life lately ❤️ feeling a little down but taking it one day at a time :)

1/13-1/14: such a fun little weekend getaway! 30 is around the corner and I’m honestly anxious/excited for this new decade✨

1/10/24 - finished a cocktail book/memoir and let me tell you, it’s a gem! review below 🥂

Single AF Cocktails

By Ariana Madix

176 pages

Non-fiction, Cookbooks, POP Culture, Cooking, Memoir

Summary: Ariana Madix is apart of the popular Bravo reality tv show “Vanderpump Rules.” She joined the cast during season 2 when it was rumored that she was having an affair with Tom Sandoval while he was with his then girlfriend Kristine Doute. They squashed those rumors and they were proven untrue. Then in season 3 Ariana and Tom started dating and seemed to be soulmates. However, their relationship came to a tragic end when Ariana found out that Tom was having an affair with one of her close friends on the show. This cocktail book is her story and how she experienced the love, the loss, and the resilience of it all.

Review: I am a huge “Vanderpump Rules” fan. I discovered the show right after the airing of season 8 and binged the show religiously every since. When I started the show Ariana and Tom were together and were presumed to be together forever. Imagine the SHOCK when Scandoval broke (the name the media called the affair) just 2 years later and became a phenomenon. They were together for 9 years and Ariana said in the episode where they officially went their separate ways that she was prepared to spend the rest of her life with him. Throughout the months that followed there was a lot of rumors, speculation, and truths that came to light. This cocktail book is Ariana’s side and perspective. It is so incredibly creative and the cocktails seem so easy and affordable to make. The drinks are categorized into 5 sections that tell the story of Ariana’s relationship. This book highlights her relationship, the break up, and coming out on the other side stronger than ever before. There are some behind the scene stories that never aired in front of the cameras and some did come as a shock to me. I love the way she tells the stories in such a honest and raw way. This cocktail book really sheds a light on the real-ness of their relationship and how it wasn’t just for the cameras. If anything, this cocktail book shows that Ariana really loved Tom and his mistakes really cost him the person that would have tried to give him the world. The pictures, stories, and drinks are so beautifully done and I also love that there is alcohol free drink recipes. This book is definitely one of my favorite cocktail books! 5/5 stars from this Vanderpump fan for sure. I want to leave y’all with a quote that I absolutely loved: “Though some have said this affair was bad karma coming to get me, I don’t see it that way. I think the universe shoved me in a different direction because I wasn’t where I was suppose to be.”

1/9/24 - was not feeling great but was able to finish my book ✨ review below!

The Party Guest

by Amanda Robson

400 pages

Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller

Summary: Ralph is throwing an extravagant birthday party trip for his 45th birthday. He invites/is traveling with his now girlfriend - Gemma, son - Patrick, and daughter - Janice along. Traveling separately is the woman he truly wants, his ex-wife Sarah, and she will be accompanied by her partner Jack. A jealous ex-husband, a gold digging girlfriend, and a committed ex-wife to her new beau. What could possibly go wrong?

Review: I love a thriller with multiple POV. It keeps me interested and entertained as I read and dive into every characters POV and thoughts. This book started out very strong and I was hooked for the first 150 pages. I truly NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. But as the reading experience continued after those first 150 pages, the book began to lull a little bit. The writing became choppy and every chapter had unnecessary descriptions that felt like a need to take up space or prolong the story. Throughout the beginning of the novel, I was going back and forth in my mind about which character I supported more, who I believed more, and what I felt actually happened. That’s the beauty of thrillers and mysteries. Even when you think you have it, something changes and you have to go back to drawing board. But this novel was able to keep me guessing for only the first half, after that first half, I felt like I knew what was happening. At one point in the novel, the story became incredibly intense and sad instead of tense and thrilling. To be honest, by the end, I didn’t find any redeeming qualities in anyone and the book could have been cut by 100 pages. There was also much to be desired by the end, I needed much more. I would recommend this book to someone who is just getting into thrillers and needs something that is somewhat easy to follow. The writing style can be confusing and each chapter is a different characters point of view in 2nd person. However, in the middle of a characters chapter, it will cut to a completely different characters’ description and monologue. I would say stay on your toes and read intently with this book. Overall, I gave this book a 2/5 stars but I have heard other books by this author are great such as My Darling and Obsession that I would like to read and review in the future . But for now, I would like to leave you with a quote from this novel that I really resonated to me: “Some people believe we will all be together in the afterlife. Surely, after so many centuries of death, by now, if that was true, we would have some proof of it? Or at least a very clear sign? And so I can’t buy that theory. I will never rely on hope that everything is perfect in the afterlife. Life is life. Death is death. Time is now.”

1/8/24 - Mondays can be rough but this one wasn’t so bad 🎈

1/7/24 - chill day at home watching all the gay movies 🌈

1/6/24 - first Saturday of the year 🍻

1/5/24 - first week of 2024 was one of the best weeks in a while 🥹

1/4/24 - thankful for today ✨

1/2/24 - beautiful day to start off a beautiful year!

was inspired by @whilereadingandwalking and decided to go reading and walking 📖🤍

equal parts coffee and whip cream 😋

the coziest afternoon 📖

one of my current reads! starting off this festive fall season with a boo 👻

in this home, it’s spooky season 🎃🖤

I listened to a podcast today that highlighted the importance of losing your mind. Letting thoughts float and not letting them stick around. I never thought of it this way. I never truly let myself think (the problem right there) that my thoughts were a big reason why a lot of my actions never paralleled to who I am truly meant to be. My thoughts bring me into an intense spiral to where I feel empty, worthless, and not enough. And I let the feeling settle over me until the thought fades and I move on with my day. But the icky feeling of worthlessness still lingers. Now, I am truly analyzing this. I tried to go through my day today ignoring my thoughts and just doing what I need to do. It’s been helpful and I feel a big shift in my anxiety. It’s only been a day but it’s been a good day. And this pocket of truth has already helped me. I wanted to share so hopefully maybe you can explore your relationship with your mind. And maybe lose it once in a while.

it’s mushroom season and all is right in the world 🍄