Tag: nature

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Currently

Currently #56

Hello All! Happy Wednesday and happy September!

 I hope you had a wonderful and fulfilling Labor Day weekend. Whether you said goodbye to summer, had one last cookout, or it was just a normal weekend, I hope it filled you with what you needed. I typically round out every month with my Currently post, where I recap the past month, but due to TWO posts about my trip to Italy, we are starting the month of by recapping last August.

Here’s what the eighth month of the year looked like for me. 

What I’ve Been Up To:

August began with our family’s trip of a lifetime to Italy. We saw Rome, Florence, Venice, and Capri. You can read about our time away in two parts. If you missed it, part one can be read here and part two can be found here. 

The beautiful Rome
An overview of the city

Once we returned it was a bit of a whirlwind with people starting new jobs, moving, or heading back to school, plus throw in getting back to work and you have a busy few weeks. However, we still managed to squeeze in some end of summer fun!

I enjoyed a final Guardians night game of the season. This was the second one I went to this year and third overall, and they won the night game!

Guards win!

I also enjoyed lots of walks to some of my favorite spots around my home.

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Some of my favorite spots to walk

Our city had their annual festival that I both worked at and got to attend. Their chalk walk is one the highlights of the event and some of the artwork was incredible. 

I enjoyed some summer staples with burger, fries and ice cream by the water.

Plus, we made a stop to our County Fair where we saw the livestock, vendors, and enjoyed some fair food too!

I also found some new spots to run and hit a new record for distance.

Overall, it was a packed full month in the best way possible.

What I’m Wearing:

I wore a lot of shorts and lightweight tops while I was on vacation that I could mix and match. This helped me save space while packing and it was convenient for the hot days we experienced.

Lemon sorbet

I did have a few fun outfits, like this white set which was a skirt and top and this long, flowy dress from Old Navy. This dress felt great in the cool evening.

We had a few days of cooler weather, so I did break out the long sleeve shirt and shorts combo for days off. I know I will be wearing this combo often as we go through the transitional weather coming up.

I even got to wear my go-to white blazer before Labor Day for work. 

What I’m Reading: I read so many books this past month due to my travels, so I have lots of recommendations for you. Let’s get into them:

Hotel Nantucket- I read the Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand to start off the month. It’s all about a woman who is tasked with hiring a staff and running a hotel for the season in Nantucket. If you have read any of Hilderbrand’s other works, you will find some Easter eggs and references to her other works. This book featured an ensemble cast with so many different personalities and a supernatural element too. This was a fast read for me and definitely worth picking up to read on your next vacation.

The Second Chance Hotel– Sierra Godfrey’s The Second Chance Hotel was the perfect book to have on my phone while we were on vacation. I was able to read it while we were traveling from place to place on trains, boats or planes. I always like to have a book on my phone so I have something to read if I’m waiting for something as opposed to scrolling mindlessly through social media. Back to the book, it follows the story about a young woman escaping her life and traveling across Europe, she’s about to end her trip in a small town in Greece, that is until the hotel she is staying at falls into her and another guest’s lap. They decide to run it for the season, but when her old life is calling her back, she must decide if she wants to stay in Greece or return to America. It was such a fun, travel read and so good to enjoy in the summer! 

Flying Solo– I listened to Flying Solo by Linda Holmes while I went on a lot of runs or walks over the past month and it was good, but not a great read. It’s about a woman who goes to clean out her great-aunt’s house once she dies and comes across an item that has a bit of a mystery to it. While she is cleaning out the house, she reconnects with an old boyfriend, spends time with her childhood friend and has a few moments of self discovery along the way. The book went in a few different directions which made it hard to follow as I was listening to it, so that may have changed my feelings about the book if I read it. But there were also some parts that were hard to relate to as the woman was in her forties and still looking for love and I’m not at that point in my life. It was a good book to listen to, but it wasn’t my favorite.

First Lie Wins– First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston is a mystery and thriller that keeps you guessing. It’s all about a woman in a new relationship, but there’s a twist, she didn’t meet her new man unexpectedly. She was meant to meet him. Without giving too much away, this is a spy/undercover thriller with lots of different characters that bounces back and forth between the past and present, so you have to pay attention while reading, however, it’s a great change of pace if you are looking for a palette cleanser between books.

Sandwich– I had heard about Sandwich by Catherine Newman from several different bloggers and decided to give it a try and ultimately it wasn’t the best book for me. It’s all about a woman who goes on her traditional family vacation to Cape Cod with her husband, growing children and ailing parents. The book runs the course of the week and is told from the mother’s perspective about where she is at in life and her feelings about what she has accomplished. The writing was very well done and I loved hearing about the traditions and settings, but it was just hard to relate to as a young woman.

What I’m Watching– I haven’t had too much time to watch tv but I have been enjoying a few movies and tv shows including:

Emily in Paris-. Season Four began with five episodes, each about 30 minutes each. You can binge them all at once or spread them out like I did to make them last longer. The fashion, storylines and drama was upped this season and it didn’t disappoint. Emily had some incredible outfits this season.

This season was so good!

It Ends with Us– My best friend and I both read the book and we decided to make it a girls date and see the movie, It Ends with Us. There were definitely some changes between the book and movie, but I’m glad I read and saw them both. I think the casting was well done and it was cool to see the characters come to life on the big screen. 

What I’m Cooking– I didn’t do too much cooking since I spent a lot of the month traveling, but I have enjoyed some tasty stir frys.

I also have been grilling out toward the end of summer. I do have a few new cookbooks that I have yet to go through and plan on making some recipes from them soon!

I also made the delicious grilled chicken salad. The salad had cucumbers, radishes, oranges and grapes. It was so filling and healthy too!

What Inspires Me– A friend sent me this reminder and I think it’s so important to keep in mind as we head into a new season of life and to remember to slow down. 

Also, for anyone heading back to school or to the classroom, another reminder too!

What I Accomplished– I crossed off  almost everything off my summer bucket list. Here’s a look at it currently.

I also hit my goal of running 9 miles this month which I was very proud of. 

Goals from Last Month– This month was so busy between our family trip and soaking up the last bit of summer and going through some transitions, I was so happy to have made it through the month.

My garden has been coming along well and although, I didn’t get as nearly as many veggies as I hoped, I still got some!

Goals for this Month– After a busy summer, I am looking to getting back to some of my old routines and establish new ones. I am also looking forward to spending more time with friends and maybe coming up with some new hobbies or things to do.

Post work runs brought me down to the water.

Whew, August was a packed full month and this is just a look into it. I hope this next month brings new routines, rhythms, and adventures, but most importantly, growth. What are your goals for the month ahead? I would love to hear them. 

Have a wonderful week, see you back here on Friday!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #102

Hello everyone!

A happy Friday to you! I hope you are having a great week as we make our way through July! I am looking forward to a busier weekend between seeing some friends, a big picnic and hopefully some time outside. Let’s just hope the weather cooperates. Fingers crossed! It’s been a busy week, so I am looking forward to the weekend.

Everything is in full bloom and I am one happy gal!

It’s Friday which means it’s time for another Friday Favorites as I share some highlights from the past week with you as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

This is a mixed bag of food, sunshine and products! Let’s dive right in!

Family Walks– Family walks have been a favorite for myself and my family over the past few weeks. We have been trying to take advantage of the warm weather and walking at different parks and trails throughout the area. Whether it’s a long walk in the woods or a short walk on pavement, it’s been a fun way to get in some exercise, spend time together and get outdoors. It’s also been fun to explore the area and different parks too.

One of the spots we have walked

Happy Place Series Announced– Emily Henry is one of my favorite authors. I have read all her books and one of my favorites is Happy Place. It was released last summer and it was announced a few weeks ago that there’s talks about making it into a series through Netflix with Jennifer Lopez at the helm. You can find the article here. I’m really excited to learn more about the project. Although only a few details have been released, I’m itching to see how it compares to the book. I have mixed feelings about making books into tv series or movies, but this one I’m very excited about!

Such a fun, summer read!

Brunch with Babs Cookbook– I am really proud by keeping up with my new year’s goal of trying to cook one new meal a week. I get ideas from Pinterest, Cookbooks and blogs. I have really been having success with Celebrate with Babs cookbook. It’s from the online account, Brunch with Babs, which is all about lifestyle and homemaking hacks.

Here are some of the recipes I have tried and had success with.

Apricot ham and broccoli salad
Strawberry Salad with Grilled Chicken

New Car Scent– I did a recent car cleaning and decided it was time for a new car scent. I try to swap out scents every six to eight weeks. Since we are in full on summer mode here, I decided Tiki Beach was the perfect summer scent. It’s not too overwhelming or overpowering, but it does leave your car smelling fresher and like a pina colada. Yum! Thank you, Bath and Body Works!

Cocoa Oatmeal Treats– Another food related item for you this week. I am a big lover of Hershey’s and saw this recipe on their website for their cocoa oatmeal treats. They are super easy to make and would be perfect for a summer picnic. They are no-bake cookies and only contain a few ingredients like oats, milk, sugar, cocoa powder, and peanut butter. I thoroughly enjoyed them for a “healthier” treat.

That’s a quick roundup of what I am loving this week. Some snacks, new releases, and products. How has your July been treating you? Any fun plans? Let me know if the comments below!

Have a great weekend!

Categories
Fabulous living

Growing A Garden

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week! It’s starting to feel more and more like fall. The leaves are starting to change, it’s getting cooler and it’s almost time to start pulling out legging and long sleeve t-shirts. 

Today’s post is a bit of a different spin on the weather. One of my summer goals was to grow a garden. I have always wanted to get my hands dirty and see if I had a green thumb. I love vegetables and planned to challenge myself to see if I could grow my own. My first summer of being a gardener is in the books, so I wanted to share what I learned and a bit about my experience. I am by no means an expert gardener. This was my first year giving it a try and I’m happy with the results, even if it did have some ups and downs. I learned a lot and I will be taking what I learned this year and using it when I garden in the future.

I started the process back in May, with the help of my boyfriend, who has helped grow his fair share of vegetable. I did some research on what plants vegetables to try and grow. Since this was my first year, I decided to not go overboard and start small by planting seeds for tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, carrots and peppers. I got the seeds at our local nursery and went home to plant them.

I found a section of the garden, dug the holes, planted the seeds and covered them with fresh planting soil and gave them some water. 

The start of my garden

I like to be creative whenever I can, so I made signs for each plant so I could keep track of what I planted and where it was located. 

The signs

Then the tending began. I checked on my garden every day and watered them frequently. It was exciting to see the progress of my vegetables grow through the summer, what started out as seeds, turned into stems, blossoms, leaves and eventually fully grown vegetables. 

Just the beginning

The biggest thing I learned through the process of growing a garden this summer was the power of patience and accepting trial and error. It takes a while for things to grow sometimes things don’t always grow according to plan or grow at all.

My garden growing- peas, carrots, and cucumbers.

For example, I started out with a lot of peas, but they quickly died, after researching I think it was due to being overwatered. I also got blossoms on my pepper plants, and they grew a lot too.

Early pepper plants.

While it was frustrating and disappointing, I still had other plants to care for. 

My first set of veggies! Peas!

Other vegetables did fairly well. I got a handful of tomatoes, while small, they were tasty, and I was very proud of them.

The fruits of my labor
My tomatoes!

I used them to make a Peach Caprese Salad.

A fresh salad with veggies from the garden

I also got a handful of cucumbers, I really enjoyed seeing them grow from week to week and lastly, I got carrots! 

My cucumbers!

I started the summer with the hopes to grow five different vegetables and ended up with three, for my first time growing a garden, I’m pretty proud of successfully growing different vegetables and being able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. 

My baby tomatoes

I will definitely be growing a garden again and I want to try my hand at some new vegetables too. I really enjoyed the process of growing vegetables, and my favorite part was having something to show for a hard summer’s work. Next summer, I may change where I grow my plants and may change my watering habits. I have a much better appreciation for fruits and vegetables especially when I see how long it takes to grow the individual vegetables. 

Cucumbers growing.

There’s no better feeling than accomplishing your goals and it feels pretty good when they are a success and taste good too.

If you have grown a garden, I want to hear about your experience! What did you learn and what have you grown?

Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Planting!

Categories
Travel

Canada Day Trip

Hello hello!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you had a great week so far! We are halfway to the weekend and I couldn’t be more ready for it.

I love to travel and visit new places, whether they are cities, state parks or the suburbs! This summer I have done a lot more traveling than in year’s past, mostly due to Covid. It’s been fun to return to old places or go someplace new. My boyfriend and I love taking day trips together, since our work schedules don’t line up whenever we take a day off for one another we try to really capitalize on it. So far this summer we have gone to Columbus, New York City and Toronto and the Canadian Falls to name a few spots. 

Our trip to Canada was our most recent trip at the beginning of August. We had such a good time and packed a lot in. Here’s what we did and how we did Canada in a day!

We left around 4:30 and made our way up north. We drove to Burlington, Canada and from there took a train into the city of Toronto.

Making our way across the border

We arrived around 8:30 to Union Station with all the commuters for the day.

Union Station

 Our first stop was Tim Hortons for some fuel, even through we have them at home, we knew we had to take advantage of the Canadian staple. 

Fuel for the day!
The city in the morning!

We walked around downtown for a bit and checked out some of the tourist spots, like the CN Tower and the big Toronto sign and then City Hall. We also saw the Rogers Arena where the Maple Leafs play! 

The CN Tower
The iconic Toronto sign
City Hall behind the sign
Home of the Maple Leafs

After taking in the downtown we took a ferry to Centre Island which was so fun! From the boat, you got a whole new perspective of the city and it was beautiful to be out on the water.

The city from the ferry
On the ferry!

On the island, there are trails to walk and bike, a beach, lots of food stands, a little amusement park and lots of green space along with boating clubs.

There were so many green spaces
A look at the amusement park

We walked around by the piers and rented bikes as we took in the island, we could have stayed there all day!

It was beautiful on the island

In the future we want to go back with picnic and spend more time there. It was beautiful! 

The ferry coming back to the island (my boyfriend snapped this photo)

We took the ferry back and then made our way to St. Lawrence Market for lunch.

A look inside St. Lawrence’s Market

There were dozens of different vendors , from fresh produce, to breads, meats, fish, vegetables, bakery items, and speciality goods. We both settled on sandwiches for lunch.

Lunch time!

After our meals, we decided to take the train back to our car in Burlington and then head to Niagara Falls. We have both been to the American falls, but this was our first time heading to the Canadian falls together. 

The falls!

If you have never been before, the Canadian falls is very touristy, lots of gift shops, fast food places, amusement park rides and very Americanized. We found it to be a little overwhelming, so we quickly made our way past the chaos and just enjoyed the falls.

America or Canada? It was hard to tell with all the American chains.

We decided not to purchase tickets to any boats or activities since we arrived late in the day and just decided to take in the falls. 

Up close of the rushing waters
The falls-both of them!

It was beautiful to see both the American and Canadian falls next to each other. After seeing them from many different spots and taking lots of photos, we decided to call it a day and make our way back home.

A rainbow to end the day!

It was a packed full day and we were tired. 

We had such a great time that we have already begun to talk about what we want to do the next time we go. 

Goodbye falls!

Tell me, have you enjoyed any trips this summer and have you been to Toronto or Canada, if so, what are your must do’s? 

Let me know in the comments below!

See you back here on Friday for another edition of Friday Favorites!

Categories
Currently

Currently #43

Hi everyone! 

Happy Wednesday! It makes me sad to that we are at the end of July. I feel like June was so well paced and a great introduction to summer and then July came and went in a blink of an eye. There’s always so much anticipation to summer and then it goes by too fast. I know August will be a busy month with end of summer activities and people heading back to school.

Summer is in full bloom!

In good news, I did my best to make the most out of July! From a low key Fourth of July to a concert, seeing friends and some pool days, it was packed full of summer fun in between work. Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to.

What I’m Up To– July started off with the Fourth of July, this year was a bit more lowkey as it fell in the middle of the week and I was working, but my family and I still grilled and enjoyed some Fourth fun and sunshine after work. It’s more about the people and moments than all the extra hustle and bustle.

Our Fourth of July spread

This month, I also made two trips to the Pittsburg area. The first was to catch up with friends for lunch and dinner.  Living long distance and being on different work schedules has made it challenging to see some friends so it was great to catch up in person and enjoy some time outside too.

Catching up with friends is always good for the soul

My second trip was to see Ed Sheeran in concert which was so fun. I saw him back during his Divide tour and I was excited to see him perform songs from all his albums. 

Ed Sheeran’s tour

I also got to enjoy some live music this summer, our city always does a great job at hosting live music events, and I have gone to a few of them. There’s nothing better than live music by the water.

Live music in the summer, a must for summer!

I also enjoyed lots of time outside, having pool and reading days on my days off. We had a stretch of beautiful weather and I tried to soak up as much time outside as possible.

Reading by the pool days
Summer walks by the water.

What I’m Wearing– Last week, I shared some summer outfits that I have been wearing to work, you can read more about it here.

I also have been into skorts and casual skirts recently too. Here’s been some of my favorite looks. 

I have also been wearing shorts and all the graphic t-shirts. They are so easy to throw on for off days especially when I’m outside and just relaxing on days off. 

Also, t-shirt dresses are a major win for me in the summer, they are lightweight and easy to throw on after work or heading out and about to run errands, you look put together with minimal effort. A win across the board.

Perfect for a day in the city

What I’m Reading– I had such a good month for reading. This month has been a mixed bag of genres and they have been so fun!

Happy Place- I couldn’t wait to dive into this book. Happy Place tells the story of six friends reuniting in their favorite spot for one last summer trip together and one of the couples pretending they are still together when they have broken up. The personalities of the friends, the description of the setting and the nostalgia had me craving a week at the lake. I read this book on vacation and it was the perfect beach read. If you haven’t read this book yet or any of Emily Henry’s books, you are missing out.

Such a fun, summer read!

My Hygee Home- I got this book for my birthday and it’s all about making a house a home and ways to incorporate Hygee which is a Danish practice into your home. I learned a lot of practical lessons about ways to make your home cozy and useful and purposeful too. It would be a great coffee table book and a great read too. You can easily finish it in one sitting.

28 Summers- 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand was such a fun summer read. It’s about a man and woman who meet as young college students and agree to meet up every summer in Nantucket no matter what. Now, let me start out by saying, I don’t believe in cheating or having affairs, but I did enjoy reading about how no matter what was going on in these character’s lives, they always met up every year. I loved seeing how their relationship changed and stayed the same through the years. I also loved reading all about Nantucket and it makes me want to visit even more.

A favorite summer read.

What I’m Watching– Summer is typically a slower time for me for tv shows, but now with streaming services, I feel like there are more options to watch different shows. I’ve done some binge watching, but a lot of these shows have episodes that come out weekly. This summer, I have been watching Outlander, which I have really been enjoying this season, especially the twist with Roger and Brianna. I won’t say more than that to avoid spoilers, but these episodes have been really good.

I also have been watching And Just Like That, every week, again, another light and fun show. In my opinion, season two has had really good episodes and some have fallen flat for me. Overall, I still love the friendships, the fashion and the nostalgia and that’s what draws me in week after week. 

As far as binge-watching goes, I have been watching The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon Prime. I never read the books, but I watched the first season last summer and thought it was cute and I wanted to see what was in store for season 2. This season has been definitely more dramatic and intense, but it’s still fun to watch. There are moments that are a bit unrealistic, but overall, it’s a fun show to watch at the end of the day.

Lastly, Sweet Magnolias has been my other go-to binge watch. If watching this show doesn’t make you want to move to a small Southern town, I don’t know what does. I love the aspects of southern hospitality, the one-liners and life lessons and most of all the friendships. Such a fun summer show.

What Inspires Me– I have been inspired by my garden that I started at the beginning of this summer. I am finally seeing some progress and some buds. It’s been exciting to see it grow as I tend to it every day.

My garden so far!
My first set of veggies! Peas!

I’ve also been inspired by finding new places to walk and hike. I have my places that I love to go to, but it’s been fun to find new spots and explore new places and get some exercise too.

Plus no summer would be complete without a trip to the zoo!

What I Accomplished– I’ve been doing my best to soak up summer and I think I’ve been doing a good job with it by trying to build in slower days in a busy schedule. I have also been trying to go to as many events that are traditions and free and fun! Plus, I’ve been doing everything I can do to spend time outside, from reading to grilling outside, I have been soaking up all the sun!

I’ve also been enjoying lots of meals outside.
Plus lots of grilling too!

Goals from Last Month– I made the most of summer and actitvites by crossing things off my summer bucket list. From friends, to new adventures and places and visiting old spots, it’s been a packed month. Plus, throw in some family time and you have a great July!

Summer beach days in July!

I’ve also been enjoying trying new recipes! Last week, I made homemade chicken sandwiches! So good!

A mix between a McChicken and Chick Fil A sandwich! Yum!

Goals for Next Month-The time is almost here. I’m crossing something off my 2023 New Year’s Resolutions and Summer Bucket List by running my first 5K. I have been training for it since the spring and all of this summer and I think I’m almost ready. A 5K may not seem like a huge accomplishment, but for someone who has always hated running, the fact I am excited to do this and have enjoyed the hobby is a big deal to me. I’m looking forward to finishing and accomplishing it next month. I’ve been running longer distances and I’m proud of myself for what my body can do.

Next month, I’m also looking to some family time as we take a little getaway and then some final summer adventures. 

July flew by, but looking back, I accomplished so much. I know August will be busy with trying to get everything done, but I’m excited to see what the next month brings.

Categories
Fabulous living

Six Years Later

Over 400 posts, almost 50 Currently’s and counting, new link ups, like Friday Favorites and Let’s Look, outfits for all the seasons, home decor and favorite things from books, shows, and movies, I have covered a lot of ground over the past six years. 

I started this blog as a way to start a hobby in college, a creative outlet that let me work on my writing, document my feelings and memories of day to day college life and stay in touch with family and friends. It’s been six years and this blog has become so much more than just a creative outlet. Here’s one of my first posts.

A lot has changed since I first blogging.

Since I began this blog, I learned a lot in the classroom, took life changing trips, graduated college, moved home, landed my dream job, got promoted, made new friends and reconnected with old friends, have an incredible boyfriend and grown as a better daughter, girlfriend and friend.

Happy Graduation Day
Heading out for a job interview
Getting ready for work.

I’ve learned to take risks, go with my gut, say yes, but also be okay with saying no, be flexible and make self care a priority.

Skating in the city!

When I reflect on this last year, the word stable keeps coming to mind. I’m stable with my career and friends, I have a good routine, I have been prioritizing my health and hobbies and I have been having fun too. 

My mom and I after a candle making course.
A show in the city at night!

Some of the past highlights of this past year for me and my blog include launching my Friday Favorites as I link up with other bloggers every Friday.

Traveling to new places in the summer to visit friends, spending quality time with family and embracing my community by taking advantage of places and events in my backyard.

 I read so many different genres of books and shared many of them with you on here.

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

I tried new beauty products and changed up my wardrobe.

The final look using all my products!

I also tried lots of recipes.

I feel like this past year, I have really found my groove in who I am and what I want in life. College was a time of constant change and growth and then I started my job and the pandemic hit and we spent years navigating that and now it feels like the dust has settled and I’m content and SO happy.

At the beginning of this year, I said my quote was to embrace change and so far, I haven’t had to embrace too much change and I’m okay with that. I don’t know what the second half of the year will hold, but I know I will be taking you all along with me. 

Whether you have been following along since my first post all those years ago or you found my blog through a link up, I’m so happy you are here and I’m so honored you took the time to spend some time reading my words. 

I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Here’s to another year of writing, learning, growth, change and blogging.

As always, we are taking it day by day.

Elspeth

Categories
Fabulous living

Inexpensive Date Ideas


Hello all! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are all staying warm and cozy as we make our way through January. Many people may make New Year’s Resolutions and goals and for some it may be to save money. I know after the holiday and shopping season, I’m looking to stay in and save more. 


Today, I’m sharing some fun and inexpensive date ideas. I still enjoy having fun and doing things with my boyfriend or best friends without breaking the bank. It can also be hard to find things to do in the dead of winter, so I hope these give you some inspiration for fun. So, without further ado, here’s some fun and inexpensive date ideas.

Walks: Head out to your favorite park or try a new destination for a walk. This FREE activity gets you outside and moving, it also shows you the beauty in your own backyard, and it lets you focus on conversations when you are getting to know someone or when you are catching up with friends. I love finding new parks and trails to try out with friends. It may seem daunting to do a winter walk if you aren’t a fan of the cold, but as long as you dress appropriately, you will be set.

No matter the season, walks are always a good idea

Movie and Board Game Day: This can be done at any point of the day, a Sunday morning, Saturday afternoon, or even a Wednesday night. Pick out some of your favorite board games or buy a new one to test out with your friends. If games aren’t up your alley, pick out a new movie that’s been on your list of things to watch, pop some popcorn and buy some candy and enjoy a movie night at home. This is a fun way to unwind and relax at home without breaking the bank.

Snacks and a movie are always a good idea.

Use the Gift Cards: Did you get gift cards for Christmas that are still sitting in your wallet? Use them! Whether it’s for a dinner out, a coffee, or even an activity, like a movie. Plan an event using that gift from someone else. Although, it’s fun to go to a favorite spot, if you got a gift card to someplace new, give it a try, who knows it may become a new favorite spot.

One of the times when we used a gift card to a favorite restaurant.

Take a Drive: This is a great idea for mild, winter days. Cue up a playlist, grab some fun snacks and hit the road, you can have a place in mind or just choose a direction and drive. In times like these, it’s more about the journey as opposed to the destination. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than the open road and having some good conversations. 

A beautiful day for a drive.

Spend Some Time in the Kitchen: Whether you love to cook or bake or it intimidates you, try out a new recipe, you may discover that you have found a new hobby. I have been testing out some new recipes and I have been loving the results. Here’s a pro-tip, besides looking up recipes online or on Pinterest, head to your local library and check out some cookbooks and try out some recipes from there. It can be scary to test out some recipes in the kitchen, but you may find that the results are better than you thought.

I spent a morning looking through some cookbooks to pick out new recipes and I can’t wait to try them.

That’s just a look into some inexpensive date ideas that can keep you busy and entertained without worrying about blowing your budget. Tell me: what are some of your favorite inexpensive date ideas.

Categories
Fabulous living

What I’m Thankful For

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday! If you are able to enjoy some time off around the Thanksgiving holiday. I hope the next few days are filled with delicious food, time with family or loved ones, making core memories and a time to rejuvenate.

After Thanksgiving, I know Christmas will be on the minds of many, if it isn’t already. Before Thanksgiving, I always like to take some extra time to reflect on my blessings and what I’m thankful for.

I have so many things to be grateful for this year. I am so lucky to have a loving and supportive family with me. I love that I am able to work in my hometown and I’m able to see my family every day. There’s no greater joy than coming home and enjoying a home cooked meal and talking about our day’s. This year we have traveled to new places and visited old ones. One of the best things about this year was our time together from family dinners, to day trips and just conversations and laughs together. There’s nothing more special than time spent with family. I’m also grateful to my furbabies too!

A snapshot from our time spent at the beach this summer.
My favorite puppies!

I’m grateful for my boyfriend brings out the best in me every day. He who pushes me to work my hardest and supports me in everything I do. From my job to my blog, he’s an incredible supporter. We have created so many wonderful memories from walks to adventures, trying new recipes and long drives. Our time together is one of the things I treasure most of all.

One of the many places we have got walking.

I’m so lucky to have wonderful friends in my life. From friends from preschool, to high school friends and one from college. I’m grateful that I have stayed in touch and continued to create memories with. From meeting halfway for dinners, to monthly facetime dates, walks and coffee hangs. As an adult, life can get busy so I try to make a point to put friendships first by checking in on friends when they have busy weeks, or making a suggestion for a favorite book or movie. I always love when I have friends who check in on me and support me and lift me up when I need an extra hand.

I’m grateful for a job that I love. I enjoy learning new things every day and being challenged and growing every day. I love being able to work and live in my hometown and make an impact every day.

A glimpse into some of the places my job takes me.

After illness being a topic of conversation for the past few years, I am so grateful for my good health, my family’s health and my friend’s health. Waking up every day and being healthy is something I don’t take for granted. Life can get busy and our priorities can shift but reminding ourselves what’s important is something we need to remind ourselves more.

Savoring the little moments in life, like fall drives.

I’m thankful for all the challenging moments in life, for the long or stressful moments because it makes me stronger and makes me a better person. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the growing pains or the rollercoaster moments. All those little things got me to where I am today.

I am grateful for all the things that bring me joy! From curling up with a good book, to baking food for ones that I love, and enjoying heartfelt conversations with family and friends. I’m grateful for how I feel when I finish a hard workout or a long walk. I’m grateful for the satisfaction I feel when I prepare a meal or dessert for my family. I’m grateful for the experience of getting lost in a book or a movie. I’m grateful for resting after a productive day. I’m thankful for seeing the sunrise every morning and watching it set. 

Finding hobbies like cooking and baking bring me so much joy!

Life is so precious and it’s made up so many little moments. At the end of the day, that’s what I’m most grateful for, all the moments, big and small. 

Feeling extra grateful this year!

Over the next few days, I hope you take the time to reflect on what you are most grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Categories
Currently

Currently #22

Hey guys! We are almost to my favorite time of year; all the holidays…from Halloween to Thanksgiving and rounding things off with Christmas! I love this time of year. I have been embracing the fall with all the leaves and the cooler temps. Here’s a look into what I’m currently into. 

What I’m up to:  I’ve been enjoying all the fall activities, I’ve been trying to go on long walks every week. Whether it’s near or far, I love a good walk. To read about some of my favorite walks, check out my latest post. I’ve also been spending lots of time with family. I’m also slowly getting ready for the holidays by decorating for Halloween and fall! 

A rainy day and a nice walk was the perfect combination for a Friday

What I’m wearing: I hate to say it, but my wardrobe hasn’t been too exciting. I’ve been wearing hoodies and sweaters and jeans on days off. For work days, It’s been a mix of long sleeve dresses and pants with blazers too. Layers has been key when it feels like winter in the morning but summer by the afternoon. 

Jacket in the morning…
Not needed by the afternoon…hello fall weather!
Long sleeves and straight hair for cooler mornings on the desk

What I’m reading: Reading every morning has been the best way to start my days. I really enjoyed The Silent Patient, it was the perfect mix of a mystery and a psychological thriller.

Here’s what I started my month with.

For romantic mystery, What if You and Me was a great pick. There’s also a spooky twist to it, which makes it perfect for Halloween.

Another cute one story with a cute twist

I just finished reading The Last Mona Lisa, it was one of the best books I read in a long time. I loved the historical mystery and the two different time period parallels.

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

I’m currently reading, Nantucket Threads, which is a summer beach read, it’s definitely lighter compared to my past few reads. 

What I’m Watching: Besides my weekly shows like Grey’s Anatomy and A Million Little Things, I’ve been watching Community, which is perfect to watch in the mornings when I’m getting ready or at night if I want to watch something to unwind. The all-star cast makes it so fun to watch! I’m also on the to watch season 3 of You on Netflix. I’m hooked on it. 

What I’m Loving: I’ve been loving fall walks, seeing the leaves falling, doing lots of  reading and warm mornings and nights. I have been starting my mornings between the gym and work by lighting a candle and sipping some hot cider while I get ready for the day. I do some reading and meditating before I head out the door. It’s the best way to start the day. 

Another fall walk in the books.

What Inspires Me: I’ve been inspired by the slow and steady of daily life mind you, not every day is slow and calm, I have plenty of busy days but I savor the calm ones. I’ve also been doing lots of baking to which satisfies a sweet tooth and it gives my family a sweet treat to enjoy.

A fall trail mix on a day off

What I accomplished: I’ve been getting things done on my fall bucket list, from walks to fall treats, cider, and cozy nights in. I’ll be sharing my full bucket list recap in the coming weeks. 

Fall pumpkins for some pretty decorations.

Goals Accomplished from Last Month I’ve done a good job at slowing down. After a busy summer of travel, it’s been nice to have more lowkey days off. Last week, I spent the day reading, watching some shows, baking, meal prepping and running a few fun errands. It was the perfect mix of balance on a day off.  

First Time making s’mores cookies,

Goals for the New Month: Did someone say holidays?! I can’t wait to start getting ready for the holidays, between gift giving, seeing family, treats and decorating….I can’t wait

That’s a look into the past month. What have you accomplished in the past few weeks?