Summer Reading 2020 part 3

 Another round of three more great summer books. In no particular order... 

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson was absolutely laugh out loud hilarious. Goodreads describes it as "Kevin Wilson’s best book yet — a moving and uproarious novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable and disturbing abilities." Click here for full description although some mystery about the book may be more fun... 

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn takes place in Brooklyn where a talented hand lettering artist hides a secret message in a wedding invitation. A sweet story with many surprise twists and turns. 

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel was just released in July and it is a great summer read! Goodreads describes it as " a heartfelt new novel about a perfectly imperfect summer of love, secrets, and second chances." Click here to read full review. It did remind me of another great novel The Ensemble by Aja Gabel which also explores the world of professional musicians. 

Easy Peasy One-Pot Pasta

 

My favorite recipes are those that create the least amount of dirty dishes. Here's a simple way to make a traditional pasta dinner in just one pot. First, gather your ingredients:

• ground beef (or sausage) 1 lb
• pasta sauce 24 oz jar
• pasta 16 oz box
• garlic cloves, 2 chopped
• medium onion, chopped
• dried oregano 1 tsp (or your favorite Italian seasoning)
• water 2 1/2 cups

Place a large, 6 quart pot over medium-high heat:

• cook ground meat and onion until meat is browned and onions are soft
• add garlic, herbs, sprinkle of pepper and salt
• gently stir in pasta sauce and water, mix well and bring to a boil
• add dry, uncooked pasta; return to a boil
• reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 8-10, stirring occasionally
• remove from heat and serve

Enjoy!

Inspiration for Learning at Home

Now that August has started, my mind shifts to back to school season. Our child will (hopefully) be in school for two days but learning at home for three days each week. I read a great post from Keri Lynn Snyder on distance learning. Here are my main takeaways: 

1. Get dressed and ready for each day
2. Set up a separate space for school work
3. Make it fun with bright colored decor, plenty of school supplies, etc (see above photo)
4. Create a daily checklist of tasks to complete (reading, writing & math will be our main priorities)
5. Have an end of school day ritual - ideally this will be a walk or bike ride outside

Easy Crayon Upcycling

Turn all those tiny broken crayons into something new... 

First, gather your supplies:

• crayons
• muffin pan
• cooking spray (or paper liners)

Next, remove all paper from the crayons:

• break up into small pieces
• spray muffin tin or add liner
• group them by color or create rainbow crayons

Bake at 275 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. 

We had so much fun with this easy craft!

More Seasonal Summer Reading

One of my favorite ways to celebrate summer is read seasonally. I search out books that take place during the summer season or focus on beaches, vacations and other light hearted topics. 

Here's what I've been reading lately: 

The Shell Seekers is a multi-generational family saga. It begins in Corwall, England before WW1 and ends in the mid 1980's. The Shell Seekers refers to a piece of art that becomes a complicated source of conflict. Every family member has a different opinion on what should happen to the painting. There are many likable and unlikeable characters in this book and I could not wait to find out what would happen next. A very good read and very highly recommend for anyone who loves a bit of historical fiction. 

Rules for Visiting is described as "a beautifully observed and deeply funny novel about a woman who sets out on an odyssey to reconnect with old friends over the course of a year and inspire us all to master the art of visiting." I especially enjoyed reading about travel and friendship during a time where we're all staying closer to home. This was an easy and light read that certainly fits well in the summer season.

The Island is a classic escapist beach read by one of the best 'Nantucket Beach Coast' writers. It is an enjoyable romantic drama with humor and interesting characters. Some of their struggles are heavy and difficult but the author pulls through with a smart, happy ending for our pleasure.

Family Bike Rides on the Ozark Greenways Trails

Recently, we've been riding and exploring the area Ozark Greenways. Now that our kiddo can ride more confidently, we can cover more mileage and visit more sights. 

The Fulbright Spring Greenway has approx 7 miles of mostly hard surface. It has moderate to steep inclines that follow the natural terrain. We also enjoy the creek that runs alongside most of the trail.

The Frisco Highline Trail is the Ozarks' premier scenic rail-trail. This 35 mile stretch used to function as a railway for the Frisco trains. It includes many scenic sights and historic points of interest. We especially enjoy finding the historic bridges that go over the Little Sac River and other waterways. 

Here's to more riding and exploring in the great outdoors!

A very chocolate cherry smoothie

Every summer I love to make smoothies. It's a fun and easy to experiment with different flavors and combinations. Our Blendtec blender (a superior blending experience) can handle anything and makes everything super smooth. Here's how I make a very chocolate cherry smoothie:

• One cup frozen dark sweet cherries (picture above from Wal-Mart Great Value)
• one ripe banana
• one handful spinach
• one cup milk
• 2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• one handful ice

Celebrate the Fourth of July 2020

festive flower arrangement

How fun to anticipate the upcoming holiday! I've always loved the planning and coordination of holidays and events. We are looking forward to donning festive attire, eating good food and seeing family & friends. This year especially seems like a good time to relax and focus on the positive. Here's to fun & fireworks! 

Summer Reading 2020

For me, summer reading is all about light and easy. Here's what I've read so far... more to come.

"Smart, warm, uplifting, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey..."

quote from goodreads.com

"A tender, joyous debut novel about a cub reporter and her eighty-six-year-old subject—and the unlikely and life-changing friendship that develops between them."

quote from goodreads.com

"Fresh, sweet, and laugh-out-loud funny, Playing with Matches is the addictive story about dating in today’s swipe-heavy society, and a young woman trying to find her own place in the world."

quote from goodreads.com

Seasonal Summer Breakfast

photo via martha stewart 

A cool breakfast idea for Summer:

• smoked salmon
• hard boiled egg
• cucumbers
• tomatoes
• fresh herbs

top with a sprinkle of salt & squeeze of lemon!

June 7, 2020

Isn't June so lovely? Bright blue skies with abundant sunshine. We are seeing so many beautiful flowers in bloom when we walk outside. The long days are a seasonal joy as well. The solstice takes place on Saturday, June 20th but we will savor the extra light until then. 

Well Said.

Read this quote today. I needed to hear this piece of advice.

“Start before you’re ready because you’ll never be really ready.”

Things I'm Loving Lately {Good n' Natural}

photo from goodnnaturalbar.com

Good n' Natural bars - I first discovered these hearty bars at Sam's. They have 7 flavors and pack 10 grams of protein in each bar. Peanut Butter is my favorite with Cranberry Almond as a close second. Each bar is gluten free, dairy free, vegan with 5 grams of fiber. Plus you can pronounce and recognize all of the ingredients!

A Minute of Margin

I first read one of Dr. Swenson's books back in October of 2010. You can read that review here. I recently finished "A Minute of Margin." The format of this book consists of 180 two-page reflections.

In the introduction, Dr. Swenson writes, "Margin is a space, specifically the space between our load and our limits. It is this space that guarantees sustainability. It is in this space where healing occurs, where are batteries are recharged, where our relationships are nourished and where wisdom is found. Without margin, both rest and contemplation are theoretical concepts, unaffordable and unrealistic."

To me, the overall message of the book is to work hard but not exhaustively, to value relationships over activities and to slow down and leave space for the unexpected blessing of free time. I highlighted a lot of great quotes from the book, but this was one of my favorites.

"Seek out only the level of complexity that you need and will use. When possible, encourage simplicity as an antidote to complexity. This requires specific intention and is much more difficult than it might seem but often very rewarding. Any third-rate engineer or researcher can increase complexity, wrote economist E.F. Schumacher, but it takes a certain flair of real insight to make things simple again."

Winter Warmth

January and February are not my most favorite months of the year.* I typically grudge through them counting the days till Spring. Here are a few things I do to make the best of the cold, dark winter months:

• Exercise - despite the cold dark evenings I try to attend a great group fitness class to get moving and get my blood pumping as often as possible.
• Warm socks - cold feet are no fun. I bundle up with SmartWool socks during the day then big fuzzy slipper socks in the evening. 
• Books - this is the best time of year to cuddle up with some good books. 
• Teeccino - a great herbal alternative to coffee. I drink this after dinner to warm up. It is delicious with some dark chocolate on the side. 

Only 8 more weeks till Spring! 

*Personally, I believe May and September are the best months in the midwest.

Things I'm Loving Lately {Cafe Bustelo}

Cafe Bustelo with Moka pot - photo from cubancoffee.com

Cafe Bustelo is a dark, rich Cuban coffee with a great price tag. It's best brewed in a Moka pot then served with milk and spoonful of sugar.

"Brew your Bustelo coffee in a 4 cup (8-ounce) Moka pot. It's super simple and less effort than an auto drip coffee maker. Fill the bottom of the Moka pot with frsh water, add a few tablespoons of Bustelo coffee to the holder, screw the pot parts back together, and put it on the stove. In about 5 minutes your fresh Bustelo cuban coffee is ready. Now add milk to taste, say 2-4 ounces, a generous heap of sugar and enjoy!"

from cubancoffee.com/bustelo-supreme

New Year, New Plan

Dr. Zhivegas concert with friends

After a year long hiatus, I decided to start writing again. The beginning of a new year is always a great time to start fresh with a new plan. My new plan is to write a new post each week. I plan to write about books I'm reading, products I love, fun things my husband and I are up to and other small things that make life good. See you again soon!

Make Your Life About Others

Darling Mission Statement

I recently discovered Darling Magazine, The Art of Being a Woman. It is a wonderful site that covers a multitude of different topics. One of my favorite articles was about taking the focus off myself to see how I could help others. There is a great list of 10 ways to make your life about others. I'm going to try suggestion #1 (buy coffee for the person in line behind you) next time I'm at Starbucks! Read the whole article here.

Things I'm Loving Lately

Six Week Raisin Bran Muffins
This recipe is delicious and may yield more than 3 dozen muffins. I under bake them a bit (15 min tops) so they don't get too dry. Especially delicious served with a scoop of Fage greek yogurt.

Tomboy Style
Check out this blog for a dose of fashion that personifies a bit of rebellion and adventure. The clothes are fun too.

Downton Abbey
We just discovered this incredible series on PBS. Click here to find the schedule. You don't want to miss out.

from musingsinfemininity.tumblr.com page 9

New Year. New Look.

image from whatiworebook.com

Every afternoon I check in on Jessica's fashion blog What I Wore. She's a midwestern gal (like me) with incredible creativity and talent. I recently got a copy of her book, What I Wore: Four Seasons, One Closet, Endless Recipes for Personal Style, from my library. It was a great book and just the inspiration I needed to start out the new year feeling good about my wardrobe. She has a great knack for taking everyday items you already own and styling them in a new way. She also lists great tips for building a useful wardrobe. Check it out for yourself!