Life of the Party

      There is nothing like teacher tired. The first few days really takes its toll and our recovery time is short lived. 5 AM mornings followed by 8 plus hour workdays. Most teachers are also parents, so we have double duty. Add in my farm life and it makes for an exhausting first week back.      Today was the kid's first day, and I'm dragging tail. Currently, I'm stationed on the couch finishing grading our first pretest to see where my students fall. I came home fed, cooked supper, and then baked cookies with my little one. I don't know if I'm going to be able to make this adjustment. Send good vibes my way! 

    My 2026 book challenge was well worth the effort. This is my 66 book of this fiscal year and it was beyond what I had anticipated. Yarros has created a world that I never want to leave. We all strive for an unbreakable protective love that Xaden portrays! The adventures and love story of Violet and Xanden is timeless, perfection, and passionate.              The love of a mother really rings true in this second book. I will NOT be a book spoiler, but nothing is never as it seems. I have always enjoyed a book that keeps me guessing until the end. My heart was shattered the last few chapters. Hopefully, Yarros redeems herself in the third book. There are not many books that I have actually cried with. A mother's love knows no bounds! I threw the book across the room followed by frantically finding it to finish the book.      I would have never imagined that a book could be so spell binding and magical at the same time. I...

      Unfortunately, I had to go back to work. That was a phrase that I would commonly use in the past as summer wrapped up and school began. This year is  different. I have a new classroom, new admin, and mostly new team. This is going to be my year I just know it. I already have this positive vibe that we are going to be a massive difference this year.      I have missed Taylor these past few days, but it's so good to get back to my routine. I need an outlet and my job fulfills that need. I have got over my goal in steps each day, which has then a real confidence booster to start the school you're off with. My new classroom is brand new, new paint, new desk, new everything. The plus side of being in a brand new building is getting to start from scratch. The downside of being in a brand new building is that we cannot put any decorations on the wall yet. I feel like my classroom, lacks personality, but I plan to figure out how to overcome tha...

       Living on the border, Tennessee makes it completely easy to go over a state just to benefit from their tax free weekend. Tax free weekend is for school supplies. Each item has to be less than $100. I would like to go on the Friday that it starts due to the fact that most supplies are bought out mid Saturday before the source can restock.     This year was just a little bit different though. As I walked into Walmart in Maryville, I noticed that their school supply aisles were not fully stocked to begin with. By the way, I got there really early this morning too. I think they have hardly stocked so they wouldn't sell all their stuff over this weekend. The exact same thing can be said about the Target in Maryville.  Did I save enough from not paying taxes to make the trip worth my time? Why yes I did.  I bought supplies for my classroom, my personal wardrobe, my child's back to school clothes, along with various things in my household that I n...

      Where should I begin? This book is divided into two perspectives, one is Colby and the other is Beverly. Honestly, Colby's perspective is more like Nicholas Sparks original books. Fall in love with the ocean and come back to North Carolina, have some sort of tragic event that occurs, and then they made in the end for a happy ending.  But this book was different.     I love when an author takes the time to really do his research when covering mental illnesses. Having a book that really puts that on display is worthwhile. I am a massive Nicholas Sparks fan. I did however get a little annoyed at the pacing. I am also not a book spoiler, so I will try my best not to give everything away. Beverly's story was so disjointed, manic, and random that when it would get to her sections, I literally just wanted to put the book down. But I'm glad he wrapped everything up in the end. If you read the book you will understand why Beverly's character is so haphazard. E...

      Farmers have to defend their livestock and sometimes that doesn't always look pretty. Stray dogs, coyotes, raccoons, feral hogs, and sometimes things you would never expect. This hog has been running my goats along the fence lines for days, but not again tomorrow. There is a small herd of feral hogs that like the help themselves to our animals, neighbor's smalls dogs/ cats, and whatever else they can muster up to eat. My neighbor has been missing her small cat for a few days now. I'm 95% sure one of these took her out. I missed my chance to shoot it the other day. I only had my pistol with me and that was certainly a rifle range.      Feral hogs are dangerous and can become aggressive when startled. I have had my fair share of run ins with them. Once, when I was 15 I had one chase me all the way up to the truck and continued to ram dad's Dodge in hopes that I would fall off. In my youth, my father and grandfather would hunt them using hounds. The...

                     At work, this is all the rage with the older women who are in my reading circle (LUNCH BUNCH). Oh, and this reading circle is a separate one than the book a month crew that I'm a part of through the school year. These books would not align with the type of material that we read in order to gain CEU credits. I joined a reading group that met during my lunch time. Hearing their conversation, absolutely sparked my interest. Honestly, I was afraid that it was going to be too bland. Now, I think otherwise and I have completely different ideas about the older women that I work with. These grandmas knew exactly the type of book I needed to download and read on my Kindle. Some scenes might even make you blush. My next goal in life is to become the grandmother that sits and reads books like this.       This was so much more than what I ever expected. The excitement, action, romance, and spicy sce...

      Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC has got to be one of the most depressing places to be. It sucked the entire week of visiting my husband. As it turns out, his GI bleed was not fixed and he is STILL passing blood to the point that he will more than likely end up back on his same hospital floor. Why would you release him with the amount of blood he is still passing (bright RED)? "We will do a follow up with an outpatient  procedure at a later date." Yeah, why not go ahead and do both surgeries while you had him under the first time? Clearly, you didn't fix the problem with your little metal clips.      I hate this hospital... my twins didn't both get to see the NICU and even walking in that place gives me flashbacks. Taylor spent weeks in the NICU and I more or less stayed at the hospital, ate in that cafeteria, and wondered back and forth from the dreaded parking deck. I didn't come home during her entire stay, so I got to really experience what ...

         Sometimes you just have to read one of your student's recommendations. This heart felt story of Chinese to American adoption will simply make your day. I was actually enthusiastic the entire short book. I think this would be appropriate for a fifth grader, but I would consider it a high interest low level Lexile book. Our main character is adopted and desperately seeks a family for her best friend while in America. It progresses through her adventure of finding a family, assimilating to American culture, school, English, and self identity. I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

  Well, this is going to be a very mixed review. The sheer craziness of this book really took me for a roll coaster ride. I honestly didn't see the end coming, and I ALWAYS enjoy books that can do this. JD Kirk has done an exceptional job at keeping his audience on the edge of their seat.      Negatives: I was so confused for most of the book due to the ramblings of the main character. I almost stopped listening to the book via Audible twice. I don't want a point A to point B book, but I would like there to be some sort of rolling plot to guide me.            Positives: I LOVED the ending and honestly I didn't even expect the outcome. The narrator's accent almost threw me for a loop. I think his accent overall gave the book more genuine quality. Kirk has the amazing ability to really set the scene. It was like I was in the story as it was unfolding.     I would write this book a 3.5. I know that rating seems kind of low an...

      I'll be in and out for the next few days. My husband has taken ill and is currently in the hospital, so there probably will not be many updates. It's always challenging when your spouse is hospitalized. You don't realize how much you rely on their companionship until they are not around.      One surgery down and possibly one more to go! I've got all the farm chores on me, plus driving 2.5 hours each way to visit him. I've got this! 

      So, yes... Here were are months later, still trying to potty train my child. We started when she was 18 months old, she is currently 3. I'm at my wits end and don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions?  We've tried:     1. Positive  reinforcement (lots and lots of praise)     2. Rewards (stickers)      3. Cloth "big girl" undies      4. A toddler potty and one that you place over the regular one      5. 30min check ins (I escort her to the restroom to "try" to use the potty)     6. Watching cartoons about going to the potty          Have I mentioned that she can hold it all night, but chooses to use it on herself during the day? I think I need some fresh ideas. I'm trying to tackle this before school starts and I'm failing miserably. 

 I'm a sucker for a Nicholas Sparks book and this is by no means an exception. I was taken away in a story of Colin and Maria. The unlikely pair end up having a thriller relationship. Calling with his anger issues in Maria with her stalkers from her past/ current job as a lawyer. There was moments in this book. I was absolutely on the edge of my seat. Most of his books are just epic love stories, but this one holds a true note of something more. I would love to see this book become a movie, but the characters in my head could never be fabricated into a movie. I highly recommend if you are a Nicholas Sparks fan to pick up this book and read it. I enjoyed it this time on my Kindle as always. I look forward to reading more books by the author. This review comes with the obvious five out of five star rating for me.  I think this is just the perfect mix of romance, mystery, thriller, and overall well written material.  

      It has been a solid month since we've had any really major flare ups with any of our neighbors. My hot headed husband doesn't really help matters much. I really wish things could settle down for a while and back the heck off. We spent a majority of our Sunday moving a rather large tree. No, we did NOT ask for help. I have to be able to get in and out.      On top of dealing with my child (no medical insurance issues), we now have issues once again with the driveway. I don't care. It's passable and I don't have money to waste on gravel. My medicine alone is nearly $345 a month. I cannot cough up any more cash at the moment. We move the trees and I'm happy with that.  Dear goodness, I drive a low Kia Soul and it makes it up the driveway just fine. Go slow and you will not drag.      I hate confrontation in any form. Just when I think I'm getting out of debt, here comes people left and right with their hands out. Can I ignore it long ...

      We've all been  there... Life kicks us in the butt right in the moment when everything else is falling apart. Girt is what gets you through moments like that, and grit is what sustains a leveled mindset. Life happens for a reason. Every decision you make comes with a consequence. It can either be a good or negative impact. Choose wisely!      Life happens...     Today, started like any other ordinary day until it wasn't. Sometimes we do the best we can possibly imagine and still fail. I will elaborate in the days to come. 

      Every year I have this same debate. Why post and start back to school shopping so early? It's still three weeks away and I'm already getting back to school news from work as well. I still need these three weeks. Every hour, minute, and second.  I'm not exaggerating this one bit.     I'm just now getting where I can sleep in past 6:30 AM. My body had adjusted to getting up before five every day that getting to sleep in is a rare occurrence for me. I am also being able to fully enjoy myself and read a few books this summer. I don't know if I'm ready to go back and hit the grind 100%. Sometimes I think the mental break of summer really does benefit me.       What am I going to miss most about summer? I'm gonna miss my kid. I only get 4 to 5 hours with her every afternoon if I'm lucky on an average school day. Every adult has to work so I know everyone has to go through this. I'm just so overwhelmed with the thought that I won't get to see ...

      Ummmm. Yes, please. This was the perfect place for my toddler to play while I sipped coffee. There were kind of slow today, so I didn't have to be right with her as she worked her way through the maze. You can see straight through the netting. At no time was she unsupervised (before you judge). There was only one other child in the playground.      It isn't a big place, but the air conditioning was amazing in this 90 degree temperature. We haven't been going to our local playground due to the humidity in high temperatures. Once it gets above 82 I'm done with having playgrounds out in the direct heat.      Coffee?     Yes, coffee! I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of refreshers, coffee, snack, bake goods, and ice cream that they had to offer. My cold brew as well worth the $4.95. I would pay it again and probably will if we are up that way again. 

    Where do I begin with this book? Hummmm, well, it's a completely captivating book cover to cover. The reader is left with questions as to what will happen next. James could totally write an additional book on the main characters to see if the "killer" plot happens again with an additional wife.      I loved every second of this novel and look forward to more books written by Jane James. She truly has a knack for writing thriller mysteries that will keep you on your toes. Will Adie kill this wife too? I hope we will get a second book to find out.      Obviously, I will be rating this book a 5 out of 5 stars. The plot, characters, theme, and pacing was superb. I'm glad I gave this book a chance and ignored Goodreads advise. What were those readers talking about?  Honest Moment: I might have been more intrigued in this book due to the fact that I'm not my spouse's first wife  either. There are things we will never know, but f...

    Have I ever told you how much I love to garden? It's literally my jam! There is nothing better than raising your own vegetables for consumption. It's a feeling of fulfillment and gratitude. This is my first yellow squash of the season. I pan fried them with a little bit of cornmeal covering. We had a thick slice of ham and some stewed green beans. 

      Well, now that summer is officially half way over for teachers, let's talk about this school year's goals.  1. I plan to leave work at work for the most part. (No brining home endless papers to grade) 2. Be optimistic about moving buildings. 3. Improve my step count, weekly.  4. Transition my child into a toddler bed. 5. Continue to work on potty training. Yes, we are still attempting this.  6. Self Care 7. Establish a monthly budget. 

      Have you ever picked up a book and high school is a giant flashback again? Well, this is that book for me. I wanted regina, the protagonist, to get some sort of revenge on the mean girls club that she was kicked out of. Regina, our main character, was once one of the main girls who absolutely tortured Liz. She is by no means perfect and she admits all of her faults. It takes one fatal move and suddenly you're kicked out of your social group.     I hate to be a book spoiler, but our main character almost gets raped in the first five chapters so be careful while you're reading this book.  As it turns out the young man, he tried to do it ends up being one of the mean girls current boyfriend. Will they believe Regina story? You will have to read to find out.     Every high school I have ever heard about has these friends who won't let anyone in. They get away with everything, and they're the mean girls club. I do not like how this book ends. It'...

    This will be a heartfelt review. It is rare that I find a book that completely captivates me cover to cover. While reading Everhart's book I cried, laughed, threw the book across the room, and even sat and contemplated life. Within the first few chapters I was swept way, no pun intended, in the story of this horrendous blood. Everhart's book takes place in Western North Carolina and is centered around a massive flood that occurred in the 40s.      It has not been that long ago since Helene went through our area. Although we did not suffer as much as people out toward Asheville and Bat Cave, the effects can still be seen in my own community. The story of sheer survival, displacement, and coming at age of a young woman was so wonderfully written that if it was made into a movie, it would be an epic fail. This is my first book by Donna Everhart, and I hope to read many more.       These communities in Western North Carolina are very close-kn...

This is the perfect short story to listen to during summer break! Sometimes you just need a break from real serious books, and this one was a delight to listen to on Audible. I usually prefer to read books, but listening to a book is just as good. To be honest, long drives are always better with a good book. I would highly recommend this! 5 out of 5 stars.   

Reading books has really been my outlet these past few weeks of summer break. I'm not completely sold on this story, but it was a decent book. Overall, I feel like roles of women in this book is maddening. I would rate this book a 2.4 out of 5 stars and wouldn't recommend that you waste your time.  Women have more roles that just being a wife.   

      Well, I didn't exactly stop pursuing weight loss, however, I did stop wearing my Apple Watch everyday. My current weight is 222.5. I'm not proud of this nor am I bashing myself. It is what it is.      Progress: Walking as much as possible/ more water intake/ movement

      I've lived here my entire life, but sometimes it still takes by breath away. I get why so many people drives for hours just to visit, but keep in mind that it's your "vacation," but it's our home. The tourists come in droves each season and sometimes it just gets overwhelming.      I tried four times this afternoon to pull out on the main highway, but terrified I'd be run over by the sports cars. The winding country road is posted at 45 mph. These cars had to be doing over 60 and pulling out in a blind curve is intimidating. I was passed on double yellow lines twice before making it to the dump. I know you guys come here to have fun and "race," but please slow it down. Some of us would just like to throw away our trash without being in a major crash.      I'm hoping the new highway being build in our area will deter them from racing. 

      Sometimes, you just have to let things slow down and take a different perspective.  Sometimes that breather will allow you to fully understand the whole situation. I've been dealing with the stress of not having health coverage for my child for days now.      It is what it is. I'll add her back as soon as possible. Until then, I will be making payments on any and all medical things that she needs. It's not the end of the world. Debt cannot eat me alive, and there is always money to be made. This next seven months may end up, bankrupting me, but it also may not. I will continue to take her to her regular appointments. In the event, she needs to see the specialist before I get coverage again I will just make payments.      This minor annoyance is something I will get past.

   My field has some new neighbors that have moved in. It's a small herd of does that are absolutely gorgeous. I think the biggest one is the Momma of all the smaller females.  Guess what? They ALL seem to be super pregnant and ready to deliver their fawns.  I spent my afternoon watching them graze along side my goats. I let the goats out to free range and the deers just joined in. I should have taken some pictures of that as well. I didn't know they would coexist that well.  I might decide to name them just for fun. I keep my distance and observe them. When they followed the goats back inside the fence line I made noises so they would leave.  Spending time outside has really helped me today. It's a moment of silence that I truly needed to really stop stressing about everything. 

      I'm still here trudging through this mess. Stress is eating away at me and I'm so lost at the moment that I cannot seem to get anything right. I got to dreaded call today... we in fact do not qualify for any assistance for Taylor. Speechless, breathless, hopelessness has taken over.      My husband said, "God will provide." I wasn't raised in a religious setting, but I did attend church with my grandma. I hope Josh is right. 

      Have you ever made a decision or quickly signed a paper in haste only to realize years later that honestly you were an idiot? Let me back the story up a bit. I took Taylor to her an annual visit to her pediatrician only to discover that her medical insurance had been canceled. I spent several hours on the phone, emailed multiple people, and finally discovered today what had happened.     I'm so thankful that we have office staff who answer emails promptly. Back in 2024 we had an open enrollment day. I remember the day clearly because the only time slot I could go down was half of my planning. Because of how late open enrollment day started and my planning period coincided with that time. I was in a rush. Taylor was 18 months old so I was still only getting around 3 to 4 hours of sleep or not and working 40+ hours a week. Being exhausted was an understatement. I didn't even get to talk to the representative because I was trying to rush through before my stu...

      Sometimes, I really hate living on a farm. Farm life isn't always like the movies portray it to be and with new birth comes death. Today was  terrible and heart breaking at the same time. Things happen and lessons were and are learned.      I pleaded with my husband multiple times not to introduce my new goat to the herd. I bought her at the sale and have been working with her for over a month to gain weight and trust. Her previous owners must have had her hobbled. I had to help where the ropes had shredded her legs right where the hoofs were. Who does that? Her previous owners were absolutely ridiculous. I would never do an animal like that.  She was so thin when she first came to the house. She was mellow and sweet. I spent weeks gaining her trust only to burry her early this morning. My heart is broken. She would finally come when I called. My other goats out weigh her by 50lbs or more. I think they rough housed her too much.   ...

      Time sure does fly when you have a toddler. It seems like yesterday I was swaddling my small NICU baby and praying that she gains weight. Tomorrow, my baby turns the big 3 and I don't know how to feel about it. I've cried several times tonight already. She had such a rough start to life that I just don't think I'll ever get over it. PPD about took me out while also dealing with the death of Taylor's twin.      Stats: NICU 8 days      6 days of life support      Birth Weight: 6.5lbs     Length: 22in      I gave birth to twins and her sister didn't make it.      She had a head of blackish/brown hair and dark brown eyes. They transitioned to a light blue and bright blonde hair with in the first eight months of her life. We've battled two cancer scares, scans, treatment, seizures, and sleepless nights. She hasn't slept through the night EVER! She had stitches before she could even walk ...

    This week has held so many issues that I cannot possibly think straight. Starting a week with a massive field trip was not a good idea. I got over 15 thousand steps in that day alone. We worked a 12.45 hour day followed by an 1.5 hour drive home. I'm exhausted.      We also have up and coming EOGs as well. I think sometimes I just take on more than I can actually do in a single day. With all the chores at home, I don't think I can keep treading water... drowning in tasks is taking over my mental health. I cannot be in all these places at once.        Why am I up? I'm so stressed out that I cannot sleep and I'm done fighting it. At least this way I'm not sitting there in the dark.      Two more weeks...

      The last month of work before summer break is always hectic. I just have summer vibes coming my way and I am beyond excited to plant my garden. I already have beans, squash, and corn coming up. I am roughly 11 days away from the official start of summer break.  If you have teacher friends reach out to them and saying good vibes their way. That last month is always tough. 

      Well... It's a lengthly read, but well worth your time. Honestly, I thought her teen daughter, Preeya was the one behind most of the mishaps at home, but boy I was wrong! It will get you fully entertained and the imagery used is just enough to keep you going.      Would I read it again? I like to be fully transparent and not lie. I probably would not pick this book up a second time if it was my choice. It is a read and done kind of book. Although I did enjoy it, it could've been so much more. I actually watched the Hallmark movie that was similar to this plot and a lot of it I was able to predict what was happening next. I was wrong about her daughter though.      I would still get this book a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Anderson sure does know how to keep you hooked into the book. If it wasn't a Hallmark movie, I think it might've been a Lifetime movie. It just seems so surreal that I had already seen a movie with the same storyline ...

      Oh, it has been a Monday. Truly, I've had a disastrous day, and nothing has went right. I locked myself out of the building at work three separate times. I lost my keys to may car to leave work this afternoon. When I arrived home... three of my goats were out running around having the time of their lives.      I'm one tired MAMA too. I had promised to bake homemade cookies and my toddler didn't forget that promise. Farm chores  plus cooking cookies and supper has about kicked my butt for the day.  Can I have a redo? I think I could have managed my time better if I knew what was inshore for me.      All joking aside. I hate Mondays, especially when I feel rushed to get things finished. 

      Girl, we don't have mean girl energy as adults. That's high school drama that needs to stay in the past. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to every adult woman that I have to deal with on a daily basis.   Snarky comments don't really get you far with me. Carful... your inner demons are showing!     "Take the high road" is something my mom has always said. I try to live by that. I'm in no way perfect and make mistakes everyday. Have your social cliques, but remember karma is always around the corner. I took a deep breath as I sat in my car to leave only to realize I handled that situation with as much grace as I could. Maybe I'll do better in the near future. There is always room for improvement. 

      This was a VERY long book, but well worth my time. I listened to it on Audible and read some chapters on my tablet. Denzil has completely redeemed herself as an author in my book. I was hooked from the very beginning and maintained even interest throughout the total book.      I'm a sucker for a mystery thriller that fully engages its audience. There was not a dull moment. I finished this book in a little over four days. I would listen and read it again. It was that good! Max's character is so layered that I would love a sequel to just cover her psychopathic ways. I just wanted to know so much more about her childhood and what had happened. It kind of makes you worry as a parent to who your kids are friends with.     Of course, with the Raven review that I have provided this book I will also rate it at five out of five stars. I would also like to make the comment that have any book that you can visualize every scene because the imagery is do...

      Oh the twisted games we play with our loved ones. Everyone is always captivated by their significant other and sometimes I do think couples play "games." I was mentally taken in by the plot and wanted to know how everything ended.      I have read and listen to multiple books that this author has produced through the years and honestly, I think this is one of our best works. Maybe one day this will actually even become some form of movie. I did listen to it on audible and the switching of the characters perspectives was seamless and perfection. I love when an author can intertwine two characters perspectives to carry on the full plot while keeping the interest of the audience.     With all the praise said above of course I would rate this book of five out of five stars. I didn't understand why the good website didn't have a five out of five star rating. To me is the perfect crime/ mystery book. I would highly recommend if you were looki...

      Well... all I have to say is... it's a book. Man, this bit started off strong. The amount of imagery that the author put into each chapter was beyond comparison to anything else I've ever read. I'd say the first half of the book is definitely five star quality in my opinion. As the story progress, though we switch between multiple point of views, that seems almost random.      The book really has no point. And the plot is so sporadic that honestly, I lost interest and almost quit reading it multiple times. It had so much potential the first half of the book that the second half was a complete letdown. I was not impressed with any part of the second half of the book. I wonder if the author himself was high while  writing it. Maybe he was schizophrenic? Since nothing was really connected and everything was disjointed. It was like reading the writings of a crazy person and trying to piece together a story of their four different personalities. I wou...

      Let's be very open and honest at this moment... the last couple of weeks in April is so hectic for most teachers as you were transitioning into May. May brings about EOG testing, stress for end-of-the-year celebrations, and just things winding down. I've had to go back-and-forth to eye doctor, along with having eye injections, and still dealing with field trip stuff.     I'm not complaining by no means. But this lady is stressed. I still cannot see out of my right eye in my peripheral vision. That in itself is a massive problem and if the issue persists over the weekend, I have to call to make an additional appointment for more injections on Monday. Yay me. Can you hear the sarcasm in my voice as you read this?

      It's beautiful... well, what I could see of it. It was a massive disappointment for me, honestly due to the fact that the cave was not illuminated to the point where I felt safe. At no point in the introduction did they mention that you needed to bring your own flashlight. Safety hazard! I ended up smacking into the ceiling, which was about a foot below my height. I didn't even see it coming.     At one point during your tour, they turned the lights off in the cavern so you can experience total darkness. My toddler decided that was the time to scratch my eyeball out, literally. I ended up going to fast pace healthcare while in Sweetwater Tennessee. Once we arrived home three hours later, I ended up in our local ER. I have orbital scratches on my eyes from my child. It has been absolutely painful. All the occurred on Sunday and I'm still dealing with the repercussions of our adventure.   This one will go down in the books as an epic failure.   ...

       This book wasn't too shabby! It was a delightful read/listen to and from work, but I feel like I have heard this particular plot before. The ending was similar, and very expected. I will not be a book spoiler, so do not worry. I had a fear of befriending anyone during my own pregnancy for this very reason. You'll have to read it for yourself to find out more!      I would rate this book a 4.1 out of 5 stars.  -Would I read/ listen to this book again? Honestly, no. Everything played out exactly as I expected it to. There must be a movie adaptation to this book somewhere. As I was listening to this book, I actually envisioned whole scenes so I am pretty sure this was made into a movie at one point.      Spring Break thus far.... I'm so nervous about work that I cannot keep my thoughts from it. Even now I'm sitting here stressing out about next week instead of enjoying myself. Some break I'm having.... shhhhhh

      The week before break my students had the wonderful opportunity to visit this historic site and move through classes/ sessions with the park rangers. I was overly impressed and I enjoyed every minute of it. I would love to go back and wonder through all of the buildings and read all the information posted around the park area.      This is the Blue Hole, and I was mesmerized by the color and depth of it. The Ranger informed us that it is a place of spiritual significance to the three Cherokee tribes. One of these being my husband's tribe. He wants to go see and experience it for himself. I think we might make the 2.5 hour drive and visit sometime this summer. We were told about traditional weapons, black smithing, sacred flame, and the information surrounding the park's significance as a gather area.      I would highly suggest that you take some time and go visit! 

    Where did I see myself spending Spring Break? Anywhere but here at home, at least I have a plethora of good books to choose from.      I haven't posted very much this week due to the stress of my job and current situations that I'm having to deal with. Too much is happening at one time. I did however finish this book on a high note of romance. This VERY short story is about the treachery of family being hidden in plain sight. Our main character enters a story by helping out a farm to rebuild their foundation for a percentage of the gains made. I'm stilly somewhat smitten with the grouchy farmer!       I would how they recommend this book because it is short, sweet and simple. The stories plot has been ever used, but it is still nice sometimes to read a quaint book like this. I would write this book a four out of five stars. I do wish the story would I have more plot twist or characters who were more memorable, but overall it was well writ...

      I've been somewhat lost today. With lack of sleep today was tough, and I could hardly manage to keep my head above water. I was sinking fast. I pulled over several times before getting to work just to walk around my car in hopes that I could wake up. Nothing has worked...     Nothing has gone right today either. I awoke to a freezer. full of edible food had went out. All the food is spoiled and unusable. The house smelled so nasty, so that is something else I will have to sort out when I get home. I leave my house before 6 AM, so I'm sure its super nasty... I'm so not looking forward to getting home to yet another task that needs to be completed.      I was up most of the night with painful leg cramps and irritable stomach cramping as well.  Can I get through this work week? I started a new medication last night before going to bed, so I think that attributes to the new symptoms. I just need sleep and a break from all the responsib...

      I was beyond thankful to have the day off from work. I did however end up doing stuff for work on my said day off. I ended up having to drive 2.5 hours to Asheville in order to pick up snacks for our field trip on Wednesday. The kids have been fundraising here and there and we needed snacks to feed the kids on our extended trip that goes past our eight hour school day. Although this was something extra that I had to do, there will be no thanks or gratitude shown to me in the morning. I don't think people realize how much time teachers actually spend outside of school doing school related things. I think I can easily say I clock in over nine hours per week on extras.      It's all part of it though. Maybe one day things will change and we will see a shift in public opinion, but for now I will just keep on trudging through. Man... it was a rough day to have a toddler out and about because most schools are on spring break. 

      This isn't the regular obligatory Easter posts with pastel pictures and happy moments. I'm not exactly the most religious person and I have never claimed to be. I hid eggs for Taylor to find and we went to my husband's family dinner. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I just kept thinking something was missing today.       Then it hit me like a rock... this weekend was opening day of trout season, and I didn't even wet a hook or spend the first minute on a creek bank. I used to count down every year to this very weekend. It seems like a life time ago. I also miss my Dad and Grandpa so much on days like today. We would have spent the majority of this weekend catching trout and swapping fishing stories. Man... I miss the good old days of having a united family. We were dysfunctional with my father being an addict, but I miss both men. They would have had a fishing camp set up too.      When Taylor gets big  enough I will inst...

      I was so thankful to have Good Friday off so you will not have any complaints from me in that department. Was it a good day for me? Well, not really. My day was filled with appointments and  disappointing news. I have avoided my annual paps for a while now. I know as a woman that seems a little backward. A few years ago, I had a little bit of a scare. To give you the correct sequence this was about a year before I had Taylor. They took multiple chunks out of me in a biopsy.       I think the trauma in the wedding game that went hand-in-hand waiting for the results after that really did mess with me. Everything came back but none but there's always the potential it will develop into full on cervical cancer.  As a preventative, I'm supposed to go once a year and have a pap like most women. I have it been in a few years.  The last one I had was six months after giving birth to Taylor. She did see some concerning things today... So here we ...

      I looked on goodreads.com and saw that this book had a lot of negative reviews, but in actuality, it is a really good book with an awesome plot. Do I think it could really happen?.... Ummm maybe. I could definitely see a money, hungry husband committing the crime of poisoning his wife.      I immediately fell in love with this book and was swept away with who was going to die, and who did it. Obviously the title gives away so much. The readers instantly know someone will die and the book cover let you know it has something to do with a pendant.       I would highly recommend this book to those who need a thriller and mystery book in your life. I hate that other reviewers completely rob this book of all of its potential. In my opinion, if you don't finish a book cover to cover, you have no right to do a review in the first place. I would write this book a 4.2 out of five stars. I know some of the things just seem unbelievable, but i...

           This is a nice cross between a young adult novel and a mafia tale of horrors. It has just enough action, love and fast pacing that I was completely captivated covered to cover. I actually read this book instead of listening to it on audible so I feel like I enjoyed it even more. Our main character Penelope is by far one of my favorites.          One of my students had this book in class and suggested that I read it. This is her copy of the novel and I was glad she let me borrow it once she had finished. It's not often that middle schoolers have similar taste in books as I do. I will forever take recommendations from the said student. I loved how even in the end of the book I could not predict who had committed all the crimes against Penelope's family. It's really hard to talk about a book without giving away the main plot. I cannot stand when reviewers give you sneak peaks into what happened. Don't be a book spoiler! ...

      So, I've stuck with it for over two months now, and I can finally see some improvement. I weighed in this morning and guess what????     I weighed in at 223lbs, which has be over the moon with excitement. I know it's not ideal, but man..... I'm making progress. 

        This book has so much packed into it that I was completely overwhelmed. You have ghost, murder, crime scenes, magic, and overly indulged, self-centered lead characters. Now don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed this book. It was just too much at one time in one book. And it was almost comical to what Mitzi was having to deal with.      Our main character Mitzi has went to claim her inheritance from her recently deceased grandmother. Upon arrival into a small town, she is arrested for murder as she walks out the back of her lake grandmothers bookstore.  And along the way she finds clues to slowly solve the murder. This also set us up for an additional book, but I will not be reading anything else in the series.       I would write this book a 2.5 out of five stars due to the fact that it was too much in such a short time. 

       I always do love a good mystery. I also love it when the author keeps me guessing the entire time. Sarah a Denzil does remarkable job of keeping her audience completely captivated while having plot twist throughout the entire book. I highly recommend if you love the genre of mystery to really dive deep into this book. My last three days of commute have been absolutely thrilling listening to the story and trying to figure out who is the true psychopath. I would write this book a five out of five stars due to the fact that I was thoroughly entertained cover to cover.  

      Today has been something for the books. I'm overly tired and beyond thoughts of positive vibes. I'm exhausted from lack of sleep and constant worry. I have so many things going on at once that I cannot seem to get my act together.      I'm worried about medical bills again and saving money for Taylor's birthday. The woos of living on a farm are not helping anything either. I'm in constant battle with my neighbors over driveway rights. Apparently, they want me to move my fence, but that isn't happening. I have not blocked their right of way. You can still drive  through there. Along with that I have mom's  constant complaining and negativity. She is slowly losing her marbles. I don't know how to tread this path. Navigating that alone has caused me so many sleepless nights.     School is stressing me out as well. We have so many components going on at one time. I spend around 5 or more hours a week working on additional tasks for sch...

      It was a decent book, but nothing to call home about. A romance writer tries to navigate the world of dating only to realize the world isn't a fairytale like she writes about. Brontës character is overly silly and she cannot see what is right in front of her face. Ryan is not the "textbook" hero and we get to see the romance built while she dates a bland Sebastian character who isn't really what she expected.      I would rate this rather short book a 4 out of 5 stars. As a reader, I needed more insight to the characters. It seemed to much like a Hallmark movie.

      Well, I was finally able to figure out who the author was. It is Travis Beecham, or at least that's who I think it is. I have finished the third book that has currently been released. I do know there has to be more in the series because it leaves you with a cliffhanger as to what is happening next. I'm glad that the third book did pick up pace and continue with the story. Also love, the fact that the action in the plot picked up as well.     I do not like listening to an audiobook that has all the kissing sounds that the characters are making. It just leaves an unsavory feeling for me. I think there needs to be very distinct voices for each character because I kept getting the two sisters mixed up because the voice sounds so similar between them. In this installation, we realize that our main character is two people in one. She is Darcy and the Long lost away to Queen at the same time. Can she defeat the queen in our own mind or will she take over? I guess...

      Sadly, yes I did jump in on this hype product. I usually avoid following the bandwagon, but I'm glad I didn't this time. I bought a pair of their cloud loungewear, and I am overly excited about the material. I do think it is majorly overpriced for what you get. I found the same material at Target for nearly half the on sale price. And guess what? They call it cloud material too, which leads me to believe it's all about the name printed on the material, not necessarily the actual cloth. I'm embarrassed to say I feel like I wasted an extra $30 when I could've had two sets for the price I paid for the name brand.  Maybe next time I will shop around and be smarter.  I don't usually waste money on frivolous things. I just really needed some warm, comfy clothes. I would rate this brand, a three out of five stars due to the outrageous pricing. 

      It feels more like a "show" each day as you try to engage your students. You have to compete against reels, social media, and the constant need to check said media outlets. Sometimes it really is tiring with all this technology and our kids are losing valuable written skills.      2026---- Blooket, GIMKIT, Wayground, and any gamification of materials has a solid place in my monthly plans. I use one of these at least twice a month for vocabulary repetition in hopes that they can at least remember what our Tier III terms are. Let's  build up that vocabulary!!! EOGs are on the way.           I miss books. Man, that makes me sound so "old school," but it's true. I miss using paper based materials in the classroom. Students need to put pencil to paper with out the use of AI/ ChatGBT to do their work. Students need to using their own writing voice each day. Of course, that's a personal opinion. Those fine motor skills are ...

      Well, folks I do believe my mom has the first stages of dementia. She's forgetful, agitated all the time, and is extremely egressive in the late afternoon hours. She retails me things  she's already stated and is easily emotional. She's always wanting some sort of confrontation and makes it seem like I'm the problem. I was raised by two narcissistic parents that I could never do enough for. Nothing I did was ever right. I graduated from high school with honors, and college twice with a 4.0, but it has never seemed to be their versions of perfect.  So here we are again... I cannot do anything right. Even my cooking cannot please her.      I'm over her mean inconsiderate comments and undermining actions. She angers me to no end. I need a break! When she doesn't get her way she pitches these toddler tantrums, much like the ones my own child has now. I feel like I have two toddlers to deal with all the time. I have to walk on eggshells day and n...

      I've been avoiding this post for several days for several reasons. I have not made progress on losing weight, but I have made progress on picking up my step count each day. At the moment with my tennis elbow, I cannot lift weights, but I have made the effort to walk on the treadmill at least twice a week. If anything, I have gained a little weight and I'm not too proud of that. I am not gonna lose hope and faith that I can succeed. Where do I see myself in a few months?     I see myself living a healthier lifestyle. I have made a point of being more active. Any advice?