Socially Anxious Introvert

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior, such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints and rumination. It is the subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over anticipated events, such as the feeling of imminent death.

Anxiety... It sucks. Let me just say I am in no way a mental health expert, this is just my experience with my issues. Being someone with anxiety I often cancel on everything & everyone, if it involves having to leave my house to do a group activity I generally will find a way to bow out. It's nothing against anyone at all, it's seriously me. Most everyone who asks me to do something whether that be my sisters, friends, coworkers are all great people. I want to be asked to do stuff, sometimes crave it but when it comes right down to it I get extreme social anxiety. Even if it's something as silly as going to the mall or grabbing lunch. I developed this when I was in middle school and it only got worse as I entered high school. Freshman year was hell for me - like it is for anyone I'm sure but not knowing what this feeling was or being able to explain what was happening was torture. I started missing and failing a lot of classes at school & had to see the guidance counselor who would later tell me she thought I suffered from anxiety. Eventually I saw a doctor who put me on medication that helped - I was able to leave the house and go to school or occasionally out. And then like many do we feel better and don't think we need to swallow a pill everyday. So I stopped the medication. I've done this several times over the years - I don't know why I keep thinking maybe this is something I'll outgrow. But I've come to the realization it's not. I will always obsessively and constantly worry about things that aren't even happening. Enter depression here... Again something I've battled and struggled with since I was about 9 & suddenly lost my dad to suicide. I'm sure a lot of my constant worrying comes from losing him so young. I started to stay up extremely late, not being able to sleep because my mind would not shut off. I ended up causing myself a lot of hassle and grief.

A lot of people are surprised to hear I have these issues. I get a ton of "I never would have guessed" or "you don't seem like someone who has anxiety" and that's because for a long time I was ashamed of it, embarrassed even. I don't go around acting like a basket case - Age has helped me to realize that it's ok for people to know. Instead of suffering in silence and getting 20 questions as to what's wrong for those who know they have a bit of insight into why I'm feeling the way I am. Nervous people live in either the past or the future. When we are in lowered tones, we live in the past, rehashing what was, what could have been. When we are in fearful temper, we agonize over the future, over what may transpire.

As cheesy as it is I am a big believer in using positive affirmations to reprogram your negative thoughts. There are different kinds of negative self-talk. The Worrier often promotes "what if..." thoughts and promotes anxiety. My biggest what if thought is always, "What if I get sick and throw up?" or "what if I start to get a migraine?" The other kinds of sub personalities are the Perfectionist ("I should, or I have to" thoughts) which promotes chronic stress and burnout, the victim ("I can't. I'll never be able to) promotes depression, and the Critic ("Can't you ever get it right?") which promotes low self esteem.

I also consider myself an introvert. 
An introvert is a person who draws energy from time spent alone. Introverts find social situations draining and need time alone to recharge after being around people. They tend to be introspective and like to explore thoughts and feelings. They may prefer to talk about concepts and ideas rather than making small talk. Introverts usually like to work behind the scenes, prefer written to verbal communication and express themselves only after careful thought.  The resulting crowd, which is often loud, noisy and congested, easily overstimulates introverts and drains them of their physical energy. They end up feeling more physically isolated than supported by their surroundings, and would rather be anywhere but that sea of people. Small talk stresses them out, while deeper conversations make them feel alive. A lot of my anxiety stems from me worrying about worrying and how that will effect what others think of me. I have to remind myself that it doesn't matter if people think I am weird because I get panic attacks. It only matters what I think of me and I have to remind myself that I love and respect myself the way I am even with my anxiety no matter what anyone else thinks. So here's to trying to get out there a little more in 2015!

Lights, Camera, Lashes - Tarte Mascara

Hi dolls, so let me just say that I have never ever spent $20 on mascara. To me that's madness! Give me the good ole drug store mascara that costs maybe $7-$9 any day! But I got a sample of Tarte's mascara in my Ipsy bag a couple of months ago and as soon as I tried it I fell in love. I was telling my husband about it one day while we were out and he told me to just buy it. We sometimes once in a blue moon play a game where we will spend $20 on something we normally would never get. On this day for me it was mascara, for him an Underarmore hat. So anyway I can totally understand why this stuff is $20 bucks - it's fabulous. This mascara is so pigmented and dark, it lengthens lashes like crazy and does add a decent amount of volume. Will I continuously buy it - no not every time I run out because let's be for real making a separate trip to Ulta for it probably won't happen but as a special buy yes I would so purchase it again! What's your favorite mascara or makeup splurge?!

Insurgent By Veronica Roth

Summary:
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful.
Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so

Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
Review: After having not been immersed in the Divergent world since I read the first book 6 months prior, I had qualms about diving headfirst into Insurgent without refreshing myself with the basic events that happened prior to the start of this novel. However, having neither the time nor the care for rereading a book with this enticing, new, fresh book lying in front of me, I decided to be a Dauntless and take the risk (small risk, but hey, it's the thought that counts).

I didn't read Insurgent for its romance. It's obviously a perk, of course, but the romance between Tobias and Tris isn't the main focus of the novel, not at all. The conspiracies, the conspiracies within the conspiracies, and the struggle between choosing what feels right and what logically is right is oftentimes employed here that makes you want to read further and further to see who's really the good guy. And then somewhere along the way, you realize that the good guy may not be the nicest guy. I think Roth aptly puts this to justice when she writes: "And while he has done cruel, evil things, our society is not divided into “good” and “bad.” Cruelty does not make a person dishonest, the same way bravery does not make a person kind." The multilayers to every action and every character makes you stop and think of the macro events, which is what I believe books should truly be about.
I think the pacing, though not entirely perfect is pretty good. The conflict is established, the people approach it and the results pan out. The middle part; the conflict is exceptionally well written because you actually do end up feeling a bit tense and even worried for Tris when she's placed in a situation where her life is jeopardized. Over all this was a good book and the ending leaves you with a major cliffhanger to which you immediately want to start the third and final book in the series. However let me know that I will be doing a separate review for the third book, it won't be pretty. Fair warning! And don't even get me started on how different the second movie was from the book! Feel free to sound off in the comments below if you agree!

Curssed By Jennifer Armentrout

Summary: Dying sucks
...and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand.

After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?

But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life.

For real this time.

Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
Review: Ok so I finished up this book while I was on vacation in Mexico & it was the perfect book to read lounging in a hammock or cabana on the beach. I really like Jennifer Armentrout's style of writing - she really pinpoints how YA really talk without it being annoying. I've read 3 out of 5 books in her Lux series which is fantastic btw! How rare is it to find a fantasy/paranormal standalone that's this good? Jennifer is a real genius. The story is intense, the characters are well written, and nothing feels pressured.  It has you guessing what's going to happen and it has so many twists and turns it will leave you dizzy. From the very first page I could not put this book down. It's heart-stopping and exciting and every page leaves you breathless and needing more. So many times during this book I thought I knew who was good and who was bad just to have everything change again. It was the perfect balance of suspense and romance between Hayden and Ember. I felt throughout the book that Ember was so strong, to have gone through everything she did and the fact that at her young age she tried so hard to take care of her little sister. I really loved this book and highly recommend it.

See I told you it was a good beach book 😉

Guess Who's Back

Back again! Katie's back - tell a friend. Ok, I'm really sorry for the Eminem song reference. But it made me laugh. I can not seem to keep up with blogging - once I get going I am really awesome at it (not to toot my own horn but beep beep!) but once I hit a wall I forget it ever existed. I've read so many books since last year & want to do reviews on all of them but it's overwhelming. I also went on a few vacations I want to tell you all about but again overwhelming! So let's start off where I'm at currently and then we can flash back to cool specific moments that have happened over the past year. Right now I am stuck on my couch with some sort of evil sinus/head cold. It's gotten ahold of everyone in the Klueg household & ruined our weekend. Hopefully it'll subside soon - send some get well vibes our way! Apart from that were in the middle of redoing our home décor. Ever reach a point where you go into every single room of your house and suddenly hate it all?! Yup that's me right now. I don't know if it's because I'm approaching 30 (eeek!) and my tastes have changed or if I might be watching too much HGTV for my own good. My issue is keeping focus on one room. We started with the kitchen; got it painted and put new shelving up. Over the past couple of months I've been collecting pieces to go in there but I get easily distracted and move onto other projects. So the house is in a bit of a chaotic state right now. If you've ever seen the show Fixer Upper on HGTV with Joanna & Chip Gaines that would basically describe everything I am trying to obtain for our home. I love the rustic farmhouse look with a little bit of shabby chic cottage flair. We have gotten so many pieces of furniture to redo it's kind of ridiculous. But I'm extremely excited to start on those - I'm going to be giving chalk paint a try for many of those pieces. As I start I'll try and post before and after pictures. For now I will leave you with some of our recent completed projects:

Here's our living room before - we loved red obviously. 

And here we are after - it's so much more inviting. I made the curtains out of drop cloths & actually redid the green/yellow pillows that came with the couch. 

This was probably the easiest and cheapest project I've ever done. Picked up this window pane for $5 and printed some 8x10 pictures from Walgreens, with a coupon I maybe paid $7 total. My friend made the decal lettering for $16. 

And last but not least, my absolute favorite addition so far: 

The shelving in our kitchen is beyond perfect, thanks to my wonderful husband who basically did this project for me. It's beautiful and I sometimes catch myself walking by the kitchen just to see it! If you have any questions as to what materials we used, where we got any of the aboved pictured or how to's just let me know! 

Bombshell Mascara by Covergirl

Hello there ladies! I am super excited to write a review about this product! Let me just start out by saying I love makeup & once upon a time I thought it was something I wanted to do with my life but living in good ole Evansville, IN I knew it wasn't an ideal career choice for me. I've tried countless mascaras some good and some very bad but when I saw a review on this product on Youtube I knew the next time I was at the store I wanted to pick this up and try it for myself. First of all you should watch Kandee Johnson's first impressions video for this & then tell me you're not convinced {link below!} I like that it doesn't leave my lashes clumpy and short. It actually makes them look long and thick. I will say a couple of things I don't like about this mascara is the packaging, the wand is huge and not ideal for sticking in your to go makeup bag & it's a bit difficult to get off but then isn't that what we look for, products that last and don't wear off? So with that said I do spend an extra couple of minutes on  my makeup removing routine getting this mascara off. But I can get past that for the price of $9!

This is the only pic I got after I applied this mascara, I should have gotten another closer up of my eyes but oh well. I can tell a difference in length!

Click here to watch Kandee Johnson's First Impression Video

The Fault In Our Stars By John Green

Summary: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
Review: So here I lay, after reading this book with swollen eyes, a runny nose, a wet puffy face and a whole lot of heart ache and a head ache too. For the past year I've seen this book everywhere. It was the first book cover I would see walking into Barnes & Noble, I often saw people reading it in Starbucks when I would stop in to get my green tea frap, & it was Goodreads Choice Winner for 2012. Let me just say the entire book is wonderful.  I loved John Green's wit. I gave his characters a little leeway on the maturity scale, but still I didn't believe they could be this articulate. But I loved Green's writing so much, I didn't mind. Without the wit and endearing characters, this would be nothing but a book about cancer. Green's characters feel real and quirky and I fell for them and felt for them. I cried for them. In unexpected ways, like Hazel's parents waiting for the loss they know is coming and Hazel trying not to be a grenade in their lives. And the complications of facing your own mortality and therefore being wise beyond your years but still having to live like a teenager with all its restrictions. Then there's watching your friends die off and dealing with the shallowness of people who weren't there through the tough times. I made the mistake of thinking I could read this book at work, I actually had to make myself stop reading because I had tears coming down my face at my desk! So if you don't want others to think you are having some kind of breakdown save it for the comfort of your own home where you can ugly cry all you want!

The Fault In Our Stars is an insightful and moving novel that will not just leave you with a inspiring story to remember, but also with a more optimistic understanding of life. I think the movie to this book comes out in June & after seeing Divergent this past weekend I'm really looking forward to seeing it. Shailene Woodley knocked Divergent out of the park for me & the trailer for The Fault In Our Stars also looked impressive. I'll be sure to bring along a box of Kleenex to go with my popcorn.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Summary: Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome--and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life....
But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of--big surprise--murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next....

Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
Review: So I read this book back in 2009 right after I had started the Twilight series & I'm pretty sure the only reason I picked it up was because it was about vampires and I was coming down off my Twi high (haha Twi high..!) But the fact that it's about vampires is where the comparison to Twilight ends. After the first couple of chapters I fell in love with it instantly. Can I also just say that the art work on the covers in this series are awesome?! The southern gothic writing is absolutely phenomenal!! I have pushed this book series on all of my friends & they have loved not only the book but the series on HBO as well.  I enjoyed the aspect of two "unusual" people getting together and falling in love, which was strange especially for a vampire who supposedly has no emotions. I wouldn't even characterize this series as a guilty pleasure. It's well-written, with a lot of humor, & a sense of place. And I appreciate that it is aimed towards grown-ups. These vampires & other beings are not in high school; they are complex adults with real (& rated-R) lives to boot. Although my husband has not read the series he does watch the show & really enjoys it. He often asks me how the book compares & then we have a discussion on the differences. I have read 12 out of the 13 books in this series & the only reason I haven't read the last one is because I'm in denial that it's the final book & ending. So if you can commit to a long series then this is for you!

Posted Up - Literally

So this past weekend I decided I would get a head start on spring cleaning. I know spring is a few weeks away yet but it was so lovely out this weekend & I had the motivation! My thought is if I got a lot of cleaning out of the way now that when spring finally does decide to come I can be outside enjoying the beautiful weather & redoing a few pieces of furniture instead of cleaning. The only problem with that is after doing so much around the house I kind of maybe threw my back out? Which I'm not even sure that's what I've done since it's more of my upper back/neck that's hurting. So I am laid up in bed today with a heating pad trying to take it easy & not move much. Which let me just add is so incredibly difficult for someone like me who doesn't like to sit still or waste a day in bed: all I can think about is how much I could be getting done at work & home. But at least I've got a pretty view & good tv! "You've bewitched me body & soul & I love, I love, I love you." -Mr. Darcy {Pride & Prejudice} sigh...

I have finally found new bedside table lamps & accent pieces for the walls, I just need to make time to go & get them. I also need to add hang up the curtain rods to my honey do list {which is basically the house fixer upper things list for my hubs to do}

And just because I adore this so very much I thought I'd show you this beautiful vase I found at Gordmans - I'm switching up a lot of things in my home and I love this rustic look that I'd like to transform my dining room into! Think rustic farmhouse with white ceramic accent pieces!

 

 

Personalize This

So I love to do all sorts of crafts; that doesn't mean I'm a professional by any means but anytime I can personalize something is fantastic. My sister is having a baby soon & one of the items on her registry was my soon to be nephews initials from Babies R Us. I knew she didn't want just plain white ones because her walls are white so I thought I'd  head to the craft store and get them unfinished. Any craft store will have unfinished wood letters for around $4 for 9" which is how big I wanted mine to be. Be on the look out because places like Michael's, JoAnn's, & Hobby Lobby often have 30% off sales on unfinished wood items & if not they all always have 20%-40% off coupons!

 

I found a small bag of letters for around $1.99 to spell out my nephews name & just used wood glue to put them on. I then got little hooks and hammered them on the back and midnight blue ribbon to tie them so she can hang them on the wall. They match her theme perfectly!
Here is a picture of the H I did for Holden's room - I hot glued a little race car I got from Hobby Lobby {per the request of Holden} & just painted on some flames!

And last but not least I got this cardboard K {again from Hobby Lobby- can you tell it's my favorite store?!} - I left it unfinished because I like the look of it and glued on these paper flowers {I got them at Michael's for $1} I now have it sitting on my desk at work. These are fun & easy crafts that anyone can do - so grab some paint, glue, wall hooks, & ribbon to personalize any space of yours!

 

Wordless Wednesday

As I sit here listening to the Indie Station on Pandora I can't help but feel happy. It's my day off work (a nice break in the middle of a hectic week) & I have my marshmallow fireside candle lit (a Christmas gift from my little sister), wrapped up in a soft blanket chillin on my couch doing book reviews. It's such a simple day & the sun is shining (don't let that fool you it's 30* outside but I'll take that any day over the single digit temps we've had for weeks.) I always like to look for the positive in every thing. It's so easy to focus on the negative & complain or point out bad things but if you just take a step back and breathe, count your blessings you'll find a reason to smile even if it's just for the simplest things. That pic above is my very own bookshelf, yes it's jam packed and double rowed of books. I have a little bit of an issue letting go of books & if I could have it my way my bedroom walls would be lined with bookshelves. Ever need to borrow a book, just ask ;)

Speaking of bedrooms; these are a few of my favorite things in mine. As you can gather I'm a bit obsessed with candles from Bath & Body. They can be a tad pricey but I will always catch them on sale or have a coupon because let's face it paying $20 for one candle is mad! But they are my favorite, they are powerful & will make my whole house smell amazing. My absolute favorite is Fireside & Mahogany Teakwood but I also love the Flannel & Paris one as well.

 

This is from this past weekend: we went to an Icemen hockey game on behalf of my work event & celebrated my husbands birthday!

On a little more of a serious note prayers are needed for my sister Samantha who lost her grandfather last night. Heaven gained an angel & just know that you are loved by many!

Hate List By Jennifer Brown

Summary: Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.
Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life

Rating: **** (4 Stars)
Review: I'm not gonna lie, this book made me tear up towards the end. A tear did not actually come out of my eyes but they did well up. It was really touching & I found myself going through an array of emotions for this was a conflicting read. The author expressed the point of view from a teenager so well in a situation like this. This novel is a powerful fictional account of a school shooting and the inner turmoil that witnesses and victims suffer through. The characters are complex; the way their thoughts and feelings are revealed throughout the book is riveting. Hate List not only tackles the issues on bullying and campus killings, but it also tells about what it feels to grow up, battling loneliness and the need to belong, the feeling of envy, and the journey to self-discovery and self-acceptance. The only part of this story I didn't care for was the father, it made me angry at the way he expressed himself. I found myself itching to get through this story & having hopes & wishes for these characters. It makes you wonder how you’d cope under similar circumstances.

Thank You

So a few weeks ago our dog Tootise got really sick. A couple of days before New Years we took her into the emergency vet for the very first time and were told she had an upset belly and a small chance of pancrentitis. The vet said she had recently thrown up and with Christmas just being days before we did give her new treats. He gave us meds for an upset belly and we went on our way. But on New Years I knew something was wrong, she wasn't getting better. So I took her into another vet that happened to be open and they ran blood tests and diagnosed her with pancreatitis. Sure I was upset thinking I should have had them test her the first time but thought ok well now we know what's wrong lets get her to feeling better. Our vet called when they saw that we had taken her elsewhere because they were closed and offered to do a free exam for a checkup. It seemed like one day she started feeling better and then next it was back to shaking and not feeling well again. So our vet said they needed to do an ultrasound, which is where we found out that she had pyometra (an infection that can happen in unsprayed female dogs to the uterus) and fatal. My vet didn't even understand how they came to the conclusion of pancreatitis after looking at all the testing she had done. Which of course made me furious but that wasn't important at the time. He then dropped a bomb on us that her surgery would be $1,800-$2,100... We couldn't believe it. We applied for the care credit our vet offered and didn't qualify. The best my vet would work out with us was to pay half up front. Even then we knew we didn't have $900 laying around & to make things worse since she had been suffering from this for quite a few days now we knew we didn't have much time to figure out something. We got so many suggestions & advice it was overwhelming. My husbands boss had referred us to his vet about an hour away and he agreed to do the surgery for a third of the cost and got her in the very next morning. We were flat broke from having spent several hundred dollars for wrong diagnosis and I was worried how we would manage this. Thanks to my wonderful mother she started a donation page. I can not express the thanks I feel to each and everyone of you who donated. Tootsie is our very first baby, my husband got her for me for my 19th birthday when she was just 6 weeks old. She is our one and only fur baby & we are so blessed  to be able to have many more years with her. I appreciate all of the support from all of my friends, family, coworkers & complete strangers. Words can not express how touched we are, we are truly blessed. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

 

Toots has fully recovered & is back to being her sweet & playful self!

 

P.S. If you'd like to support a good cause and someone truly wonderful, then please visit my moms facebook page for feral cats. She not only volunteers/fosters for Another Chance For Animals she takes in neighborhood feral cats & has them fixed & cares for them.

Jeannie's Ferals

Winner, Winner, Winner!

Drum roll please....... And the lucky (no pun intended) winner of the Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks is Shawna Henshaw!! Congratulations & I hope you enjoy this read! (I used random.org to determine the winner of this contest.)

 

Thank you to everyone who entered & who has scoped out my blog! It's so appreciated & I will be doing more giveaways soon so keep checking back!

Too Much Television Will What?

Ok folks so I'm slightly obsessed with my flat screen... I watch entirely too much television & I know it but I'm always finding some fantastic show to watch & I can't help it! I almost don't even want to list every show I watch because I'm slightly embarrassed and it will prove that I basically have no life what so ever but here it goes: Ok on Mondays my hubbs & I watch Sleepy Hollow. This is one that we aren't super into & frankly don't know why we still continue to watch it. I think because we've invested so much time we might as well see how the first season plays out. Moving on to Tuesdays, this is one of my favorite nights for tv because Pretty Little Liars, Twisted, & The Originals is on. Let me just say that no I haven't read the PLL series yet. I have the first 4 books and every time I go to start it I get distracted and pick up something else instead. It's one of my favs (& hello Mr. Fitz is obviously the best) I normally don't like spin off shows hence Ravenswood but I really like The Originals! Let's talk about Wednesdays, my hubbs & I both watch American Horror Story & Duck Dynasty. But then Chicago PD came along and while I can't DVR it I do catch it on demand. It's only 2 episodes in and I can't tell if I like it or not yet. I pretty much only tuned in because it's based in Chicago. Next up is Thursdays, I look forward to this night often because it's Vampire Diaries night! I have read the first 5 books in that series and fell off when they switched writers - lets face it the books started to go downhill and I'm glad the show is so totally different. On Fridays we watch Grimm, both my husband & step dad love this show & if you're into all the Grimm stories then you'd love this (Monroe is the best!) Saturdays I actually don't have much so I spend it watching the dailies like Ellen & Jimmy Fallon, because who doesn't love those two?! And then on Sundays it's Once Upon A Time & if it's during the summer True Blood. I could also watch marathons of Law & Order SVU (only when Stabler is on - after he leaves who cares right?!) & Big Bang Theory.  What are some of your favorite tv shows?! I'm already thinking of another tv post that is all about vintage tv shows! That could be a long one...!

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday's are my day off work aka read all day & lounge around in yoga pants day! But today I actually did go out to do a little Valentine's Day shopping for my boys & my husbands birthday is coming up as well. I'm currently reading Hate List by Jennifer Brown - it's really good so far & as soon as I'm done with it I'll review it!
Oh by the way I totally want this sign for my door - it would basically never come off!

My First Giveaway

 

Why hello there, love to read like me?! Well then this giveaway is right up your alley! Pictured below is a paperback version of The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, one of my favorite books!
All you have to do to win is follow my blog (< located on the left side of my page) & comment on this post letting me know that you did so! Easy peasy right?! In a week I will announce the winner! Good luck!

Summary: When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm.
Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.
Filled with tender romance and terrific suspense, The Lucky One is Nicholas Sparks at his best—an unforgettable story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love.

Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout

Summary: Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…
Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.
Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Rating: **** (4 Stars)
Review: Alright so Onyx picks up right where Obsidian left off. I won't go into full detail about that because I don't want there to be any spoilers for those of you who haven't read the series yet! I must say that I really liked this book & the only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because it did get a tad repetitive at times but nothing you won't be able to handle. The tension between Katy & Daemon is hot in this book. It really captivated their frustrating undefined relationship & shows a much more realistic side than most other paranormal books. There were so many moments in this book that I literally laughed out loud. I liked the direction of this book and how the plot played out. There are several twists & turns until the end! This is one of my favorite paranormal series I've read in a while & if you're interested in investing your time in this series there are 5 books total with one of them being a prequel that I haven't read yet. The cool thing about these books is the author always gives a little bit of Daemon's pov at the end of the book, which is something I always enjoy.

Get Lost In A Book Today

One must always be careful of books & what's inside them for words have the power to change us.
-Cassandra Clare

That picture is actually my wedding ring - I've always wanted to take a picture of my ring inside of a book and noticed the lighting in my sunroom was just right to try and do so, I love it!
So that is what I'm doing today, diving into a new book & enjoying a cup of English tea! I'm just trying to figure out what one I want to read next. I've read 3 books so far this month! A review on my next one will be up soon!

Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout

Summary: Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me.You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don't kill him first, that is.

Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
Review: So I just happened to stumble upon this book while browsing the good ole Barnes & Noble site. It was a recommendation to I Am Number 4 which by the way I read & liked. After reading the reviews on my iBooks app I decided I would give this one a try. The dialog in this book has got to be some of the best written. It's so current & hip that it's refreshing. It's not annoyingly so but the quirky spunky sayings & insults are hilarious. The first book Obsidian in this series focuses on a girl named Katy (andplusalso how cool is it that a lead characters name is mine?!) She's strong, independent, & determined. And it's sorta kinda way freaking awesome that she's a blogger & has a huge love for books, so I can relate! I really enjoyed the banter between Daemon & Katy, it made the romance part of it that much more interesting because you just itching for the two to just admit they like each other. The storyline is exciting, fun, & dangerous. The only thing about these books that I'm not a fan of are the covers, it's kind of lame and in all honestly probably detours people away from reading them. I'm all about a good book cover, & if it were up to me I would have went with something simple. But anyhow don't judge a book by it's cover & read this!