Summer Reading 2014

Can we all agree that sitting outside by the pool all day and then coming into an air conditioned house makes you just want to curl up on the couch and read for hours? I remember back in 2002, I spent the entire afternoon out at my uncle's pool and ended the day on the couch with A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. I don't think I popped back up from that couch for 4 hours until the book was read from front to back.  That right there is what summer is all about (oh and watermelon, bright pink nail polish, baseball games, and straw bags). Thankfully there are SO many good summer reads out right now and I can't wait to get cracking on this list myself.

1. The One and Only

2. Tempting Fate 

3. We Were Liars

4. The Orphans of Race Point 

5. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

6. What Alice Forgot

7. The Invention of Wings 

8. The Hurricane Sisters

9. Landline

10. Goodnight June

Any others I should add to my list?

How I Manage to Read 50+ Books A Year With Two Small Children.

A glass of wine and a good book. Heaven!

One question that a lot of my friends seem to ask me is "How in the world do you get the time to read so many books when you have two small children?!" I love answering this question because, a) it gives me a chance to talk about reading (which is my favorite subject besides my children) and b) it helps to encourage and motivate my friends and family to pick up a book which the former teacher in me loves to do.

The short answer is that I just make it a priority. Reading makes me really happy so I make sure to do it as much as possible.

I often read when my children are independently playing because I think it's really important for them to see me read. I have so many memories of my parents reading and I really think it made me that much more interested in it. So, I get to read and it's good for them to see me doing it - a win win for all!

 I listen to audiobooks while I clean, cook, or drive alone. I FLY through books this way. Also, I'll try to have an audiobook copy AND a hard copy just so I can basically always have access to my book regardless of what I am doing. (99% of my audiobooks come from my library's Overdrive app.) 

I end every single day in bed with a book and try to get a solid 20 minutes of reading in (and that usually has to mean that I'm in bed by 10:00 just to ensure that I don't pass out as soon as my eyes hit the first word.) 

Sometimes, and okay, this is incredibly dorky, but sometimes I'll divide a book by 7-10 days and try to read that many pages in order to finish it by a certain day. I usually will do this if I have a two week loan out and I am running out of time to finish it. Such good motivation to read!

H A P P Y    R E A D I N G !

 (source)

Favorite Trader Joe's Products Spring 2014

When I gave birth to Henry, Trader Joe's sent me congratulatory flowers and I think that's when it really hit me that I shop there way too much. It's like they were thinking, the least we can do is send our best and favorite customer a bouquet of flowers after the birth of her baby! Okay, well maybe not quite but it was a very kind gesture and it just made me love Trader Joe's even more.  Anyway, I could babble on about how much I love this store but let's get to the good stuff - my FAVORITE TJ's products!

1. I can't live without this olive oil popcorn. Most of the time I have to yell for Dan across the house to take the bag away from me because I can't stop eating it.  Can we also not talk about how much popcorn I have found inbetween the couch cushions? #pigemoji

2. These strawberry mochi treats are really good too. I usually have two for dessert and find them to be very satisfying.

3. I have recently discovered these plantain chips and think they are perfect when I'm craving something salty and crunchy. They actually could pass for potato chips in my opinion with a fraction of the calories.

4. Dried fuji apples. My picky 3 year old loves them so I always have these on hand for a quick snack.

5.  MINI FRUIT PIES. So so so good.

6. These zucchini fries are so good on the side with a piece of chicken and a yam. One of my favorite dinners!

7.  This Cruciferous mix is fantastic eaten raw with peanut dressing (also sold at TJ's) , sliced chicken, and edamame. Mix it all up and you have a quick and healthy dinner.

What are some of your favorite Trader Joe's products? I'd love to hear!