Tag: ice skating

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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?

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Fabulous living

Getting Through the Winter Slump

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! I hope you had a wonderful Valentineā€™s or Galentineā€™s Day! Now that we have made it through the holidayā€™s of the month, my mind is on the next seasonā€¦hello Spring! Just kiddingā€¦well kind of.

I love that I can live In a place with all four seasons, but sometimes, the cold and snow can seem never ending, especially when itā€™s May and you still have a chance of snow on Motherā€™s Day. As much as I love the winter months and winter activities, I have found myself in a bit of a winter slump. 

Here’s just a little look at all the snow

At the start of the year, I found myself really tired with winter and it just got started. We kept getting hit with snow and cold weather, Covid-19 cases were high around my area and it seemed like we would never see warmer weather. 

If you felt like this at all then you know what Iā€™m talking about. Iā€™m used to the cold and snow and gray clouds, but sometimes, the lack of sunshine really gets to you.

We got hit with two big snow storms in a month. Here’s a look at the snow.

I decided that wishing it was spring wouldnā€™t be productive so I did my best to change my mindset and find little things that brought joy and warmth to my days and make them a little less gray.

Hereā€™s what worked for me and if you are feeling this way, then maybe they will work for you.

I found the simple joys in the days and really leaned into them, like savoring my cup of tea in the morning with my candle lit. Instead of rushing through my morning routine of making a cup of tea, reading and doing a word search, I did my best to savor it and enjoy it and take pleasure in those simple joys. 

Starting my days slower and savoring them definitely helped.
I also enjoyed cozy days off enjoying my favorite hobbies. Here’s what I’m currently reading.

I also found that moving and exercise helped my mood. I go to the gym during weekday mornings, but I carved more time to get some exercise, whether itā€™s a 15 minute yoga session at the end of the day or even a walk to get the mail, moving my body and getting fresh air made a big difference.

Enjoying the outdoors helped too…I enjoyed skating.
And cross country skiing…just make sure you are all bundled up!

I also decided to brighten my wardrobe and have some fun with it. Even though it is winter, I have been wearing brighter colors and fun jewelry to brighten up my outfits. Even if itā€™s swapping in a pair of hoops for a pair of studs, itā€™s little things like that that can just make you smile. 

I also gave myself things to look forward to, whether it was a dinner date with a friend, making plans to see a new movie, or a mini day trip. Making plans for the future gives you something to look forward to and it shows you the importance of looking for the positives.

Making a winter bucket list gives you ideas for fun things to do while making the most of the weather! Here’s mine!

While the cold and winter may seem to last forever, we know that it will end but the snow mounds do make it hard to look past. 

By always looking for the positives or simple moments of joy certainly makes a big difference. Also, by reminding ourselves to take it one day at time helps too. 

What things do you do to make it through the winter slump?

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Fabulous living

Winter Bucket List

Hey Hey!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you all had a great start to your week. The month is flying by. As much as I love the holidays, thereā€™s some refreshing about the start of a new year and month. Iā€™ve been taking these first few weeks to work on my goals and resolutions for the new year and get back into my rhythms after the holidays.

The next few months are always slower and calmer as we hunker down until spring.Ā While it may seem that winter may never end, I always like to come up with some fun ideas of activities to do to make the most of the winter days. Some are outdoor activities, others are things you can do staying inside and warm.

These are good ideas for dates, things to do with friends or even something fun to do as a family. 

Hereā€™s my Winter Bucket List for 2022. I always like to write them down and hang them on my bulletin board where I can always see them.

  • Ice Skating
  • Skiing
  • Winter Walk
  • Reading with Hot Cocoa
  • Make a New Soup
  • Sled Riding
  • Do something tropical
  • Movie Day
  • Do a puzzle

What are some of your favorite things to do in the winter?

I’m always open to new things to do especially when it’s cold out and it seems like there’s nothing to do except stay inside.

I hope you have a great rest of your week.

Stay warm and cozy!

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Fabulous living

2021 Resolution Recap and Year in Review

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and loved ones. I always love the time between Christmas and New Yearā€™s, whether you are off for a break or working, itā€™s always a nice time to relax, catch your breath and take some extra time to reflect on the year.Ā 

I wanted to take some time to reflect on the past year and my resolutions. For a quick recap, you can read my post here about my 2021 Resolutions. My word of the year was intentional. I wanted to be more intentional with my time with friends and family and more intentional with the things I put time and energy in. I wrote it on a post-it note in my planner and moved it from month to month as a reminder for myself. Overall, I think I did pretty well with focusing on family and friends when I spent time with them. I also prioritized what things I did during my free time too.

My first of three resolutions for this year was to be more intentional with family and friends. I found myself doing a lot of multi-tasking and wanted to be more focused on one thing at a time. I did well with spending time with family and a lot of this had to do with my new work schedule. I now get to spend a lot more time with family and do my best to put the phone down and be present, but thereā€™s always room for improvement. 

My second resolution was less screen time. I did well by setting up times on my phone to have my phone shut off to focus on work or housework. But there were times that I was tired by the end of the day and just aimlessly scrolled, not the best use of time, but sometimes you need a brain break. That will continue to be something I work on in the new year.Ā 

My third resolution was to be more consistent with friends. I definitely made more time for friends by setting up times to do things with friends. The pandemic put a halt to a lot of social activities so by really setting aside time for friends, I was able to maintain my friendships I hold dear to my heart. For example, I started the year out with my virtual book club with my high school friends, Maddie and Ryan. I also set up time for monthly facetime dates with friends (more on that on a post in the new year).

Stay tuned for my goals for 2022 next week!

Now, for a quick year in review. I had a lot of high hopes for 2021 and a lot of them came to fruition. 

I was able to spend lots of time with friends, either in person or via facetime or zoom.

Seeing my best friend Danielle was a highlight of the year.

I also got in a lots of day trips to new places for hiking and walking, from State Parks, to National Parks, new trails and old spots.

Going on walks makes the winter more manageable.
Fall weeks are good for the soul.

I also tried new things like ice skating and have loved it. I went three times in the past three weeks. 

Skating on the bay was such a fun experience.
Skating in Buffalo.

I got to travel with my family and get some great one on one time with loved ones.

Family time with my brothers on vacation.

I got a chance to stand by one of my best friendā€™s side as she got married.

Getting wedding ready!

I got lots of fall walks in and got to celebrate the start of the holiday season.

Apple picking was one of the fall walks and adventures I embarked on.

The best part of the year was getting my Covid-19 vaccine.

Work has been busy this year, but Iā€™m so lucky with all the opportunties Iā€™ve been given and all the things Iā€™ve learned along the way.

Covering different stories every day makes my job so fulfilling.

Iā€™m so lucky to have a loving family and supportive friends along for the ride too.

What a year 2021 wasā€¦.2022ā€¦letā€™s do this!

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Currently

Currently #24

Hey guys! Happy December…the countdown is on until Christmas! I hope you are gearing up for the holiday season!

Quick check in time…How are you doing? Got everything wrapped? Checking off all those holiday traditions? Feeling overwhelmed with everything you still have to do? Weā€™ve all been thereā€¦while it may seem like this season will never end, it will. In the meantime, enjoy every moment and soak up all the moments, the big ones (like decorating the tree) or the little ones like looking at Christmas lights.

Onto todayā€™s post, can you believe that we are up to two years of Currently?!  This has been such a fun monthly post, not only does it keep you updated on my life but it also puts in perspective everything Iā€™ve done in 30 days or soā€¦without further ado, hereā€™s this monthā€™s Currently.

What Iā€™m up to: ALL the Christmas fun and cheer. From skating, to watching Christmas movies, listening to Christmas music at every opportunity, baking cookies and shopping and wrapping this month has been about enjoying all the Christmas fun!

There’s Christmas cheer all over the house.
We got our tree earlier in the month and it was perfect tree cutting weather.

What Iā€™m wearing: Besides work clothes, Iā€™ve been getting in the Christmas spirit by wearing Christmas sweaters, some cute graphic shirts and of course, Christmas socks!!! I canā€™t get enough of Christmas socks!

What Iā€™m reading:  I finished reading ā€œAll the Light We Cannot Seeā€, it was definitely a heavier read but it was so well done. This month I have been reading all the Christmas books. I read “A Shoe Addictā€™s Christmas”, which was super cute. I then read “Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe”, this was the perfect mix of Christmas and a beautiful tribute to Jane Austen. Iā€™m currently reading “The Mistletoe Secret” by Richard Paul Evans, I read his series, ā€œThe Walkā€ during the pandemic and loved it, so Iā€™m very excited to read this one too. 

What Iā€™m Watching:Ā Besides watching classic Christmas movies and some Hallmark ones too.Ā Ā I have also been watching Selling Sunset on Netflix and like many other women out there, Iā€™ve been watching ā€œAnd Just Like Thatā€ā€¦the first two episodes were so beautiful and so poignant, but broke my heart. I canā€™t wait to see what else this season has in store. If you have watched them, what are your thoughts on the shows?

What Iā€™m Loving:Ā Christmas spirit all day, every day! I love this time of year, thereā€™s nothing better than having a candle lit, while wrapping presents and watching Christmas presents. Plus, making treats hasnā€™t been bad either. I made some Christmas bark this year and it was so good. Itā€™s super easy to make and itsā€™s easy to save and store. Hereā€™s the recipe I used, thank you Mix and Match Mama!

Look at all this delicious Christmas bark!

What Inspires Me:Ā The holiday season puts me in the best mood. I decorated my room at the end of last month and whenever I put on my tree and light a candle, Iā€™m automatically put in the Christmas spirit. I also canā€™t wait to spend time with family and continue our holiday traditions.Ā I went skating this month and had the best time.

Skating in the city
Buffalo was beautiful.

What I accomplished: Iā€™ve been doing a great job at being intentional and present during the holiday season. From the gift buying to the family time and holiday traditions. I wish this season was longer. Even enjoying a hot coco and cookie while driving back from ice skating made me so happy. 

Besides homemade cookies, I can’t resist some Pillsbury cookies too!
Even the shopping malls are all decorated

Goals Accomplished from Last Month I got all my Christmas shopping done by my deadline and I got almost all my gifts sent out or wrapped. It was a huge accomplishment! I love all the gift giving but it can be a lot to get everything organized. I donā€™t know how parents do it, they are the real super heroes during the holiday season!

My presents for others all wrapped up under my tree.

Goals for the New Month:Ā Ā Kick off 2022 with my New Yearā€™s Resolutions. I also canā€™t wait to break out my new Simplified planner and start getting ready for the next. As much as I hate to see the holidays come to an end, thereā€™s nothing quite like a fresh start.

Thatā€™s a look into my life this past month, lots of holiday fun and traditions. How are you spending the last few weeks of this year?

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Fabulous living

Christmas To-Do List

Happy December! We made it to the last month of 2021ā€¦this past year has brought lots of ups and some downs too, another post on that and an end of the year recap will be coming later. Todayā€™s post is all about holidays and Christmas and all the holiday cheer that comes with it!

If you have been following along long enough, you know I love my to-do lists and my goals, especially when it comes to the seasons and holidays. Hello Summer to do, Fall to do, yearly goals etc. With Christmas just weeks away, hereā€™s a look at my Christmas to do list for the month of December.

  • Decorate
  • Buy Gifts
  • Wrap and Send Gifts Early
  • Make Cookies
  • See Christmas lights
  • Listen to Christmas music
  • Read Christmas Books
  • Watch classic holiday movies
  • One Christmas activity a week
  • Go ice skating
  • Get the Christmas tree and decorate it
  • Family Christmas card
  • See family and friends
  • Give back to other
  • Celebrate the holidays

A lot of these things are free or affordable and can be done all through out the month of December. Some are must dos like buying presents, others are fun actives like go ice skating. I canā€™t wait to celebrate the holiday season and everything that comes with it and most importantly, spend time with family and remember the reason for the season. I can’t wait to get started on my to-do list What are you looking forward to the most this holiday season and what’s on your to-do list?