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  • what i read : december 2015

    around here

    I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate, and that you continue to enjoy this winter holiday season! We had a lovely weekend and I am looking forward to the fresh start of the new year. Today and tomorrow I’m talking books: in December I only read a few (hello holidays) but they were good ones!

    All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – Here is another acclaimed book that totally lived up to the hype for me. I was about halfway through it when I had to put it aside for a few months in order to read book club books and library holds. But when I picked it back up, the details seemed as fresh as ever; it made a serious impression on me. It was slow, vivid, beautiful, intense at times, sad, hopeful, and more. If you love character-driven fiction with a strong sense of place and time, you will adore this. (5 stars)

    In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick – Having read and highly appreciated Moby-Dick, I was interested in this true story of the tragedy that inspired its writing. And apparently I love a well-written survival story, because I devoured this. (Pun not intended, but enjoyed nonetheless.) (4 stars)

    The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett – This is actually a novella, coming in at only 120 pages; it’s a lighthearted story of the Queen of England discovering a love of reading at the age of 71. It was a pleasant way to spend a few hours in the car, and it had a slightly surprising ending. (3 stars, audiobook)

    Tomorrow I’m excited to share my year in books, including my favorites of this year!

  • link roundup / 41

    pajama day

    Today the kids have their Christmas party at daycare, and it’s PJ day! To celebrate, last night we went to Target and got them both new PJ’s (which were needed anyway) and hats since it’s finally a bit cold outside.

    I have got to try this hot chocolate tip.

    I made these green beans + bacon for Thanksgiving and brought them to a church potluck. They get so many compliments which is rare for a vegetable, I think! They’re my go-to now.

    Annual best-of lists are coming out, and I’m loving it! Here’s one list of the 30 best fiction books of 2015, and I had only heard of six of them – and read none!

    For the last two years I’ve given David this desk calendar for Christmas, and he loves it. Highly recommend.

    I think I could just stare at this little guy all day and smile.

    Selfie-taking tips. So interesting!

    Meredith went to the dentist yesterday and they almost had me sold on a Sonicare for Kids toothbrush. Anyone have one?

    I’m currently reading the abridged version of this (I had an internal debate about reading abridged, but it’s all I had on hand) and I just started this for postal book club.

    Happy Friday! What do you have going on this weekend? I get to see A Christmas Carol with my brother, and we are going to a special kids’ Christmas church service with my parents. I’m also taking Monday off to have a shopping date with my dad, and I’m hoping to get all presents wrapped, too! This might be my last post for a couple of weeks, but I’ll be back at the end of the year to share my favorite books and the year in review. Have a great weekend!

  • ten things on a friday

    liam hiding

    one.
    I’ve had a cold for the past week. It’s been terrible! I wish I could just hide under some pillows like Liam is here. I rarely get sick so when it hits me I’m unprepared. I actually did take one day off work (which was lovely) but the rest of the week I’ve just been powering through.

    two.
    I’m in major binge-mode with The Good Wife. I go home after work and watch an episode before picking up the kids because I can’t go a day without it. I’m only at the end of season one so I’m happy that I have plenty of material ahead of me.

    juniper kitty

    three.
    On my sick day I made boots and sewed two dresses for Juniper Kitty. I love her and am now ordering Basil Fox for Liam because he loves it just as much. I was very, very intimidated to sew the dress because I have never done clothing of any kind before, and I had heard that doll/children clothes are harder because they are smaller. I’m pleased to report that it was much simpler than I expected and now I’m even tempted to sew myself something.

    four.
    The last part of Juniper Kitty’s outfit is a knitted cowl, and that is what I’m working on now. I had to re-learn how to knit (I used this website) but it came back to me pretty quickly. I think I’ll be done with the cowl by the end of the weekend, and it’s the perfect time of year to fall in love with knitting again.

    in the heart of the sea

    five.
    Also making me happy is that I’m reading a great book, In the Heart of the Sea. It is the true story that inspired Melville’s Moby-Dick (which I loved). I hear they are making a movie out of it, which is exciting. Although I never actually get around to seeing the movies that I want to see, so I don’t know why I’m excited, but I am.

    meredith in the driveway

    six.
    On the not-so-exciting side of things, Meredith is going through one of her difficult phases again. My thoughts are that she is very sensitive to sugar and lack of sleep, and we have given in to her demands too often for the sake of ending a tantrum. It’s time to not give in, and that process is ugly. But we are trying.

    seven.
    The countdown to Christmas using books has not been going too well (see above). There were too many tantrums happening so I put the books away. I love the idea of this tradition, but I don’t think I’ll try it again until the kids are more mature and have a regular bedtime routine (in their own beds, and they can go to sleep on their own).

    eight.
    And I am back to considering how to get both kids to sleep in their own beds. I’m wondering if a bunk bed would be fun for them. At the very least I think it’s time to turn the crib into a toddler bed; maybe Liam will sleep okay there and we can get Meredith into the twin bed.

    it works hair skin nails

    nine.
    I’m interested in the supplements that people take. I currently just do a prenatal vitamin, but I want to add Omega-3. I heard that it can help people who identify as highly sensitive, plus all of its other benefits. I think I’m borderline for HSP (according to this test). Also, although my current haircut is cute and I wanted to try it, it’s too short for me. I feel better about myself when it’s shoulder-length and I can put it into a ponytail. That’s why I’m going to try the It Works Hair Skin Nails supplement which helps hair grow faster and thicker (which is great because mine is so fine). Everyone seems to love it.

    ten.
    What are your weekend plans? Tomorrow we are going to a Christmas show with all the cousins followed by lunch and gift exchange. Sunday we just have church stuff. I’d like to make a little more progress with Christmas shopping; I don’t have much more to go but it’s coming up quickly. After all these years of living in Houston I still find that it sneaks up on me when it’s in the 80’s during December. Yesterday evening we went to the park in shorts and t-shirts.

    Happy Friday, friends!

  • link roundup / 40

    christmas tree with cat

    Do you like our Christmas tree? How about the decorations? ;) I think I need to investigate some sort of anti-cat spray for this situation.

    Anyway, happy weekend! I’m so ready for it; we have had a long and difficult week! This weekend we are hosting my brother who is in town from NYC for a movie night (Home is on Netflix now!) and I’m also going to attend the annual Messiah singalong with my mom, one of my favorite holiday traditions. How about you?

    To the mamas of littles during the holidays. (And maybe all the time, too?)

    I really like Erin’s thoughts on dual (duel) parenting.

    Did you shop the sales last weekend? I ordered these jeans (still 40% off!) and these booties (20% off!).

    Obviously I loved this tribute.

    Classic stocking stuffer ideas.

    I love these tips for having a slow, simple, yet meaningful Advent.

    And apparently I’m on a holiday kick, because here are ten simple annual holiday traditions.

    I just today finished this fantastic book that lived up to the hype for me, and for the first time in ages I don’t have another one in progress! I’m going to pick up this audiobook from the library today for book club, though.

    Happy weekending, friends!

  • what i read : october & november 2015

    what i read / kapachino

    I read some excellent books recently. I haven’t been moving too fast in my reading, but at least I’m choosing good stuff!

    The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce – This was the only book I managed to complete during October, for my book club. I expected it to be light and funny, and although it did have some silly parts to it, overall it was a more serious read. I found it quite sad and heavy in parts, but it was also extremely sweet and it left me feeling like it’s never too late to make a change for the better. (4 stars)

    Making Sense of the Bible by Adam Hamilton – I read this for our church small group, and I would go so far as to say it was life changing for me. Having grown up in a conservative, evangelical church culture I was afraid to question anything in the Bible for a long time. This book helped me remember that Jesus is the true “word of God” and how to interpret some troubling issues. My faith has been strengthened incredibly. (5 stars)

    The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery – Slow to start, and I did skim some of the philosophizing, but it added to the overall atmosphere and characterization. I ended up loving the characters and at the end I just wanted to sit and stare and think about how beautiful it was. Seems like this is a love it or hate it kind of book, but I loved it. (4 stars)

    Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson – It’s easy to see why this is a best seller. It recounts Stevenson’s work with Equal Justice Initiative, the nonprofit he founded to provide legal aide to prisoners who have been denied fair treatment. It’s heartbreaking but hopeful, story-driven and fascinating, describing such important work. So, so glad I read it. (5 stars)

    The Color Purple by Alice Walker – I don’t know what I expected of this – I think I was scared to read it for a long time because I thought it might be too depressing – but it actually made me feel incredibly hopeful. Like redemption really is possible. I read it for book club and some people didn’t like it, but we were all glad we read it. (5 stars)

    Currently I’m trying to finish All the Light We Cannot See (I’ve been reading it for months in between book club books and library holds). I’m getting to the end and loving it so much!