As always, I’m joining my friend Leigh Kramer to share what I’ve been into lately.
August has been all over the place, on every level. We spent a lot of time at the pool, we took our summer vacation to the beach, we went back to school.
We’ve had lots of great times together, and sad ones, too. (Last month’s what I’m into was filled with updates about our new puppy; he died in an accident while we were on vacation.) Many tears were shed in August.
We’ve had straight-up craziness: we’ve been planning a kitchen remodel since before we moved into the new house last year. After a year, we were finally ready, and our kitchen was gutted while we were on vacation. This is a good thing, but at the same time, it’s chaos.
We’ve been making the slow transition from high summer to school year routines. It’s a little jarring, but it’s good. We’re ready.
What I’m watching
We’ve been talking about New York City at my house, which inspired us to watch You’ve Got Mail with the kids last weekend. It was their second viewing (we do fast forward through a few places); I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen it.
Otherwise it was just Jimmy Fallon clips and the Little League World Series.
What I’m cooking up
Anything quick and easy, since our access to our demolished and not-quite-functional kitchen is iffy. We’ve been eating a lot of rotisserie chicken on paper plates, with sugar snaps and baby carrots and microwaved broccoli.
I’m on the hunt for survival mode recipes, because we’ll be living like this for a few more weeks, at lunch. I’d greatly appreciate a link to your favorite easy meal.
What I’m reading
Now that I’ve finished Being Mortal (so good, but whoa) and The Nature of the Beast, I’m one title shy of finishing my summer reading list. The only book I haven’t read is Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen.
I generally like this grammar-geek kind of book, but I’m still #19 on the library waiting list. The reviews are only okay, so I’m not sure I want to buy it. (I was in a similar situation with Being Mortal: I was deep on the library waiting list, but felt comfortable buying it because so many of you raved about it.)
If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Right now I’m thinking I can wait patiently for another month or two.
I’ve been reading lots to prep for the Triangle Reads event in Raleigh (get your tickets!): Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand, Someone Else’s Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson, and The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon.
I’ve also been reading some forthcoming fall releases I can’t wait to tell you about.
On the blog
Most popular: 13 things I’ve learned in 30 months of Stitch Fix (aka my best Stitch Fix tips). I’m surprised this is the most viewed post this month, because of google search and Pinterest traffic.
Most commented: My Parnassus Books haul (and how I decide what to buy and what to borrow)
Most likely to explode your TBR list: Authors worth binge-reading
Most controversial: What’s your unfair advantage? (and how I read so much)
Most time-sensitive: How to find what “healthy” looks like for you. The free audio course offer expires September 6.
I’d love to hear what YOU were into in August. Â
65 comments
How long until your kitchen is up and running again?
I hate, hate, hate having a non-functional kitchen. Next to a bathroom, it’s the room I most want to be in working order.
It will be at least a month before it’s completely done, but I hope to be through the worst of it in a week. (Knock on wood!)
My kitchen was in bad shape for about a month while I painted the cabinets. But on the upside, all the appliances were still working, as was the running water. It was just hard to get to anything!
I hear you! All our food is in the living room. 🙂
Our kitchen reno lasted 3 months because of some complications. We moved feeding the family works to the basement and revved up the slow cooker(2). Family Fun’s Korean Beef (for tacos, or over rice/noodles) was a fun find during this season. Also, you can prep baked potatoes in the slow-cooker which was so handy for lunches or a low prep dinner side. Also you can toss a whole chicken into a slow cooker atop sliced onions and top it with bbq sauce. Good luck and blessings as you deal with all of the chaos!
Thanks for the dinner tips!
I’m intrigued by Being Mortal, as it was the summer book club choice for the Dallas Morning News. It’s not typically something I would read, so I passed on it, but now I’m rethinking that choice. Have you posted a review yet? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Not sure how non-functional your kitchen is, but maybe you could still use the crockpot? I like to use mine when I don’t want to mess up too many dishes. I make this Barbecue Chicken that I found on AllRecipes. It’s great over a baked potato, easy clean up, and my kids love it. http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/65896/zesty-slow-cooker-chicken-barbecue/
May I tag onto this and say that I, too, would like to know your thoughts on Being Mortal? Part of me really wants to read it but the part of me that is highly sensitive is worried it will be depressing/won’t be able to get it out of my head.
I thought Being Mortal was fantastic. I was afraid it would be upsetting, because it’s a serious book about end of life issues, and it also spends some time talking about things that I know tend to upset me. (Like, I generally try to avoid reading about young mothers who are diagnosed with fatal illnesses, whether they’re real or fictional, because those stories tend to send me into a seriously unhealthy self-monitoring spiral.)
But surprisingly, his thoughts on those storylines were oddly comforting, instead of terrifying (although they were definitely unsettling). My grandmother is turning 90 in a few weeks, my own parents are getting older, I have several friends currently undergoing cancer treatment. For those reasons I felt like I needed to read this book. I had no idea it was such a call to action for changing our society’s prevailing paradigms for treating serious illness, and feel very hopeful after reading it. I’m so glad this book is being widely read.
I haven’t heard of the book! Excited to check it out!
That’s good to hear. I had taken it out of the library a couple months ago and then had second thoughts and returned it unread. My husband died two years ago so I thought it might be upsetting. Maybe I’ll try again.
Thanks for the crock pot recipe! Being Mortal comments are above.
I love You’ve Got Mail! Lately my daughter has wanted to watch some romantic movies (and it starts!). I have trouble relaxing though because my mind is trying to stay 30 seconds ahead of the movie in case there are a few scenes I’d like her to cover her eyes for! We pick mild movies, certainly, but even PG movies can prompt some uncomforable questions for parents! 🙂
I hear you on the “30 seconds ahead” bit. We stopped sometimes to do a little explaining, and to say “don’t talk like that!”
When we were growing up, for a quick lunch, my mom would toast bread, then put sliced fresh tomatoes and cheddar cheese on top. Then, she’d put the toaster oven on the broil setting and stick the open faced sandwiches back in until the cheese melted, then top the whole thing with black pepper. Simple and we loved it!
That sounds delicious!
Hello, Anne!
Thank you for introducing me to this linkup. What a great idea!
And You’ve Got Mail! That’s one of my comfort movies. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen it. 🙂
Jeannette AKA musingwoman
I am a grammar nerd, and I would recommend waiting for the library copy of Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen. I preferred Eats, Shoots and Leaves.
Thanks, I appreciate it. (I enjoyed Eat, Shoots, and Leaves, too.)
We’ve been in England the last few weeks and I’m trying to get caught up on everything. Never done a kitchen remodel, but we’ve done a bathroom one and that was bad enough.
my parents remodeled their kitchen the summer before 5th grade. that’s the summer that Pocahontas came out, and we went to burger king many a time to get allll the kids meal toys. fun times. 🙂 the fridge was in the dining room and we washed dishes in the bathtub. quite an adventure! i’m glad we bought a house with an updated kitchen so i don’t have to go through a month of hassle. 🙂 if your family will eat black beans, you could make black bean & corn salad (http://thepajamachef.com/2012/07/25/corn-and-black-bean-salad/) and serve it alone, on salad, warm with taco fixings, etc. we love this stuff!
I’m laughing at Pocahontas—it’s funny what we remember about our childhoods. 🙂
We remodeled our kitchen in the summer of 2013. Our appliances were still working but there was a lot of dust. I am an HSP and very particular about where things are, so the disheveled house really bothered me. I had to keep reminding myself it’s a first world problem! We used the slow cooker and our griddle a lot.
I finally read Time Traveler’s Wife, and then watched the movie. I was amazed at how much the movie left out. The movie was much tamer.
One more thing – did you listen to Ariel Lawhorn’s speech on the Books on the Nightstand podcast? I immediately reserved the book at the library!
Yes! But I only finished listening to it a couple of days ago, after I read the book. So fascinating!
Interesting: I’ve read the book but never saw the movie. Or at least, not yet.
I love making DIY burrito bowls. Toss some chicken (thighs or breasts) into the slow cooker or pressure cooker with peppers and onions. You can also use a beef or pork roast. Throw in some Mexican or fajita style seasonings. Serve over lettuce, rice (frozen microwaveable), plantain or tortilla chips. Top with cilantro, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Sounds like a lot, but prep work is so easy. Just toss all the toppings on the table with spoons and let everyone help themselves.
Sounds good! My kids will eat anything with sour cream and guac. 🙂
I still remember the brilliant idea we had to remodel both of the bathrooms at once in our first home. The second floor of that home was a totally separate apartment. I have memories of putting on boots to walk through a foot of snow to go outside and upstairs to use the restroom in the night. I think that fixer upper experience was what made us decide to build and have every.last.thing.finished in our current home! I hope the last phase of your remodel goes quickly and that you’ll post pictures of your finished kitchen. I would love to see it. 🙂
P.S. One quick and easy meal we like is what we call ¨grown up lunchables¨. This was the combination we had last week: shrimp (turkey for the kids), crackers, cheeses, cherry tomatoes, sliced peppers, pickles, olives, raspberries, hard boiled egg.
That sounds BRUTAL!
And “grown up lunchables” is a great idea! I like your name better than “snack plate,” which is what we usually call that around here. 🙂
All the best getting through your kitchen reno! This is one of my favourite easy meals: http://hiddenponies.com/2015/01/taco-rice/
Thank you!
I noticed a post where you mentioned you were going to start The Word Exchange and I’m curious to know if you finished it and what you thought. I have to say it kind of terrified me.
Yes! I read it on vacation. I need to gather my thoughts and write about it. I did think it was a good read, and I certainly understand the “scary” part.
The toaster oven, slow cooker, and microwave are going to be your best friends for the next month! We did a LOT of grilling during our kitchen remodel.
We gave away our toaster oven before me moved because we NEVER used it! But I think you’re right about the slow cooker. Now I just need to find where I stashed it when I emptied out my kitchen cabinets before vacation. 🙂
Oh no, Anne! I am SO sorry about your sweet puppy! What an incredible loss. Prayers for you all as you grieve and miss!
Thanks, Hallie.
August was two weeks of vacation (a complete blast), then coming home with a respiratory infection, which also hit my husband, who rarely gets sick. Then antibiotics for a week. Then my whole life got exploded because several opportunities fell into my lap. While they are great, exciting, awesome, and all the other good things, they take up time. I’m trying to get a handle on that.
Your meal situation:
Since you seem to be able to get to your microwave, I used to do a sliced hardboiled egg, with a little butter and a little cheese (shredded is best, a slice or chunk will do in a pinch, depending on what you like). Then put it in the microwave for a minute. (Since your microwave may be different, check it at 40 seconds.) It’s done when hot in the middle and the cheese is melty and yummy. I usually put this in a mug with a saucer or small plate over the top, in case the egg pops, so you don’t lose the egg or dirty your microwave!
Good luck with your remodel.
Wow, it sounds like you had quite a month! Wishing you well as you get your feet under you (because even great and exciting things are crazy sometimes) and get to feeling good again.
Thanks for the food tips!
Not sure what food restrictions you have, but we’re all tired of regular sandwiches & are doing a lot of wraps—a tortilla spread with hummus with chicken/veggies on top and rolled up. the kids love them with chicken & cucumbers, or even sliced turkey/mayo instead of hummus. I’ll have them with chicken & jalepenos or vegetarian with feta cheese/cucumbers/salad.
We also eat a lot of tacos with canned refried beans & cheese, guacamole etc… my son likes the cheese melted, so I break a hard taco shell in half so its flat, spread on beans, add chicken & cheese & nuke for 30 seconds & then add guac/green onions/sour cream. Like nachos but no chips.
My kids adore wraps, and they would also love the chip-less nachos. Will and I have been eating a ton of salads.
I enjoyed Between You & Me, but not in an “I can’t put it down” way. You’ll be fine waiting until it’s your turn to borrow it from the library.
My kitchen will be in a similar state before too long (I hope). It’s not any fun not having a functional kitchen, but I’m really looking forward to the end result. I may be singing a different tune when there’s sawdust covering everything, but for now, I’m all “bring it on!”.
I have made this dish a couple of times recently. It’s pretty simple to whip together and could probably last your family a couple of meals. (It’s a crockpot meal).
http://www.thispilgrimlife.com/crockpot-mexican-lasagna/
That’s what I’m focusing on: the end result. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe!
I loved Between You & Me, but I think you could probably wait for the library copy. Norris is so witty and clever – an unapologetic grammar geek/stickler.
And I just watched You’ve Got Mail last week for the hundredth time. My very favorite!
Thanks for the tips. I think I’ll wait.
I’ll be honest, most of the time when my kitchen has been unusable for one reason or another, I relied heavily on takeout – but I guess a month would be a long time to live and eat like that! Good luck with the remodel!
We just gutted our kitchen for a renovation last week too! Our refrigerator is in the back foyer, our microwave is in the dining room, and our toaster oven is in the front foyer. We’re grilling out a lot but our little hot plate is coming in handy. We waited until AFTER the kids went back to college for the semester.
Good luck with YOUR renovation!
You’ve Got Mail is one of our all-time favorite movies! My husband and I can recite most of the dialog, no telling how many times we have watched it.
I am reading to prepare for Triangle Reads as well. So looking forward to it. Yesterday I picked up Somebody Else’s Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson and The Unexpected Waltz By Kim Wright. Last week I read The Canterbury Sisters by Wright. ( She lives in Charlotte, which is where I live). Will try to get to some others as well. I have not read any Elin Hildebrand. Which book of hers would be a good one to read first?
I am reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell and The Glass Sentence right now.
You mention rotisserie chicken as one of your stapes right now. Soft tacos or fajitas with the chicken are favorites around here. I have a chicken left over from last night’s dinner. I am making chicken salad wraps for tonight. I cut the chicken into big chunks, add a little mayo, some plain yogurt, halved red grapes, some pecans or walnuts, celery, a bit of pepper and celery seed.
If you have access to a microwave stuffed baked potatoes are a good choice….use whatever cheeses, veggies and meats you have available as toppings. Great for using leftovers. Or you can out canned turkey chili on top with cheese.
I’ve read The Canterbury Sisters but I haven’t read anything else by Kim Wright. For Hilderbrand, I really liked her latest The Rumor. I NEED to read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell! I meant to take it to the beach with me, but I forgot to pack it, and I haven’t touched it since we got back.
Thanks for the meal tips!
I love You’ve Got Mail! This line is forever stuck in my head, “F-O-X. Fox.”
If a microwave’s all you have, I have a Cheater’s Chicken Parmesan recipe. I buy cooked frozen chicken patties, shredded parmesan cheese, and marinara/spaghetti sauce jar. Arrange on a platter (sauce, chicken, cheese, optional fresh/dried basil on top), nuke it until chicken is warmed through, and serve it on a bed of pasta, salad, or toasted bread. Hope that helps!
F-O-X. Hahaha!
Reading through this I’m realizing there are so many things we didn’t get a chance to discuss the other day. I’m so glad you liked Being Mortal. I had a feeling you would. Must catch up again soon!
Agreed!
I just started The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress.
You may enjoy this podcast during or after you read it: http://booksonthenightstand.com/2015/07/botns-341-ariel-lawhon-and-denise-kiernan-recorded-at-booktopia-asheville.html
Throw a bag of broccoli or cabbage slaw in with some soba noodles, chopped cilantro and green onion (I also add cucumber and bell pepper). For dressing mix some soy sauce, peanut butter, OJ, and a dash of brown sugar (add a smidge rice wine vinegar if you’ve got it). Super easy, quick, cheap, and filling! Toss on some of that leftover rotisserie chicken if you’ve got it 🙂
I know I personally refer back to that Stitch Fix post when I’m ready to make a fix. It was so helpful in making my account and answering the style questions. My first (and only–so far) Fix was almost perfect (loved 4/5 items) with the exception that some of it was WAY out of my price range.
As for recipes, if you have a Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker (or know someone who will let you borrow theirs) there are so many complete meals you can make in the microwave using that one piece alone. I make turkey chili and stuffed peppers in mine all the time! A couple other products are good for microwaving veggies or cooking pasta in the microwave as well. I used to sell it, so I could send you the PDF of the microwave recipes (including cakes!!!). Good luck with the remodel!
Thanks for the kitchen tips!
I have had Between You and Me on my shelves for a while. I’ve picked it up several times, but it just never grabs me enough to keep reading. I will be interested in your thoughts if you get to read it before I do!
I appreciate that—thank you.
I was hesitant to read Between You and Me, too, because of the okay reviews. However, I loved it and devoured it in two days. Ms. Norris is delightfully clever, but my favorite thing about her writing style is that she talks about language and grammar with love, and not a hint of a self-righteous/grammar snob tone. I don’t know that I would read it again, so I probably won’t buy it. But it was a great library read!
I’m so sorry to hear about your puppy.
I went to Parnassus when we were in Nashville in May. I bought one book, which was independently published by a local author – one of those things you aren’t going to find anywhere else. That’s one of my criteria for buying vs. borrowing. There are a couple authors who fall into the immediate buy category. Anything I know I’m going to need to mark up or reference later. And then anything I know I’m going to want to lend to a dozen people.