Summer 2020 Reading List (plus more) by The Kerrie Show Blog

Yes, friends, family, fans and freaky fast readers, it's that time again, and I don't know about you, but I'm excited to get crackin' on The Kerrie Show Blog's Summer 2020 Reading List!

Not sure what your part of the world looks like right now, but our library system here in the middle of America is a little bit still on lockdown and has been for a coupla months. That means I've been digging out some buried books from my closet as well as ordering some new ones from eBay … and then sitting by the mailbox in a chair waiting for them to arrive. My husband thinks I have a problem but, hey, when I'm reading I'm out of HIS hair, right?!

Conversely, find me on Goodreads and let's connect so you can see what I'm reading and I can see what you recommend! And here is the 2020 Summer Reading List!

I have to admit I already started this one. I get bored with it, then something perks me up and makes perfect sense. I read it to Sam the other night and it made him sleepy. He's 10. Anyway, my goal is to get unstuck from a whole lot of writing projects as homeschooling slows down and summer hits my household full force.

I think I picked this one up at church and never read it. It's pretty thin but I'm hoping it packs a helpful punch.

LOVE Shirley Jackson. Watched The Haunting of Hill House series a while back based on her novel, then recently read a short story by her called Charles to my 12-year-old daughter and we laughed and laughed. Our ex-neighbor recommended the story The Lottery, so I said why not get even more stories by her? (I'm wondering already if Suzanne Collins got the idea for the Hunger Games series from The Lottery)

I like my husband. I love my husband. I should be praying for him with more specific intentions.

This will just be a guilty pleasure read, I'm guessing. (started May 11, finished _______)

I like my kids. I love my kids. I'm gonna pray for them with more specific intentions.

I kinda feel like I have to read this one since we moved to a city called Peculiar, MO. My kids don't normally like this kind of dark stuff, so I'm doing a pre-reading for them. I like that there are more books after it.

Been meaning/needing to read this one for years. 

I love me some vintage times. When the kids are all moved out, Aron and I plan to burn all our current furniture (except for the items he made himself) and buy up all the mid-century modern we can get our grubby hands on!

My friend Ginette mentioned this once and I thought it sounded like a good thing to check out.

I got this one years ago with a Half Price Books gift card from my dad and stepmom, but I never read it. Loved his earlier stuff when I was in my 20s. Hope I also love this one.

Pretty sure I proofread this for one of my very first clients on Fiverr like 7 years ago. Full of good info.

This is one of my favorite authors, or she used to be anyway. Haven't read her work in a long time. Loved The Handmaid's Tale … haunting (check out the slow taking of power from the women and the people over time). Read The Robber Bride to Aron when we were first dating (poor guy). Got my daughter Callie's name from The Blind Assassin in 2000. Hoping to fall deeply in love with this book.

If none of these float your boat or you flew through them and need more ideas, check out the 2020 Summer Reading List by Sarah's Bookshelves here.

Resurrecting Reading as a Mom: Hands-Free Life (9 Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better & Loving More)

I used to be a voracious reader. I remember those first few years of marriage when Aron would be cooking (he loves to do it and does it well) and I'd be snuggled up by a fire (our first apartment had a fireplace!) reading a book. I remember Memoirs of a Geisha, Little Altars Everywhere, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and a ton more, many of them from Oprah's book club list. (by the way, friend me on Goodreads so we can share book recommendations!)

Then I had my first baby and ... I KEPT READING! I structured my life so that I had plenty of time to read. I nursed my baby to sleep and instead of putting him down somewhere else in the house, I kept him in my arms and picked up a book. Okay, sometimes I watched soap operas and daytime talk shows, but a read a lot. I read mostly nonfiction then ... books on attachment parenting and parenting in general and self-help books so I could try to be the best mom for my kid. After my second baby came along I was able to keep it up ... focus moved to homeschooling books and "how to parent boys" books, since I now had two of those.

How Can You Celebrate Your Anniversary Stuck Inside?

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As we slide into day infinity of lockdown, couples who had big plans for their anniversary are probably wondering how they can make this year, this most unique of all years, in fact, extraordinary. Sure, they still buy gifts for one another, they can make breakfast in bed, but within the confines of your four walls, it can be a little difficult to work out what to do, especially when it feels as if you’ve exhausted everything in the house. 

It may be challenging, but it’s not impossible. All you need is a little imagination to make your anniversary as unique as these bizarre and frustrating circumstances allow. 

Your Own Spa

Everyone deserves to be pampered, and now it feels like you deserve to be pampered more than ever before, so exploring home beauty treatments for you and your partner is a great way to start your anniversary. 

If you’ve got a bath, you can squeeze yourselves in together with a face mask, light some candles, or make them do all the hard work with a massage. Put on some light harp-based music, dim the lights, and treat yourself with some bubbles and body lotion. 

Summer Picnic 

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you should make the most of it by having a couple’s picnic under the blue sky and the sun. You can go all out, with all the bread, meats, cheese, olives, strawberries and cream you like, while a bottle of champers wouldn’t go amiss. 

If the weather’s pleasant enough, there’s always the chance for sunbathing and even lawn games, if you’ve got any on hand. 

Bar Crawl 

Ah, the bar crawl. Jumping from watering hole to watering hole, dealing with sticky floors and terrible tunes, and then moving onto the next. You may not be able to visit your favorite haunt, but you can still bring the atmosphere to you. 

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I’m stilling dreaming of the passionfruit vodka from @seacretsusa when I went to #OceanCity, #Maryland with @ritsychan. The tour was excellent with antiques decorating the whole #distillery. They have #infusedvodka, #rum, #whiskey and more. I love the #speakeasy feel and of course, the tasting. Definitely #seacrets is the place to go. #distillery #vodka #alcohol #blogger #alcoholblogger #travelblogger

A post shared by Alyssa T (@beautylovesbooze) on Apr 4, 2020 at 5:57pm PDT

You can create a home bar crawl by setting up drink stations in different rooms. Start with a quick lager in the kitchen before graduating to cocktails and then make your way upstairs for beer pong and karaoke to finish off the night.  

Hotel Casa

You couldn’t treat each other to a fancy hotel where you spent the entire time ordering copious amounts of room service, but that shouldn’t mean you can’t still get a sort-of-the-same-ish experience!

If you’ve got a spare room, one that is typically reserved for guests or when one of you snores, you can switch up your sleeping arrangements by spending a night there. It’s not the same as a hotel. In fact, it’s nowhere close to the same, but with a few mini bottles of booze and some clean sheets, it’s the best you’ve got. 

Happy Anniversary!

While it’s definitely one of the most unusual anniversaries you’ll ever have, it also has the potential to be the most memorable. You don’t need to take each other on a globetrotting adventure or spend hundreds on a fancy meal, as long as you have one another, you’re able to celebrate your anniversary stuck inside your way. 

Moving On After An Accident: Tips To Help You Get Back On Your Feet

Being involved in an accident can have a tremendous effect on your life. In some instances, an accident can turn your world upside down. It can be hard to know what to do and how to move your life forward after an accident. Many people spend the days, weeks, or even longer following an incident coming to terms with the reality of what happened. 

It is entirely understandable that being involved in an accident can have such a major effect on a person. It is a startling experience to discover that what started as just another typical day unexpectedly shifts profoundly in a split second. It may make it much more difficult to figure out how to deal with what has happened if you are hurt in an accident.

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Don't be afraid to talk about what happened

If you are left feeling anxious or distressed about the accident, it's a good idea to open up and talk to someone about how you feel. Talking to a therapist or doctor about how you feel will help you make sense of what has happened and find the right treatment to help you recover. 

It is also helpful to speak to someone close to you that you trust so that they can assist you through this tough period and help you process what has happened.  Trusted friends and family can provide an invaluable support network to help you get back to your old self. 

Get some legal advice

If the actions of another person caused the accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Being involved in an accident will leave you with medical bills to contend with, as well as with the loss of earnings. Speaking to reputable personal injury lawyer services will help you decide whether you can make a personal injury claim. 

If you are eligible to seek compensation, it will help you take the financial pressure off your hands and give you the ability to concentrate on healing from your injuries.

Give yourself time to recover

It is vital that you give yourself the time you need to heal from the accident. Far too often, after an accident, people place immense pressure on themselves to get back to normal as quickly as possible. This doesn't allow them enough time to deal with the accident or to recover from it fully, which can cause long term mental and physical health issues. 

Remember, everybody is different, and just because someone else gets over something rapidly, you should not feel under pressure to push yourself to do the same thing. Similarly, if you feel a lot better, you are not expected to feel guilty for fast recovery. It's important to take life at your own pace when you're recovering from an accident. It might feel like you're never going to get back to feeling like yourself again, but giving yourself the time you need to heal and get the right advice and support will help you get on the path to recovery.

Why Soundproofing Your Property Can Change Your Life

Noise pollution is frustrating. However, what you may not realize is that exposure to excessive noise can also be deadly. Can decibels kill you? Science says yes. A report on the effect of noise on health by the WHO has found that noise pollution can create serious health complications. The most obvious health issue everybody can think of is insomnia. When the city is too loud at night, you find yourself lying down in bed and being unable to sleep. While you may be able to catch up with the lost sleep over a few nights, when it becomes a recurring occurrence, there is nothing you can do. Insomnia weakens your immune system and can, in the long-term, shorten your life expectancy. Even something as banal as feeling annoyed by loud sounds can impact your heart health, and lead to premature death. Noise can kill you. As such, if you’re going to boost your life, you need to understand how to best soundproof your property. 

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Protect your hearing

Hearing health deteriorates with age for most people. Protecting your hearing is an integral part of your social activities. You probably know that you should attend concerts with earplugs to limit the deafening effects of loud music. But what you may not know is that your neighbor’s lawnmower can be just as devastating on your hearing. Indeed, noisy neighbors can, in the long term, damage your hearing if they expose your household to high decibels. Home improvement works, engines, and prolonged exposure to party music can lead to hearing complaints. Soundproofing your property will act as the ultimate protection against decibels intrusion. 

More profitable as a landlord

If you own a rental, you can also add soundproofing and sound monitoring elements. How to manage sounds in your rental? You can find out more, here. But, in essence, you can use a sound monitor to track loud noises in and around the property. This can be useful not only to find out if your tenants are too loud but also to identify potential sources of noise pollution. Loud neighbors, for instance, can be an issue in rented properties. Most landlords refuse to soundproof the place. However, if you can record evidence of noise pollution, you can not only find a soundproofing expert but also refer your neighbors to the authorities. Making your rental more welcoming makes it easier to keep your tenants for longer. 

Create a peaceful environment

Your home is a sanctuary of peace. It is the place where you should feel safe and comfortable. Noise can create a stressful environment. Simple changes, such as replacing your windows with a modern or double-glazing option, can help reduce urban sounds. If you’re going to change your doors and windows with soundproofing in mind, do make sure to research the most efficient design for your interior, both in noise reduction and energy saving. After all, there’s no point in creating a quiet space if it’s freezing cold in winter! A relaxing and soothing home can help reduce stress levels and become a source of inner health. 

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Managing your exposure to sounds can transform your life. Sounds affect your mental and physical health, but also your financial health. A place that is exposed to constant loud noises is less profitable for landlords or other property investors. Noise, in short, is an enemy you need to tackle effectively in everyday life.