Tag: fun

25 Things That Make Me Smile

Almost a month has passed since I last posted. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to – it’s either that I didn’t have an idea for what to write about or I didn’t have the energy to put “fingertips to keyboard.” The depression and anxiety have been relentless, but God has gotten me through day by day. In an effort to focus on something more positive, I’d like to share with you – in no particular order – 25 Things That Make Me Smile. 😀

  1. My Hubby. He’s a wonderful friend and a good “Daddy” to our pets.
  2. Dunkin Donuts Cold Brew coffee. With cream and *regular* sugar (not the liquid stuff).
  3. Sleeping in! I love being able to wake up slowly and get my bearings before beginning the day.
  4. Sliding into bed at night with the cool sheets enveloping me. I love letting out that sigh and snuggling deeper into the covers.
  5. Sunrises. They are so quiet, and still, and beautiful…and they help you look forward to the rest of the day.
  6. Daisy. Our little pup. She is energetic and vocal, and she brings joy to our lives.
  7. Misty. Our food-loving cat. She enjoys snuggling up in her “cat condo,” sleeping, and – of course – food!
  8. Soup. Specifically a creamy, comforting soup, and accompanied by a crusty bread.
  9. A good hair day. It makes you feel like you can conquer the world!
  10. The appropriate usage of a descriptive adjective in a sentence.
  11. A hot cup of tea between shivering hands.
  12. Warm, fuzzy socks on ice cold feet.
  13. My God. He is always there for me…and I wouldn’t be able to “do life” without Him.
  14. Our little succulent plant that sits in our window and brings cheer to our home.
  15. My family. I have been blessed with a supportive family on both sides, and I am so glad to have each one of them in my life.
  16. Baby giggles. Enough said.
  17. Long, hot showers.
  18. My friends. God has also given me awesome friends – friends who are gracious, understanding, and there when I need them.
  19. An engaging book. I love getting lost inside its pages!
  20. The Bible. I’m thankful for its truth and it’s relevancy to our lives.
  21. Trips to Target to grab a Starbucks and visit with my Hubby on his work break.
  22. Re-watching NCIS for the umpteenth time.
  23. When I don’t have to cook or clean up after a meal.
  24. Getting a card in the mail that really encourages me.
  25. The Lord’s provision. Somehow He has gotten us through this far, and I’m very grateful for His generosity.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope to continue this list at a later time. Now what I want to know is, what is something that makes you smile?

 

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Hush, Hush – A Review

I love to read – there’s nothing better than snuggling up with our dog, Daisy, on the couch with a cup of coffee and a good book. So even though my blog is not specifically tailored towards book reviews, I thought it might be nice to share my thoughts about some of the titles I read. Hopefully you’ll follow along! 🙂

When I purchased the book Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was walking around Barnes and Noble (in the YA section, of course), and several teens were browsing there as well. One of them pointed out to me several of her favorite books, and the Hush, Hush series was at the top of her list. So I decided I’d give it a try.

The first book in a series of four, Hush, Hush introduces the story of Nora and Patch. They are thrown together as lab partners at their high school…and Nora couldn’t be more frustrated with the situation. Patch was seemingly her opposite, and was mostly an annoyance to her. However as time goes by, Nora begins to get to know Patch, while at the same time being drawn in by his muscled body and mesmerizing eyes.

As Nora and Patch grow closer, Nora has more questions than answers. There is something different about Patch, but she can’t place her finger on it. Things start happening to her and to people around her, and she doesn’t know whom to trust…and whom to suspect. Is Patch someone she can feel safe with, or is he pulling her into a world full of danger?

I enjoyed reading Hush, Hush – it had well-developed characters, and there was a romantic tension between Nora and Patch that wove throughout most of the book. I liked how I could relate to the character’s thoughts and actions, and how it felt like I was right there in the middle of their world.

If you’re looking for a book with romance, suspense, and fantasy that will keep you turning the pages, I’d recommend Hush, Hush! And the great thing is, once you finish this book, you can move on to the next book in the series – Crescendo. I’ve started reading it and so far, so good. 😉

Thankful Thursday (episode 5)

Well, another week is coming to a close…and I have a lot to be thankful for. 🙂 After the past several weeks of not doing so well with recording my blessings, I found that I was able to keep track of them better this week. I think God is answering my prayers by helping me to focus on the positives and on the blessings that He bestows on me.

So here is my list of things that I am grateful for!

  • Getting me through the work week
  • A nice visit with the Hubby on his break at Target
  • An engrossing new book to read, called “Hush, Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick
  • The opportunity to sleep in
  • Yummy breakfast sandwiches from Dunkin’ Donuts
  • A nice time with family at our nephew’s birthday party
  • Strength to clean up the house when I didn’t feel like it
  • An iced mocha latte from Dunkin’
  • Visiting a new park with the Hubby
  • My eyesight! I take it for granted so often.
  • A delicious taco dinner with all the fix-in’s
  • That I was able to take Daisy on a walk to my in-law’s house and then sit and talk with them for a bit
  • Being told that I am my boss’ most reliable worker 😀
  • For a tasty stromboli dinner, especially since someone else made it and all we had to do was heat it up!
  • The Hubby and I got to watch several good episodes of NCIS together
  • My boss told me that my job will continue until the end of May or the beginning of June, when I thought it was going to end sooner
  • A productive day at work
  • A beautiful sunset

Thanks for reading! I hope that my list has been encouraging, and that maybe it sparks in you the desire to keep track of your blessings – if you’re not already. 😉 Doing so has really helped to change my perspective on life…for the better! ❤

P.S. Here are links to my previous Thankful Thursdays! Thankful Thursday (episode 1), Thankful Thursday (episode 2), Thankful Thursday (episode 3), and Thankful Thursday (episode 4).