fall roundup 2022 — Joy A. Becker

This post has been sitting in my drafts tab for quite some time. In fact, the original name for this post was Monthly Roundup: April 2022. Oops. Then I changed it to Summer Roundup 2022. Oops again. Even as I write this, a part of me wonders if it will really see the world this month or if come December I will once again change the name to something like A Yearly Roundup 2022. Time will tell.

Now, if you must know the truth, some of these books, recipes, and pictures were favorites from months ago—not technically fall. You don’t care.

Reading

Since it’s been so long, I am BURSTING with books and had to limit myself. I’ve read some good stuff this year, and as always, I keep track of it all on Goodreads. Find me there if Goodreads is your jam.

Call it a mid-life crisis, but I am on a serious hunt for more fun and more laughter in my life these days. This book was motivating but also practical, and I read it slowly, taking diligent notes because there was so much good stuff! Catherine hits hard on the topic of phones and the way they hinder our ability to have "True Fun." I definitely appreciate a good reality check when it comes to phones. Bring on the connection+playfulness+flow! (These are her three ingredients to “True Fun.”) 5/5 Stars

*Note* When Stephen read this reviews, he laughed out loud that I used words like motivating, practical and diligent notes while reviewing a book about fun. Clearly, I’m taking the fun to heart.

This one was good–not great for me. The biggest problem was I didn't care about any of the characters. Their "rich and famous problems" were written about in such a way that I obviously couldn't relate, but I also couldn't find any common ground. There was an attempt to bring depth to each character, but it just fell flat for me. 3/5 Stars

I could not stop checking the news when this cave rescue played out in real time, and I am still shaken by the whole ordeal. This book was a fascinating and informative account of the heroic rescue. It was a quick read, and I kept stopping to tell my family all I was learning. Charlotte will likely never go inside a cave again. Oops. 4/5 Stars

I really enjoyed this book and felt bummed when it was over. In the rom-com genre, you have a secondary storyline thrown in with the main love-interest storyline. I often don't care much about that secondary storyline, but Beach Read was different. I was all in for January and Gus, but I was also fully invested in the story of January and her dad. It was one of the best secondary storylines I've read in this genre. I cruised through it! 5/5 Stars

I almost stopped reading this book a dozen time. The first 150 pages were rambling all over the place which is definitely Nayeri's style, but I just couldn't get on board during the first half of the book. I'm not sure why I plowed through, but I am so glad I did. The second half of the book was so fantastic it made me feel like I should read the first half again, like maybe I was just missing something. Nayeri's voice is unique, funny, heartbreaking, honest, and captivating. It feels strange to love and recommend a book that I spent 150 pages dragging myself through, but maybe the whole book is amazing, and I was having an off week. 4/5 Stars

When is the movie coming out?!?! Such a fun rom-com, and I blew threw it in 3 days. I lost count of the times I actually laughed out loud. I could find ways to pick apart some character inconsistencies and a few fluffy scenes, but for this genre, that's to be expected, and I loved it anyways! 5/5 Stars

This was our first pick in a book club I just joined, and it was such an entertaining page-turner! I don't normally pick up mystery (I scare easily!), but this was more of a comical suspense, and I snagged up the second book right away, which was just as good as the first! 5/5 Stars

Mistake #1 was getting this book from the library instead of buying my own copy because I really needed to highlight every other sentence and will want to go back and reread it next month when I forget all the good stuff I learned. Eye-opening, fascinating, and practical—this book acknowledges that maybe, just maybe, the way this generation of Americans are parenting is likely not the most effective, rewarding, or beneficial for children and parents alike. To which I cried, "Yeah, you think!??! There are moments of this book that frustrated me as other cultures were painted in an idealistic light, and there are suggestions that straight up annoyed me, like telling my kids they're acting like babies or scaring them with monster stories (that part was bizarre), but this is true of any "self-help" book—you need to find the best take aways for you and your family and be able to leave other ideas behind. I thought Michaeleen did a great job of ending each chapter with practical steps we can apply, and the small steps I've already implemented in our home have yielded positive results. Definitely one of the best parenting books I have ever read! 5/5 Stars

Reading with the Kids

I never read the Penderwicks books as a child, so this was my first go-round. I read it aloud with my kids, and we also listened to some on audio. It was an enjoyable read and feels like a classic. Took us awhile to get through which shows they weren't begging for me to read it each night as they as with some books. I gave it 4 stars but my kids gave it 5. Granted, they give most books 5 stars.

We listened to this one—a sequel to The Lemonade Wars—on audio during a road trip, and it was an enjoyable listen for the whole family. Silly and able to hold everyone's attention for a couple hours.

I remember loving this book as a kid, and it was a delightful read aloud with my children. We were all laughing out loud! For better or worse, this book definitely screams some strong 90s vibes.

Andrew picked this one out at the library for the two of us to read together. It was a great read for a football lover, and especially fun to learn about the authors and their careers in the NFL. Great lessons about teamwork, disappointment, and perseverance! I gave it 4 stars, but Andrew says "definitely 5 stars!"

Eating

Some recent new favorites that went over well with the family include this creamy salmon, this baked ziti, ginger peanut chicken, and these teriyaki beef bowls (make extra sauce).

Some fall favorites that make the dinner rotation each year include these hard cider pork chops (with a large pile of mashed potatoes), this apple- mustard marinade for grilled chicken, and these apple-cheddar chicken melts. (Note: we often leave out the chicken to make a simple vegetarian meal.)

Stephen always makes me butternut squash ravioli and this carrot tart rocked our worlds.

Making Me Smile

My curling wand didn’t survive the trip to Rome—silly American voltage—so I was in need of a new one and love this one! I also snagged a bottle of this 10-in-1 Primer to get free shipping. It makes no sense, but I know you do it, too.

For my birthday (which was in January), I got this kit from Dime. I wanted to give it a fair trial before declaring it a favorite new item, but I think I am now ready to say aloud that I am loving it. I was a bit overwhelmed by so many products and getting the order right each morning and night, but it turns out, I can rise to the occasion of a skin care routine.

And some family moments that made me smile this fall include:

All the fall birthdays,

that Charlotte still wants to coordinate costumes with me (🎶Angelica! 🎶 Eliza!🎶 (No Peggy)
The Schuyler Sisters! Work!),

when Andrew—of all people—didn’t get the silly face memo at our favorite apple orchard,

when the ball seems three times as big as Milo’s head,

being able to celebrate this guy’s first birthday,

and finally, when bourbon cocktails and a charcuterie board are in attendance at our monthly meeting. ***Stephen and I do monthly meetings on the 1st of each month. These meetings are all business—reviewing the calendar, the budget, the to-do items for the month, etc. I come with an agenda, and Stephen begins with a call to order. They are not thrilling, but they are necessary. And like I said, refreshments always help.