A Fall List

Summer is slowly but soon officially coming to an end and fall is practically around the corner! At the beginning of summer I put together a summer list filled with things I wanted to accomplish throughout the season. I wanted to make memories and challenge ourselves to find ways to enjoy summer better! As we are slowly leaving summer, with extreme temperatures as usual, I want to make sure I am enjoying every bit of the new season as well. My summer list, just like the spring list, didn't fully get accomplished but that is okay. I love fall and cannot wait to see how much I get to tackle this season. And what I don't accomplish I get to accomplish next time.

Here are some of the things I’m looking forward to doing this season; wish me luck:

• change my blog
• go apple picking 
• make an apple pie {tried so many times and failed, so hopefully this season I can do this}
• go to at least one pumpkin patch
• carve pumpkins 
• wine tasting
• upgrade my fall wardrobe
• explore more surrounding cities
• finally go to the old town underground tour
• decorate patio and porch for fall
• enjoy one Pumpkin Spice Latte
• create new chili recipes 
• go to a local fall/halloween event since the one we usually went to closed down
• find fall recipes to cook for Thanksgiving
• create fun fall diffuser recipes

How's your fall list coming together? Anything exciting I have to add to mine?!

xox

Two Years

Today marks two years of being married to the love of my life! Time has flown by so fast it is incredibly hard to believe it's been two years already! I believe the first two years are the hardest. They feel easy but the first two years build the foundation for the future, our future. The past couple of years have been wonderful yet challenging. While we have managed those moments beautifully by supporting each other through one of the hardest times, I am very excited for what the future holds for us. B, thank you for being my best friend, my partner in life and love. I am so grateful for all the support, love and strength you have given me over the past years. You are my rock, and my very own fortune!

I love you.

xox

Currently {11}

Thinking about: September. Yay! I will partake in two challenges that month. One will be part of Jon Acuff's 30-day of Hustle challenge {I'm excited about this because I need some butt kick to get back into a speedy gear!!}, and the other one will be health related and will last 90 days. The health one will be part of a group, and so far we are like 600+ participating in this. It'll be nice because when cooler temperatures arrive I tend to get more productive as well as lazy at the same time. Yes, both. So yes, I get to walk more because it won't be scorching hot anymore, but I will also love to stay inside more and wrap myself with a cozy blanket and drink hot cocoa. I want to find a healthy and happy middle. So stinking excited, and I cannot wait to see how these two challenges will benefit my life. Wish me luck!!

Listening: Not much lately. Music inspires me but lately I feel nothing musical makes me say "yeah, this is awesome and I want to hear more!". So what I'm listening to lately is Pandora, a random radio channel, or some older CDs from Europe...I won't give up on music {heck, no!!} but I am not particularly into anything at the moment. Fall will hopefully change this soon. 

Watching: This time of year doesn't have much on TV. I can't wait for fall TV to start again {hello, my lovely distracting shows!}, so I started rewatching shows like Brothers&Sisters, HIMYM, and Savannah. I also try to watch a few movies here and there. Nothing too exciting. 

Reading: Three different books. 3!! What was I thinking?! I normally don't do this. This month it is a bit different. Well, it's officially two and the third book I felt like was okay reading from time to time, when I feel like a mellow, softy novel will add some reading excitement to my life. After all, we know this year I am trying to get back into reading more. The books I am reading are The Third Wave, Start, as well as The New Girl. Hopefully I finish all of these by the time I'm writing up my reading challenge for you all. 

Loving: That September will be next week!!! HELLO! YES. I'm so over August. I love summer, don't get me wrong but this month has been dragging. I think mentally, my brain decided to take a step back and make me emotional again and I cannot stand that part of me. It's depressing. I want to be and feel happy. I'm healthy, I've got a great man in my life, two beautiful kittens...well, cats, and friends and family. So let me be okay...stupid stupid stupid brain...so I'm loving that September is around the corner.
Other than that, I'm in love with SteamSmart, Thieves cleaner, frozen yogurt, and homemade gluten free banana bread. Can't complain about that one, can I?!

Planning: A get together with cousins. B's cousins live close by, so we are trying to get together in a few weeks. Only thing we have to work on is to get time off. They are off on weekends, we works weekends. We can figure this out. Yes, we can. Also, since our anniversary is practically around the corner I am hoping we get to enjoy that day as well. 

Working on: Being a better person. I am a great person, don't get wrong. But I always try to be better, to be more helpful, to be more outgoing, to be more me. Over the past 18 months I have become a recluse. I am an introvert, and I love to be among like-minded people, it is hard for me to get these two sides of mine merged together. I need to find a way to better myself and to find a balance in everything I do. I need to be a better person, period. Here's to feeling and being better!! Woohoo! 

What have you currently been up to?!

Weekly Hopes {56}

I'm still around. I promise. Last week an unfortunate {or maybe fortunate} event turned into a road trip over the mountains to see family. It wasn't planned and although I am spontaneous this was too much for me. I guess my anxiety kicked in again and I felt overwhelmed. Needless to say stupid drivers on the road didn't help either. We made it, and have been away for a few days. Worst part will be when we return home. We forgot to take the trash out and accidentally left two bananas on the counter we wanted to eat on the road...great smelly home will await us for sure. Dreading this for sure. Other than that, it's nice to be away but I'm so ready to go home. Yup, I said it. 

Now for this week...my Weekly Hopes will consist of...

1 - Going home
2 - Getting the car serviced {recall fix time}
3 - Working on a few projects
4 - Updating my calendar for September
5 - Painting my nails...it's summer and I feel like pink
6 - Donate a few things again
7 - Get back into physical training as it is hard when not at home
8 - Be more productive and more social
9 - Apply some more
10 - Spend some time by the pool

See? It's a bit of a different list. I'm looking forward to going home. I miss my own place. I can pretend to be Phoebe or Rachel {Friends, anyone?} and walk around naked. Ha. Ok, maybe not, but being in your own home makes things so much easier. 

So wish me luck!!! This week will be challenging for me but it'll be good. Some challenges are needed in life, no?!

Happy Monday!!

xox

Books to read this fall season

Reading has always been one of my favorite things to do. Last year I literally lost interest. Life changed quite drastically and I had no desire to get lost in the written word. I felt alone, hopeless, sad, and confused. I wanted to change my mood and find books that inspire me again. Honestly it was tough. I'm still working on it, but what better time to approach this whole reading thing when fall is around the corner?! Yes yes! So I decided to create a list of books I think are perfect to read during this fall season. And what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon with a book and a hot cup of tea or chocolate?! 

I have had All the Light We Cannot See on my to-read list forever. It is about time I start reading it, isn't it?! It also won a Pulitzer Prize. I love those kind of books anyhow.

I read Me Before You in German. I liked the film, but I still prefer the book. So naturally I want to read After You. I know it is not going to be the same book, and the story won't be as heart-warming but I still know I'm going to enjoy it this fall.

Whenever I enter a bookstore I see Big Little Lies. I even saw it at Target and somehow it also ended up in my recommendation of books I should read. I think it is time. And I'm all about a novel about women and their lives, and I read it will become an HBO series in the future?! Hello, yes!!

In Twenty Years is a novel that confronts friends to face their past. I'm a sucker for stories like that. Plus, when temperatures drop and it slowly gets darker I want to hold a book that forces me to get lost in it and face my own past and how it has shaped the me today. Can't wait!

Family portraits. What can I say?! These are the books that keep me warm when temperatures drop or rain is about to show up. Everything I Never Told You will be all that, let me tell you. It will suck you in and I can't wait to not want to put this book down.

I have been waiting for this book for so long. My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry is a book I want to read because it will challenge me. I read books that go back and forth, and books that make me think, and I read books that are super abnormal and what not. Either way, this will be fun and I cannot wait!!

There's a few more books I'm interested in but these are my definite favorites. Hope I get to read them all this upcoming fall season. Wish me luck! Any books you would recommend to me?! Or any author you fancy? Let me know. I'm always open for suggestions.

xox

Weekly Hopes {55}

Blah. You guys, I got sick this weekend. I felt off Friday and Saturday but blamed the heat as we had temps in the 100s. Sunday it hit me. I woke up with a massive headache out of nowhere. This had never happened before and if I had a bottle of wine by myself. Not this time. I had no alcohol, and drank and ate plenty in general...but what on earth?! I literally woke up as if someone had walked on top of my head. It was massive and it wasn't fun. I spent all day in bed; slept it off and when awake I watched 1980's movies. From Teen Witch, and Big to When Harry Met Sally to Parenthood. I might have been a mess but I tried to make it enjoyable too. 

So this week I am hoping to accomplish as much as I did last week {because I did accomplish everything on my list!!}. Let's see what I am hoping to do this week...

1 - Get a massage in {new masseuse...so let's see if I enjoy her as much as I enjoy my regular lady}
2 - Trading in books so we get some $$ back
3 - Exercise more {I did slight workouts last week but then the "sickness" kicked in}
4 - Feeling healthier
5 - Making reservations for our anniversary dinner {staying in town this year}
6 - Dreaming of cute fall decoration
7 - Hoping for cooler temps because, hello, 108 is no fun temperature
8 - Finding two things each day that make me happy! Two!!!

See? My list doesn't have to be ten things. This week my Weekly Hopes consists of eight simple and achievable things. The cooler temps is a dream because that won't be happening unless the weather God up there reads my blog. I mean, I am all for warm summer weather. I love it. But when it's over 100 for about two weeks straight and not just a day or two here and there it gets annoying and very boring. Anything else on my list is definitely doable so wish me luck.

How's your weekend been?
Hope your ready for what this week has in store!

xox

Easy Hash Brown Frittata

Finding happiness has so many layers and comes in so many shapes. For me, food is one way to make me happy. I don't mean I am stuffing myself with thousands of different flavors. This would be nice but at the same time also very unhealthy. Food gives me pleasure. Food gives me idea. I love food, and when I discover a new recipe or find two recipes and combine them to make my own creation I am the happiest girl alive. Last week I tried something new. I have been emptying our fridge and freezer lately {and pantry of course}, so naturally I wanted to create a new dish for our household with ingredients we already had handy. 

This hash brown frittata is so easy to make and can be used as a breakfast dish or lunch or dinner. Brinner has become so popular these days, so why not use this fun hash brown dish for dinner as well?! We certainly did and loved it.

Here's what you need:

• 1 pound hash browns
• 1 tsp salt & pepper & paprika
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 6 eggs
• 1/3 cup whole milk {or regular} or heavy cream
• 6 sliced bacon {I used 8}
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped {I have the pre-chopped one ready in the fridge, yes I'm lazy}

Here's what you do:

• Preheat over to 350F
• Season hash brown with salt, pepper and paprika in a medium sized bowl. Toss it so all is well distributed.
• In a medium skillet cook the bacon, and set it aside. Remove excess fat from pan.
• Heat oil in the same skillet. 
• Spread the hash browns in the skillet so the entire pan in covered in hash browns.
• Cook hash browns for about 7 minutes on medium. The bottom should become crusty.
• In a medium bowl whisk the eggs, milk, chopped bacon and cheddar cheese together.
• Pour mixture onto the hash browns in the pan. Spread evenly.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and eggs are cooked through.
• Sprinkle with chives and serve.

Add ketchup or hot sauce for an extra kick, but is absolutely optional. 

This hash brown frittata is so simple. Best part is that only one pan is used, and one bowl. Less dishes, less clean up and less stress. YAY. Will definitely make this again.

What have you been cooking lately!!??

xox

Weekly Hopes {54}

Weekend is finally over. Lately I am not into weekends. I was supposed to attend a Bridal Shower this weekend and couldn't go due to distance. What I ended up doing was cleaning my closet, reorganizing everything, tossing some items and putting other items in good shape away into a donation bag. My closet feels cleaner, fresher, and more put-together. Yay. Oh and I watched a ton of TV. Oops!!! Though I pretty much accomplished most of my Weekly Hopes from last week; it sure feels amazing!

Now for this week...I feel more me, and I feel more determined to change a few things here and there. Hopefully I get to enjoy a perfect week again. Weekly Hopes here I come...wish me luck!

1) Connect more with people 

2) Be more confident

3) Wear more dresses

4) Cook something new without going to the grocery store {challenge accepted!!}

5) Refill my roller bottles so we are prepared for back to school days

6) Trim my fur ladies' nails

7) Send my man to the hair dresser

8) Create my own meat marinade

9) Possible last day trip together for a while

10) Take more photos

This week I want to focus specifically on me. I always do but this week I want to make myself feel better, I want to feel and act more confident, I want to find happiness in every single moment. For months I have been trying to find happiness and I have, I really have. Yet there are times I feel I lose that happiness at times. It may just be a setback in whatever I do and then the day is ruined and my goal to find happiness for that day is gone. Poof, just like that. So, this week I want to face that fear and face those setbacks {if any} and kick some butt. Ha!!!!

Here's to a great week and accomplishing my hopes and my dreams I have for this week.
What are yours?! Anything in particular?!!

Let me know.

xox

Seven Ideas to Declutter Again

Seven months ago I talked about what you could or probably should do to declutter your wardrobe and home at the same time. The list ranged from specific hangers, to plastic utensils, and to electronic devices that are no longer used or broken. Back then I listed 50 things but honestly there is always more you can get rid of. Always. Granted, it takes time and it is not always fun to dedicate a day or two {or more} to clean out a specific room or the entire house. BUT it is so worth it!!

Today, I'm reminding us all that it is time again to look at our homes. How much have we accumulated over the past few months?! How many more items did we purchase? Have we used them at least five times since then? If not, think back, was the purchase really necessary?! Have we gotten rid of unused, unloved, triple jeans/t-shirt stacks we never touch?! 

I'm not here to preach, believe me. B and I often talk about it. He wanted to get something last week and I was against it. Not only do we not need it, I know we will never ever use it. I know I won't. Last week wasn't the only time he came up with some item that needs to be part of our household. Oh man, he sometimes thinks machines can solve the world. Don't get me wrong, when something helps me work faster and it makes, let's say, cooking easier I am all for it. Hello crock pot, or a fabulous mixer. All for it. Yet, do I really need an automatic can opener that needs to be plugged in, when I have a wonderful hand-held one already available working perfectly?! NOPE. Do I need a spaghetti maker machine? Absolutely NOT. My coffee maker is old and needs to be replaced, yes, but it is still working and until it stops working the replacement can wait. But I'd rather have a new coffee machine than those two other items. What B doesn't realize is 1) I'd rather save the money or spend it on something else, like a nice dinner or a bottle of wine {ha!} and 2) We don't have the space for any new item. And this is what brings me back to today's post...more detailed decluttering!

Are you still with me?! I hope so! Why? Because this shows dedication and curiosity. Also, it is probably a sign your home is as messy as mine and you are in desperate need for a quick clean-up. So let's get started!

1. Line up all your shoes {winter, summer, heels, what not}, count them, and put those pairs away you have not worn in one full year. Those, you donate if in excellent condition or try to get some money for thanks to thred up, or toss if in bad shape.

2. Go through all mail you put away {wherever that is}...do you really truly absolutely need to keep a birthday card from 2004?

3. Look into your medicine cabinet. Toss away expired items. No need to be sad. Toss it all away!

4. Line up every single beauty and body product you have. What is unopened goes nicely organized back into a cabinet. Everything that has been opened and used at least once stays outside and will be used. NO MORE SHOPPING FOR NEW SHAMPOO OR EYELINER OR WHAT NOT until you used everything else up. Do you really need five different shampoos? Or ten different lipsticks, two of which you haven't touched in the past year?! Or 40 different nail polish bottles, ten of which are already so crusty there is no way they will look good on any of your nails?! NOPE. Use now or toss right away.

5. Schoolbooks...you might have kept the ones for your major. Makes absolute sense, hello, same here! Have you touched them since you graduated? Never?! I don't know about you, but B has over 14 biology books. Granted most of them are different but some are the same exact ones just a different cover and edition...I made him toss the very very old versions because not only are those books heavy, they take up a ton of space and he hasn't touched them in years. It hurt to toss them but he felt relieved afterwards. Or find a way to get sell them to a company. Someone can always use a used book.

6. Go through your pantry/freezer and fridge and make a list of what you have {opened and closed products, include all produce too}. Create a meal plan for at least one full week with what you have in stock, with you at home. Oh and do not grocery shop!!! Unless you need milk and will run out of it tomorrow. Scared?! Don't be. It's actually nice to create new dishes {or old ones} with food you already have. Use them up, empty your uber full pantry, and make room for new products. It shocked me when I did this month ago. Saved me a ton of money too. Nothing got thrown away {I was lucky nothing was expired}, and I enjoyed seeing a more organized and fresh looking pantry!! Use what you have!!!

7. Challenge yourself to do less laundry! Wait what?! YES. Here's what I want you to do...count your underwear! Yes, you read right. Count it. Do you have more than 14? So you're good to go without doing any laundry for two full weeks. WHAT?! Yes. Think about it. You change your underwear once a day {assuming this as a normality}, and you probably have more than one pair of PJs, and probably more than one pair of work pants, home/lounge wear, casual T-shirts, and blouses. Right?! I'm right, aren't I? When I announced to B that I was planning on doing laundry every two weeks he was absolutely against it. My question to him was Why?! You've got plenty of underwear for over two weeks, you've got a massive load of socks, work shorts and shirts, as well as regular shorts and shirts. Besides, if I wash every week the same clothes will be worn over and over again and the rest will not be touched. Plus, every garment will be valued. End result? He realized I was right {women are always right, right?!}. We have plenty of towels and sheets too so no need to worry about those as well. This little laundry challenge helped us wear clothes we would probably not have touched or worn, and would have donated.
*of couse, if you have children this challenge will be interesting but there's a way it may work as well because your children probably have more than two shirts and pants and pjs as well.

Here you go...seven ideas on how to declutter again. You have to do this more than just once in your life or a year. Yes. I go through my clothes a lot. Probably once a month. I'm also getting older. I don't need clothes from when I was 20, or 25. It's time to let go. Plus, styles change; bodies change, too. Letting go of the past {clothes, food, mail, shoes included} is cleansing. It helps rejuvenate the soul. Sounds ridiculous but is so true. Also, it helps find pleasure in exploring new styles and items. Thanks to StitchFix I can do this. If you haven't heard of StitchFix, you're truly missing out! Plus, having plenty of room for a new item or two {or three} is always an exciting moment, isn't it?! *more on StitchFix soon {because I use their items more than I do anything else...it is definitely time to declutter my closet again}.

What have you done so far to make your life less chaotic? Have you gotten rid of clutter and if so, what was it and how long has it taken you?!

xoxo

Hope becomes Love

“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” 

- Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist

*****

Today I decided to do something different. I wanted to share a recipe with you. I wanted to share with you what I got rid of and how I created my summer drink. I stopped, deleted most of my drafts and focused on the NOW. Well, August started out well and the first day ended with lots of question marks. One of my lovely blog friends, a gal whose sass, awesomeness and love for her family and life is beyond explainable, was expecting her fourth child. She was stinking excited and ready to welcome her little one. Well, life sometimes draws a line and says not today...and for her, well, labor wasn't easy and delivery wasn't easy either. Her little girl, healthy and so cute, got delivered by an emergency c-section and there were some complications. She's now in a medically induced coma and although she's stable...to me, a coma does not sound stable. At the same time, another friend of mine gave birth to a baby boy. Her photos and smile and what not made me happy yet sad, knowing someone was off dreaming at the moment fighting an infection and fighting to wake up.

In the mean time there's a GoFundMe page for anyone who is willing to help her family out. Who knows how long her recovery is going to take, let alone the endless bills. She's got awesome children waiting for momma to be momma again, and a devoted loving husband who's taken extra shifts to provide for the family. Every dollar counts. It's not so much the amount one donates, it's the meaning behind that dollar. I thought I'd let people know here. Her blog is ongoing, as she has scheduled her posts but this she certainly did not see coming. No one ever does.

That being said...life is precious, life is wonderful and also short. Last year I learned how quickly things can change. Today, again, I am reminded of this beautiful life and how fragile we all are. I am hopeful. Hope has always kept me going, and hope remains strong. And where there is hope, there is love! And love is even stronger than hope! So Coehlo was right when he wrote that when we love, everything around us becomes better as well. It does. 

Hope becomes Love!

Don't you ever forget and lose hope! Hope is essential to our happiness!!

xox

Weekly Hopes {53}

Happy Birthday Switzerland!!!!

Yes, August 1 is Switzerland's National Holiday...just like July 4 for the US, July 14 for France or any other day for any other country on this beautiful planet. So yes, happy birthday Switzerland! 

Last weeks Weekly Hope was quite successful. I don't go back and cross out the things I accomplished, but let me tell you, I pretty much accomplished every single thing I listed. Well,  my physical therapy...that one didn't work as well as I hoped but I tried and that is all I needed to do. If you don't even try what's the point of it all?!

Hope your weekend went well and you got to spend it either with family or friends or by yourself on the couch or out and about living it up to make great memories. My weekend was okay. I spent it at home, working, cleaning, and relaxing. We had scorching temperatures so being out after 11am wasn't logical, and if I found myself out after 12pm I wasn't the happiest because nothing is fun when it is 110 degrees!! With that in mind...here's my Weekly Hopes for this week...

1 - Cooler temps

2 - Chiro adjustment

3 - Making and using my homemade mosquito repellent spray
4 - Send out happy mail
5 - Cleaning our patio and entrance
6 - Cook a new dish {breakfast for dinner? Anyone?}
7 - Clean out my iPhone, iPad and computer {delete photos, videos I have long saved somewhere else}
8 - Learn more about my beloved Essential Oils
9 - Make my own handsoap {way cheaper!}
10 - Sing and dance more

What are your Weekly Hopes this week?
May August start beautifully for you...this is a new month so make it a great month!

xox