Happy Wednesday! I hope you are enjoying May and the fresh starts the season brings. It’s the second Wednesday of the month which means it’s time for another Let’s Look as I link up with Shay and Erika.
Here’s a recap of the topics we have covered so far this year
I’m going to be sharing some new items that I purchased for this season and some of my favorite items that I have loved through the years.
Let’s start with the new items:
I love a good wedge especially for going out and when I saw these heels for sale at Marshall’s I knew I had to get them. I shared them just last week as a part of my Friday favorites! Wedges provide more support for me and I can pair them with multiple outfits. You can wear these with a pair of white jeans or capris and fun blouse, a short sundress, or a longer, flowy dress depending on the occasion. I can’t wait to wear them this summer.
Now let’s get to the tried and true:
I love having a solid long and flowy dress in my closet. I got this black one from Old Navy and adore the style. You can pair it with sandals or wedges and wear it to the beach, out shopping or out to dinner. Throw on a jean jacket or sweater and you are set.
From long to short, I love having a good t-shirt dress in my closet too. I have a few solid and print dresses and love to pair them with sneakers for a sporty look or sandals for a dressed up look.
Cotton shorts are such an easy go-to when you are looking to throw something on after a day at the pool or beach. I have a pair of cotton shorts in both blue and white and I am constantly reaching for them in the summer months.
Graphic t-shirt, if you are looking for an easy and casual shirt to pair with a pair of cotton shorts or regular shorts, you can’t go wrong with a graphic t-shirt. I personally love ones that I have gotten from different places I have traveled to, it’s a great memory of where you have been and a cute item to add to your wardrobe.
Fun sandals are something that can really elevate your outfit, whether they are with a pair of shorts or a dress or even a skirt, I love a pair of sandals that can add some flair and fun to your outfit.
A tennis dress or skirt are two items I added to my closet last summer and I got so much wear out of them. I got both of these from Amazon and once again, they were easy outfits to wear after a day at work, at the pool, or running errands.
These are some of my favorite summer staples that are go-to’s for me in the closet. I am looking to add a few new items this summer including some white capris, denim shorts, and some cover-ups for the pool or beach. Tell me: what are some of your summer must-haves?! Let me know in the comments below and if you have any suggestions for denim shorts or cover-ups, I’m all ears!
Hello all! Happy Christmas week! I hope you had a wonderful day with loved ones and lasting memories.
A look at my tree on Christmas Day.
It’s the end of the 2023, this year flew by. I feel like just yesterday I was setting goals and resolutions for the next 12 months and here we are almost 365 days later with most of them accomplished.
Going into 2023, I anticipated it to be a year of change and new beginnings and while there was change and I tried new hobbies and went to different places, this year was filled with lots of routine and structure which I love and crave.
Over the past twelve months, I have kept in touch with friends from out of town and made it a point to touch base with them either in-person or via facetime. I traveled a lot this year by taking day trips or longer vacations with my family. I continued to grow in my profession by working on different long-form projects and challenging myself each day. The biggest things that stand out to me from this past year would be my newfound love of trying different hobbies.
What a year for 2023!
Let’s take it back to January for a recap of this year before we get into my favorites of 2023:
The year began with lots of cozy days indoors and lots of cooking, I tried lots of new recipes this year from soups, to pizzas, and baked goods.
A new recipe, Shrimp Avocado Medicine Soup
Fresh cookies too
Even though it was cold outside, I bunded up and took winter walks to some of my favorite spots, as much as I love the hygge vibes of being inside, there’s nothing quite like getting fresh air and exercise.
Winter walks in the snow
February brought a day trip to Cleveland for a day at the Art Museum and dinner and a show.
A show in the city at night!
The second month of the year brought Valentine’s Day and the first of many uses of my Kitchen Aid.
First time using my kitchen aid
The Kitchen Aid made baking them so much easier!
March was a continuation of testing out new recipes and getting outdoors more as the temperatures began to rise.
First Zoo trip of the year
Spring finally made an appearance in April with Easter, family time and the start of sunshine.
First of spring walks
Our favorite Easter dessert-our bunny cake!
April also brought the start of my running journey.
Picnic season was back in May and I celebrated my 25th birthday.
Picnic season
Celebrating 25!
I tried to spend as much time outside in the summer. This summer I began to grow my first garden which saw success for its first season. I also began running consistently in preparation for my first 5K.
Runs at the beach!
June was a month of travel with day trips to Columbus and NYC for a day, which you can read about here.
The sights and sounds of NYC
I also got a chance to visit family in New Jersey which was well overdue.
The beauty of the beach!
July began with the Fourth of July included lots of running, checking on my garden, walks, and reading poolside.
Our Fourth of July spread
My first set of veggies! Peas!
Reading by the pool days
More running
August began fast and furious with my first 5K, then it was off to a day trip to Toronto.
Finishing my first 5K!
The iconic Toronto sign
My family and I got away for a few days to San Diego which was great to have quality time together and go to new places.
Hello San Diego!
Summer wrapped up with bonfires, ice cream and more success of my garden.
Summer S’mores!
Soaking up summer with every last ice cream!
The fruits of my labor
The fall was a time of savoring the outdoors as much as I could and seeing the seasons change.
Hello fall walks!
As it got colder and I stayed indoors more, that meant more time in the kitchen by trying new recipes for baked goods and dinners.
Back in the kitchen
November and December brought me my first Turkey Trot followed by Thanksgiving and getting into the Christmas spirit and celebrating all month long.
Turkey trotting!
Our Thanksgiving Dinner at home
All is calm, all is bright.
A very Christmas spread
This past year brought lots of favorites too.
Here’s some of my all-time favorite things from 2023:
Favorite Book:Spare-I know it was a controversial book, but I found it fascinating to read all about Prince Harry and his life from his perspective. I also have been a fan of the Royal family for years, so his autobiography was very eye-opening. Plus the timing between the death of the Queen in 2022, Charles’ Coronation in May and final season of the Crown makes his story even more prevalent.
Favorite T.V. Show– The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ended this year, I really loved following this show from the beginning and thought the ending was so fitting and fulfilling. A close runner-up would be Ted Lasso, another favorite from this year
Favorite Movie– Barbie– This should be no surprise but I really enjoyed the Barbie movie this year. Although, I’m not a Barbie super fan, I thought it was very well done and had a great message.
Favorite Fashion Item– Tennis dress from Amazon– I wore this so many times this summer. It was so easy to throw on during a hot day or after work. It was fashionable and affordable and I loved the color, perfect for summer!
Favorite New Podcast– The Lazy Genius– I was introduced to this podcast and find it so helpful when it comes to life hacks and ways to streamline things in your life. Although, my all-time favorite podcast is the Simplified podcast.
Favorite New Hobby– My favorite new hobby from this year has been running. I never thought I would be a runner and love it as much as I do, but here we are. You can read about my running journey here.
Favorite Trip- Doing New York City in a day was exhausting but so worth it and I made so many memories with my family when we went to San Diego.
Memories from family trips!
This year was so full with new adventures, building relationships, growing in my profession, spending time with loved ones and trying new hobbies. The best way I can describe this year is by feeling fulfilled.
Here’s a look at the resolutions I set out to accomplish this year. My top goals were to Eat healthier and run a 5K (which I accomplished big time), I wanted to take advantage of local spots and park (which I did a great job especially in the spring and summertime), Plan to do more things on days off (I accomplished this by doing day trips and making the most of my vacation days), and lastly, I wanted to continue to grow more in my profession (I achieved this goal by tackling different work projects and tasks).
I’m proud of myself of how I have grown and evolved this past year and I’m excited to see where 2024 takes me.
Cheers to closing the chapter of 2023 and starting fresh for 2024.
Hey everyone! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week. Last weekend, I was in Pittsburgh to see Ed Sheeran in concert. It was my second time seeing him perform and loved it. I loved his set list, the atmosphere and the songs. I had been looking forward to seeing him again and it did not disappoint.
View from our seats
Always a good time to enjoy a concert in the summer
One more concert shot
It’s the second Wednesday of the month which means it’s time for another Let’s Look as I link up with Erika and Shay.
This month’s topic is all about New Favorite Summer Finds. I have found lots of things I have been loving this summer that I have shared a lot of with you in different posts. This post has all my favorite summer finds with links in one stop.
Without further ado, here’s my 2023 Favorite Summer Finds:
Super Goop– I wear Super Goop almost every day. It goes on super lightweight and it adds a bit of shimmer too. I love that the sunscreen protects you from the sun and acts as a primer for makeup which I found to be super helpful too. On days when I know I am going to be outside all day, I always apply it to my face, do my makeup and then I am good to go. From work days to weekends, this is always the first thing I put on after I wash my face.
White Baseball Cap– I love a good baseball cap and I have several in from different places and colors, but I was looking for a white one to wear with lighter colors and outfits. I happened to kill two birds with one stone when I found a white one in New York City. I loved the simple NYC logo and the fact it came in white. I wore it almost every day when I went to the beach and I have worn it out and about in the summer too. I love the lighter color for summer and it reminds me of trip to NYC too.
Tennis Skirt– Another outfit favorite this summer has been this pale blue tennis skirt. I was influenced by Shay Shull for this skirt. It’s so easy to throw on after being out in the water or running errands. The material is Nylon, which is great for hot days. You can dress it up with a cute blouse or dress it down with a workout shirt or regular t-shirt. I like how you can wear it with sneakers, sandals or flip flops. Such a fun way to switch up an outfit. An amazon purchase for the win!
Tennis Dress– Seaking of Amazon wins, this tennis dress was another Amazon find courtesy of Shay Shull. This dress (which comes ith shorts) is easy to throw on and it’s made from Nylon so it’s good for being around water. It comes in so many colors, but I love the light blue. I’ve worn it with sandals and my birkenstocks, but you can easily wear it with sneakers too. Plus, it goes great with a white baseball cap. I love the cut and style and runs true to size. This was the perfect fun outfit to add to my fun clothes wardrobe.
Birkenstocks– Speaking of sandals, after seeing the trends for years, I finally decided to hop on the Birkenstock bandwagon and I’m so glad I did! I was on the hunt for a pair of sandals I could throw on if I had to run out to get the mail, hit the store, wear by the pool or just go for a walk and these were just what I was looking for. I love the rubber material (perfect for the pool) and white color. They are so comfortable too. I wear them multiple times a week, from watering plants to taking out the trash and running errands. They have been my go-to all summer.
New favorite summer shoe!
Dress Sandals– These have become my favorite summer dress sandal. I picked up a pair from T.J. Maxx and I am obsessed. I have worn them to work, to church and out to events and date night. I love the color, the straps and the best part is how comfortable they are! They have great support and you can wear them for hours. I know they are in style and a major trend and I am on board.
UV Hair Spray– I have talked about using new products or sample products when I am on trips or vacations and when I went to the beach last month, I tried this new sample UV heat protection spray from Ulta. I really liked how it added an extra layer of protection for my hair and how easy it went in. Plus, as an extra bonus, it smells really good too. I always like trying new products as samples before I purchase them to see if I want to invest in them.
Those have been some of my favorite summer items over the past few weeks. Some clothes, some products and some items. Overall, these are things that I have been using weekly if not daily this summer. Tell me, as we make our way through July what are some things you are loving?! Let me know in the comments below!
I hope you are having a great week and a great July! See you in two days for a new edition of Friday Favorites!
Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week! This week was a busy, between being back to work after some days off, the Fourth of July in the middle of the week and then visiting some friends on days off.
Time spent with friends in the sunshine!
It was packed full but in the best way. Summer is all about making memories and I certainly have done that this week!
Everything is in bloom his time of year!
I’m excited for this weekend for some fun activities too! More on that next week. Anyways, I hope you had a great week and have something fun planned this weekend.
Now, that I have you all caught up on life. Here’s some things I’m loving this week, a lot of these things are things that I loved and used during my family visit to the beach last week. Buckle up, here’s some fun, summer favorites as I link up with Erika and Andrea!
Tennis Dress– I was influenced by Shay Shull for this Amazon tennis dress. While I am not a tennis player, I love how easy this dress is for the summer to throw on for a day of errands or coming out from the beach or pool. It’s easy to throw on, it’s made from Nylon so it’s good for being around water. It comes in so many colors, but I love the light blue. I’ve been into blue this summer and this was the perfect fun outfit to add to my fun clothes wardrobe.
Pearl Hoops– If you remember, I got a pair of gold hoops around Easter and have been wearing them a lot for work. For my birthday, I got a pair of pearl hoops that really elevate your every day outfit. I have worn them with dresses for work, to shorts and blouses. They add some fun, bling compared to pearl studs. They can really dress up a cocktail or work dress. For example, on this day, I wore them with a blue and white polka dotted dress. So fun! They would even be great for a summer wedding!
Such a fun statement pier of jewelry!
Happy Place– I love the author Emily Henry! She has written some of my favorite beach reads from People We Meet on Vacation to Book Lovers and Beach Read. Happy Place may be one of my new favorites! I loved the plot line 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’s books, you are missing out and I highly recommend picking up one of them this summer!
Such a fun, summer read!
New Wall Flower scent– I love lemons! From the scent, to the flavor, to any foods. At the beginning of the season, Bath and Body Works unveiled some new scents including a sweet tea and lemonade scent. I loved the concept of the combo, but they are sold out of lotions and soap and candles. However, they still had some wall flower scents and I was able to get one. This is the perfect summer scent. It’s refreshing and not too overpowering. I use it in my bedroom, but I think it would great for a kitchen or a family room. I have tried a lot of different scents but this may be one of my favorites. The best for summer!
Smells like summer!
The Night Agent– I know I talked about this show on my Currently post last week, but I figured it deserved its own spot on Friday Favorites! The Night Agent on Netflix has been such a fun and dramatic show to watch in the summer. There’s mystery and suspense and of course some romance too. There are definitely some intense parts but it’s been a fun show to watch nightly in the summer. Have you found any new shows that you have been loving this summer?
Another summer show!
That’s a look into life lately and what I’m loving! Some fun vacation finds and things I’m loving as we make our way through July!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!! See you next Wednesday!
