Before I wrap up my 2017 reading goal, I want to share my final reads for the year. I’ve written a post for every other book and didn’t want these final reads to get lost in the shuffle. I’ll be back next week, sharing my entire list of 2017 reads with my favorite recommendations and a few tips for reading more books. For now, here’s what I read the last few months of 2017.
…
My Final Reads for 2017! Read More »
Today I’m sharing a few of the favorite items Tommy has been loving since my baby favorites 2.5 months post. Enjoy!
…
Baby Favorites: 6 Months Read More »
I’ve been having so much fun sharing my recent reads that I’m continuing the series. Not surprisingly, my reading has slowed down a little bit since we got Tommy. I’ve also worked my way through several long (10+ hour) audiobooks, which has lowered my total. But I’m still reading and am excited to share my reads from the past few months with you today.
…
July/August/September: What I Read Read More »
I’ve been having so much fun sharing my recent reads that I’m continuing the series! I’m excited to share my June reads with you today.
Note: I know that I’m way behind on my reading updates. And I know that I never published a June goals update. I may end up writing some combined reading and goals updates later this summer.
…
June: What I Read. Read More »
Last week, I made a quick trip down to Illinois for the annual orchid show, Orchids in Vogue, at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Somehow I had never been to the botanic garden before? If I had, it was many many years ago. The grounds are impressive. Spanning 385 acres on and around nine islands, the Chicago Botanic Garden has 27 gardens and four natural areas with six miles of lake shoreline.
Not surprisingly, in late March, there isn’t much blooming…yet. It’s right at that point where plants are just starting to poke their way out of the ground. You know that in another couple of months, the entire place is going to look completely different. I’m hoping to make another trip down there to see it in its full glory in the summer. But for this trip, I mostly stuck to the orchids exhibit, which was entirely indoors.
The orchid show was fabulous. They packed so much into a few greenhouses, with so many different plant species and vibrant colors everywhere you looked.
…
Orchids in Vogue at the Chicago Botanic Garden Read More »
After the craziness of Christmas decorating, present buying and wrapping, baking, cleaning for company, etc., who has the energy to spend hours getting ready for a New Year’s Eve party?
…Last-Minute New Year’s Eve Party Ideas Read More »
This month, China Lights is right here in the Milwaukee area at the beautiful Boerner Botanical Gardens. The Pabst Theater and Marcus Center have been promoting it for weeks so I’ve been excited about it for quite a while, even though I didn’t really know what to expect. Blown away. The exhibit is expansive, filling a large section of the gardens, and it’s so colorful. The event also includes food, drink, live music, and other special happenings such as parades and cultural demonstrations.
China Lights runs through November 6, from 5:30-10:00 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Milwaukee experienced China Lights record-breaking attendance the second weekend it ran here, which is pretty awesome. It also means you should prepare accordingly, particularly if you visit on a weekend. Purchase your tickets and familiarize yourself with the parking options in advance so you can get into the exhibit as quickly as possible. Visit the official China Lights site for more information. On Milwaukee also has a helpful article about the logistics of the event.
Save
Save
China Lights at the Boerner Botanical Gardens Read More »
{via}
Thanks to one of Lindsay’s recent posts, I checked out Overdrive and started listening to audio books from the library. I don’t think new technology always makes media (books, music, TV, etc.) better, but streaming audio books is really awesome, especially when it’s completely free. I may finally be sold on audio books.
I’ll be talking more about the books I’ve read in 2016 this winter. But I had to mention one of my most recent audio reads, Modern Romance. Blown away. If you listen to one audio book this year, it should be Modern Romance. I share more of my thoughts in a short review.
I also have to mention Flipped, which I bought on a whim as part of a Barnes and Noble deal and read while I was in New Orleans. With the exception of First Comes Love by Emily Giffin and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, basically all of the adult fiction I’ve read this year has been mediocre at best. But all of the young adult fiction I’ve read has been great. (I’ve also read a lot of GREAT non-fiction and look forward to talking about it more soon.) Flipped is just so simple and well-written. It isn’t bogged down with descriptions and way too much detail about feelings. It also isn’t mind-numbingly predictable, which I can’t say about most of the fiction I’ve read in recent months.
The second season of The Jim Gaffigan Show. The first episode aired on Father’s Day. Ultimately, it’s all about Jim’s calling as a father. It includes multiple dialogues between Jim and his priest, and it’s dedicated to Jim’s late father. Also, the very first scene opens with Still Fighting It by Ben Folds. It felt like an old school Simpsons episode. I can’t remember the last time I saw something so refreshing on TV. Guest stars in the second season include Jerry Seinfeld, John Mulaney, Will Ferrell, and Andy Richter. Epic. Go check it out on Hulu.
I’m sure that some of you are tired of me talking about Jason Peterson and his photos. I could share one of his photos on every single favorites post, but I try to switch it up sometimes. On Niume, I talk about three of my favorite Instagram photographers I think everyone should follow. Check it out if you want to know a little more about other photographers who inspire me weekly, if not daily.
The new Norah Jones album. Fabulous. Check it out on Prime.
Finally, Lisa Frank art prints on allposters.com. Someone please stop me from buying one.
What have you been loving lately?
Feel free to leave links in the comments!
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Friday Favorites – 10/28/16 Read More »
{via}
My new bowl from Alisa Burke. I’m not sure where I’m going to display it permanently. For now, it’s hanging out on my kitchen island, and I love seeing it there every day. Also, if you haven’t checked out her free coloring pages, go check them out now. She’s still releasing a new page weekly. Alisa also recently released a new set of for purchase coloring books, which are available over here.
The same day Lindsey Stirling’s new album, Brave Enough, released (obviously, it’s awesome, go check it out), I also started listening to Every Open Eye by Chvrches and Fishing Blues by Atmosphere, both of which are fabulous. I don’t even really know what to say about them, hence I’m mentioning them in a favorites post and not a music-specific post. All of these albums are streaming on Prime so have a listen for yourself.
Dan O’Donnell is my single favorite person to listen to on the radio right now. In addition to news reporting, he fills in regularly for several local shows I listen to, and he also recently got his own podcast. Not surprisingly, he’s had great coverage of the recent Milwaukee rioting (which now has its own Wikipedia page…).
Pexels.com. I am always on the look out for image sites with high quality, free creative commons or other commercial use licensing for my own articles and for clients who want images with articles. For the past four years or so, my go-to sites have been Flickr and Morguefile. Pexels kind of blows everything else I’ve ever found out of the water for both quantity and quality. Recently, I used some of their photos for this new article and this newly overhauled article.
Grammarly. I can’t believe I just started using Grammarly this summer. I should have started using it ages ago. When you write 30,000 words per week, it’s really easy for little mistakes to slip through the cracks. Grammarly helps me correct mistakes on everything from emails to blog posts to client articles. Plus, you get a weekly report with activity, accuracy, and vocabulary with your own stats and a comparison to other Grammarly users (i.e. you were more accurate than 80% of other users). So amazing for grammar nerds like me.
Back in my July favorites post, I mentioned wanting to try making Asian Ramen Noodle Salad and Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad With Chicken and Walnuts for weekday lunches. Since then, I have made both dishes. The Ramen salad is awesome. The prep is quick, and the flavor just gets better over a few days. The Brussel sprouts salad is solid. The dressing is awesome, delicious and really different. The prep is a little involved. Don’t wait until you’re hungry to start making it. I like Brussel sprouts a lot, but the Brussel sprouts flavor is really strong, even when you cook the sprouts and add the dressing. I think in the future, I would substitute half the Brussel sprouts for cabbage or another vegetable with good crunch and more subtle flavor. Next up, I want to try Lindsay’s garlic herb chicken salad, and I think Heidi’s slow cooker Thai chicken soup will be perfect as the weather gets a little cooler.
For my fellow photo geeks. Hilarious.
Finally, now that we’re back from Montana, we’re planning our next trip: New Orleans! We’ll be there for a short stint this fall for a conference, exclusively or nearly exclusively in the Lower Garden District, Central Business District, and French Quarter. I want your personal recommendations for restaurants, tours, jazz, etc.
What have you been loving lately?
Feel free to leave links in the comments!
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Friday Favorites – 9/16/16 Read More »
