Life of the Party

      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...