// API callback
authorshow({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","xmlns$blogger":"http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008","xmlns$georss":"http://www.georss.org/georss","xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-03-06T06:00:20.453-05:00"},"category":[{"term":"reviews"},{"term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"term":"lifestyle"},{"term":"lists \u0026 guides"},{"term":"sponsored"},{"term":"linkups"},{"term":"weekly recap"},{"term":"beauty \u0026 style"},{"term":"home \u0026 office"},{"term":"travel"},{"term":"health"},{"term":"subscription box"},{"term":"goals"},{"term":"project 365"},{"term":"wedding \u0026 marriage"},{"term":"DIY"},{"term":"recipes"},{"term":"television \u0026 movies"},{"term":"101 in 1001"},{"term":"giveaways"},{"term":"gift guides"},{"term":"pets"},{"term":"frugal finds"},{"term":"concerts \u0026 theatre"},{"term":"7 things sunday"},{"term":"stranger things"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Paper Arrow"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"A Paper Arrow is a lifestyle blog that focuses on all aspects of life. From beauty and style, book and entertainment reviews, home decor, DIY and more - anything that tickles your fancy can be found here. Stop on in."},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=26\u0026max-results=25"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"1100"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"25"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-7257773901532146320"},"published":{"$t":"2023-01-02T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-01-02T21:50:22.300-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2023 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgzEoNJFjd43b2SAe0JgFR8V1gsRO2Nx97-jgBq9xhOavv9LOQXRcVgr1-sK5juVfOQNtoY2y9hAQAqR9wruhlfGe3QyarKNGSupdejjZiNcCfZAi93YBahxj58MXGr0OiPeDXn9NpapHHq_4vq49WezH-NpVS8eL_YeOKM_P26w4aOk39puFp9tGzu\/s1920\/DE5B1007-2847-45FC-A69F-937B945AF601.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1920\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgzEoNJFjd43b2SAe0JgFR8V1gsRO2Nx97-jgBq9xhOavv9LOQXRcVgr1-sK5juVfOQNtoY2y9hAQAqR9wruhlfGe3QyarKNGSupdejjZiNcCfZAi93YBahxj58MXGr0OiPeDXn9NpapHHq_4vq49WezH-NpVS8eL_YeOKM_P26w4aOk39puFp9tGzu\/s16000\/DE5B1007-2847-45FC-A69F-937B945AF601.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI don't think I've ever actually fulfilled all the prompts for a POPSUGAR Reading Challenge, but I really love working towards them each year. I'm always so pumped and make so many plans at the start of the year, then just get kind of laissez-faire as I go. Here's to trying to finish the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.popsugar.com\/entertainment\/reading-challenge-2023-49013480\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E2023 reading challenge\u003C\/a\u003E this year.\u003C\/p\u003EYou can always keep up with my progress at the top of the page (under the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/search\/label\/books%20%26%20reading\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E'books \u0026amp; reading' tab\u003C\/a\u003E, you'll find all of my previous and current reading challenges). You can also catch me on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/goodreads.com\/kaylakedavra\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoodreads\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/instagram.com\/kaylakedavra\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInstagram\u003C\/a\u003E! I've included POPSUGAR's printable graphic below, which I usually save on my phone so I can mark as I go. Feel free to grab it to keep up with your completed prompts, too!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E2023 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E  01. A book you meant to read in 2022\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E02. A book you bought from an independent bookstore\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E03. A book about a vacation\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E04. A book by a first-time author\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E05. A book with mythical creatures\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E06. A book about a forbidden romance\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E07. A book with \"Girl\" in the title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E08. A celebrity memoir\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E09. A book with a color in the title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E10. A romance with a fat lead\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E11. A book about or set in Hollywood\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E12. A book published in spring 2023\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E13. A book published the year you were born\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E14. A modern retelling of a classic\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E15. A book with a song lyric as its title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E16. A book where the main character's name is in the title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E17. A book with a love triangle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E18. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E19. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E20. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E21. A book set in the decade you were born\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E22. A book with a queer lead\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E23. A book with a map\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E24. A book with a rabbit on the cover\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E25. A book with just text on the cover\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E26. The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E27. A #BookTok recommendation\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E28. A book you bought secondhand\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E29. A book your friend recommended\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E31. A book about a family\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E32. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E33. A book about an athlete\/sport\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E34. A historical-fiction book\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E35. A book about divorce\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E36. A book you think your best friend would like\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E37. A book you should have read in high school\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E38. A book you read more than 10 years ago\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E39. A book you wish you could read for the first time again\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E40. A book by an author with the same initials as you\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAdvanced\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E41. A book written during NaNoWriMo\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E 42. A book based on a popular movie \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E43. A book that takes place entirely in one day \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E44. A book that was self-published \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E45. A book that started out as fan fiction \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E46. A book with a pet character \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E47. A book about a holiday that's not Christmas \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E48. A book that features two languages \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E49. The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E50. A book with alliteration in the title      \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgKBTL7pONMBdelwnWHV75hYKxAddOyNdsgoGy1v8DkiH7E-lSxTVWEqWVwtJGM12shrh3g9I_53tEwIo5t1J5rzsvQZ0csgmiq8nhHrpYGmpuozKcRMRWLM2117wwnyYTNIPzImvXtzJNgwdr3-ghcXO_t378IPkGqNeVeI869Xas8YWR0F0_JLYby\/s1980\/2023popsugarreadingchallenge.webp\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1980\" data-original-width=\"1530\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgKBTL7pONMBdelwnWHV75hYKxAddOyNdsgoGy1v8DkiH7E-lSxTVWEqWVwtJGM12shrh3g9I_53tEwIo5t1J5rzsvQZ0csgmiq8nhHrpYGmpuozKcRMRWLM2117wwnyYTNIPzImvXtzJNgwdr3-ghcXO_t378IPkGqNeVeI869Xas8YWR0F0_JLYby\/s16000\/2023popsugarreadingchallenge.webp\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.popsugar.com\/entertainment\/reading-challenge-2023-49013480\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPrintable challenge list from POPSUGAR\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/7257773901532146320\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2023\/01\/2023-popsugar-reading-challenge.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/7257773901532146320"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/7257773901532146320"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2023\/01\/2023-popsugar-reading-challenge.html","title":"2023 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgzEoNJFjd43b2SAe0JgFR8V1gsRO2Nx97-jgBq9xhOavv9LOQXRcVgr1-sK5juVfOQNtoY2y9hAQAqR9wruhlfGe3QyarKNGSupdejjZiNcCfZAi93YBahxj58MXGr0OiPeDXn9NpapHHq_4vq49WezH-NpVS8eL_YeOKM_P26w4aOk39puFp9tGzu\/s72-c\/DE5B1007-2847-45FC-A69F-937B945AF601.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-2217537788676947699"},"published":{"$t":"2022-12-30T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-01-02T21:24:32.250-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2022 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Recap"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjcUQu4tJ_VTw-VyWn_oRPsXvVmXD-2-5drXGdGCIri9wl32NdNBjdx5WUBflEblH9mQ3Dv_NQR5V8DaxJp1KJWx2-_9zRF9qmaJJyRnGjcF5i3o6pwrmR6L3bdZE7HGd_urYMZlIJMudjDhiYQiV9DMTS5iyPJRQitwiCIO7yxoWSEG3PJm9NAHfGa\/s1024\/2022-POPSUGAR-Reading-Challenge%20(1).jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1024\" data-original-width=\"791\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjcUQu4tJ_VTw-VyWn_oRPsXvVmXD-2-5drXGdGCIri9wl32NdNBjdx5WUBflEblH9mQ3Dv_NQR5V8DaxJp1KJWx2-_9zRF9qmaJJyRnGjcF5i3o6pwrmR6L3bdZE7HGd_urYMZlIJMudjDhiYQiV9DMTS5iyPJRQitwiCIO7yxoWSEG3PJm9NAHfGa\/s16000\/2022-POPSUGAR-Reading-Challenge%20(1).jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.popsugar.com\/entertainment\/reading-challenge-2022-48569820?stream_view=1#photo-48627004\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPhoto by POPSUGAR\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EAs the year comes to an end, it's time to reflect on my reading challenge goals. As usual, I have met my Goodreads goal of reading 52 books, but I'm not sure I've ever fully finished a POPSUGAR challenge. It's fun along the way though. See below for what I did accomplish, and check out the 2023 POPSUGAR reading challenge to see what I'll be up to in 2023.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E2022 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E 01. A book published in 2022\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EJosh and Gemma Make a Baby \u003C\/i\u003Eby Sarah Ready\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E02. A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E03. A book about or set in a nonpatriarchal society\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFevered Star\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Rebecca Roanhorse\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E04. A book with a tiger on the cover or \"tiger\" in the title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E05. A sapphic book\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMistakes Were Made\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Meryl Wilsner\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E06. A book by a Latinx author\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EA Lot Like Adios \u003C\/i\u003Eby Alexis Daria\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E07. A book with an onomatopoeia in its title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E08. A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-all-light-we-cannot-see-by.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAll the Light We Cannot See\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Anthony Doerr\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E09. A book about a \"found family\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Change\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Kirsten Miller\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E10. An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E11. A #BookTok recommendation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-one-of-us-is-dead-by-jeneva.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOne of Us is Dead\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Jeneva Rose\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E12. A book about the afterlife\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Dead and the Dark\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Courtney Gould\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E13. A book set in the 1980s\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E14. A book with cutlery on the cover or in the title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EKillers of a Certain Age\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Deanna Raybourn\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E15. A book by a Pacific Islander author\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E16. A book about witches\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Kiss Curse\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Erin Sterling\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E17. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2022\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-pieces-of-her-by-karin.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPieces of Her\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Karin Slaughter\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E18. A romance novel by a BIPOC author\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/02\/book-review-kiss-quotient-by-helen-hoang.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Kiss Quotient\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Helen Hoang\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E19. A book that takes place during your favorite season\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Book of Cold Cases\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Simone St James\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E20. A book whose title begins with the last letter of your previous read\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHome Field Advantage\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Dahlia Adler\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E21. A book about a band or musical group\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E22. A book with a character on the ace spectrum\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E23. A book with a recipe in it\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ERadha \u0026amp; Jai's Recipe for Romance\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Nisha Sharma\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E24. A book you can read in one sitting\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/04\/book-review-fat-girls-hiking-by-summer.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFat Girls Hiking\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Summer Michaud-Skog\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E25. A book about a secret\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Golden Couple\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E26. A book with a misleading title\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOlga Dies Dreaming\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Xóchitl González\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E27. A Hugo Award winner\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E28. A book set during a holiday\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Holiday Swap\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Maggie Knox\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E29. A different book by an author you read in 2021\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhen You Get the Chance\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Emma Lord\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E30. A book with the name of a board game in the title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhen Life Gives You Vampires\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Gloria Duke\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E31. A book featuring a man-made disaster\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EUpgrade\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Blake Crouch\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E32. A book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover or Amazon page\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Last House on Needless Street\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Catriona Ward\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E33. A social-horror book\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-school-for-good-mothers-by.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe School for Good Mothers\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Jessamine Chan\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E34. A book set in Victorian times\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/02\/book-review-lost-apothecary-by-sarah.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Lost Apothecary\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Sarah Penner\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E35. A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E36. A book you know nothing about\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EInsomnia\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Sarah Pinborough\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E37. A book about gender identity\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/05\/book-review-love-and-other-disasters-by.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELove and Other Disasters\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Anita Kelly\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E38. A book featuring a party\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELast Will and Testament\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Dahlia Adler\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E39. An #OwnVoices SFF (science fiction and fantasy) book\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/02\/book-review-all-of-us-with-wings-by.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAll of Us With Wings\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Michelle Ruiz Keil\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E40. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Coldest Touch\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Isabel Sterling\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EAdvanced\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E41. A book with a reflected image on the cover or \"mirror\" in the title\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-house-across-lake-by-riley.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe House Across the Lake\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Riley Sager\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E42. A book that features two languages\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Hacienda\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Isabel Cañas\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E43. A book with a palindromic title\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Gabrielle Zevin\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E44. A duology (1)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/04\/book-review-little-white-lies-by.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELittle White Lies\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Jennifer Lynn Barnes\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E45. A duology (2)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDeadly Little Scandals\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Jennifer Lynn Barnes\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E46. A book about someone leading a double life\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-lycanthropy-and-other.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Kristen O'Neal\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E47. A book featuring a parallel reality\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E48. A book with two POVs\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThen She Was Gone\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Lisa Jewell\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E49. Two books set in twin towns, aka \"sister cities\" (1)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMore Than You'll Ever Know\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Katie Gutierrez\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E50. Two books set in twin towns, aka \"sister cities\" (2)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Roommate\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;by Rosie Danan\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/2217537788676947699\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/12\/2022-popsugar-reading-challenge-recap.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/2217537788676947699"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/2217537788676947699"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/12\/2022-popsugar-reading-challenge-recap.html","title":"2022 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Recap"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjcUQu4tJ_VTw-VyWn_oRPsXvVmXD-2-5drXGdGCIri9wl32NdNBjdx5WUBflEblH9mQ3Dv_NQR5V8DaxJp1KJWx2-_9zRF9qmaJJyRnGjcF5i3o6pwrmR6L3bdZE7HGd_urYMZlIJMudjDhiYQiV9DMTS5iyPJRQitwiCIO7yxoWSEG3PJm9NAHfGa\/s72-c\/2022-POPSUGAR-Reading-Challenge%20(1).jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-5359478647639683432"},"published":{"$t":"2022-12-14T21:14:00.004-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-12-15T10:57:19.236-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"10 Tips for Keeping Your Vacation Plans On Track Despite Bad Weather"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjfK57CRyKeQMv_sPzYFNlNmqH4u0SynHMO6DYiYGMBUTcanLsD4Q1TGn_5GvEToccDGmpL7Cqt25Qsrz24ayQf9dMUBq-7RZnvoKR9ZRmmS8bC6u2on74aEkxbDT6wReGh_nIbfY7RuLxVwPs4C0_L2qYhN-TZEA2hZGrJgLxDbIw3PMtqxh4v-QAA\/s4032\/63398E0D-CBCD-4EB0-A3F1-512193129FA3.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjfK57CRyKeQMv_sPzYFNlNmqH4u0SynHMO6DYiYGMBUTcanLsD4Q1TGn_5GvEToccDGmpL7Cqt25Qsrz24ayQf9dMUBq-7RZnvoKR9ZRmmS8bC6u2on74aEkxbDT6wReGh_nIbfY7RuLxVwPs4C0_L2qYhN-TZEA2hZGrJgLxDbIw3PMtqxh4v-QAA\/s16000\/63398E0D-CBCD-4EB0-A3F1-512193129FA3.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis is a collaborative post.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003EWhen the forecast calls for rain, it can be tempting to just cancel your vacation plans altogether. But don't let a little bad weather ruin your getaway! I'm always still all in, and there are plenty of things you can do to keep your vacation on track - even if the forecast is calling for storms.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EHere are 10 tips for keeping your vacation plans on track despite bad weather:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBring along rain gear\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDon't let a little stormy weather dampen your spirits - instead, plan ahead and bring along appropriate rain gear. Stock up on lightweight rain jackets, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.byrdie.com\/best-waterproof-shoes-6826673\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewaterproof shoes\u003C\/a\u003E, umbrellas, and hats to keep you dry in any unexpected storms.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ELook for indoor activities\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf it's pouring outside, why not get creative and take advantage of all the great indoor activities that most vacation spots have to offer? Try checking out local museums, movie theaters or arcades for rainy day fun. Whether you are visiting New York or Orlando, there are many\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.floridavacationers.com\/indoor-activities-orlando\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Einside rainy day ideas\u003C\/a\u003E for you to enjoy. Plus, if you're a Bank of America member, your museum tickets could be free if it's the first full weekend of a month. There may be other ways or other perks to use, but I'm an avid \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/about.bankofamerica.com\/en\/making-an-impact\/museums-on-us-partners\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBOA Museums on Us\u003C\/a\u003E user, so couldn't pass up the opportunity to share that with you.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Visit an aquarium or zoo\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAquariums and zoos are great places to visit when it's raining outside – most aquariums are indoors so you won't even have to worry about getting wet! Zoos can be a little trickier, but may offer rainy day discounts or at least have indoor components to take advantage of.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Take advantage of local shopping\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf the rain has spoiled your plans for outdoor sightseeing, why not do a little shopping instead? Many cities and towns offer great indoor shopping experiences that are perfect for a rainy day. Check out local boutiques and malls to find unique souvenirs and gifts for friends and family back home.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Catch up on your reading list\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERainy days are the perfect time to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/collection\/must-read-books-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecatch up on all those books\u003C\/a\u003E you’ve been meaning to read! Whether it's a novel or an informative travel guide, there’s nothing like curling up with a good book when it's raining outside. You could also maybe find a special little spot in the city you're visiting so you can get the best of both worlds.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ESavor some local cuisine\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFood is one of the best things about traveling – and there’s no reason why a little rain should get in the way of indulging in some delicious local fare. Look for restaurants that offer indoor seating, or take advantage of takeout options to enjoy your meal from the comfort of your hotel room.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Take a stroll in the rain\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESometimes, embracing the weather can be part of the fun! Don’t let a little rain keep you cooped up indoors – instead, grab your umbrella and head out on a leisurely stroll through town. You never know what unexpected sights and experiences you might find. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ECheck out local concerts and shows\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERainy days are a great opportunity for checking out local concerts and shows. Look for indoor events at music venues, theaters, or comedy clubs – it could be the perfect way to spend an evening on vacation. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ETake a spa day\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENothing beats a relaxing spa day when it's raining outside! Many hotels and resorts offer indoor spas where you can indulge in massages, facials, or other treatments designed to restore balance and relaxation. It could be just what you need to recharge during your vacation. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo don't let the rain ruin your vacation plans! With a little bit of planning and creativity, it's possible to make the most out of even the stormiest weather. From checking out local museums and malls, to taking a leisurely stroll in the rain - there are plenty of things you can do to keep your vacation on track - no matter what the forecast calls for. \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.floridavacationers.com\/indoor-activities-orlando\/\"\u003Einside rainy day ideas\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.floridavacationers.com\/indoor-activities-orlando\/\"\u003Einside rainy day ideas\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/5359478647639683432\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/12\/10-tips-for-keeping-your-vacation-plans.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5359478647639683432"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5359478647639683432"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/12\/10-tips-for-keeping-your-vacation-plans.html","title":"10 Tips for Keeping Your Vacation Plans On Track Despite Bad Weather"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjfK57CRyKeQMv_sPzYFNlNmqH4u0SynHMO6DYiYGMBUTcanLsD4Q1TGn_5GvEToccDGmpL7Cqt25Qsrz24ayQf9dMUBq-7RZnvoKR9ZRmmS8bC6u2on74aEkxbDT6wReGh_nIbfY7RuLxVwPs4C0_L2qYhN-TZEA2hZGrJgLxDbIw3PMtqxh4v-QAA\/s72-c\/63398E0D-CBCD-4EB0-A3F1-512193129FA3.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-128882939751632233"},"published":{"$t":"2022-12-01T22:15:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-12-01T22:15:08.463-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Merry Treats: Delicious Desserts To Try This Holiday Season"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhswnwfQBFPZ6Ypq7wludy0Na2EHaE2YBF13Ef4-SaUOAfFLkNlEPEumqP57iRVOr3XIlvxynbPmeqthfui6z2M5uJqPjQaHon7FYJ7hh908YVrGrgathiwMFBS73OgkiHjUy6gmfdsPzdF6zIQYL8PU03Iihui5ajCXM8YpPMRBvACJnZXl4uv_S3m\/s2048\/IMG_1693.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhswnwfQBFPZ6Ypq7wludy0Na2EHaE2YBF13Ef4-SaUOAfFLkNlEPEumqP57iRVOr3XIlvxynbPmeqthfui6z2M5uJqPjQaHon7FYJ7hh908YVrGrgathiwMFBS73OgkiHjUy6gmfdsPzdF6zIQYL8PU03Iihui5ajCXM8YpPMRBvACJnZXl4uv_S3m\/s16000\/IMG_1693.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ci\u003E*This is a collaborative post.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECookies might be your favorite go-to dessert for the holidays, but there is a world of untapped sweetness. Whether you are hosting a party or \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/4-ways-to-take-care-of-yourself-this.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Espending the holidays alone\u003C\/a\u003E, there are various holiday bakes to keep your house stocked with goodies all season. The good news is you can either \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bakeryandsnacks.com\/Article\/2022\/08\/30\/trends-for-winter-2022-brits-want-bakes-that-make-a-bigger-statement-but-maintain-that-healthy-balance\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebake\u003C\/a\u003E these desserts or keep them chilled in the fridge, so you can still indulge in some delightful desserts even if you don't have an oven. Here are some delicious desserts to try out this holiday season. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E One-bowl chocolate cake\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E   Satisfy your sweet tooth with an \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/inquiringchef.com\/one-bowl-chocolate-cake\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eeasy homemade chocolate cake \u003C\/a\u003Ethis holiday. While there are many chocolate cake recipes, have you tried the one-bowl recipe? It is a quick and easy-to-make dessert that requires minimal ingredients. This rich and fluffy dessert is perfect for you if you’re vegan or lactose intolerant. You, too, can enjoy your holiday desserts without worrying about the ingredients or being picky. You can take it up a notch by topping it with chocolate shavings or fresh berries.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ESanta hat cupcakes\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Start the holiday season with a cupcake inspired by Santa himself. Bake a soft, moist cupcake of any flavor and top it off with strawberries and yummy vanilla buttercream frosting. You can also use red frosting if you don't want strawberries. This festive holiday cupcake may look fancy, but it is easy to make and the best dessert to impress your friends.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBourbon balls  \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EClassic bourbon balls with a heavy pour of bourbon can be your chewy dessert for an adult party. These bite-sized balls are ideal for a no-bake night. They are made with chopped nuts, vanilla wafers, rich cocoa, and bourbon. This treat gives a sweet and nutty high, takes little time to make, and can last for weeks. All you need to do is store them at room temperature or in your refrigerator. If you are hosting friends who don't drink, you can take out the bourbon and use apple juice instead.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EGluten-free Christmas pudding  \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis super moist and light pudding is loaded with delicious dried fruit, nuts, and spices. Don't forget the brandy sauce on top! Though it takes some hours to make, its rich and delicious taste is worth it all. You can enjoy this dessert for as long as three months. You can store it tightly wrapped in your refrigerator. When ready to eat it, bring it to room temperature before taking a slice.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EGingerbread truffles   \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E  These crunchy-looking truffles are mouthwatering. They are mixed with gingerbread spices, semi-sweet chocolate, and pure vanilla extract. Gingerbread truffles are one-bite wonders that taste like magic, with the zippy flavor of ginger snaps. If you are tired of gingerbread houses, this could be an excellent replacement.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGet yourself or your loved ones into a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/centerstone.org\/our-resources\/health-wellness\/how-holiday-celebrations-can-bring-you-happiness\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ejoyous mood\u003C\/a\u003E by offering them a wonderful dessert spread. Once you try them, you won't be able to get enough. Time to bake!  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/128882939751632233\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/12\/merry-treats-delicious-desserts-to-try.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/128882939751632233"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/128882939751632233"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/12\/merry-treats-delicious-desserts-to-try.html","title":"Merry Treats: Delicious Desserts To Try This Holiday Season"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhswnwfQBFPZ6Ypq7wludy0Na2EHaE2YBF13Ef4-SaUOAfFLkNlEPEumqP57iRVOr3XIlvxynbPmeqthfui6z2M5uJqPjQaHon7FYJ7hh908YVrGrgathiwMFBS73OgkiHjUy6gmfdsPzdF6zIQYL8PU03Iihui5ajCXM8YpPMRBvACJnZXl4uv_S3m\/s72-c\/IMG_1693.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-2078448134284179852"},"published":{"$t":"2022-11-30T15:15:00.004-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-11-30T15:22:26.132-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"gift guides"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"lists \u0026 guides"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Kayla's 2022 Holiday Wish List "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjENdRHc5jqNKJ_GZdujYhLePd4CQLZw0tFLQvOB18ki7xhj8FWSQ18ws-w-904Pnq5KTTbdwIid6vh7MXl_ELzTNetyJWZfgRhks_j3FIo1Ub-wJ-I1M7Ug26wX4z5--h8KXWPrfNcXoRIRCS8_AfYPrbxlUhknFUqw2BHyG8PaojzRadDDsUMRFo\/s2304\/A06BD7D0-2270-46A8-9D1F-106A8970CB5A.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2304\" data-original-width=\"1728\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjENdRHc5jqNKJ_GZdujYhLePd4CQLZw0tFLQvOB18ki7xhj8FWSQ18ws-w-904Pnq5KTTbdwIid6vh7MXl_ELzTNetyJWZfgRhks_j3FIo1Ub-wJ-I1M7Ug26wX4z5--h8KXWPrfNcXoRIRCS8_AfYPrbxlUhknFUqw2BHyG8PaojzRadDDsUMRFo\/s16000\/A06BD7D0-2270-46A8-9D1F-106A8970CB5A.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEizlg_DUl0x2p5SQRqgzxdbx4CiL2MkqbER3Z5JKXlg5NllJXcOZN-JPzpACvh-b9ZvzMB0Np1OBp3JebrOxpxU0UPKeEdxHDTLngQun6UuW7szDvbDl2EUmooaoQf3rBdP4LoxoZ74FV7hYKtGSF76HWrE_AoJ0BTLa_J2Fc5gkKaesx1eBIgM-6Lu\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEizlg_DUl0x2p5SQRqgzxdbx4CiL2MkqbER3Z5JKXlg5NllJXcOZN-JPzpACvh-b9ZvzMB0Np1OBp3JebrOxpxU0UPKeEdxHDTLngQun6UuW7szDvbDl2EUmooaoQf3rBdP4LoxoZ74FV7hYKtGSF76HWrE_AoJ0BTLa_J2Fc5gkKaesx1eBIgM-6Lu\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003EI’ve been interested in learning more about my own personal ancestry, so I’d love an ancestry kit to try. I really like \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ELi0rk\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ethis ancestry + health kit\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E since it adds more value to the testing, but would be happy with just a basic one too. \u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI want to start composting so badly, and eventually use the compost in the vegetable garden (which needs some work itself). I love \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ubZjrM\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ethis tumbling composter\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E because it’s off the ground, locks sturdily so creatures can’t get in, and spins so there’s not manual need to mix up the compost.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy dentist recommended I get a water flosser, and also shared that the toothbrush I use isn’t actually as great as I thought it was - which sucks because the convenience and the sleek all-black look made me love it. Apparently, it’s mostly a timer and not cleaning as well as it could be. So I’d love \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3iv3e0A\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ea water flosser and electric toothbrush set\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, especially because I love the uniformity of having both go hand-in-hand. (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3gLBbcw\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esecond similar option\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI love having stainless steel appliances in our kitchen, and I really want \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Fb43TZ\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ea stainless steel trash bin with a lid\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E for a cleaner looking. Also, our keys hang above our trash can so a lid would be really great in releasing the anxiety I have related to worrying our keys are gonna fall into the trash can.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI get a lot of packages, including medical supplies, and our porch isn’t covered. An \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3irX8Oa\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eoutdoor package bin\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E would be a great resource in keeping my packages safe (and dry!). I like \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3irX8Oa\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis one\u003C\/a\u003E because the color is similar to our house, and would create a seamless look for our front porch. (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ubfjdK\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esecond similar option\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI sleep on my side and often find myself having to fold my pillow in half to be just the right size to fit the space along my should, neck, and head. I keep getting ads for \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pillowcube.com\/products\/sidekick-ice-cube-pillow\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPillow Cube\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and I'm sold. I need this thing in my life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESurprisingly, I don't own a dutch oven, so it's not an easy feat to move something from stove top to the oven. I love \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3UkncIu\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ethis cast iron dutch oven\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E because it's orange and matches all of our other pots and pans.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3FeOifF\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Emagnetic steel stove shelf topper\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is absolutely genius. It's sticks straight to the top of the stove with magnets, and eliminates the gap between the stove and the wall, so things like spices can be stored directly on top, clearing up counter space!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat's handier than \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3gJ9mBP\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ean under cabinet organizer shelf\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E? I swear I'm always rearranging things under the kitchen sink because I want it be clean and well-organized. I love that this one works like drawers, and has hooks on the side to hang things like sponges or cloths.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot to be confused with the magnetic stove shelf topper, I am also so interested in \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3GWw1Fp\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ethese countertop stove gap covers\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, which prevent crumbs from falling in between those tiny little cracks. Plus, it creates a uniform, smooth surface where stove meets counter. SO PRACTICAL.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've said it before, I'll say it again - I want a kayak. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3XNv5sG\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA sit-on-top kayak\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is sturdy, but bulky. I'd definitely need to add a cargo rack atop my car, which is totally fine. But I'm also obsessed with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.orukayak.com\/products\/oru-kayak-portable-folding-lightweight-recreational-kayak-for-beginners\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOru Kayak\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E - they have several different styles, but all of them are foldable. You heard that right - an origami kayak. It folds up for easy storage and transport, then takes less than five minutes to set up and be out on the water. Either way, I don't want to pay $30 to rent a kayak for two hours each time I want to get out on the water. I'd love to have my own, so I can go regularly each spring, summer, and fall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI love to garden, though haven't really gotten to do so as much since having to work from the office again. I need to totally overhaul the vegetable garden, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ue53Bq\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eany sort of wheelbarrow\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/a\u003Ewould be critical to that process. It'd also make it easier to clear out weeks and cut out underbrush, then just wheel it straight out to the woods (or to the composter!).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI drive a Prius and anyone walking past my car could see straight into my cargo area. My car didn't come with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3UmAS5R\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ea cargo space cover\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E but they're available for specific models of car (including my own). I'd definitely love this practical piece of equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EY'all - Chick-fil-a has released a limited collection of clothing and accessories. I adore \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.chick-fil-a.com\/products\/i-heart-waffle-fries-hoodie\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ethe \u003Cbr \/\u003E\"I Heart Waffle Fries\" hoodie\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (XXL), but I'm basically obsessed with the entire collection. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.chick-fil-a.com\/\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECheck it out here\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy work ID still hangs in the flimsy case it was given to me in, and I just know that one of these days, it's going to fall off my keychain and I'll need to spend $20 to get a new ID. I've been eyeing a few \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.coachoutlet.com\/products\/mini-skinny-id-case-with-leopard-print\/CC870-SVMU4.html\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EID cardholder cases\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and think \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.coachoutlet.com\/products\/id-lanyard-in-signature-canvas-with-wildflower-print\/C8735.html\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis Coach one is so cute\u003C\/a\u003E! I just love the little floral accents. The most important part of these is that there's an ID window on the outside of the case - it makes for easy access with my ID.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI hate getting ready for work in the morning. I am so lazy in the morning that I literally sit aside my outfits each night before going to bed. Alongside getting ready in the morning, sometimes shoes just feel like \u003Ci\u003Etoo much work\u003C\/i\u003E. (Anyone else feel like this?) I really want a pair of clogs that are easy to slide on and work with basically anything. \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.birkenstock.com\/us\/boston-suede-leather\/boston-suede-suedeleather-softfootbed-eva-u_49.html\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBirkenstocks\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ewere \u003Ci\u003Ethe shoe\u003C\/i\u003E to have when I was in middle school, and I thought they were so ugly. As I'm older, these clogs seem like the most practical and comfortable shoes. I really want a pair, and love the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.birkenstock.com\/us\/search?lang=en_US\u0026amp;q=boston+soft+footbed\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBoston Soft Footbed styles in literally any color\u003C\/a\u003E (10\/10.5), but \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.vans.com\/en-us\/shoes-c00081\/vans-x-ireneisgood-classic-slip-on-mule-stacked-pvn0a4bvzbmb\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethese Vans clogs are also weird and cool\u003C\/a\u003E (M8.5\/W10).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECan a girl every have enough \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/rwrd.io\/9vks6zn?c\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAllbirds\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E? I think not. I have three pair in different colors. I love the monotone look (in which I currently have an olive pair and an orange pair). I'd love \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allbirds.com\/products\/womens-wool-runners-natural-black?price-tiers=msrp%2Ctier-1\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea plain black pair\u003C\/a\u003E (11), which would go with any and everything, but I also think \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allbirds.com\/products\/womens-tree-dasher-relay-hazy-beige?price-tiers=msrp%2Ctier-1\" rel=\"\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethese two-tone slip-ons\u003C\/a\u003E (10.5) are super cool too. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs always, I'm never put out by \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Egift cards to any of my favorite places\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E, or \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eexperiences as gifts\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E. I always love to travel, visit state parks, enjoy museums, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.georgiaaquarium.org\/animal-encounters\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ean animal interaction at Georgia Aquarium\u003C\/a\u003E is so high up on my bucket list (or see: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/02\/101-in-1001-round-three.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E101 in 1001 Round 3\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETell me about your holiday wish list. What are you hoping for?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhpnCEXuDKZIowlW7qFlHrgUfqFZcTjZoH9c5akVynJRhE4-Mkhqd9cRPVIAL3gk8x0aEem50xk6qTm9UEOcm4h0zGC1R_VC663_zIUe053gFJ21rtKItNyf0hdoggGCJ3r3V5LSbSbz6BG4CQzUYYqCHyD3ud7wuVp136fZy0_pVm_LJaykTzKIAi8\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhpnCEXuDKZIowlW7qFlHrgUfqFZcTjZoH9c5akVynJRhE4-Mkhqd9cRPVIAL3gk8x0aEem50xk6qTm9UEOcm4h0zGC1R_VC663_zIUe053gFJ21rtKItNyf0hdoggGCJ3r3V5LSbSbz6BG4CQzUYYqCHyD3ud7wuVp136fZy0_pVm_LJaykTzKIAi8\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/2078448134284179852\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/kaylas-2022-holiday-wish-list.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/2078448134284179852"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/2078448134284179852"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/kaylas-2022-holiday-wish-list.html","title":"Kayla's 2022 Holiday Wish List "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjENdRHc5jqNKJ_GZdujYhLePd4CQLZw0tFLQvOB18ki7xhj8FWSQ18ws-w-904Pnq5KTTbdwIid6vh7MXl_ELzTNetyJWZfgRhks_j3FIo1Ub-wJ-I1M7Ug26wX4z5--h8KXWPrfNcXoRIRCS8_AfYPrbxlUhknFUqw2BHyG8PaojzRadDDsUMRFo\/s72-c\/A06BD7D0-2270-46A8-9D1F-106A8970CB5A.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-4734477756133800862"},"published":{"$t":"2022-11-24T16:07:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-11-24T16:07:49.045-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"How To Make Your Home Party One To Remember"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhJ0ZltX4onKmq5wJk2eung_R0gW32jNLujg69_MeMlEpqkyZWQiStZO0cGO6T5DbPYH5ug920yn-O9FVQF2nDSugkmwoDuqWBw_ztBcWe27nRcSqy_FTSaODQ7Q_iEetxojPcb3uWpj4pzjZFRNrtpOsDd4gMgKNKe1OFWZw9jUUSCEac6iLIY5dxc\/s1656\/ACS_1575.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1656\" data-original-width=\"1242\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhJ0ZltX4onKmq5wJk2eung_R0gW32jNLujg69_MeMlEpqkyZWQiStZO0cGO6T5DbPYH5ug920yn-O9FVQF2nDSugkmwoDuqWBw_ztBcWe27nRcSqy_FTSaODQ7Q_iEetxojPcb3uWpj4pzjZFRNrtpOsDd4gMgKNKe1OFWZw9jUUSCEac6iLIY5dxc\/s16000\/ACS_1575.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis is a collaborative post.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EAnyone that hosts a party in their home will want everyone to have the best time, feel comfortable, and remember what a great time they had. Whether hosting a Fourth of July celebration or \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2019\/03\/how-to-throw-classy-black-white-batman.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea birthday party\u003C\/a\u003E, here is how to make your party one to remember.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Present the best food possible \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Every party should have food present. Whether you’re hosting a relaxing birthday dinner or a celebration that involves dancing and nibbles, you should be sure to feed your guests. You won’t want them going home hungry and grumpy. Therefore, you should present the best food to host the best party possible. You can always win people over with good food.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E For instance, investing in \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.barrioqueen.com\/catering\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Egroup catering Mexican food\u003C\/a\u003E will ensure that everyone at the party has something tasty and fun to eat. Meanwhile, you do not have to stand over a stove for hours and, instead, enjoy the party and the yummy food.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Utilize your outdoor space \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E When you host a party at home, you don't have to restrict yourself and your guests to your inside space. Whether you have a balcony or a small or large garden, you should utilize your outdoor space so that people can get fresh air and that people can have more space when they need it.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E If you have a large enough space, you might even wish to host most of the party outside. No matter the weather, you can hire a marquee and host your party underneath so that you can host your party with no hindrance, whether it rains or snows or is sunny. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E  Create an atmosphere\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E If you want to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.jessiesnuttycups.com\/blogs\/news\/how-to-make-your-next-party-one-to-remember\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emake your party one to remember\u003C\/a\u003E, you should always ensure you create an atmosphere. If you want people to get up and dance, then you might want to play fun dance music. If you want people to relax over a nice dinner, then playing soft jazz or classical music might be the best option. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E  Adding music and creating an ambiance will ensure that your guests feel the most relaxed.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Try a themed dress code \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Having a themed dress code for your party at home can make it more memorable and fun. You could ask guests to arrive in fancy dress or stick to a color scheme. If you request a dress code, you should follow along and dress your home for the occasion.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E For instance, if you request your guests to arrive in 60s themed outfits, you should consider transforming your home into a 60s scene. It will make it more fun and much better for photos.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E  To be the host with the most or the hostess with the mostess, you should consider these tips so that your guests have a lot more fun, feel more comfortable, and have the best experience possible at your home party. Simply ensuring that your guests have enough good food, and drink and creating an ambiance will ensure that everyone has the best time possible.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/4734477756133800862\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/how-to-make-your-home-party-one-to.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/4734477756133800862"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/4734477756133800862"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/how-to-make-your-home-party-one-to.html","title":"How To Make Your Home Party One To Remember"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhJ0ZltX4onKmq5wJk2eung_R0gW32jNLujg69_MeMlEpqkyZWQiStZO0cGO6T5DbPYH5ug920yn-O9FVQF2nDSugkmwoDuqWBw_ztBcWe27nRcSqy_FTSaODQ7Q_iEetxojPcb3uWpj4pzjZFRNrtpOsDd4gMgKNKe1OFWZw9jUUSCEac6iLIY5dxc\/s72-c\/ACS_1575.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-8927606957064932595"},"published":{"$t":"2022-11-23T02:04:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-11-23T02:04:49.465-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"4 Ways to Take Care of Yourself this Holiday Season"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj5RZ9ZYNmbgCz3RagHSbn6JHLuZpdJtGf-vgWl0IwJ3-t5LegBrxagAB7MEZ0mDrlfj58So044HlWTPn4aSNFrem-cmFyF_dr6UVemvZXydDICgIp4cG1jQkA1RpNuopbtEPJpMWcvGqNbBlTVXvmfy98N_rYF1Q26oP7Lv9XLeCdU-rqwyIG86p8_\/s615\/6B263862-BB7F-4776-8C55-A0479D6D775A.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"615\" data-original-width=\"466\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj5RZ9ZYNmbgCz3RagHSbn6JHLuZpdJtGf-vgWl0IwJ3-t5LegBrxagAB7MEZ0mDrlfj58So044HlWTPn4aSNFrem-cmFyF_dr6UVemvZXydDICgIp4cG1jQkA1RpNuopbtEPJpMWcvGqNbBlTVXvmfy98N_rYF1Q26oP7Lv9XLeCdU-rqwyIG86p8_\/w485-h640\/6B263862-BB7F-4776-8C55-A0479D6D775A.jpeg\" width=\"485\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.restorativeatlanta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPhoto by Restorative Counseling Services\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E*This is a sponsored post.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWays to take care of yourself this holiday season\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile holidays are perceived to be a joyous time all around (and I can’t deny how much I love the holidays), this time of year isn’t the best time for everybody. Even for folks who love the holiday season, it can still be an immensely stressful time for many. Keep reading for some tips on taking care of yourself during one of the most stressful times of the year.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EDon’t spend what you don’t have\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThey say money is the root of all evil, and hm, maybe it is. What I will say though is that money certainly is a root for the great majority of many problems on individual bases and on greater societal levels. The holidays really exemplify the stress surrounding finances.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you’re anything like me, giving gifts is a joyful activity. My love language is gifts, meaning that I not only feel loved by receiving gifts but that I show love but giving gifts. That means that Christmas is a time when I really feel pressure to give the greatest, most thoughtful gifts. I want to note that the keyword there is “thoughtful.” Thoughtful gifts don’t have to be pricey. When giving gifts, it’s important to know the person you’re gifting, everything else can follow. But keep in mind that a thoughtful gift isn’t worth screwing up your financial situation. Sure, you can use credit cards, or buy now - pay later options, but make sure you have a plan to pay things back. Speaking with a financial advisor may be worth considering if you need additional support in keeping your budgeting and setting your financial plans.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMeet with a mental health provider\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Again, this time of the year can be overwhelming and just… a lot. I recommend therapy all year round for literally everybody, but with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it may be easy to let go of something as important as a therapy appointment in lieu of other festive activities, or even to rest, but I urge you all to have at least one therapy session this holiday season.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiEKE9a8J4HOrwVQlI19saNA1tJLQbDqvzGe1d2iOyQePJ9jkohSAatpyTC-w0isfWYlFTcd9WqwbAISkZ9SSo-_6ib_AB6tnxTff1aBE8BGcFZS68mvZLn6xD6iO7Cg_c9S2wpEkOKhmCHP-Dy0XCCaepKdSq-ETP5BPbMXTALPXDV_Lg1Pz2vFi2C\/s615\/924E300F-67B1-4AB0-8714-A913AEB41567.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"615\" data-original-width=\"410\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiEKE9a8J4HOrwVQlI19saNA1tJLQbDqvzGe1d2iOyQePJ9jkohSAatpyTC-w0isfWYlFTcd9WqwbAISkZ9SSo-_6ib_AB6tnxTff1aBE8BGcFZS68mvZLn6xD6iO7Cg_c9S2wpEkOKhmCHP-Dy0XCCaepKdSq-ETP5BPbMXTALPXDV_Lg1Pz2vFi2C\/w427-h640\/924E300F-67B1-4AB0-8714-A913AEB41567.jpeg\" width=\"427\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.restorativeatlanta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPhoto by Restorative Counseling Services\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor folks not already in therapy, it can be so hard to find a therapist that’s a good fit. It’s overwhelming, scary, and exhausting. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.restorativeatlanta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERestorative Counseling Services\u003C\/a\u003E offers a variety of down-to-earth therapist, services, and specialties such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.restorativeatlanta.com\/atlanta-and-roswell-couples-counseling-family-therapy\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAtlanta Couples Therapy\u003C\/a\u003E. You can also start by looking on your insurance portal for help in finding providers.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ETake time alone when you need it\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E The holidays are known for being overstimulating. Whether your family is big or small, blood or not, whatever - there are generally lots of moments of interaction, so many that even an extrovert would need a moment of peace. Make sure to take those moments that you need so you can be away from others, regroup and refresh, and get back into the moments to be with the ones you love.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxGVn8KI2qBL4h7SMGk_QSkDOkYbmxvaPyD4gHGAYL7rp78hUv7b_OoyY07oIyhIVketb1hdrvynb4r3jwNj8TExSe0exCng8vmUuZWEb3BB7gUqXC4ptKiIEJtPPpmZG84cyRyJYEpYIDQl5VLxliKhuL-jPUxYXKLA8wIDwaSI5uIU78-QAb5npD\/s615\/2057E870-90C8-4098-965A-BD9B83D54E98.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"615\" data-original-width=\"410\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxGVn8KI2qBL4h7SMGk_QSkDOkYbmxvaPyD4gHGAYL7rp78hUv7b_OoyY07oIyhIVketb1hdrvynb4r3jwNj8TExSe0exCng8vmUuZWEb3BB7gUqXC4ptKiIEJtPPpmZG84cyRyJYEpYIDQl5VLxliKhuL-jPUxYXKLA8wIDwaSI5uIU78-QAb5npD\/w427-h640\/2057E870-90C8-4098-965A-BD9B83D54E98.jpeg\" width=\"427\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.restorativeatlanta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPhoto by Restorative Counseling Services\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EREST \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn a similar note, many folks have holiday time away from work this time of the year. I work in a field where I'm lucky enough to get a two week time slot off from work the last two weeks of December each year. I’m often on the go-go-go, especially during my favorites times of the year (like October through December). I love the aesthetic, the atmosphere, and the festivities happening during this time of the year. It wholly bring me such joy, and I try so hard to take advantage of it. But it’s important for me, and for you if you’re like me, to use that time for downtime whenever possible. Sleep in. Laze around all day. Read books. Watch mindless tv. You, like I, may not realize just how needed that downtime is needed. We must get rest whenever we can.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EWhat are tips you use to get you through the holiday season without sacrificing your well-being?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh4-nXmW6pKpsRj7koAQ3hGUaAkSpmaTp_HMKHFni1z-nPPFYIqAlYjsOW-h_jvgz6Vt4bwNwBXxBUC2egyeWgqWL11ETp1FWZ56VSqR28OiUOyGWX8Ya2vet86yb7sRWAOzBiJOjvUUtRVepDk4j0PhHGYRvjs_2s4R3lq9oueCRF45wwPXepjzN7T\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh4-nXmW6pKpsRj7koAQ3hGUaAkSpmaTp_HMKHFni1z-nPPFYIqAlYjsOW-h_jvgz6Vt4bwNwBXxBUC2egyeWgqWL11ETp1FWZ56VSqR28OiUOyGWX8Ya2vet86yb7sRWAOzBiJOjvUUtRVepDk4j0PhHGYRvjs_2s4R3lq9oueCRF45wwPXepjzN7T\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/8927606957064932595\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/4-ways-to-take-care-of-yourself-this.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8927606957064932595"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8927606957064932595"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/4-ways-to-take-care-of-yourself-this.html","title":"4 Ways to Take Care of Yourself this Holiday Season"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj5RZ9ZYNmbgCz3RagHSbn6JHLuZpdJtGf-vgWl0IwJ3-t5LegBrxagAB7MEZ0mDrlfj58So044HlWTPn4aSNFrem-cmFyF_dr6UVemvZXydDICgIp4cG1jQkA1RpNuopbtEPJpMWcvGqNbBlTVXvmfy98N_rYF1Q26oP7Lv9XLeCdU-rqwyIG86p8_\/s72-w485-h640-c\/6B263862-BB7F-4776-8C55-A0479D6D775A.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-1951565175964014017"},"published":{"$t":"2022-11-20T20:32:00.006-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-11-20T20:32:50.802-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"5 Things You Need to Make Your Office Feel More Homey"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUQO8hzWgINzLpvDFllsjVjTU8AA-vWfnUEuvdAOrw-H1kzgxK50EpWPldi4cStO2rHiNKol2OZgbeFGz3HFfHX4Rzd3RS02MSbOU77QVWbOLoGqbDybNwiO4-Bpm3ln-hbmRltLQR4E2jK4dlsIkCVhSVI8Kh2qs17V2dEEDf-sPCrkcxNUWPPaTd\/s4032\/5257F248-489A-4A06-82BC-E398C124BC89.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUQO8hzWgINzLpvDFllsjVjTU8AA-vWfnUEuvdAOrw-H1kzgxK50EpWPldi4cStO2rHiNKol2OZgbeFGz3HFfHX4Rzd3RS02MSbOU77QVWbOLoGqbDybNwiO4-Bpm3ln-hbmRltLQR4E2jK4dlsIkCVhSVI8Kh2qs17V2dEEDf-sPCrkcxNUWPPaTd\/s16000\/5257F248-489A-4A06-82BC-E398C124BC89.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis is a sponsored post.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E I’ve always been a big advocate for making my spaces home-y and joyful. It brings me a sense of happiness and peace to be in a place that feels like “me.” It doesn’t just bring joy though - it helps build rapport with the folks I work with, both my students and my colleagues. It allows my students to feel more vulnerable, because the space is more welcoming and cozy. I’ve always cozied up my office space with all the things. I’m a self-proclaimed maximalist, and the things that don’t have a space in my home will always have a space in my office. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EScarily, back during the summer, my office flooded and I lost some things. Because of the flood, my office, which is in an old building, had to get full asbestos abatement. It was kind of nerve-wracking, but seemed to go pretty well. I’m not sure who was used to do the abatement, but I do know there are several companies in the area that do that type of work. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/tisusa.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETrinity Industrial Services\u003C\/a\u003E is a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/tisusa.net\/services\/demolition\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDemolition company in Atlanta\u003C\/a\u003E that also provides services such as asbestos abatement.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhPaVAA1ydDpwb1ci2KXduQ-K-6Vy9Dvo3uldM5cr3nwFt-U5wzWaxVCGznfrZPebh3eYGgVznvR-o6IYOD6ZcpZYv9G7gIkNXG8AwK7SFNjY_aCcMwjgYQKdhMsehgCqRR_5NDfCaWAu3sh0XVSygvz8AMUmpDoAAIoDWDEwRsd2Nu5TdqlBrA3gWO\/s1268\/21463186-2ED5-4178-A477-85BB72801BDD.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"891\" data-original-width=\"1268\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhPaVAA1ydDpwb1ci2KXduQ-K-6Vy9Dvo3uldM5cr3nwFt-U5wzWaxVCGznfrZPebh3eYGgVznvR-o6IYOD6ZcpZYv9G7gIkNXG8AwK7SFNjY_aCcMwjgYQKdhMsehgCqRR_5NDfCaWAu3sh0XVSygvz8AMUmpDoAAIoDWDEwRsd2Nu5TdqlBrA3gWO\/s16000\/21463186-2ED5-4178-A477-85BB72801BDD.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI’m still trying to recollect items similar to those that I lost, but I luckily still feel “at-home” in my work space. Check out the tips below to create an office space that feels like “you” and allows the folks you work with to feel welcomed and like they can grasp a sense of who you are and the things you love.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EPictures and personal touches\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECovering my office with pictures allows my students to see me as “human” and not just as “advisor.” It helps spark conversations, and allows us to connect interests. For some, personal pictures may feel like crossing a boundary, so adding personal touches and quirky pieces instead can also help students connect with advisor and work towards building rapport.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPractical items that show your personality\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy tape dispenser is a cat. I have a planter that’s a face and holds my glasses when I’m not wearing them. The little knick knacks I’m gifted or “win” in games are placed on my shelves alongside the books I love, and my writing utensils are in fun mugs. These “extra” things have no place at home, but they bring my office to life!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiOXsz-OWs70dWuTsE5uV3oniEh-7MJ963mRB-PvXuQtF7qfiQlWQrsctwNoXHGfZq80EX99YmEbEb-ejfNbg2XjM-5V6mdA9HpFMF4xGo67cevIN-if-pG_ZddIWzQ8d54pbm49_qopr_UtIhkUTsv0taYaRbXyZOoTXaM2T7DYLoVrzhOiWWcQdSM\/s1200\/C51F2020-0904-4D53-8F5E-20F345CF1DA4.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiOXsz-OWs70dWuTsE5uV3oniEh-7MJ963mRB-PvXuQtF7qfiQlWQrsctwNoXHGfZq80EX99YmEbEb-ejfNbg2XjM-5V6mdA9HpFMF4xGo67cevIN-if-pG_ZddIWzQ8d54pbm49_qopr_UtIhkUTsv0taYaRbXyZOoTXaM2T7DYLoVrzhOiWWcQdSM\/s16000\/C51F2020-0904-4D53-8F5E-20F345CF1DA4.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA rug\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPutting a rug in my office completely changed the vibe. My office is incredibly beige - beige walls, beige carpet, beige file cabinets and desk, beige ceiling. I found an area rug at a yard sale for $10 that almost fills up the entire space, and makes my office much livelier.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMotivational art\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI love those corny motivational posters, like the cat hanging from a branch with the text “Hang in there.”? You know the one I’m talking about. Those little tidbits of optimism can be really helpful, for us and our students. There are cuter options that can be found online or in stores you probably visit often. I found these cute canvas camp flags at Target for $3 a piece, and they’re just perfect.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg5ijKRwMB1BOVMKdzsL_x3bM5K3FEZ1f-fx-iy1P8WJujcqqpnZyBQxHPglkrojMmYpi3MsvDkou32WWm-lfP2pFU-n1j086yWIQ3GiKLwSCYJzLbCwyQ_jByl4H82FghIEjhATZbTAQgzgbteZmnc6dh4RLtz7FjyoyF3ir7V-XMSPBrsE6NcOCqc\/s1197\/17A90A2A-BCB5-4428-B418-CD9BFA839C46.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1197\" data-original-width=\"898\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg5ijKRwMB1BOVMKdzsL_x3bM5K3FEZ1f-fx-iy1P8WJujcqqpnZyBQxHPglkrojMmYpi3MsvDkou32WWm-lfP2pFU-n1j086yWIQ3GiKLwSCYJzLbCwyQ_jByl4H82FghIEjhATZbTAQgzgbteZmnc6dh4RLtz7FjyoyF3ir7V-XMSPBrsE6NcOCqc\/s16000\/17A90A2A-BCB5-4428-B418-CD9BFA839C46.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EAll that extra swag you don’t ever intend to take home\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDepending on the industry you work in, it’s likely you end up with swag you don’t need - more mugs and cups than you could ever use, notepads, squishy stress objects. Display them in your office - it shows a sense of pride in your workplace community!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EStill working from home and none of these things feel quite right?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETry to create a space behind you that screams “you”! Whether it’s a background board decorated with institutional pennants and pictures, or a fun wallpaper, there are still some ways to create a space that allows your students to get a glimpse of who you are. Me? I have a color-coordinated bookshelf that spans two walls, and I get at least one compliment about it every day I get a chance to work from home. Allowing pets to make an appearance tend to brighten a colleague’s day, too. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EWhat kind of things do you add to your office to make it feel a bit cozier?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjT5_lMBov-PM0-C9EqInMmhf2HQcNb5aA80_EwOo6Vs9j4pO_a4uF2W8Cr_fc5_58_v_NAIZpqw6SKX7vPO_5TcymrBXuW8sNKgr3nb4AKD78uxM64b8tu5JVXPNOGGx_gmNvrS1gzcBSnG9G1yT8uKfckLDDBUimWvQYnE2f8QouwDALWogvXUp7e\/s300\/newsig.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjT5_lMBov-PM0-C9EqInMmhf2HQcNb5aA80_EwOo6Vs9j4pO_a4uF2W8Cr_fc5_58_v_NAIZpqw6SKX7vPO_5TcymrBXuW8sNKgr3nb4AKD78uxM64b8tu5JVXPNOGGx_gmNvrS1gzcBSnG9G1yT8uKfckLDDBUimWvQYnE2f8QouwDALWogvXUp7e\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/1951565175964014017\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/5-things-you-need-to-make-your-office.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/1951565175964014017"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/1951565175964014017"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/5-things-you-need-to-make-your-office.html","title":"5 Things You Need to Make Your Office Feel More Homey"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUQO8hzWgINzLpvDFllsjVjTU8AA-vWfnUEuvdAOrw-H1kzgxK50EpWPldi4cStO2rHiNKol2OZgbeFGz3HFfHX4Rzd3RS02MSbOU77QVWbOLoGqbDybNwiO4-Bpm3ln-hbmRltLQR4E2jK4dlsIkCVhSVI8Kh2qs17V2dEEDf-sPCrkcxNUWPPaTd\/s72-c\/5257F248-489A-4A06-82BC-E398C124BC89.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-3174027944298373091"},"published":{"$t":"2022-11-19T14:52:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-11-19T14:52:23.243-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Most Indulgent Holiday Meat Recipes"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi2IiYJuXNvE-pXliPezoIri_zvvtGSJy9WyTDXiCfLWdJZHOTEOoYvz_d_9zdamV2Khi6CbD0GFu0mermYWLqAn7GzmKXDBBXyDlYcMC_RBDVOfec-gKBJ71koPPPQNEuaHS-1Dm1EUbIbFp9BWCc34kT2k4VpSEfZ5rMN9JY3JtqzgfAPrY_Cb8sj\/s2048\/ACS_0037.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1528\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi2IiYJuXNvE-pXliPezoIri_zvvtGSJy9WyTDXiCfLWdJZHOTEOoYvz_d_9zdamV2Khi6CbD0GFu0mermYWLqAn7GzmKXDBBXyDlYcMC_RBDVOfec-gKBJ71koPPPQNEuaHS-1Dm1EUbIbFp9BWCc34kT2k4VpSEfZ5rMN9JY3JtqzgfAPrY_Cb8sj\/s16000\/ACS_0037.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E*This is a collaborative post\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EThere are many indulgent holiday meat recipes. However, there are a few standout ones that can take your Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner to a whole new level. And here they are.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ESlow-roasted roast beef\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBeef should be cooked low and slow to respect it properly. But the wait is well worth it. A cut of beef like tenderloin looks great and doesn't have any bones or fat to deal with. And the gravy? Chef's kiss. Always use olive oil, salt, and pepper to flavor food. And if you sear the sides in a pan, you can add more flavor. Learn \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dadcooksdinner.com\/quick-horseradish-sauce\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehow to make horseradish sauce\u003C\/a\u003E so you can serve this creamy side with your amazing beef roast.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ETurkey, of course\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA fresh turkey is, of course, a holiday favorite and it can feed a small or large group. You can brine a fresh turkey to make it taste better all the way through. But you can also butter the skin and season it however you like. A good way to make sure your turkey stays moist is to place it breast-side down for the first hour, then turn it over and finish cooking. If you cook your turkey at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, it will take 20 minutes per pound plus an extra 20 minutes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EIndulgent holiday meat recipes includes pork crown\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere are many different kinds of pork roasts, which makes them great. But a pork crown is beautiful, and the meat is succulent and tasty. To bring out the flavor of pork, you need to season it. A great choice is a dry rub like Bavarian seasoning, which is a mix of brown mustard and different perennial herbs. Presenting a pork crown the right way can take some practice, but once you do, everyone at your table will \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/01\/how-to-find-joy-in-eating.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eenjoy eating\u003C\/a\u003E and feel like royalty for a day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA tender rack of lamb\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELamb is one of the richest meats you can eat. A rack of lamb is a great choice for a small group because it costs a lot and usually feeds about two people. Lamb tastes and looks different from other meats, and the best way to season it is with olive oil, salt, and pepper. But garlic brings out the flavor of lamb and goes very well with it. You can also add butter, rosemary, and thyme to the leftovers in your pan to make a delicious gravy, even better with a red wine deglaze.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EGo bold with some prime rib\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPrime rib is a classic cut, but it costs more than other cuts. It's a big piece of meat, so when it's put on the table, it makes a big show. On the other hand, it is very delicate when cooked well. Rub this with olive oil, salt, and pepper, as usual. But you can also cut a few slits and put garlic sleeves in them to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeed.com\/rossyoder\/food-seasoning-tips-flavor\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eflavor the meat\u003C\/a\u003E from the inside out. Cook for 15 minutes per pound at 350 F. Since prime beef cuts are usually pretty heavy, this can take a while, so plan your cooking intentionally.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E The holidays are a time for enjoying good company and, of course, good food. Some of the most indulgent holiday meat recipes include slow-roasted beef, pork crown, and prime rib. What are your favorite kinds of holiday meals?\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/3174027944298373091\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/the-most-indulgent-holiday-meat-recipes.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/3174027944298373091"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/3174027944298373091"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/the-most-indulgent-holiday-meat-recipes.html","title":"The Most Indulgent Holiday Meat Recipes"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi2IiYJuXNvE-pXliPezoIri_zvvtGSJy9WyTDXiCfLWdJZHOTEOoYvz_d_9zdamV2Khi6CbD0GFu0mermYWLqAn7GzmKXDBBXyDlYcMC_RBDVOfec-gKBJ71koPPPQNEuaHS-1Dm1EUbIbFp9BWCc34kT2k4VpSEfZ5rMN9JY3JtqzgfAPrY_Cb8sj\/s72-c\/ACS_0037.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-8604559713290466779"},"published":{"$t":"2022-11-19T14:40:00.006-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-11-19T14:40:30.125-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Use Your Devices Properly to Save Money on Energy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdHJQBBxM67Ob7KsueeyalRb6aor8HjS1Q-8uH9bHKvMmFIxW323gBNkBvAneO3tALxUMmyQePQGrbAH0tR7WwDp5AYx3ZV6emJowTBWbpMdla8t3imuzNUZzjnzqk7rISc-3mbDq-0-HGxf-dqIrIMEC-bDAJoq2lque1LvyQ_94IUTlOALF57y9J\/s1920\/AFD64347-25EB-4138-9BB0-182373730DA1.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1920\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdHJQBBxM67Ob7KsueeyalRb6aor8HjS1Q-8uH9bHKvMmFIxW323gBNkBvAneO3tALxUMmyQePQGrbAH0tR7WwDp5AYx3ZV6emJowTBWbpMdla8t3imuzNUZzjnzqk7rISc-3mbDq-0-HGxf-dqIrIMEC-bDAJoq2lque1LvyQ_94IUTlOALF57y9J\/s16000\/AFD64347-25EB-4138-9BB0-182373730DA1.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E*This is a collaborative post.\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThe costs of gas and electricity are still rising, but you can save money on energy simply by learning how to use your household appliances and devices properly. Here are some tips.\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EGet savvy in the kitchen\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe oven uses the most energy in your home, right after the dryer. If you have a dishwasher, it does, too. We can safely say that the kitchen costs a lot. Fortunately, you can save a ton of money with gadgets like the Instant Pot. For example, this \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ministryofcurry.com\/instant-pot-chicken-tortilla-soup\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Erecipe for Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup\u003C\/a\u003E cooks in half the time and uses a fraction of the energy. Additionally, you can save by loading appliances properly, such as the dishwasher, washing machine, and oven.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EAlways look for eco-mode\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe energy efficiency of newer appliances is much better than that of older ones. They will also use less electricity. So you should get new ones if they are more than 10 years old. But if you can't find a replacement, look for \"Eco Mode.\" Eco Mode is on a lot of different appliances, like the washer, dryer, and even some boilers. Eco Mode is made to use less energy and water by changing when and how hard the machine works. So make sure it's always there.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EUse power-saving features to save money on energy\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAppliances like your TV are among the worst culprits for energy use. When a device is on standby, it still draws power from the outlet so it can keep running at a low level. For example, if you leave the TV on standby, it will still draw energy, so it can react quickly to the remote. Fortunately, many modern TVs and even \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2016\/02\/the-best-shows-to-binge-watch-on-netflix.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eapps like Netflix\u003C\/a\u003E have multiple power-saving features. For instance, your TV can change its backlight based on how much light is in the room.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EDon't leave things plugged in\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAlmost certainly, you will do this. And almost certainly for the chargers for your phones. But leaving things plugged in even when you aren't using them will use up your electricity. This is especially true of chargers for cell phones. When you're not using something, take it out of the socket or unplug it. You should be able to do this for almost everything. Some exceptions are the fridge because your food will go bad, and your smart TV if you need it to record things.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EOptimize battery times\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYou might not know that there is a right way and a wrong way to charge your phone. For the best life, the batter should never go below 40% or above 80%. But \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.digitaltrends.com\/computing\/how-to-care-for-your-laptops-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyour battery\u003C\/a\u003E can't damage itself by getting too charged. So don't worry if it goes to 100% because the system detects when to stop. But the batteries can get hot, which hurts their performance. This is especially true of the big lithium-ion batteries that come with most laptops and some models of phone and tablet.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E It's helpful to use your household devices properly to save money on energy loss. You can use kitchen gadgets, power-saving features, and charge mobile device batteries properly. What kind of things do you practice to keep your electric usage down?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/8604559713290466779\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/use-your-devices-properly-to-save-money.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8604559713290466779"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8604559713290466779"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/11\/use-your-devices-properly-to-save-money.html","title":"Use Your Devices Properly to Save Money on Energy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdHJQBBxM67Ob7KsueeyalRb6aor8HjS1Q-8uH9bHKvMmFIxW323gBNkBvAneO3tALxUMmyQePQGrbAH0tR7WwDp5AYx3ZV6emJowTBWbpMdla8t3imuzNUZzjnzqk7rISc-3mbDq-0-HGxf-dqIrIMEC-bDAJoq2lque1LvyQ_94IUTlOALF57y9J\/s72-c\/AFD64347-25EB-4138-9BB0-182373730DA1.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-5980485205347142692"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-24T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-24T07:00:00.183-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Book Review: The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhHut_x1e_gwGYfUGM-fs70kXbW1UD_bFV3MDahOJGU4qCXHl8iWnV78G2q9uqxsQF34i_DPiCuOGSJ-vZty4n_jLuUOSwREznWHhktp49aI2CzkfB5adsVYia9T8jrjzV9UZMka7Q5cA7Be6vH-wvvv6_DyOaoir6DTX8ZY0rU2LqbmzY5tmskdSJQ\/s4032\/0C7AE25E-BA04-4677-BEF5-4AEDA1CD86ED.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhHut_x1e_gwGYfUGM-fs70kXbW1UD_bFV3MDahOJGU4qCXHl8iWnV78G2q9uqxsQF34i_DPiCuOGSJ-vZty4n_jLuUOSwREznWHhktp49aI2CzkfB5adsVYia9T8jrjzV9UZMka7Q5cA7Be6vH-wvvv6_DyOaoir6DTX8ZY0rU2LqbmzY5tmskdSJQ\/s16000\/0C7AE25E-BA04-4677-BEF5-4AEDA1CD86ED.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Night Watchman\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eby Louise Erdrich\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EGenre:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Literary fiction, Native American fiction\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESynopsis:\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EThomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new “emancipation” bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress. It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn’t about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a “termination” that threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land and their very identity. How can the government abandon treaties made in good faith with Native Americans “for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run”? \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESince graduating high school, Pixie Paranteau has insisted that everyone call her Patrice. Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Patrice, the class valedictorian, has no desire to wear herself down with a husband and kids. She makes jewel bearings at the plant, a job that barely pays her enough to support her mother and brother. Patrice’s shameful alcoholic father returns home sporadically to terrorize his wife and children and bully her for money. But Patrice needs every penny to follow her beloved older sister, Vera, who moved to the big city of Minneapolis. Vera may have disappeared; she hasn’t been in touch in months, and is rumored to have had a baby. Determined to find Vera and her child, Patrice makes a fateful trip to Minnesota that introduces her to unexpected forms of exploitation and violence, and endangers her life. Thomas and Patrice live in this impoverished reservation community along with young Chippewa boxer Wood Mountain and his mother Juggie Blue, her niece and Patrice’s best friend Valentine, and Stack Barnes, the white high school math teacher and boxing coach who is hopelessly in love with Patrice.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EContent\/Trigger Warnings:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Racism, Racial erasure, Misogyny, Missing Indigenous women and girls, Abduction, Sexual assault\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOverall rating:\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E★★★☆☆\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Eamzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"apaperarrow-20\"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\"; amzn_assoc_region = \"US\"; amzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\"; amzn_assoc_asins = \"0062671197\"; amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\"; amzn_assoc_linkid = \"a3f90ea150b854f48ccd9f49e90d597e\"; \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cscript src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI feel so horrible when I don’t fully enjoy a story that’s so deeply rooted in a culture other than my own. What’s interesting is I really loved the different parts of \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3CCuSz2\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Night Watchman\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, but I really struggled with the connections between the different stories - that’s right stories, plural.  \u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\"As animals subject to the laws of earth, we think time is experience. But time is more a substance, like air, only of course not air. It is in fact a holy element.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EObviously people love this book - it won a Pulitzer for Christ’s sake. But for me, I think I would’ve been able to process everything better if each person’s tale was a different, separate short story, and it would’ve been exciting to see the connections between the different stories. The way the book is actually laid out made it challenging for me to really follow along as I was reading. I definitely have had time to process in these past few months after finishing the book. I can look back on it all fondly, but I was very confused as I read.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI wish I could’ve loved the book more, but it certainly felt like the kind of book that would win a Pulitzer, if you know what I mean. It felt like assigned reading, and honestly made me feel dumb while reading it. While it was certainly wonderful in many ways - like many historical fiction novels, it wasn’t a favorite for me. \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/5980485205347142692\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-night-watchman-by-louise.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5980485205347142692"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5980485205347142692"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-night-watchman-by-louise.html","title":"Book Review: The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhHut_x1e_gwGYfUGM-fs70kXbW1UD_bFV3MDahOJGU4qCXHl8iWnV78G2q9uqxsQF34i_DPiCuOGSJ-vZty4n_jLuUOSwREznWHhktp49aI2CzkfB5adsVYia9T8jrjzV9UZMka7Q5cA7Be6vH-wvvv6_DyOaoir6DTX8ZY0rU2LqbmzY5tmskdSJQ\/s72-c\/0C7AE25E-BA04-4677-BEF5-4AEDA1CD86ED.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-892653855916754600"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-20T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-20T07:00:00.172-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Book Review: Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhUqdHY8d1itSSqdCUtd1AG78QH5hS8hWVfU54bFMmAoRp1ObGajftNiCbjmukzJMeTWMi4tu2EDfLxDEzH54658TtcQWsggTBzDqlCnq0RlL7_z8ox8uFOfdzonaRr7L2tzzKm1FiaKHjGDMis7_m0UDqBjrlbmHtjGiS4JGG1MxirI-JucadD-Zhv\/s4032\/8DFCBC70-3C6B-4E90-AFC6-621626C5685D.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhUqdHY8d1itSSqdCUtd1AG78QH5hS8hWVfU54bFMmAoRp1ObGajftNiCbjmukzJMeTWMi4tu2EDfLxDEzH54658TtcQWsggTBzDqlCnq0RlL7_z8ox8uFOfdzonaRr7L2tzzKm1FiaKHjGDMis7_m0UDqBjrlbmHtjGiS4JGG1MxirI-JucadD-Zhv\/s16000\/8DFCBC70-3C6B-4E90-AFC6-621626C5685D.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPieces of Her\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eby Karin Slaughter\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EGenre:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Suspense, Thriller\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESynopsis:\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EAndrea knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle; she knows she’s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life. Because we all know our mothers, don’t we? \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E But all that changes when a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly thirty years she’s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one would ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again. The police want answers and Laura’s innocence is on the line, but she won’t speak to anyone, including her own daughter. Andrea is on a desperate journey following the breadcrumb trail of her mother’s past. And if she can’t uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either one of them. . . .\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EContent\/Trigger Warnings:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Sexual assault, Classism, Misogyny, Violence\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOverall rating:\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E★★★☆☆\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Eamzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"apaperarrow-20\"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\"; amzn_assoc_region = \"US\"; amzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\"; amzn_assoc_asins = \"0062430270\"; amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\"; amzn_assoc_linkid = \"26dd054c5ee128fcd4880cd186571403\"; \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cscript src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI tend to really love Karin Slaughter - there’s this connection I feel to her since she’s also an Atlanta native. Her novels are intense and gore-y and often hard to stomach, but they’re creative and thrilling and twisty. But \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rY7Gq0\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"font-style: italic;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPieces of Her\u003C\/a\u003E?\u0026nbsp;It was… weird.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe book started out really incredible. I was immediately drawn in. I had to know what the hell was going on, and what was going to happen next. I was excited when Carrollton was talked about in more than just passing - it’s where I grew up for most of my life. But then I got really aggravated once the story got to Carrollton. I get it, authors have creative discretion, but the town was basically referred to as being podunk, and nothing was even close to being accurate. Seriously, Carrollton is an hour west of Atlanta. Slaughter could’ve easily checked out to the town she was writing about. It bothered me an unreasonable amount. Things really went south from there. \u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\"Men never have to be uncomfortable around women. Women have to be uncomfortable around men all of the time.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EThe way the story progressed was really ridiculous. Andy irritated me beyond belief, and her mother Laura’s story just seemed so unrealistic. (And don’t even get me started on the horrible Netflix adaptation… omg.) \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe book is set in both the 80s and current-day, and I did tend to enjoy the 80s setting a bit more, but that mostly because I liked young Laura much more than I liked Andie (though neither were particularly great). This whole story is dark and all the characters are certainly in need of some serious love and support, but this book lacked the grittyness that is typical of a Karin Slaughter novel. In fact, this entire book didn’t feel quite like a Slaughter book at all.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere’s a lot to unpack in this novel, and while it was a bit twisty, and had some good meat to it, overall it was frustrating. I didn’t become incredibly invested, and I have no intention of continuing the new Andrea Oliver series. If you’re a fan of Karin Slaughter but haven’t read this one yet, or if you’re looking to try Slaughter out for the first time, I’d recommend skipping this one and checking out another series in her repertoire. \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/892653855916754600\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-pieces-of-her-by-karin.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/892653855916754600"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/892653855916754600"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-pieces-of-her-by-karin.html","title":"Book Review: Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhUqdHY8d1itSSqdCUtd1AG78QH5hS8hWVfU54bFMmAoRp1ObGajftNiCbjmukzJMeTWMi4tu2EDfLxDEzH54658TtcQWsggTBzDqlCnq0RlL7_z8ox8uFOfdzonaRr7L2tzzKm1FiaKHjGDMis7_m0UDqBjrlbmHtjGiS4JGG1MxirI-JucadD-Zhv\/s72-c\/8DFCBC70-3C6B-4E90-AFC6-621626C5685D.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-8538255943353613619"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-19T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-19T07:00:00.186-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Book Review: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjDduWoTc8MFCbITvmt8UUHlzxAFT90Wrv-Pb89UwKjvAHD4f-bqM4XJbELHnxkqvRRG3LS43OTEZT57OWH-JFAeCgWKI_UpJm3mMMqIGSajrnphMx02gyBjFfxNR11gwhqZTG87oqvsalrGyfAFTr7K9xxXDZQgJpvUnbObzaDHNaPVWD3GdoXjLfW\/s4032\/7B78B637-8088-4B33-B6F2-AA1C6892C9CC.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjDduWoTc8MFCbITvmt8UUHlzxAFT90Wrv-Pb89UwKjvAHD4f-bqM4XJbELHnxkqvRRG3LS43OTEZT57OWH-JFAeCgWKI_UpJm3mMMqIGSajrnphMx02gyBjFfxNR11gwhqZTG87oqvsalrGyfAFTr7K9xxXDZQgJpvUnbObzaDHNaPVWD3GdoXjLfW\/s16000\/7B78B637-8088-4B33-B6F2-AA1C6892C9CC.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe House Across the Lake\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eby Riley Sager\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EGenre:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Psychological thriller\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESynopsis:\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ECasey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of bourbon, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple living in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is powerful; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage isn’t as perfect as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey immediately suspects Tom of foul play. What she doesn’t realize is that there’s more to the story than meets the eye—and that shocking secrets can lurk beneath the most placid of surfaces.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EContent\/Trigger Warnings:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Alcoholism, Death of a spouse, Domestic abuse Drug use, Abduction, \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOverall rating:\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E★★★★☆\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Eamzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"apaperarrow-20\"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\"; amzn_assoc_region = \"US\"; amzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\"; amzn_assoc_asins = \"0593183193\"; amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\"; amzn_assoc_linkid = \"d570369c47d4e27630e948e67fcd6203\"; \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cscript src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI know it doesn’t seem like it, but I really love Riley Sager books. Sometimes they’re not the best fit for me, but I will never not pick one up to read. I will auto buy whatever he releases and I will read it as soon as I receive it. I’m usually a total bitch about male authors writing from the female perspective, and even Sager writing as a woman irks me, but I still love his stories.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E  \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3D1OpdH\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe House Across the Lake\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E seemed so predictable at first, and it some ways it kind of was, but he does such a good twist. Sager’s no M. Night Shyamalan, but his twists always give me a good shock (I’ll never stop talking about \u003Ci\u003EThe Last Time I Lied\u003C\/i\u003E). Never in a million years did I see this twist coming, but going back through pieces of the book, there was so much foreshadowing to lead in the direction that the book goes. It reminded me of a very good book that I loved when it came out years ago and more recently gained some buzz after being adapted for tv. Hopefully that doesn’t give too much away, but I can’t outright say it or it will literally spoil the big twist of the book.  \u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\"Maybe I’m not looking for trouble. Maybe I am the trouble.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003ESomething very interesting that I’ve found when I read Sager’s stories is that I tend to like the male characters more than the female characters. This rang very true for \u003Ci\u003EThe House Across the Lake\u003C\/i\u003E. I found Casey to be pretty unbearable. I wouldn’t describe her as an unreliable narrator, but she is incredibly difficult to empathize with. And when you don’t like the main character, it’s hard to love the story. That made the book harder for me than anything else. I actually really like the plot of the story, but as an MC, she kind of sucks.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI will say that, as a nosy neighbor myself, I did enjoy trying to “solve the mystery” alongside the protagonist, and I was seriously just way off. But I enjoyed the ride, and can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/8538255943353613619\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-house-across-lake-by-riley.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8538255943353613619"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8538255943353613619"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-house-across-lake-by-riley.html","title":"Book Review: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjDduWoTc8MFCbITvmt8UUHlzxAFT90Wrv-Pb89UwKjvAHD4f-bqM4XJbELHnxkqvRRG3LS43OTEZT57OWH-JFAeCgWKI_UpJm3mMMqIGSajrnphMx02gyBjFfxNR11gwhqZTG87oqvsalrGyfAFTr7K9xxXDZQgJpvUnbObzaDHNaPVWD3GdoXjLfW\/s72-c\/7B78B637-8088-4B33-B6F2-AA1C6892C9CC.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-5502735645423883734"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-18T07:00:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-18T07:00:00.177-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Book Review: Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O'Neal"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh2YZDhbhMDoeOq5IS2g-LPR2kyguEFDDmnXQsWdXCwlLYqPCbsMXXAphpkvTcQoX7g6tl2NYPEpdigl4EgFW5D_thel39YR_L7DZbaCWUyM70EvZDC7kVvvYexzghon4UCdWS_uFhK7LHwZ4d7bJZIztep4WfpmP6SC647f-htsZEyA3jJdCJacQjV\/s4032\/F8FF9CCF-1712-42FB-9805-5FEB771C68AB.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh2YZDhbhMDoeOq5IS2g-LPR2kyguEFDDmnXQsWdXCwlLYqPCbsMXXAphpkvTcQoX7g6tl2NYPEpdigl4EgFW5D_thel39YR_L7DZbaCWUyM70EvZDC7kVvvYexzghon4UCdWS_uFhK7LHwZ4d7bJZIztep4WfpmP6SC647f-htsZEyA3jJdCJacQjV\/s16000\/F8FF9CCF-1712-42FB-9805-5FEB771C68AB.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELycanthropy and Other Chronic Illness\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eby Kristen O'Neal\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EGenre:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;YA comedy\/horror\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESynopsis:\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EPriya worked hard to pursue her premed dreams at Stanford, but the fallout from undiagnosed Lyme disease sends her back to her childhood home in New Jersey during her sophomore year—and leaves her wondering if she’ll ever be able to return to the way things were. Thankfully she has her online pen pal, Brigid, and the rest of the members of “oof ouch my bones,” a virtual support group that meets on Discord to crack jokes and vent about their own chronic illnesses. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen Brigid suddenly goes offline, Priya does something out of character: she steals the family car and drives to Pennsylvania to check on Brigid. Priya isn’t sure what to expect, but it isn’t the horrifying creature that's shut in the basement. With Brigid nowhere to be found, Priya begins to puzzle together an impossible but obvious truth: the creature might be a werewolf—and the werewolf might be Brigid. As Brigid's unique condition worsens, their friendship will be deepened and challenged in unexpected ways, forcing them to reckon with their own ideas of what it means to be normal.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EContent\/Trigger Warnings:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Mentions of animal harm\/death, Chronic illness\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOverall rating:\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E★★★★☆\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Eamzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"apaperarrow-20\"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\"; amzn_assoc_region = \"US\"; amzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\"; amzn_assoc_asins = \"1683692349\"; amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\"; amzn_assoc_linkid = \"356e2946de9475336c427d0a101340d5\"; \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cscript src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs a person with a chronic illness, I had such anticipation for \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rOU9Rl\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E. I really enjoyed so much about this book. It was quirky and fun, but also dealt with the sadness of living with a hand your were dealt that makes life just that much harder. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E They say misery loves company, and that tends to be true. Nothing builds community the way a shared challenge or trauma does. I loved that the story focused on a community built through Tumblr., which I honest to god didn’t even know people used anymore, and Discord which I heavily connect to its roots in the gaming community. It just felt so non-mainstream, and I loved that. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E I also really enjoyed that even though so much of this story felt so real and I really connected to it, there was this heavy plotline that literally dealt with a chronic illness of lycanthropy. I’ve never thought of werewolvism being a chronic illness, but it really is, right? So it was a really interesting take on the werewolf plot device. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses\u003C\/i\u003E is like \u003Ci\u003ETeen Wolf\u003C\/i\u003E meets any sad sick kid story, and it really incorporates the best of both genres.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\"Being a woman means everyone hates your body, and your body hates you.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EBut we have to address the elephant (or the lycanthrope) in the room: Why do white people feel the need to write stories from the perspective of people of color? I was looking forward to reading this book for so long, and after I was a couple of chapters in, I realized the author is a white lady. The main character of the book is an Indian girl (Priya), and the story heavily incorporates Priya’s relationship with her Indian family. There is absolutely nothing about this story that needs the protagonist to be a BIPOC. The story could be rewritten with all the same plot points with an MC of any ethnicity, yet the WHITE AUTHOR chose to heavily include a culture that isn’t hers and profit off from someone else’s identity. It’s weird and inappropriate. Don’t get me wrong - I would’ve loved to have read a book like this with an Indian main character that was written by an author that shares that identity, but having a white person write the book makes it feel dirty, and makes me feel guilty for reading it. I was so excited about the book’s plot and felt heavily connected to the chronic illness aspect of the story. Again, it’s weird and dirty. Just… why?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Another thing I feel compelled to mention is the cover. There was a lot of backlash because the cover features an Indian teen and a werewolf, both wearing the same sunglasses. It led a lot of people to believe that Priya (the Indian character) was being perceived as a hairy werewolf, but that actually isn’t the case. The werewolf character is a white girl. I definitely see how that can be perceived without reading the book, and it’s certainly problematic, but I do believe that confusion is totally unintentional.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo I really enjoyed the book for what it was, but having more insight really skewed my thoughts and made it harder for me to really appreciate the entire thing. Again, it’s a weird flex to be white and profit off the identity of a different race. Let’s just try to move past that as a society, ‘kay?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E*I received a copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/5502735645423883734\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-lycanthropy-and-other.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5502735645423883734"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5502735645423883734"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-lycanthropy-and-other.html","title":"Book Review: Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O'Neal"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh2YZDhbhMDoeOq5IS2g-LPR2kyguEFDDmnXQsWdXCwlLYqPCbsMXXAphpkvTcQoX7g6tl2NYPEpdigl4EgFW5D_thel39YR_L7DZbaCWUyM70EvZDC7kVvvYexzghon4UCdWS_uFhK7LHwZ4d7bJZIztep4WfpmP6SC647f-htsZEyA3jJdCJacQjV\/s72-c\/F8FF9CCF-1712-42FB-9805-5FEB771C68AB.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-2412586991316956195"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-17T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-17T07:00:00.229-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Book Review: Red Clocks by Leni Zumas"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjd11cACcHc0tX5Z6mKHLsDPzQrMjVQJk5yND9a3YjfjCiSMHWea7MP8F8W8wBhmMZylPVqOqJOyzKUcs8RHWLyYAloJ7rILBTLGMMyGy2kMsLoV6YhFvkNwyVr0y_4E5Yr1eQKiewYOPu2akrsOWZoRlFEW_olALZW17KoGY6Bpq_o-coQdD1DEuN0\/s3706\/09B667E2-9CD0-47B9-AC64-850FD4514A6E.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3706\" data-original-width=\"2780\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjd11cACcHc0tX5Z6mKHLsDPzQrMjVQJk5yND9a3YjfjCiSMHWea7MP8F8W8wBhmMZylPVqOqJOyzKUcs8RHWLyYAloJ7rILBTLGMMyGy2kMsLoV6YhFvkNwyVr0y_4E5Yr1eQKiewYOPu2akrsOWZoRlFEW_olALZW17KoGY6Bpq_o-coQdD1DEuN0\/s16000\/09B667E2-9CD0-47B9-AC64-850FD4514A6E.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ERed Clocks\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eby Leni Zumas\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EGenre:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Dystopian fiction\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESynopsis:\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EIn a small Oregon fishing town, five very different women navigate these new barriers alongside age-old questions surrounding motherhood, identity, and freedom. Ro, a single high-school teacher, is trying to have a baby on her own, while also writing a biography of Eivør, a little-known 19th-century female polar explorer.  Susan is a frustrated mother of two, trapped in a crumbling marriage. Mattie is the adopted daughter of doting parents and one of Ro's best students, who finds herself pregnant with nowhere to turn. And Gin is the gifted, forest-dwelling herbalist, or \"mender,\" who brings all their fates together when she's arrested and put on trial in a frenzied modern-day witch hunt.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EContent\/Trigger Warnings:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Misogyny, abortion\/miscarriage\/pregnancy, self harm\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOverall rating:\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E★★★★☆\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Eamzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"apaperarrow-20\"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\"; amzn_assoc_region = \"US\"; amzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\"; amzn_assoc_asins = \"0316434817\"; amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\"; amzn_assoc_linkid = \"fa15b65bb1b9280afb1e5062cfcd0f5a\"; \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cscript src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EConsidering the day and age we’ve reverted to here in the US, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3yxH4je\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERed Clocks\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E was a tough book to get through. It wasn’t poorly written or absurd. In fact, for a book released in 2018, it’s quite prophetic. The problem, for lack of a better word, is that the story was too real. Though written and released as dystopian or science fiction, it’s eerily similar to the current state of the country from which I write this review. I also found the format of the book to be a bit choppy. It wasn’t super flowy from one chapter to the next, and that made “effortless reading” more difficult than it could have been. That was my biggest qualm with the book itself. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe way this story was written was pretty incredible. The main characters, all women, were typically referred to as their professions\/identifiers instead of their names (the wife, the mender, the daughter, the biographer). It really emphasized the way womxn are seen as objects instead of people, and while it was incredibly uncomfortable, it also circumnavigated the way we, as a society, tend to add value to womxn based on how they can serve purpose to others as opposed to seeing the value in who they are (ie, “they’re somebody’s mother\/daughter\/etc”).   \u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\"Have you ever considered, people, how much time has been stolen from the lives of girls and women due to agonizing over their appearance?\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EThe literary devices were often frustrating and seemed to be “trying too hard.” It did make the book a little less “fun” too read, and made it feel more “oh, I’m reading this for school” in a way, but this book isn’t one that’s meant to be fun. It’s meant to be informative and powerful. It’s meant to make you mad for womxn’s rights and the lack of bodily autonomy we are allowed. I mean, the content is not enjoyable. This isn’t a happy book. It lets us see the harm in complacency, and gives us a look into what our country may become within mere months. It’s horrifying, honestly. What’s worse is that I’m sure there are people who would read this book and not see what’s so bad about it. “Oh, all these laws and policies seem reasonable and should be in place IRL.” That may be what’s scariest of all.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI’ve seen reviews of this book that are basically “Don’t read it. The storylines are gross and absurd.” But again, the content of this book isn’t meant to be enjoyable. This isn’t escapism. It’s not feel good fun times. We all suffer different things when it comes to being womxn and how we feel about children. Some of us have no intention of having children, and that’s fine. Some would birth a child they don’t want and put it up for adoption. Some would have an abortion. Others yearn for a child but are unable to conceive or carry to term. We’re all going through different things and would react to situations in completely opposite ways. This book explores that. I don’t think that’s gross or absurd at all. It’s hard to think about, but that’s completely different. Should you read this book? I think so. I think it’s informative and makes you think. But I also believe it’s very much a “reader beware” situation. As I said, we’re all different, and that’s okay. Decide what makes the most sense for you … it’s kind of the moral of the story.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/2412586991316956195\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-red-clocks-by-leni-zumas.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/2412586991316956195"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/2412586991316956195"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-red-clocks-by-leni-zumas.html","title":"Book Review: Red Clocks by Leni Zumas"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjd11cACcHc0tX5Z6mKHLsDPzQrMjVQJk5yND9a3YjfjCiSMHWea7MP8F8W8wBhmMZylPVqOqJOyzKUcs8RHWLyYAloJ7rILBTLGMMyGy2kMsLoV6YhFvkNwyVr0y_4E5Yr1eQKiewYOPu2akrsOWZoRlFEW_olALZW17KoGY6Bpq_o-coQdD1DEuN0\/s72-c\/09B667E2-9CD0-47B9-AC64-850FD4514A6E.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-8930442401482390199"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-12T15:30:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-12T15:30:44.084-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"home \u0026 office"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"lists \u0026 guides"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sponsored"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"3 ways to get your home ready for the holiday season"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh79HFvGgjmU_T68nGWvxJSaX03ToZJLyLq6KkLv6GNPrDieFdw_CCUi6aOmOAPOjWhwbFXKj0z_CTViSuQppsFIObJ-LeblHGAncAtiHWOPlCRArWNkRMc5_tTv-3A9tnhEbHb9zoQE7jVN--NjmLnYFYXXJzxwnESsEhNL-ydTPkM6x3l66PTsiyn\/s1707\/F2B95061-7EEF-4DF5-9F9B-82DB920BEFE6.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1707\" data-original-width=\"1138\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh79HFvGgjmU_T68nGWvxJSaX03ToZJLyLq6KkLv6GNPrDieFdw_CCUi6aOmOAPOjWhwbFXKj0z_CTViSuQppsFIObJ-LeblHGAncAtiHWOPlCRArWNkRMc5_tTv-3A9tnhEbHb9zoQE7jVN--NjmLnYFYXXJzxwnESsEhNL-ydTPkM6x3l66PTsiyn\/s16000\/F2B95061-7EEF-4DF5-9F9B-82DB920BEFE6.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E*This is a sponsored post.\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWeirdly, it’s almost the end of 2022. Didn’t this year just start? I feel like I’m stuck back in 2019, but let’s keep on keeping on. Am I right? Anyways, for many folks, the end of the year brings the holiday season. For me, I’m looking forward to Halloween, the familial aspects of thanksgiving, and the Christmas holidays. And as the holidays etch nearer, that may mean inviting more guests into your home than usual. You want to make sure your house is ready for guests and ready for a cozy next few months.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDo a deep clean \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe all know about spring cleaning, but have you ever considered a fall fix-up (just kidding - I made that up). Seriously though, a deep cleaning is probably helpful more than once a year. And that’s coming from me, a person who tends to hate chores. Think about some of the following ways to get your house super sparkly like a \u003Ci\u003ETwilight \u003C\/i\u003Evampire in the sun: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E- Remove everything from all the cabinets. Wipe down the cabinets and the items from the cabinets before putting them back up.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E- Dust the tops of those spaces you typically ignore  - the top of cabinets that don’t go to the ceiling, the fridge, tops of bookshelves, etc. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E- Wipe down countertops, mantels, entertainment centers, etc. There’s too much dust everywhere (and I mean \u003Ci\u003Eeverywhere\u003C\/i\u003E).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E- Use \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uprootclean.com\/products\/uproot-lint-pro\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eone of these cool utensils\u003C\/a\u003E to remove pet hair from furniture, rugs, etc. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E- Deep clean your carpets.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E- Wash pet beds, kennels, blankets; throw out old toys.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E- Wash your own bedding and pillows, spot clean your mattress. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E- Get rid of things you no longer want - clothes that don’t fit or that no longer feel “good,” donate books you know you’ll never read, clear your counters of old mail and clutter.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E This is obviously not all-inclusive, but some things to consider to get you started.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E Call in the maintenance folks\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E While some folks are clearly very handy and tend to manage their own home maintenance needs, it’s helpful to have professionals occasionally come over to check things out. Plus, it may be required for the warranties for some of your appliances. Many HVAC providers change air filters during a routine maintenance visit, but I’m also a big fan of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.secondnature.com\/home\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ean air filter (and water filter) subscription service\u003C\/a\u003E, so you don’t have to worry about figuring out what size filters you need every three months then forgetting to change them. It can also be a good idea to have your pipes checked out before the freezing weather rolls in. If you have a septic tank, you want to make sure everything’s good to go before you have a multitude of visitors. No one wants their septic tank to back up ever, but especially when you’ve got guests around. Whether you’re looking for a cleaning, an inspection, or a repair, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/septictankpumping.scorpionsepticservices.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EScorpion Septic\u003C\/a\u003E offers many services for anyone who has a septic system or is looking to get one. For folks looking for services like \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/septictankpumping.scorpionsepticservices.com\/marietta\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eseptic pumping in Marietta\u003C\/a\u003E or the Atlanta-area, Scorpion Septic can help. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTgqCeb4-Dq909rp-nS-M2XdR4XAEwymYqQYMVqKzi1L7pqXSKSmp2ZGWxZxgTpQRbon7xLZOXefMV57gIn8ReyFo-N-57LNa4pNGOsO1j28CJqkS-pl87RqWVpOV4qcNWFnOO6mbAVMyoEN1RQb9XsXmDQDCrajAYqpP5ezQbZ_t2G9HdZZDOomHN\/s541\/308373506_536239748502611_4174013948074403802_n.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"540\" data-original-width=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTgqCeb4-Dq909rp-nS-M2XdR4XAEwymYqQYMVqKzi1L7pqXSKSmp2ZGWxZxgTpQRbon7xLZOXefMV57gIn8ReyFo-N-57LNa4pNGOsO1j28CJqkS-pl87RqWVpOV4qcNWFnOO6mbAVMyoEN1RQb9XsXmDQDCrajAYqpP5ezQbZ_t2G9HdZZDOomHN\/s16000\/308373506_536239748502611_4174013948074403802_n.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EPhoto from \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/septictankpumping.scorpionsepticservices.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EScorpion Septic\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E  Break out the festive home goods\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Have you heard? I love the holidays, and I love decorating for the holidays. How you celebrate your level of festiveness is up to you. Maybe it’s switching out your hand towels to festive colors, or maybe it’s going all out with holiday trees in every room. It’s up to you, but the decor is the final step of prepping your home for the holidays. Now you’re ready to have your friends and family stop by. Here’s to hoping it’s the best holiday season yet.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/8930442401482390199\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/3-ways-to-get-your-home-ready-for.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8930442401482390199"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8930442401482390199"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/3-ways-to-get-your-home-ready-for.html","title":"3 ways to get your home ready for the holiday season"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh79HFvGgjmU_T68nGWvxJSaX03ToZJLyLq6KkLv6GNPrDieFdw_CCUi6aOmOAPOjWhwbFXKj0z_CTViSuQppsFIObJ-LeblHGAncAtiHWOPlCRArWNkRMc5_tTv-3A9tnhEbHb9zoQE7jVN--NjmLnYFYXXJzxwnESsEhNL-ydTPkM6x3l66PTsiyn\/s72-c\/F2B95061-7EEF-4DF5-9F9B-82DB920BEFE6.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-9209370669748530230"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-12T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-12T07:00:00.184-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Book Review: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRFkWuZfuUwnHc7bTAM3D5fc577TcxoGKgY3FNAWbfYX1a14zyKTmvyG1z_CP-tvuDZEFRqoXl708qGbvSi59uFAZU5W1fMrgJu811bbgu3XAMBptEIWGWb1ZPAgSiCpPtV2CFb64aluvE1xK6ZhYUBff_XbA_PZQA2VrHhr8-BRw23wSPUuaCpCRu\/s4032\/0D542B10-7B80-461F-85A8-4FA4A64AB874.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRFkWuZfuUwnHc7bTAM3D5fc577TcxoGKgY3FNAWbfYX1a14zyKTmvyG1z_CP-tvuDZEFRqoXl708qGbvSi59uFAZU5W1fMrgJu811bbgu3XAMBptEIWGWb1ZPAgSiCpPtV2CFb64aluvE1xK6ZhYUBff_XbA_PZQA2VrHhr8-BRw23wSPUuaCpCRu\/s16000\/0D542B10-7B80-461F-85A8-4FA4A64AB874.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe School for Good Mothers\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eby Jessamine Chan\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EGenre:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Literary fiction; Psychological; Realistic dystopian\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESynopsis:\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EFrida Liu is struggling. She doesn’t have a career worthy of her Chinese immigrant parents’ sacrifices. She can’t persuade her husband, Gust, to give up his wellness-obsessed younger mistress. Only with Harriet, their cherubic daughter, does Frida finally attain the perfection expected of her. Harriet may be all she has, but she is just enough. Until Frida has a very bad day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E The state has its eye on mothers like Frida. The ones who check their phones, letting their children get injured on the playground; who let their children walk home alone. Because of one moment of poor judgement, a host of government officials will now determine if Frida is a candidate for a Big Brother-like institution that measures the success or failure of a mother’s devotion. Faced with the possibility of losing Harriet, Frida must prove that a bad mother can be redeemed. That she can learn to be good.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EContent\/Trigger Warnings:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Neglect, Harm to children, Infidelity, Suicide, Trauma\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOverall rating:\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E★★★☆☆\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Eamzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"apaperarrow-20\"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\"; amzn_assoc_region = \"US\"; amzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\"; amzn_assoc_asins = \"1982156120\"; amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\"; amzn_assoc_linkid = \"7236eef29a5fe1ad6c09c19b1f60f9a4\"; \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cscript src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWow, what can I say about \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rM5DoG\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe School for Good Mothers\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E? I was waiting for this book to come out. This is such a weird, interesting look at society, the relationship between mothers and children, and government power all wrapped in up a gross social horror bow.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe plot of this story is incredibly dystopian, like an updated  1984. In the novel, a mother (Frida) leaves her young daughter at home temporarily and is whisked away to a facility for a year to learn how to become a better mother.    \u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\"A mother is always patient. A mother is always kind. A mother is always giving. A mother never falls apart. A mother is the buffer between her child and the cruel world.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EI found the pacing of this book almost excruciating. There were slow moments I thought would never end, then suddenly a whole month had passed. I couldn’t get a grasp on the timeline, and that was one of the worst parts of the entire book. At many points, everything felt very underwhelming - I was just waiting for something to happen. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Other parts of the story were absolutely horrifying in a subtle, creepy way. There were never jump scares or in-your-face blood, guts, and gore, but the story was haunting and thought-provoking. I think it will stick with me for a long time.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere was a lot of ethnic representation throughout the book, which I really liked. The representation didn’t feel forced or stereotypical, as it does in a lot of fictional works. There were conversations about race and how it impacted the mothers’s stays at the facility, how they ended up there, future plans, etc, but otherwise, it felt like most of the characters could’ve been any race. So that was handled really eloquently. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E The plot felt like an intensive social experiment, and while I’ve read up on several real experiments that have taken place throughout history, I’ve noticed those are typically conducted on male subjects. I could definitely see this adapted into a mini series (I’m looking at you, Reese Witherspoon), and it would be an updated take on previous films with similar male-focused counterparts.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E*I received a copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/9209370669748530230\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-school-for-good-mothers-by.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/9209370669748530230"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/9209370669748530230"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-school-for-good-mothers-by.html","title":"Book Review: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRFkWuZfuUwnHc7bTAM3D5fc577TcxoGKgY3FNAWbfYX1a14zyKTmvyG1z_CP-tvuDZEFRqoXl708qGbvSi59uFAZU5W1fMrgJu811bbgu3XAMBptEIWGWb1ZPAgSiCpPtV2CFb64aluvE1xK6ZhYUBff_XbA_PZQA2VrHhr8-BRw23wSPUuaCpCRu\/s72-c\/0D542B10-7B80-461F-85A8-4FA4A64AB874.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-6389607314019260074"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-11T07:00:00.009-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-11T07:00:00.186-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Book Review: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwTTnteubaYYaPjLPB47DCB08Z_ooYQCjKYFR0nubK_KKyQP8f5fkDCtpnIpBTNrU0wHOx2WztcFcMM3br-jfZ963DFiimLZfiqI2b_msAgiCexXLnnofb8HmHa9wvRG9CZMoZxmJTij7Vp4TZNJ9lhhMqgyiPeOObnWhMXG756otIkpJCwKZBKg0R\/s4032\/CB558937-81EE-4A2D-8173-39926A29444D.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwTTnteubaYYaPjLPB47DCB08Z_ooYQCjKYFR0nubK_KKyQP8f5fkDCtpnIpBTNrU0wHOx2WztcFcMM3br-jfZ963DFiimLZfiqI2b_msAgiCexXLnnofb8HmHa9wvRG9CZMoZxmJTij7Vp4TZNJ9lhhMqgyiPeOObnWhMXG756otIkpJCwKZBKg0R\/s16000\/CB558937-81EE-4A2D-8173-39926A29444D.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAll the Light We Cannot See\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eby Anthony Doerr\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EGenre:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Historical fiction, WWII fiction\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESynopsis:\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EMarie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EContent\/Trigger Warnings:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Agoraphobia, abuse, naziism\/antisemitism, trauma, violence, war\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOverall rating:\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E★★★★☆\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Eamzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"apaperarrow-20\"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\"; amzn_assoc_region = \"US\"; amzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\"; amzn_assoc_asins = \"1476746583\"; amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\"; amzn_assoc_linkid = \"7e3a339e75d7a22147e3244a221b9d4f\"; \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cscript src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELook, the entire time I was reading this book, I thought it was the Idris Elba\/Kate Winslet movie adaptation. Lmao - that’s \u003Ci\u003EThe Mountain Between Us\u003C\/i\u003E. This isn’t adapted yet. I was very confused.   \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3JlKsQJ\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAll the Light We Cannot See\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E is a WWII story following a blind French girl and a young Nazi boy, ultimately leading to their paths crossing. This was a fine story, and unique in the humanizing of young boys who were inducted into the nazi regime. There was also an interesting, almost fantastical interweaving plot line focusing on something that sounded similar to the philosopher’s stone. But the magic was never actually confirmed - it was just a legend of sorts that held incredible importance within the story while also being a bit of a background player.   Honestly, historical fiction - particularly that which surrounds war plots - just doesn’t enthrall me in the way other types of fiction do. I find myself bored and praying for the end to come.    \u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\"You know the greatest lesson of history? It's that history is whatever the victors say it is. That's the lesson. Whoever wins, that's who decides the history.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EI did find that the pacing of the book was kind of confusing and I could never really grasp onto how much time had passed since the last chapter. There were also some weird jumps between different points in the timeline that just had me all kinds of mixed up.   The book was fine, but it was what it was, which wasn’t my cup of tea. It didn’t feel like anything to write home about.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/6389607314019260074\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-all-light-we-cannot-see-by.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/6389607314019260074"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/6389607314019260074"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-all-light-we-cannot-see-by.html","title":"Book Review: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwTTnteubaYYaPjLPB47DCB08Z_ooYQCjKYFR0nubK_KKyQP8f5fkDCtpnIpBTNrU0wHOx2WztcFcMM3br-jfZ963DFiimLZfiqI2b_msAgiCexXLnnofb8HmHa9wvRG9CZMoZxmJTij7Vp4TZNJ9lhhMqgyiPeOObnWhMXG756otIkpJCwKZBKg0R\/s72-c\/CB558937-81EE-4A2D-8173-39926A29444D.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-8525904101232928294"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-10T07:00:00.008-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-10T07:00:00.178-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"books \u0026 reading"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Book Review: One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiNZzs4t0uZzKowKKSdsXsMQe-jMXOdWjZpfHBTDEnNnYC1BjPoSJmfHj1mFsQoOVoi3TUpy7GKOZhQYdBtPDEiKPAcB3Oz75ZNMt31bqO5k8PbKOkU4UA5KQAU7vWPGR_W2W4XfgaKEJz--EnRYwG6YA431wHuci94ldgRbQ9UR6IAN80S-OEUgHTm\/s3665\/7802DF18-FDD8-43A4-B7DB-BFE980D92541.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3665\" data-original-width=\"2749\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiNZzs4t0uZzKowKKSdsXsMQe-jMXOdWjZpfHBTDEnNnYC1BjPoSJmfHj1mFsQoOVoi3TUpy7GKOZhQYdBtPDEiKPAcB3Oz75ZNMt31bqO5k8PbKOkU4UA5KQAU7vWPGR_W2W4XfgaKEJz--EnRYwG6YA431wHuci94ldgRbQ9UR6IAN80S-OEUgHTm\/s16000\/7802DF18-FDD8-43A4-B7DB-BFE980D92541.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s728\/affiliatepost.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"90\" data-original-width=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGCGz4OncGo\/WP4Q7A7XiVI\/AAAAAAAAHBQ\/cWlrJMld-6wXieihFn9GK19wZhZBQ0yGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/affiliatepost.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOnce of Us Is Dead\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eby Jeneva Rose\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EGenre:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Thriller\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESynopsis:\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EMeet the women of Buckhead―a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Shannon was once the queen bee of Buckhead. But she’s been unceremoniously dumped by Bryce, her politician husband. When Bryce replaces her with a much younger woman, Shannon sets out to take revenge …\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Crystal has stepped into Shannon’s old shoes. A young, innocent Texan girl, she simply has no idea what she’s up against … \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOlivia has waited years to take Shannon’s crown as the unofficial queen of Buckhead. Finally, her moment has come. But to take her rightful place, she will need to use every backstabbing, manipulative, underhand trick in the book … \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EJenny owns Glow, the most exclusive salon in town. Jenny knows all her clients’ secrets and darkest desires. But will she ever tell? \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWho amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead―and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EContent\/Trigger Warnings:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Assault\/Abuse, Body hatred\/Fatphobia, Violence, Death, Tokenism\/Fetishization, Classism, Substance abuse \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOverall rating:\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E★★★☆☆\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Eamzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"apaperarrow-20\"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\"; amzn_assoc_region = \"US\"; amzn_assoc_design = \"enhanced_links\"; amzn_assoc_asins = \"B09BDRZR42\"; amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit\"; amzn_assoc_linkid = \"aba25cba4f5a56a1e3e87196756fe0b3\"; \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cscript src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/center\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3uoyzVy\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOne of Us Is Dead\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;was a mess - sometimes in the best, most highly entertaining way, but other times, just… a mess.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe book is highly dramatic with a full cast of dysfunctional characters. It was \u003Ci\u003EBig Little Lies\u003C\/i\u003E meets what I assume \u003Ci\u003EReal Housewives\u003C\/i\u003E is like. It felt incredibly reminiscent of \u003Ci\u003EBLL\u003C\/i\u003E, but the characters were all so much more catty and horrible.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI was totally immersed in the drama and really enjoyed the anticipation of what would happen next. It was all a total shitshow honestly, but I couldn’t look away (or stop reading\/listening). But it seemed like we would get from Point A to Point B is a really ass-backwards way that I wasn’t a fan of. And there were definitely problematic situations that really bothered me.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor example, there’s only one diverse character in the whole bunch, and she was both mixed race and queer. There were bits of racism, homophobia, and micro aggressions, but there was also this really weird fetishization of her throughout the book. Not to mention she was the only main character to not have any chapters from her POV.    \u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\"People that get their way think they’re the ones in control. But the ones that give are the ones that rule. It’s not the politician in office, but the donor behind the check that wields the sword.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EI live and work in the Atlanta-area, and I’m familiar with Buckhead. It is an incredibly rich, high class area, but throughout the book I felt a strong sense of defensiveness for the area. And I swear, if I hear another iteration of the phrase “well, things are like this when in Buckhead” or “there are no coincidences in Buckhead”… seriously, how many times can one book say the name of the same town over and over? Geez.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd honestly, has the author ever even been to Atlanta? I don’t know. It was so aggressively negative about the people and the area. Atlanta is still the south, just as much as Texas. But there was this weird ideation that Texas was “country” but Buckhead wasn’t. I don’t get it.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPLUS - the cop in the story wasn’t from the area but was investigating it? That makes zero sense.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI was just so annoyed by all the things I found to be wrong or annoying with the story, that I couldn’t enjoy the book in the ways I wanted to. Maybe folks not from the area will like the book more, but it left me frustrated.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s300\/newsig.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"101\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"67\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tfpdi1y1brg\/WSRMySMuZII\/AAAAAAAAH0I\/z7woQcOZjo0ru0hCbSOcZAnwwmJnZFVIQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h67\/newsig.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E*I received a copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/8525904101232928294\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-one-of-us-is-dead-by-jeneva.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8525904101232928294"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8525904101232928294"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/book-review-one-of-us-is-dead-by-jeneva.html","title":"Book Review: One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiNZzs4t0uZzKowKKSdsXsMQe-jMXOdWjZpfHBTDEnNnYC1BjPoSJmfHj1mFsQoOVoi3TUpy7GKOZhQYdBtPDEiKPAcB3Oz75ZNMt31bqO5k8PbKOkU4UA5KQAU7vWPGR_W2W4XfgaKEJz--EnRYwG6YA431wHuci94ldgRbQ9UR6IAN80S-OEUgHTm\/s72-c\/7802DF18-FDD8-43A4-B7DB-BFE980D92541.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-5651667581116441340"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-04T22:18:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-04T22:18:28.396-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"4 Ways To Spend Your Time During A Night In By Yourself"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqB76NnjkOT8xi3cLa_rGe8BcGaUQqXrD7rzQ8Kn99OcYnyKGoErKLrRxTCriM-nALO5QKmbzhbE8hapsDcaxHbwArOnX5r0dlBMVRvRgWN464NxXP_ffr8gIyT-w_LNw5JnlFCNkyc-5pufuAAHTVbzXXsg1wOJNJ9CXeMjGTgKOcGD4Z1poD5m-T\/s1803\/DA4862D1-4028-4883-85E6-60D244113AC7.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1803\" data-original-width=\"1202\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqB76NnjkOT8xi3cLa_rGe8BcGaUQqXrD7rzQ8Kn99OcYnyKGoErKLrRxTCriM-nALO5QKmbzhbE8hapsDcaxHbwArOnX5r0dlBMVRvRgWN464NxXP_ffr8gIyT-w_LNw5JnlFCNkyc-5pufuAAHTVbzXXsg1wOJNJ9CXeMjGTgKOcGD4Z1poD5m-T\/s16000\/DA4862D1-4028-4883-85E6-60D244113AC7.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;*This is a collaborative post.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E Married or not, you may find yourself alone at home once in a while with not much on the agenda. Instead of going out with friends and spending your money, you can choose to stay in and do other enjoyable activities instead. The dilemma may be that you’re unsure about what to do or how to use your free time. If you’re looking for some ideas then you’re in the right spot. Here you can review four ways to spend your time during a night in by yourself so that it’s rewarding, relaxing, and maybe even a bit productive.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ETake a bath\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne idea and way to spend your time when you have a night in by yourself is to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.byrdie.com\/benefits-of-hot-baths-4778411\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etake a warm bath\u003C\/a\u003E. It’s great for your muscles and mental health and you’ll soon feel very relaxed and at ease. You can light some candles, up on some soothing music, and get lost in a good book as you soak in the tub. You may even want to consider turning it into a spa session by giving yourself a facial and painting your nails. This is an excellent way to reduce stress and regroup after a long week of work.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ECook dinner\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnother way to spend your time during a night in by yourself is to cook a tasty dinner. One idea and recipe to make that will be good as the temperatures drop outside is this \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/biteswithbri.com\/dutch-oven-chili\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Estovetop dutch oven chili\u003C\/a\u003E. Cooking can be a relaxing and mindful activity to take on when you aren’t in a rush and can concentrate on what you’re doing in the moment. Set the table and have a nice and quiet meal alone after your dinner is prepared.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EOrganize your clothes \u0026amp; closet\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EConsider spending your time getting better organized at home if you have a night to yourself. Cleaning out your closet and sorting through your clothes is a great project to tackle when you have some free time. Try the clothes on that you’re unsure about and then make piles of what you want to keep, donate, and get rid of. I even use time like this to plan out my outfits for the upcoming week (or sometimes the upcoming month) - it makes getting ready in the morning much easier. You’ll wake up feeling happier that your clothes and closet are organized and you only have \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2016\/02\/staple-pieces-in-my-wardrobe.html?m=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Estaple pieces\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;in your wardrobe that you love and will actually wear. You may even be motivated to clean your entire bedroom while you’re at it and then when you’re done you can crawl into bed and get a good night’s sleep.\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EWatch a TV series or movies\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen you have a night to spend by yourself then think about binge-watching a TV series or putting on some of your favorite movies. Change into your comfortable clothes, make some delicious snacks, and get cozy on the couch as you relax and take in all the action or drama. It’s a good idea to read reviews from other viewers online if you’re going to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bustle.com\/articles\/177978-the-24-best-shows-to-watch-on-netflix-when-you-just-want-to-be-alone\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewatch a new show\u003C\/a\u003E or movie so that you don’t waste your time and you know it will be entertaining for you. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/5651667581116441340\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/4-ways-to-spend-your-time-during-night.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5651667581116441340"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5651667581116441340"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/10\/4-ways-to-spend-your-time-during-night.html","title":"4 Ways To Spend Your Time During A Night In By Yourself"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqB76NnjkOT8xi3cLa_rGe8BcGaUQqXrD7rzQ8Kn99OcYnyKGoErKLrRxTCriM-nALO5QKmbzhbE8hapsDcaxHbwArOnX5r0dlBMVRvRgWN464NxXP_ffr8gIyT-w_LNw5JnlFCNkyc-5pufuAAHTVbzXXsg1wOJNJ9CXeMjGTgKOcGD4Z1poD5m-T\/s72-c\/DA4862D1-4028-4883-85E6-60D244113AC7.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-5835422929674411111"},"published":{"$t":"2022-09-10T17:30:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-09-15T13:20:56.138-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"How Can Travel Make Your Life Better?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiyiOjMMWR3Dsvj27dFrnpQskSf4g5ldXjhqM2W5Pqo_RUmDF5qmu-Ak9SVEXbvL_o_l41PBNKeq1b-cos8z87wj4beXeVSd-TmuVLhsL4K9H_LA2bR7P4fm1LtuGThSdKV42bBidhc5VGAvLVH86rlSYBmmYF-5OUTw8a5iGMRNqsUX8xFfoj_uPDy\/s2048\/6D240811-3B74-4374-9DDA-0F8F001A7720.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiyiOjMMWR3Dsvj27dFrnpQskSf4g5ldXjhqM2W5Pqo_RUmDF5qmu-Ak9SVEXbvL_o_l41PBNKeq1b-cos8z87wj4beXeVSd-TmuVLhsL4K9H_LA2bR7P4fm1LtuGThSdKV42bBidhc5VGAvLVH86rlSYBmmYF-5OUTw8a5iGMRNqsUX8xFfoj_uPDy\/s16000\/6D240811-3B74-4374-9DDA-0F8F001A7720.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis is a collaborative\u0026nbsp;post.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E Travel is something that a lot of people consider at some point in their lives. They might be taking a break between high school and college or between college and the world of work. They might even just take some time off later in life and go exploring. Or perhaps it’s a retirement dream once work is done with and there are no responsibilities at home. For me, I want to travel as much as possible, as often as possible.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E  No matter who you are or what your current or future situation might be, traveling is always something that is going to enhance your life and bring you positive experiences. So if you’re not sure whether to take some time out to travel, here are some reasons why it’s such a good idea.\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E  Reduces stress\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EEveryone is stressed from time to time; it just can’t be helped when we are all so busy and have so much to do. The problem for some is that they are never not stressed. They never have a chance to relax and unwind – they are working all the time or concerned about this thing or that thing without any chance to stop thinking about their worries for just a second.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETravel will give you that time to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/04\/a-quick-guide-on-creating-healthy.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ede-stress and truly relax\u003C\/a\u003E. You will, if you plan your adventure correctly, be so caught up in the moment and the joy of discovering new things and being in an exciting new place that you won’t think about the worries and stresses that you have left at home. In fact, with the chance to unwind and stop worrying, you might even find that a solution to your issues comes to you without you even thinking about it. When the mind is not focused on just one thing, it's far easier to work out ways around problems. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E  When you have less stress, your blood pressure will lower, there will be less stress on your heart, and your mental health will benefit, too, with less chance of developing anxiety or depression.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBecome better with uncertainty \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMost people don’t do well with uncertainty in their lives – they like to know exactly what is going to happen and when it is going to happen. When you're traveling, uncertainty is something you'll need to learn to live with; even if you plan out your itinerary, you should always leave some room for a change of plans and go with your instincts if you think you need to do something different to what you thought you were going to.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn ‘real life,’ this idea might be a scary one, and once plans are in place, it can be difficult to get into the mindset that they can (and sometimes should) be changed. When traveling, this decision's much easier to make, and by the time you return home, uncertainty is not something that will faze you any longer. You’ll be able to make quick decisions, but you’ll also know when to change them and how to go about doing just that.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBroadens your horizons \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn order to have a truly wise worldview and to be accepting of other people and situations, it’s a good idea to travel. You’ll see so many different ways of living and so many interesting and different things that will really broaden your horizons, and you’ll come home with a new appreciation for the world around you.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen you look at your own daily challenges with this new perspective, you'll be able to come up with many different kinds of creative ways to solve your problem. You'll see what does and doesn’t work elsewhere and will be able to implement these ideas into your everyday life, offering you huge enhancement and positivity – and it’s all done through travel and taking time away from your regular ol' daily life.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMore creativity\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESomething that a lot of people feel is \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.penguin.co.uk\/articles\/2018\/07\/how-to-be-more-creative-anthony-burrill\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emissing from their lives is creativity\u003C\/a\u003E. Whether they ‘need’ this ability for their career or a career they want to go into, or whether they feel it would enhance their lives if they could take up a creative hobby, the notion is the same – there just isn’t enough creativity in their lives.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECreativity is something that travel can certainly help with. As mentioned above, when traveling, your mind is much freer because you aren’t thinking about or worrying about the problems you might have been concerned with at home. This means you can think of other things, enjoy other things, and really put your new skills to good use.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt also helps you to be more creative. Studies have shown that when people are taken out of their comfort zone (and traveling is a prime example of how this can happen), different neural connections start to be made in the brain. These connections trigger creativity and original thought. It’s no wonder that so many people find travel inspiring when it comes to their writing, painting, photography, sculpture, and much more.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBetter social skills \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E One of the biggest benefits to any kind of travel, whether you choose to go abroad or stay at home and discover more about where you live, is that your social skills and ability to communicate will become much better. Say, for example, you're \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.explorient.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etaking a trip to Asia\u003C\/a\u003E and don't speak the local language, you will, by necessity, need to speak to all kinds of people to get information and to give them information in return. Otherwise, you will be solely dependent on guidebooks and the internet, and although potentially useful, you won’t get as vibrant and interesting a story as you will when talking to real people who live where you are visiting.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen you're better at communicating, it won’t only help you when you are traveling; it will help you at home as well. For example, better social skills mean:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMore confidence in job interviews\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMore successful dates\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EYou can stand up and talk in front of others\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EYou will have the courage of your convictions when arguing a point  \u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll these things and more will help you in the future, and the bulk of the learning can be done while traveling in a very practical sense. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/5835422929674411111\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/09\/how-can-travel-make-your-life-better.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5835422929674411111"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5835422929674411111"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/09\/how-can-travel-make-your-life-better.html","title":"How Can Travel Make Your Life Better?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiyiOjMMWR3Dsvj27dFrnpQskSf4g5ldXjhqM2W5Pqo_RUmDF5qmu-Ak9SVEXbvL_o_l41PBNKeq1b-cos8z87wj4beXeVSd-TmuVLhsL4K9H_LA2bR7P4fm1LtuGThSdKV42bBidhc5VGAvLVH86rlSYBmmYF-5OUTw8a5iGMRNqsUX8xFfoj_uPDy\/s72-c\/6D240811-3B74-4374-9DDA-0F8F001A7720.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-2806708990956203403"},"published":{"$t":"2022-08-14T01:16:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-08-14T01:16:45.036-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Top Tips For Working From Home"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg8drOHOwuUKnUUqI7ZMAfREoirfSp3U7IcLX0wwcNfPltbWqOwDiIpyYw_GWNZgXdYN9a_tPh0_tj-YRoH29EBlMxyyvEU332ULNenXldeplh8SwaP5LflPrOt4Qem3BGMhpcFWIJ5Kc8TD8JadH8Q5lhZXG22nS6O2tCaRfHuKcg9uw1pY8OeTrRo\/s2048\/A1E31CFD-F73E-40C6-853F-13A722E82146.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg8drOHOwuUKnUUqI7ZMAfREoirfSp3U7IcLX0wwcNfPltbWqOwDiIpyYw_GWNZgXdYN9a_tPh0_tj-YRoH29EBlMxyyvEU332ULNenXldeplh8SwaP5LflPrOt4Qem3BGMhpcFWIJ5Kc8TD8JadH8Q5lhZXG22nS6O2tCaRfHuKcg9uw1pY8OeTrRo\/s16000\/A1E31CFD-F73E-40C6-853F-13A722E82146.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E*This is a collaborative post \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EAfter the pandemic, home-working skyrocketed, whether that be businesses trying it out or people venturing out and running their own businesses. Working from home has been great for people's work-life balance, and with people being at home and having more flexibility, the productivity of employees has seen a real increase.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHowever, for those that have not worked from home before it can be hard to know where to get started and what to do to make sure you can work from home effectively. If you are one of those people, then these top tips could help you to understand how to set up for home-working and make sure you can get your work done.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMake sure you have a quiet workspace\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen you start to work from home, you really need to make sure you \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2020\/09\/5-things-you-need-for-best-wfh.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eset yourself up an office\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(or at least a work “space”) that will be dedicated to you and you only during work times. If you have people coming in out and distracting you then you are going to struggle to stay productive and your work will suffer. Pick a room you can set up for your self like a spare bedroom or partially finished basement and set that up with the furniture and devices you need to get your job done. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EKeep your PC well maintained  \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen working from home, it’s likely you’re going to be depending on a computer or laptop to get your work done. When working from home, if your PC goes down then you can’t work so you have to keep it maintained to reduce your downtime. It may be that your business has an IT department who can help when needed but sometimes they won’t be there to bail you out. Make sure to keep your data backed up and the PC fully updated to make sure it’s secure and running smoothly. If you are feeling that your PC is running a bit slow then it may need to be cleaned up so getting software downloaded can help this like Ccleaner for windows and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cleanmymac.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECleanMyMac X\u003C\/a\u003E for Macs. They will delete unwanted files and clean up the PC to help it run a lot smoother for you and reduce downtime.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EKeep in contact with work\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is such a big piece of the WFH puzzle. It can be really easy to feel lonely when \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bing.com\/search?q=keeping+in+contact+with+work+when+WFH\u0026amp;cvid=512f84658e1b47faadd971894033c3ea\u0026amp;aqs=edge..69i57.6301j0j9\u0026amp;FORM=ANAB01\u0026amp;PC=SMTS\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eworking from home\u003C\/a\u003E, especially if you are used to being in a team, so making sure you stay in contact with work can really help. Things like Slack, Zoom meetings or a chat room to discuss problems and help each other out can be really beneficial if you’re feeling alone. Feeling alone when trying to work can affect your mental health and also have a negative effect on your productivity, so try to stay in contact with work where you can.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDo any of these ring true for you? What else would you add to the list?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/2806708990956203403\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/08\/top-tips-for-working-from-home.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/2806708990956203403"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/2806708990956203403"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/08\/top-tips-for-working-from-home.html","title":"Top Tips For Working From Home"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg8drOHOwuUKnUUqI7ZMAfREoirfSp3U7IcLX0wwcNfPltbWqOwDiIpyYw_GWNZgXdYN9a_tPh0_tj-YRoH29EBlMxyyvEU332ULNenXldeplh8SwaP5LflPrOt4Qem3BGMhpcFWIJ5Kc8TD8JadH8Q5lhZXG22nS6O2tCaRfHuKcg9uw1pY8OeTrRo\/s72-c\/A1E31CFD-F73E-40C6-853F-13A722E82146.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-1310988293520571434"},"published":{"$t":"2022-08-08T20:00:00.005-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-08-08T20:00:56.201-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Top 4 Ways To Ensure You Get A Vacation Every Year"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiPABdmGz_FDX3zim9i3Le54MAASZ-BEls6YtosSlGsfuAdU0AY7bQJZYDX9TbIrFgiinYRHpyLu9DcgabW4Q3lWzz7oxORNhc0gY65zFU3JCqsI8FwNgQzX0idwJferudVe0xOaLV1kRJcjaOfXDa5HBU8xTOK3uqw83c5HLm5WXiIUY_tecu_LH-3\/s2048\/BC285904-FEF8-478D-9562-E7EBD63BC412.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiPABdmGz_FDX3zim9i3Le54MAASZ-BEls6YtosSlGsfuAdU0AY7bQJZYDX9TbIrFgiinYRHpyLu9DcgabW4Q3lWzz7oxORNhc0gY65zFU3JCqsI8FwNgQzX0idwJferudVe0xOaLV1kRJcjaOfXDa5HBU8xTOK3uqw83c5HLm5WXiIUY_tecu_LH-3\/s16000\/BC285904-FEF8-478D-9562-E7EBD63BC412.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis is a collaborative post.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EAre you one of those people who never seem to get a break? You're not alone. Most people find it difficult to take time off from work. But did you know that vacations are actually good for your health? Not only do they allow you to relax and rejuvenate, but they can also help improve your productivity when you return to work. So if you're looking for ways to ensure you get a vacation every year, keep reading! Here we will discuss four tips that will help make sure you get the break you deserve. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ESchedule your leave ahead of time\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe best way to ensure you get to take your vacation time is to schedule it in advance. This way, your boss will be more likely to approve your leave, and you can plan around work commitments. If possible, try to schedule your vacation during the slower times at work. This will minimize the impact on productivity and help you get the most out of your time off. Additionally, take advantage of long weekends and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.officeholidays.com\/countries\/usa\/2022\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epublic holidays\u003C\/a\u003E to extend your vacation without using too much leave.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EConsider timeshare\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you enjoy traveling to the same place every year or want the option to travel to multiple locations, you may want to consider timeshare. With a timeshare, you essentially purchase the right to stay at a specific resort for a set period each year. You can read \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@sapphireresortsreviews\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESapphire Resorts reviews\u003C\/a\u003E to find out more about timeshares and if they're the right fit for you. This is a great option for people who want to have the same vacation spot each year but don't want to purchase a second home. Most touristy areas offer timeshare options, and you can likely even get a deal, free tickets, or cash just for touring the resort. And who knows? You may decide it’s the right option for you.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBook your vacation early\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBook your trip early if you want to make sure you get a vacation every year. By doing so, you'll increase your chances of getting the time off from work that you need and finding cheaper flights and hotels. And, if you're flexible with your travel dates, you may be able to find even more deals. So, don't wait until the last minute to book your next vacation - plan ahead and save yourself some money and stress in the process.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EDon't be afraid to use your vacation days\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESeriously - if you have vacation days, use them! If you don't use your vacation days, you may lose them. Check with your employer to see their \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/paid-time-off-usa\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epolicy on vacation days\u003C\/a\u003E. Some employers allow you to carry over vacation days from one year to the next, but others have a \"use it or lose it\" policy. If you have the option to carry over vacation days, use them anyway! You can always save them for a longer trip later on. If your employer has a \"use it or lose it\" policy, try to take at least a few days off every year. You may not be able to take a week-long trip every year, but you can probably swing a long weekend. And that's still better than nothing! But your time off is part of your compensation package, and it doesn’t just make you more productive when you’re at work - it’s needed to help you be a happy, well-functioning human.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere are a few things you can do to make sure you get a vacation every year. However, by following these tips, you can ensure that you get the time off from work you deserve! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/1310988293520571434\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/08\/top-4-ways-to-ensure-you-get-vacation.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/1310988293520571434"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/1310988293520571434"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/08\/top-4-ways-to-ensure-you-get-vacation.html","title":"Top 4 Ways To Ensure You Get A Vacation Every Year"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiPABdmGz_FDX3zim9i3Le54MAASZ-BEls6YtosSlGsfuAdU0AY7bQJZYDX9TbIrFgiinYRHpyLu9DcgabW4Q3lWzz7oxORNhc0gY65zFU3JCqsI8FwNgQzX0idwJferudVe0xOaLV1kRJcjaOfXDa5HBU8xTOK3uqw83c5HLm5WXiIUY_tecu_LH-3\/s72-c\/BC285904-FEF8-478D-9562-E7EBD63BC412.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-8801569578937122191"},"published":{"$t":"2022-08-04T22:29:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-08-04T22:29:06.034-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"How To Stop Anxiety Controlling Your Life"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjH-LDuHlHkBJlAakkU_GXjIoByDVbISdnxy2qG4wCQndNQs6L22upnxjKExsh5DlK4j5XAS7E5bK4b6bnBWTg2xpPJKd53jwt4l5kvkPbtvuhOMfs-OosrBZBPa6hTs9UNSpd8o_-abevfEoyZL2VOBbhXZknQ2jFWgvHHuNQREDwcbxPVn2SXP79l\/s2048\/ACS_0317.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjH-LDuHlHkBJlAakkU_GXjIoByDVbISdnxy2qG4wCQndNQs6L22upnxjKExsh5DlK4j5XAS7E5bK4b6bnBWTg2xpPJKd53jwt4l5kvkPbtvuhOMfs-OosrBZBPa6hTs9UNSpd8o_-abevfEoyZL2VOBbhXZknQ2jFWgvHHuNQREDwcbxPVn2SXP79l\/s16000\/ACS_0317.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis is a collaborative post. I am not a mental health professional.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EBelieve it or not, a little anxiety can be good for you. For example, being anxious before a big test or job interview encourages you to be more prepared or studious, which can improve your chances of success. However, anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes with your life or becomes a constant fixture in your day. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf this is the case, the first thing to be aware of is that you are not alone. Each and every one of us is on a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2020\/05\/my-mental-wellbeing-journey-first-and.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emental well-being journey\u003C\/a\u003E, and anxiety and related conditions are increasingly common. In fact, a recent study found that Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adaa.org\/understanding-anxiety\/facts-statistics\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eaffects 6.8 million adults in the US alone\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E With that in mind, if you feel as though anxiety controls or dictates your life, here are some steps you can take to take back control! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Find a type of therapy that works for you\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are various types of therapies designed to support those with anxiety or similar conditions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps ‘reprogram’ negative thoughts and behaviors into something much more positive. Alternatively, you may benefit from relaxation therapy, or by talking through your problems face-to-face with a therapist. Doing a little research ahead of time will help you decide which program(s) is right for you, ensuring you get the help you need. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Look into THC products\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are various studies in place that explore the benefits of THC products when it comes to both anxiety and stress reduction. This is because once consumed, THC triggers your body’s production of mood-boosting hormones, such as serotonin. As a result, those dealing with anxiety may find it useful to try out natural THC products, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.3chi.com\/product\/delta-9-thc-gummies\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDelta 9 THC Gummies\u003C\/a\u003E.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EKnow how to calm your body and mind\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EResearching different \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2021\/08\/7-top-relaxation-techniques-to-use-for.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Erelaxation techniques\u003C\/a\u003E can also be a great way to keep anxiety at bay, especially if you are prone to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mind.org.uk\/information-support\/types-of-mental-health-problems\/anxiety-and-panic-attacks\/panic-attacks\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epanic attacks\u003C\/a\u003E. This is because it will provide you with a range of tools and coping mechanisms to rely on when anxiety begins to prevent itself. For example, you may want to look into mediation or deep breathing techniques.   \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELet go of what you can’t control\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnxiety is the way in which our body responds to the unexpected. It is a sort of defence mechanism to help us reduce harm or damage. However, this often means that it causes us to worry about things that are beyond our control, often spending hours thinking about them. As such, one way in which you can reduce anxiety is by simply accepting that some things are beyond your control. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Practice self-care\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2021\/12\/your-guide-to-self-care-5-tips-for.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESelf-care can boost your mood\u003C\/a\u003E considerably, making it a great way to combat anxiety and low mood. As such, it should be considered an essential part of your routine as opposed to a luxury you indulge in from time to time. Self-care is also important since, as the name suggests, it encourages you to care for yourself. The more you practice \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2020\/02\/five-self-care-habits-ive-been-enjoying.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eself-care\u003C\/a\u003E, the less neglectful you will be of your needs - which again will work wonders for your mental health. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/8801569578937122191\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/08\/how-to-stop-anxiety-controlling-your.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8801569578937122191"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/8801569578937122191"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/08\/how-to-stop-anxiety-controlling-your.html","title":"How To Stop Anxiety Controlling Your Life"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjH-LDuHlHkBJlAakkU_GXjIoByDVbISdnxy2qG4wCQndNQs6L22upnxjKExsh5DlK4j5XAS7E5bK4b6bnBWTg2xpPJKd53jwt4l5kvkPbtvuhOMfs-OosrBZBPa6hTs9UNSpd8o_-abevfEoyZL2VOBbhXZknQ2jFWgvHHuNQREDwcbxPVn2SXP79l\/s72-c\/ACS_0317.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4503740560145992212.post-5399104137292593945"},"published":{"$t":"2022-08-04T22:11:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-08-04T22:11:08.807-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"3 Ways to Boost Your Self-Confidence and Get the Best Out Of Life"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgJr6XQQbVhFWCXlRS8azoDCpfWOy86sUNWQxpphOWXwSimOSkBwA__Ald-heeZGiOmVFzeMTSLCVUz8IyneqR1-rGHAfZ_UFS4yBCCyC3jlzIVN0yYiU6JrisNimKOw_vao1Jakxqg2AkYGXzC_QgTR0Ioji46O3RMC3Bl5W7GnwQJEL6Z4ZsFx0mX\/s2048\/ABB0FB90-2491-4CF6-878D-424312683466.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgJr6XQQbVhFWCXlRS8azoDCpfWOy86sUNWQxpphOWXwSimOSkBwA__Ald-heeZGiOmVFzeMTSLCVUz8IyneqR1-rGHAfZ_UFS4yBCCyC3jlzIVN0yYiU6JrisNimKOw_vao1Jakxqg2AkYGXzC_QgTR0Ioji46O3RMC3Bl5W7GnwQJEL6Z4ZsFx0mX\/s16000\/ABB0FB90-2491-4CF6-878D-424312683466.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis is a collaborative post \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E Self-confidence is an integral part of life, and sometimes it can take a dip for various reasons. The world can be challenging, and it’s not always easy to hold your head high when you’re bombarded with negativity from all angles. Strong self-confidence makes it easier to live with courage, trust yourself, know your worth, find happiness in new experiences, and deal with rejection and criticism easily.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESelf-confidence isn’t something that just happens overnight; there are small things we can do daily to build our confidence. The more you invest in yourself—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—the stronger and more secure you’ll feel as a person. Believe it or not, even some of the most successful people in the world struggle with low self-esteem regularly. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to boost your confidence and get the best out of life. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBe proud of who you are \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe first step in boosting self-confidence is to be \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.trackinghappiness.com\/how-to-be-proud-of-yourself\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eproud of who you are\u003C\/a\u003E. Take some time to reflect on your life and all the things that you’ve accomplished so far. I’m a big fan of a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2015\/04\/the-reverse-bucket-list.html?m=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ereverse bucket list\u003C\/a\u003E. Identify the things that make you proud to be you — maybe it’s a certain skill you have, a hobby you enjoy, or even just the fact that you care for others or do your best to help those in need. Once you can identify what makes you proud, it becomes much easier to be proud of yourself as a whole. Being proud of yourself will do wonders for your self-confidence and overall happiness. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EDevelop a habit of speaking positively\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen you \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/positivewordsresearch.com\/how-to-develop-the-habit-of-speaking-positive-words\/#:~:text=How%20to%20develop%20the%20habit%20of%20speaking%20positive,the%20happy%20and%20joyful%20moments%20of%20the%20past.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edevelop a habit of speaking positively\u003C\/a\u003E, you’ll notice that you begin to set the tone for the rest of your day. Instead of focusing on the negatives, you’ll set yourself up to think about the things you’re proud of and the things you’re excited about. This sounds pretty obvious, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. It can be challenging to break the habit of thinking negatively, especially if you’ve been doing it for years. However, once you get into the positive thinking routine, you will feel much more confident and happy with who you are.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EDress to express yourself \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EVery few things in life are as effective as clothing when it comes to self-expression. What you wear can even boost your confidence significantly. If you want to boost your self-confidence, start dressing in clothing you enjoy wearing - not what others “want” you to wear. Don’t just grab the first thing off the shelf — take the time to find something that truly expresses who you are. Just be sure to find something that genuinely makes you feel like yourself. If you’re unsure where to start, online shops are always a great way to find a wide variety of clothing options all in one place. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's not just about what top and bottom combo you wear; it also has to do with what undergarments you choose. You want to find something that will make you feel confident, happy, and comfortable. Something like an \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thirdlove.com\/collections\/thong\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eeveryday thong\u003C\/a\u003E would be an excellent option for those who want to wear cute undergarments but still feel comfortable and confident. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESelf-confidence is essential to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2018\/09\/five-ways-to-look-and-feel-your-best.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elooking and feeling your best\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;Confidence can be hard to come by, but it’s also something anyone can learn to cultivate and nurture over time. If you want to boost your self-confidence and get the best out of life, these tips will help you be well on your way to becoming a happier, more confident you.  \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/feeds\/5399104137292593945\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/08\/3-ways-to-boost-your-self-confidence.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5399104137292593945"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4503740560145992212\/posts\/default\/5399104137292593945"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.apaperarrow.com\/2022\/08\/3-ways-to-boost-your-self-confidence.html","title":"3 Ways to Boost Your Self-Confidence and Get the Best Out Of Life"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Kayla | A Paper Arrow"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00417722381541632926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XoGZI3W3APY\/XjCeLfBU5uI\/AAAAAAAAVG4\/paaSoB7uCyor6gc5NkGmBcHocMkOqMC8QCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Copy%2Bof%2BCopy%2Bof%2Bprofilepicture.png"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgJr6XQQbVhFWCXlRS8azoDCpfWOy86sUNWQxpphOWXwSimOSkBwA__Ald-heeZGiOmVFzeMTSLCVUz8IyneqR1-rGHAfZ_UFS4yBCCyC3jlzIVN0yYiU6JrisNimKOw_vao1Jakxqg2AkYGXzC_QgTR0Ioji46O3RMC3Bl5W7GnwQJEL6Z4ZsFx0mX\/s72-c\/ABB0FB90-2491-4CF6-878D-424312683466.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}}]}});