If You and I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet at our favorite little coffee shop and grab a couple of pastries. We're getting a lot more spring weather with some rain here and there. Pollen has also returned, so it'll probably be best to stay indoors for now.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I've been watching My Happy Marriage on Netflix and enjoying this series. It's an anime adaptation based on the novel series. I haven't watched much TV and still have a lot of shows to catch up on. I'm also still on the hunt for a good documentary, so if you have any recommendations, please let me know.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that this has been a slow reading month for me. So far, I've only read about 8 books, which is very little for me. My favorite read of the month (so far) is A Little Drop of Courage by Hayley Kaye. I received this book from NetGalley and plan to write a review for the blog soon. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I suddenly have the urge to make mini cakes. This was after a trip to Michaels to find art supplies for Gabriel's project. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything for the project but found the cutest little 4.5-inch cake stand. I had to get it because I thought it would be perfect for the mini bundlets I love to buy from Nothing Bundt Cakes. However, I got the idea that I would try to make a mini cake for Raphael's upcoming birthday. I hope to get the rest of the supplies I need to make mini cakes by the end of next week, and I have been looking up recipes online. I think I may try to make my first mini cake next weekend...maybe for Easter?

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you I received good and bad news this month. One of my friends found out that she is expecting a baby. I'm so excited for her. That same day, I found out that a family friend passed away from cancer. It felt so strange to be celebrating new life while also mourning the loss of life. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that this month has been emotional. It's the anniversary month of my baby brother's death (tomorrow is actually the day of his birth and death), and it still hurts so much. I have so many feelings, but I recently read this quote by Jamie Anderson that sums up how I feel: "Grief, I've learned, is really just love. It's all the love you want to give but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go."

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I am so happy we were able to meet. I really needed this little coffee date this month, and I'm so grateful we could catch up. I hope you enjoy the rest of the month. 

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

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. A Little Drop of Courage by Hayley Kaye

2. Great deals at Target

3. Getting stuff done ahead of time

4. Landmines by BELLSAINT

5. Buying Easter treats and surprises for the boys

6. Getting Raphael a reward/toy at Target

7. Speaking with Mami

8. Puntería by Shakira and Cardi B

9. Afternoon walk on the Silver Comet Trail

10. Spring is finally here

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Target Finds

Happy Thursday! It's time for another round of Target Finds! As usual, I've found so many great things at Target. This month's list includes a mix of things we needed and a couple of random buys.

Glade Automatic Spray Air Freshener

Oddly, this is one of my favorite buys for the month. I love the aqua waves scent. The design of the atomic spray air freshener is nice. I love that it can go well with all of my bathroom decor. I also love that there are three timed fragrance releases. I love that Target's air freshener refills also fit the Glade automatic spray air freshener.

Kenmore 1.1 cu-ft Black Microwave

A few weeks ago, we had to get a new microwave. Our old one started sparking, so it was time to get rid of it. We found this Kenmore microwave and really like it. It's slightly bigger than our previous one but does its job. It was easy to set up and easy to use.

Energizer Automatic LED Nightlights

John wanted to get some lights for our hallways so that he wouldn't have to turn on the lights late at night. Honestly, I don't know why we hadn't thought to buy these until now. These are super useful when I remember that a load of laundry needs to be switched out right before bed. Also, it's super helpful when I need to wake up super early and don't want to wake everyone else. Not to mention, it's saved John's and my life a few times from near falls down the stairs.

Anyway, this was a great buy. The sensor works well and puts out enough light...it's not too dim, but also not too bright...it's just right.

Thermos Kids' Stainless Steel Water Bottle

It was time to replace Raphael's water bottles, so we opted to get another stainless steel water bottle. Raphael loves his new bottle. We haven't had any leaks, and it's very easy to clean.

What are some of your favorite Target finds?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Spring 2024 Bucket List

Happy Tuesday! It's the first day of spring and I'm excited. I'm so over winter and am ready for warmer weather, sunshine, and flowers. As always, I'm dreading pollen, but at least the chilly weather is almost over. 

I'm looking forward to so many things this spring including crossing things off my spring bucket list. Sharing my spring bucket list is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the first day of spring. There's a few things that are the same from my previous spring bucket lists, but there's a couple of new things too. Check out my spring bucket list below.

• Make a strawberry shortcake

• Publish 5 personal pieces on the blog

• Participate in Exhale's blog hops or at least complete the prompts

• Make a photo essay and/or a photo zine

• Complete 2 unfinished (i.e. abandoned) creative projects

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

• Visit a new coffee shop

• Try 3 new recipes

• Clean out our closets

• Submit a piece to an online publication

• Read a new book

• Watch a new series

• Complete one Studio Calico creative class that I haven't finished

• Buy flowers

• Work in my sketchbook/journal

• Try a new art technique

• Participate in an Easter egg hunt

• Complete one class by Liz Lamoreux

• Participate in a spring reading challenge

What is on your Spring bucket list?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Libby Penner on Unsplash

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. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

2. Lover's Death by Ursine Vulpine & Annaca

3. Second Skin by Maiah Manser

4. Malaka Gharib's picture zine, The Duplex 

5. Rewatching old supernatural horror movies

6. Easter candies

7. Conversations with my friends

8. Spring-like weather

9. This prompt by Amy Turn Sharp

10. Finally getting my orders from Persnickety Prints and Ali Edwards

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

March Goals

Happy Wednesday! Can you believe it's finally March? February went by so fast. Last month started off a bit hectic. COVID hit our household, but thankfully, we are all healthy and doing well. We went for several walks on the Silver Comet Trail, celebrated Valentine's Day, and had winter break.

March is usually an emotional month for me, but I'm feeling really hopeful about this month. I'm looking forward to going to a St. Patrick's Day festival, celebrating Easter, and spending time with my family. 

Now that it's a new month, I look forward to working on new goals. Since I mentioned goals, let's have a quick recap of my February goals and check out my new goals for March.

Recap of February Goals

• Read 3 books: I read some really great books and short stories. I'm currently reading the Improbable Meet-Cute short stories collection. The collection has six stories, and I read the first four short stories. I also read several books that I received from NetGalley. I also read a few books that have taken me so long to finish reading. I guess you could say they were books that no longer held my interest and were temporarily on my "did not finish" list. 

• Read 2 books I borrowed from the library: I started reading one of the books I borrowed from the library, but unfortunately, I didn't finish reading it. 

• Work on my Project Life album: I did work on my Project Life album. I still have so many layouts to work on, but it was so nice to work on a few. 

• Watch a new (or new-to-me) movie or TV series: I watched Thanksgiving. It was odd to watch a horror movie set during Thanksgiving when it was almost spring, but I was intrigued. 

• Try 1 new recipe: I haven't tried a new recipe, but I found a few that I want to try. Most of the recipes I found are dessert and breakfast recipes. 

• Go for a walk on the Silver Comet Trail at least once a week: I don't remember if I went for a walk every week, but I did go for a few walks throughout the month. I really loved going for walks with John and the boys.

• Participate in Exhale's February blog hop: Unfortunately, I didn't participate in the blog hop, but I plan to work on the prompt in March. It was a busy month, and I didn't feel like writing.

• Complete February: Five Things challenge/class: I didn't finish this class. I'm really hoping that I can complete the class in March. I will also try to incorporate the prompts in different projects like traveler's notebooks and my project life album.

March Goals

• Read 5 books

• Make 1 layout a week

• Go for a walk on the Silver Comet Trail at least once a week

• Participate in Exhale's March blog hop

• Work on a project from 2023

• Try 1 new recipe

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

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Ella Jardim on Unsplash