Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Hello friends. It's been such a cold winter here and for many people who live all over. We had snow last week and freezing weather. I'm happy to say that this week we are finally warming up a little bit with some sunshine.
I'm joining Holly and Patty for their Monthly Musings link-up. This month we are discussing Winter Self-Care.
HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS:
1. What do you do to stay warm in winter? I always dress in layers with a long-sleeved top or turtle neck and a sweater or sweatshirt. I love using a warm blanket while I'm on the couch reading or watching TV. In the winter I love wearing my black Tasman Ugg slippers.
2. Favorite wintertime activity? I don't like the winter that much so I usually like doing anything indoors. I like curling up on the couch with a good book, occasionally crocheting, or streaming a good show or movie.
3. Any different beauty routines in winter? I like to use a lot of face cream, hand cream, and chapstick on my lips to help keep me moisturized. I also use Eucerin Itch Relief body lotion when I get out of the shower during the winter months.
4. Skating, sledding, or skiing? No!
5. Favorite winter recipes? I love making soups, and crockpot meals. This kale, bean & mushroom soup is a hit with my family. We also like this vegetable barley soup and my crockpot beef short ribs.
6. Favorite hot beverage? My favorite hot beverage in the winter is any hot coffee or hot tea.
7. Best winter memories? I remember it always snowing in the winter and my mom dressing all of us up in snowsuits to play outside.
8. Coldest day that you remember? The coldest day that I can remember was last week when we had snow and freezing weather. In my area, it's been very cold all winter and I'm looking forward to spring.
9. How are you practicing self-care this winter? I'm practicing self-care this winter by getting out for walks and going to the gym two to three times a week. I have been using a lot of creams to help keep my skin moisturized during these cold months.
10. Flannel sheets - yes or no? No, I used to use flannel sheets but not anymore. I use a lot of blankets on the bed to keep me warm.
Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Hello blog friends. I hope you are staying warm with this cold and snowy weather we are having this winter.
With the holidays over I decided to stop by one of my favorite books stores in our neighborhood. It's called The Ripped Bodice and it's a romance bookstore.
Two sisters own this bookstore and they have another store that is located in California.
This bookstore opened up in August of 2023. The decor is so unique that they have book pages decorated on the walls. This is my second time visiting this bookstore.
They still had their pink Christmas tree up and it looked so cute with the black bows.
They sell cute merchandise and I bought this T-shirt for myself and the tote bag for my daughter.
I picked out these two books. I love books by Taylor Jenkins Reid and this will be my first time reading a book by Lucy Score.
I will be joining Share Your Shelf next week to review After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This is a great link-up party to visit and find book recommendations.
Do you have a favorite bookstore?
Have you read any good books lately?
Julie
Hello friends. I thought it would be fun to look back at all of the books I've read in 2024.
HERE IS A LIST OF THE BOOKS I'VE READ FOR 2024:
- Imperfect Chemistry by Mary Frame
- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
- When in Rome by Sarah Admas
- The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
- The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
- The Cloisters by Katy Hays
- The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
- Master of the Game by Sydney Sheldon
- You with a View by Jessica Joyce
- The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
- Tom Lake by Ann Pachett
- Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum
- Death on Windmill Way by Carrie Doyle
- The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
- The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary - I started reading this but I didn't finish it.
- Hello Summer - Mary Kay Andrew's
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murder by Jesse Q. Sutanto
- The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
- Wreak the Halls by Tessa Baily - I started this book but I didn't finish it because I didn't like it.
I was down with reading books for 2024 and I only read 18 books. I hope to read more books this year that I like.
My Favorite Book of 2024: The Cloisters by Katy Hays
My next favorite book - The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
If you have book recommendations, please let me know.
Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Hello friends!
One of my goals is to get back to a regular blogging schedule now that the holidays are over. I thought it would be a fun to take a look back at some of my most popular blog posts of 2024.
1) Amazon Prime Purchases - February 2024 - This Amazon Prime Purchases blog post was a popular one. I shared a new travel backpack and some nice bathing suits.
2) Three Ingredient Egg Bake - I posted this egg bake recipe after seeing it on Living on Cloud Nine. Andrea has a lot of awesome recipes posted on her blog. I am looking forward to making this egg bake recipe again.
3) Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Muffins - I love finding recipes from bloggers that I follow. I was so happy when I found this oatmeal raisin recipe on the blog April J. Harris. These muffins are so easy to make and taste delicious. I can't wait to make these muffins again. You can also freeze these muffins and warm them in the microwave oven.
4) Adopting Our New Puppy - We adopted back in April our new puppy Lucy. When we adopted Lucy she was only four months old and such a fun loving puppy. Time has flown by so fast and we just celebrated Lucy's one year birthday back in November.
5) Trip to the Bahamas 2024 - My husband and I took a trip to the Atlantis Bahamas back March. We had a great time on this relaxing vacation and I'm hoping to go back there again this year.
6) Books I've Read - October 2024 - In this blog post I shared some of the books I read in the fall.
I hope you enjoyed taking a look back at my top blog posts of 2024. Thanks again for your sweet comments and blog friendships. Here's to blogging in 2025!
Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Hello and Happy New Year 2025 friends!
It's the beginning of the month and I'm joining Jenn for her Currently link-up. This month we are looking at what we are loving, doing to stay warm, resolving, organizing, and wearing.
LOVING: I loved the holidays and spending it with family and friends. I had a busy December with getting ready for Christmas and I loved that my husband and daughter were available to help with everything. I had family over for Christmas day, went to a friend's holiday party, and I loved going to lunch with friends to celebrate my birthday. I had a nice birthday going out to dinner with my husband and daughter to one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the neighborhood. I had a quiet New Year's Eve going to a local pub and watching the ball drop on TV. I had a wonderful holiday but I'm also happy now that the holidays are over. I'm tired! LOL!
DOING TO STAY WARM: I tend to dress in layers to stay warm. I always wear joggers, a long-sleeved top, and a sweater, crewneck sweatshirt, or cardigan. I love wearing my pjs and bathrobe and curling up on the couch with a blanket to watch TV or read a book.
RESOLVING: I am resolving to eat healthier now that the holidays are over. I want to eat less sweets as I ate a lot of cookies and cake over the holidays.
This is the tray of cookies my sister-in-law made for us. We look forward to her holiday cookies every Christmas. My neighbor also gave us cookies that she baked for us.
ORGANIZING: I have organized and packed away our Christmas decorations. I have been organizing and going through all areas of the house. I have thrown away stuff and donated bags of clothes. It's a work in progress after being in our home for 30 years.
WEARING: When I work out I always wear leggings and a T-shirt. When I'm at home I've been wearing joggers or sweatpants, a long-sleeved top and sweater, fleece, or a sweatshirt. I dress in warm comfortable clothes when I'm at home.
What have you been up to and is currently new with you?
Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Julie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons