Read More

How to Read More: Make Reading Part of Your Daily Routine

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

As July comes to an end you may be eyeing the calendar with a weary eye. For our house, back to school means back to a lot of things… school, work, activities, shuttling around, and mostly a lot less time. As an author, I am always trying to fit in my writing time, which I talk about HERE, but as a reader, how does that time fit in?

Read More

A Different Kind of Workout

Reading is peaceful and relaxing, it is easy to view it as a luxury that just often doesn’t make the cut for things to fit into a busy day. You make time (hopefully) each day for working out, for sleep, and for eating, why? Because our physical wellness is important to keep us going, to tackle our never ending to-do list. But what are you doing to keep yourself mentally fit?

Reading not only gives you a peaceful time to recharge but it gives you a mental workout. It supports focus and memory growth, growth in vocabulary and subject matter. Reading enhances our mental fitness but in a day that is already so full, is adding something else into it achievable? Here are a few tips on how I have built reading into my day that will hopefully work for you.

Set Realistic Goals. 

Setting goals allows us to set a plan to achieve them. If you are just building reading into your routine, four books a week may not be a realistic goal. Unachievable goals in anything often leads to abandoning it altogether. Be sure to set goals that allow you to create a balanced plan to achieve. Consider different mediums of books, which may include audiobooks, ebooks and print. Remember goals can always be adjusted. You may have started with a goal of 20 books in a year, but realize you will be able to achieve more. Celebrate your achievement, but adjust your goals.

Rethink the time you have.

Our day is often filled with small bits of useless time. The five minutes before an appointment, not enough time to involve yourself in an activity, but often that is enough time to scroll through posts on social media. Sitting in line for pickup for the kids, you aren’t in a space to get much done, so you watch a few random Instagram reels. At the end of the day you don’t have any accomplishments to show for that time. However, if you carry a book with you and read a few pages during each of those times, you could have accomplished reading multiple chapters.

Excuse yourself.

Sometimes life gets the best of us. If you didn’t get your reading time in, don’t beat yourself up. The goal is to use reading to build a healthier you and that comes with routine and balance. If you have reading in your daily schedule more often than not, give yourself grace on the days that you miss. Life happens and in all areas of life we have to remind ourselves this is okay.

Share your reading time.

Sharing accomplishments can increase confidence and motivation, we see it all the time with physical workouts. Normalize sharing your reading accomplishments as well. There are several different platforms you can use to share your completed reads and reading progress. I use Goodreads, which allows me to mare books I want to read, books in progress, and books completed for each year. I can review books I love and books I….loved much less, if you are on Goodreads connect with me! You can also start a book log, I have a free downloadable book log HERE. When you add a new book to your log take a picture and share it.

Instead of putting “reading time” on your calendar, block it as time to “work on improving the function of critical organ” and make your brain and your health your priority!

Enjoy this post? Here are more reads you might like:

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE!

Merchandise

Privacy Policy

Unions in America

The History of Unions in America

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The History of Unions in America

Unions– love them, hate them– they’re an integral part of our labor history in America. And they’ve been in the news a lot recently. Between the fights with teacher unions and return to school plans last year to now Starbucks and Amazon locations voting to unionize– there are a lot of big feelings on this topic. But why is it so controversial?

Some Background History of Unions in America

The early forms of unions were craft guilds or mutual aid organizations working to protect workplace entry and conditions for skilled artisans. It didn’t raise too much resistance because these artisans were small in number as were the organizations who hired them. It wasn’t until industrialization that more of a gap between the workforce and employers came to be. Soon, workers began to see a threat emerging against both their wage and status.

The mid to late 1800s became a violent time in labor history. Unions utilized general strikes and rallied for standards like an eight-hour work day and livable wages. However, big businesses were heavily involved in government and local law enforcement as well as cohesive in supporting their own common interests. It was also socially accepted for employers to use brutal violence against striking workers. Therefore they succeeded in limiting the growth of trade unions and quashing most of their efforts at the time.

The turn of the century brought a new approach to union efforts. The American Federation of Labor was founded with the belief that individual unions were too fragmented to withstand the violence orchestrated against them. Instead, they recruited unions to band together under one large organization. Under AFL support, they were able to withstand the onslaught of retaliation from employers with unemployment pay and benefits.

The National Civic Federation (NFL) went one step further and brought leaders from both the trade unions and corporations together. Their explicit goal was diplomacy and with them the premise of collective bargaining was born.

Where the Controversy Comes In

On paper, unions appear to be entirely altruistic and no-brainers. However, as with everything in life– nothing is that simple. With larger organizations there are compromises in the name of the greater good at the expense of the individual. There are also politics that come into play.

Over the years, workers have rebelled against the idea of wages being garnished to support the union for what they felt was little return for their own individual benefits. Right to work laws came into play to support worker’s individual choice to opt out of union protection.

Unions

Some feel this has hampered unions and limited their protections and is why we have seen a downfall in their involvement and popularity in the last thirty years. We are a capitalist society that is run by the bottom-line. Both in our own households and in keeping a business running. But there are always two sides to every story.

When you’re arguing against an employer’s whim to fire or downsize without merit– you are also going to get an underperforming worker who is difficult to fire. You’re also going to get employers needing to make the difficult decision to raise prices for consumers to pay for a livable wage for their employee.

But on the other side, is it fair for a worker to be forced to choose between their safety, health or newborn infant and their paycheck? Or for an employer to mislabel a worker as an independent contractor to avoid paying benefits and taxes?

Just as the girls in the Triangle were fighting against the injustice railed against them– there are still many employees in this country with the deck stacked against them. Whatever the answer is– unionizing, legislation, or consumer support against corporations– we must be aware. The job is not done. Support is still needed– the fight for Worker’s Rights is far from over.

Enjoy this post? Here are more reads you might like:

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE!

Merchandise

Privacy Policy

Alice Stebbins Wells

First Female Police Officer: Changemaker Spotlight

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Alice Stebbins Wells was a minister and social worker who in 1910 became the first female police officer appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department. Although she was not technically the first female officer in the United States, she was the first of female police officers to hold arrest privileges and she was a national trailblazer for getting women allowed on police forces.

Wells worked hard to overcome gender stereotypes and barriers to women working on the police force. At the time, women who worked in law enforcement were only allowed to be matrons overseeing female inmates and juveniles. In May of 1910, Wells drafted a petition and obtained signatures before bringing it to the mayor of Los Angeles, the police commissioner and city council to demand she be appointed as a female police officer. The petition succeeded and she was appointed the following fall.

Paving a Road to a Stronger Force

Her initial months on the job were bumpy. She had to overcome disrespect and confusion with the idea of a woman on the force. One of the usual perks of the job was being allowed to ride the trolley for free. However, she was kicked off the trolley after being accused of wearing her husband’s badge. This was eventually rectified as she was issued a new badge with the title “Policewoman No. 1.” 

She also had to deal with derisive newspaper reporting. Article headlines mocked her with titles like “Officerette, Officeress, and first woman policeman.” Instead of bowing down, Wells demanded acceptance and gave an exclusive interview to the Los Angeles Times. There she stated, “This is serious work and I do hope the newspapers will not try to make fun of it.”

Female police officers Alice Stebbins Wells

Wells continued to campaign for wider inclusion of female police officers across the country. In 1915, she created the International Association of Policewomen. She traveled and gave lectures about the merits of adding female police officers. Wells advocated there were situations where women would be more effective than men in police enforcement. She argued that if female police officers were to go into dance halls, skating rinks, and picture shows, women and children would be less intimidated to ask for help. 

Preparing Female Police Officers for a New Role

Since female police officers were not issued guns or batons, Wells instituted nationwide training programs specifically targeting female officer safety. She also founded other organizations, conferences, and training programs for female police officers nationwide.

Wells expanded these self-defense programs for female community members as well. She began lectures and classes at local schools and women’s organizations. She taught women to be feisty and unafraid to defend themselves. One of her favorite lines was “The weapon nature gave a woman was a scream. But in more rural communities where someone might not hear you then it would not be bad to know a few bone-breaking tricks.”

Wells remained on the Los Angeles Police force until 1940. She died in 1957 and her funeral was attended by all the senior police officials in the department. She also had an all female honor guard of 10 officers. 

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE! You can also find my collection of bookish merchandise on Etsy.

Merchandise

Are you a VIP Member yet? If you’re interested in seeing Joyana’s Bonus content and ALL of her past newsletters make sure you sign up today! JOIN HERE.

Make sure you are the first to hear when I release a new book or novella! Subscribe to my blog below to never miss an update!

Female empowerment for our daughters

Take Your Daughter to Work Day- Empowering or Outdated?

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Why was this day created and how has it evolved over time?

Take Your Daughter to Work day began in 1992 by Gloria Steinem as a project of the Ms. Foundation. It was created to show girls that being smart was something to be proud of and not something to hide. By providing girls with real-life models in the workplace, the hope was to offer something for girls to strive to achieve themselves. Gender did not have to hold them back from a desired profession.

Parade Magazine wrote about the program and by 1993 the Take Your Daughter to Work Day Foundation was formed to help expand the program nationally and internationally. 

From Female Empowerment to Breaking Gender Stereotypes

In 2003, the Take Your Daughter to Work Day program expanded to include boys. Many criticized this, wasn’t the point to increase female empowerment? But the Foundation argued the expansion would only make the program stronger. It would allow for the dissolution of gender stereotypes completely. For instance, shouldn’t a boy be told he’s allowed to be a nurse?

Empower Children

Since then the program has continued to evolve. It’s now an April tradition, with worldwide participation. It purposefully takes place during the school year so educators can incorporate it into their lessons, drawing from real world experiences. There have even been purposeful strides in reaching out to low-income communities to find ways for children there to participate as well.

But are we really empowering our daughters?

All of this is fantastic. And I am grateful for these opportunities and lessons for our next generation of workers. However, I feel it’s important to examine the original intent behind the day and how it has changed over time. I love the idea of breaking gender stereotypes and teaching children they can follow any career path that interests them.

But, I feel the focus needs to change on where we empower our children. If I’m honest, I’m less concerned about my daughter, or my son, for that matter, excelling in the workplace. I know plenty of strong, empowered “girl-boss” friends. They speak up for themselves and are rocking the workplace. However, where I do still see an imbalance is on the home front where they’re desperate to find that elusive work-life balance.

If we examine current society and are honest with ourselves, it’s women who still shoulder the bulk of the burden when it comes to childcare and home management in addition to their jobs. Women are still the default parent who gets the phone call from school. They are usually the one who needs to stay home with a sick child. They carry the bulk of the emotional labor, scheduling dentist appointments, filling out school forms, replacing outgrown clothing, chauffeuring, etc.

Men have stepped up on the home front since women started working. I want to be clear, I see that. My husband does A LOT as do many of my friends’ husbands. However, it’s still a far cry from equal. And much of that is because of societal expectations. Schools still call the mother first when a child is sick. I have friends who have listed their husbands as first to call because their jobs are more flexible, and yet the school still calls them first.

Workplaces are also generally more accommodating for a mother to take off when a child is sick rather than a father. Some men I know even mention unspoken “stigmas” that stop them from asking for time off for parenting responsibilities. This goes back to the continuing need to fight for “paternity leave” when having a new baby. How can men ever equally carry the burden of parenting if their workplaces will not even allow them time at home when their baby is born?

And then there are the traditional gender stereotypes and expectations we allow ourselves to fall into. I teach college and my class recently had an interesting discussion about this topic. We read the article The Men We Carry in our Minds by Scott Russell Sanders. The basic gist of the article is a young male student gets into a debate with a college classmate about who has it harder- Men or Women. Our class discussion about the piece led us in many different directions, but at one point I asked them to raise their hands if a statement was true. Out of a class of 27 Gen Z students, only one had ever had a father take him on a field trip. And none thought their father would have known the name of their pediatrician.

Take Your Daughter to Work Starts at Home

We can most definitely tell our girls they can aim for any career path they want. But they are still seeing their mothers carry an unsustainable workload each day and battling burnout. What is the answer to that? It’s complicated, I know. But until that balance is shifted, our girls will unfortunately always hit a ceiling.

We have come a long way from the imbalance of parenthood from the past. Again, I applaud that men have made major strides in the division of responsibilities at home and child rearing. But we, as a society, can still do better.So, parents, instead of just taking your child to work. Consider what you model for them each day. Are you demonstrating an imbalanced division of labor in the home? Are you making sure one parent isn’t burning out from an overloaded plate? The daily application they witness are the lessons your children will carry. Empower your daughters to speak up, negotiate in all areas of their lives and thrive.

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE!

Merchandise

Privacy Policy

Colonial America

Best Books about Colonial America

A round-up of the best historical fiction books about Colonial America!

Colonial Book List

Books about Colonial America

Reading about Colonial America and the stories about the hardships of settling in a new world make us appreciate the bravery of these first pioneers. We also appreciate their sacrifices in fighting for the birth of our amazing country. Check out this collection of historical fiction stories below in this round up of the best books about Colonial America.

Belleweather by Susanna Kearsley

I LOVE Susanna Kearsley books and this one was no exception. She’s up there with Diana Gabaldon in perfecting the blend of magic and history in her novels.

Belleweather takes place in 1759 on Long Island. The French-Canadian war is going on and a French soldier is captured and forced upon a Long Island family as an unwanted guest.

Belleweather by Susanna Kearsley

However, as this soldier pitches in around the house and gets to know the family, he is drawn to the daughter of the house, Lydia. Soon they’re involved in a forbidden romance which legend says ends in tragedy. However, someone in the future stumbles upon clues they’ve left behind. Was there more to the story? What really happened that night?

Shop on amazon
Shop aMARYLLIS cO. sHOP
Tidewater by Libbie Hawker

Tidewater by Libbie Hawker

This is a phenomenal read about the settling of Jamestown and the TRUE story of John Smith and Pocahontas. Not the Disney romance version. Read how an unlikely friendship and a wary peace between two clashing cultures paved the way for this settlement.

If you are familiar with the history of the Powhatans and the Jamestown settlers you know this will not be a happy story. I knew that going in, but I’m still glad I picked it up. I’ll admit, even prepared, I was still wrecked upon completing it. The reason for that is Libbie Hawker just did a fabulous job. Her writing draws you in and really makes you care. She manages to humanize everyone and explain the complexities of both cultures so there is no wrong side in the story. If you really want to understand and feel like you were actually witnessing a first settlement experience, the good, the bad and the ugly– this is a Must Read!

Shop on amazon

America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray

Stephanie Dray is one of my favorite authors. I’ve loved all her books. In addition to this gripping story about Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, she also wrote a fabulous tale about the famous Eliza Hamilton.

From her earliest days “Patsy” Jefferson knows her father loves his family dearly, but his devotion to his country runs even deeper. As his oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate and travel companion, joining him in Paris when he becomes the American minister to France.

However, in Paris she discovers her father’s secret liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl. She also falls in love herself with William Short, her father’s protege. Is it possible for Patsy to balance the love, principles and the bonds of family? Her choices will continually follow her for years to come.

Shop on amazon
Shop aMARYLLIS cO. sHOP
The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki

The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki

No books about Colonial America list can be complete without a Revolutionary War book. But this one is not the typical hero one you’d anticipate. Instead, this is an interesting behind the scenes look at Benedict Arnold’s wife and what might have motivated their treacherous actions.

Shop on amazon
Shop aMARYLLIS cO. sHOP

Do you have any other great suggestions? Please add them below in the Comments. For more on this time in history, check out my book round up on books about the Founding Mothers!

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE!

Merchandise

Privacy Policy

Safety

Workplace Safety- What have we learned since the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire?

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Why do we still need to discuss the importance of workplace safety? Let’s examine how it’s still an issue today!

Workplace safety

The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Another March 25th is here and I’m still remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Every year I reflect on this day and think of the brave women, men and children who were not only victims on that fateful day, but were also there to lead the charge on the picket line to demand reform for workplace safety in the Garment Worker’s Uprising of 1909. But have we yet learned our lesson? Is workplace safety really no longer an issue? Let’s examine where we are in society today and why we still need to discuss the importance of worker safety.

Current workplace safety statistics

I’d love to say US workplaces are safer today than they were the time of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. However, that’s not necessarily the case. Yes, there are more safety protocols and inspections, but workplace safety is still a very valid concern.The U.S. ranks in the top 30 of countries with the most fatal workplace incidents each year. This is higher than most developed countries.

In general, U.S. fatal workplace injuries are steadily increasing and are at their highest in years. In 2023, there were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded. This equates to a 3.5% fatal occupational injury rate for every 100,000 workers!

To illustrate- that is the equivalent of one worker dying every 99 minutes!

OSHA reports an average of 200 workplace fires per day, with more than 5,000 people injured by workplace fires a year. The current death toll due to fires and explosions in the workplace is an average of 200 deaths per year. And that is not necessarily in professions expected to be working with those elements.Then there are also accidents, falls, slips, violent acts, etc. These statistics come largely from incidents on construction sites, transportation workers, factories etc., and most are entirely preventable.

Child labor violations are also on the rise!

Since 2018 the US has seen a 69% increase in illegal child labor. In 2015, the lowest point in data, the Wage and Hour Division found 1,012 minors employed in violation of child labor laws in the U.S. In 2024, that number has almost quadrupled to 4,030! In addition to the numbers, the concern is investigators are finding a rising number of children working in dangerous jobs like meatpacking plants, loading docks and metal shops.

Workers’ Financial Concerns

A significant number of workers are also struggling to make ends meet, with many unable to afford basic living expenses. Concerns are high regarding increasing costs and salaries failing to keep up with inflation. There are also major concerns about job security with many employees fearful of rising layoffs. Workers’ mental health is deteriorating with nearly half (47%) identifying work stress as their primary trigger.

What should we do with this information?

We start by identifying and talking about it. One of the biggest issues is a lack of knowledge. We think it’s 2025, that can’t possibly still be happening. And yet, it most definitely is.

We then must examine solutions. Labor Unions were steadily declining in past decades, but since Covid that’s changed. They are now at the highest in favorability ratings since the 1950s with 70% of Americans currently approving of labor unions. As of 2024, one in six Americans live in a union household. When asked why members are joining, the top answers are better pay and benefits and employee rights and safety.

Things We ALL Can Do to Help

Buy from Unionized Shops– Unionized Stores and Union-made products means workers have more power over their pay, safety and other important issues. While no union is perfect, supporting unions provides workers with a better way to balance power for their protection and rights. If you are curious about whether a store or chain is unionized, a simple Google search can most likely help you find out.

Support Union Efforts– When unions go on strike, listen to them and support them with your wallet. Whether it’s local or a national company, avoid crossing a picket line when you can. That means going into a place that has striking workers and spending your money there. This sends a message that you disagree with the workers’ demands.

Share Information– When you hear about a worker strike or a petition to improve conditions, share that information with others. Use social media to share posts or bring it up in conversation. Many people do not know about these issues and sharing this information will help support workers. You can find out about ongoing strikes and protests HERE. You might think they’re not happening, but there are 46 labor actions listed so far in 2025 alone.

Recognize Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28th. This is an annual international day of remembrance for workers who have been killed or injured on the job.There are many organizations who host memorials and ceremonies. This is also a great time to participate in social media campaigns. You can also participate in the National Security Council’s Safe at Work pledge which sheds a light on both preventable accidents and the increase in homicides and suicides in the workplace.

Workplace Future

As we discuss the future, these issues of worker’s rights, well-being and safety need to come to the forefront.We need to educate others about these worker concerns and channel those brave garment workers to stand up for change today!

Continue to learn about history with these posts:

Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!

Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE!

Merchandise

Privacy Policy