What I’ll Be Reading This Winter

Ever since I was young, I have always been a big reader. Whether it was a book from the Harry Potter series or a historical fiction novel, books and the magic that they hold have always entranced me.

Picking up reading again for the pure pleasure of it is one of the items on my “2018 Goals” list and I fully intend to meet it. Already, I have joined a book club and scooped up some books that I have been wanting to read for a while, I.e. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Some of the books on my list, such as I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll and Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, are being read for my book club but also are ones that I have been wanting to check out. Since reading Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, I have been wanting to read more and more thriller, suspense stories. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn is a recently published thriller that I have heard many great things about, so of course that also needed to be on my list as well.

With Beneath a Scarlet Sky, I go back to my love of historical fiction. The book is based on an incredible true story of a young man who used his position as a personal driver for Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, to spy for the Allies. For those who are also into historical fiction, I urge you to also read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. The writing in both is spectacular and you won’t want to put them down, unless it is to think about the beautiful stories that Hannah and Doerr can weave.

Being a fan of Kristin Hannah’s work, I also have decided to give her new book, The Great Alone, a read. It doesn’t come out until February 6th, but the reviews of it so far have been wonderful. No surprise there, though, as she is an incredible storyteller.

What are y’all excited to read this winter?

-C

 

 

**All books can be found on Amazon.

Advertisement

Let’s Talk: Amazon Prime Yoga Video Workouts

When I went to the MFAH Oscar de la Renta exhibit with a coworker and some of her friends, I heard the most amazing thing. Apparently if you have an Amazon Prime subscription, then you can watch a variety of instructional workout videos, including ones for Yoga. More than likely, I’m late to the game on this one but for those of y’all out there who also did not know about this–how awesome is that?!

Seeing as how one of my goals for 2018 was to start getting back into yoga (I took classes for a good while in Oregon but stopped when I moved back to Houston), I looked up the aforementioned videos on Amazon as soon as I got home. I have already tried out some of the Beginners Workout ones instructed by Erica Vetra and loved them. Even though you’re not in an actual class setting, it feels like you are with all the tips and suggestions on pose form that she supplies.

Yoga, and exercising in general, has always helped me when I have either been depressed (seasonal depression is real, y’all) or had low energy levels or even just felt a lack of self confidence. I know that I am not the only one who tends to struggle with issues like these. So, I have decided that on Wednesdays I will post about and discuss different wellness topics with you all. As of right now, I am undecided on how long I will keep these posts up but I do feel that it’s something that should be talked about.

Also, for those who, like me, have dealt with either depression, anxiety, or self esteem issues, I hope you find something that works for you like yoga does for me. If yoga does seem like an option that you’d want to try, be sure to check out my yoga essentials below and the yoga classes on Amazon Prime (much cheaper option than an actual class…just saying!).

Hope y’all have a lovely day!

-C

( Tank via JoyLab, Sports Bra via JoyLab, Zella High Waist Leggings via Nordstrom, Yoga Mat Cleaner Kit via Amazon, and Gaiam Yoga Print Mat via Amazon )

**And yes, I did include a yoga mat cleaner, because no one likes a gross yoga mat.

***The above leggings are over $50 but do know that Nordstrom is having a sale right, which includes a lot of their athletic gear. I got these high waist leggings from Nordstrom this past weekend for a little over $40 and love love love the cute marble pattern on them.

5 Recipes That You Must Try ASAP

No Sugar Pumpkin Spice Bread (via Bariatric Eating)

Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies (via Foodie Crush)

Mushroom Rice Pilaf (via Natasha’s Kitchen)

Gingerdoodle Cookies (via The Novice Chef)

Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili (via Well Plated)

Cooking and baking have always been hobbies of mine, and I love finding new recipes and trying them out. Trying out a new recipe is sort of like a science experiment to me, which is always so much fun with never knowing what the outcome will be (but hoping that it’s a good one! ha).

Also, I must say that I have tried just about all of the recipes listed above and know that you’ll love how they turn out as much as I did!

-C

“The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta” Exhibit

If there’s one thing that was on the top of my 2018 To Do List, it was to go see the Oscar de la Renta exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Having grown up watching movies that were costumes by the likes of Edith Head and Givenchy, I came to love fashion and view it all as a work of art. Oscar de la Renta, in my opinion, is among the likes of Head and Givenchy. Not just because he dressed women in gorgeous pieces but because he knew it wasn’t the clothes that made the woman, but the woman that made the clothes. In his own words, “it’s not about what you wear, but about how you live your life.”

So, here’s to taking de la Renta’s advice and having a life worth living and also to the wonderful art that he created.

-C

The Hummingbird Wall

If there’s one thing that’s for sure on my “2018 To Do List”, it’s checking out more murals!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Houston has really come to embrace this form of art and therefore has a massive quantity of murals located all over the city.

Since moving back to Houston, I have definitely made it a priority to find as many murals as I can and will soon be posting something that encompasses all those that I’ve come across so far. So be on the lookout for that!

Happy FriYay, y’all!

-C