Books and Beans~January 2019

{via www.pinterest.com}

COFFEE

In true January form, I made my coffee at home this month and loved every minute of it! I am still loving my Ninja Coffee Bar for crafting my own drinks.

BOOKS

Well, 2019 started off with three five star books that I cannot stop recommending to everyone. They could not be more different from each other, but you need to read them all. I am so excited to share this post with you!

I typically set a goal to read 52 or more books per year, but my goal for 2019 is a little smaller. I am setting this year's goal at 26 books, half of my normal reading goal, and am going to focus on creating more content of my own during that extra time. My work for 2019 is INTENTIONAL, so I am also going to be more intentional in my choices of books to read. Based on my first month, I think this is a good plan!

The Great Alone

by: Kristin Hannah

5 out of 5 stars

I have had this book on my list for awhile now, but have been hesitant to read it because it takes place in the 1970's. I typically do not like anything that is not written in present day, and typically do not like books written about the wilderness. This book changed both of those for me.

In The Great Alone, the main character is a young girl named Leni who is moving to Alaska with her parents in the 1970's. Her dad has not been right since returning from Vietnam and they are hopeful this is the change their family needs.  Set in wilderness Alaska and against the backdrop of her parents tumultuous relationship and a pivotal point in American history, this book is ultimately a coming-of-age story about a young girl navigating her life and relationships with others around so many obstacles. It is endearing, heartbreaking, frustrating and triumphant. I loved this book and would love the chance to teach it if I were still in the classroom. 

How to Walk Away

by: Katherine Center

5 out of 5 stars

"Is everything perfect? Hell, no. Everything's a mess. A crazy, galloping, heartbreaking mess.

You can't fix everything. Not even close.

But you can look for reasons to be grateful.

More than that, you can work to create them." (page 354)

Oh, this book! It was such an unexpected surprise. It is very rare that I give a work of fiction 5 stars especially one that is posing as a chick-lit book. I like those kinds of books, obviously, but you all know I am stingy with my 5 star reviews. This one blew me away. The story is so well crafted and unpredictable. The main character, Margaret, is relatable, strong, and very human. I felt her emotions throughout the book. I am so happy I read this book!

Becoming

by: Michelle Obama

I knew that I could not read another fiction book after my first two this month, and I knew this was the only book that could possibly round out a perfect trifecta for January. I was not wrong. This book is so well-written and gives you a clear picture of who Michelle Obama is and how her early life impacted her as an adult. What an amazing person and life. I loved this book and admire this woman so much!

Overall, January was an amazing month of excellent books. 

Happy reading!

xo,

Deanna

Friday Favorites~Weeks 3 and 4

Happy Friday, everyone! Isn't January just the longest month?! I saw this on Instagram and could totally relate:

{via Instagram @everygirl}

See you in April...

My Friday Favorites this week are full of things we have been reading, watching and eating during our snowy, cold weekends at home!

ONE

Dumplin

{via variety.com}

Oh my goodness, have you watched this movie on Netflix? Do yourself a favor and add it to your watchlist. Heartwarming, funny and full of Dolly Parton music...what's not to love?

TWO

One Day in December

by: Josie Silver

My January Books and Beans post is already written, so this book will be reviewed in my February post. I want this book to be a movie so badly! It would be a moving like The Holiday or You've Got Mail, one you could watch over and over. The first one hundred pages or so were a bit slow for some reason, but I flew through it after that and fell in love with the characters. It is chick-lit but not formulaic. An enjoyable easy read all about love; perfect for a February read! 💖

THREE

When we are snowed in, one of my favorite things to do is make yummy food. Give me a snowy day, candles burning and something in the slow cooker and I am one happy girl. 

One of the things I made this past weekend was slow cooker carnitas and cilantro lime rice. It was soooo good! I used this recipe for the meat, and called my sister for her advice on how to make the rice. The trick was using chicken broth instead of water for the instant rice. Add cilantro and the juice of one lime and it was perfection! Add some steamed corn topped with Tajin and we had a Mexican themed meal.

FOUR

Amazon Fashion

Amazon is taking over the world and I'm not sad about it. 

A few weeks ago, I shared the leopard band I bought for my Apple Watch and then I found this one.

Watch Band   *   Bracelet 

I'm also having a moment with camo, so this sweatshirt caught my eye:

I can get lost in a rabbit hole of Amazon Fashion if I'm not careful. Has anyone tried Prime Wardrobe? I have not, but I would love to hear what you think if you have.

FIVE

Stella & Dot Fundraiser

{via Instagram @dalesmiththomas}

My best friend's cousin is currently in the fight of her life while awaiting a liver transplant. Marcy is hosting a Stella & Dot show and I am donating all of my commission to help Christy's fight. If you would like to shop for this cause, you can do so HERE.

One of the reasons I became a Stella & Dot Stylist is because the company is all about empowering women. Knowing that I can use this platform to directly help a woman I know while helping other women feel beautiful is a great feeling.

SIX

Bible App

{via itunes.com}

During the month of January, I have been using the Bible App to read one Proverb per day. The plans on this app are the best and you can set a reminder that pops up on your phone and reminds you to do your reading for the day. Especially in busy seasons, reading the word of God grounds me like nothing else, but I'm not always great at remembering to do it, so this app helps.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

xo,
Deanna

19 Ways to Organize Your Life in 2019 {3}

Choose Experiences Over Things

{via www.pinterest.com}

One of the best ways to simplify your life in 2019 is to focus on acquiring experiences over things. Now that we have purged our houses from post two, let's not go filling them up again!

 Several years ago, my middle son told me that he would rather have an experience for his birthday instead of a gift. So on his thirteenth birthday, he and I went to an NBA game, stayed in a hotel and ordered room service. I have priceless memories from that birthday but could not tell you one gift that I bought him for his first twelve birthdays! We have continued this tradition throughout the years and it has been such a blessing.

Whenever you can, choose an experience for yourself or with those you love.
Buy less, love more.
Simplify and savor.

xo,
Deanna

Friday Favorites~Week 2

Reality hit hard this week after a full two weeks off for winter break! I am looking forward to some R&R this weekend.

ONE

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

{via netflix.com}

Have you read the book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo? She now has a show on Netflix where she goes into people's homes and helps them deal with their clutter. My. Dream. Job. She is soooo sweet, but all business when she is "tidying"! I finished this show over Christmas break and when you watch it, you will officially know what a nerd I am. 😉

TWO

Have you ever ordered from Jane.com? I love this company, especially for their fun t-shirts. I am always finding something new and fun to order. This one is on my list for football season next year:

THREE

Stella & Dot Haul

My Stella & Dot goodies arrived and I am so excited! I was able to get $350 in product when I became a stylist and it was hard to decide what to order because I wanted it all. I am especially excited about this monogrammed bag. 😍

FOUR

How to Walk Away
by: Katherine Center

This. Book. It will be part of my January Books and Beans post later this month, but it was so good I had to give you guys an early heads up. I loved the story, the characters, everything. Be sure to check back on my post at the end of the month; January is shaping up to be an epic reading month!

FIVE

Wal-Mart Grocery Pick-up

(via www.walmart.com)

Game. Changer. Every Thursday night, I order my groceries online at Wal-Mart for an after school pick-up on my way home on Friday. I love the convenience and ease and they always to a great job of choosing produce, which is a big deal for me. You pull up to the designated area, give them your name and they load the groceries in your car. It's magic and the service is free. If you haven't tried it yet, you can use THIS LINK to get $10 off of your first order. Making life easier; one of my very favorite things!

I hope you all have an excellent weekend filled with extra cozy time with your family!

xo,
Deanna

19 Ways to Organize Your Life in 2019 {2}

Purge, Purge, Purge!

{www.herchicspace.com via pinterest}

The absolute best way to begin the organizing process is to eliminate the excess from your life. I have always loved to organize, but it wasn't until I drastically reduced the number of items in my home that I felt like it stuck. This is a judgement free zone. Start today by removing one BIG bag of items from your home; throw away trash and donate what no longer serves you. 

Need a starting place?

Your hall closet..you know...the one you open to get your coat in the morning and hope everything doesn't fall out on you in the process? In my current home, I don't have a front closet, mostly because this used to be a clutter spot for me in previous homes. This is the perfect time to clear out that space because you can donate coats, scarves, gloves to people who NEED them to get through the remaining winter months. Improve your life and serve others in the process.

I have created the ZEHR method to help you work through this process:

Z-Zero {out the space}

E-Edit {the contents}

H-House {what is staying}

R-Reset {maintain order}

Any items you remove from your space today creates action and change for you to feel a difference in your home. You got this! Eliminate what no longer serves you and see how great it feels.

xo,

Deanna

Friday Favorites~Week 1

Happy first Friday of 2019! 

It was so easy to come up with my list for today; there are so many things I'm loving right now. It has been wonderful to have a full two weeks off to spend with my sweet family and I am recharged and ready to head back to work on Monday. 

ONE

Apple Watch Band

I bought this band for my Apple Watch shortly after Christmas with very low expectations given the price. I was so surprised at the quality and I love being able to mix up my bands now! Leopard print is a neutral in my book, so this works with virtually everything.

TWO

Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner

This was hands down my favorite gift from Christmas. You simply fill the tank with tap water, put your jewelry, glasses, etc. inside and turn it on. My rings look like I had them cleaned at the jewelers! Such a great product with a lot of uses.

THREE

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

I finished the first two seasons of this show on Amazon Prime Video over Christmas break and I cannot wait until they come out with the next season! This show is written by the same husband wife team who wrote Gilmore Girls and the dialogue is just as witty and quick. The clothing is also to die for. The premise of the story is a 1950's housewife who is pursuing a career in standup comedy while going through a divorce and raising two children. It is funny, quick and visually appealing. Due to language and other content, this is one to watch when the kids have gone to bed. 

FOUR

Homebody

by: Joanna Gaines

Dan gifted me this book for my birthday and I love it. It is full of design inspiration in Joanna Gaines' typical effortlessly simple style. It also looks great on your coffee table so you can pick it up again and again. 

FIVE

Stella & Dot

I am beyond excited to announce that I am now a Stella & Dot Stylist! I have always been a fan of their jewelry and now that they have clothes, I had to get involved in the fun (and incredible discounts). Being a busy working mom, I love the idea of shopping online for the cutest trends and having them delivered to my door. If you'd like, you can visit my site HERE and look at their adorable jewelry, clothes and bags.

I hope you all had a wonderful start to the new year. Enjoy the weekend with your people and remember to do something that helps you recharge.

xo,
Deanna

19 Ways to Organize Your Life in 2019 {1}

Happy New Year and Happy 2019!

{fromupnorth.com via Pinterest}

I thought it would be fun to kick off this fresh start with a new blog series intended to give you ideas about how to organize and simplify your life. I have generated a list of 19 things that have either worked for me or are areas I am working on as well. Let's encourage each other!

The first thing I like to do at the start of a new year is choose a word or theme that will be my focus for the coming year. This is truly where the teacher in me comes out and I feel like having my objective spelled out helps me to move forward with my lesson plans.

This year, my word is INTENTIONAL. Last year, my word was NO, so we are making progress! 

Intentional is defined as "done on purpose; deliberate," and one of its synonyms is "conscious". I knew that this needed to be my word for the year when I found myself reflecting on how much I have enjoyed this holiday break filled with nothing more than ordinary, stay-at-home moments with my family. In this new year, I want to focus on being intentional with my time, my money, my purchases and my relationships with others. If it does not serve me, I plan to let it go. If it is something that brings me joy, I will intentionally choose to participate.

{kellyexeter.com.au via Pinterest}

So the first way to organize your life is to choose your word for the year. Give yourself a focus or a roadmap to follow. What is your word for this year? If you are having trouble deciding, head to Instagram and type in #oneword for plenty of ideas.

My other posts in this series are more hands on and practical, so I hope you will stop back and check them out. Little changes truly do make a big difference in our overall well-being.

xo,

Deanna

Books and Beans~December 2018

(www.pinterest.com)

COFFEE

Cheggnog Latte...chai tea and egg nog...it's a thing...and I {heart} it...

BOOKS

2018 ended with some pretty good books! I have included them all here, some that you can add to your Christmas reading list for next year and a few to start your new year off right. I have SO MANY great books on my list for 2019. Thanks for "reading" with me!

An Island Christmas
by: Nancy Thayer
3 out of 5 stars

This was a sweet little read that was reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. I like these kinds of books around the holidays because they are light, easy reads. Any book about Christmas and New England gets my vote during this time of year!

Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life
by: Lara Casey
4 out of 5 stars

Lara Casey's latest book is inspiring for building an intentional life. The entire book is built around the concept of gardening as a metaphor for cultivating your life. Very well written and a great book to start off your new year right!

Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff
by: Chip Gaines
4 out of 5 stars

I listened to this book on audio while working out and driving. I enjoy Chip and Joanna Gaines so much. Their down to earth style and family values are inspiring. It was great to hear things from Chip's perspective, as he tends to be the more daring of the two. As you know by now, I love a good biography/autobiography/memoir and this one was motivational for going after your dreams and building the life you want.

The Christmas Sisters
by: Sarah Morgan
4 out of 5 stars

Another sweet Christmas read, this book has a dash of family drama built in with the cozy Christmas scenes. The story is about three sisters returning home to their adoptive parents' home for the holidays. You learn about their individual struggles, as well as the tragedy that took their parents' lives. The characters and their relationships with each other are very well written. Add it to your list for next year's holiday season.

The Dinner List
by: Rebecca Serle
4 out of 5 stars

I didn't know quite what to expect from this book, but it was so intriguing! You know the game where you say the people you would have dinner with (alive or dead)? The main character in this book gets her wish during her birthday dinner. The book explores each person's relationship with her as well as their relationships with each other. A very cool concept and an extremely interesting book. I was thinking about this one long after I finished reading it.

It has been a great year full of excellent books! I read 56 books this past year. See any of these posts to build your reading list for 2018!

January 2018

February 2018

March 2018

April 2018

May and June 2018

July 2018 

August 2018

September 2018

October and November 2018