Life of the Party

 Did I expect to love this book as much as I did? No, way! I didn't see the ending coming. Who would have thought there were two killers and both had been victims of bullying. I did enjoy this audiobook, but something was missing. Overall, I just needed more connection with the characters. Hannah is the only character that I was able to build a list of character traits for.      The story was impressive, so I would rate this book a 3.25 out of 5 stars. Imagery is something else that really takes me in as a reader. This book really lacked in this department as well, although the plot took up for this!   

     Where do I begin? My cultural book club I joined at school picked this book for the month of September. It is a young adult novel that truly lets its audience know about Navajo culture. From the first chapter, you learned that our main character, Derek is beyond smart and has achieved enough accolades to qualify for a prestigious boarding school. Indigenous populations for many years were forced into religious based boarding schools so this creates quite a divide in his family. As he learns more about his grandmother and great grandmother's experiences at boarding school, he understands why they are stressed for him to willingly go.     Each chapter starts with the Navajo language. One insight that I purely enjoyed was that every older woman in your life as an auntie or grandmother. It was reiterated that family is more than just blood ties. I was overcome with emotion as he was telling his story about what school was like with all the white kids at the boa...

    I'll wait for this month every year. Honestly, it's like my Christmas and I cannot wait to celebrate it with my toddler. Do I have current plans for this month? Do you even need to ask? You know I do, girl!  1. Are we pumpkin patch ready? Yes we are and I totally have a time in place already picked out.  2. Am I paying for professional photos to be done with my child and her costume this year? Girl I saved up for those photos months ago, and I have already prepaid for them. I want my child to have photos to remember everything because I did not have that. 3. Are we gonna have traditions? Oh, you bet we are. Along with the pumpkin patch visit we will also be adding in Dollywood this year. You know I'm all about saving money. So do not judge me when I say I already have free tickets. Who can afford to buy those tickets in today's society with our current financial decline? 4. Who will be taking her child to trunk or treating? Me, of course. I already have our whole...

Have you ever just needed a book to take you away down a dark twisted tunnel? If you haven, then this is your book! I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this book and would gladly recommend that you add it to your list. Ivy's character especially makes my momma heart burst.      Betrayal runs rampant in most modern books, but this one cuts deeper. Is blood thicker than water or is our main character in some serious trouble? Can Ivy marry a man who she now knows his dark secret? You will have to read or listen to find out!     I kept thinking about my own wedding day or lack there of. We had went to the court house and avoided all the drama tied to getting our families in order. Maybe that proved to be a wise decision, but in this book an actual wedding is what saves it all.   

 I am a list person. My whole life revolves around various lists that keep me organized and focused throughout the day. The following are lessons that I have recently learned:  1. Not everyone is your friend. #hatersclub.   Yeah, I said what I said. Some people are never going to see past the flaws they have created for you. It should be more like #Girlgrowup.  Let stuff from five years ago stay in the past, worry about yourself... I'm trying to survive over here and you should do the same. 2. Stay in your own lane. If they do not ask, don't take time to explain.  3. Even snakes have kind eyes. That fake mask is see through and we all know it. This is not targeted at anyone specific.  4. Do your job. Go to work, complete work tasks, and then clock out and go home. Work is not your life. What is at home outweighs anything at work. Family should and will always come first.  5. Look over dumb people's comments. Just move on and don't feel the need to add ...

      My toddler is still not potty trained. Don't come at me with your advice. I have tried just about everything, and nothing has worked thus far. My child is feral I guess. Today, at the playground she pulled down her diaper and peed in the grass. I was so embarrassed that I tripped over my own feet.      The meltdowns are real at this age and  so are the tantrums. What do you mean... you can't eat cake right before bed time? That was our latest incident where my child pitched a fit for over an hour. What else do I do? Her new pediatrician stated that he is not going to rule out  autism, but at this time we are not going to label her. I don't know if I want a label, but man some pointers would be nice.      Working with some peers that don't have children absolutely drives me bananas. We don't get to go home and "turn off" the teacher mode. If anything we switch it on to the "mom" role and keep going. You got perfect attendance? ...

      Let's be blunt and honest all at the same time. Feelings hurt? Now is not the time to dwell with those endless thoughts about anxiety of social situations.      I'm currently battling life. Everyone has their own fights and things to worry about, but currently it seems relentless for us. My husband is waiting on his oncology report from his rather long stay in the hospital. That alone has me on pins and needles. Now, I just found out my child has lost most of her hearing in both ears. She has OT, ENT, and speech therapy appointments in her near future. I don't know if I can handle much more on my plate.      I caught a KID messing around with our animals last night. So now that is yet another issue we are having. I cannot even go to sleep  without some sort of stressing smacking me in the face.  The stress list:  1. Will work eventually become angry for me missing all these days? 2. My husband's oncology report (He alread...

Well, didn't this book just wonder into my life at just the right moment. It is a lengthy read, but so worth your time. I hate when an author leaves their audience on a cliff hanger, but we all know there is a new book being written. I'm just smitten with this whole series. This is just what I need to escape my hectic day to day stress. I get lost in the world of dragons and love.      Violet is still one of my all time favorite characters, but sometimes I wish she would think with her head and not her heart. Will Xadin ever change? I don't know the answer and I'm sure Yarros will tell is more as the next book gets here. I will buy the novella that gets released here in a few days. I do long to read about Liam and explore this world further. Will she bring dead characters back to life?      -Can I have my own wing leader? Just asking for a friend... Read the book if you do not get my reference.      5 out of 5 stars is my rating and I do...

      Oh, yes things can change in an instant here at the farm. One minute I'm just worried about work and the next... I'm single parenting for the remainder of the week. Can I juggle it all or will it topple over any minute?      My husband is currently in the hospital yet  again... here I am having to manage it all again as per the usual. He cannot help the circumstances he has been handed. I understand that, but man the timing is way off and it's already hectic here. Without the aid of my mother I wouldn't make it most days. I'm unsure how to navigate this week. Currently, I'm waiting on a call to see when he will go into surgery. 2.5 hours away and I can't do anything to help. I cannot go to him either because of our  comments here.  Stress List 1. Work (lack of planning) 2. Childcare this week 3. After school meetings that I will probably have to miss 4. Friendly "reminder" emails that are annoying me to death.  5. All farm chores w...