Be yourself, but not like that.

Be creative, but fit into this mold

Come up with new ideas, that are exactly like the old

Be an individual, but always do what you’re told 

Dare to be different, but don’t be so bold

And now we wait

So, after talking to my GYN about a hysterectomy, she is not completely against it. She does, understandably, want to try birth control first to see if it helps my PMS, PMDD, horrid cramps, etc. It has been a couple weeks since I got the first Depo shot, and having very bad hot flashes, tired all the time, and just really hoping this gets better. 

Restaurant Review: Mi Burrito- 8374 Princeton-Glendale Rd

This place is awesomesauce! The food is fabtabulous, (though a bit on the pricey side, but worth it) and VERY vegetarian friendly. The chips are a thicker corn chip, holds a lot of salsa on each bite, and can use them to scoop my taco salad without breaking. HUGE points for that.

Several different salsa choices, mild and spicy Pico de Gallo, different spice levels of smoother salsas as well. Choice of Mexican style rice or seasoned white rice. The Mexican rice is a tomato and garlic blend, and is not dried out like some Mexican style rice I have had.
The lettuce is shredded, and very dark green. I don't think they use iceburg, which is also a huge plus.

I have gotten a burrito, and a taco salad now, both with the veggies and black beans. Everything is veggie cooked (ie, they either really clean their grill before cooking veggies, or have separate grills) because I have never felt queasy after eating there.
FYI, I have a meat allergy, so even if something was cooked in same pan as chicken, I get very sick.
My only complaint is there are no mushrooms, and as a fat little hobbit, I like my mushrooms!

OMG! I am like so OCD!

I hate this.
I hate this so much. 
I hate this so, so very much.

You cannot BE OCD.

You can have OCD, suffer from OCD, have OCD tendencies, but you cannot be a disorder.
I hate when people compare their want of organization to OCD. No, you like things to be organized, clean, and orderly, you do NOT suffer from OCD.

My favorite comeback to the "Oh my gawd, I'm so OCD, I have to, like, have everything straight!" is "Oh, really? What's your obsession if things are not straight? What will happen? Will your dogs/cats/kids die because they tripped over something that wasn't straight and broke their neck, or maybe eat something off the floor and choke and die??"
or "How many times did you have to wash your hands after you cleaned up to get rid of the lingering bacteria on your hands? I usually only need to wash my hands three times, but if something was really bad, I'll do 7, just to be sure."

Then they look at me like I'm crazy. Oh, I'm sorry, did I make you uncomfortable calling you out on your bullshit? Did I offend you by belittling your feelings and reactions to something? How awful of me.  Or did I make you realize that your control issues are no where NEAR OCD levels.

I can guarantee that you will probably not start picking/biting at the skin on your fingers because something didn't go right for you. I'm pretty sure that your entire day will not be ruined if you are 5 minutes late to something, or that you will sit in your car sobbing because you took a wrong turn and now will not be 15 minutes early like you usually are.
I have been known to go home if I am late to something. I won't even go in. I will make up an excuse that I am not feeling well (though, by that time I am usually close to vomiting from stress) or am tired. I will then feel like shit for the rest of the day, and there are times where I will not be able to talk to that person/group that invited me for awhile because I feel so guilty.
I'm sure you're saying that they wouldn't care if you were a little late, and logically I know you're right: But emotionally I can just feel everyone's eyes on me as I walk into something late, judging me, wondering how I could be so disrespectful to the host to show up late.
But please, keep saying 'you're so OCD' because eventually, I will snap IRL and slap you with a catfish. Why a catfish? Cause I'm crazy, duh. 

Hatfields and McCoys.

I don't think there is any feud that is more well known then that of the Hatfields and the McCoys. Unless of course you get an inside glimpse of my family, that is.

My mother's side (sans Mom, sister, one cousin, and a great aunt) disavow any knowledge of my existence, And I am totally ok with that. Why? Because they are horrible people. I am not going to go into why, you will just have to trust me on this one.

You may be wondering why they pretend I don't exist. The answer is simply that I don't go to funerals. Period.

I don't care what your religion is, your thoughts on the afterlife, what happens when we die, but every belief system I know about feels that the soul/spirit leaves the body at death. So the body that is laying in that ridiculously overpriced decorative box that the funeral home sold and completely took advantage of the grieving family is not the person that people are gathered to see. (yes, I have words for funeral homes and the sort as well...)
Some are now saying "But the funeral is for the living!" Fine, but I don't need a funeral to grieve. My parasitic relatives feel/felt that if you don't go to the funeral, then you must not have loved them. This has pissed me off for years.
I do not apologize for not attending the funerals of my family members who have passed, because that was, and is still, not the way I feel I need to grieve. I don't want my last memory of a loved one to be dead in a box.
I was guilt tripped into going to my grandma's viewing. I could still sketch out the purple floral design on her dress, the knit pattern of her light purple sweater, where my baby cousin put a little heart shaped ring under that sweater so grandma would remember her. After, and only after, all that comes to my mind do I remember all the times she made me an entire loaf of bread in the bread machine, just for me (my favorite) or made me pot roast and mashed potatoes and noodles (my favoritist before I became vegetarian). I somewhat feel that I was robbed of my good memories of her, because I am forced to remember that day in the funeral home, at the viewing, surrounded by crying family remembers dressed in black and grey. Wanting to throw the roses that were placed beside her coffin in the trash because I knew she hated them. Roses always reminded her of, ironically, funerals. I still have my good memories of her, but I am forced to remember her lifeless in a box before I can get to them.

You don't look sick.

I have heard this statement a few times now. I can't possibly be sick or in pain because I am walking, talking, going to work, taking care of the animals.
That's because I'm 33 and I have learned that the world doesn't stop because I'm having a bad day. I have shit I need to do, pets I need to bathe, programs to plan for at work. Of course I could do what some people do and say 'enough, I quit, I'm done' but I'm not done yet.
Yes, I hurt. Yes, sometimes I want to lay in bed all day and go between sleeping and crying, but I also know it won't do a damn bit of good. I will still hurt, I will still have depression, I will still have anxiety, only now I have even more stuff to do because I slept all day.
I also have people comment that I am very open with my mental illness. That's because I want to tear down the stigma of 'the depressed person that sleeps all day and cries a lot' or 'the anxious person who can't do anything because there is so much to do and AH!'.
I have those days, but mostly it's just a feeling of blah or that I am forgetting about something I need to do.

Forgive me followers, for I have sinned.

It's been almost a month since my last blog post. I have an excuse, but still, it doesn't take much to sit down and type some stuff.

I have always had 'girly' problems (boys, plug your ears, or don't, since you need to learn this shit anyway, unless you're gay...then carry on)
Every since I was first started my period, I have had HORRIBLE cycles. Anemic, no sleep, fatigue, nausea (and what sometimes accompanies it) and pain enough to down a small bear.  I was diagnosed with Endometriosis when i was 16 or 17. For those of you unfamiliar with that term, it is basically the equivalent of having a small family of rabid raccoons living in your lady parts. Pinching, pulling, pain, PAIN.
So over the last six months or so, it has gotten worse. I believe the raccoons have evolved into some sort of rodent demon overlord who will begin to take over the world; or maybe it's because I'm getting older and blah blah blah. After an emergency room visit about a month ago for a ruptured cyst on my ovary ( I think) I have had an ultrasound and MRI. the MRI showed a lesion on my right ovary. So now I am basically on the prowl for a GYN that will smoke the monster out.
AKA a hysterectomy, for those who do not 'get' my brand of sarcasm, though I don't know why, I'm HILARIOUS... and so very modest.

Things you can do in video games that I wish you could do in real life.

Punch/stab/strangle/shoot a really annoying NPC, and then reload to right before you did. You still have the satisfaction, but no ramifications.

Being able to load a previous save before you did/said something stupid.

Being able to reload to a previous save because you know what is going to happen, and you can avoid it if it is unpleasant.

Remove a ladder from the swimming pool and watch the stupid people slowly drown because they can't figure out how to get out of the pool, cause reasons.

One word: Motherload, and then lots of !!!!!!!

If you find a glitch that gives you free money, you can exploit it until they release a patch.

You can have a collection of lunch boxes and no one looks at you funny.

Don't like your house? Tear it down and build a new one in just a few hours.

Christians, Buddhists, and Atheists, OH MY! or; My religious road trip. Part 2

So, graduated the hell hole. Decided to distance myself from everything and everyone from school, save a select few. 

Writer's Note
***The views in this post do not represent how I feel about all religious/christian/ believers. This is just my experience with religion, and why I hate it. Unless you start thumping my head with a bible, we will do just fine. KTHXBAI***

My boyfriend at that time started to get sucked into church, and convinced me to go.

I went for a few times, but decided, again, it wasn't for me. He then threatened to break up with me. Since we had been dating for a couple years, and I had SEVERE body image issues, I started going on a regular basis. 

I started to get sucked in as well. After being an outcast for so long, it felt good to have somewhere people accepted me. Which is why I stayed, and became the type of person I hate.  

 After they removed my brain, let it soak for several hours, they put it back, and I was born again. I got baptized, I would hide witness cards, I preached, and I judged. I became the bible thumper, I became the one who would try to sneak pocket bibles into the pockets of those I thought needed saving, I became the one than condemned the 'sinners' to hell.





I was even trying to preach to my sister (which is a horrible idea because she is several years older than me, cause she has also read the bible and can start spitting right back). 

Thankfully, this was the shortest phase of my life.  Only lasting from 18 until about 23. 
I had met my now husband a year before. I started to see what I had become, and I hated myself for it. I slowing started to fall out of love with religion. 
To steal a line from "The Fault in our Stars" (LOVE THAT BOOK) it happened slowing, and then all at once. I started questioning things, a dangerous thing to do if you want to stay in the religion bubble. Things that had happened to me made me start to lose my faith, why would something so horrible happen to someone who was so devoted?
Then one day I just didn't believe anymore.  That was my real 'born again' day, because it felt amazing. I could be me. 

I became introduced to Buddhism through my Sensei in my martial arts school. 
I loved the altruistic views and non-judgmental feel. I still consider myself atheist, but I definitely follow some of the Buddhist views and ways of life.  
I will trust you until you give me a reason not to, I will love you until you give me a reason not to, and I will respect you until you give me a reason not to. 

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.- Buddha

Christians, Buddhists, and Atheists, OH MY! or; My religious road trip. Part 1.

   They say everyone is born an atheist, since babies have absolutely no concept of religion or faith. They know you'll feed them, hold them when they cry, etc, but they don't have the capability of believing in a invisible being that lives in the clouds. 

So, when I was born, I was an atheist. This is how I got back to my roots. 

I was born in 1983 to not very religious parents. In fact, I don't remember being taught anything about god or Jesus until I went with one of my friends to church when I was around 5ish. After that, I saw religion as something someone else does. The buildings were pretty, the people seemed nice, but the clothes you had to wear were uncomfortable. (I hated dresses)

Fast forward a few years, I think I was about 9, my sister came out as a Wiccan. After reading some of her books and talking to her, I thought it was pretty cool to worship nature (I spent almost all my time outdoors anyway). So I decided to become Wiccan. 

I remember I was at a party with my parents, and one of my moms friends asked what church we went to, or something of the sort, and I responded with 'Oh, I don't believe in god'. 

After we got home my mom took me aside and said "I don't care if you say you believe in magic, but I never want to hear you say you don't believe in God."

I just stood there speechless. I was never even told about religion from what I could remember, we never went to church unless is was with cousins or uncles, so why was this such a big deal? Since she never said anything else after that, I figured it wasn't that important. Still, I began keeping my beliefs to myself. Until high school...or hell, as I like to call it. 

I was invited to a bible study group, and I politely declined. When asked why, I simply said "I'm not christian". Not a very smart thing to do when you grow up in the rural bible thumping corn-hole I did. Everyone immediately started asking what I was,

 "Mormon? Jew? Jehovah's Witness??" because surely, if I didn't identify as Christian, then obviously I was another monotheistic religion. While I'm sure I could have made my life a little easier, and had fewer death threats, if I had just laughed and said i was kidding, Since that wasn't (and still isn't) my style, I told the truth. 

"I'm not Christian, because I don't believe in god, I'm wiccan, which means I find comfort in the earth." Note: This phrase is the quickest way to be immediately shunned by pretty much the whole freaking town. Seriously.

The backlash of this statement included being tripped in the hallways (a couple times down the stairs) being spit on, called some very inventive names, and having others kids trying to sneak bibles into my backpack. Once I had a very, VERY Christian girl befriend me, I thought maybe I could turn everyone around if they saw how nice I was. She wanted to borrow my numerology books, so she could try to understand what I saw in it. "Of course!" I said, and eagerly handed them to her. After a few days she gave them back, and proceeded to completely ignore me. Completely frustrated and confused I went back to my schoolwork. At lunch I decided to read one of my books, since one of my friends wanted me to do a reading for her. Written on almost every page were bible verses, phrases about how if I gave my soul to Jesus I could still be saved, the devil has a tight grip on me and only God can release me from those chains. Now, I had trust issues for awhile after this, because I fully understood why she had tried to be friendly to me. 

I went to the teacher and told her what had happened, who sent me to the principal. His response was "Well, you shouldn't have let her have them." 

I shit you not. He also made a mention of how you could still read the pages, and since it was written in pencil I could just erase it. He completely disregarded the fact that my property had been vandalized. I wish I could say that this was the extent of the discrimination I had to face, but we all know better that that. 

Now, I had never been a straight A student, but I had always gotten A's in English, until Junior year. Apparently my teacher was a devote christian, and that was the ONLY English class I have ever failed. She didn't just give me a C or a D, but an F, saying how I was always late turning in my assignments, back talking her, and turning in horrible work. Sorry, I guess I forgot to mention I had horrible brain damage that made me turn into a drooling, comatose vegetable.** (sarcasm**) The illiterate jocks still got C's, and they really were illiterate. During times when we had to read out loud it sounded like a first grader sounding out three syllable words, but yes, I'm sure I deserved an F. 

Then senior year I apparently regrew all those missing brain cells (and had an open minded teacher), because I got an A. It's a miracle, I really don't know why I was never on the news for overcoming the frightful odds of being brain dead one year to completely cured the next. Somebody get my my award for bravery!!! 

A thought on social media and bullying.

So, after having posted several things here and on Reddit, I understand how easy it is to bully someone behind the anonymity of social media and internet in general. I haven't had any negative comments here, but I have had quite a few on reddit. It's just so easy to tear someone down, berate them, and over criticize their person.

I shared a poem, and was met with 'this sucks', 'this is horrible' etc. I'm sure it wasn't a Pulitzer Prize winning submission by any means, but I think it's good. (File this under the :::Haters gonna hate:::: file)

I have noticed that as I have grown older, I find myself giving less of a 'fuck' than I used to, and didn't really have that many to give in the first place given my high school experience, though that wasn't always the case. In middle school and early high school, I cared very much how people perceived me. I was greatly hurt by the names and other verbal abuse I had to endure almost every day. 

So I pose a question to you, my loyal followers;
How old should a child be before they are allowed to create accounts for social media in any form?


I personally think that you should have to wait until you're 16. I feel before this (and even some after this) most do not have the emotional maturity or internal filter to handle situations that arise. 
Some adults lack this as well, but I digress...
What if you take a super cute selfie, and a few hundred people start commenting on how ugly you are? Most 13 year old girls are not going to be able to take a step back and say "wow, I am happy with myself, I wonder why all these people feel the need to hate." Most likely they will start to believe the names they are called. 


Now I'm sure that some would still be bullied without social media (as I was) but the amount and range would be decreased.  Before social media, someone from another school might hear of your face plant onto the floor during third period, but now there is a potential for someone to take a video, snapchat, post to youtube, etc, which then could be shared all over the planet and go viral within a matter of days. 

SSDD

Have a doctors appointment scheduled. Going to get my thyroid checked (Again) or possibly change/up my antidepressant to help me get out of this funk. The last few weeks have been awful. Insomnia is so, so much worse.
I have been trying to stick to a schedule. Getting up at 9am, which I have been doing except for the weekend. I have been sleeping deeper, but it still takes me awhile to get to sleep, and I wake up a few times during the night.
I know exercise is supposed to help, but getting motivated to workout is practically impossible right now. I have had two cups of coffee and I still want to go take a nap.

Hilarious conversation with an old soul.

A couple weeks back I had a hilarious exchange with a boy who was about 10 or 11. The conversation went as such:

Boy: (sits book on desk) I wanted to let you know there are tears on a lot of these pages. 
Me: Oh, did you want to check it out? I can fix them for you. 
B: No, I just wanted to let you know, I find it so upsetting that children don't respect books. 
M: Me too dear. 

After about 15 minutes he comes back with another book, sits it down, and sighs loudly. 
B: This one has a rather large tear in it, and I would like to check this one out. Would you mind repairing it for me? 
M: Of course! Let me grab the book tape. 
B: I just don't understand children these days. Why don't they respect books like you and I do? It's very upsetting. 
M: (biting my tongue so I don't laugh) Yeah, well, it happens. 
::::toddler screams in back of library:::: 
B: and to think that the library used to be a quiet place. (Shakes his head) guess not anymore. 

I was about to die laughing. I was waiting for the camera crew to jump out and tell me I got
punked!!!

Thought of the day/night/morning- 7/25.....26

Who was the first to think, "Hey, I'm having trouble sleeping, I should count sheep!!!"

No, really, I don't want kids...

I love how when this comes up, the woman (99% of the time it is a woman) finds out I don't have/don't want kids, there must be something wrong with me!

One of my favorite/infuriating conversations happened a few year ago. This was when I was a massage therapist and was working on a new patient. The conversation went like this-

Stupid Person- So tell me about yourself.
Me- Um, I'm 28, been a massage therapist for almost a year...
SP- Are you married?
M- Yes.
SP- Oh, wonderful. How many kids do you have?
M-.... none
SP- Oh, well you must have just gotten married then. 
M- Nope, been married for 5 years now.
SP- Why are you waiting so long?
M- Um, we don't want children.
SP- WHAT?? Of course you do! 
M- Um, no, we don't. 
SP- Well that's sad. 
M- No it's not, and if you want this massage to continue it needs to be done in silence.
Stupid person huffs a few times but eventually lays still. Doesn't tip, never see her again. 



I have had a few men question mine and my husband's decision, but it's mostly women.  

I have also had this convo- 
Me- I don't want kids.
SP- Oh, well you'll change your mind when you're older.
M- I'm 33 (but this has been happening for a few years now)
SP- Well, that will change when you get married.
M- I've been married for 10 years.
SP-............
M-.......
SP- Well, what does your husband think of your selfishness.
M-He doesn't want them either.
SP- Oh.

We have three cats, and two dogs, they are our fur babies. We are happy. I get my baby fix from my friends babies and toddlers, and I love my real and 'adopted' nieces and nephews, but I love sleeping in until 9:30-10:00 on weekdays and 11:00ish on weekends. I can have a couple glasses of wine, I can stay up until 4 am playing video games if I want, I will buy super cute clothes whenevs I want because I have the disposable income. We love our life, and the only thing I would change would be to get more animals!

The Insomniactic Atheist

Insomnia sucks ass. Seriously. So fucking tired. 

So, while my mind is racing with random thoughts of one sheep, two sheep, rainbow sheep, baa baa black sheep, wool is really itchy and hot, and who was the first person to look at a sheep and say 'I'm gonna cut that fluff off that mutha fucka and make a sweater out of it..., 
I will explain why I am an atheist. 

1. Couples, who would make kick ass parents, having to spend thousands in fertility treatments and are sometimes still not able to have children VS Crack whores, various drug addicts, and just horrible fucking people who seem to pop one out every year.                                                                     

     If he/she/it (*) is truly omniscient, would hesheit not already know how the child would end up? Is it hisherit's plan to have children grow up in poverty, abuse/neglect because hesheit gets their jollies off it, instead of a loving, supportive home which is financially capable of raising a child? 

2. Why do children suffer, if they are truly innocent and cannot control their circumstances VS money grubbing assholes who walk all over people and constantly take advantage of anyone and everyone to get ahead in life are doing fan-fucking-tabulous.                                             

     If cruelty and suffering result from a 'fallen world' caused by some original sin of humans, why did your god also punish the animals for it by creating disease, pain and suffering for them too? Are you suggesting that my cat that we had to put down last year because of an aggressive form of cancer somehow sinned and thus deserved to suffer? 

3. What makes your (religious) story of creationism fundamentally different from all the others that exist now, have existed before, and will exist in the future?  

     The virgin birth/ all powerful god/ creating heaven and earth story have existed far longer than christianity, so why is your* god the "right" one, while thousands of other gods and goddesses are simply mythology? Mythology in and of itself was made because people at the time were not able to scientifically explain everyday occurrences, like the beginning of life, formation of the earth and the universe, etc... Sound familiar yet? Why is your chosen religious beliefs not mythology ?

Thought of the day-7/23

I throughly dislike soap with the *added moisturizer*. 
No, I do not want my hands to feel like an oil slick after I have washed them. 
If I feel my hands are in need of moisture, I will apply lotion after washing. Stop forcing your moist-ness on people!!! 

I would like, if I may...

...to take you on a journey through my messed up head.

I'm pretty sure I have most of the alphabet in my psych file. 

I have PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, chronic depression, and OCD tendencies. I'm also pretty sure I have un-diagnosed ADD... I know you're wondering "Why they hell are you telling me all this you crazy type person?"

Because I'm trying to break down the stigma that comes with mental illness. I have bad days (today being one of them, just a general funk & yuck I can't shake) I have good days, and I have a few great days now and then. 

This doesn't make me a bad person, and it has taken me many years to realize that. There are still days where I feel broken, my really bad days, but I know I am still a great friend and listener, a good worker, and a good person. I just have to try to remember that some days.




Some days I'm Joy, some days I am Sadness 


I have insomnia, and no, it's not the 'Oh, I couldn't get to sleep till like 2am, I totally have insomnia' kind-- I seriously want to punch people who say this sometimes-- there are nights I don't sleep till 5, 6, 7 o'clock, then it's restless at that. Every once in a great while, there will be a night where I don't sleep at all. I take melatonin to help me sleep which helps a bit, but I will still wake up tired, and would be able to take a nap after two cups of coffee....mmmmm coffee......

I will end this post with this (since I am going to go get a cup of coffee) if you have questions, please ask. I really want to end the stigma that comes with mental illness. 

Thoughts from an atheist...

 It's just because I'm a nice person

To avoid going insane, this is now my personal mantra...

Yes, your Majesty!

I have an issue with entitled people- 
This is a rant- you have been warned. 
One of my biggest pet peeves is entitled people. The "I want it, so I must have it."
This rears its ugly head when someone tries to get tickets for a program and we are already booked. 


"What do you mean there are no tickets available for the program happening in 2 hours???"
Well, I mean you are an idiot who cannot read, or you think that we were supposed to set aside some for you, OR (and this is my favorite) you somehow think that you are indeed the center of the universe, so how could everyone have gotten there before you. 



If I go to my favorite bagel place and they are out of pumpernickel bagels, I don't scream and berate them because HOW DARE THEY NOT BAKE MORE. I will maybe say 'Oh darn' and walk away, maybe somewhat disappointed, but telling myself that next time I should get here earlier. 

This is why I also have an issue with 'participation' ribbons and trophies. 
You don't win, you don't get prize. 


I understand for little ones (ie <6) that keeping score may not be a good idea yet. Let them learn the game, learn positions, etc. Once they get into school level sports, you keep score, you say who wins. This teaches sportsmanship, how to be a good loser, and also pushes you to do better next time. 
Seriously, kids today are kinda a bunch of pussies. 

Fin-

Exotic Animals I want...

Western Pygmy Possum

Fennec foxes!

SLOTH!!!

Capybara

Raven



Wombat

Shitty day

So after thinking that after two rounds of oral surgery I could finally get braces, I was informed that I would need to get ANOTHER round of oral surgery to take out impacted canines, AND have jaw surgery to realign my jaw.
I'm out. I'm done. Ain't going to happen.
So pissed right now. And the lady that did the consult SERIOUSLY needs a class on how to talk to someone who is having a panic attack. No, 'relax' and 'breathe' doesn't  do shit lady.
:::mic drop::::

Books I MUST Read-

Book haiku

Have a book I missed
that you think I need to read
and add to a list?


Let me know!

Books You MUST Read: Fractured Fairytales

Fractured Fairy tales are like crack to me (especially if it's an Alice in Wonderland story) , so this list will be long and will grow faster than the others. 
Rating System- 1-10 sprinkles of Pixie Dust

The Storyteller's Daughter: A Retelling of the Arabian Nights (Once Upon a Time #1) 

8 Sprinkles

by Cameron Dokey

Fabulous book, in my opinion an often overlooked story.  

Belle: A Retelling of "Beauty and the Beast"-(Once Upon a Time #14)- 7 Sprinkles

by Cameron Dokey

I like most of this series, though this author is the best of them. Four different authors contribute, so the writing styles vary.

The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of "Rumpelstiltskin" (Once Upon a Time #13)- 

6 Sprinkles

by Suzanne Weyn

A super twist of the classic Rumpelstiltskin tale, but I like it. 

A Whole New World (Twisted Tales #1)- 

7 Sprinkles

by Liz Braswell

This series retells a disney version of a fairy tale with one major change. In this retelling of Aladdin, it explores what would happen if Jafar had gotten the lamp at the opening of the Cave of Wonders. I like this one, but the second in this series will not be making this list. (Once Upon a Dream)

Splintered (Splintered #1) 9 sprinkles

by A.G. Howard 

Like I said, Alice in Wonderland re-tellings have a special place in my heart, and this is one of my favorites. 

A girl forced to live between two world, can't tell you too much more or I will give away plot. 

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) 

9 Sprinkles

by Robin LaFevers

Love this trilogy! Follows three main girls who are Daughters of Death himself (ie, Grim Reaper) and their special talents that manifest because of that. 

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom(The League of Princes #1)

 5 sprinkles

by Christopher Healy

Lighthearted books, these are children's books, but still super cute. They follow the 'Prince Charmings' of all the stories who are sick of the princesses being the center of attention. 

Baba Yaga's Assistant- 5 Sprinkles

by Marika McCoola

A juvenile graphic novel, but still worth a read.

Books You MUST Read: Warm Fuzzies Edition

Rating System

1-10 fuzzies

Tell Me Three Things- 6 fuzzies

by Julie Buxbaum

Girl moves, goes to new school, no one like her. Yes I know it sounds a bit cliche but is still worth a read. 6 fuzzies because it ends in fuzzies, but has the typical teenage angst 'Why me' stuff

Anatomy of a Misfit- 6 fuzzies

by Andrea Portes 

Popular girl decides she doesn't want to be popular anymore, rebels, I liked it because it had a strong female character. Did have quite a bit 'like, um, like' in it.

The Girl With All the Gifts- 7 fuzzies

by M.R. Carey 

Weird but good. Set in a zombie apocalypse (stay with me now) where adults are full zombies, but children are high functioning, still able to talk, learn, etc. This story follows Melanie, and young girl who is the smartest in the classes they take to see how well they can learn and retain knowledge. SO SUPER happy they are making this a movie!!!

There is a fair amount of gore and normal zombie stuff, but still 7 fuzzies

Ready Player One- 5 fuzzies

by Ernest Cline

Based around a video game, the ending is what gets the fuzzies

Before Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables 0.5) 9 fuzzies

by Budge Wilson

Prequel to Anne of Green Gables, easily in my top ten books.

Details her life before the Cuthburts, there are sad parts, but the story overall is a fantastic lead in to the Montgomery classics.

Books You MUST Read: Ugly Cry Edition

I will update these as I read

My rating will be how many tissues you will need to read this book. 1 being sad, 10 being call in sick to work for next week.

All the Bright Places- 9 tissues

by Jennifer Niven

Friendship, loss, heart wrenching sadness. Awesome book! 

The Art of Racing in the Rain- 5 Tissues

by Garth Stein 

Told from the prospective of a family dog as his owner marries, has a kid, and the struggles of marriage and illness.

If I Stay (If I Stay #1)- 6 tissues

by Gayle Forman 

The first in this series of two books, this one is sad throughout, but twist ending.

The Fault in Our Stars- 9 Tissues

by John Green

Dear god if you haven't read this what the hell is wrong with you???

The only thing that kept this from being 10 tissues is that the ending is a bit predictable, but still.

A Lesson Before Dying- 7 Tissues

by Ernest J. Gaines

One of my top ten books ever, man is wrongfully convicted of a crime and is sentenced to death