10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. Cheesecakes from Barnes and Noble

2. Rainy afternoons

3. These layouts by Rita (@riri.creates)

4. These words by Amy Turn Sharp

5. Little Astronauts by J. Hope Stein

6. My new Winnie the Pooh mug

7. I finally found and bought a small wallet to carry when I go for a run/walk on the trails

8. Running errands by myself

9. New art supplies

10. Working in my journal

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 up at this new-to-me coffee shop that we heard about. We'd order some iced coffee and some pastries. We'd stay indoors since it'll be our first visit to this particular coffee shop. I love finding new coffee shops, and one day maybe I'll write a list of all my favorite ones.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that my heart is breaking over what is happening to Ukraine. I don't even have the words to really say much about the situation going on over there. Whenever I read a news article or watch a video, my heart breaks even more. Usually, I'll take a break from watching the news when I start feeling like it's overwhelming, but I can't stop watching the news. Every day, I hope that the war is over.  

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm still grieving, and I've realized that it's never going to go away. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but grieving comes in waves for me. Some months are more challenging than others. For instance, March is always a difficult month for me since it's the month that we lost my baby brother. Sometimes, when my sons hit milestones, I think of my little brother. I'm still feeling the signs of grief this month, but surprisingly, it's less intense than how I felt last month. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I am currently working on pieces that I'd like to submit to some magazines and blogs. I would love to have my work published in a magazine or blog this year, but I'll be proud to submit it even if it's not selected. Here's to hoping that I still have the courage to submit my articles once they are complete.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so excited for spring! The hints of spring are appearing, and I love it! The flowers are blooming, and I love seeing the blossoms on my favorite tree. It still feels a little chilly in the mornings, but in the afternoon, it's warm. The only downfalls are the wasps and pollen. Those two things are simply the worst. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm glad we were able to meet up. Coffee chats always make my day. I hope you have a great month. I can't wait for our next coffee date.

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Breakslow on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Today I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for the happy and grateful list link up.

1. Starbucks Strawberry Açaí Refreshers

2. Crumbl Cookies

3. BloodFresh by Ebony Stewart

4. Shipping notifications

5. Naps

6. Fresh fruit

7. This skirt (I just bought it and it's so pretty! It's perfect for Spring!)

8. Warm afternoons

9. Long, hot baths

10. Making delicious salads (I'm currently obsessed with spicy ranch dressing.)

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

March Goals

Happy Wednesday! I'm so glad that it's a new month. The first half of February was great, but the end of the month was brutal. Although March is usually a difficult month for me due to my little brother's death anniversary, I saw the signs of grieving at the beginning of February. As the days got closer to March, it got a little bit harder. Then we lost a family friend towards the end of the month. I still don't even have the words. Saying "I'm sorry" and offering to help with anything just doesn't seem like enough. Then the situation in Ukraine happened. It's been so hard watching the news. It just seems like February was a month of grieving.

Although February was a difficult month, there were days of celebrating. I took comfort in working in my journal and writing on the blog. I spent time with my family and went on a date with John. I got lots of extra cuddles with my boys. I've been embracing the stillness and enjoying everyday little moments. I worked on some of my goals, and it felt so good to cross so many tasks off my list.

Since I mentioned goals and it's a new month, let's check out my new plans for March and how I did with last month's goals.

Recap of February Goals

• Read 4 books: I read well over four books last month. I'm excited that I am going through many books that have been taking me a while to finish reading. February was a decent month for books.

• Read 2 books that I need to review soon: I read more than two books that I needed to review. I'm glad that I could accomplish this goal because I have so many books that I need to review.

• Read Untamed by Glennon Doyle for the ALP Book Club: I didn't get a chance to finish reading Untamed, but I hope to finish it this month.

• Post 2 personal pieces on the blog: I did post two personal pieces on the blog. You can check them out here and here. I still consider my monthly list a personal piece.

• Try 1 new recipe: I actually tried two new recipes. I made a spicy shrimp salad for dinner, and it was so delicious. It was simple to make but so filling. I also made tried a new hot chocolate recipe. Again, it was a simple recipe, but some of the things I added were new to me.

• Finish last year's Project Life album: I didn't finish my 2021 Project Life album, but I am very close. I don't have an excuse for why I didn't complete this project; I just wasn't in the mood to work with my album in February. 

• Work on Project Life layouts in my 2022 album: I worked on a few layouts, but they are still incomplete. As you know, I'm still behind on last year's album, and I have a few upcoming projects that I'd like to work on. I'm hoping to catch up this month because I don't want so many layouts to work on.

• Finish my January 2022 traveler's notebook: Yikes. So I didn't finish my January 2022 traveler's notebook, but I am close to being done. I think I will make a few changes to what I include in my traveler's notebook. I've been focusing so much on including stories with photos that it's taken me a while to realize that I don't always have to add a photo to each layout. It's perfectly fine to simply journal or make a mixed media/art journal type layout. 

March Goals

• Read 5 books

• Read 2 books from Netgalley

• Try 1 new recipe

• Finish last year's Project Life album

• Complete 2 half-finished memory keeping projects

• Take more photos

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

Photo by Alexa Williams on Unsplash

February 2022 // A List

February was the shortest month but felt like the longest month.

February was a month full of love and joy.

February found me visiting my family a few times.

Conversations with Mami made me laugh and feel incredibly grateful.

February was a month of trying new things.

February was a good month for accomplishing my goals.

The last half of February was a bit rough.

February found me going through waves of grief and mourning.

This month, I've noticed the signs of grieving much earlier than usual.

I think the universe is trying to tell me something, but I don't know what.

February found us mourning the loss of a family friend. It just seems so unfair and unreal.

February taught me so many things.

I'm glad to see February go, but I am so grateful that I lived to see this month.

Goodbye February. 

Hello March. I always have such mixed feelings about you.

Instead of dreading you, I'm going to welcome you with open arms.

Photo by Visual Stories || Micheile on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. New bedding set

2. All the spring vibes

3. Finding new hot chocolate brands and flavors

4. Receiving arcs of books that I really want to read

5. Finishing two really good books

6. My sons

7. My curls (It's been a while, but the curls are back.)

8. This art journal page by Arlyna (Check out her Instagram here)

9. Cleaning and organizing (Sometimes a bit of change is good and so needed.)

10. Blue Bunny Load'd Bars

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time... 

Three Things - February 2022

Wow! It's been a while since I filled out a questionnaire. The last one was in August 2020. I saw that Steph from Life According to Steph made a new questionnaire and thought it'd be fun to share my responses. 

Three things that make me feel free

1. Going to the Silver Comet Trail

2. Looking at the moon

3. Going for a long drive

Three things I am inclined to forget when leaving the house

1. Wallet

2. Sunglasses

3. My list (specifically my grocery list)

Three things I keep saying I should do and continue to not do

1. Try a new recipe

2. Work on my unfinished projects

3. Organize my nightstand

Three reading related things I don't do that you might

1. Listen to audiobooks

2. DNF books (It's extremely rare if I stop reading a book even if I don't like it. Once I start a book, I have to finish it.)

3. Dog-ear my books 

*FYI: A dog-ear is when you fold down the corner of a page in a book. I will always use a bookmark. Also, I'd love to know who in the world even came up with the term "dog-ear."*

Three places I am dying to go

1. Italy

2. Alaska 

3. Scotland

Three things I do every day by noon

1. Respond to emails

2. Read a chapter in a book

3. Go through my to-do list for the day

Three fashion trends I can confidently say I will never do again

1. Denim on denim

2. Pants with messages on the butt

3. Butterfly hairclips

Three things I'm over

1. The pandemic 

2. Winter (I'm so ready for warmer weather)

3. Inconsiderate and irresponsible people

Three things I'm looking forward to

1. Spring

2. Going to the Farmer's Market

3. Going on a vacation (or staycation)

Now it's your turn. Feel free to share your response or a link to your blog in the comments.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Visual Stories || Micheile on Unsplash