When Your Math Whiz Kid Chooses Professional Dress-Up

Corinne's education for what she calls "professional dress-up" kicked off this past week when she started university classes. She declared majors in musical theater and digital media with the primary goal of being a stage actress—i.e., professional dress-up. During middle school and even into high s

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Six Years Later, Still Seeing Constant Reminders of You | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

Six years ago today, our world changed forever...yet life is still filled with constant reminders of you. A review of "Be My Baby" by Kathryn R. Biel

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We All Lose Our Minds Sometimes

We've all heard the jokes about memory getting worse as we age—putting things in a safe place only to forget the safe place, walking into a room and forgetting why we're there, losing our keys when they're in our hand or our glasses when they're on our head. I have experienced all of those things

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Mean Girls Redux…Meaner (and Better) Than Ever

Twenty years ago, Paramount Pictures released Mean Girls, the story of Cady Heron, the new girl in high school who recently moved back to the States after being home schooled in Africa. Immediately embraced by misfits Janis and Damian, Cady finds herself drawn in by the popular clique led by Regina

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For Corinne and Her Chaotic Sweet Sixteen 💗

Disclaimer: This blog post does not actually include a book review, and the only reference to reading is me always having a book at the ready while I'm waiting for something or someone. I hope you enjoy it anyway. 😊 Every year, I take off time before and after my daughter Corinne's birthday—to prepa

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Finding Book Recommendations in the Wild | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

Someone told me once in a TikTok comment conversation that she loves finding book recommendations in the wild. A review of "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach

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Who’s Your Ride-or-Die?

Parents will do just about anything for their kids. There are exceptions, of course. We’ve all heard horror stories and seen things on social media with a comment of “WTF is wrong with people?!” But for the most part, moms and dads will do just about anything for their kids. I have said before that

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The Fine Art of the Rom-Com

I don’t know many women who don’t like a good romantic comedy. I’m sure they exist. Heck, I’m sure I have some friends who wouldn’t sit through one. But I love a good rom-com. Do they idealize relationships? Yup. Do they create unrealistic expectations? Sure. Do they make me smile and feel good anyw

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Tracking Your Location: Safety First or Invasion of Privacy?

Who do you allow access for tracking your location? Is it ok for your spouse to always know where you are, or is that an invasion of privacy? What about a parent tracking their minor child? Every once in a while, this heated debate pops up on social media. Almost everyone lands firmly on one

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Dating Today Means The Dark Web aka Dating Apps | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

The world of dating apps as described in the book below feels accurate based on what Corinne seems.... A review of "It's Not What You Think" by Clare Mackintosh

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How Do You Define Your 1 to 5 Stars?

There has been some debate on Threads lately about whether readers should post reviews that are less than 4 or 5 stars. A lot of debate. When I first started blogging, I promised myself that I would share reviews of books that I love and books that I don't love. I literally put it at

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When You Wonder if the Third Time’s a Charm

There is a saying that the third time's a charm. Typically, it relates to when you screw something up or something goes wrong. So you try again...and again...and hopefully after you've messed it up twice, the third time will work. We have three dogs in our home (our first actually lives with my dad)

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My Book Year In Review—2024 Edition

My Bookmory Calendar Every year, I join the Goodreads reading challenge. I typically average a book a week, so my goal is around the 50 mark to allow life to get in the way. While I had a handful of months where I read four or even five books this year, I started this year reading only

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A Summer of Vacations with My Favorite People | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

I don't remember the last time I had a summer of vacations. In fact, it's possible this has been my only one ever. A review of "If Not You" by Ellen O'Clover

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Is the Future Predestined or Subject to Change?

For anyone of a certain age (🤫 Gen-X 🤫), any reference to changing the future probably brings on immediate thoughts of the Back to the Future series. Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly spends three movies using a time-traveling DeLorean to "fix" the past as a way to correct the future. Action-packed come

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But Does It Go “Boom”?

My husband Dennis loved what he called "boom movies." Anything with explosions and car chases (with subsequent crashes) could keep him entertained. When we first got married, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal were two of his staples. Despite the fact that I thought the plot lines were...ummm..

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Is There Any Way I Would Survive “Survivor”?

I have watched every episode of Survivor—all 620 of them (Confessions of a Reality TV Junkie), from season 1 when Jeff Probst was the blandest host on television to season 42 when he provided continuous, energetic color commentary and is a celebrity all on his own. When the show started in 2000, I w

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When My Passion Project is Somehow Way Ahead of Schedule | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

I have said before that this blog is my passion project. A reader at heart, I started sharing reviews long before.... A review of "Dead Happy" by Nick Spalding

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What Will I Binge Watch Without Her? 🤔

Corinne and I always plan for the next series to binge watch. Our current show is Modern Family. We're on season eight of eleven, and now I'm stuck waiting for two months until she comes home. A month ago, Corinne started a semester abroad in Liverpool. Since she can't stream the show there, I agree

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I’ll Teach Her to Love Shakespeare Yet

Anyone who knows me well knows that I enjoy Shakespeare ("All the World’s a Stage"🎭). Some of my most vivid college memories come from Shakespeare—both from the course I took senior year as well as from the trip we took to the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. I loved that trip...one of my best

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Treating People The Way You Want To Be Treated | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

The Golden Rule: Treat other people the way you want to be treated. A review of "Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive" by Stephanie Land

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Can the Right Chunky Earrings Perfect Your Whole Look? | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

As an old Gen Xer, I grew out of my chunky earring phase a while ago. In my 20s, I did the whole.... A review of "Deadly Little Lessons" by Danielle Valentine

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When Creators Seem to Have Lost the Plot | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

Stranger Things seems to have lost the plot...at least according to Corinne. (I didn't watch past.... A review of "It Should Have Been You" by Andrea Mara

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Hold On (for One More Day) | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

If you were anywhere near a radio in 1990, you probably know "Hold On".... A review of "The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits" by Jennifer Weiner

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Searching for the Next Walter Cronkite | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to study journalism. Many people change their minds.... A review of "The Truth is a Theory" by Karyn Bristol

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She Will Never Be the Next Baryshnikov | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

Corinne doesn't have her sights set on being the next Baryshnikov. First of all, she's not a boy. 🤷‍♀️ A review of "Whatever It Takes" by Kathryn R. Biel

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Back to School Looks a Little Different This Year | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

I cried on my first day of kindergarten. I was so excited to be starting school, and I waited patiently.... A review of "46% Better Than Dave" by Alastair Puddick

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When Your Annual Reading Goal is Already at Risk | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

The first Sunday in March, and my 2024 reading goal is already at risk. What?!?!?! By this time.... A review of "The Light in the Hallway" by Amanda Prowse

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The Ultimate Holiday Quiet Time | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

It can be difficult to find quiet time over the holidays. December fills up with shopping.... A review of "Completions & Connections by Kathryn R. Biel

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When in Doubt, the Best Plan is Pizza | Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight)

Everyone loves pizza, right? I mean, it's possible there are people out in the world who don't. But on a.... A review of "Lost and Found" by Tarah DeWitt

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