January & February Reads

Last year I had a goal to read 50 books. I read 38, but considering that I finished my fourth year of medical school, applied to residency, taught my own Neuropsychiatry course at my undergrad university and completed my first semester of a Masters of Public Health, I'm pretty excited with how many I got through! 

My 2020 goal is to read 40 books, so far this year I read eight:

Lilac Girls, 

Essentialism, 

The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus, 

Evvie Drake Starts Over

Such a Fun Age, 

The Book of Stories, 

The Most Fun We Ever Had 

Followers

List I Loved: 

- Lilac Girls: This is a MUST read, based on a true story and is the most amazing intertwined story of women in different countries during World War II and the miraculous way they come together. 

- Essentialism: I love to learn about ways of doing things better, being more efficient and living a happier life. This book has a takeaway for everyone. 

List I Liked A Lot: 

- The Book of Stories: This book is heartbreaking but so incredible, I never expected the story that unfolded but I couldn't put this book down. 

- The Most Fun We Ever Had: This one is a long one, took me most of February to get through! I loved the mother daughter dynamic that unfolds and how raw each of the girls and mom are about all the ups and downs of life. 

- Followers: This book shares a possible projection of the future of technology through the stories of Orla and Floss in the early 2000s and a daughter Marlow in 2051, the story lines were great. 

Here is my book pile from a few weeks ago. Typically I go to the library every week or every other week and pick a stack of books to take home. I don't always get through them all before they are due but I try my best to get through as many as time permits. Sometimes I pick up a book and don't love it and it goes back too, its nice to always have options! My town library has a selection of librarian suggestions and I am two for two on incredible books! Check out your library for something like this, or ask the librarian if your library doesn't have a dedicated section. 

I'm off to the library to pick up my next grouping and can share pictures of what is to come. 

Do you have reading goals? Any good books that you've loved? 

Have a great day! 

Sunday Inspiration

Happy Sunday!! 

I've spent most of the past week dog sitting for two adorable ladies... a cavalier king charles and a little poodle mix. And spent the weekend home watching our family dog Teddy who I treat like a child. He's' a 13 year old cockapoo and is almost 50 pounds. 

I'm animal obsessed and have dreams of one day living on a piece of property where I can have dogs and chickens and who knows what else I'll fall in love with and add to the mix. 

Shhh. Don't tell my family, he isn't allowed on this sofa. Oops. 

Earlier this month my mom treated my sister and I to the Oprah 2020 Vision Tour at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York. What an inspiring day filled with so many incredible women leaders including Oprah herself, Michelle Obama, Rachel Hollis and more. I loved Daybreaker who started the day at 9:30 am with a dance party. Followed by Oprah, who I grew up watching with my parents on tv. She is truly incredible and shared about how she found her focus and paved her own way by doing everything with intention, being okay with saying no and living her own life according to her plans. 

These were all incredible messages to hear especially at a time where I'm putting together my rank list for residency match and will be going out on my own in the coming year. Lots of change ahead, but I've looked forward to being a doctor my whole life and cannot wait for what lies ahead. I'm excited at the prospect of being the best doctor I can be while continuing to grow as an individual and honing in on my intentions in career, and more! 

Speaking of more, lately I've been trying to find more time to be creative. 

After watching a couple YouTube videos on how to embroider and basic stitches I got right to work. I found this adorable inspiration image on Pinterest and just went for it in my own way. I'm going to get started on my next project and I can't wait to share update photos. Here's to hoping it turns out just as cute as my first try. 

I also just finished reading The Most Fun We Ever Had written by Claire Lombardo. I'd give it a 4.5/5 stars, its a wonderfully well written dynamic book about the stories of a mom and her four daughters as they navigate through life. The good, the bad and the ugly and most importantly the ability to be resilient along the way, at least that's something I took from it. 

My next to read books are Followers which is the Bad On Paper Podcast Book Club pick for February and Uncanny which I saw on NYCBookGirl's incredible bookstagram. I use both resources weekly for book recommendations and my town library miraculously has many of the new releases they mention! I read so quickly and am not someone to read books twice so I prefer the library!

Last inspiration point from this week is The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast. I'm definitely late to the party on this one, I've been following bloggers and YouTubers forever who rave about this podcast and just recently listened to my first episode where they interview Ed Mylett which was awesome and have been going into their archives to listen to some of the later ones. I'm always interested in learning about wellness, healthy eating, empowerment, self-motivation and more so those are the episodes I've put on my list to listen so far. I'd love to hear recommendations if anyone has top favorite episodes or other podcasts they love. 

Lots of inspiration for the new week ahead! 

xo

This Week's Memories & Welcome Back

I guess I should begin by saying welcome back, or rather I'm back! 

I've always loved having a creative outlet to share words or wisdom, fun memories and inspiration and in the time that I've been gone I've finished medical school, applied to residency (more to come in March on this), am halfway through a Masters of Public Health degree, taught a Neuropsychiatry class at my undergraduate university, and much more. In addition I have spent way more time with family now that I'm back in Connecticut until the next steps of working as a doctor! 

I read 38 books last year, and already read five in January, am trying to learn embroidery, am obsessed with educating myself about sustainability, and wellness and just got back from an awesome few day trip with my sister in Florida. I thought the best way to start back up is to give a little recap of some special memories from this week, some things I loved and the books I read this past week. 

My sister and I left Sunday for a quick four day trip to Fort Lauderdale. It was such a great trip, we spent hours by the pool and the beach soaking up the beautiful sun. It was so warm, we both loved escaping the cold for 75 degree days. Only one day was cloudy but the others were amazing! 

Lunch with a view. 

Fort Lauderdale was so fun, loved the creative bike racks. 

Missing the warm weather already but I'm happy to be back home celebrating my mom's birthday today. 

Books from the week: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes and Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid. I will be compiling a list of all my January reads this week and will include reviews then. 

Loving: I've always been a huge fan of Tory Sport and came across these Love Slides and got them for Christmas. They were my go to shoes over my FL trip and have a few other adorable colors too!

Also, when In Southampton this summer we stopped in to Tenet and I found the softest t-shirt ever. It's by The Great, called The Boxy Crew with hearts and I'm obsessed, it also got a lot of use over vacation. 

Healthy Living: I know the health craze last year was all about juicing but I've stuck with it this year too. I have been juicing, usually celery, carrot and apple or orange in the mornings before breakfast and its a great way to start the day. 

Happiness: Practicing gratitude has been a new part of my morning routine and it just starts the day with a reminder of all the blessings and good in life. Before getting out of bed I think about all that I am grateful for, whether they are little or big it's a great way to start the day. 

Girl Power: I am so proud of all that my mom does. She is now selling her incredible one of a kind art pieces in the Lillian August Flagship store in Norwalk, CT. We went yesterday to shop for her client's and I snapped a few pictures of her pieces on display. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! 

xo