• Home
  • About
  • Archives - Wading Through
  • Archives - The Craft Sea

Wading Through...

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives - Wading Through
  • Archives - The Craft Sea

September 2016 Wrap-up and Monthly TBR

 

September's TBR Pile (6/10):

  1. MVPA Book Club Selection: The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio √
  2. Series Pick: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
  3. Nonfiction Pick: The Residence by Kate Anderson Brower √
  4. Carry-over: High Rise by J.G. Ballard
  5. Carry-over: Manners and Mutiny by Gail Carriger
  6. Jar Pick: Where the Girls Are by Susan Douglas (DNF)
  7. Added: The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh √
  8. Added: Founding Myths by Ray Raphael √
  9. Added: Let's Talk About Video Games by Ian Bogost √
  10. Added: Circling the Sun by Paula McClain √

Picture Book Roundup:

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total: 2017 pages Pages Remaining: 741,351 pages

Current Read - Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

Books I Gave Up On -- I ended up DNFing Where the Girls Are by Susan Douglas. I just couldn't get into the book at all. Probably not a bad book, just not what I wanted this month.

Challenges Completed  

Books bought/received 

2016 Total Spent: $15.27

Comments - Late pregnancy exhaustion left little time for reading. I'm really not super happy with my overall reading for September, but oh well. October's not going to be much better due to a new baby. Hopefully I can finish out the year strong with November and December.

October's TBR Pile: I'm going to keep my TBR pile super light because of baby Q arriving last week.

  1. MVPA Book Club Selection: (already read)
  2. Series Pick: A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander
  3. Nonfiction Pick: ???
  4. Carry-over: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
  5. Jar Pick: ????
categories: Monthly Wrap-Up
Friday 09.30.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Circling the Sun by Paula McClain

Title: Circling the Sun

Author: Paula McClain

Publisher: Ballantine Books 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 366

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; 52 Books - W39

Brought to Kenya from England as a child and then abandoned by her mother, Beryl is raised by both her father and the native Kipsigis tribe who share his estate. Her unconventional upbringing transforms Beryl into a bold young woman with a fierce love of all things wild and an inherent understanding of nature’s delicate balance. But even the wild child must grow up, and when everything Beryl knows and trusts dissolves, she is catapulted into a string of disastrous relationships.

Beryl forges her own path as a horse trainer, and her uncommon style attracts the eye of the Happy Valley set, a decadent, bohemian community of European expats who also live and love by their own set of rules. But it’s the ruggedly charismatic Denys Finch Hatton who ultimately helps Beryl navigate the uncharted territory of her own heart. The intensity of their love reveals Beryl’s truest self and her fate: to fly.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. A found another historical figure that I did not know of before. I loved the overall storyline and characters. I enjoyed learning more about Kenya and the general atmosphere of Africa during the early 20th century. I could really feel Kenya in the book. Unfortunately, the book lost a star due to the writing and chapter transitions. I just wasn't a super fan of how the jumps in time were handled.

tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, fiction, Paula McLain, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 09.28.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

How to Talk About Video Games by Ian Bogost

Title: How to Talk About Video Games

Author: Ian Bogost

Publisher: University of Minnesota 2015

Genre: Pop Culture - Media

Pages: 197

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books - W38; Perpetual (NonAd)

Videogames! Aren’t they the medium of the twenty-first century? The new cinema? The apotheosis of art and entertainment, the realization of Wagnerian gesamtkunstwerk? The final victory of interaction over passivity? No, probably not. Games are part art and part appliance, part tableau and part toaster. In How to Talk about Videogames, leading critic Ian Bogost explores this paradox more thoroughly than any other author to date.

Our book club selection for October. I got a jump on the book due to the baby coming in less than a week. And I'm thoroughly disappointed in this book. Bogost personality is so very insufferable. I couldn't stand his "gamergate" type approach to video games. I read most of this book, but I admit to skimming some chapters. I just grew so bored with his writing, assumptions, and tone. Pass.

tags: 2 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Ian Bogost, nonfiction, nonfiction adventure
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 09.23.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 23: German Potato Salad

Prompt: A family recipe (if grandma allows, of course!).

One of my favorite family recipes is my grandma's potato salad. I've never like mustard potato salad or ones with too much mayo. Hers is a hot German style salad with bacon grease. It's a bit tricky to get exactly right, but when it's done right, I could eat an entire bowl of this stuff!

Ingredients:

9 med potatoes - peeled, sliced 1 med onion - sliced thin 1 lb bacon - crumbled, grease reserved 1/2 cup flour 2 1/4 cup water 1 1/4 cup white vinegar 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Directions:

Boil potatoes until soft. Combine bacon, potatoes, and onion in a bowl and set aside. Melt bacon grease in a pan on stove and stir in flour. Heat until bubbly. Add remaining ingredients and cook until smooth and bubbly. Once sauce has thickened, our over potato mixture.

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Friday 09.23.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 22: Fall Favorites

Prompt: Fall favorites. Share your must-haves for this season.

My fall must-haves are an odd mix of food, clothing, and baby essentials. Guess this is just life right now at my house. On my list I have:

  • Chili --  Because it's the perfect food for cooler temps
  • Diapers -- Essentials for new the new baby
  • Brown boots -- Really want to find some new ones that actually fit
  • Burp clothes -- We seem to have a shortage in the house right now
  • Pumpkin bread -- I need to buy more pumpkin and make more!
  • Apple cider -- Hot or cold, with bourbon or without, I love it!
  • New toddler boy clothes -- I need to round out Arthur's fall/winter wardrobe
  • PSL -- Of course!
  • Comfy cardigan -- For when I get chilly
  • Wine -- Because I've gone almost 10 months without it. I need me some good wine soon!
tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Thursday 09.22.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Pregnancy Update at 39 Weeks

Due Date: October 1st . The c-section is scheduled for Monday Sept. 26th sometime in the morning. I'm in the third slot for the day so we're thinking surgery around 11am. Less than a week to go!

Weight Gain: My official doctor record says that I have gained 30 pounds. I'll take it. Hoping to be able to establish an exercise routine once cleared by the doctor.

Symptoms: Overall feeling like crap. But at this point, that's to be expected. I've also been having random contractions here and there, but nothing consistent.

What's different this time: I have to take care of a toddler. This is exhausting when I'm already super tired.

Cravings/Aversions: Food is a necessity, but nothing really tastes great. And I get super full really quickly.  This kid is pushing everything around so much that I don't think my digestive system is doing very well.

Sleep: Having lots of trouble getting and staying asleep. At this point, I have to prop myself up to a semi-reclining position. Baby does not like me laying flat in bed.

I am loving: J is back from Romania. I have another pair of adult hands in the house to help out with Arthur. I definitely needed it.

I miss: Being able to bend over without major pain.

I am looking forward to: Getting this baby out! Five days!

I'm spazzing about: OMG I only have five days until Q comes! What else do I need to finish?

Movement: I don't care what the baby apps say, this kid has not slowed down.

Preparation: The pseudo-nursery (really the twins' room) is all done and ready. I've got baby supplies in two places (upstairs and downstairs) to make my life a bit easier. The car seat is ready to go. I think we're good. Just waiting for the kid to come.

Quentin's Stuff: The "nursery" (really the twins' room while they are gone) is ready for the little guy. I also had the bright idea of making a clothing/burp cloth/diaper/essentials basket for downstairs. I don't want to have to go up and down the stairs anytime I need to change his diaper or outfit. Go me on the planning ahead of time! I also packed his going home outfit in my hospital bag. Now I just need to pack my stuff!

 
tags: pregnancy
categories: Kids
Wednesday 09.21.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 21: Ice Cream

Prompt: If you were a flavor of ice cream, which flavor would you be? Why?If I were a flavor of ice I would have to be Mint Chocolate Chip. It combines my two favorite types of flavors: chocolate and fresh herb. I'm not really sure what it says about my personality, but it's my favorite hands down. In fact, we have a quart in the freezer right now! For fun, I decided to look it up on the internet.

According to The Kitchn:

You're pretty cool, to be honest. In high school you might not have been the most popular kid, but you hung around that crowd. You're a balanced person – you like running and watching football, but you also love going to see a play. You're loved by everyone and just want to have a good time.

According to Reader's Digest:

Mint chocolate chip lovers are argumentative.
Always mixing it up? There's a good chance mint chocolate chip is your favorite flavor, according to Hirsch's study for Dreyer's/Edy's, which found this ice cream signified ambition, confidence, frugalness, and argumentativeness. "[They] aren't fully satisfied until they find the tarnish on the silver lining," said Hirsch about its fans. However, Hirsch predicts that mint chocolate chip lovers are compatible with one another.

And according to Buzzfeed:

You probably get excited about Shark Week. You love jokin’ around and quoting movies. But you have a low tolerance for other people’s nonsense. You are not afraid to complain about the injustices of the world over Gchat.

I love how varied the responses are. If you know me in real life, you be the judge. Am I like any of the descriptions?

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Wednesday 09.21.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 20: Knowledge is Power

Prompt: Something you wish more people knew or believed.

I'm always amazed about how little most people know about their country's history and world history in general. I know that not everyone would love history like I do, but it would be nice if more people had a basic understanding. Knowing your history goes a long way in understanding how the world works today.

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Tuesday 09.20.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 19: Favorite Posts

Prompt:  A list of your favorite blog posts you've written.

My favorite current blog posts are all about my pregnancy updates and the 52 Weeks of Arthur posts.

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Monday 09.19.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 18: A Lifesaver

Prompt: One product that simplifies your life.

The key to simplifying my life is list making! I need to make sure that I know my schedule and my tasks. Otherwise my life would fall apart. My one product is actually a combination of three different products that work in tandem: Evernote, The Happy Planner, and a Moleskine Notebook. I use Evernote to plan out my blog posts and Project Life ideas. I can quickly pull up my schedule and see what needs to be finished. You can see an example of my Craft Blog schedule below. I have two notes for each month, one for the life blog and one for the craft blog. I list out my weeks and add my proposed post title. If the post hasn't been created in the blog, it gets an asterisk at the end. After the post is completed, I strikethrough the title. This helps me stay organized on the blog side.

My next life organizing product is The Happy Planner by MAMBI. I love having a planner, but found that just an electronic one didn't work for me. I need the physical product to help me. Enter The Happy Planner. I've been using mine since July 2015 and continue to love it. I can quickly flip to a month view or a weekly view to see my activities and appointments and tasks. I also use the planner to help meal plan. I decided the best way to do meal planning was to create post-it flags with all the regular dishes. I can then tentatively plan each week out but still be able to move them around if needed.

The last project is a simple Moleskine. I tried to do a complete bullet journal in a Moleskine but found that I needed Evernote and The Happy Planner to round out my life. But I still needed a place to to keeps lists, project planning, and collections. Enter the simple Moleskine. An example below is my spending log for part of September.

The Moleskine goes with me wherever I go. Sometimes I add things in there and then transfer to one of my other projects. But in reality they all work together to keep my life simplified and on track.

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Sunday 09.18.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 17: Vlog?

Prompt: Vlogging day! Record a vlog about anything you like!

Nope, Not happening today. Way too much on my plate.

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Saturday 09.17.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 16: Self Care

Prompt: How do you de-stress/take care of yourself?

My biggest selfcare is reading. I promised myself after having children that I wouldn't give up my reading. Sure there are many times that I can't read because there's something or someone else needing my attention. I can't spend all day lost in a book anymore. But I still make reading a priority and find time to do it. Before the littlest kid, I was reading ~15 books a month. That number has gone down due to the necessity of taking care of a child. However, I'm still averaging about ~8 books a month. Reading is the biggest activity that recharges my batteries. Hoping to continue the trend after this new baby comes...

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Friday 09.16.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

52 Weeks of Arthur: W28-36

One of my 101 in 1001 Days goals is to take weekly photos of Arthur. I want to create a photo book for this year. Instead of posting them each week, I’m going to post in 9 week intervals. See W1-9 here, W10-18 here, W19-27 here. Without further ado, here are weeks 28-36:

 
 
 
 
tags: 52 Weeks, Arthur
categories: Kids
Friday 09.16.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 15: Adventure Time

Prompt: What is the craziest adventure you've ever been on?

My craziest adventure was a trip I took all the way back in 2000. For our senior year of high school's spring break, two friends and I took the train all the from Indiana to NYC for a week of adventures and shenanigans. I don't think we slept more than 20 hours that whole week. Me being the uber planner created a detailed itinerary for each day. This ensured that we actually got to see the things we wanted to see in the city but it left plenty of room for crazy side trips and misadventures. Among the weirdness from that trip, we:

  • made friends with the Albanian bell hop at the hotel. Very strange!
  • spent almost all night talking to the cast of the live action Rocky Horror Picture Show in Greenwich Village
  • watched the aurora borealis on the beach at Coney Island with a bunch of amateur astronomists
  • ordered and received a bottle of wine at a small Indonesian restaurant
  • took a super sketchy subway ride late night in the Brooklyn
  • got lost a countless number of times
  • score front row orchestra seats to see Aida, and met the cast afterwards including the lead Heather Headley who graduated from our rival high school!
  • ate crap, but managed to survive the week
  • somehow made it back to Indiana in one piece

It was my only real spring break trip and it was amazing!

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Thursday 09.15.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Pregnancy Update at 38 Weeks

Due Date: October 1st. After not hearing anything from the doctor's office since my 36 week appointment, I finally got ahold of the office and surprise, surprise, another change. Apparently my c-section is now scheduled for September 26th. Unfortunately I still don't know a time. This is really making my planning for Arthur's childcare difficult to say the least.

Weight Gain: My home scale is telling me 26 pounds.

Symptoms: All the same complaints. Plus I've started getting some sciatica pain on my left side. So not cool.

What's different this time: I've been hardcore nesting this time. I have not idea what's up with me, but yeah for lots of freezer meals prepped and baked goods.

Cravings/Aversions: All the baked goods.

Sleep: Eh. Not great, but I seem to be able to fall asleep quickly after waking to pee.

I am loving: The fact that J is coming home on Friday. This three week solo parenting thing has taken it's toll on me.

I miss: Being able to get of the couch/out of bed without wincing in pain.

I am looking forward to: Getting a confirmation on my surgery time.

I'm spazzing about: Not having childcare set up for Arthur for c-section day.

Movement: Supposedly the baby should be not moving as much, but not my babies. Q is just as crazy as he was a month ago.

Preparation: Beyond the freezer meals, I remembered to make Arthur's 3rd year appointment. I also washed the car seat liner and put it back together. Now we just need to reinstall it into the car.

Quentin's Stuff: J's parents sent us the double stroller I wanted! I'm so excited about the idea of having a sit and stand stroller. I am hoping to be able to babywear Q for awhile, but depending on my physical state, that may not happen. At least now I have a few options.

 
tags: pregnancy
categories: Kids
Wednesday 09.14.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 14: Mood Board

Prompt: Make a mood board! Are you brainstorming a room re-do, a capsule wardrobe, or already planning for the holidays? Show us your ideas! I have examples here and here.

For my mood board, I'm highlighting my love of fall. Living in California now, we don't get a proper fall. I long for the days of falling leaves, cool weather, and hot tea. Since i can't have the fall weather, I'll settle for pumpkin everything, a good book, a piece of cake, and a hot cup of tea.

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Wednesday 09.14.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Founding Myths by Ray Raphael

Title: Founding Myths: Stories That Hide Our Patriotic Past

Author: Ray Raphael

Publisher: The New Press 2004

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 432

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books - W37

First published ten years ago, award-winning historian Ray Raphael’s Founding Myths has since established itself as a landmark of historical myth-busting. With Raphael’s trademark wit and flair,Founding Myths exposed the errors and inventions in America’s most cherished tales, from Paul Revere’s famous ride to Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech. For the thousands who have been captivated by Raphael’s eye-opening accounts, history has never been the same.

I'm giving this book 3 stars, but that rating really only applies to me. I think this is a well written look at many of the myths we learn about U.S. History. Unfortunately for me, I already knew the truth of the matter. Curse of being a history major in college. This book was just too broad for me. I need to pick books that go much deeper in a particular subject or time period instead of a general overview.

tags: 3 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, nonfiction, Ray Raphael, U-S- History
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 09.13.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio

Title: The Last Camellia

Author: Sarah Jio

Publisher: Plume 2013

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 306

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Murder Mystery; Women Authors

On the eve of the Second World War, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.

More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?

Our book club selection for September and a book that's been on my shelf for awhile. This was such a quick read for me. I think it took me a total of 3 days to read and I wasn't spending that much time reading. I quickly fell into the story wanting to know what happened to Flora and what would happen to Addison. The back and forth between the two time periods worked just fine. I was intrigued by the botany and the big mystery of the camellia. I loved the side characters in the historical sections especially the children. I also love that the manor seemed to become another character in the story. With all these good things, there were a few elements that bugged me. I didn't feel very connected to Addison at all. Her backstory bugged me. And I definitely didn't really see the relationship between her and Rex. It just wasn't that well developed. And the ending on Addison's side was super rushed and weird. Not satisfying at all.

tags: 4 stars, fiction, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, Sarah Jio, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 09.13.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 13: Freaky Friday

Prompt: If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would it be? Why?

After this week, I'm going say that I would switch lives with anyone who isn't pregnant right now. Right at 38 weeks and I must say that I am over this pregnancy. My pain level has been steadily increasing for the last few weeks. Can't wait until this little boy makes his appearance.

tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Tuesday 09.13.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Blog-Tember Day 12: Books

Prompt: Three books! One you just read, one you're currently reading, and one you want to read.

I just read The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio. This is our book club selection for September. Even though I won't be able to attend club (baby day!), I wanted to read this one as it was on my shelves. Interesting read until the last 15 pages or so. Then it lost me.

I'm currently reading Founding Myths by Ray Raphael. Continuing my love of U.S. History books, I finally dove into this one. It's been sitting on my shelf for years now. Interesting read so far even though I know a lot of the info presented already.

I really really really want to read Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. I've been meaning to continue the Outlander series for a few months now. Hopefully soon!

FOUNDimg726_large (1920).jpg
the-last-camellia-sarah-jio (1920).jpg
tags: Blog-Tember
categories: Life
Monday 09.12.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 
Newer / Older

Powered by Squarespace.