Epic Texas Road Trip

This spring we found out that my niece Kaiya was accepted to do a summer internship/intensive with the Houston Ballet. My mom and my sister-in-law Meki thought that it would be fun to have Ailey and I join them on a big girls trip to Texas. It did sound fun except for one thing...we would be driving. I was NOT excited about that aspect but I knew that it would be a fun adventure for Ailey. So I accepted.

The timing was not great in that Ailey had to miss the last day and a half of school. She also missed choreography week for dance team and we missed Kameron's big grad party. But what can you do? Kaiya had to be there on a certain day to check in to the program so there was no rearranging the trip.

The first leg of the trip was a 12 hour drive from Spokane to Salt Lake. Ailey checked out of school early and my mom met us at our house and we loaded up and hit the road. We got to SLC at about 1am and checked into a hotel for the night. The next morning we headed over to Kirk and Meki's house super early to pick up the rest of our group.

I guess it wasn't *technically* a girls trip. My 3 year old nephew Kirin ended up coming along.

It was good to see my brother and his family! I was happy to see my nephew Kaiden and even saw my ex-sister-in-law Jayme. Meki's oldest son Tarren was there and he had gotten us a huge box of assorted cookies from one of those cookie stores that Utah has...wish we had one here! Ailey and I have seen them all over Instagram... you can order hot delicious cookies delivered to your doorstep. In what kind of world does this happen?! They were delicious and that was so sweet of Tarren. Kirk got us all loaded up and then we were ready for leg two of the the journey... a 24 hour drive straight through to Texas.

My nephews Kirin, Tarren, and Kaiden

Kaiya and Ailey all ready for their Texas adventure to begin!

Ailey and Kaiya are the same age and they have so much fun together. They love and support one another in all that they do. They are both dancers...Kaiya is a classical ballerina and Ailey is on her high school dance team...but they both love and respect and encourage each other in their different genres. They were a lot of fun on this trip!!

One of our first stops was Arches National Park. I was super excited for Ailey to see red rock. She had never seen it before! We go to Utah a lot but never down south. I forgot how amazing it really is!!

Ailey was blown away by the arches and red rock country. I was too. It had been a long time since I was down in this part of Utah. The scenery could not be more different from where we live.

We stopped and ate in Moab. Wow! That town has sure changed since spring breaks in college! LOL. That used to be one of our favorite road trips when I was at BYU. After Moab it was onto Albuquerque and driving through the night. We divided up the driving shifts...my mom during the day, Meki about 6pm-1am, and I took the night shift. I am pretty used to driving through the night with Tyler. It was the only way to travel when our kids were little.

We saw a bunch of places that I haven't seen in many years...Monticello Utah....the four corners area...New Mexico. When I was in college I would occasionally have to drive from Houston where my family was living at the time to Provo and Provo to Houston. Sometimes I would catch a ride with my grandparents who were going to visit us or sometimes with kids from my ward in Houston who also went to BYU. It was too long of a drive and I eventually just flew each time and that made it so much easier. This road trip brought back a lot of those memories. And...made many new ones! Who could forget the great pukefest in Cuba, New Mexico. (Is is even a road trip if someone doesn't throw up?) The terrifying drunk/asleep/medical emergency semi-truck driver who was literally all over the road and side swiping other semis at about 2:30 am near Santa Rosa, NM. Seriously one of the scariest things that I have ever seen and tried to avoid while driving!!

I drove through the night and it was interesting to hit Texas and drive through sleepy little Texas towns in the dead of night. I lived on redbull, gummy worms, podcasts, and 80s music! It got us safely through the night. I switched driving with my mom at 7:30 am somewhere in Texas and about 2 hours outside of Waco. We stopped for breakfast and then continued on to our next destination...Magnolia and the Silos in Waco, TX. We are all Chip and Joanna Gaines fans!

I'm not sure what I thought Waco would be like...perhaps a bit more charming? From watching Fixer Upper I guess I just had a different idea of what it was like. I am sure that there are some charming areas and I saw a few pockets of charm here and there. But I do feel like Waco owes the Gaines some undying gratitude for bringing tourism to that Texas town.

We were all super excited to be there!

It was a hot, windy, super humid day. I don't hate humidity. I don't love it but my philosophy is to not fight it and to just embrace it. It served me well for *most* of this trip.

We did a lot more videos and instastories in Waco since we had so many people back home who wanted to see what it was like. It was actually really cool. I have had a lot people ask me if it was worth it or if it was just a tourist trap. To me...it was totally worth it and I would go back again. We were on a rather tight schedule (someone is a much slower driver than the rest of us. *ahem* My mom.) So there were some things that I didn't get to do that I would have liked to and I would totally go back to do them. We didn't get to eat at the Magnolia restaurant. The line for the Magnolia Bakery was EXTREMELY long and so we didn't have time wait in line. There are a bunch of really great food trucks and one of them sells the Magnolia cup cakes so you don't *technically* have to wait in the long lines. The Magnolia store was better than I expected. I thought it was great and that the prices were very reasonable and that REALLY surprised me. We didn't have a lot of extra space to buy any big items so we bought things like candles, bags, t-shirts, ornaments etc. The people who work there are SUPER nice and even though it was really crowded I liked the whole experience. They are going to be doing a big expansion and taking over a few more city blocks in the next year and I am excited to see what happens with that!

I loved all of the displays. They really are amazing!

We also went to the first Magnolia store on Bosque. That is their discount store. I heard about this from a friend prior to going but when you buy something at Magnolia you get a discount at the old Magnolia shop too. My friend bought a bunch of Joanna Gaines' old display pieces. It was actually worth the trip there and we bought quite a few things and they had some food trucks there as well.

While in town I wanted to stop in and see a vendor friend of mine...Theresa with Linen and Cake. She used to live in Spokane and did some of the same vintage shows that I did before she and her husband moved to Waco.  She has the most darling shop in the downtown area. It was so fun to see her and to catch up.

Then it was onto Houston! I was super excited to show Ailey my old hometown. I LOVE Houston! Our first stop was the home of a dear family friend Mary Jane. She and her husband Eric hosted a fabulous dinner for us. It was an odd juxtaposition...our bedraggled car trip/driving all night selves with an elegant sit down dinner in Mary Jane's beautiful dining room but it was just what we needed!! Southern Hospitality!! Is there anything like it? It is wonderful. We were also introduced to the fabulous Mary Beth (Mary Jane's BFF who lives 5 houses down from MJ). We were instant friends!!

Mary Jane, Mom, Mary Beth

Those southern ladies are something else!! Ailey and Kaiya were in AWE!! Meki and I were too. We kept saying, "We want to be them when we grow up!!" Mary Jane and Mary Beth are the epitome of of style, sass, generosity, kindness, and character. They knew that after 24 hours of driving that what we would most need would be a fabulous fancy dinner and pampering. We perked right up and suddenly had a hidden reserve of energy to talk and laugh the night away. We never wanted to leave!! The food was fantastic!! Mary Jane's famous cranberry chicken and Texas chocolate cinnamon cake with Bluebell ice cream for dessert.

And there was THIS:

HEAVEN!!

They also sent us off with a gift basket nearly the size of Ailey! That is no joke! We had her stand next to it. It was full of quintessential Texas goodies. It was amazing! And...not one but TWO beautiful flower arrangements for our Airbnb. That is hospitality!

We had a gorgeous Airbnb in the University district in Houston. It was like a gorgeous brownstone. Ailey was fascinated by the lizards in the yard!

I wish I took more pictures of the inside! It was really pretty!

The next day Meki had to check Kaiya in with the Houston Ballet. They had orientation and had to get her dorm room all set up and had a bunch of things going on so we kept Kirin and headed out to show Ailey the city. We also had kolatches for breakfast! How I have missed those!!

We drove all over and showed Ailey the downtown and the hospital and women's center that my mom ran in the 90s. We showed her our favorite neighborhoods and places. We went to lunch at one of my favorite Tex Mex places...Chuy's. It is so good! Especially for this Spokanite who has no access to this kind of food! It was pretty spectacular!!

You guys! The Queso!! God Bless Texas!!

Later we picked up Meki and headed north the to The Woodlands. This is the area of Houston where we lived. I LOVE it! Ailey did too. It was fun to show her our old neighborhood and the houses that we lived in.

Here is a picture of our house on Pathfinders Circle.

I showed Ailey the pool where we spent every single day of summer at and all of our favorite places in The Woodlands. It was fun to show Meki where Kirk went to school and the bayous we would have to drag him out of. He was forever catching frogs and snakes and all kinds of things.

This is the TCBY that I used to work at! LOL. We had to go in. I had my heart set on some white chocolate mousse yogurt with hot caramel sauce. (We don't have TCBYs here.) They didn't have any!! That was a BIG disappointment. HUGE. We stayed in The Woodlands until late and had dinner there. I can't get over how big it is and even more cool! If we ever moved to Texas that is where I would want to live again. It kind of looks like Spokane with all of the pine trees and water. I took lots of video for my brother and sisters.

Then next morning we got up SUPER early, checked Kaiya out of her dorm (Sunday is their day off) and drove to Galveston. We had kolatches again!! When in Rome! There are no kolatches where I live and it is unfortunate! The girls were super excited to go to the beach. Meki had never been to Houston or to Galveston so it was fun to show she and Kaiya around.

I love the architecture here!

We did some shopping before we hit the beach. My mom found herself some jewelry and I found most of my gifts for my family here. Kam's request was "something patriotic" that is VERY easily done in Texas!!

Then we got on a ferry to head to Crystal Beach. Ailey and I were hoping we would get this one. Ha ha! No luck.

This was a VERY exciting ferry ride because we saw a school? A pod? of dolphins!! That has never happened before. In fact, it was my very first time seeing dolphins in the wild. Ailey and I were SO EXCITED!!

Crystal Beach was crazy crowded due to the fact that it was Father's Day. We did not think about that. It was also SUPER hot and humid and we needed to get in that water ASAP. Ailey and Kaiya were loving it! This was Ailey's first time swimming in WARM ocean water. LOL.

I forgot that in Texas you can drive on the beaches. That seemed scandalous...but convenient!

Both girls said that this was their favorite day of the trip!

That night we were starving and salty and sandy...and all of the good restaurants were packed or you needed reservations because...Father's Day. So we ended up eating at Bubba Gumps (wouldn't have been my first choice) on the Seawall. The kids loved it!

We dropped Kaiya off at her dorm late that night and came home and crashed. We were so tired!

The next day was a bit more low key. Meki had to be at some parent meetings with Kaiya. So we again kept Kirin and explored more of the city. We went to Old Town Spring, TX which used to have some fun shops when we lived there. Unfortunately on Mondays most of the shops are closed...there were several open and we did get an opportunity to do some shopping. I found a gift for Reilly and Ailey found a super cute church dress. It is still an absolutely darling place.

We were sad to see that one of our favorite restaurants had burned. We were looking forward to eating there. They had such great food especially their pies. I was glad to see that it was in the process of being rebuilt. Next time!

After that we drove over to the Galleria. That was always such a fun place to go and shop. We showed Ailey the Water Wall. It is still impressive!

The Transco Tower

Then we had to run to meet Mary Jane and Mary Beth who were taking us all out for BBQ that night.

We went to such a fun place and the food was delicious. They promised us delicious Texas BBQ and the "World's Best Pecan Pie"...I was all in! That pecan pie was amazing!! Mary Beth sends it to her friends around the country as a Christmas gift. How cool is that? I need to get on the list! Ailey loved the chocolate cinnamon shakes that they served there too. I forgot that chocolate cinnamon was a Texas thing. The BBQ was good too...BUT... this might anger some Texans...Kansas City BBQ is better. Nay...the VERY BEST!! I've lived in both places and enjoyed the BBQ in both but you just can't beat KC BBQ! You can't! My sister Jordin recently went back to Kansas City for a high school graduation and brought me some Gates BBQ sauce as my birthday gift! Tyler and I are straight up HOARDING that stuff. The kids only get Sweet Baby Rays! LOL. No sense in wasting good sauce on the unappreciative, right?

After that Ailey had money to burn and Mary Jane knew just the place for her to burn it. A Sam Moon store. Cheap but fun stuff. MJ was totally right! Ailey loved it! And...to sweeten the deal Mary Jane gave her $50 and a challenge. To buy something there for all of her siblings!



Mary Jane tried to give Ailey $100 but Ailey assured her that she could buy gifts for everyone for under $50 and she did! Mary Jane also graciously bought Ailey something. That girl was spoiled rotten and she loved it. Kaiya was busy with ballet so missed out on the Sam Moon experience but she was left in Houston under the watchful eye and loving care of Mary Jane and Mary Beth (and Eric) and I know that she will be spoiled rotten too! Mary Jane and Eric have a luxurious guest bedroom all set up for her to stay with them whenever she wants while she is in town. Lucky girl!

This was another one of Ailey's favorite days and mine too! A perfect last day in Houston. Ailey got the full Texas experience that day! BBQ, riding in a fancy Cadillac, shopping with these ladies who can run circles around anyone, introduced to the joys of the HEB grocery store, chocolate cinnamon shakes...and learning the ways of Southern womanhood from two perfect examples. They had lots of advice for Miss Ailey and she was happy to hear it and take it! She just adored them and has already written to both of them. I love it!!

The next day we headed out of town early so that we could get to San Antonio and have time to play. The first stop was the Riverwalk. I have been to San Antonio several times and I was excited to show Ailey. Unfortunately, the humidity hit me like a ton of bricks there. I was fine in Houston and Waco and Galveston...but 96 degrees and 100% humidity in San Antonio was pretty terrible.

We had breakfast off of the Riverwalk and then headed to the Alamo. I love the Alamo and historical sites. Those kinds of things are always top on my list of things to do when traveling.

I had an interesting experience visiting the Alamo. The first time that I went and toured the Alamo I was a sophomore in college and when I saw it I was kind of underwhelmed. I had read so much about it and it just seemed so small. This time I wasn't underwhelmed at all. It was better than I remembered it being. It was bigger and better...and ended up being one of the highlights of my trip. Isn't that strange? You would think it was because I am older and have more of an appreciation for history but I have always been that way and was well-read and a history lover even in college. It was weird. Usually things seem smaller and less grand after time passes but this place seemed even bigger and better than I remembered.

We didn't have as much time to spend in San Antonio as I would've liked. We were again on a tight schedule to get to Fredericksburg that same day. This trip was a whirlwind of running here and there and still not enough time to do a lot of things that I wanted to do. Frustrating. I look forward to another Texas trip with Tyler.

Fredericksburg, TX holds a special place in my heart and my mom's heart. It is the sight of the origin story for Sisters Creed approximately 26 years ago. One Christmas break when I was home from BYU my mom decided to take a little trip in between Christmas and New Years and go to Fredericksburg. We had heard that it was a cute little German town in the Texas hill country. We loved the area and all of the cute stores. One in particular absolutely blew our minds... a store called The Homestead that was owned by Carol Hicks Bolton. It was actually about three stores all together that were under the Homestead banner. My mom and I could not believe our eyes. The decor was like nothing that we had ever seen before. It was magical.

Everything was so beautifully staged. A combination of old and new, striped down and raw, vintage elements and found objects intermingled with fabrics and furnishings. High end European antiques curated with things from old farm houses mixed with religious artifacts. There were layers upon layers of objects and decor that told a story. Every amazing display was loaded with details that we could only just stare at in wonder. This was WAY before Rachel Ashwell's shabby chic style became popular. This kind of design was unlike anything that we had ever seen before. Right down to the most minute detail. This might sound crazy but we had a spiritual experience. No joke. A calling of sorts.

My mom and I were changed. We could not stop talking about this kind of interior design and home decor. This was before cellphones and digital cameras...so the entire drive back to Houston we racked our brains and wrote down on paper all of the amazing things we saw, ideas we had, inspiration we had, projects we wanted to try, things we wanted to make... to say that we were inspired would be an understatement. A fire was lit inside of both of us. I guess we got a glimpse of our future. Years went by. I met Tyler, got married, and had three kids. We continued to be inspired and crafted all kinds of things for our homes trying to somewhat replicate that incredible style. Twelve years went by before we started our vintage home decor business Sisters Creed. But in Fredericksburg, TX the seed was planted. So... we were super excited to go back for another visit. We were not disappointed.

Her style is still AMAZING and INSPIRING! Her vignettes are to die for. She is an unbelievable curator. So cool. I'll post a few pics here and will do a big post with more pictures and video about this on our Sisters Creed blog.

26 years later we were back! We were still inspired!!

Those books are curated PERFECTION!

Nothing is haphazardly placed. It is all methodically done to tell a story.

Okay... I'll stop but...wow...stunning!

After we could tear ourselves away from Carol's shop we went to the Fredericksburg Herb Farm. This was also a favorite place. We both found a perfume that we loved from there years ago called Dewberry and we have never found anything like it since. You can't buy it online either.

It is still so pretty!

The sad news was the Dewberry fragrance has been discontinued. We talked to the owner and she said that it was her least popular fragrance! What?! Not possible. Disappointed we grabbed some lunch... our final Tex Mex of the trip... and hit the road for another long 24 hour drive.

That stretch of driving seemed to go faster. We listened to a ton of podcasts and TED talks. We also didn't stop much this time and just drove. GPS took us some interesting routes. I did wake up once around 1 am while Meki was driving and found us on a dirt road in Roswell, NM. No alien sightings for us... LOL. Love that memory!!!

We arrived back in Salt Lake around 9 am. That was actually perfect. We had a whole day to recoup before the long drive from SLC to Spokane.

 

I do love seeing Utah mountains in the morning. My favorite mountains are Timp and Cascade. No surprise there. :)

Once we got to Kirk and Meki's we were able to take a nap and relax. Later that day Meki, Ailey, and I went shopping. Meki wanted to rearrange and restyle some areas in her house while my mom and I were there. That was fun!

We also had lunch at such a good place. It's called Corelife Eatery. I wish we had places like that in Spokane. Healthy and good food choices!! We had the best salads!!

Our niece Liv, Tyler's sister Lori, my sister-in-law Marissa, and Tyler's brother Brett

That night Kirk and Meki hosted a big dinner party. They invited not only all of Meki's family to come over for a BBQ but also Tyler's family. That was so nice! They have basically adopted Lori into their extended family and they have been friends with Tyler's brother and his wife for years. It was fun to have everyone in one place at one time! Kirk also made his amazing brisket which is hands down the best I've ever had...including in KC and TX!!

My mom and Meki's step-mom, Sherri.

Ailey has so much fun with her cousins on both sides of her family...Kaiden on my side and Liv on Tyler's side. Liv is actually the only cousin on Tyler's side. They had a great time!

I loved being with these bonus siblings of mine. We have weathered many storms together over the years and it has forged love and affection. We really missed having Tyler and the rest of the kids there too. I love my own brother dearly and Meki too for making this night a reality.

The next morning we left super early but made sure to stop at my favorite place for breakfast before we left Utah. Kneaders for raspberry bread pudding! The breakfast of champions!! But it is SO GOOD!!

My mom wasn't feeling great on the ride home. I think the trip really tired her out. She slept most of the way which was fine with me. I made good time and got home even earlier than expected to Tyler and the kids!! I missed them so much! It was a fun trip and we made memories to last a lifetime but it was also so nice to be home!!

Farm Chicks 2019

I feel like Farm Chicks was a blur this year!! It was the week before Kameron's graduation, my birthday was right after it, and then Ailey and I left for Texas less than a week after it was over! It was craziness. But here are some pictures of our booth at one of the biggest vintage shows in the U.S. The entry display this year was so cute! The theme this year was flowers. I loved it!

This was my mom's last year of participating in Farm Chicks. She will still have her booth space in Coeur d' Alene at Junk on 4th Street but she is retiring from doing all shows.

A picture of our four booth space in a large square configuration.

We had some cute set-up and tear-down helpers:

With Kameron graduating from high school and heading out on a mission some time this year this will be his last Farm Chicks for a few years! He has been such a great Sisters Creed Roadie over the years!! He's grown up lugging furniture, setting up, tearing down, and even delivering furniture. He is a great kid!!

These girls were cute helpers too! Loved their flower crowns that they got from another vendor.

It was such a fun show to participate in and it's hard to believe that it is over for another year! So much time, prep, and work goes into preparing for this show all year long and then it is over just like that! Until next year Farm Chicks...

I'm already looking forward to it!!

Spring Book Reviews

Book Reviews

1.) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This was our book club pick for April 2019. The last time that I read this book I was a sophomore in high school. I loved it then and I love it now. It is the quintessential American novel and it is most definitely a classic.

From Goodreads:

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

This coming-of-age story talks about life in a small town in Alabama during the Great Depression. The cast of characters are compelling, full of life, and absolutely unforgettable. Scout, Jem, Atticus, Calpernia, Tom, Miss Maudie, Dill, and Boo Radley... I loved them all. The story unfolds from Scout's perspective and her voice and humor were absolutely fantastic. What an incredible and feisty little protagonist!

The novel tackles hard topics such as injustice, racism, intolerance, and what it means to be a human being in a powerful and yet simple way. Through the eyes of a child. Lee's writing is beautiful, polished, and smooth. It flows with waves of humor and emotion. This is such a well-written and finely crafted novel.

I particularly loved the parent/child (ren) relationship that Atticus had with Scout and Jem. Their dynamic was so interesting and loving. Atticus is remarkable.

There is something so special and compelling about this book. It draws you in immediately and doesn't let go. It continues to resonate and touch hearts nearly sixty years after it was first published. It is a wonderful timeless story of courage, kindness, compassion, and integrity with a message that is still needed in our world today.

My Rating: Unforgettable. I highly recommend.


2.) Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell

This is the 3rd book in the Lost Kingdom series. The saga continues as we follow Uhtred as he sets out on his own to avenge the death of his adopted father along with his adopted brother Ragnar the Younger. I love it any time that Uhtred and Ragnar are together in this series and when they fight along side one another it is spectacular!

From Goodreads:

The year is 878 and Wessex is free from the Vikings. Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, helped Alfred win that victory, but now he is disgusted by Alfred's lack of generosity and repelled by the king's insistent piety. He flees Wessex, going back north to seek revenge for the killing of his foster father and to rescue his stepsister, captured in the same raid. He needs to find his old enemy, Kjartan, a renegade Danish lord who lurks in the formidable stronghold of Dunholm. Uhtred arrives in the north to discover rebellion, chaos and fear. His only ally is Hild, a West Saxon nun fleeing her calling, and his best hope is his sword, with which he has made a formidable reputation as a warrior. He will need the assistance of other warriors if he is to attack Dunholm and he finds Guthred, a slave who believes he is a king. He takes him across the Pennines to where a desperate alliance of fanatical Christians and beleaguered Danes form a new army to confront the terrible Viking lords who rule Northumbria. 'The Lords of the North' is a powerful story of betrayal, romance and struggle, set in an England of turmoil, upheaval and glory. Uhtred, a Northumbrian raised as a Viking, a man without lands, a warrior without a country, has become a splendid heroic figure. 

I really enjoy this fun series and the complex character of Uhtred. In book three he has matured and experienced more of the world and his progression has been interesting to follow. This book was all about the Ragnarson boys out for revenge and I loved it! It was fast-paced and interesting. Great historical fiction!

My Rating: Great! Already onto book #4.

3.) The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford

This book took me completely by surprise and was absolutely unexpected. Kathie Lee Gifford?! What the heck?! I listened to Kathie Lee on Jamie Ivey's The Happy Hour podcast and was blown away and then again on the Jen Hatmaker podcast. She was so smart and interesting as she spoke of her faith, her study of the Bible, and her trips to Jerusalem. I was intrigued.

From Goodreads:

As a lifelong student of Scripture, Kathie Lee Gifford has always desired a deeper understanding of God’s Word and a deeper knowledge of God Himself. But it wasn’t until she began studying the biblical texts in their original Hebrew and Greek—along with actually hiking the ancient paths of Israel—that she found the fulfillment of those desires.

I loved this unique book. I did not expect to but I did. I loved learning more about many different Biblical areas. I shared many insights and stories from the book with my family during our own scripture study and the knowledge that I gained added another deeper level to what we were already studying. I loved learning more about the Jewish faith, traditions, symbolism, and the different meanings and translations of words that are in the Bible, and more about the Holy Land. It was especially interesting reading the perspective of a Messianic Jew (the co-author of this book). It was fascinating to me. I was taking notes and book marking things all over the place. So interesting.

My Rating: An unexpected but interesting read.


4.) Sword Song by Bernard Cornwell

This is book #4 in the Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell. I am flying through the series.

From Goodreads:

The year is 885, and England is at peace, divided between the Danish Kingdom to the north and the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south. Warrior by instinct and Viking by nature, Uhtred, the dispossessed son of Northumbrian lord, has land, a wife and children-and a duty to King Alfred to hold the frontier on the Thames. But a dead man has risen, and new Vikings have invaded the decayed Roman city of London with dreams of conquering Wessex...with Uhtred's help. Suddenly forced to weigh his oath to the king against the dangerous turning side of shifting allegiances and deadly power struggles, Uhtred-Alfred's sharpest sword-must now make the choice that will determine England's future.

Father Pyrlig is back! That was basically the highlight for me along with Erik. This book in the series really started to feel a bit formulaic. Too many battles....yada yada yada. I would have loved a bit more character development. Cornwell has some amazing characters with interesting plot lines and I wish that they would get more page time. I loved the star-crossed lovers. How about a *little bit* more of that and a few less descriptions of "Kill them all!!" with its hacking and gore. Plus, no Ragnar. Down a star for that right there! LOL. This book is still entertaining but so far it is my least favorite in the series. Still...onto book #5.

My Rating: Good

5.) Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

I have followed Rachel Hollis via social media for about 4 years. Her rise to fame has been interesting to watch. I also read her previous book Girl, Wash Your Face and enjoyed it. I was looking forward to reading her follow up book Girl, Stop Apologizing.

From Goodreads;

Rachel Hollis has seen it too often: women not living into their full potential. They feel a tugging on their hearts for something more, but they’re afraid of embarrassment, of falling short of perfection, of not being enough.  In Girl, Stop Apologizing, #1 New York Times bestselling author and founder of a multimillion-dollar media company, Rachel Hollis sounds a wake-up call. She knows that many women have been taught to define themselves in light of other people—whether as wife, mother, daughter, or employee—instead of learning how to own who they are and what they want. With a challenge to women everywhere to stop talking themselves out of their dreams, Hollis identifies the excuses to let go of, the behaviors to adopt, and the skills to acquire on the path to growth, confidence, and believing in yourself.

In this book Hollis helps you to identify your dreams, set goals, and gives you the tools to follow through and achieve them. The book is divided up into three sections: letting go of excuses, behaviors to adopt, and skills to acquire. I am a goal-setter and into personal development. I also have a small business and I found this book to be very motivating both personally and professionally. She gives practical advice and step-by-step instructions to help you start achieving your goals. She encourages women to start believing in themselves, to reach for their dreams, and to take control of their lives. She believes that women need to start LIVING right now not waiting for *someday* and to become who they were meant to be. I agree.

Rachel Hollis isn't for everyone. Her tone is blunt and sometimes harsh and occasionally a bit self-indulgent. But I agree with her that so many women need to be motivated to stop apologizing for who they are and to start actually LIVING their lives. I particularly liked the section where she talks about setting boundaries with family and friends, saying no to certain obligations, and not worrying if other people don't *get* the life that you want to live.

Since I have followed her for several years, watched her documentary, and read her previous book the information can get a bit repetitive. There is definitely a lot of overlap. But in the years that I have followed her on social media she has inspired me to reach for more and to be a better version of myself. I have made a lot of positive changes in my life and business because of that motivation.

I really liked this book. It is funny and motivating...I marked it down a star because the tone can sometimes come off as a little show-offy and "look how awesome I am"...but the basic information is good and helpful.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is goal-oriented, wants to be goal-oriented, is into personal development, or wants to be motivated to be a better version of themselves...in a tough love way.

My Rating: Good

6.) The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

This was our book club pick for May 2019. Confession... I started watching the TV show when it first came out and watched one episode and gave up. Too depressing. I am not a fan of dystopian novels. They make me feel unsettled and panicked. But I had heard so many great things about Margaret Atwood's writing that I was interested in giving The Handmaid's Tale another try but in book form this time.

From Goodreads:

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...

I find it fascinating that this book was written in the 1980s. This dystopian story is a woman's nightmare. One of oppression, injustice, and misogyny. I felt heavy and stifled just reading it and that is Atwood's point. Her prose is simple and stark.The protagonist, Offred, often speaks in a stream of consciousness type way. That detachment serves a purpose. Offred cannot allow herself to think or feel. Therefore she describes the details of a chair or the ceiling or a tulip. That kind of cold and flat affect speaks volumes of Offred's despair and desperation.

I liked the juxtaposition of the current story and what happened *before*. The going back and forth made The Handmaid's Tale even more disturbing as we see how easily this new world came to be. In one generation what has gone before can be completely wiped out for the next generation. That was truly terrifying. The book is definitely thought-provoking and one to discuss.

I didn't care for the ambiguous ending and the incomplete world building. I wanted to know more about this strange world. What was happening in other countries? How exactly did the coup take place? What exactly happened that caused the present circumstances? Who are the resistance groups? Where are they located? And on and on...

My Rating: I didn't love it but it was interesting.

7.) Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book has been all the buzz. This isn't my usual genre or subject matter but I decided to try something different. I will also add that it came highly recommended.

From Goodreads:

Everyone knows Daisy Jones & The Six, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now. Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.
Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road. Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend. 
The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. 

This book was different from anything that I have read/heard before. I actually listened to it on audible because that was the way that it was recommended to me. The narration is fantastic! The format is a series of interviews that tell the origin story of the fictional 1970s rock band Daisy Jones and the Six. It tells the story like a rock documentary. I loved that format and how everything unfolded. You get the perspective of everyone. It was a really interesting way to tell a story.

The book is atmospheric. You are right there in the 1970s LA music scene...it's all sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The story is layered and complicated. The characters are flawed and often unlikeable especially Daisy. I didn't like her at all. But I did like some of the other characters and that made up for her. It is a story of fame and addiction. Neither of which were glamorized. The book is unique and edgy. It is an intriguing look into the music industry...with a 70s Fleetwood Mac vibe. Did I love it? No. But I didn't hate it either. I read that Reese Witherspoon bought the rights to this book. Will I watch whatever she does with this book? Probably.

My Rating: Okay...but didn't live up to the hype.


8.) The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

I love Kate Morton and will read whatever she writes but I have to say that it is time for authors to get a bit more creative with their book titles. How many ____'s Daughter or _____'s Wife books can there be?! Also I had heard that this book was not great from a few sources. I was not deterred and I am glad that I decided to read it anyway.

From Goodreads:

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins. Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river. Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?

Be warned. This book is slow...very slow... and I can see why some people DNFed it. It took forever to get the ball rolling and some of the characters weren't all that interesting. Hello Elodie. But some were such as our ghostly narrator and that was what kept me reading and also Morton's writing. I love the elegance of Morton's writing and I love the twisty way that she tells a tale. I also love the lush settings that become characters in their own right. Morton's style of historical fiction interwoven with a bit of Gothic mystery is my literary sweet spot. Her books are the exact kind of books that I most enjoy.

This story is centered around the mysterious Birchwood Manor and is told from multiple points of view over the course of many years. From the mid 1800s to the present. The timelines jump around which is the norm for Morton and some timelines are more interesting than others. Some characters I connected with and some I did not. I wanted more time with certain characters and I definitely wanted less time with others. But the writing is so vivid and descriptive and once the story finally got going it became more engaging especially when the threads of the storyline began to come together. Then I was hooked.

In conclusion, The Clockmaker's Daughter is not my favorite Morton book but it is certainly not the worst book that I've read this year. Yes, it is slow. Yes, the ending was rather weak and implausible. But it was still an enjoyable book to read.

My Rating: Not my favorite of Morton's books but still enjoyable.

9.) The River by Peter Heller

This pains me to say it but...I think I am going to have to stop taking Anne Bogel's (Modern Mrs. Darcy) book suggestions and that bums me out. We just don't like the same kinds of books. We aren't book twins. She has been raving about this book for months on multiple podcasts. She used words like "thriller" and "page turner". I was excited to read about two college friends who go on a canoeing trip in Northern Canada and end up running for their lives. I am sad to say that I HATED this book.

From Goodreads:

This is the story of two college friends on a wilderness canoe trip--a gripping tale of a friendship tested by fire, whitewater, starvation, and brutality. Wynn and Jack have been best friends since freshman orientation, bonded by their shared love of mountains, books, and fishing. When they decide to canoe the Maskwa River in Northern Canada, they anticipate long days of leisurely paddles and picking blueberries, and nights of stargazing and paperback western novels. But a wildfire making its way across the forest adds unexpected urgency to the journey. When they hear a man and woman arguing on the fog-shrouded riverbank and decide to warn them about the fire, their search for the pair turns up nothing and no one. But: the next day a man appears on the river, paddling alone. Is this the man they heard? And if he is, where is the woman? From this charged beginning, master storyteller Peter Heller, unspools a head-long, heart-pounding story of desperate wilderness survival.

This novel was slow paced and boring. It was full of outdoorsy tangents and camping minutia. I kept reading for the *twist* that many reviews said was coming. Did I miss it?! What was the twist? I kept reading to see how the mystery was resolved. Did I miss the *mystery*?! The plot just flat lined for me. What was the purpose of the married couple? How did they get to the point that we meet them at? There was no explanation for a few plot points and no resolution.

The characters were flat and cliched. The dialogue was straight up horrible. Every time the Texans spoke to one another it was cringey and cheesy. It was pretty bad when Jack and Wynn spoke too. That ruins a book for me. If the dialogue is bad...it's hard to enjoy the book.

If you like a very slow survival story...and clearly some people do... and if you are into extremely detailed descriptions of nature, canoeing, fishing, camping, and even extremely detailed descriptions of camping equipment (not joking) you might like this book. But if you are hoping for a mystery or a thriller this isn't the book.

My Rating: Hated it.

10.) Our Best Bites: 400 Calories or Less Cookbook

I am a fan of the Our Best Bites ladies and their cookbooks. I am glad that they made a healthier/lower calorie cookbook. There are about 10 recipes that I am looking forward to trying.

My Rating: Looks promising. I will let you know.