Top Ten Tuesday: Cozy/Atmospheric Reads

October 21, 2025 By 45 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Fall is the time for cozy blankets and a cup of something warm… unless it’s still 90 degrees where you are.  Since I live in one of those areas where it won’t really start to cool down for another few weeks, I thought I’d go with a more creepy, atmospheric sort of vibe rather than cozy fall feels.  I do love a good spooky read, so hopefully one of these sparks a bit of interest.

The Hacienda and Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas.  These are both set in Mexico in the early 1800’s and give off a very spooky, gothic vibe.

This Ancient Evil by Dorothy Daniels.  Another set in Mexico, but in the late 1800’s.  I had some issues with this book, but the setting of the secluded ranchero with the mysterious pyramid in the background gave it a pleasantly creepy vibe.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.  I listened to a full cast audiobook of this novella and I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder.  You can just feel the evil – or is it madness? – lurking off in the shadows.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.  I have an audio version of this that I return to every October because it’s just so creepy.  An old mansion, sitting empty after its owner died, located in a difficult to reach place.  What could go wrong, right?  If you’re like me and enjoy creepy movies, both the 1989 and 2012 movie versions of this are great.  I prefer the 1989 version simply because it’s less refined and more spooky.

The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher.  How creepy is it to know that someone could be living in the crawl space of your house without your knowledge?  I try not to read books like this simply because I might not ever sleep again if I do.

House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama.  Set in a creepy forest in an even creepier mansion in the wilds of 1986 Philippines, this book just drips tension and anxiety.  Just beware – there are a lot of bugs in this book.

The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox.  Fleeing scandal, Lydia and her family retreat to Willow Hall, a country estate with secrets and a dark history.  Set in the early 1800’s, it’s very gothic and creepy.

The Witches of New York by Ami McKay.  A young girl stumbles into a shop looking for work and discovers a whole new world, one where witches are real.  Beatrice discovers the magic within her and, in 1880’s New York City, uses it to the best of her ability.  Beautifully written and very engrossing.

And to end this post with a couple of less creepy, but still Halloween adjacent books, I give you two of the cutest books I’ve read this year.

Bob the Vampire Snail by Andrea Zuill.  Adorable picture book about a snail who is bitten and turns into a vampire.  This made me wish my kids were still small so I could share it with them.

Garlic and the Vampire and Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen.  A duology of cute and at times intense graphic novels involving anthropomorphic vegetables, including a very daring head of garlic.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Satisfying Book Series

October 7, 2025 By 57 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Since I tend to get attached to fictional characters rather easily, I do tend to seek out series.  Getting to see the same people pop up over and over again, and getting to know more about their lives, is what makes me happy.  However, not all series can maintain their momentum or keep the readers happy in the end.  I’ve been lucky in that the majority of the series I have started have ended well.  There are always exceptions of course, but for the most part, I’ve had good luck.  Here are a few of my favorites, even if I’m not quite finished with them yet:

  1. Faces of Evil series by Debra Webb. I loved everything about this series. Each book picked up practically where the last one left off.  The pace was intense, the romance was fantastic, and the bad guy – Eric Spears – was menacing and somehow still a bit charming.
  2. The Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow. While I’m not quite finished with this series yet, I absolutely adore it. Kate is very no-nonsense and takes no prisoners, which makes her amazing at her job.  The addition of her Aleut heritage and all the tidbits about native Alaskans and Alaskan history only makes it that much more interesting.
  3. The Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley. I stumbled onto the first in this series – Six Feet Deep Dish – on Netgalley a few years ago. I’m a big pizza lover, so it was an instant draw.  The characters are great and one of them is even a descendant of Al Capone.  Which is amusing since Del & Son’s Pizzeria is gangster themed.  The only downside to this series is that I get some serious pizza cravings reading it.
  4. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. The third book in this series releases in a couple of months, but so far, the first two have been absolutely amazing. Shout out to the author himself who is also pretty amazing.
  5. The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries series by Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe.  A good friend of mine and I have a buddy listen group going where we pick different audiobooks and listen to them, then discuss. This series was added to our list because while I love mysteries, she’s more partial to regency romances.  Who knew I’d find a book that combines both so well?  The two main characters, Lady Grace and Lord Percy and hilarious at times and are perfect for each other.
  6. Check Please! series by Ngozi Ukazu. This was recommended by a friend of mine who is a huge hockey fan. I’m a sucker for a cute manga or graphic novel, so it being hockey themed was just a bonus.  Both volumes are adorable, and Eric Bittle is the sweetest boyfriend ever.  Also, he bakes when he gets stressed and might just be having an emotional affair with his oven, but shhh, don’t tell Jack!
  7. The Third District series by John Sclazli. This probably doesn’t qualify since the first part was a 20 page short story and the second is a 2 hour audiobook. However, both of these stories were hilarious and refreshing.
  8. The Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. I’ll be honest with you, I’m only about halfway through this series, but I enjoy them all. As an actual forensic anthropologist, the author brings expertise and insight to the mysteries.  As someone who loves to learn something from her fiction, this series has been a constant draw over the years.  With the exception of Tempe’s occasional bad choices, there isn’t anything I don’t like about these books.
  9. The Adenashire series by J. Penner. The blurb for the first book caught my attention immediately. I am not, after all, the kind of person who can resist a baking contest, especially not one that’s set in a fantasy world.  Everything about this book was exactly as I wanted it, and the sequel was just as good, if not better, than the first.  The second involved a baby dragon and not much can compete with a baby dragon in my opinion.  I’m looking forward to the third in this series and hoping that it’s just as magical and fun as the first two have been.
  10. The Bosch Universe by Michael Connelly. I’m including everything here – Bosch, Ballard, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Jack McEvoy – in this. The author only gets better as the series go on, fine-tuning his writing and the characters as he goes along.  While I haven’t yet read the most recent novel, containing a new character, I am anxiously awaiting the next Mickey Haller book due in October.  The thing I like best about these books is that they cross over often bringing Mickey into Harry’s world or Harry into Mickey’s.  The only thing I dislike about this series is that the author decided to age the characters along with the books, so Harry’s in his 70’s now, I believe, and that does not bode well for his character.
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Thursday Thoughts: September 25, 2025

September 25, 2025 By 4 Comments

There seems to have been a burst of non-authors authoring books over the last several years.  Which is a great thing, as far as I’m concerned.  The more people who try their hand at writing means there will be more new books for readers to enjoy in the future, right?

However, I am surprised at the number of celebrities as well as politicians giving fiction writing a go.  It’s interesting to me because each author brings something unique to their writing, but an actor or former secretary of state would bring something even more distinct to a story.  The question in the end still remains, can they pull it off?  In my experience so far, yes, they can!

A good friend of mine adores Richard Armitage.  When his book, Geneva, became available for pre-order on Audible, she immediately pointed it out to me.  I was a little skeptical due to him being an actor and me, admittedly, not knowing much about him, but was willing to give it a shot.  In the end, I loved this book.  It was twisty, suspenseful, and well-paced.  And he makes an excellent narrator.  Side note: he does narrate a number of Agatha Christie novels as well which are worth a listen.

I might get some flak for this, but I enjoy James Patterson’s books, even now, after 20+ years of reading his novels.  When I got an email announcing that he was co-authoring a book with Bill Clinton entitled The President Is Missing, I laughed and thought really?  Then, I read the description and thought that if anyone had the knowledge for this, it’d be Bill Clinton.  While this wasn’t the best book I read that year, I did still enjoy it.  The story kept me engaged and entertained.  I’m also a sucker for a political thriller, so this was definitely up my alley.

Since Bill Clinton had done it, it stands to reason that his wife might, too.  I was less surprised to see Hillary Clinton collaborate with Louise Penny than I was to see Bill and James Patterson.  While I have not yet read State of Terror, several people I know have and have enjoyed it as well.  One of which was determined not to read it due to her personal feelings about Ms. Clinton, which is reasonable as far as I’m concerned.  However, since she’s a huge fan of Louise Penny, she gave in, borrowed it from the library, and ended up loving it.

Something I discovered while checking my facts for this post is that Carrie Fisher wrote Postcards from the Edge.  I haven’t read this or seen the movie, yet I’ve been aware of it for a very long time.  These are the reasons why I enjoy research – I learn so much.  I now need to acquire a copy of this book.

One that I’ve known about for several years and keep forgetting to pick up is Fan Fiction by Brent Spiner, who famously played Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation.  I’ve always loved the character and, in watching interviews with the actor, I became very fond of the actor’s personality and sense of humor as well.  It sounds like a fun and crazy book.

An odd one that I stumbled across that I’m very interested in is a series of books about Mycroft Holes written by Kareem Abdul Jabbar of all people.  I’m a big Sherlock fan and have been for most of my life.  There have been so many takes on the great detective over the years, but I’m not sure if there have been many that focus on his brother, Mycroft.

Possibly the weirdest co-authorship situation I’ve ever seen – and the one that sparked the idea for this post – is an upcoming novel written by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan called Remain.  The tagline is ‘a supernatural love story’ and I am just baffled.  Especially since Nicholas Sparks isn’t exactly know for happily ever after.

There are many, many others who have written books – David Duchovny, Julie Andrews, Steve Martin, and Chris Colfer, to name a few.  It’s certainly a fun rabbit hole to go down when you’re looking for something new to read.  I know I discovered several that landed smack dab on top of the TBR pile.

So, what about you?  Have you read anything written or co-written by a celebrity?  What was your favorite?

 

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Thursday Thoughts: September 18, 2025 – Comfort Foods

September 18, 2025 By 6 Comments

With fall on the way, and hopefully cooler temps, I start thinking about comfort foods.  Anything that is warm, cozy, and fills you up is fair game in our house. One of my favorite things to make when it’s cold out is soup.  Thick, rich, and yummy are the only requirements for me.

Generally speaking, I tend to prefer creamy soups.  Things like broccoli cheddar or a good ol’ baked potato soup.  However, since we’re still consistently seeing temps in the 90’s here in the Mojave, I went searching for something different.  Which led me to this lovely Sausage Tortellini Soup.  There is a bit of cream in this soup, but not enough to make it heavy.  And to be honest, if you wanted to skip the cream and leave it nice and brothy, I think it’d still be wonderful.  Served up with some crusty sourdough and a nice salad, you’d have a light summer dinner.

One of the more unhealthy things I have ever made is this Cheeseburger Soup which, while delicious, is not good for the waistline.  As long as you aren’t eating it every week, I say it’s safe to indulge in.  It is crazy how much this did remind me of a cheeseburger.  It’s perfect for those cold winter nights because it’ll stick to your ribs and warm you from the inside out.  It’s a hearty meal all on its own, but a nice biscuit or slice of French bread on the side would be a nice complement.

Eleven years ago, my older daughter went vegetarian.  After her father died nearly six years ago, she went fully vegan, which complicated my dinner making.  Because she was determined to make this stick, I did my best to find a way to feed us all without making two separate meals.  Soups – and stir-fries – were one of the easiest ways of accommodating her.

I stumbled across this Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup with Mini Turkey Meatballs while meal planning one Saturday morning.  In looking at the recipe, I figured I could either make the meatballs on the side – one turkey, one Beyond Beef – or I could leave them out together.  The first time I made it, I opted to leave the meatballs out, and to date, I haven’t yet made it with the meatballs.  My kids both unanimously agreed that a grilled cheese was a better option than meatballs.  And for anyone reading this who is vegan or lactose intolerant and looking for a good, meltable plant-based cheese, try Violife or Miyokos.  They are both favorites of my kids.

Personally, my favorite thing to add to this soup are these herby mustard croutons I found attached to tomato soup recipe years ago.  I’ve long since lost that recipe, but I still remember the croutons.  They’re pretty simple to make and very tasty.  So much so that, the first time I made them, I had to make a second batch because my husband and my children kept sneaking them while I was making the soup.

For the croutons (which are also great in salads or other soups):

4 cups slightly stale bread, cubed

¼ cup olive oil

2 TBS Dijon mustard, or your favorite – I usually use stone ground

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp Italian seasoning

¼ tsp crushed red pepper, optional

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC.  Mix the mustard and olive oil together and drizzle over the bread; mix well.  Combine seasonings and sprinkle over the bread, again mixing well.  Spread bread onto a cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes.  Let cool.

Do you love a good bowl of soup?  What are some of your favorites?  Do you have any favorite accompaniments that you like to serve with them?  And if you have recipes, please share.  I’m always looking for something new to make for dinner.

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Thursday Thoughts: September 4, 2025 – Anime

September 4, 2025 By Leave a Comment

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of animation in any form.  Looney Toons, Hanna-Barbera, Disney, you name it, I watched it.  Bugs Bunny and Huckleberry Hound were my favorites.  As far as Disney went, Robin Hood was – and still is – my favorite of their animated films.

However, as I got older, I started to discover new and more interesting cartoons – things labeled anime.  There was something about the animation that drew me.  It could be both serious and silly in the same instant, something that was new to me.  The colors, the styles, and even the stories were different from what I was used to seeing on my TV.

While anime didn’t really hit its stride in the US until the 1990’s, there was a ton of it on television in the 1980’s.  Things like Voltron, Robotech, and even Belle and Sebastian that I used to watch religiously on Nickelodeon.  Even though science fiction wasn’t a big draw for me, the mech or robot themed anime were always my favorite.  Even now, way too many years later, I’m still drawn to ships that can convert into robots.

Anime started to become more accessible in the 1990’s, although it was still hard to find at times.  I remember there was one store in the mall – Suncoast – where I could find anime to buy.  It was either that or we trekked out to a local record shop that carried imports and hard-to-find music and movies.  But I went to whatever lengths I could to find new things to watch.  I still have a lot of those original DVDs too – Akira, Grave of the Fireflies, and a few others.

I discovered Hayao Miyazaki quite by accident.  Since my late husband’s dad was in the military and his mom was a nurse, they didn’t go all out on Thanksgiving.  It was usually just the three of them, so they’d go out to a movie and come home to a normal meal later that night.  In 1999, when I was pregnant with our first daughter, we picked a random movie and went to see it on Thanksgiving Day.  The movie we ended up seeing was Princess Mononoke. 

It isn’t my favorite Miyazaki movie, but it was my first.  It was fast-paced and a bit violent at times, but it had us hooked.  So, when I spotted Spirited Away in Best Buy a few years later, it was an instant buy.  It soon became my young daughter’s favorite movie; all she wanted to watch.  So much so that she insisted on taking it with her to stay the night with my in-laws.  When I picked her up the next day, my father-in-law says, “What the heck did you send with her last night?  That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever watched.”  Yeah, I know, sorry.

The funny thing is that both of my girls love Disney, Pixar, and Studio Ghibli movies.  However, only my younger one acquired a love for anime like I did.  It’s always fun to be watching something and have her notice and say, “Oh, I loved this!”  It’s been a great bonding experience for us over the years.

I will say though that as an adult, I’ve mostly migrated to watching happy, low-stakes anime.  But there are a few grittier shows that I also enjoy.

If you’re curious or looking to get into anime, I’d suggest anything of Miyazaki’s.  My favorites are Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Kiki’s Delivery Service.  Or, if you have more time on your hands, Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of Korra are both fabulous anime series.  With the bonus that they are family friendly.

Some of my other favorites are:

Gravitation.  This is about a 16-year-old rock star who finds and falls in love with a reclusive writer.  It is ridiculous and funny and has a great soundtrack as well.  One downside is that it’s an older anime, so the animation isn’t the best, but it’s still a ton of fun.

Kino’s Journey and Kino’ Journey: The Beautiful World is about Kino who travels from place to place, exploring the world.  It’s beautifully animated and has a lot of great stories.  This was another that my older child loved as a kid.

Violet Evergarden.  I’m not sure what to say about this other than to bring a box of tissues.  You will cry.

Your Name isn’t any better than Violet Evergarden, however, the animation is gorgeous, and the story will suck you in.  It’s about a girl who dreams she’s a boy in Tokyo and a boy who dreams he is a girl in the rural countryside.  The ending surprised me, but it was oh so good.

Lastly, I’d recommend Spy X Family about a spy, an assassin, and telepathic child coming together to form a fake family.  Lots of action and super funny at times.

I could go on about this for days, but I’ll resist the urge and let you get on with your day – or your anime watching.

Is anime or other animation something you enjoy?  Do you have any favorites to suggest?

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Thursday Thoughts: August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025 By 14 Comments

As much as I love the classics, there are so many older movies that I’ve never seen.  Things like Casablanca or Citizen Kane.  Which is a tragedy, honestly, because I think that they’re classics for a reason and that I’m missing out on something by not having seen them.  The exception being musicals since both of my parents loved them.  My dad’s all-time favorite move was The Music Man after all.

While looking something up at IMDB.com last week, I stumbled upon a list of the top 10 Alfred Hitchcock movies.  Curious, I took a look at it to see if I’ve seen any of them.  I am somewhat ashamed to say that I have only seen one on the list – Shadow of a Doubt – and that’s only because it was mentioned repeatedly in a Riley Sager novel called Survive the Night.  I enjoyed the novel, so it made me seek out the movie, which I also thoroughly enjoyed.

And, as these things happen, watching one enjoyable Hitchcock movie made me want to watch more.  However, there are so many, I never knew where to start or if there were ones to avoid.  This list seems like a great place to start checking off some Hitchcock classics.

You can find the list here, if you’re so inclined.

The movies, in order, are:

North by Northwest

Rear Window

Vertigo

Psycho

Notorious

Shadow of a Doubt

Rebecca

Strangers on a Train

The Lady Vanishes

The Birds

Some of the movies listed are so iconic that I’m stunned I haven’t ever watched them.  I mean, seriously, I’ve never watched The Birds?  What is wrong with me?  (Actually, I know the answer to that, but no one wants to hear my middle child trauma drama.)

It is interesting because I have seen Psycho IV, but never the original.  The only reason I’ve seen #4 is because I had a very odd psychology teacher in high school.  He thought that since the premise of this installment was Norman Bates looking back at his childhood, that it fit into a basic psychology class.  Which isn’t exactly wrong, but even so, probably not the best thing to show a bunch of teenagers.  How he managed to get away with showing that in a public school, I’ll never know.  I did enjoy it though.

Over the years, I’ve seen clips from many of these movies.  The Psycho shower scene is one that immediately comes to mind.  It gets featured in shows and in documentaries about so many things.  Yet, somehow, I have failed to see the whole movie.  I’m not very familiar with North by Northwest, Notorious, or The Lady Vanishes, but the others are very much ingrained in pop culture.  As I mentioned, Shadow of a Doubt features heavily in Survive the Night by Riley Sager.  Sometimes, because of this, it feels like I’ve seen them, even though I know I haven’t.

I’m very anxious to get started watching some of these classic and iconic movies.  Rear Window, Vertigo, and Psycho most of all.  But they all appeal to me and intrigue my sense of adventure.

The only movie on this list that I’m worried about is Rebecca.  Several years ago, I attempted to read the original novel by Daphne du Maurier, and abandoned ship about 20% in.  A few years later, Netflix released a new adaptation of Rebecca and my daughter and I made it about thirty minutes in before we gave up.  To make matters worse, I read My Cousin Rachel, another highly rated book by the author, and did not care for it at all.  I am hoping that there will be something special about Hitchcock’s version of the story that changes my mind.

Are you a fan of Hitchcock’s movies?  What are your favorites?  Do you have a suggestion for where I should start my journey?    I’m always open to suggestions, so if you have a favorite not on this list, let me know.  Also, if you have a favorite director similar to Hitchcock, drop that information, too.  I have a big list of things I want to watch and am always adding to it.  Grab some popcorn and join me!

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Thursday Thoughts: August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025 By 4 Comments

When I was a kid, I had this huge book of jokes, limericks, and weird laws.  The weird laws were always my favorite part.  I mean, it’s illegal to take a bite out of someone else’s hot dog?  Well, then, arrest me, officer, because I need a taste of that!

The crazy thing is that there are still a lot of silly or weird laws on the books all over the world.  While they’re not likely to be enforced, it is fun to look at them.  And then maybe enact a citizen’s arrest when your sibling breaks one of these obscure laws.

In North Carolina, it’s illegal to operate or participate in a game of bingo while under the influence of an impairing substance.  I am very curious about how this one came about.  And was it a senior citizen that started it?

In Kentucky, it’s unlawful to sell dyed ducks, chickens, or rabbits unless selling in quantities of six or more.  I mean, who needs two dyed ducks?  A six pack or nothing, baby.

It’s illegal to go hunting in a cemetery in Oregon.  Don’t tell the Winchester brothers.  Or Anita Blake, for that matter.

In Arizona it’s illegal for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub.  They’re only allowed to shower, I suppose.  In all seriousness, a donkey in the 1920’s was napping in a bathtub when it got washed away by a flood, causing a costly search and rescue mission to find both tub and donkey.

In Illinois it’s illegal to take a nap in a cheese factory.  Only in the Midwest, I swear.  And I say that as someone who originated in the Midwest (and Illinois specifically).

You cannot catch a fish with a firearm in Indiana.  However, I do wonder if it’s illegal to hunt Christmas trees in Maine?  The strangest story my husband ever told me was how his dad shot down their Christmas tree one year with his shotgun.  You have to know my father-in-law to understand, but it totally tracks.

In Nevada, Las Vegas specifically, it’s illegal to pawn your dentures.  Sadly, you know this had to have happened.  If you’ve ever watched Pawn Stars, you know that people bring the strangest things into pawn shops.

The United States isn’t the only country with weird laws on the books.  Here are a few from around the world.

It’s illegal to hold a salmon under suspicious circumstances in England and Wales.  This apparently is to cut down on salmon being illegally fished, but the wording is hilarious.  Because you have to wonder, is there a way to hold a salmon that’s not suspicious?

In Canada it’s against the law to play too many non-Canadian artists on Canadian radio.  I can’t lie, Canada, I kind of love this law.  I could be biased as two of my favorite country artists are Canadian – Paul Brandt and Terri Clark.

In Samoa it’s illegal to forget your wife’s birthday.  I wonder, do Samoan men live in fear of forgetting all important dates because of this?

Finally, hot pink trousers are illegal on Sunday afternoons in Australia.  This was originally an attempt at imposing moral standards and maintaining public decency.  I often wish we could enact a law like that around here because wee doggies, the things I’ve seen!

What weird laws are there in your area?  Or have you heard about one that I haven’t listed?  I find this kind of thing fascinating, so give me your best and strangest!

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Thursday Thoughts August 14, 2025

August 14, 2025 By 6 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I love coffee.  It wasn’t always this way, but the advent of fancy coffee shops in the mall – where I was working in the mid-90’s – enticed me and eventually hooked me.

Back in the day, I was one of those frappe drinkers.  You know, the sugary, sweet, calorie-laden drinks that were like milkshakes with a kick?  Yeah, that was me.  But I was young then, too, and the calories were no match for my metabolism.  Sadly, these days, I’ve weaned myself off those drinks and have settled into a love affair with iced coffee.  Doesn’t matter if it’s the regular kind, cold brew, or the fancy nitro stuff, I just love iced coffee.

Most of the time, I drink plain coffee with a splash of skim or oatmilk.  But I do tend to get bored easily, which is why I always have a bag of flavored beans in the house.  I know that flavored coffee isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so to speak, but I do like it on occasion.  Thanks to the internet and a huge array of small roasters, you can get every kind of coffee imaginable these days.

My favorite straight up coffee is Trader Joe’s Joe.  I go for the medium roast, but that’s my preference.  It has a good flavor and is priced right at $6.99.

A more expensive option is Stumptown’s Holler Mtn.  It was one of the first whole bean coffees I tried and it’s still one of my favorites.

Now, when it comes to flavored coffees, I’m not even sure where to start.  Bones Coffee has some really fun – and sometimes very strange – flavors.  They routinely feature limited time collabs that have spawned some exciting and fun flavors.  My favorite, to date, was the Star Wars Dark Side Truffle.  Very chocolatey and rich.  However, the SpongeBob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Brew – flavored like pineapple upside down cake – while sounding interesting, wasn’t something I was brave enough to try.  To date, I haven’t had a blend from Bones that hasn’t been tasty.

If you’re interested in something a little different – and as a way to give back to first responders – then Fire Department Coffee is your guy.  This roaster is veteran owned and gives a portion of their proceeds to help firefighters all over the US.  What drew me to them was their spirit infused coffees.  It’s coffee for those days when you need a drink but can’t have one at work.  The salted caramel bourbon is my favorite to date, however, I do currently have a bag of the toasted marshmallow whisky at home that I’m eager to try.  They do also have lots of regular beans and traditionally flavored coffees as well.  But if you want something to start a conversation, the spirit infused blends are the way to go.

For the bookish people, Fable Grounds Coffee is sure to be a hit.  A friend had forwarded me an email of theirs and I was fascinated by how they created brews to match with their favorite books.  Fable Grounds really endeared themselves to me by having beans and merch authorized by Travis Baldree.  Having a Legends & Lattes stoneware coffee mug just fits.  Plus, the Midnight Crescents blend is so good.  Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, they have a ton of cute merch for perusal.  Their mugs are especially awesome and are perfect for filling with ice cream.

Now that I have you craving a bit of java (or not), how about a little fun?  I found this quiz, which is what inspired me to make this post.

Order Starbucks And We’ll Accurately Guess Your Zodiac Sign

My results were not even close.  Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn?  Nope, I’m a water sign all the way, baby!

What about you?  How accurate was your sign predicted?

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Thursday Thoughts: July 31, 2025… Nostalgia and Television Shows

July 31, 2025 By 8 Comments

For some reason, I got on quite a nostalgia kick these last couple of weeks.  It might have started when I stumbled across a channel in the Samsung TV Plus – a series of TV channels that are free with a wi-fi connection on their smart TVs – that showed nothing but Alf reruns.

Remember Alf? Anyway, that led to me discovering a docuseries on HBO called History of the Sitcom.  I do tend to go down documentary rabbit holes at times, so it was nice to have something light and fluffy to watch, as opposed to last year when I was watching some much darker content.  As you might expect, one of the shows that was mentioned in several episodes was Happy Days.

Growing up, I loved this show.  It was wholesome, it was funny, and overall, it was just a really good time.  Plus, it started my lifelong love of Henry Winkler, so extra bonus right there.  I do have to admit that when my daughter and I watched Barry, it warmed my heart to see how much she loved Henry Winkler’s character on the show as well.  There’s something very gratifying when your kids latch onto someone or something you’ve loved for years.

One of the things that made Happy Days such a great show was the characters.  They were people we knew in our real lives, people we could relate to.  Maybe you had an annoying older brother like Richie, or you had that older, cool family friend that everyone loved.

I stumbled onto this People article asking Which Happy Days Character You Are, Based On Your Zodiac Sign.  Must have been all the googling TV shows that did it, but whatever brought it onto my radar, I’m grateful.    These lists – even when they’re inaccurate – are always fun for me.  This one did not disappoint at all.

My sign – Cancer – is Marion Cunningham.  As your typical Cancer, this didn’t shock me one bit.  We are known as the mothers of the zodiac for a reason.  I also related to her a lot as a kid, because she is the kind of mother I had as well as the kind I wanted to be in the future.

Gemini cracked me up.  I remember Ralph Malph as being both charming, funny, and annoying as all get out.  Why is this funny?  Because I have two really good friends who are Geminis and man does this fit them.  They’re loyal, they’re fun, but when they’re on one, they’re going to let you know about it.

Lastly, Sagittarius made me smile because my brother is a Sag.  He and Potsie have a lot in common.  They’re affable, engaging, and always interesting to be around.  My brother can be all these things and more, but we’ll keep the family drama out of this, right?  (Kidding, I’m kidding…)

On the off chance you weren’t a Happy Days fan or maybe you just like taking quizzes, I also found this: If You Were a Random But Iconic TV Character, Who Would You Be?   I’ve never watched Parks and Rec (although it did come up during the docuseries), but I can relate to this, so I’ll take it.

Does your Happy Days character resonate with you?  How about the random iconic TV character?

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: , ,

Top Ten Tuesday: Beach/Beachy Reads

July 29, 2025 By 34 Comments


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

I don’t have a beach close to me; however, I do enjoy light summer reads.  Or even heavier ones that grab you in a way that you don’t want to stop reading.  Here are ten that filled that role for me.

Happy Place by Emily Henry.  Fun and sometimes heart-rending story of friends and lovers set during summer.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.  An insane and gripping novel that’s part chick lit and part thriller.  It is 100% crazy though.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.  A fun, sweet, romance between a prince and the First Son of the US President.

Bonus red: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall.  I don’t consider this a beachy read because Luc’s family issues make it a bit heavier, but if you like the above, you might enjoy this one, too.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley.  While this can get a little heavy at times, this story about grief and love is hilariously funny and poignant.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.  Another thriller that drew me in and kept me reading because I needed to know.

One for the Money (and the rest of the Stephanie Plum series) by Janet Evanovich.  These mysteries are ridiculous and over-the-top, but you can’t help but root for Steph and Lula to nab the FTA’s.

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London.  Despite not being a fan of reality television, a romance set during a dating show was intriguing to me.  It certainly didn’t let me down.

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood.  My first and only Ali Hazelwood novel so far, but I did enjoy the mix of STEM and enemies to lovers (one of my favorite tropes).  And the NASA setting only made it better.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins.  Another thriller (I have a type, I admit it) but this one told in alternating timelines.  I did enjoy the 70’s timeline a bit more, but overall, it was an engaging read.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto.  Not sure if it’s a list by me if there isn’t at least one cozy mystery on the list, so I had to include one full of hijinks and family bonding.

Are any of these on your list this week?

 

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: ,
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