Book Review: Wrangler's Rescue

It's been so long since I've given you a book review for grown ups, but here we are!

Wrangler's Rescue - B.J. Daniels

She’ll risk everything to bring her cowboy back home…

One week ago, Cyrus Cahill told Ashley Jo “AJ” Somerfield that he’d be back in her arms by the weekend. He just needed to buy a bull for his ranch, and then they’d pick up where they left off after that romantic ride through the foothills. But now he’s gone missing and everyone—even the sheriff—believes he’s dead. 

Everyone…but AJ. She suspects foul play and she won’t rest until Cyrus is back home in Gilt Edge, right where he belongs. Because Cyrus isn’t the kind of cowboy who breaks a promise. And since she’s not the kind of woman who gives up on her man, AJ will risk anything to help bring him home…even her own life. 

Some housekeeping: though this is book 7 in the Montana Cahills series, it is a stand alone. Some of the previous characters/couples make appearances in this book but that isn't going to take away from those stories if you go on to read them. It also doesn't make an impact in reading this book. I highly suggest you read the rest of this series because I've actually really enjoyed it and I look forward to each new book in it. B.J. Daniels gives you some angst and suspense, she gives you some romance but it's not blatantly sexual. It's subtle and I think that's a good market to be in because not everyone is looking for a 50 Shades of Grey romance. So for all of that alone, I suggest this one. 

In this book we focus on Cyrus and AJ. Cyrus, right on the cusp of making a move on AJ, goes out of town for a cattle sale and leaves AJ back in Gilt Edge waiting for his promised return. That goes awry when the folks in Gilt Edge are informed that Cyrus has fallen off the side of a cruise ship in the Caribbean and his wife is distraught. Obviously they think this is a scam, but it turns out Cyrus was swept off his feet with this woman, went on an impulse cruise and got married aboard the ship, only to mysteriously fall over the side in the night with nobody around to see it. The whole family is upset but AJ doesn't believe Cyrus is dead. Though the search has been called off and the wife has arrived in Gilt Edge to meet everyone, AJ thinks everything about this feels off so she is determined to figure out what really happened and hopefully, bring Cyrus back home where he belongs.

I have to be honest with you, I wasn't a fan of AJ in the other books, she just seemed kind of... whiny? She just kind got on my nerves and I wasn't looking forward to her being featured heavily in a book, but here we are. And I was pleasantly surprised. She wasn't as awful as I thought she would be and she turned out to be quite a spitfire and a heavily intelligent one to boot. The way this story plays out is GREAT and rolls out like a Hallmark movie. I'm not going to tell you what happens but just know that things really start rolling once AJ gets to Dominica. It feels like there are two different stories going on here, AJ and Cyrus, but also the wife and her own plot and somehow they merge together really well.

I'm becoming a solid fan of B.J. Daniels and I really enjoyed this book. This kept me on the edge of my driver's seat as I waited for my daughter to finish dance!

   

a Rafflecopter giveaway http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/82ae250c88/?

Weight Loss Challenge, ep. 5 - gobble gobble

I officially have done a Gobble Gallop on Thanksgiving. Specifically, I did the Tough Turkey one miler. 

Their swag was actually pretty cool, even if they didn't order enough of my size and I had to take a smaller one.. that was kind of a bummer .

 While waiting Penelope and Lucy did snow angels. (Olivia and Jackson spent the  night at Grandma and Grandpa's) Clearly Lucy didn't understand why she was laying in the snow. 

 This must be a regular thing for Penelope because she was all about it. Snow angels all over the place. 

 I only got one pre-race selfie, and I need to just mention it was cold. People kept saying it wasn't bad compared to other years and to me that's insane because I was freezing. I didn't know how to dress for a run in the winter so I wore my base layer clothing, a pair of workout pants on top of that. On top I had a polyester base shirt, another base layer on that (the blue shirt), then my race shirt they gave me, and then my Under Armour thin jacket which no longer zips because I'm chunky but it's the only thin layer jacket I have. Then I had mittens and Olivia's ear muffs because Matt threw away my hats and gloves and his snow blowing gear. He did his big basement clean out and got a little TOO excited about throwing things out that he threw out things WE USE REGULARLY. 

The run itself was new to me because I've never ran or walked in the winter, and certainly never on ice or snow. The road wasn't snowy but there were some slick areas and I almost fell a couple of times. Once was by the guy at the turn around spot and he's like, "Oh! Oh! Oh- she saves it!" and then gave me a high five. So that was cool. I also want it noted that I didn't walk the whole thing, I ran for about half of it, even though it felt like my uterus was going to just fall to the ground. 

 I finished! I had no idea how long I was gone, but I know I was at the last of the pack of one milers, there were still people behind me, so that was kind of nice. 

Later on I got my results and I did it in 16:36 minutes, that's pretty good! I finished last in my age group, but that's alright. I kind of knew that was going to be the case. I had two friends who cheered for me as I started and then I had Matt on the side with Penelope and Lucy. Lucy apparently cried the entire time because she thought I was leaving them. HA! But once I saw Penelope at the end she's saying "Go Mommy Go" long after the race. So...delayed support, but support nonetheless. 

I hope you're doing something. I'm struggling but I haven't gone a week where I've done nothing, so I feel like that is something. 

Book Review: Meet the Bobs and Tweets

I know I have a lot of readers who have kids and I know some of us struggle with finding books our elementary age kids are interested in reading. I want to introduce you to this series, which I think strong readers in second and third grade will love, but even readers in fourth and fifth grade will appreciate the humor in a different way.

If your kids are fans of Captain Underpants or even The Diary of a Wimpy Kid they are going to really like these books- they are funny and the illustrations really reminded me of the ones you would find in the Dr. Seuss classics, but maybe a more modern update to them. The other similarity to beloved Dr. Seuss is the writing. Each chapter reads just like Dr. Seuss, fully of witty rhymes The Bob family are a bunch of slobs and the Tweet family are very neat and orderly, so you can imagine how these are going to be a fun read, but maybe challenging for a child to read in a rhyming cadence.

Each story is funny and I had my ten year old read the books aloud to me and two of his sisters and we all had a good time laughing throughout all of them. The younger girls (3 and 2) even had a good time reading these with us because of the way it's written but combined with the cool pictures and the humor. The other perk to these is it shows you how completely different people, with nothing in common, can come together and work to a common goal when they need to.

If you're looking for a book gift (as you should because books are GREAT GIFTS), these would be a really fun set to add to your list!

      

Weight Loss Challenge, episode 4 (vlog included!)

Before we talk about the weight loss, I wanted to share with you my latest contribution to the Duluth Moms Blog! This month I'm talking about my disdain for Thanksgiving, which I know I've mentioned quite a bit on my blog in previous years. Appropriate for this week, right?

So I really briefly mentioned my stomach issues in my vlog. I've been having issues consistently since my AFE, and nobody knows why. Every doctor has said they don't know, so ask a different doctor. It went right down the line until the last person was like, "Maybe you should see a gastroenterologist" and they sent me there. I went, I had every test, lab, scan, whatever I could have and they found things, but nothing conclusive. 

I had my follow up last week and the guy, as nice as he is, legitimately has NO idea what's wrong with me. Has no idea where to refer me. The problem is that I have a lot of the markers for several different things, but not enough markers to definitively say I have a specific thing. He totally believes me that I'm in pain and when he presses on my midsection I basically howl and I almost kicked him. The plan right now is to keep me on the anti-heartburn medication (I forget the better name for that) because of the Barrett's Esophagus so that it doesn't turn into a larger (ie. cancerous) problem, and he's going to research some more. I'm going to ask my endocrinologist if he thinks this is a sign of worsening adrenal insufficiency or something, because I see him this week. I also have my physical tomorrow so I'll ask her too. 

Another challenge I'm facing is my depression. I've always had depression in some capacity but I've always been able to work through it, around it, over it, whatever I had to do to keep it moving. I no longer have that ability anymore. I've gotten really good at faking it, putting on a good face, and being a good trooper because that's my job as a person in the world. I've been raised to not get down, to not feel sorry for myself, know that nobody actually cares about my problems, etc. And that was fine for a lot of years.

It isn't anymore. 

I'm really struggling with that. I'm pretty good in the morning and I'm fine through lunch. It seems like consistently every day after I put Penelope and Lucy in for a nap, I can feel my mood go down. My ambition leaves. It feels like a dark cloud moves right over me and I do one of two things- I either go downstairs and snack and watch VH1 reality shows or I go in my room for a nap and cry until I'm asleep. Either way, by late afternoon I'm DONE. I'm in a foul mood, I can't handle anyone talking or crying, I don't want to get snacks or drinks, I'm dying for Matt to get home. Then he does and I'm so irrational and angry and then I feel terrible because I know nobody in that house is getting the best of me. It's very much Jekyll/Hyde and I hate it. I cannot even control it because I don't realize until long after what I've done. I've said hurtful things, I've thrown things, I'm taking my depression out on people. It's exhausting. I'm constantly apologizing for things and I'm always wondering- at what point does this get to be too much? At some point me being gone has to be easier than dealing with this volatility and unpredictability every day. 

I don't know. 

In the meantime, I'll just try to work out when I can. I have my one mile Gobble Gallop on Thursday. I'm going to really push myself to do something this week. 

In other news- Matt and I argued whether a chicken has a vagina. Go ahead and Google it, but I'll let you know that I was RIGHT. Obviously. 

Book Review: The Language of Spells

I know it's the weekend but I am trying to get out as many book reviews as I can so I can clear off my book shelf but also give you more options for gift giving this season!

The Language of Spells - Garret Weyr

Grisha is a dragon in a world that's forgotten how to see him. Maggie is a unusual child who thinks she's perfectly ordinary. They're an unlikely duo—but magic, like friendship, is funny. Sometimes it chooses those who might not look so likely. And magic has chosen Grisha and Maggie to solve the darkest mystery in Vienna. Decades ago, when World War II broke out, someone decided that there were too many dragons for all of them to be free. As they investigate, Grisha and Maggie ask the question everyone's forgotten: Where have the missing dragons gone? And is there a way to save them? At once richly magical and tragically historical, The Language of Spells is a novel full of adventure about remembering old stories, forging new ones, and the transformative power of friendship.

I'll be honest and tell you I wasn't totally sold on this and it almost had a Fantastic Beasts wannabe feel to it so maybe that's why I wasn't grabbed. BUT!! My ten year old son actually really loved this book and he finished it over the weekend, so what do I know? 

I think maybe my biggest issue with this book is really how slow it is. I think as an adult I'm used to faster paced books and I want a plot to really start moving by page 50 and that's not the case with this one. The entire book is Grisha (a dragon) wanting to "investigate a human" so he goes into town and he comes across Maggie, who is kind of a strange kid who can see dragons, which is unusual. Dragons aren't really around anymore because of a spell and this is about Grisha and Maggie saving the dragons from this spell. The entire book is kind of strange because it feels like a chess game- they make a move, stop and think about it, make another move, etc. My son said he really liked it and didn't understand why I thought that was slow and at times, boring. So again, maybe I'm just a dud who doesn't know what's cool anymore.

I really thought this was going to be the start of a cool series, but it's really not and there is a fairly precise ending. Jackson DID agree with me that the ending wasn't really what we thought it was going to be so I guess some points could be given that it wasn't really a predictable ending, though it wasn't entirely exciting. My only other complaint is this taking place after World War II and is a historical fiction, but there is literally no mention of the Holocaust. Do I think kids reading this book is going to pick up on that and be bothered? No. Will adults notice? I think so. Does it matter to the greater story? I'm not sure.. but I'm not sure how I feel about something that large in history not being mentioned. But again, my son didn't even think twice about it so maybe that was omitted on the premise that it wasn't important to the story. I'm not sure.

Overall I would give the book 2 stars but Jackson said he would give it 4 stars, so we're going to compromise at 3 stars. He thinks we should give our copy to the school library because other kids will like it, so that's what we'll do.

   

Book Review: The Planner Book

I know many of us have already started our holiday shopping, so this week I'm going to share with you some books that will be good for the reader in your life. Keep checking back because I'll share with you the things I'm getting for people in my life to maybe help you make some decisions. Today we're talking about a book that will be good for a crafter or maybe someone who needs a little help keeping track of their busy lives.

The Planner Book - Jean Sagendorph and Dawn De Vries Sokol

Creatively organize your life!

The Planner Book! will help you design, create, an embellish the perfect planner.

Forget about boring calendars and ancient date books. Nowadays planners are gorgeous, colorful works of art--one part organization, one part art journal, and two parts keepsake. Loaded with projects, how-tos, tips, and tricks The Planner Book! has all the information you need to tap into your creativity, take control of your to-do list, and craft a custom planner.

Featuring color photos and interviews from more than 20 creators, the book is full of ideas to spark your creativity and keep you organized. With 24 projects, from simple tricks like making your own washi tape to more ambitious projects like crafting a leather planner, you'll soon have the best looking to-do list around. Whether you're juggling a hectic work schedule, keeping track of a busy family, or trying to balance your class schedule, getting organized has never been this fun or this cute!

Ideally, this book is going to be for an absolute beginner, not someone who is an established planner. If you're looking to get started in using a planner or you just want to see what the hype is about, this will be a good resource to you.

The book is divided into three main sections: Planner Basics, DIY Elements, Make Your Own Planner. I really liked the Planner Basics section because it really highlights Bullet Journaling, and that's something I haven't really incorporated into my planner but now I see why this might be a really helpful thing to do. I might start doing this in my planner... though some people have another planner dedicated to bullet journaling only, I don't think I'll get that intense with it.

What's really cool about this book is that this really encourages you to decorate your planner but not fall into the trap of stickers and purchased elements. It has several chapters on how to make your own washi tape, make your own page dividers (I loved these!), bookmarks, and more. I really loved the no hassel tassel and I really have to find my jar of random ribbon because I could definitely make some tassels with that. If you're feeling especially ambitious this book has an entire section on how to make your own planner or notebook using things you likely have just around the house.

If you're really struggling with a gift idea, this book is a pretty great resource perfect for any beginner!

If you get the book you can pair it with some supplies to make a cool gift basket, too!

      

Weight Loss Challenge- ep. 3 (vlog)

If you are interested in the two books I talked about, you can find them here! I'm about half way through each one, so I haven't officially started, but I'm already working on a menu for our next cycle, which will be November 21-December 7. And yes, I know there are Kindle versions but this is the kind of thing you really need to have the actual book to look through. 

   

Lucy working out with me this morning

I talked about sugar and carbs being kind of a struggle for me, but my next issue? I need quick meals. My go to is usually a sandwich, but carb city, so what else can I eat? I mean, the first thing that comes to mind is a protein bar and I've tried 3 and jesus- it's like chewing on a chunk of cardboard. Is there any out there that taste sugary and delicious? If there is, you have to show me the way because for how expensive you are, you'd think they'd be tasty. 

I have to tell you something kind of funny that happened last week. I think all of my long time readers know I have an issue with vegetables. I really, REALLY don't like them and it's such a bummer because I know if I liked vegetables I'd be in a better dietary boat than I'm in now. BUT. I really try hard to convince my kids these are good. For the most part, Penelope and Lucy have no issues. Lucy will eat anything you give her and Penelope really likes green beans and peas so already she's leaps and bounds beyond me. 

Every day when she comes home I make a point of asking her what she had for lunch at school. (They provide a free breakfast and lunch for all the kids and they work on table manners and all that so meals are a learning opportunity, too.) Most days she tells me they had soup (when really, they only have soup once a week or so). One day last week she was kind of incredulous because her teacher made her eat LEAVES. Obviously I'm thinking we skipped the lunch conversation and a kid made her eat a leaf outside or something. Nope- it was definitely her teacher and it was definitely a leaf. 

I looked on the lunch calendar to just see what she's talking about. 

You guys. 

They had salad. 

Penelope calls salad LEAVES. 

*cue hysterical laughter*

She then tells me it had a tomato on it but she really doesn't want to eat leaves. 

Me either, baby. ME EITHER.