What I'm Reading 2018

Hello again (or hello for the first time!), and Happy New Year!!

I always look forward to this time of year for a few different reasons.  First and foremost, January 1st means I can stop stressing about the holidays and focus on moving forward and starting the new year off right.  Secondly, I get to start my 2018 reading challenge!

If you've even glanced at the posts on this blog, you probably already know that I'm a huge bookworm and reading is such an important aspect of my life.  Because I teach English and Language Arts at a Title 1 school, it's crucial for me to not only genuinely have a passion for reading, but to show my kiddos that reading can change your life (super cliche, I know...).

All that to say, I take my reading challenges seriously, and I always document my progress throughout the year.  Whenever I finish and review a book, I post that review on here and my Goodreads; I also update this page as a sort of checklist to keep myself on track.

I'm trying to keep this short, but there's always so much to say!  Ok, here's a few things you need to know if you haven't kept up with my challenges in the past:

• I link each review in this post, so just click on the title if you'd like to know my thoughts about the book.
• I don't usually re-read anything, but if I do, I'll mark it with an asterisks (*).
• Audiobooks are noted. 
• Sometimes I cheat a little bit, sorry not sorry.

All jokes aside, I really do enjoy setting these reading goals for myself each year.  I want to broaden my horizons this year and read more books outside of my typical go-to genres.  Recently, I've been reaching for a lot of young adult fantasies (Sarah J. Maas was huge for me in 2017) and historical fiction (the Outlander series, in particular), so I'm looking to read more widely this time around.  

One last thing: I've never actually completed a themed challenge, but I have completed my reading goal each year for the past 5 years!  We can't break the streak now!!  I just wanted to push myself a little bit further so I can become a more well-read person.

I've done enough talking (typing??), so let's just move straight on into the reading challenge!  Oh, and if you want to check out my reading challenges from previous years, I have everything linked for you below :)

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2018 Reading Challenge Goal: 30 books (edit- 40 as of 10/5/18) I found this challenge on Modern Mrs. Darcy's site, and it looked like something I could accomplish without overwhelming myself.  She also has some wonderful tips on how to get more out of your reading life, if you're interested! * = re-read 1. A classic you've been meaning to read
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (audiobook)
2. A book recommended by someone with great taste
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas* (One of my best friends, Rose, recommended this book to me years ago!)
3. A book in translation
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi 
4. A book nominated for an award in 2018
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Choice 2018 nominee)
5. A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection
6. A book you can read in a day
The Selection by Kiera Cass (audiobook)- it took me several days to actually listen to this book because I have a career, but it was only 7 1/2 hours in total
7. A book with more than 500 pages
The Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
8. A book by a favorite author A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas*
9. A book recommended by a librarian or indie bookseller  Circe by Madeline Miller (recommended by Jean, aka Bookishthoughts on YouTube and Goodreads)
10. A banned book
The One and Only Ivan by Kathrine Applegate (I’m sure this book is banned in several school districts for a variety of reasons, but it’s an incredible children’s book!) 
11. A memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction


12. A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Other Books

• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
• The Elite by Kiera Cass (audiobook)
• The One by Kiera Cass (audiobook)
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
• Closer Reading by Nancy Boyles
• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
• Warcross by Marie Lu
• Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
• Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
• Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
• Thor, God of Thunder Vol. 1: The God Butcher by Jason Aaron
• Thor, God of Thunder Vol. 2: Godbomb by Jason Aaron
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer*
• A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas*
• The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 2 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 3 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 4 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 5 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 6 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 7 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 8 by Naoko Takeuchi 
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas*
• Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas*
• Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas*
• Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas*

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If you're interested, here are my other "What I'm Reading" posts:

• What I'm Reading 2017
• What I'm Reading 2016
• What I'm Reading 2015
• What I'm Reading 2014
• What I'm Reading 2013

As always, thank you for taking some time out of your day to check out my blog!  Happy reading!!
Keri <3

Campus VoxBox Reviews

Hello!

This is the follow up post to my Campus VoxBox Unboxing I posted a few weeks ago.  Honestly, I was really happy with this box as a whole!  There were some amazing products and I can see myself purchasing some of the items; I love the sunless tanner, the face scrub, and the lip cube.  I've reviewed each of the products below.  Since the reviews are pretty short, I just decided to combine them into one post instead of creating a bunch of different blogs.  Makes things a bit easier for everyone, right?

I included these links in my last post, but if you want to read more about the VoxBoxes I've received in the past, here ya go: 

• Mary Kay VoxBox
• Varsity VoxBox
• Uni VoxBox
• Jolly VoxBox
• Campus VoxBox Unboxing

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DISCLAIMER: I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.com.  This is not a sponsored post, and all opinions are my own.

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JERGENS Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse ($12.99)

Like I said in my unboxing blog, I was so afraid that this tanner would make my skin look way too orange.  I was sent the shade "Deep Bronze," so I wasn't sure how natural it would end up looking on my pale skin.  I used it on my legs a few times and loved the results!!  The fact that this product is a mousse makes it so easy to use (it's basically fool-proof; trust me).  It's not streaky at all.  I used my bare hands to apply this, but it was fairly easy to remove with some warm water and soap.  I would recommend using a mitt or gloves, though.  This dries quickly so you do have to work kind of fast; however, I love that you can put this on right before you go somewhere and don't have to worry about it transferring onto you clothes.  I would definitely purchase this product.  It's a bit on the pricey side, but I would probably only use it for special occasions (weddings, date night, whatever).

St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub ($3.99 - $4.79)

I've been loving this product recently!  My combo skin usually isn't too horrible in the summer, but I can feel some build up starting to happen as the days get warmer.  Sweat, makeup, all that good stuff.  I use this scrub once or twice a week depending on how my skin looks; it leaves my skin feeling nice and clean without over-drying it.  My skin isn't super sensitive, but I have to be careful about how often I use exfoliators.  This one is so perfect for my skin, and I will definitely be purchasing this as soon as  I run out of my current bottle.

L'OREAL PARIS Advanced Straight System (Shampoo/ Conditioner: $4.99 each, Treatments: $6.99)

I have to admit- this product really didn't do a whole lot for me...  I have fairly straight hair, but it does have a slight wave to it.  After using this system, my hair was straighter than it normally is.  However, after a day in the Arkansas rain/ humidity it didn't stay that way.  I'm not sure if I would purchase this system, mostly because I use Redken shampoo and conditioner on my hair.  It's color-treated, so I try to stay away from drugstore hair products.  This isn't a bad product, it just didn't do anything overly special for me.

Softlips Cube ($3.49)

I'm pretty sure this is my new favorite drugstore lip balm!  It's so moisturizing, but doesn't leave a greasy film on your lips.  I love the taste and the scent (it's really fruity), and the packaging is so freaking adorable! I have to say, this doesn't last a long time on the lips; maybe 2 to 3 hours tops.  But I'm totally fine with reapplying it throughout the day.  I usually put this on my lips when I'm doing my makeup so I can have super soft lips (haha) before applying lip liner/ lipstick.  These are popping up all over my local Walmart, so I'm pretty sure I'll end up buying some of the other scents just to try them out.  I'm interested in the Vanilla Bean one!

Sour Punch Rainbow Straws ($1.29 - $1.59)

I may or may not have thrown these into my purse when I went to see Age of Ultron a few weeks ago.  And they were awesome!  I've had these sour straws before, so there really wasn't much mystery here.  The strawberry are still my favorite, but the new lemon straws were a close second.  I'm not usually a huge fan of blue raspberry, but I love these for some reason.  I would definitely buy these and sneak them into the theater haha

Sour Punch Punchies ($0.89 - $1.29)

I have to be honest- I absolutely love the Strawberry candies!  The rest of them were not all that wonderful.  The Lemon candies weren't bad.  I don't know, I guess I'm just not a huge fan of sour candies if they aren't strawberry flavored.  I don't think I would purchase these, but I'm glad I got a sample of them in my box.  Unless they sold the strawberry ones on their own.  Then I would probably buy a few bags.

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You're awesome for making it all the way through that ridiculously long post!  Thank you :)

I'll talk to you again very soon.

Keri <3

A to Z Bookish Survey- Round 2

Hi :)

So about a year ago I found the A to Z Bookish Survey on tumblr.  I don't know why, but I decided I wanted to answer the questions again and see how my answers have changed over the past year.  If you interested, here's a link to the first time I took this survey.  Some of my answers will probably end up being the same, but whatever.  I'm bored and need to take a little break from the project I'm working on for class.

A. Author you've read the most books from: Either JK Rowling (if you're counting number of actual books) or George R. R. Martin (if you're counting number of pages)

B. Best sequel ever: This is a tough one!  I think Insurgent by Veronica Roth is probably my favorite sequel of all time.  I really like the way she writes, and there were some pretty unexpected plot twists thrown in that completely threw me.

C. Currently reading: I'm reading The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars for a class project, but I'm also reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling for pleasure.

D. Drink of choice while reading: Mocha frappechinos from Starbucks.  Or water.

E. E-reader or physical book: I have a nook, but I always find myself reaching for physical books.  I love being surrounded by books, so I probably won't ever completely switch over to an e-reader.  Even when I travel, I still bring physical books with me (they weigh down my carry-on, but it's totally worth it).

F. Fictional character you probably would have dated in high school: Gale from the Hunger Games series or Four from the Divergent series.

G. Glad you gave this book a chance: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.  I normally don't read Jodi Picoult's work (she's a wonderful author, I just don't have a ton of interest in what she writes about), but I ended up really enjoying this book.

H. Hidden gem book: The Way I See It by Temple Grandin is so eye-opening and absolutely amazing!  I had to read it for a special education class, but I definitely recommend it to anyone who works with special needs children or has a friend or family member with special needs.  Or, if you're just interested in learning about ASD, check this book out.

I. Important moment in your reading life: I'm pretty sure this is my same answer from last time I filled out this survey, but Goodreads has a had a huge impact on my reading life!  I love that it recommends books based on things you've already read, and it keeps everything nice and organized.  You can also set a reading goal for the year, and it keeps track of your progress; I've found that I've read a lot more thanks to the reading challenge feature.

J. Just finished: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (I read it for my project, but I like it; it's perfect for 4th or 5th graders)

K. Kind of books you won't read: I'll give most books a chance, but I just can't bring myself to read romance novels.  They're just not my thing.

L. Longest book you've read: A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

M. Major book hangover because of: After I finished The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, I don't think I read another book for a good week or so.  I was an emotional wreck. 

N. Number of bookcases you own: 2, but I'm definitely buying another as soon as I move into a bigger apartment.

O. One book you have read multiple times: The Harry Potter series.  I'm pretty sure I end up reading at least one of the books each year around the holidays (when school's out).

P. Preferred place to read: I have an over-sized white leather chair that used to belong to my grandpa; it is literally the most comfortable chair ever!  I can curl up with a blanket and read for hours.

Q. Quote that inspires you/ gives you all the feels from a book you've read: I'm gonna be super cliche here for a minute: "Always."  And "Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not." (Tyrion Lannister from A Game of Thrones).  I really, really, really want a tattoo of the Tyrion quote.

R. Reading regret: I know I've said this before, but I kind of regret reading the Twilight series.  I'm glad I read the whole series, simply because I can form my own (informed) opinion about the series, but I really don't like anything about the books.

S. Series you started and need to finish (all the books are out in the series): The House of Night series.  They're not my favorite books, but I feel like I need to finish the series.

T. Three of your all-time favorite books: Slaughterhouse- Five by Kurt Vonnegut, A Feast of Crows by George R. R. Martin, and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (in no particular order) 

U. Unapologetic fangirl for: .A Song of Ice and Fire series.  I can (and will) fangirl about the book and TV series all day long.  Sorry I'm not even the least bit sorry.

PS: if you want to see how out of control my GoT obsession is, check out this post.

V. Very excited for this release more than all others: Death Punch'd by Jeremy Spencer (the drummer from 5 Finger Death Punch).  Technically, it was released awhile ago, but I just ordered the book yesterday because I had a coupon for Black Friday.  I love 5FDP, so I'm really excited to read his story (especially since he's a recovering addict).  Autobiographies are my thing- I wish all my favorite band members would write a book about their lives.  I guess I'm kind of a stalker when it comes to my favorite bands.

W. Worst bookish habit: I like to read in the bath, but I'm really clumsy.  My bad luck + books + water = not good...  I haven't dropped a book in the water for awhile now, but I'm sure it'll happen again sooner or later.

X. X marks the spot: start at the top of your shelf and pick the 27th book: I'm not at my apartment right now, but the 27th book on my Goodreads shelf is King Lear by Shakespeare.

Y. Your latest book purchase: A World of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin and Death Punch'd by Jeremy Spencer (I bought them both since they were on sale for Black Friday).

Z. Zzz-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late): Chrono Crusade Vol. 4 by Daisuke Moriyama.  It's a graphic novel, and I've read it before, but I can't seem to put it down!  If you're in to manga, you should definitely check this series out.


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Thanks for putting up with my craziness :)  I love you all!
Happy holidays (it's a little early, but whatever)!

Keri <3

Depression, Suicide, and Recovery

Hi everyone.

As you can tell from the title, today's topic is much more serious than most of my posts. In light of recent events, I feel like I'm ready to reflect on my experiences with depression and suicidal thoughts. Words cannot describe how tragic these types of situations can be- I wouldn't wish it on anyone. No one deserves to feel so hopeless and alone. 

I read an article today entitled "There's Nothing Selfish About Suicide" by Katie Hurley of the Huffington Post. That article, along with the news of Robin Williams' passing pushed me to write this post. This is going to be a long one. 

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I am a survivor of depression and suicidal thoughts. Although I never attempted to take my life, I did contemplate the possibility of leaving this world. I was in such a dark place and I felt like no one would understand what I was going through. On top of that, I thought talking about what I was going through would be a burden on my family. My mom struggles with anxiety and depression- the last thing I wanted to do was make things worse for her. 

I kept everything bottled up inside. I stopped going out. I refused to communicate with some of my closest friends. I had issues controlling my anger. I lost interest in everything I loved (music, especially). I self-harmed multiple times. I thought about taking my life just to end all the pain. Looking back on it now, I didn't know these kinda of thoughts/ feelings weren't normal. I thought everyone experienced something similar to what I was going through. I carried on with my life (what was left of my life) and struggled silently day after day. 

My depression hit rock bottom in May 2013. Still to this day, I'm not sure why it was so bad at this time. I had so many things to be happy about- we had a huge family reunion in Disney World that month, my brother just graduated from high school, and I was going into my junior year of college with a 4.0 GPA. So why wasn't I happy? I knew my family loved me, but for some reason my brain made me feel differently. I felt like no one cared; no one saw the cuts on my wrists, no one noticed that I was locking myself in my room for most of the day. Looking back, I realize that I hid everything from my family. Of course they didn't notice anything different- I was acting like myself, for the most part. 

A few months later (around September, I think), I got into a fight with my mom. Nothing physical, just sending angry emails back and forth. I couldn't tell you what we were fighting about. All I remember is writing is something along the lines of "I've been dealing with depression and sucidal thoughts and no one seems to care." Mom and Dad decided that it would be best for me to live at home for the rest of the semester and seek professional help. I agreed to live at home but refused to talk to anyone. Eventually, I gave up and went to my university's counseling center. In the initial assessment and therapy session, Kathrine (who is now my group therapist) told me I was experiencing pretty severe depression, anxiety, and passive suicidal thoughts. We discussed several options, including group therapy or private sessions through the school or another office. I decided to start group therapy that March. 

Through group therapy, I was able to talk about my feelings and emotions without fear of judgement. More importantly, I realized that I wasn't alone. The majority of the girls in my group also dealt with some form of depression or anxiety. Although I don't talk to any of the members outside of group meetings, I feel a strong connection to each and every one of them. 

This is a bit of a tangent, but I feel like it's worth mentioning. I know this sounds cliche, but music literally saved my life. After a few months of self-harm, I realized  that it wasn't helping anything; cutting only made me feel guilty and ashamed. Whenever I got to the point where I wanted to hurt myself, I put my headphones on and blasted Fall Out Boy until I felt better. Sometimes I cried, sometimes I just sat still for hours until my desire to cut faded. The feeling never actually went away- it was always in the back of my mind- but music helped me overcome it. To this day, I truly feel that Fall Out Boy's music saved me life (I know, I'm getting super cheesy, but I'm just telling it like it is).  

Recovery is an ongoing process that may never actually end. I understand this, and I am ok with it. It's been 1 year and 3 months since I self-harmed or contemplated suicide. Regardless, it's still a difficult subject for me to talk about. I'm getting to be more open about it, though. Group therapy taught me that it's ok to trust and open up to people. I feel comfortable telling my mom anything, especially since I know she will always be there for me and will love me even when I don't love myself. Recently, I've talked to my aunt, who had a similar experience to my own. 

I'm not to the point where I can talk about this to people outside of my family, but through this blog I hope to get there soon. This is the first time I've written everything done, and it feels incredibly liberating. I'll admit, I'm still not 100% comfortable with posting this, but I feel like I need to get it out there. 

If someone you know is dealing with depression or suicidal thoughts, remember: communication can be life-saving. I know it's hard. It's taken me over a year of recovery to be able to talk about everything I've been through. Don't push to hard, but make sure the person knows you care about them. In my case, I just wanted someone to talk to me, but I didn't want to initiate the conversation. 

If you're dealing with these thoughts and feelings, remember that you're not alone. Find an outlet for your frustration and anger. Listen to music, play an instrument, color, do a puzzle- do something positive to lift your spirits. It may be extremely difficult, but try to seek professional help. It really does make a world of difference to be able to talk about your feelings in a safe, nonjudgmental place. Also, I'm always here if you need or want to talk. I'm obviously not a professional, but I can try my best to help you through this tough time. 

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Here are two of my favorite quotes from two of my favorite people: 

"Put one foot in front of the other. Keep marching forward even when doubt, fear, and failure all come knocking at your door." Jared Leto

"When you have a bad day- a really bad day- try to treat the world better than it treated you." Patrick Stump

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I love you for making it all the way to the end of this massive post! Thank you for reading, and I hope to talk to all of you again soon.

I love each and every one of you!

Keri <3

Life Update, GoodReads Challenge, and Books I'm Reading

Hey guys!

I have a a few updates for you all today :) I know I haven't blogged in awhile (I'm really sorry...)- school has been really hectic lately, and I haven't had a ton of free time. I feel like this semester has been nonstop since it started. Oh well, at least Spring Break is right around the corner!

Anyways, let's get to the point of this post. I just recently found a job!! I'm currently a pet sitter/ dog walker with That Crazy Dog Lady! This job is absolutely perfect for me- the hours are super flexible, I get to hang out with dogs, and I get some (much needed) exercise/ fresh air. Plus, having some extra spending money is always nice :) My boss also asked me to start a company blog, which I am so excited about! I'll make a separate blog post with the URL and info about that blog as soon as it's up and running.  

Ok, switching gears again. If you've been following my blog for a little while, you'll know that I'm a huge bookworm. Last year, I kept a list of all the books I read throughout the year, and I thought I'd start a list for 2014. 

I have a GoodReads account so that I can keep track of all my book-related stuff (look up Keri Tichenor if you want to friend me on GR!). They just added a yearly challenge to the website- basically, you pick the number of books you want to read within the year, and GoodReads keeps track of your progress. I've set my goal at 35; hopefully I'll reach my goal!! 

If you are interested in what I'm reading, check out my very next post :)

Thanks for reading!! Hope to talk to all of you soon!

Keri <3

Syria

Hi, again.

Before I even get started let me just say this: I am not going to state my opinion on the situation in Syria. I don't want to offend or upset anyone, and I really don't want to start a debate/ argument over something that I cannot change. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I don't wish to state mine at this point in time. 

That being said, I came across this interesting article on Facebook. My high school World History teacher shared it on her wall, and asked everyone to take a few minutes to read it. The article, a statement from Vladimir Putin, is addressed to the American people. He goes into a little bit of detail about the situation in Syria, but he mainly focuses on what plan of action would most effectively end the violence in the country. I'll let you read it for yourself before I say anything else. 



Click the image above to read the article

This has to be the most interesting article I've read concerning the chemical warfare being used in Syria.  Again, without saying too much, this quote really struck a chord with me: "A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism."  However you feel about the current events taking place in Syria, I urge you to read the article.  Whether you agree or disagree with him, Putin gives us a new perspective on the incident and offers the world a solution to the problem.

Please don't think I'm pushing my political view on you in any way.  After reading this article, I felt enlightened on the situation.  If you haven't watched President Obama's address to the nation (from 9/12/2013), you can watch a video of that here.  It's a bit long, but, again, I think it's worth watching. 

Hope this helps you become more informed on current world events.  Thanks for reading, and I hope to talk to you guys again soon :)

Keri <3

Remembering 9-11

Hi guys!

Today's post is going to be very different from all of my other posts thus far. I want to discuss the events that took place on 9-11-2001. 

As an American, it's hard to think about those events without feeling an array of emotions- anger, sadness, a sense of loss, depression, fear. I cried when I woke up this morning, not for my own loss, but for the loss and suffering millions of people throughout the US. We, as a country, suffered tremendously after the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. However, I also feel a sense of pride: the men and women on United 93 made their country so proud. They were the heroes of 9-11. 

I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news. My third grade class was in the middle of our weekly spelling quiz before my teacher got a phone call. He immediately turned on the television, and we watched the events unfold. The first tower had already been hit, and we watched, in fear, as the next plane crashed into second tower. All the students in the school were asked to wait in the cafeteria until our parents could pick us up; my mom was at the school in a matter of minutes, and took my brother and I home.

I remember being confused and terrified. Being so young, I wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but I knew something was very wrong. I saw my dad sitting on the couch when I got home, and asked him what had happened. Him and my mom explained everything to my brother and I, but it was still difficult to understand the magnitude of what had happened in New York. My mom called my aunt (who lived in NYC and worked less than 5 blocks away from the Twin Towers), to make sure she was ok. Her and her family were alright, but extremely shaken and in a state of utter shock. Who would do this? And why? I couldn't comprehend it at the time. 

My family kept the news on for the rest of the day. We later found out another plane had crashed into the Pentagon, and another, headed for the White House, was grounded in a field in Pennsylvania. I don't remember much else, but what I do remember is vivid and will be etched in my memory forever. 

About a month before the attacks, we had flown to New York for my aunt's wedding. We had seen the Twin Towers from a distance. A year and some months after 9-11, my mom and I visited NYC for my birthday. Ground Zero, the site where the towers had once stood, was almost completely cleared of rubble and debris. We drove by a chain link fence where children and adults had pinned thank you cards to it. Some were tributes to family member and friends, while others were from one stranger to another. It was at this point I realized that these attacks, no matter how traumatic, had brought the country together. I remember hearing the song "I Am Proud To Be An American" on almost every street corner. The song still brings me to tears because of this memory. 

We grew strong once again, even though the War on Terror raged in the Middle East. I was never in support of the war, but I understand why it had to happen. We couldn't stand by and let another country terrorize the American people; we had to act. 

I still can't believe 12 years have passed since that day. It's hard for me to believe, even now, that the towers are gone and so many lives were lost in a matter of hours. 9-11-2001, the day that will live in infamy forevermore. 

Take some time- even if it's only a few minutes- to tell your friends and family that you love them. Make an effort to help the men and women that serve this great country. Donate blood, money, time, or whatever you can. Make a difference in someone's life. 

"United we stand, divided we fall." 

Keri <3

Random Pictures of the Animals

Hey there!

So, we basically have a zoo at our house. We have 6 dogs (including 1 foster), 2 guinea pigs, and a bearded dragon. Because we have so many animals, I tend to take a ton of picture while I'm at my parents house. I found some pictures that I thought were really cute/ interesting, and decided to share them on here :) 

Enjoy!

Charlee helps me crochet by laying on the piece I'm working on

Bo loves his Kong toy! Sometimes, he sits at the top of the stairs and throws the toy down the staircase (silly puppy!) 

Darcy likes to stare at the guinea pig cage 

Bo and Charlee are buddies now :)

I hope you liked these random pictures of some of our pets! Check back soon for more random goodness haha

Keri <3

New Foster Dog

Hello!!

My family and I recently took in another foster dog. He's only staying with us for two weeks, but it already feels like he's a member of the family :) We definitely will miss him when he's gone.

Bo (or BoBo as we call him) is a transport dog traveling from Little Rock, AR to Colorado. He was adopted out of the Little Rock Animal Shelter, but needed to be quarantined for 2 weeks before he could travel between states. Basically, he needs a health certificate to travel from state to state, and to obtain that, he needs to be out of a shelter and in a joke for at least 14 days. Since he was so close to us, we picked him up from the shelter. He's getting along really well with all of our dogs, and is such a good boy! He's a German Shepard lab mix and is between 6 months to a year old (although we think he's closer to 6 months). Bo is definitely a lot to handle, but I'm sure he'll calm down a bit as he gets older. He's a sweetheart :)

He's one of a kind, that's for sure!! He'll be on his way to Colorado soon, but for now he's a member of our family. I'm so glad we got to foster him, even though it's for such a short time. 

Check back soon for more random posts about life, dogs, and Doctor Who :) Also, thanks for reading!!

Keri <3

Reading for Fun and Goodreads Account Info

Hi guys!

It's no secret that I love to read! I try to read (for fun) as often as I can, but sometimes it's hard to find time to read when I have class. Between mandatory reading, band stuff, homework, lectures, working out, etc. I usually don't have a lot of free time- if I do, I usually try to catch up on sleep. 

Oh, the life of a college student (haha!). 

I recently made a Goodreads account. The app/ website let's you create different groups of books; that way, you can keep track of what you want to read and what you have already read. Plus, you can give each book a rating. Goodreads can then suggest books that you may like based off your ratings. It's like a social media website for book nerds like myself :) 

By the way, if you have a Goodreads account, add me (Keri Tichenor). 

Anyway, back to the whole point of this post- I want to keep a list of all the books I read each year. Goodreads keeps track of this for you, but I wanted to post a list for those of you who don't have Goodreads, or for those of you who are just curious. I also think it will be extremely rewarding to see the list of books I've read by the end of the year. I'll include books I read for fun and for school, but I'll be sure to mark them accordingly. I usually read dystopian and/ or fantasy (think Hunger Games, HP, and Divergent), but I'll pick up a non-fiction or autobiography on occasion. 

Check out my next post if your interested in what I'm reading :) I'll talk to you again soon!

Keri <3

Edward Flew the Coop

Hi, again :)

The orphaned baby bird we have been taking care of (Edward) flew back into the wild today. Mom and I went outside to check on him this morning and he was fluttering around and jumping from branch to branch inside his house. We fed him, gave him some water, and let him fly away- we wanted to roost in the tree in our front yard, but he decided to fly into the neighbors' shrub. 

Edward's new home (for now)

Hopefully he'll be okay on his own. I'm sure he will figure out how to find food and water on his own- maybe a nice bird family will show him how to fend for himself. I'm glad he was healthy and able to be released back into the wild so soon!!

Thanks for keeping up with the Edward updates, and reading the blog :) 

Keri 

Edward Update

Hello!

Thought I would type up a quick blog and update you guys on baby Edward. He seems to be doing really well! He's starting to walk around his box (we had to make him a new home since he outgrew his other one already!), and he is almost able to curl his feet around the perch we have him. Edward has an bottomless pit for a stomach- whenever he sees one of us, he throws his head back, squawks, and opens his beak for food. He's definitely healthy and getting stronger each day. Edward is almost completely covered in feathers; and he's getting a lot cuter as he gets older :)

At first, we thought he was a barn swallow, but we looked at pictures online and now we think he is an English sparrow. They almost look like blackbirds, but sparrows have some gray feathers. Whatever type of bird he is, we're glad that he is doing so well. He is about 2 to 2 1/2 weeks old (just an estimation based off some Internet research).

Thanks for reading today's blog! Stay tuned for more updates on Edward. 

Keri :)

PS: I promise I will finish my blog about Vegas ASAP. I had an entire blog written up, but I forgot to save it to my drafts before I closed the app on my phone :( I will definitely have it up before the end of this week!!

Florida Pictures

Hi again!! 

I mentioned in my last post that I am not really great about taking pictures while on vacation... But I did manage to take a few picture while I was in Florida this May. Enjoy :)

Disney World 

Cinderella's Castle 

The castle again

Leslie, me, and Raechel in front of the castle

Dad and Mom

Dad, Mom, and I

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Island of Adventure

Hogwarts is amazing!!!! The ride inside the castle (Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) is the best ride I have ever been on!! There's really no way to explain the ride itself, but the engineers did a fantastic job on its design. 

Men In Black: Alien Attack

Basically, you have to shoot aliens throughout the ride and you get a certain amount of points for each one you hit. I think this is the highest score I've ever gotten. Somehow my brother managed to get 400,000+ points each time we went. His aim must be a lot better than mine haha. 

Sorry I don't have more pictures for you guys... I will definitely have more pictures from Vegas this coming weekend :)

As always, thanks for reading and check back soon!!

Keri <3