Jenna Volden has a degree in business and has spent the last 10 plus years working for others. She believes it is time to start her own photography and writing business. She enjoys running, coffee and helping others achieve their goals. Gluten-free foods are a lifestyle, not a choice, for her due to celiac disease. She is currently based in Phoenix, Arizona.
Does running help reduce stress? The short answer? YES!
The long answer?
Running can help calm you. It can give you something to look forward to. Running can give you a break from whatever stressors you’re experiencing. It can be meditative and help clear your mind. Running gives you endorphins!
It won’t cure your stress but it will definitely help your stress feel less severe. It is difficult to keep running during stressful times but it is important to turn to running instead of away. Per Runner’s World, having a routine before you get stressed is ideal. You will feel the effects of your run no matter when the stress happens. For those without a consistent routine, it only helps if the stress happens soon after running.
Plus, if you run outside you can have the added benefit of sunshine and soaking up that sweet vitamin D!
How do you get out the door for a run when work has been crazy busy, the kids want your attention, and the dog just got mud all over the living room carpet? First, take a deep breath and let it out. Repeat as needed. Then, schedule your runs! Actually, put time on your calendar, planner, whatever that says, “Go for a run” and treat it like any other important meeting. Make it a non-negotiable.
I know, I know, it’s not always that easy but trust me, it does help.
What about those days when you feel you just couldn’t possibly run? You’re tired and want to plop your butt in front of the tv instead. We’ve all been there. The easiest thing to do is put your running clothes on and head out the door for 15 minutes. If, after those 15 minutes, you still want to go home and watch tv? Go for it!
More than likely you will keep going and finish your planned three miles.
Of course, running isn’t the only exercise to help reduce stress. Get moving and your heart rate up and you’ll feel better! Sometimes just taking a walk in nature is all you need. Sometimes picking up heavy shit helps clear your head. Same rule applies here, just start and tell yourself you’ll do 15 minutes. I bet you go longer and finish your workout.
What is your favorite exercise to help reduce stress?
Want a free daily planning PDF to help schedule your workouts? Grab it .
As a landscape (nature, wildlife) photographer, I feel we have a duty to do no harm to the land and animals we are capturing. We are here to help others see the beauty of the nature around us, not trample on it. I believe there is a set of photographer’s responsibilities.
But how do we make sure we aren’t damaging nature?
First, we should follow outdoor rule number one, take only photos and leave only footprints. This means to pack out what you pack in, even food scraps. It may be “natural” but still takes years to decompose and can be harmful to animals that may come across it. Always stay on established trails. Do not use social trails. Social trails may seem enticing, it’s a short cut and how much harm can I really do? In places throughout the southwest you think, it’s just sand but there’s an entire ecosystem in that sand. One that takes hundreds of years to make. One that is extremely delicate.
We don’t stay on trails so we all only get the same shots. We stay on the trail to protect the smallest of lifeforms.
When headed out to a new to you area, do your research. Find out about local rules and what you can do to keep the area healthy. Google and Social Media have made this so much easier. Start with a google search. Confused? Reach out to local photographers or others that know the area and the rules. We can always reach out to the local park governing body and ask questions to make sure you don’t accidentally break the rules.
Taken on trail at Lake Pleasant.
Now this next one will probably ruffle some feathers… don’t do it for the ‘gram. Don’t get that photo off trail to show off on social media. Don’t post location data. For me, I’ll say the park but I won’t give the exact location or coordinates. I’ve usually spent time researching and trying to find something I haven’t seen plastered all over social media. Other can do the work too. I don’t omit it to make it hard on others.
I do it to protect the land.
When posting your photos, educate your audience. I will often try to give some facts about the area (or animal). Sometimes that includes if it’s endangered or at risk. Be transparent. If you altered something significantly, tell them. I mostly do basic editing or cropping on my photos. I don’t usually remove items in post or replace skies but if I did? I’d let you know.
Lastly, let’s get into some wildlife guidelines. These can get pretty controversial too but I definitely believe we need to protect the animals over getting the shot. Others may not agree but I would hope they consider the animals.
First, do not interact with wildlife. Study the animals you want to photograph and know their patterns and signs of stress. We should not be causing more stress to them.
Do not feed or bait wildlife. We need to keep them wild. Once they become used to humans and human food, they are endangered of being killed.
Choose legitimate sanctuaries and zoos if you photograph captive animals. Choose places that are there to help them, not display and make money off of them. Avoid game farms.
Taken at Butterfly Pavillion at Desert Botanical Garden. A reputable nonprofit for the conservation & education about desert plants & butterflies
And again, be transparent. If you photograph captive animals, let your audience know. If you are in the wild and use a 600mm zoom lens? Tell them you use a telephoto lens and aren’t as close to that bear as you may seem.
What it all comes down to is keeping you, the land, and the wildlife safe. To protect. To save for future generations.
What other guidelines do you believe we should follow? Drop them in the comments.
Do you have any upcoming adventures? Grab an adventure checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything when you head out on the road!
Hello everyone! I am finally back, after a one month break that apparently turned into four!First off, a little house cleaning. Part of the reason I took a little more time is I wanted to find a new host, which I did, but then I had to find a good recording/editing program since the host I picked did not offer that. And everything had to be free because I get no money from this. So finding everything took longer than expected. The podcast will be ad free for now because 1) the new host doesn’t have a paid ad program for my level and 2) I have no outside sponsors at this time. I’m not opposed to sponsors but I won’t do ads for brands I don’t use or love.
Going forward my goal for the podcast will be twice a month. One will be on a topic related to running and/or fitness and the other will be a look at my training and what’s going on with my journey (for lack of a better word).
So to get back in the swing of things, today’s podcast is going to be a catchup on what I’ve been up to these past few months and my goal/plan for summer.
Going allllllll the way back to December, I had the Hot Chocolate 5k. I had been running quite a bit and doing speed work. I thought I’d be able to get a decent time for me. I hadn’t done a road race, in person for years. The course was fairly flat until around mile 2. Then we had to tackle an overpass, up and over then under then up and over on the other side. It was tough but I pushed myself to keep running. I ended up finishing in 35:33. I had wanted closer to 30 but what can you do?
I finished December with 92 miles with my goal being a 50k in March. January was pretty much building on December and a trail race to help build for my ultra in March. Granted it was only 20k but it was still more than I had been doing on the trails. It took me a little over 3 hours and involved quite a bit of walking. I went out too hard. I missed a middle fueling time. I walked more than I needed.
Really it was an omen of things to come.
I finished January with 100 miles and moved into February. February is where shit started to fall apart. A few days or so into the month, I was out on a long run and my hip started to bother me. It was an odd discomfort in an odd spot. It was more on the top of my hip, toward my back. Fast forward like 30 seconds if you don’t want female TMI. So, I had my period but didn’t make the connection right away. I was having horrible back pain from PMDD and I think the back pain, sitting for work, running, and stress all combined into my hip. I backed off running and focused on gentle yoga for the back and hips, hopped on the bike, and took the dog for a walk.
It lasted longer than I had hoped and I was really struggling with if I could, or should, do the 50k. It was definitely adding to my stress level. About the middle of the month, I called it. I talked with my coach and decided that this was not the time for an ultra attempt. I had a bad training cycle throughout and the hip was the cherry on top. We decided I would drop down to the 30k instead.
It was the best decision for me. I instantly felt a weight lift.
So, once my help felt better I started getting in some shorter runs and at this point it was basically taper time anyway. I ended the month with 60 miles going into my 30k.
The 30k was the first weekend in March. I was dreading it in the week leading up to it. I no longer wanted to even run. But I paid for it so I figured I should at least attempt it. The morning of the race I had a mini breakdown. I was overrun with emotions. I was beyond tired. I was stressed about work. Nothing had been going right that morning.
But I figured I was dressed, my pack was ready so I headed out. I was a bit late to start, maybe 10 minutes after the rest of the 30k but I was frazzled. Luckily I was able to start before the next distances so I had the trail to myself. I needed the time alone in the desert. I got a slow cruising pace because my goal was to finish. Not to finish fast.
I did not encounter a single other runner in the race until around mile six. We were coming up on an out and back area. It was a spot the race pointed out on the map and said 30k runners must do this little out and back. The signage was a little confusing but I had studied the course, knew the park, and had the route in my watch. This older man stopped me to ask which way we were supposed to go and I tried to explain and he was like BUT THESE SIGNS! So, I showed him my watch and he finally was like oh, ok and started following me. I tried to keep my pace but he kept talking to me and I felt like an asshole if I didn’t slow and talk to him.
There was an aid station at the turnaround and I tossed my trash and grabbed a small pickle slice. I didn’t take anything else because I had my own stuff and I felt that the aid station was for the ultrarunners, not me. Anyway, I booked outta there hoping to get ahead of the talkative guy. I was just not in the headspace to chat.
I knew what was coming next and I was dreading it. I’ve done this climb before. I’ve completed it at least twice and had to give up once. It turns out, I’m not a goat. I hate climbing. I hate gaining elevation.
In preparation I even started a new daily asthma medication hoping it would help me in these situations.
It did not.
I still struggled to breathe going up and took many rest breaks. The old man, two ladies, and I kept passing each other as we all would stop to catch our breath.
At this point we were also encountering the longer distance runners passing us in both directions. Knowing I wasn’t going for time, I kept stopping and letting people pass especially on the narrower, single track spots. Somewhere in this climb I skipped my scheduled fueling. Again, this was gonna haunt me later.
At some point I lost signal and lost my podcasts so I had to listen to myself breathing. It was pretty awful. Next time I’ll remember to download a few to get me through these spots. Well, if there’s a next time.
Eventually I reached the second aid station. It was around mile 14 and I had finished my skratch so I took advantage and refilled with whatever drink they had. A quick glance at the food and I didn’t think there was anything I could actually eat. Everything was packaged and none of it was anything I recognized as gluten free so I stuck with my gels and chews.
I finally hit the downhill section that meant only a few more miles to go! I felt like I was flying down the trail. This was a trail I knew and loved. And all the hikers were cheering and moving aside without me even asking! And then I almost biffed it. I caught my toe on a rock but was able to stay upright by airplaning my arms. Brought me back down to earth a bit.
The last stretch was about 3 miles and basically flat with only a few spots down and out of ravines. It should have been an easy cruise through. But it felt just as hard as that earlier climb.
There was one last aid station about 2 miles from the finish. I skipped it thinking I didn’t need anything since I was so close. I really should have stopped and got some real calories. My body did not want anymore gels or chews. But nooooo, I thought I’d just keep going and run into the finish.
I swear they moved the finish. It seemed so much further than 2 miles. I alternated between run/walk but it was so hard to muster the energy to run. And all these ultrarunners would pass me, looking no worse for the wear, and cheer me on while I looked like death and was doing a fraction of their distances.
And then of course was the cruelest part of ot all, right before the finish was a climb out of a ravine. And not a little on either. I wanted to just give up and be done. I didn’t. I sucked it up, gave myself a pep talk, and went for it.
And then, just like that, almost 6 hours later I was done. And just in time because the wind was really kicking up. Not like a slight breeze but some big gusts. I was tired. I was shaking. I was starving. I went over to the food table and was seeing what was available since you know celiac disease means I need to be careful. I saw watermelon and that was all I wanted.
One of the volunteers came over and asked if there was something she could help me with. I dunno, could have been my exhaustion but it felt like she didn’t really want to help me. I asked for some watermelon and she gave me one slice. Like I get others need food too but one slice? It’s not like I asked for one of everything. It just really turned me off.
So I inhaled that one slice of watermelon and walked to my truck. I had to figure out what I could order and pick up. I ended up ordering cheese fries and a cobb salad. Oh and a cherry coke, not diet lol I ended up eating maybe a fourth of the fries and salad. I had leftovers for the next day.
One thing I noticed was my right hip stared getting tight around mile 17 much like it did in the marathon at mile 20. I know I have tight hips naturally but now I need to consider if I should be doing these longer distances and if I do, how can I help my hip not tighten up? These are questions for another day.
After the 30k I took three weeks off and have been starting to build up my miles again. I do not have any more races on my calendar and no plans to add any. I have decided to take some time off from training for races and focus on fat and/or weight loss over the summer. Its hard to lose weight when you are training for marathons and ultras. Also I don’t want another summer of running double digits in 90°plus heat.
I talked with my coach and we are going to keep my long runs at 6-8 miles until I decide on a distance. She’s also adding a bike workout to my week and I’m going to do four days of weight training.
So I weighed in, took measurements, and progress photos and have started trying to lose fat. And get bulkeh!
One last thing I want to touch on. In March I was formally diagnosed with adhd and started on medication. It has already made a huge impact for me. I am less irritable. I’m more patient. My anxiety is pretty much gone. I actually feel like I’ve slept. I don’t need afternoon caffeine. I no longer have uncontrollable chocolate or sweet cravings. I can decide to have a serving of ice cream or cookies and not go back and eat the entire package. I almost wish I knew sooner.
I don’t know if it will help my running and workouts but I think it will. I no longer have crushing fatigue. I can come home from work, make dinner, and still have the energy to lift weights. I no longer have the arguments with myself to just get up and run or lift. It’s hard to explain to people how you want to do something but you. just. can’t. It’s not as easy as just doing it. But on medication? It is much easier!
That is where I’m at now. Next month I will update my fat loss progress and how training is going. These catch up podcasts probably won’t be as long as this one since I’m covering four months and three races.
What have you been up to these past few months? Have you had any good (or bad) race experiences? Whats your training looking like for summer? Or winter if you are in the southern hemisphere?
You can always email me at jenna at runs on espresso dot com. Want to follow my day to day goings on? Head over to Instagram dot com slash runs underscore on underscore espresso. I’ve been posting my weight loss journey over on tik tik dot com slash at runs on espresso.
And if you’re feeling generous, you can buy me a cup of coffee at ko dash fi dot com slash runs on espresso. Don’t feel you have to pay me at all. I just appreciate you listening and following. If you want to help out, share this podcast with a friend! That’s even more helpful to me than money.
Until next time, may your runs be as strong as your coffee.
Wow, I can’t believe it’s February already! This year is flying by. To start the month I was right on track for my annual goal. Let’s hope I can keep that up!
The Bullet Journal Method by Ruder Carroll
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I decided to read the original creator of the Bujo method to see what the hype was about. I did enjoy this book although a few times I felt he went on a little bit too much about the how.
It was well written and fairly organized. Although there were way too many hyperlinks in the ebook. I stopped clicking on them after the first few. I thought he explained the setup in a logical way and gave a solid reason behind why you do it this way. I liked the examples and wish there had been a few more.
Compared to Down Journaling I read a while back (read that review here), I would say The Bullet Journal Method was much better at explaining and showing. If you are interested in bullet journaling, read this book.
Layla by Colleen Hoover
⭐⭐/5
Where to start on this one? I really liked the description and was hoping for a great genre smash of thriller and supernatural. It fell far short of expectations. It wasn’t the worst book and I almost DNF’d it. But I wanted to see how it would wrap up. I finished it but I would not recommend this to anyone.
It is told from Leeds point of view and Hoover wants us to like him. Desperately so. But he is insufferable. The writing itself is good. The potential was good. The execution was bad. The twist was obvious early on. I kept reading to make sure I was right.
If you want a thriller and supernatural story read The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James instead.
The Girl in the Woods by Gregg Olsen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Oh boy, another one in the Waterman and Stark series. I really love these women! They are great characters.
A foot is found in the woods, but who does it belong to? That mystery is answered quickly when 16 yer old Darby is reported missing by her mom. Of course, Waterman and Stark are on the case. While working on this case, Ted Roberts, a 40-year-old man, dies under mysterious circumstances. Have no fear W&S are on this case too!
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I had a feeling the two cases would connect but I was kept guessing until the very end on the how. Olsen still does some sharp switches between scenes but it was less jarring in this one than in the first two books. Or maybe I am just used to it now.
I would recommend this to people who like thrillers and try to solve the mystery before the ending!
To Love Jason Thorn by
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Olive falls for her brothers bff Jason as a young girl. Eventually, he moves away and life goes on. Flash forward to Jason being a big deal action movie star with a trouble image. In the meantime, Olive is graduating college early (we’re never told how early – seems like a semester or a year) and her self published book is getting made into a movie.
Cue the reunion. And the will they, won’t they. And the conflict. And the happily ever after.
The one thing that always annoys me in these types of books is the repeated use of some stupid nickname. In this book it was sweetheart. After a while I started to cringe as I read it. The other thing I didn’t like is there were a couple of plot points I didn’t feel like the author addressed when wrapping up. There is a second book in this series that focuses on Olive’s BFF Lucy so maybe they are covered in that book.
Overall, this is not a bad book. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? It would depend. Do you like cheesy romance novels with graphic sex scenes? Then yes. If not, skip this one.
What book(s) did you read in February? What was your favorite?
Want to see see the booktok version of my monthly reads? Follow on TikTok!
I set another goal to read 52 books this year. I find I can usually read about a book a week, usually, I end up reading between 52 and 60. So I like to keep it simple with 52. Here are the books I read in January.
The Cold Vanish by Jon Billman
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I received a copy from Netgalley for free in exchange for my review.
The Cold Vanish is a study in missing people but not just any missing people. It looks at those who go missing in National Parks and other wilderness areas.
The main focus of the book is Jacob Gray who went missing in Olympic National Park. In between the story of the search for Jacob the author covers other missing people. I enjoyed the format but it may be off putting to others as the main story does bounce around.
Billman does touch upon psychics and cryptids such as Bigfoot. He mentions them because they do come up in every missing person case but it’s clear he doesn’t think Bigfoot is kidnapping people. It seems it’s mentioned only to highlight how things can appear strange when a body is found months or years later in an area previously searched.
Yes, it is strange but mother nature has a way of hiding things. Recently during a search for a missing hiker at the Grand Canyon another body was found of a man who went missing in 2015. His body was found at a popular point on the south rim. His clothes and the angle made it difficult to see. Strange? Yes but definitely not Bigfoot.
Families often want an answer but unfortunately there isn’t always one.
Being a trail runner and hiker, I understand how easy it is to get disoriented or lose a trail. How one could be out longer than expected and run out of food and water. To not be prepared for the elements. Living in Phoenix, I see the tourists that don’t get the summer heat and think they can hike at 10 am with a small water bottle. Even locals sometimes underestimate the power of nature.
The important thing about this book is it highlights the issues around wilderness search and rescue plus our law enforcement’s general attitude of adults who go missing. Yes, adults can choose to walk away from their lives but how many really do?
The National Park Services has a list of missing persons on their website. The Park Predators podcast highlights true crime in National Parks. Some unsolved. Some involving missing people, including a park ranger.
I have read many of Billman’s articles before. I have always enjoyed his writing. He writes beautiful passages but also presents the facts. He brings attention to missing persons cases, which to me is always a good thing. The more we are aware, the more we can change how things are handled and hopefully find more of the missing. He makes you care.
I would recommend this book to people who like true crime and have an avid interest in the outdoors.
Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom: Discovering the Power of Pictures by Rick Sammon
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
A photo book without photos and guess what? It’s awesome! I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter is a look at how photography can be used as therapy and/or tips to improve your photography. At the end of each chapter is an assignment. Some involve photography, others are more internal work or thought provoking.
I will admit I am a fan of Rick Sammon’s photography and teaching but I really do think this book is a great read for anyone interested in pushing their own photography skills.
Later by Stephen King
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Oh boy, how to write a review for this without giving anything away! There is so much I want to say but everything I write I keep erasing because it starts to give away the plot.
A basic summary… our young protagonist can see and talk to ghosts. Hijinks ensue. Think Sixth Sense but not.
Sorry, I want to give you more but then I veer into spoiler territory!
If you’re a King fan, definitely worth the read. It’s actually a short book so if you’ve been intimidated by the length of some of his other books, give this one a try.
Unf*ck Your Habitat: You’re Better Than Your Mess by Rachel Hoffman
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I actually liked this book. Hoffman doesn’t really give me anything new but I enjoy her writing style.
Basically, her method is 20/10. 20 minutes, 10 times a day. Or you can do 5/1. Or whatever you can do each day to get sh*t done.
Last month I read Marie Kondo’s book and hated the concept. You can read the review here. I much prefer Unf*ck Your Habitat. I totally get it won’t be for everyone one but it clicked for me. Maybe you’d prefer Marie Kondo. That’s cool. That’s why I love books! Everyone can find what works for them.
Have you read any good books lately? Drop ‘em in the comments!
Are you following me on TikTok? No?! Well, head on over and give me a follow to see the fun booktoks I create each month!
To quote Stacy Sims “women are not small men”. Sims has a Ph.D. in exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist. She wrote the book Roar, all about women and fitness. I read it a few years ago and it really resonated with me not only as an athlete but also as a photographer.
Lowepro 200 AW in the wild – Still quite large for my frame
Most of the world is built and tested on men. Then products for women are sized down. But really, we are different, not just smaller. We have different requirements. I used to use a Canon DSLR. I loved it, or so I thought I did. I thought I’d be with Canon forever. I mean, my very first (film) camera was a canon. Why would I ever leave them?
I wanted something smaller and lighter. The DSLR was bulky in my small hands. Carrying and shooting it for hours at a time was painful. I thought maybe a mirrorless would be better for my travel and landscape photography. They are supposed to be so much lighter so I started looking into them. At the time, there was no Canon mirrorless.
I went and looked at Sony and Fuji. I held them. I played with the settings. I realized the Fuji was much lighter and smaller. It was easier for me to hold. I didn’t think I would be switching to Fuji, just supplementing my Canon.
I haven’t looked back since.
Awesome, now I have this light camera that fits my hands. Now I need something to carry it in while hiking. Because we hike. Sometimes double-digit distances. I need something comfortable I can carry my camera and lenses in. A platty pod and a few small accessories. It also needs to hold a bladder for water because I live in the freaking desert. Oh, and maybe some food. Because again, we hike far and often eat lunch on our hikes. Is that too much to ask?
Apparently, it is.
I’ve tried several styles and sizes. I had to return one because I swear it was as tall as me (and I’m 5’6). That thing was HUGE. I finally settled on Lowepro 200 AW (this is the newer version of it). It’s still a bit large on me and gets quite heavy with very little gear in it. The straps also don’t *quite* fit my anatomy. I mean people have hips and boobs, it’s shocking. I know.
And don’t get me started on camera straps. Again, I’ve tried a few. None of them seem to work around boobs and dig into my neck. I use a Joby ultrafit sling for women. Even though it is labeled as a woman’s strap. It’s the best that I have found so far.
I know I am not the only woman that feels this way. I have heard from others that struggle with dslr weight and sizes or can’t find a bag or strap that works for them. Even when things are labeled for women, they don’t always work for us. I’d love to see some companies really work with women to design products that fit all women.
I really don’t think that is too much to ask.
What products would you like to see made for women? Drop em in the comments!
Follow me on Instagram and YouTube to see our hiking and off-road adventures!
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Whew, almost caught up with all my monthly reads! Here is December and hopefully I will get January out before February is over! (And then get February out at the start of March. Cuz then I’ll be back on track)
Dot Journaling by Rachel Wilkerson Miller
⭐⭐⭐/5
Dot Journaling is a very basic breakdown of starting a bujo. I had hoped the author would have some more advanced ideas but everything in this book is easily found online. The book is well written but the author gives her opinion on each spread. She likes them all, even if she doesn’t use them. I would have found it more believable if she was like, “I don’t like this but it may work for you”. I’d like real opinions, not everything is great!
Do a google search, look at some YouTube videos, and check out Pinterest instead.
Virgin River by Robyn Carr
⭐⭐⭐/5
I decided to read the book before watching the hit Netflix show. I really do enjoy reading before watching. I have heard the show is better than the book. I enjoyed the overall story so I’ll check out the show, not sure if I will continue reading the series though.
The story of a big-city girl who moves to a small town deals with a curmudgeon for a boss and falls in love with the boy next door is fine. Predictable but fine. Some of the writing was just not my taste. There was also one graphic passage I felt uncomfortable reading and didn’t think it added to the story. The author could have gotten the point across without going into such detail.
I can see why these books are popular, just not really my cup of tea.
The Clause in Christmas by Rachael Bloome
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Ok, now this? This is a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form and I AM HERE FOR IT. This was my favorite book I read this month. It was super cute and if you like those cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies, you need to read this book.
Cassie is down on her luck and not looking forward to the Christmas season. Her estranged grandmother has unexpectedly left Cassie her house in small-town Poppy Creek. Except there’s a catch. Cassie needs to complete the Christmas calendar. Along the way, she falls in love with loveable lawyer Luke and becomes close with many other residents of Poppy Creek. But will Cassie be able to finish the Christmas calendar in time?
Y’all. I am not kidding you. I loved this book and could not put it down. It is the first in a series and I keep waiting for the next book to make it to Prime Reading.
Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Imagine one day opening the mail to find a letter from your wife’s lover’s wife. Carrie finds out her husband is having an affair. Instead of confronting him, she writes to her husband’s lovers husband. The two start a correspondence and a friendship develops along the way.
This book is interesting as it is presented as a series of letters between the characters. It is a short story and very easy to read. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to pretty much anyone.
Get Messy by Caylee Gray
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I’ve been interested in starting an art journal for the last few months. I have watched some videos, looked at art journals on Instagram and Reddit, and when I saw Get Messy by Caylee Grey on Netgalley I knew I had to request it.
Luckily I was picked for a free copy. I started reading it almost immediately. Although I haven’t officially started an art journal, I have per Grey unofficially started as I have been doing something daily to inspire creativity and working on ideas on scraps of paper.
Get Messy doesn’t present anything new but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Often I need to be reminded of the what, why, and how of art and creativity.
After going over supplies, she gets into the trails, spark, grow, and cultivate. Kinda like choose your own adventure but with art and creativity! Each trail offers several activities to help spark ideas and spreads in your art journal.
Her writing style is easy to read and feels like I’m talking with a friend. I also liked that there were several color photos to go along with each project. It really helps to have images to go along with the written instructions. Sometimes you read something and go huh? But having a photo to reference is extremely helpful
This would be a great book for those looking to start or very early in their art journal. Even though I’m a beginner, I don’t know that this would provide much help for those that are more advanced art journalers. I may reference it as I start my art journal but I don’t see using it much once I get further into the hobby.
The Ultra Mindset by Travis Macy
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
The Ultra Mindset is life lessons from a pro endurance athlete Travis Macy. The subtitle of the book is “an endurance champions 8 core principles for success in business, sports, and life”. And yes, all of the advice can apply to any area of your life. It’s not meant just for ultra athletes to read.
I liked the setup of the book, each chapter presented one of the principles. Macy gave examples of how it applied to his life and racing and then he showed how these principles could also apply to business or life, not just sports. At the end of each chapter, there are activities or questions for you to think about how you can apply the principle to your life.
The writing was great. Macy wrote really eloquently and I often felt like I was with him on his adventures. He made me want to keep reading. I was recommended this book by an ultra runner when I was debating if I was capable of completing an ultra. It is definitely a great read for ultra athletes but really anyone could benefit from reading The Ultra Mindset.
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
⭐⭐⭐/5
I thought I would finally see what all the hype was with this book. Let me preface this with… I do not agree with like 99% of Marie Kondo’s philosophy on clutter/belongings. She seems to have a very what I call hippie-dippie trippy attitude. It’s cool, it’s just not for me.
Most of the book is Kondo repeating herself. It didn’t feel like being repetitive to instill the concept, more like trying to fill pages.
Part of her philosophy is to discard books you haven’t read yet and if you find you want to read it later to rebuy the book when you are ready to read. This is just wasteful. I have more than her recommended 3-40 unread books and I will not be discarding any of them and rebuying them later. She also says not to stockpile because people enjoy seeing how long they can go without or finding substitutes. Nope, that does not sound like fun. I hate when I run out of something and have to make an extra trip to get more.
She said to trash photos that are just random places. Nope. As someone who has taken “random places” photos my whole life, NOPE. I enjoy looking back at the places I’ve been and reliving memories of those times. She has other strange ideas such as putting your bookshelf and books in the closets so they aren’t visible. Or taking everything out of your purse each night and putting it away in a closet. You want me to forget something this is the easiest way to do so. Like my work badge stays in the same pocket of my work bag at all times or I will show up at work without my badge.
I do agree that a messy house and too much stuff does affect your mental health. I think there are many ways to go about decluttering and Marie Kondo’s way isn’t for me. I would say if you are interested in decluttering to check it out. It may click in your brain. We all don’t think the same and that’s ok.
Did you read any Christmas or holiday-themed books in December? Let me know in the comments so I can add to my list for this December.
Are you on TikTok? If so, be sure to follow me since I post some booktoks there!
February is a great month to remind ourselves we need to practice self-care and love ourselves. I truly believe we can’t fully take care of others without taking care of ourselves first. Kind of like the airline reminder to put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others.
But what does self-care look like?
Well, it’s gonna be different for everyone. What I need is going to be different from what you need. And what we need may change over time, even from week to week. Self-care can be broken down into several categories and the areas you want to focus on will change.
What are the different categories? And what are some things you can do within each category?
Physical – take care of your body. Ask yourself do you need more sleep? Water? Are you eating enough?
Social – take care of your relationships. Go to brunch with friends. Plan a date night.
Mental – keep your mind engaged. Read a good book lately? Went to a museum?
Spiritual – not necessarily religious but finding deeper meaning. Attend church service. Take time to meditate.
Emotional – take time to acknowledge and/or express your feelings. Write in a journal. Make your art.
What else can be considered self-care?
Trying to get your spending under control? Take time to work on your budget. Maybe you want to relax a bit, put on a face mask, and lay in bed for 10-15 minutes. Maybe your clothes have taken over your bedroom and taking a few minutes each day to sort and organize is your self-care.
And lastly, be sure to add these self-care items to your planner or bujo! You don’t want to forget to make time for yourself. Make a standing appointment to do something little each day. For example, I journal every night at 8 pm. It’s in my planner and on my Google calendar. Then on Sundays, I mark a slot for self-care. I usually do something like take the dog for a leisurely walk, yoga, or a facemask. Things I don’t always do during the week because I don’t always have the time.
I realize there are many more things you can do for self-care. Let’s get a list going of everyone’s ideas! What self-care are you going to do this week? Drop it in the comments so we can all get new ways for taking care of ourselves!
Join my Facebook Group, Runs on Planning. We can share more ideas on how to take care of ourselves!
Every 6 months or so I start looking for new landscape or nature photographers to follow. I do a basic Google search and usually find several “top insert any number here landscape photographers to follow”. I would say almost 100% of the time those lists are all male photographers. Every now and again a list will have a female landscape photographer on it. One.
During the pandemic, I took several online conferences which featured a variety of teachers and covered topics such as outdoors, travel, wildlife, and landscape. One of them had one female instructor out of eight. The others ranged from two to six. Percentage-wise the range was 12.5% to 31%. We couldn’t even get to 50% female instructors? I don’t want to knock these conferences. They were great and I learned a lot. I respect the instructors and think they are amazing photographers and teachers. I am only using it to demonstrate the imbalance in these genres.
I think many people associate women with wedding and portrait photography. When I first picked my camera back up I tried to do documentary portrait work in addition to landscape. As much as I enjoyed it, it wasn’t for me. My passion for landscape and nature photography is just too great.
Female landscape, nature, and wildlife photographers are out there, we are not unicorns.
During the pandemic, I started thinking about what can I do to help make female photographers in these types of genres more visible. I still haven’t figured out exactly what I’m going to do but if you see a problem and do nothing, you are part of the problem.
I know we’re out there and I know we can create just as amazing images as male photographers. If you search long enough and use the correct terms you can find a few groups of female landscape photographers. But you have to be searching specifically for female photographers of these genres or women landscape photographers. And really, this should not be the case. We shouldn’t have to search pages or enter female or woman fill-in-the-blank photographers.
I’ve always been an introvert and lone-wolf type. Part of my goals for myself in 2022 has been to get out of my comfort zone and take more risks. Even though I don’t have a plan yet, I am putting this into the world. Because I do want to do something, just not sure what that something will look like yet. I think the easiest way to start is to feature female photographers on my blog. Create my own top insert number here lists.
On my last search for female photographers in landscape photography, I came across In Focus Women. Their vision/mission is pretty much the same one I have. To support female landscape photographers. I immediately followed their Instagram and joined their Facebook group. I added their podcast to my playlist and started binging.
I want to do more to elevate women in these genres and this year I’m going to try.
Who are your favorite female photographers that are out shooting landscapes, nature, or wildlife? Drop them in the comments! Also, if you have any ideas for me to lift other women up let me know.
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After a slow September and October, I picked things up for the last two months of the year. I wanted to make sure I reached my goal of 52 books in 2021! These will only be the books I read in November. I will do a separate post for December.
Hannibal by Thomas Harris
⭐⭐/5
I started this in October. It was a long, slow read. It is the third in the Hannibal Lecter series and honestly the worst. Harris spent far too much time building the story, mostly with unnecessary details. The ending was maddening. If I had been reading an actual book I would have thrown it lacrosse the room. I didn’t want to break my kindle though, so I slowly closed the cover and went WTF. Do not recommend. Read Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs and call it a day.
The Endurance Diet by Matt Fitzgerald
⭐⭐⭐/5
Usually, I love Matt Fitzgerald’s books. This is an exception. It is well written but it just didn’t capture my attention. If you enjoy reading, in detail, what elite athletes eat then this book might be for you. I wouldn’t mind if it was here’s an example and here’s how you can eat similarly but it felt like here’s a general rule and now here are eight pages about what this one cyclist eats. It fell short for me.
Five Total Strangers by Natalie D Richards
⭐⭐⭐/5
Everyone is trying to get home for Christmas but the weather is canceling all flights. Five young adults decide to rent a car and drive. But things aren’t that easy. Someone is up to no good.
This was an easy, fast-paced book. I think it was fairly predictable. I could see the twist coming. If you like thrillers and mysteries this isn’t a bad read.
The Bone Box by Gregg Olsen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
The Bone Box is a short story in the Waterman and Stark series. It focuses on an old case in Waterman’s family. Detective Stark wasn’t in this book. I thought this was an excellent short story in the series and wished it was longer. Waterman is one of my favorite characters in the series and I loved this focus on her. This could work as a stand alone but I would recommend it if you enjoyed the other Waterman and Stark books.
Rise & Run by Shalane Flanagan & Elyse Kopecky
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Yes, I read cookbooks from beginning to end when I first get them. I really liked that they included more than just recipes in this book. They put together a training plan for readers. Plus all of the recipes look delicious! I can’t wait to start making some yummy foods! I would recommend this if you have their other books or are a runner interested in fueling yourself.
The Lost Soul of the City by Dean Koontz
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
The Lost Soul is book one in season two of the Nameless short story series. I read all of season one last year and really enjoyed them. I felt The Lost Soul wasn’t quite to the same level as the stories in season one. The writing felt different, rushed. I will still read the other stories in season two as I like the Nameless character and this could be a fluke.
The Upside of Falling by Alex Light ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
A light-hearted teen romance book. Bookworm Becca doesn’t believe in love since her parent’s divorce. One day, by sheer accident, football star Brett steps in and says they are dating. They start hanging out to keep up the charade but hijinks ensue.
I adored this book. It was a cute story. I would recommend if you like young adult romance.
When I Was You by Minka Kent
⭐⭐⭐/5
Brienne survives a brutal attack only to find someone seems to have stolen her identity. The writing was decent and was a fairly easy read. It moved a bit slow for my taste. I also thought the concept seemed a bit farfetched especially with how quickly it wrapped up. I’d have preferred the first half of the book to move faster and take a little more time with the ending.
I previously read Stillwater Girls by the same author. I would tell you to read that one instead. When I was You isn’t bad but Stillwater Girls is so much better.
I know these reviews were short and sweet. I read a lot of books in November and decided to write shorter reviews so as not to overwhelm you! Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments which one and your thoughts on it!
Did you know I do a slideshow of each month’s books on TikTok? Head over there and be sure to give me a follow!
