Sometimes there's nothing better than curling up with a good book. 

However, as a magazine editor, I read all day. So, often, reading is the last thing I want to do during my down time. I'm embarrassed to say I've had The Paris Wife for years and have yet to read it. Dark Places is on loan from Chris's dad (and I've shamefully had it for months!). 

I received Yes Please (from Chris) and I Must Say (from my mom) for Christmas and haven't even opened them because I've been busy getting through my birthday gifts first (just finished Lena Dunham's Not That Kind Of Girl - thanks, Jane! I loved it). 

[Author's note: This post is making it quite clear I have lovely people in my life who give me great gifts]

So, pictured above is my spring reading list. I plan to have all of these finished before the summer starts. Giliian Flynn (Dark Places) is the author of Gone Girl and while I didn't love that book, I'm interested to give her writing another go (side note: did you know Flynn was laid off from Entertainment Weekly as a writer only to have her movie adaptation appear on the magazine's cover a few years later? Holy smokes!). The Paris Wife is a novel inspired by Ernest Hemingway's first wife. I love him and I love Paris so I assume I will love that book. Yes Please is supposed to be awesome (and how could it not be?) and Martin Short is my favourite actor/comedian so I'm really looking forward to reading that one, as well. 

What are you reading this spring? Any great recommendations? Let me know in the comments below :)

Spring is such a lovely time. The climate where I live doesn't technically experience "spring" but yesterday I wore moccasins without socks and that's something!

Last night one of my girlfriends pointed out 1/4 of the year is over. Already! That notion, paired with the renewal vibe of spring, got me thinking: now's a time to reevaluate. A time to look at those New Year's resolutions. To look at life goals and plans. There's a dusty warmth in the air that reminds us summer is coming. Let's embrace spring and 2015 before the year suddenly ends and we wonder where it went (although, I think that's inevitable). 

So, here's to slightly longer days, lighter layers, moccasins without socks and flowers starting to bloom. 

Here's to spring <3

This week I took ill. It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't pleasant. I work from home so I was still able to work, but I was just feeling miserable. So, when I'm not feeling well I take comfort in a few things that make the misery a little more bearable. Since this time of year is quite germ infested, I thought you could use a little comfort, too. 

1. Kleenex Cold Touch Tissues

• Obviously one needs tissues when one is ill. I promise, once you try these you will never go back.

2. Gingerale

• Must be Canada Dry. Preferably in a glass bottle.

3. Cough Drops

• I like Halls cherry flavoured. I am not a fan of the weird syrupy centred ones.

1. Haagen-Dazs Strawberry Ice Cream

• Vanilla is also a good choice. Stay clear of the ones with too much stuff. Simple is best.

2. Green Smoothies

• Any recipe you like. My go to? Unsweetened almond milk, lots of fresh spinach, banana, frozen pineapple and frozen mango.

3. Chamomile Tea with Honey

• Any tea is lovely when ill. Chamomile is soft and naturally decaf so you can get your much needed rest.

4. Netflix

• Currently re-watching Scrubs from the beginning (LOVE. One of my favourite shows ever) and moving onto season 3 of Damages.

Now for the fun part :)

I personally need to shower when under the weather. I know sometimes you are too sick to get out of bed, but that's rarely the case for me. I think there is nothing better than a hot shower to sort yourself out. 

I crave extra moisture when I'm sick. So, a moisturizing shampoo, a hair mask and a lovely skin conditioner make me feel pampered and refreshed. Make sure you wash your face and use a good lip scrub. Eye cream, face oil and moisturizer finish off the face while a nice body butter soothes your achy limbs. A moisturizing face spray can also be used as needed (consider this a prescription ;).

So, the sick day routine goes as follows. Have orange juice in bed while groggily waking up. Open the windows to get some fresh air while you are still cozy underneath the covers.

Get up and brush your teeth (floss and use mouth wash while you're at it) and then shower with all of your favourite, but not too elaborate, products. Throw on a face mask and rinse off at the end of your shower if you're really feeling miserable (your skin, like the rest of you, isn't looking its best — show it some love). Slather yourself with face oil and body butter. 

Get dressed (if you have to leave the house, leggings, fuzzy socks and your coziest sweater are essential) and make yourself a green smoothie and some tea. Fill a tumbler with water and fresh lemon slices. Gotta get your fluids!

Carry on your day as you see fit (whether that is working, laying on the couch, being taken care of by someone who loves you, or what have you) and, most importantly, 

FEEL BETTER :)

This time last year my girlfriends and I participated (some more successfully than others ;) in a social media challenge called 100 Happy Days. The idea was to post one moment of happiness, however big or small, every day for 100 straight days. You can see the challenge's website here: http://100happydays.com.

Although it was a year ago, I still think about it and often catch myself thinking 'this would be my happy moment of the day.' I keep a 5 Year Journal and some days I write down a happy moment as my line for the day (some days it's events, thoughts, feelings...etc.), I think it's important to appreciate the little things in life. Catching the sunrise, a beautifully made coffee, a surprise flower delivery from your mama because spring is on its way.

I've heard gratitude is the number 1 thing you can do to live a happy life. When you take the time to appreciate moments of happiness, even in a hectic day, the day turns around — it's no longer just about the stress or the chaos, it's about acknowledging the positive things you've got going on. A gentle reminder that there is good in every day.

I don't think you need a social media challenge to recognize the good in every day, but it was a fun experience and I was proud of myself for completing it (the website claims 70 per cent of people don't finish). 

What do you think? Would you ever give the 100 Happy Days a shot?

1. Chicago.
Oh, the Windy City. I simply adore you. The shopoholic in me thrilled at your Magnificent Mile. The journalist in me thrived breathing the air where Oprah got her start. The granddaughter in me delighted to visit my grandmother's birthplace. The Beatles fangirl in me went giddy to see and hear Paul McCartney. The (somewhat reluctant) baseball fan in me loved singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch (we also went to a White Sox game — both the Cubs and the Sox won :). I could go on and on about the coolness of Chicago. It's a must visit, in my opinion.

2. Vegas, baby!
To be honest, I thought I would hate Vegas. I'm not the biggest party girl, I'd rather spend my money on expensive skincare than gambling and Celine Dion wasn't playing during my visit (Britney wasn't even on the radar at this point — April 2013). But let me tell you, Vegas was amazing. I think everyone would love it. It's clean (a surprise to me), not as rambunctious as I imagined and not as sad as I feared (gamblers losing all their money, drunkards falling all over the streets). My four best gal pals and I ventured to the desert during a snowstorm (again, I live on a rocky, cold island in the Atlantic). The weather was beautiful, the shows were incredible (Cirque du soliel's Love. We also saw Shania Twain... she was OK) and the shopping was on point. We did the helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon and fun was had by all. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

3. California Dreaming.
My boyfriend, Chris, and I flew into LAX and after a few days exploring L.A. (saw the Hollywood sign, the Dolby Theatre where the Oscars are held, the Friends set at the WB studios and, my personal favourite, the Getty Center) we rented an SUV and drove up the Pacific Coast Highway. Just. Glorious. We made stops along the way, of course (Carmel stole the show), and finished our journey in the Bay Area. I did, indeed, leave my heart in San Francisco. My dad told me I'd fall in love with the city and sheesh that was an understatement. I felt at home in the foreign city. It was chilly and foggy (something I am familiar with and try to escape at any opportunity) and it didn't matter. The sights, the museums, the food, the people, the architecture. If you ever get the chance, PLEASE take the amazing drive and visit San Fran — I can't imagine anyone would be disappointed. 

4. Turkey and Greece.
Another trip with two of my best friends (one I've known since pre-school — age 3 — and one I met in Grade 1. I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have them in my life). We did a Contiki tour and ventured to a far off land. Since this was all the way back in 2011, and it was two and a half weeks, I don't have all the details at the ready. But we saw the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia, the Grand Bazaar, Troy, Santorini and so much more. It was the most unique trip and one I'll never forget. My girlfriends and I went to Istanbul (via Paris, I might add :) a few days before the tour started so we could enjoy the city on our own terms. One night we shared a bottle of wine on the roof of our hotel, overlooking the ancient city. The call to prayer rang out and it was a surreal experience. I will cherish that memory for the rest of my life.

5. New York, France, Italy etc. etc. etc.
Ok, I've been to New York for every season (except "Christmas" — and I'm DYING to do that) and went to France with school in Grade 10 and Italy in Grade 12. I've been to other cities/states in my youth (including an amazing visit to Dollywood — look it up) but the majority of my adult travelling is what stands out the most. They're the trips I chose and planned. They're the trips I went on with my favourite people. They're the trips that give me the wanderlust. 

Now, where to next?!