What I’m Into: May 2021

Reading

The Other’s Gold by Elizabeth Ames (4 stars) This novel follows four college roommates over a couple of decades. It’s broken into four sections, each centered around a big mistake made by one of the roommates. If you like Laurie Colwin (I do), this has a kind of similar character-driven vibe.

It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita by Heather B. Armstrong (3 stars) I’m not a huge Dooce person, but I figured she’d have some good insights about new motherhood. Here she talks about her severe postpartum depression and how she found help.

Then and Always by Dani Atkins (3 stars) In this Sliding Doors concept, a young woman loses her best male friend, Jimmy, in an accident that almost kills her (and the rest of her friend group) too. Years later, back in town for one of the friends’ wedding, she collapses and wakes up in an alternate reality where Jimmy is alive.

No Judgments by Meg Cabot (3 stars) An adult romance about Bree, who quit law school and fled to the Florida Keys after a series of unfortunate events. After a hurricane nearly destroys her new town, she and the resident hunk, Drew, try to save all the pets left behind by evacuees.

Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl by Susan Campbell (4 stars) An introspective and insightful memoir by someone raised in the Church of Christ. Most deconstruction memoirs I’ve read are by people my own age and younger, so I really appreciated the different perspective of someone who grew up in the 60s-70s.

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan (3.5 stars) An “if you loved Leave the World Behind” recommendation that skewed a little dark and weird for me. In the near future (with climate change having a noticeable effect), a sinkhole opens up on an idyllic Long Island street, setting off some Lord of the Flies-esque insanity that’s been sitting just under the surface.

The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm by Hilarie Burton Morgan (4 stars) As someone who’s watched One Tree Hill in its entirety multiple times, I came to see what Peyton was up to and was charmed by the life she’s built on a farm in upstate New York.

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite (4 stars) A YA novel about a funny Haitian-American teenager who spends a semester on the island, working for her aunt’s nonprofit and dealing with her mother’s recent diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s. When she finds out about a supposed curse on her family, she decides to do whatever it takes to break it.

What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood by Alexandra Sacks and Catherine Birndorf (4 stars) This is what it sounds like – helpful information relayed in a caring, practical tone.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner (4.5 stars) This novel starts as a story about a plus-size influencer sort of reuniting with her mean-girl best friend from high school; then it suddenly turns into a murder mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (4 stars) Another “mean girl and outcast reunite” novel, but with a totally different tone. Madison, the mean girl now married to a senator, asks Lillian to come nanny for her husband’s two kids from a previous marriage. The kids need special, discreet care because they… can spontaneously catch fire. If you can hang with the oddness, this is a unique and enjoyable story about found family.

Listening

Sigrid has a new banger:

I enjoyed Olivia Rodrigo on SNL and the 90s/No Doubt vibe of this song and performance. I would have been a HUGE fan of hers when I was her age.

https://youtu.be/kiaCdUACJp8

As anyone who wants to know probably already knows, Glennon Doyle and her sister have a new podcast! I’ve only listened to the second episode, about boundaries, but it was great.

Watching

We finished (to date) For All Mankind this month. I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about this show – it got even better in Season 2. The finale was Emmy-worthy.

Most of the time, Taylor and I have a show we’re watching together that he’s already seen. Currently it’s The Americans. It’s good, but as usual I can only handle so much killing and stuff. I do like the “spouses of convenience finally falling in love” trope, though.

The new Pink documentary on Prime is worth watching if you like her. I found it encouraging to see a working mom just taking her kids with her around the world.

Around Town

Thanks to the miracle of vaccines, I’ve gotten to go to THREE Grizzlies games! They’ve increased the arena capacity a little bit each time. For the first regular-season game, they accidentally ticketed us in a media area and ended up putting us in a box suite BY OURSELVES! It felt very luxurious (and safe). Then my MIL and I went to the play-in game against the Spurs – Taylor was also there with some co-workers in another section.

Finally, we went to Game 3 of our current playoff series against the Jazz on Saturday. We lost, but even when we lose there’s nothing like a Memphis playoff experience. It was the biggest crowd I’ve been in since before covid. Despite all the excitement, Whoop That Trick participation, and some looks of concern from other fans, I’m glad to report I did not go into labor at any of these games. Though it would have been very appropriate for us.

Our main bridge across the Mississippi River is shut down due to a massive, dangerous crack that’s been there since probably 2016, but was just discovered this month. It’s… kind of a mess. The Friday night of that week, we decided to have dinner in Harbor Town and then try to spot the crack. It’s very easy to see with binoculars (and maybe even without) if you know where to look.

I was thankful to walk a few hours of the Cooper-Young Garden Walk despite not feeling so great that day. Taylor and I got some more ideas for our backyard!

Baby in Bloom

Debra threw me a final baby shower in my backyard. It was by appointment so we wouldn’t have too many people there at once (though almost everyone who came is also vaccinated). I hadn’t seen so many of my friends since my birthday in August. It was a great day and I loved all the decorations!

At Home

For all practical purposes, the nursery is ready! I’ll have more on this in the third trimester post I’m working on. Assuming I don’t go into labor before I finish it.

We got planters for the front steps and put these Night Sky petunias in them. It was a spur of the moment choice, but they’re turning out to be gorgeous flowers and I would absolutely choose them again!

Taylor built me a new tomato patch at the back of the yard, and the tomatoes are THRIVING. I’m excited for a great summer crop! I planted Cherry 100, Beefsteak, Rutgers, and San Marzano.

Everyone says a reliable beverage holder is important when you’re nursing/taking care of a newborn, so I got this tumbler and recommend it. It shouldn’t spill (much) if knocked over, so I can actually keep it next to the bed overnight, instead of high up where Rufus can’t get it (and neither can I). It really keeps your drink cold – my water is the same temperature in the morning as it was when I went to bed.

Eating

Lots of fruit! We did a fruit pizza for the baby shower (an old favorite from hosting friends’ bridal showers in my 20s), and I made this fruit salad just because I wanted it.

Beauty

I Was Influenced: After watching an Emily Noel video about palettes for spring, I decided to find a bright new summer palette as a last makeup hurrah before I lose my fun money to child care. My Tartelette palette has been my favorite since I bought it almost two years ago, so I decided to go with Tarte’s Unleashed palette. The shadows are as high quality as you would expect and the size is very generous. I’ve been having a good time with it.

Random Happiness

Our owls are back! I’ve seen confirmation on Nextdoor that they’re nesting on our end of the block. For a while this month, they were hooting almost 24/7. I love hearing them, but I also started to wonder if they were okay, or if they knew something I didn’t and I should take heed. They’ve mostly calmed down now. ;)

My favorite roses are blooming again a few streets over.

We went to my BIL’s pool last weekend, and it was a HUGE relief to get a break from gravity for a few hours.

Your Monthly Rufus

I think Rufus is starting to get a hint that something is going on. He’s been getting cuddlier with me and is more curious about all the baby items coming into the house.