Currently #7

Reading: Beautiful by Christina Lauren. I finally made it to the last book in this series. They are definitely my current comfort reads.

Watching: While J was gone last week, I started watching Starstruck and Minx and I am addicted to both.

Listening: Sad that the new Coheed and Cambria album isn’t out yet, but I have been listening to the three singles a lot lately.

Making: Made chocolate cake for D&D on Saturday and we’ve almost eaten the entire thing. I may need to make a new variation this weekend.

Feeling: I had my permanent crown put on Monday and am still feeling slightly sore today.

Planning: I need to finish planning out our May Kansas trip. We have lodgings and tickets for one event. I need to get our list of restaurants and other events set.

Loving: We rented two chicks for this week and are having so much fun with Sunshine and Shadow! The boys are learning so much about chickens and caring for them.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #6

Reading: After a few complicated and series books and a middle grade series, I started the space horror Dead Silence by SA Barnes.

Watching: After a long wait, Moon Knight S1 finally started airing. I am very intrigued.

Listening: ice Nine Kills just dropped a new song, “Hunting Season,” and I’m really loving it!

Making: Working on next year’s curriculum and that means piles of books everywhere.

Feeling: A big dentist appointment yesterday means that I have a slightly sore mouth today.

Planning: Working on all our travel plans for the rest of the year. I think we’re ready to start booking hotel rooms this week.

Loving: I have not had a good night’s sleep for awhile now. Sleep sounds amazing right now.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #5

Reading: The Blackbird Girls by Anna Blankman, so far a very stressful but good story about two girls in the aftermath of the Chernobyl meltdown.

Watching: We started Severance S1 and it is so weird.. We love it!

Listening: Really I’m just listening to the usual podcasts. Nothing that exciting.

Making: March is almost over. That means that I’m making plans for my April reading. I really really need to read from my shelves, but I keep getting distracted by shiny new library books.

Feeling: I’m doing okay right now. Feeling a bit of a lull.

Planning: We’re over halfway through the semester. It’s about time to do a survey to start planning our next year.

Loving: We ordered a lemon cake for J’s birthday (a week earlier), and it was incredibly delicious.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #4

Reading: A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske. I’m really digging this book full of magic, romance and mystery.

Watching: We finally watched Train to Busan and it was amazing! Of course, I had to pick a zombie movie for my birthday movie choice.

Listening: Been rocking my Apple Favorites playlist. Sometimes the mix is a bit strange, but I love it.

Making: I have a video chat scheduled with another coop member to discuss strategies moving forward. We’ll see how it goes…

Feeling: My birthday day out was amazing and felted me feel slightly refreshed.

Planning: I’ve been thinking about what events we want to plan for this spring. Of course, I’m banking on the pandemic to continue to get better. I’m hoping that we can do a couple day trip to Des Moines or KC and maybe a family trip to Chicago.

Loving: I bought myself some great presents on my birthday day out. I think my favorite might be my Frida Kahlo doll.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #3

Reading: Fuzz by Mary Roach - I’m enjoying this nature writing book even if it’s not as funny as some of her others.

Watching: Continuing our February Movie Month. Our viewings have been incredibly varied.

Listening: Found a new band on the Apple Music New Hard Rock playlist. Loving the punk sound of The Rumjacks

Making: I got on a kick last weekend and made three different baked goods for D&D and the weekend. I made Alton Brown’s Blueberry Muffins, Earl Grey Tea Bread, and Sicilian Orange Cake.

Feeling: My back has been very sore this week. Not sure what I did, but it’s not been feeling good. I’ve been trying to do more yoga this week to help.

Planning: Pulling all my piles for March’s homeschool curriculum. We’re moving through the semester.

Loving: My comfy bed has really been calling me this week. I love it when it’s a bit cold so I can snuggle.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #2

Reading: Nearing the end of Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. it’s just so so good…

Watching: It’s February Movie Month. So far, it’s been a mile bag, but we are committing to a varied list of movies to watch.

Listening: Definitely moving back to my hard rock playlists. They are my favorite.

Making: I finished my 2021 Memory Planner and have started working on collages for my 2022 Memory Planner. I am waiting for photo paper to be delivered so that I can print them.

Feeling: The past four days I had a huge scar tissue flare-up that resulted in a ton of pain. Thankfully it is subsiding. I’m feeling a lot better. And hoping that our walk in the woods today helps loosen everything.

Planning: We don’t have a full extra events calendar prepped for February yet. Guess I need to add some extra fun to our plan.

Loving: J has been making cognac sazeracs and I have been loving them! Definitely my current cocktail of choice.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #1

Reading: Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse - I don’t know why I put this off for so long. I finally started it and it’s very intriguing.

Watching: We’ve been slowly working through The Great S1. It is at times hilarious and heartbreaking.

Listening: We haven’t been going out that often, so no music stretches for us. But I have been catching up on my podcasts.

Making: I started my 2021 Memory Planner pages and am now up to May’s spreads. I’m hoping to get all of these months finished by the end of February. Then I can move onto 2022’s pages.

Feeling: Temperatures have been all over the place. It is fairly warm outside, but I am very chilly right now.

Planning: I wasn’t planning on it, but I am going to be teaching our next coop theme for the older kids. I need to get moving on our lessons.

Loving: Even with weird random days, I am getting stuff done around here and it’s great.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #9

Reading: Code Name Hèléne by Ariel Lawhon - I had to take a little break after a very graphic section, but I’m back into the book. About 50% of the way through so far. I’m liking it, but it’s a heavy book.

Watching: J and have caught up with Foundation and it’s oh so good! They changed a lot from the books, but kept most of the philosophy and some of the big plot points. I’m so excited to see where the show is going.

Listening: I finally downloaded the new Black Veil Brides album and it’s been on repeat. I really love “Blackbird” and “Torch.”

Making: I had to completely dissemble my homeschool bookshelf to put in a printer station. So now I’m slowly making piles for December and then all the months for the spring semester. So many piles, but I didn’t want to just dump stuff back onto the bookshelf.

Feeling: We are finally into fall around here and all I want to do is wear my snuggliest sweaters. Nothing super heavy (I still like to feel my fingers), but a brisk temperature and a light sweater are my favorites.

Planning: With the kids getting vaccinated by early December, we have decided to go to Indiana for Christmas. Now I need to plan out all the logistics and start making plans.

Loving: During my break from Code Name Hèléne , I picked up Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas. It’s not October anymore, but I’m still loving the gothic horror in this book. Not much has happened plot wise, but I am so invested in the atmosphere.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #8

Reading: Foundation and Earth by Isaac Asimov. I have finally reached the end of the giant series.

Watching: October is always spooky movie month. I make a list of possible selections and then most nights we pick on to watch. (Usually one of us pick three possibilities and then the other person has to choose one of those.) We’ve started the month with a variety of older movies, either new to me or or rewatches. It’s been fun so far.

Listening: I’m diving back into lots of hard rock as my music choice lately. Apparently fall is for hard rock.

Making: With the cooling temperatures, I’m finally back into making new desserts and trying new recipes.

Feeling: The bookish retreat last week really helped me calm my brain and recharge. I’m feeling a lot better right now.

Planning: My homeschool coop has decided to have a Halloween Party in a few weeks. Of course, I’m helping to plan the party. It’s what I do.

Loving: We picked up a gallon of apple cider at the grocery and it was the best decision of the week.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #7

Reading: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren. I finally picked it up off the library stack and dug right in.

Watching: I need to catch up with the antics on Bachelor in Paradise. I cannot wait!

Listening: We started listening to the Magic 2.0 series from Scott Meyer on our road trip. We finished the first book, Off to Be the Wizard, and have almost finished the second book, Spell or High Water.

Making: October is traditionally our spooky movie month. I usually make a list of options that we choose from each day. I’m making that list this week and I’m really excited for some of the entries.

Feeling: I love our family road trips, but it’s just so good to be home…

Planning: I’m less than 2 weeks away from the bookish retreat so I’m planning my packing lists. I have good to pack, food to buy on the way, personal items to pack, alcohol to pack, crafts. to pack, and all the miscellaneous stuff.

Loving: After a week sleeping in hotels, I’m so excited to sleep in my own bed. My back thanks me for being back.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #6

Reading: Wintering by Katherine May… I’ve been taking this book slowly and definitely need to own it to reread every few years.

Watching: We’re still working through Hustle. Up to Season 4 now.

Listening: The kids are not doing well this month and have been spending a lot of time bickering. I think it’s a combination of quarantine months, the heat, and non-routine days. I’m hoping August will be better for all of us.

Making: I’m currently working on a variety of coop lessons for the fall. I have our Math in Nature lessons prepped, but need to finish Birds, Mammals, Dinosaurs, and a few others.

Feeling: After a brief cool down, we’re back to temperatures in the upper 90s. I’m so very hot and tired.

Planning: Before we start our next year of homeschooling, I have a few more field trips scheduled. Today we are heading to Morrill Hall in Lincoln. Later we will take another trip to Lincoln for a zoo visit and a few more zoo visits.

Loving: We had bulgogi last night from a new-to-us Korean restaurant. It was just what I wanted!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #5

Reading: Continuing the Shadow and Bone trilogy with Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo. I needed something a bit more light after finishing Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Watching: Wednesdays are blocked out for Loki watching! Oh I am all in knots after last week’s episode. So incredibly good!

Listening: No big music this week, but I have been trying to catch up on some podcasts. Currently Reading is always a must-listen for the week!

Making: Our meal plan has gotten very much out of hand. I need to take some time this week and get everything under control. I also need to schedule some more 52 Desserts and Snacks to catch up a bit.

Feeling: The above 90 degrees days are really wearing on me. I am tired and hot almost all of the time…

Planning: I have so many fall projects on the horizon (book retreat, family road trip, kids’ birthday party) and the start of our second year of homeschooling. Plus all the usual house things. I’ve resorted to time blocking through July to get a jump on planning and organization for those. Once we hit August, I will be very busy so I’m taking advantage of my time this month.

Loving: I’ve been taking my book and coffee out to the back deck in the mornings and it’s been lovely. Thankfully the deck is shaded in the mornings and I can enjoy myself without feeling like I’m on the surface of the sun.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #4

Reading: Broken (in the best way possible) by Jenny Lawson. J said that I can’t read it in bed as I was laughing too loudly and shaking the bed. It’s just that funny!

Watching: J signed us up for a 30 day engineering course with Mark Rober. Arthur has been enjoying his various videos on YouTube. The squirrel ninja course is his current favorite video.

Listening: I’ve gotten a bit behind on a lot of my favorite podcasts. I’m attempting to run the backlog this week.

Making: I tried a new dessert recipe for a chocolate pound cake and it basically grew and exploded in the oven. Not sure if it was the recipe or my oven that caused the issues (our oven is a bit wonky right now). I had to scrape off burnt cake from the bottom of the oven and all over a cookie sheet and my pyrex. I’m going to try it again using a different container.

Feeling: The daily temperature has been hitting 90 every day for the past weekly. I’m just constantly hot and sweaty and I don’t like it.

Planning: I’m deep into planning the Reading Retreat for the end of September. I’ve got the book selections form ready to go and have started doing my expenses spreadsheet. Also, I’m putting the finishing touches on the book swap I’m hosting on Saturday. We didn’t get to do our Christmas swap so we’re doing it in June!

Loving: We got a new patio set! I can now sit on our back deck and enjoy a cup of coffee and a chapter of my current read in the morning before we start school. It’s been delightful.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #3

Reading: The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. Book club needed something a little more light and fluffy.

Watching: J got me started watching Hustle. I know he had me watch the first episode years ago and then we moved to something else and never continued. It’s entertaining in a light way. Con of the week style episodes. We’ve been alternating between Hustle and S3 of Star Trek: Voyager this past week.

Listening: Not much music this week, but I have been catching up on Bookend Homeschoolers podcast. Not every episode is super useful to me, but many of them have great nuggets of advice.

Making: I’m finally getting back to my December Daily album for 2020. Here’s hoping I finish before the end of the month.

Feeling: So very tired. Q has been getting up at 6:30am usually by screaming or crying. It’s taking a toll on my sleep to be woken up so abruptly.

Planning: To travel or not? I’m thinking about the summer months but also our road trip. We might be able to do the road trip in fall (like late September) and I need to start planning it.

Loving: I’ve been making fruit smoothies for breakfast on and off for the past two months. Big hit over here! I now have a stack of like 20 different recipes that we cycle through.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #2

Reading: Scythe by Neal Shusterman. It’s been on my list and comes highly recommended by many bloggers. I’m enjoying it so far.

Watching: We’re a week into New-to-Us movie month. It’s going really well right now. We’ve watched some decent movies and a couple of good documentaries.

Listening: I’ve had A Day to Remember on repeat for about a week now. Really really digging the new songs.

Making: I finally got back into our 52 Desserts and Snacks projects with two different recipes this week.

Feeling: It’s so incredibly cold this week! The highs are all in the single digits. It’s too cold to even play outside right now.

Planning: I’ve got a huge list of Valentine’s crafts. I really need to look at the list and find a few that we can do on Saturday morning.

Loving: It’s cold and I need hot tea every night!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #1

Reading: I finally started Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series with The Duke and I . I’m about 75% of the way through it and loving every page (except for that one bedroom scene, so many problems). I’m hoping to read at least the next three books before starting the TV series.

Watching: J convinced me to start watching Lupin S1 and I’m really digging it. It’s a lovely action, spy-style show with quite a bit of mystery and humor. As it’s in French, we have to read the subtitled version which is fine except for when I have a nasty headache. Consequently, we aren’t burning through the series like we usually do. We’ve only watched the first three episodes so far.

Listening: Still loving Currently Reading. I joined their Patreon in December, so I had a ton of back podcasts to listen to from the members only section. And they are putting out a ton of great new content on the main podcast feed. I’m all about Meredith and Kaytee (and Mindy and Mary) right now!

Making: Our 2021 Food Project of 52 Weeks of Desserts and Snacks is off to a great start. After two dessert recipes, I’m turning to more breakfast style baked goods for the rest of January. I made Earl Grey Tea Bread earlier this week and hope to make Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal later this week.

Feeling: Being stuck in our house all day every day with no real hope of outside activities is really getting to me. I’m so grateful to have a home with some space, but we are all still here together for the foreseeable future. I’m really mourning the days when we could do activities outside of our home.

Planning: As to the previous point, I think I’m going to try and schedule a zoo day this week. The zoo is usually very sparsely attended during a normal January. I’m hoping that there will be even less people so we enjoy the Jungle Building, Desert Dome, Aquarium, and maybe even the giraffes and elephants. Also wondering if we can get to the sea lion exhibit without walking the long way around outside (must inquire at the check-in…). I’m thinking maybe Thursday before or after the library.

Loving: I’m all about a hot cup of coffee in the morning and a hot cup of tea in the afternoon (during reading time) or in the evening (during TV with J time).

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #19

Reading: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff - Oh so good! But very hard to explain.

Watching: We started the second season of His Dark Materials and it is just amazing.

Listening: Loving all the episodes of Lore. I like to play the game of guessing what he is going to talk about based on the first five minutes.

Making: I finally, finally, finally started making Christmas cards! I made 18 cards in the past three days.

Feeling: I had to go grocery shopping and it started sleeting while I was in there. Very chilly day yesterday…

Planning: I’m working on getting all the Thanksgiving components scheduled out. It’s going to be a little bit harder to make everything without two ovens.

Loving: I need apple cider in my everyday life…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #18

Reading: There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins - I just started it and so far, it’s a fun slasher thriller.

Watching: We are so incredibly close to being done with Battlestar Galactica. Only the series finale remains for us to watch. I’m definitely ready to move on to a new-to-me series.

Listening: After the stress of election week, I’m pressing play on all my bookish podcasts like Currently Reading, Reading Glasses, and What Should I Read Next.

Making: In summer we hit a lull in our 52 Soups and Stews Around the World project, but fall has rekindled my motivation. We’re up to 43 recipes done. Might just make it to 52 by the end of December!

Feeling: Our new HVAC system has already made the house much more even and cozier. It’s really made a difference.

Planning: My Ikea storage finally came and has been assembled. I’ve been busy the last few days planning out where things go. Something categories are easy, but others are giving me trouble.

Loving: Life has returned to a slower pace this week and I’m totally here for it.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #17

Reading: I finally started reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune and it is just making me so happy. I’m loving every page of it!

Watching: We introduced the kids to The Music Man (2003 version) this past weekend. We covered Sousa in music last week and it seemed appropriate. Next weekend, we’re thinking the original movie version.

Listening: I finally went back to listen to the mini series of At the Mountains of Dadness from Dungeons and Daddies. This three part Call of Cthulhu adventure is perfect for my horror heart.

Making: I’m thinking I need to make a few loaves of banana bread this week. That sounds perfect for these fall temperatures.

Feeling: The temperatures have officially dropped. I’m all about the cozy lately. I do love my fall wardrobe, full of cardigans and slippers.

Planning: We’re doing a family Halloween party instead of trick-or-treating. I’m planning some fun activities for the kiddos.

Loving: Cooler temps mean snuggling with fuzzy blankets. Yes!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #16

Reading: Lumberjanes Vol. 12-13. I needed some fun comfort reads for this week. I love this series so much!

Watching: The Great British Bake-Off is back!!! And I finally got to watch the first episode. I’ll miss Sandy, but Matt is a nice addition.

Listening: All the politics podcasts, I needed a break. Thankfully I had a few back episodes of Currently Reading (and What Should I Read Next) to listen to this week. I love their discussions about books and only books.

Making: We’re going to attempt fry bread this week to go along with our lessons about Native Americans of the Southwest.

Feeling: I’m so out of sorts this week and I just don’t even know why. Things are all just topsy-turvy. I think I need to get outside more and enjoy the fall season. I really do love this time of the year usually.

Planning: No trick-or-treating for us this year. I’m continuing to plan some fun Halloween party items instead.

Loving: I am enjoying the beautiful leaves in our neighborhood. I was very excited to move into a neighborhood with mature trees. They are so pretty!

Next up on the TBR pile: