From My Bookshelf

Happy Wednesday Friends!  It's a short week for me at work because of the July 4th Holiday - yay!  Anyone else looking forward to the long weekend?

Way back in March, I made a trip to the library and grabbed four books to read.  Who knew my timing would be so perfect as they closed the next day due to COVID?  The first few weeks of COVID I could not focus enough to read.  Since then though, I finished three of the books I checked out and am working my way through the fourth.  If Henry naps well this weekend, I may be able to finish that one.  I'm listing them here, including another book I finished back in February that was a fascinating read and another that was an impulse buy by one of my favorite authors.

My Friend Anna

Life Lately

My plan was to do this post on Monday, but y'all.  This week has been bonkers crazy at work.  Hopefully with next week being Spring Break it will be a little quieter #fingerscrossed

Here's a peek at what we've been up to lately in the Fisher House...

What's Up Wednesday

Y'all - I can't believe February is almost over.  Holy Cow!  That went by so fast.  January felt super slow, but we are staring down the start of March already.  So what have we been up to this month?

A Day in the Life - Monday Edition!

A Day in the Life posts are some of my favorites - to both read and write!  I haven't done one in a while and thought a random Monday would be a good choice.

5am - my alarm goes off.  I lounged in bed for a bit and then got out of bed at 5:14 to start the day.

Life Lately

Is it me or does the weekend go by way too fast?  I'm already missing football, is it time for the new season yet?  

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Pregnancy Update - Week 17

10 Things to Tell You - When Do You Read?

As I mentioned yesterday, Laura Tremaine has a new podcast based on her blog - 10 Things To Tell You.  Each week she gives a prompt.  Listeners are then encouraged to journal, or blog, or engage on social media, or chat with your friends about the prompt.  It's a great listen and I absolutely love Laura.  Especially when the first topic was revealed.

When Do You Read?

Life Lately

Good Morning!  Thank you for indulging my day off yesterday - I was in Super Bowl Mode on Sunday.  Did I mention, my team won?

Let's start today's post with our GIVEAWAY WINNER!

What I've Been Reading

I think it's pretty well established around these parts that I love to read.  Last year my goal was 30 books and this year I bumped it up to 35.  I've read some great ones lately and some so-so books lately.  Here's a few that made their way onto my nightstand over the last couple of months.

 Becoming - Michelle Obama

5 Stars

What's On My Bookshelf

Last year my Goodreads goal was to read 50 books.  I read 35 books last year.  While I missed my challenge goal, since I had only read about 8 books the year before, I figured 35 was still pretty good.  My goal this year is 30 and I am already on book 4!

Here's a peek into what I've been reading so far this year!

What's Up Wednesday

Thank you to all my friends and family who reached out to make sure we are ok.  We are safe and dry here in Dallas, but the devastation in Houston is unbelievable.  If you feel so inclined and would like to help out, please consider one of the following:

Houston Food Bank
Houston SPCA
Salvation Army
Houston Flood Relief Fund

Watching the news is heartbreaking - if you are in a position to help or donate, please consider doing so.

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On to our scheduled posting...

Holy cow we are at September's door people.  I'm going to be honest, I'm freaking out a little about the wedding.  We are just under 2 months away and I still have some details to work out #hairandmakeup

Here's what we've been up to in August!

What We're Eating This Week

Last week I wrote about being vegan. I have decided to try and eliminate meat, most dairy, and eggs, etc. from my diet. So far, so good.  I was never a huge meat eater anyways, but Phillip and I sat down and talked about it and we have been looking at ways to make our meals in ways that it's easy to either add meat for him or swap out meat for beans or something instead.  With that in mind, here is our menu for this week:

Sunday: Eggplant Rollatini with Ricotta and Spinach

Monday: Leftover Eggplant Rollatini

Tuesday: Chicken Shawarma Bowls (being a bowl, it's easy to just not have chicken on mine and have more chickpeas)

Wednesday: Carne Asada Bowls (again, leaving the chicken off mine and adding more beans)

Thursday: Cauliflower Pizza with vegan cheese on my half and mozzarella and turkey meatballs on his

Friday: Veggie Burgers and Green Beans

Saturday: Not sure yet...

What I'm Reminiscing About

Disney!  This time last year we were gearing up for our big trip.

We had fun on date night in Epcot

Phillip made some new friends

And we got to experience all the fun with this little miss!

What I'm Loving

Our new garage doors!  Seriously, I am loving all of the amazing progress on our house.

What We've Been Up To

The blog got a makeover!  I am loving the new design.  I had to get into the swing of using a different platform, but I am so so happy with how it all turned out.

New school year means it's time for a new planner and I am LOVING my Simplified Planner.  Emily Ley has a winning product here.

I scoured IKEA for ideas for my new office in the new house and I am definitely planning on this piece.

Pure Barre released a new program - Pure Barre Empower and I can tell you I am here for it!  I love it.  I still love my classic barre classes, but I am never one to back down from a challenge and Empower has it.

So there were plenty of barre classes this past month and word on the street is that we're doing another challenge soon and y'all know how I feel about a challenge #cantsayno

We had an amazing dinner at Meddleome Moth.  I recapped that earlier this week.

What I'm Dreading

Nothing!  I'm getting MARRIED in less than 60 days, our honeymoon is booked, my family is coming to town, and I am marrying the love of my life?  Ask me in two months when I am staring down the prospect of packing up the apartment and moving...

What I'm Working on

I've got some Stella & Dot stuff in the works (and some new releases coming).  There is an amazing Labor Day sale right now.  Here are some of my favorites.

Dune Tote

Embarcadero Scarf

Mirage Chandeliers

Plait Necklace

If you see something you like - grab it!  Things are selling out quickly.  If you have questions, or would like to order, shoot me an email!

What I'm Excited About

Um, Hawaii???  Two months and we will be on sandy beaches, exploring volcanoes, and relaxing, relaxing, relaxing.

What I'm Watching/Reading

Like the rest of the country, we just finished Game of Thrones, and all I can say is Whoa.  I got through a few books this month too, most of which I would recommend (skip babyland).

Victoria | Madam President | Behind Closed Doors | babyland

What I'm Listening To

Now that football season is looming, I've been listening to more sports radio in the morning and podcasts while I'm working.  For sports radio I always tune in to Mike & Mike.  Current podcast favorites: Sorta Awesome, The Popcast, How I Built This, Whys Advice with FatDag, Food Stuff, and 99% Invisible.

What I'm Wearing

top | shorts | sandals | tag necklace | jarne bracelet

lela top | taj clutch | gwen ring

tank | sports bra | leggings

tank | jeans (similar) | shoes | emmeline necklace

What I'm Doing This Weekend

We don't really have anything on the agenda for this weekend.  We will definitely swing by the house and check on progress and I'd like to maybe go walking at White Rock Lake if the weather is nice.  Phillip will probably go to the driving range while I hit up my usual Weight Watchers meeting.

What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

Final wedding details!  More progress on the house!  Final honeymoon planning!  So much going on!

What Else Is New

Not much...but plenty of ongoing stuff to be excited about.  I can't wait to see what September holds!

It is a Truth Universally Acknowledged...

And so begins one of the greatest novels of all time (and my personal favorite).  First of all, thank you Mrs. Williams for requiring us to read Pride & Prejudice.  I have re-read it many times in the intervening years and it is still my favorite novel of all time.  My all time favorite adaptation is the 1995 BBC version with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.  Swoon.  I choose to forget the Keira Knightley version exists.  No offense to Ms. Knightley, but I feel she was horribly miscast as Elizabeth.  Rosamund Pike as Jane was perfect casting, but they missed the mark with Lizzie.  Anyhow, my second favorite adaptation is the Emmy award winning Lizzie Bennet Diaries.  Have you discovered this yet?  You haven't?  Take a peek at episode 1.


And it only gets better!  Amazing cast, funny, smart, and it moves quickly.  You will not be disappointed.  I promise.  So, go watch all 100 episodes, right now.  Then come back.  Seriously, I'll wait.  


Are you back?  Did you love it?  I told you so!  Now since you loved LBD, I'm going to let you in on a secret.  The amazing people who brought you The Lizzie Bennet Diaries have started on Emma.  Welcome to Emma Approved:

 

And bonus?  They tell you where to find all of Emma's amazing clothes.  So if you're an Austen fan, then please, do yourself a favor and check out The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Emma Approved.  LBD is finished - 100 episodes is all you get.  Emma just got started though and new episodes are released every Monday and Thursday at noon.

Thank Goodness She Was Prolific

My title refers to Agatha Christie. I've always loved a good mystery, so I don't know what took me so long in picking up one of her books. Once I start, I can't put it down. She wrote A LOT. Thank goodness. My favorites are the ones featuring Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple. But in the attempt to read everything she's written I will read the others as well. I've been reading since I was three when I would read anything I could get my hands on - newspapers, encyclopedias, cereal boxes, if it was in the house and had words on it somewhere I would read it. Nowadays I am a little more discerning, but I still have a wide range of genres that I read. Mysteries being one, also biographies, Russian history, Austenesque fiction, and classics are a few more. I can get so lost in my reading that I tune out what's around me - a blessing and a curse at times. After 30 years of comprehending the words on a page, I still keep books stacked on my nightstand, in my purse, scattered throughout the house, you never know when the mood strikes (or you're stranded somewhere) and you can easily pick up a time and become absorbed in the story.