Single and Building my Empire {Blogtember}

Today's Prompt:

Your current relationship status. If dating/married, give us a glimpse of your story! If single, share about this special season.

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Today's prompt is very interesting. :) I'm single. And at this very moment I'm okay with that. For the last years I've struggled with being single. When I was younger I felt like I needed someone to be with to be happy. I've only been in one relationship before, if you call a four-mont-summer-flingish-thing a relationship. During those months, it felt nice to hang out with him, or to get a morning text, but now I realized that I was scared of what I was feeling with this guy, and I hit the panic button. We got busy with school and work, and slowly we stopped seeing each other.

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Lately, I've been thinking why am I still single. Sometimes I get frustrated at the world because I haven't found a guy. But the person I should be frustrated at should be me. I guess I haven't been really trying to meet guys. I rarely go out, and when I do I just want to have fun with my friends, not out on prowl for some guy. lol.

Then I ask well, why aren't you trying? you complain that you are single, but you aren't trying. I don't know why I'm not trying. Maybe its because I'm scared of what could happen if I do meet a guy. Maybe, and I know this for a fact, that I don't know where to meet these guys. And I think one of the main reason why I might not be looking is because I'm focusing on myself. Working on finding myself personally and professionally. 

I think one of the things I love the most about being single, is that I can be selfish and better myself. To accomplish my dreams. Being in a relationship is amazing, wanting a relationship is not bad, but right now, at this particular moment, I'm okay and happy being single. You don't need to be in a relationship to be happy. Maybe being happy with yourself first, can add that much  more happiness to your relationship when that right person comes along.

What is your relationship status?

Mating For Life by Marissa Stapley {A FRC Book Review}

Hello Lovelies, 

It's the weekend, finally!! Woot.. Today I bring you a book review. You already know my love for reading. So in the summer I participated in the Summer Reading Challenge that BookSparksPR hosted, and I read a lot of amazing new releases. I jumped on it again when they announced their Fall Reading Challenge. So here is my first review of the challenge. Want to join, is not too late. Go sign up!!!

This post is sponsored by BookSparksPR in honor of their 

annual Fall Reading Challenge. Check out all the details here.

Title : Mating For Life 

Author: Marissa Stapley

Publisher: Washington Square Press

Release Date: July 1st, 2014

Summary from GoodReads:

With pitch-perfect honesty and heartwarming humor, this captivating debut explores marriage, motherhood, identity, and what it takes to love someone—family members, friends, or spouses—for life.

Former folk singer Helen Sear was a feminist wild child who proudly disdained monogamy, raising three daughters—each by a different father—largely on her own. Now in her sixties, Helen has fallen in love with a traditional man who desperately wants to marry her. And while she fears losing him, she’s equally afraid of abandoning everything she’s ever stood for if she goes through with it.

Meanwhile, Helen’s youngest daughter, Liane, is in the heady early days of a relationship with her soul mate. But he has an ex-wife and two kids, and her new role as a “step-something” doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Ilsa, an artist, has put her bohemian past behind her and is fervently hoping her second marriage will stick. Yet her world feels like it is slowly shrinking, and her painting is suffering as a result—and she realizes she may need to break free again, even if it means disrupting the lives of her two young children. And then there’s Fiona, the eldest sister, who has worked tirelessly to make her world pristine, yet who still doesn’t feel at peace. When she discovers her husband has been harboring a huge secret, Fiona loses her tenuous grip on happiness and is forced to face some truths about herself that she’d rather keep buried.

Interweaving the alternating perspectives of Helen, her daughters, and the women surrounding them, “each new chapter brings a wise and tender look at single life, dating rituals, and marital unease” (New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Close). In this “absolute feat of storytelling” (bestselling author Grace O'Connell), Marissa Stapley celebrates the many roles modern women play, and shows that even though happy endings aren’t one-size-fits-all, some loves really can last for life

Quotes:

"Envious gazes... are driven by envious thoughts and have the potential to do actual physical damage. The evil eye is not a black-magic-related curse...but rather the embodiment of an envious glare - an instant curse that anyone is capable of, even without intent" - pg. 11

"She stayed because she never gave up home. She tried to convince herself it didn't matter to her that he was never going to be able to love her back because he was the kind of man who was a little frozen on the inside."

"We can't choose who we love... I still would have wanted to love him, even if I had known there was no curing him" - pg. 93

My Take:

This book takes us through the lives of three sisters, and their mother, and the women that surround them. Their stories show how they are struggling to find the happiness in their lives. Each story is separate but somehow they are all intertwined with each other; with finding love and happiness being the theme of each of these women's lives.

I loved how the author wrote the chapters in this novel. Each chapter was written in the perspective of a different character, it was like seeing the same moment pass, but looking at it through a different perspective. The book started with Liane's solitary trip to the cottage, struggling with writing her college thesis and thinking about her now fiancee. Then we meet with her sisters, Fiona and Ilsa who at a summer party hosted by Fiona, they get into an argument which tampers with their annual cottage trip. Then during the trip to the cottage we meet Helen, the mother of Liane, Fiona and Ilsa, who as a love-child, feminist woman, is struggling to settle with the man is in love with. We also meet other women who are struggling with their own relationships and happiness, and that somehow their lives get intertwine with each other.

I also love the theme of "mating" that goes along with the title. The author introduces each chapter by writing a short story of the mating life of a different animal, and she weaves in the animal into the women's story. It is awesome.

I really enjoyed the book. I couldn't put it down. It got me hooked. I recommend it.

Find my other reviews here: Book Thoughts

Tradition... {Blogtember}

Today's Prompt:

Tell us about a favorite tradition. It could be a family tradition or from a holiday, university, you-name-it. What makes it so special?

I love this time of year. Fall is just around the corner. The holidays are that much closer. I can already imagine the yummy food, the amazing laughs with the family. I love it. 

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Besides Christmas, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of all time. 

I think its one of my favorite days of the year because in the last couple of years we have turned it into a tradition-filled holiday. We celebrate Thanksgiving with my dad's family, he has 9 siblings, and we all get together at my house. You can just imagine, its a huge celebration. 

Our tradition starts off with getting the menu down. Since it is a whole lot of us, each family is in charge of making something, the turkeys (yes we need 2), the hams (yes 2), mash potatoes, mac an cheese, side dishes, dessert. It is potluck. 

Yes each family cooks in their own home, but I feel that is a tradition of its own. My mom has passed down the baked mac and cheese recipe to me, so I'm now in charge of making that while my mom makes the turkey or the chicken. 

Once we have all gathered for dinner. We all get around in a big circle, and we all say something that we are thankful for or one of my aunts leads us in a prayer to give thanks. And then we dig in together. I love it. 

What is your favorite tradition?

Personality Test 2.0 {Blogtember}

Gaahh this is crazy. Before I go on to explain how accurate some of these characteristics are, I have to say, I took this same test last year, also as a part of a Blogtember challenge. And you know what I got last year: ISFJ. You know what I got now: ISFJ. ha that's crazy. Was kind of skeptical the first time I took it, but was amazed at how accurate the results were, and now with this second test I'm even more amazed that I got the same results. heheh.  

Today's Prompt:

Let's talk personality types. Introverted? Extroverted? Unsure-troverted? ;) If you know your Myers-Briggs type, tell us about it! If not, you can take this similar test and share your results.

Introversion (I): ISFJs are introverted and tend to be quiet and reserved.
Sensing (S): ISFJs prefers concrete information rather than abstract theories.
Feeling (F): ISFJs place a greater emphasis on personal considerations rather than objective information
Judging (J): ISFJs are planners and tend to be very well-organized. Found here.

. While doing some research on ISFJ, here, these are some of the facts that I can relate to:

We like working in small groups. yes, there is that introvert in me

Unlikely to embrace new ideas. somewhat true, but I must always try something new.

Meticulous and perfectionist. must agree

But a procrastinator. always. eeek

Home is where the heart is. family and friends/loved ones are one of the things I care most about.

Remembers details about people lives and habits. heheh. stalker much, lol.. promise I'm not.

Hates confrontation

Unable to express their emotions. yup. 

Loyal, hard working, patient and reliable. I would like to think that I am those. 

Shy and sensitive. I've always been shy since I was younger, and yes I must admit I am sensitive. 

Tend to overload themselves. 

What did your test say about you? Did you agree??

Books Worth Staying Up All Night With.. {Blogtember}

Is is Sunday already? Where did the weekend go!! Well I hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was definitely too short. :)

Today's Prompt: 
What's on your current reading list? Or what have you read that you recommend?

I usually am not the person who reads multiple books at the same time. But right now I am.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. - Summary from Goodreads

I can't even begin to describe how good this book is. It will make you laugh, it will make you smile, it will make you realize how brave and strong people who are fighting for their lives like these two kids are, are. And this book will definitely make you cry. I'm towards the end of the book, and I have cried a lot.
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Mating for Life by Marissa Stapley
With pitch-perfect honesty and heartwarming humor, this captivating debut explores marriage, motherhood, identity, and what it takes to love someone—family members, friends, or spouses—for life.
Former folk singer Helen Sear was a feminist wild child who proudly disdained monogamy, raising three daughters—each by a different father—largely on her own.
Interweaving the alternating perspectives of Helen, her daughters, and the women surrounding them, “each new chapter brings a wise and tender look at single life, dating rituals, and marital unease” (New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Close). In this “absolute feat of storytelling” (bestselling author Grace O'Connell), Marissa Stapley celebrates the many roles modern women play, and shows that even though happy endings aren’t one-size-fits-all, some loves really can last for life. - Summary from Goodreads

What are you reading??