Even in Stardew Valley, I'm obsessed with books. Check out my library.

Seriously, though. What do they put in this game that makes it so addictive? I've been avoiding all of my responsibilities to play this game, and I'm still loving it. And guess what? I got my daughter playing now, too. She has her own farm, but we also started a new one together.

Everyone deserves a shot at love.

So in this game, it's possible to get married. Several characters are available for relationship building, and after a little research, I set my sights on Shane, the cranky retail worker with a secret love of chickens. Why him? Well, a little snooping on the internet told me everything I needed to know. With loved gifts that are easy to find or make, he would prove easy enough to woo. And after marriage, he helps with farm chores. What more could you want in a digital relationship with a pixelated character on an open-ended farm sim game? Heck, I'm making pepper poppers anyway, since I can't stand walking slowly in game, might as well toss one to the old digital hubby to keep him happy too. 

There's an option to have a platonic roommate from the sewer that my daughter is aiming for on her farm. She says she's not interested in relationships yet 😂

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 (𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟐)
An upbeat, surprise pregnancy, romantic comedy about unrequited love, responsibility, and the real meaning of family.

Face the Music is a full-length, stand-alone, laugh-your-butt-off romantic comedy, with a sexy, jaded, joker of a rock star, a serious control-freak of a band manager, and a happily ever after that will have you crying happy tears.

Denise is a strong, successful woman whose job as band manager for Sleeping Dogs keeps her incredibly busy. Ryder, lead guitarist for Sleeping Dogs, is a party boy jokester and notorious womanizer. Sounds like a match made in heaven, right?

When two pink lines tell her she's pregnant with her ex-boyfriend's baby right after Ryder confesses he's been in love with her since they met, she has to decide whether to give the ex another chance, or to find a way to co-parent with him so she can see what happens with Ryder.Throw in inappropriate grannies, a lot of laughs, some scorching hot sex scenes, and a bad boy's redemption, and you have a love story that hits all the right notes. 18+

I know, I know. Instant coffee? Ewww. 

Trust me, until very recently, I felt the same way. Instant coffee was strictly for camping trips, and even then it was only to be drunk while waiting for proper campfire coffee to brew. But I've had a change of heart.

Last week, my best friend mentioned she'd been drinking instant coffee lately, and after I teased her for it, I actually started thinking about it. Coffee has been letting me down lately, no matter the preparation method, so I figured why not give instant another shot. I already had some in the house, so it was easy enough to prepare. And I'll tell you, it's hitting the spot. 

I froth up the crystals (or find powder, I have both kinds) with a little boiling water and some Splenda, add a little oat creamer, froth a little more, then top off with more boiling water. Then, because I don't actually like my coffee hot, I drop in a few ice cubes. And it's amazing. Ahhhhmazing. Seriously.