books & more
The long list of finalists for the Booker Prize in literature were announced yesterday! I'm a sucker for awards and lists like this, and it's a great place to find new book recommendations. If you aren't familiar with the Booker Prize, it's one of the most coveted awards in literature. It's given to exceptional novels [...]
I missed the sourdough craze that broke out during the covid lockdown, but a couple years later my husband and two sons went on a two-week high-adventure trip with their BSA troop to Philmont Scout Ranch over the summer. Looking for something to do at home with my daughter to pass the time, I painstakingly [...]
We're packing up two of our kids to head off to college over the next few weeks. One is a freshman and one is transferring to a new school, so it's all new for both of them. Those first few weeks of college can be overwhelming and exciting and anxiety-inducing, and if you're feeling lonely [...]
If you have a kiddo heading off to college this year, you're probably feeling all the feels. Being hot, tired, and sweaty during move in is inevitable, but it isn't going to help your emotional state. One tip to make the day go more smoothly is to ship any dorm items you purchase straight to [...]
This year I'll be teaching American Literature at our homeschool co-op, and we've finally narrowed down our reading list. I'm a real "look at all the options" type, and I constantly struggle with the tension of balancing classics that are important with modern books I know they'll likely enjoy more. Here's what homework looks like [...]
I have a pretty healthy Amazon subscribe & save list, and I've found it just makes my life easier. There are certain items—like kitchen scrub brushes—that I never think to get while I'm a the grocery. Then there are others—like body wash—that I waste so much time browsing and trying to make a decision on [...]
So many people have told me to read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, but it just hadn't risen to the top of my reading list until I was facing a 12-hour (each way) car ride to see my son compete in the esports national championship last weekend. Oh my goodness, what a delight. [...]
My goal this year is to get a bit more organized in the kitchen so we aren't left at the last minute wondering what's for dinner. That usually results in an expensive and unhealthy fast-food run . . . or breakfast for dinner, again. I was inspired by a friend whose New Year's Resolution last [...]
It's one of my favorite times of the year to browse around the bookstore, so I wanted to share the books I've read this year to give you some ideas on what to buy...and what not to buy...for yourself or the people on your list. Good, bad, and in-between, here's my 2025 reading list. I've [...]
I clipped this poem from a copy of Real Simple magazine back when I subscribed to it (along with Victoria and Martha Stewart Living) in the late 1990s. It spoke to me then, in a way I didn't even fully realize. It still speaks to me now. I started watching a documentary recently on Netflix [...]
Spilled Milk 