Well, just like that, it’s November, folks. It’s a little early for a best of list, but I’m not one to shy away from making an early list just for kicks. And doubly so for books as books and lists are two of my very favorite things on earth. And candles…and linens of all sorts…oh and I do also love cocktails and food. Oh my. You really have found your way to the right place if those things are your favorites too. I digress – as usual. I can’t actually imagine how many more *best ever* books I’ll get through before the year is ended, so now is as good of a time as any to share. I’ll share another list of all the books I’ve read this year as 2023 wraps up.
Books I lived in, wept over, internalized and just really loved this year. In no particular order! A disclaimer: I’m not saying that you’re going to fly through every single one of these. These are books that I feel like I was meant to read, and you just might be meant to read them too! You can find my full reviews right here.
I’ve included links to buy on amazon if you like! Just click on the titles and it’ll take you there. You can also read summaries over there too if you want to know what they’re about! Happy reading!
Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros (the sequel comes out this week!!)
April! The month of daffodils and misty rain and easter goodness. If you’re new here – at the start of each month, I choose four-ish things to do in different categories. Think of it like a bucket list for the month. Just a few things that I want to get around to doing without the month passing me by. I hate that feeling of “oh, we didn’t get to x, y or z”. This really helps me stay focused on the things that are important to me. Categories can be anything you choose, these are just my priorities! I hope you try it sometime!
A weekly post to remind myself to look for and appreciate the simple things that bring joy to my every day.
This hat – for being the solution in the matter of the pesky thermostat. Now you see it, now you don’t.
Weekend potatoes – for being a constant in the rhythm of our weekends. I’ll choose you every Saturday forevermore.
This basket of books – for being (almost) all good. And the joy of knowing that I’m headed back to the library with them tomorrow for a fresh stack.
This vintage croquet set given to us by sweet neighbors – because my parents have the same set at home and it makes me feel all melty thinking about my kids having the same memories about their childhood that I do about mine.
This sister cocktail scene – for filling up my literal and metaphorical cup every Friday. And because the Gimlets did not disappoint this week. Up next – Sazerac.
These warm sugar cookies – because I didn’t even barely have to lift a finger to make them. Forever thanking my past self when I pull frozen cookie dough balls out of the freezer to bake on a whim.
Goodnight, friends! I hope you remember to pause and appreciate the simple joys in your life this week.
Last week was Benny’s fourth birthday. Seems like eons ago already as it passed in the blink of an eye. I was also in the throes of a nasty fever (chills! swollen throat! a general lump of lethargy!), so I feel like I didn’t get to really enjoy the day with him. I didn’t even have cake! Almost sacrilegious. A big giant *praise hands* that my parents were still here and they and my husband could save the day. Actually though, the entire last year passed in pretty much the blink of an eye too. I’m left asking myself questions like – didn’t I just birth Ben just yesterday? And now he’s going to be in pre-k next year? What? I feel like that a robot that moves its arms around saying “DoEs NoT cOmPuTe” over and over. I guess it just goes to show that that old saying holds true – the days are long, but the years are short. I’m actually not here today to wax poetic about my kids getting bigger (insert sob) or how it’s all going too fast (insert fist shaking at the sky) though I could go on about those things for a mile. I AM here to bring you a simple little idea to make birthdays a bit easier.
I thought of this trick when Charlie was just a tiny guy, but it just so happens that all three of our kids have middle-of-the-school-year (two in October and one in March) birthdays which can mean *STRESS* setting in a few days before. That’s right around when it hits me that I need to somehow bake a cake in the middle of the week, pick up cupcakes for their class party, make their favorite meal, buy them presents, wrap them, and generally make their day filled to the brim with magic without myself becoming a stress ball mom trying to soak up the memories all while telling everyone who will listen how very busy I am – my biggest mom pet peeve. Ha! No short order.
So hear me out. It doesn’t solve all my birthday struggles, but at least one answer to this middle-of-the-week-school-year quandary is – The Birthday Box. Our birthday box is…just a shoebox. I should think about an upgrade at some point, but honestly the shoebox has been working for us for a very long time, so why overcomplicate a good thing? Okay, other than that time when we moved and I became panicked when I couldn’t find The Birthday Box. I was convinced that my husband had thrown it away – it being a shoebox and all. But it turned up (I think in the garage?) after a few prayers to Saint Anthony. Phew! But that’s also why it now says *do not throw away* in very emphatic writing. Anyway, the night before The-Birth-Day we just pull the box out, and decorate the dining room with abandon – setting hats out at each spot, hanging garland, inserting the age in the birthday crown, and blowing up balloons. Instant party. You should see the look on the boys’ faces when they get up in the morning. Pure childhood magic. And after each birthday, I just make a little list and restock the box if needed. Just makes life a little easier.
A list to build your own Birthday Box:
Our beloved birthday crown that I made out of felt with a little plastic pocket to insert the age (should maybe post a how to at some point, yes?)
Truly think that everyone should have an easy breakfast casserole recipe in their back pocket. It’s a crowdpleaser, everyone is always impressed, it takes no time at all, can be made ahead and you probably have all the ingredients on hand anyway. Bookmark this one for every brunch for basically the rest of your life. It can be made the night before and baked in the morning, or just bake it up and re-heat it in the morning. My mom made this for every holiday/special event for my entire life, and still does to this day. And now I am her copy cat because she really did know what she was doing.
If we’re having a crowd, I make the full batch, but if it’s just our family of five, I halve all ingredients and bake in a smaller baking dish. I do not deviate with extra veggies or greens thrown in, but you certainly could! Recipes are meant to be played with. We serve with salsa, hot sauce and ketchup for condiments, and always a big bowl of berries and breakfast bread on the side. Enjoy this family favorite!
Breakfast Casserole
1 doz eggs 8 oz shredded Cheddar Cheese 2 c milk Sliced white bread-crust removed, butter on both sides 1 1b fried bacon or 1 lb fried sausage ¼ t salt ¼ t pepper
Preheat oven to 350°
Spray a 9×13 baking dish with pam and cover bottom with your buttered bread. Sprinkle with â…” cup of cheese, â…” cup of bacon or sausage.
Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour in your baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining meat and cheese. Bake 50 minutes or until brown on sides. Serves 8-12
The Metroka Family 