Saturday, December 31, 2022

December 2022 // A List



After the disaster that November was, December was a much-welcomed month.

December was the month of mixed feelings but mostly joy and hope.

December was a month full of magic.

December showed signs of major changes that will arrive shortly.

December was a busy month.

I found myself embracing winter and enjoying the transition from fall to winter.

I didn't feel as creative as I usually do during the fall, but that was to be expected.

Some things never change.

Instead, I found myself resting and thinking about many things.

December was a month of trying new things and making new traditions.

Some of these changes were strange.

But most of them were welcomed with open arms.

December...the month of reflection.

I found myself thinking back on the past year.

For the most part, 2022 was a great year.

It was only the last part of the year, November to be exact, that was incredibly difficult.

I know that when I look back on November 2022, it won't be pleasant, but I'm grateful for how much I grew during that month.

When I look back on December 2022, I'll remember how strong I was. I'll remember that it could have been worse, but I'm grateful it wasn't.

December is a strange month.

It's the last month of the year.

The time when the year is coming to an end.

December, you were a better month than November, and for that, I am grateful.

So with that said, thank you, December, and goodbye. 

What a wild wide 2022 turned out to be.

Hello January. I hope it's a good month and an amazing start to the new year.

Friday, December 30, 2022

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 linkup. It's been a couple of weeks since I shared my last happy list, so I'll be combining things from the past few weeks.

1. Celebrating Gabriel's birthday


2. Watching Wednesday with John (This is a great series.)


3. Carvel Strawberry Crunchie Ice Cream Cake


4. Cozy Christmas pajamas and warm, fuzzy socks


5. Sleeping in


6. New Valentine's treats at Target


7. After Ever Happy (Surprisingly, I have enjoyed the After film series.) 


8. The Invitation (I absolutely love horror movies and loved that the film was inspired by Dracula.)


9. Reading so many great books (I highly recommend You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows by Piper Rayne. I'll share a review on the blog soon.)


10. Conversations with Mami and Jaileny


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Friday, December 16, 2022

Christmas Joy: Then And Now



Oh, Christmas...this time of year always brings me a full blast of nostalgia, especially now that I have children. A couple of weeks ago, while we were visiting Mami, and I was admiring one of Mami's ornaments on her Christmas tree, one of my sons asked me what Christmas was like when I was growing up. I was immediately hit with a good dose of nostalgia and joy. To answer my son's question, I told him...

Christmas was a day full of joy, laughter, and love when I was a kid. We always wore fancy clothes even though it was just going to be us and we were not going anywhere. We celebrated it at home. Instead of listening to classic Christmas songs on repeat, we listened and danced to bachata and merengue. Mami always went all out with Christmas dinner. It was truly a Dominican Christmas.  We ate delicious food and treats. Also, Christmas Eve was our Christmas Day. I can't recall making cookies for Santa, but I remember staying up late with my sisters and brother until midnight. Once it was midnight, we were allowed to open our gifts. I would try to fight my sleep and stay up all night, but of course, I would lose the battle. Christmas Day was just a day for us to rest and play with our new gifts. We'd eat leftovers and watch cartoons together. It was simply a low-key day.

Now that I'm an adult with my own children, Christmas is slightly different for us. We still spend Christmas Eve with Mami, but I've added a few traditions for my own family. We pick out an ornament every year and have bought matching pajamas for the past couple of years, two of my favorite things to do during the holiday season. We go to our city's Christmas tree lighting, and I am always hit with the memory of going to Rockefeller Center as a child and watching the massive tree with its beautiful lights. We go out to watch Christmas lights displays. I make an insane amount of hot chocolate and am always trying new flavors. We have stockings and watch holiday movies together. One of our favorite movies to watch is The Nightmare Before Christmas. I blast classic Christmas songs as well as merengue and bachata music. I bake as much as possible. I display my kids' Christmas arts and crafts. Most importantly, I get to watch the magic and joy of Christmas through my children's eyes. That is the greatest gift of all and my all-time favorite Christmas joy. 

There may be a few differences between the Christmas of my past and present, but one thing remains the same, the joy is still there. 


This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale - an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Then and Now."

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

If You And I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet at one of our favorite local, small-business coffee shops. I'd probably order a seasonal hot chocolate, most likely a peppermint hot chocolate. I've been on a peppermint kick which is weird because I'm not a big peppermint fan. I'd order some type of pastry with chocolate because that's another thing I'm currently obsessed with. And no, I'm not pregnant. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I recently received an arc of Timothy Goodman's upcoming graphic memoir, I Always Think It's Forever, and I absolutely loved it. I bookmarked so many pages, which I rarely do with ebooks or physical books. I'm currently reading I Gave Myself the World by Catarine Hancock and enjoying it. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm still a little anxious, but things are looking up. I got some great news, and I'm looking forward to the new year. It looks like 2023 will be a big year, and I'm hoping it will be a really amazing year. I'll probably share more about my news soon, but I want to keep it to myself. I want to keep the news to myself because I don't want to jinx it. Is that strange?

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so over this weather. I love rainy days, but it's been so gloomy and ugly outside for the past week. I don't even mind if it's a bit cold, but the constant rain and fog have been annoying. I need some sunshine. And oh my God, I feel so old now because I'm talking (well writing) about the weather. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm glad that we were able to meet up again. I love these little chats, which are always a favorite part of my month. I hope you enjoy the holidays and spend time with your loved ones.


What would you tell me?


Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


Photo by Ruth Georgiev on Unsplash

Friday, December 9, 2022

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 linkup. 


1. John's new work schedule


2. This hot cocoa topper idea


3. All the Christmas romance novellas


4. Rainy and foggy mornings


5. These words by Amy Turn Sharp


6. Making a batch of my chicken tortilla soup


7. The laundry basket is finally empty...for now.


8. Deep dish pepperoni pizza 


9. Christmas music, especially Sleigh Ride by the Ronettes


10. Warm blankets and Christmas pajamas


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Monday, December 5, 2022

December Goals

Happy Monday! I'm so glad it's finally December because November was absolutely the worst month for me. It was an absolute dumpster fire, and I can assure you that if I ever have to reflect on November 2022, I will not look back at those memories with joy. 

We had something significant happen to us in November, but things are returning to normal, and I am incredibly grateful for that. Although November was mostly a scary month, a few moments were great. We celebrated Thanksgiving at mami's house. I got a lot of stuff done way in advance, so I didn't have to worry too much about things on my to-do list. We finished Christmas shopping. I took an important test and got a near-perfect score! Hooray for that because so many opportunities can open up for me because I passed the exam. 

November was a brutal month, but it taught me many things. I still tried to focus on being grateful, although I will admit that there were times when it was hard to focus on gratitude. Now November took an unexpected turn for me, and although I didn't focus too much on my goals, I did try to work on a few things here and there.

Since it's a new month, and I'm trying to get things back to normal, now is a good time to share my December goals and recap how I did with my November goals.

Recap of November Goals

  • Read 5 books: I read 20 books in November. I usually read many more books than that, but as I've mentioned, November was just an absolute dumpster fire. However, I made sure to read because reading is a comfort for me. One of my favorite reads was Galatea by Madeline Miller. Galatea is a short story retelling with a unique spin on the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea. I loved that the story was told from the perspective of the statue, Galatea. Another favorite read was Golden by Wilder. This collection was a bit happier than Wilder's previous collection of poetry, Nocturnal. 
  • Complete 2 half-finished memory-keeping projects: I didn't work on my creative projects in November. I was not in a good place or mood to work on memory-keeping projects. 
  • Publish 1 personal piece on the blog: I did publish a personal piece about five things that bring me comfort (especially while I was going through a rough time). You can read it here. I also shared my monthly If You and I Had Coffee post.
  • Participate in Exhale's November blog hop: I'm disappointed that I didn't participate in Exhale's November blog hop, but I still plan to publish my piece on the blog. 


December Goals
  • Read 5 books
  • Read and review 2 books I received from Netgalley
  • Complete 1 half-finished memory-keeping project
  • Publish 2 personal pieces on the blog
  • Participate in Exhale's December blog hop
  • Try 1 new recipe


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

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


Saturday, December 3, 2022

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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


1. Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn


2. Much-needed encouraging words


3. Writing and creating again after a couple of weeks of feeling down


4. Things are starting to look up 


5. These words by Megan Minutillo


6. Poetry Prompts by @theconstantpoet and @hazel.poetry


7. Finding really great deals


8. Passing a really important assessment (I'll share more news on that...eventually.)


9. Comfort food


10. Quiet moments throughout the day


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Monday, November 28, 2022

Target Finds

Happy Monday! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday and weekend. It's been a couple of months since I've shared a Target Finds post, so I thought it'd be fun to share one today. You might notice that most of the items listed are Christmas-themed, but 'tis the season and all that good stuff.



4 Tier Shoe Rack Black Metal with Natural Wood

We really needed to replace our shoe rack that's by our front door, so we decided to check out Target for a new one. I really like this shoe rack. It's a bit larger than the one we had, but it doesn't take up much space. I love the neutral colors and that they can match any home decor.

Holiday Penguins Matching Family Pajamas Collection

I was so excited to buy our family pajamas. We decided to get the holiday penguins. The pajamas look so cute. The pajamas fit well and weren't too loose or too tight. I will say that Target's family pajama collections are a little pricey, but they've had a couple of really good sales on their pajamas, so definitely keep watch of their sales. 

Milk Chocolate Mini Pretzel Twists with Christmas Blend

I don't usually buy chocolate-covered pretzels, but when I saw these mini pretzel twists, I thought the boys would love them. And yes, the boys did love these mini pretzels. The pretzels tasted ok and were decently priced. 

Gingerbread Man Mug

If you've been reading my blog for a while or have followed me on Instagram, then you know I love collecting mugs. I tried limiting myself on how many seasonal mugs to buy because I have too many mugs. However, I saw this gingerbread man mug and had to buy it. It's so cute! So far, this mug has held up well. I haven't noticed any chips. 

I think this mug, as well as the other Christmas mugs, would make a perfect gift. You could even pair this mug with a few packs of hot chocolate like this Ghiradelli peppermint hot chocolate or a small box of hot chocolate bombs.


What are some of your favorite Target finds?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Friday, November 25, 2022

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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


1. Spending time with my family


2. Thanksgiving leftovers


3. Catching up on a few shows 


4. Random debates like whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie (It's not a Christmas movie.)


5. These words by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller


6. Leggings and jogger pants


7. Learning new things about Instagram 


8. Working on my journal


9. Writing more blog posts and mini essays


10. Writing Resources and Creative Exercises from Exhale Creativity


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

5 Things That Bring Me Comfort

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting much this month, and it's because I'm going through a rough time. It would be an understatement to say that this month is not going the way I thought it would. The past week and a half have been brutal. I cried most of that time, but I am starting to feel a bit better and hopeful. 

Since it's the season of being grateful and the season of comfort, I thought I'd share what has been bringing me comfort during this stressful time. 




1. My family has been an enormous source of comfort. From some wise words from Mami to snuggles from my boys and John, I have really found some comfort with my loved ones. I am so grateful for my family and don't know what I'd do without them. 

2. Books. Books. Books. I have always found comfort in books. I'm reading all the books, especially holiday-themed novellas and short stories. Those holiday-themed books have been enormous comfort. With how I've been feeling, I've been gravitating towards happily ever afters and humor.

3. Taylor Swift's songs, specifically those from her Quill Pen Songs Playlist. I think my favorite song on that playlist is Carolina. My other favorite songs are Hoax, My Tears Ricochet, Willow, and Evermore.

4. Hot Chocolate. Sure it's not a food, but I still consider it a comfort food (or, I guess, a comfort drink?). I'm currently loving Ghiradelli hot chocolate and peppermint-flavored hot chocolate. I've been topping my hot chocolates with Target's seasonal whipped cream, and it's simply the best. 10/10 definitely recommend it.

5. Cozy clothes. I recently bought several leggings from Leggings Park, and oh my goodness, I am obsessed! They are so soft and comfy. I've been pairing them with my favorite sweaters. At home, I've been wearing my pajamas and favorite holiday socks. It's helped me get in the holiday spirit, which, to be honest, I wasn't really into the holidays due to being stressed out.


What brings you comfort?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Monday, November 14, 2022

If You and I Had Coffee


If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet at one of our go-to local coffee shops in town. Maybe the one close to downtown so we can walk around and check out the shops. I'd most likely order a peppermint hot chocolate or a peppermint mocha because 'tis the season.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd ask about your plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas and if you are excited about the holidays. I'd ask, what are your favorite traditions, or do you like to make a new one every year? I'm excited to pick a new ornament for our Christmas tree. I'm pretty sure we might get a Star Wars ornament, but we shall see. I'm also really excited about our city's Christmas tree lighting. I can't wait to walk around town with John and the boys while drinking some hot chocolate. When we get back home, I usually make a holiday-themed treat. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I've been thinking about next year and am already making plans, so I really need to buy a new planner soon. I'm still unsure what brand I'm going with and the size. I usually buy small or medium-sized planners, and this year I went with a smaller planner, but I'm not sure if that will work for next year.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I recently went to a Barnes and Noble and bought Twenty-One Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks. I haven't started reading it, but I'm so excited about this book. The book is written entirely in lists! I don't think I've ever read a book written entirely in lists, and you know I absolutely love lists, so I am so here for this book.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I recently watched Where the Crawdads Sing and really enjoyed the movie. I kept hearing about the book and would have preferred to read it first, but unfortunately, there is a massive waitlist at my library, so I didn't get to read it first. 

I went down a rabbit hole, researched the book and movie, and found out about a controversy surrounding the author, Delia Owens. I have so many thoughts about Delia, the book/movie, and the controversy surrounding the book, but that's a story for another day. If you've watched the movie or read the book, what are your thoughts on it? 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I have a couple of creative ideas brewing, and I'm really excited about them. I'm most likely to share more next year, which is when I hope everything is finalized, but so far, I'm enjoying this planning stage.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so glad that we were able to have our coffee date. This time of year is usually incredibly busy, so I'm even more grateful that we were able to catch up. I hope you enjoy Thanksgiving, and I look forward to meeting again in December.


What would you tell me?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...


Photo by Rinck Content Studio on Unsplash

Friday, November 11, 2022

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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


1. Buying our Christmas pajamas


2. Seasonal Ghiradelli Chocolate Squares (The mint cookie squares and the milk chocolate gingerbread cookie squares are so delicious!)


3. Trips to Target


4. Working in my journal


5. #exhalefreewrite on Instagram


6. Rainy days


7. Toasted White Chocolate Mochas from Starbucks 


8. My favorite joggers from Target


9. Home-cooked meals


10. Finding out that Cinnabon has their frosting pints for sale again, and they have a chocolate frosting available too!


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Thursday, November 10, 2022

November Goals

Happy Thursday! I am so behind on sharing my goals for the month, but better late than never. This week has been exhausting. I blame the time change and our schedule being switched around due to the elections, especially the time change. 

For the most part, October was a great month. I spent time with my little sister for her birthday and visited Mami. The boys went trick-or-treating, but we didn't get a lot of trick-or-treaters. Only 3 trick-or-treaters came this year. I voted early, which I usually try to do rather than wait for Election Day. I also began planning for the holidays because I really want to be done with everything by the time it's December. I want to just relax during December.

This month feels like it's going by so slowly, yet I feel like I'm in a rush. I don't usually feel this way, and I wonder if it's because I'm still adjusting to the time change. Daylight Saving Time always makes me feel out of whack, and it usually takes me a couple of weeks to adjust. I am excited to spend time with my family during Thanksgiving, and I can't wait to watch holiday movies and series. I also can't wait to enjoy all the comfort food. 

Since this month is going by so slowly, I think I will try and take it easy with how many goals I want to accomplish this month. If I don't achieve any goals, then that's fine with me. The holiday season is here, and it's always so busy and hectic. 

Well, since I mentioned goals and it's a new month, let's check out my goals for the month and recap how I did with my goals in October.



Recap of October Goals
  • Read 5 books: I read 21 books in October. Most books I read were holiday themed (i.e., Halloween, Christmas, etc.). I read a couple of novellas, graphic novels, and memoirs. I read False Start by Piper Rayne, a prequel novella for her upcoming book, You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows. I can not wait for that book to be released.
  • Read and review 2 books from Netgalley: I read the Twig Man by Sana Rasoul, Notes from a Sickbed by Tessa Brunton, and Sinister Desires by Faedra Rose.
  • Try 1 new recipe: I'm certain I did try a new recipe, but I can't remember what I made. It obviously wasn't memorable.
  • Complete 1 half-finished memory-keeping project: Yeah...so this did not happen. Once again, I pushed back on my half-finished projects and worked on some new ones instead. I really need to stop doing that. I also need to stop taking on so many new projects.
  • Work on my Project Life album: Yikes! I did not work on my Project Life album at all. I keep forgetting to do this, and I am so far behind. 
  • Work on my October memory-keeping projects
    • October Daily: Just like last year, I did not work on my October Daily every day. It's more like an October "Daily-ish."
    • Here: Five Things course: I did work on my Five Things course, but I didn't complete it in October. I definitely plan to finish it this month. 
    • ALP's October prompts: I completely forgot to work on the ALP's October prompts. I was working on so many different projects at once, and it just slipped my mind. Once again, I really need to stop taking on new projects and finish working on previous uncompleted projects.
  • Publish 1 personal piece on the blog: October was a great writing month for me! I did publish a personal piece on the blog. You can check it out here. I feel like my writing took more of my time than working on my memory-keeping projects, which was okay with me. 
  • Participate in Exhale's October blog hop: I participated in my first blog hop for Exhale! You can check out my piece here


November Goals
  • Read 5 books
  • Read and review 3 books I received from Netgalley
  • Complete 2 half-finished memory-keeping projects
  • Publish 1 personal piece on the blog
  • Participate in Exhale's November blog hop

What are your goals for November? How did you do in October?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


Friday, November 4, 2022

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. Chick-fil-A's Autumn Spice milkshake


2. All the Christmas displays in stores


3. Starbucks holiday drinks are back!!!!


4. Star Walkin' by Lil Nas X


5. Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora


6. Taylor Swift's Quill Pen Playlist


7. Early holiday planning 


8. Target's Favorite Day Peppermint and Gingerbread whipped creams 


9. Sending memes and videos to my little sister


10. Keep Trying #4 by Amy Turn Sharp


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Friday, October 28, 2022

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. This video made me smile


2. Reading books set during autumn


3. This video gave me flashbacks and is also hilarious 


4. Singing with Raphael


5. Funny conversations with my sons and John


6. Hot chocolate with marshmallow whipped cream


7. Seeing Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas displays out (Merry HallowThankmas, I guess)


8. Coffee mugs at Target and Big Lots 


9. Rihanna is back with new music!


10. Halloween candy


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Friday, October 21, 2022

Why I Bought A Pack of Cupcakes With Sprinkles Last Friday Afternoon


Because it was Friday and the weekend had arrived. Because I wanted to treat myself, the boys, and my husband. Because I felt like I deserved it. Because after a few stressful days the week before, this week was absolutely amazing. Because my youngest son is feeling so much better after being sick last week. Because my sons had a great week at school. Because I can't resist cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Because the cupcakes also had sprinkles. Because I started cramping and just knew what was going to happen. Because that was all the more reason to get the damn cupcakes. Because I worked so hard. Because I finally decided to do things my way. Because I got everything done on my to-do list and wouldn't have to do anything during the weekend. Because I've been getting so many ideas and feel inspired to write and work in my journal. Because I feel so alive during fall. Because it's the little things in life that make me happy. Because it's the month of October...one of my favorite months of the year. Because it's comfy and cozy season, and cupcakes always bring me a little bit of comfort. Because I wanted cupcakes with cream cheese frosting on a random Friday afternoon.


This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale - an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "A Question."

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Just Five Things

1. Oh, I love this fall weather. The mornings are really starting to feel like fall. It was 41° this morning, and it was glorious. I enjoyed feeling the chilly air on my face and loved that I could start wearing my cozy sweaters.  

2. During the fall, I always have the urge to want to bake and eat all the baked goods and treats. My family has enjoyed eating these Thomas chocolate muffin tops. I've wanted to bake something for a few days and remembered I bought a muffin top mix from Betty Crocker. Oh my goodness, they turned out delicious! I highly recommend trying the Betty Crocker muffin top mix. Now, I'm hunting for an excellent homemade chocolate chip muffin top recipe and a blueberry one. 

3. I'm reading The Twig Man by Sana Rasoul, and I really love it. The Twig Man is a middle-grade horror story about a boy, Ari, who attempts to find and save his missing older sister. He believes that she was taken by the Twig Man, but no one will listen to him. There are some spooky moments, and I'm surprised at how much I am enjoying this book. I can't wait to see how it ends.

4. We're working on a new bedtime routine for Raphael, and let's just say it's been an experience. It hasn't been too difficult, but we're still getting the hang of it. The hard part is that Raphael wants to stay up with his older brothers. He doesn't seem to understand why he has to go to bed earlier than his brothers. I will say that I was amused that despite Raphael saying, "I'm not tired," he would fall asleep almost immediately after getting in bed. 

5. We just received Target's holiday catalog in the mail, which made me smile. I'm not rushing this season because I love fall, but I feel that this winter will be a good one. I'm also excited about the holidays, and I'm already planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Gabriel's birthday. 


Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Friday, October 14, 2022

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. Treating myself to some cupcakes


2. Planning for Halloween


3. Hearing hilarious, random conversations that my boys have with each other


4. Receiving an arc of a book that I really want to read


5. This photo


6. Words by Morgan Harper Nichols


7. Going to Party City and looking for costumes


8. Finding new recipes to try (I really want to try this strawberry crunch banana pudding)


9. The internet (I've watched so many hilarious videos this week, lol.)


10. Writing in my journal


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Monday, October 10, 2022

If You and I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet at Starbucks and order a pumpkin spice latte and a pastry or two. Rather than sit inside, we'd take our drinks and treats and walk around the neighborhood. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I've been enjoying being part of the Exhale community. One of my goals this month is to participate in the upcoming blog hop. I'm really excited about the blog hop this month and have been taking the time to work on my essay. I have also been enjoying the creative exercises for this month and was so inspired that I am currently working on two pieces and plan to either submit them or publish them on my blog soon. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I am really enjoying this season. I love that the mornings now have a chill in the air. I can wear my favorite sweaters and consume all the pumpkin things. Fall TV is the best. I have one episode left of the Sandman to watch, and I'm sad that it's almost over. I still have a few other series to catch up on as well. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm currently reading Meet Me in the Margins By Melissa Ferguson for the Exhale's book club. So far, it's good. I'm also currently reading a few other books as well. There are so many books that I want to read, but I'm working on finishing the ones that I've already started. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I read a really great piece by Marlee Grace. Marlee mentioned that she gave herself Saturdays to do whatever she wanted. It's a day when she has no plans, meetings, or commitments. I really love that idea. Although I am a mother and wife and have started working a few hours a week, I have found that I still have things to do every single day. A parent never really has a "day off," but I really love the idea of a day with no chores or plans. 

I definitely think that having a day for yourself is essential. I've mentioned before that I am a firm believer in having "me time" and practicing self-care every day (even if it's only for 30 minutes to an hour), but I think having a day where you choose to do anything you want can be beneficial. So for this upcoming week, I made plans to not do any chores on the weekend. I already try to get as much stuff done during the week so my weekends are somewhat relaxing, but I'm really aiming to not have any chores or errands. Instead, I want to focus on my family and take time to work on my writing and my creative projects. 

You know...I just realized that this past Saturday was kind of my day off. I made sure to get everything done during the week. I barely had anything to do besides laundry; thankfully, it wasn't a lot. I was able to work on my writing, finish reading a book, and finish watching a movie. Oh, it was glorious. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I am so happy that we were able to meet up. I hope you have a great day, and I hope this month will be a great one for you. 



What would you tell me?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...



Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

Friday, October 7, 2022

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. Treating myself to some Starbucks after a terrible day


2. My coworker


3. Reading all the books


4. S'mores cookies


5. Chicken noodle soup on cold mornings/nights


6. Wearing my favorite leggings and sweater 


7. Awesome sales at Target


8. Text messages from my little sister


9. Great meeting with one of the boys' teachers


10. It's finally Friday!


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Atlanta Mom Blog

Happy Wednesday! I'm over at Atlanta Mom with a new post. I'm sharing a few ways to celebrate Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month. Feel free to check out my post and tell me what you think. You can check my previous posts here



Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Monday, October 3, 2022

October Goals

Happy Monday! I am so excited that it's finally October! October is one of my favorite months. There's so much to celebrate and so many things that I'm looking forward to this month. I don't know about you, but I come alive in October. I feel much more creative this time of year, especially during October.

I'm looking forward to celebrating my little sister's birthday, celebrating Halloween (all month long), watching all the spooky and scary movies, making a few Halloween treats, buying our costumes, and reading so many good books. I also plan to work on a few creative projects for this month, and I think I'm going to use a Moleskine pocket sketchbook to hold my projects/work. 

As much as I am excited about October, I have to say that September was a good month. It was a dream. We celebrated John's birthday. The boys, especially Raphael, were excited about the cake. John loved the gifts we got him. Last month marked a whole month of me working at my new job. So far, I have really enjoyed my new job. I did a lot of reflecting in September, which was really good for my soul. It was a great creative month too. I didn't work on too many projects, but I got a lot of ideas and was inspired by many things. I'm excited to put those ideas and inspirations on paper.

Recap of September Goals

  • Read 5 books: I read 30 books last month. I read a few novels, novellas, and children's books. My favorite book for the month was The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. I highly recommend it and definitely think it should be required reading.
  • Read and review 3 books from Netgalley: I read and reviewed four books I received from Netgalley. I read Sidney the Lonely Cloud by Tim Hopgood, The Coat by Séverine Vidal, The Curse on Spectacle Key by Chantel Acevedo, and Tales of Whimsy, Verses of Woe by Tim DeRoche. 
  • Try 2 new recipes: Once again, I can't remember if I did try any new recipes, so I'm going to assume that I didn't. If I did try some new recipes, they didn't "wow" me (or disgust me...so I guess yay?), so I guess it probably wasn't worth mentioning. However, it's more likely that I just forgot about this goal and didn't make try any new recipes.
  • Complete 1 half-finished memory-keeping project: I didn't complete any of my half-finished projects, but I worked on a few, like my Project Life album. I'm still not caught up on my Project Life album, but I'm glad about the progress that I've made.
  • Complete my Little Summer Joy mini-album: I completely forgot to work on this project. I will try to work on it this month, but I know I probably won't finish it. I have so many things I want to work on this month, and unfortunately, I know I won't have as much time as I'd like to work on my summer mini-album.
  • Complete at least 5 prompts from the ALP's 30 Days of Showing Up challenge: This is another challenge that I completely forgot to work on. I really need to keep better track of my challenges. I also need to stop trying to do too many challenges and projects simultaneously. It usually never ends well, but of course, I still do it.
  • Drink more water: Yikes! I did drink more water, but not as much as I should. I've definitely had a ton of hot chocolate, pumpkin-spiced lattes, and mocha frappuccinos. 
  • Publish two personal pieces on the blog: I shared my monthly "end of the month" list, my monthly "If You and I Had Coffee" post, and the books I read for Buzzfeed's Summer Book Challenge. I'm going to count these three as personal pieces, but I hope to share a few pieces this month that aren't part of my usual monthly posts. I've been working on a few pieces to submit for a couple of publications, so I didn't have much time to work on content for the blog. Here's to hoping that I can do that this month.


October Goals
  • Read 5 books
  • Read and review 2 books from Netgalley
  • Try 1 new recipe
  • Complete 1 half-finished memory-keeping project
  • Work on my Project Life album
  • Work on my October memory-keeping projects 
    • October Daily
    • Here: Five Things course
    • ALP's October prompts
  • Publish 1 personal piece on the blog
  • Participate in Exhale's October blog hop



What are your goals for October? How did you do in August?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

Saturday, October 1, 2022

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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


1. This Latino Heritage Month Black Floral Scrunchie


2. These photos from September 


3. Getting stuff done ahead of time


4. Halloween memory keeping and craft supplies from Michaels


5. Chocolate croissants


6. Calm Down by Rema and Selena Gomez


7. Preparing for October memory-keeping projects


8. Getting ideas for blog posts and...possibly a book!


9. On Thursday, it was finally cool enough for me to wear my favorite sweatshirt.


10. It's finally October!


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Friday, September 30, 2022

September 2022 // A List

September was a dream.

September was a month full of comfort and hope and peace.

September was the month for slowing down and going with the flow.

September was a month of celebrating John.

September was a month full of reflections and nostalgia.

I found myself reflecting on the past few weeks of my new job, and it's been so good.

September was a month of realizing how lucky we are.

"I'm doing it my way" is the phrase that kept popping up in my mind.

I've had so many ideas randomly pop up for blog posts and even a book.

I'm thinking about submitting more work to online publications.

I think I may just go for it.

Hope, hope, hope. It's a beautiful thing.

Another beautiful thing is that fall is finally here.

The weather in the mornings is amazing and something I look forward to.

The leaves are changing, and the air feels different...in the best way imaginable.

I've always said I come alive during fall, and it's so true.

I'm excited for October and spooky season.

I've been devouring hot chocolate and have enjoyed trying new flavors.

I'm dreaming of Halloween and can't wait to start documenting October.

September was a wonderful month.

I hope October is an even better month.

So long, September. You were an absolute dream.

Monday, September 26, 2022

Fall 2022 Bucket List

Happy Monday! It's finally Fall, and I'm so excited! Fall is my favorite season, and I've enjoyed noticing the transitions from summer to fall. The leaves are changing colors, and the morning weather has been much cooler. In fact, it feels like it's gotten cooler a lot earlier than usual. I've been devouring all the seasonal baked goods and treats. 

I'm in a much better mood. Is that strange? Do you feel a bit different during each season? I've heard of seasonal and winter blues, but summer is probably my least favorite season. The bugs are everywhere, and it's unbelievably hot. I always feel like I'm rushing to do everything during summer, and it's just not fun. Fall brings a lot of comfort for me and a sense of peace. 

Now that it's fall, I'm excited to do my usual fall activities, but I'm also excited to try a few new things. I've added some new stuff to my bucket list and can't wait to start crossing off items on my fall bucket list.



  • Try a new hot chocolate flavor
  • Read 15 books
  • Read 3 spooky books by October 31st
  • Watch a new-to-me scary movie
  • Visit a haunted house
  • Finish my Christmas travelers notebook
  • Complete my Summer mini-album
  • Try 3 new recipes
  • Make a meal using the crockpot at least 3 times
  • Take a walking tour of the Marietta Square
  • Go on a staycation
  • Document fall in my journal and a travelers notebook
  • Work on the Awesome Ladies Project Tell Your Story prompts
  • Complete 1 Studio Calico class

What is on your fall bucket list?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...



Friday, September 23, 2022

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. Raphael is feeling much better


2. It's finally fall! 


3. Cooler weather in the mornings


4. New Buzzfeed reading challenge


5. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros


6. Getting our car back from the repair shop


7. Having a second reliable car (We finally upgraded our other car, and we love it!)


8. I'm Good by Bebe Rexha and David Guetta


9. This pumpkin and gourd mug from Target 


10. Happy mail (I got my Paper Person kit and can't wait to use it!)


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Buzzfeed Books Summer 2022 Reading Challenge

Happy Wednesday! Today is the last day of Summer, and I thought it'd be fun to close out the season with a list of books I read during Summer. I've participated in a couple of reading challenges during the summer, but my favorite one is the Buzzfeed Books reading challenge. Buzzfeed Books usually has a reading challenge every season. The challenge usually consists of six prompts.

Fair warning, I didn't complete the entire challenge, but I did complete most of the prompts. Ready to check out which prompts I completed? Ok, let's go.



A Book With A Yellow Cover

I read The Summer of Sunflowers by Lila Grey. This was the first book that I've read by Lila Grey. This novella was a quick and light read. The Summer of Sunflowers was such a cute story about a single mom named Juniper and her grumpy neighbor, Cody. Initially, Cody finds things to complain about and acts annoyed, but he is intrigued by Juniper and bonds with Juniper's son, Tobias. Tobias was adorable, and I loved how Cody, Tobias, and Cody's dog, Dagda were close. Eventually, Cody and Juniper begin to have feelings for each other, and Cody decides to make his move after seeing Juniper on a date.


A Second Chance Romance

I read a few second chance romance novels and novellas; however, one of my favorite ones is Order Up Love by Kali Hart. This is the fourth book in the Mountain Men of Caribou Creek series. The story follows Willow and Mason. Willow returns home after her grandmother requests that Willow and her sisters come to see her. She hopes to avoid the love of her life, Mason, while she's in town, but you know that's not going to happen. Mason is still in love with Willow and wants to find out what she is hiding. 


A Book Set During A Vacation

I read It Must Have Been the Mistletoe by M.L. Broome. Yes, this story is set during Christmas, don't judge me. I will always read a holiday romance or two during summer. The story is about Penny and Jackson. Penny and Jackson were supposed to get married. While planning their wedding, Jackson is approached by a famous musician and is asked to join their tour as they need a drummer. Jackson and Penny talked about it, and Penny told Jackson he should go for it. However, things take a turn for the worse when the lead singer of the band kisses Jackson and sends a photo of the kiss to Penny. Penny and Jackson break up. Fast forward, Penny decides to go on a vacation to their lakehouse before selling it. While there, Jackson arrives and attempts to patch things up with Penny. 

The story was pretty decent, but I wish Jackson did some more groveling. I think he had several childish moments, especially when they broke up. 


A Book With Dual Timelines

I read Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. I don't usually read books with dual timelines because I never really read any books that were formatted in a way for the story to make sense. However, the time jumps in this book made sense and didn't feel all over the place.

Love and Other Words is the story of Macy and Elliot, who met when they were kids, and the story continues as they become teenagers and once they meet again as adults. I really loved that Macy and Elliot bonded over books and their special closet/library. I liked most of the characters and was very sympathetic towards Macy. She went through so much. I also felt awful for Elliot. 

*SPOILERS BELOW*

Macy and Elliot were separated for a decade because Macy thought Elliot cheated on her. Elliot got drunk at a party and a girl named Emma, who had a crush and a prior fling with Elliot, snuck into his bed. Macy caught them and ran off. She never spoke to him again until they met again ten years later. There was no discussion on what happened to Elliot. What happened to Elliot was terrible, and the author just sort of overlooked the situation. Elliot was date raped and how the situation was handled was awful and problematic. 

Overall, I thought Love and Other Words was worth reading, and it was a well-written book. I would have given it five stars, but what happened to Elliot made me drop my rating. I personally don't have any triggers, but I think it would have been beneficial for other readers who would like them.


A New (To You) Format

I started reading The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. I haven't finished it yet (so close), but I thought it was worth mentioning because I'm really enjoying this book. I don't think I've ever read a book like this one before. I love that the book is made up of vignettes. I've read short story collections, but I don't think I've read a book made up of vignettes. Also, Sandra Cisneros is a new-to-me author. I have heard of the House of Mango Street and a few other of Cisneros' work but never read any. I don't know how I've gone this long without reading her work. However, I'm glad I decided to try this book. 

The House on Mango Street is about Esperanza Cordero, a Chicana girl living in a Chicago neighborhood with her family. The story follows a year in her life and begins with Esperanza talking about how her family first arrived at their home. The story progresses as Esperanza matures and notices the world around her. Esperanza goes through puberty and some life-changing and traumatic experiences that make her want to leave Mango Street. 


A Book By An Indigenous Author

I didn't read a book by an indigenous author, but I plan to read The Things She's Seen by Ambelin Kwaymullina. If you have any recommendations on books by indigenous authors, please send them my way. I'd love to read some more work by indigenous authors. 


Did you participate in Buzzfeed Books' 2022 Summer Reading Challenge? What other book challenges have you signed up for? What are you currently reading?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Monday, September 19, 2022

Atlanta Mom

Happy Monday! I'm over at Atlanta Mom with a new post. I'm sharing tips on re-entering the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for years. Feel free to check out my post and tell me what you think. You can also check out my previous posts here.



Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Friday, September 16, 2022

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. New-to-me music (Loving SoMo's Back To The Start)


2. Celebrating John's birthday


3. Chocolate chip cookie dippers


4. Hot chocolate bombs (Target has some great ones like these Halloween white fudge bombs and this Halloween pumpkin spice hot cocoa bomb.)


5. My morning coffee - Mocha Frappuccinos


6. Cooler weather and other signs of Fall


7. Funny conversations with Michael and Gabriel


8. Raphael's excitement about The Nightmare Before Christmas


9. Reading great short stories


10. John made me laugh so hard that my stomach hurt (I swear the things he says...)


What made you happy this week?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Target Finds

Happy Thursday! It's time for another edition of Target Finds! This is the time of year when I usually find so many good things at Target! Don't be surprised if I add a few extra finds in next month's edition of Target Finds. 

I would have added a few more finds this month, but I just didn't have the time. I'll definitely add some to my weekly Happy List. This month, you may notice that most items are seasonal items, and I'm so excited to share what I found. So let's get to the good part and check out the awesome things I found at Target!

The Nightmare Before Christmas Sally Halloween Sculpted Mug

I'm a sucker for mugs and love collecting them. I saw this Nightmare Before Christmas Sally mug and had to get it. We also bought the Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie mugs as well. I plan to use these mugs all Fall long. I definitely plan on using these mugs while watching The Nightmare Before Christmas

Maple Vanilla Whipped Dairy Topping

I'm all for trying seasonal foods. I love making hot chocolate and never thought to try flavored whipped cream. In fact, I had no idea that flavored whipped cream was even a thing (you learn something new every day). Anyways, I bought Target's Favorite Day maple vanilla whipped cream, and the Marshmallow whipped cream. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm so excited to give them a try.

Ceramic Jar Sapphire Candle (September Birthstone)

We have a few birthdays to celebrate this month, including John's and my mother-in-law's birthdays. I bought this candle as a part of a gift for my mother-in-law and will definitely purchase one for myself (even though I'm a Capricorn). This candle smells so good! I love that the scent was not too strong. I was incredibly impressed. I also love the design.

Women's Dia De Los Muertos Frida Short Sleeve Graphic T-Shirt

I'm a big fan of Frida Kahlo and her work. Although I have several Frida Kahlo graphic t-shirts, I had to add this Dia De Los Muertos Frida shirt to my collection. It runs a little big, so you may want to size it down. I like my shirts to fit a bit loose, so the size difference wasn't an issue.

Monday, September 12, 2022

If You And I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet up at one of our favorite coffee shops and order some seasonal drinks. I'd probably get a pumpkin spice latte or a seasonal hot chocolate. Yes, I'm still drinking hot chocolate and trying new-to-me flavors. We'd also likely order a few seasonal pastries and treats. September is the start of the cozy season, and I am here for it. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so glad that it's finally September. I've been making sure to take care of myself. August was a hectic month, and it was full of so many changes. Most of the changes were good, but I still felt anxious. So I made sure to do things that bring me comfort. Let's just say that I consumed a lot of hot chocolate, read a bunch of great books, listened to great music, and watched a couple of new-to-me movies. I didn't get to journal as much as I'd like, but I'm ok with that.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that since I started working at my new job, I have been adjusting to my new schedule. It wasn't a drastic change, but I definitely had to switch a few things around here and there to fit into my schedule. As for the job itself, I actually like it. I love that I can list more pros than cons about my job. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I have been enjoying Instagram. I have found new artists, writers, and musicians whose work I absolutely love. One of the new-to-me writers I randomly found is Michelle Windsor (@michellevwindsor). One of her poems (this one) randomly popped up in my feed and caught my attention. I've also enjoyed checking out Rukmini Poddar's art. I love her monthly Feelings posts. Check out her latest monthly post here.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I've been listening to some fantastic music. I'm currently listening to Glimpse of Us by Joji. I absolutely love this song, and it's been on repeat. I also love Flames by Donzell  Taggart. I'm also on a Margø kick. I love her songs, Lovelost and In Between.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that so far, it's been a great month for reading. I've been reading some amazing books. Currently, I'm reading Rock Hard Reject by Anna Fury, and I love it. I'm excited to read the next books in the Northern Rejects series. 

I'm also reading Lily Archer's A Sea of Risk and Ruin. This is the second book in Lily's Never and Night trilogy. It's a retelling of Peter Pan, and it's so good. I've been on a fairytale retelling kick, and I can't wait to find more fairytale retellings. That said, please let me know if you know of a good Beauty and the Beast retelling.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so glad that we got to meet up. It's always nice to catch up, and I'm really grateful I can do this. I hope you continue to do well, have a fantastic day, and enjoy the rest of this month. See you soon! Here's to hoping for cooler weather, all the baked goods, and better days.


What would you tell me?


Thanks for visiting!


Until next time...


Photo by tabitha turner on Unsplash