The Kricket Series.

Starting from a young age, I have always had a love for books. I find it to be so easy for me to get lost in a story for hours. The characters become real, and their emotions become our own. Through reading lots of books, I have found that I love books written by self-published authors. It has become a thing of mine to look for books self-published, and that is how I came across the author Amy A. Bartol. 

When I found her, she had only written three books, all in a series. It was a paranormal series, which I usually steer away from but I gave it a shot, and boy am I glad I did. Her writing has a way of drawing you in from the first sentence.

Recently she released a new series, the Kricket series, and I was hesitant to start it because she has yet to finish her last series and I didn't want that to happen again. Even with my reservations I gave in and bought the first one on audible, Under Different Stars. 

It took me a while to get into it because I usually have a hard time listening when someone else reads to me, and to top it off I hated the voice reading the book. Eventually I got into it and I fell in love. 

It follows a young girl named Kricket, and she is an orphaned child after both her parents died. She is under 18 so she has been on the run from the foster care system. She has two friends she relies on, and they are the only ones she relies on. She soon finds out that she isn't from earth but another world. She is taken there against her will, and she is caught between two different types of people in her new world, Ethar.

The second book, Sea of Stars, picks up where, Under Different Stars, ends. She finds she has powers to see the future, and tell lies from truths, passed down to her from her mother. She has men who have decided to protect her from the people of her mother who want to use her for her gifts, while some of her fathers people seem to want to do the same. You get to see a war ensue between the Alameeda, her mothers people, and the Rafe, her fathers people. Each side wants her, and two men want her the most. Trey, from the house of Rafe, and Kyon, from the house of Alameeda. For two books Kricket has been in Rafe with Trey, so you don't get to see much of Kyon until the third. And that brings me to the point of this post. 

I was recently given the opportunity to read the third book more then a month early from the publisher on netgalley.com, in exchange for an honest review. 

I have to say this book has to be my favorite of them all. We finally get to know Kyon more, and find out that he isn't as bad as we had thought all along. I loved Kyon, and wanted her to chose him over Trey. We also see a different side of Trey, where duty seems to be the most important thing to him, even over Krickets' safety. I was sad that every person seemed to abandon Kricket, except for Kyon, and that is why she has such a stone heart. An all out war is waging all over the planet Ethar, which is the alternate world, and there are people who blame her for it and know that she needs to die. 
This book brought out strong emotions in me, that I ugly cried a few times. The author has said that this is the last book in the series, and that is why I am only giving this book a 3-star rating. To me the ending is not an ending, and it leaves you with more questions then you started with. So many characters weren't given their due and I really feel there has to be more to the story. If there were to be another book I would gladly give it a 5-star rating. There is no doubt that the author really truly has a gift for writing and knows how to bring out the emotions in every book I read. Here's hoping Amy gives us one more book!

Hurt Feelings.

Hurt feelings are a funny thing. Well not really, but in this sense they are. Some people can handle being made fun of, and it doesn't faze them. Others want to fall apart when they are the brunt of a joke. 

Feelings are just as different from person to person, like fingerprints. We all have our own thoughts that play into how we react to what people say to us. And every single person on this earth has had hurt feelings, and knows how it feels. So why is it that we always seem to have a hard time understanding that we might be in the wrong when we hurt someone else, intentional or not. 

If you say something and it hurts someone’s feelings it doesn’t make them sensitive, it could just be that they have heard the same thing several times, and it finally reached a boiling point for them. Or they could be sensitive, but why should that matter? 

Why do we always try to explain away why it shouldn’t have offended someone? Why do we get mad or offended ourselves, when we said something less then nice to begin with? Why do we have such a hard time admitting our wrongs? 

We all want to be treated kindly and with respect, so why aren't we more careful with our words? 

Every persons feelings are valid, even if they are different from our own. We can’t want to be treated a certain way, and then continue to talk to and treat people less than desirable. We can’t expect something from people, that we aren’t willing to give back. 

I know none of us are perfect and that we all make mistakes, but we all need to make more of an effort to think before we act, or speak. We as humans need to try harder to put more good out, in a world where there is so much hate and misunderstandings. Friendships and families are all too important, and we should all take better care of these relationships.

It’s all too easy that after feeling so let down after a while, to just want to stop caring, but we can’t let others get us so down.If you need too, cut those that hurt you the most out, and surround yourself with others who want the same things you do. We all have a purpose on this earth, and we should all strive to fulfill it. What is that saying? Put good out, and get good back? I know it's something I need to work on, but I am willing too, in hopes of living a better, happier life. 

-KJ

Feminism.

I have never considered myself a feminist. I've never even really given it any thought, at all. But as of late, I have seen a bunch of videos supporting it, and it has caused me to draw a conclusion I never thought I would.
As a mother to a son, the way women treat men today, scares me. Women are always saying "I don't need a man," and so in their heads it means they don't need to respect men. Don't get me wrong, I don't think any women needs a man. Women can be incredibly fierce, passionate, and driven. But when did that mean that men are below us?
I am all for equality for men and women. Just as men are not less then us, we are not less then them. All too often I see that it is becoming a man vs. woman world. Just because you feel like there is inequality between men and woman, that does not mean that every man feels it should be that way.
But all to often I am seeing woman treating mean like crap, and that if they don't like it they can leave, because they aren't going to change for a man.
And I am so tired of woman blaming everything on men. Guess what, if you are going to dress provocatively men are going to notice and look. That doesn't make them a pig, it makes them a man who is attracted to women. Our different bodies is a part of what attracts us to each other. So if you put it on display it is obviously going to attract attention. It's the same as if you drive past a man who has bulging biceps and a six pack. I don't know a single straight women who isn't going to look and stare at that. But do men run around screaming inequality and only being seen as a sexual being? No. They don't let it define them.
If one doesn't want to be seen for only her body, then I would say try covering up. Not everyone want's to see what you have going on. I am so sick and tired of seeing girls, in shorts that aren't shorts, but underwear, and barely anything there shirts.
I love to cook dinner for my man. I love being able to stay home with my two beautiful children, and being able to teach them many things. That does not mean I am worth less then a woman who works. Because I do work. Raising kids is not just a fun thing I do. It is something that calls for 24 hours work. I also have to make sure they are fed enough, cleaned, and have clean clothes to wear. And with young kids if I didn't clean my house, it would be a giant mess. I don't have the luxury of being able to go out with friends when I want, or even get to go on dates often.
I know that not all woman can stay home, or that they even want to stay at home. That is for every woman to choose. I don't judge them for those choices, but I am so sick and tired of hearing other woman saying how, "stay at home moms have it so easy." I work my butt off to raise decent children and to have a clean house for when my husband gets home.
Just because I am a stay at home, does not mean there are gender roles in my home. Sometimes my husband will do the dishes to help me out. More times then not, I take the trash out to the bins and then roll the bins out to the street. If my husband has work outside, I usually try to go out and help if I can. My husband works his butt off everyday for my family and the least I can do is take care of the home and try to make a good meal for him.
I don't serve my man in the sense that it has to be done. Most of the time I will dish his plate up but I do not think that it needs to be done, I do it to show my appreciate to him. The way my house works is as a partnership. There has been times where my husband has loaded up a plate for me if I was busy doing something else. And I have no problem returning the gesture.
I think if more people looked at relationships as partnerships, and not a challenge of wills, people would be happier, with less to complain about.

Isn't this what it used to mean to be a feminist? As of late it seems that that is not the meaning anymore. These new day feminists who make videos with young girls cursing, and tearing down women who want to stay home are so out of line. Feminism started as a simple thought. Women wanted equality, and that is something I can get on board with, but not this new craze where men are pigs and women should be able to do anything with no repercussions. That because they are a woman they should have the right to free birth control, and to walk around with their nipples showing through their clothes while damning the male population.  
Why can't feminism be wanting equality for men and women, while also being a supporter of other great woman? When it goes back to that I will gladly join. Life could be so much easier if there was more support and less tear downs.

-KJ

Never Never.

About 3 years ago I set a goal for myself, to see how many books I could read for the rest of the year. I had gotten deep into the author world, and gotten lost in the countless stories. I have found lots of flops and lots of 5-star reads.
I stumbled upon this book, Slammed, and I was in love. It was published indie, but that did not make it any less wonderful. After that book I bought any book written by this author, and not a single one of them disappointed. I then of course started following her on Facebook so that I could see about any upcoming books from her. (She turned out to be really funny, and keeps me laughing with her posts.)
I also found another indie author that wowed me with her writing. Her books on the other hand have a lot more angst. Her books seem to delve into the dark parts of a humans mind. The thoughts that we sometimes are ashamed to think but can't help ourselves from having.
These authors have completely different writing styles, yet I couldn't help but love them both. After following both authors on Facebook, I soon learned that they were friends and hang out all the time. Then one of the best days of my life happened and I found out these two authors were co-writing a book together. I was so excited I could hardly wait to read it. From what they said online, it started with one author writing a chapter then the other would write the next. The funny thing is they never knew what the other was going to write until they got the newest chapter. Knowing that before hand makes it even better reading it. Seeing how amazingly they adapted to the others thoughts for the story.
But thanks to these two AWESOME authors, one of the best books I have ever read was born.

Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher are absolutely literary genius's. I had a lot of hope for this book, and it fulfilled all my hopes and dreams.

With a vague synopsis like this, it could mean anything. Which was kind of cool. It meant I was able to go into the book with really no idea what was coming.
It starts with Charlize, who goes by Charlie, sitting in class and she has no idea how she got there, or even who she is. That right away pulled me in and had me hooked. Charlie is extremely confused and has lots of questions. Skip to the next chapter and we learn her boyfriend Silas has also lost his memories. They quickly figure out that they can't remember a single thing about their lives. The rest of the book is focused on them trying to find the answers they so desperately need.
The book is written in duel POV's, which makes it much more interesting.
You absolutely can't help but love Silas. Hard. I also found myself really liking Charlie. This has enough of a romance feel to leave you with a goofy smile on your face.
You don't really get any answers about their missing memories until the very end of the book. And boom, you are left with one of the worst cliffhangers. You end up with even more questions then before. Tarryn and Colleen are so cruel. And with no release date for part 2, there is no end in sight.
Even days later I have such strong emotions about this book. I want, no, need answers. I need to know why they lost their memories. I am so mad that I am left with no answers, and absolutely terrified where they are taking the story next.
Bravo to the authors for making me love and hate them so much. BRAVO.

-KJ

 

Thai Noodles.

I just recently discovered my love of Thai food. Now I can't seem to get enough of it, so I am constantly looking for Thai recipes. I recently came across this recipe for Thai noodles and after making it 3 times I have tweaked it to my liking.

First you want to start by getting some chicken breasts or chicken breasts tenderloin. (I chose the tenderloin because they are smaller and I find them easier to cut up into small pieces.) You want to cut them into small pieces. I of course tried to cut them into the perfect sliced chicken that all Chinese, and Thai places seem to do. I guess I'm not talented enough to pull it off.
Here's how my chicken turned out.

Once it was all chopped up I sprinkled some seasonings on it. I used some ground ginger, salt, pepper, and a little bit of chili powder. But feel free to use your own seasonings.
I then proceeded to cut some baby corn. I really like baby corn but my husband isn't a fan so I didn't use that much, but use your own discretion to choose how much you want.

Once I was finished with the corn I threw the chicken in a pan with some oil and let that cook until I couldn't see any pink on the outside. I quickly threw the corn in to cook with the chicken. When the chicken is done I pull the pan off the heat.

It's at this stage where you want to put a pot on and boil some water to cook the noodles. Once you have that going you want to get your hot chili oil ready.
This is the kind I use.

You want to measure out 1/2 cup of the oil and pour into a small saucepan. Then you want to put about a teaspoon of red pepper flakes in with the oil. (You can add more if you want more spice but this will already be pretty spicy) Turn the heat to medium. This is where you really want to pay attention. The flakes can burn VERY easily. You want to keep stirring for about a minute to two minutes. But again I stress, keep a close eye on it. When it is done you want to get a mesh strainer. The type where it will catch everything. You want to pour the oil through it into a separate bowl.
It should look like this.

Don't forget to add the noodles to the boiling water!
You want to make sure there isn't anymore pepper flakes in the pan before pouring the oil back in the pot. Once there you want to add 6 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 7 tablespoons of honey. Then I take one of my big spoons and take a spoonful of peanut butter and add it to the sauce.

Once everything is thrown together you want to put the pan back on the burner. Make sure to whisk together as it heats. It will help the peanut butter melt nicely. At this point your noodles should be done, so you'll want to strain those and put them back in their pan. You can then add the chicken and corn. Once they are all together in a pan you take your sauce and drizzle the sauce over it while stirring the noodles around so they are all coated. Once that's done you are ready to eat!

Cast of Characters::
1 pound of chicken breasts tenderloins (Seasonings you want to flavor it with)
1 can of baby corn
1 box of angel hair past or thin spaghetti noodles
1/2 cup hot chili oil
1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. (More of less depending on preference)
6 tablespoons of soy sauce
7 tablespoons of honey
1 spoonful of peanut butter

Cut your chicken into small pieces along with baby corn. Then you want to cook your chicken and towards end of cooking, add corn and cook till done. Cook your pasta noodles according to package instructions. Measure oil out and add to small saucepan and add your pepper flakes and put on burner to cook for 1-2 minutes on medium heat. Keep a close eye on it as the flakes can burn easily. Once down strain the flakes out and reserve oil. Add oil back to pan and add soy sauce, honey, and peanut butter, and return to burner to cook until heated. Once that's done add noodles, chicken, and corn together and pour sauce over the top. Stirring to incorporate. Eat up!!
You can easily add whatever vegetables you want to it to make it your own.  

-KJ

Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup.

Most nights I cook dinner for myself and my son. My daughter is incredibly picky so she usually will only eat things she likes. My husband works till late at night so it's really only me I'm cooking for. I'm constantly trying new recipes out, that I can make on the nights my hubby is home for dinner. Tonight was one of those nights and I gave a new recipe a shot.

It was a soup I found online and it was called Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup. I am a huge fan of regular chicken cordon bleu so I of course was immediately excited to try it.

To start out you need to make a roux. A roux is equal parts butter and flour mixture used for sauces or soups to thicken it.

So I melted my butter on low heat until it was completely melted. Then I sprinkled about half of my flour into the pan and stirred until incorporated and then added the rest and mixed it really well. Once all combined you continue to stir and cook on low heat for about 2 to 3 minutes. It usually starts to smell a little nutty.

This is what it should look like after its ready.

Once it is done you pour in your half and half, and milk. I then crumbled up two chicken bouillon granules into the mixture until there was no bouillon floating on top. After that I turned the heat up to medium and let it heat up.

Once it was at this stage I added an 8 oz softened cream cheese block into it. I took my whisk and stirred it around. It took a while but it finally broke down and melted into the soup. I made sure to constantly stir it so that it didn't burn to the bottom or not melt properly.

Next comes the meats. I bought an already cooked rotisserie chicken from the store and I pulled some meat off of it and chopped it up into fairly small pieces. I also cooked some bacon ahead of time and cut them up into small pieces. The final meat needed is ham. You can either get the pre diced/cubed ham at the store of buy a ham and cut it up how you want, or even tear some deli up into pieces. However you want it! To save time I got pre-diced ham.

After the meats are ready I threw them in and gave it a stir. I let them heat on the stove for a bit, before adding anything else. Once it was back to reaching boiling I added the last and best ingredient.

SWISS CHEESE! You can't have cordon bleu without some swiss cheese. I just bought a small bag of shredded cheese. I just went ahead and threw the whole bag in. Yes, that's a lot of cheese, but it is so good. Trust me.
So I threw the cheese in and stirred it until melted. Once it is all melted I added some salt and pepper and it was done.
I dished some up in a bowl and I topped it with some bacon that was left over.

My roll went amazingly with it!


Cast of characters ::

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 cups half and half
2 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon chicken base, or two chicken bouillon cubes broke up
8 oz. cream cheese
3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup ham
1 cup bacon
2 cup grated or shredded swiss cheese

In soup pot melt butter, and then add flour. Stir while cooking for about 2 minutes. Add half and half, milk, and chicken bouillon. Heat till right before reaching a boil, and then add in cream cheese. Stir until melted and incorporated. Once it reaches a boil add in chicken, bacon, and ham. If any of the meats were cold let them sit and heat for a few minutes before adding in cheese. Once ready add cheese and stir until melted. Season how you want.
Now eat up!

-KJ

Doll Hair.

I loved being able to shop for presents, for my daughter, for Christmas, this year. We got her a play kitchen, a trampoline, and some clothes. She also got a large doll, that has long beautiful red brown hair. I was very apprehensive at first to get it for her. After all she has lots of barbies and their hair looks like rats nest. I went ahead and got the doll for her anyways, and sure enough my daughter was in love. She wanted to take the doll with her everywhere. Within a week her hair was a mess, just like I was worried would happen. In an attempt to fix it I sprayed her hair with water and tried brushing it out. The thing is the more I brushed the worse her hair looked. I tried kids detangler next and that still made no difference.
After spending some time online I found an idea that I decided to try. It was a simple spray that I had to make. It takes fabric softener and water mixed together in a spray bottle.

I took some downy infusions I bought at walmart. I didn't have any on hand so I bought this little bottle for around $2.

I measured out 2 tablespoons of the softener. After I measured out the softener I poured it into a spray bottle that I had laying around. I topped the mixture off with 5 tablespoons of water. I used warm water but I'm not sure that the temperature makes a difference. Once the water was in I gave it a strong shake. (The mixture has a cloudy look to it once mixed.)
I then sprayed her hair generously. After I gave it a chance to soak in I brushed it out. It was still a little hard to get the tangles out, but it was much easier then the other times I tried. I had to stop and re-spray the dolls hair several times. I think the key is to really soak the hair with the spray, because its obviously the softener that makes it easily untangle.
This is the before picture of front and back.

As you can see it was VERY ratty.
This is the after pictures.

I couldn't believe how much better her hair looks now. From now on I will be using this on all my daughters dolls hair including her barbies.

-KJ

Hello.

Hey.
I'm Kayla. A stay-at-home mom to two amazing kids. A 4 year old daughter named Elena, and a 1 1/2 year old boy named Kellan. Being a stay-at-home mom means I spend all my time with these little people. Sometimes it's a little rough but over all its very rewarding.
I have an amazing, loving husband. He spoils me absolutely rotten. He works hard to take care of our family, and I am extremely grateful to him.  
I grew up a country girl and now live in town. Which is kind of a bummer, but I make do. I grew up with lots of dogs and cats. We also had horses, pigs, and cows. So living where I can't have these things has defiantly been an adjustment.
This blog is going to be an eclectic mix of things. I'll write about things I try, thoughts on books I've read, and rants at things that drive me crazy. So I hope you will stick around and read things that are on my mind. Hopefully I can keep you entertained.

-KJ