Tag: galentines day

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Currently

Currently #50

Hey! Hey! Happy Wednesday!

I hope you have had a great week so far. It’s crazy to think we are at the end of February, with one more day to go as it’s a Leap Year!

This month went by much faster than January, there were more things on the calendar, more time with friends, and much better weather-all good things in my book. Although I know we are not out of the woods yet with winter, knowing we are closer to the end than the beginning is a huge win! There’s more daylight, the days are getting longer, and the temperatures are slowly but surely rising. Spring, I can hear you knocking on my door.

As we get ready for a new month and season, I’m sharing some of the highlights from the past month for this month’s edition of Currently.

What I’ve Been Up To: The month started with some really warm days. Temperatures hit the 50’s and we had lots of sunshine. I didn’t realize how much I missed the sun until we got it back for a few days. I made it a point to get outside for lots of fresh air.  I always like to take advantage of the warm weather and stay active. One of my favorite ways to enjoy both is by taking long walks with my dogs and making phone calls. I love getting my steps in and catching up with friends or family on the phone.

We love a good coffee shop date!

I also have enjoyed time with family and cozing up on the winter days by watching movies or reading. Give me a blanket, light me a candle, and some form of entertainment and I am one happy gal!

Cozy afternoons on the couch

What I’m Wearing: This hasn’t been too much of an exciting month when it comes to clothes. I tried my best to wear my reds and pinks in honor of Valentine’s Day. I also got a lot of wear out of one of my favorite red coats from Old Navy. I love that you can dress up or down in an outfit with this coat. I have worn it out to dinners and work and with leggings and boots.

A look at an outfit for a night out.

What I’m Reading: This was such a good reading month for me. I read a variety of books and genres. 

 Lost and Found in Paris–  Lost and Found in Paris is about a young woman who travels to Paris for work after a major shift in her relationship. She’s hoping to find herself and deliver a piece of artwork to a client. When the artwork goes missing, she’s forced to go on a bit of a treasure hunt around Paris with someone she meets in the city of lights. Through the course of the book, she learns more about herself than she was ever anticipating. I loved this book and it’s in the running for a top book of the year.

Love and Olives– This is the third book in the “Love” trilogy. Jenna Evans Welch wrote two other books, one that takes place in Italy and another in Greece.  This book, Love and Olives follows a girl in high school who travels to Greece to work on her relationship with her dad and help him with a big project. While she’s visiting, she learns more about her father and why he left her for Greece. I loved the setting and the characters. After reading it, I want to book a trip to Greece.

The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary– This book was more psychologically heavy. The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary is all about finding the joy in everyday happenings. I was interested in the concept but sometimes got lost in the science behind it. I liked how the author brought in her own experiences to make it relatable but found some of her examples and stories to be a bit sad and dark. I learned a handful of things from the book, but it wasn’t my favorite.

The Little Italian Hotel-  “The Little Italian Hotel”  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 as an audiobook 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.

Thicker than Water– “Thicker than Water” is by actress, Kerry Washington. She talked about her upbringing, getting into acting, and secrets about her childhood that she learned as an adult. Washington focused more on how she got to where she is today than her career in TV and film. I appreciated her candor in tackling different challenges as she grew up. 

What I’m Watching: I did my best to watch some of the movies and series up for awards this season. I also made some headway in my watchlist on Netflix and Amazon Prime including some older rom-coms. I have been enjoying watching or rewatching them the past few weeks. I did however start a new mini-series which has brought me great joy!

Sanditon– PBS mini-series follows a young woman who goes to live with a family who has plans to build up a town by the water. There’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! There are three seasons, and each season has six to eight episodes. This has been holding me over until Bridgerton is back in the spring.

What Inspires Me: I have been keeping up with my cooking in the kitchen which has brought me lots of joy. I love researching to find a recipe for a meal and then I love taking the time to prepare it, but my favorite part is seeing people’s reactions to trying it. Some of my recipes have been wins, others have flopped, but that’s all a part of the process. I aim to try one new recipe a week if my schedule allows. I also have been using my air fryer more and have tried different recipes, thanks to Pinterest.  Here are some of the recipes I have made.

Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Caesar Salad

Air Fryer Chicken Caprese

Stir Fry

Brownie Truffles

Baked Chicken Fajitas

Air Fryer Potatoes

A Veggies and Rice Stir fry

Baked Chicken Nachos

What I Accomplished: This month started with the Super Bowl and a fun spread I put together for my family. We are Steelers fans, so we didn’t have a team in the game, but it was fun to watch, especially the ending in overtime! I enjoyed the commercials and half-time show and of course, all the snacks!

Just a few days later, we celebrated Valentine’s Day. I put together little treat bags for my gals who live by me and sent some cards to my friends who live out of town. I love doing little things to shower my people with love. I also made my some heart-shaped cookies for my family, which were a hit too.

Valentine’s Day cookies are always a must!

Valentine’s Day also fell on Ash Wednesday, so I started Lent with a new devotional that I got from my church that I will work my way through for the next several weeks.

Sweet Valentine’s gifts
Celebrating Valentine’s Day with some fondue

Goals from Last Month: I was happy that I got to celebrate my gals for Galentine’s Day by catching up with them in person for coffee, a meal, or a shopping trip, or via Facetime or call. The older I get, the more I want to make sure I continue to make time for my friends no matter the distance. I also enjoyed celebrating Valentine’s Day and making the most out of the winter months.

Sweet treats with friends

Goals from this Month: I am hoping this next month brings an increase in temperatures, more time outside, and more time doing what I love. I’m in a season of gratitude and being present in the moment and I’m working on not stressing about things out of my control. I hope I can continue with that mission in the coming weeks. I am also looking forward to some bonus family time with my brothers being home from school for Spring Break. I am also looking forward to a show at the end of the month. Spring is coming, I can feel it.

Fresh cookies to round out the month

That’s a look into life lately. 

Tell me: as we gear up for a new season, what are you looking forward to the most? Let me know in the comments below! Enjoy your bonus day of February! See you back here on Friday!

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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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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!

Categories
Currently

Currently #49

Hello everyone!

I can’t believe we are at the end of January. This was a slow month, but in all the best ways. I spent more time indoors, reading, taking it slow, starting new hobbies and getting back into routines. I still tried my best to get outdoors as much as possible, but Mother Nature made that difficult at times. Winter is often a time with hibernation, and I’ve done that in my own way over the past few weeks. 

Walks in the wintertime

As we wrap up the first month of the new year, it’s time for a new Currently. Since this has been a quieter month, I don’t have too much to share, but I still want to show you what has brought me joy and happiness over the past few weeks.

Let’s dive right in:

What I’ve Been Up To: I have been slowly chipping away at my winter bucket list. I have been doing lots of reading, enjoying time cozied up by the fire, I started a new show and I have been enjoying lots of soup. Trying new recipes was one of my New Year’s Resolutions and I am proud of the recipes I have tried thus far. 

When the weather has cooperated, I have been still running and have been really enjoying it. A few weeks back, I ran over five and a half miles, which is the furthest I have gone. I was surprised to learn that I enjoy running in the cooler weather as opposed to the warmer temperatures.

My longest run to date.

This month has also been nice in terms of getting back into a routine. As much as I love the holidays and extra activities and fun, it is nice to get back into a good rhythm with less distractions and extra things added to the calendar.

What I’m wearing: This month hasn’t been too exciting in terms of outfits. I’ve been spending a lot of time at home which has led me to wear comfortable clothes like leggings and hoodies. My purple sherpa from Old Navy has been getting a lot of extra use lately.  I wore this sparkly number for New Year’s Day at work. These were all three separate pieces that I tied together in outfit, and I loved the end result.

What I’m Reading: My “To Be Read” stack keeps growing, but I have been making headway with those books and other title that look fascinating to me. 

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn tells the fictional story of what would happen if Queen Elizabeth II left the palace and spent the day traveling through England. The story follows the Queen’s decision to leave and follows her along her journey to a place that has a special place in her heart. Throughout the book, the reader will also meet all the people who try to track her down and bring her back to the palace. Plus, the queen makes some friends along the way. I read this book as I was finishing The Crown and it was such a fun companion.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley- This book follows the story of five college friends who, after their sixth friend dies, make a pact to hold their own funerals to show much they are loved in the world. The concept of the story was fascinating to me, and I loved how every friend had their own funeral when things weren’t going well for them in life. The book follows them through the years and in between the ups and downs of life. The last funeral they all attend turns out to be one of the most important. Overall, the message of the book stuck with me and I would definitely recommend it.

The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine is a drama/thriller that involves a senator and his new wife and some of the challenges and drama they go through, especially when she starts to get very sick. The story is through four different perspectives as the events unfold. The middle and ending were so good that I kept looking for pockets of time to read more, that’s when you know it’s a good book. 

What I’m Watching: After six seasons, seven years and 60 episodes, I finished the Crown. It was such a wonderful series to follow filled with rich history, beautiful fashion, and stellar acting. I learned so much about the Royal Family and Queen Elizabeth. Although I was sad to see it end, I really loved how Peter Morgan wrapped it all up. If you watched The Crown, what did you think of the ending?

Six Feet Under– I started watching Six Feet Under this month and have been really enjoying it. It’s an older show that was on HBO and is now on Netflix. It follows the story of a family whose father dies and the wife and children and left to navigate life without the head of the household and the owner of a funeral home. I have heard about this show for years, so it’s been nice to finally watch it.

Meet the Parents– I mentioned this in a Friday Favorite’s post but wanted to bring it back here. My boyfriend and I watched all three Meet the Parents this month and it was such a fun way to spend the month. If you are looking for a sign to watch old comedies, this is it.

What Inspires Me: I have been inspired by all the cooking and new recipes I have been trying. A few years back, I made it my goal to cook one meal a week. Recently I have been slipping, I have been baking once a week, but the cooking has taken a backseat. This year I wanted to get back to trying new recipes and I have been pleased with the results and been inspired to look for more recipes.

So far this month I have made homemade wedding soup, stuffed pepper soup, and Mediterranean Chicken Teriyaki Bowls.

Wedding Soup
Stuffed Pepper Soup
Hawaiian Chicken and Veggie Bowls for the win!
Corn and Clam Chowder soup

I also did some entertaining and put together this spread of snacks. 

We love a good spread

On days off, I sometimes like to enjoy a brunch and omelets are always my go-to. 

A good breakfast spread
My day at work had me making pizza for the first time..this was the end result…
Fresh cookies on cold, winter days

Besides cookbooks, Pinterest is my favorite place to find new recipes and try new meal ideas.

What I Accomplished: Over the past month, I have started my New Year’s Resolutions. That includes making my meals and teaching myself the piano. It has been a slow start but I’m grateful for every opportunity I get to sit down and learn and practice. 

Warm soup on a cold day

I also have met up with several friends after the holidays which is always a good feeling to catch up with one another.

Goals From Last Month: Some of my goals that I wanted to accomplish this month were getting back into my routines, start establishing my new goals for the year and take advantage of the slower days. I also have been working every day on the Simplicity Challenge through Simplified.

One of the spaces I organized through the Simplicity challenge

I’ll be sharing a full report on it soon once the month is up. This month has also taught me to find movement in different ways indoors. When I can’t always get an outdoor run in, I have been running on the treadmill, hitting the bike or even slowing my body down with yoga. I have been enjoying exploring different ways to move my body.

We love finding different ways to move

Goals for This Month: As we look towards next month, I am looking forward to celebrating both Galentine’s Day and Valentines Day. I love everything red, hearts and love, so I can’t wait to find little ways to show the people in my life how much I care for them. I also want to continue to make time for my hobbies in my life whether it’s with reading, piano, or running.

Lastly, I want to continue to embrace the cold and enjoy all the cozy vibes by lighting candles, using the fireplace and really slowing down and being intentional with my time. 

That’s a look into life lately. Tell me: how have you been enjoying this past month and how are your New Year’s Resolutions going? Let me know in the comments below!

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Currently

Currently #38

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday. I know February is the shortest month of the year and it certainly flew by. This month has been filled with new recipes, unexpected sunshine and mild weather, lots of books and new shows. Here’s a recap of this past month.

What I’ve Been Up To: I’ve been keeping up with lots of my favorite hobbies. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw that I have been putting my new cookbook Just Feed Me by Jessie James Decker to good use by trying lots of recipes. 

Here’s a few that I have tried this month. 

I made Na’an Bread Pizzas
I also made Cilantro Lime Rice and broccoli
And Dirty Rice and Beans
Chicken Chili

We’ve also had such a mild February. With little to no snow, I’ve made the most of the sunshine by getting in lots of walks and outdoor time.

Winter walks in the snow
Followed by warm drinks, even with Santa mugs!

I also got some friend dates for dinners around Galentine’s Day. My boyfriend and I celebrated Valentine’s Day with dinner after work, and we also did a day date to Cleveland at the beginning of the month where we went ice skating, went to the Museum of Art and dinner and a show. It was a packed full day but so much fun!

Skating in the city!
An afternoon at the museum.
And a show at night!

What I’m Wearing: I’ve been wearing Valentine’s day colors all month long. From pink sweaters to red coats. I always love to break out some fun colors around the holidays. These bright colors also help me get in the spring feels which will be here soon.

All pink for the month of LOVE
My red coat made its way out for a date night

What I’m Reading: I got on a Colleen Hoover book train and read two of her books this past month. 

I also finished Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, this told the story of star-crossed lovers who live in essentially different worlds. A country boy meets city girl, they fall in love but quickly realize they may not fit in each other’s worlds. Will they make it work or have a short-lived romance, you will have to read to find out. (I finished this almost 400 page book in a week-so worth it!)

Some of my books that I’ve read and still need to read.

What I’m Watching: New show to me, but I started watching Ted Lasso and love it. I know I’m late to the party but find it so creative and funny. I love all things Great Britian, so I can’t get enough of the British references.

Such a fun show, especially with snacks!

I love the casting and one-liners and can’t wait for the new season to debut this summer. I’ve also been making my way through some movies on my watch list on Netflix and Amazon Prime. I’ve been watching lots of rom coms. Here’s some of my favorites. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris follows the story of a woman who works as a house cleaner and looks to fulfill her dream of wearing a designer gown. This movie takes her from England to Paris where she gets a newfound sense of confidence and makes some friends along the way.

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 and fate​ keeps bringing them together.

What Inspires Me: Spring will be here soon, or so I hope. As much as I am enjoying winter, I wouldn’t be lying if I said I am looking forward to spring. I am savoring the time indoors and being cozy and working on projects that I may not be able to accomplish in warmer weather.

Fresh flowers make me think of spring too!

What I accomplished: I have been making headway on lots of odds and ends projects, which is a huge accomplishment. I also spent time with family and and friends which is always a good thing!

Goals from Last Month: I was so glad I got to make time for my girlfriends for Galentine’s Day. I enjoyed having one on one time with friends in town and made time for friends further away with facetime calls. I also had a great Valentine’s Day that was filled with lots of baking and sweets.

Some Valentine’s Day treats!
And more treats!
Valentine’s Day fun!
Lots of sweets!

Goals from this Month: March is such a tease for spring with a mix of winter. I am looking forward to getting some warmer days, while savoring the days of winter. 

Cold days and warm drinks are the perfect combination!

That’s just a look into my life this past month, lots of baking, reading, binge watching and walking, throw in some work and family time then you have yourself a perfect month. I’m looking forward to see what next month brings. 

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #27

Hi everyone! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great work week and are ready for the weekend. It’s the weekend before Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time to bring out all the heart shaped treats and goodies, put on a cute outfit and celebrate LOVE this weekend or early next week. 

I made these heart shaped peanut butter cookies last week from Mix and Match Mama and they were so good and the perfect way to enjoy February!

Before we head into the weekend, I have a fun round up of Friday Favorites for you as I link up with  Erika and Andrea.

Let’s Dive in!

MADOFF: The Monster of Wall Street- I just finished this four part documentary series on Netflix and really found it interesting. I knew who Bernie Madoff was and what he did, but never knew the whole story and all the background. I found this mini-series to be fascinating and informative. I really liked how they re-enacted crucial moments in history in addition to the interviews of those involved. You can finish this in a weekend or over the course of the week after work. Netflix did a really good job with this docu-series.

Covergirl Concealer- I’m trying a new concealer from Covergirl and I’m loving it. For the longest time, I was using their concealer stick for makeup touch ups. But I wanted to try this new liquid concealer and I have been happy with the results so far. It goes on super smooth and blends really well. There are so many different shades, so you can match it easily to your skin tone. I’m always hesitant to try new makeup products but have been happy with this new concealer so far.

Midnight at the Pera Palace-The winter months have me hunkering down and watching shows and movies on my watchlist on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Midnight at the Pera Palace has been on my watch list for months and I finally got around to watching it and wish I had watched it earlier. There’s only one season so far and there’s eight episodes in season one, so it’s not too much of a time commitment. It’s a Turkish show, but you can watch it in English and with subtitles. It follows the story of a young journalist who does a story about an old hotel and realizes there’s more to the hotel than its history. Hint: it involves time travel and making sure the past doesn’t affect the future. 10/10 recommendation.

Caramel Apple Bourbon Trail Mix– I love trying new trail mixes and snacks from Target and Giant Eagle. This trail mix is the perfect mix between sweet and salty. There’s cranberries, almonds, apple bites and pretzels. I’ve been enjoying this with lunch or as an afternoon snack. Just enough flavor for an afternoon pick me up.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris– I saw so many previews for this movie and couldn’t wait to watch the movie. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris follows the story of a woman who works as a house cleaner and looks to fulfill her dream of wearing a designer gown. This movie takes her from England to Paris where she gets a newfound sense of confidence and makes some friends along the way. This movie will have you dreaming of a trip to Paris! Such a cute mother/daughter or girlfriend movie!

That’s just a look at some things I’m loving this week. Tell me! What are your plans for the weekend? Do you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Friday!

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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 Erika and 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 and fate​ 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. 

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. 

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
Fabulous living

Choosing to Look on the Positive Side of Life

Hello! Hello!

Happy Tuesday! It’s crazy to think we are halfway through February, this month is flying by! With Valentine’s Day this week, I wanted to focus on a more light-hearted post for today ( no pun intended). For all my single girls out there, check out my post from last year about Galentine’s Day and fun things to do with your girlfriends! You can read all about it here.

Today, I wanted to share about the importance of looking on the positive side of things and turning a bad situation into a good one. One thing that I try to do is see the good things in every day, we all have tough days, whether it’s a long day of classes and meetings, or if you are having relationships issues or family troubles, I firmly believe there is always one good thing that can come out of a bad day. 

I started to really make an effort to find one good thing about every day during my senior year of high school. I got a Mason Jar and a stack of post it notes and at the end of every day I wrote the date and one good thing that happened each day. At the end of the year I had a whole jar of good memories and good things that happened every day of senior year.  I was so happy I had all those memories to look back on.

My Jar through my senior year of high school
All my good moments dumped out
So many good things happened during my senior year of high school, I’m so glad I kept track of them

My freshmen year of college, my mom gave me a journal to write all about my experiences about my freshmen year of college. I loved having an account of everything that happened and I made sure I wrote down the best part of my day. 

Last year (2018) started out rough but I didn’t want a few challenging weeks to determine my outlook of the entire year, I was already journaling in Shonda Rhimes’ Years of Yes journal but I wanted to add something new, so every day I took a post it note and wrote one positive thing that happened. To read about my Year of Yes, you can find it here.

The Journal of my Sophomore Year-Year of YES

I called my junior year, my year of Joy. My sweet friend Danielle, gave me this journal for my birthday and I write in it every day. I write down three good things that bring me joy every day.

Junior Year of JOY

I have found journaling every day for the past few years very therapeutic. I also found it helpful to be intentional about seeing the good things that happened every day, whether it was having a good conversation with a friend, going on a spontaneous brunch and shopping day, celebrating a holiday, or getting in some quality family time or self care. By writing down one or more good things that happened every day, it really puts things in perspective about how good life can be and how we should always look towards the positive things in life. When you have class from 12:30-8:30 straight and nothing is going your way (yes, this has happened to me) I always know there are definitely good things that happened through the long day. I hope this post encourages you to look on the positive side of things when life has you down. There are so many good things around us if we are willing to see them.

I hope this week brings you nothing but good vibes, wonderful moments and love (whether its from a significant other, best friend, or parent). Spread some love this week!

XOXO

Categories
Fabulous living

To All the Single Ladies

To All the Single Ladies out there…this one is for YOU!

Happy Galentines Day! Whether you watched Parks and Rec or not, I’m sure you have heard about Galentines Day. The day before Valentines Day where women every where celebrate each other. We celebrate friendship, accomplishments and even for a few of us being single! Whether you are in a relationship or not, here are a few ideas to do with the girls in your life.

Currently rewatching Parks and Rec…so be prepared for lots of references!

  • A dinner out. No better way to celebrate your friends then getting dressed up for a night on the town. Moms, leave the kids, homework, and calendars at home and have a fun night out with your girlfriends.

    Who doesn’t like a night out with the girls!?
  • Girls Night In. We all remember the sleepovers we shared with out BFF’s in elementary school. Why not do it again? Order in your favorite take out, pop some popcorn, and put in a chick flick and hang out for the night. A few of my favorite movies to watch with the girls are: Legally Blonde, 13 Going on 30, Mamma Mia, The Proposal, P.S. I Love You, The Lake House, Sex and the City, and Pride and Prejudice. There is something for everyone when it comes to chick flicks.

    We all need a night in to relax and having friends makes it all the better!
  • Shopping and Sweets. With Spring right around the corner, stores are already stocking their shelves with new pieces for Spring. Get a jump on your spring wardrobe and then pick up a coffee with your favorite person. It always helps when you are shopping to have a second opinion
  • .

    Anyone’s dream not look like this!?

Those are just a few ideas of how to spend Galentines Day or Valentines Day with girlfriends. And for all you single ladies out there, I’m with you. Our time will come, but for now enjoy keeping all the chocolate for yourself. Now, what are my plans for the big V-Day?! Classes, homework, Mass, and no chocolate since it is the beginning of Lent. Oh well, I’ll be celebrating the day before.

As Carrie Bradshaw once said…

Happy Galentines Day and (almost) Valentines Day.