before I started. I admit, I was feeling so superior for not having bought into the "teenage drama," but once I started reading, I realized it's so not like that. Or maybe it is, but I bought into it anyways!

If you've been living under a rock for the past year (and that's OK because I was!), The Hunger Games is a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins about a place called Panem, formerly North America. It takes place way in the future in a post-apocolyptic world, and the nation's made up of a Capitol, which basically dominates 12 outlying districts. Every year, the Capitol holds the Hunger Games where one boy and one girl from each district are randomly picked to fight to the death in a televised battle (aka a reality show). And all this is done to remind the districts who's in control.

The books are so suspenseful that you can't stop reading after a couple chapters. I literally finished the first book in a day and a half because the story fascinated me that much.

So, here are my brief reviews of the three books. What did YOU think?

The Hunger Games (#1). I think out of all three books, this one was my favorite. The concept of the Hunger Games was so unique I just couldn't put the book down. This first story follows the 74th games and is narrated by a player in the arena. So, you get all the inside action, plus a lot more. Goodreads review: 5 stars (out of 5!)

Catching Fire (#2). Almost equally as good as the first book (in my opinion!), this story follows the victors from past Hunger Games and introduces the "Quarter Quell," or the 75th Hunger Games, which is even more elaborate and dangerous than the rest. I totally did not see ANY of this stuff coming, which made the book that much better. Goodreads review: 5 stars

Mockingjay (#3). The last book in the series focuses on the aftermath of the 75th Hunger Games … and that's about all I can say about that! This book was a little slow for me, and then all of a sudden it would get CRAZY. I wasn't a huge fan of the direction some of the twists and turns took, but I did like the ending, which is the most important part, right?? Goodreads review: 4 stars

Thanks, Sharon, for getting me hooked and letting me borrow your books! I can always count on my best friend to introduce me to new stuff (I didn't watch The Office until she made me give it a chance!)

1. Downton Abbey. I know, I know, another TV show. This one is really different from anything else we watch though! It's set in England and the first two seasons (all that's out right now) span from 1912-20. The aristocratic Crawley family owns Downton Abbey and the show revolves around their lives at the estate, as well as their servants'. Lots of big, historic events make their way into the show and affect the characters, like the Titanic sinking, WWI and the Spanish flu. Nathan and I burned through the first two seasons at record speed and then realized season three wouldn't be out until 2013. Quite honestly, I'm not sure if I can make it that long.

2. Anthropologie Volcano candle. Have you ever walked into an Anthropologie store and wanted to bottle up the delicious smell to take home with you? I have! And I finally asked one of the employees about the scent. It's this Volcano candle. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's to die for. Citrus-y, fresh, a little bit exotic and lovely. Our bedroom now smells like an Anthro store. Which is totally fine with me.

3. Klean Kanteen. I'm really bad about drinking water. I'm the girl who never drinks anything with her meals, just because I don't think of it! I've really been trying, however, to be better about getting hydrated and my Klean Kanteen helps. I keep it filled on my desk and typically go through two a day. Not sure if that meets my water quota for the day, but at least it's better then where I was!

4. Carry On by Fun. I've listened to this song 20 times a day for the last week. And I'm not sick of it yet. Take a listen!

5. The Hunger Games series. OK, I'll admit it. I was that person who was realllllly skeptical of this series. I never got into Harry Potter or Twilight, so it's kind of amazing I even picked up the first Hunger Games book. But once I did I was HOOKED. The stories are so addicting, just like everyone says. I'm on book three now, and I'm going to be sad when it's over. I'll be doing a GoodReads review soon!

So what are YOUR favorite things this month?