January in Summary
Books, Experiences, Recipes, Etc. Etc.
On my old blog, I did a monthly recap of books, movies, and adventures. For the sake of nostalgia and some practical writing help, I took a look at those old posts and all I have to say is that high school Shelby had way more time than current Shelby. I used to read like 4-5 books a month… this month I have one for you.
Books
Emma, Jane Austen: The first Austen I was ever introduced to, via the 2009 BBC production (highly recommend!) and thus the one I remember most fondly. Emma is one of the most comic Austen novels but does not disappoint in its tendency toward self-reflection (“Badly done, Emma!”).
This go around I find myself more annoyed with Frank Churchill than before and, a little more annoyed with Emma too. Yet, all her vanity makes that classic Austen ephiphany at the middle-end even better. It is astonishing how many obnoxious traits we overlook in ourselves. I’m so glad for the Spirit’s conviction! And for Austen to remind me of it.
(I’ve promised book reviews and they are coming!)
“Considering how very handsome she is, she appears to be little occupied with it; her vanity lies another way.”
Entertainment
I’m slightly ashamed to say that we didn’t watch any movies this month… we did a bit more binging.
All Creatures Great and Small: No binging here. New episodes of season 4 are only released once a week! So I time them well and save each episode for a quiet moment with my laundry and a cup of coffee. Having only one episode to watch has been a good lesson in savoring a good thing. Truly a beautiful series! (Being still somewhat freshly postpartum I got a little teary each episode haha.)
Designated Survivor: Lots of binging here. My husband and I are always on pins and needles by the end of each episode. Is it well-written? Not really. Is it entertaining? Greatly. Essentially the show is about the secretary of Housing and Urban Development undertaking the role of US President when the Capital and everyone in it is destroyed. The FBI plot is really what keeps me on my toes.
Moments of Joy
Over Christmas and the New Year, we stayed with my family, so the first week of January was filled with lots of coffee dates, family dinners, walks with my mom, and visits with friends we don’t get to see on the regular.
When we left my family after spending almost three weeks with them we set out on our road trip home. This was our first time roadtripping with a baby. Was it harder? Yes. Did it take longer? Yes. Would I do it again? Absolutely. We want our kiddos to grow up with the ability to sit in a car and appreciate the world around them. And it’s a happy time for us too.
We gave my daughter her first “real” food this month and watching her confusion, disgust, and then interest was so fun. She’s developing into quite the little person and I love her personality. I love her. I loved her when she was born but now when I look at her my heart almost explodes. She’s just the most delightful little gal and I can’t stop giving her kisses.
She also learned to roll over this month! So I can safely say half my time is now spent “rescuing” her from her tummy haha.
Recipes
Crockpot Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken - Super yummy, think we had it over rice.
Sausage, Kale, and Lentil Soup - I made this one for some friends and we had enough leftover for dinner the next night! So yummy and so filling.
Beef Stroganoff - So fattening, so good.
Easy Creamy Beef and Shells - Also fattening, not as good as beef stroganoff but not bad. Probably won’t be in the regular rotation.
Bruschetta Pasta - Creative and yummy! Made good lunch leftovers!
Beef Barley Soup - Not my favorite soup recipe but still really good! I usually use ground beef because it’s what we most often have on hand.
Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken - Nothing too fancy about this one but it was a big hit with my husband who asked, “Can we eat just like meat and potatoes more often?” I forget that the simple things are often the most pleasing. Oh! It did use white wine which was a new cooking experience for me.
White Chicken Chili - This and the Beef Barley are both from Cooking Classy, she’s got great recipes. I think this one is one of my absolute favorites!
A Quick Note
You may have noticed that my newsletter name has changed. My old blog used to be called The Bookshop Barista. I’ve returned to that name because 1) it’s more easily recognizable and 2) encapsulates myself and this space better than “Shelby’s Corner.” Pre-motherhood I was a barista for four years (and I like to think I still have the skills with my Breville at home!) and then of course I’ve always loved books. It’s my little pipe dream to open a bookstore/coffeehouse and I hope this virtual space can emulate that in some ways - a place of cozy discussion.
Always fun to read! :)