Reading I think I’m officially out of my reading slump, having torn through most of this book over the past 5 days. I can’t vouch for the ending yet (I’m 75% through) but — what a great reading experience. The writing reminds me a bit of Frederik Backman, but I dare say I like it even more.
(Thank you readers for this recommendation!)
((PS: I am reading this on my phone for the sake of pure convenience and because I did not have patience to wait for a physical book to arrive, in the mail or from the library.))
Workouts I’m sort of stuck in a 21 Day Fix rut. I’ve been going to my ‘live’ workouts 1-2x/week, but am not thrilled about how long the whole process takes on weekdays – basically 80 minutes when driving time is included. So I may rethink my membership.
I am considering diving into 80 Day Obsession — a longer workout program with the same trainer as my beloved 21 Day Fix (LOVE Autumn Calabrese). This seems like a fun summer project. BUT I still want to incorporate running because those are the most relaxing ‘treat’ workouts to me. So maybe I’ll do an extended 80DO with runs mixed in!?
If anyone has experience/wise words to impact, I’ll take them. (As usual, not planning on any of the nutritional stuff / supplements / etc).
Cookbook I read about it on The Frugal Girl, and was sold by her enthusiastic endorsement (since the FG is — well, frugal — I figured her threshold for book purchase is high).
I now own this book and love it too. It has detailed pictures of every recipe, the meals are generally very kid-friendly, and — my favorite part — the ingredients lists are all very SHORT!
I don’t cook very often, but even I was motivated to make Sunday dinner from this book (flank steak + corn served with roasted asparagus – my addition). We had the chicken & orzo soup from this book the past 2 nights and both A&C loved it. And last week we tried a chicken with farro salad recipe that was excellent. This book is now sharing ‘favorite’ status with my 2 volumes of Run Fast Eat Slow.
Looking forward to
parenting book club 🙂
NOT thinking about homework or the school rush
having my GME time officially carved out of my schedule
my 2 ‘mommy days’ scheduled for June
some live podcast recordings!
Legoland / Amelia Island vacation (July, excited!)
belated anniversary weekend away (also July, also excited!!)
Listening
New podcasts I have been sampling (and enjoying) lately:
(I seem to have a new obsession with personal finance / financial planning for whatever reason)
- How to Money
- The Double Shift
- Marketplace Tech (random, but interesting!)
- HerMoney with Jean Chatsky
I need a new juicy “story” type podcast though! Recs welcome 🙂
22 Comments
You know I love me some 80 day obsession! A word of warning: you will need heavier weights than what you use in 21DF. I routinely use 25’s and 30’s so if you don’t have a wide variety, look into that before you start. It’s great bc autumn tells you exactly what weight she’s using for each exercise so you can adjust based on what she’s doing 🙂
We have 15 and 25s (they are joshs!) but i could get more!
I like America’s Test Kitchen….and I like cook books with color photos, so I might need to get my hands on this one! Thanks!
A podcast I would recommend is “In the Dark.” There are 2 seasons and both were excellent. They are heavier, though. The first season is about an abduction in Minnesota. The 2nd season is about a man who was tried 6 times for a crime (he had success with multiple appeals but the prosecutor keeps trying him again).
Have you tried reading Commonwealth? That’s another great book that really sucked me in! I haven’t heard of that cookbook but will have to check it out from the library to see if it’s a good fit for us. We have a 15 month old and while he eats EVERYTHING at daycare (vegetables, lentils, beans, you name it) it’s a different story at home. I’m hoping this changes so I can eventually make one meal that all of us eating, using a cookbook like the one you bought. Right now, we feed him and then we eat dinner after he goes to bed (he eats around 5:30 since he goes to bed at 6:30 and 5:30 is just WAY too early for us to eat!).
That podcast is produced by the daughter of the Duke pediatric endocrinology chief that I worked with while there! So I totally should listen!!
In the dark is amazing! For story-like podcasts, I also recommend Bag Man with Rachel Maddow (about Spiro Agnew—but so timely and interesting!), S-town if you haven’t listened yet, and if you’re interested in a criminal justice issues, Charged and Caught are both great.
Loved S-town!
Ps loved commonwealth
In the Dark is wonderful- eye opening to how broken our justice system is.
For a story based podcast, try Alone: A Love Story. It’s a Canadian podcast about a woman who tells the story of her love life, divorce, and search for a second soul mate and a single mom. The author has worked in radio and broadcasting all her life, and has excellent storytelling timing and great music. She is honest, does not sugarcoat, but is not fatalistic, either.
Ooh sounds fascinating
I’m also a huge fan of LIIFT4 (on beachbody on demand)- it’s 4 days per week and a great combo of strength and HIIT. It was perfect for me because it allowed me to train for my half marathon and all of the workouts were 30-40 min
Maybe I should try that! If I am willing to try another trainer that is not autumn 🙂
The trainer is Joel Freeman. He does a great job of explaining everything. There is weight lifting involved so important to make sure the moves are being done correctly. There is also a rotating cast of regulars. There is enough chatter to be helpful and engaging but not annoying.
Seconding Alone: A Love Story!
For podcasts would recommend ‘The Habitat’ which is about the people that spend a YEAR locked in a dome as part of an experiment about how humans could go to Mars.
Also ‘Dr.Death’ the bizarre story of a neurosurgeon in Texas – I imagine you and Josh would have so much to say about it!
I just listened to an episode of Bad with Money which was excellent, The Cut on Tuesdays episode with Stacey Abrams, and the ‘Call Your Mom’ one.
Next on my list are: So Money and Fairer Cents. My finance blogger friend recommend them to me but I haven’t listened yet!. I’m also really enjoying The Double Shift!
I really enjoyed BoD LIIFT4. It is 4x per week and none of the workouts are more than 40 minutes.
Ooh report back on the workouts…I don’t currently have heavy weights so it would be a commitment but I’ve been thinking of straying from 21day fix for a change. I also have that cookbook in my amazon cart on Kristen’s recommendation but haven’t hit the trigger yet. I really liked Kitchens of the Great Midwest. Daisy Jones and the six is a fun read, and I really enjoyed Next Year in Havana. Everything else I’ve read lately is WAY HEAVY and depressing.
I forgot to mention the podcast Call Your Mother from Kveller. It’s not a “story” podcast but each episode has been more amazing than the next. It comes out once/week and the episodes are about 25 minutes. I highly recommend it.
A couple story podcast recommendations: Gangster Capitalism (season 1 is about the Varsity Blues scandal) and The Shrink Next Door.
Re Beachbody and Running. Am working on runs but must lift. Am doing just total body core, AAA, and booty from 80 DO. Am on week 2 and it seems to be working ok. I need the focused glute and core work – didnt feel like Liift 4 did that for me.
I have just wrapped up my third round of 80 day. I have done Lift and 21 day. I’m not a coach and don’t do supplements. The at home just works best for me at this stage in life. I never used heavier than 15s for 80 day. You will need heavier for LIft but my max was 25. I love Autumn and her style and cues. Joel doesn’t cue as well. It was fine but didn’t love it.