Wednesday, January 8, 2020

15 Minutes for ME

It's been two years since I committed to doing something for my sanity self each day, and I loved it so much I've been doing it ever since!  Some days it's just listening to my favorite podcast while folding laundry and other days it's sitting in the massage chair and catching up on a show, but each day I spend at least 15 minutes on something that makes my soul happy.  Now is the time to carve out 15 minutes each day for yourself.  To do whatever makes your heart happy.  Here is how...


If you don't make time for yourself, no one else will.  And we all know...if mama aint happy, no one's happy!  Use the fancy bubble bath, eat the chocolate, let the laundry fluff an extra day. ;)

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Reading Again


After almost a year 'off' -- I'm finally reading again!  Which is kind of code for 'I'm finally working out again' since the bulk of my reading happens at the gym.  I shared that secret while training for my half marathon a few years ago, but it's easiest for me to make the time to read when I'm running on the treadmill.  It's kind of my one, two punch.  I feel like I'm getting a lot accomplished, plus my little 'reward' for running is being able to read {something I really enjoy}.
However, I have been reading more in the evenings than ever before.  Mainly because it's my off season for photography.  But also because my kids are getting older and we've started to incorporate earlier bedtimes.  Yes, I know that sounds totally backwards.  Maybe I'll share more about that next week. At any rate, I've started incorporating weekly library visits into our schedule and the kids couldn't love it more!  Plus it makes me feel like a better mama. :)

So, the books I've been reading lately...
Uninvited - I'm reading it now.  It's different than I thought it would be.  A good book to read a chapter of each night as opposed to sitting down and devouring it.

Bread & Wine - I really liked this book!  It was perfect for the beginning of the year.  Very motivating!  Perfect for people like like to host {like Adam and I} since she lists some of her favorite recipes throughout the book.

Wild & Free - More like uninvited.  Very thought provoking, large concept ideas.  I'm glad I read it.  Another one of those books it's fun to highlight parts of and write in the margins. :)

Present Over Perfect - This book changed my life.  A bold statement, but it's true.  It really helped me focus on what matters {my family} and decide what I need to cut back in order to make them priority.  When you say yes to something, you're subconsciously saying no to something else. Phenomenal book for the habitually late, over busy, working mama!

The Magnolia Story - Such an unexpected love for me since I don't watch 'Fixer-Upper' and didn't really know Chip & JoJo {other than their name and that they had the show}.  My sister gave me this book to read on our vacation to St. Lucia and I ended up reading it {small, super fast read} before we left for the trip--you know, when I should have been packing and cleaning! ;)  Great book for small business owners.  Full of love, family, God, hard work, & motivation.

Small Great Things - My boss let me borrow this book.  It was on my radar because Jodi Picoult wrote it and I generally like her writing.  Perfect timing though, because I read it over MLK day.  This was a great book on race.  A great read during a time when the country is yet again so divided.

The Woman in Cabin 10 - Not pictured because I borrowed it from my sister in South Carolina and already gave it back.  SUCH a good book!  Very suspenseful!  It won't say more than that because I don't want to give it away, but if you like suspense books, you'll love this.  I read the whole thing in 24 hours -- couldn't.put.it.down!

Big Little Lies - Also a great book.  I happened to read it the day before the series started on HBO.  I'm not a huge TV watcher, but I did record this.  I'm hoping the mini series is a good as the book.

On my wishlist for Spring/Summer...
Two by Two 
See Me
It Ends With Us
Chasing Slow
Loving my Actual Life
She Reads Truth
Freefall to Fly
The Broken Way

This is getting lengthy, so I'll write about kids books & our library visits soon :)

*Affiliate links used to fund my library ;)

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

2014 Books | April, May, June

Most of these books were 'read' while running on the treadmill in preparation for my first half marathon.   By 'read' I mean listened to with headphones from my Kindle.  #PraiseGodForTechnology :)

{January|February|March 2014 can be found here}

{April}
First Love by James Patterson & Email Raymond*
Temptation::The Temptation Series by K.M. Golland*
Satisfaction::The Temptation Series by K.M. Golland*
Fulfillment::The Temptation Series by K.M. Golland*
Not Quite Dating::Not Quite Series by Catherine Bybee*
Not Quite Mine::Not Quite Series by Catherine Bybee*
Not Quite Enough::Not Quite Series by Catherine Bybee*
Forever Black::Forever Trilogy by Sandi Lynn*
Forever You::Forever Trilogy by Sandi Lynn*
Forever Us::Forever Trilogy by Sandi Lynn*
Someone To Love::Someone To Love Series by Addison Moore*
Someone Like You::Someone To Love Series by Addison Moore*

{May}
He's the One by Jane Beckenham
Hold On My Heart by Tracy Brogan
Broken::The Broken Series by Kelly Elliott*
Broken Dreams::The Broken Series by Kelly Elliott*
The Ivy Lessons by S.K. Quinn*
Where the Ivy Grows by S.K. Quinn*
Bound By Ivy by S.K. Quinn*
In Flight::Up In The Air Series by R. K. Lilley
Mile High::Up In The Air Series by R. K. Lilley
Grounded::Up In The Air Series by R. K. Lilley
Beautiful Oblivion by Addison Moore
Secrets by H.M.Ward & Ella Steele*
Secrets vol.2 by H.M.Ward & Ella Steele*
Secrets vol.3 by H.M.Ward & Ella Steele*
Secrets vol.4 by H.M.Ward & Ella Steele*
Secrets vol.5 by H.M.Ward & Ella Steele*

{June}
The Perfect Game::The Game Series by J. Sterling*
The Game Changer::The Game Series by J. Sterling*
The Sweetest Game::The Game Series by J. Sterling*
Close Up and Personal::The Spotlight Series by JS Taylor*
The Berkeley Method::The Spotlight Series by JS Taylor*
The Director's Cut::The Spotlight Series by JS Taylor*
The Final Act::The Spotlight Series by JS Taylor*
The Proposition 1::The Ferro Family by H.M. Ward
The Proposition 2::The Ferro Family by H.M. Ward
The Proposition 3::The Ferro Family by H.M. Ward
The Best Medicine::A Bell Harbor Novel by Tracy Brogan
Crazy Little Thing::A Bell Harbor Novel by Tracy Brogan

2011 Books | 2012 Books | 2013 Books

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

We would probably be best friends...

If you'd rather curl up on the couch with a good book than go out partying

If meeting up consists of park playdates or shopping with double strollers

If you text vs. call

If you watch parenthood, modern family, law&order SVU, or Sons of Anarchy

If your favorite food is pizza

If your idea of a perfect vacation is spending a week on the beach, tanning, relaxing, and drinking mimosas for breakfast

If wine or mt. dew are your go-to drinks

If you photograph way too many details of your life

If a night out consists of grabbing ice cream or going for a couple of drinks on the patio

If you're also addicted to IG {or blogging}


I saw this idea on Krysten's blog a while back :)

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