August 2022 Book Review

First off, I have to tell you - SO many of my books I get from KindleUnlimited! I pay a small monthly fee and get a lot of my books from there. And a lot of them I can actually use the audio version of them, too! You don't even need to have a Kindle - It can go to whatever device you like to read on. Your phone, your ipad/tablet. I happen to have a Kindle Paperwhite, which I LOVE, but you can deliver these books to whatever device you want to read on. I'll even get children's books with my KindleUnlimited and read them to my children or students using the ipad at school. It's perfect, actually. 

This month's books - 3 of them were free and 2 were deeply discounted with my KindleUnlimited. Definitely give it a shot! 

Ok - so here's this month's books. I think I did really well with FIVE books and it was back to school month! lol Thank goodness for audiobooks. 

She's Up To No Good

Such a cute story. It toggles between 2 timelines, a feisty Grandmother and her granddaughter. The granddaughter is in the middle of a divorce and the grandmother is going back to her hometown for some "business" and convinces the granddaughter to take her. I really enjoyed the grandmother. I really enjoyed this one.

I Owe You One

This was a cute one taking place in England (I love British stories!) and a girl and her siblings and mother own a store. The mother goes on vacation and leaves the store to her children to tend, and all the trouble begins. 

Finley Donovan Is Killing It

Another Free one from Kindle Unlimited! A writer, going through personal issues, has writers block and has a meeting with her manager (or someone like that) and while she's there, her life takes a huge turn.

The Love Hypothesis

I really liked this one! It was a little slow to start, but it got really good. I love the quirky banter of Olive and Adam. I knew how it was going to end, but I liked the story getting there.

The Candid Live of Meena Dave

his one was really good, too. It's about a girl who inherits an apartment from a woman she doesn't even know. But as she lives her life in the apartment, she starts to find her connections. I also love learning about other cultures when it's woven into the storyline.

So there's this month's review. It was a great month of books!!

Life Lately...August Wrap Up

Whew!!

Man, August has FLOWN by! I feel like we just started and we're already at the end of it. That's what happens once school starts, I guess. 

So let me do a quick recap of our August, instead of our week, I guess. lol

Let's see....

After our birthday trip to the Keys, we came home and celebrated me and my grandma's birthday together at Squid Lips. 

I love that we still have 4 generations of family - how awesome is that?!

Then it was back to school for teachers - even though, as a new pineapple teacher, I was already back for 2 weeks, but this was the week that ALL teachers reported back. It was a great way to return back to work.

Then, it was meet the teacher. Honestly, starting a new school that isn't completely finished is kind of chaotic, but somehow, my anxiety level is at an all time low, and I'm not even on meds! Our school wasn't ready for us to be on campus yet, so we had to switch to a different school AND it was on the weekend instead of at night. BUT, it all worked out just fine. 

I had my first meet the teacher as a pineapple teacher and the Ron brought the girls in to meet their teachers. Autumn had to miss out on hers, though, since she had volleyball tryouts during that time. But it's okay - she survived. :) 

THEN.... it was the first day of school. Again, new school isn't finished and the 2nd grade building isn't finished, so we're in the "New" building, temporarily... and we didn't have all of our technology and we don't have keys... lol. It's been an adventurous beginning, but it has not been so bad!

We had our first day and everyone left still happy and wanting to go back...despite having to wear uniforms - ha! That was a big gripe with the girls, but low and behold, they actually like their uniforms now....just like Momma said they would.

In other big news... Caroline, who has been BEGGING for a cat for years, has finally got her wish. Our sheriff's animal shelter was waving the fees for adoptions in August, so not only did we get 1, but we got TWO kitties. 

She is in KITTY HEAVEN right now. And all the girls love the cats. 

Meanwhile, I've still been able to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get in my workouts. 

I actually just finished my latest calendar! 

I've finished this calendar despite going back to work - still getting up at 430, because there's no way I'd be able to do it after work (these days, anyway).

I really liked this mash up of programs, it had weights, cardio, barre...I did sub out some of the workouts, but kept it the same "style." That's the beauty of beachbody on demand...there's literally THOUSANDS of different workouts to choose from.

Now...to figure out my next calendar

And of course, we've found some time to still go to the beach - because we love some vitamin sea!

Birthday Weekend in the Keys

Happy Monday!!

We are back from our trip to the FL Keys for my Birthday. 

Let me preface, I don't like parties for my birthday. And ever since I was a teenager, I have traveled for my birthday, except for a few times here and there. But this year, I didn't think we could swing it (financially) because I didn't work this year to add to our trip fund. BUT, Ron "surprised" me with a trip to the Keys for my 40th birthday!

So we strapped the paddleboards on the van and headed out (although, we never actually used the boards because the wind was insane during the whole weekend)

We got down there, checked in to our resort, then headed out to go snorkeling. We found this little spot right after the 7 mile bridge, and it was fun for a quick snorkel.

Then we went to Bahia Honda State park....where we were NOT impressed. We've been here before and it was a lot better, so it must have just been the weather, because the seaweed was INSANE on the ocean side. The bay side was fine, though. 

Then for dinner, we went to the Island Fish Co - the ambiance and food were so good! We tried a different place first, but it was a 2 hour wait! um. No thank you. lol

Then back tot he resort for the sunset. I'm so glad we stay on the Bay Side, so we could watch the sun set. It's one of my favorite things to do! 

Free drinks for my birthday!

waiting for the sunset at the tiki bar with live music. One of my favorite ways to pass time!

Look! Ron took a picture AND smiled - after I scolded him and told him to pretend he likes me and smile. haha! 

Spending my birthday with my favorite people in one of my favorite sceneries. 

The next day, we were expecting a bunch of rain, but we packed our suits, some water and food, and headed south for Key West. But first, we stopped at Sombrero beach to check it out to see if we could go paddleboarding, but the wind was INSANE. The girls and I have paddled here before with my parents, but I think it was during spring break, so the wind was different.

So we headed to Key West. First stop was the Butterfly Conservation. 

Caroline's BUTTerfly. hahaha

Then we headed to "the buoy" for an updated family picture. You cant tell in this picture, but all 3 girls were dancing to a car who was sitting still and their music was blaring. 

Finally made it to the buoy....

So this was 2022, turning 40... and the next picture is from 2012 when we came for my 30th birthday. Look at that "wittle" Autumn and Brooklynn! 

For lunch, we had Key Lime Pie on a stick - because why not!? lol

and a smoothie in a pineapple... 

Stopped off at a pier on the way out. The wind was CRAZY and the waves were rocking on the pier. 

On the way home, I saw that a friend suggested going to "Horseshoe Beach" where they had fun snorkeling, and it turns out that we were getting ready to pass it, so we stopped off, changed our clothes in the car, and then headed out snorkeling. We had an hour or so of fun and on the way back in Autumn found the ultimate souvenir!! It was completely empty and a MONSTER of conch shell. 

We also ran into a friend while snorkeling. It's so weird to be traveling and running into people (we ran into a former student during our trip to the mountains this summer, too!)

Then back to the resort for dinner and a sunset. 

Well, we got some Key Lime Pie for my birthday and we had a few pieces left over, and Brooklynn decided it was a good idea to have some for breakfast so we didn't have to transport too much of it. lol

We packed up, and head out of the keys. We stopped at few places along the way, one of which was "Big Betsy" the lobster. 

Which was another picture remake from 2012. 

So, here's to 40 years around the sun. Here's to surviving the last year, because it was a doozy! And here's to the future. 40 isn't old. I feel like I'm in a good place and ready for life!!!