Guest Post: Not Your Typical Normal by Rachel Jacks

This forum features articles, guest posts and advice columns written by authors.

Hosted by October Member of the Month, bookowlie.

Moderators: bookowlie, Special Discussion Leaders

Post Reply
User avatar
rachel_bruhn
Posts: 290
Joined: 03 Aug 2015, 08:04
Favorite Author: Lemony Snicket
Currently Reading: A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)
Bookshelf Size: 101
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachel-jacks.html
Latest Review: The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis
Publishing Contest Votes: 9
fav_author_id: 5004

Guest Post: Not Your Typical Normal by Rachel Jacks

Post by rachel_bruhn »

Not Your Typical Normal by Rachel Jacks

A day in the life of me is probably pretty boring, much like I would imagine any typical person’s life would be. When you work a 9-5 job (or in my case an 8-5 job), life is pretty repetitive. To anyone else looking at me, I probably look pretty normal. I am a simple, low-maintenance person. Step into my house and you might start to notice some things that are not as “typical”.

On any given day my house looks like Thomas and Friends blew up in the living room. We don’t spend a lot of money on decorative pieces for our house and things are rarely put away on a regular basis. Everything has its place, but who wants to clean up toys multiple times a day? I want our house to feel lived in, not look like a model for a magazine. We make memories in our home, which often means we make messes, too. I don’t remember where I heard it, but I support the notion that homes are for free expression.

While I am not a health nut by any means, I do believe in natural healing. Growing up I would go to school sick and suffer through congestion and coughs instead of taking medications. As an adult, I have learned more about the harmful side effects of over the counter medications and prescription medications. I am now the “crazy oil lady” in my family. My bathroom drawer is full of my little bottle of goodness for everything from scrapes and bruises to strep throat. I have heard the “you need to go to the doctor!” line many times and seen the look of judgment for using essential oils instead of medicine. Clearly, others enjoy their freedom of expression as well.

If you happened to journey into the spare “bedroom” in our house right now, it is going to look like a paper explosion took place. My Cricut is on the floor surrounded by scraps of paper and projects. I feel very creative when I am making paper projects and right now my biggest project is preparing everything for my upcoming wedding. I have made everything from the save-the-dates, shower invitations, and wedding invitations to the Wed-libs, dessert bags, and wedding favors. I can’t help but to be excited when I show my creations to others. I always wish I had more time to scrapbook and fiddle with new projects.

When life allows it, I can usually be found curled up on the couch reading a new book…or an old favorite. My collection is forever expanding and I eagerly await the day that the wall-to-wall bookshelf is complete in our bedroom. I am one of those girls that would prefer a walk-in library to a walk-in closet. I would rather spend money on books than money on clothes because books are the gift that keeps on giving. I can’t wait to share my collection with my son.


****
Like this post? Vote for Rachel Jacks in the publishing contest
Journey beyond the jacket.
User avatar
bookowlie
Special Discussion Leader
Posts: 9071
Joined: 25 Oct 2014, 09:52
Favorite Book: The Lost Continent
Currently Reading: The Night She Went Missing
Bookshelf Size: 442
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bookowlie.html
Latest Review: To Paint A Murder by E. J. Gandolfo

Post by bookowlie »

I enjoyed reading your Guest Post. I am happy to discover that my home is not the only one with a few "explosions." Of course, now I will think of you are "Crazy Oil Lady" whenever I read your posts. :)
"The best way out is always through" - Robert Frost
User avatar
gali
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 53652
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:12
Favorite Author: Agatha Christie
Currently Reading: The Suite Life
Bookshelf Size: 2287
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gali.html
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
Publishing Contest Votes: 0
fav_author_id: 2484

Post by gali »

Thank you for the interesting post. :)
A retired Admin/Mod

Pronouns: She/Her

"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." (Mortimer J. Adler)
User avatar
PashaRu
Posts: 9174
Joined: 15 Mar 2014, 17:02
Currently Reading: Vicars of Christ - The Dark Side of the Papacy
Bookshelf Size: 191
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-pasharu.html
Latest Review: "Damn Females on the Lawn" by Rachel Hurd

Post by PashaRu »

Thanks for sharing a little slice of your life. It is well written and fun to read. I love your relaxed, homey way of looking at things. (I too am assaulted with essential oils occasionally. Lately it's been frankincense.) Speaking from a guy's perspective (because that's all I have, haha), I'll take a sweet girl with no makeup on, wearing sweats and curled up on the couch reading a book over a supermodel on the runway any day. And congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
[Insert quote here. Read. Raise an eyebrow. Be mildly amused. Rinse & repeat.]
Latest Review: "Damn Females on the Lawn" by Rachel Hurd
User avatar
bluemel4
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 5222
Joined: 01 Mar 2015, 14:43
Favorite Author: Anne Bishop
Currently Reading: The Dark Tower, Books 1-3
Bookshelf Size: 466
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bluemel4.html
Latest Review: "Severed Threads" by Kaylin McFarren
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
fav_author_id: 6086

Post by bluemel4 »

Thank you for letting us get to know you better. I am also the kind of girl that would rather spend money on books rather than clothes.
"Life is a journey, not a destination" --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Latest Review: "Severed Threads" by Kaylin McFarren
User avatar
Heidi M Simone
Official Reviewer Representative
Posts: 7054
Joined: 17 Jul 2015, 20:19
Favorite Book: Harry Potter
Currently Reading: Beyond the Wand
Bookshelf Size: 556
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-heidi-m-simone.html
Latest Review: Lugares Amables by Lidice Megla
Publishing Contest Votes: 27
fav_author_id: 0

Post by Heidi M Simone »

Thank you for a snapshot of your life! I would definitely want a walk-in library versus a walk-in too :)
Heidi
Official Reviewer Representative

"There is nothing as powerful as a mother’s love, and nothing as healing as a child’s soul." – Unknown
User avatar
rachel_bruhn
Posts: 290
Joined: 03 Aug 2015, 08:04
Favorite Author: Lemony Snicket
Currently Reading: A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)
Bookshelf Size: 101
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachel-jacks.html
Latest Review: The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis
Publishing Contest Votes: 9
fav_author_id: 5004

Post by rachel_bruhn »

bookowlie wrote:I enjoyed reading your Guest Post. I am happy to discover that my home is not the only one with a few "explosions." Of course, now I will think of you are "Crazy Oil Lady" whenever I read your posts. :)
My mom was a HUGE skeptic, but agreed to try them out because she is a supporter like that. She is now hooked and promotes them to her co-workers and friends. :) I am a big skeptic as well and had my doubts when I started using them. I think the first time I was a true believer was when I had strep throat and used an oil protocol I found online. On the first day I had way more energy and the lemon oil in water had immediate soothing effects on my throat. After three days I felt completely better despite my tonsils still being a bit swollen. Everyone told me I needed to go to the doctor because only antibiotics could get rid of the strep. My oils won and I have been sold since then. I will wear the "Crazy Oil Lady" title with pride!! haha

-- 21 Jan 2016, 10:52 --
PashaRu wrote:Thanks for sharing a little slice of your life. It is well written and fun to read. I love your relaxed, homey way of looking at things. (I too am assaulted with essential oils occasionally. Lately it's been frankincense.) Speaking from a guy's perspective (because that's all I have, haha), I'll take a sweet girl with no makeup on, wearing sweats and curled up on the couch reading a book over a supermodel on the runway any day. And congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
I am glad you enjoyed the post! My fiance is resistant to oils too, but you bet your butt when he is desperate he asks me for something to help him! I don't push them on him (or anyone else) and just say "I told you so" in my head whenever he caves and asks for oils and they actually help him. :) He is a brick mason, so the muscle relaxing oils have become a favorite.
Journey beyond the jacket.
User avatar
bookowlie
Special Discussion Leader
Posts: 9071
Joined: 25 Oct 2014, 09:52
Favorite Book: The Lost Continent
Currently Reading: The Night She Went Missing
Bookshelf Size: 442
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bookowlie.html
Latest Review: To Paint A Murder by E. J. Gandolfo

Post by bookowlie »

You will have to share the oils with your future MIL. :)
"The best way out is always through" - Robert Frost
User avatar
rachel_bruhn
Posts: 290
Joined: 03 Aug 2015, 08:04
Favorite Author: Lemony Snicket
Currently Reading: A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)
Bookshelf Size: 101
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachel-jacks.html
Latest Review: The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis
Publishing Contest Votes: 9
fav_author_id: 5004

Post by rachel_bruhn »

I actually already introduced her. :) She uses them all the time!
Journey beyond the jacket.
User avatar
stoppoppingtheP
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 902
Joined: 14 May 2014, 09:59
Favorite Author: Adriana Trigiani
Favorite Book: The Hand of Fatima
Currently Reading: High Low In-Between
Bookshelf Size: 162
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-stoppoppingthep.html
Latest Review: If I Only Knew by Kim Simmons
fav_author_id: 8071

Post by stoppoppingtheP »

Your house sounds a lot like mine :D

“there have been so many times
i have seen a man wanting to weep
but
instead
beat his heart until it was unconscious.

-masculine”


― Nayyirah Waheed
User avatar
rachel_bruhn
Posts: 290
Joined: 03 Aug 2015, 08:04
Favorite Author: Lemony Snicket
Currently Reading: A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)
Bookshelf Size: 101
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachel-jacks.html
Latest Review: The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis
Publishing Contest Votes: 9
fav_author_id: 5004

Post by rachel_bruhn »

I bet your house is a pretty good home then. :)
Journey beyond the jacket.
pallavi garg
Posts: 52
Joined: 05 Feb 2016, 02:32
Bookshelf Size: 165
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-pallavi-garg.html

Post by pallavi garg »

Not jus oils...even your post had a nice calming effect...smiled a lot going through it....congratulations and best wishes for your upcoming marriage. ..best of luck. ..
User avatar
rachel_bruhn
Posts: 290
Joined: 03 Aug 2015, 08:04
Favorite Author: Lemony Snicket
Currently Reading: A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)
Bookshelf Size: 101
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachel-jacks.html
Latest Review: The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis
Publishing Contest Votes: 9
fav_author_id: 5004

Post by rachel_bruhn »

Thanks! I have taken to blogging recently (about not book stuff) and I hope people enjoy my posts :)
Journey beyond the jacket.
User avatar
CCtheBrave
Posts: 180
Joined: 11 Jul 2015, 14:35
Favorite Author: Jorge Luis Borges
Currently Reading: Under Wildwood
Bookshelf Size: 168
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ccthebrave.html
Latest Review: "Wild Ozark Nature Journal" by Madison Woods
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
fav_author_id: 2819

Post by CCtheBrave »

I agree that houses are better if they feel lived in and warm. I try to keep my house very neat, but I like leaving books and blankets and coffee mugs out without being too crazy about cleaning them up. I want other people to feel comfortable making a mess in my home, too!
read well and write bravely
Latest Review: "Wild Ozark Nature Journal" by Madison Woods
User avatar
rachel_bruhn
Posts: 290
Joined: 03 Aug 2015, 08:04
Favorite Author: Lemony Snicket
Currently Reading: A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)
Bookshelf Size: 101
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachel-jacks.html
Latest Review: The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis
Publishing Contest Votes: 9
fav_author_id: 5004

Post by rachel_bruhn »

CCtheBrave wrote:I want other people to feel comfortable making a mess in my home, too!
I know some kids that feel all too comfortable making a HUGE mess in other people's homes!

Glad I am not the only one that tries to make their house a home. :)
Journey beyond the jacket.
Post Reply

Return to “Author Articles”