Currently #75

Hello! Hello!

Happy Wednesday!

I hope you had a great week as we wrap up March. This month flew by. We are finally experiencing spring here, which is well overdue. I am ready for more sunshine, longer days, and fresh flowers. March was a fun month with traditions, visits, hobbies, and friends and family. Here’s a recap of the past month, in case you missed anything.

What I’m Up To:

To no surprise, the start of March was filled with cold and snowy mornings. But the sun was out longer which was a major win!

Early morning sun shining through

Mid-day sun for the win!

The start to spring was evident in the stores.

I also enjoyed a Trader Joe’s Haul to kick off the month.

And lunch and shopping in Cleveland!

We have been experiencing warmer weather this month which has meant lots of extra time outside, which makes both me and my pup, very happy!

We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with our annual parade.

I’ve been enjoying walks by the water too.

And my pup has been loving the warm weather and bonus time outside.

I attended out annual Maple Fest and got some sweet Maple treats. I love the maple coated peanuts, so sweet

A break in cold weather lended itself to a nice walk outside.

A day in the 70’s was followed by a day in the 20’s with snow.

The Lenten season isn’t complete without a fish fry!

What I'm Wearing:

I have been starting to bring in spring and lighter colors into my wardrobe, even though it’s still cold, I am trying to make the most of the days that act like spring.

I have been wearing lots of neutrals too!

What I'm Reading:

It was a great reading month. 

I listened to A LOT of audiobooks and a handful of “real books” too

The Perfect Hosts- The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf is a thriller about a couple whose gender reveal party takes a turn when a bomb goes off and kills guests. Questions begin about who planted the bomb, why did they do it, and who was involved? Plus one of the investigators has a tie to the family. This was a really good read that kept me hooked the entire time.

What Does it Feel Like- Sophie Kinsella’s book, What Does it Feel Like was one of the last reads she penned before her death. It’s all about an author who gets diagnosed with a brain tumor and how she handles it. It was a short listen, only two hours, but so beautiful and heartbreaking. I loved her books and was so sad to hear about her passing.

Bottom of the Pyramid- Nia Sioux’s debut book, Bottom of the Pyramid is a behind the scenes look at her time on Dance Moms and life after the show. I grew up watching Dance Moms and it was interesting to get a look at what life was like for the girls during and after the show. I haven’t followed the girls in years so this was a refreshing look into their lives. I read it on Libby and finished it in only a few sittings. I would definitely recommend it, if you were a fan of the show.

Cloud Cuckoo Land- This was the second book I have read by Anthony Dorer. Cloud Cuckoo Land is a combination of several stories and times that are tied together through a Greek book. This was a loooooong book and it took me a while to get into it. It was okay, but there was a lot of jumping back and forth and storylines that I wasn’t interested in. I thought it was well written, but it wasn’t the right book for me. But I’m glad I finished it.

Somebody Knows- Somebody Knows by Vi Keeland was recommended to me by The Lazy Genius. After a VERY long book, I wanted something shorter and a different genre. This book is all about a young teacher who is reading her student’s short story assignments when she comes across one that hits a bit too close to home. She tries to uncover how someone knows a deep, dark secret that she has held hidden for years. This was such a fast-paced and quick read. Once I started, it was hard to stop. Very well done.

Murder Takes A Vacation- I listened to Murder Takes A Vacation by Laura Lippman as an audiobook. It’s all about an older woman who decides to take a cruise and a man that she meets ends up dead. The mystery surrounding his death continues through her trip and she must help solve it. It was a good book, but I was hoping for more thriller and murder/mystery. It was something light to listen to in the car and at the gym, but wasn’t my favorite read.

Tell No One- I went through Harlan Coben’s book, Tell No One in just a few days. I thought it was just about a woman who goes missing and her husband starts to get emails from her making him think she’s still alive. However, it goes far beyond a missing woman, her death and disappearance is filled with hidden secrets, lies, and murders. I really liked the way this story was told and want to read more of Coben’s books. I also learned that a movie was made based on it and I plan to watch it as well.

What I'm Watching: 

I am officially caught up on all my shows.

I continued to watch The Pitt, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Masked Singer weekly

The Night Agent- I started the third season of The Night Agent which is such a good thriller. It’s one of those shows that you have to pay attention to while you watch. Not a good show to multitask with. I finished it in just over a week.

Outlander- The final season of Outlander is back. I started watching this show years ago and have stuck with it through the years. I am eager to see how they wrap everything up before we say goodbye to Claire and Jaime. 

Virgin River- I started the new season of Virgin River right after The Night Agent. It was definitely a change in genre and theme, but I do enjoy the slower pace of things.

The West Wing- The West Wing has been a show that I have continued to make my way through in the spring. I’m in no rush to finish it, so I have been enjoying it when I have time.

What I’m Cooking and Baking:

I am looking to cook lighter, healthier and protein packed dishes. If you have any suggestions, I am all ears!

Baja Fish Tacos- I kicked off the month with Jessie James Decker’s Baja Fish Tacos. They were a hit and a fun alternative to just adding chicken or beef to your tacos.

Lemon Basil Chicken- As spring approaches, I have been trying to incorporate more citrus in my meals. I made Lemon Basil Chicken and it was a hit. So full of flavor and hearty too for spring. I got the recipe from Every Day with Babs.

Greek Goddess Salmon with a Cucumber Salad- I went with a Greek dinner for a meal this past month. I added some hummus from Trader Joe’s and pita chips. It was full of flavor and very filling.

Breakfast for Dinner is a go-to meal for us, but I changed it up with Breakfast Tacos and Homemade Avocado toast from the Simplified Cookbook.

What Inspires Me:

The spring weather! It was a loooooong and cold winter so any signs of spring was much needed.

Extra sunshine and no snow were major wins this month!

Some spring inspiration

What I Accomplished: 

I have been making progress with a lot of projects, from birthday celebrations, to wedding planning, and other trips. I love the satisfaction of seeing progress with projects.

Goals from Last Month:

I really tried to enjoy early spring as much as I could with getting outdoors, sunshine, walks, runs, and time with my pup!

Extra sunshine and extra time with my pup this month!

Sunrise walks have been a new favorite of mine!

Goals for this Month: 

There’s so much to look forward this month, from Easter to a trip to New England, time with friends and family and welcoming spring!

That’s a look into life lately and what I’m up to.

What’s been new with you? Share with me in the comments below!