Surprise!!!! I know it’s not my typical day to post, but I have exciting news and I couldn’t wait to share! In honor of my blog turning 4 years old next month, I figured it was time for an upgrade and a bit of a refresh!
I partnered with Marley Sue to make this happen. Fun fact, Marley and I went to college together and we have been following each other’s blog.
Marley reached out to me to do a bit of a refresher for my blog and I was so happy to work with her on it. We talked about my goals for my blog and had a call to talk them out and brainstorm some new ways to brighten up my blog. From there she came up with a new color palette, new text and created some new templates for social media. She was super helpful to bounce ideas off of and she made my dreams into a reality. If you are looking to update your blog or get a branding refresh, you need to check out Marley!
Since I started this blog after my freshmen year of college I have changed a lot and I’ve grown up too and I’m so happy my blog has grown up with me. Although, some of my posts or content has changed, I’m so happy that after all these years, I still have this space. Thank you so much for anyone who has ever read this blog, whether this is your first time or you have read every single post. I’m so grateful for your support.
Also, before you go, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any new posts and follow me on social media! Here’s my instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Happy Wednesday! We made it to the end of March! This month flew by. I canāt believe next weekend is Easter!! Spring is definitely in full swing and by full swing I mean, some days are warm and sunny in the 50s and other days it is cold and rainy. If that doesnāt describe spring I donāt know what does. Haha! As another month comes to a close, itās time for another dose of currently. Grab your coffee or tea (iced or hot) and letās settle in.
What Iām up to: This month has been a mixture of work, spending time outside and enjoying hobbies outside of work, from reading, to cooking and seeing friends! Also, lots of family timeā¦my favorite!
What Iām wearing: I am bringing out more pastel and spring colors! Yay!! Everything from blues to pinks and greens or at least trying too! Haha! I wear a lot of blackā¦no secret there and Iām finally looking forward to putting it away for brighter days and colors ahead. The tricky part about spring is jackets! I am always cold, literally it could be 65 degrees out and I would still need a jacket haha. I always have a jacket with me but it always depends on how thick it is. Can I go lighter or do I have to have a warmer one? I am counting down the days until I can do a heavy duty cleaning of all my winter jacketsā¦fingers crossed itās coming up. Also, the fact I have been able to wear sneakers or converse while I have been out and about is a huge game changer!
Been trying to incorporate more spring colors in my wardrobe.
What Iām reading:Ā I have been doing a lot of reading lately. I am reading a little bit every day. Hereās a recap of some of my recent books.Ā Godās Behaving BadlyĀ by Marie Phllips , we read this book for our book club in February, it was a mix of Greek mythology with a modern twist.
Our March book wasĀ The First Phone Call From HeavenĀ by Mitch Albom, this is a faith based book about people who receive phone calls from loved ones from heaven. Is it God or is it someone else.
This past month was a great book month because I also wrapped up,Ā 52 Small ChangesĀ by Brett Blumenthal. This can be read at once or one day at a time about big and small ways to change your life.Ā
What Iām Watching: I watched Firefly Lane last month which was good. Itās a Netflix mini series about two women and their friendship from young girls to grown women. This past month, many of my favorite shows came back, hello This is Us,Greyās Anatomy, A Million Little Things, so those have been keeping me busy. I also have been watching a lot of movies. Some people may love their sports season, but your girl loves her awards show season. I have been watching a lot of movies nominated for awards which has been super fun!
What Iām Loving: I did a post about this a few weeks back, to read it, click here, but I have been loving all my new hobbies and activities outside of work. Now, that itās finally warming up, I tās been so nice to be outside whether itās for a walk or reading or even spring cleaning. Iāve already been on a few zoo trips, near and far which has been fun! I canāt wait to be outside more. You donāt realize how much you miss the sunshine and warm weather until itās gone.
The weather was so nice, a trip to the zoo was necessary!
What Inspires Me: Iām inspired by spring!!! Thereās a sense of hope and promise and new beginnings in the air. I canāt wait to pick fresh flowers, go outside for lunches or dinners. I am also looking forward to changing out my wardrobe and just sprucing things up for the news season.
What I accomplished: Iāve been really happy with my new hobbies, from reading and cooking. Itās been such a fun and creative outlet. Plus, Iām really happy with some of my recent pieces at work.
My latest dish…chicken and risotto.
Goals Accomplished from Last Month I got so much quality friends and family time in during the last month. Between walks, book clubs and coffee dates. I also spent a lot of time with family after work between dinners and movie nights. With summer right around the corner, I canāt wait for nights spent by the pool or grilling.
Goals for the New Month: This month I want to be outside for as much as I can whether itās with outdoor projects or just walks. Easter is next week, even though Iāll be working, Iām looking forward to celebrating the holiday before and after work with my family. Something else I am looking forward is clearing off my schedule more. As much as I like being busy, I am looking forward to some open time in my schedule.
Thatās a look into my life the past month. Lots of hobbies, friends, family time and work. Not too exciting, but we are keeping it real. Have a great week ahead!
Itās warm and sunny out, we are officially in the spring season! Thereās a sense of hope every day as we get closer and closer to summer and brighter days ahead.Ā
One of my goals for 2021 was to have more balance in my life and even though itās only March, Iām so proud for how far I have come this year.
Last year, between starting a new job (one that I love but that can be unpredictable) and the pandemic. I felt rundown by the end of the year and I was looking for new outlets for creativity and hobbies and I have found that these past few months.
I am so happy where I am in terms of my work life and personal life especially when it comes to hobbies and activities outside of work.
I have added a few hobbies to the mix and it has made my life much more fulfilling.
A fun and productive activity that I have gotten into is cooking! I love to bake and cook, but I donāt always have the opportunity to bake or cook. This year, one of my goals was to cook one new meal a week. Itās a way for me to practice my cooking skills and I get to see my hard work payoff with a meal. I love cooking for my family, itās a small way for me to give back to my family as a thank you for all the things they do for me. I have made soups, and sandwiches, pastas, and many more different dishes. Not every dish is a winner but I love being able to try new things and learn as I go. Cooking has been a great creative outlet for me this year and I know the things Iām learning now will help me greatly down the line.Ā
My latest dish…spicy shrimp and pasta
One of my other goals was to be more consistent with friends. Thanks to my book club, I am talking to some of my best friends from high school every week over facetime since we all live in different places. We talk about the books we are reading, we talk about how our work is going and whatās new. It so fun to consistently talk and catch up. Also, this helps so much with my goal to read every day. Whether itās a chapter of a book or 30 mins of reading, I am accomplishing my goal of reading every single day and I absolutely love it. There is nothing better than books and good friends.Ā
Book Club!
Speaking of friends, I have started to go on weekly coffee dates and walks with one of my childhood friends. Every week for about a month now, we have been getting coffee from local shops and then going for a walk or browsing little shops or stores. We havenāt seen each other consistently for 5 years! Itās been soooo fun to catch up consistently.
These three outlets have brought me so much joy! From learning new cooking skills and saving them for future use, or reading a lot more and being able to share that love of reading with friends or just getting outside and supporting local places with childhood friends. Itās amazing how much these little or mundane things bring so much joy and purpose into my life!
What are some things you do or have done to make your life more fulfilling this past year?
Hi all! Happy Wednesday! A very happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate! I hope your week is off to a good start. This week, both at work and at home, thereās been a lot of reflection of a year ago and where we were then compared to where we are now.
IĀ remember just over a year ago, I started a new shift at work, and on that night, the NBA shutdown, and Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, we thought it would be a two week period of people staying at home and then it would be back to normal, and boy were we wrongā¦here we are… one year laterā¦months of staying at home, countless events cancelled, missed moments, and learning new things every day about a virus. The words: pandemic, Zoom, N-95, testing, Pfizer, Moderna, social distancing and more, all became part of our vocabulary.
Almost a year ago…I went in for a haircut, little did I know it would be my last one for months…also the day, Covid-19 was declared a pandemic.
In the past year, we spent more time with family, picked up new hobbies, shifted our priorities and binge-watched a lot of tv.
We spent a lot of extra time at home and with family in the spring.
We had setbacks but saw great advances in science and medicine. Our daily lives were altered but here we are, all changed but still standing.
Itās hard to imagine how much has changed in a year, in some ways itās almost as if the year didnāt happen. But when I look back, Iām glad this past year happened. I grew a lot at work, every day the news was changing, we were constantly shifting gears and working to provide viewers with the latest news and updates.
How it looks to work in news during a pandemic
Although, I couldnāt see as many friends in person this year, zoom and facetime became the biggest tools. From bi-weekly calls with best friends to Book Club via facetime, my friends and I made it work to still in touch while being spread a apart.
Seeing friends in the summer involved being socially distant and masked up
The best part was the extra time with family, having my whole family home together for months at a time was such a blessing. We watched movies, worked on house projects, had most meals together and got quality time that wouldnāt have happened had there not been a pandemic.Ā
The pandemic brought lots of extra time outside.
No one could have imagined what this past year would bring. There has been enormous loss and devastation but also unity as a nation. I realized what things were important to me and at the end of the day, Iām so grateful for having a job I love, a loving and supportive family and my health.
In times of crisis, I think we truly realize whatās important and what matters.
It was a year of chaos, change and adapting, but here we are, stronger than ever.
Itās been a year of constant change and confusion, but also growth and love.
Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is off to a great start. A few updates before I get into todayās post!
First, for those that are new on hereā¦ be sure to follow and like @elspethsdaybyday on Instagram and Facebook. I post my blog posts on there and I add some extra content on there too. I have been sharing some of my favorite recipes and books on my stories, be sure to give them a like or follow to stay up to date with all the latest posts and happenings!
Also, with a new season around the corner, I am looking for ideas for new and exciting content. If there is something you want me to talk aboutā¦let me know!
Onto todayās post, whenever I find something that works for me or makes my life easier, I LOVE to share it with you guys!
Hereās a few things I am lovingā¦
Travel Silverware:
Every day, I bring my lunch or dinner to work. Sometimes itās a sandwich, other times itās snacks, but a lot of the time, itās a soup, salad, or food from home. I was bringing in plastic silverware every night, but I hated that I was wasting it and throwing it out. I wanted reusable silverware that I could bring to work, clean and keep in my lunchbox. I found this set from Target and it has become a favorite. I love that itās compactable, easy to clean and gets the job. The utensils are sharp enough to cut all kinds of food. I also like how they fit into one another. If you are looking for silverware for yourself to bring to work or for children to take to lunch. These are affordable and durable.
Car Cleaner:
My car is white which means it gets dirty easily and it shows. In the winter, it was getting so dirty with the snow, dirt and salt. I went to get it washed and it felt great to have a clean car, but then days later it was dirty once again. Instead of spending money every week to get it cleaned, I went to Target to get cleaner to do it myself. This was recommended to me and for $5, it has lasted me 6 weeks with still a lot more left. Itās an easy spray bottle. Just spray and use a soft cloth to clean. Ever since the pandemic started last March, I made it habit to sanitize and clean the inside of my car every week. Now, Iām cleaning both the inside and outside of my car, and it takes less than 15 minutes.
Libby:
I have started to read a lot more and I am loving it. Iāve been reading books I have around my house, but I am also a huge fan of the library. I love going to check out new books, browse and pick out new things to read. If I love them, great, if I donāt, then I can return them. Plus, there is something special about a community library. Our libraries have been closed due to Covid-19. Even though I havenāt been able to go to the library I have been able to check out books thanks to Libby! Itās an app you can get for your phone or iPad. You connect it to your local library and your library card and then you can checkout and download books to read. You can put books on-hold and renew them. I love that you can still support your local libraries and have your books with you wherever you go!
Thatās just a few favorite things this month for me. What are some things you are loving this month?! Share them with me!
Happy Wednesday! I hope you are making it through the midweek slump, we are halfway to the weekend, which is much needed, in other good newsā¦itās March!! Anyone else had a tough time making it through the end of February?!
Last week, we got a day of sunshine and temperatures above 50! I had no idea how much I needed to feel sunshine and warmer temps, it was a definitely a burst of sunshineā¦no pun intended. Hehe….I am counting down to warmer weather and spring time even though we have a long way to go.Ā
One of my favorite blogs that I read every day isĀ Carlyās.Ā She has been blogging since college and writes about everything from fashion, food, lifestyle, home living and more. I love to start my days with her blog.Ā Ā She did a post about things she is looking forward to after the pandemic and I loved the positivity, I wanted to try it for myself. To read her post, clickĀ here.Ā The whole point is to think about what fun things you are looking forward to once things back to a semi-normal.
Hereās some things Iām looking forward to…
-Seeing people: Iāve kept my bubble of people fairly small this past year, mostly only seeing immediate family, a few close friends in the summer and co-workers. Iāve been able to talk to friends thanks to Facetime and Zoom way more frequently which has been such a blessing. I canāt wait for the day to see friends in person and give them a hug. Isnāt it weird how much we miss physical touch when we canāt have it?!
One of my last visits with my friend, Danielle, before Covid hit.
-Spontaneous Trips and Travel too: Right before the pandemic hit, I was visiting friends in Pittsburgh and then a week later we all got shutdownā¦I canāt wait to plan spontaneous trips and visits with friends on my days off. I want to enjoy myself and not be worried about being too close to people, going to another place and being concerned about getting others or myself sick. I also am looking forward to seeing more family. I was able to see some on the summer when cases were down, but once fall and winter hit, Iāve been hunkered down at home. Plus, I have a whole list of places that I want to explore and see, Iām hoping to do more of that once things settle down.
Looking forward to more travels in the future.
-Concerts: Although, I havenāt been to too many of them, there is nothing like live music. Although, it will take a while to get there, Iām looking forward to live music again and the whole concert like experience.Ā
One of the last concerts I went to was in 2018 and it was Ed Sheeran, I can’t wait to be get back to concerts in the future.
-Community Events: It may seem silly, but I miss the community atmosphere of my hometown, spontaneous meet-ups and nights spent out. In the summer there are always weekend activities and festivals and itās always a fun time to see friends and neighbors out and about.Ā
Ā The most important is to get as many people vaccinated and to keep doing what experts are telling us, all to put an end to Covid-19. In a time full of loss and suffering and pain, itās so nice to look on the bright side of things and dream about getting back to a semi-normal. If I have learned anything from this pandemic is how much I appreciate and love the little and simple things in life. Itās crazy what things we take for granted.Ā
What things are you looking forward to in the future?
Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! This past month was packed and I canāt wait to update you all with all the new things going on.Ā
What Iām up to:Ā This past month has been busier for work, I just finished a big project which was happy to get it done and see the end result. Itās been a cold month, so I have spent a lot of time inside, watching tv and doing lots of reading and doing some projects around the house as well as catching up with friends too!
My finished work project
What Iām wearing:Ā It all depends on how bad the weather is. If it’s super cold, then itās pants and sweaters and lots of layers. If itās warmer, and by warmer, I mean above 30 degrees, then I brave the weather with a dress and tights. On days off, itās a lot of leggings and hoodies or sweaters.Ā
What Iām reading:Ā I have been doing so well with my reading this year. I have read 5 books so far. I keep a running list of books of my story called 2021 Books. If you are looking for new books to read this is a starting spot. I also have been doing a book club with my two high school friends, Maddie and Ryan, we have been making our way through a different book each month. We just finished Pride by Ibi Zoboi, which is a modern twist of Pride and Prejudice. Itās been so fun to read new books and share them with friends too!
I have also read, Make Room for What You Love by Melissa Michaels, itās a book about organizing your home, keeping it clean and establishing new routines too. I already do many of the practices in the book, but it was still fun to learn new things.
Another book I read was, Traveling Light by Max Lucado. It broke down Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd” and had guided meditations and stories to go alongside them. Stay tuned for what Iām reading this month.
What Iām Watching:Ā I finished Virgin River which was a lighter show to watch. It was nice to watch something that didnāt require my attention the full time.
I have been watching some movies here and there. I just started a new series, Lupin, on Netflix. If you are looking for mystery, suspense with lots of twists and turns, this is the show for you.
What Iām Loving: Iām loving reconnecting with old friends. This past month, I have gotten coffee with lifelong friends, Iāve been staying close with high school friends thanks to our book club, I have also stayed close with college friends with monthly facetime dates. Staying consistent with friends has been a new yearās resolution and Iām happy to report that Iām doing very well with it so far this year.
What Inspires Me:Ā Iām inspired by food, not trying to be funny, but I have been doing a lot of cooking and have loved finding new recipes and trying them out. I have made soups, pastas, chicken dishes, and more. Every time I try something new, I love the sense of accomplishment with cooking and trying something new.Ā My Let’s Get Cooking Posts has all the recipes there.
My latest pasta and shrimp recipe
What I accomplished:Ā My work schedule has changed a bit, so I had to get adjusted to a new routine. One thing I really like about it is getting more family time. Itās the little things like that make the cold and gloomy days filled with sunshine.Ā I also have really enjoyed getting started with my new year’s resolutions too!
Goals Accomplished from Last MonthĀ Last month was all about establishing new routines, I added some new rhythms in my daily schedule, and I am loving the results Iām seeing so far. By adding more reading and friend time, it has made me more well-rounded and lead a more balanced life. I also wanted to start cooking more and I have found a real passion and love for it. I canāt wait to try new recipes.
Baking on days off
Goals for the New Month: I know itās still cold outside, but I want to make a point more to get outside and get more fresh air. I am also looking for a new project to tackle, Iām not sure what it will be yet, but I love getting creative with different projects.
One of my New Yearās Resolutions was to do more cooking and make a meal a week for my family. For me, itās a way to try out new recipes, brush up on my cooking skills, and do something nice for my family since they do so much for me.
Ā I have looked on Pinterest, blogs, and recipe books to find different and fun meals for my family and I have found a ton that I can’t wait to try out!
Shay Shull is a blogger and cookbook author. I read her blog every day and I love her posts about family, faith and life. Mix and Match Mama is my go-to for recipes. I have made so many recipes from her and I have been so pleased with every single one. From treats, snacks, dinners, and lunchesā¦she has so many fun and creative ways to eat meals even on busy nights.Ā
Last week I made her Margarita Chicken Soup and it was incredible.Ā Ā It was easy to make since itās a crock pot soup, I put everything in at 3:00 p.m. and we ate around 7:00 p.m.. To see her recipe click here.
This soup as hearty and filling, there were lots of different flavors and it fed 4 with leftovers! I know this will be on rotation in my house for fall and winter months. Who doesnāt like a warm bowl of soup at the end of the day?!
Hereās how I made it:
The Prep
IngredientsĀ
1 pound of chicken breast (frozen or defrosted)
2 (10 oz can) of diced tomatoes
1 can of Sprite
1 can of Black Beans
Half a bag of frozen corn or 1 can of corn
1 packet of taco seasoning
2 limes
Chips, Sour Cream or Shredded Cheese to garnish
Directions
In a slow cooker layer the ingredients (minus the limes and garnish)
Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours
When done, separate the chicken with two forks in the slow cooker.
Slice limes in quarters and then add to the soup.
Serve and garnish with sour cream, cheese, and chips.
After!
Something else I have started to do is compile a list of my favorite recipes. This will come in handy when I am living on my own and I am craving some homecooked food or a yummy dish.
Valentineās Day is such a bright spot in the cold month of February. It breaks up the long winter and who doesnāt like to celebrate love and kindness?!
Whether you are in a relationship or not, thereās no such thing as spreading too much love.
Due to the pandemic, Valentineās Day may look a little different to many, today, Iām breaking down some fun Valentineās Day date ideas that are low budget and fun at home.
For Long Distance Relationships:
Virtual Watch Party
This is such an easy and fun date activity if you are in a long-distance relationship or homebound due to Covid-19. Amazon Prime and Netflix both allow you to watch movies or tv show with someone at the same time and you can chat while watching. You can just send a link to who you are watching it with can watch and message at the same time. This makes watching a movie alone much more fun!Ā
For an Activity:
Get Outdoors
Yes, itās winter and cold, but if you are looking for a winter activity on a Sunday on Valentineās Day doing an activity outside is another fun alternative. Whether itās ice skating or going for a winter hike or for a sleigh ride, you can still get outside and enjoy the time in the fresh air.
For a Night at Home:
Dinner
If you donāt want to risk it and go out for dinner with a lot of people and Covid-19 concerns, then bring dinner into your home. Whether you are getting your favorite dinner for your go-to date spot or you do some of your own cooking, you can enjoy one on one time at home. Set it up with your best dishes and make it really special. Once dinner is done, you can enjoy a movie or your favorite board games.It makes a regular dinner memorable.
These are just a few fun Valentineās Day date ideas, whether you are spending the day youāre your significant other, your best friends, or your familyā¦the most important thing is to spread some love and tell the people in your life that you love them.
Happy Valentineās Day friendsā¦spread love today and every day.
Hey guys! Happy Wednesday and happy February! Thereās always something refreshing about a new month. I felt like this past month really dragged, the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over, I stayed inside while still going out for walks a few days a week, and established some new routines, but I am ready for a new month.
One of the things I touched on in my last past was getting into some new rhymes and rhythms, and I wanted to share some of them with you today.
When I thought about what I wanted this year to look like, I wanted less time being distracted by things that didnāt bring me joy or leave me fulfilled. My phrase for this year is to be more intentional and so far I am loving the results I am seeing. For example, I would waste time scrolling on social media and complain I didnāt have enough time to read. Hello, ditch the phone and get a book!
One way that I made sure I had a better routine in place was setting up downtime on my phone. I did a post about the new screen time feature a year or so ago. You can read it here.
I realized when my phone was shut off (minus calls and texts) I got so much done without the distraction of notifications and social media.
My favorite new routine is with my morning. Let me break it down for you. Every weekday (Monday-Friday), I get up at 6:30 a.m. and then head to the gym for an hour. My ādowntimeā on my phone goes from 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. In that hour, I will shower (if I didnāt the night before), wash or put away any dishes that need done, throw a load of laundry in, get changed for the day, do my reading and journaling. Iām currently reading this every day and LOVING. One thing I wanted to do this year was read every day. I donāt have a set amount of books I want to read in the year, but I want to carve time every day to read. Whether it was 15 minutes or an hour. During this of downtime from my phone hour is where I get my reading done and itās such a game changer. By 9:00 a.m. I feel so accomplished and ready to tackle the rest of my day whether I am working or have the day off. Setting boundaries with my phone helped me so much. I also have time set for each day for social media and once my time is done for the day, I am done.
Another thing that has always helped me with my routines is to write things down. Even though, I already know what I want to accomplish, I love to be able to see it in front of me and mark it off when I am done. Hereās a look at one of my weekly planner pages.
At the beginning of the week I always write down everything I want to do across the board and what days I want to get them done.Ā
Lastly, another part of my routine is always leaving the house clean, when I leave for work, I always make sure everything is picked up and put away, things are laid out for the next day and I have my to-do list ready for tomorrow. I go into work with a clear mind and ready to tackle the day.
Thatās just a breakdown of what things have worked well for me as we start on a new month. What are some new routines that really work for you? Let me know below! Have a great week friends!
