ASSERTION = a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.

“Poor people are lazy and abusing the system” = an assertion.  There are people in this country who are poor because they work a job that won’t pay them enough to ever be considered rich. They are kind people making an honest living. They’re working the jobs that are beneath many people but must be done by someone. We can’t ALL work the same jobs making big bucks. YES, there are people without morals who will take a free ride on a system meant to help humanity do better in this world. BUT, there are also people rich as hell who also have no morals and cheat different systems. Not everyone looks down on them though. Many people admire them because they did “whatever it took” to get to the top. Trust me, I know good poor people AND good rich people. We are all individuals with our own choices to make. We can’t keep trying to group everyone together. My advice is to avoid making such grand assertions. They are not facts. 

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

Within the first three pages I was hooked into this book. It’s 1916 and Sophie Lefèvre is roused awake by her sister, German soldiers have their young brother outside. What can they do to save him? Instantly Sophie's character shines. She’s brave in the face of danger. It sets the tone for this book. I realized immediately that this book was going to be a pull on my heart strings. While the story is fiction, it too closely relates to the experiences of real people during The First World War.

That first night, the new Kommandant notices a painting of Sophie in her home. It was risky of Sophie to display the painting by her husband Édouard so prominently during a time when troops were known for stealing whatever they wanted from citizens. That decision is what set about her own fate. The Kommandant became overly interested in the painting and Sophie herself. Suddenly Sophie is forced to make decisions she doesn’t want to make to protect her family and friends in their little town. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees that Sophie is acting selflessly to help them. Is she a traitor to her own people?

The painting eventually goes missing and turns up a century later in the home of Liv Halston. A wedding present from her late husband, Liv is rather attached to the painting. In her mission to prove her ownership of the painting we finally learn what truly happened to Sophie Lefèvre through old letters, witness accounts, and historical records. Her story is also completed by flashbacks into Sophie’s own perspective.


Jojo Moyes is an expert at weaving such a compelling story that you absolutely can’t believe that the characters are fiction. In each of her books I’ve felt the emotions of the people so deeply myself. The sorrow that Sophie felt was so real. I found myself crying with Sophie. The Girl You Left Behind is absolutely a must-read for any book lover. I read this book on my kindle but intend to buy it in print for my permanent collection.

The Not-So-Halloween Decoration

I frequent Target stores a few times a week. Like many, I spend plenty on each trip. That is why I kept passing the opportunity to buy this cute black-framed square Halloween art. It was only $3, but I waited, and now it's gone from my local stores. They don't sell it online. I don't even have a picture of the original decor.

It was a stand alone square with what appeared to be book page collage on the front and "trick or treat" printed in black over the book pages.

For the price of free (because I had all of these things already) I made my own. It started out as an idea of replication, then evolved into something better. I selected some of the best moments from HP The Deathly Hallows. Then after debating between trick or treat, thankful, fall, and boo, I decided on "Always". Duh right?

Now I have year-long decor but it looks nice for October too. :P
[ My actual HP book was not harmed for the project. It was a used copy from Goodwill ]

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson = one of the best heroines ever written.

If you’re new to this series, these are a few things I think you should know (I might think of more later):

1. The books are told from Mercy’s perspective. She is one tough woman with a heart of gold. It’s easy to like her character.
2. In my opinion, this series does the best at depicting the dynamic of a werewolf pack. Also, it’s refreshing to read about a tough alpha male who isn’t dominant over his partner. He’s loving and gentle with Mercy. Dominance is expressed by Adam but, it’s among the wolves and it’s not as aggressively depicted as I’ve seen by other authors. It’s a respected and appreciated power.
3. You can read each book as a stand alone but, like any series, it’s best to start at the beginning. The author Patricia Briggs does a great job of providing mini re-caps of things you need to know in each book. I can’t stand when the re-cap takes about a page or two and is so “in your face”. I love an author who sneaks in story reminders in more smooth transitional ways.
4. They have sex… but you don’t get to read how. :)  Trust me, I love some steamy romance novels. This series just happens to be a nice break away from those. They’re adults and you read the prelude to their love-making, but there’s no play by play. It’s OK, I promise. ;)

In Fire Touched, we follow Mercy on her mission to find peace with the Gray Lords. She makes a bold declaration to protect all beings of her city which causes quite a stir among pack members, humans, the fae, and definitely The Gray Lords (old fae rulers). Mercy tends to land in tough spots like this regularly. Her intentions are always good even if everyone is distracted by the trouble that her good ideas can cause them. It was an entertaining read to say the least. I anxiously wait for “Silence Fallen” this March.

BTW, I think it’s time I found Mercy’s personal trainer.

 

Originally posted on thelitbuzz.com

Do you have enough nerve?

The year 2015 was the last year of my 20's. In American culture it's symbolic (for most people) to turn 30. It was for me as well. It was fun, and not too serious. I had a surprise Harry Potter party with my family. We’re only as old as we feel after all! I am grateful for the opportunity to age. It's a luxury not given to everyone.

What's so special about me? Nothing outrageous I tell you. I'm a mother of three who finished her degree at 30 and began a healthy lifestyle at 29. It's my mission to tell everyone it's never too late to start working toward their goals.

Don't let the length of time to complete a goal feel so daunting that you don't even try. If you're fortunate, that time is going to pass you by regardless. Why not take active steps toward any goal of yours no matter how big or small? I was 20 the first time I went to college. I went back when I was 26. By then I’d acquired a stepchild and would later give birth to another child. There’s a program out there fit for everyone. Go at your own pace because eventually you’ll reach the day when you’re finished. College isn’t for everyone. No pressure from me here. It was the right choice for me despite it being time consuming. In my mind it was worth all of my effort. I hope I still think so when I’m repaying the loans. ;)

It’s never too late to be a better you. For me, that meant my health. There are hundreds of articles to read about cancer as well as many other diseases and how they’re linked to our foods, electronics, and Tupperware. At first I started small. I worked out at home and I cut soda and fast food. Then I joined a gym after I realized I wanted to keep going. Food is the hardest part of a healthy lifestyle. We will always love the bad stuff we shouldn’t love. I have those things here and there. Health is a marathon not a race. I’ve tightened in further on food and surprised myself when I came to like broccoli and spinach. I’ve been a lifetime hater of vegetables.  

What has been the result? I have improved levels of energy and overall happiness. Exercise and food can be a serious anti-depressant. While I’m thrilled that it’s also helped me drop some baby weight, the best part about your health is that it will sustain you. It makes you happier and betters the odds that you won’t develop some of the avoidable illnesses. I don’t want to leave my family any earlier than I have to and taking care of me is really the best course of action that   I can take to be preventative.

Whatever your goal is – heath, career, education – go for it. You’re never too old to make the first step on a long journey. We have one life to live and I believe that we have to keep reaching for ways to improve ourselves.