Spring will be upon us soon, and for many of us that means spring cleaning. Okay, so I'm not really one for super intense spring cleaning, but I do think the changing of the seasons is the perfect time to look at the things that you have, get rid of the things that no longer fit your life, and bring in something fresh.

Thankfully, my Amazon wish list is always good for inspiration. I am constantly adding items to it, not only for myself but also things that might make a good gift one day. Today's post is all about me, though, and what I've been "window shopping" on the site. All of these items are things that I would like to add to my life...and all of them are non-clothing related.

Gallery Wall Frames - We rearranged our living room, opening up a big wall that is in desperate need of some love. I really like these assorted frames. They match the color scheme of our house and have a variety of sizes.

Mushroom Kitchen Rugs - I've been slowly transitioning my kitchen theme to a nature, plant theme. This set of rugs would just add to that aesthetic, and they're perfect sizes for my space.

Mushroom Vase - This is definitely not something practical, but I just love it. It comes in a bunch of color options and there are two more patterns to choose from.

Peony Wreath - I think this wreath is beautiful, and I want it on my wall.

Vintage Tapestry - I'm not 100 percent sure where I would hang this tapestry, but it definitely fits the theme I've been developing.

Stoneware Measuring Cups - You know what's frustrating? When the labels on your plastic measuring cups wear off and you're only really sure which one is the cup. I feel like these stoneware ones might stand the test of time.

Swedish Dish Cloths - As a rule, I don't keep many dishcloths for the kitchen because they just get gross. But how cute are these?!

Vintage French Farmhouse Gallery Prints - I've been looking at these for awhile, and I think it would be fun to work them into the gallery wall I'm planning as well as elsewhere in the house.

Couch Caddy Tray - I think this thing is just neat. I currently use a pillow in my lap to hold my stuff, so this would definitely be a step up.

Book Planter - I want this for my office to put on my desk or one of my bookcases. Don't worry; I promise I'm not going to put an actual plant in there.

Leather Heart Bookmarks - You can never have too many bookmarks, and these ones are so dang precious. I especially like that they go on the corner of the page, almost like you're dog-earring it without the damage.

Remote Control Kindle Page Turner - This might be the most practical item on my list! It's exactly what it says it is and has rave reviews. Why I want it -- so that I can read on my kindle in any position I want without having to worry about my arms getting tired!

I can't believe two weeks has already passed since my first outfit roundup of 2025! As promised, I'm here to share the looks I wore in real life with you along with brief explanations behind the outfits and links to shop the same or similar products.

I must point out, however, that there are definitely not enough outfits in this post for two weeks, but I have a valid reason! We've been snowed in -- in south Alabama, no less -- so there have been a few days in a row in which I didn't actually get dressed other than in undistinguishable layers to traipse in and out half a dozen times to make the most of the snow days we may not see again for another thirty or so years.

This first go round, I layered it over an old Liz Claiborne polka-dot button up that I've had for years. Because I felt like the buttons would look odd with the bows, I wore it with the bows in the back. I didn't have anyone to take my picture from behind, so this is the best view I could get for y'all.

Anyway, I went with my gray Liverpool skinny jeans that I've had for awhile, and my black heeled Chelsea boots finished the look.

We're skipping pretty much an entire week. I remember what I wore on Monday and Tuesday, but for whatever reason I didn't take any photographic evidence. Then Wednesday and Thursday, I was so bundled up you couldn't tell what I was wearing. Plus, every time we came inside from the snow, I changed back into pajamas.

This was Friday. We woke up to snow still on the ground but not nearly as much as the day before, and it was melting quickly. For the first time since coming home from school on Tuesday, we got out of the house. We went to lunch and then walked through Target and the book store. It was still cold, but nowhere near what the previous three days had been, so a sweater was still appropriate...and yes, this is the same sweater as the previous outfit. I told y'all I've been wearing it a lot!

I layered the sweater underneath these patchwork overalls that are so cute in person. In hindsight, I think the sweater was a little too bulky for the overalls -- they look a little lumpy in this picture -- but I did really like this outfit.

It's been a really long time since I did a favorite things post -- as in I haven't written one since last summer, yikes! 😬 I'm not going to go into detail about it again, but the fall was pretty rough, and the blog definitely suffered for it. That's life, though, right?

Now I'm back in the swing of things and exercising my creative writing muscles, and it feels like a good time to resurrect the favorite things posts. In case you don't remember, these are posts in which I share the things that are currently making life better in some way.

Before we dive into all of the 10 things that made my list for this month, I have an honorary mention -- because who in their right mind would have predicted we'd have multiple days of snow in south Alabama?! Alexis has been dying for snow, and it has been exciting to experience this with her...even though I don't particularly care for snow. We made snow angels and a snowman and even had a snowball fight.

Alright, now on to the official list of favorite things for this month. It's an eclectic mix of things from beauty items to clothing, recipies, and even office supplies.

e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi Stick - This is the 3-in-1 makeup product I didn't know I needed. It has so many positive reviews that I knew I needed to try it, and at only $5 there really was no downside to not loving it. Most people refer to this as a blush stick, but you can use it on your cheeks, eyes, and lips. It has seriously simplified my morning routine. I'm using the sparkling rose.

Flower Jeans - I saw these and knew I had to try them. Thankfully, they are amazing in person. The flowers are printed in/on the denim, not embroidered, so there's no sensory issues. These are listed as being 90s vintage, although I don't remember these jeans back then if I'm being honest. They're high waisted and come in four other washes. I got the large (size 8/10) and they fit perfectly; I usually wear size 6.

Plaid Flannel Jacket - My husband got me this jacket for Christmas, and I've been wearing it nonstop. I really love that the buttons are snaps; it's just so much easier than dealing with button-holes. It's also got really roomy pockets, which is always a plus. I usually wear a medium in jackets so that I have plenty of room. I do feel like I should point out that the jacket is much longer on me than the model, with the bottom hem reaching about halfway down my thighs.

Faux Leather Puffer Vest - I ordered this on a whim, not really sure if I would like it or not. Turns out, I really do. I was worried that it would be too puffy and look ridiculous on me, but my fears were unfounded. It's really cute in person and actually pretty warm considering. It's currently 75% off and still available in all sizes. There's also a silver gray option that's super cute, but it's only available in some sizes.

Bow-Tie Sweater Vest - I am in love with this sweater vest! I was very nervous about ordering because it has so few reviews, but I'm so glad I took the chance. You can wear it with the bows in the front or back. I've only worn it once so far, but I have so many plans for it! I got it in the medium.

Pen + Gear Gel Pens - This entry honestly surprises me. These pens were a necessity, and I wasn't really concerned with quality so much as price. I just needed them to take notes for this class I'm taking, but y'all these pens are actually good writing pens!

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup - This was so good. I followed the recipe exactly.

Tator Tot Casserole - This one was so good that my mom got the recipe and made it for my dad. I didn't change anything from the recipe, but it's got lots of room for modification.

Cheeseburger Casserole - I really enjoyed this one too, but I did have a slight modification from the recipe. I didn't have mozzarella cheese, but I'm not sure it needed it.

Dr. Teal's Cozy Vanilla Season Foaming Bath - I'm a big fan of Dr. Teal's foaming bath. I tend to stick with the eucalyptus one, but I've been enjoying this limited edition one all winter. I'll be sad when it's no longer available.

Valentine's Day is on a Friday this year, which is kind of exciting (especially if you're a teacher). I've been trolling my favorite sites for inspiration for what to wear that week -- yes, I said week. I'm a teacher, and I love a theme! Here are some of my top picks.

Have you ever seen the memes about out-of-control TBR lists? I think my favorite is the one that estimates the reader will be able to clear their list by their 657th birthday. My own TBR list isn't quite that bad yet, but it's pretty hefty. And if there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that reading books and discovering books do not follow the same timeline. I find at least one new book I want to read every day and add it to my TBR list. As such, my current list has more than 300 titles on it.

Tackling my TBR list and getting it back under control has been an ongoing project since 2023 when I launched my One Woman Book Club. Now in its third year, this project has helped me to cross one book off my TBR list each month. But with my current list sitting at over 300, it would take 24 years to read them all if that was all I did.

My goal for the blog this year is to be more intentional about how I post. One of the ways I  think I can accomplish that is by planning and writing more seasonal content, including book lists. Last summer, I decided to do a summer reading list to help me focus on the books I already had. Taking the time to sort through the books already on my shelves, both digital and physical, helped me to narrow down my reading choices without putting type of pressure on myself, and it worked. I actually read most of the books on that list, and quite a few of them made my end-of-the-year best books list. 

The success of my Summer Reading List got me to thinking that I should start making reading lists for every season, so here we are. Winter is well underway and still has quite a bit of time left to go. It's cold and dreary and the perfect weather to snuggle up with a book and a blanket. So here are 10 books that are on my radar for this winter. I hope some of them pique your interest, as well.

Author: Evie Woods

This book should look familiar as it's the first pick for the 2025 One Woman Book Club. It is the story of a magical bookshop that isn't always visible. The story itself is a dual timeline with one set in the 1920s and the other in modern times. There are three main characters: Opaline, Martha, and Henry. Opaline is trying to live independently as a woman in a time when women did not have very many rights, Martha is trying to escape an abusive husband, and for once in his life Henry is on the trail of something that could be truly amazing.

A Not So Meet Cute

Author: Meghan Quinn

This is another 2025 book club pick, this time for February. This rom-com has a Pretty Woman vibe but without the hooker part. Lottie and Huxley enter into a fake-fiancé agreement, but as with all stories like this, one thing leads to another, and Lottie catches real feelings.

The Last of the Moon Girls

Author: Barbara Davis

This is the March book club pick. Lizzy is the last of the Moon family healers, but she left all that behind her when she moved to New York. Now, she must return home to deal with her grandmother's death and the murder accusations that still hang in the air. At first, Lizzy plans to sell the farm and never look back, but all that changes when she finds her grandmother's journal.

Love and Ruin

Author: Paula McLain

I actually started reading this one back in the fall but then stopped due to personal reasons and just never picked it back up. It's set in 1937 and tells the story of a young female journalist who travels to Madrid to report on the Spanish Civil War. It's Martha's shot at proving herself a worthy journalist in a field that's dominated by men. While there, she meets and falls in love with the not-yet-famous author, Ernest Hemingway.

Caraval

Author: Stephanie Garber

Let me start by saying that I loved The Night Circus, and this book seems to have a similar premise albeit in a series format and it doesn't appear to be romantic in nature. Scarlett and Tella are sisters who have never left their island. Caraval is a once-a-year performance hat the audience participates in. When their father arranges a marriage for Scarlett, she thinks her dreams of seeing the show are over, but Tella mysteriously arranges for them to go. Once they get there, Tella is kidnapped by the show's organizer and whoever finds her first wins.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Author: Stuart Turton

Who doesn't love a good mystery when you're cooped up in the house? Aiden Bishop is in the race of a lifetime. He knows that Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he identifies her killer and breaks the cycle, but with each new day comes a new challenge. Aiden always wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor, not all of them helpful.

The Stroke of Winter

Author: Wendy Webb

Tess Bell is renovating her family home into a bed-and-breakfast when she uncovers an old art studio. Inside are paintings created by Tess's grandfather, artist Sebastian Bell, but these are unlike anything for which he's known. The paintings, sinister in nature, raise disturbing questions for Tess, sparking nightmares, and pushing her to find the truth about their origins.

Eloise and the Grump Next Door

Author: Emma St. Clair & Jenny Proctor

This one caught my attention with the mention of an "attack pelican." I mean, how could I not read it? Eloise's plans of going to grad school didn't exactly pan out. Instead, she's renovating her late grandmother's home, which just so happens to be right next door to Jake, the grumpy lawyer who's handling the estate. You can probably figure out the rest. Of course Eloise starts to fall for Jake. Then an opportunity to chase her old dreams comes up. Should she stay or should she go?

The Vine Witch

Author: Luanne G. Smith

This book has been on my TBR for awhile, but I was waiting for the series to be completed and kind of lost tabs on it. Elena is a vine witch destined to inherit the vineyards at Chateau Renard, but she was cursed and confined to a marshland. She's finally broken the curse, but the vineyard is now in the possession of Jean-Paul, a vigneron who favors science over witchcraft. But Elena can see that the vineyard is covered in hexes, so she hides her true identity in order to stay and help the vines recover. Plus, there's the matter of finding the person who cursed her.

A Thousand Boy Kisses

Author: Tillie Cole

I think I might have just accidentally spoiled this one for myself by reading the blurb of book two, so don't be like me and do that! This one is definitely geared toward younger audiences, but I've never let that stop me before. Rune and Poppy were childhood friends. When Rune returned to Norway, Poppy vowed to wait for his return. But two years ago, Poppy broke Rune's heart when she cut him off with no explanation. Now back in the town where they met, Rune is determined to find the truth.

Do you make new year's resolutions? I do not, but around half of Americans do. However, only about a quarter of those keep their resolutions past January, and even fewer are actually successful.

So instead of resolutions, I set goals and make plans, and part of that is reflecting on my progress or lack thereof.

In 2024, I had five goals: get the blog back on track, leave grading at school, yoga twice a week, print out photos to frame and/or put in albums/scrapbooks, and record more videos of everyday life. As with 2023, my success rate was a bit of a roller coaster.

In terms of the blog, things started to trend upward after I graduated from the TAPP program and was no longer inundated with homework. The summer months were great in terms of posts and content, but things took a turn downhill in the fall when I had several personal issues hit back-to-back. They picked back up in November and so far have held steady. I've started back accepting collaborations and guest posts and feel like I'm getting back into the groove.

I've done so much better at leaving grading at home and my grading practices in general. I do still plan at home more than I should, but I really do love my office, y'all, and there are less interruptions.

Yoga did not happen. Like at all. I also did not print out any photos to hang, but we're in the process of redoing some stuff in our living room so that's definitely on my list. I do think I did a decent job of recording videos, and it's something that I want to keep working on moving forward.

Now for this year's goals!

For the past two years, I've done some type of goal-writing activity with my students. This year we made snow globes, which was so fun. We identified personal, academic, and kindness goals, as well as a dream trip for the year, a song or quote for the year, and a word of the year. My students seemed to really enjoy making these. Here's mine!

Let's start with my word of the year. I chose adventure. I saw on Facebook recently a post about wanting to be the person who sees life as a series of adventures, and well, so do I! And I don't mean big adventures. Sometimes the little things are just as much of an adventure. It's all in your mindset.

Speaking of adventure, my dream trip for this year is New York City, but not necessarily because I want to go sight-seeing. One of my best friends from college lives there and has been having a rough time. It's been a few years since I've seen her in person, so it would be really special to be able to make it happen.

Despite being an adult who is out of school, I did actually have an academic goal. I'm currently in the middle of a course to get my gifted teaching endorsement, so completing that is my academic goal for this year.

For a kindness goal, I want to make sure that I'm saying thank you more or really just showing more appreciation in general. I love getting hand-written cards; they seriously brighten my day, and I think it would be really nice if I started sending them myself.

I only put one personal goal on my snow globe because of the space constraints, but I've got four for the year. The first is to start a new creative hobby. I really want some kind of creative outlet that is just a hobby with no expectations attached to it. I've been thinking about embroidery for about a year now.  I actually ordered a beginner's embroidery kit and can't wait to get started!

My second personal goal is to cook at home more. We ate out entirely too much in 2025. I could tell you a million reasons why it was justified, but I miss sitting down to eat with my family at our dinner table. Not only do I think this will be healthier but it should also help us to cut down on spending.

My third personal goal is to simplify. This can apply to all areas of my life, but I really want to focus on home and decluttering. When we moved a few years ago, we downsized, and it's a choice I've not regretted. We have just the right amount of living space, but we definitely sacrificed when it comes to storage space. That said, a lot of the things we've been holding on to can be gotten rid of. This is definitely a goal that will take time to accomplish, but it's one that I think will have really great results.

My fourth and final personal goal of the year deals with the blog. For the last two years I've talked about getting back onto a blog schedule, but due to this season of life that I find myself in right now, it's not happened. So instead of trying to set a schedule, I want to be smarter about how I post. I haven't quite figured out what that looks like yet, but I do know I want to commit to doing outfit roundups every two weeks instead of weekly as well as more seasonal outfit inspiration posts. I'm also toying with the idea of compacting my reading roundups from once a month to quarterly and adding in seasonal reading lists as well as more frequent TBR updates. I've also considered making individual review posts for my monthly book club picks instead of just holding them for the big post. I want to be more intentional in planning season-specific content and getting it up in a timely manner, and I would like to write more practical posts than I have in the past that draw inspiration from my actual life.

Welcome to the first outfit roundup of 2025! This is where I share outfits that I wore in real life along with links to shop the same or similar items. I also tell you where I wore it and my thoughts on how it all came together.

These outfits date back pretty far -- as in before Christmas break. That's because once I went on break, I kind of hibernated. Okay, so not really, but we did end up passing around some kind of viral cold so we didn't go on all that many outings this year.

All of these outfits were posted to my Like to Know It shop within a day or two of me wearing them, so if you're not following me there, you need to be! It's the best way to make sure you can get exact items before they sell out. You can also access all of that content via the Shop My Instagram tab at the top of this page or through my Instagram and Facebook pages.

I wore this the last week of school before Christmas break. I wanted to feel Christmasy but also professional. I love this skirt so much but have a hard time styling it. Until this blouse, I didn't have many tops that meshed well with the colors in the skirt's pattern.

The skirt is a pale gold base with red flowers on green vines, so it's perfect for the holiday season. I really love it with this green lace blouse. The bodice of blouse is lined but the sleeves are not, which makes it perfect for our typically not cold winters. I got this in a medium since it's a button-up, but beware -- it shrank a bit in the wash. I really only noticed it in the sleeves, though.

I decided to keep things feeling wintry with my tall brown boots, although we really were not cold this particular week at all. I love these boots, but I got them at the end of the season a couple of years ago and they discontinued them. Thankfully, I found a really similar pair for you!

This is also from the week before Christmas break, and yes, I am aware that it looks more like Thanksgiving than Christmas, but I ordered these pants for Thanksgiving and they had just come in, so I wanted to wear them. They are a lot more orange than I expected. I felt like I should be pairing them with camo and heading to a deer stand! So my goal with the rest of this outfit was to tone down the pants. I don't think it worked, though, and I wasn't really happy with this outfit.

I've really enjoyed this sweater vest this winter. You can't tell from this picture, but it's got a mock neck, which took a little getting used to for me since I don't particularly enjoy stuff on my neck/throat. Because it was very much not cold but not warm enough for sleeveless, I layered the vest over one of my long-sleeve layering tees (you know -- the ones from this post). I finished the outfit with my brown heeled Chelsea boots.

I think if my pants had been more of a burnt orange, like the picture on the product page, I would have liked this outfit much better. But alas, the pants just felt like a glowing beacon screaming look at me all day long. Don't get me wrong. Aside from the ridiculously bright color, these pants were nice quality. The wideness of the legs was just right and they were comfortable. I feel like I will probably get more use out of them in warmer months, though, when colors this bright feel more appropriate.

This is the last before-Christmas outfit. I wore this out shopping with my mom and daughter. It was colder but not frigid, and this outfit was perfect. Unfortunately, everything in this outfit is old. I've had these pants for more than five years, and the sweater is going on three or four. My boots are still available, though!

Welcome to January! This was what I wore for New Year's Day. We had lunch with my parents, went out to the barn to work with the pigs, and then had dinner with my in-laws. This is one of my oldest outfits. This exact colorway of the tunic sweater dress is no longer available, but the one I linked to is almost exact, just a bit brighter. I've got the black version of the one I linked to and it's good quality and one of my most-worn winter pieces.

These leggings are actually the only leggings I own. They are so soft and buttery feeling. They're comfortable all day long, and I don't have issues with bunching or sagging. I highly recommend!

This was last Saturday, January 4th...and I don't remember what we did if I'm being honest. I know the day before we were in Eufaula, but the only record I have from this day is making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. That means we had to have gone to the grocery store, but that's literally all I remember.

My sweater is really old but one of my favorites ever from Old Navy. They have one that's pretty similar right now that I'm linking to for you. My pants -- yes, pants, not leggings -- are the Stevie skinnies that I've been wearing for years. These give you the illusion of leggings but they're so much better. They're really thick so no need to worry about unseemly lines and they've got a tailored seam going down the leg fronts to make them look polished.

Let's talk about my socks. I've had these sweater socks for years, and they're seriously one of the greatest things I have ever bought for myself. They are the perfect boot sock! I wear them all. the. time. in the winter.

This was my first day back to work, and as you can tell by my hair -- it was windy af. I've had this sweater for so long, y'all. It's one of my favorites, even if it's not exactly "trendy" anymore. I don't care. When you really love something, keep on wearing it! Anyway, it's no longer available but I found something similar, although I don't think the quality is the same.

My jeans are mid-rise bootcut, but I have to say that on me they feel almost low-rise compared to the other pair I have in a different wash. My boots are also really old. I got them from Target of all places, and they're really good quality considering the low price point. I got them back when boots with lots of buckles were trendy, and I wasn't sure if I would like them, and they became my favorite pair of flat boots. I linked to similar pair, although neither has near the number of buckles as mine.

This was day two back at work, still with no students and still cold. I really wanted to wear this short-sleeve sweater that reminds me of my recently-passed grandmother, but it needed a more substantial under-layer than the camisole I usually wear. I really like the juxtaposition of this brown long-sleeve tee. It feels unexpected but also kind of obvious.

My jeans are the same bootcut as with the previous outfit, but they fit differently. This pair is actually a little looser in the hips and an inch or two longer. Go figure.

This was the students' first day back from Christmas break. I went through so many outfit choices before landing on this one. It was really cold, so I wanted layers. Not pictured here is the purple-red long cardigan I wore over this all day at school.

These overalls have been a workhorse in my school wardrobe this year. They are so versatile and so comfy. They come in quite a few colors. I've got the black already and just ordered the green. I get these in a medium so they're extra roomy, but they do have adjustable straps.

My blouse, unfortunately, is no longer available. Old Navy usually comes out with updated patterns/colors for this style shirt, but I'm not seeing any on their site right now.

This was Thursday - day two of students' being back at school. It was still super cold, both outside and in the hallway, but the inside of my classroom was feeling a bit like a furnace. That meant I needed layers once again. Good thing this super adorable, 3D sweater vest arrived just in time!

I am in love with this sweater vest. The flowers really are 3D, which just gives it that much more personality. Obviously, I'll have to be really careful when I wash it. I had lots of ideas for how to layer it but decided to keep things classic this first go 'round with a white button-up over my black Stevie pants. I finished the look with my buckle boots.

This was our first Friday back at school and my favorite work outfit of the week. I styled everything around these jeans-that-don't-really-look-like-jeans. The legs have a jacquard pattern with the pockets being a solid dark navy blue. They're high-waisted and wide-legged and absolutely gorgeous. I'm wearing the large.

I decided that I wanted to go with a monochrome look, especially since this fair isle sweater was almost an exact match for the pattern on the jeans. I've had this sweater for a really long time, but fair isle is a classic style that you can find pretty much all the time. I linked to a couple of similar options for you.

That brings us to yesterday, which was a Saturday. Alexis had Odyssey team practice so I spent the morning working on my gifted endorsement homework in my classroom. I did go out to the barn around lunchtime to assist in getting the pigs weighed and then had lunch with my parents and the coworker who brought the scales. Afterwards, I picked up Alexis and headed back home where I spent the afternoon doing more homework before meeting Chris for dinner after he got off work.

Let's talk about these jeans! They're running neck and neck with the jeans in the previous outfit for favorite jeans purchase of the new year. They have got the prettiest blue-and-cream floral pattern on them. They're high waisted and wide legged and fit like a dream. They are not super thick and are pretty soft. I'm wearing the large.

My cardigan sweater is from two years ago, but I linked to the exact style at Old Navy and a similar, cheaper option that looks almost exactly the same.