tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34144357768257650412024-03-15T20:11:51.959-05:00Stranded in ChaosMy quest for world domination, surrounded by chaos.Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.comBlogger1951125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-75850115573196640702023-12-06T10:56:00.002-06:002023-12-06T10:56:10.656-06:00Secret Santa Claus Club- REVIEW<p>I hope your holiday season is going swimmingly and you're totally on the ball with all of your to-dos! I know some parents struggle on what to do when you have a child whho maybe is on the verge of not believing in Santa Claus or are straight away asking you questions. Some parents just don't know what to say, but today's book is a <i>great</i> resource!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Secret Santa Claus Club - Jeff Janke</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAmmrRMbOCwcW3Klptz72Q50xej-m9-iYHwB3gX6z-S7gKyjjwAtVWBcUC7X6_p3q5gLpxC6YjuXOIkUOPcMPfuq04gI1nZts9JBug21EtoH4WCZm3LbFrMOAX0SaYZj2PTOpEtqdpmz2drLA6hcX62leY5H02kegn7krIdcuSUksxKhcOpBNtAj9CVE/s500/63391605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="500" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAmmrRMbOCwcW3Klptz72Q50xej-m9-iYHwB3gX6z-S7gKyjjwAtVWBcUC7X6_p3q5gLpxC6YjuXOIkUOPcMPfuq04gI1nZts9JBug21EtoH4WCZm3LbFrMOAX0SaYZj2PTOpEtqdpmz2drLA6hcX62leY5H02kegn7krIdcuSUksxKhcOpBNtAj9CVE/s320/63391605.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i>Why do we spend so much time and effort creating a fairytale world for our children, just to take it away from them? Author Jeff Janke faced that dilemma three years ago when his daughter started questioning her belief in Santa Claus. Like most parents, he had two problems to solve--how to gently teach his child the true meaning of Christmas, and how to prevent her from spoiling the fairytale for other children. Out of this problem, Secret Santa Claus Club was born.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i>Secret Santa Claus Club is a beautifully illustrated story about a little girl thinking back on the magic of each Christmas. She remembers meeting Santa at the mall and seeing her first bike under the tree on Christmas morning. As time goes on, she starts to wonder if it's all real. When she decides she's ready to know the truth--her parents help guide her to the true meaning of the holiday.</i></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i>Secret Santa Claus Club was written to be a tool for parents during these challenging moments. Combined with love, patience, and compassion, SSCC will help transition the reader from believing to becoming. At the end of the story, your child will be invited to join Secret Santa Claus Club. They'll understand the importance of keeping the secret, creating the magic for believers, and helping other members of the club.</i></span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY34Mum4LdDdsF3ZjPuooDmWstse23fpwint2EwxgSkGUb-bGtjgkmdc1Mq_P_7Tly9v-ithhlh3SZeZJaeKg5TRMZhS0Q12T78_OAk4Gt06Rgy8160q0lWUXi0eSf71wHH_2AQUDY7yNi0p921DhfRxZloE1Fp8VjgYgjv8I9_viuzOvsfziEdmsiaTg/s600/Christmas-600x152.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="600" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY34Mum4LdDdsF3ZjPuooDmWstse23fpwint2EwxgSkGUb-bGtjgkmdc1Mq_P_7Tly9v-ithhlh3SZeZJaeKg5TRMZhS0Q12T78_OAk4Gt06Rgy8160q0lWUXi0eSf71wHH_2AQUDY7yNi0p921DhfRxZloE1Fp8VjgYgjv8I9_viuzOvsfziEdmsiaTg/s320/Christmas-600x152.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My youngest children, 8 and 7, still believe in Santa but my older two, 18 and 15, don't. I remember fielding the questions about Santa and being so nervous I was going to say the wrong thing and ruin all of their best Christmas memories. Luckily for me it was right around the time my 8 year old was being born so I could use the "now it's your turn to be a Santa" and I included them in with gift giving for others. My 15 year old is currently in charge of our Elf on the Shelf and he gets really into it, last year making an elaborate sleigh out of popsicle sticks. But even still, every year they still get Santa gifts. </div><div><br /></div><div>I love that this book takes that same idea, that once you're old enough, you too can become a Santa. IT talks about the meaning of Christmas and the idea that a lot of thought goes into special gifts for someone and how we're Santa all year long. It encourages the loving, giving spirit towards others and talks about being a Santa Claus is a real responsibility. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall this book is really well done. Beautiful illustrations, carefully thought out story that explains Santa in a gentle, loving way. There might be still be questions but this is an excellent starting point without worrying that you're going to hurt their heart. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you so much Jeff Janke for having me on this tour and giving us a wonderful story! </div><div><br /></div>You can enter below for your chance to win a copy of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63391605-secret-santa-claus-club?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=ScJxWYSCS8&rank=1">Secret Santa Claus Club</a></i> and some swag!<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="463009dc8" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/463009dc8/" id="rcwidget_th7chsqo" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="463009dc8" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/463009dc8/" id="rcwidget_th7chsqo" rel="nofollow"><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></a></div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-33734864650583734352023-10-13T13:26:00.006-05:002023-10-13T13:26:32.128-05:00Book Review: The Writing on the Wall<p>When I tell you that I haven't felt well and have slept through most of this week, that's no joke. Doing something like eating breakfast was exhausting, so I'd take a nap well into the afternoon and barely make it until my bedtime, which is normally 10. Then I'd sleep all the way through the night like I've never slept before. I feel generally run down and crappy, so I don't know if my body is fighting something off or I have something else going on. Regardless, it is annoying and I am so behind in <i>everything. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">The Writing on the Wall - Marilyn Howard</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZrGX6MUK_iIu67cqVMrG1yAq1P8sF8YOD2F7XBLvatJ6ImPNoWhYN3MGGTXcwWS1JEeSFlY5z3ketDDtXB1qOoBNrHnY3IH7PrCge0dpy8yBe8Ji80bHPsMPmhnL6fOGK-WE9r5npj4_qcJOBkwS6UuVdz4n_Dd3L4KITvv6zevZ9cuLcAusdIPkgHY/s240/55818677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZrGX6MUK_iIu67cqVMrG1yAq1P8sF8YOD2F7XBLvatJ6ImPNoWhYN3MGGTXcwWS1JEeSFlY5z3ketDDtXB1qOoBNrHnY3IH7PrCge0dpy8yBe8Ji80bHPsMPmhnL6fOGK-WE9r5npj4_qcJOBkwS6UuVdz4n_Dd3L4KITvv6zevZ9cuLcAusdIPkgHY/s1600/55818677.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;">This timely and entertaining memoir about a woman entrepreneur explores existing challenges and her winning strategies to conquer and succeed in the 1970s and today. The author portrays her youthful travel adventures, harrowing legal battles and romantic surprises. Her route winds around a semester in Italy, breaking through a glass ceiling as art director at an advertising agency, skiing in Aspen, wandering through Mexico, working in Hawaii and enjoying group houses in the Hamptons before beginning her startup and family. New territory was charted in 1970 with the founding of Creative Freelancers Inc., the first central agency for freelance commercial artists and writers. It operated in Manhattan for over 25 years and in 1997 it was the first agency on the web. A late marriage to an older, sophisticated New York man made her a mother to two of her own children and three surprise stepdaughters. Finding herself with a family needing support and great business potential, she was pressured to make the business grow. Events converge and uncanny predictions come true.</i></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvYgOQrrGENKeiOKvHW2DyVSOBYx76OoGRcwDtEvXz1OtvtfAzDDxOb8KlYj0nvt_rP1sCT0kAvenJomLK1ZyjBjOsXV3OymWh6InwSNEJ1K5CacmilBQdtpFi3NmYGyiYudPR0R0BtzhSpJy27WqF60BBuPhsnBKLF0xSx-sBtje_GPH2yjEEatS5lI/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvYgOQrrGENKeiOKvHW2DyVSOBYx76OoGRcwDtEvXz1OtvtfAzDDxOb8KlYj0nvt_rP1sCT0kAvenJomLK1ZyjBjOsXV3OymWh6InwSNEJ1K5CacmilBQdtpFi3NmYGyiYudPR0R0BtzhSpJy27WqF60BBuPhsnBKLF0xSx-sBtje_GPH2yjEEatS5lI/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A fascinating look at how the author became an entrepreneur and all of the successes (and failures) since the very beginning. I'm not sure if its sad or reassuring that things have been remarkably the same but also very different. Yay for consistency? <br /><p>One thing I could really relate to was her journey into motherhood while maintaining a career. A man is never asked if he plans to stay home with the baby, its just assumed a woman would give up her career once the baby is born. For this reason alone this book is such an encouraging read for any new mother, whether she stays home or not, because it is so easy to lose your identity to motherhood and we are so much more than that. Just because we become a mother doesn't mean we give up all of our interests and ambitions, we just have to adjust and make room for all of it. I could relate to the struggles of a baby who was a lot, both my first and third baby were a lot. A lot, a lot, and I remember crying many times because I just didn't know how to take care of them. I really felt like I was failing. I was good at so much but why can't I be good at this? Needless to say, I wish I had a Vi. (Vi is a nanny of sorts, a woman of many talents.) I loved her description of the different stages of parenting, and I feel like I'm in all of them at once right now! She offers helpful advice and a new perspective on parenting I hadn't yet considered. </p><p>Highly motivating, this is a positive and encouraging book for women, and teach you how to say no and when to say yes. It's great for career focused women, parenting/family focused women, and the women who are going to do it all. No matter which path you take, Marilyn Howard assures you that its the best path for you and that you've got this. </p><p>Thank you to WOW! Women on Writing and author Marilyn Howard for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review! All opinions are my own. </p>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-71140368330586812212023-10-06T15:31:00.001-05:002023-10-06T15:31:00.149-05:00The Summer of Concerts<p>I feel like I went to almost all of the big concerts that came near us this summer. I missed Pink, and I'm sad about that because she's great live, but concerts are expensive and you just can't do them all. I still have the Eagles to see in November, and Aerosmith but that's pushed back to 2024 and honestly, I don't hate that. I am kind of concert'ed out. </p><p>In....I don't even know, maybe August, I say The Lumineers with Olivia and her friends. I hadn't ever seen them live and I know a few of their songs, so I was pretty sure I'd have a good time. Can we talk about the ridiculous road construction in Somerset, Wisconsin? It's terrible. They have little to no detours so you're just left to figure it out yourself. I also remembered I hate festival parking. I hadn't been to Somerset in YEARS and I forgot you park in a field. During the day time it isn't a big deal because you can see where you are. At night though, you can't find your car and you realize all of your land marker clues are useless because it looks the same no matter where you are in the field. The great news is my car has distinctive lights and a horn that doesn't sound like everyone elses, otherwise we would have had to wait until the majority of cars left. </p><p>I also forgot how much have 300+ cars trying to get out of one exit when at least half are drunk or at least partially impaired sucks. It is an absolute free for all and you're forced to play chicken with everyone around you. You also have to have stellar peripheral vision because at least one Subaru barreling through the crowd will narrowly miss hitting you. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTay8UBApNgrasxldia6Sq58Tu40ww2CDqp8lMkllaEqMcjUph8ju5qYAmnQFIvKQDDBTcPXidUxqS2sitWXehazIcSNsFEUwEmsDbaskVB60jCGl7wtylNRhdBISdfV6LD0DUt8AP1Gxm5ZXZyxtgYilF-wWRaWTmdTpgB1KXYr2y3ekVyG9CNysxVc/s2048/IMG_0579.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTay8UBApNgrasxldia6Sq58Tu40ww2CDqp8lMkllaEqMcjUph8ju5qYAmnQFIvKQDDBTcPXidUxqS2sitWXehazIcSNsFEUwEmsDbaskVB60jCGl7wtylNRhdBISdfV6LD0DUt8AP1Gxm5ZXZyxtgYilF-wWRaWTmdTpgB1KXYr2y3ekVyG9CNysxVc/s320/IMG_0579.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Despite parking and driving shenanigans, it was a really good concert. It was perfect weather, a totally clear night, and quite possibly, the most perfect night to have an outdoor concert. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoMnKgjeQb1lofAiWOIPeQqHg5hYDQdoyXx1FOdsdMC5WnFZhi5xlNInKgpT7bMX1IuuCyKDnPkLye4_OQDn8LWCANbpc79-85y5fnePQkALwHUaLndxTs_kGT9kgNyF6KzHZNsdvVL5oHEfmg5vUzExmxe7OZG-0fc_4oGQg51cap3Qvvb4FRVKjDe0/s2048/IMG_0583.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoMnKgjeQb1lofAiWOIPeQqHg5hYDQdoyXx1FOdsdMC5WnFZhi5xlNInKgpT7bMX1IuuCyKDnPkLye4_OQDn8LWCANbpc79-85y5fnePQkALwHUaLndxTs_kGT9kgNyF6KzHZNsdvVL5oHEfmg5vUzExmxe7OZG-0fc_4oGQg51cap3Qvvb4FRVKjDe0/s320/IMG_0583.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>I also discovered I absolutely love the Lumineers and didn't even know it. They sang all of the things I knew, Olivia and her friends had an absolutely great time. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr-UOle3eVgZ7OmVvQE1pLshnCM7LA3okye6vVv8j1_GOy7K74AiIUsVb9ocBtZD4YVnlQ5yLD3zpGgUUCkvSmNU6bf6qFtPcnxCzwMX5DrV4YiQ19WsPiNEpvq9JWQFoTiSRjmcITdmH4Bk0b8N3fAZkjWToMLoFVU6pQ__izQbKdnXLE1BzzRf_ano/s2048/IMG_0593.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr-UOle3eVgZ7OmVvQE1pLshnCM7LA3okye6vVv8j1_GOy7K74AiIUsVb9ocBtZD4YVnlQ5yLD3zpGgUUCkvSmNU6bf6qFtPcnxCzwMX5DrV4YiQ19WsPiNEpvq9JWQFoTiSRjmcITdmH4Bk0b8N3fAZkjWToMLoFVU6pQ__izQbKdnXLE1BzzRf_ano/s320/IMG_0593.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Thank god the drive home was much less eventful once I got out of the damn parking lot. It was a late night and it took me a few days to recover. I'm not in my 20s anymore. Sadly. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuC57r-r81Rq5bJWwP-e7lF5_0p-MOArNpYIKx1qRH1ere8zZN_i3w2m7nGNDoqZV9JvAv79mu0T6nm9jXqbuwz1oprLE84-ORDs9ZYdYenRsAV8E-dBT6NyqKtDY_zEJ4MuR3Ga6YuFkt8SQl_Vz7HA-pNggMnGwzaQSr1ufaoguqXxv44rO5QjsAvo/s2048/IMG_0660.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuC57r-r81Rq5bJWwP-e7lF5_0p-MOArNpYIKx1qRH1ere8zZN_i3w2m7nGNDoqZV9JvAv79mu0T6nm9jXqbuwz1oprLE84-ORDs9ZYdYenRsAV8E-dBT6NyqKtDY_zEJ4MuR3Ga6YuFkt8SQl_Vz7HA-pNggMnGwzaQSr1ufaoguqXxv44rO5QjsAvo/s320/IMG_0660.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>In September, Matt and I went to the Twin Cities to see Old Dominion. These tickets were super cheap, for great seats, so I figured a date night was in order. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNccKj-QNbi3mjS4y6wKYC46hNPvT9QiOeI6iGI5aPMnEsPQeAhTIYnX9Q3GSLdyE083kwIKTaXMrYmtHv0v2tCiC0O8Z94IYN7y-v5UKgnraEevbfUXPRVf9MFPTAQgUdb7I2I7uookt_ZeUOaSP8sGWpAYLwznImEGhlbpzo4NqZ5CTLDuPOcBsDbU/s2048/IMG_0661.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNccKj-QNbi3mjS4y6wKYC46hNPvT9QiOeI6iGI5aPMnEsPQeAhTIYnX9Q3GSLdyE083kwIKTaXMrYmtHv0v2tCiC0O8Z94IYN7y-v5UKgnraEevbfUXPRVf9MFPTAQgUdb7I2I7uookt_ZeUOaSP8sGWpAYLwznImEGhlbpzo4NqZ5CTLDuPOcBsDbU/s320/IMG_0661.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Our old asses ended up leaving early because its a two and half hour drive home. It was fine, we still got a bunch of hours to hang out without kids. Shout out to Cass for holding down the fort when we were gone. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPfIo6C5FbzPCFm93vyT41fzbTUyvPo_uByUhhzmHwd3to_0LTzpsgmuHMC5qzu9SzxLpgwfDXOoGSkVFXkvYnX47BsJwRjTFkGhjE0HclvEFdbNUJuqh97oxo-yawxaUf0Aal-9y-MpjsGX4S_pE-_XfvvyD2Y4xy8fMk_uhS7ZOI7xnKuUcgCKEJhQ/s2048/IMG_0665.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPfIo6C5FbzPCFm93vyT41fzbTUyvPo_uByUhhzmHwd3to_0LTzpsgmuHMC5qzu9SzxLpgwfDXOoGSkVFXkvYnX47BsJwRjTFkGhjE0HclvEFdbNUJuqh97oxo-yawxaUf0Aal-9y-MpjsGX4S_pE-_XfvvyD2Y4xy8fMk_uhS7ZOI7xnKuUcgCKEJhQ/s320/IMG_0665.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Oh! Let me just say I left the concert absolutely loving "Priscilla like Presley, Block like Party" because she was such a fun time. She has a great live voice and her stage personna was so much fun. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtthVUtdsAh9ADRziPHgNbrk9jvvpEUsNVKAV0S6EftaHZ-_rYWPZ3Zv8vVqgfTJWLvUpC4HOyGSkQh74pei_bwwdZroDlLGCDDNyqB3rRgtOIuX5WYp7p82UKHN1lXIcuAox-FPfh0XBI1u3jRbxSK6u8_gBaVWuEjUCRjWEZLQXquHEUmzWyqqrPSE/s2048/IMG_0720.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtthVUtdsAh9ADRziPHgNbrk9jvvpEUsNVKAV0S6EftaHZ-_rYWPZ3Zv8vVqgfTJWLvUpC4HOyGSkQh74pei_bwwdZroDlLGCDDNyqB3rRgtOIuX5WYp7p82UKHN1lXIcuAox-FPfh0XBI1u3jRbxSK6u8_gBaVWuEjUCRjWEZLQXquHEUmzWyqqrPSE/s320/IMG_0720.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>The last of the summer concerts was 50 Cent, which I was a reluctant attendee. I didn't plan on going to this but a last minute in who was going, but it worked out just fine. Busta Rhymes was the opener and he talked far too much and seemingly did cocaine while on stage. Not even slick about it, and then starts talking about his 15 year old son in attendance. Which, stellar parenting. *eye roll* <div><br /></div><div>I wasn't sure what to expect with 50 Cent but you know what? He was GREAT. I have all of his albums so I knew all the songs, he sounded great, he looked great, it was a super fun night. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O8n2hjMyQgHM0oRoLTpNHNWJ7ITjdijdn_wyfbF6KiT-lxaF8Lrm6atE1a6ea2xiKUcto8ovTx5gUdR8fO_Txr-bobmrbrxsFHByuMeTVwNDmnYeMws4RDFGkzXzdlhcqxvdvYk-tr2pj-b7iB4blPx1oIvOBTxX79vGhY2lhFx3DDumNbqpeuy3qSo/s2048/IMG_0723.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O8n2hjMyQgHM0oRoLTpNHNWJ7ITjdijdn_wyfbF6KiT-lxaF8Lrm6atE1a6ea2xiKUcto8ovTx5gUdR8fO_Txr-bobmrbrxsFHByuMeTVwNDmnYeMws4RDFGkzXzdlhcqxvdvYk-tr2pj-b7iB4blPx1oIvOBTxX79vGhY2lhFx3DDumNbqpeuy3qSo/s320/IMG_0723.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>We left before the last song so we could get ahead of traffic and not get stuck in the parking ramp, and the drive home was pretty uneventful and just fine. I felt good and didn't feel like death the next day, so that was really nice. <br /><p>The last concert of the year is The Eagles, and that one is with Jackson, and I won't even tell you how much those tickets cost. Lets just say I would never, but Jackson had money, he loves this band, <i>and</i> it is their farewell tour and he had real FOMO. That concert isn't until November though, so I've got time to pregame it. </p></div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-88213183914486696872023-09-19T00:00:00.014-05:002023-09-19T00:00:00.144-05:00Back to School 2023-2024<p>I feel like we've had a really great, long summer, and it felt like more than three months. We managed to get a ton of concerts, two road trips, a county fair, swimming in our pool, and lots of yard play. It was a pretty great summer, but like every year, school has begun. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4sxNclz5h0UI6WOg07BHfnOJAnV-V2he1Lkhc1uVqP5TosEHliFtxMBS-PEyERd4-DbixSrad3f8INki-HZegHXJm15aZvGgBh8FdbCSu4-O0lRzhfb6CiyIgWTnbg6cBRQq7I9tSy-VrgSRZG2CR3wEiHzEcClXXQRNU5qlnboDVVp5_Zy8DYnoL3U/s2048/IMG_0605.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4sxNclz5h0UI6WOg07BHfnOJAnV-V2he1Lkhc1uVqP5TosEHliFtxMBS-PEyERd4-DbixSrad3f8INki-HZegHXJm15aZvGgBh8FdbCSu4-O0lRzhfb6CiyIgWTnbg6cBRQq7I9tSy-VrgSRZG2CR3wEiHzEcClXXQRNU5qlnboDVVp5_Zy8DYnoL3U/s320/IMG_0605.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><b>Olivia</b> is a senior this year and I'm not even ready for it. She's ready for it though and it is so exciting to see all of her hard work all of these years coming to an end. She's gearing up for new adventures, but I hope she enjoys this year to the absolute fullest. <b>Jackson</b> is a sophomore and he's going to be learning how to drive this year and <i>that</i> feels weird to me. I'm actually excited about that because that kid needs freedom and that's the gateway to freedom. <div><br /></div><div><b>Penelope</b> is in third grade and she is READY. Multiplication and division is her biggest challenges this year but if anyone is up for it, it is most definitely her. <b>Lucy</b> is in second grade this year and she's nervous about it. It's so hard seeing her grow because I want her to stay little but it is also exciting seeing her hit new milestones. Now if she could just learn how to tie her shoes, we'd be set. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's exciting because Jackson is trying a new sport, Olivia is going to continue with dance, same with Lucy, and we might get Penelope into swimming. She needs to find an activity she feels fits her, we just haven't found it yet. <br /><p>I am hoping to get into good routines again now that everyone is in school. I need to get back into my weight loss routines, I need work on positive self talk, I need to get back into being mindful, and I really need to get back into doing kind things for others. I always due, but I think I need to do more, more often. I'm trying to make goals for each month and really work towards them, including budgeting. I'm doing well with that but you know, we can always do better. </p><p>But fall is here, and I'm here for it. It's going to be a good fall. I'm trying to not let mental health get the best of me like it usually does, so stay tuned. It'll be OK. </p></div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-35853109565428334352023-09-18T00:00:00.002-05:002023-09-18T00:00:00.149-05:00Summer of Concerts: Sam Smith<p>When I think back to the summer of 2023, the whole year actually, I will remember <i>how many</i> concerts we went to this year. I wouldn't trade it for anything, spending time with my teens is always great because the time is fleeting. Soon my oldest will be in college and it'll be so quiet. And weird. </p><p>One of the concerts we went to this year was Sam Smith, which was a last minute ticket for us. There were seats for $25 so who is turning that down? I mean, really. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkZzU3jI1KAA-mQHcuwp0PDnp7ugVhRBGe94OOcdl8ZMHtftp49GN3H3-3_DPKYNnCO3AnyqaFYIiY7eF020AJtS17RYsMx-_OzICa3y-fVawEbJiRLj6sdwjLGtU8ZJB3J4VPyotx5FkS7I-_NlQ6ZbTUCD5_El0yJL_EokCZL37tLgQDqh3xYT5h1E/s2048/IMG_0509.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkZzU3jI1KAA-mQHcuwp0PDnp7ugVhRBGe94OOcdl8ZMHtftp49GN3H3-3_DPKYNnCO3AnyqaFYIiY7eF020AJtS17RYsMx-_OzICa3y-fVawEbJiRLj6sdwjLGtU8ZJB3J4VPyotx5FkS7I-_NlQ6ZbTUCD5_El0yJL_EokCZL37tLgQDqh3xYT5h1E/s320/IMG_0509.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div>Back in the day I could drive to St. Paul and back (it's about two and a half hours one way) with no problem. Now I have to pre-game and by pre-game I mean I have to take a nap knowing I won't get to go to bed at my usual time of 10pm. I'm old now and I don't even feel bad about it. On this day I didn't get my nap because I had appointments so by the time I got to the concert I was <i>exhausted</i>. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNr9SThnhJuMIYWOCz6h7YGeDqf2JWoQJTbqOFW16mqqcaIlw8hvBuGNSu-WvVsIiPS8bTsXXxM_7S7Ynwps4xCo1CKqlKCxickj6dTQiZW5I6A2KM6h8b8H0RkgBTjinp2wFdLATn27U9ngRaMuuujPV6HNNHP0nhjstyvFzL093fhpSw-oy59h2jYY/s2048/IMG_0510.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNr9SThnhJuMIYWOCz6h7YGeDqf2JWoQJTbqOFW16mqqcaIlw8hvBuGNSu-WvVsIiPS8bTsXXxM_7S7Ynwps4xCo1CKqlKCxickj6dTQiZW5I6A2KM6h8b8H0RkgBTjinp2wFdLATn27U9ngRaMuuujPV6HNNHP0nhjstyvFzL093fhpSw-oy59h2jYY/s320/IMG_0510.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>The opener was Jessie Reyez who I wasn't familiar with, but she was pretty good. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSbNaKIp31JeJCXfvIFsK61lUwHfuAxg-zUx9kckVRMAkq2Bo5XsDtcS2dIWRrf8CH7PuhVfmFNKyXYvv0fZzFc1q9M0L6JqFeop9WdRf3QNRlmUeYqteTUW7u6Lx3knkJA0OauxxdoglscDFQ378oi3MhuiCzCS-DeYRud-3NdJLCRulnVA8jcgrbIQ/s2048/IMG_0511.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSbNaKIp31JeJCXfvIFsK61lUwHfuAxg-zUx9kckVRMAkq2Bo5XsDtcS2dIWRrf8CH7PuhVfmFNKyXYvv0fZzFc1q9M0L6JqFeop9WdRf3QNRlmUeYqteTUW7u6Lx3knkJA0OauxxdoglscDFQ378oi3MhuiCzCS-DeYRud-3NdJLCRulnVA8jcgrbIQ/s320/IMG_0511.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>I've already seen Sam Smith live before and I know that he is a tremendous performer. With that said, I'm not a huge fan of this weird Gloria phase he's in, but you know, do you, booboo. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkFMjx6cdmtXS1zZMC0FQLbM9t-71s0po3WD6mb4gJu2euNc5epgVkVf-oJHUiYTAymoRAlgxwmqhTxtgZDC7wia5b6gUxtmRjgAqP0bfMQToA1FxnprGXj_DKAjH_uphE1zb0SdLiOesnx-jDqUuDRtkUginxtnBXHshevKiKYdHA-tVC_gk9b9NCQk/s2048/IMG_0515.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkFMjx6cdmtXS1zZMC0FQLbM9t-71s0po3WD6mb4gJu2euNc5epgVkVf-oJHUiYTAymoRAlgxwmqhTxtgZDC7wia5b6gUxtmRjgAqP0bfMQToA1FxnprGXj_DKAjH_uphE1zb0SdLiOesnx-jDqUuDRtkUginxtnBXHshevKiKYdHA-tVC_gk9b9NCQk/s320/IMG_0515.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Jackson isn't a huge fan but he's a fan of live music, but Olivia really likes Sam Smith, so she was all about this. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTylJd9_6qVMLHiaYM9F-aBmXPxFreiOcie0YSY5XZDA6vjtQlRwFMC_YnoAdZ2xtYKIe-HxbSHQsMl83jL-UDKC5zqQaHQNf6E-To42nOu7zhcBzwzfjwnduGxFNDcrWYCSR9e6BPUoYM5jwJAsvgJorAF1iFCCPk4jIlTc_FEEFVBxr7uU8yrwCy0o/s2048/IMG_0516.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTylJd9_6qVMLHiaYM9F-aBmXPxFreiOcie0YSY5XZDA6vjtQlRwFMC_YnoAdZ2xtYKIe-HxbSHQsMl83jL-UDKC5zqQaHQNf6E-To42nOu7zhcBzwzfjwnduGxFNDcrWYCSR9e6BPUoYM5jwJAsvgJorAF1iFCCPk4jIlTc_FEEFVBxr7uU8yrwCy0o/s320/IMG_0516.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>It ended up being a great concert. We left with like five songs left but truly, I was fading fast and having to drive another two and a half hours in the dark was daunting. We were missing the newer stuff so I was OK with that. <div><br /></div><div>We had a good time though and I'm so surprised it wasn't sold out. He's a great live performer and if you get the chance to see him, especially at $25 for a seat, absolutely take advantage of that! The people watching alone was completely worth it. I'm always a fan of drunk people hanging over balconies and you're just wondering if they are going to go over or puke. It's really a toss up, you know? Either way, it's bonus entertainment. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-13147475047604164492023-09-05T10:32:00.003-05:002023-09-05T10:32:40.446-05:00Book Review: Ride or Die<p> I can't believe I didn't post at all in August. We did go on our second road trip of the summer and then the back to school prep kind of took me out. I'm back now and with one of the best memoirs I've read in awhile, a husband's journey through grief. It isn't very long but oh so impactful. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Ride or Die - Jarie Bolander</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4CSzrRcoC-M7Tvi-Nu2sU93HhfBaBPfLwf4vcjIOc3syBhbWyR8CBxq7vQzkHQxBt-QpQE9awH9vfvoFQDXYqQPi7WDM9mFUkwRQsdhTe3oWEDqkqnCeBHUQELQ_uEZ8829IIfBAN1uLdqteKK1I5R5DOciIPJc3jwVHYjzUDt2ClQG7G5ypgNAsExs/s400/125713858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4CSzrRcoC-M7Tvi-Nu2sU93HhfBaBPfLwf4vcjIOc3syBhbWyR8CBxq7vQzkHQxBt-QpQE9awH9vfvoFQDXYqQPi7WDM9mFUkwRQsdhTe3oWEDqkqnCeBHUQELQ_uEZ8829IIfBAN1uLdqteKK1I5R5DOciIPJc3jwVHYjzUDt2ClQG7G5ypgNAsExs/s320/125713858.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Modern society has a warped sense of the partner-caregiver role, especially for men. Too often, men are ill equipped to handle switching from provider to caregiver, and the “just suck it up” advice so many offer up falls as flat as the Kansas prairie in the face of the reality of life and death.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Ride or Die takes its audience through the intimate conversations and thoughts of a Gen-X latchkey-generation husband—a man who has always had to fend for himself and believed that it’s up to him to solve his own problems—as and after his wife, Jane, succumbs to a terminal disease.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Jarie Bolander wrote this raw, heartfelt tribute to Jane and her handling of her illness to help men and the people who love them through the experience of loss and grief. A frank chronicle of how an intimate relationship can change and grow—even when the people involved feel there is nothing left to give— Ride or Die offers a detailed exploration of the male experience of grief, in the hopes that others suffering through it will not feel so alone.</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFozCzE1yI6RRm3_0EIhQPjEvzhrg0Rajt9r_sIpFEDuOcJEyngycJb4UMQ0zPXpt3izW8mnRvwlDkG13MDgs67cR05ZR09vkBtM9cp_WMTfdIy8KRG52IR36P9qOoRNIvf4LCkz-cKbwvFoo_eNk0VTT4CLJzdnaMuM2Sv9ZlmIPpnt5FLQKg0JssAko/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFozCzE1yI6RRm3_0EIhQPjEvzhrg0Rajt9r_sIpFEDuOcJEyngycJb4UMQ0zPXpt3izW8mnRvwlDkG13MDgs67cR05ZR09vkBtM9cp_WMTfdIy8KRG52IR36P9qOoRNIvf4LCkz-cKbwvFoo_eNk0VTT4CLJzdnaMuM2Sv9ZlmIPpnt5FLQKg0JssAko/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Right off the bat, this reminded me of Matt and I. Sure, I don't have cancer and I am not dead, but it just struck me that this could have been Matt. And though I am not dealing with cancer, <a href="https://www.strandedinchaos.com/2016/09/lucy-most-epic-birth-story-i-could-ever.html"><span style="color: #04ff00;">after having Lucy</span></a> I haven't been anywhere near the same. I'm left with a multitude of ailments and illnesses and complications that are here for the rest of my days and that's meant that Matt had to change, too. Where I was once overachieving working and PTO mom, volunteering us left and right and going out of my way to help everyone while maintaining a perfect home and cooked meals everyday, I am now that absolute opposite. It is hard to get out of bed, I'm not volunteering anywhere, I'm not working, I had to quit the PTO, my house is a mess and I can't cook to save my life. But, like the author mentions, "the sickness and health" seems like an abstract thought until you're hip deep into it. <div><br /></div><div>In <i>Ride or Die</i>, we follow Jarie at the unexpected start of a cancer battle with his wife, Jane. We know she doesn't survive so its a real arc and you feel like you're on this journey with them. I absolutely loved this book and read it in one sitting because I couldn't stop. Jane reminded me so much of myself and Jarie reminded me of Matt, except I don't know that Matt would have even offered to keep my business afloat! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U1vRc452caOwBml1YU_ZTGIOQt9E-XKZzVINJPWATooVSA12c8e2XLpS0luEMueHuNCI4wNJlQWiYITWehzjBhqoMITYGIiEVSp7__tcI5wU4DRl1GJGtlUZrY2T0qa4QY1Xl_WM2Ftr781hKU4Cb-eenJE2v4o7XPqytpV9pc4L3nONDJHsqKf2HJA/s1280/IMG_7485.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U1vRc452caOwBml1YU_ZTGIOQt9E-XKZzVINJPWATooVSA12c8e2XLpS0luEMueHuNCI4wNJlQWiYITWehzjBhqoMITYGIiEVSp7__tcI5wU4DRl1GJGtlUZrY2T0qa4QY1Xl_WM2Ftr781hKU4Cb-eenJE2v4o7XPqytpV9pc4L3nONDJHsqKf2HJA/s320/IMG_7485.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Me, fresh out of the ICU, and Matt- August 2016</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I really loved the circle of friends Jane and Jarie had and how in their own way, each one rallied to support them even in the darker days. Jane was the strongest woman battling leukemia and I'd like to think I can understand what her frustrations were maybe like having been an everything to everyone woman myself and knowing I can't do it, but I <i>want</i> to, that need never shuts off in your brain. You still have those expectations of yourself despite being unable to do it, which makes you feel bad and guilty. So for her to battle that, and leukemia, at the same time is just remarkable. I'd like to think she'd be proud of her husband for everything he did for and around her. </div><div><br /></div><div>I highly recommend this one, it's powerful and just heartbreaking, but a true testament to love. Big thank you to SparkPoint Press for inviting me on this book tour, all thoughts are my own. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1684632102&asins=1684632102&linkId=f53ae29d45273acff03d6c48a635e421&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0BQBPBDJ3&asins=B0BQBPBDJ3&linkId=ed176661956b398ed07caca72c79d979&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-19634110670075903572023-07-28T00:00:00.001-05:002023-07-28T00:00:00.260-05:00Book Review: The Wolf and the Wildflower<p> You know how I always say I forget that I love historical romance until I'm reading it? Yeah, I'm no longer saying that. I keep reaching for historical romance and I'm not hating it. This one was such a fun, and unique, read. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">The Wolf and the Wildflower - Stacy Reid</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTKyDMCtleloXrCEZNHwwgNSHhMGZ1bCyuBffUiB0GjlYBDoiX9_uMXni1MVBTONN7FmKVPm5NV_fCbf8S_pYwdiQVdSGMh3CcSdKrODXkgpGyatw5lwfwjBaKufKMPaLTRMtT-IfM1NPr_mv-tpJA9N6CtPTbc83TNtyaXCfsME89kdqh6ofE_O_8Pg/s346/51HQMR4CUSL._SY346_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTKyDMCtleloXrCEZNHwwgNSHhMGZ1bCyuBffUiB0GjlYBDoiX9_uMXni1MVBTONN7FmKVPm5NV_fCbf8S_pYwdiQVdSGMh3CcSdKrODXkgpGyatw5lwfwjBaKufKMPaLTRMtT-IfM1NPr_mv-tpJA9N6CtPTbc83TNtyaXCfsME89kdqh6ofE_O_8Pg/s320/51HQMR4CUSL._SY346_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>London is buzzing with the news that James Winters, the Duke of Wulverton—thought lost at sea a decade ago—survived in the harsh wilderness of the Yukon. Now he’s been returned to his family, his responsibilities, and a nightmarish world of artifice and noise. He has three weeks to become a refined, elegant duke for the Queen…or doom the entire family to ruin and scandal.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Promising psychologist Jules Southby knows a lot about disguises. She’s secretly been living as a boy since birth, enjoying the freedoms of men and knowing little about how to behave like a woman. When she meets the alluring duke, she’s unprepared for his raw, masculine beauty and icy intelligence…or that he can see through her darkest secret.</i></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Jules has very little time to transform the duke into a true semblance of an English gentleman. Yet his very presence seems to unravel her in every way. Their attraction is stark and achingly real—and forbidden. But loving the lost duke would mean losing every sacrifice she’s made to earn her freedom…</i></span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnxLlcc6M1y0tBhwAOpdn2MzW1gB9gEi8yoF3Tv2YeLM2K_z8llJIdsLmOcz1yaoDxyllN2_arTzJsVlGI7EFsvU6-Nrp-bf5tHi_YJgx8tV-VB0gqvYX3V-Wp_VgV4xnFoU0h9CWgFJ2cspoMQbD5z3qbGkEN23JMsEcONUuRCCKR15WQ4kD7u6Mas4/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnxLlcc6M1y0tBhwAOpdn2MzW1gB9gEi8yoF3Tv2YeLM2K_z8llJIdsLmOcz1yaoDxyllN2_arTzJsVlGI7EFsvU6-Nrp-bf5tHi_YJgx8tV-VB0gqvYX3V-Wp_VgV4xnFoU0h9CWgFJ2cspoMQbD5z3qbGkEN23JMsEcONUuRCCKR15WQ4kD7u6Mas4/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Let me just get into this, James was lost in the wilderness for ten years so when he makes his miraculous return, its imperative that he find a duchess. In his family's preparation of his return to the <i>haute ton</i>, the Duchess of Wulverton (his mother) hires a psychologist and his son Jules to come in and evaluate James' abilites. Is he crazy? Is he feral? Is he able to look and act normally?<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>The psychologist's son, Jules, is a promising student who is hopefully following his father's footsteps to someday take over his promise. Jules is immediately taken with the duke and the duke can seemingly sniff out Jules' secret. Jules isn't a man after all, she's a woman in a manly disguise who is fooling her father and hopefully, society. How does a dad not know his son is a daughter? That's a great question answered immediately in the book. </div><div><br /></div><div>The love affair between James and Jules is quite adorable and promising. I really loved the romance, and I loved the duke's frankness. The story ultimately requires both James and Jules to decide, are they willing to drop all pretenses and the life they know to hang onto their love, or is the life they've made and what comes with it more important? Even though I knew exactly what the climax was going to be, I was only partially right and for that I am grateful. I really enjoyed this one!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you to Entangled Publishing for sending me a copy for review, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Stacy Reid does it again, I can't wait to read what she does next! </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0BTX5KMNP&asins=B0BTX5KMNP&linkId=20089fb2b9c0d35599bfdd30ba0f3c91&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0BW2KJKRD&asins=B0BW2KJKRD&linkId=2df8dfb347481fa844683e9b10f54a82&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-34540086725509266722023-07-27T20:28:00.003-05:002023-07-27T20:28:25.142-05:00Book Review: Shattered Dreams<p> Hello friends! I'm still reading like crazy and one of my recent books is the last in the <i>Beautiful Nightmare</i> series from Abbie Roads and I want more. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Shattered Dreams - Abbie Roads</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3Iy9Q2vruNbsFG-zQj2F5ZE7Gy_cmlZtpz3u0hTekIqt-GVMoSQe8oUXXgKplmed6z6jRG5KcMGrGD51kcxTXf_hIZaWAj8vVRIxrdGNZ6hwc3NpXhWBPB7Rxf6yMK5lNyWf8JtXVIZCG7t__4Fa3P7pvXXAMr9Y0d4Ci_FzVogQJdU-AZES_EuomNg/s2625/123261829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2625" data-original-width="1725" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3Iy9Q2vruNbsFG-zQj2F5ZE7Gy_cmlZtpz3u0hTekIqt-GVMoSQe8oUXXgKplmed6z6jRG5KcMGrGD51kcxTXf_hIZaWAj8vVRIxrdGNZ6hwc3NpXhWBPB7Rxf6yMK5lNyWf8JtXVIZCG7t__4Fa3P7pvXXAMr9Y0d4Ci_FzVogQJdU-AZES_EuomNg/s320/123261829.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">A crooked cop. Corruption. A woman convicted of murder. A man determined to prove her innocence.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br /></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">When Helena Grayse is released from prison, all she wants is to say a final goodbye to her old life. But when a man finds her trespassing on his property, instead of turning her in, he takes her in. Accepts her. Loves her.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br /></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">But someone decides to serve Helena with a death sentence.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br /></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Shattered Dreams is the third book in Abbie Roads’ Beautiful Nightmare Series of dark romantic thrillers. It features a felon heroine who never thought she deserved love. If you devour true crime and romance novels then you’ll love a series that combines both in a roller-coaster ride of danger, mind games, and swoon worthy love.</span></i></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GkdpReArMKX58x-WWuWR2dbDhGgALMf9o7fxVi8QdKDn2lHdxM-pjyVZju4IXnNW2pLPWnFsne3dX9ReAKCYhcM87jjyUcCqu0CDeuawR-uovMO_eolQdF73kGGdV6LIDk7vktKf17txOiUoB14VPeZ6C2p6YFiznNIei29t2-R8MCm7Iy_rBNmGgm8/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GkdpReArMKX58x-WWuWR2dbDhGgALMf9o7fxVi8QdKDn2lHdxM-pjyVZju4IXnNW2pLPWnFsne3dX9ReAKCYhcM87jjyUcCqu0CDeuawR-uovMO_eolQdF73kGGdV6LIDk7vktKf17txOiUoB14VPeZ6C2p6YFiznNIei29t2-R8MCm7Iy_rBNmGgm8/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I'm going to try to talk about this without giving anything away and ruin it. To be fair, I didn't read the synopsis when I started it so I went into this kind of blind. We have Thomas, who after a tumultous childhood with a harrowing, violent event, lost the ability to see color. Until Helena, who after an unbelievable awful stint in prison for a crime she didn't commit. With Helena near him, he can see color and that's alarming to him. She isn't mute, she's selectively quiet so Thomas finds it difficult to communicate with her but he's still able to. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a chance encounter in the woods, Thomas sees this as fate, but Helena is still terrified and doesn't know why Thomas is being kind to her and she doesn't trust it. They quickly learn that Helena is in grave danger, and it is connected to the danger finds Thomas finds himself in and it's a larger problem than either can imagine. Helena's dreams may have the key to unlock all of the questions. </div><div><br /></div><div>I loved the romance, I loved the interesting connection between the two and the connection to the larger stories. I loved Abbie's writing, she makes every story a fast read. I loved the romance angle, and I loved the connection to the legend the totem pole the books are written around. (I understand that sounds bizarre, just go with it.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall I really liked this and this series. I need to read the first one because I'd like to see how the series started, but the second one was just as good as this one. Each couple has strange challenges and I liked the creativity. I can't say that I've read anything quite like that and I'm here for it. </div><div><br /></div>Thank you to Xpresso Tours and Abbie Roads for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review! A package from Abbie is a bright spot in any kind of day, I can't wait to read what she does next! <div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0BX44V1XH&asins=B0BX44V1XH&linkId=f8f927368d37ac13f8c28d539de0a7ec&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0C6W1FZZY&asins=B0C6W1FZZY&linkId=51ad81baf38ab2c16ef8a69fe370d36a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-69115602701646142682023-07-20T00:00:00.001-05:002023-07-20T00:00:00.153-05:00The Strands do Tennessee. And Kentucky. Kind of. <p> One of my goals in life is to visit all 50 states and because last summer we didn't go on any roadtrips, this summer I wanted to get the most out of our summer. First trip was to Tennessee/Kentucky. We could only go for a few days if we wanted to fit our second trip in this summer to cross another state off. </p><p>Anyways. </p><p>We left in the middle of the night so we can get to Tennessee in one trip (16 hours) and it ended up working out really well. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN8xLLbOpr13BdsBQ59Q70QgjgbjWdt2BfZnQynsJlL018g4tP99AtWHPkyy0Xm2hGa_8YQKLm2y5_UZw7QgebNXFzvHdDzpoGbkBmaL-33Z3aIxd5EB3-sq9J6bDxEhr2IuxVAYHgJl21Rpx4psSOSYP9Yb4ZSxPqHuJ6zdi1XPqMMOIArS8hrBUTsI/s2048/IMG_9834.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN8xLLbOpr13BdsBQ59Q70QgjgbjWdt2BfZnQynsJlL018g4tP99AtWHPkyy0Xm2hGa_8YQKLm2y5_UZw7QgebNXFzvHdDzpoGbkBmaL-33Z3aIxd5EB3-sq9J6bDxEhr2IuxVAYHgJl21Rpx4psSOSYP9Yb4ZSxPqHuJ6zdi1XPqMMOIArS8hrBUTsI/s320/IMG_9834.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Lucy would agree. I feel like we're road trip pros when a 16 hour drive doesn't even phase us. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsupf-vqZGmUcgeGYQmp1_HmaJP4Ku0zpnOz_f5yCY04aGwYWeStP06I7In7dT8nv2SC4oUHhco3IJAwCzExuSs60FIowrY1kahvS_NevUDJBAbTsgzhm2m3xSFRsaRAHYAUNo3yMZmHHDA5T1MR17MwQdJSX51GVEMy0IIYCKeaZ6UluBYCvxRp7gkXY/s2048/IMG_9845.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsupf-vqZGmUcgeGYQmp1_HmaJP4Ku0zpnOz_f5yCY04aGwYWeStP06I7In7dT8nv2SC4oUHhco3IJAwCzExuSs60FIowrY1kahvS_NevUDJBAbTsgzhm2m3xSFRsaRAHYAUNo3yMZmHHDA5T1MR17MwQdJSX51GVEMy0IIYCKeaZ6UluBYCvxRp7gkXY/s320/IMG_9845.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>In Tennessee, our destination was Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge which I actually didn't realize was such a tourist mecca. It was like Branson, Missouri in my opinion. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZPb07eKT_YlFSOKYv956mWHe30vH2c51ODttstPWP3M-BBPqFtW7qYMiYC5a9cVcDvZA0ctrPxM7EtPj1CV8eJRwJK474QfAgDd9_iGjehUiyuwdKK0d9fpnD902ErRhDj4ZdizdwDI25xZYNZeedf90ACEn9Jtf10V5dOEv_aSrecOdyVJPyluZoCY/s2048/IMG_9856.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZPb07eKT_YlFSOKYv956mWHe30vH2c51ODttstPWP3M-BBPqFtW7qYMiYC5a9cVcDvZA0ctrPxM7EtPj1CV8eJRwJK474QfAgDd9_iGjehUiyuwdKK0d9fpnD902ErRhDj4ZdizdwDI25xZYNZeedf90ACEn9Jtf10V5dOEv_aSrecOdyVJPyluZoCY/s320/IMG_9856.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Highlights of our trip was Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. I highly recommend it if you're in the area, especially if you're a fan of sharks. They have a really cool shark area with species I hadn't even heard of. I'm not even sure we saw every area but the kids were getting tired (we walked around for two hours). I definity wouldn't recommend the "boat ride" which is literally a glass bottom boat, tethered, and goes in a slow circle and you see everything you saw in the shark area. It was an outrageous money grab and the kids were disappointed. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIhymIGScA3qefenNPNBRZRD7u7hc04vIgVRVPMlS0AYrtLjKywXWTWIfUasdcmC0bih-3hDSKFEVozNI6CG_D0Tvo5zg4l1B60lmRgIdAV_NoTZBVHZkrVJDRp4kF9sqgCVSX9pVeoV9SdAcjrCapnx-jCWHi4obDbGr8XiRn2qr9idp9P_0obUm4zg/s2048/IMG_9870.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIhymIGScA3qefenNPNBRZRD7u7hc04vIgVRVPMlS0AYrtLjKywXWTWIfUasdcmC0bih-3hDSKFEVozNI6CG_D0Tvo5zg4l1B60lmRgIdAV_NoTZBVHZkrVJDRp4kF9sqgCVSX9pVeoV9SdAcjrCapnx-jCWHi4obDbGr8XiRn2qr9idp9P_0obUm4zg/s320/IMG_9870.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>We also went to the Skylift Park and Skylift Bridge on what felt like the hottest day of the week. You ride up on a gondola to get to the top, which is the gorgeous park area. The bridge itself is long with a glass bottom at the mid-point. It was SO hot outside so I only made it to the half way point before I had to turn around. I think a combination of the heat and height got to me because on my walk back I got <i>so</i> dizzy. I had to rest and hydrate when I got to the end. Conveniently, the park has lots of chairs to rest and enjoy the view. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5UnpwQmnbQYtTYLCWIlTJUfVwvOwCbwmjFVGGvucid2W85yFRRCTchjrYSqY2aAJxx2-k6Ugd0XfQyO5adP176rprUqj-K31CmwSAaFRt2J7OZ-dAYTIpIMjerwKNAvbnsad9OPgZUW4KfbXARTWIHFcxeX960DfMO19Qbbvyrt7YTSJEe7sXKHvWBs/s2048/IMG_9875.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5UnpwQmnbQYtTYLCWIlTJUfVwvOwCbwmjFVGGvucid2W85yFRRCTchjrYSqY2aAJxx2-k6Ugd0XfQyO5adP176rprUqj-K31CmwSAaFRt2J7OZ-dAYTIpIMjerwKNAvbnsad9OPgZUW4KfbXARTWIHFcxeX960DfMO19Qbbvyrt7YTSJEe7sXKHvWBs/s320/IMG_9875.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>I mean, I could sit and look at this for hours. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZcS9HKa1CnDPQM9LE3WmGcnw9j0UJxFE3L1alKJm-hMkMNfut9EROZqZEnjGd0cLUXrZYB9P2h8U_xL_uThCGFI6PDoeG64cTC1A6obCcCWnn7odTndaWODdKBN3wgL2I4vMcf6l22zvJuA02aemsuTj567nhxx7qrZ8ii_qy4dr9_49YlrfNiQcl4I/s2048/IMG_9878.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZcS9HKa1CnDPQM9LE3WmGcnw9j0UJxFE3L1alKJm-hMkMNfut9EROZqZEnjGd0cLUXrZYB9P2h8U_xL_uThCGFI6PDoeG64cTC1A6obCcCWnn7odTndaWODdKBN3wgL2I4vMcf6l22zvJuA02aemsuTj567nhxx7qrZ8ii_qy4dr9_49YlrfNiQcl4I/s320/IMG_9878.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Jackson didn't love the height of the day so he was the real sport this day. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NclMYtbQfAfjPjGBU78kSqKINjbY5mzRzFJkxRjVjWn6Edw2lAF5jmBy4C58pY-nx23bWda51J4vLv1IJyQp_8ZFZFoQDFRDd27kqfEpEwM0MPQtOcZOde5Bx-p_Pf_Af1t7JwQWjScvPQ1kB22pRqHdSI0GpGLAkyRO1eWvfUaENwmpzlCZADXAF5o/s2048/IMG_9881.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NclMYtbQfAfjPjGBU78kSqKINjbY5mzRzFJkxRjVjWn6Edw2lAF5jmBy4C58pY-nx23bWda51J4vLv1IJyQp_8ZFZFoQDFRDd27kqfEpEwM0MPQtOcZOde5Bx-p_Pf_Af1t7JwQWjScvPQ1kB22pRqHdSI0GpGLAkyRO1eWvfUaENwmpzlCZADXAF5o/s320/IMG_9881.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>We did some walking around Gatlinburg to see some shops and Jackson hit the motherlode when he found a small music store. He got some vinyl he's been searching for at an unbelieveable price, and a couple of posters that will look great in his room. <div><br /></div><div>We spent a night having dinner at the Island in Pigeon Forge and went with Margaritaville, a favorite of Jackson. We also walked around there and the little girls rode some rides. I was actually surprised it wasn't more busy, but maybe it was the heat. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOygyGQbXCReVEMyJy1xc2yMyI74RBVNyZWPzuUfjyk6E1vGTAbVtw2LVvScXtPIDGbXnKIOZ5JPMO6uxGRLPh2fH_7jGB3nh_SHBeZNXp_BcVNKffljGgYQWuaNKtnIZlR2L099Hg13YkHmi8ELGhHzFOaXma0gsrgvhYhCiOlZmWHAvsxivINpMr4pY/s2048/IMG_9895.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOygyGQbXCReVEMyJy1xc2yMyI74RBVNyZWPzuUfjyk6E1vGTAbVtw2LVvScXtPIDGbXnKIOZ5JPMO6uxGRLPh2fH_7jGB3nh_SHBeZNXp_BcVNKffljGgYQWuaNKtnIZlR2L099Hg13YkHmi8ELGhHzFOaXma0gsrgvhYhCiOlZmWHAvsxivINpMr4pY/s320/IMG_9895.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>The next day we went to Dollywood and unpopular opinion.... I thought it was overrated. We didn't do the water park side, just the amusement park, but I wasn't impressed. It was overpriced, the food wasn't great, there was almost no shade and sitting areas in the shade, it was just a really long, rough day. The only positive was the lines for rides actually weren't that long so the kids were able to ride as many as they would like to. The best part of the day was paying the extra $45 for preferred parking because by the end of the day my legs were screaming. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpQ6gyZgxIKSLNzjCcgxOE4EGl0gR5ZZKa-CvB0x0WcmWxbQ5nB2onZnUwm6-piT-EYlFGv_1hvTiP8cl8HTJC87V1EWd3wwu_-hFE_da21xVrl5gd8QZIsOfuNhmznl2biwyYzSU_70jD-ZbSRbqCV11rJl9y2uLAoqiX_XPJXOQlLSqIT84C-h_8A0/s2048/IMG_9910.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpQ6gyZgxIKSLNzjCcgxOE4EGl0gR5ZZKa-CvB0x0WcmWxbQ5nB2onZnUwm6-piT-EYlFGv_1hvTiP8cl8HTJC87V1EWd3wwu_-hFE_da21xVrl5gd8QZIsOfuNhmznl2biwyYzSU_70jD-ZbSRbqCV11rJl9y2uLAoqiX_XPJXOQlLSqIT84C-h_8A0/s320/IMG_9910.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Another part of our trip was going to the Titanic museum, which was a wish from Penelope. She's obsessed and she was all over the place taking it all in. Unfortunately, my traveler and Jackson's traveler died, everyone else's survived. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtOMcRnu_7rATN95pCxwVVEdQGTydEiWikHD960ajcXT376kHUOiZbklWoT4unKCIYOEkfX7-dgrB4iyc5xnjAxxQ82GHD2rSa3qe5faMj1kYFo2_ng4AOijFR9QvisBpqvhU7eoS3m7WdYDHOb1Nw1TKA5XugceR9_dP80wZV5nBEDyHBgjDGRvMHTE/s2048/IMG_9911.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtOMcRnu_7rATN95pCxwVVEdQGTydEiWikHD960ajcXT376kHUOiZbklWoT4unKCIYOEkfX7-dgrB4iyc5xnjAxxQ82GHD2rSa3qe5faMj1kYFo2_ng4AOijFR9QvisBpqvhU7eoS3m7WdYDHOb1Nw1TKA5XugceR9_dP80wZV5nBEDyHBgjDGRvMHTE/s320/IMG_9911.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Even the big kids had a great time. I definitely recommend this if you're looking for something to do indoors. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GXmjGl8S_IebxRvHOUwYNATAiDVXPUYMH9ciaYzY-g0HMw7oJCZF9cP3JuZrokG2XrC37-J1ob0QMRl3Lk_H5inB2vSpSm4vfO4qBLjO5zIS1idmfdLVgcnIrr05924ZMSBl_tT0dRT6r6rxrA0vuYm1EVWyaHq0BttjDbSg2zlYLIDZ5uBIKbwS9lM/s2048/IMG_9925.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GXmjGl8S_IebxRvHOUwYNATAiDVXPUYMH9ciaYzY-g0HMw7oJCZF9cP3JuZrokG2XrC37-J1ob0QMRl3Lk_H5inB2vSpSm4vfO4qBLjO5zIS1idmfdLVgcnIrr05924ZMSBl_tT0dRT6r6rxrA0vuYm1EVWyaHq0BttjDbSg2zlYLIDZ5uBIKbwS9lM/s320/IMG_9925.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>We also did some mini-golf, as recommended by all of the kids, and I had actually never mini-golfed before so I got to do something new. Recommendation: go to Pigeon Forge to golf, and go in the morning, otherwise the lines are long and you'll be rushed. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi392R6XF12FBwGWLDITEa8u4ivHOdgmJF93IWQ5nBLk5nMQwJrjqJruhgE7O74G-TFi8XgXdCuAUcbuL2Wjin48FAlcHHwBOqhnNB6Gn7lTkKsogGbUik4puyBI-CMnB2YCHFYEzPeC4Eq7C-5DKxkVoA5g_1Q5fsAPFu1FxJbvKR6zhzOtHBPmNWnpA/s2048/IMG_9945.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi392R6XF12FBwGWLDITEa8u4ivHOdgmJF93IWQ5nBLk5nMQwJrjqJruhgE7O74G-TFi8XgXdCuAUcbuL2Wjin48FAlcHHwBOqhnNB6Gn7lTkKsogGbUik4puyBI-CMnB2YCHFYEzPeC4Eq7C-5DKxkVoA5g_1Q5fsAPFu1FxJbvKR6zhzOtHBPmNWnpA/s320/IMG_9945.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Our very last day we drove to Bowling Green, Kentucky so we could go to Beech Bend Amusement Park. We weren't doing the amusement side, just the water park side. The kids a great day, I spent almost seven hours sitting in a shaded cabana because I forgot my book at the hotel and didn't have a current one on my phone. Rookie move! The park was OK, I'm not sure I wouldn't go out of my way to go here again, but if you're in the area and need somehting to do, it might be a fun day. <br /><p>Overall? We had a really nice week. It was so nice to go on vacation with all of us again, I can't wait for our next one to Michigan. </p></div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-25149099903887479272023-07-19T00:00:00.001-05:002023-07-19T00:00:00.157-05:00Long live through the cruel summer. <p>We have been having a very busy summer, doing all kinds of things left and right. Our summer kick off was basically the Taylor Swift concert, which was a Christmas gift for them last December. Even if you aren't the biggest Swiftie, I think being able to say you went to the concert of the year is going to be something. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50zUKK4_m_mTfPOFNblAxgkwBMoiMVUq58pfIEVXWicgSWgHCgNM0PYBJbDPl9aYX-Zm4wPXHIqfZhqgf_z5Znl39mzgyf8Vohwg1bS1iUEPpkz1e3A0STFTTBi_o3s4jFMlklURTFjyY5NRq4YviH2GoSnSB8xljOLiIQxerUVkqBMGZAUej_AjXvyw/s2048/IMG_9743.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50zUKK4_m_mTfPOFNblAxgkwBMoiMVUq58pfIEVXWicgSWgHCgNM0PYBJbDPl9aYX-Zm4wPXHIqfZhqgf_z5Znl39mzgyf8Vohwg1bS1iUEPpkz1e3A0STFTTBi_o3s4jFMlklURTFjyY5NRq4YviH2GoSnSB8xljOLiIQxerUVkqBMGZAUej_AjXvyw/s320/IMG_9743.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>I'll be honest, I can't remember who the opener was, (maybe Owenn?) but he wasn't great and we couldn't get into it. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVSun5sfZrAxOeXiTSCIXNSed5Q7ZCTmbO3Wm14aWQ3l0zMahh4dqyzzq4DK3MhDWnEqltmejNdhs0kDg5F7BbgfcdoM7fzGyqHE30ilUym3uoZ9jdKhs4TbHxQM3wVv4BurHuEibP7s65JTjTOTRSaRISa4wmTagtRY0jssqg7cAazdAcUiKTvXNzd0/s2048/IMG_9746.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVSun5sfZrAxOeXiTSCIXNSed5Q7ZCTmbO3Wm14aWQ3l0zMahh4dqyzzq4DK3MhDWnEqltmejNdhs0kDg5F7BbgfcdoM7fzGyqHE30ilUym3uoZ9jdKhs4TbHxQM3wVv4BurHuEibP7s65JTjTOTRSaRISa4wmTagtRY0jssqg7cAazdAcUiKTvXNzd0/s320/IMG_9746.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>The second opener was Girl in Red and I am SUCH a fan so I was almost more excited about them and they did not disappoint. I wanted more and it was such a great set. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT1Ao5-dKXwIlutoh-CfxLuv8gjWrrtDxrq_-_hmi07JNSVgfYXPTM-h72Xu0znbWSAPrEgH26GSjORHOF_mEiF5dpXcqh5hXzcnmtZv53bkraED2So1mCUmqfnmbCEU7IGQhCDZdWdE12XXW2G8I7leqQ_Ue_eZSBm1sml8pdgfQIs4juUTI3UJyTgk/s2048/IMG_9750.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT1Ao5-dKXwIlutoh-CfxLuv8gjWrrtDxrq_-_hmi07JNSVgfYXPTM-h72Xu0znbWSAPrEgH26GSjORHOF_mEiF5dpXcqh5hXzcnmtZv53bkraED2So1mCUmqfnmbCEU7IGQhCDZdWdE12XXW2G8I7leqQ_Ue_eZSBm1sml8pdgfQIs4juUTI3UJyTgk/s320/IMG_9750.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Of course Taylor came on and everyone lost their minds. Even us 40something moms had a good time. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk9jRnofLXLSoYOvxy0YJ_k8L_ucP3KX_-CGtJkKCbGO_kD4K0MFJevnep4eDWlkx9j5913XamRB78Ty-QI4aIinxq49tcqRfWAgEpeWOe5ImNqE3-oeNpzYwGpR2H3a0dP0lts5YSJKdkJO-K11WwgwNKnefpQg91g0v_KeDw68JlIjRLeze8LPN374/s2048/IMG_9777.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk9jRnofLXLSoYOvxy0YJ_k8L_ucP3KX_-CGtJkKCbGO_kD4K0MFJevnep4eDWlkx9j5913XamRB78Ty-QI4aIinxq49tcqRfWAgEpeWOe5ImNqE3-oeNpzYwGpR2H3a0dP0lts5YSJKdkJO-K11WwgwNKnefpQg91g0v_KeDw68JlIjRLeze8LPN374/s320/IMG_9777.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>It was so great hearing all of the crowd singing along and everyone was so <i>happy</i>. It's a pretty great, uplifting feeling to be surrounded by so many happy people, all enjoying the same thing, and being friendly. <br /><p>If I had to critique anything, I'd say there needed to be more monitors for those of us in the nosebleeds. I know there were the two smaller ones on the sides of the stage and one on the far end, but it basically only focused on Taylor, we didn't always get the full effect of the stage. Is it a big deal? No, but for a tour being touted for the visual piece, it would have been nice if everyone had the opportunity to see the same thing. </p><p>Also, we went to Minneapolis night 2 and unpopular opinion, I think the song <i>Dear John</i> sucks so the fact we got that was a giant eyeroll for me. With the lecture of "be nice" when she knows good and damn well people are going to attack John Mayer with or without her blessing. It's like telling a kid to stop that even though as a parent, you're laughing at what they're doing. It's the same thing. I hoped so hard for a Bon Iver duet considering he lives not far from Minneapolis but it wasn't our luck. I didn't care for either surprise song, but I know I'm in the minority with that. </p><p>The real fun came after we left, it began to rain, absolutely pouring, and after walking to the other side of the stadium to find our ride, I got knocked off the sidewalk and curb by a drunk person walking backwards. Do you think anyone, literally anyone other than my two teenagers, would say, "Shit- do you need help?!"??? No. No, and that was disappointing. Needless to say, I sprained my ankle badly and almost a month later, my ankle is still painful. Thankfully it didn't break, I thought for <i>sure</i> I fractured it some how that night though. It cut our weekend fun short though and we ended up just going home the next morning. </p><p>Did you go see Taylor Swift? Is still on your agenda this year?</p>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-23023309885736303372023-07-01T14:06:00.006-05:002023-07-01T14:06:46.289-05:00Book Review: Everything's Fine<p>Hi lambs! I've been on a reading frenzy and gearing up for our first roadtrip in two yars, which is why I've been quiet around here. I hope your summer is going well and that you have some fun things planned. I'll keep you updated after our roadtrip about the highs and the lows and any shenanigans we come into. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">Everything's Fine - Cecilia Rabess</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqlmndx2dOo_DKTilGrJ-rh6A3-Es97g3UZ2jKAo2dzmrHSKCqI42afVpIBMjwfpDwF1bSM58pDtaGw9_1KOxaBF4DoLhmZCbTFW6P8K4_obochcNp1BT0e4j29j_EsA1MpPcbYxTLG3pjwpoQdTWHSMtlTTDtDKAk7rzUbszuUlsFSzYpEeEIdwb1Ng/s2125/62919844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2125" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqlmndx2dOo_DKTilGrJ-rh6A3-Es97g3UZ2jKAo2dzmrHSKCqI42afVpIBMjwfpDwF1bSM58pDtaGw9_1KOxaBF4DoLhmZCbTFW6P8K4_obochcNp1BT0e4j29j_EsA1MpPcbYxTLG3pjwpoQdTWHSMtlTTDtDKAk7rzUbszuUlsFSzYpEeEIdwb1Ng/s320/62919844.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">When Jess lands a job as an analyst at Goldman Sachs, she’s less than thrilled to learn she’ll be on the same team as Josh, her preppy, white, conservative sparring partner from college. Josh loves playing the devil’s advocate and is just…the worst.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></i></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">But when Jess finds herself the sole Black woman on the floor, overlooked and underestimated, it’s Josh who shows up for her in surprising—if imperfect—ways. Before long, an unlikely friendship—one tinged with undeniable chemistry—forms between the two. A friendship that gradually, and then suddenly, turns into an electrifying romance that shocks them both.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></i></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Despite their differences, the force of their attraction propels the relationship forwards, and Jess begins to question whether it’s more important to be happy than right. But then it’s 2016, and the cultural and political landscape shifts underneath them. And Jess, who is just beginning to discover who she is and who she has the right to be, is forced to ask herself what she’s willing to compromise for love and whether, in fact, everything’s fine.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></i></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">A stunning debut that introduces Cecilia Rabess as a blazing new talent, <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Everything’s Fine</span> is a painfully funny, poignant, heartfelt novel that doesn’t just ask <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">will they</span>, but…<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">should they?</span></span></i></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU2W0E92g6tFid2A--xv1wdknwWuiPlXTqMKjP7uH8LJugeSoMMlWygncADGBAQHAljM_4-JPinZPe-fA2WozTmBjRgi25ZoYl5b_dK2agQMHOC9MpSUWdw0KW28ZbMfsczlg0-vBBno8eLcwSdISHWRCh9EMDqzYyzAM22rzpF0N0g68Gx52W11Np7A/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU2W0E92g6tFid2A--xv1wdknwWuiPlXTqMKjP7uH8LJugeSoMMlWygncADGBAQHAljM_4-JPinZPe-fA2WozTmBjRgi25ZoYl5b_dK2agQMHOC9MpSUWdw0KW28ZbMfsczlg0-vBBno8eLcwSdISHWRCh9EMDqzYyzAM22rzpF0N0g68Gx52W11Np7A/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Everything's Fine</i> is one of my most anticipated books of 2023 and I couldn't wait to get into it... unfortunately it wasn't a hit for me. It's your traditional enemies to lovers romance, but it's peppered with the patricharchy, race, and political arguments and it just wasn't what I needed right now. I don't know if I'm the only one who ended the book with a "what the hell is this ending?!" but maybe that's the point. Now that we know what happened since that election in real life, you could just imagine how Jess and Josh would handle it. I definitely don't think they'd survive it as a couple, that much I know. <br /><div><br /></div><div>I haven't read a book where I didn't like either character. Jess is the realist/pessimist, Josh is the optimist/his own version of white realist, a classic Fox News Republican. Surely they wouldn't work as a couple somehow they make it through different things. I think I found myself so frustrated throughout it I almost DNF'ed it but I wanted to know how it was going to end. I had an ideal ending that would be best for everyone and that'd didn't happen so I was left frustrated and wanting to yell at someone. </div><div><br /></div><div>But... maybe that was the point. </div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless of the ending or how you feel about the story, it is truly a stunning and promising debut for Cecilia Rabess. I'll be interested to see what she does next. </div><br /><p>Thank you to TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour!</p>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-87649217292957445932023-06-20T12:43:00.000-05:002023-06-20T12:43:42.214-05:00Book Review: Where the Grass Grows Blue<p>Hi friends! I know I don't post nearly as often as I should but my goal is to get better about it. I've no shortage of great books I've read, that's for sure, and I have all kinds of personal life stuff I could be writing about. I'm hoping now that summer is here and I can feel my vitamin D going up that everything else starts perking up. </p><p>But!! </p><p>I do have a <i>great </i>summer read for you. Part romance, part women's fiction, a perfect summer book club selection!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>Where The Grass Grows Blue - Hope Gibbs</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzsZTWoxIwAtmPr_ZgHRP4OBnald5FFLyRax1hweghe3ZIkM2pA4m9_lz6EkcWLySC500knHn6eVUet55wczQRT-UaAduckbn9B16UxtR2MGBAOGU3XZHcbLNtoSuPDNwkGMzdFIIVALNeJhzqZ6B_OIADy0Pu0ZsjYgGmm6H3L46A405YK9wi-GagdQ/s960/63259909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="596" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzsZTWoxIwAtmPr_ZgHRP4OBnald5FFLyRax1hweghe3ZIkM2pA4m9_lz6EkcWLySC500knHn6eVUet55wczQRT-UaAduckbn9B16UxtR2MGBAOGU3XZHcbLNtoSuPDNwkGMzdFIIVALNeJhzqZ6B_OIADy0Pu0ZsjYgGmm6H3L46A405YK9wi-GagdQ/s320/63259909.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: inherit;">Penny Crenshaw’s swift divorce and her husband’s new marriage to a much younger woman have been hot topics around Atlanta’s social circles. After a year of enduring the cruel gossip, Penny leaps from the frying pan into the fire by heading back to Kentucky to settle her grandmother’s estate.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: inherit;">Reluctantly, Penny travels to her hometown of Camden, knowing she will be stirring up all the ghosts from her turbulent childhood. But not all her problems stem from a dysfunctional family. One of Penny’s greatest sources of pain lives just down the street: Bradley Hitchens, her childhood best friend, the keeper of her darkest secrets, and the boy who shattered her heart.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: inherit;">As Penny struggles with sorting through her grandmother’s house and her own memories, a colorful group of friends drifts back into her life, reminding her of the unique warmth, fellowship, and romance that only the Bluegrass state can provide. Now that fate has forced Penny back, she must either let go of the scars of her past or risk losing a second chance at love. Can she learn to live an unbridled life?</span></i></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Kjqpzxm05GsRylFJfLuGhb_4mVUs0Y9PAz8E46-TslaeSf3ix82J6jVSigoMhIpaF7qkDmjDIX7rFgcsGtvZbhEC_-uw2qN9yzY5rlRRMgDcCUZ1VSyjzEIf2hvIMtvyU5uW-3KkXXlyvQuu8S1KuBVVV3GARAUys7znpGiaXZcA1z5CV3lym3VrmIw/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Kjqpzxm05GsRylFJfLuGhb_4mVUs0Y9PAz8E46-TslaeSf3ix82J6jVSigoMhIpaF7qkDmjDIX7rFgcsGtvZbhEC_-uw2qN9yzY5rlRRMgDcCUZ1VSyjzEIf2hvIMtvyU5uW-3KkXXlyvQuu8S1KuBVVV3GARAUys7znpGiaXZcA1z5CV3lym3VrmIw/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have to say, this book was fulfilling on so many levels. It's a romance, a second chance romance, but it is also a story of starting over and getting it right the second go round. <br /><p>We have Penny, who is abruptly served divorce papers that sends her life into a tailspin. Having had a difficult childhood, she relies on nobody but herself and doesn't always stick up for herself. Learning of the death of her grandmother at nearly the same time, having to take care of her grandmother's estate, and her children going on a ridiculous trip to Africa with their father and his shiny new wife, forces Penny to reevaluate her life, close up loose ends, and figure out what her future is going to be. Of course going back to your hometown with mixed memories is never easy, especially when she runs into Bradley, her first love and her first major heartbreak.</p><p>I absolutely adored this book. I flew threw it while nursing Olivia post wisdom teeth surgery, and it was the best book to kick my summer reading off with. As a mom I could relate to the hurt of splitting your time with your children, especially if your ex husband is just a piece of human garbage like Penny's, but also the uncertainty she would have over her future when her whole life has been a stay at home, do-it-all mom and wife, and now that's all erased. Very reminiscent of the writing style of Susan Mallery, and the heart of Susan Wiggs, but the humor of Dorothea Benton Frank, this book takes you directly into the small town heartland of Kentucky. (Also, there's a chapter that includes a coming home potluck at the community church for Penny and I kid you not, if you life in the midwest, you KNOW what that potluck looks like and the author absolutely nailed it, down to the strawberry fluff salad. HA!!)</p><p>If you're looking for something light, with plenty of heart, Hope Gibbs needs to be on your radar. A perfect read for the beach, laying in a lawn chair while supervising the kiddos, or relaxing on the couch post sunburn. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1958231134&asins=1958231134&linkId=2bf7b8c75794af580835280dea85b06c&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0BWL189GB&asins=B0BWL189GB&linkId=6db0a1a349aa80c075353990a50ca448&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-21821576476765645192023-05-02T12:36:00.003-05:002023-05-02T12:36:20.824-05:00Book Review: The Recall Paradox<p>Happy... May? I don't know, it feels like winter here and I'm over it. I'm desperate for sunshine and warm days. I refuse to listen to anyone complain about summer this year, I'll tell you that much. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">The Recall Paradox - Julian R. Vaca</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAyN5JMYwq20V2SHNYSKKDygLXSSoIF7HLdVv3XJwWMukY6VQM1ZvE2kRTVpqOF4FTnXxQNZL4DMSzk6W1zo-PEVDsgQkqTwE1hSaqEA06pY7Qb4OsRkkYAwnlQpA36H5lkhP02xRIK3upe8MqS8F4hUlMaCnl6g9KJ8w1CWUE2JRcW1ephJV-Lkm/s499/61349384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAyN5JMYwq20V2SHNYSKKDygLXSSoIF7HLdVv3XJwWMukY6VQM1ZvE2kRTVpqOF4FTnXxQNZL4DMSzk6W1zo-PEVDsgQkqTwE1hSaqEA06pY7Qb4OsRkkYAwnlQpA36H5lkhP02xRIK3upe8MqS8F4hUlMaCnl6g9KJ8w1CWUE2JRcW1ephJV-Lkm/s320/61349384.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i>What if everything you remember is a lie? Freya Izquierdo and Fletcher Cohen believe they’re done with top-secret memory knifing. After successfully hacking a terrorist’s memories and foiling the Memory Ghosts’ next attack, they spend their school break intending to clear Fletcher’s dad of being accused of colluding with the radical group. Exposing the truth should be straightforward, if not easy. But Fletcher’s house is robbed, and Freya makes a shocking discovery about her flawed recall. When they return to Foxtail Academy, no one but the dean and Dr. Sanders seems to remember Freya, Fletcher, and their friends Chase and Ollie. Then the Memory Ghosts make contact, and everything the four students thought was true proves false. As they struggle to shine light on the shadowy battlefield between Memory Frontier and the Memory Ghosts, their only option is to undertake the most difficult and risky knifing mission of their lives. But this time, more than their lives are at stake. In this heart-stopping and gripping conclusion to the critically acclaimed Memory Index duology , the only way out is in, and the only way to safety is through reckless danger that could wipe Freya and Fletcher from everyone’s minds . . . forever.</i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgXnk-CYU6ed4vZ4edWBeAZ0cSWTurR7nWAVTzmRD7OBPKRSSmEj08czUBH0lLdCGSbX25th3wP-IucVUFyh4I-tis9j3dgBzY0Es8CV_ickLx5oQ6e-WZOG3xWRPdEAu4uqB6qCeZ8iatiVRT33sDtm0uwZXYzmyyb7TWOShxu6mdB49spG8ujIQ/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgXnk-CYU6ed4vZ4edWBeAZ0cSWTurR7nWAVTzmRD7OBPKRSSmEj08czUBH0lLdCGSbX25th3wP-IucVUFyh4I-tis9j3dgBzY0Es8CV_ickLx5oQ6e-WZOG3xWRPdEAu4uqB6qCeZ8iatiVRT33sDtm0uwZXYzmyyb7TWOShxu6mdB49spG8ujIQ/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I really wish I had read the first book, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3AL6Dhl" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">The Memory Index</span></b></a></i>, first. In fact, I'm going to tell you to absolutely read the first one first because this is a duology and I think you'll get into this a lot more. There are a lot of secondary characters in this one and I'm not sure if they were in book one and there wasn't a whole lot from the first book mentioned here so you could kind of get the idea of that so there were times I was confused and not sure why these characters were there. <br /><p>The story was a bit slow, and felt like a continuation of book one but a good bulk of it didn't really feel worth it, if that makes sense. I almost wondered if a good bulk of this could have been tossed and the rest just added to the first book. I have a hard time with duologies because I always feel like it really could be done in one book, just edited down. Not everything is worth being a duology, you know? </p><p>Things I did like about this book, the overwhelming theme of grief and memory. I'm in a unique place because I have memory issues and it's a weird place to be in. It's really strange to look at photos and see yourself and have zero memory of it, but having people tell stories about it. It feels like someone else, it is truly bizarre. That aspect of this book is what kept me hooked, for sure. I was explaining the book to someone and she said it sounded like a cross between <i>The Matrix</i> and <i>Inception</i>, which I guess it kind of is. If you're a fan of dystopian and either of those movies, this duo is right up your alley. I will also mention the Memory Ghosts kind of freaked me out, I'm not a fan of them. Haha! </p><p>Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson Publishing for sending me a copy for review! </p><p></p><p></p>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-40842186371876937302023-04-18T18:34:00.001-05:002023-04-18T18:34:10.739-05:00Book Review: Pomegranate<p>Hey lamb chops, do any of us even know what day it is anymore? Because everything just blends together for me now so time is meaningless. I have this little goat on my desk and when you push it the goat screams. I feel like it speaks to my soul most days. I am the goat. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b>Pomegranate - Helen Elaine Lee</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9Zo9H-uZtCH3DOaiSk1VqcwKWEWUoPS20YIddrd97rXI6DV6-AfaXG9hvsmpGuCEyEY-r7TwyPV5imB9qGwk47EmmggNAcai6WKdbMDVXp0Vuyhuu2hQwhD3NL8Q1zLZenF8ilcPqLNpYhqavP7TZRw5B0q0JjhsvPiskCPuD7dprrOr-vJV60Ae/s2113/61273768.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2113" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9Zo9H-uZtCH3DOaiSk1VqcwKWEWUoPS20YIddrd97rXI6DV6-AfaXG9hvsmpGuCEyEY-r7TwyPV5imB9qGwk47EmmggNAcai6WKdbMDVXp0Vuyhuu2hQwhD3NL8Q1zLZenF8ilcPqLNpYhqavP7TZRw5B0q0JjhsvPiskCPuD7dprrOr-vJV60Ae/s320/61273768.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">The acclaimed author of <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Serpent’s Gift</span> returns with this gripping and powerful novel of healing, redemption, and love, following a queer Black woman who works to stay clean, pull her life together, and heal after being released from prison.</span></i></div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><i><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ranita Atwater is “getting short.”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She is almost done with her four-year sentence for opiate possession at Oak Hills Correctional Center. With three years of sobriety, she is determined to stay clean and regain custody of her two children.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;">My name is Ranita, and I’m an addict</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, she has said again and again at recovery meetings. But who else is she? Who might she choose to become? As she claims the story housed within her pomegranate-like heart, she is determined to confront the weight of the past and discover what might lie beyond mere survival.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ranita is regaining her freedom, but she’s leaving behind her lover Maxine, who has inspired her to imagine herself and the world differently. Now she must steer clear of the temptations that have pulled her down, while atoning for her missteps and facing old wounds. With a fierce, smart, and sometimes funny voice, Ranita reveals how rocky and winding the path to wellness is for a Black woman, even as she draws on family, memory, faith, and love in order to choose life.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perfect or fans of Jesmyn Ward and Yaa Gyasi, </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;">Pomegranate</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is a complex portrayal of queer Black womanhood and marginalization in America: a story of loss, healing, redemption, and strength. In lyrical and precise prose, Helen Elaine Lee paints a humane and unflinching portrait of the devastating effects of incarceration and addiction, and of one woman’s determination to tell her story.</span></i></div></span></i></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrldnhaxHJNk-SiHynAhBFnJWxLGmgHtEjJCzjQajUSU5CCDvptqDQwLvc7Rw2Al4y9Fu0rmTV8LIfa7G8skqcBLC-LNEyUQhdPslJhINYhxcFobl4k_J_GmtoBSOhviVs5f7musNQ1w3RBKSIiRzz9rSBdtteK5P7KCYGTnjUR7HpLUk3iICaY35/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrldnhaxHJNk-SiHynAhBFnJWxLGmgHtEjJCzjQajUSU5CCDvptqDQwLvc7Rw2Al4y9Fu0rmTV8LIfa7G8skqcBLC-LNEyUQhdPslJhINYhxcFobl4k_J_GmtoBSOhviVs5f7musNQ1w3RBKSIiRzz9rSBdtteK5P7KCYGTnjUR7HpLUk3iICaY35/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I am choosing to not go into detail about this book because a lot of it I think needs to be freshly read with no pre-conceived ideas of what you're going to read or what to expect. I had nothing going in and I'm grateful for it. Author Tayari Jones, who wrote <i>An American Marriage </i>(you can read my review of that <a href="https://www.strandedinchaos.com/2019/06/book-review-american-marriage.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">HERE</span></b></a>) writes, "prepare to be challenged, and changed" and she is not wrong. Recently I've been watching a show about people going to jail undercover to basically report to the warden what their experience was to hopefully make positive changes and potentially make it safer for employees and inmates. One of the jailers made a comment that they all come back, and in the beginning of this book, Ranita is told the same thing and it just struck me and that is what hooked me in. <br /><p>It's a harrowing story of a woman, who is queer, black, and a recovering drug addict, and how the system is set up for her to continually fail. She's a mother of two children she is trying to get back and form positive relationships with, her lover Maxine is still in prison so she's lonely, she's desperately trying not to turn to drugs to cope with everything on her back, and you can obviously assume there are some mental health challenges in there as well. We learn about her childhood and what set her on a path of destruction that got her to this point, and its a hard but important read. Not every person who goes to prison is terrible, not every drug addict is terrible, sometimes people make mistakes and those spin out of control and we are more than our failings. </p><p>The story started slow for me, but like the problems in her life, things escalated and it felt like a ball rolling down a hill. I loved her therapy sessions and how she slowly came around and opened up. I appreciated the difficult journey to regain trust and family in her life, and just the work she put in when society truly makes it difficult to do anything but fail. </p><p>Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Atria Books for providing a copy for review. I can see this becoming a book club favorite for 2023, easily. </p><p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0B3Y6XRJH&asins=B0B3Y6XRJH&linkId=355e80cd36beb8b8bd43b1bebfc3b9a4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1982171898&asins=1982171898&linkId=29fef9acdd6ecdcd2449dbee15fc5d04&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-12916207199172572702023-04-14T19:26:00.000-05:002023-04-14T19:26:39.853-05:00Book Review: The Last Lap<p>So... its been a month, huh? I have so much to tell you but also nothing crazy important. I am working on making a summer reading list that will (hopefully) coinside with a couple of reading challenges I'm doing this year. I'm already reading some and this one was the first on the list. I'm manifesting warm temperatures and beach days. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Last Lap - Christy Hayes</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrw9zugdLlfJGPoyDd2kd5JOjXSWZ5AB_7581HCi2UAdcICkHth_VW5meoV9QtlCNujZeBcHhATwQOWvbZP1bkZNGcGyn8iVQtBrKZ8B1tSruOAkuQ3F_U5y78HBpbBqlE5TecvgfKJl8RKxS3BC-e9V_7uS08wKXQAncq3XfcWGXKi2SeEXzVa4p/s500/120745272.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrw9zugdLlfJGPoyDd2kd5JOjXSWZ5AB_7581HCi2UAdcICkHth_VW5meoV9QtlCNujZeBcHhATwQOWvbZP1bkZNGcGyn8iVQtBrKZ8B1tSruOAkuQ3F_U5y78HBpbBqlE5TecvgfKJl8RKxS3BC-e9V_7uS08wKXQAncq3XfcWGXKi2SeEXzVa4p/s320/120745272.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>A man seeking closure after the death of his estranged brother. A woman grieving her sister and best friend. A connection they never saw coming. More than the temperature heats up in USA Today Bestselling Author Christy Hayes’ unforgettable page-turning romance about two tortured souls and their collision course with love.</b></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>Megan Holloway has learned a few hard truths in her twenty-eight-years. Life isn’t fair. People she loves always leave. And she’ll be stuck on Key West running her parents’ gift store and raising her twelve-year-old niece for the rest of her life.</b></span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>Thirty-year-old Bryan Westfall has come to Key West to clean out his dead brother’s apartment and search for answers about the woman who died with his estranged older brother. Bryan didn’t know the woman had a daughter and he sure didn’t expect her sister to floor him with her beauty and biting brashness.</b></span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>Bryan’s persistent need to help and Meg’s bumbling business skills create an unlikely union. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings become too powerful to deny. Meg knows Bryan is leaving at the end of the summer and Bryan knows Meg is holding back to spare herself needless heartache. When a hurricane forces them to evacuate, Meg mentally prepares to let Bryan go while Bryan wonders if home is where he came from or is with the woman who stole his heart.</b></span></i></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKG07oeqtbdsW6wVfFh6UY9aioBLwakwrjb-FY-QaGJlkqv3Kr_Ckn3CLu_KAx9zbLfOobQzWjyrklpvM5E9lcT898h0A9oUY8Tp7yKCiJsWSMZYRYOyI4hcO5qkhuy2gv-AznLyeVXI70qKA1hNn0HDvw3josfIL39oqldicWG_38hOeZ5WFw-hPP/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKG07oeqtbdsW6wVfFh6UY9aioBLwakwrjb-FY-QaGJlkqv3Kr_Ckn3CLu_KAx9zbLfOobQzWjyrklpvM5E9lcT898h0A9oUY8Tp7yKCiJsWSMZYRYOyI4hcO5qkhuy2gv-AznLyeVXI70qKA1hNn0HDvw3josfIL39oqldicWG_38hOeZ5WFw-hPP/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've read romances where one character moves to a small town to start over after a family death or tragedies and it blossoms over time. In this one we have both characters coming off family tragedies and we see how people deal with conflict and grief differently. I really related to Meg because I've often felt that level of angry when I'm over stimulated, overwhelmed, and putting my feelings aside to get through something. One of the characters go a it-isn't-actually-happening-or-a-problem, and I can relate to that as well. <br /><div><br /></div><div>We have our two main characters and their individual stories come together unexpectedly and I like how over time they become a rock for each other, and we have a blossoming romance. He wins her over with personality and that's my favorite trope, so that was a definite perk for me. I also am here for a great epilogue, so that right there is a full star in my rating. Without giving too much away, there is a secondary story line that doesn't really get closure, at least for me. I also love that the story takes place in Key West because that's a trip I've been planning for my next visit to see my family in Florida so I had a fun visual of what it might be like. Also, if you're looking for a clean romance, this checks that box for sure. </div><div><br /></div><div>I loved the author's writing style, I loved that this gave me summer vibes, and I liked the trope (but also how the author made it different, which is exactly what I've been looking for). </div><p>Thank you to Christy Hayes for providing a copy for review, you hit it out of the ballpark! I'm loving this kick off to summer reading, it's just what I needed after a loooooong winter. (I read these on our two days that were summer weather and it was glorious.)</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0BTTQDRDL&asins=B0BTTQDRDL&linkId=c34f61478c00a83c4d68a00c9fa1fe4d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1625720289&asins=1625720289&linkId=0bf3374e68fb66e87f1440f90fbd4b72&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This post contains affiliate links. </span></i></div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-72866362106206390732023-03-03T13:30:00.006-06:002023-03-03T13:30:53.904-06:00Manifest some goals with me. <p>It has been a long six years since my AFE and I have struggled with a purpose after it. Everyone tells me "you're here for a reason", and that's great but nobody tells you what's that supposed to be. It not like you survive death and you're given a card telling you what you haven't done yet, you know? </p><p>So in that theme, one of the things I am currently working on is working through advocacy training for <a href="https://www.mommasvoices.org/?fbclid=IwAR2PqLMHU2Nql83foquQ2_4PRj7Vp2ulaDFjfxmEJToI15pewDVMsuqbn1k"><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>MoMMA's Voices</b></span></a>, more specifically, the Patient Family Partner Certification Training. It teaches you how to take your story and use that to help other moms and families who are entering the birth trauma circle. I might be six years into this, having gone through <i>many</i> ups and downs, but somebody somewhere is right now going through it and feeling incredibly overwhelmed. </p><p>I may not remember anything from that time, I know that Matt does and he still struggles with feelings from it. Nobody knows what to do when their spouse dies and comes back, but doesn't come back fully alright. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2txD5q5ldr2Hn4XwxaygWwXaDbon8zIzFcigf7D5jVbShsv0wfQabBuOu7yczcAc7nK48EmZwcMpX1HwXmcdDwcQmybyqUtpmZjHU7W8MZGIRIudlbIw0zlJcjIPr-6ejkej_z_s_epbDNfWG2BMun0ZggEWW-sYooiUMXsUJBJiH4D45ejqfGgDK/s1280/IMG_7485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2txD5q5ldr2Hn4XwxaygWwXaDbon8zIzFcigf7D5jVbShsv0wfQabBuOu7yczcAc7nK48EmZwcMpX1HwXmcdDwcQmybyqUtpmZjHU7W8MZGIRIudlbIw0zlJcjIPr-6ejkej_z_s_epbDNfWG2BMun0ZggEWW-sYooiUMXsUJBJiH4D45ejqfGgDK/s320/IMG_7485.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>My hope is to somehow help other women and families wade through overload of feelings and information. I do remember not really understanding what happened to me, so I was Googling everything that I could about amniotic fluid embolisms, birth trauma, depression, all of the things. Everybody encouraged me to not do that, just move forward, focus on being lucky to be alive, and I just couldn't do that. I really needed to <i>understsand </i>what had happened to me and why I don't feel any better, why do I not feel lucky? <br /><p>Some of the things I'd really like to do is a blood drive, and possibly turn it into an annual thing. I'm terrified to plan it and have nobody come, you know? I'd like to turn it into something to highlight birth trauma and the resources available to them, locally but also online. I know the absolute relief I felt when I found the AFE Foundation and support group online. Having an entire group of women who also had an AFE to talk to and ask questions of? Priceless. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgAflPB4N7K14eIcMd1WfedHAINlAXJKwvJdl-UE82dVyQETojwQJg_puEW7QKICeV8a4Tz5SR4NBxB6NeaLD2zqzQ5QKEil7GZZ3sIl_ShZcG8BBTNWZrU2vXde20tVZVbdq-4EkyTIP8hWbCJkHHaUls561VrYEybugAQl9K2GqCLn6ryKFSHcu/s1457/294085079_374804461468886_281917322524702373_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1457" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgAflPB4N7K14eIcMd1WfedHAINlAXJKwvJdl-UE82dVyQETojwQJg_puEW7QKICeV8a4Tz5SR4NBxB6NeaLD2zqzQ5QKEil7GZZ3sIl_ShZcG8BBTNWZrU2vXde20tVZVbdq-4EkyTIP8hWbCJkHHaUls561VrYEybugAQl9K2GqCLn6ryKFSHcu/w400-h176/294085079_374804461468886_281917322524702373_n.png" width="400" /></a></div>I'm trying to think of some other things I can do to be helpful, but also not require a lot of time. Realistically, I know that health wise (energy, overall feeling, and mental health) I am not reliable. I hate that, but I do know that is something I deal with now and am getting better at recognizing my limitations. <br /><p>So that's where I am. I'm trying to get better in life. If I'm going to be here, I may as well do something, right? I don't want to go the rest of my life, however long it is, and not be able to say I did something with my life. I want to see and do some things. I've told some friends that I really just feel this urge to finally do the things I've thought about, like now is my moment. I trust my gut, so here I am. </p>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-42920228061517761072023-02-17T00:00:00.006-06:002023-02-17T00:00:00.186-06:00Book Review: Breaking All the Rules<p>TGIF, folks. TGIF. It feels like a long week but also not really at all. I don't have much in the way of plans for this weekend and I'm OK with that. Matt is going to bring me grocery shopping, because oh yes, I can't do that by myself. Love the loss of independence, it's really so much fun. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>Breaking All the Rules - Amy Andrews</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRm6XdAVbf6bUBNtASVnzaW2L4izhOJF7Ky_XytErTj8lZ1MODCqkxkv_uQOLOBzpHn-xbF7B-JvzNXyViaGcvPyWpo7fmQaZSCYmjjIBCZ2b6agBisUT59JHqkiQIMiMThiUwUTcxfn2q9LfQtoqfQ_Web0yp2HjyNjLomHt9Kk6KgcySJuSJACu/s750/53137943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRm6XdAVbf6bUBNtASVnzaW2L4izhOJF7Ky_XytErTj8lZ1MODCqkxkv_uQOLOBzpHn-xbF7B-JvzNXyViaGcvPyWpo7fmQaZSCYmjjIBCZ2b6agBisUT59JHqkiQIMiMThiUwUTcxfn2q9LfQtoqfQ_Web0yp2HjyNjLomHt9Kk6KgcySJuSJACu/s320/53137943.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Sometimes you gotta toss your whole life into a burning dumpster to find what’s most important...</b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Beatrice Archer has always done everything she’s supposed to —worked her ass off, ignored her non-existent personal life, and kept her mouth shut. Now she’s over it. The rat race, respectability…the underwire bras. She’s taking her life back. Starting with moving to Nowhere, Colorado to live life on her own terms.</b></span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Now Bea gives exactly zero forks. Beer for breakfast. Sugar for everything else. Baggy sweats and soft cotton undies FTW. Then a much younger and delightfully attractive cop is called to deal with her flagrant disregard for appropriate clothing outside the local diner (some folks just don’t appreciate bunny slippers) and Bea realizes there’s something missing from her little decathlon of decadence…and he might be the guy to help her out.</b></span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>When it comes to breaking rules, Officer Austin Cooper is surprisingly eager to assist. He’s charming, a little bit cowboy, and a whole lot sexy. But Bea’s about to discover that breaking the rules has consequences. And all of the cherry pies in Colorado can’t save her from what’s coming…</b></span></i></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Okqexj34iAnpS-YQlubUuqUe4J-0z2sFa7q5Z93E9CVFwq_8ZaLAWYaOIi_IgJbpNUC8bFra0rPxBbk_3hgHZXWPhone1AgsDn-Yaoixx8K4_7HWP1nvjGq6Erkg4_5AGeuIfYkcBNxnj9xtLzueT6y3V4RoI8UhUIumL3wfpJHB2zid9Qa-p2ry/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Okqexj34iAnpS-YQlubUuqUe4J-0z2sFa7q5Z93E9CVFwq_8ZaLAWYaOIi_IgJbpNUC8bFra0rPxBbk_3hgHZXWPhone1AgsDn-Yaoixx8K4_7HWP1nvjGq6Erkg4_5AGeuIfYkcBNxnj9xtLzueT6y3V4RoI8UhUIumL3wfpJHB2zid9Qa-p2ry/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I loved this book!! I didn't realize this was going to be a reverse age gap (Bea is older than Austin) romance, but I was here for it because I'm trying to read things I haven't seen a lot of and reverse age gap is just that. I loved Bea's character, I feel like if I were a literary character, I also would give <i>zero forks</i>, if you will. Austin really is charming, and their chemistry is FIRE. For all of that alone, you need to add this to your TBR for 2023, hands down. What sealed the deal for me though is the humor, I love romance with some good humor, and the author balanced it perfectly. I really liked that Bea is going on a limb and asking for exactly what she wants and Austin is eager to please. If I had to offer a critique, I would say I wished the epilogue wasn't mostly Bea, and not them as a couple/their future. This is a series though, so I'm assuming we'll see more from them in future books so I can't be mad about that. This was my first one from Amy Andrews but it definitely isn't going to be my last, I loved her writing style and the personality in her characters. <br /><div><br /></div><div>Thank you to Entangled Publishing and TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review! </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B08JKDF3CR&asins=B08JKDF3CR&linkId=ab357419ddd70d3659c92f17b02255c3&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1682815633&asins=1682815633&linkId=5c06d3d96bc624fe619b2252a5c25ed0&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-35819401939649170252023-02-15T17:56:00.003-06:002023-02-15T17:56:31.504-06:00Book Review: Pirate's Paradox<p>It is Wednesday...but I am so screwed up on which day of the week it is since my kids were off of school Monday and Tuesday. Then I decided to keep Lucy home today because she threw up in th emiddle of the night. I'm pretty sure it was just the pizza she ate for dinner that didn't sit well in her tummy but still, better to be safe than sorry. So she's home today, Jackson has a doctor appointment, I have a bunch of emails to catch up on and a book to read. Lots to do. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b>Pirate's Paradox - Lisa Kessler</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeqSdkNfAltZRhYXXAqv-Rq9ZmIXX8ub62nTvS3X4K4IMk8zqUKGpbff6JrdE8kJAP1p670N_WTEVVRGi807cFPYhpYXPDrpNqVJI-9OuFVQcq9LqUL6vAuQEXHCNHEIwwSRfipAbiGOqmZhQqCg8nbBd70VvGaQbEgPOsTgSQGXmGZhsbwTjNjbf/s750/58503368.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeqSdkNfAltZRhYXXAqv-Rq9ZmIXX8ub62nTvS3X4K4IMk8zqUKGpbff6JrdE8kJAP1p670N_WTEVVRGi807cFPYhpYXPDrpNqVJI-9OuFVQcq9LqUL6vAuQEXHCNHEIwwSRfipAbiGOqmZhQqCg8nbBd70VvGaQbEgPOsTgSQGXmGZhsbwTjNjbf/s320/58503368.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Pirate Caleb Graves may be an immortal, but he’s also a navigator and a man of science. And yet he can’t explain the erratic tides threatening Savannah. Nor the terrible dreams of sailing through a vicious, supernatural storm that he keeps having. But when fascinating, petite dynamo Diana Williams marches up to his ship and demands to speak to the captain, Caleb is caught up in a wave of unexpected fear…and an electric frisson of longing for this captivating woman.</b></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Diana wouldn’t be a true psychic if she didn’t listen to her spirit guide. So when dream after dream compels her to visit specific coordinates in the Atlantic, she can’t ignore it. Now, she just needs a ship. Good thing she knows about a particular pirate ship that’s in tip-top shape. Complete with a surly, albeit hot, navigator who doesn’t immediately believe in her visions. But no matter how much Caleb objects, she’ll risk sending the entire crew—including herself—to the uncharted ocean.</b></span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>But both their dreams could be the key to saving Savannah and may even be a clue about the fabled lost city of Atlantis. Or it could damn them all to an unforgiving, watery grave.</b></span></i></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh6scdCKRQPClFnc2w2vgAyg_5s4H6iKRdjm98UxY04fnHPhFDmfMbHx1csbjjiO9aN8n6FOmgVhwJrIjKTePWQkuJ6UvDsggOh2qEJ0nG8hfj2nK7aiYLv3-mK2ji5rPlJmI0bpu_IcspNvf1NUM4QVk6IE0SFEu2WlNqLaeWEHss9ZVK57wM9xB/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh6scdCKRQPClFnc2w2vgAyg_5s4H6iKRdjm98UxY04fnHPhFDmfMbHx1csbjjiO9aN8n6FOmgVhwJrIjKTePWQkuJ6UvDsggOh2qEJ0nG8hfj2nK7aiYLv3-mK2ji5rPlJmI0bpu_IcspNvf1NUM4QVk6IE0SFEu2WlNqLaeWEHss9ZVK57wM9xB/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Right off the bat I'm going to tell you if this synopsis does it for you, read the books in the series that come before this one. Technically each book is a standalone, but I feel like I would have enjoyed this even more had I read the others. There is quite a bit of backstory that I had no idea about, and while the author did a good job doing really fast summary, I wish I had read the others. With that said, I enjoyed thhis. It was a fast read, it centers around pirates, immortal ones at that, and I can honestly say I don't remember reading a book with immortal pirates. <br /><div><br /></div><div>Let's talk about some of the things I enjoyed: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The romance! Caleb and Diana are a great couple and I loved their arc. I so appreciated communication between the two and the trust! FINALLY a romance that makes it work!</li><li>I liked the dynamic between the pirate crew, I need to read the other books before this in the series, I want those stories. </li><li>The book also features a.... being that I've never read about but I can't tell you more because it kind of ruins it. I do hope they are featured again, and I think they will be given some of the things that happened in this one. </li><li>I really liked the diversity! I appreciate authors taking more chances on diversity in their books, it can only make them stronger and more interesting. </li><li>Diana is a great character on her own and I love that she's strong and confident in herself but truthful enough to be uncertain and be OK with that. Caleb is great, too, he is <i>so</i> old fashioned and I thought it was charming. </li></ul><div>If you're looking for something out of the box, something that there aren't multiple of on the shelf, this is a solid option. Thank you to Entangled Publishing for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review! </div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B09K66XRX9&asins=B09K66XRX9&linkId=c664ae82d23cd1d62f83b7062665251a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B09QF44VHG&asins=B09QF44VHG&linkId=2db6adbe3783d3e9d0e09322d5dbe991&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-14734505856914526432023-02-14T00:00:00.010-06:002023-02-14T00:00:00.242-06:00Book Review: My Three Men<p>Happy Valentine's Day, lovers! Do you have any plans? We don't plan on doing anything because we are bro-kay, but that's OK. I always do a little something for my kids, nothing big, but it's just fun. If you're not busy and need a little somethin', somethin', I've got a read for you! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>My Three Men - Petra Sharpe</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AHCYM1ZCwvy-hFLLcc1_PEWCTX2llGQEHva0PFKqdrvkKCp4cc5Y7gr1jHsW-ctw6A6HHCfpaOMLdLDdVkyftvpbhMLh4whjhgSajOOJ7u-CaOajwgG2LeJFIluf5_IA2IIm5z9iqdW_UsXYBqp7WwgPS1Ov8rgZlWVZQWk_vmyWqf9V0PTH1DsD/s600/thumbnail_image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AHCYM1ZCwvy-hFLLcc1_PEWCTX2llGQEHva0PFKqdrvkKCp4cc5Y7gr1jHsW-ctw6A6HHCfpaOMLdLDdVkyftvpbhMLh4whjhgSajOOJ7u-CaOajwgG2LeJFIluf5_IA2IIm5z9iqdW_UsXYBqp7WwgPS1Ov8rgZlWVZQWk_vmyWqf9V0PTH1DsD/s320/thumbnail_image.png" width="199" /></a></div><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-772a6dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading" data-element_type="widget" data-id="772a6dc" data-widget_type="heading.default" style="--align-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-self: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --gap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --order: initial; --widgets-spacing: 20px; -webkit-box-align: var(--align-items); -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-flex: var(--flex-grow); -webkit-box-ordinal-group: var(--order); -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-box-pack: var(--justify-content); align-content: var(--align-content); align-items: var(--align-items); align-self: var(--align-self); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); gap: var(--gap); justify-content: var(--justify-content); margin-bottom: 20px; order: var(--order); position: relative; width: 662.15px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s, border 0.3s ease 0s, border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s;"><h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: var(--h2fontweight); letter-spacing: var(--h2letterspacing); line-height: 36px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: var(--h2texttransform);"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i><b>No job. No money. No prospects. When I get the offer of a
lifetime from a hot stranger, what choice do I have but to take it?</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>When I
shared a hot hook-up with a stranger at a bar to get my mind off my recent job
loss, the last thing I expected was for it to turn into something more.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>But it
turns out that stranger was a high-flying CEO named Tyler, who runs a major
company alongside his best friends, Will and Nate. And he needs a favor. His
father won’t sign off on Tyler’s ownership of the company until he shows up
with a wife on his arm.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>Which is
where I come in. Tyler’s paying me an insane amount of cash to play at being
his fiancee on a vacation with his family. When it’s over, my money troubles
will be done with and the company will be his.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>But once
we leave the city, I realize it’s not going to be so easy to play at romance
with someone I’m so attracted to. And, with Will and Nate joining us, he’s not
the only one I’m having to fight off feelings for…</i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></h2></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK9fwhJNMktLcoG-wSojh4FDFIe9L0Hj0LcpApRy8M2VkU2o1n0W0Bak6mBPW1gmhdG0N3w1o0aBDITHxj10qM4YSdUz7nusajphk2AQ0P5urRr9jCbzQ2YzlkDivu76bqD17zhglxyDwIMNx-gBwIAJIdGD7A2WKMVfJCCyVSI9jzLB9zvqgA__1/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK9fwhJNMktLcoG-wSojh4FDFIe9L0Hj0LcpApRy8M2VkU2o1n0W0Bak6mBPW1gmhdG0N3w1o0aBDITHxj10qM4YSdUz7nusajphk2AQ0P5urRr9jCbzQ2YzlkDivu76bqD17zhglxyDwIMNx-gBwIAJIdGD7A2WKMVfJCCyVSI9jzLB9zvqgA__1/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When was the last time you read a MMMF romance? I honestly could not tell you when the last romance I read that wasn't just your standard MF, so I jumped at the chance for this when it popped up. In </span><i style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">My Three Men</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">, we begin with Anna, fresh off of being fired and out of options, she reluctantly decides to go for a night out on the town with her friend/roommate Suruthi, and that's where we meet Tyler. He's clearly got money, but he's handsome and listens to her woes as she drinks the night away. One steamy rendezvous later, and Anna is back to worrying about her next step because rent is due whether you have a job or not. </span></p><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tyler then has an interesting proposal...literally for Anna, pretend to be his fiance on an upcoming family vacation to dupe his dad. Tyler won't be left control of the family company unless he can show his dad that he's responsible and has "plans for his future", which in his dad's eyes, includes a wife....and maybe kids eventually. Tyler has no interest in getting married, he quite enjoys the lifestyle he currently enjoys. Anna, for her part, is quite reluctant, but when she sees the dollar amount Tyler is offering her, she really would be an idiot to say no. Also, who is really going to say no to an all-expense paid vacation to Hawaii?? Anna soon learns that this technically isn't a family only trip as Tyler's business partners Nate and Will are also coming, both of which Anna is attracted to, and all three men have wildly different personalities, so Anna begins to feel confused over feelings she seems to be developing. </div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I won't go over more than that since it's the bulk of the story, but let's talk about some hits and misses for me with this book. I am a fan of books that aren't dragging a story out, though I do wish this one gave us a little more. It felt like we never really got a full ending, some things were mentioned and that was that. I never got a clear explanation of how this MMMF was supposed to work long-term, and maybe that was the point, but I would have liked to have more, at least in that area. It almost felt like the author had more ideas and literally ran out of time so had to tie it up quickly. I also was really tired of hearing Anna's inner thoughts on being fired, how she's getting paid well for this, how she needs money, etc. At first it was fine because it's story development, but we don't need to be reminded of this every few pages, we get it. It makes it seem like her situation is far more dire than it probably is, I mean, go work at McDonald's or something, you'll find a job, calm down. </div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I did really like the development of her relationship (is that what it is?) with Tyler. I really wished that we had gotten more from that because it felt like the author was exploring it and then just dropped the idea towards the end. He seemed like a really good guy at heart, and he was capable of the kind of relationship his dad wanted for him, he just didn't want to go there (for reasons never made clear). Also, for the premise of this being a MMMF story, the author also focused on the MF relationships (all three of them) equally and it felt like Anna had something distinct and special with each one, but collectively it was great, too. The steam of level is pretty high, and the book is short, so if you're in the mood for a quick read that will uh.... get the job done, this is definitely one to consider. </div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thank you to Red Clover Digital and author Petra Sharpe for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review! </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-31704605307630627112023-01-31T14:45:00.004-06:002023-01-31T14:45:24.526-06:00Book Review: The Love You Save<p>What day of the week is it? Who knows! I keep telling my family that it feels like Friday, everyday is feeling like Friday, so I have no idea what is even going on anymore. What I do know is that this is now the second day in a row that I've kind of forced myself to get dressed, try to look like a functioning adult, and I think that's helping. Also, I bought some new pants and the fact they are the same size as I was at my biggest isn't getting me down. I'm just happy to now own two pairs that fit me, lets just hope they don't shrink in the wash. Now I just need shirts, but I'm poor, so baggy hoodies it is! Anyways, lets talk books. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Love You Save - Goldie Taylor</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8btQHS0vZSZ6ymDC0LhIWEqpnJ8KxCi5kReynnF-b384Bg-QMhB6_94HSZHBmAdsqekXSdfyD1ego_CeFZSc2RrRzA0sjOaIQPDdW8Lsntx1knJ4wh9MbPit6mdc6hNFT9WPzrJEpd-qlV6gTSHXqF_FNas06dE4SdNhAsXoQVB6lWSRRWADfK048/s2048/IMG_8309.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8btQHS0vZSZ6ymDC0LhIWEqpnJ8KxCi5kReynnF-b384Bg-QMhB6_94HSZHBmAdsqekXSdfyD1ego_CeFZSc2RrRzA0sjOaIQPDdW8Lsntx1knJ4wh9MbPit6mdc6hNFT9WPzrJEpd-qlV6gTSHXqF_FNas06dE4SdNhAsXoQVB6lWSRRWADfK048/s320/IMG_8309.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings</span> </span><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;">meets <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Educated</span> in this harrowing, deeply hopeful memoir of family, faith and the power of books—from acclaimed journalist and human rights activist Goldie Taylor </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Aunt Gerald takes in anyone who asks, but the conditions are harsh. For her young niece Goldie Taylor, abandoned by her mother and coping with trauma of her own, life in Gerald’s East St. Louis comes with nothing but a threadbare blanket on the living room floor. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">But amid the pain and anguish, Goldie discovers a secret. She can find kinship among writers like James Baldwin and Toni Morrison. She can find hope in a nurturing teacher who helps her find her voice. And books, she realizes, can save her life. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Goldie Taylor's debut memoir shines a light on the strictures of race, class and gender in a post–Jim Crow America while offering a nuanced, empathetic portrait of a family in a pitched battle for its very soul.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;">Profoundly moving, exquisitely rendered and ultimately uplifting, <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Love You Save</span></span><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600;"> is a story about hidden strength, perseverance against unimaginable odds, the beauty and pain of girlhood, and the power of the written word.</span><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YsBNxdyDcEqdDr4IdqL79Pyos4-j2tllGuLl3kNeFRYZZd4mxmOnX0nCW0CJUIv2EV1VrjWHJgq6TFClyjKNBqymbC4DVqbnQ62ZO0PzNEUv0Hue5aCzGG8v3GPAc0OBSECXla5N7mD8isNSS9d6EBCBs8LU1rlVOeBzhLiG55RUh5f4-yuWPdl7/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YsBNxdyDcEqdDr4IdqL79Pyos4-j2tllGuLl3kNeFRYZZd4mxmOnX0nCW0CJUIv2EV1VrjWHJgq6TFClyjKNBqymbC4DVqbnQ62ZO0PzNEUv0Hue5aCzGG8v3GPAc0OBSECXla5N7mD8isNSS9d6EBCBs8LU1rlVOeBzhLiG55RUh5f4-yuWPdl7/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Wow. If you are doing any reading challenges that are asking for a memoir, let this be the one you pick. Today is actually its book birthday so go to your local bookstore and pick this one up. It isn't very long, 277 pages, but WOW. <br /><div><br /></div><div>As a white woman, who was once a white little girl in the public school system in a rather poor neighborhood, I have absolutely no idea what life would have been like for Goldie Taylor, and this book was eye opening for me in so many ways. I try hard to learn the things I do not know and I'm coming to realize that no matter how hard I try or how much I learn, I will never get to the end. I'm sad about that, but that doesn't mean I'm going to quit. </div><div><br /></div><div>In <i>The Love You Save</i>, Goldie's father is brutally murdered, her brother is beaten and robbed, and if that isn't enough, Goldie's mother moves them to a mostly white neighborhood, which, in the 1970's, was bound to be difficult on all of them. Most of all anyone being sent into the school system because children are assholes. They can be sweet and loving, but we all know children are assholes when the adults leave. Goldie is then raped, her mother isn't the support she needs, so she is moved yet again. Her entire upbringing is a serious of chaotic moments, and at times dangerous, and we have this little girl trying to walk around all of it. The entire story is harrowing and that is really putting it lightly. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will say the times where they are left alone for long hours because mom is at work, I know what that feels like. I can't be mad at my mom, we have to have money to pay for an apartment and food, but man. It would have been nice to have a mom who wasn't so stressed out and tired. Or have a mom that would take us to cool after school events like the other kids. I'm not mad at her, as a mom of four myself I absolutely get it. I also found a home in my school work, and the few teachers who saw me and saw what I needed. Honestly, thank god for them, really. I am so grateful Goldie had those same kinds of teachers because without that, the entire course of her life could have been wildly different. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you are focusing on specific books for Black History Month, <i>The Love You Save</i> should absolutely be on that list. I know it's the end of January but this might actually be my memoir of the year. Sorry, Prince Harry. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you to TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. This one has made a mark on my heart. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B09XBGLH79&asins=B09XBGLH79&linkId=82b001098a3a9adadc2478b358a2c1d9&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=133544937X&asins=133544937X&linkId=0c4a06eebd213f6df9a1c7efec2d8d2b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>This post contains affiliate links. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZFfW4L2Q7WbiX8N2yYgtz_2H36Xli36s7LIkYNdDvkFRAt2lG0Kp86oE9abdWI_57y_gRmMyaCTL0fr1WwnuNzULjWBTfsoafZXbOl4B0DDGg0j-C5EJt5OYeaT2rReyH5-Esx9t-zHzfUjg-pqlSDQvOaRDLTMVyin3zXtyfi5jFmszUNjg9RkQ/s119/tlc%20tour%20host.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="119" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZFfW4L2Q7WbiX8N2yYgtz_2H36Xli36s7LIkYNdDvkFRAt2lG0Kp86oE9abdWI_57y_gRmMyaCTL0fr1WwnuNzULjWBTfsoafZXbOl4B0DDGg0j-C5EJt5OYeaT2rReyH5-Esx9t-zHzfUjg-pqlSDQvOaRDLTMVyin3zXtyfi5jFmszUNjg9RkQ/s1600/tlc%20tour%20host.png" width="119" /></a></div></div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-78009636569874896812023-01-26T00:00:00.056-06:002023-01-26T00:00:00.197-06:00Book Review: Accidentally Famous<p>It is Friday Eve and I'm here for it. Olivia is in Boston for a school thing, Jackson is busy doing pep band stuff, Pep and Lu want to do a bingo night at school, and I'm just... tired. I'm really tired. The last two days I took a five hour nap, was awake for four, and then went to bed for the rest of the night. What's wrong with me? I have no idea. In the hours I have been awake though, I have gotten quite a bit of reading in, so there's that. I can't hate that. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: x-large;"><b>Accidentally Famous - Marissa Clarke</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhm5wk37M8g6xr6u7NJwVGfHphPaLC7j1IPWVv88hB27hQrDKXzcBotUTGXv0cesHPxyfwdZBKBHFjEQ843CgvtkTE0i6xy_cd9sCTBwEn0g8ZyZteBMmJJGX243VVGZNOqsr63nhZHMi9xhv8UAubZ7QiiGGW-5OIpFBLDwpttyhOqhToCf-XTRz/s400/60827564.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhm5wk37M8g6xr6u7NJwVGfHphPaLC7j1IPWVv88hB27hQrDKXzcBotUTGXv0cesHPxyfwdZBKBHFjEQ843CgvtkTE0i6xy_cd9sCTBwEn0g8ZyZteBMmJJGX243VVGZNOqsr63nhZHMi9xhv8UAubZ7QiiGGW-5OIpFBLDwpttyhOqhToCf-XTRz/s320/60827564.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Jack Winston may be Hollywood’s biggest action hero, but he’s seriously burned out. He can’t even save himself from his PR team’s latest scheme: dating a starlet. But when his assistant accidentally tags Cassidy James from Blink, Maine (wherever <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">that</span> is) on social media, the paparazzi decide that <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">she’s</span> Jack’s latest fling. Now Jack needs to do some serious damage control…starting with the adorable home reno pro in paint-splattered overalls.</b></i></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Cassidy is not prepared when <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">the</span> Jack Winston shows up in her quiet little town—and whew, he is that gorgeous in person. Before she can pick her jaw up off the floor, his PR team is bombarding them with a whole new plan involving “fake girlfriend,” “optics,” and “sign this NDA” (whatever <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">that</span> is). But no one warned her that Mr. A-List Action Star is hot, funny as all get out, and loves old houses as much as she does.</b></i></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Now they have two weeks to convince everyone they’re in a fake relationship—two weeks that will drive Cassidy’s reno business through the roof and help Jack reclaim his “spark.” The plan is going fine, dare she say, perfectly...until she discovers something that will change everything.</b></i></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4KnSDLxoEPG3fGGXFOpFO4Y3MZ2Kds2MUqUlD5VrXYcNuzwu8tNqT-NYDpGD6Wf9vZCGJ5L3RQsSBHbfPZvxecjnprrOcADQf9JdTRovyOojJr3uxhzZ1-kU8NRvE5KVjVBF2h6c1TRa_wWNJ4nVkYYg_k7f3bvzModE0AlyfuVPkSmmDJCYOOTi/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4KnSDLxoEPG3fGGXFOpFO4Y3MZ2Kds2MUqUlD5VrXYcNuzwu8tNqT-NYDpGD6Wf9vZCGJ5L3RQsSBHbfPZvxecjnprrOcADQf9JdTRovyOojJr3uxhzZ1-kU8NRvE5KVjVBF2h6c1TRa_wWNJ4nVkYYg_k7f3bvzModE0AlyfuVPkSmmDJCYOOTi/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I am so glad to be back in Blink, Maine with Marissa Clarke's latest, <i>Accidentally Famous. </i>Right off the bat I liked Cassidy, and I really liked Jack. I felt like it would have been an easy route to take to make Jack a real jerk but the author did a really good job at balancing his fame and his normalness. Cassidy was a fun character too and again, she could have been almost an angry heroine, and while she had some moments where she was definitely uncomfortable with something she was wearing (or the lavender nails), but she was a sport and she didn't want things to go badly for Jack. <br /><p>I also have to talk about the town, who we learned from book one, are all good and decent people who aren't easily starstruck. A star can come here and truly relax, and get some really great food but also not be absolutely hounded. </p><p>Though a romance, it would be considered a very clean one, with only a few kisses. I normally like more (alright, a lot more), but I felt like this was the appropriate level given the story and how it was set up. Anything more would have been trashy and not totally appropriate, to be honest. I also don't know how anyone wouldn't melt a little inside when a hot guy texts you, "I'm coming for you, babe", am I right? </p><p>Final rating? 4.5 stars rounded to 5. I had a hard time putting it down, I found myself smiling throughout, and I had that immediate, "that was cute" when I finished. I can't wait to see how this series folds out with a third installment (it has to be Cassidy's friend, right? RIGHT?) </p><p>Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing a copy for review, I thoroughly loved this one!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5287997347" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="820" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6-5PkfySYO4isIiQKPpY6_rBVeUy4fTYSkvqUC0Kk30cR9QISRyi7hyqol6flHOsekqomqqW47eFVbT5dcqTXipFYro0vWXwPzsKpW6cT39z7EZeZ-U5lhijYyOcz_rsg7SeIvL01zkemn_qhm9P2bHhrWDQiL6NJNVxnTplxJh4-UmkoMXphyXS/w200-h81/Goodreads%202.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B09Z95V8BJ&asins=B09Z95V8BJ&linkId=7d419e1ae75cea03ec7a2f00eb5e3b77&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1649373457&asins=1649373457&linkId=4ed6b154f796b4e57c65a04496de69ea&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-9792263887678897422023-01-23T21:20:00.000-06:002023-01-23T21:20:25.532-06:00Book Review: Come What Maybe<p>I cannot believe this is the last full week of January. I've been working hard at trying to set up systems and reliable notes to really keep me on track this year. Well, at least a little better and last year. You know the biggest hurdle right now? My medication list/basket. I am losing track of what I'm taking when and why. I have like 13 medications split up over three times a day and it's just a nightmare. </p><p>ANYWAYS. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Happy Monkey; font-size: x-large;"><b>Come What Maybe - Kerri Carpenter</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xr81I_OcYu7kofQ9bMb5xx-5-J3TnlkalpdqwPuxtO9idy4W36ZE8uWZeeKnVIZgH2ZI4A_qM2zdaYmfzGBFdS9dHSlimQl-9onUDS99J-Lv6sOZXP8JshrQKcPZ8qPFcXI7hJmp3SJoX89QstvRU8YoXMjok0s70iMtE7fgM-hx6q6PV79xDxn7/s400/57693274.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xr81I_OcYu7kofQ9bMb5xx-5-J3TnlkalpdqwPuxtO9idy4W36ZE8uWZeeKnVIZgH2ZI4A_qM2zdaYmfzGBFdS9dHSlimQl-9onUDS99J-Lv6sOZXP8JshrQKcPZ8qPFcXI7hJmp3SJoX89QstvRU8YoXMjok0s70iMtE7fgM-hx6q6PV79xDxn7/s320/57693274.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">Social media strategist Lauren Wallace plans everything. But when she returns to the charming—if not too small for comfort—town of Seaside Cove, it’s only about a second before her tough-love Grams is already on her case. So when Grams tells her </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">not to go to that bar</i><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">, Lauren decides it’s time for a temporary rebellion. Which is exactly when the trouble starts.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">Grams was right. The bar was not a good plan. Because suddenly super-cute bar owner Ethan McAllister has gone from being Lauren’s (kind of) high school nemesis to a very unexpected one-night stand. And worse, Lauren’s attempts to resume her ultra-responsible life keep getting thwarted by more unwelcome spontaneity. And a pregnancy.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">Now there’s a baby on the way, Lauren’s the talk of the entire town, and all her planning has gone right out the window. All that’s missing is childbirth to make her pain complete. But it’ll be nothing compared to Grams’s reaction when she finds out that Lauren broke the biggest rule of all…falling for the wrong guy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XXEObv7WCzNCeP4oE1tu_6MdAO3VE-MFiukK7yuD6O5N2VG2niCIeKfcZq9Hyol7Nwa_-9D7zZPW5Zghkih3IVbL2kpTY2tOQf8s81O9ydTpgCybCHMaRhNJ5f-2kBGojh9EqjMAfCQV2ar2WaF_g89v2k-I6tIezK_PSacKyN5JelXPJBfLZhCw/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XXEObv7WCzNCeP4oE1tu_6MdAO3VE-MFiukK7yuD6O5N2VG2niCIeKfcZq9Hyol7Nwa_-9D7zZPW5Zghkih3IVbL2kpTY2tOQf8s81O9ydTpgCybCHMaRhNJ5f-2kBGojh9EqjMAfCQV2ar2WaF_g89v2k-I6tIezK_PSacKyN5JelXPJBfLZhCw/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I'm going to tell you right off the bat I am giving this one 3⭐'s, but not because it's a meh story, that isn't the case at all. When I look at the Goodreads rating, a 3 is "I liked it" and that's exactly how I feel about <i>Come What Maybe</i>. It is an absolutely promising beginning to the <i>Seaside Cove</i> series and I am all in for it. I will absolutely be reading the rest of them as they come out. Kerri Carpenter has masterfully set this series up for success. </div><div><br /></div><div>My biggest issues with this one is Lauren. I really didn't like Lauren and for all the times she speaks poorly of others/the town because of gossiping and judgement but she really took the take, in my opinion. I didn't like how she made assumptions of her sisters, and her Grams' reaction, and Ethan in general. I liked Ethan a lot, and I really could understand his thought process and the poor guy. He's clueless in the psyche of women and it shows! Overall Lauren was so childish that I really started rooting for Ethan to find literally anyone else. (I have to put in a plug from Grams because she is the Grams we all need.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Alas, we do have a happy ending, it's a clean romance, the book is very fitting given the coastal Maine setting, and I really love her sisters and look forward to their stories. </div><p>Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review! </p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B09Q1YLNJV&asins=B09Q1YLNJV&linkId=71c7c9298b6b9c29334c863e50c4cef7&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1649371411&asins=1649371411&linkId=e9fd3906bad8c16fcc42d99cac9da11a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09nduOgnGRLFaRz3NH-KprOnC-L_utMzjc8C3TKzshOyUUIA2mHImqhPRsvKtHcVUc3UXL6paQgVBODw-GAW55r-BT7WRXnfZBT65_OlWGYd5tZxLeMi0hUFGMOaLbY7oRKoA-iW-2DdPmdpZfJmUDh3cMCBy_VwOpteHjkCKYq5JsXKrExhU0o0r/s119/tlc%20tour%20host.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="119" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09nduOgnGRLFaRz3NH-KprOnC-L_utMzjc8C3TKzshOyUUIA2mHImqhPRsvKtHcVUc3UXL6paQgVBODw-GAW55r-BT7WRXnfZBT65_OlWGYd5tZxLeMi0hUFGMOaLbY7oRKoA-iW-2DdPmdpZfJmUDh3cMCBy_VwOpteHjkCKYq5JsXKrExhU0o0r/s1600/tlc%20tour%20host.png" width="119" /></a></div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-11442105500813547432023-01-22T00:00:00.096-06:002023-01-22T00:00:00.175-06:00Medical Update: PTSD, diapers, almost diapers, and more!<p>I haven't given a proper medical update in... months. Honestly maybe even a year. I will be all over the place, but as always, if you have questions, feel free to leave a comment, email me, message me on IG, and I'm happy to do my best to answer them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPKrcLAKZrUJj0aGEDmBU2F-qw0eFppYo_TpE06cS42gVXdLA0cLwoT7EffP1UUbm_ZFBISjIEVl-sl5u0DToaUOb2h-m4eTwvOSYFLQfz626J5woIZwKWGwSvMTEwD6rkTTCZCQgXkl4VMQ1-QF6GP9rr-rxxS30nAooD7Vq9H-ciaBp40OdJbot/s2048/IMG_6661.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPKrcLAKZrUJj0aGEDmBU2F-qw0eFppYo_TpE06cS42gVXdLA0cLwoT7EffP1UUbm_ZFBISjIEVl-sl5u0DToaUOb2h-m4eTwvOSYFLQfz626J5woIZwKWGwSvMTEwD6rkTTCZCQgXkl4VMQ1-QF6GP9rr-rxxS30nAooD7Vq9H-ciaBp40OdJbot/s320/IMG_6661.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Well, the best way to start the year is with a broken mirror, am I right? Well this was this summer courtesy of Pickles and it is still right there and it is still just as broken. At this point it really just feels like a metaphor for my life, you know? <div><br /></div><div>Let's talk about PTSD though, because I am finding out that lots of people don't actually know what it is. To be honest, I would have been in that group because when you think PTSD, I think we all automatically think combat veteran struggling when they come home. Right? I remember maybe three months-ish after having Lucy my doctor flat out held my hands and said, "You aren't crazy, you have PTSD. This is normal." I know I huffed, and I refused to believe it. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQk3Qaa8FjHytN7_rS5Iwo-C55lexIpGqdzneUS3d4IU--LsyhhI2Y43x8061yr5_C2KMU6ARm8yFN392STeb8ztH4ll1rIvIx9M95JuVWZceR06mZvRR-_AJCw9nPBaqL-lVP8Xob3pt0IN5OW6wpGetmAoIUGwUYOmSwdQY5HT_EZpEXi-T45xB/s720/IMG_0313.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="720" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQk3Qaa8FjHytN7_rS5Iwo-C55lexIpGqdzneUS3d4IU--LsyhhI2Y43x8061yr5_C2KMU6ARm8yFN392STeb8ztH4ll1rIvIx9M95JuVWZceR06mZvRR-_AJCw9nPBaqL-lVP8Xob3pt0IN5OW6wpGetmAoIUGwUYOmSwdQY5HT_EZpEXi-T45xB/s320/IMG_0313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Until stupid things would happen and I would find myself struggling, sometimes out of nowhere, and I didn't really have any other explanation for it. I've been in therapy for six full years now and I am able to recognize my triggers, I have coping strategies for different situations, and I also know how to manage my self-talk so I don't get to the point of needing the coping situations, if that makes sense. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cue December. </div><div><br /></div><div>Olivia and Jackson were finishing up their senior project hours for school, which was them participating in the Penney's From Heaven project. Different businesses in the community have Christmas trees full of tags with items the family(ies) chosen need. It's always a family (or multiple families as donations allow)who have been hit with especially hard times outside of their control. (We were a recipient in 2016, the same year we had Lucy and it's been important to our family that we give back, very much a pay-it-forward for us.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn3XuFx-PktkViEU_X4NastnAyjFxdl1071svzavxMov7DH0K243JFKrL4egKYF6qc-GJufFPbrWNoIDB69_XiZfyIQaxT3Dcfhon8biwUGgmFw6CkZWZEMSe_POr-saLmlRhJiqYq2HNFU0Jb3Uhi9_5jIk-6MKBsLomx543jRGg56GeSma9wHwV/s2048/IMG_7592.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn3XuFx-PktkViEU_X4NastnAyjFxdl1071svzavxMov7DH0K243JFKrL4egKYF6qc-GJufFPbrWNoIDB69_XiZfyIQaxT3Dcfhon8biwUGgmFw6CkZWZEMSe_POr-saLmlRhJiqYq2HNFU0Jb3Uhi9_5jIk-6MKBsLomx543jRGg56GeSma9wHwV/s320/IMG_7592.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>We bought a lot of items, lots of different tags and I didn't even look at the tags I was picking up. One of the tags was a pack of diapers. Now, a normal person would walk in, grab the diapers, and keep it moving. Not me, lambs! </div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, I break into a cold sweat, that turns into a gross, weird sweat, my face, neck and chest turn read, and I start shaking because I feel like my blood pressure is going out of hand. Enough for Jackson to notice and nicely ask what the hell is wrong with me. There isn't anything wrong with me, I'm just freaking out for whatever reason. Baby things are really hard, even still. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTlS2lhksOy2YlKZ6KHpDQE9BNl3KY4f86_x046i5p6WDOL5pcNOl0BxdD0qFuXvCEeyqios4McuGHdUP3vFpB_sTzFyWmZogH5vOCOVIM2O4p2mqXvYv-jDKBUiKfjVJvxPvrsKIbMUs3AR6WJufqdggf0OX0U5nfj4U84gwlxpETXEnXtr_ikCI/s2048/IMG_8118.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTlS2lhksOy2YlKZ6KHpDQE9BNl3KY4f86_x046i5p6WDOL5pcNOl0BxdD0qFuXvCEeyqios4McuGHdUP3vFpB_sTzFyWmZogH5vOCOVIM2O4p2mqXvYv-jDKBUiKfjVJvxPvrsKIbMUs3AR6WJufqdggf0OX0U5nfj4U84gwlxpETXEnXtr_ikCI/s320/IMG_8118.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>Also hard? The OB office. I hadn't been in here since November 2016, where I had the worst panic attack I had ever had (except I didn't know that's what it was). I learned that it isn't OK to break out in tears and tell people I died having a baby, and that they might die. Yup. I'm not even kidding. <br /><p>Fortunately, this time when I had a panic attack, I was steadily going through my coping things and I was able to get through the time in the waiting room. I cried, but quietly, and not to the point that I'd scare anyone. I do need to have a follow up OB appointment but it'll be in a new office so that was officially the last time I would ever see this waiting room. Which is bittersweet. *sigh*</p><p>Let's talk adult diapers though. Thankfully, I am not there. My god, I'm only 40, almost 41. I will say that four children has really taken a toll on me but also, the last two were REALLY hard on me and my insides. (I'm not naming anyone specifically, but Penelope was the largest baby, so..) None of my abdominal muscles do a damn thing so it is a surprise to nobody that it is the worst experience having a chest cold when your bladder and muscles have become squatters doing nothing in this house. Every time I would cough, I pee. Sneeze? Pee. God forbid you get the combo of a sneeze/cough, big trouble. I also have no idea where the hell it is coming from because if I pee, you'd think there would be nothing to sneak out, right?? RIGHT?? </p></div><div style="text-align: left;">WRONG, loser. Wrong. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Enter the incontinence pads and the little old lady doing me a solid at Target. Not only did I hear her entire journey from romps in a car with her husband when her hip was still good and he was alive, how she has three children but only one is grateful and in the will, and she's onto full diapers herself, but helpfully pointed me to the pads she recommends. (And then told me to get diaper cream because I might chafe and that it is no fun.) (I did not buy the cream and it was no fun.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So that's where I'm at now. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Between that now wishing I took eye serum more seriously in my early 30's because I'm paying for it now, that's for sure. (Get a good serum, ladies! Moisturize your damn face! Wear sunscreen!) My eyelashes are lightening, my hair is changing, my skin is thinning, wrinkles are popping up, and I feel like I'm in that weird zone that people panic in. I'm scared to get old, but I'm also not going to sadly cling to the youth that is packing up and leaving out the door. It's funny how we were desperately to be a grown up and now here we are and we want to stay young. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Crazy times. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But stay tuned because this coming week I'm going to update medical stuff by specialty, because I have hit them all, I think. Well, no. But if this was a Girl Scout badge, I'd have a pretty full sash, we can say that. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-86225279024872692872023-01-18T14:45:00.006-06:002023-01-18T14:45:41.935-06:00Book Review: Never Cross a Highlander<p>I feel like I owe you a life post, and I promise you'll get one. It'll probably be a doozy. Just have some snacks at the ready. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Old Standard TT; font-size: x-large;"><b>Never Cross a Highlander - Lisa Rayne</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B9xUmHe1995bHSxFI6uP7lN4-2gzk3EeKMB9YQJZQJdOmS_C9mJcZNqnpTQ5lsmmRSKPAtR69l6rgeH--Yl1CewdjUpDzmMPcyjt3noStkbhsr6Ht3wIJQms64ZY4bzl4kB1mRRJX2UG_ul75L4qbUqzeGNnjoHHYDrIG8--izW4nxlv2msYDfYj/s346/56268914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B9xUmHe1995bHSxFI6uP7lN4-2gzk3EeKMB9YQJZQJdOmS_C9mJcZNqnpTQ5lsmmRSKPAtR69l6rgeH--Yl1CewdjUpDzmMPcyjt3noStkbhsr6Ht3wIJQms64ZY4bzl4kB1mRRJX2UG_ul75L4qbUqzeGNnjoHHYDrIG8--izW4nxlv2msYDfYj/s320/56268914.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ailsa Connery has waited three long years to finally escape her enslavement at Stirling Castle and reunite with her clan. But her carefully laid plans are completely destroyed by the arrival of the infamous Highland warrior known as </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">Dubh Mahoun</span><span style="background-color: white;">, the Black Devil...who has plans of his own.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;">Kallum MacNeill's fearsome reputation has long allowed him to keep hidden his secret double life of freeing enslaved captives across the land. It's only when he kidnaps a servant lass—quite by accident—that he finds himself facing a wee predicament. He must accompany the lass home or risk her exposing his true identity. It'd be easy enough...if the feisty hellion didn't fight him at every turn.</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit;">As they make their way to the Highlands, the perils the two must face are surpassed only by their constant sparring. Soon, their heated sniping sparks heat of a totally different kind. The kind that ignites a hunger that could consume them both. Yet the difficult journey is no match for the dangerous secrets they're about to uncover.</span></i></div></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggktxVBcAKOEYFnbnpaBpBQQRxz8fbweE3DMZ0XyQV2Orz-fSEcZuiDOjCFqTTHFsbxsv81JDTO-EhNFAYFWyVWaJccJAWFfQQAoP_17YRcUXHjYa3BjxxQFC4PkfISo8zLi4M4nVzsuaUoRdgfyqPTmCjidQsmJn6siz9r3o6ktKPlS5j0BnHS4ko/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggktxVBcAKOEYFnbnpaBpBQQRxz8fbweE3DMZ0XyQV2Orz-fSEcZuiDOjCFqTTHFsbxsv81JDTO-EhNFAYFWyVWaJccJAWFfQQAoP_17YRcUXHjYa3BjxxQFC4PkfISo8zLi4M4nVzsuaUoRdgfyqPTmCjidQsmJn6siz9r3o6ktKPlS5j0BnHS4ko/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>You know I love a good series, but I love getting into the series for the FIRST one. I am perpetually finding a series in the middle of it and feel like I don't know what's going on, with who, and where. Clueless and I'm slow, so there's that. But we're coming into <i>The Shadow Lairds</i> series and woo-boy... I am here for it. Lisa Rayne has made me decide that my new favorite thing is highlander based romances, so I'll just be picking those up left and right, thanks. <br /><p>Setting itself apart from others, <i>Never Cross a Highlander</i> uses actual historical facts of Black history in the United Kingdom way back in the 1700s day. (Trigger, the book does feature abuse, physical and sexual.) I love how everyone is always trying to get back to their clans, such is the case with Ailsa. Enter Kallum, a warrior who helps slaves escape, who accidentally kidnaps Ailsa and that's where their story converges. (I mean, haven't we all accidentally kidnapped someone?) Both of them are independent, strong willed, but also highly intelligent and absolutely against the idea of marriage. Ever. Like forever and ever, you guys. Of course you know this means their chemistry is literal fire so a large part of this book is their brooding and brewing romance until... you know. <i>Stuff happens.</i> </p><p>Ahem. </p><p>If we're being honest I didn't think any of their sexy time was explicit, it was fairly PG from what I normally read, and I didn't particularly get the feels from this book. I do like their relationship and how it developed, and it probably works for that couple (imagining it as a real life couple), but not for me. Overall though? I liked the story. I think the series is set up well, I like that we're going to likely see Ailsa and Kallum again. I liked the light humor in this, I loved finally seeing a historical romance with some damn diversity! It's there, it existed, let's write about it! </p><p>Overall this was a solid 3 for me. I liked it, I definitely want to see where Lisa Rayne does next with this series, this was a great start. Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Entangled Publishing for sending me a copy for review!</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B08SKXG7MS&asins=B08SKXG7MS&linkId=4869d5b5910294a4cc4845436a5b77f4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1649370954&asins=1649370954&linkId=fadcc5badf791947fb36cfeb8ad27f96&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoC-QNfsGLronIm-Tmh4ERMvRc79Ar-RpQ_m7DTxSIHNkJnMLzILvh5y6yEA0Blb8pWnf2qSgRF507wSPYDES7pP7naiV36L2WQnp3bLeG4tH_FZSzABdc61JZ-leSpBqpnln9OIx2moEQkBu7jtMGduipJiiBneq52hGgtQyraBw_jZAPl4pKRkM/s119/tlc%20tour%20host.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="119" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoC-QNfsGLronIm-Tmh4ERMvRc79Ar-RpQ_m7DTxSIHNkJnMLzILvh5y6yEA0Blb8pWnf2qSgRF507wSPYDES7pP7naiV36L2WQnp3bLeG4tH_FZSzABdc61JZ-leSpBqpnln9OIx2moEQkBu7jtMGduipJiiBneq52hGgtQyraBw_jZAPl4pKRkM/s1600/tlc%20tour%20host.png" width="119" /></a></div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414435776825765041.post-73443599634515602942023-01-15T00:00:00.001-06:002023-01-15T00:00:00.187-06:00Book Review: How To Be Awkward<p>Full disclosure, I wanted to read this one 100% because of the cover. Honestly, we're only half way through January and I feel like this is how I will look getting through the entire year so.... I can relate to this author already. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Balsamiq Sans; font-size: x-large;">How to Be Awkward- Amanda Turner</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsVIFicE6x45hctWOlBD2cKwoR3rBELfI9KtBFZH3xdlJZFLFH_k1hZnUjZ5OoMpxsYq-X62Vo_ymCnYn0fZU_ZicRFxe-vqwxeN7LUyMbPCCLM13KHioX9nQIIeCm1ZESEdoemUbKpDCPo3wz4cs42wtId59fSFC7dZke2kQg2nNzrdmHygG6o4Y/s2500/62991330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1641" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsVIFicE6x45hctWOlBD2cKwoR3rBELfI9KtBFZH3xdlJZFLFH_k1hZnUjZ5OoMpxsYq-X62Vo_ymCnYn0fZU_ZicRFxe-vqwxeN7LUyMbPCCLM13KHioX9nQIIeCm1ZESEdoemUbKpDCPo3wz4cs42wtId59fSFC7dZke2kQg2nNzrdmHygG6o4Y/s320/62991330.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>From the New York Times bestselling author of This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store and Hair of the Corn Dog, Amanda Turner (previously writing as AK Turner) offers up a new collection of hilarity and embarrassment with How to Be Awkward.</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>Disclaimer: This book is not intended for the super cool. If you begin every day by setting an intention while doing yoga on a paddleboard (and somehow not falling off), you’re out of my league. If you are even semi-fluent in the Urban Dictionary, there’s little chance we’ll connect. And if you use a vaginal steamer, well, I think we’re done here. Especially if you don’t have a vagina. On the other hand… if your spirit animal is the blobfish or you regularly and inexplicably choke on your own saliva, we might be related. If you find intermittent fasting to be both cruel and unusual, I feel your pain. If your athletic abilities could best be described as blundering and oafish, I’m right there with you. It’s possible that we speak the same language. We should talk.</i></b></span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IJiih-OFQcwl_ohZnKQOo139PRICHe244RCaTGZfElL3RLOMKFGdxYAXO68G7LOa1c87BE3KADXW2NToegCZ4DZkA1-rgXh5CaBNlBL1prXqiJWLpxHFDO6TrukSnHHt_KQBU5gXfWfR1EjrzHxZp6MWMG38dyjKc6rqC7fZ86xHjDvbJyR_vOrp/s965/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="965" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IJiih-OFQcwl_ohZnKQOo139PRICHe244RCaTGZfElL3RLOMKFGdxYAXO68G7LOa1c87BE3KADXW2NToegCZ4DZkA1-rgXh5CaBNlBL1prXqiJWLpxHFDO6TrukSnHHt_KQBU5gXfWfR1EjrzHxZp6MWMG38dyjKc6rqC7fZ86xHjDvbJyR_vOrp/s320/flag-banner-clipart-2018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have not laughed so hard while reading in <i>quite</i> a long time. I've read some funny books but honestly, I'm making a bold statement here.... I liked this better than Jenny Lawson's newest, or even Samantha Irby. Sure, I laughed with those, but I haven't identified harder with an author since Allie Brosh, and I've been with her since the start of her blog back in the damn day. Amanda Turner and I need to be friends. We're probably already friends and I just don't know it. <br /><div><br /></div><div>She is your friend that you're slightly embarrased by and for, but dammit you invite her to everything anyways because if something is going to happen, it will happen to her. It's free entertainment. I am also that person, how many people do you know have gotten hit in the head with a magazine by a random person in the waiting room of a mental health clinic, you can officially say one... I am that one. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some of the essays a little longer, some are just 3 pages or less, and you will find yourself flying through all 26 of them. I finished and honestly, I want a part two. I'm over on the couch snorting and laughing so hard that I had to get up to pee several times because after four children, the ol' bladder ain't what she once was. I'm in denial and once step away from Depends at this rate, and I had no business reading this after drinking copious amounts of water. The book is funny, its thoughtful, it offers poignant life advice and what not to do, which is truly just as valuable. It's well written and an absolute journey. You will enjoy this one. </div><div><br /></div><div>I absolutely loved this book and I am actually going to buy a physical copy of it because anytime I feel like life is pulling a prank on me, I can pull this out and remember Amanda Turner has probably had it worse. (And I mean that in the nicest, most loving way a stranger could mean it as without being weird.) A huge, huge thank you to Red Clover Digital and Amanda Turner for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review, I cannot wait to read whats next!</div><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0BDG57TL3&asins=B0BDG57TL3&linkId=9cec31f906ebb657c9c374367ee9c315&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0998654132&asins=0998654132&linkId=5a6a8c1347378cc3286ed3c4eb21a8cd&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><div style="text-align: center;">This post contains affiliate links. </div>Sara Strandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02641499434694637445noreply@blogger.com1