19 in 2019

Here they are.

My goals for the year.

They are big and sometimes vague. They are not perfect. I don’t know how to completely quantify them. They require more details and more specifics to know that I’ve achieved them. I wrote them with the assumption that I will fail. If I don’t fail at reaching these goals they aren’t big enough.

Some of them are very specific. Some of them are not. However if I reach them and strive for them it will be a good year. I don’t know what shape they will all take. Youtube piano lessons or in person. I don’t know if they will be over night vacations to family or week long vacations to the beach. I just know we need more vacations. I don’t totally know what “Take care of me” looks like but I do know that I’m happier when I meditate daily and listen to daily affirmations so I will start there, knowing if I end up averaging 4 times a week that’s better than no times a week. As Gretchen Rubin says a two mile walk done is better than a four mile run never done.

I like this list. This list is fun. It is balanced with the right amount of learning, and pushing, and creating, and laughing, and snuggling.

These goals can evolve. They can change shape. They are merely a snapshot of where I want to go at the beginning of 2019, not necessarily where I will end up. I’m excited to try, to have fun, to fail, and to choose happy.

1. Cut and donate hair.

2. Complete and implement Dave Ramsey Course.

3. Reading Challenge.

4. Save the earth. Less waste, less meat.

5. Complete Knitting Class.

6. Photo organization- 2017, 2018, Spain, Europe, Vacation.

7. Cook through and organize Grandma’s recipes.

8. Do one thing new each month.

9. Kid Lit writing- 3 new stories, 2 NYC events

10. Social Media Sunday Break

11. Fit into my wedding and engagement ring

12. Join a board of a non-profit.

13. Help and plan implement 2019/2020 Lawyer Moms of America

14. More vacations

15. Run under 10 minute mile and race a 10k

16. Family Season Bucket List- Top 100

17. More Family 1:1 times- dates and early bed solo time with the boys

18. Piano Lessons for the kiddos/Guitar lessons for me

19. Take care of me! Daily meditation/affirmation and weekly yoga

(This list does not capture business goals. They get their own list. Just because I love what I do, both main job and side hustle, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have separate goals. )

Word of the Year: Authentic

This year my word of the year is more of a question than a word. Am I being authentic to myself? That is the question I want to ask myself all year. And if the answer is no then I need to stop doing it. Work my way back. Take a different route.

There are a lot of definitions of being authentic but the one I’m concerned with says “true to one's own personality, spirit, or character “. True to one’s own personality, spirit, or character. The question is why don’t we always live our lives that way all the time. Sure, I get that we sometimes have to have jobs to pay the bills but in the in between time we can make sure we are authentic to ourselves. And in our interactions with people at our jobs. Or at the grocery store. Or wherever ,we make sure our human connections. We are better at life when we are true to ourselves.

This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do hard things. This doesn’t meant that we shouldn’t push ourselves to be uncomfortable. In fact I think being authentic to my character is recognizing that I do well when I’m uncomfortable.

Being authentic to me means asking myself the why behind what I’m doing? Is this true to myself? If the answer is no then I change course. Then I move on to something else.

When I am true to myself and I am living an authentic life I am good at what I do. I am successful. I am happy. When I’m not true to myself, I am not. Its time that I live an authentic life.

First Friday Faves

A new year and back to my favorite monthly post of favorites for the month. If you’re new to this expect a favorite book or podcast. Perhaps a favorite mug or t-shirt. This month think all goals and snow!

The Happy Workaholic Podcast

I’m always on the look out for new a great podcasts. I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t check out the podcast sooner. Partly because I can talk to Kelly on the phone myself but its certainly fun to have her on a podcast. I would highly suggest checking it out! Its filled with great information and its inspirational!

Faux-Suede Sherpa-Lined Moccasin Slippers for Women

I have a problem with slippers. I buy them and I don’t keep them clean and then I keep them but don’t use them. These are cheap enough that if I ruin them I can throw them out. Sure, the LL Bean ones are better but these do the trick and the price is right.

Pomegranates

They are just good. Eat them.

Whole 30 Fast & Easy

Its day 3 of Whole 30 and meal planning is going down today. This cookbook is right at my side and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve used it when I’m not doing Whole 30 because the recipes are just that good.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her Necklace

One of the ultimate lawyer moms. A true inspiration. And oh, what a necklace! There are books. There are movies. Learn about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Then learn about ALL four of the women Supreme Court justices. They are all heroes in their own right.

That’s a wrap on January. Come back in February where there will be Chocolate.

xoxo,

Tovah

Tovah's Book Challenge

Okay. Here we go. I hopped on Goodreads and I set my goal for 52 books. That means that I need to read a book a week (or more if I have an of week.) This time around though I would like this challenge to be purposeful. Not just that time I went to the library and picked a bunch of easy reads and read 5 books in a week.

There are a lot of book challenges out there. A lot of really good and fun ones. I’ve landed on the one below. (Thanks for all the suggestions!) This book list is just enough outside the box that I feel like I will be pushing myself but it also has some fun options. In addition to this list I am going to work on reading more women and more authors of color. Bonus points for reading more women of color.

The list of 39 books I have to read below are books already on my shelf or with easy access to. I would really love to read all of these books plus any books needed to satisfy the reading challenge. Many of the books below and books sitting on my shelves unread but not listed below will also fulfill the challenge.

We will see how it goes. I still need to leave flexibility to read the newest fun book that pops up.

52 books with a focus on reading books I already have and hitting this Read Harder Challenge. Once again I want a year of no book buying, or minimum book buying. Library here I come!

What do you think? Any book suggestions for the Read Harder Challenge? What are your reading goals?

Book Riot’s 2019 Read Harder Challenge

1. A book by a woman and/or AOC (Author of Color) that won a literary award in 2018

2. A humor book

3. An alterrnate history novel

4. An epistolary novel or collection of letter

5. A book by a journalist or about journalism

6. A book by an AOC set in or about space

7. An #ownvoices book set in Mexico or Central America

8. An #ownvoices book set in Oceadnia

9. A book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads

10. A translated book written by and/or translated by a woman

11. A book of manga

12. A book in which an animal or inanimate object is a point-of-view character

13. A book by or about someone that identifies as neurodiverse

14. A cozy mystery

15. A book of mythology or folklore

16. An historical romance by an AOC

17. A business book

18. A novel by a trans or nonbinary author

19. A book of nonviolent true crime

20. A book written in prison

21. A comic by an LGBTQIA creator

22. A children’s or middle grade book (not YA) that has won a diversity award since 2009

23. A self-published book

24. A collection of poetry published since 2014

Parenting books

1. The Whole Brain Child

2. No-Drama Discipline

3. The Gift of Failure

4. Simplicity Parenting

5. Peaceful Parents, Happy Siblings

6. How to talk so your children will listen and listen so your children will talk

Audible Clean Up

1. The Audacity of Hope

2. The Speed of Trust

3. Steve Jobs Biography

4. Slaughterhouse- Five

5. A Life in Paris

6. Ahead of the Curve

7. Daring Greatly

8. A Year of Biblical Womanhood

9. High Performance Habits

10. A Selfish Plan to Save the World

11. Your Brain at Work

12. The Vanity Fair Diaries

13. The Jane Austen BBC Radio Drama

14. The Underground Railroad

15. The Untethered Soul

16. The Haunting of Hill House

17. War on Peace

18. The Four Tendencies

19. Cry the Beloved Country

20. Call the Midwife

21. The Good Earth

22. T is for Transformation

23. The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work

24. Becoming

25. Beloved

Rereads

1. The Universe Has Your Back

2. The 5 Second Rule

3. Failing Forward

4. The Go-Giver

Off the Shelf

1. Judgment Detox

2. The Alchemist

3. Passage to India

4. Cutting through Stone

5. High Loyalty by Jim Comey

No More Hiding

No matter what I say or do or type the proof is right in front of me.  I used to have good posture.  I used to stand up straight and proud in photos, or if not proud at least straight.  As I look at photos from the last few weeks more than anything I notice is my posture.  And its not bad posture because I forgot to stand up straight its bad posture because I’m hiding.  I’m literally trying to shrink in photos.  I’m hunching over as if that will make me fit into the photo.  As if that will make me be smaller. 

I spend way too much time and energy trying to prevent double chins. 

Its happening with clothing too.  Dark colors.  Loose fitting clothing.  Sweaters that cover the bumps and lumps. 

I cover myself up and then I hide myself.

I can’t say that I will not do that.  I’m not making any resolution.  I’m setting an intention.

I will stop trying to hide my body.  I will not cover it up in some sort of shame. 

I am worthy of feeling happy.

Each day I will commit to loving myself a little more.

I belong in any room that I walk into.  I belong in any photo. 

So do you. 

Find Joy. It's okay. Really.

Joy. Its a big word for being so small isn’t it? Merriam Webster dictionary defines joy as:

1a: evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : DELIGHT

b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion : GAIETY

2: a state of happiness or felicity : BLISS

3: a source or cause of delight

I have struggled with joy in the last few years. I attach guilt to joy. Or perhaps I replaced joy with guilt. That feeling that I should be doing more. Helping more. How dare I feel joy?

It started in the summer of 2016. Well, that’s not entirely true. It was always sort of there. I always felt a certain responsibility to do more because of what I considered the privilege of my education. But the noise in my head to do more increased in2016. And that’s when the guilt started to come. Because the fact is that I had a job I liked. I had a side hustle as a Beachbody coach that I loved. But how does one sell a workout program when the world is burning??

The noise in my head came to a fever pitch this summer when our country started locking up children. Here I was with my healthy kids and I was focusing my time on a goal setting course. A goal setting course?! While there are babies being taken from their parents?? I could barely sleep. I felt physically sick. And I felt lucky. And obviously I felt pretty confused.

And now we are here. Or rather last week. I was picking photos out for our Christmas cards. It just seemed so…joyful and yet how do you embrace joy when there is so much wrong with the world? How do you embrace the joy of life when antisemitism is on the rise? When systemic racism continues to plague our country? When babies are still separated from their families? When there are people living in tent cities awaiting the right to seek asylum? How do I embrace the joy of this time of year? Who gives me the right?

Well, no one gives me the right but being true to myself, being authentic, these are the things I need to do. Finding joy. These are the things I need to do to help others. The joy will keep me going. Will bring me hope. Brene Brown says, “Yes, softening into joy is uncomfortable. yes, it's scary. Yes, it's vulnerable. But every time we allow ourselves to lean into joy and give in to those moments, we build resilience and we cultivate hope.”

When the world feels like all hope is lost and we just want to take a break what we need is joy. Joy from the lights of a menorah. Joy from the lights of a Christmas tree. Joy from children’s laughter. I say it’s okay to to be happy even if everyone isn’t. It’s okay to find joy even if you’re surrounded by sadness. It’s what keeps you going.

So I’ve come to realize that I can be both. Joyful and heartbroken. I can be happy and sad.

I can be horrified by the state of the world and still be a Beachbody coach.

I can be working with others tirelessly to try to help migrant families and still work on my goal setting course.

I can embrace the joy and the suck all at the same time.

I’ve realized that when I go looking for gratitude it is joy that I often find. It is the joy that gives me the hope to keep on going. I can’t go searching for joy despite what is happening in the world but because of what is happening in the world.

Work hard friends. Be brave. Be you. Embrace joy. We need it now more than ever.

First Friday Faves

Soaking up all the fall for three more weeks then its all Christmas all the time. Plus a new fave book and a fantastic podcast.

The Lying Game

From the author of “The Woman in Cabin 10”. I’m still sorting this one out but it was a quick read and it was definitely intense. Plus I love British novels in the fall.

Uncover Escaping NXIVM

This podcast is binge worthy. 7 episodes. Totally worth your time.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

I’m excited to continue to eat vegan for a little longer as long as I can integrate seasonal food. I can’t wait to make this next week!

Vote

Don’t know where to vote? Go here. Vote. Every vote matters.

Cranberry Mule

This will be happening on or around Thanksgiving. Anyone want to come over and try it out? Although, I’m thinking bourbon might be tastier than rum.

Fall Bucket List

Our better late than never fall bucket list as well as how we are doing so far.

1. Black Friday Shopping (probably done on the internet)

2. Go Trick or Treating

3. Visit a pumpkin patch

4. Go apple picking

5. Get cozy

6. Bake pumpkin bread

7. Donate to a need family- We did donate to Verona Fights Hunger Week but the boys are also going to through their books.

8. Cook Comfort Food- Planned are chili and beef stew.

9. Read a book, specifically seasonal- Hopeful to finish Practical Magic tonight

10. Go on a Hayride

11. Visit a Haunted House (not sure we’re ready for this yet.)

12. Carve pumpkins (Monday night)

13. Roast S’mores (Check)

14. Eat Pumpkin Pie

15. Watch a scary movie (Does Practical Magic and Coco count?)

16. Family Hike

17. Leaf Peeping (Lame but fun)

18. Bake apple pie

19. Make apple sauce

20. Boo at the Zoo

That’s our list. All I can say is that we are going to have a really busy November.

What’s on your fall bucket list?

"Jane the Virgin" oh how I love you!

It’s no secret that I love television.  I legit love it.  I don’t have a lot of ways to escape.  Little kids, busy life.  Television is my escape and I embrace it.  ‘Jane the Virgin’ is pure escapism.  Or at least it is on first glance. 

Beautiful people, gorgeous Miami setting, and wild story lines.  It’s all you can ask for in a television show where you just want to escape.  It’s a whole lot more than that though.  It’s a story about going after your dreams even if it means doing it slowly, one step at a time.  Even if it means needing to be reminded about your devotion to your dream over and over again.  It’s a story about fresh starts and the need to constantly evaluate what it is important.  It’s a love story.  Sure it’s a love story between Jane and many suitors and Petra and her suitors but it’s also a love story between Jane and her mother and her grandmother. 

The three Villanueva women are the heart of the show.  And as much as I get caught up in the love stories and yes I have my favorites (#teamrafael always and forever) the story is about family.  It’s about getting lost and coming home to your family.  It’s about families evolving and people being added to families.  It’s about families about by blood and families by love. 

And lets not forget that this family tackles cancer, bisexuality, addiction and most central to the show, immigration head on.  It does not shy away but expects more from the characters and the audience. 

This show is important on another level.  Its one of the first shows I’ve watched where my white self is not the target audience.  This is a show about a Latino family and what its like to be a Latino family in America.  But its also just a show about what its like to be a family in America.  It’s a show about what its like to be a working class family but it’s not a show that focuses on how hard that is, although it acknowledges concerns about money and work. 

As fake and wild as this telenovella is it is real.  This family gives me hope.

So its an escape, but not to an imagined world instead its an escape to a world where I want it to be. 

First Friday Faves

Since I’m already a few weeks late but don’t want to let this month I’m turning this into a few last minute Halloween fun things.

Pumpkin Paper Plate Craft

It looks easy and we always seem to have paper plates around.

Easy Last Minute Halloween Costumes

This was my costume last year and it was so much fun and I had most of it in my closet. I just needed the bright red lipstick and the head band.

Spider Cookies

My theory with these is simple. Even if you mess up and they don’t look like spiders they will taste good.

Practical Magic

A new favorite movie (that happens to be 20 years old) and the book I’m reading right now.

Room on the Broom

Always a favorite in our house every year. The book and the movie! (Bonus points for the movie being on Netflix.)

Ready for Reset

This is me mid resetting. I know I shared my goals during my video this morning but I wanted to write them down (or type them up in this case) and share them. I’m pretty sure that’s what makes good goals. You write them down and you share them with others so you are held accountable.

To me the Ultimate Reset is all about resetting. I know its in the name but it is truly my goal. I don’t want to wait until the the new year to work on me. I want to do it right now.

My goals for the next 21 (now 19) days:

• Sleep more (this means go to be earlier)

• Turn off my phone/computer an hour before sleep (This may or may not be realistic with the approaching election but I’ll see what I can do.)

• Meditate in the morning

• Walk at least one time (preferably two times) per day

• Follow my food plan 99% Normally I’m a firm believer (based on science) that we do best when we shoot for 80% on plan but for these three weeks I want to be 100% on point. 1% is if I accidentally lick my finger after giving the boys apples with peanut butter.

• Drink loads of water

• Show myself patience and grace and gratitude.

This list is missing one very important goal that I hate to admit. I want to lose weight. I know that should never be the big goal. I should want to be healthy but the fact is I am healthy. I eat right. I exercise. I drink water. I’m also waaaaay over weight. I don’t like it. I don’t feel comfortable. For the last few years I have approached weight loss as a mental game that I will lose. I go into an eating plan knowing that I will fail. And of course whether you believe you will fail or not you will be right. (Someone famous said that possibly Henry Ford.) So for me this is a reset for my body AND my mind. I know this makes me feel great. I’ve done it before and three weeks with no sugar or flour or loads of other stuff is a great for my body and I also know my body will probably lose weight. I’m going to approach this with a positive attitude and with the knowledge that my body will respond to healthy eating and healthy living. My body will do me well. I KNOW IT. So a mind and body reset is in the making.

Watch out world.

Tovah

(Every time I sign my name I want to write “xoxo-Gossip Girl” and yet I resist.)

Fall Food Fun!

It’s here! It’s here! Woohoo!! Fall is here. Where I indulge in pumpkin and squash and maple, oh my! Here are a few treats I’m so excited to try!

What about you? What are your favorite fall foods?

Pumpkin Pancakes

Slow cooker Applesauce

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dip

Autumn Squash Soup

Chicken, Squash and Quinoa Stew

Roasted Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail

Countdown to 2019

The countdown to 2019 is on. Just a 3.5 months left.

How are your resolutions or goals for the year coming along? Mine are hit and miss. Still some time to do some work.

1. Date night with Nick (each month)…we have not been great with this. We have plans for the next two months.

2. Monthly date with boys…no 100% but I’m trying.

3. Monthly featured country…oops. We were so good with these at the beginning of the year. Now not so much. A nice remember.

4. Meditate daily…I’m way better than last year but still not great. Still time, still time.

5. 5 alone minutes with each boy each night….We do this when we need it but we should do it more consistently.

6. Learn to play one song on the guitar…I straight up didn’t even remember this was a goal. Jingle Bells anyone?

7. Finish Wedding Album…DONE

8.  Finish baby books and photo organization…Give me one rainy day Saturday and a bunch of legos for the boys and I could get this done. I WILL get this done this year.

9. Weekly piano lessons with A…hit and miss. Coming back to it.

10. Make a capsule wardrobe…summer was a capsule wardrobe and the fall is much closer.

11. Complete and launch course (Goals on the Side)…Coming soon. Who wants to be in a beta test.

12. Finish 3 (3!!) Children's books and be an active member of 12x12…one book down. 2 to go.

13. Read the book shelf…hanging head in shame.

14.  Launch a podcast…Gearing up for this in December.

15.  Learn to knit (again)…I remembered hot to knit! I just started practicing again.

16. Become more involved in activist pursuits…YES!!

17.  Work hard to pass full day K…Who is voting with me on November 6th?

18.  Set up seasonal family bucket lists and do them…YES! (Thank you fun stickers from Michael’s.”

Week of 9.10- Meals and Workouts

Monday: Chicken Marsala and mashed potatoes a la MIL

Tuesday:  Tex-Mex Beef Tacos

Wednesday: Fundraiser at Lakeside Deli

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday Leftovers

Saturday: Grilled Pork with potatoes and brussel sprouts

Sunday: Chili. Looking for a new kid friendly recipe.

First Friday Faves

What the what?!  How did Fall already get here?  Okay, its not quite here yet so I have resisted the temptation to share pumpkin anything.  We will save that for October.  Instead just take a few of my faves to spice up your month.

Read: White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

Just a chapter into this book and I know its going to be a game changer.  Its hard and uncomfortable and that's exactly what we need. 

Buy: Boys Will Be Good Humans

#BoyMomGoals Raise good humans.  Caring, imaginative, passionate, kind, hard working humans.  

Drink: Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea recently came back into my life.  I don't know why I forgot about my love of Peppermint tea.  I'm sorry peppermint tea.  I will never forget again.  Thank you for coming back to me.

Listen: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

Where has this podcast been all my life?!  Someone just suggested this podcast to me and I have  not stopped listening.  If you have read and loved Harry Potter this is a must listen.

Eat Local: Blue Hippo Coffee

A town has a growing and diverse restaurant selection.  And yet for the longest time we haven't had a proper coffee shop.  I have a feeling this wonderful place will turn into the heart of the town.  If you're local stop by.  If you're not local find your own local gem.

That's a wrap on September.  Or at least my favorites for September.  Happy almost fall!

Love,

Tovah

Week of 9.3- Meals and Workouts

Funny story.  My plan was to post this on Monday and discuss how I was going to try this plan but it might change.  I haven't been able to post this until now and I've already changed the plan.  I really, really wanted to lift weights today and so I did.  It was totally worth it.  

Now here is the food part:

Monday: Labor Day Picnic

Tuesday: Leftovers from Labor Day Picnic

Wednesday: Meatballs with homemade sauce and pasta (all of out of the freezer)  Family recipe ;)

Thursday: Rachel Ray's Super Sloppy Joes (Because football is back.  Go Birds!)

Friday:  Greek Yogurt Chicken

Saturday:  Friend's Birthday Party!

Sunday:  Good question??

September cheer is here.

Okay, okay.  So I was a bit aspirational for August.  50 miles walked?  Yeah, that didn't happen.  Exercised every day but rest days?  Yes.  Meditate every day?  Nope.  (Although way more than the month before.)  Healthy eating?  Yes!  5 spa nights?  Yeppers.  I definitely did not get to all the books I planned on reading.  So it was a mixed bag.

This month here is the plan:

- Finish LIIFT 4

- Start Piyo (More on this in a later post.)

- Walk 2 days a week.  (Anyone want to be my walking buddy?)

- Eat health: This means, lots LOTS of veggies, lots LOTS of water, and eating food as close to the sources as possible.  Keeping processed sugar to a minimum.  Keeping gluten to a minimum.  (No, I'm not allergic but man do I bloat after I eat it.  Its time for me to admit that my body does not like it.)  

- Finish Middlesex and another book from the shelf of books I never read.  (Yes, I have been reading Middlesex for what seems like forever.) 

- Start knitting.  Its on my 18 in 2018 list and if I don't start it soon its never going to happen.

- Finish my Goal setting course.  I'm getting tantalizingly close. Stay tuned for the chance to be part of the first group through the course by the end of the month!

- Dates which each kid and husband.  Yes another good one from 18 of 2018.  It hasn't happened but it will soon.  Already have some good plans!  (So what if they're all in my head.  They will happen this month!)

- Finishing tweaking third draft of one book and get to a second draft of another. 

What about you?  Back to school is year.  What are your plans?

September: Month of Meals

Its been a long time since I sat down and done a monthly meal plan.  A long, long time.  I used to do it so much that I even added a section to my planner that included the meal plan.  And yet, here I am.  Never doing it.  Boo.  

So with the fresh school year comes a fresh start at meal planning.  We keep it simple in these parts.  On most Mondays my MIL comes to watch the kids and usually brings food.  Wohooo!  We have tacos, or some Americanized variation of tacos on Tuesday but Taco Tuesday sounds a lot better than Taco-ish Tuesday.  We usually have pasta one day a week because it makes life a little bit easier and ensures we have leftovers.  I dig fall food so I try to incorporate, squash and pumpkin, chili and stews.  

I try to keep food to what the kids like but I'm slightly over that so I'm incorporating a meal a week they might not like and in those cases they'll just have to fall back on the pasta.  

I can't make a lot of promises with my monthly plan  other than we will definitely not stick to it.  Some meals will give us more leftovers than I plan and some will give us less.  There will definitely be pancakes for dinner one night or two or three and I'm sure the kids will have fish sticks or chicken fingers.  That being said this gives us such a head start on planning and grocery shopping.  Bonus points that most of the meat is in the freezer already.

Do you meal plan?  How far in advance?  How much do you stay the course?

Eligible #TovahReads

Eligible is a modern interpretation of Pride and Prejudice. Now, I am going to say right at the beginning, spoiler alert, spoiler alert, spoiler alert, because I plan to talk about the end of the book, or the middle of the book, or all parts of the book. So if you don't want to know what happens in the book, don't read anymore. 

    I am a huge Jane Austen fan and a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice. It's probably my favorite Jane Austen novel, although how can you pick just one? I was really excited to read this book. I heard good things and I was not disappointed. I definitely was on the lookout for bad plot points.  Someone had warned me that the story sometimes worked a little too hard to fit into the premise of Pride and Prejudice. And to a certain extent I think that's true, although I thought some of the ways they pulled in things like reality TV or - spoiler alert, spoiler alert, don't read ahead - a transgender person was interesting.

    I love the way that they ended with Mary speaking. I thought that was great - although now it makes me want to go back and read Pride and Prejudice and know if that book ends that way. Sometimes the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice runs into my head and I can't remember if it's the end of the movie or the end of the book. Did that happen to anyone else? I mean, why wouldn't it happen? I will totally admit that in the book, Eligible, the Fitzwilliam Darcy character was played by, of course, Colin Firth. So I don't even know if she took the time to describe what he looked like because in my head he looks like Colin Firth. He will always look like Colin Firth and anyone named Darcy will, of course, always look like Colin Firth.

    So getting back to the story, the one thing that I found to be truly astounding was the fact that Mrs. ... her name escapes me ... was truly a horrible, horrible person. I don't know if she was a horrible person in the book, Pride and Prejudice, and just the way she transfers over she turns into a horrible person, or if this is new to this book. But Mrs. so-and-so is a straight-up racist-bigot, uppity, richie-rich, not nice person in this book. And I think it was totally appropriate because that's probably the way she really was, and I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to read Pride and Prejudice the same way without picturing her as this really awful person.  I think the rest of the characters were fairly consistent. I enjoyed the change and evolution that they took to make them more modern. I enjoyed them completely. But I just had to laugh at how horrible, truly horrible, she was.
    So I would highly suggest the book. I think it's a great book if you're a Pride and Prejudice fan. I think it would probably be a great book if you're not a Pride and Prejudice fan - although I would love to hear somebody who doesn't know the Pride and Prejudice story at all and reads the book, and see if it can stand on its own as book without knowing the story. Either way, it gave me a wonderful outlet to enjoy Colin Firth again. It inspired me to read Pride and Prejudice again, of course, because it takes just about nothing to encourage me to read Pride and Prejudice again. I truly loved it.
 

First Friday Faves

Okay, we're here.  The first Friday of the month.  Oh no.  Whoops.  Okay, so its not even close to the first Friday of the month but I wanted to squeeze in one more set of my favorites before pumpkin spice takes over. 

Here we go.  A few end of summer favorites.

NV Ruby Red Rose Grapefruit

Delicious!  Refreshing!  It tastes like summer!

Instant Pot BBQ Coke Pulled Pork

This is delicious.  Just delicious.  And easy.  And if you have a coke laying around (which you should because its bad for you, but if you do) its delicious! 

Old Navy Swing Tanks

Comfy shirt.  Sweet message.

When Life Gives You Lululemons

Squeeze in one more really fun read before the fall!

The Wilderness

Listen to this podcast.  Its one series and worth your time!