I love to read, I'm always reading a book if not more than one. I love novels, autobiographies, travel related reads, and more. Old school paper books are my favorite. I am always picking up and dropping off books from the Seattle Public Library. 

Here are the very best best books I've read in 2019. The links take you to Amazon where you can get a proper book or an ebook. I'm sure you can find most of these at your local bookstore or library.

Let me know if you've also read any of these books, or if you're inspired by my list to do so!

This isn't the most exciting post I've ever compiled. Between vacations and weekends, though, I spend the majority of my life at an office. I want my space to be neat and my time to be productive. The desk feels like it's mine and has everything I need to keep me busy, comfortable, and on task.

My three Office Favorites are perfect for your desk at your workplace or wherever you spend your day. Grab one for yourself or your favorite productivity junkie's Christmas stocking, Advent calendar, or Haukkanah gift. 

{Life and Links} is a new feature here at Figs and Flights. A few weeks ago I shared my tips, tricks, and favorite products for Falling into Halloween. I loved it and it seemed that you readers did, too. 

The motto here at Figs and Flights is "life fueled by food and travel." {Life + Links} is how I'll share my lists for creating a calm, happy, fulfilling life between the food and travel adventures. It will focus on day to day life. The themes will vary seasonally, include tips and tricks and my favorite items aka the stuff that's so good I need to share it with you. 

Some of the links that I provide will take you will connect you to Amazon while others will not. Here's what I want you to know about the things I'm recommending to you:

• I will only recommend items that I use regularly and that I absolutely LOVE
• When you buy something with Amazon via Figs and Flights I will get a small commission so THANKS for shopping that with me
• I'd love to hear what you think about something I've recommended! Shoot me an email or tag me on Instagram to show off your favorite new thing.

Mornings are a peaceful and productive time for me. It wasn't always this way, though.

I caught a small glimmer of myself as a morning person in college on days when I had a test. My routine was to get up EXTRA SUPER early and camp out in a coffee shop. I'd spend several hours there cramming, fueled by plenty of caffeine and a bagel with cream cheese, before a test. I'd take the test, go to my other classes, then head home and nap like a true college champ. Other than those really productive test-day mornings I didn't really do mornings back then.

Mornings began to feel like a ticking time bomb as soon as I started working full time. I'd run out the door with wet hair, without eating breakfast or having packing a lunch, feeling totally disheveled and unprepared for the day. I really admired people who showed up to work looking and seeming ready for the day rather than being smacked over the head by it! How did they do that?

I didn't set out to find the key to mellow mornings but I did! Here are a few ways I learned to make a better morning routine for myself. 

For my fellow SUMMER lovers and my future self, specifically. As summer turns into a frosty fall, here's a little recap of what I did to ease the pain this year. 

​Remember that you have Halloween and then Christmas to look forward to, even when you're cold! Leaves are pretty, blankets are cozy, and you can actually drink hot drinks and eat soup every day.