Must Read Monday. {what's on my shelf?}

Monday - here we are again + if your Monday has been anything like mine, it's dragged on forever and left you dreaming of your bed and being pantsless in your apartment. 

The bright spot in my Monday is I have 2 books on hold at the library + that is life changing for a nerd like myself. With two new books to start and finish, here are a few of my summer recommendations to keep the Monday blues at bay - 

Pretty Ugly by Kirker Butler was a quick read for me for so many reasons! Taking on the world of beauty pageants and reality TV obsessions, Butler creates identifiable characters in Miranda Miller, Bailey, and Ray - I instantly could relate his fictional characters to real life people in the lime light. Using satirical humor, Butler pokes fun at the state of reality TV and the need to live up to the Joneses'. If you're looking for a darkly humorous, yet perfect beach read, check this one out. 

Another quick read was Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah and Skye Chatham - it took me a day, a literal day, to finish this hilarious gem that is written in e-mails and text messages. Chronicling the relationship of Madeline and Elliot, it resonates so many relationship realities that we face in the 21st century. Too long text messages, not texting enough, texting too much - Read Bottom Up takes on social media's impact on relationships and does it in a cute and romantic way. 

Remembering my mid year resolution to try a new recipe each week, Food Network Magazine: 1,000 Easy Recipes has become such a helpful guide. It comes complete with grocery lists and most of the dishes require minimal cooking skills. It is separated by sections, making it easy to plan by the ingredient that you plan on using for dinner. While I borrowed it from the library, it's been added to my purchase list, so I can track the changes I make to the recipes. 

Here are just a few of things on my shelf - enjoy your week, loves! 

Until next time, 

Motivation Monday {Mid Year Resolutions.}

Did you have new year resolutions? I did. My list was actually pretty exciting - save $500, take one big trip, and be a more present friend. 

Well, I find myself in the middle of 2015, like everyone else and my list has one resolution completed. I took a big trip with my co-workers to Harry Potter world, and it was worth not being able to save $500. 

July has made its appearance, with it's over excited confidence that the year is half over, and Christmas countdowns can start, but what about our resolutions? What about our promises to ourselves or family or friends to be a better person? Do they get erased, marked through, or marked with an asterisk, because you might get to it? In my quest for constant improvement - perfectionist problems - I have taken July's appearance as an opportunity for a clean slate. By the way - you can always start over - don't believe otherwise. My clean state are my mid year resolutions - clearly short term goals that I want to reach in my last six months of 2015. 

1. Pay off my credit card, my car, and short term debts. Being a twenty something, debt is like an iPhone - everyone has it and few people know what to do with it. I crave financial independence. I got it from my parents when I was 15, and now I want it from Capital One and Suntrust. By creating a sound and realistic financial plan, I plan to be short term debt free by the end of 2015, leaving only my student loans and that's an entire blog post in itself. 

2. Try a new recipe every week. God bless my boyfriend's heart. He doesn't ask for much - he doesn't even require that I cook every day, but blame my traditional gender roles and my need to be like my mother, I like cooking dinner for us and having somewhat of a routine in the evening, since we both work long hours. With all of this being said, I have to expand my recipe book. Between my mom's cooking blog (check it out here) and Food Network magazine, I want to try a new recipe every week. 

3. Plan a vacation. I love traveling. My boyfriend loves traveling. There are so many places to see and so many things to do, and I can't let the second half of 2015 pass me by just staying in North Carolina. Whether it's domestic or foreign, another adventure awaits me. 

Three goals, six months - the game is on, 2015. The first half of 2015 was nothing short of amazing and I have no doubt that the second half of 2015 is going to be equally amazing. 

Another Monday, another chance for a fresh start, but don't let July slip away without thinking about the big picture and thinking about what you are doing to reach the goals you set for yourself. 

Here's to a marvelous Monday + mid year resolutions! 
Until next time,