Books

Six ordinary summer favorites

October 8, 2020 by Rachel

(I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read my disclosure here.)

Here are some random things that brought great joy to my life this past summer. Can a cheesy hashbrown casserole actually do that, you ask? Yes, yes it can. Here is the proof which I first made for Father’s Day breakfast and will probably become a fall favorite as well:

∇ Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes & Ham

I owe everything to food bloggers.

∇ Free Panera coffee! If you never signed up over the summer, you can still do so and get your first month free. {Not recommended for coffee snobs; best for frugal ambivalents like me.}

∇ Reading in general and my new-from-Goodwill book Lilac Girls: recommended by literally everyone I asked about it. {It gets over 4,500 FIVE STAR reviews on Amazon, I checked!} I did find this historical fiction piece fascinating. It’s based on real people and is a well researched story of what happened to a group of women who survived concentration camp “experiments” and those who waited for them back home and became their voice, their advocates when they had none. Have you read it? I’m always behind on the popular books as well as basically everything in pop culture.

∇ Our new Target outdoor sectional that I waited and watched for and bought on sale and which we all love so, so much. (it’s frequently sold out-just click the “notify me when it’s back” option!) At least two people nap on it daily. I call it our Napping Couch.

∇ Postable-for when you don’t have just the right card on hand and want to skip the store and send something immediately. In addition to sending cards throughout the summer, I’ve been using Postable for years as an online back-up address book. They have a great selection of cards to personalize and they print, stamp, & ship for you because you don’t have stamps, either! Postable tells me this about referrals: “Send your friends your personal promo code MRQ85DUI and when they sign up and spend $20 you’ll both get $5 of credit!” Also of note: they frequently offer discounts.

∇ Being outside: camping, canoeing, hiking, walking with a friend regularly, and did I mention just simply sitting outdoors on comfortable furniture and reading a book?

These are a few of my favorite things!

Current Book Preorders!

February 23, 2020 by Rachel

(I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read my disclosure here.)

I don’t often pre-order books, but when I do it’s definitely because I admire the author and want to support their work! Pre-orders are hugely important in letting the publishers how much much interest there is in the book and therefore what to print. Additionally, many authors offer really lovely incentives to readers who pre-order, as a thank you. For example, this first book I pre-ordered came with lifetime access to a corresponding video course, by the author, that complimented the topics covered in the book:

Stop Calling Me Beautiful: Finding Soul-Deep Strength in a Skin-Deep World. It’s actually arriving this week, while I’m away in Denver, so I told Hosanna to watch for its arrival and begin reading it before I return and get my hands on it! I recently found Phylicia on Instagram and look forward to hearing her speak at an event soon. She’s really encouraged me to look at the Bible differently than I have before and her mantra is “Every Woman a Theologian!”

Here are three other books I’ve pre-ordered with a release date of March 3, 2020:

…

What is giving me life this week

January 18, 2020 by Rachel

(I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read my disclosure here.)

∇ This tea, gifted to me by a Dear Aunt:

I’m taking it with a spoonful of monk fruit sweetener and a splash of half-n-half thank you verrrry much.

∇ This book on sale:

I gave away my extra copy of Crystal Paine’s Money-Making Mom book but an Instagram friend (thanks, Rocky!) pointed out to me that the book was literally just $4 on Amazon as of today. So get yourself a copy if you’ve been wanting to read & own it!

…

Pre-Christmas Encouragement for You & a Biscuit Recipe

December 20, 2019 by Rachel

(I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read my disclosure here.)

∇ What I truly want for you is peace and joy. I read these reminders from Morgan Harper Nichols and it was exactly what I needed to be told today.

Please do something for yourself that is self-care. A foot bath. A tub soak. Gazing at your tree with a glass of wine and square of dark chocolate. I got a massage this week, which is the best gift Past Rachel could’ve given December Rachel the week before Christmas. As someone who has dealt with chronic neck pain, this literally saved my neck during a really full week.

…

Christmas Gift Ideas

December 13, 2019 by Rachel

(I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read my disclosure here.)

Hello my festive little Christmas elves!

If you, like me, aren’t *quite* ready for all things Christmas, take a deep breath (*takes a deep breath*) and think about what truly matters to you. Recognize the difference between those things and extraneous things. For me, that’s focusing on Advent through simple devotionals, spending time with my immediate and extended family, reaching out to people grieving during the holidays and…actually, that’s it. Literally everything else is joyful bonus stuff. Even though I’m not as prepared for Christmas as I’d like (still a few more gifts to pull together) I feel remarkably relaxed about it all because: PERSPECTIVE.

Here are some things I have not done this year:

baked Christmas cookies for the fam

sent out family photo cards

100% decorated the house

That list is much longer, but you get the drift! Of course, I’d love to do those things, but I’m also fine with letting them go because they aren’t as precious to me as my top three. If you need help letting something go, reach out to me and I will talk through it with you, because I am preaching this to myself, too. If there’s something you can’t completely let go of (say, you’re hosting a holiday dinner), then how can you simplify it? Ask me or someone else for ideas on how to problem-solve whatever is nagging at you, and have the most beautiful holiday with what you have right where you’re at.

Okay, on to those gift suggestions-

I know this is an obvious reminder, but now is an excellent time to utilize the power of the internet and have gifts delivered directly to the recipient! Or to you, via Amazon or Target, for example, while you shop from your couch and gaze at the lights on your Christmas tree. Seriously, avoid the crowds if that would be anxiety-inducing.

Here are some things I have done and will be doing for gifts (and if you are in my family then just stop here because SPOILERS AHEAD YOU’VE BEEN WARNED):

∇ Easy homemade bread wrapped in a tea-towel or parchment paper. And I do mean easy-if you’ve been to my house lately and seen my large glass canister full of rising dough, this is the magic happening. No-kneading required, no skills needed. It just takes a little thinking ahead and about 2 minutes to mix up the ingredients. You can find many variations of this recipe; here are two: Homemade Artisan Bread and Easy No-Knead Overnight Artisan Bread. Half of my neighborhood has now been given a loaf of this bread; can’t stop won’t stop! {you could also add a jar of locally produced honey or jam~seriously the homiest and yummiest gift}

∇ Do you know anyone who has skin? Yes? Do you also like to support women in business? Me too. Then gift your people some skincare and/or makeup from my friend Jo, who I’ve known for over 22 years and who creates small-batch, clean ingredient products. {I mentioned JO Custom Cosmetics on my Black Friday post, too.) She is not asking me to brag on her, and I’ve gladly spent my own dollars on her products because I love her and them. {Fun fact: Hosanna has been using her lavender serum the last year-it lasts forever- and I’ve been wearing her lip gloss every day this week!} Her products come packed so adorably these would be perfect to send directly to your intended recipient. I asked her for a discount code to share with my friends, and she gave me one for 10% off your total order! Here it is: wildwood10

∇ Earrings are everything, and these handmade clay beauties have been on my list for a while: Nova Vita Co. If you live in the St. Louis area, her Instagram account mentions some local shops you can find the earrings at. If you order from her directly, she will ship them using recycled materials! Guess what? Not to brag or anything but I also know the maker, Avery, and her family. She’s a killer volleyball player and has played with my husband and kids (but not me because I don’t jump) and is the real deal: genuine and kind and OBVS creative. She was featured in STLMag, read about her HERE! Then go buy some earrings for your mom, wifey, sister, best friend…

∇ Let me state the obvious, now and forevermore: BOOKS. I will never get tired of giving or receiving books. Don’t forget the life-altering power of a good book! The perfect any-gender gift. Your person not a reader of novels? Then consider one of these (all ones I own or have given!): puzzles, adult-coloring, hand-lettering, photography, graphic novels, or a cookbook. Another idea~ I gave a book subscription to my sister once from a local independent bookstore: The Novel Neighbor

∇ Movie Theatre gift card: one of my kids’ aunties has done this in recent years and it is the BEST idea! I love experience gifts like this. Going to see a movie with the entire fam really adds up-we rarely do it unless we have a gift card. Also-we utilize theatre $5 days and other discounts to make this gift last longer!

∇ Stocking stuffer ideas: popping ears, blue light glasses, chewing gum, cozy winter socks, $5-$10 coffee gift cards, fruit (canned or fresh, oranges are perfect!), chapstick or lip balm (Jo Custom Cosmetics!), portable charger, hand sanitizer, chocolate, snacks (all sorts), mini kleenex packs

I hope these little ideas were helpful to you; I’d love to hear some of your favorite gift ideas!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking through one of my links, I may receive a {very small} commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog! It means the world and a Merry Christmas to me. 🙂

Black Friday: a few of my favorite things

November 29, 2019 by Rachel

(I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read my disclosure here.)

We all love this day so much because of pumpkin pie for breakfast, right?!?

I am not a big Black Friday in-store shopper, though I’ve done it a couple of times and it’s certainly fun with friends and family! (I’ll never forget the time I kept losing my brother Ian at the mall and he kept calling from the Apple Store to find us.)

In recent years I’ve been trying to be thoughtful about my holiday purchases and where and why the money is going. That money, I tell ya-it’s slippery like a newborn baby.

via GIPHY

My preferred way to shop Black Friday sales is via my own internet and cozy home with the aforementioned pumpkin pie and a cup of coffee on hand. I am sharing a sampling of things here that I have purchased myself and love:

…

Fall Favorites

October 25, 2019 by Rachel

(I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read my disclosure here.)

Anyone who knows me knows I dearly love summer but it’s also true that fall is the coziest, and I WILL be cozy. I insist on coziness.

Here are a couple things that are charming me this fall…

First of all, the Harry Potter books are best read during cooler months with a hot cuppa and preferably under blankets, which is exactly how Drew {12} and I have been reading them aloud together. Usually at bedtime, and then I have to pee in the middle of the night because of all that hot chamomile.

∇ Currently reading:

I’ve discovered a Spotify playlist appropriately titled, “Happy Harry Potter” for that perfect background feeling of Hogwarts:

∇ Harry Potter playlist

Fall makes me fond for all things British, including these wellies, which I’ve had for years (an old Target purchase!) and they serve me well come rain & muck:

∇ Joules Women’s Field Welly AKA RAINBOOTS

∇ Fairy lights. I have some that stay permanently on, it seems, because they are so perfectly cozy. I have these (Target) and these (IKEA).

∇ Stew. Stew is everything that is good in this world. Sometimes I follow a recipe, sometimes I follow my heart,* always is my stew simmering in a dutch oven for hours upon delicious hours. The best fix-it-and-forget-it meal!

What are your fall favorites right now? I’d love to hear and adopt some more! We need all the cozy we can get.

*my most recent stew included radishes, and nobody was the wiser! Hahaha I’m so clever!

This letter contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking through one of my links, I may receive a {very small} commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog! It means the world and a cozy fall day to me.

Photo by Stella Rose, Sarah Ehlers and ERIC ZHU on Unsplash

A Little Collection of Recents

April 10, 2019 by Rachel

(I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. You can read my disclosure here.)

∇ Recent favorite read by two people I know and admire:

The Miracle of Working at an Ice-Cream Shop

∇ Recent finished books I can’t stop talking and thinking about:

∇ Recent pair of new shoes that I love and expect to wear for the next 50 years: Black solid flats

{And if you want to order a pair for yourself, let me know and I’ll send you a referral code for $20 off!}

∇ Recent song that used to be an old favorite and is now back in my listening rotation:

Letter 41 {A Week of Monday}

September 1, 2018 by Rachel

Dear Candace,

Monday morning, this is how it went:

I drop Caleb off at his Algebra 2 class. Not wanting to spend unnecessary driving to and from home, I plan on spending time at a nearby Starbucks to do some work before picking him up. After settling in, I learn their Wifi isn’t working, and hasn’t been for a week. A WEEK. This is the modern age! That’s simply inconceivable (and yes, I do know what that word means). I do a quick maps search and realize a St. Louis county library branch is within a mile. Perfect. I can use a study room there. I show up at the Library only to learn-it’s closed, for some reason I did not investigate.

Okay Monday, I get it. You’re having fun with me. But guess what? I am young and adventurous and also behind on email, and I can find another Starbucks since St. Louis is literally littered with them. They can’t all be out of wifi.

I am not ashamed of carrying my iced americano from Starbucks #1 into Starbucks #2. Starbucks understands.

…

Nashville! Our weekend trip

May 30, 2018 by Rachel

Barista Parlor: On my list to visit, next time!

Tom and I spent a recent weekend in Nashville, ostensibly for a couple’s getaway but really to see my adorable twin nieces. {scroll down to see what they did with us at TopGolf!}

Nashville has long been on my list to visit and explore, especially now that my brother Ian and his wife Haley have made it their home during the past year. We’ve made quick stops coming and going during road-trips, but never really sufficiently scratched my Nashville itch.

…