If You And I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet up at one of our new favorite little coffee shops. It may be the afternoon, but I could definitely use a little pick-me-up, especially since I didn't have a morning coffee. I'll probably order a pastry or two as a snack. The weather is much nicer this afternoon, so maybe we'll even go for a little walk around the neighborhood.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that we are just days away from the last day of school, and I am so excited. I can't wait to have the summer off. However, I have thought of maybe picking up a temp job related to my potential career field, but it would also be nice to just have the summer completely off. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that we had a great time celebrating Michael's birthday. I still can't believe he's 15! Time is going by so fast. His birthday happened fall during the middle of the week, but we still did our birthday traditions. Since the weather had been so awful for most of the week, including the weekend, Michael decided he wanted a more laid-back celebration at home. However, we are still planning to celebrate his birthday all month long. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm currently reading an arc of Nikki Giovanni's upcoming final book, The New Book. This collection is filled with poems, letters, blurbs, etc., about her early life while also addressing recent current events. So far, this book has been absolutely amazing, and I look forward to reading more of her work. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that there's so much I'd like to do this summer. I think I may join Exhale's 100 Days of Summer on Film class, and I'm also thinking about joining another creative class or challenge. I want to try new recipes and work in my journal and sketchbook. I also plan on working on my Project Life album. I'm craving getting back to my creative projects, and I'm tired of being stuck in a semi-creative block. I have so many ideas and plans, but once I sit down to work on something, I get stuck. It's been really frustrating. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so glad we were able to catch up. Summer is almost here, and by the time of our next coffee date, it'll definitely be here. Maybe during our next coffee chat, we'll order some refresher drinks to go and check out a farmer's market. One thing I've been looking forward to is buying some Rainier cherries. Here's to counting down the rest of the days until summer break. Here's to peaceful days ahead. I hope you enjoy the rest of May. See you next month.

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Daniel Campbell on Unsplash

May 2025 Goals

Happy Monday! It's finally May—one of my favorite months of the year! April went by pretty fast, except for that last week. 

April was a fun month. We celebrated Raphael's birthday and were so glad that his birthday was in the same week as spring break. We started the celebrations early by going to the Great Wolf Lodge a few days before his birthday. The kids loved the water park. We also had so much fun playing mini golf and bowling. We returned home on his actual birthday and did our usual birthday traditions —birthday cake, balloons, candles, and gifts. We also went to the spring festival. Raphael enjoyed the bouncy houses, Michael and Gabriel had fun exploring the area, and we all enjoyed eating some treats. I tried a new-to-me mobile coffee shop and went to Sincerely Yours Bookstore on Independent Bookstore Day. 

This month, I'm looking forward to celebrating Michael's birthday. I can't believe he's turning 15! I'm looking forward to celebrating Mother's Day. I already bought Mami's gift, and I'm glad I did this early. When I went to buy the gift, the item was the last one in stock. I'm also looking forward to celebrating Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. I'm also looking forward to the end of the school year. Only 12 more days! I'm so excited!

Since it's a new month, it's time to have a quick recap on last month's goals, and then we can check out my goals for May.

Recap of April 2025 Goals

• Read 2 books I borrowed from the library: I read The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park and The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman. The Deal of a Lifetime nearly had me in tears. It was such an amazing read. Raphael and I also read several books we borrowed from the library together. 

• Read 2 books I received from NetGalley: I read Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel by Natalie Babbitt, and I Heard the Bells on Christmas by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Tuck Everlasting is such a great book, so I was excited when I found out that it was being made into a graphic novel. The graphic novel was great! It was definitely condensed, but it worked well. Reading Tuck Everlasting made me want to watch the movie. As for I Heard the Bells on Christmas, this was a cute poem that was made into a little book. The illustrations were gorgeous, and the message is so important, especially with everything going on in the world.

• Participate in Exhale's blog hop: I did participate in the blog hop. You can check out my piece here.

• Try 1 new recipe: Unfortunately, I can't remember if I did try a new recipe, so I'm going to assume that I didn't.

• Make time to play with my scrapbook/memory-keeping supplies: I did not do this at all. April was such a busy month, and I simply didn't take the time to sit down and make any layouts. 

• Work in my sketchbook/journal at least once a week: See above.

• Make my own flower arrangement using grocery store flowers: I haven't tried this yet, but I definitely want to. I didn't bother to make any arrangements because I already had a few bouquets given to me, and the flowers lasted for a while.

• Work on writing a piece for an online publication: I haven't worked on this yet, but I have a few ideas for a few pieces. It's a matter of picking which one I'd like to work on first.

May Goals

• Read 1 book I borrowed from the library
• Read 1 book I received from NetGalley
• Participate in Exhale's blog hop
• Try 2 new recipes
• Make time to play with my memory-keeping supplies
• Work in my sketchbook/journal at least once a week
• Work on writing a piece for an online publication

What are your goals for May? How did you do in April?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Timo C. Dinger on Unsplash

April 2025 // A List

1. Oh, April. What a month you were. A month full of adventures. A month with an equal mix of days spent resting and going to new places. 

2. April was a month full of celebrations. We celebrated Raphael's birthday and were happy that his birthday happened to fall during spring break. We decided to celebrate by going to the Great Wolf Lodge, which was a treat. We did our usual birthday tradition when we returned home—birthday cake, candles, and gifts.

3. It was also my brother's birthday. We didn't get to see him, but it was nice to send him a birthday greeting. 

4. We had a low-key Easter. The boys enjoyed their Easter baskets and had fun finding Easter eggs. This year, the Easter bunny decided to hide dollars in the eggs. I was amused watching them run around while I ate an outrageous amount of Cadbury eggs.

5. I voted in my local special election. I'm always surprised that not many people remember that there are local elections. I think it's so important to vote in every election. 

6. We went to the Spring Jonquil Festival and had a blast. Going to this event every year is a highlight of the spring season. Raphael enjoyed the bouncy houses, Michael and Gabriel had fun walking around the festival, and we devoured some fried Oreos. I also bought a few things from some new-to-me local businesses. 

7. I tried a new pop-up coffee shop. Frothy Coffee Experience partnered with Sincerely Yours Bookstore and created a book-themed menu, which was perfection. The Shadows & Smoke latte was delicious!

8. Tulips continued to bring me joy all month long. However, it always makes me sad when the flowers start to die. I wish tulips lasted a little longer. I'll have to find out more information on making them live longer. 

9. Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday. I found out shortly after waking up to get ready for work, and was equally shocked and saddened. I will admit that I didn't regularly keep up with news about Pope Francis, but the things I learned over the years about him made it seem like he was an incredibly kind and inspiring man. 

10. I participated in Exhale's blog hop. I enjoyed sharing my simple joys. I can't wait to see the next blog hop prompt. 

11. I didn't work on my Project Life/memory-keeping album, but I have so many ideas and plans for layouts. I'm primarily stuck on whether I should have two separate albums this year —one that would be a family album and another that would be kind of like an art journal/sketchbook/catch-all. 

12. April was a month full of reflections and finding comfort in simple things. I'm so grateful that there were more good days than bad. April, I thank you so much. You were such a gift. Here's to hoping May is just as good a month for everyone.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Just Five Things

1. Saturday was an amazing day because it was Independent Bookstore Day and the first day of my city's Spring Festival. We had so fun at the festival. Raphael loved the bouncy houses. We all devoured fried Oreos. I also bought a few things from some new-to-me small businesses. I absolutely love supporting small businesses and have noticed that I'm definitely trying to buy from more local shops as well. One of my new favorite bookstores, Sincerely Yours Bookstore, collaborated with a mobile coffee bar, Frothy Coffee Experience, on Independent Bookstore Day. After we left the festival, I stopped by the bookstore and bought some coffee for John and me. I loved the book-themed coffee menu and tried the Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Latte inspired by the character Xaden Riorson.

2. I've been reading Mr. Boddington's Dispatches and have been enjoying them. Mr. Boddington is Rebecca Ruebensaal's imaginary friend and the inspiration for her book and stationery shop. 

3. Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is coming up soon. I loved seeing some of the teacher gift displays (even though most were small) in stores. I've already started getting some goodies together for Raphael's teachers, and I'm glad that I haven't waited until the last minute because there weren't a lot of items available at most of the stores. Maybe I started shopping too early, or perhaps I am a little late? Who knows?

4. I got my first mail club package from Haley Weaver. The mail club is a subscription service for those who subscribe to Haley's Substack newsletter, Haley Wrote This. I received a few goodies, including a couple of postcards, which I'm excited about because I've been really into postcards lately. I may add one to my journal or Project Life (pocket pages) album.

5. Very relatable:

Today won't be like yesterday, you tell yourself. 

You won't reach for your phone first thing,

but maybe a quick peek is okay —

to check notifications,

to make sure the world is still whole.

Of course it's not; every headline fractures

the ground beneath you.

But that reality tv star had her baby

and your mom got Wordle in three tries

and you've received a discount code

to that online shop, a reminder that maybe

 a waist-cinching bathing suit could fix it all:

your body, your summer, your life!!!

—from Haley Weaver's #111: Today will be Different

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Simple Joys

The simple joy of escaping to the Silver Comet Trail. The simple joy of passing by yellow jonquils—my city's flower. The simple joy of that first sip of coffee. The simple joy of walking into a new local business and realizing that it will be one of your go-to spots. The simple joy of reading a book at your favorite spot in the house. The simple joy of going to the library and really understanding what a gift libraries are. The simple joy of taking a long, hot bath after an exhausting day. The simple joy of hearing my children's laughter. The simple joy of finally having time to watch a guilty pleasure on TV. The simple joy of being held in the arms of the love of my life. The simple joy of hearing your mami's voice. The simple joy of laughing so hard your stomach hurts. The simple joy of wearing your favorite sweater or favorite loungewear. The simple joy of creating art. The simple joy of watching a child learn and experience something new. The simple joy of nostalgia. The simple joy of the first day of farmers market season. The simple joy of the first day of Food Truck Tuesday season. The simple joy of having a picnic. The simple joy of solving a crossword puzzle on a lazy Sunday morning. The simple joy of an empty laundry basket—a rare treat. The simple joy of discovering a new-to-me artist. The simple joy of getting my hair done at the salon by my favorite hair stylist. The simple joy of self-care. The simple joy of browsing my bookshelf. The simple joy of receiving happy mail. The simple joy of taking a nap on a random afternoon. The simple joy of being able to sleep in. The simple joy of eating a favorite treat. The simple joy of learning something new. The simple joy of embracing life's simple pleasures. The simple joy of embracing the stillness. The simple joy of embracing your softness. The simple joy of realizing that you're in your favorite era. The simple joy of being. 

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 "Simple". 

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. I just discovered Tala Rae Schlossberg and her work. Her self-portrait series is really cool. 

2. This sweet meet-cute story

3. Only four more Fridays left of the school year. The countdown really has begun. 

4.  Learning about a non-verbal communication called pebbling. I think so many of us do this, and it was interesting to learn that it has a name. 

5. I have fallen in love with tulips. There's just something about them, especially during spring. I love that John keeps buying tulips in various colors. I always smile every time I pass our current bouquet.

6. After giving up Pepsi and Coke for Lent, I had my first Coke on Saturday. It felt and tasted odd to drink one. However, I am proud that I kept that promise to not drink any Pepsi or Coke for 40 days. 

7. A song on repeat: Young Broke by Letdown.

8. I just started reading Letters From Gaza: A Collection By the People, From the Year That Has Been. This is such an important and powerful read. I'll share a full review soon. *Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC.

9. Making art when the conditions are impossible by Kelcey Erick

10. We're having a low-key Easter. The boys have been content with their Easter baskets while I have been devouring Cadbury caramel eggs all day long.

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 at a new-to-us coffee shop. We'd order some seasonal lattes and a couple of pastries (and by a couple...I mean a lot). Thankfully, we'll order enough pastries that we can take some to-go.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so saddened by what happened in the Dominican Republic. I am praying for my motherland. Watching the videos of the families trying to find answers about their loved ones was gut-wrenching. I also feel like it made so many of us think about how life is short and how things can change instantly. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that we had a blast celebrating Raphael's birthday. Since his birthday happened to fall during spring break, John and I thought it would be fun to go on a staycation. We decided to go to The Great Wolf Lodge. The boys absolutely loved the indoor water park. We also loved bowling and playing mini-golf. We plan on finding local bowling allies for family fun/game nights. When we returned home, we gave Raphael a few gifts and got him a birthday cake.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that although spring break is over, I'm excited that school will be over in just a few weeks. I'm looking forward to summer break, and I know the kids are too. I'm counting down the days already. However, there are so many things that I'm looking forward to in the next few weeks.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that although I'm looking forward to the summer break, there are so many things I'm looking forward to in the next few weeks. I'm looking forward to celebrating Easter. I'm also looking forward to celebrating Michael's birthday. I'm still figuring out what we'll do to celebrate his day. Seriously, why did no one tell me how difficult it would be to celebrate a teenager's birthday? I'm also looking forward to celebrating Mother's Day. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I've been reading many of the books on my DNFY ("did not finish yet") list. I've done this occasionally, but I noticed that I've been reading a lot more of those books recently. Also, I recently read this post by Brittany, in which she perfectly described my feelings on DNF and DNFY.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm glad we were able to meet. I hope you enjoy the rest of the month. Also, how are we already almost at the halfway point of April? Here's to more sunshine and flowers but less pollen. Here's to better days...always.

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Christelle Sison 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 happy and grateful list link-up.

1. Celebrating Raphael's birthday! We went to the Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate Raphael's early. Once we returned home (on his actual birthday), we gave him some gifts, sang Happy Birthday, and had a delicious ice cream cake. 

2. I was excited that Raphael's birthday fell during Spring Break. We decided to celebrate early by going to the Great Wolf Lodge. We all had a blast playing at the indoor waterpark. We also enjoyed bowling and plan to visit a local bowling alley soon. 

3. When we returned from our staycation, it was nice not to worry about cleaning anything. I love cleaning, tidying up, and doing laundry right before leaving. All we have to do when we get back is unpack and put our dirty clothes to wash.

4. I have been taking advantage of sleeping in. Getting some much-needed rest has been amazing. Since I'm so used to waking up early, I still wake up at my usual time. However, smiling and then remembering that the kids and I didn't have to get ready for school or work was nice.

5. Make Time for Reading: 15 Tips for Reading More by Brittany Viklund. I could relate to her feelings on DNFing books. Side note: DNF means "did not finish." I love that she uses the acronym DNFY (did not finish yet). I have so many books that I have not finished yet. Lately, I've been reviewing my DNFY list and finished a few books.

6. This video made me laugh way too hard and now I want to visit Columbus just to visit their library.

7. It's been raining off and on since last night, and I love it. There's something just so soothing about the rain, especially during springtime. Also, I'm hoping that the rain washes away more pollen. 

8. Crumbl Cookies and the Kardashians collaborated for this week's line of flavors. I don't follow the Kardashians, but I was intrigued by the flavors. I really wanted to try the flourless chocolate cake. However, I was slightly disappointed because it was not what I expected. It had an odd texture and a bland taste. However, the classic yellow layer cake and the snickerdoodle crumb cake were delicious. 

9. I have been really into spicy Southwest chicken salads. I like how simple they are to make and love how filling they are. I plan on making this for lunch a couple of days a week.

10. Lately, I've been loving postcards. I have some that came in a Flow paper book, and I also bought a couple of postcards while we were on vacation. I plan to use the vacation ones in my Project Life and One Little Word albums.

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. Each day this week, I treated myself to something. On Monday, I had a slice of strawberry shortcake. On Tuesday, I had an Evolution Fresh soda. On Wednesday, I had some YumEarth jelly beans. On Thursday, I had Chik-fil-A for lunch. On Friday, I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up a new book, The Orange and Other Poems by Wendy Cope, and one of Flow's Paper Paper Paper: Cottage Collection paper book. I love the idea of treating myself to something small every day. It doesn't even have to be expensive...in fact, it doesn't even have to cost a thing. 

2. I thought my 30s would feel like settling down.

3. I finished reading The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman. It was such a great book, and the ending made me cry. 10/10 highly recommend.

4. The @meetscutesnyc Instagram page. I love listening to the stories of how couples first met.

5. Laura Dame's art - I, too, am struggling to get into an art groove. I love her idea of jumping back in with the help of collaging.

6. A song on repeat: HOT TO GO! by Chappell Roan (I heard this song while shopping at Old Navy, and now it's stuck in my head.)

7. I bought a Tony's Chocolonely Easter Eggs Carton. I love that it comes in an egg carton, and I can't get over how cute the packaging is.

8. Cory Booker's 25-hour Senate speech. Watch his closing remarks here.

9. As I write this post, it is heavily raining, and I'm here for it! I hope it washes away as much pollen as possible. 

10. Spring Break has begun! I'm so excited to have the week off, enjoy our staycation, and relax.

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

April 2025 Goals

Happy Wednesday and Happy April! I'm so excited that it's finally April. March was an emotional month for me because it was the death anniversary of my baby brother. However, I made sure to try to comfort myself. I listened to music, read good books, and sat at my favorite window while trying to work on some crafty projects.

Although March is (and it certainly was) a heavy month, there were good days. We visited the Marietta Square Artisan Market and our city's St. Patrick's Day event. I shopped at several small businesses and was very intentional with my shopping. I went to the grand opening of a new bookstore, Sincerely Your Bookstore, and John and I went to a new-to-us coffee shop, Smyrna Coffee. We also tried a new pizzeria, DaVinci's Pizzeria. I also bought a few things from one of my favorite small businesses, The Gifting Tree. I gave up Pepsi and Coke for Lent, but I am drinking Poppi and Olipop. However, I'm limiting how much of those I drink as well. I bought a few dresses for spring and summer. We spent time with family. My little sister moved out of state, but we all went to Mami's house to spend time together before she did. It was so much fun seeing all of my nieces and nephews. They have grown so much over the years. 

In April, I hope for more creativity, exploration, and feeling more at ease. Since it's a new month, I have some new goals, and some of those goals include creating more. I think the theme for this month may just be creativity. Since I mentioned goals, let's recap my goals for March and check out my new goals for April.

Recap of March Goals

• Read 5 books: I read 33 books. Many of these books were short stories. Once again, I read various genres such as fiction, romance, children's books, and nonfiction. My favorite reads of the month were Banned Together: Our Fight for Reader's Rights, Victory for Vampires by Hazel Mack, The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez, The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman, Ushers by Joe Hill, and 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff.

• Read 1 book I borrowed from the library: I read a lot of books that we borrowed from the library.  Most of the library books I read were children's books that Raphael and I read together. However, a book that I read by myself (and absolutely loved) was 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff.

• Read 1 book I received from NetGalley: I read a few books I received from NetGalley and am happy that I'm working my way through the massive list of books I received from them. I focused on reading books that I stopped reading months ago. I read Murder Ballads by Katy Horan, an anthology called Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights, and Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole.

• Participate in Exhale's March blog hop: I did participate in the blog hop. I shared the things that have been comforting me over the past few weeks as I dealt with the waves of grief of my baby brother's death. You can check out my piece here. 

• Try 1 new recipe: I'm pretty certain I did not try a new recipe in March. I stuck with mainly comfort food and my go-to meals.

• Make time to play with my scrapbook/memory-keeping supplies: I'm really disappointed that I didn't scrapbook or journal much in March. I didn't make time and felt stuck when I considered playing with my supplies.

• Complete this month's One Little Word prompt: Unfortunately, I didn't complete the prompt for March. I'm a little disappointed about this, too. I have the supplies, but I just didn't feel like working on the prompt. I didn't feel creative and felt a little overwhelmed once I tried to start, especially once the first few days of the month had passed.

April Goals

• Read 2 books I borrowed from the library
• Read 2 books I received from NetGalley
• Participate in Exhale's blog hop
• Try 1 new recipe
• Make time to play with my scrapbook/memory-keeping supplies
• Work in my sketchbook/journal at least once a week
• Make my own flower arrangement using grocery store flowers
• Work on writing a piece for an online publication 

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

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

March 2025 // A List

1. March. What a month you were. As usual, it was an emotional month for me. There were good days and bad days, days filled with joy and sorrow, days when I felt gratitude, and days when I was left asking so many questions.

2. March kicked off with a trip to the Marietta Square Artisan Market. That same day, we went for an evening walk in our city's downtown area. 

3. Nature had me in awe—the gorgeous sunrises, the magic of the moon, and the jonquils finally blooming. However, I was also annoyed with nature—the bugs and the pollen. 

4. Daylight Saving Time will always irritate me. I don't know why I'm still surprised by the time change. Sometimes, I wonder why it's still light outside after 5 p.m. I guess I was so used to winter's darkness. 

5. I shared my piece for Exhale's blog hop. This was a very personal piece for me. I am and will always grieve the death of my baby brother, Mike. However, I find myself grieving even more in March, his birth and death anniversary month.

6. In March, I made sure to comfort myself. I read several good books and even managed to read several that I had stopped reading but wanted to finally finish. I listened to music, watched TV, and spent time with my family. I also stocked up on my favorite self-care items like bath bombs and face masks.

7. I went to new places and really tried to support small businesses. I went to the grand opening of a new romance bookstore, Sincerely Yours Bookstore. I was so excited about this new bookstore that I returned with John this past weekend. John and I went to a new coffee shop, Smyrna Coffee, and loved the shop. The decor was amazing. The drinks and food were great as well. I highly recommend the Dalmation Latte. We also tried a new-to-us pizzeria for dinner, DaVinci's Pizzeria, and loved the food. The Cajun Alfredo was delicioius.

8. This month was full of treats—Easter candies like jelly beans, Cadbury caramel eggs, Ferrero Rocher eggs, and YumEarth candies. 

9. For Lent, I gave up Pepsi and Coke. Instead, I'm drinking Poppi and Olipop, but I'm still limiting how many of those I drink. I've been trying to up my water intake.

10. I bought some new dresses for spring and was happy they were all on sale. I even wore one this month. 

11. We went to Mami's house to say goodbye (or rather see you later) to my little sister. She's moving out of state, so we got all the kids together for a playdate. I got to see my oldest nephew and nieces. I was blown away at how much they have grown. It was so much fun to look at old photos of them when they were babies and compare them to now.

12. I still haven't worked in my sketchbook or on many of my creative projects. I've been having a hard time getting started. I gave myself grace this month but hope to work on these projects in April.

13. I'm still working on figuring out what I want in my career. I'm taking baby steps, but I'm moving forward, and it's a good feeling.

14. As the month ends, I'm grateful for the lessons I learned, thankful that it was a kinder month, and glad I gave myself grace this month. There were definitely some difficult days, but overall, it was surprisingly a decent month. 

15. Goodbye March. You were so kind to me, and I thank you for that. April, I hope you're an absolute dream. I have such high hopes for you.

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. Getting some new self-care goodies from my favorite local shop. I bought a Sow The Magic wild rose bath bomb, a Lemon Lavender dryband set, and a coaster.

2. I tried Chick-fil-A's new pineapple dragonfruit lemonade, which was surprisingly delicious. 

3. We bought a new toaster, and I was oddly excited about it. You know you're an adult when you are excited about getting new appliances.

4. On my wishlist: But Her Emails hat

5. Big Salad's The March Edit

6. We tried a new-to-us pizza spot, Davinci's Pizzeria, and really enjoyed the food. Their calzones are gigantic. I highly recommend their Cajun Alfredo.

7. My little sister is moving out of state, so we all decided to meet up at Mami's house to say goodbye before she moved. I'm going to miss my nephew and baby niece. It was also so nice to see my older sister's kids. I can't believe how much my nieces and nephews have grown.

8. John and I went to a new coffee shop, Smyrna Coffee. It might just be our new favorite spot. I tried their Dalmation Latte, and it was so good. 

9. After reading a few book recommendations, I put a few books on hold at my library. I was so excited that my library had a couple of books, and I can't wait to read them. I'm really looking forward to reading The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park and These Precious Days by Ann Patchett.

10. Brad and Kristi Montague's We Hope You Fail Better exhibit. I absolutely love the idea of their Community Fail Wall. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. John bought me some gorgeous flowers. I absolutely adore tulips.

2. Eugénie's art—I love the idea of using black and white photos and images and then adding color, collage, or even embroidery.

3. I finally finished Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole. I stopped reading it a while ago and decided to pick it back up, and I'm really glad I did. It's a heavy but powerful read. 

4. r.h. Sin shared 36 things he learned in his 36 years of life in honor of his birthday. So many of these lessons 

5. I've been feeling under the weather, so chicken noodle soup has been such a comfort this week.

6. I needed some new t-shirts, and luckily, Old Navy had my favorite t-shirts on sale.

7. Getting Back into the Swing of Things (The New Yorker) 

8. I participated in Exhale's March blog hop. You can check out my piece here.

9. Currently drinking and loving: Evolution Fresh cold-pressed juices. I highly recommend the Mighty Watermelon and Organic Defense Up juices.

10. I'm loving these lazy Sundays. It's been so nice lounging, reading, and catching up on shows. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

In the stillness

March is often a chaotic and emotional month for me. It's the birth and death anniversary of my baby brother. When I think about peace, I think about the little moments that have comforted me over the past few weeks as the waves of grief ebb and flow.

1. I go for a walk on the Silver Comet Trail. I walk for miles and miles and miles. The weather is warmer now. The flowers are blooming, and the plants are coming back to life. I crave the stillness. The only sounds are the birds singing and the squirrels and chipmunks running across the trail and into the bushes and trees. I think about anything and everything. Sometimes, a runner passes by, and we share a brief nod or a smile. Sometimes, I'm surprised by a friend or coworker, and we stop to chat. And then we're on our way. I continue to walk and walk and walk.

2. I discover a new-to-me song on one of my favorite Apple's playlists, Chill Mix. Skott's Overcome has been on repeat. I always stop what I'm doing, and my eyes well up when she sings, "Do you ever wonder what it's like losing what you cannot be without?" And I wonder, is it strange to miss someone who you never got to meet? Still, I mourn. Still, I find comfort in music. 

3. I reread Hello Grief by Alessandra Olanow. The images and words are much needed and appreciated. Although it's a quick read, I love that there were some great reminders. 

4. I sit at my favorite spot in my home, the bay window in my dining room. I light a candle and smell the fresh flowers. I pull out my art and memory-keeping supplies and pour my emotions onto paper. It's the first time in weeks (it may very well have been a month or so) that I've actually used my crafty supplies. I realized how much I missed creating and how much I needed to make something—anything—with my hands.

5. After the boys are in bed, John and I watch a show on TV. When we finally decide to go to bed, he senses I'm feeling down. He listens while I tell him how I'm feeling and holds me until I fall asleep. I'm grateful that it doesn't matter if I need to speak or simply be held; John is always there.

6. Tonight, I sit alone on the living room couch. I sit in the stillness of the night. It's well past bedtime, and John and the boys are asleep. I allow myself to feel my emotions and grieve privately. I end up crying. I cry for my mother, who had to endure the loss of a child. No parent should ever have to go through that. I cry and wonder how she managed to overcome that loss. I will forever be in awe of Mami. I cry for my older brother and sisters because we never got to meet our baby brother. I wonder if they still grieve for him. I cried for myself and everything I had hoped for my little brother, Mike. I cry for Mike. I cry because he didn't get to experience life. He didn't get to see this world. I cry because I feel like we were robbed of his life. I cry because the "what-ifs" (and the could've, would've, should've) still plague my mind. I cry because I can only imagine what life would have been like if Mike were here...if he had lived. I cry and cry and cry. And when I stop, I embrace the stillness of the night, and for a little bit, I feel a bit of relief, comfort, and peace. 

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 "Peace."

Photo by Jun on Unsplash

Spring 2025 Bucket List

Happy Wednesday! I'm a little early, but happy first day of spring! Spring officially begins tomorrow, but I'm so over winter, and I can't wait for spring's arrival. I'm so ready for warmer weather, the return of my local farmers market, and all the flowers. 

As always, with a new season comes a seasonal bucket list. May this tradition never end. Although a few things on my bucket list have been included in previous lists, there are also some new additions. Check out my bucket list below.

• Read outside
• Visit 3 new-to-me coffee shops
• Finish watching With Love, Meghan
• Publish 5 personal pieces on the blog
• Try 3 new recipes
• Submit a piece to an online publication
• Participate in Exhale's blog hops
• Complete 1 unfinished (i.e., abandoned) creative project
• Work in my sketchbook/journal
• Try a new art technique
• Complete 1 class by Liz Lamoreux
• Complere 1 Studio Calico class
• Visit a museum
• Buy flowers
• Participate in a book challenge
• Visit a new-to-me bookstore
• Go for a family walk every week
• Make and publish a photo essay
• Make a zine
• Watch 3 new (or new-to-me) movies
• Give myself grace
• Catch up on reading my Bella Grace and In Her Studio magazines
• Go to the library at least once a week

What is on your spring bucket list?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Zoe Richardson 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 happy and grateful list link-up.

1. The afternoons have been so gorgeous! I love that we're getting warmer, spring-like weather. 

2. 99 Questions To Ask Your Partner To Know Them Better (The Good Trade)

3. A song on repeat: Pain by Boy Harsher (I recently discovered this band and this song from this post by r.h. Sin.)

4. Massachusetts just made birth control and emergency contraception free for eligible people

5. I watched the first two episodes of With Love, Meghan, and have really enjoyed this series. Now, I want to make a frittata and a balloon arch.

6. I love seeing the yellow Jonquils and other flowers around the city. I'm definitely still in my floral era.

7. Unfortunately, I didn't see the blood moon due to the weather. However, I really loved seeing photos people took of the blood moon in different cities and countries of the moon. 

8. I've been getting a lot of stuff done well in advance, and I've never been more grateful for my planner than I am now.

9. Reading. I've read good books, articles, and newsletters in the past two weeks. 

10. It's finally Friday! I'm looking forward to getting some rest, spending time with my family, and working on some creative projects.

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 at one of our go-to coffee shops. Instead of ordering our usual, we'll opt to try something new. Maybe a seasonal drink or pastry. Since it'll be close to lunchtime, I'll order a Chipotle chicken sandwich. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that Daylight Saving Time is kicking my butt. I hate when the time changes because it takes me a while to get used to it. However, I love that it's not getting dark so early, and the time change is a sign that spring is almost here. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I went to the grand opening of the cutest little bookstore in my city. It's called Sincerely Yours Bookstore. The store is super pink and heavy on romance, but it also carries some other genres. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that this month feels weird. I'm experiencing waves of grief, yet I am having more days of feeling settled, grounded, and relieved. It's odd how I feel opposite emotions at the same time. I could ramble on about this, but I think I'll just sit with these emotions for a bit and try to reflect on them. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you I'm in this weird creative rut. It's not that I don't have time to create or ideas on what to make. It's simply that I can't decide where to begin. I have a couple of sketchbooks and notebooks that I want to use, but I can't decide on which one to try first. It's really frustrating because I'm dying to play with paper and make something, but what's holding me back is which sketchbook to use. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm glad we were able to catch up. Our little coffee chats are a highlight of my month and something I really appreciate. I hope you enjoy the rest of the month. Here's to better days ahead, giving ourselves grace and being kinder to ourselves and each other. See you next 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 Sunday! Today, I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. I went to the grand opening of a new bookstore in my city, Sincerely Yours Bookstore, on Saturday. It's such a cute little bookstore. It's definitely heavy on the romance genre, but they also carry a few other genres. 

2. Sunday is the woman I want to be

3. I found a new-to-me artist on Instagram, @kindahkhalidy, and absolutely love her work.

4. I am giving up Pepsi and Coca-Cola for Lent, and it's been going well so far. I still drink Olipop and Poppi, but I don't feel guilty because they are healthier than Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

5. Speaking of drinks, I discovered a new-to-me drink, Caliwater, and I am obsessed! I tried Caliwater's Watermelon Cactus Water, and it is delicious! Raphael even loves it. I'm pretty sure this will probably be my go-to drink for the foreseeable future. 

6. Old Navy had some great sales, and I used my Super Cash to buy a few things for the boys and myself. I purchased four swing dresses in different colors (white, black, green, and lilac/pinkish color). I love how it fits. I am short, so the dresses hit just a bit past my knee. However, I love the length, and it feels so soft. It's a bit loose-fitting, but I like my dresses to fit this way. If you like your dresses to fit a little tighter, you may want to size down.

7. I was so excited to finally watch With Love, Meghan. I enjoyed watching the first episode and can't wait to watch the rest of the series.

8. Celebrating International Women's Day. Love these reminders. 

9. A song I'm loving: For Island Fires and Family by Dermot Kennedy

10. Even though I am not a fan of Daylight Saving Time (when it starts and ends), I am excited about it starting because we're so much closer to the official start of spring. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

March 2025 Goals

Happy Tuesday! It's finally March. February was a whirlwind, and the last week made me feel mentally exhausted. My emotions were definitely all over the place. 

February was an eventful month. In February, John and I went on a date to a new-to-us restaurant. We enjoyed the food and drinks. After dinner, we went for a walk around the square. We're not really into Valentine's Day, but we always get each other a gift. I tried to think more outside the box when deciding what gifts to give them, but I also kept it simple. I was really excited to give John and the boys their gifts this year. I actually had time to watch two films! I watched Fallen and La Ciguapa Siempre. I also took time to vote, participated in Exhale's monthly blog hop, and enjoyed new things. 

In March, I'm hoping for some peace. March is usually an emotional month for me because it's my baby brother's death anniversary month. This month, I'm hoping to give myself some grace. 

I set new goals for the month, but it'll be okay if I don't complete them. Since I mentioned goals, let's recap my February goals and check out the goals I set for March.

Recap of February Goals

• Read 5 books: February was a good reading month. I read 16 books, including short stories, children's books, and romance novels. My favorite read of the month was Alice Hoffman's The Bookstore Sisters. I highly recommend this series. 

• Read 2 books I received from NetGalley: I did read two books I received from NetGalley: When You're A Boy by Blake Nuto and Sketchbook Joy by Katie Moody. I really enjoyed Nuto's book and thought the message was great. Sketchbook Joy passed the time. This was definitely a book for beginners. I wish there were more prompts in the book. However, it is still a pretty good resource.

• Participate in Exhale's February blog hop: I did participate in the blog hop. You can check out my piece here.

• Work on my One Little Word project: I did not work on it, but I did think about the prompt and plan to complete it. So, maybe I can get half credit for that. 

• Try 2 new recipes: I can't remember if I made anything new, so I'm going to assume I didn't. 

• Make time to play with my scrapbook and memory-keeping supplies: Sadly, I didn't do this. The main problem was simply beginning. Every time I went to work on a creative project, I just couldn't decide where to start, became frustrated, and just did something else.

• Complete the latest round of Five Things: Oof, I did not do this. I may incorporate some of the prompts into my art journal this month.

March Goals

• Read 5 books
• Read 1 book I borrowed from the library
• Read 1 book I received from NetGalley
• Participate in Exhale's March blog hop
• Try 1 new recipe
• Make time to play with my scrapbook/memory-keeping supplies
• Complete this month's One Little Word prompt

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

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Zoe Richardson on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. I read Abby Jimenez's short story "The Fall Risk" and absolutely loved it. Set during Valentine's Day weekend, Charlotte and Seth are neighbors who are not looking for love. They finally speak to each other after a construction error traps them on the second floor of their building with no way down. I'll have to add some of her novels to my TBR list.

2. A song on repeat: Closer by Nuages

3. Kelcey Ervick's Letter to My First Love.

4. On Saturday, we went to the Marietta Square Artisan Market and stopped by the Marietta Square Farmers Market. Unfortunately, I didn't really find much, and a few things I wanted to buy were already sold out (I should have gotten there earlier). However, I did buy some delicious scones from Seven Sisters Scones. It was also a gorgeous day to walk around the square.

5. I bought some Instax mini monochrome film and am so excited to take pictures of everything this month. I think I am finally out of this creative rut.

6. Even more r.h. Sin mood boards. Here's Mood Board #16, Mood Board #17, Mood Board #18, Mood Board #19, and Mood Board #20.

7. I participated in the economic blackout on Friday, February 28. It was nice not having to run any errands, and it made me mindful about what I buy and where I buy from. Honestly, I didn't even really need anything as I had already purchased my essentials, and I was determined to use what I already had at home. I also took the time to research alternatives to stores I usually shop at and looked into more small businesses, especially ones that are local to me. I was surprised at how many small businesses have things (or alternatives) I usually buy. 

8. I bought this mini swing dress from Old Navy and already know that it will be a staple for me this spring and summer. Now I want to buy a few more in different colors. It's so soft, fits well, and is currently on sale!

9. I found such a relatable Instagram account, Thriving In Her Thirties, and it seems like such an amazing community.

10. It's finally March! Spring is almost here, and I'm so excited!

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

February 2025 // A List

1. Oh February. The shortest month of the year but a good one overall. A month full of love, adventure, good books, good days (and a couple bad), and learning new things.

2. John and I went on a date in early February and tried a new-to-us restaurant, Taqueria Tsunami. The food was excellent. I highly recommend the garden shrimp quesadilla. I tried their mango sangrita, which was good, but a bit strong. After dinner, we went for a walk around the Marietta Square.

3. I made sure to early vote in my local election. Please make sure to make your voice heard and vote during elections.

4. I am still in my floral era and hope it never ends. John bought me some beautiful flowers on Valentine's Day, and they're still alive. 

5. Speaking of Valentine's Day, you may know that John and I always tell each other that we won't buy gifts, but then we do. I was so excited to give John and the boys their gifts. They all loved their gifts. 

6. The weather gave me whiplash this month. We randomly had spring-like weather for about a week, and then the cold weather returned. Thankfully, it's been getting warmer again. I can't wait for spring to officially arrive. 

7. I watched two films on Netflix: Fallen and La Ciguapa Siempre. The first is a movie based on Kate Lauren's book, and the second is a 12-minute horror short. 

8. In February, I tried a few new things: Sugarfina's champagne gummies, YumEarth Sour Littles, Pretty Tasty Tea, and Copper Cow Pour Over Coffee (I highly recommend the churro coffee).

9. February was a good reading month. I read 17 books. Raphael and I have been on a Jonathan Stutzman kick. We love his Tiny T. Rex series. I'm still enjoying short stories and short story collections. I look forward to reading even more novellas and short story collections this year.

10. I shared my piece for Exhale's blog hop. I look forward to participating in future blog hops. 

11. The state of this country is both worrying and angering me. 

12. As the month comes to an end, I hope that March is easy on me. I'm dreading the month already, especially since it's my baby brother's death anniversary. I'm currently going through waves of grief. It still seems odd (and almost wrong?) to be happy about things in March while also dealing with grief. I find myself still going through waves of grief throughout the year, but it really hits me during March. 

13. Goodbye February. You were a month full of love and excitement. Hello March. Please, please, please be easy on me. 

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. I read and absolutely loved Alice Hoffman's short story "The Bookstore Sisters." This is the first short story in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series. I actually read the second short story first (don't ask me why; I honestly don't know). I highly recommend reading the stories in order. I can't wait to read the third short story, which was published last Tuesday.

2. More r.h. Sin mood boards. Here's Mood Board #11, Mood Board #12, Mood Board #13, Mood Board #14, and Mood Board #15. 

3. When Your Only Job is to Cuddle. Thank you to Joanna from Cup of Jo for sharing this article on her blog.

4. A song on repeat: Love Me by Adrian Daniel

5. "She's ferocious, you know? I hope she takes that with her, too."

6. A current favorite: YumEarth Sour Littles. These little sour candies are so good. They're allergy-friendly, organic, vegan, non-GMO, have no artificial dyes, and no high fructose corn syrup. This was an impulse buy that was worth it.

7. Words by Amy Turn Sharp

8. Victoria's Secret has a fantastic new perfume collection called Bare. I bought the Bare Rose Eau de Parfum and the lotion. I absolutely love it. 

9. Being on winter break was the best ever. We all got some much-needed rest. I read some good books, listened to good music, decluttered a few areas around our home, and was able to put together some bags to donate. I may have mentioned it before, but I am absolutely terrified of going to the dentist. I had a dentist appointment this week, and thankfully, it went well. 

10. Early afternoon naps, especially on Sundays.

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Love Is...

Love is...

Complex, but also simple. Beautiful and messy. Exciting and scary. Breathtaking. Showing up and caring. Knowing your person. Setting up the Keurig the night before so it's ready first thing in the morning. Switching the load of laundry. Listening to their needs. Giving them your undivided attention. Surprise flowers (even grocery store flowers). Spending time together. When you say, "You're my person." Remembering the little things. Exploring new places. Visiting favorite places together. Running errands together. Going to Costco on a Saturday morning (yes, on Saturday morning). Filling up their gas when you notice they forgot. Making new traditions and sticking with old ones, too. Being reliable and keeping your word. Admitting your mistakes. Apologizing and accepting their apologies. Not going to bed angry at each other. Setting boundaries and respecting boundaries. Practicing trust. Sharing the last slice of cheesecake. Laughing so hard at jokes that you feel like you can't breathe. Silent communication (i.e., you don't need to say anything at the moment; just being near each other is enough). Sharing the blanket. Reminding your love that you're proud of them (no matter how big or small the win is). Knowing when to give space. Having a go-to restaurant. Sharing your favorite things. Asking how their day went. Holding hands. Big hugs and kisses. When you (still) get "butterflies" in your stomach. When you still blush no matter how long you've been together. Learning how to compromise. Knowing when to let go. Knowing when to stay. Being honest with each other...always. One of the greatest, most incredible gifts. 

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 "Love."

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash