Tag: february

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #82

Hello All!

Happy Friday! I hope it has been a great week for you as we get ready for another weekend. I hope you are able to fill your cup with what matters most, whether it’s family time, some extra sleep, or a fun excursion. As we make our way through February I am getting set for another round of fun favorites from this past week. These are little things that have brought me joy and I hope you are finding things that have made you smile this past week too.

Let’s jump into this week’s Friday Favorites with ErikaĀ andĀ Andrea.

Office Ladies and the Lazy Genius Collaboration– I love the Office and I love the podcast, The Lazy Genius. When I heard they were a part of the same network, I couldn’t wait to see what it would bring. Kendra joined the Office Ladies podcast for an episode and in return, the Office Ladies made an appearance on The Lazy Genius. I loved hearing about their collaboration and how Kendra helped both Angela and Jenna lazy genius different parts of their lives. If you are fans or both or either of these, give both of them a listen. You can find The Lazy Genius episode here and The Office Ladies episode here.

Coloring Books– I always loved to color as a child and got back into it in college. Once again, coloring has found its way in my life and I’m not complaining. I enjoy the calming activity if I’m watching a show in the background or if I’m sitting and just relaxing. I also enjoy coloring or doodling if sports are on and I’m only semi paying attention. Haha! I know studies have been done about the relaxing technique between coloring and I have found that itĀ  calms me down and is a soothing activity. It has definitely brought me joy on chilly winter days.

Thicker than Water– I finished Kerry Washington’s memoir “Thicker than Water” last week. I was captivated from start to finish as she talked about her upbringing, getting into acting and secrets about her childhood that she learned as an adult. It was a fast read as I finished it cover to cover in four days. Washington focused more on how she got to where she is today more than her career in tv and film. I really appreciated her candor about tackling different challenges as she grew up. Washington covered a lot of topics in an earlier interview she did this year with ABC back in September. I would recommend watching that as a companion to reading her book.

Sanditon- I heard about this PBS mini series from The Lazy Genius. In Kendra’s newsletter she talked about how she has been into all this Jane Austen, including this mini-series about one of Austen’s unfinished books. I am currently watching this series on Amazon Prime and have been loving it. The series follows a young woman who goes to live with a family who has plans to build up a town by the water. Thereā€™s romance, drama, dealing with the class system and of course a beautiful backdrop where it all takes place. If you enjoy old British shows or movies, give it a try!

Brownie Truffles– As we close out this edition of Friday Favorites, I wanted to share this sweet treat I made last week. I have always been intimidated by making truffles, but I found this recipe from Hersheyā€™s (one of my favorite companies) and had to try it! The recipe was so easy to follow and they came out delicious! Super easy for any party or gathering and they were a hit with my family.

That wraps up todayā€™s Friday Favorites! Some entertainment, recipes, and family fun! 

Tell me: how are you filling your cup this weekend? I hope you make it a memorable one!

Happy Friday! 

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #81

Hello all!

Happy Friday! I hope you have had a smooth and successful week and were able to celebrate Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day. We made it to Friday which means the weekend is just hours away! I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the weekend.

Some sweet treats from Valentine’s day!

As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for some of my favorite things this week for this week’s edition of Friday Favorites. This is a mix of some books, music, food and some recent refreshes.

Let’s dive right in!

New Chair Cover- I’ve had the same desk and chair in my room since the second grade (yes, I still live at home and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made). The desk and chair are in great condition, however, they have endured wear and tear over the years, so I’ve had to get the chair re-upholstered a few times. This chair covering has gone from pink, to checkered, and now patterned. After more rips and tears, I decided to get it cleaned up again, rather than buy new. I found some of this patterned Paris fabric from a local remanent store and brought it to an upholsteryĀ store to get it fixed up. I’ve had it on my to-do list to get fixed for months and I finally got accomplished it. I’m so happy I was able to keep what I had and spruce it up rather than buy new. If you are looking to update something in your home, here’s your sign to do it.

New Lock Screen- Speaking of refreshes, this may sound silly, but I updated my lock screen for my cell phone and it was such a good reminder that the little things truly make the biggest difference when it comes to bringing joy in my life. I found this picture on Pinterest and swapped out the colors for my clock. I had a winter/Christmas background and now this one of Paris reminds me of the month of love. It’s a small change, but it makes me smile especially as we make our way through a new month. 

Little Italian Hotel– I finished “The Little Italian Hotel” on Libby this past week. I listened to it as an audiobook and loved my experience with it. I don’t often listen to audiobooks, but I decided to give it a try and was so happy I did. The story follows a talk show host who ends up taking her anniversary trip alone. Rather than go with her husband, she invites four strangers to accompany her. The five people bond over heartbreak and become friends as they create memories during their three-week trip abroad. I listened to the book in the car, while I was jogging, and while I was cleaning and doing things around the house. I like the narrator’s voice and she had me hooked the entire time.

Stir Fry- I have been enjoying easy meals this winter. I love easy soup and sandwich nights, a soup and salad for lunch or a stir fry. A hearty stir fry has been a go-to for lunches and dinners. I love this meal because it’s a great way to use what you have in your fridge and not waste food, it combines a lot of food groups, and it’s fast. This past week, I used leftover ground beef, rice and some frozen veggies to put together this meal in under 20 minutes. Major win! I also have made chicken stir frys, veggie frys and shrimp stir frys too….the possibilities are truly endless. 

Billy Joel’s New Song– I know this is a few weeks old, but I have been listening to Billy Joel’s new song “Turn the Lights Back On”, non-stop. This is the first song he has released in 30 years and it’s so good. I love the message and the melody. I really appreciated his performance during the Grammy’s too. If you haven’t listened to it, give it a listen.

That’s a look at some of the things I have been loving this week.

Tell me, what are some of your favorite things from this past week?

Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great weekend!

Categories
Fabulous living

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

Hello All! 

Happy February! I’m SO ready for a new month. January was slow and steady and a great month for relaxing and resetting, but I was ready to flip the calendar. The holiday months tend to go by in the blink of an eye and some of the calmer months seem to take their time. Nevertheless, I’m ready for what this new month will bring.

One of my favorite things about this month is celebrating Valentine’s Day. I have always enjoyed celebrating this holiday, but I have grown to love it even more as I have gotten older. I think Valentine’s Day is a great day to remind the people in your life how much you care for them and as a way to show your appreciation to them. I always love to plan Galentine’s Day meetups with friends that live close by or send cards to those who live far away. The heart shaped candy, themed events and red, pink and white decor always brings a smile to my face in the middle of winter. 

You can go all out or keep it low key when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day. In honor of the holiday, I thought I would round up a few ideas that can be used for a date night out or girl’s night in, you can even do some of these activities on your own or throughout the whole month.Ā 

Here’s some Valentine’s Day Celebration Ideas:

Candle Making- This is becoming a popular activity and would be so fun to do with your girlfriends as a big group or one on one with your significant other. You learn how to make the candles and have something to bring home at the end of the night. As someone who loves to light candles, this would be so fun. I attended a candle making workshop last year and LOVED it, you can read about my experience here.Ā 

Such a fun activity!

Local Performance-If you are a fan of the arts and culture this would be a great experience as a treat for you and your date. Whether it’s a big show or your local theater, heading to see a performance is a great way to get out on the town for a date night and some fun, of you are both into sports, choosing a sporting event wouldn’t be a bad idea either, choose an activity that you both enjoy!

A night out for a show!

Ice Skating and Hot Cocoa-If you are looking for an afternoon out or are looking to celebrate the big day the weekend before, Ice Skating and Hot Cocoa go hand in hand. Some cities may have rinks open outdoors if you are looking for a fun atmosphere, but an indoor rink works just as well. You are getting some exercise in and getting some one-on-one time together, finish off the date off with some hot chocolate or a warm beverage. If skating isn’t your forte, bundle up and take a long winter walk with your warm drinks, another way to spend quality time together.Ā 

Hot cocoa
and ice skating…the perfect combo!

Homemade Meal-As much as I love a night out, I am a homebody, so I love a good homemade meal as opposed to braving the elements in the middle of winter. Whether it’s a new recipe or a favorite of yours and your date, nothing says love, like some hard work in the kitchen. You both can spend time preparing the meal together and enjoy the fruits of your labor with your meal. To make things fun and special, dress up for the dinner, light some candles and use the good plates or buy accessories for your dinner. Yes, leggings may be more comfortable, but you may feel better being all dressed up.

Nothing better than a warm cooked meal

Out for Dessert– Many people may choose to go out for drinks and snacks or appetizers, but I am more of a dessert gal. Sometimes when I go out to eat, I enjoy my meal so much that I don’t leave room for dessert. I am a sweet tooth girl, so I love the idea of heading out just for dessert, whether you eat at home and then go out or if you your whole date is the dessert, head to your favorite restaurant or bakery and indulge on some Valentine’s Day sweets with your sweetheart.Ā 

Dessert for the win!

I hope this list gave you some ideas of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day this year. I am always looking for different unique ways to celebrate the holiday. Whether it’s big or small, be sure to tell the people in your life how much you cherish them. 

Happy February!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #30


Happy Friday and happy first Friday of March! This week, we said goodbye to February and hello to March! I know it may not feel like spring yet, it certainly doesnā€™t feel that way to me, but this new month brings the promise that we are closer to spring than winter and thatā€™s a major win! 

I have a fun roundup of favorite things this week. Letā€™s jump right in as I link up with ErikaĀ andĀ Andrea.

Disenchanted– I watched this movie a few weeks ago and kept forgetting to share it until now. Growing up, I loved the movie Enchanted with Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey and was so excited as an adult to learn they were making a sequel. Iā€™m glad I saw Disenchanted, I thought it was cute and liked how they brought the same characters and had little Easter eggs from other Disney movies, but didnā€™t think they needed a sequel. But if you are looking to enjoy some childhood nostalgia, this movie wouldnā€™t be a bad idea.

Fun movie for the whole family!

Everything Seasoned Crackers– I was on the hunt for some different crackers to enjoy with lunch and tried these crackers from Walmart and loved them. They have so much flavor and seasoning and go great with cheese, fruit, even dips or spreads. Definitely worth picking them up the next time you are on the hunt for a new cracker.Ā 

My new favorite cracker-so much flavor!

The Fablemanā€™s– In honor of award season, I watched The Fablemanā€™s and loved it. Itā€™s based on the story of Steven Spielberg and how he fell in love with movies and directing. Iā€™ve enjoyed so many of Spielbergā€™s movies and loved learning more about his backstory and childhood. Michelle Williams did a fantastic job and the cinematography was incredible. It may have been a long movie but it didnā€™t feel long at all, you totally get caught up in it. I loved every second and canā€™t wait to see how it does for the Academy Awards.

Apple Fitness Time to Walk– I have talked about some of Apple Fitnessā€™ different workout courses and have really been enjoying their Time to Walk series, different actors, actresses, athletes and world leaders narrate different stories or share personal experiences while walking, itā€™s very similar to a podcast. I really love listening to different peopleā€™s stories and it makes walking in colder weather so much better.

Outerbanks Season 3- Anyone else finish Outerbanks season 3 yet?! It came out last Thursday and Iā€™ve spent most of the past week catching up on it. There were definitely some surprises, cliffhangers and reunions this season but it was so good to catch up on this show. Not going to lie, seeing all the exterior scenes had me craving some warmer weather. If you have caught up on the new season, what did you think?!

What I’ve been watching this week.


Thatā€™s just a recap on some of my favorite things from this week. This weekend, Iā€™m looking forward to watching Daisy Jones and the Six. Iā€™ve been talking about it a lot from the book, to trailer and now the series. I have a feeling it will be one of my favorites next week.

Hello weekend plans!


I hope you enjoy this first weekend of March! Have a great weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #29

Hi all! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week as we enjoyed the last full week of February!

Itā€™s been a busy week of work, friends and family. As the week wraps up, Iā€™m sharing some things that have caught my attention and Iā€™ve been loving. Hereā€™s a roundup of my favorite things as I link up with ErikaĀ andĀ Andrea.

New Season of the Masked Singer– The Masked Singer is one of my guilty pleasures. I started watching the show when it premiered a handful of years ago and Iā€™ve been an avid viewer since. I love seeing the talent, watching the cast members battle it out and seeing who gets unmasked each week. Season 9 premiered last week and the first few episodes did not disappoint. Some of the unmasking have definitely surprised me. I canā€™t wait to see what this season holds.

Romantic Comedy Books– Iā€™ve been on a rom com kick when it comes to books. I talked about Part of Your World on this weekā€™s Currently and really loved it.

I also read The Bodyguard after hearing great reviews about it and really enjoyed it as well. I fell in love with the characters, the unique plot line and the setting. If you are looking for some new books to read, these are definitely winners.

Ted Lasso Season 3 Teaser– Iā€™ve been making my way through Ted Lasso and Iā€™ve been loving it. The new teaser and synopsis for Ted Lasso season 3 dropped last week and I canā€™t wait to see what this season brings. This has been such a fun show to watch with my boyfriend. We can watch an episode or four and it doesnā€™t get old. 10/10 recommend if you havenā€™t watched it yet.

Daisy Jones and the Six Full Trailer– The full trailer dropped for Daisy Jones and the Six dropped and it looks so good. After reading the book last summer, I love seeing these characters come to life. The music sounds so good and the makeup and costuming looks phenomenal. You better believe Iā€™ll be watching the series once it drops next week on March 3 on Amazon Prime.

Shotgun Wedding– I really enjoyed seeing all the promotions leading up to Shotgun Wedding on Amazon Prime. Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel brought the perfect mix of humor and serious to their roles. The movie follows a couple who are getting married in a destination wedding, things start out smooth until their wedding gets hijacked by pirates. This movie is filled with great one-liners, romantic moments, beautiful destinations and a happy ending. If you have seen it, what did you think?

Such a cute rom com

Thatā€™s a roundup of some of my favorite things. Tell me what are some things you are loving today?

Let me know in the comments below! Happy Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #28

Hey guys! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week full of Galetineā€™s Day celebrations or a Valentineā€™s Day date night. I know I enjoyed spreading a little extra love this week and indulging in some sweet treats too. I did some baking before Valentineā€™s Day and enjoyed sending cards and some baked goods to family and friends.

Some Valentine’s Day treats!

During the winter months, I spend more time indoors, getting projects done, catching up on books, shows or trying new recipes. That being said, if my Friday Favorites seem similar week to week, thatā€™s why.

Hereā€™s what Iā€™ve been reading, watching, and enjoying for this weekā€™s Friday Favorites as I like up with ErikaĀ andĀ Andrea.

YOU-Part one of YOU season four came out last Thursday on Netflix and I finished it in two days, mind you, it was only five episodes, but once I started it was hard to stop. This new season takes Joe to a new country, with a new murder and a whole new cast of characters. Thereā€™s mystery, intrigue, romance and cliffhangers. Iā€™m excited for part two to come out next month!

Your Place or Mine– In a complete opposite genre, Your Place or Mine came out last weekend and it was the perfect way to get into the Valentineā€™s Day spirit with this rom com. I loved the storyline, the characters, and the chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher. If you havenā€™t seen this movie yet, you are missing out! Super cute!

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hearts– I indulged in all the sugar and sweets from Valentineā€™s Day. From heart-shaped cupcakes to homemade sugar cookies, it was definitely a sweet holiday. I tried these new chocolates from Ghiradelli and loved them. The blend of fruit and chocolate was the perfect ratio. I always enjoy anything chocolate so when I saw a pairing with raspberry, I knew I had to try it and was so glad I did!

Colleen Hoover Books– Late to the book party here, but I finally got around to reading some of Colleen Hooverā€™s books. I have heard about her for years, and decided to try some of them after a friend lent me them. I recently read November 9 and Verity. November 9 was such a sweet love story with an incredible twist. Verity was definitely darker and there were many times I wanted to put it down, but Iā€™m glad I finished it. The ending definitely raised more questions. Iā€™ll be looking into more Hoover books. If you have read her other books, what ones are your favorite and what should I read next?

New Wall Flower Scent– I swapped out scents for my wall plug in from Bath and Body Works last week and have been loving this new scent. I went from Pine which was very Christmasy to Spearmint and Eucalyptus. This scent is so fresh and perfect for the winter months. Thereā€™s nothing better than a new scent for a new week.Ā 

Thatā€™s just a look into life over the past few days. Tell me, how did you celebrate Galentineā€™s Day or Valentineā€™s Day? Have a great weekend!

Categories
Fabulous living Let's Look

Let’s Look + Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! Can you believe we are less than a week away from Valentine’s Day?! I feel like the holiday snuck up on me. I got some Valentine’s Day decorating last week and I plan on doing some Valentine’s Day baking over the next few days. I have been on a baking/cooking roll over the past few weeks, and I have been loving trying new recipes in the winter months. 

I have a double post for you today! First, I’m going to be teaming up with Erika and Shay for Let’s Look! The second Wednesday of the month they have a different prompt about different parts of your life for you to answer.

This month’s topic is What Your Medicine Cabinet Looks Like. I have been doing lots of organizing and cleaning lately and I just finished organizing my medicine box. Besides medicine, I like to keep back stock of makeup and beauty products along with travel products. It’s always helpful to have some go-to products on hand so whenever you run out of a product or medicine, there’s some always on hand. The key is to make sure you clean it out frequently and get rid of old products that have expired. Having a clean space with backup and hygiene products makes life much simpler.

A look inside my back stock

Now onto part two of this post! With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I’m sharing some fun date ideas for you and your significant other. These are a mix of more traditional to unique ideas. If you are looking for inexpensive date ideas, you can find my post about it here.

Without further ado, here’s some Valentine’s Day Date Ideas:

Recreate a First Date-This is a sweet, romantic, and nostalgic way to celebrate the day. Whether you have been with your significant other for a few months or several years, try to recreate your first date. Go to the restaurant or pick up take out, maybe see if you can hunt down what you wore that night or find something similar, to bring back all the first date feels. If you went to the movies for the first time before or after dinner, see if you can find it on a streaming service to watch before or after dinner. This allows you and your significant other to take a romantic walk down memory lane on the sweetest holiday.

Head to an event or performance- Nothing says date night than a night on the town. If you are both into music or theater, see if there’s any local performances happening on or around Valentine’s Day. If you both like the sport scene, see if your local hockey or basketball team has a game. This is a great date idea if you are in the early stages of a relationship and still getting to know each other and one another’s interests or if you have been together for years and you both have a passion for the arts and culture or sports. Plus, it’s never a bad idea to enjoy an experience together.

Whether it’s a performance
Or a sporting event, you can’t go wrong with a night on the town.

Dinner at Home-This is personally my favorite one. I really enjoy cooking and baking, so trying a new recipe at home or enjoying a favorite one together sounds divine for Valentine’s Day. Light some candles, turn on a favorite movie or show and enjoy cooking a meal together. You get to enjoy an activity together and you have a delicious end result. You don’t have to worry about the hassle of reservations, crowded restaurants, or parking. Given that Valentine’s Day is on a weekday, you can celebrate with a nice meal at home the weekend before or the night of. I live for lowkey nights at home, so this is the best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, also make sure you have a sweet dessert for after dinner.

Nothing better than a nice night in

Valentine’s Day Breakfast or Lunch– If you want to go out for meal, but don’t want to deal with the crowds or reservations, celebrate Valentine’s Day earlier in the day, head to breakfast for some one on one time before the work day begins, or set-up a time to break away from work and meet up for a fancy lunch. Both of these options still makes sure you are acknowledging and celebrating the day, without the stress of doing dinner.Ā 

You can even do a fancy brunch at home.

Cliche Valentine’s Day Date– If you have been dating someone for a while and you aren’t stressed about setting impossible expectations, go all out with a cliche Valentine’s Day Date. Buy the big teddy bear or the heart shaped box of chocolates, a long stem rose or a few doesn’t hurt either and make your date into a Valentine’s Day date that’s fit for a romantic comedy. A few other ideas to include in your date: Heart shaped balloons or decorations, a card, a cheesy romantic comedy, your significant other’s favorite meal and lots of sweets and chocolates. This is a fun way to make a big gesture but, in a fun, young love kind of way.

Going all out for Valentine’s Day

I hope this gives you some date ideas for Valentine’s Day if you are looking to go all out for a date night. I know I would be happy with any of these date ideas. If you have other date ideas, let me know in the comments below! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #26

Happy First Friday of February! I hope you have something fun planned for the first weekend of February! 

Ironically, all my favorites today tie into the theme of love. If you are looking for a rom com, something sweet or a gift for someone special, I have you covered. Here’s what I have been LOVING this week as I link up with ErikaĀ andĀ Andrea.

About Fate-Have you seen this cute rom-com on Amazon Prime? About Fate follows the story of two people in different relationships, one serious, one not so serious, but they run into one another without their significant others and end up spending New Year’s Eve together overcoming one obstacle to another to get to their dates. They end up learning they have more in common than they thought andĀ fateā€‹ keeps bringing them together. Definitely worth the watch to gear up for Valentine’s Day.

About Fate was such a cute movie on Amazon Prime.

New Candle-It was time to break open a new candle and I am loving this candle scent “Strawberry Snowflakes” from Bath and Body Works. I typically don’t purchase candles from Bath and Body Works, but I received this candle as a gift and have been loving it. It’s a sugary-sweet scent that’s a perfect mix of fruity and fresh cookies and great for fall. I always love to burn a candle when I am getting ready to start the day or unwinding at the end of the day. Candles just spark joy and this would be a great Galentine’s gift for your girlfriends this year!

Mint and Dark Chocolate Kit Kat Duo-Speaking of sweet, if you are a fan of mint, you may want to try Mint and Dark Chocolate Kit Kats. I got them as a gift and really enjoyed them. I already enjoy Kit Kats as sweet treat, and these just elevate them. They are the perfect mix of mint and chocolate and crunch. I highly recommend picking them up the next time you are in the grocery store.Ā 

Eye Massager– I saw this eye massager on so many gift guides last Christmas and as some who gets headaches frequently, I wanted to try it for myself. I got it for Christmas and have tried it a handful of times. There are different settings that you can adjust such as pressure, heat, sound and vibrations. If you get headaches around your temples, eyes or head, I would highly recommend investing in this eye massager.Ā 

Donut Phone Holder-Another super useful Christmas gift. As someone who is always on near this phone at work or home, this donut ring is so useful. You can prop your phone up vertical or horizontal to either use it for reading, answering text messages or using apps or, using it to watch videos. I typically like to have it propped up on my desk when I am working so I can see messages or notification. I’ve also used it in the kitchen when I am cooking and looking up a recipe. A fun gadget that proves to be quite useful too.

That’s a look into some things I am LOVING this week. As we embark in a new month, what are some things you are loving this week? Let me know in the comments below!

Have the BEST weekend!

Categories
Currently

Currently #26

Hey guys!

Happy Wednesday. We are at the end of another month, I donā€™t know about you, but February has flown by for me. The good news is that we are slowly but surely, making our way through winter and springtime is getting closer too. Hereā€™s a look at what Iā€™ve been up to this past month. 

What Iā€™m up to: Outside of work, Iā€™ve been enjoying time at home, staying cozy and doing lots of cooking, from soups, and baking cookies for Valentineā€™s Day. I enjoyed watching the Super Bowl with family and celebrating Valentineā€™s Day. This past month has been a mix of a little bit of everything.

I made homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.
I also made homemade Margarita Chicken Soup from one of my favorite bloggers, Mix and Match Mama!

What Iā€™m wearing:  All. The. Layers. It has been cold, so I have been wearing lots of long sleeve dresses for work or blazers with pants. On days off, Iā€™ve been going for more of the comfortable route with leggings or jeans and then sweaters. Hereā€™s a simple look I wore around Valentineā€™s Day, I kept it simple with black leggings and a baggy sweater, both from Aerie. I kept my jewelry also simple, wearing pink earrings and delicate necklace and pink bow to tie it all together. 

Staying cozy and inside most of the month of February.

What Iā€™m reading:  I finished Beach Read by Emily Henry at the end of January, it was a fun read to take my mind off of snow and onto summery days. Iā€™m currently re-reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and I love reading it again. I am always finding new things that I missed when Iā€™ve read it in the past.

What Iā€™m Watching: All of the Olympics. I love that thereā€™s something always on to watch. Even if itā€™s for a few minutes, you can find a new sport to get excited about. Iā€™ve also been watching Downton Abbey and Iā€™ve been loving it. Itā€™s so easy to get lost in the show and watch episode to episode. I just started season 2 and Iā€™m obsessed. 

What Iā€™m Loving:Ā Iā€™ve been loving all the heart shaped and Valentineā€™s Day dĆ©cor for the past month. Iā€™m also loving the fact of hibernating, if you will. Itā€™s nice to have a lighter calendar with not as much things going on during the winter. Itā€™s been good to give myself extra breathing room by not having a jam packed schedule.

Valentine’s Day spread at home.
There’s nothing like celebrating love.

What Inspires Me: Iā€™ve been inspired by doing my baking and cooking at home. I did a lot of cooking at the start of 2021 and I want to get back into more cooking and trying new recipes this year.

Baking cookies for the holidays was a bright spot this past month.

What I accomplished: Iā€™ve really enjoying the slow and steady month. Itā€™s been nice to hang out at home more and have a more low-key month. There are times when Iā€™m super busy and slammed so itā€™s nice to have some calmer months thrown in there. 

My pup Milton and I staying warm and inside this past month.

Goals Accomplished from Last Month I enjoyed a ā€œMe Dateā€! I took some time for a self-care spa night at home and it was just what I needed before the start of a busy week. Iā€™m always looking for ways to carve even a few minutes of downtime for myself outside of the busy day to day lives. It doesnā€™t have to be a big event, but just making some extra time for yourself once a month or week by doing something small will make a big difference.

Goals for the New Month:  I want to get outside more and get some fresh air and exercise as hopefully the weather gets warmer. Iā€™ve tried to get outside this past month but the bitter cold temperatures makes it a bit tricky to enjoy a walk in single digits. I got out ice skating a few times and I’m hoping to do it more in the next month.

I got to ice skate for a story for work and loved every moment.

Thatā€™s a look into my life this past month. Thereā€™s nothing too exciting, lots of time at home with family. Iā€™ve been reading and watching shows and cooking on days off. Iā€™m really loving where Iā€™m at right now in life. Now that Iā€™ve shared about my past month, tell me about yours! Howā€™s your month been?