12 months, 12 new reads.

So I am not one to give myself a yearly to-do list. Not usually setting resolutions for myself.

BUT, I saw a book challenge to read 12 books in the 12 months && thought "I used to love reading"

We've made it through January && I have officially already read 4 books, Don't ask me how with two crazy toddlers running around grunting && overall just screaming for no reason.

I've also taken up crocheting which is something I've always wanted to learn but never got around to it.

So here's my lineup (in no order) :

1) The Girl who Wasn't There by Vincent Zandri

2) Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

3) Home Body by Rupi Kaur

4) Fuckface and Other Stories by Leah Hampton

5) Wise as fuck by Gary John Bishop

6) Some Kind of Animal by Maria Romasco-Moore

7) Learn to Sleep well by Chris Idzikowski

8) Don't Move by James Murray & Darren Wearmouth

9) The Shadows by Alex North

10) Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

11) Unfuck Yourself by Gary John Bishop

12) Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

Another fun announcement is that I have a title && a few chapters WRITTEN!!!

No you read that correctly!, That's right y'all I'm starting to write a book!!,

It will be a mom's self help book that I hope helps people out. I'm so excited for this guys.

Also If you're a mama who needs an outlet, I highly suggest getting into reading. Only a little bit a day can help you escape for a bit && Lets face it we all need a break.

Sorry Mrs. Jackson

I am fo real!!!, I normally post every week but I dropped the ball a few times here.

There is a reasonable explanation.

We had to put down another childhood dog just a week after putting down Briggs we had to put down our big boy Jax. I have nothing but the fondest memories with these two saints. With that being said I just needed a little more time to process losing two of our babies so closely together. But I am back! && I believe that the best way for me to move from this is by diving back into my studies && writing it out on my blog.

Thank you guys for sticking with me, For those of you that have been around since the beginning you're very used to my apologies for not posting weekly && Do not judge me too hard for it. I really appreciate y'all.

Starting the New Year off, on the wrong foot.

We all know that 2020 was a complete disaster for most people && For some reason everyone was all excited that the 2021 New Year would bring good tidings && Covid 19 would somehow vanish from the face of the Earth && Seize to exist as we knew it. That was really hopeful for us, Proud of us for being optimistic after the year we had.

BUT, I am still optimistic for this year!, I know what you're thinking " The title doesn't really suggest that Chelsea" You're right it doesn't, Here's what I have already endured the first week of 2021.

Before the year started I helped my mom bring the dogs to the vet the day before my "Kid free" Trip to placid. It was supposed to be a routine visit but it very much ended differently then either my mother or I had expected. We brought in two of her gorgeous Saints, Briggs has been one of my buddies for a long time, I had held him immediately && knew he was the one coming home with us when we got him 8 years ago, && Sweet Enzo just needed some shots while Briggs had a tooth infection (So we thought). Briggs ended up having a very aggressive form of Cancer in his mouth, We took him home && made him comfortable. Everything went on my mom took the kiddos so My husband && I could spend our first "Adult" New year together on a vacation having fun.

We rang in the New year in our hotel my husband stayed awake, While I was asleep by 10. We enjoyed the next day playing billiards, Eating out, Getting things for my collection, bowling, && Looking at real-estate in the area. My mother called to say she couldn't deal with the kids anymore because she needed to spend her time on Briggs, Right then I knew we needed to come home but my husband was upset because we also needed this time together. I made the decision to reach out to friends && make arrangements for the kids. I had salvaged our vacation, up until I didn't. My mother told me Briggs would have to be put down on Saturday, It didn't sit well with me trying to have a good time while my childhood dog wasn't && the fact that I had already missed saying goodbye to one dog, I certainly would not miss it this time. We went home, My husband drove through an awful snow storm it took about four hours. That morning I woke up ran to my mom's house && held my dog. I got home before my husband had woke. When he did he just held me for hours.

So a review of this year continues:

We left vacation because it wasn't working out.

We had to put down my childhood dog.

I got a 3.83 GPA for the fall semester.

It only got my weighted GPA to a 2.07.

Found out I need another placement test, Which I suck at.

I reconnected with my love of books by a 12 books in 12 months challenge.

(Already got 3 books read)

I'm learning how to crochet.

I realized my son will start school this year.

So when I wrote this title is wasn't implying that I had given up on the year, Just that I have to balance back out, Switch my shoes to the right feet, Tie the laces tight, && Keep walking.

If you're like the older version of me && something didn't go your way already, Don't throw your year into a negative path. Talk about it write it down. Don't make expectations for yourself or "New years resolutions" Don't put pressure on them. Keep your head high you're already a better version of you for not letting set back get in your way.