Logan Can

A Lifestyle Blog about Marriage, Parenting, Fashion and Fitness

Literary Junkies (March)

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1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it!


One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus


Goodreads Synopsis: One Thousand White Women is the story of May Dodd and a colorful assembly of pioneer women who, under the auspices of the U.S. government, travel to the western prairies in 1875 to intermarry among the Cheyenne Indians. The covert and controversial “Brides for Indians” program, launched by the administration of Ulysses S. Grant, is intended to help assimilate the Indians into the white man’s world. Toward that end May and her friends embark upon the adventure of their lifetime. Jim Fergus has so vividly depicted the American West that it is as if these diaries are a capsule in time.


My thoughts: I am enjoying it so far. I had to put it on hold to read Serena for our chat tonight, so I’m excited to start it up again. 

2.  What was your favorite series to read when you were a kid?


Nancy Drew and Boxcar Children. I was all in to the mystery type books. 

3.  The world is ending:  What 3 books do you save from your collection in hopes to contribute to whatever new society forms?


My bible, obviously, Pride and Prejudice and can I choose my kindle? HA!


4.  What is your favorite genre to read?  Why? 

I love both chick lit and historical fiction. I do read more of chick lit so I guess I’ll go with that?

5.  If you wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? 


This morning? Awake and Irritable

6.  What is next on your “to-read” list?  Tell us about it! 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell and The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. I can’t wait to read these!

Green Smoothie Recipe

In honor of Saint Patrick, I thought I’d share my favorite Green Smoothie Recipe. This smoothie is my favorite go-to as an on-the-go breakfast or post-workout recovery drink. It’s filling and super healthy. It’s around 160 calories. Not bad, huh? Try it and thank me later because this sucker is delish!

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 
1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
2 to 3 frozen strawberries (because you’ve got to throw in some antioxidants)
1 frozen banana
A couple handfuls of spinach
Pour it all in and blend her up! Enjoy! 

I Heart Paris… And Cupcakes

This post is not about Paris and cupcakes, although who doesn’t love a good cupcake and the city of love? Side note: I fell in love with Paris for the first time when I studied French in high school and then again when we went there on our honeymoon.

After talking to a close friend of mine a couple of weeks ago, I realized that I am surrounded by negativity and that negativity has been really weighing on me and bringing my spirits down. Everyone is going through something. Everyone is fighting a battle. So many of my friends are dealing with illness, deaths, disappointment, financial struggles, relationship issues, etc. I often find myself reflecting on all the negative things that happen on a daily basis rather than the positive things that are happening constantly. 
I decided that this dangerous way of thinking needs to stop immediately. So I decided to start journaling. I only write about the positive things that happen during the day. Like Hampton rolling over for the first time, his sweet smile and babbling that I wake up to every morning, lunch dates with friends, long evening walks with my husband, and I have found that reflecting on these positive things have really changed my pattern of thinking and helps me to focus on the positives rather than the negatives we face every day. It is also important to stay in the word every day. I notice that when I don’t do my daily bible reading, I struggle. It’s important to focus on God and dedicating every day to Him so that he can use it for His glory. 
So this wasn’t about cupcakes and Paris, but don’t you just love that adorable mug and journal? I scored them at TJ Max! 
Do you journal? 

Currently…

Currently, I’m:

reading One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus and loving it so far. If you like historical fiction, you should definitely read this one. Review coming soon!

wearing Revlon lip butter in Cotton Candy. I love this lip color for spring and it’s so moisturizing. Big thumbs up, Rev!

loving this 70 degree weather we have been having down here in Bama town. It makes my morning runs so much more enjoyable when my lungs aren’t on fire from the cold.

tasting the Starbucks hibiscus berry refresher. Why have I not tried these until now? Addiction.

writing in my journal more and more lately. I know that sounds like so totally junior high, but I’ll write more on this topic later.

preparing for my Thirty One party this Friday night. I’m hosting for my MIL and can’t wait to have friends and family over for a night of fun. Plus who doesn’t love an adorable new bag?

waiting for summer!! I am ready for beach trips, pool days and weekend hikes!

What are you currently into?

Worry Wart

I was reading Jesus Calling the other day and like most days, the devotional hit me spot on. The topic was worrying. As you may know from Instagram, our house is up for sale. I have done a lot of praying that God will help us to sell our house quickly. I haven’t prayed that He would help us sell our house in HIS time. See the difference there? I do that all the time. I am so selfish with my prayers and my wants. I am constantly praying for God to do this or that in MY perfect time. Has that ever worked out for you? Anyone? Me either.

I am a worry wart. I worry about the house being too messy, I worry about our laundry being sky high. I worry about the amount of work I have to get done every day while also raising a teething baby at home. God states plainly that worrying is a sin. Some people sin by doing drugs or drinking too much. I sin by constantly worrying. It is a form of distrust. I am not giving everything over to God. I’m trying to deal with it and handle everything myself instead of trusting that he has my back. Why is that? God has never failed me before. He has allowed me go through tough times (or tests as I like to call them), but He has never failed me. He is the one who lifts me up when I’m down. He is the one who gave me my husband at the time I needed him the most. He gave me my precious son when I had almost given up on having children. He has always gone above and beyond for me. So why do I not trust Him enough to quit worrying?

Why is this so difficult for me? Do you struggle with worrying?

Bookworm Review: A Place At The Table by Susan Rebecca White

*Disclaimer: I was given this book as compensation for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*


A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White
March, 2014 Touchstone


Goodreads Synopsis: A Place at the Table tells the story of three richly nuanced characters whose paths converge in a chic Manhattan café: Bobby, a gay Southern boy who has been ostracized by his family; Amelia, a wealthy Connecticut woman whose life is upended when a family secret finally comes to light; and Alice, an African-American chef whose heritage is the basis of a famous cookbook but whose past is a mystery to those who know her.

As it sweeps from a freed-slave settlement in 1920s North Carolina to the Manhattan of the deadly AIDs epidemic of the 1980s to today’s wealthy suburbs, A Place at the Table celebrates the healing power of food and the magic of New York as three seekers come together in the understanding that when you embrace the thing that makes you different, you become whole.

My Thoughts: Love, heartbreak, loss, deception, acceptance and rejection – this book has it all! My favorite quote from this novel and the one I feel sums up the story best is “I think it is fair to say that I have become more interested in observing the world, rather than judging it.” 


I loved the stories of the three individuals – Alice, Bobby and Amelia – as well as how they all come together and are connected in a very creative way. I would have liked to see Alice’s character developed a bit more. I felt like the prologue was almost all we got of her life until closer to the end when it explains how they are all connected. I really liked her character and would’ve liked to read more about her.


I also loved that they all start their new lives in New York City considering New York and Ellis Island have always been symbolic of a “new world.” The book is centered around southern food and because I was born and raised in the south, it was very familiar to me. I liked that the novel included a recipe for “Meemaw’s Pound Cake.” 

I gave this book 4 stars. It was beautifully written and extremely creative but I would’ve hoped for a more developed story from Alice. Also, the ending felt a little rushed. I wanted it to keep going. 


This book will be available March 4th and is a Target Club pick for the month of March. Be sure to grab your copy soon!

Fitness Friday: Guess Who’s Back

If you follow my on Instagram, you know that on Sunday, I hit my pre-pregnancy weight!!!!!!! One day before Hamp turned 4 months. Talk about cutting it close to my goal! Do you know how excited I was? I did a happy dance All. Day. Long. Just ask my husband who looked at me like I was crazy. It was a very happy day.

I have still been working out and running this week and plan to continue it. I am currently participating in Tone It Up’s 60 by Spring challenge. We are trying to run 60 miles in 30 days before the official day of spring. I’ve clocked in 23.4 miles so far. I’m still working hard to tighten my core back up. It still isn’t quite back to normal but I am getting there. Slowly but surely I will get there.

My diet has been a struggle this week. I gave in to chick fil a. My weakness. As well as some m&ms. My other weakness. I’m hoping to lose about 7 more pounds to get to my absolute ideal weight, so I’m trying not to give in to any more temptations. As long as I stay focused I feel like I can accomplish this goal. My fitness pal app has still really helped me, but it’s so much easier when I just eat healthy- fruits, veggies and protein. I not only lose weight but I seriously feel better and more energized when I eat really well.

If you are part of the TIU community, please find me on Instagram where I check in daily! I’d love to follow along on your journey as well. Good luck with your fitness goals, ladies! You can do it!

Hampton // 4 Months

Hampton weighed 14lbs. 11oz. and was 25 1/2 inches long at his 4 month check up. He is in size 2 diapers and wears 3-6 month clothes. He saw his first snow and kept trying to eat it as it fell. He is liking tummy time a lot more these days and still loves his swing. He discovered his feet this month and Daddy found his tickle spot (under his arm). He still likes to go on walks with mommy in the evenings and  he loves Thomas the Train. He likes to read and chew on everything. He is eating about 3 ounces at a time and he is finally taking 2 naps during the day. He is grabbing at everything including mommy’s hair and he loves to look at himself (and others) in the mirror. He loves to be naked and loves to splash his feet in the bathtub. He tries to sit up on his own but falls forward a lot. He finally noticed Pippa and has pulled her hair a couple of times (and then she growled. She is still adjusting).His favorite time of day is getting in his morning snuggles with mommy and daddy. Happy 4 months little squishy!

Fitness Friday: Almost There

I was really sad to see the Tone It Up Love Your Body series come to an end. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to do it again next year. It helped me lose 13 pounds and several inches. I’m only 2 pounds away from my pre-baby weight and I’m so excited/proud of that.

My ultimate goal is to lose 10 more pounds. I figure if I’ve done this well in 6 weeks, why not keep it going? I’ve been eating a lot healthier and I feel so much better and stronger. I’ve gained a lot of my confidence back which is an awesome feeling. I definitely feel back to myself. Funny thing is, I’m actually starting to enjoy my morning runs. I have always hated running but it is quickly becoming my favorite part of the day. I really want to run my first 5k this year! I would love to do it sooner rather than later but I need to work on my time a little more so I don’t embarrass myself.

I’m looking forward to participating in the Bikini Series coming up in a couple more weeks. Please join me in it and join the Tone it up community! You won’t regret it!

What 5k is your favorite to run every year? How are your 2014 fitness goals coming?
         

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