Nadine

Another weekend came and gone in a blink of an eye! I have been on the struggle bus lately. I have had a horrible cough for the last three and a half weeks. It turned into bronchitis, and apparently doesn’t want to go away anytime soon. Probably the worst thing ever being in an open work space. Sorry co-workers!

This past weekend, we had so much fun! Saturday morning we headed out to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate S’s birthday! This was Zoe’s first time there, and let’s just say she is a huge fan of the establishment and the creepy mouse.

Shout out to Laura for the candid family shot! She has already asked to go back, so I have a feeling that it will be happening again soon. I don’t think Chris minds either….he sure did rack up on tickets!

We also checked out Twisted Root Burgers while we were in the area. It was a fun little place that serves delicious burgers and had some fun areas outside for family fun. I did notice that they had alcohol, so holla! And they are supposed to be known for their ridiculously fun milkshakes. Unfortunately when we were there, the milkshake machine was down. Probably for the best, as I did not need it. But a good excuse to go back! Zoe thoroughly enjoyed her burger.I absolutely loved their house fountain sodas! Black cherry, root beer, cream soda. I had to taste them all!

Sunday we went grocery shopping in the morning, and hung around the house the rest of the day. Zoe took a very long mid-day nap, and Chris and I caught up on about three hours worth of Billions. Priorities. Screw cleaning the house! We have really been enjoying that show.

Sunday morning, while we were getting ready to leave….Zoe wanted an OOTD picture. She hadn’t requested one for awhile so I was excited. Full on cheesin’.

After I snapped a few of her, she said come on mommy….me and you!!! I snapped one of the two of us looking at the camera, and I was continuing to snap as she said looked at me and said…we are best friends mommy! Melt my heart. I am so glad I captured that! I hope she always feels that way!

Today, Nine Perfect Strangers is due back to the library and I still have like four hours worth of reading to do. Ugh! Anyone want to give me a cliff notes on what happens. I think I will probably skip ahead to the end, but I was just getting into the good stuff. The first part of the book was really slow and now I am like WTF is happening?!?!?!

I hope you all are having a wonderful week! I am going to try to come back for some Friday Favorites, because I have some good ones!

Reading

I am trying to get through Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. For whatever reason, it is taking me a little bit to get into it. But I can tell it is going to be better than Truly, Madly, Guilty. Or at least, I hope so!

Listening

Still loving the Influenced podcast from Lindsay! I tune in every week to listen, except for last weeks book one because I haven’t gotten my hands on a copy of the book yet.

Watching

Billions – Have you seen the show? It airs on Showtime. We have really gotten into it over the last few weeks while all of our normal shows are on break for summer. I really enjoy so many of the characters.

Melting

Seriously. It is HOT down here!!!! The heat index has been between 105-110 for days and my northern blood just can’t handle all the heat, no matter how long I have been down here for.

Playing

We have been outside a lot, despite said heat. I try to wait until the sun isn’t shining on the front of our house….around 530-600 pm. We have bought a lot of outside toys and games over the past few months. Ring toss, lawn darts, corn hole, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, a small pool, water table, bike for Zoe, etc. Plus we take a lot of family walks. It is so much fun watching her explore and play out there. She has really enjoyed swim days at home, as well as the ones she has at school. My little mermaid!

Reflecting

It has been a long few weeks. Chris’s grandmother passed away on Friday and her funeral was Monday. It is always hard to see the family hurting after the loss. It also makes you think about things in a different perspective. At her funeral, her BIL had made a comment about how she never had anything bad to say about anyone. And no matter when you saw her, she always presented her best self. It made me think about would people say about me if I were gone today.

Planning

Due to the death in the family, we did not go on our annual beach trip around the 4th as planned. We did enjoy the day at Chris’s sisters house with all his siblings and their kids. They grilled out, and the kids went swimming. It was odd not being at the beach to watch the fireworks. We really needed a trip away for awhile. We still do. I am hoping we can get away for a weekend soon. Or at least plan some fun things to do for Zoe. I would like to take her to see her first movie in a theater. Maybe check out the science center, they have a really cool kids area there. Zoe will have her first trip to Chuck E Cheese this weekend for a special friend’s birthday party!

Goals

Our beach trip was my line in the sand for getting back on track. I planned to get back to healthier/leaner lunches and dinners during the week. More strict meal planning, adding time to my morning workouts etc. Since we didn’t go, it sort of feels like I was cheated a week of fun. And that last hurrah, but no excuses or line in the sand now. Gotta get back on it! I feel like I need to branch out and not go back to the usual recipes I always get in a rut with when trying to eat healthier. I had let rice and other carbs creep back into our dinners. Instead of preparing lunches on my own the last few weeks, I have been grabbing adult “lunchables” and eating out more often. I have got to stop all that! But I also don’t want to go back to eating cauliflower rice for four months straight at lunch like I was doing before I went rogue. What are some of your favorite recipes right now for lunch or dinner??? Heck even breakfast, as I tend to get in major breakfast ruts since I hate eggs and don’t have a lot of time in the mornings.

Deals

I scored everything you see above at the Dollar Tree!!! The Body Book was on my TBR forever, $1 for Cameron Diaz????? OK!!!! Zoe loves coloring and painting, and I was really surprised to see the selection that they had there. The shimmer shine paints came with a paint brush and each painting sheet has its own colors, all you need is water! She LOVES it and it has really occupied a lot of her time .More than the usual 5 minutes, anyways.

It’s time again for Show Us Your Books! I read two Netgalley books this month!! Who am I??? I am lucky if I can get through one a month, and the rest are usually audiobooks. I am slowly dwindling down on my Netgalley bookshelf. Don’t worry, there are still like 15 others. I have banned myself from requesting more until I can get that under control. Until the next email comes along alerting me to something awesome….

Linking up with Steph and Jana.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

I love fire based shows (Chicago Fire, Station 19) and my dad has been a volunteer fire fighter for over 30 years, so you can say I am a fan of firefighters and their lives. I was really excited to read this book. I really liked how strong of a character Cassie was, and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book. I work in an industry that is male dominated, having been the only female in the office more than once, and know how boys club works. Though, not quite to the extent that I am sure other industries are. After reading this and How to Walk Away, this author has quickly risen to my must read list.

Bottom Line: Read it!

** I received a copy of Things You Save in a Fire from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.**

The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand

This is pretty much everything you want from an Elin Hilderbrand book! You have a messy family, a sad event, delicious food, and of course…Nantucket. You really get to know the characters in this book, and there are some deeper issues with quite a few of the characters, not your average care free beach read with only fluff.

Bottom Line: If you enjoy Hildebrand, you will like this one.

The Last Post by Renee Carlino

Renee Carlino quickly became a must read for me after Swear On the Life and Before We Were Strangers. I also read Wish You Were Here and loved it too. I was denied for her last book on Netgalley, I cant even remember what it was called, so like a child, I refused to read it. According to one of my book besties, it was total shit, so I am glad I didn’t read it! And here we are with her latest.

I don’t even know what to say about this book. The story line was good, and there was a lot of character growth and development. But it was a little odd too? It is about a woman who loses her husband after a year of marriage and she is grieving. She can’t let him go and still posts on his Facebook page and calls and leaves messages on his cell phone. And a guy who works at the woman’s fathers architectural firm, who basically stalks Laya and reads the Facebook posts and shows up at random places, etc. It was hard to like Micah at first, because of his stalker tendencies, and Laya is such a mess. And a lot of the middle of the book was a little meh for me. It was really heavy and dark, but then also, I felt like there was something missing too?

But then, the end of the book came back around for me and I am glad I read it. So I cant really tell you 100% how I feel about the book. It is no Swear on This Life, I can tell you that. But I guess in the end, I end it up liking it?

Bottom Line: Normally I say something like, if you are a fan of Carlino, read it! But in this case, it isn’t really anything like her other books. I am glad I did read it, because I thought about the book a lot. If you don’t mind a book that goes a little rogue in the middle, and some heavier things…it was a decent plot line and the characters did come together for me.

**I received a copy of The Last Post from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.**

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

This book threw me off just a little, because I didn’t realize it was going to be a cozy mystery type book. Once I got in the right mindset, I enjoyed it more. Drue’s character was a little over the top sometimes with the “down on her luck” issues, but it added to the charm of the book. There are basically two mysteries that you follow throughout the book, and that was kind of interesting. Neither was really cut and dry either, like your typical cozy mystery. There was some depth to it. It was a fun beach read type book.

Bottom Line: If you enjoy a good mystery or beach read, check it out!

Currently Reading

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

Well this week sure did get away from me! I meant to show up Monday for weekend shenanigans, but it never did happen. Summer is in full swing down here in the south. Hot, humid, muggy, random thunderstorms. I am like, hey fall, where you at??? But, I so love spending time with Zoe outside in the evenings! We play golf, ring toss, bubbles, go for walks, ride her bike. It is just so much fun!

Favorite Meal: Last Friday, Laura and I went to East West Birmingham. It was my first time, I have been dying to go since they opened last year. They only do lunch on Fridays, so you have to plan ahead. We shared some fried cauliflower as an app, and I ordered a pork belly and short rib bao bun as my main dish. SO FREAKING DELISH!!!! Those buns are like tiny clouds. Freaking yum. I hope to go back again soon!

Favorite Treat: My friend and I have made a habit of stopping by Birmingham Candy Company after our lunches when we meet at Pizitz. They are amazing!!! There is so much to chose from, everything is delicious, and the people that work there are so nice and friendly. They are seriously passionate about what they do, and I mean, who wouldn’t be when you are serving up little happies to everyone. If you are ever in Birmingham, you have to make this stop!

Favorite Moments: We went to Rodney Scott BBQ last Saturday, and then walked around 5 Points with Zoe and showed her the Storyteller Fountain. Which honestly, is quite creepy, but a staple landmark and fun to see. By the way, Rodney Scotts has the best turkey and hush puppies in all the land, and their kids chicken meal is so delicious!

Favorite Purchase: My hair dryer caught on fire last Friday. What a way to start the day, am I right??? It was time for a new one, so I headed to Ulta and grabbed the Drybar, after so many people messaged me that it was the best. I have to admit, I am loving it so far!!! I noticed that it doesn’t get near as hot as my old one…but I am thinking that is part of its magic? My hair has been sooooo soft all week!! It was quite pricey, but I am thinking worth it.

Favorite Funnies:

I hope that you all have a great weekend!!!

Book day!!! I am having a hard time believing I only read two books this month. I am in the middle of an audiobook and a physical book right now, but two finished doesn’t seem accurate? Serves me right, not having this post going as the month went on like I usually do. It is really hard to remember what all you read over the last month, time blends together!

Anyways, I am babbling. Linking up with Steph and Jana. (Happy belated Birthday, Jana!!!) Both book were wonderful, so excuse me while I gush for a minute.

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

First of all, you have to read the introduction! It makes me want to be besties with the author! I absolutely loved this book. And some of the quotes are so fantastic! I have to share two of my favorites…

“Just do something. You might make a mistake, then you can fix it. But if you do nothing, you can’t fix anything. And your life might turn out full of regrets.” 

“Because life is like that, isn’t it? If you thought of all the tiny things that divert your path one way or another, some good, some bad, you’d never do anything ever again. And some people don’t. Some people go through life not really deciding to do much, not wanting to, always too fearful of the consequences to try something new. Of course, that in itself is also a decision.” 

I immediately found myself cheering for Nina, and can totally relate to her situations in some ways, having lost my job last year. I wish I had her confidence to push forward with a dream. There were so many great characters in this book, and you feel like you are experiencing everything with Nina.

Bottom Line: Read it!!! If for no other reason, but because you are a book lover and so is Nina and all the booksish things about the book are awesome! I absolutely adored this one.

Coldhearted Boss by R.S. Grey

I do love a good R.S. Grey book, and this has been my favorite of the last few I have read. Misunderstandings, family drama, mean boss, saucy girl, sexual tension, hot construction workers, small town feel, I mean this book has it all! This was a slow, slow burn romance and had me LOL’ing multiple times.

Bottom Line: If you like romantic comedies, read it!

**Thanks R.S. Grey for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.**

Currently Reading

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center