Summer Bucket List

It's time for another season and another bucket list. The twins will be here for the first two months of summer, so our list will reflect a wide range of activities and tasks. On to the list:

1. Two beach days (Half Moon Bay and Stinson)
2. Jelly Belly Factory
3. Go to the Warped Tour
4. Sonoma Train Town 
5. Pool party 2x
6. San Francisco Wharf/Musee Mechanique
7. Make popsicles 3x
8. Pacific Pinball Museum
9. Go on an easy hike with all the kiddos
10. Escape Room adventure
11. Rocket Fizz Visit
12. Baskin Robbins
13. Mini Golf
14. Movie in a Theater (maybe Incredibles 2, opens June 15th)
15. Summer brunch party
16. Make your own pizzas party
17. Make Donuts 2x
18. Treasure Island Flea Market or Jack London Square Market
19. Fourth of July Festival at Berkeley Marina
20. Waterpark day
21. Cookout
22. Read a romance series
23. Make smores
24. Try a new (to us) ice cream place
25. Take the ferry to SF

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter

Title: A Mad Zombie Party (White Rabbit Chronicles #4)

Author: Gena Showalter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2015

Genre: YA - Fantasy

Pages: 424

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Audiobook

Ali Bell and Cole Holland's crew of zombie slayers thought they'd won the war against Anima Industries, the evil company responsible for capturing and experimenting on zombies in an effort to discover the secret to immortality. In the last epic clash, the slayers lost many of their crew and closest friends. But Frosty, the ice man himself, has not recovered from one casualty in particular—the love of his life, Kat Parker. 

On the path to self-annihilation, Frosty receives a message from beyond—Kat's spirit returns, insisting he partner with rogue slayer Camilla Marks. Frosty will do anything for Kat. Except that. Camilla is the one who betrayed them all, leading to Kat's death. 

But when Anima rises from the grave to become a force the slayers may not have the strength to overcome, Frosty, Camilla and all the slayers will have to work together to survive. And one broken slayer will learn that sometimes, the line between hate and attraction is blurred…and the road to redemption isn't through revenge, but in letting go of the past and grabbing hold of the future.

I have loved this series, but the last book just didn't grab me. It boils down to the change in narration. I was all for Ali's voice and her perspective. Changing it to a split narration between Frosty and Milla just threw me and I never really connected to them. I definitely wanted to finish this series, but didn't love the storyline and characters in this one.

White Rabbit Chronicles:

• #1 Alice in Zombieland
• #1.5 Cole... Meet Ali
• #2 Through the Zombie Glass
• #3 The Queen of Zombie Hearts
• #4 A Mad Zombie Party
• #4.1 Kat in Zombieland

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Larkin Poe "Look Away"

Random YouTube find that I'm super digging. Love the country/blues background of this, but it always feels super fresh. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #19

As I look outside my window: Bright and sunny. The temperature is supposed to top off around 90 degrees today, so we're hanging out at home in the air conditioning. I would go to the pool, but I didn't sleep last night and it's so much work to get both boys and I down there and back.

Right now I am: Sitting on my couch while the boys watch Chicken Little. I have big plans for some laundry in a few minutes and maybe a bit of reading if they cooperate.

On my bedside table: A Ma Zombie Party by Gena Showalter; The Selection by Kiera Cass

On my tv this week: I've been working through my playlist. I watched the Emma mini series, Howard's End, and American Satan. 

Listening to: Black Veil Brides (as usual), Lore podcast, NPR Politics podcast, and Pod Save America podcast.

On the menu for this week:

• Monday - No idea...
• Tuesday - Leftovers/Snack dinner
• Wednesday - Tacos
• Thursday - Pizza night
• Friday - Teriyaki Chicken
• Saturday - Tilapia
• Sunday - Italian Beef Sandwiches

On my to do list: I want to finish out my craft project. I need to renew our Costco membership. I have to finish cleaning the twins room before Tuesday. I need schedule my June classes. 

Happening this week:

• Monday - Playdate either at Washington Park or Hop n Play
• Tuesday - Playdate at Heather Farms; Twins arrive!!!!
• Wednesday - Home day
• Thursday - Mini Golf, Library, Grocery
• Friday - J comes home
• Saturday - Stamp Club
• Sunday - Home day

What I am creating: I finished out a giant stack of retired cards. Plus, I made some good headway on my Project Life catch-up. I've gotten the layouts planned and figured out which photos I need to print. Now I just need to finish printing the photos so I can finish this album.

My simple pleasures: Dark chocolate, red wine, iced tea, lots of good books, my planner

Looking around the house: I've been cleaning every day and yet the house looks like a bomb went off in the house. 

From the camera: Cool baby in shades

A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas

Title: A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock #2)

Author: Sherry Thomas

Publisher: Berkley 2017

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 332

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Share-a-Tea; I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Read a series with a new book coming out in 2018

Being shunned by Society gives Charlotte Holmes the time and freedom to put her extraordinary powers of deduction to good use. As “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” aided by the capable Mrs. Watson, she’s had great success helping with all manner of inquiries, but she’s not prepared for the new client who arrives at her Upper Baker Street office.
 
Lady Ingram, wife of Charlotte’s dear friend and benefactor, wants Sherlock Holmes to find her first love, who failed to show up at their annual rendezvous. Matters of loyalty and discretion aside, the case becomes even more personal for Charlotte as the missing man is none other than Myron Finch, her illegitimate half brother.
 
In the meanwhile, Charlotte wrestles with a surprising proposal of marriage, a mysterious stranger woos her sister Livia, and an unidentified body surfaces where least expected. Charlotte’s investigative prowess is challenged as never before: Can she find her brother in time—or will he, too, end up as a nameless corpse somewhere in the belly of London?

Picked this one up at the library and devoured it in just three days. I love the twists on the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories. I love the updates in language and subject matter. But most of all, I love Charlotte Holmes. She is just a great character full of interesting quirks. The best part of the book is how she interacts with the rest of the characters. I can't wait for the next book to be published in October.

Lady Sherlock

• #1 A Study in Scarlet Women
• #2 A Conspiracy in Belgravia
• #3 The Hollow of Fear

Next up on the TBR pile:

Murder on the House by Juliet Blackwell

Title: Murder on the House (Haunted Home Renovation #3)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Berkley 2012

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 338

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seasonal Series - Animal

Word has spread that contractor Mel Turner can communicate with the spirits of the dead, and she’s having a hard time maintaining a low profile. She decides to embrace her reputation for the chance to restore a historic house that calls to her. The new owners, who hope to run a haunted bed-and-breakfast, want Mel to encourage the ghosts that supposedly roam the halls to enhance the house’s paranormal charm.

The catch: Mel has to spend one night in the house to win the project. During the spine-chilling sleepover, the estate gains another supernatural occupant when someone doesn’t survive the night. As Mel tries to coax the resident spirits into revealing the identity of the killer, she risks becoming the next casualty of this dangerous renovation.

I sped through this great cozy mystery in one afternoon. I've really fallen for Mel Turner and her band of misfits. I love her continuing storyline with her ghost-reaching abilities and the storyline involving her various men. The one was a great story involving a little girl ghost, a dead old woman, and a potential bed-and-breakfast. I loved following Mel as she uncovered the history of the house and its inhabitants. I really appreciate that fact that Blackwell includes so much great San Francisco history into each book. Definitely be back for the next one. 

Haunted Home Renovation

• #1 If Walls Could Talk
• #2 Dead Bolt
• #3 Murder on the House
• #4 Home for the Haunting
• #5 Keeper of the Castle
• #5.5 A Haunting is Brewing
• #6 Give Up the Ghost
• #7 A Ghostly Light

Next up on the TBR pile:

Spring Bucket List Wrap-up

Spring (at least in our house) is over. We're heading into summer, but first let's see the finally tally. 12/25 

1. Have an Easter Egg Hunt ✓ 
2. Dye Easter Eggs ✓  
3. Beach picnic ✓ 
4. Ride the steam train at Tilden ✓
5. See the baby goats/sheep/pigs at the farm ✓
6. Go to the farmer's market
7. Make fun cupcakes
8. Make a fairy door
9. Have a cookout ✓
10. Visit Happy Hallow ✓
11. Create a gardening project for Arthur
12. Paint my nails a springy color ✓ -- I painted them a shade one darker than Stampin' Up's new Highland Heather
13. Play with sidewalk chalk
14. Go to a botanical garden
15. Visit five different parks ✓ 
16. Fly a kite
17. Make strawberry shortcake ✓
18. Have an ice cream sundae night
19. Visit Chabot twice before our membership runs out ✓
20. Blow bubbles ✓
21. Make a rainbow craft
22. Host a tea party
23. Make dirt pudding
24. Bake flower pot bread
25. Go berry picking

Next up on the TBR pile:

June 2018 Life Goals

Let’s check in on May's goals and my progress.

• Care Exchange Cards -- Success! I finished sending out all of the cards to the participants of this round.
• Finalize summer plans (buy plane tickets) -- Success! Plane tickets were bought. Other plans have been made.
• Figure out J's travel plans -- Success! He actually left over a week ago and will be back next week.
• Institute a library ban for me -- Um... fail. I fully intended on not checking out any books except for the book club selection and any series I am currently reading. And then I went to Dublin and found so many good comics that I just had to scrap my ban and check them out. Oh well.
• Clean out that darn downstairs closet -- Utter and total fail yet again.
• Knock off 5 items from my Spring Bucket list -- Fail. We did a few things, but not enough.
• Plan out a sample schedule for summer -- Success! We are going to have Movie Mondays and Game Night Thursdays. Plus I have a list of activities and some other smaller ideas. 
• Get my hard dyed -- Success, but it's not dyed yet. Because of schedules, I had to push this goal out to mid-June. However, the appointment is scheduled! I can't wait.
• Schedule our first pool day -- Success. 

June's Goals:

• Make our Summer Bucket List (and get started!) -- I'm working on this, but need to finish.
• Work out our whole living situation
• Fill three bags for Goodwill -- Need to get rid of some of the clutter.
• Sell books at Half Price Books -- I have one bag filled and hope to fill another by the end of the month. 
• Start the Library Summer Reading Program -- Last year, I got two great books as prizes and Arthur got a book and a few tickets to local attractions. 
• Try 5 new recipes -- Falling behind on my 52 new recipes in 2018. Need to try something new this month.
• Read 25 books -- Seems crazy high, but I have a giant stack of comic trades to read. 
• Implement our new chore chart -- I'm putting the finishing touches on our plan.

Next up on the TBR list: