This Weeks Eats 1.3.16

First menu plan for the year!  And it's comin' to ya from the new blog.  One of my goals for this year is to simplify, and it's probably not a huge surprise that I'm starting to consolidate things onto this site.  One might argue that it would be simpler just to do away with weekly menu posts, but they are my favorite.  I love to read others, I like to look back at my own, and it's a handy thing to have all my recipes for the week in one space.  Can't stop, won't stop!  

This week, I'm glad to be getting back into the routine, even though we had a lovely holiday break.  

  
This cartoon that I keep seeing all over the internet, from Hurrah For Gin (who I am NOW FOLLOWING), pretty much sums everything up.  Although I'm not necessarily feeling fat, so that's a good thing.  Especially since we have Lou Malnatis pizzas and Portillos hot dogs to eat in the coming weeks!  The pizzas are gifted to us every year from my mom, and this year we got the hot dogs from my mother in law.  So, yeah, they're BOTH goin' on the menu this week.  

•  Monday - Pizza (Malnatis!)
• Tuesday - Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with Chorizo (trying this recipe I found in Food Network Magazine)
• Wednesday - Chicken Hoisin Rice Bowls (from Cookin' Canuck)
• Thursday - Hot Dogs (Portillos!)
• Friday - Spicy Avocado Enchiladas (a favorite from The Novice Chef)
• Saturday - Pesto Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Roasted Asparagus (from Damn Delicious, and it is)
• Sunday - Greek Turkey Meatball Salad (another favorite recipe, from The Perfect Pantry)

As always, I'm linking up with Org Junkie, Mommy Run Fast and Jill Conyers - be sure to check out all the great weekly menus!

Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Seattle 2016 Coupon Code!

Registrations are ramping up for Seattle Hot Chocolate 15K/5K, so I thought I'd share the deets here. (And also because I'm having some hiccups merging up the two blogs...)  

Here's this season's Hot Chocolate 5K/15K Seattle freebie! 

Use code: SEABUFF2 for a free buff when you register for the Seattle 15K OR 5K.

• The race is Sunday, March 6th 2016 - perfect time of year for some hot chocolate.
• The swag is always awesome, and this year is no exception:

  

  Full zip, fleece lined tech jackets!

• And again, there will be medals for the 15K - super cool, city-specific bling.

• The folks at RAM Racing put a lot of thought, time and effort into choosing the hot cocoa and fondue - trust me.  And it is goooooood.  
• They have an option this year to have your packet sent to your HOME!  This is really great, since it can be a bit of a bear to head to the Seattle Center twice in one weekend for most people.
• And they have added NUUN as the on course hydration!  This makes me super happy.

yesssss.

Hopefully I've tempted you to join in the fun and get yer free buff!  If not, here are my recaps from Seattle , Seattle AND Chicago.  I can attest to the fact that the race in each of these cities is so fun and really well organized.  If you want to run in any of these other cities:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Chicago
• Columbus
• Dallas
• Denver
• Minneapolis
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• San Diego
• Seattle
• St. Louis
• Nashville
• Los Angeles 

Go here and check out this great race series!

Books I Read in December

I was about to put together my favorite books of the year post, but since one or two (maybe THREE?) I read this month stand a chance of going on the list, I thought I should do the monthly roundup first!  (For some yearly favorites, here's 2012, 2013 and 2014.)




An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This was SO worth the hype!  I'm glad I got it in before the end of the year, because I'm pretty sure it's going on my best of 2015 list.  Much like Cinder (on my 2014 list), this book is reminiscent of so many great stories - yet wholly original.  If I had to pin it down, it's like Game of Thrones with Harry Potter, Romeo & Juliet and The Hunger Games thrown in.  That narrows it down, right?  The world building (complete with a map in the opening pages, which I love) is so vivid, as are the unforgettable (and bad-ass) characters.  Following the story of Elias (a graduating soldier from Blackcliff Academy) and Laia (a scholar who's family has been killed by said soldiers) is complex, intense, romantic, engrossing and exhilarating.  I CAN'T WAIT for the next book.



The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Oh man, I have a love/hate relationship with WWII novels, and try to read no more than one a year.  Or in some cases, like after reading Sarah's Key, I needed a few years to recover.  Having read All the Light We Cannot See back in January,  I was able to squeak this one in before the end of the year.  I'm having a hard time deciding if I like one better than the other (they were both outstanding) - and if one, or both, should be on my favorites for the year.  This story of French sisters Vianne and Isabelle is heartbreaking, obviously in terms of their struggles during the war, but also in terms of their struggles as sisters.  At the heart of the novel is a beautiful story about family, and what we do for love.  Another book worthy of the hype.

A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan

I received this book via NetGalley and you can read my review here!

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand

I think I could just copy/paste my reviews for every Hilderbrand book, they are all very much the same to me - and still very enjoyable.  Her fallible characters are people you'd love to know and be friends with, the island of Nantucket is another prominent and fully realized character, and she tells her stories with great humor and heart.  This one ended on a BIG cliffhanger, and I'm looking forward to next Christmas' fluffy read about the Quinn family.

Euphoria by Lily King

This book was EXCELLENT!  It reminded me so much of one of my all time favorite books, State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.  I also LOVE The Poisonwood Bible, so maybe there's something about missionaries, scientists, anthropologists in far flung lands trying to communicate and interact with natives that intrigues me.  Probably because anything can happen, and usually does.  And, of course, the drama of the stories revolve not around those being studied, but those doing the studying.  As with the aforementioned novels, this book is equal parts disturbing and enlightening.  The tension wrought between this love triangle of anthropologists studying tribes in New Guinea just builds and builds until the inevitable gut-punch conclusion.      

A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan (NetGalley Review)

I got my first denied request on NetGalley (wah!), and realized that I should probably do some catching up on all the books I requested after I joined.  The ratio of reviews to requests is a factor in whether a publisher chooses to give a galley.  And, though I have EVERY intention of reading all the books I requested, I've only read about one a month!  Without further ado...

A Window Opens, by Elisabeth Egan, is the story of Alice: a middle aged mom of three, who is forced to begin working full time after her husband quits his job as an attorney.  This was a very familiar feeling story, with nuances of Where'd You Go Bernadette and a little bit of every Liane Moriarty book I've read.  Maybe it was also familiar because of the myriad similarities to my own life.  This quote cracked me up, when her company 'Scroll' was talking about their target customer as a female who is 25-45, has pets, shops at Anthro, splurges on face cream, averages 3 books a month, etc:

"I felt like I was watching a nature program about myself.  'She dwells in that gray area between family obligation and a desire to satisfy her own sense of adventure.  Here she is now, coming in for the kill.  Watch as the mom sinks her unmanicured claws into the dad's neck.  He has failed in his mission to gather food for their young, so she must feed them tacos instead...'"

Not only does Alice have kids the same ages as mine, but she's a total bibliophile.  Novels that include books as another main character are always compelling to me (see also: The Storied Life of AJ Fikry and Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore).  The job she takes at a big box retail conglomerate aiming to put small bookstores out of business gives Alice a great deal of angst, and the corporate culture satire was HILARIOUS.  I'm not a working mom, but I certainly remember those corporate days and the ridiculousness of such phrases as: deep dive, shift gears, and (new to me) pivot.  In addition to her crazy stressful job, she's also worrying about her husband's downward spiral, a beloved nanny who is moving on with her career, and a parent going through cancer (another life similarity).  

This book is very fast paced, and I blew through it in just over a day.  With all of the heartrending chaos in Alice's life, I wanted desperately to see her get back on track.  Most of the narrative was predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable.  I'd categorize it in the 'grown up chick-lit, with some heft' category, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to my mommy contemporaries.  Outside of that audience, I'm not entirely sure how it would go over, but I'd say the commentary on corporate culture, books and media would make it worth checking out.

Book Advent Activities for the Kids (and my steady decline thereof)

Years ago, I came across a great idea to wrap up a book to open daily as an advent activity.  I did this successfully ONE year for ONE child with a combination of books from the library (yep, I'd wrap them up and then return!), gifts from family and a few new ones I'd buy.  

Once I had a second kiddo, that felt overwhelming.  So I did a 'Twelve Days of Books' to whittle things down - either the first 12 days of December, or the final 12 days leading up to Christmas.  And, lo, this became an overwhelming endeavor as well with two kids (especially when they have different preferences in books).  

I really wanted to keep the yearly fun of new holiday books in some way.  So now I include it as an activity in our personalized advent calendar.

This is the best way to go with books for advent, in my opinion!  I can fit two chocolates in each day's pouch, as well as a note with a fun activity for the day.  Some are just 'listen to Christmas music' or 'drink hot chocolate' for days we're busy or days I just can't even, versus the days we go out to see lights, make ornaments or cookies, etc.  Now I pile up all the holiday books at the beginning of the month, and dole out the cards for a 'open a Christmas book' activity throughout the calendar.  

At the end of November, the library puts out the displays of holiday books and I grab as many as I can (and maybe throw in a book of my own).

Then I do some investigating on what's new, or what I think the kids would love, and put a bunch on hold for a second round of books (and maybe a Seth McFarlane CD, because I love that dude).

We got a good haul this year and I must say that both kids are entertained by Little Red Gliding Hood.  And I must give a shout out to my favorite kid Christmas book that we own: Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve is just adorable, funny and sweet.

So if the idea of a wrapped book every day in December is a new and cool idea to you, give it a go next year!  And know that if it's a bit too difficult to accomplish, the kids still love getting surprises, however they arrive.

The Stack - December 2015

Ahhhh, I'm so excited to finally get my hands on An Ember in the Ashes!  It's the first one I'm reading from my December library haul, and can definitely see why it's on so many best of 2015 lists (including Amazon's top 20 of the year).

I didn't get around to Euphoria last month, and that's good because it's a KCLS pick of the month and I can renew it two more times!  A Man Called Ove was also on the paperback picks.  I'm curious about this book after reading this really interesting article from Shelf Awareness about it's growth from word of mouth. 

I also didn't get around to Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson last month, but I have the ebook ready on Overdrive whenever I want to cancel my suspension and pick it up.  I may read Seveneves first (also a SciFi novel), since it trumped Aurora on best of 2015 lists. 

Speaking of best of 2015, I also have The Nightingale on ebook, and will definitely read that this month.

Lastly, I had to pick up Winter Stroll for a little holiday reading since I already finished Winter Street.

Any feedback or opinions on this stack, or otherwise, is very much welcome!

Books I Read in November

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meiser

I'm a sucker for books that weave a story together from narratives taking place in the past and the present.  This story connects fictitious characters during the time of the New York Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, and during September 2001 in New York.  It's the first time I've braved any kind of 9/11 lit, and I'm glad I did.  It reminded me a great deal of The Girl You Left Behind with lovely (yet flawed) characters who find their way through unimaginably horrifying circumstances.  Upon further research, I gather that Meiser writes all of her books with this technique and so I shall probably be reading more!


Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead

At first I thought that this was going to be another 'manic pixie dreamgirl' who is devoid of emotion story - see also: Unbecoming, Hausfrau, Paper Towns.  But the story of Joan, the corps ballerina who assists the Russian star dancer to defect, becomes way more complex than the aforementioned titles.  There is a 'secret reveal' plot point past the halfway mark that isn't at all surprising, yet where the story goes afterwards and with the supporting characters is, well, astonishing.    


This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

I've always wanted to pick up a book by Jennifer E. Smith.  Her novels always seem to resurface on top YA lists and Bookriot posts.  Plus I really dig the whimsical covers.  It was a sweet read and I my inner pre-teen LOVED the premise of just a regular girl happening upon a correspondence with a celebrity, unbeknown to her - a fun take on a fairytale romance.  I'd also recommend it as a summer read, as the setting of a sleepy little Maine town that bustles during the summer months (and during the filming of a movie) really comes to life and feels like another character.


The Lake House by Kate Morton

You can read my full review here, but in brief: I thought it was excellent and was slightly miffed at myself for not reading one of her books in so long.  I read The Forgotten Garden years ago, but I hope to read The Secret Keeper soon.


Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

After finishing The Lake House, this felt like reading a short story in comparison.  Yet in a welcome manner, as I was ready for a good chaser of light, fluffy and entertaining.  Hilderbrand definitely sticks to formulas, especially ones that involve people not seeing the perfect love for them that happen to be right under their noses.  But, she writes them well and with great humor and heart.  I enjoyed getting to know the Quinn family and hope to get around to reading Winter Stroll, the follow up, before the end of the holidays.