March 2022 // A List

March was the month of reflecting.

March was the month of mourning.

Grief made a brief visit alongside sadness and rage.

But hope and peace came along as well. 

March was the month of finding comfort in the little things.

March was a strange month.

March was the month of hopes and dreams and wonder.

March was the month of reconnecting.

I found myself enjoying morning walks.

Sunrises were a blessing and something I looked forward to every day.

Time flew by in March. I can't believe it's over.

So long, March.

Hello April. I have a good feeling; it will be a good month.

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. Morning walks

2. Getting into the habit of eating breakfast again

3. Visiting my local library

4. Finally getting my eyes checked! Everything went well!

5. Buy one, Get one bundtlets from Nothing Bundt Cakes (I highly recommend their red velvet cakes.)

6. New bathing suit

7. Crossing off things from my Spring Cleaning list and my Spring 2022 Bucket List

8. Getting my photos from Persnickety Prints

9. Feeling more energetic 

10. It's finally Friday!

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Three Things - March 2022

Happy Wednesday! I don't know about you, but I love filling out questionnaires. Sometimes I like to share my responses on the blog, especially when I'm going through a bout of writer's block. However, I'm currently not really going through writer's block. Instead, I feel like I have so much to say but can't (or should I say haven't) find the best way to express it. I think I will just share a "brain dump" rather than make things more complicated. Or maybe I'll just work in my sketchbook and share some images from the pages. Decisions, decisions. 

So while I think about how I'm going to share my words, I thought I'd share my responses to Steph's Q&A prompts.

Three things I like about spring

1. Warmer weather

2. Flowers

3. Soft sweaters

Three things I dislike about spring

1. Bugs

2. Pollen

3. Daylight Saving Time

Three things I drink most often besides water and iced coffee

1. Soda (I've been trying to cut down on how much soda I drink)

2. Strawberry açaí refresher

3. Juice

Three in the house projects I want to get done in April

1. Organize closets

2. Organize (and donate) the boys' toys

3. Organize and shred papers

Three things I eat for lunch or dinner when I don't feel like cooking

1. Pizza

2. Spicy chicken fajita salad

3. Leftovers 

Three things I've been putting off

1. Cleaning out a couple of closets

2. Publishing more personal essays

3. Working on unfinished creative projects

Three things I'm over

1. The neverending laundry

2. Forgetting my grocery list

3. Unpredictable weather 

Three things I'm looking forward to

1. Celebrating Raphael's and Michael's birthday

2. Staycation

3. The boys' spring break

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 Libby Penner on Unsplash

Spring 2022 Bucket List

Happy Monday! Yesterday was officially the start of Spring. I was so over winter and am so excited for spring. I'm ready for warmer weather and gorgeous flowers. Dare I say, I'm even excited about spending some more time outdoors and visiting some trails.

• Publish 3 personal stories

• Go to the Farmer's Market

• Try 4 new recipes

• Have a picnic

• Watch a new (or new-to-me) show or series

• Finish 3 creative projects

• Try a new s'mores recipe

• Go berry picking

• Go on a staycation

• Visit a new park

• Go to the Silver Comet Trail

• Go to a new-to-me trail

• Visit a new coffee shop

• Go to a new restaurant

• Donate clothes

• Make a strawberry pie

• Complete at least 1 Studio Calico class

• Complete at least 1 Ali Edwards class

What is on your Spring bucket list?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. Rainy weather

2. The season finale of The Cleaning Lady

3. My new scrapbook supplies from Studio Calico arrived

4. Starting to work on my Day in the Life project

5. Seeing daily pages by @rukristin

6. Rewatching Roswell, New Mexico

7. Reading so many good books

8. Ice cream sandwiches

9. Hints of spring

10. Beautiful sunrises

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Target Finds

Happy Monday! It's time for another Target Finds! I recently went to a Super Target (cue the angels singing) a few towns away and found some great things. On a random note, I really hope that we can get a Super Target near us...no offense to my local Target...I still love them. 

Let's check out some of my favorite Target finds.

Airheads Bites

I have been obsessed with Airheads Bites. They taste just like regular airheads, but I love that these candies are bite-sized. One of my favorite things about the Airheads Bites is the packaging. You don't have to individually open each piece of candy and don't have to worry about all of the wrappers.

High-Rise Vintage Jogger Sweatpants

These jogger pants are my new favorite sweatpants. They are perfect for lounging around the house, going out to run errands, or exercising. They fit well and feel so soft. I plan on buying a few more in different colors. 

Belgian Boys Original Crepes

I'm a big fan of Belgian Boys stroopwafels and was disappointed when all of my local stores stopped carrying them. However, I randomly had to go to a Target a few towns away and was so surprised to see some different Belgian Boys products. I ended up buying the crêpes and mini pancakes. The mini pancakes were fluffy and tasted ok.

The crêpes were pretty good. I loved topping them with Nutella. I think next time, I'm going to try the crêpes with fruit and whip cream.

Toddler Boys' Fleece Zip-Up Hoodie Sweatshirt

I bought Raphael a new sweater and decided to get this one. It's not as thick as I thought it would be, but it's still perfect for cooler days. The sweater was true to size and was definitely well made. The quality is fantastic. This is another sweater that I may buy again in another color.

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 happy and grateful list link up.

1. Cheesecakes from Barnes and Noble

2. Rainy afternoons

3. These layouts by Rita (@riri.creates)

4. These words by Amy Turn Sharp

5. Little Astronauts by J. Hope Stein

6. My new Winnie the Pooh mug

7. I finally found and bought a small wallet to carry when I go for a run/walk on the trails

8. Running errands by myself

9. New art supplies

10. Working in my journal

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

If You And I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet up at this new-to-me coffee shop that we heard about. We'd order some iced coffee and some pastries. We'd stay indoors since it'll be our first visit to this particular coffee shop. I love finding new coffee shops, and one day maybe I'll write a list of all my favorite ones.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that my heart is breaking over what is happening to Ukraine. I don't even have the words to really say much about the situation going on over there. Whenever I read a news article or watch a video, my heart breaks even more. Usually, I'll take a break from watching the news when I start feeling like it's overwhelming, but I can't stop watching the news. Every day, I hope that the war is over.  

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm still grieving, and I've realized that it's never going to go away. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but grieving comes in waves for me. Some months are more challenging than others. For instance, March is always a difficult month for me since it's the month that we lost my baby brother. Sometimes, when my sons hit milestones, I think of my little brother. I'm still feeling the signs of grief this month, but surprisingly, it's less intense than how I felt last month. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I am currently working on pieces that I'd like to submit to some magazines and blogs. I would love to have my work published in a magazine or blog this year, but I'll be proud to submit it even if it's not selected. Here's to hoping that I still have the courage to submit my articles once they are complete.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so excited for spring! The hints of spring are appearing, and I love it! The flowers are blooming, and I love seeing the blossoms on my favorite tree. It still feels a little chilly in the mornings, but in the afternoon, it's warm. The only downfalls are the wasps and pollen. Those two things are simply the worst. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm glad we were able to meet up. Coffee chats always make my day. I hope you have a great month. I can't wait for our next coffee date.

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Breakslow on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. Starbucks Strawberry Açaí Refreshers

2. Crumbl Cookies

3. BloodFresh by Ebony Stewart

4. Shipping notifications

5. Naps

6. Fresh fruit

7. This skirt (I just bought it and it's so pretty! It's perfect for Spring!)

8. Warm afternoons

9. Long, hot baths

10. Making delicious salads (I'm currently obsessed with spicy ranch dressing.)

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

March Goals

Happy Wednesday! I'm so glad that it's a new month. The first half of February was great, but the end of the month was brutal. Although March is usually a difficult month for me due to my little brother's death anniversary, I saw the signs of grieving at the beginning of February. As the days got closer to March, it got a little bit harder. Then we lost a family friend towards the end of the month. I still don't even have the words. Saying "I'm sorry" and offering to help with anything just doesn't seem like enough. Then the situation in Ukraine happened. It's been so hard watching the news. It just seems like February was a month of grieving.

Although February was a difficult month, there were days of celebrating. I took comfort in working in my journal and writing on the blog. I spent time with my family and went on a date with John. I got lots of extra cuddles with my boys. I've been embracing the stillness and enjoying everyday little moments. I worked on some of my goals, and it felt so good to cross so many tasks off my list.

Since I mentioned goals and it's a new month, let's check out my new plans for March and how I did with last month's goals.

Recap of February Goals

• Read 4 books: I read well over four books last month. I'm excited that I am going through many books that have been taking me a while to finish reading. February was a decent month for books.

• Read 2 books that I need to review soon: I read more than two books that I needed to review. I'm glad that I could accomplish this goal because I have so many books that I need to review.

• Read Untamed by Glennon Doyle for the ALP Book Club: I didn't get a chance to finish reading Untamed, but I hope to finish it this month.

• Post 2 personal pieces on the blog: I did post two personal pieces on the blog. You can check them out here and here. I still consider my monthly list a personal piece.

• Try 1 new recipe: I actually tried two new recipes. I made a spicy shrimp salad for dinner, and it was so delicious. It was simple to make but so filling. I also made tried a new hot chocolate recipe. Again, it was a simple recipe, but some of the things I added were new to me.

• Finish last year's Project Life album: I didn't finish my 2021 Project Life album, but I am very close. I don't have an excuse for why I didn't complete this project; I just wasn't in the mood to work with my album in February. 

• Work on Project Life layouts in my 2022 album: I worked on a few layouts, but they are still incomplete. As you know, I'm still behind on last year's album, and I have a few upcoming projects that I'd like to work on. I'm hoping to catch up this month because I don't want so many layouts to work on.

• Finish my January 2022 traveler's notebook: Yikes. So I didn't finish my January 2022 traveler's notebook, but I am close to being done. I think I will make a few changes to what I include in my traveler's notebook. I've been focusing so much on including stories with photos that it's taken me a while to realize that I don't always have to add a photo to each layout. It's perfectly fine to simply journal or make a mixed media/art journal type layout. 

March Goals

• Read 5 books

• Read 2 books from Netgalley

• Try 1 new recipe

• Finish last year's Project Life album

• Complete 2 half-finished memory keeping projects

• Take more photos

What are your goals for March? How did you do in February?

Photo by Alexa Williams on Unsplash