reading

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?

Currently: December 2017

Current book Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush. I’m about halfway through and really enjoying it. It’s neat to have an inside look at the Bush twins’ life. Also reading II Peter during my devotion time!

Current mood Relaxed. Jimmy and I both took two days off of work to have a staycation together and it’s amazing. I slept until 8:30 am yesterday!

Current indulgence Naps snuggled up with Malcolm. And wearing clothes that don’t match whatsoever 😉

Girl sleeping with black cat

Current need Texting gloves. It’s getting cold here in Pittsburgh, so I’m always wearing mittens or gloves when I walk dogs. The only problem is that I need to be able to take pictures and text my clients without freezing my hands off (dramatic, I know).

Current blessing Jimmy and I had a family from our church over for lunch in late November and it was such a lovely time with Christian friends.

Current beauty product Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Nail Coat. I’ve been trying to paint my nails once a week, and this top coat works wonders for two reasons: it drys super fast and really protects the polish underneath from chipping.

Coffee in catfinated mug from Kirkland's

Yay for non-chipped nail polish!

Current procrastination Getting my hair trimmed. I keep trimming it myself to save time. I know it’d be good to have a professional do it for once.

Current goal Getting our house decorated for Christmas this weekend. It’s going to be an interesting holiday season with trying to keep Mavis and Malcolm from destroying our Christmas tree 😉

Current obsession Dove milk chocolates. I love having these after a meal for something sweet. Yum!

Dove milk chocolates

Current craving Meeting mine and Jimmy’s cousins’ son. They just adopted a ten-year-old boy from China and I cannot wait to meet him!

Current food We’re getting a HomeChef delivery today! We are continuing to test out all the different meal kit delivery services. I’ll report back soon 🙂

Current excitement I photographed a gorgeous property for my family’s real estate business. It’s a huge horse stable facility (I feel like there’s a more official name for that?!) with acres and acres of land for horseback riding. It was so peaceful.

Brown and white horse overlooking field

Current drink Coffee! Really enjoying the Organic Honduras Whole Bean Coffee from Aldi.

Current prayer Jimmy and I do a lot of communicating and working with a family at Shiloh Christian Children’s Ranch, which is a safehaven for abused and neglected children. The homeparents told us that this time of year can be especially hard for the children living with them, as it can bring up memories of trauma. We’re doing a lot of praying that this holiday season would be a great one for the children living there.

Current confession I love this picture of my brother and Mavis napping together in my dad’s truck. I’m also a little jealous she actually napped with him. Mavis is usually looking out the window when she rides on my lap!

Man and puppy sleeping together

Current question What are you doing this weekend?