June Goals 2018

Health...

    -- Average at least 10,000 steps per day (minimum 70,000 steps per week) 

    -- Walk Wrigley EVERY morning (even weekends and Bob's days off).  Was successful in doing this the last week in May... let's see if I can continue through June, shall we?  Getting up earlier actually does help... I had been getting up and walking him around 6:45 / 7:00, but honestly at this point in the summer the sun is already hot by then, and there are people already out walking.  Getting up and going an hour earlier is definitely the way to go... much cooler and hardly anyone else around, walking or in cars.

    -- Incorporate some kind of muscle-building into the exercise routine now that the walking / sometimes jogging routine has been established.  Sit-ups, push-ups, use the kettlebells... SOMETHING.

   -- Lose 5 more pounds by the end of June.  See above.

Home...

    -- Purge closet and drawers, especially socks and underwear in drawers, and clothes I'm just not wearing (haven't worn or won't wear) in the closet.

   -- Hang the pictures sitting in the bedroom. 

   -- Start figuring out better storage for the pantry... it might be a July goal, but I want to start figuring out lazy susan's for the awkward corners and bins for some things that would be better kept together.

Try...

   -- more recipes from the Laura Lea cookbook (or her website).  The chocolate avocado mousse sounds amazing, and I know there are more things in the cookbook I want to try

   -- a new bread or pastry recipe... on the third season of the Great British Baking show and now I want to bake all the things.  All. The. Things.

Buy...

   -- On my wishlist to buy this month...
               Make-up removal cloths
            Emani primer
            Fenty matchstix contour in Amber

   -- very little else other than essentials.  Maybe a few more of these 3/4 length shirts from LL Bean and these capri pants from Amazon.  Steph recommended them and they're so comfy and the pockets are a bonus.

   -- plants for the empty planter on the back porch.  Everything else is planted and looking good except for that.  I'm thinking more of these million bells that are doing so well in the hanging baskets out front and have been super easy to care for and keep looking good.

Do...

    -- finish the Stars and Stripes quilt -- goal was for a quick finish that I could get done by July 4th.  Flags are about halfway put together, and sashing, backing and binding fabric has been ordered. Definitely do-able. 

   -- finish Bob's Star Wars quilt.  Just need to sort out the backing and if I have enough, piece it together, then it just needs quilting and binding!

   -- keep up with all the yard work and watering.  Everything is looking so good right now and the bare spot in the front yard has completely filled over.  Now just to keep everything alive and looking good through the summer!

More...

   -- reading - now that I joined the Durham County library (whose e-book selection is surprisingly better than Wake County's), I have at least 3 library books on the kindle and more on hold.  I also went back and cataloged all my books on Goodreads for 2018, and set a very achievable goal of 30 books to read for the year.  I'm happy I met and exceeded the 50-book goal last year, but it got to the point where I felt like I HAD to read instead of reading for enjoyment.  Hence the lowered goal this year.  Also need to get back to linking up my books with Stephanie and Jana for Show Us Your Books!

      Currently reading: The Murder House by James Patterson & David Ellis.
      Up Next: A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena & Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh

   -- evening walking.  A couple weeks ago I was doing really well walking Wrigley both morning and evening, but last week I just got tired and mainly only walked him in the morning.  Especially since the weather is pretty mild this week, I need to get back in the routine of doing both.

   -- blogging - mainly as a tool to hold myself accountable and journal.

Less...

   -- time mindlessly scrolling Instagram.  It's really the only social media I partake in, but it can be a huge time suck.  Time to cut back.  Last night I left my phone upstairs in the closet while I was changing clothes after work, and when I realized that's where it was I decided to just leave it up there.  It wasn't until after 9:00 when I was getting ready for bed that I picked it up again, and I can't say I missed having it during those few hours.  If I'd had it, I would have been on it mindlessly, but having it so far away was extremely freeing.


   -- Starbucks.  I'd gotten out of the habit for most of May, but somehow the last week have gotten sucked back in.  I think maybe I need to delete the app on my phone, as it makes it way to order through the app and reload from my card without feeling the pain of spending the money.  I did it way less when I had cash in my wallet and was using that.  The allure of using the app though is to build up points to a free drink, which I don't get when I use cash.  I see you Starbucks marketing gurus, I see you.

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One year of Wrigley!

It's been almost a year since this little bundle of love found us (yes, I firmly believe HE found US).  It will be one year tomorrow since our little fighter, our little survivor fought to stay alive when the rest of his litter didn't make it.  March 20th he came into this world, and then on May 4th he came to us.

We would have no idea at the time how much he would mean to us.  How much we would all need each other in the year ahead.  In some ways it's been a whirlwind year and feels like he just got here, in other ways it's hard to remember life before him.  It sounds cliche to say that he's taught me so much about myself, but cliches are usually true for a reason.  Through the tears, the laughter, the frustration, the joy, the guilt, the regret, the hope, the sorrow, and the unconditional love of the past year... there were and are lessons to be learned. 

Nothing juxtaposes the agonizing pain of losing one beloved fur-baby like the unabated joy of a puppy.  He lives in the moment.  He starts each day ready to go and eager to explore the world.  He loves stopping to smell the roses (and everything else) on our walks.  He doesn't hold a grudge.  He would rather nap in front of the fire than anywhere else.  He loves peanut butter and plays with carrots.  He likes to play with two toys at once.  Sometimes he thinks the rug is one of those toys.  He sighs really deep and heavy when he's tired.  He drops his butt when he runs and is really excited.  He stamps his front feet when he's sitting and impatient.  He got the hiccups four or five times a day as a puppy.  He actually watches what's on T.V.  He won't let us cut his nails.  The position of his ears constantly changes throughout the day.  He loves to eat crabgrass in the yard.  He loves to pick at seams and threads on toys (or anything else if given the chance).  His ears are the softest things on earth but he doesn't really like them touched.  He has light-colored angel wings on his back.  His sense of smell is amazing.  After we go outside he runs back into the room he just left to see if anything has changed.  He's tall enough to put his feet on the counter and the table.  He loves the smell of butter.  He fast-trots in the house when he has to go out.  He squeaks when he yawns.  He's the best car-rider, he lays down and doesn't fuss.  He's been in the car through North Carolina, Virginia, D.C., Maryland and Delaware.  He Christmased in Delaware for the first time in 2017.  He likes to chase the cats.  He doesn't back down from a fight with Pippin.  He likes to share the heated binky with Mao.  He's super motivated by treats and is terrified of squirt bottles.  He doesn't mind his harness but hates collars.  His fur has seams and swirls where his hair comes together in weird places.  He has resource guarding issues that we don't understand but are working on.  He knows "come", "sit", "down", "fist bump", "off", drop it", and struggles with "stay".  He loves puppacinos.  He's really good about being in his crate.  He was named "Camden" before we even knew him, but we'd already decided to name our next dog "Wrigley"; he was destined to be named after a baseball stadium. He tries really hard to get his stuck toys out on his own before looking to us for help.  He doesn't like the rain.  He absolutely loves the snow... running in it, biting at it, playing in it.  He goes with the flow but likes routine.  

He plays hard, sleeps hard, and loves hard.  We couldn't love him more if we tried.  Here's to another year of discovering more about him and more about ourselves through him and his unique personality.  We're so glad he found us!

Show Us Your Books - The Last of 2016

All in all it was a pretty good year for reading.  I read 44 out of 50 books I set as a goal for myself in the Goodreads 2016 Challenge.  I've never set a goal for number of books to read in a year before, so it was interesting to see how I did compared to the goal I set.  I'd like to think I could have hit the 50 or more if it hadn't been for the move, (oh, or the Cubs winning the World Series, because I seriously feel like I lost at least a month's worth of evenings and good sleep riding that roller coaster, including getting to go to not one, but two unforgettable NLDS games at Wrigley), but who really knows.  I certainly had the difference of 6 books either started and didn't finish, or returned unread to the library for various reasons.  In some ways it bothers my type A tendencies to set the goal and not reach it, but in most ways, the ones that count, I'm happy with the 44.  I read when I felt like it, enjoyed it, and could, and didn't read when wasn't able or I didn't feel like it.  So that's that.  On to the list.




Bird Box by Josh Malerman -- In a word, or three, pretty freaking scary.  I suspected it would be, the premise alone is frightening (a twist on the ubiquitous post-apocalyptic theme - you can't open your eyes outside or you'll go mad, killing anyone near you and then yourself). A woman goes in search of help and safety by traveling down a river in a rowboat, blindfolded, with her two young children.  I finished it in a day and a half and there were definitely times I was looking over my shoulder after thinking I heard something behind me. Kindle daily deal 

                                   

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch -- It's on almost every "best of 2016" list there is, so I'm not sure what I can say about that hasn't already been said.  I tore through it.  I need more writing from Blake Crouch (yes, I tore through the Wayward Pines series a while ago).  My biggest take-away and thought that I keep coming back to is to be grateful for the life you have, you never know who would do anything to be in your shoes and living your life.  Don't take it for granted. Oh, and read this book, because it's incredible.  

Ps... I read they're making it into a movie.  I keep thinking about who should play Jason and keep coming back to Matt Damon.  If you've read it, who do you think should play him?

Kindle daily deal 

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood -- Man, I feel like I unintentionally saved up so many good books for the end of the year.  These first three I read in the span of a week.  This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.  I don't think the description does it justice, so I'd recommend just reading it.  
Kindle daily deal 

Disclaimer by Renee Knight -- Good but not great.  I thought the last half to third of the book was really good, but felt like it took too long to get there.  The premise is that a woman is given a book, written anonymously, based on something that happened in her life which she has kept a secret.  The story initially bounces back and forth between her and the writer who wrote ans gave her the book.  All the initial drama, reactions, etc. are based around this thing that happened, but I felt like it took too long to figure out what the thing was.  There's a twist at the end I definitely didn't see coming, and again, I thought the last half to a third is WAY better than the first half.  
Kindle daily deal  (I'd gotten the e-copy from the library, but it expired before I finished it, and when I went back to get it again the library copy didn't exist any more.)



In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware -- I really enjoyed the only other book I've read by Ware, The Woman in Cabin 10, and this one didn't disappoint either.  Mystery/suspense/thriller.  There were some moments I think were supposed to be twists but I saw them coming, they seemed a little obvious, but it didn't tarnish the book for me.  Looking forward to whatever she writes next. 
Library, e-book





\The Bookshop on The Corner - by Jenny Colgan --  Nice fluffy read.  Nothing earth-shattering.  Made me want to move to Scotland.  A story about a woman who loves books and reading, takes a chance on doing something different with her life and career, with a little romance thrown in.  

Library, Hardback

Show Us Your Books - October Reads

It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover -- This book came highly recommended to me, but when I read the Goodreads description, it left me wanting.  I decided to give it a go anyway and was glad I did.  It walked an interesting line...parts of it felt like a romance novel, parts of it like a YA novel, and other parts definitely NOT suited to the YA crowd.  As Goodreads says, "this book contains graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter". Trigger warning for some domestic violence.  I thought it really brought it home towards the end with the choices the main character makes.  If anyone else has read it would be interested to hear what you thought of it!

3 1/2 - 4 stars



I Let You Go - Clare Mackintosh -- One of my favorite books I've read all year.  Also came highly recommended, this time via one of the hosts of The Popcast, Jamie Golden.  (side note: if you're not listening to The Popcast, get on it. You're welcome.)  Also just realizing the second book on this list with some domestic violence themes. Not sure what that's about.  BUT this is a FANTASTIC book... you'll think it's a "pretty good" read until about halfway through and then BAM!  World rocked.  I think I tore through it in about a day.  So, so good.

5 stars

The Likeness - Tana French -- The second book in the Dublin Mystery Squad series.  I use the word "series" lightly because each story is pretty independent of the one before it.  The main tie-in between each book is a character, someone who was a minor character in the prior book is a main character with their own story in the next one.  This one focuses on Cassie, an undercover cop who's a doppelganger for a young woman who's found murdered.  The cops don't tell her eccentric friends / roommates that she's dead, instead sending Cassie in undercover as the young woman to find out who killed her.  I thought parts of the story line got slightly repetitive, but overall a good read.

 3 1/2 stars

Faithful Place - Tana French -- The third book in the Dublin Mystery Squad series and, so far my favorite.  This one focuses on a side character from The Likeness, Frank, who was Cassie's supervisor in her undercover operations.  I thought it did a fantastic job of fleshing out dysfunctional family dynamics, especially in places like a small neighborhood in Ireland where everybody knows everybody's business and tempers can run high.  Add in a 20+ year old cold case mystery and it's even better.  I picked up the fourth book from the library yesterday, so that might make this list too if I finish it by then.

4 stars

Orphan Train - Christina Baker Kline -- Another favorite book of this year.  The story moves back and forth in time, focusing partially on a girl who is about to age out of the foster-care system and has to do community service.  This service takes the form of helping an elderly widow clean out her attic and, in the process, we learn the elderly woman's story of being an Irish immigrant in NYC, orphaned and forced to take one of the "Orphan Trains" to the midwest in the hopes of being adopted there.  The fact that the orphan trains were a real thing makes it even more compelling.  Extremely well-written and another one I found hard to put down.

5 stars

The Forgetting Time - Sharon Guskin -- So many good books on the list this month.  This was another one.  I think reader opinion may vary depending on level of skepticism in terms of subject matter... which I won't spell out so I don't spoil it.  Regardless of whether you find it believable or not, it was still a great read.  Again with a cold-case mystery added in for good measure.  

3 1/2 - 4 stars





It's been a good time for reading!  Can't wait to link up and see what everyone else is into!

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

1. The Chicago Cubs playing in their first World Series since 1945. That's 71 years.  71 YEARS.  I've been a Cubs fan for the last 4 of them, even though they had the worst record in baseball when I climbed aboard the Cubs train in 2012.  They basically lost as many games (101) in 2012 as they won this year (103 in the regular season).  We can't count the Postseason games yet because they are IN THE WORLD SERIES right now. It's a helluva time to be a Cubs fan.  We went to the 1st and 2nd NLDS games in Chicago a few weeks ago, and that needs to be a separate post.  I should also write a post about 10 reasons why these Cubs are my favorite.  I give you exhibit A below -- not taking themselves too seriously.  (this in reference to their Hulk Smash outfielder/catcher/DH Kyle Schwarber having been in show choir in High School).

We can’t all be like @kschwarb12. pic.twitter.com/GQR90v9hyc

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 27, 2016

2.   I'm not normally one to dress up my dog, but this Cubs dog jersey was just too cute.  Apollo wore it throughout the 4 plus hour game and it didn't seem to bother him one bit. He is by far the most tolerant pet in the house.

3. Westworld on HBO.  I wasn't expecting to like it as much I did. We binged the first 4 episodes this week.  Artificial Intelligence in the Westworld "park" is maybe more intelligent and less artificial than planned.  Think it might replace The Walking Dead for me... the season premiere of TWD was BRUTAL.  Some things you just can't unsee.


4.  The Popcast - if you like pop culture, delightful witty banter, and/or laughing, this is the podcast for you.  It's my one don't-miss podcast every week.  If you're not listening, you're doing life wrong. (click the Popcast name for their "starter pack" of best intro episodes... but really you should just binge-listen to them all).


5. Getting the "new home orientation" date on our house.  We had a tentative closing date, now we have an orientation date the week before to review anything that needs fixing before we close, go over warranties, etc.  Less than a month until we move!


6. Faithful Place by Tana French  The third book in the Dublin Murder Squad series and so far my favorite.  I picked up #4 from the library today.  Also, It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover.  It came highly recommended and I admit the Goodreads description left me wanting, but it really brings it home by the end.  See trigger warnings on Goodreads page.


7. This daily deal from the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  $20 for a Bonnie and Camille jelly roll?  Yes please.

8.  This picture of IG user @lauraiz dressing her baby up as baby Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy.  You can see her full IG feed here.  Be sure to scroll down far enough in her feed to see her dressed as Barb and then Eleven from Stranger Things.  If I had to choose only one instagram account to follow, it would probably be hers.  

9.  Being able to sleep with the windows open.  It's been getting down to the 50's and even 40's here at night in NC.  Sleeping with the windows open = THE BEST. 

10.  Did I mention the Cubs are playing IN THE WORLD SERIES?!?  I leave you with the Chicago PD's response (after Game 2) to the Cleveland PD tweeting that there was a missing persons' report for Cubs' offense (after Game 1). 

GO CUBS GO!!!

Have a great weekend!

Linking up with "10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week"

Dog Food: A Story

We had decided a while ago that when the current huge bag of kibble ran out, we would start making Apollo's food (recipe at the end).  Bob had gone to Costco and, while buying chicken, beef, eggs, etc. for the cat food, also bought enough to get us started making Apollo's food. Clearly he knew something was happening that had to do with him and eating.  While I was drinking my coffee and reading blogs, this is the look I was getting:

After some other morning chores, exercise, feeding a friend's cat and eating lunch, we finally got started.

The process was all very similar to the cat food, with slight variation of ingredients, except when we got towards the end he somehow KNEW this batch was for him...(he doesn't do this when we make cat food).

"Mom, when am I going to get some?"

Okay, fine, it's 2:00 in the afternoon, but you can have a test bowl to see how this goes.

Approximately a minute later:

I think that was a success!  Annnnd... Somehow we created a monster who just wanted seconds. And thirds.

"Please sir, can I have some more?"  (Has to be said in a British accent for full effect.)

The cats were mostly oblivious through the whole thing since they just had food made for them yesterday.  But after Apollo got his test bowl, word got around that he was getting his own special food.

"Pssst!  Did you hear they're making food for the DOG now?!"

Battle lines were drawn.  Both sides took their places.

But in the end, when it was obvious no one was getting any more food, they did what they do best... Nap until it's time to eat again.

Stay tuned for Dog Food part 2: Potential Diarrhea 😂 (I promise I won't post pictures)

DOG FOOD RECIPE: 

• About 14 chicken breasts (1 whole package from Costco) - split over 2 glass 9 x 13 baking dishes - bake 45 minutes on 350.  We do this first so it has time to cool a little before shredding it in the food processor.

• 4 cups (un-cooked) brown rice, cooked in the rice maker, we start this at the same time as the chicken.

• Roughly 6-ish lbs of ground beef, split evenly into two large pots.  Cook on medium.

• 4 sweet potatoes, cubed and cooked with the beef, split evenly between the 2 pots.

• 2 bags of petite organic baby carrots, roughly chopped in the food processor and then cooked briefly with the beef towards the end.  Split evenly between the two pots.

• 2 bag frozen broccoli , roughly chopped in the food processor and then cooked briefly with the beef.  Split evenly between the two pots.

• 8 hard boiled eggs, with shells, cooked and then obliterated in the food processor with the shells on.  To cook the eggs, heat in the water until the water is just boiling, then immediately remove from the heat and let sit for 12 minutes in the hot water to finish cooking. After 12 minutes, remove and put in ice water for 10-15 minutes.  Once cooled, add to the food processor and pulse until shells are in very, very tiny pieces and the eggs are basically a paste.  Split evenly among the 2 pots.

• 400 mL total vitamin powder for dogs, or 200 mL per pot (amounts vary, this is for a 40-lb dog, fed twice a day)

Once the chicken has cooled a little, add to food processor and pulse until desired consistency.  For the dog food I pulsed until almost all small, bite-sized chunks or smaller. 

Add chicken to the pots with the beef, eggs, carrots and broccoli.  One pan of chicken per pot (or roughly even number of chicken breasts per pot).

In a separate LARGE mixing bowl, put half the cooked rice and 200 mL vitamin powder and mix.  Add in one pot of the chicken, beef, carrots, broccoli and eggs and mix (we usually mix about a third of the pot at a time before adding more).  Mix well.  Divide into storage containers and freeze.  

Add the remaining half of rice to the mixing bowl, the other 200 mL vitamin powder and mix.  Repeat with the remaining pot. Mix well, divide into storage containers and freeze (except one container to use now).  We usually take a container out of the freezer about a day before we need it so it can start to thaw.  We heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds, add about a Tablespoon or two of water, and serve it to your happy puppy!

And this... because I can't stop laughing about it.  Probably because it's so true.