Three Things: July

Welp...it's Monday again. And I'm still dealing with some writer's block. So I decided to complete some Q & A prompts by Steph from Life According to Steph.

Three Movies I've Watched More Than 20 Times

1. Saving Private Ryan

2. West Side Story

3. Forrest Gump

Three Things I Don't Do

1. Run

2. Go on diets

3. Write in books

Three Things I'm Always Up For Doing

1. Going for a walk

2. Scrapbooking, crafting...anything art related

3. Exploring new places

Three Good Things That Happened This Month

1. John and I celebrated our wedding anniversary!

2. First date night in a long time

3. Accomplished my reading goal

Three Things I'm Tired Of

1. Politics. This country feels broken.

2. The weather...it's way too hot.

3. The never-ending laundry

Three Things I'll Never Tire Of

1. Ice Cream Cones

2. Starbucks Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccinos

3. Graphic T-Shirts

Three Things I Like To Photograph

1. My family

2. Books

3. The sky (love photos of sunsets)

Three Things I Can't Resist

1. Stationery

2. Book stores

3. Frozen Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Now it's your turn. Feel free to share your response or a link to your blog in the comments.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


Photo by Maddi Bazzocco on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Today I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly grateful and happy list link up.

1. Finished Back-to-School shopping

2. My Sweet Dumb Brain Newsletter

3. Cheeseburgers

4. Winning another giveaway!

5. Working in my Summer Story album

6. Finding magic in everyday life

7. 50% off frappuccinos at Starbucks

8. School supplies

9. Catching up on The Vampire Diaries

10. Yasmine Cheyenne's Skillshare class, Writing for Self-Discovery (You can sign up for 2 free months of Skillshare here)

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


*Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Clicking and completing a purchase helps The Emi Times run!*

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Today I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly grateful and happy list link up.

1. Going to the Zoo

2. Ice Cream

3. A/C

4. Back to School shopping

5. Happy Mail

6. My family

7. Joining a book club and starting a new book

8. Early anniversary gifts (Our anniversary is tomorrow!)

9. Trips to the library

10. Quiet mornings

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Back to School With Crayola Take Note!

Back to School season is upon us! School will start in just a couple of weeks, and we have already started back to school shopping. As you may know, we are big fans of Crayola. When Crayola sent me a big box of Crayola Take Note! products, I was so excited. 

The Crayola Take Note! collection has so many amazing products. The collection includes 2-in-1 Dual Ended and Erasable Highlighters, Washable Felt Tip Pens, Gel Pens, Permanent Markers, and Dry Erase Markers. The Take Note! products are targeted towards tweens/teens as well as adults. My boys are not teenagers yet, so I've been using the products.

Below is a test sheet of the Dual-Ended and Erasable Highlighter Pens, Felt Tip Pens, and the Erasable Highlighters.

I loved making a color swatch of all the pens and markers. Every pen and marker is amazing. They write so smooth, and the colors are vibrant.  There was minimal bleed through on the pages.

I have been using the felt tip pens and the highlighters in my planner. I've also been using them to take notes on the courses that I'm taking on DuoLingo. I'm currently learning Italian, and the pens and highlighters are perfect for taking notes.

I love that I can use the pens and highlighters to color code topics for my blog as well as tasks, to-do lists, etc. in my planner. I'm currently working on my plans for August and using the Take Note! collection has been so useful and fun.

I also love the dry erase markers. I've been trying to get better with meal planning, and the dry erase markers make it fun to plan out my meals. The dry erase markers come in different colors and are available in 2, 4, and 12 count packages. The colors are bold, and there's not an overpowering odor. One cool feature of the dry erase markers is the ink level indicator. There is nothing worse than trying to meal plan and then finding out that your marker has run out of ink.  The ink level indicator allows you to know when you are getting low.

Overall, I highly recommend Crayola Take Note! products for all of your planning and note-taking needs as well as for Back to School shopping. You can shop for the Take Note! products at national retailers and here.

What do you think of the Crayola Take Note! collection? What are some of your favorite Crayola products?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Disclosure: I did receive these products for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own. As always, I only recommend products and services that I have personally used.

71 Questions

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I'm going through another writer's block. I love questionnaires and Emelia shared this one on her blog. I decided this would be a fun way to try and get over this writer's block.

1. What's the best thing that happened to you this month?

I'm surpassing my reading goals for the month.

2. What's your favorite game?

Candyland

3. When are you most inspired?

When I go to the Silver Comet Trail. When I feel at peace or in a good mood.

4. If you could teach one subject in school, what would it be?

History

5. What's your favorite beverage?

Cranberry Sprite

6. What's the best compliment you've ever received?

That I'm an amazing mother.

7. What is your favorite birthday cake?

Carvel ice cream cake

8. What is one thing you still have from your childhood?

Photos

9. What is your favorite movie?

Saving Private Ryan

10. What is something you can't do?

A backflip

11. Window or aisle seat?

Window

12. What is something that makes you laugh, no matter what?

When babies laugh. I love when Raphael laughs. It's so cute!

13. What does creativity mean to you?

Expressing yourself in your own way

14. What are your favorite lyrics of all time?

Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine

"Regrets collect like old friends
Here to relive your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play

And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues strong
It's always darkest before the dawn"

15. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween

16. What's heavily played on your music playlist right now?

Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish
Punches by Noah Cyrus & LP
Truth Hurts by Lizzo
Kingdom Fall by Claire Wyndham
My Love Will Never Die by AG feat. Claire Wyndham
Con Calma by Daddy Yankee feat. Snow
Yr Love by Roosevelt

17. If you could raid one woman's closet, who would it be?

Florence Welch

18. Must have purse item?

Lip balm

19. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were 12?

Writer or librarian

20. What is something you will not be doing in ten years?

Dealing with toxic people.

21. What is an important life lesson for someone to learn?

Your time will come. Don't rush things. Everyone's journey is different.

22. How do you start your day?

Coffee

23. Would you ever live anywhere besides where you do now?

Absolutely!

24. What is your favorite dessert?

Cheesecake

25. Is there a dessert you don't like?

Pie (except for pumpkin pie...I love pumpkin pie)

26. It's brunch! What do you eat?

Pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon

27. Where was the best vacation you've ever taken?

Disney World...it was just like magic!

28. Favorite Disney animal?

Thumper

29. What is a book you are planning on reading?

Child of the Moon by Jessica Semaan

30. What did you read most recently?

Nocturnal by Wilder

Currently reading: Blue Horses by Mary Oliver

31. Favorite solo artist?

Lana Del Rey

32. What is something you're tired of?

The never ending laundry

33. What's a city you wish to visit?

Rome

34. Heels or flats?

Flats

35. Where does one go on a perfect road trip?

New York City, Boston, Pennsylvania, or Washington D.C. I'm a huge history buff.

36. What do you do on a rainy day?

Read, journal, or watch TV

37. What's your favorite exercise?

Walking

38. What was your worst subject in school?

Math

39. What is your spirit animal?

Owl, dolphin, or wolf...I can't just choose one.

40. What do you usually eat for breakfast?

I'm horrible about eating breakfast. When I do eat breakfast, I prefer yogurt parfaits or pancakes.

41. What do you usually eat for dinner?

Something different every night, but we always have rice and some kind of meat (maybe steaks or chicken).

42. Cooking or baking?

Baking

43. Favorite baked good?

Chocolate chip cookies

44. What is something you wish you could be good at?

Painting

45. First celebrity crush?

Honestly, I can't remember.

46. Most recent celebrity crush?

Keanu Reeves

47. How do you manage stress?

Scrapbook or do something creative. Go for a long walk.

48. What do you do to relax?

Take a long bubble bath

49. Age you were first kissed?

16

50. Favorite fashion trend of all time?

Yoga pants and leggings...don't judge me

51. Do you like to wear accessories or jewelry?

Not really. I do love to wear my wedding ring.

52. Best fashion advice you've ever received?

Wear what you feel comfortable in. If you don't feel comfortable in it, then you probably won't be able to rock it.

53. What is your current favorite piece of clothing that you own?

My Rugrats and Daria graphic t-shirts

54. Shoes or bags?

Bags

55. How do you know if you're in love?

You will feel it.

56. Television show you've binged on recently?

The Vampire Diaries...it's surprisingly good. I still have a lot of seasons to catch up on.

57. Who do you turn to when you're sad?

My husband

58. Leather or lace?

Lace

59. Vintage or new?

Depends on my mood.

60. What is your Kryptonite?

Soda and sweet treats

61. What are you most enchanted by?

The moon

62. What is your biggest strength?

I'm very determined.

63. What is your biggest weakness?

I can be very stubborn.

64. What are 3 words to describe living in your city?

Inspiring, vibrant, quiet

65. Cutest thing on Earth?

My kids

66. Favorite color?

Blue

67. Best first date idea?

Walk around the city and stopping somewhere to eat and drink.

68. Favorite time of day?

Evening/night time

69. What do you first notice about someone when you meet them?

Their eyes

70. What's your guilty pleasure?

Cold Reese's peanut butter cups

71. Favorite band?

Las Chicas del Can


I hope this helped you get to know me a little bit better. Feel free to select a few questions and share your answers. I'd love to know more about you.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Today I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly grateful and happy list link up.

1. Working in my "A Summer Story" mini album

2. Sleeping In

3. Poetry

4. DuoLingo

5. Ice Cream Cones

6. Going for a walk on The Silver Comet Trail

7. Catching up on blogs

8. Running errands with Raphael

9. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

10. Chick-fil-A

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Atlanta Area Moms Blog

Today I'm over at The Atlanta Area Moms Blog with a new post. I'm sharing my thoughts on not wanting a daughter. Feel free to check out my post and tell me what you think.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

If You and I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd go meet up at a favorite coffee shop and take our drinks and pastries to go. We'd take advantage of the beautiful weather and go for a walk around the city.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd ask you if you enjoyed the long weekend. I'd tell you that I was not really in the mood to celebrate the Fourth of July. This year just felt different. It didn't feel like something worth celebrating, especially with what's going on in this country.  I did buy a bunch of holiday desserts, and I took advantage of a few deals. Surprisingly, John was able to get the day off. We got a few errands taken care of early in the day. Overall, we had a great time relaxing and spending time with each other.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd ask for your opinion on the casting of The Little Mermaid. I'd tell you that I was pleasantly surprised at the casting. I'm not familiar with a lot of Halle Bailey's work, but I think she will do a good job. I'd tell you that I have no idea why so many people are trying to compare Pocahontas with Ariel. I mean Pocahontas was a real person and mermaids are not real.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I have been devouring poetry books. I just finished reading Nocturnal by Wilder and Take Me With You by Andrea Gibson. I'm currently reading Child of the Moon by Jessica Semaan. I'd also ask you what you are currently reading and if you there are poetry books that you recommend I read.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I am loving all of the resources that I am currently using to continue to learn. I'm learning Italian with the help of Duolingo. Learning Italian isn't so hard because I am fluent in Spanish. There are a lot of similarities between Spanish and Italian, but there are some challenges.

I've said it before, but I absolutely love Skillshare. I've been taking different classes, and they have been very beneficial with the creative projects that I'm working on. I love that I can take photography classes one week and then take a class on writing and journaling the next week.

Get Messy has also been incredibly beneficial. I've tried so many art techniques and have gotten out of my comfort zone. The community is incredible. The inspiration is amazing. I have definitely noticed my art change, and I love it.

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Target Finds

Happy Monday! It's time for another edition of Target Finds. I'm excited to share some of my favorite finds at Target. I also included a few things that I consider to be "misses" for me.

Let's check out what I purchased at Target last month.

1. Kind Healthy Grains - Dark Chocolate Chunk

I'm a big fan of Kind products, so I was excited to try something new from them. Out of all the Kind products that I've tried, this was my least favorite. I'm not sure if the texture or the flavor threw me off, but I was not a big fan. In my opinion, I wouldn't say that it tasted gross, but it also was not delicious.

2. Kind Protein Bars - Double Dark Chocolate Nut

I loved these Kind Protein Bars. The flavor was delicious. It was very filling, and it is the perfect snack. I have been keeping a few in my purse and diaper bag.

3. Love Home & Planet Dish Liquid

I've been trying to use products that are good for the environment as well as for my home and family. I've heard such great things about Love Home & Planet, so I decided to give them a try. I bought the Love Home & Planet dish liquid in Coconut Water and Mimosa Flower. The scent was not my favorite, but it was light. It lathered up well, and a little goes a long way. I would highly recommend this if you want to use a clean product that is paraben, dye, and cruelty-free. I love that the Love Home & Planet products are bio-based and plant-based. This product is a great alternative and very affordable.

4. Califia Cold Brew (Salted Caramel and XX Espresso)

I was not a big fan of the Salted Caramel flavor. I could taste the salted caramel flavor. The flavor was overwhelming, and I didn't even get to finish the bottle. I haven't tried the XX Espresso flavor so I will have to report back on that.

5. Cosmopolitan - June Issue

I don't read magazines that often, but decided to pick up a copy of Cosmopolitan magazine. This was an impulse buy, and I'm glad that I was able to use the Cartwheel app for a discount. I enjoyed reading the articles in the magazine.

Overall, I found some great things at Target. As usual, I was able to save on all of my Target Finds by using the Cartwheel app and buying items on that were on sale.

What are some of your favorite Target Finds?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Today I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly grateful and happy list link up.

1. Frappuccinos

2. Relaxing

3. The Sketchbook Project Digital Library

4. Signatures in Danny Zuko's Yearbook by Johnny DiNapoli

5. The Cheesecake Factory Plain Cheesecake

6. John had the Fourth of July off from work, which is so rare!

7. Instagram...so much inspiration!

8. All. The. Desserts!

9. Starting a new book

10. Get Messy Art Journal Community

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in June

Happy Wednesday! Last month, I didn't accomplish my reading goal. I wanted to read two books, but I was only able to read one book. I almost read two books, but I really took my time with the second book. Honestly, last month was just a slow month. I read a lot of blog posts and articles, but there were not a lot of pieces that really caught my attention.

Hopefully, I can accomplish my goal for July. Below is the book that I read as well as the list of blog posts that I loved in June.

Must Read

Heart Talk by Cleo Wade

I loved this book! I bought this book a couple of months ago, but finally found the time to sit down and read it. Honestly, I read this book at the perfect time, so it meant so much more to me. I loved that Cleo included some poems and notes in the margins of the book. I loved the little pep talks and motivational notes. There's also relatable advice that is perfect for everyone and for everyday life.

As you can see in the photo above, I even put some post-its in the book. This is a book that I plan to read over and over again.

Blog Posts I Loved in June

Sarah on being a creative

Pride Month: Free Mom Hugs by Mary

Vanessa's take on May's theme for The Painted Diaries

Vanessa's Summer Travel Supplies

Janelle's Basic Guide to Caring for Your Natural Coily-Haired Cutie

Light Reading

Cosmopolitan - July 2019 issue

It's been a while since I read a magazine. I read the entire magazine in one day. I loved reading the piece on Aubrey Plaza. I also enjoyed reading about Mercury Retrograde and the section on horoscopes.

What did you read in June?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

July Goals

Happy Monday! It's a new month! June just flew by. I'm excited, but also kind of dreading that it's July. We have a lot of stuff planned for this month that I'm looking forward to, but I'm not looking forward to the heat.

Since it's a new month, it's time for some new goals. Before we get to the new goals, let's recap on my goals from June. Just a heads up...I didn't do so well on my goals for June.

Recap of June Goals

• Read 2 books: This was a fail. I don't feel too bad about not accomplishing this goal because I did read one book and I'm almost done with my second book. I read Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for A Better Life by Cleo Wade and it was amazing. I'm also reading Take Me With You by Andrea Gibson. I'm taking my time reading Andrea's book because I love it so much. 

• Try 3 new recipes: This was a fail. I don't even have an excuse for this. I did make a juice that I usually only drink during Summer.

• Complete 2 Skillshare classes: This was a pass. I took two courses by Elle Luna.  I also completed a course by Dale McManus.  I really loved taking Dale's iPhone photography class. I learned some new tips and techniques. I can't wait to put what I learned to use. If you are interested in signing up for Skillshare, you can sign up here. 

• Go for a walk every day: This was a fail. The first half of June was not so great. Raphael and I were not feeling well. When I finally felt better, I just did not feel motivated to exercise or walk at all. 

• Journal every day: This was a fail. I did work in my journal, but not as much as I would have liked. Even though I didn't journal every day, I did work on a lot of crafty and art projects. I made a couple of Project Life layouts, worked on my Get Messy art journal, travelers notebook, and I also started a new project.

July Goals

• Read 1 book

• Try 2 new recipes

• Complete 2 Skillshare classes

• Exercise/Stay Active 3 days a week

• Make art 3 days a week

• Participate in Plastic Free July

What are your goals for July?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

*Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Clicking and completing a purchase helps The Emi Times run.*

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash