Summer Morning Routine

9:00 a.m: Wake Up Time

Now that it's summer time, I have a lot less going on. Early wake up calls have come to a stop with school being done. So what can I say, I'm not a morning person and I have nine months of sleeping in to catch up on! Of course, this morning routine is meant for a day I have nothing going on in the early hours, otherwise I adjust my alarm clock to the appropriate time.

Normally when I wake up, I respond to any text messages and snapchats I may have, quickly scroll through Instagram, and then I hop out of bed to get me some coffee. Sometimes coffee is my only motivation for getting out of my warm, cuddly bed (Okay, most of time it's my only motivation). Have you ever gone to bed earlier just because you know the sooner you fall asleep, the quicker you will have coffee? No? Oh...yeah same, totally have never done that!

9:20 a.m: Coffee Consumption 

This is the time of day were I really get my me time in. Whenever my family interrupts me, I get kind of angry. My poor little brother is my only sibling still living at home. He has inherited the burden of suffering through my before coffee wrath. I should probably have a warning sign: DON'T TALK TO ME, HAVE NOT YET FINISHED MY COFFEE. Oh well, I'll work on that another time.

 I spend this next 40 minutes catching up on some YouTube videos and scrolling through some blog posts. I also use this time to write out my to do list so I can feel extra productive when I check things off. Sometimes I write down super easy things, thinking I'm being all sneaky and making it look like I accomplished so much, in reality it's like nope, all you did was eat food and get dressed. 

10:00 a.m: Go for a Walk/Run

Exercising in the morning just makes me feel so productive for that day. Even if I don't do anything else, I find comfort in the fact I at least went for a little waddle around the property. Since I'm in terrible shape and cannot run to save my life (Literally, like I would die right away if I had to run for my life), I walk up to this view point, and then run down, since that's easier then running up. I also try to run a few tiny hills to make me feel extra fit. If I keep deceiving myself that I am, then maybe someday I will be! Lizzy logic at its finest. 

10:30 a.m: Eat Breakfast

Now I'm not a huge breakfast fan. Most breakfast foods I don't like, I never have much of an appetite to eat that early, and I'm honesty way too lazy to try and make something yummy. But I know breakfast is very important so I've been trying to make an extra effort in having time for it. I've also been trying to eat healthier, so I'm attempting eat no (or at least very very small amounts of) gluten and sugar. I get really bad headaches a lot, so I'm experimenting to see if this helps them go away. I'm not quite what I'll do if that's the case, though, because I love me some carbs! If you have any good recipes that'll help me out, please let me know. 

10:45 a.m: Shower 

Because I'm sweaty from running those darn hills and my hair is greasy. Even if I'm not going anywhere that day, it's not a pretty sight, nor is it a lovely smell. I also use this time to wash my face and brush my teeth. Personal hygiene is important folks! No one wants to be around someone who doesn't practice it. Please take that to heart. Especially if you're that middle school boy who sits behind me in youth group. 

11:00 a.m: Reading Time

If I don't have to be anywhere else, this is the time I would sit down with a book and read. I'm currently reading Clockwork Prince and it's so good! I started it two days ago and I'm already 300 pages in. Seriously, every character I just love or find so interesting, and the plot has totally taken a hold of me. I have read it before, but that was years ago and I've forgotten a ton of stuff. My goal in life is to write a book like this, that makes people ignore their friends and forget about all life's responsibilities because they're so caught up in the story. I could go around telling people I'm a friendship destroyer and life ruiner for a living. I think that's a pretty respectful accomplishment. 

  I will probably read for about an hour, if I can. I may also write a little in my journal, read more blog posts, and scroll through social media. Hopefully, I'm not in a rush to be anywhere and I can just chill and have a relaxing end to my morning. 

1:00 p.m: Lunch

It is technically morning still? No, but I wanted to show you this anyways because it's a good place to end my morning and honestly, my food was really good so I had to share it. My mom was having a luncheon with some friends of hers and they were generous enough to let my snag some food, but then I was exiled to the outdoors. It was a very good taco salad though, and besides the few pesty bugs that tried to steal a taste, it was nice to be outside.

And that's it! What's your morning routine like come summer? Let me know in the comments below.

With love,

Elizabeth

Travel Diary: Winthrop

Hello everyone,

Today I come to share a few highlights from my recent trip to Winthrop. Winthrop is a cute, small little town located in Eastern Washington. I've been vising this spot ever since I was a small child. I have so many memories: sharing tents with a multitude of mosquitoes and ants, walking the town with ice cream dripping down my arms, the three hour car ride squished between my brothers. It's such a joy to revisit and remember all the special moments that happened there.

On our way over the Cascade Pass, we stopped at Diablo Lake outlook and took a few pictures. As a child, it was the most annoying thing, stopping at every pull out while mother tries to get the perfect family picture. Now, it's one of the most breathtaking sites I've ever seen. I always say how badly I want to travel to far off countries, but there are so many beautiful sites to be seen just in my home state. Here, I took about a million pictures, but I limited it to just a few so not to overwhelm you all. You're welcome ;)

Although it was quite hot, some snow still remained on the mountains. We stopped at another pull out, and of course us girls pulled out our cameras and began taking shots. There's nothing more gorgeous than the natural beauty of the mountains. I thank God everyday for making nature so enjoyable and peaceful. It's places like this where the Majesty of God is shown in full color. How else could have such an amazing site been created? 

We only stayed in Winthrop for two nights, but our second day there was packed full of activities, After my grandma's signature breakfast of monkey bread and scrambled eggs, we all packed up into my family's suburban and headed out for an old favorite camping site. My father passed away five years ago (Read more about that here), but one of his favorite places to bring us camping was a tiny, dirt road, no hook ups, pit toilet type campsite in the woods of Winthrop. When we got my dad's ashes, we spread them in that particular spot. On this trip, we had the chance to go back there and explore the waterfall near by. It was a bitter sweet moment. It was sad being there without him, but it was nice to be back, remembering all the good times that belonged to that spot.

On our way back, we took a scenic (and very dusty) route that lead us through some beautiful hills with gorgeous views and wild flowers. Theses pictures do not give it justice, but I attempted to capture a fraction of what we saw. Again, I was reminded of how wonderful God's creation is and how very blessed I am to be living and enjoying all that He made. There's something about nature and being away from all the hustle and bustle that makes you feel so much more at peace. All that to say, I loved the country side here and would be willing in a heartbeat to pick up and live in a tiny cabin surrounded with flowers, trees, and the sound of the river. 

Once finished with our little outing, we headed back to our cabin to change and prep for the rest of the day. Then, we walked the streets of Winthrop, browsed through the adorable shops, and got some pretty amazing ice cream and coffee. While shopping, I bought myself a book from this cute little bookstore, and after everyone else in our party decided it was time to go back to the cabin, my cousin and I decided to stay behind and read in town while enjoying ice coffee from Sheri's Sweet Shop. Sheri's Sweet Shop has been a classic place for my family and I to visit since I was super little, and it certainly has not changed. We were there for hours until my mom, little brother, and grandparents came back to town for dinner. It was a perfect afternoon.

The next day we packed up all our belongings, stopped at the store to get some more snacks, and headed out back over the mountains. We couldn't help ourselves, and stopped once or twice more to capture again the beauty of the Cascades. If you ever find yourself in Washington and have some time to explore, don't miss out on visiting the North Cascades National Park. I am probably a bit bias, seeing it's quite close to my house and I've been there multiple times, but I really do think it's a site you won't forget.

With love,

Elizabeth

What I read in May

Hello everyone,

If you know me at all, you would know the slight obsession I have with reading. Currently, my one bookshelf is overflowing and books are lining the floor, a used bookstore will entertain me for hours, my new favorite thing it to add novels to my TBR on goodreads, and all my savings is kind of going to buying more copies (which I don't have room for). It's becoming a real problem. 

In honor of my love for books, I wanted to share with you all what I've been reading, what I think, and whether you should pick up the book as well. (Check out Chelsea here, her post inspired me to do this). Now May has been a poor reading month for me, since finals and research papers kind of took over my life. I'm now on summer break though, so expect lot's of book rants in the next few months ;) Also, follow me on my goodreads if you interested on seeing what I'm reading on a daily basis.

1.  Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery 

Plot: (Taken from goodreads)

New adventures lie ahead as Anne Shirley packs her bags, waves good-bye to childhood, and heads for Redmond College. With old friend Prissy Grant waiting in the bustling city of Kingsport and frivolous new pal Philippa Gordon at her side, Anne tucks her memories of rural Avonlea away and discovers life on her own terms, filled with surprises...including a marriage proposal from the worst fellow imaginable, the sale of her very first story, and a tragedy that teaches her a painful lesson. But tears turn to laughter when Anne and her friends move  into an old cottage and an ornery black cat steals her heart. Little does Anne know that handsome Gilbert Blythe wants to win her heart, too. Suddenly Anne must decide if she's ready for love.

My Thoughts: 

I grew up watching the wonderful mini series and crushing over the dreamy Gilbert (I was convinced I was going to marry him). Yet, after years of loving and re-watching the movies and fangirling with my best friend, I never thought to read the actual books. Boy did I miss out. I read the first two books earlier this year and adored them, and it continues to give me the warm and fuzzes.

There is nothing more comforting than sitting down and reading about Anne and her life. She is such an enjoyable character and easy to love. Although time always is skimmed by quickly in these books, it really does feel like you went through college with Anne. Reading about Redmond and Patty's Place truly felt like you were right there with Anne and her friends. And darling Davy is so adorable, he reminds me of a younger version of my little brother. I love reading the letters he sends and the interactions he has with Anne.

Did I mention Gilbert? Guys he is the absolute sweetest and Anne is a fool for not realizing that sooner! It broke my heart watching the two go through different relationships for TWO YEARS when everyone reading knew they were destined for each other. The last page though, oh my gosh I was crying from happiness. Never has there been a more beautiful ending to a book. 

I loved this book and I cannot wait to see where all the story progresses as the series continues. I know the books and last movie differ quite a lot, so it will be interesting to see the story as Montgomery intended it to be.

My Rating: 

4/5 stars.

Should You Read It?: 

Of course, but read the first two books first ;)

Favorite Quote: 

"I don't want sunbursts and marble halls. I just want you."

2.  Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Plot: (Taken from goodreads). 

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them.

My Thoughts: 

In 8th grade, I was obsessed with Cassandra Clare's books and read them like wildfire. This was the second time around in reading this book, but I loved it all the same! Clare's writing is so addictive, it's almost impossible to put one of her books down.

The characters in this series are probably the best part. We have our protagonist, Tessa, an outsider to the shadowhunter world who doesn't realize the powers so possesses until shes moves to London. I love her character! Shes shy and unsure of herself at first, but you see her grow so much over the course of just one book. She also loves reading, which always makes the character more relatable. Of course, Clare also included a moody bad boy who lives off of sarcasm and mixed emotions. I have no idea why us females fall for them when it comes to literature, but we do. Will is one of my ultimate YA fictional boyfriends even though he drives me crazy. And then there's Jem. Oh sweet, adorable Jem. The first time I read this series, I didn't understand why everyone loved them, but now I do. He is so kind to Tessa and puts up with Will's crap and I'm kind of falling in love with him too. Plus he plays the violin at nights and dramatically, so what's not to love?

Guys, this book is also set in Victorian England! I love historical fiction, I love fantasy, and I love England. This is basically the perfect book for me. She paints such a wonderful picture of England mixed in with the shadow world. I love how she does it. It's a little but Steampunk, so if you enjoy that genre, you would probably really like this book.

Also, each of the chapters in the book begins with a quote from books or poetry that were read in the time this book was set in. I loved that! It's like a little bit of taste from the era and you get an insight in what Tessa might have read.

My Rating:

5/5

Should You Read It?: 

Yes!! 

Favorite Quote: 

"Inanimate objects are harmless indeed, Mr. Mortmain. But one cannot always say the same of the men who use them"

3.  The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Plot: (Taken from goodreads). 

A masterpiece of satire, this classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles, seen from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below." C.S Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldly-wise old devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man.

My Thoughts: 

C.S. Lewis is such a fantastic author! Everything I read from him is amazing and really makes me think on a deeper level about my faith and walk with the Lord. Reading a book about a devil telling another devil the best ways to tempt humans really opens your eyes and causes you to realize all the ways we do fall. It was quite humbling hearing about are shortcomings and being like, "Oh yeah, I totally do that." How often do we neglect God's calling and instead go watch Netflix, go have lunch, read a book. We are so caught up in life and the mundane things, always being distracted. We have the Bible, the truth that God has given us, yet we are constantly forgetting it and replacing our time and thoughts with other things.

C.S. Lewis has a beautiful writing style! Even in this book being in letter form, it is so good. The tone in which Lewis wrote was quite eerie, but it perfectly fit the character and the story. I loved the way Lewis portrayed the Screwtape and the demon community. Of course most of it was a bit silly and not meant to take seriously, but it was funny thinking there was a college for junior tempters, and what not. And oh my gosh, that last letter sent chills up my spine!! It was a perfect ending.

This was such an eye opening read and wonderful experience! I was able to read it for English and it was so interesting hearing what others thought and piping into the class discussions. Another book added to my favorites list.

My Rating: 

5/5

Should You Read This?: 

Yes! Even if you're not a Christian, it's still a super interesting book and you can learn a lot from it.

Favorite Quote: 

"It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out."

Even though I didn't have the greatest reading month, I loved everything I read so that made up for it. What did you read this month? Have you read any of these books and enjoyed them? Let me know down in the comments below.  

With love,

Elizabeth