Hello, Lovelies! Hard to believe the big day is almost here. It feels surreal. A vacation without kiddos!?! (Pick yourself up off the floor because I’m sure you fell out of your chair. *giggle*) I wouldn’t be going on this vacation if it wasn’t for my lovely mother and the universe finally aligning.
When was the last time you had a true vacation that focused on self-care and resetting your soul? I haven’t had a true vacation like this in almost a decade! Self-care is so important and I can honestly say that I neglect myself. I’m not proud of that fact; however, I always try to keep things real with all of you.
I’m working on my mental health and finding ME. I have spent years trying to please others. It came at a toll. A heavy toll. That is why I have finally woken up and made the decision to do things for myself. The first step is this cruise which leaves Sunday. And then, once I am back, I will get a traditional job save up a bit (I already have an income but want some cushion *SMILE*), and then plan to move abroad with my youngest son to Costa Rica for a few months, at the end of January.
Have you been to Costa Rica? Have any suggestions of where to visit or avoid? Or maybe you have a suggestion for the second country my son and I should visit after our Costa Rica adventure? Either way would love to hear your thoughts.
As many of you know, I had to make the tough decision to pull most of my books off of Kindle Unlimited because of piracy. There are a few still left on KU because of obligations; however, a few of these will be leaving KU soon too. If you have KU and would like to read them, now is the time. (SMILE)
My son moved back in with me a few months ago because the group home he was in was NOT a good fit. With him being there, it was giving me more gray hair and killing my mental health; however, searching for a new group home has had the same effect. My mental health plummeted drastically. I was not in a good place for a while. I felt like the world was caving in on me. Thankfully, I pulled myself out.
Today, I received a call from a group home near Dallas and they would LOVE for my son to join them! I nearly cried. After contacting over 50 group homes, I finally had good news. This group home was actually my top pick but I hadn’t heard from them so I gave up. The universe decided to shine some light down on my darkened path and I couldn’t be happier!
Fitness Journey
I am happy to announce that I am under 250! Wow. Did I just say that out loud to a bunch of people I don’t know? Yes. Yes, I did! No shame in my game. I am super proud of myself. I have been counting calories and doing 60-minute cardio three times a week. I couldn’t lift because of an arm injury but I recently learned substitute exercises that are helping tone the flabby chicken wings! Super excited about that.
As you see in the pictures, the elliptical machine and my protein/slim fast shake have become my best friends. On occasion, I do growl & hiss at them. (ha!) No pain, no gain… in theory.
College
Did you miss the post about me returning to college? Yes. You read that right. My old behind took the plunge. It has always been my dream to be able to say “I have a bachelor’s degree”. I had to stop years ago for personal reasons but decided to go for it again. I most likely won’t use it… or maybe I will. Time will tell. For right now, I am just enjoying being able to say “I’m a college student!”
My first class was supposed to be Statistics which sounded like Snooze-Fest. Thankfully, it is Composition II! Right up my alley! (insert happy dance)
By the way, my major is… (drum roll)… psychology. So, maybe one day I’ll be able to charge you guys for the advice I give! (Ha! just kidding. XoXo)
Dating
How’s my dating life going? I’m just going to leave these screenshots of things I posted on social media right here (sums it up)…
Moving
In case you don’t follow me on social media or missed one of my last blogs, I have decided to move abroad with my youngest (13) son. We were going to move to China or Korea; however, we are now going to head to Costa Rica for a few months. This may change but for now, it is Costa Rica. Low cost of living, great reviews from family and friends, and is rich in culture which is something I really want my youngest to experience.
I have been studying Spanish for 60+ days straight. I was feeling pretty confident until the Spanish radio station I listen to almost every day had a talking segment this morning and… I only caught a few words here and there. I’m just going to carry a notebook and pen with me and have people write down what they’re saying. I read Spanish better than I do listening & understanding it. Ha. Ha.
Travel
Only 11 more days until I go on my first cruise with my bestie A.K.A. my beautiful mother. (fun fact: eleven is one of my lucky numbers!) We are sooooo ready to set sail. I haven’t had a real vacation without the kids in years. Feels like a lifetime.
I am super excited. Originally, I was nervous because I didn’t feel ‘pretty enough’ to go on a cruise but I decided to let those feelings go. I am way too hard on myself. I keep comparing myself to others and I need to stop doing that & just enjoy life. 🙂
NEW RELEASES FROM ME
(Click each cover to learn more and/or buy a copy.)
On our road trips through or out of Texas, we always find a Bucees. I always vow to never go back because of how crowded they are and how rude the customers are; however, we end up going back. The bathrooms & gas are the main reasons. We can’t go there with my middle son because he has autism (and schizoaffective). Bucees isn’t sensory-friendly so it is too much for my son to handle. He has a meltdown/issue every time we go.
Next up…
I always enjoy seeing the classic statues in Big Cabin, Oklahoma. I’ve been driving this route from Texas to Missouri off-and-on for 15 years or so. Big Cabin is always there to greet us with the large Native American and Big Boy statues. They are at the gas station right before we get onto the toll road. There is a neat Mcdonald’s that is in a building that crosses the toll road (like a bridge), but we will never stop there again because of the horrible service we had there. And, I do mean horrible.
We dropped my son off in the capitol of Missouri with my dad and then we found a hotel in Kingdom City, Missouri. I booked online and it was a huge rip-off. They overcharged me. (Heavy sigh.) **We went to Denny’s nearby for dinner and that was a huge disappointment with the hostess being rude and the waitress neglectful** The hotel room was a death trap. I say that because we had trouble getting in and out of the room. The door handle/lock was faulty. We were so tired and just needed to rest our heads so we decided to bring it to the clerk’s attention upon checkout. The towels were super thin and smelled like cigarettes. It was very nasty. The next day, it took me well over five minutes to get the clerk’s attention. He was in the backroom working on the laundry machine. I called the hotel front desk to get his attention, and while I waited I stared at the paperwork that was laid out on the desk with guests’ names and a zippo lighter. (as a mom, I was a bit concerned about that) When he finally came over, it was to answer the phone (it was me calling **Giggle**). I told him about the door. He said he was sorry and would report it to the front desk, but then said “Honestly, as sad as it is, I doubt he will do anything about it.” My jaw damn near hit the floor. We discussed how it was a fire hazard. He agreed but said that his boss didn’t really care about fixing problems. (DRAMATIC SIGH)
Our adventure continued throughout the state of Missouri. The next stop was Ameristar, St. Charles, Missouri. The parking garage and elevators to the casino leave much to desire. Reminds me of NYC elevators. (the smell is overbearing) We ended up not gambling at the Ameristar because their arcade was down. The internet wouldn’t connect for us to buy an arcade card. It was a bit of a disappointment. Kiddo was looking forward to playing in there and we were looking forward to gambling. (ha.ha.)
Stay tuned for updates on our travels through Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.
Hey, Lovelies! Aloha Friday! Maaaan! My Friday started rough. I woke up to my alarm, hit snooze, and not even a minute later, I was woken up by a phone call from a Harris County Deputy, informing me that my son had run away from the group home. He has GPS on his phone so I was able to locate him fast, but talk about heart attack central! Then I go to get up out of bed, feel a sharp pain in my Achilles and nearly fall flat on my face! (<Insert> eye roll)
I finally get out the door to head to the gym. (Mom is driving us in her new ride) And… I forgot my fanny pack which has my gym membership card and earphones in it!!! I cannot workout without music on, drowning out the loud, self-entitled, gym peeps. I was willing to sacrifice my sanity so Mom wouldn’t be late for her water aerobics class. She ends up turning around for me and we get behind every slow person that lives in this county. (<Insert> another eye roll)
The gym is finally knocked out despite the pain in my shoulder (going on week seven or so) and my Achilles’ pain. I felt a lot better mentally, but of course, life is not done with me! Ugh. Needless to say, I’m surprised I got my latest podcast recorded, edited, and published. Y’all wish me luck. I think life is about to jump out from behind the couch, yelling, “Finish her!”
The books mentioned in Episode Ten of my Cookie Jar Unleashed Book Podcast are listed below. ((There’s a special surprise at the very bottom of the list! MUAH!))
Sooooo much hustle going on today. I am whipped. I went to the gym and lifted & did 30 minutes on the Elliptical. (original goal was more than 10 minutes) Then I ran errands with Mom. The good ole Wally World. I bought stuff to make Korean beef bulgogi. (currently marinating in the garage refrigerator.)
Once I had dinner prepped, I started working on a surprise Halloween series! Made a cover while my good friend made the logo. Then I bs’d a series and book blurb & uploaded it to KDP so now I wait to see if they’ve accepted my preorder and series page
I am super exhausted. Did I mention that yet? (HA!)
I logged into my Spotify account where I upload my Book Podcast and nearly cried. My numbers are super low. Like… embarrassing low. I’d like to get them to 100 followers. Would love it if you’d support me by listening to my podcast, hitting like, leaving a comment, and/or following me. If you share it with your friends and family, I’ll send you extra cyber kisses! (HA! HA! Ha!)
Happy Father’s Day to all of the actively engaged in their kiddos’ lives dads out there. You are a true gem and I hope your day is as amazing as you are!
A very special Happy Father’s Day to my own dad! Sorry that the weatherman ruined your fishing plans but hopefully tomorrow you can get out there on the boat. (before the sun comes up because it is waaaaaaay too hot! LOL)
Had a great birthday celebrating it with my mother. We went to Oklahoma and enjoyed some great food, gambling, a nice hotel, beautiful views, and lots of laughs! I’m so lucky to have my mom as my best friend & get to spend quality time with her. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Places we visited: Winstar Casino & Resort, Chips & Ales, Union Mesa, Choctaw Casino & Resort, Simple Simons, Buc-cees, and a few other hidden gems.
The beautiful flowers are from my friend Kris! She is another blessing in my life. I totally wasn’t expecting anything. It was a pleasant surprise. (Thanks again, Tinfoil! MUAH!)
I bought myself a Samsung Galaxy S23, a pop art shirt, a pinup dress, and cute little change purses with a cartoon-anime-like keychain.
Thank you to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday and a Happy Mother’s Day. You are all amazing & I appreciate you.
Wow! What a ride! And not a fun one either. I haven’t had a strong social media or online presence in such a long time. I kept telling myself that I would get better and post more frequently & more quality posts. That was… a lie. Not intentionally. My mental health went to hell in a handbasket and I couldn’t gather my strength for quite some time. I posted just enough to say “Hey, I’m still alive” but that was it. And, even that took so much energy out of me. It is super hard to be social when your thoughts are playing psychological warfare on you. Ugh. Such a struggle.
(Those of you just tuning in to my blog, I am SUPER open about… EVERYTHING! That’s your fair warning. :-p MUAH!)
The past few days have been a step in the right direction despite the heartache that I had to go through to take those steps. What have I been doing you ask?
ONE… I became a filter whore. Sorry. Not Sorry.
TWO… Had a drink…
or two…
(Drink responsibly)
THREE… Dressed like a normal person and not a troll!
The big sister has arrived & she’s taking no prisoners. The Made Daughter is ready for your ebook reader 🙂
SNEAK PEEK
CHAPTER ONE
Arianna
The sun peeks through the curtains in my office as I go over the numbers in the books. The warmth on my back is refreshing. Things have been hell the past few weeks with my father and his crew slain in the streets of Trenton. A public display of the firepower and strength the Polish Mob holds.
“Franciszek Nowak! You mother f*cker!” I scream, slamming my fists down on the desk.
Franciszek Nowak– Polish mob boss– is to blame for everything that happened. He called the shots. Literally. He’s the reason my mother had to bury her husband, and my sisters and me our father.
“Are you okay, Boss?” Carlo asks me.
When I took over as the head of the family there was some resistance amongst the ranks. A few didn’t want to work for a girl. However, they quickly learned that I had more balls than all of them put together and with the squeeze of the trigger, I silenced those who made snide comments or outright refused to follow my orders.
Carlo Russo was my father’s soldier. He had shown his loyalty to the Romano Family since I was a little girl. And, when my father was murdered and I took his place, Carlo stood faithfully by my side. It was only right that I promoted him to my right-hand man. He now oversees the ninety-eight soldiers under me.
“I’m fine, Carlo,” I sigh heavily. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“Not a whole lot. Nothing for you to worry about really. We have it under control, Boss,” he said, causing me to lean back in my chair with my eyebrow rose.
“That’s not convincing.”
“I swear,” he chuckles. “Things are pretty quiet around here now that you’ve taken over.”
Quiet? I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or an insult. Did he mean that business wasn’t good? Or was he just referring to the fact Popov and his crew hadn’t made any more statements?
“Boss, it’s nothing bad. I swear,” Carlo continues, holding his hands up in a surrendering manner. “I just mean that there haven’t been any hits or buildings burned in a while. It’s a good thing. It means word has gotten around that you’re a force to be reckoned with.”
“If you tap dance any faster, you might get your cardio in for the day,” I smirk, making him laugh.
“Not tap-dancing, Boss. I’m just saying that the city knows that you’re…” His words dwindle to nothing. No doubt because he was searching for the right words to use.
“What? That I’m psychotic?” I ask. My head tilted slightly, in a questioning manner.
Benny and Frankie, who are standing guard by the door, nearly die. Their eyes are wide and they choke on the breath they take. They quickly look at Carlo, who also looks mortified.
“Never. I would never call you that. Ever. Boss, I swear. That’s not what–” Carlo rambles.
“Relax, boys. I’m only teasing,” I laugh. The tension in the room settles. All three of them let out a sigh of relief. “I’m okay with being known as the psychotic one if it means no one f*cks with this city.”
“They definitely know you don’t play, Signorina Romano,” Benny smiles.
Everyone under me calls me Signorina Romano or Boss. The two are interchangeable and powerful. They are reminders that I’m no longer my Papa’s little girl.
“Good. Because it’s really tiresome setting examples throughout the city. Ya know?”
“I told you that I’d do the job, Boss,” Carlo states. “You don’t need to get your hands dirty.”
“I know. I don’t mind,” I shrug. “I have to earn my keep just like everyone else.”
My words earn me grins and nods of respect from the guys. I’d be a liar if I said it wasn’t nice to have their respect. Respect isn’t a must; however, it makes things easier and safer for me because I know my back is safe turned to them.
The sound of a phone ringing pulls my attention back to the room. Carlo fishes his phone out of his pocket and puts it up to his ear.
“Yeah?” he answers. Whatever the person says has Carlo frowning. His free hand grips the arm of his chair. “What the f*ck do you mean?”
My attention is now fully on Carlo and his conversation. Benny and Frankie are pretending to not listen, but they’re shitty actors. Definitely not winning any awards for their acting skills.
Carlo continues listening to the person and occasionally responds with short answers. His responses aren’t telling me shit. I hate guessing games. He has one more minute before I demand he put the damn call on speakerphone.
“Boss?” Carlo says, pulling the phone away from his ear.
“Yes?” I ask unamused.
“Mikołaj just landed at J.F.K.” His words make my blood run cold and my heart pounds like a drum. I take slow breaths to ease the beast inside me, threatening to roar its ugly head. My hands brace the desk and my eyes narrow in on Carlo.
“Please, don’t shoot me,” he pleads.
“Have him tailed. I want to know every damn detail of that f*cker’s day. Every. F*cking. Detail. Understood?”
“You got it, Boss,” he nods, then brings the phone back to his ear. “Follow him. Don’t let him out of your sight. Send me your location in an hour. I’ll send some guys over there for backup. Do not f*cking lose him. If you do…” Carlo glances at me then looks out the window. “It’ll be in your best f*cking interest to not lose him. Capiche?”
Carlo hangs up the phone. I watch his body tense as he slowly brings his attention to me. There’s fear in his eyes. Maybe because he thinks my temper is about to get the best of me and everyone in my path will feel my wrath. Or maybe it’s just simply the unknown.
“This is good news. We finally have eyes on him, Boss,” he smiles. His way of trying to ease the rage he knows is coursing through my veins.
Mikołaj is the man responsible for killing my father. There were many Polish soldiers there that night, but Mikołaj is the one who put a bullet in my father. I know this because he proudly voiced it throughout the city and then high-tailed it out of the country to Poland.
“That f*cking p*ssy,” I growl. “I want him brought to me alive.”
Carlo stands up and gestures to Benny and Frankie. All three of them stand tall like true soldiers before lowering their heads slightly and saying in unison, “Consideralo fatto, Signorina Romano.” Consider it done.
Monster in the Cookie Jar 