#MeettheBookstagrammer post! Figured I’ve been here for over a year and reached 1k so WHY NOT. My name is Vivienne and I was born and raised on Tongva land otherwise known as Los Angeles. I’ve been a teacher for seven years and have only taught fourth grade. I love this age because they’re in between childhood and adolescence. They still find me funny and enjoy sarcasm. I’m working hard to separate myself from making it such a big part of my identity. I don’t work on weekends and refuse to work at all when I get home. I haven’t found a balance because I feel constantly behind but I’ll take time with my son and husband over work any day. Getting good books into the hands of young people is a passion of mine I sometimes wonder if I should’ve been a children’s librarian. When I’m not reading I like to play video games (Overwatch is a fav) watch TV and hang with my family. I’ve been a reader my whole life, but ever since my kid was born I’ve been more consistent because time is precious and harder to find. I used to read more sci fi fantasy but find myself gravitating towards contemporary/literary fiction and non-fiction much more. I want to get into poetry and short stories but alas so many books so little time. One day though…I started a bookstagram because I was bored and always wanted to have a book blog to keep track of the things I read (I have one but it’s not up and running the way I want quite yet because again: time). It turned into something I could have never imagined and I love talking to all of you about books and hearing different opinions. It’s widened my world view and led me to some great reads I probably would have never given a chance before. I’ve also met some amazing people that I proudly call my friends. Have a question? Ask me anything in the comments or just say hey! It’s so nice to be in community with you all. Have a lovely Wednesday.

[Image: Vivienne, a half Filipina woman in a black bikini, holding the book Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse at the beach]

#MeettheBookstagrammer #BeachDays #Bookstagram #LosAngelesReader #ReadMoreBooks #AlwaysReading #filipinabookstagrammer

Perfect weather to read on the patio. Trying to enjoy my Sunday and breathe in and out. Kids come Tuesday and I am so nervous. I know once it happens I’ll feel better. But phew today I am STRESSED. Wishing you all a peaceful Sunday.

HAPPY FRIDAY FOLKS. My library holds came in all at once. Fills me with a lot of happiness. Feeling grateful for libraries and librarians everywhere. For real, you all make it look easy but I know it’s not.

Before meeting my husband I was not a plant person. All the garden photos you see are one hundred percent his doing. I am so thankful for that. He has created a little ecosystem on our patio that has been such a light. These are some books I have read and some I’ve been meaning to get to. But all have to do with our connection to nature. Today in my stories I highlight a topic that is dear to me, helping the monarch butterflies. I hope you’ll check it out and learn something new! Colonization and white supremacy have conditioned us to believe that we must dominate nature. But Indigenous science and wisdom teaches us we are a part of nature and we must work with nature. It’s the only way forward. I’m trying to reconnect myself to the dirt beneath me. It’s been a bumpy road, but it’s always fun to get my hands in the dirt.