Happy Friday, friends!!
I am looking forward to a weekend of winter hibernation. My husband and I originally had plans to visit a small town in the area this weekend, but the rainy and cold weather prompted me to decide that I would rather stay in and hibernate.
Before we head into the weekend, here are a few weekly updates…
//one// Spring Book Preview
One thing on my “to do” list for the weekend is to watch the Spring Book Preview that was hosted by the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club. Because of our time zone difference, I wasn’t able to watch this preview of books coming out this spring live, but I am excited to watch the recording and add some of these new releases to my growing TBR list.
//two// Journaling for Grownups
One of my goals for this year was to journal more regularly. So, when I saw that Laura Tremaine was offering a Journaling for Grownups class, I signed up right away! I am looking forward to watch the first recording from this class over the weekend as well. I cannot wait until I am back in the states and can watch these events and classes live!
//three// Sunday Lunch at Raffaeles
My husband and I have a favorite restaurant in a nearby village in which we are treated as locals and it’s my favorite thing ever! We try to go about every other week, but with being sick during the first part of December and the Christmas holidays we only went once in December. When we walked in this past Sunday we were greeted by the servers saying “Monica!!”–even the ones I don’t know–I totally felt like Norm in an episode of Cheers. There is an older lady who eats there every week and we’re usually seated close to her. When we walked to our table, she stood up to greet us and told us that she had just prayed that we would be there that day. I tear up thinking about how being welcomed into this restaurant fills us with a sense of belonging.
//four// Signal Fires
I read my first five-star book of the year this week. I loved everything about Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro. This is the first fiction book I’ve read by her, but I definitely want to read more now. I loved her writing, character development and the themes the addressed throughout the novel.
//five// Morgan Harper Nichols
I’m ending today with an Instagram follow for you! If you’re not already following Morgan Harper Nichols, I recommend that you do. Her posts are encouraging, her art is beautiful and her words are inspirational and uplifting. She is an incredibly talented creative artist. Here is a link to her blog, but I would encourage you to dig deep and follow her everywhere she is creating–she even has an app and podcast!