Currently // October 2024

I’m aware that this is being back-dated. I had this post ready to go and thought I had it scheduled for Tuesday of this week. However, when I got on today (Wednesday) to schedule a few upcoming posts I realized I had selected the wrong date. In fact, I had selected an entirely different month too. Pregnancy brain in full effect, y’all. Anyway, this post will appear today, but I'm dating it for Tuesday. Now, without further ado, here is the “Currently” post for the month.

Listening: A lot of Zach Bryan and Treaty Oak Revival. I select the “Zach Bryan Mix” playlist on Spotify and roll with it. A lot of new stuff has just been putting me in a funk. I can’t seem to find much that I like so I stick with what I do.

Reading: Nothing. I tried to push through and finish “It Starts With Us” by Colleen Hoover, but life has kept me pretty busy. Any downtime I get, I nap. That said, I enjoyed the part that I did read so I’m hopeful that soon, I’ll find a few others that I can jump into. And fingers crossed that I will eventually finish this dang book. 

Watching: "Agatha All Along". It’s October, and I couldn’t let it go by without watching something about witches, magick, and a bit of superhero powers. While we normally stick to classics like “Hocus Pocus,” “Halloween Town,” “Practical Magic,” “Casper,” or anything by Tim Burton this year, Agatha caught my attention. Though, as a Catholic, I did skip most of the Ouji Board/Possession episode (ep. 5 if you’re curious). So far, it's been pretty good. However, I'm interested in seeing where they take the storyline because it could either get better or take a nosedive. We shall see. 

‘Casting: I have my regular podcasts that I listen to but occasionally I’ll listen to an episode or two of “Climbing Gold” with Alex Honnold. One day I watched the documentary Free Solo and it gave me intense anxiety. But it wasn’t the bad kind, it was more like excitement mixed with a bit of fear. I was immediately fascinated by what Alex was setting out to accomplish. As I watched other rock-climbing documentaries it became very apparent that these athletes are some of the strongest (mentally and physically) people in the world. And I find them to be really interesting. I also enjoy listening to Alex and hearing his take on things. But it's also pretty neat to hear him talk about how his mind works. While we may not always have the same views, I still enjoy what he has to say. So, if you ever want to dip your toes into the rock-climbing world I highly recommend checking out his podcast.

And that concludes the “Currently” post for this month. If you have any suggestions, be sure to drop me a line either here or on any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always looking for new artists, films, podcasts, or books too. So, I'm open to recommendations if you have them. Until the next post, Happy Tuesday, y’all! ❤

Currently // July 2024

This summer has flown by quickly and the beginning of the school year is right around the corner. I’ve already had two meetings with my daughter’s principal. A lengthier post to come. I’m hoping that the new principal and new(ish) superintendent can make much-needed changes within the next year. We've considered transferring Emery to another school, but she's not a fan of that idea so we're trying to compromise. Other than that not much is going on. I have to make a final decision on my name change within the next few days, which has been rough. In two weeks we take Emery back to school shopping which I dread because of how many stops we have to make. The mall is no longer the one-stop shop it used to be. We've also been browsing houses on the market, with no real plan. That said, I've requested a meeting with a mortgage broker and lending company to go over our current options, and budget, and possibly make some goals for the future. Then starting in August we have to make a switch to our sleep schedule since the upcoming start time at Emery's school has been moved up to 7:25 AM. Yikes, right? Anyway, those are the little happenings going on for us at the moment. Now, without further ado, here is the “Currently” post for the month.

Listening: Nothing. Music is just not happening for me right now. When I do feel like listening to something I tend to stick to my oldies, but goodies playlists: 90s Hits, Youth Group Throwback, and Chaos Anthems.

Reading: Nothing. Not even going to pretend I’m trying either. NOTHING has piqued my interest. And I’ve started so many different books from different genres. I’ve even tried audiobooks. But nothing sticks. So, I’ve decided to not force it. Maybe one day I’ll get back into it, but right now, it’s just not in the cards for me.

Watching: The Tour de France on Peacock. Y’all, last year I watched the documentary series, “Tour de France: Unchained” and I was fascinated. Then last month, season 2 was released and I binged it in a day. I loved it! If you don’t know much about cycling, you should give this series a watch. If anything, just to see what it’s all about. Because, y’all, there is so much more to it than riding a bicycle over long distances. Anyway, this year’s Tour de France started on June 29 and I have been glued to it from day one.

‘Casting: A few podcasts are on rotation. More specifically, Catholic podcasts. I usually start my day with “Blessed is She Daily Devotions”. Then move on to “The God Minute.” But one of the newer podcasts that I’ve started listening to is, “The Saints” by The Merry Beggars. It brings stories of Saints to life with voice actors. It’s great for both adults and kids. I highly recommend it if learning more about Saints is something you are interested in. 

And that concludes the “Currently” post for this month. If you have any suggestions, be sure to drop me a line either here or on any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm open to recommendations if you have them. Until the next post, Happy Tuesday, y’all! ❤

All About the Drama // Lovely Runner

📸: Credit

Name: Lovely Runner
Length: 16 episodes
Region: Korea
My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: “Right after Ryu Seon-jae, a top star ends his life, Im Sol, his top fan somehow ends up at a time when they were in high school and tries to protect him. A fantasy romance unfolds where people who missed each other in time finally meet...” 

So after watching 20th Century Girl, Byeon Woo-seok has not left my radar. And when I heard he was filming a new show, I bookmarked it to follow up later. And well, that day finally came! Now, this show is still running, and only 12 of the 16 episodes have been released. That said, this one is soo good, that I’m already rating it a 5/5.

The previews were all pretty lighthearted, and then I read a bit more on the plot, and I kept thinking “Noooo. Not again!!” Because, as you read above, he dies. However, there is a bit of time travel involved, so we don’t know what the final outcome will be just yet. Still, it has been such a fun watch!

This show also touched on what I think is an important topic. In the first episode, we get a glimpse of how Korean celebrities are treated in Korea - which isn’t always good. Just last month there was a dating controversy with two actors, who faced a huge backlash that caused them to split. And they are not the first. Then there have been several K-pop star suicides over the years. Mainly due to their over-the-top workloads, heavy criticism by fans, and consistent social media attacks if fans find something to take issue with. It’s as if they feel that these stars should live only for their fans and not have personal lives or be able to make mistakes. It’s kind of heartbreaking.

Anyway, this show has done a great job of shedding light on these issues while also making sure not to take away from the relationship between the two main characters. It has quite a bit of comedy, just enough romance, and a lot of fun moments. And there is a bit of a “love triangle,” but it’s such a funny, non-toxic one if you can believe it. Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon have such a natural chemistry that the episodes play out so well, and nothing about them feels fake or too cheesy. Several side characters bring a lot of fun and humor to the show too. 

And that wraps up my review. While some episodes contain heavy subject matter, the majority of it is very light-hearted, funny, and cute. And even though the outcome of this show could be sad (I have not read the webtoon), I still recommend you give this one a watch. You can find it over on Viki with a VikiPass - linked in the name below the picture up top. Until the next one, 🤞.

Currently // April 2024

The school year is starting to wind down, and you can tell that my kid is ready. For me, work is steadily chucking along. Corey and a friend have partnered on a new business - so he’s been working the equivalency of two jobs. I haven’t been feeling well lately and after a recent appointment, I was told to hit pause on any strenuous exercise and running. And let's just say that it’s impacted my mental health and energy levels all around. I do have an upcoming follow-up appointment with my doctor, and here’s hoping for good news. Anyway, without further ado, here is the “Currently” post for the month.

   

Listening: Right now, I prioritize other stuff, so when it comes to music selections I tend to rely on Spotify-generated playlists. Right now I’m listening to “Top Christian & Gospel”. It’s nice and light. Perfect for my commute to work, and back home.

Reading: Technically this could fit under listening because I've been listening to an audiobook. It’s called “Daughter of the Moon Goddess” by Sue Lynn Tan. I’m almost halfway through. However, I will say I have taken a bit of a pause because this is what I listened to on solo runs. And well, here’s hoping I’m able to pick it back up soon.

Watching: I watch multiple Asian dramas at a time. However, there was a brief pause due to several upcoming releases that hadn’t been put out yet. So, during that break, I started watching true crime shows again. I just finished “Homicide: New York” on Netflix and I thought it was fantastic! I really hope they continue it, even if it’s in another city.

‘Casting: Not much in this area to report. I did discover that one of the slow-living ladies I’m subscribed to on YouTube has started her own podcast: Wholehearted Podcast. I’ve listened to two episodes, and while I think she’s doing a great job, the length of each episode is a bit much for me. I tend to retain more when episodes are shorter in length. Otherwise, it’s a great podcast.

And that concludes the “Currently” post for this month. If you have any suggestions, be sure to drop me a line either here or on any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always looking for new artists, films, podcasts, or books too. So, I'm open to recommendations if you have them. Until the next post, Happy Tuesday, folks! ❤

All About the Drama // 20th Century Girl

Name: 20th Century Girl
Length: 1 hr 59m
Region: Korea
My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: “In 1999, a teen girl keeps close tabs on a boy in school on behalf of her deeply smitten best friend – then she gets swept up in a love story of her own.”

First, let me say that this is a film - not a show. Second, Netflix labeled it a “lighthearted & easy” watch, which is why I picked it, and they straight-up LIED. This film left me wrecked - for days. The first 80% of the film is lighthearted as it touches on subjects of youth, friendship, humor, and first love. The other 20% is bittersweet, relatable, and so freakin’ sad. I ugly cried so hard. And then a few days later, while explaining the movie to my husband at a red light, I ugly cried again. The story was just so much deeper than what the synopsis makes you think.

Kim Yoo-jung is so delightful to watch in this one. She plays such a drastically different character in this film than the one she played in My Demon - which is what I first saw her in. And this was my introduction to Byeon Woo-seok, who kind of blew me away. The film itself isn’t some grand cinematic achievement either, but these two captured their character’s emotions so well. I mean, it was as if they WERE the characters. And when one of them cried, I cried too because it felt so real. Their portrayals of Na Bo-Ra and Poong Woon-Ho were perfect. The side characters played by Ong Seong-wu and Roh Yoon-seo were great too! They definitely added to the story rather than distracting from it.

Overall, this was a wonderful film. Though I don’t know if I could watch it again. I tried watching the last 30 minutes over, and couldn’t finish it. The way this story ended just felt so wrong and I really wish it had been different. There’s a beautiful letter, two plot twists, and a train scene - all left me feeling all of the feels. There’s also a specific piece of information that the audience doesn’t receive either and it frustrated me. Though you technically don’t need that information at all - I WANTED to know. I felt like I NEEDED to know. Heck, the audience DESERVED it. And when the last line was spoken and it cut to the credits I sobbed. "That can't be how it ends?!" Still, I appreciated how realistic it was, and how many emotions it stirred up for me. Again, not sure if I could watch it a second time though. 

And that wraps up my review. While looking up the synopsis for the film I came across this review and it’s brief but also spot on. If you’re ever in the mood for some 1999 nostalgia, a lovely story, and a good cry - give this one a watch. You can find it over on Netflix - linked in the name below the picture up top. Until the next one, 🤞.

All About the Drama // Wonderland of Love

If you haven’t heard, I’m seriously into Asian dramas right now. When I have control of the remote, and even when I watch on my phone, it is very rarely in English these days. This really isn’t surprising, as I’ve always enjoyed watching shows/films in other languages. I love the different stories, and seeing what viewers in other countries find interesting. I’ve spent a few months watching French, Turkish, and Spanish language shows/films before. But we’re going on six months of me watching Asian dramas - exclusively. So, this may not be “just a phase”. I decided to start a little series on my blog dedicated to some of my favorite dramas! First up, is Wonderland of Love.

Name: Wonderland of Love

Length: 40 Episodes

Region: Mainland China

My Rating: 5/5 

Synopsis: "Li Ni (Xu Kai) is the Emperor's grandson and a keen warrior. Despite his illustrious family background, he does not seek power – although his jealous father holds him in contempt. He wants to spend his life in the army, so must hide his true identity from his fellow soldiers as he rises to the rank of general. He is assigned to patrol a dangerous border territory where violence erupts on a regular basis. He is happy in his role as a frontier fighter and has no intention of trying to take the throne. 

While on the border, he meets Cui Lin (Jing Tian), the only daughter of a well-known military leader. Like Li Ni, however, she is also a fighter with a secret identity – dressing up as a military officer so she can fight on the front lines. As they meet on the battlefield again and again, they begin to form a rivalry. But could this competitive spirit one day give way to love?”

I’ll start by saying that Xu Kai (male lead - ML) and Jing Tian (female lead - FL) had great chemistry. When the chemistry is not there it’s usually a deal breaker for me when watching these shows. So, this was already off to a great start.

The storyline moved along pretty smoothly, there were a few episodes that lagged, but overall it was good. I went through ALL of the emotions with this one too. I laughed, felt happy, got angry, and even cried. Watch out for episodes 30, 31, 37, & 38. They were emotional and intense and had me in tears. Xu Kai nailed his performance in these.

The show is filled with a lot of action, some funny banter, and just enough flirting to keep me interested the entire time. And they shifted fairly quickly without making me wonder what was going on. As soon as I felt like there was a lot of intensity, the next episode would bring some comedic relief. And while a lot of FLs in these dramas can be whiny or childish, the FL in this one was surprisingly a strong character. She did have her moments though. Anyway, I liked that these characters were so compatible in all aspects. From their fighting style, and interests, to viewpoints on their world.

Now, one thing you should know about these dramas is that most of them are only one season long and range anywhere between 8-40 episodes. It varies by style, country, and sometimes platform. Wonderland of Love came in at 40 episodes. It took me a little over two weeks to finish it. Now, as for the accuracy of that specific period (costumes, language, deities, traditions, etc.) I can’t speak to them. So, that’s something you’d have to check for yourself.

Overall, the show was wonderful! This was my second show to see Xu Kai as a ML and I am now a huge fan of his. While the female lead character was a bit frustrating at times towards the end, Jing Tian was great! I believe they both did their characters and this drama justice. I hope we get to see them together in a different drama in the future. It’d be cool to see them in a modern, or present-day one. 

And that wraps up my first review. The next one probably won’t be as long, and I’ll tweak some things here and there. Maybe touch on the storylines a bit more or the actors. But you get this gist. You can find this drama over on Viki - the link is in the name below the picture up top. Until the next one, 🤞. 

Currently // January 2024

I've decided to dust this series off and give it life again. It won't be monthly, but I think it will be fun to see how my interests change throughout the year. Lately, I have been watching a lot of television. Being sick and then staying at home a lot kind of does that to you. Next month will probably look different. Emery’s extracurriculars pick back up and we’re looking into tumbling lessons. So, for now, I’ve just been enjoying getting to lounge on my couch and PJs for a few weeks. Slow days and all. Anyway, without further ado, here is the “Currently” post for the month.

Listening: I haven’t been listening to one specific artist. I’m mainly living off of the curated Spotify playlists. However, the past few weeks have mainly been a lot of ONE OK ROCK. They’re a Japanese alternative/rock band - however, a lot of their songs are in English (or the majority in English). One of my favorite songs is Renegades. Check them out if you get a chance, they’re pretty great!

Reading: Nothing. You know, I used to really love reading. It was like my escape from reality and a way to “visit” other countries/worlds. Interweave a good romance and I was sucked in. But somewhere between casual reading and forced textbook reading - my taste has changed. I’ve attempted four New Adult books by authors that I loved and not a single one has made me want to devour the pages like before. I feel like I need to find a different genre or maybe I’m just a “moody reader” and I’m not feeling it in this particular phase of my life. Let me know if you have any suggestions for getting me out of this slump.

Watching: A lot of Asian Dramas! This month I started “Till the End of the Moon”, but had to take a brief break at episode 30 because it was just so dang sad, and intense. The director overdid it a bit with the blood spitting -IYKYK - but otherwise, it was a pretty great story. I usually watch a few different dramas at a time. Since they're pretty lengthy - it's nice to have a few different stories going on. 

‘Casting: Blessed is She Daily Devotionals. I’ve been slacking on church attendance, and my prayer life has suffered. I still haven’t completed the paperwork for my annulment either. With so much going on I’ve been struggling with making all of this a priority. However, the one thing I’m doing my best to stick with is listening to the 3-minute daily devotional that Blessed is She puts out. It’s short and to the point, and I normally listen as I’m getting prepped for the workday.

And that concludes the “Currently” post for this month. If you have any suggestions, be sure to drop me a line either here or on any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always looking for new artists, films, podcasts, or books too. So, I'm open to recommendations if you have them. Until the next post, Happy Monday, folks! ❤

Currently // November 2020

We’ve already had a pretty packed November. This weekend will be another one filled with back to back events. And I can’ believe Thanksgiving is next week too! I mean, WHAT? I guess this is my sign to slow things down, huh? How is everyone else feeling about having six weeks left in the year? I'm a little mixed if I'm being honest. It kind of feels like we should get a redo or bonus points for something, right? Anywho, while you mull that over here let's get into the “currently” post for the month. 

Listening: Recently, Dermot Kennedy released a deluxe version of his album “Without Fear”, and it includes seven more tracks. Now, in case you couldn’t tell, I LOVE this man’s music. There’s just this feeling that I get whenever I listen to him and I can’t really describe it in one word. It’s kind of like this heady combination of wanderlust, happiness, longing, and love all rolled into one big heaping pile of emotion. And, in my opinion, his voice is just super relaxing. So, this has been my go-to when I head out for my meditative runs. You can find all of the streaming platforms that it's available to listen to, here. 

Reading: I started to read “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light - The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta”. I actually found this book at a thrift store of sorts in Mout Pleasant back in May. However, I was distracted and unmotivated to read much of anything so it sat on my bedside nightstand for months. And well, I recently decided to commit to reading a chapter or two each week. I’m doing it this way so I can really think about her writings. She’s the Saint that I chose for myself last year because I have always been drawn to her work. Her outlook on life, kindness, and love. I felt it was about time that I dive deeper. And boy has it been eye-opening. 

Watching: I’ve been watching a lot these days. Mainly because I have more time off than I normally do. Anywho, there are two shows that I just finished and equally loved. The first is "Emily in Paris" which follows a young woman’s adventures in France. It stars Lily Collins, which I think is a great actress. And newcomer (to me), Lucas Bravo who is pretty dreamy. And the accent? It’s real ladies. The second is a cute show about young love, set in New York City, at Christmas time called "Dash & Lily". It stars Austin Abrams, who I first saw in Euphoria, and I feel like we’re going to be seeing more of him which I look forward to. Both of these shows are over on Netflix. And bonus! They're 30-minutes or less for each episode. And they're each 10 episodes or less in length. So they’re super easy to breeze through. Enjoy!  

‘Casting: Whether you’re Catholic or not, I highly recommend giving the podcast, "Crisis: Clergy Abuse in the Catholic Church", a listen. It’s a really great piece of journalism. You get a complete breakdown of events and countless interviews from bishops, reporters, lawyers, and social workers. There are even a few survivors who tell their stories. Overall, it’s very informative. And they don’t hold back. 

And that concludes the “Currently” post for this month. If you have any suggestions, be sure to drop me a line either here or on any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, podcasts, or books too. So, I'm totally open to recommendations if you have them. Until the next post, Happy Tuesday, folks! 

Currently // September 2020

 Well, well, well. It’s been a minute since I’ve done one of these, huh? A lot of things have changed in a year, that’s for sure. My taste in music is still the same, but I’ve added a few things. Reading hasn’t been a huge priority and my reading goals have definitely gone down. However, shows have gone up a bit on my list of enjoyable things since I tend to put something on as I’m folding laundry or doing the dishes. But not a lot holds my attention these days because it feels like we are always on the go. Or there’s more work that has to be done. Sitting still long enough to focus doesn’t seem to happen very often and at the end of the day, I’m barely putting myself through a shower just so I can face plant into bed immediately after. It’s been fun. So, why exactly am I jumping back into this particular series again? Well, I don’t know. I’m not even sure if I’ll make it a monthly thing. But I enjoyed it before, so here we go! 

Listening: I haven’t really listened to a lot of albums in full lately. I’ve definitely gone the route of mixed playlists over on Spotify. HOWEVER, Jessie Reyez dropped an album earlier this year titled “BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US”, and WOW. There were a lot of different topics that she addressed through her songs but y’all this was the “break up & move on” album that I had needed two years ago! Better late than never, right? She goes in right from the very beginning and I loved it. Give it a listen if you haven’t already. 

Reading: I’ve been really bad about this. Nothing had really piqued my interest in a long time. But then, I saw the cover to Colleen Hoover’s newest book, “Heart Bones” and on a whim, I clicked on the Buy now with 1-click link. Y’all, I read that sucker in one sitting. Well, kind of. I bought it late at night and started it. Then finished the next day. Anyway, the book was really great! It's been a minute since anything New Adult has drawn me in and kept me in like this story did. It was a pretty fast read too! If you’re into Colleen’s work or enjoy authors like Rene Carlino and Penelope Douglas then you’ll enjoy "Heart Bones". 

Watching: What am I NOT watching would make this shorter but I’ll go with the most recent series that I’ve finished. “The Umbrella Academy” is one of my favorite shows on Netflix. I fell in love from the very first season and I hope it never ends! It’s adapted from a comic book series created by Gerard Way, which was reason enough for me to give it a chance. Then I found out that Rob Sheehan was cast in it and well, consider me sold! It’s packed with action, mild gore, unusual “superheroes”, and twists at every turn. If I had allowed myself, I would have binged the entire second season in one sitting. But you know, responsibilities. Anywho, this is not a show for young kids so if you do decide to watch it I recommend you do so when the kids are in bed. 

‘Casting: I’ve decided to add another section here for podcasts. Because honestly, they’re the reason why I haven’t been listening to a lot of music. I’ve officially entered that “old stage” in life. And it welcomed me with open arms. I listen to A LOT of them. Mainly Catholic ones, but there are others mixed in. For now, I’ll just mention that I listen to “The God Minute” almost daily. When quarantine happened, and the churches had to close their doors, this was also my way of “attending mass”. It’s usually ten minutes or less, and it goes over the daily readings and then the guest offers a reflection. It’s super quick and I listen to it on my way to work. For any fellow Catholics on the go, I definitely recommend you subscribe. I promise you’ll enjoy it! 

And that concludes the “Currently” post for this month. If you have any suggestions, be sure to drop me a line either here or on any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, podcasts, or books too. So, I'm totally open to recommendations if you have them. Until the next post, Happy Tuesday, folks! 

Currently - September 2019

I know I’m normally pretty thrown with how fast the months seem to go by each year. I mean, Walmart already has Christmas stuff out. But I’m so ready for September to be over with and gone. I’m ready for some cooler weather and that sense of revitalization that October brings me each year. It’s probably the only time of the year when I can say that I fully feel a transition happening. Or I can sense a shift or change in life. Now, even though we all know that Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year it’s definitely closely followed up by Halloween. Christmas doesn’t need to be rushed and it can wait for its turn. So, last weekend Emery and I grabbed a few decorations to get us started in order to properly welcome October first next week. And y’all, it just makes me so giddy with excitement! Ahh! I’M. 👏 SO. 👏READY! 👏 But before I get too ahead of myself, I’m going to finish off this month strong. In terms of blogging anyway. So, let’s get this “Currently” post underway, shall we? 

Playing: I haven’t been listening to one specific artist or artist this month. I’m patiently waiting for Dermot Kennedy’s new album to drop in October. And for Dennis LLoyd to announce some tour dates stateside. So, this month has been a nice mix of a lot of different music and podcasts. If you have a Spotify account, feel free to check out some of my frequently listened to playlists. “Strength, Mija” is at the top. Because sometimes I just need that pick me up. I need to listen to some empowering songs dealing with breakups, anger, strength, and bouncing back. I need some of those, “I’m going through it, but I'm gonna handle it and it's all gonna be okay” type of vibes in my life.   

Reading: I’ve been really bad about this. I have hit a massive reading slump. Nothing has really caught my interest. Not even my beloved young adult genre. I’ve added several titles to my “to read” list but as soon as I start browsing through the blurbs I get bored and leave it at that. Obviously, this is why I haven’t had any book reviews up lately. However, I do have a goal to read at least one book for the month of October. Even if I have to force my way through it. I have a few books in mind, but I’m thinking of going with “Say You Still Love Me” by K.A. Tucker because I normally enjoy her work. Or, in the spirit of Halloween, I may give “The Vine Witch” by Luanne G. Smith a go. I snagged a copy for my Kindle thanks to this month’s Amazon First Reads selection. So, we’ll see! Fingers crossed that at least one of these snaps me out of my reading funk because I really need to get back to it. 

Watching: I have soo many shows to catch up on. I even have movies that are piling up on my “to watch” list on Netflix. But did I make any headway on that list? Nooooope. Instead, I started watching the show “Yellowstone”. Because Kevin Costner. And ya’ll, this show is really good! Here’s the official description: The Duttons fight to defend their ranch and way of life from an Indian reservation and land developers, as medical issues, political aspirations and deep secrets put a strain on the family. It has drama, violence, suspense, action, love, and comedy. Okay, so the comedy part may be subjective. But it sucked me in from the opening scene of episode one. And it just keeps delivering, episode after episode after episode. So, if you have access to the Paramount Network definitely give this show a chance. I highly recommend it. I don’t believe it’s on Hulu or Netflix, but I watch it over on Philo with my monthly subscription.

And that concludes the "Currently" post for this month. If you have any suggestions be sure to drop me a line either here or on any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Friday folks! 💛

Currently - August 2019

I feel like August has been flying by. Emery starts school this week, and soon after we’re back to creating a pretty structured schedule. With very little wiggle room. And as much as I love having a set routine, I also love being able to toss everything out of the window and just lounge in our jammies while binge-watching Stranger Things. Now, in just a few days it’ll be back to rearranging work out days, evenings filled with homework, reading lists, and after school activities. It will be back to having early bedtimes and early mornings. And I'm just not ready. But before I go down the rabbit hole of all the bummers that come with school starting back up again how about we just get into the "currently" post for the month instead? Okay? Okay. 

Playing:  Lately, music has not been a HUGE part of my day-to-day. Instead, it’s been replaced with podcasts. Now, I’m planning on writing a podcast post every few months or so to kind of highlight some of the ones I find really interesting. I want to write a bit more in-depth on some of the subject matter that’s caught my attention, and talk about some of my favorite shows as well as why they’re my favorites. But for today’s post, I just want to throw out a podcast that has caught my interest: Certifiably Catholic. The description states: Each episode a Catholic priest, stay at home mom, and a husband/parish minister discuss how we strive for heaven in the midst of this crazy life. Lately, my need to learn more and practice my faith has been at the front of my mind. And honestly, it was actually set off after listening to one of CC’s episodes. So, if you’re Catholic and interested in listening to some of today’s topics discussed from three different points of views/vocations, then I highly recommend that you check them out. If you’re not Catholic, but curious to know a bit more about us then I also recommend that you give these guys a listen. You can start here.

Reading: Poetry has been my poison of choice lately when it comes to reading. I’ve gone through some of r.h. Sin’s work as well as some of r.m. drake’s. “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur was finally purchased, and y’all it’s definitely a must-read if you’re going through a breakup or dealing with relationship issues due to the trauma left behind from sexual assault. I’ve actually been a fan of her work for a while now and bought “The Sun and Her Flowers” when it was released. However, that collection is focused more on the healing and moving forward. I still re-read it anyway. And last week I finally received the “In My Feelings Vol. I” bundle from r.m. drake. It’s a set of four books, limited release, and I just started on the first one this past Sunday. So far, I’ve not been disappointed in any of these authors.    

Watching: I recently had a marathon viewing session of “Peaky Blinders” in order to catch up before season five comes out stateside this October. I’ve got about four more episodes to go which I’ll probably finish up next week. Then there’s been the unexpectedly enthralling, “Euphoria” over on HBO. The description for this show states: Euphoria follows a group of high school students as they navigate love and friendships in a world of drugs, sex, trauma, and social media. Now, this one caught me way off guard, y’all. It also caused me a bit of discomfort due to it being a show about teenagers that have all kinds of sex and use a crap ton of drugs. I had to keep reminding myself that these actors were all over 20 years old. And I know that this is not a new concept for a TV show, but sometimes it gets rough. Now, none of the subject matter was new to me and some of it I had been through myself when I was a teenager. It was just really weird seeing it from a different point of view now that I’m older and a mother. I kept asking myself if drugs were really that easy to come by back in our teenage years? Was sex really viewed as something to “get over” before heading off to college or graduating high school? While watching Euphoria I really started to think about some of the situations I had allowed myself to get into during my younger years. And it also reminded me of how much we, as a society, have changed in these past fourteen years. It's a bit of a trip if you really sit back and look at it. So yea, if angsty teenagers navigating the waters of what we like to call high school during a time when social media makes being invisible nearly impossible, piques your interest then by all means...watch this show. 

And that concludes the currently for this month. If you have any other suggestions be sure to drop me a line either here, or any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Tuesday night folks! 

Currently - May

What can I say about May really? Well, if I had to sum it up with one word it would be: OUCH. We got off to a rocky start, y’all. There were a few work related things that kind of came out of nowhere. Felt like a nice, hard, reality slap. There were a lot of boundaries having to be established, and others needing to be reinforced. There were several eye-opening events and I felt a bit lost outside of my own little family bubble for awhile there. I started seeing my counselor again and started listening to podcasts on the regular. I mean, who the hell am I, right? If it had anything to do with religion, families, divorce, attachment styles, removing negativity, anxiety, culture, or depression, then I was listening to it. It’s as if I’ve become this sponge that just can’t get enough. I’ve also picked up a few books, and I’ve skimmed over some that I already had on the topics of life, love, and depression. I won’t start on the new ones until this weekend though. So yea, that about sums it up. Let's get into the "currently" post for the month, yea?

Playing: A few weeks ago I saw an InstaStory by someone I followed that had a picture of this young man with a caption that said something along the lines of “a wonderful storyteller”. I clicked through, and the link sent me to a YouTube video titled “Dermot Kennedy - Moments Passed”. Y’all, after the first minute, I was completely captivated by his voice. I quickly searched for more songs and immediately subscribed to his channel. Video after video, I sat there thinking, “How the hell am I just now hearing of this man??” And just like that, I became a huge fan. Dermot Kennedy has this raw, powerful, and raspy voice when singing that you can almost feel the emotions yourself. I watched a few live videos in order to see how he did without all of the magic that goes into music videos, and I was not disappointed. It seems as though his performances are really heartfelt and emotional. His hand movements, and his facial expression during the majority of his songs let you know that he’s felt exactly what he’s written. And damn if there aren’t some moments when you want to cry. When you want to smile and reflect on the past. Or like I told my sister-in-law one day, “I just want to hug him.” This year he released an album which was a compilation of 12 previously released songs. I know he’s already toured the US this year, but it was a limited one. Here’s hoping I can catch him live the next time he comes through. Anyway, if you haven’t heard of Dermot before I definitely recommend that you check him out. And in case you needed any more of an incentive, did I mention he’s from Ireland? 

Reading: I don’t even want to talk about it. 

Watching: So, about a year or so ago I saw that the first book in the All Souls trilogy was going to be made into a TV series. Of course, this book had been on my “to read” list for quite some time, and I swore that I’d get to it before the series came out. Well, then we got the news that this would be aired exclusively overseas with no immediate plans to show stateside. I was super bummed, and then about six months ago I finally bought the first book. Still, haven’t read it though. Well, guess what y’all?? Turns out that it was such a success in the UK that AMC decided to pick it up and what do you know? I decided I needed to watch it. Yes, before reading the book. And so far, it’s everything that I wanted it to be. I will admit that I have a bit of a soft spot for Matthew Goode though. From way back in the Chasing Liberty days. So, my opinion may be a bit biased. Still, this show takes on the whole vampire, witches, and demons storyline to a different level. Not necessarily, “other level” status, but it’s unique enough for me to keep wanting more. Plus, Matthew and his co-star Teresa Palmer have some pretty amazing onscreen chemistry. Now, I’m only on episode five but if it keeps up the momentum the way that I think it will then I hope we get more seasons. So, if the supernatural is your jam then I definitely recommend that you catch this series if you can. 

And that concludes the currently for this month. If you have any other suggestions be sure to drop me a line either on here or any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Tuesday folks!

Currently - March

This month brought back Daylight Savings Time and even though it was rough going that first week I’m actually loving it. I’d been counting down the minutes to longer days, and brisk weather. Everything turns green around here, and I can leave the windows open all day. There’s nothing quite like having fresh air traveling throughout your home on a sunny day. This also means that in the next two weeks or so I’ll be doing another one of my deep cleanings. I’ll be getting rid of a bunch of shoes, clothes, and items we don’t use/need. I’ll probably do another round of donations to the local “lending libraries” too. So, I’m definitely ready to get all of this going soon. But for today, let’s get into the "currently" post for the month!

Playing:  Y’all, I have a serious musical crush on Billie Eilish. She’s been in the music scene for a while now, and in case you didn’t know she’s only seventeen years old. Her first single, “Ocean Eyes” was written when she was fourteen I believe. She’s released several singles, and one EP so far. Her full-length album is due out on March 29th. Her sound is very unique, slightly unexpected, and man can she hit some notes. What I think I like most about her is how open and upfront she is about her changing sound. In fact, she’s even talked about that being a goal for her career. For such a young person she seems to be very aware of herself and very accepting of change. Growth. I think that’s really cool and very rare to see in this day and age. I highly recommend that you check her out if you haven’t already heard of her. One of my favorite songs would be “&burn (w/Vince Staples)”. Emery, on the other hand, is a big fan of her song “COPYCAT”. 

Reading: Nothing. I’ve been in one heck of a slump. I tried reading a few books recently, but they’ve all sat unfinished. I also bought “A Discovery of Witches”, but have yet to start it. Not sure what’s going on in this area, but I just haven’t felt up to reading lately. I feel like I go through this every couple of years so I guess it’s that time again. Maybe next month I'll have something good to offer in this section? 

Watching: Back at the end of February I saw this promo on Instagram for the show “Good Girls”. I had previously seen trailers for it, but it didn’t ever catch my attention. That promo though...? WHOA. Suddenly, I needed to know this story. I needed to see what was up with all of that sexual tension. So, I binge-watched the whole first season over on Netflix within one weekend. And y’all, it was so good! The plot: Three suburban mothers suddenly find themselves in desperate circumstances and decide to stop playing it safe and risk everything to take their power back. Based off of this description it doesn’t seem that interesting, I know, which is why I was originally not that interested in it. But don’t let that tiny little description fool you like it did me. The show incorporates several of today’s issues and gives us a nice dose of comedy as well. And that eye candy, whose real name is Manny Montana, is just so mesmerizing to watch. There’s just something so sexy about that “bad boy” vibe and swagger that he gives off in every scene. And he’s not even getting that much screen time per episode either. I hope they change this in the future. But I think what’s most appealing about this show is the bond between these three women. They are there for each other, always. Even when they have arguments they always find their way back. And during the hard times, they support each other. The friendship that the women in this show portray is how I feel female friendships should be in real life. Obviously, without the illegal stuff but hey, no judgment. So, I’ve been hooked on “Good Girls” ever since. You can currently stream all of season one over on Netflix. The second season, which is airing now, is on Sunday nights at 10/9c over on NBC. If you aren't able to catch it live, Hulu has the current season available. 

And that concludes the currently for this month. If you have any other suggestions be sure to drop me a line either on here or any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Monday folks!

Currently - October

I’d like to start off with saying that today is my husband’s birthday. Happy Birthday, love. Here’s to many more years for you to look forward to. And if those statements confuse you I promise it will all make sense soon. Anyway, moving on, this whole week has been cold and wet here in my little part of Texas. It hasn’t stopped raining since Saturday. I was totally good with the storms at the beginning of the week, but by Wednesday it was just this non stop pouring. So, now I’m kind of over it. Unfortunately, the forecast keeps telling us that there won’t be an end to the rain until the week of Halloween. I’m hoping that we get a few dry days in between because the ground needs it. Plus, some neighboring towns need relief from the flooding. Still, there’s not much we can do about it. So I’ll just keep thanking mother nature for whatever she brings our way; good and bad. Another thing on my mind lately has been writing. More specifically: blogging and the direction that it’s all heading. However, that’s a post for another time. I just wanted to give you a heads up for now. Anywho, now let's get into the currently post for this month.

Playing: I’m not listening to anything specific. It’s mainly been a random mess of songs that I’ve thrown together into a playlist called “Let Go”. If you follow me on Spotify you’ll quickly realize that I’m a creature of habit when it comes to my tunes. I’ll listen to the “Daily Mixes” & “Discovery Mix” that Spotify curates for me in order to get some new stuff thrown in from time to time. But my running playlists seem to be the ones I listen to, and edit regularly. Still, if you’re wanting some new material: Russ released a new album last month called “ZOO” which is pretty great. I’m a fan of anything this man puts out really. And Twenty One Pilots released their long awaited album “Trench” that’s been getting a lot of praises. Both albums are definitely worth giving a listen to in my opinion.

Reading: So, last month I mentioned wanting to read “The Simple Wild” by K.A. Tucker. It did not disappoint, y’all. You can read my review of it here, and I’m pretty sure there aren’t any spoilers. Anyway, it was a great read! I highly recommend it if you’re into some light contemporary romance. For this month, I’d like to read “IDOL” by Kristen Callihan. Now, I enjoy rockstar romances when they’re done well, and I’ve probably only read a handful that I can honestly say I’ve liked. The others were just “too much” if that makes sense? Too over the top, or too cheesy? The writing might have sucked, or it read more like a porno than a story. So, after I read the reviews for “IDOL” I decided to read the sample. It definitely caught my attention, and drew me in. So, I really feel like it’s going to be a good solid read for me. I plan on purchasing a copy it next week.

Watching: So, if you have Amazon Prime, I highly recommend that you check out "Jack Ryan". If you didn’t already know, this series is based off of the Tom Clancy book character. However, they will not follow the books as this series is intended to be set in the present day. John Krasinski is really great in this series, y’all! Some of his best work, acting wise, I think. Then again, I haven’t seen “A Quiet Place” so I might be wrong? Still, this series kept me guessing during every single episode. All of the actors did a wonderful job in this series too. Definitely keep an eye out for Dina Shihabi. Man, she was fantastic!  Now, I have seen plenty of government/action/spy type of works that are out there and I'm comfortable saying that this show can stand on its own. If you’re into films like the Bourne series I definitely think you’ll enjoy this show. Over on Hulu I’ve been watching “The Good Doctor”. To simplify it, the show is about an autistic doctor named Shaun Murphy who has savant syndrome and aspires to be a great surgeon. However, his journey is not an easy one, and is often met with resistance from his colleagues. Now, this show takes an episode or two to get you warmed up to it, but what eventually drew me in was how they took on the obstacles that Shaun has to face. And even though I’ve never personally met anyone who is autistic it definitely shed a light on the condition for me. I’m only halfway through the first season, but it’s definitely promising. If you like shows that are similar to Grey’s Anatomy (minus all of the hooking up) then I think you should check this one out. It also airs on Monday nights on ABC, and is currently at the beginning of season two.  

And that concludes the currently for this month. If you have any other suggestions be sure to drop me a line either on here, or any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Friday folks!

Currently - September

So, this post was supposed to go up on Friday. However, I got a little side-tracked. Sorry! September is coming to an end, and I'm surprisingly ready for fall. But most importantly for October. We won't really be going anywhere, but we'll be doing plenty. Plus, there's Halloween. We're big fans of this holiday. If you've been reading for awhile you know that my "new year" tends to happen on October 31st rather than January 1st. For some reason this time of year has always felt more like a time for new beginnings to me. Shedding of the past, and moving forward. Maybe it has something to do with Samhain? Whatever the reason it's always been a special time for me. So, we're all pretty much ready for fall and all of the festivities that come along with it. But now, lets get into the currently post for this month. 

Playing: If you grew up in the late 90’s early 2000’s then you’ve definitely heard of Eminem. If you’re a fan of rap music then you know Eminem is an OG; an original. He’s the kind of artist that focuses more on lyrics, and word play rather than catchy tunes. And in my opinion he reigns when it comes to diss tracks. Today it seems like all we have are mumble rappers, and artist who use ghostwriters for an entire album. And content? It seems like every other song is about having sex, and doing drugs. It can get repetitive, and boring. Like, yes that’s a catchy beat but what are you actually saying? That’s why, for me, it’s nice to have Eminem around to bring some of that old school rap music back. So, when he dropped a surprise album on August 31st you better believe I was all about it. And he did not disappoint, y’all! "Kamikaze" reminds me of “The Marshall Mathers LP” which he released way back in 2000. And it’s not necessarily because of its content either. Instead it’s the energy he brings. In Kamikaze he’s angry, and ready to call out everyone in the industry. And it made for a pretty spectacular album. It’s also continued a feud between him and Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) which you can read more about here. That aside, if you’re feeling nostalgic, or just tired of listening to the rap music that’s being pushed out by a much younger generation these days then “Kamikaze” is definitely an album you should give a listen to.

Reading: Nothing. The last two books I read were actually kind of disappointing. Both started off great, but then just tanked for me. So, I’m taking a bit of a break in that department. But next up on my “to read” list is a book called “The Simple Wild” by K.A. Tucker. I really enjoyed her book “Chasing River” so I thought I’d give this one a shot. Her books never get juicy enough in the intimacy department, but maybe that’s what I need right now? So, next week I plan to snag it up and see what it has to offer. Fingers crossed it delivers something good.

Watching: A miniseries on Netflix called “Godless”. The synopsis reads In the 1880s American West murderous outlaw gang leader Frank Griffin hunts for ex-protege Roy Goode. Frank's chase leads him to La Belle, New Mexico - a town inhabited, after a mining disaster, almost entirely by women. Y’all, this show is the bee’s knees! I actually started re-watching it last night because I just needed more of it in my life. The scenery was beautiful (even in the desert). The plot is well thought out, and the creators did a really awesome job of giving the main characters their own little story/backstory so that the viewers could understand them a bit better. This isn’t an easy thing to do without making each episode seem too rushed or overdone. Which is why normal shows have 10+ episodes spread across several seasons. But the creators of Godless did it, y’all! And by the time the credits rolled on the final episode I was left feeling a little heartbroken about having to say goodbye to all of the Ladies of LaBelle. They tie up all of the loose ends, and even though I’m totally good with how things ended I couldn’t help but want more. More Alice, and Roy. More Iyovi, and Mary. More of Whitey and the Devlin Twins. And did I mention more Roy Goode? I’ll just go on the record as saying that I wouldn’t be mad if they brought it back for another season. Though, that doesn’t look like it will be happening. So, if your into westerns I'd definitely say to give this one a chance. 

And that concludes the currently for this month. If you have any other suggestions be sure to drop me a line either on here, or any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Tuesday folks!

Currently - August

Hey everyone! Sorry that it’s been a minute. Not much new to report for this month really. Most people don’t enjoy boring summers, but this girl really did. The less I had to do there at the end, the better! The more time I got to spend just chilling out in my PJ’s the happier I was. It’s hard to come by that kind of time when you have an extremely extroverted child though. And now that the school year has started it will be peppered with projects, after school activities, birthday parties, “play dates”, and group fundraisers. It honestly feels like you never stop. So, I did my best to enjoy those last few weeks we had. The one thing that I have been debating on lately is whether Emery should get a cell phone of her own. I’ve been on the fence about this for the passed two months now. Is it too soon? Does she really need it? Is she too young? Am I doing more harm than good? She already has a tablet that we have to limit her time on. However, the subject was brought up at the beginning of summer because of how often she goes back, and forth between everyone. Her tablet only works over WiFi, and so it's not a reliable way of keeping in contact with her. If anyone has any input, or advice I'd be glad to hear it? Anyway, let's jump right into the currently post for this month shall we?

Playing: This month my music listening habits have been on the erratic side. I often found myself driving in silence, or sitting in my cubicle with nothing but the sounds of my keyboard to keep me company. Instead of listening to an album all the way through I would just listen to a random playlists. That said, one of my favorite new reggae bands-- Rebelution, dropped their new album back in June. Now, this band’s music got me through some rough times a few years back. And I’ve been hooked ever since. This new album, Free Rein, had some heavy rotation at the end of July/beginning of August. Whether it’s while I was cleaning, putting up laundry, writing, or just trying to wind down after a long day. These guys can always put me into a relaxed mood. So, if you get a chance definitely give them a listen and tell me what you think.

Reading: I’ve started several books, but haven’t finished any of them. Sorry! I just haven’t found a book that grabs my attention, you know? I had high hopes for Jamie McGuire’s “All The Little Lights”, but damn is it proving to be a hard one to get through. I mean, I am barely trudging along with this one. It's been over two weeks since I tried to make some progress on it. Do with that info what you will. Now, recently Colleen Hoover released her new book “All Your Perfects”. And y'all, I have been waiting for this one since she released a small excerpt last year. Plus she’s one of my favorite authors, and on my automatic “1-click” list. But then Renee Carlino dropped her newest book “Blind Kiss” last week so I’ve been torn as to which one I want to read first. Both of these ladies put out some wonderful stories. And both of these books are on my “next up” list. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the budget this week so here’s hoping next week I can snag one up. Have any of you read either of these books? Any thoughts?

Watching: Ooooh, guys! So, I probably haven’t mentioned this before, which is super weird, but I am a HUGE “Anne of Green Gables” fan. When I was little my mother would take us to the movie rental store a few days before Christmas to pick out something to watch while we were out on break. I would always pick out both of the movies, that were out at that time, and watch them back to back on Christmas Eve. My brother was subjected to this tradition, and he was a real sport about it so "YAY, CARLOS!". Anywho, these movies have a very VERY special place in my heart. Right on up there with Hanson. So, last year when I found out that Netflix had released a series adapted from the books called “Anne with an E” I was beyond excited! We watched that first season over the course of four days. I fell in love with it, y’all! It’s definitely updated in terms of the issues that are addressed. Bullying, discrimination, menstrual cycles, and abuse are just a few of the topics covered in the first season. It is a bit on the darker side, and the episodes themselves are usually pretty gloomy in terms of color. However, it didn’t go overboard and it’s a show I felt comfortable allowing my eight year old to watch. I feel like they did a great job, and even though it’s not the same as the original it’s a wonderful adaptation that stands on it own. I’m also happy to report that season two dropped back in July, and the news hit a few weeks ago that season three has been green-lit. Yaaaaasssss! Now, without giving anything away, just know that there is an entire episode in season two that addresses gender roles, and identity. Though we’ve personally talked a little about same-sex couples in our household we’ve done so at what I feel is an appropriate pace for our family. Some of you might move a little slower, and others a bit faster. So, that particular episode (No.7) I watched on my own beforehand and decided to have my daughter skip it for now. Still, I highly recommend this show if you’re a fan of the books or original movies. Just keep an open mind, and know that this series is meant to carve out it’s own path. It’s allowing us to revisit a childhood favorite, but with more contemporary issues. And I feel like it handles all of it beautifully.

And that concludes the currently for this month. If you have any other suggestions be sure to drop me a line either on here, or any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the lookout for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Friday folks!

Currently - May

Hello, hello! It's been a minute since I've done one of these posts, and I figured it was about time that I bring it back. But first, I just wanted to say that we made it, y'all! The last day of school was yesterday for the little. We received her final report card, and the only subject she really struggled in was math. But not all math, just one section. And she was just a few points off from where they recommend that she be at for her age. Thankfully, it's nothing that serious. Still, I was so proud of her because even though she came up to me with her results, bummed about that single subject, she asked if we could get her some 3rd grade level Math workbooks for her to do over the summer. Now, I'll happily snag those up for her but I also want her to enjoy summer. To taker her mind off of school for a bit, and have some fun. She's only going to be this little once and call me crazy, but I don't think little kids should stress over school that much. So, we basically have the whole month of June filled with camps, classes, and the swimming lessons that she wanted to attend. But the best perk of all? This momma gets to sleep in until 6:30 every morning! Ooooohh, yea! I'm so excited for this guys! You don't even know. Well, some of you do. Anyway, while I internally celebrate getting an extra hour of sleep, lets dive right into the currently post for May.

Playing: I’m not going to lie y’all I’ve listened to a lot of different things on repeat this month. However, the main album that’s had several songs make appearances in the majority of my current playlists would be “Invasion of Privacy” by Cardi B. Now, I know she’s not one of the best rappers. Cardi is definitely an acquired taste too. I’ve heard some people say that they find her voice annoying while others think she raps about some pretty stupid stuff. Ex: "Bickenhead" - I mean what the fuck is that? BUT I will say that even with some questionable tracks her album has some pretty real and raw stuff in it too. This is probably one of the only reason why I continue to give anything that she puts out a shot before forming an opinion. Turns out some of her songs are really relatable, and they struck a nerve. But in a good way? After listening to "Be Careful" I sat there thinking “DAAAAMMMN, she gets it. She knows those feelings. She knows.” And then I turned it up, and rapped right along with her to get it all out of my system. So, yea, I’ve been diggin’ her lately.

Reading: So, in case you’re living under a rock, there was a really public wedding recently that the majority of the US population was going crazy over. At first it was all pretty exciting to be honest. I mean what girl doesn’t love the whole “Prince Charming” fantasy right? Well, after the engagement was announced it was nothing but drama splattered all over the internet. And as the wedding date got closer, I would get no less than TEN notifications a day in regards to “The Royal Wedding”. Megan this. Prince Harry that. The Queen does not approve. The Queen does approve. Megan left all of her dogs. Megan took one of her dogs. The family is in shambles. What about the ex’s?! And a whole bunch of other nonsense. This caused my excitement to morph into annoyance real quick. Now, what does any of this have to do with what I’m reading you ask? Well, I found myself browsing through reviews over on GoodReads and came across “The Swedish Prince” by Karina Hall. This particular story is inspired by the film “Roman Holiday” according to the author. But can you guess what it’s about? Huh? Can you? Can you? That’s right y’all, it’s about an American girl falling for a Swedish prince. Now, when I saw the title I was a little skeptical about this book. I felt like I was pretty burnt out on the royalty subject-- fictional and non. But right off the bat it grabbed my attention, and it includes some pretty steamy sex so it’s already a winner in my opinion. However, I’ve been a little busy so I’ve only gotten a little over halfway through. I try to sneak in a few chapters here, and there when I get the chance. But where I stand right now is that it could go either way. I’ll keep you posted though. 

Watching: QUEEN OF THE SOUTH!! And one more time for those in the back: QUEEN. OF. THE. SOUTH! I cannot get enough of this show, and I feel like it’s seriously underrated. It originally popped up under my recommendations on Netflix last year, and it sat in my queue for awhile. Then one kid free afternoon I selected it, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Here’s the short version of the plot for you: Teresa flees Mexico after her drug-runner boyfriend is murdered. Settling in Dallas she looks to become the country's reigning drug smuggler and to avenge her lover's murder. Mmmm, but that's just the beginning. Granted this is all a work of fiction, but there are certain elements that are not too far off from the truth if we’re being honest. You have drugs, sex, violence, betrayal, love, money, and marriage that all take center stage on this show. The majority of the cast is Latino too which I thought was pretty awesome. And the acting is on point. Not to mention they deliver in the eye candy department with Peter Gadiot as James. This is the first role I’ve seen him in, and I love it. Bring on that intensity papi, I am here for it! Jon-Michael Ecker isn’t bad either. Though, without giving too much away, he’s not as present. But he is at the same time. I know, it’s weird. Also, let’s not forget that this show delivers when it comes to strong female leads. Alicia Braga and Veronica Falcon are phenomenal! But don’t get too attached to some of these characters as they made it very clear in the first season that anyone can be placed on the chopping block. I think this adds to the show’s appeal for me though. But I swear if they kill off James I will never recover. NEVER, I tell you! Anyway, on Monday Netflix sent me a notification that season two was available to stream so I’m currently halfway through it. Fingers crossed that I’ll get to finish it over this long weekend. So, all of this to say, if you ever find yourself with a kid free afternoon and you can’t decide on what to watch definitely check out Queen of the South. At least give it a shot, okay? 

And that concludes the currently for this month. If you have any other suggestions be sure to drop me a line either on here, or any of my other social media pages. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the look out for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Friday folks! 

Currently: July

Hello, hello! As I'm writing this I've already done about four loads of laundry. Disinfected our house, AND treated the little for lice. Yup. You read that correctly. I had hoped that we'd be spared from having to deal with lice since I took some preventative steps & it being summer there's limited contact with other kids. I normally spray Emery's hair twice a week with tea tree oil, and I keep her hair up for the most part when around other children. But I guess we were just shit out of luck though because she still got them. Thankfully, it wasn't as bad as what I originally thought it would be. So, now I'm writing this in between loads of laundry, and hair treatments. My own included because chances are that I've got them as well. Anywho, I'll go more into this later. I might even review one of the products we're using, which is considered safe & nontoxic, for you guys. With school right around the corner it might be something some of you parents might be interested in learning more about? For now, let's just jump right into the currently post for July.

Playing: I've been in a bit of a music slump. So I rarely listen to much, and if I do it's usually a random playlist that's generated by Spotify. However, Lorde's new album is amazing and one of my favorite go to's these days. I know it's been out for a little while now, but it's one of those albums that took me a bit to really get into. NOT because it was bad, because it's not. Melodrama is actually really amazing, and to me so much more different than her last album. I felt like I needed to be somewhere quite to really appreciate, and enjoy the masterpiece I was listening to. I'm a mom though so that shit rarely happens. But when it did...oh my... it was amazing. If you haven't checked it out yet, do it! It has a track in it for everyone, and the transition from one song to the next is just so fluid & perfect. I love getting to listen to an album that seems to be this long continuous story. Before I know it the album is over, and I'm left feeling like I should play it all over again. This album definitely does that for me. So enjoy. And you're welcome.

Reading: I have a few books on my list for this month. I have some catching up to do. Right now I'm currently pushing through "Evelyn, After" by Victoria Helen Stone. Yes, this is a book I had started a few months ago. I made it about 20% in when I realized that the subject matter was just entirely too much for me. It hit a few spots that still felt like wounds, and brought a lot of shit back up. So, I put it down. And honestly, I hadn't picked up a book since. But recently, I decided to give it another shot. It's been a slow start, but I can now read the pages without wanting to cry. Progress folks! I've also started re-reading PUNK 57 by Penelope Douglas. I enjoy many of her books, and when this one was released on my birthday last year I bought it without hesitation. I read it in one sitting, enjoyed the characters, but I never got around to reviewing it. So, I'm giving it another go so that I can actually post a review on it for you guys. Since I enjoyed it the first time I have no doubt that I'll enjoy it the second time around too. Wish me luck! 

Blog Post: Since, I love books it's no surprise that I enjoy book blogs too. When I'm going through a bit of a rut I normally turn to these blogs for a bit of inspiration. That little bit of extra something I need to pick something new, and jump right in. The other day I was browsing through recommended blogs when I came across "Steph The Bookworm". Now, not only does she talk about books but she also blogs about her life! One of her posts that I enjoyed the most recently is "I Hate Swimming (but I'm Diving In)". I could totally relate to how she felt! Last weekend alone I squeezed my jiggly self into a bathing suit because my daughter, and her friends wanted to go to the pool. Did I want to go at first? No. Was I comfortable when I got there? Not really. But I chose to say "Fuck it" and take the plunge. Before too long I didn't even care if my cellulite was in full display, or if my thighs were clapping because I honestly didn't give a shit. We had a blast! We jumped in, we swam, and we went down the water slide. But I totally get it that fear. Insecurities are a bitch. For some of us parents the only way we ever look passed any of it is because of our children. And Steph gets that! So, if you get a chance, go check out her blog. Say hello, and read some of her reviews! You won't be disappointed. 

Watching: Ohhh, you guys. I am shook. SHOOK I tell ya. I think I'm using that term correctly. Maybe? Eh. Who cares? A few weekends ago I was feeling really crummy. I had a headache, and I could not for the life of me fall asleep. So, I decided to look through my watchlist on Netflix, and browse some of my older selections. Read: movies that are rated mature so I can't watch them if my daughter is awake. That's when I came across "Blue is the Warmest Color". Now, I love me a good foreign film, y'all. But before you go clicking the play button, and in the spirit of full disclosure this is a French film with English subtitles about a lesbian couple. They do have some pretty intense, and technically graphic sex scenes in this film too. However, if none of those things bother you I highly recommend this film. It made me laugh, cry, and it gave me all of the feels. Now, there was a lot of controversy surrounding this film due to how it was made, the subject matter, and the director. It was adapted from a graphic novel, and the author has gone on record to say that this film was missing lesbians on set. It's also a rather long movie, clocking in at almost three hours, with no score. But it is so worth the watch. I might even dedicate a whole post to this film to give you guys some more information, and to just gush about how much I love it. Anywho, just go watch it. Or if you've already seen it tell me if you loved or hated it, and why. Let's discuss! Social media links are all above so hit me up. 

Phone App: Have any of you heard of Snapfish? Yes? No? Maybe? Well, if you haven't they are a photo printing website. They do everything from pictures, cards, mouse pads, phone cases, mugs, and a lot of other cool stuff. They're also really affordable, and you know me: I love things that can fit into my budget! Now, what some of you may not know is that they have a phone app you can use to import photos from Instagram, your camera roll, and Facebook. Once you download their app, and sign into your account you get 100 free 4x6 prints each month for an entire year! How cool is that?! You do still pay for shipping, but that's hardly ever more than five bucks for me. Now, if you use those 100 prints up you can still take advantage of the sales/discounts they offer, and pick up in-store locally (CVS, Walgreens, or Wal-Mart). It's fast, easy, and the and the delivery time isn't horrible. Since my nephew has finally arrived, and I've gotten a lot of pictures of him, this months free prints will be going towards that! I've been using them for over seven years now, and they do a really great job! So definitely check this app out if you're into having keepsakes, or just want an affordable way to get your photographs developed.

And that concludes the currently for this month. If you have any other suggestions be sure to drop me a line either on here, or other social media outlets. Links are all at the top. I'm always on the look out for new artists, films, or books so I'm totally open to recommendations. Until the next post, Happy Friday folks!!