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Cooking and Community

Recently, I was lucky enough to partake in a cooking class at a local shop within West Palm Beach. I was truly excited to finally be going to this store because Shoppe 561is a pretty impressive establishment. Everything that is sold within Shoppe 561 is created by Florida artisans, many of them being within the local area. Proceeds from items purchased help support Hope House Florida which is a…

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Book Review: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Book Review: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

I was pleasantly surprised recently when a regular patron of mine recommended a book for me to read. As a reader, I was becoming frustrated with myself because I haven’t been able to get into a good fictional read in quite a while. For example, I started reading the Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard. I enjoyed the first book in this installment, the Red Queen greatly. However, I felt I needed to…

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Adventures at ALA

Last weekend I was lucky enough to attend the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando Florida. If you are not apart of the library world, ALA is the American Library Association and every year this is an annual conference. This conference allows all libraries from across the country to come together to mingle, learn, explore and experience so much more.This was only my second conference and I haven’t…

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Favorite Basic Tee

Everyone has basic items in their closet. For many of us, that item is your everyday tee shirt. I had to purchase some new ones this year for the summer because so many of mine just didn’t fit anymore. I personally fell in love with this Malibu v-neck from Banana Republic Factory! As you can see I love to get a lot of my clothes from the outlets. I personally find better deals there for myself…

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Secret Hideaway: Cafe Delamar

Secret Hideaway: Cafe Delamar

Have you ever found one of your favorite places by accident? Sometimes when you peruse new areas where you live, you may just happen to fall upon a new place to explore. What I love about Worth Ave on Palm Beach Island is that there seems to be so many secret passage ways leading to little shops and restaurants. They are not of course a secret but apart of the shopping district. However, they…

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Summer Reading Suggestions

It’s hard to imagine that summer is here! Here in Florida the kids are off from school and we are getting read to launch our summer reading program. I always feel this is the greatest time of year for reading. Librarians may not necessarily have more time for reading because of how busy we are, but we are busy because that is one of the big to do lists for many while the kids are out of school.…

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Life Changes and Adventures

This quote has become my motivation recently. I had posted it not too long ago on my Instagram and my Facebook page because it truly described what was happening to me that day. The day that I posted this quote was actually the day that I put my notice in with my current position. This is going to be my last summer working at my library and words cannot express the amount of mixed emotions that…

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Yoga: Slowly Learning

So as many of you know, I have been trying to do Yoga to help with my back but also in order to have different work-out routine. I wouldn’t necessarily call me a yoga novice at all, but it has been an enjoyable process as I learn. However, that is exactly it, I am still learning. I have to be honest that from time to time I do get frustrated when I am not able to do a particular move or…

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Fashion Friday: Weekend Style

I don’t like to do my hair on the weekends. I feel my hair gets enough damage during the week from my blow drying and straightening. So the weekend I give it a rest, and I’ll be honest that I just personally don’t feel like doing it. I tend to try to do a lot on the weekends and I tend to just want to get up and go! So my go to accessory is a stylish hat. I don’t necessarily want to look like I…

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100 Days

Well, we have officially reached 100 days until our big day! This time has completely flown by and I can’t believe the day is almost here.  I am not nervous about the day itself, as Anthony and I have known each other a long time, so making this commitment to each other is just finalizing the relationship we already have. I am more nervous about getting everything done!

I have been a very good…

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Ms. Sarah's Favorite Books Storytime

Ms. Sarah’s Favorite Books Storytime

Well, it is hard to believe that storytime has officially ended for the spring season. For me, storytime has been over since the end of April and we are now doing family storytime with our AmeriCorp volunteer. This allows us to plan for our summer programs and get many of these projects done. For my last storytime of the season I decided to read some of my favorites. It is so easy for me to…

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We usually run our errands and such on Sundays. Lately we have been doing our grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s because we find a lot of quick, healthy options for us to eat. I especially like the price of their produce so much better than going to Publix. Trader Joe’s isn’t just down the road for us unfortunately, but it’s not horribly far away either. We decided to start making a day out of it so that it doesn’t feel like we are going out of our way to go there for our groceries.

We have been enjoying lunch at the Water Way Cafe located in Palm Beach Gardens. We keep asking ourselves what has taken us so long to eat at this wonderful location. The restaurant is located on the inner coastal, with plenty outdoor seating to enjoy. You get the nice breeze,the swaying palm trees, and we are able to watch all the boats going out into the Ocean.

This is just one side of the restaurant. There is of course indoor seating within the main restaurant with large windows allowing you to experience the scenic views as if you were out on the patios. We have been going to the Tiki side of the restaurant because there are more opportunities for us to be able to sit outside by the water and it is not as busy. Anthony loves sitting over on this side because it reminds him a lot of growing up in South Florida.

It is definitely getting hotter here in Florida, but sitting underneath the umbrellas with the ocean breeze makes this a truly relaxing outing for the both of us. We enjoy watching all the different boats that go by. It’s fun to watch all of the families getting ready for a fun family outing or a group of friends about to go fishing. Course there is no denying how much it makes us want to own our own boat and do our own excursions. You never know what the future may bring.But it’s not just the atmosphere that we love. The food has also been pretty amazing.

Lunch is very reasonably priced, especially for their seafood items. One of my favorite items on the menu is their crunchy fish sandwich. The sandwich is coated in almonds and coconuts and fried and made into a sandwich. The fish portion is absolutely huge. Because of this I personally don’t eat it on the roll to take away some of the calories. I try not to think about that too much because I really just want to enjoy the day with Anthony and not worry a lot about what I am eating. Small decisions such as that takes away some of the guilt and it honestly does not need the bun. It’s absolutely delicious on its own. We have yet to have a bad meal here for everything has been delicious. Relaxing atmosphere, good food, wonderful company, what more could you ask for?

After a wonderful, relaxing lunch, we head on to Trader Joe’s. I know not many of us have one near by, but I understand why many flock to it. I tend to like food options that are quick. For example, I tend to like my produce pre-cut and such so that it is one extra thing that I don’t have to do. I find their prices for pre-cut items much better than Whole Foods and Publix. We are able to stock up on these healthier options and save more money. It’s such a cute little store. It can be a nuisance when there is a lot of people, but I think the size and the theme really bring character to the store.

One of our favorite meals that we get from their is the coconut curry chicken. I had never had it before until they had it for a sample during one of our grocery trips.

Anthony has been trying to get me to eat it for ages, but I haven’t liked curry before so I was always hesitant. One taste of this and I was honestly hooked. It’s to die for and has become one of our dinner obsessions. I have put this mixture on top of jasmine rice, but I have also put this on top of cauliflower rice for a slightly healthier option. Both options are definitely delicious.

We also stock up on their pre-made salads. This has been really helpful for Anthony. He tends to really get into the work zone while he is home and sometimes forgets to get lunch. This makes it easier for him to just pop into the kitchen and grab a good salad to eat. Some of them are not necessarily low in calories, but hey, I will take it if he eats some vegetables. I of course tend to grab the lower calorie options.

After such a big lunch, we grab an extra salad to have for dinner. The reason we do this is of course to balance out the day, but we have started to venture to the beach for an evening dinner picnic. I can’t express enough on how relaxing this has been for us. With the wedding planning, his business getting busier and now me entering the summer season at the library, we are wanting to take every option we can to enjoy some quality time and relax.

So why am I telling you about this new tradition?  I am actually trying to bring up a point. We tend to make errands such a monotonous chore. I personally tend to hate to do it because I feel that it takes away from other things that I could be doing. When we started doing this, we noticed that it doesn’t feel as monotonous and it makes the venture much more enjoyable. It’s trying to find the balance and what works for you. Now that we are entering the summer months is there a place that you can have a picnic before you run your errands or take your bikes for a relaxing bike ride? I know these are extra steps but we should enjoy the quality time together when it’s the weekend and also take that time to relax. Our lives are always on the go, and I am learning that I need to take this time for us.

Do you have a weekend tradition that you enjoy doing? Whether its with your family or with the greatest group of friends I hope it’s a wonderful one.

Our New Sunday Tradition We usually run our errands and such on Sundays. Lately we have been doing our grocery shopping at Trader Joe's because we find a lot of quick, healthy options for us to eat.

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Fashion Friday: Nautical Colors

You can say that I am kind of obsessed with nautical colors in my wardrobe. I adore how bright and cheerful they are, but I feel the colors also truly compliment my skin tones. We may all do something like this, where we gravitate to particular colors. That is OK because we know that they will look good and possibly even make us feel good!

Red Skirt: JCrew Factory

  Top: Anthropologie

Shoes: Luc…

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Book Review: You are a Badass

Book Review: You are a Badass

My goal for reading this year is to definitely read more motivational books. I believe that if I read more that it will definitely help my mindset to become more positive, and allow myself to focus on bettering my future. I recently finished reading You are a Baddass; How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero.I have mentioned that I was going to be…

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I have been trying to grow this storytime in the hopes that the more that I do it, the more stuffed animals that I can get. I love this storytime theme, because I invite my families to come in their pajamas, and to bring their stuffed animals. I hand out this invitation at least a week or two prior so that my families can prepare.

I also come dressed in my pajamas of course! And stitch comes prepared as well.

So here is the outline for this storytime theme:

Book: The Napping House by Audrey Wood

This of course is a classic! I add a little more for participation. When it comes to the line “where everyone is sleeping”, I add “Shhhh��� to have the kids join in and whisper. I do this so that it builds up to the part where everyone starts to get woken up!

Finger Rhyme: Five in the Bed

Five in the Bed There were five in the bed and the little one said, “Roll over! Roll over!” So they all rolled over and one fell out And bumped his head and shouted out, Single beds are only made for one, two, three, four!” There were four in the bed and the little one said… There were three in the bed and the little one said… There were two in the bed and the little one said… There was one in the bed and the little one said… “I’ve got the whole bed to myself

This is another one of my favorite rhymes that I can remember from my childhood. I have everyone hold up five fingers and we count down together as each one falls out of the bed.

Book: Beep! Beep! Go To Sleep by Todd Tarpley

This is a fairly new story and I personally think its adorable! The young little boy in this story is trying to get his little robots to bed (as well as himself), but unfortunately he is awakened by loud BEEPS! His little robots will just not go to sleep! It is definitely a sweet ending, because all the robots wished for most was a bedtime story.

Rhyme and movement: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (Nursery Rhyme)”

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your knees Teddy bear, teddy bear, sit down please

Book: Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson

This by far was the most successful book with this storytime. I got asked to read it again and again! They LOVED it and I love it too! If you haven’t read this title or Tap the Magic Tree, please do. I love any book that can become interactive because it makes the reading process a whole new experience.

Craft:

Sometimes you just need an eye mask to help you sleep! I used foam sheets and cut out the shape using a template that I got off the internet. I had foam shapes as well that they could decorate their sleep masks any way that they want. A piece of a yarn and they are good to go!

I have an abundance of my own stuffed animals that I keep on hand. I know a lot of the kids did not want to leave their stuffed animals with me. That is totally understandable. So I take a tag and I write their name and I tie that tag around the stuffed animal for them to see.

After my storytime is over, I then take silly pictures of the animals having a fun slumber party with stitch!

I then show them all these pictures at my next storytime. Everyone thinks that it is pretty adorable, and they love all the silly antics that the stuffed animals get into while they are away! I also have fun doing it, which is why I hope that it is something that I can grow so that I can get more stuffed animals for the slumber party. It takes some planning but this a fun and engaging storytime to do for the kiddos!

Slumber Party Storytime I have been trying to grow this storytime in the hopes that the more that I do it, the more stuffed animals that I can get.

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I feel like I have completely forgotten what to eat for lunch. I find thinking of lunches to bring to work hard! I don’t know about the rest of you, but many recipes that I find are things that you would do from home and not necessarily from work. I personally do not wish to bring all these items to work and try to concoct something together; it’s just not realistic. Chicken salad for the most part is my go-to. It is easy to put together and can be eaten numerous different ways; on a salad, on crackers, on cucumbers, you name it. So I like to try different ways to make it, instead of the traditional way. I had found a similar recipe for what I am about to show you on Pinterest, but I kind of adjusted it for my own tasting preferences. So I would like to share with you my version of a Buffalo Chicken Salad

First things first you need your ingredients.

1/2 a can of chicken (10 oz)- I honestly use the can for a quicker solution. A better way of course would be to use actually shredded chicken which I do use from time to time.

2 tablespoons of black beans and corn-I mix them together so that I can create the recipe again. I also use can ingredients that are organic from Trader Joes.

2-4 tablespoons of Trader Joes Mirepoix (depending on how much you honestly want to put in)-mixture of celery, onion and carrots. This mixture can be used for just about anything! So if you love to make soup this is totally a great option for pre-diced vegetables.

1 Tablespoon Frank’s Red Hot Wing Sauce

1-2 tablespoons of 0% Total Fage Greek Yogurt

I used 1 teaspoon of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip for Greek Yogurt. (it’s all about taste preference)

So of course you want to mix your chicken with your vegetables. Then, in a separate small container, mix your Greek yogurt with your ranch dip. You will then of course take that mixture and dollop it onto your chicken and vegetables.

I jumped the gun a little and put the Greek yogurt in before mixing it together with the ranch. Trust me, that step makes it much more easier to be able to know if you want to add more of the ranch mix.

Then I add my tablespoon of Frank’s Hot Wing sauce.

This again is also preference. Add what you like, but I personally find this to add plenty of flavor. I mixed all of mine together in a bento box! I love this, because on the other side I can put some fruit, or other snack foods in and it will not touch my chicken salad. I got mine at TJ Maxx, but they can be found just about everywhere.

I am laughing as I post this picture, because it may not seem like the most appetizing meal, HOWEVER, I find it to be delicious. As I said, I pair it with some fruit and it becomes the perfect lunch combination! This also makes it easy if you want to use the whole can, and prepare two lunches ahead of time! That is actually what I ended up doing and it certainly made my work week a heck of a lot easier. I hope you will give a try and hopefully a fun new lunch item to add to your list of things to eat.

  Yummy Buffalo Chicken Salad I feel like I have completely forgotten what to eat for lunch. I find thinking of lunches to bring to work hard!

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Fashion Friday

There is nothing like an adorable spring dress! I like having the option in my closet to have a girlie outfit that makes me feel completely put together, but also something that I feel can come off completely casual. I found this lovely piece at the Dress Barn in the outlets.

I wore this piece during my Kate Spade outing and I got a lot of compliments on it. I honestly purchased the dress…