Good Riddance to 2020

2020 was an awful year. I think all of us can agree on that. It’s also been a particularly strange year. There’s been some questionable things that have happened this year.

I’m happy to say good bye to 2020. I can’t say I’m not terrified of what’s to come. There’s certain things that I know have to come eventually and currently I’m not ready for it. Christmas Day my dad had to be taken to the hospital. He has been battling cancer for a long while now and we learned that the tumor has made his prostate the size of a small watermelon when it’s only supposed to be the size of a walnut. Which causes all kinds of complications in the body.

Also, the doctors never told us if his cancer has spread or not. Or if his bleeding was solely because his prostate is so large. Also, the fear of my mom taking my dad to the emergency room as Covid is out of control was some of the most terrifying anxiety I’ve ever experienced. The good news is he is home now and they are going to figure out if he is viable for surgery or not.

Fear. Fear for me is what drove 2020. Fear and hope and just doing my best to be happy and somehow having those wonderful happy moments I’ll cherish forever within this year.

This year has been exhausting and yet I’ve looked forward to each day because yes the world is terrible right now, but I can’t let myself seek in too despair constantly because what’s the point otherwise? I take comfort in the things I can do. The moments I can enjoy. Because those moments are what make life worth living.

This year I found a wonderful person I love and friends that have been amazing. People who have all made me laugh and feel a little lighter. People I’m proud to have by my side.

Covid has changed the world. Both slowed down and accelerated my life. Made me terrified and yet made me want to love those around me harder.

It’s a terrible year and yet it’s changed my life in good ways too. I have memories I’ll cherish for the rest of my life from this year. Yet, moments that will forever be remembered by the anxiety and fear I felt while living them.

2020 has brought out a lot of the worst in many people. A lot of a ‘who cares’ attitude that puts families like mine at risk. That fear will carry into 2020, because the pandemic isn’t over and I know it won’t be for a long while.

I’m happy to have the people in my life I have in my corner. Together, we’ve survived 2020. That in and of itself is enough of an accomplishment.

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below! 

Places to donate to Trans communities:

Trans Equality 

The Trevor Project

Transgender Law Center 

Some BLM resources: 

Link to bail funds to donate to!

Link to petitions to sign! 

Link to a video to watch if you can’t donate!

My friend started Live Streaming so check them out HERE!! 

Check out my Instagram and Twitter! 

Check out The Book Raven Poetry website! 

Checkout The Book Raven Poetry Instagramand Twitter! 

Check out the Sisters of Twilight website.

If you love my content and wish to offer me extra support by me a Kofi on my donation page!

Advertisement

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! I hope you are having a wonderful and joyous day.

It’s rare for me to get a picture with my mom so this is a special treat from her birthday in February. She is a strong woman in mind and in spirit. I see a lot of that willfulness in myself being raised by her. I love when she laughs and complains about something in a childlike voice. Or when she picks on me when I go to hug her till I laugh.

She always makes sure that me and my sister are taken care of and I appreciate that about her very much. She has a beautiful soul. I love her very much.

I hope everyone is enjoying Mother’s Day in whatever way you all enjoy it within your families. Weather with it’s with your actual mother or just an important woman in your life that you know deserves to be celebrated.

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below! 

Check out my Instagram and Twitter! 

Check out The Book Raven Poetry website! 

Checkout The Book Raven Poetry Instagramand Twitter! 

Check out the Sisters of Twilight website.

My Christmas Playlist!

I love music and dancing. I love listening to good music almost more then anything else. I listen to so much music and so much variety of music that most turn up a brow when they know I’m that small percentage of people who max out the Spotify limit and makes a ginormous playlist instead of liking songs, because it doesn’t let me like them anymore because I’ve liked way too many.

This year I shared with all of you my Halloween playlist and since then that playlist has grown as my playlists always do, but that just means I have new music to share for next year!

However, this post is about my Christmas playlist! I have some classics, some new songs, but all the joyful songs of the season! I made sure that my Christmas playlist was as positive as possible. Music that makes me feel alive. Music that makes me dance and sing and feel joy. I love that having played this at my work that my coworkers and I have had some good laughs dancing along to the music and that it’s been such a good time.

This Christmas is going to be one of my favorites. I can feel that deep in my heart. It’s started off with a bang and I’m excited for all that the season will bring.

On to the music!!

Thank you all for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter! 

Check out The Book Raven Poetry website! 

Checkout The Book Raven Poetry Instagramand Twitter!

–Till next time!

Check out the Wolfe Creek Candle website and Instagram!

The Book Raven Poetry

Today is the day I finally began my own business venture! I am officially the owner of The Book Raven Poetry!

What it’s all about: The Book Raven Poetry is a personalized poetry business where you receive a poem about whatever you want! It can be about a person, a holiday, an idea, a place, anything at all! For only $8 bucks you will receive a completely customized poem on a unique background to digitally download to keep for yourself or give as a gift to a friend or family member!

An Example:

A one of a kind poem is available for purchase now on Etsy!

The Dream: So many of you have been with me from the very start. So it won’t be a surprise to most of you that I’m creating a business from my love of poetry. I’ve written many poems on this site. It would be my pleasure to write poems for all of you. Be it silly, sweet, an anniversary gift, something for your friends to enjoy. It feels incredible that I could create something along side other individuals that is totally unique and personalized to them. Something to make you smile.

A note of thanks: Thank you all for being there for me. This would have never come about without this blog nor the support of all of you. I can’t wait to write some great poetry for all of you!

Thank you all for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Check out my Instagram and Twitter! Check out The Book Raven Poetry website!

Check out the Wolfe Creek Candle website and Instagram!

Happy 4th of July!!

Typically, I’m not the most patriotic person out there. However, on July 4th, I like to forget about all the things that have been upsetting me about this country and our current president and remember how far we’ve come and to think about some of the things that make me proud.

This year, I’m working on this day, but on the drive home I’m sure I’ll see some fireworks in the sky and marvel at explosives being used for something beautiful.

America has a complicated history. It was built from terror, battles, and a sense of conquering. It’s not a happy history, but we can choose to make America better by being better as people and treating others with respect and reflecting that with the laws we choose to vote for and the causes we choose to advocate for.

On a lighter and mildly interesting note: I found out if you search for 4th of July on an IPhone, fireworks appear from the bottom of the screen.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July. I hope you all eat some great food and spend some good times with family and friends.

Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below.

-Till next time!

Hello 2019!

This year is going to be crazy. It’s going to be different and I’m going to call it right now, but it’s going to be beautiful. This is a year where I refuse to live in any other way then the way I choose. Where I find my own path and live life unafraid.

2018 was a year of fear. Even in the most beautiful part of 2018 there was still an element of fear and it ruined everything for me. I’m done with fear. I’m done with following a normal set path for myself. I want to write my own story. Not only do I want to, but I’m going to do it. Because fear and sadness have done nothing, but hurt me. I don’t want to be sad any more. I don’t want to be worried anymore. I don’t want to live life in a way I’ll regret it anymore.

So here are some words I wish to live by in the new year:

In 2018, I let anxiety and hurt rule me. I didn’t let myself believe and what I knew in my heart to be true. I let myself get caught up in how things should happen and didn’t let things happen as was right for me and not necessarily right for others. All these things caused me to make choices I do regret. Which, is something I never thought I’d do to myself. 2019 and beyond is a time in my life where I don’t want to do that ever again. Let me clarify.. It’s something I’m never going to let myself do that again.

Fear has kept me from all the things I truly love in life. Kept me from taking the chances I needed to take. All of it causing a time of great sadness and I ended up hurting myself the most. Anytime I can I’m going to do what’s best and right for me. I’m going to follow my heart. I got way to much in my head in 2018. I’m done with that. I’m going to give my heart the reigns in the new year and just see what happens.

I don’t know what to expect this year. There are endless possibilities. But no matter what happens I’m going to make sure that it’s one of the best years of my life. I’m going to write this year. I’m going to read a lot of amazing books this year. I’m going to live life this year. I’m going to make sure that it is truly a year to remember.

Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below.

Check out my Twitter and Instagram!

Check out The Candle Caffe website!

-Till next time!

My Thanksgiving

I didn’t expect it, but my Thanksgiving was the most normal and relaxed day I’ve had in a very long time. I might even call it peaceful. We had food, a lot of food. Pupusas, tamales, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and flan. Not your typical Thanksgiving, but what made for a great one in my family.

I sat and watched movies with my sister. Two horror movies, an thriller/action flick, and a romance. I enjoyed all of them. It felt like the much needed reprieve I’d been waiting for. Nothing big happened. Nothing changed. It was a day that just was and for that I am grateful.

It’s been hard to remember to be grateful recently. My family and I do not agree on a lot of things, but they will always be my family and I love them. I know that no matter what they’d never leave me behind. I’m grateful that at least I have a job. I hate it, but I have it. I forget to use it as the stepping stone to keep me afloat until a new door opens.

I also appreciate that even if so many doors have closed in my life recently, that I am young. I’m only 19. I have so many years ahead to figure life out. My journey has only began and yes a lot of sucky things have happened, but as they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. For the first time since everything has happened I feel excited about the future in a way that is different from before. I’ve decided to focus on myself. To focus on the things I want to do with my life. I’m going to work hard and be true to me.

It is going to be slow going for a while. I have a lot of pain that I need time to start to heal. I have a lot of questions with no answers that I need to let go of. But, I think I have the ability to work things out. To get past the sadness. To do something I can be proud of with my life. Even to one day find a love that is good for me. Someone my family loves. Someone I can share everything with and who knows they can share anything with me.

I’m thankful for the life experiences that I’ve had. The good and the bad. It’s kept me with a decent head on my shoulders. I’m thankful for books and I’m thankful for movies. Stories give hope in the dark. I’m thankful for being alive. I have a chance to meet people and see amazing things. It’s a good time to be alive. I’m thankful for the opportunity to move forward. I’m going to do what I can to turn my life around and take the world by storm.

Thanks to all of you for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below.

-Till next time!

The Luck of the Irish: Books Set in Scotland and Ireland

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! 

1. I couldn’t get through this day without making a Saint Patrick’s day post and so this evergreen mini-piece was born! I hope you enjoy these wonderful ya novels that take place in Scotland and Ireland. These are definitely all novels I hope to read in the future!

A Swift and Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd

Ireland 1984.
After Shell’s mother dies, her obsessively religious father descends into alcoholic mourning and Shell is left to care for her younger brother and sister. Her only release from the harshness of everyday life comes from her budding spiritual friendship with a naive young priest, and most importantly, her developing relationship with childhood friend, Declan, who is charming, eloquent, and persuasive. But when Declan suddenly leaves Ireland to seek his fortune in America, Shell finds herself pregnant and the center of a scandal that rocks the small community in which she lives, with repercussions across the whole country. The lives of those immediately around her will never be the same again.
This is a story of love and loss, religious belief and spirituality—it will move the hearts of any who read it.

Toward a Secret Sky by Heather Maclean

“Everywhere I go, I leave a trail of dead bodies. My parents died fighting to stop the darkness. I’ll keep fighting too, even if it means I have to die. Dying’s not half as hard as being left behind, anyway…
Evil is real. We are at war. Anyone you tells you differently is lying.”
Shortly after 17-year-old Maren Hamilton is orphaned and sent to live with grandparents she’s never met in Scotland, she receives an encrypted journal from her dead mother that makes her and everyone around her a target. It confirms that her parents were employed by a secret, international organization that’s now intent on recruiting her. As Maren works to unravel the clues left behind by her mother, a murderous madness sweeps through the local population, terrorizing her small town. Maren must decide if she’ll continue her parents’ fight or stay behind to save her friends.
With the help of Gavin, an otherworldly mercenary she’s not supposed to fall in love with, and Graham, a charming aristocrat who is entranced with her, Maren races against the clock and around the country from palatial estates with twisted labyrinths to famous cathedrals with booby-trapped subterranean crypts to stay ahead of the enemy and find a cure. Along the way, she discovers the great truth of love: that laying down your life for another isn’t as hard as watching them sacrifice everything for you.

Hush: an Irish Princesses Tale by Donna Jo Napoli

Melkorka is a princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom in mediæval Ireland — but all of this is lost the day she is kidnapped and taken aboard a marauding slave ship. Thrown into a world that she has never known, alongside people that her former country’s laws regarded as less than human, Melkorka is forced to learn quickly how to survive. Taking a vow of silence, however, she finds herself an object of fascination to her captors and masters, and soon realizes that any power, no matter how little, can make a difference. 
Based on an ancient Icelandic saga, award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli has crafted a heartbreaking story of a young girl who must learn to forget all that she knows and carve out a place for herself in a new world — all without speaking a word.

Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon 

Veronica doesn’t think she’s going crazy. But why can’t anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes?

When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months. But the Scottish countryside holds other plans. Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna’s great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation.

Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica’s daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they’ve longed for… or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

The New Policeman by Kate Thompson 

Who knows where the time goes?
There never seems to be enough time in Kinvara, or anywhere else in Ireland for that matter. When J.J.’s mother says time’s what she really wants for her birthday, J.J. decides to find her some. He’s set himself up for an impossible task . . . until a neighbor reveals a secret. There’s a place where time stands still—at least, it’s supposed to. J.J. can make the journey there, but he’ll have to vanish from his own life to do so. Can J.J. find the leak between the two worlds? Will a shocking rumor about his family’s past come back to haunt him? And what does it all have to do with the village’s new policeman . . . ?

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Edinburgh, 1844. Beautiful Aileana Kameron only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. In fact, she’s spent the year since her mother died developing her ability to sense the presence of Sithichean, a faery race bent on slaughtering humans. She has a secret mission: to destroy the faery who murdered her mother. But when she learns she’s a Falconer, the last in a line of female warriors and the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity, her quest for revenge gets a whole lot more complicated. The first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy, this electrifying thriller blends romance and action with steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read.

That’s a wrap! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post. I hope you all have had a wonderful and safe Saint Patrick’s day and that you will have a wonderful rest of the week. There seems to be a major lack of ya novels set in Ireland, let me know if you have read any that I didn’t get to mention in this list. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

-Till next time!

Happy Valentines Day!

Today is February 14th! A day for lovers to meet and proclaim their love for one another and spend the day in passions and day dreams. But if your like me and are single (18 years and I’ve never dated) and you don’t have plans to hang out with friends or family (plus if your me you have university to go to, and homework to do) what do you do? 

Well, as soon as free time presents itself, it’s great to go out and get some chocholate covered strawberries, and some sweethearts, to eat and save for the rest of the week. Then, it’s great to sick back, relax, read a book, and listen to some lovely music. However because it’s Valentine’s Day and your feeling a bit romantic you listen to some cheesy sappy tunes. 

Here is: My Sappy Playlist

Disclaimer: These songs are not just sappy, but many of them are also a bit dancy. There are some really cheesy songs though, you have been warned! Also, every single song on this list is one I love, in my heart of hearts I am a hopeless romantic, if this isn’t your type of thing, I am sorry, but in the end I am who I am. 

On to the music, (for real this time!)
1. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran 

2. Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran 

(I could make this whole list with just Ed Sheeran songs, I am in love with his voice, but I will leave it with two of my favorites) 

3. Clarity – Zedd 

(Clarity is not typically thought of as a Love song, but these lyrics connect somewhere deep inside my soul, this is my favorite song of all time for a reason) 

4. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith

(One of the most beautiful classic love songs, I find it so relaxing) 

5. Earned It – The Weeknd

(I know, I know, it’s 50 shades of grey, but I gotta admit, I love the song!)

6. I Need your Love – Calvin Harris Ft. Ellie Goulding

(‘I need to be free with you tonight’ these lyrics are beautiful and I love to sing them. It’s been a while since I’ve heard this song, I missed it!)

7. Rather Be – Clean Bandit Ft. Jess Glynne

(This song makes me so so happy! Rather Be has always been such an uplifting song, my heart beats faster just listening to it)

8. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

(This one breaks my heart, it makes me feel so much within the melody and notes alone. It’s almost a tearjerker for me.)

9. Hero – Enrique Iglesias 

(This wouldn’t be a Valentines playlist without this song. Probably the cheesiest of them all, but whoever you are you know somewhere deep deep deep deep deep deep deep deep down, you love this song)

10. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri 

(As a book lover, whose love for books was truly sparked in the Twilight craze, there is no way this song couldn’t make an appearance and it is honestly beautiful) 

11. I See the Light – Tangled, Mandy Moore

(Nothing melts the heart better then a Disney romance, and Tangled takes the cake. This song gives me the feels!) 

12. Jealous – Labrith

(This song gets me everytime. I just want to close my eyes and let the lyrics wash over me. There is more then love in this song, it is a story, a story that breaks you yet fills you up. Simply captivating.)
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed. What songs do you listen to on this lovely day? 

–Till next time!

Books of Christmas Past 2016

I wanted to start a blogmas tradition this holiday season with books of Chritmas past, present, and future. Inspired by A Christmas Carol, I wanted to get into the holiday spirit featuring themes from my favorite Grinch, Mr.  Scrooge. 

Here are the books I recieved last Christmas that I got the chance to read during 2016. 

Pure by Julianna Baggot

This book is unsurvivable, if I went through what the characters in this book did I would never survive. Intense, dark, and grotesquely beautiful, I hope that everyone gives this book a try. 

Soundless by Richelle Mead 

This book was such an interesting and unique story of a women who lives her entire life soundless. The unique ways the village tries to survive and the mythical entanglements surrounding the book were wonderful. 

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich 

This book messes with your brain, and there are certain elements I didn’t see coming. The way it was written was dark and inviting. This book was definitely one of my most anticipated reads of 2016.

Ensnared by A.G. Howard

Like all of the Splintered series this book was gorgeously written. I love the world of wonderland and I feel so nostalgic talking about it now. God do I miss Morpheus.. sigh. 

Untamed by A.G Howard 

This novella bind up had my favorite story of all of the books and my least favorite. All thanks to… Morpheous and Jeb. (The least favorite being due to a personal vendetta against Jeb… sorry Jeb) Nevertheless, beautifully told. 

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige 

I never thought that The Wizard of Oz could be so dark. This book was fantastic! 

The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige 

I enjoyed this sequel so much. I was so angry when it ended and I couldn’t read the next one right away. 

Dorothy Must Die: Stories by Danielle Paige

These three wonderful novellas give so much more dimension and backstory to Dorothy Must Die. Read my full review here.

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly 

More action packed than I would have ever expected, Deep Blue mixes prophecy and urgency to create a book that keeps you on your toes. 

Rouge Wave by Jennifer Donnelly 

Jennifer Donnelly has become one of my favorite authors of all time. Thanks to all the books I have gotten to read from her this year, I have never once been disappointed. 

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly 

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this, I wasn’t sure if this book was going to be worth the read, but I was wrong and discovered a wonderful novel with a girl who never gave up no matter what the cost. 

Historical intrigue mixed with romance, secrecy, and a whole lot of danger. This book is so much more then a simple novel about a girl trying to figure out the truth of her fathers death. It is a scandal, a deliciously juicy on that leaves you wanting more. Jennifer Donnelley writes with passion and successfully leads the reader on a journey that will break their hearts. She is a creator of words that will stick with you… Long after the final evidence comes with into play. One of my favorite reads of 2016!

Talon by Julie Kagawa 

 I called this the perfect first novel, because this was a place that certainly set the stage with some lulls and discovery for a great new series to begin!

Rogue by Julie Kagawa

This book! I can’t say a word other than to say, it’s sooo good!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Long ago the hype train arrived and long ago I missed it. Years later, I receive this book as a Christmas gift, and years later I find an enjoyable novel leaving me wishing I was fighting alongside the dauntless. 

The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors 

Chocolate, love, and magic, need I say more?

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

A girl filled with the desire to be beautiful tampers with magic to become so. An enchanted story that teaches us that what really matters is on the inside. 

Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings 

A story honestly told, about a girl who becomes blind. Short, but insightful this book centers around what it’s like for the newly blind. 
Thank you so much for reading! I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! 

-Till next time!