Category: life

December Traditions

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I love kicking off every December with a to-do list. It might seem like an odd way to welcome the holiday season, but with so much packed into one month, a little planning goes a long way. Organizing my schedule helps ensure there’s actually time to slow down—time to sit by the decorated tree and watch Christmas movies. A few years ago, I realized that when I’m intentional about how I spend my days, I can create all the Christmas magic and enjoy the season without feeling overwhelmed. Everyone’s December looks different, and that’s perfectly okay!

Decorate your home, one space at a time. Don’t put pressure on yourself to do the whole thing overnight! I like to pick a space to decorate after work and just do a little bit at a time.

Wear those Christmas pajamas. There is just something cozy about wearing my Christmas red and plaid in December.

Christmas movies. We try to watch one a night, even if it’s on the TV in the background.

Christmas cards. We order a batch from minted.com to send to our families, but I also hand out cute Christmas cards to coworkers and friends!

Christmas Village. Every year, Philly shows off during December with the Christmas Village and the tree in Rittenhouse Park. After work, we will walk around the city, and it feels like a Hallmark movie.

Bake cookies. Each year, I bake a ton of cookies and give them to coworkers. I start to get cookie requests in November, and it’s something we all look forward to!

Volunteer. This year, we donated food to a neighborhood food pantry, and it’s an easy way to give back. We volunteer at a toy drive every year, and it’s so rewarding.

Christmas sheets. It’s something new I have been doing lately, and it totally gets me into the Christmas mood!

Tree in the bedroom. Last year, I put a tree in our bedroom with just lights on and now I love crawling into bed with the tree on at night.

Things I’m Doing Differently This Fall

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I’m always hesitant to welcome fall into my life because that means that summer is officially over. This year, I am embracing the change because it means that with a new season comes an excuse to do new things.

  1. Long walks by myself to walk around and enjoy the changing of the season.
    I did this a few times over the summer, and I loved walking around my neighborhood listening to an audiobook with no destination in mind, just to wander and see where I turned up. It was a great way to get my steps in for the day, but I also felt very calm and refreshed after the walk.
  2. Coffee Shops
    Living in Philly means there is a plethora of coffee shops to choose from, and this fall, I want to romanticize going to a coffee shop to get a warm drink to warm up and read my book. The BER months are when we stay indoors more, and I’m going to need coffee as an incentive to leave the house, even on those cold days.
  3. Cook fall-themed meals
    Fall is all about comfort foods like chili, pumpkin loaf, and sweet potatoes, to name a few. I’m going over my recipes now to start making my list!
  4. Wear the cute fall outfits
    Fall fashion is famous for a reason because it’s still warm enough to look cute but chilly enough for cute layers! I’m taking out my fall clothes early this year so I can be intentional about wearing my cute clothes instead of them staying in storage for another year. Also, if you like fashion, be sure to treat yourself to a new magazine to really get in the mood for fall fashion and support print media!
  5. Plan those fall outings now
    We go pumpkin picking every year at the same place, and it never gets old. This year, I want to plan more gatherings with friends at an outdoor beer garden while it’s still warm and a dinner party with friends to gather over tasty food.
  6. Outdoor dining
    I love that Philly decorates their restaurants with fall decorations and pumpkins. We have a few restaurants we love to eat outside at to get in the fall mood with all of the decor!

A Little Italian Escape at Trattoria Carina

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If I could bottle up the feeling of a perfect summer evening in the city — a light breeze, good wine, laughter echoing down a quiet side street — it would be dinner at Trattoria Carina.

There is this little restaurant on the corner of 22nd and Spruce that we have walked past a million times. Finally, after repeatedly suggesting that we try Trattoria Carina again, we have made reservations for dinner. This little corner restaurant is always packed, and now I know why! With its striped awning and glowing string lights, it looks like it was plucked straight from a Nancy Meyers movie.

We started with the whipped ricotta toast and an Aperol Spritz. I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka (no surprise there) and yes, it’s just as creamy and comforting as I hoped it would be. Jake got the chicken parm, and even though I never deviate from my usual penne vodka order, I low-key wanted to trade plates.

We lingered over espresso and shared a dessert because none of us wanted the night to end. It’s that kind of place — warm, relaxed, and effortlessly charming. It’s great for people watching, and next time I want to sit outside and enjoy dinner while we unwind from the day over delicious food!

If you’re looking for a spot for date night, a birthday dinner, or just a Wednesday that needs a little sparkle, Trattoria Carina hits every note. You’ll leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit.

Where We Went:

📍 Trattoria Carina

2201 Spruce St, Philadelphia

🌸 Tip: Sit outside if the weather’s nice & order the ricotta toast. Trust me.

summer glow up

summer glow up

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I keep reading about these ways to glow up this summer. I love to read other people’s ideas on how to transform themselves inside and out, so I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I’m doing this summer that help me to feel better, think more positively, and make choices today that will benefit me later in the year.

  • listen to an audiobook and go on a long walk on the weekend
  • you don’t need a pool in the backyard to sit outside and read a book while getting some sun
  • change your phone background to something that makes you smile
  • treat yourself to coffee from a non-chain coffee shop
  • go through everything you own and PURGE
  • deep clean your space and find a proper home for the things you own
  • find a hobby or something to prevent you from scrolling on your phone
  • make plans with friends for the weekend early in the week
  • we are all busy. there is nothing wrong with scheduling to hang out with a friend or go to the beach 6 weeks in advance
  • change up to what music you listen to when you drive to work in the morning
  • go makeup-free during the week – OR keep it simple with a face moisturizer, some mascara, and some blush
  • find a water bottle that you will keep with you 24/7 to make sure you drink more water
  • wear ankle weights during the day, around the house, or at work if you can get away with it
  • wear a face moisturizer with SPF in it every day
  • commit to using collagen in your coffee every morning

Books I Read in January

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I was recently with a group of friends, and someone said they had felt a little off the last few weeks. I had to remind them that A LOT is going on in the world right now, so of course, it is normal with everything in the news and the world that we would also feel a little bit off mentally.

This may explain why I’m only two months into the year and have already hit my book-reading goal for the year. Lately, I’ve been getting into bed at night with a book and getting lost in a fantasy world. Reading at night has honestly been the highlight of my day. I rush home, make dinner, finish my work around the house, make a cup of tea, and then hop into bed with a good book.

Here are the books I read in January….

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
Julia Quinn

Last year, I started to read the Bridgerton series, and I loved watching the TV show and then reading the book afterward to get more of the story.

Paris The Memoir
Paris Hilton

I love getting a celebrity biography for Christmas for a fun and easy read. After a few pages into this book, I knew right away that this wasn’t just another celebrity biography. I’m so happy this story was written and has been able to bring light to her story.

A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas

I got the box set of ACOTAR books for Christmas but was unsure if I wanted to commit to a series. On a Sunday afternoon, I started reading this book and finished it in two nights. Little did I know that I would be starting my addiction to romance fantasy….

A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas

I was so grateful I didn’t have to wait after I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses to find out what happened next. I didn’t get much sleep and read most of it in one night.

A Court of Wings and Fury
Sarah J. Maas

I saw someone on TikTok at a bookstore saying she heard that these books were really good but was complaining about how long they were. Meanwhile, my one issue with this series is that I would finish the book, but I felt like I could have kept reading for another few hundred pages.

A Court of Frost and Starlight
Sarah J. Maas

I’ve read people complaining about this novella for various reasons, but I loved it. It gave the readers more time to fall in love with the characters and gave us some insight into their everyday lives.

A Court of Silver Flames
Sarah J. Maas

This book should have come with a warning label because….woah. Again, I’ve heard complaints because it is written from Nesta’s point of view, but I loved learning more about this complex and interesting character. This book also motivated me to go to the gym more so I could be that strong female lead like Nesta.

Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros

When I finished the ACOTAR series in 7 days, I am not kidding when I say that I had a void in my soul when I couldn’t pick up another book to read. Jake was away for a work trip when I finished A Court of Silver Flames, and I told him I didn’t know what to read next. A few people on the internet suggested that Fourth Wing was another good series that was a must-read. So I was very happy when Jake stopped at a bookstore on his way home from his work trip in DC to get me the book. Which I then read in one night…..