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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #90

Hello All!

Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week and are ready for the weekend! I know I am. This was a fairly normal and routine week, which I will happily take. I am looking forward to some time outdoors this weekend as the temperatures continue to increase, plus in my opinion, there’s nothing better than some sunshine for the soul.

Signs of spring!

As we gear up for the weekend, I’m sharing some of my favorite things from the week as I link up with  Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites. This week is a mix of life hacks, entertainment, home decor and snacks! Let’s dive right in!

Everything Bagel Crackers- This is the last favorite from my Trader Joe’s haul. After getting some classic staples, like the everything bagel seasoning, and something sweet with the orange jelly sticks, I wanted to look for something salty and I found these Everything bagel crackers. They have been a favorite of mine since I got them. I love the crispness of the cracker with the flavoring of the seasoning. These are perfect to add to your next appetizer night with cheese and fruits, or they would be great for dips and spread or just eating them by themselves for a quick treat. I will be enjoying these for as along as I can.

New Bridget Jones Movie– Did you hear the news?! A new Bridget Jones movie is set to come out in 2025. I loved the original movies and the sequels were added bonuses. Supposedly Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant will be back for the fourth movie. I can’t wait to see what it will all entail and who else could be making an appearance. Rom Coms are coming back in full force and I am here for it! Here’s an article with more information about it. 

New Candle- The timing couldn’t have been better that just spring was approaching I was in need of a new candle for my room. I got this sweet, floral smelling candle from Yankee candle as a gift, and it immediately has me dreaming of fresh cut flowers. The scent isn’t too overpowering, but it feels the room with a spring-like scent, and it does linger after I blow it out. I love the three-wicks and find that they tend to last longer.  I don’t typically get candles from Yankee Candle due to the cost, but it’s always nice to be given something to indulge in and savor. I can’t wait for flowers to bloom to start adding fresh cut flowers to my desk. 

Weekly Goals– This is a new practice I just started this year, and it has worked really well for me. I have started setting weekly goals. These are NOT habits that I want to incorporate into my everyday routine, rather, a weekly item I want to prioritize. I started writing them at the top of my planner as a reminder and I have been loving this system. A few of my weekly goals have included: get to bed earlier (if it’s a busier week), finish a library book, spend more time outside, order gift for friend etc. These aren’t big tasks or to-do’s, rather they are little reminders that I want to place an emphasis on each week. In the words of The Lazy Genius, I’m naming what matters. If you have a busy or hectic week coming up, I recommend trying this practice as a way to cut down on stress and anxiety.

Irish Wish- If you are looking for a light-hearted and Hallmark-esque movie on Netflix, consider the Irish Wish. It’s all about a young woman who goes to Ireland for her crush’s wedding and makes a wish to fall in love with her crush. Her wish comes true but as she’s dating him, she realizes he may not be as perfect as he seems. It’s a cute movie to have on in the background while you are doing other things, but it is by no means an Oscar-worthy movie. I did love the setting and the casting was pretty good. Not a bad movie, just not my favorite.

That’s a quick round up of what I’m loving this week. I had a shorter work week which is always nice for a break. Now, it’s back to reality. I hope you had a great week and are ready for the weekend! Happy Spring!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #89

Hello All!

Happy Friday! I hope you are having a great day as we gear up for what’s hopefully a spring-like weekend. I’m seeing more and more signs of warmer weather which makes me extra giddy for April and May and everything that comes with it.

I have some exciting weekend plans with friends that I’m looking forward to and a fun date night, in other words, let the weekend begin!

Before we get to the fun, I want to share some of the things I’m loving this week as I link up with with  Erika and Andrea for another edition of Friday Favorites.

Simplified Launch Day-It was launch week over at Simplified. They had their cover reveal last week and they launched their new products on Wednesday. I am in love with their patterns for the new season. I always go for their yearly planner, so I won’t be purchasing mine until the fall. I am a weekly girl through and through and I love how they are going to have a coil as opposed to a bound one. The hardest part is going to be choosing a pattern. Here’s some of the ones I have my eyes on. 

New Leggings– I mentioned last week that I did some browsing at Old Navy and picked up a few items on the clearance rack. One of the things I picked up were these light pink workout leggings. Whenever I head to the gym, I prefer leggings due to shorts, even in the summertime. I also like leggings that have slim pockets in them, so I can put my phone in them when I am out on a run. These leggings checked all the boxes for me. The best part? The can be mixed and matched with tops, and they were on sale! 

Chocolate Covered Orange Sticks- Continuing with my Trader Joe’s haul from last week, I picked up chocolate covered orange sticks to try and they are the perfect treat at the end of the day. I have been enjoying a few of them at night to satisfy my sweet tooth. I love anything covered in chocolate and these are the perfect mix of sweetness without it being too overpowering. I’ll be on the hunt the next time I’m at a Trader Joe’s for any other flavors.

New Apple Watch Band– I’m an Apple watch lover and recently got a new band for my watch from Amazon. I typically wear the same band every day, unless I have a special occasion and I want to dress up my wrist. I got a new lighter blue band which is perfect for spring. It’s also a thinner band too, which I really like since it looks more feminine and not as bulky. It’s always fun to switch things up when you wear them all the time and Amazon always has such a good selection when it comes to inexpensive Apple Watch bands.

Bridgerton New Trailer– The new trailer for season three of Bridgerton dropped this week. I have loved the first two seasons and I can’t wait for season three. From the casting, to the setting and storylines, Bridgerton is the perfect show to escape with. The first set of episodes drops on May 16 and the second set drops on June 13. I can’t wait to learn more about Penelope and her love life this season.

There you have it, keeping it short and sweet this Friday morning (or afternoon) depending on when you are reading. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and are doing something enjoyable and fun!

See you back here on Wednesday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #88

Hello all!

Happy Friday! We made it through the first week of April. I hope you had a smooth and successful week and are ready for the first weekend of the month. The month of March was a mixed bag of weird weather, we had some really nice and sunny days in the 60s, and other days in the 30s and snow. Here’s hoping this next month brings more consistent temperatures-especially spring-like weather.

As always, I am linking up with  Erika and Andrea for another roundup of Friday Favorites. I’ve been doing some spring shopping, so I’ll be spreading out my favorite finds over the next few weeks, so you aren’t bombarded with them in one post. Let’s jump into some of my favorite things today!

Red pants– I finally made a trip to Old Navy to see if they had any fun spring finds. After lots of trying on clothes, I only left with a few items. But I did manage to snag these red pants that were on clearance. WIN! I tend to lean more towards a straight pant leg as opposed to a full or tight pant leg, especially in the office, but I really loved how these looked. These would be great for work or a business-casual setting. Even though they are a bold color, you can go with a simple color for a the top (like a black, blue, or cream) or with a busier top to balance them out. I’m looking forward to adding these to my rotation over the next few months. 

Everything Bagel Seasoning– I don’t have a Trader Joe’s near me, but whenever I am close to one, I always like to pop in to see what they have and try some unique foods and snacks. I always stock up on Everything Bagel seasoning. It is one of my favorite blends of seasonings and flavors. I add it to my chicken, pasta, toast, and eggs, etc. it adds just enough flavoring to spice up a meal without overpowering the dish. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a new bottle.

Bridgerton and Bath and Body Works– Did you see the new collaboration between Bath and Body Works and Bridgerton? These are two of my favorite things and I couldn’t be more happier to see a collaboration between them. I love all the scents that come with Bath and Body Works and now knowing candles, lotions, wall flowers and soaps were inspired by Bridgerton’s characters, places, and themes. I may have to buy some and put them away for when I need re-stock.

Cabrini– My family and I went to see Cabrini right before Easter and really enjoyed it. It tells the story of Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini and the work she did here in America with the poor and orphans. The movie talks about the challenges she faced, the obstacles she overcame and the lives she touched. I had learned about her growing up, but it was fascinating to see her ministry depicted in a full-length film. It was a long movie, so if you plan on seeing it, budget in time to watch. Definitely worth the watch, but you don’t have to go to the theaters to enjoy it.  

The Sweeney Sisters–The Sweeney Sisters was the second book that I’ve read by Lian Dolan. I read Lost and Found in Paris and really loved how she told the story, so I was eager to read another one of her books. This story follows three sisters as they cope with the death of their father only to learn they have a sister who was their neighbor growing up. The book is all about how they work through this new information and how the revelation brings them together. I really loved the themes of sisterhood, forgiveness and maturity that were found in the book. But my favorite part was the fact that one of the characters was named Elspeth. I have a unique name, so I am always surprised when I read or see my name out in the wild. There’s a new show on CBS called Elsbeth which always makes me smile even though it’s pronounced and spelled differently.  Overall, I really enjoyed the story and will be reading more of Dolan’s books.

That’s a look into what I’m loving this week, some recent buys, foods, and entertainment. If you are still recovering from Easter or Spring Break, what’s been on your radar?

Let me know if the comments below!

Happy Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #84

Hello all!

Happy Friday! I hope you had a successful and fulfilling first full week of March. My brothers are home for Spring Break and some of their time off overlapped. We have a full house over the next few weeks with siblings and significant others home, needless to say, I am one happy camper. It’s been fun to catch up and have some bonus family time together.

These next few weeks are looking busy with some activities, events, and travel plans, so I am taking the slower and calmer weeks as a win. As we get ready for the weekend, here’s been a look at what I’m loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

One Day– Have you seen the mini-series One Day on Netflix? It’s based on a book and a movie that came out a handful of years ago starring Anne Hathaway. The story follows a guy and girl who meet in college in 1988 and the viewer gets to see where life takes them by checking in with them every year. Each year you see how their lives and their relationship changes and evolves. Some years they meet up on the day, other years, it’s just a check in. You get to see these characters grow into adults, in their careers and with the different people in their lives. It was a very sweet series and I loved seeing the character development throughout. I do have to warn you, there are so emotional storylines told through the series.

Non-Meat Recipes– Asking the internet for some help! We are in the season of Lent and I’m on the hunt for some non-meat recipes to enjoy on Fridays. I am always looking to try new things and Pinterest is always a huge help, but I have found myself in a bit of a rut looking for new recipes. I am looking for any seafood or high protein recipes that don’t involve meat. If you have a favorite recipe or suggestion, share it below!

Big Note Pad- This big notepad has been saving my life recently. I got it from Simplified and I use it to write out my to-do lists for the weekend. I mentioned earlier this year that I use a mini notebook from Simplified to write any weekly to-do’s or goals. However, on days-off, I like to create a massive daily to do. Everything goes on there, from getting in a workout, to meal prepping, even scheduling appointments. I love having a big notepad to jot everything down in one spot. It’s so big that I can use it for multiple days. It’s been a huge lifesaver and it saves me from having a million post-it notes with things to do.

Apple Watch Charger– Another favorite from this week has been a new lifehack I have been using to make my life a little easier. It’s super silly, but also practical. I have a two-in-one charger at home for my iPhone and Apple Watch that I use daily. I have a car charger for my phone in my car, but nothing for my Apple Watch to charge when it’s low on battery and I’m not home to charge it. I took an Apple Watch charger that I wasn’t using and threw it in my purse, so I always have it in case my watch is low, and I need some juice when I am out and about. I know it may seem so silly and a “duh, that’s such an easy solution”, but it was one of those problems that I kept having and was causing my stress about my watch dying and not having a charger on me. A simple solution took away a lot of unnecessary stress. Just an example at how one small change can make all the difference. 

Jerry and Marge Go Large-Wrapping up this week with a fun movie for the family! My boyfriend and I watched Jerry and Marge Go Large and loved it. The movie follows a recently retired man who is looking for a new hobby. His interest is piqued when he starts to play the lottery and finds a workaround to consistently win it. This leads to him and his wife getting closer and finding a new hobby together by playing the lottery. Many people in the town find out and want in on it too. It really brings the whole town together. Overall, the movie was funny, wholesome and great for the whole family.

That’s a look into some of my favorite things from this week. Some things to watch, some life hacks and some questions too. As we make our way through March, tell me, what’s been some things that have been saving your life? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

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Fun Ways to Organize

Simplicity Challenge Recap

Hi everyone! 

Happy Wednesday! 

I hope you are having a great week so far. Although Valentine’s Day is behind us, I hope you continue spreading love all month long, whether it’s with your partner, spouse, girlfriends or even yourself. 

No matter how long you have followed me, you probably know I am a Simplified girl through and through. I love their mission, the products and their community. 

Last month, I participated in their Simplicity Challenge, which was little tasks to complete every day to simplify your life. The tasks took less than 10 minutes to complete, and they were a great way to reset for the new year. I have done the 31 Day Challenge in the past and I was excited to try it again this year. 

Team Simplified changed things up this year for the month-long cleaning and organizing. They still had a daily task, but they changed what the tasks were. 

The new challenges ranged from organizing specific drawers (bathroom, kitchen, bedroom), to holiday decor, accessories, specific clothing items (dresses, socks, jeans), and reworking your systems in your life to simplify.

I did many of the challenges, but not all of them since I just did a big cleaning and organizing back in the fall.  You can read about it here. Therefore, I didn’t have to go through my dresses, jeans, socks and medicine cabinets etc., since I already knew what I had and what I needed to get rid of. 

However, there were many that I still took part in.

Here’s some of the areas that I tackled through the 2024  Simplicity Challenge:

Followers– One of the tasks was to go through and edit down who you follow on social media. This one was super helpful to me. I try to limit my time on social media, and I hope by editing down who I follow helps that. I went through and unfollowed accounts that didn’t bring me joy, I wasn’t interested in anymore or didn’t serve a purpose. I’m hoping this makes me more intentional with my time online.

Hair accessories– This was a huge help to me. In the past, I had all my hair ties, scrunchies, ribbons etc. in one pouch and I was always digging through it looking for one thing. I decided to divide accessories up in smaller pouches for easier access. It took me 10 minutes to complete and I’m already noticing a difference in getting ready every day. 

Pantry and Fridge– I try to do my best to stay on top of clearing out the pantry and fridge, especially on garbage day when I get rid of old or expired foods. We had a lot of extra people home over the holidays and that meant extra cooking and ingredients. As I was cleaning, it was good to toss expired foods and see what things I needed to restock . Plus, it felt good to reset and organize things in their proper homes.

Cups– Anyone else always have too many cups or mugs?! Yep, that’s me! They are easy gifts to give or receive but we always end up with so many cups and mugs. I did some getting rid of and organizing our cups, mugs, and water bottles. Just straightening them up made a huge difference. I’m sad to report, it didn’t stay that organized for long and I’ve had to reorganize it many times since the initial challenge.

Tupperware– Another area that gets lots of use and doesn’t always stay tidy is our storage container cabinet.  We have a lot of Tupperware and use it frequently for food storage and leftovers, so we are constantly in and out of this space. I did my best to organize the bases and lids and I got rid of broken or mix matched ones too. Pro-tip, save any heavy duty plastic containers you get when you order take out soup, they make great storage containers and are easy to give away if you are sending food home with someone and don’t need the storage containers back.

That’s just a taste of how I participated in the Simplicity Challenge 2024. I thought all the daily prompts were super helpful, but I didn’t need to do all of them due to my recent clean out. 

If you are interested in the challenge more, you can head to Simplified’s Instagram page for a look at all the prompts. I know I feel better by having some of my most cluttered spaces organized especially in the new year.

Happy Simplifying!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #78

Hello all!

Happy Friday!

I hope you had a great week and have something fun planned for the weekend. I can’t believe we are looking ahead to the last weekend of January. This month went by so fast, I have a love/hate relationship with January. I love the clean slate and freshness that comes with a new month, but I don’t like the cold and how after the holidays there’s not as much to look forward to. I try to put things on the calendar or make plans so I have something to look forward to in the winter months. That being said, I am looking forward to February and a new month.

Fresh cookies on cold, winter days

This week’s roundup of Friday Favorites is giving me something to smile about and look forward to. 

Here’s some of my favorite things this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

New Candle– There’s no better pairing than a cold, snowy, day and a warm, burning candle. I have been using this candle, Winter, from Bath and Body Works all month long in the morning and night. It’s hard to describe the scent, it’s not overpowering with fragrance. It has a subtle, natural scent, that’s perfect for a fresh start. It definitely smells like nature with some of the notes. Although I use it in my room, it would be great in a common space like a living room or dining room too. I don’t often purchase candles from Bath and Body Works due to the cost, but I couldn’t wait to try this one I got for Christmas.

 Maestro– Have you watched Maestro yet on Netflix? It tells the story of American composer, Leonard Bernstein. Bradley Cooper, directed, produced, and starred in the movie that has already gained nominations at several different award shows. I heard a lot of mixed reviews about the movie, and I was anxious to see it for myself. I learned a lot about Bernstein; his life, his music, his marriage and personal life. I thought there would be more about his music and work as a composer, but the movie focused more on his marriage and the relationships he had. The movie was interesting, and I learned a lot about the man that had a lot to do with the music we still listen and recognize today. My biggest takeaway was how much Cooper transformed into the character. He deserves all the awards for this role. 

Favoriting Photos– This isn’t a new concept by any means, but I found a new life hack and wanted to share it with you. Favoriting photos on my iPhone has been such a game changer for me. I use my camera a lot not only for taking planned photos, but also for taking photos of things that are important and don’t want to forget. Having important photos saved in one spot makes it so easy to find things. I also create folders for my photos for projects too. But, if I need to save a password or username or important photo, I know it’s saved in one spot. This is a great tool for helping organize your photos.

Mini Notebooks– By now you probably know I am a huge fan of Simplified. I use their planner daily and some of their products too. I have several of their mini notebooks but didn’t know the best way to use them in my life. At the start of the year, I finally came up with a great system to use them. I was constantly finding myself grabbing scrap paper or post-it notes to write down to-dos or reminders and would either end up losing the papers or I would end up with several post it notes. I decided to use one of the notebooks to put all the lists in. Each week I start a new page and write down any extra to-dos that need done over the course of the week. In my planner, I write down specific to-dos for each day, but I use my mini notebooks almost as a brain dump for all the extra things that need done. I have a running list in one spot and I’m not constantly writing down notes on random pieces of paper. This has been a huge help for me this year.

Matching mini notebook and planner

New Car Scent– I promise this is my last favorite thing of new scents, but it turned out that all my scents got swapped through this month. It seemed like the theme was new year/month, new scents. I always like a fresh and refreshing scent in my car. This Eucalyptus and Spearmint scent was just the thing I was looking for when I wanted to update my scent from Bath and Body Works. The scent is a bit stronger which I prefer especially if I’m driving around or if I have food or something heavily scented in my car. I always love a refreshing smell and this didn’t disappoint.

That wraps up another round of Friday Favorites. As we wrap up this month, I hope you find something that brings a smile to your face. I always try to remind myself that we can find joy and happiness in the smallest and most mundane things in life.

Have a fabulous weekend!

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Let's Look

Let’s Look: How We Clean Our Closets

Hello all and Happy Wednesday!

I hope your week is off to a great start. 

Once again, I’m linking up this year with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look as we look at different areas of our lives. I love getting glimpses into how other people do things and what works well for them and I love to share my life hacks too, whether they are exciting or not.

Here’s all the prompts for this year if you want to follow along or join in.

This month’s prompt is how we clean our closets. 

I have a pretty small closet (my dream is to have a walk-in closet one day, where clothes aren’t crammed and shoes aren’t on top of one another), with that in mind, I try my best to maximize the space I have with racks and clear containers to keep things in order. Because it’s a small space, I do what I can to keep it clean and organized and not too crammed. I also try to keep it functional for my needs every day.

My top two shelves have my good purses (mostly designer purses and ones that I want kept out of reach from others) and special memorabilia in keepsake boxes. My closet also has a weird ceiling which cuts into my storage space too.

I keep bulky items like sweatshirts, sweatpants, and winter items (matching gloves, hats, scarves, etc) on my second shelf. Some things go in clear bins for easy access and others are just folded, nothing too fancy.

Back in November I cleaned a big closet clean-out and got rid of a lot of things I outgrew or wasn’t wearing anymore. I got rid of old homecoming dresses and put a few special dresses or outfits with special memories in storage. Now, I only keep things that I love and wear consistently in my closet. If I’m on the fence about choosing to keep something or get rid of it, I give myself a year to see if I will actually wear it, if I do, I keep it, if I don’t, it gets donated.

As far as how I organize my clothes, I have found the best way to keep things organized for me in a small space is by color, so I have all my clothes that are hanging up organized from light to dark. We start with whites and creams on the left side and then go into yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, we go into blues, greens, and then browns and blacks. I find it easiest to plan and pick out outfits when I can see them all in one spot, even though I have seasonal clothes mixed together, my brain works best with my color.

On the floor, I have all the shoes. I keep dress shoes on the racks in the back of the closet that I may not wear as frequently, but in the front, I keep the shoes I wear every day, work shoes, flats, sneakers, slippers etc. I do swap out summer and winter shoes from back to front based on the season, just to make it a bit easier. 

Since I have a smaller closet, I don’t have too hard of a time keeping it clean. I also have drawers that I keep all my other clothes in, basically anything that doesn’t need hung up. 

I also plan out my work outfits each week and keep them hung up so I can see what I’m wearing and can adjust for weather or other things that may pop up. 

I have followed advice from Emily Ley by only keeping the best, my favorite and necessary. This really helps when it comes to making decisions. 

That’s a look into my closet, nothing too exciting and it’s what’s to be expected for most closets. I am always open to different ways to organize spaces. If you have a small space or closet, how do you organize it? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great week!

Categories
Fabulous living

2023 Year in Review

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.

Some of my early runs

May took me to Canada and my first visit to Niagara on the Lake, Ontario for a work trip.

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.

Sometimes I listen to the Lazy Genius

Favorite App- Substack– I love using substack to keep up with some of my favorite authors and writers like Emily Ley from Simplified and Elizabeth Holmes for all things Royals.

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.

One of my latest runs

I am also proud of my consistency with growing my first garden this year. 

My tomatoes!

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.

Here’s to a new year!
Categories
Fun Ways to Organize Let's Get Cooking

Recipe Organization and Planning

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! I can’t believe we are one week away from Thanksgiving. This month has flown by. I am looking forward to the bonus time with family next week, the delicious food, and getting into the holiday spirit after Thanksgiving. The older I get the more I cherish the time my whole is together because I know it won’t be that way forever. I’m feeling extra grateful this holiday season. Speaking of the holiday season, it also leads to more time in the kitchen.

One of my favorite hobbies that I have developed over the past year or so has been cooking and baking. I always enjoyed helping my mom in the kitchen as a child, whether it be helping bake cookies or with dinner.  As an adult, I have continued to love to spend time in the kitchen both baking family-favorite foods or trying new recipes.  I love finding new recipes from blogs, Pinterest and cookbooks. However, it can get overwhelming when you find recipes and then don’t get a chance to try them if you misplace or don’t save them. Over the past few months, I have developed a system when it comes to finding new recipes from cookbooks and blogs, saving them, trying them out and saving the recipe in my own cookbook.

I love finding new cookbooks and trying new recipes

Here’s how my system works:

  • Browse and tab recipes- Whenever I get a new cookbook or I’m reading a recipe blog and I see a recipe I like, I immediately tab and save it. I use sticky notes for cookbooks and then for blogs online I will save the page. On Pinterest,  I have a food board that I save all recipes I like. 
Browsing a cookbook
Using sticky tabs for my favorites
  • Add recipes to Notes in my phone- When I am done browsing a cookbook or after I find a recipe I want to try online, I add it to a note on my phone. I have a note saved of a list of all the recipes I want to try divided up by season and where I can find them.  For example, a hearty dish from one of Jessie James Decker’s cookbooksk would be under the winter or fall sections. I only keep meals on this note, not drinks or desserts. I only use this for cookbooks and blogs, not Pinterest, I will check that occasionally for specific recipe ideas. This way when I am looking to try a new recipe, I have a list of things I want to try and I know exactly where to find them, whether they be in a cookbook or online.
Some of the recipes I was to try and where I found them.
More recipes to try!
  • Time to Cook or Bake- Once I have settled on my recipe, I get my ingredients and cook or bake it and (hopefully) enjoy it!
The final result
  • Save the Recipe- If the meal is a success, I do a few things. First, I took it off my notes list since I have already tried it. If I found the recipe in a cookbook, I was replace the sticky note with a new color, so I know for future reference that I have tried it, and it was a success and I want to cook it again. If I find the recipe online whether it be on a blog or Pinterest, I will type up the recipe, with a photo of it and add it to my own personal cookbook. I got this cookbook from Simplified, and I love it. I have it filled with family recipes and recipes from blogs or Pinterest. I have each recipe typed up and in a protective cover and organized by course of meal (appetizer, breakfast, lunch, dinner etc.) From there, recipes are organized by the type of meal (for example under main courses, I have a section for chicken, pork, pasta, beef etc.) This keeps all recipes from family members or online in one spot that’s easy to find.

This system has worked great for me over the past year. I love how I have a whole slew of recipes at my fingertips and then I have a place with them all saved to make again in the future. Although this system may seem complex and tedious, it has become second nature to add recipes I want to try to my list and then type them up when I am done. I keep my personal cookbook with my other cookbooks in one spot, so they are all easy to grab and cook.

If you love being in the kitchen as much as I do, what are some of your tips and tricks when it saving and trying recipes? I would love to hear them! Enjoy your time in the kitchen!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #59

Hi all! Happy Friday!

Are you in fall mode yet? Are you savoring the pumpkin spice season or soaking up the final days of sunshine? Last week, we had temperatures near the 90’s, so I’m still soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the outdoors for as long as I can.

Final ice creams of the summer!

My summer was a busy one, so I made it a point to schedule a lot of my yearly appointments for September once the summer slowed down a bit and to be honest, I’m glad I did. It’s been nice to take care of appointments and checkups when children are back in school, and the calendar is a bit more open, and routines are back in place. Needless to say, my days off have been filled with ALL the appointments, but I did manage to sneak in some fun too!

It’s never a bad day for a walk!

As we gear up for the weekend, I’m sharing a few things I’m loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea for another edition of Friday Favorites.

Virgin River Back– The new season of Virgin River came out last week, but I didn’t have a chance to watch it until this past week. I have been loving this season so far. For those who watch, it picks up right where last season ends. I really like how each season flows right into the other. A few storylines get wrapped up in the premiere, but new characters and problems arise in the premiere too. I’m anxious to continue the first half of the season and I’m already looking forward to part two when it comes out in November.

Sally Hepworth’s The Soulmate– I have only read a few of Hepworth’s books but have devoured them all. Her latest book, The Soulmate came out in the spring, and I have been waiting to check it out at the library. Once I got my hands on it, I finished it in five days, some nights, even staying up late to read one more chapter. It follows the story of a family who lives in a quiet seaside town. When a woman dies after falling from a popular cliff, questions arise about her death. Was she pushed? Did she fall? Did she take her own life? Secrets are uncovered between two families and connections are made that you won’t see coming. There’s a lot of mystery to this book and it’s a bit of a thriller, but not too much so that you won’t be able to sleep at night. After reading this book, I want to read more of Sally’s books!

Cover Girl The Exhibitionist Mascara-I wear a lot of makeup for work and I’m always open to trying new products, especially when it comes to mascara. I have my staples that I use day in and day out, sometimes like to experiment with new styles. I have been a fan of Cover Girl and their products and one of my friends told me about their Exhibitionist Mascara. I have been using it for a few weeks and have really come to enjoy it. I typically use their lash blast mascara, so it took some getting used to using a thinner brush, but I have found that it makes my lashes look longer. It has great coverage and it’s long-lasting. I’m not sure if I will use this one forever, but it has been good to change it up over the past few weeks.

Black Mary Jane Shoes– I’m not in fall mode yet, but I have made a few recent purchases that is getting me there. My mom spotted these black Mary Jane ballet flats at Marshall’s and they were calling my name. I love how they are a sturdier shoe, there’s a strap on them and you can wear them with so many different outfits. I can see myself wearing them with dress pants, a skirt, even jeans in the fall. I love how they are versatile enough to be dressed up or down with them. I love to browse T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s just to see what things they have in stock.

Simplified Launch– This was one of my favorite weeks as it was Simplified Launch Day this past Wednesday! I am a weekly-yearly planner gal, so I got to pick out my goodies for 2024 and order them on Wednesday. Simplified also dropped some new products that I browsed. Each launch they always bring out so many fun and creative products, I have to reign myself in from buying them all. This was my planner pick for this year. I love the message behind it, the pattern and all the detailing. I can’t wait for my products to come in.

This was a busy week, I finished a big project at work, had some appointments, and work functions thrown in too, so I was more than ready for the weekend! I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend or you are enjoying a nice relaxing weekend in. Either way, I hope it’s a great one!

I’ll see you here back next Wednesday! Happy Weekend!