Books and Beans~February 2018

COFFEE

I do not recommend getting sick during this flu/virus season, but if you do, I have the drink for you!

It's the Medicine Ball Tea from Starbucks. They use two types of tea, steamed lemonade and honey to make it and it helps ease a sore throat and congestion. I am so happy to be feeling better!

BOOKS

The only perk of being sick was I had a few extra hours to read. This month, I read six books and they got better as the month went on! I have two five star books for you this month; one fiction and one non-fiction.

Fitness Junkie

by: Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza

3 out of 5 stars

(www.amazon.com)

I grabbed this book at the library one afternoon and read it pretty quickly. It takes place in New York, so of course I would want to read it! The premise is a girl whose male business partner tells her she's fat and needs to take a sabbatical to get back in shape. This spurs her to try all kinds of crazy things to lose weight. The book is very tongue-in-cheek about the fitness industry and the quest for skinny. It's an enjoyable read with some funny moments.

Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness

by: Marie Tourell Soderberg

3 out of 5 stars

(www.amazon.com)

Several months ago, I read THIS BOOK about the concept of hygge and loved it! I am still enraptured by the concept of the cozy life, and honestly read this book because of its cover. The book itself was ok, but I liked my original read better. This is a good one to check out from the library and scroll through.

Pretty Fun

by: Kate Hudson

3 out of 5 stars

(www.amazon.com)

You all know I can't pass up reading any book about entertaining or lifestyle in general. Kate Hudson's newest book is full of great pictures and a fun idea or two. 

The Secret Life of Violet Grant

by: Beatriz Williams

4 out of 5 stars

(www.amazon.com)

I never enjoyed historical fiction until I read Beatriz Williams' books. This one also did not disappoint. Although racier than some of the other books I've read of hers, the characters and story lines drew me in. Like her other books, this one spans two different time periods with a suitcase full of items bridging the two women. If you like historical fiction and books about strong women, this book is for you.

The Last Mrs. Parrish

by: Liv Constantine

5 out of 5 stars

(www.amazon.com)

If you liked Girl on a Train or Gone Girl, this is your next favorite book. I literally read this book in one day; I could not put it down! It's suspenseful, the characters are CRAZY and it has several twists and turns. I cannot wait for this book to be made into a movie...Reese Witherspoon, I'm lookin' at you to make this happen! (Pretty sure Reese isn't reading my blog, but she should.) :)

Girl, Wash Your Face

by: Rachel Hollis

5 out of 5 stars

(www.amazon.com)

Like most of the great non-fiction books I read, I heard about this one on a podcast. I had never heard of Rachel Hollis before, but I am a fan of her work after reading this book. She runs a lifestyle company called Chic Media and she is delightful, honest and fun. Read this book if you need a pick-me-up or need to be motivated to live life on your own terms. Such a fun book!

I hope you found a book or two to add to your list! I honestly love the feedback I get from these posts and would love to hear what you are reading and loving!

Friday Favorites

After being sick with the worst virus last week, I'm finally healthy and linking up with fellow bloggers Erika, Narci and Andrea to share my Friday Favorites!

ONE

(www.imbd.com)

I drank the Kool-Aid last weekend and it was awesome! I took Mason to this movie and loved every minute of it. In fact, I had the entire album downloaded from iTunes before we got back to the car. Such a great movie!

TWO

I'm so grateful to have a wonderful mom and husband who kept everything together in our house while I was falling apart last week. I was able to rest and recuperate, which is not always easy for me to do! A few Medicine Ball Teas from Starbucks helped me feel better too. Feeling better is my Friday Favorite!

THREE

One plus of being sick was having time to read. THIS. BOOK. I will be reviewing it in my Monday Books and Beans post, but I had to include it here too.  It is so good!

FOUR

Parker turned 16 and passed his driving class with flying colors...in the snow! He is loving his new wheels and freedom. 

Could my Valentine be any cuter?!

FIVE

(www.amazon.com)

Whenever I find a new beauty product, you know I love to share. I typically buy expensive mascara, but have been having issues with it ending up under my eyes at the end of the day. I recently ordered this drugstore mascara HERE and I am loving it! I love the price even more. If you are searching for a great mascara, maybe you'll like this one as much as I do!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

xo,

Deanna

How We Wednesdays ~ Take Care of Ourselves

I am linking-up with fellow bloggers Shay and Erika for their "How We Wednesdays" on the second Wednesday of every month! 

This month we are talking about how we take care of ourselves.

Back in July, I wrote a post about my self-care during the summer. You can read that HERE. I am also currently writing a research paper for my grad class on self-care for educators, so this post comes at the perfect time. Self-care is all I'm thinking about! I'm working on consistently practicing what I preach. I seem to have a history of binging on self-care and then ignoring it for too long.

As women, I think the best thing we can do for everyone in our lives is take care of ourselves. Women typically care for everyone around them and I know I can tell a difference in my mood, behavior and overall well-being when I am taking care of myself and when I'm not. I like to break self-care into three groups: Mind, Body and Soul.

MIND

I love to learn and always have. This is one of the main reasons I read so much. I am always looking for new ideas or stories to expand my understanding of the world. I love to take classes for work and hobbies. Learning and growing are an important way I care for myself. That is also why I enjoy listening to a variety of podcasts. 

BODY

Exercise is another way that I care for myself, but one I struggle to incorporate. It is a work in progress. I am motivated to do so because of the way I feel when I am consistently working out. I also find that choosing high quality, healthy food is a way to feel my best. Beyond that, I am so regimented when it comes to making appointments to monitor my health. I make a yearly appointment with my primary physician, my yearly woman well-check, a mammogram and my dermatologist. Every 6 months I see my cardiologist (more on that in a later post) and dentist. I actually make my next appointment for the following time before I leave the office and I like to stack these appointments, if possible, and take the day off. I am then able to squeeze in some coffee and a nail appointment while I'm out! I am in very good health, and keeping these appointments is a reason for that. I also like to include my beauty appointments in this category. Harcuts, color, massages, nails...you get the point. Keeping regular appointments for these makes a huge difference in my overall well-being. 

SOUL

I have mentioned my morning routine several times, but it truly is wonderful for caring for my soul. Beginning my day with quiet and prayer makes all the difference. I actually look forward to waking up to have that focused time. I am keeping a journal of who/what I am praying for each month and I can already see where God is working. Attending mass weekly is another way I care for my soul. I especially love when my family can attend together. Spending time with my family and close friends keeps my soul in great shape as well. 

Here is a top ten list of some of my favorite ways to take care of myself:

1. Pray.

2. Read.

3. Take a bath.

4. Shop.

5. Watch Netflix or DVR shows.

6. Get my nails done.

7. Go for a walk.

8. Organize.

9. Drink coffee or tea.

10. Enjoy a good meal and a glass of wine.

I would love to hear how you practice self-care! Help me with my research. :)

Join us every month as we talk about...

Friday Favorites

(image from www.pinterest.com)

I'm linking up with fellow bloggers Erika, Narci and Andrea to share my Friday Favorites! 

ONE

VALENTINE COOKIES

(image from www.livingwithlandyn.com)

I am looking forward to making these cookies this weekend. Mason has an egg allergy, so anytime I can find an egg-free baking project, we bake it!

TWO

VALENTINE CARDS FROM ETSY

(image from www.etsy.com)

We are also going to make Mason's Valentine Cards this weekend. I found this cute download on Etsy, bought some glow stick bracelet packs at Dollar Tree and done!

THREE

WINTER OLYMPICS

(image from www.pinterest.com)

This made me laugh! We love watching the Winter Olympics; especially the stories about the athletes before their performances. We usually have it on in the background while we're doing other things.

(image from www.pinterest.com)

FOUR

NEW BOOK

Speaking of reading, this book came out this week and my copy should be here today. How great is this title? So excited to read this!

(image from www.amazon.com)

FIVE

NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK

My sweet husband sent me these flowers and a card for National School Counseling Week. I love celebrating this week each year where we can educate people about what a school counselor does.  I love being a school counselor for many reasons, but the number one reason is that every teenager needs someone in their corner at some point during high school. As a school counselor, I get to help kids with academics, plans after high school, or any personal/social or mental health issue that keeps them from being their best selves. Although it can be extremely stressful, it truly is the best job and no two days are the same!

Have a wonderful weekend recharging your batteries!

xo,

Deanna

Friday Favorites! ~ Ten Winter Essentials

I'm linking up with fellow bloggers Erika, Narci and Andrea to share my Friday Favorites! Today I'm sharing ten of my favorite winter essentials.

ONE

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

This is the best dry shampoo on the market...because momma doesn't have time to wash her hair everyday. #reallife I love the way this smells and unlike some dry shampoos, this brand actually cleans your hair as well. 

TWO

Vitamin D

I shared in a previous post that I had been diagnosed with low vitamin D in the early Fall. I can't even tell you what a difference knowing this and supplementing has made in my overall energy level.

THREE

Rose Hip Oil

I started using this in the fall on my face and it is the best! I heard about it on a podcast and gave it a try. It's cheap, lasts forever, and I have really noticed a difference in my skin.

FOUR

Breathe and On Guard Essential Oils

I diffuse Breathe and On Guard for our entire family to combat allergies and to keep everyone well. These oils are staples in our house.

FIVE

Tea

I love drinking tea at night, especially chamomile or anything made by The Republic of Tea.

SIX

Hunter Boots

I wear my Ugg Boots and Hunter Boots on rotation all winter. I especially like my Hunter ones when the snow begins to melt and it's sloppy outside. Nothing brightens a winter day like a cute red boot!

SEVEN

Cozy Sweaters

I think we all know my feelings about the Barefoot Dreams cardigans. The one I've linked is on sale!

EIGHT

Love Your Melon Hat

Again with the hat. I love buying from a company that is both stylish and gives back. I love wearing my and have recently purchased one for a gift.

NINE

Books

You all know my love of books from my monthly Books and Beans Posts, and I have read a few on the Danish concept of Hygge. This is the next one on my list. Hygge is the celebration of the small things in life and making your home cozy. #mylovelanguage

The Little Book of Hygge

I read this book every winter. It will make you want to invite your friends over to drink wine, eat delicious food and savor life.

Bread and Wine

TEN

Candles

I love burning candles year-round, but there is something extra cozy about candles in the winter. I like the Bath and Body Works ones, but my all time favorite candle is this one...

Volcano Candle

Enjoy your weekend doing something fun with the ones you love!

xo,
Deanna