Book Challenge Update {1}

This year I want to read more. Last year was not a year for me to sit down and get lost in the written word. I tried. I failed miserably. 2016, as announced earlier this year, is a reading year. I started off slow but this doesn't mean it's going to be a bad reading year. I am not forcing myself to read a certain amount of books, but I am hoping to get inspired by books again and end up reading more than just a few per month. Today I wanted to catch up and share what I have been reading so far and why, and how it has been going so far.

My first book was House Rules by Jodi Picoult

I started this last year but as I said I wasn't feeling the need for the written word to distract me. It took me a while to get into this book but I finished it and liked it. What can I say, it is a Picoult book. You either like her style or you don't. She has her style. I like it. A mix of mystery and autism combined. Not bad but could have been more consistent. Not sure if that's the word I am looking for. Something was off with it but I still finished it....maybe it was my love for her writing.

Verdict: I like the fact that she addressed Asperger's but it lacked the aha moment or the wow factor for me. I still liked the book just thought she wrote better books.

My second book was Trace Evidence by Bruce Henderson

My man picked this book for me. He had to read it for one of his classes years ago and thought it would be a great book for me to get my hands on. I never thought I'd be interested in a book like this. It's about the Interstate 5 homicides in the 1980s in Northern California. It started off slow and bored me. I was about to quit but then it got interesting when the main suspect, the killer, got introduced and described. The writing was not my favorite because, well, at times it felt like a police report and I am sure it partially was one. After all it is all based on true facts and events. 

Verdict: Liked it and would recommend it if you like real events murder stuff.

My third book was 5 Habits of a Woman of Doesn't Quit by Nicki Koziarz

I am currently still reading this. A friend of mine suggested to read this and created a book club, and so I chose to join and voila, reading it. It's a good, eye-opening book with stories and thoughts I can actually relate to. It is definitely not a book I would have chosen but it's a great change for once. It's a bit too religious for me but when I rethink it as non-biblical based it works just as well. So far so good, and our weekly discussions are fun!! Plus, yes, if you are in a situation or feel like you want to quit and give up...it changes your perspective.

Verdict: Definitely worth reading, especially when you feel like giving up on anything or everything.

What have you been reading?

Happy last day of March!!! Unbelievable how fast time flew by!!!

xox

Spring Outfit Inspiration

Spring is in the air. I love when everything starts to bloom, when I hear birds chirp in the morning waking me up, when it gets dark later in the day and when I can sit outside without having to be close to a heater. Plus, when I can add more spring inspired colors to any outfit I am all for it. Those sandals are my absolute favorite at the moment, and no matter what season or occasion a black skirt/dress and some proper black pants are always a great choice - great for work, great for a date or for a casual outing with friends.

skirt / flowered shirt / sandals / earrings

I feel that every spring I add a few new items to my wardrobe. I clean my closet a few times a year, getting rid of items I no longer wear, can wear, want to wear, or feel represent who I am. Plus, if I didn't wear certain items for over a year I know it's time to let go of them. Donating clothes is my favorite thing to do. Makes me feel special knowing I brighten someone else's day {or outfit} that way. 

If you were wondering what my favorite style is this spring then you might have figured it out by looking at the above collage. I love stripes, black and a hint of color {pink or purple at the moment}. A sophisticated look is always welcome no matter what the occasion. I get my inspirations from anything, lately spring flowers and pastel colors. Plus, black is my go-to base color letting me add as much or as little color as I would like to my outfit. 

What is your spring outfit inspiration?
Any particular color you love? 

xox

Weekly Hopes {35}

Today I am blogging later than usual. I came back from our week away from home last night and to be honest I wasn't feeling like writing right away. Sometimes a time-out needs to happen. But I promised myself {and you in a way} to continue with my Weekly Hopes series. It truly has shown me that life, every day and every week, is worth living for even for the tiniest moments.

This week my Weekly Hopes consists of.....

1 - Potato Salad {yup, looking forward to that one}

2 - My monthly massage

3 - Criminal Minds {oh yes, I love this show}

4 - Warm weather; we are talking high 70s. Woohoo. 

5 - Closet cleaning... Can't wait. Literally, I love doing it. 

6 - Donating clothes

7 - Cake baking

8 - Date Night {so important}

9 - A new nail polish color...suggestions????

10 - Peace! 

This week is a mellow one. I'm looking forward to cooking and baking, and walking in my sandals again. Northern California finally welcomed sunnier and warmer weather again. We needed the rain and the snow but sometimes we need a break from moisture. I'm also looking forward to my massage. It's needed. My neck has been so much better and I want to make sure it stays this way. Besides massages and a chiropractor....I use a special pain cream and pain lotion on my horrible achy areas and I kid you not it has helped so much. So incredibly much. 

And peace. It's needed. I'm saddened every day hearing news about tragedies overseas or close by. Peace is definitely needed. Every day. 

Are you ready for this week??!

Xox

Happy Friday - Easter Edition

It's Friday before Easter. Can you believe it? I can't. Time sure flies, and it's crazy that it's almost end of March. Hello, time, slow down please!!! It's been a whirlwind of a week. A good week though. It has shown me that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that everything will work out well. So, with Easter literally knocking on our doors, I'm sharing with you what made me happy this week...and of course I am linking up with Krysten & Lindsay again. Hop on over and join the fun. You won't regret it.

1. Getting rid of our Honda CRV and buying a brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Loving it!

2. Sunshine

3. Early Easter dessert

4. A hair cut that was long overdue

5. Surprises

6. House scouting {hahahaha}

7. Commissions

8. Walks and hikes

9. Figuring out my credit score! YAY.

10. Deadpool

What made you happy this week? My Easter edition of my Happy Friday post is pretty much complete. I made an early Easter dessert as I felt it was the right time and I wanted to test bake it too. What if I bake it on Easter Sunday and it won't turn out right? I don't want this to happen. So I made the dessert {recipe will follow, I promise} and it came out perfect!! Everyone loved it and we practically ate the whole cake!

Happy Friday and happy early Easter!!! 

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend.

xox

image via Miss Renaissance

Currently {6}

 

Thinking about: Life. I know I felt very similar a month ago. This month, today especially, I am thinking about life and how precious it is. I was in a very different spot a year ago, and a year from now I will be feeling differently. Today though I have strong, very sad feelings. I'm also very happy. It's spring break for my man, and we are enjoying it immensely. That is probably why I am thinking about life and how grateful I am for what I have and how I live.

Listening: Radio music...whatever is on. When I can sing along it's even better. When not listening to the radio I listen to the dogs' tails wagging as they want to greet me every time I come around the corner, and I listen to my cat's funky alien voice when she's looking for her sister or me. 

Watching: We have just finished Friends {I own all ten seasons and B had never seen this show}, about to finish House of Cards, and we are trying to watch random, unknown, films neither one of us has seen. Wish us luck!!

Reading: 5 Habits of a Woman who Doesn't Quit by Nicki Koziarz - so far so good. I chose to read this book this month due to a friend suggesting it and creating a small book club. It redefines my choices in life and every chapter helps me move on and believe in myself and my future!

Loving: Spending time with my in-laws, their dogs, and time away from home. I also love that they love and accept me so much. Despite all this, I am loving sunshine {when the rain disappears}, good food, and feeling happier and healthier. Every day is a new day for me to improve and I can see a difference. :) Oh, and I am loving the scent of our new car. Best thing ever!

 

Planning: A trip for our anniversary {in August}. Also I'm planning on growing professionally, mentally and physically...this year will definitely be better than the last one. 

What are you currently up to?

Weekly Hopes {34}

Easter is this week, guys!! This week. So yeah, I am excited. What can I say, I love Easter and everything about it. Also, to me it is definitely a way to welcome spring more. I am still working to accomplish everything on my spring list and so far I have been doing well. This week will be fantastic. I can feel it. So let's see what this week has in store for me...

1 - Getting my hair trimmed

2 - Creating an Easter dessert

3 - Long walks with the dogs

4 - Homegoods' run {yes please and I will try to not buy a thing!}

5 - Meet up with a few people

6 - Bake a pie

7 - Visit a car dealership

8 - Easter Sunday Brunch!

This week is going to be so much fun. I'm excited. Not only is my list doable it allows me to be more creative. I want to make a dessert I have never made before {hello Pinterest!}, and I want to spend this week with family and with people. Lots of people. If I get to see or feel setbacks I won't allow those to ruin the fun of Easter Week. My weekly hopes for this week are doable and I'm stoked.

Do you have anything on your list this week? Let me know.

xox

Are you Easter Ready?

Believe it or not, I forgot Easter was next week. Usually I am on top of things and have everything marked in my calendar but this year flew by...holy cow. I gave up soda for lent {which has been super easy} but I literally missed the fact that Easter is technically next week. Are you Easter ready? I am not. A few days ago I realized we were spending it with B's parents and then it dawned on me...we never spent Easter together with them. What are we doing? Are we doing anything special? Inviting people over? Going out? Decoration? What? Help!!! Seriously, I freaked out a bit but then remembered that it will be okay. Whatever we are going to do will be fine.

No matter what we will be doing I will dress up and enjoy the day. I love dressing up for special occasions. Sadly not many do happen around here lately. Getting ready for Easter is my favorite part of spring. Flowers and pastel-colored anything are my thing. I'm a girlie girl after all. Plus when you add a holiday to it...yes please!!! Am I ready? Again, not yet. However, I am confident I can arrange a few things here and there, include some cute Lindt chocolate bunnies and sheep and brighten everyone's day! Goodie bags and decoration are my thing...so I will be ready, eventually.

Are you Easter ready? 

xox

Weekly Hopes {33}

Happy mid-March!!! Unbelievable but this month is halfway over. Mondays used to be so dreadful but for the past few months I look at them as a new opportunity to make up for bad days, a fresh start, a new chapter. I love Mondays now. Ha! Yes, I do. Even though it is the middle of month number three of this new year I still feel we basically started 2016 a couple of weeks ago. It's crazy. Anyhow,  despite time running like crazy I am enjoying this new week and with that I have to start with my weekly hopes and what I'm looking forward to accomplishing this week...

1 - Bank appointment on Tuesday

2 - Raclette for dinner on Thursday

3 - Seeing family

4 - Receiving four packages on Monday (well, today. Yay!)

5 - Book club and its online get together on Friday!

Not that much going on this week but enough for me to stay busy. As much as we need the rain here in California I have enough of it. The last four days it's been raining nonstop. It's awesome but too much rain, most people forget, isn't as good either. Mudslides, ponds that shouldn't be, clogged everything...it's no fun. Hoping it slows down and then returns in a week or so. ;) 

How's your weekend been?

Happy Monday!!

xox

Happy Friday!

This week could not end on a better note. It is raining cats and dogs and everything that happened this week has shown me that I have improved greatly, physically, mentally, and yes even spiritually. :) With that in mind I am linking up with two amazing bloggers Krysten and Lindsay with their weekly series of 10 things that made me happy this week. Let's jump right into it...

1. A new book - 5 Habits of a Woman that doesn't Quit

2. Rain

3. Helping friends improve their life

4. Online classes

5. Supporting friends with their online parties

6. Sleeping in

7. Tracking packages {I am a dork, I know}

8. Managing my friends' list on FB and cleaning it

9. Coffee

10. Younger

What made you happy this week?

This week has been great. I accomplished quite some bit, did not find a new job, but managed to live my life purposefully and finishing everything I wanted to finish this week. This is a major plus. I also started to reconnect with friends, be more social, and get out of my comfort zone. I was close to canceling an appointment due to torrential downpour. In the end I decided that it was a silly idea so I went anyways. I conquered my fear of driving during a heavy rainstorm. I survived, cursed here and there because heck, people do not know how to drive. Period. Rain or shine. So yeah, this week has been good. Now, I'm off to cleaning, organizing, emailing people back, studying some more, and keeping us dry and warm. 

Have an amazing weekend!!

xox

Confessions of a Girl

Today I confess...

...I have been slacking on my reading. Wanted to read a lot more books in the past two months but couldn't find the motivation to do even though I love reading. 

...I cannot stand our neighbors. They are loud and very inconsiderate.

...I watch Christmas movies all year round. 

...that when I am truly bored I browse through my friends' facebook photos. I'm not a stalker I swear but it's cute to see older photos I have never seen or want to see again. 

...I'm a stay at home cat mom. Seriously. These kitten of ours behave like tiny babies. One literally wants to be by myself 24/7. She's currently curled up on my legs and I can't really type well as my laptop is not in front but next to me. It's adorable. I would like to go out though and work, please?!

...I love to walk in the rain and yes, even dance in it. 

...I am afraid to go back home. 

...I literally hate the way I look. Period. Say all you want and yes it'll flatter me maybe, but I still cannot stand the way I look. 

...I watch the show Younger. It's actually pretty good when you find the message in between everything else. 

What do you confess today?!

I needed to come up with something new blog wise. I am still working on transitioning a few things and changes {some of you know what I'm talking about here}. While I am doing that I thought I could throw in a few confession series here and there. It's part of who I am. I need change. Also, because I was so out of it last week not writing a thing I think coming up with new ideas to spice it up a bit is always a good idea. Confessions of a Girl will be probably a monthly thing...we shall see.

xox

Find Happiness, Stay Positive - 20 Ideas

Happiness is so crucial in life. I believe in finding happiness wherever I go or whatever I do. My word this year is happiness so I strive really hard to find that piece of mind, that moment that makes me smile and feel content, well, happy.

Here's 20 ideas on how to find that happiness and stay positive; even in the darkest moments:

1. Hold the door open for someone.

2. Wear something new or something you haven't worn in a while and love.

3. Listen to your favorite song {old or new, happy or sad doesn't matter}.

4. Eat your favorite food.

5. Buy that bag you always wanted.

6. Take a you-day. You deserve it.

7. Slow down and let a few cars in.

8. Wear that perfume or cologne {even when you stay home}.

9. Tell someone you are happy they are in your life.

10. Try something new {new coffee order, new recipe, new nail color, new hobby, etc}.

11. Smile.

12. Bake something.

13. Explore a new part of your town.

14. Dance in the rain.

15. Help someone.

16. Stay off social media for one full day {yes!!}.

17. Cuddle with your pet, your stuffed animal, your children, and your partner.

18. Work out.

19. Go to a park and take a walk, look at flowers and trees.

20. Be kind.

It is easy to find happiness. It is the little things that should enhance everyone's life. Every week I try to smile at one person in particular. He doesn't know me. I know he always looks sad, mad, or what not. My job is to make him once smile back. I haven't been successful yet. He's a professor and looks incredibly grumpy. Actually he looks grumpier when I smile at him. I hope one day he finds the strength to find happiness and returns the smile. I also hold the door open when there is a person behind or in front of about to go through the same door. Some thank me, others do not. Kindness leads to happiness. The more we share that kindness, the more we spread it and happiness blossoms. At least this is how I look at it. If we aren't kind, if we don't take the plunge and work on that one good deed per day we will never be fully satisfied with the day, life, and everything else. Find that happiness, work on it, and stay positive. It only takes one good action. 

What have you done today that made you happy?

xox

Weekly Hopes {32}

Last week was fun, wasn't it? I took time off blogging and literally did nothing and still did so much. Ha! You know what I mean, don't you? Life takes over and sometimes all you have to do is let it happen and not fight it. 

It is yet another day in rainy California. I am not complaining. We are in desperate need of some saturation. With that in mind, let's hope I get to accomplish something this week. Rain tends to stop plans and slow everything down. Plus, most people do not know how to drive in the rain. Stay save out there!

My Weekly Hopes this week consists of...

1. Another massage to get this stubborn muscle under control

2. Sending out a few goodies to people

3. Buy some flowers to brighten our gray and rainy days {part of my spring list}

4. Finish a book

5. More House of Cards

6. A new bottle of red wine

7. Working on great opportunities that will last forever

8. Writing more blog posts 

I have eight hopes and wishes for this week. Truly working on accomplishing these. Wish me luck, guys. What are you hoping to accomplish this week?

Happy Monday!

xox

Rain Storm

Rainy days are always welcome in my neck of the woods. The world at this point knows how much California needs the rain. When it rains it makes me happy. It started raining yesterday and it doesn't look like it will end soon. So, what's the point I am trying to make? Honestly, does there have to be a reason? It is raining, it is cold, it is gray and all I could think of is turn on my computer and write. 

This week has been a busy lazy one. What on earth is this you may ask? My planned posts were not written or published, my ideas vanished, my brain shut off and all I could do is live life without a computer on. I was busy, and lazy at the same time as I had not felt the urge to write. It is not that I intended to take a week off; it just happened. Honestly, I didn't miss it. Oops, what? Yes, you read right. I miss the community and I miss the various topics I come across when reading but for this one week I didn't feel anything was missing. In a way, this is a good thing. I need this. It was an unplanned vacation without going anywhere. 

With this big rain storm hitting my area {hallelujah!} I decided to sit back, read, and write again. Now, since I completely ignored the blog world for a week, I decided to share with you my highlights of the week today. Every week I link up with two wonderful bloggers sharing what made them happy. I'm going to do this right now. This beautiful rainy day inspired me...so let's see what made me happy this week:

1. Kitty shenanigans

2. Therapy session {not ashamed to admit this; plus it's ending soon}

3. Quick meetup with family

4. Whiter teeth

5. Snapchat

6. Conversations with like-minded friends

7. Tator tot bake {recipe following soon}

8. Improvement with my neck and shoulder

9. House of Cards

10. Essential oils and their astonishing power

This rain storm is quite beautiful. The car gets a free wash, warm drinks are a must and I can work on everything I put off for a while. I'm a happy woman. Let's see how next week goes. I don't want another blog vacation but you never know what next week has in store. It's time to link up my post with Krysten and Lindsay and finish staring at the gray clouds. 

Have an amazing weekend.

xox