Las Vegas 2021

 Day One:

We left Spokane and it felt glorious! It felt great to be back in an airport and heading out! This trip was a bit of a combo of a delayed Spring Break trip, an early anniversary trip, and an opportunity for Ailey and Bryn to meet their grandfather. For the girls it definitely was a trip of "firsts" having also never been to Las Vegas. Tyler and I had our honeymoon there and we have been back a couple of times since then. This was a whole new experience for Ailey and Bryn. LOL.

After our arrival in Las Vegas we grabbed our rental car and headed over to my Dad's house. He lives in Henderson. We had a really nice night as he and the girls got to know each other. 

The girls really liked him and took to him instantly. They thought he was very funny and a lot of fun to be around. They thought that he looks a lot like my sister Stacey and her son Dane. My mom always said that Stacey looks like my Grandma McKinnon and the Andreasen side of our family and I guess she was right! 

We had dinner out on his patio. The weather was perfection. My dad facetimed with Reilly and Hunter who were house/dog sitting for us. We were surrounded by hummingbirds which was an incredible experience. There were SO MANY! They were flying all around us. They were sipping from his feeder and then sitting on branches in the trees around us. I've never seen that before and I have never had an experience quite like we did that night! Ailey and Bryn kept holding out their hands and hoping one would land on them. It was pretty magical! 

Later that night we checked into our hotel. We stayed at the Paris Hotel on the Strip. The girls LOVED it! We had a room with a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower and the pool. Ailey takes French so she especially enjoyed all the French motifs. We did some late night exploring and got late night desserts! So fun! Las Vegas and all it's lights were like nothing that the girls had ever seen before.

Day Two:

The next morning we had crepes for breakfast from a little café and headed out for a day on the Strip. My dad has had his fill of the Strip so we planned this day to explore on our own. This was a very eye opening experience for these two little innocent lambs. LOL. It wasn't quite as crazy as usual since the first two days that we were there Las Vegas hadn't opened back up all the way yet. Everything was still at 50% which made a big difference. But it also made it hard to get reservations at restaurants, there were waiting lists for the pool (which could also only be 50%), no shows were happening etc. But we still had a really fun day and we walked the girls legs off! We tracked our steps and we hit 10 miles!!

The girls were curious to see all of the different themed hotels and wanted to see the sights, shops, and restaurants in each of them so we walked up and down the Strip. 

It was a beautiful day but it was also the hottest day of our trip! 97 degrees. The girls were oohhing and ahhing over all of the palm trees! They are beautiful. I think we hit every candy store and gelato shop on the Strip. Their favorite hotels were the Paris, New York, New York, The Venetian, and the Belaggio. Apparently they like a good theme!

The girls wanted New York style pizza at New York, New York. They loved it!

We went to the Hershey Store and bought candy and souvenirs. They loved the Statue of Liberty made of chocolate and the one made of Twizzlers.

We went to check out the roller coaster but it wasn't going yet. :(

My brother told us to see the MGM Park Hotel which Tyler and I both really liked. We loved their restaurants and Eataly eatery and shops. It totally reminded me of my mom and the kind of things she liked. I am sure that's why Kirk liked it too. Very cool!

Amazing gelato! The first of several!

The girls had a whole itinerary of places that they wanted to see and we hit them all. We went to the I Love Sugar store. They loved the giant gummy bears and Tootsie Pops bigger than their heads! We bought more candy! It kept them walking. LOL.

 

Video:

https://youtu.be/PT1poSH9F20

We rode the High Roller Ferris Wheel!

We thought Ailey, with her fear of heights, might freak out but she really wanted to ride it so we did. Since it is more contained and not *open air* she did fine as long as neither we nor she stood near the doors. We were super proud of her!

That whole area is pretty fun.

See those cables? Next time we are ziplining!! We had dinner at a great restaurant near the HIGH ROLLER and then we kept on going!

Everybody liked The Venetian!

We loved their gelato! Passionfruit was my very favorite! So good!

The girls were troopers! They had a ball!

We also loved the Bellagio. That was one of the places that my mom and I stayed at (with baby Reilly) once on a trip to Las Vegas. The conservatory is so pretty!

Video:

The girls wanted to see the Triple Chocolate Fountain which was also a hit!

Then it was onto the Fountain Water Show at the Bellagio! Beautiful!

It was actually so fun and cool to watch it at night!

Then it was back to our hotel and our favorite little patisserie for our nightly desserts that we took back to our room.

I lived out my Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fantasy by eating my dessert and the chocolate teacup that it came in! It was such a fun and wild day!

Day Three:

The next morning we were up early. The weather was a little overcast and much cooler. We went and picked up my Dad. He had planned a day trip for us and had a killer itinerary! We loved it!

Our first stop was to a get breakfast at a little place called The Cracked Egg in Henderson. I had raspberry and cream cheese stuffed French Toast. Delicious!

My dad wanted to take us out of the city and show us the desert. We were all for it! We drove out to Lake Mead and then onto Hoover Dam. Very cool!

Tyler and I went to Hoover Dam one day while we were on our honeymoon...26 years ago. I had a weird panic attack/terrible bout of vertigo while we were there then. It was something that I have never had before or since. It was so bizarre. It threw me into a weird fear of heights that lasted for about 5 years before it wore off. It was super strange. I was wondering if I would feel all weird out there once again. 

Nope...not this time.

Tyler was extremely stoked to check out Hoover Dam since dam inspections have been a huge part of his career and he is EXTREMELY knowledgeable about dams... like... don't bring them up... knowledgeable. :) He has been taking our family to look at dams for years so I feel pretty knowledgeable myself. LOL. He was in his element checking everything out and texting pictures to his coworkers. Unfortunately the actual tour of the dam was not happening due to COVID so we will be back again. He isn't going to miss out on that! Ha Ha!

I was glad that I had no fear of heights issues...Ailey on the other hand... was NOT A HAPPY CAMPER at Hoover Dam. Poor kid. She despised every minute and stayed FAR from the edge.

We did convince her to get in one quick picture before she ran off. She wouldn't even consider taking the picture in one of the cutouts like the one behind us. We were very proud of her!! Hoover Dam is pretty impressive and looking over the edge isn't for the faint of heart.

Just as we were finishing up at Hoover Dam; Kam sent us a Zoom link to watch his first baptism! Isn't technology awesome? We pulled over and Zoomed into the meeting! So cool.

The girl on the end was the one who got baptized.

After that we continued on to look at an old ghost town that used to be a gold mining town. We talked to the owner of the "town" and he was another character very similar to the Sasquatch researcher whom we met last October. And...just like him...this guy has been featured on a few Travel channel shows... ghost towns of the west type shows. He looked just like Hulk Hogan in his prime. My dad has been there a few times before and knew the guy. He was pretty funny! He told Ailey, Bryn, and I to go look in his freezer. Inside were about 20 frozen rattle snakes. Good thing we aren't afraid of snakes! Several movies have used this location to film and he was telling us all kinds of interesting stories.

 My dad has some back issues so he relaxed with the owner while we tromped around. 

My dad also enjoys prospecting for gold himself out in the desert on the weekends! Yes, he's found some! He showed us several of his favorite places where he has found gold. He also used to bring my grandpa out in the desert to find gold and to see the wild horses. That was on our list too but we didn't see any this time. Sadness. We did see some bighorn sheep though which was pretty cool!

We stopped for lunch in a little tiny town and then continued on our way. My dad took us to see an old ranch that used to be owned by some movie stars back in the 1920s and 1930s.

We had so much fun exploring the desert and seeing all of the Joshua trees!!

I was marco poling and facetiming people saying, "We're in the Mohave Desert!!" My dad was dying laughing! He was like, "You've been in the Mohave Desert since you landed in Vegas!!" Perhaps true... but we were out in the WILDS of the Mohave Desert!!

So fun!!

After that we drove into California for a bit and as we were circling back to Las Vegas, we ran right into these:

The Painted Rocks... a favorite spot of Instagrammers and TikTokers... the girls were THRILLED!! This artwork is actually called Seven Magic Mountains. We saw many photoshoots happening there and a commercial being filmed. Kind of crazy. The wind was gusting and dust was flying everywhere but it was still fun!

The girls TikToked and Instagrammed like pros!

After that we drove to the little town of Good Springs that is just outside of Vegas and my dad showed us where he used to live. He also showed us where the plane carrying Carol Lombard went down on Potosie Mountain and the little bar in Good Springs where Clark Gable drowned his sorrows while he was waiting for her remains to be recovered. Very sad. (My dad is an extremely interesting tour guide.)

We also met some local flavor while there. We met the guy who bought the old house that my dad lived in. This guy's mom was a hippie in the 70s and 80s and spent her life following the Grateful Dead. This guy is a developer for Cartoon Network and is from Good Springs. He "mined a bunch of bitcoin" and bought up most of the little town. He and my dad enjoyed talking about the history of the town and the people they both knew. Again...we are meeting *interesting* people everywhere we go!

My dad showed us some of the casinos where he worked as a black jack dealer and a pit boss for over 40 years. He showed us some of the other places where he lived. Then he wanted to show Tyler the new training center that is being built for the Raiders. Tyler loved it!

After a full day of sight seeing my dad was pretty tired! Lol. We dropped him off at his house and headed back to the Strip. We grabbed dinner from a delicious Asian Fusion restaurant. So good! 

And...we stopped for our nightly dessert from the patisserie of course! Then we all crashed in our hotel room and watched a movie and zonked out for the night! It was a fun jammed packed day!

Day Four:

My dad especially requested that we plan our trip so that we could be there on Sunday and attend church with him. We were very happy to do so! We picked him up early. His church starts at 8:30 am. Rough! We got there early enough so that we could meet lots of people in his ward. It was fun to see how they are doing things COVID style in Vegas! 

He has a really incredible ward that has taken him in and shown him so much love and support! It was so nice to meet a lot of them in person and to thank them. It turns out he is in my college BFF Tiffany's ward! We are super looking forward to coming back and going to church with her too! It really sucked that she was out of town when we were there but she had just gotten the COVID vaccine and had headed to Colorado to see her dad who she hadn't seen in over a year. COVID has been so rough on families. I am kind of glad, in some ways, that we didn't have to go through it with my Mom. I cannot imagine being worried about her all the time and then not being able to see her. I know full well that she would have been in the thick of things and taking all kinds of chances.

Today was a wonderful day for our family!

After church, my dad wanted to show us the Las Vegas Temple. It is so cool and not at all what I expected.

It's white and brown...and has a total tropical vibe. It is really cool! 

While we were on the temple grounds we had a really neat experience. Kameron was given special permission to video chat with his grandfather. We sat in the parking lot and talked to Kam for about an hour. It was a really special time. 

After that we went to lunch at the most fantastic BBQ place called Lucille's. It was SO GOOD! So cute and southern with vintage touches. I felt like I was in Texas again! 

Then we went out to the cemetery to place flowers on my step-mother's grave.

Tony Curtis, the actor, is buried near my step-mother; so my dad showed us his grave too.

Then my Dad took us by the home of Mr. Las Vegas himself...Wayne Newton. Snazzy.

After that we went back to my dad's house to hang out. He showed us several of his photo albums and missionary memorabilia. We talked for several hours. It was really nice.

My dad as a missionary in Argentina. :)

We had fun just relaxing at his home. We stayed there until it started getting late. It was hard to say goodbye. Then we headed back to our hotel. Tyler and the girls grabbed dinner and dessert for all of us  from the hotel and brought it up to our room. We ate a late night dinner before crashing!

Day Five:

We bid a sad goodbye to the palm trees and warm temps and headed to the airport to fly home. We were delayed and had to wait on the tarmac for about an hour while a mechanic came to repair something on the plane. Yikes. We got home safely and came home to a beautifully clean spotless house. Reilly had worked her magic! Love her! We grabbed dinner and enjoyed being home. It was a fantastically fun and memorable trip!!

Favorite Memes #18

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Add to that..."Can you please call me when you get a chance?" Our kids REALLY hate that one! LOL

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For Ailey and Bryn! :)

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That is a fact!

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The Rest of April 2021

I guess I will finish up with what happened at the end of April once we were sprung from our quarantine prison! Yes, it feels great!! Of course there is still concern and worry about our kids...none of whom have been vaccinated yet. But yeah... going into Midtown Market and setting up my booth maskless feels absolutely FABULOUS! Especially as the hot flashes just keep on coming. Hot flashes in a mask are torture.

I got to return to my weekly Institute class and that felt AMAZING! I love this class so much and have been going for 8 years now and have learned so much! This year it's Book of Revelation and I definitely don't want to miss that! LOL. 

I have been INSIDE friends houses! No more porch visits! Hallelujah!

My calling is amping up once again. We had a three hour meeting with one of our presidencies and are planning a stake training and a summer activity day camp. I'm still moderating for the Stake Youth Emotional Resiliency Classes. The last two have been: Stress and Anxiety and Understanding Sadness and Depression. 

Work has been busy for me. I am stunned at how much I am selling in my booth and I am so grateful! My happy places these days are working in my garage on projects with podcasts and audiobooks going and arranging and rearranging my booth at Midtown Market. I just love it! Another happy place is working in my flower beds and in the yard. It is so serene and peaceful. This kind of creativity and being in nature is truly filling me with happiness. The sunshine and warm weather isn't hurting either!

Kam continues to do well with his new companion. They are staying busy with lots of service projects and teaching people. He had his first baptism, which was really exciting, on the 24th! It was for a teenage girl. Kam said that his favorite part was standing in the circle of priesthood holders as she was being confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. I thought that was interesting. We got to Zoom in while on our trip to Las Vegas. This ward is Kameron's very favorite so far. The ward has completely enveloped this young girl in love and friendship. He said that it has been really touching to watch. Way to go Princeton, MN! They also got their early curfew lifted after the guilty verdict came in for the Derek Chauvin trial.

Ailey continued to be busy with dance team competitions via video. I'm not complaining! Dance team competitions every weekend are exhausting...for all of us! The high school teams videotape their routines and send them in to the judges. She also got her dance team pictures taken and they are really cute! 

Bryn was named Student of the Month at school! Very cool! She went back to school FULL TIME on the 28th! (Ailey won't go back full time at all this year which is sad.) Her Strings Club for the cello still happens online every Wednesday afternoon.

She has also been a track maniac! She has practices twice a week and meets every weekend. She is loving it though and kicking butt on the track!

Ailey and I cheering her on!

Tyler has been thrown into the thick of things with his new calling: Stake Bishopric Training, Bishopric meetings, Mutual, Activities, extending callings (he was super nervous to extend his first calling but it went well and they accepted. :), 20 mile bike rides with the YM, ward councils, service projects, planning youth conferences, and ALL.THE.THINGS! He is rallying and enjoying it.

He also finally got a haircut! I convinced him to give up Super Cuts (not easy!) and made him an appointment with my friend (and hairstylist) Lyndsey. He came back looking not just normal but looking GOOD! He said that he will keep going to Lyndsey! I also had a hair appointment with her and even did my nails and all the things. I am emerging from my COVID cocoon and getting my Josephina-ness back on track!

We brought the boat in to our boat mechanic to be summerized. Woohoo!! I cannot wait for boating days ahead! We spent the last few days of April preparing for our Las Vegas trip and then we got on an actual plane and flew away! It was THRILLING!!

Reilly and Hunter found a new apartment in a different part of town and are in the process of moving. They also kindly came and house sat and dog sat for us while we were in Las Vegas! So appreciated!

We got our Universal Yum Box from Spain and it was another good one!

We tried:

Spicy Mango Gummies: Amazing!

Lemon Potato Chips: Delicious!

Fried Bacon and Cheese Cones: Amazing! These are like the best Bugles that you have ever had!

Spanish Chocolate Toffees: Nothing special. Tootsie Roll like.

Pistachio Toffees: Okay.

Pine Nut Candy: Crack-your-teeth-hard and not good.

Sour Pineapple Gummy Rings: Best thing in the entire box! FABULOUS!

White Chocolate and Caramel Candies: Kind of like smaller and less delicious M&Ms.

Custard Cream Coradillo: A very good prepackaged cream cake. I would like to try an actual one of these from a bakery in Spain!

Orange Dark Chocolate Bar: Heavenly!

Fried Egg and Sea Salt Potato Chips: Good! Not like the *sweet* egg popcorn we got in another box that was gruesome.

Cocoa Dusted Salted Caramel Truffles: Delicious!

The Spain box was a win! Spanish gummies are the VERY BEST we've tasted! So impressive! Their salty snacks were really good too! So far our favorite boxes have been:

1.) Germany

2.) Italy

3.) Spain

There was a Pink Super Moon one night. We all went outside on our deck and marveled and soaked up all the good energy. Apparently once in a *pink* super moon Ailey will make us homemade chocolate ice cream. :) Try chocolate ice cream topped with crunchy flakey salt. Wow. Sometimes TikTok has good ideas!!

Now that we are back in the swing of things; we are going to have to learn to be discerning of what we allow back into our lives. So far everything (and everyone) is good and worthwhile. This has been a real take away lesson from the last 14 months. Not everything (and everyone) is coming back and we need to be vigilant and purposeful about what does. Our priorities have had a complete and necessary shift and we are all the happier for it!

Spring Book Reviews 2021

1.) My Friend Merlin by Saul Rip

I was asked to read and review this book by a local author. This is 100% not my genre so I read it with a little trepidation and it took me awhile to finish it. Fantasy just isn't my jam. 

From Goodreads:

On the night a cosmic event collides with a thunderstorm in New York City, Zoey and her best friend Emyrus are on their way to a concert when the two girls are caught in the storm and struck by beams of light that burn strange emblems into the ground, initiating a change in both of them. Zoey and Emyrus begin to elicit abnormal abilities leading them on an adventure indicating they both have ties to King Arthur and the realm of Avalon. As magical influences begin to reach the two girls, ancient rivals begin to cross and double cross each other to get closer to Zoey and Emyrus in hopes of rediscovering the magical sword Excalibur. Driven by survival, both girls unwittingly tumble into a journey of self-discovery as they track down clues explaining what is happening to them, and the challenges they must face in order to regain control of their lives.

The premise is an interesting and unique take on Merlin and the realm of Avalon. The action takes off right from the start and I was immediately drawn into the story. The plot is fast-paced and propulsive. There is a lot of action throughout the book. It is definitely a plot-driven novel with short and action packed chapters. I thought the world-building was interesting. I am inspired to read more about King Arthur, Merlin, and Avalon. I think having a deeper understanding of the lore would only enhance my reading experience. Even without that I thought the world-building was intriguing and I enjoyed the magical elements. The plot kept me guessing throughout the book and the ending left me wanting more. The good news for readers is that the cover states that this is the first book of a series.

My Rating: A unique take on the legend of Merlin.

2.) Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

I love a well-written Victorian drama. Elizabeth Gaskell is fantastic and this novel is a classic!

From Goodreads:

Set in English society before the 1832 Reform Bill, Wives and Daughters centers on the story of youthful Molly Gibson, brought up from childhood by her father. When he remarries, a new step-sister enters Molly's quiet life – loveable, but worldly and troubling, Cynthia. The narrative traces the development of the two girls into womanhood within the gossiping and watchful society of Hollingford. Wives and Daughters is far more than a nostalgic evocation of village life; it offers an ironic critique of mid-Victorian society.

I loved this novel so much with only one exception. The abrupt ending which is sadly and tragically  explained and only makes me appreciate this novel all the more. Wives and Daughters is definitely worth the read. It is chock full of memorable, interesting, and nuanced characters. They are rich and well-developed. There are so many that I loved and so many that I will never forget. The squire and Hyacinth to name a few, and they are only side characters, yet they are so believable. The dialogue is witty and satirical. I laughed out loud many times.

The setting is also memorable. It is vivid and lush. The village of Hollingford in the English countryside absolutely comes alive. The novel is immersive. You feel like you are part of the community and part of the story. Gaskell's writing is phenomenal. The book is long and leisurely...around 700 pages. The action is quiet and subtle. The novel is definitely a character driven rather than plot driven although I was never bored with the plot, pacing, or my time in Hollingford. That said, the plot does move forward in a pleasing way. This beautiful book is to be savored. I am onto reading Gaskell's novel Cranford.

I loved this clever, charming, and highly readable classic.

My Rating: I loved it!!

3.) The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

This was my book club's pick for February 2021. I have an upopular opinion. I didn't love this book. It seems the rest of the world does. I am also on the fence with Kristin Hannah. This is the third book of hers that I have read. One was good and two were just okay. She has interesting stories to tell but then something seems to go awry. It's either that her writing falls flat, the plot does, or her characters do. I know I am in the minority here. She is a much beloved author.

From Goodreads:

Alaska, 1974. Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed. For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

This book was depressing and bleak. It started off as an interesting adventure. Homesteading in the wilds of Alaska. Give me more of that! Then the author threw in a dysfunctional family, an abusive father, it's the 1970s (not my favorite time period), domestic violence, PTSD, and depressing event after depressing event. The author attempted to tackle too many issues and the story unraveled for me.

The very best part of the book is the setting. It has an intense sense of place. You feel like you are in Alaska. Give me more of that Alaskan homesteading life and the inherent dangers. Give me more of the preppers living off the grid. But don't give me overwrought drama that tries to force me to feel emotion for characters that are only minimally likeable. I didn't shed a tear.

I also thought the book was too long. The first half was great but then it lost steam. The pacing got weird and there were large time jumps. And...the ending felt implausible. I know that I am one of the few that doesn't gush about this book and that many people love it. My book club loved it. 

My rating: Okay...ish.

4.) The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

I enjoyed McManus' book One of Us is Lying and I was in the mood for something similar. Something easy, breezy, and slightly mysterious. Plus I liked the premise of the cousins, evil grandmother, and a luxurious resort off of the coast of Cape Cod. 

From Goodreads:

Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised . . . and curious. Their parents are all clear on one point--not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother's good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it's immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious--and dark--their family's past is.

This book was fairly entertaining and a quick read. It did just what I needed it to do. It got me out of a reading slump. It is a YA mystery with a heavy dose of family drama. The story is told from multiple POVs and a dual timeline. It kept my interest. Of course I would have like this same premise in a deeper and darker book but... you know...this was YA.

I always enjoy books about family secrets in a lush and atmospheric seaside setting even if the mystery was solved with a bit of a Scooby Doo ending. "And I would have gotten away with it too if not for you meddling kids!" LOL.

My Rating: Alright.

5.) The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

This is a book that both Tyler and I read at the same time. It was fun, entertaining, and just scary enough. It is the perfect mix of horror and mystery.

From Goodreads:

The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls. Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden.

Tyler and I both really liked this book! It is a great murder mystery with just enough of the paranormal to be sufficiently atmospheric and creepy. I particularly loved the setting of the old motel. I worked at the front desk of a motel in college; one that also had a *haunted* room that no one wanted to stay in. That made this novel an especially fun reading experience for me!

I enjoyed the two POVs and the interesting alternating timelines...1982 and 2017...and their interlinked mystery. Both timelines were intriguing; I was never bored with either one. Both protagonists were engaging. I cared about both Viv and Carly and worried about them A LOT. The plot was suspenseful and fast-paced. St. James does a great job of building tension. The writing was atmospheric and cinematic. This novel would make a great movie. 

I loved it. It was a compulsive read. I had to know what as going to happen next! This is a fun spooky thriller and the perfect buddy read!

My Rating: Fun!

6.) Cranford by Elisabeth Gaskell

After reading and enjoying Wives and Daughters so much I moved directly onto Cranford. This novel was quite different. Rather than being a long saga of a particular character/family; Cranford reads like a collection of short stories about the residents of Cranford, which is a small town in the English countryside, with an abundance of widows and spinsters. Sound riveting? Maybe not riveting but definitely charming.

From Goodreads:

A portrait of the residents of an English country town in the mid-nineteenth century, Cranford relates the adventures of Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, two middle-aged spinster sisters striving to live with dignity in reduced circumstances. Through a series of vignettes, Elizabeth Gaskell portrays a community governed by old-fashioned habits and dominated by friendships between women. 

This is most definitely a cozy vignette of life in the English countryside. It is a wonderful illustration of bygone times and small town intrigues. Nothing really happens per se... there is some plot movement... but not a lot. The storytelling is subtle. Our narrator is a regular visitor to the town who we don't know much about but witnesses the goings-on in Cranford through her eyes and perspective.

The characters are charming and likeable even the curmudgeons with all of their many idiosyncrasies. Miss Matty in particular is much beloved. Especially as she navigates the social mores of the Victorian Era and her character's place (and those of her friends) in that society. Although quiet, the novel isn't boring. Gaskill's humor and satire are ever present. While not as enjoyable as Wives and Daughters this is still a warm and inviting classic. 

My Rating: I enjoyed my time in Cranford.

7.) Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

I loved and adored Ready Player One by Ernest Cline but I was a little nervous to read Ready Player Two. First, I didn't want to be let down after such an incredible first book and, second, there are definitely some weirdly mixed reviews. Tyler and I decided to both read this book. Tyler finished it before me and absolutely loved it! That was all I needed to dive in.

From Goodreads:

An unexpected quest. Two worlds at stake. Are you ready? Days after Oasis founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday's vault, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the Oasis a thousand times more wondrous, and addictive, than even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle and a new quest. A last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize. And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who will kill millions to get what he wants. Wade's life and the future of the Oasis are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.

5 Stars baby!!! I LOVED it! This book was a pure joy and pleasure to read. If you liked Ready Player One; you will like Ready Player Two. I don't know why some people seem to have such an issue with it. I thought it was just as fun and interesting as the first book. I absolutely loved it and didn't want it to end.

I delighted in revisiting the Ready Player One universe and being reunited with some of my favorite characters. Some criticisms state that Wade is different in this book. Perhaps. Unlimited money and power have an effect on all of us; including Wade, but I still felt like he was inherently the same Wade. But Wade with some life experience and not all of it pleasant. I still enjoyed him as the protagonist.

I also LOVED the 80s (and some 90s) nostalgia and pop cultural references. Another criticism is that there are too many. Not to this reader! I loved them all! All the heart eyes for Shermer...the John Hughes world. The book could have stayed there forever. It was PERFECTION!

In this book Wade and his friends are on another quest and I enjoyed every minute. I thought it was fun and interesting. I liked learning more about the OASIS founders Og and James Halliday and their friendship with Kira and Kira's eventual marriage to Og. I was thrilled to be back in the OASIS with the HIGH FIVE once again. 

This was such a fun, entertaining, and action-packed book. I seriously tried to slow myself down and savor it but it was too hard. I couldn't stop. It was too much fun and a perfect escape in a COVID world.

The author's enthusiasm and energy radiates throughout the book. His creativity is off the charts. His innovative world building is a delight! I also enjoyed the themes of the dangers of technology and of escapism. 

I highly suggest making this a multimedia experience. Listen to the audiobook. Wil Wheaton does a fantastic job as narrator for both Ready Player One and Ready Player Two. Also go check out the Spotify playlist for the book. There is also a playlist for RP1 as well. It just added to the whole experience. I got such a kick out of reading this book. It put a huge smile on my face.

My Rating: I LOVED IT!

8.) A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson

I enjoy Sophie Hudson. I read her BooMama blog and listen to her podcast off and on. This is the first book of hers that I've read. I find her incredibly likeable and authentic.

From Goodreads:

There's nothing quite like family--for good or bad. But in a world where we sometimes know more about the Kardashians than we do the people sleeping right down the hall, it's easy to forget that walking through life with our family offers all sorts of joy wrapped up in the seemingly mundane. There's even a little bit of sacred sitting smack-dab in the middle of the ordinary. And since time's-a-wastin', we need to be careful that we don't take our people--and their stories--for granted. Whether it's a marathon bacon-frying session, a road trip gone hysterically wrong, or a mother-in-law who makes every trip to the grocery store an adventure, author Sophie Hudson reminds us how important it is to slow down and treasure the day-to-day encounters with the people we love the most.

This book is a collection of essays and anecdotes about family life in the South. It is heartwarming Southern storytelling with food, family, and faith woven throughout. There is even a recipe section at the end! I loved that! I also enjoyed the spiritual encouragement that is found at the end of each chapter. This was a soothing read; especially during a world-wide pandemic. The book is full of warmth and humor which Sophie Hudson exudes. The sections about her mother-in-law, Martha, were my favorites and absolutely hilarious!! This was a nice palate cleansing read after a few darker novels.

My Rating: A sweet quick read.

9.) Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

This looked to be exactly the kind of book that I enjoy. Cornwall, a crumbling manor house, and haunting family secrets. It was recommended to readers that like Kate Morton and Daphne du Maurier. Check and check!

From Goodreads:

Ghosts are everywhere, not just the ghost of Momma in the woods, but ghosts of us too, what we used to be like in those long summers . Amber Alton knows that the hours pass differently at Black Rabbit Hall, her London family's country estate, where no two clocks read the same. Summers there are perfect, timeless. Not much ever happens. Until, of course, it does. More than three decades later, Lorna is determined to be married within the grand, ivy-covered walls of Pencraw Hall, known as Black Rabbit Hall among the locals. But as she's drawn deeper into the overgrown grounds, half-buried memories of her mother begin to surface and Lorna soon finds herself ensnared within the manor's labyrinthine history, overcome with an insatiable need for answers about her own past and that of the once-happy family whose memory still haunts the estate.

It was good! I enjoyed it! This is a gothic family drama. It is both mysterious and suspenseful. It tells the stories of Amber and Lorna through two timelines (1960s and 2000s) and from both of their perspectives. We learn how Black Rabbit Hall, a decrepit English manor house, with dark secrets and tragedies binds them together.

This novel is well-written and evocative. The atmospheric setting of the Cornish Coast and a crumbling manor house was vivid and enticing. There are flowers growing through the ballroom floor!  I loved the characters of the four Alton children. I was fully invested in each of them. They were wonderful! There is an equally terrible character whom you loathe. The novel has a slightly VC Andrews vibe. The suspense builds as Lorna attempts to figure out what happened to the four mysterious Alton children one fateful summer in Cornwall. 

The book was emotional and addicting. I stayed up way too late reading it! 

My Rating: Good!

10.) Make Life Beautiful by Syd and Shea McGee

This book came highly recommended from my friend Rebecca. She loved this book and their show on Netflix. I had never heard of them so I watched several episodes and put their book on hold at the library. I really like their style and aesthetic.

From Goodreads:

For the one million-plus followers who turn to Syd and Shea McGee for advice on building a beautiful home and life, Make Life Beautiful is a behind-the-scenes look into how the couple transformed Shea’s small room of fabric samples and big dream of becoming a designer into one of the most successful and fastest-growing interior design businesses in the country.

This book was absolutely not what I expected. I thought it would similar to other design books. Beautiful glossy pictures with some description but it is all narrative. There isn't a single photograph in the entire book. NOT ONE. That is extremely unfortunate and a misstep.

This is not a home design book. It is a memoir. A memoir of famous home designers that reference their many famous projects and homes throughout the book and yet don't include a single picture. They don't even include any pictures of their family or of themselves (besides the cover). Bizarre. Memoirs usually include a few pictures. I had to google projects that were referenced repeatedly in the book and with lengthy descriptions. Irritating. Show me...don't tell me.

Yes, it was interesting to read how they grew their design business and about their non-traditional modern approach to business. I applaud their entrepreneurship and creativity. But I wasn't as interested in their personal life.

The backstory of their relationship and how they built their business is told in a back and forth "He said/She said" format which I didn't love. I wanted more of the business side from Syd (maybe he should write his own book) as well as the design side from Shea.

This was a quick read. I read it in one day. If you are fans of Studio McGee and are already familiar with them and their work you will probably enjoy the book. I would have liked it more if they included pictures of their work to illustrate their design concepts and pictures of themselves/family to feel more personal and relatable.

My Rating: Disappointing.

11.) Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

This was my book club's pick for April 2021. I've seen this book around for awhile. I saw it at my friend Rebecca's house in Wisconsin last fall. I love a good personal development book so I was excited to read it.

From Goodreads:

In this inspiring, empowering book, Shetty draws on his time as a monk to show us how we can clear the roadblocks to our potential and power. Combining ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us. He transforms abstract lessons into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve relationships, and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. Shetty proves that everyone can—and should—think like a monk. 

The author shares insights that he received and experiences that he had while living as a monk for three years in India. As I knew next to nothing about what a monk's life is like or the way they think; I found this part of the book fascinating. Those were the best parts of the book.

The rest of the book is your typical personal development but with a Hindu twist. The author discusses some of the usual personal development topics like: gratitude, positivity, mindset, habits, purpose, intention, and visualization but with a slightly different take than the usual personal development approach. Then he adds in some lesser known topics like breathe work, meditation, fasting, detachment, and service. I particularly loved the section on fasting (I gained new insights) and the section on service. Meditation is also an area of interest to me. The rest wasn't really new information for anyone who regularly reads self-help/personal development. The truly interesting part was learning about these topics with the twist that it is being presented by a former monk who is teaching you to think like a monk. That is what sets this book apart from other similar books.

My Rating: Interesting

12.) Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

I appear to be one of the very few who not only didn't love this book; I thought it was super weird and dare I say it...irritating.

From Goodreads:

For more than a century, The Wind in the Willows and its endearing protagonists--Mole, Mr. Toad, Badger, and Ratty--have enchanted children of all ages. Whether the four friends are setting forth on an exciting adventure, engaging in a comic caper, or simply relaxing by the River Thames, their stories are among the most charming in all English literature.

I wish I was "enchanted" like Goodreads suggests. I was not. I was annoyed. Mr. Toad. Enough said.

My Rating: Not for me.

So Now What?

Blogging about each day of our COVID-19 quarantine was a very helpful coping mechanism for me. Maybe at some point it will be of interest to me to look back and see how things progressed during this time because it definitely feels like a hinge point in history. There is a definitive "before" and "after." But now what? 

I got into a great habit of a daily journaling that I kind of don't want to get out of but at the same time the blog isn't where I want to do it...and also...SNORE. But my kids consult this blog regularly for pictures and family stories and to win arguments...LOL... so I think I will continue to update our activities and goings-on but not in a daily format. Monthly? Twice a month? Who knows? But I am grateful that I made a record of this time. Both for family history purposes and for my own mental health. I wish I could say that COVID was over and I wish that our lives were totally back to normal but who knows when that will happen or even IF it will happen. Ergo...the blog moves on.