Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress? 

Workout Recap - Week 7

Sunday, February 9th – 4.5 mile run with the hubby

Monday, February 10th –  50 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, February 11th – 4.44 mile run

Wednesday, February 12th –  30 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, February 13th – 5K run 

Friday, February 14th – Rest day (blood donation)

Saturday, February 15th – 10K run

For a very stormy week, I will consider it a win. I got in all of my workouts and even enjoyed the majority of them ;) No longer run, but I ran with the hubby on Sunday (which I would much prefer because he's the bestest!) and then needed to keep my prior day's blood donation in mind on Saturday, so it's all good. Plan to go a little longer tomorrow, but next week I'll be in the frozen tundra for a visit to my parents, so the workouts overall will be dialed back. The nice thing about no longer training for the LA Marathon is I have ZERO guilt about running what I want, when I want! The forecast shows the rain is gone for the foreseeable future, so I should be a-okay to get in my runs without soaked clothes and soggy shoes.

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress? 

Workout Recap - Week 6

Sunday, February 2nd – Rest day

Monday, February 3rd –  50 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, February 4th – 2 mile run

Wednesday, February 5th –  60 minutes on the stationary bike

Thursday, February 6th – 4.4 mile run (1.4 mile run before work, 3 mile lunch run)

Friday, February 7th – 20 minutes on the stationary bike

Saturday, February 8th – 7 mile run

Well, I think I'm gonna consider this week a LOSS! On Saturday of last week, the hubby and I joined a friend on the Pacific Crest Trail for 28.5 miles of hiking, which moved this week's workouts around. Not only did that make Sunday a rest day, but I got a big blister on the bottom of my left foot, which made for a painful Tuesday run (hence why I only got in 2 miles before I felt like I was tearing skin open and walked the last mile back to the house). With that being said you can see workouts were a bit 'adjusted' this week to accomodate for the blister and previous hike. Even still, being out on the trail for almost ten hours on a gorgeous day was worth the pain ;) The rest of the week my stomach was off and my workouts were much shorter than I would've liked, plus I worked Sunday through Friday which made for a very long work week as well (which was draining physically). Here's to life turning around next week and things feeling much better.

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 5

Sunday, January 26th – 12 mile run

Monday, January 27th –  55 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, January 28th – 6 mile run

Wednesday, January 29th –  Rest day

Thursday, January 30th – 4 mile run

Friday, January 31st – 30 minutes on the stationary bike

Saturday, February 1st – 28.5 mile hike (joining a friend while he section hikes the PCT)

This week was fun. Instead of a longer run on Saturday the hubby and I joined a friend of ours who is section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and got in 28.5 miles. It was a long day (almost 10 hours of hiking), but the views were stunning and the weather was almost perfect. Now that I'm not officially running the LA Marathon I can do adventures like this and I'm not overly worried about not hitting a number on a training plan. Here's to hoping this helps me find the joy in running again. 

How were your workouts this past week?

January Books

Can you believe that reading wasn't my jam growing up?! Clif Notes were my best friends in high school - I'd read 'enough' to get by, but other than that I didn't enjoy the act of reading so never did it... like ever. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required" so I didn't like it, but, whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which became 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021, 41 books in 2022, 98 books in 2023 and 224 books in 2024). The majority of my "reading" has been listening to audiobooks since I haven't had as much time to sit and read physical books once I started working again full time out of the house. Even still, holding a physical book is my JAM and I hope can add more physical reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I finish is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. So, here are the books I completed in the month of January:

• Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé - I had grabbed this on my Libby app at the end of December while I was waiting for some other books to become available (or for my downloads to reset on my Hoopla app), but didn't get it finished until after the first of the new year. I had recently read one of this author's other books and enjoyed it so figured I'd give this one a go. If you are familiar with Gossip Girl, this will be an extremely familiar format. The students in this book go to a private school and an anonymous texter (in the show it was a blogger, with the 'news' breaking on a website) sharing secrets of the students. The difference with GG and this book is the subjects of the scandalous information on GG may have been focused on the 'popular kids', but, in this book, it was two specific students - Devon and Chiamaka. I was totally invested in finding out who was behind "Aces", even though I felt like the storyline was a little too much like the popular TV show in my opinion. I'll be honest and say that I went back and forth between really liking this book and it being 'eh, okay'. At points I liked the fact that the author brought in the racial and class issues, but at other points it felt a little forced. Overall I wanted to find out what would happen next, so I guess it did its job. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller - I had seen this on a bunch of "must read" lists and it finally became available on my Hoopla app (I saw it in December, but was already out of downloads on both the hubby's account and my own... oops ;)). I was pumped about it, especially because I had recently read another of this author's books which I super enjoyed (and it's even on my Amazon Wish List to make it into my personal library). Not to mention, I mean, I recently opened my own little library and assume I'll love anything about libraries/ books/ etc. As to be expected, I really liked this one. I don't think it'll make it into my personal library, but I wouldn't be mad if someone gifted it to me ;). This is a novel about so many pressing issues - like racism, book banning, violence, tolerance/ acceptance, homophobia, etc. All of these important topics are wrapped around a little library in Lula Dean's yard. You see, Lula Dean starts on a quest to rid their small Georgia town of 'inappropriate' books and in the process opens a little library in her yard of wholesome options. One night two kids pull a prank and swap out the books in her library for banned ones (keeping the dust jackets of the original books, but hiding the banned books inside). Drama ensues around town (whether it is a wife standing up for herself, a teen looking into his family tree and lineage, a mayor stepping down and new candidates popping up, etc) and most of it has its root from the library. The author did a great job at weaving all of the stories together and I loved seeing how all of the townspeople and their histories connected. The character development was amazing, especially with such a big cast! I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Pairing by Casey McQuiston - I had been in line for this book on my Libby app for a few months now, so I was excited when it became available (I think I added it back in July, once I read this author's last book). I have enjoyed this author's previous books (I think One Last Stop is my favorite of the ones I've finished thus far). I'll start off the recap by saying I may have built it up a little too much in my mind, seeing as I had been waiting for it for such a long time. I didn't like it as much as her other books. This one felt long and drawn out. Don't get me wrong, the two main characters (and even some of the supporting cast) were great, but every city seemed to be more of the same thing. This is the story of a couple who went from best friends, to partners, to exes, and then came back together in a kismet way (and tried to start a friendship again in the midst of #AllTheFeelings). Again, it was 'fine', but I think I was hoping for fireworks or much, much more. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Notes of an Execution by Danya Kukafka - This popped up on my Hoopla app and I thought it sounded interesting (sort of like one of the true crime shows the hubby and I watch every once in a while) so thought I'd give it a try. This is the story of a man on death row and the last day of his life. Interspersed into those last 12 hours are stories of his life growing up, the reason he is in jail, the solving of the crime(s) he commited, etc. The layout of the story was intriguing and bouncing around in the timeline kept me on my toes, but overall I wasn't too impressed. I liked the change of perspective, but I'd say that there were some characters that I cared for more than others (and was sort of just biding time until my preferred character(s) were back). Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood, but whatever the case, this book wasn't my jam. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey - While waiting for more of my 'must read' books to become available on my Libby app, I was looking around on my Hoopla app and saw a few of this author's books on a banner. It looked like she had a few mini series, which I always tend to enjoy (and one of the series was actually downloadable as a single checkout [so I got two books for the 'price' of one on my Hoopla app where I only get 5 checkouts a month - score!]) so snagged this one. It's the standard type romance troupe - a socialista gets 'banished' to a small town, falls in love with a captain of a fishing boat (okay, okay, the details might not be the same in all romance books, but the overall idea is pretty similar ;)), and decides to leave the big city for love. It was spicy, fun and kept me entertained, so it did its job (with this type of book, you don't go in looking for earth shattering revelations, just some enjoyment and distraction). I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey - This was technically the second book in the Bellinger Sister Series (characters crossover, but they are standalone stories so I guess you don't necessarily have to read both of them). Like I mentioned in the previous book, it's nice that I was able to download "one" book and got both novels at once. It is also similar to the previous book in that it was a spicy rom-com that kept me entertained while I was multitasking (listened while I was getting in my morning run, doing laundry, getting ready for work, etc). This one was a little bit more about the build-up (and the lack of confidence that both of these characters had in different aspects of their lives), which was great. I wish there was a bit more about Fox and his growth into the captain position, but I also realize that the sisters (so Hannah in this story) are the main characters and he's playing a supporting role. I think I liked the other more, but still a cute story. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe - This was on one of the scrolling banners on my Hoopla app, so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm glad I saw the banner because I really ended up liking it. The novel is about a teen girl who gets pregnant by one of her teachers and then decides she would like to keep the baby and raise it as her own. Those around her all have their own opinions of what she should and shouldn't do, but I loved how strong Margo was in her own convictions (even if what she eventually did with her life may have been different than what I personally would've done). I think I really liked this one because it felt so "normal". It wasn't an aspirational story of fairytale land (but it was filled with strength and empowerment). She had her baby and had to deal with the fallout - her roommates moving out because of the inconveniences of having a newborn in their apartment, losing her job because she didn't have child care, having to find a way to support herself and her new life. Other than the fact that her dad was in the 'professional wrestling scene' (although, if I'm being honest, I grew up watching it, but I never really took the time to consider all of those people have 'real lives' outside of the industry), everything else seemed as if it could be happening to the girl next door. It was funny, it was heartwarming, it featured strong-willed women who needn't be messed with ;) I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson - Seeing as the last book I grabbed based on a Hoopla banner was a win, I saw this one and figured it'd be worth a shot. I'm stoked to report, I really enjoyed this one too. The short blurb on the Amazon page said "a quirky British novel" and that's exactly what it was. It was about a teacher who got pregnant when she was 16 and gave her daughter up for adoption. As her daughter's eighteenth birthday approaches some of her life's circumstances force her to start thinking more and more about her past. The characters were all fun (Gemma's neighbor, Margie, might be my favorite, but they were all pretty amazing) and I was pulling for each and every one of them. It was heartwarming with the perfect amount of humor and hope for a cozy, little book. I appreciate that the author touched on anxiety and didn't make it such a taboo subject. [Here I go, getting on my little soapbox...] Our mental health is just as important as our physical health and we need to be able to talk about it (and how we deal with it). I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood - I had added all of this author's books to my 'hold list' on my Libby app a while back and this one became available. I would say that it felt a little less rom-com'y and just pure spice, but I guess if you go in knowing that you're probably okay. I did appreciate that the female lead of the story is in charge of her sex life and although her life may be a bit of a mess, she knows what she wants and how to be vocal about it. I also liked some of the intrigue that was hinted at and spread throughout the book (learning more about how all of the characters were intertwined, information about corporate takeovers, etc). I noticed that some folks mentioned it was hard to connect with Rue, the female lead, but I sort of assumed that was how that character was supposed to be written (although some reviewers were mentioning it was because it wasn't written in first person POV, but I didn't feel that way). Eli reminded me a bit of a lovesick puppy (like his dog, Tiny), but I liked him (he had a bit of a darker side, which might be why I was able to overlook how hard/ fast he fell) - even if it was a little incongruent with traditional hockey player vibes. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez - After reading the first book in this series in December, I obviously put books two and three on hold on my Libby app so I could scoop them up once they became available. I would say that although this book is technically part of the same series, it is definitely a standalone story as well. There is a little overlap with a couple characters for a short time, but for the most part it's its own story. It's a novel about two emergency room doctors fake dating for a bit and, surprise, surprise... falling in love for real! Okay, I'll dial back my sarcasm because the two of the main characters are precious. I mean, Briana is headstrong and has been hurt in the past and knows what she thinks she wants, and I liked her from the jump. Jacob struggles with social anxieties and has also had his heart crushed. The two get together to put on a front because Jacob's ex girlfriend is now marrying his younger brother and the family is looking to Jacob to see how accepting they should all be on the situation. Oh yeah, and there's a donated kidney, cute socks, a three-legged dog and letter writing thrown in to boot. Pure contemporary rom-com gold if you ask me. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King - I have had this book saved in my favorites on the Hoopla app for probably a year or two now and finally got around to checking it out. I always love a good memoir so thought this would be super interesting. Actually, while Fred Rogers was alive he never wanted a book written about him, he wanted it always to be about the kids, so it wasn't until after his passing that his wife and two sons agreed to this project. This book was really about the totality of Mr. Rogers. It told of his childhood growing up, it went into his background in television, it spoke of the child psychologists that he looked up to and the teachers that he respected to help him when it came to his children's programming, etc. This was a well researched book and really went into the ins and outs of Fred's ethos and why he believed what he did. There were a few parts that I didn't find as interesting (when they did a deep dive into the music, since he was the writer and performer of the majority of the music, but it isn't something I am super knowledgeable about so seemed to go over my head a bit), but overall I found it super fascinating. I walked away with a deeper respect for Fred Rogers and the work he did throughout his life, if that's even possible. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado - Time for some YA (after ther serious tone of Good Neighbor and the sauciness of the two contemporary romance novels before that, I was just feeling a need for some mild mannered teen drama). I liked that the main character was a strong, brown, fat female. As I always say, representation matters and we often don't see fat characters (unless they are side characters or someone going from fat to thin in some aspirational role). I appreciated that the author placed the story in a 'less than perfect family' and that people were willing to step in and call the relationship between Charlie and her mom what it was - toxic. I was stoked that she was able to use it for good (towards her writing project), even though there wasn't much resolution. This was all a bit surfacey for me (young adult doesn't mean that it isn't deep or doesn't move you, it just tends to focus more on the characters than the sex/ adult situations, in my opinion), but I liked the variety in the cast and thought it was decent for what it was. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney - I thought I'd stick with tha YA genre while I was at it (and while I was still waiting for my other books to become available on my Libby app), so I went on a scrolling-fest and came across this title. If you've been around my corner of the Interwebs for a while you probably remember that I really enjoyed the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series. This reminded me of it. Instead of love notes to her crushes (that were never meant to be sent), Quinn kept a journal of lists that fell into the wrong hands. Lists of things she wanted to do before graduating, things she would never say out loud, guys she wanted to kiss, etc. I loved seeing Quinn step out of her shell (even if it was due to a bit of blackmail). The character development in the cast was great (I loved the whole crew - well, minus the racist, snotty kids in her school, of course!). I saw someone say "swoon worthy" and I would absolutely agree. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey - While I was waiting for more of my 'holds' to become available on my Libby app (I'm in line for six books right now, which is the max you can be in line for at one time), I went scrolling back through my Hoopla app and found another series by Tessa Bailey so thought I'd dive in. This one was about the golf world, which is fun because the hubby works in the industry so I am sort of always surrounded by it (whether I like the sport or not ;)). As with most of this author's books, this one was spicy, but a sports centered rom-com. Even though the books contain a bit more sex than I normally would prefer, the storyline carries them enough that I can overlook the X-rated scene(s). Who doesn't love a 'bad boy' turned sweetheart?! Ok, I'm sure Wells wouldn't love that phrase (especially since he's a grump-a-saurus!), but it sort of made me smile how hard he fell for his number one fan, Josephine. And I applaud Josephine for knowing her worth, knowing what she wants and knowing what she is willing to accept. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey - Figured might as well keep the saucy sports rom-com's comin', so grabbed the next book in this series (the third book is expected in February and I believe the fourth is set to be released in the fall of this year too). Instead of golf, this book was about a hockey player and his live-in au pair. I was NOT expecting Tallulah's backstory and thought it definitely made the book a lot more interesting, but I also felt like it threw me for a loop. With the trauma she had endured, I felt like there should have been more to the story. I was left feeling like the book should have been longer and some things should've been dove into a little further. The chemistry between Burgess and Tallulah felt real (and very steamy), even if I would've liked a few more chapters about the substance of their relationship rather than just spice. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

With that, January is done-zo. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always looking to add to my "must read" list! 

What's the best book you've read lately? 

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?