Remember book reports when we were in school? For some they were a dreaded terrible thing, for others they were fun ways to recall your favorite book and an easy format to tell someone what the book was about. I've decided to post some reports of my favorite books; let's jump right in.     I picked up this book at the library in Venice CA. it was for sale, I was drawn to the cover and I also liked the title. I had no idea that the story was about to blow me away! Author: Hannah Tennant-Moore Title: Wreck & Order ( a novel) Main Characters: Elise, her father, Jared, Suriya, Brian Setting: This book took place many places. Elise was traveling throughout the story. She went from New York to California, to Sri Lanka, to Paris. Probably not in that order & I may be forgetting to mention a place or two. Plot: This was about Elise, her travels, her view of the world & how that lead her to many moments of self analyzation.   Personal Endorsement: ...

 Remember book reports when we were in school? For some they were a dreaded terrible thing, for others they were fun ways to recall your favorite book and an easy format to tell someone what the book was about. I've decided to post some reports of my favorite books; let's jump right in.     I picked up this book in one of those lil cute outside free libraries in Brentwood, CA. I was drawn to the title. I had no idea that the story was going to be so relatable & such an inspiration! Author: Julia Michael Johnston Title: Mary Baker Eddy: Her Mission & Triumph Main Characters: This story was mostly narration by the author, it brought Mary Baker to light. ( I was trying to make that sound good🤦🏾‍♀️ truth is; it's been a minute since I read this book I do not remember the characters 😯 Setting: The years 1821 to 1919 mostly in New England   Plot: This story was about a woman who put her mission from God above all else in her life & how she went up ...

  Remember book reports when we were in school? For some they were a dreaded terrible thing, for others they were fun ways to recall your favorite book and an easy format to tell someone what the book was about. I've decided to post some reports of my favorite books; let's jump right in.   I found this book on Germantown Ave. in Philadelphia, inside one of those cute little outside free library take a book share a book boxes. I felt like it was put there especially for me. I mean being as tho I identify as a brown woman and all. I already loved the author so I knew I would love her book! Author:   Iyanla Vanzant Title:    Tapping the Power Within ( A path to Self-empowerment for Black Women) Main Character:     YOU, the person reading the book! Setting:     Where ever you decide to read the book. You should be somewhere quiet, a place you can really concentrate and reflect. Plot:    Iyanla wrote this book to help empower black women...

  Remember book reports when we were in school? For some they were a dreaded terrible thing, for others they were fun ways to recall your favorite book and an easy format to tell someone what the book was about. I've decided to post some reports of my favorite books; let's jump right in . This was another book that I picked out of the little neighborhood outside library. It's a book for young people I guess, but I absolutely loved the story & related a lot to dealing with unexpected circumstances, the trauma associated with starting over & coming into the realization that we can.   Author:   Holly Goldberg Sloan Title:    Counting by 7s Main Characters:     Willow Chance, Dell Duke, Mai, Quang-ha, Pattie & the Taxi driver Setting:       Bakersfield, California   Plot:    This  book touches mainly on loss & change from the perspective of a 12 year old girl and how she managed to show courage in the...

  Remember book reports when we were in school? For some they were a dreaded terrible thing, for others they were fun ways to recall your favorite book and an easy format to tell someone what the book was about. I've decided to post some reports of my favorite books; let's jump right in .     As we know I do enjoy the neighborhood share libraries. They look like little tree houses for books😋 Most of the time when I see them I get out of the car & see what they have. This time I found the second part to Mary Baker Eddy's life story. I like her story because as I said before in the first post about her, I can relate to some things in her life & I share some of her views as well. Author:  Jewel Spangler Smaus Title:   Mary Baker Eddy: The Golden Days Main Characters:     The author, Mary Baker & her Family Setting:   The years focused on the 1800's & majority of the story takes place in Bow, New Hampshire.  Plot:  ...

    Remember book reports when we were in school? For some they were a dreaded terrible thing, for others they were fun ways to recall your favorite book and an easy format to tell someone what the book was about. I've decided to post some reports of the books I've read; let's jump right in . As we know I do enjoy the neighborhood share libraries. They look like little tree houses for books😋 Most of the time when I see them I get out of the car & see what they have. I was drawn to the title & the Illustration on the cover. I said to myself 💭 I wonder what this is about? I grabbed it & read it; it started off as I expected some one writing about being an asshole. Then it took an unexpected turn & I ended up relating quite a bit as well as having moments of disagreement. I even came up with some new topics to write on myself due to some of the things that were said in this book. It had it's slow moments but I enjoyed it all the same.  Author:   J...

      Remember book reports when we were in school? For some they were a dreaded terrible thing, for others they were fun ways to recall your favorite book and an easy format to tell someone what the book was about. I've decided to post some reports of the books I've read; let's jump right in . My son recommended that I read this book. Usually his recommendations come with great results. It took me a while to actually sit down and read this one, it's written in comic book form. That's not why it took me a while, lol I was just preoccupied with other parts of life. You know how it gets when you try to sit and read sometimes. I finally got to it and loved it; I wanted to keep it but I've decided this work of art should be passed on it is a really good story.   Author:  Bryan Lee O'Malley Title:   Lost at Sea Main Characters:    Steph, Raleigh, Dave & Ian  Setting:  Majority of the story takes place in a car with Raleigh and her fr...

  Who Me #4 I am... A quiet & chill soul with a random burst of crazy funny energy. I want... TACOS  I have... Insomnia  I wish... To be a hero in the Marvel universe. I hate... People  I fear... Clowns I hear... My favorite song: Isn't a Trail I search... Of Marvel auditions  I wonder... Will I ever be a singer  I regret... Nothing  I love... Food I ache... For Food I am not... a very outside person  I dance... To music I sing... Sweet low or high tones I never... Go out of my range I rarely... Cry I cry... Never I am not always... Emotionally there I lose... My mind instead  I'm confused... About my back story & who I am I need... A hug I should... Eat food I dream...  of not being here anymore & fighting crime like a boss. -Photo drawn by K.C.

                              Wellness over Illness                              Eat Well 2 Live Well  Y'all know I'm a foodie & that i enjoy taste that tingle my tongue! it makes me so happy that I get to embark in the pleasures of life & that so many different taste are introduced into my 🌎!  So let's jump right in & see what I have for y'all this time. This is another piece of Avocado Toast. Breakfast get's crazy for us sometimes. I don't even realize at the time I'm going to be blogging about it. From now on I'm going to remember to drop restaurant locations so you guys continue to know the best places to eat in LA!  These lemon glazed pancakes go with the picture above. They also had fresh strawberries, blueberries & edible flowers. I was scared to order them, hubby wasn't. I was nervous to taste pancak...

  Food Fun Part 4 By now y'all know I'm a foodie & I love food lol it makes me so happy that people are creative & introduce so many different tastes into my 🌎!  So let's jump right in & see what I have for y'all this time. This is a creation I came up with at work 😃 I decided to toast a potato roll & add 🧈, 🥑, & Pink Lady Beets! Made for a delicious🥪 This is the Pink Lady Beets & Goat Cheese Salad on the menu at Mendocino farms restaurant in LA. My absolute favorite! Ok ok this is the Peruvian steak, veggie dish without the steak, also served at Mendocino Farms. The jalapeños were too hot for me.  We move on to one of the best cinnamon buns I ever encountered at Rose Cafe in Venice California! This had cinnamon sprinkled on top! We will end with the BEST Carrot Cake I ever tasted in my life Rose Cafe in Venice You guys are the bomb! My Husband is addicted lol.  -Photos by Jodie Spartz

  Wellness over Illness Eat Healthy, Eat Happy 😋      Everyone's body is different and everything that is called "food" does not agree with everyone the same. As you eat mindfully you come to an understanding of what foods sit well with you and which don't. I consider myself a food enthusiast and I have been introducing myself to new healthy alternatives, for the past 2 yrs. The process of preparing meals & eating them has become more fun and a surprise for my taste buds every time.    Since your here I'd like to share some of my favorite dishes with you!   Now this is a sandwich made at Ralphs Supermarket in Cali. It had honey turkey, smoked gouda cheese, spinach, onions, sweet peppers, sun dried tomato, chipotle dressing & avocado! Yummy in my tummy💜                                                ...

 Wellness over Illness Eat Well 2 Live Well And were back with Food fun Part 4 Let's journey into what Jodie's eating now...  I threw it down on this one! This is Lentil beans, rice, fried brussel sprouts & fried sweet potatoes😁  These Cupcakes were being given out on Venice Beach to Promote Hulu's new show This Fool! The Cupcake was delicious & the show isn't bad either😊  Ok so I kinda burnt the Black bean burgers😅 They were still very good, paired with avocado & sun dried tomatos. The sweet potato fries set it off tho.  Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the coffee shop this bagel came from👀 It was great and I've been dreaming about another one since I ate it about a week ago! It is a plain bagel with cream cheese, avocado, tomato and some kind of Lemon Pepper. I took a bite & sd lord I have to blog about this.   This restaurant is located a bit off of Venice Beach. It's called Modern Mexican. I walked in and was introduce...

Wellness over Illness  Eat Healthy Be Happy   Let's take some time to look at some new food fun ideas mostly made up in my own kitchen, borrowed from a friend or casually taken from a restaurant. If you are not having fun with your food I don't know How U Eating... but I'm eating good!   This was a  French Vanilla Cappuccino from Kiff Kafe Coffee Shop on Pico Blvd in California. The food is absolutely amazing as well.  I will make sure to highlight it in the next  food blog.  Fried Avocados, Omg they were sooo goooooood! And the sauce, baby the sauce👅 I discovered these at Bru's Wiffle restaurant in Marina Del Rey California. Yes this became my favorite place to eat, as it is close to my job. Gotta love it💗  This is a Ginger, Mint, Lemon Tea! The best way to start a day. From the same restaurant I mentioned above.   My own creation Brussel Sprouts, rice & split peas. (secret) It's all in the seasoning👍 Last but not least, Cheddar ...

  Who Me? I am... Strong, Kind, Love, Balance, Wise, Resourceful, Beautiful I want... Happiness, a strong marriage, a manageable life, to rid myself of anxiety I have... A strong body & mind, a loving husband & successful son, the will to keep going & get what I want out of life I wish... I didn't make so many mistakes in the past I hate... The fact that there's anything to hate I fear... I may never get to know my daughters for fear of getting to know my daughters I hear... My inner most thoughts I search... For answers I don't think I'll ever find I wonder... Why I chose the path I did that time I regret... Not being stronger for my children I love... Myself, My children, my husband & my Infinite spirit I ache... For my family it kills me everyday I am not... A Bitch!!! A liar, chaotic, broke, poor, or miserable I dance... To give thanks to my Infinite spirit, to relieve the stresses of my life I sing... With others in harmony, or alone, unles...

Who Me? #2   I am... Lucienairy I want... Harmony  I have... All that I need I wish... Is not one of my power words. I don't wish I just make shit happen I hate... HATE I fear... to fear something I hear... With a well rounded ear I search... Esoterically & Infinitely, I research! I wonder... Is my inspiration I regret... Not signing the contract with Suge Knight I love... Myself & the opportunities that are always in my path   I ache... I reflect, I recover & keep it moving I am not... Defeated  I dance... To my own beat (literally) I sing... Because that's my language I never... Take a dump without taking a shower I rarely... Get angry about anything I cry... For humanity I am not always... Satisfied with society I lose... Patience for the government I'm confused... About how America is handling it's homeless situation I need.. . Jesus to show his face I should... Slap the shit outta somebody (in my Will Smith Voice) but I won't I dream...

                                                                                  Who Me? #3   I am...  Very different from normal people you would meet (at least I think I am) I want... to travel the world already! I have...   no game...well a little...but it's in case of emergency type game (if you don't know what game is stop reading this and give up...on life) I wish...   there was another option besides me or women that was socially acceptable I hate...   the fact that I can't tell when people are lying I fear...  being unsuccessful I hear... the paralegals eating their salads in the conference room I search... for answers I wonder...  if heaven has a ghetto I regret...  my college antics I love.....

  These are a few anonymous sayings that have come across my ears & eyes in some of the years that I've been alive.  Whatever u do 2 find a relationship u must continue to do to keep the relationship. (I don't know how much I agree with this. I see it from some different angles now.) At times all we have to do in life is show up, be present, and allow the magic to unfold. ( This can be hard to do when ur mental health is in a raw state.)  As a dreamer u will be laughed at...thank them! ( I wasn't laughed at, I was told there was no real money in doing what I love.)  Dream passionate dreams, design their reality. (Once you secure the idea stay focused no matter what!) My own personal Quote     People hold a grudge for so long it's not even them holding the grudge anymore it's the grudge holding them.                                             ...

  Finding the Alcoholics & Narcotics Anonymous program changed my life. Part 2  Of course at times I was resentful of circumstances in my life that could've & should've been changed. Maybe I could've took my children & simply went to rehab, or just put myself aside & didn't do drugs. If I was going to make a good decision I realize now that panicking, angry, hasty thinking doesn't work. I wish I knew to cool down first then maybe I could've given some constructive thought to figuring out whether my resentment was directed at something I could've changed. Help!!!! I cope with such a rage, I did not see how recovery could work until I tried it & got surprisingly good results. NOW is the time, NOW is the only time there is. If I am not kind to myself right now, I certainly cannot rightfully expect respect or consideration from others. I have found I can enjoy sober every good thing I enjoyed while drugging & many more. I understand it ...