2023 Personal Reading Reflections Before I get into my favorite books of the year, I thought I should reflect a little bit on my reading journey in 2023. 2023 was one of the hardest years for myself and reading, as always, was my personal escape. When I experienced a miscarriage at the beginning of the…
I know it’s pretty popular right now to do dry January and a “no spend” January. Because I’m pregnant, I’ve defaulted into doing both. I didn’t set out to do a “no spend” January, and I am spending a little but because I am nearing the end of my pregnancy, I have zero interest in…
We had a pretty good “business as usual” week here. After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, both for work and personal, I was ready for a fresh start in January. One thing I’m really enjoying so far this month, is leaning into winter vibes. All things cozy and warm and relaxing. I’ve…
One thing I’m really passionate about is hobbies. I think it’s becoming a lost art and, yet, they’re so important. So many people have no idea what their hobbies are, or what their interests are outside of family and work. We live in a society that puts a huge emphasis on turning hobbies into side…
I’ll admit, I got a little carried away here…. But this roundup of Valentine’s Day pajamas was a fun one to put together! LAKE has some of the best pajamas for women, and definitely the best seasonal pajamas for the whole family. Once they launched their Valentine’s Day collection a couple days ago, I ended…
I rounded up seven days worth of outfits, just not necessarily from one week though. I’ve been doing a lot of outfit repeating because very few things fit (and I have very little desire to wear anything besides comfortable items). LAST WEEK’S WIN: We had a proper snow day! Everyone had chatter that we were getting…
2023 was one of the hardest years for me. It was challenging in so many ways and I think it took a major toll on my spirit. It was still filled with a lot of wonderful and great things, which is what I’m trying to focus on here! It’s one of the hardest parts of…
A short but sweet list here! I wish I had had more time to read in December. I will say… I think I read a top contender for the year though, so that’s a huge win. THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner 3.75/5 Stars While this isn’t my normal genre, a bit of a thriller mystery,…
A lot to catch up on! Here’s what the past few weeks have looked like according to my camera roll. We had so many fun holiday activities lined up with friends and family over the month of December. It sort of felt like I went overboard, but I also feel like there are only so…
This and yap 🤍 Don’t forget to create holiday magic for yourself too! I can’t tell you how nice it was to do some gingerbread decorating without having to follow a three year old’s vision (or fight the sugar battle)! It’s fun to do it with kids, too, but sometimes you just need coffee, baked goods, and little bit of kid-free catch up time with your mom friends! Thank you for hosting @blueskyehouse!!
I wrote down a list of things I wanted to do for fun in 2024. I crossed off exactly zero of them (having a baby will do that to ya) and my only hope of accomplishing one would be to host a cookie exchange! I wanted to SO bad but I was also feeling exhausted after a long year (losing a dog, having a baby, running a business, etc.) and I didn’t know if I had hosting a party in me. I sent out the invitations and told myself I’d figure it out. There was no going back! It was SO FUN though and I will be doing this again. I feel like so much of the holidays as a mom is spent making the magic for kids. It’s Santa meet and greets, Christmas shopping, holiday pageants…. And then seeing Santa again (and again and again). THIS party was for us! 🥂
🎧 Five 5-Star Audiobooks I Listened to This Year ✨
Audiobooks have been my secret weapon for fitting reading into a busy life. Whether I’m folding laundry, driving to preschool drop-off, or squeezing in a solo walk, I can dive into a story at the touch of a button—and @Audible makes it so easy. Eligible new subscribers can sign up for a one month free trial of #Audible Premium Plus anytime! #AudiblePartner #amazoninfluencer @amazoninfluencerprogram
This year, I listened to some incredible audiobooks, but these five stood out as absolute favorites:
📚 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith: A beautifully written coming-of-age classic. I didn’t want it to end and could absolutely see myself re-listening in a few years.
📚 None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell: A psychological thriller with unreliable narrators that kept me guessing the whole way through.
📚 Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter: Part mystery, part family drama—flawed characters, a gripping storyline, and a chef’s kiss ending.
📚 All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker: A masterpiece of storytelling that starts as a serial killer mystery and evolves into something much bigger.
📚 Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors: A stunning exploration of sisterhood, grief, and imperfect people. The ending left me in tears (happy ones!).
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