Bookworm Update

If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic is giving us all an excuse to read more. I keep a long to-read list in the notes app of my iPhone and am happy to tackle a few on the list.

Thus far in 2020, I've tackled five books: Hey Ladies!: The Story of 8 Best Friends, One Year and Way, Way Too Many Emails (a quick read that reminded me of Sex & the City but with younger and trashier women you don't really care about), The Family Upstairs (I love a thriller and this one is definitely a page turner,)  Red, White and Royal Blue (the love story you wish would hit the pages of Esquire), Creative Spaces: People, Homes, and Studios to Inspire (from one of my favorite modern

mercantiles - this book highlights several stories of creatives from across the country and is gorgeous to look at) and Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators (glad I read it but it's a bummer knowing the complaints of women were ignored for decades and that still happens in 2020. Silver-lining Harvey Weinstein contracted coronavirus?)


Currently, I'm reading both an interior design coffee table book, Habitat: The Field Guide of Decorating, and a novel by Sally Rooney - the winner of The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award - Conversations with Friends. I love having a coffee table book in the rotation so that I can pick it up while Henry plays quietly in the morning, though that's increasingly rare given our new battle with the terrible twos. Coffee table books are easy to put down and pick up again, which makes them the perfect pick for toddler life.

Up next I plan to read The Holdout (a nod toward my old Grand Jury Days), I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel (that thriller jam, folks!) and The Sun Down Motel. Once I've finished Habitat, I'll also pick up Kate Spade's All in Good Taste (all about hosting because once this shelter in place is over - it's on!)

What are you reading, m'dears?!

WEEKDAY MUSINGS

EATING // All the Alaska King Salmon. Our neighbor's buddy fishes in Alaska part of the year and hooked us up with 20 lbs at less than $10/pound. We love Ina's salmon with melting tomatoes. Any other recs out there?

HOME*WORK // Ugh. A couple of weekends ago, we decided one small wall in our family room should match our dark grey paneled accent wall for a full effect in the space. It seemed like a pretty straightforward job but a small miscommunication led our painter to give us wrong color information. Now we have a BLACK HOLE and it's killing my sunshine - please send help!

A weekday cheers (and Gray Malin's genius!)

CRUSHING ON // Jacey Duprie's "modern mariniere" collaboration with Summersalt. We're headed to Palm Springs for our annual pilgrimage and I'm 100% certain I need the polka dot triangle bikini with lace-up bottoms. I haven't worn a two-piece in at least 5 years but with this suit, I'm ready to bare it all. Now just restock ASAP, please!

READING // When my bestie Paulo recommends anything, I hop to it. So when he said he loved Red, White and Royal Blue, I immediately downloaded the book on Audible and took it on the road with me across the state for a long work road trip. I was happy to learn it's the perfect book for getting in the Valentine AND election spirit. It also has some very DC scenarios that pulled on my heartstrings and made me a bit nostalgic. This romcom did not disappoint,

THANKFUL FOR // Snow (and dare I say a consistent temperature drop?!) We've witnessed extreme highs and lows here in Montana the last few months. This past weekend it was sunny and 50 degrees but less than 24 hours later we had over six inches of snow. I'm not a scientist but I know that if this temperature ping-pong continues, it does not bode well for summer. No snow results in fires, smokey skies and I just can't!

THINKING ABOUT // Bailing on The Bachelor, because I can't think about SOTU or the impeachment vote today. Yes, Pilot Pete is adorable but he's one lost puppy and the girls seem too extra this season. But it's also one of those car crash scenarios and I can't look away. I mean, who bumps his head while getting into a golf cart and smashes a glass to his forehead? Apparently lovesick Peter Weber. Are you tuning in this season? How you feelin' about ol' Pete?

WATCHING // Netflix's The Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez. You guys! If you love thrillers and true crime, this documentary is for you! It's got a real Serial vibe with recorded interviews from prison and makes you sympathize with the complicated Patriot footballer despite knowing the evidence. I just could not stop watching. But if that's not your jam... The GoopLab with Gwyneth is fascinating. It's definitely more Goop indoctrination but I'm here for it. 

WEARING // I'm a goal digger and with Palm Springs two and half months away, I'm laser focussed on crossing off #91 (working out five times a week for six weeks) on my #101in1001 list. I'm generally "in shape" but I'd love to be fully toned. What's your favorite workout gear? This girl is ready to sweat!

Weekday Musings

EATING // We ate without limits during our week in DC. Cookies for breakfast? No problem! Knife noodles for lunch? Sure thing! Afternoon scone? Absolutely! And you know we didn't skimp on dinner or dessert. Now we're back home, it's time to get back to the basics of three square meals a day and limit our snacking and sweets. It will be tough but challenge accepted!

HOME*WORK // Although it's only the first week in December, I feel wildly behind on decorating for Christmas. Maybe it's because of how late Thanksgiving fell on the calendar this year or that I have been listening to Christmas music since summer in anticipation? Regardless, I cannot wait to be reunited with our disco gnome and see our boy's reaction to its mirrored glitz. I also finally snagged this tree topper to be the perfect finishing touch when we decorate our tree this weekend.

CRUSHING ON // The fresh scent of Gorse No. 002. It's subtle, clean and citrusy with a slight scent of coconut without going full on tropical.

READING // Normal People by Sally Rooney. The jury is still out but 50 pages in and I'm very intrigued by this teenage love story and New York Times Bestseller. What's on your reading list? What should I read next?

THANKFUL FOR // The time we had with our friends and family in DC. It's funny how people can really make the place. We loved our time in DC and what the city offered but what we miss most is our people and we're sure thankful for them. You know who you are!

THINKING ABOUT // Settling in for the month of December. We don't have any immediate travel plans and I'm excited to work out an actual routine for every day living in Bozeman. Hey Bozemanites, any ideas on what our normal should look like?

WATCHING // The Morning Show. I'm a sucker for Reese Witherspoon and excited to see Jennifer Aniston back on the screen but you guys... Billy Crudup is the true MVP. He's a fast talking evil genius with a flare for the funny and worth watching every episode.

WEARING // This 525 America olive melange shaker turtleneck sweater on repeat. The color and weight is perfection, it's 100% cotton and it won't break the bank.

P.S. The archival print up top ("Van Nuys" by Sinziana Velicescu) is a small reminder to write your own story!

Weekday/end Musings

EATING // Frozen dairy! Whether it's ice-cream or gelato, Henry and I are touring DC's best frozen treats to beat the heat during my maternity leave. Favorites include Jeni's for ALL the flavors (14th Street NW), Pitango Gelato for pistachio and local rhubarb (Capitol Hill), MilkBar for cereal milk soft-serve with sprinkles and the cornflake crunch - OBVIOUSLY (City Center) and Bon Matcha for Matcha soft-serve (19th and I Street NW). SQUEEE! And have you heard DC is soon to have a MilkBar flagship that will roll out experimental desserts weekly? I think I found a new side gig... Chief of the Test Kitchen! The flagship opens THIS Saturday (June 2nd) so watch out!

HOME*WORK // The silver-lining to our east coast torrential rain is that our flowers are near perfect. Last year, we missed our blooms but this year our hydrangeas are on fleek! Don't believe

PSA: happy life, happy wife... happy mommy! Graphic via Letters are Lovely.

me?! See here as "Exhibit A." 

CRUSHING ON // DC's new Line Hotel. While my bestie Nicole was visiting, we finally made the trek to this former Christian Science church now hotel and OMG... It is everything I dreamed of and more! If the Line wasn't in the most inconvenient neighborhood in the city (Adam's Morgan is kind of the worst) - I would be there today, tomorrow and always! Of course we ate at Eric Bruner-Yang's Brothers and Sisters... That Potato Rosti Eggs "Benedict"... Yeah... No matter that parking is like poking your eyes with needles, I can't wait to return! Even to just lounge in the space... The Line is beyond beautiful! 

READING // Per recommendation, I read All the Ugly Wonderful Things and loved this tragic story that ended with sunshine. As the divisions in our country seem to increase daily, this smartly written novel was a great reminder about how fortunate we are to have our life in DC and a healthy, happy little boy. It also highlights what truly matters - not money, not objects or possessions - but L-O-V-E!

THANKFUL FOR // The human body. Almost two months out from my c-section, I'm shocked at how fast my body has recovered. I hit my first workout class over the long weekend and my goodness did it feel great! Moderating myself and not over doing it remains tough but when I hop back on that yellow SoulCycle bike this weekend... It will take everything in me not to belt out Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive!"

THINKING ABOUT // I'm officially half way through my maternity leave and although I get a full 16 weeks home with my guy, it already feels too soon to go back at the end of July. Especially now Henry has started smiling. You guys! My heart nearly exploded with that first sign of his upturned lips. I just can't even! Please make time slow down... 

WATCHING // Eeeek the drive-in at Union Market is back for a new season! Weather permitting, tonight we'll be cuddled up with Henry watching Clueless. Click here to see what's playing next... 

WEARING // My new mom uniform. Always a fan of jeans and a t-shirt, I find myself wearing this classic pair on repeat. I'm currently obsessed with this soft tee from Cuyana and these distressed Frame jeans.

25 books I read in 2017

With an endless stream of amazing shows, it's easier than ever to get sucked into Netflix. But I find reading more worthwhile and better for my overall psyche. I mean, is there anything better than curling up with a page-turner? Don't believe me? When in doubt... READ!

To help jump start my reading, I set a goal last January through my 101 in 1001 list to read 50 books before 2019. And although 2017 was just my first year, I'm already half way there with 25 books under my belt. Here's the full list of the books I read in 2017 from thrilling nail biters like The Woman in Cabin 10 to Obama... 

1. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

2. Opening Belle by Maureen Sherry

3. Hell Hole by Beth Tyner

4. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

5. Unquenchable by Robert Glennon 

6. The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight

7. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

8. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

9. You Don't Look Fat, You Look Crazy by Ashley Longshore

10. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan 

11. The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy

12. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

13. Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant

14. Giant of the Senate by Al Franken

15. I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

16. Mrs. Saint and the Defectives by Julie Lawson Timmer

17. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

18. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

19. Local Eats Paris by Natasha McGuinness

20. Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman: Conservation Heros of America by Miriam Horn

21. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

22. Unbelievable by Katy Tur

23. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

24. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

25. Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

Have you read any good books lately? I'm deep into the fascinating true-crime thriller Killers of the Flower Moon but will need a replacement here quick quick before diving into all our baby know-how books that are stacking up!