Just Four Things

1. I recently watched Voicemails to Isabelle and really loved it. I haven't watched a rom-com drama in such a long time, but I'm so glad I listened to everyone who recommended this movie. Also, the soundtrack is amazing. 

2. I've been reading Allie Sullenberg's Substack newsletter, The Museum of Small and Important Things. I love a good listicle, and she started a new series, Mind Museum, which I thought was pretty cool. She also has an excellent series called Tiny Desk Tour, where artists give tiny desk tours of their creative spaces and share their creative processes.

3. I'm planning to sell a few books on Pangobooks and possibly reopen my Etsy shop, and realized a label printer would be useful. So I recently bought a Munbyn thermal label printer, and so far it's been great. It was fairly easy to set up (John helped a lot), and now I can print labels. I love that it doesn't use any ink.

4. I really wanted to try more recipes this month, and I'm happy to say that I did. I've been saving some recipes I've found on Instagram and finally made time to make them. I also love that some of the recipes I've been trying are things or flavors that I normally wouldn't even try. And surprisingly, they have turned out well. 

What have you been up to?

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Until next time...

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Just Five Things

 

1. I recently finished reading A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania and loved it. This is a children's novel in verse about an eleven-year-old girl named Gao Sheng who lives in Laos. When the communist government takes over after American troops pull out from the Vietnam War, the government begins to search for American allies. One of those allies is Gao's father. Gao's family is forced to flee their home and homeland to survive. It was amazing to see how Gao copes with these changes and how she navigates the expectations placed on her.

2. This is the last week before winter break, and I'm so excited. I love that this Friday is Friday the 13th. I plan to watch a scary movie or two. Maybe even watch a spooky series. We'll have a low-key Valentine's Day, and I'll probably try to bake something. I'm really looking forward to working on my Project Life album and playing in my sketchbook. I might also go to the movies and watch Dracula. Of course, I plan to do a lot of resting and relaxing. 

3. I had no idea who was playing at the Super Bowl until just a few hours before the game. I was incredibly excited for Bad Bunny's performance, and the show did not disappoint. I was hit with a massive wave of nostalgia. The highlights and various scenes of moments were incredible. Bad Bunny truly highlighted the everyday Latino life. The performance made me wish I were back in New York. It made me think about my childhood. The scenes of family gatherings, the celebrations, the bodega, the culture...all the little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the performance were everything. Bad Bunny's performance was truly a love letter. 

4. I went down a rabbit hole after reading a post on social media about the Tarim mummies. It was interesting to read about how people in that time might have lived. The way the mummies were buried was also interesting. I was surprised to learn that the coffins were shaped like boats. One of the mummies even appeared to have undergone surgery. His abdomen was stitched with sutures made of horsehair. 

5. I'm excited for spring. I love that stores are starting to sell their new spring collections. I think I may want to buy a new dining set for spring. Maybe something colorful that can also be used during summer. Of course, I'm looking forward to all the spring seasonal treats as well. I'm looking forward to buying the first bag of Cadbury eggs for the season.

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Just Five Things

1. I'm currently reading Held by Anne Michaels, and so far I'm enjoying it. This book is Exhale's book club pick for the month. The narrative spans multiple generations, from 1917, during World War I, to 2025. The story begins with a soldier named John who lies on a battlefield after being injured and unable to move or feel his legs. I really like the book's formatting and style. Although I like the formatting and style, I'm slowly reading this book in small doses, as I've found I really need to pay close attention.  This is not a book I normally would have selected to read, and I don't often read historical fiction, but I'm happy I took a chance to read it.  I'll definitely follow up once I finish reading the book.

2. I was so excited when Kate McLeod's Valentine's Day collection was announced. After being a bit disappointed that the Winter Rituals mini body stone set was sold out, I made sure to order the latest seasonal body stone. I ended up ordering the Sweet Blossom lotion bar, and oh my goodness, it smells incredible! It goes on so smoothly, and my skin feels so soft. 

3.  Over the past few months, I've been especially mindful of the things I consume and mindful of my health and wellness. I've been wanting to try healthier food and drinks, and so far it's been going well. I randomly stumbled upon RYZE on Instagram, and I usually ignore ads, especially if it's a product sold only online. I prefer shopping in-store, especially for new-to-me products, but for some reason, RYZE caught my attention. After a few weeks of seeing RYZE ads and hearing friends recommend this coffee, I found out it is now sold at Target stores. I decided to take the plunge and try it. It's been a little over two weeks since John and I bought RYZE coffee, and I've been loving it! I never thought I'd love a mushroom coffee, but this is surprisingly delicious. I've tried the Medium roast coffee and the vanilla latte sticks. They are both delicious. I make it with milk and add a little bit of creamer.

4. Have you watched His & Hers? This mystery thriller follows estranged spouses, Anna, a news reporter, and Detective Jack Harper, as they try to solve a murder. I'm currently on the third episode, and so far, this limited series is so good. This is definitely a show that you need to sit and watch with no distractions, like your phone. However, I don't think that will be hard because the show will keep you hooked.

5. After decluttering my closet, I realized I needed to update my wardrobe. I was on the hunt for a couple of business casual pants and found some amazing ones at Old Navy. I bought their High-Waisted Billie Straight Ankle Trousers in black and grey melange. I plan to get another one in navy. I love that these can be worn for work or casual outings. They are so soft and fit well. They're on sale right now, so if you're on the hunt for business-casual pants, definitely check these out.

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Disclosure: Books are linked through Bookshop.org. If you choose to purchase any, I earn a small affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. 

Just Five Things

 

1. Winter Break has started, and I'm excited! I'm looking forward to celebrating the holidays. I can't wait to watch holiday movies, play a few board games, spend time with my family, drink a ridiculous amount of hot chocolate, and sneak a nap or two. The only "non-fun" traditional thing on my to-do list is to declutter and donate a lot of stuff before the New Year. We've already started and have a couple of boxes ready to be donated. I'm actually really excited to get rid of a lot of stuff. Do you declutter before the New Year, or do you have any goals you hope to accomplish before the New Year?

2. Have you read The Legend of the Christmas Witch by Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza? I just finished this book and am now reading the second, The Return of the Christmas Witch. This is such a fun holiday book series. The Christmas Witch is Santa Claus's twin sister. When they are children, they are separated and raised by other people. Kristtōrn, the Christmas Witch, is raised by a witch from the woods. Eventually, Kristtōrn grows up and tries to find her brother. I don't want to give too much of the story away, but the first book was fantastic, and I'm really enjoying the second as well. 

3. The last week before winter break was very eventful. We celebrated Gabriel's birthday. Even though his birthday was in the middle of the week, we still celebrated with cake, food, and gifts. We planned to celebrate some more over the weekend, but unfortunately, Gabriel caught the flu. So winter break started a day earlier for us. Thankfully, it didn't really hit him hard, and for the most part, he's been acting his usual self. However, he's still recovering. We're hoping that he's clear by Christmas Day. 

4. I was really hoping that this year, I'd be done with Christmas shopping and errands no later than the middle of December, but I'm still not done. I'm really cutting it super close this year, and I'm not liking it at all. To be fair, a few unexpected things happened this month, and honestly, this month went by so fast (and it was incredibly busy) that I didn't even realize how close we were to winter break and Christmas. The days really blurred together this month. Thankfully, I don't have much left to do, and I'm really hoping to be done with everything else by tomorrow.

5. Winter Solstice was wonderful. Raphael and I read Susan Cooper's The Shortest Day and loved it. I also lit several candles. I even took an afternoon nap. I made a big batch of chicken-and-rice soup with lots of veggies. It was such a cozy day, which I loved. 

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Just Five Things

1. We're on Thanksgiving Break, and this week off work is much-needed. I feel like I've been non-stop busy since October. I haven't really posted much here except for my Happy and Grateful lists. I'm hoping to write more soon. It seems my creative rut is slowly creeping into my writing, and I'm not happy about it. Or maybe it's just my body and mind telling me that I need to rest. Either way, I've been giving myself grace, and surprisingly, I'm not too stressed about not creating much recently, but I do wish this creative rut would just go away. I think I just really want to know what is causing my creative rut. 

2. I'm in my candle era. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but I have so many unused candles. However, lately, I've been lighting a candle every night, and it's been such a balm to my soul. It's a new part of my self-care routine, and I love it.

3. I saw this really cool DIY Drippy Candle Plate, and now I want to try to make one. It would look really great on our dining room table. Even though the video lists this DIY for Fall, I think it would be perfect for winter too. 

4. I went grocery shopping with Mami over the weekend to prepare for our Thanksgiving feast, and I was hit with a heavy dose of nostalgia. It may seem silly, but it really warmed my heart to do this simple thing with Mami. It reminded me of my childhood. 

5. I'm currently reading several books. I'm still on a Halloween kick, so some of the books are Halloween-themed. However, I'm also reading Christmas-themed books, too. I'm still slowly reading Mary Oliver's Little Alleluias, and so far I'm enjoying it. I've been reading a few poems and some prose before bed. It's been a good way to wind down.

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Just Five Things

1. Remember when I said that October arrived like a whirlwind. Well, it most certainly did, and the month continues to be a whirlwind. I mean, how are we already halfway through the month?! Work has been busy, and some slight changes to my schedule have been made as a result. We've also been busy attending various events, and we still have several more to attend this month. However, the events are going to be fun. We plan to go to a couple of local fall festivals, a few school events, and we are also celebrating my little sister's birthday.

2. After reading this post by Lian Cho, I went down a Wikipedia wormhole and read about Henry Winstanley and the Great Storm of 1703. Honestly, I learned so much about the Great Storm and ended up doing more research about the event. My little historian heart was content.

3. It's still fall (thank goodness!), but the hints of the holidays are starting to appear. A few of my favorite shops have already started selling winter and holiday items, and I've added a few to my wishlist. Swig Life's Holiday Shop is out, and I have my eye on their Winter Cardinals mug. Kate McLeod's seasonal collections are now available, and I'm hoping to try the Winter Rituals Mini Body Stone Gift Set.

4. This weekend is going to be so much fun. We're going to celebrate my little sister's birthday at Mami's. I'm excited to see my niece and my nephew. We're also planning to get our pumpkin, carve it, and roast the pumpkin seeds. We'll also probably watch a few Halloween movies. Do you have any go-to Halloween shows and movies for the spooky season?

5. This weekend, I'm hoping to bake Puff Pastry Ghosts. This recipe by Jacqui Saldaña seems like such an easy one to make. It may just be one of the treats we'll have while watching Halloween movies. 

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Just Five Things

1. Only one more day before Fall Break and a few more days before the official start of autumn! I'm eager to enjoy all the fall activities with my family. I foresee lots of fall-themed movies, shows, and books in my near future. I also plan to bake a lot and try a few new recipes. I'm also looking forward to some early morning and evening walks. It's going to be glorious, and I can't wait.

2. Oh my goodness! How adorable are these Autumn Leaf Album Covers from Color Cast Designs! I might just buy one and make a Fall album this year. Also, I have my eye on these Bat Album Covers. It's perfect for an October Daily album. I do have a lot of Fall and Halloween kits, so these album covers would work well with them.

3. I'm currently reading an arc of Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night, and it's been fun reading spooky stories. I'm reading at least one story a night. This anthology is perfect for fans of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series (such a classic!).

4. "You must have a room or a certain hour or so a day, where you don't know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don't know who your friends are, you don't know what you owe anybody, you don't know what anybody owes you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first, you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen."

-Joseph Campbell

*Thanks to Austin Kleon for sharing this quote in his book and on his Instagram page.*

5. I'm still trying to decide what I want to dress up as for Halloween. I plan on taking a trip to a Halloween shop during our Fall break, and I'm so excited! Have you decided what your costume will be? 

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Stephanie Klepacki on Unsplash

Just Five Things

1. It's the last week of August, and I'm so excited that the "Ber" months are coming! Tomorrow is the return of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte, and as an after-work treat, I may stop by to pick one up. 

2. Season 2 of With Love, Meghan premieres tomorrow, August 26, 2025, and I'm looking forward to watching this season. I may wait until the weekend to watch a few episodes. I also found out that As Ever, Meghan's food brand, has a new release coming out tomorrow as well. 

3. I've been reading so many books. I just finished reading Falling in Vermont by Elise Kennedy and absolutely loved it. It's the perfect book for fall. Currently, I'm reading an advance copy of Kate Baer's How About Now, and I'm enjoying it. There are so many poems that are pure perfection. 

4. I want to bake all the fall baked goods. This weekend, I think I'm going to make some chocolate chip pumpkin bread using this recipe. I might make a list of fall treats and dishes I want to make this fall. Maybe I'll make a fall recipe every week.

5. I've been making and eating overnight oats for breakfast for the past few days using Bob's Red Mill Vanilla Almond Overnight Protein Oats. I've been adding chocolate chips to my overnight oats and plain yogurt. It's delicious! I love that my breakfast is ready to go in the morning, and it's so filling. 

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Mark Huang on Unsplash

Just Five Things

1. So I'm starting to see a bunch of stores have their Back-to-School displays, and I'm a bit sad about it. Our summer break is almost over, but we still have a few weeks to go, so I'm going to continue to enjoy these next few weeks of no work or school. Although the displays are now out, I did browse a few aisles because I love school supplies and stationery.

2. I received an ARC (Thanks, NetGalley!) of Joy Harjo's upcoming memoir Girl Warrior, and I am absolutely loving it. This may be one of my favorite reads so far this July. In Girl Warrior, Joy shares stories about her childhood and culture. I also love the mix of prose and poetry that is sprinkled throughout the stories. I'll definitely share a full review of the book once I finish it.

3. This may be TMI, but I'm just starting to learn about what to eat during my menstrual cycle phases, and it's been really interesting. I've been particularly interested in the types of food to eat during my luteal phase. 

4. I tried a copycat Starbucks Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino recipe, and it turned out delicious. It was simple to make, and surprisingly, I had all the ingredients at home except for xanthan gum. I also used instant coffee (I just followed the instructions on the instant coffee box) instead of brewing coffee using my Keurig. The mocha cookie crumble is one of John's favorite drinks, and even he said he couldn't tell the difference between the Starbucks mocha cookie crumble frappuccino and the one I made. 

5. These words...a wonderful reminder.

You do not have to sort through

everything tonight.

You are allowed to continue seek clarity

for what matters most,

while also knowing

restorative rest

is an integral part of your journey there.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Just Five Things

1. It may still be spring, but summer is in full swing over here. Lately, I've been enjoying an insane amount of Rainier cherries, flowers, wearing soft shorts, listening to random summer rain showers, and taking a nap here and there. 

2. I've just discovered Betsey Johnson shoes, and I'm obsessed. These shoes are so colorful, fun, and cute. DSW currently carries Betsey Johnson sandals, heels, sneakers, and boots. I've got my eyes on these heels (and if you know me, you know I rarely wear heels): Fergie Sandal, Lenah Sandal, Mikah Sandal. 

3. I'm not a big fan of tea, but I recently visited my local farmer's market and discovered a business called Soul Food Holistic Healing, which sells amazing teas and drinks. I'm obsessed with their Black Butterfly, which combines butterfly pea flower tea and lemonade. Now, I'm interested in trying similar drinks and teas. I'll be sure to share some new teas as I try them. 

4. I'm reading several books, but I've been really enjoying Always Yours by Hope Ford. I'm also still reading Dear Writer by Maggie Smith. It's taken me a bit longer than it would take to read this book, but I'm trying to take my time with it. I love that she wrote about titles and how tricky they can be to come up with for pieces. Coming up with titles is something I have always struggled with, so it was interesting to read her take on them.

5. "Unlearn the ways of perfectionism by making art, taking photographs, writing words on a page...Let the creative process help you observe how beauty can emerge in an imperfect, candid space."

-Morgan Harper Nichols

What have you been up to?

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Until next time...

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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?

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Until next time...

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Just Five Things

1. It's winter break, so the boys do not have school, and I'm off work for the week. It has been glorious. My main goal for this week is to declutter my closet and donate a bunch of clothes that no longer fit or I no longer wear. I also plan to make a couple of layouts in my Project Life album and work on my One Little Word album. 

2. I'm not a fan of tea, but I recently tried Pretty Tasty Raspberry Collagen Tea, which was surprisingly good! It's a black tea blend that has collagen protein peptides. The taste was refreshing. I could tell it was definitely tea, but the taste was not really strong. I'm actually surprised I enjoyed the raspberry flavor because I'm also not a fan of raspberry. I plan on trying the rest of the flavors (peach, lemon, and original black tea). I'm hesitant about the original black tea flavor, but I have high hopes since I enjoyed the raspberry tea.

3. Raphael and I have been enjoying Jonathan Stutzman's Tiny T-Rex series. It's such a cute series. I found out about this book a few weeks before Valentine's Day and put several of Stutzman's books on hold at our library. I'm happy that Raphael loves going to the library and is starting to show more interest in reading. 

4. I'm reading 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. This is an epistolary memoir of letters between Hanff and Frank Doel, the chief buyer for Marks & Co Booksellers. I love that you can tell their personalities by the letters. The book had me laughing within the first few pages of the book. You could probably finish this book in a couple of hours. So far, the book is so good. I'll have to share a full review when I'm done.  

5. A reminder:

1. Whatever the work is, do it well—not for the boss but for yourself.

2. You make the job; it doesn't make you.

3. Your real life is with us, your family.

4. You are not the work you do; you are the person you are.

From Toni Morrison's "The Work You Do, the Person You Are"

What have you been up to lately?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Just Five Things

1. Sparkle everything. Lately, I've been gravitating towards all things sparkly and glittery. I mentioned before that I'm currently loving Runamok Sparkle Maple Syrup. I also bought a Sparkle/glitter giant scarf and a colorful hairpin from one of my favorite local boutiques, The Gifting Tree and Blue Bird Lane Boutique. I've been wearing my giant scarf with almost every outfit, and it looks amazing with everything I've worn so far. On my wishlist: Glitter Converse High Tops (preferably black glitter).

2. I recently learned about penguin highways after I saw a random video on social media of a penguin patiently waiting for two scientists to step aside for him or her. I thought the video was cute, and of course, I went straight to the comments and saw several people mention penguin highways. Then, I went to do some research and went down a rabbit hole. As they say, "The more you know...".

3. I am in my floral era. I have been enjoying flowers and putting a bouquet at my favorite window in my dining room. John bought me two bouquets of colorful roses and put them in a gorgeous vase my mami gave me. 

4. I recently finished reading Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan and have mixed feelings about it. The story follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant, who becomes suspicious of the training school for girls run by the Roman Catholic Church. He also discovers a secret regarding his past. I usually don't read historical fiction, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out towards the end that this was indeed historical fiction. I was saddened to learn about the history of the Magdalene Laundries and researched after reading the book. I enjoyed reading it, but there were moments when I had to stop reading it due to the main protagonist's POV. Overall, this was a quick read that packs a punch. I have some questions after reading the book, which made me think Small Things Like These would have been a great novel.

5. We're well into winter, but the hints and signs of spring are here. So many of my favorite stores already have spring and other seasonal-related items on display. Target has a bunch of spring decor in its home decor aisles. My favorite bakeries have seasonal treats available, and I'm seeing so many spring designs popping up for other products I usually use. I've got my eye on this adorable travel mug by Swig Life. It's perfect for spring. Nothing Bundt Cakes has a new pop-up flavor, Banana Pudding Cake, that is so good and reminds me of spring. 

What have you been into lately?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...