April Goals

Ok so I know we're a week into April already, but I haven't made a goals list in over a year, so better late than never, right? Here are my top 10 goals for April.

{via}

• Finish taxes from 2019 - my taxes for this year are done but they sent me a letter about some issues with my 2019 taxes so need to work on this ASAP
• call Navient about getting a 1099-C Form
• Schedule and visit my tax bud at HR Block
• File adjustment
• Schedule dentist appointment
• Schedule optometrist appointment
• Track Spending
• Spring clean weekly
• Wake up 10 min earlier every weekday to have time to make lunch
• Organize recipe/home binder
• Make 5 new recipes 
• Re-organize/purge main clothing closet
• Read a book! I'm in a rut that I desperately want to get out of!

Do you have any goals for April?

Fall Bucket List

I have some things on deck for fall, but first let's review how I did on my Summer Bucket List! When I first posted my list, I had already gone to the beach at least once , celebrated the 4th of July with friends and family, signed up for a class, and started reading books for Erin's Book Challenge. What have I done since then? 

Fix/update Mom's tablet  - check! (no pic, sorry!)

Go to the beach - check! We went to Atlantic City, and even had time to visit Lucy the Elephant on our way home! 

Attend a trivia night - check! We lost pretty terribly, but it was still fun! 

Celebrate Blue's birthday - check! We had a great time celebrating in Asbury Park for a long weekend, and then the Mountain Mommas surprised her with cake when we returned!

Enjoy a weekend getaway with mom - check! We spent a weekend in Ct with her church peeps. 

Celebrate the 4th of July - check! (Pic posted earlier, here)

Visit a fair - check! No pics for this one, but we went to a local food festival!

Check out American Dream - check!

Try some new cocktails and/or beer - check! I tried High Noon and Bud Light Selzer- hated both! 

Send care package to friend in Colorado - Check! 

Sign up for/take a class - check! I passed my Women's Leadership course at Yale :)

Read 5 books - Still working on this one! I *should* be able to finish in time!

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to Go to an aquarium or museum or visit my friend's new apartment, but hopefully I'll get to do both soon! 

Here's what I have on deck for Fall!~

try 3 new "Fall" recipes

light fall scented candles

paint nails a fall color

decorate for fall

change over summer to winter clothes and donate the extras

go on a (weekend) getaway

enjoy a hookie spa day

finish Erin's book challenge (deadline 10/31)

check out a new winery or brewery

check out a new restaurant

have a pumpkin martini

enjoy pumpkin ice cream

12 is actually my favorite number, so I'm going to stop there. 

What do you have on deck for this season? 

Winter Bucket List Update

Hello sweet friends! Hope you're all doing well! I'm back with some Winter Bucket List updates today. I completed all but 1 of them! Honestly I didn't realize until now that these were mmostly centered around the holidays, but that's okay. I'm hoping to finish that last one next month and be hold myself more accountable for the one below it- you'll know it when you see it. So without further ado...

Deck the halls- completed! Below is my little tree, but I also decorated my bar cabinet and wrapped a lit garland on my porch railing outside. 

Have a holiday movie night, with hot cocoa and footie pajamas- completed, but unfortunately no pics!

Read some cozy Christmas-themed stories- completed, I read 7! I read The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss, 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston, Blue Christmas Balls by Nick Spalding, You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs, (my reviews of those here!), This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens, Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, and In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren (my review of those here!). 

Set some New Year/monthly goals- completed! You can see my list here! 

Start a new holiday tradition- completed! We decided to start the Icelandic tradition called "jolabokaflod" of giving (and reading!) new books on Christmas Eve. I love it! You can learn more about it here! 

Drive around looking at Christmas lights - completed! Found a whole street right in my town! 

Read a self-help book- no. I started several but couldn't get into them. Maybe this month! 

Accomplish 5 to-do items I've been avoiding- in process? I probably did but now I can't remember! 

"Home Edit" my apartment and Blue's kitchen- (this will probably forever be) in process! But I'm having a lot of fun with this one! Here's the latest- I 2 reorganized Blue's kitchen cabinets!

Create a 2020 recap of GOOD things- completed, but not yet posted! 

Did you make a Winter Bucket List? How are you doing?

Linking up with Leslie! 

Winter Bucket List

Well, well, well, here we are in mid- JANUARY and I have yet to post my Winter Bucket List! Let's just say the end f the month was a bit busier than usual, and hey, better late than never right? I'm going to include things that have already been done because they WERE on my bucket list, even if I didn't quite get around to posting the list!

But first, a recap of how I did with the Fall Bucket List! I did quite a few things by my October update, so below is my progress since then. 

I did...

donate food to a food bank

light fall-scented candles

change over clothes (last week?), and am putting together a box for donations. I also wrangled up my friends and donated a bunch of coats to a coat drive. 

I didn't quite...

make chili. Not once. Blue didn't make chili either, or if she did she didn't share it with me! I also did not make my annual Oreo pumpkin cupcakes even though I purchased all the ingredients for them! Of course by now the Oreos are gone so... ::shrug::

give myself an at-home mani/pedi. Honestly I wasn't seeing anyone and it seemed more like a hassle tahn anything else. Not what that was intended for. 

drink allthepumpkinales. In fact, I think I only had one? But I was also completely out of it calendar-wise because I was still asking why there wasn't any Oktoberfest beers at my local liquor store in... December ::facepalm::

try a new food. In my defense, I was quarantined for 2 weeks and since cases spiked I haven't been going anywhere, so maybe that goal was too lofty. 

find/create a new skincare routine. After the new mask my mom got me dried out my face, I didn't try anything else other than lots of mosturizer. Honestly, I think my face doesn't like to be messed with. As soon as I stopped trying, everything cleared up! #girldontwashyourface

deck the halls

Have a holiday movie night- complete with hot cocoa and footie pajamas

read some cozy Christmas-themed stories

set some New Year/monthly goals

start a new holiday tradition

drive around looking at Christmas lights

read a self-help book

accomplish 5 to-do items I've been avoiding

"Home Edit" my apartment and Blue's kitchen

create a 2020 recap of GOOD things

How are you doing with your Winter Bucket List? 

Linking up with Leslie! 

January Currently and 2021 Resolutions

Welcome 2021! I'd say I'm happy to see you, but I thought I was happy to see 2020 and we all saw how THAT went! Anyway, I haven't participated in this linkup since last...August? So I figured it was a nice, easy way to ease in to the new year! 

{via}

Reading: The Home Edit by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin and Astrid Sees All by Natalie Standiford

Watching: The Mandolorian on Disney+

Listening To: My top 2020 Playlist on Spotify

Looking Forward To: This weekend. Tomorrow is me and Blue's 6 year anniversary (6 YEARS! Time sure does fly!), so on Friday we are ordering in from our my favorite restaurant, and on Saturday we will have our annual Thanksgiving Do-Over. Every year we have a do-over because on Thanksgiving we see our families (sometimes... and sometimes I have Chinese food alone in my apartment, or Pret Manger turkey sandwiches while racing to get to the cemetery 2 hours away which was my mom and I's "tradition" for several years, or this year Mom and I "Zoomed" and had pre-made Shoprite Thanksgiving dinners!). 

Procrastinating: doing "real work" before I have to return to work tomorrow

Feeling: Slightly glum, since I have been off since Dec 23 and have been enjoying it IMMENSELY, and slightly anxious, because, well, see above! And like a dumbass I scheduled two trainings for new employees tomorrow ::facepalm::

Wondering: when I'll have to return to the office. It's officially closed (working remotely) until Jan 25, but with cases spiking and new orders in place, who knows what the future holds.

Organizing: everything! I've been implementing small organizational changes throughout my apartment, and this weekend I'll begin tackling re-organizing Blue's kitchen. Thankfully I love projects like these, and reading The Home Edit is fueling me with so many ideas and inspiration. Wish me luck! 

Beginning: to put away Christmas decorations. While I love reading in front of my little tree, I won't have time to put it away properly later this week or this weekend, and Christmas always "comes down" on Three Kings Day. 

Resolving: to post my "resolutions" before February this year! 

Finances

• Check finances monthly (amazingly even after someone hacked my bank account last December and stole literally thousands of dollars from me, I have not done this ::insert see no evil monkey emoji::)
• Complete a "no buy" month
• Find and open a better savings account option

At Home

• Declutter one room/month (including rooms at Blue's condo since I don't have 12 rooms!) 
• Sell/donate everything in coat closet
• Create/update home/recipe binder
• Instill One In, One Out philosophy
• Start a "Go Bag" - my coworker and one of the Mountain Mamas has been on my case about this for over a year, and it's not a bad idea! Deadline: Aug. 31 - again, blog about it! (EDIT: already added the go-live date of this post to my planner since September is National Preparedness Month, so it's gotta happen!) 

Personal

• Get back into journaling
• Scrapbook 2020
• Let go of one thing - physical, emotional, spiritual- that's been weighing heavily on you

Reading

• Complete my Goodreads goal of 50 books
• Complete BCBE 14 and 15
• Participate in the A-Z Reading Challenge
• Read 12 Non-Fiction
• Read 10 books from my physical bookshelf and 10 Netgalley books (with reviews)

Blogging

• Find and implement a new website design- change as needed (recommendations welcome!) 
• Reply to comments within 24 hours
• Post (at least) 6 times /month
• Finish, schedule, or delete posts in "draft" form, <12 (I currently have 57, dating all the way back to 2014... that is NOT okay!)

What's currently going on with you?

Linking up with Anne!

Winter 2020 TBR

Here we are, in the last season of 2020 (finally!). I can hardly believe it, it has been such a loooong year and I'm excited to see it go! Before getting into what I'll be reading this season, here's a look at how I did with my Fall TBR: 

George - Alex Gino (For Banned Books Week - Sept 20)

Beartown - Fredrik Backman

Such A Fun Age - Kiley Reid

Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams

... I couldn't get my hands on A Long Way Home - Saroo Riley (For my non-fiction goal); it was not available at my library or Paperback Swap. I probably should have checked that before adding it to my Fall TBR, but it's an older book so I didn't think getting it would be an issue! So instead a read a autobiographical comic called Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. You can see my review of it here. 

Not sure I have much of an excuse for the others I didn't read especially since I already own them! It goes without saying that I probably shouldn't continue making these lists since I'm such a mood reader, but lists are fun so I'll just keep making them and see how I do at the end of the season! 

One that I really, truly want to read this year is Little Women. It just feels like a winter book to me and I've been meaning to read it for years! Fingers crossed I'm "feeling" it this season! Some of these are holiday books I purchased at the end of the season last year (with a BN gift card I got for Christmas). A few are Netgalley ones that have been on my shelf for years (oops) that have a winterish vibe. And then there are a few for Book Challenge By Erin which runs from Jan. 1 - Apr 30. 

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas - Augusten Burroughs

It Started With Christmas - Jenny Hale

Read a book you have been meaning to re-read: Interpreter of Maladies- Jhumpa Lahiri

Read the first book of a series you have never read before: Never Never- Colleen Hoover

Read a book with a mostly green and/or pink color cover art: Emergency Contact- Mary H.K. Choi

Read a book with a male relationship word in the title: Wayward Son (Simon Snow #2) - Rainbow Rowell

Read a book set in a place that's on your bucket list of places to visit: Sharp Edge of a Snowflake- Sif Sigmarsdottir (Iceland)

Read a book that reminds you of 2020: The Forgotten Hours- Katrin Schumann

Read a book written by an LGBTQIA+ author or have an LGBTQIA+ theme: Autoboyography- Christina Lauren

Read a book with the name of a bird in the title, or the word bird/birds in the title: Bird Box- Josh Malerman

Read a book where the protagonist has a questionable profession or questionable way of life (an addict, a computer hacker, a vigilante, for example): Astrid Sees All- Natalie Standiford (fortune teller)

What are you hoping to read this season? 

November Goals

I feel like I've been majorly slacking both in my personal (blogging) and professional life, but I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. Here's how I did with my October goals:

• Clean Out Hallway closet - Done! 

• Switch over wardrobe - I didn't do this because it wasn't warranted. It was still fairly warm up until this week, but I'll surely be doing it soon, possibly this weekend! 

• Shred pile of mail - I tried to do this with an old shredder a friend gave me that she wasn't using. Unfortunately it's quite old and wasn't actually shredding! Adding a shredder to my wish list!

• Read/discard all old magazines - In progress.

• Organize recipe/home binder - In progress. I purchased these 3-Ring binder sheet protectors so I could slide any magazine articles and recipes I wanted to keep in them for the "home" binder. I didn't get a chance to go through all the magazines so still working on this one, and I would like to get some dividers. 

One big thing I did that wasn't on this list was upgrade my desk! I purchased a new-to-me desk from Facebook Marketplace and "borrowed" my desk chair from my workplace since I wasn't using it there (don't worry, the Boss said I could!). I'm looking forward to sharing my new at home workspace with you as soon as I get my new corkboards up! 

As for November, I actually started writing this around the same time I wrote out my October goals, breaking them up across the two months. Since things are kinda crazy with voting this year, I decided to drop off my mail-in ballot early, so that one's already completed! And last year I didn't get the planner I wanted because I waited too late. When I started looking earlier this month, I noticed that some of them were already sold out, so I jumped on that goal right away too! 

Vote!

Purchase 2021 Planner

Start using the Waterpik I got last Christmas

Toss old make-up and hair products

Weatherize in-wall AC units and fix bathroom blinds

Sort Christmas Presents and Finish Christmas Shopping (if possible)

Plan birthday "party"/activity/dinner

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I stated before, I feel like I'm falling behind in my personal/blogging life. As in, I meant to post my Fall Bucket List Update back on the 21st! But better late than never! Here's where I'm at: 

Put up fall decor - I put up some minimalist decor; changing out my welcome rug to my fall one, putting a pumpkin out front, and adding a small "centerpiece" on my coffee table. Just a few touches for now!

Go on a Fall mini-getaway - YES! Blue and I spent a long weekend with our friend in Vermont and it was great! It was my first time there and I'm hoping to get a recap up soon! 

Check out a new brewery or winery- My friends and I just visited Torne Valley Vineyards  in New York on Saturday. The wine was just okay, but the company was better :) We were lucky to have a beautiful day for it! 

Enjoy apple cider and donuts- Got my first apple cider donut yesterday! It wasn't very fresh though- I demand a redo! 

Get cozy and read from my Fall TBR List! - So far I've read 3 from my Fall TBR: George by Alex Gino, Beartown by Fredrik Backman, and Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid. You can see my reviews here!

"Fall" into a new binge-worthy series- I started (and finished) The Home Edit on Netflix (OMG LOVE!), Wentworth (S8) on Netflix,  and What We Do In The Shadows on Hulu. I feel like I watched a lot more than that, but I can't remember right now.

Create new skincare routine (more moisturizer, please!)- My mom repurchased one of my favorite masks, Lush's Mask of Magnaminty, but for some reason it made me break out! Either that or my cotton mask, not sure which was the culprit. Either way, now I'm trying a bunch of "calming" products to clear it up a bit. Always a work in progress! 

Have a Chili and Fall movie night- Didn't break out the chili yet, but so far we watched 3 of my favorite "Halloween" movies, Practival Magic, Hocus Pocus, and The Craft. On deck are The Witches on Disney+ and The Witches of Eastwick. 

How are you doing with your Fall Bucket List? 

What are some of your favorite Halloween movies? 

Fall 2020 Bucket List

Before I "Fall" into my Autumn Bucket List, here's how I did with my Summer one!

I didn't quite... 

Try a new food.
Go on a day trip.
Get a pedicure.
Learn how to make a new cocktail or sangria.

But I did...

More deck reading
Check out a new brewery or winery and Go to the beach, which I wrote about here!
Eat a fresh lobster roll and Go glamping - Yes, and I wrote about it here!

And now we're on to Fall! While Summer is my favorite season, there are some things I like about Fall- mostly hoodies/flannel, comfort foods, and the return of football season! I tried to be a bit more realistic about my Fall Bucket List since I'm still not too keen on going to any crowded places, and I'm disappointed that this will be the first time in 6 years that we've decided to cancel our annual Halloween Party, but I'd rather be safe than sorry! Here are some fun things I hope to do this season. 

{via}

Drink allthepumpkinales (or 5 new ones)

Put up fall decor

Go on a Fall mini-getaway

Check out a new brewery or winery

Enjoy apple cider and donuts

Have a Chili and Fall movie night (Here are some ideas!)

Bake Oreo pumpkin cheesecakes~ an annual tradition!

Change over wardrobe and donate clothes

Donate food at a shelter or food bank

Try a new-to-me food (rollover from Summer!)

Light some fall-scented candles

Bust out the dark polish and give myself an at-home mani/pedi

"Fall" into a new binge-worthy series

Create new skincare routine (more moisturizer, please!)

Get cozy and read from my Fall TBR List!

What are some things you hope to do this fall? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fall 2020 TBR

Before I jump into my Fall TBR I usually review how I did on my Summer TBR, but I only read 2/10 - Wow, No Thank You. - Samantha Irby and The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1) - Jenny Han - and that's it! In fact, I only read 10 books all season. I had some trouble concentrating on anything last season. 

Even though I know Fall doesn't officially start until next week, it's never too soon to start planning what I'm hoping to read, right?! Plus, I love making lists! Instead of focusing on only BIPOC authors this time around though, I'm just going to read what I want. Hopefully that will help me get through more than 2 from this list this season! 

{via}

Beartown - Fredrik Backman

Such A Fun Age - Kiley Reid

Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams

Wayward Son (Simon Snow #2) - Rainbow Rowell

Behind Closed Doors - B.A. Paris

The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell

Mayhem - Estelle Laure

Sula - Toni Morrison

George - Alex Gino (For Banned Books Week - Sept 20)

A Long Way Home - Saroo Riley (For my non-fiction goal)

What's on your Fall TBR list? 

September Goals

The last time I wrote out goals was in May. I'm not linking back to those because I don't even remember what they were let alone accomplish any of them. I also always feel like September is a better of a fresh start, so it's a perfect time to set some goals/intentions (even if it is halfway through the month- better late than never)! I'm keeping it fairly light as to ease my way back into both goals setting and accomplishing. Here is what I have lined up for the rest of September. 

{via}

• Clean Out Freezer
• Redo dining area into desk/work space
• Meal plan and try 3 new recipes
• Finish Erin's Book Challenge (one left!) 
• Read one banned book for Banned Book Week (Week of Sept. 20)

Have you set any goals this month? 

Do you have any "banned book" suggestions? 

What's New With Me: August

I thought I hadn't done much in August but after writing this I realized I has quite an active month! Here's what I was up to: 

One of our Mountain Mamas left the nest (or mountain rather), so we had a goodbye "party" for her.

Covid Test on August 5... followed immediately by getting stung by a bee for the first time EVER! I put ice on it, but the swelling took a full week to go down, and then it was so itchy! 

Checked out a new local brewery followed by a late night swim with a few friends- so much fun! (Summer Bucket List- check!)

"Sand Flu" aka beach day in mid-August with another couple (Summer Bucket List- check!)

Dinner with Blue's sister and BIL at a new-to-us restaurant. 

Back to working in the office on August 27. Luckily I only have to go in 2 days a week for the next month. 

Closed out the month with another al fresco late lunch at one of our old favorites. 

Other than that, my reading took a  bit of a backseat this month as I continued to binge on all of the Sopranos, and then found Wentworth on Netflix. How have I never heard of this show? It's like a better, Australian version of Orange is the New Black, and there are 7 seasons! I'm already on S4... and S8 comes out Sept 30! Since I'm watching that with Blue, I may have to also start Cobra Kai- have you guys seen that one yet? It's supposed to be a continuation of The Karate Kid, and I've heard it's really good! 

What's new with you this month?

Linking up with Lauren, Dara, and Kristen! 

Summer Bucket List Update and 20 Questions

Super quick Summer Bucket List update... I got a lobster roll! It was a pick-up order but super fresh and hot and delish. I like both the hot and cold versions- what about you?

I went glamping! It was raining sheets the first night so we stayed in and played games and sang karaoke. The next day we were able to hang out by the pool, go for a long walk around the property, and eat a whoooole lot! (And yes, I did take everyone's temps before even entering the cabins and stayed away from everyone not in our group!)

Beach day (aka "sand flu") is scheduled for next Sunday/Monday! We are heading down on Sunday to start celebrating Blue's birthday a tad early. I just booked a hotel and outdoor dining last night, so I'm really looking forward to this little getaway with just us! 

Unrelated, I saw these questions going around recently, so I wanted to play along! 

1. Introvert or extrovert?
Ambivert. When I was younger I was definitely was an extrovert, but as I've gotten older I've noticed that I needed more time to recharge in between large friend gatherings and just want to be with my one person or alone completely, so I'd say I'm leaning more toward being an introvert these days. 

2. Favorite movie?
Sweet Home Alabama, Love Actually, Step Brothers, Pretty Woman

3. Arrive early or late?
I used to always be a bit late, but then I dated someone who hated it, and then another someone, and now another, so yeah... early lol!

4. Last book you read?
The last book I finished was The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. It was a bit too YA for me and you can tell it was some of Han's earlier work, but it "passed the time just fine" as Steph would say.

5. Favorite holiday?

While I LOVE the Thanksgiving food, the holiday itself stresses me out. So 4th of July- I love summer, hanging out with my friends, simple foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato or macaroni salad, and the carefree nature of the holiday... oh and fireworks!

6. Pet peeve?

Oooh so many... terrible drivers, people (especially those in higher roles than me) who repeatedly make the same grammatical errors (it's "YOU'RE" Welcome, not YOUR!), and most recently those who don't wear masks in public spaces and/or don't respect the space markers

7. Food you refuse to eat? 

Brussel sprouts and liver

8. Favorite fast food chain? 

This is a toughie because it WOULD have been Taco Bell, hands down. But since they changed up their menu (and got rid of a lot of my favorite burrito options) it's no longer a go-to. If I had a White Castle nearby I'd go there alllll the time!

9. How do you keep fit?
I don't...

10. Morning person or night owl? 
Night owl.

11. Favorite drink?
Coffee, iced green tea, Cabernet, and craft beer (NO IPA's!). Though White Claw has become a new fave this season. It's so light and refreshing on a hot day! 

12. Irrational fear?

13. Go-to snack?

I'm not really a snacker but I'd reach for something salty like chips with onion dip, or spicy like jalapeño chips or Hot n Spicy Cheez-its.

14. Strongest sense?

15. Fictional place you’d like to visit?

None really, but I guess for the sake of the question I'll agree with Trista and say Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, even though they really do make a fanfest weekend like that in Kent, CT every year!

16. Kindle or actual book?
I will always prefer actual books when I'm not commuting. 

17. Last movie you went to see?
I honestly don't remember! 

18. Favorite season?
Summer

19. Beach or mountains?
Beach, but I like mountains too.

20. Favorite cereal?
Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Cocoa Krispies :)


Tell me something I may not know about you!