Tag: march

Currently #51

Post author By elspeththeblogger
Post date March 27, 2024

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you’ve had an enjoyable week so far. We are halfway to the weekend and a few days away from a new month. This weekend is Easter Sunday, and my family will all be together for a few days. Although it will be a short weekend, I’m looking forward to it.

This month flew by, between spring-like days, a few snowy mornings and activities across the month, it was a busy March.

Here’s a look at what I’m currently up to:

What I’ve Been Up To: I have been making my way through my Spring Bucket List. I have already accomplished a few things, but will have to wait for more consistent warm weather to accomplish others.

I have been doing my best to get outdoors and that has included walks with friends, trips to the zoo and running.

We had a stretch of warm weather and my friend and I went for walks three times in one week, it was great to catch up, get outside and do a free activity.

A day that included all the outside time!

I also got to meet up with one of my college friends for lunch. We met halfway on a day off and it was so good to catch up and share a meal together.

One of the goals I already accomplished was running 6 miles. Although, I was sore for a while after, it felt great to hit another mile.

One of my latest runs and recent records

What I’m Wearing: My wardrobe hasn’t been too exciting as of late, but I have been browsing T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s for some Spring finds. I do see a trip to Old Navy in my future soon to see what things they have on their racks for the new season.

I have been getting some wear out of my new bright, pink jacket from T.J. Maxx. It’s bright for the spring season, but also warm enough for the chilly, early spring days.

I also broke out my green for St. Patrick’s Day!

What I’m Reading:

A majority of March was spent reading the American Royals series. There are four books by Katharine McGee, American Royals, Rivals, Majesty, and Reign.

I have talked about the books in Friday Favorites posts, but in case you missed them. Each book follows the fictionalized Royal family of America. Imagine if the United States had a king and queen. Every book picks up right after the other in this four-part series. Themes of romance, coming of age, service, duty, and love are found in each of the books. They are a young adult genre, so the topics are more PG-13 compared to R. Every book ended with a cliffhanger which made you want to immediately pick up the next one. I really loved how the author wrapped up everything in the final book. Definitely a fun series to read in the spring and summer.

The Last Love Note– I finished The Last Love Note by Emma Grey in four days. I kept looking for pockets of time to keep reading. Without giving too much away, it’s all about a woman who looks to move on and grieve after losing her husband to Alzheimers. The book goes back and forth between his diagnosis and her life after he dies. It’s a story of second loves, grief, moving on and hope.

Longbourn– I also finished Longbourn. It’s a spinoff Pride and Prejudice based all about the maids and servants who work in the Bennett household. I love Jane Austen and this was such a fun read to take me back to Jane Austen times. Kendra Adachi, the Lazy Genius read and recommened the book and I’m so glad I decided to pick it up. I only wish I read the physical copy of it and not the digital copy of it.

Mother Daughter Murder Night– I saw this book on a few blogs and I couldn’t wait to dive in. Mother Daughter Murder Night tells the story about a mother who moves in with her daughter and granddaughter temporarily, while she’s there, a murder happens in the small town. The grandmother looks to solve it on her own and quickly enlists the help of her daughter and granddaughter. It’s a fun “Who Done It?”, but with the family drama. I really enjoyed the book and couldn’t put it down at the end.

What I’m Watching:

Some of my favorite shows have made their return after a long hiatus. The Masked Singer came back at the start of the month and it’s been fun to see who gets revealed every week.

Grey’s Anatomy also came back in the middle of the month. These shows have been keeping me entertained during the week.

What Inspires Me: I have been staying busy in the kitchen over the past few weeks. Here’s some of the recipes I have made.

Air Fryer Salmon Bowls

Lemon Olive Oil Muffins

Homemade Coffee Cake

Crab Cakes

Homemade Fish Fry

Turkey Pot Pie

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Roasted Chicken

What I Accomplished:

I enjoyed making my way through my Spring Bucket list as well as seeing family and friends and getting outside.

Goals from Last Month

I enjoyed the early days of spring. I also got to enjoy some St. Patrick’s Day fun!

I made some St. Patrick’s Day cookies for the holiday!

I also got to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day parade

My brother and I also got to see one of our favorite comedians on tour.

Goals for this Month

Next month, I am looking forward to trying more spring recipes, spending more time outdoors and having more spring-inspired dates.

This quote left me feeling inspired

That’s a look into what I have been up to this month. I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend if you celebrate! See you back here on Friday!

Let's Look

Let’s Look: What’s In Our Grocery Carts

Post author By elspeththeblogger
Post date March 20, 2024
2 Comments on Let’s Look: What’s In Our Grocery Carts

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday! I hope you have had a great week and are enjoying the spring season. It’s time for another Let’s Look as I link up with Shay and Erika

In January we talked about cleaning our closets.

In February we discussed things we do every day.

This month we are talking all about what’s in our grocery carts.

This topic was a little tricky for me since I still live at home. When I go to the grocery store, I’m not just buying for myself but for other family members too. I typically go shopping with my parents for their weekly grocery shopping trip.

Before I head out to the store, I always plan meals with my family and make a list of meals we plan to make in the week. Typically, we aim to cook five to six meals at home each week and we make a list of what nights we plan to eat them (this may change through the week, but having a list saves stress from figuring out meals the night of and it saves money from eating out.

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to cook a meal for my family each week by trying and testing new recipes, so I will take one night, my mom cooks the other four and then we may go out or order in for the remaining nights. Our meals range from a mix of chicken, pasta, salads, sometimes seafood, and then an easier night of leftovers or soup/sandwich/salad for late or busy nights.

One of my latest meals, baked chicken tacos!

When we are making a list of what to buy, we take an inventory of things we already have and can use for dinners or lunches. Making a list saves money and it encourages you to use what you have rather than buying new.

Besides things for meals, we tend to stock up on fresh produce and veggies and any staples we may be low on in the pantry, like bread, milk, lunch snacks etc.

At the store, I also to keep my eyes open for new products to try. For example, I enjoy eating hummus with veggies or fruit, I saw this hummus trio at the store and gave it a try and loved it. You never know when a new item could be a win. I also get inspired by different things I see at the store that I may want to try on my own.

As far as my lunches go for work, I did a post about meal prepping here. I like to have a variety of easy food options for lunch. I typically have some sort of fruit, veggie, something sweet, and then either a salad (veggies, chicken, tuna, egg etc.) or I will eat leftovers from the night before. I like to use what I have in my home before going out and shopping.

That’s a look into my grocery cart. Not too exciting or thrilling, but fun to share what things I enjoy buying and making.

Happy Wednesday!

Tags a little bit of everything, a little bit of everything blog, cooking meals, dinner plans, fresh foods, healthy meals, healthy snacks, home cooking, home meals, leftovers, let's look, lunch plans, march, meal planning, meal prepping, mix and match, mix and match mama, produce, what's in our grocery carts

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #35

Hey guys! Happy Friday! We made it to the weekend and to the end of March! I can’t believe tomorrow is April, spring is flying by.

Here’s a roundup of some of my favorite products, meals, and hobbies from the past week as I link up with Erika and Andrea!

Mary Kay Mint Lotion– I always love testing new beauty products. I got this Mint Bliss Energizing Lotion as a gift and I couldn’t wait to try it. Here’s some things that I love about this lotion. First, the smell is divine and so fresh, it provides a cooling sensation to your legs and feet. I also love the consistency of it, not too thick, but not too runny. It’s also great for dry skin which happens a lot in the winter.

Metal Straws– This year I have been doing my best to use more reusable products. From my reusable baggies to tupperware, but now I’m upping my game with my cups. I try to drink a lot of water every day and use a lot of reusable cups/water bottles and mugs. Many of the cups I use don’t have straws, so these reusable metal straws are a huge win! They fit perfect with most cups/thermoses, are easy to clean and I feel better that I’m doing my part to help the planet.

Chocolate Drizzle Popcorn– Most people in my family are huge popcorn fans and we have been trying different flavors and seasonings. We are currently loving this chocolate sea salt popcorn. It’s our own recipe, simply pop popcorn, (I typically do a cup of popcorn), melt chocolate chips (about ½ a cup) and then drizzle chocolate over the popcorn on a large tray. Add a pinch of salt over the chocolate and popcorn mixture and let it harden, I typically dry for about an hour or two and then serve! So tasty and a perfect mix of sweet and salty.

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins– I know I cheated with this box recipe, but I saw this at the store and couldn’t resist by trying them. They were the perfect mix of sweet and flavorful. I love the added taste of the poppyseeds. I know they are meant to be enjoyed as a breakfast treat but I think they could work just as well as a dessert.

Love and Other Words– I am always reading and I just finished this book, Love and Other Words and loved it. It goes back and forth between the past and present with two best friends who reunite after almost a decade apart. Themes of friendship, love, and books are woven through the book. As a book lover myself, I loved all the references to books and getting lost in a story. My friend Sydney gifted me this book and I’m so glad she did. I’ll defintely be reading more Christina Lauren books.

That’s a look at some of my favorite things from this past week. Some products, some food and a good book. What more could you ask for? I hope you have a great first weekend of April!

Currently

Currently #39

Post author By elspeththeblogger
Post date March 29, 2023

Hello all! Happy Wednesday and Happy end of March! I wish this month felt like more like spring, but it felt more like winter. To put it in perspective, we got more snow in March than in February and we didn’t even get that much snow.

That being said, I am ready to welcome spring with open arms. The sun has been out more, the days are longer, it’s just good vibes all around. Here’s a look into life recently.

What I’ve Been Up To: This month has flown by with a mix of slow days and busy weeks. This month, I’ve ventured out for the first local zoo trip of the year. I’ve also tried some new recipes, caught up with friends for dinners or long overdue facetime calls and enjoyed some time outdoors, even in the chilly weather. I’m looking forward to fewer layers, sneakers instead of boots for walks, and not heating up my car in the mornings in April, or I’m at least hoping.

What I’m Wearing: I have been making it a point to wear brighter colors to channel my inner spring even on the colder days. I got this soft green dress from Calvin Klein from Marshall’s and it’s already been a favorite of mine this year. I love the sleeves and the color, a great combo for Spring.

I’ve also been pairing neutrals with brighter colors for work, like a pink sweater with a tan skirt. It breaks up the neutral colors and makes you get in the spring spirit.

Green has been in heavy rotation this month!

What I’m Reading: I’ve been reading lots of books over the past few weeks as I spend more time indoors.

Here’s what I have been enjoying.

Carrie Soto is Back– I finished Carrie Soto is Back and enjoyed it more than I thought. It follows the story of a tennis player looking to return to the court to claim her title as champion. I learned a lot about tennis, endurance, and hard work. I really appreciated the relationship between Carrie and her father. There’s a lot about female empowerment, family ties, and some romance too. It’s a bit different than some of TJR’s other books, but I really enjoyed it.

It Ends with Us– I started another Colleen Hoover book. It Ends with Us is a serious drama which follows the story of a young woman who falls in love with a neurosurgeon, he seems like the perfect catch, but there’s more that meets the eye. This also comes as her first love comes back in her life. Will she choose her new love or first love? You will have to read to find out. In more good news, a few months ago, it was announced that it was being made into a movie with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. I can’t wait to watch.

What I’m Watching: A lot of shows that I follow released new seasons so I’ve been catching up on some of my favorite shows. I’m caught up on the new season of YOU, which was filled with murder, mayhem, mystery and of course cliffhangers.

I’ve also watched Daisy Jones and the Six on Amazon Prime which I really loved. From the music, to the character and plot lines, I think they did a great job going from the book to the screen. I was so sad when it was over, but was so satisfied with the ending, even with some changes.

The cherry on top was having the new season of Ted Lasso come out. I really enjoyed the first two seasons and have been loving season 3 so far. I’m so glad the new season is back! You can catch that on Apple TV.

What Inspires Me: I’ve been inspired by lots of cooking and baking. I’ve been trying to bake or cook something every week, I’ve mostly been aiming for new recipes but have worked to perfect some family favorites. Here’s a look at some of my favorites from this past month.

One pan chicken, sausage, potatoes and veggies.

What I Accomplished: This month has been so productive from getting yearly check-ups done, hair cuts, tackling big work projects, and catching up with friends who were home on spring breaks from university programs. I also got some quality family time in with both of my brothers home on Spring Break. It’s been a packed full, but such a good month.

Goals from Last Month: This past month, I wanted to do my best at creating memories both indoors and outdoors. I celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with our community parade.

I enjoyed Maple Fest in our community, by heading to local sugar houses and enjoying lots of maple treats and of course, syrup!

I also went to see a performance of Riverdance. I tried to make the most of the month and I think I succeeded.

Time spent cozied up with my favorite for-legged friends!

Goals for this Month: I can’t wait to enjoy all things Spring, from Easter, to fresh flowers, outdoor walks and kicking off my Spring Bucket list. I’m so excited for the new season and month and everything it brings.

That’s a look into life recently. Lots of indoor time between reading and catching up on shows. Some time outdoors with walks with pups and friends and trying new things, like recipes.

Tell me: what’s something you’ve enjoyed and savored over the past month? Let me know in the comments below!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #32

Hey all! Happy Friday and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you choose to celebrate, I hope you have an enjoyable and safe holiday!

Last weekend we had another burst of snow, so I’m hoping this weekend it’s just clear skies and sunshine and more spring weather.

Here’s a look at some things I’ve been watching, eating and reading as I link up with with Erika and Andrea!

The Law According to Lidia Poet- I found this mini series on Netflix and really enjoyed it. It is in another language but there are English subtitles and dubbed in English so you can follow along. It follows the story of a young female lawyer who’s looking to make in the courts but keeps facing roadblocks in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. I love the costumes, the casting and the murder-mystery storylines. Did I mention, while she’s trying to become a lawyer, she’s also solving murders?! So clever! Definitely an intriguing show you can watch in a weekend or over the course of the week.

Lemonade Packets– My go-to drink is always water but sometimes, on long days, I like to change it up. These lemonade packets are the perfect fix for the afternoon slumps. They are low in calories, there are lots of flavors and it’s the perfect pick me up for long days. I always have them in my pantry or lunch box for work. They also get you in the spring and summer season. Yum!

Behind the Scenes of Daisy Jones and the Six– Each week, I’ve been enjoying Daisy Jones and the Six. It’s been so fun to follow along after reading the book. I’ve also been doing lots of reading on the making of the series. This article gave a great inside look at the relationship between the characters. I love learning about what happens when the cameras aren’t rolling. So fun to hear about their friendships off screen.

Murdaugh Murders Documentary-Like so many others, I was following the trial of Alex Murdaugh, however, I didn’t realize the whole scope of this family until I was watching the three episode documentary on Netflix. I planned on watching the first episode, but quickly got hooked and finished the whole series in one night (mind you-the episodes are only 45 minutes). The series shows how this one family was tied to a series of deaths, leading up to the most recent murders. It was fascinating to learn so much about the power that one family had in South Carolina. Definitely worth watching if you are interested in current events and true crime.

Fairytale Scent– New season, new scent! I recently started using Bath and Body Works Fairytale Scent. It’s a perfect mix of warm and fresh wrapped up into one. I also go for a body spray and lotion combo from Bath and Body Works and they last me for about three months. I always like switching out scents and trying what’s new. What’s your current favorite scent?!

As we make our way through March, this is just a look at some things I’m loving right now, certainly a mix of reading, watching, tasting and wearing. Tell me, as we gear up for spring, what are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #31

Hey guys! Happy Friday or Fri-YAY! I hope you had a great first full week of March! This week was filled with work, doctor’s appointments and getting outside as much as I could.

The second part of YOU season 4 came out yesterday, so I’ve been making my way through that and plan to watch more of it this weekend.

Even though, I’m working this weekend, I have some fun activities planned which I’m excited for. Today, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites. Here’s some things I’m loving this week!

Where the Crawdads Live– I’m so late to the party on this movie, but I watched Where the Crawdads Live a few weeks back and really enjoyed the movie. I heard about the book, but never got around to reading it. The movie kept showing up on my recommended watch list on Netflix and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did! Without giving too much away, it tells the story of a young girl accused of murder in a small town. The girl is an outcast to the town, so many people have already set their minds on if she committed the crime or not. The movie goes back and forth between the past and present. I was worried it would be a little dark, but found the story to be enlightening, beautiful and a story about life and death. Now, I want to read the book!

Etsy Finds– I am a huge fan of Etsy and have purchased some recent gifts from small businesses. I love how unique every item is, how you can talk to the shop owners and the best part is that you are supporting local businesses. If you are looking for unique and timeless gifts, I would highly recommend Etsy! I’ve had such great luck for anniversary gifts, birthday gifts, just because gifts and Christmas gifts! Definitely recommend checking them out.

Blueberry Muffin Recipe-I’ve been on a baking and cooking streak and have been trying new recipes left and right. I tried this new blueberry recipe and loved it! The muffins were full of flavor and so moist. I made them for my family and they were a big hit. I have Pinterest to thank for this recipe.

Daisy Jones and the Six– Daisy Jones and the Six came out on Amazon Prime last week and I have been devouring this mini series. I couldn’t wait to watch the series after reading the book last summer. It’s been so cool to see the characters I fell in love with come to life on the screen. From the music to the costumes and casting, this has been such a fun show to watch. You don’t have to read the book to enjoy the show, but it’s been fun to compare the two.

One True Loves trailer– Sticking with Taylor Jenkins Reid, the movie, One True Loves, based on her book is coming out soon and I’m so excited to see it. I really like the casting so far and the trailer looks really good and promising for a great movie. You know it’s a good Friday when you have two TJR favorites!

Whew, that was a jam-packed Friday Favorites and a good mix of things I’ve been loving. Tell me, what are some things you have been loving recently or looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below! Have a wonderful weekend!

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 doesn’t feel that way to me, but this new month brings the promise that we are closer to spring than winter and that’s a major win!

I have a fun roundup of favorite things this week. Let’s jump right in as I link up with Erika and 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. I’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 didn’t think they needed a sequel. But if you are looking to enjoy some childhood nostalgia, this movie wouldn’t be a bad idea.

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.

The Fableman’s– In honor of award season, I watched The Fableman’s and loved it. It’s based on the story of Steven Spielberg and how he fell in love with movies and directing. I’ve enjoyed so many of Spielberg’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 didn’t feel long at all, you totally get caught up in it. I loved every second and can’t wait to see how it does for the Academy Awards.

Apple Fitness Time to Walk– I have talked about some of Apple Fitness’ 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, it’s very similar to a podcast. I really love listening to different people’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 I’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?!

That’s just a recap on some of my favorite things from this week. This weekend, I’m looking forward to watching Daisy Jones and the Six. I’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.

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

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My Latest Blog Post is up. Give it a read. xoxp

My Latest Blog Post is up. Give it a read. xoxp

My Latest Blog Post is up. Give it a read. xoxp

My Latest Blog Post is up. Give it a read. xoxp

My Latest Blog Post is up. Give it a read. xoxp

My Latest Blog Post is up. Give it a read. xoxp

My Latest Blog Post is up. Give it a read. xoxp