Currently #15

Reading: Lovely War by Julie Berry - one of my Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide choices

Watching: We’re close to finishing S2 of The Orville. Pretty darn good.

Listening: Arthur has really been enjoying The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd. Such a fun radio play!

Making: It’s apple season! We’re going apple picking on Thursday and I’m lining up all the apple recipes. First up is definitely apple crumb with homemade caramel sauce.

Feeling: After the last few weeks, I’ve been feeling really weird. Grief is a strange thing to get a grasp on.

Planning: There will be no trick-or-treating for my family this year. We’re just not willing to take the risk. Instead, I’m planning some kind of Easter Egg hunt activity (but with Halloween stuff of course), spooky movie marathon, possible glow stick dance party, and maybe some other fun things…

Loving: After multiple weeks of over 90 degree weather, we’re experiencing beautiful fall weather!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #14

Reading: Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt. It’s number three in the Maiden Lane series. Loving my historical romance breaks.

Watching: J and I are finally watching The Orville S1. I initially resisted because Family Guy Seth McFarlane bothers me. This one is much more awkward humor and I’m really enjoying it.

Listening: The kids have started listening to WOW in the World podcast from NPR. I even enjoy it!

Making: Trying to make cookies, but our oven has some strange hot and cold spots. Very annoying…

Feeling: It’s so fucking hot here, still. I hate it.

Planning: I’m looking at some potential field trips to sprinkle into our homeschooling weeks. COVID is making is hard to plan, as we really are trying to avoid indoor places. Today we are going doing to the Missouri River to walk across the pedestrian bridge and then check out the Oregon Trail statue park downtown. Tomorrow we’re going to Tree Adventures in Nebraska City for our nature play day. I’m hoping we can go apple picking next month and are scheduling a homeschooling day at Vala’s. Making a list of some others.

Loving: I’m so hot… drinking lots of iced tea.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #13

Reading: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Oh so good and super creepy!

Watching: We finally started The Orville S1. Not bad, not bad.

Listening: I’ve put Black Veil Brides’s new album Restitch These Wounds on repeat this week. So good!

Making: This week we are studying history, archaeology, and evolution. For the archaeology bit, I’m making a small archaeological dig for us to practice. Should be fun.

Feeling: The first week of homeschooling is over and I feel like I’ve made some good choices for our schooling. Feeling much more prepared for the coming weeks.

Planning: Along with our homeschool plans, I’m planning a little field trip for next week’s nature play day. We’re going to get out into nature (and not just the neighborhood)!

Loving: I’ve made plum cake twice in the last two weeks. Oh so good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #12

Reading: Network Effect by Martha Wells - I’m so in love with the Murderbot Diaries. So sad that this is the last one that has been published…

Watching: I finally started S7 of The 100. It’s the last season! I’m sneaking in episodes during my workout sessions.

Listening: So many podcasts this past week. I need more music in my life.

Making: I’m working on homeschool curriculum and packets for the fall.

Feeling: So hot and sweaty! Our treadmill was delivered on July 1st. I’m aiming to walk 30 miles in July. So far, I’ve walked over 6 miles!

Planning: As we’re homeschooling this coming year, I’ve been spending a bit of time every day pulling resources, making lists, and working out our plan. I’ve got a ton of stuff, but now I need to narrow everything down for August.

Loving: Walking the treadmill makes me hungry, but I don’t want to eat crap. Instead, I’ve been grabbing a little handful of nuts after my workout. Honey Roasted Peanuts are my treat.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #11

Reading: I just started When Women Ruled by Kara Cooney. It’s about the six queens of ancient Egypt. I’m only on the first queen, but it’s fascinating. Turns out I knew very little about the First Dynasty of ancient Egypt.

Watching: J and I are making our way through S3 of Broadchurch, but it’s so very heavy. To lighten up our nights, we started watching Holey Moley S1. A mini golf competition crossed with Wipe Out? We’re totally here for this!

Listening: Palaye Royale’s new album The Bastards dropped this week. Oh so incredibly good!

Making: I did manage to make a couple of homemade loaves of bread this week.

Feeling: For the past four days, I’ve really felt off. I’ve had a fever off and on, body aches, nausea, and headache. It’s been terrible…

Planning: Meal planning like every week…

Loving: I figured out the “Over Ice” feature on my coffee maker and have been making iced coffee all week. So nice when I want coffee but it’s 90 degrees.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #10

Reading: I’m rereading Circe by Madeline Miller for May’s Girly Book Club. I’m also finishing The Deep by Alma Katsu.

Watching: Continuing our May Movie Month. We just did a string of three YA scifi movies: The Darkest Minds (terrible), Mortal Engines (very pretty, but not great), and Alita: Battle Angel (confusing).

Listening: Lots of podcasts like usual, but I always make time for Corona Virus Daily from NPR.

Making: Working on various Project Life pages. I’m still finishing Arthur’s 2018 album, but have started the family 2019 album and the WITL 2019 album.

Feeling: Life with the teenagers has been pretty tense this past week. Not quite sure what’s going on right now, but hoping we can get to the bottom of this conflict soon.

Planning: Arthur is officially done with Kindergarten, but we’re not going to stop learning. As we cannot really visit various places, I’m setting up weekly theme units to get us through the summer. First up is Art History with lots of hands-on projects.

Loving: I picked up some stacks of rhubarb from the grocery and have really enjoyed the strawberry-rhubarb crumble I made from them.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #9

Reading: Things in Jars by Jess Kidd - One of my Book of the Month selections. It’s a strange story reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes with a dash of actual fantasy thrown in. I’m really digging it so far!

Watching: We’re currently balancing a light show (Making It S2) and a dark show (Broadchurch S2) before we embark on a movie week.

Listening: Randomly picking albums to listen to while making meals. The other day is was Invented from Jimmy Eat World.

Making: Back at the Project Life spreads. I’m so close to finishing Arthur’s 2018 Album. Just about 50 more photos to print. and a few more weeks to journal.

Feeling: Tired. This whole thing has exhausted me daily. Sleeping 8 hours isn’t even touching my exhaustion.

Planning: We’re shooting for the grocery store once every two - two and half weeks. That means I really need to get creative about what to buy and when so things do not go bad before using.

Loving: With all the crazy, I have found time to read daily. Working in at least an hour every day.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #8

Reading: The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams - A WWII novel, but feels refreshing in the setting and the characters.

Watching: We just finished the first season of Making It last night. I loved that show!

Listening: For some reason, I’ve been pulling out the entirety of Mumford & Sons catalog to enjoy.

Making: We’ve been experimenting with different curries this week. Yummy!

Feeling: Over a month practicing social distancing and I’m feeling so weird… Every day is just so strange.

Planning: I’m almost finished painted my craft/library room. Hopefully this weekend I can start moving in furniture this weekend.

Loving: J and I have been turning to feel good television. It has made our nights so much more enjoyable.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #7

Reading: 1776 by David McCullough. Finally! It’s been sitting on my shelves for years at this point…

Watching: J and I are slowly making our way through Broadchurch S2.

Listening: I overdid it on podcasts last week, so I’m trying to listen to more music especially calming music. this week, I’ve been turning to simple piano tracks.

Making: Back to crafting a tiny bit. I’ve been working on my Memory Planner pages for February and March.

Feeling: Arguably I have more time on my hands right now. And yet, I find that I don’t have enough time to do things. I finally pinpointed my problem. My brain is having trouble focusing on tasks. I’m feeling so incredibly scattered.

Planning: We have dinners planned and supplies gathered for the next week or so. But then, I don’t know. And I don’t necessarily plan breakfasts and lunches, but thinking I should. Which leads to me to the next point…

Loving: Millard Public Schools is giving away free breakfast and lunches to students at select schools across the district. This is amazing! We don’t go every day, but have been hitting up the service a few times a week. Today we got Uncrustables, oranges, milk (chocolate and regular), muffins, string cheese, raisins, chips, and a snack (graham crackers or rice crispie treats). Such a great service to make sure the kids in our district are still being fed. This is helping my family add some variety to breakfast and lunches.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #6

Reading: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay - Some of these essays are amazing.

Watching: J and I are in the middle of a rewatch of the Cornetto Trilogy. Last night we rewatched Hot Fuzz (J’s favorite; mine is Shaun of the Dead).

Listening: Arthur and Quentin have really amped up their fighting in the past week. It’s a bit much…

Making: Trader Joe’s lava cakes are oh so good and so easy to make!

Feeling: The twins have arrived at our house. I am relieved.

Planning: . This week I need to go to the grocery. I need to think on my strategy.

Loving: I’m managing to find quiet moments to read in between the school lessons and kids fighting.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #5

Reading: Vox by Christina Dalcher. It’s the Girly Book Club selection for March. About 1/2 through and I’m not loving it at all…

Watching: Just about to pull up last night’s episode of The Bachelor. Now that spoilers have been posted, I’m having a hard time staying away.

Listening: Lots of NPR Politics podcasts to catch up on this week.

Making: Pulled pork for dinner tonight. I went easy for today…

Feeling: So so tired. Quentin has been sick this week (a cold) and he’s been waking up in the middle of the night a lot. I’m just so tired today.

Planning: Trying to get the next house projects in line. I want to prep and paint the craft and library room so I can actually use that space. Beyond that, I need to think what to do next.

Loving: I spent yesterday afternoon organizing the hall linen close and the master bathroom closet. They are so organized and pretty right now! We have way more closest space than stuff, but it wasn’t organized yet. Now those spaces really make me happy.

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:

Currently #3

Reading: Finally picked up Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Not usually a fan of books in verse, but this one is really good.

Watching: I spent my evening a few nights again rewatching the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. I still really enjoy that movie.

Listening: While doing home renovations, I’ve been catching up with Dungeons and Daddies. Laugh out loud funny.

Making: Arthur’s class Valentines Day party is one Wednesday and I’m in charge of the planning the party. Hence, I have been spending time making goody bags.

Feeling: So very sore. Removing wallpaper is very labor intensive.

Planning: We’re working on getting our move logistics in order.

Loving: Over half of the blue bathroom is wallpaper-less. I’m celebrating that…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #2

Reading: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez. This book is infuriating (in a very informative way), but still makes me so mad.

Watching: J and I binged The Witcher this past week. Oh so good…

Listening: Catching up on my podcasts. I’ve really been digging The To Read List lately.

Making: Working on the overall design for our new house. Been watching a ton of YouTube videos and making wish lists. Closing is this Friday!

Feeling: Unfortunately, I caught that cold that all the kids had. I hate blowing my nose every two minutes.

Planning: Finally nailing down the our activities for the Kindergarten Valentine’s Day party.

Loving: Every once in awhile, my nose clears and I can breathe. It is glorious!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #1

Reading: Wither by Lauren DeStefano. It’s been on my list for years. Finally got around to reading it.

Watching: Letterkenny S8 started out slow, but has really gotten back to its roots in the last few episodes.

Listening: The Dream S2 is all about the wellness industry. Fascinating!

Making: Finishing up a project for J’s company that requires a ton of phone calls. I hate talking on the phone, but I’m doing it…

Feeling: Cold. So cold. Our house has weird cold areas that I always end up sitting in.

Planning: Working on planning some future big events.

Loving: Ending my days with a cup of hot cinnamon spice tea. So good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #12

Reading: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Watching: Finally starting binging Lucifer and I love it! I’m already up to the midpoint of S3!

Listening: Along with NPR UpFirst, I’ve been listening every weekday morning to The Indicator.

Making: So many lists. Story of my life.

Feeling: We’re driving home today and I have really been missing home.

Planning: Working on planning dinners for the next two weeks or so.

Loving: Last night we got peanut butter cup mixers from Culver’s and it was oh so good.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #11

Reading: The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones on the recommendation of Reading Glasses podcast. Loving it so far.

Watching: Finally finished S5 and moving into S6 of The 100!

Listening: Slowly making my way through the bonus episodes of Unobscured S1 podcast. The bonuses are the uncut interviews with the various historians. Right up my alley!

Making: Cleaning out some of the leftover card kits to have some non-birthday cards for my stash.

Feeling: Surprisingly calm right now. There are tons of spinning plates in the air right now, but I’m actually pretty calm.

Planning: We’re leaving again next week for a short Indiana trip. Getting everything organized.

Loving: We’ve been hitting the 1/2 Happy Hour at Sonic a few times this summer so I can get my Cherry Limeade fix.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #10

Reading: Craftfulness by Rosemary Davidson; If, Then by Kate Hope Day

Watching: Good Omens - J and I absolutely love the book and couldn’t wait to watch the TV adaptation. We’re four episodes in and loving it so much! They got the tone right and more importantly, the casting! David Tennant and Michael Sheen are great counterpoint characters.

Listening: Unobscured from Aaron Mahnke about the Salem Witch Trials. I’ve listened to the actual episodes so now I’m moving on to the historian interviews.

Feeling: Ready to go on our road trip! Okay, not really, but getting close. I still need to take care of some tasks and obviously we need to pack. But I’ve got our itinerary set and my lists made.

Planning: Working on getting our weekend activities sorted. We have many things on the calendar right now. Just need to wrap my brain around the schedule.

Loving: I picked up a bottle of cold brew last week at the store. I want my coffee fix in the morning, but summer is just too hot to sit over a mug of hot coffee. Cold brew is a perfect substitution!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #9

Reading: Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen — loving this cozy mystery series!

Watching: Still working through Games of Thrones S1.

Listening: I caught up on some other podcasts, so I started Aaron Mahnke’s Unobscured about the Salem Witch Trials.

Feeling: There are a few things up in the air right now. I’m a bit anxious. Will feel much better after this weekend passes.

Planning: We heading over to Indiana this weekend for Memorial Day and to pick up the twins. Looking forward to our activities!

Loving: The grocery stores around here carry rhubarb (so scarce in California) and I’ve been buying a ton. I’ve been making a ton of rhubarb dishes. So good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #8

Reading: The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

Watching: J and I are going back to the beginning to watch Game of Thrones so we can watch the very last season.

Listening: Really really enjoying Mike Shinoda’s Post Traumatic. Really good gym music.

Making: The store had rhubarb! So that means that I had to make Strawberry-Rhubarb crumble for book club last night.

Feeling: A bit on edge this week waiting for some news…

Planning: On the way back from Indiana, we’re planning on doing a mini road trip. Still deciding on Chicago or Des Moines.

Loving: We had a few small thunderstorms lately and I really missed storms while living in California.

Next up on the TBR pile: