Life of the Party

      We took an adventure this weekend and visited some of the toddler friendly places just outside of Pigeon Forge. My child absolutely loves to sit and look at animals, and getting to feed them is even better.      With Hurricane Helene being nearly a year ago, we felt that today should be a day of celebration. The ironic part was that parts of Tennessee had experienced a flash flood the day before and we could still see the aftermath of the torrential rain. The animal pens all had large collections of water at their lowest points.      A year ago today, we were terrified what all the heavy flooding would bring. We didn't have power for a few days due to downed trees. So many families out toward Bat Cave had it so much worse than us. We only had minimal damage and I'm glad we were one of the lucky families.      I can still remember thinking... when is all this rain going to stop? We had to move our animals to higher gr...

      Well, this is a current hot topic amongst my friends at the moment. Is it okay for teachers to have a group chat where they talk about work related issues? My friend has a daughter who was maliciously slandered in a group chat at neighboring school system. The chat was leaked and now all the kids are making fun of her.      My team has a group chat, but nothing unprofessional is ever posted in it. She asked me if we use one and I told her yes, but nothing is ever really posted in it. We use it for updates like: unlock phone pouches at so and so time, or student ______ needs to ride the bus. I couldn't imagine misusing our group chat for suck nonsense.      My opinion is that it can be used if used correctly!!!

    Have you ever been so into a Podcast that you literally cannot put it  down? This was my experience with this. Nikki endured so much just to reclaim her birth right name. All the secrets and hidden stories come to life in this podcast. This is so worth your time. I conquered it in two commutes and honestly if I didn't have so many chores once I got home, I could have finished this in one day.      I was captivated by how society treats people who are adopted. Nikki's struggle to annul her adoption paperwork as an adult should have been a piece of cake. Her adoptive parents should have been ashamed of what they made her live through. Where is Nikki's justice? I wonder what happened to all the adoptees who has similar stories? I hope she gets to finish out her life knowing who she is and where she's from. That since of identity is beyond important to each of us. In essence it defines who we are and how we see ourselves.       I would rate t...

    It's 3:15 AM and I'm up once again. Where would I be if I had made other choices? I have no clue, but I'm here. How would I been surviving without a purpose? The purpose I have now is what drives me each day,      It's 3:16 AM and I've been up for hours rocking, singing, and soothing my baby to sleep. She will not always need me, but today she does. Where are all the other moms right now going through the same thing? When does this cycle end? On to the next phase. Gently rocking she drifts off to sleep, can I move her without her waking?  NO      It's 3:30AM and I'm still awake holding her tightly against me to scare away all the nightmares that haunt her. Is there rest in sight?  4:00AM ---- She's out.   Uh... I have to be back up at 5. 

    It's a full moon isn't it? I have no idea if it is or isn't, but this week has been tough. My goats have been absolutely crazy along with my sassy geese. Today marks the third day in a row that I've had a rogue goat wonder off without the herd. So yeah, I'm ready for Friday!      Students change too when there is a full moon. I'm not sure what is the big shift in change at the moment, but something is brewing. Maybe it's this lovely Fall weather we are currently experiencing?      Tonight I took my daughter to a graduation ceremony and was pleasantly surprised at her behavior. She more of less stayed quiet and attentive. This is really out of character for her, but I was happy to see a change. Now we wait it out to see when she falls asleep. Will it be a two hour process or four? I hope I can make it through tomorrow without falling asleep on the job.      Well, I had to answer my own question...  The moon is currently 29 d...

     Oh honey, buckle up because  True North  by Robin Huber is one wild ride that’s as refreshing as a cold lemonade on a scorching day, but with a few spicy twists. This book knows exactly what it’s doing: dropping truth bombs like confetti and serving up life lessons with a side of sass. Robin’s voice? Sharp, witty, and unapologetically bold—like that friend who tells you the real tea without sugarcoating a thing. The story? It’s not your average “find yourself” cliché. Nope. It’s a sassy, soul-searching adventure where every page practically  smacks  you with reality and then hugs you tight like, “Girl, you got this.” If you’re looking for a motivational pep talk wrapped in charisma and a splash of attitude,  True North  is your new best friend.  So, if you’re tired of boring, safe self-help fluff, pick up this gem. Robin Huber doesn’t just point you north—she drags you there with style, sass, and a seriously fierce heart. I would ha...

      The Dolly Parton Imagination Library has been a true blessing for my family and my child anticipates each book. This book by Stein is exceptionally amazing. From the art work to the actual written sections; my child loves this book! It has been by far one of the better selections.     We opened it as soon as I got home and I have read it at least six times to her. She carried it to her Mimi and asked for her to read it too! The artwork insider allows room for my to ask  questions as we move through each page! 5 of 5 stars!!! 

    Clear drawer wrap is amazing. I think it's the little things in life that make it worth living. One of my students replaces her "desk wrap" weekly. She provides the clear plastic roll, so I am NOT complaining.      I missed school last week to drive Mom and Taylor to their appointments, and this was left for me. My student left this along with a not stating she had finished her work and could't find any dry erase markers, so she decided to do it in pencil. She also said that she would be cleaning up during homeroom. Talent! I love seeing students express themselves, especially in any art form.      BTW: She did replace the clear cover and this art was completed during homeroom. If she can do this in a 15-20 minute period, imagine what she could do in an actual art class. School isn't all about reading, writing, and math. Sometimes we need to focus what the child is good and nurture that too! 

    That long drive to work each morning is full of dreams and aspirations for the day.   I captured this snapshot this morning while I was still brainstorming station rotations for my kids.      Each day I get to see this beauty and grace, but I don't fully appreciate it as I should. This morning was extra emotional for me as I sat and also thought about death and its finality. One of my former students from the academy committed suicide late last night. The years at the academy seem like a life time ago. I was 19 when I volunteered there. She was 27 and had a small family of her own. She was a brave soul who had fought so hard to be independent and strong. Boo was amazing and I know she would want her kids to hear that as well. I  think I still have pieces of her poetry saved on an old flash drive. I will print and take them with me.      I will be making the four hour drive for her service in the next few weeks. My heart goe...

      I must say that I'm still super disappointed that these books are no longer in the Audible plus catalog. I will be slowly working my way through Dark's last series as I have the extra cash. The Gift, has what every reader needs to finish a fantastic series. Silver needed this positive happy ending and it is a connection to the Seven Series as well.        The child that Silver and Logan adopt is acutally the shifter child that comes in a the end of the Seven Series. I predict that Lakota is also the main character in Dark's last series. I really hope she keeps  writing! I just cannot put her book down. With that being said: I would rate this masterpiece a 5 out of 5! Dark's world is everything a middle age woman wants to read about. Can we all have our own Logan? 

    This is Little Mama, she's our smallest hen, but she is also one of our most protective mamas! LM will adopt any and all baby chicks. She actually laid and hatched our newest babies.      Before you ask... Yes, I am terribly afraid of her and have even been chased by her on several occasions. She is a force to be reckoned with and a devoted mama hen. She is currently raising around seven babies, all of whom she hatched! I have put other little ones under her and she raised them too, thus earning her the name, Little Mama.      Not to brag or  anything, but LM will also take other hen's chicks if they are failing at parenting. She has a forever home and will not be ate. I always hope she will  raise her "mini." My neighbor called her barnyard trash because she is "mixed." Her mom was a game hen and her dad was an egg layer rooster. She lays as many eggs as my Rhode Island Reds, plus we get her protectiveness of a game hen. It's a win-...

      Why couldn't all four books been as good as this one? Jone's last book had everything I need in a story; love, compassion,  adventure, and an overall progressive plot! Joe's character had to completely redeem himself along with enduring near death experiences.      This is the book for you if you're ready to truly see an author perfect his craft. The first few books just do not compare to this last book. He even leaves a small window for a possible additional book.      As a reader, I was very happy that Joe found his true love and that everything ended on a happy note. I will happily rate this book a 4 out of 5. I do wish Jones would have made his other books of this caliber. 

      Once again, I find myself sitting and rocking my child. This was typed via voice to text applications. Taylor is wide awake and ready to play and I'm barely holding on to my sanity. I desperately need some sleep. We've been up for 2.5 hours and she isn't showing any sign of tiring out.      Tonight, I realize that one day I will miss these days. One day she will not need me to stay up with her to sooth her back to sleep. One day she will move on and raise her own family. I hope she does this with her own children. I hope I'm making a big enough positive impact that she doesn't have to heal from her childhood the way I had to. I'm breaking the cycle of substance abuse and I'm going to leave her pathway to get further in life than I  have. The goal is to raise a child who can flourish without you, but for now she's my small babe and I will continue to thrive on little to no sleep. These baggy eyes will fade eventually. 

      Well there isn't much to say about this place. Their current food service rating is a 96, but that is not what I've come here to talk about. Olive Garden is my mom's absolute favorite place to eat and it's a big treat for her to get to go. Such a disappointment!     The food was subpar, but the wait staff and hostess are terrible. I asked twice for them to bring me out some Diet Coke, but they continued to bring me out regular Coke. I hate regular Coke and I couldn't convince the lady that the first glass was correct, but the second one was terrible. Also, my child is loud and she had one of her moments. It was an off time and they were NOT busy. The hostess kept making angry faces at us and shaking her head. It was literally a three minute episode. I quickly got her to settle down.      It doesn't matter how good your food is, service makes or breaks a business. The Asheville location specifically needs some new recruitment in per...

      I think every functioning adult should have a few rules that they live by, and you know my addiction to "lists." My list is nothing short of an extension of myself and my personality. What my mouth doesn't say, my face will.  1. It's okay to not be liked be everyone. Fake friends don't count as friends! 2. If you're not invited, don't ask! 3. If you're not in the loop, don't worry. (Fake friends) 4. If they cared they would call. Phone calls/ texts are a two way street! 5. Family isn't always blood.  6. Cut them off, once they mess up! 7. Be blunt, bold, and candid!  8. Loyalty is worth its weight in gold.  9. Your peace matters too! Don't rock the boat! 10. Make time for yourself, even if your "ship" is on fire.  11. Forgive, but don't forget the action.  12. Walk away from people and places you don't feel valued.  13. Be your own advocate. (I need to work on this one) 14. Learn to not care when people drop out.  15...

      Yeah, this post is intended to vent a little. If you don't want to hear me complain click on! I used to love my Erin Condren planners and would save up each year to purchase on, but come on! The asking price has got out of hand. I  would wait for the count down email each school year to order a customized planner for the following year.     I don't do this anymore. Their products are AMAZING and inspiring. I would kill to be able to afford their planners once again. I occasionally get their dreaded text messages too, reminding me that I cannot waste money on such oddities anymore. Today, is filled with endless appointments and I'm killing time checking my  phone at the moment. Even with the 20% off code I was sent; the planner is still over $48. Ridiculous!     Teachers are not made of money and cannot spend money like that on a planner that is only used for one school year. I already pay for subscriptions for my student's learning plat...

      Oh, girl! Let me tell you about station rotations this week in my classroom. Middle schoolers still love stations and will openly participate! The move movement the better.  Stations:  1. Vocabulary (Booklet Review) 2. Wayground (Graphic  Organizer/ Notes) 3. Week 6 Notes (interactive) 4. Paper Based sorting activity  5. Map Analysis      My students have really impressed me enough to attempt this rotation schedule again in the near future. The stations last 10-15  minutes and the goal is to complete two stations each day with a midpoint check in on Wednesday. I don't know why I moved away from station rotation work in the past? What was I thinking? 

      Nick Jones redeemed himself as an author with this third book. He has once again hooked me in as a reader:   Because, of course, a fellow time traveler has vanished in 1873 Paris and obviously  Joe  is the only one who can fix it. This is somewhat predictable as the story progresses.  I want to see if Joe and Alexia get back together in the end. The epilogue leaves us questioning what happens next. Does he move on and find a new woman or does he wait it out for Alexia?     This book really  explores how time, memory, and choice intertwine to make someone's destiny. Jone's attention to detail really helped me visualize the entire story. This book was a massive upgrade from book two.      The author's note was interesting as well! He is right, he has wrote a few books. I did not find his snarky comments amusing. I would rate this book a solid 3. It isn't a horrible book, but it isn't one that I would read or liste...

      Do you ever find it odd that you cannot pinpoint your entire drive home or is it just me? I think my body has just got so used to the drive that I'm immune to the  scenery. It's breath taking, but I don't appreciate it as much as I should. I see it everyday, so it's my "norm."      It's also odd that I cannot remember any specific point along the drive home. I took this photo because I wanted to capture the sun going through the clouds. I got from point A to point B without really acknowledging any of it.      Maybe I need to tell the doctor about this? 

      Not all weekends are busy. Sometimes we need days where we can just connect and relax. Today was one of those said days. I spend my day doing chores that rarely get touched and I managed to spend some time with Happy Feet as well. She's my favorite hen and she knows it. She's too old to really lay any eggs, but she will always have a home here. She's done her job and continues to get broody and hatch a few eggs for us here and there. She sat on 15 eggs the last time and hatched 12 and kept all 12 alive.      I cleaned out goat sheds, put down fresh bedding, changed out salt blocks, hauled off tree limbs, and used the ATV and trailer to move some unwanted dirt. Taylor got to join in, so maybe she will be nice and tired.      My post isn't really focused on anything important, so the randomness may get on your nerves. Just checking in. 

      No surprises here. I didn't get much sleep again last night. We've been up for hours again and sleep is no where in sight. Any suggestions? She had a really big day yesterday and we were on the go. Is sleep deprivation a thing for toddlers? She's killing me.      Suggestions? 

      I didn't even know who Charlie Kirk was or what he believed in, but it must have been controversial. Honestly, I must live under a rock, because his assassination it making headlines I have no idea what he was famous for. No one deserves to die in  regards what they believe in.      I sat and listened to an entire conversation about him and had to go use Google to discover who he was. Evidently, he was a speaker who baited crowds into heated conversations and posted these interactions on all forms of social media. I didn't want to watch any of his videos.  I hate that he was killed. No one should have to die like that.  Rest in PEACE! Seems we have a hate problem more than a political division problem. 

      It's been an adventure today. Toddler and elderly woman with a scooter. As it turns out, you can go out and do things without your husband. He had to work so we traveled the two hours to have a day of fun.      Taylor is still too small to ride  anything, so maybe next year she will have even more fun. Fair food is the best and I enjoyed every minute of it. I love roasted corn! There just isn't a way to ruin that for me. I spent some time looking through the Chevy products as well and I was VERY impressed. I want the next Equinox, but man she's out of my price range. They had a demo vehicle and I fell in absolute love.      The NC wildlife tent was Taylor's  favorite! She was able to catch a trout and get her picture taken with Smokey the Bear. The rangers were beyond nice and allowed Taylor to take all their pens. Of course I brought them back when she wasn't looking.           I sampled swe...

    We've been up for hours and my child is wide awake. She's ready to take on the day; meanwhile I'm sitting beside her about to pass out. I grabbed my laptop to pacify my time until she goes back to sleep. This time I will be keeping her in the bed with me. I know it's going against her having her own bed, but man.... I need some sleep.      Talk with you guys later in the AM! Peace out FAM! 

      Finally, I made it here thankfully in one piece. It has been an agonizing week thus far and I need some rest. I could sleep for 12 hours plus, but I know I will not get to, sleep doesn't come for those who have small children. I am no exception to that rule.      It's some time past 11:00 and I'm still awake. My toddler is cozy beside me and she's fighting sleep like a champion. We've been at this since 8:00 and there is no end in sight. I've officially been up since 3:45 AM this morning. I cannot simply let her cry it out. I feel like that's emotional abuse, but it is tempting at times. Especially when I've only gotten around four hours of consistent sleep. I will remain here waiting for her to tire out so I can ease her back into her own bed. She still needs this closeness and I'm glad she feels safe with me.      Maybe I will just fall asleep beside her and call it a night too. Maybe she will sleep longer if I leave her in my bed....

      It's not exactly a thrilling book, but it's worth a listen. I have enjoyed the storyline, but so much time is spent in endless, useless  dialogue. I love romance based books and this just doesn't do it for me as a reader.      There is a sense of adventure with the main character, Joe, but he is somewhat baffling with his on and off again obsession with his love. I'm just perplexed as to what to think.      Time traveling could have been so much more than what is offered in this book. Joe has to save a girl in order to not be blackmailed. To save his sister he must save a girl back in time. If he fails, Amy (his sister) dies.       In the end, Joe’s mission is pretty clear: save the woman, keep the timeline from blowing up. But there are secrets, people pulling strings, and consequences he didn’t expect. So yeah, not exactly relaxing.     I would rate this book a 2.5. The first book was soooooo much mo...

      9/11 will forever be engrained in my mind. All those lives lost and the following war will forever transform my idea of being "safe." I was super young with this attack  occurred.      Picture this: I was sitting in my fifth grade classroom filling out a math sheet when my teacher got a random phone call on her landline. She immediately turned on our TV (massive box hinged to the ceiling), and what followed next was horrific. I watched live footage of people leaping to their deaths while hearing screaming for what seemed like hours. My teacher gathered us in the floor and cried hugging us tightly. I remember her saying a prayer aloud and saying, "God watch over us all, if this is the end know that I love all my kids." Being a 5th grader, I didn't fully grasp what was happening.      We sat in silence for the remainder of the day watching the news and various teachers ran in and out of the room. She panicked and packed us bags of no...

   Shrimp Fajita Bake     This was an easy fix. The ingredients are easy to find and it was a crowd pleaser. This is shrimp fajita bake served with tortillas and Mexican street corn. You will need:  -Shrimp (deveined/ detailed) -Cream cheese -Sharp cheddar -Diced onions, red bell pepper, and mushrooms -1 packet of fajita seasoning  -Mexican rice The Mexican Street corn is cooked on the grill -Lime juice - Parmesan cheese and added hot sauce        

    Lord, this week is dragging by so slowly that I think it will be virtually impossible to get to Friday. Everyday this week has been a dreaded "Monday" for me personally. While putting out hay I left the gate open. Massive mistake. UGH! I spent the better part of my morning trying to catch goats. I'm so glad they are food motivated.      This week I have locked myself out of my car four times along with not being able to find my keys. My child hid them in her toy box. I forgot my lunch twice and brought my coffee jug without actually putting coffee in it. I killed the copier at work and had to spend my planning period fixing the paper jam twice. Even missing a few meeting this week has drove me insane. I knew they were happening, but I forgot to set a reminder 10 minutes before and I didn't want to show up super late. I lost my planner only to find it outside on top of my car. Thankfully it didn't rain. My automatic stapler decided to have a mind of its own a...

      Where do you see yourself in the next ten  years? I posed this question to my students in homeroom this morning just to hear their various answers, but then it struck me that I need to have an answer as well. I don't know what the future holds for me and my small family, but there are a few things that I can hope for.      1. I long to watch my child grow, prosper, and thrive. I hope to be here the day she emerges as a teen and ages into her twenties. In ten years she will only be twelve and I hope she grounded in her own morals. In ten years, I hope she is outspoken and ready to take on middle school.      2. In ten years, I hope I'm still teaching. I have no idea what subject area. Maybe I will finally start my pathway to earning a doctorate degree? Maybe I'll just be happy with my current status. My goal is to be here long enough to teach my current student's grandkids. Yes, that's an odd goal, but I think it will be a rewarding...

      Meet the rooster from hell, Diablo. He was purchased to add some color to our flock because currently all of my hens are a soft brown and I wanted some colorful eggs. I thought this cross would be beautiful, but as it turns out this will come at a price.      Diablo, named by his previous owners, is a terror. He is a bully who literally attacks any and everything that crosses his path, including me. I have puncher wounds on my legs from him chasing me. I fell face first into the ground while he continued to try to peck me to death. This war cry is so high pitched that it will make your skin crawl. Protective? NO! He hates the hens too and actually killed two of them today. Ridiculous!      Diablo is destined to be chicken and dumplings in a pot near you. Girl! He is a hot mess with a temper to match. All of our other roosters in the past have never been this ill-tempered. He will only be here for a few days! If he isn't gone by Sunday, ...

      Everyday you have the choice to wake up and make good decisions. I however, seem to really lack the ability to make the correct ones. My child will always come first in any situation, but I just cannot seem to say no to other obligations without hurting peoples' feelings.      Setting boundaries is one aspect of teaching I need to truly focus on. I set exceptional boundaries with my students, but with my peers I need to stand up. A great example of this is anytime I'm asked to do extras. I try to say no, but somehow end up getting assigned duties anyway. Before children I didn't care to help out and spend endless hours volunteering, but now I only get a few hours a day with Taylor. I also cannot afford to pay for a sitter. It's anywhere from $50 to $85 each and  every time. This is eating away at my monthly budget.  Set Boundaries:  1. "I cannot help out because I cannot afford to pay a sitter"  2. I'm sorry, but I really don'...

      Are you kidding me? First of all we don't even get service at home and now you have raised my bill to $194.50? I called and asked why there was such a drastic change from last month's bill and their only reply was your promotional discounts have  expired. I have been a loyal customer over 13 years (because they're the only ones who have service near me).      There should be a discount for lack of  service. I don't get 5G until I reach town and that's around thirty minutes away. What about families like mine who this is their own means of communication and its a subpar service that is provided. She stated she would be "looking into additional help." My bill nearly doubled itself in the blink of an eye. Yes, please look into it and find out what's up. I'll be patiently waiting for a corresponding email considering I cannot receive phone calls at my residence.      We need a new competitive phone service in my area!

    Not every lesson is going to be fully engaging. Sometimes you cannot win over every student in your classroom. As a rule of thumb I strive for 65% or more of my classes to be engaged at any given moment. That number needs and should be higher.      I will be moving into a station rotation to see if I can improve their  engagement. I will have four to five stations. Three will be paper pencil stations, and two will have a technology component. Any ideas? Suggestions?          

       "The Change" by Kirsten Miller  is an absolutely WILD, badass, feminist thrill ride where three middle-aged women discover they have  literal magical powers  tied to their midlife transformations (yes, menopause = superpowers!! ). One lady can literally burn people, one is a super witch that can grow poisonous plants, and the other one can communicate with dead people. They team up to uncover the truth behind a murdered teenage girls, and what follows is a fierce, no-holds-barred takedown of corrupt, misogynistic systems. There's witchy vibes, righteous revenge, dark humor, and total girlboss energy. You’ll be SCREAMING "GET ‘EM, QUEENS!!!" the whole time.       Highly recommend if you love vengeance, magic, and flipping the patriarchy the bird.     By the way, Harriet is my  favorite character and she is so in your face and brutally honest. I envy her overall image and demeanor. I would kill to have her t...

      This was just too good not to share with the general public. Who knew they made a gun decorated in cow print, and why didn't anyone tell me?      It's a WANT and not a NEED. Maybe one day I will own one like this.      Before you ask, YES, I do want it. The 8mm is $850, which is way out of my price range, but a girl can dream. I could and would totally use it too. I always carry a gun with me while completing outside chores. I have own and carried a gun since I was around ten year's old. My parents taught me gun safety from a very young age, so it has always seemed so natural to have one.      I will always believe that you can and should have the right to own, purchase, and keep a gun. Your personal opinions do not matter to me. I live out in the middle of nowhere and I need protection.  I've had coyotes bay and keep me in the rafters of the barn before. A gun would have come in handy at that moment. Call 911 you sa...

      Today, I realized just how many signs I pass on a weekly basis and I don't even notice them. I always provide relative location directions instead of the actual road names and numbers.      I was lost in complete  thought on my way through Cherokee and noticed that I didn't  even remember anything else about my drive. Do other people get completely consumed in their driving habits that the smallest details go unnoticed? Maybe it's stress or maybe its normal      These nights of getting up and down with Taylor have really altered everything about my daily routine. Over caffeinated and short fused by 4:30. My patience is thin way before 6 o'clock. I need sleep but society waits for no one. Can a person function on 4 hours of sleep for long periods of time? It's personally been 9 days straight with Taylor up at least 3 or more times each night. How do we break the cycle? 

      Oh, girl I'm absolutely loving the new school cell phone policy that has recently been pushed out. I'm in hog heaven at the moment and nothing can bring me down. Cell phones have taken over our youth and they cannot function in a normal social environment. Everyone has their own opinion and that's okay. Until you have been in a teacher's shoes trying to contend with TikTok, don't come at me. Kids constantly wanting to play on their phones, check social media, and zone out.      They are so accustomed to those short bursts of entertainment that they cannot focus on small tasks for any amount of time. I hope NC keeps this policy around for a while. I'm not saying to ban phones completely. I think there should be someway to regulate it. A special location? Jammer button? 

      Good things never last long, and my wireless Beats just couldn't survive my toddler. I have had those bad boys for eight years total with absolutely no problems. My toddler gets ahold of them in a blink of an eye and she breaks the head band part like it was nothing. I have replayed this scene in slow motion mentally for a few hours. Those were the best headphones ever.      I guess I would rate them a 5 out of 5 for long use, but overall they probably need to be more sturdy. My two year old hit them across the floor one time and it broke into two pieces. Off brand here we come. All laughing aside. I will not be replacing them anytime soon with a name brand pair. My child would just break them too. Maybe the dollor store will have a pair for a decent price or I'll wait for a sale. Any suggestions? I don't want to pay more than $50. 

      Currently, I am loving this weather. The cool breeze and crisp mornings are what I live for along with warm fresh coffee. I do miss sitting on the porch swaddled in a blanket sipping coffee. I have children now, so that doesn't happen.      Fall weather brings back so many memories, and as the flood in I'm saddened to think the life I once lived will never return. As will all things, time has washed them away. A time not long ago Fall encompassed family traditions and rowdy trips through the woods. I miss the sound of hounds chasing a bear through the woods. I grew up in a community and family that hunted. It's more than just an activity for us. My whole childhood is filled with memories of past hunting experiences, dogs, target practice, and mentally mapping out our surrounding area. We could never afford a GPS and as soon as I turned 16 I was able to hunt alone. We had old school walkie talkies and each other. My dad didn't own a fancy tracking mach...

      Lets add a mission that seems somewhat troublesome and the disappearance of two team member to the mix. Keystone really had a battle this time and we got to see a little bit of Raven's vampire side come out.      Can they safely escort the children to the safe house or continue to lose teammates? We gained a new character, Manteo. Interesting back story and a fiery personality to match. Will him and Blue become an item or will he join Keystone?      Once again I'm going to complain that Audible removed the remaining books from their plus  catalogs. It's beyond disappointing to just stop mid series. Maybe they will renew their license. One can always have hope.      I would rate this book a 3.6 out of a 5. As a reader I wanted and needed to know more about the Lion shifters that wanted revenge. What is their nature? What drives their greed and  vengeance? I know Raven and Christian killed some of their pride, but...

      Unfortunately, I'm still in the trenches of potty training Taylor and there is no end in sight. Maybe she isn't ready for this next stage and maybe I need additional help. While I'm at school, I don't think my husband is trying to actively get her to use the restroom. I think he is just changing her butt and moving on. She cannot be potty trained if everyone is doing their own thing with her. She needs a routine.      Taylor doesn't tell us she has to go, which is also another issue with potty training. I'm unsure how to coax her into alerting us? She is still doing really good when she first wakes up, but other than that I don't think she even attempts to go. When I'm at home, I take her multiple times a day to "try." Am I pushing it too much? Does it always take this long?      I also wonder if she understands the concept of it? She isn't speaking complete sentences, so it's not like I can have a coherent conversation with  ...

      After a full day of teaching, going to an after school class is the most tiring task I have ever tried to complete. I was absolutely exhausted and I could not focus. I even tried doing "doodle notes" to be somewhat engaged. I dozed off at least three separate times in the span of the four hour class. Thank God I'm home.      Evening classes are for the younger generation. I'm already not sleeping well and to add extra mental tasks to that was a catastrophe. I had to pull over on the way home as well. I was afraid of crashing my car. Something has to give. I need to learn how to say, "no" and not feel guilty about it. The only reason I am still up and awake is because my toddler refuses to sleep. I cannot pass out if she is screaming at the top of her lungs for me to read her another book. We have been in the dark for a few hours. Maybe she will get the hint and sleep. Suggestions?  Side note: My kiddos are absolutely amazing this year and each da...

    I was sad to see that the entire series that was originally in the PLUS catalog is now being removed and I will not be able to finish this series. I do have three credits left, so I will read three more. After those three I really HOPE they get reinstated into the PLUS catalog.      Raven's father falls in massive debt to a loan shark. Raven is battling her feelings for Christian, protecting her father, and seeing where things go with her childhood friend, Switch. Darks ability to simply add in new characters is masterful. We learn who Christian had originally bought the heart charm for in the past.      I will not give away too many details. Raven pays of Crush's debt, opening tells Keystone she loves Christian, and proves once again that power women do exist in the breed world. I don't think Switch's story ends with this book. He cannot just be introduced and dropped from the overall plot?      The most dreamy part of thi...

      I spent a majority of my day at the laundry mat. Man, it is expensive and I hope I don't have to do this again. In the long run its appears to be cheaper to have a machine of your own and not having to rely on $4.25 loads. I have around 6 loads of laundry between: mom, my husband, Taylor, and myself. We haven't had a machine working properly in a few weeks.      To use the dryer it was 3.50 for 30 minutes sessions. I feel like I got robbed and there is nothing I can do about it. I just wanted to rest, but nothing never slows down in a fast pace life. 

    This weekend has been so bleak. Nothing has gone to plan and everything is totally depressing. Mom is stuck in her feelings at the moment and biting everyone's heads off. Nothing I do is right and she has just stopped helping with everything. She hasn't even cleaned her own room. When you own indoor pets you have to spot clean, but it's like she doesn't even care.      Along with all mom's strange issues, our washing machine has decided to quit. When I finally got my husband to look at it, he became overly hateful. "He doesn't have time for this." Well, how am I supposed to wash any clothes, including his? It's not like he helps with that. Ah! I cannot win for nothing. I wish we had school on Monday. I hate being stuck here in this environment for four days straight. I'll stop complaining. Everyone has issues, and I for certain we all get annoyed.      Positive note: I'm grasping at straws to grab on to something remotely  positive. I g...

      Why can't this series be a TV show? I'm beyond hooked on this set of books. As always Dannika Dark doesn't disappoint. In this saga we learn that Raven's memory has been stolen, so Christian has to win her over yet again. His sheer patience is romantic enough.  Raven's creature returns and takes his mental block away. As her memories flood in we end on the happy note of the couple finally finding what has been missing.      Thank you Dark for giving Shepard's kid a second chance. I was going to stop reading this set of books if his child ended up in a bad situation. Keystone takes in the young child to be raised by the team. Family isn't always blood.      Can Christian finally admit that he "loves" Raven. Can Raven get over Christain's secret of not swiping her father's memory of her. He has hid this for way too long. I cannot wait to see where this goes. Bring on the next book! I rate this book a 5 out of 5! This is a must read!

      I'm thankful to have the day off from work to honor the elders of my husband's community. I think above all else that elders need to be cherished and respected. They hold the key to knowledge. Some may not appear to truly appreciate this day away from work, but I do. My husband  told me Elder's Day is more than just honor, but it is a day of visiting. I don't really have a lot of elders in my own family to celebrate, so hopefully you will get the chance to visit yours. 

      Marriage isn't easy and you need to understand that it's a choice. You have to build, rebuild, and trust for a marriage to work. Both parties are not always going to be 50/50. Sometimes one or the other spouse has to take the lead. Today was that day for us. I'm so overwhelmed with everything that my husband made one of my famous lists to guide me through this rough patch.      I need to take things one day at a time. I still have to keep up will all my normal chores and activities. I can be a caretaker when needed, but I'm a momma first. I think I just needed someone to really tell me they have my back. I'm not in this alone. I needed that. We're not perfect and we argue, but at the end of the day he has my back.      Marriage is always adapting to new circumstances and situations. I have to trust that I have a partner to help me when things get out of hand. I grew a little today and learned to trust a little more...

      Are you looking for lust, fire, and adventure? Look no further than the Crossbreed series by Dannika Dark. Can our two star crossed lovers get past a memory swipe and  betrayal? Time will only tell. I was beyond saddened that Raven's character was sold back to her abuser. Her story of escape and brutality only shapes her character more. Here we learn about another layer of trauma Raven has survived through. Her creator keeps small tabs on her and erases her memory each time. Will he turn her completely against Christian?      I just want these two to finally have the "happy" ending they both deserve. How can this series continue if they never get the chance to truly fall in love without conflict? Which leads me to my rating. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5. It was just missing something that the other books have.   

      Mom is home resting, but her eye sight is in and out. Her headaches are incessantly aggravating her, but she is adjusting. I don't know what the next few weeks holds for my family, but I know one thing; we will get through this.      Today I pretended everything was okay. I got up and went to work as normal, but in the back of my mind all I could think about was the what ifs. Stress ate at me all day. The "not knowing" is killing me along with the impending dread that is coursing through my veins. It's hard to see a love one go through this. There are no words of comfort to take away the pain or to ease their wondering minds. There is no guided steps to take when dealing with their emotion turmoil.      One day at a time. I have no leave to use, so I will be working as many days as possible until she needs me here. Thinking ahead I need to have a plan or at least a few steps. The flood of calls has also made it hard to process what mom ...

     There are days like today that I wish I could disappear. Sometimes bad news just keeps coming in waves. I took mom to the ER only to have her transferred hours away to Mission Hospital. As it turns out she has a tumor growing in her brain. The pressure it's causing has took mom's sight. She can be doing just about anything and then.... lights out.      The moments of blindness are debilitating, not to mention frightening. There are no words to describe how I feel at the moment. Stress, dread, fear, and loss.      This was the view from the K building on the ninth floor waiting room. The oncology floor is so depressing. I didn't see one patient that didn't look like they were knocking on death's door. Keep me in your thoughts and send mom some good vibes. Man... could today get any worse? 

      Will our loving duo find who is kidnapping babies and murdering women in time? Raven and Christian are fighting their emotions of attraction while trying to fight crime. In this addition, Raven reveals that Christian was the one who saved her from a fire as a child. Will this add to the lust appeal these two characters are facing?      How can they remain fighting partners for Keystone while battling an internal love? Time will only tell which one wins out.      I would rate this book a 4.2 out of a 5. I was somewhat turned off by the latest reveals their epic love story. Being left with so many questions is infuriating as a reader. I will only have to read more to see if Dark redeems herself. I was overly curious concerning her father's knowledge of the Breed world. Could he have been a part of her life all along? Ah, the possibilities.  I don't want to be a book spoiler, but man I want Shepard to have the total revenge he deserve...

      This little one and its momma have made a home with my goats. She must have jumped the fence and gave birth to this young fawn. It's such a blessing to watch it grow. They are wild deer, but until it can jump back over it can call our lower field its home.      Look at those spots! I sat and watched them for over an hour as they grazed along beside the goats. I will leave the lower gate open in hopes that it will follow its mom out. 

 The Mage/Vampire with abilities that are unmatched in the breed world finds herself toiling over the idea of loving a fellow peer, Christian, or fighting the urge to cast him away. Once again we are lost in a spell binding love circle and we do not know how it will all end.      Why can't real life men be like one in Dannika's world? We finally see another side to Christian as he slowly comes around to liking Raven. He gifts her a neckless, but is it just a gift or much more? I cannot wait to see the direction Dark takes us as these two love birds battle it out as Keystone partners. Will they deny the attraction or act upon it?      Of course this book would receive a 5 out of 5 rating from me. How can we not throw praise where it is needed? 

      With all the options of online platforms for learning, Gimkit has become my new favorite go to. I use it as an extension activity in class for those students who finish early and have 8-10 minutes left of class. I pay the yearly pro fee, but I think it lacks features to justify their price. Just use the free verison, because there isn't much of a "PRO" feeling or features to the buy up plan. Do better GIMKIT! 

      I jumped on the bandwagon and ordered some items from Shein. I don't regret it, and I might even do it again. I usually only get items of clothing when I'm in dire need of them. Spending money irritates me to no end. I need a few more dressy outfits for work and decided the $45 dollars was well worth it. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality, color, and timely shipping. My husband frowned upon it because he says it rips apart our local economy. I needed the cheapest clothing and it work.      Am I a bad person from ordering from Shein? I didn't have a lot to spend and needed something nice for work. Don't come at me about thrifting. I do that as well, but locally the picking are slim to none. Sometimes, I go and don't find anything worth buying. Our nearest Goodwill is 1. 5 hours away and I don't want to go smell cat pee as I sort through endless clothing items that are over used and over priced.   I do like to rate things, so I would ra...

      With all the afterschool demands and tasks, sometimes I miss out on time with my own child. My time is precious too, and I need to be here. I only get around four or so hours afterschool with her each day, so I want to make the most of it. She is only little once. With all that being said; this year I'm making sure my time is protected and that I am spending every afternoon with Taylor. It just seems very unrealistic for me to do anything after school for now. Plus I cannot afford to pay a sitter. That ranges anywhere from $50- $85. It must be nice having "help." I don't have a village to help me. It's just my husband and me, so asking for extra isn't in my cards right now.      I have also vowed to only work one job this school year, so I will have every weekend with my child. I will not be guilt tripped into taking on more tasks than I can handle. She will not be little forever! I will also be cutting back on doing things for everyone all the time. ...

      Dannika Dark is at it once again. Twisted stories of the breed world wound with a love story only the faint of hearts can read. The Crossbreed series officially has me hooked and I cannot get enough.     In this series we meet a half vampire half mage who is trying to find her way in a world where she just cannot seem to fit in. Being half of both breeds makes her an outcast of both social worlds. She cannot be registered with the high authority, so she is left to live off the streets and beg for what she needs until she is taken in by the organization known as Keystone. A mismatch band of breeds who is secretly fighting all  the evil behind the scenes.      Will she fall head over heels for Christian, the vampire from the Maga series or will she push him away? I was left wondering how she was made, who was her creator, and how will she learn to live in this new setting that resembles a  family? Only time will tell. I would gl...

      Well folks, this is as fresh as it gets. This was my daily  egg batch that I collect from my hens. They have done a fantastic job this summer and I have been pickling the heck out of them. Get you some hens they said. I never thought I'd have to find so many creative ways to store and persevere eggs. Egg production will slow down in the months to come, but dang, my girls are on top of their game at the moment. 13 Eggs from 14 hens.      I have one hen currently broody sitting on 10 eggs, so bring in the chicks! The count down begins!

      Dark's ability to create such an intricate fantasy world of breed has swept me away as a reader. I'm beyond saddened that this is the last book in the series. I'm left wondering what will happen next with Simon. Will he finally fall in love?      This is a stand alone novel that dives into the world of Simon. We learn about his early experiences as a mage and why he is the way he is. I didn't like his character in the main series, but now I understand his  constant banter. It's a coping mechanism and an escape from showing emotion.      Nicole Poole is the perfect narrator, which only adds to this book's charm. It's a must read! 

      Silver's character is at it again, but this time she is out for blood. Can she protect her mate or will she fail? From beginning to end I was captivated by this book. Logan is and will forever be one of my favorite fictional characters.      From death, birth,  arrangements, to love this book has it all. The ending doesn't really seem to foreshadow an additional book, so I'm beyond curious to see what the next installment holds. This book ends on such a "happy note" and I just don't see how it could be any better.      FYI ladies, we all need a Logan in our lives. 

     We took some time out today and went to the Georgia Mountain Fair and it was HOT!!!  It was so hot in fact that we decided to leave and eat off site. Big mistake!       Bronco's is one of the most nastiest places I have ever wasted money at. The food was absolutely gross and I left hungry because I couldn't eat it. First off, the wait staff was utterly rude and impatient. Our food came out, tortilla chips were burnt, my Baja wrap was uneatable, and my child's food was mostly fat. We spent over $53 dollars for nothing. I had to ask three different staff members for a straw, which seemed to annoy them.      How does places like this  dumpster stay open with active business? Do they just catch random tourists?  The lady got mad that I didn't leave a tip. I had to get my own drink, bus my own table. What exactly did they do? Oh, play on their phones and flirt with the male cooks.