The Romance Bookie

  Hey Everyone! A new year is once again upon us!  I don't know about you, but I feel like 2021 just zoomed by!  Maybe it's because my 15 month old has just grown like a weed, and I just want to 😭 every time I go through photos on my phone and see the changes happening everyday.   2022 is upon us!  Well, almost.  Which means a new year of possibilities, goals, family moments, and so many positive things hopefully.   I honestly can't complain about 2021, not when my family and I have experienced so much worse in the past.  I know this is a weird time we are living in, but I am just so grateful to be here, with my husband and our son, and our grumpy dog.   Some highlights of 2021 were: (these may not be in order) 1.  We went to the reopening of Disneyland.  After 412 days of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Disneyland was able to reopen and my family and I got to go.  It was such an incredible experience, being there, and e...

 Hey Everyone! I wanted to talk about a topic that, I feel, starts coming up as you reach adulthood, more and more.  A topic that is often thrown out there willy-nilly, and people don't really think as they tell you to do this extreme "life-changing event"... The topic of "Wanting" a Baby. So as some of you may know, my husband and I just welcomed our son into this crazy world on September 21st, 2020.   Having a baby during the pandemic was pretty surreal at times.  We found out we were pregnant in January, so before this all started.   Luckily, my husband was able to go to my initial appointments with me (which I am so utterly thankful for, because that first trimester was the most nerve-wracking for us!); but at about the week 14 mark he was no longer allowed to come in with me; even to ultrasounds.   As you can imagine, that was extremely hard.   I was very fortunate that this time around, everything was pretty picture perfect during my pregnancy (t...

Hey Everyone! Another two months have passed since my last review :(, but I promise I have my review for Meg Cabot's latest novel  No Judgements  scheduled for September 20th! I have been pretty busy these last couple of months.  I got laid off a few months ago from my job, which was very difficult, not just financially but also emotionally, because I had been running that after school day care for three years, and knew most of the kids for years before that (because of my previous job at the same school).  I had grown attached, and it was very sad to leave my last day of work.   I miss them. Luckily, I live in a small town, so I do get to see some of them once in a while though. Anyway, I am currently working with my husband and his company; which has been an interesting experience.  I am definitely still learning the ropes, but I have been extremely lucky in that while we are super busy, I can have time off when I need it. So does that mean, I h...

I realized something about myself the other day...I read when I'm sad, and going through a hard time. It's my out, when I want to get my mind off things, and just escape. Now don't get me wrong, I DO LOVE TO READ!  Reading has helped me from hitting that low in life where you just want to give up completely.  It's always been there to cheer me up, at least somewhat, when things have gotten really tough! But I noticed that I have always read when things were hard when I realized I had read two books in one week when I found out two loved ones in my life had passed away. I haven't been able to read for months...heck almost a couple of years at this point!  I've been in a very happy place in my life, for the first time in...Ever.  I've always had an amazing family that was there for me, but something was always missing.  I felt really lonely for a long time, because I have always had trouble making friends who truly accept me for who I am.  But then I ...

Message from Mandy @The Romance Bookie So it's that time again!! 2015 is officially almost over! I just can't believe it! It seems like just last month we were celebrating the beginning of 2015! It's time to wrap-up this year, and to begin 2015! Before I go into how I failed all of my reading goals this year, I would like to share some of the life events that happened to me in 2015... -I went to my first early screening of a movie back in January, for The DUFF , and met some of the cast members. -At the beginning of February I went on my second trip to Florida with the most amazing man in my life, my boyfriend, Vincent.  We spent a little over a week at Disney World (one of our favorite places), and for a second time to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, where we went to both Diagon Alley and Hogsmead.  Drank tons of Butterbeer, Pumpkin juice, pear cider, ate at the Leaky Cauldron, and did the new Gringott's Bank Ride!  It was incredible! ...

Hey Everyone!!! I know, I know!! I have seriously sucked!  No review for about a month...it's pathetic...I know.  But I have had a very good reason...I've been working, going to school, studying for my classes, and also studying for my real estate exam...which I took today, and guess what??!!! I PASSED!!! I am officially a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in California!! I'm joining the ranks of so many people ahead of me, and taking the real estate market by storm ;). Anyway, I am going to try my best to get to reading a good book again.  I've been in a bit of a funk, and so it's been difficult, but all it takes is that great next book!! :) Hope to write again very soon!! Love you all!! The Romance Bookie :)