Life of the Party

      Well now, this is a different speed! Written like an old western movie, I was actually impressed with the rated G romance novel.  Horses, manners, and chivalry is not dead! I was refreshing to read something that wasn't filled with detrimental lust!     Nathaniel's character alone was swoon worthy! May we all find our own version of him. With wit and the goal of locating a lost love, our two main characters fall madly in love with out knowing how the other feels. Classic romance scenario, but with an endearing twist of  wonder.      I was glad this was included in the Audible Plus Catalog. I would highly recommend reading/ listening to this book in the near future. I would rate this book a 4.6 out of 5 stars. I need just a little more dialogue between the characters, but other than that I was actually interested the entire time.  

      Right now, this is my biggest dilemma in life. Periodically will see something while online shopping or in person and I just have to have it. Honestly, it is such an impulse to purchase it that I have to completely talk myself down from paying for it. And then I have to make a list of why I actually need it. I tried to weigh at least 24 hours before I actually purchasing it to make sure that it is a, "need" and not necessarily a "want."      In today's society, we have become such consumers that a lot of the things we buy ends up, going to the landfills. I tried to make the conscious decision to only purchase things that I absolutely need, but my kryptonite seems to be clothing. Growing up, I didn't have a lot and I was all done picked on or the subject to bullying because I had the same four outfits that I rotated. Yes, my clothing was clean! As an adult, now I have my own money, my own budget, and my own wants. It is a daily monthly struggle fo...

      What a pleasant surprise to have when coming home. Meet Cleo and Clover my newest additions to my herd. What a time to be born in the middle of a snowstorm. So they must've been born sometime today which means the temperature was around 20°. I am so glad that they survived because they were not born inside the goat hut.      Mama and babies are both doing great. I thought she had a few more weeks until she would give birth, but nature waits for nothing. So this has me questioning whether or not I had marked things on the calendar correctly. Which means, will Honey have her baby in the next few weeks or will it be now? She too is heavy with milk, so I guess I need to make sure she's trapped in the barn for the majority of her time so her babies will not be exposed to the elements.     All of my toes were exposed to Junior at the same time, but they are not birthing within the same few weeks. Faith, my most honorary goat has not even showed si...

      Well, now, this morning has been one for the books. Upon my early waking, I realized just how bitter cold it was in the house. With no electricity, and our propane heater set to a two the house had cooled down significantly. I quickly hurried and took a rather cold half bath to get ready for work.      I went outside and discovered that my car would definitely need at least a 30 minute thaw out. It always seems to amaze me just how cold it can get on mornings like this. As I made my way down our frozen mud puddle driveway, I noticed that the gate was open. So imagine this, wet, hair, dress professionally for work and now I have to gather all my goats. Luckily they are all food motivated, but still if it could've went wrong this morning it did. Armed with only the flashlight on my cell phone, I made my way to the goat, shed to ensure myself that they had hay. Yes, I will walk through the field in the muck to make sure everything is OK.     My...

      Well, the snowstorm started out as any other, the meteorologist clearly got it wrong. What was supposed to been a massive ice storm followed by snow turned out to be rain in my area. A day later the news station did not catch the fact that we were going to have a small snowstorm, following the larger one. With the sudden drop of temperature is everything iced over. Including our water.      I was not a happy camper and it has been a battle for a few days. Carrying water to flush the toilets is by no means a respectable task. I fell in the small stream this morning in 7 degree weather and barely made it back inside. I couldn't feel my legs or hands. As I was regaining feeling all I could sense was a stinging  sensation which lasted for hours. Yay, today has been so productive!      The goats and new babies made it through the storm okay, but I'm still worried about the dropping temperatures at night. Just before dark, I we...

      After being a diehard fan of the original Hunger Games trilogy, this book was no exception.  This particular series was one of my go to as a young teen. I was lost in the world that author Collins had created us. It is undoubtably a story of the underdog.     I do wish this book would have been written first as a pre-date the trilogy that was released when I was in middle school. We learned more about Snow and his childhood. This helped me gather while he was such a cruel person in the other three books. I usually hate when authors decide to write the beginning books after they've done written a whole series. Like why not do this first? So ladies and gents, I would highly recommend reading this book prior to touching the original trilogy. Although this book could completely be a standalone novel as well. The only way I was able to finish. This book was due to an ice storm that hit our area.     I have been reading/listening to books via Audi...

    Dannika Dark is a fabulous author who has once again hit it out of the park! Like with all of her work, I'm completely wrapped up in the breed world that she was so creatively made.        Each character brings us new heart break and wonder. I like the Keystone group of misfits who fight crime and protect one another. Niko was especially endearing in this novel and to dive even further in their past as really created a wholesome novel set. When I have some extra money, I will be purchasing the next installment of this series. It's such a shame that Audible no longer carries them in their Pluc Catalog.     Gem finally saves Niko and their "friendship" takes on a new level of relationship. Although, not a sexual one, but one that will last a lifetime. My inner teen needed this book, so I will be rating this book a 5 out of 5 stars. In so many ways, Gem is the butterfly that Niko has never seen! You'll have to read the book to understand that sta...

      White suburban housewives meets mystery murder  is how I would describe this book. I did completely finish this book, so it's not like I'm going to leave anything out in my review. Would I re-read this book? I don't think I would even darken its door.     Overall, the story just fell flat for me personally. With very predictable outlining plot, I was bored with the lack of creativity. I did, however, like the very ending of the book when you finally discovered that it was in fact the stepson who had killed some of the girls. I had suspected him all along, though, so it was no surprise.     I feel like authors, put their hearts on the line when writing books because it is their personal work of love that finishes a whole novel. I do not want to say that Fisher is a terrible author so please don't take it that way. Maybe this book just needs a revamp or refresh. The writing I would give this book would probably be around three stars out of fiv...

      My current step count average for the month of January has really declined. I will make the excuse that I do have to take my watch off every afternoon to charge it for around an hour because I use it as an alarm clock the following day. The silent vibration wakes me up instead of having something loud that will wake up Taylor at the same time.     I have been trying to make a conscious decision to walk extra each day. I don't always succeed in that though. Honestly, I think I need extra motivation on days when I am not feeling well. I compared this to my step count from the previous year in the month of January and I have improved around 100 steps per day on average which isn't really worth mentioning. I'm trying to have a positive mindset though.     I am currently 225 pounds. So what is my goal? Realistically, my physician thinks that my goal weight should be 165 pounds. Goodness, that's some hopes and dreams beyond my reach at the moment. Let'...

      A lot of people like to personify the word life, but for today's purposes, let's talk about how life alters every aspect of your daily routine. Some tragedies that you suffer through are just a part of life. Due to the fact that I am a mother who has a small child, I am still expected to live my life as if I was a single unwed childless person. I'm still expected to stay late and leave early.     Live alters friendships. They said friendships either become more closely resembling a family setting to completely dissolving itself. Am currently in a place in my life where if you don't reach out to me, I definitely will not reach out to you. I had a small emergency happen this morning on my way to work, and the first thing I thought about was who was I going to call? If you had asked me five years ago, there would've been a list of about 10 people I would've called. Today, there was only two and both of those people are very close family to me. One being my hu...

      As this new weather front is shaping up, we see the panic in people's eyes. The weather channel increases said panic and causes people to go crazy in my area. What is all the hype about? Every time they do this.... we prep and then get nothing. I cannot even find milk in the one grocery store that my very small town has. Panic buying always takes the things I need.      I have a theory. Maybe, just maybe they do this to get more "views." The more they are in the public eye the more they get paid? Funding could be why they over react. The bottom line is always money. My propane order may not even be delivered in time because people buy up everything. I have been on the waiting list for two weeks and we are currently at 35%.      Don't watch the weather channel! They are in it for the fame, views, and hype only!

      Sometimes you have to worry about if the electricity is out. In our very secluded area seems to be something that we have to worry about constantly. I'd say at least twice a month we lose power. I really love to live off the grid, but I have no way to even start that process. So many of our appliances our electric that I'm not so sure I could come up with the money to have it transferred to propane.     We use propane in the house as back up heat along with using it for additional heat to help support the electric as well. Now don't come at me for having two sources of heat going on at the same time. Our heating and air unit can only keep the house at 74 wind temperatures are below 20. In the coming days, there is a winter storm moving our way, and with that comes the worry of losing power. I'm glad to know that we have propane heat as a back up. It is an expensive Plan B but it's one that we can rely on.     Now let's talk about getting it deliv...

          I would describe this book is being completely different. This book provided me with a completely bast world of wonder. I didn't realize this was even a big series until I listened to the first book. The only reason I even gave you a chance was because it was free on audible. Sadly, the remainder of the series are not.     I didn't necessarily like Ender's character because of all his flaws. The narrator who did enter his voice was an adult man, so it was hard to picture him as a child throughout the book. I definitely think this book is out of the box when it comes to creativity. I will be looking into whether or not this has some sort of movie that goes with it.     Who would've thought children fighting Battle between the worlds? Where do you add up when the world is about to end? I like books that leave me pondering over what it would be like if it were true. Obviously, this book is not true and it is complete fiction, but ...

      Saturday night was one for the books! One more thing marked off my bucket list of shows I want to see. For Christmas, I bought tickets for my mom to see Larry the Cable Guy. Harris Cherokee Casino Event Center hosted his show this past Saturday. I was beyond blessed to get tickets to see him. I know if my dad was still alive today. This would've been something I would've done with him too.     My mom has never got to really go out and do anything. There are so many first for her that I have checked off her list in the past 10 years. I was really afraid she would not be able to physically go into the center to watch the show. I didn't have the extra money to do valet parking so we parked in the parking deck. The walking distance from the parking deck to the event center is absolutely ridiculous for those who are physically impaired.      I would write the show a 10 out of a 10. Although the comedian is 62 he really knows how to get an audienc...

      I think overtime my opinion of what a marriage should be and what it is changes. I don't necessarily maintain the same definition year after year. Just luck with any relationship, marriage morphs into something more as it transforms.      So here's my current definition: marriage is a long-term relationship that if nurtured can grow and bloom, but if it is neglected in any shape or form it fails miserably.     By no means do I have a perfect marriage. I love my spouse and try wholeheartedly to be the most supportive partner that I can possibly be. I fail and continue to learn from my faults. We take seven steps forward and three steps back all the time, but together we tackle new obstacles that come our way. I'm not sure if we will always be the accommodating, but I will do my best for as long as I can.  Personal steps that I try to follow: 1. I gave him as much space as he needs or wants. We can always do everything together and I unde...

      Oh girl, this book was a massive letdown. This storyline has been overly used and somewhat familiar to me. You have the autistic in teenager who commits a crime but hides it to protect those around her. It was also so predictable that I pretty much knew the ending midway through the book.     From the reviews, I read, Wendy Walker is a fantastic author. I look forward to reading more books written by her, but if they're of the same caliber, probably won't even open it.     Being the author makes you so vulnerable because you were placing your workout in public. Said work is also your heart and soul. This just wasn't my cup of tea. Overall, I would give this book a 2.2 stars out of 5. This rating does not come lightly, but due to almost boredom while listening to this book I feel that it is a fair rating. Does anyone have any more suggestions about books I should be reading? 

      My long commute each morning and evening is absolute solitude. I spend that time winding down from a busy day or to position myself for a very good morning. It's all about mindset. Today started and ended like every other monotonous day, but that glorious commute home was worth so much today.     I need that downtime by myself to really gather my thoughts and process what has happened. I spent a majority of my commute, listening to an audiobook along with putting together a checklist for next week. I'm trying to make small subtle changes each day in order to make my goals. I think stepping away from technology will also help me. I don't wanna be glued to my phone or any other sort of device for a majority of my day. So I think that should be one of my goals too. 2026 will bring about a time where I am stepping away from anything electronic. I will still get on my phone and check my social media from time to town, but when I have downtime, I will be reading...

      With the abundance of caution, my school  system called school off today. I was super grateful too! As the temperatures dropped, I had so much that needed to be done here at home to prepare for the weather change. We didn't really get any snow, but I could say it was an ice day.     Farmers dread this time of year. Waterers freezing up, cold temperatures, frozen eggs, and the constant worry that a  baby might be born in the dead of night. I have been stressed out this entire week worrying about my new babies and the impending storm that is still coming. Tomorrow night is supposed to be even colder, so I'm sure I'll be laying out yet another layer of chips for everyone.      

     Not every book is every audiences cup of tea. Vanessa Lillie does a tremendous job incorporating cultural identity into her books. This is the second book in the series following, Blood Sisters. It took me several chapters to really get into the book because it was as if the book started in the middle of a different story.      I did enjoy the book, but I didn't really get to know more about the characters. I like stories that really have more internal dialogue. In all honesty it was a big letdown after reading the first book which ultimately would lead me to not recommend reading the second book.      The plot itself is fabulous. Personally, as a reader, I just need more connection to the characters. I would write this book a 2.9 out of 5 stars. I don't usually give low ratings to books. I feel like authors, put their heart and soul into their writing so they deserve to have some recognition. Writing is such a personal thing to begin w...

      Forgiveness is a topic that I rarely approach. I do feel like you can forgive someone, but not forget what they did. I am by no means perfect in anyway, and I make mistakes too. Once someone crosses me, I will get along with them, but I will never give them trust.     The swearing on my way to work, I took a long hard look at where I'm currently at in life. And I guess I need to start forgiving myself for not living out the dreams that I had set. On my checklist to life, I pretty much completed everything that's on there, but I didn't really live. I am so go oriented that I forget to have fun along the way. What's the purpose of having a life if it's not truly lived? So I guess today's post is about forgiving myself.     So often we beat ourselves up over the small things. We second-guess our choices, we question the choices we did make, and sometimes we completely talk ourselves out of things. They are so many things I wish I could change about ...

      I think it's better to see the whole picture instead of small snippets along the way. I have progressively tried to make progress when it comes to completing my rings with a special focus specifically on my step count. Before I started this journey, I was not completing my exercising ring, or the red ring which represents my movement. I think overall I have made a step in a positive progression.     I think the biggest battle is..... me. Sometimes I get into my own head and loose focus on the main goal. I was always told that your biggest critic in life is the person in the mirror talking to you. The sheer guilt of not putting forth effort is what is driving me to move forward.     This morning it has paid off! I am beyond excited to share that I'm down to 226 lbs. I know it isn't much, but it's a start! I noticed that Sunday's are where I'm really struggling to complete my circles. The 12th is today, and I'm off to a good start thus far. I ...

      Oh, girl this one is for us! Doctors, love, and loss tied together to form a romance story of the century. Death of a family makes us all go a little crazy, now we get to see how it plays out when a doctor cares too much. There were moments when I cried my eyes out listening to this book.     Please make this into a movie! Weston's character alone was beyond my expectations. We never know what we have until it's gone. Does she loose everything she's worked for or does she get away with falsifying documents. Will her own heart lose everything for her or will her old flame save the day? I never get this emotional while listening to a book so kudos to the author for truly being able to pull me into the story.      We all have those old flames that we met in college and thought that it would last forever. When our mother died, her old flame decided to break up with her on that very same day. Ren's character beyond anything else is the woman insi...

      Thrilling,  breathtaking, and mysterious are just a few words I would use to describe this rather short novel. For what it lacks in length it makes up for in having a boisterous plot. I was impressed by the level of writing and multitude of layers that this book had. I loved every minute of it!     Can they really ever catch the Nine's killer? I was beyond excited to finish this book.  Even in the last 15 pages, I was still guessing at who really committed all of these crimes. I love a book that can keep you on your toes the entire time. I think I'm starting to become a crime fan. This is my first James Patterson book, but it will not be my last.     I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars! The book ends with a twist that you never see coming. I wonder if Patterson will write a sequel to this? I so want to know what happens next. 

      I never knew before becoming a true parent that people have unworldly expectations of mothers. My child is my whole world, and I dropped every bit of a social life that I had once I became my mother. I can truly say I only have two real friends in life now. I was expected to still continue to go on outings, be able to be there for other people at all times, and to be on call to answer various text messages throughout the evening and nights. These expectations were never met. I am slowly, just realizing that my support system is super small.     Yesterday, I was so overwhelmed because I wasn't able to help out a friend. I am around kids all day and night so communicating with adults has somewhat been challenging for me. I am so accustomed to speaking to children that modern slang if it is not middle school aligned, I don't know how to communicate. I want to be there for the people who have been in my life for years, but it is almost impossible to be able to...

      I've made some positive progress this week. Any and all positive praise is much appreciated. I still haven't got my average step count to be over 8,000 steps per day, but I'm so close. My doctor stated that 10,000 steps a day is the ultimate goal. I'll try my best to climb that high.      I haven't really lost any weight while on this journey. I have actually gained a 1 lb. The embarrassment is beyond words. I will be working on food intake as well. Exercise alone will not produce results and I know that. This week: 1. Attempt to meet my step count each day! 2. Increase water intake! 3. Lean meats and veggies  4. No direct sweets! (I have to work on this)  5. Cut sugar intake!

                   Yes! Another successful birth of a new kid! Everyone meet KING! His naughty momma decided she didn't want to give birth to him in the cozy goat shed, so she had him out in the field. He was being born right as I was coming home from work. Milly, as always, is a wonderful momma goat and went straight to work cleaning him off. I hate that we keep having all these bucks, but there is nothing I can do about it. Maybe, just maybe, I can convince my husband to keep at least one of the little dudes. He always lets me choose if we keep the girls or not. Look at that face! 

      Where has this been all my life and why didn't I know about it? My friend recommended that I also take time and record my "reading log" on Goodreads. Honestly, girl, this is where it is at! The more I explore it, the more I favor it! Feel free to check out my progress along the way!  My 2026 Reading Goal

         We never know who is truly reading our blogs or who is there watching but not saying anything. With that being said, you have to be careful what you put out on the Internet. Not everyone will agree with what you post or what you think. Today, I'm a lifelong learner of what a teaching legacy lives behind. My dear friend has chose to take a different path. She has been a mentor to me for many years as well as a friend.     I cannot necessarily talk about the circumstance in which I am heartbroken over. As a teacher, you always have a passion for your subject area, students, and community. When someone leaves the teaching profession, it is always a loss in my opinion. I have worked so long and so hard to gain, maintain, and grow in my chosen field. I have often thought about leaving, but I just really love teaching. The hardest thing I ever had to do as a teacher was watch a peer pack up her room, especially because she is my inspiration. I have ...

      In less than a three week period I have lost two former students. When you get into the teaching profession, no one tells you about moments like this when I got home this afternoon long after Taylor went to bed I just sat in silence. Because the memories that you do have of your former students are always positive things. And you just sit and think about how they were in your room for the year or years that you had them. When I first started teaching, I taught multiple grades, so some students potentially had me for multiple years. If I was lucky enough, I had students all three years. You really get to know a kid once they have been in your classroom for three school years. I have sat here in silence for over an hour looking through old yearbooks. I will also let you in on the little secret that I have helped create the yearbook for many years. One of the young men who passed away, actually helped me as part of my yearbook class. He continued to help me even when h...

    Take a deep breath before you start this book. With so many layers, the author sweeps you away in the story that has twist and turns the entire time. I don't wanna give too much of the actual plot away, but I will say this man, you never know who the antagonist is until the very end. Tattoos can be deceiving.     I was fully immersed in this book through most of my Christmas break. Who knew epilepsy could do so much damage to someone's actual memory. I could not imagine what our protagonist went through in this book. Once again, I don't wanna give too much away, so I won't. I like to give fair ratings to every book that I read or listen to. Overall, this book is a keeper. I think I will be recommending it for my next book club. I am part of two different clubs, one through my workplace and another through my women's circle in my own community.     I wish this was made into an actual movie. The visuals I got as I was listening to this book were phenomena...

      I thought I'd share some good news. Kidding season has really took off with my first two babies as shown to your lift. Meet Shelly and Sheldon our newest additions to the farm. I was so glad that these two babies were born on a warmer day instead of the dark depth of a cold spell.     As always, we iodine where the umbilical cord is located, give each go a dose of selenium, worm the momma goat, and give the mama a shot of vitamin B complex. We are off to a good season with two very strong babies. Both kids were up and moving within a 10 minute window of being born. Their birth weight was low, but they are both super healthy.     It was really hard for me to go back to school today, because I wanted to be at home with my goats. Luckily, today was a teacher workday and I was able to get some of my lesson plans done along with some room arrangements. On teacher workday I can freely check my phone so my husband sent me a couple of it update throughou...

      It's a steady slow climb as I make adjustments to living a better life. 200 more steps on the weekly average is a gain and will take it. I avoided the elevator at work the one day I went in last week (Friday) and took the stairs.      Here's to a new me! Slow progress, but I'm not giving up!      I need some additional motivation thrown my way. Please feel free to share your ideas, thoughts, or even your own progress. Any and all help is much appreciated. This really is helping me stay accountable. 

           Ah, the homemade meal. Girl, guess what.....?    I did that. It might not look like much but I'm proud of it. Chicken and cheese enchiladas baked in my favorite glass pan.    I really wish I could share the recipe, but honestly, I cooked by taste this time, so exact amounts would be almost impossible to verify. The only unhealthy ingredient was the cheese. I even used the Carb Smart wraps for my seasoned chicken. I left the chicken, after shredding it, marinating in a red sauce that included bell peppers, onions, garlic, fajita powder, and diced chilies.      I impressed myself, so I will be tooting my own horn todays as I get to eat left overs. 

      I told myself I wouldn't necessarily be hyper focused on a list of goals. Just because I told myself that doesn't mean I still don't have a said list. As with everything, I have to have a list. So listen up peeps here is my somewhat list for 2026. 1. We are on day two of 365. My goal is to make healthier choices each day that could be from taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away from the stores, or simply making better choices when eating. #GirlWeGottaDoBetter. 2. Stay in my own lane. I will not get wrapped up in others drama. This year I will be solely focused on me and my little family. If you want to be a part of that, then you have to show up. I will not go out of my way to update people who don't ask.  3. I will not purchase more goats! I have made it a personal goal not to add any new goats to my herd this year. Next year I may possibly purchase a new billy. I need to keep my head small and closed in order to have an efficient farm...