Winter Bucket List Update #3

And on to 2020! Let’s start the year off right with some fun and some organization!

Read 45 books — I want to start off the year strong with my reading!
Plan and execute a fun Valentine’s Day Party -
Buy and Complete a jigsaw puzzle — I love doing puzzles to relax. I need to find a new good one.
Eat at 5 new-to-me restaurants — Omaha has so many great restaurants and I want to explore a bit!
Attend two theater performances — Our membership to the Rose Theater gets us free tickets to two shows and discounted tickets to one show this season. Now to pick what to see!
Bake some bread — I love fresh homemade bread with some jam or honey and a cup of tea. Winter means baking to me, but I want to branch out from cookies…
Make winter crafts — We can’t really spend a lot of time outside, so it’s prime time for crafting. I need to peruse Pinterest for some ideas.
Create a table centerpiece — I want to decorate the house a bit more now that we’re out of the baby stage. I think I’ll start with the dining room table.
Movie Month January — I’m going to start the season off right with an entire month of (mostly) new-to-me movies!
Weekly Game Day/Night with Arthur — We have a ton of card and board games at the house. I want to start playing more regularly with Arthur.
Try 3 new hot chocolate recipes/mixes — Arthur discovered his love of hot chocolate over Christmas. Let’s explore a bit!
Visit two new-to-the-boys museums — I’m thinking probably SAC and The Durham.
Have an indoor picnic — Weather doesn’t allow for outside ones of course.
Swim at the gym 5 times — The indoor pool is great, let’s attempt to utilize it this season!
Host a tea party! — Part of my attempt to make some new friends.
Make a seasonal door hanger/wreath — We have a hook on our door. I want to decorate it!
Find a great coffee shop for me! — Not Starbucks, not Scooter’s. Something local and interesting.
Spend an afternoon at a local bookstore — I need to find a go-to place for browsing.
Explore an area of Omaha — Really anywhere that’s outside of our little area of town.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Revenge of Lord Eberlin by Julia London

Title: The Revenge of Lord Eberlin (The Secrets of Hadley Green #2)

Author: Julia London

Publisher: Pocket Books 2012

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 404

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Monthly Theme - February; Goodreads Random

Tobin Scott, otherwise known as Count Eberlin of Denmark, has returned to Hadley Green, the site of his father’s hanging for thievery fifteen years ago. He has but one goal in mind, and that is to avenge his father, who he believes was innocent of stealing the Countess of Ashwood jewels. Now a wealthy man, Tobin intends to exact his revenge by destroying the Ashwood estate and the Countess of Ashwood, who as a young girl testified against his father.

Lily Boudine has become the Countess of Ashwood through a very surprising twist of fate. She is even more surprised when a vaguely familiar looking man calls and tells her he is Tobin Scott, whom she knew as a boy, and that he intends to destroy her or Ashwood. He leaves the choice to her. Because so many people depend on Ashwood, Lily chooses herself, thinking that she can hold him at bay long enough to remove Ashwood from his clutches. But as they play the game of seduction, and she slowly discovers that he is not the cold, heartless man he would like to present to her, she also believes that Tobin is right—his father did not steal the jewels. And if she can find them, she can help restore his family’s honor—but not before she discovers another shocking secret.

An enjoyable Regency romance. I did really like Lily and Tobin as a couple. And the overall mystery of the missing jewels is a great connection. These novels really are my comfort reads. I just wished that we got a bit more of the resolution. But it’s that what I say about all these romance novels? Yes, yes it is.

The Secrets of Hadley Green

#1 The Year o fLiving Scandalously
#1.5 The Christmas Secret
#2 The Revenge of Lord Eberlin
#3 The Seduction of Lady X
#4 The Last Debutante

Next up on the TBR pile:

Frida Kahlo by Maria Hesse

Title: Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life

Author: Maria Hesse Translator: Achy Obejas

Publisher: University of Texas Press 2018

Genre: Graphic Novel Memoir

Pages: 152

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

One of the most important artists of the twentieth century and an icon of courageous womanhood, Frida Kahlo lives on in the public imagination, where her popularity shows no signs of waning. She is renowned for both her paintings and her personal story, which were equally filled with pain and anguish, celebration and life. Thousands of words, including her own, have been written about Kahlo, but only one previous biography has recorded her fascinating, difficult life. Frida Kahlo by María Hesse offers a highly unique way of getting to know the artist by presenting her life in graphic novel form, with striking illustrations that reimagine many of Kahlo’s famous paintings.

Originally published in Spanish in 2016, Frida Kahlo has already found an enthusiastic audience in the Spanish-speaking world, with some 20,000 copies sold in just a few months. This translation introduces English-language readers to Kahlo’s life, from her childhood and the traumatic accident that would change her life and her artwork, to her complicated love for Diego Rivera and the fierce determination that drove her to become a major artist in her own right. María Hesse tells the story in a first-person narrative, which captures both the depths of Frida’s suffering and her passion for art and life.

Such an incredibly beautiful book about Frida Kahlo’s life. I loved turning each page to see what painting Hesse was going to recreate or reinterpret. I loved the little snippets of diary entries and letters sprinkled through more straight-forward biographical information. I adored poring over each illustration. Truly a remarkable work honoring a remarkable woman.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Videos in the Cold

This look so spooky!

Another spooky one I am really intrigued by…

Continuing our Dev Patel thing…

Warning Spoilers!!! We just watched this movie and I love the Honest Trailer.

These are so dumb, but I really enjoy Chad. And RuPaul is a treat!

Warning Spoilers! But I love these videos.

Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

Title: Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste

Author: Bianca Bosker

Publisher: Penguin Books 2017

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine—until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession, and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork.”

With boundless curiosity, humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism, Bosker takes the reader inside underground tasting groups, exclusive New York City restaurants, California mass-market wine factories, and even a neuroscientist’s fMRI machine as she attempts to answer the most nagging question of all: what’s the big deal about wine? What she learns will change the way you drink wine—and, perhaps, the way you live—forever.

Our book club selection for February. It was entertaining. Sorta like Kitchen Confidential for the wine industry. Bosker mentions the documentary Somm multiple times and it did feel like I was reading a book version of that in some chapters. I liked the chapters that dove into Bosker’s own journey more than reading about random wine people. I enjoyed my time spent reading the pages, but wouldn’t say that it was amazing.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #4

Reading: Picking up The Night Country by Melissa Albert next. It’s the sequel to The Hazelwood. I’m so ready for another dark fairy tale book.

Watching: J and I have watched a few new movies this past week. Jojo Rabbit and Knives Out were the high points!

Listening: Almost current with Dungeons and Daddies. Definitely a great comedy podcast to listen to while stripping wallpaper.

Making: We’re almost at that weird place in moving where I need to be careful what I pack. I don’t want to pack things we currently need (like curry powder that I needed a couple of nights ago). I’ve been making to pack piles and to keep piles. So many piles around the house!

Feeling: I’m so tired most days and yet I’m very motivated to get various projects done before officially moving. I really really want to get that wallpaper off! (And other things)

Planning: As such, I’m trying to line up my next house projects to tackle. I’m thinking about taking off the sliding shower door attached to the kids’s bathtub. They are so cumbersome. I would rather have a shower curtain especially because that will be the place for baths and it would be really awkward right now.

Loving: I’m really trying to focus on one thing at a time right now. When all the stars align and such, I can actually focus for a few minutes. So lovely!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Motionless in White "Another Life"

My Goth loving heart adores this video and song.

Life Right Now #7

On my bedside table: The Night Country by Melissa Albert; Fever by Lauren DeStefano

On my tv this week: Finishing up the first season of Broadchurch. Continuing with Superstore, The Magicians, and Doctor Who.

Listening to: Making my way through Dungeons and Daddies. I’m only like 5 episodes behind.

On the menu for this week:

Monday - Chicken Parmesan
Tuesday - Asam Pedas
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Pesto Stuffed Shells
Friday - Prosciutto and Fig Pizza
Saturday - Cullen Skink
Sunday - Beef Stew

On my to do list: So much house stuff. I want to take down the rest of the wallpaper in the craft room. And I want to demo the laundry room so we can install some shelves before the washer and dryer go in. Beyond that, I’m sure I have a ton of other house tasks.

Happening this week:

Monday - House stuff I imagine
Tuesday - RnR Open Play; Girly Book Club
Wednesday - RnR Art Class; Arthur and Quentin Dentist Appointment
Thursday - Book Fair Volunteering; Book Club
Friday - RnR Gym Class
Saturday - Nothing Yet
Sunday - Nothing Yet

What I am creating: Nothing much other than moving checklists and to do lists.

My simple pleasures: Chocolate Cake, comfy blanket, new house deliveries

Looking around the house: We’re getting closer to emptying the house. Things are feeling very bare. Most of the closets and drawers are completely empty.

From the camera: Someone had fun at Chuck E Cheese for a friend’s birthday party.

Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire

Title: Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children #4)

Author: Seanan McGuire

Publisher: Tor 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 203

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

When Jack left Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister—whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice—back to their home on the Moors.

But death in their adopted world isn't always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome.

Eleanor West's "No Quests" rule is about to be broken.

Again.

What a delightfully dark ending to the series! I loved every single page. McGuire creates such twisted worlds for us to explore. I loved going back to the Moors and revisiting Jack and Jill. Unfortunately this story was over just too soon for my tastes. I want more and more and more from the worlds in the Wayward Children series. For fans of dark fairy tales, this is just perfection. I feel like I need go back and read McGuire’s back catalog.

Wayward Children

Next up on the TBR pile:

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty

Title: Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? : Big Questions fromTiny Mortals About Death

Author: Caitlin Doughty

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company 2019

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 240

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

In Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?, Doughty blends her mortician’s knowledge of the body and the intriguing history behind common misconceptions about corpses to offer factual, hilarious, and candid answers to thirty-five distinctive questions posed by her youngest fans. In her inimitable voice, Doughty details lore and science of what happens to, and inside, our bodies after we die. Why do corpses groan? What causes bodies to turn colors during decomposition? And why do hair and nails appear longer after death? Readers will learn the best soil for mummifying your body, whether you can preserve your best friend’s skull as a keepsake, and what happens when you die on a plane.

Beautifully illustrated by Dianné Ruz, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? shows us that death is science and art, and only by asking questions can we begin to embrace it.

Another book by Caitlin Doughty! I loved Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and have watched many of her videos and interviews. This book was a collection of questions and answers related to death. Some of the topics were repeats from information presented in her previous book. Some were repeats from interviews she has done. But they were all enjoyable to read and remind myself that Viking funerals are Hollywood creations and illegal and that we routinely wrap bodies in saran wrap to prevent leakage during funerals. Good little collection for an afternoon’s reading.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Closets and drawers are emptying slowly… There’s still so much to move over.
I got my first new house items delivered yesterday. So ecited!
I’ve read a couple of shorter books this week and it’s really helped my reading momentum.
Still planning out my birthday day, but it’s shaping up really well.
The wallpaper in the craft room is so much easier to take off than the bathroom.
Shrimp paste is really hard to find locally. I might just need to order it from offline.

Next up on the TBR pile:

I was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib

Title: I was Their American Dream

Author: Malaka Gharib

Publisher: Clarkson Potter 2019

Genre: Graphic Novel Memoir

Pages: 160

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme

I Was Their American Dream is at once a coming-of-age story and a reminder of the thousands of immigrants who come to America in search for a better life for themselves and their children. The daughter of parents with unfulfilled dreams themselves, Malaka navigated her childhood chasing her parents' ideals, learning to code-switch between her family's Filipino and Egyptian customs, adapting to white culture to fit in, crushing on skater boys, and trying to understand the tension between holding onto cultural values and trying to be an all-American kid.

Malaka Gharib's triumphant graphic memoir brings to life her teenage antics and illuminates earnest questions about identity and culture, while providing thoughtful insight into the lives of modern immigrants and the generation of millennial children they raised. Malaka's story is a heartfelt tribute to the American immigrants who have invested their future in the promise of the American dream.

I picked this one up on recommendation from the local library. While I was engaged in the story of identity and culture, I couldn’t help but compare it to other books and specifically graphic novel memoirs I have read. I kept being reminded of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. That volume really gutted me. This one felt a little too comedic to have the impact that I thought it should have. I wanted a bit more gravity to the story than I actually got. Beyond the comparisons, this was a interesting volume, just not quite something I would love.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

Title: The Things We Cannot Say

Author: Kelly Rimmer

Publisher: Graydon House 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 432

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

In 1942, Europe remains in the relentless grip of war. Just beyond the tents of the Russian refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It’s a decision that will alter her destiny…and it’s a lie that will remain buried until the next century.

Since she was nine years old, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now fifteen and engaged, Alina is unconcerned by reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing her neighbors that they pose no real threat, and dreams instead of the day Tomasz returns from college in Warsaw so they can be married. But little by little, injustice by brutal injustice, the Nazi occupation takes hold, and Alina’s tiny rural village, its families, are divided by fear and hate.

Then, as the fabric of their lives is slowly picked apart, Tomasz disappears. Where Alina used to measure time between visits from her beloved, now she measures the spaces between hope and despair, waiting for word from Tomasz and avoiding the attentions of the soldiers who patrol her parents’ farm. But for now, even deafening silence is preferable to grief.

I’ve been really over the various WWII books this year, but this one was our book club selection for February. And I found that I mostly really enjoyed this one. I loved Alina’s story during the war. It was tough to read, but a great perspective on the war. You don’t often get stories centered in Poland during the 1940s. The first person narration felt a lot like Alina telling us her story from old age. I was fascinated by the mystery of Alina’s future. However I know need to go to the bad. I was not a fan of the modern story line. Well, that’s not quite true. I liked the sections where Alice tried to uncover the mystery of her Babcia’s life during the war and in Poland. I was on pins and needles waiting for the reveal of the players and what happened. I was not a fan of Alice’s voice throughout the modern sections. The voice was very whiny and informal. I thought I was reading a blog post instead of a published novel. The voice was grating. If I could have ignored the voice, I would have given the book 5 stars.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Mississippi River Tragedies by Christine A. Klein and Sandra B. Zellmer

Title: Mississippi River Tragedies: A Century of Unnatural Disaster

Author: Christine A. Klein and Sandra B. Zellmer

Publisher: NYU Press 2014

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 276

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

American engineers have done astounding things to bend the Mississippi River to their will: forcing one of its tributaries to flow uphill, transforming over a thousand miles of roiling currents into a placid staircase of water, and wresting the lower half of the river apart from its floodplain. American law has aided and abetted these feats. But despite our best efforts, so-called “natural disasters” continue to strike the Mississippi basin, as raging floodwaters decimate waterfront communities and abandoned towns literally crumble into the Gulf of Mexico. In some places, only the tombstones remain, leaning at odd angles as the underlying soil erodes away. Mississippi River Tragedies reveals that it is seductively deceptive—but horribly misleading—to call such catastrophes “natural.”

Random pick from the library. I was a bit disappointed by the overall book, but was fascinated by the subject matter. I love micro histories and learning about a new topic. The subject matter truly is fascinating. And yet. the actual writing was a little too dry and stilted at times. I would have liked to been more sucked into the story.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Larkin Poe "Mississippi"

So excited about new music from these two!

Life Right Now #6

As I look outside my window: The snow has almost completely melted. The temperatures were very low a few days ago, but we have since rebounded.

Right now I am: Thinking about what I need to do tomorrow for the house.

Thinking and pondering: Which couch and chairs should I buy for the new house? So many choices! I just want to pick something I will really enjoy for the next few years.

On my bedside table: Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty; Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire

On my tv this week: We restarted Broadchurch Season 1. Apparently we only watched the first two episodes before getting distracted. I also dove back into Outlander Season 2. And I finished A Discovery of Witches Season 1.

Listening to: Podcasts per usual.

On the menu for this week: Oooof. My meal planning game has really been off lately. I have completely messed up my plan. Guess I know what I will be doing this afternoon.

On my to do list: Oh so much! Most immediately, I need to order Alex’s yearbook, figure out MPS’s moving procedure, take another load of items over, do a big clean of the house, and choose our next soups and stews.

Happening this week:

Monday - Arthur doesn’t have school, so I don’t know…
Tuesday - Little Guys Gym
Wednesday - RnR Crayons
Thursday - RnR PMO
Friday -
Saturday - Arthur’s friend’s birthday party
Sunday - Kids’s Symphony Performance

What I am creating: Finally dove back into my Memory Planner pages for January. I hope I can keep up with these pages.

My simple pleasures: A moment of peace, planning for future trips, a cookie and a cup of tea.

Looking around the house: Things are a disaster and it doesn’t look like anything has been packed. And yet, there are many empty closets and drawers all throughout the house.

From the camera: Somehow I completely missed this spice rack in one of our new cabinets. Very excited to fill this one with all our spices.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Title: Brown Girl Dreaming

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books 2014

Genre: Middle Grade

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme - February

Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.

I’ve seen this book on so many Best Of lists and it won so many awards. it’s been on my To Read list for years and I finally got around to reading this one. I’m not usually one for books in verse, but this one really struck me. I loved turning every page to find out more about Woodson’s life. I loved the little snippets of memories and stories. I loved the imagery she evokes on every page. The constant callbacks to her family and ancestors were beautiful. This was such a great book. I would love to see this on required reading lists for middle schoolers. Perfect age to dive in to discussions.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Christmas Secret by Julia London

Title: The Christmas Secret (The Secrets of Hadley Green #1.5)

Author: Julia London

Publisher: Pocket Books 2011

Genre: Fiction - Romance

Pages: 128

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

When Eireanne O'Conner returns to Ballynaheath, her home in Ireland, for Christmas, she finds that her brother has married, her new sister-in-law's family is ever-present, and her friends, the Hannigan twins are up to their usual tricks. During the twelve days of Christmas, there are secrets and surprises that will either sink Eireanne deeper into the scandals that have surrounded her family, or send her to London to find a titled husband who will hopefully add some dignity to a family who can't seem to keep away from scandal!

I picked this short story up for a steal on Kindle. I liked the story of Eireanne and Henry, but everything really did feel too rushed. I would have liked to see the story unfold in a more leisurely pace. I would have liked to see more of the relationship between the two main characters. And don’t get me started on Eireanne’s immaturity. It really didn’t track well with me. I read it mostly because I am a completionist. Moving on to the next book.

The Secrets of Hadley Green

#1 The Year of Living Scandalously
#1.5 The Christmas Secret
#2 The Revenge of Lord Eberlin
#3 The Seduction of Lady X
#4 The Last Debutante

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Year of Living Scandalously by Julia London

Title: The Year of Living Scandalously (The Secrets of Hadley Green #1)

Author: Julia London

Publisher: Pocket Books 2010

Genre: Fiction - Romance

Pages: 423

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Monthly Theme - February

When Declan O’Connor, Earl of Donnelly, arrives at Hadley Green to meet with Lily Boudine, the new countess of Ashwood, he knows instantly that the lovely woman who welcomes him is not who she pretends to be. In an attempt to avoid an unwanted marriage, Keira Hannigan has assumed her cousin’s identity and is staying at the estate while Lily is abroad. When Declan threatens to expose her, Keira convinces him to guard her secret, then enlists him in her investigation of the missing jewels, for she now believes an innocent man was hanged.

Unable to deny the beautiful, exasperating Keira—or their simmering passion—Declan reluctantly agrees. But neither is prepared for the dangerous stranger who threatens to reveal Keira’s lies . . . and Declan knows he must protect Keira at all costs, for she is the woman who now owns his heart.

I started another Regency romance series from my shelves. I definitely enjoyed the overall story and characters. Keira and Declan are a great couple. I love the Pride and Prejudice vibes I got from this book. Great dislike to love story. I was less enamored with the overall deception Keira engages in throughout the book. Things were not going to end well, and Keira’s insistence that they would got a bit annoying. Beyond that bit, I did enjoy the overall mystery set up in this volume. And the side characters were interesting. Most definitely I’ll be reading the rest of the series.

The Secrets of Hadley Green

#1 The Year of Living Scandalously
#1.5 The Christmas Secret
#2 The Revenge of Lord Eberlin
#3 The Seduction of Lady X
#4 The Last Debutante

Next up on the TBR pile:

Hearts and Videos

I laughed…

Absolutely perfect!

That was creepy

I always enjoy these videos.