Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Thursday Thoughts: July 3, 2025
July 3, 2025 By 4 Comments
Since tomorrow is Independence Day here in the US, I started wondering what things are celebrated the day before.
If you didn’t already know, every day has its own set of weird holidays. For example, my younger daughter’s birthday is January 4th, which also happens to be national spaghetti day. Strangely enough, spaghetti and red sauce is her favorite meal. Although, these days, hot pot is coming in a close second.
So, what about July 3rd? What kind of interesting things are happening today?
National Stay out of the Sun Day is an obvious choice for today. Partly because it is the height of summer in the US. Although I do wonder if it’s partly due to knowing everyone will be out and about all the following day for July 4th celebrations.
In a similar vein, July 3rd is also Air Conditioning Appreciation Day. So, um, hug your favorite HVAC guy, I suppose?
Ways to celebrate: The first two really do go hand in hand, don’t they? You celebrate staying out of the sun by staying inside and thanking the Powers that Be for the all mighty air conditioning.
On July 3rd, it is also International Plastic Bag Free Day, which is an important one. We should honestly be practicing this as much as possible every day, but starting small can also have a long-lasting impact as well. As a side note, I’ve seen a lot of my favorite sites promoting a plastic free July.
Ways to celebrate: Bring your reusable bags! Most stores in my area have them for sale in-store. And, if you have a Trader Joe’s near you, they always have the cutest reusable bags. On the flip side, if you knit (or crochet), you can make your own. I have a good friend who has knitted me several and they’re perfect for produce.
Another important thing to celebrate today is National Compliment Your Mirror Day. We should all be kinder to ourselves on a regular basis, me especially. I could probably start by cleaning the nose prints off the glass… dang cats.
Ways to celebrate: Acknowledge your positives, no matter how small. The more you do this, the better you’ll get, and you might be surprised the things you like about yourself.
Today is also Thirsty Thursday and, with rising temps and crazy hot days in places where it isn’t usually very hot, remember to stay hydrated. It’s good for your skin, it’s good for your organs, and it’s also essential to keep your body working and cooling itself properly during the summertime.
Ways to celebrate: Drink that water! Add some frozen fruit or citrus for a fresh kick of flavor. There are also a ton of flavor enhancers out there that work wonders if you find plain water boring as well as flavored sparkling waters. One of my favorite alternatives are fruit infusion teas. Light, refreshing, and many are caffeine free.
One last thing to think about today is Start the Conversation Day. This reminds us to reach out to our loved ones and check in on them and their mental health. When someone’s struggling, they often withdraw and isolate themselves, making it harder for them to get help at a crucial time.
Ways to celebrate: Call or text the people who matter to you. Send cat pics or links to your favorite songs. You never know what a simple check in can do for someone who might be having a difficult time.
Which of these holidays appeals to you? How would you celebrate them if you decided to?
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for July 2, 2025
July 2, 2025 By 2 Comments
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Board and Card Games I Like (and why)
Thursday Thoughts: June 26, 2025
June 26, 2025 By 10 Comments
Thursday Thoughts: June 25, 2025
While I’m not a big TV watcher, I do like to put a show on in the evening to watch while winding down before bed. Which is kind of funny when you consider that I watch a lot of murdery shows before bedtime. How I don’t have more nightmares, I’m not sure. But it’s what I seem to be drawn to the most when choosing a series.
Crime shows aren’t the only thing I watch, however. I do love a good comedy or even a drama when the mood suits. A friend of mine introduced me to K-dramas, which are also really fun, even if I’ve only watched one so far. Documentaries and fictionalized versions of real events are also high on my list of things I enjoy.
The best shows I’ve watched recently are very much a mixed bag of genres. Which I think is fun. Everyone has their own tastes and interests, but I tend to get bored if I watch (or read!) too much of the same kind of thing.
My favorite shows recently (in no particular order) are as follows:
(All links will take you to IMDB.)
Mid-Century Modern (Hulu/Disney+).
Summary: After an unexpected death, three best friends–gay gentlemen of a certain age–decide to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs, where the wealthiest one lives with his mother.
I was first enticed by this show when I saw Matt Bomer was part of the main cast. I lived to hate him as Bryce Larkin on Chuck but came to love him as Neal Caffrey on White Collar. However, as I perused the list of cast members, I realized that this show was chock full of great talent. Nathan Lane and Linda Lavin are also main characters, despite Linda Lavin passing away during filming. As a bonus, this show managed to nab a ton of excellent guest stars each episode.
Top Chef (Bravo on cable, Peacock streaming).
Summary: Aspiring chefs are judged by a panel of food and wine experts while competing against one another for a shot at culinary stardom.
My late husband got me hooked on cooking competitions, although I’m the one who got him watching The Food Network a million years ago. Top Chef is a high-level competition with some of the best chefs from around the country and Canada competing for money and other prizes. Each season is set in a different area, and the most recent season was set in Canada, mainly Toronto, but with a couple of episodes in Calgary as well. They bring in a bunch of celebrity chefs as judges as well as former contestants, which is always fun to see again. After 22 seasons, I can safely say that I’m invested.
The X-Files (Hulu).
Summary: Two F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.
Admittedly, I’m about two decades late for this one. In my defense, I saw the first episode premier and then started a job working nights the very next week. And I did not have a VCR at the time. I wonder if my kids have any idea how much easier their lives are thanks to technology? I’m only halfway through season 3, but I am loving this show. Mulder and Scully’s relationship is fantastic. He’s crazy and obsessed and she’s patient and willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, even at his craziest. I also love all the weird things they investigate. A highlight was seeing Jack Black in one of the early episodes. I was definitely not expecting that. That is a bonus to watching shows this old – you’re often encountering roles you never knew your favorites even had.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (Britbox).
Summary: Follows the story of Ruth Ellis: her lifestyle as a young nightclub manageress, her violent relationship with the man she then killed in cold blood, her arrest, trial, and subsequent legal battle to get her release before she was hanged.
I stumbled across this in an email I received from Britbox announcing new shows. Historical stories as well as legal stories fascinate me, so this was a win/win. As infuriating as the entire situation was, I was glued to the TV for the entire mini-series. In telling my in-laws about this show, my older daughter turns to me and says, “Where the heck do you find these things, mom?” I would love more shows like this, honestly, even if it means I rage at the television when no one else is around.
Have you watched any of these shows? What have you seen lately that you think more people need to know about? I’m always looking for suggestions since sometimes I can’t make up my own mind.
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for June 25, 2025
June 25, 2025 By 2 Comments
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Do You Follow Celebrity Gossip? Why or why Not?
Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025
June 24, 2025 By 38 Comments
Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
The second half of 2025 feels so far away, but it will begin sooner than I think.
It’s interesting how slowly winter seems to pass by versus how quickly summer happens, at least in my experience. Do you feel the same way about the warm seasons where you live?
I once again have another Top Ten Tuesday blogger to thank this week, so stay tuned.
Let’s see what I can come up with for this list.
1. Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley
Release Date: September 2
Why I Want to Read It: Books about foster care often pique my interest.
2. People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young
Release Date: September 9
Why I Want to Read It: This looks like an adorable summer romance.
3. The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
Release Date: September 16
Why I Want to Read It: There is nothing like reading a novel about friendships and how they evolve over many years.
4. Alchemised by SenLinYu
Release Date: September 30
Why I Want to Read It: Memory problems are one of the scariest issues the human body can have in my opinion. What a great premise for a story.
5. Cinder House by Freya Marske
Release Date: October 7
Why I Want to Read It: Cinderella was one of my favorite fairy tales as a kid, and I love reading retellings of it.
6. The Last Spirits of Manhattan: A Novel by John A McDermott
Thank you to Susan @ BlogginBoutBooks for blogging about this last winter.
Release Date: October 14
Why I Want to Read It: Two of the quickest ways to make me want to read something is to describe it as a ghost story and as something based on a true story, so this is floating up to the top of my TBR list.
7. Isn’t It Obvious? by Rachel Runya Katz
Release Date: October 21
Why I Want to Read It: Romance readers of Top Ten Tuesday, can you believe I picked two books from that genre this week? If any of you read them, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
8. I’ll Quit When I’m Dead by Luke Smitherd
Release Date: October 14
Why I Want to Read It: Fitness-themed horror is not something I think I’ve read before, but I can totally see how it could be a thing.
9. Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews
Release Date: October 28
Why I Want to Read It: Ooh, this cover looks scary. Plants can be a threat for sure, and not just for those of us with seasonal allergies.
10. Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
Release Date: November 11
Why I Want to Read It: Ms. Kingfisher has so many books coming out this year. I tried to refrain from including all of them in the TBR lists last week and this one, but I had to indulge one more time.
Thursday Thoughts: June 19, 2025
June 19, 2025 By 6 Comments
It’s time for Taco
Tuesday Thursday!
Yeah, I know, Taco Thursday doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but here we are. And I don’t know about you, but I’m good with tacos any day of the week. How about you?
My favorite tacos are al pastor. They’re made from pork that’s been marinated in spices, cooked on a vertical spit, with pineapple and onion on top of the spit. It’s the pineapple that does it for me, I think, because that sweet and spicy combo is always a hit with my taste buds. In a pinch, a good old fashioned ground beef or grilled chicken taco is a win as well.
Tacos, for the most part, are a super simple meal that’s easy to prepare and generally is not too expensive. So, I tend to make them often. The trouble began when my older daughter went fully vegan. Since I didn’t want to keep feeding her Beyond Beef tacos, I went on the hunt for vegan taco recipes that were both easy and delicious.
Our favorite by far are these crispy vegan potato tacos with jalapeño cilantro sauce. Whenever I make these, I make two simple alterations to the recipe. First, I double it because the leftovers make a great breakfast hash or taco. Second, I add in half a poblano pepper or, if they’re in season and I can find them, a Hatch chile. Poblanos are my favorite pepper and they add a great flavor to the tacos. The jalapeño cilantro sauce is fantastic as well and is great for dipping fries into.
Another great vegan taco recipe are these simple black bean tacos with vegan lime crema. Since I am not a fan of beans of any variety, these are something I make for my kids only. But it’s easy enough to pan fry a chicken breast on the side for myself, so it all works out in the end.
Lastly, these beer battered Kung Pao cauliflower tacos aren’t exactly easy, but man are they ever worth it. I’ve only made them a handful of times, but they are so good and crispy! I had a hard time keeping the kids from snacking on the cauliflower while I got it all fried.
A shout out to Navajo tacos/fry bread tacos (they come by many names, depending on where you are). These start with a piece of fry bread – aka a piece of fried dough – and are piled high with all your usual taco toppings. I recently had one of these in a little hole in the wall restaurant in Gallup, NM and it was beyond delicious. The green chile sauce it was topped with only made it better. And I’ll forgive the son of the owners who told me it’s not really a taco if it doesn’t have beans on it (he was teasing me) because he gave us fantastic service.
Ever wonder what kind of taco fits your foodie personality? Yes? Then you’re in luck because there’s a quiz for that (no, really!) and you can find it here. And while I didn’t get the al pastor I’d been hoping for, I’m okay with what I did get.
What about you? What kind of tacos do you like? Which taco fits your personality best?
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for June 18, 2025
June 18, 2025 By 2 Comments
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Humorous Book Titles
Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Summer 2025 to-Read List
June 17, 2025 By 54 Comments
Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
This looks like it’s going to be a fabulous summer of reading! Here are the titles I’m most excited for and why I can’t wait to read them. If no release date is included, this means they’re already available to buy or hopefully even borrow from your local library if you have one.
I discovered two of them on other Top Ten Tuesday TBR posts earlier this year, so I will be thanking those bloggers individually later on in this post.
Isn’t it awesome when this blog hop introduces you to new books that are right up your alley?
1. The Immortal Choir Holds Every Voice by Margaret Killjoy
Why I Want to Read It: This is a horror series I haven’t started yet, but maybe I will feel the urge to get started now that the third instalment has come out?
2. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by Victoria E. Schwab
Why I Want to Read It: Scary vampires are the best kind of vampires if you ask me.
3. These Heathens by Mia McKenzie
Why I Want to Read It: History is something I enjoy reading about through both fiction and nonfiction means.
4. Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
Release Date: July 29
Why I Want to Read It: A cozy mystery? Check. A fun title? Check. A food-related plot? Check. This is exactly the kind of stuff I like to read.
5. The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman
Release Date: August 12
Why I Want to Read It: Everyone needs a good tearjerker sometimes. (Or at least I do!)
6. Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Release Date: August 19
Why I Want to Read It: T. Kingfisher is a must-read author for me.
7. The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand by Christopher Golden
Release Date: August 19
Why I Want to Read It: I loved The Stand and would like to revisit that universe, especially since Mr. King has fully authorized this spinoff.
(This cover was too large to upload, but the link below includes it)
8. The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Canaz
Thank you to bookwormnai for this recommendation.
Release Date: August 25
Why I Want to Read It: What a scary premise it has, from the epidemic to the demonic possession.
(This cover has not been released yet)
9. Secret Lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon
Thank you to BooksBonesBuffy! For this recommendation.
Release Date: August 26
Why I Want to Read It: It sounds deliciously scary.
(The third time was not the charm today! This cover was also too large to upload, but the link below includes it).
10. Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
Release Date: August 26
Why I Want to Read It: Ms. Kuang is also on my list of authors I immediately check out when they release something new.
Movie Review: Pets
June 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment
Pets (a Documentary)
Director: Bryce Dallas Howard
Starring: Travis Ford, Adam Burke, and Sterling Davis
Publisher: Disney
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars (6 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by AstilbeIt explores the extraordinary relationship between animals and their people around the world. Highlighting dogs, cats, pigs, goats, and birds of prey, Pets takes us on a lovely journey that celebrates love, loss, and licks along the way.
Everyone needs unconditional love.
One of the cool things about this film had to do with how many different age groups it was created for. There were interviews with preschoolers, senior citizens, and everyone in-between those age groups, too. This mean that the storytelling worked on multiple levels depending on how closely a viewer could pay attention and how much they already knew about this world. It is not easy to create something that everyone can enjoy, so kudos to the director and crew for pulling it off!
This documentary bounced around quite a bit between various people and their pets. As much as I liked seeing so many different types of animals and people from a wide variety of backgrounds, it was tricky for me as a viewer to feel deeply connected to any of them due to how little screen time they all received. I would have loved to see a smaller number of folks be interviewed so more time could be spent exploring their connections with their furry – or sometimes not so furry – companions.
Every aspect of owning a pet was covered here, from the naughty things they sometimes do to how families help pets who are sick, injured, or elderly. I laughed and cried as I watched this as the people who were being interviewed talked about both the difficult and joyful parts of sharing their lives with one or more animals. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored the quirks certain pets had, from licking doorknobs to getting a little jealous if someone else received more attention than they did. It was a delightful exploration of what life is like when you live with animals.
Pets was heartwarming.
