by Sarah | May 6, 2020 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Book Reviews, I'm A Reader, Redefining Perfect
I’m currently on vacation, and so my reading is down to little because I am busy around the house and with yarn stuffs. In the past couple of months as I study, I have been relying very heavily on audiobooks to get me by with finals coming up. Unfortunately, not every audiobook (or book) is one that I enjoy or manage to get all the way through.
So, my list is smaller than expected.
Onto the post:
What I Read
I really enjoyed Megan Miranda’s All the Missing Girls back in January, so I picked up this one in hopes it would be as good.
While I enjoyed the story as a whole, it wasn’t my favorite. It got off to a really, really slow start. I had guessed most of the mystery before it was revealed, like WAY before it was revealed. Biggest question was that one final boom that hit, and I guessed it in the moments before it happened and was screaming at the protagonist in my car to get out.
Overall it was enjoyable, but I preferred All the Missing Girls which had a bigger impact and wasn’t so slow.
The final installment in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series did not disappoint.
I did have to keep reminding myself that Audrey Rose was merely seventeen, because in many ways she seems much older. I was annoyed at the first part of the book with the surprise in the church, and the fallout from it. It seemed rather contrived in the whole of things.
However, the story itself was really good and exciting. I may have guessed early on about whom the culprit was…but it didn’t detract from the story in this case, because there was so much going on. My husband, being a big fan of the Devil in the White City, is rather familiar with America’s first serial killer. By association, so was I.
This was a unique take on the story that was rather intriguing. Yes, there was plenty of creative license taken with the story of the devil…but it made for a hell of a story so long as you take it for the fiction it is.
I’d never heard of the podcast, but the title of the book caught my attention. As a big fan of true crime shows, I had a lot of fun in listening to this one. Karen and Georgia were easy to listen to, and made me laugh quite a bit.
I wouldn’t call it self-help, but it had that element to it.
A definite fun listen, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed it in print as much because the narrators/authors lent their own voices to it so very well.
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What I’m Reading Now
I’m already on book 6 in this. I fear not finishing it because I am on vacation and it’s due back much too soon.
As always I love listening to this series, and it’s often my go-to. Seems I always have one of these books on hold at the library.
Book 6 is action packed and a bit of movement and excitement after the duldroms of Book 5 (which I always call the most depressing book in the series).
Here’s to hoping I finish before it’s due back!
I was granted a later book in the series through netgalley and since I hate going into the middle of a series, I got this so I could get a feel for the author before I get to the one I need to read through netgalley.
Haven’t really started this one yet, as I was studying for finals…but it’s next on the list.
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I’ve been reading through this series of shorts from several authors called The Forward Collection, all science fiction, all post-apocalypse.
This is the next in the series.
Again, because of finals, I’ve yet to pick it up. I was relying heavily on audiobooks up until finals.
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What are you reading these days? I’m always looking for suggestions!
Stick around…more updates coming soon!
by Sarah | May 5, 2020 | All About Family, All About Me, All of Us, Florida Dreaming, Redefining Perfect
Today is the one year anniversary of me crossing the state line into Florida.
It was such a giddy rush crossing the state line, knowing I was home. The moment didn’t come easily, and it wasn’t all the joy I put on social media. Something bad happened shortly after crossing into Florida that I still don’t talk about, but it marred the moment of joy for me and put me a little at an unease (I’m fine it didn’t happy to me) . The year since has lived up to that same initial roller coaster the first few of hours in Florida gave me.
Super high-highs, and crazy-intense lows.
I admit it. I’ve been all over the map. The blog suffered. I suffered. My family suffered. We were massively on the struggle bus for a while.
But now, here we are.
One year later.
And guess what?
Hey, life’s not perfect. We’re living in quarantine now everywhere. Weird shit is happening, pandemic panic, mother earth coming back to life.
However, I’m in a much better place than I’ve been for the past year.
I’ve finished a semester of nursing school, and done well (WHAT? I’m still in shock at this)
Things at my work are looking up, well they were before the pandemic, then that turned into a stress-bomb for a whole other reason. Overall, the worst of the situations is past, so I’m going better.
Financially, we have savings again. We’re still adjusting to hubbers only being paid once a month, but we’re getting there. It took a while to get soluble again, but we’re here and doing better.
Job-wise, hubby’s still in a better place than he was. Things are tough with the pandemic, but he’s coming home to movies and movies and movies…so he’s all good. (I’m reorganizing said movies now and the man has a problem. lol)
I’ve returned to hobbies like crochet and knitting. I’ve finally returned to writing (it’s slow, but it’s going).
I haven’t been to Disney since February, which sucks…but we will return again when it reopens.
I also haven’t been to the beach in ages…but again, we will soon as we can.
The winter was beautiful. The lack of snow even better.
My mood is in a much more tolerable place. Far less doom and gloom.
It’s good to be home…and feel at home…for real.
by Sarah | May 4, 2020 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Pagan Me Happy, Personal, Redefining Perfect
Once a month I’ll be posting a new Spirit Animal*. This is both for me to study and learn, but also to help inspire each month.
This month the animal made itself known to me at work shortly before the chaos of the pandemic, and has remained with quiet nightly reminders around my home while we isolate.
The Owl.
I’ve often liked the idea of owls. Shortly after we moved in to this home I decided that I wanted owls for my kitchen decor. I haven’t gotten far with that, but we’re getting there. Still, in all of my life I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one in the wild. I’ve seem images, videos, and at maybe a zoo situation?
Then while on break at work a few weeks back I heard the almost cliche hooting of an owl. I stopped short, and spun in a circle to try to find him. No luck, so I continued to my car. The bird, after a few more hoots, took flight right by me and over the hospital until it disappeared into the night. Since then, I’ve heard semi-regular hooting around my home in the evenings.
Owls serve to deliver many different messages, but upon research, I chose to focus on several messages that spoke directly to me and where I’m at.
Owls can see in the dark, see beyond the shadows. Owl guides help you see beyond a person’s facade or mask. If they’re deceiving you, you’ll have the clarity to see beyond the lies, to see the person underneath.
Owls are a large symbol of change. When I first saw him, I didn’t know what changes were coming, but whoa did they come. Owl guides help you find the opportunities in the changes. To see the light at the end of the tunnel, as it were. This gives you the chance to find something good to focus on, some way to make it through. Owl medicine allows you great insight for yourself and others. It helps you intuit deeper meaning in events such as we’re all living through now.
This month, through a lot of inner and outer work, Owl has helped me gain an appreciation for the little things in my life. I had some nights at work where I was sent home early, but I didn’t allow it to upset me as I had in the past. This wasn’t a targeted attack, I knew that many of our staff were facing cut hours. My check would be shorter, but I was still getting one, and blessedly so is my husband. Things could be so much work. I appreciated the little bit of extra sleep and study time. I worked when I could, and looked for the small blessings in all that I could.
I have been finding a nice, deeper peace these days. I faced a year of struggle with this move. While life isn’t perfect, it was especially rough for a while. Today I embrace owl medicine and let its many lessons wash over me. Including the lesson to sit in silence, and observe. Changes are still happening, and will continue to do so. I need to remember to sit in silence and observe and learn, rather than reacting.
What animal is speaking to you this month? Do they have lessons for you?
*Disclaimer: I use the term Spirit Animal with deepest respect to the Indigenous people. I have been studying under an amazing, powerful indigenous woman and I respect their beliefs in the highest. I use the term with much honor, and not as a joke or meme. I truly believe these animals come as messengers for me, and try to learn under them. Miigwetch.
by Sarah | May 3, 2020 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Gratitude, Redefining Perfect
As part of my Oola journey, I’m making an effort to be more grateful. My daily planner has a place specifically labeled for Gratitude. I’d like to spread some of that love here, too. I feel it’s especially important these days when things seem so…weird.
I am grateful for –
All under one roof.
Birthdays.
2 week vacations.
Acing my finals.
New semesters.
New boss.
Scholarships.
Organizing.
New ventures.
New words.
Old stories with new life.
New yarn.
The Instant Pot. (seriously, how did I go so long without it?)
Sunshine.
Blogging again (hello, lovelies).
Take out.
Cooking in.
Kindness.
Snuggly cat.
Magic.
Peace in chaos.
by Sarah | Apr 7, 2020 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Home, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Redefining Perfect
I honestly had no idea what day it was today.
Had a minor panic attack thinking I had to work tomorrow (I don’t), and that we were already on Wednesday and I’d done nothing. NOTHING.
I have finals in less than two weeks.
My adult child is living under our roof again (temporarily).
I haven’t been to Disney since February (and I’m officially going to miss my first ever Flower and Garden Festival that I’ve been so excited to see)
I work in health care…and my floor is the Covid floor.
Hubby’s job has been declared an “essential business”, but if they don’t make sales, then they may not stay open.
The girls are both succeeding, and failing, at the homeschool thing…it’s a total yo-yo day to day.
I have 2 kids in the “danger zone” due to their Cystic Fibrosis (atypical though their cases may be) – and I work on THE floor.
I can’t do normal grocery shopping because everyone else is panic shopping.
But it’s okay. We’re all okay.
Right now we are making it by just fine.
We’re all healthy.
My family back in Indiana is still healthy. My family in Buffalo is still healthy.
My eldest is reading a book (WHAT?).
Birthday gifts for our apocalypse birthday girls have been purchased.
I’m baking bread (this is a pre-apocalypse thing I haven’t done since Indiana), and desserts, and making soups.
I’m crafting. I’m writing.
We have food. We have water. We are safe.
The weather is beautiful.
We are okay.
We are in a weird wonderland where we are all mad here.
But we are okay.
The world is changing, I hope for the better. I hope when this is all done we see what can and should be done.
Right now we’re still working through the trauma, and we have been traumatized, all of us…but I hope we do better after this.
I hope we see the companies that did right by their people, and those that did wrong. That we see what we could be, trauma aside, what a world we can live in.
Until then, I hope we are all okay.
A little mad in wonderland….
But Okay.
How are you holding up out there? How are you coping? Have you tried something new? Or are you just trying to hold it together? Either way it’s fine, you take care of you. Please.
by Sarah | Jan 13, 2020 | All About Family, All About Me, All of Us, Florida Dreaming, Redefining Perfect
I’ve been in Florida now for just under 9 months. So what’s up with all of the dreams, goals, and everything involved in the move?
First and foremost: It has been HARD. I mean, really hard.
There’s been wonderful, great, amazing things–but it’s been HARD.
Moving across country, being separated from my family, the girls utter homesickness when they arrived (and some still lingering)…not to mention my job situation?
Hard.
Was it worth it?
Yes.
I truly love being here. I feel so at home. I am where I’m meant to be. I knew life would not be perfect (and said so many times), and I knew that life would encroach on the wonderful things I was looking forward to (and it has). I didn’t expect all of our problems to resolve the minute we crossed the state line. I mostly expected to be home, and some bonuses along the way.
I’ll get the bad out of the way super quick b/c I don’t want to focus on them. My job – it’s a nightmare, but a possible light at the end of the tunnel is coming. Finances – due to several situations (that nightmare job being one of them), it’s taken us longer to level out and get back on our feet than I’d hoped for. Homesickness – primary in the middle teen, she’s fighting tooth and nail.
The good? That’s better to focus on…
Our home: Though we’re paying more per month, it’s bigger, it’s sound, and though the yard needs a lot of work and we have to pay pest control monthly, I really love the house. The girls really love that they each have their own rooms.
Disney: Duh. Though I now haven’t been since November (I hope to rectify this quite soon) we went tons during food & wine, and even stayed on site. We’ve more than made up for the cost of passes, and it’s nice to know it’s right there. It’s a benefit we use often.
Nursing school: Not something I ever thought I’d do, I’m in it to win it. It’s right around the corner too. Considering we’re both putting many more miles on the vehicles, that’s a big benefit.
The Market: Big flea market about a quarter mile from our house. Way too much 45 shit on display, but if you avoid that and head straight for the fresh fruit & veggies on display all year long, it’s a huge benefit.
The school: While I’m not overly pleased w/ the middle school…the high school has been amazing and in a few months I won’t have to worry about any more kids in the middle. The education they’re getting is great, challenging, and the school has been amazing about the IEP. Biggest downsize is that we have to take them and pick them up every blasted day. Is it summer yet? Does Molly have her license yet? Please? Soon?
Erik’s job: Big positive over his last. BIG.
While Erik and I know we aren’t going to settle in this particular area permanently (I want to be closer to water and further south…north-central is meh)…it’s been a good place to land. We plan to stay until the kids are out of school and then cart ourselves further south & west. For now, we’re happy where we are despite the struggles.
It hasn’t been easy, not by a long shot. I feel like we are finally turning a bend, though. I’m trusting that this year is going to shake off some of those bad areas so we can focus even more on the good ones.
I’m currently on vacation, and so my reading is down to little because I am busy around the house and with yarn stuffs. In the past couple of months as I study, I have been relying very heavily on audiobooks to get me by with finals coming up. Unfortunately, not every audiobook (or book) is one that I enjoy or manage to get all the way through.
The Last House Guest (Audiobook)
Capturing the Devil (audiobook)
Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered (Audio)
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (audio)
The Event
You Have Arrived at Your Destination
