Consumer Report: Foods Items I'd Recommend - November 2020

I have tried some really good "new to me" (and some not so "new to me") food/drink items of late. (I figure I deserve something new/out of the ordinary considering the current state of affairs.

Do you LOVE chips & onion dip? I do. I'm calling these the lazy man's version:

They're chips & dip all in one bag. No effort to make dip (stirring dry soup mix into sour cream can be exhausting). Honestly, I was surprised at how good these are...and everyone else in my house thought so, as well! (Oh, and by the way- how do you pronounce "Utz?" I say "oohtz" but I've been challenged on that.)

Next up in the dessert category are Yasso Bars. I was on a serious ice cream eating binge that I knew I needed to curb, yet somehow satisfy my craving.

I've had three flavors so far and I'd have to say that these are my favorite. I had the sea salt & caramel, which I'd rate second, and cookie dough, which I'd rate last. They have some holiday flavors that I can't seem to find in my grocery store but they look yummy. These are 150 calories, but most are only 100 calories- win win!

These aren't necessarily new to me, but they only seem to be available in the Fall, so I've been enjoying them recently.

My co-worker/friend was balking at these because they're processed/not homemade. Who has time to make homemade cookies? (Oh, wait...) Anywho, these are tasty and again very Fall-ish.

And in the beverage category, we have the beloved Woodchuck Hard Cider.

Again, not new to me, but a Fall favorite. The flavors in this one are semi-dry, Amber, pear & Granny Smith apple. I'd have to say that the pear is my favorite out of this selection, but if you ever have the chance to try the 802 flavor? Do it! That is my absolute favorite.

And now for some book reviews...

Book #50- Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

Summary: I'm honestly not even sure I can find a short & succinct summary. It's a take on Hansel & Gretel- that's pretty much all I can say.

Rating: C+. This book was odd. It was very adult fairy tale-esque and I understood that, but it was over the top in weirdness in some parts and I found myself giving it the side eye on a regular basis.

Book #51- A Deception at Thornecrest by Ashley Weaver

Summary: A Deception at Thornecrest is the seventh book in Ashley Weaver's An Amory Ames Mystery series and is a historical mystery set in the 1930s. This is the first book in the series in which we get the see the oft talked about Thornecrest, Milo's family home, as he and Amory prepare for the arrival of their first baby.

Rating: A. I really enjoy this series and the time period it's set in. Milo & Amory have been a carefree couple and the imminence of their baby will be an interesting twist in future books to see how their lives are changed.

Captain's Log: Stardate 247 Since Quarantine Happened

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I was never a big Star Trek fan, but the title seemed fitting.

Here's what's new here:

• Yes indeed- we are at day 247 since quarantine happened. I am still working from home and as of now, will be doing so until the end of April (I firmly believe that will be extended to the end of June.)

• I still miss seeing family, friends, and co-workers. I realized recently it's been over a year since I've seen my parents. This has been tough for me. However, a few weeks ago, we Zoomed and it was so good to see them (vs. just talking to them). (Hi Mom & Dad- my faithful readers. 😅)

• Here in New England we had some 70 degree days last week (HALLELUJAH!), but are back to "real" fall weather- 40's and chilly. It looks like snow here today (gray), but none is in the forecast (hoping that's not a jinx...)

• I have done a fair amount of Christmas & John's birthday shopping online, so I feel that's somewhat under control. Knowing that there have been hiccups in delivery times, I decided to start early. 

• Thanksgiving is not far away and not sure how that will look this year. I do know that we are going to cook a turkey breast in the air fryer (John's new favorite cooking tool!) I also know that I'll be making Pecan Pie Cake for dessert (even if it's just the two of us!) John LOVES pecan pie. While I'm not a fan, I decided that this might be a decent compromise. It calls for a Butter Pecan Cake Mix, which I'd never seen before, but stumbled upon in Walmart, so I grabbed it!

• I have dipped my toe in the yoga arena. My supervisor told me about Yoga with Adriene, a YouTube channel with short yoga videos for all levels of ability. I found a 20 minute video for beginners and I've done it a few times now. It complements the mat Pilates class I do via Zoom very nicely. 

• I've done some (semi) crafty things, which I'll share, but they deserve their own post. We've also made a bunch of new recipes, also deserving their own post. However, here's a sneak peek at one we did recently- Ham & Gruyere Sliders with Raspberry Mayo. They were really good! We had a ham dinner and instead of making regular old ham sandwiches, we decided to try these. The raspberry mayo is a nice twist on just regular old mayo.

• And lastly, before I hammer out some book reviews, a picture is worth a thousand words-

I just realized I read four memoirs in a row...completely unintentional!

Book #46- The Upside of Being Down by Jen Gotch

Summary: Memoir of ban.do Chief Creative Officer. Gotch suffers from serious mental health issues throughout her life and this memoir chronicles those travails. 

Rating: B+. I thought this was an inspirational story- showing that mental health issues don't have to impede success and living. However, (and yes, I know it's a memoir) I felt like Gotch tooted her own horn. A lot.

Book #47- A Backward Glance by Edith Wharton

Summary: A collection of autobiographical sketches by the famed writer, detailing New York society in which she grew up and the relationship she developed with Henry James.

Rating: D+. I loved Ethan Frome & House of Mirth. Thus, I thought what better way to get an insight into how and why these were written than reading Wharton's memoir. Wrong. So.much.minutiae. (About nothing.) And more time was spent on the first book she wrote, which was architectural in nature. Snooze. I skimmed the middle and read the beginning and end.

Book #48- Everything Beautiful In Its Time by Jenna Bush Hager

Summary: Jenna Bush Hager, the former first daughter and granddaughter, shares moving, funny stories about her beloved grandparents and the wisdom they passed on that has shaped her life.

Rating: A+.  I absolutely positively loved this book. It was honestly the best of the memoirs I read in this stretch. It was honest and really portrayed The Bush presidents as humans, with real lives and familial relationships. 

Book #49- The Making of a Miracle by Mike Eruzione

Summary: On the fortieth anniversary of the historic "Miracle on Ice," Mike Eruzione—the captain of the 1980 U.S Men’s Olympic Hockey Team, who scored the winning goal—recounts his career on ice, the legendary upset against the Soviets, and winning the gold medal.

Rating: C+. I loved the movie Miracle (about the amazing upset of the Soviets in 1980) and since Eruzione is a local hero, I thought I'd love this book. Meh. Another one that toots his own horn to a fault. And strikes me as someone who is not very personable  (I have zero proof of this- just my impression.). 

Unplugging One Day a Week: Can You Do It?

Over the past six months or so (really since the pandemic started), social media has been too much for me. 

It's overstimulating. 

It's exhausting.

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What I'm really tired of is the vitriol on social media. Not matter how many people I unfriend or unfollow, it's there. And again, it's exhausting. (I fully believe it's being perpetuated by those at the top [and by top, I mean political leaders of this country.])

That being said, what can I do about this and what have I already done? I've taken small steps with the goal of being completely social media free for at least one day per week. (Eventually completely unplugged one day per week.)

I deleted the Twitter app from my phone. I can barely watch the news on TV or look at it online, so why would I want "in my face" commentary on said news? (Most of it laden with vitriol. BTW- vitriol is a word I don't use often, but it completely fits the bill here so I might used it repeatedly.) I haven't reinstalled it or looked at in a few weeks. I plan to keep this up.

While I consider Instagram at the back of the pack in terms of "in your face hatred," I've taken to deleting the app from my phone and reinstalling once or at the most twice per day when I want to look at it.

Facebook is the real problem child. I've "snoozed" several people, but here's a little secret. I am SUPER nosy. So, I frequently check the profiles of the people I've snoozed. Yeah, that's a big problem. I've done the same thing with the Facebook app on my phone that I've done with Instagram (deleting it and only reinstalling it a few times during the day.) This has helped, as I was looking at it first thing in the morning and starting my day off on the wrong foot. During the workday, I've taken to only looking at it at lunch and after dinner (with a few "slips"/exceptions.) Weekends are a bit tougher for me.

All that to say, I am your textbook case of being addicted to social media, but, as they say, "Admitting you have a problem is the first step!"

I'd been thinking about how to scale back for a while and I stumbled upon this book:

I thought for sure this would give me tips on how I could cut back on social media. While it did, it was much more hardcore and about going one day per week completely UNPLUGGED. Not using a cell phone at all. Not answering email at all. Printing out maps ahead of your unplugged day for any adventures you might be going on, because Google Maps is considered persona non grata on that day. Getting an old school watch because you can't use your cell phone to tell what time it is. You get the point.

There were some snippets I really liked throughout the book. There's a section in which the author suggests making bread on your unplugged day (wait-what?) The point is to do something old school and special on that day. Shlain says, "The idea is to have something extra and unique, be it food you only eat on that day, flowers on the table, or wine you drink only for special occasions--something that enhances and marks the day." I really like this. Maybe there's a bunch of recipes you've been dying to try- you could do one on each unplugged day.

As mentioned, the book is much broader than scaling back on social media (but rather harkening to the time of Little House on the Prairie for a day.) However, there is some writing about social media specifically that stuck with me. Here's a segment:

    In his book Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, computer scientist and author Jaron Lanier presents social media's many cons, including "Social media is destroying your capacity for empathy." 

I firmly believe in that bulleted statement. The hatred and vitriol are just further proof that this is happening. People cannot think beyond themselves and their world and social media is enabling this.

The book has several appendices with activities that could be done on your unplugged day and tips on how to prepare for your "tech shabbat," as Shlain refers to her day of unplugging. There's even a section that lists the physical and mental benefits of extending some of the rules from your "off day" to the other six days of the week, such as limiting screen time.

I'll leave you with this statement from the book which stuck with me and the subsequent list of things we should practice more of: 

On social media, we're all plants, leaning toward the sunlight we can't get enough of, seeking the warmth of likes, hearts, and retweets. But staying rooted and grounded is important. Being intentional about how you use social media and having your own strategy gives you time to process how it's affecting your life and find what you may want to change.

Book #45- 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day Per Week by Tiffany Shlain

Summary: Shlain takes us on a thought-provoking and entertaining journey through time and technology, introducing a strategy for flourishing in our 24/7 world. Drawn from the ancient ritual of Shabbat, living 24/6 can work for anyone from any background. 

Rating: B-. For the most part, this had practical suggestions for unplugging one day per week. (However, the nonchalance with which Shlain indicated you should have a landline/phone for that landline was a bit odd.)

Who Knew Doors Could Be So Difficult?

I can't believe it's already October! 

Here in New England, the leaves are turning and there's a chill in the air- happy fall y'all! (I'm not really Southern, I just wanted to imitate my door sign.) Isn't it cute?

And yes, that's our newly painted front door. The general consensus is that it might be too bright. We wanted a pop of color (the house is gray with black shutters), but not sure this red is working.

It's Behr's Daredevil and I happened upon it after searching Pinterest several times for "gray house black shutters what color door." A result surfaced with this picture from The Little Pink House blog. 

I thought- "GREAT! This is exactly our color scheme." (And oddly enough, the house in the blog used to be pink. If you've been following along with our story, you may remember that the previous owners of our house LOVED pink- pink shutters, pink rugs, pink walls, Pepto Bismol overload.) I thought great- another thing in common.

We got a sample of that and HGTV/Sherwin Williams Tanager Red and to be honest, they looked exactly the same side by side on the door.

Neither John nor I are 100% sold on the Daredevil.

I am now looking at other colors altogether. Currently interested in the following:

Yellow: HGTV/Sherwin Williams Dutch Tulip 

Yellow: Sherwin Williams Sunflower

Teal: Sherwin Williams Still Water (this was actually our original choice, but the more I looked at the house and saw that the gray was somewhat dark, the more I was concerned it wouldn't pop and be washed out.) This was another Pinterest find on the Kylie M. Interiors blog.

Orange: Sherwin Williams Yam (don't think I can get John onboard with that one)

Here's the front of the house freshly painted (two angles)-

(I will also say that the door doesn't look quite so bright in these pictures, as the screen door is in front of it.)

What's your vote? We are open to any & all suggestions (except maybe neons...)

 Book #43- The Polygamist's Daughter by Anna LeBaron

Summary: This is the haunting memoir of Anna LeBaron, daughter of the notorious polygamist and murderer Ervil LeBaron. Ervil’s criminal activity kept Anna and her siblings constantly on the run from the FBI. Often starving, the children lived in a perpetual state of fear―and despite their numbers, Anna always felt alone.

Rating: B-. I found The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner, another polygamist memoir, to be more interesting (maybe because it was the first one I read?) However, this is story is pretty amazing- from being shipped off to Mexico at a young age (without her mother), having only met her father a few times, to dumpster diving for food and raiding donation bins for clothes. LeBaron had an amazing life and has risen above it all.

Book #44- American Pie by Michael Lee West

Summary: The lives of the three McBroom sisters of Tallulah, Tennessee, were tangled before the eldest, Eleanor, discovered their mother hanging from the Venetian blinds—and the years have done little to comb out the knots. Now a drunken encounter with the midnight train has left brash, much-married Jo-Nell near death, compelling agoraphobic Eleanor to summon marine biologist Freddie home from California—where she fled after being expelled from med school following a daring gall bladder heist. At last the McBroom sisters are together again, to face old fears and new catastrophes as they cheerfully deflect every flaming arrow that outrageous fortune fires their way.

Rating: C-. I've read a handful of West's books and I'm pretty sure each time I review one, I mention how the book is going along just fine, making me laugh, etc..., and then WHAM! Out of nowhere this really weird randomness happens. This time, one of the McBroom sisters looks back on her tough childhood and how a family member (stepmother?) insisted on giving her enemas as a matter of course. Um, what? Yeah, I think I'm done with West's books. 

Movie Review: Enola Holmes

 

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Let me start by saying that I was initially drawn to this movie due to the fact that Millie Bobby Brown is in it (she plays Enola Holmes.). Millie Bobby stars in the Netflix drama Stranger Things, which I've written posts about previously. I love the show so I figured anything with her in it MUST be good. (Same concept as when you like the cover of a book- it MUST be good/well written!)

Enola Holmes is a Netflix original movie that was released last week. The basic premise is this- while searching for her missing mother, intrepid teen Enola Holmes uses her sleuthing skills to outsmart big brother Sherlock and help a runaway lord.

Oh, but it's so much more!

Enola is raised by a feminist in England (when feminism wasn't popular) and has no connection with her brothers for the majority of her childhood. (The movie picks up when she is 16 with flashbacks to her childhood.) Enola's mother has taught her "life skills" and "book smarts" which serve her well when she needs to find her mother who has left and rescue the lord. Her brothers Sherlock (yes, that one) and Mycroft are strangers to her but she quickly follows in Sherlock's footsteps and develops a kinship with him. 

A quirk about this movie (which I imagine viewers either love or hate) is that Enola frequently talks directly to the viewers (or doesn't need words and shares body language.) I found this "breaking the fourth wall" to be endearing and appropriate for character/age. 

I was rooting for Enola to find her mother, save the lord (and break away from finishing school, which the mean brother Mycroft sent her to). 

I loved it- two thumbs up!

You might be wondering if this is a tween/teen/young adult movie. It could be but there are a few small parts with fairly graphic violence. It is based on a young adult mystery book series by Nancy Springer, which of course I will be checking out.

Watch it! I laughed a lot and was drawn in by the period scenery/costumes and the intrigue.

Quarantine Cooking

As I think I mentioned in some previous posts, we've been trying new (to us) recipes during COVID quarantine. From March to maybe June(ish), we weren't getting takeout, so no outside food and we HAD to mix it up.

I wasn't great about taking pictures, but here are a few I found on my phone and the recipes that went with them.

Let's start with the most glamorous/sophisticated of the recipes, shall we? 😆

Frito Corn Salad from Butter With a Side of Bread

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how good this was! It's a perfect side for a cookout or a summer dinner. 

Some tips- this makes a HUGE amount, so 1/2 it if you are not serving a crowd. Do NOT put the Fritos into the whole salad if you don't think you'll eat it in one sitting. They get extremely soggy after being in the fridge (trust me). So, break it up into portions and only put the Fritos on each right before eating. Bacon bits- let's talk about those. We are not a huge fan, so we used considerably less than it called for and we decided that next time we make it, we'll use real bacon. But, this is just a preference.

Another basic recipe- Tuna Macaroni Salad from Spicy Southern Kitchen

I made this while it was really hot in July/August and had it for lunch several days in a row. (It's nice to have something cold for lunch during the brutally humid days of New England summer.)

The different thing about this recipe is using relish. Admittedly, I was skeptical about putting relish in, but it gave it the perfect little something extra!

Continuing with the summer theme, we made refreshing Copycat Sonic Cherry Limeade Slushies from The Farmgirl Gabs (with maybe a touch of vodka 😂)

The one thing I love at Sonic is their cherry limeade slush. Add some vodka and voila- a summertime adult beverage.

In terms of tips, I found when following the recipe exactly it was very cherry-ish. (I myself prefer more lime-ish) So, adjust, as necessary.

This next recipe is DELICIOUS! We've made it a few times and I'm always pleasantly surprised at how good it is. (In fact, I may have previously posted it, it's so good!) Pulled Pork Nachos by Katie's Cucina.

This one speaks for itself! We generally don't put bleu cheese on them, but for no particular reason. If you try any of these recipes, try this one!

This one does not look very appetizing, but it's definitely a sweet treat. Candied Walnuts from Sugar Spun Run.

We had an almost full bag of walnuts and so I consulted Pinterest on how I might use them. This jumped out at me. I had no expectations and again, I was pleasantly surprised. They went fast, so double up if you want them to last...LOL.

Book #39- Lavender Blue Murder by Laura Childs

Summary: Tea maven Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier Drayton Conneley are guests at a bird hunt styled in the precise manner of an English shooting party. But as gunshots explode like a riff of Black Cat firecrackers, another shot sounds too close for comfort to Theodosia and Drayton. Intrigued but worried, Theodosia wanders into the neighbor's lavender field where she discovers their host, Reginald Doyle, bleeding to death. As Theodosia investigates, fingers are pointed, secrets are uncovered, Reginald's daughter-in-law goes missing presumed drowned, and Meredith is determined to find answers via a séance. 

Rating: B. While I love this series, this was not one of my favorites. (And I really wish that they'd give Theodosia's on-again/off-again boyfriend more attention!)

Book #40- The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

Summary: When Meg's grandmother Cordelia hosts a Renaissance Faire at her craft center, the whole family is put to work: Meg handles the blacksmithing, Michael and the boys will be performing, and no one misses the opportunity to dress up in full regalia. When one of the actors performing at the fair is found dead—an actor suspected of mistreating one of the falcons, among other sins—Grandfather is a prime suspect.

Rating: B-. Similar to the above, while I love this series, this was not one of my favorites. It seemed to drag somewhat (and Renaissance Faires are not my thing.)

Book #41- Unlikely Companions by Laura Hess

Summary: Whether it's an umbrella cockatoo who's not eating, a depressed chinchilla, a pregnant potbellied pig, or a ferret possibly needing surgery, exotic animal vet Laurie Hess is at the front lines with some remarkable pets-and their equally eccentric, dedicated, and sometimes demanding owners. Follow a week in Dr. Hess's life as she tries to uncover the source of an unknown ailment killing some of her most vulnerable patients.

Rating: A-. I found this book to be fascinating! As someone who's only owned gerbils and dogs, I have been curious about the allure of exotic animal ownership, and this demonstrates that the bond between an owner and his/her dog is no different than an owner and his/her ferret. (Oh, and I was seriously hoping there would be no detailed snake stories. Thankfully there were not.)

Book #42- Bound for Murder by Laura Childs

Summary: New Orleans scrapbooking shop owner Carmela Bertrand's pre-wedding party is overshadowed when a friend's intended groom is murdered. Asked by the heartbroken bride to look into the case, Carmela must help her friend pick up the pieces while wrapping up a murder that has more than one lethal loose end.

Rating: C+. This is a separate mystery series from the one I reference above and I don't think I like it as much as the other. (I'd rather drink tea than scrapbook!)

If a Stitch In Time Saves Nine, Does that Mean 20 Stitches Saves 180?

"A Stitch In Time Saves Nine" has always seemed like an odd saying to me. (I actually had to Google it before I started writing this post to make sure I knew what I was talking about.)

Its actually a proverb (who knew?) that means if you sort out a problem immediately it will save extra work later on. 

So...if I did 20 stitches, I'm thinking I'm going to save a TON of time later on for things that could've been problems. (Meh...it doesn't really translate. Not all of my blog ideas can be gems.)

The whole point of this post was to share that I did 20 stitches in a cross-stitch kit that I bought for a quarantine hobby and let's just say it's highly likely that there will be no more stitches.

Yup- those are 20 stitches.

At the beginning of COVID/quarantine, I was doing jigsaw puzzles like a maniac- that was my go-to "hobby." Then, I got burnt out on puzzles so I took a break.

Instead of picking up calligraphy/lettering, which I have the supplies for (and I've done before and enjoyed), I decided to forge a new path. 

Cross-stitch.

I did cross-stitch maybe once before. Maybe 35ish years ago. 

I thought, "Oh, yeah- I can pick it up again, no problem."

Pfft.

I perused eBay for cheap "beginner" kits and thought that this looked pretty "straightforward" and ordered it.

Notice the "Learn a Craft" written in a child-like font. Maybe that was what drew me to it? (False advertising!)

Once I got brave enough to open the package and start reading the instructions, I knew I was in trouble. "Find the center and count 6 fabric squares down and 7 squares to the right." 

DO YOU KNOW HOW SMALL THE FREAKING SQUARES ARE IN THIS THING? 

I have pretty good vision- exceptional for things up close. I took one look at the fabric and knew it wasn't going to happen. So, what did I do? I sunk more money into this fledgling hobby.

I bought a standing magnifying glass with light. (As if the cross-stitch hobby doesn't make me seem 98 already, add a magnifying glass to the mix.)

I break out the magnifying glass, turn on the light, put the fabric under it and VOILA- I am nauseous and dizzy as all get out. It was ridiculous. 

So, essentially I quickly put it under the magnifying glass and counted the squares as fast as I could, stuck a needle in, and pulled it out from under the glass.

And then I did 20 stitches. 

And then? I said, "Yeah, I don't think so." 😂

I'll be picking up the calligraphy, which is much more of a "sure thing."

Book #36- Haben by Haben Girma

Summary: The incredible life story of Haben Girma, the first deaf-blind graduate of Harvard Law School, and her amazing journey from isolation to the world stage.

Rating: A-. This was an amazing story and one that I read at just the right time. Girma is an amazing human being. Her perseverance is a lesson to everyone, especially with all that is going on in the world right now. Thinking you can't do something doesn't seem like a valid excuse after reading her story. I was uplifted by it.

Book #37- The Family Next Door by John Glatt

Summary: This is the story of the imprisonment and abuse of the thirteen Turpin siblings and their dramatic rescue.

Rating: B-. When this story broke in 2018, I was drawn in. I couldn't believe that for years, this family flew under the radar and the parents were able to inflict the unimaginable abuse upon their children without being caught. The book didn't share that much new information that I hadn't already seen in the news, so I felt like it was somewhat of  a repeat. Also, it was a serious downer after the uplifting book I had just finished.

Book #38- American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Summary: Lydia Quixano Pérez lives a comfortable life in Acapulco, Mexico, with her journalist husband, Sebastián, and her eight-year-old son, Luca. Lydia runs a bookstore and one day befriends a charming customer, Javier, who appears to have similar interests in books. However, Javier is revealed to be the kingpin of a drug cartel. Sebastián publishes a profile exposing Javier's crimes, who then orders the slaughter of Sebastián and his family. Lydia and Luca escape the massacre, but are forced to flee Mexico, becoming two of the countless undocumented immigrants from Latin America who undertake the dangerous journey to the United States, taking a treacherous trip on La Bestia north of Mexico City.

Rating: A+. This was an AMAZING book. Fascinating. Honestly, I've read little about undocumented immigrants and their journey to "freedom"/the US. La Bestia, which is part of a train network that immigrants use to make their way north is dangerous and difficult to navigate socially. The lengths that Lydia went to for her son on this journey to keep him safe and alive were heroic. I was rooting for them to make it.