I thought it was time for a thriller..I ready about this week’s book, The Push by Ashley Audrain, and decided it would be a great choice. I always get requests for psychological thrillers…This book is definitely going to “hook” you…So…..
Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had.
But in the thick of motherhood’s exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter—she doesn’t behave like most children do.
Or is it all in Blythe’s head? Her husband, Fox, says she’s imagining things. The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well.
Then their son Sam is born—and with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she’d always imagined with her child. Even Violet seems to love her little brother. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth.
The Push is a tour de force you will read in a sitting, an utterly immersive novel that will challenge everything you think you know about motherhood, about what we owe our children, and what it feels like when women are not believed. – Amazon.com
For more information or to purchase this book, click HERE.
I am so happy to introduce a new sponsor, Cortney Wood Photography. I started using Cortney on a few projects with me this year. Cortney is professional, personable and more importantly VERY patient. She has a great eye and really provides top quality photos. Cortney manages to capture the spirt of her subjects. She is truly a joy to work with and has a knack for making everyone look beautiful while capturing the moment with a natural relaxed look.
A session with Cortney is the perfect gift for mother’s day. She will make you feel save and comfortable with the covid precautions that she has put in place. You will leave your session confident that your photos will truly exceed your expectations.
Cortney is booking now until Mother’s Day and has a few spot for our readers. CONTACT her for more information or to book an appointment.
Since the Fall, over and over again, people have been recommending The Lila Rose, at Harbor Point in Stamford. I started following them on Instagram immediately and was in awe of the vibe and how incredible the entire restaurant was. I was dying to see the decor in person, and try the food, and fancy cocktails. It seemed like literally every day, there were more and more posts about the restaurant, from my kids, my nieces and nephews, other bloggers, and friends. Everyone LOVED this place. I had such FOMO and was desperate to try it out. I luckily was introduced to one of the owners, JJ and we made a plan.
First of all, when you walk into the restaurant, the entire decor is the most playful and pink with cool artwork on the walls. It reminded me of the Gallery dining room at Sketch London and if you know you KNOW. So already I was completely in LOVE.
I had seen the cool drinks that they served via all the Instagram stories, posts, and tic toks. Their cocktails come in whimsical glasses and each one was more exotic and delicious than the next. And I hear this is nothing compared to what they are planning for the summer!!!!
I have to say, they have also done a great job with keeping their patrons safe with outdoor dining and plexiglass barriers between every well-spaced table.
The menu is primarily made up of Tapas so it makes Lila Rose the perfect place to go with a group of friends. We were soooo into ordering a bunch of things because it all sounded so delicious. So JJ brought us some of their favorite dishes. I have to say it all lived up to the hype.
We tried the Gnocchi Pesto, the Calamari Chipotle, the Flat Iron Steak, the Tuna Taco, the Burger ( with melted Mozzarella poured on top!!!), the Lobster Roll, the Blackened Tuna and a few other things. Honestly, everything was really good. I almost want to get in the car and go back tonight!!!!!
We ended our meal with the raspberry cheesecake and an assortment of yummy truffles.
If you get the chance to visit Lila Rose you will not be disappointed. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. There was not one single detail over looked from the fresh flowers adorning the drinks, right down to the pretty gold flatware on the table.
Thank you JJ, we had the most amazing time!!! I cannot wait to come back!!!
PS If you want to make your own reservation, HERE is their special link.
I love partnering with J McLaughlin. Their clothes are so well made and the styles so classic. Every piece will remain a closet staple for years to come. This spring their collection is no exception. There are fabulous accessories as well as some really well-curated wardrobe pieces. I have shared some of the things in my cart with you below. I also hear the best things about their white jeans. Click HERE to see all of the styles. They are on my list to try next. Please click on the links or images below for more information.
This little jacket is perfection. I wear mine with dresses, jeans even while out walking!
How amazing is this jacket? I loved the cinched waist.
The top is adorable. Perfect with white jeans and shorts!!
I am really into skirts these days. This blue is such a pretty shade.
Everyone is always asking for a perfect summer dress. I think I found it!
These sandals have been a best seller for the past month.
I love this poncho. Stripes are so in right now…And I love the stripe pattern.
The sad truth is that we are in the middle of a mental health crisis and the need for St. Vincent’s hospital, both inpatient and outpatient services is monumental. No one is turned away at St. Vincents. The staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester is available, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, to respond to patients experiencing a mental health crisis and in need of an emergency psychiatric intervention.
Founded by the Sisters of Charity of New York in 1879, the St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester division of Saint Joseph’s Medical Center is one of the largest providers of mental health, addiction recovery, and residential services in the region.
There is also a Crisis Prevention and Response Team which is an interdisciplinary mobile team of mental health professionals (social workers, a child, and family specialist, and a psychiatrist). The Team responds to people in the community, usually visiting them at home, although they can be seen elsewhere as well.
The demand for treatment at St. Vincent’s is at an all-time high. The front-line workers there have treated and helped so many patients stay safe during this pandemic. We would like to thank them by creating a Field of Gratitude. They are asking for members of the local community to help by purchasing a sign which will be displayed around the Hospital grounds for everyone to see.
To purchase your sign, click HERE and scroll down to “Field of Gratitude”
Watch the field grow with your support.
To stay in shape this year, keep your goals realistic and practical for your unique fitness level. Your goals should feel challenging but still attainable. Here are four fitness goals to help you stay in shape this year.
1. Maintain your Perspective
Pursuing your fitness goals is a challenging but rewarding process. The time and effort that you choose to put into your fitness goals will depend on your ability to maintain a positive outlook. Some days you won’t want to exercise or eat healthy, and other days you will be feeling super motivated to continue on this healthy path. It’s important that you learn to roll with the punches to achieve your goals as quickly and as productively as possible. At the same time, you don’t want to aim for perfection. There may be times that you give-in and indulge in something you’re craving or skip a workout or two. It’s completely normal to give yourself a break, and instead of beating yourself up about these instances, give yourself some love. Success is not a straight path. It has leaps and bounds, and it also plummets from time to time. To help go with the flow, make a vision board and post images of what you aspire to look like, the places you’ll go when you’re feeling your best, and some special treats you plan to purchase for yourself once you reach your goals. If you stay committed and you choose to carry your mistakes with grace, nothing can stop you.
2. Splurge on your Fitness Gear
A great way to stay motivated is to enjoy the fitness clothes and equipment you purchase. Try these Black running shoes women and hit the ground running. You want to find clothes that feel flattering and comfortable while working out. Make sure they inspire you to continue achieving your goals. Your gear should be practical and just luxurious enough to maintain your motivation and excitement towards fitness and health. Consider purchasing an exercise bike or the Mirror to work out from home.
3. Drink Enough Water
Nothing will benefit you more when it comes to your health and fitness goals than drinking an adequate water amount. Staying hydrated stimulates the digestive process, which in turn affects your mood, your energy levels, and your ability to perform daily activities. Staying hydrated will benefit your workouts, your sleep, and your ability to think clearly. You may find drinking enough water for your height and weight to be challenging, but it’s one of the more manageable goals to pursue when it comes to health and fitness. Buy a water bottle that tracks ounces so that you can monitor how much water you’re drinking throughout the day. Getting into the habit of drinking enough water regularly will motivate you to commit to your other fitness goals. Once you see that you’re able to commit to this, you’ll feel more capable in your ability to commit to other fitness-related goals.
4. Find your Motivation
Before you head out the door for your workout or choose salad over pasta, be sure you’re not making these choices from willpower alone. The best way to pursue your health and fitness goals is to stay motivated in creative and unique ways. You can also listen to lifestyle podcasts and guided meditations that will help you stay on track as well. You need to be able to see yourself in the future and capture the feeling of what it will be like when you achieve your goals right now. When you focus on how good you’ll feel when you achieve your goals, it won’t feel as if you’re living for tomorrow because you’ll already be acting the part and feeling the feelings, as if you’re already there.
Your fitness goals should feel authentic to you and your fitness needs. Make them practical but challenging so that you can show yourself just how amazing you are.