Sunday, June 2, 2019

The Sunday Post [20]

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.

News:

Summer has officially arrived in Texas, and it's hot. I have to wake up before the sun if I want to mow the yard, because if I wait too long, it's too hot and I'm miserable. We've gone swimming once, but it's exhausting with three kids. My parents have to go with me so there's one adult per child. Safety first! Although, it's still super stressful. I prefer the inflatable pool in the backyard, but I understand the appeal of an actual swimming pool. One of our local parks has a Splash Pad, which the kids love. We've done that a few times, and they alternate between playing in the water and sliding/swinging on the playground. 

June means I've officially hit the last month of my twenties. I'll be thirty at the end of the month! My mom asked me what I wanted to do, and my immediate response was "Massages!" but we decided to go on a weekend beach trip for the kids. We usually go to the beach for our son's birthday, but it didn't work out this year, and this way he finally gets to go. He's thrilled, obviously, but my previous concerns about deep water are still valid. I had no idea being a parent was so stressful -- everything is scary, haha. ;)

Washing machine update: After having multiple issues with the appliance company (they were really terrible), Lowe's refunded my original purchase so I could buy a new washing machine. Yay! It took over a month, but I can actually do laundry now. The appliance company was super shady about what they were doing, and even Lowe's had a hard time getting a straight answer from them, so thankfully I don't have to deal with that anymore. 

Previous week on the blog:

Sunday: Nothing!
Monday: Nothing!
Tuesday: Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum [Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆
Thursday: Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout ⋆⋆⋆
Friday: DNF&Y [17]

What I'm currently reading:

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry 
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

I'm almost finished with The Girl in Red, and it's amazing! It's giving me book anxiety, which makes me want to sneak a peak at the end, but I've been able to keep from doing that. It's so tempting though, because things. This book is seriously stressing me out, but in the best possible way. Read this! It's fucking fantastic.

I loved Acevedo's The Poet X, and the audio was phenomenal (the author narrates both of her books). Obviously, I waited for the audio for With the Fire on High and I cannot wait to start it! I'm completely immersed in The Girl in Red, so it has my undivided attention, but I'll definitely be finishing it today and jumping into With the Fire on High. June is starting off on the right reading foot!

What I plan on reading next:

When Dimple Met Rishi (Dimple and Rishi, #1) by Sandhya Menon
A Murder of Crows (The Ravenscourt Tragedies, #1) by Annie Kirke
Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith

What I'm watching:

I've been watching the first few Harry Potter movies with my son. We've been reading the books, and I told him we'd watching the movies at some point. He's still a little too young for anything after Goblet of Fire, and I stopped that one after the maze (he didn't need to see what Voldy did to Harry). He loved the dragons! His five-year-old brain is fascinated by magic, and it makes me happy. 

The other day he was following me around the house whispering nonsense, and I finally stopped to ask him what he was doing. He said, "I was speaking snake to you like Harry Potter, Mama!" My heart exploded with happiness. I know we can't expect our children to love the things we love, but it's always fun when they do!

Challenge updates:

Audiobook Challenge: 23 / 30+
Beat the Backlist Challenge: 35 / 100
Discussion Challenge: 2 / 11-20
Goodreads Challenge: 184 / 500

35 comments:

  1. Ah, but you have to treat yourself for your 30th birthday! (Said the woman who never got the chance to do anything special for her birthdays). Best wishes in advance! ๐ŸŽ‰ ๐ŸŽ‚ ๐ŸŽŠ

    I was wondering about your washing machine! I'd daresay you gained in the end, but it was a LONG and PAINFUL way to it LOL.

    Like mother, like son! ๐Ÿ‘

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Taking my kids to the beach is a treat! I love spending time with them, and I know we'll all have a blast together. Plus, I LOVE looking for seashells. <3 As long as there are cupcakes, I'll be happy. ;)

      It was truly long and painful, but I'm very happy with my shiny new washing machine! I'm so happy I can actually wash my clothes whenever I need to.

      Delete
  2. I'm glad you got refunded! And I hope you have fun on your trip :)
    Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I honestly didn't care what happened at that point, I just wanted to be able to wash clothes. I didn't realize how often I used our washing machine until I couldn't use it anymore. The trip is scheduled for later this month, and I'm sure we'll have tons of fun! :)

      Delete
  3. Splash pads are awesome, aren't they? :) It's still a bit cool here... I mean it's beautiful today but the temp is only 67, but it's sunny and gorgeous- -I'm actually surprised we haven't had more heat yet, we usually do by now. Not like you guys, but still... but I'm not complaining.

    Glad the washing machine saga is better! Glad to hear Lowe's at least stepped up to help you.

    It is a good feeling when kids have similar interests. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds like you're having amazing weather and I'm super jealous! It's cloudy and humid here, on top of being hot, and it makes me want to stay inside all day. We're trying to enjoy the splash pad now, because I know eventually it'll be too hot for even that. I don't want to cook my children like eggs on a sidewalk, haha. I prefer COLD weather and hope to live somewhere snowy in the future.

      Yay for working washing machines! Right?? I love that he already likes Harry Potter. <3

      Delete
  4. Happy birthday! My birthday is the 22nd.

    I hope the weather is nice enough to take the kids to the lake this week. I was going to say "Tuesday" because that was my only day off prior to this Friday, but that was my last day at my job, so I guess we could go any nice day! I'm staying at home with the kids and writing full time now.

    I loved When Dimple Met Rishi. I hope you like it too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy birthday! June babies. ;)

      I hope you find plenty of time to write at home! I know that with my kiddos at the house, I barely have time to keep it clean, haha. I typically have to wait until they're asleep before I can read or blog. Good luck! :)

      Delete
  5. Good to hear Lowe's helped you out, and that you FINALLY have a machine that works. SQUEEE! You're going to read WDMR. I adored this book, so if it ends up on your DNF&Y list I will cry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes!! A working washing machine makes a BIG difference! Three kids under the age of 5... that's a lot of laundry. Plus, we use cloth diapers, so those also need to be washed regularly.

      I'm really excited about When Dimple Met Rishi! If it's anything like There's Something About Sweetie, I'll love it. :)

      Delete
  6. I’m thrilled on your behalf that you finally have a working washing machine again!

    I remember how stressful it was taking the kids to the beach when they were small, I had the three younger ones who were all born 16 months apart, wear marine safety vests, and spent a lot of time making sure they didn’t go in water any deeper than their knees!

    Have a great reading week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I am also thrilled to have a working washing machine! Haha.

      It's stressful taking small children anywhere near large bodies of water. 16 months apart?? Wow! Go you! I make sure there is at least one adult present per child, haha. It's easier when I have more eyes and hands to help with everything. ;)

      Delete
  7. Glad you are getting a new washing machine! Hope you have a lovely week!

    Here’s my Sunday Post!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got the new washing machine last week! I've already done about 200 loads of laundry. ;) Thanks for stopping by! I'll be sure to check out your Sunday Post (hopefully before next Sunday, haha). <3

      Delete
  8. I loved it when my kid could share in Potter too! He listened to the audiobooks up to book 4 and we put it on a chapter timer so he wouldn't hear the maze part until we could listen with him... Well, he decided to sneak some extra audio time and listened to it by himself when he woke up in the morning. :/ Luckily, he handled it well with the exception of constantly repeating xx is dead at random points.

    Enjoy the new washing machine!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right?? Goblet of Fire is when it gets a little too dark for younger kids. Voldy essentially tortures Harry, kills Cedric, and then all hell breaks loose. The rest of the books are always tinted with that darkness, even though there are some lighter areas. Although, I sort of love that your kid was so excited that he listened to a book in secret, haha! I'm happy it wasn't traumatic and he was able to talk to you about it afterwards.

      Hey, I'll always be okay with my kids sneaking in some extra reading time. My girls are two, and they always have books in their bed at night. They have a small light in their room, but it's not bright enough to read with (they also don't know how to read yet), but I always have to pull 3-4 books out of their beds once they finally fall asleep. <3

      Delete
  9. Yay, happy birthday month! The beach trip sounds fun. So glad you finally got a new washing machine! I love how much your son loves Harry Potter - it's so fantastic that you can share that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay for birthdays! 30 seems important, yeah? Like it's some big milestone in my life. I know that I won't feel any differently the day of or the day after, because it's just another day, but still... 30!! Yes! The new washing machine is perfection. I love it. It works. I'm happy. ;) Right?? Harry Potter was my childhood, so I'm thrilled he's shown an interest. It's not like I've been reading them to him since he was in the womb or anything... <3

      Delete
  10. I can't wait for The Girl in Red. I will be getting it on release day. I love Henry's works. Glad the mess with the washing machine was finally resolved!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's amazing! Seriously, it's so, so good. It's also stressful, because bad things are around every corner, and I could never anticipate what was going to happen next. I hope you love it as much as I did! Yay for working washing machines! :)

      Delete
  11. I will have to check out The Girl in Red, I've never heard of it! I'm reading With the Fire on High sometime this month. When Dimple Met Rishi was super cute, hope you enjoy! And happy almost birthday!! Have a great week!

    ~Kendra @ Kendra Loves Books

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! You must! It's a fantastic book with a very unique story. It's loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood, but VERY loosely. I still can't believe the author incorporated the things she did, and I STILL loved every second of it. I hope we both enjoy With the Fire on High! When Dimple Met Rishi is next on my audiobook list. Thank you for the birthday wishes! <3

      Delete
  12. Happy Early Birthday! I just turned 29, so not too far behind you. That's so adorable about your son and his love for Harry Potter. I'm hoping to get at least ONE of my nieces/nephew to read and enjoy HP. lol

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy belated birthday! I hope you enjoy your last year in your twenties. ;) Haha! We can only hope that our loved ones will enjoy Harry Potter as much as we do. <3

      Delete
  13. I feel you on the heat. It has been so bad here the last week. Record-breaking heat. At least we’re supposed to (finally) get some rain later this week. Thank goodness they finally agreed to just get you a new washer. What a hassle that’s been. I read When Dimple Met Rishi when it first came out and while I didn’t absolutely love it like many did (the hype for it was absolutely crazy) I still really enjoyed it. More on the “cute” side of YA than I typically go for. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And the mosquitos! It's like they thrive on how hot it is outside, and they just wait for people to seek shelter in the shade. I almost prefer the sun to their never-ending bites. Record-breaking heat?? Ouch. It's been high 90s here, but I have a feeling it's only going to get worse. I think we're supposed to get rain tomorrow, too!

      The washing machine drama is finally over! I'm really enjoying my new one. Honestly, I liked my old one, which is why I wanted them to fix it, but this will work. ;)

      Hmm, I've noticed that the super cute YA hasn't been clicking with me lately, but it's always nice to read something that's mostly happy. :)

      Delete
  14. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying The Girl in Red. That one's coming up for me and I'm really excited for it. Yay for finally getting the washing machine situation sorted out. What a relief that must be!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Girl in Red was an amazing read! I hope you love it as much as I did. :) I am sooo relieved to finally have a working washing machine. I didn't realize how often I did laundry until I couldn't do it anymore.

      Delete
  15. I'm glad your washing machine situation worked out. I hope you enjoy your beach trip!!! I love it when little kids discover Harry Potter. My four-year-old niece insisted on walking around under a blanket for a week, because it was her invisibility cloak. So cute!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! It's so nice to finally be able to wash clothes at my house again. I'd been using my parents washing machine once a week for the essentials, so things were starting to pile up around the house. Thankfully, it's all resolved now. I'm sure my parents are even happier about it. ;) I cannot wait to spend a few days at the beach! Hopefully it's not too hot when we go.

      I love that your niece made her own invisibility cloak! That's awesome! Kids are amazing and come up with super creative ways to express their imaginations. <3

      Delete
  16. I'm glad you can finally do laundry. I do some just about every day and I don't have young children. Yay for a beach trip but try to stay cool! Have a great week and Happy birthday!

    Anne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post   

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With three kids and dogs... I do laundry often. At least twice a day, but sometimes more! I hope it's not too hot when we go to the beach, because then it's not as fun, haha. We wanted to go earlier, but it didn't work out until this month. And now my parents said they'd splurge for the trip for my birthday. ;)

      Delete
  17. I can't believe I didn't comment on this post! I know I read it because I was going to say something about book anxiety. I had some with the last book I read, Boy Swallows Universe and thank goodness I had it as an ebook because I flipped it to text-to-speech and put it on 4X speed to listen to until the nail-biting scenes were over. ๐Ÿ˜›

    I hope you had a great week! ๐ŸŒผ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! You choose to listen to stressful parts of a book instead of reading them yourself? That's awesome! Doesn't the waiting make you feel more anxious? At least when you're reading it, you have some sense of control.. ;)

      Delete
    2. I think hearing it makes less of a mental picture for me. Ha! ๐Ÿ˜…

      Delete

Click the "Notify me" box if you want to be notified when someone responds!

“Stuff and nonsense. Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and nonsense all over again. We are all mad here, don't you know?”
― Marissa Meyer, Heartless