Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

I am so excited about reviewing this book which is why I waited for a ridiculously long time to finally review it. I know that this is a really bold statement to make but I strongly believe that this book is my favorite book of all time (like better than 1984 and The Scarlet Pimpernel). 

Before you start reading this book, just be aware of the powerful symbolism that the author uses such as the rain, dogs, birds and the desert.

General Plot Summary:
Two young boys, Aristotle and Dante, become friends after they meet at a swimming pool. The story follows their journey as they attempt to discover more about themselves and the world around them. Not only do they face death but they also face their feelings for each other.

I am not kidding when I say that this is my favorite coming-of-age novel in a very long time. The romance between the two boys is slow-burning and that is typically something that I find really frustrating. But this time, I really appreciate that I got the chance to see the depth of their friendship beforehand.

The overall tone of the novel was very authentic and easy to relate to. The chapters were short which is something that I really like. The plot was relatively fast-paced except for a brief period of time when Ari and Dante were separated.

The amazing characters were my favorite part of this book. Ari was the perfect person for Dante to be with (and vice versa). Dante is thoughtful and sensitive and Ari is brooding, quiet and angry. These were two really amazing characters and they made an even better couple.

Overall Rating:
5/5

Thanks for reading and please let me know if you've read this book as well!

2016 New Year's Resolutions

Last year, I failed pretty miserably in my New Year's Resolutions but hopefully this year it'll be a little better. I came up with some simpler resolutions so hopefully it would be easier to accomplish. Some of these are repeats from last year but fingers crossed it works out better this year.

1) Meditate every morning: I tried this last year too but it didn't last very long. But in preparation for next year, I have downloaded some apps onto my phone like Headspace again and I'm looking for a few more just in case. I feel like five minutes of meditation everyday will be really helpful for me and I'm really excited to get to do it. This year has been so full of anxiety that I am looking forward to a little relaxation.

2) Read everyday: I typically do this regardless but this year I have had so many reading slumps, I would go for days without reading and that just added to my stress. I'm not going to be super strict about how many pages I should read everyday as long as I read enough to relax.

3) Quit binge-watching: I have binge-watched so much this year and as fun as that might have been for me, it probably was not a good idea. I realized that binge-watching is fun but doesn't allow me to enjoy myself completely with the show and makes me avoid all my other responsibilities. So next year, I resolve to only watch 2 hours max of television each day.

4) Learn new recipes: It has also come to my attention how grossly unprepared if I have to cook. I literally have no idea how to cook several of the basics. Cooking is a life skill so I should probably get started on learning some of the easier food. If you have any recipes to share, please do.

I hope we can keep each other motivated this year to keep our resolutions. Please share yours too and give me tips on how to keep mine.

Ways to Get Rid of Stress Immediately

I typically find myself getting stressed out and wanting to put an end to it as soon as possible. Learning to be relaxed in suddenly stressful situations allows you to be more focused on the task at hand and perform better.

1) Deep and slow breathing:

I personally find it super effective to take a few deep breathes and relax. In two deep breathes, I am able to immediately calm myself down. It is typically best to avoid breathing with your shoulders and try to breathe with your diaphragm.

2) Distract yourself:

If the stressor is not important at that moment or irrational, just read a book, listen to music or shop. If the only thing stressing you out is not worth the anxiety, it is best to avoid needlessly thinking about it.

3) Voice your concerns:

If I feel stressed out at home, I try to talk my way through a stressful situation. Sometimes it is to tell myself that the stressor is nothing to worry about and other times I just talk aloud about the way that I am feeling and why. Another way to voice your opinion (if you're in public and prefer not to talk to yourself), write it down.

4) Close your eyes:

Sometimes avoiding one sense, makes it easier to focus and think clearly. Since we are constantly with our eyes open, we are constantly taking in a massive amount of information and I feel like it can get to be a little too overwhelming.

5) Drink water:

Headaches can be caused by dehydration, stress or a combination of the two. If your headache is caused by stress, it can be intensified by dehydration. Drinking water can act as a way to distract yourself and keeping yourself as physical comfortable as possible when stressed.

6) Tackle the stressor:

People are able to experience stress as a way to alert one's mind and body to handle a stressful situation effectively. Therefore, if you feel stressed, it could be for a good reason. Judge the stressor as "valid" or "irrational." If it is "valid" then come up with a plan to tackle the stressor because sometimes, that's the only think left to do.

These are just ways to get rid of stress quickly when one experiencing immediate and abrupt stress. These might not necessarily be able help if one experiencing long-term stress or has an anxiety disorder which in that case, it would probably be best to see a doctor.

I hope these help you combat your stress!

The Skinned Trilogy by Robin Wasserman

If you want the most boring, drawn-out trilogy ever, this is your series. Don't get me wrong, I love the general theme of the series: questioning what the ultimate deciding factor of humanity is. But that's also were the interest stops.

The general plot of the story is that a girl by the name of Lia Kahn who went from having it all to experiencing a life threatening accident. Instead of dying, Lia's family download her brain and memories into the the body of a new body. Through this she fights different groups of people against her and makes friends while discovering more about her family.

The trilogy fits the category of science fiction well but it lacks the exciting fast pace of the others in its genre. The character development had so much potential but fell flat of ultimately leading up to anything.

The setting was very interesting and I enjoyed the environment that the author created.

The first two novels offered promise of a sweet romance but in the third book, it became harsh, cold and mediocre and was ultimately a waste of time.

I decided to finish the trilogy even though my gut told me to give it up from the second novel because I thought that the series had promise and that it would come to a nice end. But I was wrong, the ending was anti-climatic and super confusing.

Please tell me what you think about this trilogy. Maybe I missed something important that someone else might have caught to make the story more interesting.

What is gluten? And why is it the enemy?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat products. Gluten can be found in bread, pasta, crackers, cereal, pizza and other food products.

Is gluten dangerous?

Sure, gluten is dangerous to anyone with Celiac Disease. For people with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease, their immune system attacks the the gluten and the intestinal tracts itself. This disease only affects a very small amount of people (1%) and many of them don't even know. Gluten-sensitivity harbors the same type of symptoms as Celiac Disease (such as fatigue) but to a less dangerous degree and is more common.

But is gluten dangerous to someone without Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivity?

Yep. Granted, it is typically not as dangerous for people without a gluten sensitivity as it is for people with the diagnosed disease. Too much gluten can wreck havoc on the digestive system of people with sensitive stomachs. There are other studies that link gluten with other autoimmune diseases as well. There are other ways in which gluten can hurt the body such as the heart. When the antibodies attack the gluten, they can attack heart tissue as well. However, most people don't feel any dangerous effects towards gluten.

Gluten-free diets are trending. For some, adopting the diet is purely for keeping up with the trend while for others, it's about taking charge of their health. Either way, there are benefits of going gluten-free and the diet should definitely be considered.

Have you ever heard of gluten-free dog food? Because it does exist! The world is becoming gluten-free and the fact that gluten-free dog food exists emphasizes how much this new type of diet is still on the rise.

If you would like to check out more cool things about gluten and living gluten-free, check out this website.

Comment letting me know what you think about this gluten-free "trend."