Summer Reading and Recharging

I have never appreciated alone time more than I have in the last year.  Being a new mother is wonderful but it is also exhausting on many levels. You give so much of yourself every single day and it's very important to recharge your batteries!!

Finding time for yourself maybe difficult, but a "mommy time-out" is a wonderful thing!  Doing something like enjoying a cup of coffee while flipping through a magazine for a few minutes, going to get a pedicure, or sitting outside in the sunshine for a bit can help in the best of ways!

I used to be an avid reader!  I would read as often as possible and couldn't get enough of suspense novels.. still can't - but I just don't have the time like I used to.  Chase usually takes one good nap a day for me (sometimes he naps twice but usually its a one time a day kinda thing!) for about two solid hours.  Since the summer time is coming and the weather is warming up, I've made a promise to myself to take a little me time each day.  I've made a summer reading list and during nap time, I'm going to attempt to enjoy an iced coffee and a few chapters!

Mommy's Summer Reading List

Murder House - James Patterson

While You Were Sleeping - Kathryn Croft

Into the Water - Paula Hawkins

The Stranger - Harlan Coben

The Couple Next Door - Shari Lapena

As you can see, my crime and suspense novel obsession is real!  I cannot wait to open one of these babies up and dive in!  Now it's just deciding which one should be first ;)

St. Patrick's Day Books for Little Ones

I could not wait for holidays to roll around once Chase was born.  I was so excited to celebrate them all with him and start new traditions for our family.

Even though he is still little, I do like to do something special for each holiday that comes.  One of our favorite things to do lately is read.  He's finally at a stage now where he will sit on my lap without squirming the entire time and listen to the story - but he's most interested in the colorful pictures.  

We started this tradition on Valentine's Day and bought him his very first holiday book and he just loved it!  Now that St. Patrick's Day is approaching, I've been looking at some new books that I think he'll like and wanted share some favorites.

• The Night Before St. Patrick's Day:  Personally, I get more excited for most holiday eves than I do for the actual holiday.  I'm one of those strange people that loves to prep and plan.  When I first found out about The Night Before series, I knew I'd have to pick them all up for Chase.  These books all are a play on The Night Before Christimas.  They're adorable and I highly recommend them!
• How to Catch a Leprechaun:  This book has the sweetest illustrations and catchy rhymes! This is another small series of books that are great for little kids!
• Happy St. Patrick's Day, Curious George:  We are continuing our Curious George collection with this tabbed board book.  I love that each of the tabs is of a topic or item related to St. Patricks's day.  Each tab has it's own beautiful illustrations and poems.  
• The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever:  This is lively book full of fun characters and events that will put you in the St. Patrick's Day spirit!