Just Five Things

1. I'm currently reading Held by Anne Michaels, and so far I'm enjoying it. This book is Exhale's book club pick for the month. The narrative spans multiple generations, from 1917, during World War I, to 2025. The story begins with a soldier named John who lies on a battlefield after being injured and unable to move or feel his legs. I really like the book's formatting and style. Although I like the formatting and style, I'm slowly reading this book in small doses, as I've found I really need to pay close attention.  This is not a book I normally would have selected to read, and I don't often read historical fiction, but I'm happy I took a chance to read it.  I'll definitely follow up once I finish reading the book.

2. I was so excited when Kate McLeod's Valentine's Day collection was announced. After being a bit disappointed that the Winter Rituals mini body stone set was sold out, I made sure to order the latest seasonal body stone. I ended up ordering the Sweet Blossom lotion bar, and oh my goodness, it smells incredible! It goes on so smoothly, and my skin feels so soft. 

3.  Over the past few months, I've been especially mindful of the things I consume and mindful of my health and wellness. I've been wanting to try healthier food and drinks, and so far it's been going well. I randomly stumbled upon RYZE on Instagram, and I usually ignore ads, especially if it's a product sold only online. I prefer shopping in-store, especially for new-to-me products, but for some reason, RYZE caught my attention. After a few weeks of seeing RYZE ads and hearing friends recommend this coffee, I found out it is now sold at Target stores. I decided to take the plunge and try it. It's been a little over two weeks since John and I bought RYZE coffee, and I've been loving it! I never thought I'd love a mushroom coffee, but this is surprisingly delicious. I've tried the Medium roast coffee and the vanilla latte sticks. They are both delicious. I make it with milk and add a little bit of creamer.

4. Have you watched His & Hers? This mystery thriller follows estranged spouses, Anna, a news reporter, and Detective Jack Harper, as they try to solve a murder. I'm currently on the third episode, and so far, this limited series is so good. This is definitely a show that you need to sit and watch with no distractions, like your phone. However, I don't think that will be hard because the show will keep you hooked.

5. After decluttering my closet, I realized I needed to update my wardrobe. I was on the hunt for a couple of business casual pants and found some amazing ones at Old Navy. I bought their High-Waisted Billie Straight Ankle Trousers in black and grey melange. I plan to get another one in navy. I love that these can be worn for work or casual outings. They are so soft and fit well. They're on sale right now, so if you're on the hunt for business-casual pants, definitely check these out.

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Disclosure: Books are linked through Bookshop.org. If you choose to purchase any, I earn a small affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. 

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! This was a strange and busy week. However, I still made a point of remembering the things that made me happy this week. It's always a joy to remember the good. 

1. I was summoned for jury duty and initially was annoyed. However, it wasn't that bad. It was actually an interesting day.

2. John and I had a day date and decided to get brunch at First Watch. I decided to try an item on their seasonal menu. I ended up ordering the B.E.C. and a Purple Haze juice. The meal was delicious.

3. "The great unplugging, the apocalypse of connectivity..." Danny Gregory

4. A song on repeat: Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac

5. Currently reading: Gold Flame by Lily Archer

6. This piece by Elle Luna 

7. Devouring: Strawberries and pineapples

8. I started working in my Project Life album and loved going through my Ali Edwards' Stories By The Month kits. I'll have to place an order for my photo prints soon. I think I may try to work on my journaling while I wait for the photos to arrive. Also, I'm on the hunt for a new printer that can print photos and documents at home. If you have any recommendations, please let me know.

9. New favorite snack/treat: Trader Joe's Rainbow's End Trail Mix Bar. 10/10 highly recommend.

10. The weekend is here, and it's a three-day weekend! I plan to stay warm and cozy, watch a new show, and read a good book. What about you?

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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If You and I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet at a new-to-us coffee shop that we've been wanting to try for a while. We'd order a warm drink since it's so cold outside, and we'll opt to stay indoors. We'd order a few pastries to pair with our drinks. And perhaps a couple of bowls of soup to enjoy at our homes.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I am so saddened by the state of the country. It's honestly just so exhausting. It seems like so many people have become desensitized, and it's so sad, awful, disappointing, and scary.  I read a beautiful tribute by Peter Moore to Renee Macklin Good and humanity. Also, please read this poem by Amanda Gorman.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I've been wintering and really ramping up on my self-care routine. I'm being mindful of the foods and drinks I'm consuming. I've been gravitating towards healthier snacks and coffee. I've also been trying to get more movement throughout my day. I'm currently working on limiting screen time. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it has decreased for the second week in a row.  

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm currently reading Held by Anne Michaels. This is the book club pick for Exhale, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I'm still reading How To Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson, and it's also a good book. I have so many other books I received from NetGalley that I really need to finish reading. I'm hoping to finish reading a few books before I even think about reading a new one. But we'll see how that goes because there are quite a few books I'm so excited to read this year. But we'll see how that goes.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so glad we were able to catch up. So far, January has been a month. There have been some fantastic days, a few weird days, and a couple of difficult days. It's been a month of mixed emotions, a lot of reflecting on the past, and keeping hope alive for the future. I hope the rest of the month goes well for you. May you continue to take care of yourself. Here's to good days and cozy vibes. See you next month!

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Saturday! This was the first week back to a regular routine since winter break. My birthday was on Monday, which was a nice way to start the week. It was great catching up with my colleagues. For the most part, this week was great. However, my heart continues to break over the state of the country and the murder of Renee Good.

1. I've been trying to eat and drink healthier food and drinks. So far, things are going great. I'm still enjoying RYZE mushroom coffee and have noticed that I'm gravitating towards healthier snacks. I'm also really excited and happy that I've been drinking more water.  

2. Kate McLeod's Valentine's Day collection just launched, and I'm so excited to try the Sweet Blossom lotion bar. 

3. Health, dental, and vision insurance. We're fortunate to have it, and thankfully, our premium didn't go up. 

4. A song on repeat: Karanlikta by Sparklyel

5. Currently reading: Substack newsletters

6. While making my grocery list, I noticed a few deals on Daiya products. These are dairy-free items and not something I'd typically try, but I'm interested in trying a few different things this year. On Friday, we tried Daiya dairy-free cheese pizza, and it was actually pretty good! I would buy this again. Now, I'm excited to try their mozzarella cheese shreds and Swiss cheese slices. 

7. A good reminder.

8. Inspired by: Sabrina Joy's artwork, this pocket-sized visual journal by Anna Baker, and simple layouts by Ink Paper Photos.

9. Little pockets of quiet time.

10. It's finally the weekend! I'm looking forward to some rest, and I might try making peasant bread with this recipe. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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January 2026 Goals

Happy Monday and Happy New Year! We are already five days into January! And it's my birthday! I'm so excited to celebrate my day with my family. I actually started celebrating over the weekend since my birthday is on a Monday. So far, it's been a blast. 2026 is looking good. I'm going to continue to stay hopeful. Before I continue to mention more of this new year and chapter, let's bring it back and quickly recap December.

December was a whirlwind. We did our usual holiday traditions, like going to our city's Christmas tree lighting, and then I made hot chocolate when we got home. We put up our Christmas tree and decorations. Instead of buying one new ornament, we bought three. We went to Raphael's class holiday party at school. We celebrated Gabriel's birthday. Of course, we got him his favorite ice cream cake and a few gifts. We also visited Mami during Christmas week. Overall, December was a good month. Busy, but good.

However, there were some unexpected moments. We found out Gabriel had the flu the day after his birthday, so we had to postpone the extra celebrations. Since he was still under the weather during Christmas week and John didn't feel well either, we had to postpone our breakfast at Mami's on Christmas Day. We ended up visiting Mami the day after Christmas and had a lovely breakfast. We had a low-key Christmas at home, but it was so great. John and I made a nice breakfast, and for lunch I put together a big charcuterie board. We all just grazed for most of the day while the boys played games. I even got to sneak in a much-needed and well-deserved nap. 

Now it's finally 2026 and January! A new year and a new month! With that comes new goals for the month (and for the year) and a new word of the year. (I'll share my word of the year and yearly goals at a later date. But for now, let's recap my December goals and check out my new goals for January.

Recap of December 2025 Goals

• Read 3 books I borrowed from the library: I was still on a Humans of New York kick and read a few more books by Brandon Stanton. I finished reading Humans and then read Tanqueray by Stephanie Johnson and Brandon Stanton. I also read The Legend of the Christmas Witch and The Return of the Christmas Witch by Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza. To celebrate the winter solstice, Raphael and I read The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper. 

• Read 1 book I received from NetGalley: I read quite a few good books. I finished reading Little Alleluias by Mary Oliver, Central Park by Cristina Ergunay, and Girl Warrior by Joy Harjo. I was excited to read See One, Do One, Teach One by Grace Farris. 

• Participate in Exhale's December blog hop: I read the prompt but didn't work on it. Although I could feel the creative block that had been plaguing me for months begin to lift, I just didn't have enough time to work on this.

• Try 2 new recipes: I honestly can't remember whether I tried any new recipes, so I'll assume I didn't. 

• Make 2 scrapbook/Project Life layouts: Yikes! I did not work on any layouts, but I did start reorganizing my supplies so I could work on my 2026 album. As for my previous albums and other unfinished layouts, I think I'm going to work on them slowly (maybe pick just one unfinished project to focus on each month), but primarily focus on documenting 2026. 

• Participate in Jo Blaker's Winter Trees daily drawing challenge: I'm disappointed I didn't work on this drawing challenge. Once again, I just didn't have time. December really was a whirlwind, and a few unexpected things happened. By the time I had even a small pocket of time to work on the challenge, I was so discouraged after realizing how many days I had missed that I decided to pass on it.

• Work in my sketchbook/journal: Nope, I did not work in my sketchbook. It wasn't a creative month, but I read a lot. 

January 2026 Goals

• Read 2 books I borrowed from the library

• Read 1 book I received from NetGalley

• Participate in Exhale's January blog hop

• Make 1 scrapbook/Project Life layout

• Work in my sketchbook/journal

• Drink more water

What are your goals for January? How did you do in December?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Sunday and Happy New Year! I'm so excited for this new year and this new chapter. I spent the last few days reflecting on 2025 and on how I would like this year to unfold. I really hope this is an even better year than 2025. And so far, 2026 is looking good. One thing I hope to continue is my weekly happy-and-grateful list. It's been such a big part of my self-care routine and a nice way to remember the good things in life. 

1. I closed out 2025 learning about the monks walking for peace, and I have enjoyed keeping up with their journey via Instagram.

2. We deep-cleaned our home, and we finally tackled decluttering the boys' room and toys. I was shocked at how many boxes and bags we filled. We were able to donate a bunch of stuff, but we also tossed out a few things.

3. John and I bought RYZE mushroom coffee and can't wait to try it. We've been on the hunt for healthier coffee and are hoping this works out for us.

4. A song on repeat: The Fate of Ophelia (Alone In My Tower Acoustic Version) by Taylor Swift 

5. Currently reading: A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote. Yes, I'm still reading holiday stories and books. 

6. Since my birthday is on Monday, we started celebrating over the weekend. John and I went on a date on Saturday. We went to Roxy's Burger, then wandered around Marietta Square. 

7. We went to Trader Joe's, and I was so excited. I found so much good stuff to try. 

8. I got a subscription to the New York Times as a gift and have been enjoying playing the games and reading the Modern Love column. The Tiny Love Stories are so good. 

9. I think this creative block has finally lifted, and I can't tell you how happy I am. I'm hoping to share more of my work in the coming weeks, but for now, I'm content to just create. 

10. I love that my birthday is just a few days after the New Year. Somehow, I feel more energized, more motivated, more hopeful...what a blessing, what luck to be able to celebrate two major events within days of each other. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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December 2025 // A List

1. Oh my goodness, December. You came in hot and had me feeling like I was nonstop on the go. You were an even busier month than usual. Full of work events, school events, and personal events. So many appointments. So many celebrations.

2. December was, for the most part, a joyful month. We celebrated Gabriel's birthday. I still can't believe he's 14. The years are going by so fast. It's been amazing watching Gabriel grow. 

3. Unfortunately, Gabriel got the flu, and it seems so odd to think that he had the flu on the day of his birthday. Thankfully, the flu didn't hit him so hard, and for the most part, he was his usual self. We ended up switching things up for the celebrations, but we still did our traditional birthday celebrations.

4. Christmas was a bit different this year. Instead of the usual Christmas Eve dinner at Mami's, we decided to have breakfast on Christmas Day. However, since Gabriel was still recovering from the flu and John was feeling a little under the weather, we changed plans again. We decided to have a nice lunch at Mami's on Friday. 

5. Staying home for Christmas with just the boys and John was lovely. John and I made a nice breakfast and watched the boys open presents. Then I made a nice charcuterie board for lunch, and we grazed for most of the day. It was a low-key Christmas, and it was perfect.

6. Holiday shopping was weird this year. The month really went by fast because I almost didn't even realize how close Christmas was until about a week or so before the actual holiday. At that point, I hadn't even really made a dent in my list of things to do and buy. Needless to say, I was stressed. 

7. As the month and the year come to a close, I have been in a state of reflection. 

8. This was an eventful year. There were wonderful moments and some difficult ones. I've accomplished many goals and am steadily working on a few more. 

9. It was an excellent month for reading, and I found out that I surpassed my annual reading goal for 2025. My goal was to read 180 books, and I ended up reading 270.

10. I have quite a few hopes and dreams for 2026. I have a few career and creative-related goals for 2026. I'm especially looking forward to seeing what happens in my professional life. 

11. As the month and year are coming to a close, I am feeling excited to celebrate my upcoming birthday. There's something about the arrival of the new year and my birthday just a few days later that brings me so much joy and hope.

12. I'm in full planner mode and have already started using my new planner. I am full of ideas. The creative block that I've been dealing with is slowly lifting. 

13. So long December. You were a wild ride. So long, 2025, what a year you were. 

14. Hello 2026. May this year be a year of growth, success, joy, love, new opportunities, new beginnings, and moving onward. 

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