Tag: christmas

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Currently

Currently #59

Hello All!

It’s the final week of November and Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Are you all ready for the holiday? Are you hosting or attending? We will be doing a bit of both this year. I love Thanksgiving and the slower day that it brings. I plan on starting the day by running our local Turkey Trot, enjoying a family dinner, and then relaxing. On Friday, we tend to decorate for Christmas and get into the holiday spirit. 

This month went by so fast! It began with a busy stretch of days for work, followed by a weekend away and then all the holiday prep! It’s been a fun month that went by too fast. Here’s a look at life currently.

What I’m Up To: 

Since my last currently post, I celebrated Halloween with a festive dinner and dressed my dog up. I think he enjoyed it more than me. Haha!

A close up of dinner
I even dressed up my dog!
We had lots of tasty treats!
I made a festive taco soup

I started the month off by accomplishing my longest run by running over 11 miles. It felt good to get it done when the weather was still comfortable. 

I also enjoyed more runs at different spots including new neighborhoods and parks. Some morning were so chilly that layers were required. 

The start of my 11 mile run
The leaves looking extra pretty
Frost is a sign of winter
A new running spot

Over the past month, I spent time with family in Columbus for the day which included some celebratory dessert.

I also spent a weekend in New England which was decked out for Christmas and had really warm weather. 

Here’s a look at some of the things I did.

I started with a smooth flight in
Enjoyed lots of walks
The Harbor
Some historic sites
Cute neighborhoods
Quincy Market
And the inside
I enjoyed a Lobster Roll
Views over the city

What I’m Reading: 

I had a pretty good reading month, a lot of books I had on hold at the library came in which always makes me excited. I also did some travelling which led to even more reading. Next month will be all about holiday reads, I can’t wait!

Here’s what I read this month:

Husbands and Lovers– Beatriz Williams’ book, “Husbands and Lovers” follows two parallel storylines of two women, one in the present day and one in the 1950’s. The theme is all about how far a mother will go to take care of her family. I really liked the compelling storylines and the connections between the two. There was also a bit of mystery and romance in both stories. I personally liked the 1950’s storyline more, but both were interesting to follow.

Julie and Julia– I have always heard of the book and movie, “Julie and Julia”, but have never seen or read it. It’s based on a true story and it follows the story of a young woman nearing her 30’s and decides to take on a challenge of cooking all of Julia Child’s recipes. I loved hearing about all the different recipes that Julie tries and what she learns about herself along the way. I am looking forward to watching the movie, but was sad to hear that the author, Julie Powell died a few years ago.

The Mystery Guest– I really enjoyed Nita Prose’s “The Mystery Guest”. It’s all about a mystery writer that comes to stay at a hotel and right before he’s about to make a career announcement, he drops dead. Everyone in the hotel is a suspect and some have a connection to him. I love a classic “Who Done It?” I finished it fairly quickly and it was perfect for this time of year.

Summer Romance– This was a perfect palette cleanser. Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan  is about a woman who is recently divorced and is moving on from the death of her mom. She is trying to juggle a new life, three kids and a career when she meets a man at the dog park. She’s not planning on jumping back into the dating world, but life has other plans, especially when she’s least expecting it. It was a cute, summer beach read that was really a good chance of pace after some heavier reads. 

Blue Sisters– I heard about Blue Sisters from several blogs from the summer and I couldn’t wait to read it. It follows the story of three sisters who come together a year after their fourth sister dies. The book tackles relations, addictions, healing, and the importance of sisterhood and family. It was interesting to hear the story told from each sister’s perspective. It was definitely a heavier read, but so beautifully done too. I can see why so many people raved about it. I finished it in one weekend.

A Most Agreeable Murder-I finished A Most Agreeable Murder by Julie Seales. It’s a “Who Done It” back in the 1700s-1800s. A ball and dinner party gets derailed when a guest ends up dead. Many people have a reason for killing him, but who did the killing? You won’t find out until the very end. A very good mystery!

The Friend Zone– I listened to The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez and really loved it. It’s all about a girl and guy who meet in unexpected circumstances. They end up being the maid of honor and best man in their best friend’s wedding. What starts out as disdain turns into friendship and sparks of love. But secrets and shock keep them a part. I thought the story was going in one direction, but it took some unexpected twists. I really, really enjoyed listening to this book and finished it in just over a week.

What I’m Watching:

This month I finished the second half of Outer Banks season 4, which the finale left me reeling. If you watched, what did you think?!

A little Outer Banks with a festive drink

I also have been keeping up with Grey’s Anatomy’s latest season as well as the Masked Singer’s recent season. 

I also watched The Diplomat’s second season which was good too!

Plus, I have been slowly watching some holiday classics too, I can’t help myself by getting a jumpstart on them!

What I’m Wearing:

The weather has changed so I had to break out the winter coats. My red jacket from Old Navy is one of my favorites to wear in the winter especially around the holidays.

I also have gotten use out of my new blazer from Old Navy for both work and play. 

I also got a lot of use out of my new red, rain jacket too! Do you sense a theme with red?!

I’ve also been loving turtlenecks this season too!

What I’m Cooking:

One of my friends started to make sourdough bread and dropped off a loaf, it was a delicious for a nice soup night.

With the colder weather, I have been enjoying lots of heartier meals including:

Tortilla Soup– I love a good tortilla soup, we had this on Halloween.

Lobster Risotto– This didn’t turnout like the photo, but it was still good.

Crockpot Lasagna Soup– This didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to, but it was still warm and hearty.

Grilled Chicken Bruschetta– I got this recipe from Joann Gaines’s Magnolia cookbook. It was a hit and healthy with lots of flavor!

I also started some holiday baking which included making Halloween Candy Cookies. I have already been crowd sourcing new recipes to try this holiday season.

I also baked chocolate chip cookies. Yum!

What Inspires Me: 

Here’s some quotes that have inspired me as of late.

I also have been inspired by all the holiday and start of Christmas cheer.

I picked up my Starbucks red cup for the season!

What I Accomplished: Between work, seeing friends, spending time with family, and some travel, it’s been a busy month in the best way.

A beautiful fall worth remembering

Goals from Last Month:

I did my best to pace myself before the craziness of the holidays. I also got a jumpstart on my holiday prepping too!

I also enjoyed time outdoors this fall!

Goals for Next Month:

Enjoy the Christmas season! I LOVE this time of year, from shopping, music, movies, decorations, and baking. I can’t wait to savor it all! I will be coming out with my Christmas Bucket List next week, stay tuned!

That’s a look into what I’m currently up to. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I will see you back here on Friday!

Categories
Let's Look

Let’s Look: How We Prep for the Holidays

Hello all! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week as we made it to hump day! I don’t know about you, but it is full on fall here, we have had rainy days, leaves falling and some sunshine peaking through, but the changing weather is getting me excited for the next few months.

Cool crisp fall mornings

This year has been flying by, I can’t believe we are already at the second week of October. It’s time for another Let’s Look, where we share different parts of our lives. Each month, I link up with  Shay and Erika to share my thoughts on different topics. 

Here’s what we have covered so far this year:

In January, we talked about How We Clean Our Closets.

In February, the topic was Things We Do Every Day

In March, it was all about what’s in our Grocery Carts

In April, we chatted about our Quiet and Prayer Time.

In May, we talked about Summer Staples.

In June, we shared our Summer Schedules.

In July, we chatted about our favorite TV Shows and Podcasts.

In August, we learned about our Pantry Staples

In September, we shared Easy Weeknight Meals

This month, the topic is how we prep for the holidays. I love all the seasons, summer is by far my favorite, but I do enjoy the “Ber” months…September, October, November and December. There is so much to look forward to, from the holidays, traditions, extra family time, and festivities. 

Fall, one of my favorite times of the year

As we get closer to the holiday months, I’m sharing how I prep for all the fun and I hope you will share some of your holiday prep hacks too! I don’t have my own home or family yet, so how I prepare may look a little different.

I always like to prep for the holiday seasons, by creating bucket lists, by writing a bucket or goal list, this ensures that things that I want or hope to get done, get accomplished. Some are big activities and others are little outings or things I want to cook or bake. For example, my fall bucket list includes celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, watching festive movies, enjoying holiday treats and Halloween activities.

I don’t know how I will celebrate Halloween on the actual holiday, but I do plan on making some festive treats, decorating and enjoying some Halloween movies. 

Some fall treats from last year

As far as Thanksgiving goes, we typically enjoy the holiday with family and then we have our own Thanksgiving dinner the weekend after. Preparations for Thanksgiving looks like figuring out what traditional dishes will be made, baking pies, and doing some decorating around the house. These are subtle ways to celebrate the holiday. There’s so much cooking and baking that goes into Thanksgiving that it is nice to just enjoy the time with family. 

A delicious, Thanksgiving spread!

Christmas always comes with the most prep. Once again, I make a Christmas bucket list of things I want to do around the Christmas season, from ice skating, baking cookies, shopping, looking at lights, and decorating. I like to make the most out of the Christmas season.

Prep for Christmas starts with decorating the day after Thanksgiving, it’s a tradition we have been doing for years and it’s always one of my favorite things.

I will also make a master list of people I want to buy for and set a budget. I keep a running list in my phone of who I need to buy for, what the gift is, the status of it, and how much I spent. Once all the gifts have arrived, I take time to wrap them all and watch a holiday movie. This method always keeps me organized.

I love to bake cookies around the holidays and one of the ways that I prep is by making one or two types of cookies a week leading up to Christmas. I will share some with family after I bake them and then store the rest for the holidays. This method ensures that I get all my baking done, but I’m not stressed getting it done.

After all the prep is done, it’s time to enjoy the holidays and relax. There’s only so much prep you can do, what matters is the end result and spending time with family and loved one around the holidays. They will be here before we know it, so I want to know what hacks you have to make the holidays smoother? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Holiday Prepping!

Categories
Fabulous living

2023 Year in Review

Hello all! Happy Christmas week! I hope you had a wonderful day with loved ones and lasting memories.

A look at my tree on Christmas Day.

It’s the end of the 2023, this year flew by. I feel like just yesterday I was setting goals and resolutions for the next 12 months and here we are almost 365 days later with most of them accomplished.

Going into 2023, I anticipated it to be a year of change and new beginnings and while there was change and I tried new hobbies and went to different places, this year was filled with lots of routine and structure which I love and crave.

Over the past twelve months, I have kept in touch with friends from out of town and made it a point to touch base with them either in-person or via facetime. I traveled a lot this year by taking day trips or longer vacations with my family. I continued to grow in my profession by working on different long-form projects and challenging myself each day. The biggest things that stand out to me from this past year would be my newfound love of trying different hobbies. 

What a year for 2023!

Let’s take it back to January for a recap of this year before we get into my favorites of 2023:

The year began with lots of cozy days indoors and lots of cooking, I tried lots of new recipes this year from soups, to pizzas, and baked goods. 

A new recipe, Shrimp Avocado Medicine Soup
Fresh cookies too

Even though it was cold outside, I bunded up and took winter walks to some of my favorite spots, as much as I love the hygge vibes of being inside, there’s nothing quite like getting fresh air and exercise.

Winter walks in the snow

February brought a day trip to Cleveland for a day at the Art Museum and dinner and a show.

A show in the city at night!

The second month of the year brought Valentine’s Day and the first of many uses of my Kitchen Aid.

First time using my kitchen aid
The Kitchen Aid made baking them so much easier!

March was a continuation of testing out new recipes and getting outdoors more as the temperatures began to rise. 

First Zoo trip of the year

Spring finally made an appearance in April with Easter, family time and the start of sunshine.

First of spring walks
Our favorite Easter dessert-our bunny cake!

April also brought the start of my running journey.

Some of my early runs

May took me to Canada and my first visit to Niagara on the Lake, Ontario for a work trip.

Picnic season was back in May and I celebrated my 25th birthday.

Picnic season
Celebrating 25!

I tried to spend as much time outside in the summer. This summer I began to grow my first garden which saw success for its first season. I also began running consistently in preparation for my first 5K.

Runs at the beach!

June was a month of travel with day trips to Columbus and NYC for a day, which you can read about here.

The sights and sounds of NYC

I also got a chance to visit family in New Jersey which was well overdue. 

The beauty of the beach!

July began with the Fourth of July included lots of running, checking on my garden, walks, and reading poolside. 

Our Fourth of July spread
My first set of veggies! Peas!
Reading by the pool days
More running

August began fast and furious with my first 5K, then it was off to a day trip to Toronto.

Finishing my first 5K!
The iconic Toronto sign

My family and I got away for a few days to San Diego which was great to have quality time together and go to new places.

Hello San Diego!

Summer wrapped up with bonfires, ice cream and more success of my garden.

Summer S’mores!
Soaking up summer with every last ice cream!
The fruits of my labor

The fall was a time of savoring the outdoors as much as I could and seeing the seasons change. 

Hello fall walks!

As it got colder and I stayed indoors more, that meant more time in the kitchen by trying new recipes for baked goods and dinners. 

Back in the kitchen

November and December brought me my first Turkey Trot followed by Thanksgiving and getting into the Christmas spirit and celebrating all month long.

Turkey trotting!
Our Thanksgiving Dinner at home
All is calm, all is bright.
A very Christmas spread

This past year brought lots of favorites too.

Here’s some of my all-time favorite things from 2023:

Favorite Book: Spare-I know it was a controversial book, but I found it fascinating to read all about Prince Harry and his life from his perspective. I also have been a fan of the Royal family for years, so his autobiography was very eye-opening. Plus the timing between the death of the Queen in 2022, Charles’ Coronation in May and final season of the Crown makes his story even more prevalent.

Favorite T.V. Show– The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ended this year, I really loved following this show from the beginning and thought the ending was so fitting and fulfilling. A close runner-up would be Ted Lasso, another favorite from this year

Favorite Movie– Barbie– This should be no surprise but I really enjoyed the Barbie movie this year. Although, I’m not a Barbie super fan, I thought it was very well done and had a great message.

Favorite Fashion Item– Tennis dress from Amazon– I wore this so many times this summer. It was so easy to throw on during a hot day or after work. It was fashionable and affordable and I loved the color, perfect for summer!

Favorite New Podcast– The Lazy Genius– I was introduced to this podcast and find it so helpful when it comes to life hacks and ways to streamline things in your life. Although, my all-time favorite podcast is the Simplified podcast.

Sometimes I listen to the Lazy Genius

Favorite App- Substack– I love using substack to keep up with some of my favorite authors and writers like Emily Ley from Simplified and Elizabeth Holmes for all things Royals.

Favorite New Hobby– My favorite new hobby from this year has been running. I never thought I would be a runner and love it as much as I do, but here we are. You can read about my running journey here.

One of my latest runs

I am also proud of my consistency with growing my first garden this year. 

My tomatoes!

Favorite Trip- Doing New York City in a day was exhausting but so worth it and I made so many memories with my family when we went to San Diego.

Memories from family trips!

This year was so full with new adventures, building relationships, growing in my profession, spending time with loved ones and trying new hobbies. The best way I can describe this year is by feeling fulfilled. 

Here’s a look at the resolutions I set out to accomplish this year. My top goals were to Eat healthier and run a 5K (which I accomplished big time), I wanted to take advantage of local spots and park (which I did a great job especially in the spring and summertime), Plan to do more things on days off (I accomplished this by doing day trips and making the most of my vacation days), and lastly, I wanted to continue to grow more in my profession (I achieved this goal by tackling different work projects and tasks).

I’m proud of myself of how I have grown and evolved this past year and I’m excited to see where 2024 takes me. 

Cheers to closing the chapter of 2023 and starting fresh for 2024.

Here’s to a new year!
Categories
Currently

Currently #48

Hello All! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are in full on Christmas mode as the countdown to the big day is on. I know I have been in the Christmas spirit since Black Friday, this is truly one of my favorite times of year and I have been enjoying it to the fullest.

Hot cocoa and a holiday movie!

I am switching things up this month but doing my Currently a week early, so I can save next week for my end of the year recap. My Year in Review posts are some of my favorite ones that I put together all year long, so I can’t wait to share it with you next week. 

But, we have so much to get to in today’s post, hint, be prepared for a lot of Christmas cheer. Let’s get to it!

What I’m Up To: This past month has been filled with all things Christmas cheer. I have been checking so many things off my Christmas Bucket List and have been trying to make the most out of every single day, whether it’s watching a Christmas movies, baking cookies, or doing my shopping and gift exchanges. I LOVE CHRISTMAS. The best news is that the Christmas season continues after December 25, so there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the holiday spirit. Here’s a look into some of the things I’ve done so far.

Enjoying holiday traditions.
Christmas wrapping and movies
Ready for the big day!

What I’m wearing: On days off, I have been doing my best to wear all my holiday graphic tee shirts. Most of them are from Old Navy. I love the texture, the durability and all the fun designs. You can dress them up with jeans and boots or dress them down with leggings if you are just lounging around the house.

I also have been getting a lot of use out of my festive flannel from Old Navy, I paired it with jeans and boots and a red coat.

For a more dressed up look, I wore this black and white polka dotted long sleeve blouse from Ann Taylor to work and it was a hit. I wore it with black dress pants, my pearl hoop earring and a red lipstick for a pop of color. 

All bundled up for outdoor fun!

What I’m Reading: I started off the month by reading A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson. It follows the story of a young woman who is aspiring to follow in her father’s footsteps and be a writer, however she has some challenges getting there. When her mother passes away, she finds an old manuscript, but who wrote it and what will our protagonist do with it? This story follows the family through the years and through a web of secrets that slowly unravels through the book.

A great book for the fall

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand. It’s the second book out of a five-book series. It follows the story of a large, interconnected family through Christmas year after year. When I picked up this book from the library, I didn’t realize it was the second book out of five, it took me a moment to get caught up with the characters, but once I did, I really enjoyed it and got immersed in it. It takes place over one weekend in Nantucket for the traditional island Stroll. There’s lots of Nantucket references and so much Christmas and holiday descriptions.

What I’m Watching: All the Christmas movies and programs! I don’t have a list of movies perse, but have I been trying to watch all of my favorite movies this Christmas season? You bet!

I’ve seen the classic cartoons like Rudolph, Frosty and the Grinch. I watched the childhood favorites like Home Alone and The Polar Express and I have enjoyed the adult movies like Christmas Vacation and Love Actually. 

Polar Express movie night

I also have been making my way through the final season of The Crown. I have been doing my best to savor the last six episodes and not rush the experience. If you have been watching, what are your thoughts so far?

What Inspires Me: I have been inspired by trying new recipes in the kitchen. I tried a few salads in addition to sweets.

Stir fry for the win!

I wanted to try my hand at some new recipes this season in addition to some classics. I have already made chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies and I know I will be doing more baking in the coming days.

Fresh chocolate chip cookies

I also tried my first gingerbread recipe which was a success. I plan to make homemade fudge and red velvet cookies in addition to sugar cookies and some other Christmas treats.

My first gingerbread loaf
Red velvet, peanut butter and peppermint bark ready to go@

What I Accomplished: I have been very productive when it comes to my Christmas Bucket List. One night we had a Christmas movie night with the Polar Express and a popcorn and hot chocolate bar.

We made popcorn and had different seasonings for people to try, from chocolate sea salt to movie theater butter, kettle corn, and classic, everyone could try their favorite.

We also enjoyed hot cocoa with different marshmallows and toppings. This was a fun and affordable way to enjoy a movie night.

 I also enjoyed a Christmas concert to kick off the month of December, which was so fun for a night out

Christmas concert to kick off the season
Christmas in the city at night!

Plus, I’ve been enjoying holiday lights around our town, such a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas skating is a must!

Goals from Last Month: My goals from last month were to enjoy the Christmas season to the fullest and I know I have done that and there’s still more time to enjoy the fun. I’m looking forward to time at home with my family, especially since my siblings will be home from college. It will be great to enjoy the holiday traditions and just spend quality time together. 

Christmas movies and Christmas card stuffing

Goals for this Month: My goals for the upcoming month are to start my New Year’s Resolutions and get back into my routines and habits. This past month has been a flurry of fun and activities and while I’m not ready to say goodbye to the holidays yet, but I’m sure by January 2, I will be. 

That’s a look into life this past month. Lots of holiday cheer and fun and it only gets better from here. Wishing you a festive rest of your week

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #72

Hello all!

Happy Friday! I can’t believe we are halfway through December, this month has been flying by and I am trying to soak up as much Christmas cheer as I can. I’ve been checking things off my Christmas bucket list slowly, but surely. I have been watching Christmas movies, enjoying hot cocoa, and I’ve gone skating a handful of times already this season. I am here for all things holiday cheer.

Hot cocoa and a holiday movie!

I’m sticking with the Christmas theme for this week’s Friday Favorites as I link up with Erika and Andrea or a fun roundup of Friday Favorites!

Giant Eagle Holiday Mix-I am a sucker for a festive holiday mix. I saw this holiday trail mix at the entrance of Giant Eagle when I was picking up some groceries and I had to try it. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty and it’s festive too. I’ve enjoyed it while wrapping gifts, watching Christmas movies and just relaxing. This would be a great addition to a charcuterie board or for a night of appetizers. Yum!

A new favorite snack

Christmas Movie Countdown– Speaking of Christmas cheer, I have been trying to watch a Christmas movie or program a night or when I can. I have been mixing in the classics with some new releases too. Shawn Johnson East and her husband, Andrew work with a company called “Family Made” and they put out a Christmas movie countdown to Christmas. They are all family movies, but I have been watching them too and crossing them off my list of holiday movies. It’s been so fun to tap into the nostalgia of childhood memories too.

Brownie Recipe– I’ve been slowly baking my Christmas cookies for the season and trying new recipes along the way. I baked my first batch of homemade brownies and although they were not as good as the Betty Crocker box recipe, they were still tasty. I got the recipe from Mix and Match Mama, and they were super easy to make. I may tweak the recipe a bit and may try some other flavors like peppermint, but I was proud of my first homemade batch! Stay tuned for more holiday recipes in the coming weeks.

A new recipe for me!

Crown Returns– The final six episodes of the Crown dropped yesterday. I have slowly started to make my way through them, but I am savoring each episode since I know the end is near. If you haven’t started watching yet, here’s the trailer and more information from TVLine. I really am looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up even though we know what happens in real life. I will also be following along with Elizabeth Holmes’ podcast as well to hear her insights on the final episodes.

A Likely Story– I am in Christmas book heaven right now with all the cheesy and warm Christmas novels, but before I began, I read A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson. It follows the story of a young woman who is aspiring to follow in her father’s footsteps and be a writer, however she has some challenges getting there. When her mother passes away, she finds an old manuscript, but who wrote it and what will our protagonist do with it? This story follows the family through the years and through a web of secrets that slowly unravels through the book. This book kept me hooked so much so, I woke up early to read the last 100 pages. Definitely a great read for a cozy day in the winter.

A great book for the fall

That’s a look into life lately and some of my favorite things, lots of yuletide cheer this holiday season. I hope you do something fun and festive this weekend as we countdown to Christmas. 

Have a holly, jolly weekend!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #71

Hello All and Happy Friday!

I hope you had a great first, full of December. I am savoring every day of this Christmas season or at least trying to. I am slowly crossing things off of my Christmas Bucket List and am doing my best to slow down and really be present this season.

Christmas movies and cozy nights in

Today’s Friday Favorites are all Christmas themed-buckle up, you are in for a festive Friday Favorites as I link up with Erika and Andrea .

Etsy Gifts– I have been having so much luck on Etsy when it comes to unique Christmas gifts. I love to support small businesses when I can, and I love it even more when I get a unique and meaningful gift out of it too! I checked several people off my Christmas list thanks to Etsy. One of my favorite things about using Etsy is you can just search a name, theme or idea with the word “gifts” and you get so many options. For example, if you are looking for a gift for a teacher, simply search “Teacher Gifts” and you will have so many items to browse from. The only downside to Etsy is that I find things that I want to buy and have to reign myself in. If you are looking for some different gifts, check out Etsy!

My go-to for Christmas gifts this season.

New Flannel– I’ve been doing my best to wear something festive whenever I can and that includes running errands. I picked up this red, festive flannel from Old Navy when I was doing a bit of a shopping spree a few weeks ago. It’s a thicker material so it’s great for layering. I love how it is Christmas-y, but it can be worn in the fall and winter too. You can pair it with jeans or leggings to dress up in a lounging around the house outfit or add it to a pair of jeans for a day of shopping. I know I will be getting a lot of use out of it this year.

Feeling festive this time of year.

Dashing Through the Snow- If you are looking for a new, cute, Christmas family movie this is it! Dashing Through the Snow is on Disney Plus and it’s all about a dad who doesn’t like Christmas until he meets a new friend, Nick, who needs some help on Christmas Eve. Ludacris stars in this family movie that has so many great one-liners and heartfelt moments. This was also a step-up from your classic Hallmark movie as there was more drama and had a heavier storyline. My mom and I watched it on a Friday night and agreed it would make for a perfect family movie night.

Holiday Get-Togethers– Something else I have been loving this time of year is holiday get together with friends. The season can get so busy and it’s so nice to catch up with friends and family around the holidays. Some of my close friends are in grad school so it’s been fun to catch up before they begin their Christmas breaks. I prefer a one-on-one meet up as opposed to a big party since you get to really catch up with the person you are visiting with. The holiday season goes by so fast, so I have found it’s best to set up a time in advance with friends whether it be for a gift exchange, activity or dinner and get it on the calendar, this way you aren’t stressing out about finding time between your Christmas to-do, daily to-do and other things that pop up to make time for friends.

Christmas Candle– I love a good candle to light when I am getting ready for the day or relaxing. With the Christmas season in full swing it was time to pull out a new candle. This was the perfect combination of fresh Christmas trees and fresh pine. I love lighting a candle to set a mood and between my tree in my room and the candle, I am in the cozy Christmas spirit.

That wraps up this festive, Friday Favorites! Tell me: how are you planning on spending the weekend? Doing something fun and Christmasy?!

Have a great weekend!

Categories
Currently Uncategorized

Currently #47

Hey Hey! Happy Wednesday! I can’t believe we are days away from December. This month was a slower month for me in terms of activities and events, but it still flew by. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact Thanksgiving was early this year. Regardless, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are ready for the Christmas season, I know I am. I have my holiday candles burning, my Christmas throw blankets are out, and I am using all the festive mugs, life is good!

All decked out for Christmas

As this month winds down, I want to share what I have been up to recently as we flip the calendar from November to December.

What I’m Up To-This month has been filled with fall walks, organizing, and lots of baking and cooking. We had some snow this month, but it has been mostly chilly, yet sunny. I have been trying my best to still get outdoors to enjoy the dry conditions for as long as I can. There’s nothing better than some fresh air and sunshine with the leaves changing in the background.

A beautiful fall morning!

I also have been doing a lot of baking and cooking as I have been trying both new and old recipes. 

Lots of time spent in the kitchen!

Finally, I spent almost every Thursday this month doing major cleaning and organizing. My mom and I tackled all the spaces, from cabinets to closets and storage areas. It was never out intent to do a big declutter, but once we started, we couldn’t stop. It felt great to donate a lot of things we weren’t using ahead of the holidays.

A look at some of our donations

I ended the month by celebrating Thanksgiving!

A delicious, Thanksgiving spread!

What I’m Wearing– I don’t have too many fun outfits to show off from this past month since my days off were spent in grubby clothes cleaning. However, after cleaning and reorganizing my closet, I was able to create some new winter outfits with items I have. I have been wearing this red jacket from Old Navy a lot. 

You can’t go wrong with red jacket!

I know I will be wearing a lot of the next few weeks.  I also did an Old Navy haul this past month. Here’s some of the pieces I got and I have been loving.

This is also what I wore for Thanksgiving last week.

What I’m Reading– Some months I have great reading months and other months they are not so great. I read a few books this past month and while they were good, they were great nor my favorites.

I started the month by reading The Girls of Summer by Katie Bishop. The story goes back and forth between the past and present about young college-aged girls in Greece who get wrapped up in some adult situations. They don’t realize the severity of their situations until they are adults and consequences happen. As grown women they work to try and make amends and come to terms with their young adult mistakes.  The book was very serious and dealt with a lot of heavy topics, I found parts of it interesting, but most of the book, I just felt bad for the characters.

Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose is all about a group of women in Ireland who are all trying to one up each other, but all have their own secrets and hidden agendas. When one of the women in the small-town winds up dead, everyone has a different motive for wanting her dead. The book follows each woman and their lives as mothers and wives and it turns out not everything is as it seems. I though the book was good but got confused as it flashed back and forth from past and present and jumped between characters. In my opinion, the book wrapped up way too fast, I was waiting for a who done it moment and it came and went so fast and then the book was over. 

 Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch is a companion book to Love and Gelato, you didn’t have to read Love and Gelato to read this book, but there are a few references to the first book. The story takes place in Ireland as a brother and sister in high school decide to take a road trip to a music festival instead of following a plan to take a trip to Italy. I really liked how the setting of Ireland was depicted and I liked seeing the relationship between the brother and sister evolve. I really enjoyed this book compared to the first two I read.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune- This was the second book I read by Fortune, but the first book she wrote. It takes place in a small town in Canada. This book also goes back and forth between the past and present as a young woman goes back to the lake that she grew up spending her summers. She is reunited with a former friend/flame of her past and through the book, the reader sees how these two characters went from best friends to strangers. I really enjoyed this book, from the character development to the setting and storyline. It definitely had more of a summer feel to it but can be read during any time of year. I’m glad I ended this month reading wise on a high note. Next month will be all about the Christmas books.

What I’m Watching– This month marked the return of a lot of series. I kicked off November with Selling Sunset. I’m not a big reality tv fan, but I can’t help myself with it comes to Selling Sunset. I started this show for the houses, but stayed for the drama. It’s been interesting to see the dynamics between the women in the office change through the seasons. I really love how they have a reunion at the end of the season too.

My favorite thing that I watched this past month was The Crown. I had so many questions going into this season and found the first four episodes of Season 6 to be moving, somber, but also really beautiful. It was almost eerie to see what Diana’s life was like in her final weeks and how the world reacted to her death.

I also started to watch some of my favorite Christmas movies now that we are in the Christmas season.

Like Rudolph!

What Inspires Me– I have been inspired by all my time in the kitchen. I also have been scouring Pinterest and cooking blogs for new recipes to try.

Here’s some of the things I have been making in the kitchen

 Banana protein balls

Halloween candy cookies

Peanut butter cookies

Chocolate chip cookies, Double chocolate chip cookies, mint cookies

Chicken and Veggie stir fry

Lots of breakfast foods

What I Accomplished– I feel so accomplished after all the cleaning and organizing and donating my mom and I did this past month. 

A look into some of the spaces we organized

I also ran another 5K on Thanksgiving which was fun, despite it being chilly. It was my first Turkey Trot and I loved it.

Turkey trotting!

I also got to thoroughly enjoy the holidays with my family which is so nice.

Nothing says Thanksgiving than by watching the parade.
Our Thanksgiving Dinner at home

Goals from Last Month– I really got to enjoy quiet days at home before hustle and bustle of the holidays. It was the perfect time to recharge and get things down before life gets crazy around the holidays, but I’m really looking forward to my Christmas bucket list and doing all the holiday traditions. Plus, I started my Christmas list for others and I’m excited to start my shopping too.

Fresh fall flowers to brighten up a clean space

Goals for this Month- My goal for the last month of 2023 is simple, enjoy the holidays, enjoy the family traditions and be present in the moment. More times than not, I find myself trying to do all the things and not being present and enjoying the holiday moments. This year, I want to do a better job of planning things out, so I get them down but also really enjoying the moments and savoring them, whether it be holiday baking, making a gingerbread house, watching Christmas movies or wrapping gifts. My goal is to be intentional and present with my time and energy.

Someone is enjoying the holiday spirit

That’s a look into life lately. The calm before the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.

Tell me: as we prepare to welcome December, what are you looking forward to next month? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy end of November!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #67

Hey guys!

Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week as we countdown to Thanksgiving and the holidays. This week was a bit busier with some work events and projects, but we made it to the weekend! The weather has been cooler, so I have been spending more time indoors hence a lot of my favorites this week!

A perfect fall day!

Today is a mix bag of Friday Favorites as I link up with  Erika and Andrea .

Here’s been some things I have been loving this week.

M&M Mixed Bag– I know Halloween is over, but I am still enjoying candy. I love M&M’s and all the different flavors and types. When I saw this mixed bag at the store I had to try it. Regular M&M’s, Peanut M&M’s and Peanut Butter M&M’s in one bag? Sign me up. I love how you can get a different flavor every time. I used some of them in some protein balls I made recently, and they really added to the flavoring. These would be a perfect pairing with popcorn or in a trail mix if you like that extra crunch and sweet and salty taste. 

A sweet hit!

All the Light We Cannot See– The miniseries, All The Light We Cannot See based on the book by Anthony Doer came out last week and I watched it over the course over the weekend and really enjoyed it. I read the book last year and although it was a heavier topic, I found myself hooked from the beginning. I was curious to see how the miniseries would be compared to the book. There were definitely some differences between the two. I enjoyed the book on its own and the miniseries on its own, but with any adaption of a book to the screen there were times when I was hoping for one thing and got something different. This article does a great job at comparing the two. However, I enjoyed the miniseries and glad I watched it.

A great mini series!

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup– I can’t remember where I saw this recipe for Pumpkin Black Bean soup, and I couldn’t wait to try it. We made it around Halloween. This was a delicious recipe that had a great mix of spice and savory. I know I will be making it again, especially in the fall. Plus, it’s very healthy too. I love how thick and creamy it was too! It was the perfect harvest soup!

Santa Clause Series Returns– I’m not in the Christmas mode yet, but I am excited to get into the spirit with season two of the Santa Clause Series on Disney Plus. I really enjoy the classic, original movies with Tim Allen and was excited to see how the series would go. I thought season one was good and a good way to get into the holiday season. I was excited to hear that the show got renewed for season two. I’m looking forward to seeing what this season brings. Plus, this will be a great way to get into the holiday spirit ahead of the season.

The Murdaugh Murders Season 2– I know I am late to the party on this one, but I finally got around to watching season two of the Murdaugh Murders season two. I watched season one when it came out and was hooked and when season two came out, I knew I had to watch. It may have taken me a little while to watch it, but once I did, I finished it in two nights. I had followed the trial this past year and was interested to see what things I could learn from the documentary series. I found the behind the scenes look so interesting. If you love a true crime that’s still happening, you will want to watch this. 

That’s a look into what I’m loving this week. A lot of shows and miniseries and somethings I’m planning on watching!

Tell me: how have you been enjoying the month of November? What do you have in store for the next few weeks? 

Have a great weekend!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #20

Hey hey! Happy Friday and happy day before Christmas Eve! I hope you are able to slow down and enjoy the next few days with family and loved ones. I absolutely love this time of year, after all the anticipation and build up, we can all (hopefully) enjoy some time to slow down and reset with family and friends. 

Here’s a few things I’ve been loving this past week for this week’s Friday Favorites with Erika and Andrea for another edition of Friday Favorites:

Cleveland Trip: My boyfriend and I took a day trip to Cleveland last week and had the best time. From ice skating to walks around the park and dinner and a show. It was the best way to celebrate the Christmas season in a different city. A truly spectacular Christmas gift!

Christmas in the city!
The best Christmas gift from my boyfriend.

Christmas Snack Mix: I have been in the Christmas spirit since the day after Thanksgiving and it hasn’t slowed down at all. The holiday displays at the front of stores always suck me in to try new things. I picked up this holiday snack mix from Giant Eagle and have been loving it. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty and holiday cheer. If you are looking for a sweet snack for a holiday party, this is it!

The best Christmas mix

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies: Speaking of Christmas cheer, I tried this peppermint flavor mix in a batch of chocolate chip cookies and loved how they turned out. I have been doing lots of holiday baking over the past few days, from new recipes to classics, it’s been so fun to do some holiday baking. This cookie mix has the perfect blend of peppermint and chocolate. There was also mini marshmallows and chocolate chips in the mix too. Yum!

The start of baking season.

Long Sleeve Blouses: I am always on the hunt for new pieces to add to my wardrobe and found this long sleeve blouse by Ralph Lauren at Marshall’s for a great deal a few weeks back and couldn’t wait to try it.  There’s so many things that I love about this top, first the colors, I adore the classic blue and red. Second, I love the cut and style with the sleeves and the bow at the top. Lastly, I love that it’s long-sleeved. I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for more tops like these.

I love a good long-sleeve blouse

Christmas in Paris: Just in the nick of time, I finished another Christmas book. I loved this story about a young woman who calls off her wedding and retreats to Paris. The description of Paris in the winter is beautiful. I loved the character development and it was so interesting to see this young woman find herself and love again. Christmas in Paris gets 5 stars from me.

That’s a look into my Christmas-filled week. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day and I will see you back here next Wednesday for my 2022 Recap!

Merry Christmas!

Categories
Fabulous living

Christmas Gift Ideas

Hello Hello! 

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are finding time to rest in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I know I have been putting EVERYTHING on my calendar to make sure I don’t leave anything out between family, friends, dates or holiday fun! It can be such a busy time so I’m doing my best to soak it all up and be present as much as I can. 

I love checking out gift guides on other blogs. I am not an expert in gift guides, but I love getting ideas and suggestions from other blogs. Today, I’m sharing a few gift ideas. This is by no means a comprehensive guide, rather just some ideas if you need inspiration or are stuck on what to get someone.

Here’s some ideas that work for family members, friends, co-workers or significant others.

Gift card to a subscription service

This is such a practical and fun gift. There’s so many subscriptions services nowadays. From streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime), to physical subscription like Hello Fresh or Fab Fit Fun, or music services like Spotify and Sirus XM, it can be overwhelming to have them all and pay for them all.

If you get someone a gift card to any of these subscriptions, it gives them a taste of the service and see if they want to invest in it long term. I got a Hulu gift card and if let me try out the streaming service without a full time commitment.  This is also practical since all these services add up.

Give the gift of Netflix this holiday season.

Tickets to an Experience or Event 

If you know the person really well, consider getting them tickets to a local event or activity. It doesn’t have to be a major concert or a sporting event but, maybe it’s tickets to a museum they have been wanting to go to or a gift certificate to  a local theater and a gift card or a local restaurant. You are giving them an experience that they may not spend on themselves. It can also be a practical experience like a coupon to a free car wash or detailing (this is super helpful in winter months).

It can also be a gift for the whole family, like a family membership to the zoo, or a local theme park. This is a great gift the whole family can enjoy after the holidays have passed.

A Zoo membership would make a great gift for the whole family.

Local Items and Foods

If you want to give someone a taste of home who’s moved away, a gift of local items is the perfect idea. Get a basket together of some one your favorite things from home. It can be a favorite food from a local bakery, a bottle of wine or a six pack from a local brewery, a gift card to a favorite restaurant, pack it all up and give it to a loved one who may have moved away. This will remind them of home and you!

Sending some hometown favorite foods are almost just as good as being able to share in person.

Personalize it!

I love all things personalized and this gift really shows you put in the extra effort. For girls or guys, you can use MarleyLilly for clothing, purses, or household items and get them monogrammed. It’s a subtle way to get something fun with that personal touch. If you want to incorporate photos into a gift, Shutterfly or Snapfish are great places to get prints, calendars,  canvas, mugs, stationary and more gifts. Besides Christmas cards.  I have made calendar, collages, books, and mugs for loved ones. This is another gift that has that personal touch. 

These are just a few ideas for gifts this holiday season. Some are experiences and others are items. These are all things that I have been given and have found to be really useful and practical. Tell me, as we gear up for the holidays, do you prefer practical gifts or experiences?