This weekend, I...

Linking up for another edition of our weekend in review. Go here to see what others have been up to!

This weekend we were quite busy, especially in the cooking department!

This weekend, we made homemade pizza, on a pizza stone nonetheless, and it turned out amazingly! 

Beef & bacon pizza, from this amazing cookbook

This weekend, we used my dad's breadmaker that hasn't been used in about 15 years and made some honey whole wheat bread. It also turned out great! 

This weekend, we grilled up some Tequila Lime Chicken (from this cookbook), made strawberry limeade, and enjoyed a Mexican feast. So much good food!

This weekend, we took a relaxing walk around our nearby park system and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine before it got too hot. (See, we did more than just eat!)

This weekend, I got to do a lot of reading. I have recently finished reading my first Stephen King books: 11/22/63 and The Green Mile. Both were fantastic and I highly recommend them.

That seems to sum up my weekend. What about you? What did you do?

Temporary Slow Down + Recommendations + Shopping Dilemma

As I said in my previous post, Matt's back at work but I'm still on winter break. A random fact about me- I don't like not having much to do. My to do list currently consists of only a few things, so I'm having to spread them out over this week and next so I don't totally go crazy. 


So asides from working out, cleaning, and cooking like a good housewife does, I've had plenty of free time to read, get hooked on a new TV series, and attempt to shop.


If you're looking for some book recommendations, I suggest the following:

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-The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the other two from the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Don't read them if you're squeamish, though-- some parts were difficult to read. I probably won't see the movies just because of the violence to be honest. However, the plot is really interesting and the protaganist, Lisbeth Salander, is fascinating (for a psychology nerd like myself).

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-Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis. On a completely different note, this is an amazing true story of a young woman really letting God take control of her life. At age 18, she moved to Uganda and has since started a mission organization, providing children there with basic medical care, education, and food. She has also adopted 14 girls that need a loving home. Oh, she's currently 23. 

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-The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--A Love Story by Ree Drummond. On a much less serious note, this is the cute and romantic love story of Pioneer Woman herself. Definitely a fun & quick read.


Shopping
I have a really difficult time shopping for specific things. In this case, it's purses. They're either too big, too small, too flashy, or too expensive. I want a slightly larger purse than what I have now, but NOT one that just has one main compartment with no organization whatsoever. The thought of constantly digging for things is not really appealing. My current purse also has the crossbody strap that I have fallen in love with it so that's also a desired feature. 


I have found that this reasonably-priced, medium-sized purse with an across-the-body strap does not exist. At least not in my neck of the woods. Any advice or suggestions?


Have you read any good books out there? Though I currently have four books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, I would love to hear your suggestions!

What I have been/am/will be reading

As in most blog-related things, I have been inspired by other blogs to share with y'all what I'm reading. Because I'm just so positive that you, yes you, want to know exactly what I'm reading. Yes, that is sarcasm.

I just finished: How to Make Anyone Fall in Love with You
Now you might ask why the heck I'm reading this book, when I'm obviously engaged with a guy who theoretically loves me. Well, it was for school. Seriously. I had to read this silly self-help book for my HONORS Marriage Institution class. Oh Sociology, how you make me smile/cringe. 

We had to read this book in basically two week and write two response papers over it. In both papers, I described how manipulative I found it. Throughout, she (the author, Leil Lowndes- who is single, FYI) used language such as hunter, huntress, quarry, and hunt to convince the reader to use her techniques to essentially deceive the person's target to 'fall in love' with them. Though at the point you're lying and breaking all of my morals, what kind of love is that, anyway? 


Basically, I do NOT recommend this book. Just an interesting one I had to read for class.


What I am currently reading: The Hobbit 
So I actually tried to read this in middle or high school, but could never get past all of the dwarves arriving at Bilbo's house. But, I started reading it and have really enjoyed it thus far. I am planning on reading the rest of the LOTR series, as well, so I'm sure you'll hear more about my journeys with Tolkien. 

What I am about to read: Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
I am reading this one with Ginny, a good friend of mine who is also planning a wedding, and her blog is here. Anyway, we were both wanting to read a good Christian book so we can discuss it, and so hopefully we'll get to start this soon. Has anyone else read this book by Francis Chan? What were your thoughts?


What I am also about to read: The Second Shift
This is also for my Marriage Institution class, but it looks to be much more fact-based, academic/sociological in content, so I'm a lot more excited about this book than the first. Hopefully I will not want to throw it against the wall like I did the first one (which I may or may not have done. Heh). Anyway, this book by sociologist Arlie Hochschild looks at the working woman, and how when she gets home to her family, she is still doing most of the house work.

I feel this book will be much more relevant to my future life than the first one was since I am not planning on being a stay-at-home mom. I was raised with my dad staying at home until I was in 6th grade, so until I was in like, 3rd or 4th grade I totally thought that was the norm. With Matt, I know we will both be working full-time. We do not want kids right away, especially since I will be going to grad school for the next 5-6 years. After that, I want to get settled in a good job, whereever/whatever that is, and then we'll think about it. But I think it will still be a good read.  


Anyway, it is the weekend! Anyone have anything exciting going on?