August 2026 // A List

1. August was an incredibly busy month. The first day of school...and work, all the errands, a mile-long to-do list...it was a lot. Many stressful days, but sprinkles of everyday joy and magic made their appearance.

2. I've been going to physical therapy, and it has been so helpful. I can't believe I put this off for a few years now. Please, please remember to listen to your body and take care of your health.

3. I finally got to try the Coquito Iced Latte from Cafe Coquí, and it was delicious.

4. My local Barnes & Noble was going out of business, so I went about three times during August. They had an amazing deal that was too good to pass up. I had several books I wanted to read and got them for a steal. I also went on the last day of business and felt so sad that the store was really closing.

5. While at Target, I was approached by two women in the small, tragic book aisle. One of the women saw I had a trenta-sized strawberry refresher and asked me how long it usually takes me to drink it. That question eventually turned into an entire conversation about random things. We talked about books, careers, and just general life stuff. After a long and incredibly awful day, that conversation made my day. Women really are amazing.

6. A timer was going off at work, and my colleague and I were looking for it. I remember clearly saying, "It's getting louder. I just can't see it." Friends, the timer was in my sweater...and I was wearing it! I still laugh about this.

7. I went to a new local boutique and bought a really cute top. It will be perfect for fall, and I think I may even be able to use it for part of my Halloween costume.

8. It was (and still is) incredibly hot. I was (and still am) dreaming of fall.

9. John, the boys, and I were really trying to take advantage of the last few weeks of summer. We went to the pool. We also went to the Marietta Square to check out a few stores and order some pizza from one of our favorite pizza shops.

10. Dolly Parton passed away, and my heart broke. I absolutely love how everyone loves Dolly. I loved reading so many different things people had to say about Dolly. 

11. I borrowed quite a few books and have a long list of holds at my library. I'm really hoping they don't all arrive at the same time.

12. I feel like I'm bursting with creative energy, and I'm trying to find the best way to release it.

13. The summer-to-fall transition has been a strange one this year. That being said, I need fall to arrive. I am in desperate need of cooler weather.

14. Mother Earth is trying to tell us something, and I think we really need to listen.

15. So long, August. You were a lot. However, I'm thankful for the lessons. Hello, September. I hope you're a slower month. A month of growth and becoming. Please be kind to me.

Photo by Brunxs on Unsplash

July 2026 // A List

1. July was a month full of surprises. Some good and some not so good. As usual, good days (mostly thank goodness) and, of course, some not-so-great days.

2. The clock ticked away as the end of summer break neared and preparations for school and work began. Sadly, today is the end of our summer break. We'll be back to work and school tomorrow. 

3. I'm still blown away that my middle child, Gabriel, will be in high school this year. Michael and Gabriel are really excited to be going to the same school again, which has helped settle my nerves a bit. I'm looking forward to how much my sons will grow this school year.

4. The end of July and the month of August always feel odd. It's still officially summer, but the hints of fall begin to trickle in. Although I'm sad summer break is ending, I'm so excited for autumn. I'm ready for cooler weather, pumpkin spice lattes, all the baked goods, and all things cozy.

5. I dove into recipes and really liked this chicken meatball bowl recipe and lemon pasta recipe. Even better, the boys really loved it too!

6. John and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been 13 years since we got married, and we've been together for 18 years. Time truly flies by. It was so great. We went to the Marietta Square and ate at one of our favorite restaurants. We also stopped by one of my favorite little coffee shops afterwards. We celebrated the entire week, which was so much fun.

7. We celebrated Mami's birthday, and I got to see my nephews and nieces. I'm always blown away by how much they seem to grow. We all had a blast spending time together. I can't wait for the next family event.

8. July was the month for movies. I watched Remarkably Bright Creatures and Voicemails to Isabelle. 10/10, highly recommend both movies. 

9. I learned a lot of lessons in July, and some were very much-needed and ultimately incredibly appreciated. Again, this summer was a summer of lessons, and I'm grateful for it...even though some of them were hard. I truly think everything that happened needed to happen. 

10. In July, I found myself really taking care of my health and making it a priority. If there's anything you can take from reading this, it's to please, please, please remember to take care of yourself. Stop putting off going to the doctor or ignoring what your body is trying to tell you. Protect yourself and your future.

11. I love that my little sister and I have been bonding a lot more. It's been a while since we talked for hours on the phone.

12. As I think about August, I hope that it's a smooth transition and we get used to going back to a routine. I really hope that there are no "surprises" in August. May the next month bring consistent creative energy (it seemed to slip a bit in July) in whatever form or medium it arrives.

13. So long, July. You were truly an experience. Hello, August. I'm equal parts excited and nervous. Just like July, I think you're going to be a month full of lessons. There's going to be some major changes, and I'm trying to be hopeful. Please be kind to me.

Photo by Derick McKinney on Unsplash

June 2026 // A List

1. June...June was absolutely not what I expected.

2. I spent way too much time sending emails and resolving what seemed to be a never-ending issue. I don't think I've ever spent so much time sending emails in June as I did this year.

3. There's a frog that we hear at night, and we're pretty sure it's in or near our patio area. I absolutely love hearing it. 

4. I'm not a big sports fan, but just like the NBA Finals, I've been enjoying all the World Cup videos and memes. I love how excited everyone is, and it's a nice reprieve from the news and the state of the country.

5. I had way too many appointments this month, but I'm glad we got them out of the way. I'm really thankful that July will be a month with very few appointments.

6. I've been more mindful of my spending and am trying to do a "low-spend summer". So far, it's going great.

7. I love that my Instagram feed is showing recipes and lots of crafty, artsy content. 

8. We celebrated Father's Day and John. We gave John a couple of gifts. John and I went on a date and decided to go to the Corner Taqueria.

9. We've borrowed so many books this summer. I've already completed my local library's summer reading challenge.

10. I highly recommend putting Cloud Runner by Joy Harjo on your TBR list, requesting it at your library, or preordering it. I was so lucky to get an advanced copy and absolutely loved it. 

11. Amy Turn Sharp shared a really great idea on her Substack newsletter, Warm Hands.

12. I wasn't in the best mood in June, and I'm still sad about it. I'm hoping for better days in July.

13. I don't normally watch a lot of movies or series, especially during summer, but there are quite a few I'm hoping to watch in the next few weeks. 

14. I've been dreaming of autumn. 

15. I have a couple of big decisions to make...and I'm a bit anxious and excited about them.

16. May the next month continue to bring this sudden creative surge that I've been looking for and waiting for. Here's to hoping I actually work in my journal.

16. So long, June. You were a month. Hello July. Although I don't associate you with lazy days, I'm really hoping for a much more peaceful and less stressful month. 

Photo by Steinar Engeland on Unsplash

May 2026 // A List

1. Maycember! Maycember! What an absolutely hectic month it was! This month was chock-full of events. Award ceremonies. Car and SUV services. Orientations. Mother's Day. Michael's birthday. It was a month.

2. This year marked Michael's 16th birthday. 16 years old! How did my oldest son get so big! He's old enough to learn to drive (cue the panic and hyperventilating). We did our usual birthday traditions and had so much fun celebrating his day. 

3. We started celebrating Mother's Day early by visiting Mami that Saturday. The next day, John and the boys spoiled me with gifts. John took me out on a date where we spent the afternoon at the Marietta Square and went to a few shops. We finally got to go to this adorable little coffee shop called Tuesday, where I tried their latte and their special Mother's Day syrup. We also got a couple of BonBon candies, which were delicious. 

4. May was another big month in making plans regarding the next steps for my career. There were hours spent on research and making various plans. Things are coming together. I'm both scared and excited, with a heavy dose of feeling hopeful.

5. The boys all received awards at their schools. I was and still am incredibly proud of them. Their award ceremonies were wonderful. It was lovely seeing them be recognized for their accomplishments.

6. I absolutely love graduation season. The looks on the parents' faces. The look on the graduates' faces. The awards. How everyone cheers everyone on. The energy. The hope for the future. With everything going on in the world, I love that everyone comes together during graduations.

7. May was also full of surprises. I saw a coyote in our neighborhood. A coyote! I didn't even know we had coyotes in our part of the state. It was so bizarre. 

8. Another highlight was the start of farmer's market season. I even got a free Smyrna market bag, which I plan to use every time I go to the market.

9. My little sister came to visit, and I got to see my nephew and niece. Oh, how they've grown so much. The kids had so much fun spending time together. 

10. I finally bought a new printer, only for it to not work. The hunt for a new printer continues. Maybe I'll find one in June?

11. Also, a gentle reminder to please remember to check out your local library and check out the resources they offer. While John and I were running errands, I remembered I needed to print a document...and of course, my printer is not working. So we quickly stopped by the library, printed the things I needed, and also picked up a book I had on hold. 

12. May was another month full of lessons, and I'm so grateful for them. 

13. Now that we're on summer break, I'm really hoping for some much-needed rest and calmer days. It'll be great to not have to be on a routine. 

14. So long, May. As always, you were an absolute whirlwind of a month. Hello June. Here's to "lazy" days ahead. May you be a month of rest and relaxation with a mix of fun-filled days.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

April 2026 // A List

1. April, oh, April. To say it was a busy month would be an understatement. There were peaceful days and stressful days. April was a month full of laughter and tears. So many celebrations and good news.

2. We celebrated Raphael's birthday and had a blast celebrating all spring break. We did our usual birthday traditions, which always bring me so much joy. We also went to Urban Air and had so much fun. 

3. April is also my big brother's birthday month, and this year was a milestone birthday for him. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see him, but we sent him a birthday greeting, of course.

4. We always have a low-key Easter, and I absolutely love it. We had a small Easter egg hunt and had so much fun. At one point, John and I actually forgot how many eggs we hid. 

5. April was a month of making some big decisions. The possibilities that can arise from these decisions are fairly amazing, but it's also so nerve-racking to think of what could go wrong. This definitely made me a little anxious, and I admit, there were a few tears from the stress. However, I am feeling hopeful and a bit more at ease.

6. Surprisingly (but also not really due to certain things that happened), it was a bit of a slow reading month. I didn't read as many books as I normally do, and I'm ok with that. The books that I did read were all great. 

7. I celebrated Indie Bookstore Day by purchasing a book on Bookshop.org and supporting one of my favorite local bookstores, Sincerely Yours Bookstore. Then I went to Sincerely Yours Bookstore for a quick visit and ended up buying a really cute hairlip.

8. We all started to feel a bit better from the pollen, but unfortunately, I ended up getting sick with a really nasty cold. I'm starting to feel better, but the first few days were absolutely awful. 

9. April was a month of wonder. I am still in awe over the Artemis II mission. I still can't believe that the crew orbited the far side of the moon. I'm so proud of Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. 

10. I started counting down the days until summer break, and I'm so excited that we are so close to it. 

11. I didn't really work on any creative projects and barely shared anything on this space. I'm really hoping to have some time during the weekend, and it's another reason why I'm excited for summer break. I've been wanting to create, but haven't had the time.

12. Things that have bought me joy throughout April: tulips (always and forever), Trader Joe's, Noah Kahan's The Great Divide (especially End of August), and my family (for infinity).

13. April was a month full of learning and so many lessons. I am so grateful for all of them, even the ones that made me emotional. Even the ones that were difficult and scary.

14. So long, April. Thank you for everything. The good and the bad. It was an eye-opening month for sure, and I'm so grateful for the lessons I learned. April, you were such a gift. Hello May. I have such high hopes for you. I'm hoping for good days and good news. Here's to hoping I continue to learn and grow in May. 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

March 2026 // A List

1. March was a month. As always, it was an emotional month for me. There were good days and bad days. Exciting days and stressful days. Slow, quiet days. And days that felt like I was in a never-ending whirlwind.

2. The waves of grief arrived. It was a mix of sadness and anger. I thought about my baby brother a lot. Mami shared a photo of him with me. My heart broke for her, for Mike, for my siblings, for myself. I can't even begin to imagine how mothers have to cope and grieve the loss of a child. I thought a lot about what Mike would have been like at 28. 

3. March was a month full of appointments. So many emails. A mile-long to-do list. So many deadlines.

4. March was a somewhat slow month for reading. I didn't read as many books as I normally do, but the ones I did read were fantastic. I still can't stop thinking about We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune.

5. Per usual, the return of Daylight Saving Time was and still is irritating. It took me weeks to get used to the time change, and I'm still shocked when I notice it's still bright outside at 7 PM.

6. Another annoyance, the return of the dreaded pollen. It finally arrived towards the middle/end of March. I guess March's parting gift for us all. It's really gotten Raphael this year. But on the bright side, it's supposed to rain for the next few days, so we're hoping it washes the pollen away.

7. I didn't really work much on crafty projects. I can't even blame it on a creative block. I just simply didn't have the energy to do it, even though I wanted to. March was truly an odd month.

8. I tried quite a few new treats. I especially loved trying the seasonal ones I found at Sprouts. I also received quite a few things from Influenster, and it was so much fun trying everything. 

9. Gabriel had a food-related project to work on at home, and it was so much fun cooking with him. He made latkes, and, thankfully, they were so easy to cook. It was also pretty tasty. I was surprised that latkes are sometimes served with applesauce. I may even make a batch again just to try it with applesauce.

10. The boys have been doing so well at school, and I am incredibly proud of them. I can't believe the school year is almost over. It's that time of year in high school when teachers are talking about college and life after graduation... and it's made me emotional. 

11. I found a new-to-me favorite snack. I've been devouring Sprouts' Organic Mini Milk Chocolate Brown Rice Cakes. They are so good and healthier than the other snacks I normally buy. I've packed a bag in my lunch bag a couple of times for work, and I also have a small stash at home. 

12. I made mini ground beef cheeseburger sliders, and they turned out delicious. They were so easy to make and very filling. I'm really hoping to try more recipes. 

13. I watched 10x10, and it was an insane movie. I rarely watch movies and TV shows, but I would like to catch up on quite a few. I think I'm going to make Fridays or Saturdays days when I take an hour or so to watch a show. 

13. I made a couple of decisions regarding my career path, and I'm feeling hopeful. I think 2026 is going to be a big career year for me. I've definitely been working a lot more on trying to get to where I want to be in my career. I've been doing a lot of research and coming up with different plans.

14. I only realized just a few days ago that Easter is so close. I'm not sure why I thought Easter was in mid-April. Of course, I have yet to shop for Easter goodies for the boys, but I will definitely do that in the next few days. 

15. I visited a few of my favorite local small businesses and loved supporting them. I especially loved celebrating the one-year anniversary of Sincerely Yours Bookstore's grand opening.

16. As the month comes to an end, I feel a bit relieved. March was a bit of an overwhelming month. There was just too much going on. And even though there were lots of good days, there were just too many things to do. I'm grateful for the lessons I learned this month, and I think it's wonderful that although April starts in the middle of the week, Spring Break begins at the end of this week. And for that I am grateful.

17. Goodbye, March. I think it was important that I experienced all that I did. A lot of things are starting to come together, and I know it has to be part of my journey. Hello, April. I hope you are a dream. I have such high hopes for you. Here's to calmer, peaceful, and less stressful days. 

Photo by Anita Austvika on Unsplash

February 2026 // A List

1. My goodness, February was certainly a month. In January, I had high hopes for February, and although the month was great for the most part, there were some really rough days sprinkled throughout. For being the shortest month of the year, February certainly felt like the longest at times.

2. The beginning of February was honestly not so great. My eye was injured while I was cooking, and I ended up having to see my optometrist after hours. I'm so grateful that my doctor offers after-hours emergency visits because I would have had to go to urgent care or the ER. Thankfully, everything is ok now, and the medicine and some much-needed rest helped.

3. I rarely watch the Super Bowl, but I was so excited for the Benito Bowl. Bad Bunny's performance was truly a love letter to everyday people.

4. I loved seeing the Black History Month displays throughout my job. We even had playlists that were made by employees, and we listened to the songs throughout the day.

5. Valentine's Day was very low-key, and I loved it. John and the boys gave me such sweet gifts. 

6. I read so many great books in February. Some of my favorites: Begin Again, and Again, and Again by Alessandra Olanow, A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania, and Is This A Cry for Help? by Emily R. Austin. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy of Alessandra Olanow's book, and I am so grateful to have received an eARC from NetGalley.

7. I was in my candle and tulip era. I lit a candle every single day and enjoyed walking into the dining room to see my tulips still thriving. 

8. Winter Break was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting to get lots of rest, and I did, but I was not expecting to be sick with a terrible cold. It was really bad, and I ended up having to see the doctor because nothing I did to get better worked. 

9. I was so grateful for Mami because while I was sick, she made me a huge batch of her homemade soup. It was such a comfort, and I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. 

10. After I started to feel better, I went on several walks throughout the week. Those three-mile walks were everything and helped make me feel even better.

11. Another really low point of the month was that we had a big leak in our living room, dining room, and kitchen. Thankfully, it was fixed, but we had to replace our carpet. Even though we wanted to get new flooring, we just weren't expecting to have this issue and having to change everything so quickly. Anyway, the new hardwood flooring was installed, and I really love it. 

12. February was a month for trying new things. I went to the grand opening of a new-to-me bakery called Paris Baguette. I was impressed with the bakery and its treats. I plan to visit that bakery in the next week or so. 10/10 highly recommend their cheesecake. So good!

13. My little sister came to town, and I was able to see my nephew and niece. They have gotten so big. Mami was delighted to have all the kids together and spend time with them.

14. The state of the country and the world is still a bit frightening. Every single day, something happens. And it's just exhausting. I don't want to look at the news anymore, and I'm considering muting some news sources. It would probably also help that it's not the first thing I see when I open my phone in the morning, after starting my day.

14. February's ending was a bit of a mad dash. Since we were getting the flooring put down on the last two days of the month, it really pushed back a lot of stuff I was supposed to do during the week. Thankfully, I was able to get everything done and cross everything off my to-do list. 

15. February was a whirlwind of a month that just did not stop. However, it was a very eye-opening month, and I'm grateful for all the lessons I learned. 

16. Goodbye February. You were a chaotic month, keeping me on my toes. Hello March. I'm nervous, but cautiously optimistic. Here's to welcoming new beginnings, protecting our peace, and finding joy in the little things. 

Photo by Anastasia Judt on Unsplash

The Impromptu Trip of 2021

It was early June 2021. The last day of school ended just the week prior, and summer break was officially in full force. We didn't really have any plans for the summer...at least not to go out of town. For the most part, we planned to follow our usual summer routine. Go to the pool, visit some new-to-us parks, go to some local festivals, eat copious amounts of ice cream, and watch some movies here and there. But we hadn't made any plans to go on a trip, not even a staycation. 

One afternoon, John let me know that his work schedule had changed and that he would be able to take some vacation days earlier than we anticipated, in addition to his scheduled days off. We wondered what to do since the boys weren't in school, I was still a stay-at-home mom and wife at the time, and now he had some extra days off from work. 

I had been dreaming of going on a vacation for months at that point, and it seems like John had the same idea because he said, "What do you think about going to the mountains?"

He saw the hesitation on my face. I'm a planner, especially when it comes to trips. I like to plan trips well in advance, even if it's only a couple of hours away. There's just too much to do, especially with three small children. We have to pack clothes, shoes, toiletries, electronics (chargers, etc.), and snacks. So many things. So many lists to go over. The thought of making a last-minute trip made me anxious.

"We don't have to go," John says. "We can still do a lot of stuff here."

"I'll think about it," I said.

Later that afternoon, or maybe early evening, I grabbed my laptop and began looking up events in the mountains and places to stay. I had been dying to finally visit Helen, Georgia, for a while now. It looked like the perfect place to go for the summer and escape the heat for a few days. While the boys were playing, John came upstairs and saw that I was looking up cabins and Airbnbs. I smiled at him.

"What do you think? A cabin or a hotel room?" I asked.

"Cabin!", we both said at the same time.

"If we're going to the mountains, we might as well go for the cabin. Make it somewhat authentic," I said.

"Authentic would be more of a tent," John said.

"Um, no. We are not sleeping in a tent," I laughed.

That evening, we booked the cabin for a few days. The kicker: the first available day they had for the cabin, for the number of days we planned to stay, was the next day. It was either book that night and leave tomorrow for Helen, or we wouldn't be able to go at all. Cue the stress of packing late into the night. After packing and double-checking everything, we were as ready as we could be.

The next morning, after we all had breakfast, packed everything into our car, and locked up, I called Mami right as we were about to head out.

"Mami, if you try to get in touch with me and I don't answer...don't panic. We are ok. We're going to be out of town for a few days," I said.

"What?" she asked, surprised.

"We're going to the mountains, so we may not have the best cell reception, especially when we go out on the trails and in the parks," I said.

"When did you plan this?" she asked.

"It was a last-minute trip," I answered.

"You never make last-minute trips," she replied, still surprised. 

"I know," I smiled. 

"Ok. Well, have fun and be safe. Let me know when you guys get there," she says.

The trip was amazing, and we had a blast. It was fun to go off script and not have an itinerary on our trip. We simply went where we wanted to go and experienced a new place without a schedule. To this day, Helen is still one of my favorite places to visit.

That impromptu trip really taught me a lot. It made me realize that it's ok to just wing it sometimes. I don't need to have a rigid plan for everything. It's ok to step out of my comfort zone. Honestly, being able to surprise the boys with this random trip to the mountains was probably the highlight of the trip. Have I detoured from my routine and gone off script since then? Yes, and honestly, it's been worth it. The initial hit of anxiety and stress quickly moves away when I think of all the possible memories we can make. It makes me think of my siblings, who are always carefree and all about spontaneity. Although I wouldn't say I will always be spontaneous, I admit I am now more confident about going off script and letting loose. We only have one life to live, and as the kids say, "YOLO" (or do they not say that anymore?). Here's to embracing more unscripted days. 

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 "Unscripted".

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...

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

January 2026 // A List

1. Whoo! January, my goodness, was a month. January is a special month because it's my birthday month. The month started off great with the arrival of the New Year and then my birthday just a few days later. I dreaded thinking about January 6 and hoped the rest of the month would go well.

2. As always, I spent the entire month celebrating my birthday. Nothing extravagant, but I tried to do something small almost every day. A pick-me-up treat on a random Tuesday, lighting candles, redeeming birthday rewards throughout the month, and getting a few new art supplies.

3. Some good things this month: My birthday, jury duty (yes, I know), a day off work due to the weather, so many great books, especially Lily Archer's new book Gold Flame: Dragons of Oblivion, colorful roses in my new vase, I got some new Brooks sneakers and they are amazing, treats from Crumbl, a rare trip to Blick Art and Trader Joe's, a day date with John, playing Mario Kart with Raphael, watching His & Hers (so good!), all the soups, lots of resting and relaxing, and ending the month with snow!

4. Although I experienced so many good things this month, my heart once again broke for so many people and the country. I just can't believe that we still have to protest the same things over and over. I don't understand how some people seem to have lost their humanity. 

5. Although the country's current events are horrifying, I still have hope. It was great seeing groups of students protesting peacefully and making their voices heard. It was also great to see so many of my favorite artists and documentarians create powerful works of art during this time.

6. I've been thinking about my one little word for the year, and I am hopeful. I love that I've been reminded of my word throughout the month and even more so towards the end of January.

7. January was such a strange month. It went by fast, but also felt like the longest month. In fact, there were days when it felt like I lived a lifetime in January. So many things happened during January. There were definitely some unexpected events. We all got a little sick during the month. I, myself, am currently battling a cold as I type this. 

8. As this month ends, I hope that February is a gentler and calmer month. I'm hoping it's a more creative month. May it be a month of feeling at ease.

9. Goodbye January. Thank you for all the lessons I learned and am still learning. Hello February. I have such high hopes for you (no pressure). Here's to good days, good health, good vibes. Here's to the journey ahead. I'm as ready as can be. Onward.

Photo by Christie Kim on Unsplash

2026 Anticipations

The anticipation of...

The first snow / ice storm of the season / complaining of the cold while dreaming of warmer weather / the first winter walk on the Silver Comet Trail / finally attempting to make homemade bread / putting fresh flowers in my new vase / wintering and embracing the stillness of winter / cuddling with my kids / winter break / weekly happy and grateful lists / board games with my kids and husband / date nights with my love / more light / the subtle signs of spring's impending arrival / seeing the first bouquets of tulips at the grocery store / farmers market season / perhaps a trip to the mountains or a trip to Savannah / more adventures with my family / taking refresher courses related to my degree / making a decision regarding graduate school / new career goals and making some changes / more writing / more creating / more documenting / spring break / lighting seasonal scented candles / especially an ocean or water scented candle / hiking at Kennesaw Mountain / summer break / welcoming and embracing the summer solstice / baking a strawberry pie / s'mores / the first sip of Morir Soñando / complaining of summer's heat while dreaming of cooler weather / the new school year / Fall and all of its wonders / Halloween and spooky season / buying new Halloween costumes/the first cup of apple cider / going to a pumpkin patch / wishing Fall would never end / October through December / holiday season / buying a new holiday ornament / making all the lists / looking back at 2026 / being grateful for another year.

Photo by Anita Austvika on Unsplash

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. 

December 2025 // A List

1. Oh my goodness, December. You came in hot and had me feeling like I was nonstop on the go. You were an even busier month than usual. Full of work events, school events, and personal events. So many appointments. So many celebrations.

2. December was, for the most part, a joyful month. We celebrated Gabriel's birthday. I still can't believe he's 14. The years are going by so fast. It's been amazing watching Gabriel grow. 

3. Unfortunately, Gabriel got the flu, and it seems so odd to think that he had the flu on the day of his birthday. Thankfully, the flu didn't hit him so hard, and for the most part, he was his usual self. We ended up switching things up for the celebrations, but we still did our traditional birthday celebrations.

4. Christmas was a bit different this year. Instead of the usual Christmas Eve dinner at Mami's, we decided to have breakfast on Christmas Day. However, since Gabriel was still recovering from the flu and John was feeling a little under the weather, we changed plans again. We decided to have a nice lunch at Mami's on Friday. 

5. Staying home for Christmas with just the boys and John was lovely. John and I made a nice breakfast and watched the boys open presents. Then I made a nice charcuterie board for lunch, and we grazed for most of the day. It was a low-key Christmas, and it was perfect.

6. Holiday shopping was weird this year. The month really went by fast because I almost didn't even realize how close Christmas was until about a week or so before the actual holiday. At that point, I hadn't even really made a dent in my list of things to do and buy. Needless to say, I was stressed. 

7. As the month and the year come to a close, I have been in a state of reflection. 

8. This was an eventful year. There were wonderful moments and some difficult ones. I've accomplished many goals and am steadily working on a few more. 

9. It was an excellent month for reading, and I found out that I surpassed my annual reading goal for 2025. My goal was to read 180 books, and I ended up reading 270.

10. I have quite a few hopes and dreams for 2026. I have a few career and creative-related goals for 2026. I'm especially looking forward to seeing what happens in my professional life. 

11. As the month and year are coming to a close, I am feeling excited to celebrate my upcoming birthday. There's something about the arrival of the new year and my birthday just a few days later that brings me so much joy and hope.

12. I'm in full planner mode and have already started using my new planner. I am full of ideas. The creative block that I've been dealing with is slowly lifting. 

13. So long December. You were a wild ride. So long, 2025, what a year you were. 

14. Hello 2026. May this year be a year of growth, success, joy, love, new opportunities, new beginnings, and moving onward. 

Photo by Becky Fantham on Unsplash

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...

Photo by Katya Azimova on Unsplash

November 2025 // A List

1. Well, my goodness, November! If October was a whirlwind, I don't even know how to describe you. Sure, there were some slow days, but overall, I feel like you arrived, I blinked, and now it's time for you to go.

2. The first week of November is always a strange one. I'm usually still on a Halloween kick with bits of Christmas excitement mixed in. And a dash of Thanksgiving anticipation. 

3. The weather gave me whiplash. Some days were unseasonably warm, and then the next day, winter popped by to say hello. The past few days have been cold (I'm talking high 20s and 30s in the mornings), but a bit warmer in the afternoons. I wish it would just stay one weather. It's always tricky deciding what to wear in the morning because I wonder whether to wear a coat or a sweater.

4. I started lighting a candle every night in November. I absolutely love it. I've even indulged in quite a few candlelight baths. It's absolutely relaxing and a new favorite part of my self-care routine. 

5. Thanksgiving was full of celebrations. We went to Raphael's Thanksgiving feast at school and had a blast. Raphael was so excited to show us his desk and introduce us to his friends. 

6. We also celebrated Vivi's first birthday. I can't believe she's a year old now! I remember holding her when she was still an infant. 

7. Thanksgiving was a success. We went to Mami's for dinner. I love that Mami already had her Christmas decorations out and on display. She did a fantastic job decorating her home. 

8. I'm trying to be intentional with shopping during the holiday season. So even though I don't usually get up early on Black Friday, I did this year. I was able to buy a few things we needed and a few gifts here and there. I also did a bit more shopping on Small Business Saturday. I really want to support more local businesses, and I'm happy to say I found quite a few gifts made or sold by local shops. 

9. There is nothing like a moody sky in November. 

10. A song on repeat: Tell Ur Girlfriend by Lay Bankz

11. November was a good month for reading. I read so many great books. I read a mix of fall/Halloween books, Christmas books, nonfiction, romance, essay collections, and children's books. 

12. I've been on a Humans of New York kick. I finished reading Humans of New York a couple of days ago. Now I'm reading Human of New York: Stories. Next up will be Humans. I put Dear New York on hold at my library.

13. We need to put our Christmas decorations up. I'm hoping to put the tree up by December 1st. 

14. I loved seeing the holiday decorations in our city's downtown square. I can't wait to see them at night, and I'm looking forward to the Christmas tree lighting. 

15. We tried a new-to-us pizza spot, Ruby's Sourdough Pizza, and loved it. 10/10 highly recommend.

16. The state of the country is still worrying and angering me. Every day, it's something new, and yet I'm also not surprised. 

17. My creative rut is still here, but I've found some inspiration in a few things. I'm hoping this means I will be working on a few projects, or at least my sketchbook/journal, in December. I'm planning to join a daily challenge in December, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm giving myself grace, and if I miss a few days or choose not to complete a few prompts that I'm not into, then that's ok. 

18. Thanksgiving Break was a much-needed, much-wanted, and much-appreciated week off. I'm sad that it's almost over. However, I feel more rested and at ease. 

19. So long, November. You were a busy month, but I'm so grateful for the slow, cozy days that were sprinkled in here and there. Oh, December. I already know it's going to be a busier month than November. Here's to a month full of joy, peace, hope, family, and festive cheer. May December be a month full of magic. 

Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

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...

Photo by Nina Mercado on Unsplash

October 2025 // A List

1. Oh my goodness, October! You came in like a whirlwind and left rather quickly. However, you were full of good times and good vibes. October, you were a dream as always.

2. We did our usual fall traditions. We went to three different festivals and had a blast. We ate what seemed to be endless amounts of fried Oreos and other treats. 

3. Fall most certainly made itself known. The weather got so much cooler, and we had to bring out our sweaters and thick jackets (and eventually the boys' coats). The chill in the air was much appreciated by me. 

4. Weekly fresh apple cider and Honeycrisp apples were a delight. The best part: the apple cider and apples came from a great orchard, and it was nice to support a small, local business and farm. 

5. My favorite book of the month was surprisingly a Christmas-themed book called Mistletoe Meet Cute by Bella Matthews. 

6. On repeat: Florence + the Machine's latest album, Everybody Scream.

7. Also on repeat: Tame Impala's album, Deadbeat.

8. Trick-or-treating was a success! We handed out candy to some trick-or-treaters, then set out the rest of the candy outside while we took the boys to go trick-or-treating. The boys came home with a big haul, and we arrived to find a couple of pieces of candy left from our container. 

9. Christmas displays are now in stores, and it's been fun checking out some new mugs and other seasonal goods. I'm especially excited for some new Christmas and winter decor. 

10. I'm still watching the second season of With Love, Meghan.

11. We (mainly John) carved our pumpkin late into the month. We finally got it done just a few days before Halloween, which is the latest that I can remember ever getting our pumpkin carved. 

12. The state of the country is still worrying and angering me. It's just a lot going on. I took advantage of early voting and made sure my voice was heard by casting my vote early. 

13. I signed up for the latest round of Here: Five Things, and I was so excited to have a creative project to work on in November. 

14. I read so many great newsletters on Substack. My love for Substack continues to grow. 

15. October, I'm sad to see you go. You really were a dream. Hello, November. I'm so excited for this new month. May it be filled with cozy days full of rest, with fun events and activities sprinkled throughout. 

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

September 2025 // A List

1. September, September, September! What a delight you were. You are (and will always be) the start of the 'ber months. To say I was excited would be an understatement.

2. My love celebrated a milestone birthday. The big 40! What a blessing to see all those years. There was breakfast from our new-to-us favorite spot. A day date to the Marietta Square, where we checked out a bookstore, a really cool antique store, a fantastic art gallery, and so many other little shops. We had pizza from the Marietta Pizza Company. Of course, we had a delicious ice cream birthday cake. To end the night, we went for a walk at the Village Green, where we played frisbee and then watched the turtles, fish, and geese. It was a day full of joy, love, and celebration.

3. September was a month full of good books. We borrowed so many books, and it was a joy to read a few of them with Raphael.

4. Libraries are pure magic. May they exist forever.

5. A delightful read: Don't Feed the Coos! by Jonathan Stuzman; A must-read: Just One Gift by Linda Sue Park; A spooky read: Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology

6. I come alive during the fall. There's something about fall that just energizes me, gives me comfort, and feels like home. 

7. "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

-Albert Camus

8. Fall break has come and gone. It was a much-needed break, and I'm so grateful for it. We went to the fair on the first day of fall. We enjoyed the rides and ate lots of fried Oreos. Although the temperature felt like summer, fall still made its presence known.

9. I baked all the treats during fall break. I made red velvet banana bread, a fudge banana bread, a buffalo dip, and made lots of whipped coffee. 

10. September was the month for going to the farmer's market on almost a weekly basis. I was delighted to see that one of the orchards up north had an employee come to the market with apple cider, an assortment of apples, and other goods. I ended up buying some apples and apple cider. I plan to make caramel apple nachos soon. 

11. I am in my spooky era. During fall break, we went to Spirit Halloween to check out the costumes. The boys all chose their costumes. John and I are still undecided. While at Spirit Halloween, we also checked out the animatronics. There were a couple that scared us, but it was so much fun to see how they worked.

12. My heart broke a little when fall break ended. 

13. We are slowly decorating our home for the fall season. The dining room table is decorated. Now we just have to start putting up our Halloween decorations. 

14. I've been wanting to buy a couple of sweatshirts for fall, but I'm having trouble deciding which stores to buy them from.

15. I am still shocked that this year was the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. We will never forget. 

16. September was everything I needed it to be and more. My heart is content and full.

17. Until next time, September. You were an absolute dream. Hello, October, I'm so ready for you. I have such high hopes for you. Here's to cozy days and spooky nights. Here's to a month full of joy and magic.

Fall 2025 Bucket List

Happy Monday and First Day of Fall! It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm so excited that fall is officially here. This morning, I bought a pumpkin spice latte to start the day and also celebrate fall's arrival. I also played a couple of fall and Halloween-themed songs. 

We're on fall break right now, so I'm excited about our plans. I plan to go to the fair, watch a couple of spooky movies, and start a new series or two. I'm looking forward to slowly decorating our home for fall and Halloween. Today, I even switched out the rest of my "everyday" mugs for my fall and Halloween mugs on my mug tree.

In honor of the first day of fall and keeping up with one of my favorite fall seasonal traditions, it's time to share my fall bucket list. Of course, I've kept my usual fall favorites and traditions on the list, but there are a few new things I've added. I can't wait to start crossing things off my list, and I'm looking forward to documenting this fall. 

• Read 10 books
• Read 5 spooky books by October 31
• Watch a new-to-me scary movie
• Go to the fair
• Try 4 new recipes
• Make apple cider banana bread donuts
• Declutter the boys' room
• Document fall
• Work in my sketchbook/journal
• Make caramel apple nachos
• Make s'mores
• Go to the farmer's market
• Work on 2 crafty projects
• Make a fall simmer pot
• Finish watching Season 2 of With Love, Meghan
• Publish a photo essay
• Drink apple cider
• Go to a new-to-me shop/boutique
• Go for a walk on the Silver Comet Trail
• Make a recipe in the crockpot
• Visit a pumpkin patch
• Buy Halloween costumes
• Carve a pumpkin
• Roast pumpkin seeds
• Participate in at least one Exhale blog hop
• Go to a new-to-me restaurant
• Go for more evening walks
• Participate in a Fall or Spooky Book Challenge

What is on your Fall bucket list?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Diana Light on Unsplash