Tuesday 26 March 2024

A few cozy mystery series recommendations

 

The following are cozy mystery series I have been enjoying. They are cozy mysteries so no slashers, limited blood and guts. Not thrillers. Amateur detectives so a lot of guess work and yeah stumbling around at times. 

Tourist Trap Mystery by Lynn Cahoon.  Strong female lead in Jill Gardner. Her business is a coffee and book shop in a small town. Would be my favorite place in town.  Boyfriend is the Chief of Police. So you can see that dynamic being in play. Mind your own business.  Other characters like bestfriend and aunt. Everyone needs a sidekick.  Each book is a separate mystery but if read in order we get to follow Jill and her friend's lives as they play out. I enjoy a strong female lead and I get that in Jill. In her thirties, divorced, lawyer in previous life. Knows what she wants. Most of the time.

Emmeline Duncan Ground Rules Mystery currently has three in the series.  Younger female, Sage, running a coffee food truck. Three books out so far enjoyed. Sage has an interesting background (not saying). Also list of characters we get to know. Got to know a bit about food trucks.

If you like magic along with mystery check out Magical Bakery Mystery series by Bailey Cates. Katie Lightfoot runs a bakery with her aunt and uncle. The add a little extra ingredients into the baking. Katie is drawn into murder investigations and uses her intuition and more (hint the title of the series) to help solve the cases. The detective is not a romantic lead but is involved in each mystery. 

These are a few of the cozy mysteries I'm currently reading. Or waiting for the next in the series to come out. Any recommendations are welcome. 





Tuesday 19 March 2024

Spring Bucket List

 How did this happen!  It is Spring. Winter, here, started late. No snow at Christmas, which was too bad while the kids were off.  February was bang lots of it.  For a while we thought it would hang around, but no. Rain, rain and more rain. 

We thought it was time for a Spring Bucket List. As why not. In no particular order.....

  • Purchase myself tulips. I have been seeing them in the grocery stores. Why not celebrate the start of spring with flowers.
  • Start going through entryway closet.  Worn mitts, gloves, scarfs, hats toss out worn ones or single ones we have been keeping hoping to mind it's mate.
  • Clean out the fridge. I know this is NOT a spring thing but it likely needs to be done. Okay, mine does.
  • Put away heavier winter clothes. Go through spring/summer clothes and decided now what you want to wear. If you pull something out you haven't worn in the last few years. Think hard are you going to wear it this year? Ask yourself why are you keeping it and why you don't wear it. Start the purge both winter / spring / summer.
  • Check do you need to purchase earth and pots.  
  • Start your Spring / Summer reading list.
  • For those campers you might want to get on booking camp sites ASAP.
  • Same goes for kids and summer camps. They fill up fast.
  • Clean out linen closet or drawer. Good time as soon the fleece sheets will be pulled off the bed. Do we need new sheets? 
  • Sit with a coffee and write out what you'd like to see and do the coming season. Maybe it is more walks. More self-care. 
  • Speaking of self-care check your bathroom drawers for those facials we get and put away for "later". Grab one and use. Also those bath salts start using those items up. No more saving for "later". Later is now.
This is just a few items to consider. Please let us know what you'd add to the list. We are slowly getting longer days. For some people that means their energy is returning. As always make the most of life.


Friday 26 January 2024

Book Club - The Guest List

New series here at the blog. Reading or audiobooks are one of our things. Recently we read/listened to Lucy Foley The Guest List.  It has multiple point of view chapters. The audiobook was the first one we listened to that was read by multiple people.

It starts with a body. Wham maybe a murder? Then it goes back in time to the start of the weekend. Each character moving the story along with their point of view (POV). There were twists, as everyone has a secret to hide. Then it goes back to a short chapter in "current" time where people head out to find the body. 

It is interesting as you see each character through the eyes of other people. The story moves towards the "current" time where the body is found. It is at that time you find out which of the characters has been murdered and who the murder is.

Really enjoyed the writing and the way the story moved forwarded. Trying to figure out the clues people were sharing (and there were clues for each character). Who the body was - as in who was currently in the room and what was happening leading up to the current time.

If you enjoy a mystery we would recommend the The Guest List.  If you have any book recommendations pass them along!  Let's have a book club! If you have read The Guest List let us know what you thought.


Monday 11 December 2023

Taking own advice and being gentle

 Happy Holidays!  

December is such a busy month.  The holidays (lots of them to celebrate), school concerts, shopping, events both at work and home. Oh lets toss family into the mix.  Deep breath.

Looking back at this year we see hardly any posts. It was our worst year posting. That said we decided to take our advice and NOT beat ourselves up.  Life happens. Period. So we didn't post a lot this year. It is neither good or bad. It just is. There is nothing to apologize for or beat ourselves up over.

Taking our own advice of being gentle. It is okay to have off days. It is okay to not get everything done on the to do list. It is okay to, well, not post as much as we wanted. It is okay to let life happen. 

Our time and energy are not limitless. Acknowledge that. We don't want to take a limit resource, which is what time and energy are, and use it to rant about not being good bloggers. To take our energy and rant over something we no longer have control over. 

We would rather take that energy and yes time and enjoy the holiday season. To be gentle and let go of expectations not met. We're all human. Be gentle. Take a breath. Let it go. We start over and that is okay. So happy holidays. Enjoy the season. Let go of negativity and regrets. Waste of energy.  Remember we only have so much so spend your time and energy on things that bring you joy.

Happy Holidays

Enjoy the season

Take care.


Wednesday 29 November 2023

Favoriate Holiday Blog Posts to Checkout

 There is so much on the web - for every holidays.  We thought we'd collect a few of our favorite posts for the holidays.  You will see familiar blogs as a few of us have out "go to".

Inspired by charm will hit a lot of your holiday needs and eye candy in one post. 175 Holiday ideas!!

Salted turtle candies mouth drooling already.

Over at A Beautifulmess they show us how to set up a hot chocolate bar.

If you have limited space this Christmas tree might be what you need.

One of my favorite cookies so I had to include soft chewy gingerbread cookie.

This is a lovely way to sit with a coffee or beverage of your choice - calm Christmas podcast

This is an older post. Had to include as trees so pretty.  Plus a DIY. Maybe a craft night?

But I smile anyway has recommendations on Christmas books to read. This is one. I can't be the only one that enjoys reading Christmas stories around the holidays.

Head over to the happy happy nester for some Christmas inspiration.

This is a taste. So much more on each site. I could do a Holiday post on just Inspired by Charm blog.

If you have any favorite please drop them in the comments. We would love to check them out.




Wednesday 15 November 2023

How we are pulling the holidays together (sort of)

 Divide and conquer is part of how we are tackling this. November is here and calendars are filling up. Are you free XX? No? What about XX?  You know the drill. It has started.

We have a cookie exchange party planned. It is a way to get some yummies in our cabinet. Plus a get together before the rush. Some of us are not "bakers" but there are enough easy cookie recipes out there that it shouldn't be too stressful. 

Christmas stuff is in the shops NOW. We saw some out before Halloween. If you see if pick it up - don't think "oh too early" Grab it.  Start your stocking stuffers now when you are picking up Advil. Which you should have on hand for the upcoming holiday season.

Decide how much you want to decorate. Just a tree? Not a tree but a mantle. We don't have to impress other people. We get to decided what is enough. Put a wreath on your door and be done with it. Some people all out. A neighbor has five trees he puts up. Lovely but not for everyone. Don't let others tell you what is enough. You decide.  Less is more.

Have a budget and don't go over. Kids don't need everything on their list. Don't create a monster who has unreal expectations later in life. Maybe go out for a meal with friends each paying their own. You are enjoying each other company and that is what it is about. Create a holiday now that is NOT stress come January.

Start going through your holiday stash when you have a free evening now. Toss out what isn't working (or no longer you).  Jot down what you need. Cards? Pick up next time when out. Don't forget stamps before the rush.

If you exchange names and it is not already happened. Do it ASAP.  Try and get anything in the mail as early as possible. 

It is okay to say no if you feel overextended. We can't be in two places. Or say no if you need an evening at home to make magic happen. 

Holidays should be about family and friends. Not keeping up appearances, stressing out, getting in debt. Keep it simple.  



Wednesday 1 November 2023

 Here is a list of what we are currently crushing on.  What about you.

Cocktail recipes by Inspired by Charm.  Never to early to get a favorite cocktail for the season.

Stuff mushrooms - over at a beautiful mess.

Free SVG over at A Wandafulthing.  This one is too cute.

Okay, can you still one of us crushing on Inspired by charm.  This paper garland is on my list.

If you are looking for a read check out but I smile anyway for book recommendations.

Over at you can always start now for journal prompts. This one is on creativity.

There is so much good content out there.  Drop us a note of what you are crushing on. Would love to check it out.