There are some Broadway plays that are more or less household names - Book of Mormon is one that I've always kind of heard of and known about, but never really knew what it was about. Honestly, I thought it was some kind of religious show that didn't pertain to me. But then I found out it was written by the creators of South Park (Matt Stone and Trey Parker), alongside Avenue Q co-creator (Robert Lopez), with choreography by Casey Nicholaw of Monty Python fame. The show is directed by both Nicholaw and Parker. The show has won 9 Tony Awards. So yeah, I was kind of sold in going to see it. And I absolutely knew I was in for quiet the delight.


Let me start off by saying - this show is absolutely not for everyone. It's hilariously vulgar, incredibly offensive, and quite sacrilegious. I would not recommend it for the faint of heart. 


That being said, Book of Mormon was so super laugh-out-loud funny. It's certainly on par with an episode of South Park when looking at content. Again - vulgar, offensive, but so, so funny. There's also very explicit language, which I'm pretty sure is the first time I'm ever seen a play with curse words in it.

What's more is when it comes to the performances, the set, and the overall production value of this show - it was hands down the best performance I've ever seen at The Fox Theatre, which is saying a lot, because I'm seen a good bit of shows at The Fox, many of which have also been Broadway Atlanta productions. Book of Mormon will have a limited run in Atlanta at The Fox Theatre from now through July 22.

Left: Kevin Clay - The Book of Mormon (c) Julieta Cervantes 2017; Right: Conner Peirson - The Book of Mormon (c) Julieta Cervantes 2017

The singing - of all the cast members, I swear there wasn't a single note missed. Yes, this show is satirical comedy, but these were performances of a lifetime. Every single note was perfection.

The dancing - while ridiculously hilarious at times, the choreography was topnotch. The group dances were amazing and mesmerizing. I kid you not, it was amazing.

The set - I don't understand how this set even worked. I was in drama club in high school, but we had no productions quite like this one. Pieces magically rolled off and on to the stage - I honestly don't know how. There were some pieces rolled by cast members, but most of them literally rolled on to the stage by some kind of mechanics I don't quiet understand. Plus, the dimensions within the set were more than outstanding (hello, Spooky Mormon Hell Dream, which was my favorite performance, by the way).

The Book of Mormon Company - The Book of Mormon (c) Julieta Cervantes 2017

The Book of Mormon Company - The Book of Mormon (c) Julieta Cervantes 2017

Monica L. Patton, Kevin Clay, Conner Peirson - The Book of Mormon (c) Julieta Cervantes 2017

Kim Exum, Conner Peirson - The Book of Mormon (c) Julieta Cervantes 2017

Elder Cunningham (Conner Peirson) was definitely one of the funniest characters. His jokes were so funny, he was just really goofy overall, and he definitely reminded me of Patton Oswalt. Plus, his vocal range was fantastic. Nabulungi (Kayla Pecchioni) was also absolutely amazing, especially when it came to vocals. But all in all, each cast member killed it when it came to vocals and choreography.


I will say if you're not easily offended, Book of Mormon is a must-see. It's absolutely hilarious, and I would without-a-doubt see it again.

If I'm being honest, every single Sunday becomes a dreadful disarray. I love my job. I really, truly do. But there's something about the weekend that envelopes me in happiness and rejuvenates my soul. So, it's important to me that I throw some of that soul rejuvenation into those five weekdays that suck my energy away.






I'm introverted. In fact, my MBTI type is INFJ - which consist of overly kind people who also need to crawl into a hole away from everyone as a basic skill of survival. I can enjoy people, and I work in an office that's full of wonderfully kind, but also exuberant individuals. Not to mention my daily tasks include one-on-one meetings back-to-back-to-back (10-13 on average each day during peak times). So, when I'm finished at work, I come home mostly exhausted. I tend to curl up and read or watch tv, then spend some time with hubby before crashing fairly late because I felt I had too much to accomplish in the 4ish hours I've got at home in the evening.



So, how do I allow weekend rituals to seep into my weekdays? 

How does that motivate me to accomplish my goals? 

How can it help you, too? 

Keep reading. I'm getting there.



1. Immediately slip into something comfy. 
Seriously, 5:30 on a Tuesday rolls around and you may see me rolling the trashcan to the street in my pjs, or some leggings in the least. My favorites are these high-waisted ones from Girlfriend Collective. I'm also a fan of lounging in oversized teeshirts, or bras that feel like they're barely there (wireless are forever my favorites).


2. Find something I love and do it for at least an hour each evening. Make it a priority. 
For me, it's reading. I've got to get that book time in every single day - somehow, someway. It's one of the way I tend to meet my reading goals.


3. Get in physical activity the lazy way. 
I enjoy going to the gym after the fact, but getting there is rough. Not to mention I hate to wake up early, don't want to return from lunch sweaty, and want to get home to spend time with the hubby after work. So, where do I get physical activity in without losing the time for the other things I want to do? I'm warning you - it's certainly the lazy way. I turn on the tv (whatever show I want to watch at the times - The Handmaid's Tale, Sharp Objects, whatever - and I walk, walk, walk in place. Using my Apple Watch, I make sure to fill all three rings, and hit at least 10,000 steps, and most days I'm successful. I don't use a treadmill or elliptical or anything, but I still get my heart rate up and get a little sweaty. Since we have basic Hulu, we've got commercials, so during those I typically pick up the pace to a light run or jog.


4. Utilize your lunch hour.
Actually take a break during your lunch hour to do whatever feels good for you. Like I mentioned previously, I work in a very energetic office, so I usually take my lunch time for just myself. Yes, sometimes I'll grab lunch with a friend, but typically, I dim the lights in my office and read and enjoy my lunch. It may be something different for you. But for me - it makes me feel so much more myself to finish out the day energized.


5. Know what gives you energy and find a way to give that to yourself during the day.
More or less, see above. But I know I need alone time throughout the day, so whether it's lunch, the drive home, or quiet time at the house - I make sure to get in quiet time when I can.


6. Sometimes plan events on weeknights. You're an adult, it's okay to make those decisions.
Every few months, I may go to a play on a weeknight with my sister. I've got MoviePass now, so it's totally cool to go see a movie on a Wednesday. Or maybe it's grabbing dinner with the hubby or some friends, but going to events during the weekday are a surefire way to make the week feel like the weekend (even if you're a little tired at work the next day).


7. Don't forget to utilize vacation or paid time-off your job offers. 
Paid time-off is 100% there for a reason. Seriously, studies show it makes employees more productive, so take off a day or two in the middle of the week! I'm certainly not judging you for it.

Brief synopsis: Carrie White is a weird girl, different from all the other teenagers in her school. When a traumatic event sends her over the edge, one of her classmates tries to make it better by trying to give her an amazing prom night. Unfortunately, the taunting only gets worse, setting loose Carrie's gifts and giving her classmates a night they'll never forget.



We've pretty much all seen Carrie, either the original with Sissy Spacek or the newer one with Chloe Grace Moretz, but I had never read the book. While Stephen King novels are known for being incredibly lengthy, Carrie is actually less than 200 pages in it's original print. I grew up watching Stephen King movies, and as a teenager enjoyed both Pet Semetary and Desperation, but as an adult, I'm finally getting around to reading more of King's novels and while the writing can be a bit dense, I will agree he's truly the master of horror. His imagery is out-of-this-world, and his novels will definitely keep you up at night. Carrie is no different.

Though the novel is short, it is intense and no less scary due to its length. The novel is made up of Carrie's story told in a variety of ways, mostly years after the event - including studies of Carrie's gift, biographies of classmates, newspaper articles, etc. It was definitely a unique perspective for a horror novel, and I enjoyed it very much. So much so I stayed up until almost four am to finish the book.

Though the movie is fantastic (hello, young Travolta) and definitely captured the story well, the book is certainly very haunting, as well. And while I have not seen the musical stage play (with the exception of the Riverdale rendition), it's absolutely one I would love to see.

So this month was also another month where I didn't meet my average reading goal - another five novels read, though I was hoping to read six. However, June was a busy month at both work and outside of work (hello, birthday adventures). I am pretty proud, though, because we got to June 20 and I was just finishing up my second book of the month (The Poisoned City, which I struggled through a bit) - so I honestly thought I wouldn't even get to five, but I pushed through the end of the month and knocked out three more for a total of five for June. So, see below what I read, how I starred it and feel free to check out the full reviews if you haven't already.




*The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager ★★★★☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A
Brief synopsis: When Emma was 13, she got the chance to go to Camp Nightingale, or "Camp Rich Bitch" as many called it, and room with three older girls who took her under their wing. Then they went missing, all of them in Dogwood cabin except her. The girls were never found. Now, 15 years later, Emma paints them hidden in dark forests. She just can't seem to escape her past, especially once Franny - owner of Camp Nightingale - invites Emma back to the camp for a re-opening, where she can teach the campers how to paint. She goes back, because perhaps returning will help her find closure, or maybe help her figure out what happened to her cabin-mates. But something weird's going on at Camp Nightingale, and she wants to find out what before it's too late.
See full review here.






*The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy by Anna Clark ★★★☆☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A microhistory
Brief synopsis: Flint, Michigan has seen its share of issues over the years, most prominently racism, institutional and systemic. The water crisis heard round the world was another example of the city's treatment of citizens of color. This book tells the story of Flint's water crisis and the decades of events that led to it.
See full review here.






You by Caroline Kepnes ★★★★★
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A book about a villain or antihero
Brief synopsis: Joe Goldberg runs a trendy bookstore in New York. One day, Guinevere Beck enters - she's clever, witty, and loves obscure books others only pretend to enjoy. Joe is immediately smitten with Beck and tries a series of tactics to win her over. Only, these aren't your typically tactics. In fact, he may actually be stalking her. But Beck's the girl of his dreams, and he's obviously her perfect match. Right?
See full review here.






*Scream All Night by Derek Milman ★★★★☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with a time of day in the title
Brief synopsis: Dario hasn't been home in years. In fact, he moved into a boy's home at 12 and became emancipated and 14 and hasn't really looked back. But when his brother calls with news about their father's funeral, Dario feels compels to return home. And home just happens to be a B-movie horror film studio. It's definitely as intriguing as it sounds. When Dario returns, he feels like he has to choose his future soon, but thoughts of the past keep haunting him. Can he overcome the things he experienced as a child, and can he forgive his family to move forward?
See full review here.






*She Was the Quiet One by Michele Campbell ★★★☆☆
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A
Brief synopsis: Twin sisters Rose and Bel are shipped off to boarding school by their grandmother after the passing of their mother. While they've always somewhat relied on each other, they definitely have their own personalities. Bel is the rebel sister and Rose is the goodie two-shoes. Their arrival at Odell Academy only reaffirms their differences. When Bel falls in with a bad crowd, which results on a hazing incident with Rose and her roommate, it only pushes the sisters further apart, until one of them ends up dead.
See full review here.

Brief synopsis: Twin sisters Rose and Bel are shipped off to boarding school by their grandmother after the passing of their mother. While they've always somewhat relied on each other, they definitely have their own personalities. Bel is the rebel sister and Rose is the goodie two-shoes. Their arrival at Odell Academy only reaffirms their differences. When Bel falls in with a bad crowd, which results on a hazing incident with Rose and her roommate, it only pushes the sisters further apart, until one of them ends up dead.



She Was the Quiet One was definitely interesting enough to hold my intention. I read it fairly quickly because I was curious what happened next and if my assumptions were true. While the story was fairly fast-paced, I felt unsatisfied by the ending. It was okay, but I didn't feel like there was a huge twist to wrap it all up. In fact, the story played out exactly as I thought it would - which was truly odd.

There were a few other novels I really felt Quiet One was reminiscent of. The detective interview chapters reminded me of Big Little Lies - you know something bad has happened, but you don't know exactly what or who it happened to. That is such an intriguing element in this novel, and was definitely one of its strongest points. I also thought a lot of Ruth Ware's The Lying Game - the setting and characters definitely gave me similar vibes. Lastly, I could see a lot of the same elements in Quiet One as I did in Campbell's previous novel, It's Always the Husband.

While, I enjoyed reading the novel, I was overly satisfied with the ending. This one was certainly hit or miss for me, but I wouldn't push one way or the other towards a recommending or not. I'd say you could check it out and kind put some feelers out to see for yourself.