Tuesday Thoughts: Random Stream of My Day

As I sit here, about the halfway point through my day, working on this post, I find myself wondering why I do what I do.  Why do I put so much work on my shoulders?  Keeping up a social media presence, writing in the community that I do, vlogging and filming videos (which I am not all that good at) and even keeping up this blog and various other things involved with that - plus my day job.  

That is how I've felt more often than not.  That everything is too much and those are most often the times when I go the quietest - maybe one post a month if I can manage that at all.  So far, this month has been pretty good and I've managed to keep up with everything, but I know that won't always be the case and it is those months, those times that I need to prepare for, because I can never know when they are going to hit and I'll not feel like doing anything.  Hell, I've already missed about 3-4 posts this month because of a whole lot of other reasons.  I need to find that motivation to push myself to actually sit down and write a blog post, write a review, or film that video for my youtube channel, or actually make that vlog.  Hell, I'm still sitting on a vlog from sometime last week that I still need to edit and upload to my channel.  

I am hoping to edit the vlog now that the renovations are done for today, I am hoping that close to the time I get home from work tomorrow this crap is done until further notice and I can actually relax because otherwise, I am not going to be happy.   Much like Dean up in that middle gif I will probably feel way too overwhelmed and tell someone to die in a fire. Yeah, because I've got little to no patience for this anymore, not with the landlord making changes at the last minute. 

So, while dinner is working I am listening to some Bob Marley and attempting to get back into a headspace where I can use the rest of my evening productively.  I might even consider going for a walk/run and eating dinner after - but I need to feed everyone else first.  Or I might just do some little bits of yoga before I go to bed and call it a night.  It's been a hell of a day, and I have a headache that the meds are not really touching due to the hammering happening literally right on the other side of the wall my desk is against.

Anyway, I'm going to wrap this blog post up and go check on dinner and figure out what the hell I'm going to do for the rest of my evening.  Probably some House of Cards on Netflix and getting a few reviews prepped to go up this week, as well as editing that vlog.

Chaos Thy Name is Renovation

No, seriously, the above gif is literally how I have felt for the past two weeks.  My landlord and the handyman have been here off and on throughout the last two weeks working on a couple of renovation projects in the house.  Yeah, couple.  Simultaneously.  2 bathrooms, both getting new toilets, one getting new flooring, new light fixture, and hopefully that will be the end of it until the landlord decides to come back and finish painting the hallway, change the lightbulb in the hallway, and then later this summer work on the bedrooms one at a time to rip up the carpet, replace the flooring and paint the walls.  Oh yeah, I'm seriously looking forward to all of that in the middle of a Florida summer!  NOT.

Beyond that, that's why I've been quiet for the last few weekends because that's when they've been coming in to do most of the work and I honestly spend most of the time curled up in my room with headphones on and music blaring and my nose in a book. 

My current read has been flipping through The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde which I devoured in about one sitting.  I'm attempting to mark some of my favorites before it has to go back to the library, and this is definitely a book that I need to add to my own personal collection because her work is absolutely fantastic.  I've also recently finished Warriors 1 which is an anthology edited by George R.R. Martin as well as The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen.  I will have reviews of those coming, I've also recently read another collection of poetry that I'm greatly in love with, The Princess Saves Herself in this One, by Amanda Lovelace, which I got through Netgalley.  

I also have 2 books from Netgalley that I will be getting to within the next week or so because I want to get the reviews up and ready before their publication dates.  Which reminds me, I need to update my information with Netgalley.  I also have several books out from the library that I need to get to both physical and digital so there will be lots and lots of reading happening! 

Here is the current list of books that I will be plowing my way through within the next 3-4 weeks (in no particular order): 

1. Blood Vow - J.R. Ward

2. Commonwealth - Anne Patchett

3. The Kept Woman - Karin Slaughter

4. Small Great Things - Jodi Picoult

5. In Other Words - Jhumpa Lahiri

6. A Spy in the House - Y. S. Lee

7. The Declaration - Gemma Malley

8. The Bone Witch - Rin Chupeco

9. The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett - Chelsea Sedoti

10. The Wicked + The Divine: The Faust Act 

11. The Wicked + The Divine: Fandemonium

12. Tokyo Ghoul: Vol 1

13. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Only a handful of these are digital books, the rest are physical copies.  I'm looking forward to pretty much all of them (I've read To Kill a Mockingbird before, it's been awhile, though).  I also have a few reviews that I'm in the process of working on, and hopefully, will have lots more posted for you this week.

Time to get busy! 

-Caedy

Thankful Thursday: Little Things

Hello lovelies!!!  I hope you had a good day!  Mine as usual had its ups and downs mainly because I had to work today and then there was grocery shopping.  That is always a tax on me mentally because it means that I am out and dealing with people longer and ultimately it means that my paycheck goes away or rather what isn't meant for bills goes away. 

However,  today I am thankful for the little things. A child's laughter,  a friend offering an ear,  conversations about random things with a stranger that is now an awesome unicorn in my book.  Also,  the highlight of my day was the visit from Ronald McDonald at work today.  This guy is definitely perfect for the role.  I even got my picture with him too. 

I am still definitely in the market for a new job.  Though I am very thankful that I do have a job that helps me be able to provide for myself as well as those I live with. It is not the best job and I do not make the most money,  but I do have that source of income. 

Alright,  it is time for some Beat Bobby Flay and then head to bed. 

Night lovelies. 

-Caedy

Tuesday Thoughts: Lazy days

Today was my day off,  the only one I will have until Sunday.  I had a small list of things that I wanted to get done and I got some of it done.  What I didn't get done will be finished tomorrow morning before work.  There will be a new vlog going live in the morning and there will be a blog post tomorrow too. 

I need to focus on my reviews because I have let them fall to the wayside and they have built up so much.  So I am hoping to get at least 2-3 reviews a week up with maybe a few extra as back up. 

Sorry today's post is so short am achy and my meds are kicking in. 

Good night lovelies!!!

Till tomorrow.

Sunday Reflections: The Search for Positivity

This past week has put a lot of things in perspective, including the fact that I am someone who seriously needs to start focusing on the positive things in my life.  I need to be more grateful, more thankful, and more concerned with making myself happy and keeping myself that way.  I need to start cutting out the negativity and negative influences and people in my life, cutting out the toxic and start focusing on surrounding myself with people who want to see me grow, see me flourish and strive to leave a more positive impact on the world. 

Last week was rough all around, and in all honesty, I know not every day can be filled with rainbows and unicorns, but that doesn't mean that I can't find something positive that happens each and every day.  I have mentioned before in a previous post that I spend time every day considering the entries that go into my gratitude log each day for every month.  That is a big, big part of my evening routine.  I am thinking of maybe adding a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) tracker to my bullet journal each week and maybe do at least 3 RAKs a week - that don't usually cost too much money.  I will have to think about what I could add to the trackers, maybe keep some of them the same and change out a few ideas.  What ideas do you have to add to a RAK list? 

I spent most of today just zoning out and allowing my body to reboot from the absolute chaos that I've been dealing with.  Even this evening, I know there are things I should be doing, however, they are not important to bringing some peace to my cluttered mental state at the moment.  I am thinking, however, that I will be changing my bedsheets before I go to bed - something fresh for me to curl upon.  Or maybe I will change them tomorrow since I think it has been a couple of weeks since I put the sage ones on.  

Anyway, I do have a new vlog up on my youtube channel - it is from last Wednesday, something short.  I still have the one from Friday to edit and that one will hopefully *fingers crossed* go up on Tuesday because I'm going to sit and edit it tomorrow after work.  

I think that might be all I have for you today without getting into too much personal crap that is really not suitable for the blog or the vlog.  So, I'm going to toss my headphones on with some meditation sounds and go do a little bit of meditation.  Have a fantastic day and I'll see you for Tuesday's post! 

-Caedy

Two for One...WLW and Thankful Thurs

I have legitimately been all over the place this week emotion wise.  This week has been physically and mentally draining for me.  I had two days where my anxiety was pretty much at peak levels for most of the day...though the worst of the two days was Tuesday.  Wednesday the anxiety didn't kick in until the afternoon and I somehow managed to keep that particular anxiety attack low-key which is a first for me.  Though, I am still not thrilled that I have had two major anxiety attacks in the past week - the first was the most awakening if you can call it that.  Mainly because it was concerning my health care, and ultimately what having the new administration do to potentially strip me of my health care - coupled with the fact that I was struggling to find a doctor that would see me (since my original assigned PCP was booked solid for new patients until late April or early May).  Ultimately I found a new doctor, and I'd gone to see him Wednesday morning, and he's actually really, really nice.  I am glad that I made the choice to go to him, and quite glad that the office is legit like a 10 min walk from my house.


This weekend I seriously hope to get quite a few things done including finally getting around to filming my bullet journal faves youtube video, not sure when it will go up, but I at least want to get it filmed so I can start editing it.  I also have to edit the vlog for this week - which I will probably do either tonight or tomorrow and get that up Sunday.  I am considering starting to vlog every day, but I don't know we'll see what happens.  My life really, really isn't that interesting and I dunno.  However, I've found that just randomly vlogging has helped calm me down when I feel things starting to go kinda in a direction I don't like. 


I am thankful for the ways that I can express myself in this journey that is life.  The fact that I can cover so many things in different ways is something that makes my heart smile, and now if I can just stop procrastinating and start being more productive I will definitely be a lot happier. 


Also, I am working on getting myself in shape - I am thinking I might kick my C25K back into gear and do a little bit of a workout this afternoon, or at least do something inside since it's starting to get hot AF outside right now.  The joys of living in Florida in January...when the weather isn't being a bipolar hot mess.  Though we are supposed to get rain all weekend so chances are most of my workouts will be done inside...meh, I can live with that.  I also need to figure out my meal prep for next week and get that going. I don't know my schedule yet because it isn't freaking done...I am honestly hoping that it is up by the time I leave work tomorrow at 2, but I'm not going to hold my breath.  I might end up taking a walk up to work on Sunday to try and get my schedule.


As for my wish list items this week, they are all stationery related.


I am looking for stationery sets.  Goulet Pens has some that I am seriously contemplating getting when I have the extra money to splurge.   However, I'm also looking for some cheaper ones that I can use for writing to my pen pals.  It doesn't have to be super quality paper or anything like that - lately I've been using the stationery that I have had in my scrapbooking box for ever and that was purchased in the printer paper section of Wal-Mart years ago.  So, what are some of your favorite stationery goodies?


Thankful Thursday, I think I covered that a couple of paragraphs up.  I am hoping that I can continue to find the light in each day and continue to add a little bit of myself to those that I come across.  Please be kind to one another and remember that you don't know the fight that someone else is fighting - a smile and a kind word goes a long way. 


I think that's all I have for today, so I'm going to leave you with two of my favorite songs.  I have listened to these songs on repeat a couple of times on some of my bad days, and some of the days that I've been dealing with things that I can't entirely figure out and ultimately they have helped me realize that I am the biggest and strongest driving force in making the changes I want to happen in my life.

Tuesday Thoughts: Anxiety Can Kiss My Butt

A post on the go today because typing on a regular keyboard is killing my hands.  I am currently in my brace because my neuropathy is flaring badly. 

This however is not the main part of my anxiety at this point in time.  No, today's anxiety attack is cause by attempting to find a doctor that I can get into like as soon as possible.  I need to get into a doctor because I am almost out of my nerve medication.  Without it I will spend most of my days in pain and be nearly useless because I cannot function when my hands are on fire and I cannot hold things. 

My day started easily enough when I started making phone calls.  The first place I called it took 40 min to get through and then I get told that they only do same day appointments and we're booked for today and I could try back tomorrow.  Then I called the original PCP that I had been assigned to and they we're booked for new patients straight through till April or May.  This is not acceptable as I am out of meds come Wednesday or Thursday if I ration. 
Mind you at this point I have changed my PCP to a new one at the health department.  So I call them and ultimately find out that the PCP I had been reassigned to only deals with HIV/AIDS patients and is only in the office two times a month.  So I try another office and finally find a place that got me in tomorrow morning at 1030.

I am ready to breakdown and find a therapist and get this crap dealt with.  I have spent most of the day currently edgy and snapping at people and crying for no reason.  I am exhausted and in all honesty disgusted with myself because I cannot actually deal with this anymore. 

I usually try and keep things a little less personal but this is starting to actively impact my daily life and I cannot function like this.  I need to figure this out and actually get my shit in line.  I have actually been somewhat triggery all weekend and yesterday.  Now it has pretty much been coming to a point especially because of what I had to deal with this morning. 

Now I am watching some NCIS because this is my comfort show and to be honest I have seen most of the early seasons so I don't need to really focus. 

That is about all I have for you today.  For now,  I bid you all a good evening and I will hopefully have something less serious for you tomorrow. 

Diversify Your Reading List: LGBTQ+ & POC

Right, so as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, as I identify as pansexual...though to be honest, it might be more demisexual with homoerotic tendencies...but whatever.  The only thing that tends to be straight at any given point is my hair, and as of late that's required too much effort and my straightener is broken anyway. 

Part of my goal for reading this year is to read more books that involve persons of color either as a main character or author.  I also want to read more books that focus on the LGBTQ+ community.  So, in my research, I found a couple of really good lists that I'm going to pick from as I can get the books in my hands, and see what my local library has in the way of these authors.  

Bustle: 25 Queer Authors You Absolutely Should Be Reading If You Aren't Already

This list is filled with an abundance of authors that I now want to delve into their works and learn more about them and the worlds they have created.  This list will probably be one of my go-to's for this coming year because I absolutely am enthralled by some of these books and their descriptions...and I'm a sucker for a good cover too and some of these have some awesome covers. 

Bustle: 23 LGBTQ Books With A POC Protagonist, Because It's Time To Diversify Your Reading List

Okay, for serious - I really need to read more books with a POC Protagonist, because at this point in time I cannot actually think of one book that comes to mind that I've read that has a POC protagonist in it.  Though I am rather fond of Maya Angelou's poetry, that is not quite the same thing that I'm after with reading some of the books on this list.  Must get my hands on them this year!  Definitely saving all these lists in my Pocket so I can refer to them when it is time to grab some new books.

Pride: 35 Queer Black Writers You Need To Know About

Honestly, this was one of the most eye-opening searches that I did for this particular blog post.  I also had my local library's website open and was looking for some of these authors, and the one that I found was Audre Lorde at least for the moment anyway.  I will be looking for more a bit more throughout the year.  I put in a request for a book of Audre Lorde's poetry, and I'm greatly looking forward to reading some of it because I'm absolutely in love with poetry and I do need to read some more. 

Anyway, I am also open to a lot more recommendations than are on this list.  So if you have any, please leave them in the comments below and share this blog with your friends and anyone else who loves to read and is looking to diversify their reading lists this year! 

Also, I will be hopefully adding Hanah Hart's book Buffering to my list this year, because I absolutely adore her! 

Thankful Thursday:Gratitude

For the past few months that I've been using my Bullet Journal, I have been allowing myself to reflect on things that I am thankful for.  Each month I build a Gratitude log into my monthly pages.  Spending time each day, reflecting on the things that I am most grateful for.  

Gratitude

The state of being grateful

There are days when finding something I am grateful for is trickier than others - and it's those days that I am most thankful for having a roof over my head, food to eat, and a warm bed to curl up in at night.  There are other times when what I'm grateful for might be something silly or trivial but has played some larger part in allowing me to make it through the day - such as the shot of vodka that enriched my lemonade last night or something along those lines.  

I usually attempt to fill in my gratitude log at about the same time daily, usually about the time I reflect on the bible verse that is listed as the verse of the day on my bible app.  I take time to reflect on the verse, and then I turn to my gratitude log and think about the things that I am thankful for.  This also gives me a chance to go over my day and figure out what I've done on my to-do list as well as plan out some of my tasks for the next day.  

That is how I've ended my day pretty much every day for the past 6 months (with the exception of a small handful where I was sick, or ended up not truly having the focus to deal with anything because of various factors).  However, those days that I've missed, I've always used time the following day to reflect and fill out the previous day to ensure that my log is always as complete as I can make it.  Many of the days might have more than one thing on it, other days might have only one thing, it all depends on what items stand out to me the most that require a specific marking on my gratitude log. 

On that note, I'm going to end this post and fill out my gratitude log for today and begin my evening routine.  

Have a wonderful rest of your day and a fantastic Friday! 

-Caedy

Wishlist Wednesday: Jan 2017 Releases

There are loads of books coming out this month and I'm absolutely looking forward to all of them!  Seriously!  I want them all and I want them now!  Gimme!  

Ahem...I mean, now I'm done channeling my inner Varuka from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  Let me share with you the fantastic books that I want to get my hands on this month! 

The final book in the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.  I am anxious and a bit saddened that this series will be over so soon.  However, I have absolutely loved every single pulse-pounding moment of this series.  I cannot wait to see what conclusion has been crafted for MacKayla Lane and Jerricho Barrons.  This one hits shelves on Jan 17th and I must have it! 

This book is the first book in a new series by Veronica Roth.  This one, I'm a bit critical going into it, however, I am looking forward to it.  It is touted as a book that will appeal to Star Wars and Divergent fans so we will see how this shapes up.  I did enjoy the Divergent series, and I am a Star Wars fan.  I am willing to give it a chance, and eventually, I will be offering my own review on this book.  It just might take some time.  This one will hit shelves on Jan 17th. 

City of Saints & Thieves! This cover is absolutely eye catching and totally makes me a sucker for wanting this book.  Well, to be honest, I'm looking forward to the story that's written on the pages as well!  This thriller is set in Kenya and involves a girl who essentially doesn't exist. She attempts to figure out who killed her mother and it takes time before she ultimately begins to find out what she has been waiting for.  This one will hit the shelves on Jan 24th. 

This is a story about a landmark civil rights case that allow for marriage between races.  Richard and Mildred Loving were the subjects of this civil rights case.  They faced discrimination, hatred, ultimately their love won and interracial marriages were legalized.  This story will hit shelves on Jan 31st. 

What books are you looking forward to this month? 

Tuesday Thoughts: Books and BuJo

Current status! 

No, seriously, I'm furiously typing and attempting to get loads of content up for this week.  I've got a couple days off and that means filming (If I'm lucky) and getting a heads up on some of my blog posts, as well as hopefully getting a few things done around the house that need to get done...I won't bore you with the list, but they are things like laundry and coloring my hair and things like that.

Anyway, as you can tell from the title, my thoughts today are on books and bullet journals! These two things are pretty much my life as of late, as well as my music which I've been completely absorbed in the last few days when I'm not binge watching things on Netlfix (yeah, I'm shameless like that...Oh, Shameless...that's a good show, need to watch more of it! Later >.>).

I figured I would share a few of my favorite Bookstagram and BuJo Instagram accounts! I know you'll love em, and you should definitely give them a follow...as well as follow mine, which can be found below. 

My Instagram

My new bookcase. Need more than one but this is a start and I have my favorites on display. At least some of them. #bookcase #shelfie #sunday #organizing #books #bookaddict #reader #allthethings

A photo posted by Caedy (@caedy) on Dec 11, 2016 at 8:53am PST

Favorite Bookstagram Accounts

These are just a couple of my favorites, but if you look through #bookstagram #bookstagrammer hashtags on Instagram you will find a wealth of others that are absolutely fantastic!  No, seriously, check them out! 

Got so much snow today and I'm just not having it. I miss going outside everyday to take bookish pictures. Now, the weather is uncomfortable. 😞 I want Spring to come already. | #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bibliophile #igreads #booksofinstagram #bookworm #bookdragon #bookphotography #bookish #booklr #vscobooks #goodreads |

A photo posted by w e n d y (@suburbiareads) on Jan 9, 2017 at 6:07pm PST

The reading challenge is on! My goal is to read 50 books this year. Last year I read 40, it's time to step it up. In fact, today I just finished "The Lost World" by Michael Crichton. I can't lie I enjoy the scientific dialogue and questions concerning life, the universe and everything. What are you reading this week?

A photo posted by Angela J. Ford (@aford21) on Jan 9, 2017 at 6:41pm PST

Favorite BuJo Instagrams

By far one of my favorite spreads in my #BulletJournal last month! Kim @tinyrayofsunshine inspired me to start logging my gratitude over a year ago, and I just love how the practice has evolved since then. - It's great to look back on, and even more so when times are tough. Approaching life daily with gratitude has been such a mindset shift and a huge part of my personal development over the past couple of years. I find myself looking at the world through new eyes, constantly on the search for new things to be grateful for each and every day ☺ - #bulletjournal #bohoberrytribe #leuchtturm1917 #wearebujo #tombowdualbrushpens #gratitude #attitudeofgratitude #miraclemorning

A photo posted by Kara 🌸 Boho Berry (@boho.berry) on Jan 7, 2017 at 1:52pm PST

Y el cartero llamó a mi puerta para traerme mi nueva leuchtturm ❤️

A photo posted by Study Tips (@mylittlejournalblog) on Jan 9, 2017 at 5:57am PST

Zoom in 🔍 #bulletjournal #bujo #bulletjournaljunkies #bulletjournaling #bulletjournals #bujojunkies #bulletjournalcommunity #planneraddict #bulletjournallove #planner #bujoinspire #plannercommunity #bujolove #notebook #bujoaddict #studygram #bujocommunity #studyblr #showmeyourplanner #leuchtturm1917 #lettering #journal #bulletjournalnewbie #planning #plannerlove #handwriting #handlettering #bulletjournalitalia #study #stationary

A photo posted by A planner addicted Girl 🇮🇹❤ (@mybujostory) on Jan 10, 2017 at 5:36am PST

Okay, so if you've followed me this far, thank you so much!  These are a few of my favorite Instagram accounts and I figured I would share some of them with you today.  They are where I get some of my inspirations from, especially the Boho Berry account.  Kara's stuff is absolutely amazeballs and I adore her so very much! 

Anyway, I think I'm going to wrap up this blog and get to work on a few other things I've got planned to go live today!  Love you all! 

Goal for today - dealing with those personal deadlines like a bawse! 

Reflections of a Cold Girl

This was me this morning when I woke up and looked at the temperature, simply because I have to leave the house.  I cannot stay in my pajamas all day again (much like yesterday!).  So, I know this is two days late, but I was too damn cold to function and pretty much vegged out watching things on Youtube and writing letters to my pen pals because I'd been neglecting them due to being sick and the holidays.  

I am currently in the process of doing about 6 different things (including getting ready to walk out the door) and all of them will help keep me organized and happy in the coming months...or at least I hope so :) Beyond that, I'm just dealing with life as it is thrown at me.  I'm relaxing when I can, and ultimately attempting to ensure that I am productive as possible.  

Yes, I know this is technically Sunday's blog...it's been cold and I've been achy and typing has not been my friend because of my neuropathy, which tends to settle in my left hand/wrist and make my life difficult.  I haven't even been on social media much in the last couple of days due to the fact that the cold is screwing with my productivity.  

Right now, I'm finishing this, and then working on today's blog post and a series of reviews, and then I need to actually finish setting up my bujo that is devoted to my blog.  I've bought a cheap little dollar store notebook (rather, I found one hiding in some of my stuff) and I'm turning it into my blog bullet journal.  Something a bit minimalist, though that really won't last because honestly, I am too creative to keep anything completely minimalist.  

I am still attempting to change my mindset and actively get moving and productive in this new year, but it is hard.  I know part of my problem and it is at the point where I need to stop messing around and start ensuring that I have the money for doctors appointments that I need, so I can actively start working on taking care of my mental and physical health.  It does not help that I've been feeling more run down than usual (strep throat didn't really help that feeling at all) but I've also been fighting a bit more with my anxiety and depression and those are things that I need to get under control, to the point that I need to probably start adding a symptom/trigger tracker to my bullet journal or start including triggers/symptoms that have caused an issue with my anxiety or depression so I have the notes when I finally make it to a doctors appointment. 

Anywho!  

Time for me to start getting productive, my Spotify playlist is calling my name. 

Review: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Title: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail

Author: Cheryl Strayed

Format: E-Book (Kindle)

Pages: 338

Date(s) Read:  Jan 9-17, 2016

Rating: 4

Summary: At 22, Cheryl’s life had fallen apart.  Family scattered, her mother’s death, and ultimately the dissolution of her own marriage.   Four years later, with nothing to lose, she makes the most impulsive decision of her life.  No training or experience, she chooses to hike 1000 miles of the Pacific Coast trail from the Mojave Desert, through California, Oregon and into Washington.  

Review:

Okay, so first thing first, I’m usually not one for this particular type of memoir.  I really am not, however, I did actually kind of enjoy this book.  Even though there were more than a thousand times I wanted to pitch my kindle across the room swearing and wondering what kind of idiot Cheryl was to attempt such a thing without at least a small amount of experience - for most people something like this is bordering on suicidal if you don’t have at least the basic idea of survival skills.  Hell, I grew up a Girl Scout and camping with my grandmother, that doesn’t mean that I intend on hiking these massive trails alone without at least some further brushing up on my training first.

Yeah, I get that it was a soul searching, a way for her to face her fears and ultimately find some form of healing in her life.  However, there were perhaps other ways she could have gone about it without putting her own life at risk by attempting to undertake such a venture.  Of course none of them perhaps would have provided the level of intensity and healing that Cheryl required at this point in her life.  In truth, who is anyone to judge the level of extreme that someone must go through to heal themselves when they think that they honestly have nothing left to lose.  The fact that Cheryl did choose something perhaps this crazy is something that does speak to me on a bit of a personal level because to be honest, there were other ways that her life could have gone and none of them end with this being a memoir, but instead being a story of a life no longer lived.  

This journey was essentially Cheryl’s version of what most recently is known as the “semicolon” project.  This was her semicolon.  Her choice to do something completely different rather than succumb to the potential downward spiral of depression.  94 days on the Pacific Coast Trail was Cheryl’s version of climbing her way upward from what at 26 for her, was rock bottom.  

I have not actually seen the movie based off this book, but I will have to see if I can find it and watch it sometime this year.  It did tickle me a bit to see this referenced in Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life, it kinda made me happy.  

2017: Week One in Review

So, if you know anything about me (and you should if you've been following the blog for awhile)...you know that my productivity comes in waves.  There will be months where I'm super-duper productive and get out all the reviews and all the blog posts and then there will be months where it seems like I've fallen off the face of the earth.  I know you've honestly heard what I'm about to say before, but, this time, I seriously, seriously freaking mean it...I am honestly going to actually get my crap together and keep up this level of productivity for all three hundred and sixty five days of this year (Okay, don't judge, and yes I know I've already missed 2 blog posts this week...and I've not posted a single review for this year yet...hush...I'm getting there!), or rather the days that are left.  Especially since I intend on incorporating some youtube videos into the mix of things -- yes I know, I need to fix the link in my last blog post concerning the vid, there were issues, and it got reuploaded and I'll fix the link - after this blog post! 

What can you, honestly, expect from me in 2017 that is different than every other time I've attempted to boost my productivity in the years past?  I am actually 100% setting up a window of about 3-4 hours a day (probably realistically 1-2 on days that I work longer shifts at work) that will be devoted to getting up blog content.  I will be hopefully filming youtube videos which will probably for the most part focus on my bullet journal and maybe some book stuff on Sundays, editing on Monday or Tuesday and uploading on Tuesday or Wednesday, with another upload probably on Saturday.  We will see, as that is still somewhat up in the air as to just how many videos I'm going to post in a week because I do have to share the bandwidth with 4 other people and they tend to get bitchy when things get horribly laggy or some shit.  I am also attempting to work through some backlog when it comes to reviews.  I am currently attempting to pen out a review schedule in a little pocket planner that I have, or I might buy a notebook (because I so need more of those) from the dollar store and turn that into my review tracking bullet journal and customize it for that.  That might, now that I think about it, be the better option for this...yeah, will have to see what I can find at the dollar store that will fit what I want and probably start working on that tomorrow or probably Monday before I have to go to work.  

What can you expect to see in the coming week?

1. Book of the Week (Today)

2. 2 Reviews (Today)

3. Sunday Reflections

4. Tuesday Thoughts

5. Wish List Wednesday 

6. Thankful Thursday

7. 10 reviews (minimum)

8. Book of the Week (Saturdays)

That totals to about 15 blog posts per week - at minimum.  The weekly scheduled plus the addition of the reviews in the mix.  I'm aiming for 10 minimum a week because that will ensure that I can actually start clearing up my 2016 backlog (which is quite a few from the books that I'd read and not yet reviewed) as well as let me start throwing into the mix the books i've started finishing for this year. 

So, without further adieu, it's time for me to get my buns in gear and crank up some tailgating country music and get cracking on things!  

Lots of love!

Caedy

Tuesday's Thoughts

Hello lovelies!!  Welcome to a wonderful Tuesday (wonderful in that I have a day off and it's blissfully gloomy and rainy outside, which means that I've done nothing but nap and read all day!).  I also happened to do a thing.  A little thing, but it gets my youtube channel up and running with my first video!  The quality is not the best, but I'm still working out the kinks and getting familiar with my editing software.  

So, it was a fun thing to do while I was out the other day (filmed before I'd realized that I was suffering from strep throat and not just a cold).  I enjoyed the time out with my niece and I'm considering taking up vlogging in addition to my regular blogging in 2017.  We will see how that goes! 

So I've the video down below for you to check out!  Subscribe and let's get this ball rolling! 

I've already started my first two books of 2017, and I am absolutely loving each of them for different reasons.  I'm currently reading The Unbecoming of Myra Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski.  Both of which fall into the Listy A to z challenge, and I am using The Unbecoming of Myra Dyer for my first book in the PopSugar 2017 Reading Challenge.  I am also doing Book Riot's Read Harder challenge.  I've even updated my reading spreadsheet to track all three of these challenges.  It will be interesting to see where my reading takes me this year.

Do you have any book recommendations that could help me fill these challenges? More authors of color that I need to read? LGBTQ+ authors that I need to read? I'm open to any and every suggestion! 

Until next time lovelies, 

Caedy

Hello 2017!

Normally this post would be already pre-written, fashioned to perfection the night before on New Year's Eve, or even a couple of days in advance.  However, this year, I've chosen to do this post on the first day of the year and write it as the thoughts come to me.  

I am glad that 2016 has gone, and that a new set of 365 days are unfolding before us.  I am grateful for the days that have passed, the fact that I survived what the previous year has thrown at me.  I will survive and move forward in this year.  I have ambitious goals for this year, and I am hoping to cross things off my bucket list that have been there for quite some time. 

I have chosen my word of the year and that is productivity.  I intend to be more productive, more active, more creative, more accomplished in the coming year.  Bullet journaling has proven to be a resourceful thing in my life, ensuring that I have a creative outlet, as well as providing me with a visual look at the things that I need to get done during the day, week, month, year.  I am thankful for the discovery of this system and I highly encourage you to check it out if you think it might be something for you. 

As you can see on the sidebar, the weekly schedule has changed and I am working on providing new and unique content for you guys! I will be keeping up with the reviews, and trying to get at least 4-6 reviews out weekly along with the regular blog posts - including random posts when the mood strikes me on any given day (that's what mobile posting is for!).  

Oh, and nothing like starting the year off with strep throat.  Yeah, that's been me, so there was no overindulging last night, no excessive amounts of booze, and to be honest, I was nyquilled up and in bed before Mariah Carey's fail and the ball drop.  Usually I am able to stay up, but this year being sick has taken it's toll on me and I just wanted my bed, my stuffed pooh bear bumble bee, and my blankets.  

I've already got my first few books of the year outlined, and am not sure which one I'm going to start first.  I'm eyeing The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin first because that one's been on my TBR for a little while now.  However, I'm also considering The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski or The Circle by David Eggers - which I want to read before I can see the movie. 

Oh, and if you check the where to find me, you might find a new link.  Yes, I am brushing off my youtube channel and actually getting the courage up to start filming videos for my channel.  We will see how long my confidence lasts, and I know, the quality will not be the best for now, but I will work on getting a better camera and working on the quality of the videos the more invested I become with filming them. 

I think that is all I have for right now, there might be another post later!  For now, I wish you all the love and blessings that this year could possibly hold!  

Namaste, 
Caedy