But sometimes I need to bring more than just a dessert or, when I’m the one hosting, I need to make more. The main dishes are easy to take care of, using the grill. Pasta salad, potato salad, veggie salads: these all come to mind as side dishes for a BBQ. While the classic versions of these recipes are always crowd-pleasers, I’m always one to want to try a new twist. Here are 15 different summer salads you to serve at your next BBQ. I’ll be working my way through this list this summer!

• Best Old Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe from Must Have Mom
• Bacon Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe from Thrifty Jinxy
• Orzo Pasta Salad with Bacon & Parmesan Vinaigrette from Outnumbered 3 to 1
• Quick Caprese Salad from Living Sweet Moments
• Three Cheese Tortellini Italian Pasta Salad Recipe from Mom Always Finds Out
• Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad from Quirky Inspired
• Bacon Pea Pasta Salad from The Slow Roasted Italian
• Three Pepper Salad from The Bewitchin Kitchen
• Best Macaroni Salad from A Mom’s Take
• Bacon-Cheddar Potato Salad from Home Cooking Memories
• Tangy & Sweet Grilled Corn Salad Recipe from I’m Not the Nanny
• Italian Pasta Salad from Simply Stacie
• Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad Recipe from Premeditated Leftovers
• The Best Crunchy Pea and Bacon Salad Recipe from Ther Homespun Hydrangea
• Creamy Bacon, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad Recipe from Mom Spark

And because desserts usually are my thing, I thought you might want to see some of my favorite summer dessert recipes: 

• 20+ Ice Cream Cakes and Bars You Can Make at Home
• Homemade Fresh Fruit Ice Cream Recipe
• Strawberry Lemonade 
• Cannoli Dip Recipe
• 15 Tasty and Easy Strawberry Recipes
• Cookie Butter No Bakes

As we approach another hurricane season, I’m sharing helpful products from Primo® as part of a sponsored post.

This school year will go down in history as the year of Hurricane Florence. We were anxiously watching the forecast as it showed a Category 4 storm headed directly for our small town in eastern North Carolina.

When you live near the coast, you learn to pay attention to the storm warnings and everyone debates whether to stock up on necessary supplies or evacuate. You think about things like disaster preparedness in a way you don’t when hurricanes are something you only see on tv.

While we were debating on staying or leaving, I decided to stock up on the essentials, with water being the first thing I looked for, since it’s the first thing to clear off the shelves and the thing we need the most.

I stocked up on as many cases of water as stores would allow and as seemed reasonable, as well as loading carts full of non-perishable foods. I figured that if we ended up not needing them, we’d still be able to use them all up eventually.

While my boys and I finally made the decision to evacuate to a friend’s house, many of our family and friends stayed behind, especially once the hurricane was downgraded to a Category 2 and then a Category 1. But though the storm hit us as a Category 1, it was an extremely slow-moving storm, which ended up dumping record-breaking levels of rain in our area.

The damage to our area was rather severe. Roads were washed out, homes flooded, and schools were closed for six weeks or more while they were repaired. Even now, almost eight months later, not everything in our town is back to pre-hurricane conditions.

It was a bit of a shock for a town that while it’s near the water, doesn’t tend to see damage like this.

And now we’re almost to another hurricane season.

May is Disaster Preparedness Month and if you haven’t thought about what you need, this is a good time to really think about it and take action.

Batteries, flashlights, food, water –  a plan for where you’d go if you need to evacuate; it’s important to think about it before you’re in that moment where you have to make those last minute decisions or have to deal with the crowds of people trying to find critical supplies. Most of these items will last quite a while, so it’s not going to hurt to stock up early.

In the last storm, water around here was not considered safe to drink at first, so all those bottles of water were helpful. But YIKES – it was not exactly the most environmentally-friendly choice. That’s why, this hurricane season, I’m switching to the 5 gallon bottles from Primo water, each of which saves up to 1,100 single-use bottles from ending up in a landfill.

Though we have a Primo Deluxe Bottom Loading Water Dispenser with Self-sanitization in our kitchen that we use on a daily basis, they also have a manual pump that allows easy access to the water when you are without electricity.

It’s the perfect thing to add to your disaster preparedness kit, though it can be used in other situations – like on the sidelines of a soccer game.

The manual pump is so popular it’s already sold out on the Primo.com website, but it is available on the Walmart website. You can order your Primo dispenser with code WATERGOALS25 which provides for 25% off the dispenser, FREE fast shipping + a FREE coupon will be mailed for 5-gallon bottle of Primo water and another will be in the box when delivered.

Our family likes to use Primo’s Exchange Water, where I exchange my empty water bottle for a pre-filled water bottle, which comes in a sanitized bottle and has added minerals for great taste. Near me, I can do this at Walmart, Lowe’s Foods, and Food Lion, but you can check out their store locator to see what stores offer this near you.

Water tends to be something we take for granted – but not after a storm. Having this Primo manual pump on hand has given me one less thing to worry about this hurricane season.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Primo.

With so much going on, there can be a lot of mom guilt. But we have to let some of it go. So…

Hey, it’s okay to have a countdown going for how many school days are left.

Hey, it’s okay to “accidentally” throw out your second grader’s weekly homework packet because he never did get around to finishing it and you simply don’t care at this point in the year.

Hey, it’s okay to hand your child the same school uniform shorts he wore yesterday and tell him that no one will notice if he wears them again. Keeping up with the laundry is a little challenging right now, all of his uniform shorts are identical, and it’s not like they’re really dirty after one wear anyway.

Hey, it’s okay to be really relieved at the sight of an afternoon thunderstorm because it means you now don’t have to figure out how to get your kids to three different games/practices nowhere near each other all at the same time. Thank goodness for the occasional rain-out.

Hey, it’s okay to completely blow off a spirit/dress up day that would require you to go buy something for your child to wear. Right now, if they don’t already own it, it’s not happening.

Hey, it’s okay to send in the $8.50 field trip money all in change in a ziploc bag because you have to send in exact change and going to the bank isn’t something you have time for. Besides, it is exact change, so you’re good.

Hey, it’s okay if you have to bury your head in a pillow and scream because you have to pay for yet another thing. ‘Tis the season to be bleeding money between all of the end of the school year activities and having summer activities fees due right this second.

Hey, it’s okay if bedtimes have become some sort of loose concept instead of a hard and fast rule due to getting home late from practices and games or working on homework projects.

Hey, it’s okay if you decide to let your kid sleep in instead of getting to school on time one morning because you all need a break. Just don’t do this on a state standardized test day. 

Hey, it’s okay if you are postponing much-needed haircuts because it will be summer soon and it won’t matter anyway. Same goes for putting off buying any clothes your kids might need.

Hey, it’s okay to skip that optional extra sports practice or study session. They’re called optional, it’s okay to opt not to attend.

Hey, it’s okay to give your child’s teacher a gift card for a teacher appreciation gift instead of some sort of Pinterest-worthy creation. You can even send an e-gift card, so you don’t even have to head to a store to pick one up.

Hey, it’s okay to be on a first name basis with the guy at the local drive-thru or pizza place. Who has time to cook right now?

Let go of the guilt. You can’t do it all. If your kids make it through the school year, that’s a mom win.

This post is inspired by the Hey, It’s Okay section of Glamour magazine. Amber at Airing My Laundry hosts a weekly link up where you can share the things you’re okay about. This is a repost from a previous school year. 

Here’s a list of 26 different homemade Mother’s Day Crafts for kids of different ages to make:

1. Mother’s Day Button Craft from Thrifty Jinxy
2. Decorate Tray with Adult Coloring Pages from Modpodge Rocks Blog
3. DIY Mother’s Day Tea Cup Planter from Mommy Moment
4. Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts: Beaded and Pasta Hearts from Kids’ Craft Room
5. DIY Handprint Keyschain from Grey House Harbor
6. Kids Craft: Mother’s Day Mas Jar Vase from Christina’s Adventures
7. Easy DIY Silhouette on Powerpoint from Kinder Alphabet
8. Mother’s Day Coupon Bouquet from I Can Teach My Child
9. Salt Dough Handprint Bowl from Messy Little Monster
10. Mother’s Day Craft: Clothespin Flower Pot from J-man and Miller Bug
11. DIY Yarn Photo Frame from DIY Projects
12. Make one for MOM: Spring floral Monogram Marquee from Lisa Pullano
13. DIY: Make Candy Flower Bouquet for Mom from DIY Enthusiasts
14. A Helping Hand: A homemade gift from Trish Sutton
15. Mother’s Day Fingerprint Candles from Come Together Kids
16. Mother’s Day Photo Vase Craft from Catch My Party
17. Mother’s Day Photo Flower Pot from A Diamond in the Stuff
18. Photo Bookmarks from Nearly Crafty
19. DIY Beautiful Curly Paper Flowers from I Creative Ideas
20. Typography Garden for Mom from A Subtle Revelry
21. Adorable DIY Flower Pens from Living Well Mom
22. Teen Crafts for Moms: Mothers give you Roots Planter
23. Craft it: DIY Mini Spring Succulent from A Kailo Chic Life
24. Mother’s Day Gift in a Jar from Hello Splendid
25. DIY Pedicure in a Jar from Suburban Simplicity
26. Mandarin Honey Sugar Scrub from Things I Can’t Say

As a mom to one teen and two tweens, all of them very active boys, how things smell is of
concern to me. If I didn’t take care of odors around the house, we would be that stinky house that no one wants to visit.

Febreze has always been our air care product of choice. Something about their advertising long ago stuck with me: that their products actually eliminate odor and don’t just cover it up.

So, when I was invited to the Febreze Safety Immersion, I was excited to attend and learn more about the products that keep my house from giving off that stinky-locker-room vibe.

I was curious about how Febreze works, and also wondered about Febreze’s ingredients: is
Febreze safe or toxic?

I’ll share what I learned at the event and am happy to answer any of the questions you have
about it or pass those questions along to the Febreze team.

We were able to head into the Febreze labs and take part in several demonstrations that
helped show how Febreze really does eliminate odors. Don’t I look official?

I had my children try one of these Febreze demonstrations at home. Then we talked about the science behind how Febreze works.

Of course, it’s fantastic that Febreze is effective, but is it safe?

Throughout the Febreze immersion, what came across loud and clear was just how much
everyone who is involved with these products prioritizes safety. P&G holds itself to the highest safety standards, and the Febreze scientists create products they feel safe using around their own families. So yes, Febreze is safe to use in your home around children and pets. Like all household products, it should be kept out of the reach of small children, though it’s safe to use around them.

A complete list of Febreze ingredients can be found on Febreze.com. Also, by the end of 2019, P&G will also share all fragrance ingredients down to 0.01%.

Something really useful I learned about at the event was about the Smart Label app. Download it and it will tell you not just the ingredients in Febreze, but in many products. If you want to learn more about the products you use or are considering buying, it’s a convenient way to do so.

When talking about ingredients, I got a reminder not to let words that I’m unfamiliar with scare
me. Words like “tyrosine, methionine and palmitoleic acid” might at first sound like things I
wouldn’t want anywhere near me, but they’re actually some of the ingredients in a banana.

So, when looking at the ingredients, it’s helpful to understand what they are and not just let an
unfamiliar word lead to a misunderstanding about the product. When you check out the
Febreze ingredients page, they explain what each is and what it does.

Another good thing to know about Febreze ingredients is what they do not use. They do not use phthalates, formaldehyde, or flammable propellants.

Something else of concern that was interesting and good to learn was that when inhaled,
Febreze cannot reach a consumer’s lungs due to its particle size.

If you want to know more, you can read about P&G’s product safety.

While I learned a lot more about the science behind Febreze and all of their products, I know that other busy moms like myself really wanted to know two things: does Febreze work and is it safe to use around my kids? The answer to both of those questions is a resounding yes. So I can keep using Febreze on my boys’ stinky sports gear (and in their bathroom) without any worries!

Like something hard to do or something that only those with a ton of time (or money) on their hands can actually get done. And then there’s the fact that you don’t hear men talking about “self-care.” Can’t imagine hearing a man say “Making self-care a priority so I’m going to go meet the guys for a round of golf.” No, he would just say “Heading to the golf course.”

So self-care sounded more like some made up buzzword than something I could actually find the time to do.

But then I got so bogged down. Between everything my three kids needed- all the places they need to be, help they needed, family responsibilities, hours put in at work, the day to day of what everyone else wanted and expected from me… I lost myself in there. 

Everyone else’s needs and wants and pressures and feelings overshadowed anything that was just for me. And I suddenly could only describe myself in terms of other people. There was no me left.

I needed some self-care.

Not in a dramatic “I’m going to go live on an island alone for three months where I just focus on my inner well-being” type of self-care. Or anything that costs much money or even all that much time.

But what I need, what I want, matters. I matter outside of how others view me in relation to what they want me to be or do.

So I began to make a few small changes.

That meant taking a little bit of time to get dressed and fix my hair. Working from home often means no one cares what I wear, so I was defaulting to what was super comfy (and usually ratty) and tying my hair back without really even looking in the mirror. Not a bad thing every once in a while, but I began to feel the way I looked, which was frumpy and ugly and not worth more than a minute’s worth of attention.

I still don’t dress super fancy and there’s an element of comfort to everything I put on, but just a little bit of effort made me feel better. The same with my hair: it doesn’t take that long for me to fix it and maybe even put on a little bit of makeup. Put together enough so I don’t feel the need to apologize for my appearance on a video call for work or cringe if I need to run into one of my boys’ schools. Look a little better, feel a lot better.

I also started making meals that I enjoy. There were so many meals where I’d just plan what I knew my kids would like, especially if I didn’t know if my husband would be home. And then I’d just pick at something or end up eating snack foods instead of real meals. I actually enjoy cooking and I decided to go ahead and cook some meals that I would like to eat. If not all of the kids ate them or if my husband wasn’t home- there are good leftovers for my lunch the next day. Trying to juggle everything is hard enough as it is, but to do it without something resembling proper nutrition is almost impossible.

Fitting in time to work out was also important to me. I’d been in a pretty good routine with this until this past fall and then I fell back on the excuse of there not being any time. And while things were busy, I really could have made the time. It’s still hard- sometimes it means getting up super early, other times it’s squeezing in a workout while one of my boys is at some sort of practice. A little bit of time on the weekends, whenever I can make it fit. I feel better physically, which helps with how I feel mentally.

I’ve spent more time doing the things I like to do as well as adding passion back into things I’d already been doing. Some hobbies and activities had been put aside because I thought I didn’t have time- but I found I could squeeze some of that in. And others I’d already been doing but I reminded myself that I really loved doing those things and I let myself fully enjoy them again, instead of it being like I was checking off a to-do list. That change in mindset led to an even bigger change in how I was feeling.

All of these things I’ve been doing- they’d fall under what you’d call “self-care.” They aren’t big, earth-shattering, time-consuming, expensive things to do. But when they add up, they make a difference in how I feel. So maybe there is something to be said for self-care after all. Maybe it’s just another way of saying “I matter, too.”

Wearing the right underwear is super important. You no longer care as much about panty lines as you do about underwear that will stay in place and be comfortable.

Workout gear that “breathes” is key. Even if it means paying a little more for it or owning multiples of the same pair of pants.

Taking no water or a small water bottle is not an option. You need to hydrate. A lot.

The music will be too loud when you get to class.

You will be awfully protective of “your” spot in class or “your” elliptical/treadmill/etc.

Your preferred spot is likely near the fan.

If the fan isn’t on, you’ll probably be the first to ask that it be turned on. Or you’ll just turn it on yourself. No one will argue with you about this, though you may get a few frowns from the younger members of the class.

You will know all the modifications for the various workouts. Some you’ll need to do and some you won’t, but you’re well aware of when you need to modify. And you’ll know that doing the modification is a lot better than doing nothing at all.

You’ll snort whenever there’s “jumping” lunges or anything of the sort. You’ll step back into a lunge, thankyouverymuch because your knees cannot take that kind of stress.

Your exercise mat is one of those thick, good quality mats because you need that extra cushion for your wrists and knees. You’ll shake your head at the 20-something who didn’t even bring a mat and does her floorwork on the hard gym floor. Girl, you’ll understand one day, you think.

You’ll sweat. Not glow. Sweat. And maybe in places you didn’t know could sweat.

You will push yourself but you’ll also have zero problems taking a pause when you need to.

You’ll look in the mirror and want to kick yourself for not appreciating your younger body more than you did.

You’ll also start to see changes in your body though you’ll still stay squishier than you want to be.

Making it through an hour-long class without the need for a bathroom break (especially if you try some of that jumping in spite of your knees) won’t happen every day.

But you will make it through the class.

You know your body isn’t what it once was and that you might not (or okay, most definitely not) be able to do all you once could, but you can still do a lot.

You’ll value progress, even if it’s small because at least it’s progress.

And then you’ll really appreciate your hot shower after your workout.

And develop a new fondness for muscle-soothing ointments.

Some years we buy Valentines, some years we get a little creative and make cards, and other years, we use printable Valentine’s Day cards. The free Valentine’s Day printable cards I’m going to share with you are all ones that are easy and don’t require you to go out and buy toys or candy or anything like that to attach to them. There are plenty of those around, but this one is for my fellow keep-it-as-simple-as-possible moms. Download, add a “from” message(or not, depending on if your child wants to/you want them to write their own name), print (or send them to be printed- I usually send ours to Staples- reasonable prices and their paper is a little thicker and glossier than what we have at home and I don’t have to worry about how much ink I have), cut, and go.

Other printing options: print on cardstock OR print on regular computer paper, cut, and glue to construction paper.

Also: I know that girls might just as easily want to give out these cards as boys would, but I have found that it’s sometimes challenging to find Valentine’s Day cards that aren’t overly girly(and I have three boys), so that’s why this list is “for boys.”

Paper Airplane Valentines These are the ones my boys made last year. They work best printed on regular computer paper.
Free Printable Harry Potter Valentines (you can attach a mini glow stick to these, but they’re cute without it, too)
Avengers Printable Valentine’s Day Cards
Free Printable Minecraft Valentine’s Day Cards
Pokemon “I Choose You” Valentine’s Day Cards
Baseball Valentine’s Day Cards
Emoji Valentine’s Cards
Shark Valentine’s Day Cards
LEGO Valentine’s Day Cards
Star Wars Printable Valentines

For a cute Valentine’s Day craft, try these painted rocks with a free printable card: Valentines Painted Rocks

The appeal of it to me was that it’s like a forced time out. One where I really and truly was completely unreachable for an hour. Where it would be quiet and peaceful. Where there really is nothing else I can do but just rest and relax.

I found myself with an unexpected day off last week on a day when it was pouring down rain- the type of weather where people tend to stay inside unless they are forced out of the house, so I was able to get a last minute appointment at a local float spa.

Here’s my not-really-a-disclosure-because-I-don’t-have-to-dislcose disclosure: this was not a sponsored visit. I paid out of pocket and received the same experience any other paying customer would receive. I’m writing this only because I had a lot of questions after I said that I went and these are some of the fears I had before I tried it, so I thought I would share with you.

The float spa I went to offered hour-long sessions. If you have an option for a shorter session, I wouldn’t recommend it for your first visit. Go for the hour. I’ll explain why in a bit. But know that you’ll probably be there for closer to an hour and a half to two hours because there are things you need to do before and after your float.

As a first time visitor, there was a little bit of paperwork to fill out that asks about medical conditions and lets you know things like you shouldn’t float if you’ve had your hair colored in the past two weeks. And also that you’ll be responsible for the cleaning of the pod/pool if you pee in it. Ick. Do not do that.

Because it was my first visit, I was shown how everything worked, so that took a little time as well.

Before entering the pod, I had to take a shower. You need to rinse off any sort of lotions or make-up you have on. I went first thing in the morning and didn’t bother fixing my hair or putting on make-up because I knew I’d need to shower.

The attendant told me she’d give me 10 minutes before she started my time and I would know my time had started because she would turn off the jet that was cleaning the pod and it would get quiet.

I did go to a float spa where they have the pods. There are float spas where it’s more of a room with a pool in it, tall enough so you can stand. But this one was the pod, which is what I originally thought of when I heard about floating.

The attendant told me that the experience is really up to each person. There was a gentle purple light coming from the pod when I got there and the lights in the room were on. She said she definitely recommends turning out the room light because it will be harsh when you’re laying in the pod, but if you really want to leave it on, you can. There were controls inside the pod where you could control the light inside. Turn it off or even change the color. And that you can play around with it to figure out what you like, that you aren’t stuck with what you choose at the beginning.

The same goes for the sound: they had some relaxing music playing, but it could be turned off or you could use your own music.

Now, the part that surprised me- and you might laugh at me for thinking this- but you are also in control of the lid for the pod. You can close it all the way. Or have it open a bit. Or leave the lid wide open. For some reason, I had this impression that you’d get in and it would be sealed off for the duration and you couldn’t get out. But that’s not true at all. And maybe you already knew this, but in case you had the same fear I did, know that you are in control.

Inside the pod, there was a ring neck pillow that you could use or not; a spray bottle of water and a washcloth in the event that you needed to touch your face while you were in there, you could spray your hands first so you weren’t getting salt in your eyes; vaseline to cover any cuts you may have- I didn’t have any, but the attendant told me that if you do have any, you’ll quickly discover them when the salt water hits them but that you can spray them off with the water bottle, put vaseline on them, and you should be fine. There was also a call button for the main desk. If I pressed it, I could talk to her if I needed anything, but that she couldn’t hear me unless I did press that button.

Getting into the pod… okay, if you look at pics of people at a float spa, you may actually wonder what you should wear. Go naked. If you wear a bathing suit, the feel of the suit or it moving around can detract from the whole sensory deprivation experience you are supposed to be having. Eventually, since the water temperature is the same as your body temperature, it’s supposed to actually be a little hard to tell where your body ends and the water begins. But no one is posting naked pics in the advertisements for float spas, so you may have wondered. So naked- but with the provided earplugs.

I got in and closed the lid the whole way. I was still able to sit up in the water without hitting my head or even being close to hitting my head. Again, this is a weird preconception I had about these, but I imagined they were more like a coffin. So yeah, I thought that the lid would be right in my face and I wouldn’t be able to open it. I was so wrong.

Lay back and float. The salt in the water really will make this effortless. A tip I read before I went was that if you feel like you’re moving all around, to put your arms out and steady yourself on the sides for about 30 seconds and then let your arms drift back to your body and you’ll stay still.

I had the low purple light on, the music low, and the lid closed. I tried to figure out how to adjust the pillow but it was feeling really awkward. I ended up using it up closer to the crown of my head and that was better. But it was quite a bit of fidgeting. And then I thought I’d try total darkness, but that was a bit much for me. When I readjusted the light, it came on blue and I didn’t really care to cycle through colors, so I just left it on that.

I was still not feeling all that comfortable. At one point, I opened my eyes and it looked like the ceiling really was right in front of my face and I had a brief moment of panic, but once I focused, I realized that wasn’t true. Other than that moment, I was okay with the lid closed except for one little problem: I felt a little too warm.

The water is supposed to be heated to body temperature, but my non-sick body temperature is actually lower than the average. So maybe that was it or maybe it was just my discomfort coming through. So I cracked the lid just a bit to let in a little cooler air and I felt better.

The next thing I had to figure out was what to do with my arms. Most will say they should be gently resting at your sides, but I hate sleeping in that position so it wasn’t feeling much better in the tank. I decided to try something we do in yoga sometimes to try to relax: right hand resting on your heart, left hand resting on your belly, and really focusing on feeling your breath.

Once I had adjusted all of these things, the float spa actually felt like it was doing what I hoped it would. I was extremely relaxed. So much so that I actually fell asleep for a little while.

I have no idea exactly how long each of these things took because there’s no clock in there to look at. But this is why I’d recommend an hour for your first float, so you have some time to figure out what works for you. If I’d only tried a half hour, I probably would have left thinking that I’d never do that again. Next time, I’ll know right away what works for me and get to enjoy the full hour.

At the float spa I was at, they let you know your time is up by turning the jets back on. It’s a pretty gentle nudge back to reality. I was told to take my time getting out, not just jump out. I stretched, sat up slowly, and took my time.

Then it was time to take a shower. They had shampoo, conditioner, and body wash there, but you can bring your own. Once I’d showered and dressed, I went out to another area where there was a mirror and blow dryer(again: brought my own) and other things to help you get ready. I didn’t want to go out with sopping wet hair so I did take the time to dry it.

There was a relaxation room, too, where you could sit and have a cup of tea before leaving- another way to extend your quiet time.

After that, I headed out to reception to pay and leave.

I will definitely float again. I’m excited to go back and be able to get comfortable a lot sooner during my float. I really did feel relaxed and it was nice to have the forced time out.

Have you tried floating?

I’m not looking for “quality” literature, but what was a good story, what held my interest. I tend to go for Young Adult lit as well as books that are probably best classified as “chick lit.” A little romance, a little suspense, memorable characters, a relatable storyline… or one that completely takes me somewhere else.

The books on this list were ones I read in 2018, though some may have been published in a different year. This is a glimpse at my bookshelf and what I recommend friends read (and stay away from). As spoiler-free as I can make these (not spoiling any more than what you would see in the brief Amazon description or book jacket).

Links are Amazon affiliate, so if you purchase one of these, I will get a small (ridiculously small, but hey, it will go towards more books) commission.

Keepers

After Nightfall by A.J. Banner: Someone is dead after a super awkward dinner party the night before. All of the characters did something shady so I suspected them all, which kept me reading. Nicely paced, great ending.

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel: This one was recommended to me by a friend. I knew nothing about it but there was some sort of Amazon deal for it so I snapped it up and just went along for the ride. I’m so glad that I did. I fell in love with Claude and his/her kooky, imperfect, loyal family.

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert: Sometimes you just want a light, fluffy, sweet read. This is a lot like the movie You’ve Got Mail, only with a restaurant critic and a chef. It’s fun, pure and simple. Predictable, but will make you smile.

The Cast by Amy Blumenfield: Twenty-five years ago, a group of ninth graders made a video for their friend. Now, those friends are having a reunion. This group of friends is all a bit of a mess, but they do their best to be there for each other. Touching, sweet, and a little bit heartbreaking.

Between You and Me by Allison Winn Scotch: No matter how amazingly a love story begins, reality can set in. This is one couple’s story. One tells from the beginning, one from the end, working back.

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover: Hoover is probably one of my favorite authors. This is another marriage gone sideways like the book above this, but at the same time, not at all the same. I should mention here that her Verity is one of the first books I’ve read in this new year and it will definitely make my 2019 list. It’s a departure from her usual and I can’t stop thinking about it.

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager. Another from this author made my list last year and this one might just be even better. Emma returns to the camp where years ago, a girl disappeared. The mystery kept me guessing and resolved in a way that I did not see coming.

A List of Cages by Robin Roe: This one belongs on a list of one of the best books I’ve ever read, EVER. It’s YA and so powerful. I don’t want to give spoilers, just trust me on this one. And have tissues nearby.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus: It’s like The Breakfast Club with a deadly twist. I was sucked into this one because the teaser for it said that if you pay attention, you’ll be able to solve the mystery right from the start. I thought I had it and I was oh-so-wrong. My 14 year-old had the same initial suspicion I did, though he hasn’t finished it yet, so when he asks me if he’s right, I just mumble something and tell him to keep reading. Just saw another book come out by this author and, knowing nothing about it, I’ll purchase it on the strength of this read alone.

A Spark of Light by Jodi Piccoult: This is classic Piccoult: tacking a controversial issue and having plenty of twists along the way.

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage: I hesitated to put this one on here because I could see how I could equally put it on the keepers list or the stinkers list. Because it may not hold up on a rereading. It’s twisted and you hate the characters. But it was also fascinating in a morbid way, so I’m including it.

Stinkers

Accidental Hero by Nicole Snow: This one was a Kindle freebie (at the time I snagged it). I check Goodreads ratings for Kindle freebies because sometimes those are stinkers- but this one was and still is as of right now- rated high. But this “romance” had a main character who was too much like a caveman and there was a plot about a gang that was way over the top. Not for me and reminded me that I am allowed to stop reading a book if it’s that awful.

Eye of the Beholder by Nana Malone: another romance that I probably should have quit. Especially since I got to a point where I thought it had to be almost over, check my progress on my Kindle, and found out I still had more than half of the book to go. Bad boy story gone boring and way longer than it ever needed to be. Part of a series… that I will not be reading.

Two by Two by Nicolas Sparks: It pains me to put this book on this list, since, if you go way back to my early lists, he was on my Keepers. But somewhere in the mid-00’s, all of his books started feeling too much the same to me. And this one had a main character whom I found way too woe-is-me, I’m-the-perfect-man but good-guys-finish-last and everything-is-my-wife’s-fault. Blah. Nope. Pretty sure this is the final time I’ll attempt a Sparks book.

If you want to see what else I read or am reading, be sure to follow along on Goodreads. You can also check out my lists from previous years below. If there’s something you’ve read lately that you loved, be sure to pass on that recommendation… or feel free to tell me a book you think I should stay away from: life is too short to read boring books.

• 2017: Keepers and Stinkers
• 2016: YA and Chick Lit to Read
• 2015: Books to Read
• 2014: Keepers and Stinkers
• 2013: What to Read and What to Avoid
• 2012: My Reading List
• 2011: Best and Worst Books
• 2010: More Keepers and Stinkers
• 2009: Looking for a Good Read?