March 2023 // A List

March, March, March.

What a month it has been.

March was a busy but productive month. 

A month of feeling on the go and rushing all the time.

Constantly saying there's not enough time and I need more than 24 hours.

A month of grieving mixed with a little bit of healing.

Still asking myself why Mike isn't here.

Grief is such a strange thing.

A month of being brave and just "going for it."

Finding myself holding onto encouraging words.

A month of hoping and wishing.

A month of exploring new things.

A month of laughter with family and friends.

A month that felt never-ending but went by so quick.

A month that I am grateful for.

Thank you, March.

You were a difficult month, but not as much as usual.

And for that, I am thankful.

So long, March.

Hello, April.

I'm glad you're here.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

If You and I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet at the Starbucks located in Target. I'd order a Venti Strawberry Açaí because it's spring, and I'm in the mood for something that reminds me of warmer weather. We'd take our drinks and do something dangerous...look for things to buy at Target. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm a little disappointed because I realized that I haven't really shared my weekly Happy List on the blog. I hate when I say I'm busy, but it's true. And I know I will be even busier the next few weeks...actually, the next few months. Raphael and Michael's birthdays, Spring Break, many school-related events are coming up, etc. 

As I think about my one little word for the year, I realize how fitting it is. I chose "work" for my word for the year, and my goodness, have I been working and staying busy. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I have so many plans for my creative projects. I look forward to working on my Project Life album and making layouts for smaller albums and notebooks. I'm also excited to start working on more 6x8 full-page layouts. 

I've received packages from Paper Person Shop, Studio Calico, and Ali Edwards for various projects. However, I'm so excited to put my Week in the Life kits from Ali Edwards to good use.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I have been reading so many books. I just finished reading Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews, by Piper Rayne, and I absolutely loved it! It's definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I'll have to share a full review soon.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that yesterday was a hard day. It was the anniversary of my baby brother's death. Usually, March is a hard month for me, but this year the grief that always comes during this month wasn't as intense or brutal as usual. I don't really know how to feel about this. However, the actual day was somewhat hard because I didn't know how to talk with Mami about Mike and her feelings about what she went through. 

We did end up talking, and it's so strange how every year, I learn a little bit more about what happened on the day Mike was born and died. After getting off the phone with Mami, I sobbed. I could tell her heart is broken, and I'm sure it will always be broken. I cried for Mami. I cried for Mike. I cried for my older brother, older sister, and baby sister because we never got to meet Mike. I cried because I am still so angry and heartbroken that Mike is not here with us today.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm glad we were able to catch up. Things are slowly starting to feel "normal."  I'm getting used to my schedule and adjusting to the time change, so I'm feeling good. I hope you finish the month on a good note. I can't wait to catch up with you again.

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by K8 on Unsplash

Spring 2023 Bucket List

Happy Monday! It's the first day of spring and I'm so excited! I've been dreaming of spring. I'm so ready for warmer weather, flowers, sunshine, and trips to the farmer's market. I will say that I am dreading pollen (it's already arrived), but I'm ready for everything else. I'm still getting used to the time change, but it's nice to have more daylight. 

Anyways, I decided to stick with tradition and share my bucket list for spring. There's a few things that are still the same and will probably always stay on my seasonal bucket list, but there are a few new ones. Check out my list below.

• Make a strawberry pie

• Publish 5 personal pieces

• Participate in Exhale's monthly blog hops

• Complete 5 Project Life layouts

• Go for a walk on the Silver Comet Trail every month

• Finish 3 creative projects

• Work in my sketchbook/journal every week

• Visit a new coffee shop

• Go somewhere new

• Clean out our closets

• Donate clothes, toys, and other things we no longer need or use

• Go to a new (or new-to-me) restaurant

• Watch a new series

• Buy flowers

• Complete Nicole Warrington's Awaken to Place class

• Submit a piece (or two) to Bella Grace Magazine

• Start working on a new story

What is on your Spring bucket list?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash

I Want to Thank Myself

I want to take this time to thank myself for finally folding the mountain of laundry that's been sitting in the basket for almost an entire week. Did I want to do it? No. Did I have to do it? Yes. Did I walk by that mountain of laundry and tell myself, "I'll take care of it in an hour?" Yes. Yes, I did. In fact, I said it multiple times. As I walked by that basket and did other things like wash dishes, clean the bathroom, cook dinner, make weekend plans, and do other day-to-day things, I knowingly ignored the mountain. What made me finally fold those dreaded clothes? Well, I needed my favorite pair of leggings, but most importantly, the clothes needed to be folded. In fact, the basket almost took me out a few times. It was indeed a problem, and yet, I was still tempted to ignore it. But did I ignore it? No. Finally, I decided to take on that mountain, and I did. So I want to thank myself for finally giving in and folding it. Surprisingly, I didn't need to iron anything. Small miracles, I suppose. But the good thing...the most important thing is that everything is folded and the basket is empty...for now. So I want to thank myself (and my playlist) for finally taking on the chore I hate most, folding clothes.

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 "Acceptance Speech." 

Photo by Ingrid Hall on Unsplash

Target Finds

Happy Wednesday! It's been a few months since I've shared a Target Finds post, so I figured today would be a good day to share one. 

Gel Bead Eye Mask

I bought this for Gabriel after his allergies started acting up. I put the eye mask in the freezer for two hours and then let him use it. It worked well, and the swelling of his eyes went down. 

Let's Go Fishing

This is such a fun game. It's a little challenging, but Raphael loves it. It's also reasonably priced and well-made. This game is cheaper if you purchase it on Target's website or app, but you can also price-match it in stores.

Kinder Bueno Eggs

These might just be my new favorite Easter candies. They are a bit pricey, and there's not much in the bag, but it's a perfect little pick-me-up. These would obviously make a good Easter basket filler. So this was definitely an impulse buy, but I don't regret buying them. 

Hoover Windtunnel Cord Rewind Upright Vacuum Cleaner

John and I were so excited to buy this vacuum...and this is how you know we are getting old. First, we were excited about new furniture, and now we're excited about a vacuum cleaner. Anyways, so far, this vacuum cleaner has been great. It was reasonably priced, easy to use, and didn't weigh a ton.

What are some of your favorite Target finds?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

March Goals

Happy Monday! I can't believe we're in the middle of March, and I'm only just now sharing this post. Let's just say that so far, March has been busy. And if you know me, then you know that March is usually difficult for me. 

February was also a busy and fun month. John and I went on a few dates, finally got our new living room set, and celebrated Valentine's Day. I also went to the Silver Comet Trail, and it was my first visit for the year, so I was really excited. Overall, it was a great month.

With February being a busy month, I actually forgot about my goals. Initially, I thought I'd have enough time to work on my monthly goals. However, things didn't go as planned, which you'll read once we recap my goals for February. 

So far, March hasn't been terrible, but we're only a couple of weeks into the month. I'm not going to lie and say that I was excited when February ended and March began because, let's face it, I was dreading March. It's the anniversary month of my baby brother's death, and it feels like my heart breaks all over again. 

I made several goals for March, but I will give myself some grace. I know that, most likely, I will only accomplish some of my goals for the month, but I'm going to try. Before we get to my new goals, let's recap how I did with my goals in February.

Recap of February Goals

• Read and review 3 books I received from Netgalley: I read a bunch of books in February and that included 5 books that I received from Netgalley. I also posted my reviews. The books I read and reviewed are Wildlife Anatomy by Julia Rothman, Tank's Promise by Winter Sloane, One Star Wonders by Mike Lowery, Skip to.the Fun Parts by Dana Jeri Maier, and Thinking of You by Beth Evans. 

• Read 2 books I borrowed from the library: I have a bunch of books I borrowed from the library, but I didn't read them. I was so focused on reading the books I received from Netgalley and other publishers and authors.

• Publish 1 personal piece on the blog: I shared my monthly coffee date post and my monthly reflections list so I'm going to count those as personal pieces. 

• Participate in Exhale's February blog hop: I'm actually really disappointed that I didn't participate in the February blog hop, but I still plan to work on the prompt.

• Try 1 new recipe: I honestly can't remember if I tried a new recipe. 

• Complete my 2021 Project Life album: I still haven't completed my 2021 Project Life album, but I am determined to get it done (as well as my 2022 album) before the year ends. 

• Work on my January 2023 layouts for my 2023 album: I only completed one layout, but I did work on a few more.

• Work on my One Little Word lessons: Yikes! I still haven't started working on these lessons and it's already March! 

March Goals

• Read and review 2 books I received from Netgalley

• Read 2 books I received from the library

• Publish 2 personal pieces on the blog

• Participate in Exhale's March blog hop

• Try 1 new recipe 

• Work on my One Little Word lessons (January - March)

• Work on my 2023 Project Life/memory keeping album

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

Thanks for visiting! 

Until next time...

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out 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. Reading new books

2. Great sales at The Children's Place

3. Thin Mints

4. My laptop!!!!

5. Target Circle Week

6. New board games

7. Amy Turn Sharp's latest post from her newsletter, Warm Hands

8. Cuddles from my sons

9. New creative ideas (Can't wait to share about this!)

10. It's finally Friday!

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...