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Fit Traveler Blog

Travel + Lifestyle Blog

My Favorite Books ALL TIME

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I have always loved to read. There’s not a time I remember when I didn’t have a book with me, my Kindle with me, or an app downloaded on my phone. I will read almost any type of book. In the past, I would finish every book whether I liked it or not. For some reason, I couldn’t DNF. Now I have no problem putting a book down if I’m not feeling it. These are my favorite books that I reach for time and time again.

My favorite book of all time is Diary of Anne Frank. I love this book so much. I have reread it several times and throughout several times in my life. Even though I have read it so many times I will never get tired of this book.

SELF DEVELOPMENT

Braving The Wilderness by Brene Brown. In the cancel culture world that we live in now, I think so many people need to read this book. It teaches us how to be ourselves while standing up for what we believe in but still listening to others even if we disagree. One story that always sticks out to me is when she is at a super-conservative event and someone mentions gun control. Brown is pro-guns and a member of the NRA (I believe, I didn’t fact check everything), but instead of getting upset and ready to defend her views. She listened to what the other person was saying. Once she was done talking, Brown talked about her beliefs. This is one of my favorite books because it reminds me that I need to listen more and not talk as much.

101 Essays To Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest. I saw this book all over TikTok and had to get it. This book CHANGED my life. It literally changed my mind on so many things. I have horrible self-talk and automatically think the worst. This book has helped me reset and get to the root of my issues instead of changing my habits. I will definitely be reading this book again soon because there were so many times I wanted to journal my thoughts and feelings. But I just wanted to read all the way through. I didn’t want to put this book down. Plus, the way she writes it feels like you and her are in a conversation and best friends.

FICTION

May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes. I got this book from Free Little Library in Tampa, Florida. I didn’t know what to expect when I got this book because the cover is just the title with a can of cranberry sauce. From the first couple of pages, I was hooked. It is such a good book about realizing how important it is to find your own community and family. The book takes place over 1 year which you wouldn’t think because this book is thick. This is on my list of favorite books because of how hooked I was to this book. It’s a THICK book and I kept reading and reading because I wanted to know what happened next. As you read there was NO way I could predict what was next. The story just got crazier and crazier and you want to know how it ends, and it ends in the most wholesome way possible.

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews. This book is a quick read and great for the beach or by the campfire. It’s about an aunt and her niece on the run from the niece’s father. All the aunt has is a bag of cash and a ripped piece of paper with an ad for the Beachcomber Hotel in Florida. She makes her way down there and tries to start her new life. She quickly learns that her sister had stolen items from people staying at the hotel. Andrews has also become one of my favorite authors right now because all of her books are quick reads.

BUSINESS

The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran. This book is great for those wanting to complete more in a year. It’s about thinking of 1 year in 12 weeks. So in 1 typical calendar year, you think in 4 years. Moran emphasizes not thinking in quarters, but each 12 weeks is a year. So each day is like a week, each week is like a month, etc. There is a workbook that goes along with this book. I have done both and think they complement each other very well, but you can do both and still get the same results.

Atomic Habits by James Clear. I received this book as a giveaway when the world was ending. I wasn’t working and I think I finished it in a day. The one downfall of this book is there weren’t any new concepts to me but new ways to implement or how to think about something is why I recommend this book. My biggest takeaway from the book is getting 1% better each day. It’s literally my mantra right now. How can I be 1% better each day and improve toward what I want to accomplish?

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Hi! I'm Jessa! I'm here to talk about all things travel and healthy living without giving up all your favorites.

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# Peoria Area Farmers Market List Monday - Peori # Peoria Area Farmers Market List

Monday

- Peoria Metro Market: Everyday May - Oct 31 8am - 4700 N. University St., Peoria

Tuesday

- Morton: June 4 - August - from 3:30 pm until 6:30 pm - 225 E. Jefferson St., Morton
- Peoria Metro Market: Everyday May - Oct 31 8am - 4700 N. University St., Peoria

Wednesday

- Peoria Metro Market: Everyday May - Oct 31 8am - 4700 N. University St., Peoria
- Junction City: May 24th - ? - 3pm to 6pm -
- Sheridan: May 1 - September - from 3 pm until 6 pm - 3827 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, situated outside of Relics and Sheridan Nursery.

Thursday

- Peoria Metro Market: Everyday May - Oct 31 8am - 4700 N. University St., Peoria
- Pekin: June 6 - August 29 - from 330pm to 630pm -551 S. 14th St., Pekin, in the Miller Center parking lot
- Pekin Fall Market: Two fall markets will also be held − Sept. 12 and Oct. 10
- 3rd THURSDAY ONLY - May 16th, June 20th, July 18th & August 15th - 3pm to 7pm -

Friday

- Peoria Metro Market: Everyday May - Oct 31 8am - 4700 N. University St., Peoria
- East Peoria: June 7 - August 30th - from 4pm to 7pm - 396 W. Washington St., East Peoria

Saturday

- Peoria Metro Market: Everyday May - Oct 31 8am - 4700 N. University St., Peoria
- Peoria Downtown - May 18 - Sept. 28 -  8 a.m. until 12pm - 212 SW Water St., Peoria, in the River Station parking lot.
- Germantown Hills: June 1 - Oct 26 - from 9am to 1pm - Germantown Hills Crossing
- Metamora: June 1 - September - from 8am to Noon - 113 E. Partridge St., Metamora

Sunday
Glow Wild at the @therealpeoriazoo Dates: Friday Glow Wild at the @therealpeoriazoo 
Dates: Friday - Sundays until April 27
Time: 5:30p-9:30p

We got there around 6:30pm, and didn’t leave until 9:15pm. The website says the walk will take about an hour, but you can go at your own pace. There are so many lanterns in each animal exhibit.

We started going through the Asian Trail, there was year of animals. The Africa section was my favorite, but I am not going to tell you why. But it was a nice surprise, and I was way too excited.

There were hands on activities throughout the zoo, but by the time we got to some of the areas it was closed.
-make your lantern
-paint rocks to be placed around the zoo
-tattoos
-music each night

🎟️Tickets:
Advance Online: Adults $19.95 | Kids $13.95
At the Door: Adults $25 | Kids $15
What are your “musts” when traveling? Let me k What are your “musts” when traveling? Let me know in the comments! 

These are the things I always have when I travel: (arrow down)

1. Spare credit card/bank card - I typically bring this, but before my last trip my regular bank card got hacked. Now I make sure to always have 2 cards with me. 
2. Portable charge/power banks - I have a charger that I keep in my car all the time. It's a 4 in 1 charger, but I also have portable charge that I keep in my bag. It has come in handy more times that I can count for me and other people. 
3. Reusable water bottle - I have my Stanley when I am driving. While I am hiking I use either a water bladder or a hydroflask. 
4. Reusable Bags - My favorite is the Mary Kay roll up bag. It has 4 plastic bags that holds everything I need for my morning/evening routine and shower time. 
5. Books - I will most always have a physical book along with my kindle app. I love to read. During my hikes I stop throughout for snacks and reading. 
6. Wet Wipes - My favorite is HyperGo because they have so many different scents. They are also 12x12 so usually 1 works for the whole body. 

In the reel - Things I won't travel without

Caption - What are your travel musts? let me know in the comments because I am going to compile a list and share later. 

Here are mine:

portable charger - I have a small bag where I keep all my cords & portable chargers. 

spare credit card - 

iPad - I have everything on there. books. writing. 

snacks -

reusable water bottle 

headphones -
If this Heisman, I don’t know what else is!!! If this Heisman, I don’t know what else is!!! 

I recently tried to camp with him but that FAILED!!! he actually likes using more to pee on then sleep in.
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