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Entertainment

February 2025 Book Round Up

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn & Janie Chang

In bustling San Francisco four women’s paths cross and their world is ripped apart when the earthquake hits in 1906. Five years later, they must track down a man who caused so much grief in their lives and bring him to justice.

Ribbons of Scarlet by Quinn, Dray, Kamoie, Perinot, Webb & Knight

Six authors tell the story of the bloody French Revolution through the eyes of six women from differing walks of life. All fighting for what they believe in and all showing immense bravery in the face of love, loss, tyranny and transformation. 

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Lyudmila Pavlichenko was a Soviet sniper in WW2; in this fictional tale her war is over, however, she is paraded around the USA as part of a mission to secure American support but a battle is just beginning as she is stalked by the “marksman.”

The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict

Upon the death of her aunt, Lily is summoned to Endgame House the site of many tragedies for her family. She has to spend the 12 days of Christmas solving riddles and finding keys to determine the fate of the house and figure out who killed her mother.

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz 

When cantankerous Alan Conway, author of the Atticus Pünd novels dies by what appears to be suicide, his editor must hunt for the missing chapters of his latest book. When she finds them she will discovers Alan‘s unlikely killer. This is the first of the Susan Ryeland series. 

Categories
Health & Beauty

Skincare Regime: Post-Pregnancy Glow

I wanted to improve my skin after having my son; not that my skin was super affected by the pregnancy in the first place –but there is always room for improvement. Additionally, I wanted to do something for me, a little TLC, a little self-care. I took a trip to Sephora and I grabbed a sample set from Youth to the People and I gave it a shot. Honestly, my skin has never looked better and I really enjoy my morning and night routine.

Morning
-Superfood Cleanser
-Energy Facial (only Wednesdays & Sundays)
-Energy Serum
-Superfood Moisture Cream

Evening
-Superfood Cleanser
-Superfood Moisture Cream
-Superberry Dream Oil
-Dream Eye Cream

woman putting on a face mask
Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels.com
Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

Writing Prompt Wednesday…

Do you like or have facial hair?

I don’t have facial hair unless you count a few chin hairs that started making their appearance as I get closer and closer to 40! I know, that is probably “TMI.” I do like a man with a nice beard or goatee. Nothing scraggly or too long. My husband rocks facial hair most of the year, however, I do enjoy it when he’s clean shaven because he looks so different and has a scar on his chin that I find incredibly attractive. I guess as he says, “chicks really do dig scars.” At the end of hunting season his beard is really out of control so it isn’t my favorite style on him. I couldn’t imagine having a beard. I think it would be so hot and itchy and I’d be afraid of getting food stuck in it and that’s just gross.

Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts

What about you? Comment below!

Categories
Daily 3

Daily Three: January

My friends and I have resurrected an old gratitude practice called the “Daily Three,” everyday we reflect on our day and think of three things that were positive or that we are grateful for. Nothing is too insignificant; it has helped us become less negative. Here is what made my January…

  1. Husband  came home from work after 5 days
  2. Eucalyptus & mint shower steamer
  3. Friends that I can ask all the questions to, so that I can stay somewhat sane while trying learn to be a mom 
  4. Visits with family & friends
  5. Won $28 on lotto scratchers
  6. Delicious snacks 
  7. The puppy is gone for training for months
  8. Christmas tree is down & all the ornaments are boxed up so my living room is back to normal
  9. So far the formula switch is going okay 
  10. My husband & son had a daddy/son day out (they looked at sleds & went for coffee with another buddy)
  11. Got out of the house and got all my errands done 
  12. New book finally arrived 
  13. Listening to my baby murmuring in his sleep and his father snoring
  14. Starting real food” with the baby
  15. Shrimp tacos with extra jalapeños 
  16. Migraine is gone
  17. Vanilla biscotti coffee
  18. Reading Dr. Seuss books with my son
  19. Got my tires checked; no more low pressure light
  20. Really enjoying my book
  21. Baby slept for a 7.5 hour stretch last night
  22. The high chair showed up (and I didn’t think it would because of the “delay” email) 
  23. Baby finally had a decent nap this afternoon after only a short power down this morning
  24. Was very productive today 
  25. Sorted out where my missing books were from Indigo (& more from my order have arrived)
  26. The high chair is awesome
  27. Nerding out with a historical fiction novel
  28. Found a journal I’d forgotten about so I started that up again 
  29. Found out that my friend‘s husband is taking her out for a very nice dinner to chairman steakhouse in Calgary for her 40th birthday on Monday and that made me really happy that he’s doing something so special for her.
  30. Peppermint tea.
  31. Scrambled eggs for supper
  32. Milk frother so Keurig coffee feels a little more like Starbucks
  33. Taking my multivitamin (as an actual routine now haha) 
  34. My friend’s 40th birthday; can’t wait for her to kickass in this new decade
  35. When my husband says “we are a team”
  36. Surprised with tickets to The Citadel
  37. Starting a new book
  38. Magic bags!!
  39. EOS Lip balm 
  40. Husband is home from work after 7 days 
  41. Baby is growing although he is “petit”
  42. Found brownies in the freezer (unexpected treasure) 
  43. Baby got clean bill of health at the pediatrician
  44. Got my haircut (felt amazing to have it shampooed and styled)
  45. .Decent road conditions despite there being a snow squall coming 
  46. Shower
  47. New Abbott Elementary episode 
  48. Having power after the 6 hour outage last night 
  49. Baby slept 8 hours last night 
  50. Gingerbread biscotti 
  51. Stew on a cold winter day 
  52. Baby slept 12 hours
  53. Finished another book
  54. Watching people freak out over the TikTok ban in the USA was hilarious 
  55. Baby was enjoying his Nemo bouncy chair finally
  56. Starting a new book
  57. Watching @mamaj.rae on Instagram and she makes me laugh
  58. Ricotta and spinach ravioli for breakfast; because why not !?
  59. Husband gave baby a bath for the first time ever
  60. Coworker became a grandma to the cutest little boy (also everyone is happy and healthy) 
  61. Baby pics from my coworker 
  62. Leftover sausage rolls in the freezer from Christmas YUM
  63. New books showed up; most were for the baby but one was for me
  64. Donuts from the best local bakery
  65. Visited with my mother in law
  66. Fresh sheets on the bed 
  67. Watched Hell’s Kitchen 
  68. Tea for a sore throat
  69. The baby’s laugh 
  70. Mother in law came and visited again
  71. My Costco date with husband is a “GO” because we have a babysitter
  72. Indigo was having a sale on some books I wanted to preorder so I got $60 in books for $40
  73. “Hair wash night”
  74. Baby legs (so cute)
  75. Got out of the house; even though it was only to the grocery store 
  76. Lime Bubly
  77. Catching up on National Geographic 
  78. Fuzzy Jammies
  79. Baby finally had a decent day nap 
  80. Visit from MIL & oldest nephew and baby was obsessed with his cousin 
  81. Scrambled egg & ketchup; craving satisfied (and I managed not to over cook the eggs for the first time in forever)
  82. Chicken nuggets for breakfast 
  83. Shaved 2 years off the mortgage
  84. Iced coffee 
  85. Lunch at the Olive Garden
  86. Seeing my son sitting on his Grandpa’s knee
  87. Flowers
  88. Hockey game
  89. Catching up with a coworker
  90. My niece made me chocolate chip cookies