Running, cooking, baking, reflecting and socializing (aided by much additional coffee drinking) have resumed a bit now that our new little one is nearly two months old and I’m out of the the Month One Fog. I feel more like myself than I have in about eight months, actually.
I’ve also had a chance to listen to some more podcasts this month, which directly correlates to the amount of laundry, cleaning and showering I do since that is when I usually listen to them. (Laundry is happening a lot more than showering these days since we can get by without me being completely hygienic, but not without clothes for our family.)
I’ve also been spending more time working–yes, working (and I don’t mean the butt-wiping/endless-feeding/boo-boo-kissing/mothering type of work)! Albeit as a volunteer, I’m officially an editor for the online publication, SheLoves, a fabulous community of women who are dedicated to living out their love for Jesus in practical ways in the world. I edit pieces that run on Mondays and get to publish with them monthly. I’m loving it!
Here’s some of what I’ve been up to in the book, podcast, recipe, article and writing departments this month:
Books
The Girl on the Train
This was the book for my book club this month and I stayed up waaay too late to finish it. It didn’t change my life, but was definitely engrossing and entertaining. It was fun to read a page-turner instead of my standard, serious non-fiction fare.
Given: Poems
I’m embarrassed to admit that this is the first book of poetry that I have read cover-to-cover in about ten years AND the first book by Wendell Berry I have read (shameful, I know). Last month I attempted to read A Widening Light: Poems of the Incarnation
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skill–more of each
than you have–inspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your work,
doubt their judgment…
Have you read a book of poetry before? What was your favorite? I’d love to hear your advice on the best way to read it in the comment section! Enlighten me;-)
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| Morning Walk |
Podcasts
The God-Centered Mom
The Power of Sex in Marriage: Francie Winslow
The Ripple Effect of Healthy Sexual Connection: Francie Winslow
Life Creative: Kelli Stuart
10 Ways to Stop Meltdowns & Arguments: Kirk Martin
Persuasion
A Woman’s Place with Katelyn Beaty (Part 1)
A Woman’s Place with Katelyn Beaty (Part 2)
Home is Where the Art Is
The Self We Find in “Eat, Pray, Love”
Sorta Awesome
Social media tips, tricks, advice and more
Recipes!
(This is a tell-tale sign that I am feeling 90% better than a month ago: I feel like cooking again!)
Chicken Corn Chowder (Plan to Eat)
A woman from the church we’ve been visiting brought enough of this soup over to feed us for FIVE days. And anything I’m willing to eat five days in a row, must be tasty, right? I made it last night for Halloween and didn’t love it as much as I did when this friend made it, but it’s definitely worth keeping in the fall repertoire and tweaking.
Sheet Pan Chicken Tikka (Smitten Kitchen)
This was delicious and very easy as long as you already have all the Indian spices like coriander, garam masala, ginger, etc. We ate it with rice, topped with purple onions, lemon wedges and cilantro. Yum.
Healthy Pumpkin Bread (Cookie + Kate)
Ok, so this was “healthy” in that it used coconut oil, wheat flour and maple syrup instead of the usual fare, but in this case “healthy” also meant “doesn’t taste very good.” That said, if you’re looking for a healthier pumpkin bread, this would be a good choice with one caveat: ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS.
Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry (Pinch of Yum)
This was very tasty and I’ll make it again. Next time I think I’ll add chicken just so it’s not so starchy with the potato + rice combo.
Miso Salmon with Mushrooms (PBS Food)
A friend of mine brought this dish after the baby was born and I begged her for the recipe. It is very simple as long as you are able to pick up Miso and Mirin. I found Mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine) in the regular grocery store, but my friend brought me the Miso from an Asian grocery store. I actually made it twice this month–once making the foil “pouches” and once just covering the dish with foil. I’d definitely recommend using the pouches. I also used frozen salmon (defrosted) and it tasted just fine! I served with white rice and fresh spinach nuked in the microwave for a minute, then tossed with a bit of soy sauce. Delicious.
Thought-Provoking Articles from the Web
Book Club Questions for Fiction/Novels from Lit Lovers (used for our book club this month)
Ethical Fashion and Sustainable Lifestyle Resources at Eco Warrior Princess
How Millennial Moms are Changing the World by Kelli Stuart for Huffington Post
‘This Is Us’ and the Dignity of Human Emotion, by Abby Perry for Christ and Pop Culture
This One Shift in Perspective Will Change Your Life, by Claire De Boer at her blog, The Gift of Writing
What Jen Hatmaker Gets Right About Christian Love, by Katelyn Beaty for Christianity Today
What White Children Need to Know about Race, by Ali Michael and Eleonora Bartoli
18 Children’s Books with Characters of Color, by Joanna Goddard for her blog, A Cup of Jo
For Fun:
These Hilarious Parenting Comics Are Almost Too Real, by Valerie Williams for Scary Mommy
The Adventures of George Washington (language alert!)
Published Elsewhere on the Web:
Frozen Manna, for SheLoves
In Case You Missed it on Scraping Raisins:
In This Season (of motherhood)
An Evening with Bryan Stevenson: Get Closer
What about you? I would LOVE to hear any recommendations you have for any of the above categories!
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Linking up with Leigh Kramer
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I shared your concept of "frozen manna" with my wonderful church ladies. That was such a great article at SheLoves, and thanks for your valiant efforts in the editing department. I so admire all of you who go the extra mile to put things together behind the scenes. Also . . . I LOVE Wendell Berry. Somewhere, he described his writing process as "like trying to build a hen house in a wind storm." You just grab a shingle and nail it down anywhere. With all your little ones at home, you must feel a little bit that way. Two of mine have left the nest, and I STILL feel that way most of the time!
Hey Michele! I'm glad you were able to use that article–the "church ladies" I know were a HUGE grace in my life these past few months! And I love that example from Wendell Berry–such a great description of life now! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment–I really appreciate it!
So glad to hear you are coming out of the newborn fog that can be so disorienting and all enveloping! Feels good to get back to doing things that make you feel like you again, huh? That chicken corn chowder soup sounds delicious, I'll have to try make that sometime… sounds like you have some amazingly creative friends in the kitchen with what they brought over!
There was definitely the standard lasagna/chili fare as well! It was amazing to not have to cook for six weeks!
Woot woot on SheLoves seeing all you have to offer and making you a part of the team! (They need to update their website, I want to see your smiling face!!)