10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. Love in the Villa (Lately, I've been really into romantic comedies.)

2. Glimpse of Us by Joji

3. Flames by Donzell Taggart

4. Finally getting a Strawberry Açaí after my local Starbucks was out of stock for about a week

5. Good days at work

6. My washing machine (One of the appliances that I'm really grateful to have)

7. Getting an arc of Anna Fury's Rock Hard Reject

8. Going through my Halloween scrapbook and memory-keeping supplies

9. These relatable words by Michelle Windsor

10. John and my boys

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

September Goals

Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day! I can't believe it's already September, but I'm so glad September is here. August was a hectic month. It was full of changes and surprises and included an unexpected and unwelcome disaster towards the end of the month. 

Last month, the boys started school, and I rejoined the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for years. It's been an adventure, and I'm really excited. I've also been writing a bit more, and I plan to submit a few things to a writing community I just joined. 

I'm hoping that this month, I can get the hang of my new schedule. It's been a bit of an adjustment, but nothing too stressful. I realized that I shouldn't have set up too many goals in August because it's always a busy month. Many of my goals are either forgotten, or I simply don't work on several of them. This time around, it was a combination of the two. 

Recap of August Goals

• Read 5 books: I read 26 books in August. I probably could have read a lot more, but it was a busy month. Some of the books I read were short stories, children's books, graphic novels, and poetry. My favorite book of the month was Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young.

• Read and review 3 books from Netgalley: I read and reviewed four books I received from Netgalley. I read Artemis Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer, A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings by Will Betke-Brunswick, Odder by Katherine Applegate, and Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young.

• Try 1 new recipe: I made some hot chocolate using the new Swiss Miss Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnamilk. I added a few ingredients and absolutely loved it. 

• Complete 1 half-finished memory-keeping project: All my creative memory-keeping projects took a back seat in August. I did make a layout, but I didn't work on my Project Life album (I'm really far behind on that), and I still haven't completed my Christmas traveler's notebooks.

• Continue to work on my Little Summer Joy mini-album: I didn't work on my Little Summer Joy mini-album, and at one point, I considered changing the format. It's a little too late for that, so I will continue making my mini-album.

• Complete the ALP's 30 Days of Showing up challenge: I'm a little bummed that I didn't complete the ALP's 30 Days of Showing up challenge. I completed a few prompts, but I didn't finish them all. 

• Drink more water: I did not drink enough water in August. This is most likely due to having a new schedule and trying to adjust to it. I've definitely had a lot more coffee than I usually do.

• Get back to an exercise routine/Stay active: I'm counting my new job as staying active. My job requires me to move around a lot, and I actually noticed that I did lose a couple of pounds! So hooray for that! I'm still going for walks in the mornings. 

• Publish one personal piece on the blog: I wrote about my feelings for August. I also shared my end-of-the-month list for August.

September Goals

• Read 5 books

• Read and review 3 books from Netgalley

• Try 2 new recipes

• Complete 1 half-finished memory-keeping project

• Complete my Little Summer Joy mini-album

• Complete at least 5 prompts from the ALP's 30 Days of Showing up challenge

• Drink more water

• Publish two personal pieces on the blog

What are your goals for September? How did you do in August?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Last week, I didn't share a Happy List post, so today, I'm sharing a few things that made me happy from last week, including this week. Today I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. I Finished reading Spells For Forgetting by Adrienne Young. I really enjoyed reading this book.

2. I finally found the Betty Crocker Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cookie Mix and Frosting at Target.

3. Great first day of work (I started midweek, and so far, it's been great!)

4. Quick trip to the library

5. Running errands by myself

6. Finding new books to read 

7. That's Amor on Netflix

8. Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino

9. Halloween displays at Target (I want to buy everything!)

10. My boys

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

August 2022 // A List

Oh, August. What. A. Month.

August was full of so, so many changes.

August was the start of new beginnings.

Schools in session.

August was when I found myself alone all day while the kids were in school full-time.

I wondered if this is what "empty nesters" feel like when their kids move out (even though my kids are still little). 

I also understood why some retired people return to work after not working for a while.

August was the return to a job for me. It's been an adventure. 

It's been nice finishing everything on my to-do list before going to work and being home before my kids get home from school.

August was the month for learning to balance a lot of schedules.

August was the month when I felt very anxious.

There were so many changes.

Most were good.

There were also, unfortunately, some bad days.

A car wreck where thankfully, no one was hurt.

Definitely an inconvenience and scary experience, but grateful that everyone is ok.

August was when I said goodbye to our super old car, Dirty Dan, and said hello to our new SUV, Delilah. *Don't judge me on their names.*

And no, Dirty Dan was not the car involved in the accident.

August was the month of making things happen and hoping for the best.

I made some long-term and short-term goals.

I am hoping for some fantastic outcomes.

I'm hoping for better days.

Thanks, August. It's been a wild ride.

Hello, September. Here's to calmer and slower days ahead.

There's Something About August

There's something about August that has me feeling all over the place. This happens every year. Maybe it's because school has started, so we are now adjusting to our "normal" routine. I usually crave having a routine. It doesn't have to be a strict routine, but having some type of balance in my schedule is nice. 

During summer, we really don't have much of a schedule. We just enjoy the days, and sometimes we plan trips and vacations, but for the most part, we make plans as we go. It actually feels very freeing...not having to have a schedule. 

But in August, I find myself in a strange transition. August is that in-between phase. It's still summer, but the hints of fall are around me. Stores already have their fall displays out. Fall baked goods and fall apparel are being sold in shops. It's a strange time for shopping. We're still dealing with 80+ degree weather around here, yet sweaters, coats, boots, etc., are being sold. We won't have to wear that type of clothing until probably late October or early November. 

For the first time in a long time, I'm mourning the end of summer. I'm going to miss going to the pool, sleeping in, staying up late, going on adventures, and consuming all the summer foods. I'm going to miss the freedom of not having a schedule and not worrying about making plans. 

And yet, I'm still excited for fall. I'm craving the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet, the cooler temperature, the cozy sweaters and joggers, and Halloween. I come alive during fall. I'm much more creative during that time. 

But it's still August, and this August is a bit different from the years past. So many unexpected changes have occurred. It's made me a little anxious but also excited. It's a strange feeling both of these emotions at the same time. It's like I'm being pulled in two different directions. I'm excited to see what happens in the next month or so.

The end of August is near, but it's felt like the longest month of the year. August feels like summer's last hurrah. Like it never wants to end. Like it wants to hold on. 

Although I'm feeling all over the place, what brings me comfort is that August feels like a new beginning. It's the start of a new cycle, a clean slate...much like how it feels on New Year's Eve and Day. I'm ready for the upcoming days, weeks, and months.  

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

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

1. Getting lunch at Chik-fil-A

2. Buying early birthday gifts for John

3. ALP Virtual Scrapbook Festival

4. Going on a day date with John to a new-to-us restaurant

5. The Exhale community

6. A Land of Never and Night by Lily Archer

7. Apple cider donuts (So excited for all the fall baked goods!)

8. Getting good news

9. My new Dia De Los Muertos Frida T-shirt

10. The Awesome Ladies Project Virtual Scrapbook Festival

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

July 2022 Reads

Happy Monday! One of my goals this year was to share the books that I've read. Well...I haven't really done that on the blog, but I have been somewhat more consistent on Instagram. I usually share my favorite books in my Stories, but I haven't made a monthly series. Maybe I should?

Anyways, July was a perfect month for reading. I read 32 books in July and enjoyed reading most of them. I also read a lot of books that I received from Netgalley. I read a mix of genres, and I absolutely loved it. Since my last favorite reads post was in February 2022, I thought sharing another would be fun.

How We Heal by Alexandra Elle

This was one of my favorite reads for the month. I first heard of Alex Elle on Instagram and have been a fan ever since, so I was excited to find that she had a new book coming out. This is the first book that I've read by Alex Elle.

How We Heal was a much-needed book that came at the perfect time for me. I enjoyed reading the mini-essays and interviews of other writers, artists, and activists. It was interesting to read stories about healing and the ways that Alex, as well as the other individuals mentioned in the book, practice healing. The journaling prompts and meditation techniques were so good. I found myself highlighting so many pages.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

1-2-3 Scream! by R.U. Ginns

This was such a fun read. This collection of spooky short stories reminded me of the Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series. Some of the stories were silly, but there were a few that some kids might find scary so beware of that. One of the scarier stories was Instagrave. This story is about an app that predicts deaths. The ending of the story, Mean Machine, was also a story that might scare younger kids.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Bad Vibes Only by Nora McInery

I was first drawn to this book by its title and cover. It was interesting to read stories about Nora's life, which spans from childhood until now. I loved reading her perspective on various topics such as grief, religion, and motherhood. I loved that she didn't simply focus on "good vibes" like many self-help and memoirs tend to do. It made it seem more real. Some of the essays were funny, a few were sad, and a few that I could relate to.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Everything is Ok by Debbie Tung

I was so excited when I learned that Debbie Tung had another graphic novel coming out. I previously read her book, Quiet Girl in a Noisy World, and loved it.

Everything is Ok is a collection of comics about anxiety and depression. Debbie shares her experiences and her road to recovery from anxiety and depression. The illustrations were excellent, and there were a few things that I could relate to. I think the book covered anxiety and depression well.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Opening My Eyes Underwater: Essays on Hope, Humanity, and Our Hero Michelle Obama by Ashley Woodfolk

Ashley Woodfolk is a new-to-me author, but the cover and title of her book got my attention. I loved that Ashley used quotes by Michelle Obama as starting points for her essays. Using quotes as a starting point/inspiration for her pieces was a good idea. I enjoyed reading her opinions, reflections, and stories on various topics such as bullying, education, career, love, and racism. Some of the essays were difficult to read and broke my heart, but I think they were all essential to read.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

And Yet: Poems by Kate Baer

I absolutely loved this collection of poetry. It was a fast read, but I loved that the poems were straight to the point. The poems focused on motherhood, friendship, loss, and love. There was even mention of the pandemic. There were so many relatable poems. The only downside to the book was that it was a short and quick read, leaving me wanting more. I devoured this book in about 30 minutes.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of the Travel Journal by Abbey Sy

I love all forms of journaling, including art journaling, so I was excited to read this book. I'm a fan of Abbey Sy's art and was interested in reading about travel journals. I was already aware of a lot of the information in this book, but I learned a few things. I think some tips included in the book would be helpful for anyone interested in journaling. I loved that Abbey included an artist gallery so that you could see other artists and journalers' who keep travel journals.

I think this book is perfect for beginner artists and journalers, but it can still be beneficial for those who have experience keeping journals, especially travel journals.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

Wow! Wow! Wow! I loved this book! I love how Amber McBride used fairytales, stories, and folklore to tell this story about trauma, mental illness, and depression. Everything tied together perfectly. This book kind of felt like reading a modern fairytale. I loved Amber included a glossary of the fairytales, stories, and folklore at the end of the book. I will definitely check out some of the fairytales that were referenced or inspired Amber to write this book because there were a few that I've heard about but haven't read yet. I also love that she included a playlist as well.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Knot Over You by M.J. Marstens, Jarica James, Grace McGinty, Sabrina Day, Calliope Stewart, Sarah Blue, Merri Bright, Flora Quincy, Juniper Kerry, Aisling Counsins, Maya Nicole, and Hannah Haze

Knot Over You is an omegaverse anthology with stories by various authors. The stories range from RH to MF. The stories are spicy, and I love that every short story was complete and not a sneak peek at future books/releases. There is something for everyone. 

The only issue was that there were some formatting issues. Some stories had repeating chapters; however, I believe those issues will be fixed soon.

*Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.

Shadow of St. Nick: A Krampus Fairy Tale Romance by J. Dylan

Shadow of St. Nick is the first book I have read by J. Dylan. I loved this novella. This was a perfect Christmas in July story, and it also had a bit of Beauty and the Beast vibes/feel to the story, which I loved. I haven't found many books or retellings about Krampus, so I'm always excited when I find a new one.

In this novella, Emmeline drinks and celebrates the winter solstice with her friends. She's told the story of Krampus. Emmeline doesn't believe in the story. Once her friends leave, Emmeline finds out that Krampus does indeed exist when he arrives and takes her. I won't give much else away, but I liked the plot twist.

Thank you, Nisha's Books and Coffee PR, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

What did you read in July? What are you currently reading?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...