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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 #28

Hey guys! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week full of Galetine’s Day celebrations or a Valentine’s Day date night. I know I enjoyed spreading a little extra love this week and indulging in some sweet treats too. I did some baking before Valentine’s Day and enjoyed sending cards and some baked goods to family and friends.

Some Valentine’s Day treats!

During the winter months, I spend more time indoors, getting projects done, catching up on books, shows or trying new recipes. That being said, if my Friday Favorites seem similar week to week, that’s why.

Here’s what I’ve been reading, watching, and enjoying for this week’s Friday Favorites as I like up with Erika and Andrea.

YOU-Part one of YOU season four came out last Thursday on Netflix and I finished it in two days, mind you, it was only five episodes, but once I started it was hard to stop. This new season takes Joe to a new country, with a new murder and a whole new cast of characters. There’s mystery, intrigue, romance and cliffhangers. I’m excited for part two to come out next month!

Your Place or Mine– In a complete opposite genre, Your Place or Mine came out last weekend and it was the perfect way to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit with this rom com. I loved the storyline, the characters, and the chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you are missing out! Super cute!

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hearts– I indulged in all the sugar and sweets from Valentine’s Day. From heart-shaped cupcakes to homemade sugar cookies, it was definitely a sweet holiday. I tried these new chocolates from Ghiradelli and loved them. The blend of fruit and chocolate was the perfect ratio. I always enjoy anything chocolate so when I saw a pairing with raspberry, I knew I had to try it and was so glad I did!

Colleen Hoover Books– Late to the book party here, but I finally got around to reading some of Colleen Hoover’s books. I have heard about her for years, and decided to try some of them after a friend lent me them. I recently read November 9 and Verity. November 9 was such a sweet love story with an incredible twist. Verity was definitely darker and there were many times I wanted to put it down, but I’m glad I finished it. The ending definitely raised more questions. I’ll be looking into more Hoover books. If you have read her other books, what ones are your favorite and what should I read next?

New Wall Flower Scent– I swapped out scents for my wall plug in from Bath and Body Works last week and have been loving this new scent. I went from Pine which was very Christmasy to Spearmint and Eucalyptus. This scent is so fresh and perfect for the winter months. There’s nothing better than a new scent for a new week. 

That’s just a look into life over the past few days. Tell me, how did you celebrate Galentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day? Have a great weekend!

Categories
Fun Ways to Organize Let's Get Cooking

Meal Prepping Ideas

Hey everyone! Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is going smoothly and you were able to enjoy Galentine’s Day with your girlfriends or Valentine’s Day with your significant other.

I did a post last year with ideas for lunches. You can find it here. I am on the go during the work day, so having an easy lunch ready to go, makes my days smoother. I typically plan out my meals on my weekend. I’ll see what things I have in my pantry and fridge to make meals from that before I go shopping. In addition to a main meal, I’ll typically pack a few snacks and sides. 

In the winter months, it can be easy to get into a routine or rut when it comes to meal ideas. 

I tried a few different recipes and meals lately for lunch and I wanted to share them with you today! Here’s some meals I’ve been loving. 

I’ve been making soup a lot recently, I can make a big pot and then save it and store it and then enjoy it for a week for lunch at work. So far this season, I made a Chicken Noodle Soup and then a Shrimp Avocado Medicine Soup both from Jessie James Decker’s cookbook, Just Feed Me. Both have been tasty and hearty and fill me up during the work day.

Chicken Noodle Soup
Shrimp Avocado Medicine Soup

After I finished making my Shrimp Avocado Medicine Soup, I had some leftover frozen veggies and quinoa, so for the following week, I used the veggies and quinoa to make a stir fry that lasted me all week. Another nutritious, tasty and hearty meal.

Meal prepping! I make a big bowl and then divide it up for a week of meals.

Rice and veggies is always a go to for meals for lunches. I tried out a new recipe for Cilantro Lime Rice from Jessie James Decker’s cookbook, Just Feed Me. I added some broccoli and my divided it up for a week’s worth of lunches. Yum!

Flavorful and healthy!

Some weeks, I’ll change up my meals and buy a few snack packs that are easy to throw in my lunch. My snack packs include grab and go guacamole with some carrots or cracker and some cheese or grapes. It’s well balanced and is easy to eat on the road. 

A look at my meals for this past week.

In addition to my main meal, I’ll include a trail mix, some crackers, or a granola bar, sometimes even a cookie or two.

A look at my storage for snacks and my meals.

Sometimes, I have all my ducks in a row and I am killing it at meal prepping, other times, I’ll eat leftovers from the night before for lunch, but it’s all about balance and not wasting food. There’s nothing worse than throwing away good food that hasn’t been eaten. 

My storage bags I got for Christmas have come in handy!

If you are stuck in a rut when it comes to your meal prepping, I hope this post gives you some inspiration. 

What are some things you like to put in your lunch? Let me know in the comments below!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #27

Hi everyone! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great work week and are ready for the weekend. It’s the weekend before Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time to bring out all the heart shaped treats and goodies, put on a cute outfit and celebrate LOVE this weekend or early next week. 

I made these heart shaped peanut butter cookies last week from Mix and Match Mama and they were so good and the perfect way to enjoy February!

Before we head into the weekend, I have a fun round up of Friday Favorites for you as I link up with  Erika and Andrea.

Let’s Dive in!

MADOFF: The Monster of Wall Street- I just finished this four part documentary series on Netflix and really found it interesting. I knew who Bernie Madoff was and what he did, but never knew the whole story and all the background. I found this mini-series to be fascinating and informative. I really liked how they re-enacted crucial moments in history in addition to the interviews of those involved. You can finish this in a weekend or over the course of the week after work. Netflix did a really good job with this docu-series.

Covergirl Concealer- I’m trying a new concealer from Covergirl and I’m loving it. For the longest time, I was using their concealer stick for makeup touch ups. But I wanted to try this new liquid concealer and I have been happy with the results so far. It goes on super smooth and blends really well. There are so many different shades, so you can match it easily to your skin tone. I’m always hesitant to try new makeup products but have been happy with this new concealer so far.

Midnight at the Pera Palace-The winter months have me hunkering down and watching shows and movies on my watchlist on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Midnight at the Pera Palace has been on my watch list for months and I finally got around to watching it and wish I had watched it earlier. There’s only one season so far and there’s eight episodes in season one, so it’s not too much of a time commitment. It’s a Turkish show, but you can watch it in English and with subtitles. It follows the story of a young journalist who does a story about an old hotel and realizes there’s more to the hotel than its history. Hint: it involves time travel and making sure the past doesn’t affect the future. 10/10 recommendation.

Caramel Apple Bourbon Trail Mix– I love trying new trail mixes and snacks from Target and Giant Eagle. This trail mix is the perfect mix between sweet and salty. There’s cranberries, almonds, apple bites and pretzels. I’ve been enjoying this with lunch or as an afternoon snack. Just enough flavor for an afternoon pick me up.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris– I saw so many previews for this movie and couldn’t wait to watch the movie. 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. This movie will have you dreaming of a trip to Paris! Such a cute mother/daughter or girlfriend movie!

That’s just a look at some things I’m loving this week. Tell me! What are your plans for the weekend? Do you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Friday!

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Fabulous living Let's Look

Let’s Look + Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! Can you believe we are less than a week away from Valentine’s Day?! I feel like the holiday snuck up on me. I got some Valentine’s Day decorating last week and I plan on doing some Valentine’s Day baking over the next few days. I have been on a baking/cooking roll over the past few weeks, and I have been loving trying new recipes in the winter months. 

I have a double post for you today! First, I’m going to be teaming up with Erika and Shay for Let’s Look! The second Wednesday of the month they have a different prompt about different parts of your life for you to answer.

This month’s topic is What Your Medicine Cabinet Looks Like. I have been doing lots of organizing and cleaning lately and I just finished organizing my medicine box. Besides medicine, I like to keep back stock of makeup and beauty products along with travel products. It’s always helpful to have some go-to products on hand so whenever you run out of a product or medicine, there’s some always on hand. The key is to make sure you clean it out frequently and get rid of old products that have expired. Having a clean space with backup and hygiene products makes life much simpler.

A look inside my back stock

Now onto part two of this post! With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I’m sharing some fun date ideas for you and your significant other. These are a mix of more traditional to unique ideas. If you are looking for inexpensive date ideas, you can find my post about it here.

Without further ado, here’s some Valentine’s Day Date Ideas:

Recreate a First Date-This is a sweet, romantic, and nostalgic way to celebrate the day. Whether you have been with your significant other for a few months or several years, try to recreate your first date. Go to the restaurant or pick up take out, maybe see if you can hunt down what you wore that night or find something similar, to bring back all the first date feels. If you went to the movies for the first time before or after dinner, see if you can find it on a streaming service to watch before or after dinner. This allows you and your significant other to take a romantic walk down memory lane on the sweetest holiday.

Head to an event or performance- Nothing says date night than a night on the town. If you are both into music or theater, see if there’s any local performances happening on or around Valentine’s Day. If you both like the sport scene, see if your local hockey or basketball team has a game. This is a great date idea if you are in the early stages of a relationship and still getting to know each other and one another’s interests or if you have been together for years and you both have a passion for the arts and culture or sports. Plus, it’s never a bad idea to enjoy an experience together.

Whether it’s a performance
Or a sporting event, you can’t go wrong with a night on the town.

Dinner at Home-This is personally my favorite one. I really enjoy cooking and baking, so trying a new recipe at home or enjoying a favorite one together sounds divine for Valentine’s Day. Light some candles, turn on a favorite movie or show and enjoy cooking a meal together. You get to enjoy an activity together and you have a delicious end result. You don’t have to worry about the hassle of reservations, crowded restaurants, or parking. Given that Valentine’s Day is on a weekday, you can celebrate with a nice meal at home the weekend before or the night of. I live for lowkey nights at home, so this is the best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, also make sure you have a sweet dessert for after dinner.

Nothing better than a nice night in

Valentine’s Day Breakfast or Lunch– If you want to go out for meal, but don’t want to deal with the crowds or reservations, celebrate Valentine’s Day earlier in the day, head to breakfast for some one on one time before the work day begins, or set-up a time to break away from work and meet up for a fancy lunch. Both of these options still makes sure you are acknowledging and celebrating the day, without the stress of doing dinner. 

You can even do a fancy brunch at home.

Cliche Valentine’s Day Date– If you have been dating someone for a while and you aren’t stressed about setting impossible expectations, go all out with a cliche Valentine’s Day Date. Buy the big teddy bear or the heart shaped box of chocolates, a long stem rose or a few doesn’t hurt either and make your date into a Valentine’s Day date that’s fit for a romantic comedy. A few other ideas to include in your date: Heart shaped balloons or decorations, a card, a cheesy romantic comedy, your significant other’s favorite meal and lots of sweets and chocolates. This is a fun way to make a big gesture but, in a fun, young love kind of way.

Going all out for Valentine’s Day

I hope this gives you some date ideas for Valentine’s Day if you are looking to go all out for a date night. I know I would be happy with any of these date ideas. If you have other date ideas, let me know in the comments below! Happy Valentine’s Day!

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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!

Categories
Fun Ways to Organize

Simplicity Challenge 2023

Hello all!

Happy February! New month, new start, new goals! Celebrating Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day and embracing winter are just a few things I plan to do to make the most out of another winter month. 

If you have been around here long enough, you may have picked up that I am a huge fan of Simplified, a planner company by Emily Ley. Every year, her team creates a Simplicity Challenge in January. It’s a list of tasks that take 15 minutes or so for each day of the month. These tasks cover everything from organizing your car, cleaning out a medicine cabinet, restocking a fridge, or writing down a list of meals that are easy to make on busy nights. 

You can find their Simplicity Challenge on their website, social media or inside your planner. 

A copy of the Simplicity Challenge in my Simplified Planner

When I was in college, I did the Simplicity Challenge and found it to be very helpful at the start of a year and when I was back at school. I adopted some of the skills suggestions in my life back and still use them today. Here’s my Simplicity Challenge from 2019.

Since it’s been a while since I completed a Simplicity Challenge I wanted to do it again.

I completed most of the tasks on the days they were assigned. Some I didn’t since I already incorporate them in my daily life. For example, one of the challenges is to a load of laundry a day. I already do that everyday so I didn’t necessarily have to do it. But there were a handful of things that I did do.

For example, day one is go through and collect any trash or clutter. Right after the holidays I had lots of extra clutter laying around so it was good to get rid of it. 

Goodbye clutter, hello clean!

I still live at home and that means sharing a lot of items including food. Cleaning out and organizing the fridge was much needed after the holidays especially lots of extra food, drinks, snacks and people around.

Clean and organized fridge for the new year.

A super easy task was cleaning out my purse. I keep it fairly organized but it’s always good to dump everything out, get rid of any trash and reorganize everything. 

Clean purse for a new week ahead.

Another task is to keep a long standing list of people’s birthdays and put it in your planner so it’s easy to add birthdays and anniversaries year to year. This was such a useful and helpful tool for remembering the important days.

A list of all the important dates and anniversaries.

Setting an alarm for very day is something I already do. I like to keep a consistent schedule and that means getting up at the same time on my days off too. It makes it easier on my body to get the same amount of sleep and I get more done when I don’t sleep in.

Sometimes my wake-up times are just a little early.

Cleaning off my computer and getting rid of old files was so helpful to do both on my work and personal computer. I spend a lot of time on my computers so getting rid of old and unneeded files was such a good feeling. 

Clean desktop on my personal computer.

I also cleaned out and organized my notes app. I use this app every day and I use a trick from Emily Ley by using three emojis for what each list is for, it makes it easy to find different notes.

Some of my most used notes.

These are just a few examples of all the tasks I completed. I love how these tasks are quick to accomplish they have you focus and simplify different areas of your life without getting overwhelmed. If you have completed the Simplicity Challenge, what were your favorites tasks and challenges? Let me know in the comments below!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #25

Hello all!

Happy Fri-yay!

I can’t believe we are at the end of January! I don’t know about you, but this month went by in the blink of an eye. Between getting back into my routines, checking some tedious projects off my to-do list and staying cozy by trying new recipes and reading, it’s been a good month. That being said, I can’t wait for February. I love Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, hearts, sweets and all the other things that come with the second month of the year. 

Now, let’s get to this week’s Friday Favorites. I have another fun round-up of things that I have loved this week and who knows maybe you will too. Here’s what I’m loving as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

Reusable Bags– You know you are an adult when you get excited about reusable bags. Haha! I got snack and sandwich reusable bags for Christmas, and they are such a practical gift that I use every day. I pack my lunch for work and typically that entails bringing in cut up veggies, fruit, cookies, crackers, trail mix etc. I was constantly using plastic baggies and realized how much of a waste it was, so I did some research and found a solution, reusable baggies. I got them for Christmas and love them. They seal really well and keep your food fresh. They also wash and dry well too. Plus, they are easy to store in lunch boxes, purses, or in a pantry. Definitely worth the investment and great for the environment.

So useful for food storage.

Laundry Sanitizer-Another adult favorite. We are in the midst of cold and flu season which means germs are spreading fast. I picked up this Laundry Sanitizer by Lysol and have been using it when I do laundry, especially with items that may get shared (blankets or towels) or clothing that someone who is sick may have worn. It’s super simple to use, you just pour some in your washer alongside your detergent. It doesn’t bleach and there’s no harsh smell. It’s not too exciting, but it’s an extra step to keep things safe and clean. 

Elizabeth Holmes’ Spare Audio Thoughts-I finished Spare by Prince Harry and loved it! As someone who has followed the Royal Family for years, I couldn’t wait to read Harry’s words and hear his thoughts about growing up. Hearing about his childhood without his mother broke my heart, reading how the army shaped him was profound and reading how he and Meghan fell in love brought me so much joy! I was so happy to finish it but sad it was over. Besides reading the book, I also listened to Elizabeth Holmes’ audio thoughts. I loved the insights she offered through the books, some of it were her opinions, others were facts she shared too. It was the perfect reading companion. I’m eager to see what Harry and Meghan do now.

The Recruit– Have you seen The Recruit on Netflix?! It came out at the end of last year, but I just got around to watching it this past week. It’s only one season and eight episodes, but it’s so good. I finished it in five days! It follows the story of a young lawyer who works for the CIA and gets way in over his head with a case involving a former asset for the CIA. He goes from being stuck at a desk to flying across the world for a mission. Every episode is filled with drama, suspense, some romance and a bit of humor. It hasn’t been renewed yet for a second season, but I hope it does since it leaves you with a big cliff hanger. If you saw it, what did you think?!

Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test– I promise I do more than just work and watch tv, but I also got hooked on a new reality/competition show. I’m not big into competition shows, but I look forward to watching this show every week.  Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test on Fox follows over a dozen celebrities as they see if they have what it takes to be a Special Forces Operator. Some of the challenges they have to endure are pretty insane. I know I wouldn’t be able to do them, so I can the recruits a ton of credit for attempting them. Without giving too much way, not everyone can handle the pressure and some go home or quit. It’s fascinating to see some of the different contestants handle the pressure or don’t handle the pressure. 

That’s a look into some of my favorite things from this week. Tell me how are you celebrating the last weekend of the month?!

Categories
Currently

Currently #37

Hi everyone! I can’t believe we are at the end of January! This month went by so fast, it was definitely nice to have a slower month compared to a busy December at the end of the year. This past month has been a good mix of fresh starts, staying cozy and getting outdoors too. As the month wraps up, here’s a look at some things I have been up to.

What I’ve Been Up To: I’ve spent this past month decluttering and organizing things. After a full December, both mentally and physically, I was looking forward to some New Year cleaning. I have been participating in the Simplified Simplicity Challenge this month and I have been so proud of doing little things every day to live a simplified life. I’ll be sharing a recap of my simplicity challenge next month.

Cleaning out different areas of your life, like your purse is just one example of the daily challenges.

I also have been trying to get outside for fresh air even in the colder months, whether it’s for a walk or run, even a few minutes outside makes all the difference. I also have been trying some new recipes and enjoying some new books too. January has been slow but productive.

January has been filled with lots of snow too!
Another new recipe I tried this month, Shrimp Avocado Medicine Soup by Jessie James Decker.

What I’m Wearing: I have been wearing all the layers especially when I am outdoors. I have so many scarves that I have been making a point to wear them when I’m out and about. Not only do they keep you warm, but they are also a great fashion statement too.

All the layers for chilly weather.

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.

I Didn’t Do that Thing Today- “I Didn’t Do that Thing Today” has more of a psychological feel as opposed to a narrative feel. The author talks about all the research and interviews she has conducted when it comes to productivity. As someone who thrives on being a productive person and getting everything done, I learned a lot about not having to be busy all the time and giving ourselves breathing room and not letting a lack of accomplishment affect our days.

Spare-I have been making my way through  Spare, Prince Harry’s book. The book begins after the death of Princess Diana and follows Harry’s life to the present day. So far, I have found Prince Harry to be very real and vulnerable, but also giving historical context and perspective to different things in his life. I’m looking forward to finishing the book soon.

What I’m Watching: I have been watching and enjoying The Mindy Project. It’s so fun and easy to have on in the background as I get things done. I also have been watching some fun movies. I watched Knives Out: Glass Onion, About Fate and Something From Tiffany’s. All can be found on streaming services, they were all a mix of romantic comedies, mystery and dramas. I’ve been adding more things on my list of things to watch. 

About Fate was such a cute movie on Amazon Prime.

What Inspires Me: I’ve been inspired by a clean slate for the new year. From decluttering to starting new year’s resolutions and getting back into new routines. I love the new year and a fresh start.

Hello decluttering for a fresh start!
I’ve also been enjoying some baking too.

What I Accomplished: In addition to fresh starts, I have also been getting back into some of my favorite routines and hobbies. I got a few new cookbooks for Christmas and have really enjoyed trying out some new recipes including soups and hearty meals. I also have been so good about keeping up with friend dates, whether they are in-person or via facetime, it’s so good to get some quality friend time in.

New cookbooks means new recipes.
Winter weekends means pancakes!

Goals from Last Month: I have started on some of my New Year’s Resolutions which also gets me in the right mindset for the new year. Sometimes, the hardest part of starting a new habit is taking that first step. One of my goals of this year is to live a healthier lifestyle and I have tried to do that by making smarter food choices and moving more, we are only one month in, but we are off to a good start. I also have been checking things off my winter bucket list too!

Goals for this Month: February is all about love and Valentine’s Day and showing those in your life that you care! I’m looking forward to a Valentine’s Day date, some girlfriend time for Galentine’s Day and enjoying some chocolate and all things heart shaped. Plus, I’m excited to continue to enjoy winter by taking winter walks but also cozying up inside. 

I also went to a hockey game this month and I’m hoping to go to a few more before the season is over.

That’s a look into life recently. Some reading, some binge-watching, trying new foods, staying active and getting back into new routines.

 

I’ve also been enjoying some puppy cuddles too.

Tell me: How has your New Year’s Resolutions been going?