https://media.giphy.com/media/zmUoZ6h0lPmrC/giphy.gif I'm a sucker for a sappy slow song. Every time Faithfully by Journey (also a song that inspired The Mixtape to My Life), my heart melts and I get a goofy smile on my face. But no song does that to me better than Juice Newton's version of Angel of the Morning, which is … Continue reading Music Monday: Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton

Here are a few reviews that I posted on my new Goodreads account. In later posts I'll go a little more in depth with each book one by one, but for now enjoy some thoughts on my new favorites. A Surplus of Light by Chase Connor My rating: 5 of 5 stars I bought the … Continue reading What I’ve Been Reading

https://media.giphy.com/media/pzyeeNVjwuu4w/giphy.gif After watching highlights of the Golden Globes (I no longer have the time to watch in full), one moment out of the many clips really struck a chord with me: Kate McKinnon’s words about Ellen and the road she paved. The talented SNL standout expressed a simple, funny, and emotional tribute that really connected … Continue reading My Tribute to Ellen and The Puppy Episode

Every high school story has a villain, someone who makes our hero's life a living pain. In The Mixtape to My Life, that person is Santos, a mean take no-prisoners type of person that is so dynamic people actually think he's a nice guy. What's he like? Santos is short, but you wouldn't know it … Continue reading The Mixtape to My Life Character Profile: Santos

https://media.giphy.com/media/2wTP9zNYjlbRS/giphy.gif Nope, this isn't from the song. Are there ever times when you feel so low that you just don't know what to do, then all of a sudden you hear a song on the radio that suddenly speaks to you? It's words resonate so hard that you start and to breath again can't help … Continue reading Music Monday: Angel by Aerosmith

While The Mixtape to My Life is essentially a coming of age story, what would an eye-opening summer be without a romantic interest. For Justin, that would be Dominic Mendoza. The two shared a moment when they were in the eighth grade after Dominic helped save Justin from a bully, but then Dominic suddenly moved … Continue reading The Mixtape to My Life Character Profile: Dominic Mendoza

I recently had a conversation with a much younger friend who was born in the 90s about She-Ra. Or more to the point, he had no idea what I was talking about. Even using the current reboot from Netflix for context didn’t help. While my heart sank at the thought of someone never knowing the … Continue reading What are Walkmans and Mixtapes?