Planning our fall craft. Which is your favorite?

 We like to do a seasonal craft.  Fall is one of our favorite seasons with the cooler evenings and the light changing. Plus love fall colours. We have narrowed it down to four crafts. Let us know what your pick would be! 

When it is too early to decorate????

 Discussion happening over here on the blog.  A few of us, one in particular, loves to decorate for the seasons. We are not talking just Christmas holidays but also for fall.  You know pumpkins, leaves, scented candles, comfy throws, all in those fall colors. 

To enjoy the season when is it acceptable to put your fall décor up?  Remember there is also Christmas décor to go up. Once we flip the calendar to September it is four months to squeeze it all in. Should fall decorating start in fall - September 21st?  Or September 1st? 

If the decision is to decorate on the official date of September 21st that gives just over a week for September, all of October, and what? Mid-November?  We are consistent on not putting holiday decorations up until after Remembrance Day. That is a given.

So fall decorations until we switch out for Christmas. That discussion point is yes, after November 11 for sure, but when? Not until December? That seems a shame as one month to enjoy the Christmas decorations. We realize a few items like snowmen can stay up into the new year.  Christmas seems cheated.

The consensus was to put the fall decorations up after Labour Day. You get the majority of September to enjoy them. Add your Halloween themed ones in October.  Start the switch over to Christmas décor after November 11 so maybe mid-November. That way your place is fully decorated for Christmas for the entire month of December to enjoy.    

What are your thoughts on seasonal decorating? When should we start? What might be too early?

Let's plan a party!

 Here are some party ideas we found.   

Let us start with a drink.  We're having a blueberry lemon-drop martini.  We'll have this as soon as the guests arrive.

We have these charcuterie cups for you to start with.  

Also you could try a sea-breeze cocktail.  We liked the name and the color!  We also have a virgin mojito.

One of us was at a party where they played Bingo. Everyone that came through the door was given a Bingo card.  Play or don't play up to individual. Ideas for the Bingo boxes are: someone wearing purple,  who loves to bake. who has been on a horse, who has traveled overseas, favorite podcast, favorite book.  Knowing your guests you could add your own Bingo boxes. The party we were at it was an ice-breaker getting to know.

Here are a few ideas if you are into games at parties.  Party games for adults.  

With the weather warm, people want to be outside so a BBQ is a great idea.

Of course we wouldn't let you not have a mix salad.

Here are some dessert ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth.

How is this for a party!!!

Summer Reads

Here are a few summer reads we have been enjoying.  Just in case you have a few more beach day!!!

If you like a mystery with a bit (okay maybe a lot) of sass check out the series by Darynda Jones. The first book in the three book series is A Bad Day for Sunshine.  They should be read in order as continuing personal mystery taking place.

Fresh Paint by Flora Bowley and Lynzee Lynx.  Fell in love with Flora Bowley's artwork.  If you enjoy abstract art this is definitely work a browse.

Started Sarah J Maas Throne of Glass series.  Read first two books. I'm enjoying as a strong young female character. Fantasy genre. 

Mystery is a favorite genre so another cozy mystery series is Beyond the Page Bookshop by Lauren Elliott.  First in the series is Murder by the Book. The mystery takes place in small seaside town. Newly arrived Addie setting up bookstore and trying to make a new life after traumatic experiences.

Another fantasy by Emma Torzs Ink Blood Sister Scribe. Two different story lines coming together. Parts a bit creepy. 

What have you been reading over the summer?  Let us know.

Definition of success

 I listened to a podcast Off the Grid: leaving social media without losing clients.  Host Amelia Hruby. The episode title was "success is a cycle". It was extremely interesting as it got me thinking about success in a totally different way.  Not achieving goals and climbing the ladder (of success).

Amelia talked about the script society has for us that success is achieving education, job, promotion, family, six figure income. The script of we are not successful until we reached those goals or others. Then, often the goals change. 

But....what about it we looked at success as a feeling. What we are doing and wanting. Not a goal or somewhere we have to be. Goals written by others. Success as a feeling.

So, I decided to change my definition of success. Amelia also said for her it is feelings and wanting that should line-up. Also acknowledging that success, like joy, grief, is always coming in and out of our lives. We are not always successful or joyful. Success like other emotions is a cycle. We are working toward that so.

So my success definition is:

1.  having enough money to enjoy my life (now and in the future)

2.  doing things that bring me joy

3.  working towards being healthier 

4.  filling my life with positive people and experiences

I might add more to my success definition.  This is my start.  

What would your definition of success be? 

Summer and making the most out of it

Okay we have rolled, no ran, into June. No idea where May went, seriously, I have no idea.  June is always busy with school finishing up, graduations, if you haven't booked summer camps yet (get on it and good luck). People have been booking camp sites and cottages for the summer. Oh, and vacation requests have been in for a while. It is that time of year we are rolling into.

Everyone remembers when summer at work used to be slower. You could go out for an ice cream at lunch. The building was less busy with people on vacation. There was time to catch up on a few projects and catch your breath. Plus your own vacation. Now, not so much. There doesn't seem to be a slow down at work. This started before COVID and now seems the norm.

So what can we do? I say take back a little time. If you have a green space near work go there even for twenty minutes. Feel the sun on your face. Get some vitamin D.  Mental health wise we need rest and even twenty minutes is refreshing.

Also when did working through lunch or at your desk become the norm? With the good weather head out and eat in that green space. Or walk around the block. We have to take care of ourselves. Work is definitely not going to. So with the good weather let's make the most out of it.  Everyone can squeeze in twenty minutes. If we are not in an operating room we have twenty minutes. Paper and emails are not going anywhere.

Work will be there in twenty minutes. Take a deep breath and priority health first.

Things we are crushing on!!

These are fun posts to do.  There are a few things we are crushing over.  Please let us know what you are currently interested in. 

Spring nail ideas over at A Beautiful Mess

Check out Inspired by Charm for these peanut butter and jelly cheesecake bars  (he has so many delicious stuff there).

I mean look at these from Michael also -- mason jar honey cakes

Head over to A Wandafulthing for some free SVG.  This So Happy is one of my favorites.

Can't wait for Beth Kempton new book to be released.  Japanese wisdom for a life well lived.

IKEA yellow chair.  Can see myself curled up with a coffee and a book.

Saw these and so crushing on them - totem orb meditation balls. Mini pieces of art.

Okay this is big.  A creative retreat in Italy.  Exploring Goddess through yoga and art. 

Do people have favorite Esty Shops?  Eyeing these ear rings.

What do you think of this blender?  Like the options.

Book Review The Crossroads of Should and Must

 A few of us read Elle Luna book The Crossroads of Should and Must.  Most of us know the should and must.  Should is get an education, good paying job (nothing airy-fairy), marry, buy a house, have kids, work and work in that good paying job.  All this is fine and if you love you life that is all that counts. But...…

The above is not the only way to live. The book talked about having a job. A career. A calling.  Are they different? They can be or maybe not. Some of us have a job that pays the bills. We do our calling on the evenings and weekends. Sometimes that is enough. Others have a career (hopefully in something you love). It is more than a job. A job was defined as going to work for eight hours and leaving. You don't take your work home it is a job. A career can be more demanding. More hours, sometimes higher education. Maybe less time to do your calling. Or maybe your calling is your career.

Society puts a lot of "shoulds" on us. From life-style to career. It is often hard to get away from the shoulds as they are so deeply ingrained. Musts can seem more selfish. More about us. What! You are putting yourself before everyone else! But not acknowledging our "musts" can cost us. In a life not lived, pain, and regrets.

We get so caught up on shoulds that our musts are pushed aside. What are our musts? Things that call to us. That light us up. That take us into flow. Where hours pass and we don't realize it. We are present doing our "must" our calling.  

To follow our musts is hard. Often we have to carve time out of our lives. That might mean disappointing people. Some people might not understand pursuing our musts. Selfish. So we have to be strong and hold onto our musts. It is worth it - imagine doing something where time is forgotten. You are in flow. Happy and creating. Musts feeds our soul. Yes lights us up. 

Ella Luna book is worth reading. She explains it so much better. She also has talks you can find. Following your must she says is crucial. Living a life where you are excited. For me it has always been about regrets. I want to have less of them. Especially over things - usually simple things - I could have tried and experienced. So find your must.

A few cozy mystery series recommendations

 

The following are cozy mystery series I have been enjoying. They are cozy mysteries so no slashers, limited blood and guts. Not thrillers. Amateur detectives so a lot of guess work and yeah stumbling around at times. 

Tourist Trap Mystery by Lynn Cahoon.  Strong female lead in Jill Gardner. Her business is a coffee and book shop in a small town. Would be my favorite place in town.  Boyfriend is the Chief of Police. So you can see that dynamic being in play. Mind your own business.  Other characters like bestfriend and aunt. Everyone needs a sidekick.  Each book is a separate mystery but if read in order we get to follow Jill and her friend's lives as they play out. I enjoy a strong female lead and I get that in Jill. In her thirties, divorced, lawyer in previous life. Knows what she wants. Most of the time.

Emmeline Duncan Ground Rules Mystery currently has three in the series.  Younger female, Sage, running a coffee food truck. Three books out so far enjoyed. Sage has an interesting background (not saying). Also list of characters we get to know. Got to know a bit about food trucks.

If you like magic along with mystery check out Magical Bakery Mystery series by Bailey Cates. Katie Lightfoot runs a bakery with her aunt and uncle. The add a little extra ingredients into the baking. Katie is drawn into murder investigations and uses her intuition and more (hint the title of the series) to help solve the cases. The detective is not a romantic lead but is involved in each mystery. 

These are a few of the cozy mysteries I'm currently reading. Or waiting for the next in the series to come out. Any recommendations are welcome. 

Spring Bucket List

 How did this happen!  It is Spring. Winter, here, started late. No snow at Christmas, which was too bad while the kids were off.  February was bang lots of it.  For a while we thought it would hang around, but no. Rain, rain and more rain. 

We thought it was time for a Spring Bucket List. As why not. In no particular order.....

• Purchase myself tulips. I have been seeing them in the grocery stores. Why not celebrate the start of spring with flowers.
• Start going through entryway closet.  Worn mitts, gloves, scarfs, hats toss out worn ones or single ones we have been keeping hoping to mind it's mate.
• Clean out the fridge. I know this is NOT a spring thing but it likely needs to be done. Okay, mine does.
• Put away heavier winter clothes. Go through spring/summer clothes and decided now what you want to wear. If you pull something out you haven't worn in the last few years. Think hard are you going to wear it this year? Ask yourself why are you keeping it and why you don't wear it. Start the purge both winter / spring / summer.
• Check do you need to purchase earth and pots.  
• Start your Spring / Summer reading list.
• For those campers you might want to get on booking camp sites ASAP.
• Same goes for kids and summer camps. They fill up fast.
• Clean out linen closet or drawer. Good time as soon the fleece sheets will be pulled off the bed. Do we need new sheets? 
• Sit with a coffee and write out what you'd like to see and do the coming season. Maybe it is more walks. More self-care. 
• Speaking of self-care check your bathroom drawers for those facials we get and put away for "later". Grab one and use. Also those bath salts start using those items up. No more saving for "later". Later is now.

This is just a few items to consider. Please let us know what you'd add to the list. We are slowly getting longer days. For some people that means their energy is returning. As always make the most of life.

Book Club - The Guest List

New series here at the blog. Reading or audiobooks are one of our things. Recently we read/listened to Lucy Foley The Guest List.  It has multiple point of view chapters. The audiobook was the first one we listened to that was read by multiple people.

It starts with a body. Wham maybe a murder? Then it goes back in time to the start of the weekend. Each character moving the story along with their point of view (POV). There were twists, as everyone has a secret to hide. Then it goes back to a short chapter in "current" time where people head out to find the body. 

It is interesting as you see each character through the eyes of other people. The story moves towards the "current" time where the body is found. It is at that time you find out which of the characters has been murdered and who the murder is.

Really enjoyed the writing and the way the story moved forwarded. Trying to figure out the clues people were sharing (and there were clues for each character). Who the body was - as in who was currently in the room and what was happening leading up to the current time.

If you enjoy a mystery we would recommend the The Guest List.  If you have any book recommendations pass them along!  Let's have a book club! If you have read The Guest List let us know what you thought.