Wooded Walk & Writing, Writing, Writing...

Hello and happy Tuesday lovely ladies and generous gents.

I'm just posting about life over here, so here are a few updates! Of course, it mostly involves reading, eating, and walking around!

From a walk I went on with my dad - what a beauty!

Husband makes me coffee every morning and sometimes, it's just a masterpiece!

One day last week I had poptarts for breakfast and...

Spaghetti Os for lunch! The 90s looked good on my desk ;)

I have been writing in The Little Gratefulness Diary (from Flow Magazine), everyday for a few weeks now. It's a 29 week thing and I'm loving it! Oh to write something you're grateful for every day. To stay positive and happy and grateful! Also, I'm trying to calm down (do the !! give me away), and relax. Learning to meditate. I'm also using calm.com app and site - it's all great so far.

I bought a typewriter! Isn't it beautiful? From the 70s and looks brand new! It has a few quirks when typing, the spacing goes a little wonky but that's okay, adds to the charm!

I've begun a few projects that I'm really excited about -- I'll be sharing some in a post soon!

Lucky Charms! With extra magical swirly diamond marshmallows. Just eating my way through the 1990s over here!

Been reading Gala Darlings Radical Self Love - I for one didn't know how she was until her book came out and some of the circles I follow on instagram were very excited. I looked it up and thought it might be something I would like. I read and loved Girlosophy as a teen and I hoped this would be like an adult version! I was a little skeptical, new agey things, lots of pink glitter girl warrior stuff. But I can take things away from anything and am so far enjoying this book! I'm even trying a bit of tapping (EFT) which I'm not saying works but it's a type of meditation and as I said before, I'm working on meditating! Keep you posted on all that I read! I'll have a post soon to wrap up June, too (it was kind of a sad month, to be honest).

I'll try to be posting more often. I don't spend a lot of time running around, or at least as much as I'd like to, going on adventures and finding new places. I do spend a lot of time writing and reading, so I'll just try to start sharing more on those things - it's who I am after all!

Let's meditate! And love ourselves and write about what we're grateful for every day! I would also say let's cook and eat healthier and less processed, but did you see all that terrible 90s food I posted?

It's raining again here, it's been a very rainy summer. I kind of don't mind it because you know... I sort of love the rain! I do wish there was a tad more sunshine. It rains pretty much some every day and I would LOVE a few more thunderstorms. 

Have a lovely week!

Goodbye May, Hello June!

May sort of went by quickly and I'm not sure I ever posted!

Unfortunately I only read one book (gasp!) last month, which doesn't really qualify for a mini review, given the book was only 60 pages.

I read Very Good Lives - JK Rowling's commencement speech from 2008. It was fantastic! I got my Mom and Dad to read it as well. I gave it 5 stars for inspiration, motivation, and all around healthy thinking and reading.

Here are a few pictures to wrap up the month of May.

Books I bought new in May

All books I got in May! Kindle represents End of Days, which isn't posted above, oops

Started reading Magonia. It's pretty good. I'm enjoying doing a lot of reading and writing outside. Except four our neighbor that smokes. And, he must be stressed lately because he's smoking every 5 minutes.

Went on a walk with my Dad. We keep trying to go on more but, busy times and lives!

Been having some stunning sunsets

 My Dad spotted this gorgeous moth and we observed it for a good ten minutes. Iridescent wings, black underneath makes him look spray painted white, fuzzy head. Just beautiful!

 James and I finally made it to Dinosauria at the Detroit Zoo. We got stuck in 30 minutes of car a line a few weekends ago, they weren't letting any more people in to park. So we abandoned and when we finally made it, it was busy but manageable. Didn't realize it would cost $5 a person but we had a great time. We ended up with free ice cream, too!

Admiring my London books collection

 Was pretty excited when I saw Bella Grace was out a few days early. I bought it immediately. Trying not to blaze through it as fast as I did the previous one. Halfway through. Savoring. Inspiration, motivation, peace.

 More time outside

 Though it's missing my newest succulent from my dad (outside soaking sun) I've been enjoying this corner of my desk. It's got a light, simple feeling to me. At least, compared to the rest of my desk and home and life. See my new bookends? They were bought and brought back from Malaysia (by a stranger)

April's Book Reviews

I have read five books this past month. More than I thought but not as many as I'd like! The whole TBR thing didn't work for me. It hasn't in the past either. I can't decide ahead of time what I'll be in the mood for. It's just, I pick something up and try to read it and if it's a go, it's a go. Often times, I have to put it down and try something else. I often have many books partly read because of this. I just can't push through if I'm not into it. I know, though, that it's often just a timing thing and to try a book again at a later date.

Anyway, here's what I read in April!

Read and reviewed bottom to top!

• Never Fade by Alexandria Bracken (book 2 of Darkest Minds) 4/5 stars: I actually put this review up in March since I had just about finished it. Thought I should stick it here since I did finish it this month. Here's the review I posted then.  Doesn't suffer quite as bad as other books, being the second in a trilogy. A lot happens and there are new, different, fully developed characters introduced. There's no twist but there is a lot of action.I'll add now, I did cry and I rooted for the protagonist and I also felt a little taken advantage of with a certain character's conclusion. It just seemed... I'm not sure how to put it without spoilers. I'll just say that while I was fully immersed in the story and what happened, It's not how I would have preferred it to be written or how I would write it (I don't think!).
• Flora and Ulysses by Kate DeCamillo 4/5 stars: This was a lot of fun to read. It was a completely different style from things I usually read. It was light, yet still emotional with a strong human element -- I rooted for the protagonist, empathized and sympathized and liked her. Her hero friend Ulysses the squirrel was an amazing character. His PoV was hilarious and adorable. Their sweet friendship pulled at my heart and I wanted there to be more. The comic book element of the book was a perfect addition, given a lot of the story revolved around Flora's love for them. She wanted her hero squirrel and constantly thought back to different comics as the story progressed, in order to progress her own story. It was clever and fun. I'd like a second one, please!
• Fortuneately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman 4/5 stars: It's a little scary reviewing a book by any author with a large fan base. I would like to start off by reminding everyone to take a look at the star rating I gave.... thank you. And, I have read other books by him. Well, I read Neverwhere and very much liked it, I never finished the Graveyard Book or American Gods (again, look at what I said above about timing and going back to books!). After I read Flora and Ulysses I read this and... was a little let down. Don't get me wrong, it was great. the drawings were fun, the story was fun, the whole thing was fun. It was a tad small (I read it in two little sittings), the plot was small, the development of everything was small, and the meaning was small. For such a big name, Neil Gaiman wrote something pretty small, I thought.
• Bone Gap by Laura Ruby 4/5 stars: Well, this one is a little more difficult to review. There's not a ton of reviews on Amazon or Goodreads and yet I had been seeing a lot of this book around. Maybe that's just me constantly looking for new books, following bookish folk on instagram and spending too much time on amazon and goodreads. I was really intrigued by the "unsual magical realism" title it seemed to be getting. I bought it with anticipation and read it right away. It took me quite a while to get through. It was a little slow going. Every time I picked it up, I read it and wanted to keep reading it, yet when I put it down I didn't feel the desire to immediately go back to it. Strange. All around, though, the story was good. I figured out the protagonists problem before the big reveal.  I had a lot of guesses as to what was going on, some were right and a lot were wrong. I felt like I needed more closure. I also felt like it was a spectacularly odd or different magical realism. Makes me think people don't know what that means? Or slight fantasy? I also go tired of hearing how beautiful Rosa was and I never really got to understand her really well. I think this book could have been so much more and I wanted a longer conclusion.
• Invisible by Dawn Metcalf 4/5 stars: This is one of those books I don't see people talking about or posting pictures of but that I really like and think others would too. The first book was a total impulse by and I blazed through it, half hating half loving it. The hate from enjoying such a YA book, and the love of it being so easy to read. Typical in a lot of young adult romantic fantasy ways but in a really different way. Not typical creatures. That made it a lot more interesting -- so this second book was not as much fun but still very enjoyable. Tension between love interests is sort of to be expected in a second or third book, because you spend the first one wanting it to happen and when it does, there's no pull for the other books to see if it does work out because we know it does. The tension was well done and the reasons for new dangers and progress for the characters and story. Of course it's a bridge between one and three. It is two after all. They're all a bridge. I look forward to the next one! There is a next one, right?

Happy Days

Good Morning!

It has been a good past week. First, I put in my two week notice at work! Here is my quitting outfit and face! Though I don't have a full outfit picture. We only have one small mirror. I wore a beautiful brocade skirt, it's pale mint with grey dots and the high waist is a grey and white scalloped, wide elastic.

 Then, I immediately began writing! Because, that's why I'm quitting. To put all my energy into what I love and into what is my career. My Mom discovered a newer magazine by one of our favorite publishers, Stampington Collection (I actually emailed them for a job right out of college, they responded saying I was funny and they'd keep me in mind if they were ever in the area), called Bella Grace. With a copy in hand, I knew it was perfect for me! All about living life to the fullest, finding magical moments in the ordinary, being happy and positive. It's absolutely beautiful, the pictures and the writing. The pages have a matt finish that smell and feel great and will stand the test of time. Oh, I read it in a few days and was in love. I wrote a few pieces, just train of thoughts about different topics that mean something to me. I already submitted one this past Monday and am working on some others. Even if nothing comes of it for this magazine, those essays mean something to me and it's getting me excited and inspired to write more.

 I read this delightful, light-hearted child's novel this week. I've been eyeing it for some time and got it on a whim at Meijer (or I should say, my Mom did for me, she's sweet like that). It was exactly as I hoped. Charming, funny, sweet, and plain fun. I think I will get more books by this author.

 An order from amazon finally arrived this week! I bought two novels I've been wanting to read (newer ones, I don't often indulge in), because I had a gift card from my birthday from January! Bone Gap! Not a lot of reviews on Amazon but on Goodreads things are interesting. People either really love it or don't like it at all! Most people seem to think it's strange and wonderful. I'm very excited!

As you can see here, Luna is also excited for Bone Gap. Actually this picture is to show you the other novel I received. Greenglass House! Very exciting! A magical looking middle grade novel that takes place in winter. Perfect research and inspiration for the novel I'm currently working on! Plus that cover is gorgeous!

 I read this fun little book from Neil Gaiman the other day. It's a goofy, one sitting book. The Illustrations were just as fantastic as the story.

Full, mini reviews (as in the mini reviews I give as a recap) will be up at the end of the month for all the books I read in April. 

Now some extra pictures of what I've been up to!

Pretty tea at Starbucks. James and I go about once a week together, to work on separate things, together on our graphic novel, and to play card games.

 Coloring is meditation. I've had this beautiful adult coloring book, Secret Garden, for a few years. I don't get a lot colored at any given time, but I've finished a half dozen pages over two years and they make me happy to work on and to see. I have another one, The Art of Nature, which is beautiful in its own way. I'd love to have the Enchanted Forest by the same artist that did the one shown here.

 Here are the other two things I got in my amazon order! I am so excited for this spring and summer. To hike, be on the beach, exploring! Watching birds and butterflies, finding beach glass and fossils, collecting butterfly wings, feathers, pressing leaves and flowers and everything and anything else!