I hope you all had a good month and fun celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! We celebrate all month and make lots of different Irish recipes. Personally, my favorite is bangers and mash, but I like it all! Here is our life lately March and what we have been up to since last month.
Books I’ve Read
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The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell–
When Iris receives a phone call about her great aunt residing in a mental institution, she is confused. She thought her grandmother was an only child. Her great aunt is harmless, but why was she never mentioned by the family? This was interesting, but also hard to follow at times because of the different perspectives and disordered reminiscing by the aunt and grandmother. There is no clear separation between the perspectives. I wish Iris’s part of the story was more resolved. 3/5
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The Sisters by Dervla McTiernan
In this short novella prequel, Carrie uncovers this make-or-break moment in a case file that her sister Aifric, a newly qualified barrister, leaves on their kitchen counter. Although Robert Collins was charged with the murder of his girlfriend, both sisters quickly begin to find evidence that complicates the story. I really enjoyed the relationship between these sisters and look forward to reading The Ruin which is set 10 years later. 4/5
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The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate-
This book tells the stories of almost present day (1987) Benedetta, a new teacher and at a poor rural school in Louisiana trying to motivate her students and three young women in Reconstruction Era Louisana (1875) who set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half sister. You don’t see too many novels about the Reconstruction Era and I found it very interesting. The historical element really held my attention. 5/5
Heather Hampton returns to Moses Lake, Texas, to help facilitate the sale of a family farm. But what was intended to be a quick trip suddenly morphs into more. Heather slowly finds herself being drawn into the area’s history, hope, and heart. Honestly this is my least favorite of Lisa Wingate’s books. I thought the way Heather’s was treated by her family was dysfunctional at best, borderline emotionally abusive at worst. And she just accepts it all. 1/5
It’s 2042 and the government erased two states from the map for the purposes of energy production. River, a widowed mother, works as a waste hauling trucker in Energy Territory No. 1. She crosses paths with Finn, a hydrologist who becomes suspicious of environmental changes he’s seeing in nearby western waterways and decides to investigate. His decision sets him on a collision course with River, sending them both on the run. This was an interesting take on a not-so-distant dystopian future. It also speaks to not giving too much power to a cooperation. 4/5
Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy moves back home after her job comes to an end. When she comes across a diary she wrote as a teenager, she treats it asa guidebook for getting started on a new path.Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. This was cute, but nothing too memorable. It would make a great vacation read. 3.5/5
Products I’ve Tried
- Shein home- Many of you saw my instagram reel with these gorgeous flowers and were shocked they are from Shein! I was doubtful at first, but really happy when I unwrapped these. Shein does have some home things. I haven’t tried many items yet, but the florals are good and at an amazing price. I tried a shoe organizer I’m happy with, too.
- Vee Organics- I’m trying to teach my daughter how to care for her skin. Vee Organics has a kit that is making it easy! Their Breezy Cleansing Milk, Silky Skin Exfoliant, Dreamy Lush Moisturizer are made with natural and organic high quality ingredients. It helps children develop healthy skin habits at an early age. And their products are paraben, sulphate, and gluten free made with vegan ingredients and good on all skin types. They are a perfect way to begin a skincare routine! Claire is so proud of having a set that is just hers and is getting really good at using it in her routine. I’m so proud!
Recipes I’ve Made
- Crumbl Heath Cookie– Oh. My. Goodness. These are just as good as the real thing. And now I have lots of Crumbl recipes to try out!
- Mint Chocolate Chip Cake- This cake turned out really good! I loved the frosting especially.
- Zucchini Pancakes- I made these to use up some vegetables and roasted potatoes. I based it off of this recipe. They turned out well and we enjoyed them with ketchup and garlic aioli.
Currently
- Loving– I’ve really been enjoying the Once Upon a Book Club subscription box. There are wrapped gifts that come with page numbers. Then when you get to the specific page there is a post it that reminds you to open a gift.
- Hoping- I’m hoping our flights go smoothly to and from AZ. Delays are hard and even worse with kids! I’m also hoping we have lots of good weather while there.
- Playing- After a recommendation, I’ve been playing Shameless episodes during free time or while exercising. It’s a good show (fair warning though-definitely rated mature). The characters are so real- likeable and detestable all at the same time.
- Needing– I’m really needing some girl time or date night time out! It would be so nice to spend some time having adult conversations. Haha!
- Feeling- I’ve had so many failed attempts with medication for migraines. I was finally able to be prescribed Neutrec (yes the Khloe Kardashian one). It works! SO well! My migraines have been 100% gone after about 1-2 hours. No rebound headaches at all. And I haven’t experienced any side effects either. I’m feeling great!
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Family Update-
- Claire– Claire started her swim class for starts and turns and has been enjoying it so far. The first class she was the only one! Her science fair project was really interesting and she already has ideas for next year. Now she is working on a state project for school and looking forward to a trip with Girl Scouts.
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- Avie- Avie was so cute this month celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. You would have thought it was Christmas morning! The leprechaun left them a scavenger hunt with green waffles and milk at the end. I’m hoping to get her into soccer this spring because the district teams filled up really fast. Fingers crossed!
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- Me– I did a 10K this month that was the coldest, windiest race I have ever run. Sub-zero wind chill. I’ve only done one other 10K in the summer so I actually got a PR and 3rd place for my age group!
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- Matt– Matt is very excitedly looking into a new car for himself. It’s his turn for a new car and since he can handle car shopping better than I can, I mostly let him take charge.
March Goals Recap
- Do push-ups or pull-ups 5 days a week- Done, I think? I think I averaged push-ups out about 5 days a week, but didn’t keep track. I definitely feel much stronger.
- Shorten my skirt- Done! And I used the extra fabric to make the cutest matching skirt for Avie.
- Organize basement storage room- Done. And I organized the toys in the basement, too. It looks good for now at least!
- Get a massage– Done. It was amazing!
April Goals
- Sign up for another race- I had to defer my entry for the half marathon in April because we are going to a wedding. I’d like to sign up for a different half or 10K.
- Try dessert recipe from cookbook
- Pick out charger plates- I’ve always admired the look of chargers on place settings so I’d like to pick out a set that will look good with my china.
- Make a headband holder- I have one for each of the girls to match their rooms and I’ve been accumulating so many headbands that I would like one, too.
- Sew on Claire’s Girl Scout patches- The patches are iron-on, but not really. I’d like to sew some on.