Popcorn Book Club: 2020 Book Reviews

Welp, 2020 hit all of us like an unexpected ton of bricks. Between trying to stay safe and healthy with the COVID-19 pandemic, transitioning to school at home/homeschool, running a health + fitness business from home, focusing on important movements like Black Lives Matter, trying to keep my family happy and myself mentally sane…it.was.a.YEAR. For the most part, all is okay. We are safe, healthy, thriving…we have jobs. We have truly tried to be grateful and appreciate what we DO have this year, and it’s forced us to look inward at what is most important and WHO is most important. We have done our best to control what we can control and live for those silver linings.

My blog was obviously not a huge priority in the last year. It kinda fell off the wayside when everything hit the fan. In the mode of survival, it just didn’t seem essential, and something had to give.

But a year later, we are still here in this pandemic, still doing school at home, still running a business from home, and trying to do all the things, but I’ve been truly missing this space. I started this blog over 8 years ago as a creative outlet, and this year I want to get back to that. I want to keep this space as a place to fuel that creative spark and passion and to feel excited again. When everything else in life seems overwhelming, I want to have that comfy space to come back to. For you to come back to.

It might look a little different around here. While my love of fashion started this blog, these days I’m living in sweats and I’m not going out to the stores to try things on. But I hope to continue to use this space as a place to relate, create, inspire, and provide value to you as a reader on a variety of topics from mom life, food, creative projects, fitness, health, fashion, books, travel (when we can), entrepreneurial life, and more.

While, I didn’t have much time to blog last year, I DID have time to read. Having the kids home day in and day out, we spent a lot of time reading, and it was also a bit of an escape for me when the world got too crazy and overwhelming. Anyone else feel that way? Like, this world is too crazy right now. Lemme just dive into a different world for a bit! I guess it’s better than diving into the wine bottle, though I did my fair share of that in 2020 also. What can I say? I’m human.

People always ask how I have time to read? But it’s really just like anything else that I would make time for. I make time to work out, to eat healthy, watch a favorite show, work my business…and just the same I PRIORITIZE time to read. Whether it’s just 10-15 minutes a busy day…or I don’t move off of the couch for 2 hours on a weekend evening (I know, I’m super wild and fun these days haha), I make sure I fit it in, because it brings me joy. For those hoping to read more this year, I suggest starting with a small daily goal and make it a habit…pretty soon it will be routine.

OKAY….without further ado…I know I have a problem with talking (and in this case, writing) way too much…in 2019, I didn’t quite make my goal of 26 books, but THIS past year, I slayed my goal out of the park at 36. Much of that likely had to do with the fact that homeschool life came into the picture this last year, so I read a lot of children’s literature with my kids along with my own novels. I share all of my books as I read them on my Instagram page saved in my highlight reel and also using the hashtag #popcornbookclub if you care to keep up throughout the year…but here is my yearly recap from 2020!

Fiction

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

I really loved this book! It was recommended (and loaned) to me by my grandmother who is a very avid reader, and I’m so grateful! While I have it in the fiction section because things have been changed, this book was based on a true story and a scandalous history of which I’d been unaware. It was an incredibly heart-wrenching book at times, especially reading as a mom. The fact that some terrible things happened to children and families under the guise of something good is horrifying and sad. I liked how the author wrote the story as a back and forth present and past narrative with different narrators leaving you wanting to learn more about what happened to the characters in the story and uncover the mystery of what would become of their future. I highly recommend this book!

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult never ever disappoints and this one lived up to the expectation for me. I love how she can take such difficult/heavy topics and offer each varying lens and perspective, always giving you a view to see the other side of what you may believe. That said, it was a little difficult for me to follow with the backward timeline format chosen. There were a lot of characters, and I found myself getting lost over who was who and the order of events, especially during the first half of the book. It did all come together though in the end along with a few twists!

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

This book was amazing! This work of historical fiction explores race through two unforgettable characters, twins Stella and Desiree Vignes. It is a story about family bonds, sisterhood, motherhood, about trying to fit in, racism, identity, and love. The novel does a great job of depicting lots of separate worlds and then colliding them into one seamlessly. I definitely recommend. I believe this book will be adapted for the screen, and you can bet I’ll be watching.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Wow. Wow. Wow. This one came out of nowhere. A friend of mine recommended this book to me ages ago (thanks, Kathy!), and it’s been on my list, but I hadn’t picked it up until this year. I am SO glad I did. This is the kind of book that every woman should read. It was extremely powerful. It was about love and strength and making difficult decisions. How making the right decision isn’t always as easy as it might seem from the outside. It’s not at all what I expected it to be, but that was kind of the best part about it. I highly recommend this book, and now I’m wanting to track down every Colleen Hoover novel I can find.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

I really enjoyed this book! It was juicy, sexy, romantic, political, royal, happy, sad, all of the above. It covers topics of race, bisexuality, US politics, immigration, family, and more. Ultimately, the book celebrates being unafraid to be your authentic self and love triumphing over anything else.

Now Is Everything by Amy Giles

This YA novel was written by the wife of a friend I used to work with in the animation world! I had been wanting to read it for awhile, and I’m SO glad I read it this year! This was a very moving story involving many serious topics such as child abuse, physical/emotional abuse, self harm, death, family, teenage romance, sex, secrets, and more. This book was emotional and sad at times, but also showed love and strength through powerful characters. It reminded me of the Colleen Hoover novel I read but with younger characters and for a younger audience. I definitely recommend this one.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

I have pretty much enjoyed everything I’ve read from Ms. Ware, and this was no different! It started out a bit slow, but by the middle, I was racing to the end to see what was going to happen! It was dark, creepy, and eerie and kept me entertained with lots of little twists and reveals in the 2nd half of the book. I enjoyed the main character and her tarot cards! In a Dark, Dark Wood still remains my fav I’ve read from this author, but this one was worth a read!

Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

Shari Lapena knows how to write a thriller! This book was entertaining, suspenseful, mysterious and keeps you guessing. Lapena always has you wondering about your neighbors after you read her books! This one involved a teenage break-in. I enjoyed this one, and if you like her style, you will like this one too, though An Unwanted Guest is still probably my favorite from her!

Watching You by Lisa Jewell

This was an easy read that totally sucked you in. I loved the way all the characters and plot twisted into each other. It kept me on my toes the whole time and made me want to keep reading. This was my first book by this author, and it was not my last! I also read, Then She Was Gone by the same author over the summer and it was also an excellent read. I would pick up anything by this author after reading these two!

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

If you enjoy this author, you will enjoy this book as well! I also read The Husband’s Secret this year from this author and enjoyed both of these books as well as the majority of others I’ve read from her. She always creates a story that is captivating and develops interesting characters.

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner

This was a new thriller author for me, and I very much enjoyed her style! I love a good murder mystery, and this book kept me engaged and excited to keep reading. The story was action-packed, the characters were dynamic, and I would absolutely read more from this author!

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

This was my first Sager novel, and I really enjoyed it! It was creepy, spooky, ghostly, mysterious, thrilling, and dark. I enjoyed the main character, and I had a lot of fun unpacking the secrets along the way to discover the truth of this haunting tale!

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

I read this book in 3 days. I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t go into too much detail, but do you ever have one of those books where you were disappointed by the end or certain reveals, but you enjoyed the experience of reading the book so much?? I had problems with many of the plot twists and didn’t love the end, but I truly couldn’t put the book down and the writing style was totally gripping and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. For me, it was worth the experience of reading, but be prepared to finish it feeling disappointed with how it turned out!

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

This is one of my favorite authors for a beach read or a snow day. Easy to read and always fun. Lots of interesting characters with interwoven stories, secrets, and drama. This one was a bit of a mystery as well, and I couldn’t wait to find out what had happened to two of the main characters. Groundbreaking literature? Not so much. But a quick, fun read? Absolutely.

A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith

This one is out of my “typical” novels I gravitate toward, but you know I’m always open to reading and learning new things! We did a Native People homeschool unit study (and I will share the book we read for that later), and this book was recommended as an adult selection to go along with the children’s study. It was a longer read, but I really enjoyed it! I would call this historical fiction as it takes place in the Florida swamp in the 1800s. It starts with wild cattle roaming, and as the years roll on, the land transforms and the people transform over time. It’s both happy and sad to watch both the land and society change. It discusses themes of strength, family, friendship, the environment, nature, race (white, black, and Native relationships), survival, hard work, and more. I enjoyed the raw, authenticity of the characters during this time period as well. It was not a fast paced book by any means, but it was educational and enlightening for me, and I’m glad I took the time to read it.

These were all on my list to read for personal development and I got to 3/5 last year (the 3 on top). The other two will happen in 2021, but wanted to share them all here.

Nonfiction/Personal Development/Memoir

Educated by Tara Westover

Wowwww. This memoir was one of my favorites that I read this past year. Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book! I snagged it from the library right before quarantine started having no idea what exactly I was getting into. This book gives you ALL the feels. At times it’s shocking and gut wrenching, but you are always curious and you are truly rooting for the author the entire time. Such a brace memoir of a young girl trapped in an “alternate” society/family growing up and discovering how she fits within all of it. An incredible read.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

I really liked this book! I originally bought this book for me, but I found it even more useful as a parent who wants to raise children with grit as the author’s passion and research into grit and children really shines through! I definitely recommend this book to any parent or anyone looking to follow a passion in their lives!

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

I read this book at peak quarantine, and it was definitely what I needed. Stressing out during the chaos was doing nothing to serve me, or anyone else quite frankly. I only had a certain amount of f*cks to give on any given day, and they had to be used wisely! This book isn’t really about giving zeros f*cks, but more about saving them for what truly matter. About dropping all the crap that doesn’t light you up and focusing in on what means the most. The world slowing down while the craziness swept through last year made us all take another look at our values and priorities. This book didn’t really offer anything GROUNDBREAKING for me, but there were a TON of great REMINDERS right when I needed to hear them the most. I was definitely glad I picked it up.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy

I thought this book had a lot of great ideas and I loved the overall theme that your mind and thoughts basically control everything in your life. I enjoyed and I’m glad I picked it up. However, it felt a little repetitive at times and it was a slow read for me. I always got something out of it when I read it, but I wasn’t always super excited to pick it up, so it was sort of a sign that I liked it okay, but didn’t love it.

Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success by Steve Harvey

Early on in my coaching career, a fellow coach shared such an inspiring video by Steve Harvey that changed the trajectory of her life, so when I saw this book sitting in the Little Free Library in my neighborhood, I had to grab it. Because he’s such a funny guy, I wasn’t sure how serious I could take it, but if you read Steve’s story, he really put in SO much hard work and effort and belief and GRIT to get to where he is today. His book didn’t really offer anything new for me, but I found it very inspiring and I love that he offered some action steps to reach your goals.

The Secret Joy of Hygge: A Practical Guide to Cultivating Happiness in the Everyday by Alexandra Amarotico

I was so excited to read this book by friend and fellow blogger Alex! We met back in 2012 in my early blogging days, and we even met and did a shoot together in my neighborhood. How cute is she? Anyway, now she is a published AUTHOR, how cool is that? She spent a of time in Denmark as an exchange student and the idea of hygge they practice there sparked her to write this book! With the crazy pandemic this last year, this book really resonated with me. Of course, we couldn’t take action on all of her suggestions (like inviting and hosting people over for a meal), BUT it helped to appreciated the little things and find joy in the simplicity of say, lighting a candle or reading a book with a hot cup of tea. It also helped to find the joy in the mundane day to day as well, create better connections with my family, and find or create joy in the space we inhabit. I think she has some wonderful ideas and it helped to reframe my mindset during a difficult year!

Love Warrior and Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Oh yes yes and more yes. If you haven’t read any Glennon yet, you are missing out!!!!!! I would start with Love Warrior first as you may not appreciate it as much if you skip ahead to Untamed as her journey will continue to grow and change, and I liked reading in order of her growth. I absolutely LOVE how Glennon shares stories. She is so raw and speaks her truth so very bravely. She goes through some PAIN and UGLY stuff, and at times it’s tough to read, but she does not turn away from any of it. In Love Warrior she is still in throes of her journey and figuring things out, and by Untamed you really feel like she has found herself and where she is supposed to be. (I never read Carry On, Warrior btw but I don’t feel like I missed out by not reading it, though who knows.) Her story is so very powerful and inspiring. It makes you reflect on your own life and inspires home and courage to be brave as your own authentic self. Highly recommend both of these memoirs.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

In my journey toward keeping up the fight toward achieving an antiracist society, I picked up this book, and it’s definitely one of the best I’ve read this entire year. We obviously have a giant problem in our country that isn’t going to have a resolution right away. It’s going to take systemic change to undo an entire evolution of racism throughout history. We may not have all the answers, and many of us (myself included) have been way too quiet in the past, but the very least we can do going forward is to educate ourselves and continue to do better than we have before. I loved this book because Reynolds breaks down Kendi’s original history book and expresses his remixed “not history book” almost as if he is a young college professor speaking right to you in engaging, conversational language. He takes complex ideas and make them simple to understand. He shares missing pieces to the America story that never showed up in history class at school, while simultaneous inspiring hope for a brighter future. He keeps you engaged the entire time, I learned a ton, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s perfect for young adults as well as older adults and it was a terrific read. Also, fun fact for my Maryland friends, like me, Reynolds also grew up in PG County.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

It took awhile to formulate some words after reading this one. It wasn’t really meant for my eyes to read. It was a letter to the author’s teenage son. It was as if I was peeking into an alternate world that was literally in my backyard – PG County, DC, Baltimore, MD, NYC – all places I have spent a majority of my life – yet an entirely different view. It was so beautifully written and heartfelt and gut wrenching and uncomfortable and wonderful at the same time. I won’t lie, after reading, I dug in deeper through the interwebs to dissect the passages, because I felt like I might not be intelligent enough to grasp all the meaning, and I wanted to make sure not to miss a thing. This is not the type of book that is straightforward to the point with historical facts and hope for the future. In fact, I’m not sure the author left it on a hopeful note. But what he did do was bare his soul and his experiences authentically and bravely with his son. Anyone who picks this up will not be able to deny the power of this book.

Plan Your Year: Homeschool Planning for Purpose and Peace by Pam Barnhill

Last year, I did something I NEVER ever anticipated or expected I would do in my life. I sent in a withdrawal letter to withdraw my kids from public school with a Letter of Intent to Homeschool my children. WHAT? 2020 you have really outdone yourself!!! A few weeks later, I ended up re-enrolling my oldest back in a new public school which he would attend remotely, but I had already dove in deep into homeschool life with this book and the research that came along with it, and I am forever changed. We have very much adapted a homeschool lifestyle this past year, minus the fact that we wish could have some more social opportunities, and this book played a HUUUUUGE role in my ability, knowledge, resources, and confidence to get me there. This books breaks down what homeschooling truly is, the different options available, how homeschooling can be very individualized and how to plan a year that works for your WHOLE family. She also includes a lot of her own helpful printables you can copy to actually execute your plan going forward. After reading this, I had such great grasp on the steps I needed to take to move forward with our homeschool plan and what life had thrown at us. And I actually felt EXCITED about it! This book (along with some very encouraging friends) allowed me to sideline my fear about this new experience and take on the challenge with enthusiasm.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life by Julie Bogart

I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I would recommend this to any parent regardless of whether or not you’re homeschooling, because our children are ALWAYS learning with us in every aspect of life! This book helped me to realize that our children are constantly learning and that WE can actually learn from them too. It gave me the power to let go of some things and embrace this crazy chaotic year and find the joy in it. It boosted my confidence as a homeschool mom and allowed me to understand how to cultivate curious and creative learners and thinkers. How we don’t always have to follow the “plan” and sometimes the best lessons are the ones that weren’t planned. I loved Julie’s stories and the way she writes. She also has some incredible ideas and strong novel-based curriculum that we have incorporated into our daily lives and routine that have truly been magical and essential to our homeschool experience. I am ever so grateful for this book!

I included two adult books in the photo above that I discussed previously, because while they were personal development for me, they were essential to our homeschool journey and ultimately the children’s literature chosen for our read alouds.

Children’s Literature

(These are all books I did as read alouds with my children that I wanted to include for the parents I have reading this post, and also because most of them are excellent reads even as adults!)

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

We absolutely LOVED this book! This was the first novel we read as we were dipping our toes into homeschooling this summer. The story is told through the eyes of a wolf named Swift, who was an extremely brave and likable character. This novel is based on a true story of a real wolf in Oregon who was separated from his pack and tells of his journey to survive. The writing was beautiful and descriptive with amazing depictions of nature. The illustrations by Monica Armino were also stunning. The story was adventurous, full of courage and bravery. We also learned a ton of about wolves and the Pacific Northwest area. Both my 7 and 5 year old loved it as did I. It might be our favorite so far.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

While I had watched the movie as a child a million times, I don’t think I ever read this book as a child! We read this novel together and did our first Brave Writer Dart study along with it, and it went so well! My kids fell in love with the characters, and we had so much fun with it…creating artwork together, discussing the story, taking little quizzes, learning about the anatomy of spiders, and we even had our first ever “Book Party” to celebrate when we finished. You wouldn’t even know that I have arachnophobia HAHA! After the book, we also watched the newer version of the movie which everyone enjoyed! Definitely recommend this classic!

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

This was another read we absolutely loved! Roz was such an amazing character and I love how this novel infused nature with technology. It’s an action-packed story of survival, friendship, parenthood, and adventure. We also loved and tried to recreate the beautiful artwork in this one. When we finished this one, we had a wild nature robot electronic dance party which the boys were obsessed with, and they cannot WAIT to read the sequel together.

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

We read this book along with our Biomes and Ecosystems Unit Study (created by Jodi Mockabee that we LOVED and I HIGHLY recommend). While we loved the unit study, I will say that we LIKED this book. We enjoyed the story, the characters, and learning about wild ponies, but I think the chapters just read a little slower for us and it was harder to keep their engaged attention. They may have been on the young side for this one, but it just wasn’t quite as adventurous as the last few we read to keep them excited to open the book each day.

Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson

These characters were super adorable!! We loved this little magical world! This was a fun, interesting book about a magic hat that transforms things when they are put inside. The illustrations were delightful and we had fun drawing the characters on their clouds. It did read a little slow for us, maybe because it’s been translated from Swedish to English, and I found myself trying to push through some of the chapters. But we did have a magical little party afterwards complete with pancakes, so all in all, it was a win!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (#2) by J.K. Rowling

I read the entire Harry Potter series on my own some years back, but it’s been even more fun reading it to my oldest! (My middle guy isn’t super hooked yet, but every now and then he will listen in too) We had a lot of fun reading this one over the summer outside in my parent’s hammock. From flying cars, transformations, and giant spider attacks, and finale twist, we loved all of Harry’s wild adventures in this book, and we’re currently reading the third!

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

I actually read this one on my own as I think my boys were too young for it right now, but I am absolutely saving it for when they get a little older (middle school perhaps) as it’s an excellent and very important read. This is a fictional middle-grade novel that tells the story of a twelve year old black boy who is shot by a white police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real one. Through the book, the boy is a ghost who can see his family and the aftermath of how his death has affected everyone, including the community. He meets the ghost of Emmett Till as well as the daughter of the police officer…the only living person who can see him. The book was very well done, telling the thoughts and feelings of many different characters in the story, and it’s a completely relevant read in regard to everything that has happened this last year.

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

This book went along with out Native People unit study by Jodi Mockabee, and we really enjoyed it! I never realized how much my 2 year old had been listening to these read alouds until he started running around the house saying “Omakayas, Omakayas,” the main character’s name. It tells the story of a 7 year old girl from the Ojibwa tribe and her family. At times, it was depressing and sad…discussing the smallpox outbreak and how it negatively affected family members was a little difficult, especially while going through the COVID-19 pandemic, but overall, I’m glad we read this. It’s part of history and culture and ultimately I felt it was important and educational for all of us. If you are a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, I think you will definitely appreciate this novel (and maybe the whole series perhaps) viewing this time period in history from a different lens.

Cookbooks

It’s rare that I buy a cookbook, so you know if I invest in one, it better be good! Haha. With all the cooking this last year, we were craving some new ideas, and these didn’t disappoint!

Just the Good Stuff by Rachel Mansfield

I followed Rachel on Instagram and she just makes healthy food look and taste SO delicious! Her food always includes healthier swaps/options for ingredients, and love that her recipes are ones that fuel, yet never leave you feeling deprived! Many of her recipes are also gluten free or paleo friendly if that’s your jam. When I saw she had a cookbook coming out, I had to have it! My fav recipe so far is her Enchilada Pie! The roasted turmeric carrot fries are also delish, and. she makes some yummy desserts too. You can also find more of her recipes on her blog https://rachlmansfield.com/.

Magnolia Table (Vol 2) by Joanna Gaines

As I’m writing this, I’m realizing this whole time I didn’t realize there were two volumes of this cookbook! I thought I had the original, and didn’t know I actually had the second one! Whoops! Haha! Now I’m curious about the first one as this one has to do with gathering and we didn’t do much of that the last year LOL! That said, it’s a beautiful book with a huge selection of recipes and includes how to make a lot of things from scratch. That honestly terrifies me a little, but the kid’s have been enjoying baking with me lately so who knows, maybe I will get inspired! This is more of a classic style cookbook as opposed to an overly healthy one, but it makes me excited to have some delicious options for when we’re able to host people to come over again!

Quick Prep Paleo by Mary Smith

This book was at the top of my Christmas list this year, and I was so excited to get it and support my friend, Mary! Mary is also a University of Maryland grad (go Terps!) and she runs an amazing blog called Mary’s Whole Life which she started after her diagnosis with Celiac Disease. Her recipes are all gluten free, paleo, and many are Whole 30. They are also QUICK, easy (she’s a mom of 3 also!) and delicious. Some of my favorites include her sheet pan sausage recipes, cashew chicken green bean stir fry, and baja fish taco bowl. You will absolutely find some incredible go-to recipes in her book to throw into your weekly rotation.

If you’re still here…you must really love books like me! Thanks for sticking around, and I hope these reviews were helpful! I’ve already put a dent into my 2021 reading goal, and can’t wait to share with you.

What do you think…I post updates regularly on The Gram, but do you like the yearly recap here, or would you prefer more frequent updates on the blog as well?

Lastly…while my list is already a mile high, I ALWAYS have room for more recommendations! Please share some of your favorite reads in the last year so we can all add them to our lists! 🙂

XO + Happy Reading!

Gina

FREE At Home Workouts #CORONAQUARANTINECHALLENGE

Hey guys–

As maddening as all of this is, I somehow believe there is a purpose of this corona craziness to somehow bring more of us together united as a WORLD across the globe.At least that’s my hope. 🙏🏼

I have been thinking a lot about our current situation and what I can do to help us all from going bananas! 🤪

For those of you going all-in on social distancing – I’m offering a few options:

1) A fun FREE daily workout will be posted on my Instagram page (@popcornandpandas) for the next 2 weeks and for those who participate and share in your STORIES, you will be eligible to win some pretty cool prizes!!!! To participate all you have to do is show up and do the workout, then let me know by tagging me in your Stories using the hashtag #coronaquarantinechallenge

2) A 2 Week FREE membership of our entire library of online streaming workouts and more importantly, access to my meal plans, recipes nutritional resources + membership and SUPPORT in my awesome online community.

Gyms + classes have closed plus now kids are home from school. We are still trying to keep our sanity and I have been struggling with HOW to HELP.

As a stay at home working mom trying to juggle all the schedule changes, figure out how to homeschool my kids, and be in a house with 5 people in one tiny Brooklyn apartment for an extended period of time, a little stress relief and support is just what we need.

✨So I’m opening the doors of my WELLNESS COMMUNITY. ✨~ workouts for the WHOLE FAMILY (including a special ZOOM workout for the kids!)

~ restorative yoga
~ meditations!
~ nutrition guidance and meal plans
~ positivity + a healthy distraction for all!

Just comment below or reach out to me and say “Send me the details, Gina!” and I’ll write you back ASAP!

*Feel free to forward this or share this message with your friends or family who need this, too!

We can do this together! ❤️

XO,

Gina

Spring Mini Try-On

Express Black Top / Snake Print Pleated Skirt / White Strap Flat Sandals

This tee is so comfy and fitted yet stretchy. I sized up to a Small and it fit perfectly. They didn’t have this skirt in my size, but I loved it, so I ordered the XS in store and they are going to ship it to me. These sandals were so comfy and had to have them. I also got them in black.

We are leaving for our trip to Punta Cana in less than 3 weeks (Thanks Beachbody!), and while I ordered a bunch of online cuteness for the the boys, I wanted to hit brick and mortar to do a little shopping for myself. I didn’t have a ton of time AND I had to bring my littlest with me (and you all know how THAT goes!), but I did find a few items to take home and some cute things to try.

I will say that most of what I saw in the stores today was a lot of beautiful, crisp neutrals…black, white, tan, brown, blush and other light neutrals and animal prints for spring. LOVELY….definitely not your typical spring styles, but also not totally what I would go for to bring on a spring break trip. You guys know I’m a little sassy, and love some BOLD prints especially for a tropical vacation!! So it was tough to find what I was looking for today in terms of this specific trip, though not impossible, and it also didn’t deter me from buying things LOL. Spring is definitely looking classy in the stores this season, but I may need to hunt for a few more tropical style vacation finds, especially since I have a trip to Barcelona + Ibiza coming up this summer as well!

Alas, here is what I tried on at Express + American Eagle today:

Floral Off the Shoulder Maxi Dress

I TRULY loved this one, and it fit really well aside from the length. It was dragging on the floor with me at 5’0 and I would have to wear a high heel with it for sure. If you are a bit taller than me, it’s really lovely! They also had it in WHITE with colorful flowers which would be perfect for my trip to Spain coming up.

Truffle Pink Ruffle Mock Neck Top

I saw this top online first and loved it. I wasn’t sure about this top in the store when trying it on. I sorta felt like it was forced or awkward, but looking back at the pics I kinda like it now! Haha. I think the color is just out of my comfort zone, but maybe I need to embrace it! That said, this top comes in a ton of colors.

My little guy is in the background. Hehe. He was a good sport.

Front Tie Romper

You all know I love a good romper! This one was super cute, but it was a little baggy on me in the XS, so I would definitely size down. I also wasn’t sure about the material. It was VERY comfortable, but seemed like something I would wrinkle or ruin when I washed (I am not into ironing/steaming my clothing, I’m just lazy when it comes to that stuff haha). But I did like the look of this one!

High Waisted Floral Print Front Tie Pleated Shorts

Now THESE shorts are exactly what I am talking about when I think of a bold print for a tropical vacay! And they are a black base, so I would wear these in a NY minute this summer too. The size 2 fit me perfectly, and they were really comfortable, so they definitely came home with me. I also swapped out the sandals for the black ones and took those home too!

Before leaving Express, I snagged some amazing earrings as well. I feel as if I’ve been neglecting the accessories lately, and they always used to be a big part of my style. So I stocked up a little. I don’t have photos but here are the links to the earrings I purchased as well:

Metal Resin Circle Drop Earrings

Faux Leather + Metal Disc Earrings

Set of Three Resin Hoop Earrings

Twisted Textured Hoop Earrings

American Eagle Striped Denim JumperCross Body Bag

I loved this on the rack, and it was extremely comfortable, but it was too baggy on me in the back. There was a ton of room, and combined with the wide leg, the way it settled wasn’t flattering for my body and made me look much wider and boxier.

Short Sleeve Surplice Jumpsuit

And then I found THIS one! This jumpsuit was a much better fit, and super comfortable. It’s a little long here, but I have the shoes at home to pair with it so I knew I could make it work! The photo online show the model tied it in the back, but I tied it in the front here and I think it could work either way. This one came home with me for sure. The cross body bag came home with me too.

Lastly, it wasn’t part of spring attire, so I didn’t include a photo here, BUT this incredible multicolored sweater was 50% off on the sale rack in my size and it’s still available online, so I figured why not link it here. It is SO comfortable and even though I won’t get a ton of wear this season, I will still rock this during the cooler months next winter! It’s VERY oversized, but I went with the XS and really love it.

Alright, that’s it for now. Any suggestions on where I should do a try-on next?

Hope you’re all having a great week so far!

XO,

Gina

Popcorn Book Club: 2019 Book Reviews

I have always loved to read, and last year, I really enjoyed putting together a list of some of my favorite books of all time. In the past year, I vowed to keep you guys informed with the books I’m reading, and I have continued to do so over on my Instagram page with the hashtag #popcornbookclub. If you have a read a book you love, please join in on the fun and use this hashtag when you post so we can all stay informed and add new reads to our lists!

While I will always share my books over on Instagram, I plan to do a yearly recap over here on the blog. I didn’t quite make my goal of reading 26 books this past year, but I added 20 more to my “read” list! Without further ado, here are my book reviews from 2019!

Personal Development

  1. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
    • I don’t give 5 stars very often, but this book earned it! This book really spoke to my heart and helped me to view creativity in a new light. It was a very inspiring read, and I definitely recommend it.
  2. Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
    • I just love Rachel’s voice. She speaks to me in a way I can truly understand, and her stories make me feel as if she is reading my mind and putting it on paper. A definite must-read for any #momboss or career mom trying to balance it all.
  3. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
    • This was a really inspiring read for those wanting to take on leadership roles. They take strategies from SEAL training and leading and bring it into the corporate world to help create high-performance teams. This book will definitely help you to level up your leadership skills.
  4. Build to Last by Keith Callahan
    • A must-read for anyone in the network marketing business. It discusses pushing past your limiting beliefs, leadership, developing a team of leaders, and how to create time and financial freedom in your life.
  5. Rising Strong by Brene Brown
    • We all go through struggles in our lives, and this book is all about owning our stories and getting back up. Brene Brown never ceases to amaze me with her research and theory and real-life examples. This book will challenge you to think about your own story and how you can achieve deeper meaning in your life.
  6. The Power of Significance by John C. Maxwell
    • I have never met a John C. Maxwell book I didn’t like or that didn’t help me in some way. This man is genius. Read everything he writes and listen to everything he speaks.
  7. The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
    • I liked the idea of this book, but the historical examples were just a little dry for me. I gained a few key concepts from this book, but I was a little bored.
  8. Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht
    • This book was well written and would have been helpful for me if I had read it starting out earlier in my career (out of college) and if I was currently following a corporate career path. It “missed the mark” for me personally, because I just couldn’t really relate with where I am today.

Other Non-fiction

  1. Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever by Kelly LeVeque
    • This was an awesome book and was really in line with the way I currently eat and the meal plans I follow with the Ultimate Portion Fix and 2B Mindset with Beachbody. As a holistic healthcare expert, I was curious about what Kelly had to say about nutrition and how it compared to what I currently do. I was pleased to find many similarities (for example, the fad diets don’t work, and it’s about creating that healthy lifestyle and choosing food that fuels you and makes you feel GOOD!) and she has some really delicious recipes and ideas. It’s great for anyone who might have an unhealthy relationship with food and looking to free themselves from that mentality.

Fiction

  1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
    • I highly recommend this book! It took awhile to get into it, but once you’re in it, you can’t stop reading. I loved the characterization, the setting, the writing, and the overall story. So beautifully written!
  2. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
    • This was definitely a good read! It had a ton of hype, so I think I went into it with over-expectation. I enjoyed it and would recommend it, but I didn’t get that “WOW, holy smokes, must-read amazing vibe” while reading it. The storyline was interesting though, and I enjoyed the characters and the relationships between the characters the most.
  3. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
    • This classic novel completely floored me! It gave me “Hunger Games” vibes in the sense that it was like this “what if-alternate disturbing reality world” but in a totally different kind of way. It’s a frightening and powerful read. I originally wanted to read it, because I wanted to watch the series, and I always like reading the books first. Glad I read it, and I look forward to watching the series.
  4. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
    • This author duo is one of my absolute FAVORITES! Their thrillers are so absolutely captivating that once you start reading, they draw you in and keep you turning the pages to find out what is coming next. I loved their first book, The Wife Between Us, and now this one. I can’t wait until their next one comes out.
  5. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
    • This book also came with a lot of hype, and I really enjoyed reading this thriller, but it was also totally predictable for me. All in all, it was a good novel and I would recommend it, but it would have been more fun if I hadn’t figured out all the twists and turns.
  6. An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
    • I really enjoyed this murder mystery!!! I read Lapena’s booked “The Couple Next Door” and “A Stranger in the House” and enjoyed them, but I think this one is my favorite so far! I loved the character development and the ideas of them all being stranded in the hotel together like a murder mystery dinner party in the snow. A definite page turner!
  7. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
    • I know this was all the rage, and I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie, but I have to admit, I was underwhelmed. It was OK, but to be frank, the characters just kind of annoyed me a lot, and I couldn’t handle all of the brattiness haha. It just seemed like the whole book was about a lot of really unimportant stuff. Which I guess was to be expected. I just didn’t think the story was all that great. The one thing I found interesting was the history of Singapore that was woven in, because I didn’t really know much about that part of the world.
  8. China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
    • I decided to give the series another chance even after the first underwhelming book, because I was genuinely interested in finding out what happened in the love story of the main two characters. I actually enjoyed this book better than the first! So I’m actually glad i kept reading! However, I’m not sure I will read the third unless someone convinces me otherwise.
  9. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
    • I really enjoyed Big Little Lies and What Alice Forgot by this author, so I thought I would give this newer one a try. WOW. It was WEIRD. Haha. Moriarty is a great story teller, and I originally liked the health and wellness retreat premise, because that is right up my alley, but the book got pretty weird pretty quick and it just got too unrealistic for me. If you like her books and her storytelling, you may enjoy it though!
  10. When Life Gives you Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
    • This continuation of The Devil Wears Prada was a good, suburban Connecticut, gossipy novel! I enjoyed it. It wasn’t life altering, but if you have a trip coming up and want something easy and fun for the beach or plane, this is a good one!
  11. A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause (Young Adult)
    • This is a debut novel from one of my Insta-friends! The story depicts a fashion competition set in the Victorian era in a fictional town/city. Autumn is a beautiful writer, and I enjoyed reading her book!

Okay, all my professional bookworm friends!!! What were your favorite reads of 2019? What do I need to add to my 2020 list?

Please share in the comments!

Hope you are enjoying the 3-day weekend celebrating MLK, and I hope you are finding some extra time to cozy up with a book and get some extra reading in with this colder weather!

XO,

Gina

Post-Holiday Winter Bucket List

WOW!

Is it really 2020, you guys? Can’t believe we are in a new decade.

Now that the holidays are over, it’s typically what I refer to as the “time of the year where it’s so cold that I can’t wait for it to be over and for spring to arrive.”

This year, I honestly can’t say that. It’s been the warmest winter we’ve had in maybe my whole lifetime…truly…and maybe we won’t have a chance to do half of this bucket list after all….but alas, the boys and I are usually scrounging for things to do this time of year. We go into a little hibernation mode, get a little bored trying to think of things to do, and we get a little stir crazy too.

So THIS year, we decided to come up with a Post-Holiday Winter BUCKET LIST! We normally do one for summer, so why not do one NOW and make this winter season a little more exciting with fun things to look forward to?

We wrote ours out on paper a couple weeks ago, and we’ve already crossed out ice skating and making pasta fagioli! Our list is fairly specific to our family, so in order to create one for sharing, I tweaked this printable list below to make it a bit more universal. It does tend to sway to a “family style” bucket list. However, there are lots of ideas for winter things to do that everyone can enjoy, with or without children. I also included a space to add your own ideas as well!

I hope you enjoy, and I hope this makes your winter season a little less mundane!

XO,

Gina

Unleash Your Greatness

In December you said, I’ll start in January.
Last month, you said you’d wait til this month.
Last week you said, I’ll begin on Monday.
Yesterday, you said you’d start today…

There is never going to be a RIGHT time.
You are ALWAYS going to be busy.
EVERY month has holidays and vacations.
You will NEVER have more time in the day…

What are you waiting for?!
When will you realize that NOW is the only moment to unleash your GREATNESS???

Was reality checked today when I got news that a member of our Beachbody family got hit with a heart attack yesterday. Someone who is fit and healthy. Yes, it can happen to anyone. Yes he needs all the prayers right now, but he will likely survive because his wife performed CPR like a champ AND he was fit and healthy before this happened. ❤️

But there is no time like the present and tomorrow is no guarantee.

So make the MOST of your time and take CARE of yourself and your body!

If you aren’t happy or healthy with where you are in this moment, do something about it NOW!

Let’s do this.
I’m here for you.
Let’s get to work.
Let’s crush some goals.
Give yourself the chance at your best life.

***I’m OPENING UP 20 NEW SPOTS for my November Gratitude & Greatness Health + Fitness Challenge 🙏🏼❤️💪🏼***

It’s simple:
💪🏼 30 min a day
🍎 Healthy food
👯‍♀️ Support + accountability

If you are ready to unleash your greatness with me, pop me a comment below or email me a message and we can find out if this could be a good fit for you! 👊🏼

XO,

Gina

Fall Style Mini Try-On

Old Navy cream long sleeved teeAerie foldover joggersH&M Long Black CardiganH&M White Sneakers w/ Snake Trim

As promised on Instagram, here is my fall mini try-on of recent items I purchased online from various retailers. Most of these items are laid back, comfortable, cozy, and things I can run around in with the kiddos. As a stay at home working mama, I don’t really need to be dressed up every day (and to be honest that would be uncomfortable with my current lifestyle of walking the kids to school and playing on the floor with the babe), but I also don’t want to look like a hot mess every day or totally live in activewear. Once I’m finished with my workout for the day, I like to put on “real clothes.” So I have some joggers, sweaters, sneaks and more linked here today.

For full disclosure, I do receive a teeny tiny commission if you use my shopping links. If you buy in-store or from a different link, I don’t. So if you decide to shop my links, know that I TRULY appreciate it! It takes a lot of time to put these posts and try-ons together, so THANK YOU!

Alright, the first outfit is a cream long-sleeve tee from Old Navy, which was super comfortable, stretchy, and long enough to cover the booty. I paired them with these army green Aerie joggers which feel like workout pants, but baggier. The high waist is made to fold down and they are tapered at the bottom. The long black cardigan is from H&M and I have been LIVING in it lately. It lacks pockets, but it’s super comfortable and soft. Finished the look with these white pleather H&M sneaks with faux snake skin trim and gold color detail. They gave me a pair with bum laces, so I need to return or get fixed, but they fit really well, and I’m loving them!

H&M Orange Mock SweaterTarget Wild Fable Mom JeansH&M White Sneakers

LOVE the bold, vibrant color of this H&M knit sweater! It’s perfect shade for this time of year (sort of a bright reddish-orange) and warm enough to wear into the winter. I love that it’s on the shorter side but not cropped, and there is still enough material that you can tuck it in. I paired it with these Mom Jeans I had from Target, and think it could go well with any type of boyfriend jean for a casual look with sneakers. You could also dress it up with a skinnier jean and ankle booties. I am loving these from Target.

H&M Wonder Woman SweatshirtTarget Mom JeansH&M White Sneakers

My boys are big superhero fans around here, so I thought this Wonder Woman sweatshirt would be fun to wear around them. I love the contrast of the strong bold superhero with the soft pink sweatshirt for a strong feminine look. #girlpower

Old Navy Oatmeal Sweater – Rag & Bone Jeans (old) similar here on sale- Target Booties (also old)

This Old Navy rib-knit trim crew neck oatmeal sweater was my absolute favorite find in my entire fall online shopping spree! It is the most comfortable and also very versatile. I generally steer clear of this type of shade (and usually go for either super bold or black on black on black haha), but was inspired by one of my favorite life & style bloggers, Lauren McBride, (if you’re not following her already, you need to) to get out of my comfort zone and try some cream/ivory based colors, and I’m super happy I did!

Target Leopard Sweater – Rag & Bone Jeans – Target Booties

While shopping at Target, I originally saw THIS leopard print sweater and loved it, but they didn’t have my size. So my eyes next went to the one I’m wearing above, again out of my typical comfort zone. I’m still thinking about snagging the other one online as well though, because can you really ever have too many animal prints? These are both on the thinner side and perfect for fall before it gets too cold.

Free People Chunky Knit Sweater (old) – similar one hereH&M Black Jogger PantCheetah Slip On Sneakers

Before you get TOO excited, this Free People sweater is from a couple seasons ago. I know, I know. So annoying. However, I DID find this brand new alternative that is VERY similar and I think you will love it as well. I love how it pairs with these elastic joggers from H&M which are so incredibly soft, comfy, and affordable. Lastly, these platform cheetah sneaks are so fricken cute, but if you plan to order, I would size DOWN, because there are too big for me in my regular size.

Hot Topic Skull Tank (old) – similar hereH&M Black Jogger PantH&M White Sneaks – Steve Madden Crossbody Bag (old) – MAC Dark Side Lip

Lastly, this wasn’t part of my try on, but I wore it yesterday, and since I’m wearing so many of the same items, I decided to throw it in here for this post since it’s so close to Halloween. Topped off with a MAC Dark Side Lip to complete the look.

Let me know which look is your FAV and which items you are loving for fall!

We are getting excited for Halloween this week, and can’t wait to dress up and share our family costume! What are you (or your littles) being this year?

Only 10 workouts left in my 100 day program, and our new Challenge Group will be starting up soon in November! I am looking forward to starting a new program in a couple weeks. Let me know if you’re interested in trying it out and jumping in with me!

Make it a great week everyone!

XO,

Gina

Homemade Healthy Applesauce

Last weekend, we went to Apple Dave’s Orchard upstate in Warwick, NY thanks to the invite and recommendation from some of our Brooklyn friends. We had an awesome time got tons of apples as well as pumpkins, listened to music, saw a puppet show, ate food, and enjoyed time with friends. The orchard also had an awesome selection of cider, wine, mead, etc for those who aren’t planning a two hour drive home! I loved that while this orchard was busy, it didn’t seem too overcrowded, the lines were short, you never really had to wait (unless you got to the orchard super late, and there was a line to get in – we got there by noon and it was no hassle). I also loved the small town feel of this orchard, and I would definitely return!

A few years back, I tried my hand at making apple butter. I don’t branch out to make these types of things from scratch often, but the kids were really excited about helping me so this year, I decided to try out applesauce.

Minus the fact that I forgot my food processor was broken and I had to transfer to multiple blenders, it actually ended up being pretty easy to do and the boys even helped me chop up some apples to put in the crock pot!

We added some strawberries to make it a little more interesting, and kept the ingredients healthy! It ended up being darn delicious, and I have to say, I’m pretty proud we pulled it off!

Ingredients:

*8-10 medium sized organic apples peeled and cored – the apples I used were VERY easy to peel. However, the skins have great nutrients and you COULD leave them on if you want to save time

*8-10 organic strawberries sliced (optional)

*1/2 cup water

*Ceylon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (I used both) to taste)

*10 second drizzle of raw local honey (optional)

Directions:

Place all of the ingredients in a slow cooker. You can cook on low for 6 hours or I cooked mine on high for 2 hours. At this point the apples will be very soft. I transferred them to a blender/food processor and blend until they are your desired consistency. Voila! You can store in the refrigerator for about 7 days, and you can also freeze it.

Looking back at this, it was pretty easy, and maybe just maybe I will do it again sometime. 😉

Are you heading to the apple orchard this fall? What are you planning to make? Would love to hear your recipes!

XO,

Gina