2016 Reading Challenge

It was my Mom who taught me to love reading. Ever since I can remember she's been a reader. She always has a book with her and she has even maxed out her library card once or twice {I didn't know that was a thing! but apparently it is!} I went through a phase where liking to read "wasn't cool" but when I was in high school it became okay to want to stay home and read again with series like Twilight and The Hunger Games rising to popularity. My best friend helped reignite my love for reading by recommending those previously mentioned books and ever since then I've kept a book on my nightstand {Currently there are four}. I am always looking for new books to read and when I came across this 2016 Reading Challenge, I instantly starting making a list. I'm a bit embarrassed to say it's taken me four months to make this list but I have been scouring GoodReads trying to come up with the best list. Check it out below:

• Book based on a fairy tale - The Healer's Apprentice
• National Book Award Winner - Go Set a Watchman 
• YA bestseller - All the Bright Places
• A book you haven't read since high school - To Kill a Mockingbird {I actually never read this in high school oooops! But Alan just gave this to me for our anniversary and I'm really excited to read it!}
• A book set in your home state - The Actor and the Housewife
• A book translated into English - The Shadow of the Wind
• A romance set in the future - Cinder {I have actually already finished this one & am nearly done with the third book. I've been listening to them as I drive to work. They are so good!} 
• A book set in Europe - The Girl on the Train
• A Book under 150 pages - The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures
• A New York Times bestseller - All The Light We Cannot See
• A book that's becoming a movie this year - Me Before You {You. Guys. I LOVED this book & am so excited for the movie! There is a sequel but I didn't love it as much as I loved this one.} 
• A book recommended by someone you just met - These Is My Words {I asked a customer at work what she was currently reading and this was one of the few she suggested}
• A self-improvement book - The Happiness Project
• A book you can finish in a day - Fahrenheit 451 
• A book written by a celebrity – Wildflower
• A political memoir - I Am Malala
• A book at least 100 years older than you - The Canterville Ghost
• A science-fiction novel - Ready Player One
• A book recommended by a family member - Big Magic
• A book published in 2016 - Lady Midnight 
• A book that takes place during the summer - The Sisterhood of the TravelingPants 
• A book & it's prequel - Fairest 
• A murder mystery - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
• A book written by a comedian - Why Not Me?
• A dystopian novel – Uglies
• A book with a blue cover – Wonder
• A book of poetry - Love That Dog 
• A classic from the 20th Century - The Great Gatsby
• An autobiography - The Last Lecture 
• A book about a road trip - You Are Here
• A satirical book – 1984
• A book that takes place on an island - The Guernsey Literary and PotatoPeel Pie Society
• A book that's guaranteed to bring you joy - Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone {Of course this one would make the list!}

You can read a synopsis of each book by clicking on the title and see what other books I'm dying to read by following my Pinterest board here. I am always looking for new titles so leave a note in the comments letting me know what books you have on your night stand. 

Hummingbird Heartbeat

I was 12 years old when Valentine's Day became my favorite holiday. My siblings and I came home from school to find that our mom had gone all out decorating our kitchen & dining room in Valentine's get up. She'd even set up a space for each of us to decorate sugar cookies. It was the best!  Ever since then I've loved February 14th. It's even better now that I'm married since Al's birthday is the 13th. So much love going around this month & I like to go all out, including making a playlist each year. Here's 2016's jams, enjoy! 

       

What are your plans for Valentine's Day this year?

2016 Motto

All the way back in 2015, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted for this year & knew I wanted a motto. Something like a plan for the year & something I could be inspired by daily. I had a handful of ideas but it was after talking with my sister about what I wanted that she said, "sounds like you just need to make it happen then" & from that statement my 2016 motto was born. I'm always guilty of waiting for Mondays to start something: working out, eating better, carrying out the projects I have in mind, using my planner {anyone else buy one and carry it around for a year & never use it? I'm the worst at that!}  I've had to really commit & work hard on this as I often start something but get derailed one day and then think, "Oh well guess I will wait to Monday to start over." I'm through thinking that way! Miss a workout? Go a few extra minutes tomorrow. Didn't eat super well? Pack a lunch with some extra veggies. So here's to a year of making things happen & living intentionally. What's your motto this year? 

Made In The A.M. Inspired

Fun fact. Or maybe it's more of a confession actually. One Direction's new album is my JAM! I don't know when I became a One Direction fan, maybe last summer when I worked with a group of cute teenage girls that loved them & we listened to them on repeat, or just now haha! Regardless, I've loved listening to their new singles and designed these prints based on a few of their new tracks. To download them, just right click and save them to your computer or phone. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

FOR YOUR FRAMES

FOR YOUR PHONE

Who do you have playing on repeat? Follow me on Spotify & listen to Made In The A.M. with me here & let me know if you like these prints in the comments! Happy Friday! 

2015 Pink Polish Swap

I can't believe it's fall already, can you? It feels like we just barely turned the calendar on to 2015 and now here we are, on the down hill slope of the year. I love this time of year. The cooler temperature, my birthday, & the holidays are just some of the reasons why I enjoy fall time. One of my most favorite things about this time of year is that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart (pun intended wink). Before we kick off this years swap, I'd like to tell you why I started it: 

my Grammy. 

I can't remember exactly when it happened, but I remember my mom telling me through teary eyes that her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. 3 years ago, however, we got the news that she was cancer free & I knew I wanted to do something to show my support for all of the women I know who have had breast cancer. Those who have beat it & those who are fighting it, & those might not have won. I knew immediately that combining my love for nail polish was the best way I could do this & I started this swap each October. It's not much, but wearing pink nails throughout the month of October is the way I show my support for all of the amazing women out there. If you'd like to join the swap, it's really simple: 

You can sign up here.  

Please let me know if you have any questions or trouble signing up. Get your friends and families involved- the more the merrier! Do you have any one you are close to that you are celebrating this month? 

Living NOW

April & October are two of my favorite months of the year. Why you ask? I married my best friend in April and October is when it really starts to feel like fall. Those aren't the only reasons I love those months though. April & October are when the General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is held. I love listening to the speakers over the two days this conference is broadcast. What I also love is that the weekend before conference, there is a special session for women. This took place last night & I learned so many things while in attendance there. The best thing I learned last night was this: 

I often get so wrapped up in waiting for things to get better & wanting things a certain way that I forget to really live! To enjoy life! I am reminded of the scripture in 2 Nephi 2:25 that reads 

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." 

Along these lines comes another quote that I love & says:

"Stop waiting for Friday, for summer, for someone to fall in love with you, for life. Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting for it and make the most of the moment you are in now." You can get this quote here.

I hope that you may find joy in these words & grasp life by the hand and start to live! I've made this quote a printable so if you'd like to display it in your home, you can get it here. 

Did you go to Women's Conference? What words of inspiration struck you? Would you like to know more about Women's Conference? You can watch it here. 

To Chop Or Not To Chop

Ever get bored with your hair? Never in a million years did I think I'd say that because I have always been a freak about my hair being long but recently I have been feeling so blah about it! I've been pursuing Pinterest for ideas to take to my hair girl, Mallory, and just can't make up my mind. These are a few styles I'm loving: 

• Long sleek layers like Allison? 
• Shorter wavy layers like Ashley? 
• Bangs like Reese?
• Or chop it like Emma? 

Leave a comment & let me know your fave!