Inspired by a blog that I read (who’s author I know in real life!), I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things with my readers. People seem to like to know that stuff (at least, I like to know that about other people!), but particularly people seem to want to know what sort of weird, crunchy thing I’m trying at the moment. But also, some fun stuff, because, believe it or not, I do some normal stuff, too. So, here goes…stuff I’m into right now…
Books
I am pretty serious about my book list. I log every single book that I read in a year. I don’t know why I like keeping track of this so much, but I do. Often times I have a fun fiction book, a professional development book, a health-type book, and a book to focus on my walk with Christ going just about all the time (besides the book that I’m always reading, the Bible). So, here goes:
Fun Fiction: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (J. K. Rowling)
I cannot believe I have never read the Harry Potter series until now! They are so well written (for kids’ books) and such delightful, creative stories with just the absolute best characters to love and hate. I started the series about two years ago, and I slowly chip away at them in between other fun, fiction books. This is book #5 of 7 in the series. (Also, fun side note: I just went to see Harry Potter in Concert a few weeks ago, and it was the absolute nerdiest and best thing ever. Imagine watching the movie while a professional orchestra plays the score right in front of you. Too cool!! Plus, I got a free wand. I am all set for life basically.)
Professional Development: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World (Michael Hyatt)
I started this book a while ago based on a recommendation from my cousin, but recently I decided to “get serious” about this one and finish it! Because it seems everybody is blogging or trying to have a presence “online,” I’m often frustrated about growing my blog while maintaining my authenticity. We’ll see what Michael Hyatt has to say. I like his style (and his podcast!) quite a bit.
A Health Oriented Book: The Wellness Project (Phoebe Lapine)
I was so tickled to see this book come out. Not only is the author someone who battles Hashimoto’s like me, but she is a chef!! Finally a true foodie with an autoimmune disease. Because I just cannot get all utilitarian about my food now that I have an autoimmune condition. I’ve been cooking for twenty-five years, people! It’s not just functional for me. It’s a hobby, an art form, and a creative outlet for me. I can’t just get all boring about it. Plus, Lapine seems to have taken a systematic approach to listening to her body/trying different things until she found what worked for her and made her feel best. I like this! Just getting started with this one, but I do really like it so far.
Bonus Hobby Book: The Nesting Place: It Doesn’t Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful (Myquillan Smith)
I have owned this book for years (thanks to my lovely sister who is, like, good at decorating and one of those people who enjoys that type of thing). I’ve started this book a few times and have just never finished it, but I really want to do more decorating in our house (we’ve lived here for two years now…just nail a few things up on the walls already!). Hoping this book will inspire me a bit!
Christian Development: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Jeremiah Burroughs)
I never would have picked this book up on my own, but a group of ladies at my church is reading it, and I have the pleasure of joining them for the study. It is NOT light reading (this guy lived in the 1600s), but it is rich and full and challenging me in ways I was not expecting.
(Seriously, how am I going to get all these books read? I tend to be a bit overly ambitious with the ol’ book list. This will likely bleed over into Winter.)
To Watch
Poldark: Season 3
I rarely watch a show “live” on TV anymore, but my cousin-in-law (that would be my husband’s cousin) got me hooked on this show, and now season 3 is on PBS this Fall. I like that it’s 8 episodes (8 Sunday nights for an hour) where I get to drink tea and enjoy British television. I don’t know why I like BBC so much better than American TV, but I just do. And anything Masterpiece Theatre is usually of interest to me post-Downton Abbey.
The Walking Dead: Season 7
I know Season 8 is just about to start on AMC, but we Netflix this one, so we’re a season behind. I am absolutely hooked. And for all those naysayers that just don’t understand, this show is not about blood and gore and zombies, it’s some great acting and a great story about fighting for life and doing what’s right even when it hurts. I just love it…but, I still can’t watch more than about two in a row or I have bad dreams (once while up with a teething baby, I may or may not have causally checked my driveway for zombies). Ha! This is our Friday night thing…after pizza…usually while eating ice cream…and always while wearing yoga pants.
Crunchy Person Products
Squatty Potty & Bed of Nails
I wrote about this in my last post, but I just got a Squatty Potty a month or two ago, and I am completely hooked. For someone as passionate about poop as me, I have no idea how I didn’t have one of these before! Seriously guys, just get one. Just try it. You can thank me later.
Also, I’ve had the Bed of Nails on my list of Crunchy Person Products I’d Love to Have for years now, too, and I finally broke down and got one! This is an acupressure mat that has all these little plastic “nails” on it, and you lay down on it (or lay on the back of a chair if you want) for a rest/nap. Since I am allllll about the twenty minute nap in the afternoon to recharge me for the rest of my day, I wanted to “hack” my nap a bit to make it a bit better. (I already use Dr. Jeffrey Thompson’s 20-Minute Nap track to improve my nap and wake up super rested. I consider the Bed of Nails my Nap Hack 2.0.) Of course, this little mat is supposed to cure you of, like, everything, but I do think it promotes restfulness and relaxation, and I may even be a bit convinced of its digestive benefits. We’ll see. I’m still playing around with different ways to make it most useful.
To Eat
Pumpkin Seeds (in the Shell)
Photo: Stocksnap.io/John Silliman
Where have these been all my life? I mean, yes, I’ve had them before, but lately I just can’t get enough of these tasty little snacks! Nuts are my diaper bag/purse go-to snack because they are nutrient dense, low on carbs (and thus keep my blood sugar levels stable), and generally mess free! Maybe it’s just because pumpkin seeds are SO Fall, but I have just been lovin’ these little suckers lately. Plus, pumpkin seeds are little nutrient powerhouses! Full of zinc, vitamin E, and magnesium. Win, win, win. Definitely going to roast some of my own when Landon and I carve our pumpkin, but, in the meantime, I’ll just stock up at Aldi. (Way to be, Aldi. I don’t enjoy my shopping experience with you, but I surely do love your prices.)
Goofy Granola Girl Health Regimens
Supplemental Selenium
Hmm…this is usually the one that people are most interested in. What weird thing am I doing right now? Well, still doing my oil pulling, apple cider vinegar drinking, dry brushing, and all that other good stuff, but a little while back I started supplementing with selenium to support my thyroid. (I know, I know. This is not so weird. I just take one capsule per day. Sorry to disappoint.) If I understand correctly, selenium helps your body use iodine, a critical mineral for your thyroid health. But, people with Hashimoto’s in particular need to be careful that we don’t go crazy just taking tons of Iodine (even Kelp tablets and the like). I have tested my thyroid several times in the last few months (more on that later), but right now it is happy, happy, happy! Hooray! I plan to continue with the selenium, although I can’t pinpoint it as the one factor that is making my numbers so great right now.
To Cook
Soups!! (But really, all the things.)
Photo: Pexels.com
My sister told me that the cooler weather of Fall makes her want to work on house projects and decorating! (I don’t think anything ever triggers that in me. Ever. But, to each her own.) BUT, bring on some cooler temps, and I just want to cook and bake all the things!! I LOVE Fall food and Fall flavors. I kicked off the soup season with a big pot of Butternut Squash with Sausage soup from Danielle Walker’s first cookbook, Against all Grain. It was a hit! The sausage really added a nice depth of flavor. Next came my mother-in-law’s chicken tortilla soup which just hits the spot every single time, and this weekend I’m going to help my neighbor use up some of her bumper crop of really delicious tomatoes (how nice of me) by making Barefoot Contessa’s Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup. I am already excited.
To Bake
Apple Everything
Landon and I recently wrapped up the “picking season” with some apple picking at an Orchard just down the road from our house (how cool is that?). We picked strawberries in June, blueberries in August, and now a half a bushel of all different varieties of apples. It’s the best. So, naturally, I’m making my Any Fruit Crisp, but I may try my hand at a grain-free apple pie before too long. Honestly, I am all into that pumpkin and apple Fall goodness. I can never get enough. I want to bake all the things right now.
All My Random other Hobbies
Hand Lettering & Card Making
I didn’t hardly make a card for a few months this summer, but now I am back to my pseudo-craftiness. I try to fit in a card making/lettering night at least once a week because it is just so, so much fun and really uses my brain in a different way than I tend to use it during my day-to-day activities. My sister just told me about these lettering classes offered by Amanda Arneill. (Have you seen her on Instagram? She’s so talented!) I may splurge on a class this Fall. (Hey, it’s “Back to School” time right now anyway, right? Who says a lettering class doesn’t count?) I recently got these watercolors that I just love, and I want to get better at using them, so I’m definitely interested in that class as well as the general lettering classes.
Beauty Products
Nerium
Have you heard of this one? I think every girl I know is mildly tired of all the different skin care lines out there right now (and now blowing up our news feeds), but some close friends of mine love this stuff, I borrowed the products for a week, and, well, I didn’t really want to give them back. So, I’m giving these products an honest run to see how my skin responds to it. I like that the products are made with real ingredients, not a bunch of nasty chemicals that definitely don’t help my thyroid, and that the “steps” are really quite simple. I don’t know why, but I just don’t have much motivation before bed even to so much as wash my face, but this is easy. Smells weird (which I’m okay with…better than perfume smells) and seems to be making my skin happy right now.
Well, that was a lot of things! I just kind of got excited and started rolling, if you couldn’t tell. 🙂 But also, I LOVE Fall!!!!
What are you into this Fall? What sort of hobbies? What’s cookin’ in your kitchen? What are you reading? Tell me, tell me! (Comment below.)
Happy Fall, Everyone!
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Drop me a line!