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Currently

Currently #63

Hello hello! Happy Wednesday! We are at the end of the month, the spring season is flying by. Over the past 31 days, we said goodbye to winter and hello to spring! It has been a busy month and whether this is your first time here or you are a long-term reader, I am happy to have you with me as I recap my month with you all today!

Here’s what I have been up to in this month’s Currently.

What I’m Up To:

I began this month by trying a new coffee shop and spending time with friends. I got a blueberry and earl gray pastry which was delicious, but the company with friends is even better.

Pastries and coffee with friends is always a good mood booster in the middle of the week.

I began the month by heading down south to Alabama for work. I spent over a week driving down, working in Montgomery and Selma and then driving back. It was a long trip, but very fulfilling. Here’s a look at some of my snapshots. From the food, to a little bit of sightseeing, and covering historic events.

I got to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with our annual parade.

The sun finally came out and I was able to get back outside for some beautiful walks!

I ended the month with my first trip to the zoo this season.

And a local fish fry!

What I’m Reading:

I had some ups and downs when it came to reading this month, but here’s what I read:

Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old- Brooke Shields’ third book, Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old is all about growing up in Hollywood, wellness, aging, life lessons and being comfortable in your own skin. I learned a lot about Shields in her book, but some parts were harder to relate to, just because of where I am in life compared to her. I did like the stories she shared and her message about women advocating for themselves. 

An Unwanted Guest– This was a book I started in February and finished in March. An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena is all about a series of guests who come to stay at a bed and breakfast on a winter weekend and one by one they end up dead. Is there one killer or multiple killers, or is it an unwanted guest? It took a little bit for me to get into it, but once I got to the climax, I couldn’t put it down. It was a great winter read.

People Pleaser- People Pleaser by Jinger Duggar Vuolo is the second book I have read by her and it really resonated with me. She discusses being a “yes girl”, people pleaser, and perfectionist and letting go of some of those tendencies. She incorporates biblical verses with questions and stories to help readers see if they are people pleasers. I think she had a great message and it gave me lots of things to reflect on.

Playing with MatchesPlaying with Matches by Hannah Orenstein is all about a matchmaker in NYC. The book was good, but very light hearted and surface level. There was some storylines that didn’t flesh out, but overall, it was a good palette cleanser.

Drowning- Drowning by T.J. Newman was such a intense book about a flight that crashes and a group of people try to survive underwater before they run out of oxygen. This was a story that had me on the edge of my seat. Would not reccommend reading right before you travel, but I stayed up late to finish it.

The Good Sister– I have read a few of Sally Hepworth’s other books, and I couldn’t wait to read this book, The Good Sister. I listened to it as an audiobook as opposed to reading it and got immersed in the book. It’s all about two sisters, one is very manipulative of the other one. The story involves lies, secrets, and challenging of one another. It started slow, but picked up and I couldn’t stop when I started. Such a good read.

The Night We Lost Him– Lauren Dave’s book, The Night We Lost Him is all about a man who dies unexpectedly and it’s up to his two estranged children must work together to see if they can uncover what really happened the night their father died. This book went back and forth between the past and present. I flew through this book and will be keeping my eye out for other books by this author.

You Are HereYou Are Here by Karin Lin Greenberg tells the story of several people and business owners who work at a local mall. Through the book, you see how they are all connected to one another and how their lives evolve when they learn their mall could be closing. The themes of connection, community, and interpersonal communication are found through the book. This was beautifully written and I loved the power of relationships.

Bookish People- Bookish People by Susan Coll was a good book, but not my favorite. It’s all about a bookstore and the shopkeeper as they prepare to host a controversial poet. The book is all about how they prepare for the event and all the different personalities of the store. I thought the concept was cute, but thought a lot of the storylines were hard to follow.

The Messy Lives of Book People- This was the second Phaedra Patrick book I have read. I loved The Messy Lives of Book People. It’s all about a woman who gets hired by her favorite author to clean. When the author dies, she leaves the job of finishing her book to her cleaner. The question is why. There was so many fun connections and secrets all through the book, I couldn’t stop listening. My favorite part? The author’s name was Elspeth. Too funny! I loved this book, definitely a favorite!

What I’m Watching:

The Pitt– This was such a good series that I have been watching this month. It’s a drama about working in the Emergency Department. The Pitt takes place in Pittsburgh and the series follows a medical team from interns, to nurses, and attendings about what a standard shift looks like. This hour-long drama brings lots of interesting cases and patients and from what I have heard, it’s one of the most realistic medical dramas on tv.

The Recruit– The new season of The Recruit  picks up right after where the last one ended. I like how this series on Netflix mixes drama and humor every episode. Plus, the casting is well done and the storylines have you wanting more.

What I’m Cooking and Baking:

Overnight Oats– I have been incorporating Chia seeds in my meals more and one way I have been using them is in overnight oats. I like to add some fruit, granola, and some chocolate chips for extra flavor too!

Chia Pudding– Another new recipe for me, chia pudding. My first batch turned out well, but I think I’m going to try to use more flavoring the next time to make it sweeter. But I have really been enjoying the flavor of chia seeds and the health benefits of them too!

Molten Lava Cake– I got this recipe from Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia cookbook and it was an instant hit!

Easy Skillet Enchiladas- I got this recipe from Shay Shull and it was such a fun twist on mexican night!

Chicken, sausage, potatoes, onions, and peppers– Yes, it’s as easy as it sounds, combine everything with salt, pepper, and Italian season and cook for an hour and you have yourself a delicious meal.

What I’m Wearing: It’s the month of the luck of the Irish, so I have been doing my part to wear as much green as possible, even if it means adding some layers.

I also broke out some bold pants for brighter days.

What Inspires Me:

My desk calendar at work always brightens my day with some motivation.

This was such a good reminder when life gets crazy!

A spring mantra

What I Accomplished:

I made it through a long work trip!

A long, but worthwhile trip.

Goals from Last Month:

I wrapped up my winter bucket list and will soon start my spring bucket list! Stay tuned for that in the coming weeks!

I also got to dive into my new cook book from Emily Ley! I can’t wait to try new recipes!

Goals for Next Month:

Signs of spring at the store

I have so much to look forward to in April including starting my spring bucket list, Easter, family time and maybe even a trip or two! Plus, catching up with friends and more time outdoors. I have missed the sunshine, clear roads, and blue skies! I can’t wait to soak up more rays and spring weather in the coming weeks and months!

A taste of Spring!

Tell me: what were some highlights of your month? Goodbye March and Hello April!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #117

Hello all! 

Happy Friday! I hope you had a fantastic week. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the weekend! Fall is flying by, I truly can’t believe we are almost to November. November always feels like the calm before the storm of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, which don’t get me wrong, I love, but it can also be very chaotic. Needless to say, I’m enjoying the slower fall days with sunshine and crisper temperatures for as long as I can. 

Signs of fall at the farmer’s market

To no one’s surprise, today’s Friday Favorites features A LOT of seasonal items. How can I resist seasonal flavors and scents?! I plan on trying all the fall things until Thanksgiving and then it’s switch to Christmas! Anyways, let’s get to some of my favorite things from the past week as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

Solo Dates– I was talking to a friend years ago about the concept of solo dates, essentially it’s making the decision to take yourself for an activity or date. I spent a lot of time alone in college and gained a lot of independence that way. But since I began working, I haven’t had too much time for myself to take myself out on a “date”, I would often do things with family, friends or my boyfriend. This year I wanted to make more of a point to have solo dates. I’ve only done it a few times, but I’ve had good experiences. So far, I have visited a new library and actually took the time to sit and read and I’ve also gone on walks after work to different parks. Other examples of solo dates would be taking yourself out to dinner, going shopping or trying a new coffee shop, or even seeing a movie by yourself. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, in fact, most of these dates are free, the point is doing something for yourself. I’ve enjoyed the independence I’ve gained by doing these solo dates and I look forward to doing more of them. 

Snapshot from a recent solo date

Cinnamon Roll Flavored Rice Cakes– Are you surprised there’s a seasonal food item in this week’s Friday Favorites?! I’m not haha!! I really have started to enjoy rice cakes especially with peanut butter and banana or even jelly. When I saw my local grocery store had cinnamon roll flavored rice cakes, I had to try them. They have the perfect amount of flavor of fall. There’s just a drizzle of maple so you can still enjoy other toppings with them if you like. Definitely a favorite snack for this week.

New Candle Scent-Sticking with seasonal flavors and scents, my mom picked me up this candle from Michael’s Craft store. They always have great deals when it comes to candles. You can get multiple, large candles for a great price. The names of the scents are so creative and they smell so good too, I also love how the scent lasts after you blow the candle out. My current pick is Candy Corn Maze, and yes it does smell like candy corn.

Darling Girls– In honor of spooky season, I’ve been trying to read more mysteries and thrillers. I’ve had Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth on hold at the library for a while and couldn’t wait to start reading when it was my turn to get it. It tells the story of three foster sisters who learn that a dead body is found under the house they grew up in. Who does the body belong to and how did they die? There were so many twists and turns that I was not expecting, even up until the last chapter. 5 stars from me!

Magnolia Cook Books– I mentioned last week that I had been checking cookbooks out of the library to try different recipes and I have been loving this life hack. I will browse lots of different cookbooks on the shelves, but I have really been loving Magnolia cookbooks by Joanna Gaines. She has so many unique recipes, from sweet to savory and everything in between. What I also really love about her cookbooks is the how fresh, natural and even simple her recipes are. It has definitely inspired me to think outside the box when it comes to cooking and baking. If you are an avid cooker or baker, who are some of your favorite cookbook authors? I would love to get any other suggestions, especially as we get closer to the holidays and I will be ramping up my time in the kitchen.

That’s a look at some of my favorite moments and items from this week, tell me, what has brought you JOY recently? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #115

Hello all! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week and have something fun planned for the weekend. I am excited for all things fall this weekend as it will be a busy few days with lots going on. Needless to say, I am counting down to the weekend. 

Hint, this weekend will involve lots of festive, fall fun!

Before we get to all the fall fun this weekend, I wanted to share some favorite things of mine from this past week. Without realizing it, there’s a bit of a theme to today’s post, books and fall food, so if you are fans of either of those, you are in for a treat.

Speaking of treats, one of my most recent treats…snickerdoodles!

Let’s get to it as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

The Plan– Kendra Adachi’s third book The Plan is finally out. I got a chance to read it ahead of time and loved it. I plan on re-reading it now that it’s out in the world. Like Adachi’s other books, this one is very conversational and easy to follow. Not only does she talk about planning and organizing, but she gives real life examples and ways to get your life in order. She touches on her Lazy Genius principles and introduces some new ideas too! I will have a full post about the Lazy Genius way of thinking coming soon, but until then, go out and read The Plan today!

Fall Shows– With fall, comes the return of fall tv shows. Besides binge watching some of my favorite tv shows, I have been enjoying weekly shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Masked Singer. I have watched these shows for years and always look forward to the weekly episodes. Even though I do love a good binge watch, it’s nice to look forward to a show every week to see what happens next.

Cook Books from the Library– I had a great library book haul a few weeks ago and that included some cookbooks. I love cooking, baking, and trying new recipes and often get ideas and inspiration from Pinterest. There’s nothing quite like flipping through a cookbook for new tastes and flavors. I recently checked out the second Magnolia cookbook by Joanna Gaines and have found so many great recipes that I can’t wait to try. 

Maple Granola– Speaking of food, I love seasonal foods and treats and can’t resist when I see something seasonal at the grocery store. I have been on a granola kick with yogurt and berries and decided to add some maple flavored granola to my rotation. It has been a delicious success. I enjoy granola on its own, but there’s something extra sweet with the maple flavor that screams fall. It’s a nice, subtle nod to the season. 

The Summer Pact– I have had The Summer Pact on my to-be-read list for the longest time and finally got around to reading it. It’s by Emily Giffin and I have read several of her books. She was recently on Books, Beach and Beyond to talk about her latest book and after hearing her talk about it, I knew I had to read it. It’s about three friends who go on a trip together in honor of their fourth friend who died while they were all in college. The three current friends are all at different crossroads in their lives and are all looking for clarity in their own ways. I really liked the book, but felt that it wrapped up a little too quickly. Just a warning, there is talks of mental health and suicide in the book. But, overall, well worth the read!

That’s a look into life lately and what I’m loving! I hope you have a wonderful fall-like weekend! See you back here on Wednesday!

Categories
Currently

Currently #55

Hello everyone! 

Happy Wednesday! As much as I hate to say it, we are at the end of July, I have had such a good and fulfilling summer.

Although, I know we still have plenty of summer and nice weather ahead, the end of July always makes me a bit sad since I know it will soon be back to school and back indoors and one of my favorite seasons is coming to an end.

Today, I am focusing on the positives and everything I accomplished over the past month. July was BUSY between entertaining, crossing off big goals, seeing friends, and day trips. In case you missed it, here’s what I have been up to.

What I’ve Been Up To:

I have been trying my best to enjoy as much time outside as possible, from reading by the pool, to eating outdoors, catching up on work outside, even folding laundry in the sun.

It’s been a beautiful month!

Speaking of eating outdoors, I have done my best to cook as much as possible outside and that means lots of grilling.

I’ve done some grilling myself, but I’ve enjoyed when other people do the grilling for me.

The before
The finished product

The month began with the Fourth of July which included lots of food, family, friends, and fireworks!

Plus, plenty of leftovers that we enjoyed all weekend long.

I then went to a wedding in Cleveland which was a fun afternoon and a great time to celebrate great people and love!

I enjoyed summer fun like by mini golfing!

Soaking up summer fun like by mini golfing!
I’ve enjoyed live music by the water
Plus some festivals and fairs too!

What I’m Wearing:

Short sets have been my go-to. These polka dotted shorts from Marshall’s were a hit for the Fourth of July.

For a more casual look, I love these white, cotton shorts from Old Navy.

Florals are in this summer and I love a bold print. This was the dress I wore to the wedding at the beginning of the month from Ann Taylor. It would be perfect for weddings, showers, or a fancy date night. 

I will be sharing more about this outfit as part of Friday Favorites. I got both the top and shorts from Marshall’s and were pleased with both.

A skirt and top combo for a dinner out!

What I’m Reading:

This month had some ups and downs in terms of reading. I read some great books and others fell flat. 

Funny StoryFunny Story by Emily Henry was a win for me. I love Henry and have read all her books, and this one did not disappoint. It’s all about a girl who gets dumped by her fiancé for his oldest friend. She ends up moving in with oldest friend’s ex, temporarily. They end up becoming friends as he shows her around the town and community before the wedding. They decide to face the music and go to their ex’s wedding together, how about that for a plot twist?! 

Mostly What God DoesMostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie was such a good daily read.  It’s a series of essays about faith, God, his love, and life. You can read it all at once, but I chose to read an essay/passage a night. It took me a while to finish it, but I’m glad it gave me time to really appreciate the readings.  I really love how Guthrie has the book laid out. It gives readers a chance to really focus on the material and then digest it. 

Just the Nicest CoupleJust the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica is all about a man who goes missing and one of the last people to see him alive is his wife’s best friend. Did she have something to do with it or is she being framed? These two couples who you think may be friends, may not be as close as they seem. There were some great twists, turns and plot points.

A Court of Thorns and Roses– Sarah Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses was a fantasy first for me. I have heard so many rave reviews about this book and I thought it was good, but not great. It’s all about a medieval land where a faerie is forced to live with a beast after she allegedly killed one of his people. She is treated like an outsider at first, but eventually grows to love her new world, until she is forced to leave. She then must decide if she wants to return again. The description of the land and the characters is very well done, but I think the different genre is what caused me to have a hard time getting into it. I may continue to read some of her other books in the series but decided to take a pause for another book genre. The book was good, but I don’t know if fantasy is for me. 

Chasing Harry Winston– I picked up Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberg at a book sale and was interested in the plot about three young women in New York City who are all searching for new relationships. It’s a story about love, growth, taking chances, but most importantly, friendship. I thought the book was good, but not great.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper– This was the second book I read by Phaedra Patrick. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper follows a widowed man who discovers a charm bracelet from his late wife which takes him on a journey about the life she had before him. He travels to India, London, Paris as he learns about each of the charms and the story behind them. This was such a quaint novel and I loved learning about all the adventures his wife went on.

Emergency Contact– This was the first book I have read by Lauren Layne and Anthony LeDonne. Emergency Contact is about a woman who gets in an accident and when they call her emergency contact it turns out to be her ex-husband. This story follows the two reconnecting and being forced to spend the holidays together in an effort to get home. I loved all the obstacles the characters had to overcome and the ending was perfect! 5 stars from me!

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird- Josie Silver’s The Two Lives of Lydia Bird tells the story of a young woman who loses her fiance and has to cope with life without him. However, when she sleeps, she finds herself in a world where he is still alive. She must decide what life she wants to live in. This is the second book I have read by Josie Silver and I loved it!

The Blue Bistro– I have been on an Elin Hilderbrand kick and the The Blue Bistro was my latest read. I loved everything about this book, from the setting, Nantucket references, the characters and storyline. My favorite part was the description of the food! Everything sounded so delicious. The story follows a young woman who takes a job at a restaurant in Nantucket for its final summer being open. It’s all about the challenges she has to overcome and the lessons she learns and the people she meets along the way. Such a good story!

What I’m Watching:

I haven’t been watching too much tv, which is typically the norm in the summertime. I like to be outside as much as possible.  But I have watched a few movies which I enjoyed. 

A Simple Favor– I know it’s a movie that has been out for a few years, but I finally got around to watching A Simple Favor. It stars Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick who become friends until Lively’s character goes missing. Where and why did she disappear and what secrets does she have hidden? I really enjoyed the movie, especially with the unexpected plot points.

I Am Celine– I have enjoyed Celine Dion’s music and was sad to learn when she announced her illness last year. Her new documentary “I Am Celine” is now on Amazon Prime. I really loved getting a behind the scenes look at her life before and after her illness. I also loved hearing some of her iconic songs throughout the documentary. Definitely worth the watch if you are a Celine fan.

We also have been watching the Olympics! From the opening ceremonies to the primetime events, it’s been such a fun nightly watch!

What I’m Cooking:

It’s been a great month of cooking.

Strawberry Chicken Salad- I got this recipe from Celebrate with Babs’ cookbook. It was a hit with grilled chicken and I added some extra fruit to garnish and that seemed to go over well.

Strawberry Salad with Grilled Chicken

Cocoa Oatmeal Treats– I found this recipe from Hershey’s and even though they aren’t the healthiest with chocolate and peanut butter, they were tasty and easy to make.

Texas Caviar– I made this salad for our Fourth of July party and really enjoyed how it turned out. You can eat it with chips or just on its own.

Lemon Blueberry Muffins– I loved citrus and fresh fruit in the summer. On a rainy day, I decided to do some baking with my blueberries from my picking and these lemon blueberry muffins were a hit!

Pineapple Chicken with Caprese Orzo and Corn- These were two recipes I found on Pinterest and loved to try. They can be eaten by themselves or together for a filling meal with lots of flavor!

Peach Caprese Salad– This was such an easy side dish. We ate it with chicken, but you can eat it on its own. I loved the flavor of the sweetness of the peaches mixed with veggies and cheese. I got it from my Magnolia cookbook by Joanna Gaines.

Shrimp Tacos and Homemade Coleslaw– I found this recipe from Jessie James Decker’s cookbook and it was a hit. I love seafood and the slaw was so easy to make too! A great summer meal!

Peanut butter Chocolate Chip Cookies– I was craving something sweet and these hit the spot. I love anything peanut butter and chocolate and this was such an easy recipe that I found on Pinterest!

What Inspires Me: I have been spending so much time outside, whether it’s going for walks, cutting fresh flowers, or eating meals. I love seeing everything in full bloom.

Fresh cut flowers make everything better

Here’s some quotes that have been both inspiring and left me smiling too!

I saw this quote on instagram and it really resonated with me.

What I Accomplished: I have been checking so many things off my summer bucket list and while I’m glad I’m accomplishing a lot, it makes me sad that summer is coming to an end.

Great way to start the day

Some highlights of my summer bucket list from this past month include running my first 10 K and hitting a new personal record.

I started the day by doing my first 10K and setting a new PR!

I also enjoyed fruit picking from cherries to blueberries.

My garden is coming along nicely too.

Plus I enjoyed lots of summer walks to new places and old and at all hours of the day.

Walks at old places
And new!

I also got in some zoo trips too! This is one of my favorite summer activities!

Local zoos!
And out of town zoo trips!
It was a beautiful day!

Goals from Last Month:

I accomplished a lot from celebrating the Fourth of July, heading to a friend’s wedding and seeing and catching up with friends whether it be through calls, facetime or in person.

I also got away for a day-trip to Canada. I packed a lot in and will be sharing more next week in a whole post!

Goals for this Month: I am looking forward to but also dreading August. I have a lot of fun things planned like a family vacation, but also I’m not looking forward to everyone moving out and going back to school. It will be a month of change and transition, that I’m not particularly looking forward to, but know it will be a month of growth.

Going on walks always give me peace of mind in life’s chaotic moments.

That’s a look into life lately, great strides in my summer adventures and lots of memories being made.