apple pie

Books to read and small home decor updates

Do you ever get in a reading rut and then you suddenly have like ten books to read? For the past month or so, I just couldn’t seem to find a book to get into, then I found quite a few and now I don’t know which to read first! Here’s my current stack.

Stack of books Present Over Perfect Troublemaker, Winter Street

From top to bottom, I have The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living, Winter Street, My Life as An Amish Wife, Present Over Perfect, and Troublemaker. Definitely an eclectic mix! Which would you read first?

Also on the topic of reading, I read Proverbs in January and just finished Daniel. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read and study Genesis or Psalms next, and I chose Psalms. Love it!

When I haven’t been thinking about books and reading I’ve been working on little home decor updates. I popped into Marshall’s over the weekend and bought a new blanket and basket to hold our blankets.

Blue and gray blanket with tasselsGray and blue blankets with tassels in galvanized metal basket with rope handles industrial

I put the basket under our end table and I’m hoping Mavis doesn’t chew on the handles! Or the blankets. Or the basket. I can totally see her trying to chew a steel basket 😉

Gray and blue industrial living room with succulent and wood and steel end table

I also got a new quilt for our bed (for only $41!). I’ve been doing updates on our master bedroom overhaul, and we had a white comforter and duvet cover for a while and decided we just couldn’t swing it anymore since two out of three of our pets have black fur. I’ll try and post some pictures soon since we have added a few other things (a storage bench and throw pillows!) over the past few months.

One last decor update: I hung a new wreath on our front door and replaced our welcome mat. It feels so fresh and springy now!

I have been baking a bit over the past few days, too! I had a bag of apples in the fridge that needed to be used up, so I made an apple pie using my mother-in-law’s crust recipe. I also made rice pudding this evening and it was delicious.

apple pie with homemade crustHomemade rice pudding with cinnamon and vanilla

I feel like rice pudding is one of those foods I forget about, and then when I see on TV or in an ad in a magazine it I’m like “that sounds so good!” you know?

I literally ate a bowl of it warm with a few raisins sprinkled in because I just couldn’t wait for it to cool off. The verdict? Warm rice pudding is amazing! I used this recipe in case anyone is wondering 🙂

What are you reading/baking/decorating lately?

Recent Eats

Hey there! Man, school has been keeping me busy lately. I think I’m still getting used to the new semester. Friday wraps up week number two for Penn State. It’s weird to think that some universities don’t start until Monday or Tuesday next week.

Here are some semi-recent eats:mintchipbrowniesMint chip brownies

PicMonkey Collage2

Peanut butter granola and 15 bean soup made with Kim!

cookiesWhite chocolate chip cookies made with Jimmy ❤

snackA snack of apple slices and peanut butter to dip them in!

biscuitsBaking powder biscuits. I found and used my grandma’s recipe, so that was fun and special. (Sorry I look so rough in the picture… that was the day after I had the flu #strugcity. My goofy face shows how excited I was to be able to bake and eat again!)

PicMonkey Collage3A giant salad and an apple pie that Jimmy and I made for a church gathering.

bananabreadBanana bread made with Hannah! She’s becoming a great little baker.

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That’s all I’ve got! I’m headed off to work in a few minutes. Time to motivate people and make em’ sweat!

What’s the best thing you’ve ate recently?