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 So the story is still out on this Grain Bowl. A handful of things: the sweet potatoes and beets were PITA to peel. The wild rice was PITA to cook. But then it was all delicious once I cooked it. And the pistachios added just the right crunch. But then, that night I woke up with a sharp back pain and violently vomited all this up. So there’s that.  I thought it might be fun to catalog and keep track of food that I cooked so that I could have a list of recipes I like to be able to come back to when I want. This Sheet Pan Ratatouille involved a bunch of chopping and sitting around while the veggies roast but other than that it was super easy to make and incredibly tasty. And here’s the easy Insta Pot chicken that I added.  Another week has passed. January always feels like it’s crawling and racing at the same time. Big Goal: My goal for January is to work on prepping meals. Good week for progress on this. I’ve ordered groceries with lots of vegetables this week and made chicken, sheet pan ratatouille with a LOT of vegetables, and roasted zucchini and tomatoes, and roasted sweet potatoes and beets. Most of the days this week, I ate a lot of vegetables so we will consider this a lot of progress. In fact the Ratatouille dish I made has been one of the best things I’ve ever eaten and I plan to make it every week for a while. So I am feeling good about the progress here so far and have some good plans for this week as I still have zucchini, broccoli, and lentils that are waiting to be cooked this week.
I seem to still be giving myself a hard time for not getting it all done. So I am having to constantly coach myself to slow down and that I will have time to get through my list and that all my list is mostly nice to have etc. It’s taking a lot of self-coaching to stop my thoughts that definitely seem to be moving at a pace that’s just not great. Here’s to another week. Paying attention. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.
I am glad for people who are brave enough to tell their stories. To many, it might look like Belle’s privilege meant that her story wasn’t as interesting to share or that she had no right to be so hurt or she should not have been so dumb as to stop working, change the prenup and put herself into the position she put herself in. People love to judge others. People feel entitled to tell you which stories deserve to be told. People think they would have done differently if it were them. People love to watch and point and laugh and judge and judge and judge. It’s so easy to be a critic. It’s hard to choose to put your life on paper anyway. And these stories deserve to be told. I’m grateful she did.
3.5 stars. This was crazy, weird, and convoluted. I read it in one sitting but also forgot it pretty quickly. Recommended to those who love mystery!
I discovered Isabel Klee on instagram just a few weeks ago. And, of course, I fell down a rabbit hole and had to watch all the videos of all her fosters. Her ability to tell their story with so much love and so much humanity made it impossible not to keep scrolling for more. This is how I knew she would be an excellent writer. And I was not wrong. This is the story of Klee’s twenties in NYC. The detours she takes, the mistakes she makes, the friends who save her and love her. The men who love her, the men who betray her. The dogs she loves and the dogs who love her back. There’s so much heart and soul in this book. Everything is shared with tenderness, generosity and kindness. This book reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to be loved. It reminds us that loving a being that’s been hurt can be hard but also oh so worth the work. It reminds us that we can do the hard work of healing ourselves and others. And, more than anything, it reminds us that dogs are such a gift and we are so very lucky to get to love them. You will laugh and cry through this beautiful memoir and find yourself rooting for Isabel and every single rescue who was lucky to be fostered by her, deeply loved and given to forever homes with gratitude. And of course, Simon. Simon who is the kindest dog and shares Isabel’s extraordinary caring heart. The world is a better place because it has Isabel and Simon (and Jacob!) in it. with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Famous podcasters and best friends Benny Abbott and Joy Moore have been telling other people how to get out of life threatening situations for a living. Until the morning Benny shows up at Joy’s house to find her and her husband missing. The house is a mess and they left their dog behind. Benny is determined to figure out what happened as we roll back and forth in time to get the full story of how they got here and what exactly happened, all while the police are determined to figure out if Benny is the one who’s responsible. The audio for this one is super fun, and really plays off the podcast plot. Fantastic narrators Julia Whelan and Sean Patrick Hopkins make it even harder for you to stop. Once I started, I listened to it until it was over because there was no way I was taking a break. with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
On my goodness Helen Laser does an incredible job with the audio of this book. From the moment I started listening to it, her voice took a hold on me and would not let me go. I could not stop listening. I felt completely wrapped up in the story and in the trance of Catharine’s world. This is an excellent, excellent audio. Catharine’s life looks ordinary. She’s worked incredibly hard to make it appear so. And, of course, with a single email from a journalist, it starts unraveling. It turns out Catherine grew up in a cult. Her dad was the leader. It turns out there are a lot of unanswered questions. It turns out this journalist is interested in finding out the answers. And Catharine may not be able to stop her life and all her secrets from unraveling. I listened to this in one swallow. with gratitude to netgalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
you can always always always count on Katherine Center to give us a story that makes us laugh and makes our heart full. This story was no exception. I thought the dialogue was even funnier than usual. Even though it also felt like the main character took a bit longer to get with the program that she should. But it’s impossible to read a Center book and not smile your way through it. It’s impossible to not have her books heal you a little (or a lot) bit! with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
This is a lovely story that will ease your heart. It’s like a cozy cup of tea. It’s about Shelby who buys an inn to fulfill her husband’s dying wish, only to find out the inn is in dire state and rumored to be haunted. Shelby is in the process of coming to terms with who she is and how she’s been trying to come back to herself finally after living a full life in denial. She’s new in town. She has no idea how to fix or rescue the inn. She is trying to honor her husband and also step into her own. Can she do both at the same time? Is it possible to look back and look forward? Is it possible to do something for others and also yourself at the same time? Loved this sweet story. the audio was phenomenal. highly recommended. with gratitude to netgalley and Brilliance Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars for me. I think people like watching others unravel more than I do. I don’t find it as interesting. This is about a family that’s unraveling. The mom decides she wants to have an open marriage and literally couldn’t give two shits about the kids. The dad is upset about the mom but also not really stepping it up, just too busy being upset and thinking about what this means for him. And the kids, well each kid is also in their own unraveling journey. Going so far that it’s ridiculous and melodramatic in service of trying not to be gritty. Crazy.
I love Amy Jo Burns’ books and Wait for Me was no exception. This is the story of Marijohn who was left in a gas station as a baby, raised by the owner Gus, who is obsessed with and swears that famous folk singer Elle Harlow who has been missing for twenty years, was last seen at his gas station and left Marijohn there. But then a meteor crashes into the earth and unearths things that had been buried for twenty years. And nothing is the same again. I loved reading the story of these two women even though the story felt a little too slow for me at times and I didn’t connect with all the music lyrics. I bet this one will be incredible on audio. With gratitude to netgalley and Celadon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. |
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