Viera

I picked up "What the River Knows" by Isabel Ibanez at my local library during the middle of Hispanic Heritage month. I didn't realize it was Hispanic Heritage month or that the librarians had set out books relating to that, but I made the connection when I realized there was some Spanish in the first chapter. The Spanish was minimum, just a little tiny bit here or there, so don't let that stop you from reading if you are not a Spanish speaker.  

I am back in classes for the fall semester! There's something about the feeling of walking my university campus in the fall. It can be hard to get back in routine after a lengthy summer break, but after the first week back everything fell into place. This year I am being exposed to experiences I wouldn't have had if I hadn't made the decision last year to pick up a certain new skill. I can confidently say that I am looking forward to what this year holds and where it will take me. I'm deeply grateful for being able to attend college, and for the professors that have made an impact on my life. Sometimes I feel unsure of the major I chose, and scared of change after graduation, but I can't now what the future holds. All I know is that so far, every year I've kept on learning and growing, and I've adjusted. I can guarantee that I feel like I've found more of myself and who I am as I grow, and I'm excited to see who I become.  

I came across this book at my part time job this summer. I read it during my lunch breaks, and I enjoyed it well enough. I had never read a book quite like this one before. The main character falls into her favorite book series, and meets a stranger that she doesn't remember from the books. The story follows her journey in getting over her ex-fiancé, and finding herself again. I loved the setting the story took place in, for majority of the book she stays in the town of her favorite book series. It's a perfect little town, everyone knows each other, and she quickly makes friends with everyone. I felt that the main character did not get as much development as she should have because she spends most of the time in the book fawning over the characters she meets. She gets involved in their relationship troubles quite a bit. The only other thing that keeps me from putting this book on my list of favorite reads is the complicated relationship the main character and the handsome stranger have. They are both hung up on their exes, and I can't help but feel that those issues should have been solved long before forming a connection with a new partner. I love romance books and love stories, but I prefer the issues the couple face to not be indecision about each other. I want the lovers to be completely and utterly in love with each other. But overall, the book was an interesting read and it kept me hooked for a couple of my work shifts. 

As I write this entry, I find myself midway through summer break. It has been a surprisingly cool summer, the anticipated (and slightly dreaded) heat has yet to arrive. I have spent all of May, June, and July thus far enjoying my time home and without any due dates or deadlines to meet. I guess I took the time to relax, which is why I haven't posted in a while. I spent time with my family, at parks, painting, taking music and dance lessons, along with reading. Summer is a time to savor and make the most of each day. I've regularly been making lemonade and baking, and being present. I will always say that autumn is my favorite season, but summer has a special place in my heart as well. My mother has always made them cozy, bringing all of us together. I could live in an eternal summer and never remember there were other seasons at all. I also updated my wardrobe and added some cute skirts and dresses, including a cherry themed outfit complete with a red hair bow. Some series I've watched are "My Life with the Walter Boys" and "All the Light We Cannot See". I just ordered the complete "Anne of Green Gables" series, for the first time I will have my own Anne Shirley books! It's a series that I've read every summer since I think sophomore year of high school. The little things, like the walks I take with my family, the games I play with my family, and the music I learn are what the true essence of summer is all about. Life at its core is about relationship, and that is what this summer has been about. Waking up and knowing I have all day at home is an incredible feeling. I hope that you experience this for yourself this summer :) 

I was pleasantly surprised with spring this past week, and the lovely weather that comes it. I grabbed my bike for the first time in two snow filled months and headed for the library. I picked up two books, "I loved You In Another Life" and " A Curse for True Love". I read I Loved You In Another Life between yesterday and today, and I was caught completely unaware. It's the type of book that I loved so much I'll have to buy my own copy to have at home. I was in the mood for romance since Valentine's Day is this coming Wednesday, and this book was filled with it. I usually don't like the bouncing around time periods, but this book did it beautifully. The characters stole my heart, not just Evan and Shosh, but Will and the parents, and the friends did too. What I loved the most was the facts that were scattered throughout the book. My favorite was the part that talked about how people used to think birds migrated to the moon. If you haven't read the book, this will make sense once you read it. I also loved one part that talked about how the word "blue" didn't appear in language until some centuries ago. These things made me think and realize that the world we exist in today did not always look the way it does., it's been in the making since the beginning. Reading the book gave me the feeling of a slow rainy morning, and a phrase in it inspired the title of one of my poems. I've actually decided to share some of my poetry here in my blog, more on that in an upcoming post. The book also had poetry in it, and songs. All of this added to the experience, which surprised me because I tend to disconnect if the characters sing and the lyrics are in the book. There was something about the writing that made it work. The ending was not what I expected, and I find it heartbreaking that it ends the same way it did lifetimes ago. This book made me wonder what the possibilities of finding a love that lasts are. 

This has been a question that has haunted me since picking my college major in high school. As you might know, I am an Elementary Education major. There are days when I'm convinced that I made the right choice, and others when I question why I didn't major in a career that is less people related. I'm an introvert by nature, so having to go in an out of classrooms to fulfill my clinical hours really threw me off at first. I've questioned whether I'm good enough to be a teacher, who are some of the most important people in kids' lives, especially when they're small. Every time, I reach the same conclusion. I would love to be a teacher; I'm just freaking out because field work is new to me. I know that other students reach college and declare they are undecided. Still others change majors multiple times. Some simply do two years of community college and take some time to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their life. And that little phrase is the real problem. The rest of your life. It makes it sound like you'll be stuck doing the wrong thing for the rest of your life if you graduate with a degree that isn't uour perfect fit. It's scary to think about that way. And the reality is, it doesn't have to be like that. I would love to be a teacher, and if I had to do it until I'm 65 and retiring, I know I would enjoy. However, I have other personal projects I would like to work on as well. I love writing, so I hope to one day publish my books, or start my own fashion line. There's also the possibility of going back to school to become something else if I truly feel the need to. I think that the best thing to do is realize that you are never stuck. You never will be stuck. And you will learn as long as you're open to learning, regardless of the path you choose. 

My favorite months are October, November, and December. They are months filled with birthdays, Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas. I love the delicious foods, the Christmas decorations, and all the family time we get to enjoy since everyone is off from school and work. It's a time when I really don't care about the daily stresses, and I can even ignore the university finals that are looming. I'm blessed in many ways, and the biggest blessing is that I have so many people to be with this season. I know that this is not the case for everyone, the holidays can be very lonely for some. Regardless of everything, it's important to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas. It's all because of Jesus. As Catholics, we are familiar with the Nativity story. Virgin Mary and Joseph were unable to find lodging, and our Saviour was born and placed in a humble manger. Merry Christmas :)

I am happy to say that despite the fall semester being in full swing, I've got time on my hands to read, sketch, and other hobbies. This past week I picked up the Cruel Prince by Holly Black from my local library, and I am in love. Cardan has my heart. I'm a fan of fairytales, fairytale retellings, and fae books too. I love the magic, the whimsical feeling to the world. This book has it all. Jude is a strong character, and her twin, Taryn, is a hypocrite (I say this after reading Wicked King). The way Holly Black writes is the perfect balance between describing too much and too little. There are characters, like Madoc, who you can't bring yourself to hate, despite the horrible things they've done. I've never come across villains that are "not all bad" as convincingly as Madoc is. Vivienne is a cinnamon roll, falling in love with a mortal and wanting to take care of her sisters. She is the opposite of Jude, who wants to belong in Faerie but isn't fae. Vivi wants to belong in the human world, but she's not human. Heather, her girlfriend, makes me curious. I want to eventually get her point of view, because she's got a gf who won't tell her much about herself or her family, but she still moves in with her. Also, I love that she has pink hair and is a fellow artist. Cardan, a High Prince, captured my attention from the start. He's cruel, stylish, and hates Jude. I want to see his heart softened as the series goes on, because I'm sure there's more to him than we know. So far, I think he's hilarious with always being in a bad mood. Jude is a firecracker if I've ever seen one. She's traumatized, angry, scared, violent, and power hungry. She kills, fights, threatens, and never stops exploding. I don't think I've come across a character with so much pent up anger as her. I want to see her heal and free herself from her trauma. I want to see her realize that all she wants is a safe home, surrounded by people who love her, and that no crown, power, or forced acceptance from the fae can give her happiness. I'm intrigued by this book series, and I can't wait to read more.