Hi there!

I hope you’ve all had a great summer. I’m sorry that I’ve been quiet over here on the newsletter front. Like I mentioned back in April, I had started a course to add health and wellness coaching to my coaching credentials, and it was taking up the space in my week where I’d normally have time for writing newsletters.

I’m happy to report that I graduated from the course (yay!) and can now get back to some sort of regular schedule. :) I’ve missed connecting with y’all here!

So let’s get to it. What’s been making me happy this summer?

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I have this quirk that when I’m deep into learning, like when I was in college or during this summer being in a course, I have a really, really hard time concentrating on fiction.

I think it’s a downside of being able to deeply focus on things. I get blinders on and just want to dive deeply into that thing. I can’t seem to break away from it and let myself get lost in a story. So this summer, I’ve spent a lot of time reading non-fiction, mostly in the form of audiobooks. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, my reading has consisted of me on my treadmill with non-fiction audiobooks in my ears.

There were two exceptions that I wanted to share.

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak (Amazon | Bookshop.org)

This is the lone book on this that that I read in print. I had started it when it first came out and then got pulled away for some reason and forgot to go back. This time, when I picked it up, I read it one day.

Mallory is a recovering addict who gets a summer babysitting job as the live-in nanny for 5-year-old Teddy. She gets to stay in a little cabin outside of the main house that’s adjacent to the woods. (That seems fine, right? Yeah, no.) Teddy seems great but then he starts drawing creepy pictures that get increasingly sophisticated. The fun of reading this in print is that the drawings are included. And yes, they get super creepy.

This is supernatural horror with a mystery woven in, so the pages turn quickly. In my book journal, I gave this 4.25 stars for the journey and 4 overall. That discrepancy is because the resolution went a little off the rails for me, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the ride.

I have his next book already on my shelf, The Last One at the Wedding, and I’m looking forward to it.

Also, looks like as of right now, this one is included in Kindle Unlimited.

Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza (Libro.fm | Amazon)

I listened to this one on audio as an advanced listening copy from Libro.fm (my fave place to get audiobooks because you can support indie bookstores through them) and enjoyed it in that format.

I think what drew me to this one was the setup. Lizzie, a struggling magazine writer, gets a call from her estranged college friend, Rebecca/Becs, who has become a big trad wife influencer in Utah. Becs want to reconnect with her at an influencer conference and potentially give her a story. Lizzie is intrigued and agrees, but shortly after she arrives and they briefly hang out, Rebecca disappears and Rebecca’s husband, Gray, is murdered. Lizzie has to figure out what's happening.

I can’t help but be drawn to stories about influencer culture and the problems within it, and this one delivered on that front. I found myself seeking out more chores to do so I could keep listening to the audio. That was a big win since I’ve had so much trouble focusing on fiction. I will say this one fizzled a bit at the end for me. It got a little bonkers for my taste and took away some agency from the main character actually solving anything.

But I think that’s more of a me problem. I’m really hard on endings to thrillers and horror. The good news is that it doesn’t mean I didn’t have a good time reading the book. I’d rather have a great journey with a so-so ending then a so-so book with a great ending.

If You Don’t Like This, I Will Die by Lee Tilghman (Libro.fm | Amazon )

If you want a non-fiction pairing to go with Everyone Is Lying to You, this was an interesting memoir to listen to afterward.

Lee Tilghman was one of the first wellness influencers and grew a huge following online. But while she was promoting health and wellness to the public, she was in crisis behind the scenes, her whole life bearing the crushing weight of always being on and everything being content. This eventually developed into some mental health issues and orthorexia. So trigger warnings for that.

This was a compelling listen, and the behind-the-scenes view of being an influencer was fascinating, but I feel like this could’ve been better with more time between the events and the writing. The “now I’m through it and all is well” at the end felt rushed. Time would’ve allowed for more perspective on her part. The insights felt not quite fully baked. But it was still a worthwhile listen, and if you aren’t already questioning every shiny influencer online, this will definitely help you start.

A Change of Habit: Leaving Behind My Husband, Career, and Everything I Owned to Become a Nun by Sister Monica Clare (Libro.fm | Amazon)

And now for something completely different… :) I heard this recommended by a listener on the Currently Reading podcast, and I was intrigued.

This is the memoir of Sister Monica Clare, a woman who knew from early on that she wanted to be a nun but took a few detours along the way—including being an improv actor with The Groundlings (during the Cheri Oteri era).

I grew up Catholic and went to Catholic school, so I was surrounded by nuns growing up, but the whole thing was always such a mystery to me. I mean, basically what I knew of the behind-the-scenes nun life came from the movie Sister Act. I’m guessing, not so accurate. So I think that’s what first drew me to this book. Behind the scenes at the convent!

But I think what ended up being the most compelling part of this book was the journey before she was a nun, starting with her childhood. I really enjoyed her storytelling and watching someone who was just an everyday person, not someone who came across as particularly serene, head into this lifestyle. I also learned that there were Episcopalian nuns (she chooses not to become a Catholic nun because she had more liberal views on certain issues.)

The book got a little slow once she actually starts training to become a nun, but overall, I really enjoyed the book and getting an inside look at something that’s usually shrouded in secrecy.

The Four Seasons (Netflix)

My husband and I went to Portland, Maine for our summer vacation. (Gorgeous, great food, fantastic place.) Wild couple that we are, we ended up working our way through all four episodes of this TV show in the evenings during the trip.

This is about three middle-aged couples who have been the best of friends for years and who take four vacations together each year, one for every season. But when one of the couples gets divorced, everyone is thrown into disarray. The show takes place over one year, and each long episode covers a season.

I loved this whole experience so much. It was a 5-star watch for me (and the hubby.) Laugh-out-loud funny, great acting, and some gravitas mixed in. Also, the contrast of a Gen Zer with these Gen X couples was hilarious.

I’m guessing your mileage will vary depending on which stage of life you’re currently in, but if you’ve reached middle age or beyond, add this one to your list. (I’ve verified with my boomer parents that they loved it too.) I can’t wait for another season.

Also, if the title sounds familiar, this is a remake of a movie from 1981 by the same name. I hadn’t seen the movie but did go back and watch it afterward. I liked the show better than the movie.

A Man on the Inside (Netflix)

I think I would watch Ten Danson in anything, but this was still an unexpected gem.

Charles is a retired widow and feeling a little lost. When he sees an ad for a private investigator to go undercover at a nursing home to investigate a theft, he applies. He moves into the nursing home, posing as a resident, and gets to know the people there while also investigating them.

There’s a cozy mystery element to this, but really, it’s about the relationships he forms while he’s there. Of course, there is some sadness, but at its heart, this is a sweet comedy. I binged this and can’t wait for another season (coming in November.)

Bonus, if you’re a fan of The Good Place, you’ll see a few actors from that show make cameos. And if you haven’t watched The Good Place, go fix that immediately! :)

Although it’s been a mild summer for Dallas (hardly any 100+ degree days!), I’m still ready for fall. So a few weeks ago, I decided that I wasn’t waiting for cool weather to start channeling my fall vibes.

I love a yogurt bowl or cold overnight oats in the summer, but I found myself suddenly craving warm oatmeal. Even though it’s still hot outside, I’ve found that when topped with summer fruit, it can still be an unexpected summer delight.

Here’s my favorite way to make it…

Ingredients:

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 TB chunky natural peanut butter (I prefer unsweetened)

1 banana, sliced

1 handful of blueberries (or chopped nectarine or peaches)

1/2 TB cacao nibs (or mini chocolate chips if you’re feeling indulgent) - optional

A sprinkling of chopped walnuts (I like to keep them almost whole and just break them up with my hands)

A drizzle of maple syrup

Pinch of salt

Directions:

Bring 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt to a boil.

Stir in oats and turn the heat down to medium.

Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Use your spoon to get a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter and put it in the empty bowl while you wait for the oats to cook.

Pour your finished oats into the bowl and over the spoon.

Stir until the peanut butter melts into it.

Top with fruit, nuts, and cacao.

Drizzle with maple syrup and sprinkle with a little salt if you like

Enjoy!

Alright, that’s what I have for you today and what’s been making me happy lately.

I’d love to hear what’s been brightening your summer! Let me know in the comments or hit reply on this email.

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