What I've been reading

So I totally missed the big book linkup that happened on Tuesday because honestly my life is just getting away from me. As they say the days are long but the years are short and every day with a baby in the house makes remembering that I have things outside of mom and wife stuff hard to remember. Still I wanted to share what I've been reading lately because I have read some AWESOME stuff lately! 


First and Foremost-----

The Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews. OMG you guys. I had vaguely heard about this from other bloggers, had seen people post that they were reading it on GoodReads, and even one of my favorite podcasts mentioned it and it was only just a few weeks ago that I finally gave in and said "Fine. I'll give it a shot." I tend to avoid series lately because I just don't have the emotional capacity to invest in characters at the moment. Also some series just never end and others end without proper endings and I just didn't know what to expect. WELL. I am 3 books in and very impatiently waiting on the 4th to come in at the library and already have the rest of the books available on hold so I don't have to play this waiting game anymore. 

These books straight up rock. I love Kate and think she is hilarious and bold and my kind of bad ass female lead. I love that the love story bits are second hand and are taking their time to build instead of just jumping in and being like "HERE! LOVE STORY! ENJOY MINDLESS SEX SCENES!" Oh no we get some anticipation and build up and I am here for it. The world building is done so well without being tedious each book going back and explaining things over and over. Honestly I am hooked and am dying to get my hands on the 4th so I can continue. 10/10 would recommend to anyone that loves modern fantasy and magic settings. 

Endling the Last by K.A. Applegate- This is the first in what will be a series or I think trilogy maybe? Anyhow I picked it up because I liked the cover and also I have enjoyed K.A. Applegate since back when she wrote the Animorph series. This book is another high fantasy but for a bit younger crowd who maybe can't get into Lord of the Rings yet. I loved the characters and yay for more strong female leads! Basically it follows Byx who is afraid that she will be the Endling...the very last of her kind left in the world and goes on the quest with her as she meets new friends and enemies. Highly recommend if you like fantasy and are partial to younger fiction books. This isn't really YA as it reads a little younger in my opinion but the story is a great one and I'm excited for the next book. 

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren- Okay so this is a linkup book. I've seen several bloggers post this one and thought it sounded fun and easy which I was ready for after some heavy fantasy reading. This book was brilliant. I laughed so hard I cried. I adore Hazel and her "too muchness". I loved reading from Josh's POV as well and actually really enjoyed him as he wasn't what I consider the "typical" male lead. I mean sure this book is silly and predictable and ties things up in a nice little bow but honestly....couldn't we all use a little happy right now? Lighthearted and fun I would recommend to any hopeless romantics out there. 

And my Not So Awesome Pile- 


Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch- Oh I wanted to love this. I loved Love and Gelato and was so excited to see this book from the same author. I was even excited to see some characters that I knew. However this book just fell flat for me. I didn't like the characters. I felt like the "mystery" was being drug out and ultimately wasn't that big of a deal. I found myself putting this book down a lot and actually dreading picking up again because I felt the need to finish. It was a swing and a miss for me. Such a bummer. 

So that's what I've been reading lately. If you are looking for more books to check out be sure to click back to the epic linkup that I missed! 

What have you been reading lately? 

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Missing pieces

First off- Thanks to everyone that commented and let me know they are still out there. I really appreciate you all. Seriously I ugly cried.

I've been toying with the idea of journaling again. Not just to keep my schedule but actual journaling. Just putting words on paper in addition to putting words on this blog. Partly to start easing my way into writing again which always makes me happy and partly to start putting good vibrations out into the universe so that maybe I can start manifesting some good.

I know that manifestation and good energies and the like are very trendy right now and I won't lie and say I haven't followed numerous blog posts and Instagram posts about it but I have always used some form of manifestation in my life even prior to now and prior to having a name for it. I actually have several crystals and gems that I have had for years that I use in a daily practice to find balance while meditating and trying to find a little bit of peace. Again crystals are a hot topic right now but some of mine I've had since high school so I'm really not trying to hop on the bandwagon here. I do find myself wanting more crystals now that I see more of them available but that is a whole other issue. Anyhow each day I sit with one that calls to me and focus my thoughts on something good or something that I am grateful for. Sometimes for just a few moments because that is all I have before life calls me back in. Still each of those little moments helps me find just a little piece of me that was missing.

I really just want to start putting good into the world because right now it feels like there just isn't much to go around. Everyone is starving for something good and filling. Something to heal the parts of us that are missing. The world is a scary place right now. It has always been scary but right now everyone is so divided over every. single. issue. It's exhausting. I actually have been avoiding social media as much as I can while still staying informed because I just feel so drained. Everyone wants to be right....but no one is willing to just DO right. So I want to do that. I want to do good things and focus on good things and be grateful for the good things that I have. Maybe if I can just send out those vibrations someone will feel them and pass them along. Maybe that is some hippy dippy nonsense but honestly it's worth a shot.

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Back to Blogging....And Some Changes?

I've missed blogging but I feel like the only thing I talk about is my kids.

Can I talk about just my kids?

I've missed blogging but I feel like no one cares.

Can I still come here and talk even though no one is going to read it?

I've missed blogging but what can I add to the conversation that isn't already out there?

Can I write even if my words aren't revolutionary?

So yeah that's what's been going on in my head this past month. I want to come back to this space. So much so that I even updated the look of the blog on the down low just to see if that sparked something in me....and maybe to see if anyone else was out there reading. I feel the need to connect to someone out there outside of the mom bubble I've been living in but honestly.....all I do is mom stuff. It's an endless wheel at the moment and I had forgotten just how hard it is to have a new baby in the house. Kyra has been pretty self sufficient for a while now and I forgot what it was like to have someone depend on you for literally there EVERY NEED. It's a tough job and an all consuming one at times.

Then Kyra started school and that comes with a whole new set of changes and challenges.

Then everyone that I have in my support system is working. Literally all of them. All the time. Everyone is busy every.single.day. So I'm on my own with just one or both of the kids for nearly 12 hours a day. Every day. I'm in bed by 8:30 pm. I'm a night owl this is freakish for me. But if I want to be able to get up and function at 5 am after being up at least 3 times during the night with the baby and to pump then I have to. Then Kyra goes to school and it's just me and Ty and I take care of chores and work and blah blah blah and then it is 3 pm and Kyra is home and I'm busy with her after school stuff and then it's dinner time and boom....8:30 again. Endless wheel.

So I'm coming here. Back to writing. Back to blogging. Back to something that feels like me. Something that is just mine.

That being said it's going to be different because I am different. I've changed and so the blog must change along with me.

So I'm sending this out into the void. I have no idea if anyone reads here anymore but that's okay. I just need my words to go somewhere. I just need them out of my head so they can stop tumbling around in there all day on repeat. So out into the void I whisper.....is this thing on?

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Things I'm always doing (Or so it seems)

I saw this post floating around a couple months ago and this has been on my mind lately and thought 'Hey! Let's blog about it!' 

Laundry

Vacuuming

filling dog water bowls

unwrapping string cheese

putting on Barbie clothes

telling myself I will get caught up on blog posts and comments

Making tea

Pumping (Ugh such a love/hate relationship) 

Saying I'm going to paint my nails

Searching for a new planner that does everything I want it to

Wondering what kind of world my children will have after all this mess

Trying to think positive and do positive things so that the world they have will not be this hot mess

Cleaning bottles, onesies, and pump parts

Searching for food I can eat with one hand 

Dreaming of starting a creative enterprise that will stick. I want to do so many things and when it's 3 am and you are the only one awake you are always full of great ideas...now just to take the leap! 



What do you feel you are always doing? 

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What's Been Happening Around Here....

This guy turned 3 months old.....

This girl started Kindergarten and has been my big helper all summer long. She's a rockstar. 

I've been all over the place. Postpartum life is no joke and honestly I had forgotten just how hard and wonderful it can be. I'd never trade a moment of it away but some days when I've only slept for 2 hours and I can't remember the last time I saw a shower I have to remind myself that it gets better that as we get into our routine we will learn and grow and it will get easier. And every day slowly it gets better. 

These two got their summer/fall hair cuts and they look like mother and daughter now. 

There was a shark cake.  

Some family outings. 

All in all it's been a busy and eventful summer and I'm looking forward to this fall and all our adventures yet to come. 

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What I Read This summer

I didn't get much reading done this summer since I was busy with a newborn but I did get a few things read and I've really missed the linkup so I managed to gather up my small list so I could join in today! 

Crazy Rich Asian Series by Kevin Kwan- I picked up this series simply because I saw the trailer for the first movie and thought it looked like fun. I am so glad I did because I absolutely adored this series! It was funny, dramatic, a little over the top, and just plain awesome. I would highly recommend the entire trilogy to anyone and especially anyone that like myself enjoys reading about Asian customs or also has a slight affinity for over the top practically royal antics. I cannot wait to see the movie! 

Call The Midwife by Jennifer Worth- I've watched the whole series on Netflix and thought it would be fun to listen to and I wasn't disappointed. The narrator is perfect and the stories are just so fascinating and compelling and it is hard to picture that this life wasn't so long ago. I'm so grateful for all the advancements in medicine and birthing options since then. I will admit I waited on this one until Ty was born but I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of the series now that he's safely arrived and won't go into a panic attack. 

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn- This was actually a short story which I wasn't aware of at the onset but it was pretty decent and on par with Flynn's novels. Creepy and disturbing but some very interesting characters. 

Girl Logic by Iliza Shlesinger- I found Iliza on Netflix one dull day and managed to binge watch all her specials in just a week. I really enjoy her brand of humor as I relate to it being an "Elder Millennial" myself. When I found out she had written a book I knew I had to pick it up. It was extremely funny and honestly if I was still a single girl living on my own then it would have been completely relatable but since I'm an old married (ha) it didn't apply much to me. Still it was funny and I love her take charge attitude and her story of how she made her way in a career that is traditionally a male dominated field. At the very least you should check out her comedy specials. 

So what have you been reading lately?

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New Arrival

Tyberius Robert Honu

I'm so pleased to share this post with you all. I meant to share it much sooner but honestly it has been like a mad house around here with our new addition and we are all still getting used to our new lives with our new addition! Ty is actually one month old and I can't even believe that it has gone that fast! However when you are in the trenches and so deeply in love it is no wonder that time flies away from you.

Ty arrived on July 7th via a scheduled induction and after 12 hours of INTENSE labor he arrived into the world and changed our lives for the better. I want to do a proper post on my labor and delivery and hopefully I will get to that in the next week.

A lot of people have asked where I got the name. Well the truth is I didn't name him at all! After Kyra was born I had told my husband that he could name the next baby we had since he basically had no say in Kyra's name I just told him what it was. So he had Ty's name picked out for a good long while and told absolutely NO ONE his name until he was born. I mean even I didn't know what my baby's name was going to be until he was handed to me. Now that being said I had seen a  list of possible names and had given my opinions on them before hand but I had no idea which name would be the winner. I'm very happy with his name and actually we have gotten a lot of compliments on it being a unique name. Sure it's different but honestly once you hold this little guy and look into his face you just know...that was always meant to be his name.

I'm so happy to introduce my baby boy to you all and those of you that have been around for a while know how much this pregnancy and this baby meant to me since Ty is my rainbow baby. Sometimes I can't even believe that we made it and that my baby is in my arms and everything I wished for came true. My heart is just so full.

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