Loving the new song from an old band. Sad for the loss of Tom DeLong from the group, but they gained Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio. I saw Blink-182, A New Found Glory, and Alkaline Trio together in concert during the summer of 2001. Great show!
Life Right Now #19
As I look outside my window: Breezy and bright
Right now I am: Checking emails and FB before tackling my May Project Life pages.
Thinking and pondering: What does the future hold for us? We've got some big decisions to make in the next few months.
On my bedside table:nVoyager by Diana Gabaldon, In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
On my tv this week: J and I have been catching up with Turn and Silicon Valley. Plus we watched The Kingsman with the twins. They really enjoyed it.
Listening to: Lots of podcasts including One Bad Mother and What Should I Read Next
On the menu for this week:
- Monday - Chili and Cornbread
- Tuesday - Chicken Ranch Tacos
- Wednesday - Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- Thursday - Leftovers
- Friday - Broccoli Beef
- Saturday - Brats and Hots Dogs on the Grill
- Sunday - ???
On my to do list: Other than regular house chores, nothing really detailed.
Happening this week:
- Monday - Nothing planned so far. Maybe library visit or mini golf
- Tuesday - Prenatal appointment including glucose text
- Wednesday - Either a park playdate or visit to the opening day of the Alameda County Fair
- Thursday - Beach Day; Grocery; Stamp Club
- Friday - Possible card class at home
- Saturday - Computer History Museum
- Sunday - Possible card class at home
What I am creating: I have stamp club on Thursday and I haven't made the projects yet. I know which stamp sets I want to use, but I need to actually made the kits...
My simple pleasures: Chocolate chip cookies. I'm going simple this week.
Looking around the house: Things are in decent shape, but I still have a ton of stuff out from the crafting open house. Trying to decide what to put away and what to leave out for stamp club on Thursday. Still debating...
From the camera: Sneakily caught a pic of A and A playing together.
The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart
Title: The Drunken Botanist
Author: Amy Stewart
Publisher: Algonquin Books 2013
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 400
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W23
Sake began with a grain of rice. Scotch emerged from barley, tequila from agave, rum from sugarcane, bourbon from corn. Thirsty yet? In The Drunken Botanist, Amy Stewart explores the dizzying array of herbs, flowers, trees, fruits, and fungi that humans have, through ingenuity, inspiration, and sheer desperation, contrived to transform into alcohol over the centuries.
Of all the extraordinary and obscure plants that have been fermented and distilled, a few are dangerous, some are downright bizarre, and one is as ancient as dinosaurs--but each represents a unique cultural contribution to our global drinking traditions and our history.
This fascinating concoction of biology, chemistry, history, etymology, and mixology--with more than fifty drink recipes and growing tips for gardeners--will make you the most popular guest at any cocktail party.
I grabbed this book off an endcap at the library. I bring it home and J tells me, "oh, I've heard that's really good." It's not often J hears about a book and I don't. Overall, I really enjoyed this deep dive into alcohol and botany. I learned some interesting tidbits. Reading this makes me wish I wasn't pregnant so I could indulge in a few of her featured recipes. Oh well... just a few more months before I can again.
The Passion of the Purple Plumeria by Lauren Willig
Title: The Passion of the Purple Plumeria (Pink Carnation #10)
Author: Lauren Willig
Publisher: New American Library 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 439
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W22
Colonel William Reid has returned home from India to retire near his children, who are safely stowed at an academy in Bath. Upon his return to the Isles, however, he finds that one of his daughters has vanished, along with one of her classmates.
Because she served as second-in-command to the Pink Carnation, one of England’s most intrepid spies, it would be impossible for Gwendolyn Meadows to give up the intrigue of Paris for a quiet life in the English countryside—especially when she’s just overheard news of an alliance forming between Napoleon and an Ottoman Sultan. But, when the Pink Carnation’s little sister goes missing from her English boarding school, Gwen reluctantly returns home to investigate the girl’s disappearance.
Thrown together by circumstance, Gwen and William must cooperate to track down the young ladies before others with nefarious intent get their hands on them. But Gwen’s partnership with quick-tongued, roguish William may prove to be even more of an adventure for her than finding the lost girls….
Another super fun and enjoyable volume in the series. It was great to see a story revolve around Gwen who's been a part of the story since the beginning. I loved seeing her open up and get a happy ending. Plus we revisit some other characters including Lizzy and Agnes and especially Colonel Reid. Now I have to get the last two books in the series.
Pink Carnation:
- #1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
- #2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
- #3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
- #4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
- #5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
- #6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
- #7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
- #8 The Orchid Affair
- #8.5 Away in a Manger
- #8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
- #9 The Garden Intrigue
- #10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
- #11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
- #12 The Lure of the Moonflower
Music Monday -- Fitz & the Tantrums "HandClap"
Really digging this song lately...
Life Right Now #18
As I look outside my window: Squinting from the sudden sunshine... We did have a big of hazy fog this morning, but it burned off very quickly.
Right now I am: Finishing my coffee and getting ready to go take a shower if the toddler allows.
Thinking and pondering: Do I want to haul the toddler to the pool today or skip it until tomorrow?
On my bedside table: The Drunken Botanist; The Magician's Land; Heart of the Sea
On my tv this week: We introduced the twins to Spy and The Colour of Magic. J and I finished Plebs and we caught up on a few episodes of Turn.
Listening to: Along with the Hamilton soundtrack, I managed to squeeze in two episodes of One Bad Mother while playing with the toddler.
On the menu for this week: Last week's meal plan went completely off track...
- Monday - Bacon Cheese Peach Paninis
- Tuesday - Balsalmic Pork Roast
- Wednesday - Potato Bacon Casserole, Eggs
- Thursday - Apple Cheddar Chicken
- Friday - Cheesy Rice, Broccoli, and Chicken Skillet
- Saturday - Leftovers
- Sunday - Cheesy Artichoke Pasta, Tortellini
On my to do list: I've got a couple of emails that need to be written and a few remaining housekeeping tasks.
Happening this week:
- Monday - Lazy day?
- Tuesday - Oakland Zoo; Board Meeting
- Wednesday - Library Day
- Thursday - Cleaning Day
- Friday - Chabot Space Center
- Saturday - Crop Day!!!!!
- Sunday - Book Club; Chabot Members Only Movie and Stargazing
What I am creating: I finished catching up the twins' albums. I started laying out May's PL pages for the family album. I printed my WITL pictures to work on that. And I finished a few design team cards. I'm hoping to work on my WITL album during the crop day on Saturday.
My simple pleasures: AC keeping the house around 74 degrees, fresh fruit (especially nectarines and raspberries), grocery delivery, snuggles from the toddler
Looking around the house: We vacuumed and swept the entire house, wiped down the bathrooms, took out the trash, and put away all the laundry on Friday. I wish my house always looked this good...
From the camera: Playing before dinner the other day.
Who the Devil in Deviled Eggs? by Ann Treistman
Title: Who Put the Devil in Deviled Eggs?
Author: Ann Treistman
Publisher: Skyhorse 2011
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 173
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Nonfiction;
Who pitted the first cherries and nestled them into pie crust? Was a meatloaf sandwich the result of a late-night refrigerator run? And does anyone really crave green bean casserole, complete with fried onions on top? In this time of hyper-awareness of locality—when every roast chicken needs a pedigree of a free-range home and antibiotic-free past—it’s time to celebrate the very basics of American cooking. The joy of Velveeta and pleasures of Jell-O. In this fun collection, author Ann Treistman takes readers on a journey through a 1950s kitchen, sometimes with surprising results. For example, deviled eggs were first prepared in Ancient Rome, in a slightly different form and without the familiar moniker. The practice of removing the yolks from hard-boiled eggs, mixing it with spices and refilling the shells was fairly common by the 1600s. Why the devil? Well, it’s hot in hell, and by the 18th century, it was all the rage to devil any food with a good dose of spice. Adding mustard or a signature sprinkle of hot paprika turned these eggs into devils.
A slim, yet very enjoyable volume. Some of the entries I already knew about like the chapter on pizza and the one about apple pie. But there were many that contained new-to-me information. J had me read him the one about the reuben as we lived in Omaha where one of the theories puts its inception. A nice afternoon read on this lazy Saturday.
The Joy of Books by Eric Burns
Title: The Joy of Books
Author: Eric Burns
Publisher: Prometheus Books 1995
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 207
Rating: 2/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W21
Burns's compelling yet accessible history of the reading experience rejoices in the diverse motivations and methods in the developing relationship between readers and writers even as he voices concern at the powerful forces of ignorance and censorship that seek to keep them apart.
Ugh! So this was my pick for book club this month and now I'm so disappointed in myself. It's been on my perpetual reading list for years because I've seen it referenced so many times on other literary sites and blogs. And yet, I've found it extremely heavy-handed and boring. The first section about the history of books and reading was fairly interested. I knew 90% of the information included, but enjoyed reading it anyway. And then the focus shifted to a diatribe about how kids these days don't read and our society is going to shit. Burns wrote this book in 1995. Those kids he was speaking of are me. I was 13 in 1995 and exactly in the demographic he was lamenting. I and most of my friends read all the time. We did back in 1995 and we still do. The entire second half of the book angered me. Somehow I made it through to the end, but ugh! I am not impressed.
Forevermore by Kristen Callihan
Releasing June 28th, 2016!!!!
Title: Foevermore (Darkest London #7)
Author: Kristen Callihan
Publisher: Forever 2016
Genre: Paranormal
Pages: 308
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Published in 2016; Women Authors
Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.
Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.
I received a copy of this soon-to-be-released book from the publisher. I didn't even realize that there was going to be a seventh book, but I'm so glad there is!I have loved Callihan's world building and twist on the paranormal world. We get to see so many different beings and relationships. This volume wraps up the Darkest London world in a neat little package. We get a fitting ending to all the characters we've met in the previous books. And this one focuses on Sin Evernight. I thought he was an intriguing character in the previous storyline. It was nice to see him get his own story and romance! I sped through this book in one day desperate to see how everything came together. Oh man! I am going to miss this series, but it's a good absence.
Darkest London
Monthly Life Goals June 2016
Let’s check in on May’s goals and my progress.
- Create a summer bucket list — Success! I made the list and we've started choosing our activities.
- Plan Mom and Great Aunt Alys’s trip to SF —Fail. Didn't get around to this one...
- Try three new recipes — Success! I made Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad (very yummy), Pork Lettuce Wraps (pretty good), and Spinach and Artichoke Melts (messy, but yum!).
- Update all my calendars for May, June, and July —Success I did a large update last week.
- Start Arthur’s transition out of the crib and to a twin mattress —Fail. Just didn't get around to it.
- Send out all May cards, prep June and July cards —50% success. Finished May's cards. Pulled out cards for June and July. Haven't addressed and written in June and July's cards.
- Pull, tag, and deliver garage sale items — Success! I ended up only making about $40, but we got rid of a ton of random clothes. Anything that didn't sell was donated to local charities.
- Read at least 3000 pages —Fail. Although I think 2700 pages is perfectly respectable...
- Participate in Bout of Books 16 — Success! I completed all my goals. The end result: I read 5 books totaling 1334 pages.
- Prep my TBR for June and July —50% success. I prepped June's TBR, but failed at moving forward.
June's Goals -- After May's crazy list of goals, I'm scaling back just a bit for June:
- Plan Mom and Great Aunt Alys’s trip to SF — Carry over goal...
- Start Arthur’s transition out of the crib and to a twin mattress -- Carry over goal...
- Send out June cards and prep July cards -- I guess a continuation of last month's goal.
- Prep my TBR for July and August -- Another continuation.
- Read 2500 pages --With the twins here and an increase in activities, I'm lowering my page goal just a bit.
- Have 4 board game nights with the twins -- We're aiming for once a week.
- Have 12 movie nights with the twins, exposing them to at least 6 new-to-them movies -- Our goal is three times a week...