Monday Motivation

Happy last Monday of May, y'all. Man, this month has been a whirlwind, especially last week.

We officially sold our house and moved into a new home. We ended up doing the entirety of our packing within four days and fought the weather getting everything moved in. It literally rained every day last week, so we had a very narrow opportunity to get all of our furniture moved in. As a result, everything was kind of stacked and piled wherever it would fit. We've gotten Alexis's room mostly set up, our bedroom is functional, my office is put together, and the main living area (kitchen/living room/dining room) is usable, but we've still got a lot left to do.

I've been hindered a bit by a freak injury that happened while we were packing everything up. I don't honestly know how to explain it other than to say I fell off the ramp of one of the trailers we were loading. It's a bit more complicated than just falling, and my leg looks like it went a few rounds with Mike Tyson, but I'm just thankful it wasn't worse and we didn't end up in the ER.

In other news, I spent a majority of last week without internet, other than my phone, which refused to cooperate as a hotspot so work was incredibly frustrating. As a result, I wasn't able to get the June website prepared ahead of time and will be rushing to get it all done in time for the start of the new month. The printed issue should come in sometime this week so I'll be figuring out a distribution schedule. This issue was a really tough one this year, as was the May issue, but I've got my fingers crossed that things will be back on track for July. It's usually our most popular issue of the year all the way around, but with the economy the way it is right now, I just don't know.

Alexis is officially out of school for the summer. If all goes to plan today, we'll spend a portion of it on a boat soaking up some sun and splashing in the water. Well, she'll get to splash. I'll be keeping my injured leg out of the water to prevent my still-healing cuts from getting infected. But after a week of craziness, I think we deserve a little fun.

The rest of this week will be spent working and continuing to put the new house together. I've also got some appointments for later in the week that look promising, but I'm not ready to reveal to the world what those are about just yet. I hope once things settle back down into a better routine, I'll be back to regularly-scheduled blog posts instead of just one or two a week. I'll definitely have a book roundup post this week, but I'm not sure beyond that.

Anyway, today, I hope you all take a moment to remember those who have sacrificed and given their all for our country. They are the reason you're getting this extended weekend after all.

Have a wonderful week!

10 Things to Do with Your Kids This Summer

School is officially out for the summer for us, and I can't tell you how excited I am to not have to set my alarm clock for the crack of dawn every day. But as for the rest of it, well, I'm a working mom whose office is at home, so summer isn't the easiest of times for me. However, this will be my fifth summer doing this, so I've got a little experience in this department.

If the thought of keeping everyone entertained this summer is stressing you out, check out these simple ideas to add some fun to your family's summer.

Find Some Water

The best part about summer for our family is the opportunity to spend as much of it as we can in the water, whether that's at the beach, the lake, or our local water park.

Create Your Own Back Yard Oasis

Whether you're setting up a sprinkler, floating in your own pool, or chilling with a splash pad, adding a little water fun to your day can make all the difference.

Visit a Park or Playground

Choose a different location each week.

Summer Reading Program

We do this every year, and it is always so much fun. In addition to earning prizes for the number of books you read, our library also hosts a variety of programs throughout the summer.

Get Active

Take your kids to a trampoline park, skating rink, bowling alley, or miniature golf course to work off some of that summer energy.

Get Outside 

Did you know, spending just 30 minutes outside can significantly change your mood? So turn your lunch into a picnic, go for a bike ride through your neighborhood, check out a local hiking trail, or pick some flowers. Let the fresh air and sunshine work its magic.

Take an Art Class

Alexis loves art, so this summer we've signed her up for just about every class and camp we could fit in, but there are also opportunities out there for the whole family.

Art at Home

This can be as simple as coloring books or as elaborate as a multi-step project your find on Pinterest. The point is to let your imagination run free!

Movie Night

Make a date of it at your local theater, check out an area drive-in if there's one available, or turn your living room into a home theater.

Farmers Market/U-Pick Farm

Is there anything better than fresh produce? Take your kids to a farmers market or u-pick farm and let them choose some brightly-colored fruits and veggies for your table.

Monday Motivation

Happy Monday, y'all. I am a bit preoccupied this morning. I spent literally the entire weekend packing up my house, and there's still more to do today and tomorrow...around working and Alexis's Honors Day/last day of school. I didn't exactly forget how stressful moving is, but it seems like this go 'round has been even more so.

The timing for this move is not great for me work-wise. It would be different if I didn't work at home, but this is the last week for the June issue so I can't afford to not work. This is shaping up to be my worst month of the year, and I'm freaking out about it. I get it though. Everything costs more right now, so people are having to cut where they can.

You probably already guessed this next bit, but I'll be mostly MIA this week as we swap houses. I'm trying to get two posts pre-scheduled, but no promises I'll actually have time to finish them.

That's gonna do it for me today, and possibly all week. I hope everyone has a great one!

A Day in the Life - May 2022

I've shared with you guys before kind of how I break up my work days (Life as a Work-at-Home Mom: My Daily Routine), but I've never done an actual Day in the Life post. One of the bloggers I really enjoy does these a few times a year, and I really enjoy seeing what a random day in her life looks like. So I thought you guys might like to see how a typical day for me plays out.

Okay, before we get into it - this was a random Monday outside of my distribution week. It was also a day that my husband was on day shift, which means I would have had the house to myself for a majority of the day and was really focused on work.

2:00 a.m. (or there abouts) - Alexis wakes us up with a nosebleed. Thankfully, it's not a bad one and we don't have to change her sheets. About 30 minutes later, she's back in bed. It takes me another 30 minutes or so to fall back to sleep. (Sadly, this happens more than I'd like to admit. Alexis has asthma and allergies so it's a hazard of the job.)

5:30 a.m. ish - My husband's alarm goes off. He gets up, gets ready, and leaves for work around 6:15. I doze off and on until my alarm goes off at 6:45. I wake Alexis up at 6:55. It takes a full five minutes to get her moving. While she gets dressed, I pack her lunchbox and make sure there's nothing I need to sign in her school folder. We leave the house for morning drop-off around 7:20.

7:30 a.m. - I load the dishwasher while my coffee brews. I drink it at my desk while I write my weekly Monday Motivation post, update my own social media, and check email. I field a business call, then update the magazine's profile on a local networking website.

9:00 a.m. - I take a break to fold a basket of laundry and get dressed for the day. I wash my face, throw my hair in a clip, brush my teeth, and apply some moisturizer. I rarely do full makeup.

9:30 a.m. - Back to the office where I get started on the day's to-do list, including a few hundred follow-up emails and editing one of our columns. At some point, I took a break to go to the corner convenience store for a drink and snack/lunch.

1:00 p.m. - I take about 30 minutes to work on some stuff for the blog, something I haven't done in way too long if I'm being honest. Then I box up some of the stuff in my office. We're in the process of moving, so I've been trying to fit it in where I can.

1:45 p.m. - I leave for the after school car line. Fun fact: I always take a book with me to pass the time.

2:30 p.m. - School is out, and Alexis is buckled in the backseat. We go to the grocery store before heading home.

3:00 p.m. - We're back from the grocery store. Alexis helps me get everything inside and put away. I respond to a few emails that came in while I was out, edit some photos, make some graphics, and update this blog post, as well as another. I do a few other work-related things, and Alexis does her homework. Then she has free time to play, watch TV, relax, etc.

5:00 p.m. - Alexis helps me make spaghetti and meatballs in the instant pot. We sit down at the table to eat together. I rinse our dishes and make sure the pot is still on warm so Chris won't have to heat his supper up when he gets off work.

7:00 p.m. - Alexis gets ready for bed - bath, pjs, and medicine.

7:30 p.m. - Chris gets home from work. He eats and we hang out as a family until bedtime.

8:00 p.m. - Alexis is in bed. We read a chapter of her new book, Amelia Bedelia and Friends Blast Off, before tucking her in. I put away the laundry I folded earlier in the day while Chris takes a shower. After, we hang out and chat about our days, stuff with the move, Alexis, and everything in between. I read a few chapters of my book.

10:00 p.m. - We turn out the lights and say goodnight.

Five Swimsuit Coverups Under $30

Would you believe that I've never owned a proper swimsuit coverup? It's true! I've always thrown on a sundress or shorts and a t-shirt and called it a day. But this year I wanted to change things up a little bit, so I decided to try a few from Amazon.

Before we get into it, I've got some thoughts on coverups in general.

One, why are they all so short? Seriously, most of them are the length of an oversized t-shirt, meaning they'll just barely cover my butt. I understand you're at the pool, river/lake, or beach, but I don't know. They almost feel like a too-short dress. To me, at least.

Two, why are they all see-through? Isn't the point of a cover-up to actually cover you up? Kinda defeats the purpose if you can see everything underneath it if you ask me...

Three, do people really pay $50+ on these things?!

Anyway, some sizing notes for you. I'm 5'2" and weigh about 145 lbs. I wear size 6/small in most clothes. I decided to use the black floral one-piece swimsuit that was so popular from my swimsuit try-on back in March to show these cover-ups. It doesn't work well with all of the cover-ups because of the criss-crossed straps, but I didn't feel like changing between each one. I'm in the size 8-10.

This post contains affiliate links.

We're going to start with the one I was the most excited about, the Jeasona crochet cover-up. This is the off-white color, although in person it's just regular white. I got the size medium, which is 31 inches long. It's kind of a funky hem, with drawstring sides that I'm not sure the purpose of. Anyway, the pattern is pretty, but you should know that the material is polyester, not actual crochet.

Overall, I like this one, but it's shorter than I'd be comfortable wearing on its own, especially because the side slits are really high.

This Ekouaer tunic/dress cover-up might be my favorite. It comes in a bunch of colors and patterns, but I felt like the black would go with most of my swimsuits. It's got pretty crochet-work around the neck and elbows, and the back is mostly open. The hem has a small ruffle and the sleeves have a little flare. There are tassels on the back tie closure as well as along the back neck.

I like the length of this one. It fits like a dress, although it's pretty thin so I'd definitely not wear it as such. It's a rayon-acryllic mix. I got the medium.

This Loritta oversized cover-up dress is my least favorite of the bunch, but it's undoubtedly the easiest one to wear. This one is a one size fits all option and comes in six color options. It's 100 percent polyester. The bust is 67 inches and it's 33.5 inches long. As you can see, it's mostly see-through. I really like the lace trim, and on me at least it's a good length. What I don't like is that it's shaped like a pillow case.

Kimonos are popular swimsuit cover-ups, but I've never used one for such despite owning several over the years. I really like this one by MayBuy. It's nothing fancy at all, but it almost feels like a fancy swimsuit robe. It comes in a bunch of patterns and there are different styles to choose from in terms of sleeves and length. This is the very first option on the list, and I got it in a small.

I am in love with this Bsubeach kaftan. It's the most comfortable thing ever and would fit in nearly anywhere. I don't even care that it's like wearing a sack. Admittedly, it doesn't really work well with this particular swimsuit because of the straps, but I love the embroidery detail and how soft the material is. There are 40 different styles to choose from, but they are all one size. This one is cut straight, but there are several that have drawstring waists and are more flowy.

Note: The straw tote I'm holding in several of these pictures is from Walmart but is completely sold out online. I haven't seen it in stores, but you can always check yours. Also, my flip flops are really really old. I'm pretty sure I got them at Academy Sports, though.

Monday Motivation

Happy Monday, friends! We've made it halfway through the month. How did that happen?!

I am currently in the process of packing up my office, or at least the parts of it I don't use on a daily/weekly basis. It's not an easy task, and I haven't made much progress. My closet is almost ready to pack. I've got a few more things to go through that have been being stored on the top shelf. This weekend, though, I went through what I think is my last box from college. So many memories...and party wristbands. I have no idea why I hung on to them. Did I think I'd remember the party they were from? Because I definitely don't. Also on the packing list for this week - the kitchen (non-essentials) and living room (décor).

This past weekend, Alexis had her first gymnastics show. It was non-competitive so there wasn't any pressure, but we still were skeptical that she would actually follow through and want to participate on the actual day. Alexis does not like performing in front of people, but she did such a good job and has improved so much over the past year.

Also this weekend, we got to meet my brother and sister in law's new baby. I got lots of sweet cuddles.

This week I'll be doing a bunch of editorial and advertorial work for the magazine, which means lots of desk time. Alexis has field day on Friday, so I'll be at that (hopefully not getting sunburned). Then this weekend I think I'm finally going to see the new Fantastic Beasts movie.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Real Outfit Roundup

I almost postponed this edition of Real Outfit Roundup because I don't have much to share, and unlike last time when there was a common theme to latch onto, the only thing this roundup has in common is the craziness of the last two weeks.

I don't have anything profound to say about what's been going on the last couple of weeks, so we'll just dive right on into it.

Sizing: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 145 lbs. I wear size small/6 in most clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Yes, I am aware that we're starting with a picture that doesn't show a full outfit. This was a day where we had I think five showings of our house, so I spent more time leaving than anything else. But I really wanted to share these sneakers. I found them in Walmart, misplaced in the women's shoe section. I rarely venture into the girls' shoes because they're almost always too young, but I loved these. It doesn't always work out, but the size 5 in these fit perfectly. Unfortunately, they're not available to order online but my local store had a bunch. I also found a couple of really close matches in women's sizes here and here.

This dress is one of my favorites of all time. It's one of those dresses that feels dressed up even when you're not making an effort to be. I'll be honest, though, I have no idea what we did on this particular day.

Flash forward four days... I'm really not sure how I didn't take any pictures at all during that time, but I assure you I did not. Anyway, last Thursday I attended a fundraising event for my local art museum. It was themed for an adult prom, so I got to really dress up. This watercolor gown from Lulu's is an absolute dream. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the one. I sized up to a medium because Lulu's is always snug.

I've not had a need for a clutch purse in recent years, so I had a lot of fun finding this one. It's the perfect size to fit a phone, ID and money/cards, plus lipstick. You can carry it like a true clutch, but I chose to use the detachable handle because I didn't want to mess up all the beautiful flowers. It's also got a pretty chain so you can wear it on your shoulder.

And you can't see my shoes, but I wanted to wear something that felt dressed up (but didn't kill my feet). I recommend these ones by Dream Pairs. They were elegant and had just enough of a heel to make my dress's length manageable (although stairs were still kind of tough).

This was from day one of my monthly magazine distribution. I rarely take photos while out doing this because I'm super busy on those days, but I'm trying to do a better job of showing the 'real' aspects of what I do for a living. Anyway, I always strive to be comfortable on distribution days but not sloppy since I interact with a lot of people. So although I was wearing shorts, I upgraded to a pair of navy blue cargos (mine are old but these are really close). My t-shirt is also old, but it's one of my favorites (this is another of my favorites that fits the same).

This was day two of distribution, which consisted of a lot more walking than the first day. For this bit of the process, I always try to dress business casual because there's much more interaction with potential customers. I really love this skirt. It's a seersucker material so wrinkles aren't as noticeable. It's also fully lined and has pockets. My blouse is also seersucker, but it's got a lot more going on with its button front, cap sleeves, and smocked yoke.

This maxi dress continues to be my go-to dress of the season. This is actually the first time I've worn it as is, but it definitely works on its own. I kept it casual with some two-toned slide sandals (similar) and a messy ponytail.

Monday Motivation

Happy Monday, friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Ours was very low key. In fact, we didn't do anything. I actually didn't want to, especially after having a sick migraine on Friday. If you've ever had one, then you know it takes a day or two to fully recover.

Anyway, did you guys watch the Kentucky Derby? What an upset! Rich Strike wasn't even supposed to be in the race;  he was only there because another horse had to scratch. If you didn't watch, you should look it up. It was incredible.

Last week was pretty laid back. I got a good bit done for the upcoming June issue, but my May magazines weren't delivered until Friday, the day I was sick, so I'll be rushing through distribution today and tomorrow. Hopefully that won't throw the rest of my month off too badly. That's the last thing I need, especially considering how the past two months have gone.

The highlight of the week was the fundraising event I went to for our local art museum. I haven't gotten dressed up like this since college, so that was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the friend I was supposed to go with had to cancel last minute, but Alexis was more than happy to be my back-up date. We didn't stay too long because it wasn't really suited to her age (and I was out of my comfort zone since I didn't know anyone there outside of work acquaintances, so even then not well), but I didn't want to waste the tickets or this dress. Plus, she had fun looking at all the art, drinking all the punch, and doing the craft they had on site.

This week is shaping up to be super busy work-wise, especially with distribution being unexpectedly shifted. Outside of that, we don't have anything planned until the weekend. Alexis is having a gymnastics show to demonstrate the skills she's learned over the last year or so.

Then next week begins the official countdown to the end of the school year. I'm ready for it to end, if I'm being honest, if only to not have to set my alarm for so early every morning. Although, with all the art camps and classes we've signed Alexis up for, summer is looking just as busy as the school year.

Okay, I've gotta wrap this up. These magazines aren't going to distribute themselves, unfortunately. I hope you all have a great week!

7 Things Motherhood Has Taught Me

I've been a mom for seven years (and one month, but who's counting?), and as short a time as that is in the grand scheme of things, I feel like I've already been through so many seasons as a mother.

First there was the newborn stage where we definitely didn't get enough sleep but it didn't matter because there was something new to experience every single day.

Then there was the baby stage. You know, that bit of time between newborn and toddler. The baby is more mobile, crawling and walking, reacting more to their surroundings, and you're finally getting more sleep...when they're not teething. This is the stage where you start to think that maybe you've got this parenting thing figured out.

The toddler years are simultaneously the most fun and the most frustrating. Your baby is turning into their own little person, but pushing all the boundaries and all your buttons as they do.

Next come the preschool years. They're learning ABCs and numbers, potty training, and how to socialize. Their first friendships are forming, and if you're lucky, you're making some parent friends of your own.

We've reached the school years in our house. Covid has kind of killed a lot of the typical school experience, both for Alexis and for us, but some things have remained the same. There's homework and projects, afterschool activities like art lessons and gymnastics, and a lot of new experiences being thrown at you every week.

I've said this many times, but I think it's worth repeating. Motherhood is simultaneously the most rewarding and most difficult thing I have ever done.

Two years ago, I shared five lessons that motherhood instilled in me. At the time, we were a couple of months into the pandemic, and I was doing a lot of reflecting because I had a lot of time on my hands. Now, two years later, so much has changed, and I feel like I've grown, not only as a mother but as a woman in general. So, in honor of my seven year stint as a mother, here are 7 things I've learned.

1. You can't pour from an empty cup. Admittedly, I've gotten much better at recognizing the signs of burnout, and thankfully the last four years have seen a much-improved work-life balance. Still, as a mom, it is easy to put myself last, but I've been making a concerted effort to take time for myself every single day.

2. I don't have to be a get-in-the-floor mom to connect with my daughter. This is the thing about myself I struggle with daily and where almost the entirety of my mom guilt comes from. I don't like playing make-believe. Maybe it's something to do with all my years working in news, but I really struggle to connect with my imagination in a childlike way. That said, I've found other ways to have a relationship with Alexis through books, cooking, shopping, etc.

3. My hobbies are important, too. For a really long time, I gave up all my favorite things. To be fair, it happened before I'd even decided on motherhood, but adding a child into an already unbalanced work-life situation didn't help. It took me too long to realize how extremely unhappy I had become, but once I started back doing the things I love for no reason than to just do them, I started to feel like me again.

4. It's okay to say no. In any situation. With or without an explanation. Even if no one understands.

5. Boundaries are important. I mean, I've always known this, but I've also always gone out of my way to try to include everyone. But as I've gotten older, I've realized that not everyone needs or should be included in my or my child's life.

6. Unsolicited parenting advice/comments will never stop. As much as I hate it and as uncomfortable as some of it makes me, I know that most people aren't doing it to be intentionally rude.

7. Every mom has something to offer. I interview a mother in my local community every month, and I'm always amazed at what comes out of it. Even though I always ask a handful of the same questions, the responses are always different, and I always learn something.

Happy Mother's Day!

4 Things I'm Loving Right Now

Every month, I try to share some of the products that made a difference in my day-to-day life. It's not always easy, believe it or not, especially since I try not to share the same things over and over...but I don't deviate from my favorite things very often.

The last couple of months have been pretty stressful for me for various reasons, so I've been looking for joy in lots of places. These four things I'm sharing today are the ones that have been making the biggest impact on me lately.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Mango Coconut Candle - This was a completely random Target buy. Alexis and I were in there just browsing. She loves smelling all the candles, and we usually buy one or two at the start of each new season. She picked one that's now in our living room, and I claimed this one for my office. Y'all, this thing is an instant mood lifter. It smells so good.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Facial Cleanser - If you've been around the last few months, you'll know I've been struggling with my skin. CeraVe has been my go-to for lotion for the past several years because it's great for sensitive skin. I needed something better for my face, so I was really excited to find this. It's great for makeup removal and doesn't dry out my skin.

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer - In case you couldn't guess, I don't tan. Usually I don't mind being pale, but this year I seem to be a little ghostlier than usual. This has always been my go-to for a natural glow, but it's been several years since I've indulged. I'm happy to report that they have greatly improved the scent! I love how easy it is to apply, and the one I picked up not only moisturizes but also firms! I use the fair to medium.

Teleties - These are my favorite hair ties, but I've been using them a lot more here lately. They stay all day without getting hung up in my unruly hair. They're perfect for yoga or just keeping my hair off my neck and out of my eyes while I work. Right now, you can get free shipping when you buy two.

What I Read April 2022

When I first started doing these monthly reading roundups, it was to hold myself accountable for a New Year's goal to get back to reading. Back then, my goal was one book per month, and some months I struggled to meet it. Looking back now it's hard to even fathom that I let myself get so far separated from this lifelong love of reading, and I've done a much better job the last several years of not letting go of this thing that brings me joy and peace during times of stress...even if some months I read more than others.

April was not the easiest month of reading for me, despite what this roundup looks like. I was very undecided on what I wanted to read, and I feel like I bounced around and spent a lot of time just scrolling through all the samples I've downloaded. I also didn't want to speed-read through the series I've been enjoying so I've been forcing myself to take those slow.

There are a few books missing from this roundup. I've been reading a series called Untouchable, but I'm not ready to talk about any of them yet. I've still got several books to go and the final book won't be released until this summer, and I don't think I can give an accurate review until I've read the series completely.

Okay, enough explanation. Let's get to the books!

Daughter of A Thousand Years

Author: Amalia Carosella

This book was incredibly thought-provoking from a religious standpoint and called into question a lot of things many of us take for granted. For that reason, I don't know how many people I can recommend it to, but it is fantastically well-written.

Freydis is the daughter of Erik the Red. Not only did she inherit his red hair but also his infamous temper. Forced to marry in order to secure a ship of her own while steadfastly holding onto the faith of her ancestors and her belief in Thor, Freydis is the exact opposite of what the Christians taking over her father's settlement expect her to be. When a mysterious stranger offers her the freedom she's always sought, Freydis knows the impact of her choice will be felt for centuries to come.

Meanwhile in 2016, Emma is the daughter of a conservative Catholic Congressman who's up for reelection, but Emma herself has left the Catholic faith. In fact, she's no longer Christian at all, but a Heathen who believes in and worships the Norse gods, specifically Thor. When her personal faith is thrust into the spotlight, it's not only her own life that's turned upside down but also that of her family.

Greed (The Deadly Seven book 2)

Author: Lana Pecherczyk

Loved it. This series just keeps getting better. Griffin, a.k.a. Greed, has got handling his sin down to a fine science. He's convinced he doesn't need to find his soulmate to keep it all balanced. Then he's forced to go undercover at the newspaper to find whoever has been writing sensationalist, untrue pieces about his family and meets Lilo, a reporter and daughter of the city's biggest mob boss.

F*ck It

Authors: S.M. Shade & C.M. Owens

This is the sequel to one of my favorite books from last year, Worth It, and just like its predecessor, I laughed my butt off reading this. It picks up pretty close to where the first book ended, but it changes protagonists - Sicily and Lydia. Sicily is the sister of Lydia's best friend's husband. They become roommates when Lydia moves to town seeking a fresh start. Sicily, meanwhile, is trying to find her place in her brother's company and ends up working under Lydia's cheating ex...the same ex whose wedding Lydia and her friends ruined in the first book.

I didn't laugh quite as much in this book as I did with Worth It, but it's still worth the read. You do need to read the books in order, though, as there are some references throughout F*ck It that won't make sense otherwise.

Cleopatra’s Dagger

Author: Carole Lawrence

In 1880, Elizabeth van den Broek is the only female reporter in New York City. When she and her friend stumble across a dead body wrapped up like a mummy in Central Park, Elizabeth convinces the editor to allow her to report on the mysterious murder. More bodies with ties to Egyptian lore turn up, and the closer Elizabeth gets to uncovering the truth the more it becomes apparent the killer is watching.

I had no clue who the killer was until the big reveal. I enjoyed the book, but felt like the actual ending was awkward, almost as if the author didn't know how to end it. Also, there were a lot of unanswered questions for me outside of the main mystery. I almost feel like the author spent so much time with these extraneous details but then didn't give them a conclusion. Some of it, I'll admit, was for background but I don't like for my conclusions to feel like the story is over, and this just didn't for me.

Wild Pride (Kingson Pride book 1)

Author: Kristen Banet

Riley has been living in Wild Junction for the past two years after escaping an abusive relationship. She's content with her mediocre life. Then, five locals move back to town, and Riley finds herself thrown into the world of cat shifters.

I was disappointed with this one. I really enjoyed Banet's Redemption series and had high hopes this would be similar. I had a hard time connecting to Riley, and I didn't like how weak she was. As much as I wanted to love it, I just didn’t and won't be continuing the series past book one.

Medusa (Court of the Underworld book 2)

Author: Alessa Thorn

I know, I know. It took me long enough to get around to reading this one. It usually doesn't take me so long to read next-in-series books, but life ya know? Anyway, this book picks up right where book one left off but with new main characters: Medusa and Perseus. Medusa is the famed Gorgon of legend, while Perseus is a reformed thief. The two are thrown together when Pithos, the anti-monster cult, kidnaps Perseus's sister to coerce him into stealing a necklace from Medusa. He doesn't so much get caught as he turns himself in and ends up joining the team. There's a nice little twist in this book, though, but you'll have to read it to find out what it is.

I loved Medusa in the first book of this series. She's smart and sassy and definitely doesn't know she's sexy. Perseus, meanwhile, is an unexpected bad boy. He's blind, but that's all I'm going to give you on that, and he's got the most delightfully dirty mouth. I love these two together. Up next, Hades meets Persephone.

Neverland: Chronicles of Red series

Author: Crea Reitan 

I really love Reitan's Wonderland retelling, and this is part of the same world in that Ira comes from the same place the heroine in the other series came from and is working toward the same goal but in Neverland instead of Wonderland. The difference between Mal (Wonderland) and Ira is that Ira was raised with the sole purpose of being a fixer. She's spent her entire life training to fix whatever has turned Neverland toxic, but she's not prepared for what she finds when she enters the tale. Turns out, another fairy tale has invaded Peter Pan's world, and Ira must gather her crew, master magic, and set Neverland to rights.

I found myself unconsciously comparing this series to the Wonderland saga, which is unfair since the two fairytales are nothing alike, but it still happened. I'm glad I kept going past the first book - I almost didn't. The action picked up, and we finally got into the meat of the story. Admittedly, I think the Wonderland series is better - it was way more involved and complex - and this one definitely could have used a better editor (there were a good bit of typos and a lot of tense swapping, which for me is distracting). In the beginning of both series, there are four fixers mentioned, and I'm excited to see if Reitan brings their stories to life, as well, especially the one who went into Oz. I'm desperate for a good Wizard of Oz retelling.

Monday Motivation

 
Whew, what a week, y'all! I haven't been so glad to see a weekend come in a long time. Last week wasn't bad, but it was really busy. I felt like I was running pretty much the entire time, and I had to work around multiple showings of our house.

Surprisingly, but maybe not considering the current market, we've already gotten offers and are moving into the next step of the process. Can I tell you how not excited I am about packing? I don't even know when that day will be here exactly, but I'm already dreading it.

The weekend was nice and relaxed. We ate lunch with my parents one day and hung out for a few hours, then mostly took it easy on Sunday.

This week should be relatively easy. I'll have distribution at some point, and I'm finishing up the magazine website for the May issue today. Later this week I'm attending an adult prom fundraiser for our local art museum. It's the annual members-only event, and I've never gotten to attend before because of work and then Covid canceled it the last two years, so I'm really excited.

I become an aunt this week, too, which is exciting. I can't wait to meet that little bundle.

That'll do it for me this morning. I hope you all have a wonderful week!