Nothing new to report here - just chugging along on articles for my usual publications.
Reading
I don't quite understand how it happened, but I finished three - THREE - books in September!
First, The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas. I found the book in the library's young adult section, but it had an interesting (and seemingly adult) premise - five high school cheerleaders all meet their demise in different ways but within a short period of time - so I decided to give it a try. The plot kept me engaged and didn't require me to think much; the writing was even simpler than what I have come to expect in young adult novels, and I cruised through the story in record time.
Second, The Break Down by B. A. Paris. This mysterious novel, about a woman who begins to spiral downward after coming too close a murder, started off with a bang, and after dragging a little in the middle, rapidly picked up speed until its incredibly satisfying ending. I highly recommend it, as well as the third book I read, The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker.
The Dreamers is also a mystery, but not typically so; it focuses on "an ordinary town transformed by a mysterious illness that triggers perpetual sleep". The premise - an illness infecting a large population and making them behave differently - is not new, but the simplicity of the illness in that it caused only sleep and, we eventually learn, heightened dreams rather than violent behavior and/or quickly deteriorating health, kept me genuinely intrigued. There were definitely a few loose ends, but I could overlook them simply because I enjoyed the story and wanted desperately to find out how the book would end.
Watching
After finishing up the current seasons of Kids Baking Championship and America's Got Talent, Hallie and I needed a new show to tide us over until Netflix releases the fifth and final season of Fuller House. We took the recommendation of a friend of hers and started Liv & Maddie (also on Netflix, by way of Disney Channel), and I have to admit, I really enjoy it. Dove Cameron, who plays both title characters, does a fantastic job in her dual roles, and everything else about the show - the quirky but lovable parents, the annoying younger brothers, the unique and endearing friends, and the setting (small town Wisconsin) - reminds me in the best ways possible of the shows I used to watch on television when I was 10 years old. Hallie and I have nearly finished season one, and I'm glad there are quite a few seasons ahead of us.
When I'm not watching television with Hallie, I have been sampling an assortment of this fall's new shows. So far I have enjoyed the new shows All Rise, Emergence, and Bluff City Law but I don't think I'll add Perfect Harmony or Evil to my line-up. I remain a fan of Grey's Anatomy (I can't quit on Meredith), The Resident, New Amsterdam, Modern Family, Bull, FBI, God Friended Me, This Is Us, A Million Little Things, and Law & Order SVU (I can't quit on Olivia either), but I finally ditched How to Get Away With Murder - I just can't follow what's going on over there anymore. What are you enjoying this fall?
Listening To
I know I've talked about the podcast Breakdown in the last couple of monthly medley posts, but this month I listened to season five and am here to officially declare it the best season yet. If you need something interesting to get you through a long drive or a lonely hour on the elliptical at the gym, give this podcast a try!
Next up on my list: The Lazy Genius Collective. I'll keep you posted!
Wearing
I stumbled upon a couple of solid finds at Target this month. First, these pajama pants. I have a similar pair from Banana Republic, but this pair costs a third as much and feels almost identical. Second, these shoes. I've had foot problems for years, so I have no choice but to be picky about the shoes I purchase. Unfortunately, this often means spending more on shoes than I'd like (no $1.99 flip flips from Old Navy for my old lady feet), so I was pleasantly surprised to find that these sandals fit well, provide decent support, and cost what Target shoes usually cost.
Using/Trying
I felt compelled to give Mighty Patch pimple patches a try, even though I had doubts about their effectiveness. I'm so glad I gave them a shot, because they did exactly what they claimed they could/would do. I won't go into detail here because that's gross, but you can read more about them here!
Every night at least two of the four Ferri can be found icing an achy, sore, or injured body part. We had a few ice packs from Walgreens and Amazon, but there were plenty of body parts for which they didn't work because they weren't flexible enough, or moldable enough, or big enough. And then one night Tom came home from an evening out with an assortment of new ice packs - "Comfy Corn Bags", made by the wife of one of his friends. I was skeptical at first, but once I tried them out on our problem areas, I was sold. (I should mention that they can also go in the microwave for those times when heat will work better then cold.) I ended up giving away our four original corn bags to family members who liked using them, so over the summer I purchased four new corn bags in fabrics I love. I also gave one to a friend as a "thinking of you" gift, and have two more in my holiday/present closet, waiting for that time when a friend needs a little pick-me-up.
I highly recommend these corn bags - depending on the fabric you choose, they're either cute or lovely, and they're also well-made, affordable, and effective. Check out the Counting Joy Times Three Facebook page here!
Eating/Drinking
Lots of good recipes to share this month!
- I made this Honey Mustard Brussel Sprout Salad with Cranberries and Pecans almost exactly according to the recipe (I added an extra tablespoon of honey because I thought the dressing was just a little too bitter) and everyone loved it - Hallie ate three servings!
- Tom, Will, and I devoured this One-Pot Ziti with Sausage. I made my own Italian seasoning and doubled the amount, used rigatoni rather than ziti simply because that's what I had in my pantry, and skipped the ricotta cheese on top because while Will now eats and even likes some cheese, it's rough on his stomach in such large quantities.
- I made this Spicy Chicken Pizza with Tom and Will in mind, but in the end, I ended up eating more of it than anyone else. My only complaint is that when I baked my pizza, the spinach I had topped it with crisped up to the point that it didn't taste (or look) good anymore. I would recommend adding the spinach about halfway through the baking time so it still adds to, rather than takes away from, the recipe.
- This Easiest Salsa Verde Chicken was in fact the easiest, and it was delicious as well. I didn't change anything about the recipe, though I made one addition to the assembled tacos: I topped them with sliced avocado, which was absolutely, positively the right decision.
- Last but not least, I made Snickerdoodle Cupcakes with Cinnamon Swirl Frosting for an event of Hallie's. I decreased the amount of sugar to 1 cup, and used plain nonfat yogurt instead of sour cream. For the frosting, I substituted 1 block of cream cheese for 1/2 of the butter, and used milk instead of heavy cream or half-and-half. I also didn't top my cupcakes with snickerdoodle cookies - I figured the little girls who would be eating these cupcakes didn't need me to push them over the edge to a sugar high.
Feeling Good About
- Everyone deserves a birthday party at some point in their lives, and this teenager makes sure these celebrations happen for struggling children in her community.
- 33 high school students were able to go to college because of the generosity of this man.
- This school janitor went above and beyond her job description, and demonstrated just how true the statement "it takes a village" is when it comes to our children.
What's new in your world this month?
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