A Break (Kinda)

Hey yʻall!!!

So, in case you  havenʻt noticed, I kinda took a mini hiatus last week. It was unintentional at first. Baby was sick (AGAIN...ugh) and, since we share germs around here, I got a bit of a cold too. And then Josh got sick. Since we were all feeling under the weather, I just didnʻt feel like writing in the blog during the first half of the week. I have no excuse for the second half except that my mood carried over and therefore there were no blog posts. Sorry!

That being said, I  think my little mini break will be carrying over in to the next few weeks.

Iʻve been in a bit of a blogging slump. Itʻs not a big deal because itʻs not like I neeeeeed to blog for monetary gain or anything. Iʻm sure that once things settle down a bit, Iʻll be back on my feet like itʻs nothinʻ!

But for now, Iʻll be taking a bit of a blogging break. Iʻll still be around on Tuesdays and Thursdays and possibly one other day during the week (depending on my mood). Other than that, though...I will be keeping a low profile on the interwebz.

Soo....see ya on Tuesday!

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

Bookish (& Not-So-Bookish) Thoughts is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous. Head on over to link up and join in on the conversation!

1. Lately, Iʻve been feeling like my whole life is in a slump. My anxiety has been pretty active lately. Anxiety = Me feeling like Iʻm a bad mom/fiance/person = Borderline depression = Makes everything else worse. I know that I just need to "ride this wave" but itʻs still so hard. Especially with certain things that have been going on lately. I am holding on for the light at the end of the tunnel.

2. All of this anxiety has contributed to why I havenʻt been around the blog lately. I try to do this post at the very least, but I wasnʻt even really in much of a mood to write this post out. Ah well...weʻre already here, so I may as well push on through! But if I donʻt/havenʻt been commenting on blog posts as much as I usually do, now you know why.

3. Now is the time that I would usually share what Iʻm currently reading, but I donʻt think Iʻm actually reading much of anything right now. Nothing really has caught my attention lately. Huh...weird. I think Iʻm gonna have to browse the Nook store to find something that does catch my interest.

4. I just finished reading The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry and I really enjoyed it. It wasnʻt quite what I was expecting, but it was good nonetheless.

5. Little Miss received a whole bunch of books in her Easter baskets, but her favorite thus far is Too Purpley by Jean Reidy. Itʻs perfect for my girl who hates wearing clothes...haha! I want to get the rest of the books in the collection. My Aunty did good!

6. Itʻs Merrie Monarch week in Hawaii! Merrie Monarch is a Hula exhibition/competition held every spring in Hawaii to celebrate Hula and King David Kalakaua, the Hawaiian king who brought Hula back into the mainstream after the dance was almost lost to Christian missionaries (interesting story-you should look it up!). Hula girls are a real thing, yʻall! But they donʻt belong dancing on your dashboard in coconut bras and grass skirts. Check out the video above to see real hula girls in their element.

7. Iʻm actually feeling a little better after writing this post. Thank you for reading my blog. Knowing that there are people out there who care what I have to say (even when I donʻt have much to say at all) makes me feel a lot better. If youʻve gotten this far leave a comment telling me what words of wisdom you tell yourself when you need some encouraging -- I could really use it!

8. Another thing that made me feel better today: I stopped by my old job today and was able to visit with my old co-workers and kids--with the kiddo in tow. I miss them so much! And being surrounded by people I love lifted my spirits so much.

9. I have been thinking about pre-school and teaching so much lately. I love being a stay at home mom and know that, right now, that is what is best for baby & I. But I canʻt help but miss my kiddos and being in the classroom. I feel like thereʻs something so special about being a teacher to these young souls. Plus, the classroom was always my happy place--there was never a bad mood that couldnʻt be fixed by a smiling kid.

10. Since Iʻm in between books right now, I need some suggestions! What are some books that youʻve read (recently or otherwise) that you really, really enjoyed?

Top 10 Tuesday: Latest 5 Star Reads

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top 10 Latest 5 Star Reads

In general, Iʻm pretty generous with rating books 5 stars. Lately, Iʻve been trying to change how I rate books because, letʻs be real here, not every book is perfect. But there are still loads of books that I end up really loving. Here are a few of those books (all links go to Goodreads):

1. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson --

A funny book about serious stuff like anxiety and depression. This book made me LOL for sure, but it also made me feel like I was part of a community.

2. Donʻt Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

3. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

4. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

5. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

6. The Martian by Andy Weir

7. The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy by Rainn Wilson

8. On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

9, 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

10. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

What are your most recent 5-star reads?

Happy Thoughts for Your Monday

My anxiety has been at an all time high lately. I donʻt talk about my anxiety (usually the social kind, but also just general) because it just doesnʻt really come up in conversation. I have anxiety and I deal with it. But when it gets out of hand, like it has been doing lately, I find it hard to just deal with it. Usually, Iʻll write in my journal or color and Iʻll start feeling better but I wanted to do a little something different today. Alexa made a list of all the good things in her life right now and I wanted to do something similar. Here are some quotes & memes from around the web that are helping me feel a little better.

Other Happy Thoughts: Honey, Spending time with family members I love, making plans to go back to teaching preschool, DIY art projects, Joshua, Salted Butterscotch Frappucinos from Starbucks, Cake Pops also from Starbucks, Lady (my dog), reading good books, Jenny Lawsonʻs Blog, Low key family dinners, family game nights, Meaganʻs wedding coming up!

What are some of your happy thoughts? How do you control your emotions/anxiety when it gets the best of you?

Bookish & Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

1. Itʻs allergy season again. Yay?! Since Hawaii only has like 2 seasons I judge them by whether or not my allergies are going crazy. It is officially allergy season. BONUS: I think the kid has allergies, too. So itʻs fun times all around. I am allergic to grass, smoke, and vog. Lately, the vog has been so bad that weʻve had to keep all our windows and doors closed, otherwise my eyes swell up and I can barely see.

2. I have been seriously considering going back to school online to finish up my Early Childhood Education degree, but Iʻm worried about my grades from my previous school and how that might affect an admission decision. And actually paying for school. This is something that Iʻll definitely have to pray about.

3. Josh is super excited about Batman vs. Superman coming out this weekend....Iʻm kinda meh about it. Give me Civil War already!!!

4. Speaking of Josh, itʻs his birthday this weekend! On Sunday, actually! He has to work on Sunday, so Iʻm pretty bummed out...and we were supposed to do something on Wednesday (his normal day off) but he had to work then, too! Weʻll figure something out, Iʻm sure.

5. I think I pulled a muscle in my shoulder. :/ It hurts so bad! But I donʻt know how I did. Go figure, haha.

6. I am currently reading Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. It is seriously FUNNY and pretty inspiring as well. I own her first book as well, but have yet to read it. Iʻll probably read it as soon as Iʻm done with this one. If you havenʻt yet, go pick up one of her books or check out her blog.

7. Iʻve been seriously slacking on the reviews front. I just havenʻt been in the review writing mood...nor do I have a lot of time to actually write reviews. I have like 3 books waiting to be reviewed...maybe Iʻll do ʻem today (doubt it).

8. This ecard is 100% ME:

Particularly me this week when we went to Target to grocery shop and left with 0 groceries, but like $50 worth of toys for the kiddo and my cousins. Thank God for coupons! We actually only spent about $30.

9. Honeyʻs favorite read this week is Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger. We picked it up from the library earlier this week. It is so funny! Even Daddy and I are enjoying it.

10. Josh says that I need to take an actual break where I do nothing...I donʻt really know what thatʻs like, haha. But maybe he has a point, so Iʻm gonna go figure out what taking a break is like...See yʻall next week!

Bookish & Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly meme hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. Head on over to see what Bookish (and non-bookish thoughts) sheʻs thinking & to join the conversation!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

I have been feeling so tired lately. The kiddo has not been sleeping well at night and sheʻs never been a good napper, so that leaves us with a very tired kid and very tired parents. Also, not enough brain power to think of something really good to post...whoops! I know, I know...I need to start planning this stuff. Trust me, itʻs a goal Iʻll be working on next month. As for today, enjoy some of our favorite pictures from this week.

I finally broke my self-imposed library ban and hereʻs my little book haul! I did limit myself to only 6 books...which was SUPER hard, haha. A lot of these were newer books that I was anticipating but didnʻt want to buy just yet, a few have been on my TBR forever. I canʻt wait to read ʻem.

The kiddo has been wanting to ʻreadʻ this book by herself lately. I think she likes all the colors and the board pages are easy for her to turn. I think itʻs so cute watching her read by herself...and I canʻt help but to be a little proud, too!

We went to a library book sale on Friday and got all of these (60 books + 1 video game) for $17. 

The kid also learned how to reach the books on the upper shelf...by stacking other books on the floor and standing on them. Oh this child...

Iʻll be back tomorrow (hopefully in a better mood) with the normal bloggy things!

Show & Tell Tuesday: My Life Mixtape

Hello! Itʻs Tuesday...usually Tuesdays around here mean Top 10 Tuesday, but I couldnʻt think of anything to go with the topic so Iʻm trying something new! Show and Tell Tuesdays are hosted by Andrea over at Momfessionals. 

Todayʻs Show & Tell topic is ʻMy Life Mixtapeʻ...I think thatʻs pretty self-explanatory so letʻs get this party started!

BEST. SONG. EVER (aka my favorite song)

Iʻve loved this song since before it was even officially released back in ʻ08. Taylor is my girl (please let me be part of your squad, T). And this song has always reminded me to be fearless.

Forever Kind of Love (aka a song that reminds me of Josh)

Aside from the fact that Megan Batoon and Ian Eastwood are two of my favorite professional dancers, Josh choreographed a dance to this song for me for Valentineʻs Day 2015.

Always My Baby (aka a song that reminds me of Honey)

No joke, this song ALWAYS makes me cry.

Good ʻol Days (a song that brings back good memories)

When I was younger, we would always have epic family parties where my grandpa and uncles would play Hawaiian music while my mom & aunties danced hula. Since then, Noho Paipai (Rocking Chair) has been one of my favorite Hawaiian songs!

I could think of more, but the kiddo is crying...Momma duty calls! If you could make a mixtape of your life, what songs would be on it?