Hey, Friends! How’ve y’all been? Things have been wild over here. About a year ago, I noticed that my hands have been shaking to the point that doing little things like writing with a pen or pencil or using eating utensils is sometimes difficult. The Hubs has gotten to the point where he helps me out with things like opening packages because gripping things is sometimes difficult and my hand strength is nil. We still don’t have answers for why this is happening, but two new things have started to happen: my short term memory is awful and I’ve had a cough with shortness of breath for a few months. Yeah, a lot. At first, I pushing things off as menopause, being overweight, and other things. But, a few weeks ago, I was giving a presentation about the library and completely forgot what I was doing/saying. And I panicked. I could not get it together. Then about three weeks ago, I walked up the stairs at work and could not breathe. Literally thought I was going to pass out because I couldn’t get any air. I’ve had a chest X-ray and a CT scan, both normal. Now I have an appointment with a cardiologist next month. Like I said, a lot.

Along with that, the Fall 2026 semester started lasted month and things have been hectic. As you know, we have five campuses and I’ve been trying to maintain my normal travel schedule but it has left me exhausted. Still, I love traveling and visiting our campuses. Getting to know our students is always so inspirational. This year, I had library branded fidget clickers made to give to the students. They look like computer keys {with a QR code to our library website} because our library is online, you know, I wanted them to make the connection. They’ve been a big hit. Along with the bookish stickers and tattoos. LOL

Now that I’ve kinda sorta caught you up, let’s get on with today’s post…

THE PROMPT: Things I always say

I say a lot of things, so I thought it’d be fun to ask my family what I always say. I didn’t expect them to answer, but they did. We also had a few laughs and took a stroll down memory lane in the family chat. Anyway, here are their answers:

• The Hubs: “Don’t ask for nothin’…” When the kids were little, I used to give them a little warning before we entered any store that basically ended with me telling them not to embarrass me or I would embarrass them.
• Jazmine: “Dance with me.” When they were little I used to pull the car over and tell them we weren’t moving until they danced with me. I don’t get to do this often now that they’re adults, but when I get the chance, yep. 
• Brandon: “….” I do type that a lot when I don’t know what to say.
• Bryanna: “Um.” Another thing I type when I don’t know what to say.

And here are my answers:

“Yeah, no.” I’m not sure why I say this, but it’s my general response when someone asks me to do something. Most of the time, I end up doing it anyway. But, for a minute, I am standing my ground.

“Duuuude.” My general exclamation when I find something negatively or positively surprising. 

I’ve also started saying a lot of not-so-nice things because what the hell is going on in the U.S.? To counteract those negative feelings, I’ve started reminded people to check their registration status now and make a plan to vote early to ensure their voice is heard. If you don’t know where to check your registration, start with Vote.gov. Once you get in that booth, I beg of you: CHOOSE WISELY!!

ABOUT WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE

Welcome to the monthly edition of Where Bloggers Live. It’s kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…Bloggers! Who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes? Over the next few months, we’ll share about our work spaces, home towns, and more!

I should note – because this is super important – the creative brain behind this project is Bettye at Fashion Schlub! Love her!

The Celebrity Bloggers

Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Dog Hair
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Sally at Within a World of My Own

Make sure you visit everyone to see where the magic happens!

IT’S YOUR TURN

Do you have a favorite saying?

BOOKISH THINGS

Bookshop.org – Shop for books selected by me, for you!

NetGalley Professional Reader – I receive free ARCs from NetGalley to review on my blog and share on Instagram.

The StoryGraph – A reading app that shares all the nerdy details of my bookish life.

THANK YOU

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new. If you like what you read, please consider sharing this post on Facebook or Pinterest. While I pay for many of the items I share on this blog out of my own pocket, some items are gifted to me {I always disclose those items}. If you’d like to connect on a more regular basis, I’m on Facebook and Instagram.

Come back soon,

LET’S CONNECT

Click Here to See Where I Link Up

AFFILIATE INFORMATION

As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support.

Reading and reviewing books brings me a great deal of happiness. If you’re a reader, I’d love for you to visit my online bookstore, Living Outside the Stacks, to make your purchase. If you purchase from my shop, I’ll receive a small commission and you’ll also support indie bookstores. If you need help staying organized, but want to keep it pretty, I invite you to give Artful Agenda a try. It’s a digital planner inspired by paper planners. Use my code: RD1191716. Artful Agenda connects effortlessly to your Google and Outlook calendars and works across devices.

Hey, Friends! How are y’all doing? I’m doing well. Trying desperately to get back into the habit of blogging, but you know how that goes. Hopefully, I’ll be back on a much more regular basis now that summer is coming to an end and we’re going back to our normal 5-day a week schedule. I like having Fridays off and being able to get things done while other folks are at work, but the long days really shorten my free time, ya know? That being said, I do want to thank all of you who’ve stayed around during my unexpected hiatus. I really do appreciate you and I don’t take your time for granted.

THE UNBOXING

About eight years ago, I applied and was accepted to be a Heartfelt Role Model with Laurie Felt Denim on QVC. I had so much fun working with this wonderful community of women who were learning to thrive at various stages in life. After a few years, Laurie took some much needed time off to spend with her family and breathe.

Now she’s back with a new denim line called Felt Denim by Laurie Felt. The brand brings back that laid back California vibe that we loved the first go around with some very cool boho pieces as well as a few classic knit pieces.

I am, once again, working with Laurie and her team, this time as a “Felt Friend.” I’ll be sharing new pieces and showing you how I style them to fit my lifestyle as a librarian, photographer, dog mom, grandma, and wife.

For more style inspiration, follow me on Threads.

HOW I WORE IT

Felt Denim Daisy Denim Wide Leg Jeans

I paired these cropped crochet hem jeans with an embroidered tank top for a soft boho look.

Felt Denim Silky Denim Capri Pull-On Capri Jean

I love a capri pant; they’re so versatile. On this particular day, I wore this look to do a little grocery shopping with The Hubs. A long summer weight cardi {because grocery stores are cold} and a sleeveless tank {because it’s close to 100° outside}, and these super silky capri pants. They’re a pull-on style, which makes them easy to wear for those with dexterity concerns.

Felt Denim Starline Long Sleeve Pullover

On this particular day, I had to take Sadie to puppy school, so I wanted something I could be comfortable in and still be cute {we had a little side quest after her session that may or may not have involved getting ice cream for her and Lola}. This sweater is light weight and great for working in air conditioned spaces.

Felt Denim Long Sleeve Boho Woven Top

I wore this look to work. There’s something about denim and leopard that just makes my heart beat a little harder. The top is a light weight woven fabric with lots of flow. I used cuffs to keep the bell sleeves at the 3/4 length because I wanted to show off my arm candy.

ABOUT FELT DENIM

I’ve been a fan of Laurie’s designs since her Hot in Hollywood days on HSN. When she joined QVC as Laurie Felt, I was thrilled. And, now that she has returned with her Felt Denim line, I’m beyond ecstatic. The one thing that has been consistent with Laurie’s brand is the feeling that there is a person behind the label. I never felt like there was this corporation trying to sell me denim jeans. Laurie and her team have always connected with people on a personal level and that’s why I feel comfortable supporting and working with Laurie and her team: Andrea C., Andrea R., EvaMarie, Gretchen, Maggie, and Robin.

Felt Denim is more than a brand, it’s a community of women who are growing and learning together. It’s women supporting each other at every stage of life. And looking good and feeling comfortable while they’re doing it.

To learn more about Felt Denim, follow along on Instagram and Substack. Or shop QVC.

THANK YOU

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new. If you like what you read, please consider sharing this post on Facebook or Pinterest. While I pay for many of the items I share on this blog out of my own pocket, some items are gifted to me {I always disclose those items}.

Come back soon,

AFFILIATE INFORMATION

As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support.

Hey, y’all! How are things? We’re coming to the end of our 10-hour days at work and I couldn’t be happier. Normally, the 10-hour days don’t bother me, but I feel like I’ve been losing time. I start dinner and, by the time, we’re ready to eat, it’s almost 9 o’clock. I don’t know about you, but that’s incredibly late to eat. I do like having Fridays off though. It’s allowed me to enroll Sadie in puppy school — so far, we’ve worked on ‘come,’ ‘stay,’ and ‘leave it.’ She’s doing really well with it. Lola is still adjusting to having a puppy in the house. Actually, we’re all still adjusting. LOL But she and Lola make our house so much better.

THE PROMPT: Things in My Home That Get Me Through the Day

1. My Husband – He’s an interesting character who makes me laugh and think.
2. The Boy and The Girls – I don’t just love them, I genuinely like them.
3. Sadie and Lola – Walking through the door and seeing them makes everything better.
4. My Garden – It’s not as productive as I’d hoped, but every tomato, pepper, or green bean brings me joy.
5. Coffee – This is more for y’all’s benefit than my own.
6. Clothes – I’ve loved clothes since I was a kid circling outfits in the JC Penney catalog.
7. Cupcakes – My kids and I have Cupcake Days. When things aren’t going well or we need to celebrate, we eat cupcakes.
8. iPhone – It keeps me connected to the people I love.
9. Nikon Camera – Chasing light and capturing memories is my thing.
10. Books – When I need to escape whatever the hell it is going on outside, this is the way.

ABOUT WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE

Welcome to the monthly edition of Where Bloggers Live. It’s kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…Bloggers! Who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes? Over the next few months, we’ll share about our work spaces, home towns, and more!

I should note – because this is super important – the creative brain behind this project is Bettye at Fashion Schlub! Love her!

The Celebrity Bloggers

Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Dog Hair
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Sally at Within a World of My Own

Make sure you visit everyone to see where the magic happens!

IT’S YOUR TURN

What gets you through the day?

BOOKISH THINGS

Bookshop.org – Shop for books selected by me, for you!

NetGalley Professional Reader – I receive free ARCs from NetGalley to review on my blog and share on Instagram.

The StoryGraph – A reading app that shares all the nerdy details of my bookish life.

THANK YOU

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new. If you like what you read, please consider sharing this post on Facebook or Pinterest. While I pay for many of the items I share on this blog out of my own pocket, some items are gifted to me {I always disclose those items}. If you’d like to connect on a more regular basis, I’m on Facebook and Instagram.

Come back soon,

LET’S CONNECT

Click Here to See Where I Link Up

AFFILIATE INFORMATION

As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support.

Reading and reviewing books brings me a great deal of happiness. If you’re a reader, I’d love for you to visit my online bookstore, Living Outside the Stacks, to make your purchase. If you purchase from my shop, I’ll receive a small commission and you’ll also support indie bookstores. If you need help staying organized, but want to keep it pretty, I invite you to give Artful Agenda a try. It’s a digital planner inspired by paper planners. Use my code: RD1191716. Artful Agenda connects effortlessly to your Google and Outlook calendars and works across devices.