Author: melissaburgess

33. Buffalonian. Loves hockey, writing, traveling & more.
Posted in Love, Marriage & Relationships, Uncategorized

50 Reasons I’m Thankful For My Spouse Challenge

Posted on by melissaburgess

This week, clearly part of the American Thanksgiving Holiday, the wonderful folks over at Beating 50 posted this challenge:

“In light of thanksgiving, we wanted to invite you all to join us in making a list of 50 reasons why you are thankful for your husband or wife (or fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend). Let’s thank our loved one for the little things and the big things! Thankfulness produces joy, and joy is what we want our marriages to be marked by! We hope that our lists of thanksgiving, inspire you to write and share your own with your spouse!”

This was my first Thanksgiving as a married woman, and really our first holiday as a married couple! (We got married in mid-July.) We’ve spent the last few Thanksgivings together, but there was something different about this one. Just knowing that we’re married and we’re really a family now, just made everything feel better, more connected.

So, Beating 50, I’ll take your challenge. Fifty reasons I’m thankful for my husband… here we go!

Continue reading “50 Reasons I’m Thankful For My Spouse Challenge” →

Posted in Books, Reviews

Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know By The Time She’s 30

Posted on by melissaburgess

Well, here we are. November of 2016, which means this month marks my 26th birthday. I know, I know, a lot of you will say “Hah! That’s not old!” but in my perspective, it feels old. It feels like I’m making moves in my life and honestly, it’s a great feeling.

I just recently picked up a book at work that I’m now reading, entitled “Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know By the Time She’s 30.” I figured, with four years (and a little change) to go, I should probably see what the fuss is all about when it comes to this list.

Presented without further comment, here’s the list – originally written by Glamour columnist Pamela Redmond Satran:

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Posted in A Better You

17 Motivational Quotes To Kick Off Your Week

Posted on by melissaburgess

Ah, Mondays. The glory of a new week. Mondays can definitely be rough — but look at it this way. It’s the start of a new week! Whatever happened last week doesn’t matter; it’s in the past. You have  the opportunity of a fresh start. Anything can happen this week. Take it one day at a time. You’ve got this.

I’m a sucker for inspirational/motivational quotes, so I wanted to kick off this week by pulling out some of my favorites for you guys. What’s your favorite?

  • “There is strength inside you that you have yet to discover.”
  • “Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.” – The Wall Street Journal
  • “The world only exists in your eyes. You can make it as big or as small as you want.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • “You are enough. You are so enough, it’s amazing how enough you are.”
  • “If nothing else, one day you can look someone straight in the eyes and say
    ‘But I lived through it. And it made me who I am today.’ ” – Iain Thomas, I Wrote This For You

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Posted in Books, Reviews

Book Review: Wonder Women – 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History

Posted on by melissaburgess

cugxqh4wiaanevh-jpg-largeWant to learn about some truly badass women throughout history that you may not have heard of before? Well, I’ve got the book for you – Sam Maggs’ 2016 title “Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors and Trailblazers Who Changed History.” Whether you want to get inspired or are just interested in learning a little bit more about some of the incredible women who have come before us, this is an excellent read.

I actually requested for my library system to purchase this book prior to its release. They did, and I got to be the first one to get my hands on a copy! (Thank you, request system.) IN terms of reading, this book is short (under 240 pages) but covers a lot of ground. It dedicates between 2-4 pages to each woman that it highlights, while also including a bit in each chapter to cover several other women who fall into that category, be it medicine, spy, or inventor.

Honestly, I learned a lot from reading this book, and I walked away feeling absolutely…. recharged, inspired and energized. It’s incredible to read about these women who, throughout history, have defied the odds (and often, the laws), done their own thing, and made significant changes in the world and the lives of many others. Sadly, many of these women were never formally credited with their inventions or discoveries; instead, a man came in and took credit instead. (Ugh!)

Continue reading “Book Review: Wonder Women – 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History” →