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Currently

Currently #52

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! I can’t believe we are at the end of April. It feels like the month just began and now we are already looking towards summer plans. May is always a hectic month between the end of the school year, gearing up for a new season and wrapping things up as we transition from one season to another.

Here’s a look into life lately and what I’m currently up to. New this month, since I have been doing so much cooking, I added a cooking section to the currently posts, you can find out more below!

What I’ve Been Up To: The month began or technically ended with Easter! My whole family was home for the weekend.

Easter mass

Over a few days, we attended Church services, watched dyed eggs, ate lots of Easter chocolate, and enjoyed family traditions and dinner. We packed a lot into a few days together.

Egg dyeing
Easter dinner
Easter treats
And movies

I spent the evening in Cleveland for dinner in Little Italy, nothing better than a spring night in the city with delicious food!

Spring nights in the city
Delicious dinner!
And tasty appetizers!

April also brought the once-in-a-lifetime event of viewing the Total Solar Eclipse! It was an incredible experience that I got to witness at work.

Such a cool moment

I also enjoyed lots of spring walks and time outside.

Signs of spring!

What I’m Wearing:

I showed you this pink jacket for dressing up for work, but here it is for a casual look with jeggings, a crisp, white t-shirt and ballet flats.

Bright and cheery for the Solar Eclipse!

What I’m Reading:

The Sweeney Sisters was such a cute and fun read. It’s about three sisters who come home after their father dies. As they prepare for his funeral and to sell their family home, they learn they have a fourth sister. The three sisters grow closer and start to bond with their new sister. Each of the sisters are going through their own problems and stressors but they sort them out together. I loved reading about how a loss brings a family together. I also loved how one of the characters was named Elspeth, too funny! I have read other books by Lian Dolan and was excited to pick up this one too.

Wellness was a heavier read. I heard about Wellness from a few other blogs and was interested in the book about a couple who after being married for 15 years starts to drift apart. The book goes back and forth between the past and present. There are a few side stories that take place that I found to be a bit confusing and hard to follow at times. I also read the book on my phone when I had time, so that may have made my reading experience not as enjoyable. It was also very heavy with psychological themes, which isn’t what I’m used to reading. Overall, the book was good, but not my favorite. If you have read it, I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Dear Edward was a book that I couldn’t put down once I started it. It’s all about a young boy who is the only survivor of a plane crash. He loses his entire family and is forced to start over with his aunt and uncle. The book goes back and forth between the plane crash and the present day as Edward grows up. I loved reading about his journey from a young boy to a young adult. This book was raw, emotional, beautiful and filled with so much hope. There’s a series on Apple TV based on it and I watched it once I finished it.

The Beginning of Everything- This was a charming book about a girl who is squatting in an old house that gets purchased. The owner lets the woman stay there as long as the woman promises to help renovate the home. The two become friends and toy with the idea of a relationship. I loved the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. I also loved all the references to the the United Kingdom culture. Definitely a cute book to curl up with.

The Good Part– This was a book that I finished on a rainy afternoon that I related to in so many ways. It’s all about a girl in her mid-20s who is feeling rundown and wants to skip to the good part of life when she has everything in order. She ends up waking up in her 40s with a life that isn’t her own. She must navigate her future life while she tries to get back to her old life. Such a cute book that takes place in the UK. I loved every minute of it.

We Run the Tides is by Vendela Vida. It’s all about a group of girls who after stop being friends after they disagree about an incident they witness. One of the girls ends up getting kidnapped and that changes everything. Themes of friendship, betrayal, coming of age, and seeking attention are all found in the book. It wasn’t my favorite book and I found certain aspects of the plot to be confusing and hard to follow, but overall, I’m glad I read it.

What I’m Watching:

Besides watching my weekly shows like Grey’s Anatomy and the Masked Singer, I have been making my way through books and watching the series or movies based on them. It’s been fun to do this as a comparison and to see which ones I enjoy over the other. I did this with Dear Edward (which I’ll get into more on Friday and I’m currently doing this with another book I’m in the middle of reading.

What I’m Cooking:

Taco Soup- I started out the month with a taco soup recipe I found on Pinterest. I have made variations of taco or tortilla soup, and this was a new one. You can cook it on the oven or in a slow cooker. I chose the slow cooker option and was happy with my decision.

Stir Fry- A shrimp stir fry was healthy and affordable and filling. Just mix rice and veggies you have on hand and a protein and you are good to go. I went with frozen shrimp and I was able to pull together this meal in 15 minutes.

Balsamic Chicken with salad and rice- Such a quick recipe when you marinate the chicken and then pop it in the air fryer for 20 minutes.I also added a salad with homemade croutons, and roasted chick peas and rice. Yum!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies

Homemade Lobster Bisque Soup with Crab Cakes and Salad- A delicious seafood night that had me dreaming of New England.

Air Fryer Bagel Bites-Such a super easy snack that’s healthy too!

Chicken Casserole, a meal that was filling and fast to make and was a crowd pleaser.

What Inspires Me- I have been inspired by all the spring vibes on Pinterest, from home decor to flowers.

Spring vibes!

I also have been inspired and working on gratitude instead of stressing. This past month has been a busy and stressful one and I have been TRYING to approach stress with a grateful mindset and focus on the good rather than the bad. I also have been working on finding pockets of joy every day (the sunshine, a walk with my dogs, a home cooked meal) to combat any outside stressors I can’t control.

A quote from Near in the Night by Emily Ley

What I Accomplished– I accomplished a lot this past month from family time at Easter, to meeting up with friends, a few fun date nights, and really being present in the moment. I also had a few big work projects get checked off my list which felt so good.

Even my dogs got in on the Easter fun!
Weekend date nights

Goals from Last Month-I really wanted to make more of an effort to get outdoors more in nice weather and I accomplished that. I also wanted to continue to check things off my Spring Bucket List and by and large, I’m doing a good job with that as well.

First ice cream of the season!
Spring walks

Goals for this Month– May is a busy month! Over the next 31 days, I have birthdays to celebrate (including my own), my brother’s graduation, siblings moving home for summer, the end of the school year and then Memorial Day and the unofficial start to summer. It will be a busy month but I’m looking forward to everything it brings.

That’s a look into life in April. I hope you have a wonderful month ahead!

Categories
Currently

Currently #51

Hello all! 

Happy Wednesday! I hope you’ve had an enjoyable week so far. We are halfway to the weekend and a few days away from a new month. This weekend is Easter Sunday, and my family will all be together for a few days. Although it will be a short weekend, I’m looking forward to it.

This month flew by, between spring-like days, a few snowy mornings and activities across the month, it was a busy March.

Here’s a look at what I’m currently up to:

What I’ve Been Up To: I have been making my way through my Spring Bucket List. I have already accomplished a few things, but will have to wait for more consistent warm weather to accomplish others.

I have been doing my best to get outdoors and that has included walks with friends, trips to the zoo and running.

First trip to the zoo of the year!

We had a stretch of warm weather and my friend and I went for walks three times in one week, it was great to catch up, get outside and do a free activity.

A day that included all the outside time!

I also got to meet up with one of my college friends for lunch. We met halfway on a day off and it was so good to catch up and share a meal together.

One of the goals I already accomplished was running 6 miles. Although, I was sore for a while after, it felt great to hit another mile.

One of my latest runs and recent records

What I’m Wearing: My wardrobe hasn’t been too exciting as of late, but I have been browsing T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s for some Spring finds. I do see a trip to Old Navy in my future soon to see what things they have on their racks for the new season.

I have been getting some wear out of my new bright, pink jacket from T.J. Maxx. It’s bright for the spring season, but also warm enough for the chilly, early spring days.

I also broke out my green for St. Patrick’s Day!

What I’m Reading:

A majority of March was spent reading the American Royals series. There are four books by Katharine McGee, American Royals, Rivals, Majesty, and Reign.

I have talked about the books in Friday Favorites posts, but in case you missed them. Each book follows the fictionalized Royal family of America. Imagine if the United States had a king and queen. Every book picks up right after the other in this four-part series. Themes of romance, coming of age, service, duty, and love are found in each of the books. They are a young adult genre, so the topics are more PG-13 compared to R. Every book ended with a cliffhanger which made you want to immediately pick up the next one. I really loved how the author wrapped up everything in the final book. Definitely a fun series to read in the spring and summer.

The Last Love Note– I finished The Last Love Note by Emma Grey in four days. I kept looking for pockets of time to keep reading. Without giving too much away, it’s all about a woman who looks to move on and grieve after losing her husband to Alzheimers. The book goes back and forth between his diagnosis and her life after he dies. It’s a story of second loves, grief, moving on and hope. 

Longbourn– I also finished Longbourn. It’s a spinoff Pride and Prejudice based all about the maids and servants who work in the Bennett household. I love Jane Austen and this was such a fun read to take me back to Jane Austen times. Kendra Adachi, the Lazy Genius read and recommened the book and I’m so glad I decided to pick it up. I only wish I read the physical copy of it and not the digital copy of it.

Mother Daughter Murder Night– I saw this book on a few blogs and I couldn’t wait to dive in. Mother Daughter Murder Night tells the story about a mother who moves in with her daughter and granddaughter temporarily, while she’s there, a murder happens in the small town. The grandmother looks to solve it on her own and quickly enlists the help of her daughter and granddaughter. It’s a fun “Who Done It?”, but with the family drama. I really enjoyed the book and couldn’t put it down at the end.

What I’m Watching: 

Some of my favorite shows have made their return after a long hiatus. The Masked Singer came back at the start of the month and it’s been fun to see who gets revealed every week. 

Grey’s Anatomy also came back in the middle of the month. These shows have been keeping me entertained during the week.

What Inspires Me: I have been staying busy in the kitchen over the past few weeks. Here’s some of the recipes I have made.

Air Fryer Salmon Bowls

Lemon Olive Oil Muffins

Homemade Coffee Cake

Crab Cakes 

Homemade Fish Fry

Turkey Pot Pie

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Roasted Chicken

What I Accomplished: 

I enjoyed making my way through my Spring Bucket list as well as seeing family and friends and getting outside.

Donuts for the spring season!
Sunday spread

Goals from Last Month

I enjoyed the early days of spring. I also got to enjoy some St. Patrick’s Day fun!

I made some St. Patrick’s Day cookies for the holiday!
I also got to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day parade

My brother and I also got to see one of our favorite comedians on tour.

Goals for this Month 

Next month, I am looking forward to trying more spring recipes, spending more time outdoors and having more spring-inspired dates.

This quote left me feeling inspired

That’s a look into what I have been up to this month. I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend if you celebrate! See you back here on Friday!

Categories
Fabulous living

Spring Bucket List

Hi friends!

Happy Wednesday!

We are just one week away from the start of Spring! I have experienced a MILD winter, but I am still giddy for more sunshine, warmer air, and outdoors.  We had 70 degree weather last week, followed by fresh snow this weekend. Needless to say, Mother Nature needs to make up her mind.

With that being said, a new season brings a new bucket list of things to do.

I didn’t accomplish as many things as I wanted to on my Winter Bucket List due to the fact we had very little snow. However, I am still pleased with everything I did get done during the slower months of winter. I spent a lot of time reading, watching movies and tv shows, and trying new recipes for dinners and baked goods. Because the weather was so mild, I managed to still get outside a good chunk of time for either walks or runs. I’m a firm believer in getting outdoors as much as possible, you just have to dress for the weather. I have done walks in 25-degree weather and 90-degree weather. You may get hot or cold while outside, but as long as you are dressed appropriately, there’s always an opportunity to move your body and get some fresh air.

Here’s a look at my Winter Bucket List and everything I accomplished. 

As we get ready for Spring, here’s a look at some ideas for fun things to do over the next few months.

Outdoor Walks

Trips to the Zoo

Ice Cream Dates

Decorate for Spring

Switch over Spring Wardrobe

Increase my Running Mileage to Six Miles 

Spring Planting/Gardening

Try New Spring Salads

Use More Citrus in Recipes

Celebrate Easter

Read Outside

Baseball Games

Spend More Time Outdoors

Celebrate my Birthday

Celebrate Memorial Day

These are just some ideas/goals for the next few months. The list will change as more things get added to the calendar, but I always like a good list to refer back to when I’m in a rut and looking for things to do. Tell me: what are some things you hope to accomplish over the spring months? 

Share them below!

Happy Wednesday!

Categories
Fabulous living

Summer Bucket List

Hello all! Happy First full week of June! I feel like summer-mode was activated over Memorial Day weekend and it’s only gotten better from there. From summer walks, ice cream, grilling and family time, I have a great feeling about this summer!

Every season, I always like to share a bucket list with goals and ideas I like to accomplish. They range from date ideas, to activities with friends and family and some personal goals too. 

I got a lot of things accomplished from my Spring Bucket List, but carried a few things over to my Summer Bucket List.

Here’s a look at my Spring Bucket List and what I accomplished.

Spring Bucket List

Now, that we are leaving the Spring season and entering the summer season, it’s tie for an updated season bucket list.

Here’s a look at my Summer Bucket List:

-Beach and Pool Day

-Farmer’s Market

-Seawolves Game

-Heritage Festivals

-Gardens

-Tend to my own Garden

-Use Kitchen Aid to Try New Recipes

-Grilling

-Picnics

-Night Picnic

-Columbus Zoo

-Family Trip

-Go Someplace New

-Time with Friends Outside

-Summer Sleepover

-Kayak

-Sibling Dates

-Drive-in

-New Place to Hike

-Visit New State

-Run a 5K

-Try New Recipes-Lavender Lemonade

-Ice Cream Dates

-Entertain and Visit Friends

-Meal and read by the Water

-Fruit Picking

-Bonfire

-Amusement Park

That’s a look at my Summer Bucket List. A lot of local, fun, activities that I can do with friends, family and even by myself. I love crossing things off a list and having ideas to do on summer days. My goal for this summer is to soak up as much time as home with my family, siblings, friends and boyfriend. 

Summer 2023, I am ready for you!

Tell me, what is on your summer bucket list?!

I can’t wait to see what this summer brings!

Categories
Fabulous living

Spring Bucket List 2023

Hello all! Happy April! I hope your first week of this new month is going well. I’m hoping some of the spring weather we are experiencing is here to stay. As we embrace spring, I’m sharing my Spring Bucket list today! This is just a list of ideas of things I want to accomplish over the next several weeks.

Before we start on spring fun, I wanted to share my winter bucket list and recap it. 

I accomplished a lot of things I set out for, the only things I didn’t get done were because of our mild weather this winter. 

A look at my bucket list from the winter

The few other things I didn’t get done, I plan to do in the spring. So without further ado, here’s my spring bucket list:

Plant a Garden

Go to a New Place for a Walk

Celebrate Easter

Enjoy Ice Cream

Head to a Local Bookstore and pick up some new reads

Try a Spring Recipe

Enjoy more Fresh fruits/veggies and smoothies

Zoo Trips

Have a Picnic

Try to do Outdoor Activities with Friends

Cut and appreciate Fresh Flowers

Celebrate Memorial Day

Make it a Point to Spend Time Outdoors

Celebrate my Birthday

Enjoy Meals Outdoors

Clean Car

Transition from Winter to Spring

Dye Eggs

Make Lavender Lemonade

I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration for some spring fun! There’s a lot of outdoor fun, some projects, new recipes to try and memories to make! Did I miss anything for my bucket list? What do you plan to do this spring? Let me know in the comments below! Happy SPRING!