Folks.... I need the weekend. I need to nap all day, I need popsicles. I'm not even rational at this point.
On A Night Like This - Lindsey Kelk
Folks.... I need the weekend. I need to nap all day, I need popsicles. I'm not even rational at this point.
On A Night Like This - Lindsey Kelk
I don't know what it's like where you are, but it is absolutely freezing where I am. I hate even complaining because honestly, it could be (and has been) worse, but woo- it's a nippy one.
Fierce Love - Susan Scott
Marriage, and relationships, are hard. I heard a song the other day by Spencer Crandall called "Made" and in it he says that soul mates aren't found, they're made, and I thought that was so spot on. I always thought the idea of us finding our soul mate was so impossibly daunting in a world as big as ours, but so was the idea of us really deciding that THIS was the person because what if... what if we're wrong? Well of course that's the basis of most reality TV shows, right? But I really believe the song, our soul mate is made, we make it by putting the work in. We have really great days, really bad days, everything in between days, and we always wonder if we made the right choice, sometimes we wish that person would change instead of us reevaluating our expectations. If there is one thing Matt and I can say about our marriage, its that we have literally gone through every one of our vows. Sickness and health? Yup. Good times and bad? For sure. Death? Um, yeah, we've actually been there and done that. I will say there was a time that I was convinced we were going to get divorced. I had a plan going forward and figured I was young enough, things would work out for me. Of course, life happens and things change. Fast forward 13 years and we've been through even harder things, things that would shake any couple, and I've finally come to a space where I know Matt is it. He's my one. I know that no matter what, Matt has my back and he's going to be there as my rock, and vice versa. I feel my safest with him, I feel like I am home with him.
Oh but what a road to get there.
In Fierce Love, author Susan Scott talks about communication and how your communication actually is the relationship. If it's shallow, so is your relationship. If you can get deep into it, so does your relationship. I also love that she gets into the conversation we all need to have (and should) but we know that it could change everything, and really think about that, what is something you need to talk about with your partner but you know that if the answer isn't great, it's going to change the relationship for sure, but maybe even the trajectory of your life?
My absolute FAVORITE part of this book is part 2 and she goes into the five myths that basically sabotage us. Honestly, look at your social media and you can find a handful of friends who have "met their soul mate" or "the love of their life" a few times now, and truly, you need to throw this entire book at them with this entire section highlighted! To sum all five myths up: nobody else can complete you, true love isn't unconditional, nobody will fulfill your list/meet every requirement, they love you and probably don't know, and love isn't all you need. I was literally screaming at this entire section because it is all so very true.
No book on love and relationships could end without giving you something to work on or to do, and this one is no different. The last sections are eight conversations you really need to have. It's important going into them knowing you both have to be truthful, and you both have to accept the results of the conversations. I guarantee your partner is going to say something that might hurt, or might sting, but it doesn't mean everything is going to hell and you pack their stuff, it means you've got a springboard to getting into deep communication, and that's what every relationship needs.Happy Monday, lambs! I hope you had a good weekend, and have at least a semi-decent week lined up. I have a ton of little things going up, but that all leads to feeling like I am super busy, which stresses me out. I need to get better at focusing at one day at a time and not looking at the entire week.
I have a really great non-fiction book for you today and it may be relevant to people who have a goal for 2022 to drinking less, or not at all. Maybe you are someone who has thought about it but you're just not there yet, either way, you might gain something from this one.
Eupohoric - Karolina Rzakowolska
So I haven't.
I won't lie and say it's been a breeze because every social situation is pretty much centered around alcohol in some way. It doesn't bother me at all but if I were someone in alcohol recovery, I can fully understand why being in a lot of social situations is just really hard and it's easier to just avoid them, which leads to feeling left out. If you've ever been at a bar, maybe it's a birthday party for a good friend or something, and say, "Oh, no thanks, I don't drink.", you're going to hear the proverbial record scratch. Suddenly you've made everyone uncomfortable around you and now nobody knows what to do, can they drink? Can they even be near you? It's really quite silly and honestly I don't really get it. I do know that that awkwardness makes it hard for people to turn down a drink and makes it easier to turn down invitations, which leads to loneliness for sure, but also leaves you wondering where you fit in now?
Enter Karolina Rzadkowolska's book Euphoric, Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You, a relatively quick read that ties together your body with your mind and soul, but also a realistic eight week plan on how to ditch alcohol but also put you on a path leading you to a better version of you. I really enjoyed that the author includes "journaling homework" throughout the book because anytime you are reading a "self help" book, it really is meaningless unless you're really looking at how it applies to your life, right? These prompts really help with that.
Week four focuses on your social life and I love how the author comes right out and names the emotion we feel when we say we don't drink, and it's embarrassment. I don't know why, even now, I sometimes feel embarrassed to say that. Probably because almost immediately someone will ask you why not, and suddenly you're on the spot. Nevermind the fact that when says no, it needs to be no and dropped. We teach our young people that when you say no, it means no, but somehow as adults that's lost and we feel like we deserve an answer.
Whether you drink or not isn't a measure of your personality or worth, and it doesn't mean you're the life of the party, or not. I love so much the author suggests a perfect one liner retort to that dreaded question by replying with, "why do you drink?".
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Though I've already made the decision to not drink, I have many friends who are in stages of recovery, some who are considering cutting back or maybe made quitting all together their goal for the year, and I think this would be a beneficial read for anyone, no matter where you are on the pendulum.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Harper Horizon for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review!
You know what I did last week? I ran errands and got to go out to lunch and read.... alone. It was as glorious as you think it was.
I Just Want to Pee Alone
Physician: [mouthing vaginal shrapnel] "So, are you interested in an IUD?"Me: "I find it best never to owe people money. Especially family. IOUs can be so tricky."Physician: "I have a feeling you may not be ready to discuss any vaginal procedures."Me: "Hasn't my vagina done enough for my family?"
"I was pouring a glass of red when this commandment was spoken. 'Catholics don't do that. You can use the rhythm method.' As he said, 'rhythm method', I pointed to baby number four. Any other pearls of wisdom, Father? The conversation soured as I glared at my husband over loudly chewed bites of steak. Looking at my knife, I pondered if Googling DIY vasectomy instruction would initiate any red flags or calls to the local authorities.My husband, not necessarily a believer in the actual tenet of no vasectomy, yet, thankful for an argument against it tried to proceed cautiously.Husband: "Did you hear what Father said about ahem the surgery?"Me: "I did."Husband: "And?"Me: "Are priests still unable to get married? Unless you plan on marrying him, I think you should consider keeping your appointment."Husband: "Honey, please put down the steak knife."
Do you set any goals for yourself for the year? Not really resolutions, but a goal that you're really going to try to accomplish?
One of my goals was to get back into crafty things. I've kind of slacked off the last few years, and I think part of it is just my brain isn't as creative as it was. Give me something to copy or follow directions and I can kind of do it, or at least turn my mistakes into an OK result, you know? But the last couple of weeks I decided I'm going to give it a try.
Sure, it was kind of out of necessity, I needed two birthday cards and a thank you card and I had none. Out of principle, I just refuse to spend $5 on a card at Target that we all know is going to get tossed. I just can't, but also, it's not in my budget and that's that.I won't even mention that I've fallen hard through the TikTok crafty hole but yeah... I'm there. Stay tuned.
Hey... raise your hand if adulting really sucks! Ha! If you are like us, dealing with your financial situation is such a daunting, and stressful, experience and you never really feel like you have any kind idea of what is going on. If you set a goal of being in a better financial position in 2022, this book is for you.
Getting Good With Money - Jessi Fearon
Happy Monday, lambs! Do you have plans for this week? I have to entertain the kids today and tomorrow because no school, I've got doctor appointments, and I plan to do crafty stuff... more on that later.
Nailing It - Robert L. Dilenschneider
I also loved the historical tidbits because it features 25 famous men and women and talks about what they were doing around age 25. It's 246 pages of gentle encouragement for us all, no matter which end of the journey you're on.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review.
Are you a fan of Regency romances? I used to always say I wasn't, that historical romance wasn't my thing, until I read them. They are kind of amazing, and I'm not sure what it is about them that I love so much, but here we are. I'm kind of a sucker for these. Maybe it is the mass paperback size, they just remind me of those books our moms and grandmas used to get in the mail, do you remember those? Are those still a thing?
A Scoundrel Of Her Own - Stacy Reid
Listen, I know it's been a hot minute since I've been around (OK, more like a full month), but to my credit, I've been super busy. Doing the whole mom thing, then being so dizzy and sick I can't function (more on that soon), and then we went to Florida for Christmas, and now I'm trying to put everything Christmas away and restore some damn order in this house because my anxiety cannot take it another day.
So you know, just some leisurely activities.
Shapeshifting - Michelle Ross
The fourteen spellbinding stories in Michelle Ross’s second collection invite readers into the shadows of social-media perfectionism and the relentless cult of motherhood. A recovering alcoholic navigates the social landscape of a toddler playdate; a mother of two camps out in a van to secure her son’s spot at a prestigious kindergarten; a young girl forces her friends to play an elaborate, unwinnable game. With unflinching honesty and vivid, lyrical prose, Ross explores the familial ties that bind us together—or, sometimes, tear us apart.
I haven't read a collection of short stories in a long while, in fact, I can't even remember what they were even for, but this one? This was lovely. Though the book only contains 14 stories and coming in just over 200 pages long, this packs a punch. Normally when I read something like this, I read one story at a time, it's perfect for setting the book down and reading in short spurts as I have time, which is exactly what I thought I would do with this one. Instead, I found myself glued to my couch, flying through one after another, because each one is a gem all of its own, snippets of motherhood that you might identify with.Once I finished this, I decided that I wanted to be the author's friend, attend a book tour stop for this, and/or go out to dinner because the conversation would be absolutely lovely and she could write her entire next short story collection just on me and my stories. (Truly, Michelle, if you've hit a writer's block, hit me up, because I will fix it!) The awkwardness of playdates is perfectly highlighted, comparing a mother's existence to used wrapping paper, the competitiveness of being a mom and making sure we get our children the best of the best opportunities (knowing full well I am 100% guilty of this myself), feeling like you're a bad mom and everyone can see it, etc. Bottom line? If ever you need a book that will make you feel absolutely seen as a mom, this is it. Looking for a fun book to put in a baby gift? Or need an idea for a Mother's Day gift for your friend who just really wants to be seen as anything other than a food source?
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET THEM.
I finished this and immediately bought two copies for a couple of friends who are really struggling with this whole motherhood set up because honestly, we could all use a little extra right now. Being a mom is really hard. Being a mom right now is even harder. Being a mom, right now, in a pandemic and the uncertainty of the world, is the absolute worst, so kudos to Michelle Ross for not only putting this out there but making it completely funny and relatable at the same time.
A huge thank you to TLC Book Tours and Stillhouse Press for having me on this tour, I cannot tell you how excited I am to read Michelle's next book. I am here for short story collections, bonus if they can make me laugh as I sit under a therapy light eating ice cream, because that's what life is now.