Friday is for Favorites!

Happy Friday!  Who's excited?!?  We made it! I don't know why but since Wednesday I've been feeling like everyday shoulda been Friday...so that's how my week's been going!

 Some Fridays I share my fave favorite things on the blog!  Today's one of those days!  So let's get to it....

{The Magnolia Story}
I'm super excited that the hold I placed on The Magnolia Story by Fixer Upper's Chip and Joanna Gains came in from the Library.  And not only that, so did the hold I put on the audiobook.  I got the audiobook after I heard that Chip and Joanna themselves read it. I like to sometimes listen to and read along with the book!  Eager to get reading this weekend!  AFTER I finish All the Missing Girls.

{Almost a new bed}
This might be a silly favorite, but I'm just loving the new dust ruffle and sheets I got this week.  The sheets are so comfy!  And being a sheet set from Target, I'm super impressed....they are really soft and durable.  They fit my bed perfectly and were even on sale. Oh and my other favorite thing about them is that there was a tag on the fitted sheet that said top or bottom...Score!  Took me three seconds for put on!  Totally feels like I'm sleeping in a new bed!

{Finally some SUNSHINE!}
After what felt like days and days of neverending rain, the sun finally made an appearance on Wednesday and Thursday...and spring like temperatures came with it.  Sunshine this week was definitely a fave this week.  I'm just a happier person when the sun is out!

{The Arrangement and Sweet Home Oklahoma}
This week at the recommendation of my friend I started watching these two shows. She actually said she started watching The Arrangement because I was the one who told her about it, and then I just never ended up catching the premiere!!  But I caught up on the arrangement this past weekend and am really liking it.  Michael Vartan who I loved from Alias is in it and he is just creepy.  I liked the premise and where the story is going.
Sweet Home Oklahoma on Bravo is just hilarious.  The reality show about three best friends and their crazy adventures in their home state had my laughing out loud over and over!  I texted my friend and told her we had to make a trip out there!  Check it out on Mondays at 10 on Bravo!

via E!

{Game Night!}
I'm hosting my first ever game night tonight.  I can't wait.  After talking about it for so long, it's finally happening.  I've invited a bunch of friends and some family, who's actually coming is still a mystery.  But big or small, it's sure to be a fun night.  I'll let you know how it goes on Monday!



Have a great weekend all!  Can't believe tomorrow's April 1st....but the teacher in me is happy that it fall's on a weekend!  And that's no April Fool's!


Linking up with Erika and the girls today for Friday Favorites and Tif and the girls for H54F!

March Book Reviews with TBB's Virtual Book Club

Today the girls of the TBB Virtual Book Club are sharing their book reviews for March.  This month's discussions in the Slack group are going strong and are super lively.

I hate to admit this but I'm behind.  Like still reading a February pick, behind!

Sadly, I've been reading  All the Missing Girls since February.  I just can't get to the end.  And I've heard that the end is AMAZING...so I want to get there!  I feel like the end for me will be this weekend, but I just couldn't finish it in time for posting!!

And I am really excited to read a few of the March books!  I have Behind Closed Doors on hold at my local library....looks super freaky but interesting.  Can't wait to read the reviews of it today!!


Still working on All the Missing Girls though doesn't mean I didn't read at all this month!! I actually read two whole books...each in one sitting!

The first was And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer.  This is a small novella by author Fredrik Backman, who also wrote TBB Book Club's February pick,  A Man Called Ove.  I have this too, and have yet to read it (shocking I know!).  But I ended up picking up this little book one day and reading it in about an hour!  I loved it.

It is about a young boy and his grandpa, who sadly, is falling into Alzheimer's.  But he's trying his best to hold on to his precious memories! Told on what I'd call a bridge between this life and heaven...where he goes and "visits" his wife,   It was a touching read that made me laugh and cry....more crying than laughing for sure!  This is a story I highly recommend and will read again and again.  Lots of take-a-ways and beautifully written.


Another book I read in one sitting was titled Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. It is her debut. Told in poetry and prose, the book is divided into 4 sections and deals with the authors life of abuse, loss, and ultimately the healing that makes her whole again....or just as whole as she can be after such heartache.

Very well done, and not my typical read but I enjoyed it. As a reader, I was vividly immersed in the author's world, however difficult that was. I found myself flagging the poems that spoke to me and those whose words I wanted to remember.   Though difficult it's subject matter, many poems are filled with hope... I was happy I purchased this book rather than borrowed it from the library, because it's another one I'll read again.

Has anyone else ever read this?  I would love to know what you thought in the comments below.







With my spring break coming up in two weeks I have high hopes that I can read a few more books in April.  Looking forward to doing nothing and have the time...like hours...to veg and read for a week and a half!

Hop on by the link-up at TBB today to post your book reviews! No blog? No problem!  Hashtag the books you read this month across all social media with #TBBReads #TBBVirtualBookClub , so we can check them out.

 And it's never too late to join us in the Virtual book club!!  Get all the details here!

Until Next Time!

My five favorite photos!

I'm finally joining up with Momfessionals Andrea today for my first Show and Tell Tuesday of 2017.  Today's prompt, five favorite photos is right up my alley.  I love photos.  I think I get that from my mom who has stacks and stacks of photo albums going back almost 40 years.  These days, she has stacks and stacks of Shutterfly books.  Me...I too, have a bunch of photo albums, boxes of photos, and document my life daily on Insta!  I've even posted about my five favorite photos of ME here!  Today, I'm just sharing some of my all time faves...of me and the people I love! It probably illustrates this solitary life!  (Explanations are above each pic)


This is the most recent picture in the bunch, but this is definitely one of my faves.  Quite simply, it's my family!  The freakin' wild, crazy, ridiculous crew that we are.  And, of course, me being the loner, with no family of my own, I'm smack-dab between my mom and dad!!  Ugh.....lolololol

November 2016

This is the best picture ever of the "original 6"!  We were celebrating Happy Heart Day for my dad, and doing our usual photo shoot thing, when Billy, my oldest nephew, hit us all with the super soaker!  We were all blindsided...and the fact that my brother-in-law-Sean got this action shot is classic!

August 2015

This one is a favorite of my bestie and I! Over 30 years of friendship has yielded thousands of photos.  But this past summer when we went to see Garth Brooks and sat in the rain for hours, we were getting punchy!  And this fun photo was the result. (this is our concert photo pose!)  Garth was a bucket list item for both of us!  So glad to have this girl to check things off the life list with!

July 2016

There are so many wonderful pictures of each of my sisters and I, but this one is just had to share today!  This picture is one of my favorites simply because it's irreplaceable.  And one of the best days. This is me and my oldest sister Tara, on top of the World Trade Center, about 2 weeks before the towers fell in 2001.  Read more about our trip and this picture here!

August 2001

And last but not least... a favorite of all my nieces and nephews! How can I not include them...they have my heart.   Love them all and the wonderful humans they are becoming.  Nothing in the world makes me happier than being Aunt Katie (sometimes Aunt Beastie) to these littles...and the bonus kiddos in my life!!

Choosing 5 was just too hard ....

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek into my little world!  Have a great Tuesday!!

A Rainy Monday Musings Post

Happy Monday!  Are Mondays really ever HAPPY!?!  The last Monday in March calls for a little Monday Musings...a late night post about the randomness that was my Monday!

Rainy, Foogy, Gross Mondays should just be banned.  We should be able to stop life and never get out of bed!  LOL
I kid, I kid....

I'm just tired today.  I think the more sleep I get, the more tired I feel.  I mean, I was legit in bed by nine o'clock last night...disconnected, light off,  the works.

I have been sleeping so much better though.  I think this is thanks to my new dew drop diffuser I got for my room.  I add a few drops of lavender in each night and let it go.  I'm still waking up early, but not over and over throughout the night!  And lately, when the alarm goes off, I'm snoozing less!  GO ME!

Maybe I'm just bitter because I'm still living in my leggings, boots and scarves for work! Partly because this weather still sucks and partly because it's colder in my library than it is outside!!!  Brrrrr.... I'm just not excited to get up and get dressed!  Where's SPRING???

This weekend I lived on tuna and hard boiled eggs!  I think I am making up for the fact that I ate meat (chicken) on Friday!  But Pasta Diana at a place I hadn't been to in YEARS-and probably won't be back to for YEARS- was SO WORTH it! #godforgives

After this weekend's games, I'm still #2 on The Blended Blog's March Madness Bracket.  That's pretty cool!!  It's totally just for fun but it's exciting to have some stock in the game and teams to root for.  My dad was pretty impressed with my picks!  Who knows, if things go my way, maybe next year, I'll go big and wager!

I guess I can't be unhappy on a Monday when I come into work and see this!!

The Six Word Memoirs I did with my 7th and 8th grade students last week was probably my most favorite lesson ever.  It was the final activity in our Pay It Forward novel study, we've been working on ALL YEAR.  The kids LOVED this...and I was proud of them that they really took the time to think about their own 6 Word memoirs.  They then were able to illustrate them to go outside on the library bulletin board.  I'm really excited for the parents to come see them during conferences next week.


Actually today, I asked my 7th graders why they were making me mad on a Monday!! Then we all laughed...so at least on Mondays we still laugh.

I payed some bills today and ended up using my cashback bonus for some of it.  Not sure yet, if this was a good idea or not but the funds were immediately withdrawn. I decided to pay bills after I bought a dress online this morning...that I probably really didn't need, BUT already know where I'm wearing it!  And have the accessories and shoes picked out to go with it!!  At 50% off with free shipping, they had it in petite and in my size too, so I thought I couldn't pass it up!  With lots of returns in the works, money is coming back to me...See how I rationalize these things!!

After that impulse buy, I've now made it a goal in April to NOT SHOP AT ALL and eat out less!  So anyone wanna come over on Friday nights, hang with me, eat peanut butter sandwiches and drink wine?  Just let me know!!


Mondays are my 4 o'clock day, so I got home early and actually got lots accomplished!  Made trips to the garbage (I only go on Mondays because I know it's been cleaned out!) and mailbox.  Put my lounge chair back out in the back and my rocking chair and little table on the front "porch", getting things spring-ready.  Because shockingly, at 5 p.m. the sun decided to make an appearance.

Came home today to a package with two bathing suits inside.  I bought them on sale and was really excited about them.  Then I tried them on....and realized this body is not at all ready for bathing suit season!  I need to get my ass in gear!! YUCK...It's only right that they arrived on a Monday, am I right??!! I need a tan!

Well now that Monday is almost in the rear view, I'm off to finish checking off today's to-do list and  then read 50 pages in my book....wrapped in my blardigan, with wine in hand!

Hope your Monday's been more than bearable!  Thanks for reading my randoms!!
See you back here tomorrow...

Throwback Thursday Jams!

I was so excited to see this post come up in my Time Hop this week!  I was reminded of how much I loved it and thought it would be just perfect for today's Throwback!  Seriously this is one of my all time favorite posts!  So enjoy the old school jams of my childhood on this Throwback Thursday!

Spring 2017 Bucket List

Joining my blog buddy Leslie to share my Spring Bucket List today!  When she first brought this up I didn't think I'd be ready to share a Spring list.  Summer for sure, but Spring...not so much!!  But then something happened!  Yesterday Spring came, I read a bunch of bucket lists on blogs and I got all excited for what Spring has to offer!!  And I thought, "Hey, there is a bunch of "stuff" I'd like to do this spring!!  So today I'm sharing with you my own bucket list, that I envision taking me from Spring through mid June!   Then it's...School's Out for SUMMER!!

Get My Feet Spring and Summer Ready!!
I am embarrassed to admit how long it's been since these feet have gotten a pedicure...but it is WAY OVER DUE...I'm pretty sure when I go and get it done, I'll be THAT Girl that they talk about!

Goodbye Winter!
At the moment it doesn't exactly feel like spring outside but I am super excited to be rid of my boots, blanket scarves and bulky sweaters.  I'm going to do a good clean out of all the clothes I'm "over and donated them this Spring!  I donated to my friends clothing room for Veterans and am always so excited when she tells me her clients rave about my donations.  It make me feel great and I know they are going where they are so needed!!

Spending Spring in town!
For four years now, I've passed the community garden and never actually went in.  I've always wanted to but never had.  And it's so cute.  There's benches, a gazebo, even chess!  In the Spring when the flowers are blooming it's beautiful!  I am making it a goal to get there this Spring.  With a book...two birds...one stone!

I go out to eat a lot in town, but in the Spring and Summer lots of the restaurants on Main Street have outdoor seating.  It's always fun to enjoy a meal in the bright sunshine and people watch. I'd also like to head down there for more Sundays Fundays when it's nice too!

I like just getting out and walking more when the winter melts away.  Winter is a time I feel so cooped up!!  I'm also going to do more yoga! A while ago when my foot was in THE BOOT my doctor suggested I try yoga...because there's even a beginners course called "Yoga for inflexible people!"  For ten bucks I picked it up and did it faithfully for a while, then it kinda got lost in the shuffle.  I didn't make it a lifestyle!  LOL  But I did enjoy it, so I want to do it more regularly!

A New 'do!
Another thing I seem to be overdue for is a cut and color of my hair.  Part of me has not been because a- it's expensive and b- I've been trying to hold out and wait for some big things I have going on this spring that I want good hair for!  I will probably go on my Spring Break in three weeks!

SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!!
I know I'm talking about spending money on my hair and pedicure, but I really hope to save some money!  I have two super fun trips to look forward to this Spring!  So I really, really need to SAVE!! So I can spend on the trips!!  LOL

Rainy Days and Sun Daze
So the saying goes, April Showers Bring May Flowers, so I fully intend to be rocking my rain boots this spring.  But I also look forward to sunny days rocking on my rocking chair on my front porch, getting a tan!!  My motto is :Everybody looks better with a tan!!

The Dreaded Guest Room
Isn't a little Spring Cleaning on everybody's bucket list?  My biggest job has bot to be my guest room.  Right now it is beyond disastrous!  I have bar stools and lounge chairs in there!  Boxes and bins galore!  I dread doing it but I know it has got to get done!  So then maybe I can have guest over this Spring!

I totally enjoyed doing this!  And think it's very do-able!  Here's to a wonderful Spring ahead for all!!!

After further research, I remembered that I did share a Spring Break Bucket List on the blog last year!  Head here to see how it compares!!

There are so many wonderful reasons to be happy!

Happy Monday and Happy Spring!!  Spring has finally sprung, even if it doesn't quite feel it yet!  But the hope is there!!  And thanks to my trusty Erin Condren Life Planner I know that today is also the International Day of Happiness.   I do my best to live a happy day everyday!!  The Desiderata hangs in my bedroom and I read it each morning, like a prayer.  The ending states, "Strive to be happy." It's not always easy, but I'm always looking for the positive and the happy in each day! Because, honestly there are are just so many reasons to be happy!!

Today to celebrate the day, I want to share a few of them.... (in no particular order!)

Happiness is....

• the first sip of coffee in the morning!
  

• that glass of wine at the end of the day

• a good night's sleep

• Family time

• a new book

• a surprise bagel from my co-worker

• a Saturday with no plans

• a smile from a stranger

• Girls' Nights spent laughing until it hurts
  
• an unexpected text

• a day in jeans and sneakers

• Sunny and 70 degrees

• an ice cold beer

• sand in my toes

• Sunrises and sunsets
  
  
• a TAN!

• blog comments

• a home cooked meal I didn't have to cook
  
• a fun song on repeat

• a great pair of jeans that fit like a glove

• a few extra minutes in the shower

• hugs from my favorite littles

• a day off

• packages on my doorstep

• new shoes

• being in pj's by 5 p.m.

• Happy Hours & Game Nights

• Sleeping in

• ice cream and cupcakes

• HOME
  

What makes you happy? Let me know in the comments below!

This is my wish for you today and everyday...

Have a fabulous week!!

Friday Faves!

When you lose you're whole post...and cry a little!!!  LOL  This was not my original post I had planned on because I had blogger open on two computers and I lost the completed version, so today's post is not only a little late but also kinda the Cliffs notes  version.  And now that I'm home from work, and it's St. Patrick's Day, I might be drinking and blogging!!  So there's that...Happy Friday!!

________________________________________________________

Hey Hey Everybody!!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!! This week wasn't bad one at all...lots of faves to go around!!


This day is one of my faves ever!!  I used to go big in my younger days, but the old lady in me is now just pretty content to wear my green, have a pint and call it a day.  I'm waiting on my Peapod Guy to deliver me some Guinness and  all the fixin's for my Ruben!  I also got a sweet surprise today at work when a thoughtful mom brought me an Irish Soda Bread, so tonight I'll have that for dessert!


A snow day (that really shouldn't have been!) and Two Dress Down Days definitely made this one of my favorite weeks!!  We dressed down for St. Patrick's Day today and Pi Day on Tuesday...really Leftover Pi Day, on Wednesday thanks to the snow day!  Any day I can wear my sneakers and jeans to school is just the best.

This is an awful pic, but my Pi Day shirt got rave reviews!  LOL

The This is Us Finale.  This episode was not one of my faves but since the series as a whole will go down as a favorite of this year, how could I not include it in my faves this week.  And Milo is totally one of my favorites!  So it's a win-win!

March Madness kicked off yesterday, and just for fun, my Blended Blog Buddy Alison, set up a basketball bracket for us!!  Head on over to read her blog post from our new Monday Random Stream series {here}!  I had so much fun making my picks and oddly enough was a little stressed!  But it's totally just for fun! I'm already having a great time following along!  I'm not the top of the class but so far I'm not a failure yet!

If you've read the blog for any amount of time, you know I love to shop! And that I tried to be shop free for these first three months of 2017, but that went out the window in February!  So I've been shopping!  BUT I got a really awesome deal this week!!  I bought two bathing suits from JCrew.  This suit, originally, $98 was on sale for 49.99 with an additional 25% off.  Then this one (super cute and different for me!), was $98 with 25% off!  Then I had a rewards card for $25 off!!  Basically I got two suits for less than the price of one!!  And I got money back from Ebates to boot!  (If you are not using Ebates, you really should!  Sign up here). I'm set for my trips in May and for the rest of the summer!!  Oh and a bonus: Swim is free ship and returns!  Fingers Crossed I LOVE these though!

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Wear some green, pour a pint and do a jig!!

Linking up for Friday Favorites with Erika and the girls today!

Throwin' it back to Year One!

Some weeks, I blog everyday...some weeks I only throw it back!  This week is one of those weeks!!
Sharing a fun throwback from year one on the blog.  It was new, I didn't blog too frequently (between September 2012 when I began and all of 2013, I blogged just 17 times!), took no pics, and I think my mom was the only one who read my posts! And my teacher bestie, who will never let me forget this one!  :) But blogs from my first year are always fun to read back.  Sometimes I laugh...sometimes I cringe! I sometimes miss the adventures in my little apartment!!

Little Letters

A few weeks ago when I posted on The Blended Blog for TBB Loves, I mentioned that I had started reading Taz and Belly.  I love her little letters idea.  So today I'm joining in on the linky fun with a few little letters of my own!

Dear Sweet Kindergarten Friend,
Thanks for making my day!  I heard you yell, "It's a blister outside" as I was walking by...I had a good laugh knowing you meant blizzard!

Dear Snow, 
Thank you for holding off so that we get the day in!  I'll take the snow day next week!  Even though we're going to be in school until July!

Dear Spring, 
Where are you?  I'm so over snow and scarves and boots.  I'm wishing for white jeans and open toe booties!

Dear Mailman, 
Yesterday you put three packages at my front door that didn't fit in my mailbox, then I went to the mailbox and found another.  Couldn't you just brought all of them to my door!?!?

Dear This is Us, 
Why do you break my heart a little each week?  And great job on making old Mandy Moore look like Sally Field!

Dear Amazon,
Thanks for the free returns!

Dear Co-worker Friend,
Thanks for getting that coaching job after school.  Those three weeks you did after care on Thursday til 6, I really enjoyed my one day off...getting home at 3, a few happy hours, etc. Now I'm back to doing it...so what I really mean to say is, thanks for nothing!  :)

Dear Friday,
YAY!  You're finally getting here!  This week was worse than the last (the first week back after a break)!

Throwback Thursday: This one's for the girls...

I thought since yesterday was International Women's Day, for today's Throwback Thursday I'd revisit a post that celebrates friendship and woman!  In August 2015 I joined my bloggy buddy Leslie and our besties to celebrate Friendship Day. It's one of my favorite posts!

Wishing for Spring!!

It's been forever since I've linked up a fashion post 'round these parts!  It's also been forever since I've felt fabulous, fancy, and put together.  You've heard me say before that my winter uniform is leggings, sweaters, blanket scarves and boots.  And I love it...until I don't anymore!  I'm so OVER IT!!

I'm so wishing for spring!!  And I've started to pick up a few things to help me get psyched for the season that seems so close, yet still so far away!!

I'm pretty good with a few of the spring staples!  Like the white jeans, boho tops and flowery prints.  But this year I'm taking it up a notch!  I got myself some open toed booties, I'll be rockin' the cold shoulder tops and getting daring with the open backs and bralettes!


Here are some of the things on my Spring Wardrobe Bucket List!!

Shoes: Open toe booties in the transition.

Found these super cute ones on jane.com.  Canvas, open toe, and low, so I can totally walk in them!!  Woo hoo!!  Naturally, I got two pairs!  These exact ones are no longer available but there are so many cute booties  for spring on Jane.com.

How much do I love this???  Like A LOT!!  I am a big fan of the cold shoulder these days!  I have a number (maybe everyone they've ever offered!) of cold shoulder tops from Gray Monroe and love them so much.  This piece is the perfect transition for right now and into spring with white jeans for a fun girls night or just a night in....

Get it here!

I am a Fabletics member and each month I can choose or skip an item or outfit to purchase.  I had a birthday reward from Fabletics for my birthday, and this fun top struck me.  It's different for me, but I really like it and this spring and summer, I'm going bold!  This open back is too cute!  I love it.  It's on it's way to me!

These were a tricky purchase for me.  But I scored them stupid cheap with a rewards certificate, birthday reward and an additional 15% off so I went for it.  They are way higher than the other booties but I can walk in them, because they're still a stacked heel.  And even if I only wear them when I have people here...  love the block heal and perforations!

Get these cute booties here!  50% off?  What!?! 

I'm super excited too, to purchase some more spring fashions from Say More Boutique, an online store that is opening a shop in the town that I  live within the next month.  I love shopping local and supporting small businesses!  Will definitely showcase anything I purchase on the blog!!

What's on your Spring Bucket List?  Let me know in the comments below!!  Can't wait to hear!


Linking up with The Blended Blog today!!

It's OKAY Tuesday!

It's been quite awhile since I've linked up with Airing my Dirty Laundry  for an "It's OKAY Tuesday" post.  These are always quick, easy and fun!  And since I've been telling myself "It's OK Kate, A LOT lately, I thought now was a good time as any to jump back in!

It's OKAY....

• to never turn the porch light on at night, if no one's stopping by!

• to be genuinely sad that This is Us is ending for this season already!  I'll miss my good cries and neighbor nights!

• to already be counting down the days to Spring Break

• to wear two different socks...all the kids are doing it.  And who's gonna know!?!

• to eat cupcakes twice in one week

• to have 30 hours of unwatched TV on the DVR

• to read the spoilers of Rayna James' death before watching the actual show

• to feel bad for Miranda Lambert while watching The Voice this season

• that a lot of these it's OKAY statements are about TV!  #solitarylifeprobs

• to be SO OVER Winter....bring on the white jeans and pretty tops!!

• to use the guest room as a dumping ground...then be pretty proud when your best friend tells you that, "for all the crap you have in here, it's super organized!"

• to believe that peppermint oil will help my period cramps AND tone my stomach at the same time.

• to have three weeks worth of laundry piled up on the floor....I'll get to it eventually

• to leave chipping nail polish on a little too long (my manicurist, AKA my sister would be horrified!)

• to fake surprise when I have a package at my door

• to literally run out the door....every single morning... 

• to eat out every day of the week...and twice on Tuesdays!

Thanks for making the rounds today!!  Hope your Tuesday is A-OK!

Don't forget to head on over to The Blended Blog to see what tasty treats are being offered up!!

Find more It's OKAY Tuesday posts here!

A February in Numbers

Joining Deena today to recap my February in Numbers! These post are always a lot of fun and most times they have me saying EEEEEKKKKK....

Was back to getting my Hello Fresh meals in February.  I received 1 delivery and really enjoyed all three meals.  I think my goal going forward is going to try to get one delivery each month!  Seeing how that goes, until summer vacation.  Then maybe upping it to two a month!  And how did I take 0 pictures of my meals!?!


2 Snow Days! At first I wasn't happy about them because I wanted a five day weekend for the Memorial Day holiday in May, but after seeing the over 12 inches of snow dumped in my town, I welcomed the days off.

And just for fun I thought I'd add this....because TV is kinda my thing!  The 400th episode of Law and Order: SVU aired in February.  The number of episodes of SVU I've seen over the years...400!  I've never missed an episode!  

The 2 snows days off pushed back our 100th Day to Valentine's Day, but we made it...and now there are only 77 days to go!!

5 Fabulous Vacation Days!  The Presidents' Week is always our winter break!  It was a glorious one this time around.  We got lucky with record temps close to 70 that week.  I even sat out in my rocking chair for 3 hours getting some sun and I made...

1 trip to the beach....in February!  It wasn't to lay out or get color but I did see some cute seals and got blown away!!

I saw 2 full length movies, 5 Oscar nominated shorts and 3 highly commended animation short films this month. La La Land and Jackie were both rather different but good.  The animated shorts were excellent, but in my opinion, not many were actually for children!  HA!

$101.51 back from Ebates from all my Christmas spending....whooooooo  If you don't use Ebates, you definitely should!!

2 Dress Downs at school...my most favorite days of the month!!

3 Thursday nights spent at my new favorite restaurant in town.

1 birthday celebrated...Cheers to 37 Years!  3 birthday celebrations!  100's of birthday wishes....HUGE THANKS to everyone!!

2 books completed, 2 more started!  (Thank you snow days) Read my review of Big Little Lies here!

Unfortunately, I did not remain shop free in February.  I shopped and spent.  But I had lots of birthday gift cards and rewards that helped keep my spending low...5 packages received!

Once again, most of my money was spent on food and drink!  At least I'm consistent!  Too much to calculate!  LOL

But I saved some money too!  Still working on my penny challenge. So far I've collected $11.37

February on the blog

# of posts = 9  This short month saw me short on posts!
Post with the most views: 37 Things for 37 Years both on the blog and on Facebook
#Number of Feature posts on The Blended Blog = 2
Check out my Tasty Tuesday Salsa Chicken here and The Blended Blog Loves post here!
47 pics posted to Insta and lots of new followers!  YAY!  Follow me @solitarylife101


Whew...It was a great February!  Hooray for March...longer days and warm temps that stick around!!

Thanks for stopping by today...have a great Monday friends!!

Sentences....on a Saturday!!

Sometimes I blog on a Saturday!!  This week got away from me and I neglected posting my sentences with my blog buddies on Thursday!  But today's as good as any to rewind the month of February with one sentence a day!

Friday Favorites is Making a Comeback!!

Back to posting my faves this week!  And I'm really excited because there was lots of fun happenings!!  Take a peek at the week!


Monday, I was surprised to find out that I won a giveaway on Instagram for a super fun teacher notepad!!  How cute is this!

Check out Monday's blog post for more!!

Big Little Lies: A Review

I'm taking a little break from my Throwback Thursday posts today to participate in The Blended Blog's Book Review Blog Hop!

YES, you read that right!  I actually read a book!

Earlier this year I joined The Blended Blog's Virtual Book Club.  A bunch of fun ladies who read, chat, and discuss books via the Slack app!  It has been a lot of fun.  And I am loving that it keeps me accountable!  Not only did I read my own book club selection, but I started another one!

So many great books were chosen by the ladies of the Blended Blog in last month as we kicked off this new virtual adventure!!  If you are visiting from Deena's blog, sincere thanks for hopping on over today to visit.

My book club pick for February was Big Little Lies by Lane Moriarty.  I am a fan of hers.  I read The Husband's Secret and What Alice Forgot, both great novels!  So I was excited to read this one as well.

I'll be completely honest here, I picked this book because I've had it for almost 2 years and never read it. In fact, I think it was one of the Reads on my Summer 2015 Reading List that I blogged about here. It might have even made a return appearance in Summer 2016's list, still to go unread!

I chose this book, in part, too because I knew the Book Club would keep me reading it and since I had seen that this book was being made into a series for HBO I knew I wanted to finish it before the premiere date of February 19th.  {Of course a TV show would finally get me reading!!}

Well, that was a success because I finished it..on the 18th!

Big Little Lies centers around the friendship of three woman who all have first grade students attending the same elementary school in a ritzy beach side town in Australia.

A fun element of the story is that it's told backwards.  As it begins we know that a murder has occurred at the school's Trivia Night and is now being investigated.  As the murder mystery unfolds, the lives of each of the women are explored.  Could one of them perhaps be the murderer?

Of the three main characters,  Madeline, Celeste and Jane, I didn't really have a favorite.  But I can tell you this....I loved them each at some points in the story and found myself absolutely hating them during others.  But I suppose, this is what authors do to help us really connect with the characters. And connect I did.  I even found that I compared myself to each of the characters at different points. Finding myself in each of them.

I even found myself yelling at the book..."How could she do that?", "or "what the heck lady?...fight!" #solitarylifeprobs

I think as I'm writing this, it's getting more difficult because I want to talk so much about the book, but don't want to give anything away!! So...

On to what you really came for.  My honest review of the book!

It took me a few chapters to get into it, but as soon as I did, I kind of couldn't put it down.  I really did love it.  It's a murder mystery, story of friendship...fierce lady friendships...and family, all rolled into one!!  And I guess I can tell you that there's a pretty big twist in the story, that I really didn't see coming, so I enjoyed that element of surprise!

  It's no lie...I highly recommend reading Big Little Lies.
Watching the show on HBO-jury's still out.  But we all know the book is ALWAYS better than the movie/show!!  :)

Have you read Big Little Lies?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!!


Now that you've made it through our hop, head on back to The blended Blog and link up your own book reviews with us here!!