What's Up Wednesday // What's New With Me

What I'm eating this week: On Monday I was down the shore with my friends and we had a late lunch at The Anchor's Bend in the Asbury Park Convention Center. I wasn't expecting much, but I had the fish tacos and they were so fresh with a little bit of kick from a sriracha dressing- so good! On Friday we have our monthly girls night out dinner. As for cooking, I'll probably keeping it light with pantry staples since I didn't get a chance to do groceries last weekend, but I did want to share this delicious Chicken and Stuffing Crockpot Recipe that I made last week since I found myself with an expected WFH day.

What I'm reminiscing about: Being at the beach and pool this weekend. It was perfect! But more on that coming Friday.

What I'm loving: Free money! If you guys haven't done so already, be sure to see if your data was exposed in the Equifax Data Breach and file a claim for $125... it only takes a few minutes and they'll mail a check to you! Also loving that the construction (that began in March) is finally completed and I can use my deck again! 

What I've been up to: Prepping items to sell at my first ever garage sale! Honestly it's so hard to have a garage sale when you're renting an apartment, but our landlord is letting us use our private parking spots and I plan on stuffing my little spot with things to sell and purge unnecessary things from my apartment! 

What I'm dreading: My self-evaluation for work. Ok, I'm not dreading it anymore because it was due yesterday, but man, that gave me agita. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my job, but I just could not muster the motivation to put the words into coherent, "Hey, I'm awesome and here's why" sentences. And also because I kind of (completely) forgot about one of my goals, so I didn't actually do it in time, which leads to...

What I'm working on: Actually completing the thing I said I finished on my evaluation.

What I'm excited about: Chris Stapleton and a WFH day next Friday! 

What I'm reading/watching: I just finished Road to Eugenica by A.M. Rose (YA sci-fi) last night and started The Yellow Envelope by Kim Didan (travel memoir). Binging the last season of Orange is the New Black. I'm about halfway through and it's pretty slow/boring. 

What I'm listening to: My Summer 2019 playlist, but also Lizzo's Tiny Desk Concert. It's sooooo good (even though "Juice" has been stuck in my head for days now)! 



What I'm wearing: Just trying to keep cool in capris and tees as much as possible, but I forgot to share my red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July! 

What I'm doing this weekend: All the things I didn't do last weekend- cleaning, food shopping, laundry, errands, etc. Happy to not have any plans so that I can get it all done though! 

What else is new? Hmm... not too much. On Friday I'll be sharing how I'm doing on my Summer Bucket List- I'm halfway through! So stay tuned for that :)

What's new with you?

Linking up with Shay and Kristen! 

Happy Birthday Blue!

Happy Monday loves! I'm currently in Asbury Park enjoying my first beach day of the year with some friends, but I couldn't pass up the chance to wish Blue a very happy birthday! (Actually it was yesterday, but I don't post on weekends.) 

I asked what kind of post she wanted, and she decided she wanted to answer some of Vogue's 73 Questions that's been going around. So this is a bit of an introduction of my favorite person! *I didn't edit any of this besides the order of the questions (some of the pics were too close together lol) and adding 2 captions. All pics have been approved as well.*


46 Questions

1. What's the best thing that happened to you this month?
Our annual camping trip with good friends, seeing John Mayer and spending my Birthday in Asbury Park.

2. What's your favorite game? Yahtzee

3. When are you most inspired? Musically, when I see a really great live performance. Professionally, when I see light start to shine through the cracks of an obstacle or concern.

4. What's your favorite beverage? Iced Tea. Or Whiskey. Or iced tea with whiskey.

5. If you could teach one subject in school, what would it be? Current events.

6. Window or aisle seat? Aisle

7. What is your favorite birthday cake? I love vanilla funfetti cake! 

8. What is one thing you still have from your childhood? 
I have a journal a high school English teacher had us keep for a year. It’s amazing how little I knew about how the world worked back then. 

9. What is something you're tired of? Millennials.

10. What is your favorite movie? From a nostalgia perspective, Star Wars. But the Shawshank Redemption is perfection

11.What is something you can't do? Um, get Dani pregnant???

12. What is something you will not be doing in ten years? Dealing with my monthly  

13. How do you start your day? Shower. Feed cat. Coffee. More Coffee. #allthecoffee

14. Would you ever live anywhere besides where you do now? Maybe? I’m kinda a creature of habit. I’d need four seasons.

15. What is your spirit animal? Sloth

16. What is your favorite dessert? Ice cream

17. Is there a dessert you don't like? Have you met me? (She really, really loves desserts. Like carbs, she hasn't met one she doesn't like as far as I know)

18. What is an important life lesson for someone to learn? Perfection is the enemy of good

19. It's brunch! What do you eat? More breakfasty than lunchy. 

20. Favorite Disney animal? Dory

21. Heels or flats? Flats

22. Where does one go on a perfect road trip? Any road trip is perfect with the right company and the right music

23. What do you do on a rainy day? Embrace the excuse to laze about

baby Blue!

24. What's your favorite exercise? Hahahahahaha next

25. What was your worst subject in school? Math

26. What do you usually eat for breakfast? Hard boiled eggs

27. What do you usually eat for dinner? Chicken and veggies during the week, comfort food on the weekends

28. What does creativity mean to you? Finding a spark and nurturing it into a a flame

29. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were 12? A rock star

30. Cooking or baking? Cooking

31. What is a book you are planning on reading? I plan on eventually reading Carry On by Rainbow Rowell because I know Dani loves it

32. What did you read most recently? Just finished In the Darkness (Zoey Bentley #2) by Mike Omer 

33. Favorite solo artist? John Mayer (I questioned her on this, because BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, but she clarified and said that she preferred The Boss with the band.)

34. Favorite baked good? Bagels

This is called "The PV" from our high school-
bagel with cream cheese and Doritos

35. What is something you wish you could be good at? Will power

36. First celebrity crush? Olivia Newton John lol

37. How do you manage stress? In an herbal way

38. Favorite color? Blue

39. What's a city you wish to visit? Seattle

40. What do you do to relax? Noodle around on guitar

41. Favorite fashion trend of all time? Flannel shirts. I get so excited when it swings back in style

42. What is your Kryptonite? Chocolate

43. How do you know if you're in love? Have you met Dani???

44. Television show you've binged on recently? Consuming a lot of True Blood

45. What are 3 words to describe living in your city? Bullet proof vest

46. Favorite band? Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Happy birthday Blue! 
Love you and wishing you many, many more! 

10 Summer Must Haves

Happy Friday friends! We are now fully into summer, and it's been hot, hot HOT in these parts lately! I'm super excited to be going to see John Mayer TONIGHT, celebrating Blue's birthday and heading to the beach on Sunday, with our friends joining us for a "sand flu" day on Monday! It's going to be a busy weekend but I can't wait! I also figured it was a good time to share some of my summer must haves! To see some others, here's the original link-up. 

{via}

Sandals/water shoes: Every year my friends and I go rafting down the Delaware River, and each year I need to buy new water shoes! I get cheap ones like these $5 ones from K-Mart that I don't mind throwing out afterwards. They can get pretty grody after a day spent in the river, but they're totally necessary especially since we usually get out and walk around the stones on the sides of the river, which are extremely hot and slippery! 

Sunscreen: A "duh"  one, but I must admit I haven't always been good about wearing sunscreen (unless it's in my moisturizer) because I don't burn easily. However I think my skin is starting to change because I noticed that the top of my nose and forehead were flaky after the day in the sun. My favorite is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist because it doesn't feel sticky. 

Bug Repellent/Bands: For some reason, I always get eaten alive as soon as summer hits. I think I read somewhere that they like my blood type more than others, but not sure if that's true or not. I always seem to get bit way more than anyone else around me though, so I wear Off! Family Care Smooth and Dry or the Bugables rubber bands that are reusable up to 7 days basically any time I plan to spend time outdoors. I bought the individually packaged bands for everyone in our camping group this year and they loved them! 

Tea Tree Oil: This is my #1 summer must have- relief for those pesky mosquito bites! I have tried everything else, those Afterbite and Benadryl itch relief sticks, hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, etc. and nothing works for me besides a dab of tea tree oil on a cotton pad. 

Spray Deodorant: Usually I'm a stick deodorant kinda gal, but I like keeping this dry spray in the car and beach bag for those times I need a little extra or to freshen up. Not to mention that I don't mind sharing this (as opposed to a stick), and the cool spray just feels nice!  

A Cute Coverup: I love loose fitting, semi-sheer pull-over style coverups with a little more coverage for my back and shoulders, but how pretty is the white and gold beading on the back of this Roxy one? I'm currently selling it on Poshmark!

Beach Chair: I've always been a fan of beach chairs. When I was younger, I liked the camp ones that folded up and came in a little bag with a shoulder strap from grabbing and going. Nowadays I prefer the slightly bigger, more durable (and more expensive) Tommy Bahamas ones with the neck pillow, towel bar, and cooler bag attached to the back. And pockets! So many pockets! 

Sunglasses: I have the hardest time finding sunglasses because my face is fairly narrow. I also throw my sunglasses around and they get scratched up, so I don't buy expensive sunnies, I stick to ones from Old Navy. Mine are below, similar here.

Bright Nail Polish: If you're going to be showing your toes, please, PLEASE paint them. I can't stand naked toes! And especially for shades that I may only wear for one season, I prefer mini collections like this Pride Collection from Ulta. 

And a bonus (and because it's Friday), you always need some good tunes! I tried to steer clear of the popular ones I've been hearing on the radio constantly and I really like a reggae-ish beat, so here's my Summer 2019 Playlist! 

Zoom- DNCE
We Don't Care- Sigala, The Vamps
Wild- LOLO
Guru- Coast Modern
Sun In Our Eyes- Mo, Diplo
Only One- Sigala, Digital Farm Animals, Brookes Brothers
365- Zedd, Katy Perry
Clean Eyes- SYML
Capsize- FRENSHP, Emily Warren
Wild Heart- Factuel, Provi, Desiree Dawson
Homisexual- Tayla Parx
Happy Days- Blink 182
On A Roll- Ashley O
Losing It Over You- Matoma, Ayme
No Way No- Magic
Memories- Thutmose
Sweet but Psycho- Ava Max
Home With You- Madison Beer
Street Signs- Ozomatli
Celebrate- MIKA, Pharell Williams, Ryan Riback

What are some of your summer must haves? 
What are you up to this weekend?

Linking up with The Peaceful Posse! 

2019 Reading Challenges: Mid-Year Check In

As you probably already know, I really enjoy reading. For me, it's a break from reality, where I can just be somewhere else for a little while. And while most of the time I pick up a book  depending on my mood, sometimes that also coincides with a book challenge category. I think the one many of you are familiar with is probably Erin's Book Challenge(s), however I participate in a bunch of other ones that last the whole year. So I wanted to do a mid-year check-in for those other reading challenges. This is more for my benefit than anything else, but I thought I'd share. Also, for some reason the format is all messed up and everything is in blue... I've been trying to fix it for over a half hour to no avail so, sorry about that. Anything in bold are categories I still need to complete, even though some have what I *think* I'll read in the blank. If you have any recommendations for me though, please let me know in the comments! 

Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge 2019 (9/10)

Book you’ve been meaning to read: The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky

Book About a topic that fascinates you: The Little Book of Hygge- Meik Weiking

Book in the backlist of a favorite author: Fangirl or Landline- Rainbow Rowell

Book recommended by someone with great taste: Bookshop of Yesterdays- Amy Meyerson

3 books by the same author- The 12 Days of Dash and Lily, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

A book you chose for the cover: The Adults- Caroline Hulse

A book by a new-to-you author: Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living- Linnea Dunne

A book in translation: You Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One- Raphaelle Giordano

A book outside your comfort zone: Long Way Down- Jason Reynolds (written in verse)

A book published before you were born: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer- Mark Twain 

A Literary Feast Reading Challenge 8/12

Jan: A book about a topic you want to know more about, or hobby you want to pursue- The Little Book of Hygge- Meik Weiking

Feb: A Love story- Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Mar: A travel memoir: The Yellow Envelope- Kim Didan*

Apr: A book that you purchased more than a year ago and haven’t yet read- Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One- Raphaelle Giordano

May: A book by or about someone who completely fascinates you: Daisy Jones and the Six- TJR

June: A book by an author who shares your last name: What’s Your Story?- Brandon Doman

July: A book that is being made into a movie in 2019: The Sun Is Also a Star- Nicola Yoon

August: A coming of age book- The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky

Sept: A book that enhances your vocation

Oct: A book that gives you goosebumps: Nine Perfect Strangers- Liane Moriarty

Nov: A book where an animal is the main character: The Art of Racing in the Rain*

Dec: A book about illness, death, or grieving: Long Way Down- Jason Reynolds

PopSugar Reading Challenge 27/40

1.     A book becoming a movie in 2019- The Sun Is Also a Star- Nicola Yoon

2.     A book that makes you nostalgic- The Jungle Books

3.     A book written by a musician (fiction or NF)- The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto- Mitch Albom

4.     A book you think should be turned into a movie: On The Come Up- Angie Thomas

5.     A book with at least 1M ratings on GR: The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky

6.     A book with a plant in the title or on the cover: The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (evergreens)

7.     A reread of a favorite book- Maniac Magee?

8.     A book about a hobby- North of Beautiful- Justina Chen Headley (art)

9.     A book you meant to read in 2018: Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One- Raphaelle Giordano

10.  A book with the words “pop” “sugar” or “challenge” in the title: Sugar- Deidre Riordan Hall

11.  A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover: Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living- Linnea Dunne

12.  A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore: The Lightning Thief- Rick Riordan

13.  A book published posthumously: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

14.  A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer- Mark Twain (seen on Mad Men- https://www.nypl.org/blog/2012/02/27/mad-men-reading-list)

15.  A retelling of a classic: Speak Easy, Speak Love / Fake Plastic Girl/ The Graveyard Book

16.  A book with a question in the title: What’s Your Story?- Brandon Doman

17.  A book set on a college or university campus: The Girl He Used to Know

18.  A book about someone with a superpower: Road to Eugenica- A.M. Rose*

19.  A book told from multiple POVs: Nine Perfect Strangers- Liane Moriarty

20.  A book set in space: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

21.  A book by two female authors: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating- Christina Lauren

22.  A book with a title that contains “salty,” “sweet,” “bitter,” or “spicy”: Sweetbitter, Sweetgirl- Travis

23.  A book set in Scandinavia: The Little Book of Hygge- Meik Wiking

24.  A book that takes place in a single day: Long Way Down- Jason Reynolds

25.  A debut novel: The Field Guide to the North American Teenager- Ben Phillipe

26.  A book that’s published in 2019: Two Can Keep A Secret- Karen M. McManus

27.  A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature: Children of Vengeance and Virtue- Tomi Adeyemi

28.  A book recommended by a celebrity you admire- Shrill (Our Shared Shelf- Emma Watson)

29.  A book with “love” in the title: Twenty One Truths About Love

30.  A book featuring an amateur detective: The Hundred Lives of Lizzie Lovett/ The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

31.  A book about a family: The Adults- Caroline Hulse*

32.  A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America: Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows- Bali Kaur Jaswal

33.  A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title: Hello, Universe- Erin Entrada Kelly

34.  A book that includes a wedding: Husband Material- Emily Belden

35.  A book by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter: Dear Lily- Drew Davies

36.  A ghost story: The Graveyard Book- Neil Gaiman/We Have Always Lived in the Castle- Shirley Jackson

37.  A book with a two-word title: Dumped, Actually- Nick Spalding

38.  A novel based on a true story: The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Before We Were Yours, Rust and Stardust, Floating Brothel

39.  A book revolving around a puzzle or game: Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

40.  Your favorite prompt from a past Popsugar Reading Challenge: NF- Sorry I’m Late, But I Didn’t Want To Come- Jessica Pan

52 Weeks Reading Challenge 33/52

https://mommymannegren.com/2018/11/16/2019-reading-challenge-free-printable/

1.     Book published in 2019: Two Can Keep A Secret- Karen M. McManus

2.     An author you’ve never heard of before: The Adults- Caroline Hulse

3.     A re-read: Maniac Magee

4.     A book with a strong female lead character: Daisy Jones and the Six- TJR

5.     A play: Burn This- Lanford Wilson

6.     A book set in southern USA- The Field Guide to the North American Teenager- Ben Phillipe

7.     A memoir on someone who admire: Why Not Me?- Mindy Kaling

8.     Set in the Victorian era

9.     Character with a career you wish you had: 21 Truths About Love- Matthew Dicks (bookstore owner)

10.  Planet on the cover: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

11.  Published the year you graduated school (2002, 2006): Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

12.  Graphic novel: Pumpkinhead- Rainbow Rowell

13.  Featuring Music: On The Come Up- Angie Thomas

14.  An ugly cover: Dear Lily- Drew Davies

15.  A teen as the main character: North of Beautiful- Justina Chen

16.  The re-telling of a well-known story: Dorothy Must Die, Circe, Speak Easy, Speak Love / Son of a Witch/ Fake Plastic Girl/ The Graveyard Book

17.  Set during a holiday: The 12 Days of Dash and Lily- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

18.  A book picked out for you by someone else: The Bookshop of Yesterdays- Amy Meyerson

19.  Gothic fiction novel- We Have Always Lived in the Castle? The Yellow Wallpaper?

20.  A book about time travel- Landline- Rainbow Rowell*

21.  A book that starts with the letter J: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating- Christina Lauren

22.  Fantasy novel- The Lightning Thief?

23.  True crime novel: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

24.  A self-published book

25.  The name of a color in the title: The Yellow Envelope*

26.  A one word title: Sugar- Deidre Riordan Hall

27.  A book that makes you mad: Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living- Leanne Dunne

28.  A book that discusses mental health: The Girl He Used to Know- Tracey Garvis Graves

29.  A book published by Harper Collins: Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows- Balli Kaur Jaswal

30.  An author who uses initials: Nightfall- A.J. Banner

31.  A book that everyone’s talking about: Nine Perfect Strangers- Liane Moriarty

32.  A western

33.  A book about a cult

34.  Nominated for (but didn’t win) the Goodreads choice awards: Long Way Down- Jason Reynolds

35.  A sports related book: Ghost- Jason Reynolds

36.  A humorous novel: An Almost Perfect Christmas- Nine Stibbe

37.  Set in South America

38.  An allegorical book: The Little Prince

39.  Military related (fiction or non-fiction)

40.  A character that is an immigrant- The Sun Is Also a Star- Nicola Yoon

41.  A book suggested by someone else in the challenge: The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky

42.  A family members favorite book: Frankie Presto, This Side of Paradise

43.  A children’s book: Hello, Universe- Erin Strada Kelly

44.  An author who uses a pseudonym: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer- Mark Twain

45.  A “beach” read: Husband Material- Emily Belden

46.  The first book you see in a bookstore/library: Dumped, Actually- Nick Spalding

47.  Set in a country you’ve visited: Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One- Raphaelle Giordano

48.  Set in a post-apocalyptic world

49.  A speed read: Our Stop- Laura Jane Williams

50.  A fairy tale

51.  A book about organized crime/the mob

52.  An audiobook: Sorry I’m Late, but I Didn’t Want to Come- Jessica Pan

The Unread Shelf Project 5/12

Jan- any unread book: Sugar- Deidre Hall

Feb- a book gifted to you: Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One- Raphaelle Giordano

Mar- the book that’s been on your shelf the longest: Memoirs of a Geisha, Shantaram, Second to Nun

Apr- the book you most recently acquired: Dumped, Actually- Nick Spalding

May- a book you bought because the movie/TV/theater adaptation: Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl/ Memoirs of a Geisha

June- a book about travel or set in a country you’ve never been to: Dear Lily- Drew Davies (Denmark)

July- a book from a series on your shelf: Son of a Witch- Gregory Maguire

Aug- a book voted for you to read by Bookstagram

Sept- a book you can buddy read with someone: The Oysterville Sewing Circle

Oct- a book that scares you, whether by length, content, or actual horror level: Middlesex, Buick8?

Nov- a book from your favorite genre: Our Stop (rom-com,chic lit)

Dec- the shortest book on your shelf- The Little Prince

If you have recommendations for me on any of those in BOLD, please share! 

Do you participate in reading challenges?