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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #63

Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week! I’m in full on fall mode over here and am trying to pack in as many fall activities as possible.

Fall in a small town!

Last weekend, I made the most of the fall weather and conditions and took a fall drive to see the leaves changing and did a fall train ride too. It was the perfect way to spend a Sunday and make the most of a fall day. We are halfway through October and if you have a fall bucket list, how is yours coming along? I am slowly but surely checking things off.

Beautiful day for a train ride
Nothing prettier than leaves on the ground!

Today I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s edition of Friday Favorites.

Here’s a few things I’m loving this week!

Lupin- One of my favorite shows to binge watch is back! Lupin is set in France and is French but is dubbed in English and has subtitles. Season three follows Assane Diop, a thief as he robs from the the wealthiest people. He is sneaky and savvy, always has a plan and a disguise. This season is all about reconnecting with lost family. My favorite thing about the episodes is when they show him pulling off the heist. Definitely a binge-worthy show to try if you are looking for something new on Netflix.

A great show to binge watch!

Love at First Sight– This was such a cute movie that popped up on my Netflix feed. My mom and I watched it one night and LOVED it! Love at First Sight is a cute rom com all about fate and being at the right place at the right time. When a young girl misses her flight in the U.K., she immediately books another, thanks to that flight she meets a fellow traveler and they hit it off. Turns out, the two are on the same flight and agree to swap numbers, however, due to a mix-up they never exchange numbers. Will the two reconnect and find each other in London or was it just a chance encounter on a flight? You will have to watch to find out!

The cutest rom-com!

Hello Beautiful– Remember that stack of books I got from the library a few weeks ago? I’m still making my way through it. I have been going back and forth between lighthearted books and some heavier ones. I have read about Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano on numerous blogs through the summer and couldn’t wait to read it for myself. It was definitely a heavier read and it took me longer to make it through compared to a chick flick, due to the depth, but it was so worth it. Without giving too much away, it’s a modern day take on Little Women. It follows four sisters and their lives from children to adults and how they grow close and apart, evolve and change. The book is told from four different perspectives and spans across decades. This book was so moving and really leaves you reflecting on the power of family and relationships. It was definitely worth all the hype.

Such a powerful story!

Counting the Cost-My free, three month trial of Audible is almost up, and I’ll have a whole review coming soon, but until then, I am currently listening to Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar Dillard and wow, I can’t stop listening. As I mentioned before, when I listening to Jinger’s book, I followed the Duggar family growing up and like many others was fascinated by them. I continued to follow them as their family went through some ups and downs and was eager to read the books by Jinger and Jill. While Jinger’s book focuses more on her faith journey, Jill’s focuses more on her life, how she’s grown and evolved and her perspective about her family and a lot of the events that transpired in recent years. I really love that I’m listening to the audiobook version and can hear her telling her story. I feel that she really pulls back the curtain on a lot of big moments in her life which I appreciated. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and finished it in less than a week, whenever I was driving or running, I have it on. If you do plan on reading it, I recommend the audiobook version.

My current favorite thing to listen to.

The Crown Trailer-The new trailer for season 6 of The Crown dropped this week. You can watch it here. I can’t wait for it, even though it’s the final season and I don’t want it to end! It will be broken up until two installments starting with Diana’s death and ending with Will and Kate in University. Even though the teaser was short, it got me excited for what this new season will bring! November can’t come soon enough!

That’s a look into some of my favorite things from this week! Some books, a movie, new scents and all the fall fun! Tell me, how have you ben making the most of the fall season?  What’s been your favorite fall activity? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #61

Happy Friday friends and happy end of September! 

This month of transition flew by! Now that we are at the end of the month, I am officially ready for fall come this weekend! Bring on the apple cider, pumpkins and all the fall leaves!

Beautiful fall walks!

This week was a busy one between catching up with friends for walks and meals, doctor’s appointments and setting up appointments. It was a busy, but productive week and now I’m looking forward to the weekend.

As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s edition of Friday Favorites. Here’s been a few things I’m loving this week.

New Lavendar Pillow Mist Spray– A few weeks ago, in my Let’s Look post, I shared how I use a pillow/room mist spray before bed. Well, right after that post, I finished off the bottle, so it was time to get a new one. I got this Lavendar spray from Bath and Body Works and I have been loving it. The scent isn’t too strong and it’s very subtle. That’s something I always worry about when it comes to the scents, how strong do they come across? Especially when I’m going to be breathing it in for hours. Thankfully, this one isn’t too strong. If you are looking for a room or pillow spray to use before bed, I would recommend this one!

A fresh scent for bedtime.

Kerry Washington and Robin Roberts Interview– I’ve been a fan of Kerry Washington since she starred in Scandal. I loved the show and her acting in it and I have continued to follow her career since then. I was interested in her autobiography, Thicker than Water that came out this week. I plan on reading it soon, however, ahead of the release, she did an interview with Robin Roberts with ABC News that aired on Sunday night. Washington talked a lot about her book and some of the big bombshells from it and what she learned about herself writing it. Washington opened up a lot in her interview with Roberts and after watching it, I saw a whole different side of Washington. After watching the interview, I’m even more eager to get my hands on it. You can find her interview with Roberts here. 

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3- I love a good rom-com and I haven’t been to the movies in ages. My mom and I took advantage of a cooler day and went to the movies to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 and it didn’t disappoint. It was the perfect continuation of the other two movies. Tula and some members of her family head to Greece for a family reunion and of course, the trip doesn’t go as planned. The movie is filled with laughs, romance, gorgeous places in Greece and of course, lots of Greek food. After watching the movie, I was craving Greek delicacies. This was movie was so cute and well-worth the trip to the theater.

Such a cute movie!

New shoes from Anne Klein– Clearly, I have been on a shopping frenzy when it comes to shoes. From brown flats, to black Mary Janes and now some dress shoes from Anne Klein, I have been doing all the shopping. I got these shoes from DSW, and I have worn them for work a lot already. They are super comfortable which is a major win! I love how they are both nude and black so they can work with so many outfits, whether it’s a pair of dress pants, a skirt, or a dress, and with any color!  I also love the small block heel, this makes it great for long days on my feet and I love the thin strap too, another way to make sure your feet stay in place. These shoes can be dressed up and down in both a professional and casual manner. I can’t wait to start pairing them with outfits soon!

New shoes for the new season!

Fall Fruit– I’m in my fruit era and that includes all the end of summer and start of fall fruits. Pears have been my go-to recently. I have been enjoying them with lunches even on salads. They have been the perfect complement to my meals. I always find myself eating more fruit in the summer compared to fall and winter but want to keep up with my fruit intake over the next few months. I can’t wait to go apple picking over the next few weeks and enjoy the apple by themselves and in lots of fruit baked goods too- hello apple muffins, breads, crumbles and pies! 

I have been loving my pears!

That’s a look into what has been on my radar and what I’ve been loving! Tell me, as we say goodbye to September and hello to October, what’s on your October to-do? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a fall-tastic weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #29

Hi all! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week as we enjoyed the last full week of February!

It’s been a busy week of work, friends and family. As the week wraps up, I’m sharing some things that have caught my attention and I’ve been loving. Here’s a roundup of my favorite things as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

New Season of the Masked Singer– The Masked Singer is one of my guilty pleasures. I started watching the show when it premiered a handful of years ago and I’ve been an avid viewer since. I love seeing the talent, watching the cast members battle it out and seeing who gets unmasked each week. Season 9 premiered last week and the first few episodes did not disappoint. Some of the unmasking have definitely surprised me. I can’t wait to see what this season holds.

Romantic Comedy Books– I’ve been on a rom com kick when it comes to books. I talked about Part of Your World on this week’s Currently and really loved it.

I also read The Bodyguard after hearing great reviews about it and really enjoyed it as well. I fell in love with the characters, the unique plot line and the setting. If you are looking for some new books to read, these are definitely winners.

Ted Lasso Season 3 Teaser– I’ve been making my way through Ted Lasso and I’ve been loving it. The new teaser and synopsis for Ted Lasso season 3 dropped last week and I can’t wait to see what this season brings. This has been such a fun show to watch with my boyfriend. We can watch an episode or four and it doesn’t get old. 10/10 recommend if you haven’t watched it yet.

Daisy Jones and the Six Full Trailer– The full trailer dropped for Daisy Jones and the Six dropped and it looks so good. After reading the book last summer, I love seeing these characters come to life. The music sounds so good and the makeup and costuming looks phenomenal. You better believe I’ll be watching the series once it drops next week on March 3 on Amazon Prime.

Shotgun Wedding– I really enjoyed seeing all the promotions leading up to Shotgun Wedding on Amazon Prime. Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel brought the perfect mix of humor and serious to their roles. The movie follows a couple who are getting married in a destination wedding, things start out smooth until their wedding gets hijacked by pirates. This movie is filled with great one-liners, romantic moments, beautiful destinations and a happy ending. If you have seen it, what did you think?

Such a cute rom com

That’s a roundup of some of my favorite things. Tell me what are some things you are loving today?

Let me know in the comments below! Happy Friday!

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Currently

Currently #38

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Such a fun show, especially with snacks!

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

About Fate follows the story of two people in different relationships, one serious, one not so serious, but they run into one another without their significant others and end up spending New Year’s Eve together overcoming one obstacle to another to get to their dates. They end up learning they have more in common than they thought and fate​ keeps bringing them together.

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

Fresh flowers make me think of spring too!

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

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

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

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

Cold days and warm drinks are the perfect combination!

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

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #26

Happy First Friday of February! I hope you have something fun planned for the first weekend of February! 

Ironically, all my favorites today tie into the theme of love. If you are looking for a rom com, something sweet or a gift for someone special, I have you covered. Here’s what I have been LOVING this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

About Fate-Have you seen this cute rom-com on Amazon Prime? About Fate follows the story of two people in different relationships, one serious, one not so serious, but they run into one another without their significant others and end up spending New Year’s Eve together overcoming one obstacle to another to get to their dates. They end up learning they have more in common than they thought and fate​ keeps bringing them together. Definitely worth the watch to gear up for Valentine’s Day.

About Fate was such a cute movie on Amazon Prime.

New Candle-It was time to break open a new candle and I am loving this candle scent “Strawberry Snowflakes” from Bath and Body Works. I typically don’t purchase candles from Bath and Body Works, but I received this candle as a gift and have been loving it. It’s a sugary-sweet scent that’s a perfect mix of fruity and fresh cookies and great for fall. I always love to burn a candle when I am getting ready to start the day or unwinding at the end of the day. Candles just spark joy and this would be a great Galentine’s gift for your girlfriends this year!

Mint and Dark Chocolate Kit Kat Duo-Speaking of sweet, if you are a fan of mint, you may want to try Mint and Dark Chocolate Kit Kats. I got them as a gift and really enjoyed them. I already enjoy Kit Kats as sweet treat, and these just elevate them. They are the perfect mix of mint and chocolate and crunch. I highly recommend picking them up the next time you are in the grocery store. 

Eye Massager– I saw this eye massager on so many gift guides last Christmas and as some who gets headaches frequently, I wanted to try it for myself. I got it for Christmas and have tried it a handful of times. There are different settings that you can adjust such as pressure, heat, sound and vibrations. If you get headaches around your temples, eyes or head, I would highly recommend investing in this eye massager. 

Donut Phone Holder-Another super useful Christmas gift. As someone who is always on near this phone at work or home, this donut ring is so useful. You can prop your phone up vertical or horizontal to either use it for reading, answering text messages or using apps or, using it to watch videos. I typically like to have it propped up on my desk when I am working so I can see messages or notification. I’ve also used it in the kitchen when I am cooking and looking up a recipe. A fun gadget that proves to be quite useful too.

That’s a look into some things I am LOVING this week. As we embark in a new month, what are some things you are loving this week? Let me know in the comments below!

Have the BEST weekend!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #14

Hello all! 

Happy Friday! I hope you had a great full week of November. It’s been a busy week, so I was happy to enjoy a few days with limited plans. As always, I have another edition of Friday Favorites and today as I team up with with  Erika and Andrea.

I hope today’s post gives you some inspiration for new things to read, watch, and get organized ahead of the holidays.

Here’s a few things I’m loving.

Ticket to Paradise-With so many movies going straight to streaming, I haven’t been to the movies for a while, so I was very excited to head to the big screen to see Ticket to Paradise. I love watching George Clooney and Julia Roberts interact on screen together, so this was another treat to see them back together. The movie follows a divorced couple who reunite and slowly start getting along once again. This movie was filled with beautiful sights, great one liners and laughs too. This is a great rom com to watch with your girlfriends or take your mom for a mother-daughter date! It gets 5 Stars from me.

The Last Mrs. Parrish– I know this is an older book, but it was new to me. The Last Mrs. Parrish a suspenseful book with a touch of mystery and intrigue. It follows the story of a young woman who wants to befriend a wealthy woman to get close to her husband. The first half of the book is told from one point of view until it switches to another character’s perspective, and you see the story through an entirely different lens. This book will make you angry at some of the characters, but you won’t want to put it down at the same time. I finished it in less than a week and keep talking about with all of my friends. I’ll definitely be reading more of Liv Constantine’s books. 

Kindle App-Speaking of reading, I love to read hard or soft cover books as opposed to them on a tablet or app, but I was so hooked on The Last Mrs. Parrish that I downloaded it for free on my Kindle app so I could read on the go. I’ve done this with books in the past and it really encouraged me to read when I had downtime as opposed to just scrolling on social media. You can buy books or read others for free. I personally just like reading free books through Prime reading, but you can get so many other titles when you purchase them. This is definitely a great tactic to use if you are looking to read more but don’t want to bring a book everywhere.

Notes App– I have talked about all my many uses for my Notes app on my phone but I have been using it a lot more recently with the holidays coming up. I’ve been keeping lists of gifts to buy, activities to do and things to remember. I follow Emily Ley’s system by using three emojis followed by what each list is for. This is such an easy way to keep track of things and have everything you need to know or remember with you at all times.

From Scratch– Have you seen this mini series on Netflix?! It’s so good and worth the watch. The mini series follows the story of a young man and woman who meet in Italy and fall in love. The show chronicles their ups and downs as a couple. Everything from making career moves, to handling large family dynamics, dealing with heartbreak, illness and falling in love. It was such a beautiful journey to watch unfold from start to finish. Just be warned there were a few tear jerkers. The best part is that it’s based on a true story!

That’s just a look into some of my favorite things right now. Tell me what are you loving this week and looking forward to this weekend? Happy Friday and happy weekend!