Hello everyone! We reached the end of May, which I am a bit sad about. I love this month and it went by too fast, but in good news, summer is right around the corner which makes me happy! My birthday is also this Friday, which has me excited. It was a lowkey Memorial Day for me as I worked, but I enjoyed loads of family time over the weekend. You can read all about it here.

Before we say goodbye to May and hello to June, I wanted to share a monthly recap and look into May.

It was quite a month filled with spring time fun, family, friends, outdoor runs, and LOTS of reading.

Here’s a look at this month’s Currently.

What I’m Up To:

May brought the Photo of a Day with Erika and Shay Challenge which brought lots of daily documentations of every day happenings.

Here’s an example of one of the prompts…a picture of my plate. This was a Greek Turkey bowl from Wegman’s. It was packed with flavor and protein! Yum!

I started the month off with a trip to Cleveland which also included a trip to Trader Joe’s and with a delicious meal with my mom.

I took LOTS of walks with my dog. He has never been much of a leash or walking dog, so this has been new territory for us, but he’s loving it!

I also got to enjoy a spring trip to our local zoo, which is fun to see the animals and get some sunshine and steps!

May also brought lots of ice cream runs, a favorite of mine in the summer months.

I enjoyed lots of early mornings sunrises with my runs and walks.

This month brought the return of outdoor meals and dining too! Yum!

Doing some more rugged hikes were another favorite of mine this month.

I also got back into reading and lounging by the pool, which is always a treat!

I got in some quality catch-up time with friends which always fuels my soul, plus the fun drinks didn’t hurt either.

We made our annual trip to one of our favorite burger and ice cream spots this summer already!

I also got to explore some new to me hiking spots!

Here’s another example of my #PhotoadaywithErikaandShay and how I kicked off Memorial Day.

We grilled for Memorial Day, but I was too busy visiting, I didn’t snap any photos except for my dessert, ice cream and fruit! Yum!

My pup was worn out from all the weekend fun!

What I'm Wearing:

I have been trying to wear lighter and brighter clothes as we made our way through May.

Pink has been in heavy rotation.

Now that Memorial Day is here, I can break out the white!

What I'm Reading:

Troubles in Paradise- I started the month off by reading the final installment of the Paradise series by Elin Hilderbrand. Troubles in Paradise follows the Steele family as they continue to make the Virgin Islands their home and with the financial troubles that come with it. Love triangles continue and new relationships are formed. This cured my Elin fix for the summer.

I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen- Kate Strickler’s I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen was recommended by The Lazy Genius. I loved this book about comparison and compassion and the importance of not falling into the keeping up game. Definitely a book you will want to sit with after you read it.

The Simple Path to Wealth- The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins is all about saving, investing, and smart purchasing. This was a little bit different of a book for me, but I learned a lot. It was filled with lots of nuggets of good information and tools to set yourself up for success financially.

The Housemaid’s Secret- The Housemaid’s Secret by Frieda McFadden is the second installment of the Housemaid’s trilogy. I really liked the first book and was eager to start the second. It finally became available at my local library, so I was excited to listen to it. I really liked the second book, but still prefer the first one. I still have to see the movie, that’s been on my bucket list for too long. Now, that I am finished with the first two, I’m excited to start the third one. I already have it on reserved. My only complaint with the second book is that I was not a huge fan of the narrator, but that was just a personal opinion. I still thoroughly enjoyed the storyline.

The Cafe at the Edge of the World- The Cafe at the Edge of the World by John Streckley was a book recommended by James Clear. It was a very short book, around 150 pages, but it’s all about a man who gets stranded and goes to cafe and is posed a series of questions about life, fulfillment, and death. It really makes you stop and think about what’s important in life and what truly matters. I really took my time reading it and processing what it’s all about. Definitely recommend picking it up.

The God of the Woods- Liz Moore’s God of the Woods was on my to be read list for the longest time. It’s all about a summer camp and one of the camper’s who goes missing. However, she isn’t the first person to go missing. The book spans across decades and through the book, years of secrets, relationships, and lies are uncovered. It’s a suspenseful book without being too scary or goorey. The ending caught me off guard and the book had me thinking long after I finished it. Definitely worth the hype.

What I'm Watching:

I finished watching the latest season of Grey’s Anatomy.

I said goodbye to Outlander after eight incredible seasons.

I continued watching The West Wing.

What I’m Cooking and Baking:

Barbecue Chicken Flatbreads- I tried some new recipes in the kitchen including these Barbecue Chicken Flatbreads. They were so flavorful, packed with protein and easy to make by using the slow cooker.

Chicken Brie Apricot Sandwiches- This was another easy meal to assemble, It included your favorite bread, grilled chicken, brie and apricot jam (or whatever your favorite jam is). Super easy to assemble and to enjoy.

Pineapple Chicken Tostado- This was another easy meal that just required a crock pot. I layered tostados with refined beans, shredded pineapple chicken from the crock pot, guacamole, and cheese. It was filling, tasty, and easy to throw together.

Bell Pepper and Pepperoni Pasta Salad- I contributed to Memorial Day by making a Bell pepper and pepperoni pasta as a side. It was light but fulfilling and perfect for grilling. I got the recipe from Mix and Match Mama.

What Inspires Me:

The warmer weather has been just delightful and putting me in the best mood.

My pup has also been enjoying the warmer outdoor weather and walks at our favorite park.

I also have been starting to share quotes that inspire me on my Instagram page, you can find them under Saturday musings. Here’s a recent one that stood out to me.