Wordless Wednesday (It's Been a minute)

 

TMST: Pets!

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

2/21: Time for a pet update! Tell us about yours

Awwww I am a proud furbaby Mama!! 

We currently have two pets. 

One cat named Mamyia. Nicknames include (but not limited to): Mimi, Maya, Ma'am, Loaf, Mama's Girl, Madame, and Missy. 

She is doing good from our last update in 2021! Oof so long ago! She is a Mama's girl and sweet when she wants to be. She is on a diet but not much I can do when she eats bugs and stuff out of the sink. We force her to play (even Ralph will try and play with her) but she is a loaf and only gets zoomies once in a while. She will be turning 8 in October!

We also have one dog named Ralph. Nicknames include (but not limited to): Ralphie, Ralphie-butt, Bootie, Goat Boi, Lord Ralphington, or Handsome Boi. 

He's doing good. Still the most handsome boy I know! He just turned 5 a few weeks ago. In January, we had to rush him to the vet because he was freaking out. He was shaking his ear and trying to hide in weird places. He kept looking around thinking something was there. Poor guy! They found that his ear was full of gunk and junk. They flushed it out and gave him medicine to fight any sort of infection or irritation. He is MUCH better now. 

Sadly, Toki has now passed away and has joined his brother over the rainbow bridge!

TMST: Fur-Babies

8/24/2021 Do you have any pets? Tell us about them (past or present)

I have always been a huge animal lover even when I was a wee one. So many pets are waiting for me when I go to Heaven. 

I've had a range of animals...cats, dogs, chickens, turtles, fish, lizard, birds....and that is just what I remember. Sooo many furbabies. This post would be so long if I typed up each one. 

Currently I have three pets, so I'll share some about them: 

Toki - my first chinchilla. He's 7 now. His birthday is in May. We adopted him from a breeder along with his twin brother, Roah. I had always wanted a chinchilla and it felt like a good compromise since we were not ready to pay for a cat or dog. At the time JP (Future-hubby) were in an apartment and it costs an arm or leg! Sadly, his brother, Roah, passed away shortly after we brought them home. The vet believed he had a heart condition. A couple weeks later,  we brought him a brother so he wouldn't be alone. They loved each other. Sadly Rei passed a few months ago. Toki is doing okay alone, but you can tell he's sad still, but he has us and his other furry siblings. 

Mamyia - My darling and bipolar kitty. She's turning 6 this year in October. I call her my Halloween kitty because we saved her on Halloween. She was barely old enough to be away from her mom. She had been left alone (not sure how) and my parents found her shivering on their porch. We took her and raised her as our own. She was a tiny thing and now she is our own Pusheen kitty! She is for sure a mama's girl. She is bipolar I swear and she is super picky on who she likes. Typical cat for sure ;) 

Ralph - Our "newest" additional. He's turning 4 in January. We decided we wanted a dog when we finally bought our own house. We originally had our eyes on a golden lab pup, but that didn't come to be. We found this lil guy at our local Shelter. He was the sweetest thing. They had found him roaming the hills of West Virginia (I think...was it Kentucky? I can't remember now. It was one of those southern states). They shipped him to the shelter by us and there we found him. The name Ralph was what the shelter gave him. They said we could change the name, but we kept it. He is goofy, sweet, and super loving. He loves everyone and everything. He is anxious though and gets scared at the most random times. Love him to bits. 

 

Wordless Wednesday (Showing off the fur babies!)

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Blogging and Hobbies/Chores

Does blogging cut into your other hobbies/chores? 

Hahahaha. I love this question, but I feel my answer will be short. 

Chores YES. Any excuse to avoid dishes...."Sorry honey - I have to type up a blog post....can you grab the laundry really quick??" hehehehehe 

Hobbies...no....this is my main hobby. LOLL Plus other hobbies are small and have their time and place. Like painting or gardening or etc...they are for when I am not blogging or reading. 

TMST: Favorite Posts to Write

  

What are your favorite posts to write?

OOOOOooooo. I like this question!

I love writing my reviews OF COURSE. Especially when the book was SUPER good or SUPER bad. It's so fun rambling on and on and getting gifs to really show how I feel. FUN!

However....in my heart of hearts...I think my favorite was when I used to cast some of the books I read. It was so fun digging up some actor/musician/somebody that best represented the character I was seeing in my head. Sighs. Not sure why I let that die out...maybe the amount of time I took and I was in college at the time and I had ZERO time to dedicate? Not sure, but I should bring that post series back. It was so much fun!!

Had to give Mimi the bottom game box in order to keep her out of the treasury money.

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Comfort Foods and Reads

  

Oct 13th: Comfort foods and comfort reads: now that the weather is getting cooler, share some of yours.

Oooo comfort foods and comfort reads?

We'll start with comfort reads that I love reading when the weather is cold. Here is my list (no order):

- Romance novels are a #1

- Scary/Horror novels

- Cozy mysteries

- Xmas books

- Paranormal 

 One of my favorite things especially when the weather is getting cooler. Here is a list of my favorite comfort foods (no order to my list):

- Chocolate

- Pie! 

- Soup of every kind. 

- Crock pot meals!

- Turkey

- Stuffing

- Potatoes of every kind...especially mashed with gravy

- Apple Cider

- Apples

- Donuts

Those are just a few. I can't wait to hit up the nearest Cider Mill. 

Mamyia loves comfort food too ;)

Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Reading and Blogging Mistakes

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. 

  

What mistakes have you learned to stop repeating when it comes to reading and blogging?

Oh my. What a loaded question. Is there really any mistakes that I have actually stopped? *does some soul searching and burns a hole in my brain* 

Well - I know for sure I am a touch better at being done with a book and DNFing. Sure, I still am one for self-torture, but I have learned it is okay to just stop reading it or do a quick skim to the end. It's still hard for me, but I have gotten better. 

One mistake I made at the very beginning was not exposing myself enough by blog surfing and commenting. I had assumed that people would just comment and not expect something in return. I'm still bad at constant commenting, but I will do a TON at one time and try to visit my favorites at minimum once a week. 

Another mistake I made was getting too upset about not having the follower count and comment count I wanted and what other people have. I've learned to take what I can get and be happy for the loyal bloggers in my life. 

I think the biggest mistake I made was hating audiobooks and ebooks. I was a purist and only wanted paper books. I avoided both for the longest time. I am now addicted to both. Blodeuedd really helped me find my love of audio. Thanks girl ;)

I think Mamyia is done for the week just like me. ;) 

Wordless Wednesday

TMST: What things turn you off in a book blurb

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

What things turn you off in a book blurb

The book blub is really the thing that is supposed to cement your interest. The book cover draws you and the book blub captures your interest. A bad book blurb can really turn a reader away. 

For me...I would have to say if the book blurb is too long or too short. A long-winded one bores me and a short one doesn't give me enough info to really understand the book. Sure, there are exceptions to every rule.

Also, when the book blurb compares it to another book. For example, saying, "IF YOU LIKED TWILIGHT YOU WILL LIKE THIS" will make me drop the book like it was on fire. -_- Please stand on your own merits. Sometimes I may still read it if it captures my attention enough, but usually, I roll my eyes and walk away. I don't have any issues with it being a touch similar, but let your book stand on its own words. Sure it is a marketing skill and it works on some, but someone who did marketing for a while I can see right through it. 

 Mhmmm...what else? 

OH! Not having the book blurb on the back. Sure it is not a huge deal breaker, but it annoys me to no ends. I don't want to have to open the book to read the blurb. 

oooh Mamyia...

Wednesday Writing Prompt #10

Happy Wednesday everyone! This is a Wednesday prompt that showcases my responses to the writing prompts in this 300 Writing Prompt book. Just something fun to do! Feel free to join in. I may not share every week, but it is fun to share when I do.

Woah! Been SO long since I've shared anything. I got lazy part way through the year. Whoooppppssss. LOL 

- Write about a time everything changed in the blink of an eye. 

I'm sure there are a few, but the first one that comes to mind was in 2012. 

My BF and I had been dating a few months at this point. I had decided that I wanted to move out of my parents' house and move in with my friend (who also happens to be my BF's sister too). I sat BF down and told him my decision. 

He looked at me and without any hesitation asked, "Why don't you move in with me instead?"

Woah! I said yes and my life changed. 6 years later we are still together and bought a new house last year. 

- Write about a souvenir you bought or received.

My favorite was the handmade giraffe that my aunt bought for me many, many years ago. It was from Africa from when she went there as a traveling nurse to help out some locals. 

I'm sad because it is slowly falling apart now. 

- What is the biggest trigger for stress in your life?

When things/decisions are 100% out of my hands. When I have no say in the decision making or outcome I tend to explode into a world of stress. 

~*~

What about you guys? 

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Celebrating Halloween

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

What do you like to do to celebrate Halloween?

I love, love, LOVE Halloween. One of my favorite holidays of the year! There are so many things I like to do to celebrate this lovely holiday. 

1) Decorate my home. Now that we bought a house I have had to buy so many more decorations. Going from an apartment to a house is a huge jump.

2) Eat candy. Umm. Duh. LOL

3) Watch scary/creepy movies. Nothing is better than warming up to a scary movie! Slashers are my favorite of the genre. 

4) Dress up! This year we had a Halloween party and for the first time, we decided to have a costume party. So fun! But yes, I love dressing up and being something I'm not. This year BF and I inadvertently dressed up as a couple. We won the couple's contest, but it was totally unplanned. LOL. I was a 18th-century lady and he was a pirate. We made up the story that he killed my hubbie and I am a widow (which explains my dress). 

My friend who helped me set up (unofficial co-host) dressed as Holly from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. She won "Sexiest Costume" and "Best Overall". 

Our other friend won "Most Creative" for being a female Harry Potter (not pictured is her homemade broom)

I'm bummed I forgot to take pictures of all of the winners. The troubles of being a hostess indeed!

Here is a list of the other winners though!

*Creepiest/Scariest - "Sexy male" inmate

*Funniest - Waldo

*Most Boring - Someone who didn't dress up got this. But was wearing a "Sherlock Holmes" shirt and we dubbed her as a FanGirl. LOL

Mamyia and Ralph even dressed up! :)

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Ghost Story Books

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

What are some of your favorite ghost story books?

Ghost stories. Mhmmmm. I do not read a lot of ghost stories. I watch a lot of movies with ghosts, but reading? I’m not sure if it counts with PNR type books, so I shall not count that. 
I did recently read a short story about ghosts that was pretty good! Here is the link to my review. Check it out! Last I check it was free on Amazon. I think they were ghosts? Not 100% sure there. Buut it was creepy and good. 

In my youth, I loved the Goosebumps books. Those were fun too!


I would like to say that Edgar Allen Poe and HP Lovecraft are the Kings of Ghosts and other things spooky, so I highly recommend them. I haven’t read any this Halloween season yet. I should though! I tend to sprinkle in their works throughout the year. There are so many stories they work! Someday I will be able to claim to have read them all!

"WHAT ARE THIS!??"

Tell Me Something Tuesday: When Series Go Too long

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

At what point do you think a series has gone on too long?

This was an easy one for sure! There are some things that make me stop reading a series:

1) It feels like a chore. When I feel forced to continue reading on and I dread it…then it is time to say buh-bye. 

2) Things start getting boring and recycled. When the material starts getting repetitive and boring, then I walk away. The author is running out of ideas and there is no point moving forward. 

3) When a character does something or changes too much it is time to say done. There are times when the main character does something out of character or changes to the point it cannot even be the same character. This usually means the series is dying. 

Those are just the first 3 and most common things that indicate that a series is done and I have to walk away. 

The only pic I have been able to get of these two babies together. Mamyia is still not pleased with this pup.

Tell me Something Tuesday: Reading Habits

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

How have your reading habits changed since you started blogging?

I started blogging years and years ago now so it is hard to remember how my habits were before…but I think overall my habits have changed especially in the last couple of years. 

I may not read as much, but I read more constantly. I have a more consistent reading habit. In my youth I would usually read for hours and hours nonstop and get a couple of books done at a time and take a couple days off. Oooo the free time I had! Now, I have to really make time for it. During lunches, breaks, waiting in line, listening to audiobooks, walking, before bed, when I wake up, and random down times throughout the day. 

I also have been more “caught up” with newer books. Since I started blogging I am able to read the newest books because 1) I have an adult job and I can buy whatever I want and 2) Sites like Netgalley exist and I get asked once in a while by publishers/authors. It is fun, but it does take away focus from my TBR list sometimes. 

Overall, I think my habits have changed because of blogging. 

Ooo Mamyia