'BOOKS ARE A UNIQUELY PORTABLE MAGIC'

Sometimes I fantasize that instead of going to work, I head to the bookstore, find a comfortable seat 

and just read my brains out, uninterrupted.  

Here are some of the books on my recent to-read list: 

A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman

At Home by Bill Bryson 

We are Water by Wally Lamb

Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton

The New Kings of NonFiction edited by Ira Glass

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True by Elizabeth Berg

Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

Letters to My Daughter by Maya Angelou

(I'm always open to book recommendations!) 

MY LITTLE GROWN LADY

We made a short trip up to D.C. this past weekend and enjoyed the heck out of every bit of it.  Sloane is so good at enjoying things these days it makes it extra fun for the rest of us. Although, after a long day of no naps and sleeping way past her bedtime, she cried extra long at the ice cream shop (her hot plump tears dropping every which way) and had more demands before bed when we got back on Sunday. I am proud of all of us for making it back home in an exhausted but happy heap and getting through a Monday of work, daycare, dinner, grocery shopping and bedtime. It's not just the fun trips that I will remember about this era, it's the effort that we put into making these experiences happen - it's comprehensive, and more meaningful that way.

While we were up there, we stopped by a couple of stores to browse and once indoors Sloane gazed at the escalator in wonder, tried to hide inside clothes racks, played with hangers, pointed out shoes, held up my wristlet on her own wrist, and waved at strangers standing in line. As soon as we left the store (I got her a long sleeve t-shirt for $6.90, score! That's what is in the bag), she wanted to carry the shopping bag on her own and derived so much joy being able to walk down the street with her very own bag.

By the way, she brought me that necklace the morning before we left, wanted me to put it on her, and kept it on all day…

DOUBLE CRUNCH HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN

Here is my antidote to getting frustrated of being stuck between paranoia about handling raw and undercooked chicken and being tired of jawing through overcooked chicken.  This double crunch honey garlic chicken is sweet, crunchy and pounding it thin (or cutting it into smaller pieces) and cooking it in hot oil ensures juicy cooked chicken breast. I came across the idea for the recipe on a friend's Instagram feed, who found it off another friend's Pinterest (social food media, what what) and last week I made it with honey balsamic vinegar and rosemary potatoes.  I liked it so much I made it again today (you guys, I made four meals tonight, but that's another story) but this time with sauteed spinach and sweet potatoes cooked with coconut oil and cinnamon.  

Here is the recipe: I do without the ground ginger and sage (but it would probably be even more delicious with! ), half the recipe for two people, and cut the chicken breast into smaller more manageable sizes. 

Aaand an action shot. It is amazing what I can do with one arm these days...

A CRAFTY AFTERNOON

As I write this my bones are still shivering from being outside for my workout today.  If there is one thing I hate about exercising, and there isn't much, it's running in the freezing cold. I realized the other day that I actually like talking about weather because the weather so much influences my mood and sense of well-being that small talking about the weather somehow usually translates to sharing how I am really doing that day.

That said, we have been having some really legitimate fall days in RVA the past couple of weeks and as I drove into Church Hill to visit with some friends I fell in love with that neighborhood all over again.

I highly recommend reserving a couple of hours once in a while to get crafty with friends; it doubles both as a way to get projects done and a means to catch up. This particular time we made use of our old frames by sprucing them up with a new coat of paint and filling the insides with mesh wire to hang out jewelry on. Little Harrison kept a watchful eye on our activities and on Tabby the cat, and after successfully completing the project, we made a quick walk over to the pie shop. (I love being able to say that - a quick walk to the pie shop!) Thanks to these ladies for a lovely afternoon.   (Not pictured: Chris, who did all the hard work by cutting us all our mesh wires, ensuring that our jewelry have a proper place to reside, which may or may not have been important to him.;) )

how gorgeous is that fireplace? 

i was totally fooled and thought these were real

harrison the brave

p.s. finished product for all my long gold necklaces

OUR BACKYARD

There were grand plans for Saturday morning, at least in my mind.  A family outing, maybe some donuts, a walk - there would be togetherness among saturated bushes of leaves upon trees.

Instead, a series of events led to man and woman of the house getting really stressed out and simmering about it. A little bit of bruised ego, a pinch of worry and a dash of anxiety, boiled underneath the surface.  We took a deep breath.  We made eye contact and talk-walked through it. We explained ourselves and sketched out a plan.  He was transparent and kind.  I thought to myself that if there was a man for me to walk through the valleys with, it had to be this man.

We made it out to get to our errands for that day and when we got back, we all sat outside in our backyard while Rusty flew around as he does and Sloane had her lunch. I pulled out the camera because I wanted to capture the feeling in these images.

It was quiet, as if the world had gotten still so that we didn't have to do anything else but look into the trees and breathe deep breaths until, a trance. The sun was a balm; we were made clean.

(this is Sloane's face when Rusty gets a little too close to her food while she's eating)